And the Award, for "Most Superficial"...

Goes to...after the drumroll and my introduction.

I learned some fascinating but not too suprising information from being a consumer from the most ungrateful sellers and producers of beauty supplies. I wanted to find out what group of people did the most plastic or cosmetic surgery and it was amazing to discover this because I always have loved Asians exotic looks and mostly everything they seem to want to change. From what I have learned in South Korea the people want to have a more "western" look or whatever that means. Not only do Koreans go overboard but people of other nationalities go to South Korea just to enjoy their doctors.

So the Award for 'Most Superficial" country goes to South Korea and they deserve this because they are true perfectionists in a way.

Just in case you do not know what superficial is, below is the meaning and I found the definition here.

: concerned only with what is obvious or apparent : not thorough or complete

: affecting only the outer part or surface of something : not deep or serious

: lying close to the surface

After South Korea comes some Latin American countries, Greece and Italy in a top 7 list..

If you want to look like a doll permanently and be "plastic" than take a trip to Korea.

Now I understand fully were this Korean man was coming from who works at a shoeshop who told me, " You are so pretty and thin, I am unlucky because I am ugly and big." This is a true story of what he told me and well I guess with all the Korean BBQ and other habits Koreans are naturally on the big side but I still admire their natural intelligence.



The moral of this is that these Koreans in America who have built a fortune from the weave they sale at their beauty supply stores can really thank the "Black community" for making their comfortable lifestyle possible. If no one else can I am going to be truthful and give credit where it is due.

True Beauty

I am very thankful and blessed to now understand what true beauty is all about. 

To tell you the truth that it was not until I asked to be made more beautiful I know exactly what being beautiful is all about. I recently told someone the reality about the insecurity withing myself in the past, "People would always tell me how beautiful or all the other big words for being attractive but I did not believe I was beautiful. The thing is that being beautiful has nothing to do with a look but a feeling, and now more than ever I feel beautiful."

People can give compliments of how great you look but when you are not feeling good than being beautiful can not be your truth. The best thing about being beautiful is that you choose to love yourself and when you have self-love than loving others is as easy as 1-2-3. If there is anything that we owe each other, that would be love and anything less is unacceptable.

As a make-up artist I deal with the superficial and enjoy giving people a fantasy but the truth is that true beauty comes from within and is nothing but love. I have been grateful and happy to be touched by some of the most beautiful souls and that is because they were all about true beauty. The dress size, inches in someone's waist, amount of make-up or skin color does not determine what makes someone really beautiful and so many do not realize that. Attraction or being easy on the eyes is different than being truly beautiful.

I am loving the October issue of Essence magazine because on the cover there is a topic of "beauty: inside and out".

Everything on from what I am seeing on the cover is showing how much beauty starts and can be found inside. What an amazing feeling to be able to give love coming from a pure heart. 

All the bullying and abuse that goes on is just coming from people who may feeling ugly and have chosen to oppose loving themselves as well as others. Now that I accept beauty I am always willing to fight against anyone abusing their "power" and love is what I choose all of the time. Beauty is to know as well as see that other's are hurting and take action to help them.

Love is life and that is the simple, most beautiful truth.

Food for the Soul....

For Wellness Wednesday today I want to focus on the power of words or what the intentions behind them are made of.


The state of someone's intentions, thoughts and spirits can really put a whole new meaning to the words they speak and the power they give them. Of course I can really tell the truth and know that words are not just words because they are simply magical really. Everyone can either speak life which equates to love or speak death which is nothing but evil along with lies. 

One of the best things to do is give words of encouragement to others and be in good spirits with joy in our hearts. A lot of people's spirits are hungry for more and the best way to feed these souls is through Our Daily Bread as well as words of encouragement than words coming from trying to discourage someone else.

The evil ways of bad spirits are always at work and I am not afraid to call that out and know that there is a better way to go about living in the path of complete love. Today is the 12th Anniversary of the attacks that took place on "September 11th " which led to many strangers coming together to help one another and a new alertness in making sure that America is protected from the real threats of our national security.


In the presence of being attacked by the enemy, the love and light of God was alive because everyday ordinary people were able to become heroes. It always seems like people fall for paying more attention to what is dividing everyone and becoming raptured by bad spirits they forget about the grace of God. The truth is we all can help one another and words of love is what feeding the soul is all about.


"It's All About The Love" is the title of the Daily Bread.

We teach,encourage, and rebuke the evil....We weep and rejoice. The love we give is tender and tough and supportive.

Not my photo

Darlings, stop the abuse and receive yor daily bread (not my photo)

(not my photo)

Receive love. Give love and repeat. Life and love is simple.

Day 28

This marks the last week of my fast which I will miss but this doesn't mean all my discipline is just going to be thrown all out the window.

What a wonderful day it has been filled with raindrops, daylight, Pickled cucumbers, Sugar Baby watermelons,  mommas,  anniversaries and the Lederer Youth Garden. I am really excited about learning about the Greenhouse and other programs that DC offers such as DC's "field to fork network" and this other thing I found.


