The Eclectic Female: Lifestyle Blog For Women

Waiting to get pregnant can be extremely nerve-wracking – especially when it seems that all the women around you are nursing their own bundles of joy.  Conception can take time, but if you and your partner have been trying for more than six months with no results, you may want to consider fertility tests.  These tests come in all shapes and sizes – from male to female tests, and from do-it-yourself drugstore tests to hospital procedures.  Consider the following information when choosing a fertility test:

Ladies

If you’re having trouble conceiving, you may want to try home-based fertility tests first, to avoid the expenses and invasiveness of hospital procedures.  The first thing you can do is to keep track of your basal temperature – meaning your body’s temperature immediately upon waking and before any physical activity.  Typically, your body temperature will be around 97o – 97.5o before ovulation, and much lower – around 93o – after ovulation has occurred.  By tracking the changes in your body temperature over time, you should be able to predict your ovulation and better schedule intercourse to increase your chances of conception.

You can also purchase an ovulation test kit – such as Ovukit or Q-Test – at any local pharmacy or through your doctor.  With most of these test kits, you’ll collect a daily sample of urine, then mix the sample with various chemicals designed to measure the amount of luteinizing hormone in the urine.  The level of this hormone increases significantly about 24 hours before ovulation occurs.  Although the results of these tests can be difficult to decipher, using them over a period of a few months will help you to better understand your body’s monthly cycle and time your sexual activities.

However, if these at-home solutions aren’t working for you, you may need to consider a more thorough fertility evaluation conducted by your doctor.  Most often, this consists of an endometrial biopsy to determine conclusively whether or not ovulation has occurred.  Getting a biopsy is similar to a pelvic exam – you’ll be placed in stirrups in your doctor’s office and a speculum will be inserted into your vagina.  Next, a small, thin instrument will be inserted into your uterus, where it takes a small sample of tissue that will be analyzed microscopically.  Most women experience a small amount of cramping pain during this procedure, but it’s rarely significant and usually requires no anesthesia to complete.

Gentlemen

If at-home or hospital tests indicate that you’re ovulating normally, your husband or partner may also need to undergo fertility tests to analyze the function and quality of the sperm.  Men’s sperm viability can be affected by any number of things, from smoking to excessive consumption of Mountain Dew to an affinity for tight jeans or boxer shorts.  If you’re trying to become pregnant, your partner may need to address these issues – especially if tests reveal no problems on your end.  Fortunately, men’s fertility tests are generally much less invasive than tests for women.

Men’s fertility tests are usually always conducted in the doctor’s office – there are very few at-home test kits for men, and those that do exist aren’t considered accurate.  Your doctor or urologist will ask you to give a sample on-site, since it’s important that the analysis be underway as quickly as possible.  Yes – most men find this embarrassing, but remember that getting accurate test results can save you months or years of stress and worry over whether or not you’ll be able to get pregnant.  Once the sample is given, lab technicians at your doctor’s office will test the number of sperm in your sample and their general condition.  If any problems are identified, your doctor will work with you to determine if there are any underlying medical conditions that could be affecting your ability to conceive.

Say you’re ready to pop the question to your girlfriend, but you can’t afford more than the ring from the bottom of the Cracker Jack box.  Don’t lose hope – you may be able to score a great engagement ring for much less than you think.

Buy Online

When you visit a fancy jewelry store, you’re paying for more than just the ring – you’re also paying for the personalized service you receive and the posh décor that adds to the ambiance of the place.  By shopping online, you may be able to find rings that are comparable in size and style to those in offline jewelry stores, but at a fraction of the price.  Just a few words of warning:

Rings can look very different online, so take your girlfriend to a traditional jewelry store and get a feel for what kind of styles she likes.  Does she gravitate towards three-stone rings?  Or maybe towards square cut diamonds over oval-shaped stones?  Use the results of this reconnaissance work to help you narrow down the huge field of rings you’ll find online.

Second, make sure you shop from a reputable company and get proof that the diamond you’re purchasing is authentic.  The last thing you want to do is drop one grand on an eBay auction, only to receive a ring that looks like it’s straight from a drug store vending machine.  Look for jewelry sites that are affiliated with professional jeweler organizations, or those that offer escrow purchasing services that give you the chance to have the diamond evaluated before you pay for it.

