Category General

Valentine’s Day: A Money-Maker

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valentines-day-TWOBITS

Valentine’s Day is one of the most retail-driven events in the United States, and for good reason. Savvy business owners have figured out how to capitalize on desperate men everywhere who want to please their women. The women, in turn, have been heavily influenced by clever advertising. Most women know about Jared (no, he isn’t the neighbor two doors down), and the Robbins Brothers have also exerted a powerful influence on the fantasies of ladies everywhere.

However, it seems like more and more couples have become aware of the fact that the big day of love is filled with hype and commercialism. After all, it’s supposed to be about the love, lust, or shared interest between two people, isn’t it? However, I still think a fella can’t go wrong with a beautiful bouquet of flowers (I know I love them!) for his lovely lady. If he wants to go the extra mile, he can get a nice trinket of jewelry (no, it doesn’t have to be diamonds), a stuffed teddy bear (if she’s into that kind of thing), or a sexy undergarment from Victoria’s Secret, but those are very predictable gifts on Valentine’s Day.

Then there are the chocolates and candy hearts. Heart-shaped boxes filled with chocolates have become increasingly more dreaded, since more ladies than ever are concerned about the sugar rush which comes from consuming them. Don’t be surprised if you buy a box of cheap chocolates and your woman refuses to eat them because they have high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors or colors. Perhaps it’s time to get more creative and pick up a few gluten-free, vegan cupcakes?

A popular outing for couples is to go out to dinner, but restaurants have become far too opportunistic in recent years. Typical Prix Fixe menus for February 14th are so outrageously expensive that you almost have to take out a second mortgage just to afford the meal. I have gotten to the point that I have no desire to pay three times the amount of money I would usually pay for a meal at the same restaurant, simply because I was foolish enough to go there on Valentine’s Day. Besides, the restaurants are always packed, always noisy, and there’s a good chance that your table might be right next to the men’s restroom or in a drafty corner of the patio. Never mind that you made reservations three months ago and specified that you wanted a booth inside the restaurant.

What I enjoy the most, and am planning to do this year, is to cook a nice meal at home, open a good bottle (or two) of wine, and enjoy the comforts of home. That holds much more value for me than surrounding myself with red heart cutouts, chocolates I can’t eat, or spending a king’s ransom for a meal. I also don’t have to yell over the din of the other patrons blabbing.

How I Feel About Makeup

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color cosmetics
Though I like the colors featured in cosmetic lines like MAC, and have a massive collection of makeup which includes over 80 pro eyeshadow pans, I am really not a makeup person. Those rainbow hues sit in my giant train case, and are rarely used. I admit that the artist in me was drawn to those shades, and when I get a creative itch, I can create some lovely makeup looks. The problem is that the itch only strikes about once a year.

For the most part, I think daily application of full makeup is totally unnecessary. It looks phony, it’s a waste of time, it clogs and irritates the skin, and it can get pretty pricey.

I LIKE the look of clean skin with no makeup on it, even if the lack of contour makes my face and nose look wider. I don’t really wish to obsess over how perfectly applied my highlighter is, or if my blush will clash with my handbag.

I appreciate the power of contour, but as this image illustrates, this seems awfully extreme and mask-like:
contour ick
I cannot let go of the notion that black eyeliner and berry lipstick are the only important color cosmetics for me to have access to on a daily basis. It’s not that I walk out the door looking like I just rolled out of bed…though most mornings I literally roll out, quickly apply translucent powder and a thin line of eyeliner, throw on gym clothes and am out the door.

But you won’t see me rock ten tons of makeup to go to the gym, the grocery store, work, meetings, or even a nice dinner with friends. If I grab more exotic colors, that means a fancy event is coming up, and my five minute makeup routine suddenly expands to fifteen to thirty minutes, every minute of which I can’t stand. If false lashes are involved, you can be sure that I will be cussing up a storm at some point as the glue refuses to set or the lashes are applied unevenly. Not fun.

