Stream in Consciousness: Beauty Tips, Musings, & Observations...naturally.

Been away for a while...

2011-01-28T14:47:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! I've been missing in action for a while, but have been busy with several new adventures. Namely, relocating from Los Angeles to Panama City Beach, Fl. Now that I've taken a few months to settle in and recover from the exhaustion, I'll be posting again soon.

FYI on Morris Organics stock, we sold the remaining stock to TJ Maxx & Marshall's so check there to score some great deals on Avocate SkinCare products. ttysoon...Steph

LIFE LESSONS IN LA LA LAND

2010-06-09T14:23:00.000-07:00

Some great advice from someone who's been there, done that, and survived.

Hollywood Director Darren Lynn Bousman's take on life and the path the success in Hollywoodland!
LIFE LESSONS IN LA LA LAND

How To: Lose fat by eating more

2010-05-25T13:41:00.001-07:00

How To: Lose fat by eating more

So, you swear that you’re eating less, but you’re still getting fatter? Is there a way to be able to eat more, yet still lose fat? Impossible, argues the traditional, old school calorie counter.

Well, now that I’m in my 30’s, it’s impossible to ignore that my body has changed and so has the way that it uses calories. While traditional dieters will hem & haw that you can’t gain weight while consuming the same amount of calories, modern research suggests otherwise. The secret is in the types of foods that you’re eating and how they are converted into energy by your body.

The Glycemic Index
Scientific findings of the “glycemic index” are touted and endorsed by many successful weight loss diets, such as the South Beach Diet. The glycemic index refers to different types of carbohydrates- high or low G.I.- and their effects on blood sugar (glucose) levels in the body. In layman’s terms, this means that when the body eats “high glycemic index” foods, it begins to pump out large quantities of insulin, sometimes too much. When this large amount of insulin is in the blood steam, the body “switches off” its ability to convert fat deposits into energy, instead using only the sugar (glucose.)

Glucose vs Fat
When you consume high G.I. foods on a regular basis, the insulin level in your body remains high, and your body is forced to use only sugar (glucose) for energy. When you run out of sugar to convert, you have a “crash” in the later parts of the day. Because of the high insulin level in your bloodstream, your body is not able to convert your fat stores for energy. Instead, it relies on and craves sugary snacks and drinks to maintain its ability to function.

Afternoon coffee or soda break for that late, end-of-day burst of energy, anyone? That's you, running on glucose.

Fat Rats
In one research study, rats were split into high and low G.I. groups over 18 weeks while mean body weight was maintained. Rats fed the high G.I. diet were 71% fatter and had 8% less lean body mass than the low G.I. group. 71%!!

So, you see, you really can be eating less yet getting fatter.

Coffee and “Secretary Butt”
Coffee, even black coffee, has an unusual high G.I. reaction in the body, even though it has no sugar or fat like average high GI foods. Researchers aren’t sure why, but this atypical reaction has been proven by multiple research studies. In women, there is a strange phenomenon observed where fat can be burned on the top half of the body, while maintaining the fat “stores” on the lower half at the hips and thighs.

Ever hear of “secretary butt” or “thunder thighs”?

I’d imagine that the high rate of coffee consumption for some women might have something to do with this, though this has yet to be confirmed by researchers.

By the way, I've been eating low G.I. foods for about a week, and have lost an observable amount of belly fat, in just 5 days. I haven't reduced my calories, but my pants are fitting better!

Depression: Is your modern diet bringing you down?

2010-05-25T13:40:00.003-07:00

Depression: Is your modern diet bringing you down?

Posted using ShareThis

Friendship equals happiness: A lion's share

2010-05-25T13:40:00.001-07:00

Friendship equals happiness: A lion's share

Have you made a new friend lately? Do you have more friends than you have fingers? If your answer is “no” maybe it’s time to expand your horizon!

Friendships can:

*reduce stress

*improve self-esteem

*boost happiness

Isolation can be extremely detrimental to mental health. Unfortunately, with today’s modern lifestyles, depression from isolation and lack of close family ties contributes to many cases of suicide.

Thanks to a posting on Facebook from my cousin Katie, I recently watched a wonderful film clip about Christian the Lion. (The actual film clip is further below.)

Christian, as a cub, was purchased by two friends in 1969 London, England. This was back in the days when "exotic pets" could be purchased at Harrods Department store (no longer, thank goodness.) The two friends took the lion cub home, named him Christian, and had a rousing good time as only three boys can have.

Eventually, with Christian growing faster and larger, the two friends made the sad decision to try and release him into the wild. Their attempt was successful and, after about a year, the two young men from London decided to go and visit Christian in Africa. Warned that Christian was now a fully grown, wild lion with a pride of his own, is was almost certain that he would not remember them. Most likely, he would be dangerous and probably aggressive. The two young men decided to try anyway, and off to Africa they went. Click to watch the actual video from their reunion. Be warned: this is a tear-jerker! Everytime I watch it, I cry big fat tears (even though I’ve seen this clip a dozen times already.)

Here are some hints from the Mayo Clinic to develop friendships of your own.

