Featured Articles: From Squidoo

{ September 18, 2009 @ 1:19 am } · { Uncategorized }
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Here are a bunch of articles I wrote for Squidoo. I write on various and sundry topics that are rarely related to each other. Give it a scan, you are bound to find something that will interest you.

How to Build An Earthship A diary of our house building project. Green, Sustainable, and Off Grid!

Grey Water Uses and Systems An exploration of different grey water systems. Homemade versus commercial.

How to Set Up a Raw Vegan Kitchen What you need & what you don’t.

Are These Things Called Orbs? Photos of Orbs and a discussion about what they are and are not.

The Sacred Music Festival in Fez Morocco Gathering all of the World’s religion’s sacred music into one amazing festival.

Damanhur – An Eco-Peace Society Astonishing art, culture, philosophy and concept.

The Swine Flu is Back Vaccinate or Not? Created Virus? Join the debate.

Is Consciousness Evolving? According to today’s quantum physicists, consciousness is evolving, and we are creating our world with our thoughts.

United Centers for Spiritual Living Annual Retreat at Asilomar Fun and photos from my favorite spiritual retreat.

The Rainbow Basket of Dreams My adventure with the Hopi Elders.

A Meditation and Transformation Tool Using the Holosync technology to transform one’s life.

Are Your Cosmetics Safe? Do you know what is in your cosmetics? How can you be sure the ingredients are safe?

My Gratitude How gratitude improves your life. An explanation of the law of attraction.

Self Confidence in 15 Minutes Use self hypnosis to improve your self confidence.

Luvin’ Books New thought book reviews.

Public Speaking Survival Tips How to conquer your fear of public speaking.

My Green Summer How I spent my summer improving my internal pH and therefore my energy levels and overall health.

The Right Foundation Makes All the Difference 80% of women are wearing the wrong size bra! How to measure and get a proper fit, along with places to purchase a well-sized bra.

Is Massage Therapy a Necessity, or an Extravagance? Exploration of the benefits of regular massage therapy for stress and overall health and well-being.

Hypnosis Myths Exposed Laying to rest the fiction surrounding the safety of hypnosis.

Credit Card Craziness What is going on with lenders these days? Is it getting better? Worse? How can I tell?

Taste The Difference – A Gluten-Free Cookbook Featuring a new cookbook for celiacs and those who are gluten-intolerant.

Gluten-Free and Making the Most of It Survival tactics for the gluten-intolerant.

Through the Eyes of Mary Frances Photographs taken by Frances Karl – SPECTACULAR!

Nine Tenths of a Cent Rants about gas prices, sustainability and energy independence.

Can You Tell a Designer Handbag From a Fake? Buyer Beware! Knock-Offs are everywhere!

Organic Crib Mattresses Avoid dangerous chemicals in your child’s crib.

Get Healthy With Reliv! The best nutrition you can put in your body – bar none!

Moon Rising Were we told the truth about the moon during the lunar landings? This movie says no. Compelling proof.

Phone Service…..A Better Way! Avoid long distance charges with phone over IP.

Save Money on Corrective Lenses! How to save money on prescription eyeglasses on the internet.

Moondust and Stars

{ July 10, 2009 @ 11:06 pm } · { Uncategorized }
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The Moon

A Gift Returned

As a young girl, I remember the moon as being a creature of wonder and magic. She was beautiful and charismatic. She was someone I could talk to, and she would listen gently and whisper back to me her response, in moondust and stars.

My beautiful fantasies and relationship with the moon came to an abrupt end, the day the Apollo Astronauts landed on the moon. The pictures of my lovely friend were ugly and cold. There was no life there. It was a long dead place of complete nothingness and horror to me.

Bereft of her beauty and compassionate care, I left her behind, profoundly missing the magical place I had imagined her to be. It wasn’t until I watched this movie, "Moon Rising" that I realized what I had lost that day, long ago. And, now, I feel as if I truly have her back, my beautiful friend of old.

Thank you Jose, for returning to me the gift I had been robbed of as a little girl. May your path be sprinkled with moondust and stars!

Moon Rising – The Gift Returned

Shhhhhhhh! It’s A Secret!

{ July 7, 2009 @ 3:25 am } · { Uncategorized }
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Can You Tell the Real Thing From A Fake?

