Even in the wake of a mild winter, I find that our skin has already started to become dryer and a bit flaky, and some of us even have red patches on our skin. It almost seems evident that our bodies are telling us that we don’t belong out here in the cold. Sometimes, I wonder why we don’t listen to them! But still, we are very lucky to live in a place that has free medical coverage and a high standard of living. The only trade off, it seems, is that we live in a harsh climate. I’m sure that in a few weeks, we’ll be seeing some snow, and along with that, we’ll soon be seeing our skin change even more drastically to accommodate that weather. But don’t worry, our skin can rejuvenate easily with the help of modern technology and even with old fashioned wive’s tales. From the wonderful warmth of IPL light covering our skin to a homemade olive oil concoction, keeping up with our health and hygiene should never be neglected, and it can even be a lot of fun to embrace and celebrate.

When I was doing my monthly IPL sessions to remove my hair, I would often celebrate that day by bringing in my laptop so that I could listen and download music while I got little pulses of light that my body seemed to crave for after a few sessions… how addictive! But ultimately, it gave me some downtime just for me to use however I wanted to, and I think that little bit of time that I used for myself felt incredibly good. Everybody should experience that kind of downtime. Not everybody can, but whether it be a whole day of spa pampering to a 15 minute body scrub in your shower, you should really take the time to care for your physical being just as much as you do for your inner being. Your body is a sacred source of energy that and you should feel proud to take great care of it to keep it well balanced; personally, I prefer to start my physical well-being with my skin and make an experiment out of what it needs at that point in time. Our bodies change in conjuction with its environment, but harmony is easily achieved when you listen to what your body tells you it needs.

The skies are blue, the mountain tops are white, and there are fall colors in our hearts.  It is so good to be back and to get another week of school under our belt before we get another 4 day holiday.  I am beginning to see why this area of the world doesn’t get much accomplished some of the time.  It seems like there is a major holiday every couple of weeks (Eid 1, Eid 2, Swine Flu).  Nonetheless, we are excited to be back in our home.

This past school week was an eventful one.  It rained for 2 days straight.  That may not seem like much, but when you take in the fact that it doesn’t rain here until winter, then you know that it is getting colder.  How cold? We woke up one morning to see the temp at 16 F.  We are not even going to mention what the Celsius temp was because we are against negative numbers!  We have been bundled up for quite some time now, and we are wearing more and more layers with each new day.  While we were gone, they installed heaters in our classrooms.  These do not keep the classrooms hot, but at least the classrooms aren’t freezing.  You know it isn’t a good sign when you are teaching first period and you can see your breath and the breath of your students.  The third period girls have started pulling their desk closer together to generate body heat.

Now to Thanksgiving…we woke up early but decided not to get out of bed because of the cold.  We have a routine where MCE will get up first and go light all the heaters in the house, and then get back in bed.  After a few minutes, ALE will get up to take a shower when the rooms get warm.  MCE waits his turn for a shower, and then we go off to school.  On Thanksgiving, we lit the heaters and stayed in bed until ALE got a phone call about her massage at the Thai Salon.  ALE left for her appointment, and MCE continued playing Scrabble on the computer, and got ready for the Thanksgiving Day football game.  It started at noon.

Most of the guys that teach on campus came out to play.  We divided teams and began to play.  It was unusually warm, about 60 F, and we had a great time.  It goes without mentioning that MCE’s team won.  The game ended with everyone going back to their houses to get food ready for the feast.  As ALE made her famous Mac and Cheese (not quite famous famous, but it is getting there), MCE took a shower and dressed for the occasion.  Loose fitting pants of course!!  It was a mad dash to get everything ready by 3 but somehow we all managed to get our dishes there and we gathered to pray and eat around 3:30.  It has been a long time since I have seen this type of spread:

6 turkeys, 4 different stuffings, 3 mashed potato dishes, mac and cheese, green bean casserole, corn, carrot salad with garlic, carrot souffle, cranberry salad, ritz crackers with dip, cabbage salad, bread, bread, bread, devilled eggs, sweet potatoes, pumpkin roll with cream cheese, pumpkin pie, cookies, carrot cake, brownies, apple crisp, and vanilla ice cream.

