Hi, there
This article was e-mailed to me yesterday and I found it very interesting. There is nothing worse than coming through the holidays feeling worse than you did before and still feeling like you need to rest, because of all the partying and food and sleeping that happened during the holidays. I’m sure these 10 tips will help make this holiday season a little easier and aid you feeling more rested.
The article is by Patrick Holford, world renowned nutritionist (I get his newsletter e-mailed to me every now and then and they really are very interesting with useful tips on how to stay healthy through what you eat.
Happy reading.
Regards,
M.
The Christmas health survival guide
Top ten tips to remain healthy this Christmas
Don’t let ill health ruin your Christmas. What should be a wonderful time of year is easily ruined by aches and pains, allergies, indigestion or migraines. It is so easy to over-indulge when everyone is letting their hair down, but often your body will make it all too obvious that it is not enjoying the effects of your excesses. Most of us will recognise that awful sloth-like feeling of lethargy and general malaise that hits after a few days of full-on Christmas festivities. Too much food, or too much of the wrong food, extra alcohol, no exercise and less sleep all take their toll. If you want to feel and look your best this year, follow my Top Ten Tips for a happy, healthy Christmas:
1. Have yourself a low GL Christmas - follow these golden rules and try some of my low GL Christmas recipes including my Christmas pudding recipe.
2. Exercise restraint – don’t go mad on food and drink you wouldn’t normally eat. Ask yourself if it is really worth the after effects (such as headaches, weight gain, poor sleep)
3. Snack on fruit and nuts rather than crisps and chocolate. If you want a treat, choose Brazil nuts coated in dark chocolate, as the nuts provide plenty of antioxidants and selenium, while good quality dark chocolate (around 70% cocoa solids) is low in sugar and high in magnesium and iron
4. Alcohol – minimise the damage. Drinking too much taxes both the liver and your digestive tract. You can minimise the damage, and any hangover symptoms, by simply supplementing an extra 2,000mg of vitamin C and a heaped teaspoon of glutamine powder, last thing at night with water.Try and also match each alcoholic drink with a glass of water to stay hydrated
5. Don’t stop exercising just because it’s party time. It may be cold and dark in the mornings, but the endorphins released after you go for a run or to the gym more than make up for the rude awakening. Plus, exercise not only helps you control your blood sugar, it also boosts the immune system
6. Follow the Rainbow Rule – make sure your plate is piled high with different coloured fruits and/or vegetables, so that you eat a full spectrum of colours each day. Brightly coloured fruit and veg contain phyto- or plant nutrients that are incredibly important for fighting disease and keeping you looking your best. Satsumas, Brussel sprouts, purple cabbage, cranberries are all classic Christmas foods that offer a range of colours to help keep you healthy
7. Christmas can be inflammatory in more ways than one. Not only can relatives drive you mad, but you are more likely to eat foods that cause inflammation than at other times of the year. Meat, dairy products such as ice cream and brandy butter and milk chocolate, and sugar all produce inflammation in the body, which exacerbates any inflammatory conditions like asthma, eczema and arthritis. Make sure you eat plenty of anti-inflammatory foods like fruit, vegetables, whole grains, oily fish, nuts and seeds to help restore balance
8. Don’t ignore allergies – if you have an IgG intolerance to a food or foods I’m afraid that your immune system doesn’t know that it is Christmas and won’t give you a rest for a few days. The only way to eliminate IgG intolerances is to avoid the allergen for at least 3 months to give your body a chance to repair any damage to the digestive tract and allow your immune system to restore a natural response to the offending food. Don’t undo any good work by ‘having a break’ from avoiding dairy products, or whatever food you have found to cause you problems.
9. Fight infection by upping your intake of superfoods – garlic, ginger, turmeric, shiitake mushrooms and berries are all foods rich in antioxidants that help to keep the immune system functioning to fight off infections
10. Eat cinnamon – not only is the flavour of this spice perfectly suited to seasonal foods like stewed apple and mince meat, a teaspoon of ground cinnamon a day has been shown to help your body deal restore blood sugar balance, to help you cope with any sugary treats
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Monday, December 10, 2007
Quote for Today.
"Always aim at complete harmony of thought and word and deed. Always aim at purifying your thoughts and everything will be well." - Mahatma Gandhi
Friday, December 7, 2007
Inner Quality: Tech Support
I came across this article on stress – I hope you enjoy it. Getting rid of stress and enjoying the end of the year (holidays – woo hoo).
Ever wonder what’s behind all the increasing stress we experience today? I believe one source is increased bandwidth. In this wireless era of high speed internet, Bluetooth and 24/7 accessibility, a lot of the stress we experience today comes from feeling caught in the middle of an expanding whirlwind of information and the belief that we need to do something about every single bit of it, NOW. Back in the day I managed a multi-million dollar sales territory without voice mail, email or a cell phone. How did we ever get the job done without technology? Well, maybe the smart question is how do we survive with it? I remember a former colleague of mine who would wait 24 hours before responding to the 'urgent' messages he from received from his direct reports. More often than not, he told me, the 'problems' are neither important nor urgent and either get resolved or just go away without his intervention.
I'm not sure if ignoring all incoming information is the best stress solution but I do believe that periodically we need to delete the less important stuff to give the high value, high priority ones more room and energy.
Here are two ways to help you sort, trim, filter, collect, combine or organize what's in front of you and better decide what to do about it.
1. When you're feeling information overload, take a minute to stop your inner dialogue and disengage from the stressful feeling often associated with urgency. Take a couple of deep breaths and then activate a positive feeling*. This will allow your calmer, more balanced self to discern what’s important and needs your attention.
2. Don't become the next link in an ever-growing information chain. Once you have a shorter, more focused list of what should take up your time, use these steps again to make sure you don't perpetuate the turbulence. Ask yourself, "What's the best way to communicate this?" Add value to what you communicate by letting your own common sense guide you as to what to pass on, how to deliver it and who should get it.
*HeartMath's Quick Coherence® technique:Heart focus Heart breathingHeart feeling
Take Care,
M.
Ever wonder what’s behind all the increasing stress we experience today? I believe one source is increased bandwidth. In this wireless era of high speed internet, Bluetooth and 24/7 accessibility, a lot of the stress we experience today comes from feeling caught in the middle of an expanding whirlwind of information and the belief that we need to do something about every single bit of it, NOW. Back in the day I managed a multi-million dollar sales territory without voice mail, email or a cell phone. How did we ever get the job done without technology? Well, maybe the smart question is how do we survive with it? I remember a former colleague of mine who would wait 24 hours before responding to the 'urgent' messages he from received from his direct reports. More often than not, he told me, the 'problems' are neither important nor urgent and either get resolved or just go away without his intervention.
I'm not sure if ignoring all incoming information is the best stress solution but I do believe that periodically we need to delete the less important stuff to give the high value, high priority ones more room and energy.
Here are two ways to help you sort, trim, filter, collect, combine or organize what's in front of you and better decide what to do about it.
1. When you're feeling information overload, take a minute to stop your inner dialogue and disengage from the stressful feeling often associated with urgency. Take a couple of deep breaths and then activate a positive feeling*. This will allow your calmer, more balanced self to discern what’s important and needs your attention.
2. Don't become the next link in an ever-growing information chain. Once you have a shorter, more focused list of what should take up your time, use these steps again to make sure you don't perpetuate the turbulence. Ask yourself, "What's the best way to communicate this?" Add value to what you communicate by letting your own common sense guide you as to what to pass on, how to deliver it and who should get it.
*HeartMath's Quick Coherence® technique:Heart focus Heart breathingHeart feeling
Take Care,
M.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
20 Days to Christmas...
... but even more importantly, 9 days to shut down!!! :-) Who's taking leave over December and who prefers, like me, to rather take leave in March/April when everything is a little quieter and the weather is still good?
Regards,
M.
Regards,
M.
Monday, December 3, 2007
Taking Religion out of Christmas!
Hi, there
Every year my friends and I debate this issue - taking religion out of Christmas. AS a Christian, I celebrate Christmas from a Christian perspective, i.e. the birth of Christ and the salvation of mankind. BUT, it seems to me, that it is rather unfair that the vast majority of our public holidays are Christian based and do not reflect the wider spectrum of our population. I personally feel that each person should be allocated five or six religious days that they can take at significant religious festivals pertinent to their own beliefs. So, in other words, as a Christian, I will use my religious days to celebrate Easter, Christmas, Day of Resurrection, etc. If I was Jewish, I'd use my religious days to celebrate Yom Kippur, etc and if I was a Muslim, I'd use my religious days to celebrate accordingly.
However, I think that Christmas has become so much more than just a Christian holiday, but a day of national celebrations for everyone at a time of year when it is holidays, relaxation and end-of-year shut-down.
After chatting to a few folk of other faiths, they said that if the above system had to be instituted, they'd probably take Christmas off anyway, because they don't see it as a purely Christian celebration.
What are your thoughts? I'd be very interested to hear (and help me win the debate with my friends...;)
Regards,
M.
Every year my friends and I debate this issue - taking religion out of Christmas. AS a Christian, I celebrate Christmas from a Christian perspective, i.e. the birth of Christ and the salvation of mankind. BUT, it seems to me, that it is rather unfair that the vast majority of our public holidays are Christian based and do not reflect the wider spectrum of our population. I personally feel that each person should be allocated five or six religious days that they can take at significant religious festivals pertinent to their own beliefs. So, in other words, as a Christian, I will use my religious days to celebrate Easter, Christmas, Day of Resurrection, etc. If I was Jewish, I'd use my religious days to celebrate Yom Kippur, etc and if I was a Muslim, I'd use my religious days to celebrate accordingly.
However, I think that Christmas has become so much more than just a Christian holiday, but a day of national celebrations for everyone at a time of year when it is holidays, relaxation and end-of-year shut-down.
After chatting to a few folk of other faiths, they said that if the above system had to be instituted, they'd probably take Christmas off anyway, because they don't see it as a purely Christian celebration.
What are your thoughts? I'd be very interested to hear (and help me win the debate with my friends...;)
Regards,
M.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
How not to sell.
Hi, there
I am not a natural sales person - in fact, its the hardest thing to do is try sell someone something. I always find myself thinking that if someone wants something, they're going to buy it and if I have what they want, they'll come to me. I'm starting to realise that it isn't quite as simplistic as that, because you have to go through the whole process of building relationships and letting people know that you are there (especially when you're only an on-line store. I think that is why I found this little story I received on e-mail the other day so interesting. What is your preferred sales technique? Happy reading!
Regards,
M.
P.S. The extract comes from Early to Rise - a business newsletter I get everyday.
***********************************
You should sell to your customers... But not like this
************************************
"There is nothing worse than aggressive stupidity." - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
By Suzanne Richardson
Zap! My AC adaptor was dead as a doornail. Since I work from home, my laptop is my office and primary means of communication with ETR writers and staff members alike. Panic started to set in. So I immediately called Dell to order a new AC adaptor as quickly as possible. I needed the adaptor and I needed it right away, which meant that Dell had to do very little work to make the sale. But the sales rep I spoke to managed to make me so frustrated that I hung up and called the computer shop down the road instead. It's possible that you or your salespeople are making the same mistake as the Dell rep. If so, you could be driving your customers away. Here's what happened...
The sales rep asked me for my computer ID number so she could understand more about me and my computer. I told her that my AC adaptor was dead and I needed a new one right away.
"Have you noticed that your computer is running slowly lately, especially when you have a lot of applications running?" she asked.
What does that have to do with anything? I thought. But, giving her the benefit of the doubt, I said, "Sure, sometimes."
"It looks like you're using almost half of your memory," she said. "Would you like to upgrade?"
Okay, I thought, she either didn't listen to my problem or she doesn't understand my urgency. "Yes, I'll consider that at some point," I told her.
"But right now, I really need an AC adaptor."
"Oh, of course we can do that for you. But I just want to make sure that your computer is running at top capacity," she said. "Would you like to upgrade your memory? It will really help your computer run faster."
"Yes, I understand that," I told her. "But I work from home and I need an AC adaptor right away. That's why I called. And once that problem is taken care of, I can think about upgrading my memory."
"But if you upgrade your memory now, I can offer you a special rate," she said.
"That's not my problem right now," I said. "My problem is that I need an AC adaptor."
"If you don't upgrade your memory right now, you won't get this special price," she said.
"Thank you for your time," I told her and hung up.
Michael Masterson has said many times that customer service and sales should go hand in hand. If the product or service you offer is worthwhile, selling it is a service to your customer.
"If you limit the benefit you provide to that which - and only that which - your customer specifically requests," says Michael, "you are much, much less valuable to him in the long run."
But that doesn't mean you should try to badger people into buying something they don't want. And it definitely doesn't mean that you should ignore solving your customer's primary problem in order to make a bigger sale.
Michael puts it like this: "As businesspeople, it is our job to provide more and better products and services to our customers, to help them solve their problems, meet their needs, and achieve their ambitions."
