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Letting go of toxic encounters

2/8/2021

2 Comments

 
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Giving yourself some love


We’ve all been there--we have to interact with someone who is toxic even though every fiber of our being is in resistance mode.  Some toxic individuals are mean and menacing bullies who know exactly what they are doing, others are unintentionally self-centered and negative. Everyone of us can likely name at least one person who leaves us feeling drained and polluted when we are forced to engage with them. Even if we can’t always avoid these individuals, we can set in place protocols for recovery. We do not have to be victims of their toxicity. Here’s what I find to be effective--note that these protocols involve nourishment in the forms of movement, speech, soothing food and drink, and self-care rituals. Avoid toxic people and situations when possible but when that isn’t an option, plan on a retreat process that brings you back to your positive space.

How to detox after a polluting encounter or event
  1. Make a cup of tea--the British remedy for all times of trouble, add milk to soothe (Stash’s Breakfast in Paris tea bags give you the base for a London Fog--add milk and a bit of stevia/vanilla)
  2. Take a walk and just observe your surroundings
  3. Talk it out with a trusted friend, partner or therapist (you could walk and talk with a friend)
  4. Take a detoxing bath: Add sea salt and inexpensive herbal tea bags (cheaper than bath sachets).  Think mint and chamomile types of blends--three or four should be plenty. Massage your body with lotion or sesame/massage oil afterwards
  5. Grab a good book and head to bed early, read until sleepy
  6. Repeat until you feel yourself again supporting yourself during the day by wearing a favorite scarf and/or jewelry; eating nourishing comfort food; listening to soothing music.

Quick Comfort Food

Temple Food Ramen Bowl on the Fly
1 pack of ramen noodles
Handful of dried mushrooms, rehydrated with boiling water and cut into pieces or strips
Two Handfuls of fresh spinach
A few shakes of red chili flakes
A pinch of curry powder
A drizzle of sesame oil
A fried egg or two for protein

Grilled Cheese
Use a good grainy bread (pumpernickel, rye or a seed bread). Butter the bread and put one slice of cheese, add some hot & sweet mustard, then another slice of cheese). Grilled in your pan until desired toastiness. Have with a sliced apple and a pickle spear or two (refrigerated pickles have great probiotics).

Gotta Break Some Eggs Meal
Three eggs scrambled (season with salt and pepper before adding to a heated pan with melted butter in it).  Microwave a cup of spinach.  When eggs have just set, spread spinach on top then add either shredded or sliced cheese (I like swiss on this). Put a pan lid on top and turn off the heat.  While you wait for the cheese to melt; pop two slices of whole grain/low carb bread (I like Dave’s thin-sliced) into the toaster; spread with butter and a little honey or jam or marmalade.
​

Nature’s Reeses
Grab three or four prunes--put a dab of peanut butter (preferably natural with a bit of saltiness) in the center of the prune.  Really good!

 

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Schitt's creek

7/26/2020

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Image from IMDB
Yes, I've been watching more television than usual during the pandemic.  Like everyone, I need a bit of escapism. A few weeks ago, my daughter and I binge-watched all of the seasons of Schitt's Creek--a series imagined and written by Daniel Levy.  I had tried getting interested in the series a year ago, but it just didn't click and I gave up after three episodes. With more time (and more desperation for entertainment) on my hands, I gave it another try.  I'm so glad that I did.  The series follows the Rose family as they go from riches, to rags, to a different kind of riches in the small, down-and-out town of Schitt's Creek. The series sports a fabulous ensemble cast including Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara and Chris Elliot (as the town's mayor).  

One of the reasons why I had a tough time getting into this series is that it starts off with the obnoxiously wealthy family (whose money was made from a video store franchise) losing their assets when their advisor absconds with their funds.  They are forced to vacate their mansion and have only one place to go: Schitt's Creek--a town purchased as a joke by Johnny Rose for his son, David.  They arrive at the Budd Motel, a ramshackle roadside facility that has seen better days (though probably not much better).  They're cranky, self-absorbed, whiny and demanding all at once.  The show literally starts with a cacophony of complaints as they must cope with their sudden impoverishment.  

If you can hang with a few episodes, the show becomes infinitely more interesting as the family starts to adjust, adapt and evolve, all while living in two rooms of a really dumpy motel and eating all of their meals at the local Cafe Tropical (known for its extensive, but not very well-executed, menu).  The most evolution takes place with the character of Alexis Rose (played by Annie Murphy).  We meet her as a vapid, self-absorbed social media-lite who struggles to find her way without the constant affirmation of clicks, likes, friends and parties.  Each season she becomes more and more interesting as she becomes increasingly capable, flexible and caring.  Her brother, David (played by Dan Levy), is a neurotic art gallery curator who must adjust to the lowbrow atmosphere and tastes of his new hometown crowd.  Early in the series, we learn that David is pansexual--a revelation handled with incredible tact and tenderness.  After some failed relationships, he eventually meets a man who will become his better half.  

I love many things about this series, but I especially appreciated that Dan Levy decided to have his character meet the love of his life without any hometown complications.  No homophobia.  No slurs.  No beatings.  No rolled eyes or turned-up noses.  At first I found this remarkable and perhaps even a bit naive.  But here's the thing.  Why can't this be the case everywhere for all couples?  You have two people in love who are clearly suited for one another.  Why must their happiness be blighted by anyone else's limitations or opinions?  I was delighted to see a gay story line that decided not to take a journey into strife, hardship and bigotry.  However, it also saddens me that this offers such an unusual take.  After all, why should any couple have to endure hatred and verbal and/or physical violence for being in love?  Why should this show be a case of poetic license?  Imagine your own relationship status.  If you're heterosexual, think about if others found your sexual preference abhorrent.  If you're in an interfaith relationship, or an interracial one, think about the strictures that used to limit those marital ties and how it would have impacted your lives.

