By: May Rostom

Haven't been able to sleep lately? Does your concealer fail to hide those dark circles every time?

Dark circles are usually accompanied with puffiness under your eyes that make you look tired and worn out. The skin under the eyes is the thinnest compared to the rest of your skin that's why it's prone to dryness.

Here are 10 steps for you to follow to reduce this puffiness and those panda eyes:

1. Recognize the root of the problem. If you have been sleeping and hydrating enough and still have panda eyes, find out why you're getting them because some causes of dark circles and puffiness are treatable and some aren’t(like the genetic factor for example).

2. Limit the intake of sugar, salty foods and alcohol which cause edema by retaining water and as a result swelling or puffs under eyes.

3. Drink plenty of water. Any skin problem is usually resolved by drinking 8 cups of water daily since mainly all skin conditions arise from dehydrated skin.

4. Apply cool compresses like cucumber slices, wet cotton balls, tea bags or a cold washcloth which decrease the swelling by constricting blood vessels in that area.

5. Home remedies like coffee cottons (dip some cotton balls in coffee and apply them under your eyes) or yeast cotton balls also help in reducing the swelling. Also the herb eyebright can decrease under eye problems.

6. Remove eye makeup every night with an eye makeup remover using soft cotton pads and gently wipe it off in circular dabbing motion. Don't use waterproof mascara.

If its waterproof it will demand excessive cleaning to remove and so the pulling and rubbing of that skin area will contribute to wrinkles and puffiness.

7. Do not use face moisturizers containing humectants (glycerin, glycol and glycerol) around the eye area it will increase swelling of that area by retaining water in it.

Instead, before you hit the covers moisturize your face and eye area with any moisturizer that contains these skin treats Shea butter, Avocado oil and Coenzyme Q10.

8. Get some sleep. 8 hours of sleep is enough to help with the dark circles and puffiness.

To get good sleep, don’t have dinner immediately before going to bed; it's preferred to eat 3 hours before sleeping to catch the deepest sleep.

9. Eat right and take your vitamins. One of the reasons for dark circles is leaky blood vessels.

Specific antioxidants, like those found in citrus fruits and passion flowers have been shown to support blood vessel strength and improve circulation.

You can find nutritional supplements and a good eye contour gel that contains those antioxidants.

Try to incorporate Iron in your diet as it also plays a role in the causes of dark circles.

10. Use eye cream or eye gel that contains vitamin E-K, Haloxyl and Eyeliss.

These peptide based ingredients have been proven to be the most effective based on several clinical trials to increase skin growth.

Stay away from paraffin wax and liquid paraffin which make the product easier to apply but help in pulling the skin below your eyes.

Remember the eyes are the windows to your soul so don’t neglect them.

By May Rostom:

Margaret Munnerlyn Mitchell the author of "Gone with the wind" once said "I was never one to patiently pick up broken fragments and glue them together again and tell myself that the mended whole was as good as new...

What's broken is broken and I'd rather remember it as it was at its best than mend it and see the broken places as long as I lived".

This quote got me wondering if human relationships are like fine china, once broken can never be mended.

I started asking my friends if they saw the most beautiful vase they laid eyes on with a crack along its side, would they still buy it and try to hide that cracked line or will they settle for another one without the crack?

Most of them said that it was hard to live with something broken because even though the lines were hidden, you know they're still there but sometimes you don’t want perfection and you know that this is what you want so that’s when you'll buy that broken vase. Take for instance a broken partnership.

Nowadays there are many reasons to break up with your partner whether he cheated on you with your best friend, abused you or simply disappeared when you needed him the most.

When would you stop calling this "partnership" and accept the fact that it's nothing but an ugly, distorted form of an acquaintance? Would you confront him, tell him what's bothering you and try to work things out although knowing you'll never be able to fully forgive him or would you  lash out on him , probably hit him then ignore all this because he isn't worth the time, effort nor argument?

I wonder if stuff like that can be fixed. When does too much gluing become messy? How much hiding the flaws should we tolerate?

When should we just throw it away and find a better vase?

After observing many relationships around me I noticed that we all have cracks to hide whether if your man is the loud, angry type that yells at you in front of your friends or he is the super jealous type that freaks out if you're wearing tight fitted clothes or he is the careless cool guy that doesn’t believe in calling you everyday to check on you.

Sarcasm usually finds its way in awkward situations like these to cover up the crack until you can get home and glue it.

I see many girls that hate the fact that he's nervous, uptight or careless but still carry on being in the relationship pretending that everything's alright and that in my opinion is the biggest mistake anyone can make.

If he's like that now he won't change and most probably he'll get worse so don’t glue it thinking that maybe the issue will resolve itself , instead accept the fact that he's like that or just walk away (always better sooner than later). 

Don’t deny the fact that you hate this about him or the fact that you wont be able to alter yourself for him and stop acting like everything's ok when its not.

We all had a broken vase and to others we were the broken vase but those of us who survived threw it away before they cut themselves.

As I started with a quote I'd also like to end with one, "numbing the pain for a while will make it worse when you finally feel it".  J.K. Rowling

Oliver J. Chiang
 
Sleeker, faster and (sometimes) cheaper gadgets for the holidays.
 

 
BURLINGAME, Calif. -- Buyers love to shop when the choosing is good.

And for gadget shopping this holiday season--with more smart phones, videogame consoles, e-readers and notebooks--the choosing is very, very good.

Smart phones will be big this year, as the technology has become more pervasive and the devices smarter and sleeker.

The latest iPhone model, the 3GS, is an obvious top contender.

