Stop Procrastinating

Ginger

Ginger, that wonderful spicy herb that packs a warming heat, brings to mind delicious gingerbread cakes and iced gingerbread men. Powdered ginger has been a staple in my cooking for years, but it is only recently that fresh ginger root has found its way into my family's kitchen.

Ginger is the rhizome of the Zingiber officinale, a member of a plant family shared by tumeric and  cardamom. Fresh ginger is wonderful for making medicinal tea. And I love candied ginger as a garnish on my gingerbread cakes. 

An anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, ginger helps improve the immune system, relieves nausea (including motion sickness), sore throats, joint and muscle pain, headaches and migraines, throat and nose congestion, soothes nerves and stress, helps digestion, improves food absorption and blood flow.

With winter looming, ginger (especially as ginger tea) in colds and coughs, prevents chills, fever and excessive sweating.

Strengthen Your Bones

Building and maintaining strong bones is essential for  happy and healthy golden years. And the good news is that is never too late. Here are some things you can do to strengthen and maintain your bone health:

1.  Increase your Calcium. Calcium is essential to building and maintaining strong bones.When you do not consume enough calcium, your body takes it from its stored supply, causing your bones to become porous and weak. Good food sources for calcium: milk, cheese, dark leafy greens, sardines, tofu, nuts, white beans, oats and blackstrap molasses. 

2. Increase your Vitamin D.  In order for the calcium in these foods to be absorbed, your body also needs lots of Vitamin D. Fortunately, one of the best ways to get Vitamin D is from the sunlight. Unfortunately, sunscreen and advanced age limit our ability to synthesize this vitamin from the sun. So, once again, food sources can be a good source: sardines, salmon, eggs, cheese, tuna to name a few.

3. Ensure you eat foods with Vitamin K. Vitamin K also seems to play a role in strengthening bones, and can be found in leafy greens, spinach, broccoli, bok choy and Chinese cabbage. 

4. Avoid caffeine. Four cups of coffee or more per day may increase risk of bone fractures.

5. Exercise. Especially weight-bearing and muscle-strengthening exercises. Running, jumping rope, walking, hiking, climbing stairs, dance, pilates, yoga, weight training, resistance bands, cycling and swimming are some good exercises for strengthening your bones. 

The Mayo Clinic has a very useful article that spells out the daily vitamin and exercise requirements for maintaining good bone health. 

Stand on Your Head

How many years has it been since I last stood on my head? Probably too many to count.  Could I do it even if I wanted to? And was there any reason why I should?  Turns out the answer to both these questions is, yes.

If everything I've read on the subject is true, then there are a lot of benefits:

1.  Increases circulation and energy levels. With more blood flowing to the brain, carrying more oxygen and nutrients, improving its performance and your energy levels. Improves mental alertness and clarity of thoughts. May even encourage hair growth.
2. Improves internal health. Stimulates your endocrine system, including your pituitary, pineal, thyroid and parathyroid glands.
3. Improves sleep. Oxygenated blood releases tension and calms nerve receptors that send messages to your brain.
4. Strengthens your neck, spine, arms and shoulders. Helps headaches.
5. Tones your abdomen and legs.
6. Calms, soothes and centres the mind and spirit.
7. Helps align the spine, improves posture, facilitates good breathing and reduces muscular stress.
8. Changes your perspective, both literally and metaphorically.
9. Discourages wrinkles. Turn the negative effects of earth's gravity (14.7 pounds per square inch) upside down. Will definitely monitor this one to see if it is true!  

You might want to give standing on your head a try, although I did read that if you have any of the following conditions, then you should give it a miss: high blood pressure, detached retina, glaucoma, hernias, cardiovascular disease, cervical spondylitis, thrombosis, arteriosclerosis, and kidney problems. 

Strengthen Your Core

We have all read the warnings about why fat storage that results in an apple-shaped middle is dangerous, and it is high time that I buckled down and did some serious core strengthening and whittling.  In reading up on the subject, I have learned that it is not just about ab crunches and sit-ups.  Abdominal muscles are just part of the equation. The "core" is also the numerous muscles that serve to stabilize the spine and pelvis and shoulder girdle. These muscles help control your movements, transfer energy, and shift your body weight. And as I know from previous back pain issues, they protect your back.

In order to be effective, core exercises need to target all these muscle groups. For a list of the various muscles and their locations, along with a set of exercises, check out what exercise physiologist and fitness consultant, Elizabeth Quinn, has provided online.

