Be Prepared!

Today a hurricane hit my country. I am thousands of miles away and not being with my family or friends is making me anxious. I am hoping that all my family members and friends were wise enough to be prepared. Saint Lucians have a history of taking hurricane watches very lightly because of odd diversions that have happened in the past. Better safe than sorry. Some times it's not even the big hurricanes that cause the most damage. It's the tiny tropical storm, case in point Tropical Storm Debbie. One can't be too prepared for something like this, and one should hope for the best but prepare for the worst.

Here are a few hurricane tips that I hope my loved ones did and for the next storm that may be rolling your way:

1. Secure all important documents in a water proof container. This includes passports, birth, death, wedding, divorce, graduation, etc. certificates, photos, letters, cards, anything that may get destroyed by water damage.

2. Have a hurricane disaster kit. This kit should include canned foods, drinking water, medication anyone in the family uses, first aid supplies, and batteries.

3. Listen to official weather advisories. Don't listen to he say she say. I heard it not coming our way. I heard it not going to do anything. If the country is on a hurricane watch, know what that means. If it's under a hurricane warning, know what that means. Better safe and prepared than sorry.

4. Have an emergency plan for your family and your pets. Many people have died trying to save animals/livestock and even other people. Know your nearest emergency shelter. Have a back up place to meet. Make sure everyone in the family knows this as well, especially younger children. It's a good practice not only for a hurricane but for everything that your children know your full name, not mommy or daddy, your home telephone number, your cellphone and/or work telephone number and your home address (or how to get home if you live somewhere like Saint Lucia that doesn't have house numbers lol). In case of accidental separation or something of that sort, you or any member of your family can possibly go to the police station or fire station or somewhere safe and give the relevant authorities some sort of contact information to get in touch with you.

5. Stay calm. I understand that this may be difficult in an emergency, but it is important that you stay calm and you keep everyone around you as calm as possible. There's a difference between being scared and panicking.

There are other tips available, and I'm sure various weather authorities and even government authority or emergency authorities will remind people of in times like these. It's the hurricane season. Be prepared!

A Dance with the Tastebuds

So things did not work out the way I wanted them to. I was going to host a lunch for a few friends this week and I was going to bake my very first cheesecake. It was going to be a lovely white chocolate cheesecake, because yes, I have to add a little extra umph to the challenge of baking. But as I said earlier, things did not work out the way I planned and my lunch had to be sacked as well as my cheesecake. I have however, decided to bake cookies once again. This time I am going to an inverted chocolate chip cookie...well that's what the description said, or something like that. Here is the recipe and instructions taken from http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/white-chocolate-chocolate-cookies/Detail.aspx?washelp=1&rid=281093#281093

Ingredients

* 1 cup unsalted butter
* 1 cup white sugar
* 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
* 2 eggs
* 1 1/4 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
* 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
* 2 teaspoons baking soda
* 2 cups white chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.

2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar and white sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well with each addition. Combine the cocoa, flour, and baking soda, gradually stir into the creamed mixture. Finally, fold in white chocolate chips. Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheets.

3. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, until puffy but still soft. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

[Pictures coming soon]


Give them a whirl and let me know how it went!

Maxwell - This Woman's Work

There is just something amazing about this song. Like my spirit connects with it and wants to be free to dance with the spirit of the song. I hear it and I crave movement, expression, passion, art. Enjoy.

Waste Not Want Not

Ok peeps. It's the end of October and yup you guessed it...It's Halloween time. For those of you who celebrate/commemorate Halloween and do the whole pumpkin carving I found this cool recipe for a pumpkin facial mask that you can use with your pumpkin's gut. Reduce your waste and look good while doing it - now that sounds like a great deal to me. This stuff was taken from http://www.care2.com/greenliving/pumpkin-treats-for-your-skin.html. and the picture from http://www.bharatstudent.com/ng7uvideo/bs/girls/girlsonly/232_p23.jpg The two that I want to share with you are:

Pumpkin Facial Mask
2 teaspoons cooked or canned pumpkin
1/2 teaspoon honey
1/4 teaspoon milk (or whipping cream, if your skin is very dry)

1. Combine ingredients and apply to a clean face with gentle circular motions, avoiding the area around your eyes.

2. Allow mask to remain on skin for 10 to 15 minutes, then rinse with warm water, pat dry, and apply your usual moisturizer.

Pumpkin, Sugar, and Spice Scrub
1/2 cup cooked or canned pumpkin, pureed
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1. Combine ingredients in a bowl.

