I’m clumsy, seemingly always injuring myself in some stupid, careless way. That’s one reason I keep a stockpile of first-aid supplies in my medicine cabinet and in my handbag. What does a normal, non-clumsy person need? Here’s my list of the seven things you should absolutely keep in your medicine cabinet…

1. Peroxide or Betadyne

 Photo Credit: Robert m Williams

Even if you’re not accident-prone, you’ll still probably cut yourself at one time or another, so it’s a good idea to keep a topical cleanser in your medicine cabinet. Use peroxide or Betadyne for cleaning wounds, but avoid rubbing alcohol. It stings and doesn’t offer any other real benefits.

2. Band-Aids

 Photo Credit: cattycamehome

Once you’ve cleaned a cut, you’ll want to protect it with a bandage. Keep a box of all different sizes handy, just in case, and make sure they’re sterile.

3. Analgesic (pain reliever) like Tylenol, aspirin, Motrin

 Photo Credit: J. Forger’s FlickPics

There are different over-the-counter pain medications for different types of pain. For muscle inflammation and pain, try Motrin. For headaches, try Tylenol or Excedrin. Aspirin is another great choice, but try not to take any of these pain relievers on an empty stomach. Also, make sure to throw away expired medications and replace them with new bottles.

Looking in my medicine cabinet I can barely find my mascara for sorting through all the drying up bottles and containers of skin care products I have ordered over the years. Some I bought in drugstores while others I took the leap of faith and ordered online.

What they all have in common is that none of them really worked for me. When I discovered Dead Sea products I threw my skepticism to the side and jumped in with both feet desperately hoping to have finally hit the nail on the head.

They seemed a bit costly to me at first however the idea that they were 100% natural appealed to me. After all the other chances I took, this one seemed like a no brainer.

I am sure you are asking whether or not months later these products are sitting next to all the other bad cosmetic choices I made collecting dust in the medicine cabinet. Proudly they are not!

Considering all the money I spent on useless products in the past, it made much more sense to purchase healthy facial creams from the Dead Sea that actually worked! And I felt good knowing I was nourishing the largest organ of my body with natural, beneficial and useful products.

The longer I use the products the more improvement I see and the more I learn about the benefits of Dead Sea Products in general. Consider these facts before you purchase any other cosmetic products:

# 1

The healing and beautifying properties of the Dead Sea have been known effective since biblical times.

# 2

No animal testing is being used!

# 3

They are natural products manufactured in a ‘green’ plant with as little impact as possible on the environment.

By Allison Davidson

Okay, let’s just go ahead and say it….. I’m menopausal. Having a hysterectomy last year has forced “the change” upon me long before I was ready for the experience. Am I grateful that my doctor was able to perform this operation and end my agonizing physical pain? Absolutely. What I wasn’t prepared for, however, was the emotional drain that would follow. I’ve come to grips (literally) with the infamous menopausal mid-section…the already jiggly tummy now flapping about irreverently, mocking my every move. The occasional hot flashes are offset by chillness that has me reaching for a sweater when the thermostat reads 76 degrees. Lotions and potions help keep my crinkly skin somewhat softer and smoother. But why the heck am I so grouchy?!?!?

Back in the ol’ PMS days, I was unabashedly weepy. I cried at commercials, books, songs…you name it. But I took a great deal of pride (!) in the fact that PMS did not turn me into a witchy woman. Well, well, well….my how the tides have turned. On most days, I am quite certain that everyone around me has made it their goal to annoy me. Why is that dog barking? Why is that husband asking what’s for dinner? Why is that child asking if he has any clean clothes? What do you people want from me?!?!?!

I’ve tried counting to 10. I’ve tried counting to 100. I’ve tried deep breathing…in through the nose, out through the mouth…..ah…….. Dangit!!!! Everybody shut up! I’m trying to breathe here!!!!