But thanks to the competition finally getting serious this year, it's not the winner by default, and those who don't want to deal with an AT&T plan will be giving thanks.

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The new Motorola Droid, using Verizon Wireless, has been getting rave reviews--matching, and even surpassing in some cases, the iPhone's features, spec for spec.

Other Apple alternatives in this category include the Palm Pre and the HTC Touch Pro2.

But Apple's cachet doesn't stop at the iPhone, and consumers will definitely want to start taking note of the other Steve Jobs creations loved ones may be drooling over.

The new models come with more features and lower price tags.

The latest iPod nano not only plays music and videos, but records video as well.

The iPod touch, at $200, is the cheapest way to get access to the App Store's many, many apps and games, which look more impressive with each iteration.

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Mythbusters: Who Says Women Can't Do Math And Science?

How To Fire Someone 

Price wars among videogame consoles should make shoppers happy.

Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony have all made big price cuts to their respective systems, and may do so again in the coming months, meaning that console you've been putting off buying because of the cost is now within reach.

This is such a poorly researched and written article. You should be deeply ashamed. If this is an example of your work, you should be depressed.

You expect people to want to read your work and you gi....

Nintendo's Wii ($200) will continue to outsell the competition because of its mainstream appeal, says Jesse Divnich, director of analyst services at Electronic Entertainment Design and Research.

But gamers can now pick up an Xbox 360 starting at $200 or a PlayStation 3, which comes with a built-in Blu-ray player, for $300.

There's also more choice in the e-reader and notebook categories.

Amazon has the Kindle 2 ($260) and the big-screen Kindle DX ($490) at 9.7 inches.

But there's also Barnes and Noble's impressive-looking new e-reader, the Nook ($260), which features a multi-touch color screen and wireless capability.

Meanwhile, notebooks and netbooks continue to get smaller, cheaper and faster, with great offerings from Dell, Asus, Samsung and HP.

Looking for something more traditional that even non-gamers and the gadget-fearful can enjoy?

The ultimate significant-other gift this year will be the single-serve coffee maker, says Marshal Cohen, chief industry analyst at consumer research firm NPD Group.

Consumers shopping for gadget geeks and early adopters may want to keep an eye out for news on a tablet computer from Apple or Microsoft, though release dates remain elusive.

In typical form, Apple won't breathe a word about the existence or development of a tablet.

Microsoft's own supposed tablet, the Courier, is also the stuff of rumors, though Gizmodo reportedly was leaked documents regarding its interface.
 

The Internet will continue to be the first line of shopping this year, says NPD's Cohen.

Not only will persistent Web research yield more information, but potential new deals as well.

Savvy shoppers will do well to use their gadgets (smart phones and laptops) to keep on top of their holiday gadget shopping.

The term energy gap is used to estimate the change in energy balance (intake and expenditure) behaviors required to achieve and sustain reduced body weight outcomes in individuals and population at large.

Many people have achieved significant weight loss with intervention, but very little of this weight loss seems be maintained by most people over the long term.

The energy gap can help estimate the degree of behavior change that must be maintained to maintain a given amount of weight loss for any individual.

The two key factors related to the energy gap concept:

prevention of excess weight gain and maintenance of achieved weight loss.

It is estimated that the energy gap for prevention of weight gain among those who have lost weight is about 100 kcal/day in adults and 100-150 kcal/day in children and adolescents.

Any combination of increased energy expenditure and decreased energy intake of 100 kcal per day in adults and 100-150 kcal/day for children and adolescents could theoretically prevent weight regain in 90% of the population.

This suggests that this small changes approach could be very effective for preventing excessive weight gain in adults and children.

Five ways to trim 100 calories from food

•Swap an 8-ounce regular soft drink for a diet soft drink.

•Drink 2 cups of fat-free milk instead of 2 cups of whole milk.

•Use 1 teaspoon of mustard or ketchup or 1 tablespoon of fat-free mayonnaise in place of 1 tablespoon of regular mayonnaise.

•Split a small bag of French fries with a friend.

•Slice a typical piece of apple pie about one-third smaller.

Fifteen ways to burn 100 calories through physical activity

•Pedal an exercise bike for 13 minutes.

•Hiking up hills for 15 minutes.

•Cleaning the garage for 15 minutes.

•Practice some fast dance steps for 16 minutes.

•Work in the garden for 18 minutes.

 
•Swimming leisurely for 20 minutes.

•Playing tag with the grandkids for 20 minutes.

•Mowing the lawn (using motorized mower) for 20 minutes.

•Walk briskly for 22 minutes (3.5 mph).

•Clean the house for 25 minutes.

•Golfing (using a cart) for 30 minutes.

•Yoga for 30 minutes.

•Fishing (from a riverbank) for 30 minutes.

•Walking the dog for 50 minutes

•Putting away the groceries & light housekeeping for 40 minutes.

The energy gap to maintain weight loss is generally much larger, amounting to 200 kcal/day for a 100 kg person losing 10% of body weight or 300 kcal/day for the same person losing 15% of body weight.

According to James O. Hill, PhD, "This analysis indicates that to create and maintain substantial weight loss (ie, obesity treatment), large behavioral changes are needed.

This is in stark contrast to primary obesity prevention in which small behavioral changes can eliminate the small energy imbalance that occurs before the body has gained substantial weight.

Because the body has not previously stored this 'new' excess energy, it does not defend against the behavioral strategies as happens when the body loses weight."

The energy gap concept is useful for individualizing behavioral strategies for weight loss maintenance.

