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The Truth About Hysterectomy

If you’re a woman in her 20′s or 30′s, hysterectomy may be the last thing on your mind. But did you know that women are getting hysterectomies at earlier and earlier ages? The average age for a woman getting a hysterectomy is only 36, down from 42 only a decade ago.

Since hysterectomy is major surgery and has life changing effects, it’s important that we learn about the risks now before facing the decision to have the surgery.

Nora Coffey, president of the HERS foundation shared some of these risks and safer alternatives with me recently. Learn about the afteraffects of hysterectomy and alternatives here.

Sparkling Stacker Bracelets

Sparkling Stackers – you’ve seen them.  They remind me of those gaudy over decorated enamel eggs that some people collect.  Imagine if you took one of those and sliced and diced it into 5 perfect rings or bracelets and wore them on your wrist?

Now imagine that you just paid $35 for just one bracelet and pulling off “the look” is requiring 4-6 of these? Yikes! These sparkling stackers are popping up everywhere.  I saw some in a Bloomingdale’s ad and have also seen knock off’s sold at Target.  This is another fad that will probably soon pass us by.  Much like jelly bracelets and those metal dangly bracelets that use to be all the rage back in the day.

Now the jelly bracelets are in the “free” box at the garage sale and the metallic dangly “bangle” bracelets all reside in goodwill stores across the nation.  I enjoy my fair share of sparkly bejeweled items, but this colorful enamel painted metal with gaudy jewels all mixed in together is very distracting – and not in a good way.  Thumbs down.

Set Achievable New Years Resolutions

Each and every year, after the holiday credit card bill shows up, we make resolutions with the best of intentions. And, within a month or maybe less … we’ve given up completely. Why is that?

Vague Goals
The goals we oftentimes set are unrealistic or are too vague to be trackable. Here are some examples of resolutions

Bad Resolution: “Pay off credit card debt.”

Better Resolution: “Pay an extra $20 each month towards credit card debt until it’s paid off.”

Do you see the difference? One is vague. You can’t possibly hold yourself accountable. The other is much more trackable.

Here’s another example.

Bad Resolution: “Spend less money eating at restaurants.”

Better Resolution: “Use a menu planning service to ensure that we have groceries in the house at all times. Eat at restaurants or fast food only twice per week or less.”

Difficult Goals
It’s wonderful to make resolutions, but, they do no good if you don’t have a plan in place to help you reach them. Let’s go back to that “Pay an extra $20 each month towards credit card debt.” Where is that $20/month going to come from? Is it magically going to appear just because you set a goal? Will the “New Year’s Fairy” deliver a wad of cash to you each month? Of course not. You have to have a plan in place to make the extra money available to you.

For instance, the two goals could be combined. The second goal is reachable. Instead of just saying to eat fast food once per week, it adds on a way to do just that – by signing up for a menu planning service.

The best Resolution could be a combination of both goals:

“Use menu planning service to ensure that we have groceries in the house at all times. Eat at restaurants or fast food only twice per week or less. Take the money we save and apply at least $20 each month towards credit card debt until it’s paid off.

It’s a new year, which means that it’s a new chance to actually make New Year’s Resolutions and KEEP THEM. We hope these examples will help you to set achievable new year’s resolutions and put systems into place so you can achieve them.

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Types Of Ovarian Cysts You Should Know About

Women should not be alarmed by the relatively common occurrence of functional ovarian cysts. In most cases these cysts do not predict or develop into cancer. In fact, many cysts will have no noticeable symptoms or need any form of treatment, although some could be painful and require treatment of some kind.

A follicular cyst is a simple type of ovarian cyst that occurs when ovulation does not take place or when a mature follicle collapses on itself. These kind of cysts can grow to about 2.3 inches in diameter. However, they rarely have any symptoms and should disappear without treatment after a few months.

When the ovarian gland makes progesterone as a part of ovulation and the release of an egg during the menstrual cycle, a corpus luteum cyst can result. The corpus luteum is a round gland which in its healthy state is about an inch in diameter and fluid-filled. Most corpus luteum cysts are asymptomatic and disappear without treatment. They are most likely to develop at the end of the menstrual cycle or during the early months of a pregnancy . Because they do not cause noticeable symptoms, they may form and heal without being noticed.

