So my husband and I decide to tackle the "who's better than who", "who has a more difficult job", or the whole "your job is this... "conversation...oh wait FIGHT! As with all our fights, arguments or "discussions", there was much disagreement.  So as I write this blog, you know during my 5pm until 7pm time slot allowed, I figure something out...He's NOT going to get lucky anytime soon!

I feel I am very easy going, very "whatever" attitude.  I like my music, like my writing, like being a mom and like being a wife (although that subject has me questioning at the moment).  I am definately "under-appreciated", but then again, who isn't right?  I could go on and on about this, but I think it is the American way, some have the American Dream, others have the American WAY!

1.   If you want something done right...do it yourselves!

2.  If you love someone...they're always right...OH OK, so at least pretend!

3.  compromise, compromise...SURRENDER!

4.  If hormones are involved...run!

Well men, here is my valuable tip to you, quoted from psychologist, Joshua Coleman . . . "equitable sharing of housework can lead to a happier relationship with your spouse and more frequent sex,? I tend to agree as I am the WIFE, child juggling, educator, life managing, woman.  I have read this before, heard this before and lived this before!  What I discovered was this DEFINATE FACT:  tired, unappreciated, not to mention insanely moody wives aren?t going to be feeling very sexy, no matter how many times you say sweet things, even the best compliments are only words...especially after an 12 hour day catering to you, the kids, her job and domestic chores. Especially true if you came home asking what did she do all day, while you "worked out " at work (at the gym ) or lay about when you got home from work.  Maybe you stopped by somewhere to have a beer and unwind...I can guarantee you are coming home to a fired up woman holding a bat!

Now I suppose you could do the whole..."affair" thing, but guess what?  Do you really want someone who you can't respect in the morning for all the things your wife doessssssssssssss?  If you answered YES, why are you reading my posts? Your wife does more than you know, start appreciating her for that, so she is not brunette...they make hair color for that!

But your average price to the emergency room for a couple of stitches to the head will run you about $50...I'm just saying...

   My favorite saying of all time is, "What doesn't kill us only makes us stronger" And growing up, my life may have been easier if I had adopted this way of thinking early on. When a problem turns into a crisis, and we feel blinded by it, sometimes seeing the good or positive is not always easy. Many times we are told to "just get over it" or "overcome" it. But in seeing it as a challenge to be conquered, you may be missing the greatest success opportunity.

Some of the greatest inventions, from the telephone to viagra, came from visionary people who chose not to "overcome" the obstacle, but rather to use the difficulty to better themselves or make our way of living easier.

No Pain, NO gain, a problem can be turned into a profit, and an obstacle can become a glorious opportunity. That truth has been articulated by some of the world's greatest thinkers. "The greater the difficulty, the greater the glory," wrote Cicero. "A smooth sea never made a successful sailor," declared author Herman Melville. "Adversity is the midwife of genius," observed Napoleon.

* Seek out the advantage
The difference between those who succeed and those who fail often lies in the ability to spot the opportunity and work tooth and nail to achieve it.

* Keep problems in perspective.
When we feel stressed, the world may feel like it is ending, but the reality is that it is only a learning experience that will only help us gain momentum.

* Identify new opportunities.
It is all too easy to focus on the negative, but what happens when the negative is brilliance in disguise?

* Ask for help.
Don't be afraid to admit personal defeat. It shows we are human and not always perfect as one might think.

* Accept responsibility.
If a decision you made, an action you took, or words you spoke have created the problem, accept responsibility for it quickly. Don't play the blame game. One thing that will turn a mood sour in a hurry is self righteousness. Once you admit an error, look to the future. What have you learned? How will you keep this from happening again?"

* Persistence pays off.
You can conquer the greatest problem by simply continuing. Victory often comes not to those who are the wisest or the strongest but to those who are the most persevering. "With ordinary talent and extraordinary perseverance, all things are attainable," said Sir Thomas Foxwell Buxton.

* Laugh A Little
The ability to see humor in a problem can lighten the mood quickly.

* Manipulate the Burden
Although people naturally wish to be spared adversity and difficulty, this is not possible. Sooner or later, trials and tribulations come into every life. Because this is true, the best way of dealing with adversity is to embrace it and find a way to use it, period!

The best life lessons come when we are challenged and pushed to the edge. Adversity is often the beginning to greater achievement. Adversity reveals true character. This was noted by the 14th century mystic Thomas a Kempis who said: "Adversities do not make a man frail; they show what sort of man he is."

If you choose to ignore the lessons being offered to you, and they will, you will continue on the miserable path you've been on, eventually creating a larger problem in time, with the situation unresolved and you sitting in a corner patting yourself on the back, wondering why.