For example, if the energy gap for a given weight-loss maintenance is estimated to be 300 kcal/day, this can lead to a specific individually tailored goal for changing diet and physical activity rather than generic advice to eat less and exercise more. This could be 300 kcal/day of additional physical activity, a reduction of 300 kcal/day from usual energy intake, or a combination of tactics such as adding 150 kcal/day of physical activity and reducing 150 kcal/day from usual energy intake.

You can just take a walk in the park for 45 minutes and expect to burn 300 calories.

Watching your calorie intake and burning off calories will help you get rid of body fat and prevent undesired gain in weight.

Eating more fruits and vegetables- and less animal fat – is good for health.

But did you known that particular fruits offer observable health benefits that can be measured in the laboratory?

Some examples of what fruits can extend your life – and what science says about them:

1. Eat something orange:

Studies show that people who eat the most beta-carotene in fruits and vegetables – smokers included – are less at risk of getting cancer and heart disease.

Try oranges, kumquats, strawberries or other yellow or orange fruits for maximum benefit.

2. Stock up on vitamin C:

Especially if you’re diabetic.

Here ‘s why; An Italian study of adult – onset diabetics found that those who took 1,000 mg of vitamin C supplements daily for four months had lower levels of total and LDL cholesterol ( bad cholesterol) , triglycerides and fasting insulin.

High – C treasure include grapes, strawberries and oranges.

It is also believed that vitamin C can have a small but significant effect on lowering blood pressure.

3. Let your motto be 'more tomato':

A California study of 88 American nuns ( aged77 to 98) found those with the highest blood levels of lycopene- a carotenoid compound found mainly tomatoes and tomato products – were the least likely to need help with activities like bathing , dressing and walking .

Studies also show lower rates of colon and prostate cancer in people who eat tomato products every day.

4. Root for strawberries:

When scientists measured total free – radical zapping power from the combined antioxidants in each of 12 common fruits they found that strawberries contain the most C and E vitamins , carotenoids ( like beneficial beta-carotene), and a slew of other compounds .

5. Get fresh:

Go ahead; Eat fruit….

Fresh fruit! In huge, 17-year-old study of 10,771 health – conscious eaters in England, Scotland and Wales, those who ate fresh fruit every day had 24 per cent less chance of a fatal heart attack, 32 per cent less chance of fatal stroke and 21 per cent less chance of dying from any natural causes, as compared to those who ate no fruit.

6. Its raining raisins:

When raisin snacks are added to an other wise low – fibre diet , the average time it takes waste to move through your gastro- intestinal tract is cut in half – from two days to one . You might get the same effect form eating grapes.

But to equal a handful of raisins, you’d need more than a cup of grapes, not exactly handy for stuffing in your handbag.

7. Fruit or juice?

Fruit juice is a simple carbohydrate, possibly with natural or added vitamin C. It lacks the protein, fat and many micronutrients that children need for growth.

It’s also lower in calories than milk and many foods. Your children might be compromising their health if they‘re substituting fruit juice for milk, meals and whole fruit.

8. Don’t avoid bioflavonoid:

Bioflavonoids are chemical compounds related to vitamin C that may neutralise LDL cholesterol and reduce the tendency or red blood cells to stick together and block arteries.

They‘re found in nearly all plants, so fruits and veggies are likely to be good sources. The more bioflavonoids you consume – you also get them form tea, onions and apples – the less likely you are to get heart disease.

9. Do nitrosamines ring a bell?

When you eat hot dogs and ham, your body has to digest certain preservatives.

In the process, it also produces certain cancer promoting agents called nitrosamines.

The best and the easiest way to neutralise these lethal nitrosamines is with one cup of freshly squeezed orange juice.

It contains 124 mg of vitamin C, the vital vitamin that helps prevent mouth, throat, stomach and intestinal cancers.

Also, oranges are rich in potassium. One juicy orange contains a whopping 263 mg of the mineral.

10. Serve yourself:

Eat five servings of fruits and vegetables a day (ideally; two fruits, three veggies).

Sounds harder than it is, because most of us are simply too lazy or too disorganized to do it.

Have a banana and an orange with your cereal in the morning. You‘ve at least got your daily requirement of fruits.

Note:

a serving is half cup of raw, cubed fruit, one medium – sized whole fruit or two tablespoons of dried fruit.

By May Rostom:

Every day our true personalities get disguised in many different ways.

Whether when we wake up and wear branded clothes just to make people think we're cool, or brush our hair in a certain way to look good, or show up to work and socialize with people that in real life wouldn't be our friends anyway.

The only time when we're being 100% ourselves is the time we spend in the bathroom. Not only have our looks changed but our voices changed too, for example:

1. People voice:

A people voice is the voice that someone uses when talking to people who aren't their friends.

I like to call it "the work tone".

This voice is automatically happy, nicer, funnier and sweeter than their normal voice.

It is also often more high pitched and louder than usual.

This voice is similar to the voice used when answering a telephone or when working in retail.

When you switch your "people voice" on you will find someone saying: "did you hear how sweet she was? she's not normally like that"

2. Girlfriend voice:

Is a result of the change in pitch and tone of a man's voice when talking to their significant other.

The girlfriend voice is characterized by a higher pitch and a more feminine tone in it with scattered speech patterns and pet names or childish words.

This type of speech is usually frowned upon or mocked when used in the presence of other men.

When another man uses this voice they will definitely receive a huge amount of ridicule like "did you hear Joe's girlfriend voice when he was talking to Dana? Let's beat the crap out of him".

3. Boyfriend voice:

When a girl talks to her boyfriend in that annoying high pitched giggly voice while playing with her hair or chewing gum. When confronted, this girl will deny the fact that she uses this tone and will be annoyed at the sound of other girls using it.

