Through A Lens...

In the perspective of every person lies a lens 

through which we may better understand ourselves.
 Ellen J. Langer

Months ago I have been blogging about how my views were magnified. Two weeks ago, the IT Guy made it a point to get me contact lenses. The last time I've used one was about 12 years ago...and now I'm too damn scared to wear them! This was my first failed attempt of putting them on...I ended up taking a shot and staring at it for 5 minutes trying to understand where and how in the world I have developed this fear! As I stare at the lens, I was trying to understand myself...I guess age gives us wisdom but it does not necessarily let us conquer fear...or is my fear out of wisdom? Wisdom to take care of my eyes?! I need more conversations with myself now.

Happy not so Wordless Wednesday everyone!

Beauty Tricks for Busy Women

Only one word can best describe how may days have been - BUSY!

If you're a reader of Mariposa's Tales, then most likely you know that I just moved to a new city to set-up a call center which I will head myself. For the two (2) weeks I've been working for 10 to 12 hours a day. I have not had the time to visit any salon since I came here a month ago! Can you believe that? Worst I left my manicure set at home so that means I can't do much with my nails. A week ago I managed to buy some stuff but still didn't find the time to do my nails. But doesn't mean that Mariposa is looking horrific right now. No way. I will not let that happen. It's a good thing I have some speedy beauty tricks that I have known to work all my life. Let me share with you some of my secrets --

Skin Care

* You can hydrate you skin faster as early as in the shower. Just use your hair conditioner to massage your entire body (and I mean literally from neck to toe!). I find this more effective especially when you have no time to apply body lotion. Take note that lotion takes time to be absorbed by the body and if you are in a hurry, you may not have the time to rub lotion all over that body.

* To take up that oil and refresh makeup, just mist your face with some toner and then pat it with tissue. Sometimes, I just pat it with a wet tissue in fact. Then I finish it with by dusting loose powder.

Hair Care

* Sprinkle translucent power over your roots and comb it through to remove that grease look in your scalp and hair.

* If you are really in a hurry, do the T-zone blow dry trick: down on your part and then around the hairline only. Once the front and top of your hair looks done, so will you!

* Want to flatten those frizz? Dampen your hands with water and a drop of hand lotion (which I presume you always carry in your purse), then gently pull your hair back into a french twist. Take your strands down in about 10 minutes, and hurray, fuzz free!

* You can always resort to the ultimate easy style - ponytail! Just pull your hair back haphazardly with your fingers and spritz with hairspray, then twist a stray tendril around your hair elastic and then pin.

Makeup Tricks

* Go pretty in pink! If you think concealer is a universal solution to imperfection, you may want to pair it with pink. Wearing lipstick in warm pink gives that glow that distracts people from seeing blemishes and other imperfections. I swear it works for me...go try it!

*  Eyeliner is one of the fastest way I found to look sexy,  Just trace your top lash lines to just past the outer corners of your eyes.

* Want to look alive after a long night? Ha! Trust me with this one, I've been in a night shift for years now and I can go to any breakfast meeting without them knowing I've been up the whole evening. To do just pat concealer unto the inner corners of your eyes, under your lower lashes and next to your nose. You can finish by applying bronzer over your cheeks.

Nail Care

* This is what's keeping me up all this time. As most of my friends know, I can't stand horrific nails. My quick and easy trick is just to remove all polish, clean under your nails (with lemon juice, if you have it) and massage the thickest lotion you can find (lip balm will suffice in a pinch) into your cuticles.

Visiting Health Forums

I was home early yesterday and had time to surf around the net. I know it's been awhile since I posted something here. So last night I was able to spend more time online and was checking around the net. 

Since I started this blog, I have been looking for a health forum to join and share some of the stuff I have here. I found one last night and it's a very interesting site to visit. There once can post several questions, ideas and other health related issues and so many people go there and discuss these topics. This is just exactly what I have been looking for!

I'm quite in a hurry now and just finishing my coffee, but I'm sure to be back to share some interesting topics I read from there, you may also check the site yourself. =)

Friday Sweets

For a change I am doing Friday Food Trip here. Hopefully, moving forward I can do it here every other week, just to have an alternate venue of this fun weekly meme!

We started the week with a bang with our Chinese New Year celebration and for this week's food trip, let me share with you some its remnants!

These are dried fruits and crops, you have here dried sweet potatoes, dried sweet plums, dried pineapple jelly and some jelly candies.

 

 

We have also some pack of chocolates! 

  

Which the nephew claimed some! Hehehe

  

And you can its content here. A perfect energy booster! LOL

  

Okay, they may not be food, but well in my book, anything I put into my mouth and swallow, falls under that category.

