Well, I woke up this morning with what felt like a bad hangover. Why do say that as if it is an odd thing? I have not had a drink in at least a year, and even when I do drink it is never, ever enough to even feel buzzy.

The woman who owns the house next door had a large party last night and people were out in the yard until about 3:30 a.m. hooting and shouting drunkenly. They were splashing in the pool and wandering the nearby yards. It kept me awake, wondering if anyone was going to drunkenly wander over here and pass out

So, when I woke up with a migraine and a very queasy stomach, the shakes and a feeling of dehydration I laughingly commented to a family member that maybe one of the drunken kids last night had cast their hangover onto me.

That same family member said it was more likely I went to sleep and had a dream about the situation next door, maybe even dreaming I was drunk. She told me it is not so difficult to trick the brain into believing you are sick, or if you are sick you can trick it into believing it is healing.

She has a point. So, I took a little Excedrin Migraine and went back to bed for another sleep cycle. I feel pretty OK now.

Happy New Year!

Besides the idea of supporting our troops more often, which I just blogged about earlier, I have two more things on my list of resolutions for 2009. I am not going to make things so hard for myself that I fail in keeping the resolutions. I want to set myself up to win, so two more are all I am going to add to my list:

1. Start using coupons again
I used to make a game out of it. I got a small thrill when I would be able to combine a store sale with a store coupons and a manufacturer’s coupon. I took the time at least once a week to comb sales flyers and couponing websites. I am going to make sure this is a part of my life once more in 2009.

2. Get Back In Shape
I lost 10 pounds in about 11 days. I am only weighing myself once a week. That way I won’t get panicky if I have a little fluctuation from one day to the next. However, I do plan on making weight loss a weekly occurring all though the next year. A little bit at a time, I plan to look like I did before I met my ex husband. That was a good place in my life – the before him time. ?

Since Cryo-Cell is an international company that is local to me (they are located right up the road in Oldsmar, FL), I took an interest in what they do years ago. My sister banked her son’s cord blood with Cry-Cell. So did many of my friends. I signed up for the program, but my hospital overlooked some of my paperwork and I ended up donating the cord blood from my daughter’s birth, but I still feel good about that decision overall.

Anyway, I have been blogging lately about the fact that not only does Cryo-Cell offer cord blood banking, which is a method of storing stem cells that a lot of people are familiar with – they also have a service called C’elle, which allows women to collect and store menstrual blood, because the shed uterine lining contains viable stem cells as well. When you combine these two services they call it “Protect Baby and Protect Mom”, and they offer a $300 discount when you enroll online.

Stem cell technology is growing on an almost daily basis. The research is heading the medical world in directions we may never have imagined even a few short years ago. And as controversial as embryonic stem cell research has been, it is a great relief to me to see that non-controversial sources like cord blood and menstrual blood are edging their way into the limelight more each year.

If you know someone who is pregnant, keep in mind that you don’t have to give them a predictable gift like a layette set or a stroller. You can purchase Cryo-Cell gift certificates for them in $50 increments.

So, here I am sitting here, writing online, hoping my daughter will PLEASE fall asleep before the clock actually ticks over to December 25. We have been tracking Santa online all day and sadly, she was still awake when Santa passed over Florida and finally moved on to other states. I have no idea what to tell her, because Santa certainly could not have stopped here while she is awake.

Anyway, there is so much to ponder. One of my best friends is miscarrying as I write this. On the other end of the spectrum, I got a call from another close friend this evening to tell me she is pregnant. Life is a mysterious thing, delicate and precious.

I just wrote a little the other day about the company Cryo-Cell and their new C’Elle, where you can bank menstrual blood to use its stem cells sometime in your future. Since I was thinking about Cryo-Cell, one of the first things I asked my friend when she called to tell me about her pregnancy was whether or not she had considered banking her cord blood at the birth of her child.

As I mentioned in my other post, my sister banked her cord blood with Cryo-Cell and I was signed up to do the same for the birth of my daughter, but a miscommunication at the hospital led to us just donating the cord blood.

Cryo-Cell’s U-Cord® stem cell cord blood preservation service is something I am well familiar with. Not only does my sister use the service, but so do at least half a dozen of my close friends. The service walks you through collection of your baby’s cord blood so that the cord blood stem cells can be stored and used to treat over 70 disease processes like Leukemia, Lymphoma and Immune system disorders. These cells are a guaranteed match for your baby and there is even a one in four chance that the blood will match the baby’s siblings.

As precious and delicate as life is, it is a massive feeling of assurance to know that you have planned ahead for your child’s health. I pointed my friend to Cryo-Cell’s website and told her that if she goes ahead and signs up, I will lead the effort to suggest to as many of her friends as possible that they give her Cryo-Cell gift certificates for her baby shower.

