Womens Things

During a pre-natal LaLeche class, I raised a concern about trying to
breast-feed while working. The instructor warned me that my job would
put me at risk for breast-feeding failure.

Then she concluded: "But that's your choice."

Fast forward to more than a decade later. A debate rages about the
"choice" of many professional women with children to stay home (For
example, see "The Opt-Out Revolution" by Lisa Belkin and "Opt Out: The
Press Discovers the Mommy Wars, Again" by Cathy Young.). Media
attention to these women raised fears that their actions would feed old
stereotypes that said women didn't really want to work.

Oh, if only it were that simple!

Few of us have the luxury of free "choice" as we strive to balance career
and family. Many of us find our "choices" severely limited.

My LaLeche instructor didn't ask if I had a spouse (swollen fingers
prevented me from wearing my wedding ring). How much of a "choice"
is it to work when you're a single parent? Or when your partner's job
lacks health insurance or enough income to support the family in decent
living conditions?

Many, many moms -- and dads -- work out of necessity rather than
choice.

At the same time, many professional women are abandoning the
workplace because of the poor choices available there.

A recent survey of 43 white professional women who had left the fast
track highlighted the scarcity of attractive workplace choices (Pamela
Stone and Meg Lovejoy in "Mommies and Daddies on the Fast Track:
Success of Parents in Demanding Professions," Sage Publications
2004).

About 90 percent of the women in the survey had struggled with the
decision to quit. A former manager at a public utilities company said:

"What...was so hard was it was like a loss of identity. Ironically, that
Sunday, after I made the decision, the sermon at church was 'Loss of
Identity because of Loss of Job or Loss of Spouse.' That kind of clicked
with me."

Moms who'd left demanding professions -- in most cases, male-
dominated professions -- cited such concerns as:

*60+ hour weeks with 24/7 responsibility.

*Inflexible schedules.

*Part-time arrangements that ended up being full time.

*"Mommy tracks" that lacked interesting work or chances for promotion.

*Downsizing and restructuring resulting in speed-up and a more
"corporate" culture less supportive of parenting.

Meanwhile, fast-track husbands and a lack of high-quality child care
added pressure from home.

Five women in the survey quit their jobs for "traditional" reasons. These
women had no ambivalence about quitting their jobs and placed a high
value on being with their children full time.

But many of us are working -- or not working -- because of factors that
have little to do with our values or "choice." A failure to recognize the
limits on "choice" all too easily leads to false blame or guilt.

Does it make any sense, then, EVER to use the word "choice" when
talking about work/family balance?

Yes -- with care.

The key is to be clear about what's under our control and what isn't.

This is going to sound strange, not being a mommy but having a "mommy moment"; it sounds strange to me too! So, let me take you back a few years so I can explain.

When my nephew was 2 years old (he's now 10), I offered to babysit him one day a week so I could develop a relationship with him. I'd missed out on doing this with the previous 5 nieces and nephews to a large extent so I didn't want to miss out on this one. This little boy had already captured my heart but I wanted more. Well, I'll tell you, I got more! He has always been very intelligent, not to mention that he was TWO. You mommies all know what that means, right?

You moms are all going to laugh, because although I'm the eldest of six children and very capable of diaper changing and feeding, I had no idea what to actually "do" with him all day. I kept thinking how do women get anything done when they have children around? That first day I was wiped out tired when his parents picked him up because I just assumed that a toddler needed constant entertaining.

We played with his toys which took up about 10 minutes, went outside to look at plants and tell him the names of flowers, and my golden retriever joined in but that took maybe another 15 minutes. I had only 6 ½ hours to go! The diaper changing took up a bit of time (I was rusty), and meal time was interesting trying to understand what he did and didn't like - I was fooled. Then I decided, well I need a moment to rest, I'll play some music! That was the key to a very enjoyable summer of learning to interact with my nephew and develop our own special relationship.

One of the first things I did was shorten the hours I had him with me! I wanted to get to know him, NOT become a surrogate mom. We finally got a routine down where we listened to music and danced together. It was such great fun and we both laughed and enjoyed that. I participated with his parents in the potty training phase - something I don't feel the need to do again but was a good lesson for me to learn. I learned he liked "macky cheese" for lunch and of course, since I am auntie, he got special chocolate snacks too. That made nap time even more difficult since he wasn't ever and still isn't the napping sort. How could anyone nap with all that sugar in them anyway??

Our relationship grew and grew as that wonderful summer progressed. He was a great little helper, and even helped me clean my refrigerator one day. My dog was used to being my baby and he was jealous but ever the tolerant golden. I taught my nephew how to dance, which was fun and we played lots of boy tumbling games - I'm a tomboy myself so it worked. Since it was summer I joined him at my mom's one day a week too. He always wanted to swim with mostly me, much to his parents chagrin. To this day, Thursdays are my swimming days with him and now his sister too. I guess he brought out the kid in me! You may be wondering where is that "mommy moment", so here it comes.

On one of our "days" together, my husband and I were in the kitchen talking. My husband was working a swing type shift for the US Postal Service back then and hadn't left for work yet. "Macky cheese" was cooking on the stove, not yet ready for my nephew to do his part of adding the cheese and stirring, the stereo was blaring in the background, my dog was trucking around keeping an eye on my nephew. My nephew was skipping around in a circle nearby making toddler noises.

Then it happened - the "mommy moment". I stopped talking to my husband to look at my nephew and sort of chuckle at his toddler singing noises, and looked around in a sort of daze, thinking, "This is a mommy moment!" This is what moms do all day and never think twice about it in order to keep their sanity and their selves intact. My nephew had blended into my life almost so seamlessly, that I had become comfortable with the routine and noises while keeping an ever vigilant eye open for him and yet continuing on in my daily chores.

This is what all you moms do daily, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week! All I can say is, with much ado, you are all phenomenal women, all of you! God has gifted you with such a tremendous gift of motherhood and with that gift comes a tremendous responsibility.
You fix the "boo boos", change the diapers, are chauffeur, chef, arbitration expert, financial wizard, stain masters, and so much, much more! Moms, you have all the skills required to run conglomerates just by what is required to be a mom. Remember that during the struggles that inevitably ensue, and grab one of those "mommy moments" from your treasure box to get you through. I do, and I'm not even a mom.

"Listen my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many. I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. Hold onto instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life."
Let's not forget Proverbs 31 either!

Many couples plan to bear children when they are settled, but most of them are not lucky enough to do so due to health complications. It may result in miscarriages in the woman that further increases the chances of danger to life. For solving this problem, it is advisable to seek the best Gynecologist, who can provide suitable solutions. There are many treatments carried out by the doctors, which include IVF, Blastocyst, ICSI and Embryo Transfer. The couples may choose a suitable treatment for them with the advice of their doctor.

Fertility Treatments - An Answer to One's Infertility

The infertility problem can be related to both men and women. There are separate treatments done by the doctors in the fertility centers. Few treatments may pose a risk to the couples, but some other can prove successful for them. It solely depends on the doctor about which fertility treatments will bring 100% success. IVF treatment proves successful in most of the cases. However, there are few cases where Embryo Transfer retrieves the best results.

The patients must prefer reputed doctors after taking recommendations, searching online for good Gynecologists, best fertility centers in and around the town, etc. Here are few pointers that will help people to get an insight about the fertility treatment:

    Look out for Varied Fertility Treatment Options: Before opting for a fertility treatment, the patients must watch out for versatile options. They can choose the best fertility treatment options after looking forward to the availability of a particular technique, cost involved, an experience of other patients, and advice from the renowned doctors, etc.
    Use of Advanced Techniques: The fertility center that the patients are choosing must use the latest techniques for treating the patients. They must possess high-quality treatment tools, best infrastructure, one-of-its-kind IVF or ICSI technique, and embryo transfer by the experienced doctors using advanced tools.
    Choose the Right Doctor: The couples must choose a right doctor for the fertility treatment. It would be good if people select the best fertility center that has experienced Embryologist, Gynecologist, Urologist, Surgeon and in most cases, a good psychologist. They will guide men and women to opt for a perfect treatment that will not put any ill effect on their health.
    Evaluates the Status of Patients: The patients need to see the doctor who evaluates their general health. This will help the doctors in acknowledging any infection, prior diseases if any, miscarriages of the women, mental and physical health of the patients, etc. This vital information will help the specialists to administer a right kind of fertility treatment and medicines to their patients.

