It’s a firmly held belief that many of our mythological stories are based on some degree of truth, be it Arthurian legend or more recent American folktales like Johnny Appleseed or John Henry. These larger than life tales evolve from small grains of truth. Similarly many of the monsters and mystical beasts from mythology spawn from out own inner demons and secret fears. One such common phobia throughout cultures is the myth of vagina dentata. This fear has largely come to light recently because of the film Teeth, written and directed by Mitchell Lichtenstein, that was recently released on DVD. Teeth is about a teenage girl, played by Jess Weixler who discovers she has vagina dentata (Latin for “toothed vagina”). From there, you can probably imagine where the story goes, but as far-fetched as the idea may seem, vagina dentata may be more than just a premise for a B horror movie.

The History of Vagina Dentata

And no, teeth of the vagina is not something that women actually suffer from, however, it is an actual psychological fear with references in different cultures, spanning thousands of miles and across thousands of years. The myth of vaginal teeth is often associated with the fear of castration in men, and is most often falsely attributed to the founder of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud. Freud actually believed quite the opposite, he theorized that man’s latent fear of a women’s genitalia was because to a young boy a vagina is an example of castration and not the cause of castration. Vagina dentata, however, has its roots in folklore throughout the world. One ancient Chinese proverb spoke of a woman’s genitalia as being both the gateways to immortality, but also the executioner of man. In Greek mythology, vagina dentata was represented by Gorgon, a female snake monster with often depicted with huge menacing fangs. Several deities represented vagina dentata in ancient Egypt as well as Native American folklore.

Modern Context of Castration Fantasy

The myth has very much less to do with teeth mutations and more to do as a cautionary tale warning men of the dangers of intercourse with strange women. The film Teeth uses the myth as more of a female empowerment against male antagonists. The historical studies never put it in this context, it was always seen from a male prospective. The movie definitely puts a new cultural context on a very old primal fear.

To date, vagina dentata is not something taught in dentistry school, however, it is interesting how the fear has evolved in modern society. While teeth cloning and other tooth related technologies are changing the face of dentistry, dentists thus far have little to be concerned about when it comes to vagina dentata. Therapist, on the other hand, might have much to consider. The myth’s frequent representation in various forms in so many different cultures does lead one to question if there’s any truth or if it’s something all in our minds?

The lettuce or the peaches are not the same as before. It is a topic of conversation on many tables and a reality that has driven a new generation of dietetics: that of the so-called super foods.

Given the decrease in the quality of the products we consume today and, sometimes, in the face of an unbalanced diet, the arrival of those new products with extra properties is more than welcome: they are high in antioxidants (such as vitamins A, C and E) ) and phytonutrients (chemical substances present in plants that provide color and flavor, as well as protection against ultraviolet radiation and infections), eliminate toxins, contribute to reduce the risk of heart disease or cancer and combat aging.

It is common to hear about the excellence of traditional products in the Mediterranean diet, such as olive oil.

Myth or Reality

Are we faced with medicines capable of curing and shielding against possible ailments or is this a temporary and baseless tendency, a product of the popular interest of the developed world for diet and health?

A simple search in Google on the term “super food” reveals that every 0.13 seconds someone tracks the term on the Internet.

In addition, it returns around 700,000 results.

However, despite its omnipresence, there is not even an official definition.

Is it a trend or fashion; It is not something new. Years ago the scientific community named functional ingredients to nutrients that, without adding calories, preserve health, such as olive oil, nuts or blue fish. Hence comes the name super food, but this does not enjoy the scientific evidence. It is true that they are very healthy products.

The nutritionist of the Biomedical Research Center of the Carlos III Institute, Manuel Monino, agrees with the statement: “There is no superfood as such. Instead, rather than specific products, talk about food super-patterns: there is insufficient evidence of their claimed properties, in fact, most studies have conducted in vitro tests on animals and use very high doses of substances, impossible to achieve with the habitual intake of the food that contains them.

Even so, it is true that some are rich in bioactive substances or in phytochemicals that are in the focus of research, such as flavonoids, carotenes, phenolic compounds… “.

“They are healthy products, but they do not cure, they only preserve health at best”. Warns Irene Breton.

