rosewoman

2010-10-17T07:28:00.000-07:00

My Favorite Ways to Eat Nutbutters

By Isabel De Los Rios

Here are some of my favorite ways to use different nut butters…

1. Almond Butter with apple sauce with cinnamon sprinkled on top – a great after dinner snack if you’re looking for something sweet.

2. Almond or Walnut Butter on pretty much any fruit. My new favorite is almond butter on fresh figs…yummy!

3. Nut Butter and Apple Butter Sandwich – one of my favorite on-the-go breakfast options. I use 1-2 tbsp of nut butter and 1 tbsp of apple butter on 2 slices of sprouted grain bread and out the door I go.

4. Cashew Butter on celery sticks – add a few raisins for a little sweet taste.

5. Walnut Butter in oatmeal – I mix the walnut butter right into my warm oatmeal. Sometimes I add 1 tsp of honey as well.

All of these options are a great way to get a ton of healthy fats, especially Omega 3’s, into your daily meal plans.

This article written by Isabel De Los Rios, author of the great program The Diet Solution! It is the nutrition program that have been following myself now for 8 months. I lost 18 kilogramm (about 36 pounds) in this time - and it was so easy and pleasant! Each day, I look forward to my meals. (Pic shows Isabel - not me unfortunately.)

PS. Wonderful raw organic nutbutters here:

Sunfood.com

Yummmmm!

2010-08-06T15:32:00.000-07:00

To juice or NOT to juice…that is the question.

I’m pretty used to people coming to my home and saying “Wow, this place is so super healthy. I can’t believe it.” As you may or may not know, it does take quite a few people to keep the Diet Solution Program running. I had a bit of a “retreat” at my house where I invited 3 of our employees to come and work from my house and spend some time together. Whenever entertaining guests, I always try and be the “hostess with the mostess” and in my best Martha Stewart impression I asked “Can I get anyone anything? Some food or a drink?”

One of my employees replied, “Yes, I would love some juice please.”

As I did everything in my power to hold back the look of death, I said “We don’t have any juice. How about water or a tea?”

Without going through the entire conversation, this particular employee couldn’t believe there was no juice in the house. Moreover, she absolutely could not believe that my son does not drink juice and only drinks water (and yes, I did let her keep her job).

She has, of course, read and knows the DSP inside and out, but she admitted that she really didn’t believe that I completely lived my life that way until she saw it with her very own eyes.

But back to the juice…

Juice is one of those drinks that many people perceive as healthy, especially when it’s labeled natural or organic and it says it is made from all natural ingredients. Let me clear this up right now…Juice is NOT part of a healthy eating plan unless you are freshly squeezing it right in your kitchen with your own hands or through a juicer.

“But Isabel. My juice says its organic, natural, 100% juice with no sugar added. Is that ok?”

Well, I spent a significant amount of time reading the label of almost every single juice container, juice box, and juice product and they all came up the same…with tons of SUGAR. Read the label clearly and you will see that every gram of carbohydrate contained in the juice directly comes from sugar.

“But Isabel. All the carbs from fruit are from sugar too right?”

Yes, fruits are almost entirely sugar (coming from fructose), but a whole fruit also contains plenty of fiber and vitamins that are lost when you make a juice, bottle it and store it for any amount of time.

“But Isabel. My juice is fortified with calcium, Vit D and iron (or whatever they are fortifying juice with these days).”

When you “fortify” any food or drink with a vitamin and/or a mineral, your body is smart enough to know that this is not the real version of this particular nutrient. So much so, that it will choose not to use it. Yes, all of these fortified products are not giving you the vitamins and minerals you need. You must obtain these from natural sources like real fruits and vegetables (i.e. real food).

So if you’re a juice lover like many people are or have fallen for the “juice is healthy” trap, here are a few strategies to help you get your juice fix while simultaneously following a healthy eating plan.

1. Buy a quality juicer and make your own juice. There are so many different delicious and nutritious juices you can make in a juicer that will give you a super boost of vitamins/minerals and super nutrition. One of my favorite is carrot, apple and ginger. Be careful though! If you’re anything like me and sensitive to too much sugar at once, I would suggest having a serving of 4 oz or less or mixing your 4 oz with some water. I would also suggest juicing primarily vegetables and not as many fruits. This is a great way to get in some serious nutrition without having to eat vegetables all day long (a great option for children). I would also combine your fresh juice with a protein and healthy fat to keep your blood sugar balanced.

It is best to drink freshly made juice right away, as the longer it is stored, the more it will decline in nutrition. You can put your juice in a glass jar with an airtight lid and fill it to the very top. There should be a minimal amount of air in the jar as the oxygen in air (air is about 20 percent oxygen) will “oxidize” and damage the juice. Wrap the jar with aluminum foil to block out all light. Light damages the juice.

2. Make my favorite “tea juice“. If you haven’t seen this recipe in the Diet Solution Recipe Guide, here it is again:

5-6 bags caffeine-free herbal tea (e.g., peach, mint, chamomile, or fruit tea)

3 quarts boiling water

Stevia powder (or liquid) to taste

Pour water over tea bags in a large pot. Add stevia while tea is hot. (Adjust amount
according to the desired sweetness.)
Let the tea cool, remove tea bags, transfer tea to a serving pitcher or individual water bottles, and refrigerate.

3. Make your own DSP approved lemonade. My business partner loves this and drinks it almost daily (be careful if you’re sensitive to citrus or too much lemon.) Mix the juice from half a lemon, 5 drops of liquid stevia and 12oz of water in a large cup. Add more stevia or lemon based on your taste. This drink is a great alternative to people who need a bit more flavor than plain water all day.

So what did I end up serving my thirsty employee? Water! (And she bought juice when we went out to lunch). Oh well, I tried.

So now that I’ve shown you why juice is not good for you and how you can make your own healthy drink alternatives, why not learn more about which foods will cause you to lose fat? Check out our informative video right now!

2010-02-01T09:29:00.000-08:00

Valentine Retreats
Luxury lodges with hot tubs!! Want to spoil your loved one this Valentine’s? Then get away to your own romantic, luxury lodge hideaway Set in stunning scenic countryside locations across the UK they all boast sumptuous private outdoor hot tubs!

Search here

2009-06-26T12:52:00.000-07:00

June Month of the Roses

It's June again, month of the roses, and my birthday month. To celebrate here are three beautiful rose lenses that are all part of my SUMMER Group on Squidoo. Wonderful photos, great tips and advice! Visit them and enjoy.

Planting & Caring For Rose Bushes in Containers...
"Rose bushes can be planted in large containers with good success, and will do very well year after year. There are however a few basic rules to consider. Rule number one-It is up most important that the container be large enough to provide ample growing space for the rose bushes roots, also the rose bush must be provided good drainage. Rule number two-you need to plant the rose bush in good soil, and provide a location with good sun light, and ample air circulation." Sharon Stajda
Read more: http://www.squidoo.com/plantroses

The Beauty of a Rose
"No other flower can deliver such a variety of sentiments! I recently found an interest in taking beautiful photos of roses and would like to share these with others who find roses as beautiful and interesting as I do! I will include wonderful photos, tips, and interesting information on several types of roses!" Shelley Kuhn
Read more: http://www.squidoo.com/Rose-Photography

Hip Old Roses for Sustainable Landscaping
"Old and Antique Roses are making a big come back as homeowners search for attractive, low maintenance, sustainable plants to add to their landscape. Many of the old varieties of roses have survived, unattended for years in cemeteries and on old homesteads all through the United States. These plants are being rediscovered and propagated by rose societies and also by Texas A&M University Agriculture System who has launched the "EarthKind" list of hardy, low maintenance, disease and insect resistant roses." Yvonne B.
Read more: http://www.squidoo.com/roses-hips-recipes-growing

Visit all the great Summer Lenses in my beloved SUMMER Group and leave a comment in the guestbook!

2009-06-25T17:07:00.000-07:00

And the winner is ...

Naddez over at Naddez's Goody Corner won the 50$ Gift card in the May/June Giveaway. She is a blogger who has helped us spread the word about the Giveaway.CONGRATULATIONS Naddez!

Lens she nominated was Short Storiers: Squirrels by lensmaster Ladymermaid. Congratulations again, Ladymermaid! Your lens is now a nominee for the title of "SUMMER Lens 2009".

2009-05-19T17:55:00.000-07:00

May + June Giveaway

I will give away a 50$ Gift Card or Gift Certificate in the online store of your choice (Choose here!)

How to Enter

1. Visit my SUMMER Group at Squidoo and pick your favorite lens (Details in Group).
2. Post in the comments (here or there) to let me know what your favorite is. Don't forget to include your email or other contact info.
3. Only one entry per person. An extra entry can be gained by blogging about this giveaway. If you do blog please leave an additional comment saying so and a link to your blog.
4. The giveaway will end on June 15 at midnight. I will assign each entry a number and randomly pick the winner. The winner will be notified and a post announcing the winner will be made shortly after.

Good Luck Everyone!

If you are the winner you will receive a 50$ Gift Card or Gift Certificate for the store of your choice in My Rosewoman Mall. There are six pages full of great stores to choose from, check them out here!

2009-05-13T17:04:00.000-07:00

Great Spring Flower Photography

by ©James Jordan

Sad Iris

A raindrop from an overnight shower appears as a tear on the petal of an iris blossom.
Photograph © 2008 James Jordan.

James Jordan has long been one of my favorite photo bloggers - I admire his work and his thoughtful comments.
He is a freelance writer, video producer, photographer from Elgin, Illinois
You can visit his blog here:
Points of Light: A vision is like a lighthouse which illuminates rather than limits
and his photo gallery on Flickr here:
James Jordan's photostream
All his work is published under a Creative Commons License - which means you are free to share - to copy, distribute and transmit the work - under certain conditions (see License)

The fence and the flower

Sometimes you can't break free of the things that restrain you. It's then that you shine where you are.

Photograph © 2008 James Jordan.

Japanese tree lilac

2009-05-13T05:17:00.000-07:00

12 Essential Rules to Live More Like a Zen Monk

by Leo Babauta

“We have more possibilities available in each moment than we realize.” - Thich Nhat Hanh

I’m not a Zen monk, nor will I ever become one. However, I find great inspiration in the way they try to live their lives: the simplicity of their lives, the concentration and mindfulness of every activity, the calm and peace they find in their days.
You probably don’t want to become a Zen monk either, but you can live your life in a more Zen-like manner by following a few simple rules.
Why live more like a Zen monk? Because who among us can’t use a little more concentration, tranquility, and mindfulness in our lives? Because Zen monks for hundreds of years have devoted their lives to being present in everything they do, to being dedicated and to serving others. Because it serves as an example for our lives, and whether we ever really reach that ideal is not the point.
One of my favorite Zen monks, Thich Nhat Hanh, simplified the rules in just a few words: “Smile, breathe and go slowly.” It doesn’t get any better than that.
However, for those who would like a little more detail, I thought I’d share some of the things I’ve discovered to work very well in my experiments with Zen-like living. I am no Zen master … I am not even a Zen Buddhist. However, I’ve found that there are certain principles that can be applied to any life, no matter what your religious beliefs or what your standard of living.

“Zen is not some kind of excitement, but concentration on our usual everyday routine.” - Shunryu Suzuki

1. Do one thing at a time. This rule (and some of the others that follow) will be familiar to long-time Zen Habits readers. It’s part of my philosophy, and it’s also a part of the life of a Zen monk: single-task, don’t multi-task. When you’re pouring water, just pour water. When you’re eating, just eat. When you’re bathing, just bathe. Don’t try to knock off a few tasks while eating or bathing. Zen proverb: “When walking, walk. When eating, eat.”

2. Do it slowly and deliberately. You can do one task at a time, but also rush that task. Instead, take your time, and move slowly. Make your actions deliberate, not rushed and random. It takes practice, but it helps you focus on the task.

3. Do it completely. Put your mind completely on the task. Don’t move on to the next task until you’re finished. If, for some reason, you have no choice but to move on to something else, try to at least put away the unfinished task and clean up after yourself. If you prepare a sandwich, don’t start eating it until you’ve put away the stuff you used to prepare it, wiped down the counter, and washed the dishes used for preparation. Then you’re done with that task, and can focus more completely on the next task.

