my happy blog

I saw a look of resignation on my friend’s face as she said, “I don’t think I’m cut out to be a step mother.” There was a combination of sadness, frustration and resignation. She’d been married to her new husband for almost two years. The struggles started before their marriage, as it usually does when two people, with children from previous marriages decide to “blend families.” After all this time she saw no end in sight.

My friend has two daughters from her previous marriage. Her new husband has two daughters from his previous marriage…and a former wife who appeared to be determined to make things difficult. My friend has a former husband who lives out of state with his new family.

The four girls were all close in age and could possibly have been friends if they met at school, weren’t step siblings and didn’t have parents pulling at them.

Often, we the parents just need to get out of the way. Blended family issues can be resolved sooner and without causing added pain to the children if we allow space and time to work things out. I know from my own first hand meddling. I’ve detailed in my book, “You Used To Live In My House.”

My kids…back when they were kids, when my wife Louisa and I were newlyweds, didn’t need a new mom. Their mother was alive and well. Louisa didn’t want to be their mom. She knew her role and would have been happy to be a step mother. We all moved from Virginia to Colorado together so I thought she should be their new mom. All this while my kids really hadn’t given up hope that their mother and I might some how reconcile. We’d been apart for four years by then and each of the adults knew that wasn’t going to happen.

While I was living in Colorado my kids return to Virginia and to their mother,

I didn’t know what she was saying to them, about me. I didn’t learn that until three years later when they moved to Colorado. By then new roles weren’t so new and were accepted pretty easily. All the while, I knew that Louisa never criticized her sons’ father, even though he’d been virtually absent from their lives for several years.

Eleven years later Louisa received a Happy Step Mom Day card from Kelly on Mother’s Day. All of the ‘kids’ openly express their love for each of us these days, and have for some time. They all get along well with each other.

I can speak for myself and I believe it applies to many step parents, we are so determined that everyone will get a long and like each other immediately, that we make things more difficult than they need to be. Affection and assimilation cannot be forced upon our children. They have to find their own way and all we have to do is get out of the way.

Kids are resilient. I’ll over simplify it with an example of how they overcome the tales of an Easter Bunny and Santa Claus at very impressionable ages. If and when they see the new step parents showing affection and compromise it will be easier for them to move forward with their own feelings.

A friend of ours, Donna Lopez, provided the following testimonial to my book:

“After reading the book, “You Used To Live In My House” I began to think differently of blended families. I realized that it took much more love and faith and work that I ever imagined to sustain one household. I began to appreciate all those families around me that I once took for granted. This book allows us to see this family with such truth and pain and laughter! A recommended read!”

Obviously that’s flattering and I appreciate Donna’s comments. Her comments remain timely.

Don’t look now, but there are increasing numbers of blended families on the horizon. As more couples split and often after a child or two, the newly freed up mom or dad hooks up with that new ‘soul mate.’ Bingo, there’s a new family and the new spouse may even have children of their own from a previous relationship.

How do I know? I’m reminded of a question I was asked when I spoke to a Rotary Club not long ago. “What prepared you to write your book?” My answer: “I lived it.”

Back in the day, circa 1981, I met Louisa H. Harrison. She’s been Louisa H. Coons since June 18, 1983 and on that day, my three children and her two children, blended into this new family. Oh, by the way…on the fateful day, they were ages 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12.

We’re all the better for it now. And if you read through what I call ‘Tales of the dark side’ (AKA “You Used To Live In My House”) you’ll eventually get to the happiness we enjoy today. Being in a blended family doesn’t have to make any or all of the participants crazy. I’ve only scratched the surface of how I, and sometimes we, went about it the wrong way. If you get to know us we should give you hope.

R. Perry Coons
http://www.youusedtoliveinmyhouse.com

R. Perry Coons has thrown the door wide open with his narrative of the first 25 years of his relationship journey with his wife and family. He says, “If you get to know us, we should give you hope.”

His background is varied, as witnessed by the many personal and professional experiences he shares with his readers…husband, father, grandfather, runner and former radio dj, award winning shopping center marketing director, special events coordinator, entertainment manager, Realtor and self-described coffee achiever. He holds a copyright on a manuscript titled “Surrel Estate” and is working on a novel about a radio dj in the late 60′s. His working title is “Record Player.” Perry lives in Denver, Colorado with his wife Lousia and their Australian Cattle Dog.

