The Girlfriend's Gazette

2011 IDA Honor Awards Banquet With Guest Speaker Capt. Luis Carlos Montalvan and Tuesday – New York Times Bestselling Author of “Until Tuesday – A Wounded Warrior and the Golden Retriever Who Saved Him

2011-09-23T09:40:00.000-06:00

Come join the Invisible Disabilities Association for our Annual Honor Awards Banquet and Auction on October 2, 2011.

Enjoy an evening of awareness and inspiration! IDA will be honoring 11 amazing individuals and organizations making a difference in the lives of those living with illness, pain and disability.

Inspiring stories, touching presentations and lighthearted fun bring awareness to invisible disabilities. Doctors, nurses, friends and family often walk away saying, “Wow! I didn’t get it until tonight!”

2011 Banquet Flyer

COST for Dinner and Program: $50 per person – includes seating for the program, a delicious dinner and dessert. Cash bar.

COST for Dinner, Program and VIP Reception: $75 per person – includes seating for the program, dinner and dessert as well as the VIP Reception with Luis and Tuesday 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm. Limited availability.

SPONSORSHIPS: Table and Event Sponsorships are encouraged.
Sponsorships Details Here

LOCATION: Denver Marriott South in Lone Tree, CO

TIME: 5:30 pm Registration and Silent Auction – 6:15 Dinner and Program

VIP RECEPTION: 4:00 pm – optional, limited seating.

ATTIRE: Dressy or Business (Example for men: Suit or slacks and dress shirt with or without tie or jacket. Example for women: Dress, suit or blouse with slacks or skirt). Attendees are welcome to wear cocktail, semi-formal or formal attire if they prefer.

NOTICE: This is a fragrance free event. Please be considerate of people attending with allergies, asthma and Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS) by not wearing perfume , cologne or fragranced lotion.

Unable to attend? Please consider a donation instead. Thank you!

Be sure to invite your friends, family, neighbors, doctors and co-workers!
Proceeds help the Invisible Disabilities Association continue to encourage, educate and connect people touched by illness, pain and disability around the globe! IDA is a 501(c)(3) Non-profit. 83-0390659
Contact event@invisibledisabilities.org for additional sponsorship information.

AUCTION: We are accepting auction item donations for 10/02/11.
Auction Letter – Auction Item Receipt

LIMITED TIME SPECIAL ROOM RATE: Single Room Event Rate at Marriott Denver South of $84 plus taxes. Reservations for the event made by individual attendees can be made directly with Marriott Reservations at 1-800-686-2767. Reservations by attendees must be received on or before Sunday, September 25, 2011.

Special Guest Speaker

Fmr Capt. Luis Carlos Montalvan and Tuesday – New York Times Bestselling Author of “Until Tuesday – A Wounded Warrior and the Golden Retriever Who Saved Him”

Luis is a 17-year veteran and former Captain in the U.S. Army, where he earned the Combat Action Badge, two Bronze Stars, and the Purple Heart. Luis is the author of “Until Tuesday” which debuted 18 on the New York Times Best Seller List for Hardcover Non-fiction Books and remained on the list for 5 weeks.

Luis shares his amazing story of the “war after the war” with invisible disabilities, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and how his service dog, Tuesday, has given him hope and healing. Until Tuesday came into Luis’ life, he was overwhelmed by his debilitating injuries, memories and could barely leave the house due to Agoraphobia. Tuesday assists Luis with his balance, retrieves things off of the floor, reminds him to take his medications, wakes him up when he is having flashbacks, gets Luis out of the house, gives him the unconditional love we all need to give us strength and much more.

Luis has been published in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The San Francisco Chronicle, and The International Herald Tribune. Luis and Tuesday’s story has been shared on NPR, CBS, CNN, BBC, C-SPAN, National Geographic and they appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman in July (watch clip on YouTube). Luis is also a recipient of a 2011 VOICE Award presented at Paramount Studios.

Discovering they are not alone, people around the world are finding the courage to seek help and support for their invisible disabilities, after reading about Luis and Tuesday’s daily battle and triumph over hopelessness.

Don’t miss the VIP Reception with Luis and Tuesday from 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm before the Banquet. VIP Tickets now available!

Master of Ceremonies

Rick Crandall – Host of the Breakfast Club – KEZW 1430 AM

Rick has been honored for his dedication to Denver’s adult community with the Volunteers of America Special Friend Award, The Colorado Broadcasters Association Citizen Of The Year Award twice and The Colorado Broadcasters Association Harry Hoth Award for Public Service. During Rick’s 15-years at KEZW the station has been a finalist for the National Association of Broadcasters Marconi Award for Adult Standards station of the year seven times, and has won the award once. He celebrated his 5,000 show this past June. Rick was one of five finalists for the Marconi Award as Personality Of The Year. Rick is also the Colorado Freedom Memorial President.

2011 Honor Awards

Advocacy – Peter Saltonstall, President & CEO – National Organization of Rare Disorders (NORD)
Caregiver - Dave Dias, Chairman – Premiere Legacy Films – Dave’s Wife, Irene
Corporate - Kevin Custer, Founding Principal – Arc Capital Development – Autism Society – Austim Society of Colorado
Founders - David Sandusky – Your Brand Plan
Healthcare - Kent Thiry, Chairman and CEO – Davita
Impact - John C. Read, President and CEO – Association of Hole in the Wall Camps
Inspiration – Theresa Marchetta, Weekend Anchor, Investigative Reporter – 7NEWS
Medical - Cancer Treatment Centers of America
Perseverance - Margaret A. Ferrante MD
Research - David Martz, MD – International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS)
Volunteer - Jane Brown JD LLM – Disabled people want to meetup too!

MORE FUN and EXCITING AWARENESS and ENCOURAGEMENT!
Past Evenings with IDA Amazing Past Award Recipients More Videos on Our YouTube Channel Our Radio Broadcasts Online


		ILADS

Praying For Hailey

2011-08-19T09:22:00.001-06:00

An urgent matter has come to my attention and I realized that collectively we have the power to help a little girl who desperately need us. This is a true heartbreaker, so please read.

A few months ago my friend Blair Porter (of Midas-Financial.com) introduced me to a lovely family via their blog. The 5 year old daughter, Hailey, has a rare condition that is threatening her life. After several years of repeated episodes, hospital stays, and attempts to cure or ease the problem, little Hailey has reached nearly the end of what the medical world is able to do for her comfort. It comes down now to one clinical trial that may have the power to bring her some comfort and normalcy - and of course insurance will NOT cover the medicine this poor baby needs. On their own, Blair and her fiancee Darrell have helped the family raise a large portion of the funds that are needed, unfortunately they are still about $1400 short.

Here is a link to the page on the blog that will tell you some of the history:

http://visbalfamily.blogspot.com/2009/10/haileys-hospital-hullabaloo.html

I suggest starting here and then visiting the 'home' page to read the most recent updates.

Here is the info on what they are trying to accomplish now:

-Hailey's "diagnosis" is episodic encephalopathy of unknown origin.

-If they are able to pay for the trial, Hailey would be admitted and started on the medication and would be monitored to make sure she doesn't have a reaction. After that she will be sent home and the rest will be outpatient.

-All of the appointments are in Denver. She will be monitored by her regular neurologist at PSL, her pediatrician in Stapleton then the trial team at university.

-The insurance will cover any medical care which will be any admissions or doctor appts. The cost is only for the medication.

-they will not take payments. Their reasoning is that you can not complete just part of the trial and if they take payments then people are likely to drop out if they can't afford followup appts.

-it's called flunarizine.

This is especially heart wrenching, and from what I can tell the family has already lost one child -as a mother I cannot bear the thought that they may lose another to something that may potentially be solved or eased by this treatment - or that they could come so close to help and not be able to get over the hump so to speak.

I AM CALLING ON YOU to help me find the people who are able to help Hailey. 303Network will donate profits from the sale of any showcase tables at FogoDeChao next week to Hailey's family, and I would like very much if I could count on you to help me spread the word about Hailey's plight to all four corners of the universe so to speak, and if you pray, pray passionately that not only to do the funds appear for Hailey, but that the treatment will be effective, and that what they learn from this trial will save other children from this heartbreaking condition.

Thank you for reading and helping!

Rebekah R. Welch
www.ConnectWithRebekah.com
The Colorado Connector | 303Network | Get Connected 365

Rachael Waggoner's SHOP & ROCK!

2011-08-10T16:39:00.001-06:00

SHOP AND ROCK! Golden, CO at The Buffalo Rose

11 AM to 6PM - COME SUPPORT YOUR FELLOW DYNAMIC WOMEN!

FREE EVENT - Same day as The Golden Arts Festival

Sick of shopping malls and McSalespeople?
SO ARE WE! So we're bringing together COOL local businesses at a HOT local venue where you can have a drink while you shop!

OVER $500 IN DOOR PRIZES WILL BE GIVEN AWAY! WIN A $50 VISA CARD!
REGISTER NOW at shopnrockboutique@gmail.com and get a FREE wine, well, or draft... + $5 Burger, fries, and pint!!!

VENDORS WELCOME - contact Rachael Waggoner at shopnrockboutique@gmail.com to get your business featured! Up to 500 people through the door at past events!

Party Plan Divas SWAP & SHOP

2011-08-05T09:28:00.002-06:00

This dynamic group meets LIVE in Lakewood, CO on the 3rd Thursday of the month. Additional groups are forming NOW. Everyone is invited to join to support each other and shop.

Each event features ONE company/theme where the featured hostess will present her goodies to the network to sample and purchase. To become a featured hostess you MUST be a member, and members are required to purchase a minimum of $20 from the featured hostess each month to participate. For non-members, no purchase is required, but if you find something you like you'll be able to take advantage of some great sales and specials at each event.

EVERYONE is welcome to attend and network - no purchase required for non-members.

POT LUCK - bring a dish to share - wine, water, and coffee will be provided.

Lakewood LIVE Party THEMES:
JAN - It Works!
FEB - Arbonne/LockLuster
MAR - Organo Gold
APR - Wild Tree
MAY - Art
JUN - Wine Shop at Home
JUL - Emerald Energy Massage
AUG - Pampered Chef
SEP - 31 Gifts
OCT - Tupperware
NOV - Lia Sophia
DEC NO HOSTESS THIS MONTH - CHRISTMAS PARTY INSTEAD.

RSVP TO ATTEND: http://www.eventbrite.com/org/1348367965

To become a Featured Hostess/Member choose "JOIN" at the top of the registration page.

To learn more about The Party Plan Connector and ways to promote your party plan business, vist our website at http://www.partyplanconnector.com

To view other swap groups forming (minimum of 6 exclusive hostesses to launch a group) CLICK HERE!

Rocky Mountain Regional Dog Trainer Academy to start July 29, 2011

2011-07-20T11:53:00.000-06:00

Training With Grace is offering an intensive, 6-month program appropriate for students ready to explore dog training as a career, those dog enthusiasts looking for a deeper understanding of their canine companions, and any other professional working in the dog industry looking to develop a better understanding of canine behavior.

The Rocky Mountain Regional Dog Trainer Academy comprehensive program offers a cutting-edge approach to dog training where students will learn about modern, science-based techniques and canine behavior. The Academy's aim is to provide a strong foundation of academics and theoretical knowledge to support solid handling skills and mechanics gained through hands-on practice. Students will also learn about the business side of this profession, including how to start a new career, build and grow their own company, client-relations, and marketing.

Rocky Mountain Regional Dog Trainer Academy seeks to develop a relationship with students to facilitate open communication and encourage growth as they move through the program. The program is unique because trainers are there each step of the way, offering guidance and feedback as students increase their knowledge base and develop their skills.

This extensive and intensive training program will teach students:
How to gain knowledge of dog behavior and application of training techniques
How to develop and refine handling skills and mechanics
Learning Theory, Instructions Skills, Husbandry, Ethology, Equipment
Public speaking and group class management
Business building

Requirements include, but not limited to:
Observing and assisting group classes and private consultations
Volunteer work with a shelter or rescue group
Typically two weekends per month of lecture and training - Friday evening and Saturday morning
Required reading and practicum
Pre-requisite of 200 hours of previous dog experience (shelter volunteer or staff, assisting in dog training classes or private consultations, dog walking, grooming, vet technician)
Application-interview process
High school diploma or equivalent

This annual program will run July through December of 2011. Lectures will take place Friday evenings in Englewood, CO and continue, along with hands-on training, on Saturday mornings in Golden, CO. Students must be able to provide your own transportation. If you are interested in this program or would like more information, please visit http://www.trainingwithgrace.com/academy.html

Denver YP-South Kicks Off With Benefit for Invisible Disabilities

2011-06-10T05:36:00.001-06:00

Denver Young Professionals will launch of the Denver YP South Chapter at Comedy Works at Landmark on Wednesday 06-29-11 from 5 to 8 PM. This is a great networking event to support and help raise awareness of Invisible Disabilities, www.invisibledisabilities.org .

Wednesday, June 29 · 5:30pm - 8:30pm

The Comedy Works At Landmark

Village Shops at the Landmark Center

5345 Landmark Pl.
Greenwood Village, CO 80111
(720) 274-6800

Registration includes food, one drink and one ticket to the comedy show.

Please REGISTER at the link below to attend. All proceeds help to further the work of the Invisible Disabilities Association (IDA).

Pick one of four choices to register. The higher you choose, the more support you will give to IDA!

Count me in! $10.00
I want to help even more! $25.00
I'm a cheerful giver! $50.00
Times are tough! $5.00

Any amount will register you - we just want to give you choices and we want you to be there!

Register Here! www.InvisibleDisabilities.org/?ee=2

Door prizes! Silent Auction! Bring your business cards to network! Spread the word on Facebook! Learn about Invisible Disabilities! Learn about the Denver Young Professionals and their new Denver South group! Laugh!

Help support IDA and be VISIBLE and help people living with illness, pain and disability be INVISIBLE NO MORE!

DYP-South is a NEW sub group specifically designed to help network Young Professionals in Denver Tech Center, Greenwood Village, Lonetree, Parker, Littleon, Castle Rock, and More.

Be sure to look for Denver YP-South on: Linkedin and Facebook

Dynamic Women Networking

2011-06-07T17:40:00.001-06:00

Dynamic Women Networking is a meetup for business women marketing goods and services who prefer to work together instead of competitively. This meetup is for women only.

Dynamic Women Networking meets at the Egg and I at 80th and Sheridan, Arvada, CO every 2nd and 4th Monday of the month at 8:30am.

BECOME A MEMBER: http://www.meetup.com/Dynamic-Women-Networking/

MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS
• With your membership of $25.00 per quarter, you may promote one business.

• Put your business cards in our business card binder which is passed around at each Dynamic Women Networking Group meeting.

•Give a 15 minute “Member Spotlight Presentation” talk promoting your
business. This presentation must be educational while also promoting
your business.

• Give a 15 minute “Educational Presentation” to the
group about your industry (this is not to specifically promote your
business).

• Your business will be listed as a “Sponsor” on our Meetup site for a 2 week period on a rotation basis.

• A display table to promote your business at a Meetup. Please reserve in advance.

• Use of message board and calendar to promote your events. Must submit in writing at least 2 weeks before your event.

• Expanding throughout the greater Denver metro area, as a member, you may attend any and all DWN Meetups for FREE!

BECOME A MEMBER TODAY: http://www.meetup.com/Dynamic-Women-Networking/

A May Bridal Mingle In Greenwood Village

2011-05-16T09:06:00.000-06:00

The Bridal Mingle Networking event at Water 2 Wine in Greenwood Village is an opportunity for guest and professional alike to discover and enjoy that many features available for wedding events at this exciting venue!

Water 2 Wine is the PERFECT location for:
~ Proposals!
~ Engagement Parties!
~ Bridal Showers!
~ Rehearsal Dinners!
~ Receptions!
~ and in some cases, even the ceremony itself!

Join us from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. for gathering complete with Complementary Appetizers, and a guided tour of the winery. A Guest Pass is required to attend this event, and may be downloaded here: http://bridalmingledtc.eventbrite.com/

Water 2 Wine – Greenwood Village offers over 100 different wines from 13 countries. The wines are delicious and the staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Guests may choose to enjoy an unlimited wine tasting at this event for a minimal $15 per person, or by the glass at special guest pricing.

Every guest will receive a gift certificate for attending.
One lucky guest will win a gift basket and bottle of wine to take home, too!

GET YOUR GUEST PASS at:

http://bridalmingledtc.eventbrite.com/

Happy Hour Networking Event To Celebrate Single Moms

2011-05-03T10:54:00.003-06:00

This afternoon "Drivetime With Mac & Doog" will be broadcasting LIVE from The Cabin Bar Denver 3pm-6pm followed by a free 303Network Happy Hour to raise awareness of the vision of Marla Jane Swanson and The WilLiv Center (http://www.williv.org/) to help single moms and their kids.

What can be possible when three seemingly unrelated industries come together with a common vision based on the principle, "never grow weary of doing good"?

The WilLiv Center, founded by visionary Marla Jane Swanson, is a Colorado 501-(c)(3) Non-Profit dedicated to helping women and chiildren survive the ordeal that is caused by a long and painful divorce process. By providing moral, emotional, and yes, sometimes even financial support, The WilLiv Center strives to help women and children make it through the trials and tribulations of the court process, until they can get settled in their new lifestyle.

Mark McIntosh and Jimmy Doogan, "Mac and Doog", host three hours of sports talk weekdays from 3-6 on AM1510 and FM93.7 where they encourage listeners to call in and share with their mantra, "Ain't about us, it's about YOU!"

Mac and Doog are two dudes who love sports, people and playing like champions in the game of life. They cherish encouraging others to mix the three, a terrific trio in honoring self, nurturing those dependent upon themselves and adding value to the communities they serve.

The 303Network is one of the most successful and heavily attended networking groups in Denver. The 303Network produces monthly mixers for creative, corporate and entrepreneurial folks alike, and provides opportunities for individuals to experience casual networking as a means to meet individuals for business partnerships, sales leads, new business or even new jobs.

In an effort to raise awareness for The WilLiv Center and encourage a community gathering of professionals and consumers focused on connecting and growth, Mac & Doog and 303Network joined forces. Armed with Mark McIntosh's signature tagline, "never grow weary of doing good", the expanded team has invited members of the community to attend a casual mixer where they can meet the celebrities, connect with others, and support this very worthwhile cause.

The event will be held this afternoon at The Cabin Bar, 2700 S. Havana St. in Aurora. Drivetime with Mac & Doog will broadcast live from 3pm - 6pm, and Happy Hour will begin at 5:30pm. Guests may attend for free when they register online at http://maymacdoog303network.eventbrite.com/, and will be treated to drink and dinner specials and the sultry vocal sounds of Molly Cottrell. Free parking is available, and a silent auction will feature mom-friendly gifts. The event will be covered by local media including NightlifeDenver.com and The Denver Networking Examiner. More than 200 guests are currently registered, and more are anticipated.

Sponsors include FiG Advertising, NotionONE, Midas-Financial, Joni Pfeffer Silpada, George Ira Carroll, Marketing Artfully, Seek Victory, Dynamic Women, and The Colorado Connecto r.

###

Contact The WilLiv Center online at http://www.williv.org.

Learn more about Drivetime with Mac and Doog visit http://www.milehighsports.com/?page_id=584.

To connect with the 303Network and view their events, visit http://www.303networkdenver.com.

An Evening of Dancing and Music With The Jim Hyatt Band

2010-12-07T10:08:00.000-07:00

The WilLiv Center will be hosting a fundraising dance with the support of its sponsors, and the local community, featuring the Jim Hyatt Band!
What: An Evening of Dancing and Music With The Jim Hyatt Band

When: Saturday, December 11, 2010 7:00 PM

Where: Buffalo Rose
1119 Washington Ave
Golden, CO 80401

Be sure to attend this remarkable evening of fun, food, and entertainment for all, including a live and silent auction at the Buffalo Rose 1119 Washington, Golden, CO 80401. December 11, 2010 7 - 11 PM.

Additional sponsors are needed, as well as items to be sold in our live and silent auction. All silent auction items will be available to view online. Tickets may be purchased through Black Tie. Price of Tickets $40 for Individuals and $70 per Couple

Hosted by: Mark McIntosh

THE WILLIV CENTER
Partnering with Women and Children going through Divorce

Have you known a woman with children going through the painful process of divorce? Not only is it stressful and painful, but it can take time.. time that the bills still have to be paid, and food still has to be provided for the children. While working through the legal morass of paperwork, and waiting for the courts to reach a decision, women and children struggle to simply live, and keep some semblance of a normal existence, while getting through one of the most emotionally disturbing times of their lives.

The WilLiv Center is a Colorado 501-(c)(3) Non-Profit dedicated to helping women and children survive the ordeal that is caused by a long and painful divorce process. By providing moral, emotional, and yes, sometimes, Financial Support, we strive to help women and children make it through the trials and tribulations of the court process, until they can get settled in their new lifestyle.

Click here to learn how The WilLiv Center started - and why.

The WilLiv Center - a Colorado 501-(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization
11559 W. 27th Avenue, Lakewood, CO 80215
Ph. 303.232.2143 Fx. 303.234.1109 Email. marla@williiv.org

Get Rejuvenated

2010-11-27T05:50:00.000-07:00

Take time now, as the weather changes and provides a reprieve from summer to enjoy a relaxing treatment that is tailored just for you. It will ensure that your body and mind is prepared for shorter days and the cold temperatures of winter.

Give yourself a little time to experience a fantastic treatment, enjoy the moment and rejuvenate your spirit.

Schedule your appointment today.
It's the perfect, thoughtful gift of relaxation -- an Instant Gift Certificate from Rebekah & Co. ~ Now At Spalon Golden!.

Purchase an Instant Gift Certificate

Give Way to Fall with Relaxation

The weather is cool and the leaves are starting to fall. Take time now to relax and enjoy a tailored, nurturing treatment. Make your appointment today!

Rebekah & Co. ~
Now At Spalon Golden! • Spalon, Inc., Golden, CO 80401 • (303) 216-0850

The best way to reach ANY goal...

2010-02-22T13:21:00.000-07:00

Without exception, this is the most realistic and effective way
I’ve seen to actually multiply your happiness…

7 Secrets To Happiness

I mean, have you actually noticed how many people are just
stumbling through life in haze of chronic UNhappiness?
We all know Bobby McFerrin’s song right? Don’t worry, be happy.
Well sometimes it takes a lot more than a cheery tune to get there.

Now it could be you already think you’re pretty happy. OK, great.

