STYLE | BEAUTY | ENTERTAINMENT | LIVING GRAND | RELATIONSHIPS
GRAND LIFE DAILY www.GRANDLIFEDAILY.com
FEBRURARY 2012 | MARCH 2012
FREE
Elektrik City
ANDRE MERRITT
GRAND
Love
Celebrity Couples Reveal Their Love Vince & Tamar, Lamar & Khloé + more
Dr. Ava’s Tips
Adult Playtime
MARCH IS MS AWARENESS MONTH
Learn The Basic Facts
A TASTE OF TH
HE GRAND LIFE
PLEASE ENJOY RESPONSIBLY
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Contents VOL. II NO. 2 FEBRUARY 2012 | MARCH 2012
FEATURES
INSIDE
10 COVER STORY: GRAND LOVE Celebrity couples tell us why their love is GRAND.
19 MONEY TO BLOW VOLUME 9 Valentine’s Day Edition
6 MARRIAGE RULES By Harriet Lerner
19 GRAND Style Hot Looks On The Red Carpet
22 ADULT PLAYTIME By Dr. Ava Cadell 7 ANDRE MERRITT SINGER/SONGWRITER By Stud Boogie 25 LAURA GOVAN Love & Happiness
GRAND
27 MS: THE BASIC FACTS March is MS Education and Awareness Month
Love Cover photograph courtesy of WE tv.
GRAND LIFE DAILY www.
GRANDLIFEDAILY.com
Forget the lifestyle of the rich and famous...we are creating a movement and lifestyle for the bold and extraordinary!
Grand Life Daily (GLD) is a movement and lifestyle for the smart, savvy and sexy; we
are redefining the meaning of living grand. We inspire, motivate, entertain, impress‌and at times, mesmerize! We are dispelling the myth that one has to be financially rich to live grand—living grand is for everyone! We paint a vivid picture of a very different and distinctive reality. A reality of grand health, grand style; and enough knowledge and power to set the stage for the legacy each of us are creating. Our readers are able to touch, feel, and enjoy the reality of truly living life grand each and every day!
5 | GrandLifeDaily.com
the better. Marriage Rules is based on decades of clinical practice (and a healthy, happy marriage) with concrete, practical advice that if followed will generate major changes in a relationship. It does take some practice … and a little humor. But anything worth doing takes a little time and effort. The rules are not hard and fast, all are adjustable to your own relationship needs. For example: Rule #4: Remember the 5:1 Ratio. Aim for a ratio of 5:1 positive to negative interactions. Remember back to the early parts of the relationship when all you could see were the interesting differences between yourself and your partner; resist the urge to automatically pay attention to the what we are critical about. Rather than “Why are you putting so much water in the pot for pasta?” try to comment on how you “loved the way humor was used to deal with the brother on the phone.” Try it for a week. Even a 2:1 ratio is a start. Rule #49: Don’t Demand an Apology. Some people just don’t like to apologize and everyone finds it hard to apologize if they feel “over accused.” Do request an apology, if you think it is due. But do not make the apology another fight, take non-verbal cues and statements as acts of apology and move forward.
R
elationships are complicated. When we share our lives with another person we tie our finances together, negotiate sexuality and deal with the countless decisions that daily life demands—not to mention our own personal baggage. When the anxiety of life spirals high enough, and lasts long enough, even the most mature relationship may begin to look like a dysfunctional one. Needless to say, coupling can get rough. However, the rules to a good marriage are not. Marriage Rules: A Manual for the Married and the Coupled Up by NYT bestselling author Harriet Lerner is the help we all seek in a quick, uncomplicated way. Known for her acclaimed books, including the bestselling Dance of Anger, clinical psychologist Dr. Lerner recognizes that sometimes all we need is a little common sense and some the willingness to turn off our relationship auto-pilot and do something bold, something to change our marriage for
Marriage Rules offers new solutions to age-old problems (“He won’t talk”/”She doesn’t want sex”) as well as modern ones (your partner’s relationship to technology.) Lerner teaches us how to talk straight, fight fair, listen well, connect, calm down, heat up, move on, and what to do when things fall apart. About Harriett Harriet Lerner, PH.D. , is one of our nations most loved and respected relationship experts. A renowned scholar on the psychology of women and family relationships, she is the author of The New York Times bestseller, The Dance of Anger , and other acclaimed books that together have sold over six million copies. A clinical psychologist in private practice, Lerner is a distinguished speaker, consultant and workshop leader. She has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show , CNN, and NPR and she hosts the “Dance of Connection” blog on psychologytoday.com. She is also, with her sister, an award- winning children’s book writer. She and her husband live in Lawrence, Kansas and have two grown sons.
