Sexy, Sophisticated Plus Size Clothing in sizes 12-32

Dear Bonnie,
So many expectations. So many people with their family. So much money that so many people spend starting at 4am in some stores that opened the day after Thanksgiving. I am not sure how to keep myself centered and clear on who I am. What to do?
Catherine

Dear Catherine,
Look for the ordinary in life and celebrate each moment of those small, telling details of life. Some of the sweetest moments of my day come when I get to hold my dear, cherished sixteen year old border terrier who looks at me with sweetness, or, when I have the first sip of a fabulous cup of Peets coffee before my eyes are open, or, when my friend calls and we connect even for a moment. Keeping track of what matters and thinking about if you are living the life you want is the best of taking care of yourself and those around you, If each of us took as good care of ourselves as we do for the people around us, the world would be a different place and much better for many of us!
Wishing you a bountiful life,
BB

Dear Bonnie,
Chocolate. Cake. Cookies, Champagne. I want to be careful about my weight but I just cannot say "NO!" to everything, How can I keep my resolve to be healthy?
Cheryl

Dear Cheryl,
Ask for help but take care of yourself. If having too many sweets around you is a problem, too tempting, too overwhelming and leaves you feeling sick or lousy, do whatever works for you. Pay careful attention to how your body feels when you eat or drink whatever is presented. The more you listen to your body, noticing how you feel physically and emotionally five, ten, fifteen minutes after you put something in your mouth, the more you will make choices that give you what you need. Being awake for your life, that is not asleep and not unconscious, makes a staggering difference. If you feel distressed that you have done something you wish you hadn't done, that was then. Start your life anew in the next minute!
Wishing you a bountiful life,
BB

Dear Bonnie,
Everyone talks about their New Year's resolutions. I have made them every year, too. I never keep them, though. When the new year rolls around I remember what I said last year that has not been on my mind for more than a moment since a year ago. How can I keep my resolutions?
Candice

Dear Candice,
Resolutions are almost always made and forgotten. How about doing the resolution thing differently this year. Set one intention, Write it down, Make it tiny, less than five minutes and less than $5. Maybe the intention is to drink more water -- your plan, one time, drink an extra glass of water. That's it. Small, seemingly trivial changes, even those that take under a minute -- smile at a guy who looks cute, one time -- makes a difference. When you write down an intention, particularly one that is so small that it is almost invisible, you change your mind set and eventually you can change how your brain works. Make it small. Write it down, Do it once. Then, see what happens!
Wishing you a bountiful life,
BB

Dear Bonnie,
I am not able to enjoy the holidays. I cannot wear the pretty clothes that I see in all the stores, the catalogues, the party pictures of my thin friends. I feel awkward at the events because I think people are watching what I eat and drink. I have tried every diet known to man. My office holiday party is in January but I am already sweating it. How can I make this better for me?
Carol

Dear Carol,
While some people can get to an acceptance and appreciation of their body at any size, some people have an idea of what size they need to be to be okay. Since we know that diets only work in the short term -- that is, most people gain the weight they lost and more -- the challenge is to find the ways to take care of your body, be loyal to it, and make the most modest changes that you can expect to sustain over a lifetime. Feeling great about yourself, though, does not have to be measured by only the number you see on the scale. There are so many ways to feel beautiful, sexy, elegant, attractive or whatever you want for yourself. Look at the IGIG clothes, go see Nikki Blonsky in the new movie "Hairspray" and find a way of presenting yourself for the upcoming party that expresses who you are. The more you chose what is good and right for you, the more comfortable and celebratory the people around will be. To the others, say, "Bah, humbug," Their bad temper is their problem!
Wishing you a bountiful life,
BB