WomanScope NewsMagazine

December 2012

INSIDE

SUSAN HANDLEY DIRECT SALES MAVEN, OWNER OF BEIJO BAGS Helping women gain financial success, one handbag at a time

5 TIPS FOR STRESS FREE HOIDAYS [5]

COULD YOUR PET HAVE

DIABETES? [18]

TOP PLACES TO

CELEBRATE NEW YEAR'S EVE [15]

2

www.womanscopenews.org • December 2012

COVER STORY

Beijo Handbags

By Erin Frost, Staff Writer

Gandhi said, “We must become the change we want to see” and for Susan Handley, President and Founder of Beijo Handbags, change came swiftly in 2002. Like many others have experienced, Handley had found herself in a place where she diligently and successfully managed her daily responsibilities as a dedicated employee and compassionate and equally dedicated mother; but also like so many others, walking into her 8-5 job, where she felt disconnected and innately unhappy was becoming more difficult with the passing days.

It wasn’t uncommon for Handley to get lost in the countless hours she spent rummaging through her mother’s closet playing dress up.

Similar to other young girls, she would tuck away and get lost in her mother’s accessories, clothes and most notably the mirage of handbags that surrounded her as a young girl, carefully stringing them along her arms and over her shoulders.

In 2002 it was those memories that gave her the epiphany she needed to leave the job that provided security, but didn’t allow her to use some of her most treasured talents or afford her the opportunity to make a difference in the way she knew she could. With little else other than her faith and a long-held passion, Handley embarked on her Beijo Handbag journey and began changing not only her life, but the lives of women around her.

A single mother, armed with only ‘passion and instinct’ she set out to learn all she could about the handbag industry. Her research brought her to Atlanta where a three day craft show was being held and there she met a young woman who was more than willing to share her story and insights with Handley. The woman explained how her journey began with buying and selling handbags and something struck a chord within Handley.

Though she didn’t have technical training in the fashion industry, she did have a keen sense of what women want in accessories and a natural flair for style and trends. But more importantly she had the motivation of her

young son, who over the course of the past years had witnessed her working exhaustive hours, while her inner light and spirit diminished.

Now committed to being a successful entrepreneur and to resurrecting the passion she had lost long ago, Handley further educated herself in fashion and retail.

Her travels brought her to Europe where she poured over the fine textiles and fabrics, getting lost in the ease of how quality products could be made in a small amount of time. Feeling more relaxed than she ever had, Handley flurried through the streets of Hong Kong where she happened upon a man who utilized polymer fabric to create the most gorgeous bags she had ever laid eyes on.

Handley had already known what she wanted from a handbag and suspected that millions of other women wanted something similar.

Her bags would, above all, be functional but also be an accessory that made women everywhere feel like the beautiful creatures they are.

The polymer material would allow her to produce the ‘timeless, classic and artistic bags’ that she dreamed of showcasing.

Handley purchased a small, sample order that day of 40 to 50 pieces and an elevated level of excitement. Next was the difficult task of marketing and selling the bags. This was to be her livelihood and she had to come up with a plan that would get others excited, just as she was, about these bags.

That plan as it turned out was to take the grassroots selling approach. Instead of using the aggressive approach that many entrepreneurs do, Handley approached potential buyers in a way that was not forceful.

“I approached people with the intention of getting their opinions about the handbags; looking for feedback rather than the hard sell,” said Handley. On multiple occasions she would merely enter a place of business, not with the intention of giving them a sales pitch, but would simply ask if she could leave the handbags in the foyers and come back later to “collect opinions of the businesses’ existing customers.” It is that unique and unorthodox approach that can be credited for much of her success.

Women were raving about the handbags and the feedback Handley received was better than she could have ever imagined. Using that selling strategy, selling bags literally out of the trunk of her car, and booking tables at local craft shows, Handley sold over 400 of her amaz-

ing handbags in October of 2002 at a three day craft fair.

When asked about her success since 2002, Handley credits her son and the desire to show him that hard work, passion and being confident enough to follow one’s dreams can, in time, make those dreams a reality. The road wasn’t always easy going, and Handley shared stories of times when she questioned her decision and worried that she was allowing herself to give into a childhood passion, which some may deem whimsical. But reaching deep inside, she chose to believe: believe in the fact that women desired functional and beautiful bags and that she had the knowhow and skills to bring products to the forefront that would fill that void in the market. She chose to believe that she could be a role model for her son and for women across the globe that also had dreams of utilizing their skills and abilities and want to create their own inner wealth and happiness.

“Succeeding at doing something you love has its challenges,” said Handley. For her those challenges included “finding high quality materials at cost efficient prices. Quality control is important and finding outlets that can manufacture amazing products, while keeping production costs low so that the business can be profitable and the products remain affordable for the consumers was also a challenge.”

Handley is no stranger to setting and meeting objectives though, and she had already been doing that her whole life, as she balanced her personal and work schedule.

“It’s about breaking down your entire plan into small goals. Set one goal each day and make it plausible; then move on to the next.”

And moving on is exactly what Handley is doing. Her sales surpassed $1 million dollars within her first 15 months and business isn’t slowing down.

Beijo Handbags has a plethora of fall and winter collections, with over 450 different styles of handbags and wallets to choose from. The highlight for this season includes The Reptilian Elegance collection which incorporates rich tones in wine, gray, black and tan, all perfect for this season’s color palette. This collection features gorgeous, lightweight material and an overlay that gives it a remarkable sheen. Unlike other products constructed of traditional snakeskin, the Reptilian Elegance line is easily cleaned and will not snag or damage clothing.

See Handbags of Hope Page 4

Upcoming Beijo Events Dec 12, 2012 • 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM Tennis and Swim Center Holiday Boutique 23400 Park Sorrento, Calabasas, CA Description: Holiday Boutique Dec 13, 2012 • 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM Fayetteville Ladies Power Lunch Gates Four Golf Country Club, Fayetteville, NC Description: Holiday Shopping Event and Women’s Power Luncheon – for more information e-mail, thebagladies@ bellsouth.net or call Christine at 919-363-8416 http://thebagladies.beijobags.com Dec 13, 2012 • 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM KC Holiday Open House | Beijo Shopping Party 1205 SW Coachlight Dr, Lees Summit, MO Description: Get your last minute holiday shopping done at the annual KC Holiday Open House. Shop for stocking stuffers or a new handbag for you:)For more information contact Kathy at 816-392-9801 or kcbeijo@yahoo.com.

All are welcome!

Dec 15, 2012 • 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM Unique Handcrafted Treasures 166 North Main Street, Centerville, OH Description: Unique Handcrafted Treasures – a unique shopping experience for holiday gifts ! Also YOUR opportunity to buy a unique handbag from a variety of vibrant colors and styles -Beijo Handbags – so exciting !!!

Dec 15, 2012 • 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM 4th Annual Believe in Girls Expo 277 N. Avenid Caballeros, Palm Springs, CA Description: Premier event for girls in the Inland Empire and Coachella Valley hosted by the Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio. The event showcases activities, vendors, exhibitors, and entertainers. Each year thousands of girls and adults attend the BIG Expo.

Dec 15, 2012 • 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Bay Area Artwalk Nassau Bay Town Square located at Saturn Lane and Space Park Blvd., Nassau Bay, TX Description: Free family fun, visual and performing arts, and food. Open to the public. Located at Nassau Bay Town Square located at Saturn Lane and Space Park Blvd. For more information, contact Kari Fluegel at 281286-3840, txkari1@att.net, or visit my website at http:// kfluegel.beijobags.com.

Dec 15, 2012 • 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM Oak Lawn Park Dist. Ice Arean Holiday Fair 9320 S. Kenton, Oak Lawn, IL Description: The holiday shopping seasons has began.

Stop by the Beijo booth to select that special gift for your loved ones and friends. A vast selection of beautiful handbags and accessories in an array of colors, styles and prices. Let Beijo represent the love in gift giving! See ya at the booth. To preview our collection, visit my site at http://arobinson.beijobags.com.

Dec 15, 2012 • 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM Your Saving Grace! Open House | Beijo Shopping Party 18720 Jeruesalem Church Road, Poolesville, MD Description: Running out of time? Need last minute Holiday gifts? Stop by Louann’s Boutique to shop at your convenience. Special orders delivered in time for the holiday season. Complimentary gift wrapping available.

Dec 16, 2012 • 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM Three Chimneys Farm Holiday Bazaar Three Chimneys Farm Clubhouse, Cumming, GA Description: Don’t Miss The Annual Holiday Bazaar at The Beautiful Clubhouse of Three Chimneys Farm Located off Windermere Pkwy. Incredible Gift Finds From Many Vendors and The Latest From The 2012 Beijo Collection. Everyone Welcome! Hope to See You There!

Contact Stephanie spiethbs@comcast.net or 404-4838095 for more info. Can’t make the event but need your Beijo fix, just visit my website http://sspieth.beijobags. com to place your order.

December 2012 • www.womanscopenews.org

3

PUBLISHER'S NOTES

From The ContentsMind ~ Body ~ Spirit ~ Self Publisher’s Desk…

NOURISH YOUR

Joy

By Janet Davis-Leak, Publisher/Editor-in-chief

Welcome to our holiday issue issue!! Tis the season once again, for everyone to share in the joys that holiday times bring….the gathering of family and friends, good food, conversation and fun, and the spirit of goodwill extended to our fellowman.

Our December cover is on the phenomenal Susan Handley, founder and owner of the highly successful direct sales company Beijo Bags. Susan tells the story to writer, Erin Frost, of how she conceptualized her company, (literally selling handbags out of the trunk of her car!) and building into a very successful company that also allows women (largely stay-at-home moms) to have their own businesses, and an opportunity to gain financial freedom through their becoming independent consultants.

Her journey is inspiring, uplifting and, will, I’m sure, motivate some to consider the direct sales industry.

Speaking of direct sales, you will notice that we have an expanding direct sales directory now, both, within our print pages and online, that is full of reputable consultants and companies looking for smart representatives and consumers! You may leaf through the directory here, or stop by our website at www.womanscopedirectsalesdirectory.com. Perhaps you’ll find something to of interest. If you are a direct sales rep and would like to advertise, please go directly to the site and follow the prompts. If you have any questions, please contact Michelle Sanchez, account executive and site coordinator at directory1@ womanscopenews.org.

This issue is full of interesting and fun news and stories for your reading pleasure. So, please, sit back, relax and enjoy!

And remember to support our advertisers!

From our WomanScope family to yours…..Happy Holidays!

Janet

Cover Story 2

Education 11

100K Moms 4

Her Story 11

Mom Central 5

Pictorial 12

Organic Living 5

Arts & Entertainment 14

National Health 6

Travel 15

International Health 6

Green Living 16

Fitness 7

Fashion 16

Medical 8

Finance 17

Sports 8

Wired 17

Etiquette 9

Success Strategies 18

Let's Get Organized 9

Politics 19

Advice 10

Direct Sales Directory 20-23

Career Corner 10

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www.womanscopenews.org • December 2012

100K MOMS

Success Means... Saying No

By D. Todd, Staff Writer

retrain her to my schedule. And time management is really no different. We have to retrain our children, our husbands, and our staff. And. That means that when you have a time block, you just say no to everything else for that moment.

I recognize that I’m asking you to make some drastic changes. Here are a few tips to get you started:

As a working mom (and if you’re a mom, you work) time is incredibly valuable and most likely you’re always running out of it. I am asked so often, by almost everyone I meet how I manage everything that I do.

Some people view time management as a list of rules that involves scheduling of appointments, creating to-do lists and prioritizing. These are the core basics of time management, and they can help you be very efficient with your time. But more is involved in capturing time and being more effective.

Time management is about getting results, not about being less busy. It’s about managing your time and creating the opportunity to complete tasks that lie in front of you and then do the things that really bring you joy.

The late Steve Jobs said, “Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice.”

