What To Expect After Breast Augmentation Surgery

The results of breast augmentation are quite apparent immediately after surgery. However, you will need time to recover before you can start to fully and comfortably enjoy your new and improved bustline. The healing process is an important consideration when you are thinking about breast augmentation. A well-informed commitment to surgery will include taking account of the post surgical steps to achieving your body goals.

Breast augmentation entails the surgical insertion of breast implants, either silicone or saline, beneath your breast tissue and possibly even beneath the muscle tissue of your chest. The surgery is typically an outpatient procedure that lasts from one to two hours.

Depending on what you want for your body and what your physical form can accommodate, breast augmentation can increase your breast size by one or more bra cup sizes. Desiring a fuller bustline and a figure with more pronounced proportions are the primary motivations for women to seek breast augmentation. Reconstruction after breast surgery or injury, rejuvenation after pregnancy and nursing, and correction of breasts that have markedly differing sizes also are appropriate reasons for breast augmentation.

Your First Week After Breast Augmentation

Initially after your breast augmentation Beverly Hills, you will feel tired and sore for several days, but you should be up and walking after 24 to 48 hours. Pain medication will be prescribed as necessary to help you with post-surgical discomfort. You will have to completely avoid strenuous activity and monitor for any post-surgical problems like extreme swelling or bleeding.

After a few days, your gauze dressings will be removed and your plastic surgeon may direct you to wear a surgical bra. At the end of your first week of recovery you could typically return to your job unless your occupation is physically demanding. Then your plastic surgeon would have to gauge your recovery and advise you on the appropriate time to resume working.

Your Second Week After Breast Augmentation

At about the 10 day point, your stitches will be removed. If you have been experiencing a burning sensation in your nipples, this can often persist through the second week. Although your fuller breasts are in place, they will remain sore and you should limit physical contact with them as you continue to heal.

Your Next Six Weeks After Breast Augmentation

Under the supervision of your surgeon, you will begin to resume your regular physical activities in the ensuing weeks. Breast soreness typically lasts for three to four weeks before fading. Swelling should also diminish during this period, except for perhaps minor swelling. The scars from your surgery will be pink and firm for roughly six weeks. It will take months for the scars to soften and lighten. They will never be completely gone, but the scars often will diminish to barely noticeable.

The recovery timelines described above are what you can typically expect after breast augmentation surgery. Individual cases vary depending on physical characteristics, overall health, and how well you follow guidelines for limiting strenuous activity. Although breast augmentation requires a moderate recovery time, many women are immensely pleased with the results and agree that the discomfort was worth the opportunity to fulfill their dreams of an enhanced bust.

About the Author:

Information on breast augmentation Beverly Hills and Dr. Lloyd Krieger is at http://www.rodeodriveplasticsurgery.com/proced-breast.html

Keeping Baby Safe: your most important role as a parent

Saying Thanks, But No Thanks to Used Safety Equipment

Once your beautiful bundle of joy arrives, the work of raising your child really begins. The biggest job you have as a parent is keeping your baby safe. Yet, it is impossible to watch over your children twenty-four hours a day.

Thankfully, there are many safety products available to keep them from getting hurt. These products include safety gates, outlet covers, oven and table bumpers, doorknob covers, bed rails, locks and guards, and many more. As a parent, you need to use products that are one step ahead of their children's abilities, and can do so by getting down on their level and looking around. This gives you a child's eye perspective of child safety issues in your home.

But with so many products to buy and so many different brand names, how do you decide what products you need most? The best thing to do when it comes to safety is buy new products rather than used ones. An older, used product may have been recalled due to dangerous safety issues, or it may be damaged from previous use. Although hand-me-downs are great for clothes and toys, your childs safety is just too important to leave to chance. Babies R Us is a great place to find all the safety products you need.

That still leaves the issue of how to choose between one safety gate, for instance, and another. Here are some purchasing tips for some of the more popular safety items you will need for your baby.

