Category Archives: SEX & LIFE

Keeping An Even Keel During A Divorce

Keeping An Even Keel During A Divorce

The end of a marriage is an emotionally turbulent time, to say the very least. It can feel like your life is getting turned upside down and it can be hard to keep hold of yourself without stress tearing you in a bunch of different directions. However, it’s not impossible to get through it in one piece.

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Don’t sacrifice long-term happiness for short-term goals

If you’re feeling hurt during a divorce, it’s easy to want to hurt your ex-partner back. Sometimes, the ways that you hurt them might also hurt people close to you, such as your friends or children. You may force people to pick sides and end up jeopardizing your own relationships. Try to manage your priorities and think about where you’re going to be after the divorce, not just in the immediate future. The urge to seek revenge or some sort of compensation can be very strong, indeed, but you shouldn’t put it above your needs for a healthy and happy life past the divorce.

If you can, keep things civil

Emotions might be running high, but unless one partner is fully at fault for the divorce, such as in the result on infidelity, you should try to keep those emotions out of the actual legal process. For instance, instance of taking them to court, you could look for divorce mediation in your area. The urge to make things combative and to get yours might be strong, but you should take the time to think about what you want not just for yourself after the divorce, but what you really want for your ex-partner. Is hurting them more important than protecting everyone involved?

Handle your children with care

Arguing over the kids as a couple is going to strain everyone’s familial relationships. Unless your ex-partner is genuinely a threat to your children, you should hope that everyone has a better relationship after the divorce. As such, let a lawyer for child custody take care of the legal battle surrounding the children. Most importantly, try to explain to your children what is happening without trying to win them over to your side. Weaponizing your kids during a divorce is literally the worst thing you can do for your relationship and their emotional health.

Anticipate the worst

You’re going to be dealing with some ugly emotions and you might not only hate your ex-partner at times, you might find some self-hatred in there. Managing your divorce as best as possible can help you move on from those feelings, but you should also expect anger from your ex.If you’re not prepared for their own negative reactions, you can find yourself getting caught off guard and being dragged into an unhealthy back and forth. Knowing what to expect can help you simply abide it and keep working for a healthier conclusion.

It’s important to make sure you get legal help where you need, emotional support when you need, and to not mix up the divorce with your relationships with children and friends. Think not just about the divorce, but about what comes after, as well.

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram.

My Take on How the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Reveals Why Divorce is so Prevalent Today (Spoilers Season 3)

My Take on How the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Reveals Why Divorce is so Prevalent Today (Spoilers Season 3)

Season 4 of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel has been confirmed! This however, is my personal take on Midge continuing to make poor decisions on her romantic life. *WARNING: There are spoilers of season 3 ahead.

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We all love Midge Maisel. She’s smart, pretty and witty as hell. However, no hat in the world can hide the fact that her love life is a mess. She’s got her choice in fine looking men, of course. But her decisions showcase what a lot of us do wrong today.

First, lets take a look at the ex-husband, Joel Maisel…

Joel is a hardworking man who steps up to take care of his kids. Kudos, Joel! There should be more of that in the world. But when we take a deeper look into Joel’s ability to love, that’s when things get little wonky. Joel was married to Midge, living the American Dream: A beautiful family, a fabulous apartment in the societies of NYC and he had an executive job. He also had a supporting wife, who not only encouraged him to proceed with his adoring hobby for comedy, but also provided briskets to make sure he got good time slots.

However, poor Joel is still missing something.

There’s a hole in him he can’t explain, so it must be Midget’s fault he doesn’t feel complete—We’ve all seen Jerry McGuire, right? So, like most humans, who are feeling worthless and choose to blame others for their lack of self-worth, Joel decides an affair with his secretary, Penny, will fill that void.

Spoiler alert, after leaving his family for Penny, Joel still has a hole and wants Midge back.

