So, she turned to nature for a more wholesome way to care for her little one's delicate hair and skin.Trying the botanical shampoos and body washes already on the market, Adena found they smelled too much like perfume or had a medicinal scent. She wanted her baby to smell like?well, a baby. And worse, the drying effect in the shampoos invariably left both mother and daughter frustrated when Adena tried to comb out her daughter's beautiful hair. She wanted to give her daughter "only the best", but the products Adena found were simply not what she was looking for. She wanted to bathe her daughter in something that was natural, but luxurious.

Rich, but subtle. Gentle, but effective. And aromatic, but childlike.Without a background in skin care, Surabian hired a chemist to produce a line of 100 percent natural skin- and hair-care products for children. Two months ago, Nature's Baby Products shampoo hit the shelves at select stores around the country. Fred Sassoon of The Thousand Oaks Beauty Collection, stocks Nature's Baby products and said the line is a hit with moms and babies.

In fact, he said he uses the products on his 9-month-old daughter. "It's way better than anything I've had in the store, I can't believe the incredible response that we are getting regarding this shampoo and conditioner, and it is not just from Moms using it on their babies, we have all ages using this product and coming back for more." "The most exciting calls are the ones from our customers raving about the product and how great their hair looks and from the retailers saying that the product is flying of their shelves," Surabian said.From the essential oils to the cleaning agents, every ingredient is from nature's laboratory?safe, pure, and 100 percent plant-derived. Thus, Nature's Baby was born.Nature's Baby uses ingredients such as shea butter, aloe, olive oil, macadamia nut oil and safflower oil. Its Vanilla Tangerine and Lavender Chamomile scents come from essential oils, and the products use only certified organic preservatives that are plant derived. Surabian said a diaper cream, body lotion, sunscreen and diaper-pail deodorizer are currently in the worksNote: The pink ribbon for breast cancer awareness is on all our packaging.

We donate a % of our sales to the fight against breast cancer. Contact:Adena Surabian888-902-2229e-mail protected from spam bots????www.naturesbabyproducts.com.

All of these formal doubled flowers will be ones with a very high number of petals per flower. What has happened with these flowers is that they have been hybridized so often that the pollen parts (the stamens) have turned into parts that now look more like petals (staminoids). All true formal double flowers will be pollen free.Goldenrod flowers (bright yellow) are often used as fillers in arrangements and goldenrod is a daisy-ragweed relative and will shed plenty of allergenic pollen. Don't use goldenrod!Baby's breath is a popular wedding flower, again, often used as filler between other larger flowers. Baby's breath is grown and sold as single or double flowered.

If you use baby's breath, use only the doubled flowered types. Roses: Florist type hybrid tea roses that are still in a closed bud stage and that are not especially fragrant are excellent choices and will shed no pollen. If using roses picked from the garden, choose only those roses with healthy green leaves, and pick roses that are still in the bud to half-open stages. Some free-flowering garden roses, such as the beautiful pale pink ?Cecile Brunner' roses, are always allergy-free and produce no pollen at all. The Banksia roses, which will be either yellow or white, are small, cute, come in dense sprays, and are also pollen free.Pots of blooming hydrangeas, especially of the old-fashioned Hydrangea macrophylla type, are mostly pollen-free and are good choices to use.

Pots of blooming double tuberous begonias, especially all the erect type cultivars, almost all of these are great, very large, colorful flowers and pollen-free. The fancy flowered begonias called ?Reigers' begonias are also pollen free and come in bright colors or white, yellow, red, salmon, and pink. Lilies of all types can often now be purchased that are either simply pollen-free flowers, or else someone (who doesn't have allergies), can carefully remove the brown pollen-bearing anthers on the tip of each of the six stamens in each regular lily.... watch this pollen as it will also easily stain your wedding clothes, especially anything white. Lilies that have had the anthers removed will be completely pollen free.

** A caution here though: sap from any and all kinds of lilies can cause a very nasty, long-lasting itchy skin rash?certainly nothing any bride would want on her honeymoon! With this in mind, watch out for the sap of all lilies and of Alstromeria too. Also, it would not be a good idea for a bride to even carry a bouquet of lilies, certainly not if she has skin that is in the least bit sensitive. Anyone helping with the wedding would be wise not to stick their hands into the water in which the lilies have been standing, as this water will have the sap in it.Camellias: Camellias come in bright white, red, or pink colors and few flowers are more beautiful than nice camellias, however they are not easy to buy from florists. Still, a gardener friend may have some you could use if the season is right?spring and fall. If you can find them, there are many nice fully doubled, formal double type camellias that are pollen-free.

