What MATTERS: good Intentions

Intention is Everything!  Oprah Winfrey quoted Martin Luther King “If you can see it and believe it, it is a lot easier to achieve it.”  It’s about Visualization.  I find this fascinating and believe it to be true.win1

Actor Jim Carrey parked his car on Mulholland Drive every night before anybody knew about him, with the visualization of becoming the Hollywood star that he inevitably became. He even wrote himself a ten million dollar check for a movie deal, and dated it five years from that very day. Can you guess what eventually happened? Not long before that date came along, he secured ten million dollars to star in the movie Dumb and Dumber.  That Jim is no dummy!

Being that Jim Carrey is one of the funniest comedians in history I thought it would be pretty cool to meet him, and luckily I had the pleasure of doing so not just once, but on several occasions through a mutual friend.  I found him to be extremely intelligent, captivating and humble all at once.  And I never thought it unusual to be in his presence because I visualized being there as normal.

The power of visualization has been instrumental in turning dreams into reality for not only folks like Jim,  but elite and successful people in every field: professional athletes, business CEO’s, speakers, singers, and performers…YOU?

Please take time to watch this inspiring 11 minute video of actor Jim Carrey sharing his life changing realization.  Take from it what you will but whatever your beliefs, I hope you agree that having good intent and positive visualization makes for healthier living. Have a great weekend.

LINK TO VIDEO:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEOW_uhF8bk#t=26

Credit: http://meaningfulwesternlife.com (a website about cultivating joy and meaning through meditation in a western society lifestyle.)

 

Re-Fresh Friday

20140711_141358samsung6Pack Light!

suitcase1It’s vacation time for many of you right now.  You’re getting
ready to pack up.
Have a look at how travel bags have changed.  If you happen to have any of the old ones still lying around or taking up space in your storage locker here are some great uses for them for anything other than traveling.  They might even make you want to pick one up from a thrift shop, especially if you have cats.samsung5

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samsung3
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SOME NEW USES FOR OLD STUFF: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coffee Table, Plant Stand, Bed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bye, bye old friends….you were wonderful and trustworthy although heavy & cumbersome at the same time.  You won’t be missed!

Cameras

As far as old cameras go…..stacked high up on a shelf is best.  Sorry; I sadly can’t think of any other use for them.  I now use my Samsung Galaxy for capturing images & Instagramming them (my latest passion) right away.  Gone are the days of taking my film into a shop, waiting for the processing to be done (remember when they had the 1 day option for a little higher price?) and then paying for them whether they turned out or not.

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Samsung Galaxy S4
Samsung Galaxy S4

 

beauty biz – BUXOM beauty

It’s not unusual for me to walk into Sephora and see products that have my name written all over it…meaning that I recognize something that I think would be perfect for me.  20140623_164944But this time I really did see something with my name written on it which of course garnered my attention.  On closer observation I realized it was also my colour and the caricature of the person on the packaging looked just like me was wearing something I like and also sell.  Co-incidence? I think not!

What it is:
Besides a good marketing tool, it’s a bestselling sheer, shimmering lip gloss with a tingling, plumping effect.

What it does:
A sheer, high-shine lip polish. It creates the look of fuller, more voluptuous lips with a refreshing tingling sensation and gentle plumping effect. Vitamins A and E help keep lips soft and protected.

What else you need to know:
Dolly is a cult favorite, but if you love pinks, go with Katie and Sugar. For a plum obsession, go with Brandi or Gabby. Orange-lovers will gravitate toward Amber and Debbie. Add a splash of sparkle with Clair, Starr, and April.  Leave it to them to choose names like Sugar, Brandi & Starr….I’m sure porn stars wear lipgloss too

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
– Parabens
– Sulfates
– Phthalates

For kisses that’ll have them coming back for more.

20140623_164907Available exclusively at Sephora – 100 shades that just might have your name on it.

Are you a LISA?
Are you a LISA?

 

 

style – summer inspiration

summer1is where the girls go barefoot and their hearts are just as free as their toeshowcoolisthisFeminine, flattering, and a far more conservative way to rock animal prints by the pool, this leopard one piece is the epitome of a necessary summer investment. For added va-va-voom appeal, don’t forget your red lipstick.

Taken from the ZOE Report – GLAM ways to wear animal prints during the day.

GRILL TALK – simply satisfying SKEWERS

Party on a STICK!kebab1 If you can slide it on a skewer, you can GRILL it.  These simple KEBAB combos make them foolproof.  Just match a marinade or glaze to meat and/or veggies and your barbeque just got a lot more flavourful.

kebab2Kebab Confidential: they can be tricky since different meats and veggies cook at different times. The key is to make single ingredient skewers.  If combining ingredients (which I like because they look prettier) choose those with similar cooking times. It makes sense that peppers will take a bit longer than cherry tomatoes, etc.

Marinate chicken, beef, lamb, or pork 8 to 24 hours for best results.  Before marinating the meat, reserve some marinade to brush over the kebabs while they cook.  Discard any remaining marinade.  For fish: 20 to 40 minutes is enough, since doing so for any longer could “cook” the fish kind of like a ceviche.  Marinating shrimp can make them tough.

you can try tofu too
try chunks of tofu.
try pieces of corn-on-the-cob
try cut up corn-on-the-cob.

Adding vegetables – skewer them all in the same direction so that they cook evenly. Brush marinade or glaze on while cooking: don’t marinate them.

