Thursday, July 7, 2011
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Friday, June 17, 2011
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Proper Fit for Blazers and Suit Jackets | Style Minute | Ep 053
This video is great for understanding the what is the proper fit for blazers and suits.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Thursday, June 9, 2011
The Best Facial
How to Choose The Right Facial
An Interview With Kate SomervilleSomerville is a facialist whose clients include Olivia Wilde, Kristen Bell, and Anna Paquin. She is the author of Complexion Perfection! (Hay House).
Facial menus can be confusing: Too much jargon can make you wish you had a medical degree, and all the food references can seem as if you're ordering dinner along with your treatment. When you're choosing a facial for your skin issues, here are the things to consider.
· Know the basics. A classic facial usually involves cleansing, exfoliating, extractions, a mask, and a moisturizer, and is great for anyone with normal to dry skin. Extractions are safe for most people, as long as the aesthetician first uses steam to soften the pores, and covers her fingers with gauze. Extractions do pinch, but if the pain is intense, ask her to stop. Too much pressure can break capillaries. Never let her use an extractor; these tools can cause scarring and discoloration. Anyone with rosacea or eczema should ask the aesthetician to skip steaming (which can exacerbate those conditions) and use a warm cloth instead.
· Treat it right. If you have acne, the lotions in a classic facial—and even the massage itself—can cause a breakout. The words "clarifying" or "purifying" on the treatment menu usually mean that the facial is designed for acne-prone skin. It should include a cleanser withsalicylic acid, a clay mask, and a lactic acid peel. Make sure the aesthetician avoids scrubs; applying these can irritate the skin and cause scarring.
· Get a glow. To address fine lines and other aging issues, pick a facial with a little extra exfoliation. Glycolic, lactic, and enzyme peels are all great ways to get rid of that layer of dead skin that makes pores look larger and wrinkles look deeper. I'm not a fan of microdermabrasion, though. It's too harsh—and a gentle acid peel will give you the same result. If your concern is dull skin, look for a facial that combines a mild peel and brightening ingredients such as vitamin C or kojic acid.
· Splurge on the right things. Treatments that sound a little crazy, such as ones with caviar, snake venom, or gold dust, are usually gimmicks. However, there are a few extras that do produce real results. LED facials that use red and blue light will kill bacteria and help heal acne, while red-and-white-light treatments stimulate collagen production with no recovery time.
The Complete English Wedding
English TraditionsI Do! I Do!: From The Veil to the Vows-- How Classic Wed
ding Traditions Cam…
Getting Married in Great BrittainWedding flowers are scattered by a small girl preceding the English bride and her wedding party, who walk together to the wedding chapel or the wedding site. The flowered path and symbolic walk express hope for the bride's path through life to be happy and lovely. English bridesmaids wear wedding dresses very much like the bride's, so she cannot be singled out by any jealous evil wishers, who might curse her for her happiness.Brides sew a good luck charm, such as the silver horseshoe of royal British brides, to the hem of their wedding dresses. Old English wedding tradition also calls for the bride to carry a horseshoe, streaming with ribbons, for good luck.English Wedding CeremonyTraditionally, an English couple getting married will exchange their vows outside the wedding chapel doorway, allowing the ceremony to be witnessed by anyone who might want to watch.Traditional English Wedding ReceptionsTraditional English wedding cake is a fruitcake, usually made with raisins, ground almonds, cherries and marzipan. The top layer of the wedding cake is called the "christening cake" which the couple is saves for the baptism of their first child.The fruitcake is served at the wedding reception along with another traditional cake -- the groom's cake -- which originated during the Tudor period. It was once English custom for this to be a fruitcake as well, but today, the groom's cake is likely to be chocolate.A unique Victorian wedding reception event is called a 'ribbon pull'. A sterling silver charm is purchased for each of the bridesmaids. A ribbon is tied to each one, and the baker places them between layers of the wedding cake as it is being assembled. Before the bride and groom share their first slice of cake, the bridesmaids gather so that ech can pull one ribbon, claiming for herself a future good promise.The wedding tradition of tying shoes to the cars of newlyweds also began in England during the Tudor period. Originally, wedding reception guests threw shoes at the newlyweds as they were leaving the church for good luck. The modern tradition is to tie shoes to the honeymoon vehicle. The English consider rain on a wedding day a sign of good fortune.Interesting African American Wedding Traditions
Tasting the Four Elements (also called Bitter herb Tasting or Tasting of Four Temperaments). This ritual dramatizes the “Traditional” promise to love “for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health.” The four elements that the Rev. Valentine uses -- lemon, vinegar, cayenne pepper, and honey -- represent the sour, the bitter, the hot, and the sweet times of marriage. He places each in a crystal bowl, which he then positions to correspond to the four directions. (Four is also the number associated with the base of the pyramid, a symbol of a strong foundation.) He then has the couple taste each, beginning with the lemon: “I let them know that marriage involves individual sacrifice, so that two people can harmonize as one. But sacrifice can cause sour feelings (the lemon) and bitterness (the vinegar) and eventually a heated explosion (represented by the cayenne). When they taste the pepper, they are cooking, their eyes are watering… and the guests are having a good time watching. But then I say that if they can weather all of this, all the difficult times, and still be friends and lovers, they will come to understand the sweetness that’s in all the previous three flavors. That is when I give them the honey.”