{ July 7, 2009 @ 3:21 am } · { Uncategorized }
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How to Tell if Your New Designer Handbag is the Real Deal

You just bought the most fabulous Gucci bag online, and got a great deal! So, how do you know that you got the real thing? Maybe your great bargain was just a little too good, and now you are wondering…….is it really a Gucci? Or, is it a Chinese replica Gucci?
Before you shell out the $$$$, it would be wise to do a little research on what to look for, and where to look for it. Before you get burned at an online auction site, do your homework, and you will be a lot happier with the bargain that you do get.
That old saying caveat emptor is just as relevant today as it was in the bad old days.

More At Squidoo!

 

Organic Skin Care Recommendations From A Massage Therapist

{ July 5, 2009 @ 3:20 am } · { Uncategorized }
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massage3 As a licensed massage therapist, many of my clients want to know what I recommend for skin care products. I leave the facial skin care to the estheticians, but I will delve into what I think you should use on the rest of your skin.  Personally, I believe that nothing should go onto your skin that you wouldn’t eat! Let’s face it, your skin is your largest organ. And, pharmaceutical companies do make medicinal patches for a very good reason! You absorb nutrients, chemicals and toxins into your skin.
In my practice, I use the best creams and oils that I can find. I also use the very best in aromatherapy products, as well. For my own skin (face & body), I actually make my own creams, lotions and serums and keep them in the refrigerator. I also add active ingredients to my massage creams and oils in order to give my clients added value. The other reason I do this is because I am up to my elbows for hours a day in massage products. And, my own skin is being exposed to the products as well. I want to make sure that I take good care of my own skin as I provide my services to my clients.
The following are either products that I use myself, products that I have used in the past, or products whose ingredients and philosophy meet my criteria for excellence in skin care.
I will add to this list as more come to my attention. I have also provided live links to the manufacturers for your convenience.

Young Living Essential Oils
If you would like to purchase these oils, use the link provided to become a preferred customer. Then enter my ID Number: 305430. Because these oils are very expensive and therapeutic grade, you will want the discount provided here.

Bon Vital Massage Cream
I buy this by the gallon, and then mix in essential oils and other actives to create a dreamy product. I can’t offer you a discount on this, as I have no affiliation with this company, but if you purchase the larger sizes, you will get your money’s worth!

The following have their own sub-pages within my web site where you can see what’s available and purchase the products directly from the manufacturer.
All of the following products are organic, and do not contain parabens or other baddies, nor do they do animal testing.
On the following pages, have featured a sampling from each product line, but you might want to explore their respective websites to view the entire product line.

Dr. Hauschka Skincare Products
Juara Skincare Products
Red Flower – Hammam
Weleda Products

PS – If you know of other divinely pure skin care products that I should include on this page, please contact me and let me know!  Thanks!

Is Massage Therapy A Necessity?

Sweet Nothings! It’s All About You and Feeling Special!

{ July 2, 2009 @ 7:10 pm } · { Uncategorized }
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How to Fit a Bra 

Most Women Are Wearing the WRONG SIZE!!!!!

When my mother took me shopping while on vacation, she asked me what bra size I wore. I responded with, “Unhh! I think a 38B. Why?” “Because, you need some new ones, and I don’t think you wear the right size.”

I subsequently got fitted, and found out that she was right! Thanks, Mom!

Later, I found out that many, many women, like me, were wearing the wrong size, and were not aware of it. Hopefully, this little film will help!

Here’s How to do it yourself:

See the entire article here

Eighth wonder of the world?

{ June 18, 2009 @ 4:16 pm } · { Uncategorized }
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The stunning temples secretly carved out below ground by ‘paranormal’ eccentric

by HAZEL COURTENEY

Last updated at 09:58 22 November 2007

Nestling in the foothills of the Alps in northern Italy, 30 miles from the ancient city of Turin, lies the valley of Valchiusella. Peppered with medieval villages, the hillside scenery is certainly picturesque.

But it is deep underground, buried into the ancient rock, that the region’s greatest wonders are concealed.

Scroll down for more…

Inside Damanhur

Inside Damanhur

Here, 100ft down and hidden from public view, lies an astonishing secret – one that has drawn comparisons with the fabled city of Atlantis and has been dubbed ‘the Eighth Wonder of the World’ by the Italian government.

