Strength and tenderness make a unique combination!  We are tough yet tender, every day.  We maintain strength in the face of adversity and help carry our loved ones through rough times.  And, if they stumble or need support, we're there with soft, sensitive words and open, comforting arms.

Be proud of your ability to be both strong and gentle.  Embrace these different sides of your personality and exercise them in equal measure.  Show your strength and determination.

Be wise enough to step up, yet let your gentleness shine through!

 [ send green star]

Relax and enjoy life's journey

Every day you're bombarded with an ever-increasing number of opportunities, yet you don't seem to have enough time to get things done.  If that isn't enough, you believe you're not working quickly enough to keep up with the nonstop flow of information streaming out of your computer. Worse yet, you feel as if you'll be left in the dust if you don't keep up. 

The truth is, there will never be enough time to get everything done, so, don't kill yourself trying.

You can face overwhelming challenges, yet still make each day purposeful by keeping in mind a clear intention of what you want to do.  Resolve to stay focused on accomplishing important tasks. Be willinging to say 'No' when you are asked to add responsibilities that are not in harmony with your aspirations.

Life is not meant to be a struggle but a balance and joyful journey.

 [ send green star]

Perhaps one of the simplest ways to change the outlook of oneself is to be reminded of all the good things in your life.  Reflecting on how far you have come, what you have already accomplished, and what you have learned, can be very encouraging.

Appreciating your dearest friends, your closest family members, and yourself can be a smile on your face.

If you need a lift or an attitude adjustment, try to appreciate and reflect on the good things.  Count your blessings.  It can be done anytime and any place.

 [ send green star]

Whether phrased as "push your buttons," "get your goat," "get you riled up," or "annoy you," it's no fun to be on the receiving end. How to cope?

1. Don't take it personally. Even when someone criticizes your actions or demeans your very nature, know that they are merely directing their inner turmoil in your direction. Someone else's opinion of you is mostly irrelevant, and basically none of your business. Don't assume that there is any validity to an accusation. Perhaps there is a valuable lesson buried inside the unkindness that merits objective consideration, but negative emotions are best just quickly discarded.

2. Look to the positive people in your life for support. If you balance many positive and supportive friends against one or two negative influences, it is much easier to cope. If you don't currently have enough positive people in your life, begin a focused effort to add positive people to your inner circle. If you don't have personal connections, search for groups of positive people at MeetUp.com

3. Remove negative people from your life. Yes you can, even if it's your boss. You don't need that job so much that it's worth your health or happiness. Everything in life is a choice. Sometimes making a change is important, while other times just knowing that you hold the power to make a different choice is enough.

4. Forgive the offender, not for their sake, but for your own sake. The act of forgiving releases your anger and provides space for rational thinking and action.

5. Be grateful for the wake-up call. Any time that someone or something grabs your attention is a good time to be grateful - even if the message is unpleasant. Something is happening that requires your conscious awareness. Perhaps you have a lesson to learn or an action to take. Perhaps it is time to remove another negative influence from your life.

6. Release any expectations that the unkind person should have acted differently. Life is not fair, and you only cause yourself unhappiness if you hold an expectation that life or any individual should be fair or kind.

Jonathan Lockwood Huie

 [ send green star]

While some of us wear our emotions on our sleeve, others keep feelings bottled up for decades. Strike a balance. If you are suffering with unexpressed frustration or grief, let the tears flow. Then find a friend to laugh with. Laughter,  lightens the saddest moments and bonds us to family and friends.

 [ send green star]

It is never too late to be what you might have been.

- George Eliot

George Eliot was the pen name of English novelist Mary Anne Evans (1819-1880)

What is age but a number. What you can dream, you can become, at any age.

 [ send green star]

If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.
- Mother Teresa

Let today be a day of acceptance, compassion, and understanding. Let us feel our bond of humanity with each of our planet's six billion souls. Put aside color, geography, wealth, education, political and religious beliefs, and feel the throb of each human heart in your heart. Never let your compassionate connection with all creation be limited by your politics, your language, or your traditions. Know that the spirit transcends all cultural differences and embraces all creation.

 [ send green star]

"I set my own course through the ocean of life."
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Have you ever watched a school of fish? They move almost as one. Instantly, they all turn. It doesn't appear that the fish in front turn and then the others follow. Rather, the fish at the back of the school turn together with those in front as if the school were a single organism.

