Chocolate, Glorious Chocolate

It’s not just for Dessert!

There are new and exciting ways to get your chocolate fix.  Being Valentine’s is just an excuse to try out new things and you may or may not know the ways that chocolate is used today.

Taste – You can have the traditional chocoalte bar, put the mocha in yoru coffee or the cake for dessert, but did you know that you can have a cocoa infused pork chop for your main course?  Miss Paula Dean makes a wicked meal with chocolate and seen on the food network.  And as a woman after my own heart, everything in moderation! 

Here is the link so that you can try it out…  Don’t be afraid of your kitchen, YOU CAN DO IT!

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/chocolate-spiced-pork-chops-recipe/index.html

Scent – The scent of chocolate is soothing and a great way to add a sense of sensual to your mood.  Some perfume’s have a chocolate undertone and others are just like opening your favorite treat.  These are great ways to get your fix.  You can also buy candles and essential oils to add to your mood.   You can pick these items up a lot of different places.  My personal favorite is to hit the Bath and Bodyworks Store or the Victoria’s fragrance counter!  Don’t be afraid to experiment.  If you find one you dont like it is not permenant just wash it off and move on to the next one!

Touch – Here is one that many people do not know about…  You can go to your spa and ask for a chocolate treatment.  Many options are available and can be packaged to make a great romantic treat for you and your partner.  Just imagine a Chocolate Sugar Scrub, followed by a Whipped Chocolate Bath and then finish it all off with a Cocoa massage!  The possibilities are endless.   Check out your local spa or on line in your area for the options that are available.  Remember EVERYONE needs to be pampered now and then and if there is chocolate involved, all the better.

Here is one from my to do list…  Hotel Hershey!

http://www.thehotelhershey.com/

The possibilities are endless, so be creative and be adventurous.  Make chocolate your friend!

I would love to hear what you plan  to do our what you have done in the past with chocolate!

We Want To Know

Valentines, Sweet Valentines

Valentine’s Day has a number of historical claims to its origin.  Both the Catholic Church and Pagan Theology have claims on this one.  But what ever your belief the same still holds true, there will be hearts, there will be candy and there will be exchanges of love and devotion.  Even if it’s just for the day.

The time of hand-made sentiments and a real outpouring of feelings is really a thing of the past and unless you are the “artsy crafty” type then you have undoubtedly noticed that Valentine’s Day starts earlier and earlier and that the commercialism of the day is right in your face and usually starts about December 26th.  So while you returning that lovely sweater that you aunt sent you, you can now pick up that heart-shaped box of chocolate that you want to hide and savor at will.

It’s not a bad holiday though.  Even if the red and pink have you wishing for a can of spray paint long before the actual day itself, it is still a day of caring and usually the one day that our significant other has remembered that they need to show us a little attention and appreciation.  That is an advantage to all of that “in your face” advertising.   

Don’t get me wrong, I really do like the holiday.  I am the type to make my own Valentine’s and be sure that they show the appropriate sentiment for their intended recipient.   With this being said, I want to be sure that you have some great ideas for your holiday.  Even if the Valentine that you intend to give is to yourself.

It is not too late to make a special Valentine for someone.  Below are some ideas that are from first Valentine’s made.

Early valentines were made by hand, using colored paper, watercolors and colored inks.

•Pinprick valentines - Made by pricking tiny holes in paper with a pin to resemble the look of lace   (These are great to hold up to the light and see the design through)

•Cutout valentines- Lace-look cards made by folding paper several times and cutting out a lace design with small, sharp scissors   (Similar to those paper snowflakes that you made for Christmas)

•Acrostic valentines – Verses in which the first letters in the lines spelled out the beloved’s name

•Rebus valentines – Verses in which small pictures took the place of some of the words (for example, an eye instead of I)

 There are a lot of resources on line for samples and ideas.  Don’t be afraid to try something new and these are great for cost cutting as well.  So just give it a shot and see what you come up with.  You never know.  

Be Bold and Be Brave!

Are you in the mood?

Has your libido taken a holiday, been in hiding or just not where you want it to be?

You are not alone!  Many women experience some type of drop in sex drive in their lives.  It can be brought on by several factors.  Here are just a few that you may relate too and what you can do to get back on track.

1) Not enough sleep
According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, women are more than twice as likely as men to have trouble sleeping. And sleeplessness has a direct impact on desire.
Not getting enough shut-eye disrupts sex hormones like estrogen and progesterone. But perhaps more important, missing out on sleep can make you too irritable for sex.
23% of respondents surveyed for the National Sleep Foundation’s 2005 Sleep in America poll reported that their mate’s sleep habits drove them to sleep elsewhere.

