Monday, September 1, 2008

10 Ways to Save Money Now

Easy and painless ways to save money every day.


  1. Trade Starbucks for, well, more bucks. If you’ve already spent $6 on a beverage alone and it’s not even lunchtime, you’ve got a bad breakfast habit. If expensive coffee drinks are draining your funds yet you can’t give up the caffeine, brew your own or give the old deli coffee a try. At less than $1, you’ll be able to save up to $25 a week and a whopping $1,300 a year!

    "Reigning in mindless spending -- and wearing what you already have -- can save you hundreds, if not thousands, a year."

  2. Don’t get taken to the cleaners. If you’ve ever been to the dry cleaners, you’ve no doubt scratched your head at the diabolic pricing structures. How can it really cost that much? Spare yourself the bitterness and reevaluate your dry-cleaning needs. Try to cut your bill in half by laundering some items at home.
  3. Brown-bag it. If you eat lunch out five times a week and spend about $5 a clip, you’re looking at about $1,300 a year in sandwiches, soups, and other fast foods. But bringing your lunch doesn’t have to suck. If you stock up on readymade items like soups, burritos, and frozen meals, you can save up to $2 to $3 a day. The only thing you need to do is remember to bring it with you!
  4. Dine in rather than out. Craving that Indian spot you love to hit on Friday nights? Try making that chicken tikka masala at home. By digging up your favorite recipes online and then heading to the store for all of the ingredients, you’ll save money and have leftovers for the next day. Plus, you’ll get to congratulate yourself on your amazing samosas and pakoras!
  5. Ditch the brand names. We’re not just talking about Coach and Polo; we’re talking about Panadol, Hellmann’s, and Charmin too. Whenever possible, choose the generic store brand over your favorite label. Most of the time, the formulation is exactly the same; you’re just paying for the packaging. A dollar or two here and there adds up!
  6. Give the horse a rest. If you’ve been called a “shoe horse” or a “clothes horse,” this message is for you. If you’re known for buying clothes, makeup, pillows, or home decor in excess, it’s time to cut back. Reigning in mindless spending -- and wearing what you already have -- can save you hundreds, if not thousands, a year.
  7. Jump on the wagon. Alcohol can be a diet-wrecker and a budget-buster. When you’re drunk, you think nothing of buying a round of Grey Goose shots for your nearest and dearest friends (and the awesome dudes you met 10 minutes ago). Later, you go home and wash the booze down with eight slices of pizza and a side of wings. When you control your drinking, you’ll have more money in your pocket and less flab around your waist.
  8. Carpool. A year or two ago, we would’ve laughed this idea off. We’re all down with saving money, but carpooling? Doesn’t sound very easy! Fast-forward to 2008 with gas prices climbing higher and higher; suddenly, saving money is no laughing matter. By splitting the drive and cost of gas with just one other person, you can reduce commuting costs by half -- add another person and save more!
  9. Watch at home. With the average price of a movie ticket at almost $7 per person (and even more in some areas), a night out at the movies is no longer a cheap date. Add two kids to the mix and it’s bordering on “special occasion” status. Why invest your hard-earned money in what could be a Hollywood flop? Instead, consider blockbuster weekly movies. If you hate the movie, you’ve only spent a dollar or two and you can take it right back to where it came from.
  10. Indulge yourself at home. If manis and pedis have become weekly must-haves, it’s time to cut back. Extend the life of your mani/pedis by repolishing rather than running back to the spa for every chip or smudge. By investing in the tools of the beauty trade (remover, polish, and a manicure set), you can save a good chunk of change a month. Now that’s beautiful.
  11. Put the money in a jar every time you have saved on something, do this for a month and then open a super fund and keep on putting the pennies in every time you save. Over the years on a 5% interest... Wow, it does become a lot of money !!!
What are some of your favorite cost-cutting tips? Share yours below.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

10 years younger with whiter teeth

Healthy and white teethmakes you look 10 years younger !
On average, we smile at least 50 times a day. So of course you want to have beautiful, white teeth and a movie-star smile. Everyone remembers a bright, radiant smile—it leaves a lasting first impression. But there’s so much more to a pretty smile
When you smile, your teeth and gums tell a story that’s much broader than just dental hygiene. They speak volumes about your wellbeing. You see, your mouth is the window to the rest of your body. So if your mouth is not healthy, your body is not healthy. That’s why it’s so important to practice good daily oral care.

