My son really is onto me for wearing makeup and if you really think about it, it is a ridiculous thing that women (and some men) do. And I can't believe i just spent ten minutes looking at these 57 celebrities without makeup on. Of course some are so pretty they look better without make up and others scary and a few I think really had makeup on but in a neutral shade. Anyway, I am trying now to only wear makeup on dates with my guy just because it is a fun girly thing to do! I have no other justification for my nine year old other than that is just what girls do. What do you think?May 2008 Archives
May 31
Must we Make-Up?
My son really is onto me for wearing makeup and if you really think about it, it is a ridiculous thing that women (and some men) do. And I can't believe i just spent ten minutes looking at these 57 celebrities without makeup on. Of course some are so pretty they look better without make up and others scary and a few I think really had makeup on but in a neutral shade. Anyway, I am trying now to only wear makeup on dates with my guy just because it is a fun girly thing to do! I have no other justification for my nine year old other than that is just what girls do. What do you think?May 30
Q-Link Connection
This is the Q-Link necklace. It's been spotted on Lindsay Lohan and Madonna. Its worn close the heart and is supposed to adapt to your own personal frequencies to enhance your overall well-being. "Q-Link ® is the most advanced personal energy system available today. A quarter century of frontier research has given birth to the Q-Link, a sleek line
of body worn products that tune your being for optimal living and performance:
More energy, less stress, greater focus, enhanced well-being and more.
Discover for yourself why individuals of every background the world over hold
their
Q-Link product in such high regard. It's the life tool that makes everything
you are, do and aspire to be, effortlessly better." Wow. And I just thought it was another crazy Hollywood trend. Q-Link.com
May 29
Holistic Skin Treatment
The skin around my eye tends to get irritated when I have some allergic reaction like hayfever. I usually just apply some anti-itch cream on it until it goes away. But today I decided to visit our local Apothecary Shop to find if there was a more holistic approach and he told me castor oil was a good, non-toxic all-natural skin soother. Even more fascinating was he said shredded potatoes placed on any affliction of the skin (he mentioned they do it on dog's with tumors) will draw out the toxins. I have the castor oil on now and will say that I find it soothing, and will wait for the potato trick until I start dinner.
May 28
Red Wine May Curb Diabetes
Resveratrol, an antioxidant found in red wine, may counter type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance, a new study shows. Insulin is a hormone that controls blood sugar. When the body becomes less sensitive to insulin, that's called insulin resistance, a condition that can lead to type 2 diabetes. Read more at the Mountain Spirit Winery site.
May 27
Is It The Shoes?
While I won't be getting a ton of compliments on my new sandals from Earth, I will say that I feel great when I wear them.They have a slight negative incline and as a result claim to give you better breathing, straighter posture, stronger core muscles, tighter thighs and better leg tone. I certainly walk taller in them but not sure if that's because of the shoe, or because I desperately want to believe a shoe can do all those things for you! earth.com
May 26
Is Coloring Your Hair Safe?
We already realize that chemicals in cosmetics such as skin creams can
break through the skin barrier, but what about the chemicals in hair
coloring? In response to recent bad press about hair dyes, many have
turned to semi-permanent solutions. However, there is reason to
question the safety in the substances used in these products as well.
If you are among the 50% of women who color their hair, or a man who
covers his gray, you might want to do more investigation into your
favorite hair coloring. Read about this and safer alternatives at naturalnews.com.
May 25
15 Minutes to Better Health
Do you ever see those massage chairs in the mall or at the nail salon? Do you just walk by them assuming it's not something you have an interest in? Well take a few minutes and let the massage therapist relieve your muscles. I have found that the fifteen minutes that this chair provides gives hours of relief and stress reduction. Holistic Online reports that massage improves circulation, which increases
blood flow, bringing fresh oxygen to body tissues. This can assist the elimination of
waste products, speed healing after injury, and enhance recovery from disease. Massage improves general well-being and
enhance self-esteem, while boosting the circulatory and immune systems to benefit blood
pressure, circulation, muscle tone, digestion, and skin tone. Like you needed another reason to go to the mall or the nail salon...
