9 Signature Scents: Women’s Perfume

By Danielle Lemay

In the days of yore, people would take baths once a year (and those were the rich ones) and everyone smelled of natural musk and full on urine. Nowadays, we have the luxury of showering daily and spraying on fabulous perfumes that make us even more appealing.

But what is your signature scent? Does it have notes of fruit, musk or herbs? Is it an assertive scent or does it carry more subtle notes?

No matter what your preferred scent, it is recommended to switch up your perfume every few months in order to keep abreast of the newly available aromas, or simply to keep those around you guessing what you will do next.

Perfume, like most other things in your life, gives off hints about your personality and should reflect who you are. That said, take a look at some great new scents and some good old mainstays, and give your body a splash of something new.

Signature scent #1
Incanto Charms by Salvatore Ferragamo
If you’re a sucker for packaging, you’d buy this perfume just on looks alone. Luckily, there’s more to it than that. This ultra-feminine, fruity-scented perfume contains hints of jasmine, passion fruit, honeysuckle, and musk.

Best time to wear it: On a beautiful spring day, when you’re heading out to brunch with the girls.

Signature scent #2
Stella by Stella McCartney
Blending intense femininity with even more intense sensuality, Stella contains hints of rose, amber and peony flower. This perfume is outrageously sexy but sophisticated, and will linger long after you’ve left the room.

Best time to wear it: When you’re out on a third hot date with that man you’ve been dying to let in.

Signature scent #3
Burberry Classic by Burberry
Around since 1996, this classic perfume, as the name implies, offers up a clean and sensual scent that isn’t overpowering yet overtakes the senses in a positive way. With notes of vanilla, black currant, green apple, and peach, you will smell freshly showered all day long.

Best time to wear it: When you’re about to ask for that promotion you’ve worked so hard for.

Signature scent #4
Pink Jasmine by Fresh
An incredibly romantic scent, Pink Jasmine covers the wearer in hints of jasmine, peony, lilac, red orange, marshmallow, and precious woods. So if soft floral fragrances are your cup of tea, drink this one up (not literally, of course).

Best time to wear it: Take it with you to an outdoor, afternoon wedding.

Signature scent #5
Clean by Dlish
If you love nothing more than that “fresh out of the shower” smell, then you have landed on the perfect eau de toilette. Clean will remind you of the scent of pure soap, but as it lightens up, you will smell, quite simply, clean. Notes include sweet lime, pink grapefruit, rose geranium, and orange.

Best time to wear it: On those days when you need that extra little boost of confidence.

Signature scent #6
Narciso Rodriguez For Her
Voted one of the best perfumes for women by Allure magazine, this velvety scent is both soft and sensual, and contains traces of honey flower, tactile wood and amber. Spritz yourself with this corporeal scent and watch as men begin to give you that “look.”

Best time to wear it: On a Saturday night, when you’ve got your dancing shoes on.

Signature scent #7
I Love Love by Moschino
With its fresh, citrus scent, I Love offers up a sophisticated yet ultra feminine sensation. An easy reminder of warm, sunny days, this grapefruit, orange, lemon, and cinnamon based perfume will make you feel fresh all day long.

Best time to wear it: On a sunny afternoon when you’re riding in your drop top.

Signature scent #8
212 by Carolina Herrera
The best way to describe 212 is to call it “confident.” The wearer of this perfume is ultra-confident and enjoys the scent of gardenias, mandarins, white lilies, sandalwood, and, of course, musk. An amazing combination of florals and musk, 212 can be worn day or night and from summer well into winter.

Best time to wear it: When you’re done going down the slopes and heading out to an après-ski get together.

Signature scent #9
Light Blue by Dolce & Gabbana
A subtle yet very effective scent, Light Blue offers traces of green apple, musk, bamboo, jasmine, and cedar wood, among others. For any woman who wants to leave a lasting impression, D&B has you covered.

Best time to wear it: When you’re meeting your honey at a café for an early breakfast.

