50 Life Skills Every Modern Woman Should Know

1. Open a bottle of champagne.
2. Drink without getting a hangover the next morning. Tip: Line your stomach with bread, drink one glass of water for every glass of alcohol, and don't drink more than three glasses of red wine.
3.  Look good in a photo. Tip: Turn your head slightly to one side rather than look the camera head-on; stand (or sit) straight with your shoulders back; arch your back ever so slightly; don't press your arms against your body; unless you have a prominent chin, stick it out just a little to accentuate your jawline.
4. Remove unwanted body hair the most effectively, painlessly, and affordable way possible for her.
5. Dump someone gracefully. Tip: Do it in person, if possible; get to the point quickly, choose a time when the other person isn't expected somewhere any time soon (like work... or a wedding); give a reasonable explanation; answer whatever questions he or she may ask.
6. Write a sincere thank you note.
7. Set a lovely table, no matter how casual the meal is.
8. Wrap a gift anyone would be excited to open.
9. Find someone's bridal/wedding/baby shower registry online. Tip: go to WeddingChannel.com and type in honoree's name. You'll find registries for a variety of stores. Do a "find a registry" search on Amazon, too.
10. Send a BCC group email.
11.  Dress for her body type.
12. Graciously offer assistance to someone in need.
13. Book a vacation.
14. Hide a bad hair day.
15. Find the best deal. Tip: For big ticket items, always, always, always compare prices online. Then, do a "coupon" search and see if you can find a coupon code to save you even more money. Sites like RetailMeNot, CouponCabin, and Bargainist are great places to find great deals online.
16. Write a kick-ass cover letter.
17. Hold a baby.
18. Make at least one great cocktail.
19. Start a conversation. Tip: ask people questions about themselves, like where they grew up, how they met their significant other, or how they know the host.
20. End a conversation. Tip: If you're at a party, excuse yourself to the bathroom, pretend like you just saw someone you need to say hi to, or excuse yourself to call the babysitter. Saying you're going to get a refill doesn't work as well because the person could follow you or ask you get him or her a refill, too.
21. Pack everything she needs for a weekend getaway in one small bag.
22. Ask someone out. Tip: Don't use ambiguous language like "hang out." Have a specific activity and/or place in mind, even if it's just coffee.
23. Invest her money.
24. Use Mapquest, Googlemaps, or some other 21st century version of direction-giving.
25. Pack her purse with essentials: cash, ID, keys, phone, breath mints, chapstick or lipgloss, and a book, newspaper, or crossword puzzle to keep her occupied during a long wait or when she's trying to avoid someone on the train.
26. Prepare, order, or pay for a tasty and healthful dinner for herself and at least one guest.
27. Edit, upload, and print photos.
28. Perform the Heimlich, and CPR.
29. Choose a ripe fruit.
30. Cook and carve a turkey (or tofurky, if you must).
31. Google her date.
32. Negotiate a salary and/or pay raise. This is how men do it, and women need to start negotiating more like men.
33. Bite her tongue when it's appropriate to.
34. Get a passport.
35. Reserve a library book online.
36. Leave (or find) Yelp reviews.
37. Find the right bra.
38. Welcome a new neighbor or co-worker. Tip: Make a point to introduce yourself and give one piece of friendly advice, like where the best place is to grab lunch.
39. Get herself (and her partner) off.
40. Assemble furniture.
41. Figure out what to tip on a $27 bill.
42. Look for a way out (of a relationship, a job, or a crowded music fest full of hipsters).
43. Find a reputable repair person.
44. Give a sincere (or, at least sincere-sounding) apology.
45. When and how to say "no" firmly (but graciously when appropriate).
46. Organize a small party or dinner for a loved one.
47. Dry out her wet cell phone. Tip: turn it off and let it sit in a bowl or bag of rice overnight).
48. Change a tire (or find someone who can do it for her).
49. Give herself a breast exam.
50. Ask for help when she needs it.

