HANDMADE4U

Facts You Must Know About Your Green Tea

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 23:50:00 +0000

During ancient times, the Chinese have studied and proved the medicinal properties and benefits of green tea. It is found that green tea has many health benefits compared to other food or drinks. It is used by the Chinese people to cure simple headaches to depression. Green tea had been used as medicine for 4,000 years proving only that it is one of the most common remedy among many illness.

Facts about Green Tea

• Reduces the risk of having cancer by inhibiting the growth of cancer cells especially on the colon, pancreas, rectum, bladder, esophagus, and stomach without harming healthy cells

• Helpful for those who have rheumatoid arthritis

• Reduce the risk of having hypertension and elevated blood pressure

• Reduces the cholesterol level in the body

• Increases metabolism

• Helps body to fight viruses and bacteria by improving the defense action of the immune system

• Reduces the process of thrombosis which helps reduce heart attacks and strokes

• Green tea also helps destroy free radicals

• Helps in reducing fatigue and stress due to its calming action

• Fights cardio vascular diseases

• Green tea is also known for its antibacterial anti viral properties

• The secret of green tea is its catechin polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin (EGCG) which is a powerful anti oxidants

• EGCG is twice as powerful as reservatol whose action is to lower the incidence of heart disease

• Green tea comes from Camelia sinesis plant

• What sets green tea apart from other tea is the way it was processed, green tea leaves are steamed which prevents the important contents from being oxidized

• By contrast other tea brands are made from fermented tea leaves; as a result the other components are converted into other compounds that are not as effective as that of green tea

• New evidence suggests that green tea helps dieters by eliminating fat from the body and helps the body burn more calories compared to caffeine or a placebo

• Green tea can even help prevent tooth decay

• The bacterial actions of green tea can help prevent food poisoning

• Wide variety of beauty products now contains green tea are available in the market that claims to have great effect in beauty and wellness

• Green tea capsules are now available in health stores for those who don’t want to drink tea

• A cup of green tea contains caffeine level of 20 to 70 milligrams

• There are several kinds of green tea that are available in the market they differ on the amount of caffeine content

Harmful effects

To the present study and research green tea have proven a lot of benefits and medicinal properties but when it comes to harmful effects of green tea had been reported to contribute to insomnia or difficulty of sleep experienced by users. Green tea is advised to be taken at least 3 to 4 cups daily and not to be taken as substitute for water.

Caffeine is the ingredient found in green tea that contributes to sleeping difficulty but its caffeine contents is less compared to that of coffee and black tea. Other components of green tea must also be controlled for it can contribute to liver problems.

For pregnant mothers and for under medications it is important to ask your doctor before consuming the beverage for some components of green tea might have reactions with other compounds found in medications.

Help your Child Kick the Thumb Sucking Habit

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 22:29:00 +0000

Thumb sucking is a concern many parents have. Toddlers suck their thumbs because it's comforting and calming. It's probably something they did before they were born and revert back to it when they are nervous, agitated, scared or ill. They may also use it to lull themselves back to sleep in the middle of the night.

Parents shouldn't concern themselves unless it continues after the age their permanent teeth begin to appear, around six years old. Experts say that it's the intensity of the thumb sucking and the tongue's thrust that deforms teeth and makes braces necessary later. Children who rest their thumb passively in their mouth are less likely to have difficulty than children who suck aggressively. If you're concerned, closely monitor your child and analyze his technique. If they appears to be sucking vigorously, you may want to begin curbing their habit earlier.

Punishing or nagging your child to stop won't help because it's usually an automatic response. Attempting to curb it by putting an elastic bandage on his thumb or another method will seem like unjust punishment, especially since they indulge in the habit for comfort and security.

Try to wait it out. Children usually give up thumb-sucking when they've found other ways to calm and comfort themselves. Consider offering them other alternatives to comfort themselves such as a soft blanket or lullaby toy

The key is to notice when and where they are likely to suck their thumbs and offer an alternative. If it happens while they are tired, try giving more naps. If they suck their thumb frequently while watching television, try to distract them with a toy that will keep their hands occupied.

Older children may need gentle reminders to curtail thumb sucking while in public, and praise should be given freely when the child finds and uses an acceptable alternative. Your child's pediatric dentist can offer other suggestions for helping your child kick the thumb sucking habit.

The Side Effects of Green Tea During Pregnancy

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 22:43:00 +0000

It is very important to monitor the health of pregnant women to ensure the health of the mother and the baby. Some expectant mothers are quite anxious because of the various changes that take place in their body. Doctors often recommmend a diet regimen for pregnant mothers and if you're among those pregnant women out there, you should be extra careful with your food intake to avoid any problems or complications.

According to some studies, drinking too much green tea during pregnancy is not good. Why is that? Well, doctors and researchers were able to prove that green tea contains caffeine. Caffeine intake is discouraged during pregnancy because of certain side effects.

Despite the many health benefits of green tea which includes preventing cancer, improving the heart's health, boosting the immune system, aids digestion, lowers cholesterol, dental health, lowers the level of blood sugar, and many others, it is not advisable to drink green tea when you're pregnant.

Studies have proven that green tea contains EGCG or epigallocatechins which affects the use of folate in the body. Folate is very important during pregnancy because it can help in preventing birth defects in the neural tube. EGCG becomes harmful in pregnancy because it resembles the structure of methotrexate. The latter can get rid of cancer cells by bonding an enzyme called DHFR or dihydrofolate reductase.

The folate pathway contains these enzymes and since the EGCG is similar to methotrexate, it also binds with the enzyme and when this happens, the enzyme is inactivated. Once the enzymes are inactivated, the body can't use folate effectively. There hasn't been any conclusive studies which show how much green tea a pregnant woman should consume or how much folate can be affected.

Some doctors recommend pregnant women to drink moderate amount of tea as well as coffee. If you're still unaware, green tea also contains caffeine and when you're pregnant, it's not good to drink a lot of beverages which contain caffeine. So if you want to be extra sure, don't forget to ask your doctor next time you have an appointment. Always keep in mind that your health and that of your baby is of great importance.

Besides, there are already studies which proves caffeine to cause miscarriage and lower birth weight among babies. Drinking around six cups of coffee per day can definitely affect your baby's weight at birth. If you don't want your baby to suffer, you can have a cup of coffee a day or if you want, you can just stop drinking coffee. The caffeine content in green tea is lower than that of coffee and so you can drink more than one cup; but as said earlier, ask your doctor about it first.

Pregnancy will only take nine months and so you need to enjoy it. Even if you experience a lot of body changes, just think that you will rejoice the day your precious baby comes. If you can avoid drinking caffeined drinks, then try to stay away from them.

Although the health benefits of green tea are remarkable, it does contain caffeine and no study has yet established the right amount of green tea intake especially among pregnant women. If you're not pregnant and you don't have any problems related to caffeine intake, then you can drink as many tea as you like. Right now, be careful in drinking green tea; perhaps you can settle for a small cup every other day just to satisfy your thirst for it.
When you feel anything abnormal, seek the help of your doctor at once. Besides, its just going to be for nine months and after that, you can resume in drinking tea again. Aside from not taking caffeinated drinks, you're also not allowed to take just any kind of medicine because it can be harmful to your baby.

It goes without saying always think of your baby's safety before you do anything.

How To Make Handmade Gifts

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 01:17:00 +0000

With how the recession is affecting everybody’s finances, it is considered in taste now to give handmade gifts. There is no longer talk of how cheap you can be when you do this. Now, people who make their own gifts are considered wise and practical especially in the face of such problems. Besides, you can’t just afford it.

Making handmade gifts may be easy for people who are already quite crafty and those that have been doing this for years. but how about with people who have no idea where to start. When you really think about it, it will be such a waste of time and money to even attempt to if you do not know what you are doing. It would actually be better if you just buy a cheap gift and just be done with it.