For this expert, the best way to provide the body with everything you need is through a varied diet rich in legumes, fruits, vegetables, nuts and whole grains, but without exclusive consumption of a specific product or excluding others, such as eggs or dairy “What contributes to health or takes away the food patterns and not eating something isolated. Some cater to do great business, that ask it to those who marketed the oat bran, exotic juices or Goji berries, the latter considered by many a super food when they are not different from our raisins, “.

In Spain, we spend more than 2,000 million euros on miracle products, which sometimes includes extracts from supposedly prodigious foods. According to Nieves Palacios, specialist in Endocrinology and Sports Medicine, when making a menu we can not forget fruits, nuts and vegetables every day and vegetables and fish two or three times a week.

In 2013 The New England Journal of Medicine published the results of a study of the Carlos III Institute of Madrid in patients with cardiovascular risk that proved that a diet rich in such foods and low in soft drinks, fatty meats and sweets reduced up to 30% the probability of heart attacks. “The concept” super “has become popular in the media, not among scientists,” he adds.

Exotic and traditional

What does seem clear is that incorporating these foods into a balanced diet is beneficial both physically and emotionally. “It produces emotional well-being and increases self-esteem, by being aware that we are taking care of our body,” says Itxasne Tome, a psychologist at the Ravenna Clinic.

But what to buy?

The acclaimed of all the life or those of extravagant name exalted by journalists and bloggers? Paula Rosso, nutritionist at the Lajo Plaza medical center, do not bet on both options.

“Some traditions return when they discover their active ingredients scientifically: for example Omega-3 acids and chia fiber, protectors of the cardiovascular system, or Goji berries, excellent antioxidant, although it has been discovered that some commercial presentations incorporated high doses of heavy metals, hence they sell less.

In any case, Mediterranean foods are also a source of vitamins and the basis of our diet, “adds the nutritionist. And as important as what to take is the way to do it.

“This type of food must be consumed raw or with the least possible cooking and take it very fresh so that it keeps its properties intact and makes it easier for the body to absorb it,” says Dr. Rosso. And nothing to gorge on one and marginalise all others.

“There is evidence that fruits and vegetables fight cancer, but in the form of supplements – that is, isolating their nutrients outside – they do not produce the same effects. Including large doses of a new food can sometimes mean displacing others of greater nutritional value and thus contribute to the imbalance, “says Manuel Monino.

Here’s the burning question: Is Zurvita a scam? With so many home based business opportunities on the internet today how do you find “the real deal?” Maybe you’ve tried ACN, Pre-Paid Legal, Herbalife or one of the hundreds of other prominent work from home companies. Regardless of your past experience, or inexperience, now you’re looking at Zurvita. So… Is it just another scam?

Zurvita is a Latin term meaning “the risen life.” I didn’t really understand the name choice at first. Further research indicated the company was founded on strong Christian beliefs, hence the name. At first glance that idea may seem comforting. Isn’t it really just one part of the Zurvita scam?

So what exactly does Zurvita do? The company offers a rather broad spectrum of products and services designed to help save consumers money. Now you and I both know there are many things “designed” to help us, but do they really? I purchased two of their offerings and decided to put them to the test. One month later, I was able to save nearly $200. I was impressed with Zurvita’s products, but questions still lingered.

Plenty of home based businesses have “valuable” products. Even with their great products, you can’t help but feel like you’re being scammed. Why is that? Generally speaking, it’s because you look at the amount of work you’re putting into your new venture, and the amount of you’re return. Typically these are directly disproportionate. Most home based business opportunities take years to build. The average person simply can’t just sit around and wait for promises of lifelong residual income. Does Zurvita’s compensation plan deliver on time? In my opinion, yes it does.

As you sit and read, you may still find yourself asking the same question over and over. “Is Zurvita a scam?” I’ve personally done the research. I’ve personally become a Zurvita Marketing Rep. I’ve personally experienced the benefits of their products. I can personally say, “No, Zurvita is no scam.”

I have never been more impressed with a home based business than I am with Zurvita. This company is truly remarkable. If you’re looking for a home based business, this is one company that you can count on.

I know how hard it can be to decipher all the information that’s out there. With so many self-proclaimed internet marketing guru’s and scam busters, it’s hard to tell fact from fiction. I offer you only fact. Fact based on personal experience, nuts and bolts if you will. No fluff, no pie in the sky, just truth. The truth is, Zurvita is no scam.

