tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84861778833192977102024-02-18T20:47:11.905-06:00Period PieceVag-related dialogue,
<br>particularly in regard to
<br><b>the lady-bleeding</b>.Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10240489586523070324noreply@blogger.comBlogger119125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8486177883319297710.post-56286056236013288712012-12-24T15:38:00.001-06:002012-12-24T15:44:22.676-06:00Pads for Peace'Tis the season of giving. Giving to family and friends of course, but also of giving to those in need. With so many worthwhile charities out there, I wanted to do my research and find something I felt good about donating to this holiday season.<br />
<br />
One of my favorite sites is <a href="http://greatergood.com/">GreaterGood.com</a href>, where you can click daily for various causes such as breast cancer, childhood literacy, rain forest preservation and more. The site sponsors then donate to partner organizations, depending on how many clicks they get. A free way to give back; how cool is that?<br />
<br />
The site also has a store where you can purchase a a Gift That Gives More™. One such gift is a program called Pads for Peace:<br />
<br />
"Pads for Peace gives girls access to reusable sanitary pads. The pads are reusable, made of attractive, soft fleece and flannel, and are both made and distributed in Kenya. The girls who receive the pads are also in reproductive education and empowerment classes. Another great benefit of the program is that the women making the pads earn income by manufacturing and selling these pads to women in the community."<br />
<br />
A one-time donation pays for a kit of cloth pads, liners and underwear that can last up to 5 years, plus detergent and other items to wash them.<br />
<br />
Read more about Pads for Peace <a href="https://theautismsite.greatergood.com/store/aut/item/49744/pads-for-peace?source=12-47224-0">here</a href>, and also be sure to check out the other cool gifts that are available in the store.Kellie Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18224406349521919304noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8486177883319297710.post-65357543369563380162012-11-01T08:47:00.002-05:002012-11-01T08:47:18.967-05:00It seems I had forgotten myself<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ztlLySvUbvn2GfBOTZYyYaK0S8IHtTIwFk_CQRzkBVZ-aqlUUwP3lVKNJo9kdVwvKyz6rYkiF1h407EgvmjtTJq-auYhFqGlsd5t2R400S49-bHsDyfkmgxLXo8jPowDVZpfAmQeN-0a/s1600/scared-lady.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ztlLySvUbvn2GfBOTZYyYaK0S8IHtTIwFk_CQRzkBVZ-aqlUUwP3lVKNJo9kdVwvKyz6rYkiF1h407EgvmjtTJq-auYhFqGlsd5t2R400S49-bHsDyfkmgxLXo8jPowDVZpfAmQeN-0a/s320/scared-lady.jpg" width="250" /></a>So, I have recently had a baby (yay!) and my period just re-started out of nowhere. It is strange to me how weird it felt. It's almost as though in the last year I have forgotten what a period is. When it began, my first thought was, "Oh no, something has gone horribly wrong" probably because for the last year or so that's been exactly the case, and then I thought, "Oh right, I bleed out of my vagina sometimes"<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
It made me think about how some girls must feel when they get their periods for the first time and maybe that starting a period and restarting aren't really that different.<br />
<br />
For me, my first period was not a big deal. Or at least it must not have been since I have no memory of it. The only thing I really remember was mom setting me up with some tampons in the bathroom. I had been fully aware not only what a period was, but also that it was going to happen to me, and was not a big deal. However, I remember when I was a camp counselor little girls having no idea what their period was, and losing their minds when it started suddenly at camp.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtPOP2tA32eAhISXRW1Uj-tb8IxtDVXvnRvBJRxm2eEKueDTYH8WBRXjJdVXe5AYEccAf46nmxyb-qV50Z9T5k_iMYFGEOry5IeENi0ERT_ox_x3ZVaby_V4agB5dlXe3Zzs2G1iZTUgMs/s1600/cedarledge.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtPOP2tA32eAhISXRW1Uj-tb8IxtDVXvnRvBJRxm2eEKueDTYH8WBRXjJdVXe5AYEccAf46nmxyb-qV50Z9T5k_iMYFGEOry5IeENi0ERT_ox_x3ZVaby_V4agB5dlXe3Zzs2G1iZTUgMs/s1600/cedarledge.JPG" /></a></div>
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I'm not sure what the rules are these days, but at that time we were not allowed to talk to them about their perfectly normal body functions and instead had to make a big production of shuffling them off to the office to call their mothers. I think this was a disservice to these girls. Not only were they terrified, as is understandable if you don't know it's normal, but then they were treated (and by the rules had to be) as if they had done something horrible. You try to make it seem like no big deal, but the fact of the matter is you are pulling a scared little girl away from her day while saying "We're going to call your mom". It's scary.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ_ublKSEWmDy9eE0z0gQ5klc2UZwk19Xb8Z2DzUmjUKW8PlIdsBCOOQlcRaCPuBbsCQioW0WhNCN5jdUecOBIjQ_7n7iI69xS9EPnLeESCCCjdt-5Y6YsYx7vjl5KVR-tckfC-EiS76wC/s1600/thumbs-up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ_ublKSEWmDy9eE0z0gQ5klc2UZwk19Xb8Z2DzUmjUKW8PlIdsBCOOQlcRaCPuBbsCQioW0WhNCN5jdUecOBIjQ_7n7iI69xS9EPnLeESCCCjdt-5Y6YsYx7vjl5KVR-tckfC-EiS76wC/s320/thumbs-up.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
Now, obviously as an adult who has been having a period for almost 20 years, it's slightly different. But for me at least, there was a fear of the unfamiliar which I don't ever remember experiencing when I started my period for the first time, and it made me think about those little girls whose parents never warn them about menstruation. My son, who will never experience menstruation, knows what it is, why it exists, and that it's perfectly normal and not some weird thing that mom has to go hide to take care of, and I think that's healthy. Obviously parents should raise their children however they feel is the right way as long as they are not abusive, but I think that not telling a girl about menstruation is like not telling your child about sneezing, or pooping, or any other thing that our bodies do on a regular basis.Aana Raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10221730915490355750noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8486177883319297710.post-57362793684466745102012-02-12T20:44:00.001-06:002012-02-12T20:46:34.327-06:0051 Christian Friendly Words for VaginaEver wonder what the religious right use to refer to the forbidden lady parts?<br />
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<a href="http://christwire.org/2011/11/51-christian-friendly-words-for-vagina/">51 Christian Friendly Words for Vagina from ChristWire.org</a href><br />
<br />
This is a good laugh. Some of my favorites:<br />
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- Moist Camel Hump<br />
- Flap Dragon<br />
- Slurpin' Salmon<br />
- Devil's Fun Slide<br />
- Ovary Hallway<br />
- Magic Crepe<br />
- Neighbor of Anus<br />
- Pink Velveeta Shell<br />
- The Pubic PubKellie Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18224406349521919304noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8486177883319297710.post-63107378084063640512012-02-02T23:39:00.001-06:002012-02-03T00:17:57.696-06:00Something gross from four years agoI've kept a journal since I was 13 years old. It's pretty awesome--I would definitely recommend it. From time to time, I like to go back and read old stuff I wrote. Today I found this, it's from right in the middle of when I was working on <a href="http://periodpiece.blogspot.com/2007/12/proposal.html">my radical menstruation honors project</a>:<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">Tuesday, Februrary 12, 2008:</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">Do you want to know something totally DISGUSTING? In my DivaCup fervor, I decided to give some of my blood to the houseplants since I keep hearing they love that stuff. I dumped it in a spaghetti sauce jar, added some water, shook it up, and gave it to them. I didn't use it all, so I kept the extra in the jar in my underwear drawer. Unfortunately, I have a habit of forgetting about stuff like that, so it's been untouched since... however long that's been. I looked at it tonight and it appeared to be a little whitish? I'm too scared to open it. </blockquote><br />
That was a fun time in my life.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq"></blockquote>Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10240489586523070324noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8486177883319297710.post-64757477058888776772011-12-05T17:47:00.001-06:002011-12-05T17:56:58.362-06:00Cleaning Alternatives for Reusable PadsThe ladies at the <a href="http://bepreparedperiod.com/blog/2011/11/a-better-way-to-clean-cloth-pads-2/">Be Prepared Blog</a href> sent us a link to their new post discussing alternate cleaning products for reusable pads. They talk about <a href="http://www.myh2oathome.com/shop/noshopping.aspx">H20 at Home's Eco-Clean Laundry Ball</a href> as well as a couple of organic washes.
