I find it interesting how quickly people adapt to new terms like “matcha,” “vegan,” “gluten,” and “oat milk.” Yet, when it comes to respecting someone’s identity by using “them,” some seem to struggle.
It’s curious that they often say, “I don’t understand” or “it doesn’t make sense,” while they can effortlessly rattle off a complex drink order with terms they’ve only recently learned. Maybe it’s time we practice a bit more compassion and understanding, extending it beyond just our diets.
According to a quick Google search, matcha is powdered green tea leaves dissolved in hot water to make tea or used as a flavoring.
The catechins in matcha and green tea may decrease oxidative stress—an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in the body—and prevent inflammation. They’re also very good for your heart and could lower your risk of atherosclerosis (the hardening of your arteries), high blood pressure, and heart disease.
He always looks fabulous from head to toe. On the gloomiest days, his style fills the room with sunshine.
Jean-Yves’ collection of Vivienne Westwood pieces is impressive, featuring sleek and stylish custom-made designs perfect for the stage. He often arrives at rehearsals in an eye-catching bright scarlet red velvet peacoat or a cozy denim jacket covered in fun illustrations—outfits that seem meant for performances!
Those striking Vivienne Westwood sneakers? They add a bit of sparkle to the 10,000 daily steps he takes.
If staying active feels like a grind, maybe incorporating some sparkle into your workout gear or water bottle could help motivate you.
When I asked him what inspires his fun and lively sense of style, he beamed and said, “We only live once, and there’s no dress rehearsal—just that one show; we’ve got to enjoy it!!!!!”
Jean-Yves Thibaudet will be touring with Michael Feinstein in an innovative program, Two Pianos Who Can Ask for Anything More?, for two pianos, celebrating the music of George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Richard Rodgers, and others.
The bedrock of my advocacy work for the diabetes nonprofit Divabetic has been helping women and their loved ones affected by, at risk, and living with type 1, type 2, and prediabetes overcomes shame.
As an openly gay man, I am acutely aware of how toxic shame can be in your life and the obstacles and barriers it can create to prohibit you from achieving your health and life goals.
In 2003, when I began my diabetes outreach efforts, I instantly recognized a similarity between my experience of accepting my sexuality and the experience of many people receiving their diagnosis. This connection pushed me to add layers of empowerment, self-love, and pride to traditional diabetes educational programming.
Accepting yourself (and your health) is a fluid, ongoing experience. After 30 years, I have good days and bad days. Being gay has been a superpower and a cross to bear. I can walk through life unnoticed or be the target of hate and blame for no apparent reason. At times, I still stumble with my confidence and resolve around my identity, so I can understand why, after two decades of dealing with the daily grind of diabetes, people throw up their hands rather than roll up their sleeves.
Recently, I was called out for being ‘obviously gay’ by two film reviewers who reviewed the Luther: Never Too Much documentary even though I made no mention of my sexuality. I was left scratching my head after hearing their comments about me. I can only hope that someone struggling with their sexuality sees me on screen and finds comfort and connection. I didn’t have many older role models to turn to when I was coming out during the AIDS crisis, so it would be a blessing to be one of the next generation.
Experts advise you to accept love and kindness from others, explore positive traits to help overcome feelings and thoughts related to shame, and share your experience living with diabetes to help conquer misinformation. This advice, taken as a whole, can be overwhelming. If you feel that way, you’re not alone. Hopefully, you will turn to Divabetic on the bad days for encouragement and be a source of encouragement for others by sharing your experience on the good days.
This week has been a source of celebration for some and distress for others in our community. I am laser-focused on continuing to build a bridge between all the different types of divas and their loved ones, creating strength through support and being a bright light in moments of despair for everyone. Shame has an insidious way of showing up at the absolutely wrong times in your life to knock you down and out.
Please continue to turn to us and allow us to turn to you to empower each other to dazzle in our diabetes lives.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo misrepresent the environmental impact of their plastic bottles.
I used art, creating my Halloween displays with single-use plastic, to draw attention to the alarming prevalence of single-use plastics in our lives.
