Top Four Wishes

Aren’t these your top four wishes?
How life was easier if these came true!

HOPE

HOPE !

Don't be racist !

Learn from this Jeweish black Italian, Japanese, English, Mexican guy how not to be racist.

Stupid cancer...

How to Find a Girlfriend in 5 Simple Steps

Want to know how to find a girlfriend?

Well if this is the case, then you're not alone. Right now, there are thousands even millions of guys who need a girlfriend to complete their lives. The problem is they don't have a clue about how to get one.

Fortunately there is a way YOU can find that special someone to complete your life. In this article, you'll discover a simple five step system you can use to get a girlfriend.

Step 1- Work on your attraction skills

Before you can even think about finding a girlfriend, it's important to work on your core personality and pick up skills. The logic behind this is to be able to attract that perfect woman once you meet her. So during the process of meeting women, you should work on displaying the characteristics which they'll find attractive.

For instance, you should focus (and try to improve) on the following things:

o Building confidence

o Approaching women

o Conversation skills

o How to build chemistry and rapport

o Seduction skills

Step 2- Know what you want

While you're out meeting women it's important to figure out "the type" you really want. Just like any other goal in your life it's simple to achieve your desired outcome if you have a clear understanding of what you want.

So if you want to learn how to find a girlfriend, then you should think about the type of woman you're looking for. Here are some things to consider:

o Age

o Race

o Body type

o Hair color

o Personality

o Education

o Level of intelligence

o Social Background

Step 3- Go to the right places

While this might seem simplistic, the best way to find your ideal woman is to go where she'll be. In the last step, you learned how to discover your perfect girlfriend. Since you know what she's like, you'll have a clear picture of her personality and interests.

My advice is to simply go to the places where she hangs out. For instance, if you want an athletic girl, then you should look at gyms and other athletic events.

Step 4- Approach and date different woman

The worst thing you can do is to seriously date the FIRST woman who pays attention to you. Instead you should make it a point to date different women till you find one that's perfect for you. As a result, you should make it a point to approach (and date) every woman who find interesting in your life.

By dating lots of women you'll develop a realistic view of what you really want from a girlfriend. Only after you've seen what you DON'T want, will you develop an idea of the perfect girlfriend.

Step 5- Select a girlfriend

The last step is simple. Once you've dated for awhile, you'll start to develop strong feelings for one particular woman. Obviously once you *click* with one particular women, you can make her your girlfriend.

Trying to discover how to find a girlfriend is a hard for many guys. The good news is it's not difficult if you know the right system. If you pay close attention (and implement) the five steps I discussed in this article, you'll discover it's easy to find that perfect girl.

6 Female Behaviors That Baffle Men

Obviously there are some dramatic and pressing issues about women that  just play with men head games. Here I‘ve tried to focus on some of them:

1. Why Do Women Have so Many Shoes?

If you want to know why some women get really excited about shoes, I can't tell you. But regardless of whether women actually like shoes or not, the average woman has to have a fair amount of them, especially if they wear dresses.

Ladies have to coordinate hemline with boot height; they  have to make sure the styles match, and colors don't look funny together. To cover all the bases, ladies  usually need a brown, black and white pair of shoes in each style (pumps, flats, sneakers, low boots, high boots). If lady gets any funky "cute" colors, they'll probably end up matching exactly one outfit.

Figuring out which shoes would go with which outfit is basically voodoo, as far as I can tell, and there's no changing rooms at shoe stores, so it's easy to come home with a pair of shoes and find out they don't match shit.

Maybe a lot of these "bad combos" seem like silly nitpicking to guys, but I'm pretty sure that at least in some cases, even though the average guy couldn't tell you what was wrong, he would feel like there was something "off" about the outfit, or suddenly feel like the girl looked stockier or more awkward.

2. Why Do Women Smell Nice?

A lot of guys think women try to smell nice on purpose, using perfume or other scents. But only 36 percent of women wear perfume on a regular basis.

Since men seem to feel that more than 36 percent of women smell nice, another possibility is shampoo. Most men don't think of shampoo as a smell that lingers, since their hair is usually short. Women, who tend to have longer hair, basically have a bigger head-sponge to retain shampoo smell.

Not that women consciously pick shampoos based on how nice it will make them smell to others. If they do pick shampoos based on scent, it's usually based on how nice it will smell to them while they are in the shower. Giving other people a nice smelling day is a sort of unintended side effect.

And finally, apparently guys would think women smelled nice even if they weren't using any product at all, due to pheromones or something. This was demonstrated in an experiment where men got to sniff clothes women had worn and could pass it off as doing their part for science.

