Lavender & Lattés

5 Ways to Make Your Life More Positive

noreply@blogger.com (Lavender n Lattés) — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Have you ever met someone who was so positive about life, you wish you felt that way as well? You can.

Positive thinking is a powerful tool. Our minds control all of our thought processes and can be the catalyst for living a happy and positive existence or live life with a doom and gloom attitude.

Here are several ways to not only improve your mindset, but your life as well.

If you are faced with a negative thought, change it to a positive one. Remember the movie, “Pollyanna?” Her father taught her the “glad game.” She encouraged the town to find things to be glad about. Eventually, they did and were happier than ever before.
Surround your life with positive people. Go to events which bring you joy or have special meaning. Invoke positive memories whenever you can.
There is a saying, “It’s the simple things in life that make me happy.” Find those simple pleasures, no matter how small or insignificant they may be. They are yours to enjoy.
Laughter is the best medicine, especially for a heavy heart. Be around people who make you laugh; it’s quite contagious.
Love yourself; nurture the inner you; love others, and most of all be kind. Greet the doorman in the morning, or give a hug to someone who needs it most.

Remember, what you do affects others. If you are negative, people will shy away from you. However if you are positive, you will be surrounded by people who wish to be in your company all the time. Congratulate yourself on jobs well done! Positive thinking breeds positive results.

Begin your day in a positive manner. Nothing is worse then getting up in a grumpy mood. It not only sets the tone for the days’ events, but impacts your family as well. Place flowers around your home; open the curtains and let the sun shine in. Also, add more light to your home if needed. Light has a direct effect on one’s mood.

Changing the way in which you view life can make all the difference. Try not to think about the negative aspects, but focus on the positive blessings in your life. Turn off the bad news, and channel your thoughts in the direction of goodness. Be grateful for all that you already have, and you will notice a significant difference!

Top 5 Things That Have Annoyed Me This Week

noreply@blogger.com (Lavender n Lattés) — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 22:09:00 +0000

My Achilles Tendon became extremely annoying this week when I discovered that I actually developed tendonitis (Achilles tendonitis) on my left ankle. Especially since I’m not particularly athletic. I mean, I do work out, but it’s very moderate cardio and weight training – nothing excessive. So how did I get so lucky as to have developed this condition? No idea…and that’s even more annoying.
Paying for Car Repairs – very annoying since I only have a few months left on my lease, so great timing, daughter of mine! Fabulous time to back out of the garage and knock off the passenger-side mirror. Yippee! (But then, I suppose I wouldn’t be any less annoyed if this had happened at the beginning of the lease, either –Just Sayin’).
Text Alerts about Wild Brush Fires – I voluntarily signed up for them, only because I live in Southern California and my home has been threatened by them several times. So, yes, I want to be notified when a fire pops up, but when I see one of these alerts come through on my phone, I become alarmed, and then when I read it and find out this one’s not near me (thank God), I’m relieved. This emotional roller coaster is killing me.
When I realized that I really am the one who does everything around here! When you have an injury and can’t move around much, you start to see just how much you’ve been doing around the house, and just how much others haven’t. It’s amazing how quickly the dishes pile up in the kitchen or how quickly the trash starts to over-flow. And why is it that NO ONE ever seems to remember to put a new liner in the trash can??? Very annoying.
People Who Tweet Every Single Thought That Pops Into Their Heads! If I’m following you on Twitter, it’s most likely because your profile was interesting, it related in some way to my blog, or because you promised to follow me back. With that said, please don’t tweet every single thought you have! Tweet something funny or interesting – or even something that will make me click on your website. No one cares what you had for dinner last night or if you got your toenail fixed. Keep it up and I will un-follow you. (And I just realized that it’s very likely that no one cares about all the things that annoyed me this week, either!)

You Really Can Think Yourself Happy

noreply@blogger.com (Lavender n Lattés) — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 17:51:00 +0000

Believe it or not, it is within your power to create positive thoughts allowing you to accomplish anything you set out to do. Can you really think yourself happy? The answer is a qualified yes. Here are the ways in which positive thoughts can help you accomplish many things in life.

Positive thoughts produce positive results. We can either bemoan our situation, or change it. We can be negative about an event or enthusiastic. President Lincoln once said, “Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” If you really want to think yourself happy, then make up your mind to do so.

It may be difficult to think happy in a world filled with hatred and violence, but it’s not impossible. One person, one idea, one positive thought can change society. How, then, can we make ourselves happy? By being a constant reminder to others that there is goodness in the world.

Here are a few suggestions:

* Seek out positive people to associate with.
* Expose yourself to all the wonderful books, music and movies available.
* Find the one important thing in your life that’s important, and pursue it.
* Show kindness and respect towards others.
* Live life as if every day is your last.
* Use positive reinforcement wherever and whenever you can.
* Use visualization methods to view the positive aspects of life.
* Speak in a positive tone.
* Rid your mind of negative thinking with yoga and exercise.
* Let your expectations reflect your positive attitude.
* Allow peace of mind to envelop you.
* Become your own best friend.

There is a wonderful poem which clearly explains how unhappiness can thwart our every desire.

If you think you are beaten you are;
If you think you dare not, you don't;
If you want to win but think you can't;
It's almost a cinch you won't.
If you think you'll lose you're lost;
For out of the world we find
Success begins with a fellow's will;
It's all in a state of mind.
Life's battles don't always go
To the stronger and faster man.

Happiness is not a genetic trait we are born with. It is ingrained in us by our parents and those we love. It is up to us, then, to maintain it, share it, and build our lives around it.

Think happy, and you will be happy.