The demand on a mom and entrepreneurs’ time is EXTRAORDINARY; thus you must take extraordinary measures to match the demand.

Time really is our most precious asset; time not only to deliver our service, but to dream, plan and strategize. Probably not a day goes by that you don’t push something to the side and wish that you had more time. Maybe wonder how much money you’re leaving on the table because you are just “out of time”, or maybe you consider how quickly your children are growing and wonder how it all went by so fast.

I’ve been a business owner for 20 years, creating, running, selling companies, los-

ing it all, getting it back, and at the same time, raising five daughters and trying to have a life.

And I can tell you that the one single secret of amazing entrepreneurial success is the use, abuse or misuse of your time.

Time management starts with the commitment to change, and it’s pretty easy as long as you commit to action. Time management can broken down into three steps: 1. Planning for the expected and the unexpected 2. Protecting your Time 3. Retraining those around you Unexpected stuff happens. The only way around it is through it and by planning for the unexpected you can navigate.

Ask for help: who are the people that are your first, second or third phone calls when then unexpected happens?

After you take the time to plan your day and week, don’t let other people invade your schedule. I can let my day get away from me with other people’s emergencies. You’ve got a schedule: now honor it. Think about it this way, when I am about to go on vacation, I am SO efficient.

I know that I’ve got a very limited time to accomplish a list a mile long. My time management and efficiency is awesome.

If you really want to, you can be that wellorganized every day; it’s a matter of choice.

When I brought my third daughter home from the hospital, not only was she adorable, she loved to sleep. The problem was that she loved to sleep during the day.

And since I had two other small children at home who were very busy it was tempting to let her sleep all day. I had say “no” to her desire to sleep when the sun was up and convince her to enjoy sleeping when it was dark outside. In other words, I had to

1. Make a mindset shift an decide that YOU own your time.

2. Spend more time doing what you love and less time doing what you dislike.

3. Assess what’s productive and what’s not.

4. Manage your emails and phone calls.

5. Challenge your own tendency to say 'yes' & train others around you.

6. Ask for help and plan for the unplanned.

7. Use a time planner and carve out a schedule of what is urgent versus what is important.

Handbags of Hope, from page 2 Because Handley knows that women want gorgeous accessories but don’t want to break their bank accounts, she has carefully incorporated pieces for all her price points so that any and every woman can own a spectacular handbag regardless of their budget.

Other collections include Classic, which uses the polymer material she fell in love with in Hong Kong, as well as Beijo’s Couture collections like the Divine Intervention bags which are constructed of clean lines and classic styles.

These double strapped handbags bring style and sophistication together, are a perfect blend of textures and colors and perfect for the on the go woman. Inside buyers will find three main compartments, two snap sections and a zip closed top. Inner compartments give room for keys, cell phones and other belongings and specialized feet were used in the hardware so that the handbags keep their structure and remain upright.

Susan Handley has spent the past decade making amazing products for the everyday fun and hardworking woman at a price that is affordable. For those who love the bags and would like to partake in a Beijo career or supplement their existing income, Handley excitedly invites you to find out how you too can be a part of this amazing adventure, invoke your personal entrepreneurial spirit and make a difference in this fashion forward world. For more information on how to become a Beijo Handbags consultant or to find out more about Handley and her products, visit the Beijo Handbag website at www.beijobags.com/.

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December 2012 • www.womanscopenews.org

5

MOM CENTRAL

ORGANIC LIVING

Organic Baby Clothes Top Brands to Buy

Dashing to Deal with the Holidays 5 Helpful Tips for Frazzled Moms By: Jolene Roehlkepartain In too many families, there is one very stressed out adult (usually the mom) who is not only doing the bulk of the chores around the house, but also doing most of the holiday preparations—on top of parenting! So, moms, as you’re dashing around with all the last-minute details, remember these tips.

1

Enlist the help of family members. No one

person should be preparing a holiday alone, and no one gender should be doing all the work. Everyone can help out, including toddlers and preschoolers!

Young children can set napkins next to each place setting. They also can have fun talking with and entertaining the waiting guests while you’re preparing a meal.

2

Simplify your list.The truth is, most of our to-do

3 4

Lower your expectations. The holidays seem to

5

Make time for family fun. What gets squeezed

lists are too long! Moms tend to be “people-pleasers” and have big ambitions to make the holidays as special and as memorable as possible. Comb through your to-do list and see what can cut out. If you usually bake 10 different types of holiday cookies, make two. If you make two different types and don’t like to cook, skip the baking and buy something instead. bring out the perfectionist in many of us, and that perfectionism can lead us straight to either getting sick or having an emotional meltdown. You can still create a good—even a great holiday! You don’t need to create the “best one” every single year.

Learn to set deadlines and then let them go.

Once you’ve finished shopping for gifts, be done with it. Don’t start thinking of more things you can add at the last minute that will only increase your workload and your anxiety. Follow a similar mindset in all of your holiday preparations, from the baking, grocery shopping, and decorations, to the gift wrapping, and anything else that you do to prepare for the holidays. out as you’re rushing to finish everything for the holidays? Your family. You. Fun! Stop and read aloud a picture book to your young children. Stop and play a game with your kids. Stop and do something fun for yourself and your family. After all, isn’t the best part of the holidays the time you get to spend with the ones closest to you?

Remember that the holidays are about bringing families together, not pulling them apart. Make sure that all the lastminute details don’t completely frazzle you so that the holidays become more of a chore than, well, a holiday.

Sources: 1. Barbara H. Fiese, Family Routines and Rituals (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2006).

2. Mitra Razzahgi, MD, “Tips for Busting Holiday Stress,” University of Colorado Hospital, 2011

Particularly in the last 10 years parents have become increasingly concerned about what materials their baby’s clothing are made from. The more we continue to ship our clothing manufacturing overseas, the less we know about which materials are used to make them. For many parents this is a concern, as they push for more gentile, more breathable material that also won’t irritate the delicate skin of an infant.

Much of the baby clothing that is made nowadays is made from 100% cotton but many times synthetic fabrics are also used in conjunction. These synthetic materials can include rayon, polyester and acrylic which are not always good especially for sensitive skin.

Of course organic baby clothes will likely cost you a bit more, but many parents today think that it is well worth the price to have the organic quality and to keep manufacturing local. When choosing this type of baby clothing be sure to look at the labels since many are disguised and aren’t truly organic. Most organic clothing is made from cotton but you may also find some that utilize silk, wool or leather.

When selecting brands it is important that you rely on the advice of others or to do research and stay with brands that are highly regarded and have proven to be reliable.

Some of the best brands are as follows.

Under the Nile This company produces 100% organic clothing using Egyptian cotton and all their clothes and materials are pesticide and chemical free. Of the many brands that are available, this retail store which sells online as well is one of the most affordable and often runs sales. Parents can also find larger sized clothing that goes up to size 6Y which is an added benefit.

Kate Quinn Many parents love to shop at Kate Quinn because every product is organic certified as well as fair trade certified. The selections here are vast and many of the lines incorporate colorful styles and patterns that kids will love to dress in and parents will enjoy taking pictures of. Selections include standard one pieces as well as separates, jumpers, dresses and short sets all at fairly reasonable prices.

Speesees This is another well known organic company that has

PHOTO / MAEGAN DOUGHERTY

Organic baby items, such as this outfit by Under the Nile, and the bedding by Babyearth (below) have become increasingly favored by concerned parents earned its reputation because the clothing is not only 100% certified, the manufacturer also uses low impact and herbal dyes in the styles. Much of the clothing is bright, colorful and has unique designs and patterns and many pieces are designed with an urban flair that isn’t seen in other stores. The tops and bottoms usually cost about $25.00 but with sales you can also get some lower prices and discounted outfits.

Babyearth This retailer is one of the most favored among green conscious parents because it has a wide selection of 100% certified organic baby cloths but also specializes in everything baby. There are lines of cloth diapers, lotions, shampoos, comforter sets and bedding, all of which are organic to keep your baby safe and healthy.

Their lists of clothing is quite exhaustive and includes one piece sets, top and bottom separates, dresses, sleepwear, swaddle blankets and much more. Parents can search the site and shop by brands such as Fisher Price, Bugaboo and other high end and well known brands.

Gerber Organic Clothing Although a little pricier than other brands, Gerber is one of the most reliable brands for baby gear, food and clothing and they have a trade certified, 100% organic line of baby clothing all of which is manufactured with cotton only. This company takes pride in their line which is not only eco-friendly but baby friendly and includes one pieces, separates, cloth diapers, shorts, skirts and dresses.

The true test of which brands offer the best organic baby clothes will likely come down to trying a few and seeing which works best for your bundle of joy.

WomanWords...

“

Champions keep playing

until they get it right.

”

~Billie Jean King

6

NATIONAL HEALTH

Vitamin D Study Raises Questions By: Sarah Woods Many people use Vitamin D supplements as a way to prevent or combat the common cold in the fall, but a study published in the October 3, 2012 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association raises questions about the effectiveness of the vitamin for that use.

Vitamin D is found in food and synthesized in the body from sunlight. Although vitamin D is only found naturally in a few foods, many food manufacturers fortify milk, yogurt, cereal, orange juice, and other products with vitamin D. The reason that vitamin D is added to many foods that contain calcium is that vitamin D is necessary for the proper absorption of calcium.

It is estimated that up to 75 percent of the nation is deficient in vitamin D, according to Kathleen Zelman, an expert columnist for Web MD and a Registered Dietician.Studies of vitamin D in the past have shown links between increased pneumonia and upper respiratory infection rates and deficiencies in vitamin D. Deficiencies in vitamin D tend to occur more often in the winter and fall (cold season) partially because of the lack of sun exposure in cold weather.

The study was completed in part due to the lack of conclusive evidence linking vitamin D to immune system health. The researchers used a high-dosing once-monthly method to raise the participants’ blood level of vitamin D instead of a daily method. Three hundred, twenty two healthy adults were included in the placebo-controlled double-blind study. The experimental group of participants took megadoses of vitamin D once monthly and the control group took placebos once monthly.

Both groups were instructed to alert researchers each time they experienced upper respiratory infection symptoms during the 18-month experiment. The researchers would then take an oral swab from the sick participant to test for viruses.

The study concluded that a “monthly dose of 100 000 IU of vitamin D3 in healthy adults did not significantly reduce the incidence or severity of URTIs.” “Our tests are good, but not perfect, and some viruses may have been cleared by the time the swab was collected, “David Murdoch, MD, head of pathology at the University of Otago in Christchurch, New Zealand, published in Web MD. “There may also be viruses causing colds that were not part of the testing panel.”

The researchers plan to retest, with more sophisticated technique, the samples that had previously tested negative for any viruses.

Alexandra Yamshchikov, MD, an assistant professor in the infectious diseases unit at the University of Rochester Medical Center, says that there may be steadier vitamin D blood levels in participants if they took smaller doses of vitamin D daily instead of the large monthly mega-dose.

Murdoch believes that despite the results of this study, more evidence needs to be provided before a solid conclusion is drawn on the connection between vitamin D and upper respiratory infections.

“This study highlights the need for good quality studies to look at each potential health benefit before making broad recommendations,” said Murdoch. “The beneficial evidence for immunity (is) still being sorted out, so we still need to focus on the evidence."

The recommended intake of vitamin D for most adults is 600 UI, five times less than the amount used in the New Zealand study.11 Current recommendations on vitamin D intake are based on the importance of vitamin D in calcium absorption to prevent osteoporosis and bone loss in adults, and to encourage health bone growth in children and teenagers.

To get the recommended vitamin D from the sun, 20-25 minutes of exposure is necessary per day. Other sources of vitamin D include fatty fish, canned tuna fish, mushrooms, fortified milk or orange juice, egg yolk, fortified cereal, beef liver, cod liver oil, and UV lamps.

www.womanscopenews.org • December 2012

INTERNATIONAL HEALTH

Pakistan Attacks Pneumonia With Free Vaccine

By Zofeen Ebrahim, Courtesy IPS Medical practitioners at the National Institute of Child Health (NICH), a leading government-run children’s hospital in Karachi, hope that this will be the last winter they have to treat a stream of children suffering from pneumonia.

