So I got an email the other day highlighting items from online women’s boutique GingerPinks.com. And oh how I loved their handbags, scarves and accessories – plus I was happy to see the fact that buying something on Ginger Pinks wouldn’t break my bank.

I decided to track down the people behind the boutique and was pleased to be introduced to Ginger Pinks’ founder, Janese Castro, of New York. As we spoke I realized Janese is a very ambitious and confident woman

– much like your girl ;- ) – and wanted to spotlight her and GingerPinks.com.

That said take a second out of your day to get to know Miss Ginger Pinks herself. Home-girl  gave us some insight on herself, online boutique and personal style.

SaidArie: Who are you?
JC: My name is Janese Castro – I was born and raised in New York City. I am the owner and founder of GingerPinks.com.

Picture by Gabriela Manrique

SaidArie: What is GingerPinks.com?
JC: GingerPinks.com is an online women’s accessories company that offers a line of contemporary and accessible scarves, handbags and jewelry. Our brand message is to “Live, Love and Flirt.” In order to have our message alive and well for our customers, we host private shopping parties and monthly, what we fondly call, Dance Parties.

SaidArie: Why did you create Ginger Pinks?
JC: Ginger Pinks was created as an expression of what I saw missing from the current market. I created Ginger Pinks to serve a board demographic of women that sought to be a trend and had no desire to go into stores where everyone shopping appeared to be in high school. Community was also a big part of it, and of course, having fun.

I am a woman of color who comes from a large family of women that love to celebrate anything. Parties had to somehow be integrated into Ginger Pinks. What started out as a party for my friends to share my business idea became a fundamental source of business, the Ginger Pinks Shopping Party. You can host a party and earn 10% of sales and 20% off of your purchase at the time of the event.  And, we cannot forget about our monthly Ginger Pinks Dance. It’s a monthly dance party that serves to fulfill our “Live, Love and Flirt” idea.

SaidArie: What is the most important thing about choosing your own personal style?
JC: Honoring your heritage and who you are is number one for me. Style to me communicates your being: who you are, your maturity, your sophistication and thinking. Style is the moment you put something on, question if you love it and, if not, pull it off.

SaidArie: When did you start collecting jewelry, handbags, scarves and other accessories?
JC: My goodness let me think. It had to start when I was in like the 5^th grade. It was the age where I started to be concerned about boys looking at me and being competitive with other girls [laughs]. It started out as wanting to stand out – you know, be different. As I got older it started to become something different, like an appreciation for beauty and being able to honor myself with life’s luxuries, whether it is a necklace for $2.00 or a bag for $2,000. If I like it, I love it.

SaidArie: Where will your next event(s) be held?
JC: Well I’ll be at the “Spring Twist in the Grove” shopping event at il Tulipano in New Jersey on Wednesday, April 28th from 5:00-10:00pm. Tickets are $20.00 and the proceeds will be benefiting Autism in New Jersey. I also have a few private shopping happening throughout the city.

SaidArie: How can ladies get in contact with you?
JC: I can be contacted directly at janese@gingerpinks.com and seen on Ginger Pinks TV on You Tube for our monthly video blog. Also follow me @GingerPinks on Twitter as well as Facebook. You can visit each link by going to our website at www.gingerpinks.com.

I want to discuss reality dating shows. I enjoy a good reality show just as much as the next over-opinionated know-it-all. But “reality television dating” more closely resembles a cluster f^#k of human petri dishes than comedic entertainment.

After watching a few seasons of Flavor of Love, I Love New York, For the Love of Ray J, Real Chance of Love, and more recently, The Jersey Shore, my question is, “Why are we so enamored with has-been celebrities looking for a career revival on the backs of chicken-heads and never-were celebrities getting drunk and hooking-up?”

Seriously, even the most reserved church going farm girl turns trick by the end of the season in hopes of being the “one-and-only” for some D-list celebrity. Come on! These celebrities are searching for a long needed payday more than they are looking for love, commitment and whatever other B.S. these lifelong groupies claim they can provide.

I highly doubt, for instance, that Ray J has any issues meeting a companion if he’s truly in search of love. The benefit for him, Flavor Flav, Bret Michaels and other has-beens is a steady pay check and a brief rejuvenation of otherwise flat-lining careers.  Careers that need serious mouth-to-mouth resuscitation – literally – ewww!

And it works!

The celebrity bachelors and bachelorettes gain new found fame, wealth and a new younger fan base; while the show’s participants act a fool, fight, f^#k and suck their way into confusion for high network ratings. And if they’re lucky, possibly gain a spinoff show that allows the world to see just how retarded they really are. (hmmm, does Tiffany Pollard aka New York come to mind?)

The rest ride the wave of the circus-like names given to them with the network logos in front, promoting club nights, charity basketball games, music videos and other life-fillers until their dully lit flames fades out for good. Well at least until a silly “Do you remember?” stunt and event show digs them back up.

Don’t believe me? Besides the new girls who stay plastered to the TV screen during current re-runs of these reality “love” shows, how many names of “loved” ones can you remember from all of your rundown melo-dramas? Do you remember the names of those individuals who gained two seconds of fame for selling their souls to play a role in an episode of the cheap and desperate?

Need a second? Like Kat William, don’t worry I’ll wait!

I always find it interesting how cut throat the music industry is on every level. Drama between recording artists is nothing compared to the fall out of side deals and takeovers. The impact to the recording artists is just the tip of a very cold, hard ice berg.

The New York Times Sunday edition reported that Warner Music Group and KKR & Co. are in talks to launch a break-up bid for music power house EMI Group Ltd.  

Yes, there are rumors that EMI will be put up for sale sometime in the last half of 2010 but in the meantime it’s very interesting to watch new episodes of “Survivor – The Music Industry Corporate Edition.” 

Imagine the drama for EMI artists if the take-over bid happens, Warner Music Group is seeking EMI’s record music unit while KKR & Co. wants to acquire EMI’s publishing division and assets.