Managing morning sickness can be simple.  If we learn how to relieve the symptoms with understanding and openess, we can make this pregnancy obstacle easier.

Most women don’t think of morning sickness as helpful, but it can be an excellent indicator of pregnancy. Morning sickness usually begins between the fourth and sixth week of pregnancy. This is often the first sign most women get that they are actually pregnant. Therefore, morning sickness is a clue to start taking better care of your health for you and your baby.

No one knows the exact reason pregnant women experience this time of nausea and vomiting. When you become pregnant, your body is going through many hormonal changes, which are normal. The pregnancy hormone, “human chronic gonadotropin,” is believed to be the cause of morning sickness, although not much research has been done on the subject. Low blood sugar is also believed to be a contributing factor of nausea and vomiting during early pregnancy.

Morning sickness does not mean you will be sick and vomiting every morning. Morning sickness can occur at any time of the day or night. It varies from woman to woman and can be brought on by many different things. Knowing what can cause your morning sickness to worsen can be helpful in preventing severe symptoms. Unfortunately, in some cases, nothing can be done to lessen the severity of morning sickness. If you are vomiting more than twice a day or think you may be losing weight, contact your doctor. He or she may prescribe medication that can lessen the symptoms of morning sickness.

Morning sickness can occur regardless of your lifestyle, but there are many factors that may contribute to causing morning sickness to be more severe. Here are some things to do that may help prevent the onset of nausea and vomiting:

“ Do not let your stomach get empty. An empty stomach can lead to severe nausea. “ Move slowly when getting out of bed in the morning.” If possible, eat a few crackers before getting out of bed. “ Drinking plenty of fluids during the day can prevent dehydration. “ Get lots of rest, taking naps during the day if possible. “ When cooking, keep your kitchen well ventilated to avoid lingering odors.” Get a light amount of exercise, which will help you sleep and get rest.

Food is a big factor for most women when dealing with morning sickness. From eating the right foods to smelling the wrong ones, food of all kinds can either help or prevent morning sickness. Some tips for dealing with food and morning sickness are:

1. Eat many small meals throughout the day. Eating too much at one time can make you feel sick, but not keeping something in your stomach will bring on nausea.

2. Take your prenatal vitamins with food. Some vitamins may cause your stomach to become upset if not taken with food.

3. Try to avoid spicy and acidic foods. These foods can irritate your delicate stomach and make your symptoms worse.

4. Stay away from high-fat foods. These can also worsen morning sickness symptoms.

5. Eat foods high in protein, as they can help lessen your symptoms.

6. Drinking fluids thirty minutes before and thirty minutes after eating can help with symptoms, try not to drink during meals.

7. Eat whatever foods you feel like you can keep down. Pregnancy is not a time to start or continue on a diet, unless advised by your doctor.

8. Avoid hot foods if your sense of smell is very strong. Cold foods do not smell as strong as hot foods.

9. Eat anytime you feel like you want to.

10. Certain foods seem to help most women alleviate morning sickness symptoms. Eating these may help: dry crackers, Melba toast, whole wheat toast/bread, fruit, baked potatoes, pasta etc. These are easy to digest foods and are light on your stomach.

11. Some women find relief in drinking carbonated drinks.

12. Ginger is believed to help relieve symptoms of morning sickness. Try eating ginger snaps, drinking ginger ale or ginger tea.

Morning sickness can range from making you a little queasy to very sick and unable to get out of bed. The good thing is it usually only lasts through your first trimester of pregnancy and should start disappearing after the twelfth or thirteenth week.  Just keep in mind it is a normal part of being pregnant

, and you are enduring it for a great cause.

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This Article will Helps you how to make the Sexual activity is more Exciting,especially for womens.. Read this Complete Article to get the Clear Picture..

Every woman wants an exciting and marvelous sexual life. Sex is a beautiful expression of love and every woman wants to be loved. However sex pleasure decrease when you add boredom to your sexual activity. This hypnosis article reveals you the things to avoid and the things to follow to make your sexual activity a beautiful experience and an awesome expression of love.

Women generally have the habit of asking more but they hesitate to give more. They want men to love them and care for them. Not only this they even think that men should make efforts to make their sexual life exciting. But one must make a point that both the partners are equally responsible to make their sexual life exciting and going.

The hypnosis study has discovered some points that badly affect your sex life. Thus, hypnosis reveals you the following points to make your sexual life prosper and flourish with the passing time:

1.         Avoid over sensitiveness while having sex.

2.         Avoid any kind of argument before sex.

3.            Remember sex is an integral part of marriage life.

4.         Never treat sex as bad or a negative thing. 

5.         Don’t crave only for sex because once the person will come to know that you are into him only for sex, and then it may affect your sexual life. Pretend as you really love that person.

