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Monday, March 17, 2008

The beauty of Handbags

Handbags made with leather each have their own individual characteristics, as no two pieces of leather are alike. There are many different kinds of leather purses as well. Some designers prefer to use lambskin leather for its very soft, and supple feel and excellent look, whereas others may choose to work with cowhide or pigskin leather which possess tougher, more durable properties. As awful as pigskin may sound, it actually makes for a very soft and nice looking leather.

When shopping for a leather bag you don't necessarily think about what kind of leather it is, just as long as it's leather. Whatever type of leather the handbag is made with, you know you are getting quality material. For this very reason, leather purses usually cost more than any other material, but just remember that it's also going to last longer than any other handbag.

Leather purses can range in price from very reasonable to very expensive. It all depends on the handbag designer and the quality of the leather. Remember though, that when you purchase a leather bag it's going to last you a long time. So the extra dollars is well worth it!

Dry Eyes And Contacts

If you have dry eyes, contact lenses may be a nightmare. With healthy eyes, a very thin layer of tears will always form under the contact lens. When this layer starts to dry out however, the lens will begin to feel dry. Dry eyes from contact can be very irritating, uncomfortable, and lead you to try to squinch or rub your eyes to seek relief.

Even though contact lenses are indeed a cause of dry eyes, there are other causes as well, one of which being your natural ability to produce tears. Some people will produce less tears than others, which can indeed be a problem when wearing contact lenses. As you get older, the tears that you are able to produce will begin to decrease.

The environment is another cause. If you work in a factory or area that is over heated, or exposed to dust or smoke, your eyes will start to dry out. The more your eyes are exposed to these types of situations, the more dry they will become. After a few hours, you may find yourself having to remove your contacts due to the dryness becoming so irritating.

There are however, some types of contact lenses that can contribute to dryness as well. A majority of contact lenses are made of water and polymers, most being more than 50% water. Even though the contact is moist and may feel comfortable in your eye, the water will start to evaporate from the contact lens as you wear it. When this happens, the contact will draw moisture from the tears in your eyes, which results in dryness. If the contact lens contains a lot of water, then it is almost guaranteed to lose moisture throughout the day.

With dryness being a common problem for most people who wear contact lenses, manufacturers are always working to create contacts that will remain comfortable throughout the day. Dry eyes are the most common reason for irritation, and the main reason as to why people decide to give up contacts and just go with glasses to correct their vision.

Out of all the different contacts on the market, Acuvue Oasys are among the most popular. Although they are relatively new, they are specifically made for those who work or live in dry environments. These contacts contain a special agent for re-wetting purposes, which enables the contact lens to remain moist, even if your eyes aren’t producing enough tears. They are daily wear contacts, and should be soaked in solution at night and replaced every two weeks or so.

Even though there are other contact lenses out there that are great for dry eyes, Acuvue are considered to be the best brand. No matter which type of contact lens you wear, you should always take care of them. You should always clean them once removed, and soak them in solution at night. This way, you’ll remove the protein build up and ensure that you are putting clean contact lenses back into your eyes.

Even though dry eyes are very common, you can always help to rectify the situation by using right pair of contacts. You can also get re-wetting or saline drops as well, to put in your eyes when they start to feel dry. These drops are the preferred way of dealing with dry and irritable eyes, as they help to produce enough moisture for comfort. You can buy re-wetting or saline drops at most department stores - and they cost a little of nothing.

Sunday, March 16, 2008

How Love Can Make You More Beautiful

Ever heard of the saying “love makes the world go round”? It may be true, but do you believe that love makes a person more beautiful?

Ask any beauty icon about her beauty secret and she will tell you that how a woman feels inside shows outside. In truth, a person who feels loved and in love will have a different aura. They refer to this as a “gleam in one’s eye or a glow in one’s cheeks”, and is something that improves a person‘s appearance.

It is not necessary for a person to feel the “man and woman” type of love to be beautiful: it can be filial love or love for anything. What is important is that you have a powerful feeling that transforms heaven and earth and a person’s sense of well-being.

