The Kiss and Cry Spectacular

The 2010 Winter Olympics starts soon. In 1994, 16 years ago, my husband and I traveled to Norway to witness this multi sporting event. When we walked off the train and a reporter asked me who I worked for and about fell over when I said we were on our own dime, I should known something was unusual.

The Olympics is not just an athletic event for the athletes, but for fans like us it is an endurance event. Bracing the cold to stand on top of the snow for hours as a skier swooshes past. Up predawn to take a series of buses to sit in a cold ice arena, or to climb to the top of the luge or bobsled course. How about sitting outside in the cold to watch award ceremonies and then getting back to your room at midnight with a predawn trek the next day? It was the one vacation when I wore all the clothes I packed and actually tried to wear them all at one time it was that cold. It was also the one vacation where I lost weight not even watching what I ate because of the physical exertion, the cold or the fatigue, or all together!

The Olympics are exciting and I am glad we did this once in a lifetime vacation. This year in Vancouver, the weather may not be as cold as Norway was but the logistics will be the same. Getting from point A to point B on time is an Olympic achievement. The excitement is always there and seeing great athletes is a wonderful treat. In Norway they opened up one side of one of the mountains for skiing to the public and we rented skis and hit the Olympic slopes. It was a humbling eye opener to ski down and see 10,000 people milling around and looking at you. I have skied the mountains in Vancouver for this Olympics and hope they open some runs for tourists to get the first-hand thrill of victory or the agony of defeat.

This year like most people, I will watch the Olympics from the warmth and comfort of my home. I will be judging the skaters costumes, make-up, as well as their skills on the rink. I will be listening to the commentaries on the skiing events and cheering the underdog teams, or participants that always arise from the winter Olympics.

As far as the kiss and cry corner for the skating events, I think it is just another aspect that makes the winter Olympics so special. Waiting to see your scores while trying to catch your breath with hundreds of cameras trained on you could make anyone cry. Sweating while everyone else is trying to stay warm while maintaining a cool confident manner sounds like menopause.

Yes one more example of how menopause symptoms can be found anywhere to anyone, even Olympic athletes!

The Menopausal Woman and Family Reunions and Class Reunions After a Few Decades

Summer brings reunions for many people. That happy time when folks you haven’t seen in decades converge together.
Spend vacation time at a family reunion that often is in country, meaning usually not at a resort, a beach, or even close to a major airport. What about the class reunion picnic on a hot August afternoon? Mustering up good cheer for an entire week-end can be taxing.

A typical conversation at a family reunion:
You: Hello Aunt Mitty, Nice to see you again. I am Bob’s Wife.
AM: Bill’s boy Bobbie?
You: Yes, that’s right. You are looking well.
AM: It’s nice to meet you. You are so much prettier than Bobbie’s first wife.
You: I am Bob’s first wife. It has been over 25 years since I have seen you.
AM: Bobbie’s wife had red hair and was really fat.
You: Well I was 7 months pregnant with twins.
AM: Twins? There are no twins in our family. Where are those twins?
You: They are 25 and working and couldn’t take time off.
AM: Bobbie’s first wife was really mean; she would have made those kids come to a family reunion.
You: You’re right. Oh look there is Bobbie!

A High School reunion has its own set of issues. First is the dress. Finding a dress that looks fantastic is quite an achievement regardless if it is your own reunion or your spouse or partners’.
Most reactions from people who go to reunions say that at the 20th the women look great and the men look very different from High School. At the 30th the men are starting to look OK and the women are not. What happened? Menopause! At the 40th, good thing name tags are required for everyone. Some participants will cut out the picture from their High School Yearbook on their name tag. Not such a bad idea. Another good idea is to go with a friend that you have kept up with since High School.