6.         Don’t show your eagerness to have sex. Men generally regard this as a women’s weakness and they try to take advantage of this weakness.

7.         Never dressed up in the same costume that you wear daily. Try something new.

8.         Never disclose your weaknesses in front of your mate.

9.         Avoid any kind of discussion before sex that can spoil your partner’s mood. Many women generally ask their mate about the office, work or any other thing because of which they get angry and in directly bad sex or no sex.

10.       Avoid backbiting your in-laws and family tensions in front of your partner. This makes your partner to turn irritated towards you.

11.       Don’t talk about other things while having sex. This can make your partner irritated. Many women talk about children, their studies, their career etc. this makes your partner think that you more occupied with other thoughts and you have no time to think about him.

12.       The most important thing to avoid is, talking about the man’s weakness while or before sex. Example many women talk about their partners’ weaknesses such as their inability to produce satisfying sex, premature ejaculation etc, result bad or unsatisfied sexual life.

13.       Try out something new to keep your sexual life and unspoiled. Ex. Try bathing together, help your partner in shaving, wear sexy lingerie, sexy outfits etc.

14.            Remember while having sex, never do sex as an act of compulsion or boredom in fact enjoy every touch of your partner, the feel of his skin touching your skin, enjoy the sensuousness of his kiss, the warmth of a beautiful hug, enjoy the act of your partner caressing your parts, enjoy simply feel the charm of that night.

15.       Last but not the least remember; sex is the most beautiful form of expressing your love towards your mate. Words are not always enough, you need the act sometimes. Thus sex is the wonderful act of showing someone that how much that person means to you.

Now

, hypnosis has revealed you the tips that can enhance your love life. Do it and make a difference in your sexual life.

 Let your sexual life be fresh and happy. ………With hypnosis.

Click here for any help regarding any other sexual problem…

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You see them holding traffic signs, installing telephone lines, reading gas meters, and holding any number of positions that have been historically held by members of the male population, but the one thing you don’t see is a positive change in the female-to-male earnings ratio, which remains at 0.77 in 2006.

Equal Pay Today – Tomorrow the White House 

By Richard E Walrath and Patricia L Johnson

“The female-to-male earnings ratio of 0.77 in 2006 was not statistically different from the 2005 ratio…”

That is a direct quote from the recent “Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2006″  released by the U.S. Census Bureau in August of 2007. 

In this day and age, why would any person be willing to earn .23 cents less on a dollar just because they are a female?  Are you satisfied earning .77 cents for every dollar the guy in the next chair is making?

Do you sit there and file your nails all day long, or do you put as much effort into your job as anyone else?

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 makes it an “unlawful employment practice” to discriminate “against any individual with respect to compensation…” 

Are you doing the same job and being paid less than your male counterpart?  If so, you have the right to file a claim with the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission (EEOC), but remember there is a 180-300 day statute of limitations on filing a claim, depending upon the state.

Lilly Ledbetter found out about the statute of limitations the hard way by losing her discrimination case against Goodyear Tire and Rubber.  After winding its way through the lower courts, Ledbetter’s case went to the U.S. Supreme Court for a ruling, where the following question was posed:

“Whether and under what circumstances a plaintiff may bring an action under Title  VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 alleging illegal pay discrimination when the disparate pay is received during the statutory limitations period, but is the result of intentionally discriminatory pay decisions that occurred outside the limitations period.”

The Supreme Court came back with a 5-4 ruling against Ledbetter in case 05-1074 LEDBETTER v. GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER CO., INC. and the following excerpt reminds us why time limitations are so important. 

“Ledbetter should have filed an EEOC charge within 180 days after each allegedly discriminatory pay decision was made and communicated to her. She did not do so,”

Some people just like to keep their jobs, especially since there’s a probation period in many of them and they are reluctant to make waves for fear of being fired.  Your first step should always be to discuss your complaint with your employer – there may be a legitimate reason for the rate disparity. 

Whether you are an hourly employee or a salaried employee, you have the same rights when it comes to wage discrimination in the workplace, but the EEOC isn’t going to come seek you out, you must contact them to pursue your claim.

The 180-300 day limit allowed to file a claim is a very short period of time, especially if you are a new employee on the job, but how long does it take to make a phone call to the EEOC for an opinion? 

Maybe there should not be inequality in the workplace, but it’s there all right, and, as you can see from the statistics, it’s not going to go away any time soon.  A lower rate of pay for doing the exact same job is discrimination - know your rights and fight for them.

As more women inch their way up into the executive ranks and are able to hire more women, the inequality will gradually diminish.

If Hillary makes it to the top, it might help women’s pay a lot.  If she doesn’t

, it’s up to you – fight for your rights Ladies!