Eat Your Antioxidants

Well, here is good news. The Mayo Clinic reports that antioxidants from food sources are the best choice for antioxidants. "Many researchers theorize that antioxidants in food form chemical networks that then interact in our own cellular and genetic intricacies." While foods contain thousands of types of antioxidants, supplements may contain a singe type of antioxidant or only several. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals, which in excess, can damage healthy cells through a process called oxidation.

Always one to prefer to do things naturally, I am pleased that including antioxidant foods in my diet is the way to go. Here's a partial list of antioxidant-rich foods:

Berries (blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, cranberries)
Beans (small red, kidney, pinto, black beans)
Fruits (apples, avocados, cherries, pears, plums, pineapple)
Vegetables (artichoke, spinach, red cabbage, potatoes, sweet potato, broccoli)
Nuts (walnuts, pistachios, pecans, hazelnuts, almonds)
Grains (especially oats)
Herbs (ground coves, cinnamon, ginger, oregano, tumeric)
Dark chocolate

For more information, have a look at the Mayo Clinic's Web page.

Nutmeg

Nutmeg has long been one of my favourite spices. Having grown up with British cooking,I have consumed my share of homemade creamy rice puddings with that delicious nutmeg flavoured golden skin across the top. I think that the scent of freshly ground nutmeg is one of the most delectable aromas in the world.

What a delight to find that nutmeg has lots of medicinal properties. It is an antibacterial and anti-oxidant. It can help sooth your stomach and regulate gastro-intestinal tract function. It can promote sleep by mimicking the effect of Serotonin and helps muscle spasms, indigestion, joint and muscle pain, arthritis, improves concentration, and increases circulation. It can also relieve anxiety, depression, fatigue and stress.

Nutmeg is a good source of minerals: copper, potassium, calcium, manganese, iron, zinc and magnesium. It also contains Vitamins A, C and B-complex vitamins.  While a little nutmeg is a great thing, it is important not to use more than half a teaspoon in one sitting since nutmeg contains myristicine, and large doses can cause hallucinations, convulsions, palpitations, body pain, vomiting and nausea.

Improve Your Vision

Drink Your Cherries

Life Balance

Down at Remic Rapids, on the Ottawa River, artist John Ceprano has been creating rock sculptures for the past 26 years. Balanced by gravity and small flat stones strategically placed as shims, they form a wonderful temporary summer art installation until nature dismantles them. This particular sculpture represents, for me, life balance. The three stones depict work, family and personal time.

Until recently, if I had drawn a pie chart representing my life balance, it would have been divided into three portions, with two good-sized portions for family and work, and a remaining sliver for my own pursuits, in other words, personal time. Such divisions of time are what you'd expect, when working full-time and raising a young family.

But if I divide that same pie today, while the work portion is more or less the same, the other two pieces are more equally divided  between family and "me time." The boys are older and require (or want) less of my time, which leaves me with a larger slice to devote to myself.

I find I have time to read more, paint, write, exercise, socialize, take up new pursuits and learn new skills. What a perfect time to examine how I want to spend my time, set priorities and create new routines for myself.

Kukicha Tea

It was only recently that I learned of kukicha tea, a Japanese tea also known as twig tea. The twigs of the Cameliua sinensi are steamed and fried, then aged and roasted.  The tea has a pleasant nutty flavour which I find quite appealing.  And if simply the flavour wasn't enough, the tea is filled with many healthy properties: vitamin A, B1, B2 and C,  as well as zinc, copper, selenium and manganese, Rich in antioxidants, it is low in caffeine. This tea is quite different from any of the others that I've tried and is one of my favorites.

Moisturize Your Hair

After buying a huge bottle of olive oil , I have been thinking of all the various uses it might have, which made me think about using it as a hair moisturizer. I have very dry hair and scalp, so pouring olive oil on my head actually makes a lot of sense.  Anyway, I was ready to give it a try.  So I did, and my hair felt soft and silky so this is something I might do every to weeks.  If you'd like to try it, here's what I did:

1. Warm about 1/4 cup of olive oil.
2. Pace a towel around your shoulders to keep the olive oil from staining your clothes.
3. Pour a little oil into the palm of your hand, rub hands together.
4. Work oil into your hair (and scalp too, if needed). Repeat, until you have covered all areas.
5. Once the oil is evenly distributed, comb through.
6. Tie your hair up or place hair in a plastic shower cap.
7. Let the oil soak in for 15  to 30 minutes.
8. Shampoo the oil out of your hair until it no longer feels oily. You may need to shampoo several times. 
9. Condition with your regular hair conditioner and rinse well.

