In honor of breast cancer awareness month, I am dedicating this issue of Agenda Magazine to my dear friend Susan Cody Tosches–who encompasses the strength that women need to fight against breast cancer and win. Susan has fought so much adversity in her own life, yet still manages to put a smile on our faces. She has worked hard to stay alive and has beaten the odds countless times. And now, she might be facing another battle.

(Written by Kaylene Peoples)

Almost 50 years have passed, and Barbie has played a big part in setting fashion trends. This quest to be fashionable started with the original founder of Mattel, Ruth Handler, the mother of the original Barbie. Mattel Corporation told her that the doll would never have mass appeal and would be too expensive to manufacture. But after exhausting her efforts to design a doll, and even getting designers to create her clothes, Mattel finally conceded and made the first Barbie®doll in 1959. That first year, Barbie sold at $3.00 a doll and was a huge success. If you think about inflation and the cost of living, the increase in housing, transportation and travel, the Barbie®doll really hasn’t increased in price that significantly. The average doll only sells for as low as $7.00 and still appeals to the same demographic.

(Written by Natalie Martin)

I’ve found people who think they’re being pro-Bush actually disagreeing with what he and his cabinet members say, because they are so quick to distrust their own eyes and ears in favor of a transitory statement from this country’s leaders. Perhaps it’s because of our own inherent inability to admit fault. Read (or “troll”) the Yahoo! message boards and you’ll find many pro-Bush people saying that al Qaeda and Hussein and al-whoever all sat down for kabobs while plotting to destroy America–and these message posters think they’re defending the administration.

I have been doing the online dating thing and hooked up with a really nice guy who has everything I want. He even owns his own home. Here’s my problem: I totally lied on my dating application. I lied about my age, my hobbies. I lied about liking Monday night football. I didn’t reveal the fact that I was married before. We’ve been going out for a month now, and I am terrified of being found out.

(Written by Marilyn Anderson)

Ohhhhh, weddings, engagements, anniversaries—they all mean romance! But why limit romance to special occasions? Pick any night, and whisk your honey off to an enchanting getaway. Just an hour and a half drive from Los Angeles is one of the most romantic places in the world.

(Written by Natalie Martin)

Although undocumented immigrants come in all nationalities and political ideologies, it seems that the only group ever to garner interest among legislators and voters consistently has been the “brown” people. And why not? They’re easiest to spot, and they make for great immediate vilification when the public needs to be distracted from the attention being paid to high gasoline costs and runaway budgets and an unending war. But, in fairness to both those who vilify illegal immigrants and those who wish to offer amnesty to anyone who touches American soil, let me suggest some options.

Naissance on Melrose is one of the premiere stylish maternity boutiques. Since its inception people have followed the trend. NOM was created because the owner, Jennifer Noonan, felt a need in the fashion industry for stylish maternity wear. During both of Jennifer’s pregnancies, she was very disappointed with her shopping experience, so she opened up a small boutique in Calabasas, California, and then NOM in Los Angeles.

Bella Dahl has been around for almost six years, and two years ago Bella Dahl Maternity was created based on the need for cool, sexy maternity wear in the same vein as Bella Dahl, a very contemporary, sexy fitting jeans line. Head designer Lynn Keys came up with a very successful product with a sexy fit and cool styling; very contemporary, very hip.

Adina helps three women cope with their very interesting circumstances. One woman has a friend with body odor, another is being rushed into a relationship, the third is in an interracial marriage with tactless in-laws. Read how Adina solves their dilemmas.

It can happen during the most inopportune or most fitting of times, and it can strike anywhere. From buying lunch at a deli, browsing a supermarket isle, or busing it to work, to walking one’s dog, waiting at the doctor’s office, or working out at the gym, individuals evaluate one another. Depending on their single status or sometimes even lack thereof, gutsy guys and gals approach the apple of their eye, attempting to break the ice and achieve a friendly rapport with hopes it may lead to more.

(Written By Patricia Lee)