For weaving their way underneath the hillside are nine ornate temples, on five levels, whose scale and opulence take the breath away.

Constructed like a three-dimensional book, narrating the history of humanity, they are linked by hundreds of metres of richly decorated tunnels and occupy almost 300,000 cubic feet – Big Ben is 15,000 cubic feet.

Hall of Mirrors: Damanhur

Hall of Mirrors: Damanhur

More at:
Eighth Wonder

Damanhur

Mineral makeup fad causes skin-deep controversy over safety concerns | PoconoRecord.com

{ June 16, 2009 @ 5:40 pm } · { Health, Uncategorized }
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Powdered Mineral Makeup

Powdered Mineral Makeup

By ANDREA B. REITER
For the Pocono Record
June 10, 2008

Want flawless skin? How about luminous skin?

That’s what the latest beauty product is touting in order to get women’s attention.

Mineral makeup is in vogue at beauty counters across the country. Retailers such as Wal-Mart, CVS, Rite-Aid and Target all display the new cosmetics. The products are developed by companies ranging from Revlon, Neutrogena and Physician’s Formula to Avon and Maybelline. Other brands of mineral makeup are available from various Web sites.

Is mineral makeup really all that new, though?

According to thehistoryof.net, Ancient Egyptian ladies used a cosmetic called “mesdemet.” It was made of copper and lead ore, which are minerals to be sure. The idea of mineral makeup didn’t stop there, however.

For many centuries, certainly from Elizabethan times through the 19th century, women tried to look pale since pallid skin showed that they were very classy and didn’t have to work outside. To achieve this illusion, they used mineral makeup — a mixture of powdered hydroxide, carbonate and lead oxide.

Oh, lead poisoning? A small price to pay for beauty.

By the late 19th century, however, women substituted the lead with zinc oxide, which probably wasn’t as bad.

Today’s mineral makeup is the new marketing phenomena. Yes, it does contain crushed minerals, but it does not contain, for the most part, dyes, waxes, fragrances, chemicals or preservatives. It is most often in powder form that is buffed into the skin with a fluffy brush.

Sharon Martin, director of the Stroudsburg School of Cosmetology, said that mineral makeup is free from talc, which can “build up on the skin and cause pimples, whiteheads and blackheads because talc is so thick.”

Talc, of course, is a mineral, too. It is hydrated magnesium silicate. Some minerals good; some minerals, not so good, it seems.

Martin prefers Physician’s Formula, which has “just come out with a new organic kind,” she said. “I don’t like all the heavy feeling of cream makeup. It feels dirty. The mineral powders even out my skin tone and smooth out my skin.”

Martin added that companies do make mineral makeup in a cream form, but they recommend powder for sensitive skin.

Makeup lines also have compacts that look like they are made up of many colored balls. “They even out your skin tone, and don’t make it look ashy,” Martin said. “The makeup also evens out my red cheeks. It makes me look like I’ve used blush even though I haven’t.”

Martin added, “It is for people who want a natural look but don’t want to be bothered with all the high-class nonsense.”

Although mineral makeup can be pricey, Martin found that by looking for good sales, one could purchase it for a reasonable price.

Considering safety

Martin recommends using a package of mineral makeup for a maximum of three to six months before discarding it because it may have bacteria growing on it after that. “You have bacteria on your skin. The bacteria gets into the brush or puff, which may contaminate the product,” she said. The bacteria would make the product look clumpy or smell different. “If that happens, you should throw it out,” she said.

The powder isn’t at all drying, according to Martin. “My skin has never been more moist than since I’ve been using it,” she said. Mineral makeup also contains a sun block, which further helps to protect the skin.

Articles on webmd.com note that while people who love mineral makeup do, indeed, love it, other say that it dries the skin, makes it look ashy and accentuates wrinkles.

The health Web site also provided information of concern: The idea that when minerals are ground down to their microscopic or nanoparticle size, as is the case in this makeup, they can have toxic properties if applied to damaged skin or inhaled.

Additives matter

Michelle Neifert, executive of guest experience at Target in Stroudsburg, said that Target sells the Bare Minerals makeup, which is made of crushed minerals free of talc, oil, wax and other chemicals.

“It is a light cosmetic that blends really well with your skin. It actually evens out your skin tone instead of covering it up,” Neifert said.

