New Hair

As with many things in life, the simplest things are often the sweetest and most overlooked.

The pleasure of newly colored hair is one of those simple things that I treasure in life. As a treat of sorts for bicycling to work yesturday, I decided to take the opportunity of having the house to myself to color my hair.

Granted, its basically a retouch of the exciting color scheme that I have had for about two-three months now, but I enjoy it quite a bit.

Here's are two rough pictures of the pattern I used:

The Pink is 5RV (Medium Brown-Red-Violet) and the Yellow is 9G (Light Golden Blond)

Monday Monday Monday

I like to try and start Mondays with a bit of an affirmation.

This weeks affirmation is "I will make this week healthier than last week"

I am riding my bike to work, have already logged my food for the day and checked my emails. So things are going well so far.

I will be starting hair coloring in school tomorrow, and a website project tonight.

Ah, Monday... you're not Sunday, so I have to go back to work... but I'll make the best of you.

Happy Monday Everyone!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year all!

In celebration of the first day of the new year, or more probably just my having a day off, Sean and I went for a drive around town. During the drive we talked and enjoyed the scenery and each others company. The quiet time also gave me the opportunity to think about my New Year's resolutions.

Perhaps the New Year resolution is not something that we resolve but something that we strive for in ourselves. The idea of losing ten pounds... why? Because that ten pounds is a symbol for greater self-confidence and empowerment to do the things that we might have been afraid to do. It gives us the strength to do those things that we didn't do because we were hiding behind that ten pounds.

So this year? I'm resolving to be confident in myself and to not be afraid of challenges. The ten pounds I still want to lose, that hasn't changed. But my motivations have definitely received an upgrade.

Don't let you get in your own way! If you want something, get off your butt and do it!

Good Luck!

Sunday Soapbox: Soap...

Okay, nothing to complain about today...

So what am I doing instead? I'm making soap and a couple of other special Christmas presents. Mostly because I don't have the money or patience to deal with the crazy people doing their last minute shopping.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Be safe, be smart and be loving!

Gods' speed,

Monika

All Natural Wednesday: Music

This might sound trite coming from someone with a music degree, but there have been studies that link music and all sorts of things.

One of my favorite forms of this is singing for health! Betcha didn't know it was good for ya, eh?

Ever notice that after you've sang your heart out you feel better, healthier, stronger? There is a good reason for it, actually.

According to Dr. Ben Kim of www.drbenkim.com, singing from your abdomen (your lower belly) engages your diaphragm, which in turn helps to move your lymph fluid through its lymphatic system. This, in turn, makes way for general good health with a raised immune system and helps remove toxins from the body.

Singing also, to a lesser extent than real (sweat producing) exercise, releases endorphines, which raises that feeling of "good" that helps keep us healthy mentally as well.

How do I cash in? Thats easy!

Stuck in traffic? Sing along to the radio...
Have a free weekend before Christmas? Go caroling with friends... (Plus you'll have the added benefit of walking around your neighborhood or wherever you go.)
Have the house all to yourself? Dance and sing to your favorite music. Who cares if you look silly... after all, the only one looking is you!

Have some fun, and belt it out... trust me, you'll feel better. Who knows? The one stuck next to you in traffic might just be singing along to the same song!

Sunday Soapbox: Entitlement

Entitlement is the state of being entitled. Entitled means that you are owed certain things or certain behaviors just for being who or what you are.

The Queen of England is entitled to service and esteem from the English people.

Most people are not entitled to that level.

Police officers are entitled to respect, even if its a begrudging form of it, from the people they are sworn to protect. They have earned this entitlement because they have sworn to serve and protect the people.

A similar thing applies to Fire fighters. If a Firefighter tells you to get out of the building, you do it, because you know they are going to be running into it to put out the fire.

Entitlement is not for everyone.

We are not all the Queen, or in positions of authority or protection. Children are entitled to the right to dream and dream big. That doesn't mean that a thirteen year old girl deserves or will get a laptop for Christmas. She is entitled to ask, but thats kind of it. (The same thing goes for her brother, who wanted a $250 toy x3...)

Many of the simple problems that we face day to day could be simply resolved if people would let the idea that they are owed something fall by the wayside.

No, actually, I do not have to give you my parking space or the right of way because you have a more expensive car than I do.

Neither do you have the right to demand my time and attentions when you don't care about my life or my loved ones enough to ask or listen or care to ask about them. Don't bother me with trite worries about your world when you don't give a hoot about my life. I'm not a psychologist. They make a lot more than I do.

On the same token, people are all entitled basic respects.

Be courteous to people. Hold the door open for people behind you (especially if they're carrying a large box).

Be honest. If you're not happy in a relationship, don't cheat on them, separate and see if that clears up the problem. Tell them the truth in a gentle way and work on your problems together.

Take responsibility for the bad as well as the good. If you screw up, own up to it and work with whoever it effects to make you both satisfied with the outcome. It takes two to tango.

And finally, remember that we're all people with hopes and dreams and aspirations. No one is better than anyone else. Its all the amount of work that you put into your endevors that determines your amount of success. Be nice, work hard, and you'll earn the right to be entitled.

All Natural Wednesday: Grapefruit=Superfruit

Alright, alright...

There are a lot of stigmas associated with Grapefruits. And truth be told, they've gotten a bad wrap for a long time.

No More!!

Give a grapefruit a chance this week. They are one of nature's superfruits and if eaten correctly, are actually really tasty and refreshing.

Here's how you do it:

Cut one grape fruit in half between the stem and end of the fruit.


Next, with a small pairing knife, cut between the fruit segments, but be careful not to cut through the skin.


Then, cut along the skin between the segments.


Top with a spoonful of sugar, or a packet of equal or similar substitute. Place in a small bowl and use a small spoon to pull out the segments and eat. When all the segments are out, squeeze whats left into the bowl and drink the remaining juice. It will be sweetened by the sugar or substitute and is really refreshing.

Still not convinced? Here are some tastey facts:

-Half of a grapefruit provides all the vitamin C the body needs for one day and is an excellent source of dietary fiber, vitamin A, potassium, folate, vitamin b-5 and Lycopene. (Folate for heart health, b-5 for Seratonin production, Lycopene is a potent antioxidant)
-Grapefruits come in many colors, such as yellow, pink, white or ruby.
-Grapefruits flavonoid content helps fight against free radical damage, which results in aging.
-Pomelos, or Chinese grapefruits are the largest citrus fruits.
-A Frenchman, Count Odette Phillipe, planted the first grapefruit trees in Florida in 1823. Today, Florida produces about one third of the world's grapefruit.
-Some mature grapefruit trees can yield up to 1,500 pounds of fruit in a season.
(Thanks Skin Inc. January 2009 issue, "The Main Squeeze"... and Thanks Sean for teaching me how to eat them!)

Hungry yet? You know what to do! Have a nice fruity snack, and a wonderful week!