The key idea here: You want to help solve your customers' problems. In my example, my problem was that I needed an AC adaptor. Had the sales rep helped me order what I needed and then tried to convince me to upgrade my memory, I would have been much more receptive to her offer. (I really do, as she suggested, need more memory.)
Monday, November 26, 2007
Homeopathy versus Western Medicine
Homeopathy versus Western Medicine
And the debate continues … which is better, homeopathy or traditional western medicine? The reason why I’m raising this again is that I had a very interesting conversation with a neighbour yesterday who invented some electronic machine that disguised pain, making operations, etc more bearable without chemical intervention. I don’t know the details of the machine, or what it was called, but the machine itself apparently won a number of international awards and prizes. He says that when the pharmaceutical companies found out about it, they took him to court to stop him marketing and promoting this device and he did not have the financial means to continue fighting back (he said he did try for a bit, but soon ran short of funds). Now, bearing in mind that this was idle chit-chat over a braai and that I don’t have any details, the whole story did get me thinking. I’ve looked up the definitions on Homeopathy and Western Medicine:
Homeopathy (also homœopathy or homoeopathy; from the Greek ὅμοιος, hómoios, "similar" + πάθος, páthos, "suffering" or "disease") is a controversial form of complementary and alternative medicine first used in the late 18th century by German physician Samuel Hahnemann. This early work was built on by later homeopaths such as James Tyler Kent; however, Hahnemann's most famous textbook The Organon of the Healing Art remains in wide use today. The legal status of homeopathy varies from country to country, but homeopathic remedies are not tested and regulated under the same laws as conventional drugs.
Usage is also variable and ranges from only 2% of people in Britain and the United States using homeopathy in any one year, to India, where homeopathy now forms part of traditional medicine and is used by approximately 15% of the population. Homeopathic remedies are based on substances that, in undiluted form, cause symptoms similar to the disease they aim to treat. These substances are then diluted in a process of serial dilution, with shaking at each stage, that homeopaths believe removes side-effects but retains therapeutic powers – even past the point where no molecules of the original substance are likely to remain. Hahnemann proposed that this process aroused and enhanced “spirit-like medicinal powers held within a drug”. Sets of remedies used in homeopathy are recorded in homeopathic materia medica, with practitioners selecting treatments according to consultations that try to produce a picture of both the physical and psychological state of the patient. The ideas of homeopathy are “scientifically implausible”, and directly opposed to modern pharmaceutical knowledge. Claims for the efficacy of homeopathy are unsupported by the collected weight of scientific and clinical studies. This lack of evidence supporting its efficacy, along with its stance against modern scientific ideas, have caused, in the words of a recent medical review, “...homeopathy to be regarded as placebo therapy at best and quackery at worst.” Meta-analyses of many clinical trials have shown that any effects are unlikely to be beyond that of placebo, and that studies that suggest genuine homeopathic effects have generally been flawed in design. Homeopaths are also accused of giving ‘false hope’ to patients who might otherwise seek effective conventional treatments. Many homeopaths advise against standard medical procedures such as vaccination, and some homeopaths even advise against the use of anti-malarial drugs. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeopathy
The definition of traditional medicine is: Medicine is the science and “art” of maintaining and/or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of patients. The term is derived from the Latin ars medicina meaning the art of healing. The modern practice of medicine occurs at the many interfaces between the art of healing and various sciences. Medicine is directly connected to the health sciences and biomedicine. Broadly speaking, the term 'Medicine' today refers to the fields of clinical medicine, medical research and surgery, thereby covering the challenges of disease and injury. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicine. Conventional medicine: Medicine as practiced by holders of M.D. (medical doctor) or D.O. (doctor of osteopathy) degrees and by their allied health professionals, such as physical therapists, psychologists, and registered nurses. Other terms for conventional medicine include allopathy and allopathic medicine; Western medicine, mainstream medicine, orthodox medicine, and regular medicine; and biomedicine. http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=33527
I must admit that I was a bit taken aback to see that the words “opposed to” in both definitions. I really don’t see Homeopathy and western medicine as an “either/or”, but rather as a “both/and”. My problem with western medicine isn’t so much the medicine itself, its that our whole healthcare system is designed to keep people ill – thereby increasing profits. I mean, when a doctor prescribes FIVE antibiotics for a cough, you’ve got to ask yourself why.
I’ve always thought of it as progressive – first, try living a healthy life style by eating right and exercising regularly. Then, if you do feel ill or something goes wrong, then try home remedies, i.e. if you have flu, drink plenty of liquid and get bed rest. If that doesn’t help, then try homeopathic medication and if you are still ill, then try antibiotics. Hopefully, you’ll be better before you get to the antibiotic stage. Having said that though, there are some illnesses that require western medicine upfront, but is this the only way to go? Hubby’s niece had a cyst on her spine that doctors wanted to operate on (obviously it was a risky procedure). Before the op, she went to see a Homeopath; who managed to get rid of the cyst without any invasive procedures. So, it does beg the question – which is better and why?
What do you think? I’d be interested to know all your opinions – from doctors, pharmacists, homeopaths and everyone in between…J
Regards,
M.
And the debate continues … which is better, homeopathy or traditional western medicine? The reason why I’m raising this again is that I had a very interesting conversation with a neighbour yesterday who invented some electronic machine that disguised pain, making operations, etc more bearable without chemical intervention. I don’t know the details of the machine, or what it was called, but the machine itself apparently won a number of international awards and prizes. He says that when the pharmaceutical companies found out about it, they took him to court to stop him marketing and promoting this device and he did not have the financial means to continue fighting back (he said he did try for a bit, but soon ran short of funds). Now, bearing in mind that this was idle chit-chat over a braai and that I don’t have any details, the whole story did get me thinking. I’ve looked up the definitions on Homeopathy and Western Medicine:
Homeopathy (also homœopathy or homoeopathy; from the Greek ὅμοιος, hómoios, "similar" + πάθος, páthos, "suffering" or "disease") is a controversial form of complementary and alternative medicine first used in the late 18th century by German physician Samuel Hahnemann. This early work was built on by later homeopaths such as James Tyler Kent; however, Hahnemann's most famous textbook The Organon of the Healing Art remains in wide use today. The legal status of homeopathy varies from country to country, but homeopathic remedies are not tested and regulated under the same laws as conventional drugs.
Usage is also variable and ranges from only 2% of people in Britain and the United States using homeopathy in any one year, to India, where homeopathy now forms part of traditional medicine and is used by approximately 15% of the population. Homeopathic remedies are based on substances that, in undiluted form, cause symptoms similar to the disease they aim to treat. These substances are then diluted in a process of serial dilution, with shaking at each stage, that homeopaths believe removes side-effects but retains therapeutic powers – even past the point where no molecules of the original substance are likely to remain. Hahnemann proposed that this process aroused and enhanced “spirit-like medicinal powers held within a drug”. Sets of remedies used in homeopathy are recorded in homeopathic materia medica, with practitioners selecting treatments according to consultations that try to produce a picture of both the physical and psychological state of the patient. The ideas of homeopathy are “scientifically implausible”, and directly opposed to modern pharmaceutical knowledge. Claims for the efficacy of homeopathy are unsupported by the collected weight of scientific and clinical studies. This lack of evidence supporting its efficacy, along with its stance against modern scientific ideas, have caused, in the words of a recent medical review, “...homeopathy to be regarded as placebo therapy at best and quackery at worst.” Meta-analyses of many clinical trials have shown that any effects are unlikely to be beyond that of placebo, and that studies that suggest genuine homeopathic effects have generally been flawed in design. Homeopaths are also accused of giving ‘false hope’ to patients who might otherwise seek effective conventional treatments. Many homeopaths advise against standard medical procedures such as vaccination, and some homeopaths even advise against the use of anti-malarial drugs. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeopathy
The definition of traditional medicine is: Medicine is the science and “art” of maintaining and/or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of patients. The term is derived from the Latin ars medicina meaning the art of healing. The modern practice of medicine occurs at the many interfaces between the art of healing and various sciences. Medicine is directly connected to the health sciences and biomedicine. Broadly speaking, the term 'Medicine' today refers to the fields of clinical medicine, medical research and surgery, thereby covering the challenges of disease and injury. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicine. Conventional medicine: Medicine as practiced by holders of M.D. (medical doctor) or D.O. (doctor of osteopathy) degrees and by their allied health professionals, such as physical therapists, psychologists, and registered nurses. Other terms for conventional medicine include allopathy and allopathic medicine; Western medicine, mainstream medicine, orthodox medicine, and regular medicine; and biomedicine. http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=33527
I must admit that I was a bit taken aback to see that the words “opposed to” in both definitions. I really don’t see Homeopathy and western medicine as an “either/or”, but rather as a “both/and”. My problem with western medicine isn’t so much the medicine itself, its that our whole healthcare system is designed to keep people ill – thereby increasing profits. I mean, when a doctor prescribes FIVE antibiotics for a cough, you’ve got to ask yourself why.
I’ve always thought of it as progressive – first, try living a healthy life style by eating right and exercising regularly. Then, if you do feel ill or something goes wrong, then try home remedies, i.e. if you have flu, drink plenty of liquid and get bed rest. If that doesn’t help, then try homeopathic medication and if you are still ill, then try antibiotics. Hopefully, you’ll be better before you get to the antibiotic stage. Having said that though, there are some illnesses that require western medicine upfront, but is this the only way to go? Hubby’s niece had a cyst on her spine that doctors wanted to operate on (obviously it was a risky procedure). Before the op, she went to see a Homeopath; who managed to get rid of the cyst without any invasive procedures. So, it does beg the question – which is better and why?
What do you think? I’d be interested to know all your opinions – from doctors, pharmacists, homeopaths and everyone in between…J
Regards,
M.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
How to Save Money this Christmas.
I've just added an article on "How to Save Money This Christmas". I've listed 20 points that will help make this Christmas a little easier financially - and may be even a little more fun. Click here to view: http://easterngifts.co.za/save-money-this-christmas-a-50.html.
Hope it helps!!!
Regards,
M.
Hope it helps!!!
Regards,
M.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Congratulations!
Hi, there
Congratulations to the winner of our R350.00 gift voucher newsletter competition. The details of the prize has been e-mailed to you.
For more information on who the winner is, log onto: http://easterngifts.co.za/gift-giving-step-program-a-49.html.
Also, Eastern Gifts and Things cc will be offering free gift wrapping on all purchases made through the site until Christmas! So, happy shopping!!!
Regards,
M.
Congratulations to the winner of our R350.00 gift voucher newsletter competition. The details of the prize has been e-mailed to you.
For more information on who the winner is, log onto: http://easterngifts.co.za/gift-giving-step-program-a-49.html.
Also, Eastern Gifts and Things cc will be offering free gift wrapping on all purchases made through the site until Christmas! So, happy shopping!!!
Regards,
M.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Last Day!!!
Hi, there
Just a friendly reminder that today is the last day to enter our newsletter competition. Tomorrow we do the draw and some lucky person will win a R350.00 gift voucher for Eastern Gifts and Things cc. Which I am sure will be nice and in time for Christmas!
All you have to do, is sign up to receive our bi-monthly newsletter. As easy as that - and you will stand in line to win this amazing gift voucher from Eastern Gifts! BUT, today is your last day to enter! Click on the link here: http://easterngifts.co.za/newsletter.php?osCsid=4adbe03d0274cb803d9526e555a20f04
Good luck,
Regards,
M.
Just a friendly reminder that today is the last day to enter our newsletter competition. Tomorrow we do the draw and some lucky person will win a R350.00 gift voucher for Eastern Gifts and Things cc. Which I am sure will be nice and in time for Christmas!
All you have to do, is sign up to receive our bi-monthly newsletter. As easy as that - and you will stand in line to win this amazing gift voucher from Eastern Gifts! BUT, today is your last day to enter! Click on the link here: http://easterngifts.co.za/newsletter.php?osCsid=4adbe03d0274cb803d9526e555a20f04
Good luck,
Regards,
M.
Monday, November 12, 2007
The Art of Gift Giving-a 10 Step Program
Hi, there
While, we don’t all have a natural flair for selecting the perfect gift for any occasion, help is at hand. I came across this article on gift giving, which I thought was pretty pertinent with Christmas just around the corner. For more information on the author (not me) and the article, click here: http://blog.cmariestationery.com/2006/05/art-of-gift-giving-10-step-program.html
“The Art of Gift Giving: A 10 Step Program
You're in a rut, a slump, a deep dark trench with no visible way out. Your gifts are no good, you've boycotted weddings and birthdays because you have no desire to purchase a gift, and you're already planning your holiday season getaway plan. When it comes to gift giving, my friend, you have a problem. Fear not. Follow this ten step program and begin the road to recovery. Watch as you emerge from your social cocoon and relish in your friends' admiration. Learn to enjoy giving gifts, and reap the rewards through strengthened relationships.
Step 1: Give gifts because you want to, not because you are obligated to do so. When you think of gift giving as a necessity, it automatically becomes an undesirable chore. Remind yourself that giving gifts is optional. Nothing requires you to do so. While society may have ingrained this thought in your mind, it's like leaving a tip for a waiter - if nothing merits a gift, then you have no obligation to give one.