Fromhttp://inshreds.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/50-life-skills-every-modern-woman.html

Menopause Basics

All women will experience the menopause. Natural menopause takes place when the ovaries become unable to produce the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Menopause can also occur when the ovaries are damaged by specific treatment such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy, or when the ovaries are removed, often at the time of a hysterectomy. Ovaries naturally fail to produce estrogen and progesterone when they have few remaining egg cells; the maximum number of egg cells in the ovaries is present before birth, with a reduced number already at birth, gradual reduction from puberty, and a rapid decline from 40 onwards. With less egg cells, the ovaries become less able to respond to hormones from the pituitary gland in the brain: follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinising hormone (LH) and less estrogen is produced. Levels of FSH and LH subsequently rise and a measurement of FSH is sometimes used to diagnose menopause. The resulting low, and changing levels of ovarian hormones, particularly estrogen, are thought to be the cause ofmenopausal symptoms and later consequences in many women.

The term climacteric refers to the time in which the hormone levels are changing, up to the periods stopping; reducing and changing hormone levels can cause early menopausal symptoms. At this stage, there may still be enough hormones produced to stimulate the lining of the womb (endometrium) to produce monthly periods (menstruation).

Menopause means the last menstrual period. Periods stop because the low levels of estrogen and progesterone do not stimulate the lining of the womb (endometrium) in the normal cycle. Hormone levels can fluctuate for several years before eventually becoming so low that the endometrium stays thin and does not bleed.

Perimenopause is the stage from the beginning of menopausal symptoms to the postmenopause.

Postmenopause is the time following the last period, and is usually defined as more than 12 months with no periods in someone with intact ovaries, or immediately following surgery if the ovaries have been removed.

Menopause - when?

The average age of the natural menopause is 51 years, but can occur much earlier or later. Menopause occurring before the age of 45 is called early menopause and before the age of 40 is premature menopause.

Generally, women having an early or premature menopause are advised to take HRT until approximately the average age of the menopause, for both symptom control and bone protective effect.

Late menopause may also occur but by the age of 54, 80% of women will have stopped having periods.

Learn more at http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/menopause.php

The Path of Transformation-Spiritual Awakenings

"One of the most enduring metaphors for the spiritual path is the transformation of the lowly catepillar into a butterfly.  Out of its own substance, the ground-hugging grub weaves the medium for its metamorphosis—the chrysalis within which it evolves into a beautiful creature with wings.  The human being undergoes an equally dramatic transformation, unfolding the path to liberation from within the depths of the soul and emerging, after great struggle, as an expression of divinity in the world."   When the Soul Awakens