Signature scent for a woman

Having a few bottles of perfume, each providing a very distinct scent, is always good for those times when you’re in the mood for something different. And if you’re anything like me, that will happen quite often.

So, who will you be today? When you decide, one of the perfumes above is sure to cover you.

8 Ways To Be Happy

By Alicia Socorro

Do you know someone who is always in a good mood? Does it get on your nerves? Yeah, me too. But being happy is important for many reasons, but, above and beyond all else, it’s important if you want to have a better quality of life. Don’t you want to be happy?

If you’re consistently complaining or on edge, how comfortable do you really feel in your own skin? How comfortable can others possibly feel around you if everything is negative or upsets you?

It’s time to get a grip on your emotions and turn anger and frustration into happiness. Of course, you won’t become Mary Poppins come tomorrow morning, but you may start looking at your life in a new, more positive fashion. And although it may take some time, you can be happy, and love life.

How to be happy tip #1
Make time for you
How often do you sit alone in a quiet room and think? If you’re like most women, there’s a good chance that it’s not often at all.

It’s important to spend time by yourself without zoning out to the television. Most of us arrive home, turn on the TV, have dinner, talk to family and friends, and go to bed without having even reflected on ourselves. Is that any way to be happy?

And you don’t have to meditate to be effective; read a book you’ve been eyeing, lie down and close your eyes for five minutes, or soak in a hot bath for 20 minutes. You don’t need to be alone for hours on end, but making yourself a priority for a little while each day will help you become more satisfied with your life, not to mention be happy about what you do have going for you.

How to be happy tip #2
Smile at everyone
I live in a metropolitan area where smiling at strangers makes you certifiable, but I do it anyway, and more and more, I notice that people feel good about it and most return the small favor.

If you smile, you will instantly feel better and make those around you feel better, thus filling your surroundings with a positive vibe.

Whether it’s people you see every day during your commute or someone you’ve never seen before at Starbuck’s, smile your pretty little face off and spread the goodness. If you want to be happy, perhaps you should start acting happy.

How to be happy tip #3
Eat right
Believe it or not, too much sugar, greasy foods and hydrogenated fats can leave you feeling depressed. If you don’t get any raw food in your diet and consistently eat fast food, it may have a serious impact on your moods.

Adding Omega 3 to your diet via fish, flaxseed or even a supplement, may help to ward off depression, according to a study conducted by Dr. Joseph Hibbeln of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

As well, fresh fruit like bananas and strawberries also provide necessary vitamins to keep your serotonin levels up and allowing you to be happy.

And you’ll be happy to know that chocolate is on that list, however, I strongly recommend you consume (70% or higher) dark chocolate rather than milk or white chocolate (it’s healthier) and even then, consume it in moderation.

How to be happy tip #4
Exercise
On so many levels, being active is so good for you. It will help you reshape your body, thus making you feel better about yourself and resulting in, you guessed it, happiness. When you feel confident about your body, you will be happy, no doubt.

But there’s more; exercising releases serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and endorphins, natural chemicals in the body that boost mood. If you’ve never heard of “runner’s high,” the theory is based on the fact that after rigorous exercise, runners feel this euphoric sensation come over them.

So commit yourself to a 30-minute walk every single day (at the very least), and you will begin to feel and look better, and be happy.

How to be happy tip #5
Get orgasmic
If you’ve never experienced orgasm, it’s no wonder you’ve been moody… just kidding. But orgasm results in the body’s release of oxytocin, a chemical that causes the release of endorphins, ultimately helping you to be happy. Although some would argue that getting laid in general would pretty much take care of that whole happiness issue.

Regular orgasm is good for the body and for your mood, just keep in mind that you need to play it safe and use protection if you are not in a monogamous relationship and do not want to spend half the month wondering if you’re pregnant. That would not help you to be happy.

How to be happy tip #6
Get a pet
If you are not an animal person or think that animals in the home are disgusting, then don’t get a pet. But if you’ve been debating whether or not to get a toy dog or a kitty cat, you may inadvertently be doing yourself a favor.