Different women experience menopause in different ways. While there are some experiences that everyone can expect to have, for most, menopause is a lonely journey. With such a wide array of potential symptoms, from depression to weight gain to general feelings of unease, it’s hard to create a single form of medication that’s applicable to every woman.

But there is one solution: Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy. Called BHRT for short, it won’t cure menopause, or even put it off, but it will alleviate those unpleasant symptoms. And though it’s been around for almost two decades, BHRT only recently gained popularity as a reliable and healthy way to combat the natural effects of aging.

Before BHRT prescriptions came along, doctors would prescribe synthetic hormones, which were often designed by pharmaceutical companies. But because these synthetics are foreign to the human body, they carried unwanted side effects with them. What’s more, the synthetics couldn’t be fine-tuned to the body chemistries of individual patients, so there was no guarantee that a given symptom would be addressed.

Unlike synthetic hormones, bio-identical hormones are derived from natural sources, and thus match the formula of those hormones already in your body. BHRT prescriptions are designed to mimic your body chemistry perfectly, which makes the entire menopause experience — from beginning to post-menopause — easier on your body and mind. Since every woman’s body chemistry is different, every BHRT prescription is different. A good compounding pharmacist can work with you and your health care provider to determine the best course of action for you.

So how can you decide whether a bio-identical hormone replacement therapy prescription is for you?

Learn the ropes. All women experience menopause in different ways, but there are some common symptoms that can tip you off that it might be your time. Has it been more than two or three months since your last period? (As a corollary to this question: Are you sure you’re not pregnant?) Do you seem to be gaining weight despite eating right and exercising? Are you having trouble sleeping?

Know your symptoms and medical history. Compile a list of your symptoms to bring to your doctor. Figure out your most pressing concerns, and what kind of changes you’d like to see. Your doctor may ask you why you’re pursuing a BHRT prescription — be prepared to answer her.

Talk to your doctor. If you’re between doctors, this may be the perfect time to find one who’s familiar with BHRT. Since it’s still somewhat new, there may be doctor out there who aren’t well-schooled in it, or who don’t support it.

Learn as much as possible. Read more than just this article. Google is your friend here, and so is your doctor. Before making the final leap, learn everything you can about bio-identical hormone replacement therapy.

D. Michael Kirby is a freelance writer living in California. He writes about health and fitness, home improvement, technology, and a wide array of other topics. One of his clients, Beacon Prescriptions, is Connecticut’s premier compounding pharmacy, with locations around the state.

Visit Beacon Prescriptions here: http://www.beaconcompounding.com

Have you ever heard a woman hating her womanhood? I have. They must be around us and they might be able to express their feelings here in the western worlds we live in. In Iran, there are many women who hate their womanhood and they do not have a voice. They might have many reasons for their feelings, yet, they are unable to identify the hatred toward their own gender.

I will try to be their voice now.

Recently I met a lady who has newly immigrated to Canada. The conversation I had with this lady impacted me deeply and made me to write this article. I found this woman an authentic human being who cares for human life. She left Iran one year ago with the hope to give her two adult children and her family a chance to breathe freedom.

I met this lady over in an unplanned setting. I happened to be in the same place she was and we basically had a regular woman conversation about the reasons why we Iranian leave Iran. a new immigrant she started to tell me about the adjustment challenges here and the concerns she had in finding work like many others. I asked her what she did back home. She said as a midwife. Then she added that her working environment back home was quite hard and she could not do it any more.

This little conversation soon gave her a chance to tell me stories of her reality back home. Stories that were part of everyday life in that city she comes from.

She said that she has worked past 14 years as a midwife in a city north of Iran. She started depicting all those women who are in extra affairs with married men who are hungry for extra sexual relationship and who are fantasizing a lot. She continued describing how these usually young women are abused and exploited for little money. Some of these women have no choice she said, they do this for the financial support they receive from these men. These young women sometimes have several men to serve at the same time, since these men can afford to have extra lovers while they are authorities who preach on morality and a just society. My midwife friend would see these women once they came to ask for advice on illegal abortion or anyway they could get rid of unwanted pregnancies.

