Kilty Larkin’s

Body hair can be pretty embarrassing to have in excess. While its of course totally natural and normal to have a lot of body hair, it has definitely developed a kind of stigma associated with it in some countries, including the U.S. Having a lot of body hair can make going to the beach or a public pool an embarrassing and uncomfortable event, when it is supposed to be fun and relaxing. Body hair removal is getting to be more and more common as this sort of stigma grows and spreads.

Americans like to find things to be ashamed of, this much I’ve learned. We are constantly looking for ways to hide our age, lower our weight, cover up blemishes, restructure our faces, and we are now getting obsessed with body hair removal. It seems like every time I turn on the television I’m seeing some new product designed for body hair removal being advertised.

One of the older tried and tested methods of body hair removal is of course waxing. This is my personal favorite. There’s nothing like getting hot wax poured all over you, then having your hair ripped out one strip at a time. If you’ve never had the pleasure of experiencing this form of body hair removal, I highly recommend it. Somewhere between medieval torture and a bad day at the dentist, getting your body hair waxed is a great way to spend an afternoon.

Of course, then there is shaving. Shaving is probably the most common method of body hair removal, if not the most efficient. While its relatively painless, your hair will just grow right back again within days, and you are limited to shaving areas you can reach. Body hair removal for your legs, armpits, and of course face is easy to do by shaving, but its pretty hard to shave your own back unless you have some amazing flexibility.

The most effective form of body hair removal that I know is electrolysis. This is a medical procedure involving lasers that permanently, or nearly permanently, removes hair by killing the roots. While it is actually pretty painless compared to waxing, the problem with this kind of body hair removal is it is expensive, and therefore not really feasible for large portions of your body.

There are some body hair removal lotions and creams I’ve seen, but I’m a little wary of any chemical that can dissolve your hair. Generally, that’s not a good sign, and probably means it’s doing all kinds of harmful things to your skin.

Indoor volleyball has been a respected sport for a long time and then the new kid on the block came along. Beach volleyball is an old pastime but only became popular as a professional sport from the late 1990s. Until then, it was mostly played for fun in California, with some local tournaments taking place. It began in Santa Monica during the 1920s and gradually spread elsewhere. People mainly viewed it as a fun thing to do on vacation but then the media started to take an interest. Today, it is a highly competitive business with sponsors competing for a piece of the action.

It took a while for people to take this new sport on their TV screens seriously. Controversy still reigns, especially with regard to the rather skimpy sportswear worn by female players. The women’s events are more popular in fact and most of the well-known competitors are female. Sometimes, the clothing worn has offended in some Islamic countries. All this attention has no doubt boosted the sport but it’s fair to say that both men and women train hard and approach tournaments in a professional manner. Beach volleyball is an exciting spectator sport with lots of skill and quick thinking required.

There are slight variations to the rules as played in indoor volleyball, the most obvious being that indoor teams have six players and beach volleyball teams have just two. Beach volleyball players are allowed to play barefoot. The sport has proved most successful for the US and Brazil, with Australia catching up. The sport was included in the 1996 Olympic Games for the first time, for men and women. It’s popular in lots of other countries too, including landlocked countries. Professional beach volleyball is played in China, Greece and Germany. There are also Youth Tournaments to help the development of the game.

The sport of beach volleyball has produced quite a few celebrities now and is gaining in credibility. People who shunned it at first have been drawn in by the hard fought contests and abilities of the teams. There has been an attitude that beach volleyball is something that anyone can do. In fact, anyone can play baseball but it doesn’t mean that you could do it well. Playing a friendly game with your friends is very different from representing your country and trying to get a Gold Medal. There is always an argument about what sports should be included in the Olympics. Beach volleyball is definitely here to stay.

Haven’t you ever wondered who in the world had the audacity to invent the thong swimsuit? Oh come on - you’ve surely pondered the issue at some point or another. It’s like the Speedo for men. You just have to sit back and stare in horror. These minute articles of clothing were simply not meant to be worn. Hey, if you don’t believe me, then just head off to some tropical beach in Europe for proof. Regardless, the thong swimsuit still remains rather popular in some areas. I guess certain folks just feel that it looks great on them.

