Blaine561's Social and Health Commentary

Most people do not notice what a purse says about one’s personality. If you start to analyze the different aspects of the purse, you would find that it tells much about that person. So you can check one’s personality by looking at their purseonality. Some examples to illustrate my point are what you would find inside the purse as well as the purse itself. You might look inside for different hints to one’s organization or items of importance to the individual. The style, shape, and color also reflect much about a person.

If you look inside someone’s purse, you could tell if that person is organized or not. You could also tell if they are conscious about looks or more about other things. Think about what you have in your purse. Do you have only the essentials such as identification, money, and keys? Most likely you have some personal items that identify you. You might have pictures of your family, you might have makeup, you might have candy or toys for small children—you might even have all of these and more. Whatever you carry in your purse defines which things that are important to you to have with you at all times. You may not have given it much thought—but think about the things you move from one purse to another and you will understand my point. There are always things that you feel you must have in your purse. You also look for purses that allow you to carry the things that you need or want with you.

There are many purses on the market and new ones are designed daily. Why would their need to be so many different purses just to carry basic essentials? Most women carry them for more reasons than just to carry their things.

Another reason for buying a particular purse is to match their own personal taste. This allows people to express their personality by color, style and perhaps even designer. In a survey performed on college students, it was found that 86 percent of the students felt that one purse was not enough. In fact, 62 percent have five or more purses. The reason for different purses was generally for different occasions. Some change purses as often as they change outfits. However, there were some students that felt that one purse was sufficient for their needs.

When talking to one student, she said that when she looks for a purse, she looks for something small with a lot of compartments to hold money. “Without a purse, change would get lost at the bottom of my backpack and you just need somewhere to put your change,” she said. “I bought my purse because it’s small, like a wallet on a string.”

We talked to another student that told us that she only carried specific designer purses such as Dooney & Bourke, Louis Vuitton, and Gucci. She said, “I just feel more glamours when I have one of my designer purses with me.”

Several students expressed that color was the most important aspect of the purse. They wanted purses to match their favorite color or their outfit. Some chose colors because it reminded them of other things. One student said “I have a bright green one that says I am fun and outgoing.” Another said, “I have a blue purse because I love the ocean.” Yet another said, “I change purses daily depending on my mood.”

Whether you have basic tastes in purses and carry only your essential belongings or if you prefer to make extravagant statements with your purse and carry everything possible, purses will always be a fun and easy way to express yourself.

While we don’t have to rely on sewing machines to satisfy our basic clothing needs, more and more people today turn to sewing to create unique, luxurious, one-of-a-kind pieces. Every family has that hand embroidered grandmother’s table cloth or a hand-made quilt, and these pieces are as cherished as the most sophisticated haute couture creations. And instead of paying hefty sums to someone for creating these little pieces of luxury for you, you can develop the easy skills of making your own monograms, embroideries or even hand-sewn button-holes – all the little luxuries that make the difference.

With the help of a reliable sewing machine, you can instantly personalize a lot of everyday necessities. For example, you can create a set of unique napkins or add a classy touch to your bed linen and bath towels with a monogram. And with a little practice you can even alter and mend your clothes.

When choosing your first sewing machine, make sure you understand how much sewing you plan to do. The honest answer will save you money and time, as you will not pick a too complex and upscale sewing machine for your basic sewing needs.

If you plan to study sewing and even recreate expensive designer clothes to save money, you will need a more upscale sewing machine. Sewing your own clothes makes sense only if your sewing skills are high enough to recreate high-end clothes, such as suits, jackets and dresses. You won’t save money on sewing your own jeans, because the pattern, fabric, buttons, and the time spent will make this pair of jeans more expensive than any of the designer creations. However, sewing children’s clothes does make sense, because you need little fabric, and you don’t really need complicated patterns.

A sewing machine is a great investment for those who have a passion for clothes design and like to wear one-of-a-kind pieces and don’t want to limit their clothing choices to what they see in department stores. With a sewing machine and a little patience you have full control on where the pockets go, what kind of buttons you use, and where the hemline stops. You should be aware that creating clothes from scratch or even amending the existing pattern requires sewing skills and a lot of time and devotion.

