There are few other types of jewelry that are as universally adored as pearls and their popularity will certainly be by no means limited to this summer period but if you’re looking to score some serious style points over the next few months, then pearl earrings, necklaces and bracelets will definitely help you achieve this!

Let’s get started by looking at a couple of popular styles of pearl jewelry to keep your eyes out for this summer…

AKOYA PEARLS

If you’re looking for a stylish and understated look with your jewellery this summer period, Akoya pearls will definitely tick all of the right boxes. Typically heralding from the shores of Japan, Akoya pearls have been immensely popular since they first started to be worn around the 1920s. Regardless of what sort of outfits you find yourself donning this summer, whether they be formal or casual, Akoya pearl jewelry will certainly serve as the perfect accompaniment.

GOLD PEARLS:

With the Olympic Games to be played out over the summer, there is no more fitting jewelry to consider than that of Gold pearls. This stunning accessory often comes as a surprise to many dedicated followers of fashion as most are unaware that pearls are available in such a striking color! Gold pearls are, without question, one of the most breath-taking and stylish on the market and will be the perfect choice for matching with outfits this summer. Most gold pearls typically originate in Indonesia and the Philippines and are cultivated within the gold-lipped saltwater oyster. A simply stunning choice of accessory and one that suits any occasion.

All images courtesy of Winterson Pearl Jewellery.

“The Motivator” Lynetta Jordan

“A Great Relationship is Worth the Work” was one of the most popular messages on my Spoken Words of Love radio broadcast. It certainly takes effort to make a relationship great, but ladies, have you thought about this…? Relationship building is not entirely the man’s responsibility. Hmm. In order for us to experience satisfying and fulfilling love, we, too, must dig deep and sometimes get our French tips dirty to help make it happen.

Some women possess an “It’s all about me” philosophy about dating and marriage. If that’s you, do you realize that you have limited your opportunities for satisfaction? When women think love is all about us, we often neglect to give our dates or mates the same attention and affection we desire to receive. Let me reveal a secret, giving precedes receiving. Sowing sweet love into your man can help you reap overflowing returns!

In my book, Love Without The Drama, I help people experience success in life and love as I teach and empower them to apply God’s word to their everyday lives. Did you know that the Holy Bible, which is filled with wonderful past examples for future guidance, shows that women are a powerful force and emphasizes the role they play in nurturing and improving their romantic relationships? Journey with me as I share the wisdom of Proverbs 14:1 and the example of the Shulammite lover in Song of Solomon.

Proverbs 14:1 declares, “A wise woman builds her house, but a foolish one plucks it down with her own hands.” Wow. Did you realize how much your efforts and the loving (or unloving) environment you create impacts your relationship success? You are more influential than you may think. You can build your man up or tear him down with your own hands. Practically speaking, that’s your words, actions and attitudes. I encourage you to use your persuasive power to build your house by speaking life and showing abundant love to the man in your life who is worthy of your praise. Implement the wisdom of the word of God and woman, build your house!

The Shulammite lover in the Bible’s Old Testament book, Song of Solomon, knew how to build her house. She romanced her man so beautifully that I believe he had no choice but melt in her arms like butter on hot biscuits! That sister paid careful attention to and commented on almost every detail of her man’s physique. He observed every fine detail about her, too. Their love talk includes saying that their breath is the scent of apples and their kisses are like the best wine. They talk about the beauty of each other’s eyes, teeth, lips, necks, legs and more! It might help you to take notes on their delightful, detailed expressions of admiration and adoration for each other, highlighted in Song of Solomon’s eight chapters of vivid imagery and romantic love language.

As I teach in Love Without The Drama, the drama-free woman should never minimize the importance of generously sowing seeds of love into the drama-free man who shows he truly cares about her well being. Your man likely craves and desperately needs your attention, affection and praise. Truth is, he would rather receive it from you than even think about seeking it elsewhere, BUT if you tear your house down with negativity and selfishly refuse to build him up, you could lose the man you don’t want to be without.

So ladies, take pride in being your man’s number one love. Take joy in spending time with him and make your time together worth it to him. With gratitude galore, you should shower your man with respect and appreciation, passionately speak life into him and encourage him from the depths of your heart. Wives should lavish love, love, and more love in the bedroom, too. Cherish that outstanding man and make a big deal out of the things he does for you both publicly and privately. You must be the first one to be sure that you do not leave any voids that any other woman could possibly fill.