These camellias will look fabulous floating in small bowls of water on tables. Orchids: Very few orchids cause any pollen allergies and it is now possible to buy small pots of beautiful blooming orchids at quite reasonable prices. Occasionally there is some skin rash associated with orchids, so watch any and all sap from cut flowers. Individual orchids should have their stems in small tubes of water. Although certainly not indoor plants, pots of growing pansy, viola, and impatiens also can look terrific and they are all very low allergy potential flowering plants.

In California or Florida it might be possible to get large sprays of bougainvillea flowers. These now come in many colors, including bright white. Double bougainvillea flowers will have no pollen at all, and even the more typical types of bougainvillea will shed next to no pollen. Bougainvillea flowers are good too for using around perfume sensitive people, as they have next to no smell.Lawns: If the wedding is to be held on a lawn, or if the reception afterwards is, I'd suggest that the lawn be mowed two to three days ahead of time, and that a lawn mower with a really good grass catcher be used. is the author of Allergy-Free Gardening, and also of, Safe Sex in the Garden.

His work has been featured on National Public Radio, on CBS Evening News, on NBC, Fox, and on HGTV. For more detail on allergy free or allergy causing plants and flowers, look up allergy free gardening on www.Allegra.com Tom Ogren's own website is www.allergyfree-gardening.com.

A must-have for fragrance and beauty professionals, the guidebook lists fragrances from 596 houses.Edwards won the coveted 2004 FiFi award for Technological Breakthrough of the Year from The Fragrance Foundation in New York, a leading industry organization. A Paris, France resident, Edwards divides his time between Sydney, New York, and London, as well as other cities in his unending quest for new fragrances. Edwards's previous book, the glossy, in-depth historical guide "Perfume Legends: French Feminine Fragrances" is a veritable love letter to the creation of classic French perfumes, demonstrating his devotion to the perfume industry.Edwards was among the first to identify the need to simplify the business of selling and buying fragrance. With the market literally drowning in perfume launches - more than 1800 new ones have appeared since 2000 - he recognized that the only truly effective way to cut through the growing confusion and help guide customers to the right fragrance choices was to classify perfumes by the way they smell. The idea is simple, but stunningly effective: people tend to select most of the fragrances they wear from just one or two of the twelve fragrance families.

Armed with this guide, it is easy to suggest other fragrances to try from the families that hold the most appeal. Selling fragrances by their scent - as well as House affiliation and seductive imagery - has been a dazzling success. More and more retailers are turning to Fragrances of the World and its online counterpart to boost flagging sales at the perfume counters. His classification system was recently introduced to Sephora in the US showcasing the Fragrance Finder for Sephora. An interesting online version was recently developed for Sephora.com.

See the Fragrance Finder at http://www.sephora.com. Collaborating with fellow author Jan Moran, Edwards created a second online program, Fabulous Fragrances.Info, a retail-oriented online program and database which combines Edwards's classifications with Moran's extensive fragrance reviews. Moran wrote the industry acclaimed book, "Fabulous Fragrances II" and won a "Stevie Award" for Technological Innovator of the Year in 2004, an achievement noted on http://www.stevieawards.com.About the Book:Fragrances of the World 2005; US $130; ISBN # 097560970X. Images for publication may be downloaded from http://www.fabulousfragrances.com/preskit_images.html. For more information, visit http://www.fabulousfragrances.com.

Contact Information:Anne HammonsCrescent House Publishinghttp://www.fabulousfragrances.com760-775-9151.

• Chocolates
• Flowers
• Jewelry
• Lingerie
• Perfume
• Candles
• Soft Toys
• Clothes

Men often consider us gullible when they see us being 'taken in' by another man's soft words and candlelight dinners. The truth is, we often know when we're being played, but we can't help responding to the gesture. We'd like it to be sincere so we convince ourselves that it is. And occasionally, the manipulative male becomes a victim of his own techniques and falls for the woman he set out to victimize.But falling for romantic gestures isn't a sign of weakness. A woman can muster huge wells of strength and resourcefulness when the situation calls for it.

Some women get addicted to this power and let go of the so-called feminine side of their natures. Others realize that you can have both.So what it's really about is knowing the woman that you're buying for. You know you're in trouble when you make generalizations like, "Women love flowers" or "I'm sure she'd like a box of chocolates for her birthday". She may prefer some clay for her sculptures or some new gardening tools. Romance is more about the care that went into choosing the gift rather than the gift itself.Here's a story that illustrates this point:Barbara and her husband John often talked about their pasts, including their experiences as young children.