Imagine how you would look if you possess the knowledge that no one cares for you or loves you: this depressed feeling can make you want to frown and look depressed and/or angry.

On the contrary, a person who feels that he is loved by his family, his friends or by a special someone, will have a face that speaks of serenity, peace and happiness.

The glow of love does not only create a glow in one’s heart but it also creates a glow in one’s face and reflects how a person views the world around him. A lighter feeling inside can result in a lighter face and a happy disposition that will improve one’s appearance.

Haven’t you noticed that almost all women look their prettiest on their wedding day? Despite the pressure and the hustle and bustle of wedding preparations, a woman will still look beautiful on her wedding day. They call it the glow of love.

It may be the rush of adrenalin that gives people who are in love a special glow that makes their eyes sparkle, or their smiles brighter. It is often referred to as an inner beauty that is reflected in one’s appearance.

A person who feels loved or who is in love will have more self esteem than an ordinary person. This self esteem can give a person a beautiful glow that exudes more confident when facing others and in doing his daily tasks.

A person who exerts a great deal of effort to do the most mundane tasks will probably become happier doing those tasks when he is in love. Consequently work is accomplished more easily.

While beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, true beauty is in the eyes of a person in love.

Friday, March 14, 2008

Exercise And Your Complexion

As we all know and hear all the time, exercise can do a body good. It can help you to stay trim, tone muscles, and help to boost energy as well. What you probably don't know, is the fact that exercise can actually help to achieve the complexion that you've always wanted.

It's true that regular exercise will nourish the skin all over the body with fresh blood, oxygen, and nutrients. As well, the increased blood flow and circulation that come with working out will help to draw toxins out of the body and improve the condition of all your vital organs, including the epidermis.

A lot of people think that sweat can trigger acne flare ups. The fact is, sweating is great for any type of congested skin, as it helps promote the flushing of impurities from the epidermal layer and will clean out the pores. As well, vigorous exercise can actually correct the hormonal imbalances that can trigger blemishes, therefore reducing the likelihood of outbreaks.

Any physical routine that you like to do, such as yoga, running, biking, spinning, pilates, boxing, and such, will help to lessen the stress that you encounter on a daily basis and help to prevent stress related acne.

Keep in mind that exercise may not be a miracle cure for everything, as you may still experience breakouts from time to time although your acne will certainly be less severe and last for a much shorter time frame.

Exercise is also great for other skin conditions that may or may not have to do with the presence of acne. Your skin losing its elasticity or becoming thin and less resilient is something that we all encounter. This is a common problem for may of us as we get older.

As we all get older, we start to lose collagen, which will make us look tired. As many of us don't know, physical activity can actually help to promote the growth of collagen in your skin cells, which will plump up your facial skin and make you look younger and more vibrant.

If you are worried about wrinkles, you should consider relaxation that comes after you exercise. This has the effect of making your muscles, facial muscles included, soften up. What this means, is that your lines will appear less pronounced, helping to contribute to the youthful look that you are trying to achieve.

With exercise you can achieve a smaller waist, better muscle tone, softer skin, fewer blemishes, and an overall younger, fresher look. If you've wanted to add or change your complexion, you shouldn't hesitate to exercise. Exercise will help you feel more alive as well as improve your body. All you need to do is take a little bit of time out of your schedule to exercise - it's as simple as that.

You Really Are What You Eat

Recent dietary research has uncovered 14 different nutrient-dense foods that time and again promote good overall health. Coined “superfoods,” they tend to have fewer calories, higher levels of vitamins and minerals, and many disease-fighting antioxidants.

Beans (legumes), berries (especially blueberries), broccoli, green tea, nuts (especially walnuts), oranges, pumpkin, salmon. soy, spinach, tomatoes, turkey, whole grains and oats, and yogurt can all help stop and even reverse diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and some forms of cancer. And where one might have an effect on a certain part of the body, it can also affect the health of other body functions and performance, since the whole body is connected. With these 14 foods as the base of a balanced, solid diet, weight loss gimmicks and other fly-by-night programs can become a thing of the past in your life.

