Lifestyle « FANTASY BRUNCH

September 30, 2009

Scents to Soothe your Taste

Filed under: Lifestyle — Tags: basil, bergamot, black pepper, calming scent, cedarwood, Christian Dior’s Diorella, clove, Dior, energizing scent, essential oils, feeling, fragrances, ginger, grapefruit, Guerlain, honeysuckle, ime, inspired, jasmine, juniper, lavender, lemon, mint, Oils, peach, personalized, pettigrain, romantic scent, scents, smell, warming scent, Yardley — claban @ 7:21 am

perfume Oil is the basic ingredient in making a perfume. As we all know, mixing different oils can create different smell and feeling. Here are some classifications of perfume that are suited on different types of occasions and activities.

Oils of lavender, bergamot and cedar wood are the best oils to describe a calming scent. For an energizing feeling, the most suited oils are lime, lemon, grapefruit, mint, and basil. A romantic touch is any oil of jasmine, lavender, and pettigrain. And warming moods are those of ginger, black pepper, clove and juniper.

Try researching the components of your favorite scent and you can start making your own style. Let us consider giving reverence to Christian Dior’s Diorella by mixing one drop each of lemon, honeysuckle and peach with two drops of a vetiver base note. Yardley, Dior or Guerlain are some of the thousand brands that we get inspiration from. It is a fact that there are scents that are certainly impossible to replicate. This is what we call the distinct smell.

While doing the researches of these make me feel fulfilled. I realized that I can make my own on which I can call it personalized and inspired and not a copy.

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Combining Scents

Filed under: Lifestyle — Tags: activities, base notes, basil, benzoin, bergamot, black pepper, cedar, chamomile, essential oils, fragrances, frankincense, ginger, grapefruit, heart notes, ilang-ilang, jasmine, juniper, lime, marjoram, may chang, mint, moods, musk, neroli, oil, orange, orange blossom, ose, Patchouli, perfumes, romantic fragrant, rosemary, rosewood, sage, scents, unique scents, vanilla, Yardley linear scents — claban @ 6:52 am

aromatherapy-for-better-living-482x402 Perfumes and different scents are not only a part of hygiene but it boosts more the personality of a person. One’s scent can describe a certain mood or a character of an individual. Here are some guidelines that will help us to appreciate fragrances and be inspired in combining different essential oils.

Yardley linear scents are a combination of note rose, lavender and sandal wood. It should have five drops of one of the mentioned oil. A complex scent is by combining two oils or all of the scents together. Putting these oils together can create an energizing, calm and romantic fragrant.
In making a complex scent, there are three categories that should be considered. These categories are called top notes, heart notes and base notes. Top notes are oils of orange, orange blossom, mint, lime, mint, lime, bergamot, sage, basil, ilang-ilang and grapefruit. On the other hand, heart notes are those of rose, jasmine, neroli, chamomile, ginger, juniper, marjoram, may chang, rosemary and rosewood. Patchouli, cedar, musk, vanilla, benzoin, black pepper, frankincense are all base notes.

It is just a matter of discovery. Trying and putting oils together will create varieties of unique scents that will enhance mood and style. So let us all glam up by wearing different fragrances everyday.

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September 29, 2009

The Controversial Photo Op of Obama and Spanish Dignitaries

Filed under: Lifestyle — Tags: Alba, culture, cyberspace, diversity, first family, internet, Laura, Obama, photo op, president, Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, race, Sonsoles Espinosa, spanish, spanish government, spanish officials — claban @ 2:05 am

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One of the highlights of today’s news is the photo op of President Obama’s and wife together with the Spanish President and his family last week during a reception at the New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. This shot has gathered opinions from the different parts of the world due to the reason that Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, his first lady Sonsoles Espinosa and daughters, Laura, 16 and Alba, 13 never have a picture published publicly. This is because of a Spanish law that prohibiting doing so.

