Made Moon Blog

When your knee hurts, getting relief is all that’s on your mind. Getting the right relief, though, depends on knowing what’s wrong. The correct diagnosis will lead to the correct treatment.

Know Your Knee!

The knee is the largest joint in the body. It’s also one of the most complicated. The knee joint is made up of four bones that are connected by muscles, ligaments, and tendons. The femur (large thigh bone) interacts with the two shin bones, the tibia (the larger one) located towards the inside and the fibula (the smaller one) located towards the outside. Where the femur meets the tibia is termed the joint line. The patella, (the knee cap) is the bone that sits in the front of the knee. It slides up and down in a groove in the lower part of the femur (the femoral groove) as the knee bends and straightens.

Ligaments are the strong rope-like structures that help connect bones and provide stability. In the knee, there are four major ligaments. On the inner (medial) aspect of the knee is the medial collateral ligament (MCL) and on the outer (lateral) aspect of the knee is the lateral collateral ligament (LCL). The other two main ligaments are found in the center of the knee. These ligaments are called the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL). They are called cruciate ligaments because the ACL crosses in front of the PCL. Other smaller ligaments help hold the patella in place in the center of the femoral groove.

Two structures called menisci sit between the femur and the tibia. These structures act as cushions or shock absorbers. They also help provide stability for the knee. The menisci are made of a tough material called fibrocartilage. There is a medial meniscus and a lateral meniscus. When either meniscus is damaged it is called a “torn cartilage”.

There is another type of cartilage in the knee called hyaline cartilage. This cartilage is a smooth shiny material that covers the bones in the knee joint. In the knee, hyaline cartilage covers the ends of the femur, the femoral groove, the top of the tibia and the underside of the patella. Hyaline cartilage allows the knee bones to move easily as the knee bends and straightens.

Tendons connect muscles to bone. The large quadriceps muscles on the front of the thigh attach to the top of the patella via the quadriceps tendon. This tendon inserts on the patella and then continues down to form the rope-like patellar tendon. The patellar tendon in turn, attaches to the front of the tibia. The hamstring muscles on the back of the thigh attach to the tibia at the back of the knee. The quadriceps muscles are the muscles that straighten the knee. The hamstring muscles are the main muscles that bend the knee.

Bursae are small fluid filled sacs that decrease the friction between two tissues. Bursae also protect bony structures. There are many different bursae around the knee but the ones that are most important are the prepatellar bursa in front of the knee cap, the infrapatellar bursa just below the kneecap, the anserine bursa, just below the joint line and to the inner side of the tibia, and the semimembranous bursa in the back of the knee. Normally, a bursa has very little fluid in it but if it becomes irritated it can fill with fluid and become very large.

Is it bursitis… or tendonitis…or arthritis?

Tendonitis generally affects either the quadriceps tendon or patellar tendon. Repetitive jumping or trauma may set off tendonitis. The pain is felt in the front of the knee and there is tenderness as well as swelling involving the tendon. With patellar tendonitis, the infrapatellar bursa will often be inflamed also. Treatment involves rest, ice, and anti-inflammatory medication. Injections are rarely used. Physical therapy with ultrasound and iontopheresis may help.

Bursitis pain is common. The prepatellar bursa may become inflamed particularly in patients who spend a lot of time on their knees (carpet layers). The bursa will become swollen. The major concern here is to make sure the bursa is not infected. The bursa should be aspirated (fluid withdrawn by needle) by a specialist. The fluid should be cultured. If there is no infection, the bursitis may be treated with anti-jnflammatory medicines, ice, and physical therapy. Knee pads should be worn to prevent a recurrence once the initial bursitis is cleared up.

Anserine bursitis often occurs in overweight people who also have osteoarthritis of the knee. Pain and some swelling is noted in the anserine bursa. Treatment consists of steroid injection, ice, physical therapy, and weight loss.

