Missing Brutus....

 I love cats because I enjoy my home; and little by little, they become its visible soul.

We have been on the road for three days and finally it has come to an end.  We drove from Florida to Chicago.  Chicago hopefully will be come our summer getaway little by little.  Both Arvid and I love it here during the summertime.

This is bittersweet because we do not have Brutus with us.  He makes us so happy so hopefully one day we can remedy this and bring him with us.  He was just so sad when we left and as usual it broke our hearts.  Here he is sitting on our bag like as if willing us not to leave him.

Hopefully the day will come when we will be able to bring him with us..........just like we do when we go to the Bahamas.  We love you Brutus and we miss you.....

There are few things in life more heartwarming than to be welcomed by a cat

What greater gift than the love of a cat?

until next time....

10 Hairstyles That Will Make You Look 10 Years Younger (Part 1)

The hair is the richest ornament of women

Wearing the wrong hairstyle is the beauty version of time-traveling—straight from your actual age to a decade (or two) older. Here, the most common mistakes and how to fix them.

Since we are on a road trip it will be

difficult to update my blog so in the meantime I have decided to share some celebrity hairstyles with you.  Showing you what makes you look older and younger according to celebrity "critics".  A celebrity is any well-known TV or movie star who looks like he spends more than two hours working on his hair.

You may or may not agree the choice is yours but, it is still fun.  This hairstyle on the left supposedly makes you look OLDER: Shellacked hair is fine for royalty—in their 60s.  Same celebrity on the left (Kate Bosworth)  YOUNGER: Loose styles, like a side braid, are more queen of cool.  Honestly who wears their hair in a humongous pile at the top of their heads....??

How many of you know (mainly girls/women) or someone who has beautiful hair and then decides to do some drastic change in color?  I have sen a few of these changes in people know and unknown to me and I must say they look years older.  I think it is unnatural to go from a beautiful dark color to a horrible bleached blond and vice versa also.

To the left is Sarah Jessica Parker looking OLDER: Single-process color may be dramatic, but it doesn't do you any favors after 40.  To the right YOUNGER: By adding just a few highlights, you bring a brighter feeling to your whole face.

Jennifer Garner

OLDER: Hair that's too stiff is like a face with too much Botox—an instant tip-off that you're old enough to have a dermatologist on speed dial. 
 
YOUNGER: Keep them guessing with a softer style that works with your hair's natural texture.
 

Fergie

OLDER: Though center parts were key to hippie-youth style, they add decades to those of us who actually lived through the '60s and '70s. 

 

YOUNGER: Liven up a center part by creating a movement of your own, in the form of loose curls and a little height at the roots.

 

Penélope Cruz

OLDER: Flat hair is flattering to no one.  Period

 

YOUNGER: Tousled layers take away decades—and add sex appeal.

 

Will continue with the last 5 looks in my next blog.  In the meantime what do you think of my hairstyle?  I go from having it curly (most of the times) to an ocassional straight look.  Arvid by the way hates the straight look...why??

Life is an endless struggle full of frustrations and challenges, but eventually you find a hair stylist you like

until next time....

Road Trip...

When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money. Then take half the clothes and twice the money

Arvid and I will be leaving today on a loooonnng road trip.  Good and bad.  Good because we like to be on the move.....and as   Robert Louis Stevenson said I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travels sake. The great affair is to move

 

Thanks to the Interstate Highway System, it is now possible to travel across the country from coast to coast without seeing anything and trust me most of the times this is exactly what happens....and this is bad.  I would like to stop and look around a bit but, no way Arvid has other plans.  The goal is to get there as soon as possible and to see as little as possible in between.

 

Does not matter because we do enjoy ourselves and some way or the other I do manage to get him to stop.  Normally all I ask for is to stop at Starbucks so that I may get my Starbucks Caramel Frappuccino.

 

Another good thing about a road trip is that it gives us the opportunity to converse.  Believe it or not when we are home and busy with work and so many other things conversation (quality time) does not play a big roll. 

Travelling does, instead of broadening the mind, it lengthens our conversation time....but to be honest with you I will have to say that I do not care that much for road trips.  Too exhausting on the body and sometimes too much time together can make you crabby especially if you are hungry and cannot find a good place to stop and have a meal.....

 

I love my food and Burger King just does not cut it for me as my main meal of the day....just thinking about it makes me antsy...

 

Good though is that we do not have the phones ringing constantly and for a while we are away from the computers....hopefully not for too long.

 

OK people beware...here we come and when it's my turn to drive I really am not that tolerant forget about Arvid he will be honking at you even if you are not on his lane.  He honks for everyone on the road...fun!! fun!

 

For those who love road trips you should consider Route 66.  Check the link and decide for yourself.....

http://www.roadtripusa.com/routes/route66/route66.html

 

For me the best part of the road trip is getting there....one step closer to Brutus.

