Could You Be Depressed and Not Know It?

A friend of mine just told me that her co-workers' son commited suicide - that is what prompted me to post this article here. I hope that whoever reads my blog will learn something, not just for themselves but for their loves ones as well. Many of us experience sadness, misery or melancholy which is normal, but when sadness becomes the life of a person - this is a very serious problem.

“Could you be depressed and not know it?” This sounds like a ridiculous question. After all, wouldn’t you know if you were depressed? Possibly not. Depression can take hold gradually, without a person realizing that depressive thoughts and feelings are increasingly dominating her perspective - and her life.
Many people assume that depression is easily identifiable, manifesting itself as persistent sadness that doesn’t lift. In fact, symptoms of depression can take a variety of forms. Chances are that if you are reading this article, you have the feeling that something isn’t quite right. You may find that you are tired all the time, and all you want to do is sleep. Depression can also trigger insomnia, forgetfulness, and an inability to take pleasure in normal activities. According to Eve Wood, MD, clinical associate professor of medicine at the University of Arizona, and author of 10 Steps to Take Charge of Your Emotional Life, “Women often say, ‘I'm not depressed; I just don't care’, but that indifference can signal depression.” It turns out that excessive fatigue, insomnia, and joylessness can all be symptoms of depression.

As subtle and confusing as signs of depression can sometimes be, it’s important to remember that depression is a serious illness that can cramp lives, cast a shadow over families, and even lead to suicide. A growing body of research has documented the serious and chronic effects of depression on the human brain - effects that can make a person susceptible to future incidents of depression.

According to the American Psychological Association, women are twice as likely as men to experience depression or dysthymia (persistent low-level depression), and misdiagnosis of depression in women is high. The good news is that depression can be effectively treated. If you suspect that you or someone you know is depressed, you’ve come to the right place. WebMD can help you learn more about depression and what you can do about it.
Symptoms of Depression in Women

* Changes in weight, sleep or appetite: These signs of depression can be confusing because depending on the individual, they can take very different forms. Some depressed women want to sleep all the time, for example, while others may experience insomnia.

* Physical symptoms of depression that won’t go away, like fatigue, headaches, back aches, digestive disorders, chronic pain, or menstrual problems

* Anxiety
* Agitation, irritability
* Forgetfulness or difficulty concentrating
* Low sex drive
* Pessimistic or hopeless outlook on life: While there are plenty of reasons to be pessimistic about the future, a depressed person is more apt to dwell on negative events and be unable to find anything to be happy about.
* Feelings of guilt or helplessness
* General apathy and lack of interest or pleasure in customary activities
* Thoughts of suicide

Experts say that certain behaviors can also be a sign of underlying depression. “Women often engage in behaviors that signal "masked depression," says psychologist Lara Honos-Webb, PhD, author of Listening to Depression. Compulsive shopping, working, eating, or drinking alcohol can be signs of depression -- particularly when a woman feels empty or anxious when she’s not participating in these activities.

What Are the Causes of Depression?

Experts say that depression is caused by an interaction of genetic factors and real life triggers. Because depression often runs in families, experts believe that genetic factors make some people more vulnerable to than others, because of their individual brain chemistry.
Depression triggers can include:

* Situational factors: Major problems and life crises -- a romantic break-up, job loss, or the death of a loved one, for example -- are often the immediate, most obvious causes of depression. But ongoing life challenges like poverty, unemployment, and social isolation, as well as childhood trauma, also put people at higher risk for depression.
* Medical factors: Chronic pain or illness can lead to depression. Certain medical conditions -- including hypothyroidism, cancer, and hepatitis -- can cause depression. Nutritional deficiencies and some medications are culprits as well. Therefore, it’s important that treatment for depression include a medical evaluation.
* Gender: Women are twice as likely as men to experience depression, a discrepancy likely due in part to the tremendous hormonal shifts that accompany menstruation, child birth, and menopause.
* Stress: A connection between chronic stress and depression has been established and could explain why stressful life situations, like poverty and unemployment, put people at far higher risk for depression.

Treatment for Depression

According to depression experts at the American Psychological Association, you should seek treatment for depression if it persists for more than two weeks -- particularly if your depression is severe enough to interfere with normal life activities. If you suspect that you are depressed, talk to your physician, who can rule out physical causes and refer you to a mental health professional.

Experts now understand that depression has to do with shifts in brain chemistry, so a piece of the treatment puzzle involves re-balancing chemicals, Wood says. But it doesn’t have to involve medication. The best treatment for your symptoms depends on your individual story, she says; whether you’ve been depressed before, and whether your symptoms keep you in bed all day or simply sap your energy. So try to describe your history and symptoms as precisely as possible when you speak to your physician and psychotherapist.