Your relationship destiny does not have to repeat your history. God wants you to experience love without the drama! Every woman must personally invest in the success of her relationship if she wants to have satisfaction and fulfillment. When she emphasizes posing for, playing with and praising the God-ordained man she wants to lead her, listen to her and love her exclusively, their relationship satisfaction can soar. When she reaps the benefits and begins to experience the relationship of her dreams, God’s ordained couple will agree that a great relationship really is worth the work!

Expect an unexpected blessing and have a phenomenal day!

“The Motivator” Lynetta Jordan refreshes hearts, motivates minds and inspires the world one soul at a time! Lynetta is the author of the empowering, “love”changing book, Love Without The Drama: Why Settle When Relationships Can Sizzle?

A former college queen, Lynetta is the founder of Lynetta Jordan Ministries, National Radio Host of the “Love Talk” and “Love Notes” features on the Rejoice Musical SoulFood Network, entrepreneur captivating motivational speaker and extraordinary inspirational writer and speaker. Invite Lynetta to present “Love Without The Drama” LIVE at your conferences, churches, book clubs, TV show or other event at Author@LoveWithoutTheDrama.com or 1-888-LYNETTA.

May this article bless you in life and love! Please tell Lynetta how much this article positively impacted your life on Facebook.com/LoveWithoutTheDrama, Facebook.com/LynettaJordan and Twitter (@LoveTalkLynetta).

Infographic and Pinterest Marketing courtesy of 97th Floor.

More infographics:

12 Creative Hacks for the Common Cook

Safe Online Dating Tips Infographic from ADT

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Women in Business

Beate Chelette

Thoughts are powerful. They create feelings and take form in our lives in ways we like and don’t like. One of the aspects of my business is that I pay very close attention to my way of thinking.  Since I first read the book “The Power of Positive Thinking” in my 20s, I have made an ongoing and conscious effort to be in charge of what I think. I want to think about things that make me feel good, so whatever form they take will be a good thing, too.  I have the book’s author Norman Vincent Peale to thank for that. Here’s a link to his book, if you’re interested.

Sometimes though, thinking positive when things are just not working right is very hard.  I know, it happened to me.  Eight years ago I was down on my luck, $130,000 in debt, my father had just passed away and I was thrown out of my home and office I’d occupied for ten years.  I’m not going to lie; it was tough and I often thought this was too hard to get through.  Positive thinking just wasn’t working and then I came up with what I now call my gradual improvement method. It certainly worked for me, because in 2006, I sold my company to Bill Gates and made a fortune. http://goo.gl/WxM02

The method goes like this: first you refuse to accept that where you are is all there is.  You’re a good person, honest and responsible, so there has to be more out there for you. Next, focus on wanting to do better. This works equally well for business and your emotions. Don’t say, for example, “I don’t want to struggle anymore.” Instead, use the positive affirmation of  “I will do better. Things are picking up. I have a good feeling that this will work out.”

Call yourself fortunate or lucky and whatever other positive words you can find.  Stay in this mindset and gently correct yourself when you slip. This is crucial in business and since we can tweak just about anything now, it stands to reason that we can tweak our way of thinking.  If you believe in yourself, in your talents, your expertise and your passion, guess what?  Your clients will pick up on that energy and new projects will likely to come your way.

Click here for all articles on Women.com by Beate Chelette.

Beate Chelette is a respected career coach, consummate entrepreneur and founder of The Women’s Code, a unique guide to personal and career success that offers a new code of conduct for today’s business, private and digital world. Determined to build a community of women helping each other after selling one of her companies, BeateWorks, to Bill Gates in 2006 for millions of dollars, Beate launched The Women’s Code online course in February 2012.

Liz Seegert

Want to stay healthy and reduce stress? Then have more girls’ nights out.

Seriously.

Women and men react differently to stress, which comes as no surprise to most of us. Our brains release chemicals that actually cause us to seek out friends for bonding and support. That same response doesn’t happen in men. This helps to explain some of the “Venus and Mars” scenarios –  guys go off on their own when upset or stressed, and women tend to talk it through or commiserate with friends.

About a decade ago, a landmark study by UCLA researchers discovered that when women are stressed, oxytocin, a neurotransmitter linked to social recognition and bonding is produced.  This creates a biologically different reaction in women – until then, it was assumed that women and men reacted similarly, with a “fight or flight” response.

It makes sense. Women have been bonding like this for eons – coming together to cook, tend children, and keep the community together, while the men went off to hunt (or whatever they did in lieu of hunting).  It may even be why women tend to outlive men, according to a University of Missouri psychologist.