But how goes it with meeting ANY goal you would like to achieve?
You see, my colleague Natalie Ledwell has figured out something
pretty darned powerful. It all came together for her after when she finally
accomplished two of her biggest personal goals…the first being the successful
launch of Mind Movies to the world and the second to peel of 20 pounds of fat
in just seven weeks.

The cool thing is, while for her it was a business and a “weighty issue”—her step by
step approach works for anything you want to achieve.

For you it might be breaking a bad habit, making a bigger income, moving into a nicer home—really just anything you sincerely want to accomplish.

Natalie soon realized there was an essential process that combined both
the law of attraction, your goals, AND the necessary action steps
needed to bring it all together in a successful way.

Think of it as kind of a “Law of Attraction meets Fulfilling Your Goals”
Championship.
Here’s The Key To Meeting Your Goals Fast

But there was one other huge benefit of Natalie’s process—she quickly
noticed she felt incredibly HAPPY—and JOYFUL—and just really,
really GOOD every single day!

And when she tested her program out on willing volunteers, they
experienced the same thing—increased happiness AND meeting
their goals fast.

I think you might agree, this can only be a GOOD thing both for
you, and those around you too.

She’ll tell you how can do it too—right here…
Natalie’s Way To Happiness

I’ve gone through her program, and I’ve got to tell you, it just
makes sense.

And if you’re one of those people who poured over the Secret,
but still feel something missing from making it work for YOU…

This Is The Missing Piece of the Puzzle

All you have to do is follow the simple but powerful steps
Natalie lines out for you—and expect to feel the difference
very quickly.

Actually, to have a “double whammy” of benefit from one program
is pretty remarkable.

You feel happier and just better about life very quickly…

AND you accomplish a goal that may have always been just
out of reach for you in a very methodical and reliable way.

What could be better than that?

If I were you, I’d be all over this today. Not only will you
benefit greatly from a powerful program for success—you’ll
also get a 1200 bucks in extra goodies from Natalie
too—but ONLY until their 2000 copies have gone. So don’t wait!

Get $1,200 In Additional Goodies

It’s been fun talking to you—but right now its time for you
to jump into action and check out the 7 Secrets To Happiness.

All the best,
Rebekah

P.S. You may recognize Natalie Ledwell as part of the astounding
Mind Movies team. Those are the fantastic movies you create to
power up your manifesting abilities. They are AWESOME! And I
just happen to know Natalie is going to GIVE you access to the
Mind Movies program as part of her launch special. Just another
reason why you should be on this immediately!

You Get Mind Movies Too!

Six Beauty Habits Men Wish You’d Skip

2009-06-12T07:28:00.000-06:00

Put down the “chicken cutlets” and give the stilettos a break. Jake explains why guys want you to show a little less effort.

Six Beauty Habits Men Wish You’d Skip - Makeup, Skin Care & Hair - Your Look - MSN Lifestyle

Why Women Over 30 Are Sexy

2009-06-01T09:45:00.000-06:00

As a 30-something woman, she worries that guys aren't into her type, but several male friends set her straight and reveal that women over thirty may be even more attractive than the 20-somethings she is intimidated by.

Why Women Over 30 Are Sexy - MSN Relationships - article

The Most Serious Health Concerns for Women and What You Can Do

2009-02-16T09:22:00.001-07:00

These days, it seems women have more health concerns than ever. Perhaps they are greater in number than ever before or perhaps we are just more aware of women's issues as women are more comfortable having them brought to the forefront.

One issue that continually does get the attention it deserves is breast cancer. The breast cancer statistics are alarming, and almost everyone you know has a sister or mother who has suffered from this deadly disease. If caught early enough, it does not have to be deadly. In fact, there are things you can do so that you don't get it at all. Every woman (young and old) should be checking their breasts monthly to detect for any strange lumps or any unusual signs. This can be done in the shower, with one arm raised and the other performing the checking task. Any doctor can show you the specifics on how to do this. If you do sense something suspicious, make an appointment with your doctor right away to have it looked at. The other thing you can do is be a conscious consumer; every day the FDA is coming out with new information as to what may be potential carcinogens (cancer-causing agents), from food additives to plastics to environmental hazards. Becoming aware and taking the time to be educated can make all the difference in the world.

Another major health concern for women is heart disease. This continues to be the number one killer of women, actually, and it doesn't just happen to those you would suspect. When people think of heart disease, most people think of the severely obese. However, women can suffer from heart disease, high blood pressure, and clogged arteries from poor food choices, lack of exercise, and stress. Believe it or not, if you eat fast food on a regular basis and skip the gym in favor of drinks after a very stressful work day that ends at 7:00 p.m. instead of 5:00 p.m., you may be in a higher risk category than your friend who remains calm, eats a lot of healthy food choices, and practices yoga a couple times a week. If you know you are in the first group, the best thing you can do for yourself is to start making small changes. If you can't get away from a stressful job or career, make sure to step away each hour and do deep breathing exercises, and stretch your body while at work. Go to the ladies room to do it if necessary! Try to make smarter food choices, even if it means just eliminating one of your ‘junk food meals' a week. If you're not big on exercise, start with a simple walk a couple times a week and go from there. The sooner you make these changes, the healthier you will be and the less at risk for heart disease.

A third issue for women and one that has been on the rise for quite some time is obesity. The "average" American woman has increased in size to a size 12 or even a size 14, with many women reaching far beyond that size. This can be unhealthy depending on your body fat percentage. While women can take some of the same steps as with heart disease discussed above, people who suffer from obesity may need to take more drastic measures in order to get their weight down. If you are obese, it is definitely time to get your diet in check so that you don't later develop heart disease, or adult diabetes, or a host of other problems from being overweight. Eating a lot of processed, artificially sweetened, or sugar and fat-laden foods is likely a habit, and one that needs to be nipped in the bud. Hand in hand with poor eating habits is exercise habits, and if you don't have any it's time to get some! It will be difficult at first, and you are likely to be winded and tired after a very short time of exertion. However, if you keep pushing through the challenging times you will soon see and feel the difference. You will notice you have more energy, as your workout time may go from ten minutes on the treadmill to fifteen to twenty. As you benefit from this greater energy, it will not only help power you through your workout sessions, but it will put a brighter spin on the rest of your life. You will find you have more energy throughout the day, and chances are you will continue to burn calories because of this. You will probably find an easier time making healthy food choices if you incorporate exercise into your fight against obesity as well.

Women's issues can be the same as men's issues or they can be different. The good news is, women's health concerns get discussed more than they used to, and this gives us greater power in awareness.

About The Author
Megan Hazel is a freelance writer who writes about health and fitness topics, similar to what consumers read in http://www.magazines.com/ncom/mag?mid=7765 Women's Health.

50 Most Influential Powerful Women in Social Media

2008-11-12T10:03:00.000-07:00

50 Most Influential Powerful Women in Social Media

Binge Eating Is Not A Form Of Dieting

2008-10-09T17:43:00.000-06:00

There is certainly no shortage of advice these days when it comes to dieting. Generally a large portion of the advice is centered around what you should eat and what you should not eat. Although what you eat certainly plays a large role in the success of any diet, it isn't the only component to a successful diet. Many times is the case the one's eating habits are getting in the way of their diet strategy.

Keep in mind that when eat and when (or for how long you don't)you don't eat are a very important component in your diet. In other words, your eating habit. Why is this so important? Primarily because when you are dieting you are changing the way you eat and you don't want to get into an unhealthy eating habit of starving yourself then binge eating.

Let me ask you this... does this ring a bell at all? For breakfast you have very little to eat or perhaps nothing at all. Around lunch time, you are either too busy or you just don't want to consume any unhealthy restaurant or fast foods. So by this point maybe you've had something to drink and a cracker or two. Now, by the time you get back home, your body is screaming for something to eat. In fact, you're so hungry you could eat a proverbial horse. You rationalize eating way more than you should because you essentially have had nothing all day long. You end up closing out your day by watching some television... in fact, you fall asleep while doing so.

Is this the same as eating three good meals each day? Eating one meal that is the same amount of food as three? No it isn't. It isn't because of the way that the body digests the food. All day long you have starved your body of what it needs, it can't handle everything at once.

You are quite simply overloading your body's capacity and balance. As a result, you will end up eating all kinds of foods that aren't good for you or your diet. And more often than not, if you are away from home, you'll grab some fast food or other type of food that is high in fat.

This unhealthy eating habit occurs because you have driven your body to the point that it must have some type of nourishment and this is not good for you from a health stand point or a diet stand point.

You can snack in between those meals too. You want to make sure though that your snacks are healthy ones. Did you know that most doctors say that snacking is good for you? It gives you some energy when you are feeling like you are running on empty.

Eat snacks that are going to energize you not those that are loaded with fat. Foods that are high in fat actually make you feel even more lethargic and trigger your appetite to eat more.

If you are having problems eating three meals a day, you really need to work on your diet. This is because you don't want to binge eat. Binge eating will only hurt you in the long run.

Starving your body is not healthy and it certainly isn't an effective approach to weight loss. The more you starve your body the more your body goes into a defensive mode against the starvation by trying to conserve all the energy it can... thus making it even tougher to lose the weight.

For more important information on weight loss be sure to visit weight-loss-won.com where you will find product reviews and tips on how to lose weight, dieting, and more.

CHECKLIST: Are You A Victim Of Abuse?

2008-09-26T12:15:00.000-06:00

The Extensive Domestic Violence Checklist Revised Aug. 1999 This list identifies a series of behaviors typically demonstrated by batterers and abusive people. All of these forms of abuse come from the batterer‘s desire for power and control.

The list can help you recognize if you or someone you know is in a violent relationship. Check off those behaviors that apply to the relationship.

The more checks on the page, the more dangerous the situation may be.

1. Blames me for everything that goes wrong in our relationship, blames me for his mistakes most of which are the most preposterous things.

2. Threatens to kill me or have others kill me.

3. Threatens to leave me all the time

4. Has threatened to commit suicide.

5. Threatens to report me to welfare authorities.

6. Is using my immigration status against me and I fear deportation.

7. Makes me afraid by looks, actions or gestures.

8. Displays weapon, shows weapons to make me afraid.

9. Limits my freedom, tells me what to do, where to go, and when to come back.

10. Makes all the decisions.

11. Won‘t let you have friends, or judges your friends and family harshly, says bad things about your friends or family to others.

12. Becomes angry for no apparent reason. I feel any action on my behalf can cause him to erupt.

13. Blames me when I am mistreated. Says, "I provoked it!"

14. Threatens to harm my children, family, or friends.

15. Takes my car keys or prevents me from using the car.

16. Insists I dress in a more sexual way than I want to or just the opposite, that I wear clothes that make me look ugly so no one will look at me.

17. He publicly shows interest in other women.

18. Insults my most valued beliefs, religion, race, heritage or ethical background.

19. Punishs or deprives the children when he is angry with me.

20. Tells me about his affairs in order to destroy my emotional well being.

21. Monitors my phone calls, or mail, or the odometer mileage.

22. Refuses to give me money or takes my money.

23. Interferes with my work or will not let me work.

24. Has exclusive control over our money and the household finances.

25. Uses pressure tactics to rush me into making decisions through guilt-tripping and other forms of intimidation.

26. Calls me a cunt, whore, slut, bitch or other sexual demeaning names.

27. He tells me that I am not worth having as a mate, yet will not consider breaking it off.

28. He has raped me.

29. Exposed me to venereal disease, STD‘s, or AIDS

30. Forced prostitution or strip dancing. Or uses prostitutes and strippers.

31. Forced me to look at pornography or be apart of it when I did not want to.

32. We have hurtful or uncomfortable sex.

33. He pressures me for sex.

34. He withholds sex as a measure to make me feel asexual, or tells me what a lousy lover I am.

35. He will not let me use contraception.

36. He cheats on me...(Cyber-sex on the computer counts!)

37. Our sex is humiliating/or at times sadistic that I am fearful.

38. When I ask him questions about things that are legitimately my business ...I get no answers or the run-around.

39. He demands that I obey him.

40. Becomes angry when I tell him, he is drinking or drugging to much.

41. Becomes upset if dinner, housework, or laundry was not done exactly the way he thinks it should be.

42. Overreacts to little things like the toilet paper is going the wrong way, and retaliates by doing or saying something hurtful to me.

43. Tells me I really cannot manage without him or take care of myself.

44. He acts like I am his personal servant.

45. Says bad things about me to friends, family or coworkers.

46. Twist my words around and will not let me explain the correct thing that I was I saying.

47. Tells me that all my problems are because I am worthless, and can‘t manage to do anything right.

48. Shows disrespect by interrupting and changing the topic.

49. Abuses authority by always claiming to be right.

50. Manipulates the children.

51. Shoved me

52. Pushed me.

53. Restrained me so I could not move.

54. Hit me.

55. Slap me around.

56. Bit me.

57. Choked me.

58. Kicked me.

59. Tripped me.

60. Pulled my hair.

61. Punched me with his fist.

62. Acted like a bully toward me.

63. Treated me like I was stupid.

64. Pinched me.

65. Squeezed me until there was pain.

66. Jerked me around.

67. Shook me.

68. Burned me.

69. Choked/or suffocated me.

70. Thrown objects or food at me.

71. Abused drugs or alcohol and pressures me to take them.

72. Abused the children.

73. Abused the pets.

74. Throws things at me.

75. Punches our walls.

76. There are qualities about myself that I like but he disapproves of or ridicules me.

77. Criticizes my body parts, for example, tell me I am ugly, or fat, or unattractive.

78. Calls me names, swears or makes humiliating gestures.

79. Makes me feel guilty.

80. He makes me think I am going crazy at times.

81. Plays mind games with my head.

82. Humiliates or makes fun of me in front of other people.

83. Says that I belong to him, that he can‘t live without me, no one else can ever have me.

84. Ignores me, withholds approval.

85. Lies, withholds information form me.

86. Breaks promises, does not follow through on agreements.

87. Completely isolates himself from me.

88. Keeps me away from my family or friends or he must come with me all the time.

89. He thinks I am with another man if I am not at home or when he calls.

90. Checked up on me.

91. I was not allowed to make family decisions or settle conflicts by talking things out.

92. He sulked a lot.

93. Does not take fair share of responsibilities.

94. Said the abuse did not happen, denies it.

95. Demanded I stay home/or won‘t let me go back to school, work and, etc.,

96. Became angry if I disagree with his point of view.

97. Beaten me so badly that I needed medical help.

98. Screamed and yelled at me.

99. Made me feel guilty about the children.

100. I always had to yield to my partners needs.

101. My family and friends are concerned about my safety.

102. Cut or stabbed me.

103. Broke my teeth.

104. Abused my stomach when pregnant.

105. Used weapons on me.

106. Hit me with an object.

107. Ripped my clothes off.

108. Abandoned me in dangerous places.

109. Used the children to relay his messages.

110. Threatened to take the children away.

111. He defined the roles of men and women, what they do within a relationship.

112. He thought he was master of the castle and that he could do anything he wants.

113. Did not let me know our income, properties we own, or money problems.

114. Has mood swing behavior patterns, one minute my mate is sweet and caring then will do a complete about face and be angry about things that were totally O.K. before. Switches back and forth between behavior for no apparent reasons.

115. Makes me think I am responsible for making this relationship work.

116. I fear he will track me down and kill me if I leave.

117. He has threatened to put me in a mental hospital, or insists that I am unstable or crazy.

118. Stands in the doorway during an argument as if to say you are staying her and not leaving.

119. He buys things in my name and not his.

120. He digs in my purse, my computer and in my private things.

121. His acts of irresponsibility threaten my credit.

122. He explains his abusive actions by blaming his violence or his temper because of his stress at work, or external factors.

This list may be used for public distribution..in order to help those in need. This Checklist was based on the fact that 97% of all Domestic Abuse Cases are Women.

Are You In An Abusive Relationship?

2008-09-26T12:07:00.000-06:00

Abusive relationships take many forms and are not limited to physical abuse. Are you in one?

http://www.womansavers.com/relationship-articles.asp?a=128

The Women's Wilderness Institute

2008-09-16T10:23:00.000-06:00

The Women’s Wilderness Institute offers high quality outdoor adventures and outdoor trips for women and teen girls in the Rocky Mountains and southwestern deserts and rivers.

The Women's Wilderness Institute, women's adventure travel, women's adventure trips, outdoor adventure, wilderness adventure,women'sadventure,outdoor trips, hiking adventure

Good Skin Matters - New Location!

2008-08-25T08:58:00.000-06:00

ANNOUNCING A NEW LOCATION for Pamela Good, Licensed/Certified Esthetician Skin Care Specialist. Pamela specializes in Corrective Skin Care, Non-Invasively. Methods include Microdermabrasion, Photo Rejuvenation, Waxing, Endermology... just to name a few. Come in for your Complementary DermaScope Evaluation/Analysis. ($65 value) Limited time offer.

NOW AT:
Salon du Soleil
7475 E Arapahoe Rd
Englewood CO 80112
Tel: (303) 770-9200 Reach Pamela Good Directly to set appointments.
Hours: Open at 9:00 a.m.
http://www.goodskinmatters.com

Serving the Centennial, Englewood and Greenwood Village areas for 15 years, Salon du Soleil has been a mainstay of the community. All of Salon du Soleil professionals have extensive experience and work diligently to improve their technical and design skills.

She works with Positive Psychology

2008-08-25T08:26:00.002-06:00

She is a psychologist focusing on the new branch within psychology named Positive Psychology.

An interesting method that focuses on positive aspects that leads to success and happiness.

She provides lectures and counselling in positive work psychology for companies and institutions in Iceland.

Anna Jóna Guðmundsdóttir, Iceland | Connected-Women.com

Squat Toilets Are Not Meant For Women Over 30!

2008-06-05T17:10:00.000-06:00

At my age I thought I'd seen it all. But, after living in Thailand for a year I gave thanks to my mother for seeing that I was potty-trained in the good ole' U.S. of A.

A few days after arriving in Bangkok, I was shopping at Robinson 's Department Store. I'd been having some bladder problems, and as many 50-something women find, their lower internal organs begin to drop, droop, sag, bag and demand attention; and we don't ignore it when we feel the familiar sign of wet knickers.

I spotted the unisex sign for "Toilet." I'd heard rumors about squat toilets; thankfully my hotel was kind enough to offer sparkly white Western sit-down toilets. Dare I try this? Logic told me to head back to my hotel, but I had to weigh the time it would take in a tuk-tuk (picture a motorcycle with a bucket seat in the back, held in place by a tin cover), and I didn't think my bladder would appreciate it. I chose the squat toilet. I mean, how bad could it be? This was Robinson 's , an international upscale chain.

I peeked inside. I wanted to turn and flee. I gagged. Think Kansas City Stock Yard meets Los Angeles County Landfill. I held my breath until I felt faint. I thought about trying to breathe through my mouth but decided it might be better to smell than to taste. I had to do this. There was no backing out now. I gave my kegel muscles a huge clench and duck-waddled inside.

There it lay, the ubiquitous Eastern squat toilet, waiting for the next feeble foreigner. It was a hole cut in the tile floor, with porcelain inside the hole and a thin porcelain ledge around the top to stand on. The sides were dappled with droplets of doo-doo in various shades of black, brown and ecru.

For my American sisters who have never traveled to a foreign country that offers these contortion contraptions, let my story serve as a high-level travel alert.

I studied this enigma and tried to decide on the best point of entry. I stepped up closer to the beast. Wait! How is a woman supposed to squat on this thing? If you're wearing long pants they need to be pulled down, along with your undies. To where do you pull them? If you pull them down just a little, you'll pee on them. So, you must get into a kind of stooping position, then pull them down just past your butt cheeks and squat. While squatting, you have to pull them down a little more and tuck them under your knees. You also need to hike them up far enough so the bottoms don't touch the filthy floor. Then you squat-walk towards the hole.

But what if you have on a full skirt or muumuu? You have to pull the front of the skirt up and wad it under your chin, then grab the back of the skirt and wrap it around your waist and try to make a cute little square knot to hold everything in place. And while you're trying to maneuver yourself into position you have no idea where your feet are with all the clothes piled up around your torso.

You scan the room for a toilet paper. Nada! You panic! But wait, over in the corner you spot a spigot with a hose and pail ready and waiting for the nice little butt lavage. This is Asia, girlfriend. Forget about using paper to pat your tu-tu dry. Water is the cleanser of choice.

It 's now time to conquer your fears � and damp drawers. You're going to need an Olympic score of ten on your mount, and hope your feet hit the indents and not the hole. The porcelain is wet. The floor is wet. There is no paper. You start to pray. You hike up your skirt, wrap it around yourself, drop your drawers and tuck them behind your knees, and make the jump.

You made it! Now you're on and in the squatting position. You wonder if you can keep your balance long enough to empty your bladder. It freezes. It 's not going to cooperate. It trickles out one drop at a time, punishing you. Your back hurts, your thighs are screaming and your hamstrings are losing ground. Your purse handles are between your teeth as you try to dig out a piece of tissue with one hand while the other is flailing overhead for balance. One wrong move and you could do a pratfall onto the filthy, wet floor, or, the unthinkable � the hole.

Your bladder quits pouting and finally empties; it 's now time to dismount. But how? You realize you have to get up, and you must do it before the store closes. There 's nothing to hang on to. Both arms are now flailing about, your teeth are losing their grip on your purse handles, and your clothes are tucked into your wrinkles. You must prepare for your dismount before you fall face forward or ass backwards. You know you'll have no help from your burning thigh muscles. You give a giant heave and fling yourself up and out of the crouched position.

Yes! You made it! I'm sure everyone in the store knew I'd successfully landed my dismount when they heard me yell, "Thank you, Buddha!"

Ultimately, I suppose that the squat toilet is a great idea when it comes to the process of elimination. That is if you're in your 20s and practice yoga every day. I missed these criteria by about thirty years. Suffice it to say I wouldn't want to be caught with my knickers around my ankles with a Candid Camera crew hovering in the wings.

Dodie Cross is a freelance writer who has received numerous awards for her writing and poetry. Dodie has traveled the world, writing about her life in foreign countries. Learn more at: A Broad Abroad(Reprinted with permission from A Broad Abroad in Thailand by Dodie Cross).

Handmade Baby and Children's hat clearance

2008-05-24T16:06:00.001-06:00

be still & knit, llc is changing business to focus solely on classes and programs! So, I've got dozens of baby and children's items on clearance. May and June are among the most popular months for babies to be born, so stock up on great gifts for all the little ones in your life. More items are being added daily, so stop by often. As with every item from be still & knit, shipping is FREE!