Where can you find a thong swimsuit you might ask? That’s an easy one. Delve into cyberspace and take your pick from oodles of the. The truth is you can literally find any style of swimsuit on the World-Wide-Web. Just make sure you know your correct size before ordering.

Oh yeah, I was talking about the thong swimsuit and Speedo concept. Actually I should probably clarify here. When I say Speedo, I’m referring to the tighty-whity bikini bottoms that some guys like to wear. As you probably already know, Speedo is a brand name like Band-Aid. Regardless, that doesn’t change how goofy these bathing suits look. It amazes me how men can get away with wearing them in other countries. Europeans act like it’s no big thing. Oh, how little do they know. Slap on one of those tiny Speedos in America and strut your stuff down the beach. You may see few heads turn and hear a few snickers in the background. Not only do American men loath these itty-bitty teensy-weeny bathing suits, but the ladies dislike them as well. Of course there may be exceptions.

I tend to feel the same way about girls and the thong swimsuit. Now, I do realize that certain ladies have incredible bodies - however, there is just something off about the thong swimsuit. It’s tacky. It doesn’t really matter how stunning you look, it simply doesn’t wear right. Personally I prefer the tankinies on girls.

Now, if you absolutely must conform to the European ways and buy a thong swimsuit, then you’d better get surfing on the web. Test out Bizrate.com in order to find the best deals available. There are certainly a few different thong swimsuits for you to pick and choose from.

Wow, where did the time go - it’s summer time again. Are you up for all the heat and humidity? I’m not going to lie. Summer was never my favorite season. I’m more of a Fall guy myself. You know, the leaves falling and the breeze whipping them in all directions. Regardless, I realize that the majority of the human race loves the heat and sun. Oh, and of course you don’t want to forget about your perfect tan. Do you still lay out in the back yard? That was the big thing when I was a kid. All the neighborhood girls would lie out on their lawns in order to get that ideal glow. However, these days more and more sun bunnies are turning to the Wolff tanning beds for their perfect shade. Do you have a year-round membership to the local tanning salon, or did you take the prudent route and simply purchase one of those fine Wolff tanning beds?

I can still recall one hot summer day back in high school. My younger brother was stoked to go outside and get a dark tan. Now, being the vampire that I am, I wasn’t about to join him. I remember him telling me that he had lost his sunglasses, and he needed something to cover his eyes with. Being the benign sibling that I am, I told him that he should use cucumber slices to shield his peepers. You know, kind of like at those fancy spas. About an hour later I went outside to check on his progress. I found him lying on a blanket, cringing. He sat up and scowled at me. I was rather shocked at the choice of produce he used to cover his eyes. It appeared that we didn’t have any cucumbers, so he used orange slices. What a dork? Those citrus acids gave his eyes quite a sting. Ah, the great memories of childhood. Not long after high school, my brother had purchased one of the Wolff tanning beds. He was now able to tan year-round in the comfort of his own home. I would suppose that it has to beat those sliced oranges.

Are you looking to achieve a wonderful tan? Maybe it’s time you looked into Wolff tanning beds. These are some of the nicer ones around. Hop online and browse for the lowest prices on Wolff tanning beds and a variety of other tanning solutions. These days you can even go with the sunless tans, and avoid the rays altogether. However, if you’re looking for an alternative to the salon down the street, then I would suggest you check out Wolff tanning beds for that beautiful glow. Did I mention that it’s summer time again?

Having glowing bronze skin is what almost every woman and many men want for the summer. With all of the health concerns surrounding prolonged sun exposure having an alternative to spending time in the damaging sun ray’s is a great thing.

There are many different methods of getting a tan without being outside. One of the most popular is the self tanning booths. These are usually found in small store front operations. You simply pay a fee to spend time in the booth. Many people consider this the best of the self tanners.