4. Do less. A Zen monk doesn’t lead a lazy life: he wakes early and has a day filled with work. However, he doesn’t have an unending task list either — there are certain things he’s going to do today, an no more. If you do less, you can do those things more slowly, more completely and with more concentration. If you fill your day with tasks, you will be rushing from one thing to the next without stopping to think about what you do.

5. Put space between things. Related to the “Do less” rule, but it’s a way of managing your schedule so that you always have time to complete each task. Don’t schedule things close together — instead, leave room between things on your schedule. That gives you a more relaxed schedule, and leaves space in case one task takes longer than you planned.

6. Develop rituals. Zen monks have rituals for many things they do, from eating to cleaning to meditation. Ritual gives something a sense of importance — if it’s important enough to have a ritual, it’s important enough to be given your entire attention, and to be done slowly and correctly. You don’t have to learn the Zen monk rituals — you can create your own, for the preparation of food, for eating, for cleaning, for what you do before you start your work, for what you do when you wake up and before you go to bed, for what you do just before exercise. Anything you want, really.

7. Designate time for certain things. There are certain times in the day of a Zen monk designated for certain activities. A time for for bathing, a time for work, a time for cleaning, a time for eating. This ensures that those things get done regularly. You can designate time for your own activities, whether that be work or cleaning or exercise or quiet contemplation. If it’s important enough to do regularly, consider designating a time for it.

8. Devote time to sitting. In the life of a Zen monk, sitting meditation (zazen) is one of the most important parts of his day. Each day, there is time designated just for sitting. This meditation is really practice for learning to be present. You can devote time for sitting meditation, or do what I do: I use running as a way to practice being in the moment. You could use any activity in the same way, as long as you do it regularly and practice being present.

9. Smile and serve others. Zen monks spend part of their day in service to others, whether that be other monks in the monastery or people on the outside world. It teaches them humility, and ensures that their lives are not just selfish, but devoted to others. If you’re a parent, it’s likely you already spend at least some time in service to others in your household, and non-parents may already do this too. Similarly, smiling and being kind to others can be a great way to improve the lives of those around you. Also consider volunteering for charity work.

10. Make cleaning and cooking become meditation. Aside from the zazen mentioned above, cooking and cleaning are to of the most exalted parts of a Zen monk’s day. They are both great ways to practice mindfulness, and can be great rituals performed each day. If cooking and cleaning seem like boring chores to you, try doing them as a form of meditation. Put your entire mind into those tasks, concentrate, and do them slowly and completely. It could change your entire day (as well as leave you with a cleaner house).

11. Think about what is necessary. There is little in a Zen monk’s life that isn’t necessary. He doesn’t have a closet full of shoes, or the latest in trendy clothes. He doesn’t have a refrigerator and cabinets full of junk food. He doesn’t have the latest gadgets, cars, televisions, or iPod. He has basic clothing, basic shelter, basic utensils, basic tools, and the most basic food (they eat simple, vegetarian meals consisting usually of rice, miso soup, vegetables, and pickled vegetables). Now, I’m not saying you should live exactly like a Zen monk — I certainly don’t. But it does serve as a reminder that there is much in our lives that aren’t necessary, and it can be useful to give some thought about what we really need, and whether it is important to have all the stuff we have that’s not necessary.

12. Live simply. The corollary of Rule 11 is that if something isn’t necessary, you can probably live without it. And so to live simply is to rid your life of as many of the unnecessary and unessential things as you can, to make room for the essential. Now, what is essential will be different to each person. For me, my family, my writing, my running and my reading are essential. To others, yoga and spending time with close friends might be essential. For others it will be nursing and volunteering and going to church and collecting comic books. There is no law saying what should be essential for you — but you should consider what is most important to your life, and make room for that by eliminating the other less essential things in your life.

“Before enlightenment chop wood and carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood and carry water.” - Wu Li

Source of Article: Zen Habits

About the author: Leo Babauta lives on Guam. He is a writer and a runner and a vegetarian, and the owner of Zen Habits. He is also the author of a new best-selling book, “The Power of Less: The Fine Art of Limiting Yourself to the Essentials … in Work and in Life“. If you want Zen Habits’ philosophy in a handy little volume, please buy the book.
Zen Habits is one of the Top 100 blogs on the Internet, and covers: achieving goals, productivity, being organized, GTD, motivation, eliminating debt, saving, getting a flat stomach, eating healthy, simplifying, living frugal, parenting, happiness, and successfully implementing good habits.
Read more: My Story Why Zen Habits
Start here: The Beginner’s Guide to Zen Habits - A Guided Tour

2009-05-07T11:28:00.000-07:00

And the winner is ...

Marly over at Any Day Shop won the 50$ Gift card in the April Giveaway. She is a blogger who has helped us spread the word about the Giveaway.

CONGRATULATIONS Marly!

Lens she nominated was Short Storiers: Squirrels by lensmaster Ladymermaid. Congratulations again, Ladymermaid! Your lens is now a nominee for the title of "SUMMER Lens 2009".

2009-03-31T08:33:00.001-07:00

Here is a recipe for your Natural Beauty that you can make at home!

Rose Skin Toner Recipe

Rose is known for its skin beautifying properties, it has a gently
astringent, tonic effect on tiny capillaries in the skin.
Rosemary gently stimulates circulation and has a purifying effect.
Witch hazel tones the skin and removes any leftover
cleanser or impurities.

Ingredients:

2 C witch hazel
1 1/2 c distilled water
2/3 cups fresh rose petals
3 sprigs fresh rosemary
4 drops rose essential oil (organic if possible)

Place rose petals and rosemary sprigs in witchhazel and water.
Gently mix then let the mixture sit for one hour.

Strain and add rose essential oil.

Mix again.

Splash or spritz on face after cleansing.
Or you can use cotton wool.

Source: My Yoga Online

2009-02-19T04:17:00.000-08:00

winter room

Need a mid-day escape? Spend a few calming minutes in our winter wonderland.

Click here to launch the room

Video from GAIAM Life.

Should you feel inclined to shop at

GAIAM.com I advice you to join My Power Mall first (it's free). GAIAM.com is one of 1000+ stores in this mall. When you shop from your own Mall you will get great rebates on your shopping.

2008-09-28T22:07:00.000-07:00

The Healing Power of Rosehip Seed Oil

Rosehip Seed Oil is nothing short of incredible! Through numerous studies it has been proven to have astounding effects upon the skin by reducing scars, wrinkles, age spots, and other signs of ageing. Highly effective, inexpensive, and a must for healthy youthful skin.

Introduction

Rosehip seed oil is truly an amazing product, which has only recently become recognized by the general public. This surge in popularity is for a good reason, as it is believed to be the best oil available for anti-ageing and skin rejuvenation. Numerous scientific studies have also taken place, which have yielded astounding evidence supporting the use of Rosehip Seed oil.

The History

Rosehip seed oil is extracted from the seeds of a native rose plant which grows wild in Chile. The oil has been used by native people in Chile for centuries, and has only been validated by scientists fairly recently. The first major confirmation of its capabilities came in 1983, when the University of Santiago conducted research on 180 individuals. These tests studied people with extensive facial scarring, acne scarring, deep wrinkles, UV damage, radiation damage, burn scars, surgical scars, premature aging, dermatitis, and other skin related problems. In these tests, rosehip seed oil regenerated the skin, reduced scars and wrinkles, prevented the advancement of wrinkles and aging, and helped skin to regain its natural color and tone. Since this time, other universities and labs have also completed studies, also yielding positive results. Another well-known study in 1988 was conducted on twenty women between the ages of 25-35 with extensive premature aging to their skin. Their skin was wrinkled, and had sun spots from overexposure to the sun. After four months of applying rosehip seed oil daily, their wrinkles and sun spots had almost completely disappeared, and the skin had a fresher and healthier look. Today, rosehip seed oil is exported around the world, and is used by the medical community, as well as in fine facial and cosmetic care products.

Benefits

Rosehip seed oil contains Vitamin A, which helps to delay the effects of skin aging, assists with cell regeneration, and promotes collagen and elastin levels to increase. This results in firmer, smoother, and more youthful skin with greater elasticity. Rosehip seed oil also contains a high amount of essential fatty acids and Vitamin E, which further promotes healthy skin. In particular, it is rich in linoleic and linolenic acids, which are important skin nutrients. Rosehip seed oil has been used successfully to treat the following skin problems:

Stretch marks
UV damage from overexposure to the sun
Scars from surgery, burns, and acne
Eczema
Psoriasis
Wrinkles and premature skin aging
Hyper-pigmentation
Dermatitis
Burns, including those from radiation and sunburns
Age spots
Brittle nails
Dry and damaged hair

Directions for Use

Rosehip seed oil is considered a “dry” oil, meaning that it soaks into the skin easily, and does not leave a greasy residue. It is a wonderful hydrator, and penetrates dry or damaged skin immediately. This oil may be used straight from the bottle as a moisturizer, or can be incorporated into a cream, lotion, facial oil, or massage oil. Because it is so gentle, rosehip seed oil may be used undiluted on the skin, even on sensitive skin. Rosehip seed oil is a safe, inexpensive, effective, and non-invasive product for preventing and healing damaged skin.

Caution:
Recommended for external use only.
Rosehip seed oil is not recommended for use on acne, or on very oily skin.

(Source: mountainroseherbs.com )

Rosehip Seed Oil
(Rosa rubiginosa)
Method of extraction: Cold Pressed/Unrefined A light blush wine colored oil from the ripened fruit of the famed Rosehip, also known as Rosa Mosquita
4oz Rosehip Seed oil $7.50
8oz Rosehip Seed oil $12.75
16oz Rosehip Seed oil $21.00
1gal Rosehip Seed oil $145.00

Rosehip Seed Oil (Certified Organic)
(Rosa rubiginosa)
Method of extraction: Cold Pressed/UnrefinedSame as above but certified organic. Deeper in flavor, color, and odor.
4oz Rosehip Seed oil organic $10.50
8oz Rosehip Seed oil organic $17.75
16oz Rosehip Seed oil organic $31.00
1gal Rosehip Seed oil organic $220.00

Order here: mountainroseherbs.com

PS. Rosehip Seed Oil is also available from Kalyx.com. If you are in My Power Mall, this is the place to go. Kalyx.com is one of 1000+ stores in My Power Mall, the only Mall that pays you for shopping! Always enter the store via your own Mall to secure your rebates.
Not in My Power Mall yet? Join here: My Power Mall

2008-08-29T09:19:00.000-07:00

8 Ways to Strengthen Your Relationship
:: By Heather Prouty
-->
Love is perhaps our most powerful emotion, and the need to be in a loving relationship may be one of the strongest needs we have. Being in an intimate relationship makes us feel connected, not only to our partner, but also to the world at large. When our hearts are filled with love, we feel profoundly content and satisfied. We become more patient, more empathetic, kinder, gentler.

But personal intimacy doesn't merely effect our emotional well-being. According to numerous scientific studies, the power of love directly affects our physical health, too, by boosting our immune system, improving our cardiovascular functioning, and increasing our life expectancy. "Love and intimacy are at the root of what makes us sick and what makes us well," says Dean Ornish, M.D., who explores the connections between love and health in his book Love & Survival (HarperCollins). "When you look at the scientific data, the need for love and intimacy is as important and basic as eating, breathing, and sleeping."

On Valentine's Day, we celebrate our love for each other over candlelit dinners or through exchanges of chocolates, flowers, and slinky lingerie. But a box of bon-bons only lasts so long. Experts agree that the key to a vitalized, long-lasting relationship is what you and your partner do the other 364 days of the year. Indeed, keeping your love alive requires continual time and effort. Following are eight steps you can take to keep the flame burning.

1. Be Friends

Any healthy relationship must be based on a solid underlying friendship. Remember to treat your partner with the same kindness, respect, and appreciation as you would a close friend. Support, listen to, and laugh with each other. Don't allow yourselves to be rude or disrespectful.

