words…the eagles

Eagles have principles

Not the group silly, the bird.Here are some principle facts:

Eagles fly alone at a high altitude and not with sparrows or mix with other smaller birds like geese. No other bird goes to the height of the eagle. Eagles fly with eagles. Principle: Birds of a feather flock together
Eagles have strong vision, which focuses up to 5 kilometers from the air. When an eagle sites prey – even a rodent from this distance, he narrows his focus on it and sets out to get it. No matter what obstacles come, the eagle will not move his focus from the prey until he grabs it. Principle: Have a vision and remain focused no matter what the obstacle you face and you will succeed.
Eagles do not eat dead things. He feeds on fresh prey. Principle: eat local and fresh.
The Eagle is the only bird that loves the storm. When clouds gather, the eagles get excited. The eagle uses the wings of the storm to rise and is pushed up higher. Once it finds the wing of the storm, the eagle stops flapping and uses the pressure of the raging storm to soar the clouds and glide. This gives the eagle an opportunity to rest its wings. In the meantime, all the other birds hide in the leaves and branches of the trees. Principle: We can use the storms of our lives (obstacles, troubles, etc.) to rise to greater heights. Achievers relish challenges and use them profitably.
The Eagle tests before it trusts. When a female eagle meets a male and they want to mate, she flies down to earth with the male pursing her and she picks a twig. She flies back into the air with the male pursuing her. Once she has reached a height high enough for her, she lets the twig fall to the ground and watches it as it falls. The male chases after the twig. The faster it falls, the faster he chases until he reaches it and has to catch it before it falls to the ground, then bring it back to the female eagle. The female eagle grabs the twig and flies to a much higher altitude pursued by the male until she perceives it high enough, and then drops the twig for the male to chase. This goes on for hours, with the height increasing until the female eagle is assured that the male eagle has mastered the art of picking the twig which shows commitment, then and only then, will she allow him to mate with her! Principle: Whether in private life or in business, one should test commitment of people intended for partnership.
When the eagle grows old, his feathers become weak and cannot take him as fast as they should.. When he feels weak and about to die, he retires to a place far away in the rocks. While there, he plucks out every feather on his body until he is completely bare. He stays in this hiding place until he has grown new feathers, then he can come out. Principle: We occasionally need to shed off old habits, things that burden us, or add no value to our lives.
The other Eagles

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Health MATTERS – a controversial new lunchtime LIFT

THE 24-HOUR BOOB JOB

photo: Harper's Bazaar — photo: Harper’s Bazaar

If you could try out life with bigger breasts for a day, would you do it?

Cinderella’s fairy godmother turned a tattered dress and a pumpkin into a shimmering gown and a lavish ride. Remember, though, there was one catch: The makeover lasted only until midnight. With his InstaBreast technique, Norman Rowe, a New York plastic surgeon, is playing fairy godmother to women temporarily seeking larger, fuller breasts, but his handiwork also lasts for only one night. In about 20 minutes, you can go from flat-chested to cleavage-proud.

Rowe’s method is remarkably simple: He designates a site at the edge of each nipple, and after the area is anesthetized, he injects about a half-liter of sterile saline solution—essentially salt water—into the patient’s breast tissue. He maneuvers the needle at various angles to different areas, expanding each breast until it reaches the desired fullness. The saline is gradually absorbed into the bloodstream, with the full effect lasting about 24 hours. (Rowe says that saline is considered perfectly safe; it’s the same stuff you would get in an IV if you were dehydrated.)

While some doctors suggest that instant breast augmentation is just a fad, it’s hard to ignore its potential (consider the hundreds of thousands of women who don’t hesitate to have volumizers injected in their face). And the desire for bigger breasts is as popular as ever: According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 313,327 breast augmentations and 137,233 breast lifts were performed in the U.S. in 2013. “Women want cleavage,” Rowe says matter-of-factly. “And this is fast.”

Fast results were just what Shavon Jovi, 28, a model and aspiring actress, was hoping for when she underwent the procedure with Rowe several months ago. After a few pricks of an anesthetic into the skin surrounding the nipples, Rowe injected anesthetic-laced saline solution into her 32A breasts, one syringe at a time. The effect was an instant fullness that brought her chest to a C cup. “For the longest time I’ve wanted to get a breast augmentation,” says Jovi. “I was sort of shocked when I saw them, but I loved it immediately.” Within two days she was back to her natural size (how long it takes depends on how your body metabolizes the fluid). So why have the now-you-see-’em, now-you-don’t procedure? Like many of Rowe’s patients, Jovi wanted to “try on” implants in a way that computer imaging just can’t mimic, says Rowe, adding that some of his patients go for the temporary inflation for special occasions, such as a wedding, a big birthday, or a beach vacation.