GrandLifeDaily.com | 6
By: Stud Boogie
Photograph by: Jonavennci Divad
ANDRE MERRITT
A
ndre Merritt is an amazing Grammy Award Winning Singer/Songwriter who is very well known and respected in the music industry. He’s behind Rihanna’s Grammy Award winning hit “Disturbia” as well as Chris Brown’s Grammy award winning hit “Forever”. We caught up with the phenomenal Andre Merritt, at a photo shoot in New York City. He opened up about his accomplishments as a songwriter and his solo debut as an artist. GLD: Exactly who is Andre Merritt? Andre Merritt: ha, ha (chuckles) Singer, songwriter, brother, son, a renaissance man! GLD: What are your accomplishments in this music industry? Andre Merritt: My accomplishments are becoming a successful Grammy nominated songwriter, and getting heard. Every songwriter aspires to be successful. I’ve had three number 1’s and a number of top 10’s. I had a number one with Chris Brown’s “Forever”, Rihanna’s “Disturbia”, with Cheryl Cole. GLD: How have your talents been able to attract a roster of A-list artist? Andre Merritt: I try to work mainly with the Alisters out there. GLD: Understandable Andre Merritt : You aim high when you come into this game. I try and pride myself on working with the best. I feel like I’m one of the best so, I like to work with people that are at the top of their game. GLD : What is it about your talent that separates yourself to be able to draw these A-list talents to you? Andre Merritt : I don’t think my approach is any different from anyone else trying to break into the business or get signed. I just feel like I approach everything differently. I’m really good at studying. One good thing I tell a lot of songwriters is to study. Listen to what’s out there. I listen to what’s out there
and I try to go completely away from what’s on the radio and what I hear, but still maintain a sound that’s understandable by not only the artist but the people. I make records for people. It’s not made for the artist per say. It is… but for the most part we are a selling something. I just try to be different and add my own little spin to anything I do. GLD : Who have you worked with and are currently working with? Andre Merritt : I’m currently doing a lot of work with Willow Smith, Usher and Jason Derulo’s new album. I’m back in with Cheryl Cole. I’ve worked with artists from the likes of Natasha Bedingfield, Willow and Jaden Smith, Kelly Rowland, Omarion, Jesse McCartney, Backstreet Boys, and Britney Spears. There’s a big group overseas, one of the UK’s most popular bands, JLS. Just some names but the list goes on. There’s not a lot of artist out here at the moment. That’s pretty much it. I just wait until it comes. GLD : Tell us about your project Elektrik City? Andre Merritt: I worked with one producer, Agent X, out of London. They’re pretty dope. They sent me about 70 tracks. I just sat down with my managers, picked out different tracks, and strategically selected and wrote to them. I like to take credit myself for saying I helped Chris Brown in American Pop. When we first did “Forever”, there were no records on the radio like that. There were people that attempted to, but no record actually broke through and had enough appeal to make people say I want to go buy a dance record. It just kind of took off from there. It seemed like after “Disturbia” and “Forever” everything kind of was dance, four-on-the-floor. A lot of times I would get calls to do projects that were four-on-the-floor or euro-side; to the point where, I didn’t want to do anymore euro-side. But then again music is music. If something hits you, it inspires you, I say go with it. If it’s four-on-the-floor, oh well as long as it sounds good - as long as it has a life for itself.
GrandLifeDaily.com | 8
Photograph by: Jonavennci Divad Where can we get a copy of Elektrik City? You can get a free copy at my website [www. Elektrik-City.com]. That’s the best way to get it.
GLD : Well I’m a native New Yorker and I think you’ve hit it right on the nose. We love a new artist and someone who is aspiring to make it!