But if you are really decided to try your hand in handmade gifts and learn the craft, here are some ideas for gifts that will make it easy for you to make. Here are some projects that you can try.

1. Card
This is perhaps the easiest project there is. Anybody can create a card. Even kindergarten kids have done cards in classes and gave them to their parents and friends. What is great about cards is the fact that it can be so simple on the outside and yet be so meaningful. In fact, you don’t even have to draw anything on the card. You can paste something that is memorable to both you and the person you are giving the card to. If it is for a special someone, you can perhaps paste the ticket of the movie that you first watched together or the receipt from your first date. You can also cut pictures from the magazine and then paste it on the card. There are a lot of ways that you can make one without really having to actually make it.

2. Poem
If you are a writer, put your skills to good use. Nothing is as romantic as a poem about a person. Compose a poem and write it down or type it on a sheet of paper. The person you are giving it to will surely appreciate the gesture. After all, not everybody can write and if for you it is something simple, for that person, it’s amazing!

3. Song
If you are a writer and a musician, another way to make a handmade gift is to make a song for the person that you want to give a gift to. You can for instance compose a song that will say what you want to say to them. It does not even have to be a whole song. You can make a jingle or a short verse and put an accompaniment to it. Even something as straightforward as the things that you want to say can become a song with the right lyrics and arrangement.

4. Jewelry
It may seem complicated at first but who says you need to make intricate designs when making handmade gifts? In making jewelry, you can stick to basic designs like for instance with bracelets. All you really need to do is buy some materials like beads and sequins and stones and some elastic. You can then sew them in and then tie a knot at the end.

Get 10 Mins Of Fitness Exercise

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 23:38:00 +0000

Experts recommend working out 45 minutes to an hour a day (30 minutes for beginners) for weight loss and fitness. But if you're like most women, you don't always have a block of 30 to 60 minutes a day to devote exclusively to doing your workouts.

You can still exercise--you just need to sneak in the equivalent in resourceful ways. "The idea is to keep moving," says fitness expert Ann Grandjean, EdD. "Get a cordless phone or put a long cord on your regular phone, and walk when you talk. Find whatever works for you and just move. Park half a mile from the mall and walk. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Those little, itty-bitty things add up."

Every Stolen Moment Adds Up

Lest you think that short bursts of activity have a negligible effect on your fitness program, think again. One study found that women who split their exercise into 10-minute increments were more likely to exercise consistently, and lost more weight after 5 months, than women who exercised for 20 to 40 minutes at a time.

In a landmark study conducted at the University of Virginia, exercise physiologist Glenn Gaesser, PhD, asked men and women to complete 15 10-minute exercise routines a week. After just 21 days, the volunteers' aerobic fitness was equal to that of people 10 to 15 years younger. Their strength, muscular endurance, and flexibility were equal to those of people up to 20 years their junior.

In yet another study, researchers at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore found that for improving health and fitness in inactive adults, many short bursts of activity are as effective as longer, structured workouts. "It would be useful for people to get out of the all-or-nothing mind-set that unless they exercise for 30 minutes, they're wasting their time," says Gaesser.

Breaking exercise into small chunks on your overscheduled days can also keep your confidence up, says Harold Taylor, time management expert and owner of Harold Taylor Time Consultants in Toronto, who has written extensively on the subject. "Skipping exercise altogether is 'de-motivational'--you feel depressed and guilty," Taylor says. "If you skip it, you tend to figure, 'What's the use? I can't keep up with it anyway.' Yet as long as you make some effort each day, that motivates you onward. Success breeds success."

Keep in mind, though, that short bursts of exercise are meant to supplement, not replace, your regular fitness routine. Here's a roundup of practical ways to work exercise into your day even when you "don't have time to exercise." (You don't have to do them all in 1 day; select what works for you.)

Reasons For Giving Handmade Gifts

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 01:39:00 +0000

Handmade gifts may seem tacky when you think about it but they are pretty acceptable especially during these times when the recession is wreaking havoc in our finances. If you still need convincing, here are some of the reasons why you should give handmade gifts.

1. It’s the trend
Believe it or not but it is all the rage right now to give handmade gifts. Blame it to the recession but people are finding that giving handmade gifts is charming, practical and sweet. People now realize that you can give quality gifts without really spending a lot and besides when you look at the thought and the effort of the person to make the gift, it is actually more expensive than anything that they can buy from the store.

2. It’s more thoughtful
When you give a handmade gift, you really put much thought into it as opposed to just going to the store and buying the first thing that you set your eyes into. When making handmade gifts, you will find that people will appreciate more the effort that you have put into making the gift. It is actually considered more special and sweeter to give handmade gifts because they are more well thought of and as people say, it comes from the heart.

3. It’s personalized
Whenever you give a handmade gift, it is perceived to be more personalized. That means that a lot of yourself is put into making the gift. After all, you have not only sweated out in making the gift, you have also dedicated time into it as well as some of your creative juices. This is why it is important to make sure that you only give these kinds of gifts to people you are close to because people might perceive it the wrong way.

4. It’s cheaper
It’s the recession and you have a ready excuse not to buy those expensive gifts and instead make them yourself. Everybody will understand because everybody is feeling the pinch of the downed economy. Make sure though that when you make a handmade gift, it is truly less expensive than when you buy something from the store. Sometimes, when you don’t watch it, you can buy expensive materials that can add up and actually make your handmade gift much more expensive and of course there is the time that you have spent making the gift. So be careful.

5. It’s environment friendly
If you care for the environment and you are part of what is called right now as the green team then making your own handmade gifts will allow you to make something out of trash like used papers and bottles. You can actually recycle them yourself and give them as gifts. Who knows, you might even end up selling them to other people? That will certainly help you in these recession.

6. It’s therapeutic
For some people, working with their hands especially in art and craft projects is relaxing. Art is actually considered as an effective therapy for people who are depressed or anxious as it allows you to express your feelings without words. You can use this to relax yourself and calm your nerves and at the same time make a handmade gift for someone special. You are basically killing to birds with one stone with this one.

Green Tea Fat Burning Benefits

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 15:01:00 +0000

More and more people are getting hooked up with green tea. Especially those that belongs to the category that is a bit larger than life. Green tea has been proven to loosen that weight gaining body. Overweight is becoming a problem in major growing countries. As a person grows heavier and bigger, their risk for acquiring a disease is incredibly higher. But because of the impressive effects of green tea, gaining weight can no longer be a health threat.

Measure of gaining weight

There are a lot of reasons why people exhibits unwanted weight gain. First, because of their lifestyle. With someone who has the capacity to buy every single food on earth, gaining weight is easy. A person’s lifestyle can definitely predict how healthy a person is. If the person’s lifestyle is rich, he will have all the money in the world to engage in bad eating habits like increased consumption of alcohol, junk foods and fatty foods.

Another reason for gaining weight is lack of exercise.
Without physical using up of excess fats in your body, there is a great possibility for them to be stored and not to be used up ever again. Exercise is very crucial for people, especially bigger ones. Exercise can lower the risk of a lot of diseases thus, keeping your body fit and at the same time working healthy.

Mental problem is another factor researchers are looking into why people suddenly gain weight. One very good example is depression. When a person is depressed, instead of crying her heart out, she gobbles up everything inside the fridge. Which can be very unhealthy.

Modern solution to chubbiness

Today, for someone to get slimmer, a lot of people are resulting to surgery. Surgical procedures that costs a lot are oftentimes the last resort of really big people who wanted to be small in an instant. Liposuction is one type of surgical procedure that answers to fat reduction.