I personally never thought about using a different soap for my pads; usually I throw them in with my regular laundry loads. Yet they bring up a good point of the chemicals in laundry detergent sticking to your pads after you wash them (and who wants that near your ladyparts?).
While we're on the subject, I have to give a plug for the <a href="http://www.forevernew.com/">Forever New</a href> wash. It's branded primarily for washing lingerie but I've washed some of my homemade pads in it as well.
Are there any other products or methods you use to clean your reusable pads?Kellie Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18224406349521919304noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8486177883319297710.post-74525019853158076442011-11-08T16:43:00.000-06:002011-11-08T16:43:39.588-06:00Separating the men from the boysThe other day, I read an excerpt from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Everyone-Hanging-Without-Other-Concerns/dp/0307886263">Mindy Kaling's new book, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? </a>Mindy Kaling's hilarious, so of course the excerpt was good. In it, she talked about the importance of dating a man, rather than a boy.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>Until I was 30, I dated only boys. I'll tell you why: Men scared the shit out of me. Men know what they want. Men own alarm clocks. Men sleep on a mattress that isn't on the floor. Men buy new shampoo instead of adding water to a nearly empty bottle of shampoo. Men make reservations. Men go in for a kiss without giving you some long preamble about how they're thinking of kissing you. Men wear clothes that have never been worn by anyone else before. ...Men know what they want, and that is scary. </i></blockquote><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>What I was used to was boys.</i></blockquote><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>Boys are adorable. Boys trail off their sentences in an appealing way. Boys get haircuts from their roommate, who "totally knows how to cut hair." Boys can pack up their whole life and move to Brooklyn for a gig if they need to. Boys have "gigs." Boys are broke. And when they do have money, they spend it on a trip to Colorado to see a music festival. Boys can talk for hours with you in a diner at three in the morning because they don't have regular work hours. </i></blockquote><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>But they suck to date when you turn 30.</i></blockquote><br />
So the concept of differentiating men from boys has been in my mind a lot lately. Cue the<a href="http://the-frenemy.com/post/12501741874/i-will-tell-you-when-im-on-my-period"> latest post by The Frenemy</a>, who is also hilarious and good.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><i>There’s this guy standing in front of me right now-adult, able to buy his own toothpaste, knows his jeans size in inches. This guy has totally lost his shit somewhere on the corner of Metropolitan and ‘maybe we should have taken a left’, and it’s technically something I said but not my fault. I’m standing here, looking around frantically at the six-pack of the kinds of hipsters that say they’re hipsters, so are therefore just dudes wearing hats. I’m eyeing them like maybe I’m the one that should be embarrassed, because my friend is going LA LA LA I don’t want to HEAR you and I have to keep on moving, coaxing him out of the moment like a dog.</i></span></blockquote><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">Okay! I won’t bring it up anymore. Can we just get our hands on some ‘artisan what the hell is artisan’ burgers now and you can stop singing?</blockquote><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">All I had said was that I was on my period. This is around the time that he started acting like a child, and it’s not his fault. 9 times out of 10 idiots, it’s this: you tell any adult man that you’re on their period/he’s got the maturity level of Dave Coulier in Full House, he can react in the ‘nana nana poooopy’ kind of way and we just accept it. He’s a baby, we think! I better stop being such a lady and shut my mouth!<br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"></span></i></blockquote><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">...For the men- if you want to be an adult about it, you nod when I say that I have my period. You nod like an adult and you move on. Once a month, blood is shed from my uterus because I am not pregnant and I’m not having a baby squeeze out of me any time soon. It does not pour out like the river.It does not shoot out of my vag like a squirt gun filled with Kool-Aid, and it A THING THAT HAPPENS and you shouldn’t be grossed out by... </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">Do not look away at tampons, do not wince at the word uterus. If you’re a grown-ass man who wants to stick his grown-ass parts into any woman, you better be respectful enough to acknowledge that the things her body does are normal and fine and not gross. I know you’re not all like this, because I know some real cool guys. I tip my hat off to you and your uterus respect.</span></i></blockquote><br />
I mean, I don't want to hog all the good quotes here, so <a href="http://the-frenemy.com/post/12501741874/i-will-tell-you-when-im-on-my-period">go read the whole thing</a>. I have yet to read a Frenemy post where I didn't LOL at least once.<br />
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Personally, I remember one of the first times I told a guy I had my period. He was my boyfriend, and I'm pretty sure I told him straight up. He was like, "That is awesome! I couldn't even tell! This is one of the many reasons why I love you--you're exactly the same when you have your period! You're not even grouchy or anything! That's awesome!" Ahw. <3Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10240489586523070324noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8486177883319297710.post-76241047398930915312011-10-19T23:52:00.004-05:002011-11-08T18:43:32.232-06:00The Power of the V?I've posted about <a href="http://periodpiece.blogspot.com/2011/07/hail-to-v.html">Summer's Eve's "Hail to the V"</a href> commercials before, but they've reached a whole new level of ridiculousness with their latest spot:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/MxW_ZCd64tg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
I never realized all the great battles in history were fought over getting some pussy. The whole epic set-up to advertise for vaginal cleansing products is both laughable and in my opinion rather offensive. Depicting men fighting over a woman (or more specifically her va-jay-jay) is objectifying rather than empowering. I guess it's impossible to fathom that men would want a woman for anything other than the power of her lady parts, like her personality.