A functional cyst on the ovaries that is filled with blood that is released from time to time is known as a hemorrhagic ovarian cyst. Although this type of cyst won’t always burst, if it does it will cause a burning feeling in the pelvic area from leaking blood. Hemorrhagic cysts are common, however, and most of the time nothing needs to be done to treat them. If a doctor thinks the cyst is an indicator of endometriosis, they may perform surgery to remove it.

Women can develop dermoid cysts at any time and age, but they are more common during the childbearing years. A dermoid cyst is one type of an ovarian cyst that grows from the totipotential germ cell in the ovaries. Tissues such as bone, teeth and hair can form from this ovarian cell. Dermoid cysts may contain solid physical tissue. Indded, in some cases doctors have found hair and teeth forming in these cysts. Treatment for these types of cysts is to remove them as they can block the flow of blood to the ovaries.

An ovarian cyst that is pathological includes both tumors and endometriosis. These are not common and can only be found after examination by a doctor. A tumor can be defined as a pathological ovarian cyst and be either cancerous or not, benign or malignant. Tumors need to be dealt with as soon as they are discovered. A tumor is generally 6 cm or over, thick walled and persistent. On the other hand women in their prime reproductive years will often develop endometrioid cysts. These endometrioid cysts are present when a woman has endometriosis and are formed when a portion of endometrial tissue bleeds, falls off and then becomes transplanted in the ovaries.

There are different types of ovarian cyst. Whilst most are harmless pathological cysts can lead to other problems and need to be examined and tested. Functional cysts generally represent no long term problem and will disappear of their own accord with a little bit of time. All women should safeguard their health by learning about ovarian cysts and discussing the possibility of cysts with their physicians.

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Beethoven's Big Break Movie Review

After “boy meets girl”, “a boy and his dog” is probably the second most irresistible theme, and one that this film revolves around.

Beethoven’s Big Break is the story of a young boy, Billy, who dreams of having a dog. The irony is that his father is an animal trainer. He’s surrounded by exotic animals all the time that he can’t bond with, so he longs for a “normal” pet.

Jonathan Silverman was his usual geeky but lovable self as 30something widower Eddie, struggling to make a living while getting dinner on the table and take care of his son’s needs without mom. His life suddenly gets even more stressful when he’s sacked from his job, becoming a scapegoat for the mysterious disappearance of the dog who happens to be the star of a popular show. Meanwhile, Beethoven has blundered and ambled his way into their lives, adopting Billy as his human. This is the last thing Dad thinks he needs!

At first Beethoven’s arrival in their lives is a huge disaster, but then things turn around (of course!), and Beethoven becomes an asset not only between father and son but also to Eddie’s job and even his love life.

While Dad and Billy start to really enjoy all that Beethoven is bringing into their lives, a sinister plot is unfolding that may bring all of it crashing down. Beethoven is kidnapped. Will he be returned to Billy and Dad or will the bad guys win?

You’ll have to watch it to find out. :-)

The movie was a big slow in places and a bit long for young kids. Mine kept walking away to do other things and then would return to it later. It didn’t seem to hold their attention. Of course their favorite scenes were ones in which Beethoven causes huge disasters.

That said, what I didn’t appreciate about the movie was the disrespectful attitude of the kid at the beginning. I don’t feel really good about allowing my kids to see a child on the screen speak in a sarcastic way to his Dad and get away with it. I’ve noticed this about many movies marketed to kids. I guess it’s a kid’s fantasy to be able to tell their parents off from time to time.

Beethoven’s Big Break was a made for DVD movie so you can grab it, starting today, at Amazon.com

Foundation Showdown: RIMMEL

For those of you who like liquid foundations (I go back and forth myself between stick foundation and liquid, often combining the two to achieve the desired skin tone) – here are two that I’ve recently compared.

Both foundations are by RIMMEL London.

The first is “Lasting Finish” which promises 16 hours of Transfer Resistant coverage.  This is their “mineral enriched foundation”.  It is oil-free.  I tried this foundation first and I tried it both by itself and also with my Max Factor Pan Stick foundation.  I use the panstick to “dot” on a little bit on the T-zone and then I used the Lasting Finish to moisturize it all on.  The result with the foundation alone was, for me, not enough coverage.  The result when mixed with the panstick was too much in that it caused fine lines to appear around my mouth where I smile (occasionally).  I found the claim of 16 hours to not hold true as well.