Animals are innocent and are never intentionally malicious towards their owners. They love you unconditionally, and nothing will help you to be happy like coming home to a pet who adores you.

Even if you’ve had the worst day of your life, spending a few minutes petting your animal will help to calm you down and realize that things aren’t really that bad.

How to be happy tip #7
Remind yourself how lucky you are
If you lost a major account at work or you and your boyfriend had a huge fight and you’re wondering if this is the end of the road for you as a couple, take a minute and think about your situation.

Sometimes we tend to be a little melodramatic and quickly conclude that our lives are so terrible, but upon further reflection, we realize that we’re actually quite lucky to be living where we do, to have our health, and to be loved by so many people.

Although you might want to wallow in self-pity sometimes (and that’s okay), bring yourself back to reality and remind yourself that things could always be worse. If you want to be happy, you need to focus on all the good things in your life.

How to be happy tip #8
Calm down
We spend our lives rushing through every day. We rush to work, we rush to eat lunch and get back to work, we rush home, and we rush through traffic.

Take a minute, look away from the computer, count to 10, then inhale to a 4-count, letting your stomach protrude, and exhale. Go ahead, I’ll wait…

There, don’t you feel calmer? Whenever you feel like your brain is overwhelmed with thoughts or that there just isn’t enough time in the day to do everything, stop for one minute, breathe deep, and get back to what you were doing. You may realize that you’re freaking out for nothing. If you want to be happy, you need to put things in perspective.

All women can be happy

You can’t expect a man or money or anything else to help you be happy. You create and destroy your own happiness because what it all comes down to is your mindset.

Now is your mind set on being pissed off all day, or would you rather be more pleasant and feel good about yourself? The choice is ultimately up to you.

Remember: No one can make you angry or upset, you have control over your feelings. And you can choose to be happy.

Spinning Classes

By Lori Ryan

The latest fat-burning craze is not a get-skinny-quick pill, nor is it a magical juice that will just peel off the pounds. It is a gut-wrenching but incredibly fun workout called spinning, and it is sweeping the nation.

If you go to a gym regularly and have spotted a bunch of thin exercise bikes in one concentrated area, it’s probably because your gym offers spinning classes. And if you want to burn fat like never before, you should be signing up for spinning classes, and quickly.

What is spinning?

If you’ve ever ridden a bike outdoors and ridden an indoor stationary bike, you’d know that there’s a huge difference between the two, as an outdoor bike will sometimes take you uphill and through bumpy areas.

Well, the bikes used in spinning classes look quite primitive compared to the bikes you usually see in gyms nowadays. Spinning bikes typically have a huge flywheel that looks deceptively harmless, but turning it from side to side is actually quite difficult to do.

The momentum you get from the flywheel allows you to spin the pedals and get a phenomenal workout in the process. As well, you can position the seat and the handlebars any way you see fit to get the most out of your workout.

What to expect at spinning classes

Spinning classes are great for first timers, as well as experts. If it’s your first time, however, tell the instructor and he or she will help you adjust your bike, talk to you about hand movements and fill you in on the five core movements of spinning. They are:

1- Seated flat
While your butt remains on the seat, your hands are in Position 1, which means that they are directly in front of you, palms down, thumbs touching slightly, and holding onto the bar.

This helps build strength and stamina, and allows you to develop a stronger fitness base.

Speed: 80 to 110 rpm

2- Standing flat
A “standing run” of sorts, your butt stays off the seat while your feet pedal away. Your hands are in Position 2; your hands are less than shoulder-width apart and your wrists are in line with your elbows at all times.

Speed: 80 to 110 rpm

3- Jumps
Usually performed by more advanced students, jumping involves periodically sitting and standing, all the while keeping your hands in Position 2 and moving in a fluid motion trying to keep the cadence on your legs the entire time.

Speed: 80 to 110 rpm

4- Seated climb
With the objective of challenging your lower body (glutes , hamstrings, quadriceps), your hands remain in Position 2 and your butt stays on the seat at all times.