The semimembranous bursa can be affected when a patient has fluid in the knee (a knee effusion). The fluid will push backwards and the bursa will become filled with fluid and cause a sensation of fullness and tightness in the back of the knee. This is called a Baker’s cyst. If the bursa ruptures, the fluid will dissect down into the calf. The danger here is that it may look like a blood clot in the calf. A venogram and ultrasound test will help differentiate a ruptured Baker’s cyst from a blood clot. The Baker’s cyst is treated with aspiration of the fluid from the knee along with steroid injection, ice, and elevation of the leg.

Knock out knee arthritis… simple steps you can take!
Younger people who have pain in the front of the knee have what is called patellofemoral syndrome (PFS). Two major conditions cause PFS. The first is chondromalacia patella. This is a condition where the cartilage on the underside of the knee cap softens and is particularly common in young women. Another cause of pain behind the knee cap in younger people may be a patella that doesn’t track normally in the femoral groove. For both chondromalacia as well as a poorly tracking patella, special exercises, taping, and anti-inflammatory medicines may be helpful. If the patellar tracking becomes a significant problem despite conservative measures, surgery is need.

While many types of arthritis may affect the knee, osteoarthritis is the most common. Osteoarthritis usually affects the joint between the femur and tibia in the medial (inner) compartment of the knee. Osteoarthritis may also involve the joint between the femur and tibia on the outer side of the knee as well as the joint between the femur and patella. Why osteoarthritis develops is still being scrutinized carefully. It seems to consist of a complex interaction of genetics, mechanical factors, and immune system involvement. The immune system attacks the joint through a combination of degradative enzymes and inflammatory chemical messengers called cytokines.

Patients will sometimes feel a sensation of rubbing or grinding. The knee will become stiff if the patient sits for any length of time. With local inflammation, the patient may experience pain at night and get relief from sleeping with a pillow between the knees. Occasionally, locking and clicking may be noticed. Patients with osteoarthritis may also tear the fibrocartilage cushions (menisci) in the knee more easily than people without osteoarthritis.

So how is the arthritis treated? An obvious place to start is weight reduction for patients who carry around too many pounds.

Strengthening exercises for the knee are also useful for many people. These should be done under the supervision of a physician or physical therapist.

Other therapies include ice, anti inflammatory medicines, and occasionally steroid injections.
Glucosamine and chondroitin supplements may be helpful. A word of caution… make sure the preparation you buy is pure and contains what the label says it does. The supplement industry is unregulated… so buyer beware!

Injections of the knee with viscosupplements – lubricants- are particularly useful for many patients. Special braces may help to unload the part of the joint that is affected.

Arthroscopic techniques may be beneficial in special circumstances. Occasionally, a surgical procedure called an osteotomy, where a wedge of bone is removed from the tibia to “even things out,” may be recommended. Joint replacement surgery is required for end stage knee arthritis.

Research is being done to develop medicines that will slow down the rate of cartilage loss. Targets for these new therapies include the destructive enzymes and/or cytokines that degrade cartilage. It is hoped that by inhibiting these enzymes and cytokines and by boosting the ability of cartilage to repair itself, that therapies designed to actually reverse osteoarthritis may be created. These are referred to as disease-modifying osteoarthritis drugs or “DMOADs.” Genetic markers may identify high risk patients who need more aggressive therapies.

Newer compounds that are injected into the knee and provide healing as well as lubrication are also being developed. And finally, less invasive surgical techniques are also being looked at. Recent technological advances in “mini” knee replacement look very promising.

Dr. Wei (pronounced “way”) is a board-certified rheumatologist and Clinical Director of the nationally respected Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center of Maryland. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and has served as a consultant to the Arthritis Branch of the National Institutes of Health. He is a Fellow of the American College of Rheumatology and the American College of Physicians. Dr. Wei is the editor of the arthritis-treatment-and-relief.com website.

The consumer of today is increasingly bombarded by marketing messages from various media channels. For those that tire of the constant onslaught of ads, they have the option to “opt-out”. They may choose not to open up your email ads or simply “mute” their remote control so that they don’t listen to your audio message.

So, how do you, as a online marketer, ensure that your marketing messages reach your customer? What steps can you take so that your marketing campaign is “read”, “seen” or “heard”?

The answer: Provide opt-in email marketing.