I just feel the same way as what Meghan Mc Cain, Senator John McCain’s daughter had expressed. I had felt the pity for the two daughters Laura and Alba who have been too young to face the scrutiny of the world in such way they are not even used to. Being in front of the camera and be a big part of the issue on which the world has been arguing makes them boiling in the hot seat. I have also realized how powerful the cyberspace and internet in spreading photos and other materials such as this. I have also have also appreciate the uniqueness of every culture. That in every nation is guarded by distinctive beliefs and laws on which every race must understand and respect. This is just one great example on how to deal with racial diversity. But still, I sympathize with the two children that in their young age are exposed to this kind of controversy.

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August 29, 2009

Steps in Making Personalized Perfume

Filed under: Lifestyle — Tags: fragrances, perfumes, personalized, procedures, replicate.rosewood, scents, sprays — claban @ 12:17 pm

33770 Why spend forty to ninety dollars for a perfume if you can make your own for only twenty dollars? We don’t need to be a very skilled artisan just to come up with best scents. All we have to do is to find happiness in doing it. These are all easy steps that can give fun not only for sales but on the appreciation you will receive from others. All it takes is a bit of thought and patience.

This is one of the best ways on how to prepare and make a perfume. A pure grain alcohol or vodka is on the top of the list ingredients together with bottled water and five essential oils. The first step is to mix a quarter of vodka and five drops of oil. If it’s for a short term or just an experiment, you can check it out after forty eight to seventy two hours. However if it’s on a long term basis, it is advisable to keep it for three to four weeks. After leaving it for a certain period of time, add two table spoons of water and one spoonful of glycerin.(You can inquire a chemist for this) After doing it so, you can bottle it up and can already be distributed as a personalized gift.

It is indeed very satisfying making something out of discovery. It is the state of fulfillment that makes this activity worthwhile and to look something forward to. This might be a step for a new career path.

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August 26, 2009

Holiday Survival for Guide Parents

Filed under: Lifestyle — Tags: advent calendars, Dinner menus, gift wrapping parties, guidance, guide parents, holiday, holiday survival, ornament collecting, relationships, religious observances, sing-a-longs, special holiday stories — claban @ 8:25 am

During holidays, there are really things needed to be expected. There are activities that should be given more preparation. There are also some reminders that should be anticipated. These are some helpful tips on how parents can have a very fulfilling holiday.

Take safety precautionary measures. Children will be very much overwhelmed of the things surrounding them. They will be very much engulfed by the decorations and flickering lights. Parents should always be ready to keep eyes on them. There is a very high risk of tendency that they can eat poisonous foods such as mistletoe, poinsettias and holy berries. Always have in hand the local poison center number. It is much advisable to record it near the phone. Keep small thing out of reach such as small candies and nuts. When stomach aches occur, don’t give any treatment without reading the medication label. Another very important thing to keep in mind is to fire proof the house. During holidays, there are lots of natural and artificial trees that can cause fire. Always be aware of all the proper safety precautions.

Second is to have proper motivation. Anticipate for too much stress and pressure during this tiring season. Expect some conflicts that will arise. To prevent more stress, prepare everything before the big occasion starts. Prepare the entire long shopping list and have a plan of activity or some itinerary. In this way, there will be fewer burdens on your side. Take time to confide some suggestions from your partner, family members and friends. Come up with a plan that is beneficial to everyone. Sometimes you may also consider of having party in your friends’ house rather than yours. It can lessen more work and responsibilities from you.

The most thrilled and enjoyable part is the third one on which you include the children in all the preparations. Let them feel that they have a great role to play. Make them feel responsible of the tasks given to them. Ensure that their activities will let them learn good values. Let them experience tasks that they will teach them good lessons. Plan few activities that will boost their creativity and imagination. Make them feel excited by involving them in gift wrapping and making Christmas Cards. Ask their suggestions on putting up decorations. Let them feel that their opinions count so that they will have a good memory and enthusiasm on the occasion.

Continue practicing the traditional rituals. It means that these rituals make the holiday distinct from the other seasons of the year. Doing these rituals, make family ties stronger. It also creates a sense of family identity. Dinner menus, religious observances, advent calendars, gift wrapping parties, ornament collecting, sing-a-longs and special holiday stories are just examples that can make the holiday a much awaiting event for all the members.