Green tea to the rescue

Yes, the above stated solution can be very effective but people go into the risk of having major or minor side effects. There is a better way to eliminate those fats naturally. And the answer is, green tea. This is a different kind of tea which have numerous benefits aside from being a reliable fat burner. By incorporating green tea to every meal, a person taking it will experience soothing effects. There are three things that fat burning green tea can do:

1. Increase Calorie Burning

Usage of green tea can accelerate the metabolism of calories inside the human body. This processing is called as thermogenesis. What green tea does is that it increases the heat inside the body thus, increasing metabolism and resulting to calorie burn-up.

2. Diminishing Appetite

Green tea aids in controlling one’s appetite. When a person’s appetite is controlled, the result will be, not wanting to eat. Nutrients that compose green tea signals to the brain and stomach that makes a person lose his appetite thus resulting in lesser food intake.

3. Energy levels are elevated

Green tea can shoot positive signals to the mind that enables the improvement of positive mental attitude. Because green tea compounds act on almost all systems in a human’s body, it tends to put the mind in a relaxed and positive state that make the body feel more balanced and in sync.

Handmade Gifts Are Ideal For Birthdays

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 23:13:00 +0000

Nothing beats the uniqueness of handmade gifts when given to people that truly matter during their birthdays. This is because handmade gifts add a touch of sincerity and love because of the effort the gift-giver has put to much effort into it.

Most of the handmade gifts that are available these days come from personalized stores. This trend has emerged due to the fact that many people rarely have the time to do these themselves. These personalized, handmade items could be found in various stores and shops available in the Metro.

If you would want to give a handmade birthday gift to your loved one but don’t have the luxury of time to do it, you need not worry because there are so many shops out there who can do this for you. All you need to do is look for something that will fit the personality of your loved one whom you will bestow the gift and ask the shop to customize it for you.

Finding the suitable handmade and personalized gifts

Most shops that offer handmade gifts that have a wide variety of stuff fit for all ages. If you are going to buy personalized and handmade items as a birthday present for your loved one, consider the following:

1. For grandparents. These are the people who can be very sentimental and appreciative since they have been through a lot in their lives. For grandfathers, you can give a handmade coffee mug with his name scribbled in it, customized pen holder with his name or favorite phrase engraved on it, or a blanket with his photo on it. For grandmothers, you can choose a handmade pair of slippers with her name on it, a special commemorative plate with the photos of her grandchildren on it, or a personalized journal with matching pen that goes with it.

2. For parents. These are usually the people who don’t usually ask or expect for gifts during their birthdays but would really appreciate it especially if their kids make an effort in giving these gifts. For mothers, you can choose practical items such as those that she can use everyday in her tasks at home or at work. If you want to give that has sentimental value, you can make a quilt or choose a handmade quilt with your family's memories, or a new set blankets of her favorite color. For fathers, handmade everyday items such as towels, pens, mugs, ashtray, or cigarette case are perfect birthday gifts for him.

3. For siblings. The gifts you could give would actually depend on how close you are to the celebrator. For male siblings, you can give him a personalized shirt with his favorite image on it or handmade gifts such as accessories of his favorite material and color. For female siblings, give her cute and sentimental stuff such as a handmade key chain or personalized jewelry box, or a pair of handmade slippers that she can use inside her room or at home.

4. For cousins. These are the people who will really appreciate no matter what kind of gift you give them on their birthdays because for them, it's really the thought that counts. In personalized stores, you can look for handmade gifts such as mugs, photo albums, key chains, and notebooks that contain something that would remind you both of your childhood days.

5. For friends. You should consider their individual personalities, hobbies, and interests. But in general, perfect personalized birthday gift ideas for them might include a personalized picture frame with your best photos on it, a scrapbook that contains all of your fond memories since you have met, or handmade gift that you both love or share.

Tips For Antiaging skin care

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 23:08:00 +0000

Antiaging skin care is a very popular concept in today’s world. Today everyone wants to hide their age using antiaging skin care procedures (and a number of people are successful too). However antiaging skin care is not achieved by any magic potion. Antiaging skin care is about discipline. It is about being proactive. Antiaging skin care is retarding the ageing process. Here are a few tips for proactive antiaging skin care:

1. Maintain healthy eating habits: A well balanced diet is the key to maintaining a proper body metabolism. Eat a lot of fruits and vegetables (raw), they are the best source of fibre and have a very refreshing effect on your body. Avoid oily and fatty food; not only do they lack in essential nutrients but also cause obesity and other diseases which aid the aging process

2. Beat stress: This is probably the most important antiaging skin care measure. Stress disturbs the body metabolism and accelerates the aging process. Sleep, exercise and a relaxing bath, are all good ways of beating stress. Aroma-therapy is also known to bust stress.

3. Drink a lot of water: Antiaging skin care can’t be any simpler than this. Water helps in flushing out the toxins from the body, hence keeping it clean and making it less prone to disease. Around 8 glasses of water (per day) is recommended by all doctors.

4. Regular exercise: is a wonderful antiaging skin care procedure. Besides toning your muscles, it also helps in cleaning the skin by flushing out the toxins in the form of sweat. Exercise should be followed by a warm shower in order to completely remove the toxins.

5. Avoid the use of strong, chemical based products on your skin: Natural skin care products are a good option. Use of organic skin care products (home made or commercial) can be a very effective antiaging skin care measure.

6. Do not overuse skin care products: Excessive and harsh application, both are harmful.

7. Do not ignore skin disorders: it can lead to permanent skin damage. Try over the counter medication and if that doesn’t help, immediately visit your dermatologist and seek his/her advice.

8. Vitamin C: based skin care products are very popular means of antiaging skin care. However, these seem to oxidise very quickly (which makes them harmful for the skin). So store them properly. If the product turns Yellowish brown, it means that vitamin c has oxidised and the prodct is no longer suitable for use.

9. Protect your skin against UV radiation : UV rays are known to speed up the aging process. So, a good sunscreen lotion should be a part of your antiaging skin care routine.

Suitable Clothing For Children

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 21:55:00 +0000

Infants are very susceptible of the impressions of cold; a proper regard, therefore, to a suitable clothing of the body, is imperative to their enjoyment of health. Unfortunately, an opinion is prevalent in society, that the tender child has naturally a great power of generating heat and resisting cold; and from this popular error has arisen the most fatal results. This opinion has been much strengthened by the insidious manner in which cold operates on the frame, the injurious effects not being always manifest during or immediately after its application, so that but too frequently the fatal result is traced to a wrong source, or the infant sinks under the action of an unknown cause.

The power of generating heat in warm-blooded animals is at its minimum at birth, and increases successively to adult age; young animals, instead of being warmer than adults, are generally a degree or two colder, and part with their heat more readily; facts which cannot be too generally known. They show how absurd must be the folly of that system of "hardening" the constitution (to which reference has been before made), which induces the parent to plunge the tender and delicate child into the cold bath at all seasons of the year, and freely expose it to the cold, cutting currents of an easterly wind, with the lightest clothing.

The principles which ought to guide a parent in clothing her infant are as follows:

The material and quantity of the clothes should be such as to preserve a sufficient proportion of warmth to the body, regulated therefore by the season of the year, and the delicacy or strength of the infant's constitution. In effecting this, however, the parent must guard against the too common practice of enveloping the child in innumerable folds of warm clothing, and keeping it constantly confined to very hot and close rooms; thus running into the opposite extreme to that to which I have just alluded: for nothing tends so much to enfeeble the constitution, to induce disease, and render the skin highly susceptible to the impression of cold; and thus to produce those very ailments which it is the chief intention to guard against.

In their make they should be so arranged as to put no restrictions to the free movements of all parts of the child's body; and so loose and easy as to permit the insensible perspiration to have a free exit, instead of being confined to and absorbed by the clothes, and held in contact with the skin, till it gives rise to irritation.