Opt-in email marketing provides a reasonable, go-to-the-market model that will ensure that your messages are “read”, “seen” or “heard”.

What is email opt-in marketing all about?

Opt-in marketing is not merely a one-time process about asking your customer to opt-in or opt-out of a specified medium (in this case, your autoresponder emails).

It involves the customer giving you the permission to send your marketing materials and giving you private information on where to send them to. The customer is more likely to “read”, “hear” or “see” your marketing message if he/she has already given you the prior permission to do so.

In the highest form, opt-in email marketing involves an ongoing, evolving relationship between you and the customer. The relationship is one that becomes increasingly focused, with the relevant exchange of information and value.

The steps to an online opt-in email marketing principally involves:

1) Placing your ad in websites that your prospect are likely to visit.

2) Providing an opt-in box to collect mailing information from your prospect and getting his/ her permission for you to start a possible email relationship.

3) Giving a freebie to your prospect to “opt-in”. The freebie has to be relevant in theme to what you are selling.

4) Offering an email course, teaching the consumer about the product or service.

5) Continually reinforcing the incentive for your prospect to remain on your subscriber list. This can be by offering him/her quality content on a related topic of interest, etc.

6) Providing more incentives to get to know more about your customer. You may at this point, conduct surveys to build your database of information on customer preferences. You can then easily match your products to the customer needs.

Opt-in email marketing has lots of benefits for you and your customer:

* Increased customer loyalty due to constant contact.

* Customer needs and preferences are met.

* Increased “word of mouth” referral for your products or services as the customer becomes more satisfied.

* Increased sales for your other products and services.

* Lower cost per order because marketing waste is minimized.

Note that, in order to retain your customers, what you must continually offer is value. Otherwise, your subscriber can easily “opt-out” and you would have lost a prospect.

The burden is on you to build and nurture the relationship. Customer loyalty cannot be taken for granted, it has to be earned. Turning the loyalty into trust will surely propel your profits.

Evelyn Lim is an online business entrepreneur. She publishes a free weekly newsletter “Mapping You to Success” for aspiring e-biz owners. The aim of her publication is to equip readers with skills to acquire multiple sources of online income. To subscribe, please visit http://www.e-BizMap.com.

The best prepaid cell phone is the one that will satisfy you in the end. I was spoiled while I
lived in Italy for a few years where there is no such thing as a cell phone contract.
Everything was pay as you go. So it really was just a matter of finding the best-
prepaid cell phone company. The great thing about Italy and the rest of Europe
though was the fact that it didn’t matter which company or which model phone you
used. All phones worked with any prepaid cell phone card.

Imagine my shock when I moved back to the U.S. in 2001 and began looking for the
best-prepaid cell phone deal only to find that I was forced to get a cell phone
contract. Well I ended up with Sprint and then T-Mobile before enough pay as you
go plans became available. Of course the best plans ( in my opinion ) were not with
any of the known cellular companies.

I now have what I think is the best prepaid cell phone plan on the market. I will only
compare with one other company to show you why, though the deals are getting
better. I have Net 10. Net 10 is a part of TracFone. They feature phones made by
Motorola and Nokia. It is .10 per minute no matter what. So, for $30 I get 300
minutes. With that I also get 60 days of service. That is very simple and easy to deal
with.

Compared to Cingular, one of the most popular companies offering prepaid cell
phones I have a very sweet deal. Cingular has two plans; Best Value and Simple plan.

Best Value:

• Unlimited mobile to mobile

• .10 per minute

• A charge of $1 every day you decide to use your phone (no matter who or where
you call).

Simple Plan:

• .25 per minute for all calls ( no dollar on the days you call).

With Cingular’s best value prepaid cell phone plan you get charged a dollar every
day you use your phone and it is automatically charged on you credit card or debit
account. What if you use the phone for just one call a day? You can easily rack up
another $30 in addition to the cost you’ve already paid for your prepaid airtime. The
Simple plan just puts the squeeze on you for the cost of the minutes.

