Untitled #49

Untitled #49 by nikki-boucher featuring an embellished collar blouse

Valentino embellished collar blouse
farfetch.com

Harrods white cape
$2,250 - harrods.com

Acne Studios stretch pants
acnestudios.com

Giuseppe Zanotti white peep toe booties
farfetch.com

Word of the Day

Methodical.

organized, well thought out, disciplined, efficient, precise, meticulous, systematic, structured

To be successful in life, it takes a plan.  A purpose.  A goal.  And to reach that goal, it takes fortitude, perseverance and a methodical nature.  

Just look around you at the very successful people at your workplace, in your neighborhood.  To be methodical is to have a plan.

COOKIESSSSSSSSSSSSS

COOKIES

COOKIES

AND MORE COOKIES....

WELL IF YOU MUST KNOW THERE IS A "PAIN FAIR" TOMORROW AND MY POSTER IS ON NONE OTHER THAN CHEST PAIN (SEE MIDDLE PHOTO! :)) AND YES THAT'S WHY ALL THE SHAPES OF THE COOKIES ARE HEARTS!! OOOOHHHH!! WITH OF COURSE CHRISTMAS SPRINKLES ON TOP! BUT I HAVE SHARED WITH YOU THE INFO OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE THE PREVIOUS BLOG POSTS! NOW IT'S TIME TO ENJOY THE DESSERTS!!

 LOVE TO ALL, NIKKI B.

WHAT FUN WE ARE HAVING OVER THE HOLIDAYS!!!!!YAY!

the smell of pine is in the air

As the holidays are here,

it is a a time of reflection and to be in good cheer.

Time with family and friends is dear.

With hope and joy to come in the New Year.

Love to all, Nikki B.

A Healthy Heart Holiday (and Final Factoid #3)

I hope everyone enjoyed a scintillating Sunday with Holiday Tree trimming and fun!

So the final Factoid coming your way!  I need to preface that all major studies have limitations and new research is always evolving so the information mentioned in this blog are current research for 2013; however, we must all keep abreast of future breakthroughs that will be uncovered.

So why all this fuss over chest pain? differences between the sexes, with presentation in the ER?

Bottom line = the sooner a heart attack is identified/diagnosed (that is highly determined upon the signs/symptoms) = the sooner a life can be saved with early intervention

What does it mean to you?

If you know what to look for, the quicker you will recognize possible symptoms and get help.

So let's review some basic information:

According to a study by Dr. Nadia Khan, chest pain was a presentation (predominant) symptom in 80 percent of both sexes (of 1,015 patients) with a higher percentage of women to men that presented without (1 in 5 women).  The other most common symptoms included weakness and shortness of breath.  Women tend to suffer from more non chest pain symptoms than men.

Other considerations are important in the diagnosis of heart attack, other than chest pain.  

Zucker et al informs us that what is also predictive of heart disease is medical history; especially when it comes to women.  Relevant history would include hypertension and diabetes that could lead to congestive heart failure (weakened heart) and increased risk of a heart attack.

With all this knowledge bestowed on you, now you know the importance of seeking treatment immediately if you suffer from weakness, indigestion, shortness of breath, left arm, jaw or abdominal discomfort even though you do not have chest pain.

Inform others to get treatment right away! And help save a life!

Chest Pain Factoid 2#

So are there differences between 

men and women when it comes to chest pain?

Let's look at some more statistics:

AN EUROPEAN STUDY IN SWITZERLAND FOUND THAT:

SYMPTOMS OF CHEST PAIN FOR MEN AND WOMEN WERE NOT THAT DIFFERENT

CHEST PAIN WAS NOT A GOOD TOOL TO INDICATE HEART ATTACK FOR WOMEN

MISDIAGNOSIS AND DEATH WERE HIGHER IN WOMEN THAN MEN 

(JAMA INTERNAL MEDICINE, 2013)

IN THE AMERICAN JOURNAL CRITICAL CARE STUDY OF 2008 REPORTED (Devon, 2008)

–10% OF MEN EXPERIENCED NO CHEST PAIN AT ALL

–OTHER SYMPTOMS INCLUDED:

•DISCOMFORT IN OTHER AREAS (ARM, NECK, JAW)

•SHORTNESS OF BREATH, NAUSEA, SWEATING OR LIGHTHEADEDNESS

•ABDOMINAL DISCOMFORT LIKE HEARTBURN

DIFFERENCES POSSIBLY? I GUESS WE WILL HAVE TO LOOK AT MORE STUDIES

STAY TUNED AND WE WILL HAVE A CLOSER LOOK TOMORROW NIGHT.  JUST SOMETHING TO PONDER.  

NIKKI B. SIGNING OFF.

Chest Pain Factoid #1

Are there any differences with chest pain in men versus women when trying to find out if it was a heart attack?

The 3 commonly reported symptoms 

for men were:
                                   CHEST PAIN, CHEST DISCOMFORT, CHEST PRESSURE

for women were:
                                    UNUSUAL FATIGUE, SLEEP DISTURBANCE, SHORTNESS OF BREATH

In fact, according to an 2003 NIH Health Study, 43 % women REPORTED HAVING NO CHEST PAIN during any phase of a heart attack.

Want to know more?  Stay tuned for more in the next Factoid coming your way tomorrow night...

Sleep well..Stay informed...Nikki B. signing off.
 

CHEST PAIN

DO YOU KNOW THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF A HEART ATTACK?
HAVE YOU EVER EXPERIENCED NAUSEA, SHORTNESS OF BREATH, DIZZINESS,
INDIGESTION, WEAKNESS?
DO YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE CHEST PAIN?

