Category General
Sneak Peek From LHGFX Photo Shoot February 19th
Paddleboard courtesy of Radfish Malibu.
Badass Image From Second Focus Photography
Bargain Facials In My City
After being spoiled off and on for many years with regular free facials and microdermabrasion, I once again found myself in an “off” phase during the summer last year. I continued to practice my weekly at-home facial ritual, but my skin became more lackluster, deflated and congested. By October I caved and, in complete desperation, decided to check out the local beauty school. To be honest, I was extremely concerned that I would have an allergic reaction to a product or breakouts as a result of a student’s lack of experience or knowledge.
The first student who worked on me talked to me throughout the entire facial and took about two hours to complete the visit. This 
occurred twice. However, she was very nice and I enjoyed chatting with her despite having zero chance to relax during the process. I also ended up with beautiful, glowing skin with no breakouts and no dry skin patches. SCORE! This nice young lady graduated, leaving me in the hands of a new student who is rather lacking in conversational skills. Case in point, I went in for a facial a few days ago and I had to ask her how she was doing because she made no effort to greet me or make small talk. It was a bit strange, but I didn’t mind so much because she was quiet during the treatment, and I was able to relax during the entire visit. She was skillful in her facial techniques, gave a relaxing arm massage (I just wish she used more pressure, because I could barely feel it), and finished the entire treatment in 45 minutes. When I got up from the table, my skin was absolutely glowing. When I went to pay, I got a discount on an already very reasonably priced facial, walking to my car with only $25 less in my wallet. And that was including a 25 percent tip!
I have now had four facials at the local beauty school in my city and must say that I am rather impressed! I have had countless facials throughout my adult life and know a good facial when I see one. So this has been a pleasant surprise. If you have a beauty school in your area, you might want to give it a try with facials, nail services, and hair services. Hopefully you will be as pleasantly surprised as I was!
Why Regular Facials Are Good
One of my favorite things in the world is a great facial because I get to lie down for at least 45 minutes without interruptions and my skin gets some tender loving care. I have spent over a decade as a physician in aesthetic medicine and have noticed a HUGE difference in my skin and in my patients’ skin when a regular facial regimen is abandoned. Make sure you visit a reputable spa with knowledgeable aestheticians to ensure that the proper skin care products are used for your particular skin type.
The exfoliation and deep cleaning which occur during a spa facial will remove dead skin cells and pollutants and increase circulation, while the serums and moisturizers used towards the end of the facial often diminish fine lines and wrinkles while also restoring normal pH balance to the skin. If you absolutely can’t afford to get a professional facial, you can give yourself one at home.
Here are the steps to a great do-it-yourself facial:
Step 1: Cleansing
Thoroughly wash your face and neck with a facial cleanser. Some of my favorites are Bliss’Fabulous Foaming Face Wash and Olay Foaming Face Wash. Remove eye makeup. If you have very sensitive eyes, I recommend using Kiehl’s Supremely Gentle Eye Makeup Remover.
Step 2: Exfoliation
Use a gentle scrub on your face, moving in a circular motion.
Step 3: Mask
Apply a mask to the face and neck, avoiding the eye area. Generally, most masks should be left on for 10 to 15 minutes, then rinsed thoroughly. If you have oilier skin, opt for a clay mask. Dry skin types respond best to cream masks since they are formulated to be much more emollient.
Step 4: Moisturize
Apply a moisturizer onto your face and neck.
I Love My Freedom
I am a relationship minded person, I live in one place for many years at a time, and am a planner. Yet I recognize the fierce need for freedom which pervades all areas of my life. I cannot stand being held back, tied down, or told I cannot do something. I am notorious for tackling all kinds of projects, even if I have had no prior experience and risk failure. I like being the boss, but it is more important for me to be in control of my own life, navigating through it the way I prefer. I am also a bit of a loner and prefer to chart my own course instead of following the pack. The past few years have given me wonderful opportunities to express myself in the way that I want to, and I am grateful for the ability to run around and frolic through life, enjoying all that it has to offer.
I am sure that the countless threats to my freedom which I have had to deal with throughout my life have only made me stronger. When I think of how fiercely I have fought for autonomy and a voice, I realize how much of a warrior I am. If someone doubts my abilities, I want to prove them wrong, NOT because I have a chip on my shoulder, but because the “can do” mindset is so deeply etched in my personality. Nothing that I do is on the beaten path. I look different, behave differently, navigate through life differently, and could never be described as being a “typical” anything. And you know what? I like it that way!
