The house, it is reported, is an extension of her personality. The walls are at places adorned by pictures of Nahla, her cats and her fifth grade teacher, who was a mother figure to her. There is a lot of modern art and sculpture, most of it sexual in nature. In her living room is a very tall statue by Curt Brill of a naked woman looking out to sea. "I love the naked female form," she says. "I just feel like that’s the most empowered position you can be in. She is standing tall in all her nakedness, and she is just commanding the room. Everything revolves around her in the house. I love it."Halle reveals her getting more and more comfortable with her sexuality and says  that it comes with age. (Anybody listening?)

So, how did Halle find her leanings for the cause of domestic violence? It turns out that after her infamous car accident of 2000, in which she inexplicably left the scene, her sentence was, she says, "a $15,000 fine, three years’ probation, and 250 hours" of community service. "They gave me a list of charities that I could choose from. I searched my heart for what would be meaningful to me. Domestic violence is important to me because I grew up with it; my mother was a victim of domestic violence. And I saw the Jenesse Center, the oldest domestic-violence center in South L.A., and I thought, That’s where I want to go." What she didn’t know was that she would wind up staying for nearly ten years. "Outside of being the mother of Nahla," she says, "it’s the most meaningful thing that I do."

The Jenesse Center provides, among other things, transitional housing—safe houses—for women and their children when they finally leave their abusive husbands or boyfriends.

As Halle puts it, “Because of my mother’s and my experience, I understand fundamentally what these women and kids are going through. And I think that’s why my heart is so in it."

Now, isn’t that awesome? You get the opportunity and you transform a gruesome reality of your life into a haven for other similar lives!!!

As we wait for the Dark Tide and Frankie and Alice, Halle is also making a Broadway debut in Katori-Hall’s two person play, The Mountaintop. The play is about the last night of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s, life, with Berry playing a kind of imaginary chambermaid/angel. Not having been onstage since her days with Second City in Chicago more than 20 years ago, she is just a tad anxious.

We’re sure gonna be there, Halle!

While we all heard of the birth of her daughter Nahla, with Gabriel Audrey in 2008, and the subsequent split with Aubrey earlier this year; this time Halle gives rare insights into her life, allowing a writer into her house for the first time. In the interview, Halle raves about how she loves being a mother, and how it has helped her understand her own childhood better. Narrating this one 30 second scare she got when she ‘lost’ Nahla outdoors, Halle recalls the waves of panic that swept upon her. Later, she recounts, she asked Nahla, “what is mommy’s name?” to which she was met with a glare, and the reply, “Halle Blueberry”. Berry laughs, adding that Blueberries are her favorite food, and “I’m just glad she didn’t say ‘Halle Blackberry.’"

Upon being questioned as to why she hasn’t given an interview in so long, Halle says that she was burned out with other people telling the story about her they wanted to tell. She wanted to live her life and be who she is. That is,until this offer from Vogue was something she couldn’t refuse. In her words, “What that means for a woman of color and what that means in the fashion world, what that means to pop culture, there was no way I could say, “No, I’m not going to be on the biggest issue of the year.”

Halle’s house and its Art give some meaningful insights into the person she has become, and that she is. For all those and more on the kind of charities and causes that are dear to this icon, watch this space.

Diamond studs are the classic and timeless way to carry style. With this backdrop, Angara has launched a unique feature on their website, of building your own diamond studs in three easy steps. What is unique about this feature is that YOU decide how much you want to pay for a pair of diamond studs.

There are five ranges to choose from and a stud size guide that gives you an accurate size impression visually. It doesn’t get simpler when buying diamond studs. There are no hidden costs, and no inflated prices. You get value for money. The 30 days return policy makes the purchase safe and secure.

Quality remains of paramount importance at Angara. Therefore, each diamond available is certified and is strictly graded to GIA standards.

For those looking for hypoallergenic studs, there is the choice of setting in platinum. The standard white gold and yellow gold options are there, of course.

Go ahead and enjoy this stud shopping with confidence!

(If you haven’t read the book, the line is: Gilbert breaks up her relationship and chucks her life in New York to search for happiness while eating and meditating in Italy, praying in India and finding love in Indonesia. Her tale touched a nerve with so many and became a best-seller.)

Here are some of the first reviews that came in as Eat Pray Love was released in theatres on Friday.

The Canadian Press: It’s easy to see why author Elizabeth Gilbert’s memoir became an international phenomenon, even without help from Oprah. Everyone’s looking for something — for answers, for their true and higher purpose — and Gilbert had the fortitude (and the wherewithal) to take off alone on a journey around the world to find herself after her divorce.

"Eat Pray Love" does exactly what it should to satisfy its core audience: It provides a gorgeous escape, exquisitely photographed and full of female wish fulfillment. Yet it also offers sufficient emotional heft and self-discovery to make you feel as if you’ve actually learned something and, perhaps, emerged a better person solely through osmosis.

