Well, I just spent some time on the internet researching fingernail health and what makes for beautiful nails? Boy-was I in for a surprise!! I found all kinds of information on products to make your nails beautiful, AND all kinds of recommendations on supplements to make your nails beautiful. OMG & Yikes!!! Let’s pay for products or supplements for the rest of our lives. SURE-they all will cure-mask-whatever- the problem. Be a consumer and be a consumer until the day you die. We are so brain washed into buying something to cure the end result- to try and reverse the things that we do to ourselves in our life.
Healthy nails reflect a healthy body. If your nails have a natural shine, are strong and free of ridges or other blemishes, this is a sign that your diet is providing you with the nutrients needed to keep your nails in optimum shape. If your nails are brittle, dry, dull and weak, this is a sign that essential vitamins may be missing from your diet. Because our health is reflected from the inside out, a balanced diet that focuses on nutrients that enrich the nails is an important key in allowing our fingers and toes to look as beautiful as they can.
The best way to have beautiful, skin, hair, and nails is to work from the inside-not apply to the outside. One needs a healthy diet full of fresh fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, 40% raw and a bit of protein. Eating good, healthy, organic foods-will do wonders for your outside appearance and make you feel fabulous. Spend your money on the best foods, instead of products or supplements. There are only a few vitamins out there- that the studies show-conclusively-that they are effective. Do the research yourself. Supplements are a huge industry. I guess that’s because people believe the claims. Until I see studies to convince me otherwise-most-not all-supplements are a waste of money.
I was lucky enough to be brought up in a family that had healthy food on the table all the time. My hair , skin, and nails were never a problem until the last 4 years. The reason being is that I started playing water volleyball, and the chlorine took its toll. My nails started to crack and peel, so I filed my nails down to where there were no more chips, peels or cracks. Then I rub lemon essential oil (suggested byThe American College of Healthcare Sciences) and a base oil (Oils to use: Flax seed oil, Vitamin E, Almond oil, Jojoba oil, or Olive oil)into my nails before bedtime-to let the oil soak in. I wear gloves to do dishes, heavy cleaning and gardening. I keep my nails polished to keep the chlorine away from my nails. That’s it!!! It works for me. Those are myfingernail tips.
Below is a video on the benefits of the aloe vera plant and aloe vera juice.
Below is a video on-5 Aloe Vera Uses for the Magical Aloe Vera Juice
Drinking Aloe Vera-Digestion-Cleansing
After sun lotion-aloe vera for sunburn skin-aloe vera after sun spray-soothing to the max!!
Insect Bites-works like magic!!
Skin Toner-Refreshing & Healing!!
Mouth Wash
That’s it for fingernail beauty tips. Adios Ali O.
Lavender is one of the worlds most used, most popular, and most medicinal oils in existence. It has so many wonderful properties to use in skin care and in holistic medicine. There are some 39 species. The lavender used therapeutically for aromatherapy, skin care, and holistic medicine, is called lavandula angustifolia or true lavender. This is the lavender that relaxes you and is used the most-therapeutically. Oddly enough-some lavenders actually stimulate you. They all have different chemical constituents, so if you want to relax, read the label and the Latin names to get the correct lavender for your purpose. To learn how essential oils are distilled watch this video from The American College of Healthcare Sciences.
Lavender Uses
Lavender is excellent for skin care. It is an antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and helps to heal scars. Lavender is the best essential oil for healing minor burns while also healing cuts, wounds, insect bites, and many minor skin problems. The other great benefit of lavender essential oils is the harmonizing effect that it has on the nervous system and its ability to relieve stress. Lavender has the ability to exert a sedative or stimulant action depending on what an individual needs. Lavender can calm the mind and body in times of emotional or mental unrest—BUT—at the same time lavender can revive the spirits to bring you out of physical and emotional depletion.
Indulge yourself in a rich long lasting body lotion. Keeps skin moist and smooth while relaxing your mind and healing your skin. Made with the finest and freshest ingredients.
My Mother always taught my Sisters and I how important it was to take care of our skin, and I am so thankful to her. She insisted on teaching us her skin care regime which involved washing, exfoliating, toning, and moisturizing our skin. It was ingrained in us. I guess we’re lucky, because we enjoyed the ritual of it all. Needless to say, our Mom ended up paying for all these products. Yea!
