O, The Oprah Magazine articles from March 2003

O, The Oprah Magazine archives from March 2003

Letters.
March 1, 2003... We hear you! Readers cheer on Oprah's weight-training program, face up to the beauty of aging well, and could spend hours with Moore, Streep, and Kidman... Oprah, I'm so proud of you! The article "Oprah's New Shape: How She Got It,"...

Finding your voice. (Here We Go).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... We're speaking up this March! From "The Toot-Your-Own-Horn Workshop" (page 92) to "How to Say the Hard Things" (page 200) to Venus and Serena Williams on taking an unshakable stance (see my interview on page 186), we've turned this issue into...

Dr. Phil's six rules of talking and listening. (Tell It Like It Is).(Phillip C. McGraw )
March 1, 2003... True or false: When you talk to other people, it's b best to block your ears, dominate the conversation, and if they ask you what's wrong, chirp "Nothing." True!--if you want to live alone for the rest of your life. If not, Phillip C. McGraw,...

Suze Orman: "stop giving yourself excuses to commit financial suicide"; on preventing self-imposed paralysis...fatherly advice from a daughter...and seeking professional help. (Financial Freedom).
March 1, 2003... Q I'm ashamed to admit that I have no knowledge of my finances. My husband takes care of everything! I have a master's degree in counseling, so it's not as if I can't be taught. The arrangement works for my husband and me, and we rarely fight...

Kim Cattrall's aha! moment: the Sex and the City actress always wanted kids. Then one day she relaxed her definition of what children really were. (Turning Point).(Brief Article)(Biography)
March 1, 2003... I ALWAYS ASSUMED THAT LIKE MY mother before me, one day I would have children. When I was 5, my fantasy was to have a hundred dogs and a hundred kids. In my middle to late 30s, when most of my girlfriends were married and having babies, I...

The knitting factory: yarn. Needles. Flurrying hands. Joelle Hoverson passes on a family tradition in a New York City jewel box of a shop called Purl. (Dream Big).
March 1, 2003... ONLY A DREAMER WOULD HAVE SEEN the possibilities in the narrow New York storefront with its awning hanging askew The turn-of-the-century space was just one rusty nail shy of dilapidated. The ceiling was caving in, the wind howled through the...

Meeting the parents: over candles, coffee, and cautious conversation, Ben Schrank finally broke bread with his girlfriend's parents. It was an encounter that brought him into a complex world of emotions--envy solitude, and surprise. (Couples).
March 1, 2003... I'M WITH MY GIRLFRIEND, AMANDA, AT her parents' farmhouse. It's a Friday evening, after dinner. I'm seated on one side of her parents' old mahogany table. We've just finished some homemade strawberry shortcake, and we're sipping coffee....

Men behaving badly. (Satellite Sisters).
March 1, 2003... A man, a woman, a bottle of wine -- how romantic. But wait--isn't he your good friend's husband? Out with another woman? Question: How do you handle the perhaps adulterous behavior of your pal's mate? The Satellite Sisters of radio fame ponder...

The art of self-exposure: it's a talent, an experiment, an exotic dance of veils--and the most pressing human need besides sex and food. It's the desire to be known. Martha Beck has some revealing advice.
March 1, 2003... CINDY WAS MY OWN LITTLE JFK: A riddle wrapped in a question locked inside an enigma. She'd been my client for nearly three months, but I still had no idea what she thought or felt. Our conversations always went something like this: ME: So,...

To have and to hold neatly: are you sick of carrying the weight of the world in your handbag? Julie Morgenstern enlightens your load. (Getting Organized).
March 1, 2003... DINA'S CHAOTIC HANDBAG makes her cringe with embarrassment every time she goes through airport security and someone opens it. Lonnie schlepps so much in her tote (magazines, work, Band-Aids, snacks) that her chiropractor has sent three kids to...

The toot-your-own-horn workshop: most women don't know how to sell themselves. Ronna Lichtenberg shows you why modesty isn't always the best policy. (Working Spirit).
March 1, 2003... AS MUCH AS WE WISH OTHER PEOple would notice our talents and shower us with recognition, more often than not, just like in New York traffic, it takes horn tooting to get someone's attention. The problem, as I've learned in my experience as a...

Staring down the tiger: we invent terrifying stories in our heads--and then believe them. Catherine Ingram learns how to stop scaring herself. (Free Therapy).
March 1, 2003... SOME YEARS AGO A YOUNG FRIEND OF mine, 6 years old at the time, said to me, "Pretend you're surrounded by a thousand hungry tigers. What would you do?" I gave it some Thought, imagining the scary scenario and feeling more and more tense....

