Lesbian Exclusive Exchange

In celebration of its 20th Anniversary, the 2010 Girl Bar Dinah Shore Week will rock your world with live performances by blockbuster talent of global proportions.
Back by demand, outrageous comediennes Michele Balan, Poppy Champlin & Dana Goldberg will leave you rolling with laughter at “FUNNY GIRLZ 5!”
Hotel Zoso Ballroom 8pm Thursday 1 April
Celebrity DJ Samantha Ronson spins the sounds and R&B powerhouse Kelis (“Acapella,” “Milkshake” & “Bossy”) will shake things up live at the popular  “PURE WHITE PARTY.” Hotel Zoso Ballroom 8pm Friday 2 April
Breakthrough dance music sensation Kaylah Marin (“On The Floor” – Billboard Top 5 Dance Hit), Number 1 Billboard Dance Artist Erika Jayne (“Stars”) & worldwide chart-topper Shontelle (“Licky-Under the Covers”) will make some waves at the "WET N WILD" pool party. The hotel's pool is newly remodeled & absolutely amazing! Renaissance Palm Springs(formerly Wyndham) 9am Saturday 3 April.
Australian-born, Sri Lankan singer-songwriter Yasmine, will keep things cool  & smooth with sultry jazz, blues & soul at the CHILL OUT pool party. Hotel Zoso Saturday 3 April.
Hilarious Actress/Comedienne Jennifer Coolidge (“American Pie,” “Legally Blonde” & “Best in Show”) makes a rare comedy appearance at our SPECIAL BENEFIT EVENT for the Human Rights Campaign Fund. Hotel Zoso Ballroom 7:30pm Saturday 3 April
Grammy-winning superstar (Destiny’s Child) Kelly Rowland (“When Love Takes Over”) hits the stage live at Girl Bar’s main event, “CIRCUS A GO-GO,”  & count em...30... world-famous Girl Bar Go-Go’s keep the action going, along with Hoopnotica Girls, showing off the latest craze. Renaissance Hotel Grand Ballroom 8pm Saturday 3 April
Michael Jackson’s hot guitarist Orianthi (“This Is It!”) rocks Girl Bar’s world with a not-to-be-missed performance at "SPLASH," the hottest pool party of the weekend.   Renaissance Palm Springs 9 am Sunday 4 April
Tickets, hotel & event passes on sale now. Special room rates still available. More info @ dinahshoreweekend.com. Hurry girls, you are running out of time!

Is your purse or wallet leaking? Whether it's careless spending or tiny indulgences that add up over time, these little drips can add up to big bucks. Plug them up and watch your savings grow.
Here are 15 common ways we girls waste money. If any sound familiar, look for ways to stop the bleeding.
1. New Nina: Cars, books, toys, exercise equipment and furniture can be purchased used for a fraction of the cost new ones, often in perfect condition.
2. Credit Carrie: If you have a $1,000 balance on a card charging 18%, you blow $180 every year on interest. Get in the habit of paying off your balance in full each month.
3. Ida Impulse: When you impulse buy you rarely get the best price.  Resist the urge, go home and sleep on the decision. If you still want to buy the item the next day check your budget and go for it. Sometimes, you'll decide you don't need the item after all.
4. Surcharge Sally. A buck or two here and there may not seem like a big deal. But surcharges can really add up.
5. Dine Out Dinah: A habit of spending $10-$20 per person for lunch or dinner can be a huge drain on your wallet. Learn to cook, pack your lunch and brew your coffee at home- you could save a hundreds of dollars each year.
6. Lazy Linda: If you keep your savings in your checking account, you are wasting money. Move a lump sum into a savings account that pays you interest and you’ll get paid to save.
7. Brand Babe: From groceries to clothing to prescription drugs, you could save money by choosing the off-brand or generic over the label. And in many cases, you won't sacrifice quality. Clever advertising and fancy packaging don't make brand-name products better than store brands.
8. Wasteful Wilma: 40% of your energy bill is consumed when the appliances are turned off. Pull the plug on appliances with a clock or that operate by remote whenever possible. 
9. Fiona Fee: Overdraw your checking account and you'll pay a $20 fee or more each time. Keep a close eye on your balance.
10. Needless Nelly: This sounds like a no-brainer to avoid, but how many times have you seen something on sale and thought you couldn't pass it up? Even if something is 50% off, you're spending too much if you don't need it. Coupons can be a great way to save on your grocery bills, but if you buy things you won’t use just because you have a coupon, you're wasting money.
11. Ida Ignore: Don't discount the discount store. Go there first, before Target or the grocery store. You can real deals on cleaning supplies, small kitchen tools, soap and toiletries, holiday decorations, greeting cards and gift wrap.
12. Unhealthy Ursula: Smoking not only damages your health, it burns up your cash. That daily $6 pack costs you $2,190 a year. Daily runs to the convenience store can be pricey as items are 50% more than at a regular grocery store. 
13. Unassuming Sue: When was the last time you shopped around to determine whether you're getting the best deal on your car insurance or other service? Rates vary each year and with each insurance company. 
14. Bankroll Betty: If you get a tax refund each April, you loan the government too much money via the taxes taken from your paycheck all year long. Put that money in your pocket by adjusting your tax withholding. Make sure to save year-round so you can pay your tax bill, but make money on the interest in the meanwhile.
15. Pointless Pia: How many cable channels do you really watch? Do you really need all those extra features for your cell phone? Are you getting your money's worth out of that gym membership? Take a look at what you pay for and what you actually use and cut what you don’t.