If you decide to commit to watching Schitt's Creek, be prepared to laugh and to learn and to re-imagine rural America.  What is truly important to you?  What would you do if faced with sudden ruin?  How do you pick up the pieces?  How do you ask more of yourself?  How do you deepen your relationship to others? To place? To a new version of self?  Enjoy and grow with the Schitts!  You will emerge with a sense of what could be, for yourself and for your communities.

Artfully yours,
Lisabeth
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movie therapy

4/30/2020

2 Comments

 
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By I, Mattia Luigi Nappi, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3860007

How many of us are relying on movie therapy to get us through the coronavirus lockdown?  I know that now, more than ever, I'm looking to motion pictures to provide an escape from the reality of life in quarantine.  Along the way, I'm discovering some great films and thinking about those which have been my favorites.  I tend to favor wholesome films, though I do have some junky "guilty" pleasures as well.  I'm planning here a series of blogs looking at my favorite films in categories that I've put them in with some ways to use their art and lessons to lift up your own life.

Let's start with the Fairy Tale Parable--I love films that have a bit of a fantastical touch to them that makes life a little magical and surreal.  These films rely on unusual circumstances and unknown influences on characters and plot development.
  • August Rush--this film about a young musical prodigy never fails to delight me with its unusual soundtrack, its great views of New York City and its excellent performances. Robin Williams did some of his best acting work here as a brutal handler of August as a busker.  The conclusion draws you in and is uplifting as well.
  • Chocolat--A terrific adaptation of the book by Joanne Harris (who's writing I generally love).  The filming of the French river town perfectly captures the allure of European villages and their mixture of medieval and modern architecture and values. The chocolate making and food preparation is ASMR (autonomous sensory meridian response--it's when we see tasks performed that are extremely satisfying to watch, like tempering creamy chocolate) and Judi Dench turns in a terrific performance as a crusty old curmudgeon.
  • Groundhog Day--this fable relies on a novel plot line where the character keeps reliving the same day over and over again.  He must learn how to navigate the limits  of 24 hours so as to grow and work his way out of the time warp in which he is trapped.  A magical performance by Bill Murray shows us why this actor has endured in his popularity over the decades.
  • Pleasantville--Another of the "time warp genre, this movie follows two teenagers into a TV town which exists in black and white and is stuck in the mores of the 1950s.  The characters must learn how to alter their behaviors while opening the minds of those of living in Pleasantville.  I find this film features some of Reese Witherspoon's and Joan Allen's best work as a world-weary teen and a naive mother.
I could list more, but I think this list provides some great fodder for contemplation.  August Rush teaches us to appreciate music, genius and the endurance of love.  It alerts us to recognize the special brilliance of especially-talented people.  They are rarities who should be appreciated, not envied or controlled.  Are there any such people in your lives?  Or, are there people in the arts or sciences who you should rediscover as inspiring examples?  Perhaps listen to the work of Mozart, or his equally brilliant sister Nannerl?  Maybe read the work of Stephen Hawking?  Or enjoy the art of the self-taught Van Gogh? 

As for Chocolat, the story teaches us to appreciate the personalities of all those we encounter: young, old, freewheeling, uptight, shy, loud.  Everyone has something to offer, especially in the microcosm of the village.  Rethink your villages: that might metaphorically be your workplaces, spiritual organizations, clubs, teams or classes.  Gather an appreciation for the richness of diverse personalities.  And, of course, appreciate the magical quality that food prepared with knowledge and love can communicate.  View your kitchen as a medicine chest, not just a place to grab gut fill.  How can the herbs and spices you have on hand be used to create foods with healing qualities?

And finally, Groundhog Day and Pleasantville teach us about the art of being present.  In both movies, the main characters are tossed into an alternate reality because of their frustration with their current circumstances.  And, in both films, the characters must then work in new parameters to engineer change.  In the case of Groundhog Day, the change is entirely incumbent on the main character played by Bill Murray.  After he works through boredom and despair, he comes to use his unique situation as an opportunity for work on both his abilities and his attitudes--one day at a time.  In Pleasantville, the main characters work to free their fellow citizens from limiting mindsets and habits.  Knowledge becomes a metaphor for sex and is used to bring people alive with color and desire.  The film reminded me of how thrilling it was as a teen to discover good literature and  good music and to crave reading and hearing more.  

Choose thoughtful films while sheltering at home and use them as a means for creating your own renaissance.  Rediscover the thrill of a good movie and how alert and alive it can make you feel.  My next film genre will be: Comedy, because laughter is good therapy too!