Visit http://www.bestillandknit.com/shopping to see our latest clearance items!

A Girl's Guide to Camping

2008-04-08T15:02:00.000-06:00

As a city girl who has gone country from time to time, I can honestly say you’ll never see a prettier sight than a sky full of bright stars—plus making s’mores while gossiping about the men in your lives will undoubtedly breathe new life into your friendships. But before you head for the great outdoors, here's what you need to know about camping.

Reserve your spot.
If you are new to camping, it might be best to stick to established campsites. You can research and reserve a campsite for you and your girls on websites like www.reserveamerica.com.

Prepare for the trip.
Personal Gear
Food. Think of what is light and easy to cook—instant oatmeal and soup, PB&J sandwiches and nuts are all good options. Pack all of your food in plastic bags to keep out moisture.

Water bottles. Besides containing your water, they come in handy if you get a bit chilly at night. Simply pour hot water into your bottle and put it in the bottom of your sleeping bag before you go to sleep. Nalgene is one of the most popular brands of camping water bottles.

Warm clothing. It’s good to have at least one lightweight pair of pants with you to keep you warm and your legs safe from bugs and poison oak exposure. Avoid jeans because they are heavy and don’t dry quickly.

Good socks. Bring an extra pair just in case the others get wet or muddy.

Hiking boots or a good pair of trail runners. No need to spend big bucks on heavy hiking shoes. These days, you can use trail runners with knobby treads for most hiking trips. Check out Salomon XA Pros or Teva X-1.

Sunscreen. Choose a sport, sweat-resistant sunscreen like one from Himaya. The brand offers disposable packets of sunscreen. One packet works great for two to three people.

Bug Spray.

Sleeping bag, or a large sheet for warm areas.

Sleeping mat.

Camping pillow.

Extra batteries. For all battery-operated equipment you’re bringing. You don’t want your flashlight to die during your night-time bathroom run, do you?

Headlamp or a good flashlight. Headlamps have thick elastic bands that allow you to put the light on your head and keep your hands free to set up a tent or start a campfire. You can get a cheap headlamp at your local discount store or a brand name one online or at a wilderness store.

Group Gear

Small, easy to set up tent. When sleeping under the stars, tent-free may sound attractive, but dew, dust, rodents and creepy crawlers are reason enough to carry a tent. Lightweight ones can be found at REI for around $100. Most fit two people.

Portable stove. Make sure someone has a light, compact camp stove that runs on white gas.

First-aid kit. Besides the usual suspects, get a product called Zanfel, an over-the-counter lotion for skin exposed to poison ivy and poison oak, just in case you or one of your girlfriends accidentally rubs up against one of these nasty plants. Also, throw in a pair of tweezers to help remove splinters or bee stingers.

Newspaper or pieces of scrap paper to help build a fire.

Test your gear.
It’s important to test your gear days before everyone caravans to the destination. Make sure at least one of you knows how to set up the tent and that someone has lit your stove to make sure it works. Check your headlamp and make sure the bulb isn’t burnt out. Also, make it a point to try your backpack around your neighborhood—pack it full and walk around for 30 minutes through a park and uphill. You’ll get a better feel for what you can handle on the trail.

On the trail.
How to start a fire.
Your good looks may be enough to get things sizzling when out on the town, but, unfortunately, in the woods they don’t count for much. To start a real fire at a campground, look for a fire pit. Once you’ve found one, crumple the paper you brought into tight little balls and place them in the pit. Next, look around your site for dry branches and bark of different sizes. If you come across wood that is green, don’t use it—it won’t burn. Place small branches over the paper. Lay three to four branches one direction and then a few more in the other direction, making almost a little house on top of the paper. Light the paper and then let it burn a little bit. After the first pieces of wood start to burn, put bigger pieces on to keep it going. Be careful not to put big pieces on too quickly as they can smother the fire. Think about getting as much air through the pieces of wood as possible. To put it out, simply throw dirt on top of the burning embers. NEVER leave a campsite with a fire still burning.

Use this girl's guide to camping and you’ll not only camp in style, but you’ll have as much fun as you do shopping for a new pair of stilettos.

This article was originally published on www.savvymiss.com, a free website community dedicated to connecting, empowering and informing women everywhere. SavvyMiss.com features articles on dating, love, careers, fashion, health, beauty and important societal issues. Members also use message boards and blogs to build relationships with other members.

Tea, High Tea And Afternoon Tea – What’s The Difference?

2008-04-03T17:09:00.000-06:00

Tea the Drink

There are two forms of tea that often cause confusion in the tea world: tea the drink and tea the meal. Tea the drink is made from the Camellia Sinensis plant and from the processing of the plant white, green, oolong, and black teas are produced. The basic teas are also often blended with other plants like vanilla, mint and melon as well as flavors like Oil of Bergamot to make Earl Grey Tea,

The beverage is made by steeping processed leaves, buds, or twigs of the tea bush in hot water for a few minutes. The processing can include oxidation, heating, drying, and the addition of other herbs, flowers, spices, and fruits.

The term "herbal tea" usually refers to infusions of fruit or of herbs (such as rosehip, chamomile, or jiaogulan) that contain no Camellia Sinensis.

Tea the Meal

Tea the meal on the other hand involves tea the drink as an important part but really is directed toward social and family gatherings where tea and food are often consumed together.

Generally speaking , the tea meal became most popular and refined in England but spread to English speaking countries or former English colonies as well. Tea meals are also celebrated in other countries in differing forms.

The key distinction between differing tea meals is the time of day, type of food served and the location of serving.

Afternoon tea

Afternoon tea (or Low tea) is a light meal typically eaten at 4:00 pm. It originated in Britain, though various places in the former British Empire also have such a meal. However, most Britons no longer eat such a meal.

Traditionally, loose tea would be served in a teapot with milk and sugar. This would be accompanied by various sandwiches (customarily cucumber, egg and cress, tuna, ham, and smoked salmon), scones (with butter, clotted cream and jam) and usually cakes and pastries. Traditionally the tea and food would be served on a lounge (or low) table.

While afternoon tea used to be an everyday event, nowadays it is more likely to be a treat in a hotel, café, or tea shop, although many Britons still have a cup of tea and slice of cake or chocolate at teatime. Accordingly, many hotels now market and promote afternoon teas.

High tea

To the uninitiated, High tea may be a confusing term.

High tea is an early evening meal, typically eaten between 5:00 and 6:00 pm. It would be eaten as a substitute for both afternoon tea and the evening meal. The term comes from the meal being eaten at the ‘high’ (main) table, instead of the smaller lounge (low) table. It is now largely replaced by the later meal tea.

It would usually consist of cold meats, eggs and/or fish, cakes and sandwiches. In a family, it tended to be less formal and is an informal snack (featuring sandwiches, cookies, pastry, fruit and the like) or else it is the main evening meal.

On farms, rural areas or other working class environments, high tea would be the traditional, substantial meal eaten by workers immediately after nightfall, and would combine afternoon tea with the main evening meal.

In recent years, High tea somehow became a word for exquisite afternoon tea. Such usage is incorrect. High Tea is not, in traditional terms, afternoon tea.

Main evening meal

Tea is the main evening meal, even if the diners are not drinking tea. It is traditionally eaten at 5 o'clock in the evening, though often it is later, as late as 9pm.

In many rural parts of the United Kingdom tea as a meal is synonymous with dinner in Standard English. Under such usage, the midday meal is sometimes termed dinner, rather than lunch.

The United States

The term high tea is sometimes used in the United States to refer to afternoon tea or the tea party, a very formal, ritualized gathering in which tea, thin sandwiches and small cakes are served in an exquisite setting. This usage comes from misunderstanding the term high to mean formal. Most tea drinkers understand that such usage is incorrect;

This form of tea is increasingly served in high-end U.S. hotels, often during the winter holidays and other tourist seasons, and many big-city teahouses, where it is usually correctly described as Afternoon tea

Social Implications

The tea party is still occasionally given in the U.S., usually for a special occasion. This occasion is a formal one, but otherwise afternoon tea is an informal gathering of friends. The tea party often became a place of intimate conversation and social intercourse.

Tea is a very important part of many people’s lives and it is important for those who drink tea or participate in tea meals to understand the correct terminology.

Marcus Stout is President of the Golden Moon Tea Company. For more information about tea, green tea and black tea go to http://www.goldenmoontea.com

Caregiving - The Ultimate Love

2008-03-31T20:07:00.001-06:00

Being the caregiver of someone who is terminally ill is one of the most difficult and painful jobs one will likely ever experience. At the same time, it is one of the most rewarding and privileged gifts one can ever give or receive.

In times of grief, it is difficult to imagine how in the world anything positive can be seen in something so tragic as caring for the terminally ill and dying. As in all areas of life, when we peel away the emotions attached to a situation, everything has a reason and its place in the grand scheme of things.

On a logical level, we must come to understand that nature is not selective. We know this when we happen upon a dead animal while walking through the woods, or when we watch the leaves fall off the trees every fall, or despite our green thumb and special care, our favorite plant dies for no apparent reason.

It is worth saying again – Nature is not selective.

Every living thing must eventually die. We are rarely ever ready. We are, as a society, more ill-equipped to have to watch it happening. I once called my father on an especially painful day during my fifteen-year-old daughter, Leora's cancer battle, and I cried about the agony of knowing day to day she was dying. He asked me a very important question.

"If you had the choice, would you rather lose her tragically and quick, or this way?" The question caught me by surprise, and it made me think.

What it comes down to is that it's all a trade-off. If it is sudden, the agony of watching the person I love die does not weigh on me day and night. I am not plagued by the reality of how powerless I really am.

But would I trade it for quick and tragic? The last words my daughter and I exchanged were "I love you", because we had the time.

The fact is that we ARE powerless over death. We are powerless to take away the mechanical process that is happening. We may make decisions for our loved ones to prolong death, but at what price?

Caregiving is much more than just changing bedding and bathing. A caregiver, for our intents and purposes, wears too many hats to list, as the list is ever-changing. From basic care, to legal matters and sometimes overwhelmingly big medical decisions, nothing is meaningless during this time of intensive caring. The closeness and trust that forms between the dying and the caregiver is a bond that is like no other. As we all can only be born alone, so it is when we die. We so often hear that no one wants to die alone. Though the dying frequently do wait until no one is by their side when they do finally let go, they only do so because they feel safe enough to go.

Caregivers show the ultimate love. Not because we withstand bodily fluids and changing body functions. Not because we somehow find superhuman strength to lift the body that can no longer lift itself. Not because we learn to perform medical procedures that the general population may have never even heard of, and not because we learn to sleep lightly when we sleep at all in case we must suddenly spring into action. Ask any caregiver and they will tell you "you do what you've got to do".

The ultimate love that is shown by a caregiver is the decision we make to walk the dying to Death's door, holding their hand until they walk through it. The decision to choose love over self, to show mercy, to chose quality over quantity of life, to chose to let go rather than opting for heroics, to send the nonverbal message that "I am here and you are not alone"…these things are the ultimate love. It is the absence of self.

I always said, "The greatest thing I will have ever done in my lifetime was to let my daughter die". I am sure it was the most selfless as well. I even found myself taking it back from time to time after she was gone, wishing she was here so I could have her a little longer. But I always remember the agony she was in, and the physical shell of who she once was could no longer bear the fight. Cancer is a merciless disease. It was a selfish want.

As a caregiver, we receive the ultimate gift, and we give the ultimate gift. We share with the dying a bond and an intimacy that no two other people can share. We can live knowing that we lessened someone's pain on the inside, where it counts, and that we made sure that though they would now walk alone, they did not have to feel alone.

The common issue for the caregiver after the dying has left is "What do I do now?" This is when the caregiver needs a caregiver. It takes time to find where we belong in the world. If our world was already wrapped around the dying person before they became ill, then our grief has that layer as well.

Grief support for the caregiver is very important, and should begin before the death. Anticipatory grief (in anticipation of the death) is not always easy to recognize or explain. We frequently don't have the time to even deal with it, however it is so important to try to find someone to talk to who is on the same page, so as to remove the need to filter our words and feelings.

Going back to the question my father asked me, I thought about my daughter's own wise words to me. One night, she came outside on the front step with me, and she told me that she had been thinking about how everything happens for a reason. She thought maybe her cancer was God's way of saving me from losing her in a car accident or some other teen tragedy. I realize now that although I was her caregiver, she was also mine, and I treasure those months together before she left.

I believe that the dying are given knowledge that we do not have. They somehow know when it is time to go, and they know what we can and cannot handle. That is the gift that we caregivers receive. We are the closest thing to the dying without actually dying. We can get a preview of peace and understanding that we would otherwise never see. We also get the ultimate love.

Jeri Lynn Platt has long been an advocate for natural birthing, unnecessary cesarean prevention, and the medical rights of the pregnant parent. Grief support was only a part of the support and advocacy she offered until the illness and subsequent death of her 15 year old daughter in April of 03. She is available for speaking, workshops, one-on-one support and offers a series of grief retreats at some of the most beautiful spa resorts in South Florida. Please visit www.myshininglight.com

The Good, the Bad....and the Jealous

2008-03-28T20:05:00.000-06:00

What ever happened to the days when people were genuinely happy for each other? You remember...those days when nobody ever wanted something that someone else had.....

Oh wait.....those days never existed.

Jealousy is probably one of the world's oldest emotions. It's been around since the beginning of time. Look at Cain and Abel. Now there's a prime example of jealousy run amok.......

What causes jealousy? Why does it start and how do you overcome it? Here are some common causes:

Unmet expectations. Many times we place unrealistic expectations on ourselves and the people around us. Often times we feel things should come easier and faster to us. Then when things don't happen when we think they should, we ALWAYS run into someone who already has what we want, and all of a sudden, we feel this surge of ugly, green emotion called jealousy.

Our sense of entitlement. For some reason we have this ingrained attitude that we are entitled to things. Kids leaving the nest for the first time believe their own standard of living should be the same as their parents, who have worked for years and years. Many times people who have financial problems feel "entitled" to buy things on credit, even though they know it's a bad idea. Having the nicest car and the newest toys is more important than getting out of debt.

Insecurity. It is so easy to look at other people and wish we had what they have. And so many times it doesn't stop there. We start berating ourselves internally about why we don't have it, then we believe all that junk, and the next thing you know we develop insecurities in our relationships.

After you read about all the stuff that can cause those feelings of jealousy, you may feel like you're doomed to always feeling like you'll be coming up short in some area of life. But that surely isn't the case. There IS some good news. There are some things you can do to stop the jealousy ball from rolling right over you.

Stop Comparing yourself to other people. You were created as a very unique and special person. God had a plan for you long before you took your first breath. Relish that thought. Love the fact that you're special. What God has in mind for you isn't the same as for someone else. So you don't have to feel bad that you don't have all the qualities, features, money, or anything else that someone else has. Your journey is just that.....YOURS.

Stop worrying about YOU all the time. Find a way to be a blessing to someone else. When you change your focus away from you, all of a sudden you feel so great about yourself. You get to experience something that only comes when you're a blessing to someone else. Your priorities start changing, and one day you realize that the things that used to make you so jealous and so nuts, don't bother you so much anymore.

Stop wanting what other people have if you're not willing to go through what they did to get it. When you see a person who is physically fit and looks positively great, it's easy to feel REALLY jealous. But are you willing to work out every day? Are you willing to eat healthy and look for ways to be healthy? If you're not, then there really is no reason to feel jealous, is there?

Start focusing on all that's positive in your life. God has given you so many wonderful gifts that many other people don't have. Focus on using those gifts to help someone else. Since your mind can only consciously think about one thing at a time, doesn't it make sense to make sure that "one thing" is positive and is moving you toward the really great things in life?

Breaking free from jealousy starts with your thoughts. When you change the way you think, you change the way you feel and act. Change your focus to helping others......it will definitely be time well spent....or should I say....thoughts well spent.

For more info on overcoming jealousy, click here.Why Am I Jealous? www.christian-books-for-women.com is a place that gives Christian women lots of info, tips, and help with a variety of issues they face every day. Find book reviews, recommendations, and submit your favorite books so you can be a blessing to someone else.

Do You Need to Have More Friends?

2008-03-25T20:04:00.000-06:00

A few weeks I read in the newspaper that the average American person has only two close friends or relatives they can confide in. And in most cases, the persons they confided in were usually members of their immediate family.

When I read this I was shocked, because I didn’t think that having only two people to confide in was enough. And it turns out that just two decades ago, the average American person had at least three people they could confide in. So, it seems the number of close friends the average American has is going down.

Recently, I experienced a big crisis in my life when one of my close family members became very sick. I could not have gotten through this crisis without the emotional and practical support of a lot of people.

If I only had one or two other people I could count on, I would not have survived this crisis with my sanity in one piece. I needed a lot of comfort and reassurance, and if I only had one or two people, that would not have been enough.

It's not just Americans that are getting lonelier.

Many of the same factors are also affecting people in other parts of the world as well. People today are lonelier than ever. Why is this happening?

All over the world, more and more people have to move to big cities to try to find work. Often they have to leave behind the close-knit communities where their families lived for generations.

Once they are in big cities, they find that cities can be very exciting places to live, but cities are also filled with lots of lonely people crammed close together. Too often, the people crammed into these cities are not connecting with each other. They're too busy, and they don't have time to get to know a lot of strangers to find out who they like and who they don't like.

Many people today all over the world are having to work longer hours just to pay the bills and stay alive. Lots of times they spend hours commuting, and when they come home they are too tired to do much more than eat supper and watch television.

The sort of free time our grandparents had to visit with each other on the front porch and relax has often disappeared. In many places, the sense of community has disappeared because too many buildings have been knocked down and replaced by impersonal high rises, and too many long-time residents have moved away to be replaced by strangers.

Even our technology that is supposed to help us connect with each other can also keep us apart. Television can show us what is happening to people around the globe, but when we keep our eyes glued to the television set, we end up not knowing the people who live down the street.

If we watch too much television, or spend too much time playing video games, we might end up not really knowing the people who live in our own household!

So, if you’re one of those people who only has one or two close friends, this is a reminder that when you are in a time of crisis, you might wish you had more. The time to start making those extra friends is now.

Instead of complaining about the fact that society has become too busy and too impersonal, we can each take steps to ensure that we slow down and examine whether we are getting the human contact we want.

And if we are not getting enough human contact, we must each make the individual commitment to try to change things for the better in our own life, and for those around us. We must give before we can receive.

Reach out, talk to more people, show that you care about them, and thank them when they care about you.

This article was written by friendship expert Royane Real. Would you like to have more friends in your life? Get her new book “How You Can Have All the Friends You Want – Your Complete Guide to Finding Friends, Making Friends, and Keeping Friends” Download it today at www.royanereal.com

I'm on Entrepreneur Magazine's Blog!

2008-03-21T18:16:00.001-06:00

I am so excited! I was featured on the Weekend Entrepreneur Magazine blog today!

Author Michelle Anton interviewed me and posted the story on her site. I am thrilled to be able to share my story with aspiring entrepreneurs.

Thanks to all my readers, students, and customers for all your support in making be still & knit a success.

I'd appreciate your taking the time to stop by the blog and add your comments about your experiences with me and be still & knit! If you would like your business featured there, please leave the details about it in your post. Michelle moderates all comments, and if she likes your story, then you'll get a chance to interview with her.

Please let me know if your business is featured!

Abundant blessings,

Lisa

~º~º~º~º~º~º~º~º~º~º~º~º~º~º~º~º~º~º
Lisa Akers
be still & knit, llc
Classes and clothing for children and the women who love them.
lisa@bestillandknit.com
www.BeStillandKnit.com
(303) 345-7620

Unique Ideas for Girlfriend Get Togethers

2008-03-18T13:48:00.001-06:00

Women create friendship opportunities. We suggest get togethers, shopping excursions, road trips, and coffee dates. We remember birthdays and anniversaries and make sure to stay connected. We call each other on the phone for no reason and meet for coffee, lunch, gossip and/or tears.

Being a woman and a mother is not about sacrifice its about investing in others as well as yourself. Striking the perfect balance between these two involves a little or a lot of fun. And who better to share fun times with than our girlfriends...let's face it ladies, girlfriends need girlfriends. The below suggestions are designed to provide ideas to create unique memories for you and your best gal pals. In planning how to celebrate, put your heads together, and don’t forget your camera!

Plan a girls' night out:

Does this really need an explanation? In a nutshell, girls' night out is a tradition reinvented by generation upon generation of ladies looking to let their hair down, escape from their ordinary lives and get together for drinks and appetizers to gossip about everything: relationships, fashion tips, boyfriends/husbands, or even the unfortunate couple at the table next to them. This excursion can also be girls night in, i.e. staying at one girlfriend's house sipping wine, watching movies, snacking on junkfood. What more could a group of girlfriends need?

Start a monthly club:

No this is not an opportunity to discuss your period! Having a monthly club is the result of organizing a dedicated group of women to meet monthly for girl talk and gossip. Whether is be high school friends, college friends, mothers in the hood, meet with them once a month at someone's home, at a bar or restaurant for silly, rejuvenating fun!

Go on a weekend getaway:

So it may take some advance planning and babysitting arrangements. It will be worth it Mama! Does someone own a summer home that you know? Can you find an affordable hotel? Pack some food, drinks, even games and get started on your roadtrip escape. Or be spontaneous... destination unknown. Pick up your best friend and head north, south, east, west. Who cares...getting their will be more than half the fun!

Be newbies:

Try something new to you and your friends. A camping and kayaking trip, a guided hike, a cooking class, wine tasting, even sushi. Sharing a new experience with close friends is just one more way of breaking out of you comfort zone and building incredible memories. You may even pick up a new hobby in the process.

Pick a reason to celebrate:

Is someone coming to town, did a relationship just end, does one of the girls need a pick-me-up? Are you dying to try out the new karaoke joint and show off your new leather boots or did you just find out it's Brad Pitt's birthday (December 18)? Celebrate it! Be cute and send Girls Night Out Invitations or call around last minute and see who's up for a night out. Since we were little girls we loved to play dress up so make the night extra special and tell the girls to wear their funkiest or their flirtiest.

Sandra is mother of 3 and co-founder of http://www.million-dollar-mama.com a website devoted to helping mothers rediscover their favorite hobbies like travel, fitness and girls night out.