Cinnamon

With the return of autumn, my thoughts turn to all sorts of delicious spicy baking that we naturally seem to gravitate to when the cold weather hits. Inevitably, it has cinnamon among its list of ingredients. What a joy it is, then, to discover that cinnamon is a wonder spice! A word, or two, of caution: there are two types of cinnamon: Ceylon cinnamon (the true cinnamon) and cassia cinnamon. It is hard to figure which one is the most beneficial. I did read that Ceylon cinnamon is more tasty. As in everything, do not overdo. Ingesting large amounts of cinnamon may be toxic. I am going to try to add cinnamon whenever I can, to flavour some of the foods that I prepare, rather than eat it by the spoonful. Here are just some of the possible benefits of cinnamon that I have been reading about:

1. Regulates blood sugar.
2. Reduces LDL (the bad) cholesterol levels.
3. Reduces inflammation, has antioxidant effects and fights bacteria.
4. A good source of manganese, iron and calcium.
5.4. Detoxifies the system.
6. Stimulates brain function.

I did find a good explanation of the differences between the two types of cinnamon online that may make things a little clearer.

The Happiness Project

Nature

The Longevity Project

Van Gogh

Well, I am already putting my new National Gallery membership to good use. Beside getting me in free to the permanent galleries, I was able to view a visiting exhibition of 47 paintings by Van Gogh for half the admission price. Which is all to the good since I already saw the show at full price earlier in the season.  Landscapes and florals were at the focus and I was struck by how interesting Van Gogh's perspectives are. Faced with a flat field to paint, he put everything on angles to create interest. And he seems to have played with the proportions of foreground, mid-ground and background, with emphasis on the foreground. All different ways of looking at things and placing them in a painting. Much food for thought and inspiration for my own painting. Vincent has given me a new way of looking at things.

Membership to the Arts

This was a gift that is going to keep on giving.  The gift of a year's membership to the National Gallery, from a dear friend, is going to motivate me to take many visits there this coming year.  It will inspire me, uplift me and  nudge me to do more of my own painting. Imagine in the dead of winter, being able to wander the galleries at my whim, free-of-charge, to take in all those wonderful colours, textures and images. Sensory stimulation when it is much needed. Thank you R! 

Tumeric

Tumeric, the spice of India for thousands of years, just think curries. The main ingredient in tumeric is curcumin, a natural antiseptic, antibacterial agent, anti-inflammatory and an antioxidant. That's a whole lot of power to pack into one delicious spice. And if that wasn't enough to encourage you to use it in your diet, this wonder spice may aid in fat metabolism, making it useful for weight control. Research is being conducted to determine whether tumeric may have properties that can prevent or treat various types of cancer, cardiovascular disease and arthritis.

Quinoa

Quinoa, pronounced keen-wa. How is it that it has taken me so long to find this super food? This ancient seed, from a vegetable related to Swiss chard, spinach and beets, was a favourite of the Incas.

Packed with nine essential amino acids, it has more protein than rice, millet or wheat. Gluten-free, it is a complex carbohydrate with a low glycemic index, low on cholesterol and rich in fibre (almost twice as much as grains).

If this wasn't enough, quinoa is a source of calcium (1 cup of cooked quinoa contains 30 milligrams), potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron, riboflavin (B2), lysine (essential for issue growth and repair)  and manganese (an antioxidant).

The Joy of Fountain Pens

Ever since I received my first pink Shaeffer fountain pen, at around age nine or so, with its standard blue ink cartridges, I have loved writing with them. In my twenties, I graduated to the much coveted Waterman fountain pens, nestled in a royal blue case with gold lettering and a white satin lining. Oh, how beautifully the nib slid across the page when I wrote with it.  Such happiness from something so simple.  A few years ago, I wandered into a Montreal paper shop that sold ink cartridges in exciting new shades marked violet, south sea blue, orange indien and vert olive. Oh the joy! I immediately purchased them, but did I try them upon my return home? No I did not. I put them in a drawer and eventually forgot about them.  

But now that I am looking at small ways to improve my lot, I remember how much I loved writing with fountain pens. So why shouldn't I allow myself to experience that happiness on a daily basis by carrying a fountain pen with me?  I have pulled out my pens and those gorgeous coloured inks. And I will use them, maybe even every day.  How many times do me forgot what beings us happiness, the small wee things that take almost no effort to include in our daily lives?

