I sometimes wonder if a novel named Act Like a Lady, Think Like A Hoe would fly off the shelves the way Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man would.
Why do you need to think like a man when your milkshake brings all the boys to the yard, honey? I'm not talking about the actual act of putting that juicy gripper on someone, but why don't we ever talk about the power of femininity and seduction as much as we should? Goddesses like Rihanna don't contanstanly have to talk about how great they are in bed, instead they walk around in their big dick energy that lets you know she can snatch your soul, your man, and your wallet whenever she pleases.
Often, it is not even about using your vagina to get what you want, but the promotion of it to create an exciting experience for both you and a lucky somebody. In general, it is perfectly acceptable to be sexualized by the male gaze but God forbid when we start taking charge of our bodies, sexuality, and expression. Many of us get labeled a "hoe."
People throw the word "hoe" around towards any woman brave enough to act outside socially constructed female norms. Yet, we all like to try on "hoe" when it's convenient with statements like, "Girl, imma shake my ass like a hoe tonight." We subconsciously acknowledge the power of seduction but bring it out as often as a Halloween costume.
Let me fill you in on something: Well-behaved women seldom make history.
Slut shaming is old, corny, and just plain ignorant because a woman is a multidimensional being. Sexism and misogyny teaches us that men can be sexual beings, but women can only function in a way that satisfies the male gaze at the time. If he's looking for a wife: be submissive, nurturing, and modest. If he's looking for a hot girlfriend: be spontaneous, sexy, and glamorous at all times. If she wants a man with wealth, she is a gold digger.
Well, I am here to say, F*CK That. What Are You Looking For Girl?
It is totally possible to have the sensuality, art of seduction, and fun times of a "hoe," the moral and values and life goals of a "classy lady," and the desire to be dicked down like a dumb slut, because these concepts are not mutually exclusive. I ask you a simple question: What would your love life look like if you weren't so afraid to be judged and judge yourself so harshly? Would you have more orgasms? Get your rent paid? Make your sexual fantasies a reality? Have the confidence to go for a higher caliber of men? If so, consider the following steps and start acting up!
Start Dressing To Erect More Often Than Not
You are a beautiful young woman, it's time to embrace it and have some fun every now and then with your wardrobe. Unevolved women feel intimidated by a confident woman strutting her stuff around in something sexy, but that does not have to be you. Work with what you have and flaunt what your momma gave you every once in while. This is not only for single women, but for involved and married women too! Find your personal style of being sexy. Maybe your style of sexy is showing a little shoulder here and thigh there. Go on a date night without your bra and let them nipples say hello. Give him a little visual hint that you dont have any pantes on. Walk Stank. Get him thirsty and open and act like you know that you are a goddess, because you are. Getting comfortable with your sexy side outside of the bedroom will empower you.
Let Go Of The Serious Attitude
Life is a rat race where we are constanlying hustling and bustling, and it can take a toll on our vibe. Many of us are so adamant about finding Mr. Right that it gives off a vibe of inflexibility and downright coldness.You may meet a fine man during a night out and want him to blow your back out and that's fine, every man you date will not be your husband! Practice being open minded, connected to your own feelings, present and engaging instead of focusing on what turns men on and what men are looking for. Stop constantly focusing on what you bring to the table and realize you are the whole damn table, and can manifest the man you want sitting across from you or laying up under you. You are a whole person my love, and your fun conversation and engaging body language is what reels a man in and keeps him wanting more. Step up your conversational skills! You don't have to know about the latest sports or about cars, find something to talk about outside of the daily grind that you are passionate and excited about because it is nothing more sexy and memorable than a passionate woman.
If You Are Not Seriously Involved, Stop Dating One Man At A Time
The beloved hoe-tation is something that many of us women stray away from once we get in our feelings. We start dating a man for a few weeks and then Boom! That burning feeling in your chest is not your heart falling, but your common sense leaving your body and you turn on your tunnel vision. Whether he is the man that you prayed for or if he meets your standards, don't let anyone shame you for having options, especially while you're single and just out there dating. You don't really have the time to start over-thinking and self-sabotaging the connection with one man when you are busy being wined and dined by the next one. If anything, dating more than one man at a time creates an opportunity and the distance necessary for the man of your dreams to pursue and win you over. That way when you do find Mr. Right, you know in your heart that you chose him out of desire instead of fear and loneliness. Your exclusivity is a gift that a man has to earn, don't be giving it all easy!
Be Picky, He Has To Be Able To Match You Or Progress You!