Feeding of the Immediate Family. After the couple tasted the four elements, they demonstrated the African belief that they were joining not only their own lives but those of their families, by each feeding the other’s family from baskets of unleavened bread.
Exchange of Kola Nuts. In Africa, the kola nut is a symbol of healing and used for many medical purposes. In this couple’s ceremony, they exchanged kola nuts with members of their families and each other right before they exchanged their vows, to symbolize that they would always be able to heal their differences, that no adversity would ever prove greater than the love they have for one another. “People still ask me if we kept our kola nuts -- in African tradition you are to use them to soothe any friction…” the bride laughs. “We haven’t needed them so far! But the kola nuts are very meaningful keepsakes from our wedding.”
Cutting the Cord or Jumping the Broom. At the end of the ceremony, the eldest member of each family (who you remember were seated at the front at the beginning) held a ribbon across the aisle for [the couple] to walk through, symbolizing the “cutting” of their primary ties with the families who had raised them and their readiness to raise a family of their own. Some couples choose to jump the broom instead, a custom that has its roots in Africa and also symbolizes the beginning of making a home together.
Source: Reprinted from “Going to the Chapel” by the Editors of Signature Bride Magazine.1998 by The Philip Lief Group, Inc. and KLCS Communications, Inc.
The Complete Austrian Wedding
Austrian Wedding Customs and Traditions
Proposal
In the past when the marriage proposal was a more formal procedure, the prospective groom sent his friend or members of the family to represent his interests to the prospective bride and her family. If the saw a blind man, a monk or a pregnant woman it was thought that the marriage would be doomed if they continued their journey as these sights were thought to be bad omens.
If, however, they saw goats, pigeons or wolves these were good omens which would bring good fortune to the marriage.
Surnames
It was thought unlucky for a woman to marry a man whose surname began with the same letter as hers. The sentiment was summarised in the following rhyme:
“To change the name and not the letter, is to change the worst and not the better.”
The bride should not practise writing her new name before the wedding. This is thought to bring bad luck by tempting fate.
Choosing the day
Although most weddings take place on a Saturday it was considered unlucky in the past. Fridays were also considered unlucky particularly Friday the 13th. The famous old rhyme advises a wedding in the first half of the week:
“Monday for wealth, Tuesday for health, Wednesday the best day of all, Thursday for losses, Friday for crosses, Saturday for no luck at all.”
The wedding dress
It is thought unlucky for the bride to make her own wedding dress. It is also unlucky for the groom to see the bride in her wedding dress before until she arrives the ceremony.
The bride should not wear her entire outfit before the wedding day. Some brides leave a final stitch on the dress undone until it is time to leave for the ceremony when the outfit is completed.
The veil
Traditionally, brides have been thought to be particularly vulnerable to evil spirits and many of the customs and traditions associated with weddings are to provide protection.
Flowers
A combination of red and white flowers is avoided by the superstitious because they stand for blood and bandages.
The groom often chooses a flower for his buttonhole which also occurs in the bride’s bouquet. This is a vestige of the time when a knight would wear his lady’s colour to display his love.
On the way the wedding
When the bride is ready to leave the hose for the wedding ceremony a last look in the mirror will bring her good luck. However returning to the mirror once she has began her journey will result in bad luck.
Seeing a chimney sweep on the way to a wedding is thought to bring good luck and it is still possible to hire one to attend wedding ceremonies. Other good luck omens when seen on the way to the ceremony include spiders, black cats and rainbows.
Bad weather on the way to the wedding is thought to be an omen of an unhappy marriage, although in some cultures rain is considered a good omen. Cloudy skies and wind are believed to cause stormy marriages, snow on the other hand is associated with fertility and wealth.
Bridesmaid
Bridesmaids were dressed in a similar way to the bride. The bridesmaids were thought to act as decoys to confuse evil spirits and thus protect the bride.
The couple’s first purchase
It is said that the first partner who buys a new item after the wedding will be the dominant one in the relationship. Many brides ensure that they make the first purchase by arranging to buy a small item such as a pin from a bridesmaid immediately after the ceremony.
