Living it UP in a Down economy

Valentine’s Day-Turn UP The Heat With These Natural Aphrodisiacs!

Posted on February 11, 2017 by livethe5starlife

Are you ready to rock your world with a healthy dose of fun? From fruits and veggies to herbal elixirs, there are ways to pump up the volume of feeling amorous, without drugs and artificial stimulators. These are nature’s way of giving us aphrodisiacs to experience the love connection to ourselves and others. The name comes from Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of sexuality and love. In this modern age of love potions, potent elixirs, pills and synthetic chemicals, the Ancients had the right idea. They discovered foods, drinks and behaviors that increased sexual desires.

It is especially noticeable in plant foods which have aphrodisiac effects. Putting the placebo effect aside, Western medical science may not have any proven claims to their efficacy, many lovers still enjoy the presumed effects of aphrodisiacs because they turn up the heat in the body. One of the main effects is that they stimulate the senses: taste, touch, smell, sight and sound.

Author, Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, is also a writer, chef, and speaker, with five ground breaking books, including the award-winning The Joy of Vegan Baking, The Vegan Table, Color Me Vegan, and the Vegans Daily Companion.

As a compassionate animal lover, she is “A star in the vegan Universe” VegNews.

Check out:The 30 Day Vegan Challenge, “you will learn about foods that increase libido – no powdered rhino horn or exotic oysters, but good wholesome foods for good wholesome fun.”
“Some aphrodisiacs are considered such because of their texture. Agave nectar, derived from a cactus-like plant, oozes a thick sweet syrup. The romantic effect of champagne has more to do with the bubbles than with the alcohol. And apricots, mangoes, peaches, and tomatoes – also known as “love-apples” – are on the list of sensual foods primarily for their built-in succulence.”

Food and sexuality have been associated in various ways throughout history. Foods such as chocolate, known as a sexy potion because of the release of dopamine in the pleasure center of the brain. Remember the incredible display of pure, raw sensuality in front of the refrigerator in movie, 9 1/2 Weeks? That may well be the most sensuous, sexually invigorating scenes ever!
Some provide symbolism, such as the biblical “forbidden fruit “or the cherry with its associations related to virginity. Seeing the color red may increase passion. Spicy foods like chili peppers increase heat, blood flow, blushed skin, swollen lips and also release endorphins.

An English herbalist from the 17th century, Nicholas Culpepper, wrote that asparagus “stirs up lust in man and woman.” It’s light and full of vitamins, and adds a welcomed freshness to many dishes.

Here are more:

Almonds have been regarded as a fertility symbol throughout antiquity.

Agave oozes a thick, sweet syrup.

Avocados have been considered an aphrodisiac since Mayan times — when they were eaten to improve sexual desirability. They are visually symbolic.

Bananas are noted for their obvious shape, but also chock full of potassium and Vitamin B, an important part of the proper function of sex hormones.

Celery is also high in essential nutrients necessary for great sex, and it contains two chemicals — androsterone and adrostenol — which serve as a sexual attractant when ingested.

Champagne is intoxicating but mainly used for it’s titillating bubbles. Prosecco is super bubbly!

Chocolate has always been an elixir with phenylethylamine (PEA), which stimulates the same hormone your body releases during sex.

Cinnamon heats up your body and, in turn, your sex drive

Figs have been a part of biblical history, one of the ancient fruits that were highly coveted because they are sweet and soft. The Greeks linked this sensuous fruit with love and fertility.

Garlic is another strong flavor enhancer and is known to get your juices flowing.

Ginger like chili peppers, ginger spices things up and increases circulation and body temperature.

Honey which is organic, raw and rich in B vitamins, supports testosterone production, which can increase desire. It also contains the boron used in estrogen production, which is important for female desire.

Pine Nuts since the Middle Ages, they have been known to increase sexual stamina. Loaded with zinc, which is essential for producing testosterone.

Pomegranates are a symbol of fertility. The seeds of this luscious red fruit improve blood flow and are rumored to increase genital sensitivity.

Sweet Basil is a sweet, pungent herb that not only appeals to the sense of smell, but the taste is energizing, and may boost your sex drive.

Vanilla is always a great flavor enhancer for desserts, but it is also a powerful spice, in foods and especially candles.

But you don’t have to wait for Valentine’s Day to experience these potent elixirs. This can be a year round delicacy, so make sure you indulge daily, especially when these delectable aphrodisiacs are in season.

If you have any personal favorites, please share below and don’t forget to sign up to my other blog for special postings! We’d love to hear from you!

Wellness Travel:Disconnect And De-Stress

Posted on May 24, 2017 by livethe5starlife

We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.” – Anonymous

In the mid-sixties there was a hit Broadway play, Stop the world, I want to get off!, and, with all of the chaos going on in the world today, many of us share this sentiment, seeking to escape from the constant stresses. There are many studies that have documented how stressful modern lifestyles have become, and with the increasing influence of technology in the workplace and at home, many industries have an “always on” mentality which can lead to increased stress. We are now living a 24/7 life/work/style. There is more information flowing into people’s lives now than ever — much of it distressing and challenging. And with it, there are even more possibilities for interruptions and distractions.

According to the recent study from Pew research, they were able to establish a measurement for stress that is known as the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). To do so they created a list of 10 questions for participants to answer, which explored the relationship between a variety of digital technology uses and psychological stress.

“These technologies are said to takeover people’s lives, creating time and social pressures that put people at risk from the negative physical and psychological health effects that can result from stress.”

Because of this increased stress, there is a growing emphasis on overall well-being and wellness sweeping through modern culture. It is also a backlash from the influx of new addictions such as the fears of not being connected, like problematic internet use or nomophobia (no-mobile-phone-phobia). With the fast paced onslaught of technological advancements, there are now scientific studies finding a rising trend in anxiety disorders around not having access to a mobile phone.

Unlike the ‘60s and ‘70s there are more health conscious people, especially the boomers as they near the final frontier of their lives. Many of us are seeking a more favorable balance, going back to the original concept of being in tune with nature. There are very few places in the world that are remote enough to really feel as if we have found freedom from disturbances, into quiet and tranquility. Being immersed in nature and experiencing fresh air, peace, hiking, local farm-to-fork fare and adventure is a rarity. That is why the concept of visiting healing retreats, spas and natural mineral springs are becoming more popular.