When I left home, I of course continued on with my ritual, and became interested in making products that were more natural than you could find in the stores. Making my own products was also fresher, custom, no garbage ingredients, and less expensive. That was 17 years ago, and my passion is still going strong.
Because of my skin care product passion, I became interested in herbs, botanicals, medicinal essential oils, and complimentary alternative (holistic) medicine. That interest led me to believe that I needed more education. I found an accredited school in Portland, Oregon-The American College of Healthcare Sciences. There-I received a certificate in Natural Product Manufacturing and a certificate in Aromatherapy. This experience was and still is-SO inspiring and consuming-a true Love.
I believe my products reflect my love and passion for excellent skin care products. I am proud that I have researched and formulated each product with only beneficial ingredients that I would use myself-which I do everyday!!!! I bring my products to you, as fresh as can be, and formulated for skin health. Ali O.
The video below, also has to do with ingredients– in the food industry and their food label claims and food label guidelines, . Mike Adams who is known as ”Health Ranger”-has solved the mystery of the missing blueberries. It’s quite an interesting video on the blueberries that are missing in the foods that are advertised as having blueberries. Instead these foods have petro-chemical food colorings and who know the effects of food coloring, hydrogenated oils, and a plethora of other items that make up BLUEBERRIES!!!!! They also mention some companies that actually HAVE blueberries in the product, AND some even organic!! These companies that make false claims and false blueberries are raking in the money on cheap, crappy, bad for you ingredients. Don’t buy into this. I want real blueberries AND we do have a choice!!
Well that’s it for now. If you care about ingredients-it’s very simple-READ THE LABEL!!!
O.K. here I go again on the topic of food and what is being done to it-that you may not know or really don’t want to know. I want to know so that I can choose the healthiest foods that are available.
In some of my other blogs I talked about genetically modified seeds, grains, and food. I also talked about sewer sludge being dumped on the crops. Below is an overview of those blogs. Now to add to the list of disgusting things people are doing to food-mainly for profit-with no cares about how it affects fellow human beings
Genetically modified plants have toxins that are built into the plant itself through genes, that work as a bio-pesticide, toxic to insects and other pests. Blood tests show that in this form, those toxins show up in 100% of pregnant women and their fetuses!
We can see evidence of the toxic effects by even just consuming animals who eat GM feed. Yet the USDA continues to flash green lights for GM crop approvals considering the crops safe for animals, people, and children in the womb.
Municiple governments across the U.S. are trying to convince farmers that municipal wastewater from sewage plants-SLUDGE- can magically transform into “organic fertilizer”. Ha! If you are not eating organic-YOU are eating sludge. Organic certification and inspections DO NOT include the use of sludge as a fertilizer at organic farms. At least you’ll know what you aren’t eating. Don’t believe when they??? say there’s no difference between conventional and organic foods. Sewage sludge is a form of hazardous waste and needs to be contained and isolated as such.
California proposition 65 (P65) requires the listing of chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity. Chemicals known to the SFPUC that are in San Francisco sewage sludge that are also found on the California P65 list include:
Mercury – Molybdenum – Cobalt – Antimony Chromium – Dibenzofurans – Naphthalene – 1,2-Dibromo-3-Chloropropane (Dbcp) – Di (2-Ethylhexyl) Phthalate (Dehp) – Tcdd Equivalents (Dioxins) Such As Octachlorodibenzo-P-Dioxins (Ocdd)
MEAT GLUE
Recently in the news is another concern on how our food is treated. Meat glue is being used to stick together scraps of meat to re-sell as prime cuts. OMG!! This practiced is banned overseas but not in the U.S. They take cuts of meat-any meat-even fish-that are too small to sell as a prime cut, and glue it together to look like a prime cut, and then re-sell the meat at top price. The amazing thing about all this is that NO ONE can tell that the meat is glued-not even a butcher! When they use this substance on the meat the butchers wear a mask. It is dangerous to breath. Part of this substance contains the blood plasma from pigs and cattle-a coagulant. If the meat is not cooked enough a person may get food poisoning. The amount of bacteria is 100 times higher than in untreated meat. Restaurants are the biggest buyers of this kind of meat. Meat glue is not included in the labeling laws, and the producers are certainly not going to inform you unless they have to. What next? The common practice of injecting cuts of meat with water to add weight and flavor to make the meat edible. How gross. All I can do is buy organic meat as the producers to not use sludge, GMO grains, meat glue, or injections. If we all bought organic, the prices would certainly come down. I don’t care what the price is, I don’t want to wonder about what I’m eating. Video-Special Investigation-Meat Glue
Beauty From Other Cultures-African & South East Asian Tribal Beauty
Long Neck Women of Southern Africa, Northern Thailand & Burma
Giraffe women originated around the 11th century from South Africa and Thailand. The brass coils around their necks are associated with beauty. The tradition starts at age 5. The “Long Neck Tribe are from Southern Africa wear brass & copper rings around their necks after they get married. Marriage is usually around 12 years old. The rings are to show tribal wealth and provides spiritual power.