Another few reminders to make it more fun are to think positively. Remove any negative things in mind. Expect less but work more to make it enjoyable. There might be times that holidays become sad when it becomes a time to reminisce lonely days such as death, grief, separation and other holiday blues. The best thing to overcome this is to divert it to more positive thoughts and activities. And after all, holidays are the best time to give yourself a gift. Give yourself a break. Delegate tasks to everyone so that they will have their own fair share of the season’s happiness. It’s the best time to relax and have quality time with everyone.

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Saving Marriage

Filed under: Lifestyle — Tags: annulment, challenges, couples, divorce, hardship, legal separation, love, marriage, relationships, saving marriage, separation — claban @ 8:23 am

Find time to think that your marriage needs to be saved.
What should be the first thing to do? File a divorce, throw all the dirty linens in public or tell yourself “I have to save my marriage”. In most cases, falling out among couples are consequence of letting go, not caring, surrendering to emotional pains that ultimately leads to divorce. Only very few dare thread the path of knowing when to admit a mistake, restore respect, give way and putting all on hold just to save a marriage. Sacrifice is a key, understanding is a process, knowing is admission, respect is to make –up for a broken pathway. Do you have these traits?
Is your marriage a realization of your dreams? Is your man needs to be stand-up when down? Are you on equal footing with him? Are the storms that looms ahead your own making or both? Is it normal for both of you just to hang-on but won’t take any stop to arrest the marital skid. Are you in bad need of a divorce? Each questions needs to be answered if you want to save your marriage. Each answer must be a testament of commitment sans the damages done in your most trying times. Remember that marriage is a sacred vow with lots of responsibility and obligations to make it work. But best of all think that your marriage is the most treasured of all your possessions before thinking of finding a divorce lawyer to turn your life upside down.
Admission is putting a male chauvinist in a closet, to a liberated woman in surrender of ideas. I doubt how you will define restoring respect, who is giving in, you or she. It makes two to tango as the saying goes, just like preserving marriage a partner is needed to dance the sweet music of marital bliss. Have you dance lately to a full marital bliss, if so, then who wants to live in misery because of divorce.
If the issues in getting a divorce are simple, its easy to have one. Complications such as children and property will drag parties to a nasty public trial. It will burn you, zapped you out, hurt and be ready for emotional pains. But why go the length of it all when you can take the first step in preventing it. You have the courage, the will to continue your relationship and there is an inch of hope that in a given time the marriage can still work. Did both of you ask why? Save whatever is left.
When are you going to act, take the risk of extending an open hand, of taking the flaks, of being rational inspite all of the odds. What stuff are you made of to surrender the value of your most treasured possessions? Be an icon of faith, of benevolence, of wholeness, it’s easier than be its opposite, for being so ruins what is left of your married life.
Make it a challenge, seek, grab, tie those opportunities that save your marriage, cut, throw, bury in dark avenues marital disaster.
Maybe most couples are happy if they know the difference of joy and misery. It makes the wide divide smaller when people once deeply involved with one another dare make a difference to preserve the obligations attached to their marriage. Perhaps the divorce ratio is smaller when two minds meet. Try it, your one couple less to divorce.

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Holiday Survival for Retirees

Filed under: Lifestyle — Tags: activities, aged, aging, events, gatherings, holiday, old, planning, retirees, senior citizen, survival, survival guide, tips on holidays — claban @ 8:20 am

Holiday seasons are the most special days of the year where everybody can relax, enjoy and have fun. There are some like the retirees that find it so exhausting and boring. Here are some helpful tips on how the season can be an unforgettable experience.

First is to stay focus on the main purpose of the season. No mater what religious affiliations, we must consider the importance of the occasion itself. Enjoy the learning and the lessons it offers. It is not just a time of relaxation but more of reuniting with one self. Let us take for example, New Year’s Day. It’s a start for new life, new hopes and new beginnings.

Second is to prepare yourself for the activity. Fasten up. Others will have a hard time during preparations and will find themselves too much exhausted before the event starts. All you need to do is to check all your activities lined up. Limit it to those that are really needed. Save your energy for the big day. Do some planning. Make list of alternatives so that you will not be piled up so many details unnecessary for the occasion. Make it brief and achievable.