Learn how to size a man up very quickly in order to categorize him into two subcategories : potential husband and penis. Destiny's Child did not leave us "Bills, Bills, Bills" just to bop to. Can he help you out, is a serious question you really should be asking yourself. We have set the bar so low for men to the point that they still limbo under it into our hearts and beds! Him having a good job, college degree, taking care of his kids, and loving his momma is the bare minimum. If you had a financial emergency, could the man that you are giving all that sweet loving and attention to lend you a helping hand? If the answer is no, you have to really take some time and reconsider your dating habits because you can do bad all by yourself and a vibrator. Maybe finance is not the most important factor in your world however, make sure you are choosing someone who can help you on your journey of manifesting your best life, whether that be spiritually, emotionally, financially or all of the above.
This is 2018, we are looking for partners, not fixer uppers. The attention and good times he gives you will not make up for the lack of support he will be able to offer during difficult times, so invest yours wisely. As Missy Elliot once said, "Ain't no shame ladies, do your thang. Just stay ahead of the game." It is time to make your own rules to the dating game. Be safe and have fun. It's your world, these men just live in it.
Related Stories:
Why Every Woman Needs to Invest in a Dating Roster - Read More
A Letter To My Teenage Self During My Hoe Phase - Read More
Feeling Yourself is the Vital Step To Finding The Love Of Your Life - Read More
My First One Night Stand Changed The Way I Feel About Sex- Read More
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Anyway, I personally think that the less shallow folks out here may contemplate calling things “quits” or they at least distance themselves a bit from their partner (and what I’m referring to is serious relationships) due to all of the stress and strain that oftentimes comes with the holidays whether it be financial, familial, due to their tight schedules or something else.
Listen, I would hate for you and your man to miss the fun and happiness of experiencing this time of year, all because you are so overwhelmed or irritated that you can’t really enjoy it. That’s why I have a few practical tips for how to avoid allowing the typical holiday season stress from INFECTING your relationship.
Manage Your Expectations
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Unmanaged expectations. If there is a main reason why the holiday season tends to be so stress-filled for so many people, I’d bet good money that this is the cause. And when you’re in a long-term relationship, expectations can manifest themselves in all sorts of cryptic and/or unexpected ways. You might have relatives who assume that you are going to be with them for Thanksgiving or Christmas when you have other plans in mind. You might be thinking that you are going to spend one amount for presents while your man is thinking something totally different. When it comes to scheduling, your signals may be crossed.
And you know what? To all of these scenarios, this is where clear and consistent communication come in. Don’t assume anything. Don’t dictate anything either. From now until New Year’s, mutually decide to check in once a week, just to make sure that you are both on the same page as it relates to the holidays and what you both are thinking will come along with it. The less blindsided you both feel, the less stressed out you will be. Trust me on this.
Set (and Keep) a Budget
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Okay, so I read that last year, 36 percent of Americans incurred some type of holiday-related debt. Hmph. Last year, there was still some sense of normalcy in this country, chile, so I can only imagine what finances are gonna look like over the next several weeks. That said, since I don’t know a lot of people who don’t find being broke stressful, make sure that you and your bae set a budget and then stick to it this year — no ifs, ands or buts.
Because really, y’all — it doesn’t make sense to deplete savings and/or max out credit cards for a few days of giggles only to be damn near losing your mind because you don’t know how to make ends meet come Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
And by the way, this tip doesn’t just speak to things like food and gifts; I also mean travel. If it doesn’t make a ton of sense (or cents) to be all over the place this year — DON’T BE.
Keep Matthew 5:37 at the Forefront
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If off the top of your head, you don’t know what Matthew 5:37 says, no worries, here ya go: “But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.” That verse right there? Oh, it’s a boundaries lifesaver! I say that because do you see “maybe” or “I’ll think about it” in there? Nope. LOL. It says that you should tell people “yes” or “no” and leave it at that — and that complements Anne Lamott’s quote, “’No’ is a complete sentence” impeccably well. Yeah, you’ve got to remember that anything beyond a yes or no to a request is privileged information; you don’t owe anyone details or an explanation.
Besides, if you are really honest with yourself, when someone asks you something and you give a “Umm, let me think about it” kind of reply, more times than not, you already know what your answer is going to be — so why not let you both off of the hook? Give your response. Commit to that. And let everyone (including yourself) get on with their lives and schedules.
I promise you that when it comes to those holiday parties, you are pissing more folks off by not RSVP’ing or doing so and not showing up than just saying, “Thank you but not this year” off the rip.
Remember That Your Personal Space Is Privilege Not a Right
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A friend of mine recently bought a new house and invited me over to come see it. He’s a single man with no children, so as I was taking in all of the space that he had, especially as I walked through his finished basement, I joked about relatives coming to live with him. “Hell no” and “absolutely not” were pretty much his immediate responses as he went on to say that some folks even had the nerve to be offended when he told them that he had no intentions on taking DNA in.
