It's a Vulva! 5 nautical animals that look like Vulva.

I always knew the sea was a woman. I will use this as scientific proof.

1.) The Worm Clam









2.) The Oyster










3.) The Conch










4.) The Giant Clam









5.) The Mussel

Kegals With Victoria Vulva!

Now- raise your hand if you totally just did kegals.

Wall of Vulva~Licious Heroine's and Hero's

Our Honorable Wall of Vulva~Licious Heroine's and Hero's:

Because Vulva Love Spreads

These Organizations Have Been Amazing Advocates For Women and Girls

C.A.L.M.A Coaching Services

These Businesses Have Been Amazing Advocates For Women and Girls

These Women Have Been Hardcore Vulva~Licious Heroine's
Rebecca Pinder: Donated a Cloth Pad to a Girl in Sierra Leone

Vanessa Franklin: Donated a Cloth Pad to a Girl in Sierra Leone

Lara Stephenson: Donated a Cloth Pad to a Girl in Sierra Leone

Talia Williams: Donated a Cloth Pad to a Girl in Sierra Leone

Maricruz Gonzalez: Donated a Cloth Pad to a Girl in Sierra Leone

Lara Babitcheff: Donated a Cloth Pad to a Girl in Sierra Leone

Melissa Rose Meara: Donated 2 Cloth Pads to Girls in Sierra Leone

Elisabeth Stone: Donated a Cloth Pad to a Girl in Sierra Leone

Jennifer Cooper: Donated 2 Cloth Pads to Girls in Sierra Leone

Christina Adamko: Donated a Cloth Pad to a Girl in Sierra Leone

Christel Calvin: Donated 2 Cloth Pads to Girls in Sierra Leone

These Men Have Been Hardcore Vulva~Licious Hero's
Darren Carlson: Donated a Cloth Pad to a Girl in Sierra Leone
Robert Castello: Donated a Cloth Pad to a Girl in Sierra Leone
William Kramer: Donated 4 cloth pads to girls in Sierra Leone

The Holidays are Here and it's Time to Donate Some Cloth Menstrual Pads!

I was contacted a few months ago by an orphanage in Sierra Leone. They have 20 girls that need cloth menstrual pads, and we just happen to have the technology they need. We are shooting for 40 pads so that each girl will have two so she wont be without when one needs to be washed.

I am more than happy to whip these pads up at no charge (each set of 4 takes about 6 hours) and cover the shipping , but I could really use some help paying for the materials.

That is where you come in.

Donate just $5 dollars and we will give 1 pad.

Click HERE to Donate $5

We even made a little thermometer. Look how cute it is:

Let's make this happen!

* As a Donor your name will be listed on our Wall of Vulva~Licious Heroines.
* If you are a business your company will be listed on our Wall of Vulva~Licious Heroines, as will a link to your website.


To learn more about the orphanage check it out. *An important note, we donate pads every year to different organizations. We do not discriminate which will and won't get pads. Who ever has girls in needs and asks is in. This year the organization is run by a religious group and we just wanted to stress the point that we are not promoting one religion or ideal over another. We are uplifting women and girls and that is that.

*If you have an organization that is in need of pads contact us at: VulvaLoveLovely@Gmail.com *

Click HERE to Donate $5

Toxic Bubbles in Johnson and Johnson Baby Products

The two chemicals, dioxane and quaternium 15, are cancer-causing preservatives that release formaldehyde.

What does this have to do with babies?

Both of these chemicals can be found in many of Johnson and Johnson's baby products, even in their staple Johnson and Johnson Tearless Baby Shampoo.

These products remain up for sale in the US despite the fact that the company makes versions without these chemicals. Wait....What? The U.K. and other countries refused to sell any products with these chemicals in them. So, Johnson and Johnson created versions sans the toxic preservatives. But, they are only for sale in a few countries that took a stand and said they would not sell any of their products.

Here in the U.S. the company is still being pushed by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics to remove these toxins from their products in the next 2.5 years!

So far their efforts have been largely unsuccessful. The Coallition is urging consumers to boycott Johnson and Johnson products until the company removes the cancer-causing toxins from their products.

The moral of the story: Avoid Johnson and Johnson products when you can and ALWAYS check the label for: dioxane and quaternium 15.

Mrs Myrna Monday: Days in a Normal Menstrual Cycle and Causes of an Irregular Menstrual Cycle

Mrs. Myrna Mondays:

Where we answer all of the questions you have about your Lady Parts

Dear Mrs. Myrna, what's the low range when it comes to length of a menstrual cycle: and what can cause an irregular cycle?
Sincerely,
Not So Sweet 17

Dear Not So Sweet 17,
An average cycle is 28 days long, but it is normal to have a cycle that is as short as 21 days or as long as 35.