No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow.

until next time....

Would you believe—a manicure that really lasts 14 days?

A new nail beautifying system promises to last for two full weeks. Sounds rather impossible, but apparently there seems to be some truth in it.  Read on....

I found a pretty interesting article on nails and wanted to share it with you.  It was written by:  Joanna Douglas, Shine Staff.

CND's Shellac is the first hybrid nail color that applies like polish, wears flawlessly for 14 days of high gloss shine, and is removed in minutes.

Forget over sized handbags, statement necklaces, and sky-high stilettos: a shiny manicure is the "It" accessory of the moment. Beige neutral nails and bold bright polish are both on-trend this season, but in a time of recession, many women are going the DIY route with their nails. Who wants to spend $15 to $25 on a manicure that chips after two days? Well, the folks at CND are hoping to bring ladies back to the salon with Shellac, an innovative hybrid nail color that they guarantee will last 14 days.


Yes, you read that right. Shellac manicures last two whole weeks, and I should know. I tried the Shellac manicure at the end of April and documented the entire process so I could report back. As someone who does her own nails or gets a manicure about once a week, I was prepared to be a tough critic, but I was won over by Shellac pretty quickly. It does cost more than a regular manicure (typically around $40 to $45), but the results are well worth it. While nail innovations like the heat-activated Minx foils and pricey gel formulas like Calgel have become trendy, no other system has given me great results with a guarantee.

The Shellac manicure is completely unique and revolutionary. Have you ever gotten a manicure and then reached for your keys and ruined it? Have you ever gotten your nails done for an event the next day, and had your manicure chip before the festivities begin? Have you ever painted your nails before bed and woken up with sheet marks in them? Have you ever gotten busted at work for trying to redo your nails? Personally, I can say "yes" to all of these things, which is why I'm completely smitten with Shellac, the manicure that requires no drying time and lasts two weeks with no issues whatsoever.

"Our chemists invented a modern solution to the normal polish inconveniences that frustrate women," says CND co-founder and style director Jan Arnold. "Shellac is fret-free and convenient. Women can finally get their time back." How does Shellac get around the dry time? CND has created a special UV lamp that accommodates both hands and feet and cures the polish as you go. (The machines can easily be completely washed and sterilized between customers.) Shellac paints on just like a regular polish using specially formulated base coat, two layers of color, and top coat. After each coat of polish is applied, you put your hand under the timed lamp while the other hand is being painted. As soon as the manicurist is done with your nails, you can dig into your purse for your keys without any concern of smudging or chipping. They are 100 percent dry in the same time it takes for a normal manicure. I tried scratching at my nails, and even rubbing them along a brick wall--the polish stays put with a gorgeous, shiny finish. Expect your nails to look exactly like this for two weeks. Mine endured sinks full of dishes, harsh cleaning chemicals, and many hours of typing for 16 whole days.

Removing the polish is equally innovative. Try as you might, normal nail polish remover will not do the trick. This stuff is strong. You must return to the salon, and after 10 minutes under CND's remover wraps your lacquer will literally glide off. These fun little stickers keep acetone concentrated over the nail, so chemicals won't bother your skin. There is no rubbing and no sticky polish with cotton sticking to it, plus your hands are free to read a magazine while you wait. Your manicure will come off immediately after 10 minutes. Ten minutes for a perfect two-week manicure? No sweat. Now you can get a Shellac manicure at your leisure days before a wedding or vacation and have it last until well after your return. Pretty impressive stuff, if you ask me.

Shellac nail color is hypoallergenic and "3-Free," which means no formaldehyde, toluene or DBP. Twelve of CND's most popular shades are available in Shellac, with another 12 launching by year's end, and more to come. Check out my slideshow to see how Shellac is applied and removed, and how well it wears.

OK everyone now you can all enjoy beautiful nails.....

The best and most beautiful things in life cannot be seen, not touched, but are felt in the heart....

until next time

Sister Time.....

 A sister can be seen as someone who is both ourselves and very much not ourselves - a special kind of double

My sisters came and now they are gone.  Time went by so fast but, even so we managed to have a wonderful few days together.  Like all families once we are together all distances are bridged and there is non-stop chatter...so much to catch up on.

In these few short days we managed to do so much.  First they arrived and stayed with Arvid and I in our apartment.  That in itself was lots of fum.   Arvid is just way cool with them and conversation just flows so naturally.

The main reason for all of us getting together was to help my sister Mala with some packing because as I mentioned in a previous blog she is leaving Florida and heading to Vermont......as you can see we moved quite a bit of furniture from one level to the other.  Was heavy but, in all of this we had a blast as evidenced by Rima's smile....it was close to midnight and we were still working....