3. Why Do Women Go to the Bathroom In Groups?

A lot of men seem to think there is a kind of secret, like the women have some kind of coordinated plan or traditional ritual.

Ladies are traditionally known for being more relational than men, so they sometimes can see dinner conversation as being as important as a good TV show, and look for unimportant "breaks" where they can cut out and pee. If one lady decides to go, another lady might notice it, think about where the conversation is at, and realize, "Oh yeah, this probably is a good break."

When it comes to ladies on double dates or in large prom groups, they might see it as a good time to catch up with each other and how they think their dates are going. Maybe say what they think of each other's dates. Just like men enjoy the play-by-play in sports, ladies enjoy a play-by-play on dates, but it's very rude to do it right in front of the guy.

And a large number of ladies don't do it at all. Basically there's a bunch of different common-sense motivations depending on the situation and the individual women involved. So, men, calm down, there's no universal ritual or secret plan.

4. Why Are Women's Public Restrooms so Gross?

Obviously this varies from place to place, but a lot of men who have had to do janitorial work complain that women's restrooms are often filthier than men's restrooms.
The thing about this upbringing is that it's kind of intended to encourage women to clean, since in the past, that was a woman's job. If you instill fear and hatred of filth in a woman, the thought went, she would get upset about dirty counters long before her man would, and automatically clean it up before he had to give the order.

As we all know, fear triggers a "fight or flight" response, equipping you to either fight the danger, or flee it. If a classically-raised woman runs into a nasty poo-encrusted toilet, she suddenly gets the visceral urge to either clean it or run away. If it's in her own house, she's got no choice but to clean it, at least eventually (or ask someone else to). If it's in McDonald's, she will pee hovering over the seat with her breath held, fling her toilet tissue in the general direction of the toilet and run like the wind.

So if you're wondering why someone wouldn't flush a toilet that obviously needed a second flush, the answer is that she was probably a block away by the time that became evident.

5. Why Do Girls Take so Long to Get Ready?

Again, there's probably a bunch of things that cause this. Some girls probably actually do want to make a man wait in order to play hard-to-get or whatever, just like in the jokes. Someone has to keep stand-up comedians in business.

A more innocent answer could be that she's trying on clothes. As you probably know, women usually like to wear new outfits to special events. While most women aren't wasteful enough to buy a new dress every time, she's probably going to want to combine the dress with a different pair of shoes, or a different shawl. So she's got a really awesome new outfit combo planned for the big day.

The downside of a new and exciting outfit is that it's an untested outfit, which means that even though those boots theoretically should have gone with that skirt for a smart, modern combo, once you put it on, apparently you look like a goth. It's bizarre.

Then you swear and start grabbing other pieces that you think will fix this, which as you can imagine, consumes a lot of time, since a lot of nice going-out clothes are both flimsy and tight, so getting in and out without tearing them is an ordeal.

Obviously, the logical solution is to test the outfit ahead of time, which some women do. However, women, like all human beings, procrastinate, so this happens about as often as anyone actually studying for a test early or doing their homework before the last minute.

And this is all before makeup. You don't even want to get me started on makeup.

6. Why Are Women's Fashions so Complicated?

In general, men's fashions go along a one dimensional axis from casual to formal. And they just need to pick where on the line they need to be, depending on the situation. Sure, there are a lot of different styles, but most guys usually just go with one style, and move along a single axis in that style.

Women's fashions have multiple axes. For example in addition to casual and formal, there's also slutty and dowdy.

Guys fashions have some hint of a coolness spectrum, from smooth to dad-like, but it's not nearly as wide and obvious as the women's range from hijab to miniskirts. It's a very rare guy outfit that would cause someone to point out its wearer as a man-whore, based on the outfit alone. Even if a guy was wearing no shirt in the workplace, he wouldn't get called out for being slutty so much as for being way too casual.

And there's more that just those two axes. There's also a seasonal one,  apparently a white purse is a summer purse and you're supposed to swap to a black one in the winter. So you could have an outfit that's just the right amount of formal and slutty, but it's the wrong season. And the more fashionable you are, the more axes you have. So that's why a simple decision like what to wear today can get so complicated.

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Life hacks

Most of you will find at least one of these tricks useful around the house.

How To Plan A Group Picnic In 6 Easy Steps

Group picnics are a great way to get family, friends, and even coworkers together for a day of fun in the sun.  But of course, these large get-togethers can't just be thrown together.  Group picnics require a little preparation and organization to ensure that the day of fun runs without a hitch.