Joel is like so many people. He refuses to look inward to discover what’s really missing. So, until he does that, Joel will continue to be the guy who is always missing the ‘one who got away’. Don’t believe what I’m saying? Look at my quick cliff notes of Season 3…

  • Joel has a box of unclaimed lipstick next to his bed.
  • He pines over missing Midge, even when he meets Mei.
  • Joel starts dating Mei, but flies off to Vegas to be with his ‘true love’, Midge.
  • Joel marries Midge again while dating Mei. The next morning, he tells Midge they’re going to have to get a divorce because he’s got a girlfriend.
  • Goes home, he and Mei break up, to where he is now free to be with his ‘wife’, his true love, Midge. But instead, he tells Midge he and the kids can’t come to Miami for the weekend. Then, Joel proceeds to walk downstairs into the underground casino and give an awkward confession on how much he cares about Mei.

Yes, just like Susie said to Joel in Season 3, Joel will always love Midge and will want to make sure she is taken care of. That is undoubtedly true. He wants to make sure she and his kids don’t struggle in life. But by the end of the season, Joel is practically cheating on both Midge and Mei, if we’re getting technical.

Moral: It’s not you; it’s Joel.

If I had a PhD, I could totally get away with blaming his behavior on something that happened to him as a child. I could hold accountable Joel’s mother, Shirley, and her erratic behavior or negligent trust issues, but since I’m not, I’ll just leave diagnosis to the professionals. Here’s what we do know, Midge is Joel’s forever ‘one that got away’, but until he can love himself, he has no business trying to be in a committed relationship.

Next, we will take a look at Lenny Bruce…

The sexual tension is high when it comes to Midge and that man. We’ve all been there. That’s why we all love Lenny so much. A sexy bad-boy type that draws you in and can make chemical reactions happen within your body. What’s completely unique and unusual about this type of guy is the fact that they can look unkept, un-showered and underachieving and still have this magnetic pull on you, …and half the population.

1. They have the talent to be abrasive, without being too cold.

2. They have enough sense to make you feel wanted for the night, but don’t get any other ideas, please.  

3. They have perfected ‘love’em and leave’.

But every once in a blue moon… these primal creatures of habit, fall in love. Hence, Lenny Bruce appears to have fallen head over heels for our dear, Midge. And why shouldn’t he? She bailed him out of jail. She held his hand, twice, when he was filming those TV shows. Midge makes Lenny a better person. But I ask this question… what does Lenny do for Midge?

After seeing the responses trend on Twitter for Midge and Lenny to become the ‘it’ couple, I realized, so many hopeless romantics still believe they can be ‘the one to change him’. Or in this case, Midge can change Lenny.

Spoiler Alert: She can’t change him.

Only Lenny can change himself. Lenny is an inspiration to Midge in the sense of comedy. But here’s the hard truth… That’s probably it. What else can Lenny offer Midge but a good time and heartbreak? I may be speculating, but Lenny, also like Joel, is missing self-worth. He drinks like a fish, enjoys getting arrested and has no intentions of the white picket fence lifestyle. Plus, he hasn’t given Midge any other reasons to question that.

The moral: Lenny is a great guy; people like this usually are.

But it’s important for Midge to know herself. She likes expensive things and needs to be kept in a certain lifestyle. Expecting Lenny to be willing and able to keep up with her and her expectations is probably unfair of her. Lenny’s a one-of-a-kind, friend. He’s the type of guy that you will love completely from a distance, and perhaps, in a parallel universe, you could have possibly been together.

But if you look at it face value, it’s probably better to love from afar than to hate up close. Opposites do attract, but too opposite can cause division. I love Lenny. I know a handful of Lenny’s. But I will love them from where I stand because I know myself and know, maybe from experience, that I’m not the one who’s going to be able to change them.

And finally, Benjamin…

Every mother’s favorite man for their daughter to be with. But like most daughters, Midge doesn’t want him. Why? He’s good-looking, has no money issues and has a really great job. Well, this is where I suggest Midge needs to take a look at herself—Not because Benjamin looks good on paper, or because her parents liked him, but because she did.

And let’s not forget, Benjamin supported Midge with her career. He believes she’s amazing at what she does. He thinks she’s the funniest woman on earth. Besides Susie, Benjamin was one of her biggest fans. He didn’t mind being material for her comedy. But instead of talking to him about her worries of future resentment, Midge leaves him without the courtesy of a face to face conversation—Bad job, Midge.

