Closed Lids

Are You Pregnant?

noreply@blogger.com (Changing Woman) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 04:17:00 +0000

“Okay I've seen enough of those pics to ask this question - are you pregnant?!?!?!” This was a message sent to me on Facebook a few weeks ago. My first reaction was humor, my second was sadness. I had just posted my pictures from Haiti and I was feeling great. When I came back from Haiti, I felt like I looked slimmer, my clothes were looser, and I just overall felt better. I never thought I looked pregnant. It took a lot for me to post my pictures from Haiti. Over the last two years my weight has fluctuated so much, that I didn't want friends or family, who haven’t seen me in awhile to look at recent photos. Me putting up my Haiti pictures, was me feeling confident enough in myself to post pictures again.

My response to that comment “ lol, no I’m just fat haha.” Her response, “But I thought u were an avid basketball player...”The minute I sent my comment that no I’m just fat, I regretted it, why would I put it out into the universe that I am fat, when I am not; when I am in shape, play sports, go to the gym, etc. I am just fat in my own eyes, because I compare myself to previous years. To people on the street, I am not fat. Her response, made me chuckle a little because there are plenty of people who are heavy set that can play sports and do so with ease.

The whole interaction was interesting for me, because I realized I still have some deep rooted issues with weight and self image. I don’t know where it comes from, though I have an idea, but it is something I still work on everyday. No animosity toward this person that wrote that message to me. If she is reading this post, know I just wrote this post as a self relfection and reminder that I have work to do. That message was my wake up call and no hard feelings, I needed to read that. Even though, I do not look pregnant, I do know, I need to drop some weight.

I have been lucky to partner up with a friend who is a personal trainer. He challenged and assigned me to the task of exercising six days a week for at least 45 minutes each time and to eat a strict diet. I have to do this because I am ready to return to my best hsape that I was in when I was age 22-24. I am now 26, turning 27 and I would like by my 27^th birthday to create a new best shape. Be at a place where I am happy with my size. Starting tomorrow I will begin my intense road to dropping 50 pounds or being a size 10. It doesn’t matter, whichever I reach first, I will be satisfied. The trainer said we will go for dropping 10 pounds by April 11^th along with dropping fat. I personally want to go for 20 pounds, but I will be patient and do things the healthy way.

I will give you weekly updates and let you know how I am progressing.

What I look like now

On any given day, you can find L.Marie on her website, www.closedlids.com, on Facebook, www.facebook.com/ClosedLids, and on Twitter, www.twitter.com/closedlids . Join the conversation and interact.

Year of the Dragon

noreply@blogger.com (Changing Woman) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:25:00 +0000

Happy Chinese New Year(Spring Festival)! January 23, 2012 marks the year of the Dragon according to the Chinese Lunar/Solar calendar. Traditionally, the New Year will begin in the middle of the 12th month with the second new moon and end in the middle of the first month with a waxing full moon. This time period for the Chinese is one of the most important festivals. This is a time that is focused on the home and the family. Many will partake in dinner feasts with family and household cleaning in preparation for the year. The New Year is one that last about 15 days, with each day symbolizing something different.

Photo Credit: L.Marie

Last year was a Rabbit year, this year is a Dragon year, and next year is a Snake year. 2011 was a relaxing(healing) year and 2012 will be a transitional(wild) year . A Dragon year is one that should be used to follow passions, ambitions, and take risks. The element that governs Dragon is wood, however the element that is associated with this 2012 year is water, which indicates happiness and success will be prominent. Be independent, communicate, and take risks because returns will be high.

I will be following the Chinese tradition and will be clearing up my room and discarding items that were no longer necessary. A clear space equals a clear mind. I will also use 2012 to follow my passions and allow my cautious Taurus temperament to take some risks.

Will you honor the Chinese New Year by spring cleaning? What traditions do you follow?

L.M

On any given day, you can find L.Marie on her website, www.closedlids.com, on Facebook, www.facebook.com/ClosedLids, and on Twitter, www.twitter.com/closedlids . Join the conversation and interact.

Eat Like a West Indian, Lose Weight?

noreply@blogger.com (Changing Woman) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:13:00 +0000

December 18, 2011, I left for Haiti to visit my grandmother. I was a tired, overworked individual with dark circles. I left January 5,2012, a new person; energized, well rested without dark circles. In three weeks I changed my life around. I wondered, if I ate and slept like they do in Haiti, would I drop weight and be more rested. The answer- yes!

One of the first words out of my grandmother's mouth when I arrived, was that I looked horrible. And she was right. Three weeks prior to me leaving for Haiti, I was going to bed by 7am on average and waking up at 11am on average. I was getting sometimes less than 3 hours of sleep a day, there were a few days I did not sleep at all. One day I went to bed at 10am. I was filling my schedule with work and obsessing with growing my company Lisa Inks. My decent eating habits went out the window. I was eating at all hours of the day or not eating at all. I was sick in a different way. My body was slowly 'dying'. The last night before I went to Haiti I did not sleep before my flight and I felt it in my heart. My body felt odd, my heart was beating differently, and I could barely hold a conversation.

I believe that I went to Haiti before I crashed. In a no arguing type of way, my grandmother stated that I had to go to bed early and she stood true to her word. I was in bed by 7pm every night and up by 6:30am every morning. By 8am, I was eating a large breakfast. By 2pm, I was eating a large lunch. That was it. I ate two meals a day and I was not hungry. If I did feel a little hungry, I was eating a piece of fruit.

I was eating fresh food; chicken, fish, beef, goat, that was butchered that same day. Fruit and vegetables straight from the tree. My body was loving the care and attention. As a result, I dropped some pounds, cut some inches, and turned my sleeping habits around. I now go to bed by 10pm and wake up by 7:30am. I eat breakfast and have a large lunch. I do not feel hungry later in the evening and the only thing I consume after 7pm is fruit or nuts/seeds.

It is hard for me to believe that I changed my horrible habits, but I did. I feel great and will keep up this new lifestyle.

Has a vacation ever changed your lifestyle for the positive?

L.M

First Few Days

Last Days

On any given day, you can find L.Marie on her website, www.closedlids.com, on Facebook, www.facebook.com/ClosedLids, and on Twitter, www.twitter.com/closedlids . Join the conversation and interact.

15 Must Read Books While Detoxing

noreply@blogger.com (Changing Woman) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 17:55:00 +0000

Detoxing is not only for the body, but it is also for the mind and soul. While cleansing your body, it is also ideal to surround yourself with positive thoughts. For the past 20 days I have tried to read, listen, and watch positive things. I have been listening to Esther and Jerry Hicks tapes and I also have been listening to Quick and Dirty Tips podcasts. I have been rereading some books of mine that I would like to recommend to you.

12 Steps to Raw Food - This book by Victoria Boutenko was the first book I ever read regarding raw foods and health. Excellent book and easy to follow, it really helped me while on my first ever detox 2 years ago.
Heal Thy Self - Queen Afua writes an excellent book for those of African descent. She speaks about how she healed herself from illness, by changing her diet. Overall a well rounded book that speaks on diet, spirituality, and fitness.
Green for Life - Victoria Boutenko writes about how consuming greens is more ideal for our health. She also talks about how her family was extremely ill, but reversed everything when their diet changed.
African Holistic Health - This book by Llaila O. Afrika is a great book for those of African descent who are interested in health.
Light Eating for Survival - This book is a rare find. When I purchased it last year, I was able to get it for 8 dollars used, now I see on Amazon that it is 12 dollars used and 186 dollars new. Marcia Madhuri Acciardo wrote this book in the 70s and was a pioneer in the raw food movement. What I like about this book is that she has recipes for live foods (raw), yet she used simple equipment.
Juicing for Life - I love this book by Cherie Calbom. She provides great juice recipes and also gives the reader juice combination for specific illnesses.
Ask and its Given - I highly recommend this book and any other Esther and Jerry Hicks books. They are filled with great lessons and inspiration.
The Alchemist - Paul Coelho delivers with this book, the lesson instilled is invaluable.
The Power of Now - Eckhart Tolle is known for the book A New Earth, but I like the Power of Now better. This book is all about living in the now.
The Four Agreements - Wow, talk about a quick read that will have you thinking for a long time. Don Miguel Ruiz really leaves the reader with questions about the way they live their lives. I finished this book a few weeks ago and I am always thinking about it.
Awareness - This book by Anthony de Mello is one that you probably won't agree with everything he writes, but it will leave you thinking about human nature and awareness.
Many Lives, Many Masters - I love this book by Dr. Brian Weiss. In this book he documents a past life regression that he performed on a client of his. It is a very interesting book that discusses the possibility of past lives.
Life After Death: The Burden of Truth - This is a good book for those who are Deepak Chopra fans. In this book he discusses what happens after death.
Energy Medicine - This book by Donna Eden is good for those who would like work on balancing energy throughout the body.
Poisons in Your Food - This book was originally written in 1969 and then a 2nd edition was written in 1991. It is amazing that the same issues we are facing now were prevalent back then. The author, Ruth Winter, was seen as a sensationalist and now in 2010 it is apparent that her concerns over toxins in our foods were correct.

