Choosing a moissanite bracelet will add a touch of glamour to any outfit, without hiking up the price of your beauty to bankruptcy levels! Every woman wants to look a million dollars, but in the absence of a lottery win, she might not necessarily to be able to pay the matching price. A moissanite bracelet is a stunning bracelet without the price tag.

Moissanite is a new diamond substitute that, unlike previous faux diamond offerings, is a stunningly beautiful material in its own right, and considered by experts to surpass diamond in many ways. So if you want to add some simple elegance to your favorite outfit, a moissanite bracelet might be your perfect choice.

A moissanite tennis bracelet is one of life’s simple beauties. So called because of Chris Evert’s loss of a diamond strand bracelet on court during the 1987 US Open Tennis Tournament, tennis bracelets combine simplicity and extravagance all in one. Chris refused to continue playing tennis until the safety of her bracelet was assured and it was safely back on her wrist, and with a moissanite tennis bracelet, you can be sure that you will be a show-stopper too.

While a chunky bangle can add a casually stylish air to an outfit, a moissanite bracelet adds a mature and subtle style. While earrings and necklace draw attention to themselves, a moissanite bracelet brings an understated brilliance that adds intrigue to your look.

Nestling under your sleeve, or resting against your wrist, a tennis bracelet is the piece of jewelry seen only when you speak and gesture, displaying a momentary glimpse of your unique sense of style. A moissanite tennis bracelet endows you with a sophistication that doesn’t speak aloud, it merely whispers of its understated elegance to those with an eye for real beauty.

Moissanite has been taking the jewelry world by storm, so treat yourself to a moissanite bracelet, and enjoy the combination of innovation and timelessness for yourself. Don’t wear your heart on your sleeve, but create a sense of mystery with the subtle beauty of a moissanite tennis bracelet.

A moissanite bracelet, the ideal bracelet if you don’t want to break the bank.

For a website totally devoted to Moissanite rings visit Peter’s Website The Magic of Moissanite, and find out about Moissanite Bracelets as well as Loose Moissanite Stones and more, including Mens Moissanite Rings, Moissanite Earrings, Moissanite Bridal Rings and Moissanite Engagement Rings.

Moissanite is a naturally occurring crystal which occurs in such small amounts and sizes as to be uncommercial.

It was discovered in 1893 by Henri Moissan in a meteorite which had fallen to earth some 50000 years ago and landed in the Arizona desert. Dr Moissan started studying small fragments from this meteorite and made an astonishing discovery. Imbedded in it were tiny amounts of what looked like a new unknown jewel.

Although it occurs naturally on earth it is only in tiny quantities and commercially unviable.

Scientists could see its potential as a brilliant new jewelry stone and so set out to manufacture it in a lab. It’s application as a jewel was immediately clear and so a new naturally occurring but also man made jewel was born. The process of making it is very new. It has only been commercially available in jewelry since 1998, so is only a few years old on the jewelry market.

It is exceedingly hard to make and the process to do so is kept very secret. It can only currently be made in reasonably small quantities.

There are a number of properties of jewels which are common amongst them and are therefore used for comparison purposes. These properties are beauty, colour, brilliance, fire and luster, durability and rarity.

The brilliance of a jewel is created by the cut. A diamond in it’s natural state for instance is pretty unimpressive. Give it a proper design and use the diamonds natural refraction of light and it is beautiful. It is the cut that does this, however it is the qualities of the jewel which produce the brilliance once it has been cut. Brilliance can be measured by the amount of light which enters a jewel compared with the amount which comes back when put under a light source.

Fire refers to the ability of the stone to refract light back out in colours. The light rays break up into their original spectrum colours and that is what gives the jewel its special character.

Luster is the amount of light reflected back from the surface of the jewel.

Durability is the toughness, the resistance to scratching, chipping, or splitting. This is detemined by its hardness, and it is also the hardness which determines the brilliance.

Rarity is reasonably obvious. It is the availability of the jewel.