    I wish I had an answer for this that didn't sound so cliche, but I just don't. The best way to know if your husband is cheating on you is to know your relationship. If your relationship is based on truth, love and commitment, chances are he is not cheating on you. I have seen so many couples go through this and often times it was because one or both have put other areas of their life first. Your mate needs to be the most important person in your life next to children.

I suppose if there has to be a "list" then I would say start watching how often he includes you in outings. If he starts accusing you of being unfaithful and there are no real grounds for his suspicions, he is most likely guilty and trying to turn it around to you, usually as a diversion. Men go through a rough period starting around 43 and continuing until 50, sometimes longer depending on their social life. So do not mistake this "difficult" time as cheating, rather take that opportunity to be attentive and nurturing. Any man loves to be treated like they are the best in the world, the best lovers, the best in sportsmanship and even the best talkers, yep! So make them feel just so. There isn't a woman out there than can grab the attention of a man who is happily married and excited to go home.

Our lives are hectic, especially if we are mother's, wives, homemaker's and even out holding down a job or hobby. Take a minute to notice your significant other, tell him how nice his hair looks or how impressed you are with how young he looks for his age. If your sex life disappears, so will your faithful husband, so make sure you "offer" yourself even if it is the farthest thing from your mind at the moment. There are clever ways of making him think you are a sex goddess without even an ounce of sex! Back rubs and massages are a great start! If you wear him out at home, he is generally too tired to start up a new relationship elsewhere. Tired and nagging a lot? STOP! the quickest way to chase a man out of the house is to nag him out. Be the woman that he is proud to call his wife, guys like to make other guys jealous of the fact that their women do so much for them.

Now before you go and attack me for being on their side, remember this, next to a happy man is always a happier woman.

  I was recently involved in a discussion about religion, and asked what my personal belief was.  This is tricky for me, as I was raised in a very universal household. From an early age I was exposed to "Wiccan-like" practices, later becoming just your naormal "60's hippie" child, full of love and then once again changing our beliefs to that of modern day "Born Again Christian". I can literally say, "been there done that!"  I also know that there are several levels of "Religion".

There are:  Wicca, Christianity, Catholicism, Budda, Atheism, Unitarium, Lutheran, Baptist, New Age, Scientology and trust me...MORE! We believe what works for us, we adopt what we enjoy or believe. There are many aspects of life that do not have answers, explanations or even reasons, they just are.  My favorite website to find quick simple descriptions of all beliefs is: http://www.omsakthi.org/religions.html

I now adopt a whole new theory that many will question. I believe in God, Believe in only ONE God, I believe in Jesus Christ and I believe he died for my sins, the bible tells me so.  Here is where I differ a bit.  I also believe that there are ghosts, spirits, unexplained phenomina, rituals that are hard to ignore, that of Paegan rituals. My roots tell me so.  This works for me.  I will not debate you, criticise you or ridicule you, you believe what you want to just as I do. I do believe in phenomina, unexplained, I do believe that "witchcraft" or "Black magic" is real, because I believe in power of the mind and power in faith. If you sit around a ougie board believing that spirits will haunt you...they will!

Take life seriously, and realize that powers beyond us are real, whether from God, whether from Satan or whether from silly High School games...Ask, Believe and you shall recieve!

Be good, do good receive good, that is my philosophy on life. 

I know that modern day Christianity states that we celebrate several holidays, traditions and beliefs based on Jesus Christ, Bible and well society.  I am here to tell you, that we are free to believe whatever we choose.  There are facts to back up certain ideas, and there is nonsense in others, the bottom line is we all have a God, whether it be Jesus Christ, Budda, Ala, The Saints or even The Forest Godess, however cool she may be!

Some of us pray to God, some of us pray to Ala, some of us prctice witchcraft and some don't....Now although I do know that this sounds like a nursery rhyme of "This Little Piggy", it is true.  I want to believe that as long as we do good in life, we "practice" being good wholesome people, helping others, excepting others, we will be allowed into Heaven.  Yes there is a Heaven and a Hell...Sometimes we have already lived both!

I love the debate over what Jesus looked like...Some say he had long blonde hair and blue eyes with a slim build, others say he was of Hispanic decent with dark eyes and dark, long wavy hair, then we have the people that say he was black, just watch "Evan Almighty"! Whatever is what I say, we already know that he was from the Middle East, I am going to safely say that he was NOT blonde haired and blue eyed!   

If more of us researched this, we would be amazed at how many cultures adopt the same general idea...Praise a God.  I myself believe in ONE God, his name is Jesus, I believe that when I need to pray, it is him that I pray to.  I rely on him to save me from my sins, who else in this world is going to tackle MY sins? 