The disease is one of the leading killers of under-five children in the country, accounting for about 19 percent of child mortality.

Last month Pakistan became the first country in South Asia to introduce a free pneumonia vaccine, to immunise five million children against the deadly disease annually.

According to Dr. Mohsina Ibrahim at the NICH, the move will also help lower the incidence of other related diseases like meningitis, but only if “the vaccine is given the same importance as polio and taken door-to-door”, she told IPS. The government was under considerable pressure to introduce the vaccine: with infant and under-five mortality rates of 78 and 94 per 1,000 children respectively, the country is unlikely to meet the target of reducing underfive mortality by two-thirds by 2015, as stipulated by the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Considered to be the largest rollout of the vaccine after Africa and Central America, the new initiative will form part of the state’s routine child immunisation programme, a set of scheduled inoculations provided free of cost from birth to 15 months to protect against diseases like diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), measles, tetanus, meningitis, polio, tuberculosis, and hepatitis B. The vaccine is being delivered through a partnership between the Pakistan government, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI), which supports and finances vaccines in the world’s poorest countries, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

GAVI plans to contribute 680 million dollars, and the government has donated 17 million rupees (175,000 dollars) to provide the vaccine until 2015.

“GAVI provides funds for countries to jump-start the introduction of newer vaccines, which they would otherwise never have the fiscal (capacity) to do,” Dr. Zulfiqar Bhutta, a leading paediatrician heading the women and child health unit at the Karachi-based Aga Khan University, told IPS. This is done by procuring highly subsidised vaccines in bulk directly from manufacturers. ”After a negotiated period, countries (are expected) to pick up the vaccine tab,” he said.

Efficacy not guaranteed According to Bhutta, the “critical task remains” of increasing routine vaccine coverage from 60 percent to 90 percent of all children, if the country hopes to stay on track for achieving the fourth MDG. In addition, Bhutta said, there remains the challenge of “ensuring that these vaccines reach the poor and are not leaked or sold in the open market”.

Dr. Ifra Sameen, another paediatrician at the NICH, is also sceptical about the vaccine “reaching those in need”.

Acknowledging that it is a “step in the right direction”, she told IPS that she fears “good intentions may be marred by the low coverage of immunisation in the state’s health system.

“We have not been able to eliminate polio, which has

PHOTO / ADIL-SIDDIQUI

received enormous political commitment and was (taken) door-to-door. In addition, we already have a vaccine for measles, yet the disease still persists. Given this scenario, what are the chances of eliminating pneumonia, which requires the child to be brought to the health centre and given three doses at three different times?”

Huma Khawar, coordinator of GAVI CSO Support, believes awareness is vital. Unless all caregivers, whether mother, father or grandparent, are fully convinced of the importance and benefits of the vaccine and ensure their children are immunised against all nine childhood diseases, efforts made by the government, GAVI and other U.N. partners to reduce under-five mortality will not go far.

In addition to being cut off from children in conflictriddled areas and those controlled by militants, the programme must also overcome the hurdles of poverty, uneducated mothers and poor governance within the state-run health systems to ensure widespread inoculation, according to Ibrahim.

And while she is happy that an otherwise cost-prohibitive vaccine – costing a little over 13,000 rupees (roughly 133 dollars) for the entire course of three injections – will be available to everyone, she believes “it would have been better to have strengthened the coverage of existing vaccines, instead of introducing new ones”.

“The government should have focused on diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), measles and tetanus. The measles vaccine, which boasts an efficacy of 95 percent, would reduce the incidence of not just measles… but also pneumonia, meningitis and diarrhoea.”

The government should also tackle issues like “malnutrition, low birth weight, and non-exclusive breastfeeding, which put children at greater risk of pneumococcal disease,” said Ibrahim, adding that babies who live in overcrowded places, where indoor pollution levels are high and sanitation is poor, are particularly susceptible.

Malnutrition is perhaps the leading cause of pneumonia, said Sameen. According to the last Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS) for 2006-7 38 percent of children under five years are underweight.

Sameen, who specialises in child nutrition, carried out a study on severely malnourished children admitted to NICH between January and June this year and found some 20 percent suffered from pneumonia.

The Global Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Pneumonia (GAPP), issued by the WHO and UNICEF, recommends a three-pronged approach to fighting child pneumonia that includes protection (exclusive breastfeeding and improved nutrition), prevention (including the routine use of measles, DTP3, Hib, and pneumococcal vaccines), and treatment (with appropriate antibiotics and oxygen).

December 2012 • www.womanscopenews.org

7

FITNESS

CrossFit:

Forging Elite Fitness

By Claire Knudsen

TapouT XT® is the New Kid on the Workout Block By ???

A muscular, physically fit and attractive body is on everyone’s holiday wish-list. Fitness gyms and health clubs are getting significant attention, but workouts without an instructor can be repetitive and mundane.

And most workout videos lack the appeal needed to make it to completion, despite evidence that vigorous exercise boosts psychological, as well as physiological well-being.

The trend of using DVDs, teaching workout techniques and training that can be followed in a living room got an MMAstyle remake recently with TapouT XT, an extreme MMA workout 90-day routine of 12 DVDs. UFC® Light Heavyweight Champion Jon “Bones” Jones has endorsed the TapouT XT regimen, which was created by Mike Karpenko, a personal and MMA conditioning coach. Karpenko differentiates between training and a “workout” stating that “Whereas workouts maintain, training drives results.” The TapouT XT program was designed with a purpose in mind, as

Karpenko was hired by Launch DRTV, the producers of the TapouT XT workouts, to develop the program using case studies, test groups and user participation from other popular exercise programs.

One unique aspect to the program is that each workout ends with a “Killer Move” inspired by fighters. The “Killer Move” is as much a mental challenge as a physical one as you need to push through the pain to get the results. TapouT XT users have stated that the TapouT XT training program has the benefit added from each move’s flexibility, strength, and endurance. Karpenko has taken an active role in responding to feedback regarding the program, which is an unusual positive despite his now-celebrity status as the XT program goes viral, among MMA fighters, trainers, and home gym defectors. This is likely 2012’s big story for MMA as XT helps it go mainstream and reach women, elderly, and other demographics that typically wouldn’t find themselves involved with an MMA trainer.

Strength training, for years, has been a taboo for women. Why would a woman want to lift weights and gain muscle mass? Doesn’t weight gain carry a negative connotation; one that all women try to avoid as much as possible? The recent emergence of CrossFit has changed that, with more women turning to the popular “sport of fitness.”

So what exactly is this sport of fitness? According to the CrossFit website, CrossFit can be defined as “the principal strength and conditioning program for many police academies and tactical operations teams, military special operations units, champion martial artists, and hundreds of other elite and professional athletes worldwide”. The workouts take place in a gym that CrossFit athletes refer to as their “Box.” These workouts change daily in order to work different muscle groups, thus given the term Workout of the Day, or “WOD” for short.

The CrossFit games are then held to determine the Fittest Man and Woman on Earth.

The games are essentially what any other championship is to another sport, which is an opportunity for the elite to compete against each other for the top title in their sport.

While the definition of the sport alone is enough to make any woman longing to be lean and strong run the opposite direction, it has actually been a fitness inspiration. Katelyn Block is a 20 year-old CrossFit competitor aspiring to compete in the 2014 regional’s.

An active woman with experience in many different activities such as field hockey, swimming, and long-distance running to name a few, Block always found herself going back to weight lifting and has found her true passion in CrossFit. “As a woman, we look for lean, tight, and ‘toned’ muscles. To women, CrossFit is incredibly appealing because it offers the strength of muscle as well as leanness in body composition. The combination of strength and conditioning is like a powerhouse for lean muscle development and fat loss,” Block said.

One of the main criticisms of the sport is that women will lose their feminine physique, and become more bulky and muscular. However, Block has the first-hand experience to show that this is not the case for CrossFit. “You will get out what you put into CrossFit, weight lifting, or any other fitness activity. CrossFit is the perfect blend of resistance training and weight lifting with metabolic conditioning. The result is lean muscle and low body fat, not bulkiness.”

Another advantage of the sport is that it helps target areas of the body that most women find difficult to work on.

“The best part is the fact that all movements are functional and target multiple joints/muscle groups at a time. The most prominent changes I’ve seen are in my belly and my glutes, the most ‘problem’ areas for a lot of women” said Block.

This is a sport that also offers another very appealing aspect for women: the opportunity to bond and create family-like relationships with the other people at their box. Block said that the relationships she has been able to build with the other athletes at her box are unlike any she has had with other teammates in the past.

“It’s the experiences you have with your trainers, your friends, and how much you push each other to be better. The community is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced, which is exactly why CrossFit athletes are forged to be more mentally and physically fit than any other sport,” she said.

CrossFit is a sport that is tailored to each individual’s fitness level, strengths, and weaknesses. While everyone follows the same workouts, intensity and loads are set appropriately for each individual to what they are capable of. As women, one of the most rewarding things in terms of working out is success and seeing progress, and CrossFit is one that allows this, week in and week out.

The workouts are challenging and change daily, allowing for maximum results, such as those flaunted here [above left]

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www.womanscopenews.org • December 2012

MEDICAL

Steps for the Prevention of Diabetes

By Dr. Amber Taylor

B

y any definition, we are currently in the midst of a diabetes epidemic. The numbers are staggering and continue to increase every year. According the Centers for Disease Control, there are likely 26 million Americans with diabetes; many are undiagnosed. In 2010, 26.9 percent of Americans over the age of 65 had diabetes and these numbers are projected to increase.

Why? The epidemic of diabetes has closely paralleled the rise in obesity. Excess weight takes its toll on the body and produces a syndrome called insulin resistance. The pancreas has to work harder to make insulin and overcome this resistance, but eventually starts to fail and type 2 diabetes is diagnosed. This process has been going on in the background for many years before any abnormalities are noted on lab tests.

Initially there are no outward signs of diabetes. Symptoms are related to level of blood sugar -- normal is a reading of less than 100 when tested in the morning. When glucose levels rise, symptoms might include thirst, blurred vision, fatigue, craving for sweets, and having to wake up several times in the night to urinate.

These days, often people are diagnosed in the early stages of diabetes; they sometimes are even told they have “pre-diabetes.” While some may be reassured they don’t have the “real thing” yet, this is actually a very important time for the body.

We know from several large studies that diabetes can be prevented in these early stages, which we call impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glucose. These large, well-designed studies (Diabetes Prevention Program, Finnish Diabetes Prevention Program) were randomized and placebo-controlled, and were designed to determine the best way to prevent progression to diabetes. The studies compared intensive lifestyle change, drugs (metformin), versus placebo. Interestingly, both studies had similar results. Lifestyle change was better than any drug tested!

Not surprisingly, the success of the patients in warding off diabetes depended up their success in changing their lifestyle. The

studies measured weight loss (the goal was 7 percent), reduction in waist circumference, reduction in blood pressure and cholesterol, and increase in exercise (to a total of 150 minutes weekly). Those that were successful in all of the factors did not develop diabetes during the study period!

Specifically, here’s what you can do to lower your risk of diabetes: EAT MORE VEGETABLES. Aim for five vegetables and two fruits every day. Try the plate method -- filling half your plate with vegetables, ideally two different types at a meal. Limit portions of starchy vegetables like corn, peas, lima beans and potatoes and fill up on other colorful veggies including dark-leafy greens, salads and any other nonstarchy choices. Embrace your veggies and experiment with something like “meatless Mondays.”

INCREASE YOUR EXERCISE. Aim for 30 minutes most days of the week. If you already exercise, ramp it up a notch and change your routine. If you are sedentary at present, start slowly and increase it every day. Try marching in front of the TV during commercials, or better yet, turn off the TV and go for a walk.

