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Herbal Balm for the Body and Soul: Ten Healthy Teas by Valerie B. Lull

Amaze Magazine — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:15:57 +0000

Herbal Balm for the Body and Soul: Ten Healthy Teas by Valerie B. Lull… Valerie B. Lull’s introduction to the adventure of tea is a primer to the pleasures of tea and an informative overview of the benefits to the body and he soul of a perfect cup of tea, quietly sipped, by oneself or with family and friends.

Author and herbalist Valerie B. Lull announces the release of Ten Healthy Teas. Lull’s simple introduction to ten tantalizing teas and simple recipes from them is a perfect guide to people on the go who want to reap the benefits to their health and to gain the instant, calming peace of mind that these teas can provide.

“If man has no tea in him, he is incapable of understanding truth and beauty.” So says an anonymous Japanese proverb, and it seems true, too, that the man with no tea in him will also have more colds, a weaker heart and a little more nervousness than is comfortable while getting through his day.

Lull’s introduction to these ten easy-to-find and easy-to-brew teas remedies those things. The author covers such conventional brews as green tea and black tea as well as the generally familiar chamomile and peppermint herbal teas, and she lists the potential health benefits to each, some of which are known, some of which are surprises.

Lull also covers the advantages of less familiar herbal drinks such as garlic tea, which was called “Russian penicillin” in World Wars I and II because of its apparent prevention of gangrene. Goldenseal tea is another new recommendation for most people. It was a favorite tea of the Iroquois and Cherokee, among whom it achieved a reputation for stellar antibiotic properties.

The author herself learned of the pleasures of tea time when as a young child she visited relatives in Canada who celebrated the leafy brew. Later on she and her mother would put a kettle on the old wood stove in their Vermont country home and sip tea through an afternoon of Scrabble or checkers. Now Lull is studying to be a Master Herbalist, but the information she provides in this concise volume is more than sufficient for anyone who wishes to simply enjoy a cup of hot, healthy tea.

Unusual Beauty Ingredient Trends for 2012

Amaze Magazine — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 10:07:32 +0000

National beauty brands are always raising the bar when it comes to incorporating unique and exotic ingredients, and it’s important to know exactly what these quirky ingredients do for us… Check out the hot new beauty ingredients for 2012!

1. Monk’s Pepper Berry

Called “the ancient elixir of happiness” – in ancient Greece, monks used to brew pepper berries in hot water and drink as tea. This tea actually promoted feelings of happiness and, years later, was also found to have powerful antioxidant properties (when ingested and applied topically)
Fights the signs of aging, promotes a radiant glow and protects skin from free radical damage
Example: Every product in the new Stages of Beauty brand has the monk’s pepper berry ingredient (cleanser, scrub, treatment cream, serum, etc.).

2. Sheep’s Wool

Chemists have extracted a protein peptide called ProSina from the wool of New Zealand sheep
ProSina improves the condition of damaged nails by seeping into the nails, resulting in the integrity and cohesion of the nail plate. Strengthens weak, brittle and/or peeling nails.
Example: Dermelect Cosmeceuticals’ anti-aging nail treatments (base coat nail strengthener, Launchpad, concealer and base coat ridge filler, Makeover, fast drying top coat, High Maintenance and moisturizing cuticle cream Rejuvenail)

3. Seaberry Oil

Derived from the sea buckthorn shrub native to Siberia (think cold!) with skin repairing and highly moisturizing properties
High in carotenoids, vitamin C, amino acids, minerals, sterols and polyphenols
Carotenoids are a natural shield against UVA/UVB rays and also accelerates skin rejuvenation
Great for extra dry skin, acne, eczema and scars
Will not find in many products because it has a bright orange color and a unique fragrance, so it is a challenging ingredient to master
Example: Found in Fresh’s Seaberry Restorative Body Lotion

Halt Your Sniffles! Tips to Stop Your Cold this Season by Dr. Yael Halaas

Amaze Magazine — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 10:04:28 +0000

You may be worried about catching the dreaded cold or flu… Every year, there are over one billion colds in the United States and more than 200 different viruses are known to cause the signs and symptoms of the common cold. We all know the common wisdom to get rid of a cold: rest, drink fluids and wash your hands. However, there are other innovative ways to ease your discomfort and relieve the symptoms of the common cold!