Car Seats

More children are seriously injured and killed in auto accidents than in any other type of accident. Each year, hundreds of lives could be saved if children were protected in cars by using child safety seats. Using a child safety seat is the best protection you can give your child when traveling by car.

When purchasing a car seat, look for:

Label states that it meets or exceeds the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards;
Is the car seat appropriate for your child's height and weight?
Be aware of the type of seat belts your car has; all car seats are not compatible with all seat belts;
Check recent car seat recalls before making a purchase;
Be sure that the seat you choose fits your child - a smaller baby can slip out of a seat that's too large. Infants one year or younger and up to 20 pounds must be placed in a rear-facing seat, toddlers (older than 1 year and between 20 and 40 pounds) may use a forward-facing seat, and children who are between 40 and 80 pounds need to be placed in a booster seat;
Consider choosing a seat that is upholstered in fabric - it may be more comfortable for your child.

Safety Gates

Baby safety gates are an essential element in making your home baby proof. Now that he's on the move, every nook and cranny is a potential area of exploration for him. Your baby is curious about his new environment, wanting to investigate each little corner and new room. The best way to make sure he can't do any harm to himself is to install safety gates. These will prevent him from reaching the stairs, kitchen, or an office room, where there might be many wires and electrical equipment just at his height

Accordion gates, which open to form diamond-shaped patterns with wide V's at the top, can trap a baby's head and have resulted in strangulation deaths. In January 1985, gate manufacturers halted production of these gates, but there are still an estimated 15 million gates in use. Mesh gates also can be dangerous because a toddler's fingers can become trapped.

When purchasing a safety gate, look for the following:

A hardware-mounted gate that attaches to the doorframe without any openings to trap fingers or necks. Pressure-mounted gates should not be used between rooms of different levels or at the top of stairs; children can dislodge them and take a tumble.
Gates that swing out should never be used at the top of stairways.
Nonflexible vertical slats or rods should be no more than 2 3/8 inches apart.
Check for sharp edges and protrusions that could hurt a toddler's hands.
Avoid gates with structures that could give a child a foothold for climbing. Keep large toys away from the gate to prevent a child from using them to climb over.
The gate should be no less than 3/4 of the child's height

Playpens

These high-sided, enclosed play areas are popular because they allow parents to put their baby down with the knowledge that he can't wander off. It is great when you have to answer the phone, do a bit of ironing, or just catch a quick breath!

When purchasing a playpen, look for the following:

Holes in the mesh should be no larger than 1/4 inch to keep small fingers from getting caught;
The sides should be at least 20 inches high, measured from the floor of the playpen;
Look for padding on the tops of the rails to protect your baby from bumps.
The locks that allow you to lower a side should be out of your baby's reach.

Baby Monitors

The idea behind a baby monitor is that you can have the ability to move around the house or your yard and still be able to keep tabs on your baby by listening or now viewing your baby. This can help alert you to a crying baby, a baby who needs your help or just help you watch baby while he or she sleeps.

The baby/nursery monitor that you buy will have different levels of mobility. The base usually plugs into the wall, usually the nursery or wherever your baby is sleeping. The receiver can plug in or be mobile. If you intend to use the monitor as you move from room to room, you will want to invest in the mobile kind, versus the stationary variety.

When purchasing a baby monitor, look for the following:

There should be at least two channels to choose from;
Be sure that you have a low battery indicator light. Without this you might be listening to the receiver, thinking all is quiet in the baby's room, when in fact all you've got is a dead battery;
Has a power-on light so that you can know the unit is on without disturbing the baby;
Has a volume control to put you in charge of how loudly you wish to hear your baby;
Are you planning to carry around your end of the monitoring system? Then you might want a belt clip!

Bath Seats

A bath seat gives your child added support while in the bathtub and can help prevent a soapy baby from slipping out of your hands and hitting her head on the tub. Keep in mind, however, that you should NEVER leave your child unattended in the tub!

