I had a favorite in BeeCeuticals Organics, orange and acai lotion – so much so I bought up Whole Foods‘ last several bottles before they stopped stocking it. But I’ve now run out and so took myself back over to Whole Foods to see what else they had to offer. The pickings, for my picky self, turned out to be pretty slim. Of the products that said they were all-natural or organic, or even looked to be so, I found three I would actually use: Bonny Doon, Griffin and Chandler.

1. Bonny Doon Farm: Water, Coconut oil, vegetable derived alcohol, glycerin, lanolin oil, cocoa butter, wheat germ oil, vitamin  E, oil of rose geranium.

2. Griffin Remedy: Purified water, aloe vera juice, MSM (methylsulfonylmethane, blended coconut wax, sweet almond oil, palm  oil ester, vitamin C vegetable glycerin, flax seed oil, borage oil, vitamin A, vitamin D, arnica extract, chamomile extract,            calendula extract, vitamin E, rose oil, Bulgarian lavender pure essential oil blend.

3. *BeeCueticals: Rooibos (from Wikipedia, “Afrikaans for “red bush”; (scientific name Aspalathus linearis) is a broom-like member of the legume family of plants growing in South Africa’s fynbos.”), Darjeeling tea, aloe barbadensis gel, vegetable glycerin, sunflower oil, sweet almond oil, vegetable emulsifying wax, avocado oil, cetyl alcohol, fermented sugar, vitamin E, evening primrose, calendula oil, potassium sorbate, acai, honey, Valencia orange, clove and Mandarin orange essential oils. *No longer available at the Palo Alto WF, but there are retailers nation-wide.

4. Everyday Shea: Too many ingredients to list them all, but some of the highlights are palm stearic acid and phenoxyethanol.

5. EO Products: Again, not a complete listing but includes trigyceride, sorbitan olivate, dimethicone, phenoxyethanol, ethyhexyglycerin.

6. Chandler Farm: Ingredients included caprylic or capric triglyceride and cetearyl olivate. Neither of which are bad, and they have a unique pomegranate scent. I may try this one next time.

7. One With Nature: Three of many ingredients were caprylic or capric triglyceride, stearic acid and phenoxyethanol.

8. Mountain Ocean: Of several ingredients, I noted sobitol, stearic acid, phenoxyethanol, behentrimonium, methosulfate, dimethicone, and linoleamidopropyl ogdimonium chloride phosphate.

I looked up most of the above ingredients up and found that some aren’t so bad, others I wouldn’t eat, so I won’t put them on my skin.

1. Stearic Acid:
Occurs naturally in animals and vegetables. It is made by hydrogenating the oils (in the case of vegetables) and is used, among other things, to make a pearly effect in lotions and other body products. In my opinion, not that bad, but also not necessary either.

2. Phenoxyethanol:
A glycol ether compound used as a preservative in cosmetics as an alternative to formaldahyde-based perservatives. In that sense, it’s better, but according to cosmeticdatabase.com, this ingredient has links to cancer, allergies, skin and eye irritation, organ system toxicity and neurotoxicity. My personal choice? I’m staying away.

3. Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM aka dimethyl sulfone):
From Wikipedia, “MSM is promoted as a natural source of sulfur [and is]…used industrially as a high-temperature solvent for both inorganic and organic substances. Some researchers have suggested that MSM has anti-inflammatory effects.” MSM occurs naturally in mussels. I bought Griffin Remedy lotion today and it contains MSM. Griffin’s statement, written on the bottle states “[MSM is an] organic sulfur compound known as nature’s beauty mineral; daily use leaves your skin soft and youthful.” My vote is, “okay.”

4. Triglyceride:
From Wikipedia, “Triglyceride is an ester derived from glycerol and three fatty acids. It is the main constituent of vegetable oil and animal fats.” It seems to be in many lotions (although not in Griffin). I’m okay with it.

5. Dimethicone:
It’s a type of silicone and according to Cosmetic Database, it can be bioaccumulative. It’s used a lubricant and is known to make things slippery and shiny – hence its use in lotions. I’m out. I don’t feel a need to put silicone on my body.

6. Linoleamidopropyl ogdimonium chloride phosphate:
There is precious little to report on this one. The Good Guide says, “It is not on any of GoodGuide’s lists of toxic chemicals which cause suspected or recognized health effects.” Well, that’s handy! Again, think I’ll stay away until I know what it is.

