Mom Empowers Thousands Of Women to Share Pictures Of ‘Flawed’ Bodies

Constance Hall

Constance Hall is becoming quite the influential feminist warrior. Her hilariously unfettered blog on ‘parent sex’ went viral earlier this month opening up a dialogue on a subject often considered taboo.

Constance is on a heartfelt quest to promote a realistic view of motherhood and modern-day femininity through social media. Reaching out by sharing her own “mammoth fails and micro victories” she’s been galvanizing women across the world, letting them know it’s okay to be an ‘imperfect’ mother, wife, woman. 

Tackling self-worth issues Constance took to Facebook this week posting a candid picture of herself in her underwear, “She’s flawed, she swears, she eats the cake,” wrote the mom-of-four.  

She then went on to encourage other women to stamp body shame underfoot and do the same. “I nominate you, all of you, to take a picture of yourselves, a picture that society has deemed you unfit for because you’re too old, or skinny, or fat, or you’ve had too many kids, or you’re not confident enough, or for whatever reason you have been made to feel like you don’t deserve to love your body or yourself.”

The post received almost 45,000 likes and almost 4,500 shares. Empowered by Constance’s honesty, thousands of women spoke up about their body issues, sharing pictures of themselves in their undies using the hashtag #likeaqueen.

“We need more of you and less Photoshop!!! Be real, be beautiful. #likeaqueen”

Whitney Reed

“I will never be embarrassed at the fact my belly looks like an 80 year olds and I’m 31! My belly has housed 3 children. Be proud of your body!!! #likeaqueen”

Hayley Thomas

“Me and my gorgeous sister in law #we #are #queens.” 

Emma Kada

“#likeaqueen I have a two and a half year old and an 8 week old And have been feeling super self conscious about my body but thanks to you I managed to get this photo with a smile even!” 

Waikeri Snowden

“I hated my stretch marks and once tried to edit this photo so they weren’t there- now that my little boy is here I couldn’t give a crap what my stomach looks like! It was what kept my son safe and warm and I couldn’t be prouder of my mummy stripes!! #likeaqueen”

Danielle Hopkins

“My body has gone through a lot to bring my beautiful son into this world ❤ thank you Constance for looking past what we see as flaws and encouraging us to be empowered and love ourselves you are a beautiful human. #likeaqueen”

Kayla Blanchard

“It took me ages to work up the courage to share a pic of me in my AWESOME new bathers, but a few days ago I took the leap after deciding I didn’t care what others think. #likeaqueen” 

Sarah Scott

“Stretch marks, flabby bits and all. Proud of what my body can do: create small humans! #likeaqueen” 

Nadine Mahomet

“3 kids later! #likeaqueen” 

Ema Logan

“#likeaqueen Never lost my pregnancy belly after having my two children; people I don’t know still ask if I’m pregnant but I don’t care, my boys are worth it!!” 

Amy Briggs

Constance shared her delight at the popularity of her self-styled #likeaqueen campaign in a follow up post on Facebook: “I can’t even say how grateful I am for this club of feminine love. I just want to invite you all over for drinks.”

She also thanked her husband Billy, who has been working tirelessly to run the house and look after the kids while she keeps up-to-date with her social media admin.  “He hasn’t had a rogering since my 'parent sex' post. If I can get the wildlings to sleep before 10 tonight I’m giving the guy some unshaved queen poon.”

I love what this gal is doing for us. Own it ladies ! We are all queens.
The Genie

Food for Thought : Tea

Tea is becoming more popular in restaurants , supermarkets , convenience stores  and vending machines . Tea is only second to water  as the most popular  beverage  in the world .  Tea contains naturally  occurring plant compounds  that may be  good for your health . The antioxidants  in tea  are most attributed  to the tea's health  benefits  associated  with overall  heart health . Here are a few  tips  to help you enjoy  tea in a healthy way .
      Be mindful that tea  contains caffeine . Typically  a cup of tea  contains  less than half of the caffeine than coffee , however  , actual caffeine  amounts  depend on the specific  blend  and the  strength of the tea .

