The Signs Of Stress You Shouldn’t Ignore

Stress is a mental health issue that has been receiving more and more attention. Not only can it lead to behavioral changes, but it can also lead to physical problems. Employers are increasingly under pressure to ensure their workforce are not placed under undue stress. Recognizing the symptoms of stress is important for them as well as sufferers so action can be taken to resolve the problems.

Exercise the stress away!

In Your Head
Headaches are one of the most common symptoms of stress. They might come on because of tension in the neck and shoulders or grinding of the teeth. Most of us hold or touch our foreheads when we’re struggling with a headache or stress. Of course, we’re busy people so we usually just get on with our day, missing the opportunity to deal with the problem.

In Your Stomach
Have you ever noticed that butterflies in the tummy feeling when you have a big meeting or a job interview? Nerves can cause knots in your stomach that are noticeable. Stress can go a step further and cause all the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. While it might be easy to find an irritable bowel treatment, it’s not always easy to understand why it’s happening. Of course, the stress of having those symptoms will compound the problem too.

In Your Work
Do you keep making mistakes when you’re stressed? Simple arithmetic can suddenly be impossible to solve. You might struggle to spell words correctly or remember what you went into the room for. Distraction is a big part of stress, but the fight-or-flight response of stress could be the problem here. It can prevent the higher brain function of problem-solving. Adrenaline and the stress hormone cortisol have enormous effects on your body and mind. And none of it feels good.

In Your Muscles
When we are stressed, we tend to suffer pain. While pain might cause stress, it can commonly occur the other way around. This might be due to an increase in blood pressure and the extra tension in muscles. It’s easier to strain muscles when they’re tense too. Remember all those muscle massages you do after a good workout? Now is the time to practice them some more. You can also try a massage therapist to see if different types of massage technique can offer more relief.

In Your Diet
Reaching for the comfort foods is a common habit when we’re under pressure. We feel like we need more energy to cope so we go for the high calorie, high sugar snacks that we ordinarily wouldn’t touch. Unfortunately, this can exacerbate the problem. The excess sugar can make you feel ill, and the extra guilt will make you feel emotionally vulnerable too. If you find yourself binge eating, chances are you’re under a lot of stress. There are better ways to deal with it.

Stress can be relieved in a number of ways. First, try some exercise. This will help eliminate the extra adrenaline from the flight-or-fight response. Try relaxing massages and quiet time. Getting away from the source of the stress can often help relieve it. Finally, try talking to someone about your feelings. Counseling and friendship can be very beneficial here.

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This is a collaborative post and may contain affiliate links.

Yves Saint Laurent: The Perfection of Style

Hello Beautiful People,

Picture perfect weather this weekend. All I wanted to do was to be outside in the garden and play with the family all day.
I wanted to share with you a new exhibition at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) called, Yves Saint Laurent: The Perfection of Stylein the Altria Group Gallery, and New Market Gallery.
The exhibition is only open from May 6, 2017 to August 27, 2017.
Do not wait to see it if you are in the Richmond, Virginia area. You don’t want to miss this rare opportunity to learn about one of the most iconic designers of the mid-to-late twentieth century.

Yves Saint Laurent with Victoire – Preparation of the first collection – december 1961
© Pierre Boulat courtesy Association Pierre & Alexandra Boulat

 Born in Algeria in 1936, Yves Mathieu Saint Laurent came to Paris as a teenager and began his career designing fashion pieces. Saint Laurent at age 18 won the International Wool Secretariat fashion design competition in 1954. He was a genius and as a very young man, he became the lead designer for Christian Dior in the late 1950s. He was very shy, but was very aware of his talent. Saint Laurent is credited as the innovator of the pantsuit for women, the transformation of the trapeze dress; among countless other designs.

The exhibition “includes accessories, photographs, drawings, films, and video from the Fondation’s vast archive. (It) traces the trajectory of Saint Laurent’s style as it developed over the course of his career. Beginning in 1953 with the “Paper Doll Couture House” that he created as a teenager, which is being shown for the first time in the United States in this exhibition. Ensembles early in the exhibition focus on his formative years at the House of Dior, including an example of a short evening dress from his successful “Trapeze” collection, which marked his debut as a fashion designer when it was shown in Paris in 1958.”

Take a look at the Paper doll images in the gallery below.

Various examples of paper dolls, assembled by Yves Saint Laurent, circa 1950. Dolls cut from magazines and glued onto cardboard; garments made of paper cutouts, ink, watercolor, and gouache. Foundation Pierre Bergé -Yves Saint Laurent, Paris.

1971/PE 0247 Yves St. Laurent Collection Board

“Drawn from the archives of the Fondation Pierre Bergé—Yves Saint Laurent and other private collections, this breathtaking exhibition offers an intimate and comprehensive look at the lifetime achievement of Yves Saint Laurent, one of history’s most radical and influential fashion designers. Featuring 100 examples of haute couture and ready-to-wear garments-some never shown publicly before—this exhibition reveals Saint Laurent’s artistic genius, as well as his working process, and the sources of his design inspiration.