In their quality they should be such as not to irritate the delicate skin of the child. In infancy, therefore, flannel is rather too rough, but is desirable as the child grows older, as it gives a gentle stimulus to the skin, and maintains health.

In its construction the dress should be so simple as to admit of being quickly put on, since dressing is irksome to the infant, causing it to cry, and exciting as much mental irritation as it is capable of feeling. Pins should be wholly dispensed with, their use being hazardous through the carelessness of nurses, and even through the ordinary movements of the infant itself.

The clothing must be changed daily. It is eminently conducive to good health that a complete change of dress should be made every day. If this is not done, washing will, in a great measure, fail in its object, especially in insuring freedom from skin diseases.

During childhood.
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The clothing of the child should possess the same properties as that of infancy. It should afford due warmth, be of such materials as do not irritate the skin, and so made as to occasion no unnatural constriction.

In reference to due warmth, it may be well again to repeat, that too little clothing is frequently productive of the most sudden attacks of active disease; and that children who are thus exposed with thin clothing in a climate so variable as ours are the frequent subjects of croup, and other dangerous affections of the air- passages and lungs. On the other hand, it must not be forgotten, that too warm clothing is a source of disease, sometimes even of the same diseases which originate in exposure to cold, and often renders the frame more susceptible of the impressions of cold, especially of cold air taken into the lungs. Regulate the clothing, then, according to the season; resume the winter dress early; lay it aside late; for it is in spring and autumn that the vicissitudes in our climate are greatest, and congestive and inflammatory complaints most common.

With regard to material (as was before observed), the skin will at this age bear flannel next to it; and it is now not only proper, but necessary. It may be put off with advantage during the night, and cotton maybe substituted during the summer, the flannel being resumed early in the autumn. If from very great delicacy of constitution it proves too irritating to the skin, fine fleecy hosiery will in general be easily endured, and will greatly conduce to the preservation of health.

It is highly important that the clothes of the boy should be so made that no restraints shall be put on the movements of the body or limbs, nor injurious pressure made on his waist or chest. All his muscles ought to have full liberty to act, as their free exercise promotes both their growth and activity, and thus insures the regularity and efficiency of the several functions to which these muscles are subservient.

The same remarks apply with equal force to the dress of the girl; and happily, during childhood, at least, no distinction is made in this matter between the sexes. Not so, however, when the girl is about to emerge from this period of life; a system of dress is then adopted which has the most pernicious effects upon her health, and the development of the body, the employment of tight stays, which impede the free and full action of the respiratory organs, being only one of the many restrictions and injurious practices from which in latter years they are thus doomed to suffer so severely.

A Workout For People Who Don't Want To Work Out

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 21:42:00 +0000

There's good news for people who want to watch their weight without giving up watching TV. Now there's a new workout for couch potatoes and people who think they're too busy to find time to stay fit.

With time at a premium, many Americans are turning to creative forms of exercise. In a recent survey conducted by Harris Interactive for the North American Spine Society, three out of four people said they used the stairs rather than the elevator at work, 58 percent said they started parking their cars far away in parking lots and almost half reported walking while on the phone.

At the same time, however, 46 percent of people described themselves as couch potatoes--a major contributing factor to being overweight. Many adults say they have procrastinated working out in order to do other activities, such as watching television, sleeping in, doing household chores or working.

Approximately three in four adults say they would exercise more if they could fit it into their daily routines, however, and a majority of adults say they would exercise more often if they could do it at home. Among noncouch potatoes, 80 percent would like to get more exercise, but say they don't have the time.

Meanwhile, more than 4 million Americans suffer disc problems. One out of four Americans over 30 will have recurring back pain, and one in 14 will seek medical care for back or neck pain this year, totalling almost 14 million visits per year. Back pain is the second most common reason that people visit a physician. Back and neck pain result in more lost workdays than any other condition. Due to absenteeism, medical and other related expenses, the cost of back injuries exceeds $80 billion each year in the United States. Exercise is one way to avoid back problems.

That's why it's important to find time to incorporate exercise into your daily routine. In addition to things such as climbing stairs and parking farther away, there are a number of fun ways to make your daily tasks opportunities to exercise:

Feet Alphabet. This exercise can be done anywhere you are sitting, except while driving. It should not be hard to find a place. Simply write the alphabet in the air with each of your feet and ankles. You can do the letters in capitals or small letters and, for that matter, in any language you would like. Doing this two or three times on each ankle will begin to strengthen the ankle and maintain or improve motion.

• Doing the Dishes Neck Circles. This exercise is easily done while doing the always fun task of washing the dishes. As you are standing there at the sink, slowly rotate your neck in a clockwise position, trying to extend the tip of your head out as far as possible. After three or four rotations, repeat the exercise in a counter-clockwise position. Remember, these rotations should be done slowly and in a pain-free range of motion. Besides increasing the flexibility of the neck, these exercises can pass the time of doing dishes.

• Overhead Laundry Toss. Put the laundry basket directly in front of you and have the washer or dryer directly behind you. Grab a piece or two of dirty clothes, reach over your head slowly and drop the laundry into the washer. Again, start with dry clothes, then progress to wet clothes from the washer into the dryer.

Remote Wrist Lifts. This can be done on any Sunday afternoon watching multiple football games. Simply take the remote control (use the biggest one you have from the pile of remotes) and, while sitting watching your favorite team or movie and with your arm pointing toward the TV, aim the remote at the ceiling, moving your wrist only. Hold it there for 10 seconds, then aim it at the floor, again only moving the wrist. Repeat this three to four times during every commercial. Be careful not to accidentally change the channel when doing this exercise or it may irritate people who are watching TV with you.

These are just some ideas from "The Couch Potato Workout: 101 Exercises You Can Do At Home!" by Joel M. Press, M.D., president of the North American Spine Society and medical director of the Spine and Sports Institute at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. "The Couch Potato Workout" describes numerous practical and functional exercises people can do to build strength, balance and flexibility as part of their normal daily routine.

Green Tea - Why Drink It?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 22:29:00 +0000

In Asia, green tea is quite popular. For many generations, the tea has already been a part of family gatherings and even their day to day lives. There are various reasons why Asian people loved to drink green tea. Aside from its excellent taste, you can also derive some health benefits from drinking green tea. Recently, medical communities and the western countries have recognized the benefits of drinking green tea. There are various reasons why individuals should drink tea and these reasons are found in this article.

The very first reason is that green tea is something different. You're probably used to drinking softdrinks, coffee, fruit juices, and other beverages. Green tea is something new that you should try out. It's not everyday that you get to encounter something unique in terms of taste and most specially, very few beverages have health benefits.

Most Americans drink coffee several times a day and since it contains a larger amount of caffeine, some people are already looking into substituting green tea instead. You will surely enjoy the tea's nutty aroma and its sweet grassy flavor. Although some studies show that green tea also has caffeine, there are now decaffeinated green tea sold in the market.

Still, if you want to go for the traditional green tea, it would help to know that the caffeine content is lesser as compared to coffee. Some people get jitters and you can avoid this by taking green tea in moderate amounts. Those who plan to stay late or those who work at night should drink green tea instead of coffee to help them stay awake.

The second reason why people should drink tea is that it contains healing properties. Because of today's advanced science, many medical experts are discovering green tea's healing properties. Green tea is mainly made up of antioxidants which can help in improving the overall health of an individual. If you lack energy to carry out the day's tasks and chores, don't forget to drink your tea because you will feel a burst of energy especially if you drink it everyday.

Healthy cells are also promoted by drinking tea. There are still other health benefits that you can take advantage. You see, if you drink green tea, you can prevent heart diseases, cancer, and other health problems. Those who often get sick should take tea in order to boost the immune system's health. People with weight problems can also take green tea instead of water and juices to reduce weight since the tea can suppress appetite. You can take it anytime you like, before meals, during, and after meals.