All grilled: heirloom tomatoes (feta was grilled on tinfoil) on crusty french bread.
All grilled: heirloom tomatoes (feta was grilled on tinfoil) on crusty french bread.  Delish!

20140707_191933Bread – I’m talking about hearty, crusty bread (not sandwich style) …it toasts beautifully on the Barbie.  As with veggies, brush marinade/glaze on while grilling.  You can add cubes to your skewers too.

A few good Marinades:

In a liquid measuring cup, combine ingredients.  Reserve ¼ cup and pour remaining marinade into a zip-lock bag.  Add 1 ½ pounds of meat (for 4 people) and toss to coat.  Refrigerate.  Use reserve to brush over meat and vegetables while grilling.

Buttermilk-Dill: great for chicken or lamb.  Combine ¾ cup buttermilk, 3 garlic cloves (crushed with a press), ¼ cup chopped fresh dill, 1 tsp. salt and ½ tsp. pepper.

Balsamic-Rosemary: great for beef, lamb or chicken.  Combine ½ cup balsamic vinegar, ¼ cup olive oil, 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh rosemary, 1 tsp. salt and 2 tsp. pepper.

Lemon-Oregano: great for chicken or fish.  Combine ½ cup olive oil, ¼ cup lemon juice, 3 Tbsp. chopped fresh oregano, 1 tsp. salt, and ½ tsp. pepper.

Orange-Coriander: great for pork, beef or chicken.  Combine 1 Tbsp. finely grated orange zest plus ½ cup juice, ¼ cup olive oil, 2 Tbsp. toasted coriander seed, coarsely crushed: I Tbsp. toasted fennel seed, coarsely crushed:  1 tsp. salt and ½ tsp. pepper.

Quick & Easy BBQ GLAZE:

In a small bowl combine all ingredients.  Liberally brush on meat and veggies throughout grilling.

Combine ½ cup ketchup, 3 Tbsp. cider vinegar, 2 Tbsp. each brown sugar & Worcestershire sauce. 1 tsp. salt, and ½ tsp. pepper.  Add a dash of hot sauce & garlic if you like.

I almost forgot – prevent your wooden sticks from catching fire or burning by soaking them in water for half an hour before grilling.

Don’t you just LOVE SUMMER GRILLING!

 

ART/Culture/Life – by ART alone…

ART is part of our culture and can improve our LIFE

By art alone we are able to get outside ourselves, to know what another sees of this universe which for him is not ours, the landscapes of which would remain as unknown to us as those of the moon. Thanks to art, instead of seeing one world, our own, we see it multiplied and as many original artists as there are, so many worlds are at our disposal, differing more widely from each other than those which roll round the infinite and which, whether their name be Rembrandt or Vermeer, send us their unique rays many centuries after the hearth from which they emanate is extinguished. (Proust)

Lucian Freud - interior with plant reflection - listening self-portrait 1968
Lucian Freud – interior with plant reflection – listening self-portrait 1968

What do I ask of a painting? I ask it to astonish, disturb, seduce, convince.” – Lucian Freud

Agnes Martin
Agnes Martin

When I think of art I think of beauty. Beauty is the mystery of life. It is not in the eye it is in the mind. In our minds there is awareness of perfection.

What I say is that we’re capable of a transcendent response, and I think it makes us happy. And I do think beauty produces a transcendent response.”  – Agnes Martin

Albert York
Albert York

“The modern world just passes me by. I don’t notice it. I missed the train.”

“I think we live in a paradise. This is the Garden of Eden, really it is. It might be the only paradise we ever know, and it’s just so beautiful, with the trees and everything here, and you feel you want to paint it. Put it into a design. That’s all I can say.” – Albert York

Joan Miró - 1927
Joan Miró – 1927

 “I feel the need of attaining the maximum intensity with the minimum of means. It is this which has led me to give my painting a character of even greater bareness.”

What I am looking for… is an immobile movement, something which would be the equivalent of what is called the eloquence of silence, or what St. John of the Cross, I think it was, described with the term ‘mute music.'” – Joan Miró

Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time” ~Thomas Merton

Health MATTERS – anti-aging for PETS?

Brad & Kira
Brad & Kira

WHY NOT?  

If you could…..wouldn’t you prefer to improve the health and longevity of your pets?  After all, they are family members and deserve the best that life has to offer.  At least we think so!

KIRA now
KIRA now
Debbie & Jia Jia
Debbie & Jia Jia

Both dogs in the photos are 11 years young, still playful with several more good

Jia Jia models a Star Wars baseball cap.
Jia Jia models a ‘Yoda’ Star Wars baseball cap.

years ahead of them. Both dogs have been taking daily drops of Rejeneril FP® – which is the first Patented Anti-Aging Dietary Supplement for pets.

 

With animals aging at a much faster rate than us humans, we lose them way too quickly as is. And unfortunately, many of our pets experience degenerative conditions at younger ages, which greatly impacts the quality of their lives in later years. But, it doesn’t have to be this way!

Rejeneril FP® is comprised of a unique and patented antioxidant molecule along with minerals, vitamins and amino acids which are crucial to the health and longevity of one’s pet. The synergy of these nutrients is highly beneficial for all stages of a pet’s life.

Rejeneril FP® can help:

  • Younger pets build a strong immune system and set the foundation for a disease free life.
  • Adult pets recover quicker, maintain youthful energy levels and remain healthier for longer.
  • Senior pets rejuvenate and slow and/or reverse the negative effects associated with aging.

Rejeneril FP® works in three targeted ways to help keep your pet younger longer. Find out more at: http://www.myultimatepet.com/