I hear the angry words lingering in the air. I look around to try and catch a glimpse of that hateful woman! But the voice, of course, is my own…convicting my spirit, breaking my heart. And all I know to do is pray – God forgive me. God save me from myself. God save my family from me! Make my words be words You want to hear – full of grace, seasoned with salt, making the most of every opportunity. Remind me of the power of my words, dear Lord. And thank You for the power of Yours.

No matter how well your organize your time or your life – there will come a point when stress will rear its ugly head and creep up on you. It doesn’t matter what the cause is: marital woes, break-up, being eternally single, or not being able to keep those excess pounds at best.

Check out this link if you want to try 3 stress-busting exercises. In addition, here’s my ten cents worth of advice:

Breathe

If you feel the nerves starting to creep up on you, take a deep breath and try to R-E-L-A-X!

Talk it out.

Grab two pints of chocolate chip ice cream, drag your girl friend to your apartment and take off whatever load is on your chest.

Go on a laugh trip.

Watch the corniest comedy film on DVD or the latest Ben Stiller flick on the big screen – it’ll do you good to take the best medicine which is laughter.

Work it out.

If you’re into running, Tai Chi or an aerobics class – go! All that sweat and the extra physical training will do you’re a world of good.

Get a massage.

Ooooh – the soothing feeling of somebody’s hands on your aching muscles should relieve you of all the stress that you’re feeling.

Do nothing!

Yes, you heard me right – do nothing at all. More often than not, stress is caused by having too much to do. Take some alone time by yourself and release all the pent up tension in your body.

There you go. Kiss that stress away and be free. =)

On today’s live edition of ‘The Martha Stewart Show’ (nationally syndicated, check local listings), actress Maura Tierney (‘ER’) joined Martha in the kitchen to prepare a fantastic seafood chowder. The pair chatted about everything from Maura’s new film and her hilarious co-stars to their ex-husbands.

Below are a few excerpts from today’s conversation!

MS: Eight [years] is a long time on one of the top shows [ER] ever. You have to know a lot about medicine.

MH: The only problem is, is I think I know a lot about medicine.

MS: Have you ever diagnosed anybody?

MH: I did. I diagnosed my ex-husband.

MS: While you were married?

MH: Yeah. After we were married?! Are you kidding?!

MS: Were you splitting up at the time?

MH: You’re acting like I gave him the appendicitis.

MS: No, no! During my divorce, I would have never told my husband he had appendicitis. It would have just been more clean…a much cleaner divorce…go to bed. Don’t go to the doctor. Don’t you think that would have been more fun?

______________________________________________

MS: How is it working with Woody Harrelson who is sort of a naughty boy?

MH: He’s a naughty boy in the movie only.

MS: Not in real life?

MH: No, not in real life.

MS: He’s straightened out?

MH: Was he ever un-straight?

MS: I think he was a naughty boy. I sat next to him on a plane once.

MH: What did he do?

MS: Oh, he was going to Costa Rica to surf. He surfs all over the world.

_____________________________________

MS: Where haven’t you been?

MH: Kansas.

MS: Oh, you have to go to Kansas! Kansas is beautiful. I think I’ve been to every state in our beautiful country. If you haven’t visited every state in the union, I think you should.

MH: I agree. It’s amazing how beautiful this country is. I’ve driven it so many times.

MS: I’ve never done that. I would love to do that. I’m going to take a helicopter ride. Maybe this summer. I want to go across the entire country by helicopter.

Kneipp Herbal Bath

Looks like cough medicine, doesn’t it? Well it is medicine in a way… for your body and mind. It’s an herbal bath made from the purest natural herbs, so you don’t have to wonder why it resembles Robitussin or some weird potion… nope, no red dyes or preservatives, so this baby is kosher. In fact, it helps soothe your nerves from stress due to its aromatherapeutic essential oils.

It comes in twelve different scents such as Eucalyptus, Lavender, Juniper, Almond Blossom and Melissa. (yep, there is literally an essential oil called Melissa that originated in India). So hey, if your name just happens to be Melissa or you’ve got a friend with that name, then this will make a cute gift for her (or yourself of course).

