Contentment is Not a Bad Word

Take a deep breath, close your eyes, and exhale. What are you missing in your life? I'm not asking what specific items you are missing, because we all have those moments of losing the keys, misplacing the cell phone, or forgetting to put socks on the two year old. No, I'm asking what you are missing from deep within the marrow of your being. Those deep caves that rarely see the light, because it's too hard to share those blemishes, those self-loathings, and those eternal moments of regret. It doesn't matter what specific circumstances created your interior struggles, it matters how you are going to get out of them. Some will always linger, and some are victory battle scars that we save to share with the world, but others need to be given up. Those internal struggles that eat at us day in and day out only to cut deeper into our self-esteem. It feels like there is no way out. But what if there was a way out? What if there is an underlying theme among many of us as we daily struggle through the complexities of life? An unspoken struggle of CONTENTMENT!

The word, contentment, has become a "bad word". It forces us to second-guess ourselves, our ambitions, and our achievements. In a face-paced world, where technology goes out of use before it was even introduced to the masses. Our lives are consumed with having the next best thing. What we have is never good enough. It's sad to acknowledge this is true. We have become a superficial society.

Contentment does not mean we are satisfied with having nothing. It does not mean that we don't have any dreams or long-term goals. Contentment gives us the ability to embrace our current phase in life. It won't be the same forever, but we need to joyfully accept the present. There was a time in history when both men and women happily accepted their lives, no matter their social class, the amount of labor, the hours of child-rearing, or their material achievements. There was a time when my widowed great-grandmother accepted her fate and worked tirelessly to support eight children as a seamstress. The loss of her husband's share of the family hardware store was heart-breaking and the family's lack of support for her working outside the home was discouraging. This woman didn't go beyond her scope in life, she didn't search to find a wealthy man and she didn't take easy street and move in with relatives. This strong, independent woman strove to create a better life and support her children, but she lovingly found contentment in it. She was happy and always believed she was blessed, because her life was beautiful in every respect. Life was not easy without a husband, especially in the early 20th century, but that didn't matter, because life was meant to be loved and lived. She found contentment in her family.

We must all search for our own contentment in life. It won't find us unless we choose to accept it. If we can find contentment, our lives will be much simpler, and yet much happier. That amazing great-grandmother of mine was right, life is meant to be loved and lived. We are social beings who desire to give and receive love. It's time that each of us takes this moment to examine our lives. Are we truly happy and if not, what would make us truly happy? If your answer revolves around material items that will only devalue with age, then it's time to do major sole searching...you have not found contentment yet. It won't be an easy task to suddenly appreciate every frustration and struggle in the name of contentment, but if you are seeking this beautiful state of life, you will find it. Contentment will never just appear. You will have to make many small steps, fill several large holes, but eventually with dedication, it can be found. The best time to start is now, so close your eyes, take that deep breathe and exhale.  Contentment is not a bad word, it's a beautiful and peaceful state of life.

Written By: Danielle Silva Heckenkamp

Now Whip It, Whip It Good!

Written By: Ooh La La (Danielle Marie)

We all have those days that never end.  Those days where we don't feel in control and everything is a whirlwind.  They make us question our motives, our intentions and whether we should keep fighting the up hill battle or throw in the towel!  Well how do we handle it?  How do we "whip" those days into shape and move on?  How do we learn from such experiences?

Well to each his own, but this is what works for us!  Spending quality time with girlfriends, margaritas and lots and lots of laughs!

The Birthday Girl gets a Birthday Pitcher!

Good Drinks with Good Friends!

Ok, now it's time to be a little more serious! 

Examine Yourself!

     Are you the cause of the problem?  Are you focusing too much on yourself and your own intentions instead of trying to help others?  Try to examine the issue from the point of view of others?

Put Up A Fight!

     Don't let things eat away at you.  They will be your end and ruin every bit of your self-esteem.  Love life!  Sometimes it's better to let things go and other times it's best to confront the situation head on.  Pick your battles!  If you find yourself confronting a situation out of self-pride, take a step back and rethink the fight!  The outcome may not be what you expect!

Are You Naive?

     Sometimes things don't make sense, just roll with the punches.  We can't control other people's actions, only our own!  It's impossible to understand why other people behave a certain way, just worry about yourself and leave the caddiness at home! 

"When a problem comes along, you must whip it!"



Here's your inspiration!



"When a problem comes along
You must whip it
Before the cream sits out too long
You must whip it
When something’s goin’ wrong
You must whip it

Now whip it
Into shape
Shape it up
Get straight
Go forward
Move ahead
Try to detect it
It’s not too late
To whip it
Whip it good"

~DEVO

Be Vivacious and Strut with Confidence

Written By: Ooh La La (Danielle Marie) and Va Va Voom (Katrina)

We felt it was due time for another Be Vivacious blog post!  This time we are going to address a tough subject for everyone...CONFIDENCE!  We all lack it in more than one area of our lives, whether it's in our looks, our weight, our social skills, our professional skills, fashion and even with our family and close friends: jealousy and caddy tendencies pop up everywhere and let's be real it does take a toll on our self-esteem!  So how do we boost our self-esteem and ooze with confidence?  Let's start with the basics: dress to impress and strut your confidence!

First things first!  Be yourself!  We don't mean you have to stick out like a sore thumb, you just need to trust your instincts, love your life and accept your choices!  Work it like you own it!  (This references everything!)

FLAUNT your CURVES!  Every woman knows the best part of her body, so accentuate it...to the fullest!  This doesn't mean show large amounts of wrinkly cleavage or a bare mid-drift, no!  We want you to slim out your curves with the right clothing and undergarments!  (Don't tell us you never heard of Spanx http://www.spanx.com/  or Yummie Tummie http://www.yummielife.com/ )  Does a wiggle skirt accentuate your nice derriere or a fitted cocktail pencil skirt bring out your curvy hips?  For tops, show what you have, own your curves, but please leave something to the imagination!

Cobalt Blue Skirt: The Limited

Lemon, Cream and Metallic Clutch: H&M

DARE to be BOLD!  Color blocking is all the rage, so use it to your advantage.  You can go crazy wild or keep it conservative, but everyone looks great in a mix of hues!  Add a bit of metallic to mix up a conservative outfit!  With the start of September, we will be heading into cooler temps here in Wisconsin, so bring out those scarves.  This mustard scarf is a hot addition to any fall wardrobe!

Scarf from Allure Beautique: https://www.facebook.com/allurebeautique

STRUT the SHOES!  Whatever your preference, heels, wedges, flats: love what you wear and own your strut!  These leopard print ballet flats dress up a great pair of jeans or compliment a simple black skirt to add a bit of sass!  Word to the Wise...never wear socks with these shoes, let's just say....EWWW!

Shoes: Mossimo Supply Co.

FIND your LOVE!  Wear what works for you, but that doesn't mean a frumpy t-shirt and sweatpants everyday.  Let's be realistic, it has to fit with your lifestyle: mom, professional, coach, ballet teacher, etc., but make an effort to show off your personality through a bit of fashion.  You don't have to spend a lot to look amazing, just put together the wardrobe you feel comfortable with and STRUT with CONFIDENCE!