Conversely, the ill-effects of an unbalanced diet are several and varied. Low energy levels, mood swings, tired all the time, weight change, uncomfortable with body are just a few signs that your diet is unbalanced. An unbalanced diet can cause problems with maintenance of body tissues, growth and development, brain and nervous system function, as well as problems with bone and muscle systems.

Symptoms of malnutrition include lack of energy, irritability, a weakened immune system leading to frequent colds or allergies, and mineral depletion that can trigger a variety of health concerns including anemia.

And since the body is connected, realizing that an unhealthy body will result in an unhealthy spirit only makes sense. When we nourish our body with these superfoods and complement them with other nutrient-dense and healthy fresh foods, our spirit will be vitalized and healthy as a direct result.

Many modern diets based on prepackaged convenience foods are sorely lacking in many vitamins and minerals, which can affect our mental capacities as well, and cause irritability, confusion, and the feeling of ‘being in a fog’ all the time.

Superfoods can be the basis of a sound, healthy, nutritious solution to curing many of these ailments and more.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Caring For Your Contacts

It's no secret that contact lenses are the best alternative to glasses. They are easy to use, although they must be taken care of. There are several ways that you can take care of your contact lenses, which will ensure that they stay healthy and remain comfortable when you wear them.

Before you put your contacts in, the first thing to do is wash your hands with soap and warm water. You should also make sure that you dry your hands thoroughly with a clean towel, as soap residue or chemicals may get on the contacts, causing them to be very uncomfortable and possibly even burning your eyes when you put them in.

If you can’t seem to get your contacts to go in your eyes, you shouldn’t force them. Instead, you should put some solution in the palm of your hand, and gently rub the contact in the solution. Then, before you put it back in your eyes, you should put some solution on it and it should go in your eye without any complications.

Anytime you are not wearing your contact lenses, you should always soak them in fresh solution. This is especially important overnight, as the solution gets the protein out of your contacts. If you don’t soak them in solution, they can end up causing damage to your eyes.

If you experience any type of burning with your contacts after soaking them in solution, you should try another solution. Depending on your eyes, some types of solutions may leave you with a burning sensation. This is very common, although switching to a different contact lens solution will more than likely stop the burning or irritation.

Throughout the day, you may need to use re-wetting drops or saline solution to keep moisture in your eyes. Sometimes, contacts can dry your eyes out, and make them feel very uncomfortable. When you put some drops or saline in them though, the dryness will normally subside. You should always keep some re-wetting drops or saline with you at times, just in case your eyes start to dry out.

If you are new to contact lenses, you should ask your optician or staff any questions that come to mind. Normally, after you have been fitted for contact lenses, the optician and his staff will show you how to put your contacts in, how to care for them, and anything else you need to know about them.

Taking care of your contact isn’t hard to do. As long as you take care of them, they will take care of you. You should always change them out with a fresh pair as recommended, to prevent any type of damage to your eyes. Contact lenses are a great alternative to glasses - although they need to be cared for in the proper ways.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Beauty Tips from the Experts

You do not need to have a perfect feature or a waif-like figure to be beautiful.

Every person is unique in their own way and this uniqueness is what makes a person beautiful.

Remember to enhance what you already have. If you have a high nose or a good jaw line or high cheek bones, you can use these features and put some effort in enhancing your good points.

By using the following tips from beauty experts you can look good and feel beautiful:

1. Take care of your skin.

Having a good skin, no matter what your complexion, will be your basic investment for looking good. Whether your skin is fair, brown or dark, - as long as it is glowing and radiant, you will achieve an overall healthy look.

Here are some ways to attain that healthy looking skin:

- If you are eating a great amount of junk food, your skin will look dull, dry and unhealthy. Eat foods enriched with vitamins that are beneficial for the skin so that you can achieve an inner glow.

- Get enough sleep to avoid those unsightly bags under your eyes.

- Hydrate your skin by drinking a lot of water.

- Use a good exfoliating product on your skin regularly. Having a regular regimen will help keep your skin healthy. Make sure that the products you use are applicable to your skin type.