Are there still other reasons that you can think of? So far, there is no other beverage that can give you a lot of health benefits. If you go to the groceries, you can find different kinds of green tea preparations. It would be best if you can grow a tea plant so that you can prepare the original serving. But anyway, since people today live a busy lifestyle, they always prefer the instant - from food to their drinks. There are now bottled green tea which you can purchase and they are ready to drink. Hurry and go to the local grocery now to purchse your green tea.

If you want, you can also take supplements of green tea but before you buy any, ask your doctor first. It would also be good if you check product reviews regarding the supplements. That way, you will know which brands sell more and which are effective. Seek the doctor's advice before taking any health supplement so that your actions can be guided, most especially if you're a pregnant woman or if you have certain allergies and illnesses.

If the Asian people benefited from green tea for hundreds of years, then there's probably no reason why you shouldn't try it yourself. Medical communities are already promoting the intake of green tea, so don't be left behind. Join other people who are now discovering the health benefits of drinking tea.

Handmade Gifts For All Occasions

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 21:29:00 +0000

If you are one of those people who are depressed just by thinking of how much money they need to spend in buying presents for their loved ones the whole year, then this is the best time to consider giving handmade gifts.

It is best if you stop feeling low because you don’t have much money to spend in buying gifts for your loved ones, you need not worry so much because there are so many gift ideas out there perfect for all occasions. All you need to do is to make a list of the people whom you'll give the gifts to and jot down at least one or two of their interests or favorite activities.

After doing this, you can now visit various department stores, specialty shops, novelty stores, and craft shops to find the perfect give for your loved one without spending so much money.

Creativity and resourcefulness in giving gifts for different occasions

While gift giving would really melt your loved one's heart during a special occasion, it is important to remember this should not rob you off your money. Instead of spending money in buying gifts, why not try to create your own gift using your creativity and resourcefulness? If you have the time and the talent, ideal gift ideas perfect for any occasion might include:

- Personalized items. These can be considered as the most inexpensive yet gift of all times. Personalizing items does not only save you some money, time, and effort in strolling shops looking for that perfect gift because you can do in inside the confines of your own home. This is actually one of the best gift ideas out there because you can literally personalize just about anything. All you need to do is to ask the person about his or her favorite item or interest and create your own masterpiece out of it.

- Sweets and treats. For people with sweet tooth, sweets such as chocolates, cookies, and sweet breads are surefire hits. If you that knack for baking, you can bake your own goodies and wrap them in a special colorful box or jar to make it presentable.

- Hand-made home and office decors. This may include multi-colored glasses, ceramics, figurines, and cloth pieces. If you are into painting, try buying a set of plain ceramic figurines, clear glasses or mugs and decorate them yourself. By doing this, you can easily customize the gift for your loved one without having to pay the services of a customized or personalized shop. What you need to do this is a cheap set of ceramic paints and fine brushes of different sizes.

- Custom-made stationeries made at home. For those who are into writing letters, one of the best gift ideas for them is a collection of custom-made stationeries. What you can do is to collect all unused envelopes, specialty papers, and unique items to come up with a custom-made stationary set. This will be great if it comes with a nice fountain pen with his or her name on it.

- Personalized bath oils and fragrant mixes. Personalized bath oils or perfumes are among the best handmade gifts that you can give if you have talent in mixing perfumes and fragrances. To save some money, purchase large amounts of ingredients. You can mix the fragrances at one time and place it in separate bottles and you will even have extra gift items when you need one.

A Little Know-How about Botox Injections for Wrinkles

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 16:43:00 +0000

How far are you willing to go to be beautiful? As years go by, developments even in the beauty department never seem to cease. You will see a product available commercially based on your need, may it be immediate or long term. There are creams that could easily wipe out your pimples, Botox injections for wrinkles, whitening lotions and creams for your skin and a lot more.

To Be or Not to Be

The important thing that you have to ask yourself is do you really need to go the drastic route in order to retain your younger looking skin. Everybody will eventually look old no matter how helpful science had been to you. In the manner of using beauty products and undergoing surgeries and injections, you are merely slowing the process.

If you are already considering your options about the said topic, you have to be ready for the results and the consequences. To lessen your worries, do a thorough research about what you want to be done. Ask around and ask for referrals for professionals whom you will trust to handle your skin, that is if you are going the scientific path to a more beautiful you.

Botox, Anyone?

Who haven’t heard of Botox? Many popular people like celebrities have gone through this procedure just so to remove the unwanted lines on their faces. This is especially useful if your appearance is your bread and butter. So what do you know about this? This list will remind you of things that you already know and may want to know about this procedure.

1. Botox is known for removing wrinkles. But it will not help diminish other common akin problems caused by aging such as the age spots, sun damage and problems with pigmentation. This will also not soften your skin if your main concern is about its roughness.

2. This is a costly procedure. If you really want to undergo such, you have to save up for it. And do save up for it a lot because you will not undergo through this only once. You have to undergo the procedure after a few months depending on what your doctor asks you to do according to your skin’s reaction to it.

3. This is very risky especially if you will not go to the right doctor. The procedure entails injecting of toxins to your skin. Not everybody has the same reaction on those toxins.

4. You have to tell your doctor the vitamins and medicines that you are taking before undergoing through this. They have to be informed about your body and your system so that they would know better if you are ready for it or you are not really fit.

5. If not done properly, instead of removing the unwanted lines, you may end up having more than what you had before going through it.

6. This is not for sensitive type of skin and veins. Botox includes injections. The one who will be getting the shots must first make sure that they are ready emotionally, physically and mentally.

Botox injections for wrinkles must be thought very hard before committing to the procedure. Once you’ve done it, there is no turning back and you have to abide according to what your doctor tells you to do. If you are still at a lost if you will do this or not, research about this more and after gaining more knowledge, you will sure be able to decide for the best.

Caffeine in Green Tea

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 16:41:00 +0000

How true is it that one disadvantage of green tea is insomnia because of its caffeine content? You may put it as a “disadvantage” but people who works on a night shift will disagree. True, green tea contains caffeine but compared to coffee and other tea, it has a lesser level but has a very incredible amount of antioxidants.

What is caffeine?

It is a kind of drug that acts as a stimuli that basically stimulates the central nervous system and the heart. A person having caffeine in his system can instantly increase his blood pressure but not having any evidence of definitive long-term effects in the blood pressure itself. Long term increase of blood pressure are still taking excessive amounts of green tea.

Caffeine content in green tea stays unless it is decaffeinated. According to studies, green tea is more likely to be higher than coffee but with preparation, a person can greatly reduce the caffeine that the body takes in. how? Through the infusion length of hot water and how many times you have used the leaves.

Surprisingly, caffeine in green tea is more beneficial than the caffeine taken from coffee. It works through the body in a slighter difference than coffee. Aside from caffeine, green tea has other constituents that work perfectly with caffeine namely vitamins, oils and tannin.

Caffeine difference

As mentioned, compared to coffee, the caffeine content in green tea can have a different approach in the human body. By its own substance, it doesn’t have to trigger increase heart rate and blood pressure unlike what caffeine can instantly do. Typically, green tea is more applicable to drink for those who wanted to lose weight but are caffeine sensitive.

Lose weight with caffeine
Base on studies, caffeine has the capacity to increase metabolism inside the body which results to helping out the body in burning excess calories. Caffeine content in green tea is undoubtedly more prominent than other beverages but you can lessen it based on the kind of green tea that you have chosen to drink. Contrary to what other people know, oxidation doesn’t have the capacity to raise the caffeine content in the body. Truth is, some studies were made and is found out that the longer the oxidation is, the lower the content of caffeine will be present.