Are you brushing your teeth properly?

Has your dentist ever told you that you’re not brushing your teeth properly? There’s actually a special brushing method that’s endorsed by the American Dental Association called the Bass technique. It’s widely recognized for effectively cleaning all surfaces of your teeth and removing plaque from the gum line.

What you do is position your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle and use short, quick strokes to brush each tooth. It’s recommended that you brush your teeth for up to five minutes, twice a day, using this technique. But let’s be honest, who spends that much time brushing every day? In fact, studies show that most adults only brush their teeth anywhere from 29 seconds to 1 minute. And the average time brushing is 40 seconds.
A very good way to clean and whitening your teeth is to gargle (hold in mouth) with 3% peroxide for 10 minutes while you take a relaxing bath, and it also cleans off all the germs from your tongue and tonsils. Brush your teeth and rinse after you are done. A great way to keep healthy and beautiful!

Friday, August 15, 2008

How you leave comments on this blog?

I have comments enabled on this blog, you can find a "comments" link at the end of each post, like this:

If you click this link, you will go to the comment posting page. (Note: in some templates, this link may take you to the post page first. From there you should be able to find the "Post a Comment" link which will take you here.) The comment posting page looks like this:

In the upper left corner, there is an option to show or hide the original blog post that the comments relate to. The rest of the left-hand column contains any comments that have already been made. The profile photos of the comment authors may also display, depending on the blog's settings.

On the right hand side of the page is the space for you to enter your comment. Beneath that are the identity options.

Friday, August 8, 2008

Don't mix finances and love !


After having gone through a messy separation you might find that you are head over heel in debt ?
You are wondering how it happened ?

A few rules every girl should know before she does anything and especially before she falls in love !!!

After you moved in together, got married, and You are the one with the credit... don't ever let him talk you into having a subsidiary card to any of the credit cards you have. let me make explain it in a simple way .

DON'T EVER SIGN AS THE GUARANTOR!!

After the separation I found myself buying my ex partner new girlfriend dinners and gifts.
His son a new computer .. the list is long and so are the expenses.
The worst part is there is nothing you can do about it.
You are doomed if you and you are doomed if you don't.
If you cancel the credit card the debt is for sure yours.. if you let it be and he pays the minimum..then there are things you can do.

Please help us help all our girlfriends out there.
Write to us what you can do and where to find help.
I found that legal aid gave good support.


How to define "being tired"......
I am so tired, we say to easily, I am sure you know what it means ?
It means when you, fall asleep at 8 pm because you can't stay awake any more.
It means you have no interest in your e-mails, and you don't check them.
It means you don't finish your dinner or glass of wine, it finishes you!
It means you forget your darling has not called you or kissed you.
It means you wake up at 2am ,4am and 5 am , thinking " do I have to get up yet"
It means you are mentally exhausted and can't remember what you did 5 minutes ago
It means you just want to sleep.......nothing else matters.. just let me sleep
It means you wake up tired and wish it was evening so you could go to bed!!!!!!!
This is what we have to do to recover from love ?
Is it ?
Make sure you know what you are doing when you are awake or you have to do it when you are " so tired," then it is to late.
Maybe this doesn't make sense .
I don't care, because I am to tired .
Good night !!

Saturday, August 2, 2008

How to give a massage

HOW TO GIVE A MASSAGE
Master these rubdowns basics, and a happy ending are guaranteed!

The most sensitive body parts are the head, neck, ears, sides of the body from armpits to hips, inner-thighs, fingers and toes, and, of course, genitals. Here are seven steps to the best massage you'll ever give -- and receive.

Step 1: Warm your hands. With your guy lying on his stomach, buck naked, warm your hands by rubbing them together. Place them on your partner -- one hand on the upper back, one on the lower. Leave your hands there for a long moment; this starts your sweetie on the path to total relaxation.

