Thursday, November 17, 2011

Holiday 101 for Couples

During the winter holidays, you may find yourselves and your marriage stressed from planning for the holidays. Here's holiday 101 to help the two of you navigate through the holiday season stress-free and with more joy.

Christmas Season Planning

If you talk with one another and do some planning, the two of you can enjoy the holidays instead of wishing they were over. Here's an advent calendar, tips on sharing holiday cards, celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas, and more.

Holiday Survival Tips

Here's help in recognizing holiday marital stress, dealing with the holiday tug of war of where to go and what to do during the holidays, surviving the holidays, handling a hurting holiday, your first holiday season together, and more.

Gift Giving

If you are still looking for that special gift for your spouse, here are some ideas for gift giving along with last minute shopping tips.

Interfaith Issues

If you are in an interfaith marriage, the winter holidays can be challenging to your marriage relationship. We've provided tips on how to enjoy the holidays as an interfaith couple and suggestions on handing the holidays together.

Celebrating the New Year With One Another

Along with resolutions that may enrich your marriage, here are New Year's Eve themed movies to watch together, and suggestions on how to celebrate New Year's Eve.

Holiday is one special moment to share with your loved ones.  But remember, it's more memorable to spend the holiday planning and celebrating when you (couples) work side-by-side to achieve this wonderful experience.

source: marriage.about.com

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Cleansing Your Face: Do the Right Way


Your face is one of the essential parts of your body that needs proper attention and care.  Facial skin is one of the body parts that needs to be gently cleaned to remove dirt, make up and any other  facial products that you have put on it without stripping the skin of its natural moisturizing factors.

According to Dr Natasha Cook, Sydney dermatologist, best way to clean your skin you must follow the simple steps:


1.      Dampen your face with lukewarm water.  "This will help you to spread the cleanser more evenly across the skin," explains Cook.  "The water also helps activate some cleanser ingredients to remove debris."

Do not use hot water since it dehydrates the skin.

2.   "Most skin types can use the same cleanser," advises Cook.  Apply a small amount to your hands and with small, circular motions, use your fingertips to lightly massage across your skin.

3.   Rinse using lukewarm water and pat your skin dry.  "Rubbing your skin creates excess drag on the skin," explains Cook.  This can cause damage, so be sure to keep things gentle.  If your skin needs moisturizer, apply it while it is still damp.

Oily skin usually does not need moisturizer, but you can use a toner to lessen the oil.  And dry skin needs to be moisturized from time to time.

4.   Don't cleanse your skin more than twice a day.

Friday, September 9, 2011

8 Things Guys Notice About You Instantly


I remember bumping into a guy coming out from an elevator…”Oopps! Sorry!”  I said instantly and smiled at him.  In seconds we had eye contact.  He went out, I went in.  As the elevator closing its door, there! I saw him; he turned his head and gave me a smile.

According to Cosmopolitan, The second a man sees you, he starts ticking off a checklist to determine if he’ll ask you out. Shocker: A nice badunkadunk is nowhere on that list.

You know that look where his eyes slide past you...then turn back? Wouldn’t it be great to know what stopped him? You totally can. “There are a few things men instantly observe when they meet a woman,” says Jackie Black, PhD, author of Meeting Your Match. Learn what they are and you can maximize your, um, assets. Then you’ll have your pick.

1. How Thick Your Hair Is
This is all about evolution. Since caveman days, dudes have been drawn to lush locks, which signal that a woman is healthy (translation: shaggable).

2. If Your Smile Is Genuine
Sometimes your eyes crinkle a bit when you grin. Most men are good at distinguishing the vibe of this kind of smile, which says you’re relaxed and fun.

3. The Size of Your Group
You don’t want a big bunch (it’ll be hard for him to approach) or just one friend (he’ll figure you wouldn’t desert her to talk to him). The perfect crew size? Three. Your two buds can keep each other company when you slip away.

4. The Pitch of Your Voice
Studies show that men are drawn to voices in a slightly higher register (think Kristin Bell’s), probably because — yep, evolution — they’re reliable signs of youth and reproductive health.

5. Your Hip-to-Waist Ratio
Yet again, blame eons of human history. Men instinctually look for baby mamas. If your waist is noticeably smaller than your hips, it signifies fertility — a huge point in your favor. A wide belt will emphasize that hourglass shape.

6. Your Glowiness
Guys associate a radiant complexion with good mental health. That’s because stress and anxiety usually cause breakouts and dull skin. So those lotions and bronzers you sweep over your cheeks? Totally worth it.

7. What’s Fake About You
Not personality-fake, but artificial-accoutrement- fake: lashes, hair extensions, etc. To guys, these things shout high-maintenance! Not good.