Get out with your pet. Seek out a popular dog park, make conversation with those who stop to talk on your daily neighborhood jaunts, or make pet play dates.
Work out. Join a class through a local gym, senior center or community fitness facility. Or start a lunchtime walking group at work.
Do lunch. Invite an acquaintance to join you for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Accept invites. When you're invited to a party, dinner or social gathering, say yes. Resist the urge to say no just because you may not know everyone there or because you may initially feel awkward. You can always leave if you get too uncomfortable.
Volunteer. Hospitals, places of worship, museums, community centers, charitable groups and other organizations often need volunteers. You can form strong connections when you work with people who share a mutual interest.
Join a cause. Get together with a group of people working toward a goal you believe in, such as an election or the cleanup of a natural area.
Join a hobby group. Find a nearby group with similar interests in such things as auto racing, music, gardening, books or crafts.
Go back to school. Take a college or community education course to meet people with similar interests.
Hang out on your porch. Front porches used to be social centers for the neighborhood. If you don't have a front porch, you can still pull up a chair and sit out front with a cup of coffee or a good book. Making yourself visible shows that you are friendly and open.
Join a church or faith community. Many churches and faith communities welcome new members.

"Life is partly what we make it, and partly what it is made by the friends we choose." -Tennessee Williams

7 Habits of Highly Effective Stephanie

2010-04-27T16:33:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow night is my book club meeting! Yaaay! I look forward to this all month, I just love hearing other peeps thoughts and different (sometimes VERY different) P.O.V.s. And, we hold out meeting at Border's book store on Ventura Blvd (of Tom Petty "Free Fallin'" fame). This particular Border's is my very favorite bookstore, I have no idea why. But, I love love love it. I also love the snickerdoodle cookies they sell in the bookstore--ambrosia. mmmmm.

This week, we'll be discussing the book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen F. Covey.

Whew! It's a very dense book, has some great insights, and to be honest, I think it's right on the money in some ways. The part where he defines the types of reactive people, different types of motivators, it rang a few bells. I certainly saw myself in there! Now, the real test is to put all this new knowledge into practice...oy vey. :-)

Funny quote for the day, inspired by writing partner Ms. B...

Writing is not necessarily something to be ashamed of, but do it in private and wash your hands afterwards. -- Robert Heinlein US science fiction author (1907 - 1988)

Like a Hand in Glove: Nutrition and Personal Development

2010-04-23T10:12:00.000-07:00

Like a Hand in Glove: Nutrition and Personal Development by Stephanie Morris
(published on http://www.staceygrewal.com/)

Does this story sound familiar? You (or someone you know) purchase every new personal development book that appears in the bookstore. As you diligently begin to read each new book, you tell yourself that this book is THE ONE. It is “the one” that will have the hidden wisdom that will wake you up, motivate you, inspire you, and get you out of your ever present “funk.”

The “funk” is what I call those feelings of mild depression, disinterest, and a constant state of mild sadness. Your doctor may have even offered to prescribe a pill to help get you out of this state. These feelings don’t have any real cause or “reason” for being but yet, you can’t seem to shake them off. Maybe you’ve even made a list of all the reasons that you shouldn’t feel so miserable.
You have a decent job.
You have friends.
You have a nice family life.
But, you can’t deny that something is lacking in your life, otherwise you wouldn’t feel so down. Right?

Well, have you ever stopped to think: maybe the crappy way you’re feeling is directly related to what you’re putting in – or, more importantly – what you’re NOT putting in your mouth?

That’s right! More and more scientific studies are proving your grandmother right; we really are what we eat. Broken down scientifically, there are certain necessary nutrients that without, your body & mind simple cannot fully or properly function. Specifically, let’s talk about some of the nutrients that your BRAIN craves. It’s the wonderful world of B vitamins! What’s so special about B vitamins, you ask? Well, for starters, they’re commonly referred to as the “happy vitamin.” Unfortunately, they are difficult to find in today’s modern daily diet of processed foods. Additionally, your body does not store excess B vitamins in its tissues. Whatever is not used by the body is excreted through the urine, so these vitamins must be replenished in the body every couple of days, or so.

B vitamins, among their many functions, aid the brain in metabolizing (building) neurotransmitters. Essential neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, and melatonin are responsible for maintaining a positive mood. People who have been shown to be deficient in B vitamins have been proven to be more prone to depression and other mental diseases, even to the degree requiring medication. Expensive & potentially addictive medication, I’d like to add. It’s my opinion (and one that is shared by health professionals around the world) that many diseases are caused by long term nutrient deficiencies-- mental health diseases included.

All of the self-help books in the world will not help you reach your true potential if you aren’t aiding the process by a healthy diet and balanced nutrition. It would be like trying to climb a mountain with one arm and leg tied behind your back. Yes, theoretically, you could make it to the top, but good grief! It would be much, much more difficult to reach your goal. That is, if, by some miracle, you managed to keep yourself motivated to keep climbing.

Why not make it easier on yourself (and, everyone around you Ms/Mr. Moody-pants) by providing your body with the tools it needs to function properly? Just as in the above example, if you untied that arm and leg, your progress would be more natural and easier to attain. Start by taking small steps, such as making a daily goal to add healthy, unprocessed foods and raw veggies to your diet at least once per day. Naturally, you’ll begin to be more aware of the way foods make you feel, and in more ways than just to satisfy hunger.

If a change in diet is a bigger step than you’re ready for, simply find a great vitamin supplement to start. Potentially, you could see your moods & emotional state improve. (Personally, several of my friends and I saw a radical positive enhancement in our moods and emotion states by adding a daily B vitamin supplement!)

On a side note, to be honest, I have never liked taking vitamin supplements. Throughout the day, I would tend to burp up the gross vitamin taste and generally felt that they were disgusting little rocks that smelled. But in my search for a great B vitamin supplement, I eventually stumbled across one called Hair, Skin, & Nails by Nature’s Bounty.

I’ve taken them now for years, and they’ve never failed to give me a great mood lift. And, even better, no burps and they don’t stink! Score! They sell for about $14.00 a bottle in most drug and grocery stores.

Good luck, and happy eating (literally)!

Happy = Healthy!