      If you are looking  to manage  your weight  , some studies  have suggested  that drinking tea  may help  with weight management . Tea can help you  meet your fluid  requirement  without  the added calories  of other popular drink options .

      Try cooking  with tea . Brew  up a batch of your favorite  flavored tea and  use it for cooking  instead of water . A simple green  tea adds  flavor  and depth to rice . Teas with fruit  blends  make great oatmeal .
Roasted Chicken and Vegetables 

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 15 minutes      Bake: 45 minutes   
Makes: 6 servings

2 pounds red potatoes (about 6 medium), cut into 3/4-inch pieces
1 large onion, coarsely chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
1-1/4 teaspoons salt, divided
1 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed, divided
3/4 teaspoon pepper, divided
1/2 teaspoon paprika
6 bone-in chicken thighs (about 2-1/4 pounds), skin removed
6 cups fresh baby spinach (about 6 ounces)
Add to Shopping List

1 .  Preheat oven to 425°. In a large bowl, combine potatoes, onion, oil, garlic, 3/4 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon rosemary and 1/2 teaspoon pepper; toss to coat. Transfer to a 15x10x1-in. baking pan coated with cooking spray.
2 .  In a small bowl, mix paprika and the remaining salt, rosemary and pepper. Sprinkle chicken with paprika mixture; arrange over vegetables. Roast 35-40 minutes or until a thermometer inserted in chicken reads 170°-175° and vegetables are just tender.
3 .  Remove chicken to a serving platter; keep warm. Top vegetables with spinach. Roast 8-10 minutes longer or until vegetables are tender and spinach is wilted. Stir vegetables to combine; serve with chicken. 

A proud grand-poppa               G .

This creepy chart shows you when and how you’re most likely to die

You may want to sit down for this.

Statistician Nathan Yau has created a disturbing interactive chart that visualizes when and how you will most likely kick the bucket based on your sex, race and age.

Each dot on the chart represents a different probability of your life and the stats on the right tell you the likelihood of a particular cause of death as you grow older.

To create the chart, Yau combed through the CDC’s Underlying Cause of Death database and compiled data on deaths in the United States between 1999 and 2014. The data, which is based on death certificates, is categorized into 20 depressing causes including cancer, circulatory, respiratory, infection, endocrine and more.

At my current age, my odds are pretty great. There’s a one per cent chance I’ve already died of either infection, respiratory or external causes but seeing as I’m here typing this out at my desk, I think I’m good.



Things start to change pretty quickly once I hit 80, with circulatory issues overtaking cancer, a noteworthy trend that occurs across demographic groups.

If you’re feeling morbid curious, try it out for yourself here. Simply select your gender and race, toggle the slider to represent your current age and watch the simulation reveal your horrifying fate.

Good luck.

Erica Rae Chong

January 20, 2016

Thanx Yahoo

Baby Girl Telling Mom She Loves Her .Just too

Just too sweet for words , ain't see a cutie .

Diabetes : How to Avoid Nerve Damage and Infection When You Have Type 2 Diabetes

By Everyday Health Editors
About half of all people with diabetes have some form of nerve damage, or diabetic neuropathy, which can lead to serious problems over time.
Over time, the presence of too much glucose in your cells can injure the walls of the tiny blood vessels called capillaries that deliver blood to your nerves, especially in the legs. This can cause tingling, numbness, burning, or pain.

Poorly controlled blood glucose can even cause you to lose all sense of feeling in the affected limbs – and a loss of feeling in your feet makes you more vulnerable to injury and infection. Let’s say you get a blister or small cut on your foot that you don’t feel: Because you don’t know it’s there, you may miss the symptoms of an infection in the wound. It’s imperative for you to check your feet regularly to avoid this and be meticulous in your foot care, because untreated infections can result in gangrene (the death of tissue) and may lead to the amputation of the affected limb or toes.

