Gardening in Stilettos - Home

Motivation Music Monday: Howard Hewett- Say Amen

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0800

Live Well: American Cancer Society- Choose You Movement

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 11:26:33 -0800

Choose You is a movement created by the American Cancer Society that encourages women to put their own health first in the fight against cancer. The movement challenges women to make healthier choices, and supports them in their commitment to eat right, get active, quit smoking and get regular health checks.

The Choose You Movement shines a light on a hidden issue: that while one in three American women will get cancer in her lifetime, about 50% of cancer deaths could be prevented if more emphasis were placed on early detection and healthier lifestyles including maintaining a healthy weight through diet and exercise and avoiding tobacco.

In the constant struggle between family, work and self, we know how difficult it is to focus on oneself. To help change this, American Cancer Society has developed the Choose You Commitment. Powered by stickK, this online program provides tools and support to enable women to commit to and achieve their personal health and wellness goals. Research shows that individuals who receive support in making positive choices are up to 5 times more likely to maintain healthy habits. The Choose You Commitment provides this support.

By making a Choose You Commitment today, you are helping to change the focus and make personal health a priority — and helping in the fight against cancer.

Follow Me Back Tuesday

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 16:51:13 -0800

Welcome! Thanks for stopping by...check out a post or two and let know your thoughts...
Happy Follow Me Back Tueday!!

Each day I surf the web I find some amazing blogs. If you enjoy blog hopping as I do and you are interested in sharing, learning and enjoying some good reads. Go on over to Survey Junkie and join Follow Me Back Tuesday. You never know you may make a friend or two.

Monday Music Motivation: Kari Jobe- Beautiful

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 10:28:12 -0800

Flirty Friday: Fall in Love With You Again

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 15:57:36 -0800

One of the most essential things we must own is confidence. When we don't have it we never achieve our true presence. Ever wonder why some people are said to have the 'IT Factor' that "je ne sais quio". It starts with your unique raw beauty and your ability to embrace it, your heighten sense of self awareness.

Your assigment if ou chose to take it is:
"Fall in love with you again"

Supplies needed:
Full length mirror
Good lighting-natural lighting if possible
You bare- that's right naked
Positive attitude

To Do:
Disrobe
Stand in front of the mirro
Take a good look at yourself from head to toe
Take a moment to take you all in, bask in your unique beauty
Drag your hands over your body, starting at the top of your head, following all your curves, notice everything, end at your toes.

**Now in doing this exercise there may be some things that you like and some other things that you are not that happy about. At this point...

Close your eyes take a few deep breaths by inhaling through your nose and exhaling out of your nose very slowly

Open your eyes continue to take deep breaths but this time plae your index finger/pointer finger of your left hand under your nose and place your right hand over your heart.

Feel the breaths, the rise and fall of your chest, the air as it enters and exits your nose.

In this moment be thankful for the breaths that you are taking. Be grateful for the breaths that are giving life to your body.

Smile you are alive!!

Now let's repeat a previous step...

Drag your hands over your body, starting at the top of your head, following all your curves, notice everything, end at your toes. This time really take pleasure with every touch as you explore your body.

Embrace your raw breauty!! Begin instilling appreciation of your body in your thoughts.

Simply love yourself!!!

Now that you are given yourself permission to simply love yourself as you are. Take note of anything that you would like to change and what you can do through a natural process to improve. If there are things taht you would like to change butt know that it is one of your unique qualities, remember just that...it is what make you unique and embrace it as that...one of your unique qualities and move on to makeing steps to improve those things you can change.

We all have unique qualities and those things that we simply have not given enough attention to that allows us to be our best selves. In this moment forgive yourself for not giving your body the attention it needs and take the necessary steps to do something daily to be your most fabulous self.

This exercise is suggested for you to take a moment to remember to love yourself by embracing all of you but taking step to create behaviors that will exude your best you daily.

During this exercise you took time to reconnect to your breath, that which gives life to the whole you, not just the external but the internal. Beginning to build your confidence one step at a time, developing your 'IT Factor'.

Stay tuned for the next Flirty Friday that will focus on your internal beauty.

Until time next time reconnect with yourself daily through your breaths and takes step each day to present your best you!!!

Have You Ever...

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 19:11:19 -0800

Have you ever watched the snow fall and create a beautiful image naturally...

Have you ever awakened to the warmth of the sun's rays...

Have you ever had a picnic by moonlight...

Have you ever shared a moment with your significant other in the rain....

