Leap Day

Happy Extra Day of 2020

5 Famous Fashion Names still in Business

If you follow the news at all, you know that many of the fashion houses are choosing to have their fashion shows even with the threat of the coronavirus.  The fear is that it could spread faster but many designers still want their creations to be seen.

Through history fashion houses have come and gone but there are still 10 that are in operation even after many, many years.

1. Louis Vuitton began in 1834 when he arrived in Paris and began to work for Monsieur Marechal.  There he learned how to make trunks and in 1854, Louis left to begin his own place of business.  Over time, his leather products did well and his factory had to expand.  Even now, his name means quality of leather goods.  In addition, his people created locks for these trunks to protect goods from theft.  The locks were so good, even Harry Houdini couldn't break it.

Louis Vuitton now sells shoes, handbags, leather goods, jewelry, watches, and accessaries.  According to Forbes magazine Louis Vuitton brand makes at least a 30 percent profit on all of its goods.

2. Prada began in Milan Italy in 1913.  The company was founding by Mario Prada to produce luxury quality leather goods but it wasn't until 1978 when his grand daughter took over and hit the fashion market with a simple black backpack.  Soon, Prada expanded into shoes and handbags then ready to wear fashion, a younger appealing fashion line, and a sports line. Now a days Prada is known as a luxury fashion house.

3. Hermes began back in 1828 when Thierry Hermes and family moved to a Port Audimer, located north of Paris so he could become a leather worker.  In 1837, Thierry opened a harness making establishment offering extremely well made harnesses to the rich.  In addition, he also provided wrought iron harnesses for the carriage trade.  Over the years, the family expanded their trade internationally until people in Russia, the United States, Asia, Africa, and all over the world.

Their saddles and saddle bags were in great demand.  Then in 1918, the company made the very first leather golf jacket complete with a zipper.  Within four years, Hermes began making leather handbags because the owners wife couldn't find any bags she liked.  By 1929, the company released its very first line of women's clothing, and over the years added silk scarves, jewelry, and accessories. When Grace Kelly carried the Hermes sac handbag, it stirred up so much interest, the company changed the bag to the "Kelly" bag because the public asked for it by that name.

4. Lanvin - is named after Jeanne Lanvin who started her own hat shop in 1889 when she was just 22 years old.  Four years later, she secured a new store in a desirable location but her fashions didn't start until she had her first child.  She created wonderful outfits for her daughter made out of luxurious fabrics.  Her friends fell in love with creations and wanted the same type of outfits for their children and soon she was selling these outfits out of her fashion house.  In 1908, Lanvin opened a children's department in her fashion house.

Due to the popularity of her children outfits, she opened up a Young Ladies and Mothers department where mothers and daughters could shop for clothing together.  This lead to a furs department where people could store their furs during the summer, a sports clothing department, and even opened a popular furniture store.  Everything she released was well received by her followers.  Eventually, she released a line of perfumes, a line of mens clothing,  and her house survived World War II and it continued past her death.

5. Ricci - Born Maria Nielli in Turin but she gained the name Nina as a family nickname and she became Nina Ricci when she married Luigi Ricci.  In 1932, she opened her fashion house in Paris where people flocked because they loved her precise cuts and choice of materials.  Her son, Robert, started a line of perfumes in 1941 and these perfumes were also well received.

Beginning in 1954, she turned the artistic control over to Crahay who lead the house to producing fashions with more curves filled the need of women and flourished.  Then in 1964, Pipart took over artistic control and provided more refined styles for ready to wear fashion while producing flamboyant styles for the haute couture lines.

There are more out there but I chose to start with these five because they are still in business while others such as Worth are no longer in business.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear, have a great day.

Eye Make-up Trends From the 1910's On.

This year, the prom is going to be based on the 1920's.  I already know that few girls are aware of what make-up would have been worn at that time.  The "look" has changed over time from innocent, to knowledgable, to wild.

The "look" has developed based on the availability and development of makeup to the general population.

Let's start with the 1910's, an age filled with innocence seen in Mary Pickford and the Gibson Girl.  Women didn't wear much makeup at all because it wasn't really available.  Look at mascara!  It didn't hit the stores until 1915 and even then it came in a small cake which had to have water added to create the dark liquid to apply to eye lashes.  Most women who wore makeup, wore a little a bit of color on the cheeks and lips.  The women who wore a bit of eye color and mascara were women who acted in theater or movies or worked the streets.  It was hard to get the makeup for most women.