A more practical use for sewing machines is mending and altering the clothes you already have. We all have that special pair of trousers or jeans that we love and hate to throw them out. Sewing machines also work great for those who like personalizing item with monograms and embroideries.

Sewing for your home is quite labor-consuming; drapes and upholstery require lots of fabric and professional-grade equipment for precise sewing notions, such as rivets and hooks. Still, you can create simple drapes and even roman blinds on your basic sewing machine. Don’t forget about quilting that once fuelled the sewing machine craze. It seems like patchwork is coming back, and many fashion designers even use elements in their collections.

Sewing machines are indispensable for crafts, which are a great way to relax and unwind after a busy day. Studies have shown that sewing reduces stress! When sewing something, no matter for what purposes, people achieve something that gives them a lasting satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment. Besides, hand-made simple purses, gift bags for wine bottles, tablecloths and napkins make wonderful and thoughtful gifts.

And who knows, maybe after you discover the joys of sewing, you will decide to move forward and open a small sewing business to create and sew unique pieces of clothing. Many upscale boutiques and fashion fairs feature such mini-collections often sewn on simple household sewing machines.

The fashion world is a constantly changing place that serves as a revolving door for the hottest fashion designers. Fashionistas strive to stay on top of the fashion world by keep an eye on the up and coming designers that are producing the top trends on the market today. One great way to stay aware of the newest designers is to regularly look at the fashion magazines. Most magazines have a special section devoted to the designers who are working to make a name for themselves in the world of fashion. Also, check out the cable channels that specialize in fashion and style to see interviews and tips from these top designers.

It seems the hottest trend in fashion today is clothing collections designed by actors. This was made the most popular by the Sean Jean fashion label designed by rap mogul Sean, “Diddy” Combs. More recently, the “Jenny from the block” songstress, Jennifer Lopez has begun her own labels of clothing known as “Sweetface” and “JLo.” These urban wear companies feature many items made from authentic fur, causing quite a stir between Lopez and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Another singer who has experience a great success in the fashion industry is Gwen Stefani with her label, “L.A.M.B.” The former No Doubt lead singer entered the fashion world and has received tremendous acclaim for her revolutionary “Love Angel Music Baby” line of clothing.

Urban clothing labels are especially popular these days, with Kimora Lee Simmons experiencing a great deal of success with her “Baby Phat” clothing line. The Baby Phat line is extremely sought after and has pieces at a variety of price levels so individuals of every budget can proudly bring home pieces with the familiar cat logo.

As always, classic fashion houses like Chanel, Gucci, and Vuitton are always favorites with the fashion community as new designers are welcomed into the house and given the chance to create a lovely addition to the season. The best time to see what the fashion designers have unveiled for the upcoming season’s collection is undoubtedly New York Fashion Week. Everyone from fashion royalty to Hollywood starlets are seen sitting front row at these legendary fashion shows, licking their chops at the tasty fashion offerings displayed. Most fashion magazines have excellent coverage of both the shows and the collections available at these shows, so check it out to stay on top of the fashion game.

Endometriosis occurs when the endometrial tissue that lines the uterus grows outside the uterus, usually in the pelvic area. But it can grown anywhere, even in the brain and lungs. Endometriosis stimulated partly by the hormones of menstruation. So pain, a characteristic of symptomatic endometriosis, is worse at ovulation and during the menstrual and premenstrual parts of a woman’s cycle.

Symptoms of endometriosis include pelvic pain, abnormal menstruation cycles, and infertility. If you have endometrial tissue growing between the uterus and the rectum, symptoms can include pain during sex, pain with bowel movements (especially before a period) and pressure in the rectal area. Some women don’t have any symptoms, but their doctors discover endometrial tissue growing where it shouldn’t during a routine check, or a check for other conditions.

Dr Christiane Northrup writes of a link between endometriosis and the autoimmune system. She cites studies on women with symptoms of endometriosis that “show these women often have antibodies against their own tissue, called auto-antibodies. This means that at some deep level, the mind of their pelvis is rejecting aspects of itself.” This is an interesting approach, the psych-spiritual one, that can help address the underlying energetic and emotional imbalances in our bodies when we are dealing with illness.