In the course of one particular conversation, Barbara described a beautiful old-fashioned pencil case her mother gave her when she first started school. She hadn't thought about the case in years, but at the time it was one of her most treasured possessions.Six months later, John was browsing in a specialty store when he came across a pencil case that matched Barbara's description. He immediately bought it and presented it to her that night.Barbara was delighted with his gift and amazed that John had recalled their conversation. To her the gift was magical. It felt as if John had restored a little piece of her childhood.People give you clues about what they want continuously in their daily conversation.

It's up to you to pay attention and surprise them later with a well-chosen gift. This type of thoughtfulness works wonders in a relationship..

? 323-222-5156 ? e-mail protected from spam botsContact: Dan T.Phone: 323-222-5156Email: e-mail protected from spam bots.

At some point I started to wonder for whom these absolutely gorgeous rooms were designed. Bedside tables held no alarm clocks or clock radios. While there was usually an abundance of decorative items, there were no tissue boxes or eyeglass cases. Dressers displayed beautifully arranged floral creations and perhaps a cut glass perfume bottle or two, with ornamental stoppers. No jewelry boxes, no lotion bottles, none of the everyday stuff of life.

I don't know about you but I want a telephone at the side of my bed. And someplace handy for the TV remote.And the bathrooms! Don't even get me started on the bathrooms! Do the users of these bathrooms ever need to replace the toilet paper or the hand soap? Do they have their hair done weekly (maybe daily?) at beauty- or barber-shops and thus have no need of shampoo and conditioner bottles? Toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss? The men don't have to shave and the women have no need of makeup? Streamlining and organization can only take you so far. Sooner or later you need a place for feminine supplies, room deodorizers, and the extra cotton balls and swabs that don't fit into the pretty little designer containers. And I can't be the only person who thinks that a plunger should be stored someplace handy to the location of possible need.No cords for the lamps, no tangle of wires for the home office computer system. One photograph featured an elegant "work space" with a large bouquet of flowers drooping fetchingly over the printer.

I could imagine spent blossoms dropping into the works, and I couldn't imagine how to open the paper tray without knocking the vase over. I suppose the person who would work at such a desk would have no need of a mouse pad, paper clips, or a pile of sticky notes. I wish I could work like that.I want to know what the rooms in the photographs look like a week later. Are the same three Granny Smith apples still in perfect position on the glass-topped table? Is the fringe on the cashmere afghan still draped just so over the arm of the rocking chair in the baby's room? Does the kitchen counter look bare without the tureen of soup and the matching soup bowls? I mean, the soup was eaten, wasn't it? Am I losing my perspective here?Show me a playroom after the children have been forced to put away the toys. I'll bet there are no cunning arrangements of stuffed animals having tea, and the blocks aren't stacked into just-right pyramids with one block placed in front and a little to the side.

The pillows are all over the room and the bedspread is trailing onto the floor. That's real.I realize that the decorating magazines present rooms and arrangements that are idealized and stylized. They are intended to give our imaginations a jumping-off point; we are meant to adapt their ideas to our own needs. They do a wonderful job and I will continue to peruse the glossy pages of each publication. Occasionally, however, I'd appreciate a view of a real room, spiffed up for company, perhaps, but real.

I want to be able to imagine waking up to the clock radio, to see myself sitting at the computer and actually getting some work done, to know where I would store the supply of makeup without which I cannot face the world. I want to think that I could actually live in the room. Isn't that the point of the whole exercise? Don't we all want comfortable homes that suit our life styles, organized and better looking, maybe, but still us? Go take a look at the pictures in a decorating magazine. See if you agree with me. I think I'm going to go clean out a couple of drawers and straighten a bookcase shelf or two.

It won't end up picture perfect, but it will be real..

Horsemint grows wild in most of the Eastern United States, from Mexico, Texas up to Minnesota to Vermont. It is partial to sandy soils and will grow in USDA Zones 5-10. Native Americans used it as a treatment for colds and flu. It has natural fungicidal and bacterial retardant properties because it's essential oils are high in thymol.ROSEMARYThis wonderful herb we use for seasoning is also a great, natural mosquito repellant. It has been used for centuries to keep pesky mosquitoes away.

Rosemary is a native of the Mediterranean, so it likes hot, dry weather and well-drained soil. It is hardy in USDA zones 8-10, and must be grown as a pot plant in colder climates. If you happen to live in a part of the country where rosemary does not grow, you can get a good quality rosemary essential oil; mix 4 drops with ? cup olive oil. Store in a cool, dry place. When it comes to fresh plant oils as natural mosquito repellants, there is every reason to have the plant in your yard, if they will grow in your area.