You original support seems to derive from the West Coast. What has your experience been like in NYC? I love New York. I used to come here a lot when I first got signed as a writer. It took a while. I felt like it was hot here, the weather, everybody moves fast, everybody’s hungry. Over the years New York has grown to be my favorite city to come to. As far as my artistry is concerned, I really love New York. I don’t think I’ve had a better reception with my artistry than I have had here. I think I’ve gotten a better reception here than I’ve gotten at home. New York just seems to be really about the arts. People love to come see people perform and sing…the whole community. That’s what I love about New York!
GLD: What is your definition of living grand? Andre Merritt : My definition of living grand is living out your dream, exceeding all expectations, doing what you want to do and not what someone else wants you to do!
9 | GrandLifeDaily.com
Follow Andre on Twitter @Andre_Merritt www.Elektrik-City.com
GRAND
Love
love [luvh] noun
- profoundly tender, passionate affection toward another person
Celebrity power couples talk about their love. Sharing with us - when they first knew and how they stay...in love.
Photograph by: Geore Rowe Photo Models: LaKisha Randolph and Camell Paige
Kenneth & Sylvia Kenneth Woods, CEO Sylvia’s Soul Food Restaurant, & wife Sylvia Woods, Real Estate Broker
GLD: When did you first realize you were in love? Kenneth: After dating for some time, I realized when we were not together nothing seem right. I was not complete without her. That is when I knew I was in love. Sylvia: We first realized we were in love after we realized that we wanted to be together much more than we wanted to be apart. GLD: What do you do to keep the romance alive? Kenneth: I always tell her I love you and we hold each other close all the time. Sylvia: We keep the romance alive by communicating with each other. We enjoy each other’s company. We try to get out as much as we can and our love for family keeps us centered and fully grounded. GLD: What do you love most about your partner? Kenneth: I love her eyes, her smile, her body, her soul, mind and spirit. Sylvia: What I love about my partner the most is his caring nature. He has a good heart. He always shares a moment of appreciation and love for me for my birthday, anniversary, Mother’s Day, etc. He is consistent and I can count on him. GLD: How has being in this relationship changed your life? Kenneth: My life has been so blessed by our marriage. I have no doubt that God put us in this world for each other and to be our best. Sylvia: Being in this relationship has changed my life for the better by allowing me to grow and develop into the woman I am. By allowing me freedom and space to still make decisions, make mistakes, and not hold them against me.
“He is consistent and I can count on him.” GLD: What advice would you give to other couples on staying happy? Kenneth: Always respect each other’s point of view. Each person is an individual and has differences, make every effort to accept and understand those differences. Sylvia: My advice would be to remember what attracted
you to the person, remember what you felt you had going on that attracted him. Then don’t lose it, fight to hold on to that. Have the highest level of respect at all times - good times and bad times. GLD: How do you keep your bond strong in the public eye? Kenneth: We stay true to our love for each other in public and private. Sylvia: Our bond in the public eye is strong. The way to keep it that way is to be real with each other in private. GLD: How do you deal with rumors? Kenneth: We don’t. We ignore them. Sylvia: We deal with rumors by not dealing with them. It is best to keep them out.
“I love her eyes, her smile, her body, her soul, mind and spirit.” GLD: When apart, what do you do to stay connected? Kenneth: We will talk by phone every day and always say I love you. Sylvia: When apart, we stay connected by phone or text. GLD: What is the biggest misconception you think people have about your relationship? Kenneth: I don’t know but maybe they think we have no challenges but we do. Sylvia: The biggest misconception about our relationship is that we don’t have challenges. We do but it’s all in how you see them and how you handle them. GLD: What do you think is needed in every relationship to make it last? Kenneth: God, trust and love. Sylvia: What is needed in every relationship to make it last is, first and foremost a true love for each other. What follows love is respect, followed by support of each other, then compromise and understanding. GrandLifeDaily.com | 12
Vince & Tamar
Vincent Herbert, Music Producer, and wife Tamar Braxton-Herbert, Singer/Songerwiter
GLD: When did you first realize you were in love? Tamar: I first knew I was in love about 8 years ago when Vince took me to my favorite place Disneyland. I knew then we were meant to be because I never met another person(man) for that matter,who LOVED it just like i did. GLD: What do you do to keep the romance alive? Tamar: We are both hopeless romantics.We love LOVE. We have date night a few times a week and he loves to send me flowers with messages like “because I love you”. I also remain his “homegirl” and to him, that’s sexy.
