What You Need To Know About Pregnancy And Tanning Booths
September 30, 2008
If you are pregnant, there are things you should know about pregnancy and tanning booths. Tanning beds safety while pregnant has become very questionable. A better choice might be to use the sunless tanning spray booth equipment to keep your golden tan.
Initially it was believed that the use of a tanning bed after the first trimester was okay. During the first trimester the concern was about overheating yourself and the baby. However, in the past few years health officials are taking a harder stance and are encouraging pregnant women to not use the tanning bed at all.
You’re pregnant, feeling a little less attractive than you normally would. Well you shouldn’t! Pregnant women look beautiful with a glow that cannot be achieved any other way.
However, if you are a little down and missing that sun-kissed skin of previous years, the safest tan you can achieve is from a bottle or a booth. The ingredients in self tanners are harmless to you and your baby. So you can get that golden tan without worrying about hurting your baby.
Not only are sunless tanners safe, they’ve come a long way in the past few years. No more orange skin or weird uneven finishes. You can choose from spray, lotions, or mousse. Apply evenly and within a few hours you’ll be golden gorgeous!
Although there is no conclusive evidence that a tanning bed will harm your baby, there is plenty of proof that it’s harmful to you. So if its harmful to you it only makes sense it could be harmful to your baby. So error on the side of caution and don’t do anything to harm your baby.
Tanning beds have been directly linked to skin cancer. So if you can increase your risk of skin cancer, doctors are becoming concerned that you may also increase your baby’s risk.
One very big concern with direct implications to your baby is "heat". Lying in a tanning bed raises your body temperature. The increase in body temperature can be hazardous, even deadly to your baby. Studies have shown the first trimester to be the period of highest risk. However, many doctors believe that risk continues throughout the pregnancy.
Having a temperature above 102 degrees F during pregnancy has been associated with spinal malformations on developing babies. Your body temperature in a tanning bed always exceeds 102 degrees F. So why would you want to take the chance of causing a serious birth defect to your baby?
There are also concerns that lying on your back too long can restrict blood to your heart and thus to your baby. When this happens, you’ll know because you’ll become light headed. Restricting blood to your baby can have serious consequences.
Finally, pregnant woman with sensitive skin are more prone to chloasma. Chloasma are those dark skin splotches that appear on the face and arms during pregnancy. Perhaps not dangerous to the baby but certainly not attractive and that’s what this tanning thing is all about right? Looking better.
From the moment you found out you were pregnant, the health of your baby became your biggest concern. You stopped socially drink, if you were a smoker you quit smoking. You started eating healthier and exercising regularly. You started taking better care of yourself for both of you.
So why would you risk the unknown, just to have a tan. Yes I admit a tan does make you feel good about yourself. There’s something about deeply tanned skin that makes one feel attractive. But you can get that beautiful tan right from a bottle or from a spray tan booth. The sunless tanning has been shown to have no bad effects to your baby. So you can have the best of both worlds.
You can have that wonderful glow that pregnancy brings to a woman and you can have that tan you so desire. Take good care of yourself and your baby!
M.D. Stracener from Home Tanning Beds has been serving customers for over 20 years, providing valuable information to keep you beautiful and healthy. Please visit us at Home Tanning Beds
Save Money ? The Crock Way
September 30, 2008
Saving money ? is something we would all like to do. Whether you are struggling to manage day to day or earning a six figure salary, saving is something we all think about.
There is one thing we can all save on. The one thing we all do, every day, several times a day.
We all ? Eat!.
And food these days can be so expensive. It is quite easy to go to the grocers and spend your entire weeks pay just on food. Meat especially can put a hole in anyone’s budget.
After a long day at work, the last thing you want is to spend the rest of the day in the kitchen preparing dinner. So the quick option is often just to fry or grill up some steak. But this is expensive. And frying those cheaper cuts of meat ? ugh!
You have heard the old saying ‘tough as old boots’.
They end up so tough, that even if you do manage to eat them; you will be lucky not to chip a tooth or dislocate a jaw; both of which cost even more.
How about if you could save money on your food bill and save hours in the kitchen at the same time?
Well the solution for you is . . . the Crock Pot.
It allows you to turn those cheap meat cuts into not only edible, but absolutely delicious meals. And, does it all, while you are at work.
This is not some new gimmicky thing you see in info-commercials on late night television. This is a real kitchen appliance that has been around since the early 1970’s.
