Every day should be a holiday
Here we go again, down the proverbial holiday rabbit hole into all things Wonderland, swirling down the holiday drain in red and white and green.  Family, friends, lots of See's candy, loads of Christmas cookies shaped like various Winter animals and oh-so-much cheer and goodness... people get nice during 'the sweet time' of year. (As long as you don't get in their way when they're trying to find parking at the mall!) If ever I was to use a phrase to describe the period of time between Thanksgiving and New Year's, it would be 'the sweet time' because it's like life's problems are all suspended, or at least seem a bit smaller. You're living in a protective bubble of what pure life might feel like. No work, no responsibilities, no pressures... just preparation, verve and excitement. Surrounding yourself with your favorite people.  Shopping for roast turkey and ham and fruitcake and candy canes or latkas and gefilte fish.  There's hustle and bustle and it seems that everyone in the world is in a fantastic mood.  There tends to be a great elegance during this season. You see life through the eyes of a child again and the world turns scrumptious and sumptuous, creating delirium in one form or another.

I love all the holidays but my heart truly belongs to Santa Claus.  It's the tradition that I was raised with... ho-ho-ho, the manger, hot mulled cider, caroling, wrapping gifts, the cold nip in the air and the tree, can't forget the tree. Every year I have to get a bigger and bigger tree.  I've also noticed that each year I get my tree earlier and earlier, as if having the tree up and bigger than ever is going to help me hold onto the holiday high. Hmmmmmm.....Christmas all year long?  That's a delicious thought. Traffic probably wouldn't exist.  Everyone would be so happy about not having to work, they wouldn't go anywhere.  Just stay home all day and live and love and enjoy.

There are religious holidays like Easter, Christmas, Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashana. Then there are national holidays, such as the Fourth of July, Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Martin Luther King Day. In addition, we all have family holidays like anniversaries and birthdays.  Why do we have to stop celebrating and appreciating life on January 2nd?? How about we carry that stupendous holiday feeling with us throughout the year by creating a calendar of personal holidays?  Especially, during that time of year when it seems like nothing "special" is going on. Nothing too fancy or with too much preparation... more like an anticipatory holiday surrounded by the people and things you love. Just imagine the sublime possibilities by creating your own personal holidays...

February 24th - It's cold, right smack dab in the middle of Winter and you're just about to go into a house-bound, stir-crazy rage. How about creating - Beach Day! I know, I know, some of you are sitting in the middle of a snowstorm, snowbound all winter and can't take a week to go to the Caribbean. So what am I talking about?  Use your magnificent imagination! Start planning now, you and a girlfriend.  Turn the day into a spa day.  Allot ½ hour for the sauna, ½ an hour for the steam room and ½ hour for the hot tub.  Lay out in the deck area of the spa under a heat lamp.  For dinner, go to a Polynesian restaurant (if your town doesn't have one, cook a Polynesian meal) and listen to tunes of the islands.  Crank the heat up in your car or house, have a Mai Tai or Pina Colada or Corona with lime.  Simply bask in the fantasy of it all.

June 13th - Love Day. Not quite Summer, but not still Spring. Just a sort of wait-and-see month. Spice it up a little, turn the world on its head. Surprise him or her by booking an inexpensive motel room, bringing an iPod or CD player, some whipped cream and this month's G spot exercise, and turn the day into a holiday full of love. Or plan to spend the whole day with the people you love most without interruption - or do whatever it is you love to do most in this world.

October 9th - French Day! Book a meal at a French restaurant or attend a wine tasting. Rock some fancy French lingerie for the occasion (whether you are single or not - the point is, you will know you are wearing it) so you feel like a million bucks inside. If you're on a budget, simply buy some nice inexpensive wine and cheese from Trader Joe's, set up a platter, play some classical French music and watch the sunset. Then pop in a beautiful French movie like the classic Cyrano de Bergerac, or Le Retour de Martin Guerre - The Return of Martin Guerre starring the oh-so-hunky Gerard Depardieu, or the original and amazing, black-and-white, La Belle et la bête - Beauty and the Beast, by Jean Cocteau - a beautiful, sensual film about love, inner beauty, and obsession - nothing short of a magical fairy tale. A day like this will make you feel like a regular Brigitte Bardot!

The year winds down and another is right behind it, ready to take us all into the magical unknown where every and any thing is possible. There may be heartbreak and sadness mixed in with joy and elation and growth but that, I have learned my lovely friends, is the sublime thing we call life. Remember yourself, your body and your spirit in an oh-so- feminine way, make this a year of self love and celebration. And if you don't want to lose the magic of the holidays throughout the coming year, then look through that calendar of yours and set aside your own personal holidays.

All my love and respect,

GUEST COLUMN:
Every Time a Bell Rings an Angel Gets a Pole
by Kelly Elayne Williams
I teach women how to strip and pole dance every Sunday from 4 to 8 pm at Sheila Kelley's S Factor studio.  Many of my students come to class straight from church.  Thus, what one's higher power would think of S Factor is a frequent topic of conversation.  What would he/she think of all the S Factor moves, like the Cat Pounce?  The Pelvic Grind?  Heavens to Betsy, the Back Lap Dance!  Surely he/she would disapprove of doing Hip Circles to DMX's growling potty mouth?  Or an achingly wide Leg Splay while inhaling Ben Harper's live rendition of Marvin Gaye's Sexual Healing?  Is it sacrilegious to strip on Sundays?