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Today more mothers are choosing to breastfeed their babies because breast milk is the perfect food for babies. It is easy to digest and gives the baby protection from many allergies and infectious diseases. But there’s a lot to learn before proceeding with the breast feeding process. Here are some more common questions and concerns in regards to breast feeding 

Inverted Nipples

Before your baby is born, check your breasts for flat or inverted nipples. Place your thumb and forefinger around your areola in a “C” shape, about an inch from the base of your nipple, and gently press thumb and forefinger together. Your nipple should project outward. If your nipple pulls back into the breast or stays flat, seek advice from your doctor, certified lactation consultant, or La Leche League leader.

Wearing plastic breast shells (see Breastfeeding Basics) during the last months of pregnancy may help your nipples project outward. However, some authorities suggest that a baby who is attached to the breast correctly (see When and How to Start Breastfeeding, Positioning) will breastfeed effectively regardless of the size or shape of mother’s nipples. Either way, it will be helpful for you to understand proper positioning and talk to a breastfeeding counselor or healthcare provider about this issue before your baby is born.

 

Engorgement

An uncomfortable fullness in the breasts that may cause your breasts to feel hard, hot, and painful may occur because baby is not removing enough milk. To eliminate this engorgement, breastfeed your baby more frequently or use a breast pump. Pumping to comfort or pumping only a few minutes, just long enough to make your breasts comfortable, will not produce an oversupply of milk. Applying cold compresses between feedings and/or warm compresses and circular massaging just before and during feedings may also be helpful.

Sore Nipples

Sore nipples are a common complaint at first. This may be a new experience for you, and it may indicate that your baby is not positioned properly at the breast (see When and How to Start Breastfeeding, Positioning). If the pain subsides in a minute and you are comfortable for the rest of the breastfeeding session, there’s nothing to worry about. If not, call a lactation consultant or La Leche League leader for suggestions.

Causes of sore nipples include:

• Baby’s latching on too close to the nipple, not taking enough areolar tissue.
• Baby’s lower lip is tucked in instead of flanged out.
• Baby slurps the nipple into his mouth instead of opening wide to accept the breast.
• Baby’s gums rub against the nipple when coming off the breast.
• Baby puts stress on the tissues and causes soreness by trying to draw out inverted or flat nipples during the early days/weeks of breastfeeding.Moisture remains on an inverted nipple for a prolonged period.Suggestions:
• Improve baby’s latch on.
• Ask for help from a lactation professional.
• Allow baby to finish the first breast before offering the second.
• If nipples are sore, express a little breast milk and apply it gently to the nipples after breastfeeding, or apply Lansinoh® lanolin to aid in the healing process and protect against chafing.
• Try a different breastfeeding hold position.

Plugged Ducts

Too much milk remaining in the breast may cause a plugged duct. This can happen for a variety of reasons and may result in a sore spot on your breast that is red and slightly warm to the touch.

Treatment measures for a plugged duct include:

• Wearing loose clothing and a bra that doesn’t bind.
• Getting plenty of rest.
• Nursing as often as baby will cooperate and/or pumping between feedings.
• Nursing baby 8-12 times every 24 hours.
• Applying moist or dry heat to the sore spot before nursing.
• Starting every nursing session on the breast with the sore spot.
• Positioning baby so his chin lines up with the sore spot.
• Massaging the sore spot during breastfeeding.

Breast Infection

If you develop other symptoms, such as a fever, chills, achiness, or soreness in the breast that is generalized instead of in one spot, you may have a breast infection, also known as mastitis. Contact a certified lactation consultant, an La Leche League leader, or healthcare provider for advice. Some breast infections will go away with the same treatment as you would use for a plugged duct.

If your symptoms persist, or if you have a high fever, you may need an antibiotic prescribed by your healthcare provider. Most antibiotics are safe to take while breastfeeding, but discuss this issue with your healthcare provider to be certain.

Is Baby Getting Enough Milk?

Weight gain is the most accurate way to tell if your baby is getting enough milk, so weigh your baby. A normal weight gain is approximately four to eight ounces per week. As your baby becomes a little older, the increase in weight will become more obvious. If you’re concerned about your baby, talk to your healthcare provider or a breastfeeding counselor.

Also, keep track of your baby’s diaper changes since what goes in must come out. At first your baby will have only one or two wet diapers per day. After your milk supply increases, baby should have five to seven wet diapers (six to eight if using cloth diapers) and three to five bowel movements every day. Some babies may have a small bowel movement with every diaper change.