The products, which include base powders, gleam/sheen add-ons, blushes, faux tans, concealers, as well as eye makeup and lip gloss, come in various kits with brushes, instruction books and/or DVDs to help the uninitiated get started.

Prices range from around $49 to $54. The starter kit is called “Pure Moxie.”

Neifert added that the products don’t make your face really dry, but it’s best to use a moisturizer underneath.

“The kits have been selling very quickly,” said Neifert. “On TV and online, they are very costly. Here, they are relatively inexpensive; something an everyday person can buy. The makeup lasts for a pretty long time, too.”

Neifert obviously believes in her products. “I am very happy with my mineral makeup,” she said. “It probably has more pigments than the cheaper cosmetics.” She explained that the cheaper cosmetics use less of the pigments and more of the fillers, such as talc, oil and wax.

“Mineral makeup doesn’t use these products; so the color is more intense,” she said.

Mineral makeup fad causes skin-deep controversy over safety concerns | PoconoRecord.com

Shared via AddThis

Here is a great audio program from NPR: Mineral Makeup: Is it Really More Natural?

by Kelly Wilkinson

Listen Now

Morning Edition, June 23, 2008 · Makeup made from minerals is all the rage. Manufacturers claim that it is more natural than traditional makeup because it’s made from ground minerals.

Premium Mineral Makeup at Discount Cosmetics Prices!

Are Your Cosmetics Safe?

What to Look for in a Designer Handbag

{ June 14, 2009 @ 4:54 am } · { Uncategorized }
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How to Spot a Fake…..Handbag
Designer handbags are everywhere. Most of us can’t afford the authentic thing, so we gravitate towards the the next best thing…replicas. Here are five major things to look for when buying a designer knock-off and tips for spotting a spoof.

1. STITCHING
Stitching can be a dead giveaway. Inconsistent stitching and sloppy construction in less visible areas, such as the underside of the bag or inside pockets, are details to look for immediately. Authentic designer bags tack on an extra zero on that price tag due to extra, carefully-crafted construction. They cost more because they are built more complexly. Counterfeit products usually do not have the care of construction that the real item has. If the construction looks simplistic, it’s likely to be a phony.

2. MATERIALS
Many fakes are no longer made of PVC but of reasonably good leather, even lambskin; however, they are seldom as good as the materials labels like Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Coach would use. Fake purses tend to be stiff and often have some sort of discoloration. When dealing with replica leather handbags, make sure the leather does not have an uneven look that is consistent. Also, people generally assume designer bags should be lined, which is why many replicas are lined. But, on the contrary, real purses are not.

Look for any kind of misspelling – at all –  on labels and tags. In any quality product, the label is stitched in, but in Gucci counterfeits (for example), a cheap hand tag will hang from the handle. Look at authentic purses online, and study the real tags. That way, it will be easier to spot the fake labels. Fake labels are generally cheaply made, unclear in impression, and has a lesser quality of stitching (and the attachment of the label). Two examples: for one, sometimes cheaply replicated Coach bags will include tags with misspelled and run-on words; secondly, Burberry bags will often be stamped “Burberrys” instead of “Burberry – London” in gold or silver on one side.

4. PACKAGING
Luxury retailers put a great deal of care into packaging their products. This includes the works: tissues, wrapping paper, shopping bags, these extra touches are usually part of a real transaction. Look for items that have their original packaging. It’s important that the box or bag the item comes in is neither too big nor too small, and is of the same brand as the purse you are purchasing. Makers of luxury goods seldom cram things into boxes or flimsy dust bags. Most luxury dust bags are made of thicker, soft cotton and flannel. Smaller items, like wristlets or wallets, will usually come in boxes.

5. DETAILS
Everybody knows that details can make or break a dress; well, the same goes for purses. The intricity of threads, leathers, fabrics, metals and stamping make a luxury bag what it is and should be…expensive. Most luxury items don’t just come with authenticity cards; they also come with a product booklet with details on the details. Key things to look for when it comes to details: make sure the handles are of equal length, the logo is straight and firmly fastened, the details of the bag match up, and that the zippers are in full working order.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/54297/how_to_spot_a_fakehandbag.html

How to Spot a Fake

Exercise Your Funny Bone!

{ June 12, 2009 @ 5:39 pm } · { Uncategorized }
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