GLD: How do you keep your bond strong in the public eye? Tamar: Vince and I stay strong because we accept each others flaws. We already know what they are so we are not surprised about anything we see, hear or read. We also make sure we pray and keep God in the midst of our marriage. GLD: How do you deal with rumors? Tamar: We deal with rumors very simple -- We Don’t!! Rumors are lies and we don’t do those. Say whatever u like about us the bottom line is we are both in this for life.
GLD: What do you love most about your partner? Tamar: What I love the most about Vince is that he will listen and give you his HONEST advice. He also is a positive person and often has sweet thoughts and gestures even when things get crazy.
GLD: When apart, what do you do to stay connected? Tamar: Vince and I are hardly EVER apart. Its maybe one or two days at the most.... EVER! He’s my partner and we love doing things together, including our work.
“...we pray and keep God in the midst of our marriage.”
GLD: What is the biggest misconception you think people have about your relationship? Tamar: The biggest misconception about Vince and I is that our love is fake. I don’t get that. Like, what are people trying to say? we BOTH shouldn’t find true love in each other? people say I married him for money. REALLY?? He’s that dumb to fall for a wack chick like that? Vince is a VERY smart man and besides all that, I’ve been working since I was 13! I had my own house, Jag,Job with money put away when we met!
GLD: How has being in this relationship changed your life? Tamar: This relationship has changed my life because we don’t have to try. I’ve found myself before trying to “make things work!” We really like to be around each other...A LOT! I can be myself. He can be himself. We are also best friends and I’ve never had a relationship where I know a person inside and out. GLD: What advice would you give to other couples on staying happy? Tamar: The ONLY advice I could give another couple who wants to be happy is not to lie to your spouse. Be honest in everything you do. Trust is a big part of a lasting relationship.
GLD: What do you think is needed in every relationship to make it last? Tamar: What I think all relationships need in order to work is communication. Tell your spouse honestly how you feel. If you are happy tell them. If your not happy, tell them that too. We are all not mind readers. We all need to know when we are doing a good job at being a spouse or when we are not.
Photograph courtesy of WE tv. GrandLifeDaily.com | 14
Lamar
&
Khloe /
Lamar Odum, NBA Forward and wife Khloé Karadashian Odum, Reality Star Lamar and Khloé are hands down one of our favorite celebrity couples. Their courtship was straight out of a fairytale. They manage to amaze us with their love. Lamar and Khloé revealed some of their favorite things about one another to E!, showing us why their love is so GRAND.
Lamar’s tender side Khloé: He’s the sweetest, least confrontational person I’ve ever known. Some people have stereotypes about athletes being aggressive and territorial, but Lamar is a gentle little lamb. Lamar loves Khloe’s.... Khloé: Lamar always says he loves my eyes, Now, he also loves my booty and thighs! He says their very womanly, and he likes to squish them. But he loves my eyes.
Khloé when sh’es home Lamar: People might be surprised with how maternal Khloé and how natural is it for her to be a housewife. She cooks, cleans, and decorates - the whole thing. It’s like she is two different people: workaholic and housewife.
Trust and Jealousy Khloé: Lamar has no jealousy, Neither do I. We have the exact same morals. We married for life. I would never marry some one if we did not have trust in each other 150%.
Being in “the mood” Lamar: We are always in the mood. Pretty much a glance is all we need. Khloé’s obsession with Lamar Lamar: She loves my arms, chest, and legs. She tells me all the time how much she loves my body. She is definitely very verbal about what she likes and doesn’t like.
Lamar’s ritual Khloé: Sometimes Lamar pays homage to the people he’s lost in his life-his mother, grandmother, sonby writing their names with a sharpie on the shoes he’s wearing during a game.
Photograph by:
Khloé ‘s drive People don’t realize how hard Khloé and her sister work. They never sleep. They are always working. They motivate me and make me feel like I am slacking due to amount of time and energy they put into a project.
Lamar’s heros Khloé: He loves Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson, people who have paved the way for his career. But he also loves music, so he loves people like Stevie Wonder. He has a lot of respect for the older generation.
