The Truth Bar

Studies have made the news again regarding television and our children. What are they saying? Too much television is not good for our kids. The very presence of a television in your child’s room can be a determining factor in how well your kids do academically. Kids today are continuing to be “plugged in.”

What is the solution? Limit television viewing. Move the TV out of you kids’ rooms. Be involved in what they are watching.

Okay. We move the television into a common and give our kids time limits. Now what? A comment I hear often when people ask me about the Tokens for TV program is what do my kids do now? Our kids are so used to being plugged in they don’t know what to do. They’re bored.

It doesn’t matter if your children are 6 or 16, the answer is the same. It’s time to teach our kids how to play again. Having a time for quiet and play are important life skills. How else will their imagination start working on its own again?

Start with the following ideas to help your kids in their unplugged play:

• Play a game. Dig out your board games. Checkers, Chess, Monopoly and Sorry! are all great games.

• Dig out the playing cards. Go Fish, Old Maid, War… There are even other specific card games such as Uno out there. You can also teach your children how to play solitaire.

• Be a bookworm. Go to the library in your home or your community. Scour the thrift shops and yard sales. Be a part of a book exchange. There are also some great audio books available at the library. You can also purchase audio books at thrift stores, department stores and online.

• Hands-on fun. Bring out the clay or play dough. Your teenagers may roll their eyes at this one too, but you would be surprised at how they will sit down and keep themselves entertained with this one. (And you don’t have to go out and buy your dough - have them help you make a batch. A recipe is included below.)

• Build something. LEGO’s, Lincoln Logs and K’nex. How many of our kids still have these in the back of their closet? Don’t have these construction pieces? Try creating structures using toothpicks and connecting them together with green peas. Sounds funny, but it works! As the structures dry they become sturdier and you can keep them around for awhile.

• Go outdoors. Outdoor games like marbles, jacks, hopscotch not only occupy your kids, they will also strengthen coordination skills. Too hot or cold out? The garage, basement and/or kitchen floors will work fine too.

• Become an outdoor artist. Buy a tub of colored chalk from the local discount store and give your kids a theme to create their own masterpieces on your front or back sidewalks. Take pictures of them for your family album.

Are these new ideas? Of course not. But when our kids are given a choice of any of these “offline” activities or the chance to plug in to their TV or games, what are they going to choose? When you unplug your kids, they will learn how to play again simply because they have nothing else to do. They will find other activities to keep themselves entertained.

Be prepared for a little bit of whining or frustration on your kids’ part. It’s normal. It’s so much easier to sit in front of a screen with mindless entertainment. It won’t take long and your kids will be able to find other things to do instead of plugging in and tuning the world out.

* * * * * * *

There are many variations of homemade play dough. The Internet or any kid’s craft book are great resources if you would like more ideas. There are edible versions as well (less clean up!). The following recipe contains items commonly found in most kitchens.

UNCOOKED SALT DOUGH

Ingredients:

3 cups of flour

1/4 cup of salt

1 tablespoon of cooking oil

1 cup of water

food coloring (liquid is best)

Instructions:

1. Mix flour and salt together in a large bowl.

2. Add water and oil slowly.

3. Add desired amount of food coloring.

4. Store dough in air tight container.

Add water (a little at a time) if dough is too stiff. If dough is too sticky, add more flour.

Lisa Workman is the author of Tokens for TV: A Sensible Approach to Balancing Television, Video Game and Computer Activities. How much time does your child spend “plugged in” to some sort of electronic device? Get your FREE worksheet at http://www.tvtokens.com

Strength Training is not training to see how much weight one can push around the gym. Simply stated, Strength Training is a method of conditioning that will increase an individual’s ability to handle the physical demands of activity. Strength Training may involve the use of weights or other external resistance (bands, medicine balls, pulleys, etc.), it may involve body weight (push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups, etc.,) and it may involve the use of body weight and ground forces (skipping, hopping, jumping, etc.)

There is an interesting trend in the physical activity of today’s youth, a trend that makes the integration of a strength training program more important than ever. Today, kids are specializing in a particular sport at an early age. Kids are picking one sport and playing it year round. Because of this specialization and the fact that kids don’t engage in “free play” the way they used to, young athletes today aren’t developing the fundamental motor skills, and musculoskeletal balance necessary for peak performance and injury prevention.