"Hey Joe, how've you been I missed you a lot this weekend and couldn’t stop thinking about you".

4. Manly voice:

Used by men who try to order the weaker sex around. It is low pitched, loud and dead serious.

It is always accompanied by scary face expressions and hand gestures.

"How many times have I told you not to wear that outfit?" It's scary at first but then the feeling will eventually blow over.

5. Stage voice:

The voice men and women use when they're out with a large group of people or in a loud club.

It resembles yelling in some way or another and used when trying to be heard.

It may sometimes include repetitive sentences and raised eyebrows.

"No, I think I think I think you should talk to him first".

After being heard the speaker gains confidence and tries to think of something important to say so that he/she wouldn’t look stupid and so says the shortest meaningless sentence ever due to lack of concentration.

6. Baby voice:

The voice that God only knows where it came from used when you talk to a baby (or any cute creature like a puppy or kitten).

Being EXTREMELY high pitched with lots of gibberish one can only kill themselves.

I'm sure it's one of the main reasons a baby's first word is MUM (a cry for help).

Some can often confuse this voice with the boyfriend voice due to its frequent use with your man.

Now that you know the different types of voices, which did you use today?

By: May Rostom

No matter how old we are, what size we fit in or our gender, we all pursue a better image. People change diets like they change shoes.

Due to the increasing number of over weight people, a whole range of diets have been introduced. One of the most famous diets we all talk about on our lunch break is the Atkins –low carbohydrate-diet.

This diet is also known to be one of the many "fad diets" there are out there which refers to a peculiar diet or eating pattern.

Of course most of these diets lack important nutrients our body needs like protein, fat soluble vitamins (vitamins a d, e, and k), minerals and eventually energy therefore preventing our bodies from growth or development.

These diets depend mainly on testimonials rather than scientific evidence.

So what makes a diet healthy? Our bodies need macronutrients to function properly; these nutrients are proteins, carbohydrates and fats. They cannot be excluded out of any diet, even detoxifying diets should include these 3 macronutrients and so this could help us identify fad diets.

A fad diet usually promises fast weight loss and delivers but what they won't tell you is that most probably you will gain all of this weight back if not more.

There's no such thing as a" get thin quick" permanent solution.

When following a fad diet you will lose weight in the form of muscle tissue since the body breaks down the proteins stored in the muscles to provide the energy you need and once you stop you will gain this weight back most likely in the form of fat so basically you're replacing the muscles in your body with fat.

In a healthy diet, your source of energy will be provided from your food since it's not an extremely low caloric diet and from the breaking down of fat and not muscles that’s why dieticians recommend diet AND exercise to break down fat and build up muscles.

So next time you decide to go on a diet, ask yourself these questions:

Does it promise fast weight loss?

Am I going to gain all this weight back?

Are there any macronutrients missing?

Is it an extremely low caloric diet?

If you answer yes to any of these questions, you should re-consider your decision and visit your dietician.

By: May Rostom

I was looking at my baby pictures and wasn't really surprised to see me in the "princess" dress, you know the puffy pink dress we were all forced to wear to weddings or fancy events.

As usual my mind started to drift, are we being fed the wrong information since our childhood? My mum told me that whenever I was asked what I wanted to be when I grew up I'd always reply Barbie.

She was my idol; the girly airhead, bleach blond hair, perfect sports car, hot husband and sexy outfits! As I grew up I never met any of these criteria.

As I observed many of the girls around me I noticed they all shared pretty much the same interests , a tanned tall handsome prince (or rich will be just as good) with a white English horse (now exchanged for an also English Jaguar) that comes from a long line of kings and queens (nowadays traded for doctors).

Did watching too many cartoons, mess with our expectations? Do we expect to meet Mr. Right at the ball (aka our best friends wedding)?

Will Losing a slipper, or kissing a frog make it happen?! What about our Middle Eastern background which most of the time either prevents us from going to the ball in the first place or leaving the party early cause "you don’t want people to talk".

Assuming we did go and actually stayed after 12, will we be happy if we lose that slipper or sweat it out cause it cost $200?  And you know the saying "you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your handsome prince"?

What if there's no prince and all there is are just frogs? What if Mr. Right couldn’t make it to the ball because he had work to finish or what if he did show up but forgot to shave or brush his hair?

Will you still wait for a better opportunity to pop up or will you take him for what he is and what he'll be? Are we hooked up on happy endings, princess gowns, castles and prince charming that we can't accept reality anymore? 

Is it even possible to love at first sight? Some people chase after loved ones for years and can't seem to get the job done! Will snow white always marry her prince?

Not if he's already taken or he has some fear of commitment. How come snow white didn’t fall for one of these dwarfs, the little angels that put a roof over her head, gave her food and shelter?

Who said ideal love was a handsome prince that came from a royal family or a gorgeous size zero princess who lived in a white castle?

Why do we always fall for the wrong guy and refuse to look right in front of us?

Is it because Disney gave us all these unrealistic expectations and a false image of how things should be like?

And why didn’t anyone warn us before hand! At least when a boy grabs a toy off the shelf its usually something that exists like a car or a tool box, maybe in the near future the toy industry should manufacture little  blow dryers , tweezers and pimple cream!

As these questions remain unanswered all I can think of is when did we stop appreciating what we have and start to think that the grass is always greener on the other side?

We simply can’t enjoy the little gestures any more because compared to what we've seen on TV they're nothing. We can't always expect things to be perfect because in real life they aren’t; they're the closest thing to perfect.

So don’t wait for your leg to curl on your first kiss, wake up and look around this is as good as it gets so grab it and make the best out of it! 