Organic Gardening – Easy Ways To Get Started Today

noreply@blogger.com (Lavender n Lattés) — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 15:42:00 +0000

Growing your own herbs, vegetables, greens and fruit can be both incredibly rewarding and delicious. However, many gardeners rely on pesticides, herbicides and fungicides not to mention chemical fertilizers to help their garden grow. That’s not only unnecessary, it’s also unhealthy. All those nutritious veggies pack a much healthier punch if they’re sans harmful chemicals.

Step #1
Prepare your soil. Because your soil is the foundation of your garden, it is important to make sure it’s full of the right nutrients to feed your garden. Mix in organic material like compost or humus and consider having your soil tested. The proper soil conditions can make the difference between a sparse crop and award winning vegetables.

Step #2
Choose your crop. The second step to build an organic garden is to choose your crop. What are you going to grow in your garden? Initially, in addition to what you’re going to grow, you’ll want to decide if you want to purchase plants or start your garden from seeds. If you start early enough you can use seeds. If not, you can purchase organic plants from your local nursery.
Regardless of what you choose, seeds or plants, make sure they’re grown without chemicals.

Step #3
Organize your garden. Did you know some plants naturally protect other plants from disease and pests? It’s true. Marigolds for example, drive bugs away and if you plant them around the perimeter of your garden, they’ll help protect your herbs, greens and veggies.
Before transferring your plants into your garden, mark where you’re going to plant them. Make sure there is plenty of room between plants so they have room to grow and thrive. A tiny tomato plant can grow several feet high and several feet wide. Leave room.

Step #4
Natural pesticides, herbicides and fungicides. It’s been said that home gardeners generally use more chemicals on their gardens than farmers do. That’s a lot of chemicals! Interestingly enough, mild detergent and water protect many plants from harmful pests. Hot pepper sprays also work to fend off pests. And natural predators like frogs and ladybugs can keep your garden healthy and full.

Step #5
Maintenance. Watering and weeding are all you have in store for you until it’s time to harvest. Take care to not over water. Soil should be moist but not soaking. Weed on a regular basis to make sure your plants have all the nutrients and room in the soil they need to grow.

Organic gardening isn’t difficult when you start with a healthy foundation. Before you dive in and start a garden large enough to feed an army, choose a few plants you know your family will eat. Grow those successfully and next year you can grow a bigger garden.

Get Rid of Acne – Simple Solutions That Really Work

noreply@blogger.com (Lavender n Lattés) — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 15:43:00 +0000

Acne plagues millions. And when you suffer from acne and breakouts it can have a negative effect on your confidence. The good news is to get rid of acne, there are simple solutions that really work.

#1. Cut back on sugar. There are both good and bad bacteria that live in our bodies. And some bacteria, the kind that can cause acne, thrive on sugar. Additionally, sugar affects your hormone levels and blood sugar levels both of which can cause a strain on your body. This strain makes it difficult for your body to fight any kind of infection, even a small pimple.

Cutting back on sugar helps balance your body’s systems and it eliminates the food bacteria thrive on. If your diet is particularly high in sugar and starchy carbohydrates (think white bread and baked goods) then going on a sugar elimination diet will show dramatic improvements in your skin.

There’s a reason chocolate is so often linked to acne, because it’s high in sugar. It’s also high in dairy and if you have a dairy sensitivity, which many people do, it can cause acne. Additionally, dairy is often full of hormones added to the cows to help them produce more milk. These hormones can wreak havoc on your system. Common foods that can cause acne include sugary foods, dairy, alcoholic beverages, fried foods, meat treated with hormones, and common allergy causing foods like nuts.

#2 Exfoliate and moisturize. Exfoliation of your skin keeps the pores from being clogged. Clogged pores are the precursor to a blemish. However, beware of harsh abrasives. Many facial scrubs are just too abrasive for sensitive skin. Instead, use products with alpha hydroxy acids, retinols and salicylic acids to remove dead skin and debris from your face gently and consistently.

A common protocol might be to use a cleanser with salicylic acid and a night cream with retinol or alpha hydroxy acids or AHAs. Some skin care protocols for teens with acne contain benzoyl peroxide which can work quite well if you have particularly oily skin. However, for adults and those prone to dry skin, it can worsen the acne problem.

#3 Watch what you put on your face and when. Makeup can clog pores. If you wear makeup choose a non-comedogenic versions. Don’t wear makeup when you exercise or when you’re going to be outside in the sun for extended periods of time.

#4 Avoid too much stress. Easier said than done, right? Stress has an effect on our hormones and can cause breakouts. If you’re going to be dealing with stress, say you have a big project coming up, up the vitamin B complex and get some sunshine or vitamin D. Vitamin B helps your body manage stress and it helps protect your skin. Vitamin D, which our body makes when we get about 20 minutes of sunlight each day, helps promote healthy skin.

#5 Try not to touch your skin. This goes beyond not squeezing or picking at your acne. Our fingers are full of bacteria. If you’re prone to acne much of it may be from simply transferring the bacteria on your hands to your face.

Overall, take good care of yourself. Get plenty of sleep, exercise, fresh air and a good healthy diet. Good overall health helps your skin stay healthy and acne free. It helps your body manage obstacles, like stress and hormones, without suffering a breakout.

Top Ten Power Packed Foods

noreply@blogger.com (Lavender n Lattés) — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 15:43:00 +0000

What is the secret to a long and healthy life? It is in the food that we eat. As you well know, all foods are not created equal. Choosing and eating the right foods may help increase your life expectancy as well as the quality of your life.

Here are ten of the top power packed foods designed to give you energy, vitality and all around good health!

