Image from Goodhousekeeping.com

by Amanda Paige

 

Now by “Clean your house with a fern” I don’t mean turn it over and dust with it, I’m talking about cleaning your air!   According to SixWise.com your gonna need a lot of plants to start cleaning your air, but if you could clean 87% of air toxins in 24 hours wouldn’t you run out and buy some?  Well, you better get the big cart because you are going to need to buy 15-18 good sized plants.  Personally, I would much rather have a house full of plants than a house full of Lysol spray anyway!

“The Mother Fern, one of the best at purifying the air, is a very popular houseplant because it is easy to care for, thrives in indirect light and with little moisture, and is very attractive,” says Six Wise.  Whole Living Magazine says to put one in your bathroom windows, the warm steam from the shower will act like a greenhouse and it will freshen up the room.

Don’t despair if the fern isn’t your cup of tea try one of these other air purifying options instead:

• Dragon tree
• Ivy
• Ficus
• Philodendrons
• Spider plants
• Peace lilies
• Ferns
• Chrysanthemums
• Palms

And next time you want to buy your sick friend a little pick me up, grab a plant instead of flowers, they’ll thank you later.

by Sophia Marcel

Misplace your keys when you are 30 and it’s no big deal, but at 40? People start to get concerned. If you’ve had that same kind of experience don’t freak out  everybody has moments when they forget something for a host of reasons that has nothing to do with aging or Alzheimer’s.

Sure, aging is a factor in memory loss, the same way you may not run as fast in your 40’s as you did in your 20’s. And, while you lose neurons as you age, your brain makes new ones. There is a big difference between normal slowing down and serious cognitive impairment.

Even if there is something going on with your memory, it’s unlikely to be Alzheimer’s. There are many psychological and physical disorders that have nothing to do with aging that can weaken our memory such as, an over or under active thyroid, anxiety, low blood sugar and certain medications.

While there is no Viagra for memory, you can make simple lifestyle changes to help sharpen your memory and boost overall brain health. Exercise is the Miracle-Grow for the brain. Studies suggest you can cut your life time risk for dementia in half if you engage in some form of aerobic exercise.

Challenge yourself. Just doing puzzles won’t cut it. What you need is cross-training for our brain by doing many different activities. Do intellectual activities that are not only demanding but meaningful to you.

What’s good for the body is good for the brain, so aim for a balanced diet. Research shows a correlation between brain health and foodsthat contain omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon, soybeans, and flaxseed. Berries, spinach, broccoli, have antioxidants and orange juice, green leafy vegetables have adequate levels of folate that is also recommended.

by Amanda Paige

I get information sent to me from time to time from friends who have found some rather interesting products, that make you just say “well then!”  So I am here to bring to you things you would have never thought of looking for before.

First is a product from a company called My New Pink Button.  Did you know that there is such a thing as losing color on your….you got it, your sweet spot??  Well before you run and grab a mirror to see which shade category you are in, know that there is help on the horizon!  With 4 hues to choose from….I really don’t know what else to say, other than do we really need to use this?  Please let us know if you have tried this or think you would like this product, because maybe there is a real need that I am just unaware of.

Second on our list are Linger Mints, like altoids for the who-hoo.  Now this just sounds like a bad idea all together.  We know that sugar is not good for your vajayjay, so this clearly has to be a gimic.  Thanks to Jen Phillips of MotherJones.com, she has done the research for us and agrees.  She found that they are actually tradeshow mints that were repackaged!  I was never able to find the actual site they list on their packaging www.lovetolinger.com, but there sure is a lot of talk out there about them!

Third is a product that actually might be for real, Subtle Butt.  This 5 piece pack of disposable gas neutralizers can actually be purchased at places like Drugstore.com and Solutions that Stick, so they must work!

Finally, now I get to share with you something that really works, SweetSpot Labs intimate grooming products for women.  Having used the products myself for the past 7 years and being completely hooked, I think I am a pretty good spokesperson.  With 3 aromas and unscented to choose from and 6 different products including gentle wash and wipettes, you are sure to find something to fit your needs.  After all freshness is next to fabulousness, what are you waiting for?