15 books that you can read while on your detox or just in general. I hope you enjoy!

Do you have any books that you would like to add?

This post was originally written: 8/20/2010 on my blog L.Marie Dreams

~ L.

Another Transformation

noreply@blogger.com (Changing Woman) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:55:00 +0000

Six months ago, I wrote about losing interest in my passions and life purpose. I wrote the following:

Today, over on my personal blog, I wrote about losing interest in my passions and life purpose. Since April, I have been unable to tap into certain gifts of mine (dreams, spirit guides, etc). I wasn't sure what was going on, but I assumed that I just lost my touch and it was time to move on. I decided to take some time off to relax and reevaluate.

Closed Lids is something I started almost 2 years ago as a medium for me to interpret dreams for individuals, but over time I realized that Closed Lids can be much more and decided I wanted to change directions. It first started out with in my own personal life; I realized that sleep and diet played an important role in recalling my dreams, thus I started posting more about diet and sleep. Then I realized that having a sound mind and soul also played a part in me tapping into all my gifts. Eventually, I came to the conclusion that even the surrounding environment plays a part in becoming whole. I started to toy with the idea that Closed Lids can be a wellness company that touches on many different topics; dreams, health, spirituality, environmental issues, etc.

During my break I felt guilty that I started Closed Lids as a new age/dream company, but now wanted to include various topics. I then realized that just like life, Closed Lids, is undergoing change and transformation. Things go through change. Without change, progress cannot be made. Once I realized that it was okay to change and transform, it seemed like my block lessened a bit. I hope that in next coming months, you the readers, will be patient and supportive in the new direction. I am not sure where Closed Lids is going, but I do know that it is somewhere positive.

Six months later, I am at another crossroad. I have made the decision to combine my personal blog with Closed Lids. The posts over on the other blog are transferable and could easily be written on Closed Lids. That blog started out as an outlet for me, while I was in graduate school. I was bored and never written creatively, I decided to start a blog that would give me a place to share my stories and thoughts. Overtime, my blog, L.Marie Dreams became almost like an online journal. I discussed weight, love, life, my journey, etc. Even though that blog had minimal traffic, it was a place that I called home, but even a home needs change. With the opening of my new business, Lisa Inks, it became difficult to maintain three sites, especially since L.Marie Dreams and Closed Lids were so similar. By combining both blogs I am completing the circle; I will be posting on my life, my challenges, alongside with dreams, wellness, spirituality, and the environment. I will share personal stories and more. I hope with this change you will learn more and stick with me as I try new things.

I will be adding posts from L.Marie Dreams onto Closed Lids . I hope you enjoy these past stories.

L.M

On any given day, you can find L.Marie on her website, www.closedlids.com, on Facebook, www.facebook.com/ClosedLids, and on Twitter, www.twitter.com/closedlids . Join the conversation and interact.

Get in Shape in 11 Healthy Ways

noreply@blogger.com (Changing Woman) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:13:00 +0000

If you are like most people, you have made a New Year’s resolution to get in shape, eat healthy, and change your lifestyle.

This is a common resolution that most people never follow through on; gym memberships and diet meal plans are purchased, but nothing ever is completed. For a couple of months the gyms get packed and it seems like people are beginning to take their health seriously. Then March comes along and the gym starts to look bare again.

To start a healthy lifestyle change and to get in shape takes a few steps.

Get at least 6-9 hours of consistent sleep a night
Eat a hearty breakfast
Drink water…a lot of it
Be the change that you want to see
Find an accountability partner
Forget fads, make a change that will be consistent with your lifestyle
Consume herbs/foods that prevent bloating: pineapple, Greek yogurt, peppermint/ginger tea
Consume herbs/foods that aid with digestion: papaya, oatmeal, ginger
Consume herbs/foods that prevent water retention: quinoa, parsley, sea salt
Exercise! Take a Zumba class, walk, swim, go on the elliptical, jog, lift weights. Be active for at least 40-60 minutes about four times a week
Meditate and visualize your goal

With a few simple adjustments, your New Year’s resolution can last for the entire year and beyond!

What were some of your resolutions for this year? Do you have any tips to add to the list?

L.M

On any given day, you can find L.Marie on her website, www.closedlids.com, on Facebook, www.facebook.com/ClosedLids, and on Twitter, www.twitter.com/closedlids . Join the conversation and interact.

11-11-11: What Does It Mean?

noreply@blogger.com (Changing Woman) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 19:43:00 +0000

Tomorrow is 11-11-11. Five months ago, I would have been excited. Even last week I was excited. 11-11-11, is a marketing dream. Anyone would love to hop on the numerology theme and take advantage of the calendar date to draw interests into their products and services. I even thought, what a great day to write a blog post on a subject matter of interest and watch my blog stats go up because of the increased interest in numerology (Hey, I am human, I do want people to read this blog!).

Then something happened. Something that has been happening since the beginning of the year. I have been losing interest in the occult. I am 26 years of age now and I have been reading astrology and other new age books since I was about 13. 13 years too long? I am growing a little tired of the ideas of astrology, numerology, paranormal, etc. Don't get me wrong, I still have an interest and some sort of beliefs, but I just don't have the passion anymore. As mentioned in previous posts, I am ready for a change. I am changing.

The palindromic dates of 11-11-11 and 12-12-12 make it the 11th and 12th consecutive years respectively ,of days with repeating numbers. 12-12-12 will mark the final one of this century. Which of course is very cool and which is why I began writing about these type of dates last year, with 10-10-10.

In the past, with my usual excitement, I wrote posts on 10-10-10, 1-1-2011, Chinese New Year. I think my jadedness started to visibly appear in May, when I wrote about the 5/21 end of the world topic. I stated:

"2012, 5/21, 11/2011, there is always something going on and at times stories like this provide distraction to more important things... I always find it interesting that mankind is always searching for the end and glorifying destruction. Why don't we have any sensationalist stories about the end of war, famine, poverty and the beginning of peace, happiness, and love? I would think that negativity sells more than positivity."

I am sure 11-11-11 will bring in a new cycle, grant unfulfilled wishes, bring feelings of courage and strength, be favorable for money, but I feel like I say that every time.

What do you think 11-11-11 will bring?

~ L.

On any given day, you can find L.Marie on her website, www.closedlids.com, her personal blog, www.lmariedreams.blogspot.com, or on Facebook, www.facebook.com/ClosedLids and Twitter, www.twitter.com/closedlids . Join the conversation and interact.

9 Step Weekly Facial Regimen

noreply@blogger.com (Changing Woman) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 00:42:00 +0000

My face feels great! Every week I do a facial steam/mask I skipped the last two weeks and I just did one today and I just am in love with the softness of my skin.

The other day someone asked me to go into details about my weekly facial regimen… so here it is!

Lisa’s 9 Step Weekly Facial Regimen

1. Exfoliating Scrub: Lemon, Oatmeal, Sugar

2. Steam: Steam with towel over head for about 10 minutes. I like to mix nettle/horsetail to boiling water

3. Mask: I use either Queen Afua's mask (60 minutes) or Aztec Secret (20 minutes). I mix the Aztec Secret with Apple Cider Vinegar (water can be used too). Queen Afua's mask does not need any additions.

4. Rinse: Wash off mask with warm water, then switch to cool water to close the pores

5. Dry

6. Aloe: After I dry my face, I use either fresh aloe leaf or organic aloe gel from Mountain Rose Herbs on my face.

7. Moisturize: I use my shea butter blend. Depending on the season my blend will change. Typically, it is a mix of shea butter, coconut oil, essential oil, and jojoba/grapeseed oil.

8. Enjoy: Look in the mirror and smile at your beauty!!

9. Upkeep: I do this once a week. I also like to K.I.S.S - Keep It Simple Silly (we don't use names here! ;) )

I been told my skin is nice and youthful. What is my secret? I don't really have any. In fact I only started taking good care of my skin this year. I used to occasionally wash my face before bed, but then I thought if my skin looked good with the bare minimum, what it would look like if I actually kept up with it.