Here a few tips to win the cold war:

Take Your Stuffy Nose Outside: Breathing cold dry air helps reduce nasal congestion than breathing normal room air
Pump Up The Probiotic: 42% fewer people caught a cold after consuming any amount of probiotic
Hit The Gym: Exercise sparks a temporary rise in immune cells
Practice Crowd Control: Protect yourself by not touching your nose and eyes while in transit and washing your hands immediately afterward
Make Some Music: Vibrations from humming open the sinuses to clear congestion

Dr. Yael Halaas, ear, nose and throat doctor. She’s been featured on round up/lifestyle and breaking news segments on The Doctors, FOX News and ABC New York. Dr. Halaas has extensive knowledge on the common cold and has been a guest on Inside Edition, The Doctors and ABC in New York. She has been quoted in US Weekly, Men’s Fitness & Fitness Magazine.

Resolve to Change Your Life This New Year

Amaze Magazine — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 10:02:40 +0000

Sweet Acceptance Versus Bitter Resistance (Booklocker) is revolutionary book for people who suffer from addiction, contend with bad habits, possess negative thinking patterns, or are held captive by an addictive personality. Author Dr. Peter Andrew Sacco can help readers transform their lives with his practical and theoretical knowledge for overcoming addictions, along with a revolutionary 3-tier approach of psychology, spiritualism and law of attraction. This book teaches that addictions do not discriminate, but people do!

Once the principles in Sweet Acceptance Versus Bitter Resistance are applied, readers will definitely be on the road to recovery and find the self that they had been seeking. Using cognitive behavioral therapy techniques along with the 8 Beatitudes from the Holy Bible, this book breaks new ground in combining psychology with spirituality for overcoming addiction. Furthermore, it employs the principles from the law of attraction, teaching individuals how to become what they most want to be, as well as showing them how to receive what they want.

Sacco is an author, psychology professor, and former private practitioner/Hypnotherapist. He is the author of many international popular selling books. He is also former Editor-in-Chief of Vices: The Magazine for Addictions, Habits and Well-Being, and author of more than 400 magazine articles. Sacco lectures at universities in the USA and Canada. He specializes in relationships, criminal psychology, addictions, sports psychology, and mental health. He has received the Award of Excellence in Teaching. He is also a regular resident expert on several television programs and has hosted the show Mental Health Matters for 2 years. He calls home one of the most picturesque regions of the world, Niagara Falls, Canada.

Sweet Acceptance Versus Bitter Resistance will be available in bookstores in the USA and the United Kingdom, as well as online at the first of the year. Learn more about this inspiring figure athttp://www.petersacco.com.

KRUPS’ Guide to Latte Art

Amaze Magazine — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:02:39 +0000

Have you ever ordered a cappuccino and had it arrive tableside looking more like a work of art than a cup o’ joe? Latte art is becoming more and more popular, with delicious designs being served up in local coffee houses as well as gourmet restaurants and barista competitions that introduced this eye-catching coffee trend.

Want to hone your own latte art skills home? KRUPS, leading producer of coffee makers and kitchen appliances has put together a quick guide for amateur latte artists. Don’t think you have what it takes? Think again! All you need is a steady hand, some perfectly foamed milk, and of course, practice!

Step 1: Pour enough cold milk for one cup into the steaming pitcher. Steam milk with the wand deep in the pitcher, then directing the milk in a counterclockwise fashion until the liquid heats to 150?F. For a foolproof way to create a smooth, velvety milk, KRUPS recently released their XL2000 Milk Frother, which makes rich, long lasting meringue-like milk at the touch of a button.

Step 2: Allow the milk to sit while you add one or two shots of freshly brewed espresso to a coffee mug – one with curved sides will work better than a squared off glass.

Step 3: Swirl the milk vigorously. If you see any bubbles, tap the pitcher on the counter several times and go back to swirling the milk for 20 to 30 seconds.

Step 4: Slowly start pouring the milk into the espresso. First in a circular pattern around the edge of the cup, slowly moving toward the center as the foam rises.

To create a leaf pattern: When your cup reaches half full, the foam will start to rise. Move your pitcher backwards as you pour while moving it from side to side using the motion of your hand to create a leaf pattern in the top of your latte. When you reach the end of the cup, pour a stream of milk right through the middle of your leaf pattern. Just be careful to use a small amount of milk so the design is not affected!

To create a heart pattern: Shake your hand as you would in making leaf. However, instead of moving backwards, keep your hand in the same general area, focusing on making a ringed circle.

Step 5: Enjoy!