Stay safe, stay healthy, stay engaged--Lisabeth
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Coffee, tea & me

8/3/2018

3 Comments

 
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Russian Tea Workers near the Black Sea, photo by Sergey Prokudin-Gorsky, early 20th century
I'm writing this while finishing my third morning cup of green jasmine  tea.  Why is this a big deal?  Because I'm a former morning coffee-holic.  I've been drinking coffee since I was about fourteen years old.  Of course, at that time (back in the 70s) my morning cup was made from Maxwell House instant crystals to which I added Coffee Rich (a non-dairy 'creamer' made of hydrogenated coconut oil, water and corn syrup, seriously) and sweetened with either sugar, or more likely, Sweet-n-Low (saccharine in that little pink packet).  What can I say?  I grew up in the era of laboratory foods: TV dinners, instant mashed potatoes, Stove Top Stuffing, Cool Whip, Velveeta--you get the idea.  I remember my parents trying to step up their game by emulating Mary Tyler Moore on her show by buying one of those hour-glass drip coffee pots (see below).  By the way, I spent much of my childhood salivating over that apartment! So cool.
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The glass hourglass was a bust.  It produced watery coffee that took too long to drip and was cold by the time you could drink it, but home-brewed coffee was in its infancy.  The Mr. Coffee machines came on the market in 1972 and eventually we got with the program, but probably not until about the late 1980s.  The original plain $20 model is still very reliable for brewing a big pot.  Alas though, coffee--for the time being--is a thing of the past.

At the age of 53 this year, I've discovered that my "entering menopause" self cannot tolerate coffee.  My morning cups were setting off hot flashes which then resulted in stomach cramps and diarrhea.  I stubbornly clung to my morning joe, but finally had to say enough is enough.  Thus, I'm back to tea.

I have given up coffee before--for three full years to be exact.  When my husband met me I was in the midst of a stint drinking only green and herbal teas.  I was lean, healthy and running a lot and practicing yoga frequently.  I had plenty of energy and felt good with my tea.  I'd take a mug with me everywhere, including dinners and parties.  I never wanted my host to think they had to accommodate my desire for green tea with soy milk and stevia (my evening dessert tea).  I'd just BYOB.  Then my husband and I went on a trip, there was a coffee shop we'd visit every morning, and suddenly I was back on the coffee wagon--BIG TIME.  I'm not one for much moderation.  When I fall, I fall hard.  Suddenly coffee was a several cups a day thing.  My husband is Canadian, he teaches up there at a university, so trips up north invariably included multiple cups of Tim Horton's.  There is a Tim Horton's on nearly every street corner so opportunities were abundant.  Given all the research we've been reading about the benefits of coffee, I figured this was an alright obsession.  I was completely alcohol free and didn't ever drink soda, so what was the big deal?  Honestly, it wasn't a problem until MENOPAUSE.  Suddenly my beloved beverage was leaving me doubled over with cramps, sweating and feeling nauseous on the porcelain throne.  That was a problem.

Here's the thing, when faced with necessary change we have two choices.  We can either embrace with enthusiasm, or resist with resentment.  The first option produces a new experience and positivity, the second is merely indulging your inner brat.  I decided to lean into my new self and get serious about drinking tea not coffee.  What does this mean?  I bought a beautiful sky-blue china teapot, a tea cozy (essential for good brewing and keeping tea warm), a giant mesh tea ball to make loose tea brewing easy and less messy, and I am buying teas.  All kinds of teas: Jamaican butter rum black tea blend, organic green jasmine, lapsang souchang (a smoked tea that smells and tastes like a campfire), white tea with a rainbow of flower petals, Breakfast in Paris (an earl grey tea with lavender), and so on.  Each tea fits a different mood and presents a very different flavor profile.  I'm playing and experimenting.  And at night I have a decaffeinated lady grey tea with half & half and a few drops of vanilla stevia.  Yep, I'm back to my evening dessert tea--a comforting ritual.  

The lesson I've learned from this is that a dietary health setback or bodily change does not have to signal loss.  When framed in the right context, it can be an agent for pleasure and powerful change.  So, here's an exercise for you to practice:
  1. Identify something in your diet that isn't really working for you.  Sure you may like it, but it doesn't like you back!
  2. Think about how taking that thing out of your life will make you feel.  Will you experience profound loss?
  3. If loss or resistance is what you feel, then think about a healthy replacement.  It could be tea for coffee (as in my case) or La Croix for soda (even diet soda, which isn't good for you), or rye bread (very healthy) for white bread, or homemade salad dressing instead of gloppy bottled ranch, or soy milk for dairy (if you are finding you don't process lactose well), or peanuts for chips, etc.
  4. Instead of feeling burdened, jump into it.  Do some research, look for the best options.  "Eat This Not That" has good nutritional information and reviews of products.  Go with the best so that you don't feel cheated.
  5. Buy yourself the right equipment and make it cute or pretty.  My blue pot brings me cheer!
Finally, these lessons can apply to many life changes: jobs, money, relationships, location.  Accept change as necessary and exciting and you'll never be bored!

Artfully yours,

​Lisabeth
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Ducks in a row

3/22/2018

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Mary Cassatt, Feeding the Ducks, 1895, from Wiki Commons
Ever hear of the phrase "get your ducks in a row"?  Well, that's what you need to be doing right now.  March and April are important months in which to set yourself up for a lovely summer and fall.  What that means is "cleaning" house--doing a proverbial spring cleaning, but you need to know what you are up against!  We are literally being dragged (often kicking, screaming and complaining) from cold, dry weather into cold, damp and wet weather, or temperature ups and downs, or extreme rains, or very high winds, or all of the above in the course of a week.  This plays havoc with our lungs and sinuses, bringing on colds and infections.  In my case, high winds mean fever blister breakouts on my lip. Others have constant runny noses, or watering eyes, or headaches.  You need to start to clean out that damp back-up meaning you want to go for lean and green foods and liquids.  Less fat, more bitter tastes (greens, herbs, teas, even sweeteners like molasses).  You're trying to sweep out the stored fat and any built-up toxins, physical or emotional.

