Make This Summer the Summer of Love

The weather's not all that heats up in the summer. This can also be the season of love, whether you're single and looking for a relationship or in a committed partnership.
"Summer's a great time to develop a new relationship or to spice up the one that you already have," says Terri Orbuch, Ph.D., author of 5 Simple Steps to Take Your Marriage from Good to Great. "Summer brings with it such a sense of optimism."
Here's how to make this the steamiest summer ever in terms of romance.

1. Make the weather work to your advantage. Open your doors and windows to the warm breezes, put flowers everywhere, and inhale deeply. "Summer has such wonderful smells," Orbuch says. "And positive smells can increase the attraction between two people."

2. Shed those winter blues and resolve to be optimistic. "Just waking up to sunshine can have a positive effect on mood," Orbuch says. "And that optimism rubs off on other people as well." It's natural to want to be close to someone who's got a sunny, positive outlook on life, so strive for an upbeat attitude.

3. Summer's the perfect opportunity to show a little more skin, so make every inch count. Wear strapless tops in flattering colors, flirty sundresses, strappy sandals, and, of course, bathing suits.  And there's nothing wrong with adding a fun, floppy hat to your outfit.

4. If you can afford it, take a weekend share in a summer rental with a group of singles. "A summer house is a great way to meet people," says Brooke Wise, MBA, founder of Wise Matchmaking. "You're all in a house together by the beach, and weekend relationships can turn into serious relationships when the fall comes."

5. Use your creative juices to add an element of surprise into activities that can increase passion and romance. Plan a couples massage night, go to a wine tasting together, or stay up late watching erotic videos together.

6. If you're going out on a first date with someone, schedule something that takes advantage of the gorgeous weather. "Plan a picnic outside, or go to an arboretum," Orbuch says. "It's a little out of the ordinary and chances are it will help you reach your goal, which is a second date."

7. If you're single, take advantage of outdoor activities, like rooftop bars, movies in the park, and hiking clubs.

8. If you're a couple, take advantage of slower work schedules to do something together that you've been putting off due to lack of time. "Plan a getaway to a bed and breakfast," Wise says. "Or take a picnic to the park, just the two of you."

9. If you're a couple and you're feeling as if things are getting ho-hum and stale, plan something exciting together. Take a road trip, go up in a hot air balloon, or take a plane ride that lasts for at least two hours before you reach your destination, Wise says. That way, you'll feel far enough away from the kids to really relax together. (There's no time like the summer, when the kids are out of school, to leave them with grandparents for a few days.)

10. If you're single, save up and go on a singles trip, Wise suggests. "A trip to a faraway land, where you're traveling with others who are single, is a great way to meet someone," she says.

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Alarm Clocks for a Gentler Wake-Up

If you're tired of being jolted from your sleep by the sudden sound of a jarring alarm clock, there's a more pleasant way. Try beginning your day with a simulated sunrise, emanating from a natural light clock or enticing aromas to soothe you into the world of the awake.

How it Works
Usually starting 30 minutes before your set wake-up time, the light from a natural light alarm clock starts to mimic sunrise, gradually getting brighter. On some models, you can set a timer that allows you to wake up gradually over a period of time as short as 10 minutes or as long as an hour and a half. At the same time, natural sounds such as those of a jungle, rainforest or ocean, wind chimes, or songs from a selected radio station, start out at low volume and gradually reach a pre-set higher volume. So with a 30-minute wake-up, if you need to be out of bed by 6:30 a.m., the light and music start at 6:00.

Plug In
Natural light alarm clocks have built in radios with speakers. Some also come with docks for iPods, iPhones, and USBs. There are even brands that contain aromatherapy beads that wake you to the soothing scent of lavender or familiar smell of freshly brewed coffee. In some models, you can add your own essential aromatherapy oils.

Pick a Style
A variety of designs from robotic to light box to lamp-like. Some are spherical, presumably to resemble the sun. Others have a more clinical appearance, and when they are not lit, could be mistaken for a personal humidifier or vaporizer with a built-in clock.

Choose Well
If you have a hard time getting up no matter how well an alarm works, look for a natural light clocks that also comes with a snooze button or even a beeper that goes off when all else fails. The bottom line is: do some research to find a wake-up light that works best for you. Be sure to try out the sound effects before you buy. Not everyone likes to fall asleep or wake up to simulated sounds of birds chirping or rain falling, or to the smell of perfume and flowers. On the other hand, if you don't get good radio reception where you sleep, you may need those nature sounds or that iPod dock.

Sleep Tight
Just as natural alarm clocks help you wake up to gentle sounds and gradually increasing light, some can also be set to provide gradually decreasing light and sounds to help you fall asleep at night. Some models include white noise and low-intensity night light options.

Sources:

Shattell, Mona M. "Peaceful Awakenings: Taking the "Alarm" out of the Alarm Clock" Issues in mental Health Nursing, 2007 28:1271-1272. Web 11 May 2011

http://uncg.academia.edu/MonaShattell/Papers/304141/Peaceful_Awakenings_Taking_the_Alarm_out_of_the_Alarm_Clock

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TMJ: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments

Temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMJ, is a jaw disorder that at its most basic may cause minor pain and at its most involved may include myriad overlapping conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. Because pain in the jaw can result from so many things, it's critical to have a thorough physical exam to figure out the root cause before a diagnosis is made. Yet doctors admit that much of the time, TMJ has them stumped. Here's what to know about this mysterious malady:

TMJ is fairly common. About 35 million people in this country suffer from some form of TMJ problem. And while it can affect anyone, most TMJ sufferers are women of childbearing age.

TMJ can have a multitude of symptoms. A person with TMJ typically experiences jaw pain upon chewing or opening the mouth. This pain can radiate to other areas, including the ears, neck and shoulders. The person may also experience a popping, clicking or grating sound when opening or closing the mouth, jaw stiffness or an inability to open the mouth all the way, a bite that doesn't feel aligned, and difficulty speaking and swallowing. But jaw trouble isn't always present-there are other signs of TMJ that may at first glance have little to do with the jaw. These include headaches, difficulty hearing, dizziness, and vision troubles.

Doctors aren't always sure what causes TMJ. A common cause of TMJ is arthritis, which may simultaneously affect other areas of the body. TMJ also may result from injury. Or it could be a result of genes, your own particular hormonal mix, infection, and even certain dental treatments.

Hypersensitivity to pain is typical in TMJ sufferers. Doctors believe this characteristic of TMJ patients is linked to the fact that they frequently suffer from other chronic pain conditions.

TMJ's progress varies from person to person. Many TMJ sufferers have mild or moderate symptoms. These often resolve on their own or after the patient practices self care such as eating soft foods, avoiding opening the mouth wide, and applying heat or ice. Unfortunately, some TMJ sufferers experience a progressive worsening of the condition and long-term pain. In such cases, jaw surgery may be recommended.

Sources:

The TMJ Association, www.tmj.org
Mayo Clinic, www.mayoclinic.com

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