POSTED by
 
Phuong Le
 
 
 
 

Tea Master/Sommelier Training Day 1 | January 30, 2009

I’m so excited for the first day of my Tea Master/Sommelier training. I brought my ONO to-go tumbler ( I never leave home without it), my bag of Awakened Buddha and I was ready to start my training. Training is from 9-5 so I will not go into full detail about everything in this blog. I will include links to other blogs soon.

I met Tea Master Chas and we were ready for an intense tea session.  I was so pleased to find out that he and I had the same vision for the tea industry. He also believes that … Read More »


 

POSTED by
 
Laura Carson Miller
 
 
 
 

Makeup Color Trends for Spring | January 30, 2009

Fortunately spring will be here before we know it so it’s good to get our sights set on the upcoming makeup trends.   From subtle earth tones to full on brights, spring makeup seems to cover all the bases and offers great looks for those who love a full face of cosmetics and those who go for a less fussy, more natural look.  Here are four popular palettes for spring and product suggestions to help you get the look.

Earth Tones
I am a true sucker for cute packaging, especially with something like lipstick that you are often whipping out in front … Read More »


 

POSTED by
 
Artie Vanderpool
 
 
 
 

Spring Inspiration | January 30, 2009

With Christmas officially behind us, you have taken down the beautiful decorations and you have started planning your brighter, and more cheery spring decor. Last year, I actually waited until February to take down my trees, because I was lacking in Spring inspiration … so this year, it was on the top of my list to gather a few pictures, paints, and fabrics of inspiration for me, and for you in hopes to get the ball rolling.

Flowers are always a wonderful way to celebrate spring. Whether you were forcing bulbs this Christmas for flowers like paperwhites, and amarylis, or if … Read More »


 

POSTED by
 
Laura Carson Miller
 
 
 
 

Tap into Your Natural Stress and Pain Reducer | January 29, 2009

You’re probably familiar with endorphins; I tend to think of them as something you experience when eating a chocolate cup cake, feeling overwhelming love and affection for someone or while doing some rigorous exercise.  Like most things in life, it turns out that endorphins are multifaceted, so read on to find out the whys and how’s of this interesting phenomenon.

Did you know that endorphins are really morphine like opiates naturally produced by our bodies?  These chemicals can temporarily block pain receptors and dull our sensitivity to pain.  Exercise causes us to release endorphins (this feeling is sometimes referred to as … Read More »


 

POSTED by
 
Dawn Del Russo
 
 
 
 

Designer Spotlight Matthew Williamson for Pucci | January 29, 2009

Matthew Williamson the fabulous designer behind Emillio Pucci, has designed some gorgeous pieces for Spring 09′.  A some what of a futuristic theme runs through the entire line this season with sharp silhouettes, sculptured tops and of course the signature geometric pattern dresses.  Colors of peach, purple, pink, and green, flourished on the runway.  My favorite was the palm leaf pattern taking a hint from the 80′s.

To incorporate the style into your wardrobe try small pieces like scarves, shoes, and handbags with the bold patterns.  If you are daring try a pop of color with the sexy swimwear from … Read More »


 

POSTED by
 
Jayne Costello Goode
 
 
 
 

A Sticky Situation | January 29, 2009

I was recently chatting with one of my female cousins about the phenomenon of the Alpha Female, and how it is often easy to identify little AF’s in training from a very young age.  I happen to be raising one such lady, as you may have guessed from my past writings.  Though highly amusing at times, these girls are not without their challenges.

As my cousin and I discussed techniques about how to reign in a mini AF’s assertive nature without totally breaking her natural confidence and spirit, the conversation turned to how this breed of future women have a real … Read More »


 

POSTED by
 
Martha Collins
 
 
 
 

Whoopie Pies | January 29, 2009

Everyone loves those new “cakesters”.  They just fly off of the shelves. My kids always try to slip some into my cart at the grocery store.  They are a bit pricey, and they are never as good as you imagine them to be.  Then it hit me.  I could try to make some from scratch!

I then remembered a friend from Pennsylvania who made these “whoopie pies” for a super bowl party I went to years ago.  She said that they sell them in Pennsylvania everywhere from roadside stands, to bake sales, to the grocery store.  I got her recipe for … Read More »


 

POSTED by
 
Christine Spencer
 
 
 
 

Living The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success | January 28, 2009

What Is Success?

“Success in life could be defined as the continued expansion of happiness
and the progressive realization of worthy goals.
Success is the ability to fulfill your desires with effortless ease. “
- Deepak Chopra

Success is a topic I’ve spent many hours pondering and I’ve come to realize that it is so much more than just material wealth. Material wealth is only a small portion of your collective success potential. It is an experience as part of our journey as spiritual beings and yes, material wealth may make this journey more comfortable, but let’s not neglect the other dimensions of success: the … Read More »