Forbes Staff

Forget ties and scented candles. This year, surprise them with such treats as a tasting of scotch and a day at the racetrack.
 

But others point to a difficult holiday season for retailers.

The Conference Board, a nonprofit that looks at consumer behavior, announced last month that consumer confidence fell six points from September.

And a new consumer survey by consulting firm Deloitte LLP found that 74% of shoppers plan on buying something on sale, and just over half plan on using coupons.

In response to such mixed signals, retailers such as Target, Wal-Mart and The Gap ( GPS - news - people ) are spending more on advertisements and rolling them out earlier than they did last year.

"What you have is a full-court press by these retailers who have the ability to spend early in the expectation that there is going to be a finite number of dollars available," says David Robertson, publisher of the Nilson Report, a newsletter on the payments industry.

"They want to get their share up front."

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The type of items retailers may push for those on a budget is Ao3 Designs' "Climbing Roses" clutch ($45), a vintage-inspired piece secured by a ribbon bow.

For deeper-pocketed givers, however, there is Yves Saint Laurent's $995 "Easy" bag. Introduced last year, the double-handled bag complements today's ladylike looks and comes in patent leather and suede for additional cost, and for special order in fabrics like ostrich.

Read on for more lifestyle coverage, including a rundown of millionaire mega toys and a look at Maserati's updated Quattroporte Sport GTS.

 
For the man who's tired of mass transit, you might consider giving him Brompton's $1,200 M3Ra, a folding bike that can be ridden and carried just about anywhere--from the suburban home to the train stop, then from the city center to the office.

It comes with fenders and a rack.

Those who spend more time on airplanes than on commuter trains might like Vivre.com's $395 Suede Travel Backgammon Roll, since long trips become more bearable with such distractions.

Available in black/red or brown, the suede playing field is accented with stitching; a zippered compartment holds die and resin chips. Rolled, the game measures a mere two inches in diameter.

It's the Thought that Counts

In some cases, a gift's distinctiveness will sell itself to a certain audience.

Lee Eisenberg, author of Shoptimism: Why The American Consumer will Keep Buying no Matter What, expects the majority of this season's shoppers to be mindful of spending limits, and give more thought to their gift giving. The wealthy may pass over trendy items in favor of those with value, regardless of price.

"If one has the means and is not among the tens of million of unemployed," Eisenberg says, "if price is no object [they] will buy something more expensive. It won't be frivolous, but more meaningful, durable or timeless."

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Though the competing diamonds, each weighing more than 30 carats, on the auction block at Christie's and Sotheby's in early December fit the "meaningful, durable or timeless" description, they are completely frivolous.

In Sotheby's Dec. 9 Magnificent Jewels sale is an oval 30.48-carat stone, classified as D color (the best) and flawless in clarity.

At Christie's Dec. 10 sale is a pear-shaped 39-carat specimen called The Evening Star, also D color, and internally flawless. Bids for both should top $3 million.

Welcome as such a gift might be, most any other recipient would be happy with something collectible yet a bit more practical, such as a fountain pen from the limited-edition Louis Cartier Logo Millesime Collection.

Only 888 numbered pieces were made, and the gold-plated cap features an engraved design of the Cartier logo and the barrel is covered in havana colored Crocodile Porosus skin. The medium nib is 18k gold, and there is a cartridge/converter fill.

The price is available only upon request, but rest assured: It probably won't go for $3 million.

By May Rostom:

"Hey how are you, how's everything going?"Then a stupid smile on their faces is what I get when someone that I haven’t seen in quite a while says when I run into them! Sub consciously I reply with "I'm fine" and  just repeat what they said all over again , give them the "get the hell out of here" smile and start walking ! I won't say I don’t do it because we all do, it's like no one has time for even small talk anymore.

All this is fine by me but what really gets to me is the "give me your number, we should hang out sometime" phrase.

It usually starts by the other person saving your number on their cell like its some sort of directory and never actually calls you to hang out (and you're not that keen on hanging out with them either , admit it!) but what's really funny is the next time they see you they'd be like "how come you didn’t call me?" .

Is this miscommunication or mass communication? Is this phrase a new way to stay in touch with the largest group of people you've come across in your lifetime or do they really want to catch up? I can't seem to remember the last time I ran into someone I haven’t seen for a while  and got a useful piece of information like I'm married or I just  got fired today! It's like no one is interested in what you've been up to but still asks you to make you feel important and no one has the time to summarize how things are going in 5 minutes.

When did the regular hi and wave run out of style? At least it's more convenient for the both of you, where you don’t want to hear what they have to say and they know that but say it anyways.

I remember the younger me being able to talk to anyone about anything for any amount of hours and never get bored but now life's hectic and stressful and when someone asks you what's been up you automatically reply fine even if things aren’t going your way.

What if someone did reply "not fine", how would one reply to that? And do you really want to listen to this person complain about it for the next 15 minutes while you just stand there helpless?  

As we grow older, do we lose the interest to talk or do we lose the interest to small talk?

Making friends is a hard thing  to do and maintaining friendships is even harder, but how can we balance both without being hypocrites??

Very simple, when you see an old friend tell them how much you've missed them and mean it, ask them what they’ve been doing recently and seem interested and if you take their phone number CALL THEM .

So next time you try to pull a stunt like that again, remember I BLEW YOUR COVER!

By: May Rostom

Women complain about men’s forgetfulness, men complain about women’s inability to stop giving orders.

When is this cycle going to stop? Well here’s where the end can start…

1.scolding .