2010-03-26T13:32:00.000-07:00

Optimism Boosts the Immune System? YES, says new research.

"To show that a single person — with the same personality and genes — has different immune function when he or she feels more or less optimistic provides a stronger link between the two," said study co-author and University of Kentucky psychology professor Suzanne Segerstrom.

I believe it. When have a sudden downturn in life, it never fails that I then catch a cold or other type of sickness. When I'm feeling great, looking up, and feeling encouraged, I NEVER get sick.

happy=healthy!

See the full report here.

Also, a new facial mask! tried this and loved it, it made my face feel smooth and fresh.

Moisturizing & Soothing "EggYog" Mask

•2 egg whites, separated from the yolk and placed in a bowl

•2 tablespoons of plain yogurt (I like Greek yogurt)
Directions:
Separate the egg whites from a couple eggs and place them in a bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of yogurt (do not use flavored yogurt!). Mix them up and apply to face. Leave on face for a few minutes then rinse face in warm water, followed by a light moisturizer.

Book Club!

2010-03-26T11:18:00.000-07:00

Hi my friends (and Dad, I know you read this :-)! I’m on a new adventure, namely, starting a book club! Not just any ol’ random book club mind you, a book club that focuses solely on personal development books. They are my guilty pleasure.
I’ve joined forces with Stacey Grewal, the personal development expert and author of Gratitude and Goals which will be available everywhere, May 2010 She started the Personal Development Book Club of America (or, PDBCA), and I’m the head of the Los Angeles Chapter. Come join us for fun discussions! Our first meeting is this coming Wednesday, at Borders Book Store in Sherman Oaks. I’ll update and let you know how it goes. This month we are reading "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho.

UPDATE Honey Hair Rinse

2010-03-23T15:14:00.000-07:00

**UPDATE** so, went out with a friend this weekend, and he couldn't stop commenting on how great my hair looked. "Gorgeous" "OMG, it's so shiny" "It looks so good" were some of the repeated comments.
So, TRY THE HONEY!!
xox
from one busy bee to another, have a great week!
bzz bzz

E & Oil Hair Mask trial 1

2010-03-18T22:20:00.000-07:00

Here I am with the Egg & Oil Hair Mask working it's magic. Yep, those are my Winnie the Pooh flannel pj's that I'm wearing. Soft, warm, and easy to throw into the washer, and they always put a smile on my face from sheer comfort factor alone.

This hair mask is easy to make, and it's suppose to add shine, protein, and strength. Pick the natural oil of your choice, I picked my favorite- avocado oil! You can also use olive oil, or even coconut.

Whatever you have laying around the house would work fine, as long as it's a natural oil. Take one egg and blend with the oil, you can use a whip or fork, unless you're lazy like me. I used an electric hand mixer, fast & easy and blends the oil and egg into a firm-ish concoction that is easy to apply to the hair without it being too drippy.

I applied, and then let it sit for about an hour. Another option is to wear a showercap, or just wrap your head with plastic wrap. Your natural body heat is suppose to make the Hair Mask work better. I didn't do either, just sat in front of the t.v. watching Monsters vrs. Aliens while doing some work on my laptop with my goopy hair pinned up with hairpins. Next time, I'll try wrapping it up and see if it makes much of a difference.

After rinsing, shampooing, conditioner and then blowdrying, my hair is much shinier- like, WHOA, movie star shine!

It worked!! Hallalujah!

And, since it's much cheaper, more eco-friendly, and the results are just as good as a treatment from the salon--- I vote YES on this one...

Try it and let me know your results!

I'm not offended by all the dumb-blonde jokes because I know that I'm not dumb.

I also know I'm not blonde. ~Dolly Parton

Hair Mask & Mani-Pedi

2010-03-18T13:59:00.000-07:00

Tonight I'm going to try the Egg & Oil Hair Mask! My hair still looks and feels great from the Honey & Water rinse (see post below) that I tried earlier in the week, but I'm excited to try the E&O Mask. It sounds like it's going to be a winner in the "make my hair awesome" department. When it comes to hair like mine, and by that I mean delicate, color damaged, and prone to dry ends- the more conditioned, the better!! I'm going to use avocado oil instead of olive oil, 1st because I love avocado oil, and 2nd because I have a 1/2 gallon of it laying around.

Also, tonight it's time for a Mani-Pedi. My nails are a trendy sparkly navy blue right now, and I'm feeling that it's time for RED. Oh yeeeah.

Here's a illustrative- just-'cause-it's-Thursday- picture, it's kinda creepy in a way that's hard to describe why...

It isn't what you have, or who you are, or where you are, or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about.

Dale Carnegie

Jesse James & Sandra Bullock. Mis-matched?

2010-03-18T11:00:00.000-07:00

Well, the www is alive with rumors and speculation about the possible impending divorce of Sandra from Jesse James aka Douche. His affair with "Bombshell" has been leaked, by Bombshell herself, of course. She's a tattoo'd glamour model who leaked the news about their affair. Jesse isn't denying it, and Sandra now has moved out of the house.

As soon as I heard this sad news, all I could think of was the gangsta rapper saying, "You can't turn a ho into a housewife." Jesse James being the "ho" in this senerio. It's such a shame, and the timing of all this makes it even more awful. Sandra Bullock, riding high from winning an Oscar a week ago, and now being unfairly brought back down to Earth with this nonsense. In her acceptance speech, she expressed her gratitude for Jesse being in her life. With the cameras on him, he teared up as he sat in his seat.