After a recent trip to Desert Hot Springs near Palm Springs, California, I discovered the upsurge in tourists who are flocking to this desert oasis, even in the summer. Healing waters from the resort, Two Bunch Palms, are said to be so soporific that they can calm even the most type-A movie mogul! Heavy hitters and Hollywood honchos escape to experience the naturally flowing thermal waters known for the extraordinary purity and rich lithium content as well as a natural mood stabilizer. Mud baths and massages are the favored treatments of many regulars (often booked side-by-side when accompanied by a friend). There are also couples massages offered in a romantic candle lit room. Voted the top rated water in the United States, many well-known celebs hide out from the chaos of their overbooked, social media-hyped lives. Named “Best for Mineral Springs” each year from 2004 through 2010 by the readers of Spa Finder Magazine, it is also ranked by USA Today as “one of 10 great places to relax your mind and body.”

As a young adventuress, traveling by air was a more dignified experience. The excitement of planning, imagining and escaping by plane was exciting and beckoning. We were allured by the promise of being able to experience other cultures and the world at large. However, for the younger adventurer of today, traveling by air is a completely different prospect altogether. We live in a time where the experience of traveling has become less about experience and more about price. Something which doesn’t help those who grew up with the over saturation of technology and in even greater need of escape. However, the great part about being alive at this time is the amount of affordable luxuries being offered to counteract the techno influences. With all of the conveniences available, we are able to escape from the gridlock and grime, without too much effort. Along with scheduled cruising to remote places, within a relatively moderate budget you can also fly by air charter. Instead of roughing it by land and sea, you can fly above the clouds and land in an air strip away from the crowds. Conventional air travel has become almost abhorrent. With the TSA restrictions and Disneyland-sized lines to meander through just to get a tiny seat, we may find ourselves getting stuck between what may feel like behemoth strangers. Mid-twentieth century traveling abroad was a luxury where we were still treated like special guests, even in coach. Now we are just part of the cattle call, crowding onto people movers. While rushing to get to a flight that is usually delayed, we may discover even worse, as it ends up being cancelled after waiting on the tarmac for hours!

Last year, Bloomberg reported on a new Four Seasons-branded jet that would be transporting clients on exclusive round-the-world tours complete with bespoke activities. That is one of the most elite examples of a trend that will become significantly more apparent this year: hotels serving as hosts to your destination as a whole. Numerous hotel groups are expanding programs that give customers privileged access to incredible settings and rarefied local experiences.

Yet there are still many opportunities to travel to faraway lands to beat the crowds which are off the beaten path. Although the advent of technology has led to more stress, there are more affordable ways to destress. Flying on a private jet to any destination – something which was once only for the Royals or the uber elite – is now accessible for many of us. With the soaring failure in commercial air travel, there is a boost in business aviation growth and private plane hire.

In fact, some of these luxuries, only reserved for the leisure class are now simple pleasures that are more accessible. What was once a dream, envisioned from reading a book, or watching a movie can be a reality with the advent of new technological advancements. As the world grows smaller, with a global vision, we are able to reach more out-of-the-way places, for business and pleasure. Things are happening so fast that the future holds great rewards with mega-entrepreneur’s like Richard Branson and Virgin Galactic. He is dreaming even bigger by offering suborbital flights into space in the near future! In many ways,

Tomorrowland is here today!

My New Fav Newsletter….What’s Yours?

Posted on May 18, 2017 by livethe5starlife

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My New FAV Newsletter:What’s YOURS?

I am a newsletter junkie. I sign up for so many of them that it makes me dizzy to open up my inbox every morning. I admit I’m a sucker for Self-Help. I’m a junkie. As one funny lady I know calls it ‘Self-Hell’.

Seriously, there are so many amazing sources out there from mindvalleyacademy.com to Deepak Chopra, to Oprah, Neil Donald Walsch to Bruce Lipton, Abraham Hicks to Marianne Williamson, Dr. Mercola to Daily Om, Food Matters to Food Revolution, Conde Nast Traveler, Spa Finder to Spa Evidence, to GroupON and ON and ON and ON! Ad nauseum.

I sign up because what they say they are offering, which are lots and lots of courses, webinars, freebies and stuff….always entice me to want to sign up. But each time I do, I find myself yearning for more and more info, and ‘like empty calories’ it just doesn’t satisfy my search for my own inner truth.

The truth is, I have enough information inside of me, enough connection to my own higher source, yet somehow I mistrust myself when things don’t manifest in the way that I envision or imagine.

While my other colleagues and friends are busy living their dreams, actualizing their life’s work, doing what they feel they are destined to create, I am still sitting on the fence. I KNOW in my heart what I want to be/do/have but when it does not manifest I get discouraged. I have been able to actualize many wonderful things, while committed to living out-of-the-box, yet when I do not see the results, I go to my default which is oftentimes, depression.

Yet, as a listener to the Abraham Hicks, Law of Attraction work, I know that when my energy/vibration begins to lower, it can spiral into a tunnel, and go down the Rabbit Hole. If I catch myself early on, I remember to ‘reach for a better feeling thought’ and seek out something that makes me happy/feel better/or sometimes even feel neutral.

This morning while spiraling down the abyss, I received an email from my FAV ‘Course in Miracles’ writer, Pam Grout. (#1 New York Times Best-selling author)I was so excited because lately I find her sharing to be miraculously helpful to me. I have a few of her books, E Cubed and E Squared (9 Do-it-Yourself Energy Experiments that Prove Your Thoughts Create Your Reality),plus the Thank and Grow Rich on my kindle. I have to admit I haven’t read them from beginning to end. I have a dozen books on my bedside to read and review for my site.

The latest was a booksigning for Deepak Chopra’s new book, “You Are the Universe:Discovering Your Cosmic Self” which says it all in the title. I had a chance to meet and listen to him explain this complex subject. I am always hypnotized by him, especially the way he is able to communicate clearly and make things seem simple. Chopra was the first to open up my channels to the cosmic consciousness, and I will always be grateful for his distillation of the most dense subject matter into tiny bite-sized pieces of wisdom. In this book I love how he is able to blend the blurred lines between spirituality and hard science, and address the pertinent questions about our very reason for being.

You Are The Universe: Deepak Chopra booksigning

However, lately, Pam’s books are calling out to me more and more.

So her email, today:

“Problems Seem Insurmountable?Hold your horses and read this”. She must have been reading my mind! In fact whenever she shows up in the inbox lately, it is as if she is reading my mind……hmmm….

Her quote below was also helpful!

Drag your thoughts away from your troubles…by the ears, by the heels,
or any other way you can manage it.” ― Mark Twain

“The universe is attending to your needs whether you’re aware of it or not. It works on your behalf at all times. You don’t have to earn it or jump through any hoops. It’s yours through grace, not because you prayed hard enough or followed the right commandments.

