HUMBLE PIE...

There are so many people in this world that take everything they have for granted. They have everything they need and more, but somewhere lost all appreciation for it. They have a roof over their heads, clean drinking water, food on the table, and shoes on their feet. These people are so used to having these things that they can't imagine what life would be like without them.

Unfortunately, there are people in this world who don't have these things...

There are people all over the world living on the streets or in crowded homeless shelters. These are the people you see sleeping on benches or even on the sidewalk. They're not just napping because they didn't sleep well the night before; That is where they live. Most homeless people suffer from mental illnesses. Mostly Schizophrenia. So the next time a homeless person asks if you can spare some change, don't just pass them by! What is so important in your life that you can't stop for a moment and spare that five dollars you're just going to waste on something you don't really NEED?

Think of all the bottled water you consume. Now tell me, what's wrong with the water that comes from the faucet? Shouldn't you be grateful that you even have clean water to drink? I think you should! After all, there are countless numbers of people that have to walk for miles just to reach clean water. Even then, it's not the cleanest it could be. Drinking dirty or contaminated water can lead to many different infections or diseases. But what do you do when it's the only water you have? Do you sacrifice it and die of thirst? Or do you risk becoming ill from drinking it? You decide.

Now imagine if you had to walk all those miles, to your almost clean drinking water, without any shoes on. Not because you chose to be barefoot, but you weren't given an option. There are plenty of people in the world that have never owned a single pair of shoes. Can you even begin to think of how you would live your life without a single pair of shoes? Your feet would be dirty and scarred. Some of you might not even be able to walk anymore. How many pairs of shoes are in your closet?

I'm not saying that you're greedy or ungrateful for not recognizing what you have. In fact, you probably don't even realize how fortunate you are to have the things that you do. However, I do think that you should teach yourself to realize it and learn to be grateful. Why not go a step further and give a little something to someone who isn't quite as fortunate? Why not take the time to learn a little more about what you can do to make a difference? Why not using what you learn about how you can make a difference and actually do something? WHY NOT?




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Here are websites that will provide some
ways for you to help with these issues:

NATIONAL COALITION
FOR THE HOMELESS
http://www.nationalhomeless.org/

CHARITY WATER
www.charitywater.org

FEEDING AMERICA
www.feedingamerica.org

TOMS SHOES
One For One
www.tomsshoes.com

BENGEE'S "I ♥" LIST!

I ♥ HOPE FOR HAITI NOW --- www.hopeforhaitinow.org

I ♥ FEED PROJECTS--- www.feedprojects.com

I ♥ THE TREVOR PROJECT --- www.thetrevorproject.org

I ♥ KEEP A CHILD ALIVE --- www.keepachildalive.org

I ♥ ONE --- www.one.org

I ♥ (PRODUCT)RED --- www.joinred.com

I ♥ MAKE-A-WISH --- www.wish.org

I ♥ TOMS --- www.tomsshoes.com

I ♥ CREATE THE GOOD --- www.createthegood.org

I ♥ UEND:POVERTY --- http://www.uend.org/dt/

I ♥ CHARITY WATER --- www.charitywater.org

I ♥ PROJECT ANGEL FOOD --- www.angelfood.org

I ♥ FEEDING AMERICA --- www.feedingamerica.org

I ♥ ST. JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL --- www.stjude.org

I ♥ M·A·C VIVA GLAM --- www.maccosmetics.com

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

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THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, GIVE GIFTS THAT GIVE BACK!

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TOMS SHOES
http://www.tomsshoes.com

For every pair of shoes purchased, TOMS gives a second pair to a child in need.

"Most children in developing countries grow up barefoot. Whether at play, doing chores or just getting around, these children are at risk.
Walking is often the primary mode of transportation in developing countries. Children can walk for miles to get food, water, shelter and medical help. Wearing shoes literally enables them to walk distances that aren't possible barefoot."
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PRODUCT (RED)
www.joinred.com
A percentage of all (RED) purchases goes to the global fund to fight AIDS in Africa.

