Marriage Problems: Common, But Never Simple

You may think the common problem is because he leaves the toothpaste cap half on or that she keeps on coming back with a new dent on the car.

It is a scary thought – the idea that maybe tomorrow one of you will just come up to the other and say, “I think don’t want to be married to you anymore.”

One may think they’re ready for it, but the truth is, they never are. They see it coming from a distance, but unfortunately, they were too preoccupied with the problem, they forgot to look for a solution.

And that is what is commonly happening with married couples today. There is so much anticipation on looking out for the telltale marriage trouble signs that once the problem is in your face, hardly anything is done about it.

What are these “common marriage problems” that are being talked about so often? A lot will tell you these problems fall in any of these three categories: career and finances, fidelity and personality.

Strained marriages are rocked by problems from all of these categories but the marriages that survive do so because they addressed the problem properly and looked for a solution – together.

So just how do you actually do that? It is both simple and complex.

It is simple because it just requires you to admit to yourself and to your spouse that you have a problem. On the other hand, it is complex because both of you may not agree on what exactly the problem is and the solution for it.

For both of you to reach an agreement, you must be able to both listen and articulate. Listen first to what your spouse thinks is the problem that’s driving you apart.

After he/she has said her part, then carefully tell her what’s on your mind. This act of listening and communicating then brings to both your attentions the problems with your relationship and the causes for it.

However, the both of you need to take the next step by finding a solution to the problem. This is the tricky part for it will undoubtedly require adjustment from both sides. However, simply making the necessary adjustments alone will not address the problem.

You need to find the reason why you are making these sacrifices. And that reason should be because you love your spouse and want to build on the relationship making it stronger with time.

Whether it is a problem with spending, or with who gets to hold the remote control, marriage problems can be weathered when faced together and worked on together. In time, an open toothpaste tube, or another fender bender won’t have an effect at all on the relationship.

Learn more about how to Save Marriage and Family and more marriage help at http://officialfamily.info

Remember These Tips When Sending Sympathy Flowers

Christopher Pratt.

George White runs Morningside Florist, a highly regarded Sacramento florist for special occasions, thank you flower gift baskets, or corporate gift needs where arrangements can be made for same day flower delivery in Sacramento or timely delivery for anywhere else in the United States.

Funerals are emotional events that call for a lot of sensitivity. Flowers or plants at this time are a way of showing that you care and often express what is difficult to put into words. They also add an element of warmth to the occasion.

Sympathy flowers are usually sent to the funeral home or mortuary where the 'wake' is being held by the family members. They may also be carried to the church at the time of the funeral service.

The following points should be considered when sending sympathy flowers:

1. Timing. Ideally flowers should be sent to the funeral home, church or mortuary prior to the first visitation hours. If for whatever reason, your flowers cannot be delivered early, they should be delivered before any additional visitations. Delivering flowers just as the visitation hours are ending or rushing them to the grave side is considered a faux pas as it tends to cause inconvenience.

2. Deliver flowers to the residence of the bereaved family members. This is especially true if you are closer to a member of the family than you were to the deceased person. It is considered good etiquette to send flowers to the homes of family members up to a month after the funeral. This shows them that they are still in your thoughts and is very comforting.

3. Sympathy tokens in lieu of flowers: Sometimes family members consider a charitable donation in memory of the deceased person to be more appropriate than flowers. Notice of this is usually contained in the funeral announcement. Irrespective of what you wish to do, it is always good etiquette to abide by the wishes of the family.

4. Local traditions should be considered when sending sympathy flowers. The flower color is important, especially in Asian communities, with white being the safest color to send. Yellow chrysanthemums are a funeral flower to Japanese, Chinese, and Koreans. The Chinese prefer cut flowers (especially yellow and white chrysanthemums). Take the time to find out about the traditions of the family members so as not to unknowingly cause hurt at this time.

5. A final point in sympathy floral etiquette is to consider the place where you are sending the flowers. If they are going to the funeral home, you may want to make your bouquet a sheaf. Sending a basket or a vase may be more suitable if it is sent to the home of one of the family members.

Funerals and the days immediately after are fraught with emotions. Solidarity and support during this time are cherished. Let sensitivity to the feelings of the surviving family members be your guide in deciding what kind of flowers to send as a means of expressing your sympathy.

7 Key Reasons Why He Says He Is In Love With You When He Is Still Seeing Someone!

You know that men are going to do things that we just do not like. It is going to happen regardless of what we do or think. There are men that just have to lie to us and tell us what we want to hear even if we know that they are completely lying to us.

There are things that women have to know and learn about why men say that love us even when they are still seeing someone else.

When a man cheats on us, it can be devastating. It can be a very big heartache to learn that the man that we love is still seeing someone else. He is cheating on us! This is an unacceptable issue that women have to control no matter what they feel or think.

There are reasons behind why men say they love us when they are double timing and it is important to learn why.

1. Men want to have their cake and eat it too.

They want to have you with them forever because they do love you and you have been there with them through a lot of things. However the also want to see if the grass is greener on the other side. This is why most men do go out and cheap and still say that they love you no matter what. It is up to us as women to put an end to it and give them an ultimatum to choose the one that they love the most.

2. Men will tell you that they love you because they want you to believe them.

They want you to think that they are not cheating and that everything is fine. Giving you the affection that you want may end up keeping them out of the doghouse so that they can continue to see the other person that they have been.

3. A man will tell you that he loves you because he does not want to lose you.

They may be seeing someone else on the side, but they would not want you to do the same. By telling you that they love you this will keep you believing that everything is ok and that you will not go out and try and find someone else. They want to keep you even though they are not being faithful and they surely do not want you to go and find anyone else.

4. Sometimes a man may tell a woman what she wants to hear.

Keeping her in the dark may be the way that he wants it as well as the woman. If you are a woman that does not want to believe that your man is cheating and that he still loves you, it is going to be evident that you believe everything that he is saying to you.

5. A man may tell you that he loves you even though he is still seeing a former girlfriend because he is not sure if he wants to leave her or not.

He may not feel ready to leave his existing girlfriend or wife but he may want to be with you at the same time. This is a confusing time for him and this is the only way that he can feel out what he wants to do and buy some time so that he can figure it all out.

6. Having a man tell you that he loves you and still seeing someone else is going to be hard on you.

He may want to do this to wear you down. Some men have a control issue and this may be his way to keep you under his wing. He may tell you that he loves you or tell you that he is the only one that will ever really love you. When a man does this, he is trying to control you and keep you from feeling good about yourself.

7. A man may also tell you that he loves you while seeing someone else because he is afraid of getting caught.

He may think that you do not know anything at all and that everything is fine. You need to either decide to accept this or tell him that you are not going to take it anymore.

No matter what the reason is behind him telling you that he loves you and cheating on you, you have to figure it out. You need to do whatever you can to make the situation better. You need to decide what is better for you and what will make you happy in life. Your happiness is the most important thing that you need to consider.

Source

Summer Make-Up - All secrets for you!

http://perdev.blogspot.com/2007/06/summer-make-up-all-secrets-for-you.html

Remember as the sun gets stronger, darlings, that the light cast on our faces and hair is a lot more harsh. If you’re a fairly dedicated wearer of make-up, do consider easing up on application — going to a more sheer foundation, for instance, and doing away with heavy eyeliner altogether. Depending on your skin color, you may look really beautiful with a wash of silver or gold-ish tones on your eyelid. Curl your lashes, swipe with black mascara, and wow! Pop!

If you usually wear heavy matte lipstick, now is the time to try a rosy berry or peach-pink gloss. Adjust according to your skin tone.

The idea in the summer, I think, is to keep our skin protected from the sun and looking as fresh and clean as possible, while managing sweat and shine in the pulpit with a light touch. If you have two services, don’t reapply powder between them as you can get cake-face doing so. And you don’t want to be old Reverend Cake-Face, do you? Just blot your forehead, nose and chin with folded tissue (press, don’t rub), spray on some rose water or other purified water on your punim (Evian has little bottles for this purpose), line your lips with a very neutral tone, apply a fresh coat of sheer lip color, blot and go.

A very emollient hand creme works perfectly well on little frizzies that can form around your face: just apply it to your hands as usual and gently brush your palms over your flyaways. Don’t mess a lot with touching your hair — you’ll just distribute oils and make it flatter and more uncontrollable than ever. Invest in a wide barrette or handsome headband if you’re growing it out.

The bob is BACK, kids, so you might want to investigate that as a new ‘do. Because haven’t we seen enough of those totally unexceptional chopped-off-short-middle-aged lady haircuts on all of us? Go for a little pizzazz! Why not? It will grow back, probably.

I promised you a review of self-tanning products so here goes:

Neutrogene Sunless Tanning Lotion
Works pretty darn well. I like to soak a cotton round with witch hazel before applying, and use it to wipe down my ankles immediately afterward so as not to get the dreaded dirty-ankle effect. You must apply this quickly and briskly, rubbing it in and blending fast. Wash hands with soapy water and nail brush afterward. It’s a little bit smelly, which I don’t like.

Dove Energy Glow Subtle Self-Tanner
This is basically a body lotion with what they say is a hint of color that builds if you use the product daily. Who has time to apply lotion on her arms and legs daily in warm weather? Listen, that’s one of the chief joys of summer’s more forgiving temperatures: I don’t have to slather my dry bod with lotion every morning! So this is a thumbs down for me, ’cause I didn’t see anything.

DuWop Revolution Tinted Body Moisturizer
This is moisturizer, shimmer and sheer body make-up in one. I’m glad I have it in the house, but it’s more for a date than for work. You just have to use it sparingly, rub it in real well, and let set before putting on clothes.


L’Oreal Sublime Glow Moisturizing MicroFine Mist
This stuff is genius. It doesn’t smell and it gives you a beautiful color. It is a little tricky to use, but you just spray yourself very lightly all over (I let it dry and then apply a body lotion to help even it out, because the first time I used it it was like “Hi, Splotchy Brown Spots Woman!”) and the color will develop over a few hours. Did I mention that this doesn’t smell? Just for the first couple of hours, and then only very subtly. I like this a lot.

Coppertone Bronzer Foam
Also a good product, comes in a dual pump form with half white foam and half liquid bronzer. You rub them together in your palms and then on yourself and it dry and gets you tan in a few hours. Smells a bit unpleasant but not too bad. The only real drawback is that it’s messy to apply and you can easily accidentally fling bits of bronzer on your bathroom rug or wall.

PeaceBang’s Pick of the Products: L’Oreal Sublime Glow, with Coppertone coming in second.

Why?

When things don’t go to the way you want.
How do we think and react?
If you fail to plan then you plan to fail, is the saying.
Well when it is other people involved it is not easy.

So what do we do?
You have planned meetings with a person.
The meetings were scheduled in another city the day after and you have to go there by boat. Later that evening on the boat you realize that he is not on the boat. You call him. He does not answer and you go to bed.

Early next morning comes a text message on your cellular phone. It says Sorry can not be there. I call you and inform about the meetings. But he won’t do that either.
So you wait until nothing happens.
How do you react? What are your thoughts?

Do you go crazy, shouting and yelling?
Or do you start to think -what can I learn from this?
If it happens what would be the dream scenario?
Is it our work to educate people?

What I have learned with this kind of behaviours is that I think it is not our job to teach other how to live their lives.
It is a good time for your reflections about how you would treat others. Do like the bible says- treat people the way you would like to be treated it can never go wrong then.

Is it a matter in generations shifts?
It could be something in it.
I know my parents would go nuts if they were alive.

It also reminds me of what things are important in my life.
Respect older people and reach out your hand for help. Assisting and ask for it.
Meet people in a positive way. Greet others. Recognize each other and talk more. See others for whom they are.
Walk in their shoes. See life from their perspective if they have problems.

Do not use too much of your own ego.

Most of all if you can not make yourself happy
Make somebody else day worth while.