The rings actually don’t stretch their neck-it’s an illusion. What the rings are really doing is weighing down the collar bone, pushing their shoulders down, and actually deforming their body to the extent that there are many daily things that these women can not do. These rings can cause pain, infection under the rings, weakened neck muscles, and bone structure deformation. It is said that these women can not drink from a cup without a straw, and that she will fall over backwards if she looks up at the sky.
Beautiful Ear Decorations
I Like This Woman's Look!
As you can see-the ear is slit and small plugs or disks are put in. As the skin stretches, a bigger, then a bigger,and a bigger object is put in until the desired beautiful look is accomplished. Here in the United States, many people are adopting ear plugs and disks, but not to such a degree.
Skin Scarring
This man is not scarred on his skin-just his nose!!!
Skin scarring is done by both men and women. Some say it really came into vogue during the slave trade days. They thought if they were scarred, that the slave traders would not want them. Some say it’s for beauty. For whatever reason-scarring is very much practiced today-kinda like tattooing.
The nomadic Wodaabe tribe of southwestern Niger are famous for their weaving and dyeing of beautiful cloth. The men take great pride in their physical beauty. At the geerewol festival, men are judged for their beauty. An example of one of these beautiful men below.
Men also take great pride in their male member. These sheaths ( some are gourds ) are also for modesty for pubescent females.
One of the most unusual body adornments is the disks-plates that the Suri women of Africa put in their lower lip. This practice is started young and takes time to get to the proper size. A woman with a large disk requires from her future husbands family-MORE cattle than a girl with a smaller lip disk. It is said that this disk may also have discouraged slave traders from taking these women. Some modern girls are opting out of this tradition......AND do still find a man who will pay for her with cattle.
Finally-below is a very interesting video (sorry about the short commercial before the video-you can choose to skip it) about lip disks or plates, how they are made, how the lips are stretched, what the women think about this custom, and what a modern girl has to say about the tradition.
That's beauty in Africa and Southeast Asia for now. Hope you enjoyed it. My favorites were the ear decorations and the scarring.
Natural Skin Care Recipes and Products-Masks Part 3
Daily Facial Scrub, Cleanser, Exfoliator for Sensitive Skin
Removing spent skin cells that sit on the top of your skin is key to glowing skin. Removing those dead skin cells speeds up skin renewal and helps your skin to be more receptive to moisturizing products. Exfoliators are what we need for that chore. Facial exfoliators-in my opinion-need to be very gentle and used often. That’s why I recommend an exfoliator that won’t cut you beautiful facial skin. Ground up fruit shells, seeds, pumice, or other exfoliants make microscopic cuts all over your skin. I like to use ROUND poppy seeds. These seeds are gentle and won’t damage your skin. I formulated a skin cleanser-scrub-exfoliator for my own use and I love it. I have put this scrub in my product line and my customers love it!
Make It Yourself
The ingredients are simple and a 4oz. jar can be made to last 2 weeks, a month??? Depends on how often you use it.
You will need your favorite unscented body gel-wash—3.5oz.
3 Tablespoons of poppyseeds
1 &1/2 heaping teaspoons of guar gum
1-Teaspoon of your favorite essential oils-I use 1/4 teaspoon lemon-1/4 teaspoon orange, and 1/2 teaspoon peppermint
Mix together well and scoop into sanitized 4oz. jar
You can get the guar gum-a totally natural thickener-1 pound for about $7.00 at Organic Creations–that will last a long time
For the cost of these ingredients-you can make this cleanser for a year or two. Give some to friends and family. Made fresh by YOU!!!!!!
If you prefer not to make this cleanser, you can always purchase a jar from me.