Is the smoke bothering you? Speak up and say so.(Advertisement)
March 1, 2003... If you care about someone who smokes, tell her how you feel about both her and her smoking. The more you care about her, the more her smoking hurts you. Whether she's your friend, sister, mother, daughter, aunt, cousin, or colleague,...

My belly, myself. (It's About Time).(body image)
March 1, 2003... She's healthy, a size 8, and involved in a nice relationship. So why does she spend so much time obsessing over her belly? And how much time is she spending? Valerie Frankel clocks her central preoccupation. SURELY YOU'VE HEARD THE...

A glowing review. (The O List).
March 1, 2003... "The packaging of these heaven-scented candles is so charming, they don't even need gift wrapping." (Seda France hand-poured candles, $28 each; 800-474-0854)

Suit yourself. (The O List).
March 1, 2003... "I'm sure there's something more luxurious than a cashmere running outfit, but can't imagine what it could be. Halle Berry gave me this a while back, and I've been living in it ever since." (FAL by Jeffrey Grubb cashmere jogging suit, $372 for...

Just in case. (The O List).
March 1, 2003... "Perfect for anyone who's ever spent an eternity trying to untangle necklaces or find the brooch at the bottom of her bag." (Leather mini travel boxes, $15 each, a Galileo; 212-243-1629)

Pick-up-sticks. (The O List).
March 1, 2003... "Each foil stick holds just the right amount for a bracing cup of mint tea." (Black peppermint tea sticks, $35 for a box of 24, Troy; 212-941-4777)

Camera-ready. (The O List).
March 1, 2003... "How many times have you stumbled across something special and wished you'd had your camera with you? This one is about the size of a credit card, weighs next to nothing, and pops right into your pocket." (Logitech digital camera, $130;...

Marigold plated. (The O List).
March 1, 2003... "Spring will arrive before you know it, but while you're waiting, here are two very cheery serving platters for an indoor picnic." (Villeroy & Boch platters, $40 to $52; 800-VILLEROY)

How to shine at work: soft, glossy fabrics are a hedonist's treat, a sensualist's friend -- so let satins and silks spill over into business hours, when we really need them. Five women get the gleam treatment. (Fashion).
March 1, 2003... TOVE NORD Co-owner of Pasta La Vista Italian restaurant in New York city; 31 WEARS TO WORK "Jeans and T-shirtS--things that won't get destroyed. My husband runs the front of the restaurant; I run the back." LOVES TO TOUCH ...

Fragrances that bloom in the spring, Tra-la: the crocuses are popping up, and so are this season's freshest, most alluring scents, from Asian spice to sweet grass. (Beauty Girls Toys).
March 1, 2003... * All you need to know about purple orchid is that when it's paired with purple plum, freesia, and white peach, you get the exotic, luscious scent of the limited edition CALVIN KLEIN ETERNITY PURPLE ORCHID ($40). * It's an ensemble piece:...

Ask Val: questions about mascara? O's beauty director, Valerie Monroe, has the answers. (Beauty Shopper).
March 1, 2003... Q How can I avoid getting raccoon eyes from easily smeared mascara? I recently confessed to a makeup artist that I'd stopped wearing mascara because of the very same problem; she asked me what kind of eye cream I used during the day. "A...

What your makeup says about you. (Beauty).
March 1, 2003... When you put on blush, mascara, or lipstick, you're letting the world know about your happiness, your confidence level, your competence. Do it right and you might land a higher-paying job. Actress Jessica Capshaw models a few telling looks. ...

Good to glow: lights for reading, eating, working--or simply making your rooms a little nicer to come home to. (Comfort Zone).
March 1, 2003... TAKE A STAND A sinuous base of sculptured wood. Columns of faux bamboo and geometric steel. A slim shaft of cast bronze brushed with gold. These floor lamps are a real turn-on. "They're functional and they make an aesthetic...

To stir, with love: imagine; a winter's day, someone you love, two cups of homemade hot chocolate. Best of all, with peppermint, orange, and cardamom, this steaming delicacy appeals to grown-up palates. And did anyone mention marshmallows? (Great Food).
March 1, 2003... AH, REMEMBER SNOW DAYS, footsie pajams, and the hot cocoa your mom served when you came in from the cold? Forget all that. The hot chocolate on these pages bears no relation to the insta-powder that you loved before you knew any better. We've...

Smoothie moves. (Your Body).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... What started as a healthy, homemade shake of fresh fruit juice, and ice--with the occasional dash of soy protein powder or wheat germ--has gone commercial. Now everywhere you look there are all sorts of dessert-flavored smoothies, promoted as...