Several recent U.S. and U.K studies support these findings. They confirm that friendships among women are good for our mental, physical, and sociological health. These investigations also showed that women without many friends are lonelier, depressed and show signs of stress-related illness.

Stress is known to contribute to heart disease, hypertension, and clogged arteries so being with friends is actually good for the heart. Yet more and more women say their stress levels are going up.

A survey by the American Psychological Association found “women are more likely to report physical symptoms associated with stress, they are doing a better job connecting with others in their lives and, at times, these connections are important to their stress management strategies.”  Work, family, lack of sleep, financial concerns, short-changing themselves on physical activity and relaxation, and “trying to do it all” are just some of the reasons cited.

Health journalist Thea Singer, author of several books on stress, women, and aging, points to the pressure baby boomers put on themselves.

“…unlike other generations, we cut ourselves little slack. Boomer women essentially invented the Superwoman syndrome… now at mid-life, we’re taking stock, questioning whether we’ve achieved what we could or “should” have–and invariably beating ourselves up for falling short.”

Unfortunately, getting together with our friends is one of the first things we seem to push aside when we’re overworked and stressed. Most experts think this is a bad idea. In doing so women lose out on an important source of nurturing, support, and comfort.

We’re all trying to do too much, often with too little help, too little sleep, and too little time. So make it a point to schedule a get-together with girlfriends at least once a month, whether it’s dinner and a movie, or an afternoon in the park.

• If you can get away for a “spa day” or even a spa weekend, even better!
• If you like to walk for exercise, invite a girlfriend to come along – your minds and your bodies will benefit.
• Social media like Facebook and Twitter don’t count. While they’re great for quick updates, it’s that personal, physical link that is so important, say the experts.

So the next time you’re “out with the girls,” or bonding with your BFF over some mocha lattes, know that you’re doing something positive for your health, too.

Please click here to see more articles on Women.com by Liz Seegert.

Liz Seegert is a freelance journalist in New York City who writes and blogs on health, social policy, and other issues impacting human welfare. She is also a Senior Fellow at the Center for Health, Media & Policy at Hunter College. You can follow Liz on Twitter (@lseegert).

Milbert Kiggundu-Bentham

So you recently had a baby. You are bleary-eyed and massively sleep-deprived to say the least. In the US, after about six weeks, your paid-maternity leave ends and its time for you to head – or rather wander – back to work. At this point, you really wish you had chosen one of the more “family friendly professions” – professions with plenty of flexibility.

According to a post from February 2011 in The Solutions Journal, A Revolutionary Change: Making the Workplace More Flexible, “approximately four out of every 10 mothers in the United States are primary breadwinners and almost 2/3 are breadwinners or co-breadwinners. This dynamic has transformed American marriages and families, with couples working more collaboratively in order to juggle careers and caregiving.” As a result, of the demographic changes in the workplace, women and men value professions with flexibility more than ever.  The ability to telecommute, have shorter work weeks or flex-time (setting one’s own hours), and ease of finding contract work are some key factors to look for.

Here are some of the top family-friendly professions for moms:

1) Writing:  a journalist or blogger has more flexibility than many other jobs;

2) Sales: Jobs such as executive recruiting or real estate often come with plenty of flexibility;

3) Web design and development: all you need is a reliable Internet connection and you’re in business!

4) Teaching can be great if you’re a parent, since you keep similar hours as your children. Plus, summer vacation!

5) Healthcare: there is such a high demand for nurses, you may be able to get flexibility. Nursing, though, can be very demanding, especially if you are doing the all-night shift, so you will certainly be trading off sleep for family time.

Here’s a list of the 100 Best Jobs for Moms from HuffingtonPost.com.

Please click here for more posts by Milbert Kiggundu-Bentham.

Milbert Kiggundu-Bentham is a former fixed-income professional turned stay at home mom. She is working on a children’s book and a clothing line, and lives in New York City with her husband and three kids. She enjoys reading, writing and travel. You can find more from her on her blog, Facebook, Twitter (@ihaveyouneed) and Pinterest.

Tracie Nolde

Well, it’s that time of year again, ladies…time to take inventory of your wardrobe and get inspired by some of this years hottest looks and hues!  With only a few weeks to go until the official start of summer, it’s only fitting to start talking about what the trends of this summer will look like. Once again vivid colors and soft neutrals are all the rage.  From scorching red to vivid orange to elegant black and white, you will find a color that fits your look this summer!