Wheat Belly

Feng Shui

Balance

So many activities, not to mention simply staying on our feet, require good balance. Balance training is important to everyone (not just the elderly who are more prone to falls and the serious complications that can arise). I wondered if there are things that I can do to not only maintain but to improve my balance.

It shouldn't come as a surprise to learn that a strong core is essential to good balance. Can't get away from those core-strengthening exercises!

Fitness instructor, Nicole Nichols, has some simple but effective balance exercises that don't require any equipment.

Other good online information can be found in a article from the Montreal Gazette and U.S. News.

Cellulite

Oh to still have skin as smooth as a peach.  Cellulite, the curse of as much as 90% of women, is caused by fat cells that have bulged around fibrous connective tissue, producing a dimpled skin surface. But is there anything that I can do about it without relying on invasive procedures?  Turns out perhaps there is a way to get rid of cellulite by strengthening  and hydrating your body's cells and the body's connective tissues.  Here's a list of things that just might help:

1. Avoid excessive alcohol and smoking. 
2.  Eat lots of leafy greens and fruit.
3. Avoid junk food, processed food, and artificial additives.
4. Limit sugar and salt.
5. Drink lots of water to hydrate and flush toxins.
6. Brush skin with a body brush to stimulate blood and lymph flow as well as to encourage new cell growth.
7. Exercise, a combination of cardio and weight-training.

Buy Local

Buying food locally makes a lot of sense.  Besides the best reason... having fresher, tastier food in season, here is an eye-opening fact. A Brock University study claims that $3 billion would be added to our local economy if 5 million Ontarians spent $10 of their grocery budget on local foods each week.

There are loads of good reasons to buy local, and the ones listed at Green Living will get you running to your local farmers' market, pronto. Supporting your local farmers will make you and your tummy feel great. 

Feel Gratitude

The subject of gratitude has been surfacing a lot lately. So I thought I should check into what others have to say on the subject... and there is a whole lot out there.  But before I get into that, I want to report that I am going to keep a gratitude journal. I have selected a small notebook covered in rich red silk, with a golden coin, to represent the wealth that I receive from all the things I have to be grateful for. 

And now, some of what I have learned about gratitude:

Psychologists Michael McCollough (Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas) and Robert Emmons (University of California at Davis), conducted an experiment on gratitude and its impact on well-being. The results showed that daily exercises in gratitude resulted in higher reported levels of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, optimism and energy. Those who were in the gratitude group experienced less depression and stress, were more likely to help others, exercise regularly and made greater progress toward achieving personal goals.  

Robert Emmons, considered by many to be the world's leading expert on gratitude, reports that practicing gratitude can increase happiness levels by around 25%. Our basic levels of happiness are pre-set. If something bad happens, our happiness level drops temporarily but then returns to its set-point. If something good happens, then our happiness level rises for a while, then drops back to its set-point. Practicing gratitude re-calibrates your happiness set-point higher, so that you can remain at a higher level of happiness. 

Dr. Emmons's research also shows that those who practise gratitude are more creative, more resilient to adversity, have stronger immune systems and have stronger social relationships.

How can you practise gratitude? By writing down the things you are grateful for. 

For a list of ways to make your gratitude journal more effective, read Dr. Emmonds's research-based tips.

Create Beauty

I happen to believe that beauty is a gift that we can introduce into our lives. One of the things that gives me great pleasure is the sight of flowers, so I often bring them into my home.  I am fortunate to have a garden so this doesn't mean that I have to spend a lot of money.  If I didn't have a garden, I would find wild flowers. I look for interesting branches in the winter months or shop grocery store flower departments for inexpensive blooms. Beauty is all around us. 

At this particular time, after a hot dry summer, there is very little in bloom in the garden. But there were some white flowers: phlox, hydrangea and veronica.  And so I gathered a few stems of each and came up with this arrangement to bring indoors. Simple, elegant and beautiful! 