Go Synthetic

If it’s going to be a long time before you can afford that big diamond sparkly, talk to your future fiancé, explain your financial situation to her and offer up the possibility of a synthetic diamond.  Lab-created diamonds look more realistic than ever, so she doesn’t need to worry about her girlfriends spotting her fake engagement ring.  And if you really need to, you can promise her that you’ll trade-up and buy her a nicer ring as soon as your financial situation allows.  She should respect your decision to protect your own financial well-being, instead of spending thousands of dollars on a piece of jewelry you can’t afford.

Choose Other Stones

Engagement rings that feature other precious stones – like rubies, sapphires or emeralds – are much cheaper than diamond rings, so you’ll be able to get more ring for your money if you stay away from traditional rings.  You can find a wide assortment of these rings, including some that are set off by smaller diamonds, at most jewelry stores or by searching auction sites online.  However, if you’re thinking about going this route, talk to your girlfriend first.  If she hates the color green, you’re going to be disappointed when you show up with an emerald ring.

If you’re having trouble convincing your future fiancé to accept a diamond-ring substitute, it may be time to educate her on the strife caused by diamond mining around the world.  Your awareness of international plight should impress her, and you may just be able to guilt her into accepting a less expensive ring.  And besides, if she isn’t willing to compromise on the price tag attached to her engagement ring, is this really someone you want to spend the rest of your life with?

Yes – shoes are a necessity, but how many of us can claim that we only use them for this purpose?  Chances are, you have all different kinds of shoes, but wear some more than others.  For example, you may wear sneakers or dress shoes to work, slippers when you’re at home and your most adorable heels when you’re out on the town.  And while you may not think of shoes as occupying a large chunk of your budget, at $50-$100 a pair, their cost can quickly add up.  In particular, if you have a habit of buying shoes that don’t fit or aren’t comfortable enough to wear regularly, you may need to change your habits.

Eliminating Shoe Impulse Buys

It takes a strong person to resist great shoes on clearance.  If you’ve had your eye on a particular pair of shoes all summer, you may be tempted to pick up a size 8 or a size 6 if you see it on clearance, even if you actually wear a size 7.  Regardless of how attractive those shoes are, chances are you’ll still have a hard time wearing them.  Even if you take them to a shoe repair shop to have them adjusted, it may still cost you more than you would have spent buying the proper size in the first place.  This and many other impulse shoe buying behaviors can quickly break your budget, as well as leave you without a useful pair of shoes.

Buying Second Hand Shoes

If you need to buy dress shoes for work, you may be able to find pairs of second hand shoes in good condition.  You can also save a good bit of money on used rubber boots, as well as overshoes and galoshes, by buying used.   Don’t be weirded out by buying used shoes – with a new pair of soles, some antibacterial inserts and a good coat of polish to get rid of any scuff marks, they’ll be good as new at a significantly lower price.  To find these great deals, check out thrift stores, flea markets and any other second hand stores in your area.

Repairing Shoes

If your favorite pair of shoes breaks down, don’t automatically run out and pick up a new pair – you may be able to perform minor shoe repairs yourself.  For example, if a buckle breaks, you may be able to fix it with crazy glue.  On the other hand, if the shoe materials are soft enough, you may be able to sew the buckle back into place.

In addition, soles separating from the upper part of the shoe are extremely common.  If you catch these spots early enough, you may be able to go on using these shoes for several months by repairing them with a special glue used for these types of shoe defects.  You can purchase these glues from your local cobbler, or you might find that he or she can repair the shoe at a significantly lower cost than a new pair of shoes.  For the most part, as long as the sole is not eroded away, you should be able to repair the shoe.

Unfortunately, few people today take into consideration how much money they can save by cutting back on their shoe purchases.  In addition, learning to repair your own shoes and purchasing second hand shoes can be of immense help to your budget.  Of course, it’s also important to try and avoid impulse buys and clearance sales, especially if you can’t find the right size.  Unlike shirts or pants, it’s very difficult to adjust a shoe to the proper size.

The Democratic Convention began today, and it is a scheduled Barack love fest. Hilary is telling her supporters to back the democratic nominee, but many of her supporters refuse to do so.