When purchasing a bath seat, look for the following:

Never use a bath seat on textured or non-skid surfaces unless the manufacturers instructions specifically state the seat is intended for such surfaces;
Look for the JPMA Certification Seal.

Always remember, no matter what safety product you are buying, to look at the features to be sure they meet your specific requirements. Also check to be sure that the product you are considering has not recently been recalled. The safety of your child is of utmost importance dont leave it to chance!

Once your beautiful bundle of joy arrives, the work of raising your child really begins. The biggest job you have as a parent is keeping your baby safe. Yet, it is impossible to watch over your children twenty-four hours a day.

Thankfully, there are many safety products available to keep them from getting hurt. These products include safety gates, outlet covers, oven and table bumpers, doorknob covers, bed rails, locks and guards, and many more. As a parent, you need to use products that are one step ahead of their children's abilities, and can do so by getting down on their level and looking around. This gives you a child's eye perspective of child safety issues in your home.

But with so many products to buy and so many different brand names, how do you decide what products you need most? The best thing to do when it comes to safety is buy new products rather than used ones. An older, used product may have been recalled due to dangerous safety issues, or it may be damaged from previous use. Although hand-me-downs are great for clothes and toys, your childs safety is just too important to leave to chance. Babies R Us is a great place to find all the safety products you need.

That still leaves the issue of how to choose between one safety gate, for instance, and another. Here are some purchasing tips for some of the more popular safety items you will need for your baby.

Car Seats

More children are seriously injured and killed in auto accidents than in any other type of accident. Each year, hundreds of lives could be saved if children were protected in cars by using child safety seats. Using a child safety seat is the best protection you can give your child when traveling by car.

When purchasing a car seat, look for:

Label states that it meets or exceeds the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards;
Is the car seat appropriate for your child's height and weight?
Be aware of the type of seat belts your car has; all car seats are not compatible with all seat belts;
Check recent car seat recalls before making a purchase;
Be sure that the seat you choose fits your child - a smaller baby can slip out of a seat that's too large. Infants one year or younger and up to 20 pounds must be placed in a rear-facing seat, toddlers (older than 1 year and between 20 and 40 pounds) may use a forward-facing seat, and children who are between 40 and 80 pounds need to be placed in a booster seat;
Consider choosing a seat that is upholstered in fabric - it may be more comfortable for your child.

Safety Gates

Baby safety gates are an essential element in making your home baby proof. Now that he's on the move, every nook and cranny is a potential area of exploration for him. Your baby is curious about his new environment, wanting to investigate each little corner and new room. The best way to make sure he can't do any harm to himself is to install safety gates. These will prevent him from reaching the stairs, kitchen, or an office room, where there might be many wires and electrical equipment just at his height

Accordion gates, which open to form diamond-shaped patterns with wide V's at the top, can trap a baby's head and have resulted in strangulation deaths. In January 1985, gate manufacturers halted production of these gates, but there are still an estimated 15 million gates in use. Mesh gates also can be dangerous because a toddler's fingers can become trapped.

When purchasing a safety gate, look for the following:

A hardware-mounted gate that attaches to the doorframe without any openings to trap fingers or necks. Pressure-mounted gates should not be used between rooms of different levels or at the top of stairs; children can dislodge them and take a tumble.
Gates that swing out should never be used at the top of stairways.
Nonflexible vertical slats or rods should be no more than 2 3/8 inches apart.
Check for sharp edges and protrusions that could hurt a toddler's hands.
Avoid gates with structures that could give a child a foothold for climbing. Keep large toys away from the gate to prevent a child from using them to climb over.
The gate should be no less than 3/4 of the child's height

Playpens

These high-sided, enclosed play areas are popular because they allow parents to put their baby down with the knowledge that he can't wander off. It is great when you have to answer the phone, do a bit of ironing, or just catch a quick breath!

When purchasing a playpen, look for the following:

Holes in the mesh should be no larger than 1/4 inch to keep small fingers from getting caught;
The sides should be at least 20 inches high, measured from the floor of the playpen;
Look for padding on the tops of the rails to protect your baby from bumps.
The locks that allow you to lower a side should be out of your baby's reach.

