Pay Day Advance for Holidays

With the Christmas season closing in there are gifts to buy and not much time left to get them! Many of us live pay check to pay check and may not have the funds in time to buy those great gifts we have been wanting to buy in time for the big day.

Unfortunately, with the faltering economy, a lot of companies, both big and small have made major cuts. Including raises and bonuses. Because of this, many families who used to receive holiday bonuses are not longer getting them. It is a hard truth and many families are scrambling to figure out how to provide a Christmas for their kids.

There are not  many options out there for the average family. However, in our researching, we discovered getting a payday loan is a great option. These types of places offer a Pay Day Advance for Holidays as well as year round for when times are tough.You get the money until your next pay day.

Obviously, having the money up front is ideal. However, this is a great option for families that have been hit hard by the current economy climate. It is also better than maxing out a credit card that will wind up costing way more than the gifts were even worth!

LOOK OUT…PMS!

There is nothing worse than being a woman going through PMS…or being WITH a woman going through PMS! LOL!!!

PMS affects 70 to 90 percent of menstruating women. It is more than just the humorous “mood swing” joked about. PMS has serious symptoms including headaches, back pain, swollen and tender breasts, increased anxiety, bloating, acne breakouts, fatigue, food cravings, and more.

Things that Make PMS Worse

• Caffeine
• Salt
• Artificial sweeteners
• Processed foods
• Hydrogenated fats

Helps for PMS

• A veggie based diet…especially dark green ones.
• Exercise
• For cramps try, Aleve.
• Massage
• B vitamins
• Get your daily dose of iron
• Drink  Cranberry juice
• Calcium supplements

There are no set cures for the PMS curse. However, we can, as women, fight them PMS monster the best we can!

Copyright © The Complete Woman Magazine, All Rights Reserved

The Stress of Being a Woman

I believe that just being a woman is a gift. We are such wonderful unique creatures. We have spirit, beauty, patience, abilities, time-management,  and humor like no other. However, being a woman can be extremely stressful.

All women have stress.

You can be a corporate woman who has to deal with the big boys. You have stress.

You can be a woman who is in school dealing with financial pressures. You have stress.

You can be a Mom who works outside the home and cannot be with your children as often as you like. You have stress.

You can be a homeschool Mom who has to deal with the stress of what that entails. Uh…you have stress too!

No matter what your story is, if you are a woman, you are most likely stressed out or at the very least stress is no stranger to you.

Women are more likely to die of heart disease than man and women have more stress than men. This is simply a fact of life. We can either let it get the best of us or we can fight it and win!

Stress Busters for Every Woman:

Mental Vacation. Find a quiet spot. Even if it means leaving the house once in a while to sit on a park bench (with some mace on hand, of course…LOL!). Close your eyes and see yourself somewhere wonderful and spectacular. Relax there for a few and take some long deep breaths.

Fitness. Exercise is a huge stress buster and heart healthy. We all have time if we make time. Even a 15 minute walk around the mall will work! Get some physical activity going on  in your everyday life.

Eat Right. Too much sugar and caffeine is not good for anyone. Drink more water and eat more fresh fruits and veggies. You will feel better and maybe even lose some unwanted blubber. Oh, and drink lots of H2O! Nothing is better for a woman’s body, skin and aging than water! Oh, and do not rob yourself of the wonderfulness of chocolate!

Just Say No! Limit alcohol. It is not good for you in regular large quantities. Yes, a glass of red wine a few times a week is heart healthy…but not a bottle. LOL! Also, quit smoking if  you do. It is a sure fire way to a shorter lifespan for a women. Kick those nasty money robbing, health stealing sticks to the curb! Your lungs will thank you!

Find a Hobby or Sport. Do something just for you. Something that you like and you enjoy. Do something for no one else but you! We all have something we “wish we had time for.” Make the time. You only live once. You better make the time. Life is not worth living if you never get anything for you!

Women, make the most of your lives. You have one life to live and it’s not a soap opera! It’s a gift and you should be enjoying it! Just say NO to stress!

Copyright © Lara Velez, All Rights Reserved

Kerasal…A Beauty Miracle and Must Have for Every Woman

Kerasal is a foot ointment. It is used to help make your feet softer. You can by it at most drug stores. I got mine at Walgreen’s. This stuff is like a miracle cream. I have been doing all kinds of experiments. Who would have thought??