Beans – If they give you gas, take precautions before you eat them. Soaking them first can help. Beans of all kinds (kidney, navy, lentils, chickpeas, Northern) are high in protein. This is plant protein so it contains very little fat, carbs and calories. If fiber is a problem in your diet, eating a healthy portion of beans each day can keep your digestive system healthy.
Oatmeal – Oatmeal is coming into popularity as a food that lowers blood cholesterol. You can make it yourself with rolled oats or eat the instant kind if you are in a hurry. Oatmeal is a filling grain that also provides much needed fiber to keep hunger at bay and your blood sugar constant.
Fruits – Fruits are filled with antioxidants such as Vitamin C and A. Antioxidants fight free radical damage in the body and reduce the risk of cancer. Berries such as blueberries and grapes have the highest amount of antioxidants. But choose an array of fruits in a wide variety of colors for maximum health. The antioxidants in fruit boost the immune system to fight the effects of aging in the body.
Allium foods – This class of foods includes garlic, onions, leeks and shallots. Garlic is known for lowering cholesterol. Allium vegetables healp guard the body against the risk of cancer and many other ailments. They also help lower blood pressure and prevent blood clots. Eating these power packed vegetables in their natural state especially garlic increases their health benefits.
Salmon – Eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids reduces the risk of heart disease and other conditions like atherosclerosis. Wild salmon is a fatty fish but it contains good fats that has been proven to improve health in children and adults. Salmon is rich in protein which is of great use after an exercise session to build muscle tissue.
Flax seed – Like salmon it contains omega-3 fatty acids. These seeds also contain omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids. You get a lot of power to fight high cholesterol, heart disease and diabetes with this seed. Ground flax seed can be added to fruit smoothies, sprinkled in yogurt, eaten with cereal or added to pancake mix to name a few.
Peppers – Peppers are colorful. They contain antioxidants like beta-carotene and Vitamin C. Peppers range from mild and sweet to so hot you’ll be calling the fire department. All peppers contain a substance called capsaicin. Capsaicin has the properties of an anti-inflammatory, a pain reliever, lowers cancer risk and heart disease. They are good in salads, salsa and all sorts of dishes.
Nuts and seeds – Nuts are high in fat but those fats are the good kind. Peanuts, almonds, Brazil nuts, walnuts and pistachios are all providers of good fats and protein. Crush them into a fine powder and use as a coating instead of higher carb bread crumbs. Nuts help to lower cholesterol. Eat them right out of the shell with no additives.
Açai – This berry has been in the news lately. It is rich in antioxidants and increases energy. You can get more done and look better while doing it. You can get Acai juice and supplements in your health food store.
Yogurt – The fat free variety is good for you. Yogurt contains calcium, Vitamin B, and protein. If you don’t drink milk, yogurt is an alternative to get your calcium in to build strong bones and teeth. Live yogurt also contains friendly bacteria to help promote a healthy digestive system.

Building a better healthier body begins with what you eat. Try these super foods to get started on the right foot.

The Power of Antioxidants for Staying Young

noreply@blogger.com (Lavender n Lattés) — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 15:44:00 +0000

Everyone wants to grow old gracefully. Some go under the knife to get that youthful look while others opt for a more natural way to maintain that healthful glow. The way to make peace with age can be found in the types of foods that we eat and the miracle ingredient they contain.

This hidden “miracle” is called antioxidants. They have graced the pages of magazines, medical journals and every product from hand cream to supplement pills. But what are antioxidants and what can they do to keep you looking your best?

Antioxidants are substances that fight the aging process that goes on in your body. They are not produced by the body so to get the benefit of these power-packed substances you must ingest them. A variety of foods contain antioxidants.

Let’s go back to the beginning. The body continually replenishes its cells. Through a process called cellular metabolism, the body produces energy, more cells and repairs any damage. One by-product of cellular metabolism is unstable molecules called free radicals.

Free radicals are molecules that damage your body. They are unstable because they are missing an electron. To get another one and become stable, free radicals will steal electrons from cells. That theft damages the cells in a variety of ways.

The results are visible and invisible changes to our bodies. The development of diseases like cancer, diabetes, arthritis and neurological deficiencies may begin to affect you as you age. Also, thinner skin wrinkles and brittle bones are a problem. Free radicals enter our body from outside sources as well: cigarette smoke, radiation and the sun’s UV rays. The more free radicals we encounter, the greater the damage that can be done.

Antioxidants have been shown to be of great help in the free radical problem. Antioxidant substances combine with free radicals and neutralize them. Once they are neutralized, they can no longer do any damage. Scientists don’t have any idea of a recommended daily dose of antioxidants to correct free radical damage and the diseases that come with age, but they do know that eating foods rich in antioxidants makes a huge difference in how we live.

Where do you find antioxidants? They are all around us. Look no further than your local farmer’s market or produce aisle in the grocery store. Fruits and vegetables contain the principle sources of antioxidants.

Examples of antioxidants include:

Vitamin C
Vitamin A
Vitamin E
Lutein
Lycopene
Beta-carotene

Certain minerals like zinc and selenium also function in the body. They are not antioxidants but they boost the immune system to fight against free radical damage.

Antioxidants are also found in nuts, legumes, cold water fish, seafood and red meat. So, eating a varied diet of fruits, vegetables and the foods just named will increase the amount of antioxidants in your system and help reduce the incidence of disease. Eating fruits and vegetables in their natural form instead of juices brings the benefit of other nutrients found in the foods. Juices also contain a lot of sugar that is not needed by your body.

Food does more than stave off hunger. Natural substances found there can cause us to live longer and stay free of disease as we age.

Top 10 Food and Nutrition Affirmations

noreply@blogger.com (Lavender n Lattés) — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 15:44:00 +0000

When you have "convenience" food bombarding you from every direction, it can be difficult to choose options that give your body the nourishment it needs. However, if you have daily reminders and effective tools at your disposal, you just may find that eating the right foods and feeding your body the best fuels becomes a lot easier. Of course, there will always be temptation, but when you equip yourself with anti-temptation tools, you will be able to quickly re-focus your mind on your greater goal of getting healthy!