Human emotions are so complex. It's obvious that he loves her, but it seems he just couldn't keep it in his pants.
The whole situation reeks of the sour scent of real, soul-numbing disappointment. The fact that Sandra has been standing by her man, even raising his daughter (born by his porn-star ex who's currently in prison) makes it even more pathetic. Jesse James should just change his name to "Ginger" after the character played by Sharon Stone in Casino. You know, the former prostitue who can't change her ways, even with the love and acceptance of her husband? Just as tragic & pathetic, 'cept even more so, as this isn't a movie, is it?

Party in the USA, Miley Cyrus' awesome boots...here's where to get them...

2010-03-18T00:06:00.000-07:00

Rocketbuster Boots! Handmade, awesomeness.
I. want. some.

http://www.rocketbuster.com/

They are mucho expensive, but since every single one is hand-made, I kinda think they'd be worth it.
*sigh* want some want some mine mine mine

UPDATE Honey Hair Rinse

2010-03-16T11:18:00.000-07:00

The Honey & Water Hair Rinse that I tried last night was a success...except for the directions. The directions were to NOT rinse and then style as usual. Ehh, that didn't work so well. After applying the mix last night, I let my hair air-dry. It dried hard and a bit stiff. Even after sleeping/ rolling around on my pillows/ waking up to a 4.4 California earthquake/ realizing the house wasn't caving in/ flopping back down to sleep, I still woke up with locks were stiff and gross looking. Not what I was hoping for, and since I had to rush out the door this morning, I was a bit annoyed to have to wash my hair again before leaving.

I jumped in the shower, rinsed my hair, applied a light conditioner (no shampoo!), rinsed again, blow-dried....and... what's this? Holy Moley. My hair is hydrated, deeply conditioned, shiny and looks and feels as healthy as if I had never even seen the foiling hands of my talented hair colorist! Wow!

My hair looks great. Fantastic even! It's very soft, smooth, and the dry ends look and feel lucious and moisturized. I let my hair go naturally curly today, since I was in a rush this morning, but even still my locks are hanging in soft waves and no frizz. The Honey & Water has not weighed down my curls, they are soft, full. All-in-all, my hair condition is HUGELY improved. I am very happy with this experiment, and if you have chemically treated, damaged and dry hair like mine, try it! Just be sure to rinse out honey & water mixture.
For the Honey & Water Rinse, I used these measurements:

1 huge tablespoon scoop of solidified honey (for the reason it was solidified, see below)

3 cups of hot water

1 cup cold water

I melted the honey in the hot water by adding the honey-goop and stirring till it was completely blended. I then added the cold water to cool off the mixture for use.

I hate to be wasteful, I tend to hang on to things for probably longer than I should. (As a single gal, it's hard to finish off larger size bottles of anything!) (Well, ok, except for tequila and margarita mix...) For this experiment I used some old honey that I had been storing in the cupboard for-e-ver. Honey is anti-bacterial and has no expiration date, so you can keep it around for a long time (I’ve had this honey for a while, for at least 6 months...maybe longer?) The only issue I’ve ever had with honey is that after it sits for a while, it can sometimes get hard & stiff. It "solidifies" a bit. This is a completely natural process for honey, and it’s still okay to eat…I just don’t want to. Call me finicky.

But, no worries, because after the success of this Honey & Water hair treatment, I think I may have found a great 2nd economical use for my old honey. And, it's way cheaper with similar or better results than the conditioning treatments at my salon. Yay for money!

Update! honey hair rinse

2010-03-15T21:07:00.000-07:00

Ok, so, just out of the shower after applying the diluted honey mixture to my freshly washed hair. This is suppose to provide amazing shine, but right now, all I can say is that my hair feels kinda...hard. Maybe this is suppose to be a special occasion rise, not a damage repairing one...i'm going to let it air dry, then see how it looks. Will keep you posted!

Let's talk about Hair bay-bee, let's talk about you an' me...

2010-03-15T01:24:00.000-07:00

In addition to all things beauty, I also LOVE great hair products. Over the past few years, I've grown my hair from the chin-length bob that I've had for about 10 years, to long, long layers, almost reaching to my waist. I haven't had hair this long since highschool!

But, since my highschook days, my hair suffers more now, with the highlights and lowlights that I love to have added to my natural strawberry blonde. (To be technical, I guess it's really more of an auburn shade now, as I've gotten older the blonde is much darker.) But, even though I color my hair, I do occasionally get the deep hydration treatment from my hairdresser. Those work great, but I still believe that on the whole, natural products and treatments can be just as effective. And with fewer chemicals going down the drain to seep into our oceans and streams, I'm going on a mission to find the best natural remedies for dry, damaged hair like mine. Here's some interesting ideas that I've found...

HONEY: dilute a spoonful of honey into 3 or 4 cups of warm water. Once Honey is dissolved, pour the mixture over freshly washed, wet hair. Do not rinse out. Pat hair dry with a towel and style as usual. The honey will help soften and add shine to the hair.

HOT OIL TREATMENT: Place a natural oil such as avocado oil or olive oil in a small container and set that container into a larger cup of hot water. Allow the oil to warm up, but be careful that the oil doesn't get too hot. Apply to freshly washed hair and allow to sit for a few mins. Rinse throughly, and style as usual.

EGG & OIL HAIR MASK: There are many other masks that can be used to restore moisture to your hair. One option is to mix one whole egg with two tablespoons of olive oil. Smooth the mixture evenly throughout your hair and then cover with a shower cap or plastic wrap. Allow the mixture to remain on hair for ten minutes and then rinse thoroughly. The high protein and amino acid content of the egg will add strength and shine to your hair while the olive oil will help to soften and condition dry hair.

I have an old bottle of honey that I'm going to try out and I'll let you know what happens.

xox!