So I guess the lesson here is to keep your vagina clean and you'll have men fight epic battles over you. Or something.Kellie Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18224406349521919304noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8486177883319297710.post-39180041863645270932011-10-01T11:44:00.000-05:002011-10-01T11:44:04.513-05:00What's that tampon doing next to your penis?So on the Ms. Blog, I came across this new machine that simulates the pain and bleeding of menstruation.<br />
<br />
http://msmagazine.com/blog/blog/2011/09/26/if-men-could-menstruate/<br />
http://www.sputniko.com/works/sputniko/menstruation-machine<br />
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The inventor of the machine seems to be posing the question, why should women menstruate at all anymore. To me the question seems less cultural and more biological. It's true that it's a womanly thing to have, you know those menses, for me however, the pills that down play your menstrual cycle seem biologically bizarre and I don't trust them.I'm probably completely wrong, but it seems unhealthy to me to NOT menstruate every month. Also, I really really appreciate my body telling me for absolute certain that I am not having a baby right now. It's almost like a courtesy call from my uterus. "*Ding* Not this month". I don't feel I am culturally attached to having my period, and I think it's something that should be discussed freely and openly without people being embarrassed, but I don't know if that extends to having a machine that simulates the process.<br />
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I find the idea of this machine really bizarre as well. Not that I think it's necessarily a bad product and don't mean to blast it at all. I find the idea of it intriguing. But it seems to make menstruating into a novelty, which is not an experience that goes along with female menstruation. It's something that happens all the time, whether you like it or not. Is there any real reason for someone to wear this machine? I can't see a real justification. Because it's not like it can possibly simulate ALL of the symptoms of menstruation. Example: I get itchy during my period because of my hormones, does this machine make you itchy? I think that claiming that it simulates menstruation as an experience is a little misleading. I love my period and all the things that go with it (even the bad ones, because when they go away it's all the better) but I don't know if I would want my boyfriend walking around thinking he knew what menstruation was like because of a machine that he wore for a week or so.<br />
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The thing that weirds me out the most is that it actually bleeds as you can see in the video on both links. Where is the blood coming from? Who/What's blood is it? What if the blood touches me? I mean, I'm okay with my own blood, but mystery blood, not so much. And if it is your own blood (which I think would be better) how do you get it, is there a needle like a diabetes finger pricker? I guess this machine leaves me with more questions than answers ultimately. I do think it's an interesting idea as I said, and can certainly help get discussion going, which is always a good thing.Aana Raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10221730915490355750noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8486177883319297710.post-47019087739810604052011-09-12T13:46:00.000-05:002011-09-12T13:46:00.488-05:00Real quick round-up<ul><li><a href="http://www.viewshound.com/health-fitness/2011/6/menstruation-and-creativity">Are you more creative while menstruating?</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.amplifyyourvoice.org/u/ashu/2011/7/15/Menstruation-aBlessing-or-a-curse">A post on Amplify about the Nepali tradition of chaupadi</a>--isolating women who are on their periods:<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;"><i>In this superstitious logic, if a menstruating woman touches a tree it will never again bear fruit; if she consumes milk the cow will not give anymore milk; if she reads a book about Saraswati, the goddess of education, she will become angry; if she touches a man, he will be ill</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">.</span></li>
<li>Similarly, <a href="http://feministing.com/2011/09/06/what-my-christian-fundamentalist-upbringing-tought-me-about-periods/">Jos at Feministing writes about the attitudes and beliefs surrounding menstruation and sexuality while growing up in an Eastern Orthodox Christian church</a>.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Every sperm, and egg, is sacred. Wasting either, through masturbation, a wet dream, or simply having your period, is a sign of our fallen state, our unclean-ness. Even though a woman’s period is also a sign of her one real purpose: to make babies. So women are baby-making factories, that’s what God made them for, but their ability to fulfill this purpose makes them unclean. So women are inherently unclean, or a failure at being women.</span></span></i></span></li>
<li><a href="http://jezebel.com/5831720/hysteria-trailer-shows-the-history-of-the-vibrator">Jezebel posted a trailer</a> for the new movie <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1435513/">Hysteria</a>, about the invention/development of the vibrator. Actually, it's a rom-com that happens to be based around the development of the vibrator. It looks pretty feel-good, so to speak. Don't expect a documentary, people!</li>
</ul><div><br />
</div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/zf4IlHaPRUg" width="640"></iframe>Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10240489586523070324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8486177883319297710.post-74801372810503953122011-09-02T13:13:00.000-05:002011-09-02T13:13:42.624-05:00In which I am an agent of social changeThis is a bragging on myself type of post. If you are not interested in that, skip down and read Jamie's post about RePhresh tampons.<br />
<br />
...I'll wait...<br />
<br />
Carrying on. After numerous phone calls and letters to many of the major retailers in the area, one has finally answered my call to start carrying Softcups. If you are in the Fayetteville, AR area and are interested in giving these a try, the Wal-Mart on Martin Luther King is now selling them. I have to admit that after Jamie sent me a sample pack, I absolutely fell in love with this product. Though not as friendly to the Earth as a Diva Cup (someday!!) I really enjoy them. I can't feel them at all, and it's nice to not have to worry about getting up in the middle of the night to change a tampon. I still frequently use tampons during the day, but the Softcup has become my go to night time protection product.<br />
<br />