But...Oh I hate but's in religion, BUT there are. I believe that EVERY God wants us to do good in the world provided for us.  HE wants us to understand the laws of HIS world and abide by them and I think that he guides us, ever heard that "little voice"?  You know the one, the one we often times ignore?  That is our God, Ala, Conscience, Spirit Guide, Nature, The Universe...whatever, guiding us to do right, it is our responsibility not obligation to do so.

I homeschool my son, I have been challenged on this subject many times by friends and foes.  They believe that I am raising a child who feels he does not have to "conform" to society.  I laugh at this, he does have to conform, to something more powerful than LAUSD! He has his own being to conform to. He has a "higher power" to conform to. He has a tough decision also, he needs to decide right from wrong...on his own.

I do not push any one religion on him, I am allowing him to decide what works for him, what he believes, now if he chooses to go blow up planes...I WILL STEP IN!  NO God wants us to kill another human being, not under any circumstances. I believe ALL Gods are a forgiving one, they would have to be with a world like ours!

I wish to ask many of you...Were we there? Do we know really what God, Jesus, Culture, anyone really said or did? Any of youthat have lived a "past life" will you please stand up?! We were not there, we are basing all of our knowledge and truths on a book, writings or instiled beliefs, not proof.

I grew up in a commune, a bunch of people living harmoniously together, playing guitars, reading palms, not sweating the small stuff and believe it or not I turned out alright.  I think if anything being allowed an opportunity to discover all ways of life, made me more of a loving person. Now, I don't dance naked around the campfire and i didn't start flying around on a broomstick until I was way into my late tens...NO! Just kidding! I was your average girl, I loved to read, loved to write, hated history and loved music. 

How did all this debate start you ask?  Well when the Church was head of Europe there were many paegan traditions wich were covered, hidden or most likely destroyed by the Church and instead of those paegan traditions the church used two days to symbolize the birth of Jesus Christ(Christmas), and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ(Easter). Christians celebrate ther two holidays to commemorate these two important events that changed the course of History, but many people brought back a few symbols from this paegan traditions and changed the meaning all together.

Jesus was crucified at Passover , about April 1st. His ministry was 3 1/2 years bringing us to about Oct 1. According to the jewish law he had to wait until 30 years age to be a "high priest"  (Luke 3.23) Now Jesus was about 30 yrs old when he began his ministry. You could say the word ,"about" could be as long as 3 months but considering that Jesus was born for this purpose i would guess he started his ministry on the day he turned 30 but it's only a guess. This is the short version , if you want a more indepth answer, you can can find it at www.biblestudents.net under the topic bible research.

Isn't what matters is that we have a world full of acceptance? A world full of peace? And a world UNITED? I would hope that whatever our religion or beliefs are, that they consist of making our world a better place. I would hope that we would be able to better understand the many cultures, ideas, beliefs of our neighbors on this earth.  I would also hope that some of us would listen to "Our little voices" which I believe is the only way "our" God can communicate to us...or those from the otherside. 

  Love at first sight sounds like something in a fairytale, but it is real. I myself experienced this type of love and so did my husband! We were still in high school, dating other people when we met.

I was in 10th grade and he was a senior. We both just knew that we were supposed to be together. He told me that when he first saw me that he told his friend standing next to him that I was the one he was going to marry one day...he did exactly that, 4 years later.

People will either have a chemistry or not, love cannot be forced and shouldn't be. When you are going to spend much time with someone, especially an eternity, then you need to be friends with that person, trust them, and feel natural around them. I believe love at first site is all of those things.

From a deeper point of view, I believe that our lives have a path and we choose to follow that path or not. I understand not everyone adopts this way of thinking today, but I certainly do and try to follow that path. I have fell off a few times along the way but always manage to find my way back.

Love at first sight merely means that you know from the moment you meet someone if they are meant for you. If you just "click" instantly, feel like you have known that person for ages, feel comfortable and secure that is a good sign that it could very well be love at first sight.

Love at first sight does not always mean that you are destined to be together or even stay together. It simply means you have an instant love or feeling for that person, the key to it being real and lasting is if they have it too.

I also wish to comment on age, I do believe that until we hit a certain age, we do not understand love. As a child we only experience "unconditional love" which should not be confused with love at first sight. We need to be mature in our life and mature in age to know what love at first sight even means.

When it happens it is a glorious feeling though, that I can tell you. It is sort of a fairytale feeling and can be an exciting, emotional and sometimes disappointing time in ones' life. Knowing when it is love at first sight will be different for everyone. For me it was a feeling deep inside, a look, a smile and unspoken words between the two of us.

