Claws In The Floor

By S.D. Craig…….
or is it by her dog Nikki?

S.D.Craig responds to the article in Dinky Dog and Me

Don’t make me do it.  I’m a dog.  Name’s Nikki.

I’m here to tell you all, I don’t want to go these places SHE takes me.  I am content to lie on my butt, growing wider and surveying life at large from the couch.  Yeah, that’s a pun.  So what?  Like I said, I’m a dog, not a writer.

A Pomeranian to be specific.  At 11 lbs. 4 oz., I’m a furball and a spitfire.  Well, I used to be a spitfire before a certain “ahem” operation a few years back.  Now, I’ve become like a smoker gone bad, quit the habit but gained weight.  Yes, you know the type.  Always excuses.  Need I say more?

However, I do feel adored, if not left behind one time too many on the weekends around this place.  HE pets me and lets me lick his hands and talks to me in that special voice.  You know the one.

“Oh, you’re such a dog.  Such a dog,” as he pets my belly and scratches me in all the right places.  He calls me funny names and, come to think of it, they each have their own set of these names for moi.  To her I’m female ones like Snickerdoodle, Nikkipoo, Nik (when she’s a bit tense that time of month.  HE calls me really weird ones like Dogster, OHyou’reAdog and Dogsbreath.

SHE has a hissy fit if I lick.  She likes to be clean and showers twice a day.  Shhh, don’t tell her I said so.  I must be precious and cute because SHE buys me expensive food and then, need I mention, takes me to the groomer once a month where I need it or not.  I’d rather the OR NOT part.

Claws in the floor.  That’s me.  I don’t like visiting sterile places, with slick shiny floors and antiseptic-smelling devices and computers.  SHE’s got a computer at home and that’s enough for me to get sick about.  That’s another dog tale.  Later.

But when it comes to visiting the bath place or the vet, I stick those claws out and down hard.  Still trying to figure out why they don’t work like ABS brakes on a Subaru, though.  Somehow, I’m always going where I don’t want to go.  I wish SHE’d take the hint.  SHE never takes me to, say the pool when she swim laps, where I could feast my lovely brown eyes on some little Poodle FeFe, or to the market, where I can sniff new foods and pick up bits on the floor.

Someone needs to warn this woman.  Dogs CAN run away.  Claws or not.

Signed,

Clawed In San Diego

SD Craig is a freelance writer and editor of LovingYourCurves.com and was given the nickname “Chatterbox” by fellow writers. At age fifty, Craigs Southern flair and sense of humor give her plenty to write about with a rapier wit and a wacky outlook. Her articles on body image (her biggest passion), marriage/divorce and relationships, family, friends, career issues, computers, the Internet, horses, baseball, movie reviews and writing tips remind one of Erma Bombeck or Dave Barry. A freelance writer who once juggled five columns then got real, Craig welcomes your e-mails and feedback on her articles. Drop her a hello at sdcraig922@yahoo.com or stop by www.lovingyourcurves.com.

Beauty Goes Skin Deep

Ten Minutes A Day Keeps Those Wrinkles At Bay
By Diana Dudas

Our skin like other body parts is not invincible, when it comes to being susceptible to damage. As it is necessary to get monthly haircuts and weekly manicures as part of your grooming regime it should also be a necessity and not a luxury to take care of the most important organ of your body, the skin. And the time to start doing that is now.

Too young to care

It may seem unimportant to contemplate doing anything about your complexions before reaching your thirties. However it is in our twenties that the effects of aging begin to be visible in our complexion. As we mature, biochemical changes occur in elastin and collagen, the connective tissues that give skin it�s firmness and elasticity. Genetics also play a part in this, which is why these changes occur at different times in different people.

As skin becomes less elastic, it also becomes drier, and the fat padding begins to disappear. This causes the skin to sag and look less supple. Ultimately wrinkles will appear. Then one day, after glancing in the mirror you suddenly notice those crows feet creeping in around the corners of your immaculately decorated eyelids, or you notice that your lip potions have sadly waded into the spider like crevices above the lips. It is normally then, when decisions are made to go out and get a miracle cream or maybe a facial. Aging can be slowed down, and you can do your part to promote a younger complexion even as you mature. All it takes is a little TLC, but start NOW! The sooner you start to nurture your skin the more chance you have of a age-less complexion. All it takes is a short monthly visit to a skin care specialist, or a few minutes a day, taking care of your skin at home.