I made this naturally hydrating-exhilarating, and exfoliating scrub to be used as a facial skin cleanser-facial scrub-for sensitive skin–mainly for myself. I couldn’t find a natural facial cleanser -that very gently exfoliates AND cleanses-at the same time. I came up with a formula that I love. This sensitive skin product is a facial cleansing paste with poppy seeds to gently exfoliate the face. You put a small dab in your hand, wet it, lather it up, and wash your face. I use this cleanser every day-it’s that gentle.
This exfoliating anti aging skin product with poppy seeds-is a gentle cleanser made especially for sensitive or mature skin. The poppy seeds gently exfoliate lifeless, dull skin cells, allowing new, healthy skin to shine through. The sloughing off of spent skin cells promotes the absorption and retention of moisturizing nutrients.
Poppy seeds are completely round and won’t scratch the skin like ground up fruit shells, seeds, pumice, or other exfoliants. It was made to be a daily facial cleanser. The peppermint essential oil has the WOW wake up factor, while the lemon and orange essentials oils clean and sanitize the skin.
Ingredients:
• Water • Potassium Cocoate (Derivedfrom Organic
Coconut Oil) • PotassiumOleate (Derived from
OrganicSunflower Oil) • Lauryl Betaine(Derived from a
common constituent ofvegetable fats especially coconut
oil) •Glycerin (Organic origin – by-product ofsoap
manufacturing) • Benzyl Alcohol(Preservative) •
Potassium PalmKernelate (Potassium salt of PalmKernel)
• Palm Kernel Acid (Fatty acidof palm kernel oil used as an opacifier,surfactant and emulsifier) • DecylGlucoside (cosmetic filler and soothes skin – synthetic) • Potassium Citrate(regulates acidity pH) & Poppyseeds. 90% Organic
Gentle enough to use daily.
3 times a week is recommended.
4 ounce jar.
The aroma is from essential oils-which also benefits the skin.
Essential oils of Orange, Lemon, and Peppermint. The aroma is citrusy and uplifting. Just a small amount of peppermint to awaken you!!!!
That’s it for now. Take care of your skin & stay beautiful !!!! Ali O.
Natural Skin Care Recipes-Masks Part 2
Oatmeal Yogurt Sugar Mask-Scrub
Hi there!!! And Happy New Year to you all!! It’s been a while since my last blog. Oh my! Holidays and all.
Before I get to the mask, I would like to say a few things about our skin and this anti-aging craze. I am of the opinion that good skin care certainly helps the skin stay healthy, but surface regimes are not going to stop the aging process. I do believe that using natural ingredients from nature over synthetics and chemicals, is what your skin needs and craves. Just like your body, you wouldn’t want synthetics and chemicals in your food. Everything that you put on your skin, sinks into your body and circulates in your blood system.
The most important thing that you can do for your skin, to look younger, and slow down the aging process comes from within your own body. I think eating really good food is number 1. Staying out of the sun is number 2. Exercise regularly to get the toxins out of your body is number 3. Keeping your stress level manageable and good sleep are number 4. Of course it always helps to have the family genes for clear, beautiful skin!!!!
As far as surface regimes are concerned, use natural ingredients, exfoliate 3 times a week, massage your face, and moisturize.
I use a cosmetic dictionary to understand the complex names of ingredients. If you understand the labels, you can make an educated purchase. Please don’t be taken in by fancy claims and high prices. Read the label.
O.K-on to a natural facial mask, with ingredients from your home.
Oatmeal Yogurt Sugar Mask-Scrub
This is a simple mask-scrub which you can formulate to your liking. You may also add other beneficial ingredients that are in your cupboards. Now you want to make this into a paste that will stick to your face while scrubbing. You may even want to apply it and sit back for 10 minutes before you gently scrub your face and then rinse off. I am not going to tell you the exact recipe because I make this mask different every time I make it.
Ingredients Oatmeal (organic of course)-humectant-helps to retain moisture-ground up but not too fine
Sugar (brown-organic of course)-exfoliator Yogurt (regular, unflavored & organic of course)-lactic acid-skin smoother & dead skin cell remover
Lemon- natural fruit acid to take off dead skin cells and also kills bacteria-add just a bit Honey-antiseptic, tightens the pores, natural antioxidant and anti-microbial properties-add just a bit
Experiment-Have Fun!!! Be creative!! Be Your Own Beautician!!!