 It’s been rough out there, ladies! Many of us have recently lost our jobs or taken pay cuts. Some of us want to change careers and it seems impossible. How do we improve the situation? Does a cut in your hours mean cutting out daily vanilla lattes? How can we find a new job or make ends meet in such a difficult economic year? 
 Lesbian Life, Love & Career Coach Barb Elgin shares her tips for weeding through this trying financial time: 
Do You Believe? Remember you are not alone; over 10% of Americans are unemployed. Trust that you have value and others will, too.
Keep It Current: Hone your current skills to make you more valuable to employers. Take a course or acquire an advanced certificate. Read books and trade magazines monthly. Basically, become an expert at whatever you do!
Network: If you are out of work or need a better job, attend any functions available to meet people in business settings. Chamber mixers, fundraisers and private events are opportunities to meet new people and expand your scope. People want to hire people they know!
You, The Expert: With a surplus of people in every field looking for work, now may not be the best time to change careers. Consider sticking with what you are good at for now to get your resume noticed. When things improve you can make a move into something new.
Manage Your Moods: Feel defeated or depressed? Try herbal remedies and vitamins for a boost. Exercise, sleep and healthy eating are mood enhancers. Feeling really blue? It’s OK to ask for help so visit your doctor for more options.
Lose The Attitude: Don’t let yourself fall into the negative spiral that frustration can bring. Surround yourself with positive people who won’t let you have a pity party for yourself. Too much negativity can make you appear less valuable to an employer and is bad for your well-being.
It’s All About Money, Honey: Now is the time to take a hard look at your financial status and re-think frivolous spending. Make a spreadsheet of your expenses for a month. You may be surprised at what you find! Forego a magazine subscription or Starbucks habit for awhile. You may actually feel better in the long run when you have more money in your bank account.
No CNN: Don’t watch any news program for more than an hour a day. Constant stories about the bad economy can reinforce a negative outlook. To remain cheery, keep yourself informed on current events, but don’t dwell on them.
What’s The Plan? Seek help to set financial & employment goals from a fiscally responsible parent or friend, or even a life coach. Figure out where you’d like to be in six months or a year, and create an action plan to achieve these goals. 
Believe in yourself, ladies! You can control only so much in this life and the economy is not one of them. However, you can make a plan and learn to broaden your horizons by making yourself accountable and more valuable. If you believe there is a light at the end of the tunnel and that things will get better, they usually do. 
 ~Written by Nicolle DiSimone with Lesbian Life, Love & Career Coach Barb Elgin CoachSappho.com