Feb
26
2009
Wow! We got a ton of emails from the last post. We’re alll affected in some way by this strange economy. It made me think. There are some things we can control and some we can’t. Maybe we can’t control the economy, but we can control our attitude and the things we do to take care of ourselves and make ourselves feel more optimistic. I know I feel more productive and empowered when I’m taking positive actions and doing things that are good for me and keep me healthy emotionally, spiritually and physically.
Here are a few of my tricks for staying up in a down economy:
Starting my pole-dancing class again. I’d kind of burnt out on it after a couple of years, but I’m ready to go back, to reconnect with other sexy, empowered women. Talk about brave! We may not get naked in the class but we do bare our souls. Pole dancing is emotional, powerful and raw. If you’re doing it right 
If you don’t have a pole dancing class nearby or if you want something less formal and less expensive, have your own sensual dance party! Invite a few girlfriends. Pass out flyers at work. Buy one of the DVD’s. I like the Chair Dancing and Developing Your Routine DVD’s the best, but for someone who’s NEVER done anything like this The Art of Exotic Dancing I is a good start. Whichever friend has the biggest living room gets to host the party. Move the furniture to the side, cover all the mirrors (so people can really let loose and not worry how they look – it’s totally about feeling!) and toss red or orange scarves over the lamps for a warm sensual glow and low light. Pop in the DVD and follow the instructions. After a month or so, when you’ve seen the DVD a few times, you you may want to watch it just for warm-ups, but bring your own music and dance for each other. Remember the cat calls! Yell, whistle, encourage and support each other. Now, that’s empowering!!
Reconnecting with my spirituality. I listen to positive motivational messages when I’m driving to work and at night when I’m drifting off to sleep. Not motivational, pump me up hype, but things that go deeper and help me reconnect with what’s true – something deeper than appearances of a world in panic. If you’re religious listen to podcasts or DVDs of your particular religion – anything that counteracts the fear-based messages we get throughout the day. Try to take in as much positive information as you do negative. If you watch 1/2 hour of news a day, listen to 1/2 hour of something inspirational. I want to be aware of what’s going on, I just want to balance out the information I get. I’m into Reverend Michael Beckwith these days. I don’t agree with everything he says, but listening to him or someone like him, zaps me right out of fear and into faith and possibilities. This is an incredible time to be creative. Remember that. Continue Reading »
Feb
25
2009
When I am shopping in a Big Girl Store, and I am trying on clothes, I always come out of the fitting room to look in a three-way mirror. When I come out, if the clerk says something like, “Oh that makes you look slimmer”, or “Wow that looks so slenderizing on you”, I am forced to respond with a comment that I am CERTAIN they don’t hear everyday. I simply say, “Oh then I don’t want it, you can take it back”.
WHAT???? I don’t want to look thinner? I don’t want to appear as though I am smaller than I actually am???? Are you kidding me?
OK, catch your breath. Let me explain something. It is something about compliments.
But first let me spout a little about fat girl stores. I want to be able to go into a safe place, that sells MY size, and not have to be concerned about clothing that makes me look thinner. I want to be free to just look great. Good fit, great style, amazing color, beautiful fabrics….those things. If a person is going to work in a plus size industry, I want them to be able to figure out that not ALL women are disgusted by their size. Not ALL women hate their bodies. Many of us love our bodies and want to enhance our curves – not hide them!!! There, that being said, I can move on.
Back to compliments. I am going to ask for your participation here. Just for 30 days. Thirty measly days out of thousands that you will live and have lived. It could be an eye-opener, or at the very least, a lot of FUN. Continue Reading »
Feb
19
2009
Happy New Year everyone! Looks like it’s going to be a bumpy ride. Yep, it’s true. We are going through a recession. Chances are, most of us are feeling the effects both professionally and personally. I don’t know anyone who isn’t. It’s easy to get stuck in fear and depression if we’re not careful. I’m like a sponge if I listen to news more than five to ten minutes I can buy into the fear. But does being in a recession mean we can’t be happy and successful? Looking at the glass as half full, I’m actually kind of excited…. “Necessity is the mother of invention,” right? Some of our best ideas and most creative outbursts have come when our backs are against the wall. (We can’t give away any trade secrets but we have some exciting changes happening this year!)
My New Years resolution? I’m going on a “mental diet.” I’m not going to deny that our country is going through some major upheavals, but I am going to make a conscious effort to watch my thoughts. Author, James Ray, talks about a recession being like winter. It may be dark and cold but it’s seasonal and it will pass. Worrying obsessively, being depressed and miserable won’t make spring come any earlier. How we choose to see the situation and deal with it can affect our well being and inner peace. We can use this as a time to grow, to look at our choices, to reconnect with our friends and family. And eventually spring will come again. The question is, how can we get through this wintry time and keep our sense of peace and optimism and gratitude? Can we see the beauty in a cold, dark winter night?
We’ve tightened our belts and are being extra careful with our expenses, but I’m happy to say people are still buying lingerie! The super sexy stuff like corsets and costumes are really popular right now. People need a little fun, fantasy and escapism. Some of the things people are buying aren’t cheap - but we’ve found our customers are looking for ‘value’ rather than ‘cheap’. The Steel Boned Dutchess Corset came in and went out faster than anything we’d ever seen. We’re also selling a lot of panties, cotton tanks and Damn Sexy T’s. We might as well make ourselves comfortable and sexy! Our country is in for some big changes and a bright future. We’ve gotta hold on to our hats (or panties) and enjoy the ride!
Feb
18
2009
Brown is the new black.
50 is the new 30.
Fat is the new…ummmmm – FAT!!
What? How dare I use the dreaded F word. I mean come on, I AM a female for cryin out sideways!! I need to be ashamed, guilted, depressed or at the very least quiet about it.
Well I am daring to come out of the closet, so to speak, about using the word FAT to describe my wonderful body!! I have owned this big body for MANY years now and have loved all that it has provided me. Men, clothes, travel, singing, acting, men, commercials, comedy, beauty, men (God have I mentioned MEN?) and so many other amazing experiences.
When you pick up a puppy, you turn it over and love on it exclaiming, “Oh I love this fat little belly!!” I myself usually kiss a puppy belly and raspberry it. I love love love the smell of puppy belly skin.
A newborn baby? Of the human kind, that is. We comment on the adorable chubby cheeks and the amazing fat at the top of the baby legs. We comment how healthy those chunky babies look, and my look at the beautiful color…no matter what color!
Ok, so when did FAT become bad? I have that fat at the top of my legs, belly charm and adorable cheeks. I must be amazingly cute…well my FAT is. To me. To my husband. To many others too. Continue Reading »
Feb
16
2009
I just came across an article for a new Condé Nast luxury fashion and style publication called LOVE that promises to be “edgy and experimental”. I know we’re all used to seeing size zero fashion models and movie stars gracing the covers of high end fashion mags but to my surprise, the very first issue of Love features a not so typical cover model – Beth Ditto! And by the way, she is nude! Apparently it’s not the first time she has posed nude for a magazine cover. Rebecca just sent me this link with a shot from her NME cover shoot.
What do you guys think of the cover? Is it sexy? Tacky? Empowering? Share your thoughts!