Nicole, a 30-year-old mother of two, spent a day walking around with saline-inflated breasts, and a few months later went under the knife for implants. “It was amazing to see what my breasts would be like,” she recalls. As for how it felt? “I’ve had Botox and fillers, and it’s similar.” About 75 percent of Rowe’s patients who opt for the $2,500 procedure go on to get implants. However, it isn’t a helpful test-drive for every woman. “If you need both a lift and an augmentation, the saline won’t give you a realistic approximation,” explains Rowe.

Not everyone is singing the praises of the short-lived boob job, and there are limitations and risks to it. Since the skin of both breasts is pierced by the needle, bruising can occur. And like any procedure that penetrates the skin, infection is possible. Some doctors see other downsides as well, cautioning that undergoing the procedure repeatedly could cause the skin to stretch—”like a Slinky that you stretch out past the point of no return,” says Adam Kolker, a plastic surgeon in New York. Rowe counters that this is highly unlikely. “The skin has to be stretched for a much longer and continuous time period for it to display permanent stretching,” he says. Heidi Waldorf, a New York dermatologist, agrees, noting that having the procedure once is “probably okay. As long as it’s short-lived, the area should return to its normal contour,” says Waldorf, but she has concerns about stretching for those who return for more.

For her part, Jovi wanted to capture the results before they faded away. “I definitely posted a few #InstaBoob selfies that day,” she says. In the spirit of the procedure, though, perhaps she should have used Snapchat.

As for me, I’ll just stick to push-up bras (as needed since I hate needles) and do more gel manicures instead which lasts longer. But secretly (between us) it would be tempting to try.

Source: Liz Krieger for Harper’s Bazaar Magazine

FUN

Feel-good Friday: the eagle has landed

A majestic bald eagle sits on top of a totem pole in kitsilano overlooking the doggy beach on a morning run.This is what I LOVE about living where I live!
This is what he was looking at. This is where I run.

Photos: d. king

FUN

beauty – vixen seductrice

No; that’s just the name of my two–sided flipstick

which is really two lipsticks for the price of one. Basically I couldn’t make up my mind between all the different choices and the shades at either end of this tube looked so pretty that I had to buy it. It’s not the most elegant packaging out there but it’s great to take on holiday and the price is unbelievably reasonable.

It’s one of the oldest makeup-artist tricks: To get a lipstick color that’s just right for you, mix a couple of different tones together. CoverGirl BlastFlipstick gives you two complementary shades—a cream formula at one end, a shimmer at the other—so you can experiment to your pout’s content. Available in 13 duos – for 26 different shades.

To buy: $8 at drugstores.

FUN

Style: Orange is the new Black

I always knew that orange was a neutral!From beauty looks to fashion, orange has become a key wardrobe essential adding much needed brightness and colour to your winter wardrobe. From delicious tangerine to carrot shades and lighter honey hues, it’s all about injecting a little warmth into your wardrobe by adding powerful energy into your look.

The fiery hue was seen on the catwalk throughout fashion week, from orange stained lips at New York Fashion Week, to striking designs at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia.

Designers are jumping on board this dynamic trend combining it with luscious floral prints, contrasting paneling and sculptured detailing with unique fabrications. The hue has been cropping up time and time again in anything from true, juicy shades to red-tinged bricks and rusts.

Style Tips On Wearing Orange:

Don’t be afraid to mix with colour. Orange looks fab with yellow or similar hues for a striking look.
It’s okay to wear black with a vibrant orange but just make sure tobreak up the look with silver jewelery or contrasting accessories. You don’t want to look like a pumpkin.
Dress down with denim. Nothing adds a cool girl vibe more than teaming orange with skinny leg denim.
Add a feminine vibe with a sheer blouse or long-line tunic. This fabric and style adds a flattering and sophisticated touch.
Add white! Think a crisp white blazer jacket over an orange blouse.
Mix with prints. A floral printed orange top teamed with classic black pants.
Start out small. Add an orange clutch, beaded necklace or cocktail ring for a vibrant touch that is not too out there.
Add jewellery like orange beaded earrings, a statement necklace or stacked bangles to inject some flavour.
Orange shoes and an orange bag (both of which I have) only feels right for summer or resort wear.
For a casual weekend look, team with your favourite pair of jeans.
For the office, opt for a vibrant orange blouse teamed with a neurtral coloured pencil skirt and heels.
For night, you can easily vamp up a classic LBD with an orange clutch or jewels.
Coach short trench

Burberry brit orange-brown short trench

Above all, don’t be afraid to make a statement with this gorgeous colour.