Speed: 60 to 80 rpm

5- Standing climb
With your hands in Position 3 (place your hands on the most outward parts of the handlebars with your palms facing each other), keep your butt off the seat and pedal uphill.

Speed: 60 to 80 rpm

There is a lot to that you need to focus on, such as your heart rate, your breathing, your movement, and the instructor’s directions. Keep in mind, however, that if you feel overworked at any point, you should take a minute to regroup.

What do you need to bring to spinning classes?

Although you don’t need anything too complicated when joining spinning classes, there are a few items you may want to get your hands on beforehand.

Body-hugging clothing that will not get caught in the bike.

Padded cycling shorts or a gel seat cover is a great addition if your butt gets sore on the banana seat.

A heart rate monitor is great if you want to maximize the amount of calories you burn.

Calories burned in spinning classes

The best part of spinning classes is how many calories you stand to burn in one 40-minute session - between 400 to 500 calories. That’s a whole lot more than you would burn just walking on a treadmill .

Not to mention, your legs will become shapelier, thanks to the uphill climbs.

So if you’re ready to try something new at the gym, consider joining spinning classes and before you know it, you’ll have buns and legs of steel.

Gastric Bypass Surgery - The Pros & Cons

By Tara Fraser

Stomach stapling, or gastric bypass surgery, is a major surgical procedure performed on morbidly obese patients (at least 100 pounds overweight) who have tried other methods of weight loss and failed. While some may think of it as taking the “easy way out,” there are many cons to undergoing this procedure.

What happens with gastric bypass surgery?

A surgeon creates a pouch using the top part of the stomach (where it meets the esophagus) and this pouch can only hold between one to three ounces of food at a time. At the bottom of the pouch, an opening that is about ¾ inch wide is created to run directly to the small intestine. This allows the body to absorb vitamins and minerals ingested.

This pouch starts off being able to accept only a tablespoon of food but eventually grows enough to be able to accept up to one cup of food, so patients who undergo this surgery will feel fuller much faster than they used to.

Pros of gastric bypass surgery #1
You’ll fit into average sizes
You will no longer need to wear men’s clothes nor will you have to shop at specialty stores. You will be able to walk into any store in the mall and get yourself a great wardrobe.

Pros of gastric bypass surgery #2
You’ll feel more confident
As the weight begins to drop, people will no longer look at you as though you’re abnormal and you can fit into society as just another woman who doesn’t need two seats on the bus.

Pros of gastric bypass surgery #3
You’ll lose weight fast
If you undergo this surgery, you will lose weight drastically at first, and will eventually begin to lose approximately 10 pounds per month for up to 18 months.

Pros of gastric bypass surgery #4
You’ll lower your health risk factors
By dropping the weight, you will reduce your risk of having Type II diabetes, heart failure and other serious ailments associated with being morbidly obese.

Pros of gastric bypass surgery #5
You’ll make lifestyle changes
Because you’ll be losing weight so quickly, your energy levels will rise because you have less weight to lug around. And you will be required to watch what you eat, how much you eat, and will need to follow an exercise regime.

Cons of gastric bypass surgery #1
You may need aesthetic surgery
Drastic weight loss may result in your skin’s loss of elasticity. If skin begins to droop from your thighs or your stomach, surgery is required to resolve the problem.

Cons of gastric bypass surgery #2
You can’t eat more than one cup
Most people who end up morbidly obese don’t become that way because they were hungry all the time. Usually, it’s a case of emotional eating, and although your stomach might be telling you it’s full, your brain may be telling you to eat, and it might be difficult for you to make the mind/body connection right away.

Cons of gastric bypass surgery #3
You may experience complications
Although the surgery is considered relatively safe, sometimes it may lead to further complications including internal bleeding, infections and respiratory problems. Make sure you go over the procedure and possible issues that may arise with your surgeon before deciding to go through with it.

Cons of gastric bypass surgery #4
You’ll pay $15,000 to $20,000 US
If the gastric bypass surgery is not covered by your insurance, this procedure could cost a pretty penny. And unless the chances of your dying are quite high, insurance companies usually won’t cover the expense.