Here is a typical conversation at Your own High School Reunion:
You: Oh My God!!! Chrissy Brown!! I’d recognize you anywhere!!! So glad to see you! You look fantastic!!!! Ahhhh, you haven’t changed much at all!!!
CB: Ummm, Hi. I’m Sorry; I don’t know who you are. Where is your name tag?
You: It’s me, LeeLee. (notice no recognition). LeeLee Bowing. (You start pounding your chest), You always sat behind me in classes when in alphabetical order and home room!
CB: Oh Yes, LeeLee. I go by ‘Christine’.
You: (noticing she does not seem very thrilled to see you after all these years) Where do you live? What have you been doing for the last several decades? Wow do you remember homeroom teacher Mrs. Foley!
CB: Oh look the line is short for the bar, later!
You: (I never really liked her.)

Best Ever Blueberry Muffins

In launching our new web site, we did a new model shoot. Our goal is to have a lifestyle look to our photos. Our models of course look fantastic! I am so lucky to have these great women friends in my life wanting and willing to model for our business. Take a look and let me know what you think.

In our photos are blueberry muffins that I made for the shoot. They are blueberries from our garden and I think they look terrific. I have received many questions about the muffins. I am flattered, here is my recipe that you too could enjoy while lounging and looking very cool in Haralee® sleepwear:

Haralee’s Blueberry Muffins

1¾ Cup Sifted All Purpose Flour
½ Cup Sugar
1 Tablespoon Baking Powder
½ teaspoon Salt
1 Egg, lightly beaten
¾ Cup Milk
¼ Cup Canola Oil
1 Cup Blueberries
2 Tablespoon Sugar

Grease or use paper bake cups for 12 muffin tins or 24 mini muffin tin
Sift the first 4 dry ingredients together into a large bowl
Mix the oil, milk and egg together and pour into dry ingredients
Stir only until moist, and add blueberries
Pour into prepared muffin cups, and sprinkle the remaining sugar on top
Bake 400º for 12-18 minutes. Less time for the mini muffins.

Sleep Number Restless Mattresses

Recently my sister and I went away for the week-end. We booked 2 nights in a hotel that had sleep number beds. This wasn’t the reason we booked this hotel, it was all about location for us, but what the heck try something new.

Our huge lovely room had 2 queen size beds. Each bed had 2 controls for the mattress; one for the right and one for the left sides of the bed. I was enjoying playing with the firmness and flopping from side to side to feel the difference. It was comparable to jumping up and down on beds when we were kids. I had a great first night sleep, and was planning on my sleep numbers for the next night.

My sister did not have a restful night sleep. Her bed was like a rock on one side and squishy soft on the other. She tossed and turned and slept fitfully all night. Over coffee as I was praising the mattress, she sat on my bed then on hers and asked me to do the same. After we finished our 3 bears routine, I looked at her numbers. My sister then put on her reading glasses and realized her mistake. With-out wearing her readers the numbers were not clear and hence her mistake. The problem was her menopausal eyesight robbing her from a good night sleep!

Note to others: Put on your reading glasses when operating a sleep number mattress!

Mouseopause can help world hunger

From the files of odd science comes news about a benefit from menopause. No Minnie mouse is not in menopause and her voice has come down a notch, although she is old enough. This mouseopause is accelerated menopause in mice to render them infertile and keep their population down.

Before anyone cries about killing mice, rodents are not really killed. Their life span by induced menopause reduces the rodent population. Rodents can eat or damage 50% of pre-harvest rice crops. To countries that depend on rice as a staple food supply this is devastating.

Scientist Loretta Mayer from Northern Arizona University has developed this nontoxic environmentally neutral approach. If the rodent population can be reduced and rice production was to increase by 10%, “this could feed about 380 million people a year,” says Loretta. A side note: Loretta is age appropriate to understand the complexities of menopause, and coined the word mouseopause.
http://x-journals.com/2009/discovery-could-help-feed-millions/

It is a great discovery that the world can benefit from the science of menopause. Researchers were initially looking at potential damage to women exposed to certain chemicals. Chemicals involved with manufacturing rubber tires, polyester and plastics in nontoxic doses turned out to be the key to mouseopause. Who would have thought that a discovery with menopause could help with world hunger!

Bone Loss, Osteoporosis and Periodontitis

Everyone or almost everyone knows that menopause can cause bone loss which can lead to osteoporosis. Some people, women in particular who are slim, small boned, Caucasian and blue eyed may be more prone to osteoporosis. Chemotherapy is notorious for causing bone loss as a side effect.