I have the best-prepaid cell phone plan. Net 10 baby! Almost every other cellular
company like Cingular has hidden charges and additions to the cost of your airtime
that cheat you out of your savings. Net 10 is simple and cost effective. You owe it to
yourself to give it a try.

Pay as you go cellular – service is the only way you should go. Pay as you go service offers freedom, cell phone with no credit check and much more. Go to pay as you go cellular for more info.

How could this be happening? Our dog (Storm) just received her one year checkup in June and was given a clean bill of health. In shock by the news, we refused to put Storm down and defied the recommendation of our vet oncologist.

What followed could only be described as a long exhaustive internet and phone search for cancer alternatives for dogs. After 100 hours of research in two weeks, we stumbled across a homeopathic vet in our area. What we learned was shocking.

Dogs like humans – even puppies who are barely adult dogs are exposed to triggers every single day that can kick off a serious of unfortunate health events. These triggers can come from the air we breath, the water we drink, the food we eat, and the vaccinations we take to stay healthy – yes even vaccinations can be a trigger to cancer.

Listening with abated breath, we continued to learn from our homeopathic vet that traditional doctors treat most auto immune diseases (like cancer) at the symptom level; but they never address the underlying question which is why did we get sick in the first place?

When your body is out of balance, your body fails to do what it was designed to do – which is heal itself. When your cells stop talking to each other efficiently they become corrupt. These corrupt cells can lead to illnesses and in the case of our Storm – Lymphosarcoma.

It was recommended that we put Storm on a glyconutrient supplementation program coupled with a raw diet high in protein and low in carbs. We started her on a leading brand of glyco supplements. These supplements contained the eight simple sugars that provide your body the building blocks it needs to enhance cell to cell communication.

Within two weeks of this program, the tumor that Storm had was 90% gone. This was a tumor that was twice the size of her heart on the ultrasound just two weeks before. At the end of the first month, Storm was diagnosed as being in remission.

Don’t get me wrong. Cancer is a smart nasty disease that mutates and has one purpose – survival. Is there a cure for cancer – probably not? Is there a better way to treat cancer – absolutely? Are glyconutrients part of that better treatment – my opinion is YES?

Holly and I have seen first hand what these glyconutrients can do. We both take them; and our dogs both take them. Did we know about glyconutrients before Storm was diagnosed with cancer – NO? Do most doctors know about them – NO? This is because the discovery of glyconutrients is fairly new and has only recently been added to the curriculum at medical schools.

If you are or a loved one are suffering from an auto immune disorder I strong urge you to check out this website. www.glyconutritionforlife.org.

“Your body is an amazing health machine if you give it the tools necessary to heal itself”

David Filer is a corporate professional that works hard; and believes that everything in life shoudl be done in moderation. He believes in fitness and nutritiona and overall well being. His interest and passion for glyconutrients started when his dog was diagnosed with cancer. His exhaustive search led to his personal discovery of glyconutrients; and his amazing story.

David Filer is a corporate professional that works hard; and believes that everything in life shoudl be done in moderation. He believes in fitness and nutritiona and overall well being. His interest and passion for glyconutrients started when his dog was diagnosed with cancer. htttp://www.glyconutritionforlife.org

Well we all know that Valentines Day is the day of lovers and a day for giving gifts to those you care about but why is chocolate still the most popular gift given on Valentines Day? Why is chocolate is so closely associated with romance?

Since chocolate was brought to Europe it has been considered the food of love. Stories of its properties as an aphrodisiac for the aristocrats were well known. The Spanish who brought it to Europe learnt about chocolate from the Aztecs. It was however a European tradition that each year on the 14th of February young men would court young ladies with flowers and gifts and because back then chocolate was rare and expensive it wasn’t long before this was the favourite gift given by the rich and aristocratic who were able to provide this for the object of their affections. It wasn’t long however before the secret of chocolate got out and soon chocolate houses were opening up across Europe, the best of which were and still are in Belgium. Belgium’s best Chocolatier Neuhaus Chocolates was founded in 1857 and although the are the official provider of chocolate to the Belgian Royal Family these days even chocolate as good as theirs is affordable so that everyone can enjoy them. More importantly they are affordable enough that you can give them to those you care about on Valentines Day and any other day of the year.