It uses low heat and a slow cooking method which tenderizes the meat.
Just put the vegetables and meat in the pot in the morning on the way to work and come home to the delightful aroma of dinner ready in the evening.
Save money - the cheapest meat cuts are the best ones to use, they are full of flavour and appreciate the long cooking time.
Happy Crock Cooking
Lisa ? "The Crock Cook"
How to Obtain a Non ChexSystems Bank Account Without Being Scammed
September 29, 2008
Predatory lending exists in the mortgage industry. It’s typically when a mortgage broker add’s on unnecessary fee’s to a bad credit application, because he or she knows that the applicant is in a desperate situation.
Predatory banking can also exist for those who have ended up in the ChexSystems.
ChexSystems is a network of financial institutions (mainly banks) that regularly contribute information about account holders that mishandle their checking or savings accounts. Nearly all banks within the US are a part of this consortium.
Bounce a check, and not pay it off in a timely manner, and you could end up in the ChexSystems. Even if you receive a bogus check, and the bank suspects foul play, you could land in the ChexSystems hot seat.
And the sentence for this financial felony isn’t light.
If the bank that put you in the ChexSystems refuses to release your name from the ChexSystems database, you’ll find it close to impossible to obtain a bank account of any sort for 5 years.
Even if you pay off the offending debt, the bank could still hold you a ChexSystems prisoner. Wicked, but 100% true.
So naturally when you have a situation where people are stuck between a rock and a hard place, the vultures come out to feed. This is what you may encounter if you’re looking for a non ChexSystems bank account.
Before you pay money to any service that claims to give you a non ChexSystems bank account be sure it passes the following tests with flying colors.
According to the FDIC web site:
“The FDIC ? short for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ? is an independent agency of the United States government. The FDIC protects you against the loss of your deposits if an FDIC - insured bank or savings association fails. FDIC insurance is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government.”
In a nutshell, if you decide to open a bank account with an institution that isn’t FDIC insured, you could basically lose all of your money if that institution goes out of business. So it’s extremely important to verify the banks status before you open an account.
You can easily verify that a bank is FDIC insured at the FDIC web site.
NCUSIF insurance is similar to FDIC insurance, except it’s for credit unions.
According to the National Credit Union Association web site:
“The shares in your credit union are insured by the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund (NCUSIF), an arm of NCUA. Established by Congress in 1970 to insure member share accounts at federally insured credit unions, the NCUSIF is managed by NCUA under the direction of the three-person NCUA Board. Your share insurance is similar to the deposit insurance protection offered by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).”
All credit unions that are NCUSIF insured can be found at (http://www.ncua.gov/indexdata.html).
This is one of the easiest ways to weed out the bad seeds. Banks with physical branches are always legitimate financial institutions.
Do a WHOIS search to view the registrant for the banks domain name. If it’s a single person, that should raise a red flag. It should always be the banks name or corporate name.
Look on the banks web site. There should be separate telephone and fax numbers, and a legitimate street address - not a PO box.
You can always call 411 to confirm that the telephone number matches the address listed. But also keep in mind that some banks have a central location where they answer general calls.
There are some financial services that offer checkless checking accounts. (This isn’t a scam as far as I can tell.)
But what if you don’t get direct deposit? Or what happens if you switch jobs, and no longer receive your checks through direct deposit? Then you’re basically back at square one.
And what if you want to use checks? I mean a checkless checking account kind of defeats the purpose of obtaining a checking account at all.
I recently noticed a financial service charging outrageous fee’s for options that are normally provided for free through regular banks and credit unions.
They were charging for everything but the kitchen sink, including: a fee to check your balance at the ATM, a fee to receive a monthly statement, a fee if you wanted to return something you purchased from a retail store, a fee for using their automated telephone service. And that was just the tip of the iceberg!
Even though you’re in the ChexSystems doesn’t mean you should play victim to financially draining ploys like these. There are always better alternatives waiting in the wings.
Alexis Dawes is the author of “How To Get a Bank Account Even If You’re in the ChexSystem.” This report offers information on non chexsystems banks that will give you a checking account, even if you’re in the Chexsystems. Alexis has personally used all of the recommended banks. You can get more information at (http://www.GetCheckingNow.com).