Have you ever let your body feel the music...

Have you ever blown someone a kiss...

Have you ever got lost in a book...

Have you ever stopped to enjoy the beauty of life...

Have you ever had your significant other wash your hair...

Have you ever witnessed love...

Visit Mama Kat for more of her wonderful writing prompts!

Friendly Life Reminder...

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 07:02:33 -0800

Time is one of the most precious things we have and if we don’t do all that is possible in our time we lose it and it can not be regained. I always remind people to think of that when they put off spending time with family and friends. Or doing the simple things like enjoying the sunshine, the rain, the change of seasons, sharing hugs with a love one, exchanging a smile with a stranger, and the list goes on.

It was once said not to regret the things that you have done but live your life so that you will have no regrets of the things that you didn’t do as time goes on…

Simply put spend time with yourself to gain focus on your purpose…live in it…develop yourself continuously…never stop loving, learning and sharing your most fabulous you. And most importantly live intentionally…..

“Life isn’t about finding yourself, its about creating yourself”….George Bernard Shaw

And as you create yourself deposit blessing into others through your love, support, understanding, friendship and sometimes even guidance…

Enjoy this wonderful day!!!

Wordless Wednesday

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 11:04:12 -0800

M.I.L.K. Series

Moments of Intimacy Love & Kinship
Click photos to read more about the books or to purchase

Monday Music Motivation: Kurt Carr- For Every Mountain

Tue, 01 Jun 2010 08:20:11 -0800

Live Well- Breathe

Wed, 26 May 2010 00:00:00 -0800

Adult humans normally breathe at the rate of one breath every six to eight seconds and inhale an average of sixteen thousand quarts of air each day. If nothing is done to restrict breathing, it will happen naturally and fully. But people continually inhibit natural breathing in many ways—poor posture, tight or binding clothes, "speed eating," exposure to noxious substances, smoking, lack of exercise, plus habitual patterns of emotional stress. When breathing is obstructed or suppressed, the cells in the body do not receive the full amount of oxygen necessary to carry out their assigned functions. You may feel sleepy or irritable, or develop a headache. One reason that exercise is so valuable is that it forces you to breathe more fully, literally replenishing your dwindling supply of oxygen.

The breath is life. That is why the yogi says that you "half-live" because you "half-breathe."

Try the excerises below that have been recommended to encourage you to start paying attention to your breathing as a form of relaxation, stress reduction, and healing.

Breathe to Relax
Here’s an exercise that only takes a few minutes to complete, and you can do it imperceptibly almost anywhere, at any time.

If you can safely close your eyes, do that first. Otherwise, just stop talking and attend to your breathing.
Inhale, and as you inhale, say to yourself: "I am ..." Exhale, and as you exhale, say to yourself: "...relaxed."
Continue repeating, "I am ...." with each inhalation; "...relaxed" with each exhalation. Let the breathing gradually become a little deeper, a little slower, but don’t force it in any way. Just let it happen. As your mind begins to wander, gently bring it back to an awareness of breath and your statement, "I am...relaxed." Be easy on yourself. Continue doing this for a minute or two, longer if possible. Notice the overall effects of relaxation throughout your body.

Experience a Full Breath
Try this next exercise sitting, standing, and lying down. With gentle practice you will find that it becomes a smooth flow. Do it no more than about ten times consecutively unless you find the feeling of lightheadedness pleasurable.
1. Exhale deeply, contracting the belly.
2. Inhale slowly, expanding the belly first, then the chest, and finally raising the shoulders, slightly, up toward your ears. Hold this breath for a few comfortable seconds.
3. Exhale in the reverse pattern, slowly. Release your shoulders, relax your chest, relax your belly.
Breathing for Healing
Parents often sense that their child needs to breathe more fully to relieve panic or pain. The same is true for adults. Conscious breathing practices are now routinely taught in childbirth preparation classes. Anxiety intensifies pain, and the normal reaction is to tighten up when breathing. Breathing consciously not only will relieve tension and help quiet any fear, it can also relieve pain. So before you reach for the aspirins, the antacid tablets, or the telephone to call your doctor, do some breathing. Here is a simple healing exercise:
1. Scan your body mentally, noticing how different areas are feeling.
2. As you inhale, imagine that you are breathing increased life into areas that feel tired, painful, tight, or "starved" in some way.
3. As you exhale, imagine that the tiredness, pain, and tightness are leaving with the expelled air.
4. Repeat for two or three minutes. Enjoy.

Source: Healthy.net