What many people don’t know about is the relationship between bone loss and periodontitis. Dentists have recognized this for years. They haven’t been keeping it a secret at all. In fact according to the ‘American Academy of Periodontology’ mild to moderate periodontitis affects a majority of adults. Overtime infection can cause inflammation in the bone causing it to erode and undermine the attachment of teeth. In other words your smile starts to look rather wobbly and your teeth could fall out. More reason not to miss a visit to the Dentist.

Dr. Wang of UCLA is doing some great molecular science with finding ways to nudge cells to make new bones. In a paper in the on-line edition of the Journal of ‘Nature Medicine’, the dental and medical communities involved in bone loss are calling this a “landmark paper”.

We can do weight bearing exercise for our body’s bones, but what about the bones in mouth? Dr. Wang is giving hope for the millions who struggle with osteoporosis and periodontitis every day. Look Mom no Periodontitis!
http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/article/21188

Summer Fashion Tips for the Heat Challenged Woman

Summer is here and with the economy and energy conscious measures, it means a very hot summer for many. Women who are having hot flashes are already challenged from the heat. They are having their own personal summer everyday, no need to exasperate it with 80º temperatures and humidity. The question to be answered is how to stay cool, and look cool while at work or play. Here are my suggestions:

Tip #1:
Get a good night sleep. Invest in a moisture wicking sleepwear wardrobe. You are not going to be fresh in the morning if you are sleep deprived from waking up several times during the night in a puddle and have to change your pajamas, nightgown, pillowcase or sheets. Buy more than one piece so you can do laundry. I recommend http://www.haralee.com/.

Tip #2:
Wear sleeveless. Forget about your arms not being toned or tanned. This is summer! Have a sweater or jacket that you can easily slip on when needing to appear professional, but take that baby off when ever possible. Spray tan your arms and legs or use tanning creams available every where.

Tip #3:
Drink iced drinks only. Keep some cool water at your ready at all times. If you start going into a flash, gently press an ice cube at the back of your neck. As tempting as it seems, do not put an ice cube into your bra. The melting may cause a water spot on your sleeveless top.

Tip #4:
Wear open toed shoes if your company allows it. Sandals are even better if you can get away with it. Do not wear hose. Younger women never wear hose so stay cool and ditch the hosiery for the summer.

Tip #5:
Do not wear any clothes that are tight or snug. Look for tops made from moisture wicking fabric. This doesn’t mean you have to go all baggy. Loose fitting clothes just don’t stick to your body as easily as the snug or tight clothes.

Tip #6:
Entertain going commando. Don’t loose the bra (invest in a moisture wicking bra) unless you have perky implants, but do you really need another layer under your trousers or skirt?


Good luck staying cool.

It is so Cool to be a Hot Menopausal Woman Today

Who knew going through menopause was going to make you cool, hip and very today? I just thought I was hot, but now I know I am HOT!

Have you watched ‘The View’ recently? Whoopi and Joy are always fanning themselves, the international sign of a hot flash. Oprah does not admit to being hot but her BFF Gail is really the picture of today’s hot woman.

Fashion has become the dearest friend of the menopausal woman. Sleeveless is in and hose and socks are out. Wicking fabric is made into lots of styles out side of exercise wear so now we can look fashionable and stay cool.

If these aren’t enough reasons to know you are cool, Jack in the Box has a commercial targeting us. There is a slight chance that Jack in the Box is making fun of us, but who cares! Take a look at this video and have a laugh. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUYhcYw1ksw

Menopause Madness and The Pillsbury Bake Off

Call it a Menopausal madness moment, but I thought I should enter the Pillsbury Bake Off. This, as it turns out, has not been my most astute commitment. I just got swept up in the excitement of the $1,000,000.00 prize that in 2008 went to the recipe for a peanut butter cookie. Let me say this again, A Peanut Butter Cookie, worth a $1,000,000.00!