What I have learned throughout my life is that if you want freedom of movement, you can have it as long as you realize that you manifest whatever it is that your subconscious mind harbors. ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE. If you believe that something or someone has control over you, then you have given up the battle and you will manifest situations which will truly make you feel trapped, shackled, and stripped of your personal freedom. If you believe that you can shape your life the way that you want without mowing others down in an effort to reach your goals, then you will empower yourself. Everything we hold onto should be done with an open hand, allowing energy and opportunity to move organically. When we grasp, grab, twist and otherwise restrain the energy, it can often turn on us and create conflict, throw up obstacles and threaten to rob us of our freedom. This is a lesson that I am FINALLY beginning to understand after all my time on this planet.
Keeping Up With Social Media Posts
Social media avenues give people the opportunity to network, build business, increase exposure and connect with others all over the world. They are excellent tools for people who are trying to become the next big thing. But I have to file a grievance…if I had all the time in a day to post selfies and inspirational posts, I would, but because I have a career outside of fitness, I simply do not have that luxury. Numerous people have told me that I need to be more aggressive about posting pertinent items on social media channels, but they don’t realize that I am overwhelmed by what I have on my plate. I manage all three websites I have established, as well as my blog site, Twitter, Instagram, and three Facebook pages. Add to that my work schedule, photo shoots, video shoots, writing projects, training clients, food prep, etc., and I have little time to take alluring pics of myself all day. When I do take selfies at the gym or at work, people think I am being vain. So I am hit from both sides. Either I am not being aggressive enough, or I am self-absorbed. Pretty frustrating.
I also have to admit that I have a crappy camera on my phone which refuses to deliver consistently great images. I get so tired of having the wrong angle, poor lighting, or having a reach that is insufficient. Apparently, the teens and 20-somethings seem to have figured out all the best camera phone angles, and spend considerable pockets of time cropping, adding films and effects, text, borders, etc. to make their posts incredibly eye-catching. I have to admit that I am a bit envious of such skill. What cracks me up is that I have recently seen articles in major women’s fashion magazines on how to take a good selfie, indicating how much this phenomenon has become a common means of connecting with the world.
It’s pretty funny how some haters actually give ME a hard time about taking ANY time to snap selfies, often scolding me and telling me to “get back to work” or “be productive”. I guess if you’re over a certain age or if you are a career professional you aren’t allowed to avail yourself of social media avenues and post selfies? I may not be the best at it, nor do I have a ton of time to perfect the images I post, but I will do what I can to stay current and connect with the world while also honoring my responsibilities outside of cyberworld.
Being Neutral
The most evolved people I know have an ability to approach emotionally charged situations with neutrality. Neutrality requires our complete awareness, so it is different from apathy, which causes a disengagement from awareness and attention. True neutrality prevents us from engaging in vicious cycles of emotional engagement and repulsion which are so common in strained personal relationships. It takes emotion out of the equation.
However, it can be exceedingly difficult to be neutral, especially when dealing with individuals and situations which rapidly ignite a response or reaction from us. Though I try repeatedly to hold myself back, I find myself reacting to certain individuals in my life who have a very strong emotional pull on me. Counting to ten, breathing, and walking away from situations are tactics which can work in the short term to keep us from reacting, but the challenge to remain neutral is constant for many people including me.
I know that the best way to approach people who push buttons is to have compassion and to come from that neutral place, but at the core, we are only human and that tendency to react rears its sometimes ugly head to remind us of that fact. I recently found myself in a situation in which I was beginning to get very upset, so I sat and meditated for a few minutes, holding the energy and trying my best to stay neutral. Yet the very next day I was flailing wildly with my emotions, distraught, hurt, allowing myself to react and throwing neutrality completely out the window. I felt the reactive energy in my chest, like I had been physically hit there. I was actually choking on it and having difficulty breathing. The more I expressed it, the more ill I felt. The next day, I was forced to deal with the aftermath of my emotional pain, my chest full and achy, as if my heart was literally breaking. I am sure many of you have experienced physical manifestations of emotions. Though there is still some resistance, the medical community has become increasingly more aware of the connection of the mind and body when dealing with depression, anxiety, grief, anger and any other emotion which may be troubling.