So to wrap up: I like Softcups, they sell them in my town now, I want a Diva Cup.<br />
<br />
The End.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx_cBPqaxd1fyWIlMXu2LUecC8GKMGJWnfBKjfthKuW8AW7ab_t99HL-e50VNX1Gjb2TdK2DLfTR9Jm5w5mDm0lr65cAEWxpH0IK0vqsdyGUMwkhl_oxVdhBjGxFygiRakz1_qZAtvY8w1/s1600/hand_softcup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx_cBPqaxd1fyWIlMXu2LUecC8GKMGJWnfBKjfthKuW8AW7ab_t99HL-e50VNX1Gjb2TdK2DLfTR9Jm5w5mDm0lr65cAEWxpH0IK0vqsdyGUMwkhl_oxVdhBjGxFygiRakz1_qZAtvY8w1/s1600/hand_softcup.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Aana Raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10221730915490355750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8486177883319297710.post-23983241830789032212011-08-12T07:03:00.001-05:002011-08-12T07:03:01.522-05:00In which I am skeptical once againFACT: The insides of your vagina are a chemically delicate ecosystem. It's no big though, because mostly, your body regulates this itself.<br />
<br />
FACT: If this pH balance gets messed up, you may get a yeast infection.<br />
<br />
FACT: One of the ways your pH balance can get thrown out of whack is by using tampons. Tampons are up in there indiscriminately absorbing not only blood, but your other lady-fluids as well.<br />
<br />
Okay, so. It seems to me that if using tampons is messing up your insides, the most straightforward/logical solution is to stop using tampons.<br />
<br />
But I guess in our wacky <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicalization">medicalization</a> society, another viable option is to just treat tampons with even more chemicals to help "regulate" your vaginal pH balance. <a href="http://www.rephreshbrilliant.com/">Introducing RepHresh</a>, "the first and only tampon clinically shown to reduce the usual vaginal pH increase during your period."<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU7bgQKUpi21n5I2pPYyoAlxyIQmL5En9VKrJz_Pc-QtEKxitnGt_1C3bTiVXPulcMHoI2flz9nJPp1rpzHpQFZ_2FvvHkHtmxbxhT7r04vko1JINayCvoy0-Ea83o_vLIeCHkQd0anxGb/s1600/Brilliant+pH+Tampons.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU7bgQKUpi21n5I2pPYyoAlxyIQmL5En9VKrJz_Pc-QtEKxitnGt_1C3bTiVXPulcMHoI2flz9nJPp1rpzHpQFZ_2FvvHkHtmxbxhT7r04vko1JINayCvoy0-Ea83o_vLIeCHkQd0anxGb/s400/Brilliant+pH+Tampons.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I get that yeast infections are annoying. And that tampons are convenient. And so if there's a way you can have your convenience and not be itchy, that sounds great. But is it really so smart to keep absorbing more and more chemicals into our bodies? My complaints are along the exact same lines as Aana's when <a href="http://periodpiece.blogspot.com/2011/08/scented-tampons.html">she writes about scented tampons</a>. To me, this is just another quick fix that treats the symptoms of a larger problem without even recognizing that there is a larger problem. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thoughts?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.empowher.com/yeast-infection/content/not-your-basic-tampon-how-you-can-prevent-yeast-infections-during-menstruati">h/t to EmpowHER</a></div><br />
Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10240489586523070324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8486177883319297710.post-78673523694280540202011-08-11T12:23:00.000-05:002011-08-11T12:23:00.596-05:00Big deal or no?<a href="http://www.adweek.com/adfreak/pad-ad-takes-bold-step-showing-periods-are-actually-red-133239">Lots</a> <a href="http://lezgetreal.com/2011/07/feminine-hygiene-ad-finally-mentions-blood/">of</a> <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/new-health/health-news/always-does-away-with-the-mysterious-blue-liquid/article2090171/">blogging</a> <a href="http://copyranter.blogspot.com/2011/07/omg-blood-in-american-tampon-ad.html">about </a>Always' new ad campaign that actually portrays a red dot on one of their maxi pads, replacing the notorious/sanitized/confusing blue liquid.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN1_uhic2Q24WLD5Hj2EtLRnJiW6eOQtEeU4pvhFWenjrWUe02w-TxiO4JphY1cwvA6Kc3GRAGc24eyhBJGIX9qwXC-Cblx2XK0dYvIaDT-I1CTwP08JmkcrAvORKvivPbG9nGarBpNemF/s1600/AlwaysTamponMaze.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN1_uhic2Q24WLD5Hj2EtLRnJiW6eOQtEeU4pvhFWenjrWUe02w-TxiO4JphY1cwvA6Kc3GRAGc24eyhBJGIX9qwXC-Cblx2XK0dYvIaDT-I1CTwP08JmkcrAvORKvivPbG9nGarBpNemF/s400/AlwaysTamponMaze.jpg" width="313" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">image from adweek.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Is this really that big of a deal?Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10240489586523070324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8486177883319297710.post-14789662291386760212011-08-10T10:03:00.001-05:002011-08-10T10:03:00.512-05:00Diva cup experiencesI adore my Diva cup. It is one of my favorite inventions. Every month, I'm so thankful I have it. It's comfortable and clean (aside from the obvious insertion messiness). Actually, I usually forget I even have my period at all until it's time to dump it out. <i>But</i> <i>I even enjoy dumping it out!!</i> (TMI?)<br />
<br />
I think more women would use Diva cups (or Keepers, or Mooncups, or any type of menstrual cup... I just refer to them all as Diva cups cuz it's easier) if they knew about how awesome they are. Probably most women don't even know about them, then when they learn, their first reaction is "omg, gross/weird." I know that's how I was.<br />
<br />
Every so often I come across accounts of women's first impressions of using the Diva cup, so I thought it might be beneficial to group them all together in a post here, so you all can see I'm not the only one in love with my cup!<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul><li><a href="http://jessicagottlieb.com/2011/03/diva-menstrual-cup-review/">The Diva Cup Review (Mom, Dad this is all about my menstruation please don't read it)</a> at <a href="http://jessicagottlieb.com/">jessicagottlieb.com</a>: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><i>I was walking through Whole Foods, spotted the Diva Cup, and thought, “Why not? It’s only $30, I’m going to waste more than that on snooty cheeses this week.” ...I</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><i>t’s become one of those things that I want to shout from the rooftops. YOU NEED A DIVA CUP.</i></span></li>
<li><a href="http://nomoredirtylooks.com/2011/05/would-you-use-a-menstrual-cup/">Would You Use a Menstrual Cup?</a> at <a href="http://nomoredirtylooks.com/">No More Dirty Looks</a>: <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;">The cup is not gross in the slightest (and I’m squeamish). In fact it feels far “cleaner” than tampons or pads—sterile almost.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"> ...</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;">Application and removal were easy, and it felt more comfortable to me than a tampon. In fact, it almost felt like I didn’t even have my period. My only regret was that I hadn’t tried it sooner.</span></i></li>