Step 2: Take notes. Unless you were blessed with an incredible memory, keep notes throughout the year on appropriate gifts for people. If someone mentions a book that they've been dying to read, write it down. If a client made a comment about his favorite dessert, jot it down while it's fresh on your mind. When it comes time to give a gift, you'll appreciate having this information on hand, as it will make your gift search much easier when it comes time to selecting an appropriate gift.
Step 3: Celebrate the little things. Surprise people with an unexpected gift. These days, our mailboxes are bombarded with bills and junk mail, and there's nothing more pleasant than getting a small package without reason. Don't simply give gifts for standard occasions (birthdays, weddings, holidays); celebrate events that would otherwise go unnoticed. Share a friend's excitement over a new car by mixing her a CD with songs for the road. Congratulate a client on a promotion with a bottle of champagne. Such small gestures can have an enormous impact on a relationship, showing that you take notice of things that are important to other people with no expectation of reciprocity.
Step 4: Express yourself, your recipient, and your relationship. Remember, this is your one shot to give a gift to this person, on this date, for this occasion, so make it count. Don't waste this opportunity with something generic like a tie or bath products. They're overdone, and appear much less thoughtful than a gift that is geared specifically toward the particular event. Write down all of the characteristics of the recipient, of your relationship with them, and of the occasion, and begin to look for links to gifts. Gift giving is an art form, so embrace the opportunity to add in elements of your own personality as well. Incorporate your sense of humor or sentimental side, show off your photography skills, or share your love of writing. If you're giving gifts on behalf of an organization, incorporate the group's brand into your gifts. Define a way to make your gifts stand out and represent both sides of the relationship.
Step 5: Give something they would never buy themselves. There is nothing more satisfying than receiving a gift of pure luxury, excess, and indulgence. If you know someone loves the theater but tends to buy tickets in the back corner, allow them to enjoy a show while seated front and center. While certain circumstances may require you to give a necessity, spice it up with something fun. For example, when I first moved into my townhouse, my mom bought me (at my request) an Oreck vacuum cleaner. While I needed it, it wasn't a gift that I really wanted, but because she added in all sorts of fun scented carpet fresheners, I was actually excited about vacuuming...which I never thought possible.
Step 6: Keep the audience in mind. While you want a gift to be personal, think of the circumstances in which the gift will be given. This applies to both the recipient (i.e., don't give a Christmas ornament to a Jewish man in July) and those who will be witnessing the opening of the gift (don't give sexy lingerie to a woman when her parents are present).
Step 7: Present your gift well. Like anything in life, presentation can make or break your gift. Handing a Waterford crystal bowl over in a Wal-Mart bag doesn't have the same effect as when it's wrapped in beautiful paper, tied with coordinating ribbon, and topped with a beaded gift topper. Everything from the gift to the filler to the wrapping has significant impact on how your gift is perceived, so take the extra effort to make your gift look as beautiful as the sentiment that it represents.
Step 8: Include a handwritten note. No gift is complete without a handwritten note attached. You can write it on the back of a gift card, on a notecard, or if you have a lot to say, write it on some nice stationery. Of course, exceptions can be made for gifts purchased via internet, but even in these circumstances you should type in a message to be included with the gift. Just be sure to write something personal, and more than the standard, "Happy birthday!" or "With love,..." Invest the time to write something special.
Step 9: Send your gifts on time. No matter how amazing your gift is, if it is received months after the fact, it tends to lose its purpose. By planning ahead, you can avoid this last minute rush. First, consolidate all of your recurring events into a single calendar. Set aside one day per month to review the events of the upcoming month, and use this time to purchase, wrap and write notes. I also highly recommend creating a gift closet to take care of those moments when time truly gets the best of you. Here you can keep an emergency stock of gifts to give, along with extra wrapping supplies and cards.
Step 10: Look for inspiration everywhere. Gift giving is a form of art that is constantly being refined, and as you master these basic skills, refine your art by scouring the world for unique ways to make your gifts even more personal. Keep it in the back of your mind when searching through magazines, traveling, or wandering through a favorite store. You'll be amazed at the ideas that you generate when you least expect it. Take note of gifts that you appreciate, and think about what made that gift special. Inspiration is all around you; the key is training your mind to look at everything as a potential idea.
Congratulations! You are on your way to a lifetime of success, with adoring friends and loyal business relationships. Repeat after me: ‘My name is [insert your name here] and I am a joyful gift giver.’”
And now that we are all a little more clued up on the art of gift giving, allow me the opportunity of sharing what Eastern Gifts and Things cc can do to assist. First of all, we stock handcrafted gift items not easily found on the retail market. This will ensure that gifts purchased at our store will be unique quality handcrafted items. Secondly, we will gift wrap your purchase for you. All you need to do is specify the occasion in the comments field when placing your order, and we will do the rest. Third, we deliver anywhere in South Africa. So, if your family and friends have an occasion to be celebrated in Rivier-Sonder-End, and you are not able to make it, we will make sure your gift arrives on time – elegantly wrapped for the occasion at hand.
And, if you’re still not sure on a suitable gift – we also have gift vouchers and gift baskets that can be made up according to order. You tell us what you want and we do it for you!
Remember, we pack it, wrap it and deliver it – anywhere in South Africa.
Regards,
THE EASTERN GIFTS TEAM
Check out our blogs: http://easterngifts.blogspot.com/ or http://www.easterngifts.iblog.co.za/
“The Art of Gift Giving: A 10 Step Program
You're in a rut, a slump, a deep dark trench with no visible way out. Your gifts are no good, you've boycotted weddings and birthdays because you have no desire to purchase a gift, and you're already planning your holiday season getaway plan. When it comes to gift giving, my friend, you have a problem. Fear not. Follow this ten step program and begin the road to recovery. Watch as you emerge from your social cocoon and relish in your friends' admiration. Learn to enjoy giving gifts, and reap the rewards through strengthened relationships.
Step 1: Give gifts because you want to, not because you are obligated to do so. When you think of gift giving as a necessity, it automatically becomes an undesirable chore. Remind yourself that giving gifts is optional. Nothing requires you to do so. While society may have ingrained this thought in your mind, it's like leaving a tip for a waiter - if nothing merits a gift, then you have no obligation to give one.
Step 2: Take notes. Unless you were blessed with an incredible memory, keep notes throughout the year on appropriate gifts for people. If someone mentions a book that they've been dying to read, write it down. If a client made a comment about his favorite dessert, jot it down while it's fresh on your mind. When it comes time to give a gift, you'll appreciate having this information on hand, as it will make your gift search much easier when it comes time to selecting an appropriate gift.
Step 3: Celebrate the little things. Surprise people with an unexpected gift. These days, our mailboxes are bombarded with bills and junk mail, and there's nothing more pleasant than getting a small package without reason. Don't simply give gifts for standard occasions (birthdays, weddings, holidays); celebrate events that would otherwise go unnoticed. Share a friend's excitement over a new car by mixing her a CD with songs for the road. Congratulate a client on a promotion with a bottle of champagne. Such small gestures can have an enormous impact on a relationship, showing that you take notice of things that are important to other people with no expectation of reciprocity.
Step 4: Express yourself, your recipient, and your relationship. Remember, this is your one shot to give a gift to this person, on this date, for this occasion, so make it count. Don't waste this opportunity with something generic like a tie or bath products. They're overdone, and appear much less thoughtful than a gift that is geared specifically toward the particular event. Write down all of the characteristics of the recipient, of your relationship with them, and of the occasion, and begin to look for links to gifts. Gift giving is an art form, so embrace the opportunity to add in elements of your own personality as well. Incorporate your sense of humor or sentimental side, show off your photography skills, or share your love of writing. If you're giving gifts on behalf of an organization, incorporate the group's brand into your gifts. Define a way to make your gifts stand out and represent both sides of the relationship.
Step 5: Give something they would never buy themselves. There is nothing more satisfying than receiving a gift of pure luxury, excess, and indulgence. If you know someone loves the theater but tends to buy tickets in the back corner, allow them to enjoy a show while seated front and center. While certain circumstances may require you to give a necessity, spice it up with something fun. For example, when I first moved into my townhouse, my mom bought me (at my request) an Oreck vacuum cleaner. While I needed it, it wasn't a gift that I really wanted, but because she added in all sorts of fun scented carpet fresheners, I was actually excited about vacuuming...which I never thought possible.
Step 6: Keep the audience in mind. While you want a gift to be personal, think of the circumstances in which the gift will be given. This applies to both the recipient (i.e., don't give a Christmas ornament to a Jewish man in July) and those who will be witnessing the opening of the gift (don't give sexy lingerie to a woman when her parents are present).
Step 7: Present your gift well. Like anything in life, presentation can make or break your gift. Handing a Waterford crystal bowl over in a Wal-Mart bag doesn't have the same effect as when it's wrapped in beautiful paper, tied with coordinating ribbon, and topped with a beaded gift topper. Everything from the gift to the filler to the wrapping has significant impact on how your gift is perceived, so take the extra effort to make your gift look as beautiful as the sentiment that it represents.
Step 8: Include a handwritten note. No gift is complete without a handwritten note attached. You can write it on the back of a gift card, on a notecard, or if you have a lot to say, write it on some nice stationery. Of course, exceptions can be made for gifts purchased via internet, but even in these circumstances you should type in a message to be included with the gift. Just be sure to write something personal, and more than the standard, "Happy birthday!" or "With love,..." Invest the time to write something special.
Step 9: Send your gifts on time. No matter how amazing your gift is, if it is received months after the fact, it tends to lose its purpose. By planning ahead, you can avoid this last minute rush. First, consolidate all of your recurring events into a single calendar. Set aside one day per month to review the events of the upcoming month, and use this time to purchase, wrap and write notes. I also highly recommend creating a gift closet to take care of those moments when time truly gets the best of you. Here you can keep an emergency stock of gifts to give, along with extra wrapping supplies and cards.
Step 10: Look for inspiration everywhere. Gift giving is a form of art that is constantly being refined, and as you master these basic skills, refine your art by scouring the world for unique ways to make your gifts even more personal. Keep it in the back of your mind when searching through magazines, traveling, or wandering through a favorite store. You'll be amazed at the ideas that you generate when you least expect it. Take note of gifts that you appreciate, and think about what made that gift special. Inspiration is all around you; the key is training your mind to look at everything as a potential idea.
Congratulations! You are on your way to a lifetime of success, with adoring friends and loyal business relationships. Repeat after me: ‘My name is [insert your name here] and I am a joyful gift giver.’”
And now that we are all a little more clued up on the art of gift giving, allow me the opportunity of sharing what Eastern Gifts and Things cc can do to assist. First of all, we stock handcrafted gift items not easily found on the retail market. This will ensure that gifts purchased at our store will be unique quality handcrafted items. Secondly, we will gift wrap your purchase for you. All you need to do is specify the occasion in the comments field when placing your order, and we will do the rest. Third, we deliver anywhere in South Africa. So, if your family and friends have an occasion to be celebrated in Rivier-Sonder-End, and you are not able to make it, we will make sure your gift arrives on time – elegantly wrapped for the occasion at hand.
And, if you’re still not sure on a suitable gift – we also have gift vouchers and gift baskets that can be made up according to order. You tell us what you want and we do it for you!
Remember, we pack it, wrap it and deliver it – anywhere in South Africa.
Regards,
THE EASTERN GIFTS TEAM
Check out our blogs: http://easterngifts.blogspot.com/ or http://www.easterngifts.iblog.co.za/
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Sea Fever
I remember studying this poem as a child at school (could be giving my age away here), and I could almost quote it verbatim when I came across it in a magazine recently. Its by John Masefield:
I must go down to the sea again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by;
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the whitesail's shaking,
And a gray mist on the sea's face, and a gray dawn breaking.
I must go down to the seas again, for the call of therunning tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
All I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying, And the
flung spray and the blown spume, and the seagulls crying.
I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull's way and the whale's way, where the wind's like
a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
And a quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trip's over.
Broadband Special
Hi, there
Eastern Gifts and Things cc and Cadence Innovations have partnered to offer you this amazing broadband deal – purchase any of these broadband specials and qualify for gift vouchers through Eastern Gifts and Things cc who cater for all your home gifting requirements.
Vodacom Data Messenger Plus: Sign up for this R85.00 per month HSDPA/3G contract and qualify for a R100.00 Eastern Gifts and Things cc Gift Voucher. Vodacom My MEG 500: Sign up for this R249.00 per month HSDPA/3G contract and qualify for a R200.00 Eastern Gifts and Things cc Gift Voucher. Vodacom My GIG One: Sign up for this R349.00 per month HSDPA/3G contract and qualify for a R300.00 Eastern Gifts and Things cc Gift Voucher.
No hidden costs:
- Free SIM
- Free connection
- No compulsory value added services
- Free signal testing (Port Elizabeth only)
Delivery by courier to anywhere in South Africa:
- Port Elizabeth: Free
- Eastern Cape: R70.00
- National: R90.00
For further information: Act Now! Contact Ed Bennett on 0823 366 388 or www.cadence.co.za or via e-mail on ed@cadence.co.za.