It usually starts when the female asks the forgetful male a favor like picking up milk from the supermarket. As usual he finds it easier to come up with an excuse than to actually pick up the milk so when he returns home empty handed the scolding begins.

Most of the time the sentence sounds something like “ I knew you’d forget it “

2.constant nagging:

results from the male’s above forgetfulness where the female doesn’t trust he’ll be able to remember anything she asks him to do, so starts to repeat herself over ten times using different variations of the same sentence “honey, don’t forget the milk”, “habiby , the milk” , “bye baby , don’t forget to stop by the market to pick up the milk” .

After a while the man starts to set his partners voice to mute and so forgets the milk.

3.Their continuous need to talk.

Women’s brains are developed in a totally different way than men’s brains.

Women are talkers while men deal with their issues in a silent approach. When the man forgets to get the milk for the second time, the women’s brain starts to analyze the situation and so starts to send her mixed messages.

She starts to think “why does he never listen to me? What is occupying his mind to the extent that I’ve come second? And why do I have to do everything around the house, I don’t live here alone!” after this long ongoing conversation between every women and her brain she approaches her guy to announce “we need to talk” which in male-ish is automatically translated to “you’re in trouble mister”.

4.Fixing the problem that in his opinion doesn’t exist.

So they sit down and have the talk , the female speaks her mind and what’s troubling her and sometimes even cries while the male usually stares into space or starts to think “ what the hell , its only a bottle of milk , I can call the supermarket and have it delivered woman!” not getting that it stopped being about the milk since the 1st time round when she asked (she probably had milk in the fridge to begin with but wanted to see if her man will help around the house) .

So as the woman sits there feeling totally comfortable to have had that talk the man gives his “I’m sorry “ reflex  mechanism without knowing what he’s apologizing for  therefore falling in the same pit falls the second time around.

5.The test. 

Women aren’t as forgetful as men and they’re natural born teachers so to make sure she taught him well she gives him the test!

“Ahmed, we ran out of milk can you pick some up on your way back”.

If Ahmed was the average B student he will most probably try his best to get the milk even if he has to go to another state for it at least the first couple of times she asks. But the problem remains unsolved with the C or D student who forgets the ½ gallon bottle that will save his life tonight!
What I’m trying to say here is,

men: listen, do and remember she is ALWAYS right!

Women: chill, forget and trust.

The following can be adapted according to the physiotherapist's requirements, typed out, duplicated and handed to patients as reminders of what they should and should not do to avoid a recurrence of the problem.

1. REST POSITIONS

1. Side-laying head support, with the top leg supported.

2. Fowler's position (psoas position)

3. Supine, with one pillow under the knees.

4. For patients who are used to lying prone, teach a three-quarter prone position - pad with pillows.

2. POSTURE CORRECTION

Sensible shoes - point out the distortion, produced by high heels.

Emphasize that if the pelvis is correct then the rest of the posture will fall into place, therefore, make certain that the 'stomach' muscles are pressed toward the spine, and the 'bottom' is tucked in.

3. SITTING POSITION

1. If sitting irritates - ration the time spent sitting, get up before the pain comes on.

2, Have a firm chair with no wheels on it (i.e. avoid unexpected jarring of the back).

3. Hips should be well back, feet firmly on the ground with support at the small of the back.

4. Pick a chair which fits your size.

5. If you feel comfortable, it means, that it is mechanically right.

6. Show the patient a picture of the correct sitting position.

4. SITTING TO STANDING

1. Use of arms to take the weight of the upper trunk off the lumbar spine.

2. Use of walking on hips to reach the edge of the chair, i.e. keeping the back extended, thus enabling the patient to get up without flexing the lumbar spine.

3. Place one foot at the side of the chair to help getting up from sitting to standing.

5. WORK TIPS FOR THE HOUSEWIFE

1. Never lift a child from sitting, always crouch down keeping the lower back straight.

2. for standing jobs: (a) have the weight evenly on both legs (b) teach a lordotic patient the value of placing one foot on a low stools.

3. Making beds: (a) kneel at the side of the bed, smooth one half of a double bed, then repeat for the other side or (b) place one knee on the bed and repeat (a) Never stretch across the bed with straight knees.

4. Cleaning the bath: Kneel at the side (use this position for washing hair if no overhead shower present).

5. Never walk up or down stairs in floppy shoes (tripping could cause a sudden stress on the back.).

6. Cooking: work surfaces should fit your height. Discuss adaptations.

7. Keep heavy utensils on waist height shelves.

8. Keep light objects on lower shelves.

9. Shopping: use a trolley or take husband! If carrying bags, distribute weight evenly within capacity.

10. Hanging washing; use a stool if arching the back increases pain.

11. Remember the danger of slipping on wet floors, particularly kitchen/bathroom.

12. Hovering: use two hands to spare your back.

13. Clean up spilled water or fat from the floor to avoid and danger of sudden slipping.

6. WORK TIPS IN THE OFFICE

1. Have the chair well up to the desk.

2. Support the small of the back.

3. Have no wheels on the chair.

7. LIFTING

1. Always place one foot flat and at the side of the object to be lifted.

2. Never lift with your body-weight on the balls of your feet as it flexes the small of the back.
 
3. Always tuck the weight to be lifted into your stomach.

4. Lift within your capacity.

5. Have feet pointing in the direction you will be walking.

6. Use 'feet' to turn when taking the weight from one surface to another.

7. When there is two-woman lifting see that one is in command, take a firm grasps and lifts to a count.

8. DRIVING

1. Check seat.

2. Hips into the car first then feet in.

3. Pelvic tilting as you drives (i.e. from time to time).

4. Break up long journeys by stopping before you have tired of one position.

5. Young females on motor cycles or bicycles should check the position of the handlebars re: the position of the small of the back.

