(S)He who Hesitates...

The 2012 Election is coming up fast! Just over a month until Election day - Tuesday, November 6 - and we will be choosing yet again who will be the man representing us as a country, officials on the state and local level, as well as other referendums, depending on where you live. There is always a lot going on on election day.

Often no one exactly fits the bill of what we are looking for, and we feel as if we are choosing the lesser  of two poor choices, or we may decide it's not worth voting at all, but in reality that is never the case. Your vote counts and it DOES make a difference, in all elections and particularly in the state and local ones.

"We in America do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate." -Thomas Jefferson, third US president (1743-1826)

It is important to register early, especially this year when your state may have new rules or restrictions that you need to know about. While the goal of a democracy is an equal vote for every citizen, it isn't always simple to get that chance to vote. You have to get registered, and you have to exercise the right once you are.

de·moc·ra·cy 

noun 

plural de·moc·ra·cies

1

a : government by the people; especially : rule of the majority

b : a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections

2

: a political unit that has a democratic government

3

: the common people especially when constituting the source of political authority

4

: the absence of hereditary or arbitrary class distinctions or privileges

Here is a link to all the information you need to vote in the next election, no matter where you live: Register to Vote

People who do not live where this is an option wish it was. What makes it work is our participation. Remember, if you do not choose, the choice will be made for you. Vote!

Water - for a Beautiful, Healthy Life!

Water - your health & beauty depend on it! The most important thing you can do, especially in hot weather, is stay hydrated.

We have all learned that water is the key to life. Drinking an adequate amount of liquid daily is important to maintain your health as water aids in digestion, circulation, absorption and even excretion. All your body's cells are mainly water and, as we constantly lose water through respiration, perspiration, urination & more, it is important to ingest enough water to maintain proper balance.

I want to add that as we age we tend to drink less liquids, and dehydration has many symptoms that are mistaken for other problems - including fogginess of the mind! It's important to be aware of your own consumption of water & water-rich foods & to be aware of the signs and water drinking habits of your loved ones as well.

It can even save a life.

So how does this relate to beauty?

Well, not just because we all look best when we are healthy, but that skin, the largest organ of the body, relies on water to be healthy, soft, & supple. If your skin is not getting sufficient hydration you will soon notice it turning dry, tight and flaky. Dry skin has less resilience and is more prone to wrinkling.  

As we lose water every day, it needs to be replaced. Unfortunately, the water you drink will reach all the other organs before it reaches the skin. So, it's important to care for your skin, particularly in dry, hot weather.

So what is the best way to add water to the skin?

• Apply a hydrating moisturizer within 2 minutes of leaving the bath or shower. The skin is still porous and is vulnerable to products that are applied following the bath or shower, allowing better absorption. This can be something as simple as olive oil, lotion, or skin creme. It doesn't need to be something fancy and expensive to achieve a good result.
• Drink more water. Drinking at least 8 - 8oz. glasses a day will help rid the body and skin of toxins. Some of this can be in the form of high water content foods (download this PDF chart) or juices. REMEMBER that caffeinated or alcoholic beverages act as diuretics, effectively causing you to lose more liquid in the long run, so don't count those in the total.

Learn more about how keeping well hydrated benefits your health here.

Of course, access to pure drinking water can be a challenge as we stress Earth's supply. Read more about water at 'Water, Water Everywhere'

Be aware of the physical 'Dangers of Dehydration'.

And use natural & organic products to help rejuvenate dry skin.

Mairzy Doats...

"Mairzy doats and dozy doats
And liddle lamzy divey
A kiddley divey too, wouldn't you?
Yes! Mairzy doats and dozy doats
and liddle lamzy divey
A kiddley divey too, wouldn't you?"

I grew up on this song & Oatmeal for breakfast. Oatmeal cookies and later Granola & Granola Bars and knowing oats were good food and good for your health. Much later I learned how good oats were for your skin, used externally, as well.

Oatmeal's many skin care benefits have been known since antiquity. Its skin-soothing powers were known as early as 2000 BC, and to this day, the FDA cites it as effective for relieving dryness and inflammation, clinically shown to help heal dry, itchy skin. Many people who suffer from eczema find that an oatmeal bath helps releive their symptoms. Oats are totally hypoallergenic unlike many of the ingredients that are given to people who have eczema by doctors. Oats can also soothe chicken pox, mosquito bites, and dry skin (caused by excessive central heating, pollution etc.) They soothe mild burns, any type of irritated skin.

Because oats are slightly rough, they are also a gentle natural exfoliant, softening & smoothing the skin and you will find colloidal (finely powdered) oatmeal in soothing body soaks, moisturizers and soaps.