Also, I believe this is worth mentioning because I am living in DC and today marks the 50th Anniversary of the "I Have A Dream" speech. I believe that I am highly favored and amazed by the grace inside of me and that I can realize. This wellness Wednesday will definitely be one I will cherish and hold in rememberance. 



Well since today is such a special day I have my own speech, in more of a written format that I will one day say out loud.



I have a dream that one day everyone living in the inner cities and Urban Areas will have access to healthy food and high quality facilities in their communities.

Also, I have a dream that people can learn to accept themselves fully and others with their flaws and all.

I have a dream that people will be colorblind and learn not to judge someone based on how many degrees they have or lack of them.


I have a dream that the style or texture of someone's hair will not me a matter in their job prospects and their treatment.


I have a dream that people will trust I have their best interest at heart and know what is best for them.


I have a dream that somehow people can work together in peace and find some common ground from sea to shining sea.

I have a dream that one day my work will be published in a high fashion magazine in the Americas, Africa, Asia, Russia, Middle East and Europe.
I have a dream that people will learn to speak freely and openly about any problems they have with someone instead of in private or behind their back.

I have a dream that one day people will learn to elevate to a higher spiritual level.


The most important part of my dream is that people can learn to love and nurture their environments fully.

Look of the Day:Smooth Operator

So..... since I am having technical difficulties I might as well let everyone bask in the glory that is my beauty, all thanks and praises to my heavenly God!


Anyways the look of the day is all about being a smooth operator.... oh and of course men are not the only ones who can getaway with having smooth  ways.

Always, have to keep your look smooth...

Day 14

For the past week my fast has been amazing and very fulfilling in ways that I did not expect. I learn how great of a vegetable Corn is and especially in the form of soup, which I had a bowl of Creamy Corn soup from the Souper Girl which was one of the heaviest soups I've had. Besides from the the usual water, juices and smoothies I have had some pretty awesome soups. The flavors of Split Pea Soup and Black Bean from Dr.McDougall's products was very satisfying and wonderful for any practicing vegans. 

This weak has been very interesting so much that I had a craving for grits, and with this fast I really love all the greatness of cornmeal, which in Italian culture it is known as polenta. I was loving how wonderful grits and corn period can be for my fasting challenge. When it comes to adding extra flavor to soups that may taste water downed hot sauce has been the perfect addition to my meals.

grits with butter

 

Protein packed

I am not going to be getting back to focusing on Wellness Wednesdays or really you could consider this information weird but I am sharing anyways. For my Wellness Wednesdays I will be combining a recapture of what I had to nourish my body for the previous week.

My new favorite drink and the most natural way I know how to get my protein has been ewith one of Naked's "Protein Zone" drinks. If anyone knows anything about me, than they know that I really love chocolate and than with bananas I am making the right choice. You can drink it for breakfast, lunch and dinner because it is very sweet and appropriately filling for anytime.

You may not be able to hear me but this is just a preview from my Day 7.

Alchemy

The latest book I have gotten into which I have heard about and even seen others reading has gone overlooked by me until now. The book is definitely interesting and I look forward to receiving the message to be received from the story. 

On the music side of things I love this song by "Alchemist" because life is quite a amazing journey with different strokes for different folks. Seeing a smile on someone's face definitely makes life more brighter. The magic of life is fufilling yor purpose while being able to be happy and enjoy oneself despite all the bulls#&t. Not only is Chemical Warfare going on, but spiritual as well and I love how this song came out before I moved up to the DC-Maryland-Virginia metropolitan area. Maybe life is all about finding our own treasure and making sure to leave some of the booty we found for others to enjoy and remember a solid legacy.

Reactions of Chakra

From my solar plexus all the way to my throat Chakra I have been through some changes and more aware of what my body can tolerate since three months ago. In the beginning of March I kind of felt like I might be dying from some type of trauma going on in my stomach because of course I love being dramatic. Turns out I was just having a reaction from drinking only Almond Milk to tasting some cow's milk which really put me through a unpleasant time. I had so much gas and indigestion I was under the impression I was dying and being tortured with stomach pains I have never felt before, as though someone was stabbing me in my stomach. I would take whatever I could that had to do with Gas such as Gas-X and Pepto Bismol to find out I just need the right Probiotics. I am not big into yogurt so taking Pearls and drinking only Blue Diamond Almond Milk and occasionally Soy Milk has saved my life. So the moral of this is that I have no to low tolerance of milk coming from a animal but I still can enjoy cheese and butter.

This entry is just a lesson in Chakras five, four and three which one has to really pay close attention to. Everything started for me in my Chakra five which is the solar plexus that is very important, which involves the stomach and digestive system. The pain that I was going through made me feel as though I was bleeding internally or something, and I had to go to the worst scenario possible such as me having a ulcer. Really it would have not been that surprising if I did have a stomach ulcer because all the symptoms seemed to be there. I survived and turns out that lactose intolerance was and is the reality for me.