Keep smiling. Life is a blessing and so are you!

How to Tell if a Man Really Loves You

Caterina Christakos

Do you remember that quote from Jerry Maguire , “Show Me the Money?” Well that quote is pretty much your key to knowing if a man really loves you. If your man is head over heels for you he will be more likely to show you than to tell you.

Women are talkers and men are doers. We will out and out tell a guy what we feel for them but a man is more likely to show you in little and big ways. If your guy really loves you he will most likely:

* Show up on time.
* Open doors for you.
* Take out the trash.
* Remember special occasions.
* Remember your favorite foods, color, etc..
* Be eager to meet your family and friends.
* Will introduce you to his family and friends.

Now your guy doesn’t have to do all of these things to prove that he loves you. There is no absolute formula. But you want to look at his actions even more than his words.

If it is the beginning of your relationship and he goes out of his way to take care of something for you this is a really good sign that he is truly into you. For example, if he drives you to the airport and makes sure to get the information so that he can pick you up.

Or if you have a flat tire and he leaves work to make sure that you get taken care of and home safely.

Men are also likely to show you how they feel by the gifts that they give you. Jewelry is universally known to be a personal gift that actually has meaning for a woman. A gift of jewelry could mean that he is recognizing you as his girlfriend and that he may be ready to go to the next level. Flowers are a less certain sign but still better than say a power drill. Now some men are clueless as far as gifts are concerned, so look at the intent behind the gift before blasting him for getting something that you think is inappropriate. For example, I am a complete computer geek so if a man bought me a really cool accessory for my laptop I would be thrilled. A practical gift can just mean that he paid attention to what you are interested in.

There are also external clues that a man really loves you. Look at the way his friends and family react to you. Their level of warmth can be an indication of how he feels. If he truly is into you, they will most likely know. Does his mom and sister throw hints your way or even give you the third degree? They may be scoping you out because he has given an indication that your relationship could be serious.

Finally there are behavioral clues that a man really loves you. When you two are out are his eyes only on you or do they wander? Does he pull out the chair for you or does he plop down in his chair and leave you to fend for yourself? Does he turn off his cell phone during your meal or does he spend his entire time chatting with someone else while you sit playing with your pasta? Look at the way he acts and the way he treats you.

Telling if a man really loves you isn’t rocket science. Just remember, in a man’s world, actions speak louder than words.

Caterina Christakos is the author of the Seduction Game for Women. Learn how to not only attract a great guy but how to keep him absolutely enthralled over you at: seductiondiva.com

How do show your interest, without selling the whole shop?

The way you go about it, tells who you are and what your style is.
Some women believe that what a man sees is what gets him interested, the best lure being eye-candy.
Others believe that it's your eyes that make the first impression. So, if you are dressed to kill - you must first entice his eyes away from your cleavage.

Then again, some believe in being direct and asking for what they want.
Some men will find this confronting, but most - once they start breathing again, find this approach a bonus, as in the easier it is - the better.
Still other women prefer to get to know a man better, having him 'prove' himself, therefore being less of a risk.
Just as each woman has a unique style, so too, men respond to those signals differently.
Not all men find the same women or styles enticing. Some men are scared by 'direct' women, who make the first move. For some, directness translates to - 'come hither'.
For some men, it's your mind they find interesting, as in conversation and wit. Not very many men will find scientific discourses a turn on. Some men will openly admit that how you look is the first thing to attract them.

Obviously, the way in which you present yourself, or your style, will be noticed by men who are attracted to that particular style.
If, for instance, you are not comfortable exhibiting lots of flesh - don't dress that way. Large expanses of exposed skin will attract men with that preference, who will therefore expect this to be 'your' style.
It is always fun to doll yourself up - but don't sell yourself out.

6 Ways to Pinpoint Your Perfect Career

Brad Isaac - http://goalsuccess.typepad.com

Have you ever felt stuck in your career? Employee stress and burn out can account for a lot of dissatisfaction in your life. After all, you are at work some 8 hours a day or more. That’s 1/3 of your day if you don’t count sleep. That’s a long time to be dissatisfied.

If you feel stuck, here are 6 great ways to find your ideal career:

1. Brainstorm on a sheet of paper - I’ve talked about this before and it’s a strategy I use all the time. Take a pad of paper and write down at the top your objective in question form. Then, simply list out 20 answers to your question. For example, you could write “What should I be doing with my time and life?” Then stay seated for a half hour to an hour coming up with answers to that question. The key to this exercise is coming up with 20 answers - don’t quit until you have 20 answers. You can repeat every day until you get the answer you seek.

2. Ask 3 close friends - Sometimes our friends know us better than ourselves. While meeting with one of your friends, mention you are at a crossroads in your life and career. Ask what they think you’d enjoy doing. You might be surprised at how easily they can zero in to your strengths and abilities and report a perfect job area.

3. Ask your boss and coworkers - much like your friends in the example above, your boss and coworkers most likely see you in a way you do not see yourself. In fact, they are likely most familiar with your strengths and weaknesses in the work environment. Compile all the answers you get from them and see if there are any common threads you can explore.

4. Call a headhunter - If you are searching in your career, it’s likely you have a resume. Sometimes you can catch a headhunter or recruiter during their slow times and meet with them to pick through what you might be good at. I’ve done this at different times in my life and the people seem open to talking with people. After all, if you don’t get paid, they don’t either. The ideas I get are usually good.

5. Take a career assessment test - There are several sites on the Internet you might be able to take one of these tests for a fee. But using my ‘headhunter’ tip above, many headhunters have this software and don’t mind you taking the test in their office. I’ve taken these tests two times in my life and they usually take an hour or two, but they are thorough. They ask you to answer a series of questions about what you are good at, what you like to do, what you prefer doing over what you don’t. If you take one, you will likely see some new exciting areas to explore in your life.

6. Keep a journal - Do you keep a journal? If so, read through, looking for common threads in your writing. Keep your eyes peeled for trends and activities you like as well as don’t like. In fact, finding examples of what you don’t like and what frustrates you is almost as important as finding what you do like. For example, if you hate an overwhelming boss, you’d probably like a self-directed position. If you hate nosy coworkers you’d probably prefer your own office.

Discovering what you really want to do with your life is the most important decision you can make. We spend 1/3 or more of our lives at work. So figuring out the right career is important to keeping that 1/3 of our lives happy and productive.

6 Critical Benefits of Preparing Your Own Personal Budget

Bruce Hokin

The role of a personal budget is to help you manage your finances and eventually become debt free. This is the dream of us all, isn't it? Most people shy away from doing the budget thing, but it is the best, most trusted and proven method for getting your finances in order. You can have your own budget completed within a couple of hours. What's holding you back?

The task of preparing your own budget is a liberating experience. You can finally see the true state of your personal finances. The benefits listed below may help encourage you in making your decision to start today. Ready to begin? Let's go.

Benefit #1. The budget focuses your thinking.
Without a budget you are not able to clearly see the extent of your spending compared to your income. This is the most important role of your budget. It will show you whether you are living within your means or whether you are living on borrowed funds. It is also the tool that can show you where all your money is being spent. This allows you to answer important questions, such as "Am I wasting money on things I don't really need?", "Is my credit card debt to blame for my predicament?" and "How much better off would I be if I could manage to be debt free?".

Benefit #2. Helps you save money and set goals.
Once you have correctly prepared your budget, it will show you how much you need to save from your income to meet your expenses and set aside some funds for emergencies. It allows you to set goals, both for the amount and the timing. For example, you may set a goal of paying $3,000 (the amount) off your credit cards, within 1 year (the timing). Once you make a commitment to yourself to make this work the budget becomes a tool that will help you stay on track.

Benefit #3. Keeps your goals in your mind.
It is easy to slip back into your old spending ways if you do not commit to making the budget work. The budget will help you keep the goals you set in your mind when you are tempted to give in. When you are out, it can help you say no to frivolous expenditure, say no to that daily coffee-shop coffee, think twice before you hand over your hard-earned money on things you don't really need and wait until that item you really want goes on sale.

Benefit #4. Helps you live within your means.
Every time you make a spending decision, it has a positive or negative impact on your financial position. The budget can show you clearly how your spending habits affect your finances in advance. Your budget can help you understand that if you spend money on this item you can't use the same money to spend on something else. You only have a finite income. If you spend more than you earn you are living on borrowed money and the cost of that money is interest. The interest on borrowed funds is most probably the cause of your financial worries.

Benefit #5. Puts you in control of your finances.
If you've prepared your budget correctly, you will see how much you have available to spend, after taking into account your debt repayments and savings requirements for your future needs. This information can take away the guilt you may have felt when purchasing some item(s) you knew you couldn't really afford. With a budget you know what you can afford and what is beyond your means. When you know you can afford an item you really want, the purchasing experience will be much more enjoyable and rewarding.

Benefit #6. - Tracks your progress toward your goals.
Once you prepare you budget it should not put into a drawer and forgotten. It should be a live document that you refer to weekly, or at least monthly. This is your guide to financial freedom. You need to check your progress towards your goals, thus giving you the incentive to keep going and achieve your financial objectives. If you make the effort and follow your plan, you'll be surprised how easy it really is to reach financial freedom.

Bruce Hokin has designed a simple budget tool called "5 Steps to Freedom Personal Budget." It based on his extensive background as a qualified, experienced accountant, manager, consultant and financial adviser. You can download this powerful budget assistant today and be on your way to financial freedom within the hour. You can also click here for your FREE Mini-Budget.

Died Gianfranco Ferre

Christian Dior fashion king Gianfranco Ferre died yesterday aged 62. He was taken to hospital in Milan on Friday after having a brain haemorrhage. Ferre trained as an architect and became known as Italy's architect of fashion after moving into clothes design.

His career took off in 1989 when he became top designer at Dior. It was almost unheard of for the Paris fashion house role to go to a foreigner. Donatella Versace said he was a designer "from another time" who helped change Italian fashion.

Losers In Love: Ten Stupid Things Couples Do To Mess Up Their Relationships

Edwin Ethan Hopper

People always complain about how their relationships fail, all the stupid things that didn’t have to happen. What messed them up? What could have been done differently?

Hindsight is 20/20

The first thing is to think about all the stupid things couples usually do to mess up their relationships. Although each situation is different, there are common factors involved in many cases:

1) Dishonesty and Game-Playing. Yes, many people have lied. Game-playing eventually sours an otherwise serious and sincere relationship.

2) Cheating. Infidelity is a big no-no. A third party’s life is ruined as well.

3) Lack of Communication. Zipped lips sink ships! When feelings and thoughts aren’t shared, confusion and frustration naturally settle in. Expecting a partner to automatically know is warped thinking.

4) Money. “Money isn’t everything!” Let’s face it, in the real world, money is important in every relationship, especially when bills need to be paid and a living made.

5) Incompatibility. “I will change her/him” is an attitude that goes with the next one but is somewhat different. When two people are irreconcilably different, conflicts occur and relationships falter.

6) Unreal Expectations. “Our love will last forever and is the greatest of all!” is the sappy drivel that has caused many young relationships to crumble.

7) Physical Attraction. Moving in on that tight ass and making that your priority will never go anywhere. It’s superficial! The passion is intoxicating, and people can’t help themselves; everything else becomes irrelevant and pushed aside.

8) Immaturity. Silly arguments ensue over nothing, selfishness takes control, and relationships fall apart. These people need to stay away from relationships.

9) Abuse. Abusing and letting yourself get abused “in the name of love” is among the worst things people do. This isn’t only delusional, it’s pathetic.

10) Murder. This may sound funny included on this list, but it fits. Killing your partner is never a smart idea, unless it’s in self defense. The relationship is definitely, and obviously, affected by this.

These are among the stupidest reasons that mess up many couples’ relationships. Lovers feel like losers, as they should. Let’s hope losers become the winners who are able to conduct healthy and successful relationships as they grow. If not, they have no one to blame but themselves.