Here are some causes for irregular menstrual cycles:

• Pregnancy. This is the most common cause of a missed period, so if you might be pregnant treat yourself as if you are until you are able to confirm or deny. Pick up a home pregnancy test, if the test is negative and you are more than two weeks late on your period call up your CNM or ObGYN to set up an appointment.
  
• Stress!
• Fatigue
• Caffeine
  
• Cigarette smoking
  
• Excessive weight loss or gain. While many of us know that a low body weight can cause us to miss a period, having a high body weight can have the same effect.
  
• Increased exercise.
• Illness
• Travel
• New Medications. If you have started a new medication and are experiencing an irregular period give a call to your CNM or ObGYN's office. Talk to the nurse and she can tell you if its a normal side effect or if you should come in for a visit.
• Other causes include: breastfeeding, polycystic ovarian syndrome/estrogen dominance, poor nutrition, chemotherapy, hormonal imbalance, recent childbirth, miscarriage or uterine abnormalities (fibroids/cysts/polyps/endometriosis).

All this being said, if you've had an irregular period don't panic: its actually pretty common. One in five women will experience this. If it happens more than once or you go two weeks after the date your period put in a call to the nurse at your woman's health provider.

Sexist Retro Ads: (Anti) Feminist Fridays

(Anti) Feminist Fridays
Proof that while women are still far from being treated with respect: we have come a long way, Baby!

This Friday's Ad is- I don't even really know how to describe it.
Horrific maybe? And while I still think the premise is widely believed in the subconscious of our culture, at least we are at the point where it's not spelled out in a shoe advertisement.

Mrs Myrna Monday: Why Does it Hurt To Have Sex After My Period In Certain Positions? Let's talk menstruation and retroverted Uterus

Mrs. Myrna Mondays:

Where we answer all of the questions you have about your Lady Parts

Dear Mrs. Myrna, why does it hurt to have sex after my period and only in certain positions?
Sincerely, Flinching Slightly

Dear Flinching Slightly,
Let's see if I can help you out here:

* The first thing to know is that after your period your uterus is still tender: Why?
Because you just shed the old lining and now have new tissue exposed. It works a bit like a wound (follow me on this, and no your period is not an injury, its an awesome time of renewal). When you really do a great job of scraping yourself up you get a scab that not only stops bleeding but protects the growth of new skin. If you were to remove it (I know, its gross, stay with me) and put pressure on the new skin before the scab came off of its own accord its probably going to hurt. Same concept. The new tissue is just that: new.

*Secondly, because this only happens in certain positions:
You may have a retroverted uterus.

What does that even mean?
It means that your uterus is tilted backwards. Because of its positioning your partner can 'knock' into your uterus slightly in certain positions, which can be pretty uncomfortable.

How do you know if you have a retroverted uterus?
Visit your CNM (Certified Nurse Midwife) or your ObGyn and ask them to take a look and see if it is retroverted. If they have never mentioned it don't assume its not there, in my case it took them years to mention it to me.

So, what are the implications of a retroverted uterus?
First off, let me say that this is completely normal and often genetic. It wont affect your ability to get pregnant or give birth. In fact, a retroverted uterus will normally right itself in the 10th - 12th week of pregnancy. No, you don't need surgery or any kind of medical intervention to fix this. Again, its not a problem.

There are some symptoms that can point it out to you, though:
Lower back pain, painful intercourse in certain positions and painful periods are some that you can see associated with it.

Again, it is not a medical problem. Its just a thing, like not being born with wisdom teeth. Personally, I think it gives your Uterus a little panache.

Belly Dancing and Belly Love: A Body Positive Blog Post On How Belly Dancing Gets You To Love Your Body

Recently a friend of mine suggested I give Belly Dancing a try. Then, our VLL employee told me she did it and loved it.
Well, of course I said yes. I'll try most anything once.


And let me tell you, I am never giving this up.
I will be the first to admit that while I own a body positive website, blog, and FB community I am also human, and female to boot. The reason I do what I do is because I recognize what societies expectations of women do to our self esteem. I am not excluded from this and while my self esteem and body image have come a long way in creating VLL I still struggle with my feelings about my belly.

So, here I am at my first class with my belly out there for the world to see. I start to follow my teacher and very quickly notice something astounding: I am damn sexy.
Talk about a revelation!
I am watching my belly in the mirror and when you are dancing, feminine and sensual, you find out why your belly is round and not flat. Round bellies are purely feminine. At that moment, staring in to the mirror I actually found myself thanking God, The Universe, my Mother for this round belly of mine.