Tips that can help…
Make your bedroom a dark, quiet, sleep-friendly haven. Banish work items, like your BlackBerry or laptop; turn off the TV and invest in a comfortable mattress. Use earplugs and a sleep mask to block out light and noise.
Check your meds to ensure they don’t contain stimulants. Also ask your doctor about a short-term prescription for sleeping pills.
If your partner is keeping you up, talk with him about ways to diminish his snoring.  Some nights are just better on the couch or in the guest room.

2) Stress
Many people are so busy that they dont even realize that sex has fallen off of the calendar all together. This may also lead to more stress and the more stressed you are the less likely you are to take the time for intimacy.
And when you start looking for items to scrap from your to-do list, sex is often the first to go.
“Women can do many things at once, which works to our advantage work-wise and life-wise, but it does make things hard sexually,” says Chicago sex and relationship therapist Laura Berman, Ph.D., author of Passion Prescription (Hyperion).
“Most women find themselves putting the kids to bed, cleaning up the kitchen and making lunch for the next day, and the last thing they feel like doing is having sex,” Berman says.

Tips that can help…
Ask your partner to take over some chores. If he can take a little off your plate, you can relax. And that means you’re “better able to respond sexually,” she says.
Schedule it in.  There is nothing wrong with planing a date night, even if you know its only for a sexual encounter.  Just be smart and play safe.

3) Taking medication
We all know that contraceptives can lower your libido, but they are not the only drugs that can effect you. Anti-anxiety benzodiazepines, like Valium and Xanax, can also short-circuit your sex drive.
So can beta-blockers taken for high blood pressure and antihistamines, which can dry up your runny nose and vagina.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants can blunt desire to such a degree that men often take them to remedy premature ejaculation, according to sex researcher Beverly Whipple, Ph.D., co-author of The Science of Orgasm (Johns Hopkins University Press).

Tips that can help…
Try a different beta-blocker or antidepressant.
If you’re feeling good on your SSRIs and your only complaint is that you wish you felt more sexual, talk with your doctor about adjusting your dosage.
Mixing a low dose of another kind of antidepressant, like Wellbutrin, with your SSRI can restore libido.
First and formost be sure and talk with your doctor about any medication or medical issues that you may have.

4) An overactive bladder
About one-third of women with overactive bladders “leak” during intercourse, says Jane Miller, M.D., associate professor of urology at the University of Washington in Seattle. Miller believes that orgasm may cause a slight blip in communication between the brain and bladder.
“The bladder always wants to go to the bathroom, but it doesn’t because there are inhibitory messages sent from the brain to the bladder saying no,” Miller says.
For some women, orgasm may override these messages and, as a result, they release a small amount of urine during sex.

Tips that can help…
Making a pit stop before sex may reduce the chances of a spill, since involuntary bladder contractions are often triggered by volume, she says.
You can also talk to your doctor about getting a prescription for medications like Detrol or Ditropan, used to treat overactive bladder.

6. Menopause.
You lose about 90% of your estrogen – the sex hormone largely responsible for arousal and lubrication – once you hit this milestone.
As levels drop, the vaginal tissue thins and dries out, which can make sex painful enough to make you want to opt out for good. For many women, the drop in estrogen alone explains a dive in libido.
But other aspects of menopause may also leave you feeling unsexy: hot flashes, weight gain, mood swings, apprehension about getting older, and the erratic, heavy menstruation that can occur before your periods stop for good.
Menopause typically occurs around age 51, but some surgeries and chemotherapy can trigger it earlier, which may put even more of a damper on desire.
A recent survey found that women with surgically induced menopause reported higher rates of lowered sex drives (26%) than those who experienced natural menopause (9%).

Tips that can help…
Conventional wisdom is “use it or lose it.” Having sex encourages blood flow to the genitals, Minkin says. Generally speaking, the more sex you have, the more you want.
That said, talk to your gynecologist about medications that make sex more comfortable. Ask about topical testosterone, which can increase desire in postmenopausal women, and estrogen-based creams or suppositories, which remedy vaginal dryness.

Healthy Hearts for All Women

It would be wonderful if we (as a nation) could spend time and money on the things that really matter. 

Our health and the way we take care of ourselves are things that we personally can control or at least have a much tighter reign on.

Today was National Wear Red Day, initiated by the American Heart Association.  The problem is that we support the program on the day of the event and a week or two on other side But we really need to pay attention to this one all the time. 

With the number of women that are effected by this disease each year it is simply amazing that it is not a daily event.   Below are just a few things that we can do to make the numbers not so scarry.  If we do what we can for ourselves and our sisters we can make a difference. 

* One in three women underestimates her risk for heart disease, yet one in four will die of the disease.   Education is important so that women know about their own risks for this preventable killer and encourage them to share the message with family and friends.

* Regular exercise, a heart-healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and refraining from smoking can help women lower their heart disease risk by as much as 82%. 