    "Cheating Signs" Is there such a thing? Most of us do not want to admit it, but the signs are deep within us. I have often spoke on this topic, not necessarily signs of a cheating lover but more so on how to keep your significant other from cheating.

Infidelity has a whole list of "reasons why", none that make it any more sensible or even justified. People who stray outside of their relationships are not looking for "something new" really, they are looking to fill a void within themselves. Insecurity is the "king of the cheating hearts" Depression (severe) is also another instigator. If a man (or woman) finds themselves looking elsewhere, they need to really look inside themselves for the answer. Too many bills right now? Kid's driving you nuts? Wife driving you nuts? Then take a walk, plain and simple.

Well you want the signs? OK, some of the most common signs are the first to get ignored. So pay attention, not only to what I say, but to your mate.

1. He/She just wants to talk, they tend to be begging for more attention or "meaningful" conversations, or they bring up debates, arguments or ask your opinion on more things than usual.

2. They start accusing YOU of having the affair, but do not confuse this with "jealousy", it must be that they are turning the tables so to speak, making you feel as though you have something to hide. They do this because it takes the focus off of them as well as makes you think their strange behavior was just their jealousy of you.

3. They start "suggesting" new looks for you to try, or dropping little hints about your appearance or weight. This is not really directed at you but is definitely what they are feeling about themselves.

4. If you notice unrecognizable phone numbers on their phone and he/she is not in a profession that requires constant contact with people you may not know? Ask them or call the numbers, a hang up on the other end is a definite red flag. Also, Doctor's Offices, Dentist's or even bill collectors will not give you any information about the individual, ever, so if a woman or man on the other end of the phone says it is regarding a specific appointment or past due bill, they are lying, really.

All of the above are great signs, but please do not confuse your partner's personality changes with common stress factors that don't lead to straying. Not all people are going to cheat because they are stressed.

Passion, the word even sounds beautiful. Living everyday with some sort of passion in your life can be incredibly rewarding. Life brings us "second helpings" of stress, crisis, turmoil and even sadness all of the time. It is our responsibility to decline that "second helping" and know our limits.

I have had experiences in my life that should have prompted me to write a book, but instead I have decided to learn from those experiences, not curl up and die, but rather embrace the beauty of life and all it's wonders.

I like to think of myself as somewhat of an "entrepreneur". I have had many jobs, never sticking to one thing for too long either. I have been a Bartender, a songwriter, Artist, security guard, jewelry maker, counselor and even a business owner for a Music & Entertainment Company. At one time I started to become very depressed with my life and where it was going, or should I say not going, until I realized that all those choices in my life led me to the answer I needed. I enjoy having knowledge and experience in many things in life, I enjoy helping people, I enjoy entertaining people and most importantly I enjoy being happy.

Passion resides in all of us, for some it is just buried underneath all the daily chores we are obligated to do, remove the clutter from your home and from your life to reveal the burning passion inside of you.

Women were meant to be beautiful, and we are, inside and out. Sometimes when stresses of life take over we start to feel old, unappreciated and tired, causing that flicker of passion to burn out. Ignite it again, take charge of your life!

Inspirations are hidden all over our everyday life and sometimes the fun is trying to find them. For myself, I enjoy listening to music, walking on the sand at the beach or sitting near a cliff overlooking the ocean, I find my inspirations there.

I can honestly say that I am a more beautiful person now from this way of thinking. I keep positive energy around me as often as I can, I laugh at the negative and smile for the positive. It truly is a wonderful feeling when you find the "happy place" inside of you.

If you are having trouble finding your happy place, I have a few suggestions that may help, they are meant to guide, inform and most importantly make you smile for life.

1. Get up, Get out! Sitting around will not accomplish anything except for watching another day come and go. So go for a walk, drive to a nearby lookout point or cliff side or even somewhere with a mountain view to just re-group and breathe it all in.

2. Exercise! I understand that not all of us can easily do this, but exercise actually helps to heal, calm, energize and add a boost of mental stability in your life. If your situation does not allow for going to the gym or any strenuous exercise, then just turn on the radio at home, roll out a mat or rug on the floor and start stretching slowly, meditating or dancing to the music. And it is possible to slow dance with yourself by the way.

3. Eat Healthy. A unbalanced diet can reek havoc on your mind and soul. Don't be afraid to throw in a bite of chocolate either, it is a scientific fact that chocolate is a mood enhancer, and can actually aid in weight loss, who knew? Make sure you get plenty of fiber and plenty of water. Green salads will give you a refreshing jump start in the energy department too.