Orange is on the top list of color trends for this summer.  Whether you opt for bold orange, orange look or splashes of orange, there is a wide palette of choices.  Yellow is another hit for this summer.  As a general fashion rules, when orange is big, so is yellow. Red is yet another big trend for this summer and looks great next to orange and yellow.  Along with these colors we also have our traditional summer looks, white, black & white combos, neutrals and nudes.

The biggest trends this summer season include longer lengths, as seen on long maxi skirts and maxi dresses. As well, look for bright colors to be a prominent trend this season and incorporated into bright floral & mixed print pattern dresses. Especially look for tribal prints featured on cute little dresses.

So often we just buy or plan our clothes and outfits as individual pieces, we never imagine how they all come together into our personal style. If we wanted to describe our own personal style we would spend a few minutes hemming and hawing a lot and finally say something like “I’m pretty casual.” But it doesn’t take much to get past that.  The key is to know what your doing and looking for!

Check out my Top 10 Trends for this Summer:

1. Florals – Flowers, flowers and more flowers!!
2. Tribal Prints – A focus on prints and texture.
3. 20’s Elegance – The new take on the flapper fashion with fringe.
4. Sportswear – Minimalist and Sleek!
5. Geometrical Patterns – Stripes, linear lines & color blocking.
6. Peplum – Ladies love wearing it and the trend is going to be hot this summer!
7. Midrifts – If there was ever a time to work on your abs….it’s this season!
8. Drop Waists – Great for a slender figure.
9. Bird Prints – A top print for summer ladies!
10. Open Shoulders/Single Shoulder

Don’t just wear clothes everyday, wear clothes you like!  Clothes that make you feel good. The idea is for your outward appearance to reflect who you are inside. When you’re insides and your outsides match, you’re able to go through your days!  Remember to have fun with your style and be creative with all the colors of the summer too!!  Summer is about being comfortable in your own skin and having fun!

Please click here to see more Women.com articles by Tracie Nolde.

Tracie Nolde lives in Atlanta, GA with her husband, Jeff, and their three children, Camden, Chase and Kennedy.

When it comes to gender, Type 2 Diabetes is an equal opportunity disease. The major risk factors associated with diabetes – sedentary lifestyle, poor diet, and obesity – are essentially the same for both sexes. By the same token, the challenges of living with diabetes to ward off potential complications such as cardiovascular disease and kidney damage are formidable for both men and women. That being said, it’s a biological fact that if you are a woman with diabetes, you face some additional challenges that diabetic men don’t. Here’s a look at 7 diabetic challenges that are unique to women.

1. Recurrent yeast infections:

   Brought on by biological imbalances, vaginal yeast infections are a fact of life that most women will have to deal with at some point in their lives. But for women with diabetes, especially those whose blood sugars are not well controlled, yeast infections can become a recurring problem. As glucose levels in the blood and tissues become elevated, a natural result is the accelerated growth of yeast within the body. While prescription medications are very effective in the treatment of yeast infections, if glucose control is ignored they will only come back. Studies clearly show that diet and exercise are a diabetic woman’s best defense against recurring yeast infections.

2. Adverse effects from birth control pills:

   With the advent of the “pill” women became the proactive partners in preventing unwanted pregnancies. And today’s  BCP’s have come a long way in reducing the dangers of strokes, heart attacks, and blood clots associated with the pills of the past that contained much higher amounts of estrogen and progesterone. However, as recent studies have shown, even low-dose birth control pills can cause dramatic changes in blood glucose levels. Diabetic women should have their blood sugars closely monitored when starting on birth control pills. It should also be noted that long-term use of the pill can lead to high blood pressure, which in diabetic women can increase the risks of eye and kidney problems.

3. Menopause:

   The changes in hormone levels associated with menopause can cause all sorts of problems for diabetic women. Blood glucose levels may fluctuate to the point that maintaining adequate control can be very difficult, which can put women at greater risk for complications. Menopausal weight gain can also mean that doses of insulin or oral medications will need to be adjusted to provide adequate glucose control. Hot flashes that disturb sleep can also wreak havoc on glucose control, causing a higher incidence of urinary tract and vaginal infections.

4. Side effects from diabetic medications:

   One of the newer classes of oral diabetic medications is the TZD’s or thiazolidinediones, which help to reduce resistance to insulin. In women who are no longer ovulating and are premenopausal, TZDs may cause ovulation to resume, which could result in pregnancy. TZDs may also interfere with oral contraceptives, making them less effective.