The two companies are among the world’s top plastic polluters. Currently, just 9% of the world’s plastics are recycled. The rest are incinerated and set to landfills or in rivers and oceans. Experts say that almost 3.5 billion bottles are left unaccounted for and can only be recycled once or twice.
One of the other major concerns related to the abundance of single-use plastics is our health. The tiny particles in plastics known as microplastics have been detected in every ecosystem on the planet. Microplastics have been found in the brain, heart, lungs, blood, and semen. Microplastics have been linked to an increased risk of diabetes because they contain additives that act as endocrine disruptors (EDCs), which can alter the body’s hormone system and impair glucose homeostasis.
Collecting my single-use plastics, including water bottles, take-out food containers, cups, straws, and food packages over two months, really opened my eyes to the staggering amount of trash I contribute to the environmental crisis.
My single-use plastic swamp comprises plastic bottles and cardboard packaging that I painted to resemble foliage.
Everything used to make my displays, except the wigs and crowns, is made from recycled materials – water bottles, pizza boxes, FedEx boxes, damaged comic books, broken lamp shades, paper towels, toilet paper rolls, New York Times newspapers, bubble wrap, coffee cans, lids, and packing foam.
If you’re concerned about the abundance of single-use plastics and their harmful effects, focus on reducing or replacing one plastic item at a time, like your daily iced coffee container. You can also bring your reusable water bottle, coffee mug, and utensils when you go out.
Avoid buying new clothing, especially polyester, which is spun from plastic. Instead, look for secondhand options or natural fibers like cotton, wool, rayon, or silk.
Plastic containers can be reused for years, but don’t use them for hot foods or liquids, and don’t microwave them.
Please do some research to learn more about the harmful effects of single-use plastics.
I was thrilled to be interviewed by Richard Marzetti on his Soul Life show on the UK radio station Solar Radio. Richard’s show features an uplifting selection of the newest and contemporary soul releases, classics, and modern goodies.
I discussed my experience working for Luther Vandross. Thirty years ago, Luther changed my life when he relocated me from San Francisco to New York to become his full-time assistant. I was a big Luther fan before I started working for him, and I became an even bigger fan while working alongside him.
After Luther had a stroke due to mismanaged type 2 diabetes, I became his caregiver. During that time, I began my work as a diabetes advocate, which led to the creation of Divabetic, the national diabetes organization. Through live programs, videos, podcasts, and Zoom programs, I aim to empower women and their loved ones to stay upbeat about their diabetes care and create an ‘entourage of care’ of friends, family members, and healthcare collaborators to help them stay on track with their self-care management.
Luther Vandross was an incredible entertainer with an exceptional eye for detail. Luther invested in his live shows to create memorable experiences for his fans.
From his beautifully designed, crystal-encrusted costumes and Art Deco-style stages to evocative lighting and elegant choreography, Luther, his band, and his vocalists took audiences on an emotional journey with his music.
To my surprise and delight, I won FIRST PRIZE in West 69th Street’s Halloween Decorating Contest for my “Princess Frogs” display.
Everything, except for the wigs and crowns, was made from recycled materials. I used water bottles, pizza boxes, FedEx boxes, damaged comic books, broken lampshades, paper towels, toilet paper rolls, New York Times newspapers, bubble wrap, coffee cans, lids, and packing foam.
As I collected single-use plastics—such as water bottles, take-out food containers, cups, straws, and food packages—for two months, I was truly opened to the staggering amount of trash I contribute to the environmental crisis.
I created a “Single-Use Swamp” using plastic bottles and cardboard packaging, which I painted to resemble foliage. The extent of single-use plastic consumption is frightening and overwhelming. Like most people, I’m horrified by the billions of plastic items choking our oceans, lakes, and rivers. Recently, I’ve been reading about the harmful effects of Bisphenol A (BPA) on our endocrine systems. I encourage others to research this topic thoroughly, as it requires more than just a quick Google search to understand fully.
Sitting atop my vision of a lily pond—crafted from old T-shirts, pillowcases, and towels—are Queen Elizabeth I and Wonder Woman.
Upon seeing my display, I was overjoyed when a young girl passing by exclaimed, “Princess Frogs!”. Her mother informed me that her daughter loves to dress up as a princess. It warms my heart to know that my target audience appreciates my work!
