FUN – Page 32 – Girl Who Would be KING on Life, Style and INSPIRATION.

Words…sometimes cannot express

what pictures can. So here are a few of my favourite souvenir books from travels past:

I like to collect cook books from places where the food has been exceptionally good. I do use them on occasion and it helps to re-create special memories.

only 999 more places to go! A great guide if you have the time and $$$ — **only 999 more places to go!** A great guide if you have the time and $$$

As they say, “a picture is worth a thousand words”

“There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer” – Ansel Adams

“I don’t like food that’s too carefully arranged; it makes me think that the chef is spending too much time arranging and not enough time cooking. If I wanted a picture I’d buy a painting” – Andy Rooney

Every day we should hear at least one little song, read one good poem, see one exquisite picture, and, if possible, speak a few sensible words. – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

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Health MATTERS: “Mighty Aphrodite” – OIL of OREGANO

The Greeks were the first to record the use of Oregano and they credited Aphrodite, the goddess of love, with creating it, with the purpose of bringing joy to mankind.

The word “oregano” is from two Greek words – oras, which means “mountain”, and ganos, “joy” – basically meaning oregano “joy of the mountains”. Ancient Greek physicians prescribed oregano for infections, wounds, headaches, respiratory disorders, seizures, snakebike and other forms of poisoning.

I can attest to the powerful healing benefits of this Mediterranean oil. It’s responsible for single-handedly clearing up my terrible asthmatic cough which I had for two straight weeks. I don’t like to use inhalers but was on the verge of doing so when I decided to try Organic Oregano Oil once again (I had previously taken it for several years, never got sick and then went off it when my last bottle was finished). So last night instead of taking it orally I just diluted several drops in water and my coughing subsided immediately. I don’t believe it to be a co-incidence. I believe the oil cleared up my annoyingly aggravating cough. The one benefit of having a hoarse voice would be to sound like Demi Moore, but unfortunately my voice sounded more like Marge Simpson. So I decided to discuss all the benefits of this miracle oil.

The oregano used to produce oregano oil for healing purposes is not the same as what we generally call oregano and you won’t find it in the spice section of your local grocery store. There are more than 30 species of oregano and only a few have been proven to have real medicinal value. So it is very important to be sure you are buying quality oregano oil from a trusted manufacturer of natural products.

Oregano Oil grows wild around the world, especially in the mountainous area of Greece and Turkey, where the highest medicinal grade is found. Medicinal oregano is rich in minerals as well as vitamin C, vitamin A and niacin. It takes a lot of oregano to distill a small amount of oil – in fact, about 1,000 pounds would be needed to make one pound of oil. This is why superior quality medicinal oregano oil is quite expensive. However it is also quite potent and a little goes a long way as a natural remedy or treatment, making this healing herb a good investment.

Oregano oil contains natural compounds that combat bacteria, fungal, viral and parasitic infections. It can be used for ailments ranging from athlete’s foot to food poisoning. Basically you can use it from head to toe. It is an antiseptic, anti-microbial powerhouse and as such it has an almost infinite number of uses around the home. Be sure to have a bottle on hand.

How to use it: For daily use, place 1 to 5 drops of oil under the tongue and hold it there for 5 to 10 seconds for sublingual absorption. You can then follow with a drink of water or juice. If you don’t like the taste (it’s strong) you can add it to a glass of water, milk or any kind of juice and drink it to increase your immune support or fight an infection.

There are so many uses (too numerous to mention there) that you might want to google it yourself. As for me, it helped my throat right after using it and that’s why I decided to blog about it. The vapours of the oil when taken internally are touted as a treatment for coughs and sinus congestion. Putting a drop under the nose can help clear sinus congestion and the oil can also be added to a humidifier of vapourizer for nighttime support. It also helps for shingles, itching, ear infections, headaches, digestive difficulties, athelet’s foot, candida, dandruff and muscle aches.

Choose a product prepared by a reputable manufacturer and follow the label directions. You can start to enjoy better health right away with this potent natural ally in your medicine cabinet.

Have you tried it?