We were all encouraged to go lightly on the first round and then come back for seconds after everyone had gone through the line.  For MCE this meant, only fill your plate up to feed one army, not two.  MCE sat stuffed after round one, but after a quick break to the house, “halftime,” he was ready to go for round two.  He then sat miserably satisfied after gorging himself with two heaping plates full.

After dinner, everyone sat around playing cards and hanging out!  Most waited for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade to come on the TV at 6:30 pm.  It was different eating the meal and then the parade coming on, but once again, that is life here.  Nothing happens the way that you are used to.  Some stayed to watch Charlie Brown’s Thanksgiving, but MCE and ALE went to bed.  All in all, it was a good First Thanksgiving.

Our friend catching the ball

doesn’t he look like a pro!

Going for a field goal

Trying to block the kick

Isn’t the quarterback handsome!

The quarterback calling the next play

Our first thanksgiving!!

Our Thanksgiving Table shared with over 40 people

pumpkins from the pumpkin patch trip!

Our Thanksgiving Potluck Feast

Our friend eating a turkey leg!

]]> http://happydelusions.wordpress.com/2009/11/27/one-stop-holiday-shop/ Sat, 28 Nov 2009 01:31:05 +0000 happydelusions http://happydelusions.wordpress.com/2009/11/27/one-stop-holiday-shop/

Masaje con Piedras Calientes

(Hot Stones).

Este tipo de terapia-masaje es muy antiguo y tiene su origen posiblemente en la india hace más de 3.000 años y forma parte, como uno de los tratamientos, de la medicina Ayurveda. A su vez, los sanadores polinesios, llevan utilizando las piedras calientes por más de 2.000 años.

En estos últimos años el masaje con piedras calientes (hot stones) se ha popularizado mucho en los spas y centros terapéuticos en donde se trabaja para el favorecimiento del bienestar personal.

El objetivo general del masaje con piedras calientes es llevar al estado de equilibrio al prana, (Qi en la MTC).

- Drenaje linfático y como consecuencia la eliminación de toxinas.

]]> http://christiannemaecarrillo.com/2009/11/27/xmaslist/ Fri, 27 Nov 2009 23:51:01 +0000 miss c http://christiannemaecarrillo.com/2009/11/27/xmaslist/

The best thing happened today! And, no, it was not the bargains that I got while shopping at 6 a.m. I scheduled a long massage at the Marquette YMCA with Sam Crowely and got to move some of that lactic acid out of my muscles that was making my quads ache after yesterday’s 10k.

But as some of you know I also have what’s called a thoracic outlet condition that challenges my body with nerve pain and muscles spasms. Sam did great work on my legs and my cervical area. Along with the physical relief we got to discuss reasons that people bury emotions in their bodies and how this journey of fitness and weight loss have led to deeper emotional awareness(es). Sam reminded me that I can meditate and work on releasing tension in my neck on my own.

This was time and money well spent! I needed the awareness(es) that I received during this massage.

Unfortunately, stress is a big part of the holiday season. We are rushing around, busy with all sorts of projects and do to lists, trying to get together with friends and family, and trying to stay sane on top of all the other work we have to do! Fortunately, one of the best things you can do to relieve all the stress is get a massage at the Moretown Artisans’ Sale!

Mad River Massage will be on site, both Saturday and Sunday to release the tension in your shoulders, and gently massage that stress right out of your back. Aaahhh… So you can come to the show, get some amazing gifts for your friends and famliy and pamper yourself with $1/minute massages right there! Gift certificates will also be available!

Do you know someone who needs a massage? Nominate a community member who deserves a FREE 60 minute massage from Escape Bodywork Boutique! Between December 1st and 15th, leave nominations at the drop box in Teocalli Tamale or outside Escape at 115 Elk Ave. Winner will be announced December 31st.