2. Stand in a tub or shower stall and use a damp washcloth to scoop some of the mixture up. Apply to body, starting with your feet and working your way up, but avoiding your face. Scrub gently using circular motions.

3. Rinse with warm water and pat dry

So yes, and I'm sure after doing these you won't need to apply perfume. You will have this awesome scent of pumpkin and spice. How delicious :D

Green Tip of the Day

You've heard it many many times before, I'm sure: turn off your computer at night. So here's the challenge. Keep your television, DVD player, stereo/radio, VHS player and other electronics on a power chord or power strip. At the end of the day, when you're making sure the house is locked up, turn the power strip off and even unplug it. The same in your home office or bedroom. Keep your personal computer, printer, radio/stereo and other electronics you may have on a power strip and turn the strip off at night. Not only will you be saving electricity and saving money, you will also be helping your appliances have a longer life span.

Happy Turning Off!!

Professionalism (part 1)

Maybe I'm just a stick in the mud, but I believe in a high level of professionalism in many things that we do.

One may think "Oh this is just a simple meeting held by students, there's no need to be professional." Uhhh nooo. I'm sorry you did not get the memo, but yes, there still is a need to be professional. As a university student, correct me if I am wrong, you are preparing yourself for the workplace and the world. It is here that one must inculcate good practices in oneself to bring to the workplace.

Growing up in the Caribbean I heard "There's a time and place for everything" so many times that it has become a part of who I am. I love to laugh and give and receive good hearty jokes, but in the middle of a meeting when people are trying to discussion issues and make progress? I'll pass. People are extremely busy and time belongs to no one. Hence, I shall not want to waste the borrowed time of someone else, nor do I want my borrowed time to be wasted.

Now, I must add that not every meeting requires a high level of professionalism. Professionalism varies and can be gauged depending on the physical setting, and the purpose of the meeting among other factors. One must use his/her discretion to decide what level and type of professionalism is needed.

So, the next time you're at a meeting, think before you speak.

Nice Bod ;-)

Winter is coming and people may be tempted to pack on the pounds for insulation. I'm trying not to, and keep fit and in shape even during the winter.

I am also noticing that the exercises I have been doing at the gym and at home are starting to pay off and my body is changing. At this point, I stopped and 1. admired, 2. assessed the change and 3. decide the next step of action. I don't really want to have a 6 pack for my abs, as opposed to just wanting a flat stomach. I also don't want my arms to be big and buff like a guy's arm, I just want a little bit of definition. So, with this said, I am going to change my routine a little and do more cardio and less weights. I am also going to try more exercises using the exercise balls as well.

For the cardio, since I go to the gym with my friends, I am going to develop a session like a dance class with soca music, which we know if you just ordinarily dance to it is a workout. So that's covered.

The exercise ball exercises are what I want to share with you. Just 5 exercises that work well (for me).

Number One: Crunches
Sit on the ball then slide down (moving your feet as you go) til your lower back is supported by the ball. Do ten normal crunches (straight up) and then ten to each side (diagonal if you may).

Number Two: Reverse Crunches with the Exercise Ball

Lie on the floor and place your feet on top of the ball. Use your heels to squeeze the ball against your thighs. Exhale and curl your pelvis towards your chest and left the ball off the floor. Slowly return to the starting position.

Perform 8-15 repetitions.

Number Three: Exercise Ball (Swiss Ball) Exchange between the Hands and Feet

Lie on your back with the exercise ball in your hands and your arms and legs outstretched. Exhale and lift your arms and legs until they meet in the center. Exchange the ball from your arms to your legs and then open your body so that your arms go overhead and your legs lower towards the ground. Reverse directions and take the ball from your legs.

Repeat 8-15 repetitions

Number Four: Exercise Ball Side Rolls for the Oblique Muscles

Lie on your back with your feet on the ball. Use your heels to brace the ball against your thighs. Lift the ball off the floor, and while keeping the ball lifted, slowly lower your knees to the side.

Perform 8-10 repetitions on each side.

Number Five: Plank Pike-Up (This is a real challenge!)
Lie on top of the ball with your shins on it and your palms on the floor under your shoulders. Now use your abs and legs, rolling the ball to your middle, lifting your hips and keeping your head down between your arms. (Your body should be in an inverted "V" shape.) Hold here for 1 count and then roll back to the start.

Perform 8-15 reps. Be sure to pull your abs in and keep your head even with your spine as you move in and out of the "V".