May 24
Chi-Gong Workout
Ever hear of the chinese practice of chi-gong? No, it's not a not a loud drum or a root vegetable. It's a 2000-year-old Chinese art which maintains that this series of bodily movements and breaths will calm the spirit and the mind. It has also been shown to strengthen the immune system, reduce stress, and improve balance and posture (all important as we get older). All can be done easily and in less than 20 minutes in your own home. Read the steps at the RealAge site.
May 23
Yoga Take-Out
Can't make it to a yoga class at a studio? Don't stress - check out this complete system in a box. Gaiam markets the "most intelligently designed half-ball workout system out there. Our Core Training System offers five complete workout routines: 1) Pilates-based core strengthening, 2) resistance training for lean muscle, 3) stretching and breathing to promote flexibility, 4) sculpting and toning exercises, and 5) a balance/cardio workout." Currently on sale at Gaiam for under 50.
May 21
Find Peace in Your Garden
Ask any avid gardener what they get from spending so much time in dirt (other than all the gorgeous blooms) and they will tell you it's much cheaper than therapy. Peace, tranquility and spirituality lurk in the dirt and the plants and the process you engage it to make them an expression of pure beauty. So find those old plastic ugly clogs and read this article from ivillage to learn the top ten tips to creating an organic garden and know you are doing something good for you and for your environment.
My anxiety is at an all time hight when I read things like this in a reputable paper (WallStreet Journal):LOAD UP THE PANTRY
"I don't want to alarm anybody, but maybe it's time for Americans to start stockpiling food.
No, this is not a drill.
You've seen the TV footage of food riots in parts of the developing world. Yes, they're a long way away from the U.S. But most foodstuffs operate in a global market. When the cost of wheat soars in Asia, it will do the same here.
Reality: Food prices are already rising here much faster than the returns you are likely to get from keeping your money in a bank or money-market fund. And there are very good reasons to believe prices on the shelves are about to start rising a lot faster" read more here...
May 19
Ghosts, Fact or Fiction
Do you believe in things that you can not see? Ghosts or energies from past lives have been the subject of debate for hundreds of years. I love the occult but I have a feeling I am in the minority. Take the following poll and see how you compare to others:May 18
Sans the Sodium
My mother recently visited me and she is on new dietary restrictions which include, among other things, low sodium. It's really amazing when you start scrutinizing everything that contains how much we must consume daily. It proved a good exercise for my family to really limit our sodium intake. This is what I learned regarding cooking without salt: use dried herbs such as basil, rosemary and thyme when you are cooking sauces or soups, fresh herbs can be used anytime with any dish, and fresh lemon juice is a great salt substitute for salads or vegetables. Lemon zest is a great rub for meats such as chicken, as well as on fish.
May 17
Breathe Deeply, Feel Better
Do you ever consider your breathing? Probably not, because as a function of our nervous system, our bodies do it automatically. Well, did you know deep, deliberate breathing contains very important health functions? First of all, how we breath is a primary element of stress management. Second, really deep breathing helps transport nitric oxide to your lungs which helps lungs and blood vessels open up better and function more effectively. I can tell you that after reading this article in the Medical Health Information Resource I sat and did the exercises and can't believe the effects. Try for yourself:
A Complete Breath Exercise
This quick, seated exercise can be done anywhere, anytime at home, at work or on the move.
Sit in a chair, with your back straight but not rigid, using the chair back for support if necessary. Relax your shoulders and place your palms on either side of your abdomen. Inhale slowly through your nose, drawing your breath first into your abdomen to fill and expand it and then up through your middle and finally to expand your chest. When exhaling, contract your abdomen first and then your middle and chest. Repeat 2-3 times.
This is a powerful exercise and should be done in moderation at first. Done regularly over time it can enhance your vitality and help to reduce your stress levels for good.
This quick, seated exercise can be done anywhere, anytime at home, at work or on the move.
Sit in a chair, with your back straight but not rigid, using the chair back for support if necessary. Relax your shoulders and place your palms on either side of your abdomen. Inhale slowly through your nose, drawing your breath first into your abdomen to fill and expand it and then up through your middle and finally to expand your chest. When exhaling, contract your abdomen first and then your middle and chest. Repeat 2-3 times.
This is a powerful exercise and should be done in moderation at first. Done regularly over time it can enhance your vitality and help to reduce your stress levels for good.