Step 2: Lather your palms. Rub a small amount of oil between your hands to make it warm. Then start rubbing your hands up and down your sweetie's whole backside. Accentuate the strokes until you feel him relax.

Step 3: Continue down to the legs. Be sure to cover both the front and back with sensual strokes. Don't forget the feet! There's a whole school of massage -- reflexology -- devoted solely to the soles. Spend time really digging into your sweetheart's footsies.

Step 4: Move up to the arms. Use some palm circling on his upper arm and forearm muscles, then use your thumbs to massage the heels of your honey's hands. Be sure to flex his fingers and rotate his wrists.

Step 5: Nurture the neck and head. Anyone who's gotten a scalp massage at a hair salon knows how this makes you tingle all over. Use your fingertips and nails (gently) to really dig in there.

Step 6: Flip him over. Massage his chest muscles, kneading the fleshy parts and using your fingertips to massage the nipples. Imagine that your fingers are following the spokes on a bicycle wheel, and let them circle from the center of the nipple to its edge. Remember to use a light touch! Move down to the abdomen, but take care: Press deeply, but not so much that it hurts. Make sure that what you're doing feels good.


Romantic ideas for every day


Romantic Ideas for Everyday

20 romantic ways to show your sweetie you care no matter what the occasion.

Valentine's Day, First-Date Anniversary, Tuesday — when you're in love, just about any day is a perfect excuse for sparking romance. Any time you feel the need to connect with your sweetheart, these ideas are perfect — no holiday necessary.

1. Stuff a little love note in your sweetie's pocket, sock, or shoe. For maximum impact, try email.

2. Secretly load a photo of the two of you as the desktop wallpaper on your honey's computer.

3. Burn a CD with tunes from your dating days and include your first dance (or favorite) song.

4. Buy a heart-shaped cookie-cutter and use it to make toast the next morning.

5. Look up the date of the next full moon and celebrate with a champagne toast.

6. Learn to ice skate or in-line skate together. This works best when both of you are beginners — the more clinging to each other, the better.

7. Hate basketball and your main squeeze is addicted to it? Get tickets to a game. Despise musicals? Surprise your sweetie with tickets to a show. Go against the grain, and endure with grace and cheer.

8. Spend the day at a museum, holding hands.

9. Forget breakfast in bed. Have dinner in bed (and don't worry about the crumbs).

10. Go to bed early. No books, no magazines, no remote control.

11. Tell a secret — it'll bring you closer.

12. Create your own cocktail together. Then make up a name for it by combining your two names.

13. Write "I Love You" on the steamy mirror while your beloved is in the shower.

14. Go to a bookstore or music store together, then split up. Your mission: Buy something you know your sweetie will love. Then, wrap and exchange.

15. Have a picnic. It doesn't have to be outdoors, it can be on your living room floor.

16. Absence is an aphrodisiac. Spend a weekend without each other (substitute your best pal, your sister, your old college roommate) and plan to meet back at your place after 48 hours apart.

17. Teach each other about something the other knows nothing about. He can teach her all the rules of chess, or how to make a perfect omelet. She can teach him ten phrases in French and how to use the digital camera.

18. Get away from it all close to home — spend a night in a very luxurious hotel or cozy bed-and-breakfast in your own city.

19. Get dressed together — choose each other's attire (for work, for dinner out, whatever). Then, later, get undressed together.

20. Find your sweetie's car in the parking lot and tuck a love note under the windshield wiper.

Friday, August 1, 2008

Why Less is More !


Cleanse and Exfoliate—
On the Inside…

Starting with a clean slate is essential—you have to clear out the toxins to make room for the wholesome, rejuvenating nourishment.

Think about it like this: What if you didn’t wash your face every day? Imagine the grime and makeup clogging and stretching your pores. The freshest layer of makeup would be uneven, cracked, and dry. And your poor skin underneath it all—gasping for fresh air and moisture. Dried out, wrinkled, flaky, grey, and splotchy. Not to mention how rough and stiff your skin would feel.

Wipe the slate clean!