I also love these trench coats perfect to pick up your mood on a rainy day.

What about you? How would you incorporate orange into your style?

FUN

Food – a guide to SALT

We cook with salt every day and if you’re not cooking with it, then someone else is adding salt in your food for you. Maybe the wrong kind.

Most of the discussions surrounding salt are negative. We often hear about lowering our intake levels, but then aren’t we missing the deeper question: “what salt should we be eating?” In fact, there are quite a few professionals who argue for the health benefits of the right kind of salt.

In attempting to eat a real food diet, it makes sense to find the healthiest form of this everyday ingredient.

So what is a healthy salt?

All salt comes from either the sea or underground mines. All salts are predominantly made up of sodium chloride, but their are vast differences between refined and unrefined salts.

Basically what separates refined salt from unrefined salt is what is added and what is taken away.

Finding The Best Salt

When you look for salt in the grocery store you will find an overwhelming number of options. The following is a guide map.

IODIZED TABLE SALT

This is the most common form of salt consumed today. It is granular, stark white, and lives in most salt shakers across the country. Table salt contains iodine and additives like sodium silicoaluminate or magnesium carbonate to improve pour-ability. These additives are not required to be listed as ingredients on the label.

It is like the white bread of salts – chemically stripped of all things valuable and then “enhanced” by synthetic vitamins and minerals. It’s just not a whole food.

KOSHER SALT

Kosher salt is not “kosher” itself, but is used to make meats kosher and is commonly called “koshering” salt. It is a larger crystal than the granular table salt and does not contain as many additives as table salt.

It does, however, contain sodium ferrocyanide which…

“is not especially toxic because the cyanides are tightly bound to the metal, although it can react with acid or photodecompose to release hydrogen cyanide gas.”

A little scary, and again not a whole food.

SEA SALT – REFINED & UNREFINED

Most sea salts sold in supermarkets are white, large-grained, and still somewhat refined. It is hard to tell the difference between a refined sea salt and an unrefined one without doing a little research first. But most of us aren’t going to Google from aisle four of the grocery store.

A few things to look for:

Color. While refined sea salts are white, almost all unrefined sea salts have a color to them. They are beige, pink, gray, red, or even black. The colors come from the mineral content the salt receives from where it has been harvested.

Moisture. Some unrefined sea salts are packaged with some of their moisture still intact. This keeps all of the trace minerals – over 80 in some cases – intact.

Mineral Content. Look at the packaging and see what the salt’s composition is. It should not be entirely sodium chloride. You want to find numerous trace minerals – the larger the quantity, the better.

The Takeaway

There are different brands of unrefined sea salt out there, all at different prices. I have seen Celtic Sea Salt come Dr. recommended, as well as a few other brands like Pink Himalayan and Redmond’s Real Salt. Buying them from the grocery store in small quantities can be expensive, so look for sales and buy in bulk. Think of it as an investment.

The trace minerals found in unrefined salt work synergistically with the sodium chloride to form a nourishing, whole food. As with all foods, it is best found in it’s God-given state, unchanged by man.

Iodine- Natural salts are rich in iodine, so it doesn’t need to be artificially added in.

Some salts the girl who would be king really likes:

Grey Sea Salt/Sel Gris From Guerande, Brittany France (found at Whole Foods)

A bit pricey, but:

unprocessed, unrefined, unadulterated.
Complex balance of the sea and her minerals
Handharvested In Brittany France
Large grey crystals and a moist texture.
Great for seasoning meats

Pure unrefined sea salt and natural Hawaiian black lava.

Hawaiian Black Lava is a titillating blend of naturally flaky sea salt harvested from the Pacific Ocean, and carbon-rich black lava from Hawaii. Lovely on seared halibut, eggs benedict, caesar salad, roasted turkey breast that has been thinly sliced.

Alaea is the traditional red Hawaiian sea salt made from minimally processed Pacific sea water blended with a touch of Hawaiian red clay, according to the Salt Works, a Seattle, Washington-based gourmet salt merchant. Naturally processed, unrefined Hawaiian sea salt contains about 19 percent trace minerals and electrolytes, which are naturally occurring in the ocean, according to Hawaii Kai. These trace minerals are needed by the human body, according to Hawaiian Specialty Salt company, and they are enhanced by the addition of Alaea, which provides iron oxide to Hawaiian red sea salt. The iron oxide found in the red Hawaiian clay imparts this salt’s distinctive color but also increases the healthful mineral content of red sea salt by adding a source of digestible dietary iron.