Sickness.

2010-03-06T00:27:00.000-08:00

So, i've been home for 2 days now trying to survive this cold/flu/horribleness. UGH. I haven't been sick in a long long time, and it is NO fun. restless sleep, weird dreams, sore throat, bored dog. It sucks. so, I'm sitting here and indulging myself in romantic movies, and cookies. :-)

mmmm mmmm. Marco brought me over some chicken soup, Nyquil, and Pepperridge Farm cookies.

thanks Marco! On plus side, my abs have really had a workout over the past two days from all the coughing...I think they even look tighter. YAY. But, boo on coughing. ouchie.

Dancing, Nightlife, and Scott Storch

2010-02-28T15:51:00.000-08:00

What a week! I went out more times this week than I have in a while--years, even. The fun all started with a Wednesday night wrap party for the up-coming comedy, "Mother's Little Helpers". My friend and all around great guy, Cyrus Ahanchian, was an Executive Producer for the film. He invited me to come out share in the fun--annnd cocktails & free dessert. Now, I'm not a girl who passes up offers for dessert, so, after fluffing my hair, applying the shiniest lip gloss that I own, and zipping up my 4 inch heel boots, I trotted off
to support Cy and have great time. Lucky me on that decision, because as a dessert LOVER, I've now gained a new glorious new obsession....

S'muffins!
HOLY MOLEY!!

S'mores in a bite size, or, just a little bit of heaven on earth? Best. Idea. Evvah. The company behind the goodness, Gotta Have S'more, is an LA based company and the brain child of Carmen Lindner. Thanks you Carmen, you have made a s'more loving gal veryvery happy. yum I had 3.
3!! (...wish it had been 4) :-).

After the viewing of the trailer for the film, the party got started with a impromptu show by an up-n-coming rapper, Chris Young. He's on the sound track for the film. I've got to tell you, based on his performance, I was really impressed. Especially as he has a song that samples "Black and Gold" by Sam Sparro. It's one of my all time favorites, and one that I've never heard other than on an iPod playlist. In addition to his talent, Chris is an all around sweetie, so expect to hear great things from this talented young man.

Friday nite continued the fun, and I ended up at H'wood, a new venue in, of course, Hollywood. It was fun, had some great music, and with my two partners in crime, R & K, we had a blast. In addition to being one of those gorgeous model types with legs as long as my whole body, K is a devoted user of Morris Organics Avocate SkinCare. So, she was hooked up with some Eye Repair and Body Polish after dropping me off at home. (yep, I exchange skin care products for delivery service...fyi)

Finally, the weekend birthday party of my old pal, Adrian. After dinner at "Beso," he reserved a table at Wonderland, the newest incarnation of what was once the old Concord club. The decor is great and everyone inside was having a great time...especially the D.J. Evidently Scott Storch, infamous music producer and friend of the crazy Kardashian clan was in attendance. Every few songs or so, the D.J would announce, 'SCOTT STORCH IS IN THE HOUSE!'...then, "HEY EVERYBODY, SCOTT STORCH IS IN THE HOOOUSE"..."SCOTT STORCH! IN THE HOUSE!" and on, and on...ummm, yah. we got it. thanks, Mr D.J.

So, now it's Sunday, and it's time to do a bit of deep (yet gentle) cleaning on my skin from all those nights out and about. Hope your week was as much fun as mine...and Scott Storch.

xo!

"Man consists of two parts, his mind and his body, only the body has more fun."-- Woody Allen

Top 3 ways to Break OUT

2010-02-26T20:40:00.000-08:00

*What you EAT ends up on your FACE---can't stress this enough, if you consume sugar on a daily basis, your skin will be more oily-as in OIL SLICK oily. Also, new research is linking poor diet, essential vitamin & mineral deficiancies with problem ache. A healthy, balanced diet with lots of fresh veggies and little processed sugar is a fast, sure way to clear, glowing skin.

*Using HARSH cleansers---true fact, many women have reoccuring breakouts because their facial cleansers are TOO harsh for their skin types. Not sure if that's you? Try a 7 day test, switch from your regular cleanser to a simple, glycerin bar. NOT body soap, it's too harsh for sensitive facial skin. Try it for a week and see if you see improvement in skin clarity and smoothness. I thought I had problem skin for yeears, till I stopped using ANY cleanser or lotion with salicylic acid. When I stopped with the harsh products, my skin "magically" stopped breaking out.

*Hair spray misting--A "no-brainer" but still, I'm always surprised to see the obvious signs of Over-Spray Forehead. Yep, let this sticky stuff land on your face and rest assured, in a day or two, you'll reap the your own crop of blackheads, bumps and blemishes. Be careful while spraying or more than just your hair will be glued to ya...Hello clogged pores...

A simple beauty regime can be economical and effective, so don't be fooled by feeling that you MUST buy this or that "super-acne-be-gone-acid" cleanser/exfoliater/toner will make a difference. Try these simple fixes first and see how it helps!!

Alchemy in my own life...

2010-02-26T18:59:00.000-08:00

Been reading The Alchemist again. It's a short, wonderful book that talks about the importance of following your own personal dream. Well, that and creating gold :-)

I've found that the toughest part of Dream Following comes in 2 parts...#1 figuring out what your dream truly IS, and #2 keeping the faith. It's so easy to get bogged down in the "am I doing the right thing" or "what if this fails" or even, "what the heck should I do now" worries/ anxiety-causing ponderings. (Every mental health book that I've read says that anxiety actually has it's roots in our hidden fears... sounds about right to me...) Thoughts like those above really sap your energy. Probably because positive engry propels us forward, and the above thoughts are the polar opposite of Positive. Read: sucky, down-at-the-mouth, insecurites and negativity.