The new season fo Khloé & Lamar premieres Sunday, Feb. 19 at 10:00pm ET/PT on E!
Romantic Travel Destinations
Just in time for Valentines Day, Vayama’s experts in international travel, have compiled a list of places for both frugal and the not so frugal traveler along with the sites and sounds that highlight what makes each destination romantic.
Finish with an al fresco candlelit dinner in Rome’s Campo di Fiori piazza. That’s Amore.
Reykjavik, Iceland
London, England
Iceland might sound like the antithesis of a romantic tropical island, and it is! But that doesn’t mean that Iceland isn’t a sexy and romantic destination to sweep your loved one of their feet. Iceland’s Blue Lagoon Spa dials romance up to 11 with private suites, cocktails, sushi and matching bathrobes. The Blue Lagoon’s swim up bar and countless grottos and caves offer plenty of discreet corners for a kiss and a cuddle before you hit the town to partake in one of Europe’s wildest nightlife.
London might make its money in finance, but it is romance keeping the lights of the West End flashing. Take your loved to a musical play, followed by cocktails at the Ritz, and then head to Soho Square for bar hopping and dancing until dawn and that romantic stroll along the Thames River for a kiss atop the London eye.
Fly to Iceland from $430 roundtrip total /www.vayama.com
Paris, France
Fly to Rome from Rome $631 roundtrip total www.vayama.com
Fly to London from $557 roundtrip total www.vayama.com
You don’t have to be rich to enjoy romance in Venice, a kiss on the Vaporetto along the Grand Canal is just as romantic as a kiss on a gondola and a stroll along Venice’s bridges and narrow alleys is free and very, very romantic.
Paris is romance squared, although there is nothing square about the city of lights. A kiss is not just a kiss when it’s given atop the Eiffel tower or in the heights of Montmartre with the whole city spread at your feet. Take your loved one on a night cruise along the Seine River, followed by a visit to the Moulin Rouge or the Crazy Horse for cocktails and hijinks. Ou la la!
Fly to Venice from $631 roundtrip total www.vayama.com
Fly to Paris from $622 roundtrip total www.vayama.com
Rome, Italy
Verona, Italy
Rome is an open air museum to Romance. Take an evening stroll based on the movie “Roman Holiday” and stick your hand inside the ‘Bocca della Verità (The mouth of truth), with is romantically located in the grounds of the Roman church that houses the bones of St. Valentine (can’t get more romantic than that). Then rent a Vespa and drive around the coliseum just like Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn did in the movie.
Eternal romantics will fall for Verona’s charms. The Bard set his eternal story of love in fair Verona, among Capulets and Roman ruins. Don’t miss Juliet’s house, balcony included. Wherefore art thou Romeo?
Venice, Italy
Fly to Verona from $750 roundtrip total http://www.vayama.com GrandLifeDaily.com | 16
GRAND Style: The HOTTEST Loo
oks at VH1 Divas Celebrates Soul
All Photo Credits: Getty Images for VH1
MONEY TO BLOW: VOLUME 9 Valentine’s Day Edition
From vacations, to clothing, homes, accessories, electronics and so much more, the super wealthy just indulge in it all. Items that are so over the top, that I am sure will have us all shaking our heads and saying “man, if I had money to blow”.
Imperial Majesty $435,000 Clive Christian’s 500 ml No. 1 Imperial Majesty Edition has a unique scent which is a mixture of jasmine, cardamom, carnation, lemon, bergamot and benzoin but this incredibly high price comes from its diamond crusted bottle. The bottle comes with a dazzling white diamond embedded that could be worth alone about $215,000. We were able to find a bottle for women on amazon.com for $435,000 USD!
Clive Christian No. 1 $865 - $5,500 It is possible to purchase smaller editions of the Clive Christian No. 1 perfume for men and for women. The current price of a 50 ml bottle is $865 and it comes in a beautiful gold colored, opaque bottle adorned with a crown when purchased in the edition for men and a rich, ivory opaque bottle for the No. 1 edition for women. 19 | GrandLifeDaily.com
Another option for lovers of Clive Christian No. 1 is concentrated pure perfume, or parfum, in a leadcrystal bottle at a cost of $5,500. The bottle comes adorned with a brilliant cut white diamond. However, there are only 1,000 lead-crystal bottle editions released each year, which rapidly sell out and require long waiting lists. Clive Christian No. 1 can be found at Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman and Saks Fifth Avenue.