These were brought back from Hawaii but If interested you can google where to buy in your area.

Pink Himalayan – comes from high up in the Himalayan mountain range but is now hand-mined from the mountains and brought to the culinary market.

Pink Salt vs. Sea Salt: even though pink salts come from the mountains, they are technically sea salts as well. All salt comes from a salted body of water—namely, an ocean or salt-water lake. However, Himalayan salt is said to be the purest form of sea salt.

The crystal structure in pink himalayan is larger than refined salt, and by volume – this salt therefore has LESS sodium per 1/4 t. serving- because the sea salt crystals or flakes take up less room on a teaspoon than highly refined tiny table salt grains. Packs a hearty 80+ minerals and elements – Himalayan salts are mineral packed crystals which formed naturally within the earth made up of 85.62% sodium chloride and 14.38% other trace minerals including: sulphate, magnesium, calcium, potassium, bicarbonate, bromide, borate, strontium, and fluoride (in descending order of quantity).

Because of these minerals *Himalayan pink salt can:

Create an electrolyte balance
Increases hydration
Regulate water content both inside and outside of cells
Balance pH (alkaline/acidity) and help to reduce acid reflux
Prevent muscle cramping
Aid in proper metabolism functioning
Strengthen bones
Lower blood pressure
Help the intestines absorb nutrients
Prevent goiters
Improve circulation
Dissolve and eliminate sediment to remove toxins

It is even said to support libido, reduce the signs of aging, and detoxify the body from heavy metals. *These are pretty hefty claims but if you’re going to eat salt anyway why not use this one plus it’s readily available everywhere, even in bulk.

What type of salt do you use and why?

Source: simple bites and fitlife.tv (for Himalayan Salt)

photos: by Shannon

DESTINATIONS

Travel/Adventure – off the beaten path

The Oregon Coast welcomes you with its wild and moody rugged openness. A place to discover and enjoy.

Cannon Beach

THE HUMAN SPIRIT NEEDS PLACES WHERE NATURE HAS NOT BEEN REARRANGED BY THE HANDS OF MAN
and where certain dogs love to wet their paws and can run for miles along the sandy beaches.

A great camping destination (weather permitting), if I may say so myself. Especially if you pick up some tantalizing Willamette Valley pinot noirs.
Have you been?

Photos: d. king

FUN

words…ultimately

Water is the driving force of all nature – Leonardo da Vinci

FUN

Health MATTERS – say HELLO TO H2O

Why drinking water is the best way to start your day:

It is said that drinking about 7 to 8 glasses of water daily is important for your health. One thing many people do not know is that having the first glass of water as soon as you wake up also comes with its therapeutic benefits. This traditional Ayurvedic treatment has benefits for conditions that range from *asthma, pain to even cancer. Most of us start our mornings with a fresh, hot cup of coffee or tea and when we drink water, we tend to prefer it cold, but according to Ayurvedic medicine, we have it all wrong. Regularly drinking very warm water, especially in the morning, can heal our bodies, providing digestive power and reducing metabolic waste that could have built up in our immune system.

Statistics: In Japan, it is common practice to drink two full glasses of water upon waking. It’s said to have the ability to fully cure a number of diseases, including cancer, as well as provide a host of other benefits. As a nation, Japan has the overall greatest longevity, currently hosting over 50,000 centenarians, or 100+ year olds. Whether it’s the water practice or something in the tea they drink, we can learn a few tricks from the Japanese.

70% of the human body content is water, and so water plays an important role in the proper functioning of your body.

The human brain cells contain about 85% of water.

75% of muscles is water

Bones also contain about 25% water

82% of blood consists of water.

It is also helpful to consume foods that contain lots of water; for example soups (broth-based), vegetables and fruits.

What Are the Benefit of Drinking Water FIRST THING in the Morning?

