Thermage: no pain face lift?

Read full article here...

 

If you are thinking of getting an anti aging treatment but facial surgery isn’t for you – you may be tempted by Thermage – marketed as a low risk alternative to face lift surgery.

Thermage – the makers claim – is a highly effective non surgical face lift – all the skin lifting effects of a face lift without the pain.

This apparently miraculous anti aging treatment first came to everyone’s attention – as with so many other things – following a glowing review on Oprah.

Thousands of eager viewers rushed to get the procedure.  But is Thermage all it’s claimed to be?

Thermage is a type of laser treatment which which heats and tightens the lower layers of collagen in the skin resulting in a younger and smoother appearance.

Thermage uses radio frequency to heat up the deeper layers of the skin and this technology has caused some users significant problems with dimpling. The heat from the Thermage machine penetrated too far into the tissue heating up the fat layer as well as the skin and resulting in a lumpy dimpled look – a bit like cellulite. Definitely not what they wanted to achieve.

The makers of Thermage insist that these problems no longer occur because the technology has moved on. Typically the whole Thermage treatment is given in one intensive session and some plastic surgeons consider that a gentler approach over a series of sesions is a better approach.

If this is a worry but you are still interested in Thermage – talk to a registered cosmetic surgeon or clinic about it. There are other options availabe and may be something else would work better for you.

It’s important to realize that one Thermage treatment can’t be a replacement for a face lift surgery – expect a degree of skin tightening and skin firming around the order of 30% but don’t expect miracles.

The Thermage face lift can be applied to the forehead, brow, eyes, mid and lower face and the neck to reduce wrinkles and lines. How much of the face is given the Thermage treatment is up to you and your cosmetic surgeon but it will depend on the amount of collagen breakdown.

 

Read more about thermage facial treatment

Wear Eye Protection Over Your Prescription Glasses

Read full article here...

 

Prescription eye glasses are not enough when working with power tools. Unfortunately, the temptation is to trust our glasses "just this once" far too often when making that last cut or finishing a project.

People often make the mistake of visualizing the area needing protection as the diameter of the visible eyeball and lids. This is incorrect. The area actually requiring coverage is the entire eye socket itself. Take your finger and stroke it up over your cheekbone,looking for the rim of the eye socket. Now, stroke around its rim as you would around the edge of a cereal bowl.

Pretty big, isn't it?

If a piece of debris impacts your face high on the cheekbone or to the side of the eye there is a good chance it will deflect along the bone right into your eye socket. The bridge of the nose as well as the ridge of bone under your eyebrow can also deflect wayward debris into the eye. We've seen ricochets shown in the movies, so the concept shouldn't be too hard to grasp.

Proper safety glasses provide coverage around the eye, not just from straight ahead.

Prescription eye glasses are not enough when working with power tools. Yet it is my experience people who wear prescription eye glasses will less often seek out proper safety glasses and eye protection when working in the shop. The tendency is to believe "Ah, this isn't so bad, my glasses are enough".

There are three styles of safety glasses to be found: Safety glasses with slightly over sized lenses and traditional looking ear-hooks, safety goggles that provide a full seal around the eyes with an elastic band for pulling around the back of the head, and clear face shields that flip down from a "hat" shielding your whole face to a bit below your chin.

 

Read more about safety glasses prescription

Tattoo Removal Skin Peels Vs Tattoo Removal Creams Vs Tattoo Removal Using DermaBrasion

Read full article here...

 

A friend and I, along with 3 other buddies, decided to try an experiment to remove tattoos that we have all had for many years. Over time we just decided we no longer liked what we saw on our arms, shoulders and chest so we decided to test all the varieties of tattoo removal except Laser because none of us could afford the price, plus we wanted to see for ourselves if the other products actually worked or were just marketing hype. We represent a mix of 2 Civil Engineers, a Commercial Real Estate salesman, a pharmaceutical sales rep and a self employed landscape architect.

After reviewing the options available we decided to use Tat B Gone and Tattoo-Off to represent the tattoo removal creams, Nuviderm to represent the cosmetic acid peeling agents and WreckingBalm as the dermabrasion candidate. We didn't even consider a salt dermabrasion product because I had used a brand that shall remain nameless and I could have gotten the same results using 80 grit sandpaper, man was it rough.

