As many of you know, I have been really disturbed by the turn of events surrounding the Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. I can’t help but think of the family members left with no answers and worse yet no evidence of the crash. For those of you now immune to this tragedy, mostly due to the overwhelming amount of coverage it has received, I ask: If you were a grieving family member would you accept the numerous scenarios that have been published about the whereabouts of the plane or is there a greater conspiracy at play here?

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New York City has a special place in my heart. Having spent a great deal of time there, like many of you, I was heartbroken and in disbelief about the turn of events that day. That kind of pain never fully goes away. Naturally, I was pleased to hear about the upcoming 9/11 museum opening on May 21^st.

Five days prior to the opening are being dedicated to the victims’ families, loved ones and first responders of the devastating World Trade Center attacks that took place in 2001 and 1993. Entering on a pavilion between the two reflecting pools that now sit in the footprint of the Twin Towers, the museum is set on the grounds of the 9/11 memorial. While the memorial pays tribute to those who had lost their lives, the museum will use video, photos and audio to tell the story of the fateful tragedies. The visitors will be greeted by two steel tridents from the Twin Towers façade upon entering the museum atrium.

If you are planning to visit NYC to do some shopping or sightseeing, please visit the museum and pay tribute our unsung heroes. Admission to the 9/11 memorial is free and the tickets to the new museum will be $24.

About a week ago, I expressed my outrage with the notion that in the year 2014, 300 innocent girls can be abducted from school, and after weeks of pleading and searching, we are no closer to bringing them back. Our strong international community has taken to Twitter using the hashtag, #BringBackOurGirls to encourage their release. While an offer has been made by Boko Haram, the Islamist extremist group who kidnapped the girls, to swap the girls in exchange for some prisoners held by the Nigerian government – this offer was quickly rejected.  The Nigerian community believes the government should strongly reconsider as bringing nearly 300 abducted school girls back to their families is paramount in this unthinkable circumstance.

With more than 4 million tweets, the hashtag #BringBackOurGirls has stirred an international movement to get these girls home safely, while vigils at the Nigerian capital continue to spread a message of hope. 20,000 Nigerian soldiers have also been dispersed to rescue the girls, but many fear fire power will merely make the situation worse. Additionally, the U.S. has stepped in, deploying 80 members of the armed forces to aid in the search for the missing girls. They will offer support, surveillance and intelligence. The Nigerian government has also asked the United Nations to designate Boko Haram as a terrorist group, which would allow other countries the ability to impose travel bans, freeze assets and impose arms embargoes.

Small, strategic steps are being made to #BringBackOurGirls and power in numbers certainly makes a statement. Keeping these girls and their families in our prayers and keeping hope alive is key to bringing them home. They are in my prayers.

Today the world lost a gifted writer, a women’s activist and a beautiful soul. Maya Angelou did not live without her share of struggles, but she rose above it, dedicating her life to others. To honor her life’s work, I have put together a few of my favorite quotes that I hope will motivate us all to lead by example and be better individuals. Thank you for your words, Maya. You will be well remembered.

Remembering Maya Angelou: 6 Favorite Quotes

1) “Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.”

2) “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”

3) “I am a woman phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, that’s me.”

4) “When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.”

5) “Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.”

6) “Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.”

This weekend JR and I hosted a birthday bash for my beautiful sis Khloe Kardashian who turned the big 3-0 on Friday! Everyone gathered on our boat Utopia III for a night of festivities in NYC. The party was insanely fun. How could it not be with this bunch? In attendance were some of our closest friends and family including French Montana and the Kardashian crew. Here are the photos from the night and don’t forget to watch the footage of Khloe’s party on Keeping Up with the Kardashians! Thank you for filling our lives with so much love and making us a part your your big day! xoxo

While my mix of anger and sympathy for the families of those 3 boys in Israel builds and is compelling me to post #bringbackourboys, I am deeply saddened to learn of their deaths. The deaths of three innocent Israeli teenage boys who were kidnapped in the West Bank earlier this month should not go unnoticed by the international community and our president. With one of the boys being an American citizen something needs to be done.

Israeli officials confirmed yesterday that their bodies were found in a cave north of the city of Hebron.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the killers “human animals” as he spoke before an emergency cabinet meeting. But there are truly no words to describe the kind of deplorable violence that was imparted on Eyal Yifrach, Gilad Shaar and Naftali Frankel as they tried to make their way home from school by hitchhiking, something that is not uncommon in that region.