Because this is your charge, March and April can be a tough emotional months and transitions to navigate. You're getting cabin fever, but the weather isn't going to allow you to lounge outside with that latte quite yet. Your beautiful yellow daffodils open up, only to be crushed by heavy snow. Your blossom trees freeze in an ice storm and you don't know if they'll set fruit or even survive. You're slopping around in mud and slush and it seems like your boots will never be clean and dry.  You always seem to have an open umbrella in the hallway airing out.  You may feel tired, blue and worn out just as the weather is starting to warm up.  You need a plan so that you can approach that fresh season with energy and high spirits.

The remedy: Embrace the change with some smart strategies and some positive thinking informed by the knowledge of what this spring cleaning time is all about.  This means "greening up" your diet (and no, that doesn't mean shamrock shakes or green beer), doing some detoxing, seeking healthy heat therapies, moving as much as you can, and getting some extra sleep to help adjust to the time change of Daylight Savings.  Let's start (but not END) with diet:

 Good Breakfast Choices:
  1. “Thai” Smoothie (apple or pear, ginger, natural peanut butter, coconut milk, almond milk, frozen banana, cinnamon)
  2. “Gingerbread” Smoothie (apple, frozen banana, ginger, almond milk, molasses, garam masala, cinnamon)
  3. Green Juice (Spinach or Kale, Cucumber, Apple, Mint, Celery, Grapes, Ginger & Lemon--any or all of the above are great)
  4. Fuschia Juice (Beet, Apple, Carrot, Lemon, Ginger).  Drink less often, but for a fun change of pace.
  5. Stewed apples/pears (cook an apple, chopped large, in a small saucepan with a bit of water or apple cider, and a few cloves, add a lemon peel.  Feel free to add prunes.
  6. Oatmeal with maple syrup or stewed apples
  7. Corn mush with maple syrup or stewed apples
  8. Chia pudding—seeds soaked overnight in almond milk with vanilla extract, dried cranberries, almond slivers and unsweetened coconut—add cinnamon and nuts upon eating, if desired.
  9. Green Tea 
  10. Everyday Detox Tea

Good Lunch Choices:
  1. Green Salad—lots of veggies/greens with a simple dressing of olive oil, lemon juice and garlic.
  2. Roasted or Steamed Squash, Steamed Greens
  3. Tonic Soup (broth with ginger and garlic) with Greens and mushrooms and green onions, add some buckwheat noodles
  4. Lentil Soup with greens
  5. Vegetable Stir-Fry with Quinoa
  6. Artichoke with lemon/olive oil, steamed veggies with brown rice
  7. Asparagus, asparagus, asparagus
  8. Edamame/Green Peas with brown rice, lemon, olive oil, garlic and fresh herbs
  9. Pureed green pea/arugula soup
  10. Fish, eggs or tofu for protein
  11. Green Tea
  12. Everyday detox tea
Good Dinner Choices: SAME AS LUNCH (or Breakfast)—these are all interchangeable!
  • Drink a cup of hot water with lemon first thing in the morning, followed by green tea throughout the day, a detox tea or lemon tea into the evening.
CLEAN A CLOSET! (OR A DRAWER, OR CUPBOARD) My daughter is even more hard core than me.  She really loves spring cleaning.  Closets are done and a mountain of clothes went to Goodwill.  No sentimental hanging on.  It feels great.  No books from book sales come in unless an equal number leave.  It's great karma and very cleansing and liberating.

MOVE!!!  Take a walk outside or do a walk/exercise dvd inside.  If it’s rainy then grab an umbrella.  Go for at least 30 minutes.  Take in the weather, landscape, sights, smells and sounds.  If it's just too depressing, then do indoor exercise but do not skip it.  Take yoga classes.  Bounce on a mini-trampoline.  Jump rope.  Lift weights--get a dvd for instruction, or look something up on You Tube.  No excuses, there are so many options nowadays.

HEAT THERAPY: to combat all that cold dampness, drink lots of hot/clear liquids and if you have access to a sauna or whirlpool bath, use it.  If not, then run a hot bath (if your skin is dry and itchy, add colloidal oatmeal to the water).  Or, if you cannot take a bath, run a hot shower and add a few shakes of eucalyptus oil to the shower stall.  Use body butter or massage oil on your skin afterwards to ward off dryness.  Soak your feet in a basin with hot water and Epsom salts, add an essential oil like lavender or eucalyptus.  If you want  an upgrade, buy a "foot spa".  I purchased a Homedics one for $39.99 on Walmart's site.  What's wonderful is that the water stays perfectly warm.  Marvelous and easy luxury!

SKIN THERAPY: My latest easy favorite, inexpensive Korean facial mask sheets, I put one on while having that hot bath.  Clean your face nightly with cold cream, it cleanses and moisturizes.  I also love a high quality face cream (my latest crush is Charlotte Tillbury's Magic Cream).  

SOUL THERAPY:  Find some good reading material.  Now is a great time to delve into a spiritual book you've always wanted to read. Something by the Pema Chodron, or Surya Rama Das, or Eckhart Tolle, anything that examines life and your place in the universe.  It's also a great time to dive into the work of a favorite poet.  Maya Angelou, Rita Dove, Mary Oliver, Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost---whatever you find feeds your soul.  I like to read a poem first thing in the morning while drinking my hot water, do it before opening email or social media.  My latest favorite is Hart Crane--an Ohioan who unfortunately killed himself at age 37.  He used language like no one I've ever seen.  So lyrical.