Top 10 Kid Gadgets for Holiday Road Trips by Ashley Grimaldo

Amaze Magazine — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 20:34:02 +0000

Talking on a cell phone while driving is dangerous. But a mid-transit chat pales in comparison to the distraction of driving with one (or two!) children wailing in the backseat. Nothing increases adrenaline and quick recall of four-letter words quite like crying kids.

As parents, we can mentally cope with crying kids to and from the grocery store. But long-distance trips need more finesse. Careful preparation and a few necessities can prevent a few glitches and keep your travel going smoothly. As you prepare for holiday travels, make the most of your trip with these handy gadgets.

1. Snack Container
A signature trademark of a kid-friendly car is a Hansel and Gretel-worthy crumb collection on every surface. If you can overlook this completely annoying parenthood perk, I applaud you; otherwise invest in some creative cups. Munchkin offers an ingenious design with handles and no spill rubber top–two for under $7. Sporting a similar design but with an attachable rope (and additional solid top) is the Spill-Proof Snack Buddy Cup from One Step Ahead.

2. Window Shade
Getting on the road is tough enough; stopping to shade a sunset shouldn’t be on your list of priorities. Grab a light-cutting window shade to curb the brightness. Measure your windows and buy the widest shade possible, making sure you have enough visibility in your back and rear passenger windows. Check out your options at Great Baby Products for window shade reviews.

3. Lacing Toys
Kids above age 3 (who don’t suffer from motion sickness) will work on lacing boards for hours. Growing Tree Toys has a fantastic range of simple lacing activities, like necklaces and ABCs, to complex connect-a-dot boards. Bring a bucket to set in your child’s lap so that she can contain the blocks without dropping them on the floor.

4. Finger Puppets
For the dramatic types in your crew, a set of finger puppets can be a space-saving lifesaver. My favorite are high-quality puppets that tell a familiar story, like Thumbelina or the Frog Prince from puppet master Folkmanis, but folks on a budget can definitely afford IKEA’s popular set of circus characters or animals for just $4.99.

5. Favorite Music
Not your favorite music, mind you. Junior may not appreciate the vocal stylings of Rihanna for hours on end (and, honestly, you shouldn’t either). Enjoy some traditional Disney favorites and throw in some award-winning movement songs from Hap Palmer and Joe Scruggs to keep the mood kid-friendly. Bring on talk radio when it’s time for a snooze.

6. Bubbles
So what if you have to clean up the residue later! Bubbles are total fun for all ages, especially when the road seems never-ending. Unless you have an older child, mom or dad needs to commandeer the liquid and blow them toward the back. The best bubbles on the market, hands down, come from Gymboree. These bubbles float forever and the solution never dries out.

7. Barf Bag
Close to 30% of people are susceptible to motion sickness, and kids are no exception. The barfies can strike at any time–there’s no guarantee that your child will or won’t get sick on a road trip. Prepare for the worst by investing in a few leak-proof barf bags with fun pictures printed on the outside and show your child how to “cough” into it if his tummy starts to hurt. And bring an extra couple of towels just in case.

8. Neck Pillow
This is a tricky one. Your younger child may or may not like the feeling of something so close to her neck. Try it on short stroller trips ahead of time to practice. If your kiddo will wear it, she’ll be far more comfortable during naps. Pillow companions like theDora neck pillow attach to the straps of your car seat or stroller, making it a bit more accessible.

9. Small Baking Sheets
This ingenious idea from Family Fun keeps the ever-present I-dropped-it-on-the-floor wail at bay. Use a conventional (but smaller) lipped baking sheet as a drawing, magnetic and keep-it-all-in-one place surface. Glue one or two layers of foam shelf paper on the bottom to make it less likely to fall and affix white contact paper to the top for the drawing surface. Turn it into multiple activities by attaching magnets to buttons for checkers or bingo games. Older travelers might prefer a more sophisticated travel kit like this one from Martha Stewart.

10. iPad
No, I’m not a fan of hours of screen time for little eyes, but during a road trip this godsend is a total catchall. From apps for all ages to music and movies, the iPad is the perfect device for tiny travelers. Purchasing gift cards at a discount from sites like GiftCardGranny can help you pay for the pricey device at such retailers as Target and Walmart, who are currently offering deals on iPad 2 bundles. Then, let your kiddos learn letters with Starfall or everything nursery-rhyme cooky from Duck Duck Moose. When all else fails, strap it to the seat and watch a movie.

