Today is a great day in SweetTalk land. The fabulous Dr. Lauri J. Romanzi has joined us to provide our sweet community with advice and guidance on how to keep our most sacred spots healthy and fit.

As  you can read on her fabulous website, Dr. Romanzi is a “New York City-based board-certified gynecologist, fellowship-trained urogynecologist and reconstructive pelvic surgeon committed to helping each patient live her best life. Dr. Romanzi is the pioneer of a hysterectomy-free technique of uterine resuspension for prolapse repair and was the first surgeon in Manhattan to perform the minimally invasive Tension Free Vaginal Tape procedure for urinary incontinence.”

Dr. Romanzi is also the founder of PHIT: the pelvic health integrated techniques website and community, and an avid fan of SweetSpot Labs products. In short, she’s a sweet spot’s BFF.

We’re looking forward to Dr. Romanzi’s contribution to SweetTalk, and are working with her to establish a forum where you can ask her about whatever sweet spot issues are on your mind.

I hope you’ll join us in welcoming Dr. Romanzi to our special community, and spend time learning more about how to get PHIT by visiting her website and blog.

By Yasmine Zapp

You see it every time you walk into your local grocery store: The battle of the produce—organic vs conventional.  The special “section” segregated from the everyday (and sprayed) fruits and veggies.

But how do you know what to really choose? Does it matter? Are some foods safe from the spray zone?

Recent studies show that some foods are actually safe to go conventional with, which is great news if you’re on a budget and want to eat healthy, but have no room or ability to grow your own.

Avocados, onions, watermelon, asparagus (yum), broccoli, cabbage, kiwi (so cute), eggplant, papayas, mangoes, pineapple (super high in vitamin B1/C and manganese), sweet potatoes or yams, tomatoes, peas and corn (frozen please). All of these can be eaten alone or combined to make one healthy, fat busting meal.

Spring is here, meaning BBQ grills are firing up all across the country. Why not enjoy your veggies in a different way: Chopped and slipped on skewers, brush lightly with olive oil.

If you’ve got kids, try cutting the fruit into fun shapes by hand, or with the help of mini cookie cutters. Viola, you’ve got a beautiful arrangement that would make a certain fruit bouquet company jealous.

I’ve had a love affair with Macy’s for as long as I can remember. Today, I found out something that made me love them even more!

Just in time to refresh your wardrobe for Spring, Macy’s has launched a “game” of sorts that issues you a daily challenge for which you have to design an outfit, using a selection of key pieces they provide (which you’re also able to locate and purchase — love that ease of use too).

You can enter Macy’s Fashion Director contest every day, until the promotion ends in April, for a chance to win the daily prize of a $500 Macy’s gift card!

I’m so seriously excited right now I can barely stand it. And, even if I don’t personally win, I find it a thrilling way to spend a work break.

Way to go Macy’s! Now that’s the type of stimulus we need: Fun with fashion and a shopping reward. I hope whoever came up with the idea gets the bonus they deserve, and knows how much I’m LOVING THEM right now.

Photo: www.thegentlemensfund.com

By Holly

Not only is he hot and cool, but actor Adrian Grenier also makes serious waves as an ambassador for the Gentlemen’s Fund. His cause: Water conversation through the support of Oceana.

Since 72% of our planet is water, with 97% of that being salt water, clean ocean and sea life protection initiatives are critical for the preservation of life on our planet. I think it’s admirable (and sexy) when celebrities use their social clout to raise awareness about environmental crises, don’t you?

It’s especially pertinent right now, with World Water Day coming up this Monday, March 22. Safeguarding drinking water and upgrading sanitation practices contributes to the health of our oceans too. It’s a cycle we’re all involved in, and one we can nurture to thrive.

By Yasmine Zapp

One of my favorite things to do in Southern California is to head out to the beach and take my hair for a dip. That’s right, I dip my locks in the ocean for that one of a kind look.

Recently, however, I’ve found a few products and tricks that give you that same beachy glam and glow, even without going seaside.

Here’s what you’ll need to do:

Get a spray bottle and fill in with cool water, sea salt from your local grocers and a drop of coconut or jasmine oil. Apply to damp hair and scrunch. For a more intense wave, braid hair and sleep in it overnight.

The next morning take your hair out of the braid and finger style, being careful not to brush out your hard work. Your new shiny do will be beach-iful and smell like a dream.

If homemade is not your thing, try John Frieda’s “Ocean Waves Sea Spray Texturizing Styler“. It has a yummy coconut smell that reminds you or the surf and sand.

Don’t forget to add a facial moisturizer with a slight tint or bronzer. A little bit goes a long way.

Throw on a pair of flip flops and you’ll be convincing the masses…. I LOVE MY BEACH DO!

They give a delightful shout-out to our bidet-in-a-bottle, which we’re pleased to say is fast becoming a must have for women world-wide.

When you think about it, a spa experience can be long and luxurious, or short and sweet.

The latter describes the secret of the bidet-in-a-bottle. Basil and grapefruit transform lukewarm water into a refreshing pick-me-up, which takes minutes to use for hours of sweetness.