Green tea without caffeine
For medicinal purposes, green tea is sometimes made caffeine free. Green tea that is decaffeinated has a more pleasant taste and has an impressive antioxidant activity. It is very effective in the prevention and even treatment of cancer, decreasing cholesterol levels, collagen formation, decreasing triglyceride levels and preventing arteriosclerosis.

Therefore, with caffeine present in green tea, it can decrease the metabolic processes going significantly inside our body but not having any effect on blood pressure and heart rate.

Caffeine content

Compared to the caffeine found in black tea, green tea is only composed by the half of it. And compared to coffee, green tea only has quarter amounts thus, making it the perfect beverage you can include in your meals. But there are precautions that should be followed. One which is the moderate amount of green tea that should be consumed within a day. It should only be at least 4 cups. More than that will generate negative reactions that is felt inside the body.

The introduction of decaffeinated supplementary green tea, benefits were further provided ruling out any unwanted effects.

Great Handmade Gifts For Home

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 17:14:00 +0000

Most gift givers today prefer handmade gifts over the traditional ones because they feel that these exude sincerity and effort. For those who are planning to give gifts that can help one to beautify his or her home, there are so many handmade gift options for you to choose from.

Practical handmade gifts for home

Home décor accessories are the most common handmade gifts that people can give for those who love decorating their homes. This is because these will help the receiver in decorating their homes the easier and more practical way. How? If they will be receiving gifts from people that they can use, they can finalize the list of home accessories that they will be needing. This list is very important for the receiver because it will be easier for him or her to organize things inside the home once they start decorating.

For gift-givers, the following are some of the major handmade home décor and accessories that will help the receiver to have a house that is more organized and great looking:

- pillows. In living rooms and bedrooms, pillows indeed take a great part in the overall look of the house. This is because pillows soften empty corners of the bed as well of the chairs and sofas. The impact will be so much better if these are handmade. Today, there are so many types of pillows available in the market, you can choose from solid pillows, striped pillows, patterned pillows, floral pillows, floor pillows, rectangular pillows, and outdoor pillows depending on the personality and the needs of the receiver so you should consider these very well.

- handmade candlelight set. This is a considered as one of the most romantic home décor accessories out there because they give soft and cozy feel in the house once use for their purpose. Today, handmade candlelight sets are the trend because they are more sophisticated and unique. If you choose this as a gift, you should consider coming up with matching candleholders, candles, and candle coasters.

- unique handmade vases. Categorized into tabletop, floor, bud, and accent, vases play a very big role in the beautification of one's home because each kind can highlight a certain part of the house and make it more appealing to people living inside the house and to visitors as well. Aside from holding flowers and other things inside the home, vases can also serve as decorative and artistic pieces. If you are giving this as a gift, consider the handmade ones from exotic places because these are indeed unique and very sentimental.

- wall décors. Whether it is framed or custom art, metal, or native, wall decors play an important role in making the house livelier because they fill empty walls and make them more pleasant to the eye. There are so many handmade wall decors available in the market today. These can be more appealing since they tend to be unique when it comes to style, material, and texture.

- handmade native baskets. Although they might seem minor, baskets—especially the native and handmade ones—are significant home décor accessories because they serve as organizers. Since they hold almost everything and keep them in place, baskets of any kind should be present in any home.

- handmade area rugs. These play a major role in any home decoration because it serves as a main highlight in various parts of the house. Today, there are so many styles of area rugs that you can choose from depending on the need, taste, and preference of people.

If you are giving these a handmade gift, consider choosing handmade braided rugs, oriental tugs, Persian rugs, contemporary rugs, or character rugs depending on the taste of the receiver.

Budget-Friendly Wedding Planning

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 20:50:00 +0000

Weddings are definitely one of the most anticipated events in any couple's life. This is because this day finally seals their love for each other for as long as they live. But, if there is one thing that could be hard before this day finally comes, that would be wedding planning.

This becomes one of the most strenuous parts of any wedding because aside from all forms of stress that would arise, it will also be hard to handle it using your resources. If you are one of those couples who are planning to tie the knot soon but are on a strict budget, careful consideration on the aspects that would affect the wedding should be evaluated.

This is very important for you to identify which part of the wedding planning could cost you a lot of money for you to be able to find a way how to cut the expenses off. Experts say that one of things that cost a lot when it comes to weddings is the attires—the gown the bride will wear, the suit that the groom will use, and of course, the clothes that the people who are part of the wedding entourage will put on.

If you want to cut down on the cost of the attire, the best thing to do is to design them on your own. If you have a knack for designing—and even sewing—you can use your skills to pull off a budget-friendly wedding. How? Instead of hiring a designer that would do the sketches for you, you can do it on your own for instance, your wedding gown which you can design.

Wouldn’t it be nice if you were the one who will design your own wedding dress on your big day? Of course it would be. This is because you get the chance to make a statement with all the variations you want to create in your wedding dress. Today, because of the advent of technology and easy access to knowledge, more and more brides-to-be are getting into designing their own wedding dresses.

Unlike before when knowledge is limited in terms of design and its technicalities, modern brides can have their dream wedding dress created by themselves. Now, they can see their dream wedding dress created before their very own eyes the way they want it to be. If you want to design your own wedding dress, you can do it in two ways: by traditional sketching or using the "design your own wedding dress" programs in various bridal sites in the Internet. You can do the same for your groom and the people in your wedding entourage. Aside from saving money since you don’t have to pay the designer, you can also ensure that there will be uniformity when it comes to the styles and designs.

Aside from the attire during the wedding, other aspects that need consideration when wedding planning would include the venue which could either be in a church or in other places, the number of guests, and the reception party.

Food As An Ideal Handmade Gift

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 20:49:00 +0000

When talking about handmade gifts, foods are probably among the top choices. This is because there is no way to prepare them but to use one's hands. Come special seasons such as Christmas, this is the top handmade gift choice to many people since these are potential staple items on the table. During Christmas Eve, Christmas handmade gifts such as food can reflect good taste to gift-givers.

Although it is still months before Christmas time, it’s never too early to think of the food items you can give out as presents. As early as now, you can look for special sweets, tarts, candies, breads and bottled treasures in specialty stores or you can start learning how to make special homemade cookies that you can give to your spouse, friends, relatives, teachers, clients, associates or officemates.

As years went by, possible Christmas food gift ideas or items people give out include boxes of chocolates in various Christmas shapes like star, snowman, or Christmas tree; a selection of fruits, different arrangements of fruit baskets, traditional Christmas hampers that contain Christmas specialty foods such as ham and cheese, traditional Christmas cakes and puddings, mincemeat tarts in different shapes and sizes, festive shaped shortbreads, fruit cakes, Dundee cakes, and bottles of wine like sauvignon blanc dry white wine.

But, if you want your Christmas good gift giving more personalized or intimate, you can customize it into different variations such as Wine and Gourmet food gift basket that contain gourmet pepper and poppy crackers, pacific smoked salmon with gourmet cheese spread with wine or a Sesame Crackers food gift which include a selection of garlic and cheese mix and chocolate drizzled almond biscotti and dark chocolate mint sticks with gourmet holiday coffee or bottle of chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon.

You may also want to give a Christmas food gift that includes an assortment of various nuts such as almonds, filberts, cashews, pecans, pistachios, walnuts, peanuts, and Brazil nuts; a Candy food gift basket that include several variations of Christmas candies and sweets; or a Nutritious Christmas food gift that contains snack boxes such as fruit and nut mixes, maple syrup, jams, and fruit-filled pies.

But, among the so-many possible Christmas food gift items, cookies—in different shapes, flavors, and sizes—are always on top of the list. Here are some of the cookie basics you need to know before giving out this most popular Christmas food gift.