* Race is a factor when it comes to heart disease.  Latina women have a higher risk of developing diabetes and being overweight or obese, and they are often less physically active.    In addition to blood sugar levels (an indicator of diabetes risk) and body mass index, all women should keep track of their waist circumference measurement, blood pressure, and cholesterol.

* African-American women are at greater risk for heart disease and also for certain risk factors for the disease, including high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity and being overweight.   About 37% of African-American women have high blood pressure, nearly 50% have high cholesterol, and nearly 80% are overweight or obese.    Making matters worse, one in five African-American women smokes.   However, by eating right, exercising, maintaining a healthy weight, and not smoking, that added risk can be reduced.    Quitting smoking alone will decrease a woman’s risk of heart disease by half in only a year’s time.

* While women can take an active part in improving their heart health, there are two risk factors that are beyond their control: family history and age.    After a woman goes through menopause, her body decreases production of heart-healthy estrogen, which makes her more likely to develop heart disease.

* Eating right is important. A heart-healthy diet includes plentiful servings of colorful fruits and veggies, whole grains like high-fiber cereals and breads, and plenty of omega-3-rich fish such as salmon, trout, and herring.   These foods help to keep cholesterol and blood pressure in check and are good for a healthy body in general

* You can lower your risk for heart disease. Weight loss and regular workouts are a part of healthy fitness program.

* Increased stress levels, and continual stress is an additional factor that can increase a woman’s risk of heart disease.  Whenever you feel stressed out, try to do things that relax you, such as spend time with family or friends, practice yoga, write in a journal, read, garden, or knit

* We all need a wake up call about our individual risks.  Now that you know how to get a better grip on the risk factors you can control — diet, physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, and not smoking — start spreading the word to all of the women in your life. 

 Every woman deserves a healthy heart.

Welcome to Friday!

Welcome to Friday! 

Many of us are relieved that the stressful work week is over and that we can just hang out.  However, some of us are just looking at a different to do list.   Whatever your situation is remember that we are still amazing females (and males) and that we need to still take care of ourselves.

Don’t roll out of bed put on your favorite yoga pants and t-shirt and call it an outfit.  You still need to look in the mirror and think, who might I meet today.  Even if all you plan to do is take out the trash, you never know who is out walking their dog or visiting your neighbor.  It just might be mister right, or your next best friend.

    

So, get up look in the mirror and know that you are amazing no matter what, but more confident and open when the world sees the reflection of who you are.  You shine a little brighter with your hair and teeth brushed and your favorite t-shirt saved for painting the bathroom.

             

Tomorrow is National Wear Red Day

Tomorrow is the national wear red day to support or fellow sisters who have heart disease and to support the prevention and research for all of us.

Over 430,000 women are silenced each year by cardiovascular disease – and most of these deaths are preventable.
It’s important for everyone to know the warning signs and what we need to do when they hit.  Education is key for everyone.

Bring out your red tomorrow and wear it proud, even if you have a uniform a red ribbon is a great show of support.

What a way to get free stuff…

Did you know that you can get a free ticket to one of the Disney parks just by volunteering for 1 day and there are a number of things that can be done.

Check out the link below and get your free tickets.   We could all use with a little free and if it helps someone else along the way all the better.

www.GiveADayGetADisneyDay.com

Did you know?

Did you know that Kegel’s aren’t just for sex? 

They help you with incontinence and overactive bladder as well.

I know this is not a topic that people like to discuss, but it is so important to yourself healthy.   And there are a lot of benefits to this particular excercise.  They definitely outweigh the effects of not doing them.

They are easy to do and can be done just about anywhere. 

Kegel exercises should be done as follows:

• Empty your bladder before beginning.
• Contract the pelvic floor muscles and hold for a count of 10.
• Relax the muscles completely for a count of 10.
• Stand and perform 10 of these contractions. Repeat 10 times each while sitting, and 10 times while reclining, for a total of 30 contractions in a single exercise routine.
• Perform your Kegel exercises three times a day, for a total of 90 contractions a day.

Don’t panic 90 may sound like a lot.  However, you can do them in your car, at the office, in line at the grocery store and anywhere else the mood may strike you.  If you are not up to 90 thats ok.  Just start with 5 and work your way up.  and remember it’s not a contest of who can do it faster, remember your are working to strengthen your insides so 5 really good ones are much better than 30 really fast ones.

IF you are doing them right you will feel the difference right away.  You may even feel tender or sore for a while.  If you are not sure if you are doing them right, be sure to ask.  Your gynecologist or family doctor can tell you the right way, or ask a friend.  You may not believe it but more women do them than you think.

Things you need to know about your man…

Men of all shapes, sizes, background, race, religion, you name it all seem to have some of the same strange habits that may drive you absolutely crazy.  But, believe me when I say you are not the only one.   All women have come across one or all of the things below.  It’s not that they are doing it on purpose, it’s just the way they are.