How to have the perfect Italian Wedding and Honor Past Traditions
Italian Wedding Traditions
Getting Engaged in Italy
In the past, Italian wedding engagements were usually orchestrated by the families of the bride and groom. Lineage was of the most importance, and if the bride's father had any doubts, negotiations could stop in their tracks. In some cases, a matchmaker sent a message (masciata) to the prospective bride's family of the man's hope to marry. If her family found the groom's proposal acceptable, there would be wedding bells and a marriage.
Diamond engagement rings have been popular with Italian brides since the 1400's. Italians have long held that diamonds are created by the flames of love. In medieval Italy, grooms even paid for their brides with precious stones.
In preparation for her wedding day, the bride assembles a trousseau, consisting of household items, clothing, and sometimes even her future husband's clothes to bring to the home of the groom. Her family provided her with a dowry of money and possibly domestic goods. Today, this custom continues in the form of the bridal shower.
Wedding Day Traditions and Folklore in Italy
Traditions
In Veneto, it is customary for the Italian couple getting married to walk to the wedding chapel together. The townsfolk place obstacles in the bride's path to see how she will react to domestic situations. If she picked up a broom, for example, she will keep a clean house. If they put a child in her way and she stopped to help him, she will be a good mother. In some regions, the bride and groom must cut a log in half before they reach the wedding site, using a double handled saw. This demonstrates their partnership in love and marriage.
Tying a ribbon in front of the wedding chapel to symbolize the bond between the couple getting married is another popularwedding custom in Italy. The actual wedding ceremony (sposalizio) is officiated by a priest or civil authority. Old church tradition warns against marrying during Lent and Advent, and marriage is also avoided in the months of May and August. A lengthy celebration begins with a mass in the morning; and the dancing and feasting that follows may continue well into the wee hours of the morning.
Italian Folklore
To ward off evil spirits, a groom in Italy might carry a piece of iron in his pocket. The bride wears a veil to hide her face from jealous spirits. Tearing the veil is considered good luck.
Sunday marriages are believed to be the luckiest.
It is considered bad luck for a bride to wear any gold, on the day she is married, until wedding rings are exchanged.
Symbolic foods for fertility and for good luck are 'confetti -- candy covered almonds tied in mesh bags to toss at the couple; and twists of fried dough powdered with sugar called wanda (bow ties).
Gourmet Food for Italian Wedding Receptions
For hundreds of years, traditional gourmet Italian food has been served to wedding reception guests. Sweet liquor and strong drinks are served to the guests, by the best man, before the dinner begins. This gives the guests a chance to toast the happy couple with "Per cent'anni" which means, for a hundred years.
The menu at an Italian reception is nearly as important as the wedding itself. Guests may be served as many as 14 different courses with wine and other beverages. After dinner, the customary multi-layered Italian wedding cake is served with espresso and coffee. The sheer volume of food reflects how highly anticipated and festive a typical wedding in Italy is.
Wedding Reception Traditions
For the traditional Italian custom of 'buste', the bride will carry a satin bag (la borsa) in which guests place envelopes of money to defer the expenses of customarily lavish Italian weddings. Sometimes the bag is guarded by the bride's grandmother during the festivities or the bride might wear it and allow male guests to put money in it in exchange for a dancEuroevents & Travel, LLCe with her.
Before the reception is over, the bride and groom usually break a glass. The number of pieces of shattered glass symbolize the years the happy couple will share together. At some weddings, a pair of white doves is released into the air, symbolizing the couple's love and happiness.
Toast to the Newlyweds
One popular custom is a toast, usually made by a male guest after a few glasses of wine. "Evviva gli sposi" - "hurray for the newlyweds." Guests respond with thundering applause. This toast is shouted whenever there is a lull in the wedding celebration, renewing spirits and enthusiasm.
"Kiss for the bride" is another popular Italian toast. It calls for the bride and groom to stand and show their affections for all the guests to see.
Source: EChristchurch, New Zealand 8001,2002-2004
Monday, June 6, 2011
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Meditation To Overcome The Tight Places in Mind
Meditation for Beginners: 20 Practical Tips for Quieting the Mind
Meditation is the art of focusing 100% of your attention in one area. The practice comes with a myriad of well-publicized health benefits including increased concentration, decreased anxiety, and a general feeling of happiness.
Although a great number of people try meditation at some point in their lives, a small percentage actually stick with it for the long-term. This is unfortunate, and a possible reason is that many beginners do not begin with a mindset needed to make the practice sustainable.
The purpose of this article is to provide 20 practical recommendations to help beginners get past the initial hurdles and integrate meditation over the long term:
1) Make it a formal practice. You will only get to the next level in meditation by setting aside specific time (preferably two times a day) to be still.