- Choose your recipient’s favorite cookie. Knowing your recipient’s favorite cookie will make it easier for you to buy or prepare your gift. If not, opt for standard cookies favorites such as fresh ginger cookies, fruitcake cookies, holly Christmas cookies, Christmas tree cookies, and chocolate chip or oatmeal cookies.

- Make the presentation attractive. Be creative in packing your cookies by embossing it with ceramic, metal, or plastic stamps or molds or by adding special add-ons to the finished product such as colored sugar, finely chopped nuts, or colorful sprinkles. Make that you decorate the outside of your cookie container with distinctive labels, unique cards, and colorful stickers or wrapping paper.

- Maximize your effort. In making the handmade gift, try to give all you've got. If you are baking the cookies by yourself, make sure that you prepare to bake a large selection of cookies by freezing several rounds of this dough in advance.

Water And Exercise

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 20:51:00 +0000

The human body is made up of over 75% of water, and
as we all know, we cannot live without water. The
fact is, we can only survive for a total of 3 days
without water. Water has however, been replaced in
most diets by soft drinks and other sugar sweetened
refreshments. Keep in mind that water is a healthier
and necessary for leading yourself towards a better
health and longevity.

Your own personal need for water can vary greatly
due to exercise, weight, and temperature. Research
has proven that over 2/3 of adults don't get the
water they need on a daily basis. By drinking water
on a regular basis you can replenish your body and
keep it well hydrated and functioning as it should be.

A majority of us wait until we are thirsty before
we drink water. Keep in mind, this way isn't a
reliable gauge of the water needs for the body. By
the time you are thirsty you have already lost two
of more cups of the body's water supply. Therefore,
drinking water regularly is much better than simply
waiting until you are thirsty.

It is very important that you don't substitute
beverages with alcohol and caffeine for water. The
reason behind this is that those types of beverages
act as a diuretic and can cause you to lose more
weight through increased urination. You may think
and feel as if you are getting more water through
these beverages, although the fact is that you
are letting it go almost as fast as you consume it.

Anytime you exercise, you need more water. Due to
perspiration, your body will lose quite a bit of
water. For each pound lost due to exercise, you need
to drink 2 cups of water. Even when you lay down
to sleep, your body loses water. By drinking a
glass or more of water before you go to sleep, you
can wake up with your body functioning as it should
be.

It should become more obvious that when you are sick
you'll need more water than any other tine. When
you get a cold or the flu, your body can become
dehydrated quite quickly. You can help to prevent
this by drinking more water at times when you become
sick.

There are several mixed opinions as to whether
purified water will actually provide benefit. This
is a subject you should explore yourself as you
determine the best type of water for yourself.

Always make it a habit to drink water on a daily
basis. You should keep a bottle of water with you
at all times and drink it throughout the day. You
should also teach yourself to drink water instead
of other beverages that don't replenish the nutrients
your body needs.

Easy Handmade Gifts

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 20:48:00 +0000

Handmade gifts are gifts that can be made by people who are talented or by grade school children before they get appreciation. Actually, there are easy items that can be transformed into great gifts for loved ones, whether it is the holiday season or special occasions.

During special times of the year, we always think of how to make our relatives happy, that it gets so tempting to spend all your carefully saved money. Making personal gifts for your friends and family not only shows how you appreciate them but also saves you from overspending and budget deficit.

Things that we usually do, that we find uninteresting, can be transformed into great gift ideas. Here are some great handmade gifts that you can try:

• Food gifts

Giving foods as gifts is a great way of sharing your great palate with family and friends. You can bake cookies or bread and wrap it creatively, and those would receive it would be touched with the gesture. You can wrap then with fabric and ribbon or just pick -out a very creative-looking container for the goodies. You can even add the recipe with wrapping.

Another food gift would be preserved or home-canned fruits and vegetables. If you are somebody with produce of your own, then there are things that you can do with your harvest to make them suitable for gift-giving. Or your can just buy organic produce in the market and home can them.

• Crafts gifts

There are many crafted items that you can give. You can make ornaments, if it is during the holidays, then decorative gift baskets would be great. This would showcase your creativity and skill.

It could even be bath salts and oils. They may sound very luxurious but actually there are very easy to make. You just need to buy some important ingredients. There are easy steps to follow that you can find in craft books, over the internet, and other sources. When making bath salts, you just need Epsom salts and sea salts.

You can add the oils that would give your bath salts the scent that you want. Bath oils are also very easy to make. You just need carrier oil and the essential oil of the scent that you want. Gradually mix the two oils together until the desired scent in reached. You can transfer the oils to the bottles or jars that you have picked out.

Same as food gifts, decoration is the key to make your gift attractive and pleasant. You can get decorating bottles and jars to put the items inside and you can even decorate it with ribbons.

• Plants

If you have a lot of plants at home, then these would be great gift ideas. You can arrange fresh or died flowers and plants as gifts. Furthermore, there are some people who would get one of their most beautiful plants in the garden and transfer it into pot and giving it as a gift.

The idea that a precious plant given to somebody to care for and enjoy it, is something very touching and very special.

• Letter writing

How does it feel when you receive a letter on your birthday saying how important you are to them? It can be very touching. You can write the letter in Italic or even learn calligraphy to make it more creative and beautiful. It would not just make the gift appreciated but the giver as well.

There could be hundreds of handmade gift ideas, you just to translate these ideas into creative outputs. Handmade gifts not only allow you to save your bucks, it also makes the receiver feel the effort, time and warmth conveyed in the personal and handmade gifts. How great it is to receive something born out of your loved one’s hands?

Kidney Stones

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 22:34:00 +0000

#links

Tips for make up and skin care

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 22:25:00 +0000

‘Make up and skin care’ is generally regarded as women’s forte. Men seldom indulge in ‘Make up and skin care’. Many men do care for their skin but make up is really alien to most men. Treating make up and skin care as different topics wouldn’t make sense; after all, make up will work only if the skin is healthy. So how do you exercise make up and skin care, together? Here are some tips for make up and skin care:

* Always have skin care on mind, whether you are buying products for make up or actually applying them onto your skin after you have bought them. So what you are buying is a ‘make up and skin care’ product, not just a make up product. Check the ingredients to see if it contains things that you might be allergic to. Also check if it contains high concentration chemicals that can harm your skin.

* ‘Make up and skin care’ is also about testing the products before using them. So, apply the make up on a small patch of skin e.g. earlobes and check how your skin reacts to it.

* Keep track of expiry date on your make up products and never use them beyond the expiry date. In fact some products (e.g. vitamin C based products), if not stored properly, get spoilt much earlier than the expiry date.

* Cleanliness is an important part of make up and skin care procedure. Sharpen your eye-liners regularly and keep all your makeup equipment clean at all times. You might fix a date, each month, for overhauling of your equipment. As part of cleanliness, your make up and skin care procedure should also include keeping your hair clean at all times.

* Nail care is another important aspect of make up and skin care. Use a good quality nail polish and always keep your nails clean. Once you are done with cleaning and polishing your nails, you should rub in cuticle oil at the edges of the nail.

* If you have deep-set eyes, you should use a liquid eye liner instead of a pencil one. This will prevent smudging at the deep edges of your eye-lid.

* If you have a skin disorder e.g. acne, you should not apply heavy or chemical based make up. Consult your dermatologist if you are not sure about the make up products that you can use while you have acne or other skin disorder. Never try to squeeze pimples/ acne. Remember that make up and skin care should not conflict each other.

* Use a mild make up remover (instead of just washing it away).

* Another important ‘make up and skin care’ procedure is the following golden rule: “Never sleep with your make up on”

* While applying a deodorant, make sure that you maintain the recommended distance between the nozzle and your skin (as mentioned on the deodorant pack).

So, make up and skin care should always go hand in hand. Do not try to treat make up and skin care differently.