So no matter what it may look like, everything in your life is working beautifully. I recently heard a story that puts everything into perspective.

……..We are constantly evolving and being cared for. Our only mission is to let down our resistance, give up our fears and love every glorious moment.

Each story she shares gives a pertinent example of how “When making an intention, your only job is to chill”

Pam Grout….Thank YOU!

“Everything you can imagine is real.”–Pablo Picasso

“When it comes to turning thoughts into things, it’s imperative to disregard “what appears to be true.”

Focus instead on “what you want to be true.”

I know all of this, but when I am in that downward spiral and nothing is working and I end up doing instead of being, and over and over and over again, ad nauseam, Groundhog DAY!UGH!

Today I decided to share this process, mainly to shout out a big THANK YOU to Pam for what she is doing and how much I appreciate her commitment to sharing her brilliant condensation of the Course In Miracles. Because she is such an adept writer and communicator it makes it easy for me to read her, as she gives the Reader’s Digest version of decades of study in this divination of information. (Of course, Marianne Williamson is also gifted, illumination of the divine feminine.) But for right now, today, I am being filled with hope, or should I say, faith, that what I need is here right now, and answers are being sent to me via my INBOX.

Bless YOU Pam! Check this chick out and if you want some powerful synchronistic messages in your INBOX, expect a few miracles along the way…….The Dude Abides Principle. “There is an invisible energy force or field of infinite possibilities.” PG

Loving Yourself:Confessions of a Spa-aholic

Posted on April 27, 2017 by livethe5starlife

Taking time off for self-care is not just a luxury but a necessity.

Ever since I was a little girl, I loved being nurtured with affection. I grew up in a warm, inviting home, where expressing affection and fondness was primarily through touch and hugging. As a young lady, I was introduced to spas by my mother. Ironically, she didn’t like to be touched or massaged, but encouraged me to appreciate the facials and the pampering. It was her way to give me love, learn about self-love, even though she could not do that for herself. Love in my family was shown in tender moments, but emotionally it was more unstable. Unlike most families, warmth and affection was plentiful. Both my parents were generous with expressing that kind of love.

So it seems befitting that I learned about spas and how they were a place to experience love, self-care and the essence of being a woman.

The concept of spas has been around since ancient times. The Roman baths, healing spring waters, the concubines of kings, all gathered in places of beauty to nourish and replenish themselves. It is only in our chaotic modern world that the spa has become more than a healing place, it has become super-luxury for the elite. Of course, there are many natural springs that most can afford and several are free. But our western world, especially the US, does not encourage taking time off for self-care.

We are one of the most overworked cultures in the world where leisurely dining, a leisurely lunch and resting are frowned upon. Fast food, fast cars, fast breaks, high speed internet, everything is a race to get nowhere fast. There are the latest designer drugs to keep us awake, productive, including coffee places on every corner. You don’t need a prescription for speed, there are the new energy drinks that are available to anyone at any time at any store, including 7/11 . Europeans for example have a healthier standard of ease, taking time midday for a siesta or space to relax and then going back to work replenished. Corporations have paid sick days for which the more seasoned workers who are loyal to their company accrue. But the higher up they go on the food chain of employees, the worse they are at taking time off in the corporate world.

In a recent article by Anne Fisher writes about, Why don’t American’s take more time off? Even if their employers offered unlimited vacation days, most people wouldn’t take any more time off than they do now.

“It’s a little odd when you consider that, according to a new survey by staffing firm The Creative Group, about 40% of executives think employees would be more productive if they took more vacations, while only 9% think productivity would “decrease significantly.” Yet among the same senior managers, 72% say that, if their companies offered unlimited vacation days, they wouldn’t use any more than they already do. More than half (56%) of employees say they wouldn’t, either.”

When they polled middle management, most were afraid of taking time off because they didn’t feel they could catch up with the workload upon return. The work still had to get done and their inboxes were overloaded on a typical day. Many just work through their allotted time off. In a 24/7 society, few will turn off their mobile phones for a peaceful day at the beach or mountain retreat. Studies have shown that taking time off for wellness, even a staycation can increase productivity in the work place. A few more humane corporations are realizing this, and providing incentives for taking time off. However most are only interested in the bottom line, making profits and the total output of a worker.

There is another recent article in Inc.Magazine, by Will Yanowicz, Why You Need to Encourage Employees to Use Their Vacation Time.

”New research finds that employees who take all of their vacation are more productive and increase their chances of getting promoted.”

Soaking up the sun in mid-winter at the Ritz Carlton, Downtown Los Angeles

When people do a time out, for only a personal day here and there, it’s because they are usually saving up for a family emergency. It is as if we are still in that puritanical society where pleasure is frowned upon, except for the elite, the celebrity or rockstar. Perhaps this is why we idolize them so much, living vicariously through their extravagant sojourns to exotic locales. Perhaps the Kardashian craze is still front page news because now, more than ever, we are yearning to take time for ourselves, even to get pampered (gasp) for a moment of pleasure.

While my passion with spas has evolved from experiencing it as the substitute for the love of my mother, I now feel it is a nurturing place to escape from the modern world. It is a place for recharging my batteries.

There are of course, pristine places in nature to bathe in the sunshine and fresh air, and get grounded. Retreating to a park, soaking in natural mineral springs and fully participating in places of resplendent beauty. However living in an urban environment does not provide enough time and space, unless you travel away from the hectic city hubs. But we all need a personal ‘souljourn’, an unscheduled time of tranquility. That’s why all the self-help, personal growth, meditation, yoga, and energy healings are great. Yet getting away from it all and traveling to a new environment, such as a tropical resort sounds like a dream right now.

I have always been an observer, noticing the gestalt of most things as a whole, focused on the intrinsic concepts of life. Three decades ago, I studied with Rev. Richard Bolles, who wrote the best selling book, “What Color is Your Parachute” (the bible for finding work) and other books such as “Work/Life Planning” and the “Three Boxes of Life” to understand, with my sensitive nature, how to fit into the work world. As an artistic soul, I never felt comfortable being part of the ‘matrix’ as a worker bee. So instead, I became a Life-Stylist focused on designing beautiful homes. Later on, a researcher, writer and journalist to better understand the world of mass production and business. I found that personal care has no place in the work world, where we all have to fit in to a system and conform. However, our world is becoming so complex, even the medical institutions are not the havens for healing. And in most instances, conventional medicine is so corrupt that the only way to survive and thrive is to learn to take care of yourself.