Three years of careful restoration work has brought back the ancient splendour to a little village in Lombardy, dating back from 1711, when it belonged to the illustrious and noble Strigelli family. Today, as then, it is the passion of a family, the D’Angelo family http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amedeo_D’Angelo, to make this jewel into and discreet charm, and of which its most important characteristics are a an exclusive estate, which exudes an ancientwarm welcome and a feeling of well-being. The “ 1711 Contrada Resort” is situated along the banks of the river Adda, within a beautiful natural park, and yet not far from cities such as Milan, Bergamo and Como, which are at the heart of the most active and pulsating economic centre of Lombardy and Italy. It is part of the town of Arlate, which like many other towns in this area, has its roots in Roman times, and became important in the medieval times. The buildings of the “1711 Contrada Resort” are grouped harmoniously around the reception area, where there are 23 rooms http://www.contradaresort.it/ , the restaurant Tavola del Conte http://www.contradaresort.it/it/ristorante_como_tavola_del_conte.html and the Wellness Center Ti Sana SPA http://www.contradaresort.it/it/tisana_spa_massaggi_lecco.html, it provides ample and well equipped space for conferences, seminars and business meetings. At the same time it is possible to spend a holiday, pampered by the unique natural and cultural surroundings. The Adda valley offers exciting and enjoyable activities with magical foot and bicycle paths along the river and within the park, canoeing, easy access to the golf course and much more. On the eve of the its 300th anniversary, the ancient village lives again, in the courtyards and around the old well, in the dwelling places, along the paving stones, you can hear the sounds, the voices which have made its history. Each house, each wall, each stone reminds you of the noble and great style typical of the tradition in Lombardy, to which, the famous writer Alessandro Manzoni, while by the banks of the river Adda, dedicated some of his most illustrious pages of the masterpiece “The Betrothed”. The character of the place and of its surroundings is born, of a natural elegance, not ostentation; the attention to the guests is the result of a tradition of warm and sincere hospitality; the choice of food respects the seasons and the traditions, and also man and his natural health; exactly as in the SPA, which believes in the individual harmony and equilibrium of each person as the most important vital element, abandoning fashion and external appearances. For further information visit http://www.contradaresort.it/

During the 16:th to 18:th centuries the art of distilling plants had grown to become an every-day matter. Every mansion had its own distillery and the pharmacies of the time distilled essential oils for medicinal purposes. The doctor would make out a recipe, and the pharmacies would blend the medicines.

In this time herbal medicine grew immensely with the founding of the Royal Society in Britain, the plant classifications by Linnaeus and the great herbals by, amongst others, Culpeper, Gerard and Parkinson. By the end of the 18:th century, essential oils were widely used in medicine alongside herbs, essential oils being the strongest form of medicine in existence.

The late 19:th and early 20:th century saw the flourishing of chemistry as a discipline. As plant cures and essential oils could be synthesized in a laboratory – the cures both stronger and faster in action, essential oils began to lose their place in the pharmacopoeiae.

In the early 1900’s a French chemist, René-Maurice Gattefossé – the father of aromatherapy, rediscovered the effectiveness of essential oils when he after a severe burn dipped his hand in pure lavender-oil and noted the speed of recovery; the pain was instantly subdued, there was no infection nor scarring. This made him devote himself to the study of esssential oils. He discovered that the oils could penetrate the skin to access the blood-stream and chemically interact with the chemistry of the body. In 1937 he published the book “L’aromathérapie” that became the first textbook on essential oils.

Dr. Jean Valnet followed in Gattefossé’s footsteps. He was an army-doctor during WW2. As antibiotics were hard to come by in wartime, he used essential oils with great success. After the war he opened a clinic where he success-fully used essential oils for both physical and psychological healing. Much of his work was based on the antiseptic properties of essential oils. In 1964 Dr Valnet published a book; “Aromathérapie se soigner par les essences de plantes”.