By Sophia Marcel

Honeypot founder, Ow Shin Yann said; “Women everywhere aspire to be more confident and well groomed and he is determined to offer the local women an unrivalled wax experience.” Ladies will be pampered and buffed to perfection.

When you step into Honeypot you realize that this isn’t your usual waxing salon, but a boutique with a sexy attitude. The award winning Honeypot Wax Boutique has salons in Singapore, Bangkok, Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta.

Honeypot thinks your experience down south may as well be done in style; from the impressive crystal chandeliers, the playful patterned walls and the private pink treatment rooms, it feels as though you have entered someone’s sexy boudoir. Everything exudes sexiness, seduction and glamour, even the wax is hot pink and smells of cherry pie and the aftercare products are stylishly packaged.

They exclusively source their intimate care, high quality wax and other products from the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom.  Not to mention, being the first in the country to bring in such luxury lines as SweetSpot Labs gives Honeypot the extra edge over their competition.

Honeypot is a leading award winning boutique, as the Singapore salons have scooped several high profile magazine awards including “Best Brazilian Wax 2006″ by Cleo Magazine, “No 1 Pick for Brazilian Wax’ by Timeout Magazine, “Brazilian Wax Salon Winner 2007″ by Simply Her Smart Shopper Award, “Best Brazilian Wax 2008.

by Sophia Marcel

For centuries, women from around the world have been wrapping their post-pregnancy bellies in order to quickly get back into shape. It’s believed that using a belly wrap helps reduce the size of a swollen uterus, reduces water retention around the belly area and helps to lose inches fast. 

Belly wraps are for all the women out there who despair at the amount of loose and sagging skin that is left behind after childbirth, whereas in earlier times women would have wrapped a broad cloth band, we now have a variety of girdle like items to choose from.

Baboosh Baby is an online baby and pregnancy store which was launched in 2007 by model and actress Brooke Burke.  It is an eco-friendly store which sells everything baby, as well as post par-tum wraps, organic stretch-mark oils, breast feeding bras, clothing, art, books and other body products. Baboosh Baby, is a sister company to Modern Mom, another website dedicated to mothers and mothers to be.

The 36 year old, actress says after three children, she is an expert on how to get her figure back and swears by the Taut Belly Wrap. All you have to do is look at her and wonder what the secret to her flat belly is.  You need wonder no more.

Readers who have been following the exploits of the slightly overweight, somewhat insecure and perpetually 34 year old, will soon find themselves going through withdrawal.

The comic strip “Cathy,” which has chronicled the life, frustrations and swimsuit season meltdowns of its namesake for more than 30 years, is coming to an end.

Cathy Guisewite, the strip’s creator, announced on Wednesday that she is ending the popular cartoon’s run.  Ms. Guisewite, 59, said the autobiographical strip has been “the most astonishing form of therapy,” but her “creative biological clock” was ticking and she wanted to try something else - although she is not sure what.

The comic has won several awards, including a 1992 National Cartoonists Society’s Reuben Award and an Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program in 1987, and at its height appeared in 1,400 papers.

The final “Cathy” strip, will run in newspapers on Sunday, Oct. 3.

by Amanda Paige

It doesn’t seem to bother women to pay for pain, ie. getting a brazilian, but how much would you pay to ease your pain?  Anesthesiologist and BareEase developer Dr. Edna Ma bets that $24.99 will make you happy.  Her one time use kit provides how to instructions and latex panties to hold the numbing cream in place, so you can apply and discreetly head off to your favorite esthetician after work or maybe even on your lunch break!

According to Dr. Ma “The BareEase & Cream Prep Kit is the first and only garment-based numbing system for use as an ouchless pre-treatment step for bikini hair removal.  Unlike any other system, the kit includes a numbing cream, in addition to a latex panty that acts as an occlusive dressing to isolate the cream for better and more effective absorption.  This innovative combination of garment and medication is designed to make hair removal treatment an ouchless, safe and convenient experience.”