Lastly, it is necessary for both men and women to search thoroughly by keeping every parameter in mind in relation to the fertility treatment. These treatments are quite costly so one needs to look out for the hospitals or fertility centers that provide affordable treatment.

There are several reasons why women wear hair extensions, but while they can make your hair longer and fuller and overall achieve the effect of making you look more glamorous (what's the point, otherwise?) they don't come without their own set of problems.

Some people wear extensions because they are unable to grow their own hair long, or as quickly as they would like to. Some people genetically cannot grow their hair past a certain point. Others might be able to, but realise that growing your hair long is a slow process: the average growth rate of hair is about 1 cm a month, so getting your hair from, say, shoulder length to mid-back is going to take some time. You could have an important date coming up, such as a wedding or your husband's company dinner and there simply isn't time to grow your hair long enough.

Some people have thinning hair or bald patches. There isn't much you can do about that except cover them up. Hair extensions can completely cover bald spots and they can provide a lot of extra volume to thinning hair.

Add Highlights

You might want to add highlights to your own hair without the risk of using chemicals or dyes, and carefully selected hair extensions can enable you to do this. You can also enjoy many different types of styles for your hair when you have extensions which you can't do if your hair is shorter.

However, wearing hair extensions may not be all sweetness and light and they can come with their own set of problems. Whatever type of hair extensions you use, they will take a little getting used to. There is no doubt that you get a feeling of having something extra in amongst your hair, and they do, of course, add some extra weight, albeit not a lot.

Unless you use clip-in hair extensions, which you can put in yourself in five or ten minutes once you have got the hang of it, you are going to have to spend some time in the stylist's chair. Even something as straightforward as tape-in hair extensions can take the best part of an hour, while weave or sew-in extensions will have you sitting there for several hours. The longer you sit, the more it costs. Furthermore, you are going to have to go back every few weeks to have the extensions removed and replaced, as your own hair grows out. On top of that, some types of hair extension are only good for one or two uses and then have to be replaced, so that is an additional cost. This last point is a very good reason for using top quality human hair extensions which, given some tlc, can last for up to 12 months.

It Costs Money

Overall, using hair extensions is going to cost money, unless you opt for very cheap synthetic extensions. However, although they are cheap these simply do not have the look and feel of real hair and you are very restricted in what you can do with them. You can't apply any sort of heat because they are made of plastic (yes, really!) and you will melt them if you do. So you can't use curling tongs, straighteners, or even blow them dry. You can't dye them, either.

You have to be very careful how you brush your hair, because if you get it stuck you can pull out your extensions, or even your own hair. So you no longer can brush from roots to ends, which is the "correct" way to do things. You have to brush up from the ends to the roots, but of course this means that you are no longer brushing oils from the roots to the ends so you have to add oil on to your ends manually so that they don't dry out and become brittle.

If you have any type of glue on your extensions you will need to wear a shower cap and try to make the gap between shampoos longer so that the shampoo doesn't start to break down the glue.

However, if all of this is putting you off, it shouldn't. Google "hair extension specialist near me" and you will find one who can answer all your queries and advise you as to the best type of extensions for your particular hair.

Highlighting and contouring originated from male to female drag queens to use makeup artistry as a way to soften their jawlines and conceal their facial hair and brow ridge. This style of makeup was known to be heavy on the highlight and contour and very expressive. However, to non-professionals, the art of contouring and highlighting can seem like a daunting task as there can be confusion in the correct way to apply it.

Highlighting and contouring is a corrective technique, used to create the ideal face shape, meaning it isn't the same for every person. For women, while highlighting and contouring there's a fine line between enhancing your best features and painting on an entirely new face. Women already have soft and feminine features. When applying makeup, the overuse of products can otherwise completely exaggerate and create unflattering features.

Here's the thing, the makeup industry has made a killing off of the "beat face" trend and made the over usage of highlighting and contouring the new norm. The goal now is to give yourself features you don't actually possess: Brighter, bigger eyes. A narrower, daintier nose. Using 20 products to achieve a "natural" look or more. The tips, tricks, and techniques have come from beauty guru's and YouTubers, not professional makeup artists.

This isn't the case if you know how to do makeup properly. You'd find that by following techniques other than that of a professional you may end up incorporating unnecessary steps just to look "natural."

While professional makeup artists take similar steps using highlighting and contouring flawlessly to enhance- not hide your beautiful features, they understand that successful highlighting and contouring is to use as little product as possible so the end result is believably natural, to blend it in well and to add more color gradually.

Good makeup is makeup that looks good in person and in photos, and that accentuates features instead of hiding everything. There's an art to this. Heavy foundation, then heavy concealing, followed by heavy cream highlight/contour can look great at night, on stage, or on camera, but in person, it is quite extreme. Heavy makeup instead just draws attention to large pores, pimples, and other and other facial flaws.

A light natural highlight and contour for the average woman on a daily basis is a gorgeous thing to learn and practice. Some important tips to know before incorporating highlighting and contouring into your makeup application is that:

• Less is more

• Contouring is subtly defining one's features and for it to appear flawless, it should be barely noticeable.

• Mixing concealer with foundation can create a more seamless and natural highlight

• Practice makes perfect facial flaws.

Who’ll Throw the Shower?
There’s an ongoing debate – that can actually become quite emotional and vocal – that tried to determine whether or not a relative should throw the baby shower. Traditionally, the view has been that a relative should not throw a baby shower, because it can appear that the relative is requesting
gifts. Yet traditions change, and there are times when a sibling, or a cousin, or an aunt might be the ideal and somewhat convenient choice.

So what should you do? To answer this, we can respond with the best, and sometimes most unsatisfying answer of them all: it depends.

Sorry, but it really does depend. If you hail from a rather traditional or conventional background, it may be wise to see that a non-relative is in charge of the baby shower. In addition, even if you, personally, are comfortable with a relative throwing the baby shower, some of your guests – who may be less comfortable with it than you – may object (or just whisper about it behind your back).

Use your judgment here. Perhaps the most practical advice is this: if you can conveniently and pleasantly not have a relative run things, then that will likely be the best route to go. However, if that’s just not possible, plausible, or preferred, then don’t feel like you’re someone from outer
space because you’re related to the mother-to-be. More and more people are breaking with tradition; especially since they feel that the perception of a relative “asking for gifts”
arguably doesn’t exist anymore.

Gifts (which we talk about further on in this book) are rather integral to baby showers; it’s quite hard to imagine one without gifts. Since that is the case, whether a relative requests them from those attending the baby shower, or a non-relative requests them, arguably isn’t important to those attending. They’re likely focused on what the baby shower should focus on: the mother-to-be, and a wonderful opportunity to share in her joy.

Now, there’s an amusing (at least from our current detached perspective) on this that you should know about. Some people may not want to run the baby shower. It’s assumed that if you’re reading this, that you’re quite happy with the assignment, and you’d like to do some quality – and easy! –
research so that everything goes off without a hitch.

Yet if you aren’t the one whose holding the baby shower, but perhaps the mother-to-be who is about to hand over this book to a relative or friend who will hold the shower, then we should take a little time-out to talk about something important.

A baby shower is a wonderful event that is filled with laughter, love, and perhaps a few tears (of happiness). Yet putting one together can require an investment of time. Not a lot of time; not compared to, say, planning a wedding or for some people, planning a vacation.

Yet it’s fair to simply note that putting together a baby shower does require some focus, and some time. If you’re about to nominate someone to take on this task, then please bear this in mind; that person should understand that they’ll need to do a little bit of work (but it’s fun work, of course).
And if you’ve been asked to put together a baby shower – or if it’s just been assumed that you’ll do it – and you’re a little worried about your own lack of time available, then don’t worry. This book will help you immensely. Furthermore, nothing is stopping you from recruiting a deputy or two to help you with the details, such as preparing food, refreshments, and helping with decorations and games.