Treatment for depression usually involves psychotherapy, antidepressants, or both, according to Susan G. Kornstein, MD, a professor in Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Medicine. Experts now believe that a combination of both is most effective. In a study from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN, researchers concluded that psychotherapy and medication together were effective for 70% of women, says Valerie E. Whiffen, PhD, professor of psychology at the University of Ottawa, Ontario, and author of A Secret Sadness.

There is evidence that in many cases, psychotherapy works as well as antidepressants do, and there are no side effects, according to Whiffen. Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) for example, focuses on improving the patient’s relationships to help reduce depressive symptoms. Half of the women in the Vanderbilt study who received IPT were no longer depressed at the end of treatment -- the same result seen with antidepressants alone.

What Are the Causes of Depression?

For many people, antidepressants are very effective in treating depression, particularly when depression is severe or persistent. We don’t completely understand how antidepressants work, but we do know that they readjust the balance in brain chemicals known as neurotransmitters. There are currently many different types of antidepressants on the market, so be sure to work with a psychiatrist who can help you find the medication that is most effective for you.

While you are seeking help for your depression, remember to take care of yourself. Avoid alcohol and drugs, and be sure to get enough sleep. Exercise can be surprisingly helpful in boosting your mood. If your depression is mild to moderate, it can cut symptoms nearly in half, research from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center notes, making it just as effective as medication.

Whatever you do, don’t sit back and wait for depression to abate on its own. If you are depressed, it is nothing to be ashamed of -- and you don’t have to continue to suffer. Depression is one of the most treatable conditions in all of medicine, according to Kornstein. Unfortunately, it continues to be under diagnosed and under treated.

It is also important to get help because depression affects more just than your mood, says Harvard assistant professor Alice D. Domar, PhD, co-author of Self-Nurture. While you procrastinate, hoping to get better on your own, depression can wreak havoc on your health, raise your risk of heart disease and infertility, and suppress your immune system. Perhaps even more important, experts now know that, left untreated, depression is likely to recur and to be more severe and difficult to treat with each recurrence.

Source: Webmd

Dating service that bans ugliness comes to Canada

An exclusive online dating service that attempts to weed out unattractive members, allowing only the beautiful through the door, is coming to Canada.
Prospective members of the BeautifulPeople Network submit a picture and profile, and other members of the opposite sex rate the applicant over a 72-hour period, deciding whether they're worthy of joining the coveted community.

The online service even goes so far as to advertise a ban on ugliness -- something the managing director says is more a reflection of reality than evidence of arrogance.
"If you're in a bar in a romantic situation and you're going to approach someone with a romantic inclination, you're going to approach someone you're attracted to, at least initially," Greg Hodge tells Canada AM. "There's certainly nothing shallow about that, it's human nature."

Hodge says he isn't trying to define beauty. Instead, he said the organizers believe in the old maxim 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder' and as such they give the power to the people -- other approved members -- to decide who is allowed in.

Including Canada, the dating service now operates in 16 countries, and Hodge attributes the success to a simple formula.

"It plays on a clever combination of four things: beauty, love, sex and money. Advertisers use those four desires to sell us pretty much everything and Beautiful People plays on a clever combination of all of that," Hodge said.

He admits the dating service usually provokes some negative reactions whenever it opens in a new market and he jokes he could soon need his own security detail.

But the bottom line, Hodge says, is that the online service simply makes it easier for people -- provided they pass the attractive test -- to meet that special someone.

"People want to be with someone they're attracted to, that was the initial premise of the creation of Beautiful People, remove that first hurdle," Hodge said.

"And once you do become a member of this coveted community, you have essentially the best little black book in the world."

Updated Tue. Jun. 24 2008 10:00 AM ETCTV.ca News Staff

Hmm, I will submit my photo to the dating site and see if they will approve of me... NOT!

Real estate: Where to buy now

Real estate agents like to tell you that what matters is location, location, location. They're partly right. But what also matters is timing, timing, timing. Every city moves to its own economic rhythms. Smart real estate investing is a matter of knowing when to jump into the market and when to stay out.How do you know when the time is ripe? Rather than relying upon gut feel, we decided to take a more scientific approach to the question. We compiled data on the 35 major markets tracked by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. We analyzed each market in three different ways — by Value, by Momentum, and by Economic Strength. We assigned each market a letter grade in each of the three categories, then combined all that info into one overall grade. We awarded an A to the top 20% of cities. Average prospects had to make do with a B, while lacklustre prospects were handed a C or worse.

Let's go shopping for real estate!