Now apply this to your whole body—inside and out. Instead of dirt and makeup, it’s toxin after toxin—layer upon layer of junk. And we’re bombarded with it every day, from every direction. Pollutants in the air and pesticides in our foods. Even worse? Toxins lurk in our makeup, hair dyes, and even nail polish! We’re breathing them, eating them, and wearing them (which means they seep into our skin)! And it shows—dull skin, dull eyes, and sluggishness.

Look and feel deeply cleansed
and fresh every day…

Like a good professional facial cleanses all those toxins from your skin, it’s your liver’s job to get rid of the toxins in your body. And it does a great job, but it goes through an enormous amount of wear and tear over time.


How detoxification works…

Here’s what you need to know: First, there are two phases of detoxification; and second, an essential antioxidant called glutathione plays a key role in both phases. The Everyday Detox Complex should have three components that takes care of all of this with the “cleaning crew” trio of milk thistle extract, n-acetyl cysteine, and calcium d-glucarate:

Clinical
Corner

Milk thistle is hands down the most well-researched herb for your liver. With over 450 published studies, it’s the clear-cut choice when it comes to boosting the detoxification power of your liver.

  1. Milk Thistle Extract (standardized to the research level of silymarin) works in both phases of detoxification. In Phase I, it binds to the toxins, helping to prepare them for Phase II; and in Phase II, it increases glutathione levels to help move the toxins easily from your body. Daily Answer gives you milk thistle standardized to the full research dose of 420 mg of silymarin, the active ingredient in milk thistle.
  2. N-Acetyl Cysteine is a potent antioxidant that helps increase glutathione levels and neutralize toxins.
  3. Calcium D-Glucarate provides glucaric acid, essential to Phase II detoxification.

Together, this threesome gives you a clean slate every single day and keeps things spic and span. This gives your next step, the Beautiful Woman Complex, a fresh canvas on which to create strong, gorgeous skin, hair, and nails.

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Intimacy Secrets Every Woman Should Know!

Of all the changes our bodies go through as we age, one of the toughest things for women to bring up with their doctors is their sex life. But the fact is, things do change—and if you feel that your sex life has lost its sizzle, or you’re just not in the mood as often as you used to be, you’re not alone.

Many women (and men) experience real physical changes as they age—changes which can affect everything from desire to performance. But while therapies like Viagra have brought this truth to light for men, many women are left silently wondering what’s wrong with them.

If you’ve received my emails for a while now, you know that I don’t recommend a prescription drug as a quick fix. But I do have some fantastic tricks up my sleeve for reigniting the spark in your sex life. First, I want to explain why your sexual desire can change as you age.

The inside scoop on sex drive

A healthy sex life is an important part of your health. It stimulates a natural “high” in your body from the release of endorphins in the brain. It burns calories, feels good, and keeps muscles and tissues in shape. Studies have confirmed that an active sex life is associated with longer life, better physical health, and a fuller sense of personal worth, potential, and well-being.

But as you enter menopause, you don’t produce the small amounts of androgens or male hormones (mostly testosterone) that stimulate sex drive. These hormones are normally produced by our bodies to increase our desire for sex.

As our bodies shift gears during the transition to menopause, our desire for sex decreases. And while testosterone still cycles in our bloodstream the amount is often insufficient to spark desire.

So, what can you do to get your desire back?

Testosterone therapy is the most effective treatment to restore libido but it requires a doctor's prescription. I've found very low doses of testosterone in pill or topical cream form to be quite helpful for my female patients. Talk to your physician about this approach.

Another way to help improve your libido is with an ancient adaptogen from the Andes, called MACA. It has a long history of traditional use to help enhance sexual desire and give you increased energy and stamina, so that you can experience the amazing passion and pleasure you once knew.

Plus, another powerful way to re-spark desire is with scent. Researchers have shown that certain scents have particularly strong aphrodisiac qualities, especially cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and nutmeg. Place potpourri or essential oils that include these scents in your bedroom, or anywhere else you want to spark desire.

If sexual response is an issue,
here are a few more secrets

During menopause, estrogen levels decline and the vaginal lining thins and loses some of its lubrication-producing mucus glands. If you’re experiencing dryness or a loss of sensation during intimacy, I suggest trying a topical response cream, such as the one made by emerita to help promote lubrication and intensify response, which then increases blood flow.

