A sharp mind!
As we get older our memory starts to decline, beginning in our thirties. Also, stress can affect our ability to store new memories. When we exercise we counter the natural effects of aging by increasing blood flow to the brain and reduce stress - so encourage it!
What makes bamboo an environmentally sustainable choice?
- Doesn’t require pesticides
- As a renewable resource, is the world’s fastest growing plant and regenerates without replanting
- Reverses the effects of global warming & helps reduce carbon-dioxide gases
- A unique building material, bamboo is termite and rot resistant and has the tensile strength of steel
Make a difference in the future of our planet by looking for eco-friendly alternatives for everyday products. Bamboo products to look for: cooking utensils, serving trays, cutting boards, bowls, baskets, clothing, bed linens, towels, rugs, floors, and fences.
In a recent conversation with my son (who left the nest last year and is dating ‘Adorable Girlfriend’), he revealed that he and A.G. have a weekly date night. When I asked what he had planned he commented that money is tight since he’d just paid bills and was in between paychecks, so he was going to suggest they take advantage of the fresh rains and enjoy an evening of puddle jumping followed by hot chocolate.
His realizations impressed me:
- Take care of important things first when it comes to budgeting your money
- Let the lack of funds spur creativity
- Important relationships deserve the investment of time
That conversation inspired this list of gifts designed to foster meaningful relationships for the newly independent adults that are juggling school, part-time jobs, and dating.
- A cool picnic back pack loaded with everything necessary for an outing: Map or tour guide featuring the local hiking trails, sunscreen, trail mix, granola bars, salami, cheese, crackers, and sport’s drinks…exploring all the trails in the tour guide will promote good health and provide activity for future dates at a relatively low cost over time
- Gift card to the movie theater
- “Movie Madness’ gift box that’s stocked with popcorn, candy bars, nutty snack mix, soft drinks, and a gift card to the local video store (Or, why not purchase a plan where you can have 3 movies out at a time and give him carte blanche to use one of the three at all times?)
- A plant to grow & nurture, as does the relationship, with a Tree-in-a-Bag or a windowsill garden
- Gift cards to the local coffee shop or smoothie joint (In support of local businesses, I like to choose the ‘mom & pop’ joints over the big chains, which as an extra perk, often have free wi-fi & live evening music or art exhibitions making for a cool date)
- Gift card to the grocery store so they can shop together and then cook dinner together
- Gift card to a restaurant that can be used for a date (I’ve done this in the past for him. He told me they found a way to make it last by ordering from the appetizer menu that was 1/2 price during happy hour rather than ordering entrees.)
- Passes to the local miniature golf/amusement park
What’s your suggestion for these ‘newly independent daters’?
Everyone knows chocolate and romance go hand in hand, but here’s five reasons why you should indulge in chocolate:
- Cocoa contains cancer fighting antioxidants in higher amounts than even green tea and red wine
- Dark chocolate has been shown to lower blood pressure (not white or milk) and help prevent heart disease
- Dark chocolate decreases bad cholesterol
- Chocolate can be a mood enhancer or aphrodisiac since it raises serotonin levels and releases endorphins in the brain
- High in magnesium, chocolate can help alleviate PMS
Tip: the darker the chocolate the better for you since milk reduces the antioxidant properties and is higher in fat
Did you know that women are better at creating the buzz? According to Rick Segal, retail marketing guru, women are more likely to recommend a product or service they like than men - and do so 57% more frequently.
We all know things are tough all over and can be seen by the increase in home foreclosures and bankruptcies. Your employees may be facing some exceptional financial stresses at home, which can result in low morale, tension between coworkers, and reduced productivity.
How can an employer help without being taken advantage of?
- Offer financial & emotional counseling opportunities
- Allow the use of flex time to sort out problems
- Be flexible, yet fair
- Treat employees equally
Flowers? Jewelry? Perfume? Pampering?
Nope.
To be loved, valued, and appreciated.
Everyone takes part in social media sites for different reasons. Some are there for information, news, marketing, entertainment, or as a means to fill a void and ease loneliness. One thing is clear, the potential to increase your sphere of influence and grow exponentially is very real, indeed.
Over the last year, I have joined several social media sites, but have only truly taken an interest and become active as of late. These are the ones I belong to, listed in order of favorites and where I focus my energy:
Central Coast Today Profile name Elise
What I like best about CCT, is the fact that the membership is predominantly local and there are constant opportunities to grow relationships face-to-face. These meet-ups run the gammet, from pure social entertainment, outdoor adventures, social awareness & fundraising, to business networking and masterminding. There really is something for everyone, if you just take the time to look through the 150+ communities and 1000s of discussions. I feel as though my world has been enhanced by the new friends I’ve made on CCT.
