Aging Gracefully….NOT!
Getting older? Well, we all are, but sometimes it feels that you are not aging at all, then you look in the mirror and wonder, who is that old lady? What happened to beauty…good looks? I don’t mind getting older, personally I know that I am a much better and stronger person now than I was 20 years ago, but still somehow to have it thrown up in my face day after day having to look that old woman in the face, can be to say the least frustrating.
How can we stay feeling good about ourselves, when it seems that new lines and wrinkles are appearing daily? Well, personally I have found that taking some time to invest in some good makeup has helped. No more is Cover Girl over the counter stuff going to hide the aging, so honestly it is time to start getting makeup that is geared towards older women. Products made by Almay and Oil of Olay work really well to help hide some of those changes on your face. It will cost you a little more than you are probably spending, but the confidence you will feel with a younger looking face is priceless.
You can also change your hair style. Getting a new cut and a new color can help you create a whole new you. Trying to wear the same hair style that you were sporting 20 years ago, probably won’t work and will just make you look out dated.
Same goes for clothing, wear clothes that flatter you, but don’t try to wear clothes that you wore when you were a teen. Also, don’t go digging through your teenage daughter’s clothes, you may actually be making yourself look older by dressing like you think you are 15 so this is definitely something that you should avoid doing.
Young is not only a frame of mind, but also a physical thing, so be sure to exercise and eat right to keep your body and mind sound through the aging process.
Do things that feed your soul. Having a good attitude and feeling good about yourself can shine through even the wrinkles. Have a good time and enjoy your life and do things to make yourself feel better and more confident, and remember there is no one who is more critical of the way you look than you are.
Published by admin on November 17th, 2008 | Filed under All Women Issues | Comment now »Your Flat Iron Could Cause You To Go Bald
Ceramic Flat Iron
Women like to look good and one of the newest styling tools being used by women all over the US is the very popular flat iron. Now back in the 70’s they used to accomplish this pin straight hair look by actually ironing it on the ironing board, but today we have an item like a curling iron to straighten our hair and over the past few years they have become very popular.
Now the American Academy of Dermatology is warning that certain flat irons can not only damage hair, but actually cause it to break and fall out. Experts say that the newer flat irons that are being made are no longer metal like the old curling irons, but are now being made with a ceramic coating which heats up faster and hotter, but is also causing hair damage and breakage.
But DC dermatologist Dr. Dale Isaacson says that becomes a problem when they’re over-used.
Dr. Isaacson says, “The flat irons use a ceramic coating rather than metal, and that causes more uniform heat transmission. The problem comes when these are used on the highest heat setting on a daily basis because that can cause hair damage and breakage.”
Dr. Isaacson offers a few tips for women who still want to straigthen their hair this way:
Only use a flat iron on dry hair.
Use this styling tool only two or three times per week.
And never set the temperture higher than 347 degrees.
Following these simple steps you can still use your ceramic flat iron to straighten, but setting limits on it will help keep your hair from getting damaged and potentially breaking off. We all want our hair to look nice, but I don’t think that any of us wants to go bald from using a flat iron.
Published by admin on November 13th, 2008 | Filed under All Women Issues | Comment now »Mirena For Long Term Birth Control
Mirena IUD
Mirena is a new birth control method out on the market, specifically designed for women in their child bearing years, who have already had at least one child. It is an estrogen free intrauterine device that can be used for up to 5 years. They suggest that this form of contraception is to be used by people who are in a committed mutually exclusive relationship, since it does not prevent against STDs. This is not for use by people who have had heart problems or clotting issues. It is also not recommended for use by people who have Pelvic Inflammatory Disease or Diabetes. Here are the reasons that women are choosing Mirena over other forms of birth control:
Extra Benefits You’re Receiving From Mirena
- Provides lower and steadier hormones than the Pill
- Won’t cause significant weight gain
- Easy for your healthcare professional to replace at the end of 5 years (or less, if you choose)
- May also shorten, lighten or even eliminate your periods—after one year of use, there may be up to a 90% reduction in menstrual bleeding, and 20% of Mirena users had no bleeding or spotting at all
Safe, Easy Removal With a Quick Return to Fertility
- You decide when you want to try to become pregnant
- Unlike surgery, Mirena lets you keep your birth control options open (25% of women who have tubal ligation regret the decision later)
Rest Easy With Proven Safety
- Used successfully by more than 8 million women worldwide over the past 16 years
- FDA-approved
- 9 out of 10 women who use Mirena would recommend it to their friends
Side Effects Almost Always Decrease Over Time
Side effects with Mirena are most common during the first three months after insertion and decrease over time.
The most common side effects for women choosing this form of contraception are:
Lower Abdominal Pain (Cramping)
Headache
Mood Swings
Breast Tenderness
Back Pain
Acne and Other assorted Skin Problems
Luckily these side effects seem to diminish over time. If you decide during the time that you are using Mirena that you want to have kids, then Mirena is easily removed by your doctor, enabling you to have children again.
Published by admin on November 3rd, 2008 | Filed under All Women Issues, Issues For Moms | Comment now »Reproductive Choice…Who Gets To Choose?