We had 5 guinea pigs and 4 products so it was decided to really test the tattoo removal creams since, if they worked, it would be the obvious way to go since you just rub it on like Jergins Hand lotion and after a few months you're done, or so we thought, but we'll get to that later.

Since this whole thing was my idea I decided to use WreckingBalm. I've heard the radio commercials and it sounded like the way to go. Robert, Khalid and Pat started with TatBGone and Tattoo-Off and George was the Nuviderm test subject. Mind you, two of these guys, Robert and Khalid were the Engineers - and they were driving us nuts with observing proper technique, following instructions to the "T" and keeping logs with application dates, results etc. They wanted quantifiable results at the end of the test to make sure THEY were satisfied that the winner was actually the best product.

The official kickoff for the test was at my house. We sat around the island in the kitchen, read the instructions and proceeded to do our first tattoo removal treatments. None of us had what I would call huge tats, just run of the mill stuff - names (2), a Celtic symbol that we kidded George was the symbol for Idiot, a flag and a weird conglomeration of an ex-wife's name covered up by what was supposed to be the Arkansas Razorback mascot, which we all took to be symbolic for a nasty divorce.

The tattoo cream guys had it easy, they just rubbed a little on their tattoos, popped open a beer and watched George and I go through the steps of our chosen removal methods. I had my battery operated sander, spray, cream - the whole nine yards. I knew I picked a winner and was happy with the entire procedure that first day, while George was next to me bitchin about diluting, mixing and testing, but was determined to get rid of that Celtic symbol.

When I finished my skin was red from sanding on it, maybe a bit to eager my first time out. George was showing off his "Frost" which meant his first Nuviderm application was a success and wasn't actually all that bad.

If this was a movie this is the part where they would flash on the screen ...ONE MONTH LATER...

The cream guys - Robert, Khalid and Pat had been rubbing away for 30 days - their tattoos looked the same, but they now had soft skin! I had been grinding away every third day, spraying and rubbing as instructed with nothing to show, but it was still early and we all knew going in this was a long term project - at least 6 months, maybe a year (but hopefully not). George had peeled a layer of skin and had done his second application the previous week so his skin was about to peel again, but no real change as far as we could tell.

...TWO MONTHS INTO THE TEST...

The Tat B Gone and Tattoo-off guys were still rubbing and one was starting to see a bit of difference, but nothing to brag about.

George was still peeling, his third application the day before with no noticeable change and I was still sanding and using the other stuff, but every third day seemed to harsh, my skin was a bit tender so occasionally I'd have to skip a day and sand on the fourth day. Still no change.

90 DAYS INTO THE TEST...

Tattoo creams weren't doing much, but Khalid's skin color was fading but not his tattoo, it was weird. Khalid has a dark brown complexion, but it was a lighter brown where he had been rubbing on the cream with no noticeable change to the tattoo. Robert and Pat couldn't see any difference to skin tone or tattoo.

George was about to do his fourth treatment, his skin was slightly pink at the treated area and the tattoo seemed to be getting brighter, more vivid. Not what we expected, but he was prepared to continue.

I was still sanding away and couldn't tell for sure if there was a difference or not, but I was undeterred.

 

Read more about tattoo removal prices

Tips for Professional Garment Care

Read full article here...

 

So you outfit a client’s master bedroom closet with all of the latest amenities, add that extra flourish in architectural details and take stock of his/her wardrobe to include the right balance of shoe shelves and hanging space. But then your client asks you for a few tips on how to store garments properly. Perhaps you readily supply a list of suggestions. Or, perhaps you struggle to settle on an answer.

Either way, we asked the garment storage specialists at New York City-based Garde Robe to offer a few tips for storing garments, shoes and specialty items such as beaded blouses and fur. With an additional outlet in Tokyo, Japan and plans to expand into other key markets, Garde Robe provides professional storage services for its roster of clients who need extra closet space. Once a client calls, the company retrieves his/her belongings, has them professionally photographed and then creates a “cyber-closet” that the client can reference when preparing for a trip or an event. Garde Robe staff members personally deliver garments and accessories to the client’s doorstep or expertly pack a suitcase and ship it to the client’s destination.