Find (RED) items from these (RED) partners:
Starbucks, GAP, Apple, Dell, American Express, Hallmark, Nike, Bugaboo, Converse, Armani, and more!
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THE ONE CAMPAIGN
www.one.org
There are plenty of great items at the ONE Store that would make great gifts and help to eliminate poverty around the world.
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MAC COSMETICS
www.maccosmetics.com
Every cent of the selling price of VIVA GLAM Lipstick and Lipglass is donated to the M·A·C AIDS Fund to support men, women, and children living with HIV and AIDS.
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VINOFINA
http://www.vinofina.com/

Give someone a great bottle of wine and support charities and non-profits with every bottle sold! This is a great gift and a great way to support a good charity!
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HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN STORE
http://shop.hrc.org/

Give the gift of equality and support the Human Rights Campaign with every penny!
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LOLIPOP BY JONATHAN LEON
http://www.lolipop.ca/

Buy the most desired glass jewelry in the world! Not only will you have something special to add to your jewelry box, you'll also be helping a good cause with your purchase. A percentage of your sale goes to charity!
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UEND:POVERTY
http://www.uend.org/dt/


UEnd: (formerly ChristmasFuture) was launched to help inspire and empower North Americans to refocus a portion of their gift giving budget towards strategic and sustainable projects in the developing world - to help end extreme poverty.

Our website makes it easy for people to take a small percentage of their gift giving and redirect it towards the eradication of extreme poverty. Gift givers can send an online gift card to friends, families or co-workers. The gift recipient then allocates their gift money towards a poverty intervention project that interests them. Or people can give directly.

This new way to give puts the power of change into everyone's hands. And it creates a connection between the developed world and the developing world by changing the way people think about giving.

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There are many more ways to give back when buying gifts for the holidays. Get creative!

HAPPY SHOPPING!
♥always,
-BENGEE

DATING

THE PRE-DATE:
Don't call this a date. Consider it a first meeting! Even if you've already met. Keep it casual and keep it brief. This is not a date, so it should last just long enough for the two of you to learn the basics about each other. I would suggest going out for coffee or having a quick lunch at a small cafe. By not calling it a date, keeping it casual, and keeping it brief, you will relieve some of the all too common "first date anxiety" that we sometimes get.

THE FIRST DATE
I would definitely suggest dinner for this one! You want to be able to have a nice time and get to know each other. I certainly wouldn't suggest a trip to a the movies, because there's no chance of having any type of conversation. A restaurant is a great place to enjoy a nice dinner, a couple drinks, and a more involved conversation with your date. This date should last twice as long as your "Pre-Date" in order for you to get to know each other a little better. Find some common interests and focus your conversation on those for the evening. Have a good time!

THE SECOND DATE:
Make this one a fun one! Have a nice dinner, then go out for drinks and dancing!  Stay engaged in conversation during dinner, then have a blast for the remainder of your third date. If you don't feel like drinking and/or dancing, find something else fun to do! Get creative! There are plenty of things to do, you just have to think!

THE THIRD DATE:
Now it's okay to limit the conversation. You've already spent quite a bit of time learning about each other. So now would be an acceptable time to see a movie with your date. Just avoid action and/or sci-fi movies! Either would be a rather poor selection for a date. Maybe somewhere around your 386th date!

THE FOURTH DATE:
On this date, it would be okay for one of you to make the other dinner at home. Maybe even watch a movie after, but that's it! The fourth date is just a little too soon for sex. Not just yet!

THE FIFTH DATE:
Congratulations! You've made it to date number five! Now I give you the freedom to choose what you want to do. Without any guidelines! You're free to do whatever you desire! You can even invite your date to your place after to do what I told you not to on the last date. It's all up to you now!



JUST A FEW SUGGESTIONS:
-In between dates, don't text/call repeatedly. It gets annoying!
-Use your manners! If you don't have any, you better find some real quick!
-Boys, act like gentlemen. Girls, act like ladies. We're not cavemen/cave women!
-Don't be cheap! If you plan to pay for everything, don't go to a restaurant where you can't afford everything on the menu.
-Last but certainly not least: DON'T DISCUSS EXES OR PAST DATES! Rude/Uncomfortable much?

HEALTH AND BEAUTY TIPS

~FACE:
     >Do a back bend, head stand, or just bend over forward to get the blood flowing and give your tired face a boost!
     >Fill an ice cube tray and add shots of lemon juice and olive oil to each cube. Rub the frozen cubes on your face to liven up your complexion.