2. Keep the skin on your face blemish-free.

If there is a blemish on your face, a quick fix is to use Visine; soak a cotton ball in it and hold it on the affected area to eliminate any redness. Then, use a single drop of Preparation H to remove the blemish.

To make wrinkles to disappear, apply a highlighter directly onto the crease after you use foundation over your entire face; then blend and set with face powder.

3. Use makeup to your advantage to highlight your features, especially your eyes.


For those “not-so-good” days where there are dark circles under your eyes, use an orange concealer mixed with foundation. Apply this under your eyes then apply foundation as usual. Use an eye shadow to highlight your eyelids but avoid using purple and blue colors.

Use a small amount of foundation to lighten your eyebrows then use small makeup brush to comb it through the brows.

Use lip colors that can enhance the brightness of your teeth.

By following these beauty tips from professionals, you can accentuate the best of your facial features that allow you to look good on the outside and feel better on the inside.

How to make use of natural products to enhance your looks

Man's tendency to become obsessed with being beautiful and how to be beautiful has not faded throughout time. Man's vanity continues to increase as man becomes more attached to technology and modern life.

While there are different concepts of beauty among those who lived during the middle ages and those who are living in the 21st century, this yearning to capture beauty has remained unchanged.

The only difference in this yearning is that today, there are a thousand and one ways available for man to become beautiful. Liposuction, nose lift, bust enhancement, lip and eyebrow tattoos, modern make up: name it, and modern man has it at his fingertips.

The use of modern-day methods to enhance one's appearance has caused more trouble for man. Cosmetic surgeries and other beauty enhancers do not come cheap so one must have unlimited resources to finance the vanity. Despite man's preference for the unnatural beauty methods, there is always an option available to use natural beauty enhancers.

A beauty secret that occurs in nature and is practically free, except perhaps for the monthly bill, is water. Water has been recommended by movie stars and glamour experts all over the world as a natural way of keeping the skin smooth and beautiful. Drinking plenty of water will rid the body of harmful toxins that can cause disease and physical imperfections such as acne.

Another product that is absolutely free and is there for the taking is sleep. Lack of sleep makes a person irritable and ugly inside and out. Improper sleeping habits can cause the skin to become dry and break out. Lack of sleep can cause dark circles under the eyes which will make anyone look tired as well as older. Experts recommend eight hours of sleep during the night to rejuvenate the body.

The use of moisturizers can make the skin younger looking and give it a glowing appearance. There is no need to buy expensive moisturizers in order to avail yourself of this beauty enhancer. The trick is to use the power of fruits and other natural products to make your own cream, face mask, cleanser and other beauty enhancers. These are called home remedies and you can make them right in your own kitchen.

Peel a cucumber, slice it and place it in the refrigerator for a few minutes. By placing the cold cucumber slices on your closed eyes you will relax the eyes and lessen any dark circles around them.

Did you know that oatmeal with honey can be used to exfoliate your body? Applying honey to your face and leaving it until it dries makes facial skin smooth and moisturized.

Using natural products to enhance your beauty is not only cost effective, but it is also safe.

Monday, March 10, 2008

Spotting Counterfeit Designer Handbags

You may try to save a few bucks by buying a designer handbag replica, but there are several reasons why it makes sense to buy the real thing:

1. Although replicas may look like the real thing, the workmanship and quality can't be compared to the original.

2. Counterfeiters avoid paying taxes since their businesses are generally operated on a cash basis. Citizens like you and I still have to pay.

3. The sale of counterfeit designer goods has been linked to terrorist and gang activity as well as organized crime. Drugs are often smuggled inside counterfeit handbags.


Spotting a Fake
There was a time when it was easy to spot a fake: misspelled logos, cheap leather and shoddy hardware. Now, fakes are starting to look rather good and it’s hard to tell the difference. Here's how to tell what’s real and what’s not:

1. Authentic handbags are purchased from authorized registered dealers. Authentic designer handbags are not sold by street vendors, at home parties, at flea markets, in New York's Chinatown, in Los Angeles' Santee Alley, or at mall kiosks.