In some countries it is actually not encouraged to take your personally allotted vacation time. The environment at some companies discourages it, and many employers do not provide paid vacation time.

The future of Health Care is SELF-CARE and the future is now.

The first step is to educate yourself about what is healthy and what is not. We need to face the daily onslaught of toxins from all aspects of the material world. Especially today, we face the chaos of war and perpetual challenges. We are officially living in the age of terrorism, while climate change, natural disasters and mental illness are a normal occurrence. The necessity for finding healing modalities to sustain wellness are tantamount. Relying on the medical establishment to take care of you because you have not awakened to the real issues of the modern world is no longer an option. By the time you get into the ‘Health Care’ system through chronic illness and dreaded diseases, it may be too late to take the more natural route.

The Phonecian main pool, Phoenix Arizona

Gerald Celente, a futurist, founder of the Trends Research Institute, wrote that there would be the combination of spas and hospitals of the future in his Trends 2000 book. Today, most hospitals are a place of unrest, constantly operating from emergency modes (but if you break a leg or need a heart valve replacement, it is the best place to go to fix it.) However, modern diseases occur from stressful lifestyles and many of these illnesses can be alleviated with the proper care through personal responsibility.

Pharmaceutical drugs have become the panacea for what ails you, a pill for this or that, dealing with the symptoms but not the cause. Visiting a healing retreat or spa, especially a med-spa where you get your baseline health checked in an environment away from your routine life is an excellent way to take time to learn about your now body/mind/spirit. One leading edge example is the California Health and Longevity Institute at the Four Seasons Hotel and Spa in Westlake Village, California.

Indoor pool at the Four Seasons Hotel, Westlake Village, California

The spa of the future will be a combination of healing retreat and medical clinic.

Progressive medical establishments in Thailand and other countries are providing medical tourism as a way of saving money but they are also designed as places of peace and tranquility. Hopefully some day we will all have affordable access to these kinds of places here in the United States so we don’t have to wait until we get sick to take time off! We often put off spending any time or money to rejuvenate ourselves, but when when have to stop the clock because we are sick, then we have no choice.

My motto is: How you live your life is your greatest work of art. Hence, creating a lifestyle that is in harmony, balance and in tune with your body/mind/spirit will lead to the greatest pleasure and happiness in the long run. Visiting a healing retreat, spa or place of natural beauty is the first step to living your best life now!

Although both my parents are long gone, what remains for me is the desire to experience peace, comfort, affection, caring and nurturing. Because of life circumstances, I often feel like I am on shaky ground (especially while living in Los Angeles). I believed in the illusion of American dream, yet what once appeared as a solid foundation feels now broken shards of glass to tiptoe about without getting cut. Many people I know are experiencing unstable lives, fraught with financial uncertainty and the impending doom of negativity abounds. I am not one to watch the histrionic headlines in the news, preferring to connect to a higher source daily for truth updates. I have found that having close friends, and especially pets, are another way to feel connected and share physical affection. For most, a close family and children is at the top.

The Sanctuary at Camelback Mountain, Arizona (My FAV)

Since I have not met my soulmate yet, and my fuzzy four-legged one has gone to doggy heaven, I share these special moments through my close friendships, chance encounters with kindhearted souls along the way and especially visiting a healing retreat and spa. My focus now is experiencing beauty for the soul.

For more in-depth info on becoming AGELESS through self-care contact the5starlife@me.com

Scenes From a Spa Lover’s Life

Posted on April 27, 2017 by livethe5starlife

The Golden Door Spa entrance

After decades of visiting spas and experiencing the best in beauty and self-care, I am now able to transfer these lovely memories into WEARABLE ART fashions. Taking home the spa experience by capturing vignettes of the spa lifestyle as a keepsake you can use daily is a fun way to keep these experiences close to your heart. From tote bags to pillows, sarongs, scarves, shawls and shirts, you can share this slice of heaven with me by ordering one for yourself, too!

Koi Pond at the Golden Door Spa

Stay posted because I will be sharing these precious moments of peace and tranquility with you each time I return from my spa souljourn. In the future I will be organizing Special Spa Luxe Retreats with you so you can join me and share these adventures! These will be bespoke experiences tailor made to your specific dreams, desires and wishes.

Until then, enjoy the Scenes from a Spa Lover’s Life and to purchase, go here

Golden Door Spa Koi Pond

Looking forward to sharing those special moments of self-care and soothing the souls of us all in these challenging times ahead.

Golden Door Zen Path

We are living in such a radical shift in consciousness and adapting to the extreme changes in climate and environmental chaos, the need for self care and soothing the soul are more important now than ever before. It is no longer a luxury to experience mindfulness and inner peace, it is a necessity! Experiencing ‘beauty for the soul’ is now au courant for living a meaningful life.

While many of us have had a more frivolous, care free lifestyle in our youth, having ‘been there and done that’ for decades, many aspects are no longer playful explorations of pleasure. The endless summer of our lives is waning and we are embarking upon the fall and some into the winter of our timeline. We are living in a time of great and unparalled changes that are affecting every aspect of living in this modern world. The new normal is in flux, with radical extremes that can strike our very core of existence.

FYI-I just listened to an interview with Greg Braden: Adapting to the New Normal.

Visiting a healing retreat or spa is the first line of defense when dealing with the intricacies of the radical changes in our world and making sure we are taking care of ourselves when adapting to the new normal.

May we all be blessed with the opportunity to learn about the keys to self-care for ourselves, our families, our loved ones and those we may encounter on our path to healing the world at large.

For personal coaching on living the spa lifestyle/self-care secrets of the stars contact me at the5starlife@me.com

Yoga Therapy: Busting the Blues

Posted on April 5, 2017 by livethe5starlife

yoga-goldendoor Yoga at The Golden Door Spa

Here it is again, that familiar ‘visitor’ that keeps showing up on and off through the ups and downs called life. Most will call it, ’depression’. It occasionally shows up, just once in awhile, and then leaves, unexpectedly. Especially when I am able to do something and catch it off guard. Other times, it feels like a can of molten lead that pours all over my being, blocking the experience of pleasure, beauty and love. The lead hardens and sometimes feels like it coats all of my pores and keeps me from feeling anything, but it’s suffocating toxic fumes. It feels like a shield which gets so stiff, so tight that I cannot move. I feel immobilized.