Celebrities who had gastric bypass surgery

You’ve certainly heard of obese celebrities who underwent this type of surgery, such as Star Jones, Roseanne Barr, Carnie Wilson, Randy Jackson, and Al Roker. And what you may have noticed is that most of them didn’t become “skinny.” The reason for that is because they didn’t dedicate themselves to an exercise and diet regime.

Al Roker made significant changes in the way he looked because he was committed to keeping the weight off, but if you see him now, it looks as though his stomach managed to stretch out and he’s back to his old habits.

Keep in mind that it is rare for anyone to acquire something easily and appreciate it.

So before you decide that gastric bypass surgery is right for you, make sure that you’re ready both mentally and physically to make the necessary changes to stay healthy for life.

David Beckham

David Beckham Vital Stats

Birth Name: David Robert Joseph Beckham
Birth Date: May 2, 1975
Birth Place: Leytonstone, London
Height: 5’11½”
Romantic Link: Victoria Beckham

David Beckham Interesting Facts

In January 2006, David signed a 4-year deal worth $41 million (US) to play for Real Madrid.

David wears a new pair of soccer shoes for every game he plays at an estimated cost of $500 a pair.

The $250 million that David Beckham stands to earn as part of the Los Angeles Galaxy is actually an estimated total of his salary and endorsements.


David Beckham Biography

Born in Leytonstone, London on May 2, 1975, David Robert Joseph Beckham seemed destined to play soccer. His mom, Sandra West, was a hairdresser and his father, Ted Beckham, was a gas fitter’s assistant, and David was raised with two sisters, Lynne and Joanne, one was older, the other younger.

Growing up, David would watch games in which his dad would participate and spent the better part of his childhood begging his father to let him play on the team. Of course, his dad forbade the then too young David to compete against grown men.

Beckham loves Manchester United

A huge Manchester United fan, due in part to his father, David’s grandfather (Ted’s dad) was a huge fan of the Man U. rival Arsenal. And although his grandfather consistently tried to sway him, David stuck to his guns and remained loyal to Man U.

Growing up, David played a host of sports, including baseball, basketball and rugby, but nothing came close to making him as passionate as he was about playing soccer. And it was at age 8 that David got the opportunity to display his talents as a soccer player.

Upon joining the Ridgeway Rovers of the Enfield District League, David quickly became the club’s most impressive player, as he controlled the ball and his movements with ease.

At age 11, Beckham signed up to play in a nationwide competition called Bobby Charlton's Soccer Skills Tournament. David came out on top by scoring the most goals ever in the competition and his prize was a 2-week trip to the Nou Camp Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, with English Soccer Manager Terry Venables.

Beckham plays for Man U.

Doubtless, as Beckham neared adulthood, soccer clubs got into a fierce recruiting war over the budding star, but his heart remained with Manchester United, who came knocking when Beckham was all of 12 years old.

Every year up until he was 16, Beckham spent his summers practicing with Manchester. In 1991, David Beckham signed with Man U. as a trainee.

As part of Manchester’s junior team, Beckham and his team earned the FA Youth Cup in 1992. And although they came close to landing the Cup again in 1993, it wasn’t meant to be that time around.

In 1994, Beckham was loaned out to Preston North End, a third-division club, and after proving how fantastic he was in four games with the team, Manchester U. quickly recalled him.

Beckham finally got his chance to take the field with Man U., and although the team didn’t do well that year, Beckham felt as though he had finally “arrived.”

Beckham wins FA Cup in 1996

Impressing everyone in his 1995-1996 season, Man U. managed to make its way to the league title and win the FA Cup, despite claims that it would be a terrible season for the team.

1996-1997 was an even greater season for Beckham, as he was named the Young Player of the Year and solidified his position on England’s national team. It was that season in March that David met Victoria Adams (a.k.a. Victoria Beckham, a.k.a. Posh Spice). The two hit it off and were married during a lavish $800,000 ceremony on July 4, 1999, and have since had three sons together (Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz).