Often, groups of people behave like schools of fish. Beliefs, behaviors, and habits spring up almost organically. Some of these trends are short lived like the latest clothing fashion, while others persist for millennia, yet have no more fundamental significance than a school of fish turning left or right in unison.

Be alert and watchful to avoid basing your own life on the beliefs, behaviors, and habits of those around you, however familiar and expected those habits may be.

 [ send green star]

Someone mentioned to be about a bird  "Bad Hair Heron." Ever had a bad hair day - a day when everything seemed to be going wrong? Perhaps today is a day to soothe your ruffled feathers, take a deep breath, and reaffirm that the weight of the world is really not on your shoulders, unless you choose to assume that burden.

 [ send green star]

Three little words, but a world of wisdom. Behind that simple saying is both the call to live in the moment and also to live consciously.

Life cannot be lived fully or joyfully if our thoughts are focused on regretting the past, preoccupied with anticipating the future, or lost in the mind-fog of unconscious habitual behavior.

Ram Dass

 [ send green star]

Visualize living a life of grace. What kind of life do you picture? The word "grace" derives from a Latin word that means both pleasing and thankful,  that paints a picture of a life lived with grace. A life filled with gratitude for life itself. A life that is joyful and that inspires joy in others. A life of grace is a great life.  Choose to live a life of gratitude and joy.

 [ send green star]

Did you know that the average child laughs 400 times a day.  If laughter seems like a distance memory, then it's time the child inside came out to play.

In reality, you have so much more to enoy that the child you used to be--and so any reasons to laugh.  You have that vast library of memories to be brought out and explored--years of joy, adventure, and smiles.  There are mistakes filed away--all good reason for laughter.  There's accumulation of friendship--full of hugs, love and good times.  There's that treasure chest of experience to be dipped into--and so much more meant to bring a chuckle!

And finally, never to be overlooked, there's that secret inner deposit of excitement, wonder, enthusiasm and confidence in all the good times yet to come!

 [ send green star]

'Focus on the joy'

How many things in your daily life do you do just for the joy of it?

When you do something just for the 'joy' of it you are not worried about what you get in return, nor do you do it because you 'should' or 'have-to'.  You do it because you want to.

As you infuse your life with this kind of joy, you internalize the message that you cherish, love and respect yourself. Your self-esteem, self-confidence and self-worth all get a boost because you're doing things that are important to you.

Do something just for the 'joy' of it.  When you experience joy, others around you feel it too!

 [ send green star]

Thank you~Leonor

 [ send green star]

You're not alone in the  journey of life

There's not a single person in the world that hasn't had to struggle over something or overcome difficulties at one point in their life. 

Perhaps at this moment you may be facing one, whether it is related to money, health, children, partners, family, careers.  It's all part of being alive.

Recognize the obstacles are part of the journey.  Don't let it stop you, and never give up.  Instead, think of them as milestones that once passed, will bring you closer to your goals.

Remember that with every challenge passed, you're stronger, a little wiser, and prepared for the rest of your  journey.

 [ send green star]

"Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see."

- Mark Twain

 [ send green star]

Conscious positive focus unfolds in three stages:
In the first stage you focus on clarifying what you really want. When you get clear on your five ‘death-bed’ goals, for example, you enjoy clarity about your direction that you didn’t have before. You also focus on spotting the patterns of unconscious fullfillments that are driving the selfdestructive forces in your life.

In the second stage you develop the art of loving things as they are. This step is crucial, because only love is big enough to embrace all the seeming mistakes of the past and the bumps along the way to visualize all your heart’s desires.

In the third stage you move easefully through the world, enjoying the spontaneous appearance of seemingly miraculous surprises and gifts. You focus on fine-tuning your view of the world so you can fulfill things easefully.

We’ve focused on stage one—now let’s focus on stage two—loving things exactly as they are.

The Key Insight:
Even the most troublesome patterns change when you love and accept them just the way they are.

The Key Move:
When you notice something you want to change, first love and accept it just as it is.