Another way to get a tan is to purchase one of the self tanners that come in a bottle. These have long been known to turn the skin a horrible shade of orange. When people have used these in the past they have always been very obvious to everyone else.

Today things have changed and many of the self tanners go on very smoothly and once applied it’s very difficult to tell them from a real, genuine tan. Many people believe the best of these products are the spray-on variety. These are normally applied in a salon. The person wanting the tan stands in a booth and is sprayed with one of the self tanners. This type of application is efficient because it is uniform. They mist touches the skin and adheres resulting in a very even and natural looking tan.

Going to a salon to have self tanners applied can be costly. If you’d prefer to do it at home you can with one of the products that are found in your local drugstore.

The first decision when you go to purchase one is how deep you want your tan to look. If you are hoping for a very rich tanned look you’ll need to choose one of the self tanners that will result in a very dark hue.

Many beauty experts agree that it’s best to begin with moisturized skin. They suggest that you exfoliate before applying any of the self tanners. The reason is that if your skin is clear and supple, the cream or lotion will adhere more evenly and you’ll have few streaks or noticeable marks.

For the best results possible when using one of the store bought self tanners begin with a light shade. This way once it’s been applied you can decide if it’s dark enough. It’s much easier to go darker than it is to go lighter.

There are special soaps made for use on skin that is tanned. They are designed to keep the tan looking new without washing it away. Depending on the self tanner that you used this can be a great way to keep your skin looking sun kissed for longer.

We all have heard about the damaging effects of the sun and why it is so important that we protect ourselves with sun screens. Let the sun shine in but not too much, right? Ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays are invisible, and can be very damaging to the skin if it is not protected. This type of light causes skin cancers, altered pigmentation, dilated blood vessels, and changes in the texture of the skin. All these factors contribute to aging of the skin, which is accelerated by over exposure to the sun. Every time skin is sunburned damage has occurred, and getting multiple sunburns or being constantly exposed to the sun without sun screen protection, puts an individual at a higher risk of getting skin cancer. This applies to tanning. Even if the skin is not sunburned, damage is occurring. There is no safe tan.

Many different types of sun screens have been developed to minimize our exposure to the damaging rays of the sun. Sun screens worn on our skin provide the most protection if applied properly and consistently. Staying out of the sun during certain hours of the day is also a good way to avoid overexposure, or cover up with sun screen, a hat, and protective clothing. Sun screens are not just limited to the type applied directly to the skin.

Sun screens, such as window tinting, sun shades, and other types sun filtering devices are available for homes and vehicles to screen or block out sunlight and heat. For many homeowners in warmer parts of the country, it is important to have various sun screens because the sun is so intense. Window tinting on vehicles is a must have, as well as blinds, light filtering curtains or shades, and patio shades or screened enclosures. There are many businesses that specialize in making your home more pleasant and protecting you and your family from the sun.

Sun screens are important for everyone, even if you love the sun, always tan, and donít think you will ever get skin cancer. There are many people that thought the same thing and now have skin cancer or have already died from it. Sun screen applied to your skin is probably the easiest and least expensive way to protect yourself and your family from the sun. Sun screens are easy to apply and are now included in many facial, lip, and body moisturizing products. You really have no excuses not to protect yourself from the damaging rays of the sun. Once it’s done it’s over - you can’t go back! Protect your skin and save your life. Use sun screens!

Personalized items are always popular. Whether you are giving someone a nameplate for their office door or monogrammed towels they will appreciate the gesture.

People who have an artistic flair might consider using their talent to make gifts for those they care about and perhaps even make some extra income. By using your ideas you can design your own t-shirts and either give them as gifts or begin your own business.

To design your own t-shirts is relatively easy. You simply decide on what you’d like to appear on the t-shirts. You might choose to design your own t-shirts with a particular image. In the case of making personalized t-shirts you can offer a service in which you take a standard photograph and transfer that image to the t-shirts.