Advance Notice

Hi everyone,

I know I've been lagging in the posts, but let me tell you that it's just the beginning. Things are beginning to get hectic now and I'm not sure if I will be able to update the blog as often as before.

Rest assured, I will not let my blog fall by the wayside. I shall be updating it as often as time, my work load and stress level permit me too, as well as inspiration :)

Keep working hard, living, loving and learning even harder. And drink plenty water while doing so lol.

Help! I'm So Disorganised!!

I have searched and searched and searched for tips on how to be organised because I know that I HAVE to be this academic year. I have way too much on my plate for me not to be organised. Here are a few tips that I have compiled that I think will work for me. The post acts as a reminder for me also as to what I can do if I feel like I'm falling off the barrel.

1. Separate bras and undies with drawer dividers. Home and lifestyle editor Wendy Manwarren uses velvet dividers ($8 for six; organize.com) to sort her lingerie into sections according to type (bras, undies, and camisoles) and function (everyday garments stay up front; strapless bras are tucked in the back).

2. Once or twice a year, host a shop-my-castoffs party. Turn on the tunes, open a bottle of wine, and let friends take what they like — from purses and baubles to frocks and shoes.

3. Get a clutter buddy. "You're a better editor with someone else's stuff," says stylist Christine Cameron, of mystylepill.com, who regularly helps one friend clean out her closet. "I insist she let go of that when-I-lose-five-pounds skirt, and she reminds me that a girl doesn't need 10 pairs of black pants."

4. Dangle necklaces and baubles from pushpins on fabric-covered bulletin boards, as REDBOOK editor-in-chief Stacy Morrison did here. She hung boards on a wall between two windows and now can always find the perfect accessory. (When the curtains are in place, the treasures are out of sight.)

5. Paint-Can Cubbies

Don't let your desktop disappear under piles of paperwork. Inexpensive, unused cans can be purchased at paint stores; lined up on a shelf and anchored in place with Velcro, they become organizing cubbyholes with a modern flair. Assign cans as storage spaces for bills, catalogs, and personal mail, or one for each member of the family. Label the shelf beneath to make sorting easy.

Tools and Materials

Paint cans, without handles
Self-adhesive Velcro strips
Scissors
Labels

Paint Can Cubbies How-To

Line up as many cans as will fit on the shelf. Working from one end of the row, attach them one by one: Cut Velcro strips slightly shorter than the length of the cans. Peel backing from one side and apply strip to a can; remove backing from other side and affix to shelf in desired spot. Center and adhere labels to front edge of shelf beneath cans.

6. Categorize your clothes by purpose, such as work, casual, and formal.

Those are just a few to get you creative and clutter free. Try them out and let me know what works for you, or suggest things that you do that keeps your life clutter free and organised to the T :)

The Dance With The Pap

A friend recently told me she had her first pap smear and at first she was petrified but it turned out a lot less worrisome as she thought. Having had my own done some time a back, I figured I would share some things that my doctor did that helped to make the experience easier.

1. Be calm and relax. Yes it's true that the doctor is sticking a metal machine that open your vaginal walls, but really, if you're having sex a penis does the same...maybe not to the same width but it's a flexible muscle :P
2. Ask your doctor to keep simple conversation with you, to help you not think about what s/he is doing.
3. Ask the doctor to run the instrument (who's name I can't remember) under some warm water.
4. Breath in when the doctor is inserting the instrument and exhale when it is being removed. You can ask your doctor to give you a heads up when s/he is doing it.

Some tips from online about things not to do 2 days before having a pap smear done:
*douching
*using tampons (on that note, you won't get a pap smear done while on your period and you should give yourself a little break before you get the pap smear done if your period just ended)
*using vaginal creams, suppositories, and medicines
*using vaginal deodorant sprays and powders
*having sex.

It's your health and it is your doctor. If you're gonna be paying so much money you might as well get your moneys worth with quality service not only with medical advice but personality and interpersonal skills. Pap smears aren't that bad...jussayin

The Shuttlecock Gets Technical

Okay my lovelies, today is Friday and yes I did go to my badminton session :) T'was a lot of fun although I did not really play any matches. Was more of a practice at hitting lol. My two rules for today have to deal with the court.

This may be a little difficult for me to explain but I will try. So when serving, not only do you serve to the opposite side of the court, you must also serve into the smaller rectangle. After the service the shuttlecock can go anywhere within the larger rectangle.

I hope that's right lol. And those are my badminton rules of the week :)

Side note: I finally went back to the gym to exercise and let me tell you it felt great! I shall be continuing this and getting my body back to the way I like it. Gotta love it!!