<li><a href="http://www.tribune242.com/06142011_divacup_features_pg8">The Diva Cup: A New Trend</a>: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><i>"With all the state-of-the-art conveniences western society has developed, it baffles us why outdated feminine products are still being used. We believe that reusable menstrual cups are the next generation of feminine hygiene because they are the most environmentally responsible choice. They are also the most convenient and reliable option available and are not linked to Toxic Shock Syndrome."</i></span></li>
<li><a href="http://mamasandbabies.blogspot.com/2011/03/my-first-experience-with-menstrual-cup.html">My First Experience With A Menstrual Cup</a> at <a href="http://mamasandbabies.blogspot.com/">Mamas and Babies</a>:<i> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">I had</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><b>NO LEAKING</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">the entire time I used the cup. I had been cautioned to use pads the first few days or so just in case, but I didn't need them. I was very impressed, especially because even tampons leak when they get full.</span></i></li>
</ul>Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10240489586523070324noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8486177883319297710.post-417932593996484902011-08-08T18:33:00.000-05:002011-08-08T18:33:50.182-05:00Real quick round-up<br />
<ul><li>Video: <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/yeselguapo/how-to-make-a-vagina-cupcake-video-o7p">How to make a vagina cupcake.</a> [Insert pussy-eating joke here]</li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Little-Book-Rachel-Kauder-Nalebuff/dp/B003H4RDWY/?ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1309457731&sr=1-1&tag=gmgamzn-20">My Little Red Book</a>--stories about people's first periods! I'm adding it to my want list.</li>
<li>From Jezebel: <a href="http://jezebel.com/5817139/how-to-menstruate-politely">How to Menstruate Politely</a>. This is actually practical advice! I love Jezebel more and more lately.</li>
<li>From Huffington Post: <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/29/strange-science-menstruat_n_886815.html">"A new study suggests that depending on where they are in their menstrual cycles, women have very different reactions towards strange men."</a></li>
<li><a href="http://technorati.com/women/article/fifty-six-year-old-to-give/">A woman is donating her uterus to her 25-year-old daughter!</a> Isn't that an interesting thought?--The place where you came from is now inside you! At least you'd know you were getting quality equipment. :)</li>
</ul>Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10240489586523070324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8486177883319297710.post-85564158844592554282011-08-07T21:02:00.000-05:002011-08-07T21:02:02.178-05:00Mother Nature is pretty weird/awesomeCheck out this picture of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_Falls">Blood Falls</a> in Antarctica.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtembeasgAp56F00t7Er0JYYp2WzB8iK61ujAGKyXmduMwI8t0PBML70Wq-jWRpcyV5a4D9l4JgtZgeblbTKomwk1G0PAuVQgW0gxE4-rpAf0nthsnRkguiCi9-Hcq4PyhSal3QD6tfv0Q/s1600/Image+of+Blood+Falls+located+in+Taylor+Glacier%252C+Antarctica++Blood+Falls+pouring+into+Lake+Bonney.+A+tent+can+be+seen+in+the+lower+left+for+size+comparison.+Photo+from+the+United+States+Antarctic+Program+Photo+Library.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtembeasgAp56F00t7Er0JYYp2WzB8iK61ujAGKyXmduMwI8t0PBML70Wq-jWRpcyV5a4D9l4JgtZgeblbTKomwk1G0PAuVQgW0gxE4-rpAf0nthsnRkguiCi9-Hcq4PyhSal3QD6tfv0Q/s400/Image+of+Blood+Falls+located+in+Taylor+Glacier%252C+Antarctica++Blood+Falls+pouring+into+Lake+Bonney.+A+tent+can+be+seen+in+the+lower+left+for+size+comparison.+Photo+from+the+United+States+Antarctic+Program+Photo+Library.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The <a href="http://atlasobscura.com/place/blood-falls">scientific explanation</a> is less depressing than you might imagine.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://atlasobscura.com/place/blood-falls">h/t to Atlas Obscura</a>Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10240489586523070324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8486177883319297710.post-6295573176777117682011-08-03T13:58:00.000-05:002011-08-03T13:58:56.968-05:00Scented TamponsSo I accidentally bought a box of scented tampons yesterday, and didn't realize it until after I had broken into the box and opened the first one already. There goes exchanging them for non-scented tampons... Unfortunately for me, I bought a huge box, and am now going to have to use them for probably 4 or 5 months. Lame. I hate scented tampons for 2 reasons.<br />
<br />
Reason #1: I can't imagine that having the kind of chemicals that make tampons smell "fresh" have any business being anywhere near the inside of my vagina. Frankly I have the same issue with feminine sprays as well. I would just rather not put a bunch of chemicals inside my body, especially not attached to a tampon that has the possibility of tearing open some skin. On a more personal note, I have mild allergies to many soaps and lotions, and have a concern that this might translate to the "fresh" scent on/in the tampon.<br />
<br />
Reason #2: I don't like the whole idea that my vagina, whether menstruating or not, smells bad. I don't mind or even notice most of the time what my vagina smells like. The fact that there is an idea that a woman's vagina inherently smells bad is just ridiculous. Just like any other part of a person's body the vagina does have the possibility of having a smell, even a distinctive one. Even one that others might find offensive, but it is ultimately a personal choice whether you want to cover that smell or just accept it. There are options for either, I just always find it frustrating that the scented tampons are not labeled better. This is not the first time I have accidentally bought scented tampons because it only says scented in little tiny letters, and I have a 4 year old and am often in a hurry.<br />
<br />
I guess ultimately what I am saying is that tampon companies need to label their scented tampons better so my vagina doesn't smell like some combination of flowers and vagina...which is a much more unpleasant smell than either one by itself.Aana Raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10221730915490355750noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8486177883319297710.post-52777713585756027372011-07-27T20:20:00.001-05:002011-07-27T20:35:03.240-05:00Hail to the VI've been reading a lot about the series of Summer's Eve commercials featuring hands representing vaginas, with their slogan "Hail to the V."<br />