As an intuitive empath, often times it shows up as a result of feeling the energies of other people and the world at large. At other times, it takes up residence in my body as the uninvited guest who came for dinner and never left. Yet there has always been a constant flicker of hope, especially when I remember to shift into action with my breath and body, from a hike in nature, the smell of a fragrant flower, and most of all, YOGA. (And especially breath work with Kundalini Yoga)

Even when I feel as if I want to stay home and hide under the covers, it seems the only other place I feel safe is my yoga class. In fact, yesterday, I was especially sad and fearful, while chatting with a friend before my yoga class, and told her I wanted to go back home. This wise young lady said, go to your yoga class, get the body moving and the breath deep, you will feel better. To my surprise and relief, the resistance melted away and by the time we started the first Asana (pose) I was out of the pain and into the breath and movement.

It is amazing how this practice has become my saving grace. With all the chaos and evils of the world being tossed at us in all forms of communication, the simple act of shutting off the tech and getting into nature, or a yoga class can do wonders for the soul.

“These are the times that try men’s souls.” Thomas Paine

One word comes to mind, Weltschmerz, as defined by ‘sadness or melancholy at the evils of the world; world-weariness,’ Collins English Dictionary. (Leave it to the Germans to come up with such a word). German author Jean Paulexpressed it as “the kind of feeling experienced by someone who believes that physical reality can never satisfy the demands of the mind.”

Even Marcel Proust, whose epic autobiographical novel, Remembrance of Things Past, shares ‘we find the longing for something only after we are separated from it’. The loss of an idealized person or paradise, is palpable when we feel we have intense yearnings for a primal relationship that becomes nostalgic. If only my lover didn’t leave…….If only I could leave this dead end job…….if only I could escape to paradise again.

“..that melancholy which we feel when we cease to obey orders which, from one day to another, keep the future hidden, and realize that we have at last begun to live in real earnest, as a grown-up person, the life, the only life that any of us has at his disposal.” Marcel Proust

If you google the words, creative celebs with depression you will find 29,500,00 results. From Britney Spears to Catherine Zeta Jones, Carrie Fisher to Robin Williams, and dozens more are splashed across the tabloids. While Princess Diana’s personal battles with depression and eating disorder were publicly displayed with little or no help from her family, most are suffering in quiet desperation.

Exquisite models and superstars, like Paulina Porizkova experienced this extreme state after she was voted off ABC’s Dancing with the Stars in 2007. This triggered her feelings of rejection and led to anxiety attacks. An ‘antidepressant helped dull her anxiety,’ Porizkova wrote in a 2011 Huffington Post editorial, but also affected her personality. Like so many of us who have taken the ‘blue pill’, we end up stopping the medication, with a battle of withdrawal symptoms.

The only way for many is with exercise and willpower. While she’s not an “anti-medicine crusader,” Poritzkova wrote that she is “starting to wonder whether antidepressants can often be the emotional equivalent of plastic surgery.”

In the movie the Matrix, Neo is forced to choose between the blue pill and the red pill. Choosing the red pill would be a quick ‘escape from the Matrix and into the real world’, the ”truth of reality even though it is a harsher, more difficult life;’ while the blue pill that most choose, keeps them staying in the Matrix, wearing colored lenses that can only see the illusion of a ‘pretend comfortable world.’

I personally have lived my life through the eyes of an artist. However, the past several years, I have not been doing much fine art, except writing. If one has an artistic nature, it has been said that living without artistic expression, life may become out of balance. I see that now. When one is not expressing themselves in some passionate way that feeds the soul, the energy can become scattered and even neurotic.

There is a well known link between depression and creativity. That link can be found because major depression is amplified in those who tend to ruminate on their thoughts. On the upside, as author Tanner Christensen states, “being creative is to make sense of and connect the small details of everything we experience, the good and the bad. The creative person, who spends his or her time ruminating on thoughts is likely to suffer from major depression.”

‘When we ruminate, however, our brains are naturally drawn to things that are vital to our health. Pain and suffering are such immense experiences, even if they’re short-lived, that those who ruminate tend to loop through those painful experiences more often than those who don’t.”

Research from Andy Thomson and Paul Andrews confirms this approach, stating that ‘depression is an evolutionary way for us to tightly focus our attention on what needs changing in our lives.’

Highly creative people have a tendency towards suffering via the same brain that makes them so amazingly talented.

Another upside is that many creative, romantic types (like me) also experience deeper, more satisfying pleasure, be it the gentle touch of a lover, a fragrant flower or a midsummer’s night breeze at sunset.

When coming out of a creative slump, according to Shelley Carson, an instructor on creativity and psychology at Harvard University, “ there is enough motivation to produce immense amounts of work. And it’s a very real boost, identical to one you would get if you received a random gift or really great news.”

While many may be diagnosed as ‘bi-polar’ and end up taking pharmaceutical drugs, others are able to ride out the waves and become more productive, satisfied and create from a place of inspiration.

Christensen also states, “Of course, the motivational boost is often an inverse of the level of depression. So if you’re in a truly deep funk and start coming out of it, you can expect your motivation to be equally as high as the low.”

The most commonplace way of treatment, is pharmaceutical drugs, with a side of therapy Often times, the drugs do curb the depression and anxiety but leave much to be desired. After decades of research, the symptoms seem to be relieved in the beginning but them more and more cocktails are being prescribed because the initial boost wears off. And they can also have negative side effects like weight gain and decreased sexual desire that leads to abandoning the medication.The widespread increase in both anxiety and depression are spurring more research to find more sustainable treatments.

“Despite modern advances in psychopharmacology, and the development of so many integrative forms of psychotherapy, we haven’t made a significant dent in this epidemic of emotional illness,” says clinical psychologist and yoga teacher Bo Forbes. Parvati Shallow, CBS News

As the founder of Integrative Yoga Therapeutics, Forbes specializes in the healing arts by using yoga for “anxiety, insomnia, depression, immune disorders, chronic pain, and physical injuries, as well as athletic performance.” Now in collaboration and research with neuroscientists Dave Vago and Norman Farb at the Mind & Life Institute, they are exploring the effect of yoga on anxiety and depression.”

Like the benefits of mindfulness meditation as a means of self-mastery, yoga is becoming a widespread practice for those that are seeking the mind/body/spirit connection. Instead of dealing with the twentieth century mind-therapy model, the new studies are showing that if you focus on your breath, change your body patterns the mind will follow.

Adam King, an artistic soul who delves into his depression, says “It’s really a simple matter of choice. If you decide you’re too addicted to the emotional responses of your depressive state, then stay there. But if you’re like me, and you know there’s so much more to life than constant suffering, then I hope you’ll take what I’ve laid out here and be inspired to begin the process of owning your path to freedom Now that I was very well acquainted with depression and had taken the time to learn why it’s here, I could identify the neuro-path that brought it and me together. Like retracing the steps and events that came together to slowly let it in.