2. Stay Connected

"Couples need to spend a lot of time with each other," advises David Kaplan, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Counselor Education and Rehabilitation programs at Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas. "There is no substitute for quantity of time." Kaplan encourages couples to take a half-day a week to go out on a date. In addition, devote at least 15 minutes of your day to meaningful, one-on-one conversation-no television or kids allowed.

3. Get Physical

Physical intimacy is a natural, and healthy, extension of a relationship. Our best sexual intentions are often put to rest, however, as we collapse into an exhausted heap at the end of the day. Instead, you and your partner need to consciously commit to turning up the heat. Leave the dishes in the sink, turn the laptop off, and just do it! Set the mood with the sensual music, and light some calming aromatherapy candles or incense. Learn to communicate your loving energy through touch.

4. Celebrate Each Other

Saying something kind and affectionate to your partner should be a daily habit. The expression of loving thoughts nourishes your relationship by helping you both remember what it is you treasure about each other. Let your partner know how much you appreciate him or her, and be generous with compliments and expressions of affection.

5. Fight Well

Since disagreements and arguments are inevitable, what's important is not whether you fight but how you fight. When disagreements surface, keep them short. "No more than 10 minutes," says Kaplan. "After 10 minutes, it gets nasty and repetitive." Also, keep boundaries on the subject matter. Don't dredge up issues from last week or last month-keep you dispute focused on the matter at hand.

6. Take a Class

Feeling like your relationship could benefit from professional advice? Why not take a class on communications skills, attend a seminar on loving kindness, or read a book on relationship-building together? Your efforts will likely spark important discussions about your relationship and, ultimately, enhance it. A good starting point is Phillip McGraw, Ph.D.'s straight-talking tome Relationship Rescue (Hyperion, 2000).

7. Listen Carefully

Being an attentive listener lets your partner know that his or her thoughts and feelings are important to you. Moreover, good listening encourages partners "to open up and be willing to share," say Richard and Kristine Carlson, authors of Don't Sweat the Small Things in Love (Hyperion, 1999). The secret, say the Carlsons, is not just to "hear" what your partner is saying, but to be truly "present," having a heartfelt desire to understand what is being said and listening without being judgmental.

8. Maintain Your Sense of Self

Partners must learn to balance their needs as individuals with their needs as a couple. "On one hand, you don't want people to be too far apart emotionally. If you don't spend time together, you become disengaged emotionally," says Kaplan. "The other end of the spectrum is couples that become too dependent on each other and their individual identity gets lost." Ideally, the two of you should be close enough to have intimacy, yet "far enough away to have individual identity," says Kaplan. Don't be afraid to develop some friendships and interests separate from your partner.

(End of article.)

Source: This is an article from the GAIAM Community

Gaiam.com is a health-conscious, environmentally responsible lifestyle company whose goal is to bring LOHAS to the mainstream. The Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability (LOHAS) concept is centered on the idea that our own health and happiness is connected to the health of our planet. Taking a holistic approach to our content and product selection, we encourage wholesome lifestyle choices with healthy, green products for your home and body.

PS: Should you feel inclined to shop there I advice you to join My Power Mall first. Gaiam.com is one of 10000+ stores in this mall. When you shop from your own mall, you will get great rebates on your shopping.

For more advice and inspiration visit my Amazon store with books on love and relationships

2008-07-05T16:03:00.000-07:00

It is my passion to ramble through the net and harvest products, articles and programs related to Natural Beauty. You are welcome to see what I have collected in my basket - only the most exquisite. I am happy to share my crops with you! And please feel free to leave your comments.

Yours in our common dedication to all Beauty natural

Heidrun Karin Peters

2008-07-05T14:13:00.000-07:00

Check out these interesting blogs from all over the world. These are fellow blogs in the Technorati Improvement Program, run by Omar Abid.

The technorati improvement program subscriber list:

Omar Abid Weblog
The Free College Counselor
Skoyu - Blog of a Web Enthusiast
troubleshooting PC and Network Connection
Affiliate Revenue Resources
HQ Celebrity Photos and Wallpapers
Scouting My Power Mall for GREEN stores, brands and products
Sherry Rambling
Shopping
I luv contest
Ebook and Product Reviews
MORINGA OLEIFERA, tree of miracles
Eclikx
From Africa to Asia
Work and Travel on four continents
Ni pensar que es tan sencillo
Learn how to earn extra pocket money from the Internet
Exotic photos from Borneo
Increase traffic to your blog
All Beauty Natural

2008-06-19T17:21:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday To Me

It is a beautiful day today ... and it is my birthday.

While the roses are glorious this year, too, walking round them and smelling them comes with a bitter taste this year. Each birthday my mother used to collect a bunch of her own beautiful roses for me back in times when we did not have a garden of our own. Now that she is no longer with us I have to collect my own. Both my parents died during the last 18 months. Today they are in my thoughts.

2008-06-19T03:01:00.000-07:00

What better way is there to begin a day in June than by walking around your garden smelling the roses and sensing the dew ...

The roses are great this year, abundant and glorious. Once more I am thankful to the unknown women (and men?) who laid foundation to this never ceasing joy. When we bought our house back in 2000 I was not aware of this wealth - our unknown prepossessors had done a lot of work but right then it looked neglected and nothing much. But with only a little caring in our first year look how everything is flourishing! I have not added much, only the sweet peas that are my darlings besides the roses. But they - the roses - were there alright and just awaiting their wake up kiss! I felt great being the princess charming and bring all them Thorn Roses back to bloom.

Our house was built in 1876 and there must have been quite a few eager gardeners. Before we bought it the house was shared by four families and they had only a quarter of the garden each, but they seem to have dearly loved their little piece of land. I feel grateful - and sometimes a little guilty to reap the benefits of their work.

(Republished from June 2005)

2008-01-24T18:52:00.000-08:00

Beauty from the Sea
Dead Sea Natural Beauty Products on Ebay

Dead sea cosmetics protect human skin from aging and polluted atmosphere. These cosmetics keep you young and beautiful. Dead sea mud has been known for its powerful ingredients from ancient times. Read more...

2008-01-24T18:20:00.000-08:00

Dead Sea Cosmetics Guide - Get Natural Relief!!

By Sardool Sikandar

Dead sea cosmetics protect human skin from aging and polluted atmosphere. These cosmetics keep you young and beautiful. Dead sea mud has been known for its powerful ingredients from ancient times. Dead sea mud mask contains rich minerals that stimulate and exfoliate your skin.

Dead sea cosmetics improve appearance of your skin. These cosmetics are helpful in preventing wrinkles and increasing elasticity that makes your skin young and exciting. Dead sea minerals play a significant role in skin-nourishment. Dead sea cosmetics don’t include irritating chemicals or harmful ingredients.

Dead sea cosmetics are prepared with pure natural cosmetic products that really soothe your skin. You can easily maintain your skin with several Dead Sea cosmetic skin care items. Some beauty products or Dead Sea cosmetics contain minerals from Dead Sea or natural plants that are available near Dead Sea. AHAVA, Natural Sea Beauty, Mineral Care and Sea of Spa are some common Dead Sea products.

AHAVA is a plant that is found at Dead Sea surrounding area and is very calm to the skin. It is used to prepare balms, exfoliations and other beauty products. It works as good moisturizer for extremely dry skin. These great Dead Sea cosmetics offer smooth glow, which everyone desires. Dead Sea Cosmetics are used for natural relief.

About Author: Author is the owner of the site Dead Sea Cosmetics Website provides information about Dead Sea cosmetics. It also offers some useful buying tips for Dead Sea Cosmetics and products. You can also visit his site to get more information about Dead Sea Products

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sardool_Sikandar

http://EzineArticles.com/?Dead-Sea-Cosmetics-Guide---Get-Natural-Relief!!&id=138197

2007-12-01T05:57:00.001-08:00

Coupon Deal: $4.99 S&H - no min. purchase Coupon Code: AP5D. Valid to Dec 31, 2007

Check out the great Gift Guide at GAIAM!

About Gaiam Gift Guide
The entire Gaiam website is full of great gift ideas, but for your convenience we’ve selected some of the most unique and best-selling products in different gift categories by price, recipient, or occasion. Gift-giving with Gaiam is a great way to share your passion for health and the environment with loved ones.

Gaiam.com is a health-conscious, environmentally responsible lifestyle company whose goal is to bring LOHAS to the mainstream. The Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability (LOHAS) concept is centered on the idea that our own health and happiness is connected to the health of our planet. Taking a holistic approach to our content and product selection, we encourage wholesome lifestyle choices with healthy, green products for your home and body.

GAIAM is one of 1100+ stores in My Power Mall.

Shop right here or get your own Power Mall first for even more rebates!

2007-10-25T13:51:00.000-07:00

Blog Action Day - Harvest

Blog Action Day is now behind us. It was an overwhelming success, with more than 20.000 blogs participating! Since no one can read 20.000 posts, I have chosen some for you to read here. My aim is to make the whole action more sustainable, so I recycle these posts, in order to not waste these precious contributions that are well worth reading long after Blog Action Day!

Climate of Our Future A discussion on climate change USA
zephyr1 "decided to share an assortment of past poems we featured here at Climate of Our Future". This is an amazing and touching decision for a blog that has a scientific and political focus! Enjoy the poems, one that I especially like is quoted below ...
Blog Action Day “In Honor of The Environment”

Green Talk USA
Green Talk is talking about Blog Action Day itself and the intentions behind it, the purpose of Bloggers Unite! She also shares 8 ideas about what everyone can do to make our planet healthier.
Blog Action Day–How Can You Help the Earth?

Ms. Adventures in Italy My Stomach and the World. Food, Recipes, Travel Italy
Ms. has posted on Eataly, a marketplace in Torino (Italy) that is committed to the principles of Slow Food: Food must taste good. A food must be ecologically sustainable. A food must be produced in a socially just way. Great photos!
Eataly, Turin’s Enogastronomic Marketplace and Blog Action Day

The Alien Next Door Musings of Nina Munteanu, SF writer and Ecologist Canada
Nina's issue is TRUTH: her post "is dedicated to the spirit of what Al Gore has been so courageously and tenaciously doing: presenting the “truth” on Climate Change and the health and future of our beloved planet Earth, and providing numerous key solutions that we can embrace." Enjoy her exquisite writing.
Blog Action Day--Truth

My favorite poem from the collection at Climate of Our Future:

A Riverscape
by Juliet Wilston

Spring’s magic water from underground

bright between stones

gurgles like children’s laughter

waterfalls down rockstumbling in woodland where

young lovers stroll

and kingfishers dart...

Read more

You might also want to look at my own contributions to Blog Action Day in my various blogs:

30 Ways To Save The Earth

Experts Say Eat Local for Health, Planet and Wallet

Hot Green Style! Fall Eco-Fashion Trend Report

Photo by TrekEarth: A Soul Is Reborn, by Marie Louise Davies

blog action day

2007-10-15T11:39:00.000-07:00

Today is Blog Action Day. This is my contribution.

Hot Green Style! Fall Eco-Fashion Trend Report

:: By Summer Rayne Oakes

It's getting easier every season to add eco-friendly pieces to your wardrobe and still look relevant style-wise — and no one knows it better than eco-style diva Summer Rayne Oakes. Arguably the most glamorous entomologist / environmental scientist on the planet, Oakes is an accomplished eco-fashion model whose academic training helps her get the word out about green fashion as a speaker, writer and green business consultant.
"There was no following of eco-fashion trends six years ago," Oakes points out. "Eco-conscious designers were just stabbing in the dark and creating their own path. They still aren’t afraid to experiment — but now the movement is more in tune with the pulse on the [traditional fashion] ground."
To help you update your fall wardrobe with style savvy and environmental aptitude, we asked Oakes for her take on this season's green fashion trend reports. Here's her top-five list of what to look for:

1. Organic cotton denim
Organic cotton jeans are big news this season. So many of my friends have purchased some form of organic denim for their wardrobes. [Editor’s note: You can get a pair custom-designed for your fabulously unique body at ujeans.com.]
Organic cotton is the default eco-fabric of choice for eco fashion in general — along with silks and silk blends. Many designers are also using bamboo, though some I’ve spoken with are phasing it out until they can get a more reliable supply.
I’ve also seen a handful of great designers working with alpaca, a wonderful fiber for the fall/winter 2007–2008 season.

