A banana a day keeps the doctor away!

 

BANANAS

Containing three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber, a banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout.

No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes. But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

DEPRESSION: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

Sprucing up your blog

Want to put a picture up of yourself but don't have any nice ones or the background of the picture is not nice or maybe you just want something different for your blog? Well I have used Picture Effects before for my profile and thought it might be a good idea to make a blog post about it so here it is.

This is a screen-shot of some of the effects one can play with.
The link to this one is: http://www.wishafriend.com/photo/photoeffects/

My Personal Tarot Cards

 
Tarot cards are one of the divination techniques used for a long time. I do have cards myself but have found a site where one can have a personal card reading done. 

Rather then copying all the cards here from my reading I'm going to put here the Core Cards.

Your Core Cards
represent your most basic traits--all that you are begins with the influences associated with these cards.

The Hanged Man
The Hanged Man is the most enigmatic card of the Tarot. Even Tarot giants like Waite, Crowley and Levi had trouble deciphering The Hanged Man’s true meaning. Generally The Hanged Man is thought to represent the value of surrender and selfless acts. The Hanged Man embodies the notion that sometimes to lose is to win. Unlike the aggressive Chariot, The Hanged Man creates his fate through inaction and accepts his fortune passively, without resistance. He does not struggle to control the path his life takes, but rather allows events to sweep him where they will, even if he is called upon to sacrifice himself. He is so at ease with the Fate the Universe chose for him that even hanging upside down from a tree does not ruffle him. 

The Empress
The Empress is “The Earth Mother” of the Tarot. She embodies all that is nurturing, clean and wholesome. Her powers resonate from her drive to create and care for life on a grand scale. She is in tune with Nature’s rhythm and realizes that life’s most pleasurable moments often stem from the simplest things. She is not afraid to enjoy herself--to let loose—to the point of being lavish. Abundance and luxury are important to her. The Empress is completely comfortable with her femininity and her sexuality. She is sensual, earthy, generous, and likes the good life. Still, her driving force is a need to create and nurture, and fulfilling this need overrides everything else.

This reading was based on my name and date of birth and I must say it's pretty accurate.

Now for women to do this reading I would recommend to use your maiden name and not your married name to get a more accurate reading.

Vision Board

Following your passion is quiet an adventure and most people find that although the intentions are great, it's the being able to keep doing it that runs thin after a while.

I have found what works for me is to make a VISION BOARD. 
I use a cork board and on that I pin photo's, pictures and notes of all the things I want to focus on.

The idea of this is to help you focus on what it is you would like to achieve or acquire this year.
Surround yourself with sensory input such as the pictures and by looking at this board every day it helps you to stay inspired. 

Add to the board as you go and ones you've achieved something or acquired something, take that picture of and there will be room again for something else.

I even hang a little butterfly ornament on mine because a butterfly is about transformation.

Now the biggest mistake most of us make is that we automatically start thinking of how are we going  to pay for those things. That is a big no no. 
The idea of this board is that you focus on the items/things and NOT on the monetary value of it!

TRUST that it will come to you without asking how! It's all in the intent/focus and I can honestly say that in the last few years everything I've had on my board has come to fruition.
The moment I let go of "how do I pay for this" was the moment it all fell into place!

Playing For Change

This is just such a beautiful and worth while video with a beautiful message for all.

The musicians are so varied and the way this is done is just terrific and I for one listen to their music a lot.

http://playingforchange.com/

The Five Elements and Yin and Yang

The fundamental energies alive in nature and always in motion are the Five-Elements - Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water.

The Five-Element Theory states that the five major Organ Systems (Liver/Gallbladder, Heart/Small Intestine, Spleen/Stomach, Lung/Large Intestine, and Kidney/Urinary Bladder) are each related to a particular element.
Each element generates, or gives energy to, another. Each element also restrains or controls another.

TCM understands that everything is composed of two complementary energies; one energy is Yin and the other is Yang. They are never separate; one cannot exist without the other. This is the yin/yang principle of interconnectedness and interdependence; it is not oppositional.

According to the Theory of Yin and Yang, male is yang; female is yin.
Ideally, yin and yang should always remain in harmony, not just in balance.

The Philosophy of Yin and Yang

http://www.sacredlotus.com/theory/yinyang.cfm

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is an ancient medical system that takes a deep understanding of the laws and patterns of nature and applies them to the human body.