With much more media glare thanks to his newfound relationship and multi-million dollar endorsement deals (most notably from Adidas), David Beckham looked like he was really enjoying the spotlight. And for diehard fans of the sport, it seemed like his on-field talent had begun to dissipate.

Beckham’s World Cup mistake

Things went from bad to worse when, during the 1998 World Cup in France, Beckham was red flagged for kicking an Argentinean player and his team ultimately lost the game. When Beckham began his 1998-1999 season back home, his once adoring fans heckled him for messing up at the World Cup.

It was during this season, however, that Beckham and his team managed to snag the Premiership, FA Cup and European Cup. But even after he was voted Best Midfielder and Most Valuable Player, fans still wouldn’t let his World Cup mess up go.

It was in the 1999-2000 season that the heckling had begun to take its toll on Beckham; he was fined for two weeks for partying the night before a game, he shaved his head, and he and manager Alex Ferguson began feuding.

Beckham becomes highest paid

After being quickly eliminated from the 2000 Euro Cup, Beckham, who was now the captain of the England team, returned for the 2000-2001 season with a more positive attitude. Opponents took notice and began to target David during play, which resulted in his having many scoreless games.

By the end of 2001, Beckham felt he had proven himself worthy of a raise and became the highest-paid player in The Theater of Dreams (Old Trafford). Of course, considering his fan base all over the world, there was no doubt that Man U. made their money back in spades.

During his 2001-2002 season, Beckham broke a bone in his left foot and doctors were worried that he wouldn’t heal in time for the 2002 World Cup. Luckily, Beckham healed in time to play and although England didn’t bring home the cup, Beckham returned a hero in his fans’ eyes once again.

Beckham joins Real Madrid

And Beckham rode this adoration into the 2002-2003 season when he helped his team win the league. But it was as this season wound down that speculation about where Beckham would head next that really grabbed headlines.

In 2003, Real Madrid’s club president Florentino Perez set his sights on the media sweetheart and in June, the announcement was made: David Beckham would be making the move to the super club that already had Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, and Ronaldo, at a transfer fee of $41.3 million dollars.

Unfortunately for Beckham, critics would not accept him easily and he was forced to prove himself worthy of such a steep price tag. And Beckham did just that by playing his heart out throughout the 2003-2004 season, even though his club finished fourth.

David Beckham & Rebecca Loos

In April 2004, the media began reporting that Beckham was having an affair with his kids’ nanny, Rebecca Loos. Soon, another woman, model Sarah Marbeck, also came forward making the same claim. This had a profound effect on David, and the man who was once open to taking photographs and signing autographs had now begun to shy away from the paparazzi and fans.

Although Beckham did his best to focus on the 2004 Euro Cup, his team succumbed to losses against France and Portugal. And his 2004-2005 season with Real wasn’t so hot, either; they finished second behind Barcelona.

His 2005-2006 season wasn’t much better, as Beckham was sent off the field more often than ever, and during the qualifying rounds for the 2006 World Cup, Beckham became the first English captain ever to be sent off the field.

Beckham resigns as captain

Unfortunately, Beckham was injured during the quarter-final game against Portugal, in which England was eliminated. The day after the loss, Beckham officially resigned as England’s captain, but still plans to remain part of the team.

With the pretty penny David Beckham has made via soccer and sponsorship deals, he has bought multi-million dollar homes in Britain and The Palm in Jumeirah (Dubai). The couple also own 10 cars, which include Bentleys, Aston Martins and four Ferraris.

Beckham became a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF in January 2005, because he supported the charity for a number of years.

Beckham joins Los Angeles Galaxy

After living outside London with his family in what has been dubbed “Beckingham Palace” with their two dogs, Snoopy and Puffy, Beckham signed a 5-year, $250 million deal to play for the MLS’ Los Angeles Galaxy and moved to Los Angeles indefinitely with his family.

Resource:
IMDb.com - David Beckham