When Should the Shower Happen?
This is an important question to ask, and of course, to answer. And as usual, there are a few different viewpoints on when to hold the baby shower. Fortunately, however, these views aren’t as debatable as they sometimes are when it comes to whether a relative or non-relative should hold the baby shower (as we discussed above). So don’t worry; this is a rather easy and straightforward challenge to solve.
Now, the real problem here is simply that there isn’t a clear answer to the question: when should the shower happen? The answer to this will almost always depend on factors that are specific to the mother-to-be, the guests, and other issues.

So rather than providing a “one-size-fits-all” answer here – which is something that we can’t do without knowing the details of your particular baby shower – let’s just look at the variables. Once you know these, you’ll easily be able to determine when the baby shower should be held.

The Mother-to-Be
Let’s start with mother-to-be. She may have a preference about when the shower should be held; and this preference should be heeded. The father-to-be might also provide input here, which is wonderful and should be part of the overall decision-making process (we take a closer look at “couples” baby-showers later on in this book).

What kinds of things might influence a mother-to-be’s preference on when the shower should be held? Some of them prefer to have the shower when they’re showing; they may feel that there’s something more appropriate (for lack of a better word) about holding a shower when people can
actually see that a baby is on the way.

In practical terms, this means that a shower might be held well into the second trimester, or into the third.

The Guests
As we all know, December is a season for parties and events; both business, and personal. As a result, it may be polite to not hold the baby shower during “party season”, as it may influence whether people would be able to attend (or be able to relax when they attend, because they don’t have
three more “get togethers” to go to after the baby shower!).Furthermore, if you live in a wintry climate, it may be a pleasant idea to not have the baby shower in the dead of winter. True, life does go on in the middle of January and people go to work and do many of the things that they want to do (go shopping, go to restaurants, and so on), but if it makes absolutely no difference to you and the mother-to-be (and/or the father-to-be) whether the baby shower is held in late January or late April, then it may be advisable to choose the latter; simply for climate concerns.

The Gifts
This is one that most people don’t think about until someone brings it up, and then they say to themselves: ohhhh, yes, that makes sense! Fortunately for you, you’re getting a sneak-peak at that thought well before someone at the baby shower asks it! As we all know, some people prefer to give gender-specific gifts. While, indeed, times have changed and makers of baby-related items are creating more gender-neutral items, there’s still a large contingent of people who want to give baby blue gifts to an impending son, or pink gifts to an impending daughter.In light of this, if the parents-to-be have decided to learn the baby’s gender via ultrasound, and further decided to share that information with the world-at-large, then it may be very appreciated by the baby shower guests if you hold  the shower after the baby’s gender information has widely disseminated. In other words: some people will be grateful that they know whether a boy or girl is on the way before they buy their gift.

Ultrasound gender diagnostic tests typically happen around the 9 week mark of gestation (though it can be later in some cases), and so this factor may influence whether you hold the shower early on, or wait until this information is known (assuming, of course, that the parents-to-be want to
know!).

Post-Birth Baby Showers
Some people are surprised to learn that many baby showers happen after the baby has been born. Actually, this is quite common because, in addition to having the shower itself, this timing affords guests the wonderful opportunity to actually see the baby (and make all kinds of goo goo gaa
gaa noises that we all love to make!). Holding a post-birth shower may also work out better in light
of other factors noted above, such as climate, and preferences of the parents-to-be.

Sending out Invitations
Okay, here’s where things can be a little bit awkward.Scratch that; here’s where some people dread being in charge of a baby shower, because at issue is: who to invite?

A good rule of thumb here is to work with the mother (and ideally, the father) to-be in order to decide who should attend, and who should be left off the list. This is a delicate scenario and can cause a number of minor headaches (even some major ones).
The problem is, simply, that while it would be ideal to invite everyone who would want to attend, that’s just not practical; either economically, or simply in terms of planning. Ultimately, decisions will have to be made, and if you can work with the parents-to-be to make these decisions, the chances of making wise ones will increase. Once you’ve figured out who to invite – and this process can take a few days of thinking and re-thinking – the next step is to send out the invitations. Ensure that you do this well in advance of the baby shower. There are two major reasons for this.

Firstly, you want to give your invitees enough lead time to that if they do have something planned on the baby shower date that they can, if they wish, move those plans in order to attend. If you don’t provide them with enough notice,even if they want to change their existing plans, they might
not be able to.

Secondly, you want to give people enough time to RSVP (i.e. confirm their attendance). Some people are not the most organized people in the world, and as such they might not RSVP right away. As such, you want to give them a bit of time to get to this on their ever-growing TO-DO list. Now, there’s another issue here that we should discuss. Some people think, or just assume really, that if you don’t RSVP, that means you aren’t attending. That’s actually not technically correct. RSVP doesn’t mean (even in the French language from where it comes) that someone is going to attend. It simply means: please get back to me on this. So what’s the issue? It’s that it can be a little disastrous to assume that if you don’t get an RSVP, that people won’t attend. Because some people will simply show up, and when you say that you assumed they weren’t coming because they didn’t “RSVP”, they may frown and say what we’re pointing out here: RSVP, itself, doesn’t mean yes or
no. It just means: please respond. Naturally, of course, people should RSVP and let you know if they’re going to attend. It’s the polite thing to do, without question. But polite is one of those eye of the beholder terms; and people who haven’t invested several days of their life to putting a memorable baby shower together may not realize how impolite they are being by just showing up, unannounced.

So how do you solve this problem? Well, like all good solutions: you head it off before it becomes a problem! While you want to have all of your invitees RSVP, you should make it utterly clear that you’d like a response regardless of whether they will attend. To that end, depending on the size of your baby shower guest list, you should include a self-addressed stamped envelope and a self-typed note with each invitation that says something like this:

Dear Mary,

You are warmly invited to attend a baby shower forour friend Darla! The shower will be held on April 15th at 1:30pm. It will be held at my home, which is at 123 Main Street. It’s just one block east of Main and 8th Avenue, and ample parking is available on the street. If you need directions, please call me at 555-1234. We’d like to have a sense of how many of Darla’s friends will be able to attend. Could you please fill out this form below by checking in the appropriate box,and then mail it to me in the self-addressed stamped envelope provided? Please Send it to me by March 28th. Thank you so much!

(please check one)
I will be attending Jane’s baby shower on April 15th at 1:30pm.
I regretfully will not be able to attend the baby shower.
*** Remember: Please mail before March 28th in the self-addressed stamped envelope provided.

THANK YOU! ***


You can create any variation of this as you want. This is just a simple little sample that highlights the things that you should ask: whether an invitee is attending, or whether an invitee isn’t. In other words, you don’t want any grey area here; you don’t want any default that says: I didn’t reply, so I’m not coming. A little note like the one above obliges, in a polite and tasteful way, your invitee to actively let you know whether they’ll show up or not. Now, if your baby shower guest list is smaller and it’s
feasible to do so, you may want to skip the mailing campaign and just phone people up and ask them to attend.If you have the time and the ability to do so (e.g. the guest list is small enough for you to manage), this is the preferred method. It gives your invitees the opportunity to ask pertinent questions, such as whether the mother-to-be is in any gift registry. Let’s talk about this right now.
To Gift Registry or Not to Gift Registry This is another one of those fun decisions that involve the
mother-to-be, and probably the father-to-be, as well. Gift registries are, generally speaking, wonderful inventions because the conveniently solve a lot of potentially confusing problems, such as:

 What will the parents-to-be want as a gift?
 What gift items have already been purchased by other invitees?
 What price range is appropriate?