In the 1920's eyes became smokey and dark as seen in women like Gloria Swanson, Clara Bow, or the Flappers.  For many, this century was one of parties and freedom.  This is the century that gave women the right to vote and many women joined the Flapper movement.  Women who wore makeup were expected to wear dark rings of color around the eyes with heavy thick mascara on their lashes and bright red lips.  They finished the look with a properly done bob representing the new girl.

In the 1930's Jean Harlow, Greta Garbo and many other Hollywood stars carried on acting in movies to help people escape from a reality of over 25% unemployment and a dust bowl in the middle of the country.  These women wore pencil thin eye brows.  This look encouraged women to either pluck their eyebrows into thin lines or completely get rid of them to replace them with hand drawn lines taken all the way out to the corner of the eyes.  If a person had money, they might add in pastel colored eye shadow such as green, pink, blue, purple, or neutral tones and finished the lips with raspberry or maroon color and a bit of blush.

In the 1940's, fashion returned to the more natural look due to the war when makeup was not as available.  Furthermore, women were going into the workforce in numbers so men would be freed up to fight.  Thus the fashion for makeup allowed for a bit of brown or taupe eye shadow, mascara, a bit of jelly to keep the eye brows in place and a bit of bright red lipstick.  Women who served in the military were issued a specific shade of  red lipstick as part of the uniform.

Come the 1950's, the use of eye liner became extremely popular to create either a cat look or a winged look paired with a neutral eye shadow and a pink or reddish pink lipstick.  Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly sported the look well but Marylin Monroe is said to have started the winged eye liner look in the late 1940's and women loved the flirty look.

Then in the 1960's with Jean Shrimpton and Twiggy introduced the wide eyed and bright eyed look with lots of false lashes on both upper and lower eyes and tons of mascara.  The false eye lashes made the person's lashes extremely long, almost like spiders legs.  Girls topped the lashes off with a heavy line of black eyeliner and colored eye shadows including white for a more dramatic look.

By the 1970's, eye makeup returned to a more natural look as worn by Ali McGraw and Bianca Jagger.  With the advent of Earth Day, concern with the environment, eye shadow returned to the more neutral colors with just a touch of mascara to add color.  This didn't last long.

When the 1980's rolled around, excess was back in fashion with bolder more pigmented colors such as vibrant blues, purples, pinks, and glimmering gold which could be worn one color at a time or in a rainbow effect.  Diana Ross and Madonna wore the brilliant colors beautifully.

People got tired of the excesses so in the 1990's it makeup returned to the more neutral look with neutral eye shadow, a barely there brown or black mascara, manicured brows and a rosy brown lipstick that blended with the rest of the look.

In 2000, false eyelashes returned but this time they were feathery but thick and full.  Lash conditioners guaranteeing to make lashes long, full, and thick, hit the market while lash beauty parlors popped up to provide women with the ability to have the same lashes as they saw on their favorite star.

Then in the 2010's women switched from bold lashes to bold brows as the focal point of their makeup routine.  Women put growth serums on their brows, filled them in, used lash thickeners and whatever else they could find to do the job.

Where are we headed this decade?  Lots of bold and metallic eye shadows, formed eye brows and bright lipsticks.  You might see dark midnight eyes or smokey eyes depending on how adventuresome you are.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.

Not That Shade Of Lipstick.

 I occasionally wear lipstick while my mother always has lipstick on, even before she leaves the bathroom.  She believes a women is never fully dressed without her lipstick and foundation but I'm the more natural one.  When I do wear lipstick, I choose a deeper wine shade because the color doesn't pop off my face.

The colors sold are usually shades of pink, red, and orange but sometimes, companies issue other colors that seem garish or completely out of the ball park.  I don't understand why some of these shades were released.  I do have a friend who has blue streaked hair and she wears a blue lipstick and blue nail polish to match.

So now to some of the strange colors.

1.  Gray - in shades from a pale gray to a slate gray to a dark gray but regardless of the shade, the color tends to make the person look more like a corpse.  This color is definitely not recommended.

2. Black - although this is a popular shade within the Goth community and Vampire recreations, it still doesn't look good on people.  Black is often seen as a lack of light and most black lipsticks seem to be lacking a glow.

3. White - has become a thing since Zombies invaded popular culture but when you wear white, your lips disappear and you look ghastly.

4. Tin - in real life looks kind of silvery but as a lipstick, it can make you look sick and is just blah as it doesn't convey excitement.

