I’ve probably never actually told you before how much I love being a girl. I mean, what’s there not to like? If I werent a girl, I probably never get to indulge myself silly in all that makeup that’s inside my make up case. And when it comes to clothes or shoes, you can own 21 tops, 407 bottoms, 1695 accessories and 36790 pairs of shoes and never feel guilty about it because, well, you’re a girl. Men complain about the lack of dress up choices when it comes to events.

Other than the obvious physical differences between males and females, there is one other thing that sets us apart from the boys: the fact that our bodies change every month. You’re probably all too aware of the symptoms of your body just before your period comes. But change is the only constant and every change is a new beginning. So, let me just illustrate some of the good things that come exclusively from being a girl because knowledge is sexy.

Image via images.google.com

Menstruation, Days 1 to 7 of the cycle
The first day of your period is counted as day 1. During days 1 to 7 your cycle, you may experience chocolate cravings and can feel low in energy. Instead of resisting that luscious bar of dark velvety chocolate, go ahead and indulge. Because your body metabolises carbs most efficiently during the first and second day of menstruation, you dont have to worry about that delicious dessert tipping the scales. At the same time, when your body metabolises this chocolate, it can help increase levels of serotonin, the ‘happy hormone’!

I know we complain about the hassle of getting our periods, but this is the best time to impress your man thanks to the decreased levels of both female hormones: oestrogen and progesterone. Less prone to jealousy, encourage your man to spend time with his bros one night and then plan a date the next night where you drive. Thanks to days 1-7 of your cycle you get enhanced parking skills with your heightened spatial awareness!

Image by: mycake.sg

Pre-ovulation, Days 8 to 14 of the cycle
If you think your body is done after menstruation, think again. The pre-ovulation stages are the best part of being a girl! Where do we start? During this time, oestrogen levels increase and you’ll probably feel a lot flirtier and cheekier on top of having better hair days. With increased memory and heightened verbal fluency skills, this might just be the time for you to ace that interview or presentation you’ve been dreading. If you work in teams, improved mood levels, being less aggressive and being more creative will for sure help you score extra points with your team mates! So schedule all your team meetings during this stage of your cycle.

Post-ovulation, Days 15 to 21 of the cycle
On week 3 after your period, classic symptoms of PMS start to show: mood swings, irritability and fluid retention are probably all too familiar to most of us. But instead of agonizing over them, cut down on salty foods and coffee to help combat fluid retention. Drinking lots of water and going for a good workout can also help you stay fresh during PMS. A solid sleep at night definitely always keeps me energetic throughout the day. With Whisper Super Long Overnights’ revolutionary 3D Absorbent Core which prevents fluid running along your skin, no matter how you move during sleep, you are assured peaceful, comfortable, worry-free sleep.

Image via images.google.com

Pre-Menstrual, Days 22 to 28 of the cycle
Just before your period your body prepares for the coming 5 days of menstruation. It gives you warning signs and signals. Although you experience the usual PMS and other bodily changes like greasier hair, there is a quick and easy beauty tip to get rid of oily hair in an instant. One plus side I particularly love during the pre-menstural stages is a lower sensitivity to pain during this time. It’s the perfect timing to make an appointment for waxing or eye-brow threading.

Despite disturbed sleep at night, having a long hot bath just before bed-time will help you relax and sleep well through the night. In addition, Whisper Super Long Overnights also give you added protection throughout the night thanks to its super 1 second absorbency material. It can absorb 10 times average flow letting you feel long lasting dryness throughout the night.

As mentioned previously in the tips for better sleep, make sure your bedroom should be cool, dark and quiet. A good night’s sleep should help combat daytime sleepiness too. Once your body is all prepared for menstruation, it’s back to day 1 of the cycle and you get to enjoy the benefits of being a woman all over again.

Disclaimer: This is the personal opinion of the blogger. This writing contains clinical information quoted from other books and internet sources and may vary from individual to individual.

Next Saturday, Whisper is throwing a mega party just for us girls! Expect girly treats like a shoulder and hand massage to keep you as fresh as a flower. After being served a delish dinner on top of getting a paraffin wax and a manicure, you’ll most certainly feel like the most relaxed royalty in OOSH’s romantic ambiance.

Date: 19th February 2011 Time: 7 – 10pm Venue: OOSH at Dempsey

The best part about this event is getting the meet the 5 Whisper Ambassadors: nadnut, sixpegs, belluspuera, mycherrymagazine and of course myself, next to Mediacorp actress Paige Chua. We’ll be around to share tips with you, have a good chat, have fun and definitely be up for photos. It’s gonna be a fun-filled girls night in and THREE of you darling readers get to come down with a friend each! YAY!

