Women in America: Indicators of Social and Economic Well-Being

In honor of Women’s History Month, the White House in conjunction with the White House Council on Women and Girls released the new report entitled, Women in America: Indicators of Social and Economic Well-Being.

The report summarized how women of today are faring as oppose to how we were doing in the ’70’s, and decades after. The report focused on six topics, people; families and income, education; employment; health; crime and violence. It breaks down by age and demographics how we are faring in each topic.

I know what you’re saying, how can anyone possibly quantify or summarize the experiences of women around the country? Take this report as more of a referendum on the totality of the experience of being a woman in the United States of America in 2011. Take a look after the cut for my thoughts.

Read the rest of this entry »

REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

As Christmas swiftly approaches, the first family is once again swept up in a cacophony of Christmas tree lightings, holiday previews and do-gooding. They don’t mind of course, its all tradition. This Thursday President Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and their daughters will light the National Christmas Tree at the 88th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting.

They’ll join rapper Common, who is set to host the annual event on the Ellipse in President Park, Washington D.C. B.B. King, Maroon 5, Sara Bareilles and others will perform at the event that will broadcasted on public television stations December 10, and streaming live on TheNationalTree.Org on December 9.  And for all you folks that are young at heart, our very own Mrs. O will read, “Twas the Night Before Christmas.”

Ho, ho, ho

-Angel

President Obama at a seafood restaurant/ AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File

In an obvious show of faith, President Obama held a BBQ this past weekend at the White House specifically featuring seafood from the Gulf of Mexico. President Obama is launching a seafood safety initiative to help business owners in the area, and quell Americans fears that seafood from that area may be rotten.  NBA stars like Kobe Bryant and Chris Paul showed up at the barbecue as well.

According to Politico Click, guests to the BBQ included:

Denver Nuggets small forward Carmelo Anthony

Houston Rockets small forward Shane Battier 

Denver Nuggets point guard Chauncey Billups

Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (not playing)

Los Angeles Lakers point guard Derek Fisher

Los Angeles Lakers power forward Pau Gasol

Phoenix Suns swingman Grant Hill

Miami Heat small forward LeBron James

Los Angeles Lakers Hall-of-Fame point guard Earvin “Magic” Johnson

Connecticut Huskies forward Maya Moore

Retired Miami Heat center Alonzo Mourning

New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul

Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose

Boston Celtics Hall-of-Fame center Bill Russell

Oklahoma City center Etan Thomas

Miami Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade

-Angel

First Lady Michelle Obama / MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images

According to a press release from the White House, the fashionable and fearless First Lady Michelle Obama will be traveling to Spain for a mother-daughter trip in August! While in Spain, Mrs. O will pay an official visit to Their Majesties King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain at their invitation.

President Obama will not be in attendance for the festivities. Bring me back some spices, Mrs. O!

-Angel

Serena Williams for Harpers Bazaar/ Photo by Terry Richardson

Looks like 2010 Wimbledon Champion Serena Williams is going to be sidelined for a while because of a nasty cut on her foot, ouch! The tennis star was suppose to join first lady Michelle Obama for interactive tennis activities with kids as a part of her Let’s Move! South Lawn Series. According to Williams reps;

“…the tennis star cut her foot and has been sidelined from playing both at the White House and in her scheduled World Team Tennis matches next week…”

Williams is “dissapointed” and will be replaced by World Team Tennis co-founder Billie Jean King.

The South Lawn Series features a range of events throughout the summer and fall to bring local children, sports leagues, community programs and coaches to the South Lawn to participate in sports, games and activities.

-Angel

Beyonce leaving her hotel to perform at the White House / Photo via Just Jared

Last night, diva extraordinaire Beyonce performed at the White House as entertainment for President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama’s dinner honoring the President of Mexico Felipe Calderon and his wife, Margarita Zavala.

Popular Mexican guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela also performed at the event.

Other celebrities in attendance were Eva Longoria, Whoopi Goldberg and George Lopez. Well, this State Dinner obviously went off flawlessly! Congrats to the new Social Secretary Juliana Smoot!