Those are such strange ideas that you will perhaps find it difficult to grasp them, even for a flickering moment, when you first discovered them. But they work, and often they’re the only things that work. When you'rs really scared, for example, the only thing that dissolves your fear is remembering to acknowledge and accept it. Often our old unconscious programming tells us to try to get rid of  fear. Every cell in your body may be screaming “I don’t want to be afraid!,” but the fear just keeps getting bigger. Then  remember to overcome the fear, and it dissolves into ease.

 [ send green star]

One of the easiest ways for you to increase your energy and passion is to surround yourself with friends that are energetic and passionate.  When you're around those that are positive and upbeat, it helps you. They are the ones with qualities.   This is the kind of friend you want to create close relationships with - to spend more time with. 

 [ send green star]

Endless possibilities exist for all of us

New decisions and changes are frightening but they can also be exhilarating!

No matter what pressures you're under, what tough decisions you face, keep in mind that it is possible to turn chaos and turmoil into an exciting beginning.

Look at all the options life has to offer.  Ask yourself how those options fit in with your deepest desires.  Whether your desires are intellectual, artistic, spiritual, or physical you can make a decision, to make them into realities.

You will soar over boundaries and recognize that your endless possibilities have no limits.

 [ send green star]

Respect Drives Success

The process of setting challenging goals and then writing out a plan to achieve them causes you to feel much more confident about achieving your dreams and consequently better about yourself.

You gain self-respect as you move step-by-step toward the completion of something that is important to you.  It really is the key to success!  It's so important to have clear plans for the changes you want to make in your life and to earnestly work toward realizing them.

Each progressive step you take toward reaching your goals is like a stepping stone  of 'like' and 'self-respect'.  You feel more positive and accomplished which fuels all your endeavors.

 [ send green star]

Many slog for alifetime looking for happiness.  They feel guilty doing things they enjoy.   So they take care of their jobs, their families, their children, and their pets thinking that the time for happiness will come later.  In the end, they discover that it doesn't.

Believe that you deserve happiness now. 

You know those early hours in the morning when the house is quiet and the mist is floating outside the window?  That is happiness. Remember how it felt to hold your baby for the first time?  That is happiness.  Remember how you felt when you achieved what seemed like an impossible goal?  That is happiness.

 [ send green star]

How big are your dreams?  Are you willing to contemplate the possibility that God has really big things in store for you?  The quality of your future may be closely connected to the quality and the size of your dreams.

If you wake up each morning with a smile on your face, with hope in your heart, and with big dreams stretching your intellect, you're more likley to make those dreams come true.  But if you spend more time (and energy) dreading the future that you spend preparing for the future, you'll be tempted to give up on your dreams with out a fight.

So summon the courage to dream, and then get busy doing whatever work is required to take your dream come true.  When you do, you'll discover that no dream is too big for you.

 [ send green star]

" A thing of beauty is a joy for ever:
Its lovliness increases; it will never
Pass into nothingness; but still will keep
A bower quiet for us, and a sleep
Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing."

- J.Keats - Endymion

 'Beauty is truth, truth beauty,—that is all
Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.'

- Ode to a Grecian Urn J.K

 [ send green star]

Coco Chanel How many cares one loses when one decides not to be something but to be someone.

 [ send green star]

Serving Others With Love

Today you may feel to build youself up in the eyes of your neighbors.  Instead, serve others quietly and without fanfare.  Find a need and humbly fill it.  Anonymously lend a helping hand.  Share a word of kindness.

'If you want to influence others to serve and help you make a difference, you will get back when you give out.  The service ethic always boomerangs. '

~ Sheila Murray Bethel

 [ send green star]

Happiness is abundant in the joy of achievement.

Happiness doesn't come from successfully completing simple or mundane tasks, it comes from completing a task that demands your best efforts.

When you pour your heart and soul into something and you accomplish that something, the afterglow of satisfaction you feel is happiness.  It is the thrill of all your efforts and hard work.

Each and everyone of us needs  accomplish, achieve and triumph to be happy.  Our human spirit requires it.  Remember that happiness thrives in activity and accomplishment.

 [ send green star]

Count it down

Starting at 60, count backward, breathing in and out with each number, says Julieta Macias, PhD, a life coach in Rockville, Maryland. With your mind focused on the numbers and your breathing, it's tougher to dwell on what's got you stressed.

