Valentine’s Day Dinner Menu–Add These Aphrodisiacs

Plan on making your valentine a romantic dinner tomorrow night? Head to your local grocery store and pick up some of these tried and true edible aphrodisiacs perfect for Valentine’s Day!

Oysters:

Oysters are the classic and cliche aphrodisiacs who get a lot of attention for their mouth feel, especially when swallowed raw and whole. Another reason why they are so synonymous with gettin’ it on is because of their resemblance to female genitalia. Oysters are very high in protein and rich in zinc and iron–nutrients that help in the transport of oxygen and stimulate the metabolism.

Chocolate:

Chocolate isn’t known for its connection to Valentine’s Day for nothing, so the next time your honey brings you a chocolate-filled heart, know that chocolate is actually a flavorful source of quick energy and has been known to elevate people’s moods due to it containing theobromine and caffeine–two related alkaloid stimulants. Chocolate is also rich in phenylethylamine, a compound that has effects similar to amphetamine.

Avocado:

Avocados are sodium and cholesterol-free, they are nutritious, creamy and mild to taste. The curves of an avocado perfectly mimic the curve’s of a woman’s body and is filled with good fats and has a wonderful buttery texture.

Ginger:

Before we had the modern medicine in over-the-counter pain relievers like Midol and Pamprin, ginger was used to help relieve menstrual cramps and many people still use ginger root to soothe the stomach. Ginger acts as a stimulant and is known to relax the smooth muscles of the uterus and intestines.

Bananas:

Yes, this is very, very obvious–it is impossible to look at a banana without taking note of its obvious phallic shape. Bananas are rich in potassium and B vitamins, which are two necessary components for sex-hormone production.

Artichokes:

Artichokes are one of the oldest-known foods filled with antioxidants. Prickly to touch, if you can make it to the center, its delectable heart reveals itself and you can feast on its delicately meaty substance. Yes, another pretty obvious conclusion as to why this is an aphrodisiac.

Honey:

Honey is sticky, sweet and golden. The look, taste and texture of honey makes it alluring and mysterious.

Pine Nuts:

Pine nuts are full of zinc, a key mineral in maintaining male potency. They have been used to stimulate the libido since Medieval Times. They contain good fats and have an extremely velvety texture.

Vanilla:

Vanilla has been said to increase feelings of lust, being very seductive. Some studies have shown that vanilla can raise levels of catecholamines, or the adrenaline, in the blood.

Get a Free Sample of Always Infinity

While reading one of my favorite sites, I came across a post for a free sample of a new menstrual pad from Always. First of all, being the type of person who hates to pay for pretty much anything, whenever I see something having to do with getting something for free, they have my attention.

So Always, a brand of menstrual pads that have been on the top of the charts for as long as I can remember when it comes to feminine products and have had an extremely dedicated following for years now, has come out with a new and improved menstrual pad.

Yeah, I know, we’ve all heard that before; a lot of companies say that they have a new and improved product when after we try it, we realize we just paid more money for the same product and the only thing that is different is the packaging that we’re throwing away anyway. To prove to us consumers, because they know that we are getting skeptical of buying anything with the recession and financial crisis the US is currently in, Always has set up a specific site dedicated to just the Infinity pad and why it is different. In fact, they have a video that shows you how this pad is different from others from other companies and from their other products and best of all, you can request a free sample of Always Infinity before it even comes out in stores.

All you have to do is go to their website where you can watch the video on how Infinity is different and also videos of women who have already tried it and what they thought of it and also text-based testimonials of the new product. On the right hand side of the website there is a form. Fill out the form and your free sample of Always Infinity will be on its way to your house!

For those of you who have either tried Always Infinity and loved it or for those of you who have been die hard supporters of Always and their menstrual products and know that you don’t need to try this new pad because you think you’re going to like it already, hold your horses because Always Infinity doesn’t hit stores for another week!

Order your sample now!

Good for Your Vagina, Good for the Environment

Yep, I said it–Your vagina! Most women don’t think twice about using store-bought pads and tampons. In most cases, this is what most women were taught to use when they first got their period and so the cycle continues, in a matter of speaking. A lot of women aren’t aware that we do have choices when it comes to what period protection we use.

We all know about pads and tampons, but what a lot of people don’t know about them is that the biggest companies producing these products for women are run by men. It’s true! Men! What do men know about what really goes on in there? Well, apparently not too much since standard pads and tampons contain synthetic fibers and bleach; yes that’s right, bleach. If you look at a container of bleach it will tell you several times throughout the container that you should not drink it and if you do, to contact a poison control center. Bleach is made up of very harsh chemicals that if you drink it, it could very well be fatal, so why are we putting it up inside of ourselves? Sounds dangerous, doesn’t it? So dangerous that tampons also have a little warning you never paid much attention to that tells you about Toxic Shock Syndrome, which women under 21 years of age are most prone to getting.

When it comes to pads, we’re talking about the same ingredients here–Synthetic fibers and bleach. While we’re not shoving pads up inside of ourselves, the synthetic fibers and bleach that are in pads are rubbing up against us all day which is not good for our skin, especially considering that the skin ‘down there’ is very sensitive and makes up the beginning of our entire reproductive area. Women think that pads and tampons have been sterilized, when in fact, no feminine hygiene product has ever been sterilized; meaning we’re more than likely putting dirty synthetic fibers and bleach inside of us. So to recap, synthetic fibers and bleach are bad for us!

Moving on to the environment. There are approximately 85 million women in North America who are menstruating. After pads and tampons are used once, they are disposed of and add to environmental pollution.