Occasionally, even the peeps around us can be unintentional Dream Killers. A random comment such as, "Sure, sure, it's a nice idea, but I dunno if I'd bother with it..." from friends or loved ones(yep, has happened to me, and it sucked) can really take the wind out of your sails for a day or two--sometimes longer! But, at times like that, be sure to reach out to your wider network! Surely you have at least one or two real life cheerleaders who are in your corner. If you reach out to them, allowing your vulnerability to show, guess what'll happen? They will cheerfully fill you back up with positive encouragement!
Promise.
After all, that's what friends are for, and it's how you can create, change, and improve your own life. You have the power to do it, and sometimes it comes in the form of people who love you best. :-)

FYI, in the above Dream Killer occurance, I was so bummed out by a long-time friend's lack of support for what I was doing, namely, starting the Morris Organics beauty company. It was doubly shocking because it was such a close friend. Well, I called up my gal friend (who is really more like a sister) bemoaning what happened and generally feeling horrible and a loss of confidance. Well, Holly SPRANG into action and immedietly demanded that I, "Come over now!" She then forced me to watch a television program she had DVR'd about entrepreneurs, filled me up with good coffee, encouragement, and helped me regain my belief in my vision. (So, again, thanks Hol, love you. xoxo)

I can look back at my own life and see where a few words of praise have sharply changed my entire life.

Dale Carnegie

Writing at 12 am, I feel like a college student again!

2010-02-16T00:16:00.000-08:00

So, it's after midnight, and I'm writing. I feel like I'm in college again! I took many art, history, and english writing classes as part of my major, so I was alwaaaaaays writing papers. Rough drafts, final copies, notes, critiques, you name it, I was probably writing it. I usually did my best work from 9:30pm to around 3 am, and I had many, many nights where I was up all night writing. It was my favorite time to be alone, the stillness of the night, the heat of hot coffee, and just me, my mind, and my computer. Currently, I'm working on a ChickLit book, based on some of the dating expirences of me and several of my girlfriends. It's funny, irreverant, and colorful, to say the least.

Just thought I'd post a quick shout out, and say that I hope everyone had a great Valentine's Weekend!

Mine, you ask? Ha. Spent it at the bookstore. So, all in all, it was NOT a disappointment. So, yay for me :-)

"Life is what you make of it. Always has been, always will." -Eleanor Roosevelt

Celebrity Red Carpet Event, silent auction

2010-02-10T09:23:00.000-08:00

Join Morris Organics SkinCare and the Love Cures Cancer Charity, @ Voyeur Hollywood, tonight 8-10pm.

Love Cures Cancer, a celebrity endorsed children's charity hosts "Take A Chance On Love" silent auction tonight at Voyeur Hollywood. 8-9pm featuring Morris Organics SkinCare product line as part of the auction

In 2009, the Love Cures Cancer Charity raised $10,000 for CHLA and used it to deck out their Radiology Waiting Room with our "Waiting Rooms Suck!" campaign (which included the latest in flat screen TVs, DVD players, DVDs, books, learning tools, and a $4,300 mobile Wii gaming system good for 10 years), donated a $10,000 Body Mass Index analyzer from BioSpace America, and brightened the smiles on their kids in treatment with $3,600 worth of brand new toys donated this past December with the "Holiday Cheers" party.

Now, in 2010, the goal is to donate a $150,000 electronic bed inventory management system that will remove the bottleneck of LA County child patient monitoring and transporting amongst all 7 hospitals (digitally manages 269 beds at CHLA and 10 to 17 beds at each of the six surrounding hospitals).

Please join Love Cures Cancer & Morris Organics SkinCare by participating in tonight's silent charity auction at Voyeur Hollywood, 7969 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90046. 8-10pm

Please join us and raise some money for the kids!!

Love, Lists, and John Donne

2010-02-09T21:00:00.000-08:00

Thoughts of romance have been on my mind lately. I love all holidays, and Valentine’s Day is no exception. Although it’s been raining in L.A., occasionally blue skies peek thorough and I’m crossing my fingers that this Sunday, Feb 14, will be a beautiful day.

I’m recently out of a long term relationship. It ended well and we have no hard feelings towards each other. He is dating someone new and I myself have been testing the waters of new romance. When it comes to a new “kissing interest,” newness makes you both appreciate the great memories of the past, and then immediately be happy that it’s over and you don’t have to deal with the dark parts anymore. Annoyingly, these emotions happen all at the same time, at least for me. It’s such a weird feeling, the ambivalent pull of those two completely different emotions—nostalgic warm & loving affection and then, a gush of relief.

But, this whole thing is kinda like learning to walk again. New relationships have different structures, time frames… expectations. I’m finding that I’m having a bit of a love “hangover.” I keep expecting certain behaviors from the new person I’m dating to mirror the positive aspects of my last relationship. Things like, being available for all of my phone calls, no matter what they are doing…texting me immediately with small tidbits and updates of his day...exposing all of his inner thoughts, feelings, and inner workings, willingly. At first I was pretty put-off (ha, okay, pissed off) when theses expectations weren’t fulfilled. But, after a breath and a few days of deep thoughts…I realized ---

...this new guy is wired completely differently than the old one.

Like, Duh.

This is a wonderful thing and something to embrace. I guess. But, regardless, it IS unfair to hold him to a set of rules that were established way before he came along. Hell, to be honest, I didn't even understand all the rules, and I was there the whole time!