Calling themself Pumas (Party Unity My A**), these women refuse to vote for Barack Obama due to his inexperience, his association with distasteful figures like former terrorist Bill Ayers and wackjob preacher Jeremiah Wright.

Many Pumas would have backed Obama if he chose Hilary as his running mate. Instead, he made it abundantly clear she wasn’t even in the running.  The downfall of the democratic party begins today, as they nominate a left-wing snob for president, passing over a much more qualified, more experienced and moderate candidate.

There are two different types of people in the world – those who love shopping and those who detest it. One of the biggest problems people have with clothes shopping is that they never seem to find anything that fits and looks good that also falls within whatever meager budget they’ve set aside to buy clothes. Many people are horribly tempted to put clothing items on a credit card and pay the balance off later, but there are better ways to get the most out of your shopping dollar than sinking into debt.

Something that most people don’t often consider when shopping for clothes on a budget is the use of consignment stores. These small stores allow people to bring in their old clothing and accessories for the shop to sell, in exchange for a certain percentage of the sale. These are usually pretty good for some interesting finds. You’ll usually find a wide range of variety and styles in consignment shops, including everything from a seventies leather vest that sat in someone’s closet for years to a trendy dress that may have been the hottest thing around only six months ago.

Because of this wide variety of clothing styles, you should be able find something that fits your body type as well as your individual personality. Plus, because people are getting a kick back for selling their merchandise, there’s usually a pretty good selection of name brands and designer clothing that you might not find at a regular thrift store. To really get the most out of consignment stores, travel to the ritzy areas of your city – cast-offs from residents in these areas tend to be newer and in better condition.

Another important thing to remember about second-hand shopping is that it’s one of the “greenest” things you can do to help the environment. It’s actually a form of recycling – by buying and using these old clothing items, you’re preventing them from taking up space in a landfill somewhere. This way, if you have friends who make any snide comments about consignment store shopping, you can cut them off about how you’re doing your part to help the planet while treasure hunting for bargains on designer clothes at the same time.

Another good way to buy outstanding clothes at a bargain price is to go to some of the leading stores when they’re ditching their seasonal merchandise at extremely discounted rates. This may mean that you don’t get the absolute trendiest items exactly when they come out, but if you can settle for being just a few months behind the trend, it can save you hundreds. This is especially true for large chains like Macys, Dillards, and JC Penneys, which will go as far as marking clothing down as much as 75% off of retail value, just to get it out the door.

If you’ve got a talent for arts and crafts, you may be able to sew your own designer knock-offs. Or, if not, consider organizing a swap meet with friends to trade some of your old duds for theirs. Sure, they won’t be entirely new, but they will be new to you and your wardrobe. Being on a budget doesn’t have to limit your style. With a little creativity and legwork, you can look fabulous and save money at the same time!

If you’ve ever watched a telenovela – a Spanish-language soap opera – you know that Spanish speakers are infamous for speaking very rapidly. If you aren’t accustomed to verbal Spanish or need to concentrate on each word before speaking, you may lose the thread of the conversation with native speakers very quickly. However, your speaking pace is something you can practice – after all, every Spanish speaker has started at the beginning, just like you.

Concentrating on Rhythm and Pronunciation

One of the most difficult aspects of learning Spanish is adjusting to the differences in the way each letter of the alphabet is said in relation to other letters. For example, in English, verbal patterns tend to be very distinct, with a number of changes in tongue and mouth positions. All of this serves to make verbal English much slower in pace.

On the other hand, part of the speed associated with verbal Spanish comes from the sounds being more compatible in each word. In general, there are fewer mouth positions used and the syllables often require less distinction than in English. As a result, while you might expect to take one second to say an English word, it may take half the time to pronounce its Spanish equivalent. Therefore, when you’re using Spanish words in a conversation, it’s important to develop a faster sense of meter and timing.

Practice Key Phrases

Until you successfully create a faster meter for verbal Spanish, it may help to practice certain common phrases over and over. Just like with typing, the more you practice a specific phrase, the faster you’ll be able to speak it. While this will help you when your Spanish is still limited, it’s important to try to speak at an even speed regardless of the words or phrases that you’re using.

