As luck would have it, the new love assertion is that going on all sculptor on our boyfriends and husbands can actually be good for them, for us and for our relationship. Shrug. Who knew?

The key is to make sure that your ideal version of him matches up with his ideal version of himself; if the two thoughts are in sync, then you’re the positive force in his life that makes you a serious keeper and he’s more likely to actually adhere to the changes you’ve been subtly engineering. But if the alterations you want to make deviate from what he envisions of his perfect self, you’ll be seen as a nag. Seriously. That’s all. And your relationship will undoubtedly end up worse than it started.

So what’s the secret to success when it comes to total man-scaping? Patience. You have to wait until you know each other well enough to have a completely clear picture of your man; his hopes, aspirations, fears, and disappointments with himself and his life.  Big and small, you need to know it all. If after this, you love the version of him that he loves, then let the DIY man-makeover begin. Small changes, always suggestions, never command, and never make him feel berated. Being supportive, not deprecating, is the only way to go. But if you are aware and tactful enough to not try to change him into something he doesn’t want to be and manage to not come off as a nagging bitch, you might just come out of the process with a manfriend you’re much happier with…and one who’s much happier with himself.

But aside from calories, sugar and fat, the one aspect of food that tends to get overlooking is pH balance.  Maybe that idea in terms of food is something new to you. It was to me, until I got an unexplained ulcer a few years ago. Me? An ulcer? I was a healthy eater (or so I thought), an avid exerciser and a generally body-conscious person. I knew I had taken on a bit of stress prior to the appearance of that painful little corpuscle but still, I believed myself to be too healthy for something like that to happen. I don’t even eat processed / artificial / preservative-ridden foods! The dietary detective in me was intrigued. What I found was a whole mess of information about the pH of a person’s body and how important it is to your overall health. In the end, I was floored by what a huge affect this can have on every aspect of your well-being…and how overlooked it is by much of the diet advice and information I’d previously encountered.

Simply put, the pH in your body is like that of water. We’ve all been in grade school science class and used little litmus strips to see if water is more alkaline or acidic…it’s like that. Only in your body. And in your body, too much acidity can cause any number of health problems, from an increase in colds (derived from a decrease in immune strength) to skin problems to ulcers. Even psychological problems like depression can be affected by your internal pH. It’s serious stuff. Basically, an acidic pH can throw your whole health game out of whack. In addition to making you feel less than amazing, this imbalance can affect your hair, nails, and skin, making you look less than your best, too.

No fun, right? Fortunately, this is a pretty easy problem to solve. Below are lists of alkaline foods and acidic foods. The goal should be to consume alkaline foods in much greater quantities in proportion to acidic foods. It helps to keep a list with you, in the kitchen, at the grocery store…eventually, it becomes engrained in your brain and eating with pH in mind becomes second nature. This isn’t to say that all the other sides of eating right aren’t still important. But making sure that you execute all of your other dietary goals from a healthy, alkalinized body platform is the most sure-fire way to get the most from your efforts. Balancing your internal pH before other diet concerns is like priming a wall before painting it; it just makes good sense.

Alkalising Foods/Drinks              Relative pH              Acidifying Foods/Drinks              Relative pH

Cucumber                                      +31.5                        Pork                                                 -38.0

Alfalfa Sprouts                              +29.3                        Veal                                                 -35

Soy Sprouts                                     +29.5                       Beef                                                 -34.5

Avocado                                           +15.6                       Chicken                                     -18

Tomato                                            +13.6                        Eggs                                                 -18

Summer Radish                            +39.4                        Hard Cheese                                     -18.1

Kamut Grass                                  +27.6                        Quark                                                 -17.3

Carrot                                              +9.5                          Cream                                                 -3.9

Soy Beans (soaked)                      +12.8                        White Bread                                     -10

Soy Lecithin (pure)                       +38                          Wholemeal Bread                         -6.5

Cabbage                                          +14.1                        Rye Bread                                     -2.5

Celery                                              +13.3                        Pistachios                                     -16.6

Garlic                                               +13.2                      Peanuts                                      -12.8

Spinach                                           +13.1                      Cashews                                      -9.3

Watercress                                     +7.7                        Margarine                                   -7.5

Leeks                                               +7.2                        Corn Oil                                      -6.5

Courgette                                       +5.7                        Butter                                           -3.9

Fresh Soy Beans                           +12                          Artificial Sweeteners               -26.5

Tofu                                                +3.2                        Chocolate                                   -24.6

Lemons                                         +9.9                         White Sugar                               -17.6

Limes                                            +8.2                          Fructose                                     -9.5

Cucumber                                    +31.5                         Honey                                        -7.6

Wheatgrass                                 +33.8                         Ketchup                                     -12.4

Sprouted Radish Seeds             +28.4                        Mayonnaise                              -12.5

Barley Grass                                +28.1                        Mustard                                       -19.2

Red Cabbage                                +6.3                        Soy Sauce                                     -26.2

Almonds                                       +3.6                        Vinegar                                         -39.4

Olive Oil                                       +1                           Liquor                                            -38.7

Flax Seed Oil                              +3.5                        Wine                                               -16.4

Turnip                                         +8                           Beer                                                -26.8

Asparagus                                   +1.3                        Coffee                                            -25.1

Onion                                           +3.0                       Fruit Juice (Natural)                 -8.7

Watermelon                                -1.0                        Fruit Juice (Processed)             -33.6

Tea (Black)                                  -27.1

The Fashion Hippo spots three sparkling New Year’s Eve dresses. Hello, sequins!