Baby Monitors

The idea behind a baby monitor is that you can have the ability to move around the house or your yard and still be able to keep tabs on your baby by listening or now viewing your baby. This can help alert you to a crying baby, a baby who needs your help or just help you watch baby while he or she sleeps.

The baby/nursery monitor that you buy will have different levels of mobility. The base usually plugs into the wall, usually the nursery or wherever your baby is sleeping. The receiver can plug in or be mobile. If you intend to use the monitor as you move from room to room, you will want to invest in the mobile kind, versus the stationary variety.

When purchasing a baby monitor, look for the following:

There should be at least two channels to choose from;
Be sure that you have a low battery indicator light. Without this you might be listening to the receiver, thinking all is quiet in the baby's room, when in fact all you've got is a dead battery;
Has a power-on light so that you can know the unit is on without disturbing the baby;
Has a volume control to put you in charge of how loudly you wish to hear your baby;
Are you planning to carry around your end of the monitoring system? Then you might want a belt clip!

Bath Seats

A bath seat gives your child added support while in the bathtub and can help prevent a soapy baby from slipping out of your hands and hitting her head on the tub. Keep in mind, however, that you should NEVER leave your child unattended in the tub!

When purchasing a bath seat, look for the following:

Never use a bath seat on textured or non-skid surfaces unless the manufacturers instructions specifically state the seat is intended for such surfaces;
Look for the JPMA Certification Seal.

Always remember, no matter what safety product you are buying, to look at the features to be sure they meet your specific requirements. Also check to be sure that the product you are considering has not recently been recalled. The safety of your child is of utmost importance dont leave it to chance!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Claire Bowes is a successful freelance writer and owner of baby-gifts-unique where you will find further information on the products available from babies r us and unique gift ideas Personalized Baby Gifts

Hardtop Rush Isn't Over Yet

The retractable hardtop is the automotive equal of a Busby Berkeley routine. The roof raises, folds and shoves into the car?s trunk. Just to witness the operation is fascinating; much more is to experience the driving options of a convertible.

Car occupants are given a broader leeway for the exercise of their driving discretion. A free-spitted ride with the wind blowing the hair or a private drive that precludes the world from taking unwarranted chirp - these are the options available to them.

Advances in technology and engineering feat made convertible a big hit. Nonetheless, auto hardtop is not a recent discovery. Its inception could be traced ages ago. You think that the 1998 Mercedez-Benz SLK230 is the most popular convertibles bearing these exceptional hardtops? Think again. In 1934, Georges Paulin, a Parisian dentist and part-time car designer, designed and patented a retractable hardtop for a small Peugeot coupe. Paulin?s patron and coachbuilder, Marcel Pourtout, also helped in customizing the former?s designs on a larger Peugeot chassis. The cars were stunning and well received by many.

The patent of the retractable hardtop design was sold to Peugeot in 1935. During the World War II, Peugeot built a limited number of cars named the 402BL ?clipse D?capotable. Said cars used Paulin?s design. One of these remarkable cars is bought by Raymond Milo, a Los Angeles dealer in collectible European cars. According to Milo?s research, there are 470 ?clipse D?capotable manufactured however, only 30 of them exist up to the present time.

?The ?clipse was a milestone design and perhaps the most attractive example of Art Deco design applied to automobile coachwork,? Milo said. He added that unlike most first attempts to solve an engineering problem, the design was sound. Being manually operated, the top was relatively simple and could be raised and lowered by one person.

Paulin died during the Word War II holocaust. And his design seemed to be forgotten by the automaker. It did not reappear in postwar era until the introduction of the 206CC in the year 2001. It was followed by the mass-produced retractable hardtop called the 1957 Ford Skyliner.

The Ford Skyliner was built on the Fairlane chassis and was equipped with a 118-inch wheelbase. The rear deck of the car made it extraordinary. The space required to stow the top gave the Skyliner the proportions of a pickup truck.