Now I realize that many of you may think that this is going to be a discussion about the rights of women to choose abortion as an option, however this discussion is not really about that. This discussion is about the woman’s right to choose, and the man being stuck with that choice and forced to be a parent even though they don’t want to be.
I have been thinking on this issue and am really wondering if we as females are not taking too much liberty with this freedom. Let’s say you have sex with someone, a one night stand and become pregnant. Now, let’s say that as soon as you realize that you are pregnant, you contact that man and let him know. Shouldn’t he really have the right to let you know whether he wants to be a father or not? I mean eventually the choice will be left up to you anyway, but if he doesn’t want a child and expresses that from the onset, should he not be able to relinquish the rights and responsibilities of being parent to that child? I just think that these days women take too many liberties with child birth and their role in it. I mean I don’t think that any man should be a father if he isn’t going to it right.
I can speak on this topic since I never sued my ex for support for my daughter, never forced him to see her. Then once I was settled into a new relationship with a good man who wanted to be her father, I immediately and permanently took away his rights. I don’t see why any woman would want a man interacting with their child when there is resentment in his heart.
Also, I don’t think that it is right for women to not tell a man that they are having his child or to mislead him in paternity in any way. It is important to be forth right and honest. If you know that you are having a baby, then he should know this from the beginning as well so he can prepare for becoming a father. Waiting 5 years and then forcing him into a DNA test, just to get child support, is just wrong, not only for the father but for the child as well. In my opinion if you don’t let the father know about the baby right away, then you should not have the right to come back years later and ask him for money. That is just wrong!
Published by admin on October 22nd, 2008 | Filed under All Women Issues | Comment now »I’m Voting For The Chick
As a woman I think that it is beyond preposterous that the Republican National Convention has actually made up signs that say “I’m Voting For The Chick”. This is disgraceful on so many different levels that it is almost beyond words. First off, I have difficulty understanding how Ms. Palin is allowing these signs to portray her as a “chick”. Potentially she could become the Vice President of the United States, and people are making a mockery of this, this is 2008, what are these people thinking, and why would she allow signs like this. Nothing like being taken seriously. Secondly, does this country have any idea how serious the Presidential Election truly is, and with the current state of things around here, this cute little slogan really makes us as a country, look like a bunch of bumbling idiots. Thirdly, as I have said before and I will say again, this race is about the best candidate and voting for the Republicans just because they have a woman on the ticket is completely obsurd.
Please women, stand up to this and don’t put a sign in front of your home that says you are voting for the chick. Let’s have a little bit more respect for ourselves than that. Again, I am not saying who to vote for, but please take this election seriously, the future of this country is hanging in balance. Don’t get distracted by the nonsense, just focus on the facts. This is an important decision, and the Vice President of the US needs to be taken seriously, not be a chick!
Published by admin on October 15th, 2008 | Filed under Womens News Issues | Comment now »Women - Don’t Expect Your Man To Read Your Mind
So many times as women we think that we are telling the man in our life what we need, however really we are just thinking that he should be able to figure it out. Men are not mind readers, they need to be told very specifically what you need and when you need it. If you don’t give them this information and they are supposed to pick up on your needs via mental telepathy, then honestly, they will just become frustrated and give up trying to please you.
If you need them to help out more around the house, then ask. But then don’t complain about what they do and how they do it. They are not you, and they aren’t going to see things the same way as you do. It is important that as women we acknowledge the differences between men and women.
We are essentially different creatures however our needs are the same. You want to be loved and appreciated by your man, then you need to show him that you love and appreciate him as well. It is important to understand that what you give you will receive, so if you want your man to be more loving to you, then be more loving to him. Whether that is leaving a note in his car so that he can find it when he leaves for work, or making him a special meal or dessert that he loves. Let him know that you are thinking about him and that you love and appreciate him. These actions, you will find, will get him thinking about little things that he can do for you too.
A relationship takes work, but understanding the essential differences between men and women, may be all it takes to get your relationship back on track and moving in the right direction. Invest the time and energy into your relationship and you will reap the benefits of it for a lifetime.
Published by admin on October 9th, 2008 | Filed under All Women Issues | Comment now »Women Feel The Financial Stress More Than Men
Roles have changed over the past hundred years, and what was once a man’s world, has slowly but surely become a woman’s. This is leaving many women in the hot seat, struggling with how to handle the family finances
in this difficult economy. Studies actually show that women are more the household financial managers than men, and this is putting a big burden on women. Many being solely in charge, are watching as the market plummets and their kids college funds and their retirement accounts are shrinking daily. This is a stress that an already stressed out gender doesn’t need. Balancing the stresses of home and work, coupled with trying to make ends meet, may be leaving many women feeling depressed and frustrated. One thing that may be of help is sharing the burden. If you do have a partner, then it may be a good idea to brainstorm together on ways that you can better spend your money to make things work. Sometimes two heads are better than one, and in this case, not only would you have someone else’s take on the whole situation, but you would also be assured that these decisions were being made together, this will ensure that you will not hold the sole responsibility or blame if things financially get tighter. This is very important as many fights in a relationship stem from financial issues, and with everyone feeling pressured by money or the lack thereof, this could not only help you manage your finances but can also help you save your marriage. Working together as a team for the greater good, could be just what you need to reduce stress and keep your relationship and your finances moving in the right direction.