2. Sculptural feminine shapes
Fashion-forward eco-conscious brands are integrating some of the general fashion trends of the season.
Slouchy pants and swinging cuts are in favor as we head into the Fall/Winter 2007-2008 season. And sweaters are oversized but don’t look like your boyfriend’s cardigan — most have sculptural shapes that flatter a woman’s body.

3. Vintage & local finds
I’ve been playing the vintage card — old belts and bags at my local vintage and thrift shops are always excellent finds.
My hot vintage red dress with white ginkgo print is one piece in my fall wardrobe that I feel especially proud of from a responsibility standpoint. I bought it at a local vintage shop. Also, my army green high-waisted organic cotton skirt with cropped bubble-sleeve jacket by Bahar Shahpar, a local (southern California) eco-fashion designer. I bought the two-piece set at a local shop.
I like to support local designers and support the local economy. For one thing, it saves on carbon emissions.

4. Affordability
Cost is coming down because retailers with economy of scale are introducing eco fashion product lines. As independent designers grow, they’re able to introduce more affordable products to the market.

5. Next wave: Fair trade & socially responsible fashions
One of the most unacceptable things about “conventional” fashion is sweatshop conditions (though this doesn’t go for all “conventional” fashion). Ethical and social well-being for workers has not been a focal point for many designers this season — but I predict it has to be and will be, once the fervor for purely green issues wanes.
Small communities are being lifted out of poverty through fair trade all over the world — in Guatemala, Bangladesh, India, Peru. I’ve also seen, right here in California, farmers getting the same or better yields with sustainable farming techniques.
I went to film a show the other day with what I thought were going to be with a bunch of punk kids from all over the U.S. I suppose I was preparing myself for the worst — you know, apathy for what’s happening in the world.
It was the total opposite. Every single kid was so sweet, so receptive, and aware to a certain extent of what is going on [with fashion’s environmental and social impact]. They may not have had the tools or the means in terms of what to do about it, but the messaging is out there. Now we just have to drive it home.

Resources
Organic Consumers Association
Green with Glamour
Lilikoi
Gaiam.com
Lime.com: Blue Jeans or Green?
ujeans.com
Linda Loudermilk
Bahar Shahpar

(End of Article)

This is an article from GAIAM Community.

Gaiam.com is a health-conscious, environmentally responsible lifestyle company whose goal is to bring LOHAS to the mainstream. The Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability (LOHAS) concept is centered on the idea that our own health and happiness is connected to the health of our planet. Taking a holistic approach to our content and product selection, we encourage wholesome lifestyle choices with healthy, green products for your home and body.

You can get all those eco fashion items there!

PS: Should you feel inclined to shop there I advice you to join My Power Mall first. Gaiam.com is one of 1000+ stores in this mall. When you shop from there, you will get great rebates on your shopping.

blog action day

2007-10-12T06:48:00.001-07:00

Blog Action Day - October 15th !
The Enviroment

Have you registered??? 2 days to go! You can still participate - it's not too late! Join the 11,320 blogs that have already registered. Are you participating? Send me a message - I will post a link to your blog in one of my blogs! Blog Action Day is about MASS participation. That means we need you! Register here: http: / / blogactionday. org/ the_environment

Want to meet some participating women bloggers? To encourage you to join, also. See how special they are! Enjoy the diversity - I have certainly enjoyed visiting them!

Lifestyles of the Chic and Vegan USA
Author: vko
About me: I work in fashion & am fortunate enough to work for myself and dictate my own schedule...which means I make time to play with my cat, go to ashtanga yoga and give voice to my passion for ethical veganism & the environment. I aspire to inspire and be inspired.

hippy chick's adventure to sustainable happiness USA
Author: shellywoman
About me: life of a girl and a cat making efforts to live simple. growing veggies, fruit & flowers, saving rain from the sky & celebrating the wonder of the almighty pile de compost. she sharing a home with a talking cat companion. he serving as chief interior bug catcher and squirrelspeak translator. both hoping to soon add chickens to the family and chickenspeak to the list of spoken foreign tongues. in short it's about me and my dirty finger nails as i dig my way through the days.

The Turning Tide USA
Author: the wife
About me: The Wife (L'épouse) is an avid blogger trying to raise conservation awareness. She lives in Pennsylvania with the Husband, the Dog and the Cat.

This is what she said ... USA
Author: Janet
About me: In 2001 I decided to go on a drive, I packed up my little 1992 Honda Accord and drove.(I still have my little Honda Accord...it has 240,000 miles on it and she is still going!) As you may know I got lost and ended up in Delaware.(Dela-where?) I currently live in Milford, also known as "The Dirt" or "Mil-Dirt" The locals, with there slower lower delaware accent, seem to pronounce it "Malfurt" So I live in "Malfurt", with my boyrfirend, Kevin, or Brownie as his friends call him. We (I say we, but really its his) have a "kid." He is a 130 pound St. Bernard Named Brutus, or Brutus the Barber Beefcake, as I like to call him. We enjoy taking Brutus to the beach. We have been trying to get him to swim in the ocean, but no luck so far. I can't wait to share my life with you all. Hope you enjoy!

Mermaid's Haven USA
Author: Candee
About me: 51 and loving life, my name is Candee ~ I design under the name CanDesigns. My blog is my haven, so I go off on life at times, but I always leave you a freebie for listening. :)

Livable Chicago USA
Author: Justyna Frank, Realtor
About me:
Biography
Realtor, Chicago, Keller Williams Lincoln Park
Born in Warsaw, Poland, fluent in Polish.
Graduated from the University of Chicago with an MA, pursued doctoral degree for several years, and subsequently decided against it.
Before becoming a Realtor, involved for many years in the cycling industry and advocacy as co-founder and co-owner of Rapid Transit Cycleshop, the original alternative bike shop in Chicago's Wicker Park.
Married with two children, Peter and Nadia, and husband Chris Stodder, and cats Phoebe and Freddy. Lives in a modest house whose lawn has been replaced with a free-form flower garden.
Interests
I live a double life of Realtor and bicycle retail store co-owner. Because I own the business together with my husband, I am able to focus my efforts on real estate. However, I do feel that my background in alternative transportation and interest in independent travel continues to feed my perspective as a real estate agent. I have sold all kinds of homes, including condos, lofts, single-family, new construction and income property. Yet I am drawn to homes with character situated in user-friendly neighborhoods: accessible, walkable, with street-level amenities and attractions. Since I am a fanatical walker, but hate to just wander aimlessly, the neighborhoods that appeal to me personally are the West Loop, Andersonville, Rogers Park, Hyde Park, and the town of Evanston. My own neighborhood, Sauganash, is becoming more like that, as more storefront businesses begin to crop up here and in nearby Edgebrook. My aim is to discover, showcase and create a livable Chicago.

Life by Candlelight USA
Author:Amy
About me: 100+ Things About Me
1. I’m a Christian. I belong to a Lutheran church and I teach Sunday school. But, most of all, I am a Christian. Plain and simple. 2. I’m a liberal. I am a member of the Democratic party but I think I identify myself as a liberal. And even more than that, as an American. 3. I never thought I’d get married. But I actually found Prince Charming and got married at the ripe old age of 31. 4. I’m a joiner. I’ve always loved joining clubs and groups. I’m always looking for an opportunity to get involved and meet people. 5. I love volunteering and doing community service but it seems like I never have enough time to do everything that I’d like to do. 6. I am owned by one black and white cat named Toulouse. 7. I’m a Texan (fourth generation…not a fake Texan like the President) living in California. 8. I have taken up knitting and I love it. It’s a meditation and it makes me happy to make things for people. 9. I love giving gifts and shopping for people. It is one of my great joys. 10. I am a big reader. I love surrounding myself with books. I collect signed first editions and my books are always one of the first things I unpack when I move. Getting them in order gives me a sense of comfort. 11. I’m a movie buff. I will see just about anything. Within reason. 12. I’m a cookie monster. I can’t control myself around chocolate chip cookies. 13. I adore Baskin Robbins peanut butter and chocolate ice cream. 14. My comfort food is macaroni and cheese. 15. I’m a highly sensitive person. One might call me “high-strung.” 16. I read the definition of “Success” commonly attributed to Emerson almost every day and I feel frustrated that I’m not achieving it. 17. I don’t suffer fools gladly. 18. I am impatient and I have a temper. 19. I like freebies and goodie bags. 20. I enjoy reading fashion magazines and celebrity entertainment mags. 21. I love cookbooks although I don’t do much cooking. 22. I don’t like being touched by strangers unless it’s a hug. 23. I would have liked to go into musical theater but I lacked talent. 24. I like traditional church services. Give me the standard litany and old-fashioned hymns. Electric guitars and Starbucks coffee cups don’t belong in my idea of church. 25. I have a weird sense of humor and love to laugh.
Read more...

I am what I am Kuwait
Author: .S.
About me: I am a 26 years old vegetarian (may seldom eat eggs!)and have a passion for discovering (only to know that they already existed!) places..be it do with food, fun or even fashion! Q8 (Kuwait) seemed like a short stint in my ever wandering life, but it semes to get into my viens now, good or bad.. i leave it on time! So if u share the same spirit, join me in naratting your own episodes in all their uniqueness!

Daily Health Bits USA
Author: Cindy Burreson
About me: Cindy Burreson has been in the nutrition industry for over 12 years in the capacity of Salesperson for such companies as MET-Rx and Ironman Bar, a Personal Trainer, Manager of a Nutrition Store, National Fitness Competitor, Fitness Model and Writer for an online fitness publication. She is currently seeking certification as a Nutrition Specialist and is employed by Biosintos Nutraceuticals as an Account Executive and Ambassador of Charitable Alliances. Cindy's goal with her blog is to offer daily health tips to foster wellness in every aspect of your life. Cindy lives in the Palm Springs area with her husband, two cats and beloved bulldog Daisy.

Yum Yum Café Germany
Author: Lia
About me: If you were sitting at the next table to me in a café today, these are the stories that you would overhear. The music is loud. The cigarette smoke is awesome; you are in Germany after all. The coffee is excellent. And, since this is a blog, you don't even have to lip read.

Climate of Our Future USA
Author: Deborah
About me: Climate of Our Future is a blog meant to open a discussion of global climate change by providing articles, resources and opinions that provoke our readers to thought and action. We’ll attempt to describe how our world’s climate is changing, what’s causing it, and how we can correct it.
Although the discussion of climate change and its manmade causes can be controversial, we can all agree that it’s important to do everything we can to safeguard our environment and its natural resources. Toward that end we’ll also be providing links to information that will allow us to reinvent ourselves as a more sustainable society.
Contributors
Deborah — Founder and author
I am very passionate about our environment. Growing up and spending most of my life in the Sierra Nevada Mountains has given me a deep respect for nature. I have seen many changes to the local climate over the years. There is smog now coming up from the valley poisoning the flora and fauna. This is why I started the blog, to raise awareness. Some say it’s too late to change anything now. I disagree, there is still so much we can do.

Are you in? Post a comment here with your link and I will visit your blog, maybe review your post!

2007-04-04T08:21:00.000-07:00

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For instance: Are you looking for new plants for your dream garden? Or new garden furniture to enjoy these first spring days? Look no further, you have come to the right place. Shop in your own mall from the privacy of your home and get great rebates. Get your own mall here: My Power Mall

2007-04-04T07:46:00.000-07:00

Spring is in the air!

Want to get your blog read? Here is how!

Just do these 4 simple steps and enjoy more traffic and communicating with other bloggers.

Just 4 Easy Steps:
1. Write a spring related entry in your blog
2. Find 3 other spring related posts in 3 other blogs
3. Add the "Think Spring!" picture and code to your blog
4. Leave a comment with a link to your post at my rosewoman blog

1. Write a spring related entry in your blog

This may be about anything. Be creative! Write about nature, your garden, your love life, your kids, your dogs, your new clothes, your business, your new health activities, your new books, your new anything, your travels, about food, about Easter or Pesach, music, the weather ...! As long as it deals with "this time of the year" it's ok!