Terms and Conditions Apply!
Promotion ends 31 January 2008—sign up now to qualify for these free gift vouchers!
Questions and Comments? E-mail Ed Bennett on ed@cadence.co.za for more information or log onto www.cadence.co.za.
Regards,
M.
Eastern Gifts and Things cc and Cadence Innovations have partnered to offer you this amazing broadband deal – purchase any of these broadband specials and qualify for gift vouchers through Eastern Gifts and Things cc who cater for all your home gifting requirements.
Vodacom Data Messenger Plus: Sign up for this R85.00 per month HSDPA/3G contract and qualify for a R100.00 Eastern Gifts and Things cc Gift Voucher. Vodacom My MEG 500: Sign up for this R249.00 per month HSDPA/3G contract and qualify for a R200.00 Eastern Gifts and Things cc Gift Voucher. Vodacom My GIG One: Sign up for this R349.00 per month HSDPA/3G contract and qualify for a R300.00 Eastern Gifts and Things cc Gift Voucher.
No hidden costs:
- Free SIM
- Free connection
- No compulsory value added services
- Free signal testing (Port Elizabeth only)
Delivery by courier to anywhere in South Africa:
- Port Elizabeth: Free
- Eastern Cape: R70.00
- National: R90.00
For further information: Act Now! Contact Ed Bennett on 0823 366 388 or www.cadence.co.za or via e-mail on ed@cadence.co.za.
Terms and Conditions Apply!
Promotion ends 31 January 2008—sign up now to qualify for these free gift vouchers!
Questions and Comments? E-mail Ed Bennett on ed@cadence.co.za for more information or log onto www.cadence.co.za.
Regards,
M.
Monday, November 5, 2007
American Express...
FYI - Eastern Gifts and Things cc now excepts American Express cards on-line! So, along with Visa & Mastercard, we now also accept American Express. Remember, none of your credit card details are ever stored online, making our on-line shopping experience safe and secure. For more information in this regard, visit www.paygate.co.za or www.standardbank.co.za.
Or, alternatively, if you have any queries, e-mail us on info@easterngifts.co.za.
Happy shopping.
Regards,
M.
Or, alternatively, if you have any queries, e-mail us on info@easterngifts.co.za.
Happy shopping.
Regards,
M.
Friday, November 2, 2007
Left to Wonder
************************************
Left to Wonder
************************************
"Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable." – Sydney Smith
By Robert Ringer
When I was a teenager, one of my good friends was "Gary." Gary was one of those kids who were targets of the taunters and teasers. Even nice guys threw barbs at him, but he took it in a good-natured way.
I probably teased Gary myself on occasion... I honestly can't remember... but I went out of my way to be kind to him most of the time. I liked Gary, because he was a genuinely nice person.
What caused Gary to be teased so much was the way he spoke (a little odd) and ran (very odd). Seems strange now, but no one - including me - ever stopped to think about what might be wrong with someone who had what we would now clearly consider to be a disability. If someone walked, talked, or acted differently than everyone else, he was simply thought of as a "donkey," "do-do," "dork," "weirdo," etc. Compassion and understanding were scarce commodities in those days.
Things like "learning disorders" and conditions such as autism, Asperger's Syndrome, or dyslexia were never discussed. Nor did teachers or school staff members even dream of giving kids with such problems special accommodations. It was a pretty cold world for those youngsters. You either cut it or you didn't.
By the standards of yesteryear, Gary's dad was perceived to be rich by everyone who lived in our little version of Peyton Place. By today's standards, of course, he really wasn't. But I loved going over to Gary's house, because he had everything - including a great recreation room in the basement with a jukebox, ping pong table, pinball machine, and more.
What was really interesting about Gary was that even though the bullies in our class tried to make him out to be a dummy, he was actually very smart. I remember playing a game with him one afternoon with two dictionaries. One of us would throw out a word, then we would race to see who could find it in the dictionary first.
As best as I can recall, Gary found every word faster than I did. It just about drove me nuts. It was the first time I consciously thought about how smart he was. I also recall dragging Gary into touch-football games in the street with two of my neighbors who were roughly our age. He could catch the ball pretty well, but he ran stiff-legged like a duck. One of my neighbors ("Larry"), who was in the grade below us, would mock him unmercifully for this. Interesting, now that I think about it, given the fact that Larry was one of the dumbest kids in his class, having flunked at least one full year that I know of.
As is so often the case, we all went our separate ways after high school. After a number of years had passed, I heard from "Ben," my best friend in high school, that Gary had moved to Washington, D.C. Every time I came to Washington, I thought about trying to get in touch with him, but it never happened. Too busy with business matters.
Years later, when I moved to the D.C. area, I finally tracked down Gary's telephone number. I thought it would be a kick to get together with my old high school pal and see how his life had turned out. I'd heard that he was an attorney, but I didn't know if he had ever gotten married or had children. Plus, as an adult in a much more open, knowledgeable, and medically aware world, I was curious as to what Gary's condition was and how successful he had been in rising above it.
Gary kept creeping up on my to-do list, until he eventually made it to the top 10. I felt sure I would be able to get in touch with him and manage to have a little reunion within the next few weeks. I was very much looking forward to it.
But before I made the effort to actually do it, I took a short trip back to Peyton Place to visit my elderly mother in her nursing home. Ben picked me up at the airport and, as soon as I got in the car, said to me, "Before I even pull away from the curb, I want to tell you something. Gary died a few days ago - on the operating table while having open-heart surgery." I was stunned.
I'm angry with myself that I never made it a point to see Gary. I'll never know the answers to all the questions I had about him and his life. I especially wanted to talk to him about his condition, as I have two children with disabilities. But I was too late.
Which leaves me thinking about all those things on my to-do list that were always ahead of getting in touch with Gary. In retrospect, I ask myself, "Was each and every one of them more important than seeing him?" I guess I'll just have to keep wondering ... and wonder what our reunion might have been like.
Who's on your to-do list, and how many tasks are ahead of that person? You might want to start wondering about your priorities. Wondering about them today - not tomorrow - might just lead to action instead of regrets. When you wait until tomorrow to wonder, action is sometimes not an option.
Left to Wonder
************************************
"Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable." – Sydney Smith
By Robert Ringer
When I was a teenager, one of my good friends was "Gary." Gary was one of those kids who were targets of the taunters and teasers. Even nice guys threw barbs at him, but he took it in a good-natured way.
I probably teased Gary myself on occasion... I honestly can't remember... but I went out of my way to be kind to him most of the time. I liked Gary, because he was a genuinely nice person.
What caused Gary to be teased so much was the way he spoke (a little odd) and ran (very odd). Seems strange now, but no one - including me - ever stopped to think about what might be wrong with someone who had what we would now clearly consider to be a disability. If someone walked, talked, or acted differently than everyone else, he was simply thought of as a "donkey," "do-do," "dork," "weirdo," etc. Compassion and understanding were scarce commodities in those days.
Things like "learning disorders" and conditions such as autism, Asperger's Syndrome, or dyslexia were never discussed. Nor did teachers or school staff members even dream of giving kids with such problems special accommodations. It was a pretty cold world for those youngsters. You either cut it or you didn't.
By the standards of yesteryear, Gary's dad was perceived to be rich by everyone who lived in our little version of Peyton Place. By today's standards, of course, he really wasn't. But I loved going over to Gary's house, because he had everything - including a great recreation room in the basement with a jukebox, ping pong table, pinball machine, and more.
What was really interesting about Gary was that even though the bullies in our class tried to make him out to be a dummy, he was actually very smart. I remember playing a game with him one afternoon with two dictionaries. One of us would throw out a word, then we would race to see who could find it in the dictionary first.
As best as I can recall, Gary found every word faster than I did. It just about drove me nuts. It was the first time I consciously thought about how smart he was. I also recall dragging Gary into touch-football games in the street with two of my neighbors who were roughly our age. He could catch the ball pretty well, but he ran stiff-legged like a duck. One of my neighbors ("Larry"), who was in the grade below us, would mock him unmercifully for this. Interesting, now that I think about it, given the fact that Larry was one of the dumbest kids in his class, having flunked at least one full year that I know of.
As is so often the case, we all went our separate ways after high school. After a number of years had passed, I heard from "Ben," my best friend in high school, that Gary had moved to Washington, D.C. Every time I came to Washington, I thought about trying to get in touch with him, but it never happened. Too busy with business matters.
Years later, when I moved to the D.C. area, I finally tracked down Gary's telephone number. I thought it would be a kick to get together with my old high school pal and see how his life had turned out. I'd heard that he was an attorney, but I didn't know if he had ever gotten married or had children. Plus, as an adult in a much more open, knowledgeable, and medically aware world, I was curious as to what Gary's condition was and how successful he had been in rising above it.
Gary kept creeping up on my to-do list, until he eventually made it to the top 10. I felt sure I would be able to get in touch with him and manage to have a little reunion within the next few weeks. I was very much looking forward to it.
But before I made the effort to actually do it, I took a short trip back to Peyton Place to visit my elderly mother in her nursing home. Ben picked me up at the airport and, as soon as I got in the car, said to me, "Before I even pull away from the curb, I want to tell you something. Gary died a few days ago - on the operating table while having open-heart surgery." I was stunned.
I'm angry with myself that I never made it a point to see Gary. I'll never know the answers to all the questions I had about him and his life. I especially wanted to talk to him about his condition, as I have two children with disabilities. But I was too late.
Which leaves me thinking about all those things on my to-do list that were always ahead of getting in touch with Gary. In retrospect, I ask myself, "Was each and every one of them more important than seeing him?" I guess I'll just have to keep wondering ... and wonder what our reunion might have been like.
Who's on your to-do list, and how many tasks are ahead of that person? You might want to start wondering about your priorities. Wondering about them today - not tomorrow - might just lead to action instead of regrets. When you wait until tomorrow to wonder, action is sometimes not an option.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
I'm back...
Hi, there
The Expo, I would say, was successful even though it was quiet and the expected numbers did not attend. I've put some feedback on my site, plus some pics - click here to view: http://easterngifts.co.za/homemakers-expo-a-46.html
Let me know what you think.
Regards,
M.
The Expo, I would say, was successful even though it was quiet and the expected numbers did not attend. I've put some feedback on my site, plus some pics - click here to view: http://easterngifts.co.za/homemakers-expo-a-46.html
Let me know what you think.
Regards,
M.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
I'll be quiet...
...for the next week or so. I'm doing the Homemakers Expo in PE this weekend, so will not have time to update my blogs. However, I do look forward to giving you some feedback on the Expo and to uploading some pic's of my stand.
If you are in PE, please do come and visit - it'll be great to have you there.
Regards,
M.
If you are in PE, please do come and visit - it'll be great to have you there.
Regards,
M.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Give Some Love, Make More Profit!
Give Some Love, Make More Profit!
Hi, there
I’ve come across this article that was e-mailed to me this morning – all about “Word of Mouth” marketing and building relationships. Happy reading…
Regards,
M.
P.S. Its by Brian Walsh from entrepreneur.co.za
Today I want to talk aboutrelationship and word of mouth marketing. Since I started researching and presenting Master Marketer, I have realised that most entrepreneurs use word of mouth as their primary means of marketing. The thing is that word of mouth happens (both in the negative and the positive) even if you are not actively working at it. And many entrepreneurs are so involved with selling that they forget about how important relationship-building is, and the impact word of mouth has, whether positive or negative. So I thought I would share a simple principle with you today.
The quality of your relationships is directly related to the success, or lack of success, of your business. It is essential to understand these relationships, and work hard at ensuring you develop and maintain the best possible relationships. This relates to your suppliers, your staff and your clients. The big mistake that many entrepreneurs make is to focus only on pushing a sale through, and thereafter, not being too concerned about these clients at all. This is such a short-sighted approach with potentially far-reaching, detrimental effects for your business.
There are three primary stages of building relationships with people, including clients. Let me explain these:
Hi, there
I’ve come across this article that was e-mailed to me this morning – all about “Word of Mouth” marketing and building relationships. Happy reading…
Regards,
M.
P.S. Its by Brian Walsh from entrepreneur.co.za
Today I want to talk aboutrelationship and word of mouth marketing. Since I started researching and presenting Master Marketer, I have realised that most entrepreneurs use word of mouth as their primary means of marketing. The thing is that word of mouth happens (both in the negative and the positive) even if you are not actively working at it. And many entrepreneurs are so involved with selling that they forget about how important relationship-building is, and the impact word of mouth has, whether positive or negative. So I thought I would share a simple principle with you today.
The quality of your relationships is directly related to the success, or lack of success, of your business. It is essential to understand these relationships, and work hard at ensuring you develop and maintain the best possible relationships. This relates to your suppliers, your staff and your clients. The big mistake that many entrepreneurs make is to focus only on pushing a sale through, and thereafter, not being too concerned about these clients at all. This is such a short-sighted approach with potentially far-reaching, detrimental effects for your business.