The first bowel movements will be dark black, with a tarry consistency. Both color and consistency will change within a day or two of your milk supply increasing. The color of a breast milk stool is most often a mustard-yellow, but it can vary from tan to yellow to yellow-green. The consistency is loose and seedy and will remain this way as long as your baby is receiving only human milk. In addition, while nursing, your baby should swallow after every couple of sucks, so listen for swallowing. Other indicators include your breasts becoming softer after feedings, your baby’s skin feeling smooth and firm, and baby seeming satisfied after feedings.

However, if your baby shows any of the following signs, contact your healthcare provider immediately:

• Weak cry
• Skin with no resiliency (when pinched it stays pinched looking)
• Dry mouth and dry eyes
• Less than the usual amount of tears
• Minimal urine output (less than two wet diapers in 24 hours)
• Fever
• Fontanel (soft spot) on the baby’s head is sunken or depressed

If you previously had breast surgery, be sure to tell your healthcare provider. Many mothers have been able to fully breastfeed their babies after breast surgery. However, it is important that your healthcare provider be aware of your history and past breast surgery(ies) so that you and your baby can be monitored closely to make sure your milk production is good and baby is gaining weight.

Increasing Your Milk Supply

The amount of milk you produce is dependent on how much and how frequently milk is removed from your breasts. As baby’s demand increases, your body will increase its supply, but you might find the following suggestions helpful if you are concerned about your milk supply:

• Nurse baby at both breasts at every nursing session.
• Nurse baby twice at each breast at each nursing session.
• Use the lying down hold occasionally so you rest while baby nurses.
• Nurse at baby’s earliest cues.
• Drink plenty of fluids (based on your individual needs).
• Use a breast pump between feedings.
• Refer to a certified lactation consultant for a complete breastfeeding evaluation.

Baby Constantly Awakens at Night

There are many reasons a baby wakes at night. You may have a newborn who is a light sleeper and is easily awakened. Plus, human milk digests twice as fast as formula, so breastfed babies get hungry more often than bottle-fed babies.

Baby Is Always Sleepy

Some medications used during labor and delivery may cause baby to become extremely sleepy. If baby sleeps constantly in the first week, it’s important to wake him to nurse so your milk supply will become established and baby grows and gains weight normally. Try nursing frequently at night when it is quieter. Contact another mother or breastfeeding counselor for tips on waking a sleeping baby.

Breastfeeding and Mother’s Medications

Most antibiotics and pain medications are compatible with breastfeeding. However, you should always discuss any medications with your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

The possible risks of a medication, whether a doctor’s prescription or bought over the counter, should be weighed against the risks of weaning and providing artificial milk.

  

When to Ask for Breastfeeding Help

Seek help when:

• Your newborn has fewer than five to seven really wet diapers, or three to five bowel movements each day, even after your milk supply increases in the first week.
• Baby’s urine is a dark color or has a strong odor.
• Nipple or breast soreness becomes worse and persists between feedings.
• Breastfeeding becomes painful. (A little pain at the beginning is normal, but it should fade as your baby learns to breastfeed.)

Baby Seems Full of Gas

You may have heard that babies react to foods in their mothers’ diets but this is fairly rare. Infant formula is far more likely to cause some type of problem rather than a reaction to mother’s diet.

Infant massage often helps soothe a baby who appears to have gas, so you might read books on infant massage to find a technique that your baby likes. You also might try the colic hold to see if it helps baby become more comfortable. Drape your baby face down over your forearm with his head at the crook of your elbow, your hand supporting his midsection, and his legs dangling down.

Supplements and Artificial Nipples

Supplements of water or artificial milk (formula) in the early weeks of breastfeeding can contribute to a poor milk supply, prolonged engorgement, jaundice, or cow’s milk allergy or intolerance-problems for both you and your baby

Avoid artificial nipples and pacifiers because they can confuse your baby when he’s learning how to breastfeed. A baby uses mouth and tongue differently when taking a bottle or pacifier versus a human breast. Among other things, artificial nipples are firmer than your breast, and a baby holds them in the front of his mouth. If baby does the same thing while breastfeeding, he may not use enough suction and he won’t get as much milk.

Your nipples may become sore in the process. Some very sensitive babies even refuse to breastfeed after using artificial nipples.

Since there is no way to tell ahead of time whether your baby will be able to switch back and forth easily, it’s best to avoid artificial nipples until your baby has been nursing well for at least three or four weeks and the likelihood of confusion is reduced. If you need to feed your baby other than at the breast, use an alternative to bottles, such as a spoon, eyedropper

, or small feeding cup. Consult a knowledgeable breastfeeding counselor about these options.

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All you need to know to make that gem jewelry shine like new again.

Cleaning gemstones is somewhat like cleaning gold vermeil: you want to do the bare minimum to get the job done. Cleaning is a part of care, and if you go overboard with chemicals, scrubbing, or ultrasonic cleaners, you run the risk of damaging the very thing you’re trying to protect!