Wardrobe Inspiration

Why is it that although the closet is so packed with clothes that it is hard to close, I often feel I have nothing to wear? Most likely, I haven't taken the time to see what goes with what and have fallen behind in the latest styles.  So to gain inspiration and understand the new proportions and how to accessorize current fashions, I usually buy the September issues of fashion magazines, especially Vogue. They are so thick and heavy this month of the year. I then thumb through them and tear out anything that I think will work for me, what I am drawn to and what may work with what I already have. Assembling all the pages, I look for common themes... colour, shapes, materials. This year for example I notice that tweeds and browns are big, as well as classic leather accessories, and that works for me. Once I feel I have a pulse on what is in style, I am able to go through my wardrobe and assemble some outfits and take note of what I might need to buy that will prove to be the most useful.  

Not everyone is into fashion, but I know that when I feel I look put together, I feel better.  So for me it is something that I enjoy doing and something that increases my sense of well being.

Organize Jewellery

I'm not really a person who wears a lot of jewellery, and most mornings I don't even think to put any on.  But the addition of a well-chosen piece can really make a difference to an outfit, so I have devised a way to make it easier to see what I have and also organize it in a way that allows me to find something quickly.  I first divided my jewellery according to whether it is a bracelet, necklace, pin or pair of earrings. Then I further separated it according to colour and pinned everything to a cork board which I then mounted on the wall behind our bedroom door. In the mornings, the board acts as a visual reminder and helps me to quickly find a piece that I can use to embellish whatever I've chosen to wear that day.  As a result  of this system, I have more pulled-together outfits and less stress. 

Declutter

Dreams

According to what I have recently read, we don't yet fully understand the purpose of sleep or the functions of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep when most dreaming happens. 

Dr.  J. Allan Hobson believes that dreams are physiological rather than psychological, and in REM sleep the brain is activated and "warming up" in anticipation of the sights, sounds and emotions upon waking. While dreams may serve a psychological function; since they sometimes reflect a person's problems, anxieties and hopes; one should not read to much into them. Research on lucid dreams suggests that only 20% of dreams are about people or places the dreamer knows.

Many theories have been proposed, and some scientists believe that dreaming is essential to mental, emotional and physical health. It has long been thought that dreams have psychological functions, such as consolidating emotional memories, processing experiences and working out problems.  

Another theory postulates that dreams are the result of our brains trying to de-clutter our mind, freeing up space for the next day.  

I thought it might be interesting to see if my dreams had anything to say to me. The trouble is, I rarely remember my dreams. So, in the event that I wake up with a dream still in my conscious, I have placed a pen, small notebook and flashlight next to my bed so that I can record it before it disappears. 











 While some scientists believe that dreaming has no function, the Contemporary Theory of Dreaming feels that whilw dreaming, "activation patterns are shifting and connections are being made and unmade constantly in our brains, forming the physical basis for our minds. There is a whole continuum in the making of connections that we subsequently experience as mental functioning. ... the process is not random, however, and that it is instead guided by the emotions of the dreamer. When one clear-cut emotion is present, dreams are often very simple. Thus people who experience trauma -- such as an escape from a burning buiding

Get Away

Getting away helps you to see things from a different perspective, especially when you are on top of Mount Tremblant! But you don't have to be up high, looking down, to gain another viewpoint. Going any place new, with a change of scenery, even different shops and paces to eat, can give you a much needed break. I find I come away inspired, filled with new ideas of things I want to do or try.  Being away is also an opportunity to relax, or at least change your schedule, try new things, gain insights, re-charge your energy, and develop treasured memories. And it doesn't have to be an expensive trip abroad. It could be as simple as a day trip to a neighbouring town or city. Need I say more?

Take a Hike

Wanting to exercise more and improve my fitness levels, I have been trying to devise ways to reach that goal without having to sign up for cardio classes, which because I don't enjoy them end up being torture sessions that I find excuses not to attend. That's where hiking comes in.  I love hiking because it offers cardiovascular benefits and usually involves being in nature.  With so much to look at I find I am distracted from the physical exertion, making a workout so much more pleasant. We are lucky enough to live near lots of hiking trails so I am incorporating this into one of my regular fitness activities.  Not only is it good for my physical health, it also works wonders for my well being. 

Smile

Besides improving your appearance, smiling offers a whole host of benefits:

1. Improves mood
2.Boosts immune system
3. Your body relaxes when you smile
4. You release endorphins, making you fell happier
5. You use less facial muscles when you smile than when you frown
6. Smiling makes seem more attractive, confident and sociable

I am going to smile more and chances are people will smile back, and that is always a good feeling.