Gold of Kinabalu Orchid $5,000 The Gold of Kinabalu Orchid, is an endangered species of orchid and can only be found in one small fenced off area in the Kinabalu National Park in Malaysia. This extremely rare flower costs up to $5,000 USD for just one stem at a time! This incredibly expensive flower is also a very impractical gift, unless of course the occasion falls between April and May, because that is the only time of year that the Gold of Kinabalu Orchid blooms. Guess you’ll have to give your sweetheart an I.O.U.!
Knipschildt Chocolate $2,600 per lb
Rose Gold Yarmulke $1,285
Knipschildt Chocolatier was founded in 1999 by Fritz Knipschildt, who got his culinary education as a chef in Denmark. The most-expensive chocolate he sells--a $250 dark chocolate truffle with a French black truffle inside--is available on a preorder-only basis. It’s made of 70% Valrhona cacao, which is blended into a creamy ganache with truffle oil. The truffle is then hand-rolled with a dark truffle on the inside and dusted with cocoa powder.
Young & Ng’s Rose Gold Yarmulke is a head piece made of brass and rose gold plated. It is definitely a conversation starter. The line, designed by New York based Michelle Ng, is far from your typical jewelry line and the new Spring/Summer 2012 Collection has some really decadent, over the top, dramatic pieces.
Go to www.knipschildt.com, or visit his shop, Chocopologie, in Norwalk, CT.
Harry Winston Cufflinks $21,000
www.YoungandNg.com
Ferdinand Teddy Bear $630
is definitely one of the cutest!
The German teddy bear company, Steiff is responsible for the production many expensive collectible bears. Ferdinand is a Limited Edition Steiff Bear. He is more than 24” tall and made of the finest mohiar. Although he is not the most expensive bear ever made by Steiff, he
You can find Ferdinand at www.steiffusa.com.
www.harrywinston.com
Harry Winston Men by Thom Browne, Tahitian Pearl and Diamond Cuflinks. Cufflinks are made of Tahitian pearls, .45 CT pave’ diamonds in 18K white cold setting.
Crocodile Birkin $120,000
crocodile skin. Made to order at a Hermes Boutique.
Named after British singer/ songwriter Jane Birkin. The clasp boasts 10 carats of white diamonds and is made of
GrandLifeDaily.com | 20
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ADULT PLAYTIME By Dr. Ava Cadell
mischievousness, let go of inhibitions and get ready to have some overdue fun by surprising your partner with some naughty playtime! Foreplay is the essential time to get warmed up and create the mood for a night of fun. First, play Sensational Sense to create an atmosphere that is sure to stimulate both you and your partner in everyway possible. Find 5 items that enhance and heighten each one of your senses, so 10 items total. For the sense of sight, you can get fresh cut flowers or lingerie. For the sense of smell, try scented candles or incense. For sound, play romantic music or get some wind chimes. The sense of taste can be enhanced with chocolates or fresh fruit. And the sense of touch can be heightened by the use of feathers or massage oil. If you both choose the same thing for one of the senses, the first one to exchange it with something else gets to have a sensual massage first. Once we grow up and take on our adult responsibilities, it becomes all too easy to leave our playful, carefree attitudes at the door- especially the bedroom door. Monotony, no more! It is time get the spark and spunk back into your relationship with the help of Dr. Ava Cadell, author of The Sexy Little Book of Sex Games. Call on your inner
When it comes to playing games with your lover, there is no such thing as a winner or loser, everyone benefits from these games. So keep your competitive juices flowing and play Lending a Hand. Take turns massaging yourself in front of your partner with an added twist; place your hand on your partner’s hand as they touch themselves. You’ll get to feel their motions and learn their touch GrandLifeDaily.com | 22
