Wrinkles are NOT a girl's best friend

I'm turning 40 in 6 months time and I've noticed quite a significant increase in my crows feet.


As we decline down the melancholy tunnel of aging, our skin loses moisture and elasticity, making it prone to wrinkles. Although dermatologists have many tools for tackling those little lines that mark the passage of time, perhaps the best and safest option is to protect your skin just as it is.

I'm thinking Botox and Fillers, Plonkers.

I will outline several ways you can help to prevent wrinkles from forming in the first place.


It's in the jeans...er genes
I'm blaming my dysfunctional genetics!  My family do not age gracefully.  It's true that some people age better than others. And while scientists are beginning to gain a deeper understanding of how genetics influence the aging process, they're also discovering how much your lifestyle choices can affect your genes. Your genes only govern 30% of how you age; the other 70% is up to you.


Here comes the Sun
As we age, our skin loses collagen and the ability to retain water. This makes it less capable of dealing with the harsh effects of direct sunlight. Wear a wide-brimmed hat in summer and ALWAYS wear sunblock on exposed skin.

Recent research, however, indicates that exposing your torso for short periods of time to the midday sun is an important factor in cancer prevention. The question is how to balance the danger of skin cancer against the positive absorption of vital vitamin D by the body through direct sunlight.

Eat, drink and slather on the antioxidants

When UV rays are absorbed by your skin, they create free radicals that cause wrinkles. Antioxidants help to defend your body against free radicals. Combat wrinkles with brightly coloured red, blue, purple, orange, and yellow fruits and vegetables.

Foods richest in antioxidants include all red and blue berries, pomegranates, dried red beans, and red or blue plums. To get the maximum benefits of antioxidants, eat these foods raw. Use natural or organic body creams or moisturizers containing these ingredients, and drink green tea.

Always wear your Sunnies

Not only will wearing sunglasses protect the delicate skin around your eyes from the sun, but it'll also help prevent frowning, which contributes directly to wrinkling.

Sleep on your back

Sleep on your back with a flat pillow to prevent sleep lines, which can eventually turn into wrinkles.

Stop smoking 

Heavy smokers are almost five times more likely to show excessive wrinkling than non-smokers. Smoking can damage collagen, and the frowning and lip pursing that comes with smoking directly creates wrinkles over time.

Control your facial expressions

More animated expressions mean more creases, and creases eventually become wrinkles. Don't stop smiling or laughing, however. A genuine smile causes crows' feet around your eyes but the power of sincere joy over wrinkles may be stronger than the effects of not smiling.

I'm thinking Botox and Fillers again.

Be happy

Being in a happy relationship and having an optimistic, laid back approach to life can help to prevent wrinkles. At the very least, being happy will help you to accept your wrinkles as a natural and normal sign of growing older!

See a doctor

This is more like it. Prescription retinoic acid can minimise the appearance of wrinkles, whilst horizontal forehead lines or crows' feet can be injected with botulinum toxin (botox). Deep wrinkles may need filler injections. Bear in mind, however, that invasive treatments frequently have negative side-effects.

And a HUGE Happy Birthday to my eldest.  Today she is nine years old and first day of Grade 3!  Sucks to have to start school on yer birthday!  Bummer.

Cake for breakfast.

Happy Birthday My Wee Button!

Conversations With Kaylin

I wasn't feeling so hot on Monday afternoon so I curled up on the couch under a blanket. Kaylin (my three year old) came up to me and felt my forehead:

Kaylin : Mummy Too Hot!

Me : *nodded my head*

Kaylin: Must I call your Daddy to come fetch you?

Me: *more nodding and smiling*

Kaylin : *gets on her imaginary telephone* (her hand to her ear) Hello? Hmmmm...Mummy's Sick! Can you come and fetch her?

Kaylin to me : Your Daddy's coming to fetch you and take you to da docta. Okay?

Me : Thank you, Kaylin.

How kewt is she?

I wish! No one seems to take care of us Mummys when we're ill. We just have to carry on regardless. Lets hope I don't have Swine Flu!!

Fekkie Fek Fek

Got the dreaded call from Kaylin's School to say she has a fever of 38 and has been coughing non stop since lunch time. Yes, she was coughing a little in her sleep last night but she slept like a rock from 7:45 until 6:30 this morning.

I phoned my GP only to be told that he's on leave and the other doctor's are full booked. Fekkin' doctors...

I drove around our area trying to find a doctor and I got an appointment with a Dr Styl (a lady doctor) at 4:15pm yesterday. She was very nice, gave Kaylin the once over, weighed her, listened to her chest, looked in her throat and ears, took her temperature and declared that she has very red ears. She has bilateral ear infection and is on 7 days of antibiotics.

No wonder KK was complaining that she had "sand in her ears". Poor wee thing.

And I thought it was just a bit of a cold.