Category: Motherhood

Quick Ways to Get Rid of Dark Circles Under Eyes

.Reading time 4 minutes.

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Nothing screams back to school and early mornings more than unsightly dark circles under your eyes. While getting adequate amounts of sleep, eating a balanced diet full of a variety of fruits and vegetables and drinking plenty of water can prevent and diminish the appearance of dark under-eye circles over time, sometimes you need a quick fix to get you out the door and looking your best. Fortunately, there are a number of fast remedies that take less than 15 minutes to prepare and apply.

Cucumber Slices

You have probably heard your mother talk about using cucumber slices as a remedy for eye puffiness, but they are also an excellent way to revitalize tired eyes and reduce the appearance of under-eye circles. Cucumbers are mild, soothing and contain a large amount of water. When placed on the eyes, they help hydrate and cool the skin which decreases the swollen appearance of many dark under-eye circles. Hydrated skin promotes an increase in blood flow to the area, causing the eyes to look less sunken.

To use cucumbers on your eyes, slice the cucumber into 1/4-inch slices and cool in the refrigerator for five minutes. Lie down and place one slice on each closed eye. Leave them in place for 10 minutes. For an even more dramatic effect, grate a chilled, peeled cucumber, place a portion of the cucumber shreds on two square gauze pads and apply these to your eyes for 10 minutes.

Tea Bags

Like cucumbers, tea has naturally soothing properties and can provide much needed hydration to dehydrated skin. You can use either black tea or herbal tea bags to treat under-eye circles. Put two of the tea bags in cold water and allow them to soak undisturbed for five minutes. Shake the excess water off the bags–but do not wring or squeeze all the moisture from them–and place them on your eyes for 10 minutes.

Almond Oil

Massaging the under-eye areas with a small amount of almond oil is another way to diminish quickly the appearance of dark circles. Almond oil has been used in many Eastern cultures, particularly in India, as an all-purpose treatment for improved skin health. It is thought to soothe inflammation, to make the skin soft and moisturized and to lighten the dark circles beneath the eyes visibly. To use almond oil, place a few drops on your fingers and gently massage the oil into the under-eye area. Be careful not to rub too vigorously or to use too much oil.

Concealer

Sometimes, your best bet is simply to cover the dark circles up with concealer. If under-eye circles are a recurring problem for you, keep a concealer in a shade slightly lighter than your skin tone on hand. To use the concealer, first moisturize the area with eye cream, then apply your normal makeup. Using a soft makeup brush, gently apply the concealer to the under-eye area, being careful not to use too much. Article via Modernmom.

xxxxxxx,

Janice

It’s A Club No One Wants To Join

.Reading time 7 minutes.

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It’s true it’s a club no one want to join as I am a daughter who grieved my dad. The enthinkable happen to my mom who became a widow in her mid 30s, I  was 13 years old, my sister was 12, my other sister was 8, my brother was 7 and baby brother was 3 years old. Mom and dad had a dream to have a big family and to leave happily ever after but the universe decided otherwise…. I was reading the article on Facebook COO who is supporting other widows in the wake of her husband Dave Goldberg’s sudden death at age 47; I truly admire the strength of Sheryl Sandberg While Grieving: “It’s a Club No One Wants to Join”.  Sandberg also shared a story of sitting at her daughter’s recent soccer game with another woman who had lost her spouse, and how they didn’t have to utter 10 words before Sandberg felt understood. She told me that she was reliving her loss through mine and I did not even need to tell her how I felt. I’m sharing the article here perhaps it will help someone who’s going through it and know that you are not alone. Read more below:

“There is no doubt that this country is grieving for Sheryl Sandberg and her family. The unexpected nature of the death of her husband, Dave Goldberg, seems hardly comprehendible — no doubt, even more so for Sheryl. At 45 years old, to become a widow is an indescribable shock. I know. I lived it, except I was 35 years old when it happened to me.
There are approximately 29,000 other women under the age of 49 and living in the United States that can claim the same. They make up an exclusive club none of us ever wanted to become part of. We became members anyway and so did our kids.
Unlike Sheryl Sandberg, many of these women had to bear the added insult of overcoming a significant financial burden, suddenly, thrust upon them due to the loss of their partner. The fact is, Social Security death benefits only cover children up to age 18. After that, these kids are “on their own.” Spouses receive nothing in the way of death benefits until they reach the age of 65. It’s a painful reality that needs to be changed. My personal circumstances forced me to work 24/7 while raising my little ones with as much of a “hands-on” approach as possible.