If you haven’t checked out the latest issue of Kouture, or experienced the bidet-in-a-bottle, you could be missing out on the sweetest part of your day!

Did anyone else catch Jessica Simpson’s new series on VH1: The Price of Beauty? I did, and I’m not quite sure how I feel about it yet.

On one hand, I think a show like this illustrates just how out-of-touch some of us are with the reality of the rest of the world. Case in point: During the premiere episode, Jessica and her buddies visit a Buddhist Monk and commence a long meditation session in which Ms. Simpson gets a case of the giggles.

Part of me cringed, but another part of me thought that perhaps the show producers missed the mark in throwing someone undisciplined in the practice of meditation into that situation. What was that meant to show us, really? To me, it came off as another “rude American” moment. Even Jessica admitted that she probably had a long way to go to find inner beauty.

Another part of the episode included a meeting with a woman who, in a quest to lighten her skin to become more attractive, ended up burning and scaring herself so badly that her husband left and she no longer goes out in public. Though Jessica attempted to awkwardly console this woman, the moment didn’t ring true for me. In fact the whole show seemed to teeter between interesting moments regarding beauty practices, and strange admonishments about how women the world over are forced to endanger their health to achieve elusive beauty.

I’m going to keep watching, because I really want to encourage this trend to go further. Having lived in the plastic surgery capital of the U.S. for almost a decade, I’m all for finding our way back to authentic beauty in this country — especially as I age.

To make my TV night even more interesting, VH1 followed The Price of Beauty with TRANSform Me — a show centered around three beauty experts (who happen to be trans-gender males to females) that travel the country in a “glambulance”, helping everyday women realize their inner goddesses through outer hotness. This show seemed to be more honest and straightforward with it’s intentions, making the the total viewing hour worth my time overall.

I’d be interested to know what others though of either or both shows.

Imagine turning on the tap and nothing comes out. Ready for a nice, hot shower? Sorry, that’s unavailable too. You’ve used up your water ration for the day, and you’ll just have to wait until tomorrow, or the next day, for the water you need.

Think the scenario is too far fetched? How about not too far in our immediate future.

I wish I could say it was April Fool’s but this is March, and I’m not kidding. As inhabitants of this planet, we are facing a water crisis.

It used to be (living in the United States’ illusion of natural resource abundance) access to renewable, consumable water was something we didn’t need to think — let alone worry — about. Now, we’re seeing shortages hit our Western cities hard (California here it comes), and unless we get more conscientious about consumption, we all may be dried up.

I don’t know about you, but when I’m faced with information like this, I always ask, “What can I, one person, possibly do to help this situation?” I then, usually, answer myself back with, “Baby steps.”

There are a lot of easy ways we can personally conserve water, like:

• Spreading the word about World Water Day, which is on March 22 this year
• Donating to clean water projects and get involved with initiatives
• Filtering and bottling tap water at home, and using nalgene on-the-go

After taking these initial steps, bigger ones are quick to follow. Learning about what more can be done gives us an opportunity to discover new inspirations of how we all can participate. Let’s dive in and see what we can accomplish, shall we?

by Amanda Paige

If you missed Grey’s Anatomy on March 11th, then you have got to watch this episode if not just to see Dr. Tores (Callie) and Dr. Bailey talk about their “surgical field.”  They must have some great writers as they always seem to be on the cutting edge of euphemisms.  And why is it that we have to come up with these names anyway?  Just ask the 80+ people on our Vajayjay list!

Many dread this time of year, when we turn our clocks ahead one hour. Sure, it may seem like we lose an hour of sleep, BUT we gain an hour of daylight — which is a good thing.

For those who find the adjustment a challenge, don’t despair! Here are a few tips on how to get the energy you need without missing those “extra” Z’s.

Breakfast: Fill your body with foods that are high in protein and chock full of fiber. Your body will metabolize them slowly and give you hours of energy. Wheat toast, oatmeal, bananas, yogurt, scrambled eggs with veggies. Think comforting, healthy food.

Another foodie trick: Be sure to snack every 3-4 hours to keep your energy stabilized. Choose almonds or apples. The crunch will also perk you up.

Exercise: Get sweaty! It will help you kick that dragging feeling to the curb. Try to do it outdoors. A run, walk, or hike will put you in a great frame of mind for the day. That sunshine (a.k.a. Vitamin D producer) delivers a great mental boost. Drink it in.

Get Silly: Laugh. Make time for a friend. Sing out loud in your car when driving to work. Have lunch out or catch a movie. A happy body is one that also stays in motion.

Meditate: If you don’t already, you should start today. For 15 minutes give yourself a time out. Breathe deep and try to stretch. Clear your mind and look ahead to the bright future.

As much as you may want to, try NOT to sleep in. Instead, welcome the bright new day and get out of bed early — that would be a good time to meditate.

When it does come to bedtime, keep your same winter routine and try to not bring the laptop into bed with you. Give your eyes and mind a break.

While it may take 2 - 3 days for you to get into your new routine, hang in there! Remember: Summer is just around the corner.