The second foundation is “Stay Matte” which promises up to 6 hours of shine-free complexion.  I prefer this foundation over the Lasting Finish foundation.  Number one, it is thick and creamy and has lasted a long time.  Number two, it works very well on its own or when combined with my pan stick method.  The Stay Matte also does not increase any lines on my face and best of all, it works well with my mineral makeup finishing powders that I like to wear sometimes.  I would say it provided at least six hours of shine-free wear.

Both foundations were relatively inexpensive ($6 for the Lasting Finish, $3 for Stay Matte).  Both foundations were 1 fl oz.  I believe the best product for the money is the Stay Matte foundation whether used alone or in combination with other products.

5 Secrets To Rapid Credit Repair

<p style=”float: right”><!–adsense#smallrect–></p>Have you experienced having a negative credit account? You have to repair your credit score as soon as possible, least you suffer the unfavorable consequences attached with a poor credit rating.

These are the 5 methods for you to get back to good credit standing:

1. Practice control when it pertains to the handling of your assets. Dont make the situation more difficult. Youre by now in tight situation, so avoid digging a deeper hole for yourself. This means that you should minimize your everyday expenditure, stop relying on your credit line, and start to save up for the payment of your debts. Your overdues wont be fixed without you doing anything about it. In due course, you will have to find a way to save enough resources for the fulfillment of the same, and this begins by infusing control in the economic facet of your being.

2. Pay your debts. As we have mentioned previously, your overdues wont be fixed without you doing something about it. They will not vanish. You need to do something to pay for them. Credit repair starts with the satisfaction of your existing debts.

3. Utilize old credit cards. Heres a nifty little secret. Business professionals propose for the use of old, but usable, credit cards. For the reason that their time of issuance should be earlier than your current credit lines, credit bureaus will give them greater weight, given that they are still active for an ample span of time. Utilize your oldest credit cards every other month or so, by making small purchases. Then settle your account on time. In this manner, credit bureaus will know that youre responsible with your older credit lines, and such will reflect favorably on your credit score.

4. Dispute questionable claims. If you have purchases on your credit card bill that you think you didnt buy, dispute them as soon as possible. They will be isolated from your records, and they will be excluded in calculating for your FICO score awaiting their motion.

5. Question all the inaccuracies you will see. Some erroneous entries in your credit record can significantly affect your credit score. Your credit statement may show a lower credit limit compared to what you can pay for, for example. Or due dates may have been wrongly put, making you appear more delinquent than how you really are. Examine your credit statement carefully, and have these mistakes corrected at the soonest possible time.

Managing your debt and credit wisely will lead to a lifetime of financial benefits. Mortgages for bad credit have 2% to 4% higher interest rates . Over the life of the loan this can amount to tens of thousands of dollars in extra interest charges. There is no need for you to go through life with bad credit. There are ample debt resources available to help you improve you financial status.

Basic Pointers on Interviewing a Potential Live-In Housekeeper

Looking for a live-in housekeeper is one major household decision that needs careful thinking. In these modern times, having someone to do the house chores and care for your home is no longer just a luxury but rather a necessity in every sense especially if you have a busy lifestyle. However, it is important that you set your standards prior to hiring a live-in housekeeper.

Take note of some of the basic questions you have to ask when you are conducting an interview of a potential live-in housekeeper.

The first set of questions should include personal information such as the complete name, race and ethnicity, religion, age, civil status and so on. You have to determine if the applicant has specific rituals or practices that you are uncomfortable with. Take the time to know as much as you can to avoid conflicts in your own home. If necessary, try to explain your house rules.

Second set of questions include capacity to handle the job including health considerations. Determine the applicant’s limitation when it comes to household chores. Can the applicant handle multi-tasking? Is she capable of cooking, doing the laundry, cleaning the house, caring for the plants, feeding the pets and so on. Is her health fit for the job? Consider the major tasks that need to be accomplished at home and ask the applicant if she is capable of handling all the duties. Include in this set of questions if she can work with minimal supervision.

Third, ask about her previous employments and employers. Ask about the responsibilities she had before, how she handled conflicts and her relationship with her previous employers and work mates. Take the time to let her explain how she meets the demands of her job and what she does to improve her performance. Always maintain eye contact from time to time and see if she answers the questions truthfully and confidently.