Let me know how it turns out for you and what you think!!!! Please!!!!!
Next week I’ll give you my formula for a DAILY facial scrub that is super gentle, and leaves you with radiant skin-feeling silky smooth. I have been selling this product with great reviews, but it is not up on my website yet. Once I get it on my website-I’ll give you the recipe so you can make it at home or purchase from me. It’s awesome!!
That’s all for now. Be well and feel beautiful!! Ali O.
Natural Skin Care Recipes-Masks-Part One
Facial Masks
As you all I know, I make skin care products. During an economic down turn people still buy face creams, body lotions, and the like. What suffers is the spa industry. Only the very rich can still afford these services. There’s no need to feel deprived. You can still get wonderful face treatments, done by YOU, in your own home. These treatments are fresher, you control the ingredients, and they are certainly affordable. Home masks are just as effective as a spa treatment.
There are many, many masks that can be done for all kinds of skin issues. In this first part of a mask series, I will offer 2 simple masks that can be done at home.
The first exfoliating mask I will be talking about is one of my favorites, especially during the summer months. A STRAWBERRY & PAPAYA mask. Now I mash up equal amounts of both fruits, maybe even enough for the week (3 applications). I sit at a table with a large bowl under my face, and apply the mixture and massage my face on and off for 15 minutes, while watching Martha Stewart-of course-Ha!. I then rinse my face and then spray my face with my rose or lavender toner. Pat dry and moisturize. It’s as simple as that!!!! Easy peezy lemon squeezy!
This mask replicates a light fruit acid peel that is offered at many spas and salons. Papaya contains the enzyme papain, which helps to dissolves lifeless skin cells that sit on the top layer of your skin. If you remove this lifeless layer regularly, your skin will be newer and more radiant. The strawberries contain salicylic acid, along with other fruit acids, to deep clean the pores and slough off that old skin. These fruits also offer a plethora of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
This video below is another woman’s way of doing the same facial mask.
Papaya and Strawberry Home Facial Treatment
Now for an oooey gooey moisturizing mask, which by the way is also nice for minor acne because of the anti-microbial properties of honey. This is an AVOCADO and HONEY MOISTURIZING MASK.
Avocado contains fatty acids and is known for it’s moisturizing properties. Your skin can also use the vitamins and minerals that it’s full of.
Honey-oh the wonders of honey!! For the skin, honey has natural antioxidant and anti-microbial properties, which is wonderful for all skin types. Honey absorbs and retains moisture keeping the skin hydrated and prevents drying.
Recipe-AVOCADO and HONEY facial mask
Take a small slice of organic avocado-put the rest in your salad. Mash it up. Mix with 2 teaspoons organic honey, into a nice gooey mixture. Apply for 15 minutes. Finish with a toner and moisturizer (avocado oil perhaps?) Voila! Darlin’ you look marrrvalous.
More masks to come soon and they are not just for the face.
Signing off!! Ali O.
This Citrus toner can be made from simple things in your home. If you don’t have the essential oils of orange, lemon, grapefruit and mint-you can always use the tangible fruits. Keep in mind-that fruit products do not keep as long as essential oils.
Citrus Mint Toner
3 Tbsp fresh mint leaves or——-2 drops mint essential oil
peel from 1 orange or——-3 drops orange essential oil
Peel from 1/2 lemon or——-3 drops lemon essential oil
Peel from 1/3 grapefruit or——-3 drops grapefruit essential oil
1 cup boiling water
1 Tbsp witch hazel extract or 1/2 cup witch hazel distillate.
1. Place mint leaves in a bowl and bruise with a spoon in order to release their volatile oils.
2. Add citrus peels.
3. Pour boiling water over leaves and peel and allow to cool completely
4. Strain to remove solids.
5. Add witch hazel extract (tincture) or distillate.
6. Pour into a clean container
*NOTE: as an unpreserved toner, this is essentially a “fresh” product that must be kept refrigerated and used up in a week or so. Don’t store it in your warm bathroom! Also makes a wonderfully refreshing facial mist for a pick-me-up any time of day.
ROSE TONER-very simple.
Excellent for acne, mature skin, and any skin!!!! Great for hydration-a spritzer in your purse!!
Rose water and rose essential oil.
4 oz. rose water and 10 drops rose essential oil.