(from the RealAge website)
"There are four reasons why your skin adores oatmeal," explains New York City dermatologist Amy Wechsler, MD:

1. Dryness fighting: Oats contain polysaccharides, which become gelatinous in water and leave a fine protective film on the skin, preventing dull, flaky dryness.
2. Moisturizing: Oats are full of healthy, lubricating fats.
3. Defense building: The proteins in oatmeal help maintain the skin's natural barrier function, which ensures that the world outside the skin stays out, and what's inside the skin stays in.
4. Pore cleansing: Oats are filled with natural cleansers (called saponins) that gently remove dirt and oil from the pores.
To reap all of these benefits, Wechsler suggests treating your skin to a colloidal oatmeal mask every week or two. Here's her super simple recipe -- good bet the ingredients are already in your kitchen.

The Skin Doc's Smoothing, Soothing Oatmeal Mask:

2 tablespoons old-fashioned oats
2 tablespoons hot water
1/2 tablespoon honey
1. Put the oats into a clean herb or coffee grinder on the finest setting, and process into powder.
2. Pour into a small bowl and stir in hot water and honey. Let stand for 5 minutes.
3. Wash face with warm water. While skin is still damp, massage paste onto face, circling around eyes and mouth. Leave on for 10 minutes.
4. Remove with tepid water and a washcloth. Apply your favorite moisturizer to seal the deal and set the glow.
P.S.: Don't stop eating oats just because you've transformed them into a beauty treatment! They're hard to beat as a source of health-protective soluble fiber -- and eating a high-fiber diet can make your RealAge up to 6 years younger.
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Here are a few more radiance promoting, totally natural, make them yourself oat recipes from NaturalNews:

Oat and Brown Sugar Scrub:

2 Tbsp. ground oats
2 tsp. brown sugar
2 Tbsp. avocado
5-6 drops of the beautifying rose essential oil.

Mix all ingredients in a bowl until you have a smooth paste. Gently massage onto damp skin, and rinse off with warm water. Increase the dose for a full body super scrub.

Oat and Honey Milk Bath:

½ cup rolled oats
¼ cup almond milk
5-6 drops of lavender (to ensure that you truly chill out in your bath!)
Place the ingredients in a small, natural fabric bag, such as hemp, muslin or cheesecloth. Hang the bag under the faucet as you fill the tub, then put the bag into the bath as you soak up the goodies.

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And, of course, you can enjoy these benefits as well from Simmons special Unscented & Almond scented Oatmeal soaps, both are rich in organic colloidal oats and rolled oats to maximize the soothing effect on your skin.

By the way, here's the rest of the song:

"If the words sound queer
And funny to your ear,
A little bit jumbled and jivey
Sing "Mares eat oats
And does eat oats
And little lambs eat ivy"

Summer Activities

Whether your inclination leans to gardening, hiking, or lounging by the pool, you can be sure the summer months will have you and your whole family spending time outdoors.

Be sure you do the simple things needed to keep that time happy & safe - without the unhappy results overexposure to hot weather can cause.

1) Drink lots of water! Not soda, beer or juice... Water. Dehydration is a factor many ailments, up to & including Heat Stroke. You are not always thirsty when you need to be. Know the warning signs: Irritability, confusion & dizziness, headache. Children may be fussy & tired, sleepy & less active. Infants can be fussy or not be urinating as much as usual. Read more here.

2) Use sunscreen & be moderate about time in the sun. Don't be extreme in either direction - we need to get out in the sun to be healthy, but over expose not only leads to painful sunburn and a risk of Melanoma, but to early aging of the skin. Learn more.

3) Protect dry skin. If you garden or wear sandals during these hot, dry months your hands & feet can take a particular beating. Between the dirt, heat & washing often to clean up, the skin can dry, crack and become callused. Be aware of this & remember to wear gloves &/or use products that protect the skin from losing its natural moisture. Check out our natural products, formulated especially for this purpose .

Here's to the best and most enjoyable Summer for everyone!

Outta this World

In the space of only a couple of weeks we have had 3 eclipses visible from here. THREE spectacular celestial events. WOW!

Those who know me know I'm in love with natural phenomena - see my earlier post: Phenomena.
These eclipses are no exception.

First we were right in line for the May 25, 2012 Annular Eclipse of the Sun, the so-called "Ring of Fire' eclipse, where the entire Sun is not blocked out, but leaves a circle around the moon's Dark Disk.
Last night, the full Strawberry Moon was partially eclipsed by the Earth's shadow.
Today, RIGHT NOW, the planet Venus is  in Transit across the face of our mighty star. No one alive today is likely to see this again, the next occurrence is in 2117.

These events help me internalize what it actually means to live on a planet orbiting through space in a cosmic dance with moons and stars and other planets. I am elated and humbled by the experience.

Experiencing these, and other, phenomena bring me to the moment in such an exciting way. Here. Now.

I am filled with joy to be part of this astounding universe.