You can offer this service to anyone wanting a t-shirt bearing a certain image. It might be a picture of their child, parent, spouse or a treasured friend. To design your own t-shirts in this way will require some equipment and a good stock of plain t-shirts. Hey, while you’re at it, can I have a Beatles t-shirt? XXL please.

If you’d rather design your own t-shirts that contain a company’s logo or catchphrase this can also be a profitable small business. After consulting with the company on the design that they are looking for you can fulfill their order of t-shirts. The plain t-shirts are generally quite inexpensive for you to purchase and after you design your own t-shirts with the logo or phrase you can sell them for a nice profit.

Amateur sports teams often are looking for inexpensive t-shirts for team players. In this case you can design your own t-shirts that represent the team’s colors as well as the player’s names. Children love having a t-shirt that is made especially for them especially when they are playing a team sport.

When you design your own t-shirts you can express your own personal sense of style. Even if you design your own t-shirts simply to supplement your own wardrobe, you’ll be proud of the accomplishment.

Take a plain white t-shirt and add your own individual twist to it. What was once an unimaginative piece of clothing suddenly will now become a fashion focus. When you design your own t-shirts you are expressing your individuality to the world.

Chances are that the first time you attempt to design your own t-shirts you’ll be hooked. Your wardrobe will soon be full of your own creations. Oh, thanks for the Beatles t-shirt, now how about Led Zeppelin?

Your kids want to go to Disney World. They have been driving you crazy with their pleading. Meanwhile, you want to experience a warm, tropical island. Life has been pretty stressful and you want to spend some time relaxing on a sunny beach. How can you please everyone? It’s easy! Plan a Disney cruise vacation. Everyone is happy. The kids meet some of Disney’s most popular characters. You get to visit the Bahamas. Finally, everyone get to spend a few days at Disney World.

With a seven-day Disney cruise vacation, you begin your vacation by spending either three or four days at all of the Walt Disney World theme parks. Travelers get to experience the wonders of Epcot Center, MGM Studios, Magic Kingdom, and Animal Kingdom. Guests stay at one of the Walt Disney World popular resorts. This is only the first part of your Disney cruise vacation. The fun has only begun!

The remaining three or four days of your Disney cruise vacation is spent aboard one of Disney Cruise Line’s cruise ships. This portion of your Disney cruise vacation begins at Port Canaveral. You will board a Disney cruise ship where delicious buffets, live entertainment, fun activities, and plenty of other luxuries await. The cruise ship sails to Nassau in the Bahamas. You get to spend a full day in Nassau. You can sunbathe on the gorgeous beaches, partake in some water activities, go shopping, or do some sightseeing. That evening, you board the ship and set sail for Castaway Cay.

A Disney cruise vacation includes a trip to Disney’s private island Castaway Cay. Castaway Cay is modeled after Peter Pan’s Neverland. Children love the wide array of tidal pools. Teenagers love the ìteens onlyî beach where they can sunbathe or do some snorkeling. Adults love the pristine beaches. All areas of Castaway Cay are supervised, so parents can have some alone time while their children go off and have fun!

To go on a Disney cruise vacation, effective in December 2006, travelers will be required to carry a valid passport. The passport must be shown when entering the Bahamas, boarding your ship, and reentering the United States.

Rates for a Disney cruise vacation are very reasonable and include your activities, meals, and accommodations. Airfare can be requested for an additional fee. Taxes and airport surcharges are not included. It’s an economical way to take your whole family on an unforgettable vacation.

When it comes to booking a cruise you can handle the details yourself by visiting one of the online travel sites. If you’d prefer to leave the details to someone else, a travel agent can handle everything so all you need to do is enjoy the cruise.

Have you ever had an irritating and painful sunburn? Wow, this flaming red skin affliction can certainly get your attention. Tan lines can be very obvious but the problem is that so many people don’t understand what a sunburn actually is in the first place. I can tell you right now that it can be easily avoided. One option is, staying out of the sun. You can always have it "made in the shade." Okay, if that sounds unreasonable, I will provide you with the more popular one. Use a quality sun screen. There are a vast variety of these gracing the shelves of your local drug store. A decent sun screen is easy to find and is worth its weight in gold. Don’t let that terrible sunburn ruin your week.