I have a girlfriend who has begun dating a new fella. SO far, she thinks he is PERFECT, hot, smart, sweet, and on and on. However, she told me that she has decided to keep a list of this new guy’s mistakes. That way, when he makes too many, she will dump him and move on. She feels that she wasted too much time in her last relationship, and that THIS way, she’ll know when enough is enough.
Uh...Hmm. I think that is not the approach I’ll take.
Love is a complicated business, at least in Los Angeles.

In honor of Valentine's Day, one of my favorite poems by my favorite poet,
JOHN DONNE (1572-1631) ...<3 him...spelling might be a bit off, it's old...
fyi...John Donne later became a very religious pastor, but in his youth, he was quite the man-whore. This poem was written to a young woman whom he was trying to seduce into bed...naughty naughty :-)

The Flea

Mark but this flea, and mark in this,

How little that which thou deniest me is;
Me it sucked first, and now sucks thee,
And in this flea our two bloods mingled be;
Thou know’st that this cannot be said
A sin, or shame, or loss of maidenhead,
Yet this enjoys before it woo,
And pampered swells with one blood made of two,
And this, alas, is more than we would do.

Oh stay, three lives in one flea spare,
Where we almost, nay more than married are.
This flea is you and I, and this
Our marriage bed and marriage temple is;
Though parents grudge, and you, we are met,
And cloisterd in these living walls of jet.
Though use make you apt to kill me,
Let not to that, self-murder added be,
And sacrilege, three sins in killing three.

Cruel and sudden, hast thou since
Purpled thy nail in blood of innocence?
Wherein could this flea guilty be,
Except in that drop which it sucked from thee?
Yet thou triumph’st, and say'st that thou
Find’st not thy self, nor me the weaker now;
’Tis true; then learn how false, fears be:
Just so much honor, when thou yield’st to me,
Will waste, as this flea’s death took life from thee.

"It's so easy, To think about Love, To Talk about Love, To wish for Love, But it's not always easy, To recognize Love, Even when we hold it.... In our hands."

--Jaka

Long time, no see...me.

2010-02-04T00:00:00.000-08:00

I know, I know, I've been MIA for a while. No excuses, but, to be honest, I've been having the New Year blahs. Maybe it's been all the rain lately, but I think it's probably more that I've been in a transition period. And, the uncertainity of the future sometimes gets me moving slower than usual.

But, it has been busy! Here's a quick run down:

-broke things off with boyfriend (breaking up really is hard to do...)
-was in a wedding (which was beeeautiful)
-visited the fam for christmas (still miss them terribly)
-put J-Dawg on daily excercise and restricted calorie diet because he gained 10 pounds while I was away for the holiday (10 pounds in 10 days?!? How is that even possible??)
-put myself on a daily excercise and restricted calorie diet, and lost 12 pounds. (Yay! But, BOO that I actually have a few more to lose. Jeez. Put down the friggin' donuts, Stephanie.)
-purged the house of clutter (still purging...who knew I had so much crap??)
-reconnected with old friends, made some new ones
-wrote a few pages for my ChickLit novel

....and now, yes, NOW, I'm feeling more focused. Whew! What a month. I might not be out of the woods yet however, since I managed to lose my cell phone today on the LA Metro. UGH!!! I'm so upset. Mostly because it was such a thoughtless thing to do. hrump. hrump hrump hrump.
Here's a couple pics from the wedding...the bride was so lovely and composed and we bridesmaids just had a blast the entire weekend. Not such a bad gig :-)

Also, guess what I just found? World famous beauty blogger, beauty editor, and writer extraordinaire Nadine Jolie posted an online video blog where she talks about her personal beauty routine.

Guess what's part of it??

MORRIS ORGANICS AVOCATE SKINCARE!

Woo hooo!!!!

check it out, she talks about us around the 5:00 mark...

how-to-get-flawless-healthy-glowing-skin

Also, in other cool and fun news, Family Circle Magazine is going to feature Avocate in their April Issue, so be sure to look for it!!

Ok, that's it for me. I'll be back soon, promise. xoxox

“Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.” Arnold Schwarzenegger

Saturday-smatterday

2009-12-12T18:40:00.000-08:00

It's still raining, typical December weather for LA. Not much happened except for house cleaning, keeping Jeffery out of the mud, and making soup! Rainy weather is meant for soup and today I made an all veggie chicken broth pot of wonderful. Here's how I made it:
1 c chicken broth
4 cups spring water
various amount of
organic celery
organic carrots
gold potatoes
asparagus
garlic
white onion
organic sweet corn
organic green peas
sea salt

yuuuuuuum!!
Hot fresh soup, watchin "Shakespeare in Love" and hearing rain drops falling on the patio. Not too shabby for a random Saturday.

It raining it's pouring, it's Friday morning...

2009-12-11T11:38:00.000-08:00

Good morning! Well, it's raining in Los Angeles, which always puts me in a good mood. I didn't realize it till I moved out here from my native South, but it's a very dry climate here--as in, it hardly ever rains, rarely has good lightening shows and NEVER has thunder storms. Weird, huh? I thought thunder was just a part of rain, but evidently it's not.

In the summer, when you can pretty much count on lovely day after day, it's great and a lot of fun. Everyone has lots of fun outdoor bbqs, parties, and hiking, and there's hardly any bugs to ruin the fun. But, all those dry days also means that the daily dust & smog residue can really build up. After a good strong rain, everything is so tingly & alive! The air feels a million times cleaner, smells fresh and all the plants really perk up. Here's a pic of my jasmine plant that I planted in the back yard, it's one of the first things I planted that I have managed to keep alive. Go me! In the summer when it blooms it smells woooonderful.