2) Start with the breath. Breathing deep slows the heart rate, relaxes the muscles, focuses the mind and is an ideal way to begin practice.
3) Stretch first. Stretching loosens the muscles and tendons allowing you to sit (or lie) more comfortably. Additionally, stretching starts the process of “going inward” and brings added attention to the body.
4) Meditate with Purpose. Beginners must understand that meditation is an ACTIVE process. The art of focusing your attention to a single point is hard work, and you have to be purposefully engaged!
5) Notice frustration creep up on you. This is very common for beginners as we think “hey, what am I doing here” or “why can’t I just quiet my damn mind already”. When this happens, really focus in on your breath and let the frustrated feelings go.
6) Experiment. Although many of us think of effective meditation as a Yogi sitting cross-legged beneath a Bonzi tree, beginners should be more experimental and try different types of meditation. Try sitting, lying, eyes open, eyes closed, etc.
7) Feel your body parts. A great practice for beginning meditators is to take notice of the body when a meditative state starts to take hold. Once the mind quiets, put all your attention to the feet and then slowly move your way up the body (include your internal organs). This is very healthy and an indicator that you are on the right path.
8) Pick a specific room in your home to meditate. Make sure it is not the same room where you do work, exercise, or sleep. Place candles and other spiritual paraphernalia in the room to help you feel at ease.
9) Read a book (or two) on meditation. Preferably an instructional guide AND one that describes the benefits of deep meditative states. This will get you motivated. John Kabat-Zinn’s Wherever You Go, There You Are is terrific for beginners.
10) Commit for the long haul. Meditation is a life-long practice, and you will benefit most by NOT examining the results of your daily practice. Just do the best you can every day, and then let it go!
11) Listen to instructional tapes and CDs.
12) Generate moments of awareness during the day. Finding your breath and “being present” while not in formal practice is a wonderful way to evolve your meditation habits.
13) Make sure you will not be disturbed. One of the biggest mistakes beginners make is not insuring peaceful practice conditions. If you have it in the back of your mind that the phone might ring, your kids might wake, or your coffee pot might whistle than you will not be able to attain a state of deep relaxation.
14) Notice small adjustments. For beginning meditators, the slightest physical movements can transform a meditative practice from one of frustration to one of renewal. These adjustments may be barely noticeable to an observer, but they can mean everything for your practice.
15) Use a candle. Meditating with eyes closed can be challenging for a beginner. Lighting a candle and using it as your point of focus allows you to strengthen your attention with a visual cue. This can be very powerful.
16) Do NOT Stress. This may be the most important tip for beginners, and the hardest to implement. No matter what happens during your meditation practice, do not stress about it. This includes being nervous before meditating and angry afterwards. Meditation is what it is, and just do the best you can at the time.
17) Do it together. Meditating with a partner or loved one can have many wonderful benefits, and can improve your practice. However, it is necessary to make sure that you set agreed-upon ground rules before you begin!
18) Meditate early in the morning. Without a doubt, early morning is an ideal
time to practice: it is quieter, your mind is not filled with the usual clutter, and there is less chance you will be disturbed. Make it a habit to get up half an hour earlier to meditate.
19) Be Grateful at the end. Once your practice is through, spend 2-3 minutes feeling appreciative of the opportunity to practice and your mind’s ability to focus.
20) Notice when your interest in meditation begins to wane. Meditation is
hard work, and you will inevitably come to a point where it seemingly does not fit into the picture anymore. THIS is when you need your practice the most and I recommend you go back to the book(s) or the CD’s you listened to and become re-invigorated with the practice. Chances are that losing the ability to focus on meditation is parallel with your inability to focus in other areas of your life!
Meditation is an absolutely wonderful practice, but can be very difficult in the beginning. Use the tips described in this article to get your practice to the next level!
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Top 10 Spas
Top Hotel Spas by Region
| RANK | '09 | NAME | SCORE | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | - | Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris, Europe | 97.50 | ||
| 2 | - | Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay, Asia | 96.07 | $ | |
| 3 | - | Couples Tower Isle, St. Mary, Jamaica, Caribbean | 96.00 | $ | |
| 4 | - | Inn at Palmetto Bluff, Bluffton, South Carolina, U.S. and Canada | 95.33 | ||
| 5 | - | Esperanza, an Auberge Resort, Los Cabos, Mexico | 93.50 | ||
| 6 | - | Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, Hawaii | 93.42 | ||
| 7 | - | Four Seasons Resort, Carmelo, Uruguay, Latin America | 92.22 | ||
| 8 | - | Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza, Africa | 90.00 | ||
| 9 | - | Four Seasons Hotel Sydney, Sydney, Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific |
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