She goes on to say “When a woman feels that her innermost emotional needs are in direct conflict with what the world is demanding of her, edometriosis is one of the ways in which her body tries to draw attention to the problem.” (p152, Northrup)

Managing Endometriosis Naturally

Dr Northrup suggests a treatment that supports the functioning of the immune system whilst allowing sufferers of endometriosis to find out what they need to address in their lives.

Natural Progesterone

This works to decrease the effects of estrogen on endometrial tissue. Its advantages are that it doesn’t have side effects. The cream is applied every day to soft areas of the skin like the face, neck and abdomen. Dr Northrup recommends using a 2 oz jar per month, alternating he areas it is applied to. She recommends applying it on days ten to twenty-eight of each monthly cycle. There are also natural progesterone capsules that are inserted into the vagina or rectum. The recommended dosage of these is 200 to 400 mg twice a day.

Castor Oil Packs

Apply a castor oil pack to the lower area of your abdomen three times a week or more, for one hour each session. Watch what feelings or thoughts come up for you during this time.

Other Options

* Consider getting a massage once a week on alternate weeks for two months. Some women have reported this alleviates their symptoms

* Find ways to express your creativity, nurture yourself, meet your own needs. Discover what your needs are.

Acupuncture and Chinese herbs

Acupuncture is excellent for managing pain, and using the traditional Chinese system of diagnosis, can address underlying energetic imbalances within your body. Best of all, the treatment is tailored to you exactly. The chinese herbs prescribed usually work in conjunction with the acupuncture treatment, although they can be taken on their own to great effect.

Changes In Diet

Dr Northrup has found that because symptoms of endometriosis are associated with too much estrogen, minimizing foods that encourage estrogen

production can help alleviate symptoms. This means removing dairy products, even of the low fat variety, increasing fiber intake, and minimizing fats. She also recommends:

* multi vitamins – a good supplement with good levels of the B vitamins

* magnesium – 400 – 800 mg which is bout 90 – 150 mg of elemental magnesium. This helps to relax muscles.

Managing Pain Through Nutrition

The premise behind this is that “diseases which are the result of vitamin deficiency are associated with unspecific pains.” (p62, Mills & Vernon). And Mills & Vernon also found research papers that showed that some vitamins have pain relieving and anti-inflammatory effects.

They suggest these vitamins as options in pain management:

* DLPA – D,L-Phenylalanine is an amino acid that has been found to relieve chronic pain. It needs to be taken consistently over time. Some people notice an immediate effect, for others it takes several weeks. If there is no effect after this time then it probably won’t work for you. Take 2 tablets three times a day until pain symptoms are relieved. The maintenance dose is followed after this, which is 1-2 a day. This is based on tablets being 375mg. You may need a prescription for these.

* essential fatty acids – fish oils (omega 3), evening primrose (omega 6):

Take 2000mg per day. Make sure they are cold pressed. A combination oil, like Udo’s, is effective, though a bit more expensive. To learn more about the optimal ratios of essential fatty acids, read this article on evening primrose oil.

* zinc citrate, or chelated zinc:

Research has demonstrated that zinc has anti-inflammatory effects on the knee joints. It reduces the release of histamine and leukotriene from cells during the inflammatory process.

* the non yeast form of selenium

* vitamin A, C, and E which are antioxidants:

Vitamin E inhibits the production of prostaglandins, which are involved in the inflammatory process.

* the non yeast forms of vitamins B1, B6 and B12:

These three B vitamins together have an anti-inflammatory effect

* vitamin c with bioflavanoids and enzymes that digest proteins:

Beneficial for reducing inflammation, and helps the immune system.

* proanthcyanadins (found in grape seed extract)

* quercitin

* resveratrol

* probiotics (p74, Mills & Vernon)

Nutritionally, many women with endometriosis find that when they stop eating wheat, they have either less or no pain. Some people are sensitive to sugar and gluten also. If you remove these items one at a time from your diet for a period of about a month, then watch how your body reacts when you eat them again, you’ll know whether this applies to you.

Many women have found relief from endometriosis by trying the different methods above. Sometimes a combination of approaches, both natural and conventional, works best. It depends on your individual circumstances, the level of endometriosis, and the nature of the journey that you are able to take with your body.