style, which can translate into giving even better, spot-on massages. Now that you are warmed up from head to toe, it is time to play A Little Head or Tail. All you need to play this game is a coin and a naughty list to have fun all night long. Make a naughty list of sexy actions like erotic talk, sexy positions and role-playing for the winner to choose from. Just keep flipping the coin and keep choosing from the list. Finally, make the most of the main event by exploring your personal playground, your entire home. Keep sex out of the bedroom for undiscovered fun and wild variety. Get kinky in the kitchen with Spatula Spanking or Body Basting. Move to the laundry room to play Giant Vibrations by sitting on top of your tumble dryer while it’s drying your clothes and let yourself feel the vibrations ripple through your loins. Better still; tell your lover that you want to be rewarded for your hard work by making love on top of the tumble dryer for a unique sensation you’ll talk about for months to come. Then, bring the life back into your living room with a game of The Ritual. Start by christening all the furniture in your living 23 | GrandLifeDaily.com
room by having sex in different positions on every chair, on the couch, on the floor, the piano, against the bookcase, in front of the TV, and on or below the coffee table (as long as it’s safe). You’ll have so much fun seeing family and friends sitting or eating at places where you’ve had sex. Lastly, get things extra steamy in your personal pleasure palace, the bathroom. To play Sponge Babe, surprise your lover with a sensual sponge bath and explore his or her erogenous zones. Be creative with scented soaps, such as lavender, almond, or sandalwood. Use perfumed oils to increase your lover’s olfactory pleasure. In this game, the receiver must be the giver of a sponge bath after making love. An open mind and playful attitude are the sexiest qualities you can bring to the table. Don’t let your relationship go stale; instead keep it lively and fresh. After all, the couple that plays together stays together! For many more fun ways to spice up your sex life and keep your relationship fresh check out The Sexy Little Book of Sex Games by Dr. Ava Cadell available at www.Amazon.com.
Coming Soon
REEM DENIR #GREATEXPECTIONS
Laura Govan LOVE & HAPPINESS
Photograph by: Jonavennci Divad 25 | GrandLifeDaily.com
L
aura tells us about being in love, setting a
date and what she’s currently working on. GLD: What does love mean to you? Laura: To me, all love is unconditional. For someone to say they love you and it not be unconditional, then that’s not real love. Love is that tingly feeling you feel in your gut that let’s you know everything is going to be alright. I feel that for my family, my children, my fiancee and my friends. GLD: Have you ever been in love? Laura: I believe so. I’m in love now! It’s the best feeling in the world and I really hurt for those who’ve never felt this feeling before. It’s a feeling of security and happiness I can’t describe.
“...all love is unconditional” GLD: Describe your first date with Gilbert. Laura: Our first date was one that I will never forget. From day one I can honestly say I was myself. I didn’t put up a front or pretend to be something that I wasn’t. I was like “this is me player, take it or leave it”. Instead of going to dinner and movie like most people, I was like “let’s go to a gun range”, I wanted to see what he was working with and he impressed me. We’ve been together ever since!
GLD: Congratulations on your engagement, do you have a date set? Laura: We are definitely planning to get married sometime this year. I’m keeping the date under wraps for now. I’m not really into the big hoopla that comes with weddings. I just want it to be something intimate and exclusive with our closest friends and family. I don’t want people there who are going to be wishing us well on that date and then afterwards secretly pray for a downfall. GLD: What do you find sexy in a man? Laura: Hmmm. The sexiest thing to me is confidence. I don’t know what it is, it gives a man a mysterious edge. It intrigues me. I also like a man who’s affirmative! Take control & remind me who’s in charge every now and then! I’m such a strong woman so it’s important that my man doesn’t feel inadequate by my presence! GLD: Who’s the lucky guy that gets to call himself your “valentine” this year? Laira:The love of my life! (she winks and smiles) GLD: What are you currently working on? Laura: What am I not working on is the question! I have a work out DVD coming out soon. A lot of people are asking how I lost weight and so I’m going to show people exactly how I did it step by step. It wasn’t easy but it definitely wasn’t as hard as I imagined it to be. The DVD is for everyone male and female but specifically for new mom’s who’ve just given birth and want to drop that extra baby weight like I did. I’m also working on different children products that are both educational and entertaining as well!
GrandLifeDaily.com| 26
What is multiple sclerosis?