2. If you’re considering a Coach handbag, the company’s website provides a list of authorized dealers. Both Coach and Kate Spade give detailed information on spotting replicas of their products.

3. The price. A new Prada handbag will not sell for $50.

4. Country of Origin Labels. The country of origin for Fendi handbags is Italy. If the handbag has a label that says “Made in Taiwan”, it is not the real thing.


Buying Designer Handbags Online
If you're shopping online and find a designer handbag at a price that’s hard to pass up, there’s a way to tell if you're getting an authentic product:

Read the product description carefully. Some online merchants will lure you into their sites by describing their products as original, authentic or genuine. After reading descriptions, you may find such phrases as “inspired by” a particular designer. This product isn’t authentic and the phrase is used to protect the merchant from trademark infringement.


Want to know for sure it’s real?
Buy designer goods from authorized registered dealers only. That’s the only way to be sure that you are purchasing an authentic designer product.

Which Handbag?

Having the right handbag can be the most important part of your outfit. Not only should you have the most stylish bag around, but the type of handbag should be appropriately matched with the style you are sporting. Here are some of the simple things to remember when you are grabbing one of your designer handbags before you run out of the door.

The most important thing to consider when matching a bag to your outfit is size. A large bag is very casual and should only be worn so. One piece of clothing should be loose to compliment the size of the bag. A loose top or a skirt really help the bag flow with what you are wearing. Small bags with a shoulder strap are great to be matched with a sun dress or jeans with a snug top. This type of purse is the easiest to wear and is usually moderately priced by most designers. Large bags get expensive very easily, so don't blow money on a lot of large bags. A clutch is a very versatile purse especially if it is black. Clutches can be matched with anything from a dress to an evening gown. Very dressy handbags will usually have sequins on them and they should only be matched with upscale evening wear.

Great brands to invest in are the top designers that have been around for a while. They usually have a classic line that stays in style for many years. Classic designs by Gucci and Louis Vuitton usually compliment a variety of outfits and you will get your money's worth out of them. You can update classic styled handbags with flower pins or simply tie a scarf onto the strap. A good way to find out what the latest trends are is to shop around and see what designers are adding to their most recent bags.

Friday, March 7, 2008

Secret To Getting Handbags To Resell

If your looking for Coach, Prada, Gucci, or Dooney Bourke handbags to resell on ebay or overstock.com you may have a hard time finding a distributor. Ebay power sellers have this knowledge but they will be hard pressed to share this information with you. But, I am going to share their secrets with you. There are three techniques to finding a reputable wholesale distributor of handbags.

First, and this maybe one of the harder techniques discussed. Develop a relationship with a brick and mortar store that's selling the brand handbag you want to sell and if they don't have a presence on ebay, offer to bring their business to ebay for a share of the profit. This can become a win-win situation for both of you. One, you will have gotten an unlimited supply of authentic handbags to sell on ebay and for your supplier, you have just increased their business. Offer yourself as the expert of ebay. You will create the website templates and maintain the ebay site. Now you will have to work out the details as to shipping. I suspect your distributor would want to handle the shipping and that's great for you. No stock!!! Just collect the money and send the order to your distributor for shipping.

Second, find a middleman. There are actually middlemen out there that will find you the product you are looking for if you have the right price. Now most of these middlemen will want you to buy in bulk. In bulk means minimum of 100 units or up at a time. But the more units you can purchase the better prices you can negotiate. Now don't expect to get handbags that are up to date. Te bags are authentic but these handbags usually come from the past season, over production, or close out items. Don't get discouraged with that. These bags still sell like hot cakes on ebay and overstock auctions. Middlemen can be found on the Internet. But be careful. Always look for authentic handbags. If the middleman does not have authentic handbags they usually omit authentic from their sales Internet pages. Do your research on these middlemen. Check their about me pages and their guarantee.

Last but not least, go directly to the wholesale source. Go over to Italy, New York, France and purchase the closeout items yourself and hire a shipping company that specializes in shipping overseas and dealing with US customs. This is where you will get the best discounts. But you will need to fork over an large sum of money. But you will most likely make 2 times the amount paid once you get this merchandise back to market.

