Archive for ‘Self and Family’

2010: The Year of Tattoo Removal?

By Kim, 5 February, 2010, No Comment

While I doubt any politicians are going declare that the start of this decade is the year of tattoo removal, I’m gonna go ahead and declare that in my own household.

What for? Because this is the year I get my tattoo gone, and I’m so excited I can barely wait.

Why? Maybe because I’m 42 years old and have been married for over 18 years to a woman whose name is NOT on my arm. Yes, I’m one of those idiots who got their high school sweetheart inked into their bicep as some kind of tribute to their woman and to their ego – a kind of double shot of “look at my tattoo and how much I love my girl!” when I think I really meant “Look how strong my muscles are, will you cheat with me?”

Okay, it wasn’t that bad. But you get the point. And now, after all these years, it’s frankly still embarrassing when people see another woman’s name on my arm. My wife is so used to it, it doesn’t seem to bother her, but I know she will be more than happy to see it removed. I thought about trying to get it covered up with her name instead, but that just didn’t sit well with me.

I almost got suckered into some over the counter tattoo removal cream lotion but I know better than to trust cheap tattoo removal methods. There’s a reason they’re cheap right? So next week I’m going it for my first laser clinic visit, the first of many to be exact, since from what I understand it can take about a dozen or more treatments to fully remove a tattoo. This is not going to be cheap, and it’s going to hurt something fierce probably too, but the time has come, and I’ve got the money all saved up anyway, so here’s to 2010 – the year of tattoo removal!

Fashion and Beauty: Contact Lenses

By Kim, 7 January, 2010, No Comment

Wearing cosmetic contact lenses can create a dramatic and enjoyable look for anyone. With all of the advancements in contacts, both users for vision related issues or those who do not need them for their vision can enjoy cosmetic lenses. These lenses can be translucent to enhance your eye color or they can be color tints that will completely change the original color of your iris to a new one.

Many people love the way colored lenses look. Most people will choose green for the color because they believe it is the most dramatic and because it looks the best. However, you can choose from turquoise, blue, green, hazel and brown. The lenses will have dots and highlights to create the sparkling look of the eye itself.

There are many novelty and designer cosmetic lenses out on the market today as well. You can get theme type lenses to create a whole new look and mood. There are cat eyes or tiger eyes as well as red devil looking lenses. There are zombie lenses and pumpkin lenses to complete that Halloween costume. You can find cosmetic lenses with different color highlights to create a glittering look. You can choose from many different designs including Mickey Mouse ears, soccer ball, footballs, and a variety of other theme type designs.

You can purchase cosmetic contact lenses from many different stores on the Internet. They specialize in cosmetic lenses and have many different selections. You can also get some lenses from your eyewear store in your hometown. You can even get cosmetic contact lenses even if you do not need them for vision correction. You will need a prescription from your eye doctor to purchase.

Check out all the cool designs and colors and transform yourself through cosmetic contact lenses. You can find many different kinds and they only cost slightly more than regular contacts.

Get more information about contacts lenses and find out about cosmetic contacts without a prescription at the Free Contact Lenses Guide.

A Hair Restoration Treatment For Men And Women

By Kim, 26 December, 2009, No Comment

For years men have had several options for treating their hair loss but women not so much. The problem of male pattern baldness has had millions of dollars of research funding directed to it by both governmental agencies and private practice physicians. Females, on the other hand, who have experienced hair loss in the past have had to choose from one of two options neither of which is very satisfactory. First, they could cover the problem over with a scarf or bandana, or, they could cover up the hair thinning with a wig made from either natural hairs or man made fibers. None of these options really addressed the actual problem, they just tried to hide it.

Women hair restoration treatments took a large step forward when it was found that a drug originally developed to treat high blood pressure actually seemed to alleviate hair loss caused by both male and female pattern hair loss. This drug, Minoxidil, was originally formulated to cause the tiny blood vessels in the body to increase in cross section. It was thought this would decrease blood pressure since the blood could pass through the capillaries much easier. This actually was the case but another interesting effect was noted. The men in the original human trials found that not only did their blood pressure go down but their male pattern baldness symptoms also were alleviated. In some cases, hair actually started to re-grow in bald areas.

This drug has been sold for men under the brand name Rogaine for years. Now there is a Rogaine for Women that is formulated especially to treat female pattern hair loss. This is a dramatic development because most treatments that have worked well for men have not transferred to females. For example, another drug, Finasteride, works well for treating hair loss in men but women are not even allowed to touch the tablets with their fingers. Apparently there is a high possibility of birth defects in childbearing women who ingest the active ingredient in this drug.

It is high time one of the therapies for men hair restoration was also found to be acceptable for women.

Typical Problems Of DIY Wooden Playhouse Kits

By Kim, 20 December, 2009, No Comment

When you encounter a problem in the assembly of wooden playhouses, it is best to deal it with a rational mind. Every problem has a solution; therefore, you don’t have to become frustrated and agitated. Although it is quite understandable why some people would lose their temper in such situations, as much as possible try to become calm and patient. Remember that you won’t be able to think correctly if you let your temper control you.

During the production of DIY wood playhouse sets there is a chance that some packed models would have a missing component or a broken piece due to a number of different reasons. You can not know for sure whether you will be having such problem until you check the package. Some of the issues associated with the matter include the following:

• Abstract or esoteric assembly instruction – There are certainly times when manufacturers do not give so much effort to simplify the installation instruction stated on the manual of a kids wooden playhouse. Some use technical terms that cannot be easily understood by users, while others provide obscure and inefficient guide. When you are faced with this problem, the best thing to do is contact the customer service hotline of the playhouse manufacturer.

• Missing pieces or broken components – This is another common problem with DIY playhouse kits. Some kits lack an important piece of playhouse component which can halter its proper assembly. There are many reasons why this problem can arise. It can be a result of improper packaging, mishandling, or plain carelessness. The best mode of action in this dilemma is to find an alternative to the missing component (only when it involves minor fixes such as a lost screw). However, if you are lacking a major component, it would be best to go to the store where you purchase the item or call the manufacturer.

After reading this article, you will now be equipped with the knowledge on how to appropriately deal with some of the most common problems with DIY wooden playhouses.

A Few Strategies to Stop Drinking

By Kim, 15 December, 2009, No Comment

Most people who try to quit drinking alcohol will fail the first couple of times that they try to stop. The main reason for this is because nearly everyone underestimates how difficult it will be to change their entire life and stop drinking every day. The amount of change, and therefore the amount of action necessary, is really quite a challenge. Most recovering alcoholics will state that quitting drinking is the most difficult thing that they have ever done. This should give you a clear indicator of just how challenging it can be. Nearly everyone underestimates this at first, and they also overestimate their ability to control themselves. Thus, many alcoholics will continue to drink until they die, and many who try to stop will simply fail at it, over and over again.

But of course there is still hope, because many who do want to stop drinking successfully do so, either by quitting on their own or by using the help of some sort of program. The most popular program by far is the 12 step program of AA, this is used by millions of people around the world to some success. Of course it does not work for everyone and there are many people who do not do well in the program at all. Luckily there are multiple paths to sobriety and there is no one way to get sober.

For example, an alcoholic might seek the help of a counselor or therapist, and see this professional on a regular basis. This can become the foundation of their recovery, as long as they are willing to put in real work and make huge changes in their life. That is the real secret to success anyway–the ability to make massive changes. The 12 step program is simply a vehicle for bringing these massive changes about, and can also provide some degree of direction for the alcoholic. But in the end, the real winners are those who take massive amounts of action, not those who follow a program perfectly.

Portable Manicure Table Best Solution When Space is Limited

By Jim, 9 December, 2009, No Comment

A portable manicure table offers the best solution for the manicurist who may be working in a small salon with limited space or one that requires the mancure station to be located at various parts of the salon throughout operating hours.

A portable table in addition to being space efficient is usually the most economical choice among manicure tables, starting under $150 for a model with minimal features. When evaluating the right portable model for your manicure service, there are a number of things to consider for the comfort of both the client and the manicurist.

It’s best if the portable table matches the salon’s existing decor, whether it be wood, steel, acrylic or glass, so that the table doesn’t look like it’s a make-shift station rather than part of the salon’s overall decor.

Select a table that has appropriate lighting and a comfortable height setting and distance between client and manicurist. Comfort is essential for both parties when purchasing a portable table, so be sure the table offers stability and durability.

Because most portable units don’t offer a lot of storage space, there may be only one drawer for implements .The manicurist will have to store additional supplies on a nearby portable trolly, so you want this unit to match as closely as possible to the table selected.

Additional features that are important to consider for a portable manicuring table is its ability to be folded and stored away when not in use, a padded arm rest on the client side, organizational trays for polish and other implements along with comfortable chairs that fit the table’s height.

A professional portable manicure table is one of the most important pieces of equipment that a salon or manicurist will invest in. By taking the above considerations in mind when searching for the right portable table, you can be sure of investing in a model that will be within your budget but also make the manicure experience satisfying and comfortable for both client and manicurist.

How To Make The Perfect Espresso

By Jim, 8 December, 2009, No Comment

Four steps are required to make the perfect espresso. The following mini guide will help you make your coffee drinking experience truly spectacular.

Blend
When the dark red coffee fruits are ripe and ready for harvesting they are processed straight away to a stage where the coffee beans can be roasted. The huge variations in coffee beans which come from many different countries give rise to all of the mouth watering aromas we enjoy in our coffee cup. There are however, only two main varieties that we are ever likely to come across: Robusta – which produces a low quality, strong and bitter tasting coffee from its high caffeine content and Arabica – which produces a more subtle, pleasant and aroma rich flavour and contains less caffeine. Coffee blends may include different proportions of these varieties as well as some of the other less well known beans.

Grind
How and when the coffee beans are ground is crucial to the flavour of the coffee. Ideally you should only grind your coffee beans just before you need them. This ensures their flavours and aroma are preserved. Perfect grinding is achieved when the result is not too coarse or the drink will be lacking in body and not too fine or the coffee will be very strong. You can of course buy ready ground coffee or coffee capsules but if you wish to grind your own beans to enjoy the fresh aroma, you need to invest in a good grinder.

Machine
Good coffee makers, such as those in the Gaggia Coffee Espresso machine range, are designed to achieve the perfect process when brewing coffee. There are optimum temperatures and pressures to adhere to which only quality machines with well made components can achieve. If you want your home made coffee to be of a professional quality make sure you buy a well respected machine.

Technique
Unless you buy an expensive super automatic espresso maker, at least some of the coffee making process will be down to you. You will need to learn by trial and error the skills of grinding, tamping and measuring the right amount of coffee. None of it is hard, but practice will make perfect.

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