Depression More Common In Women
Studies show that about 20% of women will experience depression in their lifetime as opposed to about 10% of men. Although the reasons for this difference is not really clear, experts feel that this difference could be caused by the biological and chemical differences in the genders, coupled with the increasing pressures on women in our society. Certain factors could make you at higher risk to suffer from depression. It is a good idea to be aware of these issues so you will be more likely to seek out the help that you need.
1. Loss of a parent prior to the age of 10 years old.
2. Use of oral contraceptives, especially those with a high progesterone content.
3. History of family mood disorders or depression.
4. Use of infertility treatments.
5. History of sexual or physical abuse, especially in childhood.
6. Loss of support system, such as a move or death of friends.
7. Persistent life stressors like a loss of job, financial difficulties, serious illnesses.
8. History of mood disorders during the reproductive years.
Being aware of a predisposition to depression can allow you to catch issues right away. This can be important, because depression is a life threatening illness, and since it is more common in women than in men, we need to be especially aware. If you are having trouble coping, you are not alone, but please understand there is a difference between being depressed and having a bad day or a tough week. Depression doesn’t go away on its own, and getting help is important in treating it. If you need help, don’t be embarrassed or ashamed about it, just do what you need to do to get yourself back on track and feeling better. You owe it to yourself to do what you need to do to have a wonderful life.
Published by admin on October 5th, 2008 | Filed under All Women Issues | Comment now »Loss Of Libido or Lack Of Time And Interest
I often wonder if women are really suffering from a loss of libido, or if they are really just too overwhelmed to be sexual anymore. The truth is women have a lot of weight on their shoulders and especially those for those women who have kids their priorities change and as they become more and more overwhelmed I really think that sex just kind of moves to the back burner. I think that is why most women find that after their kids move out and they are alone with their husbands, their sex life takes on a whole new meaning again. I think for men it is a bit different, I think that they see their main role as the provider and they think as long as they are providing for their family by going to work, then everything else is secondary.
For men the things that make them feel like a man are their work and sex. Those are their two primary indicators that they are manly. For women though it seems that we think of ourselves more as the manager. The person in charge of running things, keeping harmony and balance, and taking care of everyone else. We don’t mean to forget about ourselves, but sometimes there just isn’t really time to think about what we want or if we would like to have sex with our husbands, it is more a matter of can we fit it in to the schedule. Unfortunately, this lacks the spontaneity and enjoyment, and becomes just a task to be done on the to do list. If you find this is an issue, then you need to take action.
First thing you must do is find some alone time with your spouse. It doesn’t mean time to have sex, although you can if that is what you want to do. It is time to bond and reconnect as a couple, whether that is going for a walk or sitting and talking to each other. You can go to dinner or just stay home. The location is not the important thing, it is the time together that will make the difference. Do little things to let your husband know you love him. Call him, make dates, leave notes, just some of the little things to let him know that you care.
Make sure you shower and go to bed feeling clean and sexy. I actually read this somewhere and it said if you don’t feel clean you are less likely to be in the mood, and the truth is, it does work. Take those extra few minutes to unwind in a nice hot shower and got to bed feeling more relaxed and smelling good. You are more apt to be receptive to the advances of your partner this way.
It is important to find balance and partly that is accepting that no matter how hard you try, you will never get the list complete. It is important to do the little things to keep your relationship going in the right direction. You will be glad you did.
Published by admin on September 27th, 2008 | Filed under Married Women Issues | Comment now »Moms Going Through Divorce
Going through a divorce can be a difficult struggle. My first recommendation is get counseling. Especially if you have kids, this is very important to make sure that your kids are not getting too much information. It is very easy to become frustrated at your soon to be ex-spouse and the best way to deal with these issues is in counseling. You don’t want to begin treating your kids like they are adults and you don’t want to ask them to choose sides. They need both their parents and they need to feel connected to both of them, especially during this extremely tumultuous time. They don’t need to be put in the middle, that does not do them any good.
Second, be sure to encourage their relationship with their father. Two parents are equally as important to a child’s development, so be sure to help them understand that they are not abandoning you if they go spend the weekend with their father.
Try to seek joint counseling with your ex. This is really important because the two of you need to find a middle ground and develop your new relationship as joint parents. You don’t have to be friends, but you do need to try to create and nurture your children together. Just divorcing a spouse does not mean that you don’t have to see or deal with them ever again. Sometimes you actually need to consult more in regards to your kids, and you need to find an effective way to manage your new relationship.
Setting up guidelines, boundaries and rules, will not only aid your children through this transition, but it will also help alleviate some of your stress about the situation as well. Trying to work together to parent your children is the best way for everyone involved.
Published by admin on September 25th, 2008 | Filed under Issues For Moms, Married Women Issues, Single Women Issues | Comment now »