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Getting Comfort With Your Contact Lenses

If you don’t take care of your contact lenses, they can do you more harm than good. Contact lenses are a very popular alternative to corrective vision, and they can really help your eyes if you take care of them. There are ways that you can get the most from your contacts, and ensure that they remain comfortable for as long as you wear them. Below, you will find some tips on how to get the best from your contacts.

To ensure that your contacts remain healthy, you should always replace them as required by the manufacturer or type of contacts you are using. Most types of contacts need to be replaced every 2 weeks with a fresh pair. If you are using daily disposable lenses, you should always throw them away before you go to sleep, then wake up to a fresh new pair in the morning.

Another common mistake people make, that can easily damage or affect contacts, is swapping them with other people. You should never swap your contacts, even with a family member or friend. No matter how well you know the person, you should never switch contacts with them. Swapping contacts can damage your eyes, in the terms of protein and contact shape/power.

Anytime your eyes start to bother you, you should take your contacts out and allow your eyes to rest. Normally, if your contacts are causing irritation, allowing your eyes ample time to rest will correct the problem. If it happens to be more than just tired eyes or irritation, you should leave your contacts out until you can schedule an appointment with your optician and get them checked.

Before you handle your contacts, or put them into your eyes, you should always wash your hands with soap and water, and dry them thoroughly. If you handle your contacts with dirty hands, you could easily get dirt or debris on your lenses and transfer the dirt that you've put on the lens into your eye - which could result in an eye infection. If your hands aren’t clean, you can also scratch or tear your contact lens, which can do damage to your eyes, possibly even scratch the cornea.

When you handle your solution, you should avoid letting the tip of the bottle touch any surface. You should also make sure that you read the label on the solution bottles, as there are some types of saline solution that are intended to be used with certain contacts. Some types of solution aren’t meant to be put in your eyes, while others can be used as eye drops. To be on the safe side, you should always read the label and know what you can and can’t do with your solution.

When you put your contacts in, you should try and put them in using the same order each and every time. This way, you’ll know which contact goes in first and you won’t get them mixed up. Before you put them in, you should always inspect them each and every time to make sure they aren’t torn or damaged. If you notice a tear or anything wrong with your lenses, you should immediately discard them and switch to a fresh pair.

To get the most from your contacts and ensure that they remain comfortable, you should always take care of them and use a bit of common sense. If you experience any problems with your contacts, you should take them out and let your eyes rest for a while. Contacts are great to have, although you’ll need to rest your eyes every so often. This way, your eyes will get the rest and oxygen they need, and you can go back to wearing your contacts after a few hours.

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Making the Best of Your Beauty Asset

The way people release their personal auras is of vital importance to their health, happiness, spiritual evolvement, and beauty.

Most people don’t know that the way they radiate the beauty that comes from within will be seen in their physical appearance. In fact, most psychologists contend that the “personal appeal” reflects the personal view an individual has of himself / herself.

By appreciating the goodness of yourself, you can create an effective means of enhancing your features and make the most of your beauty assets.

EYES

The best beauty assets of every woman is the eyes; they define the overall appearance by enhancing its shape and color. It is important to apply make up that will not only enhance the shape of the eyes but will highlight their color.

It has long been known that the eyes are the windows to the soul. They are the most communicative and dramatic feature of the face so it is important to use make up that will brighten and define the features of the eyes.

HAIR

Healthy and shiny hair is another of the best assets of every woman. It is important to use a healthy regimen of “hair care.” This doesn’t necessarily mean that hair care should only involve the use of the correct type of shampoo; but it also involves the utilization of the proper hairstyle to fit the type of lifestyle an individual has.

Hair care is extremely important because the human hair is a subtle structure that needs a great amount of attention. As they say, “the hair is every woman’s crowning glory”.

SKIN

The human skin is considered one of the beauty assets of every woman. Healthy skin releases the beauty that radiates from within. It is extremely important to take care of the skin in order to make the most of it.

Many people tend to think that caring for the skin will only involve proper cleaning and moisturizing. They don’t realize that it is important to exfoliate and tone the skin before moisturizing it. Once maintained, your skin can enhance your overall appearance.