Floss

We always new that flossing was good for teeth and gums, but it turns out that flossing is good for the heart as well. Flossing removes plaque and tartar (bacteria) and prevents periodontal disease. People with gum disease are at greater risk of developing heart and respiratory disease. According to a Harvard Medical School study on longevity, flossing is one of the most important contributing factors to having a long life. What better incentive than all that to make the effort to floss every day!

Sweep

I like what Gary Thorpe had to say about the act of sweeping in his book, Sweeping Changes: Discovering the Joy of Zen in Everyday Tasks. It is a reminder to me that although I am taking continuous small steps to improve myself and aspects of my life, I will never attain perfection. Perfection is not the goal I have set myself in this year of transformation.

In the hands of the experienced, the broom becomes a multifaceted, functional tool. But no matter how carefully you sweep, you will always find a fine line of dust that still defies the dustpan, or a bit of lint that catches on a loosened splinter of wood. There is always something to remind you of what still needs to be done. There is no way to arrive at "finished." There is no road leading to "perfect." There is just some wandering atom of life, some single bit of dust, that calls you to attention and keeps bringing you back to your life.   

From: Thorpe, Gary. Sweeping Changes: Discovering the Joy of Zen in Everyday Tasks. New York: Broadway Books, 2000. p. 18

Create

One of the things that I want to do more of this year is draw and paint. I truly believe that being creative is good for my sense of well-being. When I am in the flow of painting I lose track of time, I am totally immersed and can even feel blissful.  That is a strong indication that I need to be giving myself more time to do just that. 

When you are in the flow, everything comes easily.  Just what puts you in the flow, is different for everyone.  But I do think that it is important to our physical, mental and emotional health to find our bliss.

Garden

Gardening is such a pleasure for me. I love flowers and plants and getting my hands dirty.  There is something so therapeutic about it.  If  I lived in an apartment, there would doubtless be plants on the balcony and along side any windows. Gardening is a source of fitness, with all that digging, lifting and bending and takes me away from the kitchen and the temptation of snacking. But best of all it is an aesthetic exercise, blending colours and textures and visualizing how something will look sometimes months in advance. It is calming and meditative and so many life-affirming things all at the same time.

Walk

Take Time Out

Glancing out the window one evening I happened to notice the beautiful pink streaks that were splashed across the sky. Grabbing my camera, I quickly drove down to the beach in time to experience the evening's sunset.

Sometimes there's nothing better that you can do for yourself than simply take time out. Leave those dishes after dinner and go out to see the sunset, leave the laundry for another day and take a walk in the woods, or garden or city park. Whatever your particular time out is, it is best if it involves something that is uplifting to you.  If it involves the appreciation of nature, all the better.  Just taking as little as 15 minutes for time out can give you a large a return on your investment... in the form of enjoying the here and now, and appreciating what is readily available to you.  It can be a reminder that life holds precious moments that cost nothing in terms of money, only an expenditure of time, and results in true enrichment for your spirit and sense of well being. 

Yoga

It's no secret that the practice of yoga is good for you. I certainly know that yin yoga leaves my feeling blissful. Requiring no expensive equipment or gear, yoga's benefits are numerous. Here are just some of the things yoga can do for you:

1. Relieves stress
2. Improves flexibility
3. Improves strength
4. Increases energy levels
5. Improves sleep
6. Heightens mental and intuitive awareness
7. Increases lubrication of joints
8. Aids in pain management
9. Enhances your breathing
10. Induces a feeling of calm
11. Aids memory
12. Improves circulation
13. Improves concentration
14. Creates inner peace, relieving anxiety and depression
15. Improves posture
16. Promotes relaxation

Cosmetic Clear-out

I regularly clean out my clothes closets as the seasons change, but I tend to forget about my make-up. When I recently went through my cosmetic bag, and various drawers in the bathroom I unearthed lots of cosmetics (pictured here) that are years old. In fact, incredibly,  some of them date back to at least the 80's. How could I have possibly held onto them this long? It's a good thing that I don't still use them. Time to give them the old heave ho! 

I checked various sources to see just what cosmetics' lifespans are and found differing estimates. But, here is a general guide for some of the most often used:
Mascara - 3 months maximum
Eye shadow - 2 years for powder, 1 year for cream
Eyeliner - 3 months for liquid, 3 years for pencil
Blush - 2 years for powder, 1 year for cream
Lipstick - 1 to 2 years
Lip liner - 1 year
Nail polish - 1 year, if good quality
Don't forget to wash your brushes and sponges weekly with a mild detergent

Moisturize

I have dry skin so I avoid using soap on my face. Recently I have taken a look at the list of ingredients on moisturizers and the number of chemicals used in even the most basic is quite staggering. Besides keeping yourself hydrated by drinking lots of water every day, I wondered what else I could use that is natural.  Not surprisingly, olive oil is great as it's filled with fatty acids and antioxidants. But there are lots other household ingredients  that can be applied to skin as a facial.  Any of one of the following foods (and there are others), or a combination of several, can be dabbed onto the skin as a homemade facial.  Just blend them into a paste, apply to your skin, leave on for a short time and then wash them off with warm water. 