As humans, things that are good for us, scare the living crap out of us. People are always waiting for the other shoe to drop. What if you found out, there is no shoe?

Spoiler alert: You’ve been worried about things, this whole time, and there was never a shoe that could possibly drop to begin with.

Moral: Someone recently tweeted, ‘Benjamin deserves better’.

Yes, we all deserve better than what we’ve been aiming for when it comes to matters of the heart. Whether you’ve been married to your partner for decades or you’re still swiping to find your soulmate, this pertains to all of us. Like Benjamin, we deserve that person who will have the conversations with us, instead of predicting they already know how the conversation will go. We also deserve to be thatperson for someone else, as well—Some of us forget to look in the mirror sometimes when picking out other’s faults.

The lifelong question of ‘Does life imitate art or does art imitate life’

This question swirls in everyone’s mind, from time to time. But these hidden, or not so hidden, love-life issues showcased in the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel hit very close to the real factors that cause an increased number of divorces today. It’s not about her own personal women’s movement, or the climb to success and having to choose one thing or another… It’s about knowing who you are, having self-worth, having self-love, giving love, receiving love and communication.

Sure. It’s all very hard to do at first. If it were easy, everyone would be doing it. And there would be no one with these impossible love-life issues. The only thing we can do as humans is keep trying to better ourselvesevery day. Practice makes perfect. So, why not? Go buy a hat or invest in some drop-less shoes. But while you’re doing that, take a look inside yourself and see what needs your attention. You can certainly do that while you wait for the next season of Mrs. Maisel.

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram.

Have You Ever Heard Of A Lemon Law?

Have You Ever Heard Of A Lemon Law?

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Every once in awhile whilst scrolling the internet you’ll come across something you’ve never heard of before but that could serve you well and save you money later down the line – The Lemon Law, may very well be one of those occasions.

What is the Lemon Law?

Believe it or not, the Lemon Law has nothing to do with the sour citrus fruit with which it shares its name and instead is a law designed to protect a car owner whose car is considered a ‘lemon’.  We realize that is still a little confusing, so let’s clear things up a bit. When buying a car you expect it to be free from issues or faults but sadly this is not always the case. Generally, a car is referred to as a ‘lemon’ if it is still under warranty but has dangerous issues that aren’t able to be repaired. The Lemon Law, therefore, was designed to protect a car owner whose car is a lemon from falling into an endless cycle of faults and repairs, and when proved to be a lemon ensures that the car’s owner is suitably compensated with a new vehicle or cash to the value. 

Where is the Lemon Law active?

The Federal Government and each individual US state each have Lemon Laws to protect their inhabitants and the precise details of these laws do vary. In general, California is considered to have one of the toughest Lemon Laws that ensures the best result for the consumer and is referred to formally as The Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. The Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty act applies not only to cars but to all consumer goods under warranty, and so it’s not just cars that can be classed as a lemon.  

Is your car eligible? 

In California, your car will be covered under the Lemon Law so long as it is under warranty, and so this doesn’t mean that it needs to be brand new. There are a number of different warranties that could apply to your vehicle including the manufacturer’s warranty, a powertrain warranty, the dealer’s written warranty or a CPO (Certified pre-owned). Where you purchased your car may also not matter as you could still be able to claim under the Federal Lemon Law. 

What should you do if you think your car is a lemon?

You can file a claim for the Lemon Law yourself but as with any legal matter, it is always best to contact an attorney.  A Lemon Law Lawyer will know the law in and out be able to advise you on how best to make your claim to ensure that you get the maximum amount of compensation owed to you. A Lemon Law Lawyer will also be able to defend you against the manufacturer or car salesperson who will naturally want to fight the Lemon Law to save themselves some money. What’s even better is that when hiring a Lemon Lawyer you needn’t pay a thing! If successful the car manufacturer will pay your legal fees leaving you with the full amount of compensation owed to you.

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram.