Source

Easy Steps To A Dazzling Hollywood Smile

Kellie Sarina - http://www.beautysprite.com

What is it that Cameron Diaz, Halle Berry and Britney Spears all have in common ? Well, a truly dazzling smile, for one thing. An attractive smile communicates warmth, humour, openness, friendliness and self-confidence. For those of us whose smile is maybe not quite so perfect, here are some suggestions for quick and easy ways to achieve a more attractive, glamorous smile.

Teeth and lips are the two major components of a smile, and modern cosmetic products can really help to enhance the appearance of both. Specifically, we're talking here about dental cosmetics for whiter teeth and cosmetic items that give lips a healthier, more attractively colored and fuller, softer appearance.

Many people are not blessed by nature with sparkling white teeth. But the new generation of teeth whitening products can really help to achieve a whiter shade, safely and gently. The whitening agents (usually Hydrogen Peroxide or Carbamide Peroxide) in these products bleach away stains and discoloration on and in the tooth enamel. Teeth may require a touch up after 6 months or so due to the staining effects of items such as black coffee, red wine and cigarettes.

Do consult with a dentist as to the suitability for teeth whitening products for yourself, especially if you have visible tooth caps (crowns) or fillings which will not bleach. Although it's really not necessary to let your dentist go to town on your teeth with expensive cosmetic dental treatment, regular visits to your dentist and dental hygienist can help maintain healthy looking teeth and gums. When you brush your teeth, protect your tooth enamel and gums by using a soft tooth-brush, a non-abrasive tooth paste and by brushing gently. Many dentists recommend using an electric tooth brush, as the urge to 'brush hard' is decreased. Healthy enamel is a must for white teeth.

Lips are just as important a part of a beautiful smile as are teeth, and there's really no need to put up with unattractive dry, cracked, colorless or thin lips. A few minutes of care each day is all that's needed for lips with a healthier, more colorful and fuller look.

For truly healthy looking lips, a good quality lip balm is indispensable. The skin of our lips is particularly thin, delicate and sensitive. Exposure to factors such as UV light in strong sunshine, dry air, wind and cold can soon lead to dry, cracked and peeling lips. An application of lip balm in the morning and evening is a good basis for daily lip care. Much more than a simple waxy coating, todays quality lip balms protect, sooth, moisturize and nourish the lips. Many also make an ideal base on which to apply lip color. For skiing, sailing or beach life, do use a lip balm with a high UV blocking factor.

The most naturally appealing lip colors are shades of pink through to red. Pink tones give a naturally healthy look, whilst red is somewhat more arousing and provocative. Paler shades give thin lips a fuller appearance than darker shades. For extra confidence in your appearance it is well worth investing in smudge free colors that won't smear upon contact. Lip gloss (or lip shine) products applied over lip color add extra glamour for an evening look. Some lip gloss products even have moisturizing properties to further protect your lips.

There's no denying that plump, full, pouting lips radiate a glamorous, sensuous appeal. Untill recent years, if you weren't born with them, then risky (not to mention painful) cosmetic surgery or injections was the only way to get them. These days, however, there's a whole range of cosmetic 'lip plumper' products available which can help to temporarily create fuller, softer lips - safely and painlessly. Lip plumpers come in a range of gels, creams and liquids that are applied directly to the lips. Most work by stimulating production of collagen in the lips. Over a number of days (up to a month) this can create a noticeable increase in lip volume and softness. Lip plumpers often combine other moisturizing and nourishing ingredients.

So now you know the keys to whiter teeth and healthier, more colorful and fuller lips, do explore for yourself which brand name products suit you best. Because choice of cosmetics is such a personal matter, you may want to try sample products first before you buy. You'll even find free cosmetic samples from top name companies that can be easily ordered over the Internet, just look !

And finally, don't forget that the very best smiles of all are a projection of the sunny, up-beat, radiant personality inside yourself!

43 Date-Night Ideas

Source: http://lifestyle.msn.com/relationships/loveandromance/articlerb.aspx?cp-documentid=4959923

You'd think by the time you're a couple, and possibly have a child or three under your belt, you'd be able to handle the intricacies of going out for the night with your man. After all, that was part of the allure of going from "me" to "we": You were finally able to leave the whole dating game and its so-called rules behind.

But dating for long-term couples comes with its own new his-and-her matching set of pressures, especially when kids are in the picture. You no longer have the time to make sure you have five minutes together without interruption, let alone set aside an entire evening to dote on each other. So when the stars are finally aligned — you've cleared your calendars, you've found someone not featured on America's Most Wanted to look after the kids — you want the evening to be perfect, which practically begs for a Murphy's law moment.

Don't sweat it. You can lay the foundation for lots of fun nights out (or in) by following these simple save-the-date guidelines. First, make sure that at least every other date gets you out of the house and away from your daily life. Second, be clear about who is doing what planning-wise, or you may end up doing nothing. Finally, take turns organizing your dates. So what if he has no clue which restaurant got the best review? This isn't about planning the perfect evening; it's about having time with the person you love so you can rediscover, talk, laugh, and enjoy each other.

Here, 43 ways to do just that:

Dinner and a Movie, Done Better

Upgrade the Saturday-night standard with these tips:

Turn your night into a mini-vacation by matching the menu to the movie:
Kung fu action flick? Order some spicy noodles at your local Chinese restaurant. French film noir? Hit the nearest bistro. Italian family drama? Share a big bowl of spaghetti.

Choose a restaurant that has small tables, or ask to sit side by side, so you can't help but rub knees.

Try brunch and a matinee:
Your neighborhood's fancier restaurants are way more affordable (and just as delicious) in the daytime hours.

Find a restaurant with a dance floor.
Even if you've got less coordination than a Dancing With the Stars early-round reject, you can still hold each other close and sway to the beat.

Laugh like a kid again at the latest G- or PG-rated movie.
"It makes me laugh to watch him giggling like some 7-year-old," says one woman who regularly goes to children's movies with her husband. "It reminds me of why I fell in love with him: his silly, fun side." Get enough animated fare in your daily life? Skip Shrek the Third and chuckle over the infectious goofy humor of whatever Farrelly brothers or Ben Stiller flick is on offer.

Create your own "drive-in" experience.
If you have a laptop with a DVD drive, take it out with you. Rent or download a movie you never got around to seeing, order something simple at a dimly lit bistro, find a love seat to cuddle up in, and watch. Netflix's most popular DVD-rental plan now lets users access movies (up to 18 hours' worth a month) from its "Instant Watching" library of 1,000 films, which can be zapped straight to a PC in seconds. Another option: For around $20 a month you can get software that will let you download a wide assortment of movies (check out cinemanow.com and movielink.com).

Cheap Dates!

Give yourselves the VIP treatment, without the price tag:

Go for an all-day hike.
Check out trails.com for a listing of nearby treks and get lost in the woods together.

Sip some fine wine.
Find out if your local wine or liquor store hosts tasting nights. It's only expensive if you buy! Other specialty stores hold tastings, too. Check out chocolate stores, cheese shops, or ethnic-food markets.

Get sweaty together.
It'll feel less like a chore and more like a we're-in-this-together moment when you help each other to get your hearts pumping and cheer each other along. Or try couples yoga: Twisting your body into pretzel poses will bring you closer together in every way.

Visit the museum.
Museumstuff.com has links to thousands of art institutions in America and abroad; the Art Museum Network at amn.org lists links to the Websites and exhibition calendars of the world's leading art museums; and galleryguide.org will help you easily locate an art venue near you. If art really isn't your (or his) thing, don't overlook other kinds of exhibits, such as the history of hockey, or even surgical equipment! One good source for the weird and wild: museumspot.com.

Go camping overnight.
There's no TV to interrupt your conversation, and the night is long, so you can retire early to your sleeping bags (zipped together, of course).

Spend an afternoon test-driving cars, viewing model homes, or window-shopping.
Even if you have no interest in making a purchase now, these activities can kick-start discussions about your goals. New lovers are always dreaming together about the things they want to achieve: exotic trips, houses, children. As love matures, you become more focused on the here and now — attending school meetings, folding socks — and forget to write the next chapter of your love story, or think you don't have to because you've already discussed it all before. But continually setting shared goals gives love something to work toward and shape itself around.

Give in to the undeniably romantic allure of watching the sun go down.
Head to the highest point in town, and when the light is romance-perfect for enhancing your sensuous mood, turn the scenic view into a background for a make-out session.

Romance Each Other

Reconnect with these so-sweet ideas:

Relive your first date.
Follow the same itinerary and include as many of the original details as possible. Even though you know how the night will end this time around, recalling how you talked, explored, and began your lifelong journey of getting to know each other can remind you that there is still much to learn — about yourselves and your relationship.

Have a gourmet picnic.
Cruise the aisles of your supermarket and load your cart with whatever epicurean delights you can find: lobster salad, good-quality chocolate, wine or fizzy grape juice, gourmet crackers, gooey cheeses, and so on. Now head for the most romantic spot in town. If it's too cold or wet to eat alfresco, why not try the atrium at the local zoo, botanical gardens, museum, or mall?

Get decked out — even if you're just going to the local diner.
Slip into your most glamorous duds — and have him do the same. No matter where you go, looking like your best version of yourself will make the evening feel special and inspire connection (and passion).

Take a dance lesson.
Even if you end up stepping on each other's toes, you'll be forced to pay attention to how your bodies move together. Avoid dances that don't involve touching (like line dancing). Instead, try learning how to tango, waltz, or even square-dance. At the end of the lesson, be prepared for your dancing fool to sweep you off your feet and straight into bed.

Rent a rowboat for a DIY sunset cruise and dinner.
Keep your drinks cold by tying a rope around the bottle neck, or using a net to carry it, and trailing it behind you in the water as you head for the middle of the lake. Pack a blanket, lie back, and wait for the stars to appear. Don't forget to make a wish together on the first one you see.

Go see a fortune-teller.
It doesn't matter if she gets it right. (Do you really need a crystal ball to tell you that you two are meant to be?) But it can be a giggle (if she's wrong) or inspiring (if she's in the ballpark) to hear how a stranger reads your romance.

Have a picture-perfect night.
Take a camera with you and at different points on your night out, ask people to take your photo (make it a point to lock lips for some of the snaps). On your next date, flip through the photos together — or make a collage or slide show. You can also create great memories by making a date with a photographer for a fancy shot of the two of you in a tight clinch. Or simply head into a photo booth. "We always take goofy photo-booth pictures when we go out," says one woman. "It's fun, and sometimes illuminating, to look back over them. For instance, the snap we took a few months after our son was born — I remember feeling like we weren't communicating well, but then I'll look at that date photo and it shows how much joy and love we were also feeling."

Head to your local department store and challenge each other to come up with the most romantic, intimate gift possible.
Two things: It can't cost more than $20, and it must be used that night. You'll find that you really need to think about the essence of each other to come up with an offering that hits the right note. "Frank knows that I love bath products, but I never buy them because they seem like too much of a luxury," says Pamela, 38. "So every once in a while, when we're out for the night, he'll pull me into a store and pick out some bath salts or oils. Then, when we get home, he'll run the bath for me, wash me from head to toe, and dry me off."

Take a trip to nowhere.
No packing, no planning, no idea. Just get in the car and start driving off into the sunset together. Stop when you're hungry or thirsty. If there's an interesting sight or town, pause and explore. So much of life seems to be about following the agenda. By following your heart instead, you'll recapture that exciting sense of the unknown you felt when you two first met.

Read continued with the original

How to STOP Arguments and Fights from Killing Your Relationship

Endless fights, arguments, and snipes late into the night...

You've seen it time and time again. Everything is going great, you and your partner love each other dearly, and your relationship couldn't be better. Then, it strikes without warning. Someone says something, the other responds, and it's on!