We all want our young athlete to be as successful on the field as possible. Coaches spend a great deal of time with young athletes on skills and drills. Parents enroll children in speed and agility camps and provide private instruction hoping to develop a better player. While skills and drills and sport specific instruction may make the player more proficient kicking a soccer ball or throwing a baseball, chances are they won’t make them a better overall athlete, and they certainly won’t decrease the chance of sport related injury.

Repetitive training of only specific sport related movements tends not only to limit performance, but sets the stage for faulty movement patterns and overuse injury. In most sports, common sites for overuse injuries include the heel, ankle, and knees. You can add shoulders and elbows to that list for the young baseball, tennis, and volleyball player. Well designed Strength Training programs will not only make muscles stronger but will strengthen other supporting tissues like bone, ligaments and tendons thus decreasing the chance of acute injuries such and sprains and ligament tears.

Health organizations such as the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), have helped put to rest the long held belief that strength training for children is unsafe and ineffective. These organizations now support the participation of children in appropriately designed and competently supervised strength training programs.

At what age can a child begin a strength training program? If a child has the capacity to follow directions, then the child is old enough to follow a properly designed and supervised age-appropriate strength training program. Protect your young athlete’s future and let them bring their game to the next level.

Bill Scibetta, RN, NSCA-CPT
Bill is the founder and President of Precision Fitness - Personal Training Centers in the Charlotte, NC area and co-author of the book Play Better Longer! - Peak Performance and Injury Prevention for Golf. Bill is a licensed Registered Nurse as well as a National Strength and Conditioning Association - Certified Personal Trainer. After spending years practicing in the specialty of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Bill has dedicated his career to helping individuals identify and overcome obstacles that stand in the way of optimal wellness and peak physical performance.

Teenage jewelry is an important and lucrative market niche. Today’s 12- to 19-year-old crowd shops for fashions more than any other age group.

Fashion market analysts say that American teens currently spend $33 billion a year on fashion and beauty, with over 90% of them shopping for clothes and accessories at least once a month.

For many teenagers, fashion is an important part of establishing their identity. Jewelry, clothes, shoes, and hairstyles can set young adults apart or make them fit in. In this age group more than any other, what you wear symbolizes what you believe, who you are (or want to be), and what group you belong to. Teens also have fun experimenting with fashion and color as their own personal style evolves.

You may want to consider having at least a small section of your jewelry business cater to the teenage market. A considerable amount of jewelry is bought by and for teenagers - both girls and boys - for four main reasons:

1. This age group is always looking for something new; a typical teenage fashion trend lasts only six to twelve months. In my own experience, it’s very rare for a teen to pass my booth at a show without stopping to look carefully at nearly everything in my display.

2. Jewelry is a popular gift for adults to give to teens. Especially around gift-giving occasions, I often have adult customers asking me, “Do you have any jewelry for teenagers?”

3. Many teens love to shop, and many also have a sizeable amount of spending money. Their income tends to be stable since it comes from multiple sources (parents, part-time jobs, babysitting, gifts) - and most of their income is disposable.

4. The teenage population is growing, and this demographic is expected to continue for several years. That means that spending among this group will most likely increase.

Tips for Designing Jewelry for the Teenage Market:

* The entertainment industry is the most significant influence on teen fashion and beauty trends. Watch what’s being worn by young celebrities, pop stars, alternative bands, etc. Check in on MTV occasionally, and thumb through teen-oriented magazines.

* Ask a few teenagers you know for jewelry ideas and feedback. You may be surprised by their insights.

* Visit a Hot Topic store, if your local mall has one.

* Keep in mind that teenagers generally don’t want to wear anything their parents would wear - so whether *you* would wear a particular piece of jewelry is not the best barometer of its marketability to teenagers (unless you’re a teenager yourself, of course).

* Spirituality is an important issue for teenagers. Young adults are exploring their beliefs and tend to like symbols of philosophies they want to be identified with. Spiritual jewelry tends to appeal to a significant portion of teens.

(Examples of spiritual elements that can be incorporated into teen jewelry include crystals and healing stones, crosses / fish / WWJD, star of David, and other symbols of major religions. And don’t forget about the appeal of alternative spirituality, symbolized by elements such as Buddhas, chakra-rainbow jewelry, ankhs, Quan Yin, etc. You might want to choose just one or two religious directions to represent in your teen jewelry line.)