The History Of Jewelry
September 29, 2008
Rhinestones have a glittering past. Originally rhinestones where referred to Czechoslovakian or Bohemian glass dating as far back as the 13th century in Bohemia and the Czech Republic. Both have a history steeped in beautiful hand blown glass as well as molded and cut glass.
By 1918 glass was no longer limited to functional items. Czechoslovakian glass began to make its appearance in dazzling and brilliant jewelry. This Czech glass became known as rhinestones.
Rhinestones were manmade gems from highly refined glass. By using various metals the glass was colored to the desired shade. It was then pressed into molds. Each stone was then ground and polished by machine, resulting in a brilliant glass stone. Often the stones were foiled on the back which increased their brilliance.
Today, the same refining process is still used. You will often here rhinestones referred to as paste. Originally paste was referred to a glass stone that made of ground glass which was molded and then melted, producing an opaque dense glass frosted stone. Paste had many air bubbles and swirl marks. The high lead content glass was then polished and faceted, and set on either copper or silver resulting in a brilliant stone. Today the term paste usually refers to rhinestones. In Europe rhinestones are often referred to as paste, strass, and diamante.
Austria is another area with a history in rhinestone production. In 1891 Daniel Swarovski created a new glass cutting machine which quite literally revolutionized the jewelry business. This machine could cut faceted glass, producing finely finished product in a very short time. Prior to this invention it would take a very long time for each stone to be hand cut and finished. Swarovski’s background in glass making, combined with his glass cutting machine soon found him producing rhinestones with a lead content of over 30%. The brilliance of these rhinestones was superior to anything seen on the market. Swarovski wasn’t content with his invention and the best rhinestones ever seen. His next invention was once again transforming to the jewelry industry. He created a vacuum plating for the backs of the stones with silver and gold, reducing the need for hand labor. Still today Swarovski rhinestones are recognized as the highest quality in the industry. Over 80% of rhinestone jewelry manufactured in America use Swarovski rhinestones.
Rhinestones have played an important role in costume jewelry for hundreds of years. It is used to enhance and accent, and sometimes rhinestones will provide the entire design. During the Victorian period common motifs for jewelry included snakes, flowers, and hands most often adorned with rhinestones.
The 1890s were a time for extravagant jewelry heavily adorned with rhinestones. As time moved forward designs became simpler with figural shapes once again making their fashion statement. However this time they were small and more elegant with small rhinestone accents.
During the Edwardian period extravagance had made a comeback with diamonds and pearls being the focal point. Once again rhinestones were in heavy use, often used to imitate the real thing.
During the 1920s fashions were rapidly changing. Dresses had gone from fitted to a looser more comfortable style. Two distinct styles occurred during this era ? the feminine style and the androgynous style. Jewelry from the 1920s drew on the art deco period. The majority of rhinestone jewelry was made with clear rhinestones.
As the 1920s moved jewelry once again became bolder. Dramatic color was in style. Designer Coco Chanel was an integral figure in the setting the stage for jewelry of this era.
During the 1930s during the depression labor intensive fashion was no longer feasible. While the world was in turmoil, jewelry represented an affordable comfort to many women. Inexpensive costume jewelry could be used to revitalize an old outfit. The industry began to produce bright colored enamel pieces accented with rhinestones. Dogs, birds, or cats with a rhinestone eye were common place.
The jewelry during the 1940s once again became big and bold with rhinestones being produced in every imaginable color, large stones set on large bold settings was the norm.
By the 1950s there were two very distinct looks ? elegant and sophisticated for the more mature woman, and casual and fun for the younger woman. The 1950s saw jewelry made completely from rhinestones. For the younger woman were flirty pieces, for the older woman sophisticated elegance. Rhinestone parures became extremely popular.
In 1953 the aurora borealis rhinestone was introduced to the market with its fabulous array of color. It was an instant hit!
By 1960s women were wearing very functional clothing. By the late 1960s the hippie fashions were extremely popular with their roots tied to Mother Nature. Tie dyed shirts, long flowing skirts, frayed jeans were everywhere. This generation had no interest in rhinestone jewelry.
By the mid 1970s the punk look had been born and the rhinestone was revitalized. It was the disco movement brought the rhinestone back to center stage. The disco movement turned into the club movement during the 1980s and rhinestone jewelry continued to gain popularity.