Each essential oil serves a unique purpose. For instance, Juniper calms and soothes post-physical activity and Eucalyptus helps clear the sinuses if you come down with a bug. Each bottle of this herbal bath is good for at least 10 baths, so it’s not a bad deal, is it?

As I’ve mentioned before, we’ve got a small candy problem here at Sugar HQ. So it should come as no surprise that at least five of my cohorts forwarded this information to me.

In the town of Barcelona, Spain, the coolest candy store has set up shop. Designed by studio m, the store — called Happy Pills — has taken the pharmacy theme and run with it. The narrow, hallway sized shop is your standard, by-the-pound candy store, except that everything is packaged in plastic medicine-style bottles. They also have pre-packed “medical kits” and “first aid” supplies.

It reminds me a bit of the emergency chocolate bar, and well you know, I guess sometimes a spoonful of sugar is the best medicine after all.

My question is, how long until someone replaces the Sugar HQ first aid kit with this one?!?

Source: Design Milk

I love So Charmed’s incredible jewellery and this ‘Medicine Jar’ necklace is even more inspired than most. Hanging from a handbeaded glass pearl rosary chain, the jar opens and you can take out the “extremely detailed” miniature cakes and sweets. It’s reduced from $165 to $125 including (US) shipping, but even if it’s not your cup of tea (or jar of sweets), check out the site for a necklace called Happiness is a Warm Squid. Brilliant.

Related: Sugar-sweet earrings from Dollydagger | Sweetie Darling REAL sweetie jewellery | Cup cake pass holder from Lazy Oaf

Kim Kardashian was out shopping with her girlfriend and her huge ass the other day. That’s crazy. You could stand next to her at a party and rest your drink on that thing. It wouldn’t even fall if she walked away. Talking with Kim would feel like being in a lame comedy where every time she turns around you have to duck, but in the end, it always hits you in the face regardless. Have you ever been smacked in the face with an ass that size? Just imagine a 20 lb medicine ball hitting you in the head. It hurts.

Us Magazine interviewed Martin Snow who trains that fatty Tyra Banks. Martin says he makes Tyra throw medicine balls and hit a tire with a sledgehammer among other workouts. Um, is Tyra Banks a Spartan?

US: What is a typical routine?
MS: I bring her over to the park. We will do some warm-ups, some running drills, a parachute run, where I put a parachute around her and she runs with it. We will do some medicine work where she will take heavy medicine balls and run and chase after them, and throw them at at different angles. We challenged these guys to handball but they punked out. A game like handball is great. And then we do kettle bells. I bring them out to the park. They are fantastic tools. For women, they are awesome. They target the core and you can do it every day. She is getting a pair for home and for work.

US:How often does she workout?
MS: She comes in around three times a week now. And each time it’s different. We will take these old tractor tires and she will swing sledgehammers. We do bags filled with sand. And of course the boxing.

Kettle bells? Parachute runs? Handball? What the hell is this. Instead of wheezing at me, is she planning to chase me down and beat me up the next time I call her a fatty? Because all of this looks like the abridged version of the Gym Jones work out. Whatever. I bet that fatty still can’t catch me. I’m like the Gingerbread Man and I’ve been known to be twice as tasty. Pics of Tyra in a green bikini after the jump.

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Remember when you got into door slamming contests with your next door neighbor? That noisy little…Then you cranked up the radio to give her a taste of her own medicine. The guys over at Perpetual Kid know revenge is sweeeeet, so they carry a CD full of 20 of the most annoying tracks to piss off anyone within ear shot. Crank up tracks full of orgasmic sounds, cat in heat, violin practice, or wake them up with  a Cock-A-Doodle-Doo at 5am in the morning. Ah, payback is a bitch.

Ayuva, just launched by Ashish Paul, is a herbal and medicinal practice using 100% organic herbs. Herbal therapies have been practiced in Europe for hundreds of years and Ashish combines these with Indian influenced treatments for prevention of illness rather than wait until you need a cure.