I hate the feeling of being encumbered by makeup, and I certainly don’t want to look “different” when I apply more than usual. I am a huge believer in allowing a woman’s natural beauty to come through, and think that makeup should ENHANCE a woman’s beauty instead of being corrective or somehow creating a mask which makes her look like someone else.

If you don’t believe that makeup can make people look very different, check out this video:

I love the freedom of light or no makeup. I love the fact that I never have to worry about smearing something during the day, since I really don’t pack on the paint.

What’s weird is that I can apply a small amount of eye shadow, and it looks like I have a ton on. It stems from the fact that I have large eyes, with a lot of lid. I have also noticed that if I apply black liner to the waterline, I get an instant super sultry eye look, so I have to be careful.

During a recent fitness expo, I had lash extensions on, so I didn’t even wear mascara or false lashes. Despite skipping those steps, my makeup ended up looking rather glam, all because I applied a small amount of eyeshadow and eyeliner.

Don’t get me wrong, I actually enjoy having my makeup done for photo shoots and events. It’s fun for me, because I get to be a living doll. But I will never sign up for a daily makeup routine that enslaves me to my bathroom and has me gazing into my makeup mirror for lengthy periods of time.

Letting My Personal Style Show Through

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The past several months have been fun for me with respect to my personal style, because I have been changing things up. However, everything I do with respect to putting outfits together tends to be a bit more understated, with neutral colors favored over bright colors, and solids over prints. I reserve the wilder expressions in smaller elements like jewelry and nails.

black

After getting French manicures for six years straight, I got completely sick of the look, despite the fact that it photographs well. I guess you could say I got a bit tired of being constrained by a certain look, even though the work I do requires it. I have been rebelling completely, turning to dark polish shades like eggplant, espresso, navy, black. I was a bit concerned when I got a last minute call for a cover shoot a couple of weeks ago, but it turned out that the look was dark, sultry, Goth-inspired, which meant that my black and pewter nails lent themselves quite nicely to the whole vibe of the project. Phew!

I have never been comfortable with the idea of changing things up on a permanent or semi-permanent basis, which is why I have no tattoos or pierces (nope, not even my ears). That’s why I prefer the idea of changing the look of my nails, wearing different pieces of jewelry, exploring a different color in a cosmetic (maybe deep eggplant and black in a lip look?), or maybe even wearing small clip-in hair extensions in a wild color.

My wardrobe has also undergone a bit of a shift. I just got so bored with items which had been in my collection for so long that I had to shake it up a bit with a few new tops. I also was so fortunate to get two pairs of SquatPants from Beleza Brazil Fitness, which makes the most amazing pants ever! I cannot stop wearing them, because they are so comfortable, the colors are vibrant and distinctive and work well with other wardrobe items, I can work out in them or wear them for my day to day activities, and they make my booty and legs look AMAZING! I am not kidding when I say that I am completely obsessed with these pants.

(In case you’re curious about these incredible pants, please check out: http://belezabrazilfitnesswear.com/#_a_NAITO
At checkout, be sure to enter discount code NAITO)

squat

My Mother Versus A Flight Of Stairs

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stairs

I recently took my 83-year old mother to visit a dear friend whom she had not seen for 20 years. On our way to see our friend, I had a moment of panic, because I hadn’t factored in the flight of stairs which we had to ascend in order to enter our friend’s apartment. Even getting my mom out of my car was quite a process, since her severe arthritis and lack of strength in her lower extremities always makes getting out of a seat a major challenge.

Once we reached the stairs to our friend’s place, I asked my mom which side she felt stronger on (her right), and had her take hold of the stair rail on the right. She lifted her left foot and planted it on the first step, and we made our slow climb. At step number eight, my mom blurted out, “I can’t do it”, in a voice filled with desperation and fear. I told her, “Mom, just rest for a second. You’re almost halfway there!” But there was no beast mode, no dogged determination in my mom. She just stood there, clinging to the stair rail for dear life, and I could see that she had given up. Thankfully, a male neighbor offered to help, and essentially hoisted her up each step until they reached the top.