It was reported that Ford persuaded Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz to pitch the car on television. With the requisite amount of sexism for the period, Desi warned Lucy when she asked to try out the top, ?An automobile is complicated machinery; women just don?t understand.? The announcer said there is no truth to that statement and explained that the process is so simple anyone can do it.

The complexity of the engineering features made it daunting. The standard of hardtop convertibles was enhanced when Mitsubishi introduced the 3000GT Spyder at the Los Angeles auto show. The car is likened to the Camaro or the Firebird. It was offered with a retractable hardtop for the 1995-96 model years in naturally aspirated SL Spyder form and as the 320-horsepower twin-turbo, all-wheel-drive 3000GT VR-4 Spyder.

Mercedes-Benz invaded the hardtop scene with its own version of a fascinating convertible. It was delivered to the industry for the model year 1998. Said car was designed to compete with the BMW Z3 and the Porsche Boxster.

Now, the big names in the automotive retractable hardtop include the Mazda MX-5, Lexus SC 430, Pontiac G6, Volkswagen Eos and the BMW 3 Series. Volvo also introduced the Volvo C70 which carries a remarkable improvement of the Volvo 940 parts. Hope, product communications manager for Volvo Cars North America, management approved the cost of the Volvo C70 program after engineers pointed out that a single retractable-roof version was actually more efficient to develop than both a soft-top convertible and a fixed-roof coupe. Like the clutch pedal, the ragtop may be going the way of the rumble seat.

Hardtop convertibles are showering the auto industry with lots of good things that every driver desires. This is the reason why the rush is not to end yet ? not yet.

Glady Reign is a 32 year old is a consultant for an automotive firm based in Detroit, Mi. She is a native of the motor city and grew up around cars hence her expertise in the automotive field.

Car Seats For Your Baby And Toddler

 



Car Seats For Your Baby And ToddlerSubmitted By: James Brown   

Car accidents have been known to be one of the main causes of deaths among teenagers and most especially children. This is the reason why parents should take extra care in making sure that their children are safe when they are inside a vehicle, whether it may be moving or parked. With this need for car safety for children, car seats were invented and introduced.

Over the years, car seats have grown to be more popular as more and more parents have taken caution and have recognized their importance. There is however different types of car seats available in the market and each one correspond to a specific child age group or where some opine it is the weight of the child that gives the more decisive basis for getting a type of car seat. It is important that parents know this in order to get the right car seat that is appropriate for their babies and their toddler.

For babies, the parents should get a baby car seat that is rearward facing. This kind of car seat can hold room for babies that are aged from birth up to 12 or 15 months, whose weight can be as heavy as 10 kilograms or 22 pounds until 13 kilograms or 29 pounds. Babies are more out of harm's way if they are protected as they are facing the rear of the car and cosseted by the seat. With a rear facing car seat safely securing them in, they are cushioned from the bumps and jolts that the stirring car may go through. The seat shields and supports the head, the neck and the spine of the baby. It is preferred to place this rear facing car seats in the rear as compared to placing them in the front of the car. It is advised to never place the seat in front when the car has a passenger airbag as this could suffocate the child; hurting them instead of keeping them safe. It is recommended that you use rearward facing baby car seats for as long as your baby can fit on it. You will know your baby needs to move on to a bigger seat if her head is as high or even higher than the crown of the car seat or if her weight is or has already exceeded the maximum.

As your child outgrows his rear facing seat, you need now to get her a forward facing seat. This type of seat can hold a toddler of 9 to 18 kilograms or around 20 to 40 pounds, whose age could be between 9 months to 4 years old. The important factor with forward facing kid car seats is the harness that keeps the child safe in place. This should prevent the child from sliding off or bouncing in front out of the chair in case there is a collision or if dad accidentally puts on the brakes too hard. Just the same, it is favored that this seat be placed in the rear and to keep your toddler in such a seat until his age or his weight tells you to move on to the next level.