I know my body pretty well that once or twice a year I am promised a cold that sends me into cough attacks and sneezing of course with all the common symptoms. The start of this cold threw me for a surprise because it started off with my throat swelling as though I could not breathe and a real threat to me waking up the next day or not. The coughs were pretty strong and had me ready for the worst diagnosis from the doctor of Acute Bronchitis or something. With everything that hurts or does not last forever, time will heal all. So for the past three months I may have been unbalanced in my will power, love-compassion drive and spiritual drive. To sum this all up it seems my body has been counting down from the elements of Fire, Air and Ether (Heaven or Space) and I am working on receiving the message.

Now to the present I find myself in shock or just being extra dramatic because of how my physical is dealing with this chest cold I have. This all has to to with my Thymus and Thyroid gland which correlate with the fourth and fifth chakras. 

H2O Plus

A new line that I discovered that is very hydrating for the skin and offers some of the best ingredients would be H2O Plus. H2O + is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois like a majority of other beauty brands, but what separates this from the others is that the key ingredients come from the Sea. 

Really, when it comes to great skin the sea does unlock a lot of the secrets to creating a youthful glow. There are so many specific collections apart of H2O + that meet the needs of different skin types. Other brands may say that they are this and that but H2O+ list all their ingredients in a glossary so you know what is being put into their products. 

If you have oily skin, dry skin or aging skin than H2O+ has something for you and really helps with sensitive skin types. With H2O+ I have found what I have been fishing for all along with skincare products.

I have yet to try out their other collections, but I know they are very high in quality. I have yet to use a eye-make up remover that does not irritate one bit and gets rid of all the residue from eye make-up. The bottom line is that when you have a water based skincare line that uses the science of marine biology you can not go wrong.

Catching the Wellness fever

I did not wear fishnet tights today for nothing.

Chocolatey

   June is National Candy month so it only makes sense that I would go over some the health benefits of Chocolate which is such a delightful treat. Cacao is chocolate in the raw form before it is processed to be sweetened along with other additives and find out more about the health benefits here. None of these photos are mine.

White- Chocolate

Cacao tree

I was missing in action on Wellness Wednesday because I needed some relaxation and rest so of course I enjoyed my time taken out to sleep from a traumatic Tuesday spent in Tara Thai in Bethesda Row. The good thing though is that Bethesda Row has so much more to enjoy, especially for the month of June.

Call this White Cocoa, pure sweetness

Eyes behind the back

This is what they would call a beat face...yummy I guess

To make sure my face is cleansed and pores clear there is nothing like a clay mask that smells sweet like chocolate.

Art of Living

Recently, I went to a meditation session at Sri Sri Center for Peace and Meditation, 2401 15th Street NW Washington DC 20009 which was so wonderful; and the good thing about meditation is that you do not have to be a rocket science, only be able to breathe. Just to stop and pay attention to how you are breathing and feel that is the art of living. Just to take the time out to meditate and refocus on what you want and being aware of one's surroundings is a great feeling. As hot as it was today and I could feel the sun scorching on me I did not break a sweat and I am amazed at some of the progress around me.

So I see the flyer for Sri Sri Ravi Shankur Evening of Meditation at the Washington DC Convention Center which already past on April 2, 2013 but the good thing is knowing finding true peace comes from within. Here is more on all that you can enjoy with Meditation in the DMV area. From the Mayo Clinic this is what meditation is all about and when you learn the different techniques than you can stress less or not have any turmoil coming from all the energies people put out phase you. What peace and joy life brings when you can live above distracting influences to be well with serenity.

Naturally breathing and beautiful on a sunny day

Art of Wellness

There are so many health benefits of art to the well being of people and the communities we live in. Being able to express one's self is very important and what better way than art, which is natural because the subconscious mind is able to flow freely. Art comes from the thoughts and the hidden interpretations of someone's viewpoints. There would not be the word Earth without "art" and how appropriate because art gives more meaning or just makes life fulfilling.

I was able to take a look at a well seasoned artist, Stan Squirewell working on his mural project for the Unity Health Care clinic in NE DC. What a difference the mural painting has made to the children's waiting area in the Minnesota Avenue location making the buildings interior much brighter. This project was completed on May 18, 2013 and you can see more of Mr. Squirewell work at his webpage. 

The first time I took a look at the mural I just wanted to see what it was all about, and ended up being inspired after leaving. Browsed the local beauty supply store and decided I would get creative for my next hairstyle and met a recent graduate named Sir Justin whose locks were kind of my inspiration. My attempt was sufficient but I did not have the patience to make small parts and have my locks layered.

What a "whimsical' Saturday it was when I went to pay a visit and the second time was to pay my respects because I had to help with the painting. As a artist you are a creator and how you envision the outcome that is what will be and if I was the artist in charge of the mural than how I wanted things to look would be different. With art there comes a type of freedom that nothing else offers that I know of which makes for great healing and pleasure.

To view more about what Unity Health Care clinics are up to you can go here.


Oh, I just love Whimsical and Wellness Wednesdays.

Whimsical manicure that is not my photo.

A soft blue tone with confetti

love this polish....whimsical on my toes.

Roller Coaster of Love...on a whim

Stan and his brother painting finishing touches to mural in children's waiting area