I love the stuff! I originally purchased it for my elbows. Yes, my elbows. I was getting rough elbows from leaning on them a lot while working Online. Nothing worked. I tried everything, including; Vaseline, moisturizers, olive oil, vitamin e oil, you name it. Nothing would even touch the roughness.

Then, I though, hey, let me try some heel ointment. This is where Kerasal came in. It worked almost instantly. Seriously. I was shocked. After a few applications, my elbows were no longer rough. Yeah!

So, then I actually used it for it’s original purpose…LOL…my heels. Guess what? It worked there too!

Me being me decided not to stop there. I though man, if this stuff is that good and moisture filled, why not try it on some wrinkles. LOL. Yes, I went there. As soon as I put it on, I noticed the line fade a tad. I put it on the one I blame my husband on. LOL. You know the one between the eyebrows. It’s a line that drives me nuts.

It is slowly fading. I mean it is still there. However, the Kerasal has definitely diminished it enough that I feel better about it.

Kerasal is so much more than foot ointment. It is a beauty product that every woman should have. It has so many uses and I am still experimenting with it. Buy some. Use it. LOL. Let me know how it worked for you!

Copyright © Lara Velez, All Rights Reserved

Is Your Body Beach Ready?

With summer right around the corner, you may be wondering HOW you are going to get your body ready to go public!

Hopefully, this article will help you find some simple ways in which you can tone and shape your body for the summer.

Your Diet Matters

Whether or not you have been on a diet this winter, here are some tips and suggestions to help you to not only eat better, but give you a healthier look. Experts recommend that instead of skipping meals you should instead eat up to 5 meals a day in smaller portions. During the summer, eating lighter is the key. Also, adding more protein to your diet will assist you in losing weight as you exercise. In this way, you will burn fat, not muscle.

A diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, and salads containing leafy green vegetables, and at least 8 glasses of water a day, will set you on the path to slimming down and feeling great. Try not to eat any snacks or other types of foods after 8 p.m. and cut back on foods and drinks which contain sugar and carbohydrates.

Add protein such as meat, poultry, and other rich in protein foods. Add fiber to your diet as well. More importantly, always begin the day with a healthy breakfast. Have a bowl of cereal with blueberries, for example. Blueberries are high in antioxidants, besides having a myriad of other health benefits.

Ideally, you want to lose a pound a week. Any more than that will defeat the purpose. Studies have shown that in order to lose a pound a week, you have to decrease your total caloric intake by 3500 calories a week. This can certainly be accomplished by having plenty of fruits and vegetables on hand as snacks, avoid fried foods, and mix up the menu on a daily basis so that your meals are inviting and not boring.

It is important to keep hydrated at all times. You may think you’re fine, but if you are in the heat of the sun you may not realize just how dehydrated you are until nausea or a faint feeling comes over you.

Drinking water with every meal will ensure you are getting plenty of water and it will also help in losing weight as well. Drinking water is VITAL to your health, beauty, anti-aging, and body.

Exercise is the Key

NOTE: It is IMPORTANT that you check with your doctor BEFORE beginning any exercise program!

Weight training is ideal for toning and shaping your body. Different exercises 3 times a week can help you to achieve the sculpted look you desire.

Many fitness experts attest that weight training 3 times a week and targeting all of the muscle groups can achieve the best results. Starting with 1 set of exercises and then building up to two or three is suggested. They also recommend 8 to 12 repetitions as the standard form of weight training exercise.

Also, in order to burn more calories, you should exercise more than one muscle group in a session.

Other exercise routines can include aerobic exercises 3 to 5 days a week for 30 to 35 minutes. The cardiovascular workout will increase your metabolism and allow for weight reduction as well.

If you are too busy to devote 30 to 45 minutes, you can certainly engage in high-intensity 10-minute workouts 3 times a day. Include walking at a brisk pace, climbing stairs and even jumping rope.

Exercise to help shape and tone your front and back thigh muscles:

Stand with your feet a few inches apart. Put a weight in each hand, and rest your hands on each shoulder, that is, your right hand on your left shoulder, and your left hand on your right shoulder. With your back straight and head up and looking ahead, lower your body to a comfortable position. Feel the stretch in your front thigh muscles. Flex your front and back thigh muscles as hard as you can throughout the movement. Return to the start position and give your front and back thighs an extra flex on the finish. Repeat 15 times.