The media reported the Michael Jackson case incessantly for the duration of his trial. What was tragically lacking are the facts regarding pedophiles/ephebophiles and sexual child abuse.

Studies reveal 62% of girls and 31% of boys will be sexually abused by age 18–considered low based on health services.

–80% are sexually abused by a family member

–19% are abused by someone the child knows and trusts

–1% according to government statistics are abused by strangers

The unbelievable truth: Pedophiles/Ephebophiles conduct themselves as average and ordinary to the world. He or she may be a leader in the church; the community; or business. Pedophiles/ephebophiles seldom fit a classic stereotype–education, socioeconomic status, career or culture.

Furthermore, sexual abuse/incest is more difficult to believe or accept when the person we like, admire, love, and/or marry is the perpetrator. This is precisely why Jackson’s family, fans and the uninformed can unequivocally believe he could not possibly be an Ephebophile–sexual attraction to adolescents.

Pedophiles/Ephebophiles are cunning predators with a honed mode of operation. They are experts at manipulation, thus escaping adult reality. They feel entitled, justifying their actions as loving; not harming the child. They expend considerable energy maintaining this illusion to themselves and others. They create a persona of goodness beyond reproach. They go to great lengths to present themselves as exemplary people, who love children. Jackson’s defense attorney, Mesereau, invoked this convoluted tactic in response to the judge’s ruling that previous accounts of sexual abuse claims, which were settled, was admissible. Mesereau countered, “He [Jackson] also has spent millions on children with AIDS. We can drown them with examples of where Mr. Jackson has been so benevolent, so generous, so charitable, so giving for good causes, that it will make their theory look silly.”

Mesereau’s statement exemplifies, anyone who sees through the perpetrator’s façade is met with admonishment and rebuke for being critical, irrational, racist, out-to-get the person, and/or jealous. The perpetrator is the family emperor with no clothes. “I know my son, and this is ridiculous,” Jackson’s mother, Katherine Jackson, said in an interview on CBS “The Early Show.” She said people who believe Michael is guilty “don’t know him.” Jackson’s father, said his son was beloved around the world but had trouble in the United States because of racism. He said the accuser’s motives were clear: “It’s about money.”

Even more frightening Pedophiles/Ephebophiles do not hold beliefs reflecting society’s moral and ethical values. Therefore, coupled with the child’s innocence and trust of the abuser usually pressure or violence is seldom required. Thus, the perpetrator can unequivocally state, “I love children. Never-ever. I could never harm a child or anyone. It’s not in my heart. It’s not who I am.” –Michael Jackson, 1993.

There is another insidious aspect to Jackson’s contact with adolescents–he flaunts the relationship as ‘sweet and innocent’ admonishing anyone for believing it is sexual. Using the definition of sexual abuse, Jackson’s befriending adolescent boys under the guise of helping them with a life threatening illness and/or sleeping with them, albeit, he slept on the floor and the child slept in his bed, is in and of itself sexual abuse.

“Incest is both sexual abuse and an abuse of power. It is violence that does not require force. Another is using the victim, treating them in a way that they do not want or in a way that is not appropriate by a person with whom a different relationship is required. It is abuse because it does not take into consideration the needs or wishes of the child; rather, it meets the needs of the other person at the child’s expense. If the experience has sexual meaning for another person, in lieu of a nurturing purpose for the benefit of the child, it is abuse. If it is unwanted or inappropriate for her age or the relationship, it is abuse. Incest [sexual abuse] can occur through words, sounds, or even exposure of the child to sights or acts that are sexual but do not involve her. If she is forced to see what she does not want to see, for instance, by an exhibitionist, it is abuse. If a child is forced into an experience that is sexual in content or overtone that is abuse.

As long as the child is induced into sexual activity with someone who is in a position of greater power, whether that power is derived through the perpetrator’s age, size, status, or relationship, the act is abusive. A child who cannot refuse, or who believes she or he cannot refuse, is a child who has been violated.” (E. Sue Blume, Secret Survivors).

A FEW GOOD MEN was one of 1992’s best motion pictures. In the movie, the line, “You can’t handle the truth!” by Col. Jessep (played by Jack Nicholson), in response to Tom Cruise’s character, Lt. Kaffee’s sustained probing is often quoted within my mind when I’m confronted with denial-either my own or someone else’s. In the quest for more truth and reality in life, we have to at some point, face our denial. We all deny things. It’s a protection and coping mechanism.

