Each week, our Friday Feature will celebrate powerful women who share their magic with the world in unique and inspiring ways. This week, we chatted with Sonya and Tedi, the founders and force behind Sand Sisters, a youth empowerment 501(c)3 that’s transforming the way girls feel about themselves and each other. FF: What made you happiest as a child? Sonya: Three things come to mind immediately (besides buttered noodles). Art class, diving into huge waves and the feeling of safety snuggling with my mom. Tedi: Going outside and laughing with friends. Nothing has changed. What inspired you to start Sand...
"The past ten years have not exactly been a walk through a park. Sometimes it felt like walking through the seventh circle of hell, but nonetheless, I kept going. I made it through obstacles I thought would break me. I made it through all the madness and the sorrow and the heartbreak. Somehow, I made it to today. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine this is where I would be. I realize, I have been selling myself short. I am where I am because of all my hard work, dedication, and resilience. So to mark this new chapter...
To the mom who burns the grilled cheese you know your sensitive eater won’t eat anyway because you rush out of the kitchen to settle a quarrel over a stuffed animal—I see you. To the mom who is responding furiously to work emails even though it is Saturday while your child gives you a dirty look and says, “All you do is work!”—I see you. To the mom with greasy hair who hasn’t showered for two (okay, let’s be real, three) days, who bathes her kids daily with organic, mommy-group approved soap—I see you, too. All of us are all of...
"My dad sent my mom a text to separate after 27 years of marriage and so I’ve been helping her through this whole process of learning to love herself and see her value. I’m leaving soon and won't be with her for 3 months, so her Self Love Pinky Ring will be a nice reminder for her to love herself, and also to remember how much I love her!" Laura, gifted her mom Carito, to celebrate the next phase of her life. You can still see the indentation of the wedding band she wore for 27 years. So proud to call this...
You begin by knowing yourself. Who you are, now, today, not who you were before, who you wish you were, or who others wish you were. You. Today. Now. Your essence. Your me. This is self discovery.As you discover and embrace yourself and your needs, you begin to care for them. You make time. You make space. You nurture yourself with your attention and commitment. This is self care.You know who you are, and you care for yourself. All parts of you. The good, the bad, the light, the dark, the popular, the unpopular, the complex, the simple. This is...
"I have been divorced for almost two years now. I thought he was "the one" and that I could trust him. Turns out he was secretly a sex addict who basically used me for a green card. (He was from England.) I'm terrified to put myself back out there in the dating world. I just can't seem to trust anyone these days and terrified of falling in love again. It's been over a year since I've been intimate with anyone. I'm just scared. I know I need to work on loving myself first, but I keep getting distracted. Any advice?"...
I had the great pleasure of sharing my story with the founders of The Cnnekt, Emily and Chary. These brilliant women have created a platform for women that not only shares their stories online, but also creates opportunities for women to "connect" IRL and make friends. A company founded by two incredible women who are dedicated to fueling female friendship. No surprise why we at Fred and Far are such big fans. They're headquartered in NYC, so if you're local to them, make sure to join their newsletter and attend their events. I'll be there in spirit until they branch out to LA (hopefully...
Let me know if this has ever happened to you. You text someone, a friend, a lover, a colleague your mom. You ask a question. Something simple, like, "Hey, I miss you! Can we have dinner sooner?" And then crickets. No response. You see the typing bubbles, but nothing. Nothing for one minute, five, ten, an hour a day. By now, what is your brain thinking? If you're anything like me, your brain is preparing for the worst. Your friend doesn't like you anymore. Your lover is going to leave you. Your mom wishes she had given you up for...
I am a newly 23-year-old me. Me. How do I describe that? How do I describe me? Well, I am a suicide attempt survivor. I am a rape victim who is finally coming to terms with the idea of having PTSD. I am an individual living with several mental illnesses and a chronic physical illness. I am a disaster. Let's try this again. I am an amateur entrepreneur, Founder, and CEO of a soon-to-launch small business named Reciprocitea. A business that was inspired by the fact that I chose life and continue to choose it each day, so that I...
Is it possible to regain your sex drive? I seem to have completely lost mine since my daughter was born two years ago. I just go through the motions to make my husband happy. I love him madly, but do not have any desire any longer. Hi going through the motions, First let me say that you are not alone. In fact, lack of desire is one of top concerns women bring to sex therapy. The nature of desire has been a subject I have been passionate to explore and understand. I have found that understanding how sexual desire works...
Nature vs. nurture. A question we’ve been battling since the dawn of time, and yet no definitive answer. That is until now. That's right. I've figured it out. In 2012, I gave birth to twin girls who are polar opposites: Stella Avery and Violet Harper. Stella is a replica of my husband: tall, blonde, fair-skinned, positive, enlightened, fiercely independent. Violet is my mini me: petite, brunette, tan, emotional, imaginative, brown-eyed, and full of love. Five years later, they are exactly who they were at the hospital when they arrived six full weeks early. Watching them grow up has been a matter of validating and...
If you're following us on Instagram @fredandfar, you're probably already familiar with our Radical Thoughts series. For us, radical thoughts are the simple, self-evident truths that easily get overlooked. The truths that need to be proclaimed as radical so that they receive the attention they deserve. Here are some of our favorites. Make sure to follow on Instagram so you get them in real time. This week's Self Love Challenge is to come up with your own Radical Thoughts and share them. The more radical the better. We'll add yours to the list. Fred and Far's Radical Thoughts Radical Thoughts on...