As she was talking, I kept thinking, I would not call these women prostitute, although this is what they do, they sell their bodies for money. However, the circumstances around why these women do this are totally different from the issue of prostitution in the West. Not that we want to glamorize these women, no, women in those extra affairs usually have no choice or no voice. They do this for financial reasons sometimes to feed a family of their own. However this article is neither about the complex issue of prostitution nor about the dangerous life do these women live within.

No this article is about the experiences of a midwife who have seen hundreds of cases, where young under age girls were brought to her because they were pregnant, an act that brings disgrace to the family and to the community they lived in. Our midwife added that the controversy about abortion is much more complex in Iran than anywhere else. Young teenage girls are not supposed to have sex and if this is known they could be sentenced to death or harsh consequences. However, she knew that these girls did not have any consented sex and they were mostly raped, abused, or forced to sexual activity by some one.

In one case our midwife recalls she was contacted by a woman who asked for an appointment. One hour later she came back with her 15 years old daughter who complained about not having her menstruation. Our midwife could right away after a regular examination say that she was pregnant carrying a six month old baby. This young girl started crying and denying, while the belly was sticking out and the reality could not even be denied. Our midwife tried to find out who is the father and how is that she has not told anyone. The young girl whose paled face indicated neglect and deprivation whispered to her ears that it was her brother. Our midwife knew if this story goes out both brother and sister could be sentenced to death. She referred this mother to another midwife who has an in-home clinic where she performs several abortions every week. This colleague to our midwife who is running this secret clinic endangers her life for helping these young girls who have no where to go.

Our midwife says she feels bad for all these young victims of sexual abuse and rape.

These are all young girls who were used and abused by men around them and now that they carry a baby, no one is out there to support them. What happens is that these young girls some at age 13-14 or 15 has to find out someone who wants to help them to wipe out the evidence of a sexual act that they were forced to.

Our midwife said that she hated her womanhood every time she had a client in that age, young beautiful girls who were sexually abused, raped, exploited, while they had no voice. All in all these girls and their mothers usually have to keep this horrible act of crime secret because they live in a system that victims are blamed in any case. She said that our young girls in some families and communities in Iran are raped easily and no one is there to protect them. Those who try to seek justice they might be doomed to death sentence because according to the laws sex before marriage is a sin. At this moment, our midwife was red in her face and she wiped her tears while she explained that she has witnessed many young pregnancies that had to end in dangerous life threatening situations.

She added that she has seen hundreds of cases of young girls who were raped and sexually exploited by their brothers, fathers, uncles, and someone else in the family. However, she never could share this information with anyone. Now that she is in Canada she hopes to find a job that has nothing to do with her past. I asked for a number and she said I was only one midwife and there are many others around the country. She was sure that the number is much higher than it can be conceptualized. This is a harsh reality back home that no one can deal with it because our nation is fed with ideology instead of education, she added.

I think of these brave midwives who risk their life and income while they are left out to decide what to do with these young girls, our children who are left out with no support, our children who are supposed to be children and grow up in a thriving environment. After this conversation I really felt numbed, shocked, and in rage. Why are we Iranian doomed to a situation like this? We see the problem still, we can not do much for it, we have no cure for it. What have we done to deserve such a horrible situation where our families are left out with no education, no rights, no support, and no voice?

How come our home country, Iran, is left out in such darkness where life is a taboo and death is appreciated?

I guess there are many of us who wonder about the same thing? When are we supposed to see our home country and our people thrive? I am not sure. We are not sure?!

Poran Poregbal Vancouver, B.C. July 1, 2008

I would like to open up a healthy communication about our Iranian culture and what is included. In doing so, we need to be able to challenge our beliefs about our own culture. Just by analyzing our own culture, we would be able to help our next generations in adjusting in wherever we live with respect for all cultures they are involved with. we need to set up new boundaries and define many concepts from scratch zero. I would like to encourage healthy communication, positive participation, and cooperation in respect for building healthy families within our Iranian community. Mental health issues are my main area of interest where I hope to offer a multicultural sensitive counselling.

One of the most frustrating and scary experiences a woman can go through is having a yeast infection. They want to know how they can suppress their vaginal yeast infection and clear it up in a timely manner. The truth is that most women at some point in their lives have gotten or will receive a yeast infection, but that doesn’t mean you have to. There are certain steps you can take to lower your risk for a yeast infection, although it’s not always a guarantee that you won’t get one at some point in your life.