As in many cooking contests, you must use their ingredients, follow their rules, and make an original recipe. Doesn’t sound too difficult right? This is Pillsbury with a zillion products to concoct a tasty innovative delicious recipe. I mean for the Pete’s sake, a peanut butter cookie won!

Three weeks later and my family, friends and co-workers are pleading with me to stop trying to develop a new recipe. They don’t want to taste test anymore. Keep in mind these are recipes that actually made it to the tasting phase. I had several attempts that went right into the garbage.

I have honed in on what I think is the winner. $1,000,000.00 will be mine in 2010. That’s right; the PBO is just every other year. http://www.pillsbury.com . This process has given me great respect for recipe developers. I know now why they spit out after they taste test, it can be fattening. A million dollars takes work and effort and some spitting too. Look for Brownie Biscookie Bars in 2010 by the menopausal mad woman!

Michelle Obama as a Role Model

I like Michelle Obama. She comes across, smart, savvy, grounded, a sense of humor, and very connected to her role in history. She has an athletic sense of style. That style is a great role model for women of all ages.

Then there is the subject of Michelle’s arms. A lot has been said and written about her athletic, toned arms that she shows by wearing sleeveless. I think it is great that she shows off her arms while being comfortable under hot lights and nervous situations. Isn’t it about time that as a country we can say to all women, take off your jacket or sweater, your sweat shirt or suit coat and be cool! As menopausal women in the work force, let’s take the cue from the First Lady and show off our arms, toned or bat wings, in the name of democracy and coolness.

You don’t see Michelle showing a lot of cleavage, or looking matronly. I really like the no cleavage look. Too many celebrities show way too much bosom to be considered role models. Other women in the public eye go to the fashion extreme and look too drab in dark colors and tailored styles. Michelle wears dresses! In the last few years, trying to find a dress (age appropriate) at let’s say Nordstrom has been equivalent to going on a treasure hunt. I am hoping Michelle Obama brings back the popularity of the dress, with sleeves or not, as her husband brings back the economy so we can all afford to buy one .This is the ‘official’ picture of our first lady, Michelle Obama.

Menopause Barbie

The Barbie Doll turns 50.
2009 is turning into an interesting year, full of milestones. One of these milestones is The Barbie Doll will be 50 years old. Ken, Barbie’s long term boyfriend is only 48. Who knew that Barbie liked younger guys?
Actually Barbie and Ken were named after the children of Mattel founder Ruth Handler.
When Ruth and her husband introduced Barbie at the International Toy Show in 1959, toy stores were not excited. Consumers loved Barbie and as they say, the rest is history.

Ruth was 42 when she introduced this controversial doll, a doll with breasts. Another first for Mattel, with Ruth at the helm, was to buy 52 weeks, 1 year of advertising on the TV show, the Mickey Mouse Club. One year of advertising toys directly to the demographic who could make their wishes known had not been done before. TV itself was in its infancy, but Ruth and her husband Elliot saw the potential.

Ruth Handler who died in 2002 at age 85 was an admirable business woman. She combined business, Motherhood and being a wife in a time when women were not encouraged to work outside of their homes. What genius to name her doll toys after her children. What PR savvy to partner with her husband but confident enough to be the spokesperson for their toy company. At age 51 Ruth introduced Hot Wheels. This toy’s success rivaled Barbie’s for boys. Menopause in the work place didn’t stop Ruth Handler from success, nor does it appear to stop her creation, the Barbie Doll.

This doll could be called ‘Hot Flash Barbie’ or ‘Menopause Barbie at age 50. Looking at her founder, I think Barbie has a great future ahead of her. Mattel, which the Handler family sold in the 70’s, had a bad fourth quarter for 2008. Can the Golden Anniversary Barbie bear the financial pressure for the entire company? She is being sold for $3.00, the same price as 50 years ago. If you look at Barbie from the late 80’s forward, she now smiles. She is feeling confident, she looks great!

Menopausal Eyesight

My menopausal eyes are now 100% in corrective lenses With Bifocals!
My eyes are too dry to wear my contacts. They stick to my eyeballs and no amount of drops is helping me get them out easily.