Put the tips of your ring finger and thumb together, and place the index and middle fingers of each hand on your forehead, about an inch above your eyes. While leaving your fingers in place, think about a stressful event you can't seem to banish, and move your eyes in a circle, looking up, right, down and left. Then switch directions. It may feel a little silly, but "this technique can help lower your blood pressure," says Marie Matteson, LMP, a massage therapist in Bellingham, Washington.

Snack on a couple of these, say the Nutrition Twins, sisters Tammy Lakatos Shames, RD, and Lyssie Lakatos, RD. The healthy carbohydrates deliver a burst of energy and release feel-good serotonin. Prunes are also high in magnesium, which relaxes tension.

Suzanne Zoglio, psychologist and author of Recharge in Minutes, suggests giving your stress level a numerical score, from 1 (they're out of Chunky Monkey ice cream at the store) to 10 (a death in the family). "Rating your current stressful situation, especially compared with others you've survived, reduces it by providing perspective."

Keep inexpensive little toys at your desk—like a yo-yo or a Rubik's Cube. When you're stuck in a phone conversation that won't end, put the caller on speakerphone and play for a minute to get your mind off the anxiety.

When Cindy Chrysler of Millington, Michigan, feels overwhelmed, she'll shout to her family, "Healthy hugs!" "My children come running from wherever they are and we all hug each other, then we go back to what we were doing," she says.

Kate Hanley, author of The Anywhere, Anytime Chill Guide, suggests a minute of bouncing like a kid on a trampoline: Stand with knees slightly bent, and lightly jump up and down on the floor. You don't have to go high, and you should keep your knees soft and let your arms move freely to increase momentum, as though you were actually bouncing. Gradually come to a stop.

Stuck in traffic? Instead of worrying about how late you are or getting angry, admire something around you—wildflowers on the side of the highway, the lyrics to a favorite song on the radio—says Masha Malka, author of The One Minute Coach: Change Your Life One Minute at a Time. "If I get stressed about slow traffic, does that make it faster? No. So why not enjoy the time?" she says.

Push-ups, that is. Old-school calisthenics like push-ups "get the heart pumping and the blood flowing, which has a tremendous impact on brain receptors that trigger stress signals," says Tom Kersting, PhD, a psychotherapist in Ridgewood, New Jersey.

Charlotte Libov, coauthor of A Woman's Guide to Heart Attack Recovery, suggests packing your mental bags for a one-minute trip back to your last holiday. Close your eyes. Feel the breeze on the beach, smell the food in the restaurant, visualize the sun on the lake. Voilà, instant holiday.

Lots of us find a glass of wine relaxing. But before you gulp, take a moment to deliberately taste your favorite vintage, says Kathleen Lisson, a wine educator and wine-and-food pairing teacher in Albany, New York. Actively concentrating on tasting anything—wine, a tart, crunchy apple, a flavorful cheese—brings pleasure and distracts you from worries.

Make yourself laugh—the harder the better. Chase your kids with intent to tickle. Watch your cat during one of her inexplicable feline manic episodes. Put marshmallow Peeps on a paper towel in the microwave, and zap for a few seconds to watch them puff up.

Or just lie on one. Personal trainer and owner of FitnessForBusyMoms.com Stephen Cooper recommends lying on your back on a large stability ball. “The stretch releases tension in the lower back, shoulders and chest.” Plus, looking at your world upside down shifts your perspective. Don't have a stability ball? Get a similar effect by hanging your upper body off the edge of your bed.

Get a pen and paper, or open a blank document on your computer, and just write. Don't self-censor; just get whatever's bugging you out there, stream of consciousness–style, for a minute. Swear words optional.

In a 2006 study, people who chewed gum four days a week had reduced stress levels. Pop a (sugarless) piece in your mouth and get that jaw working.

Many of us reach for a candy bar when we're stressed. The best choice? Dark chocolate, says Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, author of From Fatigued to Fantastic! "It contains PEA, a natural calming molecule, and theobromine, a mild caffeine-like stimulant."

Some gyms now offer a workout with a hula-hoop. Try something like it at home by breaking out a hoop and swiveling those hips for a minute. A little sweat, a lot of concentration as you try to keep it spinning, and who can remember that the kids have outgrown their sneakers again?