LOVE that Rose!!!
Happy concocting!!! Ali O.
Why blog about crystal nail files? What a thoroughly interesting subject. If you take pride in the appearance of your nails, you may be interested in this subject. I don’t know of anyone who wants to help destroy their nails when they file. These files are the remedy for nail chipping, splitting nails, and nail problems. A great manicure tool for perfect nails.
There are only two manufacturers in the Czech Republic that make the original crystal glass nail files. What is Czech Glass?
The Czechs have been famous for years for their glass and crystal. The crystal nail files are made from tempered glass with some lead in it, which means that the final product has been heated to a certain temperature for a certain amount of time to make sure the glass throughout the file is melded together for super strength. The files are permanently etched for a super fine grit, and never wear out. These files can last a lifetime. These are THE BEST!!!! Don’t be fooled by Chinese copies.They are glass nail files-NOT crystal! They don’t temper their glass( no lead in them), they spray the grit on the glass, they wear out quickly, and the files break easily. Don’t be fooled by imitations.
Emory boards, metal nail files, and other nail products, produce microscopic tears in your nails, which tends to make the nails chip, flake, and break later on down the road. You can avoid this problem by using crystal glass nail files.
The video below explains the value of these files for healthy nails.
I have been using these files for 5 years and I’ve never had one break. EVEN in my purse. I love these files so much, that I decided to offer them on my website for an excellent price. Below are a few examples of what my website has to offer.
Of all the ancient Chinese customs, Chinese foot binding- also called lotus feet- is a beauty subject that I’ve always been fascinated by, and have researched on and off throughout my life. It wasn’t always about beauty. The practice also showed your status in life and your identity as a Woman and as a Man. There’s even a small very glossy book published in the last decade, with just pictures and pictures of the shoes worn by those Women with bound feet. I feel a weird kind of awe when I look at those pictures. Although this book had no pictures of Chinese bound feet, just looking at the pictures of the shoes, gives you an idea of the freakiness of it all.
OMG!!! Can you imagine? I couldn’t play water volleyball, go for a walk, or dance like no ones watching.
X-ray of feet
Chinese Lotus Shoes
It’s estimated that 4.5 BILLION (some say only 2 BILLION) Chinese Women were subjected to this practice over a 1000-year period. As you can imagine there is much history involved-which I will go into briefly.
There are many theories, but no one is sure how this custom or what ever you would like to call it -started. Some say it was started as a way to emulate the tiny feet of a prince’s favorite concubine. Some say bound feet started after an empress who had club like feet. Her feet became viewed as a desirable and beautiful attribute.
I have to say that not ALL of China practiced foot binding. There is a long history about who in China practiced this and the competition between different factions.
Foot binding was first practiced in the elite class of families and represented the females freedom from manual labor, and the males ability to afford the burden of a wife-or wives-who only directed the household, but did no physical labor. The foot binding process took a lot of years and pain to accomplish the 3 inch or Golden Lilies ideal.
O.K. The bottom line is that the process WAS pretty gruesome. Breaking the arch of the foot and four toes-THEN binding all that IN-to an eventual 3-inch total foot length, AND at an early age-mind you. OOOWWWW!!!!!! Not only is your childhood ruined, but so is the rest of your life. Your rendered inoperable. This was pretty?? Open sores, puss, stench, toenails digging into your flesh, gangrene, and even death. One old lady I read about said she was a virtual prisoner in her own home for 75 years. She felt too much pain for her to walk very far. Although there were dance troops with bound feet, and women who worked in the fields after the Communist Revolution-they were ALL in great pain. Foot binding was banned in 1912, and women were told to unbind their feet or they would be killed. Is that all?? What else can be done to these poor souls? In 1949 the Communists enforced a strict prohibition on binding, which included all areas of China, even ones so remote that they had never heard of the 1912 edict.
These tiny-three inch feet were supposed to look like a lotus shape, and the families took great pride in attaining the shape. Elegant embroidered silk slippers were made especially to enhance the lotus look. As you can imagine that walking with bound feet was very painful and difficult. The knees had to be bent slightly and one had to sway to maintain the proper movement to go forward. This walk became known as the Lotus Gait. They also wore shoes called “flower bowls”, on a high platform made of wood or with a small central pedestal.