I get very anxious when I can not remove my contact lenses. I am frustrated with having to whip out my readers to read. I am tired of buying readers by the gross and still have to launch a search only to locate just one pair. I am sick of squinting at documents to make out what is written. I am fed up with comments about font size directed toward me. I now say what is the point? I just wear my damn glasses!

I see so much clearer with my glasses that it has depressed me. With-out any corrective lenses, my skin looks to have no wrinkles. My make-up looks flawless. My hair appears shiny and lustrous. My house never needs dusting and my floors look clean. I don’t see fingerprints on the kitchen appliances or the computer screens or smudges on the windows.

When I put on my glasses with the bifocals, I see reality. I see wrinkles and some needed blending in my make-up application and the use of additional hair mousse. The house and office that seemed so spotless is another illusion to my corrected vision.

Reality can be an illusion and the secret to the menopausal eyesight blues;
No corrective lenses are the way to go for everything to look fabulous. For the 2 of you who don’t need any vision correction, or those who had the Lasik, and still don’t need readers,
I say good for you!

Voting Hot Flashes

A friend of mine in another state told me she votes by mail because while in the voting booth, she gets a wee bit anxious and her anxiety triggers hot flashes.

Here in the state of Oregon, all voting is done by mail. Don’t want to mail your ballot, drop off boxes are located at libraries. In tallying up the ballots, many of the workers wear gloves because some of the ballots are covered with food. Some of the ballots are hard to read because of coffee stains. The ballots come out 2 weeks before the election and people are at their leisure casting their vote. This is code for they may be eating at the same time.

My friend thinks Oregon is on to some thing great with their vote by mail. I personally miss the excitement of voting in person. I would suffer a day full of hot flashes to go to a voting booth. I always wanted to be one of those ladies outside the voting booth who takes your ballot. They always looked like they were having fun, eating cookies and coffee and talking with each other. They would scornfully look up the precinct when people didn’t know where to vote. I was asked once with perfect scorn “you don’t know what precinct you are in?” Oh how I wanted that job!

Unless I move to another State or Oregon goes back to voting in person, my life career goal is gone, obsolete. The best I can do is stand in front of a drop off box sipping coffee eating cookies and hope someone will ask me the location of the box so I can make some scornful reply!

Menopause Movie Stardom

Did you ever want to be in the movies? Who hasn't had a bit of a fantasy to see yourself on the big screen, with gorgeous backgrounds, or exotic locations, costumes and make-up that make you look like a real live movie star? Yes fantasies are great.

Reality is more like in the movie Tootsie when they scream "Not too close" for the camera work in shooting Dustin Hoffman as Tootsie. This week I was able to participate in some of the fun of movie making. Hot Flash Havoc, http://www.hotflashhavoc.com/, is the name of the film being made that I was privileged to be a part of. Since it is in documentary style, I am playing myself, a middle age menopause woman. My naturopathic physician friend Kelly Jennings, http://www.urbanwellnesspdx.com/, is also interviewed and filmed. Kelly treats effectively, and patiently many women with menopause and breast cancer symptoms. She is also young, smart and gorgeous! So my close up is Kelly giving me an acupuncture treatment. Yes indeed, I am the woman in repose with acupuncture needles all over her face, head and neck!

I was also interviewed about my story, the breast cancer/menopause/entrepreneur connection. This film has a fantastic concept; educate and entertain about the condition called Menopause. The movie is still in production and I will blog about it again, and again as the release date becomes closer.

Wedding $eason

August brings many weddings. As a woman in her 40’s, 50’s and 60’s you may have several invitations from friends and friends’ children. The questions arrive, “How many marriages, after the FIRST do I have to buy a gift for, and do I have to attend?” “What if I don’t go, am I off the hook for a present?”

Of course everyone wishes the best for everyone. What if it is only the second or third marriage in let’s say three decades, is a gift really necessary if the invitation does not state ‘no gifts’ if you have already attended one or more wedding for this person?

Then what about the destination wedding? Take your vacation time and money to share in the ceremony at a favorite spot of the newlyweds, most likely some place exotic. If you don’t make it to the destination, there usually is another reception for everyone who did not attend. Do you have to go to both? Is that 2 Gifts?