Happy weekend to all!

Natural Ways to Prevent Colds and Flu

I have to admit that my Thursday 13 this week is self-serving. I'm battling with colds once again and I so want to kick this in the butt already as I have some big things coming for the next weeks. I already did a post about common colds before and in fact did a part 2 post where I shared some natural home remedies for common colds. So for this week I'd like to share some natural ways to prevent colds and even flu. (Yes, I am trying to educate myself on these as I have been a victim of this illness lately.)

1. Drink, drink, drink!

How many times have you heard that eight glasses a day is good for the body? Probably every day and in fact that is one thing I always mention here. This habit is a good one for the body in many ways, as it washes out the system, and is needed in order to maintain a healthy diet and a clear, healthy complexion. So make sure you get 8-10 glasses of water a day!

Also, hot liquids like fruit teas and lemon drinks will ease any nasal congestion you feel coming on and prevent dehydration. A dried-out respiratory system will leave you more prone to infection.

2. Get that Zzz your body deserve!

Yes, you read it right. Getting enough sleep means less likely to have colds and flu.The fact that a certain amount of sleep is required in order to remain healthy cannot be repeated enough. Not only does sleep help the body stay alert throughout your day, it also helps the immune system to stay strong. (No wonder, I'm so poor at it the past days!) 

3.  Start gargling...

According to a Japanese research daily gargling with water reduces cold risk. People who gargled with water were 36 percent less likely to be struck down when compared those who don't. The study suggests that simple water gargling is effective to prevent upper respiratory tract infections.

4.  Sterilize your toothbrush...and change it regularly.

While toothbrush clean our teeth, after brushing, they become breeding ground for germs. Run your toothbrush through the microwave on high for ten seconds to kill germs that can cause colds and other illnesses.  Sterilize it in the microwave before you use it, or store it in hydrogen peroxide (rinse well before using), or simply replace it every month when you change the page on your calendar and after you’ve had a cold.

5. Wash those hands!

And do it often. Most cold and flu viruses are spread by direct contact. The Naval Health Research Center conducted a study of 36,000 recruits who were ordered to wash their hands five times a day. Amazingly the recruits cut their incidence of respiratory illnesses by 45 percent.

6. Rub those eyes gently,

...using your knuckles.  It’s less likely to be contaminated with viruses than your fingertip. This is particularly important given that the eye provides a perfect entry point for germs, and the average person rubs his eyes or nose or scratches his face 20-50 times a day.

7.  Eat yogurt!

Researchers from University of California found that individuals who ate one cup of yogurt — whether live culture or pasteurized — had 25 percent fewer colds than non-yogurt eaters. Start your yogurt eating right away to build up your immunity before cold and flu season starts. For more benefit of yogurt, you may want to check an old post I wrote, The Joy of Yogurt.

8. Go for garlic.

When 147 volunteers received either one garlic supplement a day or a placebo for twelve weeks between November and February, those taking the garlic were not only less likely to get a cold, but if they did catch one, their symptoms were less intense and they recovered faster.

9. Sneeze and cough the right way.

And that means to sneeze and cough into the arm. Whoever taught us to cover our mouths when we cough or sneeze got it wrong. That just puts the germs right on our hands, where you can spread them to objects — and other people. Instead, hold the crook of your elbow over your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough if a tissue isn’t handy. It’s pretty rare that you shake someone’s elbow or scratch your eye with an elbow, after all. 

10. Wipe, don’t blow. 

Colds won’t hang around as long, according to a University of Virginia study. Turns out that the force of blowing not only sends the gunk out of your nose into a tissue, but propels some back into your sinuses. And, in case you’re curious, they discovered this using dye and X rays. If you need to blow, blow gently, and blow one nostril at a time. 

11. Get some exercise.

Exercise is very healthy for the body, in many ways. Exercising regularly, Not only develops muscle mass and strength, it also makes the immune system a heavyweight champion.

12.  What to do when at public restrooms.

Studies find a shockingly large percentage of people fail to wash their hands after using a public restroom. And every single one of them touches the door handle on the way out. So after washing your hands, use a paper towel to turn off the faucet. Use another paper towel to dry your hands, then open the door with that paper towel as a barrier between you and the handle. It sounds nuts, but it’s an actual recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control to protect you from infectious diseases like cold and flu.

13. Doctor, doctor, I am sick!

All these are simple ways to help avoid the flu — but they are not substitutes for medical treatment or advice.

Remember that the flu is something that everyone gets once in a while, and there is no 100% guarantee to prevent it. These tips can help reduce the chances of being stuck at home with some nasty flu but that doesn’t mean we can’t still call in sick once in a while…like I do!