Today, things are a lot different. My life is barely recognizable from what I once knew. My children are much older too and all of them are doing extremely well. In fact, my oldest is heading to medical school this fall.
I am writing this article not to spew out numbers or scream injustice. I am writing it to share my sincerest condolences with a woman I do not know but, in many ways, know quite well. My hope is to help make this time in her life a bit easier with the following wisdom — wisdom from a longtime member of the same club she has now joined:

1. Take your time to grieve as — even if you try to rush it– grief has its own timetable.

2. Take on the task of sharing what Dave would have wanted to share with his and your children. It is important that they know him, even if he can’t be around to share.

3. Establish traditions that keep Dave in your children’s lives throughout their youth. My children and I light a candle for my late husband prior to every dinner.

4. Cocoon as much as possible with your kids for the first year after their father’s passing. They need time alone with you and you with them.

5. Others will assume that you and your kids are feeling the loss exactly like them. Realize, this tendency is innocent and not meant to be hurtful.

6. Take baby steps into your future and realize that you will make mistakes along the way. That is O.K. You have never done this before.

7. Cry when you feel like it. It is healthy.

8. Realize that life is made up of many chapters — some more important than others. Dave was an important chapter in your life but not the end of your story. That may sound insensitive right now but it is true.

9. It is Dave’s love for you and yours for him that will allow you to love again.

10. Finally, honor his life by living yours well and teach your children to do the same.

Sheryl, 29,000 women’s hearts go out to you. The bond we share is one of loss but it is also one of strength, courage, perseverance, and eventual, renewed living. I am certain — given the choice — each one of us would rather not have you walk amongst us, but since you are here, know that you have our spirit and example in which to hang onto throughout the entirety of your journey.
Just as you have spent so much time “Leaning In” for others, we are now here to “Lean In” for you!”

Tip #10 is so true my mom always honor dad’s life by living well and teach us children to do the same. I love you mom.

Article by Laura Wellington Media and Technology Entrepreneur, Blogger via http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/7244322

Sheryl I am sorry for your loss and my heart goes out to the many women, daughters and sons around the world who have experienced this loss too.

xoxoxo,

Janice

 

The Unique Connection

.Reading time 1 minute.

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A small experiment of women’s uniqueness and the special bond between a mother and child, Pandora team met up with 6 wonderful women, and asked them to blindfold their most precious loved ones. Their children!

How they did it:
The children were guided towards the group of women, and using their senses and intuition asked to try to find the one they believed to be their mother. Anxiety, love and a bit of heartfelt tears filled the room as children from the age of 3-9 tried and succeed in finding the one and only they could call mum!

All women are unique in shape, personality and heart, and so is the beautiful connection and precious love they saw that day.

Celebrate the woman in your heart
http://www.pandora.net

Music: “Staircase” by Dan Leighs, musync.com

Produced by Malling
Location: The Lab, Denmark

xoxoxo,

Janice

Motherhood Comes Easily To Me

.Reading time 1 minute.

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Becoming a mother is a huge change and not every woman responds to it in the same way. For Lauren Apfel, the transition was smooth. For Stephanie Sprenger, it was much less so. In these essays, they discuss the identity issues wrapped up in motherhood and the reality and cultural consequences of maternal ambivalence.

I can relate to Lauren Apfe as motherhood came easily to me and love The part when she wrote: “What I do know is that just because being a mom came easily to me—and I’m saying so out loud—doesn’t mean it will or should come easily to you. We can’t control how we take to motherhood once it descends. But we can vow not to let other people’s versions of it make us feel bad about ourselves.”

Read the article here: motherhood

Lauren Apfel is a writer and mother of four (including twins). She blogs at omnimom.net and is the debate editor for Brain, Child Magazine. Stephanie Sprenger is a freelance writer, music therapist, and mother of two girls. She is co-editor at The HerStories Project and blogs at stephaniesprenger.com.

xoxo,

Janice