5. Orange - although orange is easily found, it does not mean it is the match for you.  The problem with orange is that it can easily clash with your skin tone and make you look horrid.  Before buying orange, ask a consultant for help but the one time I tried orange,  I looked like an escapee from the local funeral parlor.

6. Silver and iridescent - these shades sound spectacular but they are hard to match to the rest of your make-up and makes you look scrambled.

7. Pastel Blue - is a light color that looks similar to a light grey but with a bit of color.  It is an odd shade only to be used if you want to look like a space alien, not like a human.

8. Sea Foam Green - is a green that is a funny shade of green.  It has a pastel feel with a reminder of puce to it and it reminds me of the shade associated with a very seasick person.  I would not recommend it.

9 Neon Pink is a shade that can only be worn but certain people and it is  best saved for rave parties where everyone is wild and crazy.

10.  Purple - has limited shades that can be worn by people.  It is suggested people choose a dark purple because the other shades do not look good and again, this color is best worn to a wild party.

11. Yellow - this is a shade that should never been worn because it over shadows your face, making your lips the only thing seen.  Our lips are not lemons or bananas.

As far as the usual shades of lipstick, make sure the shade you choose goes well with your skin and doesn't make your lips stand out so much, people see nothing else.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.

Sharing the love

Sharing the love.

Love You

Love You.

Don't Skip Meals To Lose Weight.

I know so many people who regularly skip at least one meal a day, usually breakfast because they do not want to gain weight, or they aren't much for eating, or they don't like it.  I've also seen at least one television medical person who says we should eat brunch and skip breakfast totally but for most of us, our work schedule doesn't allow for that recommendation.

The truth about skipping meals especially breakfast is fascinating and goes against some of our beliefs.  Science has shown that skipping meals in general is bad, no matter which meal is skipped.  Research has found that when a meal is skipped, your blood sugar decreases you begin feeling fatigued, irritated, and makes it harder to think.  It also causes your body to produce additional cortisol which increases our stress level, and hungry.  Furthermore, it causes your metabolism to slow down resulting in a weight gain.  In addition, your body switches to a survival mode causing you to crave food and you have to eat.  Unfortunately, this craving is a desire for unhealthy foods.

It is important to see what each meal does to see why you shouldn't skip any meal.  Breakfast provides the kickstart your body needs to function well.  When you eat it, your metabolism increases, supplies energy, and increases your focus for work or for school.  It energizes you and keeps you from dragging.

In addition, there are studies out there are studies that indicate eating breakfast improves health, memory and concentration, lower levels of bad cholesterol, and decreased chances of diabetes, heart disease, and gaining too much weight.  There are indications that when people skip breakfast, they overeat later.

There are other people who eat breakfast but skip lunch thinking that it won't create a problem but that is not correct.  When people eat lunch, it provides them with additional energy so they don't feel like sleeping, and raises blood sugar levels that make it easier to focus and keeps your metabolism going because if you don't eat for long periods of time, your metabolism slows down significantly.   It is like burning a fire without adding fuel to it. It eventually goes out.

There have been studies done that indicate people who skip meals tend to weight more than those who eat regular meals.  In addition, it is shown that when people skip meals, they tend to eat more and often eat foods that are higher in fats, sugars, and calories.  The same can be said about dinner.  If you skip dinner, you body has to go a very long time before it is fueled again.

I have seen suggestions regarding daily eating that suggestion people eat so they do not skip any meals.  The first suggestion is for people to take the amount of food they might normally eat all day and divide it into five smaller meals so you don't go longer than four hours between meals.  The second has been around for a lot longer.  In this train of thought, a person eats the big meal in the morning, a smaller meal at lunch and the smallest at night.

The logic behind the second train of thought is most people eat large dinners and end up consuming about half of their calories at dinner.  The body when it is at rest tends to burn less fat but there is not evidence you will gain weight when you eat a large dinner.

No matter what, all meals should be made of healthy food, have enough protein for our bodies, and are not filled with fat or sugar.  Think about what I've talked about here if you want to skip meals to loose weight.  Skipping meals makes it harder.  Let me know what you. think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.

What about Green Tea, Dragon's Blood, and Snail Mucin on The Face.

 It is interesting what one can find in skin care products today.  Yes, I use products with all of these things because I've heard they are good for me but I had to look them up to determine what they offer when used by people.