It is an inexpensive and attractive way to boost the appearance of the landscape and have natural mosquito repellants on hand as well. MARIGOLDSOrganic gardeners have used marigolds as companion plants to keep aphids away. Mosquitoes don't like its scent any better (and some humans feel the same way). Marigolds are sun-loving annuals that come in a variety of shapes and sizes for almost any landscape. They are quite easy to grow from seed.

AGERATUMThis charming little bedding plant contains coumarin, and mosquitoes detest the smell. It is used in the perfume industry and is even in some commercial mosquito repellants. Don't rub ageratum on your skin, though. It has some other less desirable elements that you don't want to keep on your skin in quantity. Ageratums are annuals, and the come in a muted blue and white that compliments most other plantings.

MOSQUITO PLANTSThere are two types of plants that are called mosquito plants. One is a member of the geranium family that was genetically engineered to incorporate the properties of citronella. Citronella only grows in tropical places, but it is a well known repellant for mosquitoes. This plant was created to bring the repellant properties of citronella into a hardier plant. It will grow where any geranium will thrive.

Many have questioned its usefulness as a mosquito repellant, but it is attractive enough to warrant planting for it's ornamental value. The other kind of mosquito plant is agastache cana. Its common names include Texas hummingbird mint, bubblegum mint, giant hyssop, or giant hummingbird mint. As you might guess, hummingbirds are quite attracted to it. It is a New Mexico native, also found in parts of Texas.

It is, in fact, a member of the mint family and its leaves do have a pungent aroma when crushed. In its native habitat, it is perennial, and is usually hardy in USDA Zones 5a-9a. It blooms late summer to early fall, so it catches hummingbirds on their annual migration. The long, medium pink flowers reel in butterflies as well. CATNIPOne of the most powerful mosquito repellant plants is ordinary catnip.

Recent studies have shown that it is ten times more effective than DEET at repelling mosquitoes. It is a short lived perennial throughout most of the United States. It is easy to grow from seed, and quickly reseeds. Aside from its intoxicating effects on cats, the leaves make a very soothing tea. With all of these plants, the leaves must be crushed to release the aroma.

Otherwise mosquitoes can't smell them. And, with rosemary and catnip, you can simply crush a few leaves and rub on your skin and clothing to enhance the effect. So, next time you are revising your plantings, consider using some of these attractive plants to do more than just enhance the landscape. You can have pretty ornamentals that also drive mosquitoes away..

You can rub your skin raw trying to get rid of the unbearable itch. Other common symptoms include:



Rash on the legs, arms, hands and neck (most common but other areas can be involved)
General dry skin even when eczema is not active
Blisters with oozing and scabbing
Redness and inflammation around the blisters
What causes eczema?

There tends to be a general consensus that eczema is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. If a person has atopic eczema there will usually be another family member with an atopic condition, such as eczema, asthma or hay fever. Many environmental factors are associated with a flare-up and may include the following:

? Wool clothing that scratches and rubs against the skin

? Taking long hot showers or frequent baths

? Activities that involve dust and soil contact

? Extremes in temperature (both hot and cold)

? Contact with chemicals such as bug spray, paint thinner, air fresheners and even certain scented toilet paper

? Scented soaps, detergents and perfume

In addition to the above-mentioned factors, stress and diet can play a role in activating an eczema flare up.

Stress

Staying calm and keeping a positive mental attitude can be an excellent way to keep eczema flare-ups to a minimum. Personal and work related stresses are potent triggers for eczema.

Feelings of anger and frustration can also increase the chances of a flare-up. My personal battles with eczema have been at there worst during periods of increased stress at work.



Diet
Certain foods have been known to provoke the onset of eczema. Foods on this list include peanuts, milk and milk products, soy, fish, eggs and wheat. It's not a bad idea to keep a journal of what you eat and write down the effects it has on your body. The journal will help you identify and avoid foods that provoke an eczema attack.

Is there a cure for Eczema?

There is no complete cure for eczema.

However, there are a variety of natural treatments and routines that can be followed to help reduce eczema flare-ups. Treatments are very individual and work better on some people than others. If these tips don't offer some relief then it is best to consult your healthcare professional. Various natural healing experts recommend the following for controlling eczema:

GLA - Evening primrose oil is a great source of the essential fatty acid known as GLA (gamma-linolenic acid). GLA is hard to come by in the diet so it is best to get thru supplementation.

Typical dosage is between 3 and 6 grams daily, taken with food. Studies for Primrose oil have been mixed but some patients do claim that the oil has helped to reduce symptoms of eczema.