About the Author:

James Brown writes about Randall Scott Cycle Company promo code,

Baby Car Seats ? Which One Does Your Child Need

Do you know which baby car seat is best for your child? In this article find out which seat you should be using.

Baby car seats are very important to the safety of your child while he/she is travelling in a vehicle.? All newer car seats meet all the safety regulations that have been established nationally.? The correct installation and the correct seat can be the difference between injury and no injury should you become involved in a crash.? Many fire departments and police departments offer clinics to teach you how to correctly install your seats and to ensure that they are correctly installed.? All types of car seats should be installed in the backseat.? The front seat is deadly if your car has a passenger airbag.? There are several types of car seats available ? infant car seats, convertible car seats, forward facing toddler seats, and booster seats.

Infant car seats are seats that are designed for infants usually from 5 pounds up to between 22 and 30 pounds (depending on the model).? These seats should always be rear facing as this is the safest position for your baby.? Many infant car seats have bases that latch into the vehicle which allows the actual seat to act as a carrier and to snap in and out of the base.? This will keep you from having to install the seat every time you get into the vehicle.? Your infant should remain in the rear facing position until he/she is one year old and 20 pounds.? Both criteria should be met before placing your child in a forward facing seat.

Convertible car seats are car seats that work in both the rear facing and forward facing positions.?? This type of car seat is installed in the vehicle in a rear facing position fully reclined until the baby reaches one year and 20 pounds.? At that time, the car seat can be turned around and installed in a forward facing position.? These car seats have a five point harness (or a T-shield or a tray shield) and can be used for children up to age 4 and 40 pounds (some models allow for a heavier 4 year old and go up to 80 pounds).? Many models offer the ability to remove the 5 point harness and install the seat as a belt positioning booster seat.?

A forward facing toddler seat is a car seat that is designed for children age 1 to age 4 ranging in weight from 20 pounds to 40 pounds or more depending on the model.? This is the next step in car seats after the infant car seat.? Many of these types of seats also convert into a booster seat.

Booster seats are designed to ensure the seatbelts in your vehicle fit your child.? The seats are for children from age 4 and 40 pounds.? There are high back and backless styles available.? Any toddler or convertible car seat is going to convert to a high back.? A backless style sits in the seat under the child and raises the child to the appropriate height for the belt. It is imperative that your child sits in a baby car seat, make sure you are using the right one.

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Craig Thornburrow is an acknowledged expert in his field. You can get more free advice on a baby car seat and baby car seat tray at http://www.bestbabycarseat.com

AAA And Minnesota Safety Council Promote Child Passenger Safety Week

February 11 to 17 is being observed as the Child Passenger Safety Week and in connection with this, the American Automobile Association (AAA) and the Minnesota Safety Council has teamed up to promote the importance of safely securing child passengers on their seats.

Their effort to educate parents on how to properly secure their most precious cargo is due to the fact that a large number of child passengers are not properly secured. This fact is one of the foremost reasons why automobile accidents are still the number one cause of death for children ages four to fourteen. In contrast to that however, for the past twenty years, 7,500 lives have been saved by properly installed child car seats.

In 2005 alone, an average of five children below 14 years old were killed in automobile accidents every day. Aside from that, 640 children were injured every day for that year. The figure is so alarming that the AAA Minnesota/Iowa will be working hard to educate parents and caregivers as well on how important is properly restraining a child to the toddler?s safety.

Gail Weinholzer, the director of public affairs for the AAA Minnesota/Iowa, stated that they will not only work hard during the Child Passenger Safety Week but throughout the year as well. The automobile lobby group has also teamed up with the Minnesota Safety Council to promote the new web site developed in cooperation with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.

The main concern of the coalition is to increase the awareness of parents with children aged four through seven. This is due to the fact that of all the toddlers in the US only ten to twenty percent are not properly secured to their car seats or may not be using booster seats at all. The AAA and the Minnesota Safety Council would like to point out to parents that children aged four to eight who are properly secured to their booster seats are more likely to avoid severe injuries or even death in the event of a crash.