Ain’t it wild how people think that your stuff is their right? And yes, that brings me to my next point. Your home is your sanctuary space. If you want to host folks this year — cool. If not, ALSO COOL. Please don’t let folks (family included) guilt you into how they want you to act or even into what they would do if the shoe was on the other foot. You are not them — and as one of my favorite quotes states, “If two people were exactly alike, one of them would be unnecessary.” (A man by the name Larry Dixon said that.)
Hell, my friends? They know that I am good for sending them random things that they need or even want all throughout the year. Coming over to hang out at my pace, though. Uh-uh. Chalk it up to being a card-carrying member of the ambivert club yet I like keeping my living space personal — and I sleep like a baby, each and every night, for feeling that way.
Always remember that your space, your time, your resources, your energy and shoot, yourself period (including your relationship), are all things that are your own. You get to choose how, when and why you want to share them. The holiday season is certainly no exception.
Cultivate Some “You Two Only” Traditions
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It’s not uncommon for some couples to hit me up after the holiday season to “detox.” Sometimes it’s due to the financial drama (and sometimes trauma) that they experienced. Sometimes it’s because they allowed their relatives (especially in-laws) to get more into their personal business than they should’ve. More than anything, though, it tends to be because they didn’t get enough quality time together and so ended up feeling “disconnected.”
Please don’t let that happen. Listen, I’m not even a holidays kind of woman and yet, I will absolutely sit myself down with some hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookies to enjoy a Hallmark holiday film or two. Aside from the fact that most of them are lighthearted and sweet, I also like that they usually focus on couples loving on each other amidst all of the holiday beauty and ambiance — which is something that all couples should set aside some time to do.
Maybe it’s a vacation. Maybe it’s a staycation. Or maybe it’s my personal favorite, A SEXCATION. Whether it’s for a few days, the weekend or even overnight — don’t you let the holidays go by without setting aside time for you and your man to celebrate one another. Don’t you dare (check out “Are You Ready To Have Some Very Merry 'Christmas Sex'?”).
GET. SOME. REST.
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I once read that 8 out of 10 people get stressed out over the holidays and 3 out of 10 lose sleep during to it — and when you’re stress-filled and sleep-deprived, that can absolutely lead to hypersensitivity, making mountains out of molehills and even not being in the mood for sex.
Your relationship can’t afford to go through any of this, so definitely make sure to prioritize rest. I don’t care how unrealistic it might seem during this time, sleep should never be seen as a luxury; it will always and forever be a great necessity.
That said, try to get no less than six hours of shut-eye in (check out “6 Fascinating Ways Sex And Sleep Definitely Go Hand In Hand”) and even ask your bae to take a nap with you sometimes (check out “Wanna Have Some Next-Level Sex? Take A Nap, Sis.”). Not only will sleep help to restore your mind, body and spirit but, when it’s with your partner, it’s an act of intimacy that can make you both feel super connected, even in the midst of what might feel like chaos.
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Holiday season stress is real. Still, never give it the permission or power to throw your relationship off. Put you and your man first and let the holidays be what they are gonna be, chile.
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1. Go All Out with the Christmas Décor
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There is someone I know who is so obsessed with Christmas, she’s damn near annoying-borderline-terrifying. I’m. Not. Kidding. Yet hey, if you’re going to do a holiday-themed staycation (emphasis on “holiday-themed”), that’s kind of how you’ve got to be. Some décor ideas include:
- A fresh Christmas tree (is the most ideal) that is ultimately decorated
- Wreaths on outside and inside doors
- Garland (with twinkle lights) in predictable and unpredictable places
- Poinsettias
- Mistletoes
- Snow globes
- A stocking (with some of your favorite things in it)
- Fake snow
- Stars
- Angels
- Candy canes
- A BLACK Santa (LOL)
I mean, since you are going to be spending a lot of time at home, it can feel like a mini-winter wonderland if you are intentional about doing more decorating to your living space than you ever have before!
2. Buy a Couple of Christmas-Themed PJs
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While I was doing some research on a totally different topic, I happened upon an article that talked about the psychology behind why we should be intentional about what we wear to bed. When you stop to think about the fact that (hopefully) you are sleeping somewhere between 6-8 hours every night, it would make sense that things like the color and fabric of your sleepwear would have a real impact on you — even subconsciously.
Well, when it comes to Christmas décor, specifically, not only does it take you back to nostalgic memories, it can also boost your moods. So, aside from being on-10 with your Christmas décor, also invest in some Christmas-themed PJs. Since you’re going to be doing a lot of lounging around (RIGHT?), do it in something that makes you think about all of your favorite things about this time of year.