Skin care starts at home

Enjoying a monthly facial is an excellent idea. Having your, face, neck and shoulders massaged for an hour and a half will most definitely put you into a state of euphoria and your skin will feel revitalized and renewed. And for those of you who haven�t got time for a full treatment, you will be pleased to know that the New York style facial is now available, which takes only 15 minutes, perfect for a quick lunch hour treat. Making time for a facial is important, but more so it is of the utmost importance to maintain this caring act at home. Your skin needs twice daily nurturing to keep it clean, moist and protected and it only takes ten minutes a day.

Easy as ABC

A good skin care regime is neither complicated nor laborious. A quick 1, 2, 3 step is a great start. This means a twice daily cleansing, toning and moisturizing. it only takes 5 minutes each time, that�s just 10 minutes a day.

Cleanse: Use a liquid, cream or foam cleanser. And gently massage your face to remove all dirt and make-up. Then rinse. Do not use soaps as they can be overly drying and also clog pores.
Tone: After cleansing saturate a cotton pad, and stoke over face and neck, this will work to remove the last traces of cleanser and also close your pores.
Moisturize: Apply your cream with upward motions to both the face and neck. Avoid eye area.

This is all you need to get you well on your way to a healthy and more radiant complexion.

You’re only young once!

This might be the case, however there is absolutely nothing wrong from being in denial of your age for as long as you fell fit!
For those concerned about skin maturity or maybe suffer with problem skin there are extra steps that you can take to ensure healthy skin.

A weekly exfoliation will uncover fresh new layers of skin. Look for exfoliators that contain enzymes as these will dissolve dead skin cells without being too abrasive. This will give your skin a healthy glow.
For optimum results, immediately after using your exfoliator, apply a masque . Check the ingredient lists for anti-inflammatory agents such as cucumber or chamomile, these will work to calm and soothe your skin, so that it emerges, refreshed,, refined and revitalized. Always a good thing!

Obviously the more you care for our skin, the better you are going to look. And that alone will give you a new lease of life. There are also eye creams and gels that reduce fine lines and firm the area around the eye. Thus helping to prevent further wrinkles.

Doctor my Eyes!

Eye crèmes are a vital part of your skin care regime. The skin around your eyes is much finer than the rest of your face and body and cannot absorb a heavy moisturizer. If you were to compare the thickness of skin on the various parts of our body to paper. The delicate eye area, would be like tissue paper, the face like writing paper, and the neck and body like wrapping paper this is why it is important to use lighter crèmes that are specifically made for the delicate eye area. If you were to apply your usual facial moisturizer to the eye area, the moisturizer would have no where to go, and would in fact create puffy, baggy eyes. Also for the same reasons never use eye crèmes on the eyelid before going to sleep. However you can use an eye gel sparingly under the eye area.

Going below and beyond

Once you have achieved your basic skin care regime, your skin will be like a clean canvas ready to absorb all the nutrients found in anti-aging formulas. These include products containing liposomes, night crèmes and also serums. When crèmes containing liposomes are applied to the skin, the liposomes are deposited on the skin and begin to merge with the cellular membranes and then release their active ingredients. Serums go one step further, they are able to penetrate below the skin wall and attach themselves to emerging skin cells promoting healthy new skin cells. Serums come in the form of droplets and are applied sparingly under your moisturizer.

What to look for

The thought of shopping for skin care items can tedious and knowing which ingredients to look is daunting, so here are a few suggestions of what ingredients to look for when starting your skin care regime. When choosing your cleanser toner and moisturizer look for the following ingredients, which will vary depending on your skin type:

Dull dry skin� oxygenating essential oils including: Peppermint, Geranium, Rosemary, Cyprus, Thyme, Anise and Cinnamon

Oily or acne prone skin�anti-bacterial and oil blotting extracts including: Camphor, Eucalyptus Oil, and Witch hazel

Mature Skin�Liposomes, serums. Sunflower, jojoba and hazelnut are rich lubricants.

Exfoliators�ENZYMES are the gentlest and yet most effective form of exfoliation. Papaya being the most effective

Once you start on the road to good skin care, your skin will crave it. Remember, a good diet, exercise and drinking lots of water will also help improve your complexion. With just ten minutes a day you will soon see results and others will also notice.

So start your twice daily skin care regime and , when you just don�t feel like it, remember just 10 minutes a day keeps those winkles at bay.

If you have any questions on skin care please email dudasdiana @ aol.com
Or for product questions email alkemiskincare @ aol.com

Author Diana Dudas G.C.H.S.R.H. is an expert with more than 28 years experience in the beauty industry. She has answered over 2000 questions for allexperts.com and has had her work published in many well-respected beauty magazines both online and off.