1) Decide on how many people to invite to your group picnic -

It's important to be realistic when it comes to the number of people you invite.  A lot of your planning, from location to food, will depend on this number.  Of course, the number you come up with now will just be an estimate – you'll get a more definite answer as RSVPs are returned.

While you're thinking about numbers, start to compile a list of people you'd like to invite.  If this is the first picnic event you've ever planned, you might want to invite just your closest relatives and friends – people that you know will be forgiving when there are hiccups.

2) Decide on when to have your group picnic -

There are a few things to keep in mind when planning the date and time to have your picnic such as weather and sunlight.  Prime picnic weather is in the spring and fall when the temperatures aren't too hot or cold.  The closer you get to summer, the lower risk you have of snow ruining your event. 

You'll also have to keep in mind the amount of sunlight available to you.  If you pick a date in early March when the sun sets early in the evening, you'll need to either schedule it to start and end early or find some other lighting source. 

3) Determine your budget –

Hosting a picnic is going to require some money.  You'll need food, drinks, tables, napkins, and silverware, just to state a few.  Now is the time to decide on how much you want to spend on this picnic.  You'll also want to check in with those around you to see if they want to kick in some funds towards this party.

Once you know how much you (and others) can put towards the picnic, sit down and create a budget.  This will help keep you on the right path financially and allow you to easily see how to balance out overspending in some areas with under spending in others.

4) Decide on a location for your group picnic -

Now that you have an idea of how many people might be showing up to your picnic, the date and time you want to hold it, and the money available, it's now time to decide on a picnic site. 

There are great group picnic locations every where around you.  Some are the usual suspects, like local parks, lakes, and beaches.  Others are a bit unusual, such as local campgrounds, attractions, fairgrounds, and even local churches.

When you visit sites, you'll want to make sure that there is enough room to hold everyone you plan to invite.  Also, you'll want to check to see if there are enough tables, BBQ pits, and bathrooms for you and your guests to use.  If not, you will have to make arrangements for others to be brought in.

Once you've decided on a location, check with the owner or local agencies to see if a permit or reservation is required for your picnic.  Most of the time, these fees are minimal and help to support your local township.

5) Decide on your food and drink for your group picnic -

Now it's time to think about everyone's favorite part of a picnic – the food! 

There are usually four catering choices:

• do the cooking yourself
• buy ready-to-eat platters from a grocery store
• have the event catered
• have a potluck meal where everyone brings a dish to share. 

The same sorts of choices go for drinks too.  You'll need a wide array of sodas, tea, and water to keep everyone happy so if you decide to buy them yourself, head on over to your local warehouse store and buy then in bulk.

Allowing alcohol at your picnic depends on a lot of things.  Some cities, counties, and property owners won't allow it because of liability concerns.  If it is allowed, it will be your responsibility to ensure that people drink responsibly and don't drink and drive. 

Whatever you decide to do on this subject, make sure that your guests know your decision.  The last thing you want is for Uncle Joey showing up to your picnic at a "dry" park with a bottle of Jack Daniels.

6) Pick up the incidentals for your group picnic -

First of all, make sure that you and your guests have something to sit on.  If your site doesn't have enough picnic tables or benches, you might have to rent or borrow chairs for the day.  For the younger set, borrow a selection of large rugs or blankets for them to sit on so the chairs can be used by those that need them.

Also, don't forget about your plates, cups, napkins, and trash bags.  Disposable paper items can be found at your local warehouse or party store.

Some other incidentals you might want to look into are:

• music (mp3 player or stereo)
• decorations (flowers, balloons, streamers, etc.)
• games and/or piñata
• disposal cameras

source:infobarrel

Does Dating Require A Dress Code?

It seems there’s no end to the demanding challenges that we face daily. 

We have to be at work at a certain time,  we have appointments and events we must attend. This list is so exhaustive that style, when we’re at our leisure, becomes that one area of self-expression we can manage on our own terms. Fashion is one of the greatest ways through which we express our mood, personality and creativity.

But even that is sometimes compromised when women enter relationships. The thinking is that a good woman wants to provide for her man in any way possible; however, does that desire have to extend to the way she chooses to dress? Isn’t that a very personal process and decision? Believe it or not, many women are facing the dilemma of dressing for their man today. 

“Sweatpants, hair tied, chillin’ with

no make-up on, That’s when you’re the prettiest, I hope that you don’t take it wrong.” Drake’s popular line was one I always admired and truly identified with until my whole look changed for a man.