At this stage aromatherapy began popping up all over Europe; Italian doctors Gatti and Cojola start researching the psychological effects of essential oils in the 20:s; In the 70:s their work was followed up by Professor Paolo Rovesti at the University of Milan.

Mme Maury, an Austrian cosmetologist, introduced the idea of massage combined with essential oils in the 50:s. Not being a doctor, she was looking for other ways of administering the essential oils. By blending – or diluting – them with vegetable oil, the resulting blend was milder and could be used directly on the skin without irritating it. Most of her clients were healthy women that wanted beauty-treatments and the results of the aromatherapy was astounding; not only did it make the skin look better, it also had other effects such as relief from rheumathic pain, stronger libido, better and deeper sleep and an overall mood-enhancing effect. In the early 60:s Mme Maury opened her first clinic in London where she also held workshops and training. Some well-known names trained for her in the late 70:s; Robert Tisserand, Shirley Price and Patricia Davis are some of them.

The final break-through for aromatherapy as a valued alternative health practice came in the late 80:s and early 90:s when it finally became a recognized profession in many countries. In Britain and Sweden the training is state-supported and sometimes subsidized.

Bath & Body Works Aromatherapy Lavender ~ Sleep ~ Calming Massage Oil, 6 fl. oz. (177 ml) Review

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32inch lcd hdtv

i am not a massage / spa / wellness / fitness sort of guy… yet, i gotta admit i recently had a complete body massage in my life for the first time in my life… enormously relaxing experience… 50 minutes of lavender oil therapy massage, literally from head to toe, slow, gentle, soothing… then sauna, lots of steam, cold mist, swim in spa, back to sauna, steam, mist, spa and finally back in istanbul in exactly one hour… phew, that was something man!!!

i know it sounds sort of posh, but i think you have to give it a try, you will not regret…

Give yourself a DIY facial with this unique new energy boosting face massage mini mitt.

This is a great little thing, use with a dollop of cleanser and rub gently in an upward circular motion over your face and neck.

Its made of pink rubber and has a little handle at the back to hold it. It feels nice as a massage but also is good for getting make-up off. As a result my skin feels refreshed because the little raised bumps on it stimulates circulation to your face and leaves it glowing. And it’s only £4 and is also in the 3 for 2 offer at boots, so you could get this, the bubble bath and something else and also you get a free gift bag too.

Scruffy to fabulous in an hour? Impossible. Or so I thought; in actual fact the clever girls at Groom have got the entire process down to a tee, offering a range of comprehensive one-hour services that promise to leave you buffed, cleansed, sharp and shiny.

Groom, a neat little salon in Selfridges, is my new favourite find, offering a range of manicures, pedicures, waxing and tweezing, facials and massages all delivered by one or two therapists working on you together over the course of an hour.

The Groom Weekly treatment, for instance, includes a manicure, pedicure, back and neck massage, eyebrow tidy and facial. The two girls start at either ends, as it were, one working on your feet, the other doing the facial. About 20-minutes into the session you then get a massage, one working on your neck and shoulders, the other massaging your feet and legs – heavenly. After this the pedicure is finished off, the eyebrows tweezed and the facial completed. From here the girls move to each of your hands and do your manicure together.

Not only is this an efficient service, it’s also relaxing, friendly and top quality. The facial is the best I’ve had and I left feeling cleansed and relaxed.

Prices start at about £85 for an hour’s treatment, but for that you get at least three and sometimes five treatments, which is a  pretty good deal.

Rating: 5/5

Igår tog jag en välbehövlig tripp till Selja för att själv landa på bänken.
Kullans kroppsterapi bjöd på en efterlängtad upplevelse med massage
av diverse onda partier och som avslutning – koppning.

Sen jag provade koppning första gången har jag alltid längtat efter mer.
Det är en obeskrivligt skön känsla när sugkoppen sätts fast och drar ut bindväven.
Det släpper på spänningar, cirkulationen ökar och helt plötsligt finns det plats för
hela mig i min kropp.