Source: Yahoo.com

Five bad health habits to break

Smoking

More than45,000 people will die this year in Canada due to smoking. But it's notonly death that smokers should fear: Chronic Obstructive PulmonaryDisease (COPD) and other breathing problems can seriously cramp yourlifestyle.
Health Canada provides free help for smokers wanting to quit at their website. One of the programmes they offer includes the E-Quit programme. Freedaily e-mail messages support individuals through their quittingprocess, one day at a time.
Accordingto the website, since E-Quit's launch in 2002, hundreds of people havewritten Health Canada to praise the program. People like thenon-judgmental and supportive tone of the messages. They enjoy theprogram's pace and the sense of accomplishment they achieve by reachingeach goal. For some, it was like having a personal coach to help themthrough the day.

Lack of exercise

In therush of other commitments, and the siren call of the television and theInternet, exercise can be something we all just put off. But asedentary lifestyle is a factor in many health problems, includingheart disease, stroke, diabetes, and arthritis. Moving now will helpkeep you moving in the future. 20 minutes of brisk walking a day can beall it takes to start.
Canada's 90-second inspirational team, the Body Break duo, has a great website at http://www.bodybreak.com/. Lighthearted and quick tips can help inspire you to get up off the couch (or office chair).
Canada's Physical Activity Guidealso includes suggestions for adding fitness into your daily routine.Their section for older adults is helpful without being condescending.

Junk food

We've all heard the news reports about trans-fats, super-sizes, andother pitfalls of consuming junk food. An aging body needshigh-quality, low-fat foods. And being overweight or consuming foodshigh in fat and sugar contributes to heart disease, stroke, anddiabetes. But for many, the drive-through is just too convenient orit's what is available at lunchtime at work.
The Canadian Health Network offers a site full of tips, a virtual grocery store, a quiz, and a tour of the healthy lunchbox. The Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation also offers a wealth of information about healthy eating as well as recipes.

Too much stress

It may sound a little new age,but it's true that reducing stress in your life can impact your healthdramatically – not only for the big diseases like heart disease andstroke, but also to keep things like insomnia and eczema at bay.
The Canadian Mental Health Association offers a very thorough look at stress and stress reduction. And if it's your workplace that's stressing you out, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety has a collection of questions and answers about workplace stress.

Not flossing

Trouble biting or chewing, or trouble speaking can seriously impact on quality of life – definitely beyondjust the annoyance of having to turn down the nut brittle or toffeeduring the holidays. Not only that, but studies have shown that gumdisease can impact on heart health. So taking care of your teeth shouldbe high on your daily agenda – and that includes flossing.
If you need to refresh your technique, the Canadian Dental Association provides flossing tips and diagrams.

Source: health and fitness

Spoiled little brats!

Dad has 'no authority' after grounding ruling: lawyer
Updated Fri. Jun. 20 2008 8:37 AM ET
CTV.ca News Staff

The lawyer for a Quebec man whose daughter took him to court to challenge her father's grounding punishment says that he will appeal a ruling that he had no right to ban his child from a school trip.
Kim Beaudoin, lawyer for the man, told CTV's Canada AM that the father wants to reclaim the parental authority he lost when his daughter took him to court.
"You can imagine that he has no authority towards this child anymore," Beaudoin said.
"If she comes back home, the reaction will be every time he gives a punishment, well, you know, I can always bring you to court. That's not the situation you want in your family."
Beaudoin said that the father also wants to spare other parents from having to go through a similar situation.
The man had told his 12-year-old daughter that she could not go on a three-day trip with her classmates after she got into an argument with her stepmother. The father had also banned the girl from using the Internet after he found out she posted pictures of herself on a dating website.
The father has custody of the girl, but she went to live with her mother after the family fight.
The girl took her case to Quebec Superior Court, where Justice Suzanne Tessier ruled that the man had no right to ban his daughter from the trip.
After the court ruling, the girl did go on the trip, a short class jaunt through Quebec to celebrate graduation from the sixth grade.
The judge said that the father's punishment could not stand because the girl is now living with her mother. Tessier also said that banning the girl from the trip was excessive punishment.
However, Beaudoin said that the father had told the girl at the beginning of the school year that she could go on the trip if her behaviour was good throughout the year.
The man was "stunned" when his daughter brought the case to court.
"He was so firm on the fact that he had given a punishment and he wanted that punishment to be maintained," Beaudoin said.
"He never thought that she'd bring this to court."

In today's society, children have so much power over their parents or guardians. It's really sad that a 12 year old would take her own father to court due to some minuscule reason of not beeing able to go to a school trip, which wasn't even really an educational trip.

I find that parents have less and less authority over their kids due to rights these kids have. All I can say is the children in our current society are very spoiled! Spoiled enough that they walk all over their parents! The people who gave them life, took care of them, fed them, and gave them all what they wanted.