Mama's Dilemma: It’s Girls-Night-Out and You’re Addicted to Sweats

2008-03-14T13:46:00.000-06:00

As usual you’ve got minutes to get ready before heading out the door. You throw back a sip of coffee, brush your teeth, and:

Wrestle into a sweatshirt to match your flannel pajama bottoms;

Fasten yourself into paint spattered sweatpants and a baggy t-shirt; or

Slide into your ‘I hope nobody I know sees me in these’ jeans and ‘should have been thrown out already’ sweatshirt.
If any of the above answers sounded like you Mama, it’s a fact; having children put your fashion sense on the back burner. Most moms are more concerned with how their children look than themselves. If your day to day wardrobe consist of wearing sweat clothes at home, to the school, to the store, out to eat with friends and to bed (not exactly the wardrobe of a sex kitten). You’re addicted to sweats.

Feeding your addiction to baggy sweats has left your fashion sense starving and unwittingly labeled you as ‘the mom who’s always in sweats’. However, the easiest part about weaning yourself off of sweats is realizing that your entire wardrobe does not need to be replaced, just revamped. You can still enjoy an occasional piece in moderation and more importantly as stylish accessories.

Mama's Fix: Bright Tops, Jeans and Don't Forget the Lip-Gloss

If comfortable clothing is in order, than wear it but draw from today’s trends in casual and flattering fashion. Instead of your traditional sweats that scream baggy and blah select a comfortable sweatshirt and wear it with sexy jeans and trendy accessories. Or reverse the look and select a brightly colored, fitted shirt with less baggy sweat or track pants.

Create your new comfortable style with ONE comfy-casual piece at a time. For starters, try a preppy Lacoste polo shirt or create your own personalized t-shirts online, a hoodie with matching stretch lace camisole, jeans or cotton blend bootcut pants and matching jewelry. It’s relaxed but chic, NOT sloppy sweats. Now slap on some lip gloss and let your hair down. It’s Girls-Night-Out and you look like a million dollars.

Sandra Mahoney is mother of 3 and co-founder of http://www.million-dollar-mama.com a website devoted to helping mothers rediscover pasttimes that brought them joy B.C. (before children). For a free monthly Mamazine filled with tips, articles and special offerings for moms who crave "me-time" go to http://www.million-dollar-mama.com/Mamazine/mamazine.htm

Porn Stars Do Not Make Good Role Models

2008-03-11T09:58:00.000-06:00

There is an audible groan from two mothers pushing their little children in strollers through the mall, as they are passed by a scantily clad group of teenage girls. “What parent would let her daughter leave the house like that?” she says referring to the group of girls in matching short shorts and tight, midriff baring shirts.

Girls dressing in “Ho” costumes on Halloween, little girl t-shirts with sexual innuendo emblazoned across the chests, reality television that shows little girls expertly utilizing a stripper pole, musical lyrics that are sexually explicit and degrading to women, the demise of dating and the rise of “hooking up” are all appalling topics to parents of underage children.

Books like Prude: How the Sex-Obsessed Culture Damages Girls (and America, Too!) and Female Chauvinist Pigs: Women and the Rise of Raunch Culture discuss in detail the detrimental effect that the highly sexual content on television, in music lyrics, in books, and on the internet has on today’s youth. Sadly, girls are buying the false bill of goods that the media is selling them; that boys only want them for sex and their promiscuity leads to raised social status. They have also been led to believe that the only way to empowerment and equality is to be sexually aggressive like men (what men?). Their role models are “stars” like Pamela Anderson, Britney Spears, Paris Hilton and porn star Jenna Jameson. Not exactly the women parents would hand pick to shape their innocent little girls.

Although the findings in the above mentioned books are disappointing and depressing it is probably not shocking to parents to learn that pornography has gone mainstream. One need just turn on the television to bare witness. Eighty three year old Hugh Hefner has a popular reality show glorifying his bizarre sexual relationship with three women, the youngest of whom celebrated her twenty first birthday while taping and wishes she were a pimp. MTV glorifies bawdy dress and behavior on shows like The Real World.

Lewd behavior and exposure to overtly sexual stuff is not what parents want for their kids. Parents know that objectifying little girls is not good for their moral, emotional, physical or spiritual welfare. Putting aside the frightening risk of pregnancy or catching an STD, moms and dads don’t want their girls getting used and degraded and they don’t want their boys to view the female half of the population as sexual objects begging them for sex.

A very loving and conservative mother recounts a story that horrified her. “I look hot!” her four year old said modeling a little two-piece bathing suit. “Over my dead body!” mumbled the mother to herself as she gently removed the suit from her little one and chucked it in the trash. “No way am I letting her go down that road!” the mother adamantly declared. She proudly continued, “I had the first of many talks that I will have with my daughter about dignity, self-respect and real power.”

Acts like this simple one the above mother displayed, exemplify the kind of guidance that parents must give to their children starting when the children are very young. As the many media outlets bombard kids with inappropriate sexual content it is important that parents stand strong, be positive role models and enforce the standards of conduct and dress that they know is correct.

Another simple act parents can take is to stop giving hard earned money over to stores that sell sexually explicit material and clothing targeted to children. On page 244, of her insightful book Prude, Carol Platt Liebau notes, “Every time anyone makes it clear that over-the-top sexual dialogue or images aren’t acceptable for public consumption, she strikes a small but meaningful blow for a cleaner, more wholesome culture.”

It is not only girls that are being affected by today’s highly charged sexual climate, boys suffer too. Boys shouldn’t be seen as sexual troglodytes incapable of being kind and caring and only out for their own selfish needs. Like girls they are complex, sensitive and loving and need to be taught that being a man means having honor and decency.

“Eliminate dating and replace it with ‘friends with benefits?’” scoffs a dedicated husband and father of two little boys. “I would never want to raise boys who treat girls like that. How are they going to learn to relate to the opposite sex if they use them like that?” He continues, “I want my boys to experience the kind of deep love and happiness that I have with my wife.”

For some reason it is difficult for some parents of underage children to fully embrace the role of parent. They are under the misconception that they can be buddies with their children, or “parenting partners”. It has become almost a cliché now, “children don’t need their parents to be their friends, they have enough friends, parents need to parent.” It is not necessary or prudent to be the “cool mom” or the “cool dad”. Level headed, thinking grown ups know and celebrate the fact that they are not on the same level playing field with their underage children. Let the kids have their turn at being kids; parents: it is time to let go of childhood and delight in the role of parent.

As sophisticated as children today seem, they are not miniature adults. Children desperately need and wish for their parents to guide them through the tough stages of childhood. Using wisdom, intellect, established values and adult problem solving skills parents can help lead the way to a bright and terrific future. If parents abdicate their authority in the hopes of being their children’s friend, parents shouldn’t be surprised when Jenna Jameson takes over their role.

Elena Neitlich is the co-owner and CEO of Moms On Edge Her company designs, manufactures and sells children 's behavioral toys, games and parenting aids. Elena and her business partner created Moms on Edge with the mission to promote peace, quiet and good behavior.

6 Tips To Overcome Endometriosis Weight Gain

2008-03-09T09:56:00.000-06:00

Trying to overcome endometriosis without gaining weight can be hard as a number of the medications recommended for treating the condition have weight gain as one of the side effects of the medication. However, there are steps you can take to keep your figure as slim and shapely as possible.

Battle Weight Gain Caused by Endometriosis Medications

Many of the popular endometriosis medications have an unfortunate side effect — weight gain. For women, this is almost as bad as the painful symptoms the medicine is trying to treat. Here are some things you can do if your endometriosis medication seems to have you piling on the pounds.

• Increase Fiber Intake — Even if your medication is causing you to put on more pounds, you can counter this effectively by increasing your fiber intake. Foods rich in fiber are pretty hard for your stomach to digest. Because of this, eating these foods will make you feel fuller than usual —even if you’ve only consumed a small amount. They also improve the digestion process and can reduce the amount of estrogen in your system, so it has the added benefit of potentially reducing symptoms too.

• Exercise — One of the best ways to keep your weight down is by exercising more. But contrary to popular opinion, exercise doesn’t have to be boring or done alone. Choose an activity you enjoy… or enlist the help of an “exercise buddy” to keep you on track. When you get down to it, exercising is simply a means of moving your body and preventing it from getting weak. You can add more exercise to your life in simple ways — by walking to and from work instead of taking the car, taking the stairs, joining a dancing class or pursing a sport you enjoy.

• Less Stress and More Rest — Simple things like stress and rest have a profound effect on your weight. If you’re taking medication for endometriosis and it’s causing you to gain weight, the pounds you gain will increase even more if your stress levels are too high. Stress also encourages us to eat the wrong sort of convenience or comfort foods. So, try to maintain a restful and relaxed attitude then there’s a good possibility that you can smile your way into having a more healthy and sexy figure!

• Food Choices — Naturally, you can reduce the number of pounds you’re gaining because of your endometriosis medication by eating healthily. Eliminate fried foods and visits to fast food joints. From now on think before you eat and only chose healthy options: eat more fresh vegetables and less fatty, processed meat. Eat more fresh fruits and less sugar-rich foods. You might want to consult with a trained nutritionist to find out what would constitute a balanced diet for you.

• Take Herbal Remedies — There’s an herb for every ailment that affects mankind or in this case, womankind, and endometriosis is fortunately no exception. Just make sure that whatever herbal remedy you choose to help you lose weight while treating endometriosis at the same time is safe for your health. Talk with your doctor before you start taking anything new.

• Consider alternative treatments — Learn all you can about the alternative therapies out there. Acupuncture, aromatherapy and homeopathy offer some interesting options that are all natural, side effect free ways of managing endometriosis. Some women report a significant reduction in symptoms with these methods, so if you’re interested, discuss your thoughts with your doctor.
Sign up below for the free newsletter that has many more suggestions for natural endometriosis treatments that you can use alongside traditional forms of treatment.

If you are finding that you are still struggling with excess weight after you have been following a healthy diet and incorporated exercise into your life, then speak to your doctor to see what alternatives they suggest to overcome endometriosis without the weight gain.

Sign up for Shelley Ross' free Endometriosis newsletter - Overflowing with easy to implement methods to help you discover more about Overcome Endometriosis.

Things You Never Want To Do When Organizing Your Clothing Closet

2008-03-06T11:08:00.000-07:00

If you are like me you may be tempted to throw anything that is lying around in your clothing closet just to get it out of the way. This may seem okay in the short term since it is out of site and out of your way but it can result in making your closet a total mess and make it very difficult to find the clothes you need. This is only one of the culprits that can cause a closet to become a mess here are a few more.

If you live in an area that has distinct seasons where you actually have a need for heavy winter clothes in the winter months it is ridiculous to have these bulky items in your closet all year. You should have a separate area for winter clothes and lighter clothing. The ideal situation is to have two separate closets. Since I live in South Florida, I really don't have this problem.

Never put office supplies in your clothing closet. Things like ink cartridges, reams of paper and so on should be kept in their own closet so that they aren't taking up the space that should be occupied by things like shoes and other clothing related items.

Another definite no-no when it comes to clothing closets is storing linens such as sheets, blankets, towels, and washcloths in the same area as your clothes. Again, just like winter clothes these items are far too bulky and take up way too much space. Keep them in a linen closet where they belong.

Another culprit that is often found in clothing closets is a vacuum cleaner. Again, this is a bulky item that can take up much needed space for shoes and it should be kept with other cleaning related items like dust mops and brooms.

This next one may seem a little strange but some people do it. Do not use your clothing closet as a place to store canned goods. I know it sounds crazy but people do it. If you don't have a pantry find a cabinet maker to make you one that is portable that you can take with you if you move.

Don't use your closet where you keep your clothes be used to hide your important documents like passports or birth certificates. It is best to purchase a small personal lockbox so that you can keep the items in a place where they will not become lost or damaged.

By adhering to these suggestions and avoiding committing some of these clothing closet offenses you will find it much easier to keep up with your clothes and it will be much easier to find things when you need them.

Gregg Hall is an author living with his 18 year old son in Jensen Beach, Florida. Find more about clothing tips as well as a quality clothing at http://www.nsearch.com

Do You Know What To Do If Your Identity Is Stolen?

2008-03-04T07:17:00.002-07:00

Filing a police report, checking your credit reports, notifying creditors, and disputing any unauthorized transactions are some of the steps you must take immediately to restore your good name.

Should you file a police report if your identity is stolen?

A police report that provides specific details of the identity theft is considered an Identity Theft Report, which entitles you to certain legal rights when it is provided to the three major credit reporting agencies or to companies where the thief misused your information. An Identity Theft Report can be used to permanently block fraudulent information that results from identity theft, such as accounts or addresses, from appearing on your credit report. It will also make sure these debts do not reappear on your credit reports. Identity Theft Reports can prevent a company from continuing to collect debts that result from identity theft, or selling them to others for collection. An Identity Theft Report is also needed to place an extended fraud alert on your credit report.

You may not need an Identity Theft Report if the thief made charges on an existing account and you have been able to work with the company to resolve the dispute. Where an identity thief has opened new accounts in your name, or where fraudulent charges have been reported to the consumer reporting agencies, you should obtain an Identity Theft Report so that you can take advantage of the protections you are entitled to.

In order for a police report to entitle you to the legal rights mentioned above, it must contain specific details about the identity theft. You should file an ID Theft Complaint with the FTC and bring your printed ID Theft Complaint with you to the police station when you file your police report. The printed ID Theft Complaint can be used to support your local police report to ensure that it includes the detail required.

A police report is also needed to get copies of the thief’s application, as well as transaction information from companies that dealt with the thief. To get this information, you must submit a request in writing, accompanied by the police report, to the address specified by the company for this purpose.

How long can the effects of identity theft last?

It 's difficult to predict how long the effects of identity theft may linger. That 's because it depends on many factors including the type of theft, whether the thief sold or passed your information on to other thieves, whether the thief is caught, and problems related to correcting your credit report.

Victims of identity theft should monitor financial records for several months after they discover the crime. Victims should review their credit reports once every three months in the first year of the theft, and once a year thereafter. Stay alert for other signs of identity theft.

Don't delay in correcting your records and contacting all companies that opened fraudulent accounts. Make the initial contact by phone, even though you will normally need to follow up in writing. The longer the inaccurate information goes uncorrected, the longer it will take to resolve the problem.

What can you do to help fight identity theft?

A great deal.

Awareness is an effective weapon against many forms identity theft. Be aware of how information is stolen and what you can do to protect yours, monitor your personal information to uncover any problems quickly, and know what to do when you suspect your identity has been stolen.

Armed with the knowledge of how to protect yourself and take action, you can make identity thieves' jobs much more difficult. You can also help fight identity theft by educating your friends, family, and members of your community. The FTC has prepared a collection of easy-to-use materials to enable anyone regardless of existing knowledge about identity theft to inform others about this serious crime.

Pre-Paid Legal offers affordable Identity Theft Protection plans which give you credit monitoring and access to . Learn more by visiting Pre-Paid Legal online.

4 Effective Reverse Cell Phone Lookup Techniques

2008-03-02T07:27:00.000-07:00

More than likely at some point in time you've had numbers flash across your caller id with no names attached to them. Sure, you may go to Whitepages.com to try to find out the answer to who was calling you, only to find out that the number is unlisted.

The following are some methods that you can use to help you find out more information about an unlisted number; however, it is important that I point out that, though they're used commonly by investigators, these methods are quite controversial.

You should ONLY use these methods if you consult with legal counsel and find out your rights and the laws in your specific area...

Method #1 - Pretend to Call the Wrong Number - One way to get some information on an unlisted number is to call back the number and pretend as if you accidentally called the wrong number. Give the number a ring and then when it is answered, ask for a random name, such as "Cindy".

More than likely they will tell you that you have the wrong number and they may even ask you what number you were calling. Here is your opportunity. Ask them what number you've called and who they are. They just might slip up and give you the information you ask for.

Method #2 - Pretend to Be Someone Else - In order to get information you could call up the number pretending to be from some kind of agency that needs their information, like a financial institution or a business that needs their information for records. You could tell them you are missing all of their information except their phone number and hope to get the information you want.

BEWARE: Pretending to be someone else ("pretexting") is in most circumstances, completely illegal. If you want to use this method, please make sure that you discuss it with your lawyer before trying it out. I am not recommending that you use this method to extract information, but rather I'm simply exposing a common, yet controversial practice that is being discussed for educational purposes only.

Method #3 - Ask the Person Who They Are - Another thing you may want to do is give the number a call and simply ask the person who they are. This is a very simple way to get the information that you need, and many times if you just ask they will tell you what you want to know.

This method depends on the nature of your investigation. If it 's simply an unrecognizable number, then this is an obvious approach.

However, if you're trying to investigate a prank caller or someone who 's been calling your spouse, then obviously this method may not be as relevant.

Method #4 - Pay for Access to a Premium Cell Phone Number Database - If you are looking for a "self-serve" and discreet way to find out the information you need about an unlisted or cell phone number, you may want to pay for access to a premium reverse lookup database.

Playing "detective" on your own may not work and it could actually get you in trouble. A reverse lookup database is usually reasonably priced and is a LEGAL service to use because the records are obtained from public resources.

If you do decide to go with this kind of a service, you should make sure that you pick a service that has a satisfaction guaranteed policy so you are sure to get the information you need or your money back.

I need to re-emphasize the fact that the first three methods listed above are for educational purposes only - do NOT attempt to play "detective" without knowing how to do so in a lawful manner, so consult an attorney or otherwise a certified source of legal counsel.

For what it 's worth, the simplest and fastest option is to try a reputable online cell phone number database with a guarantee policy.

Chris Rempel recommends using Reverse Cell Phone Records to conduct an instant, discreet and guaranteed reverse lookup for an unlisted number.
You can actually run an initial search to see if the number is available prior to registration, along with some basic location details about the number.

19 Facts About Depression At Midlife - Tips, Strategies, And Info-Bites

2008-02-29T07:30:00.000-07:00

When we age, we produce less of two important mood stabilizing hormones, serotonin and dopamine. So, depression is a risk factor for both men and women as we get older. Yet twice as many women compared to men suffer from depression, which leads some to believe there is a link between the female sex hormones and depression.

1. Memory loss at midlife may not be related to aging, but depression. Depression affects our ability to concentrate and remember things. Our mind instead is caught in a cycle of self blame, guilt, or hopelessness,

2. Of the studies that differentiate between major depression and minor depression, an increase in minor depression (ie. non-clinical) is reported, rather than an increase in major depressive episodes,

3. Major depression is characterized by feeling sad or tearful all, or most of the time. Other symptoms include losing interest in regular activities and engaging in day to day life.

4. Those that seem to be at risk of suffering from major depression during menopause are those that have suffered major depression at some other time in their lives. This can include postnatal depression, severe depression associated with PMS, or any other type of clinical depression.

5. Some of the symptoms of perimenopause are also the symptoms of depression, so it 's important to consider the whole picture. These common symptoms include tiredness, weight gain, insomnia, difficulties in concentration, memory loss, and a loss of interest in sex.

6. Depression is usually treated with psychological treatments and medication. The psychological treatments include cognitive behaviour therapy which looks at the negative ways we think; and Interpersonal therapy, to improve relationships.

7. Antidepressant medication covers a range including SSRI 's , SNRI 's , MAOI 's , and others. Each class has a lot of individual medications within it, and people may tolerate one well, but have side effects on others. Finding an antidepressant medication appropriate to the individual can be a trial and error endeavor.

8. Some anti-depressants - prozac and others in the category of Selective Serotonin Re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI 's ) - may cause cardiovascular problems in some people after long term use.

9. If you're taking hormone replacement therapy, too high a dose of estrogen or androgen hormones can lead to side effects like headaches and anxiety. Synthetic progesterone treatments are also often associated with depression.

10. Caffeine and sugar, in excess, may have a negative impact on recurring depression.

11. Estrogen boosts the levels of serotonin and acetylcholine, which are neurohormones that make people feel good, and are part of a normal memory.

12. Deficiencies of the B vitamins biotin, folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12, have been linked with depression, as have vitamin C deficiencies.

13. Vitamin B6 is important because of it 's role in making the monoamine neurotransmitters, which help stabilize moods.

14. Minerals linked to depression include deficiencies of calcium, copper, and magnesium.

15. St Johns Wort has been found to be as effective as prozac in treating mild to moderate depression.

16. Anecdotally, 5HTP has been found to help some people with depression who also suffer from weight problems and insomnia.

17. Our brain needs a small supply of good qualify fats every day. This is because nerve fibers are coated with a fatty sheath called myelin. Good sources of healthy fats include non-hydrogenated olive oil, sesame oil, and fish oil. Deficiencies of the omega 6 fatty acids may play a role in depression.

18. Depression is a risk factor for coronary heart disease.

19. Depression can increase the risk of more heart problems in people with coronary heart disease.

For more information on depression and menopause, click here. For tips on dealing with menopause depression, click here.

How to Break Up with a Toxic Friend

2008-02-26T15:57:00.000-07:00

You are stuck in a dead-end relationship and you really want out. You do not want to hurt this person’s feelings, because regardless of how bad things are, you care. How do you go about telling her that you would rather not be friends anymore? Should you just do a disappearing act and hope he will get the point? Is it a good idea to just withdraw until you drift apart?

Just like breaking up with a lover, ending a relationship with a friend is not an easy thing to do. In fact, it is so complicated that most people prefer to continue being involved with somebody they cannot stand simply to avoid the messiness of telling them good-bye. I’ve heard of people pretending not to be home to keep from spending time with a person they didn’t like. Sometimes, though, separation is not necessary. A lot of problems can be solved with an honest conversation.

Here is what I suggest:
1. Have a sincere talk with your friend. Suddenly falling out of the picture is not a good idea, because your friend might never know what he did wrong and will not be able to learn from the experience. And that would not be fair.

2. During your heart to heart conversation, observe this person. Is she paying attention or is she just waiting for you to shut up so she can answer back? Is he denying everything you say and twisting around your words to make you feel guilty? Or is she open-mindedly trying to work things out with you? If your friend’s reaction is one of complete denial, then I guess it is clear indication that you need to move on.

3. After your talk, allow yourself some time and space to assimilate what happened. If there is hope, figure out what steps need to be taken to keep the friendship on the right track. Don’t allow your friend to manipulate you into staying together because it will only produce more resentment on your part, and a relationship founded on pity is hardly ever a good idea.

4. If you still feel that you need to end it, be nice. Remember that what goes around comes around. After you have had the opportunity to think things through, tell your friend that you would prefer not to spend time with him anymore. Assure him that you will always be there for him, but that for now it is best to go your separate ways. Say this as directly as possible. Do not beat around the bush as that would only lead to confusion. And by all means void accusing, offensive remarks.
But what happens if you are on the receiving end of the break-up? What if you are the friend that everybody is trying to ditch? Take the time to seriously and honestly evaluate your attitude. Maybe you need to work on some unattractive aspect of your personality or maybe you just have the bad habit of surrounding yourself with people that do not really appreciate you.