When my sister had my nephew, she signed up with a local company to bank the cord blood. When my daughter was born, we signed up with the same company. We had a snafu in the communication process with the folks at my hospital, so we actually ended up donating our cord blood, but if all had gone well we would have been banking the blood with the same local company.

I say local, because they are local to me. However, they are actually Cryo-Cell International, Inc. and used by people all over the world. Now Cryo-Cell has a new program called C’Elle that allows women to bank the stem cells found in the uterine lining. How cool is that? With all the controversial debate going on about stem cell research, there is actually a readily available source of stem cells in something as simple as menstrual blood. And, those calls are a 100% match for the woman donor and may possibly match her first degree relatives – like parents, siblings and children.

Now, some of you who are reading this may be in the same spot I am in right now – in need of at least one last-minute Christmas gift for a family member. Generally, last-minute gifts don’t tend to be the most well thought out or meaningful. C’elle is a phenomenal gift idea for an important woman in your life. You can get the membership set up before Christmas and still end up with what just might end up being the most important gift that woman has ever received.

Can you imagine finding out one day that the stem cells you banked today can cure you from Alzheimer’s or a spinal cord injury in the future?

I lost 6.6 pounds during my first week on my new diet. The doctor did prescribe a diet pill, but I only took one on the first three days of the diet since those days are the most stringent. Once I was able to add a better variety of vegetables to my daily eating, I think the overall feeling that I was able to eat the kinds of things I like eating was enough to help me fight off any renegade hunger pangs.

I’m sure a lot of the reason that I lost such a good amount of weight this first week is that a lot of water came off when I stopped eating as many salty snacks. Salty snacks are my weakness. Sure, I like an occasional piece of chocolate cake or some ice cram, but I’m more quickly tempted by popcorn and chips. So, I am teaching myself to cut that kind of snacking out of my diet. I need to get back to the days when I was naturally prone to go tot eh fried and cut of a cucumber when I wanted something crunchy.

I started a pretty stringent diet yesterday. Tomorrow is the first day of the last week of school before Christmas break. There will be insane amounts of food floating around, especially as the week draws to a close. I will need to use all sorts of self control. If I accept even more piece of candy from 10 different students, I will be in a very bad place.

I have enough trouble at home resisting the sugar and carbs. One thing that makes it easier is that the schools will not allow you to bring in home made foods for the kids. So, things my daughter brings to her Christmas part for her class and the one for her after-care program are going to have to be store-bought – and that is of little temptation for me.

I mentioned in a prior blog article that I have been trying out a skin care product called Dermalastyl. I wanted to give it a few more days before writing about how I feel personally regarding the product. I’m sure you all agree that a true testimonial came only really be established after genuine examination of any product or service.

Keep in mind that I am in my late-30’s, staring 40 full in the face. Over the past several years I have noticed so many small changes in my skin. I’m dealing with easier scarring on the skin on my arms and legs, fine lines near my eyes, drier hands than ever before, and the most disturbing – the appearance of creases on my forehead (yikes).

The unique selling point of Dermalastyl is that unlike other anti-aging products on the market, it doesn’t just prevent NEW wrinkles, it actually reduced EXISTING wrinkles. That’s an exciting bullet point for me, because of the above mentioned existing lines and wrinkles. The science behind that reduction is not simply the use of peptides to stimulate collagen production in the skin. There are already too many products out there using that technology and in the end it’s just not enough. Dermalastyl uses those peptides to stimulate collagen but it also uses Tropoelastin to reverse loose skin and wrinkles. It’s a one-two punch that works in ways you can only imagine.

I’ve been using the product twice a day since I received it in the mail. Now, I understand that ideally results will really become evident after 30 days, but I have already started to see a difference in the skin under my eyes and on my forehead. I feel just a little more firmness and “bounce” in skin that just last month had absolutely begun to show signs of looseness. I can attest that indeed this product appears to be working in a way unlike anything I have used in the past. And believe me when I say that I have used a LOT of high-end skin products. My former mother-in-law works for one of the most impressive cosmetic companies out there and sends me products all of the time. Still, I see a quality about Dermalastyl that has me firmly impressed.

I’m looking forward to continued use, because living in Florida for the past ten years has given me some sun damage, despite my best efforts to cover up and use sun screen at all times. Several of the testimonials on the Dermalastyl website mention that they notice a reduction in age spots and the like. Check back with me later for those results.

I had the most enviable skin when I was a teenager. I rarely dealt with acne, and when a little blemish would pop up, I simply gave it a dab of Clearasil at night and it was gone by the next morning. My skin was soft and smooth and flawless. I look back at pictures and I actually envy myself.

I still get compliments on my skin, but when I look in the mirror all I see is a patchy complexion and rough spots. I see sun damage and the adult acne I get sometimes throughout any given month. I don’t see skin I even know how to care for anymore. My skin is changing so much from year to year now that I feel like I am on a constant high-speed chase to find the right products to use.