What Are Wrinkles?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 09:17:00 +0000

There are physical signs that show that a person is aging. A man for instance may lose hair or slowly change to grey. Our skin shows signs as well and to understand it, we have to know what wrinkles are.

The skin is made up of 3 layers namely the epidermis, the dermis and subcutaneous tissue. The outer layer namely the epidermis becomes thinner and less sticky as we age. This in turn causes dryness and as this decreases by 10% per decade, it takes more time for the skin to repair itself.

This also affects the dermis because less collagen is produced and the elastic fibers which provide us with elasticity also wears out which is why our skin also sags. We don’t sweat that much as before as there is a decrease as well in the number of sweat glands.

Now that we know where it can happen, we can describe what wrinkles are simply as ridges or creases on a surface.

But is aging the only cause of wrinkles? The answer is no. Studies have shown that exposure to ultraviolet light, UVA or UVB accounts for 90% of skin aging. This varies depending on race because of the person’s pigment protection.

A few other studies have shown that wrinkles can also be caused by environmental factors. Examples of these include cigarette smoking and pollution as this may hasten aging by producing oxygen free radicals. These are particles produced by many of the body’s chemical processes and when it is produced in excessive amounts, it can damage cell membranes causing not only wrinkle but other skin disorders as well.

Rapid weight loss may also cause wrinkles since you reduce the volume of fat cells that cushion around the face that will make the skin sag.

Now that we know what causes wrinkles, can it be treated? The answer is yes. Some dermatologists recommend retinoic acid which is applied to the skin to fill in the crevices. There are also things people can take such as topical creams and ointments to peel off the top layers of the skin, dermabrasion which is a procedure to sand the top layer of the skin, injecting collagen or botulinum under the skin and laser surgery.

Can anyone pursue any of the treatments mentioned? The answer is no. This depends on the patient’s age. Whichever you choose, you should ask the dermatologist how effective is the procedure, is it safe, possible complications and the experience of the professional.

In some cases, a combination of these procedures is necessary. The best part is knowing that this causes uniform destruction and shedding of the old damaged superficial skin cells so the healthier deeper cells will take their place on the surface.

There is not much that people can do to prevent wrinkles because this is normal as we age. But we can slow it down by staying indoors between 10 am to 4 pm when the sun is the hottest and washing the face with a mild non-soap cleanser. The skin should be patted dry and lubricated at once with a water based moisturizer ideally SPF30 filter to prevent further dehydration.

Now that you know what wrinkles are, we can take steps to delay it from happening or just accept it for what it is. After all, aging is a fact of life all of us will one day face.

Make Up

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 09:14:00 +0000

Many women use make up everyday. Most will use make up during special occasions? If you are completely covering your face in make up or simply wearing some lipstick and eyeliner, it is important to use products that are safe for your skin. You should know that there are major cosmetic companies that make products made with chemicals that are harmful to your face. Learning how you can take out the dangerous products and use only good ones is important for your health.

You may wander way companies would use something dangerous in their products. It is simple, businesses have one goal and that is to make money. Cosmetic ingredients that are not safe are usually cheaper than the alternative make up that is being produced. Harmful ingredients are going to create a better-looking product in some cases. They do not tell you that after using the beautiful colors of eye shadow, your face may break out!

There are however, many companies realize that their customers are becoming smarter and want to know about their products before they use them. Our facial skin is very sensitive and it is very important to use the best products that you can. If you are looking for inexpensive or high end products, there are cosmetics, moisturizers, toners, and many other items that are going to be available out there for you so that you are not risking harmful consequences.

Some of the common dangerous ingredients to look out for when purchasing these items for your face are Methyl, Propyl, Butyl, and Ethyl. These are very well known toxins and can cause allergic reaction in many people. These chemicals are extremely cheap and are often used to kill bacterial growth in your products. Many companies are using them.

You should also be careful of Propylene Glycol and DMDM Hydrantion. These products are used in anti-freeze! Many of these products have been linked to abnormal kidney and liver function and can actually cause permanent damage to your organs.

You need to be very careful of what you put on your lips too. Most of the synthetic colors like C Yellow 6 can be dangerous to your skin and your body and when you put this chemical on your lips, you are eating poison to say the least. One time may not affect you, but after wearing the lipstick for a long period of time, you can start to feel the results. It is like smoking cigarettes on a regular basis.

So that you are safe, you should ask your dermatologist or doctor to recommend about what kinds of products to use. You need to be sure that your products are safe so that you can be safe and healthy. The healthier your skin is the younger you will look and you will be happier too.

Treatment for skin wrinkles

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 13:18:00 +0000

With the advancement and progress in the technology of health and wellness, there are a myriad choice of treatment for skin wrinkles.

Whether it be topical, cosmetic or surgical, there is a broad range of treatments available in the market from just reducing wrinkles to totally eradicating its presence, which would ultimately require surgical treatment.

Here is a list of cosmetic treatments, both medical and surgical, including topical medicines and creams that are available in the market.

Vitamin A Acid- also known as tretinoin, with common brand names like Retin- A and Renova, are among the most common ingredients for wrinkle treatment.

This ingredient, available by prescription, has the longest success record in the treatment of aging skin and removing fine lines, especially in the facial area.

Creams and lotions containing tretinoin must be used continually and diligently.

Initial symptoms may cause redness and peeling, however, the discomfort of the side effects may be reduced my lowering the concentration of the ingredient with the base cream and applying it less often until the skin has adjusted to it.

Alpha-hydroxy acids, also termed as ‘fruit acids’, include active ingredients like glycolic and lactic acid.

Medical preparations containing these fruit acids are safer alternatives and cause very little or no skin irritation at all, however, effects are not as significant, though.

Antioxidants- these are basically topical preparations that contain vitamins like A, C and E, as well as beta-carotene. These are commonly coupled with sun protection and provide mild treatment for fine wrinkles.

There are also ordinary moisturizers that claim to reduce wrinkles, however, moisturizers that do not contain any of these topical ingredients or substances can only mask or hide wrinkles temporarily and only reduce the appearance of fine lines.

There are also cosmetic procedures readily available in the market, usually offered by dermatological experts or medical practitioners.

Glycolic acid peels- Although this form of treatment involves hands-on application, these superficial peels can only make slight effects in the intensity and degree of fine wrinkles.

Deeper peels- This skin peel process involves the use of chemical substances like salicylic acid and trichloroacetic acid that penetrates deeper into the skin.
It is believed that the deeper the treatment penetrates into the skin, the more effective it gets in smoothing out the fine lines of wrinkles, however, the deeper the peel, the greater risk of having side effects, among them, long-lasting pigment changes or changes in the color of the skin and scarring.

These peels generally do not require anesthetics, however, patients can request for mild sedation to help ease short-term but painful treatment process.

Microdermabrasion- this process primarily involves ‘scrubbing the skin’ using a machine containing silica or aluminum crystals that is being used to ‘sand’ the skin.

These services are often offered in packages of six to seven treatment sessions and does not change skin anatomy or generally have chemically-adverse effects, but does guarantee to make skin feel smoother.

Over the counter cosmetic products that are being sold as ‘home microdermabrasion’ are just mild exfoliants and are generally harmless but are less likely to produce significant, sometimes barely noticeable, changes in wrinkles.

Dermabrasion – this is the real surgical process usually performed by medical practitioners, mostly plastic surgeons or licensed dermatology practitioners, under general anesthesia.

This surgical treatment involves the deft hands and skill of the treating physician, using a rotating instrument to sand the skin down.

Dermabrasion can produce excellent results, however, a greater risk is involved in the process, since it can produce significant side effects like scarring and permanent changes in skin color.

With the many treatments for skin wrinkles, people now have several choices as to which one to choose should they decide to choose the right treatment that would suit them.