7. Cetearyl olivate:
Fatty acids derived from olive oil. Fine with me.

8. Ethyhexyglycerin:
A preservative used instead of parabens. Has been found to be mildly irritating to sensitive skin in two case studies. – From Truth In Aging

For some more info on what’s in your well-known, standard lotions like Keri, Eucerin, Aveeno and Neutrogena (and how toxic they may be) check out Lotion Secrets.

I’m also perfectly content to make my own face cream – I have yet to find a body lotion recipe that is thin enough to spread all over on a daily basis, but I’ll share my homemade lavender face cream recipe here with you:

WHAT:
3 Tablespoons Shea Butter
1 Tablespoon Apricot (you may use Almond, Avocado or Sesame) Oil
7-8 drops lavender (or other) essential oil*
1 Clean *** oz dark glass or plastic jar with lid, cleaned well.

Note: I actually quadruple this recipe, since I use it so often.

HOW:
Warm the shea butter and apricot oil in a glass dish in the oven (those old-fashioned Pyrex dishes with the glass lid are perfect) at a low heat, about 170 degrees for about eight minutes. You just want the oils warm enough to melt and mix.

Mix your oils thoroughly and add the essential oil. Mix. Pour into your clean jar. Let set up. Use frequently. Should last several months in a temperate climate.

*You can use any essential oil you like. Test the amount by starting with 2 or 3 drops, and increasing to your personal taste.

As it turns out, in my move this weekend, my apricot oil spilled out, all but a few drops. Looks like I need to make a trip to the store and buy myself some more oils. Perhaps I need some essential rose oil too, and maybe some ylang ylang, and just in case, I should probably pick up some orange. I’m thinking maybe I also need to go back to Whole Foods and buy some of that pomegranate lotion by Chandler, just to be sure.

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Boundaries will make it easier for you to dismiss someone or something that is wearing you down. Boundaries will keep you afloat in situations where, if you had no boundaries, in all probability, you would head into the abyss.  Having boundaries will also prevent you from allowing yourself to become psychologically manipulated by anyone. Having boundaries will keep you from abandoning your inner most principles.  Having boundaries will also prevent you from allowing the scars of love to turn into open wounds that you need to nurse for an extended period of time.

Boundaries can and should be used in many different types of relationships – family / professional / intimate / friendship – just to name a few.  You see, boundaries will prevent you from becoming avictim to someone else’s circumstances. And having these set boundaries with respect to your mate will also enable your relationship to become quite blissful, providing that the person you have chosen to make the commitment to respects your boundaries. These boundaries also act as a shield, or coat of armor.

Without boundaries, you will ultimately volunteer to help continue someone else’s bad behavioral habits.  And once you continue to allow yourself to accept bad behavior from your let’s say your significant other, you have placed yourself in the precarious position of remaining in a relationship that will ultimately fail. You might initially start out as a victim, but your continued acceptance of bad behavior is what will ultimately mold you into becoming a volunteer.

Without boundaries, you risk becoming a volunteer.  If you have boundaries, you stand a better chance of NOT becoming a victim!

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Do you like cilantro? Do you usually choose organic?

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Creating  a harmonious, inspiring and safe home that lifts your spirits, supports and inspires will set the stage for you to go out into the world and soar. Take care of these six Feng Shui recommendations, and you will be well on your way to creating a HOME run in your life!

1. Don’t have a plain and/or unattractive entrance to your home.

The entryway is considered the important mouth of chi where all of our opportunities come to us. So fix it up, make it inviting and the opportunities will start finding their way to you as well!

2. Don’t have unfriendly furniture and objects in your home.

Feng Shui deals with the subtle and obvious. Our primitive instincts warn us to be on alert when something unsafe is in the room. Weapons should be locked up and kept out of sight. Kitchen knives should be hidden from view and sharp, Knife-edged furniture should be replaced with those with rounded edges.

3. Don’t sit, sleep or work for any period of time in the disempowered position.

Arrange your bed, office desk and your favorite pieces of furniture to sit on in such a way that you can see the doorway but are not in direct alignment with it. This alone can have a powerful affect on your feeling of coming from a place of strength in your life.

4. Don’t have a lot of clutter.

Feng Shui teaches that everything is alive and filled with chi or life-source energy and that we are energetically connected to everything we own. Having a lot of things that we are unaware of, such as those stuffed in boxes in the garage, drawers and closets, translates to stuck energy in our lives. Feng Shui also teaches that our homes having specific energy centers that are connected to all of the key areas of our lives. Eliminating the clutter translates to freeing up these important corresponding energy centers such as those related to wealth, health, career, family and our love lives.  Ask yourself: do I love it, is it useful, does it reflect who I am now in my life? If it does not pass the test, deep-six it, and see how things start to flow in each of these corresponding areas of your life!