1 2

If you already walk, change your route to add some hills to mimic interval training. During moderate exercise, you should be able to carry on a conversation LIMIT SALT INTAKE. Canned and processed foods are known to have excess salt; however, a surprising source of sodium is bread and cereals. Read labels and aim for less than 2,300 milligrams daily. If a label indicates there is more than 300mg of sodium per serving, it is probably too much for people trying to follow a lower sodium diet. A low-sodium food item contains 140mg of sodium per serving or less.

CHANGE THE QUALITY OF FAT INTAKE. Ultra low fat diets are out; we now know that the types of fat you eat are more important.

Good fats (mono or polyunsaturated) come from nuts, avocados, salmon and olive oil.

Limit intake of saturated fats like those that can be found in full fat dairy, cheeses, meats and fried foods.

CUT OUT SIMPLE SUGARS. Banish regular sodas, sports drinks and sugary snacks, period! These are calories you just don’t need.

If you must, enjoy diet sodas or other sugarfree drinks. Look at food labels and focus on the grams of total carbohydrates; make sure

3 4 5

it says zero for most of your beverage choices.

Remember that the grams of sugar are included as part of the total carbohydrates on food labels. Keep snacks low in added sugar by snacking on more natural foods with less processing: fruits, vegetables, plain yogurt, nuts, etc.

EAT MORE FIBER. Aim for 15g of fiber for every 1,000 calories you eat. Try to get your fiber from natural sources such as vegetables and whole grains. High-fiber choices with more than 4 grams per serving include berries, beans, pears, artichokes, lentils and bulgur. We’re not sure that added fiber (capsules or sometimes added to yogurts or drinks) have the same benefit as the real thing.

Preventing diabetes isn’t easy, especially if you know you’re at high risk due to a family history. Make “getting healthy” a priority and see your doctor to get tested for diabetes.

A simple blood test may be all it takes to get onto the path of a new and healthier lifestyle.

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Dr. Amber Taylor is Director of The Diabetes Center (http:// www.mdmercy.com/centerExcellence/endocrinology/diabetes. html) , located within The Center for Endocrinology at Mercy Medical Center in downtown Baltimore . Dr. Taylor sees general endocrine patients, but brings with her a particular focus and expertise in diabetes management, diagnosis and education.

SPORTS

Canadian women shut out from sport leadership roles Courtesy of Vancourier.com PHOTO / DAN TOULGOET, VANCOUVER COURIER

As a striker for the world's best women's soccer team in the '80s, Canadian standout Carrie Serwetnyk could scan the pitch of her University of North Carolina teammates and see athletes who would graduate to become sport leaders in their country.

April Heinrichs went on to coach the American national team from 2000 to 2004, winning Olympic gold at the Atlanta Summer Games.

Tracey Leone managed the U-19 women's team and later the adult national team. She helped run programs at five American universities.

Today, Serwetnyk can list the successes of her North Carolina Tar Heel teammates. Back home in Canada, she found similar opportunities were closed to her. Although she is a certified coach and was the first women inducted into Canada's soccer hall of fame, she was turned away from entry-level positions at soccer organizations for which she believes she was qualified. She says she was occasionally treated with disdain, and not just behind closed doors.

Serwetnyk, who lives in Kitsilano and published the magazine Free Kick, believes she was a threat to power structures occupied and protected by men.

"I never understood before what was meant by a glass ceiling," she said.

Now committed to seeing major changes in the ways soccer is run in Vancouver and across the country at community, provincial and national organizations, she founded Why the Women's World Cup Matters. She is leveraging the 2015 World Cup, hosted by six Canadian cities including Vancouver, to draw awareness to the inequality and discrimination she says affects the girls and women who make up 47 percent of all soccer players in Canada.

According to her research, women's programs receive less than 10 per cent of all funding and comprise less than one per cent of leadership positions, specifically on boards and as club directors and technical staff.

On Monday night, she got the support

of the Vancouver Park Board, which passed a motion to determine if the recreational system provides equal access for women of all ages. The study will extend beyond soccer.

Marion Lay also spoke in support of the review and Serwetnyk's larger ambition. The Olympian and active promoter of women in sport said only 17 per cent of Canada's Olympic team coaches are women, although Canadian women participate on near equal footing with men. Canada is among the world's top five countries when it comes to the number of girls and women who participate in sport but is ranked 35th in terms of women who coach and lead national programs.

Equal participation is an important achievement, said Lay. The goal now is to increase the number of women in sport leadership roles, using the excitement and attention of the Women's World Cup. "One sport will be the catalyst for all sports," said Lay. "If we start now, we will have time."

December 2012 • www.womanscopenews.org

11 Simple Rules of Excellent Houseguest Etiquette

By Mikey Roxon

1. Arrive With a Gift

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ETIQUETTE so don’t be bummed out if they’re not available. Personally, I enjoy the time alone to explore a new place — nobody nagging about how much walking they have to do, nobody complaining about how hot it is, and nobody interrupting your afternoon because they MUST find a gym to fit in a midday run. I won’t name the person who’s guilty of that last one, but I might be married to him.

6. Lend a Hand Where Necessary

Your hosts have gone out of their way to prepare for your arrival — cleaning the house, making the beds, hiding their naughtiness — so the least you can do is arrive with a gift to show your gratitude. A bottle of wine is perfectly fine (and probably preferred), but you should know your audience before gifting booze. It’s embarrassing to give a bottle of alcohol to a recovering alcoholic. If you’re unsure of the hosts’ imbibing status, opt for something non-offensive like a basket of pastas and sauces or a sampler of jams. (See also: 5 Classy Gift Ideas for Any Time of Year)

Is your host slaving away in the kitchen preparing a delicious feast? Ask if he or she needs a hand. Does the dog need a walk? Volunteer to take the pooch for a stroll. Does somebody need to go on a beer run? Offer your excellent (and sober) driving skills to accomplish the task. Whatever the case, let your guests know that you’re happy to help out where you can. They might say no the first or second time out of politeness, but eventually they’ll want to pawn off some of their chores on you. And you should be happy about it — because you could be spending an arm and a leg for a hotel, but you’re not.

2. Buy Your Own Groceries

7. Keep Common Areas Clean

When I’m staying with friends or family, I buy my own groceries for two reasons: 1) I’m a picky eater, so it’s unlikely that they’ll have much that I like, and 2) It’s rude to eat your guests out of house and home. Once you’re settled, ask where the nearest market is. Schedule some time to stop by and pick up your favorite foods and fridge essentials, like bacon, eggs, bread, lunchmeat, etc. Not only will you save money because you won’t have to eat out every meal, but your hosts will appreciate the gesture — especially when you’re gone and the leftovers are all theirs.

3. Conserve Linens and Towels At home, I use only one towel a week. When I’m done drying off after a shower, I hang it on the back of the bathroom door so it can dry properly. When I’m traveling, I do the same. A good host will provide you with a towel or two, which is plenty, so don’t abuse it. If you think you’ll need more towels, plan ahead; pack a towel of your own so you can have what you need. As beach towels go, I always pack one from home. I can’t be sure that my hosts will have the kind of beach towel I like, so it’s best to come prepared.

4. Ask About House Rules When guests come to my home I have three rules: 1) Don’t get locked up, 2) Don’t get locked out, and 3) Don’t burn the place down. Otherwise, my guests are free to come and go as they please and make themselves at home. However, not every host is as lax as I am. Some don’t want you making a frozen pizza at 3 a.m. on a Sunday night when you’ve just come home from the bar. To avoid offending your hosts, ask about general policies and rules. Should the door be locked when you leave? Is it OK to put silverware in the dishwasher?

Would you like me to let the dog out if you’re not home?

Most people have certain ways they like and do things, so it’s best to ask before you step on any toes.

5. Give the Host Personal Space While your hosts are happy to see you (hopefully), they don’t want to spend every minute of every day with you.

Respect that. Ask them all about their lovely city, but plan to do most things by yourself or with whom you’re traveling. It’s certainly OK to invite your hosts to join you on your excursions, but don’t expect it. Chances are they have to work and other obligations to tend to during all or part of your stay — you’re on vacation; they’re not —

My biggest pet peeve when hosting guests is crumbs on the counter. It drives me bonkers. Mind your Ps and Qs when staying with friends and family. Whatever you would do in your own home, don’t do it at your hosts’ home. Put the toilet seat down. Wash your dishes by hand or put them in the dishwasher. Make the bed. Turn out the lights when you leave a room. There’s nothing worse than following guests around the house, picking up after them. Your hosts probably won’t say anything to you regarding your messiness or lack of consideration, but you can be sure that you won’t be invited back because of it.

8. Treat the Hosts to a Nice Meal If you’re a whiz in the kitchen, prepare your signature dish (and wash the dishes afterward). If you’re not so hot at culinary art, ask your hosts what their favorite restaurant is and treat them to a nice meal. This is a time when you can all be at the same place at the same time to catch up. Conflicting schedules considered, this might be the only chance you have.

9. Strip Your Bed Upon Departure Do your hosts a favor and strip the linens and place everything — including your dirty towels — in a pile. It’ll save them a few minutes of work when they have to spend an hour or so washing, drying, and remaking the bed. However, I would ask the hosts if they’d like you to do this first. Some hosts don’t want you removing the linens because they don’t want you to see the completely normal and acceptable stains (sweat, urine, etc.) on the mattress and pillows. Because, even though these stains and normal and acceptable (are you going to buy a new mattress every time your dog pees on it? I don’t think so.), it may cause the host unnecessary embarrassment — and you definitely don’t want to do that.

10. Leave a Parting Gift During your stay you should’ve gotten a good sense of what your hosts want, like, or need. Use this information to purchase a small parting gift that shows your gratitude and decency as a human being. The last time I stayed with friends, I left a half-dozen freshly baked cookies from a great restaurant in the area. Whether they liked them or not, I don’t know — but it’s the thought that counts in this case.

11. Send a Thank-You Note Once you’ve returned home, make it a point to reach out one more time to let your hosts know how much you appreciate their hospitality. They didn’t have to host you. They could have made up a million and one excuses why they didn’t have room for you. That they opened their home to you says something — they wanted to host you, and you should make one lasting impression to ensure that they view you the way they should, as a thankful and appreciative guest. A quick note that expresses your gratitude will suffice — if only so you have someplace to call home next time you’re in town.

LET'S GET ORGANIZED

Can’t Have Anyone Over?

Clean Out the Garage

By Nettie Owens, Staff Writer, Professional Organizer

Your home is cluttered. You’d rather not have anyone over, especially not unexpectedly. You’ve done the “stash and dash” prior to company coming and at this point you just don’t know where to start.

You can be organized and still have too much stuff. I recently worked with a client who chastised me saying all I want her to do is let go of stuff. It surprised me considering the progress and systems we had made. And it gave me a moment to reflect on the purpose of “organizing”.

When clients envision an organized space I often hear phrases like: “I can find anything”; “everything has a place” and “peaceful.” While it is possible to own a lot of things, be organized and peaceful, you tend to need a large space to accomplish this. You need bookshelves and furniture to neatly contain all that stuff; then you need free, open space to balance the used space and still feel peaceful.

So, if you don’t have the space to balance the things you have, containers to put them in and open space, then something has to give. When we give up open space we end up confined and uptight. When we give up containers we end up with a cluttered mess. But when we give up the stuff, we free ourselves, our time and our space.

So, often I ask clients to consider letting go of the excess as a first step because doing so allows you to free space and only create systems around what you truly love, use and need. Still the question remains as to where to start.

Starting with your storage space, although not an obvious first choice, will clean out the least used items and create room for what you want to keep. Items which are currently under used but stored in your living spaces now can now be moved to storage. You are left with room for the stuff you use daily.