<br />
They were recently parodied on <i>The Colbert Report</i>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color:#000000;width:520px;"><div style="padding:4px;"><embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:video:colbertnation.com:393043" width="512" height="288" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" base="." flashVars=""></embed><p style="text-align:left;background-color:#FFFFFF;padding:4px;margin-top:4px;margin-bottom:0px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;"><b><a href="http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/393043/july-25-2011/vaginal-puppeteering-vs--d--k-scrub">The Colbert Report</a></b><br />
Get More: <a href='http://www.colbertnation.com/full-episodes/'>Colbert Report Full Episodes</a>,<a href='http://www.indecisionforever.com/'>Political Humor & Satire Blog</a>,<a href='http://www.colbertnation.com/video'>Video Archive</a></p></div></div><br />
I'm not sure how I feel about these commercials. Obviously as the video above points out, they rely heavily on racial stereotypes. On one hand I can appreciate that they are trying to represent the female body and perhaps break taboo about talking about vaginas, but using the talking hands makes them more laughable than anything.<br />
<br />
Do you think the commercials are more empowering or ridiculous?Kellie Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18224406349521919304noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8486177883319297710.post-24758375997063460532011-07-09T08:34:00.000-05:002011-07-09T08:34:01.203-05:00Can't quite put my finger on it...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBjgusgyaPKxHmZUs2EZhpSa2u5A6HUmmHaxzqji-Rs3SWTff390oBBpJNMMzmi_6KJYEkumfsbO3cXwvLTgczlspZjPruflQWzZ2mHhqage1ZjVPxHTl2I_Nbl3_Tm3XOpjUMz_A2LO0j/s1600/New+Bitmap+Image+%25282%2529.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBjgusgyaPKxHmZUs2EZhpSa2u5A6HUmmHaxzqji-Rs3SWTff390oBBpJNMMzmi_6KJYEkumfsbO3cXwvLTgczlspZjPruflQWzZ2mHhqage1ZjVPxHTl2I_Nbl3_Tm3XOpjUMz_A2LO0j/s320/New+Bitmap+Image+%25282%2529.bmp" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I've been thinking of going to Florida lately.</div>Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10240489586523070324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8486177883319297710.post-26040185635091542902011-07-07T19:19:00.000-05:002011-07-07T19:19:00.243-05:00Summer campI think I am in love with new website<a href="http://www.crankytown.ca/index.html"> Camp Cranky</a>. It has:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJOfEIjIJLt-o-15MjGdKMC18bhKxRXx36-wD1e0YoRHOeX9I46F8QXFBxi7Yj6wubHV5-oa4BAEgekYYP3j95c4ZNA24qKCqfo29VFOr4mLcHaGLYfdh265iU0oBh2mLu_ZafMBFCRsQ/s1600/New+Bitmap+Image.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJOfEIjIJLt-o-15MjGdKMC18bhKxRXx36-wD1e0YoRHOeX9I46F8QXFBxi7Yj6wubHV5-oa4BAEgekYYP3j95c4ZNA24qKCqfo29VFOr4mLcHaGLYfdh265iU0oBh2mLu_ZafMBFCRsQ/s400/New+Bitmap+Image.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<ul><li>Stories about first periods <a href="http://www.crankytown.ca/video2.html">TOLD WITH PUPPETS</a></li>
<li>Info about what menstruation actually is on a scientific level</li>
</ul><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-4_f5rxiD5TQL73XOHw9A_lPcmh5oU_e4viwQ0KnMk1ykMOv13KWoWQJ4803ube2c6mWPlYHUKXEYvwwTEv1EidNYXfOS-P7baLwWZU0AJbYsnePEb-co25GPT_ihpofs5NblAC7VFpz/s1600/New+Bitmap+Image+%25282%2529.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-4_f5rxiD5TQL73XOHw9A_lPcmh5oU_e4viwQ0KnMk1ykMOv13KWoWQJ4803ube2c6mWPlYHUKXEYvwwTEv1EidNYXfOS-P7baLwWZU0AJbYsnePEb-co25GPT_ihpofs5NblAC7VFpz/s400/New+Bitmap+Image+%25282%2529.bmp" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">plus a barfing kid animation I find hilarious</td></tr>
</tbody></table><ul><li>A comprehensive explanation of nearly ALL period products (Softcup was the only one I noticed missing)</li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSu_0VXeEBkDp-uwpPejc9Grtv5V7xTLmm8v9g-6J5xC8JFd9prtEpFpUhjr-osgLGawFWDY_Yg_Emx76_wLRPyko2zagjKAALkbiSQy_49TrIpR7ltLteiaNjjKiRyrZLHQIsTJrtf3Rb/s1600/New+Bitmap+Image+%25283%2529.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSu_0VXeEBkDp-uwpPejc9Grtv5V7xTLmm8v9g-6J5xC8JFd9prtEpFpUhjr-osgLGawFWDY_Yg_Emx76_wLRPyko2zagjKAALkbiSQy_49TrIpR7ltLteiaNjjKiRyrZLHQIsTJrtf3Rb/s400/New+Bitmap+Image+%25283%2529.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><ul><li>The opportunity to "sponsor a period" with <a href="http://www.huruinternational.org/">Huru International</a></li>
<li>No corporate sponsorship! (as far as I can find)</li>
<li>Fun design!</li>
</ul><div>This is a website for girls done right. I'm so impressed. <a href="http://www.crankytown.ca/index.html">Check it out for yourself!!</a></div>Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10240489586523070324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8486177883319297710.post-66039693446753128102011-07-05T06:47:00.002-05:002011-07-05T06:47:00.812-05:00Real quick round up<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU46RLDP_X04JM0LPJzgkHdkYMt8HsDKIozx3fHZeIJlmWdmnelZlyZwrWrRSIcm3JGj1c_Z5GLbeiDtWBWeE9hAfCk1RAdar16IMVT1XNVjWvIkrLCeHG0380MkBNqIPjWhUE152rclJv/s1600/Heavy+Flow%252C+a+new+menstruation+comic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU46RLDP_X04JM0LPJzgkHdkYMt8HsDKIozx3fHZeIJlmWdmnelZlyZwrWrRSIcm3JGj1c_Z5GLbeiDtWBWeE9hAfCk1RAdar16IMVT1XNVjWvIkrLCeHG0380MkBNqIPjWhUE152rclJv/s320/Heavy+Flow%252C+a+new+menstruation+comic.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo from mermaidhostel.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<ul><li><a href="http://www.mermaidhostel.com/2011/04/heavy-flow-a-new-menstruation-comic/">Heavy Flow</a> is a new menstruation zine I have not read [yet], but it looks cool.</li>
<li>There's some pretty solid advice about <a href="http://jezebel.com/5812246/diy-pad-crisis">how to Macguyver yourself a maxi pad in an emergency over at Jezebel</a>. Favorite part?: <i>"I<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Liberation Serif', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">f you really want to give your clothes eternal life, you're going to have to mummify your panties."</span></i></li>
<li>There is <a href="http://www.avclub.com/articles/mgm-planning-remake-of-stephen-kings-carrie,56371/">talk of remaking Carrie</a>.</li>
<li>Lately I am in love with The Frenemy. <a href="http://the-frenemy.com/post/4743018322/caves-of-wonder-lady-parts-are-gross">Here</a> she hilariously expands on what Cosmo has taught her about her vagina.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.blogher.com/wear-wash-repeat?wrap=blogher-topics/money/frugal&crumb=32404">lovelifeproject sings the praises of reusable maxi pads.</a></li>