I have a toner and a face serum with green tea in them.  According to research, green tea is filled with antioxidants that help counter free radicals from damaging the skin.  Green tea can help improve the tone of the skin, help with it's vitality but it cannot reverse the signs of aging, nor can it eliminate wrinkles. It is recommended one drink green tea in addition to putting it on the face to get the fullest benefits.

Then there is something called Dragons Blood that is being recommended for the face.  Dragon's blood is an extract from several members of the Dragon family.  The red sap is collected from trees and processed into a variety of products including ones to prevent diarrhea. As far as the face, it is said to help keep the face free of damaging bacteria and prevent inflammation.  It is said to encourage the growth of fibroblasts which are an intricate part of your skin cells.

Dragons blood is supposed to provide a protective layer on the skin so that your skin is protected from sun damage and slows down aging while encouraging collagen production.  It is said to boost skin regeneration.  I use some at night to seal in all the other good stuff I've put on it right before bed.

Now for Snail Mucin which is produced by snails.  It is the gooey stuff you see them leave behind them by garden snails but the slime is filled with glycoproteins, hyaluronic acid, and glycolic acids, all of which have been proven to be good for the skin.  In addition, this ingredient is considered to have anti-aging property and the mucin seals moisture into the skin and allows the good ingredients to be absorbed by the skin.

The people who raise snails for they mucin let the snails crawl across a net from which the mucin is extracted for use in skin care products.  None of the snails are harmed, nor are they just pulled out of the garden, they are raised specifically for this.  I love the products I use that have snail mucin in them.  Since I began using products with ingredients from today and yesterday, I've noticed my skin is looking healthier and younger.

By the way, there are other things that are found in skin care products but I draw the line at using them even though they are said to be good for the skin.  I hesitate to use products with bird poop, whale vomit, sewage extract, horse fat, bird nests, and so many other things.  It is possible I have things in my skin care that I might object to if I knew what they were made of but ignorance is bliss in this case.

I hope these two days have helped you learn more about the good things you should look for in your skin care products.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.

What are Glycolic Acid and Other Ingredients Found in Face Serums.

 I've noticed as I've gotten older, I'm seeing new lines, new wrinkles, while I don't feel as if I'm really any older.  With the new fine lines, I'm looking for "the product" to help minimize things but with all those ingredients, what do they do.  I had to look things up for me, so now I'll share them with you.

1. Glycolic Acid - This is one of the Alpha-hydroxy-acids and is made from sugar cane.  This is a common ingredient in face serums, etc.  It is a small molecule so it is easily absorbed into the skin.

In addition, this acid exfoliates the skin to get rid of dead skin cells.  This property can help acne prone skin by getting rid of dead cells.  Furthermore, since it is absorbed into the skin, it loosens built up sebum and and proteins that lead to blackheads and other breakouts.  For those of us who are aging, it can help smooth out the skin while evening out the skin tone by helping to get rid of pigments from age spots, etc.  Finally, it prepares the skin to accept other products better.  It is recommended one invest in a serum with no more than 10 percent glycolic acid with a pH of 3.5

2. Hyaluronic acid - This is produced by your body and is found in your skin, eyes, and joints.  It's main job is to retain water in order to keep your tissues hydrated.  One gram of Hyaluronic Acid (HA) can hold up to 6 liters of water but the HA is able to regulate the moisture in your skin so it doesn't get over saturated and it leaves your skin looking plump and radiant.  This causes wrinkles and lines to appear minimized and it works for all skin types.  Furthermore, it appears to have antioxidants so as to protect the skin from free radicals.

3. Vitamin C Serums - this can help smooth out the skin, even out skin tone, perk up your skin, help with acne scars, and help fine lines.  Vitamin C is a wonderful antioxidant which helps protect your skin from free radicals while helping your body repair skin cells.  Vitamin C helps counter UV and pollution damage.  It also helps trigger the production of collegian and and elastin and help cut down on dark spots.

4. Peptides - These are actually an amino acid which helps rejuvenate skin cells while stimulating collegian production.  The issue with using a skin care product is that it takes at least a month of constant use before you see results because they are very gradual.  There are two types of peptides found in skin products.  They are Palmitoyl Oligopeptide and Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide - 7.

Palmitoyl Oligopeptide takes at least four weeks to see results because it works on keeping connective tissues structured so the skin doesn't sag and reduces signs of wrinkles while Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide - 7 reduces inflammation of the skin and helps counter the damage done by free radicals.