"When I need relief from stress, I 'rest' my eyes on a beautiful piece of art and let my mind and body relax," says Beverly Solomon of Lampasas, Texas. Don't have walls hanging with masterpieces or time to hit the museum? Keep a postcard of a favorite painting or an image from an art book on hand.

 [ send green star]

The beauty of a woman
isn't in the clothes she wears,
The figure that she carries,
or the way she combs her hair.

The beauty of a woman
must be seen from in her eyes;
Because that's the doorway to her heart,
the place where love resides.

The beauty of a woman
isn't in a facial mole;
But true beauty in a woman,
is reflected by her soul.

It's the caring that she cares to give,
the passion that she shows;
And the beauty of a woman
with passing years only grows.

by......Maya Anjelou

 [ send green star]

Release what needs to be free.

It's really hard to let go--for many, it is almost instinctive to cling.  Whether it's a love letter, a secure job, --holding on to what is no longer ours only causes pain.

When you let go of old things, you pave the way for new things --experiences that are perhaps more exciting, adventurous or you let go of that which is rotting and decaying, you are then ready to embrace the fresh, unopened buds of change.

Have the courage to let go.  When you relinquish the past, your future embraces you.

 [ send green star]

Your Welcome~Leonor

'Welcome Change'

There is nothing more certain in our lives than change.  Yet many of us fear change and make eleborate plans to avoid it.  We fear the new and find comfort in the stability of the known and familiar.

But to grow, you need to not only accept change, but to embrace it, joyfully.  Think of a flowing stream as representing your life.  In some places it flows smoothly, with barely a ripple as it travels on its journey.  At other places along the way, obstacles create a great turbulence, the water roars and thunders as it crashes through gorges and down steep falls.  These represent both the easy and difficult times you experience.

Yet, a stream may have a place where the water becomes banked up, stagnant, unhealthy.  Here, nothing thrives and nothing changes.

Welcome the rushing waters of change into our life, for change means growth, spiritual health, and self-realization.  Embrace each new direction you encounter with courage and enthusiasm.  It is the key to a happier you.

 [ send green star]

 True, Nance. Thanks for reminding .I sometimes go that way. Will try to keep it in mind on the day- to- day.Acctually, I never told you how great are the ideas of your thread . Thank you . will stop now and re read it.

 [ send green star]

'Clean your spirit'

When our mothers told us to clean our rooms, they were unwittingly giving us a gift that would have lasting repercussions.    Although we grumbled when asked for  the umpteenth time to clear the mess, we were actually doing more than physically cleaning our rooms. We were cleaning our spirits as well.

There is a spiritual side to everything--even household, chores.  Cluttered rooms are often indicative of cluttered mind.  Messy houses may point to messy lives. 

From that platform of confidence, you can then go on to solve the more difficult aspects of your life, knowing that you have solidarity and order backing you up.

 [ send green star]

It's no secret that we have the ability to program ourselves to believe and act in negative ways.  The good news is that we're also blessed with the ability to program ourselves to believe and act in positive ways.

The starting point is awareness.

You should first become familiar with how your thoughts make you feel and act.  Ask yourself, what thought make me feel happy, sad, jealous, mad, etc? How do I react to my feelings?  Once you have the answers to these questions, consider yourself aware.

When you're in touch with your feelings  you're consciously able to program yourself for positive action.  Next time you catch yourself in a thought that doesn't feel good, stop and consciously choose to react in another way.  When you re-frame your thinking, everything changes.

 [ send green star]

As we travel along life's road, we exchange countless huge and build lifelong relationships, with a small, dear circle of family and friends.  And how best do we build and maintain these relationships?  Healthy relationships are built upon honesty, compassion, responsible behavior, trust and optimism.  Healthy realtionships are build upon the Golden Rule.  Healthy relationships are built upon sharing and caring.

Are you the kind of person who spends the time and the energy required to build strong, healthy, lasting relationships?  Barbara Bush had this advice:'Cherish your human connections--your relationships with friends and family.'  And that's wise counsel because you are blessed , you are loved, and you are vitally important to your family and friends--they most certainly need you, and most certainly need them.

'Line by line, moment by moment, special times are etched into our memories in the permanent ink of everlasting love in our relationships.'~Gloria Gaither

 [ send green star]

When you commit yourself to continuous improvement, you can't help but feel better about yourself.  With growth comes the willingness to take risks and accept challenges.  It's exciting because there is always something new you can be, do, and have and learn.