The VMFA is the only East Coast venue for the exhibition, which has been organized by the Seattle Art Museum in partnership with the © Fondation Pierre Bergé – Yves Saint Laurent in Paris.”

In the Exhibit Photo: David Stover © Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
May 2, 2017
Gallery views of Yves Saint Laurent: The Perfection of Style
May 6, 2017 – August 27, 2017
Altria Group Gallery, NewMarket Gallery

The exhibit is an open window into the world of Yves Saint Laurent, showing design sketches and fabric swatches with the finished product.

My favorites from the exhibition:
Mondrain designs are timeless classics. The dress below can be worn in any decade.

Hommage to Piet Mondrian, Yves Saint Laurent (French, 1936-2008), Cocktail dress. Wool jersey with ivory, black, blue, red, and yellow incrustations. © Fondation Pierre Bergé -Yves Saint Laurent, Paris. Photo Alexandre Guirkinger.

View of the Mondrian cocktail dress in the exhibit.

There is nothing more flattering then ruffled detail in the back of this Yves Saint Laurent gown.  The sky blue brightens everyones complexion.

Yves Saint Laurent (French, 1936-2008). Spring-Summer 1981 haute couture collection. Blue silk taffeta gown with train and white silk taffeta flounces; trimmed with black braiding. © Fondation Pierre Bergé – Yves Saint Laurent, Paris. Photo: Sophie Carre.

The iconic trapeze dress from the Trapeze collection when Saint Laurent was designing for the house of Christian Dior.
The Trapeze design has been an inspiration to many designers through the years because it flatters a woman’s body, and gives a relaxed fit. Saint Laurent took Dior’s design and radically updated it with a fresh look.

Elephant Blanc, Yves Saint Laurent, short evening dress. Spring-Summer 1958 Yves Saint Laurent for Christian Dior haute couture collection, known as the Trapeze Collection. Trapeze dress of white tulle embroidered with silver metallic thread and rhinestones. © Foundation Pierre Bergé – Yves Saint Laurent, Paris. Photo: Alexandre Guirkinger.

Another favorite is the dress below, which shows women speaking out how they feel and being liberated and making sure that that the ring stays on that finger forever.

Yves Saint Laurent (French, 1936-2008). Fall-Winter 1970 haute couture collection. Multicolored silk velvet coat with appliqué letters forming the words, “Love me forever” on front and “or never on back; various shapes in multicolored silk. Fondation Pierre Berge -Yves Saint Laurent, Paris.

The First Pantsuit

The First Pantsuit, Yves Saint Laurent (French 1936- 2008), worn by Ulla. Fall-Winter 1966 haute couture collection. Foundation Pierre Berge -Yves Saint Laurent, Paris, Photo: Gerard Pataa.

I had to show the menswear inspired suit I mention earlier, which can be worn everyday for work or play. The bow in Ulla’s (the model) hair, and the bow in the white collared shirt gives a feminine touch.

Yves Saint Laurent: The Perfection of Style exhibition allows the visitor to get into the world of one of fashion’s most iconic designers for the first time.
Remember the exhibit closes August 27, 2017, enjoy and be inspired.

Here is a quick look at some of the garments from the exhibition.

* I would like to say “Thank You” to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts for providing me with the images and background information on the Yves Saint Laurent: The Perfection of Style exhibition.

 

Happy Birthday Vinny 2017!

Happy Birthday Vinny!

Today we celebrate the birthday of Vincenzo “Vinny” Adonis Tiny Tuxedo! Our little Vinny has grown into a sweet and lovable collie. Back in 2007, when our collie, Israel, crossed over the rainbow bridge, our life felt incomplete. My wife had grown up with collies and she knew that she always wanted one in her life. We had wanted to bring another collie in our family, but it proved to be difficult to find one in our area. In the fall of that year, I had been searching the classified ads and found a collie breeder who had a couple of collie puppies available. After telling her we were looking for a tri-collie, she sent us a photo of “Tiny Tuxedo”, shown below. Who could resist such a cute face!

The face we fell in love with!

 

After deciding we had to have “Tiny Tuxedo” in our family, my wife and I travelled over four hours to meet the little guy and his family. Not to far from the Quad-Cities, we found ourselves in the middle of nowhere in northwest Illinois at a farm with collies everywhere — Lassie collies, tri-collies, short-haired collies, and blue-merle collies. It was amazing to see so many collies at one time. “Tiny Tuxedo” took to us immediately. He melted our hearts and we knew he was the right one for us. We brought him home and named him Vincenzo Adonis. Vincenzo because we have a desire to visit to Italy and Adonis because he is such a pretty boy. We call him Vinny!

He has grown into a sweet, adorable and kind dog. He loves his big brother Gio and follows him everywhere. He is loyal and devoted to his humans. He is compassionate and knows when we need some doggie love and attention. has He enjoys being outside; chasing squirrels and barking at everyone. He is not fond of thunderstorms and loud noises; but that doesn’t stop him from enjoying life and bringing joy to our life.