But the company also stores the archives of fashion designers such as Oscar de la Renta. While Garde Robe’s vice-president, Doug Greenberg, maintains that one could earn a PhD in garment care, he suggested an abbreviated list of tips that custom storage professionals can share with their clients.

Proper Cleaning and Insects: Because many Garde Robe clients store their seasonal items at the company’s state-of-the-art storage loft, Greenberg says that the most important element of proper garment care is appropriate cleaning. Even if someone has only worn a dress suit once, the pieces must be dry-cleaned before storage. Otherwise, they risk an infestation of Clothes Moths, whose larvae feed on the bacteria that insidiously grows on garments that have not been cleaned. To help combat the potential problem, Greenberg advises clients to invest in lavender sachets or cedar blocks, especially for fine knits.

“Let’s say you have a cashmere sweater, and you’re going to put it away for the summer,” Greenberg says. “First things first, make sure it’s properly cleaned, fold it with acid-free tissue in the crease and then place a cedar block wrapped in the same acid-free tissue before you put it away in a breathable, canvas box.” Because cedar blocks and flower sachets have oils that can stain garments, Garde Robe staffers advise clients to wrap them in tissue paper before placing them in proximity to clothes.

They also recommend using acid-free tissue in the crease of folded garments, such as sweaters and cotton shirts because it prevents the fabric from breaking down ever time. “If knits aren’t folded with acid-free tissue, then it’s very much like bending a straw in half,” Greenberg maintains. “The fabric will eventually break over time.”

 

Read more about garment storage bags

Build A Two-In-One Shed

Read full article here...

 

Here's a handsome Colonial-style storage shed that's one of the most versatile, well-designed backyard buildings we've seen. In fact, it's really two sheds in one: a 10 x 12-ft. toolshed for general storage and an 8 x 10-ft. open-bay extension that's ideal for keeping firewood stacked and dry. The extension is also great for storing large items that might not easily fit into the main shed, such as lawnmowers, bicycles, patio furniture, wheelbarrows and stepladders.

We built our combination shed on a 4-in.-thick concrete slab, which makes an extremely durable and weatherproof floor. You could also construct a wood-frame floor using pressure-treated 2 x 6 lumber and a plywood deck, and support the assembly on solid concrete blocks or pressure-treated 6 x 6 skids. If you go with the slab, it's a good idea to hire an excavator and mason to have the job done right. Place anchor bolts in the concrete for securing the walls, taking care to avoid vertical frame locations and wall openings.

We sheathed the structure with 1 x 6 tongue-and-groove cedar siding, which is naturally resistant to rot and insects. The roofs are covered with slate-gray, architectural-style asphalt shingles. Perforated-aluminum soffit vents installed along the eaves and continuous ridge vents at the peaks help exhaust hot air that can build up under the roofs during warm summer weather.

The main shed has three tilt-in barn-sash windows and a door that's made from the same tongue-and-groove 1 x 6 cedar used for the siding. You're not likely to find barn-sash windows at a home center, but they can be special-ordered at most lumberyards and farm-supply outlets.

You can buy detailed plans for the combination shed for $29.95 from Better Barns Betterbarns.com . Request plans No. 2023. The company also offers the traditional-style strap hinges and door latch we used.

START AT THE TOP
Before building the walls, make use of the open floor space as a platform for building the roof trusses. Each truss consists of two 2 x 4 rafters and a 2 x 4 chord that also acts as a ceiling joist. At the corners are plywood gussets secured with construction adhesive and roofing nails.

Note that the gable trusses have collar ties (short horizontal members) so there's extra wood to which you can nail the siding. When you build the gable trusses, add flat 2 x 4 pieces, or shoes, to their bottom chords so the gables can be set slightly proud of the walls below them.