Click here to read the rest of the column.

BODY CONSCIOUS

G- SPOT: Blindfolding your partner
Talk about getting out of the routine! This is such an absolutely decadent, sensuous, visceral exercise... you and yours will love, love, love it. It's not necessary to buy blindfolds - you can use anything from your closet, such as scarves, ties, belts - anything that will sufficiently cover your love's eyes.

Prepare yourself... you will be nurturing your partner. Make a trip to your favorite food store and purchase some delicacies for this event. Strawberries, mangoes, honey, chocolate sauce... whatever you think will be tantalizing and savory to his or her palate. Think juicy, sexy foods that you can feed to your partner by hand, if possible.

Set up your spread and, as soon as your partner comes home, whisk them into an arena of fantasy. Put away the work and gently tie on the blindfold. They are about to embark on the most titillating night of their life. Sit them down somewhere comfortable - on the floor, in a fluffy chair, on the bed, wherever - and let the playing begin.

Start with something fruity and solid, like a strawberry or sliced banana. Give them no clues as to what you're going to feed them... put it under their nose and let them smell it, teasing endlessly before popping it in their mouth. Then move on to something sticky and gooey - and maybe remove one article of their (or yours) clothing with each different taste. Make sure to switch from one texture and type of food to another, leaving nothing to be expected. Before long, you'll be dripping honey onto their chest and simply driving them crazy. Massage them with chocolate sauce, caramel sauce, whatever their favorite is - and then lick it off for them. You know where to take it from there.

ANNOUNCING:
Sheila Kelley's S Factor New York is Here!
It's time to share this beautiful movement with the East Coast! We are so pleased to announce the opening of Sheila Kelley's S Factor New York. Tell all your girls from the Eastside, Westside, uptown, downtown, over the bridges, across the rivers, through the park, wherever... the 'S' has arrived.

Sheila Kelley's S Factor New York is opening February 27, 2006 at an absolutely beautiful, brand new, 5,000 square foot studio. It is an intimate, private space located at 239 West 23rd Street, 3rd floor, New York NY, 10011, directly across the street from the Chelsea Hotel. During our opening session, we will offer a broad schedule of Level One classes, as well as privates and intensives for out of towners. In addition, we offer unique S Factor parties for the special bride-to-be and birthday girls in your life, or simply an innovative night of bonding with the gal pals.

We searched New York high and low to find the warmest, most spirited, and passionate women with extensive fitness and dance backgrounds to teach Sheila Kelley's S Factor. The result is eight amazing women who trained intensively at the Los Angeles studio, with none other than Sheila Kelley herself. You lucky, lucky New York women will be enamored by their inspiration, skill and nurturing natures.

As a thank you for waiting so patiently for our arrival in New York, we are offering a special introductory rate for signing up for this opening session. This one-time only offer expires December 15, 2005. We will guarantee your spot and give you first dibs on the class of your choice. In addition, you will receive an invitation to attend our exclusive opening party on Valentine's Day. Tell your friends to reserve their spots now! You may view our schedule and sign up online at www.sfactor.com.

We are also offering an hour and a half Introductory class to give you a taste of what the 'S' is all about. Below is our schedule of Intros:

Wednesday, February 01, 2006 at 10 am
Wednesday, February 01, 2006 at 7 pm
Saturday, February 04, 2006 at 10 am
Saturday, February 04, 2006 at 4 pm
Sunday, February 05, 2006 at 10 am
Sunday, February 05, 2006 at 4 pm
Monday, February 20, 2006 at 7 pm

You may sign up online for the Intros at www.sfactor.com. For further information, please call the studio at 212.989.8030 or email gerri@sfactor.com.

WOMAN'S INTUITION POLL RESULTS

Last month's poll results were thought-provoking as usual. I expect nothing less from my awesome 'S' community! It looks like the many of us idolized our mothers growing up, even though our lives don't necessarily mirror theirs. Many of us believe that it is very important for young women to have strong role models, and the majority of us chose one of my personal role models, Oprah Winfrey, as the best role model for women today. Votes for all-time favorite role model from history was pretty split, with the leaders being Rosa Parks and Mother Theresa. Thanks for sharing, ladies!

Growing up, my idol was
My mother: 46.9%
My sister: 7.08%
My best friend: 6.19%
A boss: 1.77%
The First Lady: 1.77%
A religious figure: 3.54%

A female suffragist or activist: 4.42% NOONE – I inspired myself: 24.78%

Today, my life mirrors that of my idol's…
Totally: 7.96%
A lot – our life paths turned out very similar: 13.27%
About half of my life is similar: 28.32%
Small parts of me reflect my idol's influence: 28.32%
Not at all: 15.04%

I think having a female role model is
Integral to success: 31.86%
Very valuable for young girls: 43.36%
Important, but not the end-all be-all: 17.7%
It could help: 7.08%
Not helpful at all: 0%

Who is the best role model for women today?
Oprah Winfrey: 76.11%
Angelina Jolie: 5.31%
Hillary Rodham Clinton: 7.08%
Madonna: 4.42%
Pamela Anderson: .88%

Who is your all-time favorite female role model from history?
Rosa Parks: 20.35%
Susan B. Anthony: 7.96%
Harriet Tubman: 7.08%
Mother Theresa: 25.66%
Katherine Hepburn: 17.7%
Eleanor Roosevelt: 7.96%
Mother Goose: 2.65%
Katherine Hepburn: 7.08%