I’ve been reading about an anti-aging skin product called Dermalastyl lately and so I got my hands on a sample so that I can try it out for myself. I just started using a couple of nights ago, so I don’t have a true evaluation for you yet, but absolutely check back on this blog soon so I can update you.

In the meantime, I thought I would let you know about the product itself. As soon as you pass puberty, your skin begins the ongoing process of losing elastin. It is this process that eventually leads to wrinkles and skin that looks and feels less firm. Dermalastyl was developed to supplement elastin levels in your skin and therefore reduce the appearance of the wrinkles you already have as well as preventing new ones.

I’ll tell you what, the mere idea that a simple skin cream can do what injections and surgeries cannot is exciting. Plus, a month’s supply costs less than many of the skin care products you buy in department stores.

In a time when more Americans than ever are honestly concerned about the foods we put into our bodies, it is absolutely pathetic that Tyson Foods is spending time and money tyring to navigate the legal system to gain the right to mislead consumers about its chicken products.

I found this on Dr. Mercola’s website:

Tyson Foods, the world’s largest meat processor and the second largest chicken producer in the U.S., has admitted that it injects its chickens with antibiotics before they hatch and then labels them as raised without antibiotics.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has told Tyson to stop using the antibiotic-free label, but the company has sued for the right to keep using it.

Poultry farmers regularly treat chickens and other birds with antibiotics. But scientists have become increasingly concerned that the routine use of antibiotics in animal agriculture may accelerate the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

After Tyson began labeling its chicken antibiotic-free, the USDA warned the company that such labels were not truthful, because Tyson regularly treats its birds’ feed with bacteria-killing ionophores. Tyson argued that ionophores are antimicrobials rather than antibiotics, and are not used on human patients. Tyson suggested a compromise which was eventually accepted by the USDA — they would use a label reading “raised without antibiotics that impact antibiotic resistance in humans.”

Tyson’s competitors: Perdue Farms Inc., Sanderson Farms Inc. and Foster Farms sued, and in May 2008, a federal judge ruled in their favor and told Tyson to stop using the label. Not long after, USDA inspectors discovered that in addition to using ionophores, Tyson was regularly injecting its chicken eggs with gentamicin, an antibiotic that has been used for more than 30 years.

The agency told Tyson that based on the new discovery, it would no longer consider the antibiotic-free label “truthful and accurate.” Tyson objected again, claiming that because the antibiotics are injected before the chickens hatched, the birds can truthfully be said to be “raised without antibiotics.” Tyson has filed a lawsuit against the USDA, claiming that the agency had improperly changed the definition of “raised without antibiotics” to include the treatment of eggs.

Sources:
Natural News November 9, 2008

Now that I am at the high school every day, I am closer to the reality of how thin some of the girls feel they need to be in order to look pretty. Painfully thin, in some cases. I overhear conversations all the time about diet pills, safe foods, starving bouts, and more severe means of weight loss. Generally, the girls talking about those topics are already thin enough, usually very pretty, and it is hard to accept that they cannot look in the mirror and see the same thing.

Of course, body image has been an issue for generation and generations. Perhaps back when I was in high school myself it was just as dire an issue, but I was basically ignorant of just how widespread it was. My immediate friends did not have issues. And, people were not as open about eating disorders then as they are now. As an adult on campus, I overhear more and am, in fact, made privy to many of the discussions. I incite trust in the students, it seems.

When my sister had my nephew, part of our gift to her was getting her started with a cord blood banking system at Cryo-Cell. Initially, we chose Cyro-Cell because they are located here in our county, over in Oldsmar, FL. After the fact, we found out about their international reputation.

My point is that if you are looking for a unique gift to give someone who is expecting, a child, a gift certificate for cord blood banking is a matchless option. And, unlike a layette or a set of crib bedding, a child is not going to grow out of your gift right away.

When you bank the cord blood after the birth of a child, you are saving the stem cells that can be used to treat diseases like leukemia, anemia, lymphoma, diabetes and cerebral palsy. The cells are a perfect match, naturally, and give an extra assurance that help will be readily available in a medical emergency. There is even a very good chance that a child’s cord blood will be a good match for a sibling as well.

The collection process is simple and painless. In fact, most hospitals will be more familiar with the process of using Cryo-Cell than you are. I do urge you to take a few minutes and look at the current offers on the Cryo-Cell website, as well as some of their educational material. You can also call them and speak with an expert who can walk you through all of your questions.

Due to the circumstances at the hospital when I had my daughter, we ended up donating our cord blood. We had signed up with Cryo-Cell, though, and would have used them had my circumstances been what they were.