</ul>Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10240489586523070324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8486177883319297710.post-50308091728211937532011-07-01T16:15:00.001-05:002011-07-01T16:16:30.185-05:00Ban the BlandKotex has partnered with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patricia_Field">designer Patricia Field</a> to put together <a href="http://www.ubykotex.com/get_real/design">Ban the Bland</a>, a site where users can design their own disposable maxi pads. Fun colors and patterns are one of my favorite things about reusable pads, so it's interesting to see a major manufacturer of disposable products picking up on this.<br />
<br />
At first, I thought it was a contest, where some of the winning designs would be incorporated into some of Kotex's future products, but that was probably just my hopeful idealism kicking in. There's no competition, and actually their "bold" new products <a href="http://www.ubykotex.com/products/pads">look pretty much the same to me</a>. Still, it's fun to<a href="http://www.ubykotex.com/get_real/design/tool"> design your own</a>.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPjd3z-mR1B1a0W8_9mTAaex2-oxpH2JqzcTOawi5rbHq1zW5oOi2i1v0Nqa61EihWl3i8q8lglf9oXK7OSd2Qp3p525zNIXbjjvdI1X-tFEfuWs94eCOvExKJGZAugDIO59dVFJaDNrTF/s1600/8loodthirsty.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPjd3z-mR1B1a0W8_9mTAaex2-oxpH2JqzcTOawi5rbHq1zW5oOi2i1v0Nqa61EihWl3i8q8lglf9oXK7OSd2Qp3p525zNIXbjjvdI1X-tFEfuWs94eCOvExKJGZAugDIO59dVFJaDNrTF/s320/8loodthirsty.bmp" width="255" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my design, "8loodthirtsy"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>It made me think about what I would want my ideal disposable pad to look like, though. Bleeding onto an octopus sounds a lot more fun than just another white sterile pad (especially when the unnecessary bleaching of these products leaves behind dangerous dioxins). I've been reading more <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloria_Steinem">Gloria Steinem</a> lately, and so I tend to reframe this thought in regard to her <a href="http://periodpiece.blogspot.com/2008/02/vampires-were-our-first-freedom.html">"If Men Could Menstruate"</a> essay. I imagine disposable pads for men with targets and crosshairs. I think bleeding on a target could be okay.<br />
<br />
Then again, perhaps there is something to be said for providing your own art (hah).Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10240489586523070324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8486177883319297710.post-31865447578245206572011-06-06T16:33:00.000-05:002011-06-06T16:33:00.399-05:00Ladybag vs. P-MateI'm not much of an adventurous <s>peer</s> <i>pee-er</i> (that is, one who pees). I like plumbing, or at the very least, an actual toilet seat. So since I haven't encountered or used either of these products, it's more like a mental would-you-rather type of game for me. Camping season is upon us, so this seems like a good time to pose the question. Which would you prefer?<br />
<br />
Exhibit A: <a href="http://www.roadbag.de/ladybag-en/index.php?page=home">The Ladybag</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSZXXO1EPt-Y-QqM04DUA_SfIwwZhUxxra0WQECp7j1kp2T8SAFF-R_gzMZlfA5E3EjkU0cI24YqDHUuml36sB3-V6Vr9Ws_58niuB44m9hGbALDFaowxMpFFVbFkt9tmu6a_D-n5-uMRc/s1600/ladybag_1474156c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSZXXO1EPt-Y-QqM04DUA_SfIwwZhUxxra0WQECp7j1kp2T8SAFF-R_gzMZlfA5E3EjkU0cI24YqDHUuml36sB3-V6Vr9Ws_58niuB44m9hGbALDFaowxMpFFVbFkt9tmu6a_D-n5-uMRc/s320/ladybag_1474156c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Basically, a plastic bag filled with absorbent crystals. You pee in the bag, the crystals absorb the liquid, and then you can throw away your pee gel. I'm not sure what purpose is served by the four protrusions on the sides. (Want to <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=germany%20or%20florida">play Germany or Florida </a>with this one?)<br />
<br />
Exhibit B: <a href="http://www.pmateusa.com/home.html">P-Mate</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZjmLIKoY00i9B11qhza9aCFqlPAQ2LszQ2rgoGjPuS9wm0jXeaJgCfKoNiYGwZ9LHCgWK17eYoIGL3AWzcmv6qZCeAtp14h7FeRIzVn_PMM7TzhszEFvjTqTsUV6PmdFAvKnrWK0J_PI/s1600/pageimage_224_2283_5_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZjmLIKoY00i9B11qhza9aCFqlPAQ2LszQ2rgoGjPuS9wm0jXeaJgCfKoNiYGwZ9LHCgWK17eYoIGL3AWzcmv6qZCeAtp14h7FeRIzVn_PMM7TzhszEFvjTqTsUV6PmdFAvKnrWK0J_PI/s320/pageimage_224_2283_5_1.jpg" width="187" /></a></div><br />
<br />
A funnely thing you hold up to your crotch to enable you to pee while standing. This seems like it would really broaden the horizons about where you can do your business.<br />
<br />
Or does everyone else have some foolproof top-secret outdoorsy peeing style I am unaware of?? I don't think I've ever peed outside in my adult life. Is that sad?Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10240489586523070324noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8486177883319297710.post-81736765662882868222011-06-04T09:31:00.000-05:002011-06-04T09:31:00.226-05:00Cool, but......I would not do this.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvj0-5RZCZ9JVlp0e8ug-v6niNiyV1ebAQukl6wLiSLHWvSIEn3k9Dj_6GQygF7aMitvtk0jdNXFiZ6vMpOplABo-ol5zRc8e1EMsdiFEjsYjBQFLZyYwiIRa846hm2-TLEjIoSKT4GAPF/s1600/ruinedvagf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvj0-5RZCZ9JVlp0e8ug-v6niNiyV1ebAQukl6wLiSLHWvSIEn3k9Dj_6GQygF7aMitvtk0jdNXFiZ6vMpOplABo-ol5zRc8e1EMsdiFEjsYjBQFLZyYwiIRa846hm2-TLEjIoSKT4GAPF/s400/ruinedvagf.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://wtftattoos.com/this-has-ruined-vaginas-for-me-for-years/">h/t to WTF Tattoos</a>Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10240489586523070324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8486177883319297710.post-26198848989544126842011-05-25T10:42:00.000-05:002011-05-25T10:42:00.954-05:00What Men Think of Menstruation at The Friskyomg, this column made me laugh too many times to not share it here.<br />