Finding Words That You Can Say Quickly

There are probably words that you can say in English much more quickly than other people can and other words that you say more slowly. In a similar way, you’re bound to find combinations of letters and words in the Spanish language that are easier for you to pronounce. It may be helpful to time yourself as you speak specific words and then try to use the ones that you are able to say the fastest more often in your conversations. Of course, you won’t be able to express everything using these words, but getting into the habit of using the faster pace will help you speed up every word over time.

Watch Movies in Spanish

Try to obtain movies that feature native Spanish speaking people – these will best showcase the natural rhythm and speed of the language and offer you a perfect opportunity to listen to verbal Spanish at its normal speed. At first, you may simply want to sit and listen to the rhythm of the words without focusing on their meaning. This will help you pick up key sounds, as well as give you a better sense of the correct accent. Later, go back and listen to the movie again. You can then begin to work on interpreting the actual words or mimicking the Spanish sentences.

Even though Spanish is spoken very quickly, there’s also an underlying rhythm and fluidity to the words to help accomplish this pace. As you listen to people speaking Spanish, you’ll begin to pick up these patterns and learn how to duplicate them. In some cases, you may want to start off simply listening for these patterns before going back and translating the meaning of each sentence.

Tai-Chi Chuan is a gentle martial art has been practiced in China and other Asian nations for thousands of years because of its positive impact on practitioners physical and mental well-being. Traditionally, these simple exercises were performed outdoors during the morning hours. However, because of its popularity today, you’ll likely be able to find classes in your area that fit your particular schedule. Regardless of your age or fitness level, you can take part in Tai-chi exercises to improve your health.

Tai-Chi for physical fitness

Just like Pilates, the movements that make up a Tai-chi session look simple and effortless. Similarly, you don’t need to have any equipment or be in any special place in order to perform Tai-chi, making it a great, cost-effective way to improve your health and well-being. Today, you may even find that people practice Tai-chi in parking lots or small apartments.

If you’ve ever watched someone perform Tai-chi, you might believe it’s a dance, or a simple method of stretching. Put these preconceived notions aside. As you learn each movement, you’ll soon realize that the actions strengthen muscles and improve your balance and coordination. But best of all, unlike many popular exercise routines, Tai-chi is likely to make you feel more energetic, instead of tired and drained.

Mental wellness

In today’s stress-filled world, everyone needs to make space in their schedule to relax and simply be away from it all. Unfortunately, even if you try to meditate, the distractions of a still body are more than you might bargain for. On the other hand, as you focus your attention on Tai-chi movements, you’ll find that all other thoughts simply fade away. As a result, Tai-chi is a perfect way to reduce stress and regain your mental equilibrium.

When to practice Tai-chi

Typically, Tai-chi is practiced in the morning, although it can be performed at any time of the day depending on your schedule. If you have a long commute to your job, you may want to arrive a few minutes early and practice Tai-chi before starting work. Not only will this build in a few extra minutes if you run into a traffic problem, it will also help you refocus your attention on the work you must do for the day. If you are relaxed going into your work day, you’ll be better able to diffuse stressful or difficult situations as they come up.

Even though Tai-chi has been used for thousands of years around the world, it’s only recently risen to popularity in the Western hemisphere. Today, you can purchase books, videos, and DVDs online that will teach you how to perform Tai-chi from the comfort of your own home. You’ll also find that there are some wonderful music arrangements available to compliment your workout. If you start working with Tai-chi, you’ll be amazed at how quickly it will become something you look forward to doing each day.

Getting a dog of any type requires some preparation, but if you’re planning on getting a large breed of dog, you’ll need to make several changes to your home. Smaller dogs are much easier to manage, take up less space, and will mean fewer changes to your home on the whole, but if you heart is set on a large dog, consider the following:

First of all, a large dog requires a lot of space to exercise. If you know you won’t have a lot of time to walk your dog – which is certainly something you’ll need to consider – you’ll need to have a good sized backyard. This way, your dog can at least have some space to run around in to exercise. Of course, if you plan on using your backyard for this purpose, you’re going to need a good fence to keep your dog in.

There are two things to consider when it comes to a good fence – height and good-quality construction. A large dog is able to jump fairly high, so you’ll need at least an 8′ fence, just to be on the safe side. You’ll also want to be sure your fence is made of high-quality materials – you don’t want your dog to be able to break a hole through your fence. If you have a stockade fence, be sure all the pickets are in good shape and are solidly attached to each other and the posts. With a chain link fence, make sure the ends are attached to the posts and that none of the corners have come loose.