It’s true. I have no time at all for the gym. I’m a busy single mom and when I do have “spare” time, I really feel like it is better used at home with my child. She has gone through a lot of turmoil when our family split up and any time I can spend with her is time that is reinforcing her self esteem and happiness.

However, I need exercise. I gained a lot of weight during the last terrible part of my marriage and then my horrific divorce. So, my daughter and I walk together and sometimes use a couple of Yoga DVD’s I have here at the house. I need to step it up, though, if I am going to make a difference in my health.

So, listen to this. XFLOWSION™ by celebrity trainer Eric Paskel uses a TRIPLE TRAINING™ program that incorporates martial arts, power yoga, and dance all into one workout, combining the proven best moves from martial arts, power yoga, and dance. There is no reason to spend the time on three different workouts to get all of the variety of these three disciples.

Plus, the system focuses on getting you past the all-too-common results plateau. Since XFLOWSION™ is all the time changing things up and shifting movements, you avoid the plateaus – and the boredom. The program has been features in People and In Style magazines.

Best of all, in my option, it’s a great workout I can do AT HOME. I can be in the house and even spending time with my daughter and she joins in on the fun (modified for her skill level and age, of course), so we are getting family time and getting healthy all at the same time.

Check it out. I think you’ll be surprised at how FUN it can be to keep exercise as a regular part of your life when there is this much variety involved!

I know it is a horrifying concept to stomach – going in for a pedicure at your local salon with your leg hair grown out for several days. Oh, the shame. However, it’s an age-old fact that a fresh save can make for a dangerous pedicure.

Well, duh!

CNN would have you think this is news, timely news in fact. Of course, in the age of cable and internet news networks, the sheer volume of “news” it takes to satisfy the hunger of the viewing public is overwhelming to even the most seasoned journalist. So, you’ll often see recycled bit of facts posing as hot news stories.

Anyway, I thought that I would jump on the old bandwagon and remind my readers why hairy legs make for the best pedicures. Basically, you do not want any cuts or scrapes on the skin that you are putting into the tub water when getting a pedicure. Even the smallest abrasion is adding to the risk that you can pick up a nasty infection.

You have no idea who is putting their feet in those tubs before you. Why do you think the pedicure folks wear latex gloves? They know better.

Of course, it is the responsibility of the salon to wash out the tubs with disinfectant between pedicures and let the tub rest for at least 10 minutes between customers. They should also be using a hospital grade sanitizer for their tools.

Tell me, though, when in the last time you actually saw any of that being done? I have quit my patronage to more than a few nail salons over the years due to what I consider to be unsanitary conditions. A pedicurist should never just take their tools out of their cart to use them on you. If they are doing it right, they will prove their worth by getting up and removing the tool from the sanitizer right before using it.

To avoid fungal infections, MRSA, and other nasty outbreaks, make sure you go prepared for your next pedicure. Look to make sure you don’t have cut, scrapes, sores, or bug bites. Wait a few days after shaving or having laser hair removal. It’s the ugly truth.

Max Factor sent me some of their cosmetics to try out (via Buzz Agent) and I liked them all well enough. However, I LOVE the LipFinity lip color.

I received a Color Genius Mineral Blush and Color Genius Brush, Max Factor Lash Perfection, and the LipFinity. The blush was cunning. There are three shades in one compact and they are curved so blending is easy. I liked it, but might not buy it again. The Lash Perfection wears like most any other mascara, but the brush really does coat my lashes a lot more evenly than even some of the Clinique and Lancôme mascaras I have in my makeup kit.

Let me take some time to tell you about the LipFinity. I don’t wear lipstick very well. It looks great on, but it does not STAY on. I lick my lips, bite my lips, and just generally wear my lipstick off in minutes. I get aggravated at having to reapply it so often and I’m not always in the position to do so. Most long-wearing lipsticks or lip stains leave my lips looking very dry. However, the Lipfinity comes with a separate lip gloss. You apply the color, let it set for a few seconds and then put the clear lip gloss over the color. I throw the lip gloss into my purse and leave the house. Since it is clear, I can reapply the lip gloss as often as needed without needing a mirror or even a steady hand. I can work, eat, sweat, talk, lick and bite my lips – and the color stays true for hours and hours.

I love the stuff so much I went out and bought three more colors. This is the first semi-permanent lip color I have found that actually stays on like it promises. I’ve also paired the color with some of the sparkly clear lip glosses I already have on hand it since the initial color application is independent of anything else – it looks great.

If you want to get the most out of LipFinity, make sure to follow the directions. Apply the color and then DO NOT blot of rub your lisp together. You need to allow the color to set in and dry for about a minute first. Then, do as you will. I apply the gloss at this point. If you do it right in the beginning, this lip color will indeed work for you for hours on end. Some people even claim it lasts all day. I’d say for me it lasts about half the day, but that is still amazing.