According to experts, the definitive cause of PMS is not yet known, but the most likely explanation for PMS is that many women are sensitive to the hormonal shifts that occur in the second half of the menstrual cycle.

(See…. we didn’t do it purposedly!!)

PMS most often occurs in women with normal menstrual cycles. During the normal menstrual cycle, the ovaries make two main hormones, called estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen is made by the ovaries throughout the entire menstrual cycle. It reaches its highest levels during the second and third weeks and declines during the last week. During the last two weeks of the cycle the ovaries also make progesterone. The last two weeks of the menstrual cycle is called the luteal (secretory) phase.

Both estrogen and progesterone prepare the uterus (womb) to accept a fertilized egg. Both estrogen and progesterone also affect women’s moods.

The exact cause of PMS is still not known, but researchers believe that PMS symptoms occur because progesterone and estrogen cause changes in brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. (Natural chemicals that nerve cells, especially in the brain, use to send messages to one another. These chemicals are involved in mood, thought, pain, and pleasure..) The most likely neurotransmitters affected are:

* Serotonin: Women with PMS have fluctuations in serotonin levels. These changes may cause depression and carbohydrate cravings. Serotonin is made by the body from the amino acid tryptophan.

* GABA: GABA stands for gamma-aminobutyric acid. This neurotransmitter is important in feeling calm.

* Endorphins: Endorphins are important in the experience of pain and pleasure. Estrogen and progesterone change endorphin levels.

* Norepinephrine: Norepinephrine and epinephrine are also neurotransmitters that influence mood. In addition, these substances play a role in blood pressure and heart rate.

(taken from EHealthMD)

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So there you go. This should somehow explain why PMS happen to most women. It’s probably why I’m so moody today too. Eww.

• If you eat something and no one sees you eat it, it has no calories.

• If you drink a diet soda with a candy bar, the calories in the candy bar are cancelled out by the diet soda.

• When you eat with someone else, calories don’t count if you don’t eat more than they do.

• Food used for medicinal purposes NEVER count, such as hot chocolate, brandy, toast and Sara Lee Cheesecake.

• If you fatten up everyone else around you, then you look thinner.

• If everything else fails, there’s always the phentermine.

HONEY is the BEST alternative to the drug laden cough syrups!

According to Health Hype:

Honey soothes throats and helps calm coughs. Honey is the best alternative to the drug laden cough syrups. Honey has been recommended for ages by grandparents in several cultures like Indian.

A recent study findings have been published in the “Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine” on December 3, 2007. It says that the children who were given a spoonful of ‘buckwheat honey’ just before going to the bed had deep sleep and coughed less. On the other hand, children who received a dose of any generally prescribed ‘over-the-counter cough suppressant’ did not show equal results even any nearer to this level. The level of relief was no way observed in the children who did not receive any medication.

And here I am.. actively taking cough syrups for the past 4 days (all thanks to my VERY stubborn cough) and still coughing like hell when we actually have pure honey over our kitchen counter! I could have had saved a lot on those cough syrups for our movers (like the ones offered by the cross country moving companies) if only I knew about this earlier.

*sigh*

Au-naturel is always the best.

(warning: might not work for everyone)

1) Take your other half to the shopping mall. Point at a balancing ball and make him buy you one.

2) Make him buy a pair of cheap badminton racket as well. Lure him with, “Playing games together improves our relationship better.” (it normally works)

3) Buy 1 size smaller shorts. Put them on and laugh at yourself in the mirror.

4) Skip lunch. Opt for instant oat if you’re hungry.

5) Take jamu. Swallow with pride no matter how bitter it tastes.

6) Plan a 3 nights 2 days stay at the hotels gulf shores for your anniversary in January, despite not having $$ for it. It’ll stress you, making you fall into depression and you’ll eventually start to lose weight, if not your mind.

That’s it folks. I’ll add into the list when I could think of new ideas.

What’s yours?

Hang Mioku proved it, after injecting cooking oil into her own face.

Her “new” face was grossly disfigured, it almost made me jumped out of my skin. It might scare you off too, so click ONLY if you have a strong heart.

More stories from here.

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Ad: If you’ve got nothing better to do, might as well go check out what the word ‘Orovo‘ means!