Twitter @EnWrapture
This is very new for me, and I’m still caught up in trying to learn the lingo, the etiquette, knowing how often, etc. One of the biggest challenges is deciding which kind of tweets offer value to my followers. I’m greatly impressed with my mentor, @MarthaVan (creator of Action Wipes), and her abiltiy to create brand awareness as she ’stalks’ Lance Armstrong and other celebrity athletes. In a short time, she has garnered over 1600 followers and won the Twitter Shorty Awards for Branding. As @MarthaVan’s fan base has grown, so, too, has her roster of friends. As she is out and about on the road, she is always looking to meet local tweeps face-to-face (or f2f as they tweet it), and has both given and received the warmest of hospitality. Not only are her escapades entertaining to follow, she also often posts great pictures, contests and giveaways, so she’s well worth following.
Linkedin & Facebook
I haven’t put much effort into these two sites, and I’m not sure why these have so much less appeal to me than CCT and Twitter. Linkedin is definitely lacking the seasoning that personal comments provide, which serve to add warmth and humanize the profiles. I have had a few old friends reconnect with me via both Linkedin and Facebook.
Should I give them a little more effort? What value have you gained from using social media?
I’d like to introduce you to ylang-ylang (ee lang-ee lang) since one of my readers indicated they weren’t yet familiar. Native to the rainforests of the Philipines, Indonesia, and common in Polynesia, Melanesia, and Micronesia, this essential oil comes from the delicate and highly scented blossom of the Cananga tree or shrub. Commonly used in perfumes and body care products, it’s fragrance can be characterized as rich and deep with heavy notes of rubber and custard, while sweetly floral and exotic with hints of jasmine and bitter orange (neroli). It can be both relaxing and stimulating, affecting anxiety, high blood pressure, intestinal problems, sexual dysfunction, and stress.
Ohhhh, because relationships matter! When it comes to romance we’ve got this down. It’s about creating the whole experience - you need to appeal to all of the 5 senses.
- Sight: dim the lights and get the candles going
- Smell: Think aromatherapy - use fragranced candles and mist the sheets with scents that stir passion, like ylang ylang, clove, patchouli, etc.
- Sound: add to the romantic ambiance with music - some smooth jazz, sexy Bossa Nova, or good old Blue eyes himself, Sinatra
- Touch: Pamper each other with a Hammam-like experience by taking turns scrubbing each other with an exfoliating mitt and aromatherapy bath gel. Follow with a loving massage with a quality cream or oil.
- Taste: Chocolate…chocolate covered strawberries, chocolate truffles, chocolate syrup…
So, now that you know what you need to do, let us simplify this with one of our gift ensembles that will appeal to all of your 5 senses:
With Romantic Escape, you and your partner will be swept away with the luxuries nestled in this basket: Couple’s Aromatherapy ‘Inspire Romance’ Travel Kit* (a sleek metal case filled with candle, linen mist, bath & shower gel, sea sponge, & massage cream), Chocolate/Bossa Nova music CD, chocolate truffles, assorted bath accessories and wooden body & foot massagers all for $119
Couples Aromatherapy ‘Inspire Romance’ Travel Kit*: Using pure essential oils, these scents are fresh and natural, with notes of fruit, herbs, and spice, plus calming accents of lavender, frankincense, bergamot and more. The Inspire Romance Collection helps renew your loving closeness and shows your partner “I cherish you.” In this sleek and sexy metal case that’s ready to go on an overnight get-away at a moments notice, you will find a candle, linen mist, bath & shower gel, sea sponge, & massage cream for $48
Couples Aromatherapy ‘Create Passion’ Travel Kit*: Again, using pure essential oils, these scents are rich, warm and sensuous with hints of spices, fragrant flowers, and fruit, along with exotic notes of ylang ylang, black pepper, ginger and more. The Create Passion Collection lifts you out of the ordinary and gives you thrilling ways to say, “I want you!” As with the ‘Inspire Romance’ set, this travel kit includes the candle, linen mist, bath & shower gel, and massage cream, but also has a personal lubricant and towelettes for $55
To order, call 805-234-2051 or email info@EnWraptureByElise.com
*This line of products is made with 100% pure essential oils, all natural ingredients (except the lubricant), free of parabens, petrochemical solvents, sodium lauryl sulfates, dyes, formaldehyde, synthetic fragrances, and not tested on animals. Candles are made of natural plant wax derived from soy and are free of lead, paraffin, petroleum and dyes. They are made in the United States by a green company that practices sustainability.
Good for you, good for us, good for the environment, so go green this Valentine’s Day!