Dinorah Blackman's books may be previewed and purchased at www.lulu.com/blackman

Women's Friendships

2008-02-26T15:55:00.000-07:00

Results of a study conducted in 2002 at UCLA suggest friendships between women are special. "They shape who we are and who we are yet to be. They soothe our tumultuous inner world, fill the emotional gaps in our marriage, and help us remember who we really are. By the way, they may do even more."

The study went on to reveal that women's friendships can cause hormonal and chemical changes in the body and brain. That's not news to the majority of us. For example, it's a fairly accepted fact that female roommates often get on the same menstrual cycle. However, the study reiterated what most women already know – female companionship is a vitally important aspect in women's lives.

Numerous women admit that they like having women friends. However, all women should be careful to try not to gossip within and about their friendship circles. That is often more easier said that done. Women are wired much differently than men, and enjoy the gift of gab. Gossip can often be a problem in women friendships. It is not uncommon for women tear other's marriages apart that way.

While it is important to have someone to talk too, too many married women gripe about their husband because they need to vent. Wives should keep intimate details of their marriage sacred. Many times when they are complaining about their husbands, the problem is really that the women are not happy with themselves.

Some women even go as far as to prioritize their girlfriends above their spouse. Usually the woman isn't even aware that she will spend more hours on the phone or in person with her female friend than she does with her husband. Perhaps if more time was spent with hubby, less time could be spent griping to the friend.

Not withstanding, women share a unique bond. Some may say that opposites attract when it comes to a spouse, but that is not generally the case with women friendships. Like minded women like to hang out together. Would you rather go shopping with a girlfriend who wants to be at the mall with you, or with your spouse who looks for the nearest chair (or exit), regularly looks at his watch and constantly wants to know if you're done yet?

Whether married or unmarried, women friendships play a vital role in a woman's life. Treat the friendship with care. Do not betray your friend, at any cost. If you are vigilant to ensure it is a give and take relationship, you can plan on having a friend for life.

Sarah Eiden is employed full time by her family (does the laundry ever end?) and the web editor of www.bake-sale-recipes.com

Managing Your Mother-in-Law: What Every Woman Needs To Know

2008-02-26T15:54:00.000-07:00

Very few women seem to have the “perfect” relationship with their Mother-in-Laws. In fact, I have yet to meet one who does. There is a reason for this. It comes down to a very basic need all women have. Understanding this need is about her, and not about you, can go a long way in helping your relationship succeed.

* The Need Of Every Woman *

Before we go too far, it is important for you to understand your Mother-in-Law has what is deeply rooted in all women. We have a need for love. Like many women, this has translated into desire for unconditional love from a man. The problem is, us women often feel a sense of lack when it comes to our Fathers and our Husbands loving us. The grown up men in our lives are usually wounded and unable to give us the love we truly desire. What is left is a void just waiting to be filled.

* The Son Fills A Need *

Along comes the Son. He needs his Mom and at least while he is younger, his love is unconditional. Over time, this loving boy grows up to be a man, but your Mother-in-Law is left with the taste of what it is really like to be unconditionally loved. She has experienced from her Son what she has not experienced from other men. On a subconscious level, their relationship is proof that she is lovable. After all, she struggles with self worth like any other woman.

* The Wife As The Threat *

Is it any wonder that when the Son presents his new wife, she can be perceived as a threat to the relationship? The Mother-in-Law compares the Son’s wife to HERSELF. If she is not strong enough in her belief that she is okay as a woman (and most women aren’t), it is a temptation to see the shortcomings of the Daughter-in-Law so she can feel good about herself.

Your Mother-in-Law believes no other woman can love her Son like she can. When her Son is unhappy, it is the opportunity to say, “I could make him happier.” If her Son is happy, she can be even more vigilant in finding something wrong with the other woman (who happens to be you). Keep in mind this is about her, not you.

A Mother-in-Law who is further along the path of healing will find a Daughter-in-Law less threatening because she knows she is lovable as a woman. She doesn’t fear losing her Son’s love. Unfortunately, few women have found this path of healing.

Women tend to measure themselves against women. At times we wonder, “Am I beautiful enough to be loved?”; “Am I good enough?”; or “Do I have what it takes to make a man happy?” Why would this comparison be any different in a Mother to Daughter-in-Law relationship? In this case, the Mother-in-Law feels she has already proved she can love the Son better.

Where do the Daughter-in-Law hooks come in? Once again, there is this need to “prove ourselves as good enough”. We are triggered because we still want to know we’re a good enough wife, a good enough woman or a good enough mother. If we haven’t convinced ourselves, how can we stand strong enough in who we are when our Mother-in-Law comes around? If your Husband is not treating you well, even more fuel is added to the fire.

So how CAN you ease your Mother-in-Law woes?

1. Have Mercy

Begin by recognizing your Mother-in-Law has hurts that are at the heart of every woman. How she deals with you is an overflow out of the pain in her own heart. Those hurts are about her and have nothing to do with you. You just happen to be the one who married her Son.

Choose to treat your Mother-in-Law with gentleness and respect. She is simply another woman struggling with to come to terms with the value past society seems to have placed on all women. She has some of the same needs you do.

2. Build Yourself Up

The strongest kind of love you can have is when you love others as much as yourself. Love without self love has many hooks in it. You are less vulnerable to attack when you are worthy in your own eyes. You are less likely to react negatively and less likely to get hurt by it all.

Strengthen your heart by affirming your own value. Find ways to build up your self esteem. Choose to accept that you are beautiful. You are talented and you are good enough. You don’t need your Mother-in-Law’s approval to be okay with your value as a woman or as a wife.

3. Deflect Those Arrows

If you Mother-in-Law throws an arrow towards you, choose not to take the arrow into your heart. If a dart does find it’s mark, remove it gently by reminding yourself you are OK as a woman. Remember, you ARE lovable, beautiful, and good enough to be with her Son. Don’t take her hurts on as your own. The more you are okay with who you are, the less Mother-in-Law troubles will affect you.

4. Stand Your Ground

Boundaries are much more productive than “war lines”. Learn to put boundaries around you and your heart. Consider what your boundaries may be and how you will react in a way that honors your Mother-in-Law while standing your ground. There is no reason for attack, especially when you remember she is already feeling threatened by you. You can treat her with dignity and respect while making sure you don’t betray your own self and how you’ve chosen to live your life.

A good place to start is by setting boundaries around how you are treated or by affirming your control in areas related to your personal life. Consider carefully what the consequence will be so you aren’t left stumbling if your boundary is crossed. It’s a good idea to warn your Husband that you value yourself enough to stand strong in the areas that matter most. This is YOUR boundary, but his support would be most welcome!

5. Commit To Being Yourself

Don’t become the woman you think your Mother-in-Law accuses you of being. Learn to get comfortable with who you really are. Of course that means accepting you are valuable and have a lot to offer. Why hide who you really are? It’s time to be yourself, without apology.

This doesn’t mean exposing yourself in a way that opens you up for abuse. It simply means to “just be you” when around her. It takes a lot of stress out of the relationship when you decide to be you instead of trying to be what she wants. Make the decision to not get stressed or rattled. Your Mother-in-Law doesn’t decide your worth so she cannot get to you unless you let her.

So now you have some strategies for managing Mother-in-Law woes. Remember, keeping your issues separate from your Mother-in-Law’s issues can ease the struggles which are bound to happen. It doesn’t have to get so hard at times!

Tami Szabo specializes in Personal Success Coaching for Women who want to create a life of passion and purpose at home and at work. Learn about Wives Alive Coaching and Get Free Success Tips for Women on her website at www.destinysdoorcoaching.com

Is Menopause Starting? How Can You Tell?

2008-02-17T18:47:00.000-07:00

Some women have the expectations that the beginning of menopause will be clearly defined, unfortunately, it's not that simple. Even doctors can't be sure if menopause is beginning or not, even after you've fully explained all your symptoms.

Symptoms of menopause can be symptoms of other conditions as well, this is where the confusion comes in. Your doctor will most likely want to do some hormone testing to determine exactly what is going on. Hormone testing is simply drawing blood. Menopause can be a mystery, it may occur in some women that are as young as 30 years old or wait until a woman is over 60 years old before menopause begins.

It's extremely difficult to predict the timing of menopause. There are several factors that can act as signals however, such as family history. You will be more likely to go through menopause early if your mother did.

Gathering information from your mother or grandmother as to what age they went through menopause can be very helpful but don't expect it to be completely accurate. This is however, a good place to start if you're curious about it. The current data shows the average age for women to start menopause is around 51 years old.

There are many other factors that can help you to determine when you may start going through menopause. Are you a smoker? Studies have shown that women who are smokers are more likely to reach menopause before non-smoking women do. Although this information varies, it is believed that smokers will reach menopause on an average of two years before a non-smoker will. While this is still being studied, it's certainly something to consider.

At present there doesn't seem to be any relationship with menopause and the start of a female's menstruation. It's also not related to motherhood, birth control, height or a persons race.

You can try to recognize the menopause transition, therefore, getting a head start on the process! This transition is referred to as perimenopause. Perimenopause normally happens about six years before full menopause begins.

During the perimenopause transition, your hormones are beginning to fluctuate. You may start to notice irregular periods. Many times these irregular periods deal with the level of the flow and the length of the period.

You may also start to experience hot flashes. You could also find yourself having night sweats, occasional mood swings, and changes in your libido. Although these changes are not as prominent in the beginning, they are present in most women. During perimenopause, the average woman may only experience these symptoms once a month or every few weeks. However, during menopause you'll find these symptoms will most likely occur much more frequently or even everyday.

You'll be able to start recognizing these symptoms as a beginning point to menopause. Keeping a diary is a great way of tracking the patterns that may be developing. Write down things like; how long did your period last; what was the level of flow; did you experience hot flashes and things such as this. By keeping track of what's going on you will have a much easier time talking with your doctor about what patterns are occurring and what steps you need to take next.

Carlie Edwards publishes online articles & useful information for Women. For info on Menopause visit Menopause Symptoms For a variety of related topics visit Health-And-Beauty-Worx.Com

Gossiping And Toxic Women

2008-02-13T12:53:00.000-07:00

Why do some women seem to almost gleefully tear down other females when they are not around? I have personally witnessed this phenomenon many times & I have become aware that it happens with so many women! I have noticed too, that they appear to be very nice to another woman's face (even sweet) but, the moment the other women leaves, the criticism, put-downs & gossiping begins. I think they call that two-faced. I have become quite concerned about this!

It is like these women find it necessary to be constantly bringing that other woman down a peg or two. This also usually means that they will hate it when they see their target succeed! Could jealousy be the root cause here? Or is it simply maliciousness? What really is it that drives females to do this? Sometimes they will go precariously further & start baseless and vicious rumors.

Their victim will be singled out to be persecuted. Predictably, that person's reputation must also become tainted in some way. Better yet - ruined! So the lies & rumors begin. It is important to know, that even if that often innocent person, who is constantly being run down to anyone who will listen, may never be even aware of what has been said, the perpetrator is totally unaware, that it is SHE who will suffer the most - from all that negative karma!

Some unfortunate women (who are usually a little lacking in the way of spiritual things), are never quite aware that what they do is not only downright toxic & spiteful but, at the total expense of a fellow sister. EVERY negative thing that a woman will ever say about another, every negative action that she takes, will travel out into the universe, & then, without fail - ricochet directly back to HER. This especially applies to those venomous women who are disposed to seek revenge over a slight - real or imagined. Their actions come back threefold!

We are each faced with choices. One of these being the particular code of conduct that we will choose to live by. We are given the choice to decide what kind of person it is that we want to be. Every one of our thoughts, words & deeds are chosen by us & create our environment. This would mean that hurting another person behind their back is not only your personal choice - but, a choice that will ultimately have a negative consequence.

Beware of any thing - positive or negative - that you are 'sending out.' Be rest assured, it will be coming straight back to you in some shape or form! Negative energy & vibes are always going out into the quantum field (even those mean thoughts that are running around in your mind.) These are creating more of the same & that created energy will sooner or later come heading DIRECTLY BACK TO YOU.

Why do women decide it is okay to HATE a woman simply because she is attractive or worse - beautiful?! They couldn't care less for the fact that they may be looking at a woman who is in reality, kind & good hearted. This kind of situation reminds me of the movie 'Malena'. Malena, the heroine, was an extraordinarily pretty war widow. In fact, she was DROP DEAD GORGEOUS. It was probably inevitable that every woman in Sicily would start gossiping about her. Their envy caused them to become MALICIOUS towards her, to the actual point of physical attack. It was plain to see that they wished to even DESTROY her
completely.

Have you noticed that when a woman you know notices an obviously attractive female, whether in real life or on TV – that she must find something about her looks to criticize? This criticism doesn't just apply to the pretty girls. There will be the down to earth & plain girl, who can become a target. Women will proceed to nastily scrutinize her too, passing judgments on her hair, face, figure & clothes! This behavior usually begins in real earnest at high school age & often extends WELL BEYOND. Why aren't we UNITING together as women & choosing to support each other? Why aren't we helping to build each other up instead of tearing each other down?

I believe that gossiping is one of the worst types of betrayal between women. There are valid reasons why certain individuals are driven to keep carrying on like this. The prime motivators are jealousy, rivalry, fear & low self-esteem. There is also usually something about their chosen target that makes them feel threatened & invokes insecurity. They often sense that their target has something that is lacking in them. This is the main reason that they feel compelled to bring her down as well as exclude & isolate her.

I also believe that some women see gossiping as this kind of perverse 'bonding' thing. This is almost laughable as nothing could be further from the truth! Don't they realize that the reality is, if someone is gossiping to you about another behind her back, then the gossiper is - as inevitable as the sun will rise tomorrow - gossiping about YOU behind your back? It may also be important to realize that these gossiping types have a tendency to become the most judgmental & bitterest of women.

DON'T buy into it! Rise against this extremely destructive behavior & refuse to be part of it. It may feel hard at first to remain neutral. But, the next time a 'friend' or acquaintance starts gossiping, why don't you ignore it & even dare to promptly change the subject?! This person will perhaps get the hint & maybe even feel a little remorse about themselves later. Or maybe not!

Don't be surprised if this new action on your part may cause the gossiper to start targeting on YOU. You will be able to laugh in the face of it all though, when you know the REAL reasons that they do it! If you look at a clique of women - there will always be jealousy & competition. Gossiping is devaluing to women as a whole.

I have end by saying - if you don't have anything nice to say about someone, then why not choose to say nothing at all? Why waste your valuable & precious time gossiping - or even listening to gossip - with these nasty & catty women? (And they say women are supposed to be born caring, sensitive & nurturing - as well as keep life full of love?)

Where has that SISTERHOOD thing gone?

Melina Dean is a dating expert, love coach & image consultant. She has written a beauty guide - 'How To Look Like A Hollywood Love Goddess!' Visit her site for dating advice, love & relationship coaching , self-development tips, seduction secrets, & pageant & beauty tips. http://planet-goddess.com/

Trying Too Hard To Be A Perfect Woman

2008-02-13T12:49:00.000-07:00

You could be setting yourself up for frustration and failure. Six ways to achieve more by doing less. In today’s world, with pressure to do and be everything, who does not want to be Super Women, being a perfect women?

Most, if not all, women feel the need to be perfect, but being a perfectionist is debilitating because we feel, each and everyday, like we don’t measure up. Letting go of your quest for perfection allows you to achieve more and enjoy life in the process. Here are six steps to embracing your less-than-perfect-self:

1. Do it half-rate. Choose an activity and instead of aiming for your typical 100 percent, shoot for 70 or even 50 percent. Every Christmas, Johannah Haney, 24, from Columbus, Ohio, is obsessive about gift wrapping. “I spend weeks and way too much money making my present look window-display perfect,” she says. “People do not even appreciate it that much, so I wind up feeling disappointed.” This year, Haney is taking the low-key route. “I bought some inexpensive paper, and I am going to put on Christmas music and limit the wrapping to one afternoon. I want to make it a fun rather than stressful experience.”

2. Make a list – then minimize it. List everything you feel has to get done today. Then grab a red pen and circle only the items of highest priority. Consider it a successful day when you have completed those tasks.

3. Redefine workout. Chloe Bergman, 28, an artist living in New York City, always strove for intense workout. “Unless I was sweating bullets on the tread-mill everyday, it was enough,” she says. But then a friend took her to yoga class. “It actually helped my running,” Bergman says. “Now I am convinced it is good to vary my workout, in terms of intensive as well as type.”

4. Say no more often. Perfectionist women feel like they should be able to do everything. But they can’t. No one can. So the next time you’re asked to serve on demanding committee or have coffee with someone you don’t really like spending time with, politely (but firmly) decline.

5. Reward yourself for every accomplishment. Channing Dungey, 33, a film producer in Los Angeles, has a hard time acknowledging that she’s finished a work project. “I’ll keep checking and rechecking it to make sure it’s exactly perfect,” she says. To counterbalance these tendencies – and help herself leave the desk – Dungey has created a reward system. “For a small project, I’ll get some frozen yogurt. For a bigger project, I’ll buy a new pair of shoes. It helps me break out of my pattern of feeling like the work is never done.”

6. Share rather than compare. The annoying thing about saying adios to your perfectionist self is that everyone around you still looks perfect. Next time, instead of comparing yourself to your friends, open up to them – confess how uninformed you think you looked in that meeting, how you embarrassed yourself on a date. You’ll be surprised to learn that most people experience the same things. We’re not so perfect after all.

Yulia Mark from Women Lifestyle, Fashion, Health, Beauty and Personality Network , small group of women journalist on http://WomenDiary.Net to the World

Money Makeovers For Women

2008-02-13T12:47:00.000-07:00

Today, the vast majority of women in North America believe they are unable to stand solidly on their own two feet when it comes to their financial lives. They might already be successful businesswomen in their own right, maybe even millionaires, yet many tell me that if their husband died or left, they don’t know what they would do regarding their finances. They don’t believe they can understand the financial world, especially the investing part of that world.

· A woman tells me she has turned her money over to someone else (usually a man) to invest and it has lost half its value and she just figures that’s the way it is.

· Another woman makes plenty of money but never pays her bills on time, never believes there will be enough and lives by the hard work model. She gives her children whatever they want but she doesn't take care of herself by paying bills on time, she doesn't know where her money is going, and she doesn't spend consciously.

· Another woman in business knows she must do something about her 401K so she finally meets with an advisor her boyfriend recommends. She turns her money over to him, walks away and hopes for the best.

· Another woman had always done her own finances and investing and had done very well. She got re-married later in life to a man who wanted to take care of everything financial, possibly not believing she knew how. He promptly lost everything they had. They are both in precarious health and are now facing aging with no financial resources. This was a woman who had been successful yet still turned everything over to someone else.

These are all very bright and successful women. I wanted to find out why this was happening. I began talking to many, many women and studied everything I could find on the subject. I knew it didn’t have to be this way and I became determined to help affect a change in this area of women’s lives.

My real passion and commitment is to the longings and yearnings of your heart and soul. I want you to live the life you were meant to live. I use money as a gateway to the soul. It is energy, a vehicle that can disempower us or empower us in so many ways. I want to support you in becoming completely free and independent and living from your innate power and aliveness.

This is why I am writing this free newsletter. Now, what can you do right now to begin to change the relationship you have to money? I have created an assessment that will give you a good picture of where your strengths and weaknesses are regarding money. If you are interested in the assessment email me at megan@moneywhisperer.com and put "assessment" in the subject line. I will email the assessment to you as quickly as possible.

Finances…the final feminine frontier.

Megan Gelhar is the editor of The Money Whisperer newsletter and founder of Money Makeovers for Women. Money Makeovers for Women is a company dedicated to helping women achieve the freedom and peace of mind that comes with feeling confident and knowledgeable in matters involving money! http://www.moneywhisperer.com

Women in Those High-Paying Positions Have Something I Don't Have – Are You Sure?

2008-02-08T13:07:00.000-07:00

The door has been unlocked. There are more women than ever in high-paying jobs. Yet most working women, even those in management, are clustered into predominately female jobs and career paths. These women are almost always lower-paid than men and women who work in male-dominated positions. None of us can single-handedly change the way things operate in corporate America. But, we can change jobs. If we want to earn more money, the most assured way is to do the jobs which pay more. You are much more prepared to do this than you may think. Awareness is the first step. Many of us need to see the workplace as it really is.

Women in Those High-Paying Positions Have Something I Don't Have - Are You Sure?

I believe there are three reasons why most women do not pursue positions which they know to be higher-paying.

• They believe they lack sufficient ambition
• They see the sacrifices as too great
• They view themselves as unqualified

Let’s look at these, one at a time.

Ambition

Think about how you define the work “ambition.” Many people believe that people either have it or they don’t, and there is no middle ground. Of course, ambition is not an either/or concept. The majority of working men do not aspire to be president of the company for which they work, yet they expect to earn enough to support themselves. They do not worry about unbridled ambition ruining their lives. They know that business is not a conveyor belt that they get on and cannot control. People are not promoted against their wills.

The issue of ambition may cloud your view of a specific job opportunity. You may decide that a particular level of ambition is necessary for a specific job, when other things are actually much more important. You may be wrong about your own ambition level, or unsure of it. This uncertainty may seem to be an important obstacle to overcome. You may not want to be ambitious. You might think it is unfeminine or unattractive to have ambition. You may feel it is selfish and greedy to want a lot of money. You may feel it is more noble to work hard for little pay than to work hard for a lot of pay.

Some people would have you analyze your feelings about ambition until they are completely resolved. You will probably retire before you can accomplish it. Try to simply put these bad feelings and all thoughts of ambition out of your mind. Ambition is a vague concept, defined by different people in various ways. You work for many reasons, and one of them is money. If you had enough ambition to get out of bed this morning, you have enough to pursue a new career.

Sacrifice

You see women anchoring the news, selling cars, and developing new software products. If you’re like many of us, you may see these positions as requiring more sacrifice than your current job. You may believe that these women will pay any price to climb further and earn more.

The fact is, different jobs require different kinds of sacrifices. Yes, there are high-stress jobs which require long hours and travel. But many, many jobs which pay more than yours require far less sacrifice than you imagine. I am constantly amazed at the sacrifices women are willing to make in long hours, extra work, harassment and belittling treatment, when their paychecks hardly warrant any sacrifice. Many working men and women who go home to their families every evening earn much more than you do. Be realistic, but don’t count yourself out of a new career just because you have other priorities in your life. Everyone does.