When Outside Help Is Necessary In A Relationship

When Outside Help Is Necessary In A Relationship

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In many cases, a lot of relationships can become strange experiences which are separate from the rest of the world. You can easily end up living in a kind of bubble together, and – while that can be nice – it can also be quite dangerous or damaging. Before you know it, you are too codependent, and you find that there is no room to breathe. There is a balance to be found here, and it is symbolized in the fact that such relationships will generally then need to seek out some outside help for their relationship to work as well as possible. In this article, we will look at some of the occasions when that outside help is going to be helpful in a relationship, and might be worth considering.

For Therapy

Sometimes, you will need therapy. That could be because something is going wrong, or one of you is unhappy without knowing why, or it might be that something huge has happened which has affected you both and therefore the relationship itself. If you feel that therapy is needed, then you should allow each other the space to engage with that – and if it is couples’ therapy you are looking for, then it is especially important to do so, and particularly to find a therapist that you can both be happy with. When therapy is needed in a relationship, it is important to seek it out, and to allow some time for things to settle as you do so. It could be the best thing you ever did as a couple.

After Separation

Even once you have separated from a person, there can often be the need for some outside assistance to make things a little easier. That will generally be because there is some kind of disagreement surrounding the terms of the separation, and that can be something that really gets in the way. If you have children, for instance, you might need to seek out an experienced family lawyer to help you work through your visitation and so on, so that is something to be aware of. Even after separation this kind of outside help can be really helpful, and in fact most couples need that more at this time than at any other time while they were together.

When Space Is Needed

Sometimes, people in a relationship just need space from each other. The truth is that this is a perfectly ordinary and healthy thing to need, and it is important to make sure that you can allow it for each other. But if you are struggling to do that, you might want to seek out the help of a good friend, even if it is a mutual friend, who can likely offer some advice and assistance. They might even be able to help by offering a place to stay for a while, should that be necessary. As you can see, there are many ways in which such a person might help, should this become important.

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram.

Refresh Your Safe Driving Technique This Winter

Refresh Your Safe Driving Technique This Winter

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We spend a lot of time in our cars, especially over the holidays as we travel to visit relatives. But how many of us have bothered to brush up on our technique since first passing our tests? Things are changing all the time on the roads, so refreshing your memory on best practice is massively helpful. It can also save you money, as a lot of safer driving techniques also use less fuel, making them good for you, your family and the planet. Safer drivers can also benefit from lower car insurance premiums, especially if you opt for ‘black box insurance’, which monitors your driving patterns using telematics software, installed via a GPS tracker or sometimes an app on your smartphone. It’s the same technology used by fleet management services for driver safety training, and can save you a lot of money. So, how do you make sure you’re driving safely this winter?

Stick To A Sensible Speed

Speed is one of the easiest factors for any driver to control, and it’s also the one that makes the most difference when trying to drive more safely and fuel-efficiently. Speed is named as the most common factor in fatal road accidents, so you must take care to alter the speed you do to take note of things like the road and the weather conditions. At this time of year, you’re more likely to be driving in challenging conditions such as heavy rain, sleet, storms or snow and ice, so really take a moment to adjust your speed down and if your vehicle has a speed limiter consider using that so you don’t accidentally creep up. It’s also a good idea to do a winter safety check on your car before setting off.

Minimise Distractions

When we pay attention to anything other than the road ahead, we are compromising our focus and introducing danger into our ride. Although driving while talking on a handheld phone or while texting are now against the law in a lot of places, research suggests it’s just as dangerous – although not illegal – to take a hands-free telephone call on the road. It’s a better idea to switch your phone into flight mode while driving so that you can’t be distracted by incoming calls. If you have small children, backseat squabbling can also be dangerous, so make sure to pack plenty of activities, games or a movie for them to watch on a tablet – you can get car activity trays for kids or tablet holders to stop them dropping it.

Take Regular Breaks

If you have a long journey to make, you need to ensure that you factor in enough breaks along the way. Research shows that the tiredness levels of a driver following just a few hours of night-time journeying has the same effect as being over the drink-driving limit. If you’re sleepy, your reaction times suffer and your decision making is impaired. So make it a priority to stop and stay hydrated regularly throughout any long journey.

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram.