Beauty & Fashionhttp://www.lilypadplace.com/beauty-and-fashion/en-US2008-12-05T03:12:25ZSquarespace Site Server v5.0.0 (http://www.squarespace.com/)I Left My Heart In San Franciscohttp://www.lilypadplace.com/beauty-and-fashion/2007/3/13/i-left-my-heart-in-san-francisco.htmlSite Author2007-03-13T22:06:09ZOver ten years ago, I lived right off the trendy Chestnut Street in the Marina district of San Francisco. My two favorite stops were Bare Escentuals and Benefit Cosmetics. Little did I know those two San Francisco based companies would quickly become the hottest names in the cosmetic industry. My bathroom shower was filled with Bare Escentuals custom fragrance soaps and lotions and I couldn't go without my entire line of Benefit Cosmetics. I even made frequent stops into the boutique after I moved away from SF. Now both brands are available just about everywhere. Here are two of my favorite products.

Lemon-aid by Benefit Cosmetics: I use this unique product every day. It's the perfect base for eye shadow and adds moisturizer and staying power to my eyelids. It tones down all discolorations and allows you to start out with a clean slate. My eyeshadow lasts all day. Benefit has so many unique products that I can't live without and have never seen anyone duplicate. www.benefitcosmetics.com

bareMinerals: Who hasn't heard of Bare Escentuals, i.d. bareMinerals by now? Sephora can hardly keep it on the shelves. It's the perfect natural foundation that is so easy to apply. I wasn't a true believer until I had a specialist do half my face. It's light and feels clean. Mine doesn't last all day (so how could I wear it to bed as the company implies) but my life is a little rugged of my face. It is, however, extremely easy to reapply before a night out. www.bareescentuals.com

Kudos to the powerful women who started these successful businesses.

]]>PREGNANCY SURVIVAL TIPShttp://www.lilypadplace.com/beauty-and-fashion/2007/1/3/pregnancy-survival-tips.htmlSite Author2007-01-03T22:47:16ZPregnancy is an exciting yet intimidating time for any expectant mother. Mothers often wonder, "What would I do differently next time?” Here are some suggestions for surviving pregnancy:

1. ENJOY YOURSELF
You are creating the greatest miracle right inside your own body. With all of the prenatal tests and worry involved it is hard to just lay back and accept what is happening to you and realize that you are creating another human being inside of your body. Is there anything more special than this? Try to relax and have faith that your child will be just fine. It will be over before you know it. Too many moms stress out during their entire pregnancy. They thought something would go wrong and they missed out on such a wonderful experience. So, please try to enjoy this miracle of life.

2. GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK
With all the hoopla on what to do and what not to do, you are bound to drive yourself crazy. Have faith that you are smart and you know what things are not good i.e. drinking and smoking. However, if you indulge in a small piece of blue cheese or a sip of champagne you need to not beat yourself up about it. Most importantly, this is the perfect time to pamper yourself and not feel guilty about it! Get that pregnancy massage, mani/pedi or eat that donut! You deserve it!

3. ENJOY THE PREGNANCY LIFESTYLE
Let people wait on you. Enjoy the special attention every pregnant woman deserves! Let someone give you that seat in the waiting room, open that door for you or take your groceries to your car. Enjoy lying in bed eating pizza and ice cream. Remember, you are special because of what is growing inside of you!

4. STAVE OFF NAUSEA
This is a big problem for many pregnant women. This should hopefully subside after the first trimester but in the mean time remember that you cannot just eat three meals per day like you used to. You should try to have a snack every hour or two to avoid an empty stomach. If you wait until you get hungry, that is when the nausea usually hits. Also, drinking ginger ale and lemonade may help.

4. ENDURE THE ACHES AND PAINS
A lot of woman endure some pain and suffering during their pregnancies. From back pain and acid reflux to hemorrhoids...this is simply not fun. Just remember that in 9 months it will all be over and you will have your new bundle of joy in your arms. There are a lot of remedies out there for all of these problems and talking to other moms and your OB will help. Heating pads and warm baths are usually lifesavers for aches and pains. Also, after the baby grows and shifts, a specific pain may subside. Consult your OB before trying anything new.

5. MANAGE WEIGHT GAIN
This may be the biggest worry for woman who are pregnant or who want to become pregnant. If you suffer from nausea you should eat what ever sounds good. You should always take your prenatal vitamin but relax if you can't stomach certain foods. Your body will crave what it needs. Your growing baby needs all types of foods. You need the fats and carbs, which help brain development. Eat what you crave and if you feel good then eat as much fruits and veggies as you can.

6. DO NOT COMPARE YOUSELF TO OTHERS OR THE "BOOK"
Every pregnant mom wants to compare her pregnancy to "the book". This can create a lot of stress. Each pregnancy is different and if your OB says you are progressing just fine, you should try to believe it. The "book" is a guideline only. Each woman has a different experience, which may or may not be similar to yours.

7. LABOR/C-SECTION WORRIES
Most women are scared about the pain that will be endured during the birth of their baby. This is normal due to all the stories and media surrounding these events. The truth is that modern medicine has been perfected in this area and most moms have a very pleasurable experience during birth. In certain circumstances, there is pain involved but after you have your little baby in your arms, this should only be a distant memory.

From one mom to the expecting, please enjoy this special time and good luck!

Author: Kristen is a mother of twins and a frequent contributor to Lilypad Baby.

]]>Health Tips for Pregnant Womenhttp://www.lilypadplace.com/beauty-and-fashion/2006/10/10/health-tips-for-pregnant-women.htmlSite Author2006-10-10T17:14:31ZPregnant women have special health and nutrition needs. They are eating for two people, for themselves and for the new baby that is growing inside their womb. So they want to be sure they are eating healthy foods. It is important for pregnant women to watch what they eat and drink. For example, doctors advise the strict avoidance of all alcoholic beverages during pregnancy.

It is also recommended to take a folic acid supplement. Folic acid is included in any good quality brand of prenatal vitamins, as are other important nutrients such as B vitamins, minerals like calcium, etc.

If you are trying to conceive, experiencing some symptoms of pregnancy, or are now pregnant, you will want to eat a balanced and healthy diet. Your body will experience many changes as the months go by. Be sure to get plenty of rest. Fatigue is a common complaint of pregnant women. Your body is going through a lot of stressful work to create a human life. You are doing something totally amazing. And you deserve a rest, don’t you think? Of course you do. So take plenty of breaks, sit down, even take a nap every day if you can.

You and your baby will need more calories during the pregnancy stages. Some doctors estimate that you will consume round 300 additional calories each day. Just make sure the added calories come from healthy foods, not junk food. It is normal to have some cravings, because you need extra nutrients, but these cravings can be lessened by taking prenatal vitamins. You body wants and needs added nutrition, to help your baby grow, so eat plenty of health foods such as yogurt, fruit, bran muffins, veggies, etc.

Stay away from cigarettes and from people who smoke them. Second hand smoke can be bad for you and for your developing baby. Also avoid chemicals of all kinds. Don’t use, inhale or be around any paint, harsh cleaning compounds, bug sprays and pesticides, weed killers, or any serious chemicals such as those.

Get some mild exercise every day. Going for a walk is the best form of exercise. This gets your blood flowing and increases oxygen levels in your body. Don’t do any sit ups or crunches or tummy exercises. And avoid doing any heavy lifting.

Talk to your nurse or doctor on a regular basis. Pregnant women are going through a special time in their lives and they have special needs, special eating habits, special vitamins, etc. Take extra special good care of yourself so you will have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.

Monica Nelson writes articles that offer helpful information on women's interests such as Early Signs of Pregnancy Symptoms and the benefits of Omega-3 Fish Oil for pregnant women.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Monica_Nelson

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