The Boob Song

The boob song. I'm sure many of you have heard it by now, and many of you have heard it over and over again on youtube because you just can't get enough of it... McFarlane's skit went viral instantly with tweeters and facebookers contributing their two cents as fast as their fingers would allow them to type. Google the boob song and the first half a dozen hits are about McFarlane's Oscar Night controversy.

Why has it become all the buzz? Well, we all know that sex sells. Sex also entertains. In a culture of overly-sexualized (I made that word up) bodies, what do we expect comedians to poke fun at?

Women's breasts were intended to FEED offspring. Shocking, I know, boobs have a purpose. When we allow a culture to manipulate their purpose into one of a sexual nature, no wonder it's a scandal when Hollywood stars bare their milk jugs.

Kudos to the women who use their breasts for their intended purpose and to those who breastfeed. Especially those who exercise their right to breastfeed in public. The more people see breasts bared for their natural use, and not just popping out of Victoria's Secret lingerie on billboards, the better.

Guest Post from "Lost in Your Care"

I'm happy to share a guest blog today on an important holiday of love. Whether you love it or hate it, Valentine's Day is about showing love. Donniel Robinson, author of Lost in Your Care blog, shares some wonderful insights on showing love, especially to YOURSELF!

Valentine's Day, it’s one of our favorite Hallmark holidays. It’s a day dedicated to love and kindness. Couples will ramp up the romance, kids will send loving gestures to friends, and parents will hand out extra hugs.

But what will you do to show yourself love?

This year use Valentine's Day as a reminder to focus on loving yourself too.

“Self-love, my liege, is not so vile a sin, as self-neglecting.”
William Shakespeare

Take Care of Your Body

“When you respect yourself, you respect your body, which has a domino effect on every other area of your life.” Treating your body well with good food, smart exercise, and lots of sleep is the holy trinity of self-care.

Take time to focus on what you are putting in your mouth. Nutrition is the cornerstone of health. Skip the junk and make an effort to eat fresh, healthy food everyday. Follow good meals with some activity. Exercise can be as simple as going for a walk or doing some stretching.

You love others by taking care of them, so give yourself the same respect.

After you’ve refueled and made time for some movement, sleep… sleep a little more… and then take a nap. Sleep is what allows your body to recover from the demands of the day. Most adults need seven to nine hours of sleep each night.

You only get one body and maintenance is much easier than repair.

Dream

There is nothing more tragic than someone who has forgotten how to dream about the future. We often get overly focused on the here and now. Hyper-focusing on the daily tasks of life can be a mistake.

Take some time away from the dishes and the laundry to simply daydream. Our own potential is what gives us a zest for life. Plan a garden, make fitness goals, or start making an outline for that book your going to write.

Life should be filled with joy. Dream and dream big.

“If you aren't good at loving yourself, you will have a difficult time loving anyone, since you'll resent the time and energy you give another person that you aren't even giving to yourself.”
Barbara De Angelis

Treat Yourself

There is no reason to wait for someone else to buy you a beautiful bouquet and a sweet treat. Check out the bargain buckets in your local grocery store. Bouquets can cost as little as $1.99 and last for up to two-weeks. Winter is the best time to have a fresh bunch of flowers sitting on your kitchen table.

Since you’re in the store anyway, you may as well pick up some dark chocolate. It contains cell-protecting antioxidants and causes the release of the “…natural feel-good chemicals called endorphins…” But who really needs a reason, it tastes great!

Whisper Sweet Nothings

Say nice thing to yourself. If another person said nasty things to you all the time, how long would you stick around? Not long. But most of us have the bad habit of saying horrible things to ourselves on a regular basis. Stop the negative self-talk and instead start looking for loving things to say to, and about yourself.

Think of at least three things that you love about yourself. As extra reinforcement, write your sweet nothings down on pieces of paper and post them around your house. Make a game out of it. You could even write a full-blown love letter to yourself and stick it in the mail. Whatever you do, make it a priority to say loving things to yourself.

Seek joy and love yourself. Happy Valentine's Day.