Qualifications

The issue of whether or not you are qualified for a different career path is probably more simple, and at the same time, more complex, than you thought. The word “qualify” has been overused and abused in the workplace. In fact, it remains undefined and means different things to different people, even when they are talking about the same position. Women are much more likely to consider “qualified” to mean technically competent. We believe direct prior experience in that exact kind of position is necessary. We believe some kind of unique technical training is required. In fact, the position may require someone who is politically savvy, and is able to bring a new prospective to the job. Generally speaking, men with the same level of skill are more likely to consider themselves as “qualified” for a job while the women next to them see themselves as unqualified.

In 1977, Betty Harragan (Games mother Never Taught You, Warner Books, Inc.) quoted from a study in which men and women were asked how many of the appropriate job skills they would need to have in order to “qualify” for a job. Women responded that they would need 100% of the skills. Men, on the other hand, believed they needed an average of 40% of those skills. Personally, I think this study would have the same results if done today. Consider the difference between 40% and 100%! Yes, this is an overgeneralization, but you can probably think of several examples of this in your own experience. This alone can account for the difference in confidence levels we often see in business. If one person considers himself qualified with far fewer skills than another, he will automatically feel more confident and appear more confident. In fact, he will be better able to execute the job, since self-doubt is a barrier to success. Well-paid women have learned to live with this. They have recognized that if they wait to be 100% qualified, they’ll miss their chance entirely. So will we.

What we consider to be good performance on the job may be impossible for any human. Until we can adjust our view of competency, we will never see ourselves as qualified for the jobs we so deserve. Until we can see ourselves as qualified, we will not be. Change your view of competency from perfection at all times to excellence in the context of the job. Make your demands on yourself more realistic, and you will be able to do more. More women must learn to “fake it until they make it.” We must assume authority, instead of waiting for it to be handed to us. We must see self-doubt as a faulty misperception that we must rise above, instead of an indication of our unworthiness. We are able to do this in other areas of our lives, we must learn to do it in the workplace. For most people (men and women alike) self-confidence is learned rather than earned. We simply do not have enough time in this life to overcome all traces of self-doubt before we act. When we act in spite of our own self-doubts, and succeed, or at least survive, we gain confidence.

In other ways, women often differ from the men around them in how they approach work. We are more likely to feel powerless and doubt ourselves. We are more likely to be paralyzed by that self-doubt, unable to act until we are certain of the outcome. We often have a different, and unhealthy view of risk. We are sometimes more task-oriented than is advisable in decision-making positions, and we may lack negotiating skills. What we can do about this is the subject of Each of Us: How Every Woman Can Earn More Money in Corporate America. It is important to remember that all the highly-paid men and women you know have learned these skills, they weren’t born with them. They are only people doing their jobs, they aren’t perfect at the business game. With a few minor adjustments, we can make an enormous difference in our incomes.

By: Patricia Smith, author of: Each of Us: How Every Woman Can Earn More Money in Corporate America (800) 796-3222 http://www.eachofus.com

Valentines Makeup Contest: Prize $50 Gift Certificate

2008-02-07T18:31:00.000-07:00

What to Do About Negative People?

2008-02-05T16:28:00.000-07:00

When you're in the universe, you're going to encounter a number of people and situations. However, it's how you react to these situations that will determine the course of your life and the length of the path to your dreams.

All of us know someone who is negative or who always seems to be having a bad time in their life. And while sympathizing might seem like the best way to help him or her feel better, sometimes you need to do more in order to live the positive life that you want to live.

1) Attracting what you want from life

Just as the saying goes, ‘like attracts like,' the same theory applies to the circle of friends that you have.

Your mother was right; hanging out with ‘bad' people can actually influence and impact the things that you want from your life. According to the universal laws of attraction, you want to increase the amount of positive energy in your life as much as you can so that you can attract positive things in return.

When you're around people that aren't positive in nature, this can weight on you and the strength you have for maintaining your own positive energy.

2) What the real issue is

The issue with these people is that they tend to perpetuate a cycle of negative thinking and thus negative results.

They believe that nothing good will come of their lives, so they attract negative things, and these occurrences cause them to believe that only negative things will happen to the. The cycle can continue forever.

And as a friend or an acquaintance of these friends, you might begin to believe this kind of thinking as well – and become stuck in their pattern.

3) Breaking away from the negativity

However, you have a choice to make in your life – do you want to live your dreams or not?

You can choose to remain friends with this kind of group of people or you can move onto other friends that are more positive.

In many cases, the easier way to deal with negative people is to stop spending time with them, or at least as much time. By finding friends that share in your positive attitude toward life and the things that you want, you will also increase your positive energy and begin to attract the things you want.

Of course, there are some people that you can not avoid being around – family, coworkers, etc. In order to create a healthier relationship in these cases, you will need to be willing to be different than their behavior dictates.

This means being able to stop, assess what they have said, and find a positive way to address it. You will also need to set boundaries as to how much negativity you can handle and then step away from conversations or situations that start to exceed these boundaries.

4) Tactics for dealing with negative influences

Because you may never be able to avoid negativity entirely, you will want to have a few simple strategies to help counteract this type of energy without spreading it as well.

When someone says something negative, ask them why they feel that way? This causes people to reconsider what they are saying and perhaps change their thought process. On the other hand, you might also get a lengthy discussion of exactly why they feel miserable.

When someone talks about a bad string of events, try to change each event into a positive action. For example, if they got a bad parking space at work, congratulate them on having more exercise opportunities.

You want to try to switch their dialogue around so that you can find the positive side of the conversation – even if they can not.

Practice positive affirmations – When you silently repeat to yourself a positive phrase, you can help your mind stay focused on positive things. For example, thinking to yourself, "I am content and happy," over and over can remind you that you actually are happy overall.

5) How to attract positive people

When you want to create a more positive life for yourself and start attracting the things you want, you'll want to start associating with people of the same mindset.

Why not try to arrange a weekly group for positive thinkers and those living by the universal laws of attraction? You may be surprised to see just how many people want to do what you're doing too. All you need to do is gather everyone together.

Is your lover leaving you for someone else? Is your Marriage or relationship going toward failure? My relationship restoration tactics have helped thousands of readers from all over the world! You can stop your divorce so that the person you love will wake up and realize the love and friendship and happiness you have to offer. You simply cannot argue with success! Read rave reviews and get FREE relationship advice here!

Women And Coffee

2008-01-31T18:35:00.000-07:00

I do not know about you, but for me, coffee drinking, especially in the morning or early evening, is more than a simple habit or cultural characteristic. Actually, it has become a necessity without which I cannot open my eyes and stand on my two feet all day. According to researchers, I am not alone. Nearly 80% of the U.S. population drinks coffee on a daily basis. The caffeine measured to be contained in a cup of coffee, me and you daily consume, is around 80-130 mg. But while the medical community has warned the public of the health risks associated to caffeine intake, there still is very little linking between coffee and health problems, except in a very few cases.

Coffee, which is a beverage served cold or hot, comes from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant, almost always referred to as coffee beans. But regardless of its tremendous market success-coffee is the second most commonly traded commodity in the world surpassed only by petroleum-coffee has been blamed to be the cause of a variety of disorders ranging from indigestion to cancer, at one time or another. Since it is the main source of caffeine, which is a stimulant, coffee has had an almost constant role in the news pertaining to health problems in recent years. Surprisingly, most of these warnings and urgent health reports, describing problems like the human airways clogging, are aimed at women.

But while even doctors have been very critical of the role of coffee in women's health, the fact of the matter remains; there is little proof that any risk to women exists from coffee drinking, especially when consumed in moderate amounts. As a matter of fact, reports have even suggested that coffee even lessen the risks of some diseases in women, such as bladder cancer. Unfortunately, since the health problems examined in relation to their linkage with coffee consumption have not yet reached indisputable results, women have reached a stage that it is almost difficult to believe anything involving the health risks of coffee and women.

The reasons why coffee has been getting such a bad reputation are based on the fact that of all drinks containing caffeine, coffee has the highest concentration amount, far exciding that of sodas. In addition, since doctors advice pregnant women to be cautious and avoid caffeinated beverages while carrying an infant, despite there being no evidence of any serious health risks involved, women tend to consider coffee drinking almost as if they were performing some kind of sin and avoid drinking it in fear of the unknown consequences. On the other hand, new research has revealed that coffee is actually beneficial to a person's health. For example, the diuretic effect of coffee has proved that it lessens the incidence of bladder cancer in smokers, and drinking coffee regularly is also reported to lessen the onset of Parkinson's disease.

So, what should we ladies do? The best advice that anyone can believe is the trusted advice of their doctor. Question your doctor if he/she restricts coffee and follow their advice, but stay current on health news. Although it seems impossible to know which study to believe, we have to train ourselves to tell the difference between hypothesis and fact. Being educated about our health will always make us women feel better in the long run.

Kadence Buchanan writes articles on many topics including Health, Cooking, and Beauty

Get It Together, Girl! Fashion Tips On Achieving A More Polished Look Cheaply

2008-01-31T18:31:00.000-07:00

Have you ever taken notice of a female that just looks like she’s got it together from head to toe around the clock? It seems that this sophisticated lady has a chic appeal that just never stops. Even on her worst days, she turns the heads of everyone in the room. She is a show stopping, runway bound, fancy and stylish lady that you wish would share her brilliant fashion tips with you. Well, the good news is that no matter what ethnicity or social economic background you’re from, you can delight in being one of the more “polished” well-put together women that other women love to envy. And the better news is that the show stopping abilities don’t have to come with a costly price tag. You can achieve that “polished” look by adhering to these 7 simple fashion tips that guarantee you success in the workplace and lure the most desired company your way!

1. Preparation is key. As with most things, preparation is essential for achieving goals. Start by planning how you want to look or what look you desire and begin working towards that objective. Do you want a more practical conservative look or are you aspiring for a trendier look? Are you seeking business casual attire or a more sleek elegant style? Whatever your preferred style may be, plan for it and then get ready to shop. Before you shop, make a list. List all of the basics that you need and stick to your list, rather than going on impulsive shopping trips. This will save time and money. Consider browsing through some catalogs and fashion magazines to discover fashion ideas that catch your eye. Be sure not to overkill on the same type of pieces and colors schemes. This gives your wardrobe a repetitive appearance. You don’t want to be known around the office as “the girl with the gray sweaters.”

2. Check your closet first. Most likely, you’ll find that mixing and matching pieces and maybe adding a new piece here and there to jazz it up can spice up most of the pieces that you already own. Another money saver is to get rid of undesired items in your wardrobe by having a garage sale and using the money for more updated pieces.

3. Shop for Bargains. You don’t have to compromise quality when you bargain shop. You can find some good quality pieces at some of the major department stores clearances, as well as TJMaxx, Marshall’s, and even Target for a fraction of the prices that you’ll find the similar pieces at expensive boutiques. Find out the day that their new merchandise arrives, and go for it! This will keep you from rummaging through leftovers. You will be amazed at the treasures you’ll find for a little bit of nothing.

4. The Bare Necessities. The basic necessities in your wardrobe can make a world of difference if chosen correctly. For these pieces, quality is a must. Most wardrobes are not complete for a professional environment if they do not include the basics: white blouse, blazer, jacket, black slacks, trouser jeans, black suit, black skirt, and last but not least, the perfect little black dress. Once you have these quality basics you can add to them some colorful pieces and mix and match as needed. The key is to compliment these basics by accentuating with trendy pieces. Most importantly, avoid limiting outfits that only go together… this will only restrict your wardrobe. Play around with mixes and matches that achieve a new look every time.

5. Layer your Look! The layered look is definitely in! You can piece an old blouse from your existing wardrobe with a fresh blazer, or take a tee that you’ve become bored with and pair with a sweater for a more polished look. Layering your look always gives a more refined effect.

6. Choose clothes that look good on you. Let’s face it, as much as we’d like to, not everyone can sport every look! One significant piece of advice is:

If you don’t feel comfortable in it, chances are it’s because it is not flattering on you. Form fitting is always best for a well-put together look. Clothes that don’t fit well look unprofessional and shabby. Discover the clothes that best flatter your figure and stick with them. Be on the safe side, and simply ask a friend, “How do I look?” Make sure that it is someone who will offer honest constructive criticisms. And always, be your worst critic!

7. Accessorize!!! Have some fun with your look by adding a few beaded long necklaces to an otherwise plain outfit. Throw on a big belt with those jeans on top of that long sweater! Add a splash of color to that black suit with a playful blouse. Make your attire enjoyable by jazzing it up with bold costume jewelry, belts, sashes, pins, and shawls. Be creative with your garnishes! Accessories always catch the eye and complete any outfit.

Have fun with your new-sophisticated look. Be creative, but maintain your professionalism. Happy shopping!!!

Donna Rice owner of Blackhairplanet.com which is a directory of African American Salons and Black beauty supplies

Money Saving Tips For Girls On The Go

2008-01-31T18:25:00.001-07:00

Travel doesn't have to be expensive. Sure, it takes more effort to save money on the road, but when you are a hard working gal with dreams of hoofing it across continents, sometimes those pennies saved can mean the difference between out on the road or broke at home. Here are a few tips to help you get the most for less while your seeing the world.

Get that AAA membership. It may sound like something your mom would tell you to do, but it's worth every penny. For about $45 a year, you get free help if your car breaks down and serious discounts on hotels, motels and museums. You even get a discount on Amtrak. I recently took my mom to the beach, and the cash my AAA card saved me on hotels for that one trip more than paid for the membership fee.

Bring a friend. Not only is it safer and more fun to travel with a friend, it’s cheaper. You can split the cost of gas and hotels, making travel almost half the price of going solo.

Food Smarts. Eating out costs a pretty penny. If you’re going to eat out, do lunch then eat dinner in your hotel room. Lunch is always cheaper. When you go out, ask around and find out where the locals eat, or look for mom and pop diners or ethnic neighborhoods full of authentic and inexpensive cuisine.

Buy bottles of water and snacks at the local grocery store before heading out to sightsee. The same stuff will cost you half as much as it will in tourist areas or convenience stores. You may want to keep a handy dandy cooler packed with sodas, water and fruits in your car. Fill it up with treats before you hit the road and just refill the ice from the hotel ice machine.

The best food is often local food. Locate the farmer's market and the local bakeries. Stop at the bakery for some bread, then stop by the farmer's market for fresh veggies and cheese and soon you'll have the fixins for a healthy, fresh lunch for much less than the cost of eating in a restaurant.

Hotels/motels. If you can, stop by a truck stop or travel center on your way into town. They always have racks of free coupon magazines that can save you a few on accommodations. And they usually contain a map of the area too.

At Roomsavers.com, you can also download coupons for hotels. Of course, traveling during the week instead of on weekends will save you on your hotel bill, too.

If you decide to stay in the locally owned, non-chain motel ( which will usually be a better deal) ask to see the room before you pay for it. You don’t want to stay somewhere too icky or unsafe just to save a few bucks. When you do find a place, work that AAA discount.

Remember there’s always a hostel. Hostels are almost always the cheapest way to go for single travelers. Sometimes it can be cheaper than a motel for two people.

Another new option is house swapping. If you live in a reasonably interesting place, chances are pretty good you can trade apartments with someone in another city for a week or two. Check Craigslist or one of the many house-swapping organizations for more information and to see if it's right for you.

And if you have tent, will travel. You can park your tent on a spot with water and electricity for as little as $10 a night. Throw an air mattress in there and you can camp like a queen!

There are usually state parks, private campgrounds and national parks with camp sites near most major cities and along major highways, making them a convenient lodging option. Many parks have cabins with kitchenettes, where you can sleep up to eight people for as little as $20 a night.

Travel during the off times

The best way to stretch your travel dollar is to travel during off-peak times. That means when schools are in session and not during three day holiday weekends, when the legions of people tied to 9 to 5 jobs maximize vacation days.

You’ll always get a better deal if you travel during the week, not on weekends, or during a city’s slow tourism season. For instance, the beach will be cheaper in May and September than June through August. New Orleans and Las Vegas are cheaper during the summer because their high season is winter.

Remember, hotels raise their rates on Friday and Saturday nights. Some rates nearly double. Travel Sunday to Thursday if you can. You’ll save serious money on lodging. You’ll also avoid long lines and crowds at local attractions, and maybe save a few cents a gallon on gasoline.

Summer is universally the peak season, and prices for rooms, shows, gas, airfare and just about everything else are higher from May through August. If you can travel from September to April, you’ll save a lot more money. If you’re considering a European trip, you’ll cut your airfare in half and will have your pick of inexpensive lodging, entertainment and transportation.

Book early

In most cases, you can get primo rates and first pick when you book early and you're more likely to lock in the best airfare and hotel rates. You also may have the option of putting down a deposit and paying your trip off in installments instead of putting it on a credit card and paying interest.

Use the Web

Many times, booking rental cars, hotel rooms and airline flights on the Web, directly through the hotels or airline's Web sites will net you the best deal. Always try to book directly first, rather than through a broker, then try Priceline , Travelocity or Orbitz to see which has the best deal. You may also try your hand at BiddingforTravel.com, a Priceline message board designed to help you get the best possible deals for travel.

Denise Trowbridge is an award-winning journalist residing in Ohio. Her work has appeared in newspapers and magazines across the United States, as well as on her site http://www.DeniseTrowbridge.com. Denise is also the editor of the women's Web magazine, http://www.PussycatMagazine.com.

All About Ladies Golf

2008-01-31T18:08:00.000-07:00

Beginners Golf is such a special time to really soak up the nuances of the game and is a safety net for us starting out in the game of golf.

Beginning Golf is an easy time to throw in the towel since golf is a little hard to pick up and believe it or not, there will be more than one time that it feels a little strange.

It is so exciting to take that first golf lesson in this glorious game of sport. Golf for beginners is definitely a test but yet it sure does fill my heart with uncontrolled bliss when I am walking from my car carrying my little bag of golf clubs even though I am simply a beginning golfer. Regardless of my beginners’ status, being able to play golf just makes me me incredibly happy.

Oh well, let’s just admit it.

I am just getting started in the game of golf and not only that I am a beginning women’s golfer with a partner who has been shooting the links and showing other beginners to play well for several years.

Still as you might guess I was never really interested in learning to swing a golf club until one week I had finally had just enough of being left home alone while he enjoyed a Saturday on the golf course. I was definitely sick and tired of it. So when he was out enjoying the sunshine and beautiful golf course holes I went to the store and while I was there I purchased a copy of Golf for Women and when I got home I devoured it.

Well by the time he played another round of 18 holes and made it back home I was totally hooked and sucked it up and pleaded with him to teach me to play golf.

Although, I admit that it was really hard to just deal with my humiliation and ask him to coach me in how to play golf particulary after he had been begging me for years to learn to play golf. But being a great sport and a really good husband he agreed, without hesitation, to teach me to play golf.

This game of kings can be quite an impending pastime and it can be a bit cash-draining to take it up, but I was not going to be discouraged.

I longed to spend time with my husband and who really cared what we were doing I simply longed to somehow, some way just be good enough swinging the clubs that I didn’t mortify myself or my husband. So he got me started with a set of his old clubs that we took to a shop and had cut down to fit my height.

It was a bit of surprise to find that getting his old set of clubs cut down to my size really wasn’t all that expensive! I didn’t want to pay out a small handful of money particularly since I was a beginning golfer and then decide that I detested the game or worse yet be a complete pathetic student trying to tackle the game of golf.

Ok I was ready to get started and had a few clubs, which I didn’t spend a lot of money on, which is really a good idea, sisters!

No putting out hundreds of dollars on impressive clubs and other golf equipment when you haven’t even shot your first round of golf yet! So then I was off to to the course for my first golf lesson and then off to the practice range for some quiet time to review what I had just learned. There is just not one single alternate for practice and it is not just practice as in repeating it time and time again, it is accurate and solid practice that will give you the lower golf scores you are after.

Stop by the price mark down stores, second-hand sports stores, or even garage sales and buy a set of starter golf clubs. Many have sets that even come with a golf bag so you are really set to go.

Do some research and find a place to take some lessons. You can do this through the local community college, most community golf courses offer golf lessons through their club pro, or you might even look into local golf academies, where their mission is to teach beginners and experienced golfers alike the game of golf. All of these options should be quite familiar with teaching golf for beginners. And then, practice what you learn.

Practice at the driving range and practice greens, where everyone else is practicing too. It took a ton of convincing for me to have the guts to stand on the practice greens with everybody else, but it without a doubt is the practice that makes all the difference in your golf game.

Ladies’ Beginning Golf can be frightening, there is no doubt, but don’t throw in the towel!

Stick with your golf lessons, you will be glad that you put forth and effort to learn to swing a club.

I am a beginning golfer and I love the game of golf!

For more great instruction and beginning golf tips to get your golf game on track. Visit golf-ology.com where you'll find women's golf tips, golf lessons, and more.

FW: Details Boutique Anniversary Gala

2008-01-27T20:29:00.000-07:00

Details Boutique 4th Annual Anniversary Gala

Come help us celebrate our 4th annual Anniversary Gala on February 8, 9, 10, 2008. While you shop our eclectic boutique you'll enjoy refreshments and appetizers, a multitude of in store specials and a chance to win valuable prizes.

It's All About the Detai!s.....

Drawings for Valuble Gift Giveaways
50% Off all Fall/Winter Clothing
50% Off Winter Boots/Shoes
40% Off Winter Pajamas
20% Off Colorado Clothing Robes
20% Off all Jewelry
15% Off all Bath & Body Products
$20.00 Off Designer Jeans
Spin the Wheel of Fortune and receive a FREE GIFT

Anniversary Gala Store Hours
Friday 10 - 6
Saturday 10 - 6
Sunday 12 - 5

Hope to see you at the Gala....

Peggy Cooper

Details Boutique

Detailsbbb@aol.com detailsbbb@aol.com

303-703-3884

www.detailsboutique.com http://www.detailsboutique.com

2396 W. Main Street Littleton, Colorado 80120

WOW

2008-01-27T08:45:00.001-07:00

I am proud to announce I am the Denver Chapter Host for the World of Women Network. I am so excited to bring this to our area & get things started for Denver.

WOW membership at any time is available for free, but as the new chapter host I am able to offer a limited number of free Gold Membership Upgrades. Please take advantage of this today. Post events, savings & discounts for your business. Find a workout buddy. Learn how to write an awesome resume from a mentor through our heartgifts program. WOW has it all, and soon I will be able to offer even more. So sign up now & become part of the WOW movement in Denver! I look forward to seeing you all through WOW events soon!