-Angel

The White House has just released the 2010 White House Easter Egg design, which includes the includes the stamped signatures of the President and First Lady. The egg comes in four colors, purple, pink, green and yellow. The Obamas chose to follow their credo of only using environmentally friendly products by having the egg be crafted in the United States from Forest Stewardship Council-certified hardwood. Here are some stats about the egg straight from the White House:

• Made from Sustainability Forest Initiative (SFI) – certified paperboard
• SFI paperboard uses no wood fibers from endangered forests
• The printed carton is easily recyclable when collected and processed in a municipal or community Paperboard Recycling Program
• Features vegetable oil-based inks and a water-based coating

The divingly designed egg will be given to children 12 and under as a souvenir at the 2010 White House Easter Egg Roll, which is to take place on April 5th on the South Lawn. Lucky for you, the National Park Foundation will be selling them all through the month.

Enjoy!

-Angel

The Obama's at the White House Easter Egg Roll/ Photo by Lawrence Jackson

President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama have announced the date for this year’s White House Easter Egg Roll. The annual tradition that dates back to 1878 will be held on Monday, April 5, 2010 with the theme of “Ready, Set, Go!,” tying in Mrs. Obama’s health and wellness campaign for kids.

The event will feature live music, sports courts, cooking stations, storytelling and Easter egg rolling. It’s rumored that the cast of Fox’s “Glee” have been invited to perform at the event, along with Reese Witherspoon.

Now what you’ve been waiting for! You can be entered in a national lottery to win tickets to the White House Easter Egg Roll! Entries for the 2010 White House Easter Egg Roll Online Lottery will be accepted starting

Malia and Sasha Obama at the White House Easter Egg Roll/Photo by Win McNamee, Getty Images

Thursday, February 25th at 12:01AM (EST) through Sunday, February 28th at 11:59PM (EST). The entries will be accepted HERE. So bookmark it, and set your calenders, I’m sure the net will be jammed with submissions.

The event is held on the White House lawn annually, and this year activities are designed to get kids moving and exercising, in keeping with Mrs. O’s Let’s Move! Initiative.

Enjoy,

-Angel

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

First lady Michelle Obama was on the Today Show this morning, rocking a dress by designer and socialite Rachel Roy.  Among the topics that Matt Lauer and Mrs. O discussed was her much talked about and highly anticipated childhood obesity initiative. The interview was shot in the White House Old Family Dining Room yesterday.

Do you think Michelle Obama’s childhood obesity initiative will be effective? Watch it, and let me know!

-Angel

President Obama with the Los Angeles Lakers at the White House

In surely one of President Obama’s favorite moments from being in the White House so far, the president greeted and congratulated the Los Angeles Lakers today at the White House for winning their 15th NBA Championship.

Of course socialite/ Keeping Up with the Kardashian’s star Khloe Kardashian was there to bask in her hubby

Khloe Kardashian-Odom Meets President Obama in the White House East Room, AP Photo/Alex Brandon

Lamar Odom’s glory, and even shook hands with the president herself. Congresswoman Laura Richardson was also in the building, as she represents the district in Cali that the Lakers fall under.

Magic Johnson also came to the ceremony, and had Obama joking about his 1991 victory over his hometown team the Chicago Bulls;

“Magic did pretty well during his time with the Lakers…he wasn’t bad.”

In true witty Obama fashion, he remarked to the Lakers head Coach Phil Jackson that he could teach the bipartisan playing congress a little about diplomacy;

“I was hoping that, Coach, you were going to bring some books for Republicans and Democrats in Congress maybe to get them to start playing like a team together.”

He also had to acknowledge superstar Kobe Bryant for being name the Finals MVP last year, calling him one of the most competitive players he’s ever seen,

“[He's] … the youngest player ever to reach 25,000 points in his career.  And he’s playing with a broken finger.  Now, if I was — if I had a broken finger I would have trouble getting out of bed.  And he’s still leading the team day in and day out.”

Apparently right before the ceremony, the players held a fitness clinic for kids from the Stanton Elementary School in DC, for the United We Serve initiative.

-Angel