What are YOU Fighting For?

Lately I've been thinking a lot about change & those that have managed to make it happen. Maybe it's the looming election & all that goes with it. More often than not, I seem to find myself following link after link, opening tab after tab, finding page after page that in some way characterizes what I think is our newest women's movement. I'm calling it right now, there is a Hormone Revolution (TM) taking place. It could be the videos that teens are posting on U by Kotex's site or the taboo photos by Emma Arvida Bystrom recently posted on Vice. But one thing is for sure; the fact that everyone is always so up in arms about frank & open discussion of the stigma that is still attached to that-time-of-the-month is stopping fewer & fewer women from talking about it. Everywhere I turn, women are waking up. They are discovering hormones & their affect on us (www.myhormonesmademedoit.com). They are questioning the reasons behind our habit of using a softer voice when we say the words 'period' or 'tampon' or even 'vagina'. They are sick & tired of having to hide that they are sick & tired for at least a few days out of the month, if not 2 weeks. Women have spent such a long time proving that we are equal & can do anything a man can, that we somehow managed to be convinced that we need to pretend our cycle doesn't affect us. It does, & women everywhere are starting to own it. 

Personally, I couldn't be happier. It's one of the reasons I started my service. Let's face it, Periods suck. Aunt Ruby makes periods suck just a little less. After all, we put up with cyclical changes in our bodies that are often painful & tiring, sapping not only our energy but often our focus & even our patience. For most women, this happens for around FORTY YEARS of their life. Remind me again why we need to be quiet about it?

This Hormone Revolution is definitely in it's beginning stages, but I have no doubt it is here to stay. The freedom to speak openly about who you are as a woman & to own all that comes with that, is something we should all be demanding on a daily basis. The next time somebody shushes you when you are talking about periods or hormones, just tell 'em your Aunt Ruby said you have every right to talk about it. If they don't listen, just take an overnight max-pad out of your purse, open it up, peel off the label & stick it to their forehead. That should fix 'em. If you think I'm off my rocker, I'll remind you of some other ideas in history that people thought were crazy:

- Although the women's suffrage movement began in 1869, it wasn't until 1893 that the first state gave women the right to vote (go Colorado!) However it took 27 more years until the 19th Amendement was signed into law for all states. 1920 was a great year.

- The subject of birth control was considered obscene & banned through US mail until 1936

- Up until 1973, you could place a help wanted ad & state specifically that you wanted a man.
  (This is also the year that women were federally granted the right to abortion)

- Prior to 1993, there were still states in which, if a man raped his wife, that was fine by them.

 Is 2020 the year we get Paid Period Leave? Hmmmmm.... maybe you should get involved in the discussion so the movement goes in the right direction. Don't think your voice carries? You probably didn't know that the infamous 'Bra Burning' was only a 100 person protest (I didn't either). It got picked up by a syndicated columnist & the rest is history. I can't wait to see what our history will be!



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Finally! Exercise without Fear of Bear Attacks!

"Do Women On Their Period Attract Bears? New Study Busts This Myth" was the headline on the Huffington Post article I saw yesterday. Good job, Huff- certainly caught my eye. It got me thinking "I wonder what other myths people believe about their period that aren't true?" I thought about writing a blog post about it, but questioned myself. "Could there really be anybody out there that still believes crazy things about their cycle? In this age of rapid information relay, is it possible for someone to still be mis-informed or just not know?" Then I happened to have also seen an article about a woman that never saw Star Wars, so I figure anything is possible. Here goes:

*Myth 1 - Women with their periods get attacked by bears frequently.
Seriously? No. As a matter of fact, studies show that there are WAY more men attacked than women. The error thinking started when a woman with her period was attacked. I just have one question. What on earth was she doing camping while she had her period? I mean, I'm all for the fact that we women can do anything men can, but why would you want to? Oh, wait, there is always the probability that she didn't know when she was getting it. Poor dear.

*Myth 2 - If you swim during your period, your tampon will absorb water, you'll become completely saturated, and you'll sink.
This one is just downright funny & I couldn't resist putting it in. I saw it many forums. Swimming with a tampon is totally safe and in no way puts you at greater risk for drowning.