The Children?s Hospital of Philadelphia has quoted a figure of 59 percent survivability of children properly restrained on their booster seats over those who are only protected by the a seat belt.

To help parents protect their children in the event of a crash, the AAA came up with simple tips for them to follow. The tips are easy to follow just like it is easy to read a Volvo repair manual. One of which is to place infants on rear facing child safety seats in the backseat for as long as the seat can accommodate the child. They advised to use rear facing child safety seats until the child is at least a year old or weighs a minimum of 20 pounds. When they outgrow their rear facing seats, children should be secured to a forward facing child safety seat but should still ride on the backseat. Children must use this seat until they are approximately four years old or weighs at least 40 pounds.

When the child has outgrown their forward facing child safety seats, parents are advised to provide booster seats for them. They must still ride in the backseat though until they are old enough to be restrained properly by the vehicle safety belt. Usually at the age of 8, when they have reached a height of four feet and nine inches tall, they can now use ride on the grown-up seat at the back. Proper installation of the seatbelts should also be checked by parents. They may also opt for safety devices that will prevent the child from accidentally or intentionally unbuckling the seat belt.

Glady Reign is a 32 year old is a consultant for an automotive firm based in Detroit, Mi. She is a native of the motor city and grew up around cars hence her expertise in the automotive field.

Are You an Entrepreneur Whos Not Afraid to Think Outside the Box and Make Some Money?

Its called Companion Air, my client Sarita bubbled. She wants to take a trip and doesnt want to leave Rudy, her dog, at home. So there she is, with lots of money and time, staying home.

I LOVE MY DOG AND I WANT TO TRAVEL

What is Companion Air? ( http://www.companionair.com ) Stress-free travel for pets and owners is our mission, says founder, Rick Roof. We dont think any pet should be considered cargo.

Sarita, like many of my clients, is middle-aged, has disposable income, and is ready for her time. The kids are raised, shes got her 401k, shes ready to have some fun. She loves Rudy and wants him with her, or shes not going. Finally someone decided to help her spend her money and set her free!

Companion Air listened, and so are some other providers.

IM SINGLE AND I WANT TO CRUISE

I like to cruise and Im single. Am I the only one? Its true you dont see a lot of singles on cruises but maybe its because no ones invited them. Could it be because there are no singles fares? The only cruiseline Ive found that offers a true single-rate, not double-occupancy, is Carnival.

AND I LIKE TO DANCE

Theres music all over cruise ships, and I like to dance. It makes me sad to sit there and watch all the couples dancing. The QEII is among the cruise lines offering Gentlemen Dance Hosts, available for dancing every night from 8 pm to 1 am.

AND I DONT WANT TO HEAR KIDS CRYING

Tom and Julie went on a cruise the last week in July. Not that great, said Julie, when I asked her. Crying babies, kids splashing in the hot tub, a toddler at the table next to ours, and worst of all, a million teenagers. Watching a dude with an ear ring in his nose and purple hair writing on the corridor wall with a lipstick is not my idea of relaxing.

Never again, she added.

Celebrity (http://www.celebritycruises.com ) listened. They offer the Celebrity Escape. Every now and then, they say, grown-ups need a little getaway of their own, and what better way to truly relax than on a Celebrity Escape cruisewhere all of the guests are over the age of 21.

I HATE SECOND-HAND CIGARETTE SMOKE AND I WANT TO CRUISE

Nancys thrilled to have discovered the Carnivals Paradise. Its non-smoking and they mean business. They check your luggage before you get on, for tobacco items, and if youre caught smoking on-board, you get kicked off. She has terrible allergies and from now on thats her ship.

IM SINGLE AND DONT WANT AN APARTMENT OR CONDO

Chin, another client, has plenty of money but he doesnt want to spend it on a house. He lives alone, he travels a lot, hes beyond showing off, and he has no intention of sharing a wall with someone else.