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, unpredictable disease of the central nervous system (the brain, optic nerves and spinal cord). It is thought to be an autoimmune disorder. This means the immune system incorrectly attacks the person’s healthy tissue. MS can cause blurred vision, loss of balance, poor coordination, slurred speech, tremors, numbness, extreme fatigue, problems with memory and concentration, paralysis, blindness and more. These problems may be permanent or may come and go. Most people are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, although individuals as young as 2 and as old as 75 have developed it. MS is not considered a fatal disease, as the vast majority of people with MS live a normal life-span. But the unpredictability of the disease can present many challenges, including the possibility of facing increasing limitations.
Who gets MS?
Anyone may develop MS but there are some patterns. at least two to three times more women than men have been diagnosed with MS. Studies suggest that genetic factors make certain individual more susceptible than others, but there i no evidence that MS is directly inherited MS occurs in most ethnic groups, including African-Americans, Asians and Hispanics/Latinos, but is more common in Caucasians of northern European ancestry. Kim, diagnosed in 1986.
GRAND LIFE DAILY is joining the national com-
munity in recognizing March as Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Education and Awareness Month. The goals of this campaign are to promote an understanding of the scope of this disease, and to assist those with MS in making educated decisions about their healthcare. There are some common misconceptions about the MS and the National MS Society has shared the most frequently asked questions and the facts about the disease. 27 | GrandLifeDaily.com
How many people have MS?
Approximately 400,000 Americans have MS, and every hour someone is newly diagnosed. Worldwide, MS affects about 2.1 million people. These numbers can only be estimated because the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) do not require U. physicians to report new cases, MS disease activity can occur without person being aware of it, and symptom may be completely invisible.
What are the typical symptoms of MS?
Symptoms of MS are unpredictable; they can vary from person to person, and from time to time in the same person. For example: One person may experience abnormal fatigue and episodes of numbness and tingling. Another could have loss of balance and muscle coordination making walking difficult. Still another could have slurred speech, tremors, stiffness and bladder problems. Sometimes major symptoms disappear completely, and the person regains lost functions. In severe MS, people have permanent symptoms that might include partial or complete paralysis and difficulties with vision, cognition, speech and elimination.
Is MS fatal?
Most people living with MS have a normal or nearnormal life expectancy. In rare cases, however, MS is so malignantly progressive it is terminal. Severe MS, and related complications, can shorten life.
Does MS always cause paralysis?
No. The majority of people with MS do not become severely physically disabled. Two-thirds of people living with MS remain able to walk, though many will need an aid, such as a cane or crutches, and some will use a scooter or wheelchair because of fatigue, weakness, balance problems, or to help conserve energy.
What can be done about MS now?
There is much one can do to manage the disease and the symptoms it can cause. Medications that have been shown to “modify” or slow down the course of MS have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In addition, many therapeutic and technological advances are helping people manage symptoms. Advances to stop disease progression and restore lost function are made every year, and increased understanding of MS and the potential cause(s) brings us closer to the goals of stopping the disease in its tracks, restoring function, and ending MS forever.
What medications and treatments are available?
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society recommends that people consider treatment with one of the FDA-approved “disease-modifying” therapies as soon as possible following a definite diagnosis of MS with active, relapsing disease. In many instances, starting therapy is recommended after an initial demyelinating episode (“clinically isolated syndrome”) that places a person at high risk for developing clinically definite MS. These medications help to lessen the frequency and severity of MS attacks, reduce the accumulation of lesions (areas of damage) in the brain, and may slow the progression of disability. The FDA has also approved a disease modifying therapy for reducing disability and/or the frequency of attacks in patients with secondary-progressive, progressive-relapsing or worsening relapsing-remitting MS. This medication is a chemotherapeutic agent. The lifetime dose is limited to prevent heart damage. In addition to therapies that address the underlying disease process, there are many medications and rehabilitation strategies to address MS symptoms such as spasticity, pain, bladder problems, fatigue, sexual dysfunction, weakness, and cognitive problems. People should consult a physician to develop a comprehensive approach to managing their MS.
Why is MS so difficult to diagnose?
In early MS, symptoms that might indicate any number of possible disorders can come and go. Some people have symptoms that are very difficult for physicians to interpret, and these people must often “wait and see.” While no single laboratory test is yet available to prove or rule out MS, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI ) is a great help in reaching a definitive diagnosis. For more information go to www.nationalMSsociety.org. GrandLifeDaily.com| 28
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