Using Affirmations to Make the Healthy Food and Nutrition Choices

When everyone around you at the office is indulging in burgers, fries, and sugary drinks, it's awfully tempting to join in, isn't it? But what if you could stop that temptation in its tracks and actually choose to make a healthy choice? You don't need me to tell you that fatty and sugary choices are not the kinds of food that your body needs - you need to tell yourself!

It can be hard in moments of temptation to make the right choice, but with the help of positive affirmations, you can re-train your brain to replace the desire for junk food with healthy choices. Affirmations can help you stick to your diet, say no to temptation, and eat nourishing and satisfying foods. How? By replacing the negative spiral of thoughts in your mind with powerful, positive ones. But first you have to believe that it is possible to gain control over your thirsts, desires, and cravings. The first step in making a lasting change in your life is to make the commitment to success. Are you committed? Do you believe that you can overcome your cravings?

Once you've set your commitment in stone, you're ready to learn the top 10 affirmations to get you through moments of weakness.

Top 10 Food and Nutrition Affirmations

Before reading the list below, you should know that affirmations are most successful when you internalize the saying and repeat it frequently. Whether you're having a good or bad day, you need to be constantly repeating these positive statements in your mind. Temptation will strike when you least expect it, so it's better to be prepared!

I can neutralize bad habits with good food, exercise, and healthy living.
I am proud to reach out to my support network instead of leaning on food for comfort.
I am losing weight for me because I love me.
I set aside time just for me.
My good health and productivity are the rewards for the nourishing foods I eat.
Weight gain happens over time, so my weight loss equally requires time, patience, and lifestyle changes.
I use self-care, not self-control.
The more I take care of myself, the better I feel.
I am firmly committed to staying active and healthy.
I deserve a healthy body and mind.

When you look at these food and nutrition affirmations, they may seem like ideals - behaviors and thoughts that you only wish you could have - but each time you reaffirm them by saying them aloud, you're slowly changing your mindset. Over time, these ideals will become a reality through your thoughts and actions.

But remember, you must first believe you can change. Once you make the commitment to your success, you will change your attitudes about food and you'll be thankful you did!

How to Overcome Emotional Eating

noreply@blogger.com (Lavender n Lattés) — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 16:07:00 +0000

Eating is a part of life. Your body gets its nutrients from food. Sometimes we can go overboard with our eating habits and it can result in gaining weight. One issue with food is emotional eating.

The problem of emotional eating may end with the scale but it begins in the mind. Stress takes its toll on your life. When your defenses are compromised your health takes a hit and so do your emotions.
Everyone has good days and bad days. How we deal with the bad ones brings emotional eating into play.
You look for comfort for your hurts. People who turn to food for comfort find a coping mechanism that won’t judge them, hurt them or tell them “no.” To complicate the issue, eating pleasurable foods can stimulate the release of endorphins just like exercise. So, after you eat, you feel better.

Emotional eaters use food to relieve stress. They hide behind the food instead of seeking solutions to the problems. This is not uncommon when the stressor is something horrible such as physical abuse or a death.
But, how do you know you are using food in this way? The first sign is obvious. You will gain weight if you eat too much. In light of the weight gain, examine other areas of your life:

Have you been under stress lately at work or at home?
Has anything traumatic happened in the last year?
Are you dealing with a problem but haven’t found a solution?

Answering “yes” to any of these questions could mean that you are an emotional eater. You eat but you are not necessarily hungry at the time. The foods that you choose are what we term “comfort foods”:

High fat foods like French fries, fried foods
High carb foods like macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes
Sugary foods like ice cream, donuts, cookies, cake

There is help for emotional eaters. The first step is recognizing that you have a problem. You’ll experience feelings of helplessness and guilt. The guilt is over potentially ruining your health and the helplessness lies in the fact that you don’t see a way out.

Secondly, seek counseling. There are many types of counselors out there that can meet your need. Emotional eating has nothing to do with dieting or changing your eating habits but gaining control over your emotions.
A counselor might suggest things like visualization, practicing problem solving skills, relaxation techniques and family support. Visualization helps you to see your problems in a realistic way and not blown out of proportion. You will also learn to see food as nutrition for the body and not an emotional crutch.

Thirdly, your family can learn your triggers for stress and be on the lookout for changes in your eating habits. They can help you be aware of the foods you are eating, assist you in making healthy food choices and exercise along with you. Proper diet and exercise increases immunity, blood flow and positive thinking. Yoga enhances the mind/body connection so you don’t eat when you aren’t hungry.

Finding new ways to solve your problems and deal with stress will push food out of the equation. You’ll feel good about finding solutions which will replace the dependence on food.

Keep the Bugs Away This Summer!

noreply@blogger.com (Lavender n Lattés) — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 23:05:00 +0000

No need for chemical sprays this summer! The essential oils of Lavender and Vanilla will keep those pesky insect away, (mosquitoes, ticks, etc.), PLUS, you’ll smell great!

If you already have Lavender and Vanilla essential oils at home, try it out by dabbing just a little bit on your pulse points before heading outside, ( wrists, behind the ears, temples, back of knees, etc.).

You can also make your own spray by mixing a few drops of the oils with witch hazel or distilled water. You can spray this on your skin, clothing, bedding, and towels. Another idea is to add a few drops onto a candle.

Lavender has been used for many things, a small portion of which are listed here: stomach upset, headache/migraine relief, acne, athlete’s foot, healing burns, insect bites and sunburns.

The best option for me has been to use a Lavender/Vanilla body lotion. Make sure, though, that the lotion contains essential oils, and not a synthetic fragrance. Not sure where to get some?

Click here to get some for yourself – and have a great summer!