At first, simply take a soft dry cloth and remove any surface dirt or grime. A healthy and vigorous dry polish can go a long way in removing nasty unwanted particles and smudges, and offers little threat to the integrity of your jewellery. It can also single-handedly restore the natural shine that may have been dulled by wear, skin oils, moisturizers, hairspray, perfume, and all the other pesky threats that want to keep your gemstone less than lustrous. By all means, try to stick to the policy of applying all lotions and sprays before putting on jewellery- this is really the first rule of accessory hygiene. (Giving your accessories a quick dry buff with a cotton cloth after daily wear will also make cleaning easier and less crucial.)

In the event that the dry rub isn’t enough, a mild soapy solution should be your next resort. Mix some lukewarm (never hot) water with a little bit of gentle, non anti-bacterial dish soap, and soak your accessory in the solution for a few minutes. This should loosen up grime and dirt, and you can then use a cloth to continue the lather and scrub away bad spots. If you think more friction is in order, soak longer and use a soft-bristled toothbrush to lather the surface of the stone in gentle circular motions. Finally, give your jewellery a cool, thorough rinse, and pat dry with a cotton cloth. Voila! Gleaming.

About 99% of the time, the above method should be more than adequate in restoring shine and lustre. If not, you can make a slightly more abrasive solution with six parts water to one part ammonia, and use that instead of the soapy water.

You may also consider buying an ultrasonic cleaner. Despite increasingly affordable prices and assurances of safe, gentle cleaning, I would advise against using such machines. Some gemstones respond poorly to ultrasonic treatment (opal, turquoise, and emerald to name a few), and you should definitely never use it for anything organic like pearls, wooden beads, shell, or coral. Furthermore, even a gemstone which is thought to be resistant to this kind of cleaning may have had minor cracks filled with oil (a very common practice known as polymer impregnation) which may deteriorate in an ultrasonic machine. This means that your stones’ invisible, patched-over cracks will become increasingly visible cleaning after cleaning.

The good news is that you really shouldn’t need one of those machines anyway, as soapy water and ammonia solution are a virtually unstoppable tag team. Another good thing about the soapy method is that since it is also safe for most metals that bear your gemstones, like sterling silver and gold vermeil

, you shouldn’t need to worry about having to use two cleaning methods for one piece of jewellery.

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Have you ever thought about the wonderfully shiny sterling silver piece that adorns your neck, ears, or wrists? What it is, where it’s from, and how it got here? Then read on, my friends….

Have you ever thought about the wonderfully shiny sterling silver piece that adorns your neck, ears, or wrists? What it is, where it’s from, and how it got here? Silver is ubiquitous in the jewelry industry, and widely used in many others, but there is a certain disconnection between the mines where metallic ore containing silver is excavated, and the world of high fashion where silver has reigned for millennia. If you love metal accessories as much as we do, you might enjoy a brief walk through all the hard work that goes into turning raw silver into a beautiful chain, and an understanding of why silver and gold chains are as expensive as they are. You just might come out of it with an even greater love and respect for your favourite silver jewelry!

Mining

Before anything, a site is chosen that has indicated high levels of natural metal deposits in the Earth. Once a candidate has been decided upon, the site is scrutinized by environmental specialists and mining engineers in a series of studies, tests, and calculations. Since there are rigorous government controls on mining, the very confirmation of a piece of land as the future site of a mine can be a 2-5 year process. The mining company is also obligated to ensure, before any construction begins, that after the site has been depleted of valuable minerals there will be an environmental rehabilitation process to restore the land. Huge amounts of expertise and critical thinking go into making mining projects safe, environmentally sound, and effective- before they’ve even started construction! There are generally two types of mines: surface level mines, which surround their site like an enormous football stadium, and underground mines, which can be located deeper than a mile underground, where they carve out a virtual subterranean society. Either way, the scale is huge and the technical coordination is astounding.

Silver, like all metals, is found as a mineral encrusted below the earth’s surface. What many may not realize is that silver, copper, lead, and gold are most frequently mined in the same place and found in the same ores, and separated afterward. Only about a quarter of all silver produced is mined from ores that are specifically harvested for silver. Even from those rare ores predominantly made of crude silver, trace amounts of copper, lead, and gold will be recovered and saved, just as trace amounts of silver are recovered from lead, zinc, and copper ores.

Refinement

Once the ores are recovered from the earth through painstaking physical labour and specialized mechanical machinery, they are shipped from the mine to a reduction plant to be milled. Reduction plants (also called ‘mills’) are usually located adjacent to or nearby the mine itself, established alongside the realization that the site will be profitable for years to come.