Flower Bowl Shoes
O.K. I know this is a weird thought, but I’ve heard and read about this crevice in the bound feet. Men loved these tiny little feet. They would hold them, rub them, and do what they wanted with them-if you get my drift.
Chines Foot Binding-"In her own words."
Beauty from other cultures-an interesting subject. I think I’d rather have rings around my neck or plates in my lips. At least I could still walk. Signing off!!! Ali O.
Beauty From Other Cultures-The Western World-A Series
The Corset
A Sign of Feminine Beauty
To have a small waist for a woman has always been in vogue. This fact has been known for thousands of years. It’s popularity really started to get noticed in Medieval times, but never was the corset as popular as in the 19th century, and into the 20th century.
To achieve this ideal hourglass figure, young girls-as early as 5 years old, would begin to wear a corset. Girls and women wore the corset for most of the day. There’s a good reason for this. Their muscles had atrophied due to the corset holding them up. The average woman could only hold herself up for short periods, and never went out of the house without one.
As you can imagine, there were many health issues associated with wearing one of those contraptions. Because of the steel or bone cage compressing their midriff, their bodies couldn’t grow properly, crowding and deforming their vital organs. Some health professionals believe that corsets caused cancer, anemia, birth defects, miscarriages, and damage to vital organs. I’m also sure they had some pretty gruesome skin conditions due to lack of air, abrasion, sweat, and heat. Oh-I forgot that these women were always fainting. It’s no wonder that we hear about these woman of this time fainting so often, not being able to do simple chores. They were so weak and hindered. Oh Scarlet!!!
When I think about this sort of fetish-men especially loved the small waists, I’m reminded of foot binding. Very similar-upper class fetish.
Below is a video about a woman with a 15 inch waist. Cathy Jung has THE SMALLEST WAIST IN THE WORLD!! She’s been wearing a corset, 24 hours a day, for over 20 years. At least she waited until after she had kids. Her husband loves her tiny waist and is an osteopath. There are other videos of her, showing before and after x-rays of her body. Yikes
Only the very upper class could achieve a true hour class figure. The rest of the folks had to toil away to survive. The more confining that the clothes were, the higher in class was the Lady, and certainly the less chores that she had to do.
Here is a video about the average Josie, and how she would lace up her own corset-no servants to help. The average woman who did wear a corset, wore them much looser.
That’s it for the corset. The next installment is about hoop skirts and bustles. Including how they attempted to sit down, not only on a chair, but to do their daily doody (sorry). Who needs a dog to destroy the house when you’re wearing a HUGE skirt! Ha!
Added feature!
Fun slide show of French postcards with women wearing corsets and being scandalous!!!
Well here I am again talking about food.
Mainly-our poisoned food. I have a passion about this subject, and I
think people need to become aware of what is happening. This is one
thing that we can change and have control over. WHAT WE EAT. This
country is in big trouble, and I think we all feel helpless to do
something to make it better. The POWERS that be are in charge, and they
are in charge of our food. Why? Take a guess…….profit? Money the root of
all evil.
In my other Green blogs about GMO products
and sewer sludge, there is a lot of information. Here’s MORE. I just
watched a video by Robyn O’Brien, 2011. She tells a story of her family,
and a horrible experience with one of her children and a food allergy.
She speaks about her journey of learning what is going on in the food
industry, and how it’s affecting Americans, herself, and her family.
Her big questions were– why were the incidences of food allergies,
cancers, and sickness when she was growing up-so low-compared to today?
Yes —why?
I’ll give some information from her video,
in case you don’t want to watch this highly informative video for 18
minutes. Well worth it!
Food allergies are much more prevalent
today than in the past. From 1997-2002 allergies to peanuts have
doubled. 1 out 17 babies under age 3 has a food allergy. The Center For Dis-ease Control said there has been a 265% increase in the rate of hospitalizations
that are related to food allergy reactions. They also say-”A food
allergy is an abnormal immune response to a certain food that the body
reacts to as harmful.” An estimated 4% to 6% of U.S. children of
children under age 18 have food allergies. Is there something foreign in
the food? Why is this?
Milk is the most common food allergy in
the U.S. The USDA says that in the 1990’s, new proteins were engineered
into our food supply, to maximize profits of the food industry. No human
trials were conducted to see if these genetically engineered proteins
were safe. The argument was “well they haven’t been proved dangerous.” I
guess there was no proof either way.