Additionally, items in your storage spaces are those things the fit into the following categories: stuff you really use, seasonal items, other people’s things you inherited, stuff you have never made a decision on and memorabilia. Can you let go of any of this? Can other people’s things be sold or donated? Can the seasonal items be thinned out? What about all the stuff you never made a decision on, can you commit to deciding on half?

When you let go of storage stuff you free up room and find energy for living.

Keep in mind you need a place for everything you keep. Your items should be easily located and in a spot that gives your home a peaceful feeling. That cluttered, overwhelmed, and can’t have anyone over feeling will now disappear.

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www.womanscopenews.org • December 2012

ADVICE

CAREER CORNER

W oman to Woman

By Dr. Renée Parks, Staff Writer

Q

Dear Dr. Renee, I’ve been in the same marriage for 7 years now. My husband and I love each other very much but since we’ve had kids, we don’t seem to have time for sex anymore. We now focus on getting the kids to bed and then end up going to bed ourselves. I miss having sex with my husband but it doesn’t seem to be a priority for us anymore. How do I get it back as a top priority? ~Sexless

A

Dear Sexless, This is a very common problem so don’t worry about it too much. Kids have a way of taking over your lives. What the two of you need to do now is re-commit to each other and set aside some time for the two of you as a couple. Make a date for Wednesday nights to be your special night. Or hire a babysitter, let the kids spend the night at a friend’s house or take a romantic weekend away while the kids stay with grandma.

If the two of you make some time to be alone, you may begin to put sex higher up on the priority list once again.

Q

Dear Dr. Renee, My husband has always been a very attractive man. Even in high school, girls swarmed all over him and he always seemed to eat it all up.

We’ve been married for three years and even when women see the wedding ring, they still flirt with him – even when I’m standing right next to him.

What’s worse, though, is he flirts right back as if he doesn’t even realize that I can hear him. I know he loves me but I’m worried that things will go too far one day when I’m not standing next to him to pull him away from all of the hungry women out there. ~Flirty Hubby

A

Dear Flirty Hubby, Have you ever told him how this makes you feel? If you’ve never told him, he may not even be aware that he’s doing it. If it’s something that he’s been doing since high school, he’s probably not doing it intentionally – it’s just that he’s always done it and part of his personality.

It may be wise to sit him down and tell him how it makes you feel. Then, each time he does it, make sure to give him a nudge or chime in and tell the women that he’s happily married – to you. If that doesn’t do the trick then check out a little relationship counseling to see if there’s an underlying reason of why he’s flirting in front of you.

New job? Tips for Fitting in and Feeling Good!

By Sarah Schulman, Outreach Specialist, Maryland New Directions

For some, your first job may seem like eons ago. Even for those of us who have only been at our current place of employment for a few months, working a 40 hour week can lead us to forget that it hasn’t been that long since we were nervous newbies. The fact of the matter is, everyone has a first day in the professional world whether they remember it well or not. And while you may feel that your previous jobs or internships have prepared you for the ins and outs of your new office, this may not be the case. Whether you are ready to take the working world by storm, or are quaking in your new one-inch pumps, here are few professionalism pointers that can make for a smooth transition to becoming “one of the team.”

Observe your Office Culture and Be Aware: Although you may assume that heading into an office means business attire and formal salutations, this is not always the case. It is important to pay attention to the attire and communication habits of your co-workers. Becoming one of the team is as much about fitting in as it is about showing respect. Dress and communication are two important pieces of office culture to take note of.

DRESS It is best to dress formally for the interview, but be mindful of other staff and how they appear. If you are hired, you will not want to wear your best black suit when everyone else is wearing khakis.

COMMUNICATION Be aware of how staff members in your office speak with one another and how they sign their emails. It is always polite to start with Mr. or Ms. if you are unsure of how a person prefers to be called, but don’t continue to address someone as such if she consistently signs her emails, “Best, Cookie.” Calling people by their preferred title, whether that is a formal salutation or first name, is a good way to build rapport.

Always ask if you are unsure: When starting a new job, employees often want their supervisors and coworkers to know that they have not left school or an old position with a dearth of professional skills. You may not want to ask about a particular office policy or practice because you do not want to seem incompetent.

However, from my experience as a recent college grad, first-time professional, (and through my work with the clients at my organization), I have learned that asking for clarification is not a sign of weakness, but of strength.

Sometimes you might not know if your supervisor wants an email, phone call, or face-to-face conversation. So ask! Set a time with your supervisor to go over modes of communication and preferences so that you don’t feel lost. Taking initiative and being direct often wins you brownie points as well!

Whether you are starting a job right out of college, changing your place of work, or your entire career, learning what constitutes your office culture and how to interact with your supervisor are important points to remember. Being new on the job is nerve wracking but it is also a great way to show those around you what you can do. Just remember, everyone, even your supervisor was in your shoes at one time or another.

WomanWords...

“harness your power

Forget about the fast lane. If you really want to fly, just

Dr. Renée is a HEALologist, speaker and the author of The Four Paths to Ultimate Wellness, an amazing book that reveals the secrets of how to feel fantastic, look more attractive and enjoy more of life’s pleasures. Visit www.DrRenee.com or call 410-630-6989. Submit your lifestyle questions to: Advice@AskDrRenee.com.

to your passion.

”

~Oprah

December 2012 • www.womanscopenews.org

11

EDUCATION

HER STORY

WHY PLAY MATTERS For Both Kids And Adults Courtesy of Helpguide.org

Play is simultaneously a source of relaxation and stimulation for the brain and body. A sure (and fun) way to develop your imagination, creativity, problem-solving abilities, and mental health is to play with your romantic partner, officemates, children, grandchildren, and friends.

Play: It's not just for kids "What do most Nobel Laureates, innovative entrepreneurs, artists and performers, well-adjusted children, happy couples and families, and the most successfully adapted mammals have in common? They play enthusiastically throughout their lives." ~ Stuart Brown, Institute of Play Play is often described as a time when we feel most alive, yet we often take it for granted and may completely forget about it. But play isn't a luxury - it's a necessity. Play is as important to our physical and mental health as getting enough sleep, eating well, and exercising. Play teaches us how to manage and transform our "negative" emotions and experiences. It supercharges learning, helps us relieve stress, and connects us to others and the world around us. Play can also make work more productive and pleasurable.

Despite the power of play, somewhere between childhood and adulthood, many of us stop playing. We exchange play for work and responsibilities. When we do have some leisure time, we're more likely to zone out in front of the TV or computer than to engage in creative, brain-stimulating play. By giving ourselves permission to play with the joyful abandon of childhood, we can continue to reap its benefits throughout life.

Some of the reasons we play: • • • • • • • • • •

to learn to create to feel challenged to pass time to calm and focus ourselves as spectators watching others competitively to win cooperatively for the fun of it for the joy of it

The lifelong benefits of play Play connects us to others Sharing joy, laughter, and fun with others promotes bonding and strengthens a sense of community. We develop empathy, compassion, trust, and the capacity for intimacy through regular play.

Play fosters creativity, flexibility, and learning Play is a doorway to learning. Play stimulates our imaginations, helping us adapt and solve problems. Play arouses curiosity, which leads to discovery and creativity. The components of play - curiosity, discovery, novelty, risktaking, trial and error, pretense, games, social etiquette, and other increasingly complex adaptive activities - are the same as the components of learning.

Play is an antidote to loneliness, isolation, anxiety, and depression When we play vigorously, we trigger a mix of endorphins that lift our spirits and distractions that distance us from pain, fear, and other burdens. And when we play with other people, whether they’re friends or strangers, we are reminded that we are not alone in this world. We

can connect to others in delightful and meaningful ways that banish loneliness.

Play teaches us perseverance The rewards of learning or mastering a new game teach us that perseverance is worthwhile. Perseverance is a trait necessary to healthy adulthood, and it is learned largely through play. Perseverance and violence are rarely found together.

Play makes us happy Beyond all these excellent reasons for playing, there is simply the sheer joy of it. Play is a state of being that is happy and joyous. Jumping into and out of the world of play on a daily basis can preserve and nourish our own hearts, and the hearts of our communities.

Play and relationships Play is one of the most effective tools for keeping relationships fresh and exciting. Playing together for the fun of it brings joy, vitality, and resilience to relationships.

Play can also heal resentments, disagreements, and hurts.

Through regular play, we learn to trust one another and feel safe. Trust enables us to work together, open ourselves to intimacy, and try new things. By making a conscious effort to incorporate more humor and play into your daily interactions, you can improve the quality of your love relationships- as well as your connections with co-workers, family members, and friends.

Play helps us develop and improve our social skills Social skills are learned in the give and take of play. Verbal communication and body language, safety and danger, freedom and boundaries, cooperation and teamwork: all are discovered and practiced repeatedly during infant and childhood play. We continue to refine these skills in adulthood through play and playful communication.

Play teaches us how to cooperate with others Play is a powerful catalyst for positive socialization.

Through play, children learn how to "play nicely" with others - to work together, follow mutually agreed upon rules, and socialize in groups. As adults, play continues to confer these benefits. Evidence even shows that play may be an antidote to violence. In fact, those who avoid or have never learned to play may become lost in the world of fear, rage, and obsessive worry.

Mutual play can heal emotional wounds When adults play together, they are engaging in exactly the same patterns of behavior that positively shape the brain in children. These same playful behaviors that predict emotional health in children also lead to positive change in adults. Studies show that an emotionally-insecure individual can replace negative beliefs and behaviors with positive assumptions and actions by living with a secure partner. Close, positive, and emotionally-fulfilling relationships heal and create emotional resiliency. Play provides a safe and joyous context for the development of such relationships.

Playing at work: The key to productivity and innovation Work or play: It's all in your attitude When researchers studied preteen children's attitudes about play, they discovered that some children called almost everything they did "play" while others called almost See Play to Learn, Page 11

“Taxation without Representation is Tyranny!”

It may well be safe to assume a man issued that famous statement in American history, as much of our country is rooted in the work of our forefathers. Quite the contrary though, an unknown English immigrant woman was to make the statement that would forever mark legal proceedings in the United States.

Margaret Brent was born to a large Catholic gentry family in Gloucestershire, England circa 1601. Because of religious persecution by militant Puritans in the 1630’s, life was made extremely hard for the Brent family as well as other Catholics. It is not entirely known why the whole family did not immigrate to the newly established colonies but on the ultimate journey to the Maryland colony, Margaret headed the trip accompanied only by brothers Giles, Fulke, and sister, Mary.

When they arrived, Margaret held a letter from a co-Catholic ally, Lord Baltimore. It recommended that she be granted land on “favorable terms” and soon after, Margaret and her sister Mary established “Sisters Freehold” a lot of 70 acres located in St. Mary’s City, the capitol of the Maryland colony. In 1642, Margaret was again bequeathed a large amount of land on Kent Island, MD this time by her brother Giles. Soon after she won the favor of Governor Calvert (Lord Baltimore’s brother) and with him shared guardianship of Mary Kitomaquund, the daughter of a Piscataway chief, who was being educated by English Christians.

Life in the colonies was always riddled with hardship, but the seemingly prosperous life that Margaret and her family had made for themselves upon arrival in Maryland had not seen anything compared to what soon surpassed. The Civil War between King Charles I of England and Parliament “spilled over” into Maryland when Richard Engle (a protestant and an ally of the English parliament) invaded and destroyed the Catholic settlements and took Jesuit priests along with Margaret’s brother Giles back to England in chains. The soldiers fighting for Maryland were soon in an uproar because they were not getting paid. To make matters worse, Governor Calvert passed away but not before he appointed Margaret Brent head of his estate and affairs.

As Calvert’s estate was not enough to pay the soldiers, to avoid disaster Margaret had the assembly transfer her as power of attorney to his brother, Lord Baltimore’s estate as well. She soon became desperate in fear of another militia uproar, so she sold some of Lord Baltimore’s cattle which were assumed to have been sufficient payment. On January 21, 1648 Margaret appeared before the assembly meeting (it was presumably about future political and military tactics) demanding a vote in the proceedings for herself, and another as Lord Baltimore’s attorney.