I don't wear makeup. Last time makeup touched my face was prom and one time 5 years ago my sister practically forced eye shadow on me.

I drink about a gallon of water a day. I always have my water bottle on me. It helps to find one that you really like and is pleasing to the eye. My water bottle has become such an accessory, that when I don’t have it on me, people ask me where it is.

This might sound gross, but I don't use soap on my face. I avoid anything harsh on my face. The only soap that touches my face is the remainder from showering (I use castile soap, black soap, or Kiss My Face).

At night is when I really care for my skin, because the skin rejuvenates itself while we sleep. I slather on my shea butter or grapeseed oil.

I exercise. I have heard exercise is good for circulation. I try to be active at least 4-5 times a week.

Smile! Laugh! I like to be silly. When I am in my comfort zone, it is quite likely I will do cartwheels and random dance moves. Basically I am a kid in a grown person’s body. I think staying young at heart can keep you looking young in appearance.

What are your beauty secrets?

~ L.

On any given day, you can find L.Marie on her website, www.closedlids.com, her personal blog, www.lmariedreams.blogspot.com, or on Facebook, www.facebook.com/ClosedLids and Twitter, www.twitter.com/closedlids . Join the conversation and interact.

Closed Lids Bookshelf: References

noreply@blogger.com (Changing Woman) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 17:37:00 +0000

Last month you caught a glimpse of the Closed Lids Library collection of history books. This month you will catch a glimpse of the reference books on the Closed Lids Bookshelf.

Each month I will showcase books on my shelf in order to give you an idea of what I am reading and where I am gaining my knowledge. The following list contains my 36 books that deal with reference:

1. Associated Press Stylebook, Norm Goldstein
2. More Words You Should Know, Michelle Bevilacqua
3. The Speakers Quotebook, Roy B. Zuck
4. Idiots Guide to Sports Trivia, Mike McGovern
5. Larousse Mini Italian, Francessa Loqi
6. Language Arts Today, MacMillan/McGraw
7. Black Firsts, Jessie Carney Smith
8. A Field Guide to Long Island's Seashore, Glenn A. Richard/Museum of Long Island Natural Science
9. A Field Guide to Long Island's Woodlands, Pamela Stewart/Museum of Long Island Natural Science
10. A Field Guide to Long Island's Freshwater, Pamela Stewart/Museum of Long Island Natural Science
11. Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Amnesty International
12. Spanish Dictionary, Larousse
13. Usage guide to Spanish Idioms, Andre O. Hurtgen
14. Pasajes, Mary Lee Bretz
15. Dictionary of Business and Finance Terms
16. Pocket Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster
17. The Elements of Style, William Strunk & E.B White
18. Models for Writers, Alfred Rosa & Paul Eschholz
19. Rules for Writers, Diana Hacker
20. A Pocket Style Manual, Diana Hacker
21. The First Book Market, Jason Shinder
22. Italian Dictionary, Piero Rebora
23. New World Dictionary, Webster
24. How to Give a Damn Good Speech, Philip Theibert
25. Creating a Website, Matthew MacDonald
26. APA Manual, American Psychological Association
27. Google Sites for Dummies, Ryan Teeter
28. The Big Book of How to Say It, Rosalie Maggio
29. Knock em Dead, Yate Martin
30. No Nonsense Resumes and Cover Letters, Wendy Enelow
31. Simple Steps to Organizing Everything, Donna Smallin
32. Real Simple Weddings
33. Real Simple Cleaning
34. New Thesaurus, Rogets
35. Basic Word List, Samuel Brownstein
36. Getting What You Came For: The Smart Guide to Earning a MS/PHD, Robert Peters

Enjoy! Next month I will list all my remaining books.

February- Dream books
March- Spirituality books
April- New Age books
May- Business books

June- Wellness books

July- History books

~ L.

On any given day, you can find L.Marie on her website, www.closedlids.com, her personal blog, www.lmariedreams.blogspot.com, or on twitter, www.twitter.com/closedlids. Join the conversation and interact.

Corn Syrup Basics

noreply@blogger.com (Changing Woman) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 17:25:00 +0000

Is corn syrup the same as corn sugar? Is it addictive? These questions and many more are answered on my podcast. I am excited to share this podcast, bloopers and all because I got over a fear! I have been redoing and rescheduling this interview because I wanted perfection. I have shied away from video/audio recordings because I hate the way my voice sounds and the way I look on camera, but I realized that I have to get past that. So, I jumped right in and did the recording and I had fun! I had so much fun, I want to do this again. If you are interested in being interviewed or you have a friend, let me know! I don't bite and I am interested in many topics, just pitch your idea to me! Enjoy the interview!

Corn Syrup Basics
November 5, 2011
Interviewer: Lisa-Marie
Guest: Petera Reine.

Lisa-Marie: Hello and good day. This is Lisa-Marie from closedlids.com and I would like to welcome you to my first ever podcast. I look forward to discussing various topics and interviewing many individuals.

The goal of Closed Lids is to guide individuals who are looking for spiritual understanding and assist those who already have an understanding move forward in their journey. Closing eyelids does not necessarily mean you are lacking knowledge, it can mean one is reflecting upon knowledge acquired. I am super excited to introduce the topic and interviewee for the day.

With Halloween just passing, I figured why not discuss corn syrup also known as corn sugar. My guest for today is Petera Reine, former chemist for a food manufacturing company and current master of public health candidate.

Welcome Petera and how are you this evening?

Petera: I am great, how are you? Thanks for having me.

Lisa-Marie: You’re welcome; I am really excited for this topic. Before we get started, tell me a little bit about yourself. Science is not a field many women enter, so what prompted you to enter this field and why corn syrup?

Petera: Thank you for asking me that question. I actually entered this field as an undergrad at Spelman College. I went into this field initially because I had aspirations of going into the medical field. Through my matriculation and attending various summer programs, I decided that research was more of an area that was interesting for me, which brought me into chemistry. Upon graduating, I was hired by a very big Fortune 500 company, who processed corn syrup and it was just a very good opportunity for me at that time.

Lisa-Marie: Okay that is a very interesting background. Let’s just cut to the chase. What is corn syrup and is it the same as corn sugar?

Petera: Well, let’s be clear here. Corn syrup, well corn sugar is a name that was derived by the Corn Refiner Association and other big whigs of these companies who produce corn syrup. It is a term to make the population more comfortable with the idea of consuming corn syrup. It is to make the consumers realize that because there is such a negative stigma placed on corn syrup, by saying corn sugar they are trying to take a way that stigma and just say hey, it’s natural, it’s sugar, let’s just stop trying to blacklist corn syrup , it’s just sugar from corn. To answer the question, is it the same thing, I would just say it is just a play on names, it is the same thing. Corn syrup and corn sugar is the exact same thing, it is just a marketing strategy. It’s better to say sugar instead of syrup.

Lisa-Marie: Is corn syrup naturally occurring in nature? How is it made?

Petera: Absolutely not! Ms. L.Marie, let me tell you. Corn syrup is not naturally occurring in nature. It takes a very long process to break down starch chains, to heat the product up to high temps, to add enzymes, to add other chemicals, to do all these things and to arrive at an end product, which is corn syrup.

Lisa-Marie: That basically sounds like sci-fi, like mixing and matching.

Petera: Right, it really is. It is a lot of breaking down and building back up. It is a very technical process of adjusting temperatures, of adjusting water, of evaporating is you add too much water, of adding Hydrochloric Acids, of adding SO2. It is a very technical and very chemical derived method of making corn syrup from corn.

Lisa-Marie: From hearing you use words like chemicals and hydro this and hydro that, are there any health benefits, if any to corn syrup? Are there negative effects?

Petera: Now, in my opinion, I would say there are absolutely no health benefits of consuming corn syrup. But, on the other side of things, I would not say that there are any negative effects either. I feel like consuming corn syrup, you have to be mindful of moderation because it does process in your body much like regular cane sugar; sugar from sugar canes. It does process the same because that is glucose. Corn syrup is made up of glucose maltose, polysaccharides, and trisaccharricdes. The body does recognize it and does breaks down the same exact way. As far as any immediate negative effects, I wouldn't say there are any, but in the long term if you are consuming too much of it, I do feel obesity would be a byproduct of consuming too much corn syrup.

Lisa-Marie: Now be honest with me. Knowing what you know now, do you consume products with corn syrup?