We also managed to visit my uncle.  My dad's brother and family and that was also a great time.  Met with our cousins whom we do not see that often yet, it was as if we see and talk to each other everyday....  was just great to be around family and to have such a relaxing time.

My cousin Natasha...who by the way is gorgeous let us try on some of her beautiful Saris. For a while we were transported to a wonderful world of colors.....

We had such a great time in between Margaritas that it was a shame to leave but, as you know all good things come to an end......

The next day we left Mala's home and headed back to Fort Lauderdale straight to Galleria MalI.  What a fun time it is to shop with your sisters.  As you may imagine we had a blast....

Then it was back home for us.  Dinnertime and today it was ALL YOU CAN EAT CRAB on the menu.  YES!!!

Dinner was excellent. All of us over ate....even Arvid. After dinner we cruised along Las Olas Blvd and experienced a little of everything Las Olas......we had a great time laughing and just joking around.....I am lucky....

It was great seeing my uncle and aunts, mom and dad and cousins and of course my sisters. Can't wait for the next time we get together again...

The only one missing was my sister Nirvana.  Hopefully next time she will be able to come....

“Other things may change us, but we start and end with family”

until next time....

5 Foods that Boost Your Mood

Life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as good as bacon

Food if you do not know by now is one of my weaknesses.  Of course most of my favorite foods are not especially healthy nor do they always provide all the "benefits" I need...but, who says I always eat what's best for me.  I should...

I read an article on foods that boost your mood and decided to share it with you.  Hope you get some "benefit" out of it.

COLD CEREAL

Eat it for your brain: A handful of MultiGrain Cheerios or Kashi Heart to Heart offers folic acid, which can help fend off the blues. Those with low levels of the nutrient experience more symptoms of depression,  and a folic acid deficiency may prevent your antidepressants from working.

 

Eat it for your body: A quick bowl of whole-grain cereal brims with iron and vitamins, and gets your metabolism humming—and it sure beats skipping breakfast altogether, since that can lead to all sorts of problems later in the day. People who skipped breakfast only once every three months were 34 percent more likely to be obese than those who didn't.  So even if your body doesn't want it when you first wake up, find a breakfast you can live with, and eat.....good health come first and foremost.

 

 FISH

Eat it for your brain: Those with the highest levels of omega-3 fatty acids, found in several kinds of fish, were happier than those with lower levels, a study from the University of Pittsburgh reveals. Omega-3 fatty acids enhance areas of the brain that affect disposition. Certain fish also pack B12, a known mood booster, which wards off the doldrums by stimulating the brain's production of serotonin, helping you relax. Aim to eat two servings of low-mercury fish (like catfish, cod, crab, flounder and halibut) weekly for more smiles!

I need to encourage Arvid to eat more fish.  To him fish is the occasional shrimp cocktail appetizer.  I enjoy fish but, find I do not make it as much because Arvid is not into it....not AT ALL!!

Eat it for your body: Wild salmon, trout, herring and other cold-water fish are filled with vitamin D, which helps curb appetite, as well as omega 3's, which lower the risk for heart disease. Research also shows that eating fish regularly improves insulin insensitivity, which helps build muscle and decrease belly fat.

EGG YOLKS

Eat them for your brain: Feel sunnier by adding a bit of yellow. Egg yolks contain choline, a mood enhancer. Being low on this nutrient could lead to feeling anxious.

Eat them for your body: Yolks act as a multivitamin, delivering vitamins A and D, as well as folate and calcium.

Well no one has to really force me to eat the following.  In my case, I need someone to tell me ENOUGH!!!  Yum Yum..

CHOCOLATE

Eat it for your brain:  Sweeten your mood by indulging your chocolate urges. Half of depressed people reported craving chocolate, and most of them felt soothed after indulging.  Since chomping too much chocolate sends you into a sugar coma, munch just 1 ounce and savor every bite!

 

Eat it for your body:  Eating a couple ounces of dark chocolate a week (about one Ghirardelli square a day) may cut your risk for heart disease by 33 percent.  Plus, it has more disease-fighting antioxidants than green tea, red wine or blueberries. Perhaps Willy Wonka was on to something!

FRUITS & VEGGIES

Eat them for your brain:  Want a buzz booster? Frequent the produce aisle! People who ate the most fruits and veggies were least likely to feel depressed.

Eat them for your body: Munching the recommended 2 cups of fruit and 2 1/2 cups of veggies a day reduces your calorie intake and bolsters your immunity. The darker and more colorful, the better! The shades in fruits and vegetables come from phytonutrients, which protect different organs. For example, lutein in greens protects your eyes, while lycopene-packed red tomatoes shield your heart. Color yourself healthy.

When it comes to eating right and exercising, there is no "I'll start tomorrow." Tomorrow is disease.

Had to add this last quote for the heck of it....Be healthy all and CHEERS TO GOOD HEALTH!!

Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing.

until next time...