Monday, April 15, 2013


Here's a dozen of my favorite things never to apologize for:

1) Never apologize for acting on your instincts.
2) Never apologize for being passionate.
3) Never apologize for being smart.
4) Never apologize for demanding respect.
5) Never apologize for saying no.
6) Never apologize for not embracing someone else's agenda.
7) Never apologize for disagreeing.
8) Never apologize for your faith.
9) Never apologize for your own sense of creativity.
10) Never apologize for ordering dessert.
11) Never apologize for being funny.
12) Never apologize for living your truth.
Every one of us casts a shadow.
There hangs about us, a sort of a strange, indefinable something, which we call personal influence--that has its effect on every other life on which it falls. It goes with us wherever we go. It is not something we can have when we want to have it--and then lay aside when we will, as we lay aside a garment. It is something that always pours out from our lives . . . as light from a lamp, as heat from flame, as perfume from a flower.

The ministry of personal influence is something very wonderful. Without being conscious of it, we are always impressing others by this strange power that exudes from us. Others watch us--and their thinking and actions are modified by our influence."

"Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity." Ephesians 5:15-16

~J. R. Miller, "The Shadows We Cast"


Raku

Fazer raku é uma experiência que envolve os quatro elementos, terra, ar, fogo e água - todos contribuem para o resultado final.

Começa-se por modelar uma peça de barro poroso, cozendo-a a uma temperatura não muito elevada. Depois, aplica-se o vidrado na peça, e leva-se esta de novo ao forno, a uma temperatura de 800 a 1000 graus.

Atingida esta temperatura, as peças são retiradas ainda incandescentes do forno e colocadas numa atmosfera redutora - isto é, num ambiente com pouco oxigénio. Na prática, isto equivale a mergulhá-las numa substância orgânica como a serradura. É nesta altura que por vezes surge alguma chama; é necessário tapar rapidamente o recipiente da serradura, e deixa-se a peça ficar  durante alguns minutos. O fumo que vai escapando neste processo é um lençol espesso, quase viscoso, amarelado e muito tóxico.

Na terceira fase do processo, a peça é retirada da serradura e rapidamente mergulhada em água.

Quando a peça já está suficientemente arrefecida para podermos pegar-lhe, é retirada da água e esfregada de maneira a retirar a serradura carbonizada que ficou agarrada.


Todas estas acções permitem criar efeitos singulares: craquelês, brilhos e texturas especiais, e que - aí reside a magia - apenas em parte são controláveis. Não é possível fazer duas peças de raku iguais, já que não se consegue ter sempre exactamente as mesmas circunstâncias. A porosidade do barro, a quantidade de vidrado e a forma como este se aplica, a temperatura do forno, a madeira de que é feita a serradura, a temperatura da peça, o contacto maior ou menor da superfície da peça com a serradura, o tempo de imersão em água - um instante a mais ou a menos, e abrem-se mais uma rachas, o verde fica mais azul, o brilho fica mais ou menos intenso. As zonas da peça onde não foi colocado vidrado ficam totalmente pretas, o que permite criar contrastes muito interessantes com o vidrado branco, sobretudo quando há craquelê