<blockquote><div style="font-family: 'helvetica neue', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Men don’t really think about menstruation, because we don’t have to think about menstruation. We don’t have uteruses. Male genitals are embarrassingly simple. Our junk is a Speak N’ Spell. A woman’s private parts are more like an iPad. ...</div><div style="font-family: 'helvetica neue', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">It is difficult to empathize with biological functions that are radically different to your own. How would you feel if a man’s penis molted once a month and we had to apply copious amounts of salve to our raw member? You’d try to be understanding as best you could, but you wouldn’t really understand. But I bet you’d respect our space and our strange lizard wangs. Men don’t think about menstruation. But we know the best way how to deal with it: with a healthy amount of respect.</div></blockquote><a href="http://www.thefrisky.com/post/246-mind-of-man-what-men-think-about-menstruation/">Go read about face rain and baby space pods and lust spawn.</a> It's all very cleverly written.Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10240489586523070324noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8486177883319297710.post-58217204644379827652011-05-23T10:39:00.005-05:002011-05-23T10:39:00.237-05:00Your body is disgusting. Let us help you out with that.<a href="http://www.slate.com/id/2291205/">Libby Copeland at Slate has a really good article</a> about how advertisers have historically marketed personal hygiene products--particularly new ones--by creating an anxiety for consumers and then oh-so-conveniently providing them the cure for it. This has long been effective marketing strategy for feminine hygiene products as well as deodorant.<br />
<br />
Writes Copeland:<br />
<blockquote><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font: normal normal normal 0.75em/1.5em Verdana; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 12px; padding-left: 36px; padding-right: 36px; padding-top: 12px;">Dove recently unveiled <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703696704576223112705412404.html" style="color: #0066cc; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" xmlns:tools="XslTools">its latest campaign</a>, and it hinges on the idea that your armpits are ugly. Dove Ultimate Go Sleeveless is supposed to give women "softer, smoother underarms in just five days"—in <a href="http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/03/30/pm-dove-gives-women-something-new-to-worry-about/" style="color: #0066cc; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" xmlns:tools="XslTools">ads</a> for the product, which Stephen Colbert calls a "<a href="http://gawker.com/#!5791920/watch-stephen-colberts-lesson-on-playing-to-womens-insecurities" style="color: #0066cc; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" xmlns:tools="XslTools">breakthrough shame-o-vation</a>," women cut the sleeves off their tops with joyful expressions, as if they've been liberated from a terrible scourge. If it's news to you that this part of your body is not so hot, Dove says you're in the minority, citing a <a href="http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/dovegosleeveless/49554/" style="color: #0066cc; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" xmlns:tools="XslTools">survey</a> in which 93 percent of women said they "think their underarms are unattractive." And if you doubt statistics culled from 534 women in an anonymous online poll, rest assured that Dove's best advertising efforts will be directed at making those numbers true.</div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font: normal normal normal 0.75em/1.5em Verdana; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 12px; padding-left: 36px; padding-right: 36px; padding-top: 12px;">Pity the poor deodorant-makers. What else are they to do? As the <em>Wall Street Journal</em>points out, they're in a bind—almost the entire U.S. population already uses deodorant, and consumers appear reluctant to switch to new brands. Dove's empowerment-via-shame marketing approach for Go Sleeveless has its roots in <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=hqafM0xZjqIC&pg=PA98&lpg=PA98&dq=n+Roland+Marchand,&source=bl&ots=1lYFhoxM9h&sig=x3KwhwGgKvV0AHUIPwQ_K8iib50&hl=en&ei=5v6ZTeagOcbegQfAgp2uCA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBUQ6AEwAA#v=snippet&q=social%20shame&" style="color: #0066cc; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" xmlns:tools="XslTools">advertising techniques</a> that gained popularity in the 1920s: a) pinpoint a problem, perhaps one consumers didn't even know they had; b) exacerbate anxiety around the problem; c) sell the cure.</div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font: normal normal normal 0.75em/1.5em Verdana; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 12px; padding-left: 36px; padding-right: 36px; padding-top: 12px;">The history of ads directed at women is particularly rich with such fear tactics. Thus, ad copy from the 1920s and '30s warned women of their place in the "beauty contest of life" (a corset manufacturer) and reminded them that "The Eyes of Men …The Eyes of Women/ Judge your Loveliness every day" (Camay soap). A 1953 ad for Chlorodent toothpaste stated point-blank: "There's another woman waiting for every man." Yikes!</div></blockquote>Certainly there's been a good dose of shame-marketing towards ladies' down theres, as Copeland explains. She highlights the use of Lysol as a douche.<br />
<blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">The unfortunate truth was that as a contraceptive, Lysol was ineffective, not to mention dangerous. Improperly diluted, it burned and blistered the vagina, and in some cases even caused death. Yet, Tone writes, it wasn't until the pill came along that Lysol douche was supplanted as the top choice of women looking to prevent pregnancy.</span></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI1MCwtlBrA0_D4FlGbSjZNC7F5su5vqWZF3OOsHs_gpa6Tm9nhaSMjbhnTz_7-84DXfwDJFfLHUkeeLuBQI6_lAQwqGC1anmOM-mr1MLiu1JMpnrVotovuzAiV-ORoStrnzf4c6MwDYEH/s1600/lysol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI1MCwtlBrA0_D4FlGbSjZNC7F5su5vqWZF3OOsHs_gpa6Tm9nhaSMjbhnTz_7-84DXfwDJFfLHUkeeLuBQI6_lAQwqGC1anmOM-mr1MLiu1JMpnrVotovuzAiV-ORoStrnzf4c6MwDYEH/s1600/lysol.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
I've read about Lysol douching probably 100 times over the years, and I still cannot wrap my mind around the horribleness of the idea. I barely use any strong chemically-cleaning things, but sometimes I use Lysol to clean the bathroom. And when I do, I'm paranoid as shit. I super super dilute it, wear gloves, turn on the fans, and tell my cats to stay away so the fumes don't damage their sensitive little nosies. So the idea of using it to clean out the <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Holiest%20of%20Holies">holiest of holies (so to speak)</a> sounds just downright awful. (Although mentioning that this was the top birth control method before The Pill gives it some significant context.)<br />
<br />
After reading this piece, I realized that all of the campaigns and products mentioned were marketed towards women. Surely similar tactics have been used to sell stuff to men as well, yes? I'd be interested to see how ad campaigns like this directed towards men differ from those direct towards women.Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10240489586523070324noreply@blogger.com1