Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Phenomenal Woman: Remembering Maya Angelou


"Phenomenal Woman"

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.

I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.

I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees,

I say,
Its the fire in my eyes, and the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist.
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.

I say,
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun on my smmile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels
The bed of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally,
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Be phenomenal...phenomenal woman, yes, that's you.

Que
Curva-Lish
curvalish@gmail.com

Friday, May 16, 2014

An Example of Why Authenticity Matters

Why do we focus on empowering you to find your own authenticity whether that be authentic style, operating with grace or living out your purpose?  Because like Oprah, your most richest life of peace, joy, wealth and overall wholeness stems from authenticity.



But what is authenticity?

Authentic: real, genuine, true and accurate, made to be or look like an original
Merriam-Webster Dictionary

And as Oprah is suggesting in her quote, don't wait to decide to live authentically.  Decide today.  Every great change starts with making a decision.  You making a decision to hone in on who you really (authentically) are will cause all your actions, the way you see things and the way you interact with others to also align...

We believe being Curva-Lish is not about seeking approval from others to be who you were meant to be...it's about being inspired to live life from your core as your life evolves: motherhood, career promotion, stylish update, renewed relationship with long lost friend, healing from past hurts, etc.

Be authentic, shed the excess baggage, and live your life brilliantly!

Que
Curva-Lish Team
curvalish@gmail.com

Thursday, May 15, 2014

The Power to Re-ignite Purpose in Another

In this African tribe, when someone does something harmful, they take the person to the center of the village where the whole tribe comes and surrounds them. 

For two days, they will say to the man all the good things that he has done.

The tribe believes that each human being comes into the world as a good. Each one of us only desiring safety, love, peace and happiness.

But sometimes, in the pursuit of these things, people make mistakes.

The community sees those mistakes as a cry for help.

They unite then to lift him, to reconnect him with his true nature, to remind him who he really is, until he fully remembers the truth of which he had been temporarily disconnected: "I am good."

Shikoba Nabajyotisaikia!

NABAJYOTISAIKIA, is a compliment used in South Africa and means: "I respect you, I cherish you. You matter to me." 


In response, people say SHIKOBA, which is: "So, I exist for you."

I was so inspired by this and it is a great reminder to me and hopefully to you that the people who make mistakes are the very ones who need a caring person or "village" to surround them and speak life to them in order to re-ginite and re-connect them to their purpose.  Be that blessing to someone today...

Que
Curva-Lish Team
curvalish@gmail.com

Sunday, May 4, 2014

Keys to Timeless and Elegant Aging: Eat Healthy, Be Open to Change and Have Great Sex!

In their latest "50 Most Beautiful" issue, People Magazine highlighted women who have been able to look, act and feel half their age!  We skipped over all the other articles and hones in on the wisdom these five, dazzling women shared their secrets to their decades-defying beauty.

We summarized their best secrets below...pick up your latest copy of People for more!

Get #1 NY Times Bestseller here
Sharon Stone, 56
"...I feel even more excited (now) because I don't feel afraid." And as she ages, she embraces change.  "Say a warm goodbye to the thing you were before," she says.  "And then you're free to say, "What great thing am I going to be now?"

Garcelle Beauvais, 47
"I have eczema, so I'm really on top of my skin in terms of moisturizing.  I also try to eat healthy, but I'm not crazy about it." says the mom of three. "If I'm with my kids and it's pizza night, I am having a couple of pieces for sure!"  As for exercise, Beauvis--who does Pilates and runs on a treadmill-- came up with a routine that fits perfectly into her busy life. "I joined a gym right next to my kids' school," she says.  "So I can drop them off and then have no excuse."

Molly Sims, 40
The mother of 22-month-old Brooks follows some healthy rules: "I take cat naps.  I exercise. I eat less bread and don't eat late at night.  I drink water from a straw.  It helps me consume more."  She also says, "When you look at a picture you're like 'Gosh I don't love that'...but you look at that same picture two years later and you're like, 'I look so good!' So I appreciate the moment."

Gina Gershon, 51
What's Gershon's secret to staying in top shape? "If you're living a great life and having sex with someone you're madly in love with, that is key." says the star.  "I've been doing yoga for 25 years; that's helped a lot. I also think Silver Tequila is the greatest. Any diet I've ever done, I've had Silver Tequila and dark chocolate."
More than anything, Gershon believes that Americans should stop focusing so much on birthdays.  "I went to Papua New Guinea a couple of years ago, and you could not tell if someone was the son or the father or the grandfather.  It occurred to me that in our society, we'd be happier people if we didn't obsess about age and didn't have mirrors."

Trudie Styler, 60
After enduring a series of corrective surgeries as a child after a truck accident, Styler, hasn't always felt beautiful.  "I've tripled the amount of greens that I eat.  I have a big plate of cabbage, broccoli, with beans, nuts and seeds--my skin is much more hydrated."  The yoga devotee of 24 years maintains her long legs with at least an hour of exercise five days a week.  "I meditate twice a day.  That quiet is very important for inner tranquility, and I think that beauty begins on the inside."

Their methods maybe unconventional, their views maybe different but they all prove the point, "To thine own self be true".  Timeless and elegant aging is impossible if you don't figure out what authentically works for you!

Have a great week and let us know on our Facebook page what methods work for you!

Que
Curva-Lish Team
curvalish@gmail.com

Saturday, May 3, 2014

Obsessed for Spring: Re-Glam with Lip Glosses

As the statistic goes, if you don't have time or a lot of money to spend but want to upgrade your look, 9 out of 10 women will upgrade a beauty product or makeup!

Spring is a fun time to experiment with color and get outside of your box!  Our last post dealt with getting gorgeous skin.  This post is all about upgrading your lip color!

If you want a super glamorous option no matter your skin color, we are obsessed with YSL's lip glosses in every shade you can imagine! The greatest thing about their lip glosses is that they are long wearing and long lasting...you get what you pay for and it will last you for months!

You can shop with Nordstrom for our favorite Volupte shade Fuschia or for a lip color that works best for you!

We also have heard many raves about the long lasting and long wearing effects of NARS lip glosses.

I have personally worn their Rouge Volupte Perle and Golden Gloss (with 24 karat gold specs) for years!

For a brand that's equally long lasting but at a reduced price point, try out Bobbi Brown's Kir Sugar and their great lipsticks shades (more variety available online!)

Our $15 range but still amazing recommendation for long lasting and long wearing Spring shine are Clinique's Moisturizing Gloss (doing double duty!) and Lorren Ridinger/Lala for Motives wide range of options specific for women of color! And the color comes through very well on medium and dark shades so that allows you a wide range of options!

Motives for Lala
We hope you enjoy these glam-it-up recommendations for Spring!

Que
Curva-Lish
curvalish@gmail.com