It is in reaching that you find out who you really are and all that you are capable of.  

As you build momentum, you'll shine with confidence and inspire others along the way. 

That's what progress is all about~ 

 [ send green star]

Attract Prosperity.

They say money attracts more money.  Wouldn't it be nice to find out?  But in truth, prosperity isn't about money.  It's about feeling rich in happiness, love and positive experiences.

This is something you not only can have, you can multiply with the right approach.

Appreciate your friends.  Look for joy each day and you'll find more.  Feel happy about all you have in life and you'll find your happiness grows.

Live this way and you'll end up with a wealth of prosperity that all the money in the world can't buy.

 [ send green star]

It's in our nature to improve our private selves.

Choosing ways to improve ourself is not the hard part.  What's difficult is maintaining the enthusiasm and having the self-disipline to make self-improvement part of your daily routine.

There is no easy way around it.  It takes consistent daily effort to get results.

Improving yourself gives you a wonderful sense of satisfaction and feeling of accomplishment that's difficult to match.

Remind yourself every day of the benefits of improving yourself and how these benefits will enhance your life.  If you succeed in keeping your awareness high, your enthusiasm will remain high and carry you through.

Start making improvements, today, ~after all all it's part of your nature.

 [ send green star]

Affirmations are a simple tool we can use to feel better
about ourselves. By repeating aloud or silently the positive
things we want for our lives, we train our minds to
embrace new and joyful possibilities. by Charlene M.
Proctor, Ph.D.
 

If You Can't Release the Past

Today I take all my unhappy memories out of my body and
place them in a basket. My pain, my anger, and my
resentments are placed in this basket. I have an angel that
takes this basket of unhappiness from my hands and flies
to the outer reaches of the universe and transforms it into
loving energy that will revisit me later today. I forgive
those around me and ask for divine assistance to hold me
in a state of continual forgiveness.

 [ send green star]

Once, when Fred Flintstone and I were teens, I was watching tv at home one day alone. Someone was on giving health and beauty hints, so when they suggested a big old handfull of mayanaise rubbed in to the hair to act as a natural conditioner, I said why not?  Guess.........?                                 

When I was all done and smelled like a salad, I learned that the water had been turned off in my part of town!  Grrrrrrrrrrrr  Well, before I put my head in the bathroom bowl, I thought of ice cubes! So, I melted those over the stove and rinsed out what I could!

 [ accepted]

When people don't live up to your expectations, it's not unusual to feel responsible for changing their behavior.  You may try and try--but when you don't succeed you end up feeling depressed and like a failure.

Changing another person can be a frustrating, impossible goal.  Realize that people only change when they want to. 

When you put yourself in the position of controlling the uncontrollable you place a heavy burden on yourself.  Not only do you feel weighed down, but you used up trememdous amounts of energy.

Channel your focus toward things that you can control, such as yourself.  It is much more peaceful and productive way to live.

 [ send green star]

'The true beauty of a person is reflected in the soul.'

You don't need a perfect figure, a huge and expensive wardrobe, or a brilliant hairdresser to make you beautiful.  Beauty is waiting there inside your soul, ready to be brought out.

Your joy in life and passionate pursuits make you sparkle and radiate excitement and energy.  Your confidence and enthusiasm light up your face and bring a swing to your walk.  Your serenity, generosity and sensitivity are mirrored in your eyes and in your beautiful smile.

You are beautiful, know it, believe it, and live it~

 [ send green star]

Combat Dark Under Eye Circles

Treatment for Dark Under Eye Circles
Grated potatoes can lighten under-eye circles. Potatoes contain
an enzyme called catecholase, which is used in cosmetics as a
 human skin lightener.
 Run one spud through your food processor and stuff the raw
mash into a piece of cheesecloth.

Apply to the area directly beneath your eye — don't let the
potato juice come in contact with the eye itself — and leave
for 15 to 20 minutes. Wipe away the starchy residue.
......................... ........................      ...............