What appears to be a simple misunderstanding escalates into an argument, a fight, and someone ends up sleeping on the couch. Worse yet, one of you starts throwing things, then storms out of the house. Remember the frustration, the anger, the resentment?
Remember how puffed up your ego got? "Yeah, so there!" OK, clearly that didn't go as planned. And you can bet nobody gained anything from that exchange.

What happened? How did a simple question turn into a screaming match?

In your mind, the other person "just doesn't get it". But here's the problem - in their mind, YOU "just don't get it".

And what's even WORSE is having ANY kind of emotional discussion (read: argument) by phone or email. NEVER do that if you can avoid it.

So how can this possibly be resolved without endless fighting and eventually maybe even breaking up?

When a "discussion" escalates into an argument, all sense and reason seems to leave the building. At that point, it's all EGO, and going downhill hard. Everybody is getting puffed up trying to one-up the other person by saying something just a little more hurtful in response to what they just heard last. A guaranteed path to achieving nothing useful.

Could you agree to disagree?

Imagine... what if you don't have to win? Really, think about that for a moment. Do you really NEED to win? So what if you disagree? What if you like something, your partner doesn't, and that could just be OK?

Could you agree that on this particular topic, you like red, she likes yellow, and you're "both right" when it comes to your own life choices. And as partners and friends, you agree to respect each other's decisions. You "agree to disagree".

Suddenly, you don't have to fight. You can be happy together again, and face new days in joy and harmony.

How can you achieve this peace?

So here's a question from a gentleman wondering if it's normal to have fights and arguments with his partner.

Dear Dan and Jennifer,
"No relationships are without arguments and quarrels" - Is this true?
– Edmund (Singapore)

Watch this short video for our thoughts on this very interesting question…



Wait. Get more great dating tips and relationship advice at www.AskDanAndJennifer.com. Ask us your most pressing questions about Dating, Relationships, Love, and Sex.

Weight Loss in Positive Reflections and Self Talk

How to apply positive self-talk and the self-hypnotic process to aid in a weight loss program

Can positive self-talk really help me to lose weight?

There is no single easy answer to this question, simply because there is no single, easy process that can be used to achieve foolproof weight loss. Certainly just sitting down and talking to yourself about losing weight will not be the only thing you have to do in order to accomplish weight loss, since positive self-talk does not work that way.

It cannot make pounds drop from your body, but if used properly and effectively it can help alter your mental state and your receptiveness to the idea of the various parts of a weight loss program that will lead you toward long term and healthy, balanced weight loss. Positive self-talk is not about accomplishing things without having to do anything one at all, but rather about motivating oneself to find the willpower needed to accomplish them.

What is the first step toward losing weight through positive self-talk?
First, you must make a definite decision about the weight-loss process. Begin by reminding yourself that you are fully committed to giving yourself a healthier body and more balanced lifestyle. Tell yourself how great you will feel once you have achieved your goals, and continually reinforce those goals as your own.

Next, you must determine if you are overweight and in need of a real diet and exercise regimen at all. Some people have been made extra-sensitive to the idea of their weight by hurtful comments made in the past or the mass-produced, media-generated concept of beauty, but may actually be a perfectly healthy weight for their height.

In order to determine if this is the case for you, you must first consult a physician, who will tell you if your weight and lifestyle are currently healthy for you. If you are not, there may not even be a physical flaw in your current lifestyle but rather a health issue. Perhaps your physician will discover a thyroid imbalance or another health condition that has contributed to your weight, preventing you from achieving a healthy size.

If this is the case, no amount of positive self-talk will help you simply because a traditional weight loss program will not be of any use to you, and your problem will need to be dealt with medically. If, however, your problem is to do with diet and/or exercise, your physician may also have suggestions as to how you can go about losing weight healthily.

He or she may have vitamins to recommend, or perhaps suggest that you correct other health issues that would make the weight loss process difficult or even dangerous, such as anemia or high blood pressure. These serious conditions need to be corrected and monitored before you are ready to begin any sort of exercise program.

After I have seen a physician, how does positive self-talk come into it?

Once you have consulted with a physician, you can begin the process of positive self-talk as a guide to weight loss. Now that you have received some concrete facts from your family doctor, you have something on which to focus when you address yourself and the problem you wish to confront.

Your doctor will have given you some medical information about the weight loss process, and it is a good idea to keep this handy whenever you sit down to prepare yourself for the program. Consult the information and remind yourself how healthy and great you will feel once you have completed the program, and reference the materials given to you by your doctor. They will provide a sound basis for reminding yourself of your goals as well as how possible it is to achieve them.

By spending several minutes each morning energizing yourself with these reminders, you will give yourself the incentive needed to start and maintain a healthy diet and exercise program conducive to losing weight.

Hormones?The Good, The Bad, and the Vital

Anita Murray

Hormones are vital to your health. Hormones are a catalyst, causing reactions to happen in the body. They regulate a number of actions in your body. The pituitary gland sends messages (hormones) to your thyroid, pancreas, liver, breast, ovaries, etc. All these glands need hormones to call them into action.

Energy is created with the help of hormones. Cancer and Alzheimers are prevented when hormones are balanced properly.

Estrogen is the hormone that keeps people young. It helps the brain to function properly, helps the eyes to avoid degeneration, controls your blood pressure, protects heart health, and prevents bladder problems and cancer. Men have estrogen and their health can be compromised by the lack of estrogen. But it will be tough to convince men that they need estrogen.

Progesterone balances estrogen and is a feel-good hormone. Progesterone and testosterone increase your physical desire. Testosterone helps build muscle and decrease fat, while improving motivation and energy. Estrogen and testosterone convert the bad cholesterol (LDL) to good cholesterol (HDL).

There is also good and bad estrogen. Type E2 is a good estrogen and protects against cancer of many kinds including colon and breast cancer. Not enough good estrogen will grow fibroids in the uterus. The good estrogen also acts like an antidepressant.

The wrong/bad estrogen, as in synthetic, will cause problems such as cancer, blood clots, etc. This includes birth control pills, which give you synthetic hormones to make your body think that it is pregnant for 3 weeks, then not pregnant for a week, which is when you get your period, though it's a false one that is really like the bleeding that takes place after child birth.

The newer birth control pill that goes in 3 month cycles just holds the pregnant phase longer and gives your body less often to flush out the uterus and vagina.

E4 and E16 are two types of bad estrogen and will cause cancer. This is the type of estrogen given in synthetic medications for hormone replacement. These should be avoided. If you are currently taking these, talk with your doctor about alternatives, or find another doctor.

The brain loses cells when estrogen is low. This can be reversed. The brain can heal and regenerate, if given the right nutrition and hormones. An example is a woman who had Alzheimers at age 70 and is now driving at age 90. This is a documented case, by Dr. Nasr, where nutrition and hormones were used to regain health.

Calcium without estrogen will not work to prevent osteoporosis. Sometimes only 10% of the calcium consumed is absorbed into the bones. Estrogen helps get the calcium into the bones. If no egg is released in the middle of a woman's menstrual cycle, no progesterone will be produced. This gives an overabundance of estrogen, which can cause problems. This is very common in women with PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome) involving bloating, night sweats, being easily irritated, and mood swings.

Men make their own progesterone, so they rarely have a deficiency. That's why men don't have PMS and mood swings. Women use lots of progesterone and are often deficient, which is why PMS is increasingly common in women.

Men and women both get low on the hormone testosterone. A woman's level of testosterone is much less than a man's level, but still vital to overall health. Symptoms of low testosterone in women are lack of motivation, extreme fatigue after exercise (tired for 2 days), and overall fatigue, loss of body hair and lack of interest in sex.

When a man has low testosterone, he may go into what society calls a mid-life crisis. In reality, age 14-20 is when males have their highest levels of testosterone. The inability to hold an erection can also be related to heart disease, so men need to talk to their doctor. Please don't look for the quick fix of erection drugs. Your body is telling you something. Fix the source of the problem.

Interferon is another substance important to health. It is produced when you are happy, exercising, laughing, during a good night's sleep and through good nutrition. This fights disease. Interferon levels go down when a person is depressed, opening them up for disease. This is the substance that was working when the now famous man cured himself through laughter while watching The Three Stooges.

So, hormones (the good ones) are vital to excellent health. And hormones (the bad ones) can set you up for some serious health problems.

How do you get the Good without the Bad and stay Vital? Balance between all of the many factors that affect your health like diet, exercise, attitude, passion, fun, family and friends for starters.

Anita Murray is a Professional Health Coach, Nutritional Consultant, and Founding Editor/Owner of FibromyalgiaHope.com.

Women dream about sex just as much as men.

A new Canadian study on what we dream about when we sleep says that men and women dream about sex on an equal level.

The study was based on interviews with 109 women and 64 men who logged their dreams over a period of two to four weeks. The volunteers racked up some 3500 dreams, with 8 per cent of those being of erotic nature.

It found that women think about doing it with movie and rock stars and politicians or lovers of past, while men dream about making love to multiple partners in public or unknown settings.

The women who took part in the study were twice as likely to have dream scenarios featuring celebrities such as actors Brad Pitt or George Clooney, or Irish rocker Bono, as their male counterparts.

Men, on the other hand, reported dreams featuring multiple sex partners twice as often as the women.

Men almost never had to put their ego on the line and come on to a woman. In about 90 per cent of the erotic dreams males logged, the women made the first move.

“The men had women coming on to them - at least in their dreams,” said author Antonio Zadra, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Montreal in Canada.

The pattern may reflect a certain amount of wishful thinking given the usual social norms that apply in the dating and courtship world, Professor Zadra said.

And finally, when it came to erotic dreams that dealt with sexual disappointments, the genders had very different tales to tell.

The women recounted scenarios where they were turned off by something that happened or the pace of proceedings. For the men, it was more often a case of their virtual partners refusing to engage in certain activities, or their sexcapade plans falling through for some reason.

“Maybe their demands were unrealistic even for their dream characters,” Prof Zadra said.

All the participants in the study were hetrosexuals.

Source

Men chat more on mobile phones than women - say what?

Read the original

You read it right. Apparently, men are yakking it up a bit more, on average, than women - at least on mobile phones. The survey, conducted by International Communications Research for AT&T, was completed in May 2007 and comprised of 1,006 respondents (half male, half female). Men averaged 458 wireless minutes per month, while women averaged 453 monthly wireless minutes. It's rather surprising that the women would be talking less on mobile phones than men - but the flip-side of that coin is that women averaged 532 landline (home phone) minutes, while men averaged 237 landline minutes. Not to mention that men were using their wireless minutes more for business while women were used them for talking to friends and family.

The study has been running in the same fashion since 2001 and has seen women steadily increasing their wireless usage - 2007 data represents the smallest gap between the sexes. But, overall, it seem the stereotype of women chatting it up more in general still holds, at least when you factor in total wireless and landline minutes and purpose of calls.

So, women do like to talk more than men. Surprised? We thought not.

Let’s All Evolve Past This: The Barriers Women Face in Tech Communities

This subject has been on the minds of many tech women for years. The issue is discussed regularly, almost cyclically at times, as we spin our collective wheels to try to find causes and solutions... Read this article

Women Entrepreneur Free Grants at This Site!

http://www.womensnet.net Resource site for women entrepreneurs, with a free grant awarded every month.

Dating - 21 Hot Tips: How to find Mr. Right!

Source

1) Be yourself. Be the person you are trying to attract.

2) When you first meet someone, make eye contact and show you are interested in starting a conversation.

3) Date with the intention of having fun and letting go of any expectations.

4) To help calm your nerves before going out on a date, take a few deep breaths, focus on what you are thankful for in your life. This will help you feel great and then...smile.

5) Don't prejudge. A good one may pass you by.

6) Have a sense of humor. Laughter is rated #1 as the most attractive quality.

7) Date someone more than once, to really get to know them.

8) Date a lot of people to know what you really like.

9) Take care of yourself...exercise, eat healthy and get plenty of rest! Feeling good on the inside shines through on the outside.