There are three primary stages of building relationships with people, including clients. Let me explain these:
- The first stage is initial contact where we have the opportunity to attract a client.
- Next comes the rapport stage, which is where we establish a common ground conducive to making the client want to buy from us. (These first two stages are what most entrepreneurs focus on, although many don't fully understand the rapport concept.)
- The third stage is arguably the most important. It is the trust stage, and this is often not effectively pursued by many entrepreneurs. This stage can usually only really develop after a client has made an initial ‘test’ purchase from you - it is once you’ve proven the value you offer via your product, service or both, that the trust stage can unfold fully. Once trust is established, clients will be likely to come back for more purchases, and refer others to you. This stage is what can really separate successful entrepreneurs from the many who continue to struggle.
I refer to this trust stage as giving some love. When we act with love, people sense that we care about what we are doing, the quality of the product or service we’re selling, about the outcome of customer satisfaction, and they sense that they can trust us. When you concentrate only on pushing a sale through, consider that you are doing serious damage by not evolving your relationships to the trust stage –it is during the trust stage that clients become loyal supporters bringing regular business, and spreading positive word of mouth. Think about it...and then go and give some love.
I hope you all have a great weekend.
Brian Walsh
Founder and CEO of Entrepreneur.co.za
Friday, October 19, 2007
Newsletter - October 2007
Good day,
We have plenty to share with you this month, as well as the wonderful news that for all the PE folk, Eastern Gifts and Things cc is proud to announce that we will - once again - have a stand at the Homemakers Expo at the Feather Market Centre next weekend. Do come and join us for what I am sure will be a wonderful festival!!
And before we get to the good stuff, just a reminder that our competition to win a R350.00 gift voucher is still running. All you have to do is sign up for our monthly newsletter and you could stand a chance to win this gift voucher. The competition closes 15 November 2007, so why not encourage your family, friends and colleagues to sign up as well? Simply follow the link to sign up: http://easterngifts.co.za/newsletter.php
I am not sure if you're aware of this, but Christmas is just on two months away. Well, 67 days to be exact. And my best friend yesterday informed me that she has already completed ALL her Christmas shopping. Now, I'm not sure how many of you will be as efficient as she is, or will wait till the last minute like most of us do, but allow me to share some excellent gift ideas from Eastern Gifts and Things cc (not only do we offer excellent gift ideas, but the chance to do all your Christmas shopping in the comfort from your home or office and we will take care of the rest).
We have gifts that cater for all tastes and all occasions, and we will deliver anywhere in the country.
Just some ideas:
These beautiful, handmade doorstops are an ideal and unique gift.
This beautiful cow door stop retails for R65.00. The beautiful pig door stop (seen below) also retails for R65.00.
This beautiful cow door stop retails for R65.00. The beautiful pig door stop (seen below) also retails for R65.00.
If you're looking for something a little larger, why not try this Fat Striped Cat Door Stop. This door stop is 24 x 14 x 48 cm and retails for R165.00 (see picture below).
Yes, we do cater for everyone and every occassion - and we will pack it, wrap it and deliver it - anywhere in South Africa.
This beautiful chess set is handmade and depicts the English and the Zulu's warring. This handmade chess set as a four to six week delivery time and retails for R425.00.
This beautiful chess set is handmade and depicts the English and the Zulu's warring. This handmade chess set as a four to six week delivery time and retails for R425.00.
Another idea for Christmas is
This elephant CD holder is also handmade and is very stylish - suited to anyone's home. The elephant CD holder can hold 10 CD's a side and retails for R475.00 (size: 35.5 x 20 x 24 cm).
Are you looking for a gift for the person in your life who is a cat lover? Well, we have a stunning range of cat figurines perfectly suited to this need. Our catch-all is a stunning gift idea - not only will it hold all your mail, post, but also has place for your keys, plus comes set to be fitted to any wall. The size is 16 x 7.5 x 65 cm and this elegantly made cat-figurine catch-all retails for R365.00.
In addition to the above, we also have a beautiful range of Christmas decorations, from snowmen napkin rings, to angels to Father Christmas - all handmade and not available on the retail market.
Please feel free to contact us if we can assist you in anyway.
Remember, we pack it, wrap it and deliver it - anywhere in South Africa.
Regards,
THE EASTERN GIFTS TEAM
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Homemakers Expo (25-28 Oct 2007)
Hi, there
Just to let everyone know that Eastern Gifts and Things cc will have a stand at the Homemakers Expo in Port Elizabeth at the Feathermarket Centre from 25 to 28 October 2007. We will at stand LP163 - do come and visit us!!!
Remember, we are still running the competition to win a R350.00 gift voucher - simply by signing up for our newsletter: http://easterngifts.co.za/newsletter.php?osCsid=11da80d33d0bc29a698a1524e59927b6. Competition closes 15 November 2007.
Regards,
M.
Just to let everyone know that Eastern Gifts and Things cc will have a stand at the Homemakers Expo in Port Elizabeth at the Feathermarket Centre from 25 to 28 October 2007. We will at stand LP163 - do come and visit us!!!
Remember, we are still running the competition to win a R350.00 gift voucher - simply by signing up for our newsletter: http://easterngifts.co.za/newsletter.php?osCsid=11da80d33d0bc29a698a1524e59927b6. Competition closes 15 November 2007.
Regards,
M.
Forest Hill, Port Elizabeth, RSA
Hi, there
I am looking for any and all information on Forest Hill, Port Elizabeth, South Africa - particularly relating to the 1940's, 1950's and 1960's. Does anyone have any idea on where I can get more information or does anyone have any information for me???
I am particularly looking for information on the Nel, Swartz, Palmer & Woolard families that lived there during these three decades.
Any information, references, research suggestions, etc can be e-mailed direct to me on info@easterngifts.co.za.
Thanks so much,
Regards,
M.
I am looking for any and all information on Forest Hill, Port Elizabeth, South Africa - particularly relating to the 1940's, 1950's and 1960's. Does anyone have any idea on where I can get more information or does anyone have any information for me???
I am particularly looking for information on the Nel, Swartz, Palmer & Woolard families that lived there during these three decades.
Any information, references, research suggestions, etc can be e-mailed direct to me on info@easterngifts.co.za.
Thanks so much,
Regards,
M.
Friday, October 12, 2007
I think...
Morning,
Well, I think that I may just actually be enjoying this whole cooking thing afterall. And here I thought I was a modern girl, staying away from the kitchen and wearing shoes…
I just thought I’d share my new recipe with you - made last night for some friends who all thoroughly enjoyed it: http://easterngifts.co.za/chicken-mkaddam-souiri-a-41.html. This delicious Moroccan Tagine recipe was followed by Almond cookies (also a Moroccan delicacy) and delicious coffee. Not too shabby! Yes, I know, you are all wondering what the big deal is - well, the big deal is this: I have always hated cooking.
Now, I find myself thoroughly enjoying it. Preparation is easy - cooking is easy - clean up is easy. And you do actually (believe it or not) get tired of fast food after a while;)
For the Almond cookie recipe: http://easterngifts.co.za/almond-clove-cookies-a-42.html.
Enjoy!!! Anyway, a delicious meal and a few bottles of wine later, we were ready to head for bed!
Try the recipes and let me know what you think. There is plenty of information available on the site regarding Moroccan recipes and cooking.
Regards,
M.
P.S. Don’t forget our competition - win a R350.00 gift voucher simply by registering for the newsletter on our site. You could use the R350.00 towards a Tagine (just an idea…)
Well, I think that I may just actually be enjoying this whole cooking thing afterall. And here I thought I was a modern girl, staying away from the kitchen and wearing shoes…
I just thought I’d share my new recipe with you - made last night for some friends who all thoroughly enjoyed it: http://easterngifts.co.za/chicken-mkaddam-souiri-a-41.html. This delicious Moroccan Tagine recipe was followed by Almond cookies (also a Moroccan delicacy) and delicious coffee. Not too shabby! Yes, I know, you are all wondering what the big deal is - well, the big deal is this: I have always hated cooking.
Now, I find myself thoroughly enjoying it. Preparation is easy - cooking is easy - clean up is easy. And you do actually (believe it or not) get tired of fast food after a while;)
For the Almond cookie recipe: http://easterngifts.co.za/almond-clove-cookies-a-42.html.
Enjoy!!! Anyway, a delicious meal and a few bottles of wine later, we were ready to head for bed!
Try the recipes and let me know what you think. There is plenty of information available on the site regarding Moroccan recipes and cooking.
Regards,
M.
P.S. Don’t forget our competition - win a R350.00 gift voucher simply by registering for the newsletter on our site. You could use the R350.00 towards a Tagine (just an idea…)
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
THE YEAR 1907
This will boggle your mind, I know it did mine! The year is 1907. One hundred years ago. What a difference a century makes! Here are some of the U.S. Statistics for the Year 1907:
- The average life expectancy in the U.S. was 47 years old.
- Only 14 percent of the homes in the U.S. had a bathtub.
- Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone.
- A three-minute call from Denver to New York City cost eleven dollars.
- There were only 8,000 cars in the U.S., and only 144 miles of paved roads.
- The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.
- Alabama, Mississippi, Iowa, and Tennessee were each more heavily populated than California.
- With a mere 1.4 million people, California was only the 21st most populous state in the Union.
- The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower!
- The average wage in the U.S. was 22 Cents per hour. The average U.S. Worker made between $200 and $400 per year.
- A competent accountant could expect to earn $2000 per year, a dentist made $2,500 per year, a veterinarian $1,500 per year, and a mechanical engineer about $5,000 per year.
- More than 95 percent of all births in the U.S. took place at HOME.
- Ninety percent of all U.S. Doctors had NO COLLEGE EDUCATION! Instead, they attended so-called medical schools, many of which were condemned in the press AND the government as “substandard.”
- Sugar cost four cents a pound, eggs were fourteen cents a dozen. Coffee was fifteen cents a pound.
- Most women only washed their hair once a month, and used Borax or egg yolks for shampoo.
- Canada passed a law that prohibited poor people from entering into their country for any reason.
- Five leading causes of death in the U.S. were:
Pneumonia and influenza
Tuberculosis
Diarrhea
Heart disease
Stroke - The American flag had 45 stars.
- Arizona, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Hawaii, and Alaska hadn’t been admitted to the Union yet.
- The population of Las Vegas, Nevada, was only 30!!!!
- Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and ice tea hadn’t been invented yet.
- There was no Mother’s Day or Father’s Day.
- Two out of every 10 U.S. Adults couldn’t read or write. Only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated from high school.
- Marijuana, heroin, and morphine were all available over the counter at the local corner drugstores. Back then pharmacists said, “Heroin clears the complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind, regulates the stomach and bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health.”
- There were about 230 reported murders in the ENTIRE U.S.A.!
Just Try to imagine….. What it may be like …… In another 100 years! IT STAGGERS THE MIND!
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Wisdom of Larry the Cable Guy:
Wisdom of Larry the Cable Guy:
READ SLOWLY
READ SLOWLY
- A day without sunshine is like night.
- On the other hand, you have different fingers.
- 42.7 percent of all statistics are made up on the spot.
- 4. 99 percent of lawyers give the rest a bad name.
- Remember, half the people you know are below average.
- He who laughs last thinks the slowest.
- Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.
- The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese in the trap.
- Support bacteria. They're the only culture some people have.
- A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.
- Change is inevitable, except from vending machines.
- If you think nobody cares, try missing a couple of payments.
- How many of you believe in psycho-kinesis? Raise my hand.
- OK, so what's the speed of dark?
- When everything is coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.
- Hard work pays off in the future. Laziness pays off now.
- How much deeper would the ocean be without sponges?
- Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.
- What happens if you get scared half to death, twice?
- Why do psychics have to ask you for your name?
- Inside every older person is a younger person wondering, "What the heck happened?"
- Just remember -- if the world didn't suck, we would all fall off.
- Light travels faster than sound. That's why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
- Life isn't like a box of chocolates; it's more like a jar of jalapenos. What you do today, might burn your butt tomorrow
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
A Grief Observed
A Grief Observed – C.S. Lewis
“No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear. I am not afraid, but the sensation is like being afraid. The same fluttering in the stomach, the same restlessness, the yawning. I keep on swallowing.
At other times it feels like being mildly drunk, or concussed. There is a sort of invisible blanket between the world and me. I find it hard to take in what anyone says. Or perhaps, hard to want to take it in. It is so uninteresting. Yet I want the others to be about me. I dread the moments when the house is empty. If only they would talk to one another and not to me.
There are moments, most unexpectedly, when something inside me tries to assure me that I don’t really mind so much, not so very much, after all. Love is not the whole of a man’s life. I was happy before I ever met H. I’ve plenty of what are called ‘resources’. People get over these things. Come, I shan’t do so badly. One is ashamed to listen to this voice but it seems for a little to be making out a good case. Then comes a sudden jab of red-hot memory and all this ‘commonsense’ vanishes like an ant in the mouth of a furnace.