If you would like a 10% discount, please email me for a discount code.

Flat, Toned Abs in Just Ten Minutes a Day

noreply@blogger.com (Lavender n Lattés) — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 15:42:00 +0000

Summer, and swimsuit season, is just around the corner. That means it’s time to start working on those flat abs you want so badly. Don’t have time to work out for hours every day? Not to worry, with a little planning and ten minutes a day, you can have the flat, toned abs you want.

Step #1
Pay attention to your fuel. Track what you eat and what you burn each day. Abdominal fat is just that, fat. If you want to see the muscles underneath and get rid of the bulge you’re going to have to consume fewer calories than you burn.

There are wonderful, free, and easy to use programs and iPod/iPhone applications that will help you track what you eat and what you burn each day. Use them to stay on track. One pound of fat is 3500 calories. That means that by simply burning 500 more calories a day than you eat you can lose a pound in 7 days.

Tracking what you eat will also help you see what foods fill you up longer and what foods burn quickly. Quick burning foods mean you’re hungry soon after you eat them. Aim for lean protein, lots of fiber and fruits and veggies.

Step #2
Get moving! Move your body; it wasn’t designed to sit on a couch or at a desk all day. Take the stairs, take a walk around the block, move your body and find a way to take at least 10,000 steps a day. Studies have shown that people who take 10,000 steps a day lose weight faster and keep it off. They’re healthier and thinner. You can be too!

Step #3
Okay, now you have pounds melting off just by tracking your intake and moving your body. The next step is to work your core muscles, and you can do that in just ten minutes a day. The best fitness activities are ones that focus on your entire core, your back and stomach. Sit-ups are great but they only work specific muscles in your abdominals.

Instead of sit-ups, spend ten minutes working through a low rep workout. Do full crunches where your legs also come off of the ground, bridge, single leg abdominal press, plank pose, and side plank. Move through each repetition slowly so you get the full benefit of the movement and hold the exercise for a few seconds before releasing it. You’ll build muscle and burn more fat. Repeat each exercise 8-10 times then move onto the next exercise.

The good thing about these core exercises is that you don’t need any fancy equipment to do them. All you need is ten minutes. Get down on the floor during your favorite television show or do them right when you get up in the morning before your shower.

With commitment, a plan of action and a little bit of willpower you can have those flat abs you want. Watch what you eat, get moving and find ten minutes each day to work your core muscles. You’ll have that beach body in no time.

Free Copy of a Yoga DVD

noreply@blogger.com (Lavender n Lattés) — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 23:16:00 +0000

Happened upon a nice freebie -- a Free Yoga DVD! It's from http://www.mymsyoga.com/. Although designed for people with MS, it is also great for "anyone who needs a variety of slower, more focused, or controlled movements"

Click here to get your free copy: Free Copy of My MS Yoga DVD

Green Energy – The Way of the Future

noreply@blogger.com (Lavender n Lattés) — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 19:00:00 +0000

You may have heard a lot about green energy the past year or so. Whether you’ve jumped on the green energy bandwagon or not, it is definitely not a trend. Green energy is the way of the future. Let’s take a look at exactly what green energy is, why it’s important and how you can use it to improve your life and your environment.

What is Green Energy?
Green energy is energy that produces little if no by products that harm the environment. For example, fossil fuels like oil are expensive to mine, destructive to the environment during the actual drilling process and produce many toxic byproducts. These very same by products have been directly contributing to greenhouse gases and global warming not to mention polluting our waterways and air.

Green energy, like solar, wind, and geothermal do not cause destruction to the environment either during their harvesting stage or as a byproduct. When you use solar cells for example to store and create energy, you’re using energy directly from the sun. There’s no by product create and no waste.

Benefits of Green Energy
The benefits of green energy are vast. Initially you may think about two primary environmental benefits. They include no waste or pollution from the energy sources or emissions. Eliminating harmful emissions would drastically improve our planet’s outlook and virtually eliminate global warming caused by greenhouse gasses.
Additionally, green energy means no more destruction of the earth as we harvest fossil fuels. No more oil spills, digging in the midst of our pristine wilderness and destroying our natural resources.

However, beyond the immediate and apparent environmental benefits, in the long run green energy is significantly more cost effective. Imagine if your entire home ran on energy from the sun? How much a month would that save you in heating your home and in your electric bill?

Over the course of a year you’d save a thousand dollars or more, right? What about over the course of ten years? Yes, initially it will cost to transfer your energy source from fossil fuels to green energy sources, but that initial expense is usually paid for within a few years.

Green energy is infinitely sustainable and economically sound. That’s why it is the wave of the future.

How to Use Green Energy
The good news is that green energy can be utilized in smaller increments. You don’t have to change your entire home over to sustainable fuel sources in one fell swoop. You can add a few solar panels, use passive solar, and support sustainable practices. Some energy companies even offer a membership where you can specify a certain amount of your energy come from wind or solar. This depends on where you live but check it out.

Finally, you can support businesses that use green energy. It may take a while to spread throughout the world, however green energy is more than a passing phase, it is the wave of the future.

Five Easy Toning Exercises you can Do Anywhere

noreply@blogger.com (Lavender n Lattés) — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 16:42:00 +0000

Exercise is an important part of our lives. Staying in shape is one way to increase your life expectancy. Weight bearing exercises are important also for increasing muscle mass and bone density as you age.

Most of us have learned what to do when it comes to exercising. The problem is where and when to get the job done. With a busy lifestyle, making time for exercise is a challenge.

Weight bearing exercises aren’t just for bodybuilders. As you age, especially once you hit the age of forty, you begin to lose muscle mass. For women especially, bone loss becomes a problem. When the body is in need of calcium it can rob it from your bones. Building muscle not only increases their mass but your strength.