2. Find 3 other spring related posts in 3 other blogs

Where to find other spring entries
Browse other blogs to find other spring related entries. Start with the blogs you read anyway, those in your blogroll, or if you don't have one, try these places, there are literally millions of blogs there!
BlogExplosion
The largest Blog Exchange on the net
MyBlogLog
Great Bloggers' community with many features
Technorati
71 million blogs ... !
BlogHer
Where the women bloggers are

... or try the blogs in the blogroll below.
But please do not get too incestuous, try to find at least ONE fresh entry that is not part of the party yet!

Once you have found 3 entries
Find spring related entries with at least 10 lines of text. Once you have found them, copy the first 5 lines or so of each enrtry into your blog and write a short comment.Close with a link to the blog where you found the entry: "Continue reading here ..."

See examples of how I did it here in my blog: rosewoman - Spring is in the air

3. Add the "Think Spring!" picture and code to your blog

"Think Spring" is a gift from James Jordan
Get your "Think Spring!" pic and the code here. You may add the large pic or the small one, add it to your entry or in your sidebar, just add it:
Points of Light
A blog by James Jordan

This is the original "Think Spring!" picture by James Jordan.
Click the pic

4. Leave a comment with a link to your post here!

Let me know you are participating and show me where to find your entry. Once I have verified your post I will add you to the "Think Spring!" Blogroll!

2007-04-04T07:43:00.000-07:00

Ad: Think Fresh ... Buy Organic!

2007-04-04T07:37:00.000-07:00

5. optional: Leave more comments

If you want - and it is highly recommended - leave also comments
- in the blogs that you "blogtipped". Just tell them ""I have springtipped you!" to let them know and maybe entice them to participate, too, and keep the ball rolling ... i
- in James Jordan's blog as it is by courtesy of James that we may use his spring gift for this blog party. Leaving a comment there will also heighten your chances to get visitors to your blog!
Points of Light

6. optional: Spread the word!

Also highly recommended! Tell your friends and co-bloggers about the "Think Spring" blog party! Talk about it in forums and networks! The more bloggers participate, the more new visitors will come visiting your blog.

Give a little first (explore other blogs and link to them) then receive a lot!

This party will continue till Mid-June, when hopefully James Jordan will provide us with a "Think Summer!" pic!

To sum up ...
- anyone may add the "Think Spring" pic to their blog (courtesy of James Jordan), i.e. also the "passive" participants (the "springtipped" ones).

- but only active participants who fulfill all requirements will be added to the "Think Spring" Blogroll!

- requirements being: spring related blog entry, commented links to 3 other blogs with spring related entries, "Think Spring" pic and code on your blog.

Let the Spring Party roll...

Get the ball rolling. Experience spring. Be inspired. Meet other bloggers. Enhance your blogging experience. And let your traffic grow ...

2007-04-04T06:59:00.000-07:00

The "Think Spring" BlogRoll

Okay, let's the BlogRolling begin!

James Jordan himself was the first to arrive!

These are the participating blogs. Visit them and see what springy themes they have written about, and what they found interesting in others' blogs!

Points of Light Illinois, US

Thought Renewal Kansas, US
Magical Rose Garden California, US

2007-03-31T09:46:00.000-07:00

Spring is in the air ...

It's the last day of March, spring is in the air, and I feel like giving a little link love to blogging sisters - how very generous of me! So here are some spring related posts from my favourite women bloggers blogs. Not surprisingly, most of them are foodblogs. Enjoy! (and visit their blogs...)

PS: You can have a “Think Spring” flower to post on your own blog! James Jordan says: Instruct your blog readers to click your “Think Spring” picture to get their own HTML code and keep the virtual flower-giving going. Let’s see how far we can spread this "spirit of spring" meme!

2007-03-31T09:25:00.000-07:00

From Elise Bauer of Simple Recipes (California)
Oh how I envy those "blossoming sweet peas"! Sweet peas are my favourite flowers, and they are still very far from "blossoming" here in Germany! In fact, the little plants from last year's seeds still sit on my window sill waiting to be transferred into garden soil once it is safe enough ...

Snow Peas with Pine Nuts and Mint
Spring has sprung here in Northern California. The sweet peas are blossoming, the snap peas are climbing, and I have peas on my brain! Today I had a hankering for snow peas and cooked up a bunch this afternoon just for the heck of it. There are so many ways to prepare snow peas, the only thing you really don't want to do is to over-cook them. This is a simple stir-fry with pine nuts, garlic, sesame oil, and a little mint. What's your favorite snow peas recipe?
Continue reading "Snow Peas with Pine Nuts and Mint" »

I found this blog in Technorati

2007-03-31T09:03:00.000-07:00

From Heidi Swanson of 101cookbooks (California)
This sounds like a great spring brunch dish indeed, I will sure try it out in the next couple of weeks, but I am not sure if I will make it for Easter ... My sons will be home from universities, and one of them is a vegetarian, so although this is a vegetarian recipe alright I doubt if he (and his brother, too) will like it. They are not so great fans of asparagus. I am, though, and I will enjoy this dish on some other Sunday with my husband and maybe some friends.

Savory Asparagus Bread Pudding
Flipping through my friend Ann's new cookbook the other night, I stumbled on a delicious-sounding bread pudding recipe - Savory Asparagus Bread Pudding. It looked perfect for Spring, perfect for brunch, and if I were looking for something to add to my Easter recipe repertoire (which I'm not, but I'm sure some of you are), this looked compelling. A seasonal, family-style recipe where nearly all the prep can be done the day or night before.
Continue reading "Savory Asparagus Bread Pudding" »

I found this blog in Technorati

2007-03-31T09:00:00.000-07:00

From Christiane Britton of 28cooks (Pennsylvania)
Another asparagus recipe! Great spring vegetable. There are more spring recipes in Fiber's blog, she did a remix from her archives looking for spring food, I find this collection very inspiring: 28 Cooks' Weekend Remix

Hearty Asparagus and Wild Mushroom Soup
I love this time of year. The sun is out longer, and the temperatures are starting to creep up. It makes you feel good when you walk outside and realize that you can shed a layer or two. I also love the food during this season. Everyone is starting to transition from the heavy, warming comfort foods of winter to lighter and more fresh tasting dishes. This soup is a great spring soup, not too heavy, yet perfectly light tasting. The fresh lemon zest is the perfect finish to the fresh asparagus and mushrooms, and the rice helps to make it a nice substantial meal.
Continue reading "Hearty Asparagus and Wild Mushroom Soup" »

I found this blog in Technorati

2007-03-31T08:28:00.000-07:00

From Tricia Power of As the Garden Grows (Canada)
Now this is quite a different side to spring! Tricia remembers an incident that happened in "this time of the year" in Canada. I remember something similar happening to us when we crossed the then new bridge over the Oeresund between Sweden and Denmark. It was scary indeed!

Cracked Windshield - Auto Glass Repair
I think this is the time of year when the roads are the dirtiest and tend to have the most debris on them - at least in areas that have a cool winter climate. There’s often rocks and other litter on the road that can easily fly up and crack your windshield when you are driving behind another car or truck.
Continue reading "Cracked Windshield - Auto Glass Repair" »

I found this blog in Technorati

2007-03-31T08:08:00.000-07:00

From Anne-Marie Nichols of This Mama Cooks! (Colorado)
Another one of my favorite food blogs. Anne-Marie's post reminds me that spring is not just Easter. The Cinnamon Lamb sounds very mouthwatering to me, as cinnamon is one of the aromas I simply can't resist!

Pesach for the Rest of Us and a Passover lamb recipe
In Pesach for the Rest of Us: Making the Passover Seder Your Own, author Marge Piercy shares with us how she creates her own Passover seder with a group of family and friends. In her journey through the ritual, Piercy coaxes us toward a contemporary interpretation, rethinking what is traditional, and opening the celebration to non-Jews.
Continue reading "Pesach for the Rest of Us and a Passover lamb recipe" »

I found this blog in BlogExplosion

2007-03-31T08:00:00.000-07:00

From Lisa Roberson of Hippie Spelunker (Alabama)
Read what happenend in Alabama yesterday! A scary side of spring. I like Lisa's blog (even if it NOT a foodblog)! Maybe it is because I am still feeling a "hippie" myself. I encourage you to repond to her plea: "This is weird, ya'll! I want to know if ya'll are experiencing any of the 'yellow powder phenomenon', and if you are, is it typical? Sound off - please!!"

Yellow snow in Alabama
Yellow snow?! Ewwww! Ok, so it's not exactly snow, but, that is the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of trying to describe what's floating around in our air and blanketing our cars right now!It's pollen! Massive, massive amounts of pollen! It's allergy central around here! It's unbelievable!
Continue reading "Yellow snow in Alabama" »

I found this blog via Points of Light by James Jordan (comments section)

2007-03-29T11:40:00.001-07:00

How To Feed The Hungry Heart

By Dr. Brenda Shoshanna

Greetings!
As we prepare for the holidays and welcome spring, we find ourselves in a season where we can pass through hard places and allow the best in ourselves to come to life. This is a good time to look at all the ways we can open up, become available and rejoice in the gifts we have been given. As the days become warmer, as spring flowers begin to stir, we too can break through the coldness of winter and give ourselves and others a chance to bloom.

Happy holidays to all!

This article is dedicated to those who wish to learn he simple laws of love and how to practice them in all their relationships. Combining eastern and western wisdom, we discover easy, enjoyable steps to take which help make our relationships all we want them to be and allow us to live life to the brim.

How To Feed The Hungry Heart
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Most of us live our lives hungry - hungry for love, attention, praise, success. But no matter how much we take in, it’s hard to be satisfied. The pleasure lasts for a little while and then before long we’re craving more. It is easy to spend each day waiting for tomorrow when we will get what we dream of, arrive at our goal, find a new job, have good weather, or finally, magically, meet the love of our life. Then things will be better. Right?

Wrong. When tomorrow comes it’s another day, just like this one. Unless we know what this day is, and how to live it fully and truly, the joy we dream of never comes. Or if the joy and success does come, it lasts a few moments and then leaves us oddly insecure.

After getting what we have wanted or worked for, for a long time, there can be a strange emptiness. Is this all there is, many ask? Others become afraid to lose what they have found – and start grasping it tightly. Others just want more, greed arises, hunger, addiction. In Zen it’s called being a hungry ghost- someone at a banquet who eats and eats, but is still unable to taste the food, feel full or be nourished by it.

The good news is that there are ways to live which allow us to eat, digest and be nourished all that comes to us. Many have no idea how to do this. They become so driven chasing the elusive golden ring on the endless merry go round, they lose the fun of the ride. They may not have even realized the ride is over, the sun has gone down and it’s time to go home. Some have even forgotten where home is.

Zen practice is about stopping the merry go round of our minds and heart. We take our attention off the prizes we think are waiting for us, somewhere else, someday, if we were only good enough. We take our attention off being good enough, and realize we’re good enough now. At this very moment we are that which we seek so fervently.

How To Take The First Step

Stop For A Moment

Practice is about stopping. We stop our usual way of running, moving, chasing, fixing, thinking, doing and take a breath. Just a simple breath, just like one we take every moment of our lives, but pay no attention to. The first step is to take charge of our focus and pay attention to what’s happening right here, under our eyes, to the breath we are taking, this very moment.

Where will that get me, some ask? They do not realize that without this very precious breath and the next one that follows it, they would not be anywhere. Strange, isn’t it, how we take this breath for granted. What else do we take for granted? It’s worthwhile to look and see.

Exercise: Pay Attention
Consider for a moment what you pay attention to all day long. What seems important to you, what do you take for granted and hardly attend to at all? Write it down. Do not judge your answers. Be honest and simple. As you keep track all week long, you’ll be amazed at what claims your attention, what you give your precious life force to.

We take so much for granted, as though it will be here for us forever - our breath, our children, our health, our spouses. But all is given for a short while. All comes into our lives and eventually goes and we may never even have taken the time to realize what was there.