The emerita response cream contains a combination of three natural amino acids—L-Arginine, L-Phenylalanine, and L-Tyrosine to help stimulate your sexual response and desire.

Another way to overcome a lack of physical response is to incorporate a personal massager into your lovemaking. As I mentioned above, it’s more difficult for women to become physically aroused after menopause, so the added stimulation of a personal massager can help you feel in the mood. Many women also find that a good personal massager helps to heighten response.


Finally, when it comes to intimacy, sometimes it's a good idea to just relax. Give your partner a gentle massage with some fragrant oils, and ask for the same in return. Massage is perfect for reducing tension and stress and bringing about a deep sense of peace and relaxation.

In fact, some studies have found that massage can stimulate the production of chemicals such as serotonin, which are related to the body’s innate relaxation response. In a word, massage makes you feel good; touching is a wonderful way to be deeply intimate; and who knows what it will lead to.

To your health

Monday, July 28, 2008

To your Body, menopause feels like a hormonal rollercoaster


Did you know that early in your teens, 20s and 30s, your ovaries and adrenal glands pumped out a form of estrogen, called estrodiol. But during your late 40s and early 50s your ovaries start"slacking off" producing less estrogen, and leaving more the work to your adrenal glands. As your adrenal glands take over the job, your estrogen drops, spikes and drops again/ rather erratically, like a roller coaster. At this point, many women will tell you they're forgetting their keys and "blanking" on personal names. That's because your brain works better when estrogen level is steady. These are the first signs of menopause.

By the time you reach full menopause, your estrogen production will have dropped 75%-90%. That's when other menopausal symptoms, like hot flashes, heart palpitation, tiredness, and difficult sleeping normally set in. Plus, most women experience a drop in libido, and vaginal dryness, self cracking, which can continue well beyond menopause, at this point, your hormones are totally out of balance. And trust me so are you!!!
You start thinking some thing is really wrong with you, that you might have cancer or some other deadly disease. Every thing is different and you feel like a person You don't know!

I have found a way to eliminate hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, vaginal dryness, sleeplessness and more ........ naturally!

This might not be for every one as we are all different.
I have tried everything under the sun but HRT.
Finally found this little cream, it is wonderful and really gave me my life back, well almost ..
Progesterone with a estrogen imitation replacement that you put on your skin, it is so much nicer to your liver.
Anything that you put in your mouth has to be processed by the liver and at this stage of life you need to look after your liver, as it slows down and you put on weight, add HRT or oral estrogen and you have a double "wammer".
Where does all these overweight middle age women come from ?
No, not Mac Donald's.. it is menopause and a sluggish liver.
What else can go wrong?
Darling, this is not the end , but the beginning . You don't have to suffer, and don't listen to other women that tells you" Oh just bare with it, we all had to".
YOU DON'T HAVE TO

There is a lot of help.... try http://www.menopausecentre.com.au/online/index.php tell them you found them through us.
Please tell us about your experience, so you can keep on helping your fellow sisters.
Just click on the "comment" and send us your thoughts.
Mirena


Friday, July 25, 2008

Why we get ANGRY


I recently discovered that when a person is out of their comfort zone they either get silent or aggressive to cover up what they are feeling.
Add fear to this combination and you have a Lunatic !
Visiting a medial center made me aware of that people are really looking for comfort, some one that can tell them it will be OK, breaking peoples pattern with kindness is maybe not what we think of when we are being attacked, but it works to be kind, it changes the energy and breaks the spell,very similar to how small children easily can be distracted and stop from crying.. at heart we are still that little darling , easy to distract.
My Grand mother use to say " It is easier to be nice than angry". Anger eats you from the inside and it creates a very negative energy field and the one that suffers the most is You. So take a deep breath and think about something nice or look at a cute dog !

Share with us what eats you and how you cope with fear and anger... we love to know how you cope with it.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

The chemisrty of smiling

Smile!The chemistry of smiling —
Try it and see!