Here are five easy toning exercises that can be done anywhere and whenever you have time. At home, at the office, or on vacation, you can do these easy yet extremely effective exercises.

The Bridge Butt Lift – Sounds like a plastic surgery technique but it is an easy way to tone your buttocks. Lay down with feet flat on the floor, legs shoulder width apart. Place your hands, palm side down, on either side of your body. Pushing with your feet, squeeze your gluteal muscles and lift your butt off the floor. Hold the position for a count of five to ten and release down to the floor.
Squats – Squats work the butt, the hamstring muscles and the quadriceps. If you aren’t sure of proper form, you can use a chair. Stand with feet shoulder width apart and feet firmly planted. Push your butt back as if you were preparing to sit in a chair. Keep your abs tight and your upper body straight. Once you reach chair level stop and hold the position for a count of two to five and release. At the lowest point, place all of your weight on your heels for balance and maximum toning.
Reverse Lunges – Lunges work the quadriceps muscles. They can be hard for people with knee problems. A reverse lunge still tones the right muscle groups but with less pressure on the knee. Stand with feet together and arms at your sides. Take one leg and move it backwards until you are in lunge position: front leg bent at a 90 degree angle and back leg extended until you are on the ball of your foot. From this position lower yourself down until the back knee almost touches the floor. Hold for a count of two and return to starting position.
Push-ups – This is a classic toning exercise that works all areas of the arms plus the chest muscles. If you aren’t comfortable or strong enough to perform a pushup on your toes, lower your body to your knees. Be sure your arms are tucked into the body and your back straight as you lower and lift your body.
Crunches – Abdominal muscles can be worked every day to build strength and muscle tone. Lying on the floor in sit up position, lace your fingers behind your head. Squeezing your abdominal muscles, lift your upper body until your lower back is about to come off the floor. Hold for two to five counts and return to starting position.

These five exercise moves can be done whenever you have time. The best thing about exercise is that its effects are cumulative. Even five or ten minutes at a time will work to your advantage.

Simple Strategies to Get More Done

noreply@blogger.com (Lavender n Lattés) — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 15:50:00 +0000

I came across this helpful guide and thought I would pass it along. Times have changed and many people now work from home and have multiple streams of income.

When you work from home, it's easy to get distracted or lose focus. This free report will help you get back on track. Learn how a few changes can boost your productivity and your confidence.

Click here to download a copy:

Strategies to Get More Done When Working From Home

30 Free MP3 downloads from iTunes & Stanford University

noreply@blogger.com (Lavender n Lattés) — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 01:39:00 +0000

Summer Mixx 2009

Get your Summer Mixx 2009 and check out what Stanford University has to offer on iTunes!

http://tinyurl.com/ozb3dv

Hurry - offer expires 9/30/09

Time to Wake Up - Again...

noreply@blogger.com (Lavender n Lattés) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 04:28:00 +0000

(This was originally posted in February 2009. I felt it was still relevant to current circumstances, and just reading it again made me feel empowered. I'm re-posting so that it can be a reminder to me and anyone else out there who might need it!)

Have you ever had one of those dreams – where you’re trying to scream but no one can hear you? Or where you are telling anyone and everyone something so important that your life depends on it – and NO ONE believes you or will even LISTEN to you? Well – welcome to the nightmare I’ve been living in for the last few months.

We’ve been dealing with family drama – which has subsequently seeped its way into the business area of my life as well. It hasn’t been easy – and not just for me, also for those close to me. Many things have transpired: a little back-stabbing, some under-handed manipulation, some false rumors, a little bit of taking credit where it ISN’T due, along with lots of word-twisting and lies, lies, lies. And all this for the love of money, power and control.

Because of these things, my life has been turned upside-down – my workload has tripled, my home life has been greatly affected and even my children have felt some of the ripples of this negativity. The worst part of it all, though, is not being heard.

There are many people in my “world” that don’t believe you need to be heard. They believe that you can let go of many things on your own. This can be extremely frustrating – not just on a personal level, but especially when, as a professional, you try to address a business problem in a professional manner, only to be shut down because that person doesn’t want to “hear it”.

So, several months of being overworked, never being heard/validated and becoming more and more tired, started to make me feel a little depressed. But, just as I was beginning to give up, I received a very special email...one of my daily “Notes from the Universe” which I subscribe to on www.tut.com:

"When you can look beneath their behavior that hurt you, Kelly, and you can see the frightened child - it becomes nearly impossible to be angry and carry a grudge.
And you SO can.

ILY, The Universe

Besides, Kelly, your happiness, abundance, health, and friendships are NOT dependent on how others behave."
(emphasis added by me)

When I read that, I felt a huge rush of relief. All of a sudden I got it. I got what some of those around me were trying to tell me… but there was a BIG difference in the presentation.

There are kind, gentle, loving ways of getting a point across to someone. Being supportive isn’t just about getting that person to the end result. Being supportive is also about listening, being that shoulder to cry on, or that friend to lean on. Being supportive is about being there.

(Telling someone you don’t want to hear it, is quite frankly, just plain mean! And it conveys the message that you just don’t care and can’t be bothered.)

So now, I wake up each morning and remember that MY happiness does not depend on the behavior of others...

It’s as if those are the greatest words I’ve ever heard. That one simple sentence is so freeing to me.

No one can control me, insult me, make me feel sad or unhappy – unless I let them.

At least not anymore - I’m taking my power back.

Using Positive Self-Talk to Conquer Any Goal

noreply@blogger.com (Lavender n Lattés) — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 01:53:00 +0000

Do you feel like you are always talking yourself out of success? As soon as you start to set goals for yourself, do you suddenly have nagging thoughts about how you aren't up to the task or how you simply aren't qualified to carry it through?