Moissanite equals or outperforms diamonds in just about all categories. In particular it has superior brilliance, fire and luster. The only category in which it doesn’t outperform diamonds is hardness. It is slightly softer than diamond, but only very slightly, and is harder than all other stones. Jewellers can stuggle to tell the difference between diamonds and Moissanite. In fact there is now a specific instrument which has been developed to help jewellers to tell the difference between diamond and moissanite as it is so hard to see and so many cannot tell them apart.

It will not scratch or become cloudy with wear.

In 1999 the US imported 23.4 million carats (karats) of diamond and only .07 million carats of Moissanite. It is very rare.

There are other diamond substitutes available such as cubic zirconia or even glass. Moissanite outperforms all these admirably.

Moissanite is not really a diamond substitute though. It is a new jewel in its own right. It is just so good that it is immediately compared to diamonds which are always thought of as the best jewel.

If you are thinking of diamond jewelry then moissanite has to be considered. It is far cheaper than a comparable diamond. It is high quality. It is a great jewel. At the end of the day it is not diamond and so if you are determined to get a diamond then do so. But it is a very attractive alternative.

It is more and more becoming the choice of the stars.

Kim Cattrall’s character, Samantha Jones, wore a brilliant white gold ring featuring Moissanite in an episode during the last season of the TV hit Sex and the City.

Kiko Ellsworth, one of Hollywood’s “Hot” young stars wore a brilliant pair of 2

When you wear the right size plus size swimwear, you can actually look slimmer than you are. With plus size swimwear, ladies who are a little overweight can look their best and still enjoy the hot summer weather. Wearing swimwear that is too small shows out the bulges much more and makes them seem even bigger than they are. Plus size swimwear does not mean old-fashioned styles because plus size swimwear is available in all the latest fashions.

It is often hard to find plus size swimwear when you visit a regular department store. All you can find on the racks are the tiny bikinis that probably wouldn’t fit around your leg. You start to wonder whether you are the only one that has this problem with the lack of plus size swimwear that is available.

There are specialty stores that do carry plus size swimwear lines for women. Because this is often a special line that the store carries each year, it is very hard to find something unique. Most of the time, the swim wear is all the same color and style. And plus size swimwear may also be very expensive and this doesn’t fit in your budget. A lot of women want to find cheap plus size swimwear because they are buying it for a holiday and probably won’t wear it that often when they return home. You wear plus size swimwear on holidays, bring it home with you.

One place where you will easily be able to find cheap plus size swimwear is at the online retailers. These retailers do not carry an inventory and most of them do not have a bricks and mortar store. When you place an order for plus size swimwear, you can get it cheap because the retailer doesn’t need to have as much mark up to make a profit. One advantage of ordering your plus size swimwear online is the wide variety you have to choose from.

Online stores have plus sizes in swimwear from designers that would cost you a fortune at a regular store. This is one way you can have the latest fashions in the swim wear you choose and the prices are often so cheap, you might decide to buy two or more swimwear items. Finding plus size swimwear doesn’t have to be frustrating - do it at your own pace and time by shopping online.

Plus size swimwear is good looking, fits you and is cheaper online.

For a website totally devoted to Plus Size Clothing visit Peter’s Website Plus Size Clothing Ideas and find out about Plus Size Clothing as well as Plus Size Swimwear and more, Plus Size Bras, Plus Size Dresses, Plus Size Lingerie, Maternity Wear, Wedding Gowns and Shoes.

I finally began to understand my role as a mother only after I gave birth to my third daughter. I learned that it’s my responsibility to accept credit whenever it is due, such as being able to raise beautiful (from the inside-out), well-mannered, respectful, caring, and loving girls. I finally learned how to take pride in my gifts and talents by graciously accepting a compliment, rather than pushing them off with the typical “nay, are you kidding? No waythat’s not mewhatever!” As women, we’re so used to giving, that we can’t even accept a complimentworse yet, we feel guilty, or obliged to give one right back.

