Night Sweats, and Hot Flashes Story Contest

Here is the scenario; you have just finished working out at the gym in a spin class, aerobic, or yoga class or have been on the machines and now you are cooling down. You feel good and wiped the sweat off and are walking to get your stuff to leave. Who should stop you but (fill in the blanks here) the handsomest man, former co-worker, old boyfriend, or old flame, to chat. You notice during the chitchat that you are again sweating profusely. What is going on you ask??? Welcome to the world of hot flashes. Now take the same sweating you had going while working out but you are sleeping, or trying to, and welcome to the world of night sweats.

The reasons that cause night sweats and hot flashes are varied. Here are several reasons or causes: menopause, medications, various diseases, stress, diet, humid weather, too hot a bedroom, too many blankets, or just a high internal thermostat. So with all these reasons or causes affecting so many women, I can only imagine the hilarious stories around night sweats and hot flashes that need to be shared. A shared laugh with a sense of humor is the only way I know to get through this sweaty condition. So if you want to share your story, you may win a Haralee.Com item of your choice. Send us your story to Haralee@haralee.com.
Entry must be submitted by March 1, 2010. Winner will be announced by March 22, 2010.
The winner agrees to have their story published on our blog with your first name, or initials only.
Pictures are welcome.

Here is one of my stories: I just got out of a business meeting and met my sister for lunch. She told me I needed to freshen up in the restroom. Yes, one eyebrow was heading south down my check and my lipstick from my lower lip was creasing my chin. Not a pretty site and of course I wondered how long I looked like this while I was giving a presentation? All my sister and I could do was laugh.
Have some fun and share a laugh!

Shopping is a Good Thing Again

According to author Lee Eisenberg and his new book Shoptism, shopping is good again. Did you see his story in Parade Magazine? Just in time for the Holiday season, I am thrilled with Lee because he indorses the cost per wear formula and the ‘transform’ ourselves theory.

How many times have we all moaned about an expensive outfit we bought for a special occasion and only wore it once or twice and it is sitting in our closet going out of fashion by the hour? How many times have we looked at pictures of ourselves in said outfit and become bewildered that the transformation we were striving for was missed?

Let’s examine another example. How many days to you go to sleep? Usually that is everyday. So the sleepwear, nightgown or pajamas you wear, you wear everyday. How many times do you wear the same nightgown or pajamas because it is soft, comfortable, and makes you feel good? Would that be every night too?

How often have you put the buying of gifts for family members ahead of yourselves? How many times have you told family and friends that you don’t need anything for the holidays this year knowing they are still going to buy you something? Why not make this year different. Why not use Lee Eisenberg’s recommendations and buy and ask for what you want and need, a good night rest! Moisture wicking sleepwear can help.

Haralee.Com sleepwear offers soft, comfortable, beautiful, sexy, attractive and affordable sleepwear for all women. You deserve a good night sleep. Yes this is a bit self promoting but you also learned about an interesting author his latest book and a cost per wear formula! Shop today for a cooler tomorrow.

Girlfriends’ Guide to Menopause

How many times have friends complained about some symptoms and when you mention that it could be menopause you are told, “But I am TOO YOUNG!”???
If you are a good friend you reassure them that it is “Just” menopause. If you are a bad friend you go along with them and stay of the banks of the river Da Nile. Sometimes being a good friend is not well received and it is easier to just be a bad friend, but don’t go to that dark side, stay true to your friends and lead them down the road of menopause.

Here are the top 10 signs that you are in menopause:

1. Night sweats. Clammy, sticky, hot then cold waking night sweats
2. Sleeplessness. You fall asleep but then at 2 AM you are awake, or you don’t fall asleep until 2 AM.
3. IBB. Itty Bitty Bladder. You can not sleep through the night with-out visiting the bathroom around 2 AM. See number 2.
4. Hot Flashes or Hot Surges or Hot Flushes during the day, not just under stress. You haven’t worn a turtle neck in over a year.
5. Irritability. No one can do anything fast enough, slow enough, good enough, or just enough.
6. Mood Swings. Lifetime channel makes you cry and then mad then angry then happy.
7. Trying to Help Everyone. Note that Wonder Woman was young, not in her late 40’s or early to mid 50’s.
8. Menopooch. This is not a dog. This is you tummy that no matter how many kick boxing, Pilates classes you take there is a tiny meno bump.
9. Thinning Hair. Your hair dresser is lying when he/she says everyone looses clumps of hair in the shower, and on their hair brush everyday.
10. Memory Loss. This is a reassuring list. It’s not just you. Too bad you won’t remember to tell your friends, so forward it now before you forget!