10) Stick to your values—honoring your own boundaries is attractive.

11) Focus on developing a friendship first. Hold on to your heart and don’t get serious too quickly.

12) Be aware of your thought patterns that are not serving you; for example, I'm too fat or he/she will never be interested in me.

13) Be aware of your "gold nuggets" that already exist within you. You are unique!

14) Don't focus your conversations on past negative relationships.

15) Be aware of how you are feeling during the date—This feels right! This does not feel quite right! Listen to your "inner voice."

16) Be open to trying new things that interest the other person. Have fun!

17) Be spontaneous.

18) Be proud of who you are.

19) Don't be afraid to say no.

20) Be honest—a relationship without trust is a waste of time.

21) Once again...BE YOURSELF. Be the person you are trying to attract.

Wealthy Men is the one and only online personals dating site dedicated to those men & women seeking a higher caliber online dating experience. You here.

Women's Health and Fitness - 10 Tips On How To Look Younger

Gill Webster

Appearance is very important, it is the first thing you notice when you meet someone. As you grow older the body starts to let you down, but there are a few things that you can do. Some ideas are very simple, while others need a bit of work but they can all help to turn back the clock and make you look younger.

1. Standing up straight is one of the best ways to look younger and more confident. Standing straight, with shoulders back and down with your tummy pulled in. At first you will need to practice and check yourself that you are standing up straight but soon it will become second nature. Doing exercises to strengthen your tummy muscles will also help.

2. Having enough sleep, at least 7 to 8 hours a night will make you feel healthier and younger. Your body needs sleep so that it can repair your body cells and refresh you mind.

3. Smiling makes you look radiant and younger. Smiling also distracts from areas that show your age. A smile just changes your whole face, try standing in front of a mirror and see what smile can do for your face.

4. Just because you are older does not necessarily mean that you have to have a short haircut. It all depends on the shape of your face, a short hairstyle can be cut to flatter and frame your face. This can be great to draw attention away from signs of ageing. Though longer hairstyles can be just as flattering as long as you have a good haircut that is shaped and maybe layered. A good hairdresser should be able to advise on the best way to cut your hair, as it does not just depend on the shape of your face but also on the texture and volume of your hair.

5. Colouring your hair is also a great way to hide the tale tell grey hairs. It is best to choose a colour that is close to your original colour so that it naturally compliments your facial tones. Otherwise you can have high lights or low lights put into your hair, and these do not require re-doing as frequently as an all over colour.

6. Choose the right clothes to compliment your body and hide the areas that you do not like. For example if you have flabby arms you can wear three quarter length sleeves to hide them. Soft colours will help you look younger because your skin tones become greyer as you get older.

7. Keep your teeth clean, with brushing and flossing, and with regular visits to the dentist to have your teeth checked. Getting teeth cleaned to prevent plague build up can also save you losing teeth unnecessarily. If your teeth are discoloured, the dentist might suggest whitening them, so that you will be happy to smile and show off your teeth.

8. Losing weight can also help you look younger. Make sure that as you lose weight that you tone your body with aerobic and resistance exercises.

9. Make-up can also help as long as you do not cake it on. Use a light foundation that does not sink into the wrinkles and emphasis them is better than a heavier one that does. Be careful about which eyeshadows to use, cream ones will sink into your wrinkles.

10. Look after your skin. Do not clean your face with soap and water but with a proper cleanser so that it dissolves all the make-up on the face and cleanses it properly. Always make sure that you remove your make-up every night as one night leaving it on can age your skin eight days. After cleaning your skin make sure that you moisture it so that it keeps your skin hydrated and younger looking.

With the aids that have been shown above on how to look younger, start today by choosing a couple of ideas, implement them and watch the changes in your appearance.

Using a Wedding Co-ordinator for your Wedding

Kerry Vear-Smyth

Planning a wedding is huge task, which requires a lot of hard work. Use of an experienced co-ordinator can help reduce the stress associated with a wedding and take the worry out of the wedding day. I use the term co-ordinator as opposed to planner as in my experience you should still plan your wedding with the co-ordinator making sure that your plans become a reality. A co-ordinator can help you find suppliers at the best prices and also will give help and advice regarding timings, colour schemes, flowers and make suggestions from experience of previous weddings.

On the wedding day the coordinator is invaluable to ensure that the day is running smoothly and making changes as plans change e.g. wedding ceremony running late and time for coaches needs altering, photographer just getting a few extra special shots and the dinner needs delaying half an hour, or even dinner running early and band/DJ needs to start a little earlier than planned. However organised you are, there are so many variables on the wedding day that last minute changes are common and almost inevitable.

Costs involved with hiring a co-ordinator vary from company to company. Some work on a commission basis, some on a one-off fee to arrange a wedding and others on a percentage basis of the whole wedding. It is a good idea to clarify exactly what costs are involved remembering to ask what commission the co-ordinator takes from any third party suppliers that you contract. Overall the co-ordinator will save you time and money on the overall cost of the wedding.

This becomes more relevant if you have chosen to marry in a foreign country such as Spain, where you will also have different legal rules to deal with, distance and also probably a language barrier to deal with. In this case the services of a co-ordinator helps to close the miles and help you gain peace of mind for your perfect day.

Kerry is the owner of Celebrations in Spain, and has been helping to co-ordinate weddings in Spain and Gibraltar for many years. You are invited to visit http://www.celebrationsinspain.com for Planning Services on getting married in Spain. Many Wedding Venues on the Costa del Sol can be found at Celebrations in Spain.

Pregnant Women Should Avoid Exposure to Excessive Heat

According to recent studies, pregnant women should stay out of the hot sun during their pregnancies in order to prevent causing harm to their unborn children. In addition, researchers found that pregnant women tend to have an extra sensitivity to high temperatures that makes them feel ill.

Researchers found that the fetus is particularly vulnerable during the first 12 weeks of development. During these first three months, pregnant women exposed to high temperatures are more likely to have a baby with a slightly lower birth weight. As such, these children are more like to have a lower IQ or learning disabilities. In addition, low birthweight children are more likely to have behavioral issues at school.

This research is particularly worrisome as weather experts are predicting heat waves across the country this summer. While there is no reason for women to restrict themselves solely to remaining indoors in air conditioned rooms all summer, they should take steps to help keep their bodies cool. This includes staying well-hydrated, eating healthy food, eating small amounts of food throughout the day, and wearing loose clothing. Pregnant women should also remain in shaded areas as much as possible.

Pregnant women should also avoid drinking coffee, tea, and alcohol because these liquids tend to lead to dehydration. Similarly, they should avoid engaging in strenuous activities, as this can cause their body temperature to increase even further.

Source

8 Forbidden Foods For Weight Loss

Noraini Maskuri

1.Caffeine - this is not just applicable coffee or tea but also to anything that has caffeine in it like some sodas. Along the same lines, cut out any beverage that contains aspartame (Nutra Sweet), high fructose corn syrup, or refined sugar. Since you need to drink a lot of water in order to lose weight, try water with a slice of lemon or lime in it.

2. Alcohol is a no-no in any weight loss plan. It’s alright to drink a glass of wine with dinner, but not the entire bottle. There’s no quicker way to pack on the pounds than to drink excessive amounts of alcohol – even the ones that claim they have fewer calories. Moderation is the key with alcoholic beverages!

3. Boxed Pre-Packaged Foods - as a general rule, stay away from a lot of these products. If you cannot recognizethe ingredients you should just avoid them. In other words, anything with a lot of chemicals on the ingredient list are not going to be good for your diet.

4.White rice, while very filling, contains starches that can inhibit your weight loss. Stick to brown rice instead . Pasta mixes are usually also not good because of the starches they contain. Stick to whole grain pastas instead. They taste just as good.

5. Breads - white breads should also be avoided. Whole grain breads provide you with the carbohydrates you need and are less processed than the white breads. Be sure the bread you choose is made with whole wheat flour instead of just wheat flour. Believe me, it makes a difference. If you love Mexican food, stick to whole wheat flour tortillas or corn tortillas when you choose your burritos, enchiladas, or soft tacos.

6. Canned and Jar Foods - anything that is canned or jarred needs to be free of excessive chemicals. If the label contains ingredients with more than four syllables or are hyphenated, it won’t be good for your diet. Chicken broth can be very fatty, so stay away. So are many soup mixes. The good news is that there are plenty of light or low fat choices out there. These are the ones you should choose.

Commercially-made tomato sauces or tomato based sauces contain ridiculously huge amounts of sugar and salt. A better choice is to make these sauces yourself where you can control what goes into it. If it’s been canned, it’s been cooked thus it loses some of its most beneficial nutrients. They can also contain processed or refined sugars, so stick to fresh fruits and vegetables instead. If you have to have a little oil to cook your foods in, choose extra virgin olive oil over the vegetable or corn based oils.

7. Meats - choose only lean meats to get your protein intake. It is commonly known that you should try to stay away from red meats like beef. Choose fresh fish instead of canned ones and be sure it’s of the lower fat variety. This includes salmon, tilapia, and cod. Don’t bread your fish either, broil it or grill it to get rid of any residual fat that might remain. White meat chicken breasts are better than dark meat because the darker meat contains more fat. The same applies to turkey. Tuna is always a good choice – even if it’s canned. Just be sure to get the tuna canned in water – not oil!

8. Dairy - skim milk should be your first choice over whole milk. However avoid drinking too much milk, because it naturally contains some fats that can turn into unnecessary fat on you! Cheese, is unfortunately is also a big no-no during dieting. You can, however, find low-fat or fat-free cheese in most grocery stores, so always pick these first. But use it sparingly! Eggs are all right on your diet, but you’re better off to use only the whites . Egg substitutes are a great way to get your egg fix, so look for these in the store as well. Fat-free sour cream is alright in moderation, but try to substitute with plain yogurt instead.

Noraini Maskuri is an advertising veteran and now runs online business and owns a site on weight loss. Get free special report on Weight Loss Without Dieting from : http://rapidweightloss.nmaskuri.com

Homemade Beauty Recipes for your Skin

Herbal remedies are very popular. Beauty Recipes are easily prepared at home provides best alternative to costly makeup products. Sensitive skin can be easily irritated. Typical reactions to sensitive skin includes itching, burning, chafing and stinging. It feels very dry after a wash and occasionally break out in spots or pimples. Do not use makeup atleast once a week so as to let your skin breathe fresh air. Skin that feels great when you take off for work in the morning but feels greasy by lunch; these are all too familiar scenarios for those of us with oily skin. Oily skin type has over reactive sebaceous glands that make the face shiny, particularly down the central panel-your nose, forehead and chin, also known as the T-zone. For normal skin, toning, daily cleansing and nourishing should be done. For this use a mild or balanced soap. Soft water should be used to wash the face daily.

Following are the variety of homemade beauty recipes:

1. Use witch hazel as an astringent instead of pricey products. It also cleans makeup from skin without drying it.

2. Make a mixture of crushed fennel seeds [for oily skin] and apricot kernel oil [for dry skin] to cleanse your skin.

3. Cucumber juice patted on face and left to dry will deminish the appearance of wrinkles.

4. To avoid black color of your lips and get soft and rosy lips you should apply lemon juice or coriander leaf juice on your lips.

5. To prevent sunburns on your skin you can apply grated cucumber juices, mix it with glycerin and rose water.

6. Tomato pulp tightens skins and is a great remedy for blackheads.

How to make homemade facial Scrub Masks

1. Make a perfect facial scrub from grapes. Mash a handful of grapes. Strain them to separate the pulp from the juice. Remove the skins and mash the pulp and juice with 1 tablespoon of almond flour.

2. Make a facial mask with honey and bananas Make sure the bananas are not overripe. Mash 1 banana with 3 tbs. honey.
For a skin softening bath, add 1/4 cup honey to the water.