Janet and Rosetta Van der Voort, born in the 1800s, were two wealthy sisters whose father rarely let them leave the house unaccompanied. The one place they were allowed to visit was Central Park’s Wollman Rink, where they went ice skating in the winter.
The two sisters never married, were lifelong best friends, and died a few months apart. Since their death, their ghostly spirits have been seen periodically skating together on the Central Park Pond, wearing the same red and purple outfits they wore over 100 years ago.
Divabetic pays tribute to the sisters’ spirits, hoping to encourage you to indulge in the creativity associated with Halloween instead of candy. Halloween’s record-breaking sugar consumption and its detrimental effects on overall health are scarier than any ghost story. It’s been reported that consumers gobbled up a record $36.9 billion in candy, gum, mints, chocolate, and other confections in 2021.
High intakes of dietary sugars in the setting of a worldwide pandemic of obesity and cardiovascular disease have heightened concerns about the adverse effects of excessive consumption of sugars. The American Heart Association suggests limiting adding sugars to no more than 100 calories per day (about 6 teaspoons or 24 grams) for most adult women and no more than 150 calories per day (about 9 teaspoons or 36 grams of sugar) for most men.
Credits Producer: Max Szadek Writers: Max Szadek, Wendy Radford, Lorraine Brooks Voice Actors: Max Szadek, Verna Henry, Lauren Ricks Graphic Designer: Max Szadek
Finally, all four of my Princess Frog sculptures are displayed for Halloween at West 69th Street in New York City.
I was overjoyed when a young girl pointed at each frog and said, “Ribbit, Ribbit, Ribbit, Ribbit.”
West 69th Street is one of New York City’s iconic Halloween Streets, where over 2,000 children trick-or-treat annually.
Rapunzel
Once upon a time, there was a little frog, Who lives in a pond, in a cozy little bog One day, she meets a prince who is lost in the woods, And she asks him kindly If she can do him any good.
“Please help me find my way to the tower up ahead, Where my dear Rapunzel lives with her long, luscious hair, unfed.” The smart little frog knows the way, and she hops along the road, Leading the prince until they reach the tower of cobblestone
But when they find Rapunzel l, She is no longer a maid, But a slimy green frog, who has been cursed and betrayed. The prince is surprised, But he takes the frog in his hands, And kisses her on the cheek, Breaking the witch’s spell demands.
And lo and behold, The frog turns into a princess fair, With golden locks of hair and eyes like the sun’s glare. Hand in hand, the happy couple go on their merry way,
leaving the little frog to deal with the tower’s disarray.
On the floor, the frog sees Rapunzel‘s beautiful locks of hair
And decides to make a wig that she can wear Next, she sees a big pile of pretty, lacy dresses All of which seem fit for a Queen or Princess
Beautiful dresses covered with buttons and stripes,
others with purple flowers in designs she likes
The frog tries on a pink dress with long, pillowy sleeves She looks in the mirror and decides it suits her to a tee She hops to the bureau, where she finds a gold crown She stares in the mirror, sees her reflection, and laughs out loud
Suddenly, she hears a creak when the couple opens the door To find the little frog draped in velvet, pearls, and furs galore Rapunzel and the Prince shriek at the frog in delight Thrilled to see the frog beaming in jewels shining bright
Rapunzel runs to the little frog and gives her a squeeze “You saved my life, little frog. Take whatever you please.”
Slowly, I am staging my upcoming Princess Frogs displays for Halloween. After quickly staging all the display elements – the four Princess Frogs, handpainted signs, lily ponds, and foliage—together in a temporary location, I am relocating them to their permanent location on West 69th Street.
I was overjoyed when a young girl passing by screamed, “Princess Frogs!” when she spotted my display. Her mother told me that her daughter loves to dress up as a princess. My target audience gets me!! My display will be on one of New York City’s iconic Halloween Streets, where over 2,000 children trick-or-treat annually.
Everything, except the wigs and crowns, is made from recycled materials – water bottles, pizza boxes, FedEx boxes, paper towels, toilet paper rolls, New York Times newspapers, bubble wrap, coffee cans, lids, and packing foam.