The reason that women are more at risk than men to get a yeast infection is because of the nature of their vagina. The yeast or candida that causes the infection likes to host in a warm and moist area which the vagina provides. Men can still get a yeast infection, but for them it usually occurs because they have unprotected sex with a woman who has a yeast infection and they get it as well through vaginal fluids.

So how can you make sure you don’t get a yeast infection and stay healthy? Well the first recommended thing to do is see your doctor regularly and learn about the different things you can do for your body to stay healthy and yeast-free. Although it’s important to know that a certain amount of yeast in your body is healthy and natural, just like bacteria. You need it in order to fight off infection and it plays an essential role in your female anatomy.

Certain people who are especially high are risk include diabetics because of the inherently large amount of sugar in their system, those who consume vast amount of alcohol especially beer because it contains yeast, and those who have unprotected sex. So make sure you take care of yourself and at all costs avoid a yeast infection, you don’t want it.

I have personally suffered from yeast infections for years, and I learned the hard way that most yeast infection treatments simply don’t work.

After trying every cream, oral medication, and remedy out there I felt hopeless.

That was until I discovered this website: http://www.squidoo.com/no-more-yeast-infections

Click here to read about my experiences and how I discovered a cure for yeast infections that began to work in about 12 hours.

Although Texas ranks the highest among U.S. states in the number of uninsured residents, obtaining affordable Texas medical insurance is easier and more affordable than you think. Here are answers to five common questions about getting health insurance in Texas.

1. I’m young and healthy. Why should I spend money for medical insurance that I’ll never use?

Having insurance is like carrying an umbrella. You may not need it most of the time, but when there’s a torrential downpour you’ll be glad you have it. Even young and healthy people have accidents, seasonal illnesses, and sometimes tragic health issues. If you wind up having a serious medical condition, it can become very difficult to obtain Texas medical insurance, or your preexisting condition may be excluded from your coverage. In addition, you can get much lower premiums when you’re young and healthy, so health insurance provides excellent protection at very little cost.

2. Is there a benefit to using a health insurance agency, as opposed to getting quotes for policies on my own or going through a single agent?

A health insurance agency provides a number of benefits. First, they have established relationships with many, many insurance companies. This means that they have access to all of the best Texas medical insurance plans in the marketplace, while not having a bias toward any single insurer. This is in contrast to some individual agents, who work on behalf of one or two companies, and who will try and push you to sign up with their company. While you can research various plans on your own, a health insurance agency will do the legwork for you and present you will all available options, at no charge to you.

3. What’s the most important feature to consider when buying health insurance?

There are two important features that people often overlook: the lifetime maximum coverage and the maximum out-of-pocket expense. Although your more immediate concerns might be co-payments for doctors’ visits and prescription coverage, if you or a family member experiences a catastrophic illness, your overall coverage and out-of-pocket costs are much more crucial. Look for a policy that offers lifetime maximum coverage of $3 million or more, and a yearly out-of-pocket maximum in the $2,000 to $3,000 range.

4. Can I trust online comparisons for Texas health insurance?

Yes. The law requires that identical plans have identical pricing, regardless of whether you go directly through the insurer or use a health insurance agency. In other words, if you’re looking at the XYZ company’s Plan A, you will receive the same quote whether you get it online, place a phone call, or visit an insurance agency or company. Keep in mind though, that the price you pay may depend upon a number of variables, including your age, your gender, whether or not you smoke, and any pre-existing medical conditions that you may have. The final price is in large part determined by your medical history.

5. What’s the difference between an HMO and a PPO?

When it comes to Texas medical insurance, a health maintenance organization (HMO) requires that, for non-emergency services, you use their physicians and hospitals. A preferred provider organization (PPO) allows you to visit any health care provider, but gives you more benefits if you use health care professionals and services within their network.

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web. Learn more about Health Insurance Questions or Majon’s Health and Beauty directory.

Another summer will soon be upon us and we will be turning our thoughts to where we should be spending our valuable summer vacations. For most of us that will be the biggest decision of the year but for some people the decision that needs to be made is a much bolder one.
What bikini to wear at the beach?