3. Apples and pears are mild astringents. Make a quick mask by grating a large apple or pear and mixing it with 1 tbs. of honey.

4. Use aloe vera gel as an astringent for oily skin. Aloe vera gel is also great for thickening hair. Massage it into your scalp then leave it for 15 minutes before rinsing. Mix it with glitter for sparkly, softening body gel.

5. Add a tsp. of baking soda to your shampoo. It helps remove hair-product buildup! Baking soda can also loosen blackheads. Combine equal parts soda and water and rub the mixture into your skin, let sit until dry, then rinse.

6. Mix 1 tbs. sugar with a few drops of olive oil for a sweet facial exfoliant. This can be mixed in larger quantities for full body exfoliation.

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Bride on a Budget – A Guide to Modest Weddings

Scott James

They say her Wedding day is the most important day in a woman's life. I think a more accurate description might be in a lot of cases went it is one of the most important days in the bride's mother's life but that is possibly just born out of male cynicism.

On a more serious note the day of your wedding is certainly one of the most important days of your life and as a result deserves quite rightly to be taken seriously. That having been said however they're not certain instances with weddings where for a number of reasons both the bride and groom choose to have a modest wedding for personal reasons or perfectly valid financial ones.

Not everyone wants to go down the road off having a Hollywood type wedding with a cast of thousands complete with a troop of dancing girls and all the special effects that only a film producer could supply.

Sometimes it has to be “Bride on a budget” time and you have to respect desires and wishes off the bride and groom at this point and if this is the route they choose to go down then they should be supported.

Almost every couple struggles to stay within a budget for their wedding day. Here are a few tips to help you cut back on spending without cutting back on class.

To save on flowers, have a December wedding. Usually hotels, reception sites, and churches are already beautifully decorated which keeps expenses low. Also look into historic homes for a more intimate setting. Consider having your wedding, reception or both at a local garden club or botanical garden. Both will offer a beautiful setting all year long, and your decorating expenses will be low. For a more intimate setting, consider a pretty bed and breakfast.

It is difficult to save on photography costs because you don’t want to skimp on such an important and timeless item. Your formal portrait should be taken by a professional photographer and not by a friend or relative. Since photographers usually charge partly based on hourly rate, consider sending them on their way following the ceremony.
Scatter disposable cameras on tables at the reception with cards asking your guests to take pictures. Provide a well-marked basket by the exit for your guests to drop the used cameras in when they leave. Have your families and bridal party make certain that guests understand this.
If a friend or relative does offer to take pictures, thank them, and suggest that they take photos at the reception. You could offer to pay for film and/or developing. You should make sure to get the negatives so you can order your own enlargements and reprints.

One of your biggest expenses will be the reception. A buffet is less expensive than a seated dinner, but have you considered something unique, such as a picnic, barbeque or afternoon tea? While you will save money if you have a Christmas wedding, many venues up their prices, especially for a Friday or Saturday night. Consider a Sunday wedding since this is usually an ‘off’ day for most restaurants and clubs.

Try to prepare some of the food yourself. Cook ahead and freeze some items. Have family members cook up some family favourites with secret recipes. These will be sure to please every guest in attendance.

Scott James writes about a number of issues and more information on the above can be found at the following links: Wedding Planning , Wedding Cake and Wedding Songs

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Get Luscious for Summer

Wendy Dewar Hughes

Summer is about to be in full swing, and it's that time when we all want to look impressive in our lack of clothing. I’ve been conducting a little research (reading magazines at the grocery store checkout) and while I won’t even suggest that any of us will wind up as a bikini model, (my bikini days came to an abrupt end when I gave birth to a nine pound, one ounce navel destroyer), I found at least a few ideas to help us become healthier and perhaps even leaner.

Apparently, actual behavioral changes are required to guarantee your success - not just reading the magazines. (I know. I want it to happen by just reading the articles, too.)

Anyway, here are some simple tips to get us jumpstarted. Some of it we already know, but a reminder never hurts.

1. CUT THE SIMPLE CARBS. Our bodies definitely need carbohydrates, but if reverse the ratio of simple carbs (white foods, sweet stuff) to complex carbs (bright-coloured foods from plants) we will be better off. The most important single step to cutting carbs is reducing total sugar intake. Eating more complex carbs than simple carbs will allow the body to regulate blood sugar levels and burn more fat as fuel. Yea!

2. EAT SMALLER, MORE FREQUENT MEALS. Eating every 3-4 hours prevents blood sugar levels from going crazy all day. This helps hormones behave, and regulates hunger as well. Ultimately, it helps elevate metabolism, it's easier on your digestive system, and it can provide you with more sustained energy throughout the day. No more afternoon sleepies.

3. EAT MORE GOOD FATS. Essential fatty acids, such as omega-6 and omega-3 will allow the body to regulate hormones, calm down inflammation, and stabilize blood sugar levels. This eventually leads to greater fat loss. You can buy fish and flax oils at your local health food store.

4. DOWN LOTS OF WATER. Water is often overlooked, but it's the number one nutrient our bodies need to survive. Staying hydrated aids with digestion, curbs your appetite, and flushes out metabolic waste. Try to get in at least eight glasses a day. An easy way to measure is to fill a big pitcher in the morning and finish it by the end of the day.

5. INCREASE FIBER INTAKE. Fiber keeps food moving along your gastrointestinal tract, and like water, it aids in flushing metabolic waste. It also helps maintain consistent energy levels, slows the rate of carbohydrate digestion, which stabilizes blood sugar levels. Fruits, vegetables, grains and nuts are great fiber sources.

6. AVOID ALCOHOL. Not only is alcohol estrogenic (and negatively affects testosterone for men – who knew?), can lead to fat gain, and has a whopping 7 calories per gram, but it takes precedence over fat metabolism when introduced into the body. Alcohol actually shuts down the fat burning mechanism for up to 48 hours. That’s a little scary, isn’t it? I don’t know about you but I want all my fat-burning mechanisms working at top performance.

7. SPICE IT UP. Incorporating a variety of spices in your foods such as curry, cayenne pepper, cinnamon and certain herbs may help boost your metabolism. Spices also help with stabilizing blood sugar levels.

8. COMBINE WEIGHT LIFTING WITH AEROBICS. While aerobic activity may burn a lot of calories, you'll achieve greater success by combining it with weight training. For every pound of muscle you gain you can burn 50 extra calories a day. Unfortunately, lifting a chocolate truffle to your lips does not qualify as weight lifting.

9. EAT MORE SLOWLY. With today’s busy schedules it is sometimes difficult to have a leisurely meal, yet learning to slow down the pace at which we eat prevents compulsive overeating and assists our digestion. Slowing your eating will also allow you to enjoy your meal and your dinner conversations.

10. GET THOSE ANTIOXIDANTS. A daily dose of antioxidants from either a good multi-vitamin or a healthy combination of fruits and vegetables is important for combating toxins held in fat cells. Antioxidants such as vitamins A, C, E, and polyphenols in green tea help your body reduce the time that toxins stay in your system.

So there we have it - 10 simple tips to help us achieve healthier and leaner bodies. It's never too late to change a habit or start and new one, and feel better. So have fun, enjoy the summer weather, and look luscious, too!

P.S. Wendy Dewar Hughes, inspiration for the Art of life, love and lusciousness, publishes the Luscious E-letter filled with fun and practical ideas to make your life more luscious. If you are ready to be inspired to dream, believe and live a more luscious, creative life, go to www.wendydewarhughes.com for more, plus your FREE gift.

Cosmetic Plastic Surgery - What Are The Risks Involved?

Cosmetic plastic surgery is more popular than ever for many different reasons. But even though this type of surgery can alter and improve any area of the body, there are risks and issues to be aware of. Here is a quick look at some of the more serious issues with this procedure.

One of the bigger risks or side effects of cosmetic plastic surgery will always be infections. Infections can occur from a couple of days following surgery until 2-3 later. It is critical to be aware of this as it can lead to serious issues.

Although infections are not that common, it is something that happens more often with plastic surgeries such as breast augmentation or rhinoplasty.

With that said, don't freak out and get stressed over it. Knowing what to keep an eye on is important.

Another area is mental. Depending on the type of cosmetic plastic surgery you are having, it may take several weeks or months for the swelling and scarring to go away. It's easy to feel that something is wrong and the surgery was a failure when that is not the case at all. Be patient and give yourself time to heal.

One of the most important points is to ask your doctor plenty of questions beforehand. Talk with them and understand what to expect before having the procedure.

Having a positive outlook and mind before going through plastic surgery will help you have a smooth procedure as well as help with the healing process.

All in all, the risk of anything going wrong with cosmetic plastic surgery is very low and any problems that may come up can be quickly handled.

By the way, you can learn more about Cosmetic Plastic Surgery as well as more information on everything to do with cosmetic surgery by visiting us at http://www.CosmeticSurgeryA-Z.com

Health Insurance - Insurance Plan

The importance of an Insurance Plan. Why do we need a plan?

It is very important that you get yourself a health insurance plan.

There are many things that could really go wrong when you get sick. Not only will you be feeling physically uncomfortable, you could also be caught off guard by the staggering amount of expenses connected to being sick and confined in a hospital especially if you do not have any health insurance plan to cover for your medical expenses. In some instances where a person do not have health care insurance, the hospital would think twice of giving expensive treatment to the patient for fear of incurring such big losses that could affect the financial status of the hospital. If you really don’t want to suffer such inconveniences when seeking treatment in hospitals.

Getting a health insurance plan is really very easy.
Different insurance companies offer different rates so if you want to get the best out of your money, make sure that you go for the insurance companies that are reliable and are offering the best prices in the industry. Talking to the insurance representative and asking questions would also help you make informed decisions as to the type of health insurance plan and is suited for you. Of course the insurance representatives will try his or her best to sell you a policy so you should make sure that you listen carefully and not be swayed by their sales talks.

You can easily find a company that offers health insurance plan that suits your needs and your budget. You don’t really need to get that very expensive health insurance plan if you can’t afford them. Go for those health care insurance plans that do not stretch your budget too thinly. To find insurance companies that offer health insurance plans that you can afford, you should ask for information from different insurance companies and compare their prices.

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Skin Types - What's your Skin Type

Skin can change with age, environment, seasons, and even on a weekly or monthly basis, womens skin can also change with thier cycle. Skin types tend to fall into three main categories: oily, dry, and combination skin. Most skin types are genetically determined, but can be worsened by the environment, diet, harsh soaps, and overuse of the wrong skin care products. It's easy to determine which skin type you have. When you get up in the morning, before you take a shower, wipe your face with a dry tissue, top to bottom. If it comes up greasy, you have oily skin. If it's dry, you have dry or combination skin; a little grease on the center of the tissue also suggests combination skin. The main hallmark of an oily skin is an overall shine. The skin is often sallow and its texture may be coarse, the opening of the sebaceous glands, or pores, may be particularly noticeable. Oily skin tends to attract dirt and dust more readily than dry skin.

Normal skin is firm, with a healthy appearance. It is normally smooth with small pores. Sensitive skin is prone to damage from environmental factors. The skin is often red and blotchy and allergy to cosmetics is common. A sensitive skin needs special care, as it may be sensitive to some ingredients found in popular cosmetics. Those with sensitive skin should always use beauty aids that are hypoallergenic to protect their skin from allergic reactions. Normal Skin is not too oily or dry and blemishes are uncommon.

Types of skin

1. Normal Skin

Normal Skin looks clear and does not develop spots and blemishes. Pimples are rare and pores are small. Normal skin has an even tone, smooth and firm. The pores of the skin are fine and barely visible. It reflects good health and needs gentle treatment.

2. Dry skin

Dry skin often has problems in cold weather and ages faster than normal or oily skin. Dry skin can get irritated very easily. It is prone to wrinkles and lines. It is due to pores that don't produce enough sebum, and can be worsened by hormones, aging, harsh detergents, and environmental factors. It needs a moisturiser during the day and a good cream at night.