5. Pregnancy:

   The hormonal changes associated with pregnancy can send the blood sugars of even the most well controlled female diabetic on a roller coaster ride that could have serious consequences for both mother and baby. Diabetic women who experience morning sickness and have difficulty keeping food down are especially at risk, requiring closer monitoring and oftentimes I.V. fluids to help keep them nourished and their blood sugars under control. On top of that, more and more women who begin pregnancy healthy are contracting gestational diabetes. Even with careful monitoring gestational diabetes presents a higher risk of both mother and baby developing type 2 diabetes at some future date.

6. Hormone replacement therapy:

   The risks and benefits of hormone replacement therapy for the relief of menopausal symptoms should be carefully weighed for even the healthiest women considering the treatment. But for diabetic women, extra caution should be taken due to the potentially adverse effects of supplemental hormones on glucose levels. For this reason diabetic woman starting HRT should have their blood sugars closely monitored until things stabilize. The goal for all diabetic women, regardless of whether they are pregnant or menopausal, should always be to keep their blood sugars as close to what is considered “normal” for them as possible.

7. Frequent physician visits:

   The many unique challenges that diabetic women face can often mean more visits to their health care providers than they would care to make. However, the benefits of extra visits in keeping glucose under control and better preventing many of the female specific complications from occurring, typically allow women with diabetes to lead more productive and happier lives.

In this ultra-modern age, it may surprise you that more and more women are finding relief from their PMS symptoms—not in the latest pharmaceuticals—but in a class of ancient remedies known as essential oils. This recent demand for a natural approach to achieving wellness has caught the attention of healthcare providers and given rise to a number of online companies which offer high quality 100% pure essential oils. Here’s a look at some of the ways essential oils are being used to treat the monthly maladies of today’s modern woman.

• Clary Sage Essential Oil

  Clary Sage essential oil is a clear to pale yellow oil rich in antioxidants and exhibiting a sweet, musky fragrance, is believed to be beneficial in helping the body achieve natural hormonal balance. A key compound called sclareol, which has a chemical structure similar to the hormones produced in the body, is thought to be responsible for the Clary Sage’s hormonal effect. This can be helpful in regulating the menstrual cycle and provide some relief for pre-menopausal women. When combined with Lavender, Clary Sage may also be effective in relieving menstrual cramps and relaxing mind, body and muscles. Clary Sage Essential oil may be diffused or diluted 50:50 with vegetable oil for direct application to the wrists, ankles, abdomen, lower back, or other places of pressure. It may also be diluted and taken as a dietary supplement.

• Geranium Essential Oil

  Geranium essential oil is commonly referred to as the women’s oil. Many women have found it to be an effective sedative to aid in sleep and help to release much of the stress and anxiety associated with PMS. Geranium’s natural diuretic properties also make it helpful for alleviating fluid retention and breast tenderness often associated with PMS. Geranium Essential Oil can be inhaled, placed in a warm bath, or diffused for best results. It also blends very well with Clary Sage.

• Bergamot

  Bergamot is an essential oil that may be effective in treating PMS by helping to balance emotions and mood. It may help reduce the symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, irritability, or other emotional issues that may present themselves on a monthly basis. Aromatherapy with Bergamot, especially when mixed with equal parts of Grapefruit oil, has been shown to be invigorating and rejuvenating—providing much needed PMS pick-me-ups.

• Peppermint Essential Oil

  Peppermint essential oil is considered to be effective in relieving a host of PMS related maladies. These include fatigue, nausea, bloating, headaches and other discomforts. Due to its potential to cause skin irritations at full potency, Peppermint Essential Oil should always be diluted before being applied to the skin. An excellent source of 100% pure Peppermint Essential Oil is LiveTru.com. Aside from topical application, Peppermint oil can be taken internally, used in a diffuser, or inhaled from a cotton ball or vial.

• Sweet Fennel Essential Oil

  Sweet Fennel essential oil, with its characteristic aroma of licorice, has been found by many to be an effective tool for relieving menstrual cramps or other abdominal or digestive discomforts often associated with PMS. Topically, full-strength Sweet Fennel oil can cause skin irritation and should always be diluted with vegetable oil before applying to the skin. Massaging the lower abdomen with Fennel oil diluted in vegetable oil can be effective in soothing the lower abdomen. Its mild diuretic effect may also help to relieve fluid retention. A blend of Sweet Fennel and Rosemary is also recommended for relieving the stress and fatigue that often accompanies PMS.

Also see: Aromatherapy: More Than Just a Pleasant Scent? from U.S. News & World Report.