Now, that could be a problem too, due the fact that parent nowadays are very lenient with their kids especially when it comes to punishments. What the heck is a TIME OUT anyway? Ok, some parents refuse to spank and I respect that, I really do. However, does it work? Maybe in some situations, maybe it doesn't.

This 'time out' is consist of a place or an area or a chair, where you would put the child who is on 'time out". It suppose to be a punishment?

Now, I am assuming the kid should be thinking, contemplating what he/she has done? Maybe thinking about going on a religious journey in Tibet?

Ahhh I don't think so! It might work for some kids, but I think that this kind of technique is still weak and later on, the kid will still walk all over the parents.

I, as a parent believe in spanking as a technique for disciplining children. I find that kids just don't take their parent seriously anymore and as result, parents ends up in, well in this case, court. Why? Because kids do not have respect anymore...Not only to their parents but in general! All of these of course reflect againts the parents.

As I was saying, I believe in spanking, why? Because I was spanked as a kid and I turned out pretty ok (I think).. No Seriously, I was spanked, oh no, not just a measly little spoon, it was a BELT!

Now, think about that - Your parents ask you to tidy up your room and you don't obey and whack! You just felt a thin piece of leather swinging at your butt - soon enough, your parents won't have to ask you again.

It's all about associating something painful or unpleasant when a child disobeys. I am having a hard time associating unpleasant to time out - Sounds like fun!

What has our world gone to? What happened to young kids who would help their parents do dishes, laundry, milk the cow and so on? Time definitely has changed, but parents should still reinforce what worked back then. It should still apply, right?

Ok, now you probably think Lex is all bruised up and all that. No, not at all - It's all about the balance of punishment and taking control afterwards and make them understand that they have done something bad. Talk to your kids after you spank them, make them still trust you and respect you even though you just laid on your callus infected hand on their very sensitive butt.

That is all I can say - Call me what you want, but that works for us!

Summer Shoes Part 2 - Ballet Flats

Since I am vertically challenged, I normally buy shoes with at least 2 inches heel. When ballet flats became in fashion about 3 or 4 years ago, I discovered how I love, love, love these babies. They don't only offer comfort and stability when walking, but they also offer different styles, shapes and colors for your fashion needs.

Ballet flats are so versatile, you can wear it pretty much with anything. My favorite is wearing mine with jeans or capri pants. Every Friday I wear ballet flats at work, and I just throw on anything and when I am ready to leave, I pick the best ballet flat to go with my outfit.

They always look so chic but at the same time comfortable. I would say my motto now with shoes is comfy-chic! Unless of course I have enough money to buy some Christian Loboutin pumps or Jimmy Choo's or Manolos, then I could careless if I am in pain or not!!! Talk about being vain eh?

The other great thing about ballet flats is they are considerably cheap. Ok, I shouldn't say cheap, I meant even if you only have $10 to spare, you can buy a nice one at Wal-Mart. Yes, I actually bought one last year, see the quilted gold with a bow. It's my favorite running around flats, although it's starting to die on me, so it's time to replace it.

There was a downside to wearing ballet flats, since the soles/heels are very thin (flat). Many women didn't get the support they needed. Some had pain on the bottom of their feet and also their legs due to the lack of support. However, this is no longer an issue as you can definitely get one that has a little bit thicker sole/heel. Actually Cole Haan makes ballet flats with Nike Air Technoloogy Soles! Yes, you heard me right. So it's trendy and comfortable at the same time. Now, should we play ball?

Below are a couple of my acquisitions for the past 6 months. Also, I want to brag about how I got such great deals about these shoes. They are normally $109 per pair as they are Michael Kors, but I got them both for....Are you ready for this?-----I got them both on eBay for $34 including shipping and handling. Jealous??? You should be.... Ha ha ha...Enjoy!

Below is the Cole Haan Ballet Flats with Nike Air Technology. My friend Chloe, who swore to never buy ballet shoes fell in love with these babies and bought them, for her to wear to her trip in Paris. You can find her blog about these shoes here.
Below are just some Ballet Flats for you to drool over on.

Gucci

Coach

Tods

Coach

Burberry

Burberry

Just in case you are wondering, I am size 6 US.

Will you marry a man who is 75 years older than you?

Egyptian authorities have banned a 92-year-old Saudi man from marrying a poor teenage girl 75 years his junior, a judicial source said on Saturday.

The justice ministry made its ruling under a law designed to prevent wealthy Arabs from the Gulf from snapping up young Egyptian girls and which forbids marriage when there is an age gap of 25 years or more.




The unidentified Saudi holidaymaker proposed marriage to a 17-year-old village girl and offered a dowry of about 28,000 dollars as well as gold jewellery, the source said.
"Her parents, who are very poor, accepted," he told AFP.
But the justice ministry refused to register to marriage, citing the legislation brought in during the Gulf oil boom.