3. Cop Some Christmas-Scented Candles
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There really is no telling how many articles that I’ve written where I am singing the praises of scented soy candles. Candles are soothing, comforting and a very easy way to reduce stress. Also, since it gets darker quicker and for a longer period of time around this time of the year, candles provide a relaxing vibe to your home. Since it is Christmastime, go with scents that are reminiscent of the season:
- Cinnamon
- Vanilla
- Cranberry
- Apple
- Pine
- Frankincense and Myrrh
- Peppermint
- Cashmere
- Ginger(bread)
- Orange
- Sugar Cookies
- Sandalwood
- Cloves
- Cedarwood
- (Hot) Chocolate
Personally, one of my favorite candle companies is Goose Creek. Their signature collections will have your entire house smelling like a high-end bakery. No exaggeration.
4. Play Some Winter-Themed ASMR Sounds
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I’m from Nebraska and my mother was a New Yorker. So, if there is one thing that I like, it’s seasons and that includes snow during wintertime. Unfortunately, Nashville is cray-cray when it comes to that. If, where you live, the weather is all over the place too (which is why I think it’s insane that some people still give pushback to global warming) and you would like for it to at least seem like you are in your own winter wonderland — invest in some fake snow to strategically place around your home.
Oh, and don’t forget to turn on some winter-themed ASMR sounds too. YouTube has videos that run for hours on end that feature blizzards and howling winds that really can make you feel like you are in the midst of an ice storm.
5. Host a Holiday Movie Marathon
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One thing to remember about a staycation is it doesn’t mean that you have to be alone or that the only people who can participate are the ones who live with you. Since a staycation is simply about staying close to home instead of traveling afar — absolutely consider having some of your favorite people over for a holiday-themed movie marathon. Shoot, Black America Web even did you a solid by publishing “25 Best Black Christmas Movies Of All Time;” plus, Tubi has a Black holiday hits section of indie films too.
Oh, and make sure to get creative with the Christmas-themed snacks. Some ideas? Some Kentucky-fried turkey tenders with cranberry hot sauce (recipe here), some Holiday Hot Spinach Dip (recipe here), some Grinch Kabobs (recipe here), some roasted pecans (recipe here) and some Pomegranate Guacamole (recipe here).
6. Spend a Night (or Two) at a Hotel or Vacation House
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Just like you don’t have to be alone during a staycation, you also don’t have to be cooped up in your house the entire time. Get a change of scenery in your own city by spending the night in a hotel that you’ve always wanted to try out or renting a vacation house for you and some of your folks to hang out in during the time between Christmas and New Year’s Day. I have a “love little sister” who does this randomly when she needs a break from her work as a therapist. She says that it’s damn near like taking a trip (and she has PLENTY of passport stamps; trust me).
7. Have Brunch or Dinner at a Christmas-Themed Restaurant
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If nothing puts a bigger smile on your face than the thought of DoorDashing meals and barely even touching your stove during your staycation — hey, I am right there with you. Do consider going out to brunch or dinner during your chill time, though. It’s another way to bond with people and create some current holiday memories. And if you’ve got a bae and you opt for dinner, it can be a wonderful type of Christmas-themed date.
8. Go to a Holiday-Themed Concert
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Being that I got my start as an entertainment writer, hear me when I say that I’m not someone who just has to go to a live concert every chance that I get. Oh, but baby, when I saw that El DeBarge was doing a City Winery tour and he was going to be here right before Christmas — I booked myself a ticket quick, fast and in a super-duper hurry! Shoot, I didn’t even want to go with someone because I plan to give him and that falsetto voice of his my complete and undivided attention. LOL.
I don’t know what it is about the holiday season that makes live music that much more enjoyable — but if there is a concert that features one of your favorite artists happening right through here, consider that to be a cool way to “tour your city” while cultivating a really awesome memory at the same time.
9. Also, Go Ice Skating
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One of my fondest memories of time with my father is going ice skating. We actually would do it in the summer (because that is when I would visit him) and, every year, he would get me a new ice skating outfit. Even now, when I watch someone ice skate (even in movies; like in the classic movie Garden State), I will have warm fuzzies.
Anyway, if you’ve never been before, go. If it’s been forever since you have, also go. There is something that is very sweet and so signature Christmas about it. Plus, it’s a top-tier form of exercise.
10. Take a Christmas Lights Tour
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Another one of my favorite Christmas memories is driving through neighborhoods and looking at the Christmas lights. And just like a Christmas concert can be a form of hometown touring, so can doing this if you decide to choose a couple of areas where you’ve never really been or rarely frequent.
Now are you excited about the thought of experiencing a holiday-themed staycation?
I thought you would be. ENJOY!
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