We may need to take a page from their book and get a tougher skin when it comes to your man.  Pick your battles wisely and some of this advise may just cause the battles to go away all together.

* He takes it personally when you nag…
Finding fault with people – especially our loved ones – is easy. So is getting into the habit of mercilessly criticizing your partner.

While your guy may joke about your nagging to his friends, he’s not finding it funny on the inside. You might think you’re offering gentle reminders or that you’re being justifiably critical, but the more you nag, the more he’ll tune you out because he’s genuinely hurt.
Pointing the finger at someone else is easier than dealing with your own issues. But never being at fault can be tiresome to a husband who isn’t always to blame either.

Lesson learned: Stop this vicious cycle by treating your boyfriend or hubby as an equal.

And remember, for the most part you knew the man you married when you got hitched; it’s unfair to now criticize him for being the man you chose to marry.
* He doesn’t like all of your friends…
Chances are he likes your self-involved, basket-case girlfriend about as much as you like his beer-chugging womanizer buddy. He probably wonders why you hold onto the friendship, and he might even wish you’d end it. After all, he’s the one you vent to about her. But he’s not going to open Pandora’s box by telling you his true feelings.

Lesson learned: He doesn’t have to like all your friends. He just has to be civil to them for your sake, unless, of course, those friends are trying to sabotage your relationship.

Next time you feel the urge to gripe about your friends to your guy, remember that he’s filing away everything you say – and he may not be able to forget and forgive as easily as you do.
* He checks out other girls…
If your guy denies noticing the cute waitress at the café, he’s probably just sugar coating the truth to avoid an argument with you. Men like to look at beautiful women – just as women like to admire handsome men.

But that doesn’t mean he’s envisioning a life or even a steamy interlude with the waitress.

Nor does it mean he’s comparing her to you. Odds are he simply appreciates her beauty, just as you appreciate the great grin of that Brad Pitt look-a-like you always bump into at the fax machine.

Lesson learned: As long as he’s not blatantly ogling girls or flirting with other women in front of you, don’t worry! You’re the one he loves.

Avoid the urge to blurt out the dreaded, “Do you think she’s prettier than me?” He’ll find self-confidence much sexier than insecurity. Plus, no guy likes to be pressured into dishing compliments.
*  He gets hit on …
Women probably flirt with your man. In fact, some may have crushes on him, whether he knows it or not, or tells you about it.
Sure, tall, dark and handsome men get hit on more often, but even bald guys with beer bellies can be cute. (If you find him attractive, other women do, too.)

He probably doesn’t tell you when it happens because he doesn’t want you to worry or overreact. Do you tell him every time a man hits on you?

Lesson learned: Remember your guy wants to be with you. As long as he’s not the one doing the flirting, it’s fine for him to be flattered when he gets attention from other women. Similarly, you shouldn’t feel guilty if your local coffee shop barista makes extra friendly small talk with you.

You should be flattered, too – after all, it proves you’ve got good taste in men!
* He wants to get married, eventually…

Ball-and-chain jokes aside, most guys do want to get hitched… when the time is right.

The idea that all men want to be life-long bachelors is simply untrue. Most of them like the idea of spending the rest of their life with one good woman.
The catch is that they also want to sow their wild oats and enjoy the single life first. Men typically want to establish themselves both financially and career-wise, want kids when they’re older and want to own a house by the time they get married.

Lesson learned: If your guy isn’t ready for marriage and you just can’t wait any longer, move on. He might not be in the place he needs to be right now, or unfortunately, you may just not be his Mrs. Right.
And if you’re already married to him, don’t assume he’s secretly pining for the bachelor life he left behind whenever times get tough. Love, fulfillment and security trump lonely nights and an empty fridge – even for guys.
* He lets himself go when you do…
He’ll probably never tell you, but your guy doesn’t adore you regardless of how you look, especially when it comes to weight gain (except pregnancy) or letting your appearance slip.

If you stop hitting the gym, trade those short skirts that won his heart for frumpy sweats, or no longer bother to style your hair, he’ll still love you, but odds are he’ll long for the old you.
He might even wonder if you’ve stopped caring about him if you stop caring about how you look when he’s with you.

Ask if he thinks you look fat, he’ll lie to avoid hurting you, though he may let you know in more subtle ways. Remember, the way you looked when he fell in love with you is the way he wants you to stay forever.

Lesson learned: Never take for granted the importance of physical attraction in your relationship. Look good for your guy, and you’ll feel better about yourself.

And more self-confidence means you’ll have a happier and sexier relationship. He’ll probably work harder to keep himself fit and attractive for you, too.
In part, taken from Lifescript, healthy living for women, By Emily Battaglia, Lifescript Staff Writer
Published May 16, 2009