TRANSFORMATION   The Goal of the Spiritual Path

The word “transformation” first became popular during the 1960s and 70s as the new wave of spirituality began to emerge.  For "new-agers," it was a word associated with spiritual awakening, though its deeper meaning remained obscure for some time.  By the 80s and 90s, the word took the corporate world by storm as a trendy synonym for change, and by the start of the new millennium it had become mainstreamed to the extent that it was used by government agencies, most notably the Pentagon.  The spiritual significance of the word had become buried.In the wisdom teachings, transformation is the process by which the human being becomes a spiritual being.  It involves a metamorphosis that begins when the soul in incarnation awakens to its spiritual essence, after lifetimes of immersion in matter, and discovers the spiritual Path of Return.  Along the way, the individual who was identified with the outer persona—the body, emotions, and mind—gradually becomes identified with the soul, the inner spiritual being.  Toward the end of this transformative path, the light of the soul is revealed through the mask of the persona. It has taken millions of years for humanity to reach this moment in evolution, when countless souls are becoming aware of their higher nature.  Our journey as a species began deep in the mists of time, when sparks of the Godhead were immersed in material substance for the purpose of evolving consciousness.  The friction between the opposite poles of our being—spirit and matter—has resulted in the endless struggles that continue to form the content of most human lives.  Over time, however, as a result of eons of suffering through physical plane experience, and finally learning from that experience, this friction produces light. In our time of accelerated evolution, the path of ordinary human living is drawing to a close for many people around the world.  Growing numbers of individuals are awakening to the reality that they are more than physical beings with emotions and minds.  As the popular catchphrase goes, they're recognizing that they are 'spiritual beings having a human experience.'  Inevitably, awakening leads to the path of transformation, by means of which the beauty, power, and light inherent in the spiritual Self—the Soul—is gradually revealed. Consciousness Evolves in Stages Technically speaking, the process of transformation occurs in three stages, according to the ageless wisdom.  The terms used to describe these progressive stages of unfoldment are:  transmutation, transformation, and transfiguration. Lifetimes are required to complete the metamorphosis that culminates at the stage of transfiguration, when the light of the Soul pours down upon the outer persona and changes it—permanently. Those who have approached that advanced stage on the Path portray the process as an often harrowing one—light-years apart from popular notions of the spiritual path.  Descriptions of the quest in advertisements for books, workshops and conferences often make it sound like an exciting travel adventure that can be luxuriously comfortable and pleasurable.  “In actuality,” as we wrote in When the Soul Awakens, “the spiritual path is never pleasant or comfortable, though joy is surely among its ultimate rewards.”  The passage continues: Unlike a cruise, which picks us up and drops us off at the same place with our personalities intact, the spiritual path transfigures the very nature of our being.  By treading the path we become an entirely different being from the personality with which we were identified at the start, undergoing a metamorphosis that is, by its very nature, often painful. [1] What makes the process painful is the “task” at its core: blending spirit and matter.  To forge unity out of this exteme polarity, the part of us that is of a material nature must be purified and refined so that it may blend with that which is spiritual.  The soul, the divine spark immersed in matter, is a 'unit of consciousness' that incarnates in a threefold form (body, emotions and mind)—or personality—in order to gain awareness through material plane experience.  Eventually, a mysterious spiritual alchemy occurs by means of which the lower self or persona (sometimes called the human soul) becomes vaguely aware of its higher counterpart—the higher Self (also called the spiritual soul, the soul on its own plane).  When this awareness reaches a kindling point, awakening occurs.  Not long thereafter, a seeker of light is born. Until the moment of awakening, which is often experienced through an opening of the heart and consequent sensing of the oneness of life, the human soul is imprisoned by the matrix of material forces in which it dwells.  The personality is identified with the world of material form and its consciousness is immersed in material living.  At that stage of awareness, the individual's life is typically governed by a combination of instinct, selfish desire, personal ambition and greed. On the path of transformation, these material forces are transmuted into spiritual energies such as wisdom, love, and higher purpose.  What occurs is an extremely subtle process that is reflected in the subtleties of language prevalent in the wisdom teachings.  In this language, a distinction is made between energies and forces.  The word energy generally refers to that which is formless—spiritual substance that flows freely.  The word force refers to energy encased in matter and limited by form. Transmutation Transmutation is the first phase of the transformative journey.  It marks the start of the process in which material forces are elevated through the power of the mind, in the goal of transmuting them into spiritual energies.  At this early stage in the life of the spiritual aspirant, the soul is not yet fully conscious of itself on its own plane but has become aware of spiritual realities.  The personality is still largely identified with its physical body, emotions and mind, but has become sufficiently integrated and coordinated to begin the task of transmuting force into energy. Material force is charged or 'stepped up' into soul energy through the mind and will.  At this stage, the aspirant learns to concentrate the mind to affect the subtle forces of the threefold personality:  the mind itself, the astral or emotional body, and the vital energy body that underlies the physical form.  The power of focused thought is used to lift the emotional forces of the desire nature (anchored in the subtle center or chakra that is the solar plexus) to the heart center.  In the heart center, the force of personal desire is transmuted into the magnetic energy of spiritual love.  