5. Retinol - This ingredient has been scientifically proven to have anti-aging properties.  It is derived from vitamin A and is said to help clear up acne, even out skin texture and skin tone, while minimizing age spots, and it helps to increase collegian production.  Unfortunately, it can cause the skin to flake, become dryer, and promote a sensitivity to the sun.  If you use a cream with Retinol during the day, you must use a sunscreen for additional protection. Retinol works by increasing collegian production while increasing skin regeneration rates are are considered the gold standards for anti-aging and acne treatment.

These are 5 of the latest ingredients you will find in face products.  Another time, I'll address Dragons blood, green tea, and snail mucus found in face products.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.

What Is That?

What is that?

My Friend

My friend!

Can You Increase Your Metabolic Rate?

One of my students told me she'd heard that if she drank lots of green tea, she could increase her metabolism and loose weight.  I told her I wasn't sure that was correct so I looked it up and the piece I read said "It may" increase metabolism.

It turns out most of us are using two terms interchangeably when in reality they aren't.  Metabolism actually refers to all chemical reactions the happen in the body while metabolic rate which is the rate your body burns calories.

They are related to each other because the calories our bodies burn cause the chemical reactions to occur.  So the higher your metabolism, the higher your metabolic rate.  It is well known that as women age, their metabolism tends to slow and they gain weight because they are loosing muscle mass but there are things you can do to keep from gaining weight as you age.

One of the first things people do when they want to loose weight is to cut their calories but this is not necessarily the best move because your body is used to a certain weight and when you cut the calories significantly, your body cuts it metabolism rate because it assumes you are starving.  It is suggested you eat the number of calories equal to your weight times 11 so you can loose weight while maintaining your metabolism.

Another thing about your diet is to make sure you eat because your metabolism has slowed due to sleeping and it won't rev up until you've eaten something.  Studies indicate people who eat breakfast tend to lose more weight than those who skip that meal.  You don't have to eat much but it needs to be in the 300 calorie range but it should contain protein and high fiber carbohydrates rather than high fat foods.

Furthermore, you need to make sure you eat enough protein because that can help raise your metabolism.  It is recommended that your daily diet should be made up of between 10 to 35 percent protein.  Make sure the protein comes from lean animal sources or low fat dairy sources such as yogurt or cheese.  Your body finds it harder to break down protein due to its amino acids and thus your body burns more calories doing it.  This is why they recommend you eat protein.

It is also recommended you eat five to six smaller meals each day rather than three large meals because it prevents you from becoming hungry and over eating.  Try to schedule. meals so you do not go over four hours between meals and include protein with each meal.  It is recommended one eat a nice breakfast, a small snack during mid morning and mid afternoon, a small lunch, and a small dinner with perhaps a small evening snack.

In addition, make sure you include more high fiber carbohydrates from vegetables, fruit, and grains rather than relying on processed foods as much.  Don't be afraid to add spicy peppers and other spices to your cooking because research has found the spiciness tends to make people fill fuller faster.

Yes, it is highly recommended people, especially women, continue exercising as they age because it helps their metabolism.  It is important to include weight training because one pound of muscle burns more calories than one pound of fat so if you have more muscle on our body, you burn more calories. In fact, increasing your muscle increases your at rest metabolism so you even burn more calories while sitting down.

In addition, add some interval training to your regular workout sessions because studies indicate that people who do interval training twice a week to their regular cardio workout, can double their weight loss due to their increased metabolism.  Throw in a couple cross training sessions per week and you make your body work harder but you don't have to exercise all in one session.  Instead of exercising for one hour straight, break it up into two 30 minute sessions so that you you keep your metabolism elevated.

Finally, be sure to get enough sleep and relax.  If you don't get enough sleep, your body is tired and unable to burn calories as efficiently as normal.  Make sure you find time to relax and chill out because stress can cause fat cells in your body to begin storing fat and you get bigger.  With just a few changes to your lifestyle, you can improve your metabolism and increase your metabolic rate.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.

Homemade Products For Your Face and Hands.

 I have made my own beauty products in the past but due to the fact I live in the middle of nowhere it is actually easier for me to use commercial.  I know that home made products can work well but I also know it is better to have only small amounts made because it is possible these products can become contaminated with bacteria.

One should be careful about one's sensitivity to certain ingredients and it is possible to develop a sensitivity to ingredients over time so always be on the look out for that.