MORE SOUL THERAPY:  Visit your local botanical gardens (it really can be a salve at this time or year), the art museum, a natural history museum, a concert or lecture at the library.  Give yourself the gift of more knowledge.  Water and nurture your mind.

Remember, May is around the corner, leaves will bud and open, flowers will bloom, sunny days will arrive, heavy sweaters will go back into the dresser drawers.

March into spring like a gentle and wise warrior!
Happy Greening---

​Lisabeth
2 Comments

skincare for skinflints

11/1/2017

1 Comment

 
Picture
Linda by Chuck Close (1975) from Akron Art Museum website
Today's topic is skincare--CHEAP skin care.  Why?  I've suffered from skin problems for much of my life, but my skin's been much better in recent years due to being smarter. I'm sure that in the past I've spent thousands of dollars on hopeful products that would solve my skin woes.  And finally, I'm tired, tired, TIRED of seeing "stories" of beauty editors who tried a 10 or 20 step routine for a month, and gee, there skin is soooooo much better.  What these stories represent is pure and simple product placement ads. They are what used to be called "copy complimentary" articles  in magazines (that was where a writer would craft a piece on aging skin, and voila, what do you know there'd be an ad for an anti-aging cream on the facing page).  

The painting above was produced in the 1970s by artist Chuck Close. Close is known nowadays for his very mosaic/pixellated portraits--often of famous personages.  However, he made his reputation on photorealistic large portraits painstakingly created using a detailed grid and various paint techniques including an airbrush.  The details of the skin, both superficially good and bad, are beautifully captured and bring personality to the portrait.  So, my first proclamation is to love your skin and the personality it reflects.  It is truly sad when an aging individual decides to get "work done" to counter the effects of growing older.  They usually end up with a lopsided, strangely molded face that is fooling no one.  Age with grace and acceptance.  I also like to think of people in the spotlight who have become MORE attractive with age.  I'm thinking here of Glenn Close, Jamie Lee Curtis, Joan Baez, Emmylou Harris, Barbara Kingsolver, Richard Gere, Sean Connery, Ted Danson--just to name a few.  

Good skin at any age requires commitment to two things: processes and products that are sensible. There's no need to spend hundreds of dollars (unless you want to enrich the coffers of cosmetic companies) but there is the necessity to devote yourself to regular practices that attend to the skin.


My recommendations from my experience:

1.   Make-up Removal--I must admit, I'm a sucker for good old-fashioned Pond's cold cream (well under $10, and able to be purchased at drugstores).  If you are looking for a more natural solution, coconut oil works well (but turns liquid in the summer).  Never, ever be too lazy to remove makeup.  A wet wipe (like you use on a baby's bum) is fine for removing foundation.  And wash your make-up brushes well, preferably once a week.  I now apply foundation with a blunt brush--I literally use a pea-sized dollop.  So much better for the skin and the effect is sublime.

2.  Cleansers---for those without issues go with drugstore Cetaphil (under $15).  However, my problem skin has changed with the addition of sulphur-based soap.  I buy my bar from Amazon for under $7.  There is nothing luxe or fancy about it.  It is a hard yellow bar that comes in a plastic jar that seriously looks like something your vet would hand you to get rid of Fido's hot spots.  It lasts a very long time and travels well in that plastic jar.  

3.   Toner--Dr. Thayer's Witch Hazel (under $10).  It's pure, it's a classic, and I love the old-fashioned bottle.  You can get it infused with rose, aloe or lavender.  All are great.  I use this in the morning as a refreshing cleanse.  

4.   Facial Mist/Essence--The Heritage Store's Rosewater.  Inexpensive and can be purchased in a spray bottle or a big refill size.  Based on the teachings of Edgar Cayce (I think some wacky stuff) but this is good stuff for a song.  Again, it comes infused.  I love the plain, the lavender infused, and the rosewater and glycerin is great to have on hand at the office for the winter months when central heating plays havoc with your skin.  I tried the jasmine infused, hated the smell.  Just my opinion.

5.   Serum--A Vitamin C/Hylauronic Acid is great to use a couple of times a week for skin refreshing.  Here's a tip--look for one marketed to men!  It will cost half as much for a big bottle (I paid $17 as opposed to $35 dollars).  It's the same stuff, women are gouged, what can I say?  Use just a pea-sized amount and spray liberally with rosewater before and after to activate it.

​6.   Jade Roller--you can use this tool to work in your moisturizer.  Can be purchased from Amazon for $6-7. Use upward strokes--great for moving fluid and diminishing puffiness, and to stimulate the thyroid on the neck.  

7.  Moisturizer--depends on the time of year.  In the summer, when my skin is oily, I'm not as frequent and I use Neutrogena's Hydra Gel ($18).  In the depths of winter, I like Weleda Calendula Baby Face Cream.  Under $11 a tube and a little goes a long way.

8.  Face Mask Sheets--I buy inexpensive Korean face sheets on Amazon.  They are less than $1.50 a piece. Korean women are known for being meticulous with skin care.  I just find these fun.  They're moist (face masks should never be allowed to dry on your face), and easy (no mess), and relaxing.  I use them before bed as a treat every now and again.  Once a week would be great.

9.  Spot treatment--Lavender essential oil is great for this.  A drop on the fingertip can hit any problem areas on the face.

10.  Body lotions--I love Dr. Bronner's Orange Lavender lotion, less than $12; and for deep moisture, Tree Huts Shea Butter Body Butters.  The Honey Almond smells like a wonderful almond croissant--truly decadent! Around $15, and again, a little goes far.  