Problem Hair

Natural Treatments For Problem Hair
By M.S. Beltran
Is your hair dry and brittle? Is the color dull and lackluster? Forget expensive commercial products that can do more damage than good to your hair; treat your hair yourself,
using all-natural ingredients found in your own kitchen.
DO-IT-YOURSELF CHOLESTEROL TREATMENT

Would you believe that most commercially bought cholesterol
hair conditioners contain alcohol– the very thing that dries out
hair? Instead, grab a cup full of mayonnaise, some plastic food
wrap and throw a couple of towels in the drier on high.

Work the mayonnaise into your hair, starting by massaging it
into the scalp and roots. Then draw it through to your ends
until your hair is thoroughly coated. Pile the hair on top of
your head. Take a couple of feet of saran wrap and wrap it
around the top of your head to contain the mayo.

Take a pre-heated towel from the dryer and wrap it around
your head over the saran wrap. The heat will aid with deep
conditioning. After about 10 minutes, change to another heated
towel and leave that on for another 10 minutes.

Remove the towel and plastic wrap and shampoo your hair as
usual. Done once a month, this cholesterol treatment will keep
your hair soft and shiny.

* Tip: if your hair ends are very damaged from chemical treatment, you can do this once a week. If your scalp is naturally oily, you might want to only add mayo to the hair ends for weekly treatments.

QUICK SOLUTION FOR OILY HAIR

If your scalp is naturally oil, you probably have to shampoo your hair daily to keep it from looking greasy or stringy. If, however, you are running short on time or need a quick lift in the middle of the day, grab a box of cornstarch and a large, clean blush brush.

Pour some cornstarch out onto a dish and dip the brush into it. Then, with a comb, part your hair in the center and brush the cornstarch onto your scalp and roots. Make another part 1/4 to ½ inch off-center and repeat. Continue this method down one side of your head, then from the center and down the other side.

Go about your business for about 10 minutes while the cornstarch soaks up the excess oils in your hair. Then, take a brush and brush out your hair, ridding it of the cornstarch flakes.

FOR A COLOR ENHANCER:

If your own natural color, or your color treated hair, begins to look drab, all you need are a few ingredients from your garden or local produce store to brighten it up.

Begin by boiling one quart of water. In a piece of doubled cheesecloth, add the following:

for brunettes– a handful fresh rosemary sprigs (bruise by crumpling in your hand)
for blondes– a handful of dried chamomile
for "orange tone" redheads– a chopped-up carrot
for "berry tone" redheads– a chopped up beet
Tie up the ingredient in the cheesecloth and toss into the boiling water, removing it from heat. Let steep for 10 minutes.

Remove and discard the cheesecloth bag. Shampoo and rinse your hair as usual. Then, pour the warm (not hot) color-enhancing rinse over your hair. As a final rinse, use a quart of cold water. Once a month treatments will keep your hair color vibrant.

BUILD-UP REMOVER

Often the culprits of drab coloring and lackluster hair are all
the styling products that we regularly use. They begin to build
up and dull the shine and tone of our hair.

Get rid of the build up by mixing 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar with 1 gallon of distilled water. This can be stored in
a cabinet or the refrigerator and used every couple of weeks
to keep hair squeaky clean. To use it, wet hair with warm
water, or shampoo and rinse as usual. Then pour 2 cups over
the scalp and let mixture saturate the hair. Finish up with a
cold-water rinse.
.........................................................................

Wrinkle Removal Recipe

Banana is wonderful as an anti-wrinkle treatment.

Mash 1/4 banana until very creamy. Spread all over face and leave for 15-20 minutes before rinsing off with warm water followed by a dash of cold.
Gently pat dry.

You know what else is pretty good? Avacado. Mashed avacado makes a fabulous facial mask for dry skin. Works great for dry hair too.
And.....

Oatmeal. Take regular oatmeal and add a little water until it is a paste and apply to you face. Leave it on until it drys and hardens a little. It pulls all the impurities from the skin and leaves it very smooth.
..........................................................................

 [ send green star]

'Personal growth is just a hug away.'

We have all heard that yo need four hugs a day for survival, eight hugs a day for maintenance, and twelve for growth.

The touch of a hug a healing effect on your body.  Your immune system stays strong and you feel loved and special.  Hugs have a way of nurturing the little child within you and helping you feel cherished by family and friends.

If you're not getting your twelve hugs a day, reach out and ask for the hugs you need.  A simple, "Can I get a hug?" goes a long way toward getting those twelve hugs you need for growth.

 [ send green star]