Herbs ? There are a variety of herbs that have had some success in treating eczema. These include burdock root, red clover, goldenrod, roman chamomile, German chamomile and yarrow. A great recipe that can be applied to the affected area (2x a day) is the following:



German chamomile 12 drops

Goldenrod 6 drops

Tagetes 6 drops

Dilute this solution in the following:

Almond oil 2 tablespoons

Jojoba oil 25 drops

Evening primrose oil 10 drops

This natural remedy has offered excellent results for numerous people with eczema.

For your first application, treat a small area to insure that your skin is not overly sensitive to the oils.

Ice- placing an ice pack on the aggravated areas can offer a natural way to relieve itching. A good ice pack can be made from a solution of 50% water and 50% rubbing alcohol. The alcohol will prevent the solution from hardening and allows you to mold the pack to the contours of your body.

Moisturize ? It is very important to moisturize every day with a hypoallergenic moisturizer free of perfume. I have found sweet almond oil and apricot kernel oil to be excellent moisturizers. Make sure to apply immediately after every bath or shower.

When drying, make sure to pat your skin dry and do not rub.

Relax ? As I have already mentioned, stress has been shown to have an active role in many an eczema flare-up. It is important to involve yourself in regular stress reducing activities. This can include daily meditation, yoga, walking or a few minutes of deep breathing exercises. Pick an activity you will enjoy and that you can do consistently.

Conclusion

Remember that eczema is a chronic condition that is most likely the result of your inherited genetics. Learning your flare up triggers and making the appropriate lifestyle changes is of prime importance in controlling eczema.

Keeping a regular journal will go a long way in helping to identify your trigger foods and activities. I would encourage you to learn as much as possible about your condition. This will give you a sense of control and empowerment while helping you in your self-management of this chronic condition. Successful management of eczema can be achieved provided you commit yourself to the process. I wish you well

So along with the calendars and centerfolds that the women send to their husbands, they usually send a cd of all the images that the men can look at on their computers while stationed there." Space is an issue for the soldiers, so a small book or cd of sexy images of their wife or girlfriend is often preferable to stacks of girlie magazines. Adrienne adds, "I imagine the women packing up the cds in tissue and ribbon with a spray of perfume, just like the love letters of old."Lori and Adrienne are co-owners of Pink Kitty Studios, and both have been in the glamour photography business for over 15 years. What makes them unique is that both have been in front of the camera themselves many times, so they know what the customers are going through and how it feels. Plus, the women are more comfortable with them then they often are with male boudoir photographers. "And," Lori adds, "many of the women state that they're not sure how their husbands would feel about them shedding their clothes for a male photographer while they are stationed 10,000 miles away!"Pink Kitty Studios is owned and run by Lori Mann and Adrienne Cragnotti, a photographer and stylist respectively.

Pink Kitty Studios has been featured on radio on KROQ's Morning Show with Kevin and Bean and on television on KCAL's 9 On The Town..

Paw Palace offers a large selection of designer pet carriers, dog shoes (for both small and big dogs), stunning jewelry and collars, luxury toys such as Chewy Vuitton plush Bags, Chewnel #5 perfume plush toy bottles, designer inspired plush shoe toys, plus so many more. Also featured is spa essentials such as shampoos, perfumes/colognes, Pawlish for pets -- don't forget to check out the luxury plush spa bathrobes for after the primping -- bowls and feeders, luxurious pet beds, gourmet treats and pastries and holistic foods, such as Solid Gold."Our Web-based boutique has been very fortunate this past year, as we were asked to be a guest on some TV shows and to appear on the front cover of USA Today on February 12, 2005, and in many upscale pet magazines. Certainly, this has brought popularity to my online boutique, but what I think the two biggest factors of our success has been our tremendous, unique selection of designer merchandise and the outstanding customer service we have provided to our Web-based clients," Ms. Ujobagy says."Also, we were recently asked to be featured in the celebrity gift bags of the recently released movie, Must Love Dogs, featuring Diane Lane and John Cusack," Ms. Ujobagy continues.

"It's always an honor when I receive a call from the press because with so many online pet boutiques that are in existence over the web, Paw Palace definitely must have caught the attention of someone who has the authority to make those decisions." With its enormous selection of luxury pet products, Paw Palace also will extend its product line to such services as gift cards, custom orders, a puppy gift registry, private shopping appointments, gift wrapping, pooch gift baskets and custom fittings. Friendly pets are also welcomed.For more information on this "must see" pet boutique, visit Paw Palace at 19 W. Front Street, Red Bank, NJ, or online at www.pawpalaceonline.com.Media Contact: Dana Ujobagy Paw Palace 732-747-9744 or 877-747-9744www.pawpalaceonline.com.