“Denial is a defense mechanism in which a person is faced with a fact that is too painful to accept and rejects it instead, insisting that it is not true despite what may be overwhelming evidence.” That is the first line you will read when googling “denial” and clicking on the first found search-Wikipedia. Another simple search reveals “Denial is the psychological process by which human beings protect themselves from things which threaten them by blocking knowledge of those things from their awareness.”[1]

Of the types of denial, probably minimisation (an attitude of, “it’s not that bad”) and irresponsibility (blaming others or situations) are the most damaging and it appears that most commonplace denial (all denial other than in grieving) is caused through immature thinking; ultimately an immature mind that cannot cope adequately with conflict or reality.

Without wanting to be a hypocrite, and ironically by suggesting this I become one, I’m constantly disappointed to find Christian people living in unreality, and in a sense of denial-you can see it as soon as you meet them. Many have problems they refuse to acknowledge, let alone do anything about. For some, these problems are killing them! Many Christian people are not living, and have not lived, the authentic Christian lifestyle that’s on offer-the “full life” of salvation that Jesus preached in John 10:10. Spiritual people of any religion should be able to live in the truth of reality, rejecting to a large extent their denial, because truth is a spiritual ideal. Another frustration is people who evangelise, yet by virtue of their lifestyles and relationships, they live in patent denial. They do the Gospel so much harm because those being preached to can see all through it. It’s false and abhorrent.

In the search for truth, there is no place for rampant denial. Spiritual and emotional growth comes only when there is an acceptance of who we are, and the problems we face. Only then can we set about correcting personal and lifestyle problems.

Living in truth means living more boldly, which whilst requiring much faith and courage to execute, provides a new sense of freedom. What is there to lose? Well, it might be humiliating. This is true-there’s no gain without a little pain. If you have problems and are denying them, others will know already anyway, and in a sense that is even more humiliating! The wise choice is to tackle your issue(s) head on. You will gain respect from others and self-respect will be yours too.

Perhaps the best way to close this subject is by way of the words of Anna Freud in response to a query on what the essential personal qualities of a psychoanalyst should be:

“The answer is comparatively simple. If you want to be a real psychoanalyst you have to have a great love of the truth, scientific truth as well as personal truth, and you have to place this appreciation of truth higher than any discomfort at meeting unpleasant facts, whether they belong to the world outside or to your own inner person.”

I would expand this requirement to anyone who wants real life. You get little in life if you invest little. Make truth a more important commodity that your own comfort. Face your denial. Coping with reality costs in the short term; the cost is courage (which you have). In the longer term there are such rich rewards as you no longer succumb to fear as much and are freer to love, particularly yourself.

© Steve J. Wickham, 2008. All rights reserved Worldwide.

[1] Community Alcohol Information Program (CAIP) on “Denial.” Internet link no longer valid.

Everyone knows China is considered a conservative country, but in truth people are people and are very likely to live their lives in the way they choose to, no matter what the society and circumstances around them suggest they ought to do. Due to Confucianism China maintains a rather restrictive control over it’s own people; this restriction is often un-spoken and an endemic part of the cultural structure, especially in relation to sexuality.

Lesbianism, of course, is greatly frowned upon, as it doesn’t fit within the idea of the Confucian familial structure, so you may wonder what the situation is like within mainland China, and if there are actually any lesbians.

Are There Any Lesbians In China?

The fact of the matter is there are huge amounts of lesbians within mainland China! I would even venture that the ratio in fact exceeds the ratio in most western countries. You may very well wonder how I can possibly judge this in a culture whereby homosexuality should be hidden, and this is the bizarre thing: Chinese lesbians openly walk the streets quite obviously as a couple, together holding hands, and generally acting like lovers!

Now you may ask how this could be possible in such a restrictive society; the interesting thing is that due to China being essentially closed to the western world for hundreds of years (the last time China was open to the world was in the Yuan dynasty), most native Chinese have no idea what a lesbian couple might look or behave like, in fact two girls holding hands wouldn’t be seen as anything strange at all. It’s only to a westerners eye that the Chinese lesbian relationship is obvious!