9. TOILET

1. Kneel at the side of the bath to wash hair/face.

2. Never use long sitting in the bath.

3. Use a non-slip mat.

10. CLOTHING

1. Slacks easier than tights for an acute back.

2. Shoes should be well supporting.

3. Avoid slippers

4. Soft heels on shoes rather than leather heels.

By keeping these tips in your mind and incorporating them into your daily lifestyle, will help you to prevent vertebral pain.

Become conscious of your movement and work style, for many a times the problem can be overcome by correction of posture and performing various daily activities in the correct way.

As modern society increasingly comes to accept childbirth as a natural process, you will find a growing number of options available for giving birth.

Doctors have learned how to eliminate most of the pain associated with childbirth.
Every day they use technological intervention in problem deliveries to save thousands of babies who might otherwise not have survived.

But until recently, such advances turned childbirth into an impersonal procedure in many hospitals, and mothers and fathers had little say in how the birth was managed.

Today most doctors accept that you have choices that allow you to decide how much medical intervention you want during labor and the birth itself.

Many women have a more positive experience when they have a say in their care, including how and where to give birth.

Studies have shown that these women feel more fulfilled in the birthing process and suffer from less depression afterward, regardless of whether their labor was easy or problematic, long or short.

The time to start thinking about childbirth is in the early stages of your pregnancy.

You'll need time to research the possibilities, look into the costs and insurance coverage, and choose a practitioner, birth center, or hospital.

Although you cannot decide everything in advance, you may find it helpful to talk matters over with your partner, medical advisers, family, and friends.

As you consider various approaches to childbirth, keep in mind those issues that are most important to you.

A MANAGED BIRTH

Some mothers feel safer and less anxious if their birth is closely managed and controlled by their caregivers, with technical support readily available.

You may know in advance that you want medication for pain relief.

Or you may be advised to have a particular kind of pain reliever if your baby's birth is being induced.

Your doctor may recommend a cesarean before you go into labor for a variety of reasons.

If your baby assumes a footling breech or transverse presentation, for example, surgery may be advisable.

Doctors encourage medical intervention as well when mothers have certain medical conditions, such as hypertension, kidney disease, or active genital herpes.

NATURAL CHILDBIRTH

Natural childbirth methods are again making their way back into the mainstream. Part of this revival is due to the fact that hard scientific research has now substantiated the efficacy of these disciplines.

For example, studies have shown that by replacing drugs with acupuncture and herbs, practitioners can reduce anxiety and pain while naturally speeding up labor.

But more than just proving that they work, these holistic methods of childbirth have proven to work with the body's natural processes, not in opposition to them, a fact that sets them apart from more clinical procedures.

Besides natural birth is an umbrella term that refers to giving birth without medication and intervention from doctors nurses.

In its strictest interpretation, this approach rules out such procedures as induction, acceleration of labor, artificial rupture of the membranes, continuous electronic fetal monitoring, use of forceps or vacuum extraction, or cesarean section.

Natural childbirth relies on support and encouragement from the doctor or midwife, and your birthing partner. Breathing and relaxation techniques may help you to manage the pain, and eliminate the need for medication.

If natural childbirth appeals to you, treat it as an ideal.

If unforeseen complications arise, however, or your labor is painful or prolonged, you should be prepared to seek the advice of your caregivers.

ACTIVE CHILDBIRTH

This is a form of natural childbirth, but it is often taught as a separate method to couples.

Active childbirth involves moving around in the early stages of labor, which may increase the speed with which the cervix dilates.

It also alleviates the tension that can build when you are sitting or lying down simply waiting for the next contraction.

When contractions become stronger, your partner or a birth companion supports you physically - for example, in a squatting position.

Delivering a baby while lying flat on your back has real disadvantages: it inhibits the supply of oxygen to the baby and it requires that you push against gravity, instead of letting gravity help you deliver the baby.

The room used for active childbirth is typically equipped with chairs, beanbags, and furniture of different heights.

These items become tools that allow a laboring woman to find a variety of comfortable positions and to keep moving for as long as she wants.

PSYCHOPROPHYLAXIS

Made widely popular in the West through the work of Fernand Lamaze, this technique was first practiced in Russia.

Psychoprophylaxis prepares the mind for labor and birth, using carefully worked out breathing exercises that help reduce and distract from the pain.

Some teachers of prenatal classes combine this training with relaxation techniques that suppress pain, prevent fear-induced tension, and aid the birthing process.

Critics of this approach argue that it it better for a woman to work with her body and actively use the pain of contractions to help labor along. Click here, for more on Lamaze Classes.

WATER BIRTH

Many women find relaxing in a tub of warm water a good way to cope with labor contractions, a factor that led some women to stay in the tub throughout labor and delivery.

Professionals have questioned the advisability of giving birth in water because of the (very small) risk of the baby's drowning.

A theoretical risk also exists of introducing infection once the membranes have ruptured.

But many mothers who have tried it have found it a positive, loving way to bring their baby into the world.

It is under appraisal for safety and is available in only a limited number of centers.

THE BRADLEY METHOD

Dr. Robert Bradley adopted many of the same theories as Dr. Grantly Dick-Read.

His method emphasizes the father's role as coach, based on the belief that the father's active participation is vital to the childbirth experience.

Couples learning the Bradley method often attend classes much earlier in the pregnancy, some starting as soon as the pregnancy is confirmed.

Dr. Bradley believes that the special breathing techniques used in other methods can lead to exhaustion, dizziness, hyperventilation, and possibly a decrease in oxygen to the fetus.