Exercise for lifting and toning the front and back thighs, firm up the hips, and butt:

Stand with your left foot forward and right foot back. Ensure there is at least a 2-foot space between each foot. Keep your right arm up and your left arm down at your side. Bring your right knee up until your thigh is parallel to the floor and your right heel is just about touching your inner knee area, all the time reversing the position of your arms as you move. Repeat the movement 15 times. Now put your right foot forward and your left foot back and repeat the process. Repeat this movement 15 times.

Exercise for the Tummy:

Another exercise, which most of can relate to, involves the stomach. Having a stomach that is a bit saggy can be problematic. While you don’t have a lot of time to redefine and shape the stomach before summer remember every little bit helps. Here is an exercise which you can begin now.

Lie face down on the floor. If you have a mat by all means use it. Place your hands near your shoulders, and take a deep breath. Then push your body up until the hands and feet support your body. Hold this position for 20 seconds, taking care to keep your abdominal muscles pulled in. Lower yourself down to the floor, rest for a few seconds, and then repeat. Do 3 sets of 10 repetitions daily. This is a form of yoga that is wonderful for toning the abdominal muscles.

Here is another group of exercises for the hips and thighs. Unfortunately, we all know this is where most of the fat resides. However, if you engage in this exercise 3 to 4 times a week, in combination with your other exercises, you will be able to see changes to your body in 6 to 10 weeks.

Squats:

Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and arms by the sides. Keep a strong posture, and slowly lower buttocks as though you are about to sit down in a chair. Lower several inches and then slowly rise up. Repeat this 15 times.

Lunges:

Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and place your hands on the hips. Stand erect and take a large step forward with one foot. Stay in that position. Turn your back foot up until you can balance on your toes and then slowly lower your body until your front knee forms a right angle. Slowly raise your body back up. Repeat on each side 15 times. Exercise, along with a healthy diet, should be part of our lifestyle all year long. However, with summer on the way, there is an urgency to achieve what would normally take months, and crunch them into several weeks.

Beautify Your Body

Waxing:

Although you can certainly take a trip to a salon that specializes in waxing, the truth is this is a mighty painful procedure. Not only is it painful, but sometimes embarrassing as well. They do a very good job of removing hair both in front and back of your lower body, but some people still prefer to wax at home.

If you prefer to wax your bikini line in the privacy of your own home, there are a number of wax kits available which are safe and effective. Cold waxing is often used for home waxing, although not as effective as hot waxing, but it does ensure there will be less likelihood of burning during the process.

If you do opt for hot waxing:

The wax is applied with a tongue depressor or spatula over the unwanted hairs. A strip is then placed on top of the melted wax and quickly pulled off. Ouch!

For effective waxing, the hairs must be at least a half inch above the skin. Redness and soreness will accompany this procedure for at least 2 hours. The frequency of waxing is every 6 to 8 weeks.

Pedicures:

Probably one of the most soothing and relaxing procedures is a pedicure. Not only do these professionals cut, trim, file, wash, scrub, and massage your feet, it is just a wonderful way to spend time being pampered. Moreover, your feet feel light as air afterward.

If you have the time, treat yourself to a pedicure for the summer. It’s not that expensive, and it will make you feel incredibly relaxed.

But if you are like some of us who manicure and pedicure at home, ensure you have all of the right equipment such as pedicure utensils, foot bath, lotions, brushes, and of course, a fantastic color to apply afterward.

Although one has to admit that a self-pedicure is not the same as having it professionally done, there is one exception. If you have a partner or spouse who is willing to massage your feet and legs for you – then no problem.

Tanning:

One of the more serious concerns about summer is sunbathing. With the sun’s rays becoming more threatening each year, all of us have to be careful since we know the UVA and UVB rays can cause skin cancer.

The use of tanning beds has become more dangerous than sunbathing. In fact, the UV rays in tanning beds have a higher yield of radiation than the sun. That is why a tanning lotion may be the better…healthier choice in the long run!

With all of the sunless tanning products on the market today, there are specific products which have been shown to be more safe and effective than others. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, sunless tanning lotions that contain DHA as the active ingredient are the most effective. Whether in gel, lotion, or spray form, any product that contains DHA is said to be the most reliable.

However, they do advise that because DHA interacts with the dead cells, the color lasts about 5 to 7 days after the initial application. They also advise that since we lose dead skin cells every day, the tan fades daily. Therefore, reapplication every 3 days is suggested to keep your gorgeous tan.

In closing, don’t forget to apply sunscreen before going out in the sun. Have plenty of water, and remember that God created you and you are beautiful. You may not look like the cover of a magazine…but guess what? Neither do the women ON the magazines!

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