Both roofs have a 10-in. pitch--the slope rises 10 in. for each horizontal foot. This creates 50-degree angles at the rafter and chord ends. To cut these with a circular saw, use a template of the angle to mark each piece. If you're using a power miterbox, the angle graduations are complementary--you'll get a 90-degree cut when the tool is set at 0 degrees. So, set the tool at 40 degrees to end up with a 50-degree angle.

 

Read more about wooden storage buildings

Replacing Mobile Home Kitchen Sinks

Read full article here...

 

If you're thinking about replacing the kitchen sink for your mobile home, you'll probably need to buy a sink that's made for it, unless you're willing to do a full counter replacement.  That's because mobile home kitchen sinks and the counters that support them aren't quite as deep as those in site built homes.  That means there's not enough room to install a standard sink.

Mobile home kitchen sinks come in two basic sizes.  The first is seventeen inches deep, the second nineteen inches deep.  Those extra two inches are from a lip on the sink back, where the water supply and faucet hiles have been pre-drilled.  The nineteen inch size is the least expensive and most popular of the two.  However, many older homes have seventeen inch sinks, meaning the faucet holes are drilled through the counter, not the sink. 

This can cause problems, since failing sink washers can create leaks, allowing water to get into the material the counter is made of.  If you're planning to replace a mobile home kitchen sink, be sure to check the counter around the faucet.  If it's not sound, buy the nineteen inch style sink and cut away enough extra material to allow it to fit properly.  Be sure to get a three or four hole sink - the fourth hole will provide ventilation for a dishwasher or for installing a sprayer. 

If you can find only three hole mobile home kitchen sinks but require a fourth hole, you'll use a knockout punch to fix the problem.  Drill a pilot hole through the sink, slide the punch's bolt through it, then tighten the punch.  It'll cut a clean hole through the sink in the size required.  If you don't have a knockout punch, you can rent one. 

Remember to give yourself a lot of time to replace your mobile home's kitchen sink.  Plan on making several trips to the hardware store, because there are good odds that the new sink you buy won't ne exactly the same as the other one.  Whether the faucet is mounted higher, the drains are in a different position, or the sink isn't as deep, you'll probably need to make some adjustments.  If your faucet is getting old, now's the time to replace it.  Also, be aware that there's a good chance something whill break during replacement - be ready for it to happen.

 

Read more about white kitchen sinks

Interior Decorator: Career Diploma Description

Read full article here...

 

Learning about Interior Decorating involves the study of how to arrange furniture and match colors and styles to create a pleasing living or work space. Once a student earns an Interior Decorator Diploma they are prepared to work as an interior decorator. The coursework for this diploma is as follows: furniture styles, history of design, fabrics and textiles, decorating from building plans and interior design theory and practice.

Why Earn an Interior Decorator Diploma?

If you have always had a talent for arranging furniture or creating spaces for work or living areas, which are pleasing to the eye and effective, then you may already be on your way toward a career as an interior decorator. This diploma teaches not only the basics of interior decorating and design but also basic business techniques necessary to run a business. It enhances and hones your abilities so that you may be able to open your own business.

Career Possibilities

Occupational Outlook for an Interior Decorator

The BLS predicts that jobs growth in the area of interior design (for interior decorators) will be about average, 9-17%, over the coming years. Individuals entering this field will find it competitive. Formal training and artistic ability will help your chances of finding employment. Jobs for Interior Decorators increase and decrease as the economy goes up and down.

Salary information for an Interior Decorator

The website Salary.com,   has salary information based on national averages for a variety of careers. Their reports indicate that an interior decorator can earn between $27,008 and $43,976 per year. Some interior decorators, such as those with their own business or who have been in the business for a number of years, can earn up to $90,244 per year.

Degree Specifics

Coursework for an Interior Decorator Diploma

The classes a student will need to complete to earn this degree will teach them how to decorate offices and homes and all manner of interior spaces. These decorations will be for both beautification and utilitarian purposes. This diploma requires the following courses to be passed:

• Designing Furniture
• Working with Textiles
• Decorating with Fabrics
• Using Building Plans for Decoration
• Designing Interior Spaces
• Matching Colors
• Visualization
• Business Management
• Accounting
• Lighting Techniques and Design
• History of Interior Design and Decorating

 

Read more about interior decorating courses