 

I have always been a no boundaries kind of gal when it came to fashion. Bright colors, fun jewelry, flats and jeans were my uniform.

 

My man claimed to love me, but he couldn’t stand my look. He always preferred for me to wear skirts and wanted me to wear more neutral colors. At the time, I didn’t see this as a problem; I mean why wouldn’t I change my style if it could make my boyfriend happy? But as I reflect on it today, I cannot believe that I had compromised myself to abide by his standards. When I changed elements of my style for a man, I compromised who I am. When we broke up, I promised myself I’d never do that again.

 

Now, as I proudly walk down the street in my neon green jumpsuit and plum sandals, it’s clear that those days of compromising my style and my personality are far behind me.

 

However, I am troubled when I come in to contact with women who have given up their sense of style to cater to a man like I did. Why are we so quick to do that?

 

Now, there is nothing wrong with looking good for your man. I am by all means a strong advocate of this. However, I am a stronger advocate of looking good for yourself first. How are we as women suppose to gain respect if we are so quick to give up our parts of who we are to please our mates?

I believe that real men would never pressure a woman into dressing differently than she desires to. It’s a form of control that we shouldn’t stand for.

What Causes Hair Loss?

What Causes Hair Loss?

How does hair normally grow?

Hair's normal cycle of growth and loss is about 2 to 6 years. A single strand of hair grows less than a half of an inch per month during this phase. About 90 percent of the hair on your head is growing at any given time. About 10 percent of your hair is in resting phase. After bout 2 to 3 months, the resting hair falls out and new hair grows in that spot.

Every day, normal people will be constantly shedding hair and regrowing it as part of the cycle of hair growth. Some people may experience above normal or excessive hairless however, which can affect men, women, and children.

What cause hair loss?

Excessive hair loss can be caused by a variety of factors such as after a few months after major surgery or sickness you may lose an abundance of hair. This type of excessive hair loss is temporary and really is just related to the stress caused by the illness or surgery.

Sometimes hormonal imbalance can cause hair loss. A malfunctioning thyroid gland can cause your hair to fall out. If you're experience hair loss due to your thyroid gland, treatment for the thyroid gland could help relieve your hair loss problems. Also, if other hormones in your body like androgens and estrogens, are out of balance they can cause hair loss too. Correcting the imbalance will help stop your hair loss. Both men and women can experience hormone imbalance.

If you are a woman, hair loss can occur a few months of having a baby. This hair loss is normal and is related to the hormones during your pregnancy. Basically, during your pregnancy, your body had much higher than usual hormones that kept hair that normally would've fallen out on your body still. Once you had your baby, your hormones went back to normal levels and your body start the normal cycle of hair growth and loss again. The excessive hair loss is only temporary.

Certain medications can also cause hair loss in both males and females. If you're experiencing this type of hair loss, stopping of the medication or switching to another, could stop the hair loss. Some known medicines that can cause hair loss are blood thinners, gout medicines, medicines used for chemotherapy, vitamin A, birth control pills, and antidepressants.

Fungal infections are another cause of hair loss. A fungal infection of the scalp (usually found in children) can cause hair loss. This type of infection can be easily be treated with antifungal medicines.

Hair loss can also be a sign of an early sign of a major disease like lupus or diabetes. If you have unexplained hair loss and cannot find out what is causing it, you'll want to speak to a doctor to make sure you don't have a disease.

Is there something I could be doing to my hair?

Improper care can also cause hair loss. Pig tails, cornrows, or other such styles, the pull on your hair can cause hair loss. If the pulling stops before scarring happens, your hair will grow back normally. If you do experience scarring however, you will have permanent hair loss. Chemicals used for perms, dying of hair, etc., can also cause inflammation which could result to scarring and also result in hair loss.

Genetics could also be the culprit

Sometimes hair loss is in your genes, especially when it comes to males. You've probably heard of male-pattern baldness which is the primary cause for hair loss in men. This trait passed down by your family line will cause you to lose your hair at an early age which will lead to baldness. Signs of male-pattern baldness includes a receding hair line and/or baldness on the top of your head.

A female variant of permanent-pattern baldness has the same causes as the male except the females typically have thin hair over their entire scalp instead of a few areas.

source: infobarrel

Hair Donation Organizations: Where to Donate Hair for Cancer Patients

How to Donate Your Hair to Cancer Patients

A List of Hair Donation Organizations

Hair donation organizations provide a way for children, men and women to donate their hair for a charitable cause.  Organizations support children and women who have lost their hair as a result of a medical condition or medical treatment, such as chemotherapy or radiation. These non-profit organizations accept hair donations and use the hair to make complimentary wigs for children and women.  Each wig costs these charitable organizations approximately $1,500 to $3,000 to make.  Fifteen to 20 ponytail donations go into creating one wig.