Then, I finally understood WHY we need to say “Thank You”it’s an acknowledgement to someone’s compliment. I also reply with “God has willed”. I continue to acknowledge that my good fortune is a gift from God, and I praise and thank Him for these blessings. By remaining humble, I also ask for His protection from any evil that may result from the misuse of these gifts. For example, if one is granted money and abuses it, they may lose it tomorrow. If one is granted beauty and arrogance overcomes them, then they may be physically harmed. I also acknowledge the need for protection against the ill-intentions of the ungrateful, such as the jealous, envious, spiteful, or unkind.

As women, we don’t pride or boost ourselves of our honors, awards, or good fortune, and we need to start. At the very least we need to acknowledge our self-worth by accepting a compliment confidently. As a starting point, try at least acknowledging God for granting these gifts. By saying “God has willed” you will soon feel the power of your own inner-beauty. As for those women who accept compliments a-bit too well, try replying with “God has willed” to treasure your humility a little more.

Ponn’s Personal Pointers: As for giving appropriate credit when it’s due: when someone remarks about my physical makeup, I reply “God has willed” and add very confidently, “I’ll thank my parents for you”. After all, it wasn’t my genes that gave me my looks.

(c) 2005 Ponn M. Sabra, MPH

Ponn M. Sabra, MPH is the Author of “Empowering Women to Power Network”. To learn more about her book and sign-up for FREE tips, articles and resources, visit her at http://www.empowerwomennow.com . Ponn is profiled in Marquis’ Who’s Who of America and Who’s Who of American Women.

Many oversize women don’t realize that today’s market offers just as much in plus size sexy lingerie as it does in petite sizes - you just have to know where to look. In fact, plus size sexy lingerie is no further than away than your computer. For an array of plus size sexy lingerie the best place to shop is online. Here you can choose from a wide variety of sizes to suit your needs.

Of course you do have the option of shopping at your local mall or your local boutique, but the selection that they carry in plus size sexy clothing is usually very limited and the prices very high. They are not geared for the woman that’s pleasingly plump, but rather for what society thinks is the norm - very small and very thin.

In the meantime, there are very many women out there that don’t fit this criteria, and are proud that they don’t. They have the wants and the need to feel just as sexy as the Twiggy’s of this world.

If you shop online, you will find a wide array of sexy clothing not only in lingerie, but in any thing else your heart desires. You will find that practicality and playfulness is combined in the designs to fill that want of feeling special. From a lift in the bust to a trimmer behind, some of this plus size sexy lingerie is a work of art and most of the fabrics on today’s market are truly effective and extremely comfortable.

The prices of the plus size sexy clothing are really affordable and plus size sexy lingerie comes in such a variety that you can buy the basics in plus size lingerie or indulge yourself in luxurious silks. Whatever your fantasies are, they can be fulfilled with the choices of sexy lingerie that are offered.

If you’re looking for plus size sexy lingerie it has never been easier to find. Even though there are a greater amount of obstacles that larger women encounter when looking for any plus size in anything, you will find that once you go online the world is at your feet and you can shop at your own leisure. Take time to stroll through the pages and see just how beautiful the sexy lingerie is.

No matter what your idea is of what you want it is there for you and in any fabric that your heart desires. You can be that woman on the front page of any magazine. Plus size sexy lingerie is swamping the online market and the best part is you don’t even have to leave your home to enjoy its benefits, Start a new trend and invite your friends to go shopping for sexy clothing with you - online. Your husband will probably be willing to help you shop for this kind of clothing.

Plus size sexy lingerie, indulge yourself.

For a website totally devoted to Plus Size Clothing visit Peter’s Website Plus Size Clothing Ideas and find out about Plus Size Sexy Lingerie as well as Plus Size Swimwear and more, including Plus Size Bras, Plus Size Dresses, Maternity Wear, Wedding Gowns and Shoes.