4. Focus on the positive and eliminate the negative! I know, you say easier said than done, Wrong! You can do it, keep telling yourself this over and over again, until you are falling a sleep with a grin on your face every night. When crisis happens, figure out the hidden message in it. Everything happens for a reason, not just by chance, so figure out the reason and make it work for you.

I recently had a situation where I needed to make a decision in my life. I have been running my Music & Entertainment Company for the past 5 to 6 years now, and I really was not feeling the passion with it anymore, I felt as though I lost all drive and incentive to keep it going or even turning it into a multi-million dollar Company (yes that was my desire).

I stepped back from it one day, just to examine where it was going and where I was going, and realized it wasn't a popular destination! So now what? All those years of hard work, listening to whining bands, whining customers and whining family members just down the toilet. Screech, halt! Back up the big rig! It was not lost it was changing, once again, something in my life was changing...for the better.

I am now going to use it for my writing, a place to do music reviews (when I want to), post my inner thoughts (for all to read), add a bit of spice with Celebrity gossip and such and most importantly, make it my "happy place".

Just remember, you CAN do it. So do.

   Crystal Meth, a shockingly common drug among teens and young adults these days. The street drug known as "crystal meth" is considered the fastest growing and most serious drug problem facing American teens today. One of the reasons crystal meth has become so popular, is it can be produced by combining a specific set of chemicals, all of which can be obtained legally.

The term "crystal meth" refers to its crystalline appearance and the word meth is short for methamphetamine. This drug has such an addictive power and usually one can become addicted after the first use. Crystal meth can be smoked, snorted, taken orally or injected intravenously. Smoking crystal meth is the most popular method of use. Crystal meth is a form of amphetamine, or speed, termed methamphetamine. Manufacturing crystal meth is dangerous because the process is toxic and potentially explosive.

It seems that the popularity among teens has increased over the last couple of years. It used to be more common among adults, but sadly has turned quickly to the young adult and early teens.

Someone who is "using meth" have many signs and symptoms. They gradually will start to lose weight, once the weight loss starts to take hold, you will notice a "drawn in" look in their face especialy around the cheekbone areas.

Their behavior becomes erratic and unpredictable. The user tends to become compulsive in all areas of their life including lying and stealing. Meth causes you to be able to function on very little sleep, usually one will stay up for days, before "crashing" hard and sleeping for days. "Tweakers" commonly known as on the street, will start to "collect" items that either need repair or already have a street value.

The drug enhances their mood in such a way that they are on a constant high, they feel good in the beginning, enormous amount of energy, they seem very driven or goal oriented without much outcome. This sensation quickly disappears after use becomes more frequent.

Crystal Meth is not an expensive drug, so obtaining it would not be difficult for a teenager on a "allowance" salary. A teen could even learn how to "cook" this drug themselves with the proper research we have on the Internet these days.

Studies have shown that teens first experience the "high" from prescription drugs that have either been prescribed by doctors to them or their parent's medicine cabinet. Once they experience this feeling, it can often lead to heavier drug use with illegal street drugs.

According to the 2005 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately 11.7 million Americans ages 12 and older reported trying methamphetamine at least once during their lifetimes, representing 4.9% of the population in that age category. The number has certainly gone up considerably in the past two years.

Crystal Meth use causes increased heart rate and blood pressure. Symptoms also include but are not limited to, rapid heart rate, irregular heartbeat, increased blood pressure, and irreversible, stroke-producing damage to small blood vessels in the brain. Chronic meth use can result in inflammation of the heart lining. Crystal Meth can cause a variety of cardiovascular problems including heart attacks, cardiovascular collapse and death.

It is very important to talk with your teen openly about drugs, sex and all other important issues that could dramatically affect the life of your curious teenager. There is a myth that makes parent's think by talking to their teens they are opening up the option for drug use. This could not be further from the truth! The best way to prevent teen drug use is by talking about teen drug use, openly and honestly.

Phot Courtesy of http://www.methstop.com/

   Pollution is a widespread problem, but does anyone really think about what happens when sewage is dumped directly into our ocean? Pollution in the ocean is a major problem that is affecting the ocean and the rest of the Earth, too. Pollution in the ocean directly affects ocean organisms and indirectly affects human health and resources. Oil spills, toxic wastes, and dumping of other harmful materials are all major sources of pollution in the ocean. People should learn more about this to help educate other's.

What are toxic wastes?

Toxic wastes are poisonous materials that are being dumped into the ocean. They harm many plants and animals in the ocean and have a huge impact on our health. Toxic waste is the most harmful form of pollution to sea life and humans. When toxic waste harms an organism, it can quickly be passed along the food chain and may eventually end up being our seafood. In the food chain, one toxic organism gets eaten by another, which gets eaten by another animal, and can end up being our seafood. Toxic waste gets into seas and oceans by the leaking of landfills, dumps, mines, and farms. Farm chemicals and heavy metals from factories can have a very harmful effect on marine life and humans.

