Column

Transitioning your closet from summer to fall can be a daunting task, especially if your wardrobe is extensive. However, this project doesn’t have to overwhelm if you follow three easy steps:

Step One: Prep Your Closet / Take InventoryIf you have the space in your home to move off-season clothing to a separate closet, now is the time. If you don’t have a separate closet, then simply move things to the back of your closet or on a high shelf…out of your daily sightline. As you’re packing up your shorts, tank tops and sundresses, separate what you didn’t wear this summer from the pieces you wore regularly. If the weather never got hot enough for that linen dress, revisit it next year. Write reminder notes to yourself: which items are keepers for next summer and which should “go.” Any clothes you’ve outgrown (literally or style-wise) can be consigned, so hold on to them until February or March. Donations can be taken directly to your favorite charity anytime.

Now your full attention is on your fall wardrobe. Take the time to try everything on, and look at it with a critical eye. Look for moth holes and decide to either repair or toss. Examine skirt/slack lengths and sleeves. Take clothes that need alterations to the tailor. Keep only what you love, what you intend to wear, and consider new ways to wear them.

Step Two: Research the TrendsThe September issues of fashion magazines have hundreds of pages of fall trends to choose from. What inspires you? More importantly, what are you going to steer clear of? Some trends are recurring. Animal prints are a fall staple, but this year it’s more than a basic tan/brown/black leopard print. New and exciting variations include faux fur vests and snake print accessories that can take a simple outfit out for a walk on the wild side.

Other trends for Fall 2011 include:

Color blocking (photo 1), spice colors (photo 2), brights, capes and ponchos (photo 3), menswear inspired, high-waist and flare jeans, lace, longer skirt/dress lengths, winter maxi dresses, silky blouses that tie at the neck, tweeds and plaids (photo 4), chunky knits and Navajo-inspired patterns (photo 5), high-heeled loafers and desert boots (photo 6).

 

Make a list of the trends that “speak” to you, then keep an eye out for them on your shopping trips. Great looks can be found any price point; I bought a fabulous brown maxi shirtdress at a discount store in August for $49.99! I’ll pair it with an animal print wide belt ($24.99) and my (leftover from last year) brown suede pumps for a super-trendy ensemble for a dinner date or a casual work event.

Step Three: Review Your CalendarBe aware of the events you’ll be attending (social functions, conventions/business trips and vacations), early in the season so you avoid “panic mode” shopping. This crazed, last minute (usually the day of an event) excursion usually results in an outfit that is “fine” at best. Know the schedule, so you can look and feel your best.

Finally, organizing your wardrobe takes effort. If you manage it seasonally, it won’t overwhelm you, and you’ll have outfits you love ready to wear to for any occasion for years to come.

If you have a style question, email Carolyn at Carolyn@C2Style.com, and she may answer it in an upcoming Alive article.

Note: Keep what you love and donate or consign the rest. Consignment stores are plentiful up and down the 680 corridor. Find one in your neighborhood, and “recycle” the items that are in good condition and current in style, but are just no longer “you.” Great clothes can be found at consignment stores. Remember, it’s not new, but it’s new to you.

Keep from previous seasons: Animal print.

Q. Why do my established junipers continue to die? The dieback starts slowly with an individual branch and then the entire plant goes.

A. There are two possible causes for junipers to slowly decline and then die. The primary cause has been root rot from excessive water during the summer months and/or soil erosion. Soil erosion is especially a problem with those plants planted on a slope. These plants end up being buried deeper than was originally intended. They die with no apparent pattern, one here and then one over there. It’s most apparent June through October. It could be a branch or section or the entire plant that collapses over night. An early sign of problems is the change in the color of the plant(s), as the normal color dulls. Established junipers are drought tolerant and survive most summers with little summer water assuming we have a typical rainy season. Once every three to four weeks is sufficient once the rainy season concludes. Correcting root rot problems requires patience. Wet winters and summers are not beneficial. Good water management practices and removing the excess soil, are the primary corrective methods, however it doesn’t occur overnight. It can take months before the plants stop dying and for the turn around to begin.

A second possible cause of the dieback is Flatheaded Borers. Flatheaded Borers are some of the most common woodborers in the United States and Canada. There are more than one hundred and fifty species. Until recently, we were only concern with them on deciduous fruit trees. Today, they’re a problem on junipers, arborvitaes, other conifers and cotoneasters. The name is associated with the larva that does the damage. They have a long segmented body with an over size head or prothorax that is flat. With junipers, the damage starts out on an individual branch or branches before spreading throughout the entire plant.

What separates this problem from root rot is that the trail of dead plants is in a predictable pattern. Another distinguishing characteristic is that the damage continues to show up during the early winter, which is not the case with root rot. Flatheaded Borers tunnel extensively in the shallow, cambial tissue. This feeding so near the bark’s surface makes damage more evident, revealed in mushy wood and clumped sawdust-like brown frass. If you carefully scrape off the outer layers of the wound with a knife, you’ll discover the grub concealed within. Larger larvae can also be found deeper within the stem as they prepare to over winter. In the spring, weeping of sap near damage and emergence holes of the adults can be seen on junipers. Flathead Borers is much easier to control than rot root. Bayer and Bonide both have liquid, systemic tree and shrub insect controls. They are conveniently applied to the roots so there is no need to spray. The biggest plus for these systemic insecticides is that one application last twelve months.

Tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, is similar to its counterpart, Golfer’s elbow. The primary differences between these conditions are the location of the pain and the activity that leads to injury. However, both conditions are caused by overuse of the muscles and tendons of the forearm, leading to inflammation and pain around the elbow joint, commonly called tendonitis. Tennis is one common cause of tendonitis, but many other sports and work related activities can cause the same problem.

The cause of tennis elbow can vary from a single violent action (acute injury) to, more commonly, a repetitive stress injury where an action is performed repeatedly and pain gradually develops.  In an acute injury of the elbow, inflammation occurs without substantial tissue damage. However, in a repetitive stress situation a person may experience damage to the tendon and surrounding soft tissue causing tissue degeneration over time. Inflammation from acute injury often responds quickly to rest and anti-inflammatory treatment. However, if the injury is due to tendon tissue degeneration, treatment will be longer and will be focused on improving the strength of the tendon as well as rebuilding tissues.

Tennis Elbow Symptoms

With tennis elbow the pain is on the outside of the elbow and may radiate down the forearm into the wrist.  It can be common to have pain and/or weakness when turning a door knob, holding a coffee cup or shaking hands.

Treatment for Tennis Elbow

Tennis elbow does not usually cause any long-term disability. However, the condition may become stubborn and proper rehabilitation will help alleviate the symptoms and get you back to life again.

Rest and Reduce Inflammation: The first step a person should take if tendinitis is suspected is to stop the activities that cause the pain and inflammation. Use a topical cream containing Arnica to begin to reduce the inflammatory process quickly.

Laser Therapy to Heal the Damaged Tissue:  Ending the pain caused by tennis elbow requires healing the damaged tissue. Class IV laser therapy is an excellent method for this, because it is presently the only form of therapy that can both reduce inflammation and heal tissue simultaneously. Laser treatments at Align Healing Center are done with the K-laser 1200 a Class IV Laser.  This laser does not cut or burn but is gently absorbed by the tissue.  During Laser Therapy the infrared laser light interacts with tissues at the cellular level, increasing metabolic activity and improving the transport of nutrients across the cell membrane. This initiates the production of cellular energy (ATP) that leads to a cascade of beneficial effects, increasing cellular function and health. This creates an optimal healing environment that reduces inflammation, swelling, muscle spasms, stiffness, scar tissue and pain.

Correct the Mechanics of Motion:  Assessing the forearm, elbow, shoulder and spine for proper postural feedback is done to diagnose and correct improper alignment. After proper alignment is restored, specific muscular taping is applied to improve circulation and insure proper motion on a daily basis. Lastly, specific strengthening and stretching exercises are given. By strengthening the muscles and tendons involved with tennis elbow, you can prevent the problem from returning.

At Align Healing Center we are having great success not only treating tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow, but also treating plantar fasciitis, sciatica, shoulder and neck pain, migraines, arthritis, carpal tunnel, post surgical pain, sports injuries and more; even long-term residual pain. Ar­thritis and degenerative disc disease sufferers can see long term benefits from this treatment without any of the negative side effects experienced with the long term use of medications.

 

 Dr. Niele Maimone, DC is the owner and founder of Align Healing Center in Danville, CA. She has been active in our natural health & wellness community since 1999. For more information or to set up a consult call 925.362.8283 or visit www.alignhealingcenter.com.

 

 

 

The Man Who Will Come is a film of potent and disturbing contrasts—the breathtaking beauty of the Italian countryside and the innocence of childhood, set against unfathomable evil and the darkness of the human soul that is often brought to life in war.

It is a tale created to depict an historical incident—a massacre of innocent civilians—that occurred during the later stages of World War II, in a mountain village near the Italian City of Bologna. Known as the Massacre of Mazabotto, it was a heinous war crime of particular brutality, in that of the over 700 people murdered, many were women, the elderly and children.

The film’s Director and Writer, Giorgio Diritti, adeptly captures the innocence, earthiness and simplicity of a people who, although apparently struggling for basic needs, seem set apart from the rest of the world’s troubles. The portrayal of the basic day-to-day peasant’s existence seems somehow appealing and comfortable at first. But this all changes.

The film is recounted primarily through the eyes of a young girl, Martina (Greta Zuccheri Montanari), who does not speak. The story gradually unfolds as Martina’s mother, Lena (Maya Sansa), is expecting another child.

The surrounding conflict that rages in the rest of the world is presented by mere hints at first, as we learn of the increasing bombing of the neighboring city of Bologna, and are introduced to a band of local underground resistance fighters, opposed to the Italian Fascists and their Nazi allies.

Martina has no understanding of who these foreign soldiers are or why they occasionally visit their village, buying eggs, wine and bread. “Why aren’t they at home with their own children?” she muses. Diritti masterfully blends scenes in ways that captivate, drawing you in through the eyes of a child. In one scene, Martina awakens in the middle of the night to a soft, distant sound of an airplane passing, high above. She peers out the window to witness the silent, ethereal fall of parachutes. The scene has a surreal quality that is altogether beautiful and terrifying at the same time.