Well why is chocolate still so popular as a Valentines gift, is it just the marketing? Well, since Valentines Day was exported to the USA it has been used to market everything from wrapping paper and cuddly toys to expensive items such as jewellery. However why is it that the historical connection between chocolate and Valentines day has lasted the years? Well it seems there is more to it than just the, sweet, mouth watering feeling you get as it melts in your mouth leaving you wanting more and more… Scientists now know that like coffee and tea, chocolate affects the chemical reactions already taking place in our brains. Unlike coffee and tea however is not only a stimulant, it contains phenyl-ethylamine which is known to stimulate the release of dopamine in the brain released chocolate excites our pleasure centres and creates a feeling of Euphoria and increases the heart rate similar to that of a person in love or at the peak of an orgasm both of which should go down well with the recipient of your gift.

Now, despite all its psychotropic properties and ancient reputation, chocolate will probably not make a woman fall in love with you but giving her something so delightful will definitely put you in her good books… Chocolate will also stimulate men’s pleasure centres so ladies don’t be shy to by a box for your man, who knows what reaction you might get…

Shalin Popat
http://www.neuhaus-chocolates.com

I can be contacted at http://www.neuhaus-chocolates.com/index.asp?PageKind=ContactUs

Chocolate gift boxes can be purchased at http://www.neuhaus-chocolates.com/index.asp-Q-ItemList-E-gift-boxes–31294978

Benjamin Franklin wrote: “If you want to enjoy one of the greatest luxuries in life, the luxury of having enough time, time to rest, time to think things through, time to get things done and know you have done them to the best of your ability, remember, there is only one way. Take enough time to think and plan things in the order of their importance. Your life will take on a new zest, you will add years to your life, and more life to your years. Let all your things have their place.” When you read Franklin’s words, what do they mean to you? Do you have enough time to balance your personal needs with your commitment to the outside world? Is stress causing havoc in your life? What exactly does it mean to have your life in balance and how do you achieve it?

Balance is defined as stability of mind and body; a state of being in balance; and harmony in the parts of a whole. The Chinese art of Feng Shui describes balance as being comprised of Yin and Yang energy. Yin is the calming and peace-giving energy and Yang is the action-oriented dynamic force. Yin energy engages receptivity and allows rest, rejuvenation, healing, dreaming, and acceptance. The fire energy, Yang, makes achievement of dreams a reality and creates success. Feng Shui believes every ‘whole’ person requires balance in his or her life force energy.

The key to creating ‘wholeness’ is learning that we must take care of ourselves in order to be able to give what we want to give in our roles as parent, spouse, employee, etc. When we do not take care of ourselves, we end up either sick and/or feeling burned out, as our bodies and mind will make us take the time if we will not do it for ourselves. Emotional and physical health requires taking responsibility for our own well-being.

Most of us have the fantasy that somebody will come along and tell us ‘it is now our turn,’ and so we put off the biological need for rest and relaxation until we are ill. After learning that there is not going to be anyone to rescue us, we realise that the only one who is going to take care of us is, in fact, our self. Once this is recognised, the emotional and physical healing of self can now begin. (I don’t know about you but I am a slower learner. It took me a long time to learn this. In fact, I still get a wake-up call every once in awhile when I choose to get sick rather than rest and take a break.)

We need to allow time each day in order to take care of ourselves. When we do take time, leave the guilt and thoughts of ‘I should be doing…’ outside the door. Instead, recognise that we deserve a few minutes of time for self and that we will be able to function better afterwards. Enjoy that time.

Time Management and Creating Balance

Time is defined as a period during which an action, process, or condition exists or continues; and management is defined as the act or art of managing. Time management is nothing more than the art of managing an action. In other words, the management of time is management of self and setting priorities for self. It is the conscious selection of where we will place our attention.

Reasons for Managing Time

Time is not a renewable resource. When it is gone, it is gone forever.

Everyone has the same amount of time.

The creative thought that emerges from balanced lives and from the joy of our leisure time is what makes the difference in
our level of creativity and productivity.