Ashley Grimaldo comes from a long line of penny pinchers and enjoys blogging on money-saving tips and advice for frugal-minded parents. She lives with her husband and three children in Bryan, Texas. Ashley has been featured among such media outlets as Redbook, The Chicago Tribune, Time.com, and CBS News-Houston.

Secrets to Staying Young by Karen Elizaga

Amaze Magazine — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 08:36:42 +0000

Secrets to Staying Young… A few simple tips!

Optimize your nutrition – feed yourself like a baby.

Any good nutritionist will tell you that all of the processed and chemical-laden foods are aging us. The stuff is pumping our bodies with hormones and pesticides that our bodies weren’t meant to process. Our systems end up working much harder and longer in order to protect our critical organs from the poisons.

As you think about how to eat, think about how you would feed a newborn baby… only the best. We think carefully about what goes into their mouths, opting for vegetable purees and whole grain cereals.

Try it yourself! Switching to a mostly organic and whole food diet (and if that’s not possible, ditch the fast and processed foods in favor of food that you can prepare yourself) will help you to feel better and allow your body to focus on what it needs to focus on, rather than protecting itself. Read labels on the food products you buy, or better yet, focus most of our grocery shopping on fresh foods that don’t have labels on them! Fruit, veggies, and meats and fish from humanely treated animals.

Give yourself the encouragement – just like that positive feedback you give your kids.

As we have aged and gone through years of school, we often focus on what we’re not. We didn’t get the A because we’re not smart enough. We didn’t make the team because we’re not fast enough. And it doesn’t end there – we beat ourselves up til there’s no energy or motivation to move forward. And when we actually do achieve something formidable, we take it for granted and move onto the next challenge. We don’t do the opposite of beating ourselves up – we don’t celebrate or dole out any positive feedback.

Carol Dweck wrote one of my favorite books on life – Mindset. In it, she talks about how to praise the process, whether you are talking to a child or anyone you manage (and that anyone includes you!). Instead of focusing on intrinsic talents, you give encouragement on the effort being made. “I like how you chose multiple colors for your drawing” instead of “great drawing!” Or “I really appreciate how hard you worked on that pitch” instead of “amazing pitch!”

If you start giving yourself some well-earned pats on the back for efforts that you make, and even for accomplishments achieved, you will find it so much easier to pave your path forward. You’ll be energized by your own work!

Exercise – dance, move, run, skip like you’re back on the playground.

Remember when you were 19, ahem 21, years old and hitting the clubs on a regular basis? Or even just the fraternity party down the road? How much fun was it to dance all night long? Or even before that, remember skipping as a child or riding your bike til your legs were about to fall off?

So fun. Exercise can continue to provide you with that amazing child-like energy. Find activities you enjoy, friends you like and time in your day. Incorporating regular exercise into your life will chop years from your life.

If you despise exercise, just turn up the music in your kitchen in the middle of – or at any point during – your day. Blast your favorite song and just move! At our house, we have regular dance parties, and the kids LOVE it. I love it.

Laugh – the average child laughs 150 times a day… the average adult, five.

We take ourselves too seriously. With so much to get done personally and at work, we are totally objective driven, often failing to stop and smell the roses, and worse, to laugh at the funny stuff.

Create time where you can laugh. Book dinners with girlfriends to talk about the absurdity of certain situations. Go to a comedy club. Roll around and play with your kids who naturally incite laughter. Not everything is a serious matter!

You’ll work your ab muscles and create joy at the same time!

Play – entertainment value is critical for keeping us young.

When was the last time you took a ride on a skateboard or played Scrabble or sang at the top of your lungs… just for fun? Yes, there are the moments on the spin bike or the run through the park, but my guess is those happen for exercise.

Give your bike a whirl outside with no particular destination. Rollerblade after you’ve exercised. Hula hoop. Dribble the ball around and play HORSE. Tennis. Give play no purpose other than fun!

Try out a few of these tips and see how you age in reverse. I have seen it work! Happy unbirthday to you!

Karen Elizaga is a lifestyle coach and founder of Forward Options. At the start of many client engagements, clients are exhausted, droopy and often look older than they are. They begin coaching with the intention to achieve their goals or make meaningful change in their lives, and an unintended byproduct is that they have more energy and enhanced youth! It is visible.

Le Palais des Thes – Gifts Ideas for Tea Lovers

Amaze Magazine — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 08:27:23 +0000

Le Palais des Thes offers a beautiful presentation and superb taste to make any tea lover swoon this holiday season!