At the mill, the ores are ground into powder into giant drums to increase surface area, quickening the effect of metallurgical chemicals. Various metallurgical extraction processes are employed to isolate the desirable elements, ridding the original ore of unwanted impurities like antimony, arsenic, and tin, and separating usable metals like copper, lead, zinc. After all chemical treatments, intense heating, and physical separation, silver can emerge as pure as 95%.

At that point, it is shipped to a precious metals refinery. There the silver is soaked in nitric acid, dissolving into the mixture. Silver precipitant crystals are added to the solution, and the acid is drained and neutralized. The result is pure silver in the 99th percentile!

Alloys and Wire

Pure silver that will be used in the jewelry industry then typically gets shipped to a wire factory. There it can be alloyed with other metal to produce sterling silver, also known as standard silver, which is 92.5% silver (the remainder typically composed of copper). Sometimes sterling silver is also referred to as 0.925 silver. The alloy is heated yet again to become soft, and drawn through specially cut dies to be formed into wire. Depending on the width of the die, different gauges of wire are created.

Chains

Spools of sterling silver are shipped to chain makers, which range from small studios to fairly sizeable factories. This is perhaps where the silver industry ends and the jewelry industry begins. Automated machines are used to produce chains of almost countless different styles. Cable chains, snake chains, satellite chains, ball chains, figure eight chains, rolo chains, square chains… the list goes on. For each different style of chain link, a different specialized machine is required. Generally, the wire is fed into one side of the machine, where, depending on the style, it is bent, flattened, curved, soldered, and moved along. The following link receives the same treatment, and is joined to the first one. For simple chains this process continues until a long sequence of identical links emerges at the other side of the chain machine. Some chains are not so simple, and may involve 2 or more different kinds of links. Because most machines can only produce one size of one style of link, they must either be recalibrated to produce new effects and sizes, or, more likely, multiple machines must be used in combination.

Since there are so many different styles of chains, and a dedicated machine for each, there is indeed a smorgasbord of different chain making machines. Larger operations have upwards of 600! Other chains may feature indents, hammering, brushing and other personal flourishes that are achieved by hand, adding a human touch at the cost of skilled and time-consuming labour.

Chains that have completed the shaping process often undergo an additional electroplating process. This is where a very thin layer of an even more precious metal like gold or rhodium are plated onto the sterling silver through an electrochemical process that achieves a nearly flawless coating all over the chain. Plating is done with a number of benefits in mind, and is frequently used to change the colour, reduce the possibility of tarnishing, or increase the hardness.

And voila! The chain is born! A quick recap: silver-containing ores are mined from sites that are cultivated with the utmost of technical skill and environmental care, shipped to the reduction plant and broken down into constituent parts, shipped again to refineries that produce pure silver, shipped yet again to wire factories, and then shipped again as pure or alloyed wire to chain makers, where the chains are crafted and electroplating occurs. After that, the finished chain is, you guessed it, shipped all over the world, where jewelry enthusiasts incorporate them into original designs. The whole multi-stage process requires technical planning, environmental care, chemical engineering, huge machines, hard work, creativity, and a lot of transportation.

Silver in the World Today

The world’s most prolific silver-producing nations are Peru, Mexico, and Australia, but the most skilled and effective chain producer is Italy, where artisans have long cultivated silver working techniques and slowly amassed a virtually incomparable variety of machines. Furthermore, chain links are patented by the companies that build the chain making machines, so classic Italian designs are not commonly available outside the country. All of this means that if topnotch chains are sought after, intercontinental transit is involved, and Canadians have to buy most of their jewelry silver at a disadvantageous exchange rate. While the Canadian dollar has been remarkably successful lately, especially against the American dollar, the Euro has been quite strong. As the price of raw silver has doubled in the past 5 years, and the whole process of transforming it from an unrefined mineral to a finished jewelry chain is so extensive, there is also a great deal of economic strategy in keeping the costs as low as possible at every stage.

A quick note on silver economics: as of May 1st, 2007, the price of pure silver was $0.47 CAD/gram. After being shipped, made into wire, shipped again, made into chain, shipped internationally to the supplier (with duties applied), and marked up every step of the way, it will end up costing the consumer upwards of a dollar per gram. Not bad, really, considering all of the shipping and markups. If you find silver chains for $0.60/gram, there are generally two possibilities: either the supplier bought it when it was worth much less, or it’s not pure silver. It could be a lower grade alloy or silver plated.

Treasure the beautiful silver chains that flow into your country and around your limbs, and do not take them for granted! They are the result of skill, creativity, time, and hard work. Given everything that went into them, it is no wonder that sterling silver necklace you own is so valuable! And with recent stock market increases, your favourite silver bracelet that you bought 5 years ago is now worth twice as much. In financial terms, that’s a pretty good return on investment indeed.