Lifestyle counts too!  --

11.  Hydration--water, water, water

12.   Sleep--at least 7 hours

13.  Good diet--veggies, fruits, legumes, nuts & seeds, quality dairy, whole grains, and  only occassional meat.  
https://bluezones.com/

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And, don't forget to get out and walk.  Circulation is great for the skin.  Sunscreen if you're going to be out for a long period of time, if it's a half hour, then skip it so as to get the Vitamin D.  Twenty minutes to half an hour after dinner is a nice habit to get into whenever possible.

So, there you have it.  Cheap skin care and please know that I'm not on the payroll of any of these companies.  These are my preferences, truly.

Be healthy, be frugal, be artful--

​Lisabeth 
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the magic of multiples: Part One, Habits

6/14/2017

1 Comment

 
Picture
Marilyn by Andy Warhol, image from artnet.com
Even if you aren't an art historian, you likely recognize Andy Warhol's repetitive renditions of Marilyn Monroe as pictured above. Warhol knew the cultural and artistic power of repeating an iconic image--with color modifications added to each one for visual interest.  He knew that the human mind was hard-wired to see repetition as good (think how many times you make the same dish, or order the same thing at a restaurant). Ancient Greek philosopher, Aristotle, also understood the power of repetition.  He purportedly said, "We are what we repeatedly do. Greatness is not an act, it is a habit."  He was trying to educate the youth of Athens on how to become true leaders by letting them know that a single showboating act was not what made greatness, but rather taking care of business, ethically, day after day. I want to use these pioneering examples and play with that idea of repetition in terms of developing our own good habits and desired behaviors.  
Let's examine this idea of doing things repeatedly.  How many times have you tried to start a habit: flossing daily, meditating, exercising, journaling, drinking more water, reading, saving money, etc.?  So many of us have tried to instill a daily habit only to fail, despite our best intentions.  I'm going to suggest a new strategy--set a goal for more than once a day with your desired behavior.  Now, I know exactly what you are thinking. If I can't manage to do something once a day, why would I try for more than that?  Hear me out.

Last month I was reading Sara Gottried's Younger, a book about genetics and aging, and she had a section on flossing.  The advice was to floss several times a day. I immediately thought, "Ha--I can't even remember to do it once, are you kidding me?"  Then I decided to challenge myself by setting the goal of flossing twice a day (anything more seems excessive to me).  Forget all the recent debate on flossing's efficacy (the recent study that has all floss haters loving life simply stated that not enought proof of flossing's benefits had yet been amassed, which is not the same as it not being worth anything).  Anyways, I decided to go for twice a day and bought myself more Peppermint "Glide" a smooth tape style floss (worth the extra money, I swear, trust me on this).

How did I do?  I don't floss twice a day everyday, but now I DO floss at least once.  See what happened?  By setting a higher goal, I've assured myself that I'll hit a minimum of a daily habit.  I'm now mildly disappointed with myself when I ONLY floss once, and as a result, I floss at least once, and often twice, daily.  Once I framed it in this context of multiples, I was able to incorporate the habit into my life.  Had I not recontextualized the issue, I'd have remained an occasional flosser at best.  

Now I'm thinking about how I can use this strategy to accomplish other goals that have eluded me.  For example, if I challenge myself to a brief morning AND evening meditation, will that work?  What if I scheduled two forms of exercise a day?  What if I made two deposits a month to my savings account?  You see where I'm going with this?  Instead of asking ourselves to do the minimum, ASK MORE OF OURSELVES.  I know, this method is not a guarantee of habitual success--after all, if you're willing to blow off one exercise session, why not two? However, I think there's real potential here because we think differently about a commitment that seems more pervasive, constant and therefore important.  Think about the things you already do repeatedly that you never have to remind yourself about (checking email, Instagram, Facebook, eating several meals a day, changing clothes, brushing your teeth, saying "I love you" to your partner, family and friends--I hope that one is in there, if not, there's your first target!).  We have the blueprint for success already built into our lives, we just need to figure out how to extend it to areas where we'd like to improve.  

I hope you'll take me up on the multiple challenge.  Below are some ideas for how to achieve your goal:
  • If you want to become a flosser, buy more floss and put it all over the place (one for your purse, one for at work, one in each bathroom--you get the idea).
  • Set daily alarms/reminders like "time to meditate" on your phone, or your electronic calendar.
  • Stick post-it notes in visible places (like your bathroom mirror)
  • Make your "equipment" accessible.  For example, I might start using my mini-trampoline every morning, which means I'm going to pull it out into view to try to establish the habit.
  • If you're looking to save money--set up two auto-transfers per month, or auto deposits to your retirement and investments.  Mine comes out of my paycheck before I even see my paycheck in my account!  Maybe increase the amount, see if you can work with less so as to have more later on!
  • If you're looking to pay down debt--pay the most you can (or even the monthly minimum) TWICE a month, not once.  You'll owe less in interest and pay down more quickly.  I used this one many years ago.
I'm sure you'll have even more ideas.  Please feel free to share or let me know how a habit works out with this challenge in the comments section.  You'll notice I said "The Magic of Multiples: Part One"  -- I'm already thinking about how to apply this concept in different ways.