Forget about the 1960’s Flower Power credo: “Sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll.” Toss out your DVD of the steamy 1989 erotic thriller “Sex, Lies, and Videotape.” In the health-conscious, food-obsessed, “bling”-oriented 21st Century, we seem to have stopped hurtling forward and started to move backwards Everything old is new again and we’re returning to a kinder, gentler era when gentlemen and ladies enjoyed sex, chocolate, and jewelry as the language of love.

Our Love Affair with Chocolate

3,000 years ago, Indians of Central America poured molten chocolate from one pot to another to create bitter drink with a froth on top, the part they liked best. Spanish conquistadores and missionaries took the beverage back to Europe, where it became fashionable with the aristocracy, who added sugar to it. Today, three centuries later, hot chocolate remains a favorite drink shared by friends, familyand lovers.

For a “pulse” on 21st Century chocolate, there’s no better place to go than the annual Fancy Foods Show. This year, the chocolate beverage of choice was a hot chocolate reminiscent of the “nectar of the gods” preferred by the Mayans and Aztecs. The steamy treat is made with a high-cocoa-content dark chocolate and (in response to the low-carb craze, no doubt) less sugar.

How does this cocoa fit in with romance? Chocolate bars are replacing coffee bars and liquor bars as the meeting place of choice for singles with a taste for loveand sweets. In New York City, the popular midtown hotspot “The Chocolate Bar” serves hot chocolate drinks including Classic Hot Chocolate, Spicy Hot Chocolate, and White Chocolate Caramel and iced chocolate beverages including Chocolate Shakers (served over ice, with espresso and whipped cream)

Our Love Affair with Sex

When it comes to sex, every forty years seems to signal the arrival of a new wave of permissiveness and freedom. In the 20’s, the world embraced “The Flapper Era”and one anotherwith abandon. Tough times in the 30’s and 40’s put an end to the jazz babies, and gave birth to the tough, no-nonsense, almost asexual Rosie the Riveters who didn’t have time for pleasures of the flesh. (And a good thing, too, since men were at war.)

As the 40’s drew to a close, the “boys” came home to a booming post-war economy and produced a boom of their own — the Baby Boom. And when those baby boomers hit their stride in the 1960’sthe sexual revolution was born. Free love (and a fair number of sexually transmitted diseases!) were the order of the day.

Power and influence became “sexy” in the 80’s and 90’s. It was a button-down time reminiscent of the 50’s, with preppie boys and girls emulating the dress, manner, and courtship rituals of their grandparents. That conservatism continues today, but the drumbeats of a new age can be heard in the lifestyle of Generation “Next.”

Our Love Affair with Jewelry

Throughout time, both men and women have worn jewelry for power and for protection from ghosts, deities, snakes, and even bill collectors! Our ancestors wore jewelry for good reason. Personal adornment and the use of bright, shiny items to attract a mate is as old as time. Jewelry is our way of showing off, spreading our “peacock feathers” to make a hit with the opposite sex.

Put on jewelry and you’re putting on protection. (Not that kind!) What we call jewelry is really the evolution of personal adornment that has its roots in power-bestowing charms and talismans. Today, fashion forward jewelry wearers covet “conventional jewelry,” but with a unique touch. Many of the unique pieces people wear today are rooted in cultural and ethnic traditions, interpreted in a decidedly 21st Century way. The goal is for jewelry to express a link between the present and the past.

Learn How To Buy Jewelry And Gemstones Without Being Ripped Off. This informative Special Report reveals little-known facts and insider trade secrets that many jewelers would prefer you didn’t know. To get your FREE copy please go to http://www.morninglightjewelry.com.

10. Your commute can be as short as sitting up from bed and working on your wireless laptop, or as far as walking to your office computer.

9. No tardy slips, pink slips, or “no more sick or vacation days” notices because you pick the hours, days, and weeks you want to work.

8. Whenever you have an actually face-to-face meeting with clients or vendors, you always surprise them as with your “professional” appearance. (No one needs to know that this is the only real suit you own).