These wigs help children and women cope with the emotional adjustments of losing their hair. A drastic change in appearance can cause a significant amount of psychological stress, including depression, plummeting self-esteem and avoidant behaviors.  A custom-made hairpiece helps decrease these variable and combat additional trauma, as each wig is made to look like the child’s real tresses.


Some hair donation organizations cater to specific regions, medical illnesses, or certain age ranges. Each charitable organization has its own donation requirements, surrounding length, color and previous treatment of hair.  Read guidelines carefully and visit the organization’s website prior to submitting your hair donation or sponsoring a donation event. 

5 Hair Donation Organizations

1. The Childhood Leukemia Foundation

The Childhood Leukemia Foundation is a non-profit organization sponsoring children with leukemia.  This foundation hopes to provide hair replacement pieces to assist children in overcoming any emotional stress as a result of hair loss. Their wigs are made to fit the child’s head securely and resemble their previous hairstyle.    
The Childhood Leukemia Foundation accepts hair donations at least 10 inches in length and cut from a braid or a ponytail.  No colored, chemically-treated or dreaded locks are accepted.   Place your charitable donation in a plastic bag, along with the hair donation form, and send to the following address: 30126 Harper Avenue; St. Clair Shores, MI 48082.  The foundation will donate hair in memory of a loved one or send you an acknowledgement of your donation.

2. Wigs for Kids
Wigs for Kids is a charitable organization that makes complimentary wigs for children that cannot afford to purchase their own hairpiece.  Most children receiving these wigs have lost their hair as a result of receiving radiation or chemotherapy treatments due to a cancer diagnosis.  Every hair prosthetic piece provides a child with a custom-made wig that fits snugly on their head.
Wigs for Kids collaborates with salons across North America for a free donation haircut.  To donate your tresses to Wigs for Kids, your locks must be at least 12 inches in length, tightly bound and placed in a plastic bag.  Donated tresses cannot be chemically processed or bleached.  Gray hair will be accepted.  Send your hair donation to: Wigs for Kids; 24231 Center Ridge Road; Westlake, Ohio 44145. If you live in Canada, you can send your donations to: Carlo Turvani - Transitions Salon; 244 Grantham Avenue; St. Catherines, ON L2M 4Z4.
Wigs for Kids will send you an acknowledgement of receipt for your hair donation within 6 weeks.
3. Locks of Love

Locks of Love is non-profit organization that sponsors children ages 6 to 21 years of age that suffer from alopecia areata or experience hair loss as a result of chemotherapy or radiation treatment. Children that have lost their hair from burns, dermatological conditions or other trauma also qualify for sponsorship.
Locks of Love accepts donations from anyone with unbleached hair at least 10 inches in length. Tresses must be cut from a braid or ponytail. Permed or color-treated hair is acceptable.  Dread locks are not accepted. Hair shorter than 10 inches and gray hair are sold to other manufacturers to reduce the cost of making the wig.  Send your charitable donation to: Locks of Love; 234 Southern Boulevard; West Palm Beach, FL 33405.
4.   Pantene Beautiful Lengths

Pantene Beautiful Length is a non-profit, charitable organization that partners with the American Cancer Society.  Pantene Beautiful Lengths donates free hair wigs to women and children undergoing chemotherapy.  The wigs are distributed via the wig banks sponsored by the American Cancer Society.
Pantene Beautiful Lengths requires all donations to be at least 8 inches in length.  Locks that has been chemically treated or bleached, or consists of more than 5 percent gray hair, is not accepted. Tresses meeting the aforementioned specifications should be sealed in a zip-lock bag and mailed to: Pantene Beautiful Lengths; Attn: 192-123; 20770 Westwood Drive; Strongsville, OH 44149.
5. Angel Hair Foundation