May 16
Sad but True
" 71% of the people believe in global warming , while the other 29% are still trying to resolve 'the earth is flat' debate."May 15
Stress Negator
If you were told a simple change in your thoughts you could become happier, healthier and function more effectively, would you do it? This is nothing new but it's the reminder to live in the moment. We've all heard it, but do we really make an effort to practice it? It truly is a great life tool. Studies show that people who are stressed out and thinking about tomorrow, worrying about next week's meeting, or agonizing about the future don't function as well as those who don't. Our cognitive abilities - like memory and focus - are increased when we don't suffer from increased levels of stress or anxiety. So do yourself a favor today and truly spend some time focusing on what you are doing this very moment. It takes practice, but it can be done. It will do you some good, and those around you as well.
May 14
Good Clean Living
I am completely inspired by Beekman 1802, an organic goat and heirloom vegetable farm here in New York. It encompasses all things good - it's a 200 year-old mansion and farm that still exists only now to produce beautiful soaps from the ingredients the earth (and goats!) will give them. They are committed to sharing only handmade, chemical-free artisanal products from their farm. They have been featured in the NY Times and on Martha Stewart. Even their website is beautiful - not just selling their products but extolling the lessons they have learned from other artisans and the good earth on the art of seasonal living. Visit beekman1802.com to enjoy the experience and to be inspired.
May 13
Loss
I was talking to the nurse at my doctor's office today, and she began to cry. She told me that she had just lost her son in February. He was eight. She saw him when she left for work and then when she came home, she was running late and in the interim he had an accident and died. She said he was lying there in the hospital and looked like he was sleeping but he was dead. She said she cries all day and all night and asked me what she should do to pull herself together. I had no words. She was already in grief counseling three times a week. I suggested yoga and meditation. I was also reminded of how some mother's handle loss by pouring themselves into a cause and helping others so I suggested that. I felt so helpless, but I did go home and hug my kids extra tight.May 12
She has got soul!
Wendy Abrams, Founder of Cool Globes: Hot Ideas for a Cooler Planet, has got it going on. She is an environmental activist and concerned mother of four and was wondering "what if..."...public art could be used to educate people about potential solutions to global warming?
...local, national and international artists could find creative and engaging ways to make addressing this complex problem less daunting?
...teachers and school children could participate in the project, both as artists and through the development and use of curriculum materials to support classroom instruction about climate change and the need for action?
...nonprofit organizations, governments, businesses and citizens all worked together to raise awareness about and inspire action to reduce global warming?
Cool Globes is public art with a purpose - to increase awareness about and motivate people to implement simple solutions in their day-to-day lives to help combat global warming.
Cool Globes exhibit is just leaving Chicago and will be opening in Washington DC in June. It looks so cool I am going to take my kids! Read more here...
May 10
Processing Mass Destruction
I am so overwhelmed by the tragedy in Burma, millions of people without food, water or shelter. I had told my son earlier in the week that twenty thousand people had died (now in the hundreds of thousands), and he asked me, "is that a lot?". And I said "If you have one friend that dies is that a lot?" and he said "yes". Which is exactly how I heard that we process tragedy. We can understand it on a personal level, hearing a sad story about a person and our heart pours out to them, but when we are talking thousands or millions of people, our mind has a hard time processing so we tend to not care as much, maybe because we feel so helpless or can't comprehend it. It doesn't seem real. And that is the way I was feeling about the destruction in Burma, until I read today about one woman who survived the storm and gave birth two days after. Her milk has not come in because she is stressed, homeless and hungry, so the baby is starving and the grandmother is feeding it drops of water from a polluted river. Now I feel her pain so badly, and I wish I could help her. It makes me want to run to my children and hold them tight and keep them safe and to someway find this woman and feed her baby. In this case easier said than done as the Burmese government is blocking aid from entering the country. Today was the first day a plane load of supplies was allowed in from the U.S. and a plane full is not enough to feed millions. All I can do now is pray.May 7
Enjoy Balance
The ancient Chinese art of Feng Shui promotes you living and communicating in a natural way with the world around you. It's a lifestyle with goals of harmony, serenity and peace achieved by creating a more peaceful and serene living environment. Here are some quick tips at achieving this balance in your home: Surround yourself with things you love to look at, colors that feel peaceful to you and put away anything that doesn't. Get your indoor air tested in your home and research to see if an air purifier will purifier the air you breath. Another Feng Shui tip is to face your furniture toward the door of the room. My favorite - rid your space of clutter.