Making the best of your beauty assets is one of the most effective ways to create an improved personality. People should realize that even if these beauty assets were God’s gift to humanity, especially to women, they would lose their purpose if people didn’t learn how to make the most them.

Superfoods for Super Sex

Every aspect of a food - its color, shape, scent and texture – can make it sexy. In addition, certain foods contain substances that make us feel good by interacting with our hormones or stimulating our brain. Consider incorporating some of the following into your next candlelight dinner to help you and your partner get in the mood.

Oysters are a good source of minerals like selenium and zinc, and are also high in protein. A perfect appetizer to a beautiful meal – but be careful when purchasing, as some can have high levels of pollutants and PCB. If you’re pregnant, oysters should be avoided.

Chocolate has been a symbol of love and lust for centuries due to theobromine, a stimulant to the brain that creates a pleasurable effect. Chocolate also contains antioxidants that may lower cancer and heart disease risk. However, chocolate is also very high in fat, so self-restraint should be exercised. Dark chocolates are usually lower in sugar, but higher in antioxidants and theobromine than milk chocolate.

Kiwi and papaya are colorful fruits that have an alluring and interesting aspect about them that can help flip the switch. Loaded with antioxidants, tropical fruits help fend off heart disease and cancers. Kiwi actually has more vitamin C in it than an orange, and papaya is rich in beta-carotene and high in fiber.

Honey was thought in medieval times to sweeten the marriage when mixed into a drink. Bear in mind, however, it’s still pretty high in sugar, so use sparingly.

Asparagus can also help get your partner in the mood. It’s one of the few good sources of vitamin E and is a natural diuretic. Steaming is the best way to prepare them without losing nutrients, and they can easily be eaten by hand.

A good cup of coffee or tea after that romantic dinner stimulates the release of epinephrine, which contributes to stimulation in the body. It can also be found in dark chocolate. Just don’t consume too much caffeine before bed, unless you plan on being awake all night long!

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Stay Beautiful Both Inside and Outside!

In a world where companies make millions of dollars in the beauty industry, it helps to know that you do not need to spend a great amount of money on products or artificial enhancements to really be beautiful.

A positive attitude, a sound mind and body, and a positive well-being will all help you glow from within. Here are some tips on how you can be beautiful from the inside to the outside:

1. Know who you are and be comfortable with yourself.

The way that you feel will reflect on the outside. If you are feeling stressed and harassed, you will look that way no matter how much makeup you put on or how well you dress.

On the other hand, if you are comfortable with yourself, you know exactly who you are and you have a positive outlook in life, then you will exude beauty from within, even without any artifice.

2. Be confident and embrace your uniqueness.

Beauty is simply a matter of perception. There are people who do not have angelic features or a perfect profile but once you look at them, they have an aura and air that you just cannot put a finger on.

This vitality comes from their inner confidence. If you just concentrate on your flaws; see that you don’t have good skin, or your nose is crooked, then you will never be content with your appearance.

You need to focus on your good points and make an effort to bring out the best of who and what you are.

3. Pamper yourself, eat well, take care of yourself.

Having good overall health will further enhance your inner beauty. Looking pale and unhealthy comes from bad eating habits and not spending enough time exercising.

Remember that eating healthy does not necessarily mean starving yourself. If you decide to lose weight, do it for yourself - in order to stay healthy. Don’t succumb to the pressures of society; that being beautiful means being paper-thin.

If you are tied to a desk from 9 to 5, spend some time out in the sun during weekends and jog or play a physical game with friends. This will not just give you a break from work but also lift your spirits. Pamper your self from time to time as a reward for all of the hard work that you do.

By following these tips, you are well on your way to being truly beautiful - both inside and out.

Discover the real fountain of Youth

While it is generally considered taboo to discuss or to admit this in public, people have two things they want to avoid----ugliness and aging.

Everyone has always heard the “motherly advice” about being tolerant of imperfections and of those who have not been gifted with perfect appearance. However, at the back of their minds, people will always despise the thought of becoming old and ugly.