Altruists, idealists, people who work for the greater good of humanity exemplify the transmutation of the force of the desire nature into the energy of love. Creative people embody another facet of transmutation: the lifting up of procreative forces (located in the sacral or sexual chakra) into the creative energies associated with the throat chakra.  Individuals working in this way are often engaged in some form of communication, broadly defined.  They may be artists, musicians, writers, philosophers, or even scientists.  Through their chosen vocation or avocation, they actively transmute the “raw material force” of sexuality into creative expression in the world—often in the goal of enriching the lives of others.  Throughout the ages, creative geniuses have wrestled with their lower natures, struggling to utilize the vital forces of their personalities in service to the world. Transformation When the mind can successfully direct the forces of its persona, and the lower forces have been sufficiently transmuted into higher energies, transmutation gives way to transformation.  This second phase of the journey involves the unification of personality force and soul energy into a smoothly functioning unit.  By its end, the personality is imbued with the soul’s energy to the point that the outer persona is transformed into a vehicle for the soul's expression in the world. This phase begins as the individual awakens more fully to the reality of the soul.  He or she begins to recognize the spiritual self as a unique “entity”—distinct from the personality that is immersed in the material world.  This is the juncture of the path where a sense of duality emerges.  The human soul experiences life primarily as a personality with various outer identities:  teacher or lawyer, artist or activist, mother or father, husband or wife.  But at the same time, the boundless, spiritual identity of the true Self begins to break through into conscious awareness. At this stage there is a growing sense of living in two dimensions or having two aspects of self—a worldly persona playing its own unique roles plus a higher Self slowly learning to attune to a higher plane of reality.  During this phase, as the 'two selves' come into closer relationship with each other, there is a gradual shift in the focus of consciousness from the outer world of form to the inner world of spiritual meaning.  With this change in orientation there comes, as a result of great struggle and surrender, a parallel shift in identity—from the personality to the Soul. In the early stages of the shift, the seeker experiences great conflict between these two aspects of self.  The soul struggles to control the lower nature, which fights to maintain dominion over itself and its habitual ways of living life.  The selfish motives and drives of the persona, with its deep-rooted attachments to the material world, are not easily yielded to the higher aspect of Self.  Thus the seeker is pulled in two directions—towards the unfamiliar realm of spirit and towards the comfortable and still attractive realm of matter.  The challenge is learning to tread the Middle Way—on “the narrow razor-edged path” that leads between “the two great lines of force”—as the personality is increasingly exposed to the transforming light of the soul. Technically, the name of this stage of the journey, which follows upon the path of aspiration, is the path of discipleship.  The phase of aspiring to live a spiritual life, which involves transmuting lower forces into higher energies, gives way to a conscious commitment to a life of intense self-discipline and active service in the world. On the discipleship path, spiritual disciplines become established as habits of daily living.  The soul slowly takes control of the outer form, increasingly directing the disciple and transforming the life from within.  Under the transformative influence of the soul, the personality begins to display divine qualities such as inclusive love, wisdom, and compassion.  The individual learns to stand in spiritual being, aligned with the “higher angels" of her or his nature, increasingly committed to serving the greater good.  He or she becomes aware of the soul's purpose for a given lifetime and firmly committed to fulfilling that higher purpose. We are told that this phase of the journey—the conscious pursuit of self-perfection—takes lifetimes.  The individual passes through inner “battlefields” and “burning grounds” to eliminate the self-centered tendencies of the separative personality.  Ultimately, through the processes of self-purification, the disciple comes to recognize the One Soul in all souls.  Divine qualities seeded in the human being at the start of our evolutionary journey begin to manifest in the life of the conscious soul.  Inner beauty, truth, wisdom and light, largely veiled by the mask of the persona for lifetimes, are increasingly revealed.  The downpouring light of the soul transforms the persona into an instrument for divine expression.  The human being is transformed into a soul-infused personality whose life is directed from within by the Self. Transfiguration During the first stage of the transformative journey—transmutation—it is the mind that plays a major role as the agent for lifting force into energy.  In the second stage, transformation, the soul emerges into consciousness—purifying and taking control of the outer form.  In the third and final stage, transfiguration, the spirit completes the process that began with the soul’s awakening.  By this point the soul has won the struggle to control the personality, thus resolving duality into unity.  When this has been achieved, the soul-infused personality stands visibly transfigured before the world, a radiant Being of Light. The best-known exemplars of transfiguration have come to us through the legends of world religions:  the Buddha, emerging visibly illumined from his six-day meditation under the Boddhi Tree; Moses on Mount Sinai, surrounded by blazing light as he received the Ten Commandments; Jesus, appearing to his disciples on Mount Tabor as a transfigured being of light. According to the Ageless Wisdom, the experience of transfiguration awaits all souls who embark upon the path of transformation.  It marks the first true initiation of the human being into the spiritual kingdom—the Kingdom of Souls.  It is the stage on the path of conscious evolution when the Life of the Spirit is revealed directly through the outer self in the world of form.  The Tibetan master, Djwhal Khul, describes transfiguration in these words: The personality is irradiated by the full light of the soul and the three personality vehicles are completely transcended; they have become simply forms through which spiritual love may flow out into the world of men in the salvaging task of creation. [2] http://whenthesoulawakens.org/the-path-of-transformation_268.html