* Stock some tempting impulse-purchase items. Teens have a low resistance to impulse buys, and a price point of $15 or less can make a tempting piece of jewelry irresistible.

* Body jewelry is hugely popular among teens. Remember it doesn’t always have to be pierced styles - nonpierced body jewelry is widely worn among this deomgraphic. In warm weather, teens will be susceptible to tempting displays of affordable ankle bracelets, toe rings, barefoot sandals, and other styles that can’t be seen under winter clothes.

* Young ladies aren’t the only ones who wear jewelry. Young men are wearing more of it now than ever before. In general, masculine teen jewelry has a rugged look, with materials such as leather, hemp, rubber, pewter or silver, and beads.

* The majority of teenagers shy away from jewelry styles that are too far over the top. Teen designs need to balance “cool” with “wearable”.

Writer and jewelry artist Rena Klingenberg shares thousands of tips for selling your handcrafted jewelry in her http://www.home-jewelry-business-success-tips.com website. She also publishes jewelry marketing secrets several times a week in http://www.jewelry-business-blog.com.

Here Are Some of the Reasons Why Reading Is So
Important for Children

Why Do We Tell Children to Read ?

We’re always telling children that books and reading are
good for them, but have we ever really thought about why
that’s true ? Exactly what do older children get out of reading
novels ? What do younger kids get from being read to ?
Does reading matter ?

The purpose of this article is to say that, yes, it’s true,
reading really is important, and that there are some solid
reasons why that is so. Let’s begin with the practical
benefits and then move on to the less tangible rewards of a
life filled with reading.

Books Help Children Develop Vital Language Skills

Reading is an important skill that needs to be developed
in children. Not only is it necessary for survival in the world
of schools and (later on) universities, but in adult life as
well. The ability to learn about new subjects and find helpful
information on anything from health problems and
consumer protection to more academic research into
science or the arts depends on the ability to read.

Futurologists used to predict the death of the printed word
but, ironically, Internet has made reading more and more a
part of people’s daily lives. The paperless society is a myth.
The computer’s ability to process and analyze data means
that endless variations on reports and other types of
documents can be and are generated. Internet, itself an
enormous new source of information and recreation, is
based on the humble written word. To effectively utilize the
web and judge the authenticity and value of what is found
there, both reading and critical thinking skills are of prime
importance.

The more children read, the better they become at
reading. It’s as simple as that. The more enjoyable the
things they read are, the more they’ll stick with them and
develop the reading skills that they’ll need for full access to
information in their adult lives. Reading should be viewed
as a pleasurable activity - as a source of entertaining tales
and useful and interesting factual information.

The more young children are read to, the greater their
interest in mastering reading. Reading out loud exposes
children to proper grammar and phrasing. It enhances the
development of their spoken language skills, their ability to
express themselves verbally.

Reading, by way of books, magazines or websites,
exposes kids to new vocabulary. Even when they don’t
understand every new word, they absorb something from
the context that may deepen their understanding of it the
next time the word is encountered. When parents read
aloud to children, the children also hear correct
pronunciation as they see the words on the page, even if
they can’t yet read the words on their own.

Reading Can Open Up New Worlds and Enrich Children’s
Lives

As mentioned above, reading opens doors - doors to
factual information about any subject on earth, practical or
theoretical. Given the wealth of available resources such as
Internet, libraries, schools and bookstores, if children can
read well and if they see reading as a source of information,
then for the rest of their lives they will have access to all of
the accumulated knowledge of mankind, access to all of the
great minds and ideas of the past and present. It truly is
magic !

Through books, children can also learn about people and
places from other parts of the world, improving their
understanding of and concern for all of humanity. This, in
turn, contributes towards our sense that we truly live in a
“global village” and may help us bring about a more
peaceful future for everyone. This can happen through
nonfiction but, perhaps even more importantly, reading
novels that are set in other places and time periods can give
children a deeper understanding of others through
identification with individual characters and their plights.

Through stories and novels children can vicariously try out
new experiences and test new ideas, with no negative
consequences in their real lives. They can meet characters
who they’ll enjoy returning to for comforting and satisfying
visits when they reread a cherished book or discover a
sequel. Books also give kids the opportunity to flex their
critical thinking skills in such areas as problem solving, the
concepts of cause and effect, conflict resolution, and
acceptance of responsibility for one’s actions. Mysteries
allow children to follow clues to their logical conclusions
and to try to outguess the author. Even for very young
children, a simple story with a repetitive refrain or a simple
mystery to solve gives a confidence boost. Children can
predict the patterns and successfully solve the riddles.