Third spend the holiday with someone. May it be your family or friends. Spending it alone may be very lonely, boring and depressing. If family members and friends can not really be available, try spending it with others. Check out your community for schedule of gatherings. They usually have activities scheduled for the long celebration. Volunteer yourself. Share something of you to make it really an unforgettable one.

Next is keep sight of the budget. Always remember that there are still expenses after the holiday. Be realistic that expensive gifts are not the right answers to make the season much more colorful. Overspending may even cause more stress and problems after. So just be more creative in buying gifts. It’s the thought that really matters. It is not on the price. Giving the best gift does not usually mean the most costly, but the most appropriate and needed. Make each one feel special. A mere thought is more than enough to make everyone rejoice on the holiday.

Lastly, be healthy. Never forget the right nutrients and diet needed by the body. Most of us has the tendency to overeating which usually results to much disastrous outcome. Keep yourself in shape. A healthy and enjoyable diet meal is much more than a sugar-fat-cholesterol-food. Enjoy every meal but still choose the healthy foods.

There is no reason to be lonely on holiday. Retirees should never have problems. Its not on the age that makes holiday a brilliant one but it is more on how you make every moment count.

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Holiday Survival Plan for Step Family

Filed under: Lifestyle — Tags: children, father, formators, Holiday Survival Plan for Step Family, home, kids, mistress, mother, other family, parents, relationship, step children. step kids, step family, step mother, stepfather, teachers — claban @ 8:19 am

First how do we define step family? Well, it is a family composing of one or more children. Or at least one of whom is the stepchild or it is the family one acquires when a parent enters a new marriage, whether the parent was widowed or divorced.
Stepfamilies can be a very complicated as they say for it involves varying degrees of emotions especially during holiday time. Emotions can be even more obvious and complex.
If your children are going to be away for a holiday Christmas Day or even on their birthday, always prepare yourself for you will always wish they are here with you. As well as if you have children coming that they don’t usually live with you, braise yourself together with your partner to make their stay enjoyable and memorable one. You have to have plans of activities with the rest of your family or even ask opinions of some of your friends.
Planning ahead is the best way to achieve realistic expectations. There will be a lot of changes that you have to consider, and you have to accept the fact that your children are away from you. Adjust to the flow of exchanges in the best possible way. Holidays like these children are very sensitive for it may remind them of loss, anger and guilt. You have to create a unique environment within your home. Let them feel that they are most loved and welcomed in your home so that they will feel your care and affection as their biological parents. Do set aside a particular holiday’s date together with your own children even before or after the holidays. You have to remember that children need to be both with their biological parents not only to spend time together but to savor the occasion itself with loved ones.
What you have to do is to plan. Before rushing day begins, arrange activities with your partner and kids. Everyone must be aware of their own responlsiblities before visiting. Set out expectations to avoid arguments, boredom and frustrations. In this way, a expectations can be reached.
In molding new tradition with step family, everyone needs must be given consideration. Create an ambience and fresh new things so that it will be enjoyable for everyone. Let everyone knows what makes activities fun. You may also invite grandparents to join or be with the kids. All you need to do is to be creative and enjoy the process.
While children are having time to visit, you need also to build a much stronger relationship with your partner. Your relationship is the most important thing for your children. They will learn how the relationship should or shouldn’t be done by just mere watching you. “Parents” are the best teachers and formators. Let them see how strong the love that they can look up to and be inspired of.

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August 25, 2009

Steps in Making a Perfume

Filed under: Lifestyle — Tags: alcohol, alcohol’s perfumes, fragrance, oil perfumes, perfume, procedure, scent, solid perfumes, steps — claban @ 7:55 am

Most of us are very familiar and particular of perfumes we buy and use. These different fragrances define one’s personality. There are also few people who have great passion for perfumes that they even buy the most expensive branded one. However, most of us are not aware on how perfumes are prepared.

Due to strong competition in perfume makings, many have adopted different strategies on how it could be market. Perfumes come in three major variations. They come in different forms and packaging that it would make it profitable. These are classified into alcohol’s perfumes, oil perfumes and solid perfumes.