In the spirit of freshness, here's a book I'm loving right now. "The Success Principles" by Jack Canfield, who is of the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" fame. It's so full of wonderful insights, inspirational stories, and practical goal setting hints, I reccommend it to anyone who is stuck in a rut and wanting to find their "mojo" again.

I've been a little complacent and unfocused over the past few months, but this book really inspired me. I've read it cover to cover, and now I'm re-visiting some of my favorite chapters. The section I'm reading now is about creating a "Mind Map". Basically, you write down where you want to be, then you branch off, breaking that goal into smaller and smaller steps. Makes everything less overwhelming. That section is followed by "Make Your Daily To-Do List." Yaay Lists! I've always been a big fan. It seems like I don't acutally get anything done unless I've previously written it on a list. Must be magic in those lists...;-)

That's it, but here is your morning dose of Jeffery...he was sleeping on the couch and when I sat down to write, I woke him up. See the tiny bit of slobber on his lip?? hahahaha, he sleeps with his tounge sticking out and blowing slobber bubbles. Heheheee (gross) Happy FRIDAY everyone!!

"If you are bored with life, if you don't get up every morning with a burning desire to do things...you don't have enough goals"

Lou Holtz

Easy Smokey Eyes: Make Up Tutorial

2009-12-10T14:43:00.000-08:00

Everyone who knows me knows of my long time love affair with smokey eye make-up. Smokey, smudgy eyes make your eyes appear larger, more dramatic, zeeexy, and very noticable. And, lucky for us, smokey eyes tend to go with nearly any outfit from casual to dressy. Def my fav for rushing from work to an after work function. A quick extra sweep of shadow and you've just pumped up your look and freshened your face for a few hours of winding down...or, in case of you busy mothers n wives out there- a little something special to surprise the hubby when he comes home from work.

My boyfriend (like most I think) always insisted that I "didn't need make up anyway." Never-the-less, his face always lit-up followed by showers of compliments after walking in the door from a long day at work to see that I was made-up- smokey eyes n all- just for him! This youtube video is the best, easiest, and most fool-proof tutorial that I've seen. Beau Nelson's : Easy Smokey Eyes I know everyone is busy these days, and the stress of meeting our daily obligations can sometimes seem like it's all we can do to cross the t's and dot the i's for another day. But, trust me, this is such a fast and easy way to give yourself a little pampering. I always get a little lift of energy when I take 5 mins out of my day to "perk up" my apperance. Makes me remember why, after all, I LIKE being a girl! Try it and see for yourself. :-)

When you have only two pennies left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one, and a lily with the other. ~Chinese Proverb

2009-12-10T13:22:00.000-08:00

Life lesson from Calvin n Hobbes: there should be more early morning dancing...much more! Happy Holidays!

It's a new dawn, it's a new day...

2009-12-10T12:47:00.000-08:00

Hi there! Well, we are right in the middle of our sale for theFairest.com Some of you have probably receieved emails from me announcing the sale dates of Dec 9-11th, and we're so excited to be a part of this new virtual e-store. I just LOVE reaching new people, sharing with them this amazing gift of the avocado plant. Really, who would've thought that after reading the results of the study by the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, trying a year long trial on myself and my ladyfriends, we would have a product that has been sold world-wide, improving all skin types all over the planet?

It's the small things in life, really. Each time a new person trys Avocate SkinCare and then emails me gushing about the results, I'm just so happy! After having such sensitive & blemish prone skin myself, finding a natural cure that works for me and so many other people just makes me feel like I've found my purpose in life. Being a lifetime lover of all things "girlie" and being able to combine my secret nerdy passion for the science of natural disease fighting with truly beneficial beauty products, well, it's true, I've found my own personal heaven.

So, this blog is to keep you posted on new natural finds or articles, share some of my own natural beauty rituals and recipies, and keep in touch with all of my fellow nature worshipers! I hope you enjoy it, and that it inspires you to purge your life of un-needed toxins, chemicals, and other gross things that are so easy to find in our daily lives. 'Course, now that I'm blogging about it, it'll help me to keep on track myself!

And, when I blog about my love for wonderful recipies for cookies, junk food, or other wonderful things like that...it'll be full of real sugar and calories, just like Mother Nature intended. Promise :-) Though you know what,..I have heard really great things about the Stevia Plant....anyone tried it? Maybe I should sub some of the cane sugar for some 0 calorie stevia powder...hmmm...we'll see. :-)

Have a great day everyone!

Stream in Consciousness: Beauty Tips, Musings, & Observations...naturally.

Been away for a while...

LIFE LESSONS IN LA LA LAND

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Depression: Is your modern diet bringing you down?

Friendship equals happiness: A lion's share

7 Habits of Highly Effective Stephanie

Like a Hand in Glove: Nutrition and Personal Development

Happy = Healthy!

Book Club!

*UPDATE* Honey Hair Rinse

E & Oil Hair Mask trial 1

Hair Mask & Mani-Pedi

Jesse James & Sandra Bullock. Mis-matched?

Party in the USA, Miley Cyrus' awesome boots...here's where to get them...

*UPDATE* Honey Hair Rinse

Update! honey hair rinse

Let's talk about Hair bay-bee, let's talk about you an' me...

Sickness.

Dancing, Nightlife, and Scott Storch

Top 3 ways to Break OUT

Alchemy in my own life...

Writing at 12 am, I feel like a college student again!

Celebrity Red Carpet Event, silent auction

Love, Lists, and John Donne

Long time, no see...me.

Saturday-smatterday

It raining it's pouring, it's Friday morning...

Easy Smokey Eyes: Make Up Tutorial

It's a new dawn, it's a new day...

UPDATE Honey Hair Rinse

UPDATE Honey Hair Rinse