As we live most of our lives paying attention to the dreams created by our racing, yearning, scheming minds, we are allow our Monkey Mind to rule us. The monkey mind is the mind that hops from branch to branch, person to person, job to job, desire to desire, thought to thought. It always wants more and more, never feels good and doesn’t now how to say thank you. It is unruly, reactive, unhappy and cannot be made to feel content. It chatters endlessly and is an expert in spoiling, judging and criticizing everything.

That Monkey Mind lives in us all. Sometimes it is very loud in our lives. Other times it settles down for awhile. This monkey mind pursues that which has no value and doesn’t know how to find that which it is yearning for. In order to fill our hungry hearts, we must learn how to recognize and dissolve this monkey mind, to take our attention away from it, to turn our focus to what counts.

Exercise: Stop The Monkey Mind
Spend some time getting to know how the Monkey Mind is operating in your life. Much of the misery we go through and blame on others, has nothing to do is simply the effects of our own monkey mind. The first step is becoming aware of its thoughts, deeds, impulses. We need not hate, reject or try to get rid of it, just to recognize what’s going on. This recognition takes its power away.. As we learn to make friends with this part of ourselves we help it to settle down and take its proper place.

When a sense of hunger, loneliness, dissatisfaction and craving comes, don’t blame it on others, or on circumstances. Instead, stop and look within. Know it is the monkey mind that is robbing you of the joy and fulfillment that is your natural birthright.

As you pay attention, stay in the present and take power back from the monkey mind, little by little you will be returning to your original nature. This nature is beyond words and thoughts. It is the part of yourself which knows the truth, which is kind and filled with clarity and satisfaction. This part of yourself will take over as you continue to practice paying attention, staying in the moment, and truly experience all that comes to you.

Everyday life and the struggles it brings, will become transformed into a series of moments that are fresh and new. You then take your newfound focus and are able to “be here” in a brand new way. Not only does this eliminate hunger, dissatisfaction and cravings, but it brings new spaciousness and possibilities to those you interact with as well.

Find out more in Dr. Shoshanna's e-book, Living by Zen (Timeless Truths for Everyday Life).
In this book you will discover the 2,000 Year Old Zen Secrets To Being Calm, Balanced and Positive, No Matter What Is Going On.
Probably the biggest need all of us have is to feel calm, balanced and positive no matter what is going on in our lives. This is exactly what you will feel when you begin to work with the unique program inside this e-book.
Living By Zen explores the things that steal your peace of mind, different ways you handle stress and why they do not work.
Download the book now and enjoy.

Click Here To Get A Copy Of: Living by Zen (Timeless Truths For Everyday Life)

2007-03-29T10:56:00.000-07:00

Dr. Brenda Shoshanna is a top-selling author of many books, including Zen And The Art of Falling In Love, (Simon and Schuster), Zen Miracles (Finding Peace In An Insane World) and others. She has conducted over 500 workshops and talks regionally and nationally, which have been widely acclaimed.

2007-03-29T03:40:00.000-07:00

Browse my amazon store for more recommended books on love and relationships:

http://astore.amazon.com/love-and-relationships-20

2007-01-09T19:12:00.000-08:00

Body Image -

A Huge Problem For Small Self Esteem

Body image is a HUGE (excuse the pun) problem with women in the U.S. A recent Glamour Magazine survey found that 75% of women ages 18-35 believe they are fat. Even though only 60 percent actually are overweight, they have a skewed body image. The vast majority of women don’t see themselves as slender and attractive.

According to the 2000 census, the female population of the United States is over 140 million. This means over 84 million women in our country are overweight. Nearly 40 million women are medically obese. If thin women feel lousy about themselves, you know how large women feel. They have even more serious body image issues.

Researchers at Penn State who surveyed women about their sexual satisfaction found that the less attractive a woman felt, the less sexual desire and activity she experienced. Since women who are overweight are conditioned by society’s pervasive “thin is beautiful” message, the combination of these statistics suggest that, at the very least, 40 million women, and quite possibly, 84 million women aren’t having the kind of love life they want to have, and it’s because of their poor body image.

In Overcoming Fear of Fat, Laura S. Brown and Esther D. Rothblum suggest that the link in our society’s mindset of fat with being out-of-control and with laziness and ugliness creates in a woman an “energy-draining self-hatred.” It’s no wonder, then, that in a McCall’s Magazine phone poll, 40 percent of 350 participating women reported they were less interested in sex when they felt overweight.

In her article, “Factors in the Sexual Satisfaction of Obese Women in Relationships,” published in the January 15, 2002 issue of Electronic Journal of Human Sexuality, Wilka Woodward Areton includes this quote offered by an overweight woman: “…when I go up a few pounds, I can’t enjoy myself in bed. I’m afraid to let my belly out. I feel embarrassed to make any noise, and I’m less relaxed about being touched.” This woman undoubtedly speaks for millions of women when she says that she feels too heavy to be attractive. She goes on to confirm how her poor body image intrudes into intimate moments: “I know in my heart I should be thinner…. Sometimes I get so wrapped up in thinking about it that I can’t really enjoy Rob touching or even wanting me.”

The message that women must be thin in order to be attractive is what drives women to diet. Unfortunately, the dieting, even when successful, isn’t enough to change a woman’s body image enough to enjoy sexual satisfaction. In a study of 60 obese women who dieted “successfully,” 47 percent of the participants reported that they were disappointed because their weight loss didn’t satisfy them. They lost weight, and still felt awful about themselves. They still didn’t feel sexy.

If big women (and even so-called normal-sized women) are to enjoy their intimate relationships, they need to address their body image. Learning to accept yourself and enjoy the pleasure in your life is the key to changing the way you think about your body.

When you learn ways to please a lover and take proactive steps to leave old body perceptions behind, you can change your love life. A changed love life is a wonderful way to completely transform a bad body image.

------------------------------------------
A Big Beautiful Woman’s Guide To Great Sex

body image

fat

sex

self esteem

beauty

2007-01-09T18:32:00.000-08:00

A Big Beautiful Woman’s Guide to Great Sex — The Caramel Sutra

REVIEW

It’s not difficult to find romantic advice. It’s not a challenge to find information about great sex either. But it IS difficult to find romantic advice and information on great sex that’s specifically for large women.

Authors Andrea Rains Waggener and Nancy Anne Eltrich saw this void in the lovemaking literature arena and decided to put their expertise to use. They decided to write an e-book specifically for fat women.

A Big Beautiful Woman’s Guide To Great Sex—The Caramel Sutra is a 171-page e-book written especially for big women. It’s a how-to guide that helps fat women not only accept their large size but put it to use in the bedroom, and beyond.

Written with a heavy dose of humor and just the right touch of raunchiness (enough to be fun but not enough to make most women uncomfortable), A Big Beautiful Woman’s Guide is an easy read. It’s also a fun read.

Andrea and Nancy, who readily admit to being fat and also admit to having issues about that, readily share what they’ve learned about having great sex. (Both Andrea and Nancy are happily married and enjoy wonderful lovemaking with their husbands. Andrea’s marriage is relatively new. She’s been divorced previously. Nancy, however, has been with her husband for 28 years. She knows what it takes to keep the fires burning in a long marriage.) The combined knowledge of these two women is impressive and inspiring for any woman who doesn’t have the sexual relationship she wants.

If you want to get a look at the kind of information they have to share, sign up for their free 5-lesson course, The Big Beautiful Irresistible Lover Course and their Weekly Tantalizing Tips—Lovemaking Sexsteps for Having The Ultimate Lovemaking Experiences. They’re worth giving up your e-mail address for.

A Big Beautiful Woman’s Guide covers these juicy topics:

--How to put aside old hurts and rejection so they don’t stop you from enjoying great lovemaking.

--Letting go of the past: why judgment and criticism must be barred from the bedroom and how to do it.

--Flirting: easy ways to enjoy all day foreplay.

--Encouragement: how to give it to your man in bed.

--Play: the reason play is essential to great lovemaking and how to turn your intimate life into a sexual playground.

--Aphrodisiacs: how simple foods can enhance your love life.

--Water: why it’s a big woman’s best friend and why it’s so good for your intimate relationship and how to use it to your best advantage.

--Dancing: the ways a big woman can use it set the mood for great sex.

--Adventure: why it’s so important to big women in the bedroom

--Hands: the best way to use your hands during lovemaking.

--Oral pleasures: the secret to using your mouth in a way that will drive a man wild

--Sexual positions: which ones are the best for big women

--Going beyond the bedroom: how you can rev up your sex life by taking your intimate fun out of the “boudoir.’

Each chapter includes an entertaining and informative combination of Andrea and Nancy’s personal experience and hands-on suggestions for how to use the ideas they share. In case you’re still not motivated to action, the end of each chapter includes Sexsteps—specific actions you can take to put into practice the concepts in the chapter.

The e-book has only two minor drawbacks. One, occasionally, it sometimes strays into territory that may seem old or clichéd. Some of the ideas in the book are kind of trite or overused. Two, sometimes the advice in the book is too general, not as geared toward big women as it could be.

At $29.97, the e-book and its bonuses is a great deal. You’ll definitely get your money’s worth. The e-book has an open-ended guarantee so you don’t take any risk.

All in all, I highly recommend A Big Beautiful Woman’s Guide to any big woman who wants to rev up her sex life or simply feel better about herself.

A Big Beautiful Woman’s Guide to Great Sex

body image 
fat
sex
self esteem
beauty

2006-07-12T17:45:00.000-07:00

It's strawberry time!

If you love strawberries as much as I do treat yourself to a couple of mouthwatering fresh and sweet strawberry websites!

You can do so by scrolling down to the end of this page where you will find the link to the "Strawberry WebRing". Just click "next" or "random site"! You will find this link on each ring site visited, most frequently at the bottom of the page.

I love this ring. I just joined it to celebrate summer.

Maybe you would like to join us? (There is also a "Join" link on each site.)

The following is taken from WebRing member site "Fraises": http://www.geocities.com/NapaValley/Vineyard/5693/index.html

Enjoy!

Heidrun Karin

2006-07-12T17:40:00.000-07:00

strawberries romanoff

serves four to six

1 quart strawberries, cleaned and hulled
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup fresh squeezed orange juice
whipped cream or vanilla ice cream
(optional) 1/4 cup Cointreau or Curacao liquor

Place strawberries in a bowl and cover with sugar.

Pour in orange juice and liquor.

Gently stir the fruit mixture.

Chill for one hour.

Serve with whipped cream or over vanilla ice cream.

2006-07-12T05:33:00.000-07:00

In these vibrant summer days you might be open to a course that will refresh and activate your energies up to a stage where you become "Unstoppable" ...

Cynthia Kersey is a very special "rosewoman".

Consider taking her course at Success University.

You can enroll for a donation of $2 and get immediate access to this or any other course you will feel attracted to (ca 135 altogether). You will enjoy a 14 day trial!

Take advantage of this offer and become an "Unstoppable Woman".

Enroll here

Information on other courses by Success University see my blog

http://spiritualmillionaire.blogspot.com/

2006-07-12T05:27:00.000-07:00

Unstoppable Live

A course by Cynthia Kersey at Success University

What is the secret to being unstoppable? Cynthia Kersey knows. In fact, she has spent years researching and interviewing hundreds of Americas greatest achievers. Now she reveals their secrets and unstoppable traits to you - and tells you how to replicate them in your own life. In Cynthia Kerseys, "Unstoppable Live," you will learn powerful concepts you can use to not only identify your hearts true desire - but to achieve it. You will also meet others who have traveled this road and can show you the way.

You can enroll here

2006-07-12T05:24:00.000-07:00

Cynthia Kersey

A dynamic and highly sought after author, speaker and coach, Cynthia Kersey delivers engaging and informative presentations that will jumpstart your group or organization into action to create measurable results and unstoppable success for your business and life in just 30 days. Cynthia Kersey's years of extensive research and applied methodologies, which are detailed in her best-selling books, UNSTOPPABLE and UNSTOPPABLE WOMEN, and outlined in her proven and effective transformational tool, UNSTOPPABLE 30-DAY CHALLENGE, is the foundation for her successful corporate programs.