The roundness, softness and control that I found in my belly while I danced suddenly became a source of confidence and honestly: sheer bliss. I was in heaven and I was belly dancing. I was woman just as woman is meant to be.
I have been 3 times now, set up a belly dancing mirror in my bedroom so that I can practice every day and in just three short weeks I have gone from always hiding my belly to showing it off as often as I can. Right now? Totally wearing a sports bra and shorts. I am a t shirt and jeans girl even in the hot Florida summer. But right now I am not even questioning this soft, round belly that is scrunched up because I am sitting. I look beautiful. I am on the balcony feeling the fall air and I am happy as a clam.

So, really what I want to get across with this experience is this:
If you are a woman and you are shy because you feel like your belly is too round, too jiggly- get your beautiful belly to a belly dancing class! You will quickl;y find yourself falling in love with the soft, round jiggly perfection of your body.
If you are in South Florida here is the info for the class that I attend: http://www.majanile.com/
The teacher is phenomenal!

If you are outside of South Florida and would like to share your class location with us and recommend your teacher that would be fantastic!

Sept 30th is Hug a Vegetarian Day! By the by, That's Today

So-
If you are a Vegetarian e-mail us at:
VulvaLoveLovely@Gmail.com

And in return you will receive a most Vulvalicious hug from Ninja Pig

Mrs Myrna Monday: What can I do About my Acne? How to treat and prevent acne.

Mrs. Myrna Mondays:

Where we answer all of the questions you have about your Lady Parts

Dear Mrs. Myrna, I know this isn't about my lady parts but I need help! What can I do about my acne? It's driving me insane! Sincerely, The Girl That Never Wears Tank Tops

Dear Shoulder Shy Girl,
All of your parts are lady parts and this can not stand! Here are some things that I would recommend:

* If body acne is a problem for you: Try soaking in a warmth bath mixed with Epsom salt. You can buy Epsom salt at any pharmacy or in the pharmacy section at your super market, it comes in a milk carton like box. Its cheap, which is a plus. Mix 2 cups of salt into warm bathwater and soak for about 25 minutes. Do this twice a week until your acne is pretty cleared up, (this should happen within a month) and then do it once a week after that.


* I know you've tried everything to get rid of the acne on your face: and interestingly enough that may be part of the problem. Even if you have oily skin during the day, all of those washes, toners, and gels you put on your face could actually be irritating your skin and making it worse. So, first thing in the morning when you go out I want you to do the unspeakable: put lotion on your face. Get one with some spf and you can protect your skin from the sun and help with your acne at the same time. I know your thinking, "that will make my face break out within the hour!" but give it a try. You might be surprised at how much it helps.





* One last thing... Acne very often gets worse when you are stressed. And, if you're a woman in our society: your stressed. So, do some things to help you calm down. Meditate for a few minutes every day, pick up a belly dancing class, walk your dog. You will likely find that this helps with your acne and even more importantly helps your heart. Next to red meat there is nothing more dangerous to your heart than stress: it can lead to heart attacks, palpitations, heart disease, high blood pressure.. basically this is really important for your lady parts.






Have a question for Mrs. Myrna?
E-mail it to us at: VulvaLoveLovely@Gmail.com

Who is Mrs. Myrna, anyways?
Mrs. Myrna is a group of women's healthcare providers in South Florida. The group consists of Certified Nurse Midwives, an Obgyn, Doula's, and Mental Health Counselors.

You Have Questions, We Have Videos

Every time I do a show or meet someone that knows about my work I get the same two questions: Why and How did you get into this?

And, if I met someone who made her living off of Vulva art I have to admit: I would have the same two questions. So, I imagine many of you are wondering the same thing.

Here are your answers in video form, because videos are so much more interesting than lines of text.

The Why of Vulva Love Lovely:


And the How:

Mrs Myrna Monday: How do I know if I have a Yeast Infection?

Mrs. Myrna Mondays:

Where we answer all of the questions you have about your Lady Parts

Dear Mrs Myrna,
How do I know if I have a yeast infection?
Signed,
Unsure

Dear Unsure,
Let me see if I can de-code this mystery for you.

Here are some of the most common symptoms you see with a Yeast infection. You may have all or just a few:

• Extreme itchiness in and around the Vagina
• A thick, white clumpy discharge that does not have a bad smell
• Burning, redness and swelling of the Vulva
• Pain when urinating
• Pain during intercourse

To sup it all up:
If the discharge is not white, then what you have is not a yeast infection and should see a doctor. If your discharge is white, clumpy, smells like baking bread and causes some serious itching and burning you most certainly have a yeast infection.

