A Little Lingerie Lingo

When shopping for lingerie online, some of the item descriptions can be confusing, especially for those purchasing a gift for that special someone and are not familiar with all the lingerie terms used to described a particular fabric or style. So, let's cover some of these terms so you can be better informed when choosing your lingerie.

First, some commonly used fabrics you may not recognize. These are charmeuse, chiffon, jacquard, lace and satin. When you see these terms, the material/fabric of the item is being described. Charmeuse is a very satiny, very soft and flowy non stretch fabric. This fabric is typically used for chemises and camisoles, slips, gowns, robes, short sleeping sets, and even blouses.

Chiffon is a fabric of sheer silk or rayon. It is a lightweight material with a slightly rough feel to it. It can be made from cotton, silk or synthetic fibers, but is usually associated with silk or nylon and can be dyed to most any shade you like. Chiffon is very delicate and must be hand washed very gently. Lace is a delicate fabric made of yarn or thread in an open web-like pattern. A Jacquard fabric has a pattern of some kind pressed into the solid background. It can be a flat or a raised pattern. It can be of any type fabric such as a knit or a spandex. Satin is a smooth fabric, as of silk or rayon, woven with a glossy face and a dull back.

Now lets discuss a how they describe an item having some sort of decoration on the fabric - this is called embroidery. So if you see an "embroidered lace babydoll", you know it's a lace babydoll with some kind of decoration or enhancement. You may also see the term 'appliqué'. This is a decoration or ornament made by cutting pieces of one material and applying them to the surface of another.

Men, if you are buying for your beautiful woman and she's self-conscious about her breasts hanging a little, you need to be familiar with the terms 'underwire'. Bustiers, bras, and other 'underwire' items have wire sewn into the fabric under the breasts to add support. You may also see items with 'boning'; these are rigid plastic or metal strips sewn in shape wear to give structure, support and body contouring.

There are several other fabrics available which you may be familiar with, such as silk, rayon and of course leather. There are also many other terms which we did not discussed, but the ones we went over will give you a little more familiarity with what's out there. Happy lingerie shopping!

Susan is the owner of Seduction Lane Lingerie. An online retailer of sexy lingerie, costumes and intimate apparel. Visit http://www.seductionlane.com for a vast selection of sexy lingerie at great prices.

MidLife Women - How Humiliating is That?

Have you seen the tv commercial that focuses on a woman stuck in bumper-to-bumper highway traffic with her partner and kids? She squirms and looks very uncomfortable, embarrassed and maybe even in pain. Suddenly a porta-potty floats gently down from the sky! The woman relaxes and smiles, and a picture comes on the screen showing a popular disposable pad/diaper product.

I find this commercial disgusting and demeaning. It's just a grab for a new market using any angle possible. And it's downright silly too - having a toilet come down from the sky!

It's true that many women suffer from some urinary incontinence or urgency. Sometimes it begins after pregnancy and birth, sometimes with the hormone changes in perimenopause. Some women just 'leak' when they laugh from a young age. But I hardly think a disposable pad for incontinence (billed as the traveller's porta-potty) will make everything tickety-boo!

Yes, these products are helpful in some circumstances, but why, why, why, don't we hear about products that can tone, build and strengthen the bladder? This is a preventive approach and the products that don't heal the symptoms wouldn't be necessary (or not for many years anyway)? Can't our allopathic medical docs get on board with the idea of 'complementary medicine', like in Britain. When allopathic medicine combines with natural (i.e. herbs, homeopathics, mega-vitamins, trace minerals, etc.) we get the best of both worlds. If it's good enough for the Queen of England, why isn't it good enough for us?

Through her 'Odyssey of Change' coaching program, Ellen Besso offers Midlife Women the opportunity to navigate the midlife maze and find joy & fullness in their lives. Personal action plans include strengthening the body-mind connection; releasing beliefs that limit growth; & specific actions to move you forward into your ideal life. Ellen is uniquely qualified to be your guide because she has personally journeyed through perimenopause and into an inspired life as a menopausal crone! Her professional credentials include certification as a Martha Beck Coach and an M.A. in Counselling from City University. To find out more about Ellen's work and read articles written by her contact: http://www.ellenbesso.com or http://ellenbesso.com/midlifemaze info@ellenbesso.com 800 961 1364 - N.Am. or 604 886 1916 - Gibsons, BC

Women's Centres in Ontario - Helping Thousands on a Shoestring

What is a women's centre? The definition is fairly subjective:

• If you are a woman who is abused, a women's centre is a place to find guidance or a respite from life's difficulties.
• If you are a new Canadian, a centre can offer an introduction and warm welcome to your community.
• If you are a senior woman looking to connect with others, a women's centre can provide a network of friends.
• If you are a young woman struggling with body image and self-esteem issues, it can offer support.
• If you are a mother, a women's centre can provide lessons in parenting.
• If you just need someone to talk to, a women's centre volunteer will listen.

• Community Kitchens
• Kitchen Table Literacy
• Women's Business Clothing Project
• Young Women's Outreach
• Women's Family Law Clinics
• Entrepreneurial Skills Training
• Employment Counselling
• Peer Counselling

In addition to these core services, which are usually offered at no charge, many women's centres offer workshops and seminars on topics pertaining to self-care and life balance.

If you read this list and thought, "I had no idea", you are probably not alone. Such is the reality facing women's centres in Ontario. To borrow a marketing term, these centres have trouble with their "brand". Although they provide valuable services to thousands of women across the province each year, they are not well known, even in their own communities. They are also easily confused with other services, like women's shelters.

Many centres were established to assist abused women (hence the association with shelters), but have expanded their range of services to help women of all ages and backgrounds through a variety of life's challenges - divorce, loss of employment, poor self-esteem, grief, and transitions to a new community or new life situation. And they do all of this on a shoestring budget.

Funding Challenges

Like many small agencies, these centres lack a consistent and reliable funding stream that would allow them to expand and promote their program offerings. Byfunding many centres through the Ontario Women's Directorate, the provincial government offers some stability. Although generous, government funding is not enough, so most centres rely on fundraising and donations to help cover costs.

In most cases, fundraising is still not enough. The amounts the centres raise are small in comparison to the need. Why? Women's centres spend the vast majority of their budget on programs, leaving little for marketing and publicity. Without a marketing budget, it is difficult to attract attention and fundraising dollars, especially when centres are competing against larger organizations with deeper pockets and the ability to mount large-scale fundraisers.

With nothing to spend on flashy events, most women's centres rely on small fundraisers, like bake sales, walkathons, and book sales. Some run larger events, like awards ceremonies, luncheons or dinners. And most derive some funds from the nominal fees they charge for membership in the centre. Combined, these small amounts are a great help, but they are not the consistent and reliable funding that many women's centres require.

Not that a lack of funding seems to be much of an impediment. Even while focused on making every penny count, the women running these centres never lose sight of their mission. They continue in their way, quietly and without fanfare, helping some of the most vulnerable people in our communities.

That they can provide high-quality services on such a low budget shows resourcefulness, determination and ingenuity. Just imagine what these women could do if they had no worries about funding.

Women who live in Oakville, Burlington, Milton and areas can learn more about women's centres by visiting the Halton Women's Centre

A small sampling of programs from centres across Ontario demonstrates the tremendous diversity of services available.

Evelyn Mackenzie writes frequently on behalf of the Halton Women's Centre about women's issues and the value of community supports for women.