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If you think Cubic Zirconia is JUST a diamond substitute, you should read this article.

Cubic zirconia is most commonly thought of as a diamond substitute, and rightfully so. What shouldn’t be overlooked, however, is the fascinating history and set of distinct qualities that make cubic zirconia wonderfully notable and unique all on its own

As a synthetic substitute, cubic zirconia has somewhat the same effect as gold vermeil, sterling silver, and cultured pearls: it allows the everyday jewellery enthusiast to enjoy the aesthetic marvels of a truly precious substance (diamonds, in this case) without paying an arm and a leg. To anyone without a professionally trained eye, diamonds and cubic zirconia are virtually indistinguishable.

As a naturally occurring phenomenon, zirconium oxide was discovered by German mineralogists in 1937. Many people don’t know that it occurs naturally at all, but it certainly does, albeit in incredibly scarce quantities. Natural cubic zirconia is so rare, in fact, that upon first discovery it seemed insignificant- there simply wasn’t enough to make use of.

The discovery became immensely significant, however, in 1973, when Soviet scientists at the Lebedev Physical Institute in Moscow finally perfected synthesizing the substance. Three years later their discovery was published, and by 1980 cubic zirconia was in commercial production on a massive scale. The explosively fast rise of cubic zirconia in world attention and market prominence simply goes to show how hungry the world was for a good man-made diamond substitute.

Diamonds, of course, are much harder in density, but cubic zirconia is still incredibly hard by gemstone standards (8.5 on the Mohs scale, where most gemstones are around 5-6) and therefore immensely durable and basically scratchproof. Another little recognized fact is that since cubic zirconia is synthetically produced, it is almost totally flawless in terms of surface consistency and irregularities, where diamonds are often marked by natural discolorations and other imperfections.

Cubic zirconia is often dyed as well, which is something that only happens as ‘enhancement’ of natural colour with diamonds. Presumably, the relatively low cost of cubic zirconia encourages more liberal experimentation with things like colour and cut. Far from being a just a cheap diamond copy

, cubic zirconia is a gemstone medium in its own right.

Enjoy this article? Read more great free jewelry info at Stones and Findings

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Beautiful and healthy skin is a big confidence booster. Some peopleare naturally beautiful and hence don’t use any ‘skin care cosmetic’.Then there are others, who don’t use skin care cosmetic due to theirlaziness. Still some feel that skin care cosmetic can harm their skin,and hence abandon the use of any kind of skin care cosmetic. However,there are a large number of people who do use skin care cosmetic. That’s why the business of skin care cosmetic is prospering.

A beautiful and healthy skin is a big confidence booster. Some people are naturally beautiful and hence don’t use any ‘skin care cosmetic’. Then there are others, who don’t use skin care cosmetic due to their laziness. Still some feel that skin care cosmetic can harm their skin, and hence abandon the use of any kind of skin care cosmetic. However, there are a large number of people who do use skin care cosmetic (that’s why the business of skin care cosmetic is prospering).  So, is skin care cosmetic useful, or is it harmful? Well, the opinions seem divided. However, one thing is for sure – Looking beautiful is surely nice and very desirable. Also, too much skin care cosmetic can surely be harmful (as such, excess of anything is harmful). So, what does one do? The first thing is to formulate (and follow) a skin care routine that will help keep your skin healthy and disease-free. The general recommendation is to cleanse and moisturise everyday, and tone and exfoliate occasionally (as and when needed).  Next thing is the skin care cosmetics that you would be using additionally (as beauty enhancers). These skin care cosmetics could either be part of your skin care routine or be applied only on special occasions (e.g. when attending a party etc). The most important thing with skin care cosmetic is its selection. Here is a set of rules that you should use when selecting any skin care cosmetic:

• The general rule is to use products that suit your skin type. This is true both for the routine products and for the skin care cosmetic. So check the label to see what it says e.g. ‘for dry skin only’ or ‘for all skin types’ etc.
• Test the skin care cosmetic before using it. This can be done by applying the skin care cosmetic on a small patch of skin e.g. ear lobes and checking the reaction of your skin to the product
• Check the ingredients of the skin care cosmetic for chemicals that you are allergic to. Do not use products that are very harsh on skin e.g. products with high alcohol concentrations; such cosmetics might work for once but cause a long-lasting damage to your skin.
• ‘More isn’t better’. Ensure that you apply the products in right quantity (neither less not more). Also, be gentle with your skin and follow the right procedures for application of skin care products. Rubbing too hard or trying to squeeze a pimple can lead to permanent damage to your skin.
• Finally, if you have a skin disorder e.g. acne etc
  
  , you should consult your dermatologist before using any skin care cosmetic.

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Can you update your entire wardrobe for Fall 2007 with just one item? Here is how you can do just that.

