Mystic Toad Press Blog

This spring’s collections show a mix of cultural fashions from around the world. According to Bloomsberry International, Spring 2005 was an exotic exchange of worldly attitudes which took fashion on a fantastic journey from South Asia, via the Mediterranean, and on to Africa. The principal styles this Spring are the Luxe Boho look, the Grecian Goddess, and African Safari Chic.

The Luxe Boho look is a revival of hippy styles from the 1960s. This style is young, free, and fun! Boho fashion has a gypsy flower-power appeal and is dominated by flowing styles and fabrics. Typical cuts include tunic tops, flared jeans, and flowing peasant dresses. Fabrics of Boho fashion include paisley florals, silk, embroidery, beadwork, and patchwork. Gypsy jewelry designs go well with a bohemian look. Natural materialssuch as stone, shell, wood, and bone beads are a great asset. The New Horizons beaded lanyard is an excellent example of an accessory made to suit Boho attire. New Horizons is made of natural tiger eye stones and bone speckled medium seed beads. Earth coloring combined with youthful simplicity gives the desired look. A chunky New Horizons choker, or other accessories made in this style, are a great asset to a bohemian outfit.

Spring fashion also saw the revival of the Ancient Greek Goddess. Modern Grecian fashion took ancient Troy vogue to create modern togas. The Greek Goddess form is raw, plain, natural, monotone, and flowing. Grecian clothing is simple with plain garlands of knotted cotton or silk - creating a flowing fabric cover over the body. Calvin Kline and Roberto Cavalli showed wrapped Grecian dresses in monotone pastel colors such as pink, cream, light teal, white, mauve, and taupe. Jewelry in monochromatic styles and colors blends perfectly with the Grecian look. Beaded jewelry made of matte beads in the simple shapes of circles, squares, or rectangles, is an excellent choice for this type of attire. A Pr estige beaded eyeglass chain, accented with rectangles, is made of monochromatic matte pastel silver beads in a delicate understated pattern. Twisted marble-like pearls make Prestige a fine addition to a spring toga. Spring’s African Safari apparel dominated the collections of most fashion houses including those of Jean Paul Gautier and Versace. Safari fashion is light, sporty, and clean. It boasts clean lines and sharp cuts in matte cotton fabrics. The colors reflect those of the Savanna such as khaki, cream, and sand. Tribal colors and styles, influenced by native fashion, are a great choice for jewelry. Creative patterns of zebra, cheetah, leopard, and giraffe would be ideal. Medalye Design’s Cleopatra beaded lanyard was inspired by the ancient North African queen and is a wonderful Safari match. Cleopatra’s black and white seed beads provide the desired ethnic accent. Matte gold beads offer a natural touch and bone-shaped raw brass beads match traditional Safari colors and textures.

In the not so distant past, the words “sex” and “pregnancy” were barely ever mentioned in the same sentence.

But today, even the most conservative medical sources say that as long as a woman is feeling good, and her pregnancy is not in jeopardy, sex is fine- oftentimes right up until the day of delivery. Unfortunately, even with these encouraging words, old fears die hard- and many couples continue to experience unnecessary concern.

To help set the record straight, what follows is a guide to the three most common fears about sex during pregnancy - and some reassuring advice

Fear #1 : Premature Labor Although it’s the most common pregnancy fear, studies on some 13,000 women revealed preterm labor was less common among women who had intercourse at least once a week during their pregnancy! Another study of 600 women found sex during pregnancy had a protective effect against early labor, as long as couples avoided the “male superior” position. If, however, you experience extreme cramping after sex, talk to your doctor before your next rendezvous.

Fear # 2: Hurting the baby Both women and men have this fear - but it’s really the least of your pregnancy worries. Because your baby floats in a pool of fluid inside your uterus, protected by your abdominal wall and your pelvis, they are fully cushioned, protected against all but the most severe blows to your tummy. Even deep penetration won’t harm Baby Snooks! And in case you’re wondering if junior will know what Mom and Dad are up to - the answer is “no”. While your baby will likely feel the sensations of your body moving, they won’t know if you’re dancing the tango, hanging curtains, or having sex!

Fear# 3 Orgasm/miscarriage Because orgasm can generally result in some degree of cramping and sometimes spotting, many women are frightened that climaxing during pregnancy will cause either a miscarriage or bring on labor. For the most part, however, the fears are unfounded. The most common causes of miscarriage are genetic defects and infections - not sex. Plus studies show that orgasm, even when it occurs late in pregnancy, won’t bring on labor. While it can cause your uterus to contract, an orgasm won’t cause cervical dilation, so they won’t initiate delivery. A nice bonus: When mom orgasms, baby experiences a euphoric-like hormonal rush that is very pleasurable to them.

While it’s likely sex will be safe and exciting during your pregnancy, get your doctor’s okay first if you are experiencing: Vaginal bleeding (as compared to spotting); if you are diagnosed with an “incompetent cervix”; if you are at increased risk for premature labor; if you are diagnosed with “placenta previa” (a problem with the placental sac that supports your baby); if you are carrying twins or triplets.

For more free information on all aspects of pregnancy care visit http://www.PamperingMom.com