Instead, he believes a woman should continue to breathe normally through labor and on to delivery.

The coach's role is to constantly monitor the woman's relaxation and redirect her to find the relaxation state if he notes tension. Click here for more on Bradley method.

WHICH IS BEST FOR YOU?

•Water births are not widely available, but many hospitals and birth centers will be able to accommodate your wishes for other types of birth.

•Your health and that of your baby must be the determining factors in any decisions you make.

If you are healthy and the pregnancy is normal, you will have the most freedom of choice.

A woman who has developed a condition such as preeclampsia or placenta previa, or who has a history of complications will be more limited.

Read as much as you can about your options and talk to friends about their experiences.

When you talk to prospective physicians, this should be one of the topics you explore together.

Finally, hospitals and birthing centers often offer their own childbirth preparation classes.

These classes usually include information on exercise, nutrition, breathing, position, movement and relaxation methods for use in labor and delivery, information regarding hospital procedures, medications, anesthesia, alternative complementary therapies, newborn care and the postpartum period.

There is simply no doubt that, exercise is good for all of us. But the fact still remains that number of women start and stops exercising as often as they start and stop the engines of their car or buy an expensive piece of fitness equipment leaving it to catch dust in the storage.

The key to a successful fitness program lies in the aspect that exercise should be fun, something you look forward to and besides it should be social.

The word 'exercise' seems to create negative images for a lot of women, especially incase of those who are obese or severely obese.

One way of managing this is to think in terms of 'activities' rather than 'exercise.'"

Start by turning simple daily activities into something more beneficial. Simple changes such as vacuuming more vigorously, taking a brisk walk during your lunch break or doing arm curls with a can of soup will increase blood flow and strengthen muscles.

Setting goals too high, too fast may be discouraging and make the goals unattainable.

By setting achievable and realistic goals and increasing activity in small increments, you are more likely to stay with a program.

•Stronger bones & muscles.

•Improved self esteem.

•Managing healthy body weight.

•Improved blood pressure & cholesterol level.

•Considerable reduction in stress, anxiety and depression.

•Elevated mood.

•Improved body image with a positive sense of well-being.

Benefits of Increasing Daily Activities

•Stronger bones & muscles.

•Improved self esteem.

•Managing healthy body weight.

•Improved blood pressure & cholesterol level.

•Considerable reduction in stress, anxiety and depression.

•Elevated mood.

•Improved body image with a positive sense of well-being.

At other times women often make the mistake of overworking one area of the body and under-working another, which can create an imbalance that leads to problems related to bones, muscles and joints.

Optimal benefits are achieved by participating in aerobic (heart strengthening) exercise three to five days a week for not less than 30 minutes and anaerobic (muscle and bone strengthening) exercise two to three days a week.

Beside, every fitness program should take in the aspect of proper stretching in all directions- not just forward.

Many times, we don’t realize that some of the changes that accompany winter pose hazards to our eyes. Most people think that it is only necessary to protect their eyes from the sun during the summer. But the Sun’s influence does not diminish during the rest of the year so the eyes need to be protected during the winter too. Exposure to UV rays during winter can temporarily harm the eyes as well as increase the risk of developing sunlight-related eye disorders, including cataracts. The sun is not winter’s only eye hazard. Its cool winds and drier air can irritate the eyes while outdoors.

 
The American Academy of Ophthalmology — the Eye M.D. Association — offers the following tips:

•Indoor heat used during winter months tends to rid the air of moisture which can dry out and irritate eyes. Use a humidifier in the bedroom during months with low humidity. This helps moisten dry eyes, especially when exposed to forced air heating.

•Wear sunglasses that block 99 to 100 percent of UV light, especially when the ground is covered in snow. People forget the sun is just as bright when reflected by the snow as it is when glinting off the ocean and beach, leading to sunburned eyes. High-quality, UV-blocking sunglasses can prevent this and reduce exposure to the wind and cold. Later in life cataract formation and retina problems may occur caused by the UV light. Overexposure to the winter sun's powerful ultraviolet (UV) rays without proper eye protection can temporarily harm the eyes or even cause photokeratitis, a condition comparable to a sunburn except sensitive tissues of the eyeball are the ones receiving the burn. Although photokeratitis may heal with time, the best way to preserve your vision is to avoid excess UV ray exposure.

•Contact lens wearers should limit their outdoor exposure and use artificial tears frequently. Soft contact lenses, in particular, are like little sponges. They need lots of moisture. If they start to dry out, they can change shape and stick to the eye, becoming painful and cloudy. Drinking alcohol can also enhance this problem.

•A number of people, especially skiers, snowmobilers, and other snow lovers look forward to winter each year. For them, it means swishing down the slopes or speeding through the snow. What winter outdoor enthusiasts don’t realize is that they spend extended periods of time in intense reflected sunlight which can temporarily harm the eye. A pair of ski goggles with polycarbonate lenses, properly fitted, can block out harmful UV light. The goggles will also protect the eyes from hazards, such as tree branches and flying ski pole tips.

•Bundle up by wearing a brimmed hat, wrap around sunglasses and a hooded jacket or coat. This will help block the swirling, cold wind from the eyes and prevent the tear film covering the eyes from evaporating.

•Use a good eye cream to protect the delicate eye area especially during the winter months... day and night.
These simple adjustments will help protect your eyes all winter long, but we must remember that the best way to preserve our vision is to take good care of our eyes no matter what season it is or what we are doing.

Read more:
Protect Your Eyes from Sun Damage

Dry Eye Syndrome

Non-Surgical Age Erasers