Fashionista tells you how to ring in the next decade with Courtney Love. Red lipstick not included.

FitSugar knows that women lie to their doctors. Why you should tell the truth (even about happy hour)

PopCrunch finally watches the Sex and the City 2 trailer. Admit it; you’ll go see the flick.

Filthy Gorgeous Fashion relives Brittany Murphy’s top ensembles. Still love the Clueless plaid.

The Budget Fashionista says to be wary of the rebate. Follow her 13 tips, and buy a cell phone in peace.

The Fashion Low Down falls for this trigger necklace. Too violent for the holidays?

Really, another Photoshop uproar?

First, it was this scary-skinny Ralph Lauren model; she later claimed Ralph Lauren fired her for being too fat.

Then, it was this letter from Self magazine Editor in Chief Lucy Danziger that defended, dubiously, its airbrushed Kelly Clarkson cover.

Now, the U.K. has banned Twiggy’s curiously wrinkle-free Olay advertisements.  The 59-year-old fashion icon looked downright juvenile in a set of photos touting the cosmetic company’s anti-aging cream. After Olay admitted to modest photo alterations, the U.K.’s Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) called the images “socially irresponsible” and prohibited the campaign.

I think it’s a smooth move. By now, women know that most glossy images are nipped, tucked, brightened and lightened. But Olay didn’t just smudge a zit or wipe out a bit of frizz.  The images deliberately altered Twiggy’s wrinkles — the very trait, of course, that the product claims to fix.

The disturbing thing about this all is that women do respond to realistic images.  In Glamour, the “Woman on Page 194” spurred an avalanche of reader mail and pushed the magazine to feature more plus-sized models.

That seems to debunk the argument that women respond better to glossed-over, fantastical versions of reality. So where should the regulations end?  Is it ok to smudge out a stray wrinkle? Or should we keep demanding authentic advertisements?

I’ve been stalled at bar entrances a few too many times.

I’m freckled and babyfaced, and doormen don’t always trust my license. They accuse me of toting a fake and often demand a second or third form to prove my 1986-birthday. As realization dawns, their apologies are always a hurried, “Oh, hunny, don’t worry. You’ll love it when you’re 60.”

The problem, of course, is that I am not 60. I don’t — ever, again — want to look like a middle-school student. The braces are off, my friends! Hallelujah.

After reading a new Danish study, though, I’m praising my youthful DNA.  In the study, nurses and trainees rated 387 sets of twins to determine which sibling looked youngest.  On average, the baby-faced halves lived longer than their more wrinkled counterparts.

The biological reason is pretty straightforward.  Telomeres, pieces of DNA that allow cells to replicate quickly, are linked to aging.  The young-looking twins in this study, who were all between 70 and 90 years old, tended to have longer telomeres than their siblings.

It seems like another cruel trick of nature. Youthful genes are not just random allotments to the forever young but they also indicate health. The beautiful people get to live longer and look good doing it!

Yet, doesn’t this also make sense?  If someone lives a healthy lifestyle — e.g. avoids tanning, smoking and other habits that throw aging into warp speed — it’s logical that their cells will retain the ability to replicate quickly. Stress and other external factors can also affect perceived age, the researches said.

Cruel world or not, I know I’ll smile the next time a bartender asks to see a license, credit card and passport.

Read more:

BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8411329.stm?lsm

Shine.yahoo.com: http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/health/hey-there-baby-face-you-might-just-outlive-the-rest-of-us-554231/;_ylt=AkSyJCEg1B2NigTCm.H3UxhrbqU5

Quality Learning: http://qualitylearning.wordpress.com/2009/12/15/people-who-look-younger-live-longer/

Grant Lawrence: http://grantlawrence.blogspot.com/2009/12/look-younger-live-longer.html

Each week, we’ll dig up the beauty and fashion news that surprised, fascinated…and made us want to shop.

Shine.yahoo.com says more women remember specials shoes than their first kisses. Ideally, we’d all wear fab heels during our first kiss.

The Budget Fashionista reports that Target’s Rodarte line of lacy dresses, tulle skirts and edgy-girly statement pieces launches on Sunday. Start lining up, now!

Chic and Charming tells you how to “keep your luster” and ward off the winter blues. Hint: Gorgeous Audrey picture included.