5. Don’t have negative or disempowering artwork in your home.

Replace it with art that uplifts and inspires. This is taking up powerful real estate on your walls that is moving your life in that direction.

6. Don’t live without Nature in your home.

Everything from the natural world, including our wonderful four legged friends, is  filled with vibrant chi that will invigorate and enliven your home. Surround yourself with objects from the natural world from live plants to the fabrics, objects, textures, colors and art that represents it. Ultra modern  decor often has sharp-edged furniture made of highly manufactured materials such as plastics and glass along with art that is often abstract. Make sure you add natural elements, fabrics and photography from nature  if this is the style you have in your home.

Take care of these six things in your living space and you will be well on your way to a healthy, harmonious and ‘Feng Shui’d’ home!

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Since you’re already putting in the time and are working out, you might as well make sure you maximize your efforts! Shaina Manning, Equinox Group Fitness Instructor and NASM certified personal trainer shares the top mistakes she spots at the gym… and how to fix them!

Mistake: Your hips sag during a plank

A plank (either on the elbows or hands), must always looks like a plank, not a hammock! Be careful not to drop your hips, because if the hips sag, the lower back starts to take over causing stress in the area Manning says.
Fix It: Effectiveness can only be maintained if the hips are in neutral, demonstrating that the deep abdominal muscles are doing the proper work. If you cannot maintain a straight line from shoulders to hips through the heels, drop to your knees. Work on holding 15-30 seconds and build up to one minute.

Mistake: You grip the handlebars on the elliptical

Don’t rely on the support of the handles to brace your body weight. It makes it less effective because it reduces the work required of your legs, by decreasing the amount of weight you have to physically hold. Be careful not to shrug the shoulders up to the ears as it could irritate or strain the back, neck and shoulders.
Fix it: The handles (if stationary) should be held lightly, with palms facing down. You should be able to wiggle your fingers if you are holding on, and only relying on the support of the bars for balance. The handles, (if moving) are held with palms facing each other; create a pulling action with the arms. Using a lighter grip on the handle bars will force the abdominal to engage more in order to stabilize–whenever the body has to balance, core muscles are recruited!

Mistake: You stretch before a workout

Save the stretching for when your body is nice and warm. Your muscles are like salt water taffy–if they are cold and you go to stretch them, they might (figuratively) snap! But if they are warm, they will stretch smoothly.
Fix It: Prepare the body for exercise by going through a slower warm up of walking or jogging slowly. End with static stretching, like you might do on a stretch mat or even with the assistance of stretch straps and foam rollers.

Mistake: You collapse to the floor when doing push-ups

When lowering to to floor, your body should resemble a stiff board, not a slithering snake. Women tend to make the same mistake in push-ups as they do in planks Manning says.
Fix it: Knees should be on the mat, creating a straight line from knees to shoulders (like a plank). Keeping abdominals engaged, lower the chest between the hands and push straight back up. Keep the head in line with the spine (look straight, not down), and the back of the neck long. Lower the body as one straight unit–don’t let the hips collapse to the floor before the chest. Ready to up the intensity and sculpt a lean upper body?

Mistake: You watch TV while on the treadmill

When you’re focusing on the TV, which is usually hung above your head at most gyms, your body’s alignment is completely thrown off, Equinox trainer Matthew P. Pasqua, MA, CSCS says. (He also teaches a treadmill race training group fitness class.) Looking up can increase the pressure on the neck and upper back. It will lead to an unnatural tightness, and it can throw you off balance.
Fix It: Keep your focus on what’s happening at the machine. Pick a treadmill that’s in front of a mirror and concentrate on keeping your shoulders and hips squared, your face, shoulders and hands relaxed. To avoid bouncing like a gazelle, focus on shortening your stride and running at quicker cadences by have your foot strike under your center of gravity and by bending more at the knee by bringing your heel higher up at end of your stroke, Pasqua says. It is advised to run at 1% incline at all times to mimic flat outdoor running

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He initiates the conversation

It might be a stereotype, but it’s often true: many guys don’t take the initiative with plans, or even in a conversation. If a man reaches out to you just to chat, whether online or over the phone, and seems very engaged and like he wants to hear what you have to say, then chances are he’s into you. If he takes it one step further and suggests getting together, then he’s definitely interested.

He always ends up near you

You’ll know he’s probably into you if he mysteriously ends up close to you when you’re in a group setting. Also, if you see him looking your way after telling a joke or a story to see your reaction, you can bet he’s trying to impress you and checking how you’re reacting to his efforts.