Petera: Okay, as you mentioned in the beginning, I am currently a graduate student. I do live on a very tight budget, sponsored by the government with my school loans. So to get away from products that contain corn syrup is very difficult. I would challenge everyone to go into their local grocer and just grab random products and look on the back, look in the ingredient section and you most likely will find either corn syrup or high fructose corn syrup in the product. Very difficult to get away from. So knowing what I know, I do still consciously consume products with corn syrup, but that just because in order for me to get away from them, I would have to be a vegan or eat raw or just consume everything in its natural state and that is very difficult to do.

Lisa-Marie: Is it something that is addictive. Is corn syrup something that people can get hooked on?

Petera: I think this question will probably relate to food addictions, I think everyone has a food addiction. We all those items that we do crave, but to say that you crave corn syrup specifically, I don’t think I can confidently say that yes you do, but I do feel you may have a craving for chocolate cookies, or you may have craving for those products that contain corn syrup. That is definitely a possible thing and again that goes back to moderation.

Lisa-Marie: I hear you talking about going into the grocery store and grabbing products that contain corn syrup. What are some examples of products that contain corn syrup?

Petera: There is a wide variety of products that contain corn syrup, from your pharmaceutical products to juices your everyday foods, the mac and cheese, your breads, and surprisingly even pesticides contain corn syrup. You will find that corn syrup is in a large amount of products. There are scientists that are continuously doing research to find new uses for corn.

Lisa-Marie: Off our recording today, we were discussing corn syrup and you mentioned that there are different types of corn syrup; about 5-10. Can you go into more detail about that?

Petera: Absolutely. Corn syrup comes in different sweetness and different thickness. The sweetness is known as the dextrose equivalent percentage and thickness which we call the baume. Each corn syrup comes in two numbers. Ice cream companies want the corn syrup to be a little thicker. And by thicker we mean the starch chains are a little more intact, that they are pretty long starch chains. The ice cream companies use more a 36 number type corn syrup and by that we mean the dextrose equivalent is a little low; it is not very sweet. And you have these other corn syrups that are used by beer companies and these are high maltose corn syrup and all these products its takes different enzymes we use to create either a higher dextrose or a higher maltose of these products. A lot of bread companies will use what we call the middle range of corn syrup, which is between 40s and 43s and again those are dextrose equivalent numbers and then you have the very very sweet corn syrup which is also very thin like water, which is the 63s. That is saying that the starch chains are heavily broken up and broken up with acids and with enzymes to break those chains up to lose its structure. And that is used by bakers and pharmaceutical companies.

Lisa-Marie: Basically bakers and pharmaceutical companies are using this same product.

Petera: Oh yes, absolutely. Bakers, pharmaceutical companies, beer manufacturing companies, Coors Lite, Millers Lite, they all use corn syrup. Juices, juice companies, they all use corn syrup.

Lisa-Marie: So now what. You don’t work in a lab anymore, so what are your future goals and aspirations?

Petera: I am in public health. My passions are still with the people. I still want to do what I can to improve the masses of citizens here in the United States. I want to make sure that we all are living our best possible health. I still have an interest in nutrition; I’m not in the lab anymore. Right now, I’m working in infectious disease. I still have a strong interest in nutrition. I volunteer regularly with a program in my city called the Edible School Yard. Where we teach elementary school children about vegetables and fruit and how they can prepare them in a natural way and how to prepare snacks from them and how to eat more healthy, This what I’m involved with right now

Lisa-Marie: It seems like you have a nice mix of your interests and your career goals. That is very important. Impressive.

Petera: Absolutely, I agree.

Lisa-Marie: Listening to you speaking in all these technical terms, it must have taken a lot of studying. When you went into the company, did you have to study or was this something you already knew from your chemistry major in college?

Petera: Definitely a little bit of both. Initially going into the company you had to have a base knowledge of chemistry. You have to be able to make chemical solutions. These are things you are going to use to test certain aspects of corn syrup because we do run a battery of tests every time we make corn syrup to make sure the product is up to customer specifications. You do have to have a base knowledge of math skills and chemical knowledge of how to read chemical abbreviations and how to use periodic table and those things. When I arrived at the company I had to go through additional classes of food chemistry, of specifically knowing what happens to corn. We had these corn classes on what happens when you add acid to corn. What happens to the starch, how it breaks down. How do we hydrolyze the solution, how do we evaporate and take water out the solution. How do we clean it up, how do we clean up the corn syrup with activated carbon to purify the corn and to take out all the impurities. These are things you do learn once you start with the company I was with. It did take additional knowledge. I can honestly say in my time there, it was an ongoing learning process. It really was.

Lisa-Marie: Very nice. Do you have any closing thoughts on corn syrup?

Petera: Just for your listeners. I would like to tell them. I would say that corn syrup is not harmful and when I say that. I’m saying you have to consume it in moderation. Now I do understand it is difficult to get away corn syrup, considering a large majority of our products contain it. But, just like eating table sugar, you have to consume it in moderation and just be aware of the amount you are taking in. Honestly myself that is what I’m trying to do now. Be a little more conscious of what I am putting into my body. You only have one body; you have to take care of it. You have to make sure you are living the best you and doing what you can to take care of yourself and be happy. Live your life as healthy as possible.

Lisa-Marie: That is great advice and that is something I need to work on myself. You go into stores and you want to be healthy but these different products and ingredients are in everything. You just have to be mindful. If you have the knowledge I guess it helps you to be mindful.

If listeners wanted to get in touch with you, do you have any contract information?

Petera: Absolutely. If your listeners wanted to get in touch with me, I would be happy to provide my email address and answer any questions they have and direct them to some websites that are incredible that can answer their questions. Tera_michele [at] yahoo [dot] com.

Lisa-Marie: Thanks. Thank you Petera. You shared a wealth of knowledge I’m sure my listeners will take away with them. I thank you for joining me today and please don’t be a stranger.

Petera: Absolutely. Thank you. I adore your website; I’m always visiting and commenting. I think it’s great what you do for the people.

Lisa-Marie: Thank you! Great interview. I definitely need to pay attention to what I consume.

I thank you all for listening in please keep in touch with me on closedlids.com, facebook.com/ClosedLids, twitter.com/closedlids or shoot me an email at lmarie [at] closedlids [dot] com.

Thank you and dream sweet.

Fight Cancer with Food

noreply@blogger.com (Changing Woman) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 20:43:00 +0000

October is Women's Health Month and Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Here is a list of anti-cancer foods

Raw Almonds Cantaloupe Dates Lemons Peppers
Avocados Carrots Flaxseed Lettuce Sweet Potatoes
Beet Greens Cauliflower Garlic Lima Bean Quinoa
Beets Celery Grapefruit Limes Radishes
Blueberries Sour Cherries Green Beans Mushrooms Rhubarb
Broccoli Chestnuts Green Peas Mustard Greens Raw Spinach
Brussels Sprouts Collard Greens Okra Sprouts Turnip Greens
Brasil Nuts Corn Onions Squash Watercress
Cabbage Cucumbers Parsley Tomatoes Tumeric
Yams

Healthy lifestyle choices can help reduce the risk of cancers of the breast, ovary, uterus, and prostate. When shopping for foods that can reduce the risk of cancer look for: low fat, low sugar, antioxidants, fiber, and isoflavones. A healthy diet should include approximately five servings of fruits and vegetables daily and 30 minutes of exercise five days a week.

Did I miss any anti-cancer foods?

~ L.

On any given day, you can find L.Marie on her website, www.closedlids.com, her personal blog, www.lmariedreams.blogspot.com, or on Facebook, www.facebook.com/ClosedLids and Twitter, www.twitter.com/closedlids . Join the conversation and interact.

True Colors

noreply@blogger.com (Changing Woman) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 20:01:00 +0000

TRUE COLORS

Desiree Serrano

In life, there are those who don’t truly value what it means to be true to themselves or others. With many of us who are goodhearted to those without expecting anything in return, sometimes find out who truly is there for us through good and bad times.

I find it is amazing that some people like to portray themselves to be someone they are not, they like to put on a show? What does this accomplish? Sooner or later, your true colors will surface out. Now, I agree there are those who know how to hide their inner feelings really well but, as time progresses in certain situations, those feelings will eventually surface out and that is when you will be surprised knowing that this certain someone could be like that. As I have said numerous times to myself, loved ones and even friends, there is nothing anymore in life surprises me.

God puts us through tests as well as friends and loved ones who do the same and it is key for you to realize what matters most to you is yourself. It is true that some individuals who break under certain situations have finally shown you their true colors, but to those it can also be a sign of weakness especially to those who like to prey on the good people out there.

As we take a step back and search within ourselves, we can also realize that there will be a time where you will not find out until it is too late with some people how they cannot reveal their true self to you and funny enough, you are supposedly their friend or loved one. How can someone justify themselves by acting like that? If you are entrusting them with all of yourself, they should return it back to you?