*Myth 3 - You shouldn’t exercise or do strenuous activities during your period. 
 Menstruation is a normal function. Your period is not a disability, you can do anything during your period that you can do when you’re not menstruating. Exercise is actually a great way to relieve cramps & give you more energy.

*Myth 4 – You can’t get pregnant if you've got your period.
It is less likely that you'll get pregnant if you have sex when you've got your period. But it doesn’t guarantee it. Menstruating is a sign that your uterus lining is shedding, but it doesn't definitely mean there's not an egg ready and waiting for the sperm.

*Myth 5 - Worrying About a Late Period Will Delay It
OK, guess what? I actually believed this one, too! Did you? On the contrary, while stress can affect your cycle, this common belief is incorrect. Stress can delay ovulation, but once an egg is released, the length of time until menstruation begins varies little from cycle to cycle. Therefore, your period is more likely to be delayed by stress that occurs at the beginning of your cycle (before ovulation) than toward the end.

What Menstrual Myths did you believe? Tell us! And as always, if you like this post, please like it & share it, thanks!

References:
http://www.sheknows.com/health-and-wellness/articles/814166/weird-period-myths-1
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/14/women-period-attract-bears_n_1776474.html?utm_hp_ref=women&ir=Women
http://pms.about.com/od/myths/a/menstrual_myths.htm
http://www.ehow.com/about_5377801_myths-menstrual-cycle.html#ixzz23dELrjck
http://www.lovematters.info/female-body/menstruation/menstruation-myths

Olympic Overload- Evolution of the Uneven bars

Is anyone else as obsessed with the Olympic Gymnasts as I am? Gosh, I can remember being a little girl,  sitting for hours, wide-eyed & in amazement at what people could make their bodies do. Now, a couple of decades later, it seems we had no idea what we were actually capable of. I saw this video that chronicles the evolution of the uneven bars & just had to share it with you. Take 6 minutes and marvel at human potential...what we used to think it was & what it is now.

Kinda makes you wonder what we will be watching gymnasts do in 2048, doesn't it? Can you imagine if Gabrielle Douglas found a time machine & went back in time to hang out in a practice session with Nadia Comaneci? Surely, Nadia would tell Gabby she was out of her mind for suggesting such feats of gravity defiance!

There's something else about the evolution of the uneven bars that caught my eye...did you notice? The bars are a lot further apart. According to www.isport.com, "In the 1970s, the event began to change as companies started manufacturing the women’s uneven bars separately from the men’s parallel bars. The new uneven parallel bars were adjustable and used tension cables to stay rooted to the floor. The manufacturers also decreased the circumference of the bars, making it easier to grip. As a result of these changes, throughout the 1970s and 80s, the bars continued to get further apart and gymnasts started performing more and more complex release moves. The difficulty of the releases increased with each additional separation between the bars" Hmmmmm...you mean to tell me that women started doing more amazing things when they were given tools that took into account that they are actually different than men? Astonishing. Imagine what would happen to the feminine protection industry if there was a fresh perspective on what women go through at that time of the month & what they need to get through it with the least amount of pain & hassle. Wait a minute...that's already been done & AuntRuby.net was created to take care of today's woman!

If you like this post, won't you share it? Aunt Ruby would appreciate it!

Errand Queen vs Chocolate Channel Surfer

I specifically remember a phone call I had with my sister about 10 years ago, when she asked me what I was “on”. At the time I laughed & thought “I’m not ‘on’ anything…I’m just this awesome!” Let me explain. I was in the middle of running errands when my phone rang. Now, despite the fact that I had wet nails from a mani/pedi & was also holding my purse, keys, dry cleaning & a video tape I had to return (yes, remember…10 years ago), I felt the need to answer my phone. It was no bother, I was just on my way to the bank, the grocery store & then I was going to go home & clean the bathroom & do all my laundry before I went shopping for a friend’s birthday & stopped by another friend’s BBQ. After all,  I had to be home by 7pm to host cocktails before going to dinner, though. When I gave all of this information as my run-on-sentence answer to my sister’s casual question “Whatchya doin?”, she had good reason to inquire about the possibility of chemical interference. I mean, I can’t imagine getting all this stuff done in one day, but I sure did. I can actually think of lots of days like this. Can’t you? You know, it’s that day that you get absolutely everything on your list done because you are well rested, responsible, together & just generally the most awesome person in the entire world. What’s the harm in taking credit where credit’s due?