So with all of this evidence in favor of gift registries, why might someone not use one? Well, there are few reasons. The simplest reason is one of preference. Some people simply don’t want to limit the range of things that guests might buy; especially if some gifts aren’t typically found in stores that offer registries. For example, some artistic guests may want to create something for the baby; perhaps
wooden mobile, or a beautiful picture to hang in the baby’s room. These kinds of items, by definition, can’t appear on a gift registry; and so parents-to-be might wish to avoid using one. Another reason is one of cost. Depending on the number of people invited to the baby shower, and presuming that those
that have been invited attend, there may be a slight awkwardness if the registry contains gift possibilities that might frankly be outside of a person’s price range. This can indeed be awkward.
For example, if 20% of the gifts in the registry are below,say, $30, there is some possibility that these ones will be snatched up first; thus leaving a latecomer to buy something more expensive, or risk buying something that isn’t on the registry at all and therefore might not be wanted by the
parents.
To help deal with this situation, it’s possible for you (as the organizer) for informally recommend that people band together to buy certain bigger ticket items, like a crib or a stroller. In this way, people can still stay within their budget limitations, yet purchase something that the parents want, and indeed, need (since babies can be very expensive!). Remember, of course, that if you choose the registry route, that you provide all the necessary details. It may also be wise to include your phone number if anyone has any questions about gifts or the registry.

Like a woman, a man has several important organs needed to create a new life – your baby. Without healthy male reproductive organs even a woman who can easily conceive will not. Now, let’s look at some of the things that can affect a man’s ability to impregnate his wife:

The Penis
Does size really matter when it comes to getting your gal pregnant? No, not really, as long as the penis is big enough to get the sperm into the vagina and up toward the cervix. However, function is very important in regards to a male’s fertility. Impotence or an inability to either have or sustain an erection can make it difficult to create a pregnancy.
Other problems can occur when the penis is not formed correctly. It is important that the opening that lets the sperm out of the penis be at the center of the penis’ tip. There are two main variations that can cause problems getting pregnant: Hypospadias – affects about one in 300 men. It is caused when the opening is on the underside of the penis.Epispadias is caused by the opening at the top of the penis, and is much rarer (only affecting one in 100,000 men).
Both of these conditions are associated with an unusual curvature of the erect penis -- it curves up in epispadias and down in hypospadias – and can prevent the sperm from getting where it’s needed in order to fertilize the woman’s egg.

The Testicles
A man’s testicles both produce and store sperm. It is vitally important for the testicles to be kept a few degrees cooler than 98 degrees for sperm to develop properly. That’s why it is so important for men with one testicle larger than the other to be checked for both hydrocele, a collection of fluid inside the scrotum; and varicose, varicose veins in the testicle, which can both raise testicle temperature and cause infertility.Unlike a woman’s eggs, which are present at birth, a man continues to produce sperm throughout adulthood.Although produced every day, it does take about two months for a man’s sperm to fully mature. The process begins in the testes, where FSH and LH hormones
begin making sperm and testosterone. Once the sperm mature in the epididymis, they travel through the vas deferens up to the seminal vesicle and the prostate, where they are submerged in semen and finally ejaculated through the urethra and into the woman’s vagina during intercourse.

The Sperm
Without sperm there would be no babies. Without enough of them your chances of becoming pregnant lessen. Every time a man ejaculates, about - 200 million sperm are released. That should certainly be enough to fertilize one little egg now shouldn’t it? Maybe not! Within a few hours that 200 million has dwindled to a paltry 100 million. Their job has just gotten harder. The journey to the egg is long and difficult. First, the sperm needs to know in which direction to swim (statistics show that almost half go in the wrong direction – maybe they should stop and ask for directions!).Next, they actually have to get moving. Many lag behind. Meanwhile, the woman’s body isn’t necessarily friendly, killing off thousands of others along the way. For the lucky few, success can be found, but only if they are strong enough and persistent enough to make it through the long arduous journey.

If you’re worried that chapter one is going to be one big boring health and science lesson, don’t. Sure we’re going to learn a lot about how our bodies work – and sometimes don’t -- but it won’t be a repeat of junior high health class. The stuff we’re going to learn about now is all the stuff you absolutely need to know in order to get pregnant – and stay pregnant! Let’s get started by taking a closer look at the way we are made:

What Makes Her Special
Women are complex creatures – in more ways than one! But nothing may be as complex as her reproductive organs. Here’s a quick look at how a woman is capable of bearing children and why it’s so important that each organ be in tip-top working order:

The Vagina
Having little to do with your ability to conceive a child, the vagina is considered more of a  passageway for the penis and its sperm to enter the opening of the uterus where it can do the job it is intended to do.One thing that can affect your ability to get pregnant is the hymen, a perforated piece of tissue found at the entrance of the vagina. While the vast majority of young girls have small openings in the hymen, which is later completely torn during the first sexual experience, a small percentage of girls may have an imperforate (or solid) hymen. This can cause blood from the monthly period to back up behind the tissue and into the fallopian tube, which can cause endometriosis, a major factor in female infertility.

The Cervix
The cervix is a tight muscle-like tissue found in the lower part of the uterus. Its main job is to hold the baby in place until delivery. However, it also guards against infection by forming a mucus barrier between your vagina and the inside of the uterus.
An incomplete cervix can be a cause for concern, since it is not closed enough to hold the baby in place, thus causing a miscarriage once the baby’s weight presses against it, opening the cervix even more. An incompetent cervix can usually be fixed by suturing the cervix closed until delivery.

The Uterus
A woman’s uterus, otherwise known as the womb, is typically a pear shaped organ designed to hold and nurture a baby for the nine months it takes to develop inside the mother’s body.
In the past it has been highly believed that a woman with a retroverted uterus, or one that is flopped forward toward your pubic bone could not get pregnant. This is simply not true. However, there are some uterine malformations that can affect your ability to both get pregnant and to maintain a pregnancy long enough to give birth to a healthy baby. They include: A septate uterus, which features a band of tissue called the septum which can partially or completely divide the inside of the uterus.
Bicornuate (two-horn) and unicornuate (one-horn) uteri feature either one (uni) or two (bi) narrower-than-normal cavities. Women with this type of uterus often miscarry once they do become pregnant. Polyps, also known as benign fibroid growths in the uterus can interfere with a woman’s ability to conceive, and need to be removed in order to increase their chances of an embryo attaching to the uterine wall. Although, removing fibroids can leave scar tissue in the uterine cavity that can make it more difficult to get pregnant since a fetus can have a hard time implanting on scar tissue.

The Ovaries
The ovaries may be two of the most important organs needed to have a baby since they hold and protect the eggs needed for conception. Women do not make eggs throughout their lifetime. Instead, they are born with the amount they will ever have stored in their ovaries. Every month, some are lost due to a variety of biological reasons, while one or two are released for fertilization. If a sperm does not fertilize the egg, it is flushed from the body during the woman’s monthly menses. Should one or both ovaries (and the eggs it contains) become damaged or diseased any time during her life, it can greatly affect her chances of ever bearing children.

The Eggs
Without healthy viable eggs, a woman has a zero percent chance of getting pregnant or giving birth to a healthy baby. Eggs are made up of some important factors including its Chromosomes, which contain the genes that will determine what your baby will look and act like; whether it will be short or tall; healthy or not; fat or skinny; and so much more. A human egg is made up of three protective layers starting with the nourishing and protective cumulus layer; followed by the corona radiate, a protective single layer of cells covering the zona pellucida, or egg “shell.” A mature, ready-for-fertilization egg (also called an ocycte), contains only 23 chromosomes. Add that to the 23 offered by the male’s sperm and your new baby’s cells gets the 46 chromosomes needed to be perfect. Miss one or two  chromosomes and your baby with either have a serious malady or you will miscarry.

The Fallopian Tubes
Every month a woman’s ovaries releases one or two eggs to be fertilized so it can grow in the safety of the womb. But, first, it must get there, travelling by way of the fallopian tube, which connects each ovary to the uterus. Without healthy tubes, the egg can neither become fertilized (since a blocked tube will prevent the sperm from getting to it in the first place), or make its way to the safety of the nourishing womb. Tubes can be damaged in several ways, with the most common culprits being infection or endometriosis. While both tubes do not have to be clear in order to get pregnant, your chances of conceiving are reduced if one is damaged or blocked in any way.