Many homemade products are easy to assemble with just a few ingredients found around the house but know that not every product works for everyone.    I'll share a few recipes with you, ones that don't need a ton of ingredients and are easy to make and hopefully you'll find things that will work well for you.

As we all know it is winter, when your skin dries out and you tend to look a bit older but there is a quick fix for that. Take one tablespoon of cocoa powder, mix it with one tablespoon of sour cream, one tablespoon of honey, and one egg white.  Smooth this mixture all over the face and allow it to dry before rinsing it off.  This mask is full of antioxidants.  The sour cream is filled with lactic acid that hydrates the skin while exfoliating it at the same time.  The honey boosts hydration while the egg white helps firm and tighten your skin.

Is the winter drying your hands out? Are they rough and flakey?  Take two to three cups of whole milk and heat until warm.  Submerge your hands in it for 5 to 10 minutes so the milk fat will help hydrate your skin while the Vitamin A and E help nourish your dry skin.  This is a great reason to keep a half gallon or gallon of whole milk in the fridge.

Does your face run oily rather than dry?  Try mixing three teaspoons of ground up oats with a quarter teaspoon of apple cider until it has formed a smooth paste.  To this add one quarter teaspoon lemon juice and a half teaspoon of brown sugar.  Mix well and then smooth over freshly washed skin and leave five to ten minutes before smoothing in circles all over the face to exfoliate it.  Rinse with warm water and pat dry.  The apple cider contains alpha-hydroxides that remove excess oil and the oats  make a great cleaner.

In today's world our skin is constantly exposed to a variety of environmental issue, some of which damage our skin.  One way to counter it is to take one tablespoon of ripe, crushed blueberries, one tablespoon of lemon juice, a tablespoon of cucumber juice, two tablespoons of baking soda, and two tablespoons of water.  Mix before applying to face and letting it set for 15 to 20 minutes.  Rinse with warm water and pat dry.  The blueberries are filled with antioxidants and help repair damage done to your face.  The vitamin C added by the lemon juice helps brighten your skin.

Now for those patches of dry skin we all develop, especially during the winter.  Grind up enough rice in a blender to get one half cup.  Add one half cup of coconut milk from a can, one quarter cup brown sugar, and one and a half tablespoons of ground ginger to make a paste.  Apply the mixture to dry patches of skin or all over the whole body, rub in a circular motion and rinse off at the end.

These should help you get through the winter wonderfully.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.

Little Dribblers Basketball

 This past weekend, the third and fourth graders began playing basketball games before the older kids.  We refer to them as little dribblers but I don't know if it is just a name used or if they are actually associated with a national organization.  What I can say for sure is that I've seen it being done at several schools in rural Alaska.

The little dribblers encompass grades 3 to 6 and are focused on teaching kids basketball skills within a fun framework.  I don't know much about basketball but I can referee the third and fourth graders when they play.

The rules tend to be more limited so they have fun while developing skills.  The refs only call out of bounds or too much travel, or possibly too much enthusiasm for stealing the ball but other than that, the kids play.  The out of bounds rule is the most consistently enforced one. because they need to understand they have to stay inside the court and not run out, down the hallway, to keep the ball safe.  Yes, we had one kid try that.

The too much travel means the child got the ball and ran with it down the court without bouncing it at least once.  When they are young, some children are not quite as coordinated as others so they sometimes take a few steps before they manage to dribble the ball with both hands.  Others aren't sure who to pass the ball to so they turn around in a circle and move around trying to figure that out.  It is cute to watch and the audience grins and smiles at this.  Occasionally, you do end up with a child who has played enough basketball to be coordinated but they forget which end is their basket.  On Saturday night, one of the boys saw the basket was unprotected and went for it.  The only problem is that it belonged to the other team and they got the point.  Don't worry, the same thing happened in the middle school game.

The last one is quite common.  Sometimes kids get so determined to get the ball they will run up to someone, hit them or tackle them to get the ball.  Yes, that is immediately called and it is explained to the child that is not allowed.  The other way students go after balls is to walk up and try to grab it but I've seen the two refuse to let go and they were really struggling until the refs blew their whistle and broke it up.  I've also seen both teams get in on it so it looked more like a tackled pile of bodies and you couldn't see the bottom. Fortunately, no one is really hurt and they are still friends afterwards.

