Express Yourself...

"You deserve the best in life...So if the time isn't right then move on. Second best is never enough
You'll do much better baby on your own." I heard this Madonna song tonight as my son (in NYC) and I were sending text messages to one another and I put this part of the lyrics on my Facebook wall. Think about it...don't you deserve the best in life? If the answer is yes, you need to Express yourself!


Have you ever felt like no matter how hard to tried to make things better, or to make a relationship work you just kept taking three steps forward to go two steps back? That was my life 13 years ago and looking back is wasn't as easy as so many people would think. Being the black sheep of my family already I was the one who didn't get through college. I was the one who got married too young and became a mother too fast, and I was the one who would never succeed like her siblings did. Imagine trying to live your life competing with that? Welcome to what was once known as my world. 
Do you know how old and meaningless it gets to be the one hounded by your mother for things that she would NEVER in a million years hound your brother and sister for? Have you ever been made to feel so bad that your self esteem became so low that you didn't think you were capable of doing anything at all, much less being a mother? I ask you...where is the love?


After my divorce I was the "pity" child. I was the one that was in need of something/everything. I was the single daughter with no man to care for me...but guess what? I didn't need a man to take care of me. I could take care of myself. I took on retail management jobs, and worked for custom builders. I tried working for nursing homes, chiropractors, I was an office manager a few times, I ran a payroll and account department,  property management, mortgage work, more sales, and even real estate. The problem was....I wasn't the vice president of a bank, the doctor or the molecular biologist. I was none of that....but I was still the same girl that held her head high when she walked into a room because I was proud of who I was. I paid the bills, kept the room over 3 heads, put food on the table, put two kids through private high school and then onto college. I was 'Super Mom' and to me, that job title was held with more honor, praise and respect than all of the above jobs put together.


I was just me...a woman on a mission to succeed somehow doing something that I love. No one ever guessed that would be selling panties and sexy lingerie for a living but that you see was my calling. Building two lingerie businesses from scratch was exactly what I did. If you think owning your own business is easy, think again my friend...It is endless hours, tons of computer work, new products, blogs, affiliate programs, taking business classes to keep up on laws and rules, and traveling to convention centers for trade shows. Even doing all of those things as important as they all are making other women feel  special and giving them the confidence to believe in themselves was where my destiny was. You may not think much of it but I was determined to make a difference. Does my family approve of what I do? I am not sure really. Sometimes I think that they think I'm nuts. Do I care? No....because you see like Madonna, I deserved the best in life, and it was/is my time...so I'm moving on, with or without the support of others. Sometimes I do much better on my own, and since I love what I am doing, and I am confident in 'me' nothing else really seems to matter for it is this that makes me who I am, and I am a happy gal!


The moral of the story is don't let someone else try to run your life. No one decides what's best for you except for you. Never let anyone tell you that you are not good enough. No one needs a dictator, and no one needs to treat you like anything you do is inadequate. Others, including your family may think that they know what is best for you,...but guess what? Only you know what is best for you. I did it at age 19 and I can make the right decisions at 48. 


Never allow yourself as a person to feel like you are second best, or not good enough. You owe it to you to be true to who you are, regardless of what you do. If you are happy with your life, you owe no one any explanations. If you are lost and looking for your way...fear not, you'll find it. Have faith in yourself. If you are afraid of making mistakes....honey, I wrote the book on them, and I am still making mistakes but if you don't mess up once in a while you won't grow from it. If people keep bailing you out or trying to 'fix' your problems, you'll never learn. 


Take life one day at a time. Life is NOT about having regrets. Life is far too short to ask 'what if?' Life is too short to wonder 'why' didn't I try this, or that? If you don't like what you do for a living, make a change. If you don't like where you live, move. If you love big cities and live in a small rural town, pack your bags and venture out. If you don't you'll never know what could have been, and trust me, you don't want to look back on your life 20 years from now and wonder 'what if!' Life is full of risks, so take one. Don't be afraid to grab the bull by the horns. Live for today! As for me, I have two terrific kids now both living in NYC that love life, and they are finding their way. They are succeeding and doing well, and they should be...I didn't meddle and I gave them the tools to use in life to grow and learn. They are happy and they love me for me, good, bad and ugly...faults, bad habits and all. That is unconditional love my friends and that is what life is all about.  