Are Good Looking Girls Mean or Nice

Are good looking girls mean to some guys? Or are they actually

 nicer than other girls? Here’s a good looking girl’s answer to that

 big question. By a good looking Anonymous Kitty

There are a lot of mean girls out there, and perhaps a few good looking mean girls too.

But that doesn’t mean all good looking girls are mean.

Here are a few reasons why some good looking girls are mean.

#1 They’re conceited. It’s true, a few good looking girls are completely full of themselves.

They think they’re a gift to mankind or something, and believe they need to be treated better than everyone else. They’re the annoying kind of good looking girls, and definitely, the shallow ones too.

#2 They like the attention. Almost all good looking girls know they get attention all the time. They know they’re hot stuff and they intend to use their looks at every possible instance to get something favorable.

It may be to date someone rich and have a sugar daddy, or it may be something to do with getting a better job. The attention works for them and they fully use it to their advantage.

#3 They’re intentionally mean. Some good looking girls are just terribly mean. I’ve seen many girls bat their eyelids at a guy and make him approach them only to spurn him away! It’s terrible and annoying, and these are the kind of girls that give good looking girls a bad name.

But this is more like the exception than the rule. All good looking girls are not heartless skanks whose only sole means of pleasure is chucking a wrecking ball at a guy’s heart.

Good looking girls are not intentionally mean

For a long time, I’ve seen just how misunderstood good looking girls are. No matter what a good looking girl does, it’s always bad. There’s just no way out. Here are a few reasons why good looking girls are assumed to be mean.

#1 Guys always exaggerate a good looking girl’s rejection to feel better about themselves. 

#2 Too many guys hit on good looking girls all the time, and they really don’t have the time to play nice to all the guys. What would you do if girls threw themselves at you all the time? You obviously can’t play nice to every girl you meet, especially if you know that you’re never going to be interested in that person.

#3 Guys are always mean to good looking girls. They expect a good looking girl to be snappy, so the guys go all out with their rude remarks. Additionally, a few guys get incredibly rude when they’re rejected. So a great looking girl’s always got to be on guard, or she’ll end up getting insulted by guys all the time.

#4 Cheesy pick up lines. How do you like your eggs in the morning… fried or fertilized? Really? How can a girl not get annoyed when she hears something like that? Most guys always use a pick up line when they strike up a conversation with a good looking girl like a pick up line makes them look cooler. But when a girl’s out with her friends, could it be possible that she’s just trying to have a nice time, not get her eggs picked?

People love to see a good looking girl punished

Sometimes, petty jealously can make people really mean. When a good looking girl gets a great guy, everyone else just hopes for her to get dumped or cheated on.

And almost always, everyone wants the good looking girl to date a guy who would treat her like crap just so she can feel their pain. This is especially true for guys who get rejected often. But really, why? What have good looking girls ever done to you? Well, yes, maybe some girl rejected you. But why stereotype all good looking girls into evil witches? 

Guys want a girl who’s beautiful but doesn’t know it

Isn’t that unfair? I’ve had a few guys tell me this line with a mean grin, to spite me or be frank, I really can’t tell.

But guys, you want the best girl in the world when clearly, you’re not the best guy in the world yet. You want a confused girl who’s insecure and timid, one who isn’t aware of her own beauty. Why is that? So you can feel good about yourself?

Isn’t that mean? You want the best of something without giving your best back to her. And at the same time, when a good looking girl wants a great guy, everyone thinks the girl’s a bitch, or that she’s shallow. It’s just so unfair.

Who are the real mean girls?

The real mean girls are the ones who constantly want attention or are the ones who think they’re really good looking when they really aren’t. They act snotty and constantly want attention because somewhere deep down, they’re all insecure because they’re not sure if they’re pretty.

And almost always, a good looking girl’s not so good looking friend is usually the mean one. She tries to use her good looking friend’s attractiveness to get attention and treat guys badly because she wants to get even with all the guys who didn’t give her attention. I may sound rude and full of myself, but it’s true. People get mean when they want to inflict pain on someone else for their own shortcomings.