The Angel Hair Foundation is a non-profit organization that sponsors children living in the state of Oregon that are dealing with a medical condition that causes hair loss. According to the Angel Hair Foundation, workers from the foundation meet with the child to gauge an appropriate length and color for the wig.  The foundation makes each wig to meet the child’s needs, taking into account any allergies and medical complications. The Angel Hair Foundation sponsors every child that qualifies and provides each wig for free.
Anyone can donate their locks to the Angel Hair Foundation.  Requirements for donating hair include a minimum length of 8 inches, locks cut from a ponytail or braid, and banded by a ponytail holder at each end.  Chemically-treated hair and gray hair is accepted, as long as it is in good condition. You can send your hair donation along with a short donation form to: Angel Hair Foundation; 2783 Suncrest Avenue; Eugene, Oregon 97405. Upon receipt of your donation, the foundation sends you a certificate of appreciation.
Other Considerations
Some hair donation organizations allow you to deduct your hair donation from your taxes, although others do not.  Check with your chosen organization prior to making your charitable donation to confirm whether a tax deduction is possible.
References

The Childhood Leukemia Foundation: Donate Your Hair

Wigs for Kids: Donate Hair
Locks of Love: Hair Donation Questions
Pantene Beautiful Lengths: Donation Requirements
 Angel Hair Foundation: Hair Donations

source:infobarrel

How To Stay Married

Simple Advice From A Woman Who Plans On Reaching Her 50th Wedding Anniversary

From the moment I accepted the diamond ring everyone I knew had advice on how to stay married and survive fifty years of marriage with success. We currently live in a country where there is more than a fifty percent divorce rate and it's only looking worse as time goes on. Before saying "I do," I made sure to ask those I trusted to offer advice on how to stay married fifty years or until death do us part. Not only was I surprised at some advice gathered, some seemed too simple and too difficult. I can say with confidence I've been happily married for over a year and a half and have given most of the credit to the advice I remember from those around me. You may be saying to yourself that a year and half isn't something to boast about in marriage but I will confidently counter attack your reasoning by simply saying two words: Kim Kardashian.




to aid in remembering these vital ways to stay married I've created an acronym that spells out "Stay Married." In the best of cases people would be seeking to stay happily married but unfortunately my guess is if you're researching this on Google you'll be content with successful advice regarding simply "staying married." Make sure to read through the article to find some great resources that I've compiled below and remember Ben Franklin once said "Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half shut afterwards."

S-hare Stories

Sharing stories in a marriage brings you closer and allows you to get to know a part of your spouse you haven't met before. Take time to share stories about your childhood, your day at work, your hopes, and your fears. It may feel strange at first telling stories about waking up on Christmas morning as a four year old or braking your foot in high school playing soccer but before you know it you and your significant other will enjoy listening to these stories and feel closer.

T-ell the Truth

There isn't room for white lies in marriage. Tell the truth always. Most marital issues stem from trust problems. Get into the habit of telling the truth all the time. If you struggle with extreme exaggeration or small white lies discuss this with your spouse and work together. Sometimes in our society we don't realize we aren't telling the truth in day to day discussions regarding simple tasks. Be reflective and commit to be honest with one another all the time.

A-lways Listen

Whether you're a female or a male-listen. When one feels listened to they feel respected, loved, and appreciated. Take time to practice active listening and engage with your husband/wives words and emotions. Don't always speak back or jump to conclusions. Simply listen and support them for as long as they need.

Y-ell Less

Better yet, don't yell at all. We all know you and your spouse will have arguments from time to time. Use the common advice of counting to ten or taking a break from speaking to one another to gather your thoughts. When one yells the other person becomes defensive and heightens their voice as well. Yelling doesn't solve anything and although it may feel great in the moment-usually hurtful words and actions result. Also make a point to avoid marriage "bad words" such as: hate, leave, worthless, and divorce. My husband and I actually have committed to one another never to use the "d-word." This helps us in our arguments and allows us to trust one another while discussing hard issues instead of being distracted by empty threats and manipulations.

M-ake Time for One Another

Time is vital to our day to day functioning and can make or break a marriage. If you are like any other busy American chances are you have jobs, kids, community/religious activities, and other things that take time away from spending alone time with your spouse. Do not just wait for opportune times to invest time with your spouse-make them. Plan dates, schedule appointments, and protect your time with one another. Don't allow other things to get in the way of your Monday night dinner or Sunday afternoon walk. What might "feel" like a good reason to skip out from time together might not be. Pay close attention.

A-gree to Disagree

You're not going to agree on everything. You can make your marriage work and stay married by agreeing to disagree. Whether it's religious views, politics, or money work together as much as possible and then let it go. You married your spouse because you love them and enjoy them, not because they are your clone.

R-un the Home Together

Take turns running the home together. Pick your favorite chores and do them. Work side by side and communicate what is working and what isn't. Do not fall into a stereotypical sexist mindset and allow one another the freedom to experiment with what you do best around the home. You may be surprised to find that your wife cuts the lawn better than you or your husband makes a better souffle to take to the neighbors.