I have a friend who does not send a gift until after a year of marriage. She has been burned too many times with the marriage being called off or ending in months. She does not differentiate between the first and the sixth wedding; everyone gets a gift after a year unless they state ‘no gifts’. This same generous person draws the line to donations in the happy couple’s name to their designated charity. She has her own favorite charities that she gives donations and that’s where her gift in the happy couple’s name goes.

This August I have a wedding for a friend. It is her fourth wedding. She doesn’t count one because it was over in months, but I was there, and to the bridal shower too! I tried to reason with her, pleading that she doesn’t need gifts. Her answer like many brides and grooms is that it is a fresh start with this person to their new life together. She sold her house, he sold his, and together they bought a new home that they are just setting up, blah, blah, blah. I know I sound cynical, but we all would like new towels and kitchen ware every decade, but make your friends buy them for you again!

This August I have a wedding for a friend’s son. It is his second, but the bride’s first, so of course gifts are expected. This same friend is making a 60th wedding anniversary party for her parents the same week-end. They are moving into a retirement community. The invitation did not say ‘No Gifts”. I like this friend, I like her son and I like her parents. I have known them for over 25 years and wish them all well. It is going to be an expensive August.

What are your thoughts on the Wedding Season?????? Send Help, Send Ideas, Please!

Trade Marks, Slogans, and Copy Rights..OH MY

I was watching TV the other day and saw the summer commercial for Crystal Light.
Young Moms in bikinis and kids around 6-8 years old, all frolicking by the pool.
The drama to unfold is that this happy scene is going to turn into a “Sugar Event”.
Yes kids as well as Mom will be thirsty and want something refreshing. No soda or juices to add sugar to the diet for these fit people, Crystal Light to the rescue!
Made with Splenda®, Crystal Light® is the Kool-Aid ®of today.

Their slogan in the voice over commercial says “You can stay cool and still look Hot”.
This I assume is referring to the bikini clad Mom. I don’t think primary grade school age kids look hot. They can look cute, adorable, precious, pretty, sweet, handsome, but not cool and definitely not hot.

For the last 4 years, the slogan I use about my sleepwear for women experiencing night sweats is, “Stay Cool while Looking Hot”. I never registered the slogan. Crystal Light® isn’t using the exact same words, but it is pretty close. We are targeting some of the same demographics. I know for a fact that some of my customers are bikini clad women too.

Patents, trade marks, slogans, copy rights can all be yours for a fee. Nike will sue any one who even tries to “just do it” without an endorsement because they own the slogan. Who coins a phrase that becomes part of our lexicon is always debatable unless someone has seen a lawyer first. I will go on record for what is worth and say; I make “Cool Garments for Hot Women”, so women can “Stay Cool while Looking Hot”.

Sincerely Cool,
Haralee®®®

Fabulous Fabric Claims That Really Work

Speedo, the swim suit maker giant, has the LZR Racer. Swimmers wearing this suit have broken 38 world records since February! The LZR is made of fabric that claims to reduce drag in the water. I use the word ‘Claim’ because skeptics are many, even after 38 World Records are smashed! Even Nike, is allowing their 7 sponsored swimmers to wear the Speedo LZR Racer for the Olympic trials. Call me gullible but I am convinced.

Fabric technology has gone from hi-tech, to Wow Technology. Women experiencing night sweats, as well as athletes, wear clothes made from moisture wicking fabrics. When I started my company 4 years ago, I had many questions about this fabric such as, “Does It Work?” Now fabrics with moisture management properties are a part of our culture. Babies to Grannies are wearing clothes made from these fabrics. These fabrics can help us stay dry, and warm while being light weight, and comfortable.

The Olympics start 08/08/08. Dazzle your friends, co-workers and family members when the swimming events take place and you mention the advantages of the LZR Race!

Musings from the Entrepreneurial Menopause Woman, or WHAT WAS I THINKING???