Though the assembly commended Margaret to Lord Baltimore for saving the colony by the sale of his cattle, he could not get past her “betrayal” and felt that she squandered his estate. She soon fell out of favor with him and retreated to Virginia where she died in 1671.

Though she never married which was unusual for a woman in the Chesapeake of that era, Margaret Brent will forever be revered in Maryland history as a fearless woman for many things; if only for the fight to maintain her religion and properties, as well as the judicial rights for all Marylanders.

T H E R H O D E I S L A N D WO M E N ' S LEADERSHIP COUNCIL 2012 EVENTS: WLC LEADERSHIP ANNUAL CONFERENCE

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14

www.womanscopenews.org • December 2012

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

“Perfect Pitch” Hits Some Decent Notes

By Medallio Green, Staff Writer

©2012. Universal Studuios, All Rights Reserved

Pitch Perfect is a film not just about the cut-throat world of a-cappella singing and harmonizing; it is so much more than that. The film captures the recycled story of loner college freshman, Beca, who inadvertently finds a group of friends with whom she can connect.

Beca is played by “Twilight’s” Anna Hendricks who brought the quintessential dumpy, sarcastic, heavy eyeliner wearing character to life who also aspires to be a D.J. Of course, she becomes friends with the historic all female a-cappella group, The Bellas of Barden University.

The Bellas are a story all on their own, but only a few respectfully stood out. Chloe played

by Brittany Snow reels Beca into the group and forcefully befriends her. She shows Beca that she has a real talent not just putting beats together on a computer, but also at being a good friend. Chloe was a breath of fresh air to the film as the voice of reason and peace in a group of diverse woman. Putting her odd moments of unabashed nudity aside, Brittany Snow was a real treat to watch; reminding the audience of her stint in the “Hairspray” motion picture.

There is absolutely no way I can mention outstanding performances without pointing out Fat Amy played by Rebel Wilson who you may have seen in “What to Expect When You’re Expecting.” Unfortunately, the audience will notice that Amy is the stereotypical overweight female who uses humor to cover up awkward moments. Fat Amy was a comedic relief to the film, but at times the comedy seemed forced and out of place.

In a time where homosexuality is becoming widely accepted, the screenwriter seems to mock them in a not-so-subtle way. The female character blatantly ogled her co-star’s rear and

'Zero Dark Thirty' is massive, meticulous The Associated Press 2012

Until the very end, she is described as "The Girl."

Even after a relentless, decade-long pursuit that leads to the daring midnight raid of Osama bin Laden's compound, even as she unzips the body bag to verify that the bloody corpse inside is indeed that of the slain al-Qaida leader, Jessica Chastain's CIA officer character is defined primarily by her femininity in this male-dominated world.

It's probably a phenomenon Kathryn Bigelow unfortunately is acquainted with herself, being the rare woman in Hollywood making muscular action movies — including 2009's "The Hurt Locker," winner of six Academy Awards including best picture and director,

the latter being a first for a woman. And so even as "Zero Dark Thirty" takes an aesthetically stripped-down look at a hugely dramatic event, it shines with the integrity and decency of its central figure: a fierce young woman who's both dedicated and brainy, demanding and brazen.

Of course it took billions of dollars over 10 years and a multitude of people — many who gave their lives — to make this mission a success. Bigelow and "Hurt Locker" screenwriterproducer Mark Boal have accomplished the difficult feat of taking all that time, travel, investigation and frustration and depicting it thoroughly but also efficiently. The attention to detail, to getting it right each step of the

breasts. It seemed the writer, Kay Cannon, pulled out all the stops to ensure that all personalities were noticed in The Bellas, but also in their all male a-cappella rival. One of the rivals, Benji, played by Ben Platt was the oddball who stayed cooped up in his dorm room performing magic for an invisible audience.

The personalities weren’t the only noticeable force; enter the soundtrack. A movie dedicated to sick beats and choreographed movement had to include a very impressive soundtrack. That is exactly what the film delivered. Using music such as La Roux’s “Bulletproof” and B.O.B’s “I’ve Got the Magic in Me” didn’t over emphasize nor undermine any of the films scene structure. There definitely wasn’t a moment when I was sitting in my seat wishing that different music was used for any of the performances. I was engaged and singing along. Surprisingly, it all came together and made perfect (no pun intended) sense.

I found “Perfect Pitch” to be entertaining and full of energy, though the comedy seemed a bit forced. I wasn’t cringing too much except when projectile vomit was involved. I guarantee you will not leave the theater wishing you

way, is evident in everything from the dialogue to the production design to the lighting.

This is pure, unadorned storytelling, an effort to recreate what happened with absolute authenticity and zero excess. Methodical and detached as it is, "Zero Dark Thirty" may actually leave some viewers a bit cold; there are plenty of moments of danger in crowded streets and claustrophobic questioning rooms, but some of the legwork is tedious and it doesn't always pay off.

But the drama is inherent from the very beginning and the emotion sneaks up on you by the end. We know what happened, and we know why it matters.

Chastain's powerfully controlled performance — a spectacular showcase for this versatile actress' many talents and a long-overdue leading role — is emblematic of the film as a whole. Her character, Maya (based on a real person with some tweaks to protect the woman's identity), is described by colleagues as "a killer" upon arrival at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan, two years after the 9/11 attacks. Quietly reserved at first as she watches a colleague (the commanding Jason Clarke) rough up a suspect during an interrogation — and Bigelow doesn't shy away from the brutality of such torture, let's call it by its name — Maya soon asserts herself with her exhaustive research and inner drive.

We don't learn much about her since she has practically no personal life; what she does speaks for who she is. At a rare dinner out one night, a fellow female colleague (Jennifer Ehle, excellent as always) conspiratorially asks Maya whether she's messed around with a goodlooking co-worker of theirs. Maya is appalled

saw something else because honestly you’ll be too busy singing to the catchy music and dancing in the aisles. However, I wouldn’t recommend young children seeing this film because of the adult sexual innuendos, but I do feel that “Pitch Perfect” is a good - “A-ca say what?”

(If you saw the movie you would definitely know what that phrase is all about.)

by the very suggestion. She's a professional.

Besides, there's no time.

She's gotten a hold of a lead she can't shake: the notion that following one of bin Laden's couriers will lead to the elusive al-Qaida chief.

Trails grow cold, years pass, friends die in the line of duty and more attacks occur all over the globe. Pressures run high and time is against her; she finally cracks and lets some raw feelings burst forth in a confrontation with her arrogant superior, played with perfect slickness

by Kyle Chandler. Also among the strong supporting cast are some actors in unexpected roles: Mark Duplass as a CIA officer! James Gandolfini as the agency's director!

But the discovery of a sprawling, heavily protected compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, makes her suspicious and gives her hope. Bigelow's extensive staging of the May 1, 2011, raid is a prime example of virtuoso action filmmaking. Set in the dead of a moonless night — hence the title, inspired by military jargon — the Navy SEALs' mission is both massive and intimate, a mix of ominous aerial shots of stealthy Black Hawk helicopters and infrared vision in dark bedrooms and corridors.

Every bit of effort and emotion has led to this lengthy sequence, and we're invested, too.

There's no riding off into the sunset once the mission is complete, no swell of inspirational music; Alexandre Desplat's score is suitably understated, too. Just a few heartfelt hugs and some tears, all of them hard-earned.

"Zero Dark Thirty," a Columbia Pictures release, is rated R for strong violence including brutal disturbing images, and for language. Running time: 157 minutes. Three and a half stars out of four.

December 2012 • www.womanscopenews.org

15

TopPlaces to Celebrate NewYear's Eve

TRAVEL

Courtesy of Fodors.com

The year 2013 is almost upon us and there are lots of ways to welcome it that don’t involve nursing a bottle of bubbly on your couch. We’ve rounded up nine cities that celebrate the New Year with style. From familyfriendly affairs to all-night debauchery, find your perfect party below.

Did your favorite end-of-year destination not make the cut? Add your top choices in our comments below.

NewYork City Best For: bucket listers

Photo: Courtesy Countdown Entertainment, LLC

Why not welcome the 2013 in grand style?

Watch the ball drop in Times Square (above) or the magical First Night celebration in Boston (right).

Photo: P aul Rob icheau

Over a billion p people watch the Times T Square bash on TV, but you’ll get more crowd ge buzz (and less Ryan buz Seacrest) in the onSea site audience. You already know the basic drill. Mittened masses brave the cold brandishing free paraphernadishin lia; cel celebs perform live; then, amid much kissing and confetti, a crystal ball weighing wei almost six tons drops d from a flagpole atop One Times Square. Prudent partiers, however, will check the event’s official website before taking a bite of the Big Apple. It covers all the FAQs.

Boston

Best for: fun-loving families Bostonians having been flocking to First Night since the event launched back in 1976.

Starting at 1 pm on the 31st, 200 artsy alcohol-free activities will be staged at downtown venues both indoors and out. The whole shebang is affordable (an $18 button gains you entry into everything) and it’s family-friendly, too. For example, the Hynes Convention Center hosts an afternoon Family Festival and there is an early bird fireworks show at 7 pm for little tykes who can’t stay awake for the midnight extravaganza.

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Best for: open-container law-lovers Mardi Gras proves that the French Quarter knows how to throw a party and it pulls out all the stops again on New Year’s Eve for the Crescent City Countdown. Though Bourbon Street bars do booming business day and night, official celebrations take place in Jackson Square. Beginning at 9 pm there’s live entertainment at the Decatur Street City Stage; and, putting a Cajun spin on the classic ball drop, a nine-foot fleur de lis descends at the Jax Brewery building. Afterwards, fireworks

explode over the Mississippi.

Edinburgh

Best for: fans of bagpipes and other kilt-y pleasures Go whole hog at Hogmanay: a raucous four-day fete, the roots of which reach back to pagan times. Things kick off with a fiery torchlight parade December 30 and close with a rugby match against rival Glasgow January 2.

In between, the program is packed with street parties, concerts, and traditional Scottish keilidhs with Celtic music and dance. The highlight is a midnight pyrotechnic display featuring over four tons of fireworks and a rousing rendition of "Auld Lang Syne," the holiday anthem penned by homeboy Robbie Burns.

Barcelona

Best for: grape connoisseurs The Catalonian capital’s Nochevieja (Old Night) fiesta will fulfill your grape expectations, and not only because Spanish wine flows so freely. In anticipation of the countdown, crowds converge on Plaza Cataluùa to pop cava corks and swallow a dozen grapes— one for each chime of the clock—to ensure good luck over the coming twelve months.

Night owls by nature, it’s no surprise Barceloneses dance til dawn. If you’ve got energy to burn, join them at the beach to usher the New Year in at sunrise.

Vienna

Best for: culture vultures When it’s elegance you’re after, try waltzing through the weekend in Vienna. Tickets to glittery affairs—like the New Year’s Eve ball at Hofburg Palace or New Year’s Day concert at the Musikverein—are in great demand. But even public events retain a touch of class. The New Year's Path, which threads through Old Town, is a case in point: follow it and you’ll not only hear the requisite rock. You will be treated to an operetta, a Mozart mash up and more. Impromptu waltz lessons are available as well.

Rio de Janeiro

Best for: heat-seeking hedonists Nothing beats Reveillon in Rio, which brings more than two million celebrants to the fabled Copacabana beach on New Year’s Eve. This being Brazil, you can expect throngs, thongs and an endless supply of infectious samba tunes. Festivities, though, also have a soulful side. Witness the flowers being ritualistically tossed into the ocean as a tribute to Iemanjå, an Afro-Brazilian goddess. At 12 am, over-the-top fireworks punctuate the revelry which carries on through the night.