How Chinese Lesbians Fool The Public!

To be quite honest I have been amazed at how some Chinese lesbian couples flaunt their relationships as much as they do, some even kissing in public in a kind of coy-play manner. I’ve looked around at the Chinese people to see their reaction, and there is absolutely none! Even in a western country a lesbian couple would get the odd raised eyebrow and frown behaving this way, yet not in China. Why is this?

You may think that perhaps they are not lesbians, and they are simply two girls who are close friends, and it’s only to my unaccustomed eyes that they ‘seem’ to be lesbians, but I should point out I have lived in China for more than eight years now, and also count a few lesbians as friends and even they have confirmed what I’ve witnessed.

The amazing thing IS THIS: because the culture is so restrictive and closed, Chinese lesbians have actually essentially found a way of ‘hiding-out in the open’.

Is Chinese Lesbianism Only a Fashion Statement?

The truth is, as many Chinese lesbians have told me and I myself have seen, lesbianism is a massive movement within China, particularly from the high school age until around twenty-four years of age. Many of the high school students do regard it as a kind of fashion, and this is the issue in China where the majority will follow a fashion or lifestyle simply if others are doing it.

Go to any independent market, and outside some of the clothes shops for females you will see a discreet sign with the letter ‘B.B’.

Many Chinese of the older generation have no idea what this sign means, but it’s a sign for a type of clothing that makes a female look like a boy, which is commonly what one of the two lesbians will choose to look like. This may sound like an offensive statement to a western female lesbian, trivializing their sexuality into a stereotypical fashion statement, yet it is not considered as such at all within China and with Chinese lesbians themselves, if anything they are proud of it.

Where To Meet Chinese Lesbians

Gay bars for lesbians to meet are also quite common, although ask the majority of native Chinese and you may very well get to hear the statement that ‘there are no gay bars in China!’; they may or may not actually believe this, but either way most regard homosexuality as a kind of shameful thing not to be admitted as part of Chinese society. Regardless, there are many gay bars in China, and everyone homosexual in a city knows where they are by word of mouth.

Lesbianism is unlikely to get less, in fact due to the Chinese propensity for following the latest trends due to a certain learned collective cultural viewpoint that is an intrinsic part of Chinese culture, it can only increase. The only question is this: What happens after the age of twenty-four when they are supposed to get married to a man and settle down and have babies (or at least one)? Seeing what happens in those cases in the future will be the interesting thing!

Some facts are fundamentally universal: when it is cold and damp outside, the human body craves something warm. Now, whether that warmness be in the form of steaming soup, hot tea or fresh-brewed coffee is up to the chilly consumer. But while the United States has become a seemingly Starbucks-infested coffee culture, a growing number of Americans are choosing tea for more reasons than simply warmth.

In 2005, the tea industry had its fourteenth consecutive year of sales increases, while retail supermarket sales alone surpassed $1.9 billion. This number is expected to continue to grow over the next five years. No longer just for the British, tea is fighting back as the beverage that is hard to ignore. In fact, 1.42 million pounds of tea is consumed every day in the U.S. and 519 million pounds are imported into the country each year.

But similar to choosing the perfect coffee bean or a complimentary bottle of wine, picking out the tea for your taste can be a dizzying task. Amazingly, all tea comes from the same plant called the Camellia sinensis, which is an evergreen native to China. It can grow up to 90 feet tall and in the past, some cultures taught monkeys to pick the tea leaves that they couldn’t reach. However, modern times and technology have allowed farmers to grow the trees to just three feet for easier cultivation. The plant’s leaves range from smooth and shiny to fuzzy and white-haired – each making up a specific type of tea. In total, the plant yields up to 3,000 varieties of tea, which can easily be broken up into three main categories: green, black, and oolong teas. Flavored and herbal teas also deserve to be mentioned, though they are not officially “tea.”

Green Tea

What it is: Making up about 10 percent of the world’s tea consumption, green tea has gotten a lot of recent media coverage for its health benefits.

Where it grows: Far East: China and Japan

What is tastes like: Green tea is greenish-yellow in color with a delicate taste that is slightly astringent and grassy.

What you should know: It is high in antioxidants and may protect against certain types of cancer (lung, ovarian, breast, prostate and stomach) as well as the precancerous condition of stomach cancer, gastritis.