After we settled into our friend’s place, we had a nice lunch and wonderful conversation, and my mom forgot about the stair-climbing incident. When we were ready to leave, another very nice man helped my mother descend the stairs, a task which was much easier since gravity was on her side, and also since it didn’t require the lower body strength that going up the stairs did.

It was pretty agonizing for me to watch my mom go up those stairs. I know she has slowed down a lot, and I know that physical challenges like stairs are massive for her. For this reason, I unfortunately cannot bring her to my place for a visit, because there are stairs everywhere in my residence. I also find the idea of decreased strength and mobility completely terrifying.

If only we could all enjoy sprightly motion throughout our twilight years! This is even more motivation for me to keep training every day like I do.

My Blue Burmese LOVES Hugs And Kisses

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I never realized how few people have bonding experiences with cuddly cats. I also guess I am lucky to have had several of the most affectionate cats. My blue Burmese absolutely loves to be hugged, and he adores kisses. It is rather common for me to pepper his cute little forehead with a barrage of kisses, which I know most cats would never tolerate.

Tenshi has gotten to the point that he expects and demands hugs and kisses from his humans. If I don’t hug and kiss him hello, he gets grumpy! Check out my video of him getting kisses.

Ben And Jerry’s New Vegan Ice Cream

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Ben and Jerrys

It was bound to happen. One of the biggest ice cream makers has released a vegan ice cream! Actually, since it is a vegan food item, it would more aptly be referred to as a dairy free frozen confection, but our palates should be fooled into thinking that it is just like its cow’s milk-derived cousin.

How is it possible to get that creamy mouth feel? Ben and Jerry’s used almond milk and coconut oil in place of eggs and milk to get a rich taste, and responded to Ben and Jerry’s ice cream fans (who petitioned for a vegan line) by featuring Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Chunky Monkey, Coffee Caramel Fudge, and P.B. & Cookies as the flavors.

I think I might have to check these concoctions myself and do a taste test of my own!

Here’s the verdict, posted on Huffington Post, for all the vegan flavors.

RANK #1 Coffee Caramel Fudge

Creamiest: This baffling creation tasted and felt like it was full of milk and dairy and all the creamiest creations. The coffee extract and caramel swirls balanced really well with the almond milk.

RANK #2 P.B. & Cookies

Less Creamy: You can’t really fool around with peanut butter and cookies — but it was a good call to mix it all with almonds (all the ingredients in all four flavors are vegan-certified, by the way).

RANK #3 Chunky Monkey

Getting Drier: This Ben & Jerry’s classic was nearly indistinguishable from its dairy doppelganger, it just wasn’t quite as creamy. The rocky road was just as crunchy though, with all the classic nuts and chocolate.

RANK #4 Chocolate Fudge Brownie

Oh, No It’s Obviously Not Ice Cream: This was the only one that really stood out as being made with almond milk. It had a much drier mouthfeel, almost chalky. However, the brownies, also vegan, were still delicious.

If you’d like to check out the Huffington Post article which announced the new flavors, click on this link:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/ben-and-jerrys-vegan_us_56b1215ce4b08069c7a549c7?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000595

What The Fire Monkey Has In Store For Everyone

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zodiacAnimals

I cam across a great site which you can check out to see what your horoscope is for the Chinese Year of the Monkey, which starts this coming Monday. Please visit this link for detailed information and predictions:

http://www.yourchineseastrology.com/horoscope/

It looks like people born in the years of the Rat, Ox, Rabbit, and Rooster are expected to have a fortuitous year this year. Dragons, Horses, Sheep, and Dogs will have average years according to this site, while Tigers, Snakes, Monkeys, and Pigs are expected to have a challenging year in 2016.

This information is meant to be fun, so don’t take it too seriously!

The Fire Monkey Is Coming, And I Am Ready For Him!