I know a lot of models and good looking guys and girls, and I can assure you, they are the nicest and sweetest people in the world. Just don’t try hitting on them or taking them to bed at hello. Get to know them as a friend first. You’ll see how nice good looking people really are. They’re just like every other nice person in the world. 

Good looking girls are human too

Contrary to popular belief, good looking girls are just like everyone else. They have a heart that hurts and wants true love too. Here are a few things about good looking girls that many guys don’t give a thought about.

#1 They want to be appreciated too. It’s true, they love romance and little skips of joy like every other girl out there. But please, be a great guy who’s sweet and charming.

#2 They’re more than skin deep. Good looking girls want to be liked for who they are beyond their appearance. When a guy just stares at her without listening to her words, it’s insulting.

#3 They don’t like being constantly picked up. Good looking girls don’t want to be hit on or stared at all the time. They’re not animals at a zoo. Why do guys think good looking girls are just meant to be picked up?

#4 Screw the prejudice. Really, good looking girls aren’t always mean. They know their worth, and they appreciate a guy who knows to behave around them and treat them as a person. And they’re completely human and have feelings just like all other girls.

Most good looking girls are nicer than other girls

Almost all the time, most good looking girls are nicer than average looking girls. Good looking girls need to try harder to prove that they’re not stuck up or full of themselves.

An average looking girl sometimes throws a hissy fit just to feel pampered. When she does that, everyone else thinks she’s being cute. But when a good looking girl does the same thing, she’s being bitchy. When a great looking girl asks a guy for a favor like getting dropped home, I see eyes rolling and hear gasps of exasperation. Everyone thinks she’s taking advantage of a guy. But when any other girl does that, they think she’s being a good friend. Isn’t that unfair?

And on another note, good looking girls always need to work harder to achieve anything. Whatever we achieve in life, people think we got it off easy. Yes, it’s true, guys are nicer to good looking girls. But not all of them. Almost all guys just think the world’s spinning in our favor because we’re good looking girls. And that’s just not true.

Debunking the stereotype

Really, good looking girls have a heart too. Just for once, try to see the world through our eyes. How would you feel if every guy you get introduced to looks at your breasts while speaking to you and stares at your ass when you walk away? Would you feel like a person or an object?

http://www.lovepanky.com/men/understanding-women/are-good-looking-girls-mean-or-nice

How To Be Happier

"Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." - Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States

Think of a happy friend, neighbor, or classmate. When you think of them, you become happy too-- and people you touch may also become happier. A happy person's influence spreads out three degrees, according to scientists who have been studying people over twenty-plus years (Framingham Heart Study).

We have some control over how happy we are. Here are some tips on how to be happier:

1) Find ten things to be grateful about -- every day.

This is one of the most effective ways to be happier. Studies of lottery winners and paraplegics alike show that a person's individual level of happiness is directly related to their own perception and ability to find happiness, regardless of the situation. When you are grateful you are happier. 

 2) Seek out happy friends.

Make friends with people who have a cheerful outlook and an enthusiastic attitude. They will help remind you of things to be happy about in life. As an alternative, start minimizing your time with negative, whiner, or complaining people.

 3) Go for a 15-minute walk.

Fresh air and a change of perspective help move you towards happiness. Find a patch of nature like a community garden, a park, or a lake to walk around.

 4) Breathe deeply.

Believe it or not, you may not be getting enough life-giving oxygen. Sit still for a moment and breathe deeply ten times --- with the added boost of revitalization, you may find yourself in a happier frame of mind.

 5) Find the small stuff that makes you happy - and do it every day.

As creatures of habit, we crave routine. Incorporate something that brings you happiness into your daily routine, so you experience that mood enhancement every day. A "small thing" could be anything that elevates your spirit and is healthy for you and the people around you: it might mean using a favorite toothpaste, watering your potted plants, a familiar bike ride to campus or work, a sharp pencil, five minutes of doing something relaxing, a happy picture on your screen, your favorite tunes on your playlist, a daily massage, or anything that brings you pleasure.

Think of happiness as a number of happy moments, stretching out to infinity --- and go from one of these moments to the next, to the next, to the next.