If you have ever experienced either situation, you need to change the way you respond to your inner dialogue. Instead of obeying your negative commands, you can use positive self-talk to counter the negativity and overcome nearly all anxious thoughts.

Setting Goals and Sticking to Them with Positive Self-Talk

Are you initially filled with excitement when you first set goals for yourself? Are these thoughts then followed by self-doubt and self-defeating thoughts that stop you in your tracks before you even get started?

It can be difficult to make the most of your life when you are constantly talking yourself out of being a success. It can be frustrating and discouraging to have these thoughts constantly plaguing you. Many of us, in fact, don't even realize we have them! All we know is that we don't have the confidence to stick to our plans and reach our goals.

But there's another way!

Positive self-talk is an effective way to set goals and ensure that you stick to them, even if you have never been able to do this before. The way this works is that you decide what goal is important to you, and then you plan the logistics of how you are going to attain this goal. When self-doubt starts kicking in, you will respond with affirmations that prove your success without surrendering to the negative pressure. Since you're reading this article, it's clear that you're no quitter and you're certainly not a failure, so start believing in yourself!

Re-Programming Your Mind

Affirmations are essentially positive statements that re-program your mind for the positive. The moment you have a self-defeating thought you'd be able to counter the negative with a motivating statement. An example of a positive affirmation is: "I am worthy of great success," or "I see myself in the winner's circle." What this does is replace negativity with thoughts that will help you move toward your goals instead of further away from them.

Positive self-talk is easier to implement than you might think. You may not be aware of the severity of the negative dialogue currently within your mind. However, once you begin with positive self-talk, you will suddenly realize that you are self-sabotaging the goals you set for yourself from the minute that you make them. This process can open your eyes to exactly how much this inner conversation has been interfering with your life. You'll feel hopeful that you can now set goals and surpass them.

Through positive self-talk you will be able easily set long and short-term goals for yourself. And when you use affirmations, you'll have accessible tools to help you push yourself further than ever before. Learning to quiet negativity with positive thoughts is a great move toward setting and attaining future goals with ease.

Effective Steps For Managing Anxiety

noreply@blogger.com (Lavender n Lattés) — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 15:29:00 +0000

Have you ever been in a situation that brought on sweats, rapid heartbeat and shortness of breath? You probably weren’t having a heart attack but an anxiety attack. If you suffer from anxiety disorders, learning to manage it is the first step to overcoming it.

Anxiety is characterized as extreme reactions to fearful situations. When someone follows you into a dark alley, those anxious feelings of a racing heartbeat and sweaty palms gives way to heightened senses and a rush of adrenalin that can save your life. This is the fight or flight syndrome.

In the case of frequent anxiety, the fearful feelings are dread of a particular situation and not the situation itself. Getting caught in traffic can cause an anxiety attack over what might happen when you get to work late. Starting a new job can bring on anxiety attacks. You don’t know anyone and fear of that unknown can send you into a panic.

Everyone experiences panic or anxiety in small ways. Like the fight or flight example, it can save your life. In new situations, we get panicky but when the outcome we fear fails to materialize, the anxiety stops. For someone with chronic anxiety, this is not the case.

Every situation that brings anxiety is not life-threatening. More than likely it is an extremely stressful situation that has brought on the anxiety as a way of dealing with it. Unchecked anxiety of this type can lead to depression.

If you suffer from anxiety attacks on occasion or a more frequent anxiety disorder, there are steps you can take to keep your anxiety under control.

1. See a professional. This is always a good first step. Self-diagnosis of any type of physical or mental condition is unwise and can be dangerous. A professional psychologist can help you understand your anxiety and prescribe medication or other effective techniques.

2. Get a good night’s sleep. During the sleep cycle, your body repairs itself. You feel more rested after several hours of restorative sleep, reaching the REM stage. Most people need eight hours a night which varies within an hour or two each way.

3. Exercise on a consistent basis. Exercise helps you to use oxygen more efficiently. It helps to get more oxygen to the brain. It also increases focus which may help you see solutions to problems rather than simply worrying about them.

4. Meditate. Meditation is more than chanting mantras. Yoga is an exercise that involves quieting the mind and controlling your breathing. Simple mediation such as taking 5 minutes to clear your mind everyday can work wonders in the fight against anxiety.

5. Manage the worry. When you feel your pulse start to quicken, count backwards from ten. As you count, focus on the situation. What has actually happened? Resist the urge to read anything more into the situation.

6. Don’t use alcohol. You might think that the glass of wine is relaxing your tension but alcohol is a depressant. In anxious situations you could rely too heavily on it and gain another problem in the process.

7. Find some relaxing activities. Stress can rob you of your energy. On a regular basis, do something you like such as gardening, painting, reading or listening to music.

Anxiety can come into your life at any time. It’s normal. When the anxiety becomes frequent you could be at risk for more serious conditions. If you feel your anxiety is starting to take over your life or increasingly causing you problems, seek professional help immediately. There is no need to suffer this terrible condition in silence.

A discovery about myself...

noreply@blogger.com (Lavender n Lattés) — Tue, 05 May 2009 02:45:00 +0000

I was an “Air Force Brat” and we moved around A LOT. I went to 3 different schools during the 1st grade, 3 different high schools and 3 other schools in between. I can tell you from personal experience that children of military families are very resilient. You learn at a very young age how to adapt and how to make new friends quickly. But since you move so much, it becomes extremely difficult (especially as a kid) to keep in touch with those friends. The upside is you learn a lot, and you get to see and experience new places and live all over the world.

When I was 16, my family moved from the Philippines (where we spent 11 months) to Southern California. On the surface, I guess that would seem like no big deal. And I’ve spent all the years since then, believing just that, until something very unexpected happened.