Croak-A- Hontas
Once upon a time, in a far-off tranquil stream
Lives a princess frog named Croak-A- Hontas, with high self-esteem
She is green and slimy but oh so regal,
And her croak is sweet and pure, like a golden eagle.
Her father is the king of all the reptiles
that live near the stream for miles and miles
And Croak-A- Hontas is friends with one and all
if there is a fight, she is quick to break up the brawl
But one day, an evil stork comes to the pond,
And snatches her up, leaving her father beyond.
Croak-A- Hontas is scared, but she doesn’t give up,
She knows she can escape without a hiccup.
So she kicks, and she wriggles and finally breaks free,
And lands with a splash in a nearby tree.
There, she meets a nervous snake
with a rattle on his tail, he likes to shake
She comforts him as best she can
and promises to take him back to her land
Together, they begin to trek across the valley
making new friends and often stopping to dillydally
Croak-A- Hontas is fascinated by all that she sees
Her mind fills with a boundless curiosity
For every rock and tree and creature
has a life, has a spirit, has a name that can teach her
My Princess Frogs display is a twist on the perennial tale Frog Prince. Instead of a woman kissing a frog to break the spell and turn it back into a prince, I wondered if a man would be willing to kiss a frog and turn it back into a princess.
If a man was willing to kiss a frog, would the frog want to be turned back into a Princess? Sarah Ferguson, Diana Spencer, and Meghan Markle‘s comments about a princess’s real life make it clear it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. Life as a frog might be much easier than life as a princess.
Without a drop of rain, I staged a few of my upcoming Princess Frogs displays for Halloween. It was my first time seeing all the display elements – Princess Frogs, signs, lily ponds, and foliage—together.
I was overjoyed when a young girl passing by screamed, “Princess Frogs!” when she spotted my display. Her mother told me that her daughter loves to dress up as a princess. My target audience gets me!! My display will be on one of New York City’s iconic Halloween Streets, where over 2,000 children trick-or-treat annually.
Everything, except the wigs and crowns, is made from recycled materials – water bottles, pizza boxes, FedEx boxes, paper towels, toilet paper rolls, New York Times newspapers, bubble wrap, coffee cans, lids, and packing foam.
Toad White
In the forest so green and wide,
Lives a toad, Toad White, with seven dwarfs by her side.
Her skin is bumpy, her voice so low,
But she is kind and gentle to all she knows
She spends her days hopping and leaping
and her nights on a lily pad, quietly sleeping
The Seven Dwarfs work in a field
harvesting corn that they later peel
She often visits them during the day
and reads them stories to keep them entertained
With her quick wit and sense of humor
she makes long days pass much sooner
One day, a prince passes her way,
And sees Toad White, a toad so gray.
He picks her up, kisses her head,
And suddenly, she is no longer dead.
Toad White transforms, to her surprise,
A princess now, before her eyes.
But she never forgets her humble start,
As a toad with a kind and gentle heart.
so the couple settles in a castle near a pond
so she will never forget her bond
with seven dwarfs who are her friends
so they all live happily together in the end
My Princess Frogs display is a twist on the perennial tale Frog Prince. Instead of a woman kissing a frog to break the spell and turn it back into a prince, I wondered if a man would be willing to kiss a frog and turn it back into a princess.
If a man was willing to kiss a frog, would the frog want to be turned back into a Princess? Sarah Ferguson, Diana Spencer, and Meghan Markle‘s comments about a princess’s real life make it clear it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. Life as a frog might be much easier than life as a princess.
Last night’s Annual Pumpkin Carving Party was an absolute blast, especially with the fun food game, Celebrity Charcuterie! I created different plates of foods to see if guests could guess the identities of several Halloween-themed famous figures: Big Foot, Bewitched, Angelica Huston, the Mummy, and Ichabod Crane.
Despite being busy catering and sprucing up my Princess Frogs and Mermaid outdoor Halloween displays, I still found time to vote.
Thank you, Carol Seitz, for the great photo capturing the creepy creativity of our tablescape.
The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic stops by the Mermaid Parade in Coney Island to raise awareness for diabetes in a fun, new way.