I’ll tell you.

If you think you are the most awesome, together person in the world when you are having a really productive day, what do you think of yourself when you don’t? My guess is that you think much the same of yourself as I & most other women I’ve spoken with. “I just can’t get it together” “What’s wrong with me?” “I have no energy” “I am so scattered; I don’t think I’ve gotten ONE thing on my list done!” Sound familiar?

Today, I’d like to ask you to take a moment and think about who you are as a woman…what you’re made of & what you’re ruled by. Hormones greatly affect our sex drive, appetite, alertness, sleep patterns, brain function and so much more! If you don’t believe me, take it from a real expert, Gabrielle Lichterman of www.MyHormonesMadeMeDoIt.com. The first time I saw this site, I swear, it was like being born again! Reading through what goes on inside each and every one of us women throughout our regular cycle is not just interesting; it’s comforting & even downright hysterical.

So, the next time you are laying on the couch watching reality television & you can’t manage to get up off the couch to get a 3^rd helping of toast with honey (ok, maybe it was oreos and ice cream), don’t feel bad. Just prop your feet up on that pile of clean laundry you haven’t folded yet & relax. This feeling isn’t permanent. That other girl- the one you were last week- she’ll save the day and do all the things you don’t feel like doing right now, don’t worry. Most of all, don’t beat yourself up. Slow down and be who you are today. Errand Queen doesn't scarf chocolate and channel surf, does she? Right. So, why are you beating yourself up for not doing what she does?

By the way, part of taking care of yourself means to treat yourself during the time you know will be the hardest for you. A great way to do that is to let Aunt Ruby send you the feminine protection you need, along with tons of great gifts from other entrepreneurs & women centered/owned businesses. 'Like' us on Facebook & Follow us on Twitter for your chance to win a free year of service! More details to come...

Message in a...Pad?

Recently, a friend of mine sent me an hysterical email talking about messages printed on Kotex pantiliners. I checked each box I have in stock and didn't see any messages, so I'm guessing this came from a long time ago. Apparently, Kotex got the message & stopped printing them. I was unable to identify the original author. Whoever she is, she's responsible for many a knowing belly-laugh in the female community, for sure! Her letter is also the perfect introduction to some very exciting changes here at Aunt Ruby! That's right. Now, when you sign up for service with Aunt Ruby, you won't just get your own personalized multi-pack of feminine products & Never Run Out Period TM, you'll also get FREE GIFTS from other woman-centered & woman-owned businesses! I'll still give you tons of info on how to naturally make your period easier on you, but I'll put that somewhere you can access it when YOU want to (like this blog). I know your Aunt Ruby box often arrives at your door on a day that's really hard for you. From now on I promise to include in your delivery a few things that just might make your day easier. Be on the lookout for an upcoming blog post that will reveal the first months' free gifts!

And now, let the laughter begin...

Dear Kotex:

I recently noticed that the peel-off strip of my pantiliner had a bunch
of "Kotex Tips for Life" on it.
Annoying advice such as:

Staying active during your period can relieve cramps.
Avoiding caffeine may help reduce cramps and headaches.
Drink 6-8 glasses of water a day to keep you hydrated and feeling fresh.
Try Kotex blah blah blah other products...

Obviously the individual behind this was someone who has never possessed
a functioning set of ovaries. Go ahead and tell a menstruating woman
that drinking 6-8 glasses of water will help keep her feeling fresh.
Like we need more fluid inside our bloated bodies from hell...but go
ahead...I triple-dog-friggen-dare-ya...See what happens and report
back. I'll wait.