References: Endometriosis: A Key To Healing Through Nutrition, by Dian Mills & Michael Vernon (Thorsons, 2002)

Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom by Dr Christiane Northrup (Piatkus, 1995)

Like any other item of clothing that you want to buy, handbags also have lots of fakes in the market. Without the right information, you can end up spending a lot of money buying the handbag of your dreams, only to find out at the end of the day that it’s fake.

To prevent this from happening, take note of the following guidelines on how to tell the difference between a fake and a real handbag. As you know, it is safer and much more convenient for you to know… before placing your order. You don’t want to go through the stress of having to return the handbag when you discover that it is safe. In other words, prevention is better than cure.

- The most obvious differences between fake and real handbags is the misspelled logos you find on the fake handbags. Fakes don’t take the time to carefully make the handbags. If you look carefully you can spot some of the misspellings. Sometimes however, these misspellings can be intentional. They want to imitate a particular handbag brand but intentionally misspell the name so as not to enter into any legal trouble with the real company.

- Watch out for handbags with cheap leather. This is one sure sign of a fake. I know it is very difficult at certain times to identify if the leather is cheap or not, but if you take your time to look carefully, you will notice it. That is why you should never be in a hurry when shopping for the handbag of your choice. Take your time and look carefully before parting with your hard-earned money.

- To get real handbags and not fakes, always shop for your handbags from authorized and registered dealers- whether online or offline. Some of the places to find fake handbags are at home parties, flea markets, New York’s Chinatown, mall kiosks, to mention a few.

- Price is one of the most important determinants for identifying a fake handbag from a real one. The price of a fake handbag is usually cheap- to push you to buy. Don’t expect to buy a $500 handbag for $100. It just is too good to be true and is certainly a fake.

Doing the above can help you identify a fake handbag from a real one… and save you from falling prey to the many fake handbag dealers out there.

That’s it. I had to have it. If I had to go to 10 different stores, line up at 4 AM on “Black Friday” or go online and bid far more than my pocketbook would allow, the hot toy of the season was going to be mine. I pictured my daughter’s face opening it up. It would be the picture-perfect moment when at last she would tear open the toy she had begged for all season. A year has now passed. Now what was that toy? I honestly can’t remember… and I’m sure she can’t either.

Now rewind to that same Christmas. I also made her a pillow with her own name on it. I do remember carefully selecting the fabrics. I remember feeling so “gitty” when I found just the right color choices that would coordinate with her bedroom so perfectly. Everything that made her room hers, I found! I remember the night I put her to bed and ran to my sewing room so excited to get started on my project. I would hope she’d love it as much as I loved making it for her. Watching her elation as she opened that gift was 10 times more enchanting than seeing her set aside the “had-to-have” toy a few short hours later. She was captivated by the pillow, and happy to ask, “Mommy! Mommy! Did you make this for ME?”

The “D-I-Y” phenomenon is here and more and more people are choosing to give handmade gifts to those on their gift-giving lists! So why give handmade this holiday season?

1.Because It’s Cost-Effective

More often than not, you can make something for less. Of course there are exceptions, but this works well when you have a holiday budget to stick to. I recently made some chalk-board mats for my nieces and nephews. Can you believe I was able to make 9 of them out of 1 yard of fabric? Talk about a bargain! Another friend of mine made purses for all of her girlfriends for their gift exchange. I also like to write down my gift-giving list early, and then think of how I can make several of the same gifts for a group of people- such as favorite teachers. In assembly-line fashion, I can purchase all I need at once, lay out my materials, and thrust into the project at hand. Before you know it, I’m finished with something that was not only enjoyable for me to do, but cost very little in relation to purchasing something at a store.

2.Because It Can Be Personalized

When I make a gift for someone, I always keep in mind what is important to them or about them. Whether it’s a name on the gift, remembering their favorite colors, or making something of a sentimental nature, a handmade gift is one way of showing you care. Handmade gifts can be very unique and different. Countless times I’ve been so impressed with those who can create the same project, yet individualize each one to make them special to the one they are giving it to. Whether it’s something that has been knit, sewn, painted, or glued, you can make the right gift for just the right person.

3.Because It Can Become a Treasure

I still have a crocheted blanket my grandmother made for me when I was a child. Seeing this reminds me of her love and dedication to our family. I can imagine the excitement she must have felt while making it. In retrospect, I don’t know if I ever showed my full extent of gratitude when that gift was given. Oftentimes, that may be the case. But looking back, my heart is filled with thanksgiving as I recognize the hours that must have gone into something so extraordinary.