I've had a vast interest in TCM for many years but then the Western Medicine took over in the form of surgeries and lots of medication. It is only now almost a year after my last surgery that I am facing the fact that I no longer can take any antibiotics!
The last few times the doctors prescribed antibiotics I went into anaphylactic shock and let me tell you it is not nice!

Anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock is a life-threatening reaction that can affect a number of organs at the same time.  Allergic shock is caused by dilated and "leaky" blood vessels, which result in a drop in blood pressure. 

Some or all of the following symptoms may occur:

• Hives or reddish discoloration of the skin
• Nasal congestion
• Swelling of the throat
• Stomach pain, nausea, vomiting
• Shortness of breath, wheezing
• Low blood pressure or shock

I had all the above symptoms and collapsed which is why I am looking into TCM again now because my anaphylaxis was caused by antibiotics.

So to get myself back to health after a shocking flu season I am looking into TCM to see what I can take to get my immune system back to functioning properly.

End the Struggle and Dance with Life

We live in a difficult world. But life does not have to be a struggle. In this extraordinary book of inspirational advice, Susan Jeffers teaches us how to feel calmer, more in control, and excited about life--despite what is happening around us. With profound insights and practical tools, we learn that we don't have to give into the fear, distress, anger, impatience, and hovering sense of danger that pull us down. Instead, we can embrace the joyous emotions of the Spirit that make us soar: trust, gratitude, harmony, abundance, love and joy.

Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway

We're all afraid of something: beginnings, endings, changing, getting stuck. But fear doesn't have to hold you back from happiness or success. You can change your relationship with fear -- and in this dynamic, inspirational program, Susan Jeffers, Ph.D., teaches compassionate concepts and highly effective exercises that help you unravel the complexities and reverse the effects of fear.

You'll learn:
* The five truths about fears
* How to weed negatives out of your words and thoughts
* How to develop goals that help extend your self-imposed limitations

Don't be prisoner of you own insecurities. Career growth, personal harmony and financial rewards can by yours -- when you learn to Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway.

Rust Guard

I've had enough of waiting on others to fix some rust on my car and today went shopping and bought all the materials I need. So tomorrow if the weather is good I shall tackle this rust myself and see how I go. Its not to bad with the rust and its near the mirror on the driver's door but I want to fix it before it gets out of hand.

The 2 main items I was told to get are Rust Converter and Epoxy Enamel so I bought both and will see how I go tomorrow lol.

 

Rust Guard Rust Converter

White Knight RUST CONVERTER is a fast and effective treatment for lightly rusted steel surfaces. The advanced formulation chemically reacts with the rusty surface creating a lasting barrier against further corrosion. Ideal for small jobs where rust cannot be easily removed.

Rust Guard Epoxy Enamel

THE ONE STEP WAY TO TURN RUST INTO COLOUR
White Knight RUST GUARD EPOXY ENAMEL primes and top coats new or lightly rusted ferrous metals in one easy application. Transforms any rusty surface into a long lasting finish. RUST GUARD EPOXY ENAMEL combines epoxy modified resins and anticorrosion additives to provide excellent durability, adhesion and abrasion resistance.

I cried for You

With the world going through it paces and people rushing here and there on a daily basis, it's so nice to then listen to this music and unwind.

I go to this sort of music and put my thinking cap on as I call it. What do I want to do? How do I want to go about it? What is really important and what is not? These are just some of the things going through my head.

Stop Complaining

I saw this in a post elsewhere and thought it was brilliant so want to share it here.

If complaining has become a huge part of our identities, it may be time to take a good look at how we are spending our energy.

Complaining is a person’s way of acknowledging that they are not happy with the way things are. In a metaphorical way, when we complain or criticize, we are tearing down an undesirable structure in order to make room for something new.

But if all we do is tear down, never bothering to summon the creative energy required to create something new, we are not fulfilling the process. In fact, we are at risk for becoming a stagnant and destructive force in our own lives and in the lives of the people we love.

Another issue with complaining is that we sometimes tend to focus on other people, whom we can’t change, as a way of deflecting attention from the one person we can change—ourselves.

So transforming complaining into something useful is a twofold process that begins with turning our critical eye to look at things we can actually do something about, and then taking positive action....