Did you know that smiling:

  • Makes you appear more attractive to others
  • Lowers your blood pressure
  • Boosts your immune system
  • Lifts your mood, releasing endorphins and serotonin
  • Releases natural pain killers and relieves stress
  • Makes you appear confident and more successful
  • Makes you appear younger to others

    Natural mood lifters without side effects

    One very effective way to lift your mood is to optimize your dopamine levels — and you can do this naturally with an amino acid called L-tyrosine. You see, dopamine is the body’s “feel good” neurotransmitter put out by your brain, and L-tyrosine is the building block for the dopamine. The bottom line, you need L-tyrosine to feel good.

    What they’ve found is that L-tyrosine creates mental energy, alertness, and feelings of enthusiasm. It even has an overall energizing effect on your body, improving physical stamina.

    “While Energy Vitalizer boosts your energy quickly, stops fatigue, and even clears a foggy mind, it’s the ‘happiness’ factor that makes you feel so good.

    While you can get some L-tyrosine by eating lots of fish, poultry, soybeans, and sesame seeds, many women lack L-tyrosine. This may be due to low protein intake or because digestive issues interfere with absorption of the protein.

    The answer is to supplement with L-tyrosine, but the secret is taking the right amount so your body will produce optimal levels of dopamine. What I’ve found is that 500 mg a day is the ideal dosage, and that’s why it’s the exact amount you get in Energy Vitalizer.


Sunday, July 6, 2008

Beauty tips for women over 40

Anti-Aging Make-up Tips for Women Over 40—They Really Work!

DO wear less foundation or switch to a tinted moisturizer. Heavy foundation will settle in wrinkles and exaggerate facial lines.

DON’T wear matte make-up. Use dewy, sheer formulas that reflect light, instead of dulling your skin.

DO use as many all-natural products as possible. As skin ages it becomes far more sensitive and reactive to artificial ingredients.

DON’T line the lips with dark lip pencils that feather and bleed. Use moisturizing lipsticks combined with soft glosses and go for depth instead.

DO use the new transparent, light cream blushes. Stay away from drying powders or heavy creams that “stain” the cheeks.

DON’T create sharp, dark eyebrows with hard lines. Use more natural colors with a fuller shape.

DO CELEBRATE YOUR AGE and the wisdom that comes with it! Confidence and happiness will always make you look more beautiful!

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Have you found a solution ?

I am on a quest to find a solution to Menopause problems.
My girlfriend Lollo, said the other day: " Menopause " is not a small thing" It is huge !!"
I have to agree... it is not something we women talk about as much as we should.
I for one was totally in the dark when Menopause hit .
I honestly though I was dying.. Heart palpitations from he.., numbness in my left arm, dripping with sweat and dizzy.
I called a girlfriend as I could not take any decision myself.
I was truly like a cow on ice. I drove myself to the hospital on the advise of my friend.
Arrived scared to death. They hooked me up to EG and all sorts of things. My blood pressure was through the ceiling.. I was so scared !!!
One of the nurses, said :
" My dear, welcome to the club, I can still remember the day and time it hit me ". All the other nurses joined in and agreed.
Thank heaven for girls .. they did not make me feel silly or stupid.
Tired is more the word that comes to mind.

I found some homeopathic patches with belladonna in them ... worked wonders for a year,
then all hell broke loose again.......I was melting.. every 15 minutes around the clock.
Couldn't wear make up , clothes or leave the house......as I started to smell and looked like I just came in from a marathon run, all the time. Sleeping went out the door and so did my sense of humor. I didn't want to live ........started loosing my mind and my hair and gained weight around the middle. People told me " It is natural, you are no different then all of us , so cop it on the chin". Well, I don't believe this would be a "cop on the chin" story if men had menopause. Do you know the true meaning of the word, menopause?
MEN O PAUSE...... there you have it!!

Found Dr Cabot, who is an alternative to HRT.....but very expensive.
I tried the lozenges and had an allergic reaction.. then we tried the cream, and it worked very well for 2 months. We increased the estrogen , still not good......girls it is a struggle.
What works for some doesn't work for others so it is a trial and testing.

I have found an UK device, and hopefully I will be able to tell you about this shortly.