The Hollywood Reporter: There is an undeniable attractiveness to all this, however doubtful the self-realization lessons may be. … The charms of each location and the vigor of the film’s supporting players cast a romantic glow. No, travel — and certainly self-realization — is quite like this … But it should be.

New York daily News: Still, the locations are lush, the costumes vibrant, the varying moods properly atmospheric. And the truth is, Gilbert’s book wasn’t a runaway smash because it told the story of the woman who wrote it, but because it reflected the stories – or fears, or fantasies – of the women who read it.

Los Angeles times: Just as the book turned out to be a perfect vehicle for Gilbert to work through all manner of emotional highs and lows, the movie creates space and a place for Roberts to give into wave after wave of feelings as she moves through resentment, guilt, regret, forgiveness, joy and hope to change her life.

With such reviews coming in, I am all set to catch the various moods of Julia Roberts (Liz) travelling across the world. And sigh at the Javier Bardem! Won’t You?

Going back in History, you have the Egyptians and the Romans using peridots in jewelry. After reasonable obscurity, peridot has again come to fore as recently as 1900s. The most striking feature of this stone is that it does not change color even with change of light, something that even rubies and sapphires cannot boast of. The peridot is a healthy variant in green gemstones like jadeite, green tourmaline, tsavorite garnet and the exquisite emeralds. Hailed as pistachio to olive green in color, peridot romances many a heart.

Personally, I looked for green gemstones that are there on earth, and settled for the exclusive emeralds.

At first, I was daunted by the thought of what an emerald could cost. But my preconceptions came tumbling down as I researched and discovered that depending upon the features of emeralds and the variations found therein, emeralds are easily accessible to my meager self as well.

The most significant feature in emeralds is the color. All other aspects pale in comparison when you have ‘the right’ color of emerald. Due to their inherent crystal structure, emeralds are known to be flawed (to have inclusions), and it is very rare to find a large, clear emerald.

At Angara, besides lab created emeralds that I just drool over, there are qualities categorized as ‘good, better and best’. The variations in features of emeralds make for these classes. Lab created emeralds are exactly identical in composition to natural emeralds, only that they have been created in laboratories, in processes that simulate the deep earth conditions. This is what makes Angara the perfect gemstone destination, because the practice is to cater to every segment of society, and to apprise the customer of the exact quality of the gemstone they are choosing.

Jenifer Aniston stars with Jason Bateman in this comedy as Kassie, a smart, fun-loving single woman who, despite her neurotic best friend Wally’s (Bateman) objections, decides it’s time to have a baby—even if it means doing it by herself… with a little help from a charming sperm donor (Patrick Wilson). But, unbeknown to her, Kassie’s plans go awry because of a last-minute switch that isn’t discovered until about seven years later when Wally finally gets acquainted with Kassie’s slightly neurotic son.

In “The Tonight Show”, Jenifer said that she would not have a baby via artificial insemination. Instead, she said she’d prefer to know ”the guy”.

Jay teased the Hollywood star actress about the subject matter putting her on the spot about how a sperm bank works.

To which the star replied, “… I honestly don’t know exactly."

Although she isn’t interested in visiting a sperm bank, Jennifer was reported to be seeing a life coach to make her baby dream come true.

Aniston wore medium sized hoop earrings, the kinds seen on Angara at

Don’t miss out on extra 10% off on entering code LOVE at checkout.

The same design is available as lab created ruby jewelry as well. Check out:

Then, if it is that time when you have to buy a jewelry product, but are wondering how to afford one, then the CLEARANCE SECTION has been tailored to your needs. All products in the clearance section are available at 20% off, upon entering code CLEAR100 at checkout. For instance, this 100% natural ruby pendant costs $569 on site. Upon entering discount code, the cost comes to less than $500! Now, THIS is truly amazing. Take a look

This is in addition to the Angara scheme of Free FedEx Shipping on all orders of above $150.

The third running offer on all jewelry on Angara is 10% off on every product upon entering code PVTSALE.

At Angara, the team of trained gem professionals extends their assurance via Certificate of Authenticity. Further, Angara is open to third party appraisals. Upon receiving the product, if you feel your expectations have been belied, there is the Angara Guarantee. This is the RETURN POLICY, which means you get 100% of your money back if the merchandise is returned within 30 days of purchase. No questions asked.

If we make exceptions like certain colored diamonds, or imperial jadeite, ruby is the world’s most expensive gemstone. However, as in all gemstones, certain quality pieces may be available for lower prices.