Take time for silence. Silence and solitude are opportunities for thinking and for simply being.

The best thing you can do to enhance your value at work is to take care of yourself.

Time management provides structure to one’s life and in turn, provides peace of mind.

Time management is something one does for one’s own psyche to make one’s days easier.

Time Management and Creating Balance at Home

1. Determine what’s important to you and in what order. Prioritise to get the important things done by putting ‘first things first.’

2. Set goals and strive towards a sense of purpose and fulfilment.

3. Get organised and manage your time with a daily or weekly schedule.

4. Recognise your limits and have realistic expectations for yourself. You do not have to be ’super person.’

5. Reward yourself.

6. Keep things in perspective. Say to yourself, ‘This too shall pass.’

7. Exercise and eat nutritional foods.

8. Think happy, as life seems to be easier when you smile. Use humour and find a way to laugh at the situation.

9. Be honest with yourself and others.

10. Say ‘No’ to the ’shoulds’ and ‘Yes’ to the ‘wants’ in your life.

Time Management and Creating Balance at Work

1. Make sure your work life is a meaningful expression of your life purpose.

2. Decide to do it. Set up a TO DO list, prioritise A’s, B’s, and C’s. Do A’s first.

3. Planning – take 5 minutes at the end of the day to clean up your space and get organised for the next day’s work.

4. If you have a problem, just before you go to sleep turn it over to your subconscious – your mind will work on it as you sleep and you will have an answer the next day.

5. DO IT NOW. Procrastination is a result of saying “I’ll do it later.”

6. Do not schedule early morning appointments that will disrupt your morning routine.

7. Say ‘NO’ to every new request for your time for the next month (saying NO to every request will minimise your guilt).

8. Think about it before you say ‘yes’ – say ‘I’ll get back to you.’ Some of us are compulsive ‘yes sayers’ when we are asked to do something; taking a few minutes to think about whether we have the time, energy, or desire to perform this request requires that we have a moment to check in with ourselves.

9. Give yourself a break. People are more productive when they take a few minutes away every couple of hours.

10. Don’t let other people’s ‘hurry sickness’ dictate your life.

Remember: There is no such thing as a lack of time. There is nothing more important in your life than your time. Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “There is more to life than merely increasing its speed.” In other words, the fundamental question is: ‘How much of my life-force energy does this cost?’

Gwen Nyhus Stewart, B.S.W., M.G., H.T., is an educator, freelance writer, garden consultant, and author of the book The Healing Garden: A Place Of Peace – Gardening For The Soil, Gardening For The Soul and booklet Non-toxic Alternatives For Everyday Cleaning And Gardening Chores. She owns the website Gwen’s Healing Garden where you will find lots of free information about gardening for the soil and gardening for the soul. To find out more about the books and subscribe to her free Newsletter visit www.gwenshealinggarden.ca

Gwen Nyhus Stewart © 2004 – 2006. All rights reserved.

This article was written to answer many of the most frequently asked questions on wedding vows.

Your wedding is your own.

And in todays society, people have been constantly scouring every book for any way to make their wedding as personal and as unique as possible.

One way to do this is to whip up your own wedding vows.

Traditionally, couples to be wed do not have much of a say in what goes into many of the words spoken during the wedding ceremony. Today, it is increasingly getting easier to personalize and influence what is said during the ceremony within reasonable bounds, though.

If you desire to make your wedding vows unique and personal, you are not alone. Many other couples incorporate feelings, and intimate messages into their wedding vows. It has an added effect of making your wedding more touching, dramatic, and memorable.

Talk with the Officiant Ahead of Time

If you would like to personalize your wedding vows, first notify your Officiant to find out the legalities, guidelines and rules in drafting your own wedding vows. He or she will typically give pointers and examples to help you draw up your own vows. Furthermore, the Officiant will inform you of the parts of the vow that are expected to be said.

The Topic

It may include promises, such as “I will swear upon my life to do …” or it may be heartfelt messages for each other, or even hopes for each other plans for the future and such. You may also opt to create a mixture of each to spice up your wedding vows. Although norms vary from culture to culture, as a general rule, the wedding vow should not take too long to recite. Keep it concise yet meaningful. Remember, you will have to recite this, and long recitations tend to make the memory suffer.