After the cheerful summmer brights, fall and winter hit us with a sea of black. It figures. The designers would want us to buy a brand new wardrobe with each new season just to avoid looking out of place.

If you can afford just one item for fall, what would it be?

I would suggest you get a black jacket. The current jackets are mostly waist-length, or cinched at the waist either with a belt or cut to show off a woman’s curves. That is a classic look which you can wear from one year to another.

Add to the fact that the black on black look is so hot for Fall to Winter 2007, and the return of the skirt suit, the purchase of just 1 black jacket would update your entire fall wardrobe and take you through winter and many more seasons to come.

First of all, do you already own a black skirt?

That black jacket would turn a basic black skirt into a skirt suit. Two looks are fulfilled here, the black on black look and the skirt suit.

If you have a pair of black pants, your black jacket can turn that into a pant suit.

Your favourite black dress gets a lift with a black jacket, fitting in nicely with the black on black look that is so popular this season.

Since that black jacket is going to update your entire wardrobe, you would probably wear it many times over. Pick a jacket that you really love. Don’t worry if you have to pay more than normal. A cheap bargain basement jacket might be more expensive than you realize. It might cost you $19 but once you get home and try that with your other clothes, you would probably find that you look awful in it, that there is no way you would want to be seen in it so you would have thrown away $19 for just that 5 minutes worth of wear. Put it on, look in the mirror and toss it aside never to be worn again wear.

On the other hand, that absolutely gorgeous black jacket might set you back $800. But it looks so good on you and goes with everything you own in the wardrobw, you wear it every week, sometimes several times a week. It is a classic which you can wear year after year and is so well made, you could wear it for 10 years. Say you wear it once a week, autumn, winter and spring. That’s three quarters of a year. Which would mean you would wear it 39 times a year. Over 10 years, that would be 390 times. That would amount to $2.05 per wear

, which is a lot cheaper than that $19 for 5 minutes wear never to be seen again jacket.

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What keeps your hair healthier, glossy and wonderfully engaging? Here is all about hair care.

Your hair certainly make or ruin your appearance. It’s the way you maintain them. Beautiful hair completes the entire looks undoubtedly. A healthy lifestyle will mean healthier hair. Excessive stress, smoking, not exercising and not eating properly is not healthy for hair. A good nutrition (well balanced diet with fresh fruits and lots of water) and 7-8 hours sleep is a major key to wonderful hair. Follow a few guidelines to keep your hair in lustrous condition.

1) Keep your hair clean. Regular wash is very important. The circulation provided by the shampoo stimulates the oil glands to work more efficiently and brings natural oils into the hair. Use shampoo that is pH balanced and designed specially for your hair type (dry, oily, etc). Rinse your hair thoroughly before applying shampoo to remove dust, dirt, etc. Apply shampoo, massage gently using fingertips and rinse properly.

2) Use conditioner to moisturise your hair. It gives extra protection, adds shine, and makes your hair easier to untangle. Spread it evenly throughout your hair and leave for a couple of minutes before rinsing out. Put the conditioner at about an inch away from scalp. Be gentle and don’t use excessive force rubbing your hair since hair is most vulnerable when wet. Rinse.

3) Always use mild hair products, enriched with natural ingredients and essential oils. Shampoos and conditioners containing strong chemicals may damage your hair.

4) Never brush soaking wet hair, as the hair is quite elastic at that time and can be pulled and stretched to the breaking point. Try to make them tangle free by using your finger tips, followed by combing with a wide-toothed comb. Minimise the use of a brush on wet hair.

5) As much as possible avoid using electric hair dryers and hot curling irons. These weaken the hair. To speed up the drying process, pat your hair with a towel gently and let the remaining moisture dry naturally. In case of an emergency, if you have to use dryer, then use low to medium heat. Hold it 6 inches away from your scalp.

6) Avoid using nylon, stiff brushes, rollers, pony-tails and styles that put great pressure on the hair. This will prevent falling out hair.

7) Regularly massage the scalp with coconut oil or almond oil with the tips of your fingers, always using a circular movement. This accelerates the growth. A warm mixture of olive oil, lemon juice and coconut oil is very beneficial to keep the dandruff away. Castor oil is also good for healthy growth of hair. A steam towel wrap for 15 minutes before shampooing your hair will do wonders.

Give your hair a good brushing before bed. Brush at least 50 to 100 strokes. This should be done by bending forward from the waist, head down brushing from back to front. This will help remove dirt and pollutants

, etc. from the hair in addition to stimulating circulation which will increase natural oils.

9) Keep split ends or dead hair cut.

10) Avoid sun damages by covering your hair. You may use hats or caps in order to prevent it from sun’s ultra-violent rays.

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