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Archives for October 2012

How Does Alcohol Affect Your Skin?

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Do you like to indulge in the occasional glass of wine with dinner?  Is a night out with the girls – and plenty of Cosmos – a regular occurrence?  Good for you; it is important to let your hair down every once in awhile!

After all, some recent studies are suggesting that certain types of alcohol might improve heart heath and decrease the odds of cancer.

However, the key is…moderation.  A hangover is the worse type of retribution alcohol can have on your physical well-being.  Sure, after a few hours, your headache will go away and life will appear to return to normal.  However, the alcohol you consumed is still wreaking havoc below the surface – the surface of your skin, that is.

Why is Alcohol Bad for my Skin?

Water is like an internal moisturizer for your skin.  Each time you drink water, you’re boosting your skin’s health.  Staying hydrated will smooth wrinkles, causing skin to appear healthier and more youthful.

Alcohol and caffeine have the opposite effect on your skin.  You may find this surprising, but alcohol actually dehydrates your body.  Dehydrated skin causes wrinkles and premature aging; no woman wants that!  Additionally, when your skin is denied vital nutrients it begins to appear dull and unhealthy.

When we drink – especially during a night out on the town – we aren’t usually combining our alcoholic beverages with nutritious foods.  Again, choosing high-calorie junk food over nutrient-rich foods is just one more way we limit our skin’s access to much-needed vitamins and minerals.  Since our diet has a direct effect on establishing a healthy, youthful appearance, you can see why alcohol and junk food are such bad things!

Alcohol can make preexisting skin conditions – like rosacea and psoriasis – worse.  Flare-ups are often common after alcohol consumption.

Does That Mean I Should Stop Drinking Altogether?

You are the only one who can decide if alcohol is a safe and healthy addition to your life.  However, if you do indulge, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Remember moderation is best.  At the beginning of the night, set a limit for yourself.  When you reach that limit, stop.  Switch to diet soda or water if your girlfriends continue to imbibe.

Also, consider following each alcoholic beverage with a glass of water.  This will accomplish two things.  First of all, if you fill up on water, you won’t be tempted to drink as much alcohol.  Second, alternating between water and alcohol will counteract the dehydration the alcohol is causing.

Lastly, reach for healthy, nutrient-rich foods instead of greasy bar foods when you are drinking.  Grab a handful of peanuts instead of a handful of French fries.  Ask for a bag of popcorn as soon as it is done popping – and before they add salt and butter.  If you are battling a hangover, avoid any “secret recipes” that involve unhealthy food choices.

Each time you reach for a specialty martini or your favorite white wine, remember the effect each sip has on your skin.  Be smart about your alcohol consumption and do your best to stay hydrated.

Guest blogger Jessica Adams works for CustomCornToss.com, designing custom corn toss boards.  She often helps the other guys in the office test their products’ quality – which inevitably leads to drinking!  Luckily, Jessica is usually able to limit the rowdy group to just a few beverages each!





3 Tips When It Comes To Choosing the Right Bedding

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Since almost one-third of your life is spent on your bed, it is only natural to make it a pleasurable experience and this can be achieved by choosing the right bedding. Getting an appropriate bedding can help improve the quality of sleep and provide comfort to the body whenever necessary. If the bedding is stylish enough, it could also add a relaxing and harmonious atmosphere to the bedroom.

Choosing a duvet
Aside from the bed and mattress, a duvet is another essential item for your bedding, so it is necessary to find one that can provide you exactly what you need. Duvet fillings can either be synthetic or natural and both types have their own advantages and disadvantages that you should also be aware of. Synthetic fillings, such as polyester, can be washed and dried easily, affordable and can provide you the warmth you need. Aside from that, this is a great option for individuals with allergies, as synthetic fillings are hypoallergenic.

However, duvets with synthetic fillings are less breathable compared to natural fillings and the former can easily trap moisture and heat. This means you might wake up clammy, especially on summer nights. Natural fillings, such as feathers, goose down, fibers from wood pulp or wool are naturally breathable. This, on the other hand, is advisable for individuals who tend to get hot in bed easily or those who are living in places with hotter climate. Choosing the right material for your duvet is necessary to ensure that it could provide you the comfort you need.

Aside from that, you also have to make sure that you choose the right size of bedding for your bed, whether it is single, double, king or queen sized. In case your cover is too large for the bed, this can easily slide or slip off. If it is too small, it will not be able to cover you properly and this is not good during cold seasons. Checking the tog rating is also important, as it indicated the thermal or the warmth rating of the duvet. Low tog rating, normally at 3.0, is great for hot weather or for kids who easily get hot while in bed. High tog rating, on the other hand, is great during cold winter and this is normally at 13.0.

Choosing a pillow
Getting the right pillow is also important if you want to avoid having a stiff neck and if you want to have a restful sleep at night. Soft pillows are great for cradling your head but in case you have broad shoulders, it would be best to opt for firmer pillows for extra support. Individuals with narrow shoulders are advised to go for a single pillow for adequate support. Pillows also come in natural or synthetic and just like the duvet, it is necessary to know the pros and cons of the materials for pillows before deciding which one to go for.