The highest price per carat price paid for a ruby was in 2006, when Laurence Graff, a London jeweler, paid a record $425,000 per carat ($3.6 million) for an 8.62-ct. ruby, set in a Bvlgari ring, at a Christie’s auction. Less than a year before that, an 8.01-ct. faceted ruby gemstone sold for $274,656 per carat ($2.2 million) at Christie’s New York.

In a ruby, the intensity of red color is primary factor in determining value. The ideal gemstone displays an intense, rich crimson without being too light or too dark. Stones which are too dark and garnet like in appearance, or too light in color, are less valued. The finest rubies display a color similar to that of a red traffic light.

But then, the key is to always view rubies in incandescent light or daylight, and not fluorescent light.

Which shape to buy?  Rubies are found in a variety of shapes and cutting styles. Oval rubies and cushion rubies are the most common, but round rubies are also seen, as are other shapes, such as the heart or emerald cut. Slight premiums are paid for round stones, while slight discounts apply for pear rubies and marquise rubies. Stones that are overly deep or shallow should generally be avoided. Cabochon-cut rubies are also common. Mostly, star rubies are cabochon cut.

Lab Created Rubies:  Rubies have been produced by the Verneuil process since the 1890’s and cost very little. Ruby has also been produced by the flux, hydrothermal, floating zone and Czochralski processes. A lab created ruby is identical in chemical composition and  properties of a natural ruby. The only difference lies in that these have been crafted in laboratories; and is manmade perfection!

Visually, it is very difficult to make out if a ruby is lab created. Only a trained appraiser can tell the difference. If budget is a constraint, and colored gemstone ruby is a must, this is the best option.

In order to cater to every segment of the society, Angara brings you ‘good, better and best’ qualities of ruby jewelry. If natural ruby is what you must have, a “good” ruby jewelry product could be an option for you, since this is the economical recommendation. If your savings allow more, then go in for “better” quality. And reserve the ‘best’ for those special occasions which warrant it. More than 60% of jewelry on Angara has this feature. Click on the image in the catalog to view “good, better and best options”.

Shakira’s waka waka lyrics set me thinking WHEN is it gonna be my day. As the Colombian singer gyrates with her voice at the World Cup Final, I’ll watch across all these miles as millions participate live in the final countdown.

As I read about the medal Shakira received from the United Nations for her work with impoverished children, my heart warmed to the person she is, apart from the celebrity status she enjoys. How amazing is that? She’s using her celebrity status to make a difference in children’s lives. So impressed by the great role model she is.

To get back to the waka waka lyrics, the latest I heard was that the sultry singer has said that the song is a tribute to African women. This stirs the feminine instincts in me and I try to find personal meanings in the song. About “choosing your battles and getting back in the saddle”; I relate to that bit very well. For all the labor and the unsung victories of my life, the United Nations are not gonna award me. And I believe I deserve the best. So, to acknowledge and celebrate the choices I have made, and the battles I have won (and lost); I deserve a medal. And if no one else in my life can give me one, being the woman of today, I choose it myself! In this spirit of celebration and pride, I browse through gemstone jewelry, diamond rings, earrings and pendants and Gemstone Premium Jewelry range at Angara.com. The reason the jewelry is categorized as premium is because originally, in Latin, praemium means “what one has got better than others”.

Browsing through the premium jewelry section, mind that this is a valued possession that would be passed down generations. Picking one of these is not just an ordinary jewelry purchase, it is an heirloom you are investing in.

For me, I am happy with one of the “best” quality of gemstones, and I know that next when I wanna celebrate myself, and don’t have the moolah, I’ll be content to pick some of the lab created jewelry that’s on Angara.com.

The 30 days return policy makes me feel easy, and I know I can return something if it is below my expectations. The Certificate of Authenticity boosts my confidence further and the special Italian gift pack is the ultimate touch in rewarding myself coz I know “this isn’t over”.

If you study the features of individual gemstones, there are some characteristics that are unique to each group. Based on these, gemstones are classified into categories. The valuation of a gemstone is made on the basis of these.

The terms good, better and best refer to the quality of gemstones that are used in a piece of jewelry. Essentially, a good gemstone, a better gemstone and the best of gemstones. This applies to our bestsellers and more than 60% of our bestsellers have this feature. Click on the image in the catalog to view.

Then:

An unaware customer is usually duped, because of lack of awareness. On the other hand, at Angara, we conscientiously follow the practice of being forthright with the customer. The more satisfied our customers, deeper our gains.

The feature of good, better and best in the same jewelry design is UNIQUE to Angara. No jeweler elsewhere is offering anything even close to it. We are able to do this because we believe in value for money, and are the gemstone destination to suit every budget. After all, how long are you going to yearn for that blue sapphire ring that Jane wears? Or the emerald earrings that Angelina Jolie wore at the Red Carpet? Indulge your fantasies, HERE AND NOW, only at Angara with its features of good, better and best jewelry.