In the 1950′s when the bikini first hit the beaches it caused a scandal that shook the world, bikinis of those days were nothing compared by today’s standards. Today we have the micro bikini on most beaches across the world, but would you dare wear one?

Another area of controversy is that the swim suit line really only works for extremely small masses. Take a thong or draw bikini, or one of their other revealing choices in great colours and new styles. The tops come in a diamond condition or a teardrop condition. We manufacture the highest timber micro bikinis available. I think we shall all be beholding some very interesting things roughly the water this summer! Available in a large range of striking summer bikini colours.

Whatever you decided to do there are many options open to you with various summer topics ranging from sun protective swimwear to beach accessories. Near the entire body is exposed, departure very, very trivial to the imagination. The strings are very thin, and some tie around the neck kind of than on the back. While this might be an exciting bikini to wear for attention and exhibit off your assets, there is a controversy about such swimwear being allowed in public areas. Although going away much to be desired, swimsuits began to lento germinate into more of a manner drift. The tops come in a ball field shape or a teardrop shape.

Breathable hangman’s halter tops and short pants were more practical for high activeness women competing in water and beach sports, like volleyball. The strings are very thin, and some tie or so the neck sooner than on the back. So grab a towel, some lotion, a book and pick a bikini beach for your family line. I think we shall all be visual perception some very interesting things roughly the water this summer! Totally wonderful, the Brazilian bikini is flattering on all shapes and promises you whole slew of fun in the sun!

It is believed smart set will endeavor to meet the criteria for this new bikini, jeopardizing their health. The tops come in a baseball field shape or a teardrop shape. Models and movie stars sported skimpy hip riders, hamper tops and tye died patterns. The thong bikini has slightly more coverage than the micro strand bikini. So grab a towel, some lotion, a book and pick a bikini beach for your household. This is a very venturous and demour look that is hit the beach tantrum. They commonly specialize in the last bikini fashions.

If you have a body to die for and want to real turn some heads on the beach or by the pool, there are some bikini brands that will help you to do just that. In a gild that has so many teenage girls and women battling weight unit issues, this is a disturbing thought. Models and movie stars sported lean hip riders, hangman’s rope tops and tye died patterns.

There are beautiful crochet bikinis to suit your unique dash. She can be the sweet and innocent girl next door, your own beach babe, a juicy cultivate girl or a lingerie clad harpy. Take from a kind of bottoms and a kind of tops for your sexy sheer bikinis. You will find yellowness tri top, under wire top, hemp and tankinis. Bikinis always cause passers-by to take an instant glance! A girl eating away one of these tiny bikinis will be noticed for sure. We have great fittingness bikinis that you can wear while you work out or to show off what you achieved by workings out.

Sheer bikini takes your sheer bikinis from our sulphurous line of venturous and stunning selection. Bikinis ever cause passers-by to take a secondly glance! Everyone wants beautiful quality, hand made exotic swimwear in dazzling colours at low prices and now those who desire it can find it readily. There are lots of times when a traditional one piece swimsuit is exactly the right prize for beachwear or pool parties. You will find chickenhearted tri top, under wire top, halter and tankinis. Find exotic micro bikini and thong bikinis, in Brazil nut designs, sheer, suspender or maternity styles. The seductive, wildcat well print micro cups just cover!
So when you get on the beach this year be prepared for what you might see. I’m afraid to say that this year on the beach less will definitely be more.

I try to pass on my musings on life and experiences in a way that people may find interesting to read.

Brazilian swimwear

Please feel free to republish this article provided a working hyperlink remains to our site

You may not always agree with my writings but I hope to inform.

Harwood E Woodpecker

Looking for a pair of very good sunglasses but can’t really afford the Oakleys? We all know that Oakley sunglasses are the best – they offer protection from the harmful UV rays of the sun, last long and are the smartest thing for your eyes. But hey, we also know what they cost! So, why not try the best replica Oakleys! You could consult friends and relatives or even the Internet and locate the nearest and best replica Oakley sunglasses retail outlet. If you are thorough, you could get a replica Oakleys at a great price.

What is it that makes Oakleys great? It’s the quality they incorporate in their sunglasses – titanium frames and plutonite lenses. Apart from the fashion fraternity, the sports industry is also a major endorser of these sunglasses. That is why the replica glasses are so much in demand. You can’t tell the original from the fake in a single or even a detailed look. You have to really be good with sunglasses to spot the difference. Many people don’t even realize that their pair of glasses is not the real thing but a replica! In fact, Oakleys is quite troubled with the emergence of the fakes. After all they did maintain their quality to reach at the top of their industry.