This is how I look at it, some people show their true colors right away, some people reveal it in certain situations by letting it surface a little bit and there are those who never quite feel at ease to let their guard down and show themselves. What can you be so afraid of? Just remember this, if someone acts this way towards themself or you, is it really worth to be involved with this person? I agree it all depends on the person and the situation, but if you are faced in a difficult situation, you can definitely assume that you are on your own because you cannot rely on someone who can’t reveal their true self to you or themselves.

You are only lying to yourself if you can’t show your true colors. It is not a bad thing or to those who feel that way should realize that they cant be like this all of their life since one day they will have to make an unfair choice and it could burn them bad.

Desiree Serrano

“Speaking my Mind and hoping to Inspire Many”

Anyone who is interested in contacting me

Email: desiree71@yahoo.com

Cell: 203-919-6282

Website: http://desireeserrano.wordpress.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/desiree71

Closed Lids is looking for driven and passionate writers, artists, photographers, musicians, etc to contribute to the blog- daily, weekly, monthly. If you are interested (or know someone), please do not hesitate to either send an email (lmarie@closedlids.com) or fill out the submission form.

Part II- Herbal Preparations: Alcohol Based

noreply@blogger.com (Changing Woman) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 02:41:00 +0000

Alcohol is the best base to use for drawing out the active ingredient in herbs.

Alcohol Based

Tinctures

Tinctures are alcohol based herbal remedies that last for several years if stored properly. Depending on the remedy the herb used for a tincture will vary. Tinctures can be taken on an empty stomach before meals. Adults should take about 20 drops in a glass of water two times a day and children less than 10. Babies should not take tinctures, consult your physician.

To make make a tincture add, approximately 3-4 tablespoons and slightly crush in a pestle/mortar. Place the herbs in a large dark glass jar that holds least 1 cup. Pour about 1 cup of vodka/brandy and cover all of the herbs. Close the jar and leave in a cool dark place. Shake the bottle daily for about 3 weeks. After the 3 weeks strain the liquid and slowly pour the contents into a glass bottle.It is best to get a bottle that has a droplet cover. Store the tincture in a dark place.

Flowers

Remedies can also be made from flowers by placing flowers and leaves in water under sunlight then transferring into alcohol.

My Recipes

Like I mentioned in my water based herbal preparations post, I mostly make make remedies from horsetail, nettle, and marshmallow root because I am trying to finish my stock before purchasing new herbs. The herbs you use should be for areas you need to improve.

Part III of the herbal preparations series I will be posting on ointments and macerated oils. These are two methods I have yet to try, so I will get the instructions from the book Herbs by Jennie Harding

What are your favorite alcohol based herbal preparations?

Stay Tuned for Part III of Herbal Preparations- Oil Based

~ L.

On any given day, you can find L.Marie on her website, www.closedlids.com, her personal blog, www.lmariedreams.blogspot.com, or on Facebook, www.facebook.com/ClosedLids and Twitter, www.twitter.com/closedlids . Join the conversation and interact.

Turn A T-Shirt Into A Bag

noreply@blogger.com (Changing Woman) — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 20:12:00 +0000

Have an old t-shirt you don't want to throw away? No problem, today I will show you how to turn your t-shirt into a bag. These instructions are simple and I mean super simple. I have no sewing experience and no sewing machine, yet I have made several bags that can be used as a replacement to plastic bags. You will be saving the environment in two ways- reusable grocery bag and reusing a t-shirt.

Instructions

1. Supplies

t-shirt- any size depending on the size bag you desire

bowl and plate

scissor

pencil

needle and thread

2. Cut out collar

Depending on the size of your shirt, you will either use a bowl or plate. Since my shirt was a medium, I took a bowl, placed it at the collar and traced a half circle.

3. Cut off sleeves

After I traced the half circle, I cut off the sleeves. Make sure you don't cut off the seams. Cut right after the stitching.

4. Cut off the collar

This is where what you learned in kindergarten comes to play- cut along your traced line until you no longer have a collar.

5. Turn the shirt inside out

Yikes! I forgot to take a picture of this step. But I think you get the idea, just turn the shirt inside out.

6. Insert thread into needle and create a knot at end.

This is an embarrassing photo and I'm glad there were no video cameras. It took me quite awhile to get the thread into the needle and I also struggled with making the knot at the end.

At this point, you will take a decent length of thread, any color and insert it into the needle. Then cut the thread at your desired length and create a knot. Make sure the knot is large enough that it does not slip through the shirt.

7. Sew!

Yet another embarrassing shot. My lines are crooked because almost half way through, I realized I was not sewing the two shirt pieces properly. I only know two types of stitches, the one above and the type where you make a cross. If you have a sewing machine or sewing experience, I'm sure you can make a different type of stitch, but this one works fine.

Take the shirt opening at the bottom, connect them and sew until you reach the end. When you reach the end, create a knot.

8. Finished product!

Turn the shirt back from being inside out( would that be right side in?). Voila! A bag made from a t-shirt!

You can see on the bottom left corner where I made my mistake. The perfectionist in me is dying inside.

9. Finishing Touches

I'm sure the creative types could change this shirt into something more colorful. I'm still trying to figure out what I want to do with all that white space.

10. How Strong

This bag is pretty strong. My other bags have never broken. I usually use these bags for boxed goods and produce, however it can hold many books and even textbooks. I tried desperately to get a shot of me holding the bag with those books inside, but I couldn't manage by myself.

There you have it! A t-shirt turned into a bag! This is an easy do it yourself activity. You can do this with kids or just for yourself. It is kind of fun, once you get into it. Now when you go grocery shopping, you don't need to use plastic bags! Also, now you can almost immortalize favorite t-shirts!

Let me know if you make any!

What's Another Name for Hoarder?

noreply@blogger.com (Changing Woman) — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 23:15:00 +0000

I have been called a hoarder by some, but what they don't know is that I am not a hoarder, I am a re-user! Whenever I see something, I am make mental note of how it can be converted into something useful. I have made magnets from beer/soda caps, grocery bags from old t-shirts, coin savers from old bottles, and more. Not all of my creations are wildly creative, but at least I am not discarding something that can be used again.

Recently, I came across a blogger who enjoys showcasing her creativity through reusing items. Camara from Creative A Day, remixes, reuses, and recreates items. When I became the 25th Like on her Facebook page, I had no idea I would win a prize! Imagine my surprise! I received her gift in the mail yesterday and put it to use right away! I received a magnet couple made from clothespins, acorns, and fabric. Love it! Thank you!!

Magnets on My Calendar

If you would like to connect with Camara you can find her on:
Facebook
Blog
Twitter

Are you a hoarder or a re-user?

~ L.

On any given day, you can find L.Marie on her website, www.closedlids.com, her personal blog, www.lmariedreams.blogspot.com, or on Facebook, www.facebook.com/ClosedLids and Twitter, www.twitter.com/closedlids . Join the conversation and interact.

Value

noreply@blogger.com (Changing Woman) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 15:18:00 +0000

VALUE

Theodore De Dumas

"Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value"
- Albert Einstein

In today's modern age, the concept of value, has, well, lost its value. People no longer have the drive to become valuable members of society. It seems that people just want the government, corporations, and other agencies to take care of them, instead of actually offering value to these companies and entities. It is no wonder the world is now manifesting job cuts and shortages. The mass being distracted, forget to sit back and learn the lessons from the daily happenings.

With the recent job cuts in various industries the populace is now realizing that some of the positions that were held in the past, are no longer relevant or necessary, and in fact, weren't really important in the first place. Employees are not being called into meeting, and they are asked what they do for the company. Some draw blanks, or proceed to name a list of what they thought was valuable, all skills that can be learned by anybody off the street. The machines that are currently made to do these tasks are scaring the erudites of today. The outsourcing of basic tasks is frightening many collar workers. Yet, we still are not getting the message, the message of value.

You see, the new coming age is all about the value of an individual. Since people have stopped reading and now spend most of their time doing brain draining activities like watching television or shopping (frequently) they have lost a vast amount of value.

The Americans who existed in the beginnings of this country were much more skilled. Even those in the ghettos had marketable skills which included a type of trade. Some of the jobs these lower class folks had back in those times are in demand now. Plummers and carpenters are now found making as much or sometimes more then individuals who chose the route of the institution of higher learning (college). It's confusing when looking at it from a close up view, but it makes a lot of sense when looking from the bird's eye view! Simply, plummers and carpenters are necessary! They provide something to society. There job is invaluable in the continutation of civilization. Civilization needs plumbing and as long as there are housing and other buildings, carpentry will be necessary. Then you come to these various "business professionals" that work in Fortune 500 companies, that really don't provide anything to the company other than an opinion, an opinion that is vastly losing its value, as evidenced by studying who these companies are laying off.