The philosophy for this group is to develop skills while having fun. On the other hand, by the time they move up into the fifth and sixth grades, they are expected to follow more rules so they are playing a better game of basketball.  They are expected to dribble the ball properly while running, obey the over and back rule which is relaxed for the younger students, and they begin to count three point throws.  This is the place they begin fine tuning their skills while still having fun.

Yes, you still have your few who have coordination issues but over all, they are developing into real players. Unfortunately, I have seen a few skills use this program to develop competitive players even in the third and fourth grade group.  They had tryouts and only selected those who were good so the others didn't get the chance to have fun or develop their skills but over all most school let them have fun so playing basketball is enjoyable.

One other thing about this is that they also cycle through the children so they get equal playing time on the floor.  One school broke the quarters in half so a buzzer went off, the game stopped, and another group of five cycled in.  Others send subs in ever couple of minutes so none of the children get too tired and everyone plays.  I like that.

As I said, I don't know if it is a national program or just something in Alaska but I really like it.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.

Who me?

Who me?  Would I do that?

Don't Look!

If I can't look, you can't!

Protecting Yourself Against The Winter

It is winter here in Alaska where temperatures combined with windchill can drop the temperature down to -50 or colder.  The other day, the temperature dropped to -58 with the windchill temperature and it felt like swords of cold were trying to penetrate my bones through my clothing.

What many people don't realize is that you can suffer frostbite and hypothermia at temperatures that are much warmer.  For instance, if you have a temperature of 0 degrees with a wind going only 15 miles per hour, you end up with a temperature of -19 degrees with the windchill included.  That means it only takes 30 minutes of exposure before you might suffer from frostbite.  In addition, it is quite possible to end up with hypothermia if you are not properly dressed and exposed to cold.

Unfortunately, frost bite can occur quickly.  If you are not aware of it, frost bite happens when skin and the undying tissues freeze.  This can happen in as little as 5 to 10 minutes if the windchill is extremely cold.  Frostbit occurs most often on the fingers, toes, nose, chin, ears, and cheeks.  Although frostbite occurs more often on unprotected skin, it can happen to covered skin if it is not properly covered.

Fortunately, there are ways to protect yourself against getting frostbite and hypothermia.  Even if you live in a place where temperatures don't quite get as cold as they do here, you need to follow certain steps to keep yourself warm and protected.

First, layer your clothing rather than trying to wear only one or two heavy things.  If some of the clothing is made out of polypropylene, even better because this material will help draw moisture away from the body.  It is important to wear a hat covered by a hood from a hoodie, or similar garment and top with a hood from your outer jacket because the body looses 40 to 50 percent of heat through the head and neck.

Furthermore, wrap your face with a scarf so your skin is covered and protected from the wind. One should also wear mittens instead of gloves because they protect your hands better.  Mittens allow the fingers to stay together to generate a bit of heat. I wear gloves covered by mittens because it is often difficult to open doors with keys while using them. In addition, one should wear high cut socks made out of natural fibers and worn over a light sock liner designed to draw moisture away from the feet.

If for some reason you get wet, it is imperative to get somewhere warm and dry as soon as possible so you can remove the wet clothing.  If you do not, you could end up with a case of hypothermia and that could lead to possible death.  So don't forget to dress properly for cold temperatures so you are prepared and keep yourself safe.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.

Protecting Hair in the Winter

 I am used to my hair being different in the winter due to the season. If you live where you experience what we call a real winter, then you are used to the accompanying static, frizziness, dryness, and a general lack luster.

Much of this is due to going in and out of building so your hair is exposed to both heat and cold.  In addition, dandruff, and a dry scalp become more common.  Fortunately, there are ways to keep your hair in better shape through the tough winter season.

One way to combat the loss of moisture from your hair is to use a leave-in conditioner or oil.  The best place to add the additional oil is to the ends of your hair where split ends are more likely to occurs.  Argon oil or Jojoba oil are recommended for this.  It is also recommended you use coconut oil on the scalp for 20 to 30 minutes before washing it out.  This helps cut down on dandruff and a dry scalp.

In addition, don't be afraid to use a hair mask or deep conditioning mixture to help keep moisture in your hair.  Hair masks are deeply conditioning mixtures that can make repairs in 20 minutes.  If you don't have time for that, you can use coconut oil in your hair over night to add even more moisture.

I usually have enough static in my hair that I get shocked when I touch the wrong things.  One way to get rid of the static that causes the fly away issue is to keep a dryer sheet.  Simply rub it over your your and your hairdo returns to it's beautiful self.  If you use the recommended oil in your hair, it cuts down on dryness and static.