Many things found in the ocean may cause seafood to be dangerous to human health but also the risks involved for everyday living become higher as well. Medical waste found in the ocean is currently being tested to see if swimmers have a chance of developing Hepatitis or AIDS. Other waste has been known to cause viral and bacterial diseases. This type of pollution can be stopped by watching what is allowed into our ocean's. People are trying to decrease the amount of waste in the oceans by recycling as much garbage as they can so there is a smaller amount of very harmful materials in the ocean.

Public awareness is a major start, we need to educate ourselves in order to educate other's on the dangers of pollutants and recycling. There are so many strains of harmful bacteria these days, that I cannot help but think a major source of these "super bugs" are coming fro pollutants in the air, land and sea, from items that should have never made it into our reach to begin with.

I believe we could cut down on many pollutants by offering more free literature, seminars and public awareness to recycling and it's benefits.

PHOTO ABOVE COURTESY OF: http://www.cincinnati.com/nie/archive/01-23-07/

Sooner or later you'll encounter a crisis in your life, a sadness, a trial and even death
and how you meet it will determine your future ,happiness and success.
Since the beginning of time, everyone has been called upon to meet such a crisis. It sometimes makes you stronger but can also drag you down, all the same you learned something from it, something valuable.

Close scrutiny will show you that most "crisis situations" are opportunities to either advance or stay where you are. Indeed, most people make changes in their life
out of either "inspiration" or "desperation." and even "obligation"

A precious diamond cannot be cut and polished without the friction, and humanity perfected without trials.

Relying on others to come to your rescue or keep you strong is a mistake that will soon be seen, as perfection does not exist in any one human being and relying on others makes the assumption that they are perfect and can fix all your problems, they cannot, but you can fix yourself from the inside out.

Some believe in spirit guides, some in God, some believe in the power of the mind and others in none, but one thing is sure...to believe in yourself is what matters most and done the least

Hope this finds you all well and good and if not, do what I do, bite down hard on something while you push fiercely through!

Happy 08 !

     BEAUTY IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER...OR IS IT?

All of us obsess over our appearance at some point, whether it be as a teenager worried about her braces making her feel ugly or the wife who has 4 kid's and has been married for 20 years. But beauty is something that comes naturally to a woman and we need to focus on utilizing the inner beauty to enhance the outer beauty.

www.newyorkimageconsultant.com is by far a good start in the right direction. The Team at New York Image Consultant's are made up of real people like you and I that are there to help you find your inner beauty without all the "games" that other competitors play. To be beautiful does not mean two pounds of lipstick in a deep red color or black "cat eyes" to achieve the trendy hot look if you are typically the "Girl next door", rather soft natural tones applied on the cheeks combined with soft pinks or beige's for eyes and lips might do the trick.

New York Image Consultant's know beauty and they know trend, they also are experts in "What Not to Wear". From business to the Cat Walk, they have you covered. "Bring sexy back" with staying true to a woman's' natural beauty and add a little pizazz with the help from NYIC. You would think that a magical transformation would be affordable only to the stars, but not at NYIC, the program "Pays for itself" by giving you what money can't, confidence and self esteem.

Elena Castaneda is not only a professional and experienced fashion consultant but she has traveled the world as a "Motivational Speaker" and has helped thousands of men and women feel better about themselves and their appearance. Women are not the only one's seeking guidance in the "Art of looking good", men are flocking to find out the secret too. Today there is so much emphasis on what's hot and what's not, that it is no wonder we worry ourselves right into t and gray hair, but it does not have to be that way at all.

Celebrities have "Their People", Politician's have theirs, so why can't we have ours? Brittany Spears does not wake up looking that beautiful by far, she wakes up like you and I, messed up hair and circles under her eyes just like any other normal woman does. So you ask,"How does she look so good then?", she has help, she has mentor's, makeup artist's and hair dresser's, well maybe not hair dresser's now, but you get the point, she has people guiding her and telling her "What Works".

A FEW SECRETS WOMEN HAVE

Most women think about looking better for the new year, or making themselves more attractive for their significant other, and here are the secret desires of these women, as asked in a recent poll.

• BREAST ENLARGEMENT
• TUMMY TUCK
• LIPO
• FULLER LIPS
• FACE LIFT
• WEIGHT LOSS

These are all great and who doesn't want to look like Pamela Lee, but even with a size double D, your outfit can make or break the look. Think how nice it would be to wake up and have the confidence in knowing you are going to look fabulous today! You can walk out of the house with confident poise and a radiant smile. At New York Image Consultant, we can achieve that for you. Visit the website to browse what we offer and read a few "Inspiring Testimonials". Jump start a new you for the new year today.