Don't Sweat the Night Sweats

When I started my business 4 years ago, http://www.haralee.com/, I received many questions doubting the abilities of the fabric to work as promised. "The fabric transports the perspiration (night sweats) away from the body where it quickly evaporates." This means you stay dry and comfortable while getting a good night sleep.

I am happy to say that I no longer get those doubting questions. Women are aware of the abilities of these moisture wicking fabrics. Who hasn't seen athletes from tennis stars like the Williams sisters to soccer great David Beckham drenched in sweat and still comfortably win their matches?

Not to brag too much but; my sample maker also made the LA Galaxy uniform sample for David Beckham!! http://www.lagalaxy.com/

Customers have told me that they want all their clothes to work for them, not just their sleepwear wardrobe. With that in mind I introduced my LifeStyle Shirts, taking the performance of our sleepwear into day wear. Stay dry through hot flashes as well as night sweats. Make all your clothing work as hard as you!

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!

Menopause/Breast Cancer and Integrative Medicine

I live in Portland, Oregon. Here, like many cities, we have lots of Doctors and Dentists because we have the schools and the graduates stay and set up shop. What makes Portland unique is we also have a college of naturopathic medicine, acupuncture, and one for chiropractors. This means there is lots of practicing alternative practitioners in the area. I met recently with a lovely young doctor. Kelly Jennings, (drjennings@urbanwellnesspdx.com) who is a naturopathic physician and licensed acupuncturist. She has a beautiful facility and is very interested in women’s health. She sees patients coping with menopause and breast cancer symptoms and is committed to helping them through a holistic approach. Lymphedema is a nasty side effect of lymph node dissection often used on breast cancer patients to detect the progression of the disease. Kelly uses acupuncture as a relief from this condition. Kelly is also working with another naturopathic physician, Barbara McDonal on a naturopathic breast cancer book.
Barbara works at ‘A Woman’s Time’ (womanstime@aol.com) with Dr. Tori Hudson. Tori is a pioneer in naturopathic women’s health. In fact she wrote the book, “Women’s Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine”.
What this all means is that I take for granted that everyone is aware of alternative medicine. Here in Portland, one of the big hospitals just opened a 10 floor cancer center with one floor devoted to integrative medicine. I went to a naturopath and an acupuncturist during chemotherapy from my oncologist’s recommendation. I still take the Chinese herbs to help with my night sweats and hot flashes. When I was shopping for Health care for my company, I made sure that alternative medicine would be covered as well as traditional medicine. Look to incorporate, to integrate alternative medicine into your own health care.
A note on Lymphedema: On my related links site is www.lymphedivas.com, The Company sells colorful, beautiful compression sleeves. Rachel, one of the founding partners passed away this winter from a breast cancer recurrence. Kristin her business partner is maintaining the medically correct fashion line. If you need to wear a sleeve, this is the one you want!

Menopause Moments for Today

Physiological parallels between female gorillas and women at mid life is an on going study at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. Dr. Susan Margulis of the zoo says they don’t have a way to measure hot flashes in gorillas but are using thermal guns which measure heat.
Animals living in captive are living longer than their counterparts in the wild. With the increase in age comes age related conditions like menopause. Beta, a 47 year old gorilla at the zoo recently had a hysterectomy.

I am fascinated with the aging female gorillas at this zoo. These girls can not take off layers, or put their hair up or cut it short to cool off. I wonder if they are sleeping well, and what about night sweats?I feel a connection with these menopausal gorillas and wish Dr. Sue and her research team and subjects the best of luck.

We are having a drawing the end of March from those of you who comment to our blog. Winner will get a Haralee.Com Log Baseball hat. Be sure to give your email address to be eligible.