Her Menstrual Cycle
If all of your reproductive organs are not working properly, they can affect your menstrual cycle and your ability to get pregnant. Unfortunately, when it comes to a woman’s menses a lot of things can go wrong. But, before we begin to discuss all of the things that can negatively affect your menstrual cycle, let’s first take a look at how it all works:

Step One
A woman’s pituitary gland releases FSH -- a follicle-stimulating hormone -- after the monthly menses has ended. Meanwhile in the ovary, a dozen or so antral follicles (fluid filled sacs surrounding the egg), begin to grow. It is during this time that at least one egg matures. In response to FSH and luteinizing hormone (LH), the follicle is released by the pituitary gland, and begins to produce estrogen in the ovary. At the same time, the estrogen being produced in the ovary signals the uterus to thicken its lining in preparation for the egg’s release. This is called the proliferative phase of the
uterus. In normal cases, one follicle grows faster than the others, producing more estrogen, causing FSH to decrease and the smaller follicles to stop growing. This signals the pituitary gland to release an LH surge, which makes the egg inside the dominant follicle mature.

Step Two
This causes the follicle to burst, releasing the egg which is picked up by one of the fallopian tubes. This is called ovulation.

Step Three
If all goes as planned, the mature egg will meet up with an eager sperm, resulting in an embryo that will now begin to travel down the fallopian tubes, toward the safety of the womb, where it will implant and grow for the next nine months.

Step Four
The leftover part of the follicle, now called the corpus luteum, now begins to produce progesterone, an important chemical to help the embryo implant properly in the lining of the uterus where it can grow. If an egg fails to implant here, the uterine lining will begin to break down and your monthly flow will begin again. It usually takes about 10-14 days for your body to mature an egg and release it.
Ovulation for most women usually takes place between the 10th and 14th day after the start of their last period. Understanding the importance of consistent ovulation is an important factor in determining why you may be having trouble getting pregnant. For instance, if you are getting your period 12 days or less after you ovulate, you may not be making enough progesterone to support a pregnancy. In contrast, if your cycles are very long, or even irregular, you may not be producing eggs often – or even at all!

Timing Is Everything
Remember, when it comes to getting pregnant, timing is everything, which is why it is so important to understand your menstrual cycle. The biggest mistake a women make is assuming that she is “normal,” and so is her ovulation. Most of us have been taught that ovulation occurs around the 14th day so we should be having lots of sex between days 12 and 15. While this may be true for most women, it isn’t true for all women. If you’ve been trying for awhile to get pregnant, the best thing you may want to look at is exactly when you ovulate and when you’re having intercourse. Ovulation usually occurs 14 days before your period begins. So, if you have a 28 day cycle, then you can expect to ovulate on day 14 like the average woman. But, if your periods are only 25 days apart, you’re going to ovulate around day 11, so having sex on days 13 and 14 will be too late. Conversely, if you have longer periods (say 34 days), you won’t even ovulate until day 20, so all that sperm from day 14 and 15 will be long gone by the time it’s needed.To better your chances of getting pregnant, be sure to study your periods; figure out when you actually do ovulate and then make sure that you get busy during the right time of the month! For some people, it’s that easy! Of course, it’s not always that easy to get pregnant, especially if you have irregular periods. Menstrual cycles that are way off the scale of normal usually indicate an underlining fertility issue such as a lack of regular ovulation, which we’ll discuss later. Right now, the important thing is to get in touch with your body and your menstrual cycle so you have the information and knowledge that you’ll need as you continue through this book.

Are you the one who looks out for shopping hauls to save money? Are you a girl on a budget and looking out for fantastic beauty products?

Usually, women eagerly wait for the shopping hauls and the sales to take over so that they can go on their spree getting their beauty wants and needs. But, always waiting for a sale to fulfill the wants can lead you through your saturation points.

Don't worry ladies, waiting for shopping hauls is old news now.

Say hello to a high-end subscription box!

It's official, subscription boxes have taken over our doorsteps and our lives in the best ways. How could anyone turn down a custom-made box filled with things you wouldn't usually buy, but you'd definitely love? Especially for the girl on a budget, there are a lot of subscription boxes just waiting for you.

When we talk about beauty subscription boxes, there are different subscription services that give out 5-7 sample/ full-size beauty products monthly for less than the MRP of the product.

So, you wouldn't have to wait for sales from your favorite and good makeup and beauty brands, and you could basically buy membership boxes without any of the guilt because you know its money well spent. Because no matter who you are or what you're looking for, there is a beauty box out there for you to become obsessed with.

How Do Subscription Boxes Work?

The process is simple. A new user signs up for a monthly fee (could range anywhere from INR 499 to INR 1599 depending on the service) and usually completes a short survey about their tastes and preferences. There are a few boxes now that give out the opportunity to choose and customize the products in the box. After that, the subscriber gets a box of personally selected goodies automatically delivered right to their doorstep. While the MRP relies upon the brand, an extensive piece of the buyer interest of membership boxes originates from value price and comfort since the boxes give out the best-curated items in under their unique MRP.

It isn't only a blast for the clients, yet additionally for the brands. In this day and age of unlimited choices for everything, brands need to endeavor to slice through rack mess, be it physical space at their retail shop or snap and-mortar outlets like Amazon where a scan for "lipstick" returns a stunning 48,000 outcomes.

With the help of a subscription box, the brands come out of the clutter as well as the customers get acknowledged about the brands and their new launches. Also, they get to explore these options in a pocket-friendly way. Whether it be sensitive hair care, unique nail polish, the latest makeup, or the nicest skincare products, a monthly subscription box comes in perfectly handy for finding what beauty products work best for you. Beauty shopping never means spending a fortune, and also now say no to even the idea of waiting for shopping hauls. Start shopping now!

For many acne sufferers, the wide variety of treatments and medications can be confusing. With wrong information, it is easy to commit mistakes and aggravate acne condition. Here are some common acne and blackhead removal mistakes to avoid.

Not trying acne treatment long enough


Over cleaning the skin

 Aggravated scrubbing can only worsen acne because it removes the protective skin barrier and can lead to irritation. Use a pH balanced cleanser to clean the face gently. Washing the face more than twice can also strip the skin of its natural oil, making it drier and more susceptible to bacteria.

Trying too many products at once 

Trying too many products at once can irritate the skin, especially in products with strong chemicals. Keep your skin regimen clean and simple. Some products also counter act the effects of other treatments. Be sure to consult a dermatologist if you have any serious side effects or want to know more about how a product will affect your skin.

Choosing the wrong products

 Harsh cleansers and alcohol based products can worsen acne. People should choose products that do not clog the pores to prevent acne buildup.

 Popping and picking acne

 Picking on blemishes only prolong its healing process and increases the risk of scarring. Fingers can transfer bacteria to the wound and infect it. This only leads to more swelling. Wait for the pimple to dry out.

Waiting too long to see a dermatologist

 Contact a specialist if acne is starting to get out of hand and when treatments do not respond to the acne anymore. Clinics are more equipped to deal with persistent acne and can prescribe stronger medication.

Over-using or under-using medication

 Only use medication as instructed. People tend to over use the product in hopes of speeding up its effects, but this will typically just lead to dryness and redness. Some people tend to under use their products because they lose motivation after a few weeks without result. One secret to treating acne is consistency and patience.

Stopping the use of acne products once it clears up 

Once acne has subsided, use acne medication less and less rather than abruptly stopping its usage. To keep skin clear and blemish free, people usually have to continue to use one acne product that has been shown to work well for them.

Such an expression of grief that came from nowhere; one moment all the ladies were raving about how blessed the church was with so many pregnancies, the next all the attention was on my wife.

And all she said was, 'I'm avoiding those women, must be about 20 of them, simply because it's too much when we're trying and getting nowhere. Don't get me wrong, I'm very happy for them, but [tears beginning to well up in her eyes, a quiver arriving on her voice] the pain of seeing them have babies is too much for me.'