Unconditional love is known as affection without any limitations.Who really loves you? Those who allow you to be who you are without judging you know the true meaning. They are the ones who will sit back, watch you grow and mature, and they will be the ones that see the fullest potential in all that you are and all that you do. Those who want to control you or run your life,..they have a real problem. Love is not smothering someone,...it's giving you the space to learn and to grow.

www.simplydeliciouslingerie.com

How Kissable Are Your Lips?

You wouldn't miss the opportunity to give your legs a good buffing, or your bikini area a good waxing so why pass up the chance to make your lips even more soft and smooth? Make it a routine to give your lips an exfoliating treatment at least once a week if you use lipstick and lip balm regularly.No great kiss is delivered with dry, chapped lips.

Truth be told, all the passion in the world won't make up for lips rougher than a square of sandpaper. It's easy to do. First, smooth away any dry, flaky bits by gently scrubbing lip skin with wash towel, exfoliant, or toothbrush. Next, be sure to always have a lip balm or moisturizing lip gloss on hand – in your purse, at your desk, in your pocket, on your nightstand. This way there's a constant source of moisture for lips. It's also useful to dab on a small amount to give lips just the right amount of slip right before the big moment.

Do you have kissable lips? Listen gals, don't use a heavy hand when applying any lip products if you're looking to lock lips. Gloopy, thick product on your lips is a major turn off – no one wants to eat five pounds of lip product when she/he goes in for a kiss! Keep it light. The same goes for lip care with heavy color, sparkles or a sticky texture. Save the seriously bright lipsticks for a night on which you aren't looking to end with a passionate goodbye kiss or your date will leave looking as if he had been smooching a clown.

Whether it means drinking more water or applying balm every few hours, you can make them kissable. Here are five tips for kissable lips;


Drink Water

The first step in many beauty treatments is to eat healthy and that includes drinking plenty of water. It's recommended that you drink at least 64 ounces per day, but if you eat a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, you may not need as much. For a better idea of how much what you should drink, divide your weight by two. For example, if you weigh 130, you need 65 ounces of water per day. Not too difficult to comprehend is it? Bet you didn't know this?


Protect Lips From the Sun

The sun can be very damaging to the skin, especially the lips. One way you can protect your lips is to use lip balm or lipstick that has SPF in it. Lip balm is also a great way to protect your lips from the wind. No one wants cancer, so protect yourself from your head to your toes! You lips are so sensitive, so take care of them.


Keep Lips Moisturized

If you have a problem with your lips drying out, use a lip balm. A good quality lip balm will keep your lips moist and plump. You can find many high quality lip balms that are tinted and have SPF protection. I like to apply regular lip balm right before bed. It keeps my lips moist through the entire night and the next day.


Stop Picking at Your Lips

I'll be the first to admit that it can be tempting to bite at your lips when the are dry. This can and will make matters worse and unfortunately, this can be very damaging. Usually, you end up pulling off a piece of skin that goes too deep and then your lip bleeds. Instead of picking at your lips, moisturize them.


Apply Flavored Lip Balm


Last, but not least, flavored lip balms aren't just for preteens. Men love kissing a woman and tasting strawberry bubblegum or vanilla. Think about it. You know how bad lipstick tastes. Why would any man want that icky taste in his mouth? Kissable lips are only a few steps away. Whether you apply a lip balm to keep your lips moisturized, protected and sweet or you break a bad habit, you can make your lips simply irresistible.

Choose a Moisturizing Product
Now, protect your lips with a truly moisturizing lip balm. Options made with alcohol, aluminum, lanolin, or other drying ingredients seem to moisturize initially but ultimately leave your skin parched. Instead, choose lip products made from naturally hydrating ingredients, such as beeswax, jojoba oil, aloe vera, or coconut oil. Your lips will thank you...and so will the person you are about to kiss!

www.simplydeliciouslingerie.com