While you're at it, dump out the coffee at work and remove the chocolate
from the vending machin e. I garan-friggen-tee that the first responders
will be females who just ovulated.

Staying active will relieve headaches & cramps...well guess what, the
only activities that interests me is eating..sleeping..bitching or
crying for no apparent reason.. .and oh...does ripping someone's head
off count as a friggen' activity?????

Look, females don't need or want tips for living on their feminine
hygiene products. Younger girls are already hearing "helpful" crap like
that from elderly relatives. Veteran females have already concocted
their own recipes for survival, many containing alcohol & barbituates.

Printing out crap advice while sneaking in ads for the brand that was
already purchased is just plain annoying, not to mention rude, and is
enough to send a girl running to the Always brand.

It's not a fun time, but DO NOT try to cheer us up by adding smiley
faces or bunnies or flowery cutesy crap to your products or the
packaging. Put the crap in a plain brown wrapper so we can throw it in
our carts discreetly and have it blend in among the wine and beer.

There is nothing more annoying than having a blinding pink package
announcing your uterine state to everyone in the store. Why don't ya
just add an in-store microphone to the damn package & announce
that...helloooo, another female in the store is on the rag!!!!!

So take your tips for living and your cute bunnies & the smiley faces
and shove them right up your ass.

PS How about adding a free sample of Pamprin & maybe a shot of Bourbon
to your packages instead !!!

How to have a nice, good cry!

I find that a few days before my period, there is always that day that I can barely move. I'm just SO tired! I almost always wind up watching a movie I've loved for years. My couch co-pilot, who happens to be male, asked me "Why on earth do women watch movies just to cry?" I thought that was a funny way to see us. I explained, "We don't watch certain movies because we want to cry...we watch them because we love them. It just so happens that most movies a girl loves probably made her cry." Hmmmmm.

Anyway, I thought it would be fun to actually figure out my top ten list & really fun to know yours. So, once you're done reading, please tell me what I'm missing!

The Color Purple- A friend once told me that for well over the first hour of this movie, he wondered if I had a problem. He couldn't believe I chose such a depressing movie as my favorite. Then, he said, he got it. Even if the story weren't amazing, the cinematography has the power to make you smell the air. I think I've seen it 20 times. Writing about it makes me want to watch it again.

Brigadoon- The most romantic premise of a movie. Ever. It's a way back oldie, but the theme transcends time.

Love Actually- Talk about feel good! This is the happiest holiday movie. I just love it.

Pride & Prejudice- My best friend hates Keira Knightly's mouth. I think she's so pretty! No matter what you think of looks, it's such a great love story. You just can't beat Jane Austin for an intelligent heart string puller.

The Notebook- I think what I like best about this movie is that my husband really enjoyed watching it, too. He'll never watch it again, though. I say skip the ending.

Fried Green Tomatoes- I think I've seen this movie 3 times and loved it every time. For some reason, I never really remember the story once years have passed. Time to watch it again! 

Flashdance- I still think that someday I'll live in a cool warehouse space, ride my bike to my seedy job so I can make it as a Prima Ballerina. Yep. Next year, for sure.

Mystic Pizza- All I have to say is don't dump a truck full of fish on your boyfriend's car until you know that girl is not his sister:)









Beaches- Bette is amazing. No way to get through this one without tears, so get rid of that mascara before pressing play!

Dirty Dancing- OK, I admit it. I still have to watch this when I run across it on tv!

Going the Distance- I'm a sucker for people that face challenges & still keep their love alive. Plus-who doesn't love Drew?


I realized  two things while coming up with this list. It's been a while since I saw a movie and I haven't seen a whole lot of movies from before I was born. So, honorable mention to:

50 Shades of Grey- OK, everyone I know is obsessed with reading this book. I had thought I could just see the movie when it came out, but from what I hear, it would never pass ratings!

The Women- This came out a long, long time ago. I'm watching it the next time I get 2 hours.

So, what am I missing? What are some of your favorite movies of all time?

Take THAT, PMS!