In a very powerful statement quoting Israeli poet Hayim Nahman Bialik, the prime minister recited that, “‘[v]engeance for the blood of a small child, Satan has not yet created.’ Neither has vengeance for the blood of three pure youths, who were on their way home to meet their parents, who will not see them anymore. Hamas is responsible –- and Hamas will pay. May the memories of the three boys be blessed.”

This heartbreaking situation comes at the end of a search that began on June 12th for the three teen boys, one of whom (Naftali Frenkel, 16) was from Brooklyn, N.Y. My heart goes out to the families of these innocent children who were taken much too soon. I have no words other than to send my sincerest condolences to the families who mourn for these lost souls; may they rest in peace. And I pray that the individuals who were capable of such heinous crimes be brought to the justice they deserve.

In a split decision of 5-4, the Supreme Court reached a verdict on Monday regarding the birth control mandate in what’s become popularly known as the “Hobby Lobby case,” where “closely held,” family-owned companies have resisted having to provide certain types of coverage for birth control medication they’ve deemed as “abortion-inducing.” Among its many debatable points, the decision most glaringly brings about discussion with its split outnumbering the women (Sotomayor, Kagan, and Ginsburg) who voted against it.

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While the topic of birth control and abortion has always been a controversial hot button in political and religious discussions, the ruling in favor of these privately owned companies begins to open all sorts of questions regarding fair coverage for its female employees. Those who have sided with the Supreme Court defend their position on the platform of protecting religious freedom, as the companies who have resisted the contraception mandate in the Affordable Care Act are of traditional Christian values, such as the owners of Hobby Lobby who come from generations of Evangelical Christians.

But is this really a matter of religious freedom? What will this mean for those women who will now have limited, if any, access to eligible contraceptives? And where does this ruling end? Does this lay the groundwork for other limitations of coverage? In my opinion, true religious freedom ought to respect the religious and moral decisions of others – whether that means a choice in contraception, immunization, or even more general medical treatments.

White House press secretary Josh Earnest relayed President Obama’s concern over the decision “jeopardizing” the health of women, stating that the White House “will work with Congress to make sure that any women affected by this decision will still have the same coverage of vital health services as everyone else.” And we can only hope they reach a fair solution for the women involved. There needs to be equal coverage for all women, regardless of their place of employment and the opinions of those who run it.

As it stands, the effects of this decision remain to be seen, but the ramifications border on unfair limitations in women’s health coverage, rigidly removing choice and allowing corporations to rule over areas where government and companies have no place. Enough is enough.

I leave you with some excerpts from Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg in her dissent over Burwell v. Hobby Lobby:

• “It bears note in this regard that the cost of an IUD is nearly equivalent to a month’s full-time pay for workers earning the minimum wage.”
• The exemption sought by Hobby Lobby and Conestoga would…deny legions of women who do not hold their employers’ beliefs access to contraceptive coverage”
• “Approving some religious claims while deeming others unworthy of accommodation could be ‘perceived as favoring one religion over another,’ the very ‘risk the [Constitution’s] Establishment Clause was designed to preclude.”
• “The court, I fear, has ventured into a minefield.”

I am extremely passionate when it comes to the news and current events. Some stories hit closer to home than others and now there’s talk of a relatively new militant group ISIS, (The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) my ears have perked up. Today is after all our intependece day and I do not take any of our freedoms for granted. ISIS, formed about a year ago with origins that grew out of al-Quaeda in Iraq are known to be even more extreme. Outsiders looking in believe thousands of fighters make up the group, whose aim is to ultimately form an Islamic state across Sunni areas of Iraq and Syria. Fighting government forces in Syria, some news sources have said that ISIS has become the world’s most dangerous militant group.

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Throughout the duration of the ongoing civil war in Syria, ISIS has continued to thrive and grow, making it a force to be reckoned with. Continually making military gains in Iraq, ISIS has now seized Iraq’s second largest city of Mosul and will most likely continue to seize neighboring cities. Now controlling hundreds of square miles, ISIS simply ignores international borders, and now has formed some presence from Syria’s Mediterranean coast to south of Baghdad. In a nutshell, ISIS aims to establish an Islamic state that spans the region and works to impose its own laws in the cities and towns it has seized. Imposing laws largely identified with Islam means that women will have to wear a veil in public, boys and girls are separated in school, the fast is enforced during Ramadan and music is banned completely. Rules are often enforced through brutal consequence and the laws cover both non-religious and religious parts of day-to-day life. This is not the world that I would want my daughter and grandchild to live in.