Children are influenced by and imitate the world around
them. While a steady diet of violent cartoons may have a
detrimental effect on children’s development, carefully
chosen stories and books can have a positive influence on
children, sensitizing them to the needs of others. For
example, books can encourage children to be more
cooperative, to share with others, to be kind to animals, or to
respect the natural environment.

Reading Can Enhance Children’s Social Skills

Although reading is thought of as the quintessential
solitary activity, in certain circumstances reading can be a
socializing activity. For example, a parent or grandparent
reading a story aloud, whether from a traditional printed
book or from an ebook, can be a great opportunity for adult
and child to share some quiet, relaxed quality time together
away from the rush and stresses of the business of daily
living. They share a few minutes of precious time, plus they
share the ideas that are contained in the story. In addition,
older children can be encouraged to read aloud to younger
ones as a means of enhancing their relationship.

At school or at a library story hour, books can bring
children together and can be part of a positive shared
experience. For some preschoolers this may be their
primary opportunity to socialize and to learn how to behave
around other children or how to sit quietly for a group activity.
Make the most of this experience by encouraging children to
talk about what they’ve read or heard.

Reading Can Improve Hand-Eye Coordination

It may sound funny, but ebooks can be a way for children
to improve their fine motor skills and their hand-eye
coordination, as they click around a childfriendly website or
click the backward and forward buttons of online story
pages. They may also be picking up valuable computer
skills that they’ll need in school and later in life.

Reading Can Provide Children with Plenty of Good, Clean
Fun

I’ve saved the most important point for last. Reading can
provide children with endless hours of fun and
entertainment. All of the pragmatic reasons above aren’t at
all necessary to justify reading’s place in children’s lives.
Stories can free up imaginations and open up exciting new
worlds of fantasy or reality. They allow children to dream and
may give them a good start on the road to viewing reading
as a lifelong source of pleasure; so read to your young
children every day.

Inspire your older children to read. Give them access to
plenty of reading material that they’ll enjoy and discuss it
with them. Sample everything - traditional printed books and
ebooks on Internet, classic children’s novels and fairy tales,
as well as more modern stories.

If a child wants to hear the same story over and over
again, don’t worry about it. Children take comfort from the
familiarity and predictability of a beloved story that they know
by heart. There’s no harm in that. Reread old favorites and,
at the same time, introduce your children to new stories.
Your child’s mind and heart have room for both.

So Reading Really Does Matter After All

There are so many ways in which reading continues to
be both a vital skill for children to master, and an important
source of knowledge and pleasure that can last a lifetime.
Nurture it in your children. Make the most of all the
resources that are available and waiting for you: printed
books, online books, magazines and so forth. Encourage
follow-up activities involving creative writing skills and the
arts, as well, so that your children can reflect upon or
expand on what they’ve absorbed and, at the same time,
develop their own creativity. As you help your kids appreciate
the magic of reading, you’ll find that there’s a whole
wonderful world full of children’s literature out there that YOU
can enjoy too.

Barbara Freedman-De Vito ©2004

Barbara Freedman-De Vito has spent many years as a
children’s librarian, teacher, professional storyteller,
puppeteer, author and artist. She now writes, illustrates and
publishes childsafe animated stories and fairy tales for
children, which are sold through her publishing company,
Baby Bird Productions. Please visit
http://www.babybirdproductions.com to see her catalog of
fun, colorful children’s books as well as clothing and gift
items decorated with artwork from the stories. The site also
provides free advice for parents on helping children do their
best in both their schoolwork and in expressing their
creativity, as well as a free list of suggestions for creative
reading related children’s activities, free children’s games
and activity pages, and free teacher worksheets.

You always turn on your trusty, walkie-talkie-style baby monitor when the baby’s in his or her crib, but soundless emergencies can happen. For example: Babies love to swallow things, and sometimes, when you’ve turned your head for just a second, the baby can grasp a tiny object that could later get lodged in his or her throat. Hence the invention of the visual baby monitor, which allows you to “peek in” on your sleeping baby to make sure that he or she is safe and sound.