Two of the most effective ways to learn neutrality are to meditate or to practice breathing techniques to increase awareness of the energy around you. I have personally noticed that when I meditate more regularly, I am much calmer and find it easy to come from a neutral place when dealing with situations which would normally get me all riled up. When I come from a neutral place, misunderstandings and arguments are defused. I have to remind myself frequently to come from a neutral place, and I recognize that this is not an easy process. By forcing myself to sit with my own energy, I am better able to transform it. If a situation is truly unsolvable, I have learned to walk away from it instead of trying to fix it. Otherwise, it’s like running into a wall repeatedly.
Try to come from a neutral place the next time you feel your anger or frustration welling up inside you. Your spirit will grow and you will end up much happier.
A Horse Of Course
As someone who was born in the year of the Horse, I know what type of horse characteristics I manifest. Since we are now in the year of the Horse, I am prepared to deal with the amplified energy around me. Those of you who were born in Horse years (1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990) may notice a similar charge in everything you do this year. If you think of how a horse behaves, you will understand horse energy better, and if you have a loved one who is a Horse, you may reach a better understanding when you have an idea of our tendencies.
This Horse personality profile was found on Astrology.com:
Thank goodness for open spaces, because the Horse needs plenty of room to roam! Energetic, good with money and very fond of travel, Horses are the nomads of the Chinese Zodiac, roaming from one place or project to the next. All of this Sign’s incessant activity and searching may be to satisfy a deep-rooted desire to fit in. Paradoxically, Horses feel a simultaneous yearning for independence and freedom. Horses crave love and intimacy, which is a double-edged sword since it often leads them to feel trapped. Love connections tend to come easily to Horses, since they exude the kind of raw sex appeal that is a magnet to others. This Sign tends to come on very strong in the beginning of the relationship, having an almost innate sense of romance and seduction. Horses are seducers in general; check out any A-list party and you’re bound to find the Horse in attendance. This Sign possesses a sharp wit and a scintillating presence; it really knows how to work a crowd. Surprisingly, Horses tend to feel a bit inferior to their peers, a misconception that causes them to drift from group to group out of an irrational fear of being exposed as a fraud. An impatient streak can lead Horses to be less than sensitive to others’ needs. These colts would rather take a situation firmly in hand as opposed to waiting for others to weigh in or come to terms with it. The lone wolf inside the Horse can at times push others away, but this also makes this Sign stronger and is a key to its success. Horses are self-reliant and, though they might lose interest fast in a tedious, nine-to-five day job, are willing to do the work necessary to get ahead. Horses tend not to look much at the big picture; instead they just follow their whims, which can result in a trail of prematurely ended relationships, jobs, projects and so on. This Sign really knows how to motivate others, though, and get a lot accomplished. Once they find some peace within themselves, they can curb their wandering tendencies and learn to appreciate what’s in their own backyard.
Thank goodness the Western astrological aspects of my chart keep me more grounded and modify the typical Horse energy. For those of you who may be curious, my Sun sign is Cancer, with a Virgo ascendant and Moon in Aries. Fun stuff to play with!
Pig Chinese Horoscope 2014 Astrology
Chinese Horoscope 2014 for Pig According to the 2014 Chinese Horoscope, entire year is quite favorable for businessmen. In spite of being into competition, you people will fare out well. 2014 Chinese Astrology suggests you to stay on ground, no matter how much success comes to your feet. Love life will stay smooth only if you will stay at bay from your past. Married couples will cherish a blissful time and may expect a new born. Single ones will cherish their status and would like to live a better social life. Flirting is good for health. As they say, a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt. You guys will get many chances to make money and most of them will be successful. However, you need to direct your expenditure in this year of Horse. Many situations will come in front of you that will ask you to help others, but you need to check if someone is befooling you. The year doesn’t seem very good health-wise, as you may go more into junk foods. People under Pig sign have a delicate stomach. Hence, proper attention needs to be given. You may go through some stomach related issues in this time; like ulcers and indigestion. Headaches may also give your trouble once in a blue Moon. Chinese Horoscope 2014 suggests you to take Herbal teas and do proper workouts.
taken from http://www.mykundali.com/