8. Your Eyes
People focus on eyes more than they do on any other body part. And dramatic eye makeup will have him zeroing in on your peepers even more.

source:  Cosmopolitan.com

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Best Foods to Eat to be Fit & Fab

To be fit and fab is what all you wished for. You go crazy on different kinds of dieting just to be sexy. But is your diet really safe for you? Do you know that each person’s diet is different from the others? Thus, you can’t just follow any diet program. You have to create your own diet program, on your own time & phase. Aside from exercising, you must know the food you are eating.

Remember the food groups, go, grow & glow? These food groups are forever essentials to be fit and healthy. But as you age, you need to redefine the food groups:

GO: Complex Carbohydrates Foods
Carbohydrates provide your body with fuel it needs for your day-to-day physical activities. They also help your body organ to function well. But some foods contain simple carbohydrates (white bread, white rice, pastries, sodas, and highly processed foods) that may cause your body to gain weight.

Complex carbohydrate foods are basically those in wholegrain form such as wholegrain breads, oats, muesli and brown rice. Complex carbs are broken down into glucose more slowly than simple carbohydrates and thus provide a gradual steady stream of energy throughout the day.

The best sources of complex carbohydrates are from whole grains, vegetables, fruits and beans. These foods promote good health by delivering vitamins, minerals, fiber, and a host of important phytonutrients.

Hence, you can’t go simple on your carbohydrates. You need to be complex!

GROW: High Protein Foods
Not because you’d grown into adult stage, you don’t need the grow foods.  Protein is an essential nutrient that is important to your health. Protein consists of chains of amino acids that are used by our bodies to grow muscles, hair, nails, skin and internal organs.  Beef, pork, chicken, fish, nuts, & beans are good source of proteins. But remember, beef, pork & chicken also give fats and you don’t want that in your body. Just like your body, you want to be lean. 

Therefore, eat only lean meats.

GLOW: High Fiber Foods
How will you ever achieve your body to glow inside and out? It’s easy! Eat high fiber foods.

Fiber is a type of carbohydrate found in fruits, vegetables, and grains. Why is fiber such a big deal? Not only do fibrous foods contain many vitamins and minerals, fiber also packs health benefits including:
• Delaying sugar into the blood stream – slows how quickly sugar goes into your bloodstream and therefore may reduce peaks of blood sugar levels
• Reducing body weight – helps to make you feel full longer and may displace “empty calorie” foods
• Reducing blood cholesterol – if you have heart problems or high cholesterol, eating high fiber foods may help to reduce your blood cholesterol levels
• Alleviating constipation – helps to improve regularity.

Follow the food pyramid with these high definition food groups. Create your own diet and be your own nutritionist. Know your food. Always keep in mind that the best diet to have is the Balance Diet.  In time, you'll have the coca-cola figure you wanted!

Monday, February 28, 2011

How to Burn Calories with Pleasure


Experts say that an hour of sex can burn calories 4x your body weight (kg).  So, if you weigh 70kg, you can burn 280 calories if you have sex for an hour.  Imagine that! You now have the pleasure to burn calories.  If partners would always have their intimate moments and looking it as way of losing weights, this will give new changes in improving relationships.

According to howtodothings.com Sexercise is a relatively new term that refers to using sexual activity as a means of exercising with the objective of toning and conditioning the body. Ideally, sexercising is a couple’s exercise activity however, one can sexercise as an individual through masturbation with aerobic energy and liveliness. While many people abhor the idea of using the sacred stature of sex as a means of healthy living, the reality is that sex is one of the most effective aerobic activities in the world. Most of all sexercising means reaching a heightened state of ecstasy through exercise. You really can’t imagine anyone denying this very appealing idea of losing weight and extremely enjoying it simultaneously.

In any case, here are some facts on how you can sexercise with your partner to a healthier body.

Chest and arms (Male). The missionary position where the man is on top is quite similar to how a man would do normal military pushups. This being said, a man can use this position to work his chest muscles and triceps like a normal push up. To perfect the position, have your partner lie flat on her back with her legs spread apart. Assume the position and insert your penis into her vagina. Once inserted, assume the push up position and start going up and down like a normal push up. Make sure your penis goes in and out her vagina properly. Do as many sets as you can or until orgasm by both parties is achieved. If you do the exercise with your hips doing the motion instead of your arms and chest, then you will be working more of your abdomen and hip muscles. It is up to you to play with the variation depending on what muscle groups you want to work with.

Thighs and hips (Male). A variant of the doggy style position called the rifleman position is another great sexercise for the man. The position starts by you inserting your penis from behind in a traditional doggystyle position. Your partner then lowers her body to a point where her elbows are the posts for her upper body. At this point, the man should lift one leg and move it forward to emulate how a rifleman would shoot a rifle in a kneeling position. This position will work the lower and upper muscles of the thighs as well as develop and strengthen the hip muscles. Alternate the legs to balance the workout for both legs.