[Invisible exercise of the month]. (Your Body).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... If fanny spread has begun to seem like an occupational hazard, try this glute squeeze, suggested by Nancy Kennedy of Kennedy & Strom Fitness in Los Angeles: Sit straight in your chair, abdominal muscles tight, and squeeze your buttocks together...

The next magic pill? (Your Body).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... * Everyone's talking about: fish oil capsules, U mostly derived from menhaden, a fish that doesn't have dangerous levels of mercury The oil is rich in omega-3 fatty acids--essential nutrients the body cannot manufacture itself. * Why the...

Here's to your health: for March, our experts suggest ways to rework your workday so it's better for you physically, emotionally, even spiritually--starting with breakfast. (Your Body).
March 1, 2003... ISN"T IT ODD HOW THE MERE ACTION of finger tapping, keying in those same 26 letters over and over again in endless variations, seems to whip up a rabid appetite by 11 A.M.? No wonder offices are stocked with more candy than pencils. And what's...

Trouble in paradise? A bulletin from the bedroom.
March 1, 2003... When headlines announced that 43 percent of American women were having a problem with sex, scientists stepped in with treatments ranging from Viagra to testosterone. But in aiming straight for the orgasm, are they ignoring our hearts and minds?...

The way to eat: all you need to know to step up to the plate.
March 1, 2003... When should I stop eating for the day so I don't gain weight? I go to bed at 11:30. --LEIGH WEINER, NEW YORK CITY A The common folk wisdom that eating at night makes you fatter than eating at other times of the day is not true. If...

Reading room.(A Ship Made of Paper, Regarding the Pain of Others, Dancing at Ciro's)(Book Review)
March 1, 2003... A pride of Women What do Mae West and Maya Lin have in common? Wisdom, proclaims Cokie Roberts in her preface to women of Our Time (Merrell), a mind-expanding collection of photos and biographical essays from the Smithsonian's National...

Mira Sorvino pages through life: books of philosophy and hope keep the actress reading and dreaming. (Books that Made a Difference).
March 1, 2003... I LOVE BOOKS. I GET ON THESE KICKS and gobble up whatever I can on a subject. I've been reading geisha books recently: Arthur Golden's novel, Memoirs of a Geisha; then Geisha, A Life, by Mineko Iwasaki--who was a geisha (coauthored by Rande...

The safety net: slipping on ice, she shattered her leg--and her spirit. A year later, Marsha Norman was overjoyed to learn she'd never walk alone again. A playwright reports. (Healing).
March 1, 2003... JANUARY 6,2001, WAS A SATURDAY. I WOKE UP, GOT DRESSED, and called up to my daughter that we had to get the puppy to the vet by nine. Then I put a banana in my coat pocket, grabbed the puppy, stepped out the front door, took one step down,...

Missouri. (VacationFun).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... With warmer weather settling in, you've been itching to get outdoors again. What are you waiting for? Plan a Heartland spring getaway to Missouri and let the season cast its rejuvenating spell. Pack up the car and take a Sunday, Saturday,...

Oprah talk to Venus and Serena Williams: two sisters who've put a spin on the buttoned up game of tennis talk about passion fashion.(Interview)(Biography)
March 1, 2003... THEY'RE YOUNG, THEY'RE POWERful, and they've got bodies of steel. I met them once years ago; now, for the first time since they've risen to the apex of their sport, I sit across from two of the most famous sisters in the world, Venus and Serena...

Morning glories: no, you're not dreaming; you do deserve a break today. Homemade granola with cherries? Baked eggs with fresh herbs? The nuttiest French toast you've ever tasted? Wake up, sleepyhead, and top of the morning.
March 1, 2003... LONG BEFORE MUFFINS GREW TO THE SIZE OF Whoppers and Oreos became a cereal, there was breakfast. And it was rarely good. Too unhealthy too caloric, too drab, and (often as a result of the aforementioned) entirely skip-pable. Yet in the...

How to say the hard things: your best friend wants you to help her land a job she'd be lousy at. Your boss shrieks at your. Your sister's new hairstyle looks like an old pie. What do you say to these dear folks? O puts the words in your mouth.
March 1, 2003... DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS COME IN ALL VARIETIES: problems that need addressing at work, confrontations with friends, disagreements with family members you don't want to hurt. Most of us will do nearly anything to avoid these little talks. Sooner...

Secrets of the great communicators.
March 1, 2003... Lawyer Johnnie Cochran believes in hard work and preparation. Mediator Theodore Kheel underscores the importance of silence. And speechwriter Peggy Noonan tries to be patient with opponents who are "sadly mistaken." Six very persuasive people...