White tea

What it is: The rarest of all teas, the leaves are the same as green tea leaves, but they are plucked from the plant when they are still very young, giving them their extremely light color.

Where it grows: a Fujian province on China’s east coast

What is tastes like: As one would expect, the tea is nearly colorless and is delicate in flavor with a slighty sweet and nutty quality.

What you should know: You may recognize white tea from recent Snapple commercials launching their new line of “Good For You” white and green tea bottled drinks.

Black tea

What it is: This is the most common type of tea, which accounts for about 87 percent of America’s tea consumption.

Where it grows: Africa, India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia

What is tastes like: Black tea can come in a range of flavors, but is usually found to have a heartier taste than green or oolong teas.

What you should know: The main difference between black tea and green tea is the oxidation process. Black tea leaves are fully oxidized whereas green tea leaves are lightly steamed before they are dried. This process contributes to the tea’s taste as well as caffeine content. Like green tea, black tea has also been shown to have health benefits. Research has suggested that the antioxidants found in black tea may play a preventive role in conditions like heart disease, stroke and some cancers.

Pu-erh tea

What it is: Also speller Puer, this tea technically falls in the black tea family, but is fermented twice (instead of once), which elevates it to its own category. The double oxidation process followed by a period of maturation allows the leaves to develop a thin layer of mold.

Where it grows: Southwest China, Burma, Vietnam and Laos

What is tastes like: Due to the layer of mold, pu-erh tea takes on a soil-like flavor with a strong, earthy quality.

What you should know: Although the tea is distinctly dirt-tasting, pu-erh is often used for medicinal purposes as a digestive aid.

Oolong tea

What it is: Considered to be among the finest (and most expensive) teas in the world, oolong

Tea is semi-fermented, which means that it goes through a short oxidation period that turns the leaves from green to a red-brown color.

Where it grows: Taiwan

What it tastes like: Pale yellow in color, the tea has a floral, fruity flavor reminiscent of peaches with a hint of smoke.

What you should know: Tea connoisseurs consider the oolong flavor to be the most delicate and frown on drinking it with milk, sugar or lemon as to preserve the natural taste.

Flavored tea, Blends, Herbal Infusions and Tisanes

Because tea naturally absorbs other flavors quite easily, cultures have been adding herbs, spices, oils and flowers to their tea for centuries. In China, adding flowers such as jasmine, orchard, rose and magnolia to teas is quite popular. In many Arabic nations, they add fresh mint leaves and heaping spoonfuls of sugar to their tea. And in India, they make spicy masala tea by adding spices like cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and peppers.

If black and green teas are considered “purebreds,” then blended teas are considered “mutts.” Tea producers use different strains of tea to create flavors like English Breakfast and Earl Grey.

Unlike flavored tea and other blends, herbal infusions and tisanes are not technically tea as they are not made with leaves from the Camellia sinensis plant. Instead, tisane (tee-ZAHN) is an herbal tea made from herbs, spices and flowers and added to boiling water. Herbal drinks are typically recognized for their caffeine-free quality and also for soothing and rejuvenating effects. Commonly found herbal teas include chamomile, peppermint, fennel, rose hip and lemon verbena.

Caffeine Conundrum

People find all sorts of reasons not to drink tea, but two of the most common center around the avoidance or obsession with caffeine. Consider these facts about tea and caffeine from the UK tea council:

– 4 cups of tea per day offer good health benefits without the contraindications of other caffeinated drinks.

– Four cups of tea contain only moderate amounts of caffeine, which has been shown to increase concentration, thereby improving performance.

– When drinking a normal cup of tea, you consume significantly less caffeine than a cup of instant coffee or one you would buy at a coffee shop.

– Tea contains at least half the level of caffeine than coffee.

Tea Traditions

Though not nearly as common in America as in other parts of the world like Ireland and Britain, the custom of tea still penetrates many households in this country. Afternoon tea is said to have originated in the early 1800s by Anna Russell, Duchess of Bedford who wanted some sort of mid-afternoon snack to ward off hunger pains until dinner. The tradition continues today, and while every British family does not sit down for a formal tea each day, many of the most elegant hotels in London (and in America) still serve a lavish spread for tea each afternoon. International chains like the Ritz-Carlton and the Four Seasons often offer a tea time treat, but check with your local hotels for times and pricing.