On the rebound one passes into tears and pathos. Maudlin tears. I almost prefer the moments of agony. These are at least clean and honest. But the bath of self-pity, the wallow, the loathsome sticky-sweet pleasure of indulging it – that disgusts me. And even while I’m doing it I know it leads me to misrepresent H. herself. Give that mood its head and in a few minutes I shall have substituted for the real woman a mere doll to be blubbered over. Thank God the memory of her is still too strong (will it always be too strong?) to let me get away with it.
…
Meanwhile, where is God? This is one of the most disquieting symptoms. When you are happy, so happy that you have no sense of needing Him, so happy that you are tempted to feel His claims upon you as an interruption, if you remember yourself and turn to Him with gratitude and praise, you will be – or so it feels – welcomed with open arms. But go to Him when your need is desperate, when all other help is vain, and what do you find? A door slammed in your face and a sound of bolting and double bolting on the inside. After that, silence. You may as well turn away. The longer you wait, the more empathic the silence will become. There are no lights in the windows. It might be an empty house.
…
What can this mean? Why is He so present a commander in our time of prosperity and so very absent a help in time of trouble?
I tried to put some of these thoughts to C. this afternoon. He reminded me that the same thing seems to have happened to Christ: ‘Why hast Thou forsaken me?’ I know. Does that make it easier to understand?”
In loving memory of Martha Marsha, born 24 May 1923, died 03 October 2007
I miss you so very, very much!!!
“No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear. I am not afraid, but the sensation is like being afraid. The same fluttering in the stomach, the same restlessness, the yawning. I keep on swallowing.
At other times it feels like being mildly drunk, or concussed. There is a sort of invisible blanket between the world and me. I find it hard to take in what anyone says. Or perhaps, hard to want to take it in. It is so uninteresting. Yet I want the others to be about me. I dread the moments when the house is empty. If only they would talk to one another and not to me.
There are moments, most unexpectedly, when something inside me tries to assure me that I don’t really mind so much, not so very much, after all. Love is not the whole of a man’s life. I was happy before I ever met H. I’ve plenty of what are called ‘resources’. People get over these things. Come, I shan’t do so badly. One is ashamed to listen to this voice but it seems for a little to be making out a good case. Then comes a sudden jab of red-hot memory and all this ‘commonsense’ vanishes like an ant in the mouth of a furnace.
On the rebound one passes into tears and pathos. Maudlin tears. I almost prefer the moments of agony. These are at least clean and honest. But the bath of self-pity, the wallow, the loathsome sticky-sweet pleasure of indulging it – that disgusts me. And even while I’m doing it I know it leads me to misrepresent H. herself. Give that mood its head and in a few minutes I shall have substituted for the real woman a mere doll to be blubbered over. Thank God the memory of her is still too strong (will it always be too strong?) to let me get away with it.
…
Meanwhile, where is God? This is one of the most disquieting symptoms. When you are happy, so happy that you have no sense of needing Him, so happy that you are tempted to feel His claims upon you as an interruption, if you remember yourself and turn to Him with gratitude and praise, you will be – or so it feels – welcomed with open arms. But go to Him when your need is desperate, when all other help is vain, and what do you find? A door slammed in your face and a sound of bolting and double bolting on the inside. After that, silence. You may as well turn away. The longer you wait, the more empathic the silence will become. There are no lights in the windows. It might be an empty house.
…
What can this mean? Why is He so present a commander in our time of prosperity and so very absent a help in time of trouble?
I tried to put some of these thoughts to C. this afternoon. He reminded me that the same thing seems to have happened to Christ: ‘Why hast Thou forsaken me?’ I know. Does that make it easier to understand?”
In loving memory of Martha Marsha, born 24 May 1923, died 03 October 2007
I miss you so very, very much!!!
Catching the Upswing on Men's Underwear
**************************************
Catching the Upswing on Men's Underwear
***************************************
"Provided a man is not mad, he can be cured of every folly but vanity." Jean-Jacques Rousseau
By Michael Masterson
It took Steven Lien only 30 days to turn a profit. His idea for a new retail store had been ridiculed by experts and mocked by friends. "Everyone was like, 'There's no way that will work,'" he told David Colman of The New York Times. Yet it did. His idea was to open a store that would sell unique and colorful offbeat brands of underwear to men. Although the market for men's briefs has been fixed firmly in a conservative range of monotone colors for years, Lien had the sense that this was changing. He wanted to capitalize on what he thought was the next hot trend in men's buying habits. He named the business Under U 4 Men. He chose Portland's business district for his first location. "I didn't open on Gay Street, USA," he said. "I opened on Main Street."
Novelty briefs have been around for a long time, but they weren't a big part of the men's cotton-knit underwear market until two or three years ago. Last year, for the first time, brightly colored briefs sold better than standard whites, claiming just more than 50 percent of the $1.1 billion market. Steven Lien wasn't the only one who noticed and took advantage of this trend. Some of the big companies were paying attention, too. American Apparel began advertising its line of briefs two years ago, and has already sold more than a million pairs. And a Canadian website called Ginch Gonch (Canadian slang for underwear) sold 1.8 million pairs last year at about $30 each, according to the company's owner.
Much of this trend has been initiated by women, apparently. Underwear, the experts say, is one of the few items of menswear that women buy more of (for men) than men do. But when the underwear the women buy is replaced by the men they buy it for, it will likely be with similar styles - which will mean continued strong sales for Steven Lien and his colleagues. This is part of a larger trend: the peacocking of the American man.
As a boy, I was taught (not directly, but by my father's example and by stereotypes on TV) that boys weren't supposed to care about clothes. That was the mythology we were exposed to, though the reality was very different. There were plenty of men and boys out there fussing over their wardrobes. My friend Paul, the toughest kid in our grammar school, was a great dresser (and still is). I did my best to dress well, but with a budget of literally zero to buy new clothes, I had to depend upon the accidental kindness of others - wealthier boys whose outgrown clothes made their way through the Catholic charities to my family.
Leave It to Beaver, a staple sit-com of my generation, epitomized the American attitude toward men's (and boy's) clothing. Mr. Cleaver and his sons appeared to be completely clueless about style, happily soiling their clothes while doing manly things with machinery (tinkering with the carburetor, fixing the lawn mower, etc.). And yet, they were always impeccably dressed in what we used to call "collegiate" fashion. Collegiate fashion was easy to adhere to. Chinos, madras shirts, penny loafers - the choices were limited. Formal attire was equally restricted:
The best suit was conventionally cut, with a single-breasted wool jacket and pants in blue or grey. Dress shirts were white. Socks matched your shoes. Only ties had color in them - conservative bars of angled stripes.
Had I not been a hand-me-down kid, I could have easily outfitted myself with a complete wardrobe in an hour's time at Hunter's, the local clothing store for men. It was simple. The idea was to wear clothes that made you look good without making you look like you wanted to look good. Given the very conservative approach we took toward dressing then, it should come as no surprise that there was only one choice when it came to
underwear: tighty-whities - and always Fruit of the Loom. (Was there even another brand?)
But that's all changed gradually over the years. In the past decade especially, a "new" kind of man has been blossoming. This is plainly evident if you know almost any men younger than 40. Say the word "product" to them and they will think "hair." The same word said to a man of my generation evokes some sort of manufacturing image. The new man has been dubbed a "metrosexual." He is said to be comfortable with his masculinity, much more so than his macho father, and much more comfortable with social changes that have taken place in recent years (such as the fact that women are often the primary breadwinners and that men are expected to do their fair share of the diaper changing).
Dealing with your baby's diarrhea is the downside of metrosexuality. Being able to openly concern yourself with your appearance is - we are given to believe - the compensation. Young men are completely knowledgeable about consumer goods that used to be considered "feminine." I'm talking not only about designer clothing, but also about skin treatments, highlighting, liposuction, body washes, hair removal, tanning lotions ... and fancy underwear.
What's the reason for this?
For better or worse, the baby boomers decided that it was sexist for men and women to play different social roles or even to look different. The objective seemed to be a sort of hybrid gender, with sexuality eliminated as much as possible.
That's the best spin I can put on it.
And it has been an interesting ride with some positive outcomes. It's easier and more socially acceptable for a man to be gay, effeminate, or merely foppish ... and that's a good thing. It's also permissible for women to bear arms and have their heads blown off. I suppose that's a good thing too - though it's still not acceptable for women to act like macho men.
Yes, men are becoming less manly in that old-fashioned, Rhett Butler kind of way that men of my generation aspired to. Today, it's okay to like shopping for clothes. It's even okay to spend time looking at yourself in the mirror. According to a 2005 Datamonitor survey ("Evolution of Global Consumer Trends"), 73 percent of European and American men rank standing in front of the mirror as important or very important (as compared to 72 percent of women surveyed).
With more men feeling that it's acceptable to buy and use products formerly used only by women, the personal care market has room to grow.
Worldwide sales of men's grooming products rose from $26.3 billion in 2005 to $29.7 billion in 2006, as reported in Courant magazine. And the Datamonitor survey predicts that the European and U.S. male personal care market will reach $37.6 billion in 2008.
The change in male buying habits - especially among younger men - doesn't stop with personal care products. The men's clothing industry, too, is seeing an upsurge. For example, an NPD Group Inc. study done in 2005 found that there was a five percent increase in men's clothing sales that year (to $53 billion). The increase was attributed to a 53 percent jump in the sales of suits, separate suit coats and trousers, and sport coats. And those sales were largely to men between the ages of 18 and 24.
Men are also venturing into shops more often to buy for the women in their lives. Donna Reamy, associate chair of Virginia Commonwealth University's fashion department, notes "Where it was a woman's role to shop, it's just not anymore." Plus, says Reamy, who compiles data on men's shopping habits, the number of department stores catering to men are at an all-time high.
Here are some other notable statistics:
The male grooming product market worldwide grew an average of 5.7 percent each year between 1997 and 2005. Men's bath and shower products and men's skin-care products led the way with 11.1 percent and 10.3 percent growth respectively (according to EuroMonitor International Research).
The spa industry has seen a growing market for male-only services (according to a 2006 Associated Skin Care Professionals survey).
31 percent of American spa goers are men (according to 2006 International Spa Association Research).
When you think of all the possibilities - not just in clothing and cosmetics but in health aids and information products and plastic surgery - you can see that the profit potential of this trend is enormous. And who will foresee the next ripple? It won't be me, that's for sure. If I wanted to get into it, I'd partner up with someone younger. Someone who uses face cleansers and wears colorful underwear. I'm not talking about a woman. I'm talking about the new kind of man.
Catching the Upswing on Men's Underwear
***************************************
"Provided a man is not mad, he can be cured of every folly but vanity." Jean-Jacques Rousseau
By Michael Masterson
It took Steven Lien only 30 days to turn a profit. His idea for a new retail store had been ridiculed by experts and mocked by friends. "Everyone was like, 'There's no way that will work,'" he told David Colman of The New York Times. Yet it did. His idea was to open a store that would sell unique and colorful offbeat brands of underwear to men. Although the market for men's briefs has been fixed firmly in a conservative range of monotone colors for years, Lien had the sense that this was changing. He wanted to capitalize on what he thought was the next hot trend in men's buying habits. He named the business Under U 4 Men. He chose Portland's business district for his first location. "I didn't open on Gay Street, USA," he said. "I opened on Main Street."
Novelty briefs have been around for a long time, but they weren't a big part of the men's cotton-knit underwear market until two or three years ago. Last year, for the first time, brightly colored briefs sold better than standard whites, claiming just more than 50 percent of the $1.1 billion market. Steven Lien wasn't the only one who noticed and took advantage of this trend. Some of the big companies were paying attention, too. American Apparel began advertising its line of briefs two years ago, and has already sold more than a million pairs. And a Canadian website called Ginch Gonch (Canadian slang for underwear) sold 1.8 million pairs last year at about $30 each, according to the company's owner.
Much of this trend has been initiated by women, apparently. Underwear, the experts say, is one of the few items of menswear that women buy more of (for men) than men do. But when the underwear the women buy is replaced by the men they buy it for, it will likely be with similar styles - which will mean continued strong sales for Steven Lien and his colleagues. This is part of a larger trend: the peacocking of the American man.
As a boy, I was taught (not directly, but by my father's example and by stereotypes on TV) that boys weren't supposed to care about clothes. That was the mythology we were exposed to, though the reality was very different. There were plenty of men and boys out there fussing over their wardrobes. My friend Paul, the toughest kid in our grammar school, was a great dresser (and still is). I did my best to dress well, but with a budget of literally zero to buy new clothes, I had to depend upon the accidental kindness of others - wealthier boys whose outgrown clothes made their way through the Catholic charities to my family.
Leave It to Beaver, a staple sit-com of my generation, epitomized the American attitude toward men's (and boy's) clothing. Mr. Cleaver and his sons appeared to be completely clueless about style, happily soiling their clothes while doing manly things with machinery (tinkering with the carburetor, fixing the lawn mower, etc.). And yet, they were always impeccably dressed in what we used to call "collegiate" fashion. Collegiate fashion was easy to adhere to. Chinos, madras shirts, penny loafers - the choices were limited. Formal attire was equally restricted:
The best suit was conventionally cut, with a single-breasted wool jacket and pants in blue or grey. Dress shirts were white. Socks matched your shoes. Only ties had color in them - conservative bars of angled stripes.