Treatments include massage with a range of herbal creams, shampoos and conditioners currently being developed.

Related: Grow you rown herbal beauty products I New French guide to herbal supplements I Herbal hangover pillow

Over the last couple of weeks my health has been on a decline. Nothing serious but you know when you just feel toxic? Well it was time to bring in the experts.

First stop, Elixir Tonics and Teas, on Melrose. You feel more relaxed and balanced, the moment you set foot on the little wooden steps out front. Many years ago, Traditional Chinese Medicine helped me get back on track after a rather

The other day I was ichatting with my Spanish friend Luisa. I mentioned that I was feeling very tired, had a little cough, and was worried that I was going to get ill. Luisa, who is a few years my elder and a mother, immediately began to prescribe home remedies to cure me from the sickness I didn’t know I had. She recommended that I slice a large yellow onion in half and place it directly next to my bed when I went to sleep that night. She went on to list other cures for headaches, sore throats, even hemorrhoids. I got to thinking and wondered, do these crazy ideas really work? Would I be better off taking a pill from the drugstore or sleeping with a raw onion next to my head? Was Luisa just telling me old wives tales that her mother had told her, and her grandmother had told her mother? Or would it really miraculously make me feel better?

What do you think, do home remedies work?

Medical researchers found that food is actually , quite often, the best medicine. They connected the dots between “nutrition” and “conditions”… as heart disease, osteoporosis, bone-thinning disease, and some others. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States! Osteoporosis and Breast Cancer threatens an estimated 44 million Americans.

We now know how and what to eat to help keep from becoming one of those statistics. Fortunately, this “food”  is  medicine  you don’t need to wash down quickly with a cup of water……Just to name a few included in those “food-groups”….is Salmon, very rich in omega-3 fatty acid,…Walnuts, which contains alpha-linolenic acid (fatty acid known to lower heart disease) ….. Avacados, which are very rich in vitamin E,….and Olive oil, the best substitute for saturated fats and improves cholesterol levels.

Click on our “recipe” category for our “Prevention Menus”….
Let’s stay healthy!!

Continued from Why Can’t I Lose Weight?
Stealth Spud Syndrome
Heymsfield’s subjects might be onto something, according to new research by James A. Levine, MD, a professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester,…

Tiffany Burnett did a pretty and telling piece of art showing the future of polar bears. She sandblasted polar bears onto antique blue medicine bottles, showing the ratio of bears now, to 2036, 2066, and 2106. How many in 2106? None.  [GT]

Future of polar bears [via Treehugger]

More Design & furniture

The last time I was at my family’s house in the mountains, I accidentally left my dog’s ear medicine there. I called my mom’s best friend, Bruce (who has a cabin near ours), and asked him if he could run by and pick it up. He stopped by and found the medicine and has since delivered it to me. However, I want to do something special to thank him for the favor. I know that he loves candles and mood lighting and so I thought it would be fun to get him a new set of candles for his dining table. Can you assist me by heading off to market in search of the coolest candles? The candles should be mood-enhancing, masculine, and mountain-y. Save your little lights in the Yum Market with the tag of Manly Candles. I look forward to seeing your room brightening finds!

Are you lost when it comes to saving on TeamSugar? geeksugar’s guide can teach you how to submit your stuff to the Yum Market.

Last night, I passed out in my bathroom again. I blame the Percocet. I blacked out and found myself much closer to the floor (although not actually lying on it). More interestingly, I noticed in the morning that the center mirror pane of my medicine cabinet had a huge crack in it. I must have hit my head on it and not noticed.

Because the Percocet was not making me a happy camper, I took the

A while back I posted a picture of my medicine cabinet and it appears that the shrewd people over at the Pierce Mattie PR blog, including my blogger pal Shannon, decided to investigate its contents.

Click here to read the hilarious “Beauty Forensics” post.

PS – my floss is in another cabinet under the sink!