With decades of research for my own depression, I agree that getting to the root cause of each episode can help. However, it seems to be a life-long journey. Perhaps the best we can hope for is to embrace the flow of feelings, find pleasurable ways to enjoy the upswing and move through the lows with dignity and grace. Working with the breath, moving the body and changing the patterns seems to help by accessing the mind-body network. (This is also why mindfulness meditation has become so popular.) So for now, yoga is my ‘drug of choice’.

For more information: see here “These studies validate what the ancient practitioners of yoga understood–that yoga is a holistic approach to bringing us into a state in which body, mind and heart (all the koshas) are in balance.”

Breaking Free From the Real World: Live Your Dream World

Posted on March 30, 2017 by livethe5starlife

Here is a dreamboard I did online.

Have you already reached your dreams and are ready to create a more expanded vision for your life?

Or are you seeking to become more in alignment with what you really want?

Lack of alignment……… in a lowered self esteem, lack of clarity in things you once felt confident in, and a loss of understanding what your highest value is (the thing clients buy from you). Shana Lynn Yao

Would you like to know the secrets to becoming AGELESS? I’ve been in search of this illusion since I reached the mid-century mark. It’s an elusive slippery slope, searching for the Fountain of Youth, but there are some real keys to unlock your personal path to vibrant health and radiant beauty, naturally.

One important first step is taking time out to envision the life of your dreams. Most of us spend time in fear of the future or rehashing the past, but creating a vision board of your dreams, like the one above is a great pastime.

I just found this amazing woman who coaches people on marketing…..Total Genius was created out of an urgent need to break free from the status quo of the entrepreneurial world. To see past what the cluttered environment that pollutes an already knowledgeable, purposeful, and heartfelt mind, and create a safe haven of possibility, truth, high level business strategies, and holistic health, so you can actualize a healthy business AND life.

Contact me to set up a free consultation

Loved the Beauty 4 The Soul Radio podcast, sharing insights leading edge authors and healers

John Assaraf, best known for sharing his story in the movie, The Secret, about the dream home he found and posted on his vision board. He put it away and forgot about it, but when unpacking to move into his beautiful new home, he found the board. He was amazed to discover that the beautiful home he had just purchased was the same home on the vision board!

If you saw The Secret, you know the story of how I discovered the amazing power of vision boards. The story about how I envisioned my actual dream home years ahead of time, and then how I found myself in it one day is absolutely true. Once you gain clarity on what you really want and understand the universal laws of attraction, vision boards can help you bring that desire into reality – and my life today is living proof! John Assaraf

Jack Canfield, of the Chicken Soup for the Soul, also encourages people to create vision boards.

Another is learning the habit of MINDFULNESS MEDITATION-The first step to healing from the inside out.

Your brain will work tirelessly to achieve the statements you give your subconscious mind. And when those statements are the affirmations and images of your goals, you are destined to achieve them! – Jack Canfield

By representing your goals with pictures and images you will actually strengthen and stimulate your emotions because your mind responds strongly to visual stimulation… and your emotions are the vibrational energy that activates the Law of Attraction. The saying “A picture is worth a thousand words,” certainly holds true here.

I am on my own personal search to create my dream life into reality and this includes becoming ageless. I have found that adding mindfulness meditation to my daily life, as well as yoga, relieve stress. If boosting your confidence, releasing limiting beliefs and creating an authentic relationship with yourself is a goal, you can take back your power, and be open to new possibilities.

Baobob is BEST/ Bonga Food Demos with JoAnn at Whole Foods

Do you want to lose weight, feel great and be more fulfilled, wearing your favorite outfits, feeling confident going out and even working out?

Did you know that most weightloss gimics are not healthy, effective or long lasting?

It has been statistically proven that working out does NOT make you thin, but it does make you FIT.

Did you know you can be fit but still FAT even though you are doing cardio, sweating and working so hard until you drop out?

You’ve seen those hard core cardio slaves working out and doing all the right stuff but they are still overweight.

There’s a secret, which I will explain to you in depth and it’s very simple.

Most nutritionists, doctors and specialists make it sound complicated, because they want you to follow their intricate programs and buy all their supplements and products.

Iyengar Yoga is my saving grace: healthy habits can be good addictions

But I have discovered a better way. Believe me, those photos above are recent and I am telling you that I‘ve studied this for decades. I was a Jane Fonda Aerobics fanatic and worked out for almost 40 years. ( I won’t say how old I am but you can guess because I was committed to training in college!) But I went for the burn and got burned out! Now I’m not pushing myself and cannot do exhausting workouts-when suffering from adrenal fatigue, it is more important to do less, a slow burn is best.

I am not a super model/superstar and don’t have a perfectly lean body, but I am in shape and you can be too. I spent days, weeks, months and years training with the pros. Now I’m still dealing with the ups and downs of my weight, but not stressing over it any more.

Create the life of your dreams today. If you want REAL RESULTS, and if you’ve tried the rest, then go for the BEST and contact me today!

I am going to be perfectly honest with you, I don’t care about being on the cover of the next bikini issue of Sports Illustrated! But I do care about having vibrant health, radiant beauty and being fit. The system I use is great for men and women of any age. We have fabulous results which I will share with you in our first phone meeting.

Here I am with lovely and ageless Catie Norris, founder of Simply Young at a health expo.

It’s all about the cleanse, getting rid of toxins, letting go of stress and becoming the radiant person you know is inside of YOU! Another factor is having a coach, a cheerleader and someone who truly cares about you, your results and helping you to become your best self, NOW. Not next week, next year or someday! With the proper help, you too can become your picture perfect self, whatever that means to you!

Do you have an inner vision of your life that seems to elude you? Are you tired of repeating the same patterns over and over again and hoping for different results? Are you seeking to find guidance but feel blocked? Are you feeling stuck, not recovering as easily from loss in work and relationships, feeling emotionally dis-connected from your partner, healing a broken heart, or feeling un-enthusiastic about love & life? Would you like to get access to the inner wisdom that is always within you?

*****Weight weightloss and management

*****I represent the most comprehensive, pure whole food wellness products available.

This includes a cleanse that is used by Celebrities, world class athletes and rock stars for detoxing the system and allowing you to eliminate the toxins that are contributing to your weight issues. With this system you are guaranteed a healthy weightloss that will not come back if you are committed. I have been trained personally by the nutritionist to the stars who is the founder and formulator of this outstanding system

Contact me to set up a free consultation

As a lifestyle coach, I cover a broad spectrum of issues and provide solutions to everyday challenges. I have listed some but not all of my expertise in helping others to live their BEST LIFE NOW!