Also, **Don’t miss listening to “Transforming Health” with host Brad King for the most evocative and informative up-to-the-minute interviews with leading health professionals – Live every Wednesday @ 12PM-PST/3PM-EST on VoiceAmerica.com – #1 internet radio station in North America. Here’s the link: http://www.voiceamerica.com/show/1686/transforming-health

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personally……this is the best souvenir

Leafing through the pages of this gorgeous book brings home the diversity of Vancouver and makes me appreciate it more.

Whether you live in Vancouver or are here just visiting, this stunningly photographed coffee table book by Claude Duke will remind you of all the good things that Vancouver has to offer.

Of course there’s the natural scenic beauty but the book also showcases the talent of local fashion designers and our multi-cultural foodies. It even comes with 24 detachable postcards. It would make a great gift.

Claude’s event (he is originally from Chile) was held at the Art Institute of Vancouver on Wednesday evening and it was totally multi-cultural and absolutely Fabulous. A generous number of consulates (Canada, U.S., Chile, Equador) were there to take part in the festivities.

Sexy Samba Dancers

Cuban band Brisas Palmar with Flamenco Dancer/Singer

Indoor/Outdoor event at *The Art Institute

There was an abundance of food, wine, entertainment, fashion show and of course….books!

The man – Claude Duke & me

*The Art Institute of Vancouver is one of The Art Institutes, a system of over 45 educational institutions located throughout North America, providing education in design, media arts, event management, fashion and culinary arts.

JQi & Katelen (visiting from São Paulo)

Individual Ceviches with mango.

marvelous macaroons

to purchase: http://www.claudeduke.com/

Delicious desserts

Books make great memories. Whenever I travel I always bring home a book whether it be something culinary from the specific area or on design, etc.

How about you – do you do the same?

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beauty biz – RETINOL really!

Getting older is natural, looking older is not!

So you want to delay getting a facelift for as long as possible or even avoid it (like me) entirely. So here’s what you need to do – use retinol. Here’s why: this one ingredient boosts collagen, softens skin, evens texture, and fades dark spots. The data is clear (we hope whoever is controlling the data is clear on this) that women who regularly use retinoids age better than women who don’t. Here are a few key things to know before getting started:

You don’t have to use it every night. Start with twice weekly and follow up immediately with you regular moisturizer or face oil. After a few weeks, step it up to three times a week.

It should be an “at bedtime-only” thing. Retinoids are photolabile, meaning they break down in the presence of sunlight.

A little irritation is OK. Redness and flaking are signs that the active form of retinol, a compound called retinoic acid, is working in the skin to make more collagen. Just give your skin a few days to recover between applications. I recommend trying RoC Retinol Correxion Sensitive Night Cream if you’re not sure or you experience burning or stinging. Fyi – I have sensitive skin and I was using the regular Roc with retinol night cream, then followed up with face oil after waiting a few minutes for it to sink in. I took a long break so I’ll have to start using it again.

Have patience – it takes at least a few months to work. Your patience will be rewarded. I just found out that even if it doesn’t look like the retinol is doing anything, it’s building collagen stores in the skin that will help as you get older.

TIP: do an at-home peel a few days before starting retinol. This will get rid of dead skin cells allowing the retinol to penetrate faster and the fresh, new cells to benefit most from the ingredient. I like the Vica-C exfoliating peel by Mica Beauty.

What you don’t know about Retinol:

It doesn’t work by exfoliating. Even though they can make skin flaky (at first) they work by increasing the activity of enzymes in the skin that make more collagen.

It doesn’t make skin more sun-sensitive. Your skin might become more heat-sensitive, but that means it may feel hotter and look a bit redder if you go outside on a hot day, but that’s not burning. That said, don’t forget to apply sun protection for the obvious reasons. My favourite sunscreen is La Roche Posay Anthelios Mineral Tinted SPF 50. It does the trick and gives a healthy glow.

You can use it around your eyes. This is where your skin really needs the collagen boost. Try not to get it in your eyes but if you do, don’t freak out. It won’t do any harm, just rinse your eyes with water. RoC makes a specific one for eyes.