The Recessionista gives away $50.00 American Express gift cards to 10 lucky winners; write to her by Sunday, Dec. 20 to snag one of the freebies.

The Steel Closet wants to take home these artsy Lost posters, based on the ABC sci-fi hit in its final season this winter. Gift alert for any Losties on your list.

The It Lists obsesses over velvet. Luxurious in any color.

LA Pretty twinkles, thanks to a new eye procedure. The eye-brightening technique is only available in LA, so plan that vacation stat!

Epicute salivates over this $750 cupcake. (Edible gold flakes not for retail sale.)

A group called the “Advent Conspiracy” (www.adventconspiracy.org) is on a mission to make the real reason for Christmas cool.  Founded in 2006 by five pastors, the organization claims that the $450 billion Americans spend on presents each season is overkill and ultimately causes more debt than tears of joy.

In response, Advent Conspiracy challenges everyone to give just one gift less this Christmas.

This debate always looms over December in some form, whether it’s cashiers instructed to say “Happy Holidays” or churches distributing “Put the ‘Christ’ back in ‘Christmas’” bumper stickers. Each year, shoppers bemoan Christmas’ super-consumerism while still stampeding Wal-Mart for $300 laptops.

What’s different about the Advent Conspiracy?

Thanks to a rough economy, it seems, people are listening. More than 1,000 churches have partnered with the Advent Conspiracy, and both mainstream and Christian bloggers have latched onto the spend-less-give-more motto.

In the Dallas Morning News, blogger Sharon Grigsby embraced the mission for its focus on holiday traditions instead of maxed out credit cards. (http://dallasmorningviewsblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/12/a-conspiracy-ill-buy-into.html). The Mosaic Baptist Church in Ontario, Ca posted a video on the trend. (http://blog.mosaicbaptist.org/2009/12/advent-conspiracy/)  And even The Daily Buzz picked up on the story. (http://www.dailyworldbuzz.com/advent-conspiracy-movement-advent-conspiracy-video/7043/)

I think the choice to give more with less is a welcome reprieve from the pressure to buy.  Still, I’m not convinced that attitude will stick once the bear market turns into a bull.

Americans like to shop. As they say, ‘tis the season.

When I was growing up, my mom could count on two things happening if I tagged along on a grocery shopping trip: I would beg for sugary cereals, and I would definitely swipe stacks of coupons from the dispensers in each aisle.

Of course, my five-year-old self didn’t grab fistfuls of barcodes because I cared about snagging a free tin of Dunkin Hines frosting. Much to my mom’s annoyance, I just liked taking those shiny strips of paper…and promptly throwing them on the floor.

That favorite childhood game is on the outs, if Google’s search results are any indication. Savvy shoppers have increasingly embraced the virtual coupon — for everything from cake mix to laptop computers. This Black Friday alone, the number of Google searches for “printable coupons” and “sales” shot up by about 50 percent.

Sometimes, just a quick search for a promotion code will unlease.  But some of the web’s best bloggers already track online coupons.

Retail Me Not: Search for coupons from more than 40,000 stores

Bargain Brianna: A savvy mom rounds up top bargains

Rather be Shopping: A coupon guide from a guy who likes to shop

Yahoo! Deals: Daily steals from one of the web’s biggest sites

What about you, do you use virtual coupons?  Where do you go to find them?

When a snapshot of Tiger Woods’ supermodel wife, Elin Nordegren, popped on the TV during the news last week, my roommate paused the screen and stared at her gorgeous mug.

“He cheated on that?” he demanded, as the newscaster detailed Woods’ soap operatic philandering.

I agreed, of course. With blonde hair, bright blue eyes, and a swimsuit model’s body, Elin is stunning. To think that any man would cheat on her — much less shack up with at least eleven different women — is appalling, at best.

But therein lays the rub: Woods isn’t just any man. He’s the world’s best golfer. He’s a millionaire. He has a pair of Nikes named after him! (http://www.golflocker.com/golf-shoes/nike-tiger-woods-air-zoom-tw-09.html) So, I have to wonder why we’re all so shocked.

Athletic prowess, money and influence don’t demand a shiny moral compass. Remember when Kobe Bryant admitted to infidelities, after being accused of sexual assault, in 2003? (http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/07/18/kobe.bryant/) Or when that guy Bill brought a certain Lewinsky to his office?

Celebrities aren’t the only ones who wonder if the grass is greener on the other side.  Nearly two of every three marriages will deal with an affair, according to Dr. Holly Hein’s book, Sexual Detours: Infidelity and Intimacy at the Crossroads. (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0312253354/ )

If regular married guys and gals cheat with shocking frequency, why are we so surprised that Woods, a handsome and talented athlete, created his own harem?

Of course, that doesn’t mean celebrities should feel free to toss out their vows. Or that Nordegren is not justified is she decides to leave Woods.  But maybe we should all stop acting so personally offended when celebrities fall off of their pedestals. What do you think?