Had I not been a hand-me-down kid, I could have easily outfitted myself with a complete wardrobe in an hour's time at Hunter's, the local clothing store for men. It was simple. The idea was to wear clothes that made you look good without making you look like you wanted to look good. Given the very conservative approach we took toward dressing then, it should come as no surprise that there was only one choice when it came to
underwear: tighty-whities - and always Fruit of the Loom. (Was there even another brand?)
But that's all changed gradually over the years. In the past decade especially, a "new" kind of man has been blossoming. This is plainly evident if you know almost any men younger than 40. Say the word "product" to them and they will think "hair." The same word said to a man of my generation evokes some sort of manufacturing image. The new man has been dubbed a "metrosexual." He is said to be comfortable with his masculinity, much more so than his macho father, and much more comfortable with social changes that have taken place in recent years (such as the fact that women are often the primary breadwinners and that men are expected to do their fair share of the diaper changing).
Dealing with your baby's diarrhea is the downside of metrosexuality. Being able to openly concern yourself with your appearance is - we are given to believe - the compensation. Young men are completely knowledgeable about consumer goods that used to be considered "feminine." I'm talking not only about designer clothing, but also about skin treatments, highlighting, liposuction, body washes, hair removal, tanning lotions ... and fancy underwear.
What's the reason for this?
For better or worse, the baby boomers decided that it was sexist for men and women to play different social roles or even to look different. The objective seemed to be a sort of hybrid gender, with sexuality eliminated as much as possible.
That's the best spin I can put on it.
And it has been an interesting ride with some positive outcomes. It's easier and more socially acceptable for a man to be gay, effeminate, or merely foppish ... and that's a good thing. It's also permissible for women to bear arms and have their heads blown off. I suppose that's a good thing too - though it's still not acceptable for women to act like macho men.
Yes, men are becoming less manly in that old-fashioned, Rhett Butler kind of way that men of my generation aspired to. Today, it's okay to like shopping for clothes. It's even okay to spend time looking at yourself in the mirror. According to a 2005 Datamonitor survey ("Evolution of Global Consumer Trends"), 73 percent of European and American men rank standing in front of the mirror as important or very important (as compared to 72 percent of women surveyed).
With more men feeling that it's acceptable to buy and use products formerly used only by women, the personal care market has room to grow.
Worldwide sales of men's grooming products rose from $26.3 billion in 2005 to $29.7 billion in 2006, as reported in Courant magazine. And the Datamonitor survey predicts that the European and U.S. male personal care market will reach $37.6 billion in 2008.
The change in male buying habits - especially among younger men - doesn't stop with personal care products. The men's clothing industry, too, is seeing an upsurge. For example, an NPD Group Inc. study done in 2005 found that there was a five percent increase in men's clothing sales that year (to $53 billion). The increase was attributed to a 53 percent jump in the sales of suits, separate suit coats and trousers, and sport coats. And those sales were largely to men between the ages of 18 and 24.
Men are also venturing into shops more often to buy for the women in their lives. Donna Reamy, associate chair of Virginia Commonwealth University's fashion department, notes "Where it was a woman's role to shop, it's just not anymore." Plus, says Reamy, who compiles data on men's shopping habits, the number of department stores catering to men are at an all-time high.
Here are some other notable statistics:
The male grooming product market worldwide grew an average of 5.7 percent each year between 1997 and 2005. Men's bath and shower products and men's skin-care products led the way with 11.1 percent and 10.3 percent growth respectively (according to EuroMonitor International Research).
The spa industry has seen a growing market for male-only services (according to a 2006 Associated Skin Care Professionals survey).
31 percent of American spa goers are men (according to 2006 International Spa Association Research).
When you think of all the possibilities - not just in clothing and cosmetics but in health aids and information products and plastic surgery - you can see that the profit potential of this trend is enormous. And who will foresee the next ripple? It won't be me, that's for sure. If I wanted to get into it, I'd partner up with someone younger. Someone who uses face cleansers and wears colorful underwear. I'm not talking about a woman. I'm talking about the new kind of man.
Monday, October 1, 2007
Wine.
Wine!
October 1st, 2007 by easterngifts
Bet the title got your attention, didn’t it?
Yes, I do enjoy a glass of red wine with dinner every night, and whilst we’ve got some stunning recipies on our site (http://www.easterngifts.co.za/), I haven’t told you about where to get some wine to go with these recipes.
And speaking of wine and recipes, have you tried our stunning tagine recipes yet? The last I made was the shrimp tagine and I’m thinking its about high time I make another tagine. They’re easy, convenient and healthy (and ONE glass of red wine at night is good for you!:-)
But, what about your home? I’m talking about the financing and looking after your home?
Save money, enjoy a delicious glass of red wine (or white, if you prefer) and allow us to take care of your all home decor, kitchenware and gifting requirements.
Regards,
M.
P.S. Don’t forget our competition - win a R350.00 gift voucher simply by registering for our newsletter. Competition closes 15 November 2007.
October 1st, 2007 by easterngifts
Bet the title got your attention, didn’t it?
Yes, I do enjoy a glass of red wine with dinner every night, and whilst we’ve got some stunning recipies on our site (http://www.easterngifts.co.za/), I haven’t told you about where to get some wine to go with these recipes.
And speaking of wine and recipes, have you tried our stunning tagine recipes yet? The last I made was the shrimp tagine and I’m thinking its about high time I make another tagine. They’re easy, convenient and healthy (and ONE glass of red wine at night is good for you!:-)
But, what about your home? I’m talking about the financing and looking after your home?
Save money, enjoy a delicious glass of red wine (or white, if you prefer) and allow us to take care of your all home decor, kitchenware and gifting requirements.
Regards,
M.
P.S. Don’t forget our competition - win a R350.00 gift voucher simply by registering for our newsletter. Competition closes 15 November 2007.
Friday, September 28, 2007
30 year marriage
Married 30 years.
I took a look at my wife one day and said, “Honey, 30 years ago, we had a cheap apartment, a cheap car, slept on the sofa and watched a 15” black and white TV. But I got to sleep with a hot 29 year-old blonde. Now we have a nice house, a nice car, a king-size bed and a plasma screen TV. But I’m sleeping every night with a 60-year old woman. It seems to be you’re not holding up your side of things.”
My wife is a reasonable woman. She told me to go out and find a hot 30-year old blonde, and she would make absolutely sure that I would be living in a cheap apartment, driving a cheap car, sleeping on a sofa bed and watching a 15” black & white TV. I just love older women. They know how to solve a man’s problems in a hurry.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Braai Day & Other news
Welcome to NATIONAL BRAAI DAY!
What a wonderful concept to enjoy on Heritage Day. "On 24 September all South Africans will sit around the same fire. Join us in National Braai Day - a celebration of our great country and its unique national pastime. National Braai Day will allow us to get together, burn the past and cook up a succulent future. Braaing unites us all in a common purpose and transcends racial, social, cultural and language barriers. There's really no excuse not to gather your family and friends and whip up a feast - it's the start of summer and a public holiday." (Ref: http://www.braaiday.co.za/)
And whilst we all know that our Tagines can be used on the braai, even Cosmo is getting in on the act. In an article on how to keep your kitchen healthy, the following passage appears: "Swap the Roasting dish for a Tagine - roasted vegetable are healthy but you need to add oil for flavour and moisture. 'A tagine is self-basting,' says UK dietitian Nigel Denby. 'The design ensures that the steam keeps circulating, keeping food juicy without any added fat. It's also the ultimate in low-maintenance cooking - pop it in the oven [or on the stove] and let the steam do its work." Cosmopolitan, October 2007 (pg. 46 - Zest).
However, our Tagines are not limited to just vegetable dishes. For a range of Tagine recipes, view our site.
And, Eastern Gifts and Things cc is proud to launch its affiliate program. We are delighted that you can make some money with the Eastern Gifts and Things cc Affiliate Program! It is profitable, easy to sign up and easy to administer. All you have to do is link to us with your unique Affiliate Link. You can add value to your offering by linking your site to “the Best Home Décor, Kitchenware and Gifting Site Ever” – and you can generate more revenue at the same time. Why Our Affiliate Program? Well, we pay 10% commission for each sale on our site that has found our site through your link. Quality services and products to increase revenue opportunities and we offer your customers the best in home décor, kitchenware and gifting items, with direct delivery for up to five registered delivery addresses. Click here to join our Affiliate Program and link to Eastern Gifts and Things cc and start earning money with our Affiliate Program right now!
For more information, e-mail us on info@easterngifts.co.za.
And for all the women out there running their own businesses, here are two networking sites to get the word out there.
The first site is www.pages4women.com. Tania Bartrip - Owner and Editor of Pages 4 Women: Tania is the founder and editor of www.Pages4women.com - a platform where women can connect to share ideas, network and promote their business or service on a global level. She aims to Empower, Motivate, Inform and Unite women worldwide! Based, at the moment, in the South West of England, she is presently focusing her efforts on building a network where busy women can connect and find information and services on a wide range of topics from Business to Holistic Health to Interior Design, Fashion, Self-Help and Relationship issues. If you are a business owner and would like to have your personal profile featured on the site, just click the link to the Home page where you'll find full details - it's Free to join!
The second, a locally based website will add a little spice to your life. Welcome to the SPICE Philosophy: Self worth, Passion, Inspiration, Commitment and Edutainment - the tools through which we are able to embrace our womanhood and fulfil our true potential. SPICE has a very definitive goal: Connecting women with purpose in order for them to reach their full potential and spread their success and example amongst all around them, especially their families, children and community. With 7 years of hard earned experience, development of strong ethical relationships, credibility with our market & endorsement for the roles we play. We host a large interactive database, with an independent e-zine website receiving hundreds of thousands of visits from Women of South Africa. – www.spice4life.co.za.
And finally, our new products are taking off extremely well. Our pots - handmade in Peru - are exclusively available on our site. For more information on any of these news items, please e-mail us on info@easterngifts.co.za.
Competition Time And finally, don't forget our competition: One lucky subscriber will stand the chance to win a R350.00 gift voucher. So, pass the word onto all your friends, family and colleagues. You can sign up for our newsletter, without having to register as a client. However, you will need to sign up as a client in order to make a purchase on our site. To sign up for a newsletter - click here. To sign up as a client - click here. Competition closes 15 November 2007.
Here's to a wonderful spring and summer ahead - and have a fantastic NATIONAL BRAAI DAY today. And here's to seeing you online again soon:-)
Remember, we pack it, wrap it and deliver it - anywhere in South Africa.
For all your home decor, kitchenware and gifting requirements - log onto www.easterngifts.co.za.
Regards,
THE EASTERN GIFTS TEAM
What a wonderful concept to enjoy on Heritage Day. "On 24 September all South Africans will sit around the same fire. Join us in National Braai Day - a celebration of our great country and its unique national pastime. National Braai Day will allow us to get together, burn the past and cook up a succulent future. Braaing unites us all in a common purpose and transcends racial, social, cultural and language barriers. There's really no excuse not to gather your family and friends and whip up a feast - it's the start of summer and a public holiday." (Ref: http://www.braaiday.co.za/)
And whilst we all know that our Tagines can be used on the braai, even Cosmo is getting in on the act. In an article on how to keep your kitchen healthy, the following passage appears: "Swap the Roasting dish for a Tagine - roasted vegetable are healthy but you need to add oil for flavour and moisture. 'A tagine is self-basting,' says UK dietitian Nigel Denby. 'The design ensures that the steam keeps circulating, keeping food juicy without any added fat. It's also the ultimate in low-maintenance cooking - pop it in the oven [or on the stove] and let the steam do its work." Cosmopolitan, October 2007 (pg. 46 - Zest).
However, our Tagines are not limited to just vegetable dishes. For a range of Tagine recipes, view our site.
And, Eastern Gifts and Things cc is proud to launch its affiliate program. We are delighted that you can make some money with the Eastern Gifts and Things cc Affiliate Program! It is profitable, easy to sign up and easy to administer. All you have to do is link to us with your unique Affiliate Link. You can add value to your offering by linking your site to “the Best Home Décor, Kitchenware and Gifting Site Ever” – and you can generate more revenue at the same time. Why Our Affiliate Program? Well, we pay 10% commission for each sale on our site that has found our site through your link. Quality services and products to increase revenue opportunities and we offer your customers the best in home décor, kitchenware and gifting items, with direct delivery for up to five registered delivery addresses. Click here to join our Affiliate Program and link to Eastern Gifts and Things cc and start earning money with our Affiliate Program right now!
For more information, e-mail us on info@easterngifts.co.za.
And for all the women out there running their own businesses, here are two networking sites to get the word out there.
