girly fridays: fountain of youth

I'm already letting it slip my mind that I'm all of 27 - the 30 side of 20 I call it. As I approach the big 3-0, I am trying to prep myself. I really want to embrace my age BUT not look it :)

I can be lazy about moisturizing, staying off those box/bottle juices, and keeping up with my diet (not weight loss diet - I don't do those, just my daily diet). But I really need to up my game. So, ladies (& gents) here goes healthy body 2010 & looking our best!

My most important concern right now is skin care. Right now, for my body I use Eucerin moisturizing cream, and for my face cetaphil to cleanse, and Natures Gate vitamin E oil to moisturize. On the rare days I do a mask I use a cucumber peel off mask. I love masks that peel off.

I want to really amp this regimen up. I want my skin to glow! I don't do foundations or concealers so these little things matter. So I've been on a little research expedition - I loooove researching hair and skin products :) I think I have found some tips that I'm gonna implement (there's a ton more out there, trust me) to help improve my skin...you should consider them:

1. ALOE VERA. I can hear my grandmother saying I told you so! This plant should be no stranger to many of us. In Ja we grew up drinking this, using it on burns, etc. I actually use 100% aloe vera gel in my hair vs the manufactured stuff (I recommend it!). Aloe Vera is moisturizing. You can use it in cream form, as a toner/astringent, a cleanser, or as a mask.

2. MINIMIZE CHEMICAL EXPOSURE. I know those anti-aging products look great and all the promises about looking younger faster sound tempting but you know what they say about short cuts...then we have all the canned food, bottled juices, etc...we can't hide from the preservatives and chemicals so as far as is possible we should try to infuse our diet with vegetables (the darker the color, the better), fruits, grains, natural juices, and natural fats/oils. Also, if you can make some of your facial masks/products, or purchase hypoallergenic or natural products for your skin do that also (see #5).

3. WATER. Need I say more? But seriously, water definitely keeps your skin healthy, and rids the body of toxins.

4. EXERCISE. This is not only to lose weight but also to keep your body limber, your muscles toned, and your heart healthy :)

5. NATURAL MASKS. There are a ton of natural products that can help our skin look great and stay healthy (& young looking). As I researched I became very interested in these natural diy facial masks. As a result, I have borrowed a few to try and use. So I don't get carried away, I'm gonna stick with a few basic ingredients and recipes and really see how they work with my skin.

>>lemon, grapefruit, and orange juices (citric acid) for oily skin

>>honey, milk, and coconut oil to energize your skin cells

>>avocado (vitamins, A, B, and E & more!) as an anti-oxidant

>>egg yolks contain lecithin which can combat dry skin and eczema

>>milk, blackberries, tomatoes (lactic acid), sugar cane (glycolic acid), apple and pears (malic acid), grapes (tartaric acid) , citric acid, and papaya all contain alpha hydroxy acids (used in chemical peels) and they help strip layers of dead skin cells, prevent spots, and rejuvenate the skin

>>honey is a humectant (traps & seals moisture) and will make your skin soft (I use it in all my conditioners)

>>oatmeal contains proteins, natural cleansers, and lubricating fats that rid the skin of dirt, dryness, and irritation

As I try different mask recipes, I'll share based on what works best for me.

the bandwagonist

Yup, me ::blush::

In the great blog tradition of wordless Wednesdays and Mcfatty Mondays I am starting a few blog series on here to highlight my interests:

word love - weekly window into an important piece of my heart. I love words: book excerpts, song lyrics, poetry, quotes, etc. This will really help me to reconnect with oldies but goodies, and expand my literary horizons. I can't wait! I plan to publish word love on Wednesdays but the first installation is coming out Saturday in honor of another word lover, my sister & friend, Renz.

sweet sundays - weekly inspiration, life lessons to encourage me & you throughout the week. Aim? To put a smile on your faces (& mine).

girly fridays - make-up, hair, shoes, clothes, relationships, the female body, all things girly.

I hope you check in on the series. I know I'm excited! & as always, I welcome suggestions. Email me :)

blog etiquette?

Something happened last week and I was a tiny bit affronted.

Here's a quick synopsis: while blog browsing a couple weeks ago I happened upon a blog that I liked and decided to follow. This week, I go back and check and the blog author has made it private. Now, I know it is always the author's decision whether to share or restrict their content (I have private and public blogs...private blog is defunct) & I realize that some followers are stranger-friends. But don't you think it's a little rude to just make your blog private without a word to your followers? All the public bloggers I know want people to read their blogs and most appreciate followers. So I think it's a tad out of order to just privatize without notice.

Don't worry faithful readers (lol, yes you lonely few) if I ever feel the need to privatize my blog, I will at a minimum let you know. I hereby do solemnly promise that I am aware this is a public blog & heretofore have authored my posts accordingly to prevent any such occurrence.

Anyhoo, point is, it got me thinking about a thing called blog etiquette...does it even exist and what is it? I didn't ever think too much about it till that day. Well, if there ever becomes a rule book on this blog thing, I have one to add to the list:

#1. Don't diss your followers. One day you have out the welcoming mat, and the next day, you pull it from under them without warning...not cool (though I must admit it gets the point across very clearly lol).