16

www.womanscopenews.org • December 2012

GREEN LIVING

FASHION

Carbon Footprints & Ideas on How to Minimize Them

by Jessica Blue, Demand Media

5 Holiday Fashion Mistakes Avoid These Holiday Fashion Faux Pas

By Cynthia Nellis, About.com Guide

You might have heard that going green requires you to reduce your carbon footprint. Despite its strange name, a carbon footprint is relatively easy to understand: It's just a measurement of how your daily life affects the environment. You can use online tools to calculate your footprint, and reduce it by making reasonable changes that fit your lifestyle.

DETERMINING CARBON FOOTPRINT Your carbon footprint is a measurement of the greenhouse gases your lifestyle produces. Greenhouse gases are types of pollution that contribute to the greenhouse effect, which is widely believed to be heating up the Earth's atmosphere and creating potentially dangerous conditions for future generations.

Carbon dioxide is the primary greenhouse gas, and environmental impact is often discussed in terms of "carbon emissions" or the amount of carbon and other substances your activities add to the atmosphere. An online calculator can help you estimate your personal carbon emissions. Be prepared for a shock: Carbon emissions are measured in tons.

REDUCING ENERGY USE In the United States, burning coal or fossil fuel is the most common source of electricity. Reducing your electricity use is an easy way to reduce your footprint, and it'll save you money, too. Contact your power company for information on reducing your energy use, or start by weatherizing your house, changing to efficient lightbulbs, turning off appliances you aren't using and turning off the heat or air conditioner when you aren't home. If you can afford it, invest in solar energy: You can install solar panels at your home, or ask your power company to sell you renewable energy instead of the standard.

EARTH-FRIENDLY TRAVEL Cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats and airplanes all burn fuel, and every mile you travel increases your carbon emissions. If you commute to work every day, try carpooling or switching to a low-emission vehicle such as a hybrid. If you have a short commute, ride your bike in the warm months. Try to avoid business travel, opt for remote meetings and teleconferences instead. When you do travel, try taking the train. It's slower than a plane, but much more environmentally friendly.

BUILDING GREEN Surprisingly, modern buildings aren't very energy efficient. This is especially true of houses: The U.S. Green Building Council reports that buildings use 39% of the energy and 74% of the electricity that the United States produces each year. The Green Building Council has come up with environmental standards that help builders create more sustainable homes that use less energy without sacrificing comfort. If you're thinking of buying a house, make sure you choose one that's been built with an eye to environmental impact.

OTHER IDEAS If you can't change your lifestyle and still want to reduce your footprint, consider buying carbon offsets. Pay an individual or a company to plant trees or do environmental work that equalizes some or all of your carbon emissions.

You can also work to green your daily activities in other ways, such as gardening and composting, buying organic foods and supporting local producers.

There are countless ways to make small changes in your lifestyle, so take the time to research your options and find carbon-reducing strategies that work for you.

An award-winning blogger, Jessica Blue has been promoting sustainability, natural health and a doit-yourself attitude since graduating University of California, Berkeley in 2000. Her work, seen in a wide variety of publications, advocates an environmentally-responsible PHOTO: Jupiterimages/BananaStock/Getty Images

and healthy lifestyle.

gal). Done right, glitz can light up your face and highlight your best body parts. And don't forget that sometimes the best glitz appears only in accessories: a beaded clutch, sparkly shoes or a hint of glitter eye shadow can go a long way.

2. Showing Too Much Skin Thigh-high miniskirts and cutto-the-navel dresses may look great on the runway, but in reality they are almost impossible to carry off. Not only is it possible to dress sexy while leaving lots to the imagination, it's also the best way to look your prettiest for the holidays. The secret here is to accentuate your best features with a suggestion: a lace-trimmed camisole under a blazer hints at great cleavage, a small slit on a skirt gives a glimpse at gorgeous legs, a halter dress shows off toned arms.

3. Getting Caught With Nothing to Wear Nothing is worse than being invited to a fabulous party and having nothing to wear. By keeping a few dressy basics in your closet you can always be prepared for last-minute invitations. You can even re-wear the items and make them look totally different just with accessories. Essentials like a great little black dress or perfect dressy black pants can take you a long way.

4. Making It Too Complicated The little black dress, like this one from Neiman Marcus for Target, will take you anywhere.

If you've ever dressed up shinier than a Christmas tree or turned down last-minute party invitations because you had nothing to wear, you'll know that the holiday season is loaded with chances for fashion disasters. From overdone party looks to being caught with nothing to wear, there are lots of ways that holiday fashion can catch you at your stylish worst.

With a little help and preparation, you can learn how to avoid common holiday fashion mistakes and look your prettiest this year.

Here are some common holiday faux pas and how to avoid them:

1. Wearing Too Much Glitz Beading, metallic and shimmer are all fine for the holidays. In fact, most women wait until a good party to break out all of the glitzy finery. But too much shine can overwhelm anyone, especially if you wear it in areas that you don't necessarily want to highlight (like a beaded chest sweater for a busty

No wonder women approach the holidays with dread: trying to coordinate outfits, gifts, travel and parties can overload even the most organized woman.

Instead of trying to match up dressy separates, try a little black dress this season. Not only is it universally flattering, it will take you to almost any event in style. Just add accessories and you're set.

Your hair should look uncomplicated as well. Opt for sexy half-up/half-down styles or pull your hair back into a low ponytail. Keep your makeup simple, but special: sometimes all it takes is a great red lipstick to dress it all up!

5. Being Under or Over Dressed You show up in jeans, everyone else wears velvet; you wear a long dress and others wear business clothes. You're not alone if you have trouble deciphering dress codes on a party invitation: most people get confused by designations as ambiguous as "Dressy Casual" or "Cocktail Attire." A few dressy items span several categories -- such as the little black dress for her or dark suit for him -- both of which can attend everything from semi-formal to cocktail parties.

December 2012 • www.womanscopenews.org

17

A man is not a financial plan

By Mary Carroll Murphy

Many Americans continue to be unprepared financially when it comes to retirement planning, as evidenced by one of the lowest savings rates (4.9 percent) in the developed world, according to data from the Federal Reserve.

This is despite the government's latest revisions to the dates Medicare (2024) and Social Security (2036) are expected to become insolvent. With that in mind, it would be smart for Americans to put an investing and savings plan in place that does not rely primarily on government programs.

It would be especially prudent for women to do so.

Social Security is particularly important to women, currently providing 51 percent of elderly unmarried women's -- including widows' -- total retirement income. To put this in perspective, unmarried elderly men get 39 percent, while elderly married couples get 36 percent of their income from Social Security.

Unmarried women are especially dependent, given that Social Security is the only source of income for 25 percent of them. The elderly poverty rate among women would have been 52.2 percent and among widows would have been 60.6 percent had it not been for Social Security.

Many studies show single women, particularly mothers, have a significantly higher risk of living in poverty than married women.

Women live an average of seven years longer than men. They typically earn less than men and their retirement benefits are consequently lower.

Social Security Administration research shows that divorced and never-married women are increasing as a proportion of elderly women. This trend is expected to accelerate as waves of baby boomers continue to retire.

There is also an increasing trend toward "late-stage divorce" by baby boomers. Data from The Office of National Statistics show that the overall rate of divorce in the United States is dropping within every age group studied except those over 60. Some attribute this to longevity and the increased potential for couples to grow apart. Women in particular need to be aware of the financial impact of divorce. Of single women heading families with children, more than 40 percent are now living in poverty.

BETTER POSITIONED Here are some tips on how both married and single women can better position themselves financially for the future: • For married couples, focus on the three C's: Communication, collaboration and cash flow. Lack of effective communication on saving and spending priorities can be a leading cause of divorce. How-

•

ever, couples who collaborate to achieve family goals and partner in managing the family's finances can have stronger relationships. Managing your cash flow through proper budgeting and saving can contribute to your peace of mind.

If you are faced with divorce, make a financial adviser one of your first calls.

•

Division of family property is usually one of the most contentious aspects of divorce. Financial advisers can help calculate a fair and equitable division that can lead to a smoother separation.

Establish credit, savings and retirement accounts in your own name. Having separate credit is essential in the event you

FINANCE divorce or become a widow.

Set a per-paycheck savings goal for yourself and set up automatic deposits into retirement and investment accounts. If you need assistance in goal-setting, meet with a financial adviser who can help you plan your cash flow in retirement.

• Make sure you have a long-term care strategy in place long before you need it. Women live longer and have a higher probability they will need long-term care. If a husband becomes ill first, his care might deplete family assets, leaving little or nothing available to care for the surviving spouse. Medicare rarely covers long-term care services, so it's important to have a plan for both spouses. A longterm care strategy is even more important for single women.

It's important for women to become more financially literate and to be an equal partner in managing family finances. Seek financial education online, from your library, at local free seminars and by joining free financial literacy groups like the Southern New Hampshire Money Club. The club, which has been in existence since 2006, is a free program of the nonprofit Women's Institute for Financial Education (Wife.org) dedicated to improving women's financial literacy.

Mary Carroll Murphy, a Nashua-based independent branch leader with Charles Schwab, can be reached at 603-595-0438 or mary.murphy@ schwab.com.

•

WIRED Dear readers, I am very excited to join the WomanScope News Magazine team as the Internet Marketing columnist! I have been in sales and marketing for almost 20 years. After the birth of my first daughter more than 4 years ago, I started transitioning my "corporate" marketing experience to the Internet.

And I've never been more excited to be in marketing.

I have always loved to learn. I often say that I would be a fantastic professional student! It doesn't matter how old I get; I still get a thrill with the accomplishment of learning something new and putting it to work.

One of the things that fascinates me about the Internet is the possibility. The potential reach online is huge and despite new websites and businesses starting every day, there's still room for more.

Since I am online every day, I see the good and the bad. I see websites that are beautifully designed but don't get any traffic because they aren't helping their customer. I see websites that don't necessarily stand out for being pretty, but they are useful and informative, and get a ton of traffic.

Then, I see a lot of the unknown. Businesses who have a website because they know they should, but haven't really optimized it. There is so much potential here that I have made it my professional ambition to educate people on how to make their website work for them.

A website is much more than an online business brochure. It's an extension of your brand...and of you, the business owner. In order to be effective, a website must be informative, easy to use and have a process to guide the website visitor through a sales funnel.

What's a sales funnel?

A sales funnel is really just a process for getting a website visitor to engage with you on a small level (newsletter subscription, register for a free or low cost offer, etc.) and then works towards building a relationship and converting them to a paying customer.

- Ivette Muller

18

www.womanscopenews.org • December 2012

SUCCESS STRATEGIES

8 MYTHS ABOUT BUILDING A REFERRAL-BASED BUSINESS

By Ann Hosmer, Team Management Specialist, Building Winning Teams

Lately I am meeting a number of people who want coaching around building a referral – based business. Why not? If you have a choice between chasing down prospective clients by cold calling, or attracting them to you by referral, which is more effective in building a lasting book of business? Ultimately our goal is to have our existing clients generate introductions to new prospective clients who will see us based upon the respect they have for the person making the referral.

Unfortunately we allow certain beliefs and misconceptions to reoccur that cloud our judgment. So, let’s take a few moments to examine eight of the more common ways we are going wrong, and the results we are not getting.

MYTH #1 – “THE REFERRALS I GET ARE NO HIGHER QUALITY THAN THE COLD CALLS I MAKE.” FALSE: This is a problem for you because you don’t have a system to follow to obtain referrals. You are not asking soon enough or in the right way to gain high quality referrals.

MYTH #2 – “I CAN’T ASK FOR REFERRALS UNTIL AFTER I HAVE DONE WORK FOR MY CLIENT.” FALSE: Create a system for asking and following up like you would plant a garden.

To build a clientele, you must start by planting the seed when you first meet the client.

“Joan, I grow my business through introductions from existing clients. As we work together, I will ask you to introduce me to friends and business associates who will gladly speak with me based upon the respect they have for you.” Empower your client to see value in helping you grow your business.