I WILL BE POSTING LATEST RESEARCH REGARDING CHEST PAIN SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS.  UNTIL THAT TIME PLEASE CALL 911 WITHOUT HESITATION, IF YOU HAVE ANY OF THESE SYMPTOMS.

NIKKI B. WISHING YOU ALL GOOD THINGS. UNTIL TOMORROW! SLEEP WELL

A New Passion

I have been so inspired by my favorite designer and blogger HRH Collection! I thought I would try my hand at the Art of Jewelry Making, mostly earrings!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/TouchofClassnBeauty

Neck pain? What's the Cure?

I have been seeing a chiropractor the last month since my friend/physical therapist told me my neck was out of alignment and that therapy was a must.  It has made me aware of a few things, namely that I need to work on my posture, that the computer has not helped, only made it worse and also holding the phone with your chin is not the greatest help, either.

I have had major relief since going but constantly need to stretch my neck muscles that have become shorter over time with stress, computer usage and poor posture.  Hope to be checking out "Pure Barre" classes in the near future when I am ready to start a new exercise program before I gain all the weight that I took off, approximately 10 lbs.

Anyway, I must be dozing off to dreamland.  Hope everyone sleeps well.  Oh that's another thing, I'm trying to sleep on my back, instead of my stomach.  My poor neck, don't know how I have survived this long, really, because I have been doing "everything" wrong!!

Well better late than never to change a bad habit or two!

Nikki B. signing off.

Elegance

Elegance by nikki-boucher featuring lauren conrad style

Emilio Pucci mini dress
stylebop.com

Giuseppe Zanotti cutout sandals
stylebop.com

Valentino brown purse
valentino.com

Vitamin Supplementation with Gestational Diabetes

This was emailed to me and I thought it could be useful for expectant moms out there who liked to stay informed.

"Vitamin D supplementation effective in gestational diabetics

As reported in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, vitamin D3 supplementation (50,000 IU at baseline and d 21) of gestational diabetics (n=54) resulted in a significant reduction in FBG, insulin, HOMA-IR, TC, and LDL-C compared to supplementation with placebo. Vitamin D3 supplementation had no effect on inflammation or oxidative stress."

Read the article summary now:

http://www.mdlinx.com/obstetrics-gynecology/news-article.cfm/4897511

I love helping moms and their 

families with their nutritional 

education and am always

learning myself. 

Vitamin D has been 

effective with other 

disease processes as well. 

Wishing you wellness and peace today 

and the rest of the week!

Drama

Drama by nikki-boucher featuring cocktail rings

Matthew Williamson blue sequin dress
$4,815 - profilefashion.com

Fox fur coat
1stdibs.com

Michael Kors black strap pumps
neimanmarcus.com

Marchesa genuine leather handbag
bergdorfgoodman.com

CC SKYE woven leather bracelet
pinkmascara.com

Cocktail ring
$105 - youngbritishdesigners.com

Untitled #46

Untitled #46 by nikki-boucher featuring leather shoulder handbags

Balmain white long sleeve shirt
stylebop.com

Balmain short mini skirt
thecorner.com

Nicholas Kirkwood leather booties
ssense.com

Miu Miu leather shoulder handbag
$1,440 - net-a-porter.com

A Word on Acupuncture

It really does work!!

When my achy shoulders and neck don't let the tension subside, I go for a massage and an acupuncture treatment!  I swear by them.  It takes the pain away immediately!  It's as though the toxins that have built up in my muscles melt away!!

Try it sometime!  And then let me hear you say!  

Awww, I needed that!

Here's to a great end of the week/Month! 


Love Nikki B.

A thought

When a woman says, "I have nothing to wear", what she really means is, "There's nothing here for who I'm supposed to be today."   

 
 ~ Caitlin Moran

                             

Blue skies

endless possibilities

dreamy, lazy days

beautiful 

blue skies....

these are what I relish.

May you have blue skies ahead this week!

Love Nikki B.

Fresh Fall Days.....

I wanted to blog about how I was feeling this Fall.  

I feel exhilarated, happy, ambitious and hopeful.  

You probably are wondering why?  

Well after starting with Dr. Habermehl's weight loss program at her wellness center, 

I have slimmed down from a hefty 132 lbs on my small frame of 5' 2" to 123 lbs. just to start. 

Dr. Habermehl and Kelly have both inspired me.  

Each week I weigh in and receive a cocktail shot (including vitamin B12).  

It has been great so far!! 

Also I am so looking forward to doing the Susan Komen Walk 

this weekend in Newport Beach, CA.  It won't be my first time but it has been a few years. 

 I have a goal to get more physically in shape!! 

So I am sooooo happy to be able to be a part of this worthy cause!!  

Nothing right now can be more invigorating!! 

If you can come down on Sunday, September 22nd. 

Come join the fun!! 

Love to all, Nikki B.

Fall feels like......

Being from the East Coast, Fall always feels like football and sweaters. 


I always love trips to New York for fashion, art, culture, dining and of course shopping!!  The most fun is Central Park!

I love to walk along the lined avenues of the Park with the many coffee shops, boutiques, and art galleries. 

It's like a small village in the middle of one of the biggest cities in the world.  I especially like to imagine how it was in the 18th century

when the homes on Fifth avenue were still the homes of the makers and shakers of this country. 

There's so much history in New York from Wall Street to Midtown and beyond.  

So I guess Fall feels like New York to me.  I will certainly be watching New York Fashion Week!!  It's exciting and fun!

Love to all, Nikki B.

HoT SuMmeR NightS

May you have a peaceful, cool weekend ahead!