The class is called The Sociology of Gender, and we had a midterm exam scheduled for this morning. As I was sitting in the lecture hall, waiting for the exam to commence, the teaching advisor for the course announced that there would be no more talking and began handing out the exam materials. After all of this was said and done, a few more students filtered into the room. The TA then announced that anyone arriving late would have to come to the front and pick up a copy of the test, and then find a seat. Immediately following this, two young male students behind me commented, “Whoa, PMS,” and began to laugh to themselves.

Are you kidding me???

To clarify, the TA did not have a mean or even stern tone. She was firm, and spoke loudly and clearly enough for everyone in the room to hear. Since when has assertiveness been a premenstrual symptom?

The professor — who is also a woman — then wrote the current time in large numbers on the blackboard, in case anyone couldn’t see the clock, and clearly intended to update it during the course of the exam. Upon seeing this, the same ignorant young men behind me said, “Does she think we’re stupid? What a bird!” followed by more laughter.

Needless to say, I was (and still am) incredibly offended by these comments. For starters, you’re enrolled in a Sociology of Gender course. It is not a requirement for any program; you are choosing to be there. The class is 98% women, and the teaching assistant and professor are both women. One of the focuses of the course is to open people’s eyes to the ideas of tolerance and acceptance of various types of sex, gender, sexuality, and other related roles within our social world. How brazen, brash, and disrespectful do you have to be to even dare to make comments like those in that type of environment? It was all I could do to keep myself from turning around and letting them know how offensive and ignorant I felt they were. I think that the only reason why I didn’t was fear of being reprimanded for speaking when we had specifically been instructed not to, because I obviously wouldn’t have used a hushed voice for my comments as they had.

It just made me wonder how far we have actually come in terms of gender equality. Apparently, we are still in a position wherein if a woman displays assertive behaviours or takes charge of a situation, even if she’s in a position of power, she is not taken seriously. She is presumed to be experiencing PMS, or she is just labeled a bitch. If the TA or the professor today had been a man, it is undeniable that any kinds of comments would not have been made. A man in that situation would not be called a prick or a bastard or be laughed at; he would be respected and listened to. In this modern age, Western society is consumed with political-correctness, equality, and human rights; yet, it is somehow still acceptable for a boy in his late teens to put down and assert his power as a male over his older female superiors.  The problem is that we let it slide, just as I did in class today.  We don’t confront these men on their actions.  We don’t call them on their inappropriate and disrespectful behaviour.  We sit back and sigh with frustration and shake our heads in disbelief, and then we never approach the subject again.  We let them get away with it, and as a result, we are holding ourselves back as women and as equal members of society.  We are allowing them to keep us in our “place.”

Then again, when a woman does speak out against comments and actions such as the ones described above, she is labeled as a “bitch,” or worse.  How many dissenting voices will it take before we are seen as being valid individuals with feelings and opinions that are just as important as any man’s?  Can we ever win the war?

Also, my boyfriend and I have recently been doing business with a company that shall remain unnamed for the time being, and we are becoming increasingly frustrated with their business practices. We are spending a good chunk of money on products being supplied by them, and I feel as though they aren’t entirely appreciative of that. Either that, or they really just don’t know what they are doing. One minute, they have the products in stock. Then they’re backordered. Then they’ll arrive on one date, and then another date, and then another date. Three months later, we still don’t have everything we ordered. Some days, they have no idea where these products are. Other days, they blame the delays on the manufacturer. Every time, they promise to call or e-mail us back with updates, and that only happens about 10 per cent of the time. Multiple times, they have told us to expect our order to be shipped in the very near future, and then fail to notify us when that changes and the order is unable to be shipped again for whatever reason. Every time I call, I have to speak to a different person. It’s ridiculous that I even have to call them as often as I do. And their excuses are just as unacceptable. If someone tells me that they have what I ordered and will ship it out immediately, and then 2 weeks later, I call and am told, “Oh, [she] must have been mistaken, or it was someone else’s order or something…”, I should not be expected to accept that explanation. I highly doubt that someone else ordered the exact same number of items in the exact same style and pattern in the same timeframe as we did. Based on the facts, it’s not overly likely.

Honestly, if it were my business, I would be appalled that it is taking in excess of 3 months to complete an order containing products that are all coming from the same manufacturer. I wouldn’t understand why my employees wouldn’t give someone the courtesy of sending out something as little as an e-mail to say, “I’m sorry, but an error/delay/problem/miscommunication has occured, and your order will not be able to be shipped this week as initially anticipated. We apologize for this inconvenience.” I would drill into them that the number one business practice to remember is to return someone’s calls when you say that you will return them. It’s just a simple matter of respect for the person you are doing business with. And please, do NOT make excuses for someone else, especially when you are just sitting in front of your computer and have no idea what happened outside of your cubicle. The admission of a lack of explanation is better than a false explanation that you pulled out of thin air. It is perfectly fine to admit that you don’t know the answer to something.