Sincerely,
Amanda

Go to www.wowtoday.net
**USE THE CODE "AOB08" to get your free upgrade. Your upgrade will be applied shortly after you sign up! Any questions or problems please contact me!

P.S. Please repost this & pass it along!

MORE ABOUT WOW...

Welcome to WOW — An organization dedicated to helping women create happier, more fulfilled lives by harnessing the power of connection. We know when women come together magical things happen. We laugh more and learn faster. We believe that everyone deserves and has the ability to create a phenomenal life, and that by uniting, we can reach our goals faster and easier than by struggling alone.

♥ Make friends in your area, enjoy local activities
♥ Tap into a powerful pool of knowledge and expertise from women globally
♥ Free mentoring program to help you reach goals faster
♥ Create or join groups around your interests
♥ Business Women Networking Luncheons

As a member, you will also receive fabulous discounts on products and services from great local businesses. Post your own discounts, savings & local events!

Da Vinci's is Seeking Book Submissions

2008-01-27T07:32:00.000-07:00

Da Vinci's Blog Log, it's a site catered to women. We cover fashion, fitness, and beauty tips. Also you can find your daily show highlights and we cover women's health issues and so much more. The site is updated 5-6 days a week, so there is always something new to see.

We are currently accepting book submissions for review on the site. We will be featuring an author monthly and the book reviews will be added to our must haves section. If you are interested please contact us Davinci@Davincisbloglog.com

Here's Your Guide To Buying A Used Car, Ladies

2008-01-25T13:50:00.000-07:00

Buying a used car can be quite the challenging experience for anyone, but most women find it even more challenging. More than likely, as a woman you are not very interested in or well versed in mechanics, and this can be a problem when you are going to purchase a used car. Some car dealerships will even make it a point to take advantage of women, so women need to be prepared and knowledgeable when they go to purchase a used car.

Tip #1 - Check the Vehicle History - One thing that you can do to help you make sure you do not buy a lemon is to check out the history of the vehicle. There are several places that you can check online to make sure that your car was never in a fire or flood. Also try to get your hands on the maintenance records so you can see how well the car has been kept and any major problems that have been fixed along the way.

Tip #2 - Check with the Kelly Blue Book for the Value - It may be a bit difficult for you to know how much a car is really worth, and many salesmen will try to get you pay more than the vehicle is really worth. Before you make a deal on a particular car, make sure that you check out the Kelly Blue Book to see what the car's value actually is. If you are making a trade with your current car, then make sure you know what your car is worth as well.

Tip #3 - Have Your Financing Already Arranged - One place that many used car dealerships will get you is with the financing. Some dealerships offer their own financing, but they may not mention that they have very high interest rates and you will end up paying a great deal more for your car than if you financed elsewhere. When you are buying a car, it is usually best to hit the lots with your financing already ready from a bank or other financial institution.

Tip #4 - Comparison Shop - While it may take a bit of time, one of the best things you can do to find a great deal on a used car is to shop around. Comparison shopping will give you an idea of what cars are out there and what the prices are running. After you check out a few dealerships, you may find one that you feel more comfortable with, and you will be better prepared to get a great deal.

Tip #5 - Take a Test Drive - Never purchase a used car that you have not driven. Before you drive away in your new car, you want to be sure that you take the time to give it a test drive, and not just a little drive to the end of the block and back. Take the time to drive it in traffic, at higher speeds, up hills, and see how it stops and starts at lights. You want to be sure that you feel comfortable driving this car before you buy it.

Tip #6 - Do Some Testing - Another important thing to do before purchasing a used car is to do a bit of testing yourself. Take the time to make sure that all the electronic systems work and check out the safety features as well to make sure they are also in working condition.

Keeping these tips in mind can help you make sure that you find a car that will be serviceable for a great price. Learn your stuff, and next time you hit the used car lots, you'll be ready to do battle for a great new ride.

Ron Toomes has been in the Automotive Business for 25 years the last 10 as a Synthetic Lubrication Executive Jobber and Web Site Owner. Ron writes articles for: http://Go-Synthetic.com http://BigSkyOil.com Ron's Web Site Amsoil Synthetic Lubricants

The Pink Hatters – Ladies In Waiting

2008-01-25T13:48:00.000-07:00

Have you ever seen a Pink Hatter? A pink hatter is a young woman under the age of fifty who is a member of The Red Hat Society. When you see a pink hatter you'll know it, they dress in stunning pink hats and wear lavender outfits.

Pink Hatters are routinely called "Ladies in Waiting" as they are waiting for the day they will turn fifty and become a Red Hatter. When a pink hatter turns fifty an extraordinary ceremony called a "Red-u-ation" is held and the pink hat is traded for a red one. These celebrations always include giggling, laughter, and a lot of fun.

The Red Hat Society is a social group of ladies that have joined together to celebrate life. Women join the society to meet new friends, have fun and be a part of the special community.

Dressing up in beautiful pink hats, red hats with exotic feathers, pins, clips, bows is all part of the fun. The fun doesn't end with the hat though; the outfits can be just as extreme and as fun to wear.

Just like a wild fire, this community has spread far and wide. There are chapters located all over the world, with the majority of the members located in the United States. Women join at all ages from young girls to over fifty to enjoy the company of fellow members.

Conventions such as Nashville Rhythm and Rhinestones are held far and wide due to the popularity of the club. New friends are made, networking and lots of fun is in order when one attends a convention.

The club has a saying, "You don't stop playing because you're old, you grow old because you stop playing." The Red and Pink Hatters definitely know how to have fun and how to stay young at heart. Women looking for encouragement, support, fun and friendship should look into the club and see if it is something they would enjoy.

Stop by to see a wide variety of Pink Hats, and Red Hat merchandise that is perfect for Red Hat Ladies. Be sure to sign up for free coupons and sale notifications too!

10 Things Never To Say To A Guy

2008-01-24T09:53:00.000-07:00

Ladies, if you want to have a successful dating life, certain phrases should never come out of your glossy lips. Here they are:

1. When will I see you again? You’ll see him when you see him. If he wants to see you again, he’ll call. If not, next. You don’t have time for anyone that doesn’t have time for you.

2. Why didn’t you call? There’s only one answer to this question: Because he didn’t want to!!! What you’re really asking is, “Why didn’t you want to call me?” Who knows!! There could be a lot of reasons, but you shouldn’t be sitting around wondering why. You should be out dating lots of different guys and not worrying about ONE guy. Don’t be so quick to put all your eggs into one basket, because if they break, it’s a big mess!

3. Where were you? If he wanted you to know where he was, he’d tell you. What you’re really asking is, “Where you with another female that you like better than me?” Your insecurity is showing, sweetie. If anything, he should be wondering where you were.

4. I love you. You’re saying it in the hopes that he’ll say it back, but what if he doesn’t? You’ll be devastated and probably feel foolish. Saying “I love you” is not going to speed things up if he’s not ready to say it back. So just cool it, and let him be the first to say it when he’s ready.

5. Did you sleep with her? As long as he’s not sleeping with her now, who cares? The past is gone. Don’t torture yourself (and him) with these thoughts. In this case, ignorance really is bliss.

6. Are you seeing anyone else? Mystery is to men what romance is to women. You’ve just indirectly told him that you want to be exclusive, you’ve handed over control of the relationship and you’ve killed the mystery. Who knew 5 words could be so powerful?

7. Where is this going? Nowhere fast if that’s your attitude. Guys want someone fun and easy to be with, not someone that’s constantly worrying about the future. His actions or non-actions will tell you where it’s going. If it’s going somewhere, you’ll know it. If it’s not, you’ll know it too.

8. We need to talk. This is the equivalent of, “Go to the principal’s office”. Guys know it’s not going to be a fun conversation, so they’re already on the defense. If you need to discuss something, just casually bring it up when the both of you are relaxed. Don’t try to talk to him when he’s tired, stressed or trying to watch tv!

9. What are you thinking? What you’re really asking is: Is something wrong? Are you mad at me? Are you thinking about our relationship? Are you thinking about me? Are you thinking about someone else? If he wants you to know what he’s thinking, he’ll tell you on his own. If he doesn’t, he’ll lie when you ask.

10. I don’t trust you. What you’re actually saying is, “You need to step up your game, because I can see you’re up to something.” If he is up to something, he’ll just become even sneakier. Better to think smart and act dumb-it’ll be easier to get the evidence you need to confirm your suspicions.

Lucia is a dating and relationship expert, columnist, author and host of the TV Show "The Art of Love". With over 20 years experience on the relationship market, Lucia's practical know-how makes her the perfect candidate to dispense advice – in almost every dating dilemma she has been there, done that and lived to tell about it. For more information, go to: http://www.lessonsoflove.net

Feel Good Naked - Natural Beauty Secrets

2008-01-23T17:38:00.000-07:00

How confident are you when it comes to being naked? Sadly, a lot of women agonise about their bodies and revealing all can be a traumatic experience. If you are looking for tips, tricks and beauty secrets to help you make the most of your natural beauty and feel good naked, you've come to the right place.

Number one of all the beauty secrets is this, if you want to feel good naked you must be happy in your own skin.

To help you achieve this, look after your skin to bring out its natural beauty. Exfoliate regularly to remove dead skin cells and give your circulation a boost, this will encourage new skin cells at the same time. Encouraging new skin cells will give your skin a younger, fresher look.

Always moisturise using a good moisturiser and pay special attention to dry areas such as elbows, knees and feet. Take your time and massage the moisturiser right into your skin. Massaging not only helps your circulation it also helps to smooth out bumps and wrinkles and will enhance your natural beauty. Olive oil, an old-fashioned beauty secret, will give your skin a luxurious look as well as making it soft and supple to touch. As the surface of your skin improves and you get to know your body better you will begin to feel good naked.

Remove unsightly hairs from your legs, under your arms and tidy up your bikini line, or go the whole hog and go for a Brazilian wax.

You probably already know that eating a balanced diet to maintain healthy skin from the inside will benefit your natural beauty. Oily fish and vegetables will do wonders for your nails, hair and teeth as well as providing fish oils and vitamins for your skin and is a beauty secret worth knowing.

Your hair is your crowning glory especially if you want to feel good naked, have it trimmed regularly and keep it clean, well conditioned and healthy.

A quick fix beauty secret to feel good naked is to decide which your best asset is and show it off to the best advantage. Stand naked in front of a tall mirror and take a good, long look at yourself.

Standing straight on is not always the best pose, experiment by turning slowly and watching how your contours change. Standing side on can be a lot more flattering and compliment your natural beauty. Stand up straight and lift your sternum (breastbone) arch your back slightly so that your bottom sticks out a little bit but not too much.

You can make yourself look slimmer by stretching your body into a bow shape and being careful not to stoop or scrunch yourself up. Or stand slightly side on to the mirror placing one leg in front of the other; this will give you a very sexy shapely outline indeed.

Or try lying on your stomach propped up by your elbows, this accentuates the curve of your back and the shape of your breasts and at the same time minimises your stomach.

The idea behind the above beauty secrets is to create an illusion, flatter your natural beauty and help you to feel good naked.

A good tip is to spend as much time as you can actually being naked, this will get you used to seeing yourself naked and the more you see yourself naked, the more being naked will feel natural to you.

Remember to stand up straight and stretch your body to make yourself look slimmer. It also helps if you master the art of walking by placing one foot in front of the other, as though you are walking a tight rope, and swing your legs from the hips. I've found this looks extremely elegant and it will do wonders for your confidence.

Another good beauty secret is to go for soft lighting, such as candles, tea lights or softly coloured light bulbs if you haven't got a dimmer switch, and make sure the lighting is behind you. This not only has a slimming effect - it will also help to soften your outline and give you a sexy glow.

A soft glow rather than harsh lighting will give your skin an even tone and minimise the appearance of any blemishes.

One of the best beauty secrets I know is taking regular exercise to help keep your body toned and supple, a thirty-minute walk three times a week will pay many benefits. Walk at a speed that gets your heart rate up, this will oxygenate your blood and improve your skin, as well as your muscles and heart. Don't walk so fast that you can't have a conversation at the same time.

A toned and balanced body is extremely beautiful and will make you look and feel good naked, and you don’t need an hourglass figure to achieve this. Add quality to your movements with muscles that are long and toned and you will appear more balanced and beautiful.

Finally, the best way to feel good naked is to have confidence in yourself. If you don't feel it, fake it until you do. Get to know your own body and accept yourself for who you are and how you look.

We are all individuals and there are no set rules for everyone. Watch other women and notice how they move, what looks good and what doesn't. You can learn a lot by watching others.

Someone who is happy in her own skin and behaves in a confident manner is extremely attractive and sexy, regardless of her body shape.

How you feel about yourself is what really counts because this will show in your eyes and natural beauty will radiate from you.

Relax and enjoy yourself - love the way you look - if you do then others will too.

About The Author
Elaine Woosey shares more natural beauty secrets, tips and advice at http://beauty-secrets4u.com Discover how to be gorgeous by visiting http://www.beauty-secrets4u.com/ebook.htm where you can download a free chapter of her ebook.

The Fun of a Girl 's Night In

2008-01-22T11:25:00.000-07:00

With so much going on in our busy lives it 's sometimes hard to summons the energy to get together with girlfriends for a quality nights entertainment.

So why not stay at home and invite your girlfriends around? It 's nowhere near the effort of getting all dressed up, catching a cab, sitting in a smoked filled room and then catching a cab home again.

So just how do you make it a great night to remember. The first step is to get rid of the males in the house. This should be easy as most men, if they are anything like the men in my house, will be only too happy to go to the football or local bar. Fishing is also a pastime which can get the boys out of your hair for the entire weekend.

Now the trick here girls is to make out that you are doing something for them, they don't need to know you have an ulterior motive. After all, you want them to give you something nice in return for letting them loose.

Now that the boys are taken care of let 's do some preparation. You don't want to make too much work for yourself.

Dinner is a good start. Dinner can be either takeaway, where you all chip in and get a mixed bag of really interesting exotic foods such as Taiwanese, Indian or Turkish are great ways to explore your culinary desires and your guests will feel like they have experienced something just a little different.

Pot luck is another option which can be alot of fun. This is where each guest is asked to contribute either a main meal or dessert. If your friends come from different backgrounds you can get some very interesting dishes indeed and every good cook always has at least one favorite dish they know how to prepare that goes down well.

You can of course cook the entire meal yourself but that does not lend to you having an overly relaxing evening yourself.

Now if you are like me and you want to relax too, then you will want to make it very informal which for me means movies. Of course you will be needing some snacks, which guests that can't cook can bring as their contribution.

If movies aren't your thing you can have some great fun using your computer.

Joining into chat rooms is really fun as you can make up a person, join the chat and have everyone input into what you want to say and respond with. There are many different chat programs out there, but another great option is playing bingo online. Online bingo offers chat so that you can chat with others while you play. Once again, sign up with an alias and have all your girlfriends join in with the bingo games and chat.

Other games or just plenty of nice wine are great relaxing ways you can spend the night in with the girls. If you are drinking then having your friends stay over is the safe option and this way you will have help cleaning up the next morning.

Remember the more relaxed you are and the more fun you have, the more likely it is your girlfriends will host the same great night in.

Sam Wolfe has been involved in the online bingo industry for over 10 years - as a player, employee and now consultant. She runs informative UK bingo portals located at http://buzzo.co.uk and http://zipboing.co.uk.

Feather Boa for a Girls Night Out!

2008-01-21T13:03:00.000-07:00

Girls night out is about being girly and about having fun with you friends. It's about having a party and meeting people that are out to have a ball too. You feel free and outgoing. The city is not going to be the same after this night out.

You and the group of girls you usually hang out with have decided to meet down town for a girl's night out. The big question arises, what to wear?

Depending on how you feel about dressing up, you can either put on something that is discrete so that you don't get unwanted attention from guys who are out there too. Or you could dress up more relaxed and outgoing, saying, I am out to have a good time. Or, you could put on clothes full of color and signal to the world that here you are, ready to rock the city.

If you really want to stick out from the crowd, in a positive way, you should try on a feather boa around your neck to go with your outfit. A feather boa will for sure make other people notice you. But be warned; be prepared for maximum attention from guys who are out looking for a party girl like you. And don't get surprised if you legs are sore the next morning because of all the dancing the night before.

Wearing a feather boa around your neck is the perfect accessory for a nightstand or dresser. It is easy to wear, weighs almost nothing, and will make you look fabulous and beautiful. Feather boas are that extra spice that really makes the difference for your party-look.

If you have doubts whether feather boas are suited for a normal night out, and not just for a carnival – don't be; you will look great with it. Try one out. If it does not feel right for you, that's okay. I am sure you look beautiful without it as well.

Have a great night out, and thank you for listening.

Battles against Media's idea of "The Perfect Woman"

2008-01-17T16:07:00.000-07:00

The never ending battle against the Media and it`s bogus idea of the "PERFECT WOMAN". *sigh*

Lately I have been studying the media, reading articles, watching news, and looking for anything that I can find to make me feel that there is still hope for our world. If you have read any of my past articles, then you will already know where my concerns lie.

For those of you that are just reading me for the first time, my concerns are strong regarding women of today and their search for the true identity of themselves.

Women today have fierce competition. I have spoken to many men also and they have strongly let me know that they would not trade their gender for any amount of money. They actually feel sorry for the women of today. A few of them even shared with me that they hate the fact that everywhere they look, the media's idea of, "The Perfect Women" is stuck in their faces. Sure its nice to see, any human being will appreciate a nice looking picture. What happens at that very minute though is that they (the men) are put in a situation of feeling that they are betraying their partner by not knowing exactly how to react. I know, I know, some of you are thinking that it is the women's fault that the men think that way. I will agree in some cases, but these men that I have spoken to were being quite genuine in the fact that they themselves did not appreciate it.

I will be the first one to say yes to prostitution. Why? Because it keeps some of the damn rapists of the streets from attacking the unwilling women. I say yes to pornography; it keeps the men that are afraid to approach real women relieved of a very needed natural release. I also say yes to alcohol and to chocolate with ice cream, but my dear readers, before you frown on me for what I just said, hear me say this. "I do not condone the force and uncontrolled manor with which the media shoves all this down our throats. I thought this was a free country. When did we lose the right to choose whether we want to have the media's idea of, "The Perfect Woman", shoved down our throats every time we turn on the television, walk into a bar, just drive down the road (billboards), open a magazine, listen to a song, or even simply look in our teenagers room."

I was reading an article that was advertising the new television line ups for this falls season. I was horrified when I read about the graphic violence being used against women. Episodes showing a woman thrashing in a cage, with duct tape across her eyes, while a man's hands are shown grabbing her bloodied fingers through the bars of the cage and ripping off her fingernails. Another is chained up like a dog in a basement by her so called loving husband. It gets worse; there is also one with a woman paralyzed by venomous spider bites and is being raped by a masked figure. These are what society is allowing for after dinner viewing. I am embarrassed to even say that this is my world seeing this. They made more noise when Janet Jackson slipped a peak of her nipple at a damn football game. In a word...SAD!! The media has definitely figured out how to make money at every woman's expense.

On a much happier note, in my searching the worlds media I did find a very refreshing commercial put out by DOVE. It can be viewed at their website:

www.campaignforrealbeauty.com. "Cheers Dove" is all I can say. Dove is pushing hard and continuing an uphill climb to bring back what was put on this earth as, The Real Women.

I also ran into an article trying to cut this refreshing change down. The magazine people that pride themselves on using air-brushed models with unrealistic looks, called the Dove girls in this commercial, "civilians". Ha! Now that is a very obvious show of defeat. They're even trying to say that women of today will not want to buy from ads that do not promise you unrealistic beauty. Ladies, the media is in fact calling you stupid as far as I read. I take that as an out right insult.

It's about time that someone stood up and gave the media's negative actions a run for their money. Money made at real women's expense, as I said already once. They also mention something as silly as women worry if they looked fat in their pants, as being an old age insecurity. DUH! No one ever said it was new, jeesh. I am also curious just how far women today are willing to let the media's idea of "The Perfect Woman" go. We are already the butt-end of the cosmetic surgery joke. I feel that the only reason any woman would be turned off by Dove's real women, is because they have been so brain washed into thinking that the media's idea of "The Perfect Women" is what is real. I feel sorry for them. Ladies of today, we must stand up and fight back. Do not let them turn, what is suppose to be real, into barbie dolls.

So many women are confused about what is, and what is not. Why do you think so many women suffer from low self-esteem, with cosmetic surgery at every street corner and so many unrealistic expectations coming to us from the media on how a women is suppose to look? Blah, blah. It's no wonder women are so confused.

Well I know that there is strength in numbers and I do know that there are more women today that are sick of all of the media's ideas. Ladies with low-self esteem, stand up, go to the store, and support DOVE. So what? They make money and yes, maybe there is a bit of truth that they too are using us as a way to profit. But at least we have a place to start to turn things around. We will never be able to turn them back, but we can make them work for us, not against us. Oh if anyone thinks that Dove has asked me, or payed me to speak of them in my blog, NO and NO. I am speaking on behalf of every women out there has been damaged by all the garbage that the media is trying to run our world with. Womens Selfesteem.com is happy to say that Dove is doing a very good thing, on the "real women" of today's behalf.

******************************************

"Don't back down just to keep the peace,

Standing up for your beliefs builds self-confidence and self-esteem."

-Oprah Winfrey

Dorothy Lafrinere Owner/Operator Website- www.womensselfesteem.com Forum- womenselfesteem.proboards29.com

Do You Need to Have More Friends?

2008-01-14T16:45:00.000-07:00

A few weeks I read in the newspaper that the average American person has only two close friends or relatives they can confide in. And in most cases, the persons they confided in were usually members of their immediate family.

When I read this I was shocked, because I didn’t think that having only two people to confide in was enough. And it turns out that just two decades ago, the average American person had at least three people they could confide in. So, it seems the number of close friends the average American has is going down.

Recently, I experienced a big crisis in my life when one of my close family members became very sick. I could not have gotten through this crisis without the emotional and practical support of a lot of people.

If I only had one or two other people I could count on, I would not have survived this crisis with my sanity in one piece. I needed a lot of comfort and reassurance, and if I only had one or two people, that would not have been enough.

It's not just Americans that are getting lonelier.

Many of the same factors are also affecting people in other parts of the world as well. People today are lonelier than ever. Why is this happening?

All over the world, more and more people have to move to big cities to try to find work. Often they have to leave behind the close-knit communities where their families lived for generations.