He is happy when he is around you

If you notice he’s always positive around you, and seems happy to be interacting with you, it’s highly likely he’s interested in you. Also, when you’re with him in person, try to take note of whether he reaches out (in the literal sense, that is) and touches your arm or makes physical contact. Many men will intentionally, or sometimes unintentionally, make such a move on someone they’re interested in romantically.

He replies quickly to your emails and instant messages

With online dating, it’s sometimes easier to tell whether a guy’s interested based on how he is when you’re chatting and communicating. For example, if a man is responding promptly to your messages, asking you questions about yourself and adding positive emoticons or laughing with you, those are all tell-tale signs of interest.

For all intents and purposes, the idea that a man should make all the first moves is gone with the wind. If you’re receiving positive signals from a guy that he’s interested, but still not being forward, take the opportunity to ask him out yourself!

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The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons suggests how to reduce the risk of runner’s knee:

• Get regular exercise to stay physically fit and avoid weight gain.
• Gently stretch your muscles before any exercise.
• Increase the intensity or duration of your workouts gradually — not all at once.
• When you run, wear appropriate running shoes with a sturdy, supportive construction.
• Practice good form when running. Bend your knees and lean forward slightly.

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Colors

Surround yourself with the colors you personally love. You can effectively use the Five Elements to quickly balance an area that needs attention, or to work with health issues that need improving. Attract chi to your yard with colorful lanterns and garden art. (For my readers who are buried under with snow, dream of the summer!)

Mirrors
Mirrors, candles and flowers are all wonderful chi generators

Mirrors are considered “activators” and are usually very positive chi enhancers. Generally the bigger the better except in bedrooms or dining rooms where we want a calming more ‘yin’ energy. Divided mirrors, smokey mirrors  or those where you cannot see your face are not considered good in Feng Shui. We want to be able to see ourselves without distortions. Use mirrors to pep up a dead area, fill in a missing area of the Bagua, expand a small room or area or behind stoves and desks when you cannot see the action behind you .

Lighting

Use candles for meditation and romance

Lighting will always bring in more chi (energy) so make sure your home is well-lit. Dimmer switches are wonderful for cranking up the light when you need it for study and reading purposes, and provide dimmer lighting for mood and ambiance. Use spot lighting to illuminate a favorite piece of art, up-light a plant to warm up a dark corner, or add warm ambient lighting in more Yin areas such as bedrooms, dining rooms and living rooms. Use solar lighting or outdoor lighting to illuminate the garden and create a sense of magic. Use up lighting in low ceiling rooms and down lighting in high ceiling rooms- up lighting to create the illusion of more spaciousness and down lighting to create a more cozy space. Candles can be magical chi generators as well and can set the mood for meditation or romance.

Artwork

Your artwork takes up very important real estate on your walls. Make sure it is current and does not anchor in unwanted emotions. Your own art or that of your child or children holds powerful chi as long as everyone feels positive about it. Do not keep art up that you may love but your children are embarrassed about. Art can be used to bring into your life your hearts desire, so make sure everything on your walls is positive and reflects who you are now and what you want to either keep or bring into your life. Relationship pictures should be realistic i.e. no angelic men with mortal women.

Crystals

Feng Shui faceted 30 mm crystals

Crystals are regulators of chi or energy and used for multiple purposes in Feng Shui. They speed things up when they are sluggish and slow things down when moving too fast. The crystals we use for Feng Shui ‘cures’ are the 30mm faceted man-made crystals. Place one of these crystals on a stand on top of an affirmation or wish box, or hang one in the areas of the Bagua that you want to enhance. Natural quartz crystals are also amazing chi generators and can be used to enhance the chi in any area of the home that needs some pepping up. Arrange them on an attractive scarf  on a table or shelf in a place that needs extra special energy.

Sound Makers

Solar Chimes are used within the home and give a “fairy bell” tinkling sound when the home heats up

Anything that makes noise will pep up the chi. We use wind chimes both inside and outside the home in Feng Shui. Use them on the outside at the front door to greet and welcome in the chi or to enhance an area of the Bagua within the house that you want to enhance, such as the wealth area.  Solar chimes with a fairy-like sound ring on their own when the house heats up and are a wonderful way to keep the energy moving .

Living Things

Our pets bring wonderful chi into the home!