ALL Things are obtainable in LIFE!

The first thing I mentioned was fashion, and no you don't have to break the bank by keeping up with the latest styles. The easiest way to do this, is by taking a look at your local news paper's fashion section. You can also get tons of fashion information by just searching on the Internet. Jot down colors, shapes, types, fabrics, and anything that you feel is important. You can go to any shop and find these things. Stay with in the boundaries of what the fashion experts say, what works well with your body type, what makes you feel good, and you're in business. Everyone has things about their body that they don't like. Hide it with fashion, and accentuate what you love, and everybody will love it too. Find items that will cross over into other seasons, and all you'll have to do is switch around accessories.

Now, on to lifestyle. It all depends on who you are, and how you would like the rest of the world to perceive you. Think about how you feel about yourself, and seek the help you need to change your self-negativity into self-esteem, self-love and self-worth. For some this can be seeing a therapist, a plastic surgeon, or a personal trainer.

You need to do what works for you. Eating a healthy diet and staying in shape can do a lot for a person's well being. Quiting habits like smoking, and excessive drinking can impact your health and your looks.

Many times that is all you need. If you feel good about yourself, you will show it on the outside. It sounds cheesy, but put on a happy face, and your attitude will change. Changing your lifestyle to a healthy, and happy one, can make all the difference in the world, and your body and face will show it.

Lipstick, blush, and eye shadows, Oh My! Yes, makeup. You know, that stuff in the little bag, that you haven't seen in eons.? The icy blue shadow, and the sticky glossed lips? Those days are over, honey. Time to wake up to the new you, and this includes make up don'ts and dos. Cosmetics are just like clothes. One season they are in, the next they are out. Do your research. Find brands and products that will fit you and your budget.

Get a basic make up brush kit, but put some money into this set. Good brushes that are well cared for are a must and should last quite a long time. Talk to a make up consultant at a department store, from a company you like and can afford. Many times they will give free make up makeovers, and suggest products that will work well for you. Select basic, timeless products, that you can wear through many seasons and can apply in a few minutes. Pick out a few special things to treat yourself, that will go out of style, come spring.

If you want your make up to look great, you need to keep up with your skin care regimen too. Cleanse and moisturize daily, and ex-foliate a couple times a week. You too guys, don't think that since you don't wear makeup, that your skin doesn't matter.

Plucking and waxing at home, with unexperienced hands, can leave bald spots, burns and ingrown hairs. No one wants to see a "uni-brow", so go to a salon and have them done right. Have them teach you how to do it properly at home. Don't think your brows have gone under the RADAR. Your eyebrows will help to frame the rest of your face.

When it comes to fragrances, what works for one, may not necessarily work for someone else. Test a little spritz on your pulse points, like your wrists, don't rub or you may ruin subtle scents. Wait a few minutes and sniff your wrists. It shouldn't be too strong nor too soft. The perfume or cologne needs to fit your personality, and your body chemistry.

As it is with fashion, do your research. Find out what is in season, what is timeless, and find what works for you. Don't go over board. Keep it simple, and you'll go far.

Now that you have the other three components under control, lets put them all together and develop your appearance. Your body is toned, your makeup is flawless, and you clothes are perfect. Whats left? Why, you fabulous hair, of course. A hair style can make or break your over-all look. Find a salon and stylist you like, and the you can afford. They can help you find a style and color that suits you to a tee. Feel free to ask them questions on techniques and products, so you can achieve the same salon look and feel at home. Don't go with anything too extravagant, make it easy on yourself, you're going to have do it in the morning before work, and when you go out on the town at night.

Accessories will also help you pull your look together. Research what is in fashion. Choose jewelry, bags, shoes, belt and hats to complete your new style. You'll want to find staples for your wardrobe as well as those special items, that will become part of your seasonally rotating items.

When it comes to an extreme makeover, the key components and knowledge will help you achieve your goals. Keep it simple, have your seasonal and staple items,keep it simple and you'll rule the world. You don't need a million bucks, a game show, or celebrities to show you how its done. You have the tools now. Welcome to your extreme makeover.

   What do Sigmund Freud's Theories Represent for Today's Society? A Chaotic Psychological Madness!

Repression of thoughts, suppression of feelings and subconscious thinking. According to Freud the majority of humans are likely to be psychologically very unstable, mentally volatile and in a state of emotional upheaval.