When you purchase your pair of best replica Oakley sunglasses, make sure you are buying them from a reputed store. Cheaper sunglasses make a worthwhile buy especially if you are prone to losing them frequently. Some don’t care whether the ones they are buying are the best replica Oakley sunglasses or an even cheaper fake. You could fool your friends with your best replica Oakley sunglasses! They’d be under the impression that it’s the real, expensive stuff. And if you were to flaunt 2 – 3 pairs, you’d be thought of with much envy among your group!

The Internet is a great place to locate a store selling best replica Oakley sunglasses for the best prices. The search engine will be able to give you a comprehensive list of sites dealing in them. Most of the sites make it clear whether they are selling replica Oakley sunglasses or not. Sometimes you might be lucky enough to come across an overstocked outlet offering very good prices! If you are sharp enough, you just might be able to strike a deal where the store, being an authorized Oakleys outlet, will provide you with a warranty on your replica Oakley sunglasses!

One word of advise for when you buy best replica Oakley sunglasses from the Internet. Check on the quality and the authenticity of the replica Oakley sunglasses. If you are not careful, you might end up with a pair of cheap fakes that don’t provide basic protection against the sun’s harmful ultra violet rays or the durability and long life that you get from a replica Oakley sunglasses. You might get some of the best deals on the Internet but be aware that its also the place where you find counterfeits of replica Oakley sunglasses.

Christopher Schwebius is an entrepreneur who seeks out sharply defined, specifically focused topics to research. Upon finishing his research he provides relevant, un-biased information to his readers based on his discoveries and/or personal experiences.

One of his latest ongoing projects can be viewed at http://www.bestreplicaoakleys.com

I am in my car on my way home from work and on the radio, I hear an 80′s love song that breached my defenses and there I was…crying and weeping for my Mommy. Yes, I said my Mommy. Let me preface that statement by stating that I am in my 50′s. My Mommy (and yes, I still call her Mommy thank you!) died eighteen years ago from metastatic breast cancer.

I am the oldest of nine children. When my Mommy gave birth to me, she was seventeen. At that time
(in my family) when a girl became pregnant, she married the father of the child. And, that was the way it was with my parents. They were mere teenagers when they married and went forth to produce a bustling and bursting household.

During those times, no one held out much hope that my parents and our enlarging brood would really amount to anything. Come on! Teenage parents? My Mommy had to drop out of high school to have me and then…the others. My Father worked, and worked and worked to support our family. I can remember whenever we went to a family affair there would be whispers (loud whispers) about how much we, the children ate, the clothes we were wearing, or not wearing, and generally snide remarks about the breedability of my mother.

Back to the car. I wish my Mommy could see me now. I am standing at the edge of my greatness. Now, my Mommy would tell me that I am already great. But, this is my definition of greatness, my definition of success, and accomplishment. I am about to be a bestselling author. I am a bestselling author! This is an accomplishment that I truly relish because it spits in the eye of those detractors of my family and my Mommy so long ago. This success among the other successes in my life is the sweetest. My daring, my inspiration, and my drive to success comes from my parents. They were and still are the greatest inspiration I have ever known. Parents are like that…in retrospect.

So, I would say to you needing some emotional support right now to continue towards your goal, that you do not have to look any further than your parents. From your parents you derive your greatest gift, the gift of family and unconditional love. You have everything in you to succeed and move forward. Remember that. It is there. Make that belief your prayer to yourself. I have.

How many cares one
loses when one decides
not to be something but
to be someone.