Plants, flowers and animals must all be maintained and cared for in order to have a positive effect, but when they are, they bring happy loving chi into the home. Living plants are amazing chi generators. Silk flowers have much less chi but are fine if dusted frequently, rearranged periodically and thrown out as soon as they lose their luster.  Dry flowers and potpourri are not considered negative in Western Feng Shui, they just  fade quickly  are dust collectors and need to be thrown out within a month or two.

Objects from Nature

Artfully arrange shells

Anything from the natural world will generate chi and enhance a home. Rocks,  crystals and shells you have collected, as well as art objects you created from nature will bring the wonderful outside into the home. Just make sure they are attractively arranged and kept dusted and fresh looking and that you don’t have so many that they look like clutter. I love arranging my shell collection on crisp white sand in an attractive bowl for my bathroom. Things that attract nature to the garden, such as humming bird feeders and bird baths bring a happy chi to your yard. Humming Bird Feeders are wonderful chi attractors. Hang them so that you can enjoy them from a window of your home. Make sure to clean bird baths often so that they do not become green with stagnant water or it will have the reverse effect. We do not want pools of stagnant water anywhere!

A recent survey carried out by the online dating site cougared.com shows some interesting and perhaps not so surprising results. They interviewed a large number of ‘cubs’, mostly in their 20s. When asked what attracted them, the majority said it was the fact that an older woman was more confident in her body and mind.

This could well have hit on the major reason for the success of the cougar dating scene. Confidence is sexy, a self-assured partner is a great turn on and for many women this is something that can grow with life experience. Older women who are interested in dating younger men should be heartened that,  rather than more suspect reasons (only a tiny percentage in this survey were looking for a sugar mamma), their draw was their maturity and the positive attributes this can bring.

Many women over forty have forged their careers, had their families and really know who they are and what they want from life. This can be a real bonus to a younger partner, who may not want the drama of a relationship with an insecure woman of their own age who needs constant reassurance. Or equally is not ready for a commitment involving marriage and children yet.  Throughout history men have gained dating benefits from the experience and status that comes with age so it would make perfect sense that in a society where women  are increasingly independent, both financially and emotionally, that we can benefit too.

Other encouraging news from the survey is that by far the greatest percentage said there was no upper age limit for a cougar. It really does seem that slowly but surely societal attitudes are changing towards older women.

At last, there seems to be an increasing acknowledgement that a women’s worth doesn’t simply end after her baby-making years are over. In fact, many women feel more sexually confident and self-assured at this stage in their lives. It would be a real shame to let this go to waste so forget any out-of- date notion of being out of the loop at forty plus. It seems that there is plenty of evidence to suggest that this could be an ideal age to start dating a much younger man.

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In the study, Benjamin Tseng, a researcher in the Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine’s (IEEM) Cerebrovascular Lab at the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, and colleagues compared brain structure and function in 10 athletes and 10 sedentary people.

The types of brain function they looked at included muscle control, executive function (a type of cognition that includes working memory, self-monitoring and the ability to suppress distractions) as well as other neurological functions.

“We know that brain structure and some aspects of cognitive function deteriorate with aging, but we haven’t been able to find exactly what the contributing factors and mechanisms are,” Tseng said in a hospital news release. “Our preliminary results shed light on this important topic, and we hope the findings lead to better prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.”

The study participants included 10 Masters athletes, average age 73 years, who had at least 15 years of competitive aerobic training, and 10 sedentary people of a similar age and education level. The investigators found that the brain’s white matter fiber was better preserved among the athletes than the inactive people.

In the human brain, white matter plays the critical role of transmitting messages between different regions of gray matter — areas where functions such as seeing, hearing, speaking, memory and emotions take place. So, without sufficient white matter, gray matter can’t do its job, as is the case for many people with various forms of dementia, the study authors explained in the news release.

“Without properly functioning white matter, people can begin to show signs of neurological problems,” Dr. Benjamin Levine, director of the IEEM and a professor of medicine and cardiology and a distinguished professor in exercise science at UT Southwestern Medical Center, explained in the news release. “They can lose the ability to do simple daily tasks that we take for granted.”

The researchers concluded that their study sheds some light on the mysteries of the aging brain, such as how brain blood flow is related to its structure and function.

“It also tells us that long-term aerobic exercise has definitive, measurable impact on brain health,” said Levine. “Most importantly, it lets us know that we have tools that can help fight off dementia and some of the other classic signs of aging with a purposeful, consistent exercise regimen.”

The findings were scheduled for presentation this week at the annual meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine, held in conjunction with the World Congress on Exercise Is Medicine, in Denver. Because this study was presented at a medical meeting, the data and conclusions should be viewed as preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

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