However, according to Egypt's Al-Akhbar newspaper, the authorities allowed 173 such marriages last year after the foreign husbands paid the equivalent of 8,000 dollars into the Egyptian National Bank.



Source: Yahoo.com

A Frozen Real Fruit Bar made me bleed

We went to the Zoo today and after lunch we got some ice cream. Lex and Robin shared a Caramel Drumstick and I had a Strawberry Kiwi Fruit bar. Photo below.

I opened the little plastic wrapper that it came in and before I even had the chance to throw away the wrapper, I licked the bar. Yes and to my surprise my tongue didn't budge and stayed stuck. It was such a strange feeling getting your tongue stuck to something frozen. I guess it's the same idea as having your tongue stuck to a frozen pole, you know when it's winter? It's not winter right now, it's actually summer and this whole tongue stuck on something frozen happened.

I tried talking while my tongue was stuck and my friends Lara and Savio blurted "just close your mouth and eventually will come off" in unison.

I did do that and I also wiggled the Ice Bar to come off and just a few tug, my tongue was free. Now, the scary thing was that due to the tugging, my tongue actually bled! Yes, Robin saw the blood and I tasted it too...Not nice...Tasted like Iron...Ha ha ha..I looked at my tongue later on and I could see red marks on both sides of my tongue. It's been about 7 hours since that happened and my tongue is still a little sore. It feels like when you burn your tongue, kind of loss some taste buds too.

So from now on, be careful guys, I know it's only a fruit bar, but they can make you bleed!!!

Happy Father's Day!

How to deal with Nosy questions....

How to handle (and sometimes even ask) the nosiest questions:

Nosy question: How much do you weigh?



How to respond: "Enough" or "I don't know -- whenever I step on the scale, it says, 'Perfect,'" suggests Claudia Michelle Wallace, a comedian with Chicago's Second City. Or try responding in a cleverly vague way: "The British would say I weigh nine stone" or "One and a half Mary Kate Olsens."

How to ask: Don't. The only people who have a legitimate reason for asking this question are doctors, your personal trainer, and the amusement-park carny who runs the Guess Your Weight game (but even he shouldn't ask, since he's supposed to be guessing).

Nosy question: How old are you?

How to respond: "I'm old enough to know better." You can also claim a ridiculous age, or say, "I'm aging rapidly just thinking about it," says Amy Dickinson, author of the Chicago Tribune advice column Ask Amy. "Or try Dustin Hoffman's response in Tootsie," says Dickinson. "'Age means nothing to me -- I'm a character actress!'"


How to ask: Flattery will get you everywhere: "You're so accomplished for your age! What are you -- 25? You look like it." Or casually mention your last high school reunion, or where you were when some major historical event occurred. The person may chime in with a story that will help you do the math.


Nosy question: What's your salary?

How to respond: Be deliberately vague. You can say, "I do OK" or "I'd like to make more." If the person presses on, let your parents take the fall: Say, "My mother told me to never discuss money," and stop there. "Don't explain your response -- simply change the subject," says Dickinson.

How to ask: If you're trying to find out how much a particular job or industry pays, phrase it in this manner: "What could I expect to make as an account executive?"

Nosy question: What did you do on your date last night?

How to respond: "The usual -- dinner, dancing, hot-air-balloon ride." Most of the time, you don't have to answer someone's nosy question directly. You can creatively answer around it. The person asking is probably trying to find out whether you had a good time. So tell him if you did (or didn't) and leave it at that.

How to ask: Don't ask specifics. (Do you need to know where they had dinner, how long the date lasted, etc.?) Simply ask if they had fun. They'll cough up details if they want to.

Nosy question: How much is your rent/mortgage?

How to respond: "Rents in this building go for..." Or say, "I have a great Realtor you should try." This gives your friend information without compromising your privacy. Asking about someone's mortgage is more invasive. Simply say, "That's between me and my bank" or "My credo is to not discuss anything about money."

How to ask: Wait for the right moment, such as a dinner with a group of friends who are all in the throes of house hunting. Still, don't ask for specifics. Instead, make it general: "How much do houses go for around this neighborhood?"" If your friends are comfortable talking about it, they may offer up their price, but don't expect it.

Nosy question: How much did you pay for those shoes?

How to respond: Simply say, "I don't remember -- I have no idea," "They weren't much," or "They were a treat for myself." Most of the time, this is a harmless, innocent question -- the person is admiring your shoes and thinking about them for herself, not probing into how much importance you place on material objects or how much money you have.


How to ask: Instead of asking the price, ask where she got the shoes or what the brand is, then go find out how much they cost.

Nosy question: What Was Your Doctor's Appointment For?