These companies are not laying off accountants, those skilled in law, people who provide high quality consultations, etc! These people are one hundred percent necessary to run a business and keep it going forward steadily. There may be some instances where someone who provided "something" was layed off, but if that person truly valued themselves, they wouldn't worry about finding another job. This individual would realize there are hundreds of companies out there who wish to have someone who is valuable. A valuable person is always useful, ALWAYS!

In the early 1900's, when African Americans experienced heavy prejudice, a man named Booker T. Washington came forward and expressed something very interesting. He stated:

"The whole future of the negro rests largely upon whether or not he should make himself, through skill, intelligence, and character, of such undeniable value to the community in which he lived that the community could not dispute his presence."

What was Booker T. Washington saying here? He was expressing the fact that anyone who raises themselves up through study and gains intelligence, skill, and character, will be of value to their community. Thus, they will always have a use. They will have the ability to even bypass a strong form of demographic prejudice, based on the fact that they were needed. You can only mistreat someone to an extent when their service is needed! This is in fact how many African Americans of that age were able to accumulate large amounts of Federal Reserve Notes. It was through self study and a touch of perseverance. This same lesson could be used for Americans in this day and age who are dealing with layoffs and job cuts. This just means that the days where you can sit around at the job and do nothing, or do something mindless, is over.

I hear the complaints of managers who talk about employees who don't do anything all the time! Most are on Facebook during the work day or goofing off, not really doing anything. Now I don't believe in back breaking work, but I do believe that work should add value. How are you adding value when all you do is go on Facebook while at work? One cannot be made at someone for taking advantage of a job where they don't have much to do by logging onto Facebook, Youtube, etc. But when the layoffs come, and companies decide to cut down on your job, you have to realize they could have laid you off any time. These people don't lay off those who are of high value to the company- point blank!

Consciousness must rise! The worth of humanity must rise! Individuals must become more reliable.

Metaphysically, the message from events like high unemployment and layoffs translates to value. Humanity must learn to become valuable again. We must provide jobs, and take part in jobs that are of value to the planet. Humanity must also lose its ignorance, and become educated again, self-educated that is! Most are suprised when they read early United States documents like the Articles of Confederation, or even the Federalist papers, they notice that these people were well taught. These people were well studied and knew their stuff! They spoke elequently and wrote methodically, and one cannot help but realize that these folks were on top of their game. According to literacy tests, people were 75%-100% literate in those times! They were definitely more literate than the new-age Americans, who suffer from aliteracy and get all their information from media outlets (that are largely controlled and sanctioned). Did you know that before the institution of public schools wordwide, people actually could read better? Yep! The literacy rate was higher.

People like George Washington were taught by their father or had a private teacher. Many others were simply self taught or studied under people. This was very succesful as evidenced by the quality of people in the different colonies.

Ending, please take the time to add value to yourself. Sit down and think to yourself how can I become valuable? Take the time to study various sciences and principles. Read accounting books, read law books, learn about business, learn to speak better, learn more vocabulary words, learn astronomy, learn the cycles in nature, learn everything! Use that time you save for boredom to learn! I promise you, those who are highly skilled will never be out of a job, or if they are, they will have no trouble getting back to where they want to be! It is only inevitable! If people like Booker T. Washington can go against the odds by becoming a better person, than ANYONE can.

This does not mean to go out and just study everything. Learn your niche, learn what you are good at, and focus on becoming better at that, cultivate your skill! Don't pick up something random that you hate. Don't pick up accounting when your spirit is totally against it. Do the things you know that you are good at. Do the things you enjoy, but become a MASTER at it, there is no room for being mediocre at what you are meant to do, no excuse! If you are good at making shoes, you better make some of the best and most comfortable shoes! If you are good at quoting basketball stats to your friends and you love it, then you better becoming the best scout or analyst, or something deailng with the stats of the sport. You better be a master at it though! No room for lackluster efforts or laziness.

Thanks for reading!

Theodore De Dumas

"We live in deeds, not years. In thoughts not breaths, in feelings, not in figures on a dial."

Closed Lids is looking for driven and passionate writers, artists, photographers, musicians, etc to contribute to the blog- daily, weekly, monthly. If you are interested (or know someone), please do not hesitate to either send an email (lmarie@closedlids.com) or fill out the submission form.

Part I- Herbal Preparations:Water Based

noreply@blogger.com (Changing Woman) — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 19:56:00 +0000

Herbal preparations are easy to make, but take time, patience, and supplies to complete. The 2010 winter season was a rough one in New York and winter did not gradually move into spring then summer, it almost seemed to jump right into summer. Around April, I had an itchy throat and a friend of my suggested a tincture. When I asked her for the instructions, what she described to me was not a tincture herbal preparation, but an infusion. These two preparations are completely different; one is water based and the other alcohol based. Herbal preparations can be separated into three categories: water based, oil based, and alcohol based.

Water Based

Boiling herbs in water is done to draw out properties. From this method you can make a tea infusion, decoction, facial steam, or baths.

Infusion

Add 1-2 teaspoons of dried herbs or fresh flowers/leaves to a mug/bowl, add boiling water (about 1 cup or desired amount)and let stand for approximately five minutes. To make a stronger infusion add 2-4 teaspoons of dried herbs or fresh flowers/leaves to a mug/bowl and let stand for approximately 20 minutes. These infusions can be used to drink, rinse hair(just increase amount of water to use on hair), or perform facial steams/inhalations.

Facial steams/inhalation

Follow the same instructions for making an infusion. Place the water(about 3 cups or desired amount) and herbs in a bowl. Lean over the bowl with a towel covering the head for approximately 10 minutes. The steam from this infusion will deep clean the skin or clear the sinuses.

Decoction

Used to make tonics from roots or berries. Add 2 teaspoons of dried root, berries, or wood to a pot and add about 1 cup of water and simmer for 15 minutes on the stove. Drink two teaspoons as one dose.

Baths

Add herbs to a sheer bag and place in a bathtub. The herbs will infuse while you take a hot bath to ease any pains or relax your muscles.

My Recipes

I have an excess amount of nettle, horsetail, and marshmallow root that I am trying to get rid of, so I use these three herbs in everything. When it comes time to make your own herbal preparations use herbs that will aid in what you need to improve.

1. Infusion

I mixed my horsetail and nettle herbs and make an infusion to drink. The horsetail from this infusion aids: skin, nails, hair, urinary systems, and provides energy. The nettle from this infusion aids: irregular periods/excess menstrual bleeding, overall great for blood, hair. These two herbs also are great as tinctures, which will be explained in another post.

I also created a marshmallow root infusion to aid with colds and mucous build up.

2. Facial Steam

I do my facial steams with horsetail and nettle herbs. I first rinse my face and exfoliate (lemon, a little honey/sugar, oatmeal). I wash that off and then steam for about 10 minutes. After I steam I lightly pat my face dry, still leaving a little moisture. I then do a mask. If I use Queen Afua's mask- I leave it on for 20 minutes. If I do the Aztec Secret Mask I leave that on for 60 minutes. After I wash the mask off(cool water to close the pores) and dry my face, I add aloe gel. After the aloe gel dries, depending on how I feel I leave my face alone or I add a tiny bit of Shea butter. I do this once a week. To avoid getting sick, don't go outside into cold weather, do it before bed or if you are staying in for the day.

3. Inhalation

If I ever feel like I have a stuffy nose, I drop some peppermint or eucalyptus oil/leaves into water and cover with a towel for about 15 minutes.

4. Baths/Decoctions

I am not big on baths, when I do take a bath, I just use sea salt and a little essential oil. Decoctions, I have not tried this method because I don't have roots/wood/berries to use.

What are your favorite water based herbal preparations?

Stay Tuned for Part II of Herbal Preparations- Alcohol Based

~ L.

On any given day, you can find L.Marie on her website, www.closedlids.com, her personal blog, www.lmariedreams.blogspot.com, or on Facebook, www.facebook.com/ClosedLids and Twitter, www.twitter.com/closedlids . Join the conversation and interact.

Happy 2nd Birthday Closed Lids!

noreply@blogger.com (Changing Woman) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 19:06:00 +0000

WOW!! Can you believe I forgot today was Closed Lids Birthday!! I cannot believe it has been two years since I started blogging and interacting with everyone about dreams, spirituality, wellness, and more.