Mica Beauty Vita-C Exfoliating Peel
available at:

http://www.intrigueimports.com/product_info.php?products_id=132

There are other skin creams available with Retinol. Go to the beauty counter or do some research yourself. Maybe you can pick up a few samples somewhere like “Sephora” to try out a few and decide which works best for you.

Have you tried any? What do you recommend?

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Simply DIY – recipes for making green household cleaning products

Let’s take a break from cooking (but just this time) to get our house in order.

A lot of cleaning products as you already know, are very toxic and natural ones usually cost quite a bit more. Have you ever tried making your own that work just as well but are better for the environment and your lungs?

You won’t believe how easy these are to make and how effective they are at replacing your regular ones. You may never buy another household cleaning product ever again. And most of these items you already have in your fridge/pantry. Go to a dollar store and buy a few spray bottles. Try them and let me know what you think.

Glass and Tile Cleaner:

¼ cup white vinegar

1 quart water

Mix together, pour into a spray bottle. Works just like Windex.

Liquid Laundry Soap:

1 cup of grated Ivory soap

½ cup *washing soda

½ cup Borax

2 Tbsp. Glycerin (buy at your local pharmacy)

2 Gallons of water (NOTE: this recipe originally called for 2 cups water). Also, feel free to add a few drops of essential oil like lavender for a fresh scent.

Mix first three ingredients together. Add glycerin and water. Use ½ – ¾ cup per load. Best when used with cold or warm (not too hot) water.

Scouring Powder for Stainless Steel:

1 part salt

1 part baking soda

Mix together and pour into a jar with a sprinkle top.

Carpet Stain Cleaner:

Put 1 part white vinegar mixed with 1 part water in a spray bottle. Spray directly on stain, let sit for 5 minutes or so, then clean with a brush or sponge using warm soapy water.

Drain Cleaner:

1 cup baking soda

1 cup salt

1 quart boiling water

Blend soda and salt together and pour down the drain followed by boiling water. Let set several hours or overnight.

Oven Cleaner:

3 parts baking soda

1 part water

Nylon scrubber

Combine baking soda and water and use like a paste with the scrubber and your elbow grease. For the hard parts mix half baking soda, half salt to increase abrasiveness. Keep baking soda off the heating element.

Homemade Furniture Polish:

Cooking oil (no need to waste the good stuff on this, cheap unhealthy stuff will do fine)

Lemon juice

2 rags

1 container to hold the mixture

In your container, mix a few tablespoons of oil with a dash of lemon juice. Stir or shake well. Dip your rag into a tiny bit of the oil-lemon mixture. Rub thoroughly over the wooden surface, adding more liquid as needed. When completed, the wood should be dirt free and glistening. Use the second cloth to rub down the furniture so no oil remains on top, so the furniture is not slippery or prone to giving oil stains. Note: This works on faux wood as well as real wood.

*WASHING SODA (see liquid laundry soap above), also known as soda ash or sodium carbonate has many uses, from acting as a pH stabilizer in pools to acting as a water softener to removing calcification in water heaters to making lye pretzels. Washing soda is a beneficial item to have around the house, especially if you want to make homemade laundry detergent, as it is one of the main ingredients. However it is not so easy to come across. Fortunately it is very easy to make. One ingredient needed: baking soda. Here’s what you do: 1. Fill a wide baking dish with baking soda. 2. Heat in the oven at 400 degrees until all the baking soda becomes washing soda. Occasionally mix it so that this process happens faster and more uniformly. 3. Use as needed!

How to know when it’s done: Washing soda is grainy, baking soda is powdery. Washing soda is dull and opaque, baking soda is crystalized like salt and reflects light, i.e. it is semi shiny. Washing soda is separate grains, baking soda clumps together.

A bit about Borax (in case you’re as confused as I was):

WHAT IS BORAX? Borax is very effective, versatile, affordable, and eco-friendly compared to petroleum-based ingredients in conventional cleaning products.

Borax, also known as sodium borate, is a boron mineral and alkaline salt that’s mined directly from the ground. Borax is not boric acid. Borax and boric acid are found together in many places, especially volcanic areas where the borax has naturally reacted with sulfur. You can also find both compounds in seawater. It’s a naturally occurring element but even things from nature can be harmful (like asbestos or mercury).