So now what do you do?

Let me just put it out there now to save you a lot of grief: The over the counter stuff will take the itch you already have and triple it. Good luck going to bed with all of that going on.

My recommendation would be to buy this soap:
Kick it to Your Yeast Infection!

It was formulated with the help of a naturopathic doctor that is one of the consults for the Mrs Myrna column. It treats the yeast infection very effectively but isn't something that makes a mess in your panties, makes the itch worse and you can use it any time you like: not just before bed. If you suffer from chronic yeast infections you can use it as a preventative method. We have gotten some rave reviews for this stuff, so all of us here at Mrs Myrna promise this stuff will do the trick and keep you comfortable all at the same time.

How to Help a Friend that is Considering Suicide

With the frightening reality that we are seeing an increase of suicide in our LGBT teens, knowing what to do to help can truly help save a life.

I found this excellent video: its short, sweet, and to the point.
It tells you in an easily digestible way how to help a friend that is considering suicide. Its a video, so you don't even have to read a pamphlet. That is why I'm asking you not only to watch it, but re-post it. Imagine what we could do for people if we all had these simple steps ready in our minds?

Mrs. Myrna Mondays: Suffer From UTI's? She knows just how to prevent them.

Mrs. Myrna Mondays:

Where we answer all of the questions you have about your Lady Parts

Dear Mrs. Myrna,

I feel like I always have a UTI (Urinary Tract Infection). What can I do to prevent them so that I don't have to feel like this all of the time?

Sincerely,

Sick and Tired

Dear Sick and Tired,

I know that there are a lot of women out there nodding their heads at this so I will do my best to end this saga for you.

1.) Go to your local drug store and pick up some over the counter cranberry pills. Take one a day at every meal. This will cause your urine to become too acidic for your infection to survive and serves as a very effective preventative measure. Don't do juice, the sugars in your juice can actually feed your infection.

2.) Never, I mean never take a bath. If you really need to then make sure you urinate as soon as you get out of the tub. Sitting in a tub can cause bacteria to enter the urethra and cause a UTI.

3.) Urinate after you have sex. Again, intercourse can cause bacteria to find their way into your urethra and cause a UTI.

4.) DON'T hold it in! When you've gotta go, take the time to make it happen. Holding it when you need to go can help any bacteria that may be present develop into a full-fledged urinary tract infection.

5.) Wear cotton panties. Cotton fabric breathes easy, keeping you nice and dry. Other synthetic fabrics do not breath and can trap in moisture, creating a potential breeding ground for bacteria.

6.) Last but not least: wipe from front to back. So, in plain terms starting with your vulva and ending with your anus, never visa versa. This keeps any bacteria from your anus from getting into your vaginal area.

If you have any question at all e-mail us at: VulvaLoveLovely@Gmail.com.

Mrs. Myrna's questions are answered by a host of women's health professionals in South Florida, including certified nurse midwives and naturopathic doctors.

Clip From the Movie: Moon Inside You

I just wanted to share this awesome clip from a movie called: Moon Inside you.

Things your Doc Forgot to Mention about your Birth Control Pill

Now, I'm not sayin all docs forget to mention these things, but some do and they are pretty important birth control FAQs so bear with me and take not of anything you weren't already aware of.

All of this info was given to me by a group of women ObGyns and CNMs that have a practice together in my area and they are brilliant.

*First: Use a second method of birth control during your first month on the pill. Despite the fact that some manufacturers state that you are protected after seven days this does not mean you are protected fully and may still become pregnant. Keep a second method handy all the time and learn to use it well.

*Second: If you miss two pills in a row take both as soon as you remember and then 2 more the next day. You may experience spotting. Use another means of contraception until you finish that package of pills.

*Third: If you miss 3 or more pills in a row chances are high that your ovaries will produce an egg (you will ovulate) and that you may get pregnant. Start using a second method of contraception immediately. Start a new pack of pills the Sunday after you realized you missed 3 or more pills, even if you are menstruating. Use your second method of birth control both while you are off the pills and the first two weeks that you are on your new pack.

*Fourth: If you miss no pills and skip a period, you probably shouldn't worry too much. You may be pregnant. but it is very unlikely. You are fairly safe and can start a new package of pills at the regularly scheduled time.

*Fifth: If you have spotting for 2 or more cycles call your CNM or ObGyn. You may need a slightly stronger pill.

The Two Commandments of the Pill

Commandment 1: If you are on antibiotics use a back up contraception method for the remainder of the cycle.

Commandment 2: If you have become ill and have several days of diarrhea use a back up contraception method for the remainder of the cycle.