I just want what we ordered. Soon.

I am not one of those women who is scared of mice. I know that unless I come into contact with it, its excrements, or something it has contaminated, it cannot harm me. Nonetheless, I do not like the idea of sharing my apartment with a rodent. I had a feeling that I had a mouse here based on noises I’ve heard over the last week or two, but I was okay with the idea of a mouse as long as it didn’t get into my food or clothes and as long as I didn’t have to see it. But now that I have visual confirmation, I’m creeped out. And the idea that it could easily just run up the stairs to my bedroom is disconcerting.

I think that I dislike mice.

I hope that it doesn’t get into the oven.

Boon Inc. — which designs some awesome products for the modern parent — has come up with Flo, a water deflector and protective faucet cover with bubble bath dispenser. Now, I realize that the colour and design may not appeal to absolutely everyone, but I love it.

If you have kids, this is a great alternative to all of those animal-shaped polyester faucet covers that can often be easily pulled off. Flo has a spring-activated grip that easily attaches to all standard faucets (with or without a shower diverter) and many non-standard faucets that are of a similar size and shape to the standard ones.

There is NO assembly or special installation required! Flo is also covered in a soft material around the edges to prevent any bathtime injuries.

The waterfall effect of the spout on Flo is great for washing kids’ hair, and the bubble bath reservoir can be filled up prior to bathtime, allowing for bubbles to be easily dispensed at the push of a button.

And if you’re childless (like myself), think of it this way: Picture yourself relaxing in the tub after a hard day at work or school, surrounded by bubbles and candles, listening to the soothing sound of a luxurious waterfall. Now that sounds pretty darn good to me.

Flo by Boon Inc.

Brookstone has designed a stylish and portable outdoor grill that looks nothing like your typical camping gear.

Weighing less than 25 lbs (which sounds heavy, but think about how much a typical barbeque weighs!) with a sleek clamshell design and a hot orange colour, this portable grill is sure to stretch out those last precious moments of summer. It is equipped with a 9450 BTU stainless steel burner (this means nothing to me, but my boyfriend assures me that this is a good thing), has a porcelain enamel-coated cast iron grill area, and uses standard 14.1 and 16.4 oz. propane cylinders (no outlets or charcoal required! Yay!). Top that off with a sturdy handle and retractable legs, and you’ve got a grill that will travel well and store away easily, no matter how many bags of “just-in-case” clothes and shoes you decide to pack into the trunk of your car for your weekend camping trip.

Brookstone.com

I have looked at La Senza, La Vie En Rose, Victoria’s Secret, and Frederick’s of Hollywood — all of the major players in North America, as far as sexy lingerie is concerned. At La Senza and La Vie En Rose, there is ONE unlined, uncontoured, unpadded bra to choose from. At Victoria’s Secret, there is a small handful, but they are all similar, generic, uninspired styles in uninspired colours. And at Frederick’s, there are maybe 2 or 3 bras to choose from, but at least one is full coverage, and the others were a bit… boring.

Is it too much to ask to be able to find affordable, sexy lingerie that is made out of some kind of silk, satin, lace or mesh, that isn’t full coverage, isn’t ugly or boring, comes in more than one or two colours, and is fun and flirty enough to get your heart racing a bit? If anyone has any insight or advice with regards to this, please comment. My sanity is at stake.

Tip #1: Stick With Your Own Type!
- The first step in skin care is identifying your skin type. The easiest way to do this is to take a mild soap and wash your face. After 2 – 3 minutes, examine your skin. If your skin already feels very tight, you have dry skin. If your skin is already very shiny or a little greasy, you have oily skin. And if none of the above applies to you, you have normal skin. Always try to choose products that are tailored to your individual skin type, because they will do a better job of addressing your particular skin care needs than something that is directed towards all skin types.

Facial Cleanser: The Body Shop Grapeseed Facial Cleanser

Note: I attempted to find this product in the Body Shop Online Store, and was unable to locate it. Please contact your local Body Shop store to ensure that it is still available.

If you have Normal-to-Dry skin, this is the perfect cleanser for you. It’s not too harsh, and it is very hydrating, while still leaving your skin feeling refreshed and clean.