R-espect Eachother

Discuss what respect means with one another. Once you have a good working definition of respect-give it! Many marriages end because one partner doesn't feel respected. It is important to remember that respect is different for everyone. That being said, respect usually includes honesty, listening, and trusting.

I-nitiate Intamacy

Have sex! Have lots of sex! Intimacy keeps a marriage going when times are difficult. There will be days you don't feel like having sex-do it anyways. Not only is sex good for your relationship; it reduces stress by releasing endorphins. Initiating intimacy tells your spouse they are desired and loved. Do this as much as possible.

E-njoy Other Company/Have Your Own Friends

Don't rely on one another for all of your encouragement, entertainment, or emotional support. Find and invest in other relationships in your life. Married people who have friends usually stay married longer because they have separate interests and activities. This also gives you and your significant other more to talk about!

D-on't Entertain Drama

You know that friend that is always upset about something ridiculous? Don't be them. From the beginning of your marriage don't entertain drama. Simply don't make much out of things that don't deserve your time and energy. Some married couples get bored and make up arguments just for entertainment. This can become a very deadly habit and result in communication issues and ultimately divorce. Find entertainment through doing things together such as: hiking, skiing, playing board games and volunteering.
In conclusion the above acronym will provide you with simple (but sometimes difficult) ways to stay married. I would suggest printing this article out and putting it somewhere you will see it everyday. Discuss these simple steps with your partner and work together towards a longer, healthier marriage. I hope one day to be able to return and confirm this advice on my fiftieth wedding anniversary.

Rediculously Cheap and Easy Beauty Tips With Immediate Results

I will not gently into that good night.

I’m vain, I admit it.  I prefer looking good over feeling good, and form over function.    As such, you might expect that I am one of those women who always looks perfectly groomed, with polished nails, an admirable complexion I owe to regular facials, and the best sun screen money can buy...big sigh, I wish.  No, that’s not me.
It’s been more than 6 weeks since my last pedicure, my “second day hair”  sometimes turns into “third day hair” and my left eye brow has finally grown back after I accidentally waxed a chunk of it off (oops).

Maybe that explains why my favorite issue of people Magazine is the one where they show all the stars without make-up.  Yes, I DO feel better when I see my idols looking worse than me sans make-up and hair extensions.  I like to look good, I just don’t want to spend the time, money or energy that it takes to do it right.  Besides, I’m all thumbs. I don’t have the small motor control necessary to apply a thin line of liquid eyeliner or use a flat-iron for that matter.

All of this helps to explain my criteria for ridiculously cheap and easy beauty tips with immediate results:

1. Cheap  $10-$25, or borrowed for free.
2. Fast and Easy  2-5 minutes, 10 max, and requires no talent or experience.  Clearly the at home brow waxing kit did not meet this criteria.
3. IMMEDIATE, Noticeable Results  If not, why bother?

Erase Fine Lines and Wrinkles Around Your Eyes, Lips, and Forehead

A few years ago, with my 30 year class reunion speeding toward me like a freight train, I was watching a lot of infomercials for miracle beauty makeovers,  like the one for a miracle line filler Cindy Crawford was “so thrilled with” she had to “share it with the world”.  I was really tempted to “call now”, but the price tag didn’t meet my “cheap” criteria, so I decided to investigate drug store alternatives. Thanks, but no thanks, Cindy.  Don’t get me wrong, you look amazing, but how about a hair cut for your son?

I headed over to Target and sure enough, there was an amazing inventory to choose from.  I could have spent an entire day there, but my 6 and 7-year-old kids, who were raging a full-scale battle in the aisle while I pretended not to know who they belonged to, blew my cover when they started to call me mom (don’t you hate it when that happens?).  So I grabbed the one with the name I liked the best, The Fill Monty.  It was a crap shoot, but I am happy to report, it held up against all my criteria.
√ Cheap.  It was on sale, of course, so I paid only 13 dollars. If you don’t find it on sale, you’ll pay a whopping  22.00.  Towards to top end of my threshold, but let’’s be honest, if you leave it in the bathroom at work or gift it to a friend on-the-spot (like I did), you can replace it without breaking the bank.

√ Fast & Easy.  I tore open the package in the car, and applied it  around my eyes with the tip of my finger using my rear view mirror, while the battle between my kids raged on in the back seat. It goes on right over your makeup or moisturizer if you are going au-natural.You can’t screw up.  The worst that will happen is you erase more lines and flaws than you meant to, gasp!