I was contacted about 2 weeks ago, by one of my very best friends from when I lived in the Philippines. She informed me that “everyone” (all of our friends) were now on Facebook. I already had a Facebook account, so I started sending friend requests. Each one of my requests began with, “you may not remember me, but…” – and I really thought these people would either not remember me at all, or maybe they never really cared, so it didn’t matter. Life goes on – whatever.

But then I discovered that what I had believed about myself, any friends or people in general, for all these years was false, and perhaps a teenager’s way of coping with something she just couldn’t deal with.

Everyone’s reaction was something like, “Of course I remember you…” and to tell you the truth, I was surprised – very surprised. The more I corresponded, instant-messaged and emailed them, the more I felt like we all just picked up exactly where we left off.

The feeling was overwhelming and I think I cried for two days. I realized that all of us had some sort of bond that was really difficult to explain. I kept asking myself, “what could have possibly happened in those short 11 months that would cause a bunch of kids to remain so close – even after two decades?”

We have all been joking around, posting pictures and reminiscing and enjoying every minute of it – remembering the good times and seeing everyone’s children and families. But I started to realize that most of the things that happened – the things we did together during that time, I could not remember at all – no matter how hard I tried.

I have always been the one with the “good memory”, so it was extremely frustrating for me, not being able to remember things that my friends were telling me we did together. So I tried harder – I wanted to remember everything so badly.

I realized then, that at the age of 16, I made a decision to block those memories out completely. Whether I consciously knew it at the time or not - the decision was made.

Then , after reviewing the few things I could remember, it occurred to me that from the moment I made that decision, I struggled to fit in with my peers – I didn’t like my life very much… it was just “okay”…and I just did what I had to do … day by day. I didn’t allow myself to feel anything – numb most of the time. I was always on guard and never completely trusted anyone. I guess I never wanted to hurt that way again.

I was mad at myself, at first, for being that stupid teenager who blocked everything out, which possibly caused some of the hardships and heartache I've experienced since then.

That was the first time I remember feeling insecure about myself. I don’t remember being that way before we moved to California. And my friends don’t seem to remember me that way, either.

I have felt there was something about me that was missing my entire adult life. But I never really knew what that really meant or if I would ever figure it out. You know those commercials for anti-depression medication? The ones where everything is gray and gloomy? That’s pretty much how I viewed everything –and I mean everything -- there are no fairy tales, nobody really cares and the only person you can count on is yourself.

So I learned to be very strong and do everything on my own. I would even refuse help when it was offered, because I didn’t want anyone to have the opportunity to hold anything over my head.

But, believe it or not, now I feel like I’ve found that missing piece. It’s as if I remember now, what it’s like to just be myself - no trying to fit in – to just be me. It’s like a big relief - like I can finally relax and trust people again.

So if my “friends who have turned into family” are reading any of this… thank you so much for finding me and for still being there after all these years. You made a difference in my life way back then, and you’ve made an even bigger difference in my life now. So, thank you, thank you, thank you!

Now – where did I put that box of Kleenex?

Oh...and by the way...those blocked memories are now slowly starting to trickle back in!

$50 Spa Treatments This week???

noreply@blogger.com (Lavender n Lattés) — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 16:09:00 +0000

I had no idea that April 13th - 19th was SPA WEEK!

This information was too good not to pass on to my bloggy friends!

Please go to "Miss Bargainista's" Blog and check out all the info!

I'm definitely going to try to schedule one in this week!

Cutting Back and Cutting Costs

noreply@blogger.com (Lavender n Lattés) — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 00:32:00 +0000

Many of us are having to cut back these days, so I feel that any useful tip about saving money is worth checking out. So here is a free report on cutting your grocery budget in half:

(just right-click and choose "Save As" to save the report to your computer)

Enjoy! And please let me know if you found anything helpful enough to share!

Do you Twitter?

noreply@blogger.com (Lavender n Lattés) — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 02:48:00 +0000

Seems like everyone is "Twittering" these days...I've even heard some of the anchors on the cable news channels giving out their Twitter ID's. And yet, there are still many people that I know that haven't the slightest idea where to begin.

So...I came across this little "guide" to Twittering and thought I would pass it on to all of my blogging friends. Feel free to download it and pass it along as well!

Click on the link below:

http://twitteroid.com/blog/

Why I haven't been blogging much lately...

noreply@blogger.com (Lavender n Lattés) — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 05:22:00 +0000

Besides the issues I listed in my previous post, I've also been busy in my professional life, which I guess is a good thing, given the current state of the economy. I've been busy helping my clients with their projects and updating my website, but I am also a Realtor.

We all know the real estate market hasn't been good for a long time, but with the new changes taking place, things will have to start picking up sooner or later. On that note, I decided to update my Realtor website as well.

I belong to a network of over 140,000 professionals who take pride in what they do and specialize in providing a variety of superior real estate services to local communities around the world. I am with CENTURY 21®, which is the most recognized name in Real Estate today.

So, if you have the time and feel like checking out the site, just click here: www.thereliablerealtor.com

And if you have any friends or family in the Southern California area who are in need of a Realtor, please feel free to give them my info!

I will try to blog again this weekend, and hopefully with a more entertaining subject! :)

My Blog Is Listed on MomDot.com's Listing-Frenzy!

noreply@blogger.com (Lavender n Lattés) — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 05:44:00 +0000

I am so flattered that MomDot decided to list my blog this week. And look at that! I'm the very first one!!!

MomDot is a mom blog listing site that is run by mommy bloggers, Trisha, Alicia, and Bridgette. They run contests weekly, do reviews on awesome (and not so awesome) products for family and kids, and talk about their lives. But more importantly, they feature bloggers and mom boutiques to give them an avenue to get their name out there, also assisting in google links! You can list your blog for free and talk to them about doing an interview about you. Head on over and see what MomDot is about!