Tip #2: Don’t Confuse Your Skin!
- Some of us love having the newest, coolest things, and the same can go for skin care. However, if you switch your skin care products too often, you risk messing with the natural balances within the skin. Skin is a living, breathing organ, and if you are always switching things up and not letting it get used to any one product, or if you change products as soon as it does get used to one, you are most likely going to have some kind of backlash. That being said, if you have used the same product for years and years and find that your skin isn’t looking as fresh or healthy as it could (or as it used to), it may be time to find a new product.

Facial Scrub: The Body Shop Grapeseed Facial Scrub

No surprise here. I love the cleanser in this line, but I love the scrub even more. It is incredibly hydrating for an exfoliator, and it removes all of the dead skin cells without being too rough on the new skin underneath, mainly due to the fact that it contains finely ground nut shells instead of microbeads or bits of pumice stone. No redness, no dryness, just super smooth skin.

Tip #3: Don’t Overdo It!
- When using scrubs or exfoliating products on your face, or when using a product containing salicylic acid, use only 2 – 3 times per week, unless directed by a doctor to do otherwise. If you overdo it, you will end up with dry, red, peeling skin.

Moisturizer: Dove Energy Glow Brightening Moisturizer with SPF 15

I love love love LOVE this moisturizer. L-O-V-E. For starters, it has a unique pump top that at first I found really strange, but have since come to love because it allows me to easily control exactly how much of the moisturizer comes out, and even if the lid comes off, there is no chance of any spillage. As for the moisturizer itself, it is a dream. It is thick enough to hydrate my dry skin, yet doesn’t feel heavy, unlike a lot of other creams I have tried. It keeps my skin moisturized all day long, includes SPF 15, and somehow manages to make my skin look bright and luminous in a subtle, natural way. To top all of that off, it makes your skin incredibly smooth. My boyfriend once had to use it in a pinch, and commented immediately on how much softer and smoother his skin felt, without any prompting from me. Coming from someone who often has a face full of stubble, I would say that’s a huge complement to Dove.

Tip # 4: That’s (Not) Hot.
- The sun is hot. Sun damage is not. The biggest and most important thing you can ever do for your skin that will have the greatest long-term impact on the future health of your skin (aside from proper hydration) is to wear sunscreen. Every day. No exceptions. Whether it is sunny, cloudy, raining, snowing, or even if you’re only going to be outside for the 30 seconds it takes to get to your car, wear sunscreen. To make it easier to remember, try using a daily moisturizer that already contains an SPF of at least 10, if not 15. That way, you will only have to put one lotion on your skin, instead of having to apply moisturizer and sunscreen independently of each other. Even if you spend all of your outdoors time in your car, you are still at risk for wrinkles and skin cancer. A recent study by the St. Louis University School of Medicine showed that people who spent a considerable amount of time driving are more likely to develop skin cancer on the left side of their body, including their head, neck, hand, and arm. Protect yourself! Your skin will thank you.

Tip #5: Don’t Overdo It (Again)!
- Please please please refrain from wearing pounds of makeup every single day! This is one of the most common mistakes that I see. Covering up bad skin with a lot of makeup all the time is only going to make the problem worse, resulting in you needing to cover it up even more, becoming a vicious cycle. Buy good quality products that address your skin’s individual needs, and if you are unsure of what those are or if you find that nothing is working for you, see a dermatologist.

A number of new and innovative products have come along to make our makeup routines quicker and easier, including lipglosses that come in a tube and twist to bring the gloss into the applicator tip, so that they can be applied more easily (example: Revlon Lipglide), and a number of powders and bronzers that have the powder right in the handle of the brush (example: Sephora Brand Radiant Loose Powder In A Brush). And now, nail polish is following suit!

Enter Nic’s Sticks, a new line under the Nicole by O.P.I division of O.P.I (manufacturers of, arguably, the best nail polish EVER). These nail polish pens are about the size of your average magic marker, and make applying the season’s hot new nail colours a breeze. Simply shake the pen, pump the polish by pushing the buttong on the end a few times until you see the polish appear on the brush tip, and the apply! It’s as simple as that. And the best part is, they come in 24 great colours and are super portable, making it easy to touch up those inevitable chips before you head out to that party or boardroom meeting.

Nicole by O.P.I

Yes, I am serious.

With 180 shoes in various styles and colours, as well as a line of men’s dress shoes, the Cole Haan Nike Air Collection is guaranteed to put the spring back in your step, with every style of flats, heels, and boots to accommodate all of your footwear fantasies.

My choice for the upcoming cooler weather is the Jena Air Mary Jane in Pinot Noir suede and patent leather. Pair them with opaque or patterned tights and a knee-length skirt for a chic and sexy look for fall.

Cole Haan Nike Air Collection for Women at ColeHaan.com