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Year-Of-The-Monkey-2016

Monday, February 8th marks the year of the Fire Monkey. Depending on your Chinese astrological sign, the year of the Fire Monkey may be great, so-so, or negative. According to George Tang’s Chinese Astrology site, 2016 looks like it will be a relatively good year for this Fire Horse…

Original link can be found at:

http://www.georgetangchineseastrology.com/chinese-horse-horoscope-2016/

2016 is the Year of Red Monkey. You were born in the Year of Horse. The following is the Red Monkey year prediction for people born in year of Horse.

Horse individuals can be extremely confident in 2016, my Chinese Horse horoscope 2016 astrology foretells, since everything they want is achievable in this Fire Monkey year. There should be many opportunities for success and hard work will not be wasted. There might be great obstacles to face, but they will be feeling very strong, both physically and mentally. They will be at their most charming and there is a strong sense that things will go their way.

As well as the chance to develop and expand in their careers and finances, such folk should also think about adding to their families. These characters will make remarkable strides in life this year since they may well be very clear about their objectives. 2016 will see excellent progress in new business ventures undertaken. They will be optimistic and they will shine. Everyone around them will benefit from their positivity. Friends will be drawn to these people in 2016 simply because of the “feel good factor” they cast around them.

For those Horse men and women in relationships, it looks like a year to share and enjoy times together, although the Horse characters must learn more respect the opinions of their spouses.

My Chinese horoscope suggests to me that both genders of this sign who are single will find love in 2016 providing they look for love in new places. Such individuals are naturals when it comes to romance and they will attract a fair amount of interest in the Fire Monkey cycle.

If Ma (Horse) folk are in relationships that are not working, then Chinese horoscope year 2016 is an excellent year to move on. The personal magnetism should be at its strongest in the spring months. By the summer months, Horse men and women will have found new romantic interests. Love will be very romantic and passionate for these people in 2016.

Being adored by others will help to build up the emotional strength of these folks and by October, they will be at their strongest and best. This is an excellent time to think about having a new baby for the birth of a child will serve to further strengthen personal relationships.

2016 is a wonderful horoscope year for the career of Horse characters, they are lucky. Anything they embark on this year has the potential for big success. Businessmen should try to maintain cordial relationships with their associates and partners. By May, they should not hesitate to take up new and exciting projects. The Monkey lunar period will enable them to enter into fresh partnerships and successfully expand their business activities.

As the year progresses professionals will have more clarity on their objectives and will take the right steps to meet their targets.

There could be lots of social interaction with people who will admire the thinking of the Horse. Although there could be some minor resistance to these folks ought to be able to win over people with their intellectual arguments. Thy will find that major co-operation will take place and the workplace will be extremely harmonious. There could be delays caused by technical problems, but Horse folk should remain steadfast since things will work out in their favour. This sign’s men and women are not inclined to make rash decisions anyway and by taking the time to reach solutions the way ahead for them will be on solid ground.

If Horse men and women have any debts, then 2016 zodiac period should be a good year to settle them. It is an excellent time for finding new ways to earn money. It will also be a time when people should be able to save. They could be surprised at how quickly they are able to accumulate cash. There could be some longer-term investments that will be of interest to them and ones that will bring in exceptionally good returns.


Chinese 2016 Horse Horoscope Closing Views

My Chinese astrology predictions foretell that Ma folk could be interested in investing in property development, either by making it more beautiful or by extending or changing the existing space.

The homes of people will increase in value substantially after home improvements are made and if they do decide to move house, they will make excellent choices in terms of location and good value for money.

The emotional health of the Horse individual will improve as their self-confidence increases this zodiac year. Physically there could be minor problems in the muscular system. Energy levels will increase considerably after June. These individuals will have plenty of stamina and will feel able to achieve just about anything they want as The Monkey cycle passes.

The zodiac Ma person should avoid over-indulgence in rich foods. If your hyperactivity can be controlled you will stay strong and find good solutions to most problems. Such individuals are naturally psychic and will find their psychic strength peaks in the late autumn months of 2016.