As a leading performance and productivity expert, Cynthia has coached thousands of people including sales reps in Fortune 500 companies and hundreds of independent distributors from networking companies on how to GET UNSTUCK and go to the next level in their business and then how to duplicate that success within their team.

Cynthia is a business owner, national columnist and the National Foundation of Female Legislators' 2001 Entrepreneur of the Year. And she's been on countless radio and television shows including the Oprah Winfrey Show.

To learn more about this instructor, visit their web site at http://www.unstoppable.net/default.asp.

2006-06-26T19:53:00.000-07:00

The Story Of 65 Roses

By Dan Moran

This is way off topic, but I hope once you’ve read this that you’ll understand and forgive the brief detour…

If you’ve had children of your own, then you know the joy that you can get only from holding a baby in your arms, looking on her angelic face and thinking about the wonderous future ahead for this new little person you’ve helped bring into the world.

But imagine how your life would change if shortly after she was born, you found out that this innocent, helpless child had a life threatening disease that had no cure and which so devastates it’s victims that few make it to the age of 35.

Well, a few years ago, some friends of mine were hit with this most unwelcome news. Their first child, a beautiful little baby boy, was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis, a genetic disorder that has no cure.

But rather than play “victim” and let the disease run their lives and the life of their son, these brave parents met the challenge head on. They learned everything there was to know about the illness, including the latest treatments and therapies.

Normally, a child diagnosed with CF faces stunted growth, frequent illnesses and numerous hospital stays every year. But this particular little boy, who is now a healthy and happy 4 years old, is within the size and weight norms for his age, is rarely sick, and has been hospitalized only a couple of times.

This is because of the dedication and committment of his parents to do whatever it takes to make sure their son’s childhood is as normal and as happy as possible. But it is also because his parents have the support of family, friends and one incredible organization, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation:

http://www.cff.org

CFF’s mission is to find new treatments and eventually a cure for this debilitating disease. The work of organizations like CFF has led to an increase in the life expectancy of CF patients from about 16 years to over 32 years. And they are finding new treatments and therapies every day to reduce the number of illnesses and hospital stays CF patients must endure.

Just as important, the CF Foundation is there to support and educate the parents and families of those with CF to make sure they are equipped mentally and emotionally to deal with the daily rigors of caring for their loved ones.

It is with a personal understanding of how important their work is that I ask you to consider donating to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Your gift will help them continue the work of helping families in need, developing new treatments and therapies and eventually of finding a cure for this dread disease.

Please visit the CFF website for more information about the work they do and to make your donation:

http://www.cff.org

Thanks for reading this. Now, go hug your children!

- Dan

(Dan Moran is the creator and owner of BetterTextAds)

PS: So, what does any of this have to do with “65 roses?” You can find the full story here:

2006-06-26T19:42:00.000-07:00

The Story of 65 Roses

65 Roses^® is what some children with CF call their disease because the words are much easier for them to pronounce. Mary G. Weiss became a volunteer for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in 1965 after learning that her three little boys had CF. Her duty was to call every civic club, social and service organization seeking financial support for CF research. Mary's 4-year old son, Richard, listened closely to his mother as she made each call. After several calls, Richard came into the room and told his Mom, "I know what you are working for." Mary was dumbstruck because Richard did not know what she was doing, nor did he know that he had cystic fibrosis. With some trepidation, Mary posed the question, "What am I working for, Richard?" "You are working for 65 Roses," he answered so sweetly. Mary was speechless. She went over to him and tenderly pressed his body to hers. He could not see the tears running down Mary's cheeks as she stammered, "Yes Richard, I'm working for 65 Roses."

Since 1965, the term "65 Roses" has been used by children of all ages to describe their disease. But, making it easier to say, does not make CF any easier to live with. The "65 Roses" story has captured the hearts and emotions of all who have heard it. The rose, appropriately the ancient symbol of love, has become a symbol of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

"65 Roses^® " is a registered trademark of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

2006-03-17T10:30:00.000-08:00

Now 35% Off!

For your winter skin

Rosehip Seed Oil
Rosa rubiginosa

Method of extraction: Cold Pressed/Unrefined A light blush wine colored oil from the ripened fruit of the famed Rosehip, also known as Rosa Mosquita. This unique oil is extremely high in essential fatty acids and has carried much respect amongst professional journals and organizations as being a great agent in the fight against dry, weathered, and dehydrated skin. It works wonders on scars and is the predominant oil used for treating wrinkles and premature aging. Can be used in all fine skin care recipes. (Read more below.)

8 oz bottle
Regular price - $12.75
Sale price - $8.28

Order here:

montainroseherbs.com

(Go to "Monthly Sales)

2005-10-23T22:01:00.000-07:00

It is my passion to ramble through the net and harvest products, articles and programs related to Natural Beauty. You are welcome to see what I have collected in my basket - only the most exquisite. I am happy to share my crops with you! And please feel free to leave your comments.

Yours in shared dedication to all Beauty natural

Heidrun Karin Peters

2005-10-23T21:16:00.000-07:00

Hawaiian Room Sprays

Add the delicious aroma of Hawaiian paradise to your home.

Intoxicating and Exotic - Made Fresh in Kauai

Organic Health and Beauty has spent years trying to find an all natural room spray that was extraordinary. Well, we finally found it. These are the finest room spray we have ever encountered.

Our room sprays are 100% natural and 100% chemical free.

A little bit goes a long way!!

Coconut Vanilla Room Spray
Add the delicious aroma of Hawaiian paradise to your home. 100% Chemical and petroleum free. On Sale!! Special Price for a limited time!
$18.00

Pikake Jasmine Room Spray
Add the delicious aroma of Hawaiian paradise to your home. 100% Chemical and petroleum free. On Sale!! Special Price for a limited time!
$18.00

Gardenia Room Spray
Add the delicious aroma of Hawaiian paradise to your home. 100% Chemical and petroleum free. On Sale!! Special Price for a limited time!
$18.00

Order here: Organic Health and Beauty

2005-09-12T17:28:00.000-07:00

Happy birthday Sean!

Today is the birthday of my Ryze friend Sean Peters.

He lives on the island of Jersey in the Channel Islands, which are between England and France.

He is a tennis coach and a qualified nutrionist and his passion is to help people improve their health.

One of the companies he represents is ULTRA LIFE, and I have chosen what might be their best product for you to explore and enjoy.

Visit Sean's Ryze page and say hello to him!
http://www.ryze.com/go/Healthysean

(Ryze is a business networking community where every member have their own website. So while you are there you can also visit mine:
http://www.ryze.com/go/heipet
I would be very pleased if you signed my guestbook!)

2005-09-12T17:02:00.000-07:00

ULTRALIFE JUICE
Amazing Life Supporting Functional Beverage

UltraLife International is very pleased to introduce the most amazing life supporting functional beverage on the market today. After much research on the very best antioxidant containing berries and fruits on planet earth, we have formulated the grand slam of juices. UltraLife Juice is comprised of a proprietary blend of extremely health beneficial ingredients as follows:

Acai Berry
Pomegranate
Wild Blueberry
Goji Berry
Noni
Red Raspberry
Wild Blueberry
Blackberry Juice Concentrate
Plum Juice Concentrate
Black Raspberry Essence
Concord Grape Juice Concentrate
Black Currant Juice Concentrate
Lo Han Guo Dry Concentrate
and a blend of 72 Colloidal Minerals.

As you are well aware, it is impossible to consistently eat enough fruits, vegetables and berries in a day in order for you to achieve the proper amount of nutrients necessary to maintain a healthy lifestyle and immune system. Not to worry, the simple solution is to drink 2 ounces of UltraLife Juice every day, which will supply your system with the proper amount of antioxidants and mineral requirements.

Read more and Order

2005-07-06T13:03:00.000-07:00

Today is the birthday of the Dalai Lama. He is now 70 years of age.

To celebrate I post an article about Tibetan Monks' diet.

It is taken from a report written by Peter Kelder and Colonel Bradford, an Englishman who spent some time in a Tibetan Lamasery and was taught the Five Rites by the Tibetan monks,

and it was provided by Chet Day in his newsletter Health & Beyond Weekly (An Eclectic Natural Health Newsletter. Wednesday, July 6 2005)

Here it is.

2005-07-06T12:57:00.000-07:00

A Tibetan Monk Diet
By Peter Kelder and Colonel Bradford
from The Five Rites at http://chetday.com/fiverites.php

.... after the tenth week Colonel Bradford no longer
attended each weekly meeting. However, he still kept up his
interest in the "Himalaya Club," and from time to time
would speak on various subjects which would aid them in
their work.

Sometimes the members requested him to advise them on some
particular subject. For instance, we discussed among our
selves one night the tremendously important part that food
played in our lives. How the right food would make us more
alive and vigorous while the wrong food would make us
sluggish and dull.

None of us knew much about the subject, however, so we
requested the Colonel to advise us at our next meeting as
to the Lamas' policy regarding food.

"In the Himalayan Lamasery where I was a neophyte," said
the Colonel, in addressing us the following week, "there
are no problems concerning the right foods, nor in getting
sufficient food. Each of the Lamas does his share of the
work in producing what is needed. Furthermore, all the work
is done by the most primitive means. Even the soil is
spaded by hand. Of course, the Lamas could use horses and
plows if they so desired, but direct contact with the soil,
handling it and working with it, seems to add something to
man's existence. Personally, it made me feel very strongly
that I was a part of the Universal. Not merely working with
it or working for it but rather that the Universal and I
were one.

"Now it is true that the Lamas are vegetarians, but not
strictly so. They do use eggs, butter, and cheese in
quantities sufficient to serve certain functions of the
brain, body, and nervous system. But aside from this they
do not need meat, for all who are strong and virile, and
who practice Rite Number Six have no need of meat, fish, or
fowl.

"Most of those who join the ranks of the Lamas are men of
the world who know little about proper food and diet. Yet
they are only in the Grand Retreat in the Himalayas a very
short while when they begin to show wonderful signs of
physical improvement, due no doubt to the diet in the
Lamasery.

"No Lama is choosy about his meals. He can't be because
there is little to choose from. A Lama diet consists of
good, wholesome food but as a rule it consists of but one
article of food to a meal that in itself is a secret of
health.

"When one eats just one kind of food at a time there can be
no clashing of foods in the stomach. Foods clash in the
stomach because starches will not mix with proteins. For
example, bread, which is starchy, when eaten with meats,
eggs, or cheese, which are protein, sets up a reaction in
the stomach which often causes not only immediate physical
pain, but which contributes as well to a short life and a
not particularly merry one.

"Many times in the Lamasery dining hall I have set down to
the table along with the Lamas and eaten a meal consisting
solely of bread. At other times I have had nothing but
fresh vegetables and fresh fruits, while at still another
meal I ate nothing but cooked vegetables and cooked fruits.
At first I greatly missed the large variety of foods to
which I had been accustomed; but after a short while I
could eat and enjoy a meal consisting of nothing but dark
bread or some one particular fruit. Sometimes it would be a
feast of one vegetable.

"The point I wish to bring out to you gentlemen is not that
you should resign yourselves to a diet of one kind of food
to a meal but that you should keep starches, fruits, and
vegetables separate from meats, fish, and fowl at your
meals.

"It is permissible to make a meal of just meat. In fact,
you could have several kinds of meats to a meal. You can
have butter, eggs, and cheese with the meat meal, and dark
bread, and, if you wish, coffee, or tea, but you must not
end up with anything sweet or starchy. No pies or cakes or
puddings.

"Then again, your meal can be strictly starches. Then you
can indulge in all the sweet fruits, all the bread, butter,
pies, cakes, puddings, and fresh or cooked vegetables you
like with out feeling any ill effects. But keep these meals
separate.

"Butter seems to be a neutral. It can be used with either a
starchy meal or with a meat meal. Milk, however, agrees
better with starch meals. Coffee and tea should always be
taken black, never with cream, although a small amount of
sweetening will do no harm."