Tea lovers are always searching for new ways to enjoy their favorite beverage. The Parisian tea brand Le Palais des Thés offers many intriguing gift options starting at $23.

Le Palais des Thés offers flavored signature teas, Les Créations, using only natural flowers, fruits and spices. Packagedin brightly colored metal canisters, Les Créations will perk up any kitchen for $23 each.

For those who prefer tea bags, Le Palais des Thés’ signature muslin tea bags (including black, green and caffeine-free rooibos teas) are boxed in sleek silver and gold for $50 a box set of 54 tea bags.

Le Palais des Thés’ limited edition box set of three tea canisters will please any foodie ($75 for the box set or $25 for one canister). This set includes: Thé du Hammam, green tea flavored with red fruits, green dates, and orange flower, evokes the baths of Istanbul; Thé des Moines, a mix of black and green teas based on a secret recipe from a Tibetan Monastery and Grand Yunnan Imperial, a floral black tea with a sweet fragrance of honey.

All of these items* are available at Le Palais des Thés US online boutique: www.palaisdesthes.com

A Princess and Her Garden by Dr Patricia Adson

Amaze Magazine — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 13:00:14 +0000

A Princess and Her Garden: A Fable of Awakening and Arrival by Dr Patricia Adson… From her spouse or significant other, to a demanding boss, to her children or her parents, the modern woman is excellent at taking care of other people. But the one thing she probably forgets? How to take care of herself.

She’s likely feeling the effects of all that overextension: The 2010 Stress in American Survey (American Psychological Association) reports that almost half of all women (49 percent) surveyed said their stress has increased over the past five years. So how can she set some boundaries, and nurture the one person she’s been neglecting?

In A Princess and Her Garden: A Fable of Awakening and Arrival (Center for Applications of Psychological Type, December 2011), psychologist and author Patricia Adson, Ph.D. guides women through the self-care process, equipping them with tools for growth and emotional healing.

Using the fable of a princess who tends to everybody else’s gardens at the expense of her own, the book illustrates the conundrum so many women find themselves in.

“I wrote this story for a women’s support group I was leading many years ago,” says Adson. “The goal was to give them a vocabulary for their emotional work, without all the psychopathology talk. When I saw the tremendous impact this story had on their healing process, I decided to make it available to more women who might need it.”

A welcome gift book or book club selection, A Princess and Her Garden includes the interactive guided journal “Becoming the Queen of Yourself,” which helps the reader move beyond being the “Princess of Other People.” Journal sections include the gardens of “Then” (growing up, lessons and conditioning from your family), gardens from “The In-Between” (leaving home, people you met along the way, victories as well as painful disappointments), and gardens of “Now” (caring for yourself).

PATRICIA ADSON, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist, certified coach, educator and author. In addition to a private coaching practice, she is a mentor coach and member of the Leadership Team at Hudson Institute of Santa Barbara, where she won the 2009 Excellence in Coaching Award. She is well-known for her work in the areas of personal balance, women in transition, and life purpose, and she is the author of Finding Your Own True North & Helping Others Find Direction in Life (1999), Depth Coaching: Discovering Archetypes for Empowerment, Growth, and Balance (2004) and A Princess and Her Garden (2011). Learn more at aPrincessAndHerGarden.com.

Aromatherapy and Essential Oil Careers

Amaze Magazine — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 21:46:18 +0000

Unlike Europe where opportunities for education, training and accreditation for aromatherapy and essential oil careers exist, many programs in the United States are taught as part of a full massage therapy program or as part of continuing education for LMT’s, alternative healthcare professionals and spa owners.

To date, there are no regulations and/or accreditation for aromatherapy practitioners in the United States. Therefore, building a store-front and setting up shop as an aromatherapist (without being an LMT, licensed alternative health care practitioner or spa owner) certainly has its’ challenges!

However, You DO Have Options!
If you are considering an aromatherapy and essential oil career, (or enhancing your current business as an LMT, alternative heath care practitioner or spa owner), please read on…

Our suggestion is to consider starting your aromatherapy career with Young Living Essential Oils. Founded in 1993, this multinational, relationship marketing company specializes in the production and distribution of therapeutic-grade essential oils and essential-oil enhanced products. They are also the largest supplier of essential oils in the world.

Their full line of products is outstanding!

Whether you are brand new to the industry or a seasoned professional Young Living offers the the best products, tools, information, training and support you need to thrive.

If you are passionate about essential oils and wellness (as well as the freedom of being your own boss), Young Living may just be your perfect opportunity!