It was a moment in a church small group meeting where the mood changed. Joy shifted to sadness as compassion arrived to meet my wife where she was. There were no clichés, there was nobody fobbing her off, and nobody tried to offer a solution... just a moment's silence, as if all the women there knew exactly how my wife felt. It was a very sweet moment, even if it took a mighty amount of courage for my introverted wife to pipe up.

It was a risk of transformational guts that shook the meeting to a deeper, better, more truth-filled place.

Mother's Day that year was tough. It was horrible. We couldn't get away from all the joy of the event at church, but at least the church offered a remembrance for those who struggle on Mother's Day.

It hasn't been the only tough Mother's Day. Truth be told, probably more than half of our Mother's Days together have been tough.

It's because such a day is somehow supposed to be so perfect, and it never is.

It's because the day is resplendent with reminders of the various kinds of loss we've been exposed to.

It's because we know of so many within our reach of ministry who lament and cannot connect with this supposed sacred of maternal days.

Anyone reading this will quickly identify in themselves or in someone close to them the slivering shards of pain that quicken an unforgettable grief to the heart on an entirely forgettable day.

Mother's Day is unfortunately one of those days. It draws what pain might be there to the surface. Such days, therefore, are ideal opportunities to connect with people in their brokenness; particularly, in this case, women in many life circumstances, and men as well.

But will we go there with them? Will we look deeper than the apparent joy? Will we invite and welcome through the door of our heart a vitalising authenticity?

Of course, there are many retail winners on days many deem as forgettable. Sure, it's good for the economy. And my mother always did say that Mother's Day should be every day of the year, not just the second Sunday in May. Our mothers deserve more honour than being heralded as saints one day per year.

But it is to the women who bear an unforgettable grief on a forgettable day that this piece is written. Those who wish to be mothers who can't. Those who live in the middle ground of a hope yet to be realised. Those who lost babies, or sons or daughters far too early; a grief never forgotten. Those who have lost their mothers; the living connection to the person who sheltered their vulnerable self through the formative years and who connects them to their matchless humanity. Those, too, whose mothers let them down and never met them when they needed them most. Those who cannot be physically close to their mothers or their sons or daughters.

I am constantly inspired by the strength that I see in my wife to step forward, particularly in those many seasons of life where grief was stark. The same goes for many other women I've taken note of who have attempted to do the same thing.

To each person stung by an inescapable reality, my prayer is you'll be met by the God of your own creation.

Whether you wake up with nausea or cravings, a healthy breakfast is very important if you are pregnant. These easy-to-use and largely pre-cooked breakfast options are filled with essential nutrients to keep you healthy, support your baby's growth and start the day as best as possible. Pregnancy Breakfast ideas will lead you on the way of getting better nutrition.

Breakfast with salmon and cream
Smoked salmon is not a good choice for pregnant women because of the risk of listeriosis. But that's not a reason to miss omega-3 fatty acids in salmon. These healthy fats are important for the development of your brain! Choose a variety of baked fish and enjoy them with cream cheese in your favorite bagel. Look for mini-bagels that are actually much closer to the size of the good portion than the huge coffee variant. If you can find a variety of whole grains, you will receive another nutritional bonus for you and your baby.

Breakfast with apples
Are your morning's crazy? It's still not an excuse to skip breakfast, especially with this simple option. Prepare this oatmeal the day before and enjoy by preparing your meals or parking at your desk. Just mix 1/2 cup of oatmeal with 1/2 cup of milk in a mason jar, sprinkle with a tablespoon of chopped walnuts and rub in the middle of an apple. Shake and let stand overnight in the refrigerator, and ready: Breakfast is served!

Breakfast smoothie
How about a glass of super foods in the morning? This shake is full of vitamin C that comes from fruits and protein, calcium come from the yogurt. And you probably know how important it is to have enough folic acid in during the. So to properly arrange the requirement amount of folic acid you have to follow pregnancy breakfast ideas. Leafy vegetables such as spinach will serve the purpose. Chia seeds are an important plant source of omega-3s; the beneficial fatty acids that scientists believe are needed. To make this super-loaded smoothie, mix 1/2 cup almond milk, 1/2 cup yogurt, a kiwi, a handful of spinach and a tablespoon of chia seeds.

Egg, cheese breakfast
If you're having trouble getting enough vegetables during the day, try starting the day with a full serving. This burrito is also a source of protein. Eggs, beans, and cheese help you get the extra 25 grams of protein you need now. To prepare, sprinkle two scrambled eggs, two tablespoons boiled beans (canned), two tablespoons grated shredded cheese, such as cheddar cheese, and a medium-sized tomato cut into a tortilla. Season with salt and pepper and roll, fold up and down.

Breakfast with eggs and avocado
Start the day with a useful dose of chorine from eggs, a superstar nutrient for expectant moms. It helps to improve the function of your brain (so you will never forget breakfast again) and discusses the development of your baby's brain, especially during the last trimester. And your belly will thank you for the fiber of all toasts and avocados.

Boiled egg and avocado with toast
Start the day with a useful dose of choline from eggs, a superstar nutrient for expectant moms. Recent research shows: In the morning we can't get required nutrition, so get in the breakfast an egg yolk contains about a quarter of the hill you need each day. It helps to improve the function of your brain (so you will never forget breakfast again) and discusses the development of your baby's brain, especially during the last trimester. And your belly will thank you for the fiber of all toasts and avocados.

Weight Gain Breakfast for Mom

Motherhood is a gift and no one could ever take that gift away from you. Before the time of conception, you are being prepared to become the perfect mother to your beloved. Your entire being has been designed to become fit as a mom.

As soon as the baby is born, you would realize that you possess certain characteristics, talents, and abilities that you didn't know exist hadn't you become a mother. That is why there is no such thing as incompetent mom, there is however, someone who is just not willing to take on the responsibility.

Whether you have been a mom for a long time already or still about to embark the journey, know for a fact that there's so many things to love about motherhood. Here are some of the reasons why:

Unending support

Motherhood is not a walk in the park. There will be lots of challenges and roller coaster rides along the way - and this is normal. You would experience occasional bouts of intense emotions or perhaps experience tremendous stress during the first years due to lack of sleep and physical tiredness.

Despite of all the difficulties experience by a mother, it is actually the perfect time to see and know how much support you have around you. Your spouse would be the first one to be there for your needs (especially in the emotional aspect) & your immediate relatives like your own mother will be there to guide you every step of the way, teaching you what and what's not in raising a child.

This support you'll receive won't be at par with the support you experienced in the past, because the support shown to you will have a significant impact to your entire motherhood experience.

Sense of accomplishment

No one said that raising up a child is easy. In fact, there are no shortcuts to it. The complexities of motherhood will what makes it very challenging and exciting for every single mother out there. Once you break through from all the challenges you face, that will be the time you would begin to feel a deep sense of accomplishment for yourself.

A connection with your own child

An opportunity like this does not always come. Being a mother gives you opportunities to see and discover the world of your own flesh and blood and also lets you have a deeper sense of connection with them.

You get to embrace them with your own arms, play with them, talk with them anytime of the day, and even sleep beside them all through the night. Being able to get connected to your own child is a priceless gift that does not happen all the time.

Opportunities to watch them grow

Children don't stay where they are. They grow to become mature and independent. The opportunity to be able to watch them grow from being an infant down to becoming an adult is truly rewarding. It is even more amazing to think that you will be there in their most promising time to be their number 1 supporter.

As they grow, you begin to see what their interests are and see how those interests evolve to be their strengths and capabilities.

Bundle of Joy

Even in the most trying times, your child can be your ultimate joy and satisfaction. Children are a heritage, a reward, and a blessing to families. Most parents would agree that children can be your source of strength when times are tough, and joy when things go rough.

They will serve as your inspiration in everything you do. In the past all you did was for yourself, but now you get a sense of purpose in everything you do- and all of them for your children. As a parent, you would always want their best interest in mind. And while you busy yourself raising up your child, you will also feel the joy of being their mother.