Considering the way the so called experts understand how the human mind can be deduced to this type of psychoanalysis. For example, the dangerous inclinations lurking below waiting to be released. To think that inside of us there might be a serial killer, or pedophile or sex offender wanting and waiting to come out. Women desiring to be raped and normal, ordinary  men desiring to rape. 

 Is empirical science the way to go?  Not theoretical descriptions defining how the human mind operates but scientifically proven methods that demonstrate the cognitive process which humans use. Whether or not we can prove his theories to be empirically and scientific proof, they do hold valid merit and explain why some of us are the way we are, this means acknowledging a more disturbing side of reality.  Freud was indeed a madman of sorts, just look at his many writings, those had to of come from someone very complicated and a bit distorted, don't you think?

The side of reality that we are unlikely and unwillingly to admit to ourselves let alone to anybody else, is definately a way of life for most.  To psychoanaltic's like Freud most of us are psycho-pathologically stuck.  Does this mean that the majority of us are screaming out for help and really desire to commit bloodshed?  No wonder Freud was an atheist, as he realized that individuals have deep rooted conflict that cannot be removed through godly means. As result he obviously came to the conclusion that the belief in a a GOD would not save us from ourselves. Again, the man is a psychotic mess!

Martial arts has come along way from what it used to be. Fighters were considered only "boxers" generally and then you had the occasional "stand-up" fighters, such as Karate, Tai Kwon Do. In November of 1993 the first event was held by the Industry's own, Art Davie and the son of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu creator Helio Gracie's son Rorion Gracie. They named their event Ultimate Fighting Championship now known today as the UFC.

The Gracie's invented this style of Martial Arts in Brazil, and eventually brought it over to the States to gain popularity here, and it did indeed! The only rules in these fights were no eye-gouging and no biting, but other than that anything goes! This idea included head butts and groin kicks or punches.

The event became very popular as people were drawn to the violence. This sport was becoming more and more popular, with young and old, even women were getting into this sport. There was someone who was not so much a fan though, Senator John McCain. McCain along with many other Politicians denounced the sport for its brutal nature. Senator John McCain was so adamant about banning the UFC he was successful in making it illegal in all but 3 states.

McCain, who is known for having large connections in boxing, also had it removed from about 90% of pay-per-views and cable channels, even the underground Indie channels. UFC was heading down a long and spiral road towards the toilet.

In Japan though, people were busy building up Pride Fighting Championship. Pride fights were generally fought in a traditional ring with a few different rules than UFC. Around 2001, the UFC was happily bought by the "Zuffa Organization" owned by Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta, who had plenty of money and connections to back this sport financially.

Dana White is the President of Zuffa. White somehow managed to bring UFC back to it's rightful viewers with minimal punches. He had the sport sanctioned in most states, even the one's McCain had it banned from.

The catch was a few of the more brutal blows needed to be eliminated from the sport and they included a new judging system, called the "point system" and weight classes. Some techniques were banned and outlawed such as kicking an opponent that is already down, also no groin shots and no head butts were written into the laws.

Many different fighting styles were introduced to UFC. Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, kick boxing, muay thai, judo and greco-roman wrestling were among the many styles used. The sport was gaining momentum worldwide and now adopted yet another name, MMA.

UFC owners bought out Pride Fighting as well, so fights have become a "rock-star extravaganza"! Indie and national Act bands are now used for these fights, websites and interviews. Every screaming band out there has an opportunity to get their music heard among millions that partake in the wine of MMA, Pride Fighting and UFC.

Chuck Liddell vs. Wanderlai Silva, Fedor Emilianenko vs. Randy Couture and Couture vs. Silva. This is just an example of the spectacular events to watch! This has grown so huge and has become unstoppable among the world, that even a few smaller venues have brought in their own tournaments and championships.

International Fight league (IFL) has become so popular that it even has it's own stock symbol. Spike TV, Cable Pay Per View have created an entirely different "American Dream" now known as the "American Fighter" yet another reality attempt in the world of television and underground.

I was first introduced to this sport at The Gracie Academy in Torrance, attending "Rape Safe". This is a 12 week course that teaches you the fundamentals of avoiding and getting away from an attacker, quite effectively I might add! With simulated attacks and unbelievable techniques, a woman's defense has never been better. I later went on to train with the machado's in San Pedro. It was not long before this became a family event. My husband trains under Paulo Guillobel in Orange county, my son is with Pedro Soriano (Pedro Soriano BJJ).

Kids classes are offered everywhere and one might wish to consider Brazilian Jiu Jitsu as their next sport. Jiu Jitsu by far is my favorite out of all the mixed martial arts out there, as it is the most effective in ground fighting and attacks. About 98% of attacks end up on the ground, making it difficult to fight back with a kick or karate chop!