Last year I made a natal chart for Closed Lids. Below is that post. Enjoy!

In honor of Closed Lids birthday, this post is Closed Lids Natal chart breakdown. A natal chart is the analysis of a person's personality based on the position of the planets, moon, and sun at the time of birth. Having a natal chart done delves deeper into astrology. It is more accurate than stating one is a Leo, Taurus, etc. Some people may feel that they do not act like a 'Libra' and write off astrology. These people would benefit from having an in depth analysis done, to go into more aspects of their charts. This detailed analysis would help explain why that particular person does not act like their particular zodiac sign.

The idea of Closed Lids was created sometime at the end of August or the beginning of September 2009. Since I cannot pinpoint the exact moment I thought of Closed Lids, I like to think of that moment as 'conception'. I used the exact time I purchased the domain for Closed Lids to represent when Closed Lids was actually 'born'. I used that time to construct this basic natal chart overview.

Closed Lids was born September 14, 2009 at 2:03 am. Which makes her a Virgo.

Brief Overview

Sun in Virgo (3rd house)

Closed lids is idealistic, practical, and a perfectionist. With her Sun in Virgo, Closed Lids is more prone to sacrificing her own interests for the greater cause. She is organized, has high standards, and can be critical. Closed Lids is a communicator and careers that she may be prone to are: writer, researcher, philosopher, teacher, and the travel industry.

Rising Sign Cancer

Closed Lids is a sweet person, who is very approachable. She is sensitive to her environment and sometimes this can lead her to get nervous in public settings.

Moon in Cancer (12th house)

Closed Lids is an emotional person, who loves to give affection. However, with all the love and affection she gives, she desires the feelings to be returned. She enjoys having a stable home, she is maternal, and enjoys relaxation. She is shy, sensitive, and often her compassion and good deeds are done in the background.

Mercury in Libra (3rd house)

Closed Lids has a very active mind and enjoys studying, teaching, communicating, and travelings. Because she has such an active spirit, she tends to get restless if she stays in the same place for too long. Closed Lids has a careful and balanced mind that she uses to reconcile opposing forces.

Venus in Leo (2nd house)

Closed Lids is attracted to social activities and sometimes her relationships can become somewhat of a performance. When it comes to earning money, it is through the arts and partnerships. She gains confidence while establishing partnerships and material success.

Mars in Cancer (12th house)

Closed Lids actions are dominated by emotional commitment and imagination versus practical considerations. Closed Lids likes to work behind the scenes when dedicated to a cause. With Mars in the 12th house, if she does not find a cause, she will lack purpose and direction.

Jupiter in Aquarius (8th house)

Personal growth for Closed Lids is acquired through analysis and use of her intellect. With Jupiter in Aquarius she often is creating new ideas. Closed Lids interests is in the occult and she enjoys gaining knowledge. When it comes to business, she often acquires wealth.

Saturn in Virgo (3rd house)

When faced with obstacles at work or financial difficulties, Closed Lids will either experience her self confidence weaken or her capacity to work hard will increase. She has a very structured and methodical mind, which helps when she is solving problems.

Uranus in Pisces (9th house)

Closed Lids interests are unusual. She enjoys oriental religions and non traditional faiths. She often will travel to foreign countries in search of an unusual experience.

Neptune in Aquarius (8th house)

Closed Lids has interesting business ideas and is attracted to magic, the occult, and the mysteries of life.

Pluto in Capricorn (6th house)

Closed Lids is dedicated to her work and puts in all her time and effort for great results. She has the knack of bringing a healing touch to situations. She needs to be careful that emotional stress does not undermine her health.

Overall Closed Lids is dedicated to her work, emotional, intellectual, hard working, sensitive to others, dedicated, and interested in the occult.

Sounds like Closed Lids was born on the right day and at the right time!

I would like to thank all my readers who have actively read, shared, and commented on all the posts that have been written on this blog. It is because of you, I continue to write and think of new ways to improve!

Thank you

Natural Cold Remedies

noreply@blogger.com (Changing Woman) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 17:58:00 +0000

The weather is changing, that means cold season is on its way. A few ways to prevent/ease your coughs/runny noses/colds:

1. Syrup- Create an elderberry cough syrup from scratch. (great recipe)

2. Steam- Boil water in a pot, drop peppermint or eucalyptus essential oil into the water, put towel of head, and steam for about 10-15 minutes. That will clear up the sinuses.

3. Tea- This tea works wonders on my family- boil water, put marshmallow root(optional, mixing with other herbs) in the water, steep for about 10 minutes, add honey and lemon. This will clear up mucus in the throat and ease the itchiness.

What are your cold remedies?

Stress Can Be Beneficial

noreply@blogger.com (Changing Woman) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 19:01:00 +0000

STRESS CAN BE BENEFICIAL

Theodore De Dumas

Stress is not always a negative thing. People fail to realize that everything on this planet has a polarity, everything has its own use! As the Book of Ecclesiastics (book that was transmitted from Ancient Egypt) states, there is a time and season for everything, even for emotions such as morose and anger. They are all relevant to an individual's experiences on Earth.

Lately, all the anti-stress campaigns have failed to address the fact that stress can at time, be beneficial. Without stress, the early human beings would not have made it through various situations. Stress stimulates the need for evolution (by this I mean forward movement).

Stress conceives an itch for change. When someone is stressed out, the body is supplemented with extra hormone and other chemical processes that support action. The insalubrious effects of stress only result when constant stress occurs with no action. This usually happens with people who consecutively hate their lifestyle (especially jobs) and fail to get up and do something about it. The stress is not the problem, its only a means.

The populace should take responsibility for every aspect of their lives (that are within their control). Any bodily response like stress is only produced by the actions and lifestyle of the individual. No chemical reaction in the body can happen without a cause.

The cure for stress is not some pill, or better sleep, the cure is to act upon that which is stressing you out. All other paths are only hacking at the branches and not the root. If you are stressed about a certain job position, sit down and learn what you need to do to be in a position that fits you more, or identify WHY the job is stressing you out. Is it really the job, or is it you?

Now, the real masters know how to use stress properly. They understand that stress is actually a helper to the human being if used correctly. Of course it shouldn't be a daily thing, but if you are working on a project, or want to get something done, and you need to perform at a high level, stress can certainly accomodate your success. Don't believe me? Give yourself a deadline to do something and watch you work towards it like a drug fiend. The chemicals produced by stress have only been found to be deadly if they are constantly released by the endocrine system. Its the same story as the adrenals, in certain situations they are a life savor, but if continually used they will become excausted and cause an imbalance in the body.

Bottom line, don't fear stress! Learn about it. Education beats ignorance. If you are stressed over a situation, it signal the need for change. When you are stressed or anxious about some coming event, don't worry, it is there to help, accept the fact the stress will help, and you will see a transformation of the energy of stress into something useful.

Thanks for reading!

Theodore De Dumas

"We live in deeds, not years. In thoughts not breaths, in feelings, not in figures on a dial."

Closed Lids is looking for driven and passionate writers, artists, photographers, musicians, etc to contribute to the blog- daily, weekly, monthly. If you are interested (or know someone), please do not hesitate to either send an email (lmarie@closedlids.com) or fill out the submission form.

Avocado Smoothie

noreply@blogger.com (Changing Woman) — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 17:40:00 +0000

I never thought I would drink an avocado smoothie and enjoy it. A couple of months ago, a family friend gave me the recipe and ever since, when I get the chance I make this smoothie. It is very simple and requires few ingredients.

Photo Credit: L.Marie

Ingredients:
1-2 Haas Avocados
2 cups Almond Milk (or milk of choice)
2 tbsp honey or agave nectar(or sweetener of choice)

Directions:
Blend until smooth and serve.

This is a delicious and healthy snack.

Enjoy!

Photo Credit: L.Marie

~ L.

On any given day, you can find L.Marie on her website, www.closedlids.com, her personal blog, www.lmariedreams.blogspot.com, or on Facebook, www.facebook.com/ClosedLids and twitter, www.twitter.com/closedlids. Join the conversation and interact.