To find out more or order this kit, check out her website at BareEase.com.  Now that should make for a more fun summer!

by Sophia Marcel

If your entertainment budget is running a little thin these days, find ways to have fun for free. Whether you’re looking for a night out with the guys, the girls, a family-friendly excursion or a romantic date with that special someone, there are always amusing alternatives that don’t require much cash. Consider these fun, frugal activities to keep yourself entertained:

• Go camping - still one of the cheapest vacation one can take especially US National Parks.
• Take advantage of local cultural things.
• Visit State or County Fairs.
• Visit a vinyard.
• Go to the Beach.  Build a sandcastle.
• Go on a bike ride and pack a picnic lunch. When you find the perfect spot, stop and eat.
• Go on a picture-taking adventure.  Bring your camera and scout out interesting places to take photos.
• Instead of going to the theater, have a movie marathon at home.  Pick a theme and plan appropriate snacks to go with it.
• Have a barbeque.
• Be sure to check the events section of your local newspaper.  Museums, libraries, zoos and other attractions often host free movies showings, concerts, exhibits and more.

by Sohia Marcel

A few years back, Roberta Lee, M.D., co-director of the Integrative Medicine Felowship at Beth Israel’s Continuum Center for Health and Healing in New York and author of The SuperStress Solution,  did a study on patients who were showing telltale symptoms of post tramatic stress disorders, anxiety and sleep disturbance.  She said these patients hadn’t  been through any terrifying ordeal and in fact denied feeling overly stressed at all.

What she found out was that these people had been living under such extreme stress for so long, they didn’t know they were stressed, she said, ” it had become an invisible part of the landscape of their lives”.

According to, Stephanie  McClelan, M.D, and Beth Hamilton M.D., co-authors of So Stressed: The Ultimate Stress Relief Plan for Women, we each have our very own stress personality. The stress response is influenced by many factors, and I tend to agree we all don’t process stress in the same way.

Just recently I read an article in one of my new favorite magazines Body+Soul,  written by Teri Trespico,  that the key factor behind our stress response is our level of cortisol, a hormone excreted by the adrenal glands during moments of heightened anxiety.  Someone who underproduces cortisol may feel sensitive to stress.

Trespico lists 7 things you can do to relieve stress:

1. Reframe stress positively. Don’t get derailed from your larger goals. Rather ran viewing the world as unfair, acknowledge that are events which are largely out of your control.

2. Get moving. Exercise produces serotonin and norephins, which create a sense of euphoria.

3. Get plenty of sleep. The importance of sleep is beneficial for more than just stress.

4. Find Meaning in work. Job pressure tops the stress list. The key to coping is to find meaning in what you do. Look beyond your daily tasks to how you personally contribute to your team.

5. Stay connected. There is a reason we reach for others when we are stressed.

6. Hit the brakes. The capacity for rest important. Give yourself at least a 10-15 minute time out.

7. Eat the right foods. Whole food sources of tyrosine and tryptophan, animon acids help produce balancing neurotransmitters. Try avocados, spinach, nuts, oats and yogurt.

by Sophia Marcel

Many factors can weaken our pelvic muscles, from pregnancy, childbirth, to being overweight. This is known as a pelvic organ prolapse and the effects can range from uncomfortable pelvic pressure to leakage of urine, incontinence, and even sexual dysfunction.

If left untreated the condition may worsen, and normally can only be repaired with corrective surgery and most often will result in a complete hysterectomy.

The Kegel Exercise is the only known non-surgical solution for the prevention of nearly all forms of female pelvic floor disorders, and I would like to add that Kegel exercises are not only for women but men as well.

There are many devices out there to help you with these exercises, but statistics have shown that since its introduction over 60 years ago, the Kegel exercise can be performed where a woman squeezes nothing, and if done correctly has been proven effective.

You can do Kegel exercises discreetly from just about anywhere, whether you are sitting at your desk, in your car or relaxing on your sofa. Start by understanding what Kegel exercises can do for you, then follow step by step instructions for contracting and relaxing your pelvic floor muscles.

By the way you can even do Kegel exercises while you are pregnant.