Resources:
“10 Simple Acts Of Radical Self-Care” By Polly Noble, February 6, 2013 http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-7633/10-simple-acts-of-radical-self-care.html

“Chocolate and Your Brain: The Feel Good Factor” http://www.allchocolate.com/health/basics/brain.aspx

The only thing you need to know about SEX

Warning: Adult content.

I woke up this morning feeling a bit groggy. I applied some peppermint essential oil to my chest and under my nose to alleviate some sinus pressure, and then loaded Pandora on my phone before hopping in a hot shower. (Hot is a relative term, I take lukewarm showers according to my boyfriend.) One of my favorite songs came on as soon as I got out of the shower: "Butterfly" by Jason Mraz. For those of you who haven't heard this song before, listen to it now. It is super sexy. It got me in a mood... I took my sweet time drying off and then danced around naked because I COULD. I continued to fold my laundry without getting dressed. I made some lunch in the nude, too. I love naked time. It is freeing, empowering, exhilarating, and relaxing. It makes me feel sexy. Unfortunately, naked time does not feel the same to other women. Many women dislike, or even hate, their bodies. (There are definitely men with body issues, too, don't get me wrong. The recent Glee episode titled "Naked" illustrated this.)

Why am I talking about naked time? With an increasingly brazen culture of sex-ridden media (Fifty Shades of Gray, sexy Go-Daddy models, Glee episodes, advertisements, Victoria's Secret, etc.), there seems to be a lot of focus on our bodies but little conversation and real "talk" about sex. So, I wanted to write today about another passion of mine: SEX. No, I'm not a sexual deviant nor am I a nymphomaniac. I happen to be a woman with a healthy sexual appetite. I really enjoy discussing sex. I think sex serves many purposes and can, and SHOULD, be a wonderful act. I've thought about becoming a sex therapist before, and may still consider it as a career down the road. Several of my friends have come to me with concerns and sex issues, and I've written a lot of sex-related material. I've dedicated a lot of my mental energy to determining the role of sex in relationships. I filled six pieces of bright orange looseleaf paper during my senior year of college about whether or not I wanted to lose my virginity before marriage. Some would say I was a prude. To each their own. I just think sex is a really special expression and shouldn't be frivolously engaged in, that's all. That's another topic for another road... I could write forever about my thoughts on sex, but today is for those ladies looking for "5 ways to rev up your sex life" and "the secrets to make him want you."

With Valentine's Day coming up next week, I got to thinking about relationships, sex, dating, and all that wonderfully delicious blogging material. Women everywhere are researching creative date ideas, romantic gifts, and the latest and greatest sex tips with fervor. I have filtered through a lot of that garbage on google for you, checked with Christian Carter, Dear Abby, and Dan Savage, and I'm here to tell you the answer to all of your sex (and relationship) problems. Yup, you'll finally have the answer and I'm giving it to you for FREE. That's right, no credit card. It won't even cost you your email address to sign up for my pesky newsletter. REALLY, TRULY FREE. The answer is:

Confidence.

You know the other great thing? Confidence can be free, too. No $29.97 for an expert's relationship book, no $99 gym membership fee, no $250/mo of sex therapy, not even $3.99 for that issue of Glamour magazine with the article "Let's Get Dressed: How to Look Skinny in Everything." GET UNDRESSED. Metaphorically... but literally for some of you! Get vulnerable! Confidence comes from within, and it starts with loving yourself, your body, and your personality. Easier said than done, right? Of course! That's why there's an entire market out there making millions off of those looking to increase their performance in bed, when in reality most people are looking to increase their confidence. If that gym membership is going to help you get there, though, then do it.

Or... you could take a risk. Don't wear underwear on Valentine's Day and walk around like you own the ground you walk on. Initiate sex (if you don't usually)! Make him pull the car over on the way to dinner and fool around for a bit like hormone-driven, high school teens. Step out of your comfort zone, laugh at yourself, get playful, and enjoy your body. Start small, start SOMEWHERE, and reap the benefits of your new-found sexy confidence.