Motherhood is both hard work and joy. They go hand in hand and that makes it very rewarding. Motherhood may not be for everyone, but to those who have been honed by it, they would be more than willing to share to everyone their experience of motherhood bit by bit.

I am George Patt, passionate writer, photographer, traveler and technology addicted. Proud dad of three awesome boys.

There is no question that cold cereals revolutionized the American breakfast table. No longer did mom have to cook hot cereal, eggs or meat, and kids could independently prepare something for themselves before heading off to school. At the turn of the twentieth century, the creation of cold cereal basically began with two enterprising men who saw the possibilities and took a gamble. And breakfast has never been the same.

In the late 1890s, a rather eccentric man named John Harvey Kellogg, ran a health sanitarium in Battle Creek, Michigan, and had created a bland, tasteless food for his patients with digestive issues. A few years later, his brother Will decided to mass-market the new food at his new company, Battle Creek Toasted Corn Flake Company, adding a bit of sugar to the flakes recipe making it more palatable for the masses, and a star was born.

Around the same time, C. W. Post, who had been a patient at Kellogg's sanitarium, introduced an alternative to coffee called Postum, followed by Grape-Nuts (which have nothing to do with either grapes or nuts) and his version of Kellogg's corn flakes, naming them Post Toasties, and America's breakfasts were never the same.

Both men could thank an enterprising gentleman by the name of Sylvester Graham, who forty years earlier had experimented with graham flour, marketing it to aid "digestive problems." He created a breakfast cereal that was dried and broken into shapes so hard they needed to be soaked in milk overnight, which he called granula (the father of granola and graham crackers).

Capitalizing on that original idea, in 1898 the National Biscuit Company (Nabisco) began producing graham crackers based on the experiments of Sylvester Graham, first promoting them as a "digestive" cracker for people with stomach problems; (Seems a lot of people had digestive problems even back then.)

Fast forward and other companies were sitting up and taking notice. The Quaker Oats Company, acquired a method which forced rice grains to explode and began marketing Puffed Rice and Puffed Wheat, calling them a marvel of food science which was "the first food shot from guns" (oh boy, would they come under fire for that one today, no pun intended);

1920s Wheaties was introduced and cleverly targeted athletes as they proclaimed to be the "Breakfast of Champions;"

The 1930s saw The Ralston Purina company introduce an early version of Wheat Chex, calling it Shredded Ralston (sounds a little painful);

Soon Cheerios appeared and would become the best-selling cereal in America, worth about $1 billion in sales in 2015.

No one can dispute the convenience and versatility of dry packaged cereal. In the last fifty years, this multi-billion dollar industry has spun off multiple uses, unlimited possibilities and targeted kids with clever packaging, outrageous names, flavors, colors and choices (all loaded with sugar of course). What could be more American than corn flakes?

Hairstyling has become one of the most important things when it comes to beauty. Women love to do different experiments by making unique hairstyles even on a daily basis. It seems uneconomical to go to a hairstylist every day so, it is preferred to achieve your new hair look by having styling tools like a straightener, curling rods, perming iron, and a blow dryer. It seems ridiculous to spend a handsome amount of money on something that doesn't fit your needs. There are certain things that you need to consider before purchasing high-quality tools:
1. The Texture of Your Hair
We all are blessed with different types of hair. Some of us possess silky and smooth hair whereas, many of us have dry and frizzy hair. It is crucially important to know the exact texture of your hair before purchasing any hairstyling device. For example, titanium iron is best suitable for frizzy hair.
2. Size of a Tool
Basically, there are three sizes of hairstyling tools available i.e. small, medium, and large. It is necessary to select a perfect size for your hair. Usually, small sizes are appropriate for thin hair whereas, medium and large styling tools are feasible for thick and long hair.
3. Features of a Tool
Spending a bunch of rupees on a basic tool is nothing but a waste of money. It seems insane to use an expensive straightener that doesn't give you an option of changing the temperature. One should select a tool which is worth the money spend on it. Twin Fusion is an excellent device which provides you with multiple options like straightening as well as curling.
4. Material Used in a Tool
The material used in any device or a tool is of great importance. Materials used in the plates have a great impact on your hairstyle as well as hair health. Considering the plate's material before purchasing an instrument is the necessary thing to do. Generally, the following materials are used in the manufacturing of styling devices:
• Ceramic
Ceramic hair tools come in different structures and composition. Pure ceramic plates and ceramic coated plates are two opposite things. Pure ceramic tools have plates made from 100% pure ceramic which has an excellent heat retaining properties. It takes a few seconds to heat them up. Whereas, ceramic coated plates have metal underneath the ceramic coating.
• Titanium
Titanium hair tools are far better than ceramic made tools as they are more heat absorbent and more durable.
• Silicon & Teflon
Silicon and Teflon are also being used in hairstyling tools but can flake off the iron.
• Tourmaline
It is a crystal silicate mineral that helps you to achieve a shiny and bouncy hair look.

1. Do not use a lip pencil that contrasts with your lipstick; it has been unfashionable since the ’80s. Not only does it almost always looks severe, but it also gives a contrived appearance to the mouth area.
2. Do not wear lipstick that is a different color tone from the rest of your makeup. For example, if you are wearing a rose-toned blush, wear a rose-toned lipstick.
3. Do not use lip gloss in place of lipstick during the day; it can bleed and won’t last as long as lipstick.
4. Do not exaggerate or change the shape of your mouth with your lip pencil or lipstick; it will look like you missed your mouth.
5. If you want your lipstick to last, wear more of it and don’t blot it; blotting takes off several layers before you’ve even left the house.

Touching Up 

As the day goes by, even the best-applied makeup can slip, fade, and get phone- or fingerprinted. Long days call for a few quick touch-ups to revive beautifully applied makeup. Following the steps below, in order, will revive the look you started with.
• If you have oily skin, blot away the excess oil by laying either a tissue or oil-blotting paper on it. Perm endpapers also work well. Do this before reapplying any makeup.
• Remove all of your lipstick so you can start over after you have touched up your face makeup. Apply a light layer of lip balm if your lips feel dry.
• Once the excess oil on your skin has been absorbed, take a fresh sponge and smooth out the foundation, blush, and contour (women with dry and normal skin should also follow this step). Use a gentle, buffing motion, making sure to smooth things as you go.
• Apply a little extra concealer under the eyes if that area looks a bit dark or if the concealer has faded.
• If you need a little more foundation over blemishes or discolorations, blend it on now, avoiding the blush and contour area.
• Dust a light layer of pressed powder over the face. A pressed powder with sunscreen that includes the UVA-protecting ingredients of avobenzone, titanium dioxide, or zinc oxide is an excellent option to ensure all-day sun protection.
• Apply more blush or contour if needed, but only if needed, and be careful; color “grabs” more over makeup that has been on the face awhile.
• If you want to touch up your eyeliner, particularly under the eyes where it might have smeared, use a powder shadow instead of a pencil. Use the corner or side of your makeup sponge to remove any smeared eyeliner.
• If your eyeshadows have creased, blot the area gently with a tissue or blotting paper and then use a brush to smooth out the color. Apply a powder over the area to even out the shadows and add whatever color is needed to make the eye makeup look balanced.
• Finally, reapply your lipstick and lip liner.

Many women experience musculoskeletal problems during their pregnancy. It is common for them to have lower back pain, discomfort in the pelvic girdle and/or neck and upper back pain. This occurs as pregnancy progresses due to the increasing weight and size of the baby internally and subsequent postural changes the expectant mother undergoes. This article will discuss musculoskeletal conditions that occur during pregnancy and a potential palliative care. A specific case study by the author will also be presented as an example that the reader may find useful and helpful.

A recent research study published in BMJ Open, August 2017 noted that musculoskeletal pain is a common cause of sick leave during pregnancy. An electronic survey of 6686 new mothers from 12 European countries revealed that 8% took sick leave during their pregnancy because of pain in their neck, back or pelvic girdle. These findings reveal the need for musculoskeletal care during pregnancy to help reduce pain and sick leave.

