I’ve been away for a little while on a much needed few days off. I cannot tell you how a mind gets clouded and a body tired. So after sending off my little one to grandma’s, a few dates with my husband, and much needed sleep, I think I’m back.
Do you ever feel the need to upgrade your life? I know I do. There are times when there are just too many things going on. That’s why I love Gina Trapani and her Lifehacker site. She is a master on giving practical advice on how to manage just about anything. Having read her first book, Lifehacker 88 Tips to Turbo Charge your Day, I was so excited to see another wonderful book to guide me through my day.
Her latest book is called Upgrade Your Life : The Lifehacker guide to working smarter, faster, better. I can’t wait until my order comes in the mail. I love the fact that Gina is practical and understands that “small changes over time yield big results.” I would encourage you to visit her site and make it part of your daily reading. You will find the information invaluable to your everyday.
My husband will be more than happy to tell everyone how accident prone I am. Things that wouldn’t ordinarily happen to others happen to me. Like the time I was hand sewing a hem on a pair of slacks and instead of putting the needle in the pin cushion I stabbed myself with it on my leg. Oh and then there was the time I rubbed my eyes right after slicing a couple of jalepenño peppers for a taco salad. Yup. That’s me.
A week ago I cut my finger deeply and my husband suggested I try calendula oil to help it heal faster. I’m always willing to try something new. So I put a little calendula oil on my cut just before covering it up with a band-aid. This week you can hardly tell I had a cut that deep on my finger.
So what’s the deal with calendula? Calendula is also known as “pot marigold”. It is not to be confused with the common garden variety. Calendula is native to the Mediterranean and for centuries, it has been grown in gardens to use as food and for its healing properties. The flavenoids present in the calendula flower and its inherent anti-inflammatory, astringent, antifungal, and antiseptic properties result in an ideal topical agent. It can be applied to the skin to treat boils, cuts, rashes, sunburn, chafed skin, insect bites, and other skin irritations.
My hubby introduced me to Weleda’s Calendula Oil and it is now part of our emergency kit at home. I’m sure it will come in handy with a 6 year old son. If you’ve tried this product let me know how it’s worked for you.
The days have been hot and muggy here in the east coast and I long for the turquoise beaches and gentle breezes of the Mediterranean. Since I can’t hop on a plane and go to Santorini, Greece (one of my fantasy vacation spots), I picked up the Korres Mediterranean Sun Color Collection. It’s the perfect kit with all the essentials needed to create a beautiful and natural glow.
Korres is based out of the ancient city of Athens and is true to its Greek roots. The company uses traditional Greek ingredients (wild rose, thyme honey, rye, yogurt, eyebright and guava) to create skincare that is “environmentally-friendly and skin compatible”. They do this by replacing synthetic compounds with natural alternatives. You can find the same ingredients in this new color collection. The colors are natural and really easy to wear.
I love my little kit. It includes an illuminating bronzing powder, a cherry full color lip gloss in fuchsia and a deep color mascara in black all packed in a neat reusable makeup bag. You don’t need anything else. Well, maybe a white linen dress with a pair of sandals, gold hoop earrings, your mate and a cool drink. Can you tell I really need a vacation?
I was sitting in front of the television last night trying to find something to watch. I stumbled upon yet another reality series very much like America’s Next Top Model. This time, it’s She’s Got the Look, a fashion reality series hosted by supermodel Kim Alexis featuring Sean Patterson, president of Wilhelmina Models, along with co-judges supermodel Beverly Johnson, and Robert Verdi, a celebrity stylist. Their aim is to find America’s next supermodel over the age of 35. They’ll win a contract with Wilhelmina Models and a spread in Self Magazine.
Interesting I thought. Women in my age group getting an opportunity to shine. I like that. The build up was great; I got reeled in. I kept watching until they had their 10 contestants. Then I began to feel a little uneasy. The producers of the show say it’s an ”opportunity to redefine beauty” yet the women chosen, beautiful as they may be, all share a similar body type and praised for looking younger than they actually are. Hmmmmm.