How to respond: "You don't want to know" (said with a smile) or "I'm just fine -- thanks for asking." You don't have to go into any detail. A vague answer will satisfy most people. They will understand you don't want to answer and back away.


How to ask: Don't ask specifics -- just express your concern. "Is everything OK? Can I help you with anything?" That shows you care without invading privacy.


Nosy question: Why are you all dressed up? Did you have a job interview?

How to respond: "I just wanted to dress up" or "Isn't every day a job interview?" This is often just a comment, not a real question, "so it doesn't necessarily require a response," says Marjorie Brody, an executive coach and the author of "Professional Impressions.


How to ask: Try the "butter up" method: "What a gorgeous outfit! What's the occasion?" You've tossed out the bait. If she wants to pick it up, she will. Otherwise, let it slide.

Nosy question: Why did you call in sick?

How to respond: "I wasn't feeling well." Then stop right there. No one needs to know about your gastrointestinal distress.

How to ask: Make sure it's clear you're asking because you are genuinely concerned about the person, not because you're the work-attendance police. Deliver this question lightly and with concern, not in an accusatory manner.

Nosy question: What was that you were talking about?

How to respond: "The price of tea in China." "Nothing exciting enough to share." This question is often used as an entrance into a conversation. If the question comes from someone who overheard a phone conversation, apologize for talking so loud.

How to ask: It's all about the context. If you walk by a group of friends and they're laughing, you may be able to break in and say, "Did I miss something fun?" But don't presume that your need to know is greater than their need to continue the conversation.



source: CNN

Summer shoes part 1 - Espadrilles

The only thing I love about summer is I can finally breakout my sandals and open toe pumps. Some people might think I can outdo Imelda Marcos (If you don't know Imelda Marcos, then you don't know anything about shoes, ok you can check her info here ), but really I would say I am just a close second to her. Just kidding!

Imelda Marcos had 5,400 pairs of shoes ranging from Dior to Gucci to Chanel. I said "had" because I am not sure if she still has most of them. 778 pairs of her shoes are now in the Marikina Shoes Museum in the Philippines for your viewing pleasure, for a fee of 20 pesos (that is about 50 cents Canadian.

I love shoes as much as I love bags. Although my bag collection cannot compare to the number of pairs of shoes I have. I have gotten rid of about 25 pairs last summer and I still need to purge. The picture below is my last acquisition from my ever trusted eBay seller.

Rampage Red Espadrille

Espadrilles are really big this summer. I have a few pairs, as I wear espadrilles whether they are in season or not. This type of shoes are very comfortable due to the thick heel that gives a lot of support when walking and standing for a long time. For short ( I meant, vertically challenged) people like me, espadrilles with higher heel helps with the height problem as well.

Casual espadrilles look great with pretty much anything you wear, except with long pants that covers them, then there won't be a point of wearing them. Shorts, skirts and capri pants are best wear with these babies as you can showcase the different styles and designs.

You can wear espadrilles to summer weddings, but go for the metallic colors. Silver, gold or bronze are great choices. Go for minimal designs if your dress has a lot of designs on it and of course vice-versa. You can go with a simple beige tunic dress with a bronze with massive shiny butterfly appliques if you like. Butterflies are in right now, you will see them from Furstenberg's dresses to Chanel jewelleries.

Here are some fantastic espadrilles you can wear to weddings.

The above shoes have a snake skin pattern in shiny silver.

Hmmmm I need a wedding to go to this summer...Who wants to get married???

GM not budging to keep plant in the 'Shwa!

In my opinion the plant workers in the 'Shwa are just spoiled by the CAW. Come on people, this is reality, welcome to the world of normal people! Workers get fired or laid-off all the time! This is the reality of being a worker. If you lose your job, you move on and find another job. Why can't the 'Shwa GM workers do that???

Ok, I was thinking about it, if my company fires us all....I wonder if we can cause some traffic problems, not let the management go in the building and maybe throw eggs at the building (hahaha). Ok, this won't fly because we'll probably all go to jail!

Ok, so you're laid-off...Get another job and stop whining! I think this is blessing in disguise for those workers anyway. They need to find another job somewhere else in order to expand their work experience and not just having to mount a bolt onto a tire while watching a movie as an experience for the rest of their lives. (ok, someone actually told me that this is what they do while working, so I am not making this up)

I think that the reason why they are fighting for their jobs is because they can't do anything else other than what they are used to. These 'Shwa workers might be scared to find a more challenging job or they just afraid of change. We're all afraid of change, but maybe they should take this a as a challenge and like I said, blessing in disguise.

Original article

What do you think of this whole circus going on at the GM 'Shwa plant? Leave me a comment and let me know!

Waitress loses job after shaving head for cancer charity.