Läs mer på: http://www.kullanskroppsterapi.se/behandlingar.html

samt: http://www.cuppingmassage.com/index.html

….lite blå blir man där kopporna har fått sitta en längre tid…

My wife, Tina has been stressed these days, not because I am her stressor, LOL but due to inevitable daily hassles -both at work and at home.  Primarily, we don’t have a housemaid for more than a month now!  Our maid got pregnant, so she and her husband left to their province down south to give birth next month with uncertainty of reporting back to work. God knows how difficult it is to find another trustworthy housemaid.  

Other than people living independently abroad or solitaries in dormitories, I am not sure if you have experienced a life without a maid or at least to have ideas  how hard it is to juggle work and household chores.  I, myself do some laundry especially on my days off at work; thanks to the fact that our ‘jurrasic’ washing machine with spin-dryer is still functioning!  Tina and I also take turns in accompanying and fetching our son, Gabby to and from his preschool and whenever we’re both unavailable, we can always import my dad from my folks’ place in Pasig to pitch in for us.

I want to give Tina a break from all those loads she usually get from her job as an Operating Room nurse-Clinical Instructor, and from fatigue-inducing roles she does at home.  

Unlike most women, she hates shopping (How lucky I am to be her husband, right?).  She will only buy clothes and shoes whenever there’s a need or an urgency to do so, say for an event or an occasion that we have to attend. She’s like my mom when it comes to prudence and  practicality and admittedly, I am  their total opposite.   We compliment each other and we like it that way    Tina prefers to eat out with us rather than buy herself a new pair of shoes or jewelries. She  hates spending too much and wouldn’t want anything illogically priced.  

Certainly, my wife deserves pampering. I would like to take her to a spa and treat her to a massage. Then again, if I get to spend more than our domestic budget, she might not enjoy the entire experience.  Good thing that few days ago, Doc Grace of   Doctor is vaIN, the 2009 Philippine Blog Award Best Beauty Blog, wrote a comment on one of my recent posts, inviting me to participate in her blog contest in which she’s giving a lucky winner a chance to experience  Terra Wellness Spa in Discovery Suites, Ortigas, Pasig City. 

What’s up for grab from this contest?  

Terra’s Signature Massage – this deeply relaxing massage combines slow and graceful gliding strokes that are applied to the different key pressure points of the body to relieve tension and aid blood circulation. The experience is enhanced with the use of specially blended therapeutic oil.

Take a peek into Terra Spa…

Note : All photos were sourced here.

I do wish I could win this for Tina for I know she’ll definitely appreciate it; not only because it’ll give her the full-75 minute sublime relaxation (worth PhP 1,700) from Terra Wellness Spa but even affordable as it is, she loves anything FREE!  Who does not want freebies?

If you want to join this blog contest too and would like to know more details and mechanics, click here.    And to Doc Grace, thanks for the invite and more power to your site, Doctor is vaIN.

If luck won’t be on my side, I’ll just do the massaging for my wifey, but it might lead to something else, hehehe “evil grin”...

Excuse me, I need to go to ‘work’.

Här kommer en sann historia. Den utspelades i en stad nära dig för några dagar sedan.

C sitter i behandlingsrummet under en rast. Förbi går en man på väg till gymmet intill.
Han vänder och kommer tillbaka, kikar in i rummet och undrar;

-”Är du sjukgymnast?”

-”Nej, jag är massör”, svarar C.

-”Jaha, då kan du ingenting om muskler och sån’t då….” svarar mannen.

C ringer upp mig under dagen och berättar vad som har hänt och säger med skratt i rösten;

-”Kampen som massör fortsätter!”

Så, för att klargöra ifall att någon undrar; som massör vet man vad muskler är. Går du till en massageterapeut kan du räkna med att den personen har gedigen kunskap i hur man behandlar smärta och stelhet.

Hur gick det för mannen som letade sjukgymnast? Jo, C hjälpte honom med instruktioner om hur han skulle träna för att stärka sin onda rygg. En pilatesboll kan göra underverk för onda ryggar – om den används rätt.