3. Oily skin

The main hallmark of an oily skin is an overall shine. Oily skin is typically thicker and firmer than normal skin, with less sensitivity to chemicals, detergents, or perfumes. This type of skin is caused by the over secretion of sebum making the skin surface oily. The excess oil on the surface of the skin attracts dirt and dust from the environment. This type of skin needs to be cleansed thoroughly.

4. Combination skin

Combination skin is unbalanced and therefore you'll find that some areas are more prone to spots and will be oily, while other areas can feel tight and be quite dry. This type of skin is very common. It is a combination of both oily and dry skin with certain areas of the face oily and the rest dry. Usually there is a Central greasy panel consisting of the forehead, nose and chin and a dry panel consisting of cheeks and the areas around the eyes and mouth. Other combinations are less common.

5. Sensitive skin

Sensitive skin is prone to damage from environmental factors. This type of skin has a fine texture and is very sensitive to changes in the climate. The skin is often red and blotchy and allergy to cosmetics is common.

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Baby Boy Unusual Names: Adaptations of Traditional Names

Did you know that there is a certain tacit convention for boys to be endowed with traditional baby boy names more often than the case is with the names of baby girls? Names like Roger, Samuel, William, Raymond, Jeffrey or Edward, no matter how long-established, are still the choice of many mothers and fathers when it comes to choosing a baby boy name.

Nonetheless, the younger generations of parents do tend to adopt baby boy unusual names or unusual name combinations for their boys. In spite of the fact that deep-rooted baby boys names have the advantage of being known by almost everybody, parents who opt for less customary names do it to escape conventions. It is probably your case as well.

Are you looking for a manner of saying that your son’s name is as special as your son himself?

Then you probably have assumed as true the fact that, to a certain extent, his name will come to represent your son and the other way around. Certainly, a baby boy name like Christian sounds beautiful for you as well, but you want something else. Why not try variations? It works like the adaptation of a well-liked tune and it works marvelously. For instance, you can give Christian an unusual turn by spelling it in a less predictable way; let’s say Kristian or Kristi-Ian, while you have changed nothing in its pronunciation.

Custom Variations

Also, you can choose baby boy unusual names with Oriental variations, such as Ian turned into Ean is. Of course, opting for a completely foreign name, for instance Suraj, can cause confusions, so let’s keep the unusual baby boy names at the level of adaptations of a traditional name for a baby boy or at the level of their similarity in pronunciation.

This way you will be able to come to an agreement with both your relatives and your preferences. It is the middle-way and probably the best one if the rest of your family is as important to you as your own preferences are. Moreover, it is securing your baby boy with a name that other children won’t find difficult to pronounce.

Meredith Schine is a proud mother of two, Zack and Guy. She is also known for her unique baby gift ideas and her special way of thinking about baby boy names. Visit her webpage to read more about unique baby boy names and gifts ideas.

http://babyboynamez.com

Everything I Know About Happiness I Learned from a Child

My daughter is only 3 months old, and already she's taught me a few things.

I'll be stressed out — about a missed UPS delivery, her sleeping schedule, vacation plans — and I'll realize that Sigrid's been grinning at a pillow for 15 minutes. The vaguely Japanese print on the fabric seems to make her totally blissful. Perhaps she has a future in textile design — or maybe an infant's happiness equation is simple arithmetic (nap + milk + something to gaze at = bliss). Obviously, life gets stickier and more complicated as we age. And for many of us, the childhood wellsprings of joy shrink to a trickle. A recent Pew Research Center national survey found that only one-third of American adults are able to describe themselves as very happy.

Luckily, several new studies suggest a good way to shift that statistic: Take a few happiness lessons from the kids in your life — and the kid you once were. Here's a short refresher course...

I really liked this article. Original you can read here.

Unique Gift Wrapping Ideas For Personalized Gifts

Beautifully wrapped gifts indicate that you have put forth both time and effort in create wonderfully personalized gifts. First impressions make lasting impressions! Since the presentation of gifts is important, there are many ways to add your own personal touch.

A gift can be personalized for the holiday or special occasion. Another way is by using the recipient's favorite colors or by using wrapping materials that reflect a hobby or special interest.

By using innovative ways to wrap gifts, you can save money as well by using materials that are readily available at very little cost to you.

Wrapping Materials:
Create an attractive wrapped gift by choosing unusual wrapping paper or other materials. Use sheet music for the music lover, maps for those who enjoy traveling, or newspaper for anyone who keeps up with what's going on in the world. Use specific sections of a newspaper such as the sports pages, comics, etc. Other paper products that are usable are the pages from telephone books, magazines, coloring books, or comic books. Paper doilies, decorative paper napkins, aluminum foil, crepe paper, or brown craft paper are unique paper products that work well for wrapping gifts.

In addition to paper wrapping materials, delicate fabrics such as tulle, netting, organza, and chiffon are lovely for feminine gifts. Color coordinate the gift box with sheer fabric so the color blend nicely if the box shows through the fabric. Add a satin or sheer organza ribbon and loosely tie the ribbon into a bow. When using fabric, wrap gift boxes as usual or wrap as you would a gift basket by pulling extra fabric over the top of the gift with enough fabric to tie with a ribbon. If desired, tie a pretty silk flower in with the ribbon.

One of my favorite wrapping papers come from purchased shopping gift bags. My local dollar store has hundreds of different designs for one dollar each. The paper used in these bags in heavier than purchased gift wrap and many of the papers have a shiny finish. Simply cut them into the size you need for wrapping your gift and don't forget to use the matching gift tag.

Ribbon, Bows, and More:
Coordinate the color and type of ribbon used with the gift wrapping. Raffia and twine are better for gifts that are not feminine in content. Satin, sheer organza, or grosgrain ribbon in patterns or solid colors are lovely for feminine gifts. Ribbon with wire on the sides is easier to tie in a structured-type of bow than ribbon without wire. Curly ribbon is always nice and the easiest to work with. You can combine several colors or add a fixed bow or allow extra curled ribbon to cascade onto the gift

Decorative Items:
Adding small items is a great way to dress up your gifts as well as to tie in the theme of the gift. Choose a rattle or small toy for a baby gift. Add small white wedding bells to a bridal shower or wedding gift. Tie candy canes or small ornaments into the ribbon on Christmas gifts. Small toys, decorative cookie cutters, silk flowers, and any other small unbreakable items that can be tied with ribbon will be nice additions to complete your gifts.

Cello bags are inexpensive, keep your gifts dust free, and make gifts easy to transport. These bags are also used to wrap gift baskets, but they are wonderful for potted plants as well as for unusual shaped gifts. They are available in clear, many colors, as well as many decorative designs. You can purchase these bags in some card stores as well as party stores.

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Wise Women Win

They say that women are too emotional. And when it comes to troubles, the women are much too engrossed in them. You may have seen women back in your elementary and high school days pushing each other, slashing spiteful words at each other, pulling each other's hair, and the likes.

This behavior is quite integrated naturally into the persona of the women in general. Wherever you go, there are those bullies who make meddling with the lives of others their utmost business. In the corporate world, such environment remains to be present. It is but natural to encounter people who bully their fellow women by using the smear campaign. These days, the most common is the smear campaign. And definitely, once this is used on you, you have your reputation stained at all costs.

Wise women could win against the smear campaign. You could never be referred to as a wise woman if you would fail in this aspect. But first of all, arm yourself with enough knowledge regarding the smear campaign so that when you spot the indicators that it is being used on you, you know how to stand up as one of the wise women who win the battle.

The Smear Campaign by Definition

The smear campaign is a form of bully wherein some people inconsiderately bully you with the title of being a . Being called a is not nice. It is categorized as harassment. You totally do not deserve it. It is an insult to your personality.

By and large, the occurrences of the smear campaign is increasingly heightening and what makes it bothering is that such bullying practice seriously ruins the reputation and credibility of a person.

The Common Victims of the Smear Campaign

Who is the prime victim to be affected by the smear campaign? Certainly, a woman or a girl could be the subject of the smear campaign. It could even be you. But of course you have to assert that wise women win. Do not ever think that you are safe from the smear campaign. This could be heaped on you while you are in school, at work, within the confines of your home, with your family, friends, social circle, and even in your religious group.

The smear campaigns could be concocted regardless of the truth therein. And for sure, being victimized by this smear campaign will leave you shamed for all eternity.

The Victim Categories

Actually, any woman or young girl could be an easy prey to the smear campaign. There are three main categories of victims though. They are:

The woman who is the subject of jealousy among her peers. There are women who are found very attractive by most boys. Now the less attractive ones develop the notion that the woman is a flirt, a seducer, and worst! The smear campaign is of course rooted from this.

The women who have been sexually assaulted. They think that once a woman is sexually attacked, she is responsible for it. Now it would fragment stories that are so twisted that they make it appear that it the victim is at fault.

The cultural victims. They are those who simply go out of the conventions. People see them as abnormal because they do not conform to the existing norms.

The Recourse of Wise Women in Order to Win Wise women win against these smear campaigns. How? Refrain from standing above the rest. Make sure to go along with the norms of the environment. Do not get involved in circumstances that could easily be misinterpreted. Avoid flirting. Take legal action in cases of sexual abuse. Never partake in gossips.

Wise women win against these detractors because they definitely know what to do. How about you, do you prefer being called a wise woman too?

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How To Dress To Look Thinner

Everyone has certain body features they are not happy with. Some people have larger hips and thighs, while others are heavier in the waist. Regardless of where your “problem” areas are, there are many fashion tricks you can use to minimize their appearance. Here are several tips on how to dress to look thinner.

The general rule is to wear clothing that gives your body a more symmetrical, or balanced, look. If you wear clothing that is too small, your bulges will be emphasized. If you wear clothes that are too large, you will look bigger because you are adding bulk. Regardless of what your shape is, wearing diagonal stripes, zig-zags and similar patterns can detract from problem areas.

If you are heavier on the bottom, such as hips and thighs, there are several styles that will make you look thinner. Straight or bootcut pants deemphasize larger hips and thighs, giving a more symmetrical look. Wear prints only on the top and wear long tops that go past your hips. Also, look for jackets, tailored suits and shirtwaist dresses with straight, classic cuts.

If your waistline is your heaviest area, choose a dress with a high waistline (called an empire waist) because it will make your waist appear smaller. Avoid bulky scarves and belts that draw attention to your waist. Also, avoid pleats because they pull when you move and won’t make you look thinner.

If you are heavier on the top, such as your arms, try a pleated skirt – it will bring more attention to your lower half. Choose thin fabrics, such as cotton, that won’t add bulk. Long jackets without shoulder pads will balance your overall look.

Using these tips on how to dress to look thinner will give you a more symmetrical look.

Your Essential Style Guide, and The Plus Size Apparel Blog contain even more great tips for choosing clothes for your unique shape.

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Don't Be An Interview Idiot!

As a recruiter in the restaurant industry, I see candidates or job seekers do stupid things in the interview all day long. Obviously, we all have an idiot gene hidden in our bodies waiting to emerge somewhere down the road. If you really want to be an idiot and NOT get that new position or career opportunity you dream of follow these actions.

The first step in being a complete idiot is to arrive late. This could be 5 minutes or an hour just make sure you’re late. Nothing says, “I don’t care about this position”, like being late.

Step two is to be rude to everyone at the interview. This could be the host or server who greets you as you enter or anyone else employed by the company. To be effective just be mean to everyone, which will really tell them that you’re a complete idiot who can’t get along with anyone!

Third, please make sure you answer all interview questions with very short and abrupt responses. Don’t take anytime to go into your answers. Pretend you are on Jeopardy and answer all questions with questions. That could be fun and that will surely tell them you are an idiot who always runs with the pack and has no leadership potential whatsoever.