If you want a firm pillow, you can opt for a memory foam pillow. Visco elastic pillow or memory foam pillow molds perfectly according to the shape of the head and neck, thus providing great support and to reduce pressure points to improve comfort when sleeping. It is also important to remember that not all pillows have the same shape. Pillows wit curved neck support can fit comfortably around the neck while a V-shaped pillow can be placed on your back while sitting on your bed.

Choosing bed linen
Various ranges of bed linens are also available and you can easily find one that will suit your budget. Pillows, sheets and duvets can be made from various materials like cotton or polyester. If you want something softer, you can opt for Egyptian cotton. Another material that can be opted for is percale, which is closed to woven fabric with luxurious feel.

Ken is a freelance writer that contributes to Outdoor Cover Pros where you can get some useful resources pertaining to  durable patio covers.

How to Host a Holiday Ugly Sweater Party

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Image by TheUglySweaterShop on FlickrPeople have been having holiday ugly sweater parties for years, and for good reason. They’re a ton of fun, and they offer you a chance at a bit of sarcasm during a season that is often dripping with goodness and hope. Think you’re ready to have an ugly sweater party this year? These tips can help.

Invitations

The best ugly sweater parties get a helping hand from the very start with great invitations, and there are a number of great ways to spice up your invite. Whether you choose to go with a sweater shaped invite, a fabric invite, or even a creative e-vite that includes the best pictures of ugly sweaters you can find, make sure that you get as creative with the design as you do with the wording. Don’t forget to include your name, the date and time, and any RSVP info. If you want people to bring food or holiday gifts, be sure to note that on your invite. Don’t forget to go with jazzy text like “The uglier the sweater, the better the party.”

Decorations

Wondering how to spruce up your location for an ugly sweater? Try sweaters themselves. Head to the thrift store and find as many horrible sweaters as you can, then send them to a charity clothes closet at the end of your party. Hang them on the walls or hang a clothes line and make a kind of garland out of them. You could also use knitting needles and creative yarn colors to decorate. Alternately, find as many horrible family photos as you can with ugly sweaters in them, and use those to decorate your location.

Party Food

Choosing the food for your ugly sweater party is very easy. You’ll want to go with items that reflect your theme. Sweater-shaped cookies are a natural. You could also decorate gingerbread men with great sweaters. You may want to think about food that’s already wearing a sweater like corn dogs or pigs in a blanket. You should also consider all of the tacky foods that are just part of the holiday season like fruitcakes.

Games and Activities

What’s a holiday party without a few exciting games? A fashion show is an absolute natural for the ugly sweater party. Be sure to have American Idol style voting, too, as well as a prize for the person with the ugliest sweater. You could also have a relay race where guests have to unravel one of the ugly sweaters you purchased at the thrift store. The winning team could even get a gift certificate to your favorite clothing store. Another relay race idea is to have a pile of ugly sweaters at one end, then have your participants rush to put on all of the ugly sweaters at one end, then take them off at the other end, and start all over again with the other person. You could also have guests decorate the gingerbread men you baked with the ugliest possible sweater and award a prize for that as well.

An ugly sweater party is a great way to get everyone into the holiday spirit this year. With a bit of advanced planning, you could have the holiday party everyone is talking about this year and will remember for seasons to come.

Image by TheUglySweaterShop on Flickr’s Creative Commons.

Pinkchic18 is an avid party planner with lots of great ideas for holiday parties. She also regularly contributes to the Holiday Gifts & Gift Baskets Blog, where you can find unique holiday gift baskets.

Flashing Hot: 3 Ways to Find Relief From Menopause Symptoms

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If you are experiencing discomfort from some of the symptoms of menopause there are many treatments, therapies and home remedies which can provide you with some relief. Thankfully, many women only experience mild symptoms and do not require treatment to cope with their menopausal symptoms. However, this is not the case for the other women who face moderate to severe symptoms and will likely require some form of treatment.

Flashing Hot: 3 Ways to Find Relief From Menopause Symptoms

Symptoms of Menopause

Menopause can be an uncomfortable phase in a woman’s life. With hot flashes and night sweats, muscle aches and joint pain, and increased levels of stress and depression, it’s no wonder women are always on the lookout for new treatments. The menopausal symptoms experienced by each woman are as unique as the women themselves. That being said, there are some symptoms that are more common than others.

There are quite a number of possible physiological and psychological symptoms that can accompany menopause. Some of the more common physical symptoms are hot flashes, night sweats, decreased libido, vaginal dryness, and irregular periods. Many women will also experience mood swings, anxiety, depression and insomnia. Fortunately, there is quite a range of therapy options, including a variety of natural remedies and medical treatments to help ease both the physical and mental symptoms.