To score yourself an invite to this exclusive event, share some Happy Period tips on your blog and sign up at the Whisper microsite under “Our Events” and three of you with your BFFs could be meeting me and the rest of your favourite bloggers in person! Say “Hi” if you see me and I’ll give you a Miss Earth wave ok? Hahaha.

But before you get your party started, you need to gather a few of your best girlfriends to brainstorm a couple of girls night in ideas. Remember to throw in some girls night in activities and your party night is complete! You’re all set for fun before getting a good night’s sleep. There are of course some essentials for your party you must not leave out. So here are some things you must have for your girls night in party.

1) Food

No party would obviously be complete without food. And since it’s a girls night in, take every opportunity to indulge in all sorts of food that make you happy! Be it ice-cream, chips, sushi or even healthier options like salads and fruits, with your best girlfriends around, there will be no questions asked. So go crazy with your options and let loose. Indulge in whatever makes you happy before you jump into bed. Remember that when it’s Day 1 and 2 of your period, your body burns carbs better. Therefore, dont be afraid to indulge!

2) Face masks

Take the night to relax and unwind with your best friends after stuffing yourselves silly. But before you drift off into peaceful sleep, you might just want to go the extra mile and pamper yourself with a face mask. Paper face masks or the traditional face masks keep your skin moist and taut when used regularly. On this night when your tummy’s filled and you’re extra relaxed, you can look extra beautiful too! You’ll wake up in the morning to fresher, more hydrated skin.

3) Movies

Ever held back those tears when watching a sappy romantic movie? Well, fret not. With your girlfriends around, you can feel safe turning on the water works. Bring out the most heart-wrenching, tear-jerking movie you can find and bawl your eyes out like a baby. You know you’re protected cause you trust your girlfriends to be there to hold your hand and cry with you during all the tear-jerker scenes.

4) A well kept secret

Your girlfriends have probably seen you through all your ups and downs, shared your secrets and listened to your gripes. And when you’ve got your period, it’s your girlfriends you turn to. Therefore, if your period arrives during your girls night in, you can trust them to keep you happy and safe on top of Whisper’s Overnights. Feeling at ease, protected and secure throughout the night when you sleep, leaves you feeling fresher and happier when you wake up! Some secrets are open secrets and this is just one of them.

5) Nail polish

The idea for girls night in should be about bonding with each other, building trust while looking and feeling good. After stuffing yourself silly, pampering your skin and sharing your best kept secrets with your girlfriends, top it all off by painting each other’s nails. There’s nothing like freshly manicured nails to make you look like a million bucks.

When you’re full from your favourite snacks, have rejuvenated skin and brilliant nail art to complete your pampering session, you’ll want to sleep peacefully throughout the night. With tips for better sleep and the security of knowing that Whisper’s Overnights protect you during your periods, you’ll wake up the next morning from your sweet slumber walking on sunshine.

Really, who has the energy to go out after that and how is it possible to stay fresh after such a long day? Even more so when you have your period. Sometimes, it can feel like you have to work your schedule around your period.

But I’ll share with you a secret. The different days of your 28 day cycle actually have certain benefits to your daily life. I previously was one of the Whisper’s Happy It’s Here ambassadors who got some tips and insights into the secrets of the cycle. It showed me how I could maximise the benefits of our cycle! In reality, it’s not that big an inconvenience and you can actually stay fresh and dry throughout the day regardless of your activities. So with what I’ve learnt, I thought I’d share with you some of my beauty tips on how to stay fresh all day, more specifically Ultra Fresh.

1) Water

We all know the benefits of drinking water, and I cannot emphasize how important it is to drink water to keep your skin hydrated and fresh-looking. 2 litres of crystal clear water is the minimum we need a day. But here’s a simple tweak you can make to your lifestyle to help you through your periods: Instead of your usual ice cold water, drink warm water to help reduce those cramps.

2) Keep a bottle of fragrance in your bag

Regardless of wherever I go, I love to keep a bottle of eau de toilette or body mist in my bag. In fact, I have about 2 different scents in my bag at the moment. Whenever I’m in need of a pick-me-up, I just spritz on some of the refreshing mist and I’m ready to face my next challenge! Also, it’s hard not to get some heads turning when I smell this good.

3) Indulge in a little chocolate

Did you know that your body burns carbs the best on the first two days of your period? Yes it’s true! I will personally attest to feeling and looking much skinnier on the first two days of my period. Since your body is metabolising carbs so efficiently, it’s the PERFECT time to indulge in a little bit of delish chocolate. Your body deserves it, really. Go on, one little piece wont hurt.