I decided last week to paint my office. I thought, I have painted before, I run a successful business, and I can do this over the week-end. It's only a 12' X 10" room. How hard can it be? That is what I was thinking when I blindly started this project.

First Clue that I was Clueless:

I went to the local paint store to pick out white paint. Who knew there are a gazillion whites, and all the brushes, rollers, and trays to buy?

Second Clue that I Missed:

I spoke with a good friend about my week-end plans. She talked about how the repetitive action with immediate results is so satisfying. How she finds painting relaxing. She also makes her own mayonnaise.

Third Clue that went over my Head:

My husband volunteered to help take things off the walls and move furniture to the middle of the room. He then scattered, disappeared, MIA, didn't answer his cell phone.

Reality 1: Took 3 coats of paint to cover. I had to buy more paint and brushes.

Reality 2: My shoulders, neck, and thighs hurt. I did not find it relaxing.

Reality 3: Stepping over cords and squeezing between desks makes the job harder.

Mid way through the project I called my 86 year old Mother and told her what I was doing. Her reply, "Are you Crazy?"I called my sister and told her "I hate painting". She said, "You are just finding that out now!"

Was this act of craziness on my part the entrepreneurial spirit gone wild?

Was it a menopausal hot flash that fried my brain cells?

Did I have an estrogen drain that depleted my better judgment?

Can you relate??? But look at the picture, it sure is BRIGHT!

Green Tidbits in the World of Cancer, or Mom was Right

Eat your greens is now a proven mantra. Folate found in spinach and other leafy greens is the best food source of this vitamin. Nutrients found in veggies and fruits consumed have the best preventative effects against developing cancers. Unfortunately no proven benefits to help the symptoms of menopause.

We are all familiar with increased doses of Folic Acid in pre-natal vitamins to prevent birth defects. Now studies have shown that we all need Folate. A diet lacking in Folate can increase the risk of developing cancers; breast, colon and pancreatic.

Large doses of Folic acid or Folate is not recommended. Best sources are natural in your diet. Certain medications and alcohol can impair Folate absorbtion. Check with your doctor. I once again am the harbinger of bad news of you wine drinkers, sorry.

What is the final word? Mom was right, eat your greens. For you spinach haters. and you know who you are, oranges and strawberries are also good sources. Happy Mother's Day!

Out sourcing consciousness check

As a small company and manufacturer, I try to run my business with a social conscience. I give a percentage of sales to charity, breast cancer awareness. I have my products made in the USA. I try to buy goods to make my product that are made in the USA, and that is the reason for this blog:

The elastic I use has been outsourced to India. This just happened. I am in mid production of my fall line and short only a few yards. I called all the distributors I do business with and was told no one can get this type of elastic. There seems to be a problem getting the elastic out of India. Also when and if it is released from Indian clutches it will be at a higher price because elastic is a petroleum based product. I never had a problem when it was made in the USA. In fact, for such a small amount of elastic I called several fabric stores and was told their shelves are depleted. Such is the plight of a small business like mine, as well as the company who outsourced and who is now losing sales.

Outsourcing seems not to be the answer to cut costs for several other businesses. The Associated Press had a couple of articles recently regarding some other local companies.
A Taiwanese-owned plant that makes American shoes, employing 20,000 Vietnamese workers had a two day strike over wages. Consumer prices and inflation in Viet Nam are rising. The strike was settled and now employees are getting $65.00 per month, about the cost of a pair of this company’s shoes from the discount rack.

Also a big pickle company, who used to buy cucumbers and dill weed from local farmers in Oregon and Washington, is now buying the cucumbers, pickling, and packing them in India. I think free trade is great, but I am having a few misgivings.

In my company, Haralee.Com, I know the people sewing my products are making a living wage. I know they take pride in their work because they are able to afford to buy my garments for themselves. I ask my customers to think about the power they have with their spending dollars. You can choose with thought and less guilt who to buy from. Personally, I am waiting for mills in Rhode Island and North Carolina to contact me about the elusive American elastic. I know I won’t be buying shoes made in Viet Nam, and I will be shopping local farmers’ markets this summer for pickling cukes and make my own North West pickles!