It is a long known secret that drinking water as soon as you get up, i.e. before eating anything, is a good way to purify your internal system. One of the most important results of undergoing this treatment is colon cleansing, which enables better absorption of nutrients from various foods. When there is production of haematopoiesis, better known as “new blood”, you will have immense body restorative effects and you can even be cured of existing ailments. Drinking water the first thing in the morning has the following benefits:

Make your skin glow. Water is known to purge toxins from your blood, and as a result you get glowing skin. And who doesn’t want that?
Renew cells. Drinking water first thing in the morning increases the rate at which new muscle and blood cells are produced.
Balance the lymph system. When you drink water first thing in the morning on a daily basis, you help balance your body’s lymph system. Lymph glands found in your lymph system fight infections helping you to perform your daily activities. They also balance the fluids in your body.
Lose weight. When you consume about 16 ounces of water (chilled), you will boost your body’s metabolism by abut 24% thus help you lose those extra pounds.
Purify the colon. When you drink water after you have woken up before eating anything, you are purifying your colon thereby making nutrients absorption easy.
Cures illnesses and diseases. Drinking water first thing in the morning has been proven to cure illnesses such as vomiting, throat disease, menstrual and cancer disorders, eye diseases, diarrhea, urine disease, kidney disease, meningitis, TB, Arthritis, headaches among others.

Source: this according to New Health Guide

My new morning concoction:

This new year’s day I woke up with a dry cough and a bit of a sore throat ~~and a killer hangover.~~ Besides the normal taking it easy & getting plenty of rest I decided to start the day with several mugs of very warm water and 2 scoops Vitamin C powder (I take Medi C Plus which contains L-Lysine), lemon juice, ginger and honey. Not only is it healthy but it tastes like a very nice tea and I think it really helped in getting me back on my feet. Whatever works right? I think it will become my new first-thing-in-the-morning drink – even before coffee. It might be a good preventative to getting sick in the first place. That and staying away from people who already have a cold or flu.

What works for you?

FUN

beauty – DIY Miracle Gel Polish

Sally Hansen is a pioneer when it comes to nail care.

As early as the late 1950’s Sally Hansen, together with her chemist husband, pioneered a nail protection formula called Hard As Nails. Touted as “the nail clinic in a bottle,” Hard As Nails established Sally Hansen as what is now a top seller of nail care.

From the beginning, Sally Hansen (the company) prided itself on producing quality nail care. While Hard As Nails still continues to be a best seller, Sally Hansen has developed into the leading mega brand of nail treatment and color.

Always at the forefront they’ve come out with a new breakthrough polish…………….called Miracle Gel Nail Polish. No UV light required. Not only that, but it comes in many fashion forward and neutral shades, goes on in two easy steps, comes off with regular nail polish remover and costs only $9.99 a bottle. What you say??? A dream come true!

Wine Stock

I just had two professional gel manicures which cost about $40 each time not to mention $10 to have them remove the polish (soaked in acetone for several minutes under a UV light). Granted it lasted 3 weeks (2 weeks of absolute perfection) but it is costly to keep up and time consuming. Doing this at home seemed too good to be true. And it was.

The Review: I bought two shades, a rich red (for the holidays) and a deep burgundy called “wine stock” along with the top coat which you need to purchase to seal the deal. The salesgirl at Walgreen’s told me her manicure lasted 12 days without a chip. SOLD! In all honesty I would be okay if it lasted one week without a chip but I was hoping for about two weeks. On the bottle it says “up to 14 days.” Must pay attention to the “up to” part. I put two coats of the red color and one coat of the top coat when I got home. It goes on easily, dries quickly, nice and shiny (not too unlike a salon gel manicure), and the shade is true to the color on the bottle. It also surprisingly did not discolor my nails (dark colors tend to do that – with a yellowish tinge sans the basecoat) on removal – a big plus. Very impressive.

However…..the first chip happened at day four. Major drag! Any chip on a dark polish no matter how tiny ruins the look. So I went over the tips with the same polish and it lasted another two days before chipping some more. I work with a keyboard and like to cook but even so, with a professional gel manicure I do the same but with no chipping.

The good news: all is not lost. Overall, I would say it’s quite lovely for the way it applies, the shine and the ease of removal (with regular nail polish remover no less). I usually use OPI, Essie or Chanel (sometimes Butter London). But the main thing was to have a dark polish last up to two weeks without chipping and unfortunately that is not the case. I am debating taking them back but may decide not to (ha, that’s what they’re hoping for). On one hand I find it misleading, but I love the colors and might even purchase one more in a neutral shade. Who knows? That one might last longer.

Did they lie? Not really because if you read the print (preferably before buying the product) it does say that it lasts “up to” 14 days. We’re always hoping and it was worth the try. As I said, it’s a lovely polish on its own and it does last longer than others.

the bad news: there are no miracles.

Will I go back for a professional salon gel manicure? Yes, but only on occasion.

Anyone else tried it?