Well all this genetically modified
everything-like grain-fed to cows-cows get sick-ovarian cysts, lameness,
skin disorders-which called for…Ta Da
guess….antibiotics. The cows are sick from GMO’s and add to that antibiotics….hmmm….yummy to the tummy.
In Robin’s video, she mentions that in the
late 1990′s, corns DNA was genetically engineered to release it’s own
pesticide as it grows. The Environmental Protection Agency–GET
THIS!!!–listed corn as a pestiside. Yummy!! Just think of all the corn
products out there AND the corn fed to animals. I eat organic so I don’t
have to worry about this disgusting thing the powers that be have
inflicted upon us. We’re probably injured already at this point since
this has been going on for over 15 years. A poor baby in the womb hardly
stands a chance.
The rest of the world wasn’t as ignorant
and adoring of the government that supposedly protects us. Ha! Canada,
the UK, Japan, and New Zealand banned this frigging crap, which was
introduced into the US in 1994. These countries are also WAYYYYYY ahead
of us by implementing complementary alternative medicine, preventative
medicine, and the like.
The US relies on allopathic medicine to
cure a country with the HIGHEST cancer rate in ALL the world. US??????
Imagine-the greatest country in the world. The American Cancer Society
has said that someone that moves to the United States increases their
cancer risk 4 fold. My God!! They also say that 1 in 10 breast cancers
are genetic, and 9 in 10 are from the environment.
1 in 4 people don’t know what gmo’s are.
That’s why I keep writing about this. The statistics about getting
cancer for the Baby Boomers is astounding. The US spends more money on
healthcare than any other country in the world. I feel that is because
we are being poisoned for profit, and the populace is uneducated.
“Even though evidence of this apparent
fraud at the FDA was presented at a Washington, D.C. press conference in
1999 with major media in attendance, the media didn’t alert the
public. In fact, most Americans know so little about this subject, that
only about 1 in 4 consumers even know if they’ve ever eaten a GM food
in their lives, even though the vast majority of processed foods contain
derivatives from the four major GM crops: soy, corn, cottonseed and
canola.”
The Pros & Con of Genetically Modified Seeds
“Earlier this month,Monsanto,
the world’s largest seed company, admitted that its genetically
engineered “Bt” (bacillus thuringiensis) cotton seed wasn’t all that
farmers in India had hoped.”
Farmers sue Monsanto over GMO seeds-Quote From grist.org
“The case, Organic Seed Growers &
Trade Association, et al. v. Monsanto, was filed in federal district
court in Manhattan and assigned to Judge Naomi Buchwald. Plaintiffs in
the suit represent a broad array of family farmers, small businesses and
organizations from within the organic agriculture community who are
increasingly threatened by genetically modified seed contamination
despite using their best efforts to avoid it. The plaintiff
organizations have over 270,000 members, including thousands of
certified organic family farmers.
“This case asks whether Monsanto has the
right to sue organic farmers for patent infringement if Monsanto’s
transgenic seed should land on their property,” said Dan Ravicher,
PUBPAT’s Executive Director and Lecturer of Law at Benjamin N. Cardozo
School of Law in New York. “It seems quite perverse that an organic
farmer contaminated by transgenic seed could be accused of patent
infringement, but Monsanto has made such accusations before and is
notorious for having sued hundreds of farmers for patent infringement,
so we had to act to protect the interests of our clients.”
An article to read if you like. There is a lot of information out there.
Global Competition
The US has gotten itself in a bind. You all know that most of our
manufacturing has gone overseas. A sad situation. To add to that, we
can’t even compete in the food business. None of the countries that have
more education and money, are willing to compromise their health for US
food products. The third world countries can’t afford or don’t even
have access to US food products. I’ve heard there are a few US companies
producing food that is not contaminated (a sideline to their tainted
products that Americans eat and accept), and selling these products to
other countries.
All in all-WE have the power to change
what food we choose to eat and therefore maybe the process. I’m trying
to spread the word. Yes-GOOD food is more expensive at this moment in
time. A bit of prevention and we all will need less healthcare and the
expenses that go with it, and lead a happier life.
Sorry for doom and gloom. This is one subject that an individual has control over. Signing off. Eat right.
I live in the mountains high above Santa Barbara. Currently studying herbs, nutrition, flower essences and aromatherapy at the American College of Health Sciences.