How to talk to a crowd: Oprah's advice to the nervous.
March 1, 2003... Oprah THE FIRST QUESTION I ASK MYSELF when I'm preparing an address is, What can I say that hasn't already been said? When I received the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award at the Emmys last year, I felt so grateful that I wanted to say something...

Attack of the killer comment: it comes out of the blue--a catty remark, a veiled put-down, a blatant backstab. Michelle Burford on the best defense against wolves in sheep's clothing.
March 1, 2003... NEAR THE TOP OF MY LIST OF ANNOYANCES-RIGHT there under people who leave really long voice mails but don't give a callback number--is a mega-peeve: Engaging in catfights. I don't even like to think about them, so please allow me to boil my last...

How to talk to (nicely) yourself: how do you silence the jeering voice in your head that tells you everything you're saying is wrong and stupid and dumb and unfounded and...stop! Cathleen Medwick attempts to shush her inner critic.
March 1, 2003... YOU KNOW THE ROUTINE. YOU'RE IN A ROOM WITH your boss. Or the man you secretly love. Or the girl who tormented you in high school. Though you plan on being silent and serene, you open your mouth to answer a simple question, and out of it come...

And then what happened? Spellbinding, terrifying, or hilarious--doesn't matter which--all great stories take us to a moment when listener and teller become one.
March 1, 2003... WHEN I WAS 5, THE WOMEN IN MY FAMILY would gather at my grandmother's house to share news of the war in Euro[e and the Pacific, news they said could not be found in Movietone newsreels or the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. They swapped stories that...

Dots & stripes: a love story; someday your prints will come? None-they're here now; Graphic patterns in detectable colors are break out on shoes and bags, bowls and vases, ever a grass or two.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... If you're seeing spots (and stripes) everywhere, you're not dizzy...merely observant. This season zingy prints are transforming shoes and bags, china and glasses, too. Slip on ladylike polka-dot fiats or grab a diagonal-striped bag. if you...

All the right moves: they whirl, swirl, bend, balance, and soar. They're spring's lighthearted skirts and dresses, as worn by dancers from the Broadway hit Movin' Out. Don't sit this one out.
March 1, 2003... Kind of ballet, kind of rock 'n' roll-these clothes, with their fitted tops and swingy, slinky bottoms, definitely take their cue from Movin' Out. In choreographer-director Twyla Tharps conception, five Long Island kids shake, strut, leap, and...

Murder in Westwood.(teenage murder case)
March 1, 2003... It was a setup for mayhem; a teen party in Los Angeles, no parents, 100 privileged adolescents, plenty of beer, raging hormones, and a single blade. By midnight, one girl was dead, another would die, and a stunned community of parents and...

The belt way: if you've got a small waist, belts help celebrate it. More the boyish type? They're great at giving you shape. (Love That!).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... KHAKI COMEBACK Give your bush jacket an Out of Africa moment--belt it with double buckles. Canvas and leather. $160, Kors Michael Kors. GO WESTERN The studded hip belt and your easiest jeans are like old pals: They're effortlessly...

The way you move: motion is the notion behind spring's prettiest (and very affordable) clothes; skirts that swirl, dance-fever shoes, even earrings that sway in the breeze. Inspired by our on page 216. (Love That!).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Give a skirt oomph with layered tops in the pinky beige known as blush. The vertical stripes are an instant slim-down. Chiffon tank, $205, over stretch satin tank, $158, Rozae Nichols. The most alluring skirts right now have real...

Goodbye, old chap: want to protect your lips, face, and body from frost, chill, and icicle winds? These buttery balms will keep you well hydrated all winter long. (Love That!).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... LA MER THE LIP BALM ($40) contains marine anti-freeze protein, which is thought to help keep arctic marine life from icing over. This baim is like a down jacket for your lips. We love the clean lavender, neroli, and lemon fragrance of...

Why didn't I think of it? A better whisk, a smarter can opener, choppers and slicers that take the tedium out of salad-making...and look sharp, besides. (Love That!).(utensils for sale)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... THE SAFER CAN OPENER This powerful, easy-to-grip steel tool with soft, comfortable handles and turning knob quickly removes the lids of cans without creating Jagged edges. OXO, $20. HOW STIRRING The flexible wire construction and...

"Great communication begins with connection". (What I Know for Sure).
March 1, 2003... SINCE THE DAY I STARTED CO-ANCHORING THE LOCAL NEWS in Baltimore nearly 30 years ago, I've been talking and listening for a living. After conversing with everyone from homemakers and schoolteachers to corporate leaders and politicians, I know...