7. No more cold bagged-lunches or long lines waiting for the garlic-onion-spaghetti splattered microwave oven to heat your plain bland white rice leftovers. You can enjoy an inexpensive gourmet meal or fresh Mac & Cheese with your kids.

6. No need to wait for the company’s promise for a built-in recreational hall or discount coupons for the area’s best fitness club. Your options include a jog outside your front door, turning on a yoga video, or just kicking up your heals on your desk as you relax back to catch-up on some well-needed R & R.

5. Work and religion is highly recommended as a means to a sound mind-body-soul balance, rather than debated in a labor board grievance hearing or the federal court system.

4. No need to wait for Take Your Kids to Work Day just to show them how “cool” you “can” be. With kids growing up witnessing your daily sacrifices and hard work, they know how cool you are right now. An even greater reward happens when they ask you to homeschool them.

3. You never have a Dress Code. You can dress as comfortably, gorgeous, and sexy as you chose to beafter all, you’re the Queen of Your Home. [Bumming-around allowed at your discretion].

2. No threats of sexual harassment lawsuits. Spontaneous mid-day love-making is encouraged for a happier, more passionate and enduring marriage.

1. You’re already the Boss of Your Homeyou might as well get paid your worth:
$1 gazillion!

Nothing is stopping you from achieving your professional goals except you.

Ponn M. Sabra, MPH is the Author of Empowering Women to Power Network ~ How to Save Time, Earn More Money & Live a Life of Success By Building Quality Relationships Everywhere You Go. Ponn is profiled in Marquis Who’s Who of America and Who’s Who of American Women. To learn more about her book or your home-based business options, sign-up for FREE tips, articles and resources, at http://www.EmpowerWomenNow.com.

If you’re still young enough to remember your birthday, you probably also remember the special birthstone assigned to it. But at your age, we bet you don’t really know the SIGNIFICANCE of your birthstone and what power the ancients felt would be bestowed about you by wearing it.

February’s birthstone: Amethyst
Birthstone powers: Brings peace and calm to your life
Alternative Birthstone: Bloodstone

Amethyst is the birthstone for the month of February and the traditional anniversary gemstone for the sixth of marriage. Once considered more valuable than diamonds, this member of the quartz member occurs naturally as crystals within rocks. The stones are mined in Brazil, Uruguay, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Zambia, Australia and in the mountains of Russia

American amethysts are mined in Maine, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Montana and Colorado. Amethyst from Maine is usually dark with North Carolina amethyst having a bluish tint unique to that area. Amethyst can lighten if exposed to strong sunlight for a long time. When heated to 550-560 Centigrade, the color changes to dark yellow or reddish brown. (They are then called citrines. These are more richly colored and more expensive then natural citrines)

Ideally deep medium purple with rose-colored flashes, amethysts generally range in hue from pale lilac to nearly black purple. Since purple has always been the color of royalty, amethysts abound in the ornaments of in the British Crown Jewels and in the adornments of the ancient Greeks and Egyptians, as well. They have been found in ruins dating as far back as the ninth century, adorning royal jewelry, scepters, and crowns.

The intense violet hue of February’s birthstone appealed to early monarchs, perhaps because they often wore this coloras a symbol of their elevated position. Purple dye was once scarce and expensive, so it was reserved for the garments of royalty, and the color came to symbolize power and status.

Sobering Thoughts with Amethyst

The Greeks believed that whoever wore an amethyst or drank from an amethyst cup would not become intoxicated. In fact, the word amethyst is derived from the Greek word “amethystos,” meaning sober. In ancient Greece, the gemstone was associated with the god of wine, and it was common practice to serve this beverage from Amethyst goblets in the belief that this would prevent overindulgence. It was also claimed that amethyst had a sobering effect on those “drunk” on love’s passion.

Even today, amethyst is considered a stabilizing force for those struggling to overcome addictive behaviors. In general, the gemstone is believed to be a calming, tranquil influence that symbolizes peace.

