From the BlogHer Life Well Lived Series:

What are your favorite relaxation techniques? And what benefits do you see from practicing them?

A year ago, I wouldn’t have been able to answer this question. Lately, however, I’ve been delving into my personal spirituality, and my relationship to God and the Divine. So… I have two ways of relaxing.

1) The zone out. In the evenings, I usually zone out. That might be reading or playing WoW, or watching movies or my DVR saves. This is just a way for me to “check out” from the day, because each day is go-go-gooooooo. It resets my brain. I have also found that I have a propensity for burn out. When I burn out, or stress out, I conjure up physical symptoms. I’m such a worrier that I’m one of those rare folks that have given myself ulcers. The doctor said it was stress because I tested negative for the bacteria that usually causes them. Because of this, I’ve dubbed Saturdays as my do-nothing day. On Saturdays I do not clean. I do not work. I do not cook. I do nothing, except what I want to do. It has helped me dramatically. I may study, or do art, or just play games, but I only do what I want to do. On those days that I cannot have my do-nothing day, I’ve really noticed a difference in my stress level for the next week. So, I apparently need that day to recharge.

2) Meditation. Yup… I meditate. I light some incense, and light a cnadle, and I meditate. Sometimes it’s on a particular subject, but more often I’m just connecting with God. That connection then grounds me so I can move on with my day in a better frame of mind. Or I do a meditative activity. For me, that’s gardening by myself. My hands are busy, and so my thoughts go more inward, go more spiritual, or I pray on certain matters.

As for the benefits to me… MAN! I am more relaxed. I have less stomach trouble. I even look forward to the times, and just knowing they’re coming will help me in the current situation I’m in to be better able to handle it. I’m happier. I’m calmer. I’m more content. I’m more settled in my emotions. All really good things.

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As part of BlogHer’s Life Well Lived series, they asked me:

How do you incorporate color into your look?

For me, over the years, I’ve realized whatever the color is… All that matters is that I LOVE IT! Yes, there are certain colors that look good on me. Green looks best on me as it brings out my eyes. But really? If you love the color, you’ll feel great wearing it, and THAT’S what makes someone look good. Their attitude makes all the difference! I hate yellow. So I wouldn’t wear something yellow – even though it might look good with my skin tone – because I don’t love it when I see it.

That being said… I also infuse color in a couple of other ways. I like to wear crazy shoes, so that can inject color. I don’t like to wear a lot of jewelry, but if I do, I usually wear one bold crazy piece that has a lot of color in it. For example, I wear a lot of black. I have a great wool peacoat (I got it on sale thankyouverymuch). It’s a whole lotta black. So, in the wintertime, I pull out that coat, and I put one of the obnoxious costume jewelry brooches I inherited from my great-grandmother. It just makes me feel good when I see it, and it comes back to I feel good, so I look good.

It’s OK to wear color, people. There’s so many folks who, perhaps, don’t feel they have the best body. So, they wear black and neutrals to detract. That old adage of “black is slimming” comes into play here. I’m here to say, “Who cares!” Do you LOVE fushia? Does fushia make you happy? (Do you know how to spell fushia? ‘Cause my spell checker hates the way I’m spelling it.) Does fushia make you perk up a little bit? Than you should be wearing fushia. It’ll bring a little spark to your day when you see it. Experiment if you’re scared to wear it. Instead, tie a scarf with fushia in it around the handle to your purse. You’ll see a little bit of happy every time you pick up your purse.

Look. Clothes, at their barest minimum, are simply there to protect your body from the elements. Any other meanings such as modesty or fashion judgement are meanings that WE as society give them. So… Give them your OWN meaning. Take joy in them. If bright pink reminds you of huge gerbera daisies and make you smile? By golly, get some bright pink into your life.

Go visit the main page and leave your own comment on how you incorporate color! Don’t forget to enter the current Life Well Lived Sweepstakes while you’re at it.

As part of BlogHer’s Life Well Lived series, I was asked :What are your favorite tips and tricks for framing and showing off your beautiful face?

This is a hard one for me, because I don’t pay too much attention to my appearance beyond some basics.

What do I have to work with? I have glasses. I have curly hair. I have a weird round face. I’m not too keen on makeup. I’m a wash and go kind of girl.

Because I’m totally squicked out by anything to do with eyes (such as contacts or laser surgery), I’m stuck with the glasses. So I always make sure I have frames I love. Love doesn’t have to equal expensive. I currently have rectangular black frames, which I love, and they were only $20.

For my hair, it’s curly and a lot of it. When I say curly, I mean full-on spiral curls. If I were to brush it out dry (which I never-ever-ever do), I have a serious, 70’s worthy afro. When it rains it just gets… Bigger. A lot bigger. Shorter is NOT better. My hair frames my round chubby face much better longer. I finally found a hair stylist that can cut my hair. If you have curly hair, I beg of you, find someone who knows curly hair. One size does not fit all on this, it makes all the difference. I also always use product, but it’s simple. I buy mousse or spray gel made for curly hair. I find that brand and expense doesn’t really matter, but “made for curly” does. Anything else is too stiff and heavy, and makes my hair really crunchy. I simply get out of the shower, and have it up in a towel while I do my other stuff, and then put the product in, comb it out with a wide toothed comb, and bend over and scrunch. Then I let it air dry, and finally do whatever I might do with it.

I do use makeup for “outside” kind of appointments, but not on a daily basis. I just don’t like the feel of it, and all eye makeup irritates my eyes. When I do wear makeup, neutrals and coppers seem to look best with my eyes and skin tone. Sometimes I let in a little green in my eyeliner. I cleanse and moisturize daily.

I think the biggest thing for me, and makes me feel best, is to do my basics, and just own ME. THIS is me. This is who I am. That’s a good thing. Sure, I’ll be 37 on Thursday. My hair is greying. I’m starting to show my age on my face. But that’s OK. That’s a result of living life. That’s how I best frame my face. Basics, and then owning it.

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