Make it Official

After creating a draft of the vows you wish to exchange, it would do well to meet up with the Officiant again and show him a draft of your vows. Although in the end, it is ultimately your decision that is followed, do take heed of the Officiants advice, as it is usually sound and has been honed by experience.

Practice

It is a good idea to practice your vows before the wedding. Although there is no rule against reading vows, a thoroughly practiced, heartfelt rendition of the vow will definitely make a lasting impact on your partner and the people witnessing the ceremony. As mentioned earlier, avoid overly long vows as they tend to be less remembered and are harder to memorize, not to mention quite inconvenient to others. You may do so, however, if you feel the need is justified.

The Performance

When reciting your vows during the wedding, always keep calm. People who are tense tend to speak to fast, and since the wedding vow is a very important part of the wedding, you will want to take your time in the spotlight. Loosen up, so that in case you forget a line or two during the exchange of vows, you will at least be able to bounce back with something from your heart. If you desire so, you may also keep a written version of you vows with you. You might want to read it surreptitiously though.

Good luck on your wedding, and may the sweet words you utter during the exchange of vows never lose their meaning for rest of your days!

While learning to earn more can go hand in hand with getting out of debt, it works only if you use the extra money you earn to improve your financial situation, rather than just to spend more. As you’re getting out of debt, don’t count on a big raise to take care of all your money problems. Ultimately, the hard work you do to learn to live on what you earn now will pay off in more ways than one. More money just means more money problems, if you don’t know how to handle it.

Putting More Money in Your Pockets

There are lots of ways to increase your income. You can improve your salary at your current job, or in your current field. You can take on another job. If you have a family, you can put a non-working spouse or child to work. You can increase the amount of money you take home from your current job by using smart tax strategies, or you can invest your money to make more money.

Your Current Job: What’s holding you back from bringing home a bigger paycheck? Your education level? Your company’s size or structure? The field you’re in? Or could it be because you have trouble asking for what you deserve? Your job is to find out what the problem is and try to see what you can do about it.

Training and education usually offer some of the best payoffs. The numbers show that the more education you have, the more money you’re likely to make and the less likely you are to be unemployed. Lots of companies offer educational opportunities and will pay for you to improve your on-the-job skills. Consider local community college courses if your firm won’t pay for additional training. You can often find inexpensive, practical courses aimed at business professionals. In addition to improving your worth to your company, you can also boost your self-esteem by “mastering a new area or skill!

Moonlighting: Don’t berate yourself for not working two or three jobs to make ends meet. If you already moonlight, don’t feel guilty because you hate it or are burnt out and want to quit. Moonlighting is often counterproductive, because you feel so bad or tired after working two jobs that you end up spending all the money you make on things to make you feel better.

There is one case where moonlighting can make a lot of sense: if you use it as an opportunity to pursue something you really enjoy doing (or think you might enjoy doing). If you love to paint and you moonlight teaching art classes, you will be doing something you like, and it can be emotionally and psychologically, as well as financially, rewarding.

In a comprehensive article on hiring myths, Ira S. Wolfe, the President of Poised For The Future Company, quotes The U.S. Department of Labor, which recommends a “whole person approach” to screening employment candidates. In his article, Wolfe asks the question, “Can a good test compensate for a lack of good interviewing skills?” His response was an emphatic, “No. No. No”.

Having conducted hundreds of employment interviews over the last 39 years as a business owner, department head, and sales management consultant and coach, I must agree with Wolfe’s assessment of the value of testing. In my view, employment tests should be valued no more than 20 percent in the overall assessment of a sales or service industry professional. The whole person approach, as Wolfe suggests, “…encourages managers to factor in the results of a variety of accepted tests along with prior actual performance and interview results.”

