Its Getting Hot in Here!

I don't often post things that are geared to one age group over another, but I know there are a lot of us ladies out there who are starting to deal with certain issues associated with *ahem* aging and our bodies changing. Yep, I'll just say it. Peri-menopause...and menopause.

Overall, I consider myself lucky in regards to this time of life. I don't think I look too terrible, haven't gained a bunch of weight (so much harder to take off at this age-seriously!) don't have the mood swings, sleep loss or headaches often associated with perimenopause. What I have dealt with, however, are HOT FLASHES. Oh.My.God.

Anyone who has suffered from hot flashes will tell you, they can be monstrous! There have been times I've shied away from certain outfits because I need to be able to peel off layers when one hits. It's like you've ingested a whole bottle of niacin while being shoved into a hi-powered microwave, cooking from the inside out. Those of you who've gone through this know I'm not exaggerating.

Then there are the night sweats. Waking up in my cute little tank top and comfy shorts to find them literally soaked in sweat. Yes I know, doesn't sound pretty. Try living it. Its not very pretty OR sexy. My boyfriend said that it must be my mutant power surfacing-the power of creating a flood via sweat. I had literally become too hot to handle! It was funny, although frustrating sometimes.

I tried a variety of remedies and supplements, from drinking cold water to sleeping with a huge fan, to exercising more and drinking less coffee. Nothing worked. I was afraid I might have to go the western medicine route, which I did NOT want to do. Pumping my body full of hormones just didn't seem right, and I know that the medications prescribed for menopause symptoms can be dangerous. It wasn't worth the risk for me.

Then I discovered this:

Recommended by a co-worker, Macafem is created from the Maca root. Maca comes from Peru and has been used there for thousands of years, a food staple of the indigenous people. It is rich in protein and minerals, including calcium, iodine, magnesium and potassium. Maca has been used as a libido enhancer and stress reliever, and has been found to relieve many symptoms associated with hormonal imbalances in women. It has even shown promise as a fertility supplement for women trying to conceive!

I decided to try it. I started with 2 tablets per day, but quickly upped it to 3-4 when there were no immediate results. After a few weeks, I was starting to feel disheartened and figured NOTHING was going to work for me. I even started thinking about going to my gynecologist and seeing about a prescription.

But right at the end of week three, I suddenly had a night where I slept through with no sweats. Then another...and another! Since then, my hot flashes have reduced DRAMATICALLY. I may still get one or two over the course of a day. But I rarely get overheated at night and the hot flashes I do get are very mild in comparison to  how they were before. I take three pills a day, which seems to be the perfect dosage for my body.

So if you are looking for some heat relief, or just looking to balance your hormones and feel good, I highly recommend Macafem. One bottle of 100 pills is about $30, plus $5 shipping. You also get a discount if you order three bottles at a time.

If you can't stand the heat...get some Macafem!

The greens have it!

Green eyeshadow is hot for 2013. It seems like everywhere I look, there is a new, fabulous green shade to wear. I love green shadow because it brings out the green in my own hazelish, brownish, greenish, yellowish weird colored eyes. This is the new palette from Pantone, with some beautiful emerald green:

Talk about the Emerald city! Dorothy would be proud!

I picked up this green shadow at SallyBeauty the other day, affordable and pretty:

I love the gold-green shade (you can see I've used it quite a bit already). I put it on the crease of my eye for shimmery depth.

This look is fun, but might be a bit much for daywear:

 

 

Don't ever be afraid to try a new look or style. You may love it or hate it, but at least you can say "hey I tried it!" Eye makeup is a great way to experiment a bit with a new look, and if its not for you, how easy is it to just wash it off!! And you don't have to spend a fortune either-you can find the latest hot green shadows at your local drugstore.

Go bold. Go Green!