It’s safe to say that while the Islamist rebel group (ISIS) won’t necessarily have a direct effect on our lives here at home, there will be indirect consequences. While ISIS continues to seize cities across the region, oil drilling has been put on hold. Iraq is one of the largest oil producers in the world and lack of product could have economic impact of global scale. When oil becomes scarce, prices begin to climb, making oil the impetus of world-wide economic unrest.

According to a recent World Post article, “A disruption in the supply of Iraq’s oil on the world market could create a cascading effect on oil prices, already at $110 a barrel and climbing. It should be remembered that in the summer of 2008 oil’s climb to a price north of $140 a barrel was a key element in the unleashing of the global economic crisis, from which a feeble recovery is still underway. The global economy is fragile and vulnerable to another oil shock.”

What are your thoughts on ISIS and how it might affect the rest of the world? Can you see how its impact on oil could spiral into a global economic crisis?

Many media outlets found this story news worthy so I wanted to address the topic that is making the headlines today. The Belgian teen, Axelle Despiegelaere, 17 who was discovered by L’Oreal after cheering in the crown at the World Cup has been ‘demoted.’ This over a photo she had posted on Facebook over a year ago, of her sitting with a rifle over a dead animal that she allegedly had just killed in Africa. What’s raising eyebrows is the caption of the photo that reads, ‘Hunting is not a matter or life or death. It is much more than that…ready to hunt americans today haha.”

We live in an age where privacy is virtually nonexistent, so we all bare the responsibility and hence have to deal with the repercussions of our actions and with a lot more public scrutiny. I think that this makes companies and individuals more accountable and more transparent by really putting the power into the hands of the masses. The reason that this young woman’s contract was terminated wasn’t because she posted this picture, which she claimed was a joke that somehow got lost in translation, but because it outraged so many people and rightfully so. With lines between private and public so blurred, do you agree with L’Oreal’s decision to sever ties with this girl? And with so much on the line, do you think that this will be a lesson for people in the future to be more conscience about the content they post on the web?

I’m incredibly excited to announce my partnership with the Flat Out of Heels shoe company. If you  haven’t heard of them before, Flat Out of Heels are genius little flats that roll up small enough to fit into a clutch bag but with a sole durable enough for everyday use. Designed with high-heel wearers in mind, they come with a convenient little bag to toss your heels into when they’re no longer wearable (we’ve all been there, right?).

Dawn Dickson, the creator of Flat Out of Heels, has honored me with the opportunity to design my own exclusive collection in designer fabrics that will be available for purchase soon at SHOP.com and FlatOutofHeels.com. I can’t wait to share the designs with you. For now, you can conveniently find a pair in vending machines at LIV in Miami Beach, Atlanta’s International Airport, or at FlatOutofHeels.com.

To read the full story in the Miami Herald, click here.

I’d like to take a moment to acknowledge the tragedy that has befallen the families of the passengers aboard Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. Brought down on Thursday, July 17th, by a surface-to-air missile attack, the flight was carrying 298 passengers from Amsterdam, heading to Kuala Lumpur. The strike brought down the Boeing 777 just over the Ukraine onto a country road. Sadly, there were no survivors among the 283 passengers and 15 crew members on board. The victims included 192 Dutch, 29 Malaysians, 28 Australians, 12 Indonesians, 10 Britons, four Germans, four Belgians, three Vietnamese, three Filipinos and one person each from the U.S., Canada, New Zealand and Hong Kong.

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At this time, President Obama has called for an international investigation, saying the U.S. has offered support from the FBI and NTSB. However, it is largely believed the cause stems from a strike originating from a rebel-held area near the Ukrainian/Russian border. Despite the speculation, the Ukraine’s government, pro-Russia rebels, and Russia have all denied their involvement. But the investigation has only just begun and conclusions remain to be seen.

This awful occurrence comes just months after the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, which was scheduled from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, with a devastating loss of 227 passengers and 12 crew members from 14 different nations.

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As the world watches in awe as this story unfolds, my heart goes out to the victims and their families. And I pray that there is an end to the senseless violence that continues to become an all-too-common occurrence.

I leave you with the latest coverage on this horrible tragedy.

ABC News | ABC Sports News

Could it possibly be true that a color even darker than our favorite go-to black has been created? Leave it to science to take fashion to a whole different level with a new color claiming its status as “blacker than black.” Using sophisticated technology, including carbon nanotubes (anyone know what those are?!?) a nanotech company based in the UK has developed the world’s blackest material ever.