4) Dance baby, dance!

Exercise helps to chase the blues away. And with Whisper Ultra, I get the freedom of movement without any worries! I feel, clean, dry and fresh all day long. I’m free to turn on my music in my room and dance like no body’s watching. I can break out in whatever funky moves I want without anybody judging! Hahaha. My all time feel-good track? Whitney Houston – Wanna Dance with Somebody

5) Get dressed in your favourite outfit

They say “clothes maketh a man” when it really should be “clothes maketh a WOman“. Dressing in my favourite best outfit never fails to make me happy. But if your period hits and you want to keep yourself looking perfect, Whisper Ultra keeps you fresh throughout the day. When you look good and feel comfortably dry all day, you naturally walk with your head held high. And you can be sure that in the fashion realm, confidence never goes out of style.

Unlike that first week when you should truly be happy it’s here, the post-ovulation stage again changes your body in subtle ways preparing it for the arrival of your period.

My tummy’s starting to bloat a little and I am a little frazzled this week. Counting from day 1 of my period, I realise I’m entering the post-ovulation stage of the cycle. And here I thought my bloat was due to the overwhelming number of cakes and macarons I had those first couple of days. Haha!

Starting day 14 onwards the first signs of PMS appears! The mood swings havent hit me, but I’m sure I can combat it by letting off the extra energy by working out tomorrow! Doesnt help that this week is crazy week for me too. Meetings, excursions and finals this Thurs! But a nice relaxing shower and scrub in between the madness will do the trick to unwind those tense muscles.

The increase in oestrogen at this stage is the main cause for the classic symptoms of PMS. Oh how I miss the first 2 stages of the cycle! The better articulation, the more efficient burning of carbs and of course, the better hair days! Wheeeee!

So to cheer myself up and let loose a tad from this intense week, ima gonna show you the foods you can enjoy whilst having your period. Guess what, chocolate is always a good option!

I swear after tasting the macarons from Canele I got from the Whisper dialogue session, I’m hooked on them. I’ve tasted macarons from Canele, Bakerzin and now Obolo but still find that Canele’s taste the best. It’s texture is consistent and the shells are crisp regardless of which flavour you pick. Call me Macaron Monster if you must! I am thoroughly guilty.

The macarons from Obolo come in a box of 8, perfect for indulging when you feel a need for a chocolate pick-me-up. I chose raspberry, hazelnut-chocolate, rose, ruby, macha, mango-passion AND FINISHED OFF 5 at one go! Haha. The flavours are very unique and fragrant I must admit. However, I did wish the shells were a little more crisp.

What you REALLLLYYY have to try is the Dome Amore made of dark chocolate-raspberry mousee with a core of white chocolate creme and raspberries, Valrhona crunchy chocolate pearls and chocolate genoisse.

Smooth creamy mousse with a zesty raspberry twist, accompanied by the crunchy bits of chocolate pearls make for a very appetising and flavourful experience.

If you’re lucky and are currently experiencing day 1 to 7 of your cycle, give yourself a chocolatey treat! You deserve it.

Where?
Obolo
452 Joo Chiat Road
Singapore 427665

As for me, I probably will release my pent-up frustrations by cleaning out my room! Haha.

I think the question on most people’s minds is: how on earth do you pick your nose?!?!!

I don’t have an answer to that but do have a method of imitating a gel nail manicure for a fraction of the price. One set from the manicurist’s, on the average, costs anywhere from $70 to $150. Depending on the design, prices might sky rocket beyond the said price range.

Surprised by my friend’s set that wasn’t exaggeratedly long, I decided to embark on replicating a set of my own, at the same time, putting my enhanced creative skills to work; all thanks to the increased oestrogen levels during pre-ovulation (days 8 – 14 of the cycle).

Psssst! Increased oestrogen levels during this period gives you better looking hair, heightened verbal fluency skills and increased memory! I think the heightened verbal fluency must have helped me during my QnA segment last Saturday! Wahahaha! Perfect timing.

Things you need for your DIY:
- clear base coat
- 2 of your favourite glitter nail polishes

I chose a gold glitter polish from The Face Shop and some random cheapo blue glitter polish that costs $1.
- top coat

To fully recreate the effect of gel nails, it would be best if your nails were a leeeetle long say about 0.5cm long, but that’s not a definite requirement.

The How-to:
1) Apply base coat to clean nails.

2) Starting from the edge of the nail, apply the first coloured glitter until the middle of the nail. The glitter goes on thick near the tips and slowly decreases in intensity. Use a dabbing method to achieve desired effect. The best part about using glitter is you dont have to be neat about it!