Arms and chest (Female). A good position to get your partner going is by assuming the wheelbarrow position with her as the wheelbarrow and you as the wheelbarrow driver. Insert your penis from behind and start plowing away. Since your partner is using her arms and chest to hold her body up while you pound away, the muscles used will develop and strengthen.

Abdomen and hips (Female). One of the simplest positions for a woman to get a good abdominal and hip workout is by simply assuming the cowgirl position where she rides on top of the man like a horse. At this position, the girl will insert the man’s penis into her vagina and start gyrating similar to how she would ride a horse or bull. The rocking back and forth with her hips will develop her abs and hips. She can position her legs to lift her up to create some variation with the position and work her legs and butt muscles as well.

Almost every sexual position known to man can become an effective exercise to burn calories and develop muscles. And since the activity can result in people achieving a state of ecstasy, it is no wonder why sexercising has now become one of the most popular workout regimens today.

Friday, February 4, 2011

Be FIT, Be FAB!


Fit & Fab – the new word combo that many likes to achieve.  Being fit is no nonsense but being fabulous at the same time is an aspiration for everyone.  Yet the ultimate question is…how does one be FIT and be FAB?

Being fit is not just about dieting and losing weight.  It’s about the determination and discipline to maintain your body in your normal weight and at the same time healthy.  Yes, you have lost weight!  But are you healthy?  You can’t just lose weight and risk your health condition.  Dieting is not about skipping meals so you can avoid the food that makes you fat.  When you skip meals, you also skip important nutrients that your body needs.  And being thin is not being fit.  Slim is not another term for healthy.  To be fit, you must be on top form, well and good healthy.

How to be fit & fab? Follow these simple rules:

Maintain Balance.  In everything you do, never under or over do it.  Moderation is the key.  Even in your diet!  Always take a balance diet.  Just simply follow the food pyramid in eating and watch your calorie intake.

Make exercise a habit.  Exercise is getting healthy from the inside out.  20-30 minute work-out a day will not burn extra calories you have gained.  It will only boost your cardiovascular system.  If you want to shed off extra pounds, extend your work-out time for 15-20 more minutes.  When you reach your ideal weight, exercise will help keep the weight off.  So, exercise daily and make it a habit!

Combining diet and exercise will help you be fit.  If you are fit, from head to toe, then you feel better inside and out.  Thus, you feel good about yourself.  You have the confidence to face the world.  Your radiance glows.  Your energy flows tremendously.  You become vivacious.  And people will see that.  You have now the capacity to affect others.  Hence, fabulous you will be!

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Get Rid of Your LOVE HANDLES!

Love handles sound beautiful. Yet, when you know what it is you won’t actually like it. It is the tender term used for the flabby section in the middle part of your body. It is the unwanted portion that you want to get rid so that you would look fit and slimmer.


Regrettably, you sometimes forget to intensify your exercise on this part. Now, it’s time to work on it harder and get rid of those love handles!


Here are some exercises that you can add in your daily workout to trim your mid-section and have a well-contoured abs.

Leg Flutters

love handle exercise

A lot of people don't realize that in order to tone your middle and love handle area you also need to strengthen your back. This creates a balance in your torso and reduces the fat on your back.

1. Lie on your stomach and lift your head up slightly

2. You can keep your arms straight out at your sides or bend them with your elbows resting beside you.

3. Lift your feet and knees off the floor and flutter your legs rapidly back and forth. Do this for 20 seconds. Take a 20 second break and then repeat again.

Twist Crunches

love handle exercise

This exercise will work your internal and external obliques as well as the rectus abdominis. These are the two muscle groups that live around your waist. Fat is generally stored on top of these muscles, thus creating the love handle effect.

1. Lie on your back with your knees bent.

2. Carefully lift your head up and place your hands behind your head without locking your fingers together.

3. Twist to the right bringing your left elbow to your right knee. Extend your left leg out.

4. Now twist back to the left bringing your right elbow to your left knee. Extend your right leg out.

5. Repeat 25 times.

Standing Trunk Twists

love handle exercise

This is a good aerobic-type exercise that will help get your heart rate up as well as burn some calories in your middle.

1. Stand with your feet about a foot apart and knees relaxed.

2. Twist your torso to the left while keeping your hips and legs as stable as possible. As you twist to the left, cross your right arm in front of your body in a punching motion.

3. Twist back to the right and cross your left arm over your body in a punching motion.

4. Do 100 reps.

source:www.flat-stomach-exercises.com