An extensive amount of baby monitors are available on the market right now, the most intriguing of which being the visual baby monitor. But when you find the right visual baby monitor and purchase it, you will be glad you did! It gives parents or guardians an extra sense of security of the baby when you can not only hear, but see them sleeping or playing in their crib.

The extra sense of assurance that your baby is safe is surely worth the cost of a visual baby monitor. Though less often than not will an emergency occur without a sound, but going back to the same emergency situation as mentioned above, the child could make only as small, maybe cough-like sound before blocking his or her windpipe and beginning to suffocate.

I mention this because I know of many ENT pediatricians who have had to dislodge small objects from the throats of suffocating babies. Another such example is IDS, the signs of which can be observed by a visual baby monitor. Then you can go tend to the problem, turn the baby over, thus likewise in this scenario, a visual baby monitor can raise the chances of saving a child’s life.

Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for websites on gardening, parenting, fashion, and home decor. Her background includes teaching and gardening. For more of her articles on fur boots and fashion please visit Visual Monitors.

Progressively individuals are getting European property as they view a large number of qualms in the stock markets. While not every investor has what is needed to get a real estate in a different country, its still a tremendous way of growing your finances. When procuring a property, it is vital to understand where exactly to go. Individuals can obtain the needed funds for property in Europe from countries that have property tax motivations. If you are looking for a great investment then why not take a look at property for sale in Portugal.

Portugal is currently a wonderful country to invest. The key factor for this is that (according to newest financial reports) 2008 it is the 1st time in the previous ten years or more that property abroad values have fallen. For instance, prices of homes have dropped by around twenty-three percent in the preceding quarter alone, and by thirty-one percent in the previous twelve months. Thus with property in Europe prices going down & financial borrowing being more and more problematic to find, cash buyers are enjoying a win-win position.

Whether you are buying locally or overseas, time is of the essence. Just like acquiring stocks & shares and other types of assets, you must know when the property overseas can really be procured. This is important because the longer time it takes to invest; the more and more possible it will be that the price of maintenance, developments and repairs will go up.

In rental investment property, you need to have a first-rate credit status. This way, there is a good chance of getting lenders to provide loans to purchase the European property. In addition with excellent credit rating, there is the likelihood that the interest rate will likely be appreciably lower.

Buying overseas property has the prospective to be a great choice as an investment. What you must is to make a plan starting out with time frames and a good credit standing. With the whole lot in place, you should be able to get the investment you want.

Sports shoes is perhaps the most vital piece of equipment you will get so it’s imperative that you pick and choose the right shoes.

Many people don’t realise that there are huge differences in the way in which sports footwear support your feet. It’s not great for your feet if you play football or tennis in the same shoes you wear whilst jogging. Find superb deals on boxing equipment online today.

“Unfortunately, sixty five percent of the England’s recreational men sportsmen and women put on the wrong trainers for their selected leisure activity,” he says. “Shoes are the most vital piece of fitness equipment you will ever obtain & altering what you wear on your feet can prevent injuries.”

Football can put a great deal of strain on the feet, especially when playing on hard pitches such as AstroTurf. The shoes can also put pressure on your feet, and it is not abnormal for a footballer to suffer from corns, calluses or damaged, thickened and ingrown toenails. A terrific, well-fitted pair of shoes is vital and there should not be any signs of pressure on the foot after a game or training session.

Racquet sports: It is critical when playing racquet sports, such as tennis or badminton, to pick and choose trainers exclusively intended for the purpose. These sports activity involve loads of left-to-right movement and jogging shoes will not provide the apt steadiness. Racquet sport shoes are heavier and more rigid than jogging trainers, since their toes are built for stop-and-go action. Comfort should be your chief concern and It’s very important to change your sports shoes on a regular basis.

Hill walking is a superb way to begin an exercises schedule, while the more daring go for hiking. It is great for your cardiovascular health but is lower impact and so comes with reduced risk of damage.

When buying a baby gift, there are so many standard things baby needs. There are many items to choose from that you can purchase for the baby. These gifts can be quite useful and well received. However, if you want your gift to stand out as something truly unique, then you need to do some searching.

One of the best places to go for unique baby gifts is the Internet. There are virtually thousands of websites that cater to babies and have some of the greatest gifts imaginable. You will find toys, clothing, furniture, books, and so on, on the Internet. The list is endless. You can also shop in person at stores near you that specialize in baby and child items. The staff will be able to help you pick out a gift - or many gifts.