3) Following that, when the first coat is almost dry, apply the second colour only to the tips of your nails. Again dabbing it on until desired intensity.

4) Finally, paint on the top coat and wait for your nails to dry fully!

The result

My complexion is a little oilier than usual. I can see the tiny oil bumps on my face and pimples have appeared in the weirdest of places like behind my ear. Haha. However, when that happens, I usually know my period is coming in the next week or so.

I checked the seekrit sheet Whisper provided and it says I’m spotty thanks to the higher level of progesterone. But I wouldnt worry too much about it because from personal experience, it goes away soon enough.

It does makes me GREEN thinking about my will-be glowy skin once this pre-menstrual stage clears. So, in the mean time, to help combat the spotty complexion, I’m going to follow in the footsteps of The Hulk and enjoy a mint mask which helps calm my skin and absorb the excess oil while surfing the Facebook page for more seekrits of the cycle.

RAWR! =D

I’m happy today’s here!

Why? Because I’ve got the secrets of the cycle in my hands! Wahahahaha.

It came at a great time too because Im due to have my period.

When I was approached to join the “Happy It’s Here” initiative by Whisper I immediately thought YES! It was a wonderful opportunity to better educate myself about my body. Knowing is half the battle won! Im such an information junkie like that. Heehee.

Something like this happens once every month and why not see what it’s really about. I mean, when we first got our periods we were ecstatic and so were the people around us.

It was the first step into womanhood.

But now after so long, I have to admit to not keeping a good track record of when my period is because I can honestly tell by the signs my body gives. I have to admit at this point I cannot remember when the last time my period was. *guilty face* However, I’d say Im pretty good at telling when my period is coming. Yes, we complain about how it makes us feel bloated but then there are times when I do feel SKINNIER after my period. True fact!

So this is my attempt to track the various stages of my cycle and share its secrets with you so we can appreciate the little things that make us women.

I am woman, hear me ROAR!

I am currently in the pre-menstrual stage (Day 21-28) of the cycle and experiencing bloatedness/water retention. Eep! But it gives me the excuse to dress up in them sweet babydolls. Yay! Oh and definitely have to cut down on consuming too much coffee. Had too much last week, explains my water retention. Gonna be a good girl and drink more water instead of dehydrating fluids.

I’m happy thanks to Whisper.

Check out what they included in their goodie bags for the recent Blogger Dialogue I attended.

MACAROONS by Canele!

THESE THINGS ARE THE BEST THINGS EVER! Especially the chocolate one at the top right corner. The shells were crisp on the outside which contrasted very nicely with the creamy, chocolatey and very gooey inside. Oooo… Thinking about it makes me salivate again. It was absolute bliss and orgasmic. There were other delish flavours like lychee strawberry, coffee and hazelnut, but the chocolate one was a clear winner in my books.

I’ve had other macaroons from different places before, but this wins hands down and is by far the yummiest I’ve tasted to date. I’m sure the other girls were equally thrilled by the awesome find in their goodie bags too.

Ransacking our goodie bags as we get a neck and shoulder massage to relive tension.

But we were there for more than just massages and goodie bags. These, nonetheless, are always a perk to attending events because the element of surprise in finding out what they put inside is sooo thrilling. Haha.

Anyway, back to my point. The cozy discussion at House was facilitated by both Whisper’s Brand Manager and Assistant Brand Manager, Cynthia and Cherisse respectively.

No we were not there to discuss the latest technology on absorption but instead, were there to find out and discuss women’s attitudes and mindsets towards “that time of the month”. Unfortunately, majority of girls aged 18-24 polled have negative attitudes towards their periods, but did you know there’s more to your period than just those few days? Cherisse and Cynthia thus proceeded to share some seekrits with us about the cycle.

Also as part of learning to cope with our periods, we were taught some simple massage techniques that can help alleviate pain.

Eileen and Jan practising hugging themselves while Nadia meditates
“Ommmmmm……”

I, on the other hand, try my hand at weaning my head off from my shoulders.

Jan gets some help from the professionals with the same task.

At the same time Esther and I quality control previous camwhore moments.

Esther: “Ehh! I see PIMPLE! *scrutinizes*
Val: Where? *kaypoh*

I look chio here!

Beautiful Cherisse telling us about the microsite and Facebook page that will launch in conjunction with their campaign on August 19th. You too can learn the seeekrits of the cycle then. So make sure you stay tuned cause I’ll also be bringing you updates!

Final pictures before we leave.

With all the bloggers present that day – Belle, Jan, Nadia, Diana, Eileen, Esther, Kaihui and me. Inside joke: Can you guess who’s dressed as the pad, the blood and the packaging? Lol.

And finally, with the crew.