Known as Vantablack, this new age material developed by Surrey NanoSystems is actually intended for astronautical and military purposes rather than the sartorial fashion uses we already have planned for the new blackest black. According to the Independent, “if this black was used to make one of Chanel’s little black dresses, the wearer’s head and limbs might appear to float incorporeally around a dress-shaped hole.” Vantablack is “so dark that the human eye cannot understand what it is seeing. Shapes and contours are lost, leaving nothing but an apparent abyss.” Imagine that for your new little black-blacker than black dress – you’d disappear!

While Vantablack does sound incredible for your next big night out, it was actually developed for far more serious ventures – like allowing infared scanners more effective ability and aiding astronomical cameras. Not to mention all the ways this blacker-than-black material could be used for military purposes. In addition, your next Vantablack dress probably won’t be seen on runways this fall – the material is so expensive to develop, the cost cannot be revealed. How’s that for an investment piece?

What do you think? Could blacker than black actually be the new black? I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

Caroline Wozniacki, the world’s 13th-ranked female tennis player and a dear friend of mine, is running the New York City Marathon on Nov. 2. A true athlete and a beautiful person through and through Caroline told me that getting this under her belt is not only a personal goal but is about raising money for underprivileged children. She is running for the @teamforkids charity running team, a program that raises funds for youth running programs for individuals who would otherwise have little or no access to regular physical activity. Please help support the cause by contributing what you can to Caroline’s run. Details on donating are on this link: http://www.crowdrise.com/carolinew.

While this is her first long-distance race, Wozniacki already runs 30 to 40 minutes a day as part of her tennis training. And while 26.2 miles is no easy feat, if anyone can do it, it is Caroline. Wishing my friend lots of luck on reaching her goal and I’ll be cheering her on come November! xoxo

Last night’s President’s Reception was a blast. I always love to see familiar faces and acknowledge people for their hard work. We had lots of winners for various challenges, one of which was Motives. It is commendable what goes into earning such recognition so I just wanted to say thank you all for what you do. I am always here to support you and to help build tools to make your life easier and work more rewarding. I wanted to share some highlights from last night for those of you who missed this event.

The world lost a legend today. Joan Rivers has passed on at the age of 81. One week after arriving at a New York City hospital last Thursday following surgical complications, her daughter Melissa announced in a statement today, “It is with great sadness that I announce the death of my mother, Joan Rivers. She passed peacefully at 1:17pm surrounded by family and close friends.” Joan was a vibrant, strong, opinionated, and beautiful soul. She had a long career fueled by her colorful and unapologetic personality, the trait that made her so admirable and likeable. As we remember her today, let us celebrate the energy and presence that made her so great. The show business icon made her indelible mark on the world and she will surely be missed.

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Joan’s personality is what made her the show business legend we all grew to know and love. Here are some of her most memorable quotes.

We will miss you, Joan.

I can’t tell you how thrilling it was to be able to watch my friend, Serena Williams, win the US Open last night! JR and I were able to enjoy the match in person, watching as the two inspiring competitors, Caroline Wozniacki and Serena Williams, faced off for the title. Back in April, I had a chance to meet up with the two ladies and enjoy their company over dinner in Paris. What I can tell you is that they are admirable individuals both on and off the court. Both women competed at the top of their game and it was wonderful to watch them both exemplify their dedication, athleticism and professionalism. In the end, Serena took home her 3rd title in a row at the US Open Championship, making history while she was at it as the first woman to win three in a row since the 1970’s.

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Congratulations, Serena!! You worked incredibly hard for this and you deserve every bit of victory! JR and I are so proud of you!

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I’m so excited to share the news of the official launch of Market Singapore! Singapore was already part of Market America’s Emerging Markets Program, making the launch this week the culmination of a lot of hard work from our Internal and External teams as well as our dedicated Unfranchise owners. The event celebrated yet another incredible moment in the history of our company, something I am so proud to be a part of. Click here to visit Singapore’s SHOP.com, featuring all of the wonderful items its American counterpart has to offer. I wish our leaders and Unfranchise owners in Singapore the very best as they begin this exciting journey.

Here are some pictures of our launch event with a look at our beautiful offices! Can you feel the energy? The excitement was contagious!

Congratulations to our team on the official opening of the Singapore Unfranchise business! The best is yet to come!

Did you have a busy week? Here’s your chance to catch up. I’ve rounded up some headlines you may have missed over the last few days. From the iPhone 6 being a little more flexible than we all hoped, to another sad story about domestic violence, yet another iPhone mishap, and an inspiring gender equality speech at the U.N., catch up on the details as you read on.