TIME FOR IDIOTIC MOMENT!

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Yes, it's true. Go read the article here first.

Did you read it yet? If not, go read it first, then come back.... :D

Ok here's my rant, I think that it's discriminatory that because she is now bald, that she had to lose her job. There are bald men working at restaurants all the time, so what is wrong with bald women?

Besides that, the waitress did it for a good cause, for cancer research! THE HAIR WILL GROW BACK!!! I really hate it when people make idiotic decisions. Now, the owner of the restaurant will lose a lot of customers due to this. He should have thought about the consequences of firing this woman. Well, I guess good luck to your business! Hey, who cares, it's not my business...:D

Ohhh You guys remember Demi Moore.

My sweet cousin Cherish is engaged!!!

I have been wanting to post about my cousin Cherish's engagement, but I have been waiting for pics and I finally got them last night.

Let me describe my cousin Cherish.

C - aring (I think she should have been a nurse)

H- onest (well to me anyway, she tells me everything!!! I think...)

E- nviably pretty (Yes! we Claridads are always enviable...:P)

R- omantic (hopelessly btw :D)

I- nlove with Chris (Awwww. My baby cousin is getting married...Yay)

S- weet (holy crap, not just sweet, she's super duper to the infinity sweet!)

H- ardworker (who works full time and does her Masters at the same time)

Ok, that is just some of her qualities of course. I am not gonna go through the other not so nice qualities, like she cries all the time, very emotional, and etc...Ha ha ha just kidding...

Ok, let's talk about Chris! Hmmmm ok, I have never met Chris yet, but I will soon in July! As far as I know he is very sweet as well, that when Cherish was sick that he brought her chicken soup and stuff like that.....Awwww. Oh Chris works for Telus! Chris you let me know, I have a friend who works at Telus, he's a manager there....I can ask for his help when you move here... :P

Also, Chris is a techie so that's good! We need him to fix Cherish's PC so Robin and I won't have to go over to their house to re-format their HD because we couldn't fix it as it's full of virus. It 's not really Cherish's fault, it's mainly her sister that downloads all that stuff...Ha ha ha sorry Frin... Love you...

Anyway, here are some of the pics they took a week ago when Cherish went to see Chris in Vancouver. I just noticed that their names is CH and CH...Wow, that is insane!

Love you guys!!!
Congrats!

Another Photo ID for Ontarians to Cross US Border...

Please read this ARTICLE FIRST.


I don't understand why we need another photo card if flying to the US requires a passport anyway. Why can't these non-drivers just apply for a passport? Since they can use the passport whether they fly or cross the border. Isn't it idiotic to have another photo card for crossing the border and then getting a passport to fly??? That is just a waste of money creating those photo cards! Am I the only one who feels this way? or Did I not get the actual reason why they are doing this? hahaha.

US is still not ready for a woman president.

Apparently, Barack Obama won against Hillary Clinton for the Presidential nomination and that Hillary will be running with him for the VP position.

I am not into politics or anything, actually I am mainly apathetic to what is going on in politics. However the up coming US election made me a little intrigued due to the fact that it would be a history in the making for both Obama and Clinton!

Check the full story HERE.

You can rent shades???

My new blog friend Sunglasses Guy posted this on his site.

Renting Sunglasses by Sunglasses Guy

I don't think I would rent shades, might as well save up and get the one I like rather than paying for almost retail to rent it...That is just my 2 cents though.

Improve Your Life Every Day of the Week

Mondays are GREAT! Why? Because it’s your first chance of the week to improve your health and your relationship! So, here’s what you can do, starting Monday and throughout the week, to improve things, courtesy of Rodale Publications.

On Monday:
Clear the air, ladies. According to researchers at Boston University, women who keep tension corked are more likely to die of heart disease. So if something’s bothering you, talk to the person or people involved. Guys, if you think your lovely lady is percolating about something, find out what’s on her mind. However, don’t just ask, “What’s wrong?” Your best chance of coaxing it out of her is to say, “You seem upset” in a non-accusatory way. She’ll have a harder time saying she’s fine.

On Tuesday:
Stretch like a cat. It’s like hitting the reset button when you roll out of bed! According to researchers at Wayne State University, stretching improves posture, promotes blood flow and relieves body tension.

On Wednesday:
Call your sweetie for a heated discussion. If relationship stress is lingering, discuss the sticky situation over the phone. This reduces tension, because eye-rolling and headshaking won’t work against you – since they won’t be seen. These gestures are what drive a relationship into the ground.

On Thursday:
Pop some chocolate! Milk chocolate has been shown to boost verbal and visual memory. So you’ll stay sharp and focused for that final lunge toward the weekend.