Alcohol perfumes are the most common perfumes. It is mainly compose of aroma chemicals, absolutes, and resins that are only dissolve with ethanol. This perfume can be called as the standard fragrance. It has a cooling sensation that adds to sensory experience once the alcohol evaporated from the skin. It is also very hygienic to apply and it gives a very refreshing feeling. However, there are also some disadvantages in spraying this kind of perfume. Due to its main content of alcohol, it is flammable. In addition, alcohol perfumes have very strong scent and give a blast of fragrance that can make cause dizziness and headaches. It also has effects of skin’s dryness and it fragrance doesn’t last long. Nevertheless, alcohol perfumes are the most flexible when it comes to packaging. It can be put in any atomizer bottle.

People with dry skins will not like the standard alcohol perfume. They will be more attracted to either oil perfumes or solid perfumes. Both give a deeper and richer fragrance. For the reason that oil perfume users want something different so makers can use their creativity for new artisan perfumes. Some perfumes brands are making a niche such as Kai and Night Queen.

Lastly, solid perfume or most commonly known as perfume balm is a very rare perfume. This cool product is one of the oldest forms of perfume aside from incense. Before, waxes and fats were the only solvents used. Barks and flowers were soaked and heated in fat that produced aromatic oils. Ancient artworks showed that people before perfumed their body by the cone above their head. In addition, packaging of solid perfumes can be very innovative. Because it doesn’t spill, it can be placed into little tins and lipstick containers which are ideal for hand carry.

There are very limited companies that still make solid perfumes. It’s composed of soft butter and waxes similar to lip balm. The balm based must be heated first before adding aromatic ingredients. It should be processed with minimal heat so that delicate ingredients will not easily evaporate.

The most important thing to consider in making perfumes is by using the correct bases to bring out the fragrance. Perfumer’s alcohol or pure ethanol for alcohol perfumes. Jojoba oil for oil perfumes. It gives long shelf-life and stability. Any soft or semi-soft mixture of oils and fats can be used for solid perfumes. It can be lip balm base or soft butter such as mango butter.

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August 23, 2009

Tips on a Successful Potty Training

Filed under: Lifestyle — Tags: baby, baby sitter, baby walk, bladder, child, child's bladder, childhood years, easy ups, gross, mother, mother child relationship, naps, parent-children relationship, parents, poopy, potty, potty training, pull ups, time schedule, tips, training pants, underwears — claban @ 8:05 am

potty-training1 “Mommy, I have an accident” or “Mommy I went poopy” are just common words parents usually hear from their children. Most parents will have a hard time in guiding and teaching their children the proper way of potty. Having a potty training is such a great task. It does not only entails perseverance but more of dedication.

There is no golden rule for a potty training but these are some helpful tips that can help the exercise be successful. First is to let the child know that he will go a potty training. Have a stock of training pants such as pull ups and easy ups. Let him experience how it is to be wet in his pants. Let him understand how it feels to be gross. In this way, he will not be lazy. However if he meets accident, be patient in changing his pants. Buy more stocks of underwear preferably those that are larger in size.
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Never scold or spank a child whenever he undergoes accident. Child’s bladder is still on a growing stage and can not hold for an extended time. Let her understand that accidents are fine but instill in his mind the feeling of being gross and the value of discipline. In this way, he will learn when to tell you when to go potty. But if you are hard on them, they will feel scared. Being scared will make them more secretive and we will have a much difficult time of training them.

Be consistent. Consistency of guiding the child will let him understand more the potty training. Let him take potty after meals, before and after nap and more specifically when waking up in the morning. Having a time schedule will enable him to be used to it. He would exactly know when his bladder is full. Furthermore, inform the baby sitters if you have one of your child’s potty time schedules.

Saying goodbyes to diaper is not easy job. It takes a long process. It entails patience and dedication. There are children who are easy learners while others don’t get the potty training until they are three. Starting the scheme right after the baby walk will be much easier to train a child.

The key words to an effective and efficient potty training are never give up. Having a potty training is much easier than raising a child himself. This is just one of the best practices that we can offer our child. This teaches our child the value of discipline and at the same time parents carry out the virtue of patience. This is a best way of strengthening communication between parents and children. This is one avenue of raising a child well and strong parent-children relationship even in their early childhood years.

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