Diabetes can also make it more difficult for your body to fight infections in general. Various skin conditions are linked to diabetes, and even the most minor cuts or sores can turn serious fast. Any bumps, cuts, or scrapes should be cleaned and treated with an antibiotic cream and monitored carefully.

Nerve Damage: What to Watch For

If you notice any of these symptoms associated with nerve damage or infection, see your doctor:

Inflammation and tenderness anywhere on your body
Red, itchy rash surrounded by small blisters or scales
Cuts, sores, or blisters on your feet that are slow to heal and are not as painful as you would expect (due to a loss of sensation)
Numbness, tingling, or burning sensations in your hands or feet, including your fingers and toes
Sharp pain that gets worse at night
Muscle weakness that makes walking difficult
Bladder infections and problems with bladder control
Bloating, stomach pain, constipation, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
Erectile dysfunction in men and vaginal dryness in women
Remember: If you keep your blood-glucose levels on target, you can help prevent or delay nerve damage. If you already have nerve damage, this will help prevent or delay further damage. You should also speak to your doctor about other treatments that can help.

Food for Thought : Mardi Gras

Get ready for Mardi Gras.  The season began with the Twelfth Night parties last weekend where Krewes from the area got together for a party to begin the season.  This series of articles will explore the history of Mardi Gras as well as the events in the Shreveport/Bossier area.
                                        MARDI GRAS HISTORY
When you think of Mardi Gras, what comes to mind? New Orleans, floats, beads, costumes, queens and kings, masks, king cakes, parades, and revelry, no doubt. Let me tell you what I know about Mardi Gras. I've lived in Louisiana for twelve years and can sum it up in one word, PARTY! OK, that's not really true, but it comes very close. In truth, Mardi Gras itself is a one day holiday and is on the calendar as the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, but the entire season has evolved to be called Mardi Gras by most revelers. It, however, is not the entire season as we like to think; the season is called Carnival, and is celebrated worldwide in cities such as Nice, France; Cologne, Germany and Rio de Janeiro.
Carnival begins on the Feast of Epiphany or the twelfth night (January 6th) and ends at midnight on Fat Tuesday, determined by the date of Easter. It celebrates the arrival of the three kings at Jesus' birthplace, thus ending the Christmas season. The gifts that the kings brought with them may be the reason for the gifts of the Mardi Gras season, trinkets such as cups, beads and doubloons. But the tradition of throwing trinkets during parades began in the 1870's by the Twelfth Night Revelers and remains a time honored tradition in New Orleans. The parade goers traditionally scream “Throw Me Something, Mister” to plead for the trinkets, and in New Orleans and other cities, women often bare their breasts to show themselves deserving and to garner the attention of the throwers.
Not surprisingly, Mardi Gras has its roots in paganism of the ancient Greeks and Romans celebrating fertility rites, but it was adopted by the Catholic church as a way to prepare the people for Lent. The leaders of the church quickly realized that it would be easier to allow some type of traditional festivals rather than abolish them altogether, while still bringing the people to Christianity. So they acquiesced to this period of raucousness.
During Medieval festivals, participants donned costumes, and that tradition continues today. The first American Mardi Gras was celebrated near New Orleans in 1899, therefore, New Orleans became the obvious city to host modern day celebrations, and they continue to be the main American host city for parties and parades. But, the celebrations are taking hold across the United States and moving to northern Louisiana and east and west across the Gulf states. The larger Louisiana cities such as Lafayette, Baton Rouge and Shreveport are all areas with full Mardi Gras schedules. It should be noted that the city does not put on the events, they just issue the parade permits. Events are put on and funded by private organizations, called Krewes. These Krewes select royalty, hold balls (usually closed to the public), and often organize the massive parades.
Purple, Green and Gold symbolizing Justice, Faith and Power are the official colors of Mardi Gras and were selected by the Grand Duke Alexis Romanoff of Russia when he visited New Orleans in 1872. A little known fact is that the colors he chose impacted the colors of two arch rival Louisiana College football teams. The stores stocked up on fabric for the official Mardi Gras colors, and Louisiana State University purchased a large amount of the purple and gold colors leaving only the green in stock. Tulane University then chose the green for their uniforms, and today their colors are green and white.
The King Cake, on the other hand, has its roots in the fact that the wise men brought gifts to baby Jesus. The King Cake is a sweet yeast cake covered in poured sugar in the Mardi Gras colors and usually has a plastic baby hidden inside. Long ago the queen was selected by which lady found the baby in the cake. In modern day, the tradition is that the person who finds the baby has to buy the next King Cake or host the next King Cake party.
As for floats and parades; in 1833 a wealthy plantation owner near New Orleans solicited money to help finance an organized Mardi Gras celebration, and in 1837 the first parade was held. But, it wasn't until two years later in 1839 that one single float rolled through the streets of New Orleans during Mardi Gras and thus began the tradition of floats in the parades.
                                                                                                   King Cake