Try not to wash your hair every day because frequent washings can strip the natural oils out of your hair.  It is suggested a person wash their hair about every three days or so.  If that bugs you, then you might want to use a dry shampoo in between regular washings.  If you have dry hair, use only conditioner instead of shampoo and conditioner to keep oils in your hair as much as possible.

Unfortunately, the added heat from curling irons and straighteners is notorious for drying out healthy hair but in the winter it damages your already dry hair.  It is better to either curl your air using regular curlers or let your hair dry so you preserve as much moisture as you can.  Furthermore, you could braid your hair, pop it in a fancy bun, or secure it in a ponytail.

When you go outside, make sure your hair is completely dry because the cold air can make the hair shaft and cause breakage or make your color fade faster.  If you have to head out before it's dry, put it under a hat or wrap it in a scarf to protect it.  Be sure to use a silk scarf wrapped around your hair so it is under a wool hat because wool hats can damage the hair.  In addition, the silk helps cut down on the frizzes and static.

Now if you do color your hair, look at using a darker color instead of those summery blonds because it cuts down on the damage you do to your hair every time you bleach it.  The darker colors also mean you are giving your hair a chance to recover.  A cool way to add color is via a hair glaze which sits on top of the hair cuticle,  boosting the color and making your hair shine.

I definitely experience so many of these things and always use a leave in conditioner in the winter along with coconut oil to keep it in better shape.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear. Have a great day.

10 Ways To Help Your Skin During the Winter.

I don’t know about where you live but here in my part of Alaska, it is extremely cold. The temperature is in the range of -38 with a wind chill taking it down to -58. That means the weather is bad for my skin. Fortunately there are ways to protect the skin during these snaps of cold weather.

Don’t be afraid of investing in a humidifier. Running a humidifier at home, in your bedroom, or at the office can put additional moisture in the air and help protect your skin by keeping it hydrated. This important since the cold weather can suck moisture out and leave your skin, especially your face red and irritated.

Next keep your thermostat between 68 and 72 degrees for the optimum temperature for your skin because central heat can make the air extremely dry and suck moisture out of the air and your skin. Forget those long, hot, steamy showers because they are not good for your skin because it can irritate your skin and dry it out, It is better to take a short lukewarm shower. In addition, there is research indicating that warm to cool water can effectively get rid of germs as hot water.

When you wash your hands, look for unscented moisturizing soaps because regular soaps can irritate hands more in the winter. It is also suggested people use less soap to prevent winter dryness. I prefer using gentle liquid soaps as I find they work better and are less irritating than bar soaps.

It is also recommenced that you switch to more cream based cleaners and moisturizers. One should also cut back on toners and astringents because many are alcohol based and alcohol can dry out your skin. I use non alcohol based toners all year round because I’ve found they leave my skin in much better shape.

Don’t forget to use lotions and creams all over your body including your hands because it is too easy for them to dry out. By applying creams and lotions to all parts of your body, you avoid the flakey dry skin problem and the red irritated skin problem. In addition, use the cream or lotion on your hands every time you wash them or do dishes. If you use gloves when washing dishes it can help your hands from drying out.

Even though it is winter, you should always use sunscreen, even on gray overcast days. On sunny days, the snow can reflect up to 80 percent of the sun’s rays so you can get burned. It’s like the sun reflecting off the water. The other reason is that the sun’s UV rays still come through and can damage your skin.

Another thing is to watch the fabrics you wear in the winter because some can irritate your already dry skin.  Some of the fabrics to keep away from direct contact with your skin include wool and other rough materials that rub against your dry skin.   Instead wear lighter breathable materials between your skin and the rough fabrics to protect your skin.  Don't forget your hands.  Use a non-irratating glove or if you want to wear wool gloves, use silk or cotton liners first.

People often think that because it's winter, one doesn't have to worry about staying hydrated but that is not correct.  It is important to consume enough liquids and make sure one takes supplements such as fish oil or flax oil to help the skin from the inside.  

Finally, if your clothing gets damp or wet, remove them as soon as possible to prevent additional skin irritation.  One last thing, if your dry skin continues even after all these things, try some one percent hydrocortisone cream purchased over the counter.  That often helps but if it doesn't, check with your doctor to see if he has anything he can recommend.

I hope these help you keep your dry skin under control.  I use most of them myself because I'm always fighting dry skin all winter long.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear. Have a great day.

Enjoy!

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