Our Inbox is never empty...but it springs GRAND ideas..... Women Ruling the World & 10 Beauty Tips!

Well, I'm busier than a one armed bandits the last two days. Did I just say "one armed bandit, I've been taking my grandmothers too literally-LOL! Anyway... so far this week I have.....

.....Cleaned my room, mom did my bathroom for the $10 I paid her (LOL), done my budget, paid my bills, watched Dylan, cleaned up his puke, went to dinner with mom and her friend, talked to Grama, sisters, Hugh and emailed friends and family. I did my photo album on picturetrail.com and am updating this blog! I CLEANED my room yesterday, and my mother was right, clean it at least once a week, otherwise you'll be there for a day a half when you finally do take the time. I vacumed my pillows and floor, dusted, put away TONS of clothes, and basically Febreezed the heck outta everything! I hope that stuff's not too bad for us! Anyhow....this week I have to watch Dylan for the next three days, go grocery shopping, babysit on Saturday, spend Sunday w/ Hugh, empty the catbox, update this blog (it IS a priority) and etc, etc, etc....my life is NOT nearly as hectic as most, but it is crazy-and I LOVE it! Every minute, whether busy or slow, is joyful, beautiful and precious! Really, I'm lovin' every minute of this crazy life! Our inbox will NEVER be empty, there WILL always be something to do. And meditating and writing are now on my to do lists EVERY DAY! Even if I don't write in here every day, I do write SOMETHING! Anyhow....

Last night as I piled my butt into bed I got to thinking about the Oprah show I watched that day. It was really cool; all about women around the world and how they lived. Personally, I like Iceland. I'm votin' for a move to Iceland. Sex on the firt date, no marriage, leave your kids outside when you grocery shop and 2 crimes a YEAR, no cops w/ guns, and huge fines for saying or doing some racial! Yep, sounds pretty good to me!!!! Although I'm NOT so interested in the Icelandic delicacy of shark testicles-YUCK! Anyway...then there were two women from Israel, a Palenstinian and an Israeli...they're people have been fighting since the begining of time, but esp the last half a century and these two women are GREAT friends and trying to mend that conflict one woman and one friendship at a time! It got me thinking: what if women ruled the world?

Since the begining of time MEN have been the leaders, heroes, crusaders, dictators and rulers of the world? MEN have had the power and still do for much of the world. Granted, women today have more rights than ever before, esp in highly developed non-Muslim countries. But, still, men run the world as Presidents, Prime Ministers, Rulers and God knows what else. What if women did? Women have an inate sense of need to do it all, be all and do it perfectly. Women are known multi-taskers. Women can balance a checkbook, run errands, hold a cryin' baby, answer the phone and fix a meal all the same time...men, well not so much. Not that I think women are superior to men, I think we should all be equal, and thankfully we are moving close towards that goal each and every day...BUT, I think that if women ruled the world, it'd be a MUCH better, LESS violent place! Women TALK, women COMMUNICATE, women are more intellectual and have a motherly instinct. I think it would be really interesting and very rewarding to write a book about women and the world....their connections, interactions and how the world would really look if women DID rule the world! Yes, we'd nag eachother to death and fight over which President had the nicest fanny, but hey, men aren't perfect either! LOL! Just an idea and I HAD to write about it!

Ok, while we're on the subject of women, here are my beauty secrets!

1.) WATER: drink LOTS of water every single day! I don't buy that supposed fact that the water you drink in OJ, coffee, soda and food counts. At least it doesn't count for me. I say 1-2 Liters of H2o a day! I'm hydrated, energized.... my skin is clearer and my muscles more ajile!!! Thanks mom for pushing this on me since day one! Mothers DO know BEST!

2.) LIMIT SUN EXPOSURE & SUNSCREEN: wear LOTS of sunscreen and protect yourself with sunglasses, a hat and appropiate clothing! Hopefully, they won't come out 20 years from now and say that it's bad for us, but for now, I use it EVERDAY, on ALL exposed parts of my body, esp. my face and hands! I searched long and hard for a fragrance free sun screen (I just don't like smelling like a pina colada all day-eww). I am now on the make for a chemical free one. But, anyhow, on the face, hands and arms-EVERDAY, ALL DAY! It'll pay off, I hope! :)

3.) SLEEP: lack of sleep REALLY ages one. NO ONE looks good when they're tired! So, get plenty of sleep, although this is probably the hardest of all the things to do for yourself. But hey, they don't call it "beauty sleep," for nothing!

4.) FRUITS & VEGGIES: truly, FRESH produce, and FRESH foods!!!! Not over processed, over chemicalized foods-yuck!

5.) MOISTURIZER: even my oily/combo acne-prone skin NEEDS moisture. Preferably moistureizer w/ SPF and Collagen in it. We ALL need it. And I moisturize day AND night...and use a different one for each! Does WONDERS!

6.) EYE CREAM: I read somewhere that you need to start using one at 20 years old, which I did. I personally like Cindy Crawford's Meaningful Beauty...I've tried alot of them...Avon, Oil of Olay, Mary Kay, and Loreal and for me, I love CCMB!!! It instantly lifts and revivies the eyes!!!! :)

7.) MEDITATION: it really does lower stress, anxiety and depression and is really a huge gift! People who have faith often age slower b/c they're not so worried about the world and everything in it!

8.) WASH YOUR FACE TWICE A DAY: and NEVER go to bed w/ your make up on...even if I don't wear makeup that day, I STILL wash my face. All the dirt, germs and crap my face comes in contact with during the course of the day..ewww, no wonder my face breaks out if I don't wash it every night! And, after sleeping, God only knows what's in my pillow, dust mites, cat hair, etc...again, eww! So, b/c of that, I wash in the morning too! The point is....WASH! But only twice a day, otherwise it can strip and irritate your skin!

9.) EXFOLIATE: I have used St. Ive's Apricot Scrub for ten years now since I was 11 years old, every other day I exfoliate my face and neck, and my entire body with Kosher Salt and Lavender Oil ONCE a week. It does wonders for getting a close shave, shelling off dead skin cells and refreshing and renewing your skin's softness and raidiance!

10.) GET TO KNOW YOUR SKIN TYPE: I'm dry in some place, really oily in others...a catch 22, but at least I'm not one huge extreme!

Okay, that is IT, I'm gonna go hang out w/ Dylan, I'm gonna miss that little guy! Love him, love my family, love my friends, love God, love my LIFE!

God Bless everyone!

Many Blessings & Lots of Love,
SL