My daughter  got this  recipe  from Southern Living  magazine  about  7 or 8 years agos  , she  tried  several , we like this one better .
                    Ingredients:
1 (16-ounce) container sour cream 
1/3 cup sugar 
1/4 cup butter 
1 teaspoon salt 
2 (1/4-ounce) envelopes active dry yeast 
1/2 cup warm water (100° to 110°) 
1 tablespoon sugar 
2 large eggs, lightly beaten 
6 to 6 1/2 cups bread flour* 
1/3 cup butter, softened 
1/2 cup sugar 
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 
Creamy Glaze 
Purple-, green-, and gold-tinted sparkling sugar sprinkles 
                                      Preparation:
1 .  Cook first 4 ingredients in a medium saucepan over low heat, stirring often, until butter melts. Set aside, and cool mixture to 100° to 110°.
Stir together yeast, 1/2 cup warm water, and 1 tablespoon sugar in a 1-cup glass measuring cup; let stand 5 minutes.
2 .  Beat sour cream mixture, yeast mixture, eggs, and 2 cups flour at medium speed with a heavy-duty electric stand mixer until smooth. Reduce speed to low, and gradually add enough remaining flour (4 to 4 1/2 cups) until a soft dough forms.
3 .  Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic (about 10 minutes). Place in a well-greased bowl, turning to grease top.
Cover and let rise in a warm place (85°), free from drafts, 1 hour or until dough is doubled in bulk.
4 .  Punch down dough, and divide in half. Roll each portion into a 22- x 12-inch rectangle. Spread 1/3 cup softened butter evenly on each rectangle, leaving a 1-inch border. Stir together 1/2 cup sugar and cinnamon, and sprinkle evenly over butter on each rectangle.
5 .  Roll up each dough rectangle, jelly-roll fashion, starting at 1 long side. Place one dough roll, seam side down, on a lightly greased baking sheet. Bring ends of roll together to form an oval ring, moistening and pinching edges together to seal. Repeat with second dough roll.
Cover and let rise in a warm place (85°), free from drafts, 20 to 30 minutes or until doubled in bulk.
6 .  Bake at 375° for 14 to 16 minutes or until golden. Slightly cool cakes on pans on wire racks (about 10 minutes). Drizzle Creamy Glaze evenly over warm cakes; sprinkle with colored sugars, alternating colors and forming bands. Let cool completely.
7 .  Cream Cheese-Filled King Cake: Prepare each 22- x 12-inch dough rectangle as directed. Omit 1/3 cup softened butter and 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon. Increase 1/2 cup sugar to 3/4 cup sugar. Beat 3/4 cup sugar; 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened; 1 large egg; and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Spread cream cheese mixture evenly on each dough rectangle, leaving 1-inch borders. Proceed with recipe as directed.
TIP : 6 to 6 1/2 cups all-purpose flour may be substituted.
get ingredients

A proud grand-poppa                       G .