When I first started in chiropractic practice 33 years ago I treated a patient named Donna. Donna had a desk job and found monthly chiropractic adjustments kept her free from neck and lower back pain. She became pregnant with her second child and we continued to give her regular treatments. After having the baby I asked her how the delivery went. She said: "I wish I had known about chiropractic adjustments when I had my first child." She related that her second pregnancy had been much easier and the delivery was more comfortable and took less time than her first child. She noted during her first pregnancy she had not had chiropractic care and, while there were no complications, it hadn't been easy.

Over the years I've seen many similar results. Pregnant women who receive chiropractic care have more comfortable pregnancies and easier, faster delivery times. Chiropractic research verifies these facts.

There are chiropractic postgraduate classes focused on treating pregnant women utilizing the Webster Technique. Training during the study of the Webster Technique emphasizes the anatomical study of the bones, joints, muscles and nerves of the body. Additionally, there is education regarding the physiology of pregnancy and the effects on women and the developing fetus. The Webster Technique also teaches gentle manipulative procedures that chiropractors use to keep the pelvis and lower spine of pregnant women in good alignment. This method is an alternative safe, gentle, drug-free way of assisting women during pregnancy

 
 
Congratulations on your healthier new lifestyle! Plenty of things will change, including your diet. But don't worry, nobody said that you can't have your sugar fix when you crave for it! Although you have to be more careful with the ingredients of your desserts, it doesn't mean that the delicious taste will be compromised!

Try these 3 guilt-free desserts that are incredibly mouth-watering:

Apple Extravaganza

What you need:

    2 apples, sliced into skinny wedges
    1 lemon, juiced
    2 tablespoons chocolate chips, divided
    2 tablespoons chopped pecans
    1 tablespoon peanut butter
    4 teaspoons coconut oil, divided
    1 teaspoon finely shredded coconut

Mix together 1 tablespoon chocolate chips and 2 teaspoons coconut oil in a microwave-safe bowl and heat in the microwave until melted. In a separate bowl, combine peanut butter and remaining coconut oil and heat in the microwave until melted. Arrange apple wedges on a plate and sprinkle with lemon juice. Pour chocolate mixture followed by peanut butter mixture. Top with remaining chocolate chips, pecans and coconut.

Gluten-Free Choco Avocado Brownies

What you need:

    2 large avocados
    3 eggs
    1 cup coconut sugar
    1/2 cup cocoa powder
    1/2 cup chocolate chips
    1/2 cup brown rice flour
    1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Scoop out the flesh of the 2 avocados and place in a food processor. Add the coconut sugar and cocoa powder to the blender and blend until smooth. Add the eggs, brown rice flour and baking soda and continue processing just until eggs are well-combined with the mixture. Carefully fold in chocolate chips. Pour the batter in a greased 8x8 inches brownie pan. Bake in a pre-heated oven (350F) for 15 minutes. Allow to cool completely before slicing and serving.

Dark Chocolate Chewy Cookies

What you need:

    2 eggs
    10 pcs. dried dates, boiled
    2 cups almond butter
    1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
    2 tablespoons water
    2 teaspoons vanilla extract
    1/2 teaspoons baking powder
    1/4 teaspoon sea salt

Combine softened dates, water and sea salt in a food processor and pulse until coarsely ground. Add almond butter, vanilla extract and baking powder to the food processor and blend until smooth. Stir in (by hand) the chocolate chips. Form mixture into balls and arrange on greased baking sheets. Bake in a pre-heated oven (350F) for 8 to 10 minutes. Allow to cool for several minutes in a cooling rack before serving.

Satisfy your sweet tooth without feeling guilty - try these delicious guilt-free desserts!

We have a new question that gets asked of us more and more these days. It's how to go about making the strongest Kava possible. Well, lucky for you, there are many ways to make your Kava as strong as possible!

First, anyone who has experience with Kava knows that Kava drinks are usually made with water or coconut water. Fruit juices are often added, but mainly, Kava drinks are made from water.

The trouble is, is that Kavalacatones, the active ingredients in Kava responsible for the pleasurable effects, really like to be extracted into fats. Fats include liquids we all know well, such as milk, soy milk, coconut milk, and many others. Oils are also fatty, but who wants to make a drink out of olive oil? Not me!

The other problem is that fats and oils do not get along together. If you have ever had balsamic vinaigrette salad dressing, you know that you have to shake the oil and vinegar to get them to blend. And even then, it only blends long enough to get onto your salad! So, let's do a little bit of math:

Kavalactones account for just 10% of the total Kava root powder material. Doesn't that mean we could use a 10% fat solution for our drink to get that 10% of Kavalactones? Well, unfortunately, it doesn't work exactly like that. Things like soy milk are already water-based, and have plenty of water in them. So, if we wanted the strongest possible drink without any extra additives, we could simply use 100% milk, soy milk, or almond milk as these are already blended with plenty of water, instead of just water.

Kava Additives

But there are more than a few natural products that act as emulsifiers. What's an emulsifier you say? Glad you asked! Emulsifiers help bridge the gap between water and oils (or fats). Emulsifiers allow water and fats or oil to play nice together, and stay blended in your drink. So, if your salad dressing had an emulsifier added to it (many do), you would never have to shake your dressing!

Knowing that, what might be typical emulsifiers for Kava? Having water and fats play nice together does indeed make for stronger Kava drinks. One very common emulsifier is coconut milk and another is soy lecithin. These are used quite often as a way to give your Kava that extra "kick". Both are safe, and vegan as well. So, they're popular choices. There is another product available online called Kava Blender. This is an organic rice-based product that does a very similar job to soy lecithin, but as a powder instead of a thick, gooey substance or in granule form. I really like it and prefer that over soy lecithin at the moment.

Heating Your Kava

I also get asked whether or not Kava can be heated up. Even though the breakdown point for Kavalactones is only 140 degrees Fahrenheit, we have made plenty of Kava tea, Kava brownies, and a stack of other Kava-related items that still had plenty of kick to them. So, although Kava isn't approved as a food ingredient, there are many reports online of people making treats out of Kava and enjoying a Kava brownie alongside that Kava drink. And, from personal experience I can say that this is an effective way of having a stronger Kava experience without actually making strong Kava.

Drink More Kava

Let's now look at the more obvious ways of making strong Kava. One of the easiest ways is to simply drink more of it! I know the focus of this article is making strong Kava, but the beautiful thing about Kava is that there is no immediate tolerance to it as you're drinking it. This makes it possible to enjoy several shells over the course of a few hours. In social situations, my friends and I will enjoy several cups ("shells") of Kava over the course of a few hours.

It doesn't matter how strong you make your Kava, the effects only last about an hour or so when taking single servings of Kava. But, when you start to consume more than just one shell an hour; say 2 shells per hour, some very relaxing and pleasurable effects start to take hold. And that is when things can get very interesting.

Another simple way to increase the effectiveness of your Kava is to simply add stronger Kava into the drink you're making. This is most easily accomplished by using items such as Kava Tincture Plus or Kavalactone Paste 55%. These items are both emulsified, and will blend easily with any Kava extraction that you're working on. If you're looking for a bigger initial "kick" then these simple additives are the perfect solution to making strong Kava drinks.

And, just like anything else, both responsibility and moderation is the key to having a safe and fun time with Kava. It's completely legal throughout the world for personal use (except Germany as of this writing), but can have effects that could make it more difficult to drive. So, if you plan on making strong Kava, please make sure you're in a safe place such as a Kava bar or your own home, and get familiar with the effects before venturing out into the world.

In Summary

So, what have we learned about making strong Kava drinks today? That it is indeed possible, and fun at the same time! You can extract into something that already has natural fats in it such as soy milk, almond milk, or even cow's milk. That will make a stronger Kava drink than if you had extracted into only water.

There are also additives that can be quite effective, and are only needed in small amounts. Next, there's always simply drinking more Kava! It's not technically making stronger Kava, but it definitely is concentrating your Kava inside your body.