Now that the contestants have been chosen, they’ll have to go through the process of becoming models. Expect the usual drama, tears, accusations of Botox and backstabbing. The show just had its debut on June 4th so I’m open. I believe in the benefit of doubt. I want to see how this will all play out.
Have you watched the show? How much influence do you think the media has over our idea of what is considered beautiful especially for a woman who is over 35? I would love to hear what you think.
She’s Got the Look TV Land, Wednesday nights at 10, Eastern and Pacific times; 9, Central time.
An Allison Grodnerproduction for TV Land. Keith Cox and Sal Maniaci, executive producers for TV Land; Sean Patterson, executive producer for Wilhelmina.
This morning my best friend sent me an email. Upon opening the email there was one bold capitalized sentence which read “YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL, INTELLIGENT AND ELEGANT.” She went on to say that I was inspiring and genuine and that she loved me. So how important was this for me to hear today? VERY.
I woke up in a frenzy this morning and everything seemed upside down. I rushed out the house to catch my train for my hour long commute. I was feeling less than elegant or beautiful (since my blower died in the middle of me styling my hair) and I was dreading walking into my 9:00 am meeting and forgetting what I needed to cover. I did not feel very intelligent.
Friendships among women are very special and different from those of men. In a UCLA study conducted by Gail Berkowitz on Female Responses to Stress: Friendship, she states that friendships between women “shape who we are and who we are yet to be. They soothe our tumultuous inner world, fill the emotional gaps in our marriage and help us remember who we really are.” She goes on to say that scientists suspect that ”hanging out with your best friend can actually counteract the kind of stomach-quivering stress most of us feel on a daily basis.” Hey, if this isn’t an excuse to call up your best friend for a mall run I don’t know what is.
Well, I will be hanging out with my best friend this weekend. We’ll probably eat something we shouldn’t, moan and complain; ask each other if our butt’s look to big in the fitting room we’ll share. We’ll crank up the radio and sing out loud to silly songs. We’ll talk about the mistakes we’ve made and how we’ll never “do that” again. We’ll laugh. We’ll talk about sex, men, how much we love our sons, more sex and of course our hopes and dreams.
Spend some time with your best friend this weekend.
I love stories of women who’ve faced great odds and in spiteof it, persevered. That’s why I can’t get enough of Zhena Muzyka and her Gypsy Teas. Imagine having little money, no health insurance and a little person born with severe health problems. This is how the story begins. It ends with a healthy son, and a great collection of signature teas.
Zhena’s teas are organic and Fair Trade Certified, benefiting the workers in the tea fields with healthcare, education, autonomy, better working conditions, and freedom from child labor. They are also certified gluten, GMO and allergen free. All of the tea (except for the black tea) is biodynamic. Biodynamics is one of the oldest organic approaches to farming and is also one of the most sustainable. Its sowing and planting calendar is based on lunar cycles. It is believed that food grown in this way stays more flavorful and fresher longer.
Zhena’s blends are incredible, especially her herbal blends. These include aromatic Brazilian Berry, Red Lavender and Blueberry Açaí Iced Tea. In all, there are five iced teas that are sure to spice up your summer afternoons. One of my favorites is the Mango Ginger White Tea. It is a blend of exotic mango and ginger fused with sweet blackberry leaves and roses. It also aids in higher concentration, confidence and digestion. I can use that.
If you think this is a lot of tea, Zhena’s website offers some help in choosing your perfect cup. On her website, Zhena has provided a beautiful aromatherapy wheel that helps select a tea by benefits and flavor.
Zhena’s Gypsy Teas bring out the gypsy in all of us. The vibrancy and freshness of the herbs, the color, the sweet aroma, the packaging, the organic and fair trade aspect are truly a great blend and a reason to celebrate.
Zhena’s Gypsy Teas are available through her website and Whole Foods.