Things No Self-Respecting Adult Should Be Doing on Facebook

               

Stop posting pictures of you being 'cuddle bunnies'

NOBODY CARES!!!!

Facebook has a funny way of turning even the most tolerable humans into oversharing, overbearing agents of off-the-charts annoyance. Maybe that's just the nature of social networking... or maybe Justin Timberlake is to blame? (I’ll re-watch The Social Network, and circle back...)
At any rate, there are some serious Internet etiquette faux pas that are unacceptable after you become a “real” fully functional adult (with rent, and at least one failed career and/or long-term relationship). The first step on your path to digital enlightenment is acknowledging the problem areas, and nixing them from your newsfeed. You want to be taken seriously -- it's the only way you'll ever get a bank loan.
Welcome to the Internet in the 21st century: where teenagers pretend to be 30-year-olds, and 30-year-olds act like teenagers. Let's change that, OK???

Posting "chain" statuses
The limping ancestors of those chain-mail messages your mom used to send around on her AOL account, these are the scourge of teeny-bopping Facebookers the world over, and bringing them to an adult level makes the act even more egregious. If you think you can change fate with a Facebook status, I know a prince in Nigeria that might like to speak with you about your finances...


Being an annoyingly over-enthusiastic, semi-delusional sports fan
The whole reason televisions come with mute buttons is so we don't have to listen to sports commentators. And those guys are professionals. Your weekly soliloquy on how and why Eli Manning is a "nancy boy" gives me some insight as to why your career as an ESPN anchor never panned out, or even got started in the first place.

Obsessively posting about babies, weddings, and/or engagements
Facebook is designed to help us celebrate and share our lives, but not to the extent that you alienate everyone else on the planet with the uncomfortable glow of your personal success. Oh my God, I’m so happy your life is so much better than mine. Did you know more than half of weddings result in divorce, and 75% of kids turn out to be dickheads?

Posting pictures and/or bragging about drinking excessively

Drinking all night and (occasionally) during the day certainly doesn’t have to stop after college, but documenting it with photo evidence probably should. The guy sipping on a 40oz before his 9am English lit class was a legend. The guy sipping on a 40oz before his 9am client meeting is a stumbling cry for help. Sorry, but videos of you slamming beer bongs won't become cool again until you're an 80-year-old grandma.

... and then apologizing for it the next day

If you do post something embarrassing after a night of tying one on, it's even worse to try and atone for your sins publicly when the sun comes up. "Guys, I'm sorry for everyone I may have groped and/or offended last night, I hardly ever drink pinot noir. Also is anyone missing an off-white male alpaca?... Asking for a friend." Just delete last night's stupidity, stupid 

Sending multiple invites to your art show/improv show/band's gig

It’s great that you are pursuing your passions and still have some creative drive this late in life. But look, I don’t even say “hi” to you when we see each other in the elevator, I’m not going to your improv show that's 50 miles away. Oh, wait, you sent me THREE invites? In that case..

Treating your profile like your personal blog

Your Facebook status is not a personal blog. It's not a diary. No one cares about what you had for dinner, what the temperature is, or how much your nephew loved Monsters Inc. 2 (which, honestly, was vastly inferior to the original -- there I said it). Just go get a Wordpress. No one will read it, but at least you'll have your dignity.

Friending people you don't actually know

Let's get something straight. Adult-Facebook isn't a gateway to meet new and exciting people; it’s a means to stay in touch with people you never really cared about in the first place. Do you really need the comfort of having 2,000 friends if only 12% would actually recognize you in person? Would you walk up to a stranger in the grocery store, show them 30 pictures of yourself, tell them where you live and everything you like, and then demand they do the same? It just isn't done.