Lastly, ask the applicant if she had ever been subjected to police disciplinary measures. Ask her to explain in full detail and take the time to listen and sense her sincerity. Ask for police clearances and check for any criminal records. Although these can be acquired from the agency, asking the applicant directly is also for your own security.

Remember to double check all the information handed down to you by the agency. Check for the consistency of the records and be assertive in getting to know the applicant better.

Interviewing a potential live-in housekeeper can help you gain confidence in your decision to hire one.

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What Is The Best Method For Treatment for Wrinkles?

Everybody’s looking for a failsafe treatment for wrinkles. A wrinkle reducer that’s effective on one person’s skin may not be for another user however. There are some things that should be considered before investing in an anti-aging cream that will bring the best possible results.

What kind of results do you want?

People looking to use anti-aging cream aim for different results. Some want to target lines on their forehead. Others aim to eliminate fine lines around their eyes. Still others simply want to prevent further aging and just want to maintain their youthful skin texture. There is an anti-aging serum that will address each of these problems, but how effective they are still depends on the type of skin you have and on the extent of damage from the elements.

Analyze your skin type.

If your skin still has its youthful appearance and is relatively undamaged by the elements, using a wrinkle cream designed for heavily-lined skin can actually have adverse effects- worsening the situation. If you have skin that has seen too much sun and wind however, using preventive anti-aging cream designed just for maintenance may not do you much good.

Time Constraints?

There are anti-aging treatments that require several different applications or multiple steps each day for them to work effectively. If you have a busy schedule and will find it difficult to adhere to the instructions for multi-step applications, it’s wiser to invest in a one-step wrinkle cream if you plan to get the best results. Anti-aging treatments work less efficiently if the instructions for their usage are not followed.

Do You Have Any Problems Other Than Age Lines?

If your skin is sensitive or you have a case of acne or rosacea, this will play a big role in choosing a compatible wrinkle treatment for your skin. Although a lot of anti-aging remedies address these problems, a few will actually worsen things. It might be better to consult a good dermatologist to be able to determine which treatment is best for you.

If you want to better the chances of choosing the anti aging treatment that’s perfect for you, careful analysis of your skin’s issues and treatment compatibility prior to buying should be made. Doing so will should help you get it right on the first try.

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Understanding Constipation: The Serious Health Risks

Do you have regular bowel movements?

Good digestive health is basically characterized by regular elimination. Constipation usually indicates that there is a more serious medical condition involved. Over 95% of health problems begin in the digestive system and in many cases the cause is often traced to constipation.

In a 24-four period, the number of meals you take should be the same as the number of times you have your bowel movements. If you take frequent meals, then you should also take frequent trips to the john. Not being able to do this means you are constipated. Among Americans, 65% are suffering from this condition.

Traditional Medicine and Holistic Medicine have contrasting explanations about constipation.

In Traditional Medicine, constipation is defined as the passage of small amounts of hard dry stool. It also explains that frequency of elimination is dependent on an individual’s level of metabolism. Since people’s level of metabolism vary, the frequency of elimination also varies among each individual.

In contrast, Holistic Medicine says that frequency of elimination is determined by the number of meals taken. A healthy digestive system efficiently absorbs food and nutrients during intake and expels the toxic matter 12 – 18 hours later. Food that stays in the body for longer than 18 hours rots and develops toxins that are absorbed in the bloodstream which then leads to different sorts of health problems.

If you are constipated, the following tips will help you normalize elimination.

1) Drink lots of water to rehydrate your digestive system. Your daily intake of water should be one ounce for every pound of your body weight.

2) Exercise regularly. Normal elimination results with the increased blood flow which happens when you exercise.

3) Take a good daily fiber supplement that consists of ground flax.

4) Include Essential Fatty Acids like Flax, Borage and Fish Oils to your daily supplements to lubricate your digestive system. A smooth digestive passage will make elimination easier.

The hard fact is — constipation is a serious health matter. The digestive system absorbs whatever is put into it. Waste that is not been expelled from your body will clog it and result in the accumulation of toxins. When this happens your liver, lungs, lymphatic system, blood, skin, colon, and kidneys have to work overtime to clean up the poisonous matter from your body. This is a situation that you wouldn’t want to happen as it may spell more trouble.

When faced with a health condition such as constipation, it would be wise to consult with a naturopathic medical practitioner who can give you sound advice on supplements and healthy alternatives; even share reading materials that would be useful in helping you deal with problems caused by poor digestive health.

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