Amethyst and Prayer

Amethyst is symbolic of piety, spirituality, and a devotion to God. The rich purple gemstones are used worldwide to ornament churches and crosses used in religious ceremony, and they frequently found in the rings and on the rosaries worn by bishops and priests.

It is also believed that amethysts bring on pleasant dreams because they allow you to “channel” positive universal energy. As a result many people place an amethyst under their pillow before going to sleep at night to enjoy “sweet dreams” throughout the night.

Learn How To Buy Jewelry And Gemstones Without Being Ripped Off. This informative Special Report reveals little-known facts and insider trade secrets that many jewelers would prefer you didn’t know. To get your FREE copy please go to http://www.morninglightjewelry.com.

The common tee (formerly known as t-shirts) has come a long way. The tee were usually made for only menbut now, with technology and broadening of creativity (and minds), more women are seen donning the common tee to special events and even formal functions.

Some women would rather not be seen out in public in a tee, and would only wear their tee at home, but with added finesse, creativity, and uniqueness to the tees that can be found in the market these days, why the hell not? Not only are they comfortable, but you can actually get a fashionable one that suits your style. If you team it up with a fab looking cardigan or a cool skirt, your tee can take you a long, long, LLLOOONNNNGGGGG way!

The demand for fashionable tees has taken the industry to new heights over the last couple of years. Women are not longer required to make a decision between price or quality. Now, tees are widely available all over the place, including online e-commerce stores at low prices and made of high quality fabric. Yes, the cost price of a tee is low and that is why consumers know that they are getting an incredible value for a good tee at a reasonable pricing.

The key to buying a high quality tee is to make sure that the tee is made of innovative and premium fabric. The design (print or sewing) needs to be stylish, personal and unique in every sense of the word. If not, the tee is going to look like something you just dragged out of your husband’s closet! For fashion conscious folks, this is probably not a good idea.

The tee shirt market is more than happy to provide and manufacture more fashion tees for women because it gives them a better range of products to sell. For instance, there’s the low v-neck tee, the body-hugging tee, the baby tee, the raglan tee, the capped sleeves tee, the women’s baseball tee, the common tee.and the number of different tee shirts that the companies can come up with is limitless! Well, limited only by the creativity and minds of the tee designers, of course.

The options of women’s tee does not only come in the form of different designs. In fact, some tee shirt manufacturers are doing cartwheels all around the office block because they can experiment and try out the tee designs with different weight options, colors, texture, ribs, hemp, pique, ottoman.etc to fit the various ages of women. But when it comes to women’s tee, the King of Tee is none other than the famous cotton. It’s comfortable, it’s flexible, it’s affordable and it comes in many different varieties as well. To top it all off the cotton tee is rather tough and can last the wearer a long time. In fact, cotton tees are a favorite among men and babies as well.

The reason why cotton tees are so comfortable is because cotton is extremely light - feathery, almost. It weighs between 3.8 ounces to 5.5 ounces. The heavier the cotton tee, the tougher the tee is. However, for those who live in hotter climate may opt for lighter weight tee because there’s better circulation of air.

Many tee shirt manufacturers now realize that it’s no longer as simple as it used to be. In order to sell tees in the ladies’ market, they need to be innovative and creative. Women need fashion, unlike men. With men, one size fits all, and there’s only one shape and design to contend with. With ladies’ tee, it’s a completely different ball game now.

With the rising popularity of stretchable tees and sport tees, companies are now using modifying their direction and trying to use stretchable tee material to produce their tee shirts especially for the ladies’ market. For stretchability, lycra and spandex is used. On top of the ability to give the wearer a tight-fitting and body-shaping look, it’s stretchable and does not restrict the movement of the wearer.

Ribbing is also often used to provide more options for the ladies’ fashion tee market. When the ribbing technique is used, it looks like it is tight-fitting but it’s actually not. The material becomes heavier but it’s bulkier, providing warmth and comfort to the fashion tee wearer.

With a good eye out for combination, and color (and of course, style) women can literally wear tees anywhere. Tee to the tea party, tee to the office function, tee to the golf course, tee to the office boardroom (hidden under a jacket, perhaps)..anywhere!