Bottom line: While it may be listed as “poison” on the box, it’s only toxic at very, very high levels. (Like salt, baking soda, and even water is.) Here’s one more bit of info for you: Boron is an essential mineral that the body needs for bone building, immune function, and brain function. Plants need it to grow. But, like anything, it’s needed in small moderation. Much like salt. Boron is found aplenty in borax. People even take borax as a supplement and swear by it (I am NOT recommending you do this). That’s a little extreme, but use it as a gauge as to how harmful borax really is.

It is not harmful to the environment. In fact, the largest borax (borate) mine in the world – found in Boron, California – is considered by many to be the most ecologically sound and environmentally sustainable mine in the United States. This is also the mine where 20 Mule Team comes from.

Not unlike conventional cleaning products, homemade or store bought green cleaning solutions should be stored safely away from children and pets. When handled with respect, borax is a great addition to your cleaning arsenal. Mix solutions in your kitchen, away from food and clearly label your finished product.

Source: The David Suzuki Foundation

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Words and Tweets: of Maya Angelou

“All Great Achievements Require Time”

photo from NY Daily News

Maya Angelou’s last tweet left the world in quiet reflection: “Listen to yourself and in that quietude you might hear the voice of God.”

Maya Angelou’s inspirational words were full of strength and have resonated with her audiences for years. The poet, author, and civil rights activist — who died Wednesday at the age of 86 — had a way of saying the simplest of things in the most eloquent of ways. Her first autobiography I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, published in 1969, resulted in international recognition and led to six more autobiographies and a number of poetry anthologies.

A few of my favourite quotes from her works:

“When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.”

“Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. But anger is like fire. It burns it all clean.”

“Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.”

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

“You may not control all of the events that happen to you but you can decide not to be reduced by them.”

“While Maya’s day may be done, we take comfort in knowing that her song will continue, ‘flung up to heaven’ — and we celebrate the dawn that Maya Angelou helped bring.” RIP

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Health MATTERS: Stinging Nettle is nothing to sneeze at!

I’m always on the lookout for a good natural solution to my problem.

Stinging Nettle

Of all the health problems that summer and spring can bring, hay fever can be amongst the most debilitating and annoying. The constant interruptions to your life brought on by uncontrollable sneezing and irritated eyes is enough to drive most people crazy. It’s driving me crazy right now!

It may surprise you then to realize that the same garden which is largely responsible for your current predicament is also home to the solution to your problems.

One study on humans of nettle leaf for the treatment of hay fever found that this herb works 58 percent of the time on reducing itching and sneezing. Researchers believe that nettle is able to reduce the amount of histamine in people with allergies. By naturally reducing the level of histamine in the body as a result of allergens, you increase your resilience to those same allergens.

Doctors recommend taking nettle long before allergy season begins. They also suggest using freeze-dried leaves, however taking supplements will also work. It has been found that hay fever sufferers can start out taking two nettle supplements, three times a day until symptoms are under control and then reduce their intake after that.

Stinging nettle tea is also available from most health food stores.

Did you know? Stinging nettle has been used for hundreds of years to treat painful muscles and joints, eczema, arthritis, gout, and anemia.

Have you tried it?

Also, **Don’t miss listening to “Transforming Health” with host Brad King for the most evocative and informative up-to-the-minute interviews with leading health professionals – Live every Wednesday @ 12PM-PST/3PM-EST on VoiceAmerica.com – #1 internet radio station in North America. Here’s the link: http://www.voiceamerica.com/show/1686/transforming-health

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Personally…I don’t want to become a TANorexic!

Summer is just around the corner (it started earlier than usual in Vancouver) and some of us are feeling that we look a tad too pale. What’s a white girl to do?

Fake it, of course – what else?

Start to shake up the St. Tropez self-tanning mousse and start slathering. Then somebody you know happens to comment that you’re looking really tan. You say “thank you” and they say “no, I mean like reeaally tanned” and then you’re feeling not so sure that it’s a nice compliment – like you overdid it with the bottle.