MYTH #3 – “IT IS IMPORTANT THAT EACH NEW CLIENT SEE ME AS AN EXPERT.” FALSE: Change your language. Begin thinking of yourself as a problem-solver rather than a sales person. Stop asking for referrals, and ask for introductions. Stop referring to new people as leads and prospects and speak of them as prospective clients. Do you feel the subtle shift in energy?

MYTH #4- TO BUILD CREDIBILITY WITH A NEW CLIENT, I HAVE TO ‘SELL MYSELF’ AS AN EXPERT IN MY FIELD.” FALSE: Allow yourself to radiate credibility. “Selling yourself” focuses your attention upon you rather than the client. You are attempting to connect with your head instead of your heart. To build your relationship, you must connect heart to heart. Your client

must feel how much you care before they will acknowledge your credibility.

MYTH #5 – “BY ASKING A REFERRING PARTY TO ‘QUALIFY’ A PROSPECTIVE CLIENT, I AM BEING TOO PUSHY.” FALSE: The more detail you have about this person right down to the names of their children, their pets, and their hobbies, the easier it will be to connect with them heart to heart, allowing instant rapport to become lasting trust.

MYTH #6 – “WHEN ASKING FOR NEW INTRODUCTIONS, I SHOULD ALLOW THE REFERRING PARTY TO SELECT THE RIGHT PERSON” FALSE: The more specific you are in the description of your ideal client, the easier you make it for the referring party to identify the right person.

MYTH #7 – “WHEN ASKING A REFERRING PARTY TO MAKE AN INTRODUCTION ON MY BEHALF, I SHOULD REQUEST THE PERSON CALL TO ALERT THEM THAT I WILL CALL.” FALSE: The ideal setup for a new introduction is to share a conference call or a meal between the three of you. Otherwise, you allow someone else to control the process.

MYTH #8 – “ONCE I HAVE A NEW CLIENT FROM A REFERRING CLIENT OR CENTER OF INFLUENCE, I HAVE THEM FOR LIFE.” FALSE: You must water the garden and grow the flowers by sharing new products and educational events. Otherwise, they lose interest in you and climb on board with someone else who fills your shoes and tends the garden.

So, there you have eight of the most common myths that keep us ineffective at building a referral-based business. Would you like to learn how to bust the myths and build your business around a strong foundation of referral-based marketing? I am seeking 20 women entrepreneurs to join my October Mastermind Group for 8 weeks for a flat $250.00 each. Or, bring an associate and join for $200.00 each. To sign up or gain more information, contact me, using the information below: Ann Hosmer, Team Management Specialist is the founder of Building Winning Teams, a company that assists entrepreneurs and small business owners gain tools and strategies to build and develop a team that is self-motivated and united behind your mission, freeing you from managing people to focus upon the kind of work you love the most. Sign up for the next MASTERMIND GROUP by calling her at 410-752-3437.

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Getting referrals from existing clients is one of the most effective ways to grow your business

PET CARE

Diabetes in Pets

By Aileen Gabbey

We often hear about the rise of diabetes in our country as it affects people. Pets can also suffer from diabetes, a disease caused by lack of insulin according to the American Animal Hospital Association. November is Pet Diabetes Month and there is helpful information available to help pet owners who may have pets with this disease.

Signs and risk factors: We are all familiar with our pets’ routines. Whenever there is a change in their behavior, it is good to pay attention. If you observe that your pet is excessively thirsty or hungry, or excessively urinating, these may be signs of diabetes. Other warning signs include lethargy, cloudy eyes, lower activity, and dull hair. Your pet may also be more inclined to have diabetes if he is obese or older. If he doesn’t get enough physical activity, that can also be a risk factor. As in humans, there are other health complications that come along with having diabetes. In pets, the most obvious and notable is cataracts.

Diagnosis and treatment: If you suspect your pet may have diabetes, the first step is to arrange a visit with your vet. He or she will do a thorough examination and, if diabetes is a possibility, will likely do a urine test and blood test. These will help determine if diabetes is the correct diagnosis. If your pet does have diabetes, your vet

will provide a care plan. Daily insulin injections will likely be part of the treatment. A change in diet will also be important. Pets with diabetes will need more protein and fewer carbohydrates, and your vet may recommend a change in the amount of food your pet receives. Often, smaller, more frequent meals will be recommended. And, as with people with diabetes, exercise will be part of the regimen to managing diabetes.

For dogs, additional walks are a great way to get more physical activity. You can also add indoor exercise, such as playing with a toy or hiding (vet-approved) treats. Cats may enjoy playing with a feathered wand or a catnip-filled toy.

As we all age, health complications take a toll. But, you can manage diabetes in your pet with your vet’s help and adding some helpful activities to his day. For more information, you can visit www.petdiabetesmonth.com.

December 2012 • www.womanscopenews.org

Saying Yes to Play Play to Learn, from page 11 everything they did "work." Reconnecting with the children at the end of adolescence, the children who thought of everything as play were more successful and happier in school and were more content socially than the people who saw everything as "work."

Many people are working longer and harder, thinking that this will solve the problem of an ever-increasing workload. But they are still falling behind, becoming chronically overwhelmed, and burning out.

Work is where we spend much of our time. That is why it is especially important for us to play during work. Without some recreation, our work suffers. Success at work doesn't depend on the amount of time you work. It depends upon the quality of your work. And the quality of your work is highly dependent on your well-being.

Taking the time to replenish yourself through play is one of the best things you can do for your career. When the project you're working on hits a serious glitch (as often happens), heading out to the basketball court with your colleagues to shoot some hoops and have a few laughs does a lot more than take your mind off the problem. If basketball isn't your cup of tea, having a model airplane contest, telling stories, or flying kites in the parking lot will also allow your relationship to the problem to shift and enable you to approach it from a new perspective.

Playing at work: • keeps you functional when under stress • refreshes your mind and body • encourages teamwork • helps you see problems in new ways • triggers creativity and innovation • increases energy and prevents burnout

Play, creativity, and flow Psychiatrist and writer Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi has studied play extensively. He describes play as a flow state that requires just the right balance of challenge and opportunity. If the game is too hard or too easy, it loses its sense of pleasure and fun. Maintaining a flow state in games with others requires all participants, regardless of age or ability, to feel challenged but not overwhelmed.

Feelings We Experience in the Flow State Involvement - Complete focus and concentration, either due to innate curiosity or as

the result of training.

Delight - A sense of bliss and positive detachment from everyday reality.

Clarity - Great inner clarity and a built-in understanding about the state of affairs.

Confidence - An innate sense that the activity is doable and that your skills are adequate to the task. Additionally, you don’t feel anxious or bored.

Serenity - A sense of peace and an absence of worries about self.

Timeliness - Thorough focus on the present and a lack of attention to the passing of time.

Motivation - Intrinsic understanding about what needs to be done and a desire to keep the moment of play moving.

Learning how to play again Bernie DeKoven, one of the originators of the New Games movement, has devoted his life to developing games that bring people together emotionally in the context of playing for fun. See the Resources section below for links to some of his favorite games. For those who have forgotten how to play and don't know how to get started again, Bernie offers the following advice: "You don't have to have rules or goals or a board or even anything to play with except each other. But whatever it is that you're playing, there are two things you have to take seriously: being together, and the sheer fun of it all. No game is more important than the experience of being together, being joined, being equal - governed by the same rules, playing for the same purpose. And no purpose is more uniting and freeing than the purpose of being fun with each other."

Winning and losing Bernie makes important points about winning and losing: • It's OK for you to lose. This may be hard to remember at the time, but getting beaten fair and square by your own grandkid is one of life's great events • Nobody has to lose. For some reason, both adults and children tend to take games more seriously than anyone needs to. That's why it is not unusual for a trivial game to end up as a contest of wills and for children to wind up in tears because they've "lost."

• Competition separates, rather than unites. Despite your best efforts to keep the competition friendly and fun, the very existence of winners and losers shifts the focus of the game away from fun and playfulness.

It separates rather than unites, alienates rather than embraces.

• Yes, the competitive separation can be overcome. Whenever it happens that opponents embrace each other, it is a victory and a triumph of the human spirit. But it is a rare occurrence.

19

POLITICS

The 2012 Election Brings a Stunning Array of Firsts for Women in Congress

By Abigail Pesta Binders full of women—a record number—will serve in Congress, marking a flurry of firsts, including the first openly gay U.S. senator and the first HinduAmerican in Congress. Abigail Pesta reports.

Women made history, scoring a slew of interesting firsts for Congress, including the first openly gay perAP PHOTO son in the Senate, the first Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Sen. Mazie Hirono, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

Asian-American woman in the Senate, and the first Hindu-American in Congress. A record number former governor Tommy Thompson for the of women—binders full, some might say—will seat of retiring Democratic Sen. Herb Kohl.

In North Dakota, Democrat Heidi Heitserve in Congress, with 20 in the Senate and kamp became her state’s first female U.S. at least 76 in the House, according to the Censenator. She defeated Republican Rep. Rick ter for American Women and Politics.

New Hampshire became the first state Berg in a heated race for the seat of retiring ever to have women in all of its top elected Democrat Kent Conrad.

In the Senate, 11 women won their races, positions—a female governor, two female U.S. senators, and two women in the House. As including five newcomers and six incumbents. the state’s new governor, Maggie Hassan will Nine women who were not up for reelection be the only female Democratic governor in the this year will remain in the Senate. In the country when she takes office—and the only House, with three races not yet called at press female governor who supports abortion rights. time, 17 newcomers were elected, joining 59 She beat out Republican Ovide Lamontagne, incumbents who were reelected.

The House will host a record total of 28 stressing the importance of women’s reprowomen of color, including 13 African-Ameriductive rights, and will replace retiring Gov. can women, nine Latinas, and six Asian/PacifJohn Lynch.

In an an all-women Senate square-off in ic Islander Americans, according to the CenHawaii, Democrat Mazie Hirono defeated Re- ter for American Women and Politics. The publican Linda Lingle, becoming the state’s new women in the House include two military first-ever female U.S. senator. Hirono is also veterans: Democrat and double-amputee Tamthe country’s first Asian-American woman my Duckworth of Illinois, as well as Gabbard, elected to the Senate. In addition, she’s the the Democrat from Hawaii.

A record number of women ran for Confirst U.S. senator born in Japan—and the second woman of color to serve in the Senate, gress this year, with 18 running for Senate according to the Center for American Women seats and 166 vying for the House. Women and Politics. Hirono replaces retiring Demo- faced off against women for the same seat in three Senate races and in 11 House races. cratic Sen. Daniel Akaka.

Hawaii also elected the country's first Heading into the election, women held a palHindu-American to Congress, with Democrat try 16.8 percent of the seats in Congress.

“Our voices decided the election,” Tara Tulsi Gabbard winning a House seat. She deMcGuinness, executive director of the Center feated Republican Kawika Crowley and replacfor American Progress Action Fund, said in a es Hirono, who moves on to the Senate.

Massachusetts elected its first female U.S. statement. “Our vision—for the country, our senator, with Democrat Elizabeth Warren’s families, and futures—should be at the center high-profile defeat of Republican incumbent of the governing agenda.”

Women’s votes were indeed decisive, with Sen. Scott Brown. In her win of the key Sena majority of women (55 percent) casting ate seat once held by Ted Kennedy, Warren, their votes for President Obama, according a former Harvard professor and supporter of to an analysis of exit-poll data by the Center Occupy Wall Street, triumphed over a tsunami of criticism from her opponent, including ac- for American Women and Politics. A majorcusations that she had no proof of the Native ity of men (52 percent) voted for Mitt Romney. Romney’s support among women voters American ancestry she claimed.

Wisconsin will send its first woman to the was around 44 percent. While Romney won a Senate as well, electing Democrat Tammy Bald- majority of white women’s votes (56 percent), win, who also becomes the first openly gay per- the majority of both black women and Latinas son in the U.S. Senate. She beat out popular voted for Obama.

20

www.womanscopenews.org • December 2012

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21

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www.womanscopenews.org • December 2012

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23

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