Once they are in big cities, they find that cities can be very exciting places to live, but cities are also filled with lots of lonely people crammed close together. Too often, the people crammed into these cities are not connecting with each other. They're too busy, and they don't have time to get to know a lot of strangers to find out who they like and who they don't like.

Many people today all over the world are having to work longer hours just to pay the bills and stay alive. Lots of times they spend hours commuting, and when they come home they are too tired to do much more than eat supper and watch television.

The sort of free time our grandparents had to visit with each other on the front porch and relax has often disappeared. In many places, the sense of community has disappeared because too many buildings have been knocked down and replaced by impersonal high rises, and too many long-time residents have moved away to be replaced by strangers.

Even our technology that is supposed to help us connect with each other can also keep us apart. Television can show us what is happening to people around the globe, but when we keep our eyes glued to the television set, we end up not knowing the people who live down the street.

If we watch too much television, or spend too much time playing video games, we might end up not really knowing the people who live in our own household!

So, if you’re one of those people who only has one or two close friends, this is a reminder that when you are in a time of crisis, you might wish you had more. The time to start making those extra friends is now.

Instead of complaining about the fact that society has become too busy and too impersonal, we can each take steps to ensure that we slow down and examine whether we are getting the human contact we want.

And if we are not getting enough human contact, we must each make the individual commitment to try to change things for the better in our own life, and for those around us. We must give before we can receive.

Reach out, talk to more people, show that you care about them, and thank them when they care about you.

Article by:

This article was written by friendship expert Royane Real. Would you like to have more friends in your life? Get her new book “How You Can Have All the Friends You Want – Your Complete Guide to Finding Friends, Making Friends, and Keeping Friends” Download it today at www.royanereal.com

Her Cries for help are Real!!

2008-01-11T17:36:00.000-07:00

Throughout my dealings with women from all over the world, I have met so many that are in a prison of pain and frustration. Through my website, they search desperately for a way out of this prison. They want so desperately to be heard.

Her Cries for help are genuine.She is not inventing her worries, nor is she so bored with her life that she is imagining things and creating her own miseries.

Her Cries for help are misinterpreted as nonsensical emotions. They are even viewed as insecurities. Some even become very defensive towards, "Her Cries for Help", and take it as a personal attack of mistrust.

Her Cries for Help, are not without reason. How can anyone actually believe that a person would deliberately cause so much upheaval in a love relationship over and over again? Who has the issues there? I have to wonder sometimes, exactly who is being deliberate?

These women are in constant conflict with uncontrollable emotions. They not only have to try to disconnect from their own person within, but they have to try to interpret them to an outsider and can only hope that person can hear, "Her Cries for Help", through her words.

These women are in need of an understanding that it is not them. This ugly reaction is a serious attempt to reach out to you for help. When something occurs time and time again, do you not start to wonder if maybe there is something more to her reaction than just what's on the surface? Surely a person that claims to love, cherish, and endure all negative and positive would know that the love of their life is in some kind of turmoil that she cannot escape. So then why do you assume everything from PMS, to mistrust? Is it not so obvious that she is not willingly hurting your relationship? Is it not obvious that she is in a hold of some kind that is controlling her? Can you not see how much, seeing you in confusion is tearing her apart piece by piece? Do you not think that she knows her reactions are causing a wall separating your ability to reach out to her?

Pretend for one moment that you are gagged and hand tied and someone else is speaking and acting for you. You can see them and you can hear what they are saying, but cannot do anything about it. You can see your loved one suffering from the intruders acts. Your guts are wrenching because you are in fact unable to stop it. This is maybe a little bit of what she feels like when her emotions entrap and imprison her and cause her to react in ways that boggle your mind.

Her love for you was in fact the trigger. Her love for you helped to lower her defenses and allowed this monster of negative emotions to creep in. Now she battles with it and fears what she cannot control. Her mind works over-time building defense walls to keep out this intruder that is so strong-willed and controlling. Her Cries for Help continue; for that is her only way of escaping this torment that in fact both of you are tangled up in. She searches for ways to rid herself of this horrible trap that she has somehow fallen into. She will never stop trying as long as she knows you will be there and that you know in your heart that it is not her deliberately sabotaging your love relationship. Your love and understanding is her strength. It is the ultimate weapon to fight and win this battle of imprisonment.

***************************

"Bitterness imprisons life; love releases it"

- Harry Emerson Fosdick

***************************

"I believe that we are here for each other, not against each other. Everything comes from an understanding that you are a gift in my life - whoever you are, whatever our differences."

- John Denver

Article by:
Dorothy Lafrinere Owner/Operator Website- www.womensselfesteem.com Forum- womenselfesteem.proboards29.com

The Benefits of Knitting Circles

2008-01-10T10:06:00.001-07:00

I was reading Stephen Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and was struck by something very powerful. He said that our growing fear and insecurity about work, finances, the future, and the vulnerability that comes with that fear is really paralyzing our society. Our response to fear is to focus inward - to focus on our own performance and our own concerns with the hope that we will be ok. That was a real scary thought for me, as I see more and more of that in myself and others. Can you imagine what happens to society if we all become hermits?

It is essential to depend on others to succeed to the fullest. It is only with the assistance of others that we can become the whole person that we could be. It is through others that we can develop all aspects of our personality. Our dealings with other people shape our personality and develop our interpersonal skills. No one ever achieved anything great by themselves, and if we continue to hide behind the "I'll take care of just me" facade, we'll never achieve anything great either.

So what does that have to do with knitting circles? Knitting circles have for centuries brought women together to share their experiences, to ask advice, and to encourage one another. It’s a fun environment and a learning environment all at the same time. It provides a place where women can go to find community. Most importantly, it is a place where that community does not stand in judgment.

This kind of community is a large part of what is missing in our society today. By "nesting" and staying home, we have abandoned community. Nesting is a phenomena punctuated by the growing number of telecommuters, work at homers, and internet chat. We’re avoiding people and choosing to stay at home where we feel safe. The internet brings us chat rooms, but we can't hold a conversation in person. Nesting is keeping us from achieving all we can achieve. So, enter knitting circles! Knitting circles are a way to connect with the people who can help you achieve something great.

You must get out of your house to have a circle (or at least invite people over to your house). You will be able to share the common interest of knitting with people who bring varied experiences. You will have the chance to talk to people and share in their wisdom.

You may not solve the great mysteries of the world, and your achievements may never be chronicled in encyclopedias for generations to revere, but imagine the pride of knowing you've changed one person for the better. Imagine knowing that what you had to offer was exactly what someone needed to make a dramatic change for the better. Wow! You might raise a child, coach a business owner, write a book, offer your expertise to assist another, or even just listen and ask understanding questions. When was the last time someone truly listened to what you said? See what I mean?

This is the value of community and the value of knitting circles. Knitting circles bring women together in an environment where it is comfortable to share and ask questions. It is safe to learn something new. It appeals to women of all walks of life and all generations. Find a circle near you, come to one of my Knit One, Share Two events, or start one of your own. You'll be creating a life-changing group that will encourage each to become more than they already are.

Article by:
Lisa Akers is the president of Be Still & Knit. Her company teaches women how to find peace and stillness in their lives through handwork. By discovering knit and crochet, women develop a new way to take time for themselves and share the love they have as warm clothing! Find out more about Lisa at www.bestillandknit.com or listen to her podcast at www.peacefulknitter.com.

2008-01-10T10:06:00.000-07:00

The Image of a Woman

2008-01-09T17:45:00.000-07:00

I’ve had it. For years I’ve watched as our society has continued to barrel down this road of demoralizing women. TV shows have gotten raunchier, movies have crossed the line over into pornography, and commercials use sex to sell everything from hamburgers to shampoo! I’m sickened and disgusted.

I am a woman. I want to be respected and valued. I am not meat.
I have daughters. I want them to be respected and cherished. I don’t want to have to worry about every guy that looks at them as they grow up because they can’t find a shirt that doesn’t bare their belly!

I also am a wife. I want my husband to have eyes only for me. He is devoted to me and loves me. But I can only imagine how tough it must be for him as everywhere he goes; half-naked women are thrust in his face. I don’t want to have to fret if I’m not home and he’s simply watching TV!

I have a son. I worry about the temptations he faces as he goes to the theaters with his friends. Thinking they will see a good movie, they are inadvertently exposed to suggestive content and exposed women constantly! And I’m not even talking about rated R movies. I want his future wife to feel valued and embraced by him.

More and more men are facing the problem of pornography. Not just because of the Internet, but because of our society thrusting sex into their faces at every turn.

It is not just us women crying out “foul.” It is a family problem because just like dominoes, the effects of this rampant “use and abuse” of women and their bodies to sell things, impacts each one of us.

What can we do?

I’ve joined OneMillionMoms.com (there is also OneMillionDads.com) to start fighting the media in what they endorse. I subscribe to “Plugged In” magazine that is sponsored by Focus on the Family to inform me of just what is truly going on in Hollywood. I have made some personal decisions. For the first time ever I am pretty much banning morning radio DJ’s in my car. Not just when my children are present, but for myself as well. I don’t need to hear their demeaning banter. I am monitoring the shows that come into my home. And I have to admit, that some of my favorite shows are starting to cross the line and I am sad to say that I have to abandon them because my family is more important.

We don’t have to sit here and just complain about what is going on. We CAN make waves and start to change the world around us. Maybe you won’t change Hollywood, but you can change your local city by impacting your local movie theater and what movies they show. You CAN impact your local TV station and what shows they air and when. You can change your Library by urging them to get rid of indecent books.

Hopefully, with these waves going on all over, society in general will start to get the message.

We are not just women. We are ladies. Please respect our families; and us and treat us as such.

Article by:
~ Dionna Sanchez encourages moms to enjoy being the lady that God created them to be while nurturing their families. You can visit the media columns on her website at ttp://www.emphasisonmoms.com/new_page_5.htm

Women Mentoring Women

2008-01-08T12:53:00.000-07:00

Mentor - a trusted counselor guide or coach. Women have been mentoring women for centuries. Mothers train up their daughters from infants to little girls to adults. However, even adult women continue to learn, grow and need guidance. All women should have a female mentor in their life.

From the aspect of being a mentor to someone, be careful not to fall into unhealthy thought patterns. For example, thinking you're too good to mentor someone who is not on your same level. Rarely would any woman verbally admit that to be true. However someone who may not be of the same socioeconomic or educational background is still very much worthy of your attention. Use the wisdom you have received over the years to help bring another along in her journey.

When looking to find another woman to trust or emulate, you want to hook up with someone who has already experienced some of the things in life you are or will go through. You will not gain much if your mentor is a 'yes woman' and will always tell you want you want to hear. You need someone who is not afraid to challenge you; someone who will point out erroneous thinking on your part.

Also if you are able to see the benefit to having a female mentor, it is important that you are not so prideful that you get upset with constructive criticism. Constructive criticism is a difficult pill to swallow. If you have a mentor who is not afraid to have the difficult conversations with you, take the advice in the spirit of helping you become a better woman.

Some people flat out refuse to accept the possibility that there may be a better way to do something. Some get extremely defensive and take the criticism as a personal attack. If you are working with a mentor you have to allow for the possibility that she may know what she is talking about.

If you ask for your mentor's advice, be prepared to consider her response. Don't instantly get defensive. Let me say it again: Allow for the possibility there may be a better way to do things. If you have a mentor, consider yourself blessed. Wise women are everywhere and if you have one willing to share her insight with you, remind her how much you appreciate her.

Article by:
Sarah Eiden enjoys sharing gourmet candles in her community and teaching others how to start their own candle business from home. Request a Free Candle Business eBook at: www.start-a-candle-business.com

Ladies, Lose The Guilt!

2008-01-05T12:03:00.000-07:00

By: Tami M. Szabo

It’s time we women said, “Enough guilt!” What exactly are
we trying to measure up to anyway?

This may come as news to you, but you will never get fully
caught up on everything. There will always be something more
to get done or something more you could do. Just look at
your kitchen and tell me you don’t know this already!

When is what you’ve done “enough”? How can you get past the
guilt that raises its ugly head? The answer lies in
discovering what you’re trying to prove.

* Proving Your Worth *

For many women, we are trying to prove our worth as a woman.
We’re trying to prove our worth to men, to employers, to our
children and even to other women who are caught in the same
vicious cycle.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise since we live in a world
known for oppressing women. In some ways, we have been
programmed to see our value based on our productivity. The
good thing is that this lie is beginning to have some
critical cracks, ensuring its destruction.

The sad thing is that we women haven’t quite believed the
truth about ourselves. When our self esteem is feeling a
little low, what do we do? We tend to try to prove our value
by what we do instead. Sound familiar?

The problem comes when we discover women are humans, like
everyone else. Humans simply aren’t perfect and we
definitely have limitations. What happens when we simply
can’t do all the jobs presented to us? What happens when
we’re spread too thin to do a great job in every area? You
guessed it…GUILT!

The other problem is the source of where we’re looking for
approval. When we look outside of ourselves for our sense of
value, we give others permission to decide our worth for us.
That’s a scary place to put ourselves in!

* You Decide Your Value *

What if the person to whom you have to prove your worth is
actually you? You see your girlfriends as valuable so why
would your value be any different? When you choose to
believe you are good enough as you already are, guilt will
begin to lose its strangling grip.

You are a being of choice. As such, you are the one who
chooses your value. What price tag would you like to put on
yourself? As you go higher in value, the effect of guilt
lessens.

* Change Your Thinking *

You are a good enough, but you have to choose to believe it.
You are not a failure and you have incredible value. You
really have nothing to measure up to when you’ve recognized
your own unique worth.

How you feel is up to you. You choose what your thoughts are
and your thoughts affect your feelings. Guilt is simply just
another feeling. Therefore, it stands to reason that to lose
the guilt, you must change your thinking.

Guilt will drain you. On the flip side, positive thoughts
may energize you. Start by saying “NO!” to negative
thoughts. Replace them with positive ones. You’re smart,
you’ll figure out which positive ones have the greatest
effect on you.

* Begin with Decision *

Every action begins with decision. Decide what you need to
do to get inspired about your value. Do you need to remind
yourself you are beautiful and smart? Does doing something
else tell you you’re valuable? Then do it! Set the intention
to accept the truth: you have incredible worth and you have
nothing to prove.

Choose not to let your productivity determine your value and
toss that guilt off the side of a cliff!

Article by:
Tami Szabo specializes in Personal Success Coaching for Women who want their home and work lives to match their true passion, purpose and potential. You can learn more and subscribe to Free Success Tips on her website at www.destinysdoorcoaching.com

Top 5 Signs of a Cheating Boyfriend

2008-01-04T09:45:00.000-07:00

By: Stephany Alexander

Cheating boyfriends leave many signs and with a little patience, and by giving him lots of time and space to cheat, you can catch your cheating boyfriend without having to hire a costly private investigator. We have compiled a list of the top 5 signs of a cheating boyfriend so you can tell whether or not your boyfriend is cheating. Remember to pay attention to details and follow your gut instinct. In addition, if you and your boyfriend haven’t clearly discussed whether the two of you are both monogamous in your relationship, don’t assume he has just “automatically” decided to be faithful to only you. Maybe in your cheating boyfriend’s mind, your relationship isn’t serious enough for him to consider being faithful yet. Make sure you are both clear on where you stand regarding fidelity in your relationship.

1. Lack of intimacy. This doesn’t always have to be in the form of sex. It can be a decline of touching, cuddling, holding hands or kissing.

2. He cheated on his old girlfriends. If you can talk to some of his old girlfriends, by all means, do it. However, make sure to ask his ex-girlfriends in a kind and calm manner so they do not become defensive. A cheating boyfriend will usually repeat their behavior with their next girlfriend.

3. He avoids you. A big sign of a cheating boyfriend is when he makes up all sorts of excuses as to why he can’t be with you because he’s spending time with his “other” girlfriend. If he has to work late, stay after school, is always with his friend’s or co-workers more than usual, these could be the excuses your boyfriend is using to cover up his cheating ways.

4. He never answers his cell phone around you. A way to tell if your boyfriend is cheating is if he always turns his ringer off around you or walks out of hearing distance from you. These are big red flags he may be cheating. If he receives calls at odd hours or speaks on the phone in a strange manner could also be signs he is cheating.

5. He is irritable or criticizes you more. If your boyfriend’s behavior suddenly changes, there is a possibility that he may be finding fault with you in order to justify his cheating in his mind. That way your cheating boyfriend can say you “drove” him away because of your supposed faults. The opposite of this behavior is being overly nice, giving gifts and being lovey-dovey because he wants to keep his cake (you) and eat it too (his other girlfriend).

If you discover your boyfriend is cheating, seek support from those around you like friends and family. Don’t get revenge by sleeping with one of his friends because it just brings you down to his low level and you should strive to be the bigger person. The circumstances of your boyfriend’s cheating will allow you to decide whether to leave or stay. It is very therapeutic to write down your anger, sadness and disappointment in the form of a letter or a cheating boyfriend poem. Allow yourself some grieving time and then get right back into the game of life by filling your life with activities that interest you.

Article by:
Stephany Alexander is a relationship expert and CEO/Founder of WomanSavers.com - The World's Largest Database Rating Men. She holds a degree in Communications and is the author of the book Sex, Lies and the Internet.

Making and Keeping New Years Resolutions

2008-01-03T15:30:00.000-07:00

By: Corrie Petersen

Everyone does it! New Years Day rolls around and we all sit down and make our New Years Resolutions. It’s one of those things that just come natural to us on January 1.

How many of you make those New Years resolutions each year and lose site of them before the first quarter is over? I know I have! Let’s look at the difference between a goal and a New Years resolution. A goal is something you are striving to achieve. A New Years resolution is something you really don’t want to do, but you know you should. So, even though most likely it won’t get done, you feel obligated to make the resolution to do it.

An example of a goal would be: I want to make $2000 a month

An example of a New Years resolution would be: I want to lose 100 pounds

In the first example you know this can happen if you sit down and plan. In the second example this may be a little more difficult because losing 2 pounds a week may be hard for some. A lot of us set a goal of losing weight, but because life and business happen, this does not!

Now that we know the difference between a goal and a New Years resolution, let’s talk about the ways you can make your New years resolution into a goal that you can achieve.

One thing that will help you reach your goal is to write it down. Not only will writing it down help you remember your goal, but it will also keep you accountable. You will want to put your goals in a place where you will see them every day. The more you see them, the more likely you are to accomplish them. Another thing that will help you to reach your goals is to share your goals with someone that can hold you accountable.

Once you have your major goals in place, you need to break those down into goals that are more reachable. Break them down into monthly goals. That way you will know what you need to do on a monthly basis to reach the major goals. Now for some a monthly goal is too far out there. That’s ok. Just break your goals into weekly goals. Just do what it takes to make it reachable.

When you break your goals into smaller goals they look more attainable. Here is an example. Say you want to make $12,000 a year. $12,000 seems like a huge amount of money. You may take one look at that and want to give up. Well, don’t do that! Instead, make the goal reachable. Break that goal down into monthly amounts. $12,000 a year means you need to make $1000 a month, which means you need to make $250 a week. Now sit down and see what you need to do to make $250 a week. Write down exactly what you need to do to make $250 a week.

Once you have your smaller goals written down, you need to share them with that someone we talked about earlier. You need to share them with someone that will hold you accountable. That person may be your spouse or another work at home mom or maybe a friend that has similar goals.

When you find the person that is going to help you, you need to set a time at least once a week that will work for both of you. You will need to tell this person what you did for the week, if you reached your goals, and what your new goals are for the coming week. Mondays and Fridays are good days to do this goal meeting.So there you have it. You are well on your way to having a successful year. Keep up the great work and continue to strive each week and before you know it, you will reach your goals!

Article by:
Corrie Petersen runs a successful VA and Advertising business. Check out her website at www.virtualfreedom4you.com. You can also sign up for her free advertising tips newsletter at getyoursoload.com/advertisingtips.aspx.

GOT Girl's Night? HipChicksOut BOULDER 12/01/07

2007-11-14T14:39:00.000-07:00

GREAT MODEL SEARCH!

2007-08-24T11:59:00.000-06:00

America's Best-Selling Brand of Skin Care & Color Cosmetics is seeking new faces for their upcoming catalogues & marketing campaigns. Grand prize winners will receive a professional makeover and photoshoot,a trip for two to New York, and CASH for a shopping spree! Runners up will get some fabulous spa products as well. To enter, call your favorite 'Pink Lady'. If you don't have a skin care consultant, CLICK HERE to register!

Non-Surgical Facelift

2007-01-07T09:08:00.000-07:00

More and more Americans are turning to Acupuncture instead of the scalpel for their face lifting, tummy tucking, and cellulite reduction. Cosmetic Acupuncture is a centuries old technique used with great success by emperors and other wealthy elite in China.

Cosmetic Acupuncture, including the Acupuncture Facelift, is a holistic HEALTHY alternative to more invasive techniques like plastic surgery, or injections. The procedure Dr. Lucas uses provides you with a beautiful way to look younger, be healthier, and get in touch with your innate beauty.

That is why Dr. Martha Lucas, L.Ac. is so passionate about what she does.
Acupuncture addresses the following symptoms and conditions:
• Sports injuries
• Hot flashes, night sweats, and other symptoms associated with Menopause
• Fibromyalgia
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Depression, anxiety, impulse control conditions
• The need to lose weight (treated using Mei Zen Cosmetic Acupuncture for the abdomen)
• Wrinkles (treated using Mei Zen Cosmetic Acupuncture)
• Allergies
• A desire to maintain good health and prevent disease

An acupuncture facelift is a wonderful alternative to cosmetic surgery or botox injections. This alternative facelift is a safe, painless, and effective way of rejuvenating your face and body. Unlike facial surgery, there is no cutting, time spent looking like a mummy, or massive bruises.

The treatment program stimulates the body’s healing energies and increases circulation. The skin tightens and becomes smoother and younger-looking. Fine lines may be entirely erased, deeper lines reduced, and bags around the neck and eyes firmed. Side effects of the treatment include stress reduction, less sinus congestion, and less acne.

Introductory Special:
TWO FREE FACIALS when you purchase either acupuncture program – a $130 value!

Contact Dr. Martha Lucas to discuss how Acupuncture will help as well as what your other treatment options are. Dr. Lucas is accepting reservations on TUESDAYS at Rebekah & Co. Please call 303.794.0400 to schedule.

Beaut-E-News

2006-03-21T04:04:00.000-07:00

VIEW ENTIRE NEWSLETTER AT: http://www.marykay.com/rebekahwelch/mymk/newsletter/default.aspx

Register to receive the Beaut-E-News in your email and get FREE samples with every publication!