Do you suffer from PMS? Of course you do. I don't think I've spoken to a woman yet that said "Eh, I don't even know my period's coming. It's all of a sudden just here with no symptoms preceding it." Whether it's bloating or irritability, sore breasts or lack of focus, headaches or insomnia, we've all got our own special cocktail of issues that come along with our monthly visitor. Until recently, I thought all I could do to combat them was maybe some extra rest & some Midol (& a referee for the arguments?). Just as I was about to give up & find a job that allows me to work from home, locked in my room one week out of the month, I started wondering about my diet. Turns out there's an incredible amount of info available on what to (and not to) eat to help with PMS symptoms. Makes sense. If your car isn't running well, they might tell you to reconsider the oil or gas you are using. My life wasn't running well during the fourth week of my cycle, so it was time for a tune up!

After much research, these seem to be the top 3 things you can change in your diet to make a difference in the way you feel before your period. Some of them I am still trying to master while others I have down pat. Now, I'm not saying these are easy changes, but if you change just one thing each cycle, I bet you anything you've got easier days coming.

STOP USING CAFFEINE TO WAKE YOU UP.
Yep. I said using. I know, I know, how could your Starbucks be evil??? As it turns out, Caffeine not only increases cortisol (stress hormone) but it also blocks vitamin & mineral absorption, lowers Serotonin levels, messes with your sleep cycle & increases breast tenderness.
INSTEAD-Try some fresh squeezed orange juice or if there's no time for that, an apple. Make sure you get some complex carbs in you & if all else fails, do some jumping jacks.
NOT SO FAST, SMARTY PANTS- "I'll just have a decaf" I heard that! I tried it, too. Sadly, it doesn't work that way. There's still caffeine in Decaf & furthermore, it's highly processed which is equally no good. I switched to Green Tea & it made a HUGE difference. I still need to step down another notch to make my mornings 100% caffeine-free.
THE PLUS- If you have acne, you may be surprised to see it clearing up when you give up Caffeine.

IF YOU EAT MEAT, HOLD THE HORMONES
I used to go to the store and get the best looking, most cost effective boneless chicken breasts. I didn't consider any other information in my shopping decisions. Now I know to look for added hormones because they wind up in me and drive me absolutely nutty. Seriously, you won't believe the difference!
INSTEAD-Hormone free meat is definitely more expensive, so if you need to cut costs, you can always have a meatless meal (or two) throughout the week. Beans & lentils are fantastic for you at this time of the month, so whip up some Bean Burgers or Lentil Joes. Fish is great for you, too. I've taken quite a liking to Salmon Salad sandwiches these days, and I hate Salmon (relish is the secret).

REMEMBER FRUITS AND VEGGIES? THEY MISS YOU.
I looked at a whole day of my food intake once and realized I hadn't had one fruit or vegetable. Then I started looking back further and found I was the queen of meat and potatoes. and sugar. and salt. There's a whole world of natural food out there just waiting to be enjoyed. If you eat most of your meals out of a box like I used to, you're not giving your body what it needs to battle PMS...you're actually feeding your PMS.
THE PLUS- If you start eating more fruits and veggies as your snacks and sides, you won't be able to fit enough calories in your meal to gain weight. You might even lose some.

Now, these things are most important during the last 2 weeks of your cycle, but did you know it's easier to make a change during the first 2 weeks? Yep. You're most even keeled in your first & second weeks so breaking a habit is easier. It's not important that you change all of these things 100% and never go back, but it IS important that you start to look at what could be causing your PMS and take steps to help yourself. I wrote about these 3 things because I have personally made these changes & found it to be incredibly helpful with my symptoms.  Baby steps are fine. What's your worst PMS symptom? Look up what causes that symptom and make a change. Then, move on to the next.

Next on my list? Sugar. But I'm not there yet.

References:
http://www.pmswarrior.com/why-caffeine-and-pms-dont-mix/
http://life.seven-seas.com/premenstrual-syndrome#axzz1z1M972Sl
http://feby.com/news/10-foods-that-fight-pms/
http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/health/body/head-to-toe/the-best-days-of-the-month-to/