~EYES:
     >Dip cotton balls in coffee and rub under your eyes to get rid of puffiness and/or dark circles.
     >Place a chilled spoon under each eye to relieve puffiness and/or dark circles.
     >Use white eye liner on the inner membrane (bottom of your eye above lashes). This will open up your eyes and make you appear more awake.

+TEETH:
     >Always brush your teeth 2-3 time per day. (Morning, Mid-Day, Before Bed)

+TEETH WHITENING:
     >Mix a combination of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda until it forms a pasty substance. Use once every other day after brushing before bed.
     >Use a pre-brush whitening rinse rather than other store bought whitening products. It's less work and less harmful to your teeth.

+BODY:
     >Green tea is especially good for you. It's loaded with antioxidants. [After you've had a cup of green tea you can feel free to break open the bag and rub the leaves on your face. It's quite refreshing!]
     >During your hot shower, give yourself a few blasts of cold water here and there. This will help to improve circulation.
     >For excessive underarm perspiration, hold a slice of lemon under each arm for 15-30 minutes.
     > Go to bed no less than 7.5 hours before you have to be awake the next morning. Not only will you be well rested, this tip may also cause you to lose a couple pounds.
     >Try to limit your caffeine consumption. This will help you sleep easier and more soundly at night.
     >Find a bedtime routine. If you find something calm and relaxing to do every night before bed, your mind will begin to associate this routine with sleep.

+DIET:
     >Lay off the junk food! Need I say more?
     >Make sure at least two of your daily meals include the following: 60% Carbs, 25% Protein, and 15% Fat.

+ 3 STEPS FOR AN EFFECTIVE WORKOUT:
     >Cycle at 13MPH and burn 600 calories per hour.
     >Power walk at 4MPH and burn 250 calories per hour.
     >Use the stair master/stair stepper as a tool to burn calories an tone your muscles!

A SHORT LOVE STORY

I sat there waiting for him to confess his undying love for me. I could see that he was at a loss for words and it scared the life out of me. I had no idea what to expect when he opened his mouth. He appeared to be calm, but I could tell that he was feeling anxious. I continued to wonder what he was about to say, but he just sat still.

Finally, he opened his mouth. I heard exactly what I wanted to hear and it set my mind at ease. He sipped his coffee, looked me in eyes, and said "I love you". He said it carefully and delicately, just to make sure I heard it the first time. After all, it took him so long to get the words out, he wouldn't want to have to repeat them.

I responded by resting my hand gently on his, leaning towards him, and whispering those same words softly into his ear. We spent the next few minutes finishing our lattes and gazing into each other's eyes.

After we had finished our coffees, we walked for what seemed like forever. We hadn't spoken a word to each other for 13 blocks. When we reached my East Village apartment, our eyes met again. We both had stupid looking grins on our faces, I suspected that they'd been there since we last spoke at the coffee shop.

I didn't know what else to do, so I told him to have a good night. He studied my face for a brief moment, leaned closer to me, and kissed me so passionately that I could have fainted. The tender touch of his lips made my whole body quiver. I could feel my heart pounding, as well as his. In an instant, my life was changed.

The next morning, I woke up to the sound of a garbage truck outside my bedroom window. This is the sound that I wake up to every Friday morning, but today it sounded different. In fact, as I looked around my apartment, a lot seemed different. I turned over to find a bright smiling face, with big blue eyes. He looked at me so lovingly. I felt like I was the only person on the planet. That's why everything felt so different.

We continued to lay there, wrapped in each others arms, for another ten minutes, until I suggested that we get dressed. He said, "We're already dressed. Aren't we?" I was puzzeled, but then I realized that we had both fallen asleep in the clothes we were wearing the night before.

SINGLE AND FABULOUS!!