Hear Her Roar: Leonna

Even though we’ve coexisted for decades now, I don’t know my vulva the way I wish I did. We have seemingly walked through life side-by-side but rarely hand-in-hand. My vulva and I have always been on the same journey but I was never courageous enough until now to lift my eyes from the ground and truly see her, strong and beautiful. My passion in life is Women’s Health and I have come to realize that I cannot truly serve other women, including my own daughter, until I open myself up to the true wonder that is my vulva. The raw power that flows from me when I am connected to my vulva is breathtaking. When I feel in sync with my vulva, I am totally inebriated by the intensity and the intimacy that is created from our union. I was always taught to fear my own strength and cage it up like a wild animal. Now, it feels like there is a rhinoceros running towards me and I am asking myself to not only stand my ground but to embrace the rhinoceros and take it into myself. I have to become and birth the rhino at the same time.

As one part of journey towards vulva love and acceptance, I want to honor her for everything she has been and done for me. She has literally been at the center of the most emotional experiences in my life and I have very rarely, if ever, allowed myself to be present with her during these times. My vulva was the final destination of my daughter’s passage into this world - the portal that brought her earthside. Silent and strong, my vulva’s lips stretched to envelop my daughter in the first kiss a mother can give a child and she did so without hesitation or complaint. My vulva was the ferrywoman, my own version of Charon, who delivered to this side my miscarried babies amidst rivers of blood and clots. She did so unapologetically but with empathy for my heart. On a lighter note, my vulva is a fan of Gerber Daisies and, in my mind, she wears one in her hair every day. She is a wise shaman, insightful and loving, and fully capable of standing in her power and enforcing her boundaries. Recently, I discovered that my vulva’s name is Leonna, which means “my strength” in Hebrew. The name emerged from the depths of myself one evening while journaling about my vulva and I’m taking it as a sign that I am on the right path to cultivating a loving, sacred relationship with her. I figure that before you fall madly in love with someone, it is usually a good idea to know her name. I am ready and excited and willing. Let the courtship begin!

Hear Her Roar: Ann

My whole life, I always compared myself to the "popular" girls. They were always thin, beautiful (on the outside), great bodies, clear skin, perfect hair, stylish clothes, and tons of friends. I was overweight, had a body that was put together all wrong, acne for days, hair that would never cooperate, regular, non stylish clothes, and only a few friends. It wasn't fair. Obviously there was something wrong with me. Loving myself was not at the top of my list. When I reached my mid twenties, something started to change. I knew I was always going to be different, but now I was starting to be okay with it. I started figuring out who I was and where exactly I fit in. It took a while, but I don't fit in, I am always going to be different and I think that's awesome! I still have hair that rarely cooperates, I am still put together wrong, have zero fashion sense, the occasional pimple, and a small handful of friends, but I am beautiful inside and out, compassionate, passionate, unique, smart, I have drive, determination, and I know what I want out of life, but most of all, I love myself.

Hear Her Roar: Dee

As with so many others the early life of my vulva was not a happy one. As a teen I suffered from confidence issues. I longed to be accepted and loved. I thought that the sure way to gain that acceptance and love was through sex. This resulted in what I now realize was bad attention rather than the positive experience that I was hoping for. I know looking back that I was simply used. I had self worth issues that were tacked onto this. My mother had twisted sex and masturbation into a dirty and embarrassing thing.

Part of my journey to empowerment was becoming an exotic dancer. (sure this seems to continue down the road of poor judgment) I started to gain confidence and acceptance of my body this way. At one point a group of the kids that always looked down on me in school came into the club I worked at. One actually asked me to marry him. This was a moment of realizing "hey I am good enough!"

Here we are years later, I can see a lot of poor judgment on my part. I can also see how these things made me who I am. I'm able to be a sexually open woman who is accepting of others sexuality. I am in my first and only positive long term relationship (10 years in August) I have learned to love my body and not be so concerned about what others feel about it. I have learned that if I am not good enough as I am for someone then they do not deserve to be a part of my life, It's their loss not mine.

I am empowered by my sexuality now. I have made an active effort in my local community to offer support, safety information and lend positive advice to women to help them gain confidence in themselves and their sexuality.

Years ago I would not of felt comfortable with taking part in a project like this. It has taken a long time to feel totally comfortable with my sexuality and my body as a whole. I understand that my degree of openness about my body and sexuality is not for everyone and some will consider doing something like this to be in poor taste. I have learned to not mind what others think though. I think that this project is a wonderful thing. I truly appreciate what Vulva Love Lovely stands for and what each woman stands to gain by starting down their road to self acceptance and sexual empowerment. I am proud to offer you my support and story.