Jag tänker inte gå in på måndags so called maratonlopp där jag kom absolut jävla sist. Istället ska jag publicera min önskelista för i år. Och det kan vara min bästa någonsin. Jag menar, den här är ju iallafall överkomlig. Ni ska se lapparna jag brukar spika upp home in the by flera månader innan do-date. Ojoj, mina föräldrar har inte haft det lätt. Tur att önskningar är gratis, men här kommer alltså min önskelista, den materialistiska varianten: 

TILL TOMTEN:

• Pjäxor till slalomskidorna
• Skidjacka
• Falkfilmerna
• Six feet under säsong 1
• Humanity armband 
• Presentkort på någon inredningsbutik (Lagerhouse, IKEA)
• Presentkort på någon klädaffär (Nelly, HM, Gina Tricot)
• Långfärdsskriller
• Muminkoppar
• Presentkort på tatuering eller piercing
• Massage för mina onda onda nacke och rygg
• Nya glasögon. (Kanske dags att inse, när man knappt ser något i kameran längre) 
• Frisörschampoo och balsam
• Piece of Cake, kokboken av hon tv-kocken Leila
• Sällskapsspel, ex. Med andra ord eller rappakalja
• Nya googles

Things To Consider With Breast Cancer Treatments

by Mark Boothe hosted by Bruce Oliver

The following paragraphs summarize the work of breast augmentation surgery experts who are completely familiar with all the aspects of breast cancer treatments. Heed their advice to avoid any nasty surprises.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer and most common cause of cancer deaths among females in Australia. This cancer mostly affects women after the age of 40. Breast cancer is a tumour that has become malignant – it has developed from the breast cells. A ‘malignant’ tumour can spread to other parts of the body – it may also invade surrounding tissue. Breast cancer occurs when cells in the breast tissue divide and grow without control. The cell cycle is the natural mechanism that regulates the growth and death of cells.

Breast cancer cells can enter lymphatic vessels and begin to grow in lymph nodes. Breast Cancer is a very difficult situation to be in. It can cause a lot of emotional and mental stress, which is why receiving the proper medical and moral support is so essential. Breast cancer death rates have been dropping steadily since’90, according to the Society, because of earlier detection and better treatments. About 40,910 breast cancer deaths are expected in 2007.

Once you begin to move beyond basic background information, you begin to realize that there’s more to breast cancer treatments than you may have first thought.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American women behind lung cancer. The lifetime risk of any particular woman getting breast cancer is about 1 in 8 although the lifetime risk of dying from breast cancer is much lower at 1 in 28. Breast cancer spreads when breast cancer cells move to other sites in the body through the blood vessels and/or lymph vessels. A common site of spread is the regional lymph nodes. Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women, although men get breast cancer too.

Women thinking they can use other means or save themselves the expense. Then they call me months later and we have a harder journey. Women who drink alcohol have a modestly increased risk. The more you drink, the greater your risk. Women who have inherited certain mutations in these genes have a high risk of developing breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and several other types of cancer during their lifetimes. Men with BRCA1 mutations also have an increased risk of developing breast cancer.

Breast cancer may be diagnosed before any symptoms occur through screening. The NHS National Breast Screening Programme provides free screening for breast cancer for all women over the age of 50. Breast cancer treatment depends upon many factors, including thee type of cancer and the extent to which it has spread. Treatment options for breast cancer may involve surgery (removal of the cancer alone or, in some cases, mastectomy), radiation therapy, hormonal therapy, and/or chemotherapy. Breast cancer varies widely and the treatment options are selected to match your individual needs.

So now you know a little bit about breast cancer treatments. Even if you don’t know everything, you’ve done something worthwhile: you’ve expanded your knowledge.

About the Author:

Mark Boothe is the
author of this article. BreastAugmentationFinder.com brings you free resources about breast augmentation fort worth and news on ora nge county breast augmentation. You may reprint this article provided this paragraph and all links are kept.

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