A combination of telephone screening, resume review, personal interviews, employment tests and reference checks are all needed to effectively identify just the right candidate for your sales or sales support positions. To learn more about the do’s and the don’ts of hiring sales professionals, check out my new manual 101 Sales Management Myths at: http://www.TheSellingEdge.com/myths4.htm

VIRDEN THORNTON is the founder and President of The $elling Edge®, Inc. an Ohio consulting firm specializing in sales and sales management training, personal coaching, advisory services and publishing. Clients have included Sears Optical, Eastman Kodak, IBM, Service Linen Supply, Bank One, Jefferson Wells International, and Wal-Mart to name a few. Virden is the author of the “best selling” Building & Closing the Sale, Prospecting: The Key To Sales Success and Close That Sale, a video/audio tape series published by Crisp Publications a division of Thompson Learning. He has also authored a client acclaimed Self-Directed Learning series of sales, coaching, telemarketing, and personal productivity manuals. To obtain a substantial discount on two of Virden’s latest books, 101 Sales Myths or Organizing For Sales Success, go to: http://www.TheSellingEdge.com/

A wide range of pattern styles is available. Styles with princess seams are
slenderizing. So are patterns with a center panel of a contrasting color; to
minimize hips, use a dark color for the side panels. High-cut leg openings on
swimsuits and leotards give the appearance of longer legs and a slimmer torso.
For a full-busted figure, choose a pattern with a bustline shaped by darts or
seams. To fill out a slender figure, use a pattern with shirring, draping, or
ruffles. Or choose a simple pattern style and a splashy printed fabric to
enhance a slender figure.

By sewing your own swimsuits and
leotards, you can make garments that meet your needs. Add a full-front
lining to a swimsuit, if desired; this is especially important for light-colored
and lightweight fabrics. Or you may line just the crotch area or add a bandeau
lining in the bust area. Purchased bra cups may be sewn into the bandeau if
firmer support is desired.

Two-way stretch fabric stretches to fit the contours of many different figure
types. Select the pattern according to the bust measurement to avoid extensive
fitting adjustments at the bustline. If you require different pattern sizes for
the hips and the bust, choose a multisize pattern, following the cutting lines
for the appropriate sizes and blending the lines in the waistline area.

Sewing Swimsuits & Leotards

Before laying out a swimsuit or
leotard pattern,
determine which direction of the fabric has the greater amount of stretch.
Nylon/spandex knits usually stretch more in the lengthwise direction;
cotton/spandex, in the crosswise. For a comfortable fit, lay out the pattern on
the fabric so the greater amount of stretch will encircle the body.

Swimsuits and leotards are fast and easy to sew. Most styles have only a few
seams and edge finishes. Stitch the side seams and crotch seam first; then try
on the garment and adjust the fit as needed.

If a one-piece swimsuit or leotard is too long in the torso, shorten it at
the shoulder seams; if this raises the neckline, the neck opening can be trimmed
as necessary. If the armholes are too small, causing the garment to bind under
the arms, enlarge them by trimming the openings. Leg openings should fit
smoothly; if they are too large, take in the side seams at the lower edge,
tapering the seams gradually. Stitch the shoulder seams after the fitting, and
apply the elastic.

Elasticized Edges

To stabilize edges and to ensure a snug fit on swimsuits and leotards, use
elastic at necklines, armholes, waistlines, and leg openings. Elasticized edges
also allow you to slip the garment on and off easily. Although elasticized edges
do self-adjust to your figure, do not depend on them to solve fitting problems.

If you have not adjusted the neckline, armhole, or leg openings, cut the
elastic to the lengths specified by the pattern. Most patterns print the cutting
information for the elastic on the guide sheet or provide a cutting guide on the
pattern tissue. If using a pattern with several views, be sure to cut the
elastic for the style you have chosen; for example, a high-cut leg opening
requires longer elastic than a standard leg opening.

Cotton braided swimwear elastic or transparent elastic may be used. Both
types of elastic, with excellent stretch and recovery, are chlorine-resistant
and salt-resistant. Most patterns call for 3/8″ (1 cm) elastic for adults’
swimwear and 1/4″ (6 mm) elastic for children’s.

Bizhen Lu is a professional sewer. Her website is Free Sewing Tips