Do I still purchase gifts for family and friends from the stores? Of course I do. But while acknowledging that making handmade gifts does take more time, for me giving a gift that is handmade is very fulfilling to both the giver and receiver.

Insomnia is a very common symptom reported by numerous women at the onset of menopause. It is characterized by sleepless nights and often uncomfortable sleep such as tossing and turning in an effort to get comfortable. If you are primarily a mentally active person, it can become very difficult to calm the mind. You feel restless and irritable. Welcome to the change of life.

Insomniacs sleep is chock-full of waking up at frequent times during the night, waking up too early, and light sleep where the ticking of a hand clock may jolt you awake. This condition occurs during menopause because it is a side-effect of other menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and general physical and mental discomfort. When your body is dealing with night sweats, it’s easy to have your sleep interrupted, which makes it even more difficult to be sharp and at your best during the day.

Consuming stress-inducing foods loaded with things such as caffeine can further stimulate tension, so it is important to maintain a caffeine-free diet. Avoid drinking coffee as late in the day as possible. Do not over stimulate your nervous system. Release tension by learning hatha yoga postures or how to breath deeply and mediate. Try altering your sleep arrangements. If you find that your pillow is not soft enough, or maybe it’s too elevated for your head, make adjustments. If you find that the polyester blankets you’re lying on does not relax the contours of your body – switch them. It takes effort to accommodate these changes and make yourself as comfortable as possible.

Exercise also preps the body for restful sleep. Scientific studies suggest eating fat loaded foods are not recommended before bedtime. So a steady, healthy is a great plus. Insomnia can be treated by consuming foods that increase the serotonin levels in your brain so that your body relaxes. Serotonin is responsible for aiding with sleep by calming your brain. Drink a glass of warm milk before bedtime to help calm your nerves.

There are many causes for insomnia that stem from menopause. Depression is characteristic of this transition and can negatively influence your sleep. Decreasing estrogen levels can cause the on-set of depressive symptoms. In the menstrual cycle, ovulation causes progesterone (which has soothing effects on the mind and body) to be released.

Irregular cycles may cause anxiety to build-up, as a result of the lack of this ¨happy hormone.¨ For some people, taking melatonin is enough to get a restful night. For others, a prescription sleeping pill is necessary. Some women swear by black cohosh to help with body flushes as well as natural sources of progesterone.

In any case, it is important to consult with your doctor in order to decide together what treatment is best for you.

The information in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice.

Our skin is one of the parts of our bodies that we should have the most concern for. It is one of the things that is exposed not only to the people around us, but also to all of the harmful things found in our environment. Taking time to practice good skin care should be one of the things we do everyday.

Good skin care begins by knowing our own skin and by learning about ways to best take care of our skin. It will probably not take long for any of you to determine whether your skin is mostly dry, mostly oily, or a combination of the two. Skin care patterns will clearly look different based on what skin type you have. If you are unsure about your skin type, or even if you just want a second opinion, stop by any makeup counter at a local department store and ask for a skin diagnosis. Be careful, though, to not forget that these people are salesmen and women who will also want to get you to buy every skin care product in their line.

Don’t let yourself make any huge skin care decisions just yet! Because of how valuable your skin is, you should take the time to research and learn about the best skin care products for you. Remember that just because a certain brand of skin care products works on your best friend, it doesn’t mean the same products will be helpful for you. Certainly ask around and see what kinds of skin care treatments are working for other people, but ultimately settle on what works for you the best.

Good skin care is about much more than just using the right cleanser or moisturizer. Taking good care of your skin also requires that you protect it from one of the environment’s most dangerous enemies of healthy skin: the sun! While we all need a certain amount of sun to stay healthy and happy, most people don’t realize the amount of damage that the sun does to unprotected sun. Find a good makeup or moisturizer that contains an SPF of at least 15 and do not leave the house without it.

Another huge skin care tip that people might not realize is the benefit of drinking water everyday. Water is one of the best ways to purify our bodies and therefore to purify our skin. Grab a water bottle and drink it during the day. It is one of the very best things you can do for your skin.