If you looking for a dog breed that is kind and gentle; sweet and devoted; full of life and excitement; you will want to consider a collie. Vinny is proof that you will not find a better breed. He is a dog that works well for any family

 

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Important Care Tips For First-Time Puppy Owners

When you bring a puppy home for the first time, all you’ll want to do is shower them with affection, or just sit back and watch their funny antics. Though puppies are certainly very cute, caring for one properly is no walk in the park (pun intended!) If you’re going to be bringing a puppy home in the near future, here are some important tips for being the best owner you can be…

Vinny having fun in the backyard!

Get Housetraining Done ASAP
Puppies, unfortunately, aren’t all that receptive to wearing diapers, so housetraining should certainly be a priority once they’re part of the family. While there’s a lot of helpful advice out there for housetraining, there’s no really easy way around it. It’s going to take a lot of patience, positive reinforcement and planning. It’s also not a bad idea to stock up on carpet cleaning supplies, as there are going to be accidents here and there. Until your puppy’s been vaccinated, it’s best to find a spot outdoors that’s inaccessible, or near enough, for other animals. This will help to reduce the chances of any viruses and diseased spreading. When they do their business outside, be sure to give a lot of positive reinforcement, and try to refrain from scolding him or her when they have any accidents indoors. This isn’t as helpful as it was once believed.

Feed Them Right
Like a child, your puppy’s body is going to be developing in some very important ways in these early years, which is why it’s important to pick out food that’s made especially for them. Start reading up on the nutritional requirements for your puppy, and checking the packaging to make sure you’re getting the best food for them. The best treats for puppies can also be very useful for reinforcing good behavior! While small and medium sized breeds of dog can start eating adult food after they’re roughly a year old, larger ones should generally stick to junior food until they reach the age of 2. You also need to be feeding them more frequently than you would a grown dog when they’re younger. From 6 to 12 weeks, puppies should eat 4 meals per day. From 3 to 6 months, this should go down to 3, and finally to 2 when they’re roughly a year old.

Teach Them Obedience
As cute as puppies can be, they’re also very naughty! If you don’t make a point to teach them obedience when the dog is still young, you’ll only be leaving space for more serious obedience problems in the future. Teach them good manners now, on the other hand, and you’ll ensure a lifetime of great social interaction. Furthermore, going through the rhythms of obedience training will bring you and your puppy closer together, and form a stronger bond, which is especially important when they’re young. Getting your puppy to sit, lie down, etc. on command will not only be a lot of fun, but will also help to keep the dog safe and under control in situations where they need it.

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This is a collaborative post and may contain affiliate links.

Common Summertime Issues Affecting Dogs

All pet owners will want to make sure their animals spend as much time as possible outside this summer. The hot weather has arrived, and most of us humans are melting in the heat. Just imagine how uncomfortable you would feel wearing a fur coat right now. It doesn’t bear thinking about, does it? Well, your dog is dressed in a jacket of that nature all the time. So, you need to ensure you don’t leave it cooped up inside the house. That just isn’t fair. However, there are many issues you could face if you allow your canine to spend most of their time outside. I’m going to discuss some of the most common ones in this article so you can prepare. Don’t worry about anything. There is always a solution.

Dogs become too hot in the sun
As I have just explained, it makes sense that your dog is going to feel too hot if they spend a lot of time outside. Shaving their coat isn’t a reasonable option, so you have to use your head. If you plan to leave your dog in the garden for any length of time, you have to ensure there is a shaded area. If you don’t have any trees your friend can hide underneath, just try to create something. Hanging washing on your line could solve the problem in most instances. Whatever you decide, just create an area in which your dog can get themselves out of direct sunlight. If you do that, you shouldn’t have too many problems.

Dogs can become dehydrated
Massive increases in body temperature can make a dog dehydrated. When that happens, they can become ill fast. So, you need to ensure there is always water available for your pooch. It’s sensible to place their bowl in the shaded area you’ve created. That way, you will help to point the dog in the right direction. If you think your dog has become ill due to a lack of water, you need to encourage them to drink as much as possible. That is the case, even if it means pouring the liquid into their mouth. You can usually tell if your dog needs a drink by touching his or her nose. If it’s wet, they’re probably okay.

Dogs can pick up ticks and other infestations
During the summertime, it’s sensible to keep some tick medicine for dogs at home. That is because your animal might spend time rolling around in the long grass. When they do that, it’s possible they will attract unwanted insects and bugs. An infestation can start from a single tick, and so it’s not worth taking the risk. If you know your dog has spent hours lying on the grass, you should give them some medication as a precaution. It’s relatively safe, and so you shouldn’t have any issues. If you do have any concerns, just consult your vet and ask for advice.

Hopefully, the information on this page will help to guarantee your dog remains a happy chap this summer. At the end of the day, you just have to use some common sense. You wouldn’t leave a child outside in the sun without shade and enough water. So, make sure you apply the same logic to your animals. They are living creatures too, and you don’t want them to become ill.

 

FTC Disclaimer:
This is a collaborative post and may contain affiliate links.

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