This article is from 3nd issue of OTS E-Magazine  Pages 14/15

Hey guys and gals; It’s been another month, filled with lots of work and very interesting lesson for me.  We are going to step back from the industry talk this month because I have something I really want to share.  In a way, this still relates to the MODELING/ACTING industry – with such an emphasis on body size/type; our girls and even boys need to be able to look to older siblings, parents and other role models for stability and normalcy.  Often we don’t realize we can be major contributors to the problem.  So I have a story to share, I hope you don’t mind!

My six your old daughter came to me the other day and asked for a snack.  Feeling generous and knowing she had been playing outside all day, I told her she could have an ice cream bar.  Her face lit up for a brief moment before her little brows furrowed and she asked me “THE QUESTION”.

“Momma, how many calories does this have in it?”  Followed up with “I think I will eat half now and save the other half for tomorrow.”  Woah, Step back, think for you answer.  After a few moments of stunned silence, I assured her that while it wasn’t okay to eat too much junk food, having an entire ice cream bar was completely fine.  Naturally, this has made me watch what I say around my children now, but it also made me wonder… when was the last time I enjoyed an ice cream bar without worrying about my weight?

Our children learn everything from watching the world around them.  The world is telling them that they have to be beautiful, smart and have perfect abs while cooking a pot roast (or throwing that perfect spiral bal) and conducting a board meeting.  It is up to us as parents to make sure they stay kids as long as they possibly can, along with cultivating a healthy body image and little girls mind when she sees a pretty, thin fashionable teenage looking in the mirror at the store and complaining about how large her size 3 things are.

Think about the things our children hear us say every day.  “I don’t link this shirt, it shows may belly pooch.”  “No honey, I’m sorry I can’t help you make a cupcake with your five minute baker.  I have laundry to do.” “No you can’t wear that, it doesn’t even match!”  Self-expression goes a long way towards building self-esteem!  Take my advice… buy a girdle, do the laundry tomorrow, and for goodness sake let the kid wear those crazy stripped socks.  You will find yourself not only with a happier child, but also with a much happier you.  Well, at least until laundry day.

Okay, so now that I have that off my chest, it’s time to get the fun stuff --- fashion!  And men, you might want to take notes for Christmas… I stumbled on a high-fashion bargain to share with you all!!  Gilt.com; Everyday they offer different sales from the likes of Monique Lhuillier and Caroline Herrera, Clothes and shoes and jewelry, oh my!  The merchandise is a steal when compared to regular prices, and there are some lower end (but still fabulous) labels for the rest of us, ahem, conscientious spenders.  If you sign up, make sure you also get the app on your I-phone so you can keep up with the deals – the good stuff will be going within an hour of opening!

Well, that’s it for now!  As always, if you have any questions or just wanna shout out about something you read here, send me a note!  Here’s to having an incredible month – it’s all what you make of it.

Diva Dixie

Diva_Dixie@yahoo.com