Raku - glazing, firing, reduction and results


Vintage Voque Fashion






Saturday, April 13, 2013

Herbs for Weight Loss: A Recipe for Slimming Herbal Tea

The Best Weight Loss Herbs

As mentioned above, there are countless herbs and remedies in the realm of weight loss.
These that I share with you are simply the ones that I have found to be most beneficial and useful in my efforts! Herbs such as:
  •  Nettle Leaf – Highly nutritive, nettle leaf contains a great amount of chlorophyll, making this herb a significant source of antioxidant vitamins (such as C and A) and powerhouse minerals. Nettle leaf is also considered a blood purifier due to it’s ability to increase the proper function of the liver and the kidneys. 
  • Eleuthero (Siberian Ginseng) Root — While it primarily works on the nervous system, in general eleuthero root is well known as a powerful adaptogen – that is an herb that helps the body properly respond to stress. Reducing anxiety and balancing the appetite.
  •  Senna leaf — Senna leaf is best known as a natural laxative.
  • Dandelion leaf — Dandelion leaf neutralizes acid in the blood thereby making it one the best remedies for detoxification and blood purification available. And similar to Nettle leaf, it too contains high quantities of nourishing vitamins and minerals. I love dandelion leaf especially for it’s ability to cleanse the body and help with my skin’s complexion. 
  • Marshmallow root — Is one of the most mucilaginous herbs. Highly nutritive…it also works to soothe the entire digestive system by reducing inflammation. Likewise, marshmallow root is a wonderful diuretic.
  • Slippery elm bark – Slippery elm bark contains many of the mucilaginous properties as marshmallow root — and it helps bring to balance to the body by absorbing toxins in the bowel.
  • Sweet cinnamon bark — A well-known for centuries due to it’s anti-biotic and anti-fungal properties, cinnamon is a wonderful remedy that supplies excellent flavor. Moreover, cinnamon is excellent for our digestive systems and works to warm the body.
  • Ginger root — Ginger root, a trusted cold/flu fighter, assists the body in the removal of excess toxins. It too, cleanses the digestive tract and the kidneys as well as increases circulation by warming the body.
  • Fennel seeds — Aid in digestion and help to regulate the appetite. They also positively effect kidney function and work to cleanse the liver.
And the best way I have found to consume the benefits of these herbs…tea.
Benefits of Drinking a Slimming Herbal Tea
While drinking an herbal tea concocted using the above herbs…one can expect to experience the following benefits:
- Slimmer waistline
- Mood stabilization
- Better sleep
- Increased libido
- Regular bowel movements
- Decrease in water retention
- Clearer more balanced skin complexion
 
The Recipe



Slimming Herbal Tea
*Measurements in parts are by volume not weight.
  • 2 parts Nettle leaf
  • 2 parts Eleuthero root
  • 1 part Senna leaf
  • 1 part Dandelion leaf
  • 1 part Marshmallow root
  • 1 part Slippery elm bark
  • ½ part Sweet Cinnamon Bark, chips
  • ½ part Orange peel
  • ½ part Ginger root
  • ¼ part Fennel seeds
Method
  1. Measure the parts of each of the herbs listed and mix in a large bowl until well combined.
  2. Grab your tea accessories, tea infusers, and/or tea pots…and brew a cup! (Note: I get all of my loose leaf tea-making supplies online from Mountain Rose Herbs.)
  3. This herbal tea blend will keep stored in a cool, dark place for approximately 6 months. (Note: I like to store all of my teas in glass jars with tight-fitting lids.)
  4. Everyday I brew approximately 16-20 fluid ounces of this tea and carry it with me, drinking it throughout the day. I find it mild enough for daily use and I couldn’t be happier with the results I’m seeing!  
 rugallysustainable.com/2013/01/herbs-for-weight-loss-a-recipe-for-slimming-herbal-tea




THE SERENITY PRAYER

GOD GRANT ME THE SERENITY
TO ACCEPT THE THINGS I CANNOT CHANGE;
COURAGE TO CHANGE THE THINGS I CAN;
AND WISDOM TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.

LIVING ONE DAY AT A TIME;
ENJOYING ONE MOMENT AT A TIME;
ACCEPTING HARDSHIPS AS THE PATHWAY TO PEACE;
TAKING, AS HE DID, THIS SINFUL WORLD
AS IT IS, NOT AS I WOULD HAVE IT;
TRUSTING THAT HE WILL MAKE ALL THINGS RIGHT
IF I SURRENDER TO HIS WILL;
THAT I MAY BE REASONABLY HAPPY IN THIS LIFE
AND SUPREMELY HAPPY WITH HIM
FOREVER IN THE NEXT.
AMEN.

--REINHOLD NIEBUHR