On a recent drive from my home (San Antonio) to Austin, I saw an amazing site: three billboards advertising three different housing developments in beautiful locations with houses starting in the $40s.

WHATS NEW? THE UNIMAGINEABLE

I never wouldve dreamed of being able to take Rudy with me, says Sarita. I never even thought to ask.

I never thought Id find a house for $40,000 in a decent neighborhood, says Chin.

Your consumers have many questions they havent thought to ask for because they didnt think it was possible. And whats possible?

When I was growing up in the 50s hang on, theres a purpose to this Im delivering paradigm shift here, dramatic paradigm shift:

Milk was put in bottles and delivered to your house 3 times a week. You never locked your house door or car door. You left your keys in the ignition. The dry cleaner delivered and just walked in and put the clothes in the living room. Someone put gasoline in your car.
There were no female lawyers or doctors.
There were no fast-food restaurants.
There was no daycare. There were hardly even babysitters.
I never went inside a toy store. My mother didnt have a car; Dad took it to work every day. Stores werent open at night or on Sunday.
Grocery stores delivered.
You tipped the guy who carried your groceries out to your car.
Pediatricians came to your house.
1% of the kids in high school had braces.

WAYS I COULDVE MADE A FORTUNE

In the late 60s when I was in college, the only hair dryers were those bonnets you put over your head that took forever. One day I decided to stick my head under the blow dryer in the bathroom. My hair dried fast, had body, and looked cute. The idea spread around the dorm.

In the late 60s there was a strange restaurant in Durham, N.C. It made to-go breakfasts eggs and sausage on buns and biscuits, etc. It was extremely popular. You stood in a line forever. I wondered why no one else offered breakfast-to-go like that. It never occurred to me or anyone else that the Hardees down the road could do that as well as the burgers. No one was connecting the dots. And whos to say Durham was the universe?

HUNCHES INKLINGS

Theres some need out there you arent conceiving of you could capitalize on. Keep your mind open and consider possibilities.

I WANT TO BE COMFORTABLE WHEN I FLY

Breta is happy with Southwests new policy about large people. Its controversial, I know, but Bretas experiences have made avoiding having someone spill halfway over into her seat her number one priority. She now flies Southwest all the time.

I DONT WANT FIBERGLASS IN MY HOUSE

My client, Ray, is wealthy and a very discriminating consumer. He wanted to build a house, and didnt want fiberglass insulation, so he was stalled out. He called the other day. I found it, he said. Prodex insulation ( http://highr.net ) its got the fire rating, waterproof, radiant barrier, energy-efficient, all that, AND no fiberglass.

Someone was listening.

And look at that list he rolled out. Todays consumer knows a lot. Are you addressing this?

INVENT & ACCOMMODATE

Im a coach, and everyone negotiates fees with me. When I started licensing my products, I thought Good. I can just list these on my website and I wont have to mess with all that. They click, they order. Wrong! The emails continued. People simply like to negotiate these days, and expect to be able to. So I accommodate.

In response to consumers, I now offer one-shot coaching. Many clients accomplished what they wanted to in one session, so I just made it an official option. Other clients dont want to schedule their session. They sign up for a month but want to call on an as-needed basis. I now call it putting me on a retainer.

CONCLUSION

1.Listen to your clients. As in hear them.
2.If somethings a hassle in your business, figure out why. Then accommodate. 3.When they hassle you, your clients and customers are telling you what they need and what theyd pay for if you offered it. 4.When youre the consumer, speak whats on your mind, i.e., If you did what X does, or provided X, Id buy from you. Or Have you thought of? 5.Push the limits. There were no female lawyers in 1965. No fast food restaurants in 1970. No coaches in 1980. Whats not in 2003 you could make happen?

Susan Dunn, Internet Marketing Coach, EQ Coach. www.webstrategies.cc, www.susandunn.cc. Web strategies, branding, web design, article-writing service. Don't just have a web SITE, have a web STRATEGY. Mailto:sdunn@susandunn.cc