Pineapple Ginger Beer Float

noreply@blogger.com (Changing Woman) — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 15:18:00 +0000

PINEAPPLE GINGER BEER FLOAT
Theodore De Dumas

2 lb of fresh ginger root

1 cup of sweetener (preferably date sugar, dates, figs, honey, agave nectar)
1 fresh pineapple (ripe)
14 cup water

-Make sure to wash the ginger root, and cut into 1/2" pieces.
-Place half of cut ginger into blender.
-Add 1 cup of water.
-Cover and set blender to high.
-Blend until ginger is well chopped and mixed in with the water.
-Transfer the mixture to a large stove top pot.
-Repeat with the second half of the ginger, again adding the 1 cup of water, and add the mixture to the pot.
-Slice pineapple accordingly, transfer half of the pineapple into the blender.
-Add 1 cup of water and blend on high until pineapple is in smallpiece and mixed in the water. Move to the pot with the ginger.
-Repeat with the rest of the cut pineapple (and water).
-Add mixture to the cup.
-Add 10 more cups of water to the pot
-Half cover the pot with the top
-Bring to a boil on high and boil on medium for about 30 minutes
-Remove the pot from the stove
-Cover the pot completely and allow the mixture to sit for 8 hours or overnight (at room temperature)
-Pour the mixture through a metal strainer to remove the larger pieces of ginger and pineapple
-Use wooden spoon to press the liquid through the strainer
-Use cotton cloth to strain out small particle
-Use hand to squeeze the ginger beer out of thecloth
-Add the 1 cup of sweetener and stir (add more if desired)
-Chill for 30 minutes
-Serve

Enjoy!

Theodore De Dumas

"We live in deeds, not years. In thoughts not breaths, in feelings, not in figures on a dial."

Closed Lids is looking for driven and passionate writers, artists, photographers, musicians, etc to contribute to the blog- daily, weekly, monthly. If you are interested (or know someone), please do not hesitate to either send an email (lmarie@closedlids.com) or fill out the submission form.

Being Positive in a Negative World

noreply@blogger.com (Changing Woman) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 17:16:00 +0000

BEING POSITIVE IN A NEGATIVE WORLD

Desiree Serrano

Why is it that Society dwells on drama and feeds off of it? Many people wonder why they still see themselves stuck in the same situation day in day out. You can be successful if you are motivated enough to just worry about yourself and not worry about what the other person thinks.

You are your own person who makes YOUR OWN DECISION and realistically if you choose to make a wrong choice, you are the one who suffers the consequences not the other person. Not all situations are the same especially if certain consequences affect a loved one or family, but in certain situations you have to be selfish to become a better and more positive individual since this enriches the mind, body and soul. These are very important components that people tend to forget about and neglect since they are only focused on one thing WHAT OTHERS THINK?

If you are paying your own bills why does it matter if another person is trying to hinder your success. The important thing for you to keep in mind is that you should care for yourself and not worry about what others say or think.

I see that most people are afraid of change and are hesitant to take the next step to make it possible for them to be successful. There are a lot of different factors that come into the picture: some people are not patient enough, not a risk taker and don’t see the real picture. They are often influenced by friends and loved ones - I am not saying it is wrong to listen to another person's thoughts or opinions but just remember you are they key to your own success!

Of course there are certain risks involved in daily life that each individual takes, but in all honesty nothing in life goes smoothly – we are all faced sometime in our life where we have to make a choice whether good or bad or easy or hard --- it is all about choices. In life, you have to experience certain things to make you realize that you need to change or continue the same path. A lot of people choose the same path since they are too comfortable and scared to take the unknown path. Seriously, if you take a step back certain risks are not that bad it just takes longer for you to reach your goal, but isn't that worth making improvements in your life?

There are some people who take life or things for granted and do not realize until it is too late. We should be grateful for many things that we have in our Life, since the Lord can easily take our life away. A theory that some people should think about is that they are blessed in what they currently have because there are some individuals who have it less fortunate than them. This is what I feel would help a lot of people to succeed is to be PATIENT, HAVE FAITH and know that you are BLESSED in what you have….trust me I speak from experience I used to be negative and I saw that it does not help you it only prevents you from being successful and it drags you lower into a hole.

I feel that if you reach out to people on a certain level, they will listen and you can guide them in a different light that they have not seen and you will inspire them to become successful in whatever they want to do if they put their mind to it.

Desiree Serrano

“Speaking my Mind and hoping to Inspire Many”

Anyone who is interested in contacting me

Email: desiree71@yahoo.com

Cell: 203-919-6282

Website: http://desireeserrano.wordpress.com

Need Writing Help!

noreply@blogger.com (Changing Woman) — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 18:19:00 +0000

Writing does not have to be difficult. With the right resources and knowledge, any individual can succeed. Lisa-Marie provides consultation services for college students, graduate students, professionals, and more. She provides professional services and helpful resources to aid the modern professional.

Please visit the link below for my consultation packages. Please forward the information to friends and family who may need my services.

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0BwlANME9gqzHYWY2ZmJkZDgtZTAxMS00YmNkLTg0NWQtODFlZjM2NDFlNjQw&hl=en

Thank you! (my shameless plug for the month)

Discovering My Past Life!

noreply@blogger.com (Changing Woman) — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 20:42:00 +0000

Last night I discovered I was a man, a woman, black, white, and indigenous to the Americas. For 60 minutes I was able to discover several of my past lives.

The night started off with a thunderstorm and soothing raindrops. After a brief introduction, the facilitator Tony, gave a presentation about past life regressions and hypnosis. This was calming to me, because I was nervous about the experience and what I might see.

After the presentation Tony told us to assume a relaxing position and then proceeded to conduct a group hypnosis session and regression. He guided us through a white light, a happy place, and placed us in a deeply relaxed state. It was then he proceeded to guide us through imagery that would allow us to tap into our past lives. After we were guided to this state of relaxation, we were left to experience the regression.

This was my first time being hypnotized and I was unsure I would be susceptible, but at the same time I thought it would be easy for me because of my inclination towards the ‘unknown’.

I experienced several things. Before we began the regression and I was in the relaxation stage- I was in a happy place with a huge blossoming tree with a swing. I was a child swinging and was with my mother (deceased) and I was happy. As Tony, began to guide us away from the happy place and to the point of entering the regression. I then was an adult on the swing and my mother was walking away and I told her to come back.

I then entered the regression and immediately saw 1919, 1851, 1858. I then saw flashes, not in any particular order:

1. Me as a flapper or dressed in the style of the 1920s. I was dancing and having a great time. I had the impression that I was some type of suffragist, but felt a bit of irony, because my husband was not the most understanding person. I got a feeling this husband was one of my past boyfriends (in this current life).

2. Me as a soldier marching. I had a blue uniform with gold metal and a large blue hat. I was holding a rifle.

3. Me as slave? Sharecropper? I saw a flash of a handsome man’s face and felt sadness/love. I then saw us running and had a feeling we were being chased. He fell into a ditch and I was trying to help him, but he told me to run and leave him.

4. I then saw a woman and a man (unsure which I was). I got the impression these people were indigenous to maybe South America or North America. I lean towards South America because we were canoeing down a river with a dense forest surrounding us.

During the regression, I was fully aware of my surroundings. I could hear the voice of Tony and I could feel my friend shifting next to me, yet I was in such a deep relaxation stage that I barely moved. Towards the end of the regression, I felt a tingling on the right side of my face. I started to let my thoughts enter and I wondered if I would remember everything once I came out of the hypnosis. I also wondered if I was hypnotized. When Tony was beginning to retrieve us out of our hypnosis, I already opened my eyes and was out of it. I think at that point, I was ready to leave.

During the regression, I saw flashes of pictures, heard words, saw words, smelled scents, and felt emotional sensations.

After the regression, we had the option to share our experiences and we had an open discussion. The eerie thing that happened- after I shared my experience about my mother, my friend next to me said she had a voice enter her head before we started the regression that said “L. needs her mother.” That was interesting because it occurred around the same time I saw my mother at the tree.

Overall, the experience was a good one. I did a group regression because I wanted to try out the regression process before experimenting with a private session. The entire event lasted approximately 2 1/2 hours, which was a nice length and the regression part was about 1 hour. If I were to get another regression, I would want a private session, so I could focus on my particular concerns. A group regression, you are basically ‘on your own’ without the queues of the regressionist. It is still a good experience, but I feel a private session might address my needs. Tony and his wife were very accommodating; they provided water, pens, notepads, and the comfort of their home.

I am interested in going back to Tony for a regression and other services. If you are in the New York area you can contact him:

Tony Nunziata- Certified Consulting Hypnotist

www.hypnosisdoesitall.com

tonynunziata@gmail.com

516.672.5884

If you would like to learn more about regressions, I suggest reading:

Many Lives, Many Masters by Dr. Brian Weiss

Discovering Your Past Lives by Gloria Chadwick

~ L.

On any given day, you can find L.Marie on her website, www.closedlids.com, her personal blog, www.lmariedreams.blogspot.com, or on Facebook, www.facebook.com/ClosedLids and twitter, www.twitter.com/closedlids. Join the conversation and interact.