The audience’s exposure to and realization of impending horror increases along with Martina’s. Stark, graphic reality assaults the audience just as it destroys the young girls’ last remnant of innocence, as she witnesses a captured Nazi soldier, forced to dig his own grave, then coldly executed.      

The intensity of the film progresses, as the rebels’ agitations cause the Nazi intruders to over-react, eventually striking out with the mass murder of the innocent villagers. Martina becomes the conduit of hope for humanity, as she saves her infant brother from the tragedy. It is the infant child who will be the Man Who Will Come, as his life represents the survival of their people and a future of peace.                    

The film is extraordinary in its realistic portrayal of how common people, with no apparent political interest or ambition, are easily snared in the carelessly constructed, destructive webs of war, only to have their lives senselessly destroyed. Because of its historical context, the film well serves in reminding us that the kind of brutality and moral vacuum that permitted the atrocities we see in the The Man Who Will Come, are still very real and, unfortunately, the case, in many parts of our world today.     

 

 

It was appropriate that our nation collectively recognized the tenth anniversary of the September 11^th tragedy. The official dedication of the Ground Zero Memorial and the many ceremonies that paid homage were befitting as well. It is important that the date of September 11 always be a date of remembrance.

Yet, this is now October—so why are we running a story related to September 11^th in this issue of ALIVE?

The answer lies in the fact that while 9/11 was a horrendous and tragic event, for most of us, it was just that — an event; one that can be properly observed, once a year, to then be forgotten for another year. We are able to suppress, delay or “compartmentalize” the mixed feelings of anger, fear, and heartbreak that that terrible day evokes, for those of us old enough to remember it.

But what of the families of the victims? What about the first responders who were there, who witnessed 9/11—who performed and served under the most dreadful of circumstances? Men and women who lost close friends and co-workers. For these, 9/11 marks a date in time with an entirely different meaning.

We are honored to include in this issue, in an exclusive story by Anita Venezia (page 16), the eye-witness account of retired New York Fireman, Sean Hickey, who was one of the first firefighters on the scene when the World Trade Center buildings collapsed. His job, at the time, was intended to be search and rescue, but as you will discover, it sadly became something else.

Our message is simple—we must never forget that for the victims and first responder of 9/11, the wounds are real. While all of us were affected in some way, those who lived through it will carry the scars, every day, for the rest of their lives.

Thank you, Sean Hickey, and thanks to your fellow first responders. We pledge to you that the price you paid to serve us all will, truly, never be forgotten.   

 

 

 

More than half of women have sensitive skin especially acne prone skin. Many women use products that are harsh and irritating not knowing they are making the skin inflamed. Find out how sensitive you might be and learn how to help the touchiest skin keep calm and carry on.

You may have sensitive skin if…

•  A new moisturizer or cleanser, causes your skin to itch, burn, sting, or turn pink.
•  Acne products make your skin red and inflamed. The pimples that make an appearance on your face are more like giant cysts than regular zits.
•  Your skin is parched and no amount of moisturizer seems to satisfy it.
•  A strong gust of cold wind is all it takes to irritate and sting your skin.
•  Your nose and cheeks often get flushed and tingly, but you are certain it is not a sunburn, (you applied sunblock, you swear!).

Sensitive 101 

Many girls with acne do not realize that they have sensitive skin. Using potent acne products can actually make the skin irritated and it tends to break out more. The skin thinks it needs to produce more oil when using intense drying ingredients. You need to treat the skin with delicate sensitive products to help balance the oils, avoiding irritation. Your best bet is to try a formula labeled “sensitive skin” with no fragrance. Instead of using harsh alcohol-based products, use products that contain Witch Hazel. Witch Hazel kills the pathogenic bacteria that cause you to break out and will work in the same way as alcohol based product while being gentler on the skin. 

Dryness: How to Heal 

Another factor that can make the face feel sensitive is dryness, especially this time of year. In the fall, the temperature drops practically overnight, heaters go on, the light changes- it’s a whole new environment that can really exacerbate sensitive skin. In lower humidity you lose your skin’s bubble wrap, which are the lipids that make up its protective barrier. Your skin is more likely to crack and leave small nerve endings exposed during this time. These are the reasons you feel itching, tingling or tightening of the skin. This is the time to step up your moisturizer to a more sophisticated one. The best moisturizers to use are those with Nuero-Peptides in them. I recommend using a lipid serum as well as the Nuero-Peptide moisturizer. Lipids naturally protect the skin and are intensely hydrating. Apply an eye cream that will help boost collagen around the delicate eye area. Using a good sensitive eye cream is also very important for dry skin. Our Ultra Firming Eye Cream helps to hydrate, boost collagen and depuff the eyes.

With all sensitive products make sure you look at the labels and see that they are made specifically for sensitive skin types. At The Rouge we have professional skin care experts to help you determine what products work best for your skin type. You can make an appointment Tuesday through Saturday to have a consultation to see which skin care program is right for you!