Who's to say that being single isn't fun? Why is everyone so worried about being alone? The company of another individual is nice but when your relationship with that other person expires, you immediately become miserable until your next "destined to fail" relationship begins. Where's the sense in that? Why not be content and happy, rather than live your life in misery? Being single isn't so bad. I know of many "singles" that are perfectly satisfied with their lives, and they're absolutely fabulous! It's so much fun to date yourself. You can take yourself out shopping, get your hair done, go to dinner with friends, or maybe a movie. The best part is, we don't have to hear someone elses opinion! There is no rule book for dating, the only "rules" that exist are our own standards. If we set the standards, why are they so high? It's not like anybody expects anything from us. All of us, drowning in our lonliness, need a reality check. We don't need to feel like we have to have someone with us all the time, and when you do want company, where are your friends? Stop worrying about when your significant other is going to make their big debut in your life. Live for the moment! Being single is fabulous, take advantage of it!

GIVE ME A MINUTE!

Is it just me, or does it seem like everything is either moving way too fast or way too slow? There is never a moderate speed for time and it always seems to be racing against you. When you're trying to take it slow, time seems to gain speed. And then you have the times when you just can't wait to do something and time drags it's ass, almost as if it's laughing in your face. Time was obviously created to give order to every day life, but it seems to do the exact opposite. Instead of giving us order, it's actually creating chaos. Have you ever noticed that your life seems a little less chaotic, if you simply ignore the clock on the wall? I'm not suggesting that we dispose of time, I just think people need to starting taking time back. Perhaps we should take a moment to just relax, just a few minutes every day, without paying any attention to time. I feel no need for rushing to get something done, and I'm certainly not going to leave myself waiting for events to occur. I'm obviously not going to completely ignore time, I happen to be very orderly. It's just the short moments when I'm not paying attention to the time, the moments when I feel most relaxed.

 

So just give yourself some time to breathe. There's no need to be so tense and stressed out, you'll have plenty of time to be doing that later in life.

PROCEED WITH CAUTION!

We tend to find ourselves in situations that we can't find ways out of. In most cases, we don't even remember how we got into them. We fear the harmless, and yearn for the less desirable. Why is it that we feel a need for danger in our lives? Whether we find ourselves in a bad relationship or walk through a dark alley, what makes us do dangerous things? Is living dangerously the new form of rebellion? Or do we feel that our lives could use a little spicing up, so it's time to put ourselves in danger for that extra adrenaline rush? Whatever it is, we always regret doing it and end up wishing that we could get out of it or even just pretend it never happened. Why are we so afraid to do the things that are good for us, yet we live for the harmful things in our lives? From bad boyfriends to cigarettes, I can think of many harmful things. Unfortunately, I am unable to come up with one thing that would actually be good for me. We spend too much time avoiding the good stuff, we're really missing out on life. there is no time to discuss our pasts, because we're to busy planning our futures. However, I do suggest that we use our pasts as references when planning our futures. Maybe we could be more careful from now on and do good things with our time. Stay away from the harmful things that you run into, they'll only come back to haunt you.

ME.... IN A NUTSHELL!

I'm a rather complex person, so much that this may even be a little confusing to people. I'm just gonna get right to it and get it over with. This will certainly be very robotic and maybe even slightly annoying to read.

I am a very cultured person, with very big dreams. I like to try new things, especially foods that I've never eaten before. I enjoy all music and I follow certain artists, but I also like to listen to the less popular people. I have few friends, but many aquaintences. It doesn't bother me as much as you'd think because the friends that I do have are very important to me and quite frankly, I enjoy being alone sometimes. I'm over the boyfriend bullshit, it's probably the least important thing to me at this point. I've had my relationships for now, I think I'll wait a while for another one. I'm a relatively honest person, I will only lie if I don't want to get involved with something. I don't think those kinds of lies are bad, because it's my right to not want to be tangled up in an uncomfortable situation. I don't care when people judge me before they know me, because they have just as much right to judge me as I have to be myself. I enjoy being myself and I'd rather not be anybody else. I tend to set very high standards for myself and then get disappointed when I don't meet them. I tend to hide my emotions, but I will show them sometimes too. I take shit from no one, but I will give it right back to them. I model, but I'm not cocky and vain like everyone expects me to be. I refuse to live by the standards of society and I will not conform to the latest trends. I have my own style that constantly changes. I know that people judge me, but I will not judge them for doing so. There are many things that people could say about me, and I'm aware of every one of them. I guess you'd just have to have a conversation with me if you want to form better judgement of me.