Love yourself by taking care of your skin. It will be with you for a lifetime.

Boy or girl, boy or girl…. Which is it? Many parents enjoy the ups and downs of trying to guess the gender game when it comes to a baby.

For others selecting the sex of their baby is serious business. Believe it or not, there are scientifically grounded strategies for influencing the sex of your baby one way vs. another. No, this isn’t magic it’s just body chemistry.

Your diet can actually influence the pH of your body, making your vaginal secretions either alkaline or acidic, which can influence your chances for having a boy or girl.

Now, that said, changing your diet alone will not guarantee that you have a boy or a girl. But it can turn the tide in your favor if you are anxious for one sex or another.

Girl Baby Diet

You should eat foods rich in calcium and magnesium.

Here are some dietary suggestions for mom’s who want to conceive a girl baby:

- Eggs

- Milk or Milk Products

- Salt Free Food

- Ice Cream

- Tangerines

- Grapefruit

- Apples

- Lettuce

- Carrots/Veggies

Boy Baby Diet

You should eat foods rich in sodium and potassium.

- Salted meat products

- Fish

- Sausage

- Rice

- Potatoes

- Beans

- Peaches

- Bananas

- Apricots

- Melons

- Tomatoes

- Sweet Corn

Of course it is not guaranteed that you will have a boy or girl simply by changing your diet. Other things you can do to influence the gender of your baby is to time intercourse. Research suggests that timing intercourse a few days before ovulation will result in a girl, whereas timing intercourse the day of or day before ovulation is more likely to result in a boy. This is because the male Y-sperms are considered weaker and will die off before you ovulate if you have intercourse earlier in your cycle. There are other studies that suggest that men who wear tighter underwear or keep their scrotum warmer are more likely to have girl babies, because the boy’s Y-sperm need a cooler temperature to survive.

Ultimately there are no guarantees when it comes to choosing the gender of your baby. There are some scientific methods that involve ‘spinning’ sperm, but many of these are still under research and can be quite expensive.

No matter what method you choose, remember to have fun. The end result of your efforts is a beautiful baby regardless of their sex.

All women face menopause after the age of 50 years. Menopause occurs over a few years and this time can be very trying for a woman. A reduction in production of the female hormone estrogen and progesterone results in osteoporosis, hot flushes and general fatigue. A lot of research in this field has created effective menopause treatments. Since hormones are involved, all menopause treatments should be in consultation with one’s doctor.

Menopause treatment begins with a change in a woman’s dietary habits. One has to take calcium in the form of tablets or in natural dairy products and vegetables. She must decrease consumption of caffeine products like tea and coffee. This is helpful in preserving bone density and increases absorption of calcium.

Other menopause treatments include physical exercises to build strong bones. This must be in the form of a brisk walk or weightlifting exercises to strengthen her bones. Exercising regularly also helps in weight reduction. It is good for the heart and can reduce one’s cholesterol level.

Menopause treatments for hot flushes involve consumption of natural products like soy and tofu that contain natural estrogens. One can have them in raw or cooked form. Scientific studies indicate that soy definitely reduces hot flushes.

Several medicines can form a part of menopause treatments. The intake of belladonna and clonidine can considerably reduce hot flushes. However, one must study their side effects before consuming them. Some medicines induce sleep while others can be dangerous for those having blood pressure.

Another very popular menopause treatment is hormone replacement therapy. This therapy involves taking the estrogen and progesterone hormones orally or in the form of topical creams. Women who have their uterus intact must take both hormones in regulated doses. It is important to decide the dose as per the doctor’s directions since the intake varies from person to person.

A doctor’s guidance is a prerequisite for hormone therapy. Estrogen replacement can banish all symptoms of menopause like hot flushes, fractures and help build bone mass. This is because this form of menopause treatment can lead to breast cancer, blood clots and a host of other medical problems. It is important to know the woman’s medical record and family history of cancer. Women who are prone to cancer are not advised this menopause treatment.

Hormone therapy is available in the form of tablets and creams. Women under 50 years experiencing early menopause can safely take these types of menopause treatments. However, one must undertake a mammogram once in two years, if on hormone therapy. A host of menopause treatments is now widely available due to rapid advances in science. However, a woman must take a suitable treatment according to her needs and strictly under a doctor’s supervision.