Plan Your Own

Nothing is more elegant and lady-like than a tea party. A creative idea for a shower, birthday party or just a girl’s luncheon, here’s everything you’ll need make tea fit for the queen.

– Tea: buy your favorite black or herbal tea at the store or make your own:

Spicy Green Tea

Relaxing Tea Blend

Chamomile Herb Tea

Lemongrass and Mint Tea

Spicy Ginger Tea

– Tea Accessories: milk (provide 2 percent and skim), sugar (may be cubed or loose, brown or white), lemon

– Sandwiches

Cucumber Tea Sandwiches

Shrimp Butter Tea Sandwiches

Finger Sandwiches

Mini Ham and Cheese Rolls

– Scones

White Chocolate and Dried Cherry Scones

Apricot Scones

Orange Poppy Seed Scones

Orange Pecan Scones

Strawberry Scones

Maple Scones

– Breads and Cakes

Mini Lemon Tea Bread

Buttermilk Scones with Raisins

Thyme-Rosemary Tea Bread

Chocolate Tea Bread

Lemon Verbena Tea Bread

Lemon Blueberry Tea Muffins

Mrs. Perry’s Crockpot Pumpkin Tea Bread

Cherry Almond Tea Ring

References:

United Kingdom Tea Council – An expansive database of information on tea. Everything from health benefits to types of tea – even a printable form to help you remember how your colleagues take their tea.

Tea Association of the USA, Inc. – Facts and figures about tea in the US.

StarChefs – An easy reference guide for all things tea-related.

Copyright © 2006 Ampere Media LLC

Although this is an updated and concise review on the famed Melaleuca Truth tales, I will offer you only the facts based on an extensive research done. There will be many who will try to defend this case but I sit on the fence as a neutral agent of the melaleuca truth.

There will be 3 parts presented to you and for our convenience sake, will be numbered. As an appreciation for reading this article please refer to my closing and personal opinion as a wrap up summary. Let’s begin.

1) The Roots

As a track back in the melaleuca truth, we begin in 1985 when the company was ‘revived’ and taken over by a man named Frank L. VanderSloot. He dissolved the previous company and gave it a premium ‘make-over’.

Today, as you know melaleuca became a network marketing plan where independent representatives were no longer required. Pretty soon, this company became very profitable and the melaleuca truth behind all it’s sales was via consumer direct marketing or enrollment based compensation plans.

2) The Products and Compensation

Say, you decide to join as a distributor. The range of products you will be selling are health related. Hence, you know that the ‘tea tree oil’ stems from this plant and Frank even went the extra mile to get this product approved by the FDA.

The actual melaleuca truth rides on the fact that these products you can sell has a certain fixed strategy to marketing successfully. You are encouraged to think that the most effective way is through the word of mouth advertising.

We commonly identify this as ‘offline marketing’ today. Your commissions on signing up a new distributor is your best bet at earning hundreds or thousands of dollars per month.

3) The Whole Melaleuca Truth

Here is an exact illustration of a real distributor experience. I share this with you because you deserve to know the real melaleuca truth in its dealings with people like us.

You sign up and wait for your few small “economy” sized bottles of products plus a bonus mini bottle of laundry liquid detergent. Then, you will soon find out in the package that your box of ‘goodies’ was actually stuffed with plastic blown up pillows to fill the big box.

This is indeed an illusion for you to think like you received a gold mine of things. Discovering the melaleuca truth ordeal sets you back at $93. Heck, even only a tiny bottle of toner and few other tiny bottles of moisturizer costs $30.

Go to the local pharmacy and you get a supply for a whole year with better brands.

You could do better without storing any products and selling digital products online today. The information age has begun and people deny the whole melaleuca truth just to cloud the “newcomers” judgements. My advice is that you might have a better chance in financial freedom with another Internet direct marketing company.

Who is Mark Yarnell?

For a start, Mark Yarnell is the number one bestseller writer of “Your First Year In Network Marketing and a lot of other stuffs that are a must read for those who wants to make it big in the networking industry. Recently, he designed a course which is called “Holy Grail Network Marketing”, where he interview people in the MLM producers that have earned more than $3 million annually.