My fellow bloggers had a few more for my list:

#2. Anonymous/non-public rude comments (My take: I've seen mean verbal sparring on blogs. I don't like it. I'm from the school of say everything with respect. You can respectfully disagree without name calling and dooming people and their families to death or lifelong ugliness. I hope those less evolved folk stay away from these parts)

#3. Asking for comments, then not reading or replying to them (My take: a tad guilty but I try esp when a question is asked)

#4. Bloggers with blog ego...they don't need anymore plebeian followers since they're riding the 500+ wave and as such no longer feel the need to solicit readers/followers by faking interest in other blogs (My take: lol...I think we should give these bloggers a break because if they're collecting followers like people collect FB friends just for the heck of it, the net may be an ideal place for them...I love love love my followers but will take real friends over stranger-friend followers any day)

Is there any thing in the blogosphere that gets your goat?

*Since the contributing bloggers did not give me approval to name them (& they're from my alternate blog life), they shall remain nameless*

I survived a hurricane...

in Jersey this weekend & it was scary. Seriously.

Saturday, there were winds of up to 60 mph, and torrential downpours. We lost power for a bit, but luckily (unlike the rest of our town) we got it back...there was only one block of our town with electricity & thank God it was ours. Everywhere was pitch black, the wind was howling and shaking the windows, tree limbs were down, street signs were down, traffic lights were out, trash cans were banging, there was blue & red lightning...it was really like something from the movies. I thought my car was going to get blown away (even checked if the hand brake was up). On Sunday I saw broken windows in buildings, entire trees downed, many places still didn't have electricity, and folks don't have running water.

Photos of damage from 1010 wins

I'll be glad to never experience the wrath of mother nature again anytime soon.

Checked the news this morning and 2 men died on Saturday a town over from me (literally about 5 minutes). They were killed by a falling tree as they walked home from a religious service. May their souls rest in peace.

Fashion critic strikes again...

I will first admit I was studying during the red carpet for the 2010 Academy Awards and slept through the show but as soon as exams, home work, and draft papers were handed in, I made sure to compile my favs. So this is a second hand review :) I'll try to do the gents next time.

I should do Fashion Fridays lol

BIG DOS

I'm a Nicole Richie groupie (well, used to be when I had time)...I love her fashion choices and I love this too...beautiful!

Maggie, just looked too fab rocking exactly something I would wear. I mean, the accessories, the dress, I love it all.

I love to see the really fancy and just gorgeous stuff but as you can see, I'd rather wear simpler looks.

BIG DON'TS

Sorry, Diane Kruger, but you're it. Even in Chanel (& I dream of Chanel).

OMG, Zoe, what happened? She usually looks great.

BIGGEST SURPRISES

You look fab, Tina!

Mariah is clothed! I don't love the dress but we'll take what we can get. It's like she went from dressing like 15 to 55.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENTS

These 2 ladies are usually a steady thumbs up for me. What happened?

Kate Winslet

Charlize Theron

HONORABLE MENTIONS

I would never wear this dress or recommend it for a friend but gee, doesn't she look fab in it? Jennifer Lopez is my DO for avant garde though some people didn't love it. I think the shape fits her well and doesn't overwhelm.

Vera Formiga is my DON'T for avant garde...too many ruffles. I'm not liking the shape though a lot of folks liked this look. I think pink looks good on most everyone...she must be in the minority. Plus the ruffles aren't very flattering.

But check the ruffles on this dress! Very hot, Elizabeth Banks looooved this!

How to do neutrals? Ask Anna Kendrick's stylist...how cute!

SIDENOTE

Rachel McAdams and I have very similar dresses :) I love her dress...looks just like my dress from Niki's wedding. Need I say that she looks fab? And yes, the pattern on her dress is nicer than mine...I'd have gotten that one if I saw it (& could afford). But, I was like 8 months ahead of her in fashion teehee.

* I gave credit to all the photo owners. Click on the actress' names*

Let it go

Most of us have difficulty admitting true feelings, and expressing them to ourselves and to others. We hide our true feelings - sadness, anger, hurt, resentment - by joking, being snobbish, or introverted, or even just ignoring them. Although the defense may be successful at masking the emotions, the hurt and anger remains. Hiding our true feelings and emotions give them power. They are roadblocks to our true joy.

I encourage us all to deal with our feelings and not just lay them aside...talk it out, meditate, pray, read an inspirational text, exercise. The solution depends on the depth and degree of the feelings, of course but whatever you do, deal with them. It is good to get rid of negative feelings that crowd your heart and mind. Fill that space with solutions, lessons, and positive behavior and attitudes. I feel there are too many external stressors in this world - work, finance, school, car, house, etc - for us not to have inner peace, and develop healthy mechanisms to cope.

Life is too lonely in a box with all that negative around you. Get rid of it and open up with a smile!

Music suggestion: Positive Vibration, Bob Marley

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"Say you just can't live that negative way...make way for the positive day."

Bob Marley

pass it on...

...that's what they always say about good deeds. There's this commercial that illustrates this perfectly. A man holds a door for another person, and because of the impression that good deed has on that person, s/he helps another stranger out; someone sees this and is impressed to do likewise, and so on. You get the drift. Well I saw a kind deed today and though I am in general a kind person, it sorta reminded or nudged me to do something nice today. I hope sharing the small deed illicits a similar response in you.

This morning while walking in to work I saw a man come out of a coffee shop with 2 cups of coffee/something hot, and surprise the homeless guy laying on the street by handing him one. He looked so surprised and grateful. I can just imagine how much he needed something hot...some of us can't function without our morning coffee or tea. I think we all should try to do something kind anyway, but hopefully this encourages us to really make the effort to do a good deed. Even if it's just a smile...the person scowling next to you may need it :)

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"Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see." Mark Twain

"If you haven't any charity in your heart, you have the worst kind of heart trouble." Bob Hope