This is how I looked like at home, from the back. (Yes, that’s my head) I don’t let my hair down, simply because it’s distracting to both me and my partner. (^_^) Kidding.

To bun your hair with a chopstick is really easy. You just need some patience to work it. I learned this from my mother – the chopstick bun that is. I do not have her patience.

Anyway, you can learn how to stick a chopstick on your hair from here.

PS: That wasn’t me on the video. I’m too vain to be in one.. hahaha

If working on hair isn’t your thing (guys), then perhaps you’d prefer to do some reading on lipovox reviews instead..

I just watched on E! showing a documentary of Angelina Jolie. Now, what does the name Angelina Jolie reminds you of? Definitely NOT a pretty girl frolicking on a beach in a bikini with a huge asset. Think Lara Croft. Think Mrs. Smith. Oh yes, I’m talking about that sexy woman with a sexy pouting lips!

Back in the days at the makeup school I went, the girls would always, ALWAYS asked for a pouty lips look when it comes to makeup practice session. Can you imagine that? Everyone wants to have that celebrity sexy lips look because it makes the person look hot! Now, the thing is: If you’re not a professional makeup artist, achieving that sexy, pouting lips wouldn’t be easy. It takes lots of practice and skill to make a thin lip looks full.

But fret no more, ladies. There’s a brand new product that could make you achieve just the same effect on your lips without having to enroll in a makeup school: The Celebrity Sexy Lip Plumper is the one thing to have in your makeup case (or your dressing table.. or your handbag!).

Forget surgeries or other lip plumpers that burns the lips with a painful tingling sensation, this lip plumper doesn’t hurt at all. Amazingly effective at drawing moisture in to plump the lips, but gentle enough to protect and nourish the delicate lip area.

Now that you’ve heard about this great product, why not try one today and see how beautiful and plump your lips will be. Your lips will thank you!

PS: Psst. A secret I’d share with you. I’m considering getting this product myself to save the time and effort I did on my clients who wishes to have a plumper looking lips. *wink*

The answer lies not only on your healthy skin but also on the makeups that you wear. While it is important to choose a shade and formula that are appropriate for your skin colour and type, your application techniques can make a huge difference. Unless you’re a professional makeup artist who knows how to blend shades and foundations for certain skin shade and type, the best way you can go for a perfect makeup is to go for a makeup brand that offers not only multiple choice of colors but also suitable for sensitive type of skin. One such as the Mineral Secrets brand. Light-as-air, non-shiny cosmetic- was designed originally for men and women with highly sensitive skin types.

When it comes to makeup, my favorite would be the makeup base. Makeup base is the most important part of a makeup routine because it is perfect for evening out your skin tone, making your face appears to be flawless. I would recommend the Mineral Makeup Base, an easy-to-use hypoallergenic liquid powder that comes with a natural sun screen by up to 15 protection. The velvety smooth fluid triples as a foundation, sunblock and anti-ager – perfect for liquid foundation lovers who shy away from mineral powders.

Mineral Secrets makeup offers an extensive makeup collection from earth tone to fun colors. Suitable for both teenagers who wants to explore the fun and beauty of makeup to the adults who enjoys a classic, beautiful makeup. Be it for eyebrows, eyes, cheek, lips – you will find it all from Mineral Secrets.

My favorite of all? Their makeup brushes of course! Remember my last post on Goth makeup where I used extensive collection of brushes for different makeup application? Well, you can have your own makeup brushes collection from Mineral Secrets too. For a non-professional makeup artist, I’d suggest you to go for the Mini Wooden Brush Set by Mineral Secrets.

Packed in a travel sized brush bag, the brush collection consists of 7 makeup brushes: Powder, Blush, 2x Eye Shadow, Lip, Eyebrow and Mascara brushes. All for only $49. Awesome deal I must say!

For more info on their superb makeup collection, visit mineralsecrets.com today.

Often, I saw women with overdone blush on their face, making them look like they just got slapped on their face. That is because every blush contains red pigments that will make your features stand out, so with overdone blush, you’ll get the “slapped” effect.

How do I apply blush on my face?

For liquid or creamy blush, usually the fingers are used to apply on the face followed by facial powder. For powder blush, medium-sized flat brush is used to apply the blush on top of the facial powder.

Different ways of applying blush on different sizes of face

That’s it for my Makeup tip of the day. Hope it helps.