In the old days, a sunburn was the sign of a working class person. The upper class had their large hats and parasols to protect their milky white skin. A sunburn was out of the question for a person of means. These days tans are all the rage, and while it is an attractive look on some people, a sunburn is just plain scary looking. Hey - get your self some indoor tanning cream!

Are you aware of what’s happened to your skin when you acquire a nasty sunburn? Let me first inform you of what a sunburn is. When you expose your delicate skin to the sun’s powerful UVA and UVB rays, you are certainly doing some damage. The redness is virtually millions of busted blood vessels. Yes, the sun can do some serious cellular destruction. Most people will say, "Well I have to get burnt first, so it will turn into a tan." Well, guess what sun-bathers - this is quite damaging. Not only does it result in premature lines, wrinkles and dry skin, but may also evolve into skin cancer. That sensitive sunburn is just the beginning. However, if you did spend a day basking in the glorious rays, you may want to apply some decent after-sun products. Some of the more popular treatments for sunburn are aloe vera gel and a variety of creams you can find online. This will help re-hydrate the delicate skin and encourage repair from that nasty sunburn.

If you’re an avid sun-bather, I suggest you browse for some quality sunscreens. Your product should at least have an SPF of 15. This basically means that your skin can be exposed to the sun 15 times longer than normal without getting damaged. Sunscreens are definitely a smart contemporary trend that will surely get bigger as time moves on. In reality, the best way to avoid a vicious sunburn is by taking the necessary precautions. If you are headed out into the sun, you’ll want to not only apply a good sunscreen, but bring one along to re-apply later if needed. That powerful star should not be taken so lightly. The age-old myth about the sun being healthy has finally been obliterated. After all, who wants to suffer the pangs of a harsh sunburn?

A bad poison ivy rash can take weeks to go away and can drive you crazy with itchiness. As an avid backpacker and camper, I’ve had my share of poison ivy rashes, and I’ve tried a lot of different poison ivy cures. Some of them don’t do anything at all, yet others are actually very effective.

The best poison ivy cure is of course avoiding it in the first place. You could always tiptoe through the tulips instead - for once you get a poison ivy rash, it is very hard to cure completely. So don’t get one! OK?

Wearing long sleeved shirts and long pants is always recommended if you suspect you may be around poison ivy. This can be difficult, as backpacking often causes you to work up quite a sweat, but its worth it. Long clothes are also a good way to prevent ticks, so its more than just poison ivy you’re protecting yourself from.

Learn how to identify the plant. There are pictures of poison ivy all over the web, and once you’ve seen poison ivy enough times in real life it becomes easy to spot. If you think you’ve come in contact with poison ivy, wash off with soap and water as soon as possible. Also, thoroughly wash your clothes. Washing the oil within half an hour after contact off is effectively a poison ivy cure. There are also some preventative poison ivy lotions available that can boost your resistance.

Once you’ve got that rash, it’s going to be hard to remove, but there are some poison ivy cures that will hasten its departure. One thing that works great for me is hot water; I just run the effected area under some hot water for ten or more minutes several times a day, and within five days the rash is gone, whereas it would otherwise stick around for much longer.

Five days is still a while, but there are other things you can do to speed this up even more. There is a lotion called ‘Tecnu’ that is just shy of being a magic poison ivy cure in itself. Using the lotion regularly will greatly speed up the rate that your poison ivy rash leaves. Additionally, if you rub this lotion on within a day after exposure, it often prevents the poison ivy rash from occurring in the first place.

So the best poison ivy cure I’ve found to treat the rash is hot water plus Tecnu. Used together (but not at the same time!) I’ve gotten rid of rashes in less than three days. In the meantime, I find that some lotions, such as calamine lotion, can reduce the itchiness. (You’re gonna need an ocean, of calamine lotion!)