If you’re planning to tie your dog up in the backyard for exercise, you’ll need to have a well-tethered pole or good-sized tree to attach the chain to. If you choose to go this route, be sure that your dog can’t get near any fences or obstacles. If this is unavoidable, make sure that the chain is long enough that should your dog try to jump over the obstacle, he or she will reach the ground on the other side. Nothing is sadder than finding your dog injured or worse from trying to jump the fence on a short leash.

Inside your house, there are several other things to consider. First, large dogs can get very excited, and if you have anything fragile sitting on a low shelf, a rapidly wagging tail can sweep it right onto the floor. Bigger dogs can also jump up on chairs, couches, and beds with ease, so be ready to find muddy paw prints all over if your dog goes outside after it rains. You may need to institute a paw-wiping session after your dog goes outside to protect your belongings!

Of course, you’ll need to be well-stocked with the basics, too, but be sure to get the large size in everything! Big dogs eat a lot, so you’ll need a big food and water bowl. A large collar and dog bed are also necessities. If your dog is going to be on a leash or chained in the yard, you’ll want to be sure to get a heavy duty leash and chain, since bigger dogs can break some of the weaker ones.

Preparing your home for a large breed dog does take a bit more than it does for a smaller dog, but it’s not that much more difficult. Just take note of any fragile items and move them, and make certain your backyard and fence are in good shape. Other than that, simply buy the large, heavy-duty sized items and you’ll be ready to go!

Staying at the wrong hotel can absolutely ruin your Caribbean vacation. Loud noises from construction, a long hike to get to the beach, bad cleaning service – whatever the source of your annoyance, it will permeate your entire vacation. Here are some ways to be sure you select the right Caribbean hotel for your needs:First, since you’re working with a budget, pick the dates you’ll be in the Caribbean and then shop around for good prices. But don’t just book the cheapest room you can find. The hotel could be fine, but usually a cheap price reflects a cheap room. Instead, get information on three or four different hotels. If possible, use a booking website that allows you to read personal reviews of other travelers stays. Use these recommendations and other information to find one that just fits your budget and your personal needs.Also, don’t forget to do an internet search or talk to your travel agent about local hotels that aren’t part of the larger chains. While, the large chain hotels often have amenities and extras that these other hotels don’t have, the locally operated hotels are often cheaper. These hotels sometimes have restaurants or promotions with local businesses too, which can add some local flair to your stay in the Caribbean. Just make sure that you understand the price – most are priced in US dollars, but you should double check – and what’s included.

If you’re traveling with children, see which hotels offer discounts for kids. Some allow children under six to stay free. That can be an important discount if you’re working with a limited budget. If you have teenagers who want their own room, be sure to inquire about reserving adjoining rooms or connected rooms. Some hotels may even have small suites you can reserve, which may be cheaper than reserving two separate rooms.

Find out what each hotel has to offer in the way of beaches and outdoor activities. Most will have large swimming pools, but some Caribbean hotels actually have private beaches for their guests. If you don’t want to deal with overcrowded public beaches or want to worry about dragging umbrellas, chairs, and the like around, a private hotel beach may be best for you. Since many public beaches charge an admission fee, finding a hotel that offers this service can help your budget.

Be sure to ask potential hotels about transportation to and from the airport. Some hotels offer free transportation, but some charge or don’t offer transportation at all. If that’s the case, you’ll have to find out about taxi prices or airport shuttles. This can end up costing you a lot if you’re in a big group or have a lot of luggage. You don’t want to end up shelling out a lot of money just to get to your hotel, so plan this part of the trip in advance.

Finding the right Caribbean hotel can be a bit of a challenge, but it’s worth a little extra effort. Make a list of everything you’ll need in your lodging, from room size to service amenities. Once you know exactly what you want, it’s not that difficult to compare your list to the list of things the hotels offer and make an informed decision.

For several weeks now, you’ve been regularly chatting with a certain interesting someone online and the inevitable time of your first face-to-face meeting has now finally come to fruition. The various emotions you’re feeling range from the absolutely terrified to the completely thrilled. But instead of fretting over your impending situation, relax and remember that this could be the best experience of your entire life – so take the time to fully prepare and forge ahead with an open mind.

Be Prepared