Olive oil

Honey

Avocado

Banana

Apricot

Olive Oil, or is it?

Olive oil, being cholesterol free is currently the star of the oils. We have been using it, and especially the extra virgin grade, exclusively in our house for years. I have done so with confidence that is the right choice for our health.  But of course, yet again, when it comes to the food you eat, it isn't ever that easy. After hearing that what we buy in the store is often mixed with other cheaper and less healthy oils , I was shocked (how can I still be so naive?) and rushed to find out more.

Turns out there is cause for alarm. It truly is a case of Buyer Beware! The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has been doing random testing on bottled olive oils taken from Canadian grocery store shelves for years and has been handing out fines to companies who are selling what is labelled as 100% olive oil, but is actually olive oil mixed with other vegetable oils or cheaper grades of olive oils. All in the name of increased profits. When caught, the companies linked to the products have been fined, but the fraud continues.

These adulterated oils look the same to consumers' eyes. So what is a person to do? I'm still struggling with that one, but having a look at some of the following is a start.

Further information:

The Chronicle Herald, published "Slippery Slope to the Truth", June 5, 2012.

Past president of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Ronald L. Doering, "Losing Virginity: The Adulteration of Olive Oil", March 2012.

The Globe and Mail published "That Olive Oil May Not be that Virginal", Nov. 22, 2011.

CBC's "Marketplace" did a story on fake olive oil in 2000.

A list of brands and prosecuted distributors.

An explanation of the different grades for olive oils according to the International Olive Oil Council (IOOC) definitions.

"Is Your Olive Oil Really Olive Oil?" Mark's Daily Apple  offers some advice.

Colour Me Beautiful, Again

Have you had your colours done?  That was a common question back in the eighties when a craze to find out your "season" was all all the rage. Anyone could enhance their appearance by using the right shades of colours for their wardrobe, accessories and make-up. It actually made a lot of sense, because you could focus on the colour palette that was the most becoming to your skin tone and everything coordinated without effort.

It began in 1980 when Carole Jackson published Colour Me Beautiful, a book that outlined the colour system. She had her own colour consulting firm in New York and branches spread throughout North America.  It wasn't long before other companies took notice and copied with similar systems.

I can still remember going for my session, which was limited to four people at a time. I had had to book well in advance. I was thrilled because the person giving the session had been personally trained by Carole Jackson and so I knew I was getting the real deal. I turned out to be a "spring", the rarest of all the groups and apparently had the hardest colours to find in the shops, perhaps because we make up the smallest segment of the market.  Lucky winters, black, red and white always seem to be in style!

We were given a packet of colour swatches to make shopping easier, a list of our colours rated according to how well they enhanced our appearance, and a list of well-known cosmetic brands with the names of the shades that would work the best for our season.

The wonderful thing about the system was that it really did work. I saw many people transformed by wearing the right colours. And all the guess work was removed because on the back of the list that rated your best colours, there was an itemized list that told you what to buy for make-up, shoes and handbags, jewelry, hoisery, and even furs (this was the '80s). There were also instructions for hiar colour and which colours should be used as your neutrals, in other words which colours should form the basics in your wardrobe.

For years, I followed the system devotedly and had a closet of pretty snazzy coordinated clothes. Everything did work with everything else. No more silver jewelry for me, only gold as advised by Carole.  But over the years, other colours started to creep into my wardrobe, and some years I just couldn't find corals, acquas and perriwinkles.

But coral seems to be everywhere this year. Hurray! When I was younger I may have been able to wear unflattering colours and still carry it off. But now I can use some extra help. So I have retrieved my copy of Colour Me Beautiful from the basement and dug around and found the plastic wallet filled with my colour swatches. The make-up list is hopelessly out-of-date, but no matter. I know the right choices to make. I was, after all, a total devotee!


An old Color Me Beautiful video that helps you determine your season and shoots you right back to the '80s is on YouTube!