On Friday:
Pretend it’s your first date! A study from the University of British Columbia shows that partners feel better about themselves when meeting their mates as if they were total strangers – because we act as if they don’t know our flaws yet! This makes for more fun and more romantic dates.

Source: www.tesh.com

Protect your eyes

As much as I would like to wear the new trend in sunglasses, I can't due to the fact that I need prescription sunglasses as contacts don't work properly on me. Also, the fact that I already have a prescription sunglasses. I still hope for later on that I would find contacts that are comfortable and easy to use and so I can finally wear maybe a Chanel Aviator or a Louis Vuitton Millionaire Sunnies. However, here are some tips for you men and women out there who are lucky enough to wear whatever sunglasses you lay your eyes on.

Chanel

Louis Vuitton

8 tips for choosing sunglasses

We can't see ultraviolet light, but at least now we know it's there, and we know that we should protect ourselves from it. Up until the 1930s, sunglasses weren't widely available. Protecting our eyes from the sun meant wearing a wide-brimmed hat. Nowadays, we know that ultraviolet (UV) radiation can lead to serious eye damage, including cataracts, cancer, snow blindness, and more commonly, photokeratitis, which amounts to an eye sunburn. Ouch.
UV radiation from the sun can reach our eyes in many ways - bouncing off water, clouds, snow, and the windows of buildings and passing cars. And not all of the sun's light affects our eyes in the same way. 95% of all of the UV radiation that reaches the Earth's surface are UVA rays; the other 5% is UVB radiation. The outer layers of our eyes act like natural sunglasses, shielding our retinas from most UV radiation: UVB is fully absorbed by the cornea of the eye, and UVA passes through the cornea but is filtered by the lens of the eye. Only about 1% or less of UV radiation actually reaches the retina.
Although UVB is the type of radiation associated with eye damage, UVA can also play a part (e.g., in the formation of cataracts). In general, UVA or UVB protection is required as neither has proven to be good for our eyes.

Staying out of the sun during the peak UV hours of 11 am to 4 pm is not always possible. And wearing a hat provides minimal protection, as do regular eyeglasses. To best block out the harmful UV rays, your eyes need more protection.

When you're shopping for sunglasses, consider these 4 things that matter:

Numbers matter. When shopping for sunglasses, look for labels that say the lenses block out 99% to 100% of UV radiation. Make sure they block out both UVA and UVB rays.
Fit matters. Poorly fitted sunglasses may not provide enough protection. You may be less likely to wear glasses that feel awkward or uncomfortable. And when glasses are too small or too large, they may let in light from the sides. Athletes have the right idea with wraparound sunglasses.
Lenses matter. Polarized lenses deflect glare but don't offer UV protection. Lenses made from real glass provide little protection at all. Your best choice these days? Polycarbonate plastic lenses. These tougher lenses provide adequate UV protection and are sturdier than other varieties. Photochromic lenses are also a good option because they block glare and UV radiation while maintaining visual sharpness.

Functionality matters. Options exist for those who have a hard time wearing sunglasses. If you wear eyeglasses, try prescription sunglasses, tinting for your eyeglasses, or clip-on lenses with UV protection. New contact lenses are available with enhanced protection, but sunglasses should still be worn.

Okay, now for 4 things that don't matter too much:

Age. Children's eyes need even more protection from the sun than adults. But if you take a look around next time you head out to the pool or beach or playground, you'll notice lots of adults wearing sunglasses but very few kids with any eye protection at all. Because of their clearer corneas and lenses, children's eyes let in more UV light than the more fully developed eyes of adults and thus are at even higher risk of sun damage. Many sunglasses manufacturers offer kids' styles. Let your kids pick out whatever fun frames they'd like, but just make sure to choose a pair with 99% to 100% UV protection.

Season. Our eyes need sun protection all year long, so don't wait for summer to shop for sunglasses. During the fall and winter, you may see the sun less often, but that doesn't mean its effects aren't felt by our eyes. Sea foam, beach sand, and snow: they all reflect damaging UV light into our eyes. In fact, winter snow reflects much more UV light than dry sand.
Lens colour. For the most part, the colour of lenses in sunglasses shouldn't make a difference in protection. Shades with super-dark lenses may work for celebs wanting to go incognito, but dark lenses provide no extra sun safety. Sunglasses with amber-coloured "blue-blocking" lenses may block out visible blue light (which may damage the retinas ), but they don't provide adequate defence against UV radiation.

Cost. Spending more won't necessarily buy you superior protection. Lots of people shell out a bundle for designer shades, while others go cheap and hope for the best. Instead, just look for labels that say the lenses block out 99% to 100% of UV rays.

Source: http://health.lifestyle.yahoo.ca/channel_section_details.asp?text_id=4358&channel_id=1027&relation_id=34692