If you are buying for a newborn, think ahead, and purchase a gift that can be used when the baby gets a little older. Infants generally do not wear a variety of outfits, so buy a larger size that can be worn at six months or a year. Educational gifts are great too. You will find many wonderful toys that can stimulate a child’s senses and developmental skills. Educational videos and DVDs are produced for children as young as six months, and blocks and building sets are recommended for 12 months and up. There are also some very creative gifts for newborns us that include mobiles and music boxes. The choices are endless, and you will have fun searching for the perfect gift for a very special baby.

Bully Victims Need a Healthy Relationship with an Adult!
So Do the Bullies!
By Paula McCoach, School Counselor

“Boys will be boys” and “Girls just do that” is what we hear from so many people. As a kid myself, I remember getting teased and no one came to help or told me what to do. And, you know what? It hurt me then as much as it hurts kids today. As a school counselor for 10 years, I have developed and tested various techniques for helping students in dealing with bullying. These programs will help the bullies too!

One of the most effective programs I have developed is a staff to student mentor program. This is a school-based program with the professional staff as mentors to students during the school day. Mentors are teachers, administrators, and guidance counselors. The program takes place in school only and mentors do not transport, visit or meet their mentee outside of the school setting.

Parents are involved through phone calls, notes home and conferences with the mentor/staff member. The effectiveness of this program has been astounding. Students have an opportunity to form a healthy relationship with a professional adult who can assist them on a regular basis and support them in dealing with bullies among other things. Through the confidence and skills the student’s gain through the relationship with their mentor, they develop skills to deal with bullying and teasing.

The bullies themselves are also part of the mentor/mentee program and work with staff to learn to treat other students with respect. Several mentors, through daily contact with their mentee via checklists, short conversations, etc. has greatly reduced the negative effect these bullies have on other students. This has also supported these “former” bullies to focus on building their own self-confidence, which enables them to be better students and people. The decreased number of office referrals from the students who have been doing the bullying will also encourage your school administrators to support your new mentoring program as well as enable you to obtain grant money to enhance your program.

Our mentor/mentee program “rocks”! As coordinator, I monitor these relationships and provide activities to the mentors to do with their mentees. These activities are about relationship and trust building as well as self-esteem building. Since its inception, the mentor/mentee program has focused on the most basic concerns of schools - grades, behavior and attendance!! Activities are also provided for this goal also. Mentors are free to create the relationship with their mentee as they see fit. The activities are optional and only to be used as a guide.

For some ideas on amazing activities, send an email to
coach@bullyzapper.com

You will receive a series of mentor/mentee activities in your email box for the next several days. Use them to assist your mentors in developing their initial relationship with their mentees! Have a bully-free day!

Paula McCoach has been in public education for 23 years. She has been a school counselor for the past 10 in an alternative school and an elementary/middle school in Maryland. She has spearheaded mentor programs, Character Education initiatives, & Bully awareness. For more information, send an email to coach@bullyzapper.com

©2004 Permission granted to reprint this article in print or on your web site so long as the paragraph above is included and contact information is provided to the email coach@bullyzapper.com

Female lingerie sales are growing even in these economic times. With popular stores suffering a dip in sales and high street shops shutting down faster and quicker, the sexy lingerie market is seeing sales inflate at a marvellous rate.

A popular girls lingerie chain in Britain has reported a sales climb by seven per cent. The main reason looks to be clear, girls enjoy to feel good about themselves regardless of how the British economy is doing. With even more girls spending time at home instead of going out, women are finding the benefits of being sexy for their partners.

For the biggest variety in hot underwear, lingerie retailers provide a range of hot and affordable underwear. For the girl that loves to look angelic and virginal there are silk nighties, and for the more adventurous girl there is padded bras and stockings. For the girls that are wanting to seduce then there are peep hole bras and stockings that is sure to please their partner.

Of course, girls underwear is not only for the ladies. Guys underwear is additionally seeing a boost in sales, mostly due to the infamous David Beckham billboard ads for Emporio Armani. Check this sexy mens underwear from HOM, Jameswinston co., Tommy Hilfiger, TedBaker, Calvin Klein and Bjorn Borg.

Therefore whilst the British credit crunch continues to grab news headlines, it seems ladies are more interested in grabbing beautiful lingerie.