Fourth, for the sake of being an idiot, make sure you don’t ask any questions about the position or the company. Don’t bring up goals or plans in the future because you will have plenty of time to think about those things later. Really show them you don’t care about their company by saying you dined at a competitor the other day and loved it!

In the fifth step, when they ask about yourself pretend you’re in a holding cell and stone wall them until your lawyer gets there. Whatever you do don’t be forthcoming about anything or discuss your abilities. If you absolutely have to be an idiot tell them about childhood experiences and your first pet.

The sixth is all about cussing and using inappropriate language. Be sure to pepper your conversation with a few f-bombs to complete your idiot tendencies.
Nothing says you’re an idiot like bad language in an interview.

Make sure you trash talk or beat up your old boss in every response. In the seventh step you want to concentrate on how bad you hated that guy and why.
This will surely tell them that you have no bounds when it comes to revealing things to complete outsiders and you are basically a very negative person.

Then in the eighth step beg them to not contact your previous employer about the funds you embezzled or the food you stole. Nothing says you’re an idiot more than implying a guilty conscious that is hiding something critical to them hiring you.

Make sure you lie about your accomplishments in the ninth step. An idiot lies about all of them! Tell them how you cured cancer and invented the Internet or anything else they want to hear. A complete idiot doesn’t care about credibility or reference checks anyway. Even better tell them you didn’t have any labor costs because you paid everyone with cash.

Finally when the interview gets up and is ready to shake hands, don’t bother! Storm out of there like a bat out of hell and never look back. Nothing says you’re an idiot like being impolite and displaying no manners. Mission accomplished!

Now obviously, this was written to assist you in the pursuit of happiness and to find that next great career. By doing the exact opposite of these actions, you will find yourself at the beginning of the road to preparation to land that dream job. Just remember be kind and courteous to others, be formal and professional, be on time, be honest and open with your answers and market your abilities whenever you can in an interview.

And don’t be an idiot!

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How to discover purpose in your life and your work

Why is this important?

All of us are born with most aspects of our lives already established for us. Our economic status, cultural identity, personality, core values and our customs are waiting for us when we are born. For many people, this predetermined life is lived without question all through life. This naturally extends to our work, our relationships, and how we view the world.

What can happen?

Because all of this has been decided for us, most of us live our lives on autopilot. When it comes to our work, we often take the same jobs as our parents did. Or perhaps we just take their philosophy about our work. We may have jobs only to support our families, with no thought given to whether the work makes us happy or not. We may get used to making lots of money, and soon we get into so much debt we think there is no way out except through promotion and upward movement to make even more money. We believe we will get out of debt someday, and then finally do something we enjoy more. We may stick to jobs we dislike because of fear that others, especially our loved ones, might leave us or reject us if we seek more joyful work. Worse yet, we feel internal guilt and selfishness for wanting more out of our work life.

Where do you stand?

A famous Japanese proverb says vision without action is a daydream and action without vision is a nightmare. Spiritual leader Gandhi Mohandas believed you must be the change you want to see in the world.

So how about you?

What change do you want to see in the world? Is this reflected in your work and what you do each and every day? Is your work joyful, and full of meaning?
Does your reason for doing this work make sense to you?
Do you leap out of bed in the morning, tripping over yourself to get dressed because you are so excited to start working? If not, read on….

How do you get started?

While I think the world would be a better place if all did the work we love, this is still a challenge for many people. It all starts with a Purpose. While I think it would be wonderful if every one of us had a special purpose like Mother Theresa did, the special purpose will always be different for each person.

There are lots of things in the world that disturb me deeply.

For example:

It bothers me that in many communities we have lost that sense of place and togetherness.
It saddens me that over 20,000 people a day die of starvation.
It frustrates me that in America so many people do not have access, or can’t afford proper health care.
In fact, I have many personal missions for making this world a better place, and that I would like to spend my life pursuing. But I am also realistic—I know that, to truly make a difference, one must choose and focus on a single cause that motivates them to get up in the morning.
For the second half of my life, I have chosen to focus on helping people over 40 find more joy in their work. It’s a niche I have studied and experienced and I feel I can make a contribution.
So I spend my time trying to improve the quality of life for one person at a time by helping them to do more of what they love with regards to their work.
Can you come up with a core niche you are passionate about?

The challenges you will encounter

As you define and pursue your purpose in your life and your work, you will be lonely at times. You will find yourself surrounded by many people just like you who are simply working at jobs without desire or passion. They are just working for a paycheck. While this is important, it is not sufficient after we turn forty.
After forty, it is critical to find a way, not just to survive, but to thrive, and to feel the excitement about each work day. This is a sensation worth feeling. It will leave you breathless and will influence everyone around you.
The other day, I spoke to a street artist in San Francisco who spends his days spray painting murals that he sells for five dollars each. As I watched him create his masterpiece, it occurred to me that while his work was not MY passion, I was inspired just watching his joy as he worked.

How to defeat the critics

First, define your Purpose. Then tell everyone you meet about it. This will help to reinforce your path. Then plan to spend the majority of your day focused on activities aligned with your purpose.

This is the solution—it’s simple but it requires discipline, courage and what some might perceive as great risk. In mid-life, society encourages those over forty to be secure and safe.

Your time is now!

After forty, it is a great risk to your life and to those around you NOT to do what you love. This is the time to take great risks and gather the courage to break free of your predetermined life. This is the time to create more joy and meaning in your life.
The shortcut to a happy life is to define your Purpose and carry it out with enthusiasm and vigor!
You will never look back and, along the way, you’ll inspire others to do the same.

As always, I’ll be cheering you on as you go.

Craig Nathanson

Craig Nathanson is the author of P Is For Perfect: Your Perfect Vocational Day and a coaching expert who works with people over forty. Craig’s new E-book, Discover and live your passion 365 days a year is a workshop in a box designed to help busy adults go insane with their work. Craig’s systematic approach, the trademark "Ten P" process,’’ helps people break free and move toward the work they love. Visit Craig’s online community at http://www.thevocationalcoach.com where you can take a class, get more ideas through Craig Nathanson’s books and CD’s, get some private coaching over the phone or read other stories of mid-life change and renewal.

Craig lives in Fairfax, California. You can reach him at 415-457-0550 or at craig@thevocationalcoach.com.

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The Summer's Best Love Boosters

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Now, let us guess: In the last few weeks, you've been to three barbecue block parties and trucked the kids to the local water park about a dozen times. That's all well and good, but before summer segues into fall, make sure you and your honey get some fun-in-the-sun time together. Below, you two will find plenty of ways to turn up the heat.

Have a private starlit screening
Ditch the crowds and hold your own alfresco film festival. Just plug your TV and VCR into an extension cord and bring them out to your porch or backyard. Then set up a pair of lawn chairs or spread a blanket on the grass and snuggle up while you enjoy a little summer-inspired cinema. Try a classic surf flick, such as Beach Blanket Bingo or Elvis's Blue Hawaii; get scared silly with The Beach or Jaws; or soak up the stunning sunset scenes in How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Cocktail or Stealing Beauty.

Rope him into a rodeo
Take your guy to see a bucking-bronco show near you: Check out www.prorodeo.com or www.rodeo.about.com. If you're lucky, you may even be able to sweet-talk your handsome stallion into wearing his tightest pair of jeans while you promise to sport a fetching cowboy hat. Yee-haw!

Lay it on thick
When he walks into the house all hot and sweaty after mowing the lawn, tell him how sexy he looks.

Plumb forget your panties
When you're at an outdoor concert, a play or a picnic (basically, anyplace you're surrounded by people), whisper in your lover-boy's ear that -- oops! -- you "forgot" to wear panties. Trust us: You'll reap the benefits of his eager anticipation later!

Give each other a head rush
Next time the two of you are on a secluded stretch of beach or alone beside a lake, wade into the deep end and exchange sensual scalp massages.

Make a grape escape
On one of those sticky, sweltering dog days of summer, feed each other frozen grapes.

Try a new kind of love note
When the moon is just a sliver in the sky, take a pack of sparklers outside and try to guess the mushy messages you're writing to each other in the air. Try "You light up my life," "You are my firecracker" or (our personal favorite) "Meet me in the bedroom now!"

Seekest some Shakespeare
Behold one of the bard's frisky romantic comedies on an outdoor stage: You can't go wrong with A Midsummer Night's Dream, Twelfth Night, or As You Like It. To find a performance near you, try running a Web keyword search for "Shakespeare in the Park" and your city, or call your local arts council.

Pack a predawn picnic
Before the sun comes up, coax your man out of bed and take him to a private spot for a wonderfully serene breakfast picnic. Bring along bagels with strawberry cream cheese, fresh fruit salad and last but not least, a Thermos full of premixed mimosas made with champagne and fresh-squeezed orange juice.

Entice with ice
On a sultry day, turn off the A.C. and give each other tingly, tantalizing ice-cube caresses. Run a melting cube over the back of your man's neck and across his shoulders -- and all the way down to his toes if he can stand it. Then let him return the favor. What to do once the cube's gone? We'll leave that up to you.

Watch the perfect storm
Next time a summer storm rolls in, pretend there's a power outage -- even if the electricity is A-OK. Shut off all the lights, burn a candle or two, cuddle on the sofa with your sweetie as you take in the lightning show; then watch the sparks fly.

Ride for romance
Take pedal fun up a notch by renting a bicycle built for two. It's a carefree way to get your blood pumping -- which, by the way, can shift your sex drive into high gear.

Host a one-on-one luau
No, you don't have to learn to hula or spit-roast a pig to have Hawaiian-style fun. Simply nibble on fresh pineapple while you dip your tootsies in a blow-up kiddie pool and toast each other with piña coladas (complete with hot pink paper umbrellas, of course). While you're at it, serenade yourselves with tropical tunes (try The Music of Hawaii or Best of Hawaii, available at www.cdnow.com).

Put your best foot forward
Go to bed in your strappiest, sexiest come-hither summer sandals. Period.

Spell something sexy
Take a Scrabble board to a park, find a shady, out-of-the-way spot and turn up the heat by awarding extra points for spelling intimate and erotic words and phrases. Oh, and one more thing: The winner's prize must involve at least three of those terms.

Get ready for your close-up
Pop quiz: When was the last time the two of you took pictures of each other without the kiddies? If you racked your brain, then answered, "On our honeymoon," pick a clear, sunny day and go camera crazy. Frolic in flowery fields at a botanical garden or in foamy ocean waves. Head to a zoo and say cheese next to some wildlife. And don't forget to ask a nice stranger to snap a few shots of you sweethearts. (Plus, when summer's over you can flip through the photos whenever you need a quick love boost.)

Make adults-only milkshakes
Cool down together as you sip this creamy concoction with a kick: Put one peeled and chopped mango, one sliced banana, one quarter of a cup of vanilla-flavored vodka, half a cup of orange juice, one cup of mango sorbet and one cup of ice cubes into a blender. Mix until smooth, then serve -- with a single straw, of course (makes three cups).

Get into the swing of things
The best thing about hanging out together in a hammock: You can't help but get superclose. So string one up and enjoy beautiful breezy nights spent rocking to and fro or catch a bit of shady shut-eye on lazy Sundays.

Spy fireflies
Take a leisurely drive into the country, spread a blanket on the hood of your car and count how many lightning bugs appear. (Whoever spots the most gets a full-body massage back home.)

Say cheers!
Win the Spouse of the Year award by taking him to a beer festival. Click on www.allaboutbeer.com or www.beersweetbeer.com to find a draft-fest in your neck of the woods.

Go to first base
Buy the sky-high bleacher seats at a ball game. Why? They come with primo privacy for a seventh-inning-stretch make-out session.

Have some pre-sun fun
You're supposed to slather on sunscreen before you head to a sunny spot, right? So make sure you and your guy take your sweet time spreading plenty of lotion on each other while you're still at home. Tell him not to forget all the places on your body that have never seen the sun; and if you get distracted and don't end up going outside that day, oh well.