According to the March-April article in E Magazine, 6.5 billion tampons and 13.5 billion pads and their packaging end up in landfills and even in sewer systems. That is a whole lot of waste that is clogging up the planet that could be avoided.

Avoided? How!?

If you are a woman who feels most comfortable using pads, Lunapads are reusable pads. With a life expectancy of 5 years, Lunapads is a pad alternative that is great for the environment. Made with a dual layer of 100% cotton flannel and an additional layer of ultra-thin, breathable nylon. They come in an array of different sizes, sure to fit any woman, if you’re a teen, in your 20s, 30s, or even middle-aged with five children under you belt. Best of all, they work with any type of menstrual flow and they are made of something that will not harm you or your reproductive organs in any way. To make it even better, Lunapads are amazingly cute and come in a myriad of different patterns.

If you are a woman who feels most comfortable using tampons, Lunapads also offers the Diva Cup, made of medical-grade silicone.

Both Lunapads and the Diva Cup are great alternatives to pads and tampons that are good for you to use and great for the environment.

Ditch the Disposables Challenge

Every month or so the Crunchy Domestic Goddess issues a challenge to all of us who want to make a better effort at going green. For the months of September and October, she is asking us all to ditch the disposables.

This challenge focuses on every day items that we use and then mindlessly throw in the garbage. Every week when we take out or garbage, it is picked up by the garbage truck and hauled off to a landfill or whatever method your community uses to get rid of its population’s trash. As we all are aware of, the Earth needs our help as global warming is upon us and our Earth is suffocating, shriveling up and dying at rapid speeds. It will continue to do this is we, the people of this planet, do not make conscious efforts each and every day to reduce the amount of waste we put out there.

Think of the every day items you use that you could easily do away with and start using the reusable alternatives. You could ditch your paper napkins and towels to cloth napkins and towels, tissues to handkerchiefs, disposable water bottles (think of how much bottled water a household or person can go through) for reusable bottles or cups with lids; on that same note, you can reuse the same water bottle, thus eliminating the amount of your waste long-term. You could also ditch your plastic sandwich bags and paper bags for reusable containers and bags. If you’re using disposable diapers you could switch to cloth diapers; a lot of different companies have started making excellent cloth diapers.

Another great reusable alternative women should seek out are reusable menstrual products. I have personally done away with disposable pads and tampons and started using reusable products. The reason for this is because I have had minor kidney infections that have caused frequent urinary tract and yeast infections. All the women out there know that this is not fun! After doing some research on minor things I should be doing to keep my reproductive organs the healthiest they can be I found some very troubling information about disposable menstrual products. Standard pads and tampons (made by men, I should point out) contain synthetic fibers and bleach, both of which can cause infections. I then did some research on reusable alternatives and found quite a few great alternatives. For women who use pads, I could not recommend Lunapads enough. I have been using their pads for about a year now and couldn’t be happier. They are made with fleece and cotton, they use cute fabrics so even while you have your period you can feel cute and match your outfit with your pad and they are oh so comfortable. Just a simple machine wash (or hand wash, I hand wash mine and have found it to be a great way to bond with my body during my menstrual cycle and further understand the functions of my body) and an air dry and they’re ready to go again! Lunapads also makes the Diva Cup, a reusable tampon alternative. Other pad and tampon alternatives you could check out are The Keeper and The Moon Cup, Glad Rags, Pretty Pads and New Moon Pads.

So what disposables do you think you could live without for the next two months? Have you already eliminated disposables from your household? Tell us about them!

Fixing Those Crazy Bra Problems

Every woman out there knows about all of the pesky bra problems we go through. Whether you’re falling out of your bra or it fits half of your bust, with all of the different makes and models of bra on the market now, you have options to ensure that you never fall victim to those annoying bra problems.

If your bra gapes at the top, as shown in the picture above, you should most definitely try a different style of bra that will fit your bust completely and also show it off a little. When your bra has some extra fabric at the top, the best style of bra to try then is a demi.

Strapless bras are the most uncomfortable, problematic bras on the market; I am absolutely convinced of that, since every bra I have ever purchased personally have done the same thing–Slip down and expose almost my complete bust and dig into my sides at the same time. Like any other rational and logical person out there, I thought that purchasing a strapless bra was pretty much the exact same as buying a regular bra when it came to the size. However, I have recently learned that when buying strapless bras, it is better to buy a bra that is one size smaller in the back and one size bigger in the cup, making your bust look supported and shapely.

Want that little something extra to show off while wearing a new, low cut top? If you’re looking for cleavage, your answer is in a molded bra with extra padding added to it to give the illusion of a bigger bust which then moves your actual bust up and creates the cleavage you’ve been dying for. However, keep in mind to never, ever, ever put a molded bra in the dryer–The heat will warp its shape and instead of having that nice, smooth shape, you’ll look like you just grabbed some tissues and stuffed them into your old bra.

If you’re like me and find that you are spilling over the top of your bra, no matter what style or company you buy from, the trick to fixing what makes you look like you have two busts is to get a full-coverage bra with a cross seam to support your breasts–You will have a lot more confidence, too!

It is important to upgrade your bra wardrobe once a year. Because anything from medication, menstruation, weight loss, weight gain and so on can affect the size and fullness of your bust, you should most definitely get into the habit of upgrading your bras. And hey, now you have an excuse to splurge a little on sexy new bras and perhaps some matching panties–Because everyone knows a woman feels her sexiest when her undies are sexy.