Medicinal Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms

For women who are suffering from menopausal symptoms, medical intervention may be needed. There are a number of medicinal options. The types of medication and over-the-counter medicines you could use depend on the symptom or symptoms you are trying to alleviate. Birth control pills can be effective for symptoms during perimenopause as they can help control irregular periods, hot flashes, moodiness and vaginal dryness. Additionally, menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) can be effective for severe menopausal symptoms. Medications used to treat depression, epilepsy and high blood pressure can also be used to successfully treat hot flashes and moodiness.

Be sure to speak with your doctor about your symptoms and the best treatments available, as there are many possible side effects that can accompany hormone replacement therapies as well as other medical treatments. It is important to discuss your options with your doctor and weigh the risks versus the benefits of any therapies you are considering. You may find that you’d rather try some alternative therapies for your symptoms before trying medications or menopausal hormone therapy.

Natural Remedies for Menopausal Symptoms

If you’re reluctant to try medication to treat your symptoms or if your symptoms are fairly mild, there are a variety of natural remedies that you can try. Some of these remedies are massage (in particular, aromatherapy massage) aerobic exercise, yoga, stretching, and meditation. All of these methods can help to decrease stress and may also ease night sweats. Wearing light clothing or layering is also effective for managing night sweats.

Some other possibilities that can aid menopause relief are dietary changes, herbs, natural hormone replacement therapies, black cohosh, natural progesterone and vitamin E. Keep in mind that many of these therapies are unproven. Be sure to research any therapy you are considering and discuss it with your doctor, especially if there are risk factors involved.

There are a lot of options to treat menopausal symptoms. However, a therapy that works for one woman may not work for the next. These treatments are not a “one-size-fits-all” response to menopause. Finding a therapy that is effective for you is what really counts, and luckily, there are quite a number of options available.

To learn more about treatments and a new innovative therapy that relieves menopause symptoms be sure to visit the team at KuhlCare today.

5 Habits That Will Improve Your Marriage

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We all want a happy, healthy marriage. We all want to feel fulfilled, loved, and needed in our marriage. We want to find joy from our marriage. We want to know that we bring joy to our spouse.

But, not all of us have that in our marriage. Not all of us know how to achieve that happy, successful marriage. And even for people who do have great marriages, we can always do better. We can always find more ways to improve that love and companionship.

Below are 5 habits that we can all adopt that will help to improve our marriage.

1. Go on dates

Marriage should be fun! Yes, there are always going to be causes for stress, and disagreements, and busy lives. But our marriages should bring us joy. Go on dates to strengthen your marriage. Have fun with your spouse. Find activities that you enjoy doing together. They don’t have to be expensive. Just the act of putting each other as a priority, and spending time together, will help to improve your marriage.

Going on dates provides dual benefits. First, it helps us to have fun with each other. It’s good to remember that we enjoy being with our spouse! On top of that, it helps us to get away from the stresses of life. Relieving some of this stress will help us to be less anxious in our lives. This will help us to be in better moods, think rationally, treat each other better, etc.

2. Give compliments

We all want and need to feel loved, appreciated, special, needed, good looking, talented, etc. And in your marriage is the best, and most important, place to feel that. Complement your spouse. Let them know that you appreciate them. Let them know that you are attracted to them. Let them know that you need them, and you think they are special. Say I Love You.

Be specific. Tell them WHY you think they are special. Tell them what they do that you appreciate. Tell them why you can’t live without them.

3. Never talk bad about your spouse

It’s not just about the good words here. Complements aren’t enough. It’s also about avoiding the bad words. Don’t speak negatively to your spouse. This will just frustrate, hurt, and anger them. They are supposed to be receiving encouragement from you, not the opposite. On top of that, never talk badly about your spouse to others. This not only paints them in an unfair negative light, but it helps to foster and encourage you to have negative feelings towards your spouse.

As much as possible, try not to think bad thoughts about your spouse. And never vocalize those thoughts. When you do think negative thoughts about your spouse, immediately replace them with positive thoughts about your spouse.

4. Never say “I”

Your spouse should always be your number one concern and priority. You should always put your spouse’s needs over your own. When making decisions, thinking about perceived grievances, never say the word “I.” Don’t think about yourself! Don’t say “I want to do this,” or “I didn’t like it when they did this to me.” Instead, always think about your spouse first. Think “my spouse would love this,” or “that may have been hurtful to him/her.” Try to understand their feelings and needs more.

Serve your spouse. Put them first. Do the dishes. Even if it’s their turn, or their job. Do an activity that they enjoy doing it, even if it’s not your favorite. As they recognizing you doing this, their attention and priority will also change. As you both work to put each other first, you will notice your marriage strengthening, growing, and improving immediately.

5. Listen

If you just listen, your spouse will tell and show you the things they need from you. Watch the things they do for you. Odds are, they are the types of things they would like you to do for them. Don’t think of their feedback as nagging or whining. Instead, take it as an invitation. Listen to the things they’d like you to do more. And then work to do those things. As you work to listen (and follow up) to the things your spouse is telling, hinting, and showing you that they need, they will feel more of a love for you. They will recognize and appreciate your attempts more. They will work to return the favor.

Nicole is an article writer for The Rehab Advisor. Find addiction treatment and get answers now.

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