Or interacting with people you have no business interacting with

When your high school history teacher sends you a friend request, you kind of feel obliged to accept. When she starts commenting on all of your photos and picking fights with your friends in the comments section, it's time to reevaluate your personal friend-accepting policies. No joke: my brother's ex-girlfriend's brother's friend will like and comment on my statuses all the time. We met once. It's as weird as it sounds.

Bragging excessively

We all know by now that a life viewed through the Facebook lens is, on average, 5x crappier than it appears. But even still, there's a line that shouldn't be crossed. This includes more than one #gym selfie a week, 40+ photos of your three-day vacation, and any pictures of your (probably shitty anyway) car.

Bragging humbly

Examples: "Okay, so I don't mean to name-drop, but Miley Cyrus is easily one of the most down-to-earth celebs I've ever partied with."  "I swear owning a Porsche isn't even worth it sometimes! Cops just keep pulling me over!" "Doctor/tailor friends, I need your help: having a penis this large is seriously messing with my life. I can't find underwear that fits!"

Posting cryptic messages or lyrics that nobody gets

Clinical depression is nothing to joke about, if that's what's really going on. But overdramatic people begging for attention is. You know who you are. Fishing for compliments also applies. As does posting unprompted song lyrics with no context, including music from (but not limited to): Green Day, Oasis, Coldplay, Taking Back Sunday, Bon Iver, Drake, and Bright Eyes.

Selfies, of any variety

If a picture needs to be taken of you, but there’s no one else around to take it, does it really need to be taken after all?

  

Going on rambling, incoherent political rants

Using Facebook as a platform to spout your political views makes you look a lot like the intoxicated uncle at Thanksgiving dinner. You're not going to change the world, or anyone's mind, by stumping on immigration issues in between your cousin's engagement photos and ads for Arby's roast beef sandwiches. You have a right to believe what you want to believe, but we have the right not to care.

Talking bad about your job (past or present)

From what I've been told, part of being a successful adult is making and maintaining connections. Calling your old manager Beverly “a horse-faced goober who couldn’t close a sale if her life depended on it,” is a quick way to burn bridges, and sends a strong signal that you are kind of a sucky person in general.

Posting cheesy motivational statuses/pictures

Did you ever notice none of your truly happy, successful friends ever post these things? Hmm, coincidence? Probably not. You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take, and you hate 100% of the people that would actually ever say that.

Giving a shit about relationship statuses

Once you're old enough to rent a car, you should probably strip phrases like "Facebook official" out of your lexicon. And, if you actually put “It’s complicated” on your profile, you probably don’t deserve the privilege of reproduction.

Desperately begging for someone to hang out with you

Act like an adult and accept your harrowing loneliness for what it is: a permanent condition. Sorry for the bummer, but don't make all your friends think about it, too.

Creating cheesy photo collages

Sorry, I was under the impression you weren’t a 13-year-old girl.

Annoyingly self-promoting

As any free marketing seminar will tell you, Facebook is an essential tool for any business -- large or small. But promoting your world-changing multi-level marketing platform (*cough* pyramid scheme *cough*) five times a day is a one-way ticket to unfollow-ville.

Blocking your relatives

Your mom’s on Facebook, dude. Deal with it. She thinks it's lovely and enjoys all the nice videos of baby elephants. If you’re still worried about your family seeing your posts (on an online public forum), maybe it's time to rethink the stuff you're into. Unless you are a furry. Then please go ahead and block your parents. They don't want to see that. Actually, block me, too.

Oversharing

Father always said, "Pretend like anything you are posting on the Internet will be on the front page of tomorrow's newspaper." With Facebook, this is actually kind of our reality now (sorry for laughing at you, Pops). So please, keep bodily functions, diseases, sexual habits, fetishes, gruesome injuries, and dirty secrets to yourself. Or at the very least, to Instagram. #NoFilter. 

Are you getting it?? Are you taking notes??