√ Immediate, noticeable results. “Guaranteed to reduce the appear of fine lines and wrinkles is just 6 weeks”.  How am I suppose to get excited about that? I’m hard pressed to wait 60 seconds, let alone 6 weeks.  The Fill Monty delivered on it’s promise before my fingertip made it back to the jar for another dip!  “How does it work”, you ask? In the words of  Soap and Glory, “It works like a cinematic lens to blur and reduce the appearance of fine lines from the outside in.”  In other words, it’s make-up.  It’s not going to reverse the aging process, but it IS going to make you look great and hence feel great, NOW.

BONUS Beauty Tip : You can reapply it as often as you like during the day and evening. I have used it around my lips, on my forehead creases and my neck!

Bare Legs? You Bet!

By now you’ve guessed that I am no spring chicken, but this ridiculously cheap and easy beauty trick is one that spans generations.  That’s right, you 20 something's, it’s never too soon to start hyper focusing on your slightest imperfections!
I was wearing a dress to the reunion.  In fact, I actually took my High School prom dress to a seamstress and had it “up dated” for the occasion…but that’s a whole other story.  The hem line fell right above my knees, which meant my thighs would be out of sight, but my chins and calves would not.  The skin on my lower legs was a little “translucent” with bruises that varied in size and color, and spider veins that ran from behind my knees down to mid calf in places.  But, I wasn’t worried and I WASN’T going to wear pantyhose!  But I was going to use a healthy application of my favorite Cheap trick, Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs.  Let’s go to the criteria…
√ Cheap. $6.93.  Need I say more?  you will find similar products that cost upwards of 70 and 80 bucks.  Start low.  If you don't like it, you can always spend more money.
√ Fast and Easy.  The can says to spray it in your hands, then apply it to your legs like you would lotion, which works fine and can be done any time of day or night.  I think it’s faster to lay a towel on the floor of the bathroom and spray a few stripes on my leg, then put a few pumps of lotion in my hands and spread it around while I moisturizer my legs.
√ Immediate results; You will be amazed.  The effect is so dramatic you will want to wear shorts and skirts all year-long!    The day of the reunion two of my girlfriends showed up in nylons, even after I told them about my ridiculously cheap and easy trick.  Both claimed THEIR legs were way worse than mine.  I convinced them they had nothing to lose and everything to gain.  Nothing shouts “pushing 50” louder than pantyhose in the summer.  Off came the nylons, out came the Sally Hansen and up went their self-esteem, not to mention their fashion quotient. (That's me with my perfect Sally Hansen Airbrushed legs, arms and chest wearing my old prom dress, it's a Gunny Sack by Jessica McLintock, 1979).
 ♦ Bonus Beauty Tip: If you have any body scrub lying around from an old gift basket, use it in the shower to exfoliate your legs before you airbrush your legs.  I can’t say I have seen a big difference in the final appearance of my legs, which is a good thing, due to the added time and effort.  But it makes me feel “grown up and pampered” and shedding a dull dead layer of skin cells can only be a good thing, right?
♦♦ Double Bonus Beauty Tip: Buy Sally Hansen Airbrush legs if a variety of shades to match your skin tone all year around.  Share it with your friends and try it on other visible limbs.  I have used it on my arms and chest, my upper back, pretty much all over.  If you overdo it, simply wipe yourself down with a damp wash cloth until you reach the shade and coverage you desire, then reapply your moisturizer you are done!

30 second Fix For Limp, Lifeless Hair

This one will seem just to good to be true, but it works.  Change the part in your hair.  I learned this by accident.  I typically style my bangs sweeping left to right.  I have very curly hair thanks to my Italian/Sicilian heritage, but it is also very fine (code for frizzy), so I blow it straight most days. I’ve gotten pretty good at adding just the right amount of height with a little back combing and some hairspray, but some days it just will not cooperate and lays flat to my head.
One day out of desperation I decided I would try flipping my bangs over to the other side of my head, adding hairspray to my roots, and a little heat from the blow dryer and then flip them back to create some “lift”.  Half way through the process, with my bangs now swept right-to-left, I could not believe my eyes.   My hair looked awesome!  I got compliments all day from people and every time I went to the ladies room or spotted myself in the mirror I felt great.  So, here’s the drill, if you usually part in the middle, swap it for a deep side part. If you always do an off-center part, try a center one instead. Changing your part will change the way your hair lies on your head, giving you the lift you need in your appearance and your spirits.
√ √√It’s Cheap-free, Fast and Easy, and the results are both Noticeable AND Immediate.