Note from Chet: If you liked what you just read, you'll
love "Supercharge Your Energy with Five Secret Tibetan
Rejuvenation Rites." Details at
http://chetday.com/fiverites.php

2005-07-06T11:57:00.000-07:00

Growing and Harvesting Rose Hips
by Jackie Carroll

Roses can do more than grace our landscapes and floral designs. Like its cousins the apple, pear, peach and cherry, roses produce a fruit. Rose Hips are a valuable source of vitamin C, containing as much as 20 times more vitamin C than oranges. They are also an excellent antioxidant.

Growing Roses for Hips

When growing roses for hips, you'll want to select a variety that produces a reasonably large fruit that is high in vitamin C. Look for disease and insect resistant roses that won't require the use of chemical sprays.

Rugosas are an excellent choice for quality hips, and they are also a beautiful addition to the landscape, whether used as a dense hedge or a specimen plant. The flowers have a delightful fragrance and you'll be tempted to cut armloads to bring indoors, but try to resist the temptation. Remember, the more flowers you cut, the fewer hips you will have.

Harvesting and Preparing Rose Hips

Rose hips ripen after they are touched by the first fall frost. The color of rose hips varies, but in general, orange hips are not quite ripe, and deep red hips are overripe. Overripe hips are sweet, but have lost much of their vitamin C.

Rose hips will have the most nutritional value when used immediately after harvesting. To prepare rose hips for tea, cut off the bloom stem, cut the hip in half, and scrape out the seeds and hairy pith. This can be very tedious with tiny hips, so you may want to save the smallest hips for jellies. Rose hips used for jellies don't need to be seeded or scraped. A half and half mixture of rose hip juice and apple juice makes a tasty jelly.

Rose Hip Marmalade
Use a glass or enamel pan for this recipe.

1. Clean rose hips as described above for tea, and soak in cold water for two hours.

2. Simmer in water for two hours.

3. Strain and reserve liquid for jellies or other recipes.

4. Measure the mash, and add 1 cup of brown sugar for each cup of mash.

5. Boil down to a thick consistency.

6.Pour into sterilized jars and seal

About the Author:

Jackie Carroll is the editor of GardenGuides.com, a leading internet destination for gardening information and ideas.

Visit GardenGuides.com

Visit GardenGuides Seed Shop

Jackie Carroll

2005-07-01T19:10:00.000-07:00

Good night!

Dream Balm
From: Mountain Rose
Our most popular salve! A sweet smelling balm that can be applied to your temples & forehead before drifting off to sleep. Also popularly used during the day in moments of anxiety or tension. A great product for our evening ritual, which helps us drift into peaceful slumber. Excellent for children! Contains: Organic Lavender flowers, Rose petals, organic Mugwort, organic Hop flowers, organic Chamomile flowers, organic Rosemary, organic Borage and pure essential oils in a base of Sweet Almond oil, organic Olive oil and beeswax. Packaged in a 1oz tin.
Qty: 1oz Dream Balm $4.75

2005-07-01T16:50:00.000-07:00

BlackRaspberry and Vanilla

I confess I'm a soap fan. I love the feel of a solid soap bar developping all this soft smooth lather foam - and when it's made of natural ingredients, i.e. not drying out my skin, and has this unbeatable scent that comes from natural oils I prefer it by far to any (commercial) shower gels, liquid soaps or body shampoos.

I will do a longer review on this subject soon - for today I wanted to give you this link I stumbled over at blog.explosion:

Handmade soap!
Handmade by Lisa Cato from Texas, mother of little Emily (2 years old), she does her soaping while Emily is napping. How more fundamental can one get!

Here is Lisa's "Soap Philosophy":

"Changing the way you feel about soap."
Welcome to Mariposa Bath and Body. We make a variety of bath and body products such as our handcrafted soaps, body mousse, whipped shea butter, and many more. Mariposa is the Spanish word for butterfly, and just as the caterpillar goes through a miraculous change in it's chrysalis, so will your thoughts about using our soaps on your skin. When you try a bar of our soap in your bath, you'll find that the lather is rich and luxurious. You've probably been told not to use soap because it will dry out your skin, but the handcrafted soaps that we make have the finest oils, butters, and other ingredients that will leave your skin soft and smelling wonderful. Unlike commercial soaps, our soaps have no harsh ingredients that will dry your skin out. All of my bath and body products are made by me in my home so you can be assured that you will get a quality product.

Her "newest soap":

Newest Soap
The newest soap that I have to offer is called BlackRaspberry and Vanilla. This soap smells like blackraspberries on top of homemade vanilla ice cream. It's so yummy smelling!

MariposaBath

2005-06-29T20:38:00.000-07:00

I have now added a guestbook. Please let me know you were here! Your feedback is much appreciated. Scroll down right side.

rosewoman

2005-06-29T17:19:00.000-07:00

What better way is there to begin a day in June than by walking around your garden smelling the roses and sensing the dew ... The roses are great this year, abundant and glorious. Once more I am thankful to the unknown women (and men?) who laid foundation to this never ceasing joy. When we bought our house back in 2000 I was not aware of this wealth - our unknown prepossessors had done a lot of work but right then it looked neglected and nothing much. But with only a little caring in our first year look how everything is flourishing! I have not added much, only the sweet peas that are my darlings besides the roses. But they - the roses - were there alright and just awaiting their wake up kiss! I felt great being the princess charming and bring all them Thorn Roses back to bloom.

Our house was built in 1876 and there must have been quite a few eager gardeners. Before we bought it the house was shared by four families and they had only a quarter of the garden each, but they seem to have dearly loved their little piece of land. I feel grateful - and sometimes a little guilty to reap the benefits of their work.

Back at my computer first thing I did was to type "Rose Scent" into GOOGLE, and here is what I got. This at least I can share with you!

A wonderful sensuous article by Harper Hilton, fellow rambler and self-declared fragrance addict, the Fragrance Editor at Face Online, who grew up in a garden full of roses. Thank you Harper! I think all true Rosewomen will enjoy and appreciate it. Here it is (shortened).

2005-06-29T08:39:00.000-07:00

Roses
by Harper Hilton

I just came into the possession of the most marvelous rose-scent: L’Artisan Parfumeur’s “Voleur de Roses”. I acquired this through swapping. For those of you who are not familiar with swapping, here is how it works in a nutshell: “I don’t like this product anymore. Do you have something I might want? Oh, you do…ok, I send you mine, you send me yours.” This swapping has been elevated to the purpose of existence on http://www.makeupalley.com … every fragrance-junkie’s swapper heaven. I go there every day, just about. Fragrances abound.

Now on to the wonderful L’Artisan Parfumeur “Voleur de Roses” (Thief of Roses in English.) The name alone is enticing, isn’t it? The fragrance is fresh and somewhat rose-y in the top-note, with a hint of fruit (plum). It becomes deeper and spicier, plummier and more earthy as time goes on. My nose detects patchouli and something really dry, maybe vetiver? There’s coriander in there, and the whole thing becomes dry and slightly floral, with a hint of fruit and a wealth of earth. The legendary walk in the woods in fall: this is it (to my nose). Perhaps you are going on a hike on a sunny fall-day. The trees have turned color, everything smells of leaves and earth. You walk through a tiny hamlet, with wild plum-trees lining the street. You pick up one of those juicy fruits and bit into it, as you walk by an old wooden fence overgrown by roses. A few are still blooming and perfume the air. At the end of the street you can see the edge of the forest, which you are heading for. You can already sense walking though fallen leaves and moss.

You can have a look at the whole line with great pictures and descriptions at the French site (and in the French language)http://www.artisanparfumeur.com . The following sites carry part of the line and also have nice descriptions in English (particularly Aedes): http://www.aedes.com and http://www.beautycafe.com.

“Voleur de Roses” is marketed as a men’s fragrance, but of course I don’t believe in any such thing: it’s just a wonderful, earthy-woody plum-rose scent. This fragrance develops on the skin into something a little sweeter and a lot deeper than what you smell at first. It stays true to the top-note in your clothes, and that, too, is a wonderful scent. “Voleur de Roses” comes in a 1.7oz eau de toilette and in a large 3.4oz bottle. There is no other formulation (no edp, no perfume).

All of this leads me to what was, actually, my first brush with the scent of roses (aside from growing up in a garden full of them). I received this also in a swap maybe a year ago: 1000 (Mille) de Jean Patou. This is actually not so different from "Voleur de Roses", but sharper, with no sweetness, maybe a little heavier on the amber and with a whole armful of very fragrant, pungent flowers. The rose, though, comes through. Here, too, is the freshness of coriander, and the top-note impression is very similar. However, the dry-down of 1000 is actually drier, if more floral. There is an enticing “sweaty” note here (that I personally find very sexy). 1000 comes in parfum, eau de parfum and eau de toilette, as well as in a solid perfume. I mostly use the edt in one of the old splash bottles (which are heavy and a pleasure to handle). I also have a solid perfume, which is softer, heavier on the floral notes, and not as deep. You can get 1000 de Patou at Perfumebay as well as on Scentiments. Occasionally, there is a good deal to be had for this in Ebay. And Makeup Alley is always worth a try.

Another, actually more prominently rose-y scent is Czeck & Speake “Rose”: it is similar to the others, but much lighter, much clearer, and less deep. It starts out very rosey (really lovely), and dries down to a slightly woody-fresh, slightly spicy fragrance. There is coriander again, there is geranium (giving it a hint of green), there is, of course, a lot of soft rose, and then there is patchouli in the dry-down, making for the woody-ness (but not smelling of patchouli, really). This comes in a cologne (probably one of the reasons why it’s lighter) as well as in a bath-gel. I have only tried the cologne, and really like it: the roses in this one are more summery, more reminiscent of the actual flower, than the roses in the other two scents. This can be had (and looked at) at Aedes again (actually, I have not found this line anywhere else on-line). Btw, if it’s not on their web-site, they DO carry it, so call them (1.888.AEDES.15). Also, if you don’t have one yet, do by all means call and request their annual catalog. It is to drool over: gorgeous pictures and descriptions of scents and lotions and potions…I keep reading this all year long, until the next one comes out.

A fourth rose scent, and one which I tried only recently and then swapped away (for said “Voleur de Roses”) is Comptoir Sud Pacifique’s “Eau de Rose”: a clear, spiced-cider-tinged, lovely rose-scent: it smells faintly of cardamom and cinnamon, has loads of soft roses, and all bedded on a faint hint of amber. I have no idea if this can be bought I the U.S., but you can get it through the Paris store by calling 011-33-1-42-61-74-44. Other CSP scents are available at Beautycafe, Aedes, Beautyhabit and Four Seasons Products (this latter also carries L’Artisan).

Read more

Harper Hilton is the Fragrance Editor at Face Online. See her work here: Fragrance Section

2005-06-29T06:54:00.000-07:00

Pure Olive Oil Soap (flakes)

Source: Finiki, Laconia, Greece

Quality: Hand-made in the traditional way from 100% pure olive oil. Hand-cut and packaged.

Olive Oil Soap is absolutely the best cleansing soap for dry and sensitive skin. It is especially recommended for sensitive skin during the cold winter months because of its moisturizing properties.

How to use these soapflakes with pouch.
Each time you want to bathe or shower, just put HALF A HANDFUL of flakes into the pouch and then use it to rub your body while showering. You'll just adore the soothing moisturizing lather that will develop. When you're done just turn the inside of the pouch out rinse and leave to dry to re-use it.

$19,95
Prices are final and include payment processing fees, worldwide shipping and handling.

Order here

2005-06-28T16:36:00.000-07:00

Huile de Soin - Beauty Fine Oil

Rose Confiture by Les Bains du Marais
A nutritious and gently scented oil that can be poured into the bath or applied directly to the skin. When poured into the bath, it transforms into a milky, moisturizing treatment. When applied directly to the skin after bath or shower, it serves to lock in moisture and gives a healthy sheen. It enhances a tan, and is easily absorbed. Enriched with Olive, Argan and Jojoba Oils.

Description Price Quantity
6.8oz Huile de Soin - Beauty Fine Oil 56.00

http://www.aedes.com/product.php?product_id=1313