Marsha Maung is a freelance graphic designer and copy writer who works from her home in Selangor, Malaysia. She loves nothing more than blowing bubbles in the park with her 2 kids, Joshua and Jared. She designs apparel and premium items at http://www.creativejooz.com and is the author of “Raising little magicians”, and the popular “The Lance in freelancing”. More information can be found at http://www.marshamaung.com

Turn on your TV. You will quickly determine that you don’t have what it takes to attract (and keep!) a man. You’re too thick in the waist. You need a boob job. Your legs are covered in revolting cottage cheese that must be eradicated by all means possible. You’re not girly enough. You’re too girly. You don’t talk enough. You talk too much. Those pathetic lines around your eyes date you like a day-old roast beef.

Turn off your TV.

The truth of the matter is that men, the desirable ones, don’t care all that much about what you look like. They don’t care if you’re shy, or if you occasionally ramble on about nothing. Instead, they tend to gravitate toward women who possess a valuable, seemingly elusive, quality:

Happiness.

Oh, yes. Happy women attract men, small children, dogs, and guinea pigs like magnets. What man in his right mind wouldn’t want to be around a happy woman?

Think I’m being silly? I’m not, and I’ll prove it to you.

Like a lot of people, my weight used to fluctuate (although not so much anymore, thanks to regular dates with a NordicTrack). At one point I was 30 pounds heavier than I am today, and some friends had invited me out for dinner and drinks.

I certainly didn’t relish the idea of being the fat chick at the bar, but I agreed to go. While trying on 3,000 outfits in an attempt to find something that made me look thin, I had an epiphany: I wasn’t going to lose 30 pounds in two hours. My best bet was to forget about feeling fat and put a smile on my face. I set a goal to focus on whomever spoke to me, to look him or her in the eye, and to forget about myself.

Before I left the house, I brought to mind all the things I had going for me. Once I was out, I smiled sincerely at people and made a point of putting them at ease.

The result? One very attractive guy (whom I previously considered completely out of my league) asked me out that night, starting a fun and memorable summer romance.

After we’d broken up a few months later, I woke up with the symptoms of some sort of food allergy. I’d lost 25 pounds, but that didn’t change the fact that my eyelids bulged like footballs. My jawline had virtually disappeared. Some evil food product (my bet is on bacon bits; they’re not real bacon, you know!) had transformed me into a monster.

I had plans to attend a party that evening, so I immediately turned to the teabag-on-the-eyelid therapy touted by the beauty mags. It failed. I tried cucumber slices next. They also failed. I tried ice packs, frozen spoons, frozen peas. They failed. I tried drinking loads of lemon water and following it up with a pot of detoxifying herbal tea. No luck with that, either.

Clearly, looking my best was not in the cards. After spending the afternoon in the bathroom ridding myself of lemon water and tea, I set out for the party looking like Jabba the Hut from the neck up.

But, once again, I’d made a decision. Sure, I’d be the most physically repellent creature in the room, but why get bummed out about it? Wearing a little brown eye shadow to play down the lid bulge and a confident smile, I hit the party.

All night I banished the nagging temptation to head to the bathroom to poke at my swollen face. Instead, I listened to other peoples’ stories. I laughed at their jokes (if they were funny, that is). I achieved my goal of having a great time.

Guess who scored a date with a good-looking, very funny guy?

If you want to attract guys, forget about what’s wrong about you. Forget about what’s wrong about your job, your boss, and your mother. Cultivate happiness. You’ll find yourself attracting better friends, better men, and better circumstances.

Next time you’re on your way out of the house and feeling like no man in the world would ever be interested in you, think about things that make you laugh. Bring to mind times in your life when you were truly happy.

Then put a smile on your face and walk out that door!

Terry Hernon MacDonald is the author of “How to Attract and Marry the Man of Your Dreams.” Sign up for her free dating newsletter at http://www.marrysmart.com