Because of the penchant for beauty and youthfulness, people are willing to spend hundreds or even millions of dollars, to enhance their appearance and to avoid appearing old as much as possible. Everybody wants to stay beautiful and young forever and the search for the “fountain of youth” has become the rule - not the exception.

But what is this fountain of youth that is supposed to keep everyone young forever? Beauty experts have come up with various beauty products, anti-aging creams, placenta creams, and pills to prevent signs of aging. There are those who take hormone pills to stay young forever; but have they discovered the fountain of youth?

There are reports that scientists are in the process developing a breakthrough hormone that will suppress the aging process and which will keep humans younger longer. However, the anti-aging hormone is still being tested on mice and will probably take several more years, perhaps never, before it will be used on humans.

In the meantime, the human race is spending its energy and financial resources to look for the “fountain of youth”. But is there really something which will make a person youthful forever?

Man is by nature a limited being so there is no question that man is destined to die. The “fountain of youth” that will make a person youthful in terms of appearance is probably just wishful thinking and man will continue to look for something that does not exist.

People who want to remain young, physically and mentally should consider their state of mind. Being exposed to stressful situations throughout a lifetime can make a person age both mentally and physically. Avoiding stress or learning how to manage stress can make a big difference in a person’s appearance.

Age is a state of mind and sometimes it is reinforced by certain physical factors such as wrinkles. However, a mind that is always open to new ideas and which refuses to be captive to the fear of aging will always be youthful. The way you think and the way you live your life will show in your appearance, so if you want to be youthful, think young and live a happy and stress-free life.

Sunday, March 2, 2008

Contact Lens Eye Exam

Before you can get a pair of contact lenses, you’ll need to have your eyes examined and fitted by an optometrist and get your prescription. Normally, fittings for contact lenses will take longer than the standard eye exam. If you are looking to get fitted for contacts, you should let your optometrist know up front that you are interested in getting contacts.

When you first begin with your eye exam, your optometrist will first examine the health of your eyes. Your eye doctor will also want to know why you want contacts, if you have any known problems with your eyes, and what you hope to get from your visit. Overall, your contact fitting and exam will be based on the information that you have provided.

During your exam, you’ll go through several tests that will let the optometrist know the health and vision of your eyes. Once the exam is finished and your optometrist has the information he needs, you will be a given the prescription to get your contact lenses. Without a prescription, most places won’t sell you contacts.

When it comes to fitting your contact lenses, your optometrist will measure the curvature of your eyes and other factors that will affect how your lenses will fit in your eyes. Some people are more prone to dryness in their eyes than others, meaning that the contacts you are prescribed shouldn’t aggravate the dryness. In order for your optician to give you a prescription for contact lenses, your cornea will need to be free of any type of problems that can prevent you from wearing them.

Normally, your optician will give you a trial pair of contact lenses to try out, and then check them for fit once they have settled in your eyes. Sometimes, you may need to try out several different pairs before you find the perfect fit. The lens you choose should give you better vision, fit comfortably in your eye, and do not do any damage to the cornea.

It’s very important that your lens not be torn, scratched, or damaged in any way. Before you try the contact out, you should always inspect it to make sure that there are no defects. Your optician will show you how to inspect the contacts before you put them in your eyes, starting with your trial pairs. The optician or associates working there will need to verify that your test contacts meet your standards and the requirements for your eyes, according to what the optician recommends.

At your fitting exam, your eye doctor will also offer some suggestions as what brands of contacts you should and shouldn’t use. When you try out your test contacts you’ll use certain types of solution as well, to see if affects your eyes. Some solutions will work well for some, while they may cause irritation for others. Normally, your optometrist will try you out with one of the latest and greatest brands of contacts, to see whether or not they work for you.

After you have been fitted for your contacts and found the perfect pair, you should make sure that you always go to your follow up visits. Your first follow up will be in a few short weeks, after which your optician will check your eyes and contacts again, to make sure that everything is still going good. After that, you should always attend any follow ups that you have - to make sure that your contacts are working good - and your eyes are still in good health.