Live artfully!
Lisabeth
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March Madness

3/14/2017

1 Comment

 
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Image from Boston's WBUR, Snowstorm of 3/12/17
March, despite the arrival of Spring Equinox within it, can be a very difficult seasonal transition for the body and spirit.  Most schools (including mine) have their "spring break" and yet the weather often does not cooperate.  We're ready for sunshine, light jacket weather, and blooming bulbs.  Unfortunately the weather is often mercurial with snowstorms, heavy rains and ice.  In Northeast Ohio, we had temperatures in the high 60's in February (I hiked in a tank top one day) which encouraged the bulbs to pop up.  The snowstorm that hit the eastern half of the U.S. the past two days has certainly taken care of those.  And so it goes--we get a little lift, and are smacked back down into the cold, gray and damp of late winter, sort of like that old "whack a mole" game.  And then there's Daylight Savings Time--an hour lost!  This is March Madness after all.  Not the basketball kind, of which I know very little, but rather the winter to spring, cold to wet (before hot and dry) kind of madness.  

March is an important month to set yourself up for a lovely summer and fall.  What that means is "cleaning" house--doing a proverbial spring cleaning, but you need to know what you are up against!  We are literally being dragged (often kicking, screaming and complaining) from cold, dry weather into cold, damp and wet weather, or temperature ups and downs, or extreme rains, or very high winds, or all of the above in the course of a week.  This plays havoc with our lungs and sinuses, bringing on colds and infections.  In my case, high winds mean fever blister breakouts on my lip. Others have constant runny noses, or watering eyes, or headaches.  

Just as important, March can be a tough emotional transition to navigate.  You're getting cabin fever, but the weather isn't going to allow you to lounge outside with that latte quite yet.  Your beautiful yellow daffodils open up, only to be crushed by heavy snow. Your blossom trees freeze in an ice storm and you don't know if they'll set fruit or even survive.  You're slopping around in mud and slush and it seems like your boots will never be clean and dry.  You always seem to have an open umbrella in the hallway airing out.  

The remedy: Embrace the change with some smart strategies and some positive thinking informed by the knowledge of what this Month is all about (after all, it is named after the Roman god of war).  This means "greening up" your diet (and no, that doesn't mean shamrock shakes or green beer), doing some detoxing, seeking healthy heat therapies, moving as much as you can, and getting some extra sleep to help adjust to the time change.

 Good Breakfast Choices:
  1. “Thai” Smoothie (apple or pear, ginger, natural peanut butter, coconut milk, almond milk, frozen banana, cinnamon)
  2. “Gingerbread” Smoothie (apple, banana, ginger, almond milk, molasses, garam masala, cinnamon)
  3. Green Juice (Spinach or Kale, Cucumber, Apple, Mint, Ginger & Lemon)
  4. Fuschia Juice (Beet, Apple, Carrot, Lemon, Ginger)
  5. Stewed apples/pears (cook an apple, chopped large, in a small saucepan with a bit of water or apple cider, and a few cloves, add a lemon peel.  Feel free to add prunes.
  6. Oatmeal with maple syrup or stewed apples
  7. Corn mush with maple syrup or stewed apples
  8. Chia pudding—seeds soaked overnight in almond milk with vanilla extract, dried cranberries, almond slivers and unsweetened coconut—add cinnamon and nuts upon eating, if desired.
  9. Green Tea 
Good Lunch Choices:
  1. Green Salad—lots of veggies/greens with a simple dressing of olive oil, lemon juice and garlic.
  2. Roasted or Steamed Squash, Steamed Greens
  3. Kitchari (seasoned yellow lentils) and Greens
  4. Tonic Soup (broth with ginger and garlic) with Greens and mushrooms and green onions
  5. Vegetable Stir-Fry with Quinoa
  6. Artichoke with lemon/olive oil, steamed veggies with brown rice
  7. Edamame/Green Peas with brown rice, lemon, olive oil, garlic and fresh herbs
  8. Pureed green pea/arugula soup
  9. Fish, eggs or tofu for protein
  10. Green Tea
Good Dinner Choices: SAME AS LUNCH (or Breakfast)—these are all interchangeable!
  • Drink a cup of hot water with lemon first thing in the morning, followed by green tea throughout the day, a detox tea or lemon tea into the evening.
MOVE!!!  Take a walk outside or do a walk/exercise dvd inside.  If it’s rainy then grab an umbrella.  Go for at least 30 minutes.  Take in the weather, landscape, sights, smells and sounds.  If it's just too depressing, then do indoor exercise but do not skip it.

HEAT THERAPY: to combat all that cold dampness, drink lots of hot/clear liquids and if you have access to a sauna or whirlpool bath, use it.  If not, then run a hot bath (if your skin is dry and itchy, add colloidal oatmeal to the water).  Or, if you cannot take a bath, run a hot shower and add a few shakes of eucalyptus oil to the shower stall.  Use body butter or massage oil on your skin afterwards to ward off dryness.  Soak your feet in a basin with hot water and epsom salts, add an essential oil like lavender or eucylptus.

SKIN THERAPY: My latest easy favorite, inexpensive Korean facial mask sheets, I put one on while having that hot bath.  

SOUL THERAPY:  Find some good reading material.  Now is a great time to delve into a spiritual book you've always wanted to read. Something by the Pema Chodron, or Surya Rama Das, or Eckhart Tolle, anything that examines life and your place in the universe.  It's also a great time to dive into the work of a favorite poet.  Maya Angelou, Rita Dove, Mary Oliver, Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost---whatever you find feeds your soul.  I like to read a poem first thing in the morning while drinking my hot water, do it before opening email or social media.

MORE SOUL THERAPY:  Visit your local botanical gardens (it really can be a salve at this time or year), the art museum, a natural history museum, a concert or lecture at the library.  Give yourself the gift of more knowledge.  Water and nurture your mind.