Mark Yarnell started out with a company called NuSkin and later on joined with OxyFresh. He is one of the most sought speaker in the networking industry and for the past 24 years been living the lifestyle of a king.

Recently, I had the privilege of listening to his recorded webinar on “How To Make $100,000 thousand per month in a year or less. It is kind of refreshing to listen to this guy sharing his wisdom to anyone who wants to earn the kind of money he is earning but very hard to accept. He certainly don’t pull any punches which makes him what he is today. One of the question thrown at him was, what does it takes to get started in the networking industry? He simply replied that this MLM industry is the hardest work that he has done because it involves a lot of hard work. If you want to succeed in this networking industry,you need talk to 30 people daily either to recruit them o selling your products/services. He also mentioned the following critical step you need to follow everyday which was totally shocked a lot of people. You need to be consistently to allocate 2 hours a day to build relationship with people and your team members whether talking on the phone or meetings.

I don’t know for those who is holding a full time job really have two hours to spare talking to 30 peoples a day or 2 hours just for building relationship with your team. Even if you have the time, do you like to entertain the idea of talking to 30 people on the phone long enough to build your brand? Well, being long enough on the phone to talk to 30 people everyday is just not my cup of tea but that is just me.

That’s why I find so of his techniques are outdated as far as I am concern. With today’s technologies that we have, I think you can build your MLM business much faster using more advance techniques and able to reach to a wider audience. Anyway, I think his techniques still work for those who wants to build a empire in the networking industry.

The other point that he shares in his interview which is worth mentioning here is to follow your core values. A fine example that he illustrate is, will you recruit your mother into your MLM company. This is a point worth following because if you claim to joint the best company but yet you don’t believe in the company you are in, then you are jeopardising your success. You got to lead by honesty and integrity if you want to succeed in the networking industry.

While Mark Yarnell is the jedi master of building a huge empire in the MLM industry without using much of the internet based recruiting methods, I still think the best way to approach this recruiting based MLM profession is to use a combination of what Mark Yarnell system methods in combination with online recruiting marketing methods.

If you want to earn $100,000 per month in a year or less with Mark Yarnell system, you can leverage further by using internet technology to continuously speaking to millions of people everyday,which will increase your exposure and influence. Combining with phone contact which is essential provided you are talking to people who are interested but serious in building a profession in network industry, you will definitely be able to earn the fat paycheck of $100,000.

If you want to learn more about combining knockout tactics that you can use with Mark’s training, you can read more in my website by following the link below.

This past year I have been suffering from PMS. During that time of the month, I am extremely moody, irritated, and hypersensitive. I began noticing that I was complaining a lot, I was super sensitive to all that was wrong in my life, and I did not seem to have it together at all. It seemed like PMS was actually giving voice to my inner self. So instead of dismissing it, I decided to listen to it and learn from it.

When I was younger, I used to think that PMS was something that women in their thirties used as an excuse to be mean. Now that I’m there, I understand. PMS just exposes a woman’s true self. You see, in the twenty-two-odd days outside of PMS, women are guarded. We put on the ‘wife suit,’ the ‘mom suit,’ or the ‘professional suit,’ and we have no time to feel, so our real feelings get pushed aside and controlled, until the twenty-eighth day, when those feelings bust all barriers and let loose!

PMS helps women discover who they really are. Their defenses are down and they become most expressive at that time. It’s like a truth serum. Some people say that they cry for no reason, but they are really crying for every reason-for all the times in the past month when they felt that they couldn’t. They cry because they are overwhelmed. And they snap at their partner, kids, or anyone else unlucky enough to be within earshot because-let’s face it-that’s what we really want to do the other twenty-two days but are too worried about being a bad parent, losing our jobs, or offending our partners. PMS finally gives us an outlet.

Phew!

So I have learned not to dismiss my feelings during PMS, and instead I allow myself to feel. It’s me. Unplugged. Bare. Free and out of control, bringing out the real issues and finally working through all the junk of the past month. It’s not always easy, but it usually leads to the most honest, most liberating, problem solving sessions of my relationship. And I admit, I don’t always win. My crap is thrown right back at me and gives me a reality check. It feels like I’m in rehab. But man, the truth shall set you free. And for five days in the month, I get to be FREE. I have an excuse to finally be me! Thank you PMS!