The first site is www.pages4women.com. Tania Bartrip - Owner and Editor of Pages 4 Women: Tania is the founder and editor of www.Pages4women.com - a platform where women can connect to share ideas, network and promote their business or service on a global level. She aims to Empower, Motivate, Inform and Unite women worldwide! Based, at the moment, in the South West of England, she is presently focusing her efforts on building a network where busy women can connect and find information and services on a wide range of topics from Business to Holistic Health to Interior Design, Fashion, Self-Help and Relationship issues. If you are a business owner and would like to have your personal profile featured on the site, just click the link to the Home page where you'll find full details - it's Free to join!
The second, a locally based website will add a little spice to your life. Welcome to the SPICE Philosophy: Self worth, Passion, Inspiration, Commitment and Edutainment - the tools through which we are able to embrace our womanhood and fulfil our true potential. SPICE has a very definitive goal: Connecting women with purpose in order for them to reach their full potential and spread their success and example amongst all around them, especially their families, children and community. With 7 years of hard earned experience, development of strong ethical relationships, credibility with our market & endorsement for the roles we play. We host a large interactive database, with an independent e-zine website receiving hundreds of thousands of visits from Women of South Africa. – www.spice4life.co.za.
And finally, our new products are taking off extremely well. Our pots - handmade in Peru - are exclusively available on our site. For more information on any of these news items, please e-mail us on info@easterngifts.co.za.
Competition Time And finally, don't forget our competition: One lucky subscriber will stand the chance to win a R350.00 gift voucher. So, pass the word onto all your friends, family and colleagues. You can sign up for our newsletter, without having to register as a client. However, you will need to sign up as a client in order to make a purchase on our site. To sign up for a newsletter - click here. To sign up as a client - click here. Competition closes 15 November 2007.
Here's to a wonderful spring and summer ahead - and have a fantastic NATIONAL BRAAI DAY today. And here's to seeing you online again soon:-)
Remember, we pack it, wrap it and deliver it - anywhere in South Africa.
For all your home decor, kitchenware and gifting requirements - log onto www.easterngifts.co.za.
Regards,
THE EASTERN GIFTS TEAM
Friday, September 21, 2007
Got Worry?
Hi, there
I found this interesting article on worry from Kim Allen, from HeartMaths. A little bit of motivation for a long weekend, so I thought I’d share. Oh, and have a fabulous long weekend!!!
Regards,
M.
Got Worry?
Care is a good thing. How much better we feel when someone cares for us. Care even feels good when we give it to someone else. You could say a sincere feeling of care reduces stress, whether we're on the giving or receiving end.
Yet when we look up care in the dictionary, the first definitions are not what we think of when we want to be cared for: A state of mind in which one is troubled; worry, anxiety, or concern.1
Well that makes sense. After all, aren't the people or issues you care for or about the very same things that cause you worry, anxiety or frustration? How often do you fuss or fret over something you don't care about?
If what you care about is causing you stress it could be because it's crossed the line into overcare.
We've all been on the receiving end of overcare: the micro manager, the perfectionist, and the overbearing parent who do what they do because they say (and believe!) they care. In actuality, however, they've taken their care to an inefficient extreme and turned it into overcare. Overcaring is a monumental drain on all concerned and one of the most common sources of stress. And, left unchecked, overcaring can lead to burnout. That's when we quit; we stop caring all together and that's not a healthy alternative.
Now, watch out! Don't start to overcare (worry!) because you overcare! We all do! Rather, get back to balanced care. First, disengage from the stressful feeling: Heart focus; heart breathing. Next, recall a sincere feeling of care (to have an inclination, liking, fondness, or affection1) for someone or something. Now you're ready to ask yourself, "What would be a more efficient attitude or action that would reduce my stress and get me back to balanced care?"
And follow through. This won't reduce your stress unless you take action!
1http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/care
I found this interesting article on worry from Kim Allen, from HeartMaths. A little bit of motivation for a long weekend, so I thought I’d share. Oh, and have a fabulous long weekend!!!
Regards,
M.
Got Worry?
Care is a good thing. How much better we feel when someone cares for us. Care even feels good when we give it to someone else. You could say a sincere feeling of care reduces stress, whether we're on the giving or receiving end.
Yet when we look up care in the dictionary, the first definitions are not what we think of when we want to be cared for: A state of mind in which one is troubled; worry, anxiety, or concern.1
Well that makes sense. After all, aren't the people or issues you care for or about the very same things that cause you worry, anxiety or frustration? How often do you fuss or fret over something you don't care about?
If what you care about is causing you stress it could be because it's crossed the line into overcare.
We've all been on the receiving end of overcare: the micro manager, the perfectionist, and the overbearing parent who do what they do because they say (and believe!) they care. In actuality, however, they've taken their care to an inefficient extreme and turned it into overcare. Overcaring is a monumental drain on all concerned and one of the most common sources of stress. And, left unchecked, overcaring can lead to burnout. That's when we quit; we stop caring all together and that's not a healthy alternative.
Now, watch out! Don't start to overcare (worry!) because you overcare! We all do! Rather, get back to balanced care. First, disengage from the stressful feeling: Heart focus; heart breathing. Next, recall a sincere feeling of care (to have an inclination, liking, fondness, or affection1) for someone or something. Now you're ready to ask yourself, "What would be a more efficient attitude or action that would reduce my stress and get me back to balanced care?"
And follow through. This won't reduce your stress unless you take action!
1http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/care
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
The People's Chemist
Hi, there
I'm not sure if you've heard of Sean Ellison, the people's chemist. He has some very different views on medication, for example, he does not promote using any medication for cholesterol at all. He says its all hype created by big drug companies to make money (it does seem a little odd that every seems to have high cholesterol). Anyway, I've copied an article of his below - why not read it and comment? Would be interesting to see what everyone thinks. And by the way, he is a chemist and pharmacist himself, so he says that he speaks from "inside" information.
Here goes:
"I'm back! The People's Chemist site was hacked twice in one week. Go figure. Exploding health myths and giving out Stinky Sulfur Awards like physicians do statins - or celebrities do pharmaceutical fellatio - can piss people off. New email is service@thepeopleschemist.com. Site is at http://www.thepeopleschemist.com/.
Celebrating my triumphant return, see the free fact sheet below. I've attached it too so you can download, save, and forward to all of your friends - or enemies.
The People's Chemist Urgent Warning and ADHD Protocol
By Shane "The People's Chemist" Ellison
http://www.thepeoplesch emist.com © 2007
The popular pain killer Vioxx was touted as the safest of all time - by physicians and medical journals. After a grueling five years, Big Pharma could no longer hide their secret. The body bags were stacking up too high. By Food and Drug Administration (FDA) estimates, it prevented 30,000 to 40,000 American's from living out their dreams. Instead, they are now six feet under. In my book, Health Myths Exposed, I warn that our children might be facing a similar tragedy thanks to the ADHD meds Ritalin, Adderall and Concerta.
By over stimulating the central nervous system, ADHD meds put the cardiovascular system into overdrive. The hearts of our developing children simply cannot keep up. Death results - far more than Big Pharma, or anyone for that matter, wants to admit. But don't take my word for it.Commenting on the troublesome threesome, Dr. Nissen of the world renowned Cleveland Clinic stated that, "We have got a potential public health crisis. I think patients and families need to be made aware of these concerns. This is out-of-control use of drugs that have profound cardiovascular consequences. We have got a potential public health crisis. I think patients and families need to be made aware of these concerns." The Alliance for Human Research Protection shows that in 2006, the U.S. Center for Disease Control issued a report confirming that ADHD drugs send thousands to hospital emergency rooms annually. Few medical doctors or media are reporting the dangers.
Not everyone is concealing the death threat of ADHD meds. The Experimental Pharmacology Department of the American Cyanamid Company and the Merck Index reports that these meds are no less toxic or safer than amphetamine and methamphetamine. They state that with the administration of this drug, motor activity decreases. Many times, tremors and convulsions occur. Studies on amphetamine derivatives show that short-term clinical doses produce brain cell death. According to the authoritative Merck Index, long-lasting and sometimes permanent changes in the biochemistry of the brain are also a result.
Such dangers explain why the U.S. Government spends billions every year to keep them off the street. But it doesn't explain why we are pushing them to our 5th graders. The House subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations highlighted that ADHD meds are prescribed for 10% of 5th grade boys! A total of 2.5 million American children are being given street crank disguised as ADHD vitamins...
All the symptoms of ADHD are best controlled with select lifestyle habits and nutritional supplements. Replacing sugary meals with ones that are loaded with healthy source of fat such as eggs, avocado, grass fed beef, seeds and nuts is a great start. Cod liver oil and green tea supplements can enhance focus while L-tryptophan before bed ensures restful sleep and enhanced mood.
About the Author
Shane "The People's Chemist" Ellison has an MS in organic chemistry and firsthand experience in drug design and synthesis. He is an internationally recognized authority on therapeutic nutrition and author of Health Myths Exposed and The Hidden Truth about Cholesterol Lowering Drugs. Get his "Foundational Health Education" to beat obesity, heart disease, and even Type II diabetes by visiting www.thepeopleschemist.com/foundation.html
healthmyths.net
3600 Cerrillos Dr. #714C-802
Santa Fe
New Mexico 87507
United States"
Regards,
M.
I'm not sure if you've heard of Sean Ellison, the people's chemist. He has some very different views on medication, for example, he does not promote using any medication for cholesterol at all. He says its all hype created by big drug companies to make money (it does seem a little odd that every seems to have high cholesterol). Anyway, I've copied an article of his below - why not read it and comment? Would be interesting to see what everyone thinks. And by the way, he is a chemist and pharmacist himself, so he says that he speaks from "inside" information.
Here goes:
"I'm back! The People's Chemist site was hacked twice in one week. Go figure. Exploding health myths and giving out Stinky Sulfur Awards like physicians do statins - or celebrities do pharmaceutical fellatio - can piss people off. New email is service@thepeopleschemist.com. Site is at http://www.thepeopleschemist.com/.
Celebrating my triumphant return, see the free fact sheet below. I've attached it too so you can download, save, and forward to all of your friends - or enemies.
The People's Chemist Urgent Warning and ADHD Protocol
By Shane "The People's Chemist" Ellison
http://www.thepeoplesch emist.com © 2007
The popular pain killer Vioxx was touted as the safest of all time - by physicians and medical journals. After a grueling five years, Big Pharma could no longer hide their secret. The body bags were stacking up too high. By Food and Drug Administration (FDA) estimates, it prevented 30,000 to 40,000 American's from living out their dreams. Instead, they are now six feet under. In my book, Health Myths Exposed, I warn that our children might be facing a similar tragedy thanks to the ADHD meds Ritalin, Adderall and Concerta.
By over stimulating the central nervous system, ADHD meds put the cardiovascular system into overdrive. The hearts of our developing children simply cannot keep up. Death results - far more than Big Pharma, or anyone for that matter, wants to admit. But don't take my word for it.Commenting on the troublesome threesome, Dr. Nissen of the world renowned Cleveland Clinic stated that, "We have got a potential public health crisis. I think patients and families need to be made aware of these concerns. This is out-of-control use of drugs that have profound cardiovascular consequences. We have got a potential public health crisis. I think patients and families need to be made aware of these concerns." The Alliance for Human Research Protection shows that in 2006, the U.S. Center for Disease Control issued a report confirming that ADHD drugs send thousands to hospital emergency rooms annually. Few medical doctors or media are reporting the dangers.
Not everyone is concealing the death threat of ADHD meds. The Experimental Pharmacology Department of the American Cyanamid Company and the Merck Index reports that these meds are no less toxic or safer than amphetamine and methamphetamine. They state that with the administration of this drug, motor activity decreases. Many times, tremors and convulsions occur. Studies on amphetamine derivatives show that short-term clinical doses produce brain cell death. According to the authoritative Merck Index, long-lasting and sometimes permanent changes in the biochemistry of the brain are also a result.
Such dangers explain why the U.S. Government spends billions every year to keep them off the street. But it doesn't explain why we are pushing them to our 5th graders. The House subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations highlighted that ADHD meds are prescribed for 10% of 5th grade boys! A total of 2.5 million American children are being given street crank disguised as ADHD vitamins...
All the symptoms of ADHD are best controlled with select lifestyle habits and nutritional supplements. Replacing sugary meals with ones that are loaded with healthy source of fat such as eggs, avocado, grass fed beef, seeds and nuts is a great start. Cod liver oil and green tea supplements can enhance focus while L-tryptophan before bed ensures restful sleep and enhanced mood.
About the Author
Shane "The People's Chemist" Ellison has an MS in organic chemistry and firsthand experience in drug design and synthesis. He is an internationally recognized authority on therapeutic nutrition and author of Health Myths Exposed and The Hidden Truth about Cholesterol Lowering Drugs. Get his "Foundational Health Education" to beat obesity, heart disease, and even Type II diabetes by visiting www.thepeopleschemist.com/foundation.html
healthmyths.net
3600 Cerrillos Dr. #714C-802
Santa Fe
New Mexico 87507
United States"
Regards,
M.
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