Remember, April and May are around the corner, leaves will bud and open, flowers will bloom, sunny days will arrive, heavy sweaters will go back into the dresser drawers.

March into March like a gentle and wise warrior!
Happy Spring--

​Lisabeth


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Tolerance

11/23/2016

1 Comment

 
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"You wanna hurt me? Go right ahead if it makes you feel any better. I'm an easy target." -- Del, "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" (1987)

This is one of my favorite holiday movies--I'm sure it makes many peoples' lists.  I'm thinking particularly about it this year since so much of the film is about learning to accept someone who is not like you.  The first time I saw the movie, I'm certain I identified much more with Neil (Steve Martin's character) than Del (John Candy).  However, as I've aged, and matured, I think the tables are turned.  Sure, people can still irritate the you-know-what out of me, but I'm much more sympathetic to Del's dilemma of finding a place where he fits in.  Neil's annoyance, cruelty and blatant distaste seem more obnoxious each time I watch the film.  This parallels the shift in my thinking, and the emphasis in my work over the past several years, regarding diversity and inclusion.  

Seeing others as being just as valuable and worthy as yourself (and those like you) is not an easy mindset shift because generally we are raised in insular environments.  Our experience of difference often comes only in the form of entertainment, sports viewing, or news reporting.  As such, we get a skewed vision of what others are like since we only see them as performers, athletes or criminals.  

Most of us were also raised to believe in the Myth of Meritocracy.  It goes something like this: If you work hard, you will succeed.  You will get what you deserve so long as you put in the effort.  People, especially those with privilege, love the Myth because it places prosperity firmly in their realm of control.  Here's the problem: It isn't true.  For anyone who has ever spent any time in poor environments, the old "bootstrap" myth is a pile of bull.  Everyone has some story of a distant acquaintance who managed to scratch their way out of poverty, or homelessness, or an abusive environment.  But can intelligent people really fool themselves into thinking this is the norm?  Well, yes--I see it all the time.

Neil, the advertising executive who is stuck with Del, the shower ring salesman, definitely buys into his Myth of Meritocracy.  If only everyone (including Del) were as well-dressed, as proper, as fastidious and as upper-middle class as he, the world would be a better place.  Thus, he reviles Del's loud banter, his beefiness, his tacky clothes, his smelly feet and his inexplicable cheery disposition.  Neil's an uptight a-hole.  And you know what, so many of us are too.  We stereotype, assume, pontificate, and--in some cases--allow our vitriol to head into the territory of slurs (racial, ethnic, sexual, socio-economic, you name it).  

Let's make a pact.  For Thanksgiving, and the Holiday Season, let's all try to be more like Del.  Cheerful, optimistic, loving and accepting.  We'll all feel better for it, and so will those with whom we come into contact.  A few suggestions:
  • Take a media fast (too much emphasis on separation and conflict)
  • Buy less, donate more
  • Spend time with elders, even if their attitudes or habits sometimes annoy you
  • Smile at every cashier and server, treat them with respect and politeness
  • Write someone you love a letter of appreciation. Tell them what you love about them.  It will be a greater gift than anything you buy.
As Del says in the second part of the above quote, "I could be a cold-hearted cynic like you... but I don't like to hurt people's feelings. Well, you think what you want about me; I'm not changing. I like... I like me. My wife likes me. My customers like me. 'Cause I'm the real article. What you see is what you get."

Let's spend the holidays being tolerant and being the "real deal"--

Artfully and gratefully yours,

Lisabeth

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Four days in November

11/2/2016

2 Comments

 
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Arcimboldo's "Fall" a sixteenth century painting--and such clever collage!
That granddaddy of all feasting holidays approaches us soon--yes,Thanksgiving is almost upon us and our guts will be busting.  My challenge to you (and to myself) before the day of gorging arrives is to do a four-day cleanse.  I know that I'm desperately feeling the need to "clean house."  Even though my eating and habits have been good, they can always be a little better. More importantly, a four-day intentional cleanse allows the body a break and starts the holiday season off right.  Seasonally, we are transitioning to winter and this is a perfect time to prepare the body (and mind) with a focused program that feels gentle and restorative, and yes, cleansing.  Here's the plan:
  1. Breakfast: Oatmeal, or Warmed up Pumpkin (with coconut oil and maple syrup) or A Spice-filled Smoothie (Almond milk, cinnamon and nutmeg, 2 dates, and a banana). Chai tea​ for a bit of caffeine, and more healthy spice.
  2. ​Lunch=Quinoa Pilaf, Steamed Greens, Warmed Pumpkin or Roasted Squash)
  3. Dinner=Soup (Chicken Vegetable  is a nice choice), oatmeal with maple syrup.
  • You sip hot water throughout the day, and drink 60 oz. of room temperature water as well.   
  • Avoid nuts, dairy, and gluten.
  • Foods are whole and simple.
  • Keep yourself to three meals, if you get hungry, warm up a cup of almond milk with turmeric  and maple syrup.
  • Meditation is welcome.
  • Hot baths with Epsom Salts are rejuvenating.
  • Showers with massage oil applied while skin is wet are restorative.
  • Light exercise: Yoga and walking.
  • Quiet, introspective time resets your body clock and calm.
  • On the last evening drink a glass of prune juice to help "empty out."
We have much to be thankful for this holiday season, including the ability to exercise some restraint.  Give yourself that gift and your body will thank you!

Gratefully,
Lisabeth



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    Lisabeth Robinson

    I have been an educator for 20 years.  I create, I play, I guide and I grow.  I want to share that with you too!

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