Coco Chanel

Author, Adrienne Zurub is a CNOR (certified nurse operating room) with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, a master’s degree in Philosophy as well as her nursing degree.She is the author of ‘Notes From the Mothership ~ The Naked Invisibles’ a nonfiction work that incorporates and coalesces elements of her open heart experiences among other aspects of her vivid and attentive life. Ms. Zurub is a Speaker and member of Toastmasters Club 6500 with a CC designation. She is a member of NSAOhio chapter. Ms. Zurub is an active volunteer with the Cleveland Clinic Speakers Bureau giving health talks in throughout the communities of Cleveland. Ms. Zurub is an actor, comedian and pOet. She loves plastic surgery shows, waiting for magical things to happen, world travel, and quietly judging others.

http://chasewunderlickpublishers.com.cn, http://adriennezurub.com

However it may seem from past experiences, it is not really that much more difficult to shop for jeans just because you are limited to the large sizes. The frustrating reality is that locating flattering, comfortable dungarees is a daunting proposition for any woman of any size, even the skinniest one. A pair of jeans might look all right in the dressing room of the department store, but they can make you feel like you’re trapped in a denim straitjacket when you’re wearing them for hours. But finding just the right large size jeans for you doesn’t necessarily have to entail a miserable shopping experience. Keep the following pointers in mind on your next shopping trip for jeans.

Don’t assume that you must wear baggy jeans just because you are a plus sized woman. Always keep in mind that plus sized and oversized are not synonymous terms. Learn to love your body instead of constantly trying to hide it. While you body may not be perfect, whose really is? Trying to hide your hips and legs behind baggy jeans only makes you look frumpy, and make you look bigger, too. There are different jean types for different bodies, and you should find jeans that fit your body. Talk to a professional, or even consider having your jeans professionally tailored for the perfect fit.

We’ve all heard the old wives’ tale that wearing black makes us look slimmer. This adage may hold true for people who aren’t over weight, but it does little for a plus size figure trying to wear a pair of black jeans. There are certain colors that you should definitely wear because they go well with your skin tones and flatter your face, but to look slimmer, you need to concentrate on tailoring, cut and style instead of color. As hard as it may be to break with the popular notion of always buying black, it really isn’t always the best choice. It’s only one choice out of many colors of plus size jeans on the market.

As with everything else, each individual has specific items that are better suited to their frame. This aphorism also applies to denim pants and skirts. Look at yourself in the mirror, or even better, go to a tailor. Take note of where your mass rests, and what sort of plus sized jeans will compliment your frame. Think about what pieces you can reveal, and which should be covered.

Some always find it hard to find plus size jeans. But, it can be made easier with a little effort put into searching for the most flattering plus size jeans for your body. Be very careful in your search and never hesitate to try out new designers. It will pay off well at the end of the day.

Andrea writes about Plus Size Clothing. Visit us for plus size deals on Plus Size Maternity Clothes at http://plus-size.discountsonline.com

Assessment comes before change. To see growth and get improved results, take an honest assessment of your leadership skills: Would you follow you? Why?

Take this challenge:

1) Identify the attitudes and characteristics the organization values.

2) Assess yourself and your leadership team against the characteristics identified in #1.

3) Answer the question: Is the staff following or obeying our leadership?

4) Prioritize the areas of weakness identified in the previous steps.

5) Select the most important characteristic that will have the greatest impact on the growth of the organization.

6) Create an action plan for developing that skill set in the management team.

Depending on the organization and its current leadership, this may not be an exercise that
can be done internally. When habits are entrenched they are hard to see. Whether you
conduct the assessment internally or bring in an objective third party, do not begin this
exercise if you are not totally and 100% committed to it. One of the biggest
mistakes organizations make is to begin down the road of self-improvement but when it
becomes hard or sensitive, they discontinue the journey and what began with promise ends
as an exercise in futility. Each time this happens, trust is eroded and a “can’t do” attitude
grows within the organization.

Know that you can develop leadership throughout your organization but the first step is to recognize the need to do so. John Maxwell’s “Law of the Lid” indicates that an organization can only grow as high as the leaders. If you aren’t growing as you should it may be your leadership. Take the necessary steps to develop the current leadership team (and your aspiring one) and the result may well be the growth that has been eluding you.

Karen Hosey,President and CEO of Z.O.E. Consulting, LLC. has over 20 years experience in strategic planning, sales and leadership development. She currently assists businesses and ministries in achieving their vision through customized processes in strategic planning, and leadership, sales/customer service development. As a business coach, she guides leaders (and those aspiring to be) to fulfill their potential. She is an energetic, motivational conference and seminar speaker who uses her experiences to entertain and educate on a variety of topics that relate to business, management and self-improvement.

Visit our website http://zoeconsulting.net/ or

send an email to karen@zoeconsulting.net