Since the 1970s rhinestone have remained main stream in the jewelry world. They continue to gain popularity and today there is a style to suit almost every ones needs. There is rhinestone jewelry which is perfect for a bride, rhinestone jewelry for a prom girl, rhinestone jewelry for the young and fun crowd, the business woman, the sophisticated woman, and the mature woman. Beautiful pieces of rhinestone jewelry adorn almost every woman’s accessories.
If trends are an indication of the rhinestones future, it appears to have a vibrant healthy life ahead of it. Pleasing for most woman with a fashion sense who instantly recognize the value and beauty of rhinestones!
© Copyright Sher Matsen, All Rights Reserved. Sher from Estate Jewelry International has been serving customers for over 20 years, providing fashion, jewelry,and wedding help. Please visit us at http://www.estatejewelryinternational.com/
Six Simple Strategies to Turn Your Walks into Workouts
September 29, 2008
If You are already fitness walking several times a week ? great! Now its time to step it up a bit. Here are 6 ways to turn your walks into workouts. They involve adding a little creativity but with these few simple techniques you can maximize the benefits of your walk and get more of an overall body workout.
Swing it!
Have you ever made fun of the walkers who swing their arms? Well they know something you don’t. This is the best way to increase the effectiveness of your workout. Bend your arms at your elbow 90 degrees as you walk. Swinging your arms will quicken your pace, raise your heart rate and help you to burn 5 to 10 percent more calories. Continue walking at a quick pace with your arms swinging naturally by your side. As you walk gradually bend them into the 90 degree angle. Keep a natural rhythm to your swing. Walking with bent arms will help with your gait, balance, and propulsion.”
Interval walking
Breaking up your walk into slow and fast segments is a great way to increase your stamina, build muscle and burn more calories. “Vary the pace of your walk so that you have a phase of working hard (up to 90 percent of your maximum heart rate) followed by a recovery phase where you stroll slowly bringing your heart rate down,” Head for the hills
Rough it!
If you normally walk circuit on sidewalks or paved road shoulders, it might be time to find a trail. “Walking on a rough but level track requires 50 percent more energy than walking on a paved road,” Find a local park that has hiking trails or maybe there is a hiking club in your area that you can join. Look in the phone book or on the internet under volksmarching.
Circuit walking
A combination of walking and strength training. This may seem a little foreign at first but give it a try and you’ll find that time go by quickly and you’ll become stronger for it. Walk for a while then stop and do an exercise like sit ups or push ups on a park bench or even jumping jacks, just some exercise other than walking. This will shock your body into a new level of fitness.
Enter an event
Sign up for a 5K or 10K walking event or even walk for a cause, Breast Cancer or pregnancy center. Set a goal and train for that goal like an athlete. This will keep you motivated and push you towards the next level of fitness walking.
Reward yourself with a good pair of walking shoes.
Tina Seay is the author and webdesigner of http://www.LearnSomethingToday.com Her goal is to help others achieve their goals and live a quality life. Her other website include http://www.YourWeddingStory.net and http://www.ForTheCatLover.com
This article can be printed as web-content or in a newsletter or ezine with the author’s bio-SIG included.
Its Never Too Early To Shop For Christmas
September 29, 2008
Every year we go through the same process of making our list of people we need to buy for and agonize over those one or two people that are almost impossible to buy for. You spend all that time at the mall or online trying to find an appropriate gift that says care and attention went into this gift.
Well this year you may be able to do something a little different, especially for the ones who are hard to buy for.
Every home you go to you will see art prints, posters or photographs adorning the walls. If you go through a gallery of motivational posters you will find prints of all kinds that have inspirational sayings such as "Goals-Dolphin, which says, There is no end to the amount of things you can accomplish". This is great for home or office. Office gifts are often the more tricky gifts and a motivational poster is the kind of gift that is beautiful and inspirational.
For the person you are buying for, are they interested in hockey, football, baseball, golf, the military, extreme sports, rock climbing, animals, flowers, ethnic art, etc.? So many areas have been covered that you should be able to find what you are looking for.
Some examples of extraordinary pictures such as a print called, Perseverance-Cliff Hanger with a saying, "What the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve". Or, Challenge-Runner with this saying, "Winners must have two things; definite goals and a burning desire to achieve them"!
Art is universal, so remember, "When Art Inspires, dreams Become Reality"!
Willie Jones
Willie is a freelance writer, researcher, floral designer, and artist. Thanks very much for reading this far.
"Make sure you enroll in the free motivational poster drawing at http://www.artinspires.com/. All winners receive a free framed print."