You try to cut back but it is really difficult especially once you start to see results (George Hamilton comes to mind). You must repeat this on a daily basis until you obtain the color you want (which is the “perfect” fake tan) but the lines become blurred because you never can tell if you’re tan enough. It’s a tough circle.

A Tanorexic is similar to an Anorexic in the sense that the person isn’t aware of how “tan” they really are, even if another person tells them they are. Is there a 12-step program to deal with this?

I thought I was the first person to come up with this term but it turns out that Wikipedia already has a description (which I added to):

Tanning addiction (see photos below for poor examples) is a rare syndrome where an individual appears to have a physical or psychological addiction to sunbathing or the use of tanning beds and/or spray tans – usually resulting in an overly orange or dark complexion and body color. This may or may not include a strange scented body odor although now you can find some sprays/lotions that don’t smell too bad (stop that!).

you don't want to do this — you don’t want to do this

Come on….who else is guilty?

It doesn’t really have to be this way!

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Beauty biz – does Boots #7 live up to all the hype?

Remember when the original Protect and Perfect was hailed as the next anti aging breakthrough in Great Britain? When it hit the shelves in the United States it sold out in days.

In a recent Boots No7 review, BBC reported a clinical study that showed Boots No. 7′s Protect & Perfect to be as almost as effective as prescription products. Wow, big claim! Is it true?

Gwyneth Paltrow says she is a user of Boots No7 skin cream which adds further credibility to the line. (After all, she should know).

In 2011, Multiple Boots No7 Products Receive Good Housekeeping’s First Annual Anti-Aging Awards.

Boots No7 has been featured and reviewed by a bunch of influential magazines. NBC claimed the serum was scientifically proven to repair collagen. The primary ingredient that is known to repair collagen is oligopeptide. But is this ingredient in a high enough dosage to repair collagen? Our first reaction is that Boots No7 represents good value for money. When you compare Boots No7 to premium products, the formula is actually quite effective. The concentration of oligopeptide is reasonable for the cost of the product and we feel it represents good value for money. The Dermatology Review.

No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Beauty Serum has been tested like no other cosmetic anti aging product in an independent 12 month trial. The findings clearly show that it has genuine, long term anti aging benefits. Contains Pro Retinol (I will blog about the importance of Retinol in my next post), concentrated levels of Boots unique antioxidant complex to protect from environmental damage and a skin-firming peptide complex to boost and maintain skin’s elasticity.

The serum does include Palmitoyl Oligopeptide and Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide, two very effective anti-aging ingredients. Unfortunately, the peptides are the two LAST ingredients in a lengthy list of 31 ingredients. This means there are only enough peptides to allow Boots to list them which makes you wonder about the overall effectiveness. All in all, it feels silky on the skin and seems to work as well as many pricier serums. Only time will tell. Worth a try in my opinion.

Boots No7 is available at Target, QVC, Ulta, Walgreens, and Beauty.com. In Canada you can find them at Shoppers Drug Mart & London Drugs – priced between $20 and $40. It can also be purchased online through Boots USA.

I haven’t tried any of their other products – have you? Any comments?

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simply satisfying – grilled cherry tomato lollipops

So they’re not really lollipops, but the term “tomato skewers” sounded too mundane.

Summer screams of BBQ and we’re constantly heating up our grill to cook up whatever flavors epitomize the season.

Because these tomatoes are so cute and plump, it sounds more appropriate (and fun) to call them lollipops especially when you jab them onto sticks. Plus, they taste sweet like candy during this time of the year.

Have you ever grilled your cherry tomatoes? They’re super amazing and the texture is like roasted tomatoes, but you don’t have to turn on your hot oven in the Summer. And best of all, they have the wonderful bbq flavor to them. Before grilling place them in a bowl & gently mix with sea salt and a little olive oil & balsamic.

A simple way to enjoy these grilled tomato skewer “lollipops” is on grilled bread swiped with a nice layer of ricotta cheese. Make sure to make a big platter of these little skewer lollipops for your gathering because they’re sure to be a hit. They’re so good, your guests will probably eat them right off the skewers just like candy.