Image credit: Hadrian / Shutterstock.com

Headlines You Might Have Missed This Week

1) Apple Pulls iOS 8 Update – Apple had a rough week with the release of their new phones not going so well (see below) and then the new iOS 8.0.1 software update giving users unexpected troubles. After many users reported lost signal, data service, and loss of Touch ID capability, Apple decided to pull the update and investigate further. Read the full story here.

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2) Emma Watson Speech on Gender Equality at the UN – Actress Emma Watson went before the U.N. earlier this week to deliver a speech on gender equality as part of the launch of the HeForShe campaign. The moving speech from the young actress in her new role as the U.N. Women Goodwill ambassador garnered incredible attention. Read a transcript of the speech along with the full story here.

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3) iPhone 6 Bends – There were many high expectations surrounding the release of the iPhone 6 and 6 plus this week. But none of those changes and expectations could have prepared users for the flexible nature of the new device. It seems that many users reported bending whether they were storing their phone in a pocket or simply trying it with their own hands after the event known as “Bendgate” went viral on social media. Here’s a look at one user’s photo with the results. Read the full story  here.

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4) Sarah Hyland Gets Restraining Order against Ex-boyfriend – There are just too many stories about domestic violence in the news lately. Sadly, this week, actress Sarah Hyland obtained a temporary restraining order against her  ex-boyfriend Matthew Prokop after documents revealed that she feared for her life when he allegedly tried to choke her. Such an incredibly sad situation. Read the full story here. And if you think you might be in an abusive relationship, please get help: call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).

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Just a few short days ago on October 10th, Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize, a tribute to her relentless pursuit for education and equal treatment for girls in her country. The courageous teen began keeping a journal five years ago, documenting the fearful conditions under which she and her schoolmates were kept. Deciding that she wanted to remain in education, Malala chose to take action where others would have thrown up their hands in defeat. And it is because of this courage that, at 17, she is now the youngest person to ever win a Nobel Prize in any category.

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Malala began what would become a global campaign by taking a simple step. Her father, who ran a private school, gave her the idea to start the blog that began as a quiet journal. But when she was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman in October 2012, the world took notice. She has since become an international name synonymous with freedom, equality, and bravery.

At her tender age, Malala has lived through more than most girls her age can even imagine – nor should have to. She has lived a life of courage in the face of the ultimate fear and threat of death. And she has lived to see the other side of it, becoming an inspiration to, not just her own generation, but anyone who has a cause, a dream, or an idea they yearn to stand up for. It is because of her bold, decisive action that girls her age can have someone to look up, someone to emulate – a role model of the highest caliber.

Not everyone has the same struggles, and Malala’s case was an exceptional one. But every single individual has something to fight for, a hurdle to overcome. Which is why I’m sharing this story – in hopes that girls and women everywhere will take notice of Malala’s resounding example. It all begins with an unwavering decision and a single, certain step.

Congratulations to Malala and her family. May her journey continue to move onward and upward. She has been an inspiration to us all.

News of the Ebola virus has been cluttering our news feeds at an alarming rate lately. With such frequent reports of possible and confirmed cases, it can be easy to become panicked about the situation. And while the current circumstances are absolutely scary and the issue a very serious one that needs to be addressed immediately, it’s important to keep calm and be aware of the facts. The CDC is doing everything they can to contain the threat and have put together an updated fact sheet for everyone’s benefit. Here’s what you should know about Ebola.

Ebola: What You Need to Know

Increased airport screenings are tracking passengers that may have been exposed to the virus. Airports in the U.S. (JFK, Atlanta, Chicago, Newark and  Dulles, Va.) are asking passengers to fill out a questionnaire and have their temperatures taken if they are considered to have been at risk (travelling from Africa).

The CDC is reaching out to passengers who were on the flight with Texas nurse Amber Vinson, the second confirmed case of Ebola in the U.S. She flew from Cleveland to Dallas the night before she arrived at the hospital with a fever.

Ebola does not travel through air. It can only be contracted through direct contact with either an infected animal or, in human-to-human cases, by coming into contact with the blood or bodily fluids (including but not limited to feces, saliva, urine, vomit, and semen) of a person who is infected with the virus.

Coming into contact with infected items such as syringes and needles that have been contaminated with the blood or bodily fluids of an infected person or animal is also a potential way of contracting the disease.

Symptoms typically include: Fever, severe headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and unexplained bleeding or bruising.

A person who is infected with Ebola is not contagious until symptoms appear.

The CDC (Center for Disease Control) has put together a fact sheet with information on the disease and what they know so far. Here is a link to the PDF version to print or save and, most importantly, get informed.

As this situation continues to develop, it’s important to keep current on the facts. For the latest information, be sure to visit the CDC’s website.