Additional Coaching Specialties:

Career Goals

Health and Wellness

Healthy Food Prep

Life/Work Balance

Relationships/Intimacy

De-Stress Solutions

Exercise/Training/Coaching

Image Makeovers

Home:Organize/Design/Declutter

Improving Overall Lifestyle Challenges, including decades of research, providing source and Resource

Trained for over 35 years in different workout modalities and attended workshops :

Reiki

Iyengar Yoga

Kundalini Yoga

Yin Yoga/Stretch

Strength Training

Jane Fonda Aerobics

Low Impact Workouts

Power Body Sculpting

Mindfulness Meditation/Breathwork

If you’re seeking out-of-the-box creative solutions that are above and beyond the rest of the crowd, you will appreciate this style of coaching. When everyone else says, IMPOSSIBLE, we will say, “I’m Possible”! When you are open to receiving the right harmony and balance of mind/body/spirit anything is possible!

Mindfulness Meditation and Hypnosis Training with Chris Howard

With the right guidance, you can not only thrive and flourish, but create the life of your dreams that is waiting for you now!

I have personally experienced many of the challenges my clients experience and discovered the keys to unlock the doors to ‘finding your own bliss.’ I have used life coaches for my own guidance and realized that all the answers were inside of me, beyond anything in their limited experience. Through my mindfulness meditation practice, I have experienced life-changing results which has catapulted me into this form of healing work to share with my clients.

I have been researching, exploring and discovering the secrets to creating the life of my dreams. Sometimes we have an ideal that we think is our true hearts desire, but life has a way of throwing us curve balls to redirect us to another trajectory. It may seem like we are going off course but in reality we are being guided to another, more desirable destiny. In process, I have experienced many miracles in spite of the years of challenges. It is my thrill to share these secrets to a fulfilling life and helping my clients overcome the blocks and manifest the life of their dreams. It is my greatest pleasure to have my clients experience Beauty for the Soul each and every day.

Would you like to explore creating your own dream lifestyle? I will help you!

Here’s how it works:

1. First is a brief phone conversation to find out a little bit about the client and see if there’s a good fit.(Free)

2. Then I send a questionnaire forms to have them fill out to explore the areas they are interested in working on.

3. Then we set up a series of sessions (after the first initial session) to discuss and work on the issues, including different methods and processes to do at home.

4. There are dozens of books and processes out there which I will recommend, but I believe the best way to make the changes is to have a personal coach to assist you. That is why I am offering my services.

The experts always say:We teach what we need to learn most…….so after decades of study to create my own dream life (which is still in process ) I am now offering to share the best of the best with my readers.

Bullet Proof Coffee King-Me and Dave Asprey at the Natural Products Expo 2017

Here are a list of just a few of the credentialed seminars from my decades of exploring creating my dream lifestyle.

Reiki 1 & 11
Insight Seminars
I: The Awakening Heart Seminar
II: The Opening Heart Seminar
III: The Centering In The Heart Seminar
IV: Knowing the Purpose of your Heart Seminar
The Reconnection 1& 11 with Eric Pearl
Break Costin

Unprocessed 30 Day SOS Challenge with Chef AJ (Vegan lifestyle training )
Kundalini Yoga Healing with MahanKirn
Peak Potentials Training Series with T. Harv Eker
including Train the Trainer

Living Legend Deepak Chopra at his new book signing, “You Are the Universe”

Ayurvedic Healing Workshops with Dr.s Deepak Chopra and David Simon
Simply Young Longevity and Wellness Coach

Mindfulness Meditation and Hypnosis Training with Chris Howard

Life Work Planning with Dr. Richard Bolles (author What Color is Your Parachute?)

Now I am offering my unique lifestyle concepts for a select few and am available for in person and online sessions.

Contact me to set up a free consultation

Now There’s A Transformer Toy for Car Owners

Posted on March 28, 2017 by livethe5starlife

It’s an Automatic Car Tent, it’s a beach umbrella, it’s a fishing umbrella & LED camping tent!

Spring is upon is here in Southern California. The rains are waning and the sun seems to get hotter every year! It’s not even summer yet and the car happy lifestyle is heating up! But the midday sun takes its toll on the inside as well as the outside. The necessity for a way to cool down the heat is evident, with climate change on the rise.

While most of us are winging it with the old-fashioned sun shields, just covering the front windshield is not enough. With the onslaught of three digit temperatures commonplace, getting into a car that’s been exposed to the heat can feel like touching a hot stove or the shock of a ‘hot seat’! You will never forget your first steering wheel burn or spending the day at the beach and then the double sting of a sunburn and a hot car! There is a simple yet ingenious idea, a sunshade. Get ready for Lanmodo, the world’s first wireless automatic car tent that also solves a few other issues. With a one-click wireless remote switch that will open and close the umbrella, it covers the roof and beyond of your windshield and windows. You only need to charge it once and it lasts for 45 days. It is built to last the life of an average car and easy to install. With damaging environmental effects to our cars and the contents, what concept, to be able to cool down your car temperatures up to 40 degrees in hot weather.

So this is kind of like a transformer toy, because of its versatility. It can be used as an umbrella for the beach, park or any outdoor activity, picnic tent or a 4 people camping tent. The versatility doesn’t stop with a power bank to charge your device and plug in USB LED light, and folds up into a small package. For ultra-luxury owners, it is a must for protecting their vehicle from bird droppings, dust, acid rain, debris, even leaves! Made of super waterproof material to prevent rain & snow. No matter what kind of car, SUV or Luxury Sedan,Pickup, Jeep, Mini, even 4 wheel beach vehicle, this is the best thing since the spoiler! There’s nothing out there that compares, even a custom fit. The competition is so limited, from an Hello Kitty designed windshield cover to a Mercedes Out-back shade, the rest look like poor solutions to a real problem.

According to coolpile.com :

“Windshield sunscreens are fairly the same. The main difference is the price and the material used on the front facing side. The ones that owned a sunshield before know that silver models offer much better protection as they can reflect more heat and can block 100% of all UV rays.”

There are so many new futuristic gadgets for car enthusiasts, like head up displays (HUD) “HUD’s allow drivers to check various important info without taking their eyes off the road. It’s simple, it’s convenient and it’s the way of the future! And, at least but not last – they’re super cool!”

Many of these new auto advances are using crowdfunding to get it out there. Exploride just had a successful Indiegogo campaign that raised over $700,000 US, with unique features like a quad core processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, wifi hotspot, dashcam, IR and voice sensors for hands-free controls as well as an OBD-II adapter that fits most cars on the market and more.

This revolutionary new solution to a growing problem is the best solution so far, like heated seats for the winter, this luxury item sunshade is affordable. There are only a few other manufacturers, but the Lanmodo is the only one that is designed to be automatic and controlled by wireless remote. The others are manual. The installation process is less than a minute!

If you’re wondering when this new tech auto accessory is coming on the market, through (kickstarter). crowdfunding, it will be sooner than later. “Crowdfunding as a way to get access to funding is an amazing opportunity for business, inventors and those seeking a way to make their ideas turn into reality.” Ian Khan

5 Star Freebies-Living With Synchronicity

Posted on March 26, 2017 by livethe5starlife

My best friend calls me Magical Marjorie because I marvel at the little things and really do experience living the 5 star life, without limits on a miniscule BUDGET! How many fun, luxe experiences can you have without spending any money? My greatest thrill is becoming aware of the little gifts from the Universe, making note of them, and sharing the process with you all. My desire is to uplift and inspire others to become aware and awaken to the mindful miracles that occur all the time. No matter what is going on in our lives, sometimes we really need to stop and smell the roses to move beyond the struggles. Things are extremely challenging in all areas right now. When we focus on the scary stuff, we become immobilized and it is like a freeze frame in the moment. All we can see is what is not working and not the little things that are.

But I am not going to share the negatives because I am focusing on gratitude. In the past, when faced with the kinds of issues I have today, I would most certainly be freaking out. But now I am learning how to shift my focus, expand my reality to experience a new ‘portal’ of existence, one that makes me feel better. Instead of being obsessed with the things that are not going well, I am learning to let it go. I ‘take care of business’ as best as I can, but I have learned to ‘know when to hold’em and know when to fold’em.’ Learning what I can and cannot control takes practice and being present in the moment.

Recently I got three writing assignments that have shown up just in the nick of time. That’s all I am going to say, but I am definitely shifting my self-talk, curbing my fears and feeding my head with all the amazing free YouTube videos. From Byron Katie to Abraham Hicks, and webinars, like John Burgos Beyond the Ordinary, Mindvalley Academy and the daily offerings just keep coming in. There is a wealth of information out there to assist us in healing the darkness that prevails and reprogramming our minds to align with positive.

There are dozens of free courses online, and my in-box is flooded with them daily. But this is NOT about all of that. Today I want to share about how I live my life, and allow gifts to show up, just by being open and appreciating the wonder of it all.

As I mentioned, my first writing assignment, on the benefits of CBD Oil, for huffpost was rejected because I didn’t have the proper sources sited, so I have to re-edit it. So normally I would panic because I needed to get paid immediately and now my editors in London will have to wait until it is approved to pay me. Lots of other little things that usually immobilize me are not getting in my way. I finished my other story on the Medevac (emergency air ambulance in the Virgin Islands) and hopefully it will be approved so I can post it on the site.

So my newest assignment was for Pelican Hill Magazine and it is a fashion spread. I have very little interest in writing about fashion. My passion is spas, luxury resorts, pampering and becoming ageless. Fashion is not my passion. But when I started to research the magazine and the copy I realized that writing about fashion is very poetic. In fact it is rousing to write creatively about the current trends. I actually was enjoying the assignment! This was another gift.

However, I needed to do some research at Neiman Marcus at Fashion Island in Newport Beach, so I stopped by before my yoga class (which I ended up going to the Newport Yogaworks instead of Laguna Beach). When I got to Neiman’s I met a lovely sales lady in Escada and asked her a few questions about the fashion trends for spring. She gave me a list of Neiman’s own and then offered me a bottle of water with the Neiman’s brand label!

That was my first gift. Then I went down to the main floor and discovered they had the Dyson Supersonic hairdryer on display and there was going to be a stylist giving free blowouts! If you haven’t tried this blow dryer, you’re in for a treat. There are only a few things out there that are affordable and can really change your life in the world of beauty. This is one of them! First of all it is IONIC. Check it out, you won’t ever need to go to a ‘dry bar’ and blow your hard earned cash getting styled by someone else! I didn’t have time to wait for the stylist because they were showing up at 11:30 and I wanted to get to yoga at 12:00. So they let me use the dryer and I was perfectly happy doing it myself.

Then one of the sales people from the makeup counter came by and insisted on blowing out my hair. She was a professional stylist as well. I was happy to get the free blowout, enjoying my frizz free frocks, like a visit to the salon-but without having to get wet. While sitting there a few other ladies came by and one invited me to go upstairs to a special makeup event where they were demonstrating a new skincare product. She said there would be champagne and yummies. I normally cannot resist a glass of champagne, but am committed to my Whole Foods, Plant Based diet right now. (Simply Young) It doesn’t totally exclude the bubbly, but I’m also trying to slim down again. So I had to turn down the offer, but again, they insisted I come back after yoga and get a free makeup application. One of the other ladies gave me her card and said to come back any time for a full makeup demonstration and lesson.

Then I went to Whole Foods after yoga, for a quick lunch from the salad bar and they were giving away my favorite vegan protein bar as well as a discount coupon. I also had some samples of different healthy products. (Last week they were sampling sparkling wine and some beer.)

I had to leave to begin my writing assignment so I stopped off at my favorite 5 Star Resort cafe at Pelican Hill Resort around the corner and sat down on the sofa with my laptop and used the free WiFi.

I had the whole couch to myself, overlooking the magnificent view and was blessed with the perfect cappuccino!( Just look at the froth on this masterpiece, with fluffy whisps of foam and sprinkles of cinnamon! And the breathtaking vista!)

I spent a couple of hours at the cafe online and then headed home in rush hour traffic. Rush hour here in Newport-Laguna is a joke! It’s actually just cruising down the coast highway with some extra cars. In LA it it was torture. A normal twenty minute drive could be over an hour or more! Here in Paradise, it is just a slight inconvenience. Yet the locals are concerned about the distance, and I drive out of my way to enjoy cruising down the highway! I have not been bored yet…….

So this is how I spend my days receiving the gifts that come my way. I hope to uplift and inspire you to open yourself up to receiving the little synchronicities that show up in your life. No matter how challenging these times are for some of us there are still little miracles that show up and help to brighten your day.

Be open, be grateful and watch what happens. Until next time……allow yourself to be pampered by the universe, because you deserve it!