Wednesday, December 9, 2009

GEMSTONE



GEMSTONES - DIAMOND

Spiritual initiation and the higher self. Considered a master healer and the most neutral of all gemstones. It is powerful for removing blockages and negativities that can interfere with vibrational remedies. Primary focus is on the brain. Place the exilir or gemstone by the medulla oblongata in the temple or at the top of the head. Then meditate there should be an alteration in the muscular structure in the jaw and shoulder blades. Tensions in these regions such as TMJ problems and those in the atlas and the temples and cranial plates would be alleviated. There is a self adjusting balance bc circulation to these areas improves. Diamond has the capacity to draw toxicity out of the body.

DESTINATION



TSCHUGGEN GRAND HOTEL, AROSA

Top hotels are another world. Full of life, full of luxury, they make everything easy, and bring together a select range of unusual attractions...
This, in fact, is as good as it gets. The Tschuggen Grand Hotel in Arosa is an exclusive hotel in an exclusive location. Tasteful surroundings, top quality – our hotel has always based its philosophy on these features. The Tschuggen Grand Hotel is a member of "Swiss Deluxe Hotels" and “Leading Hotels of the World”, and is thus numbered among the world’s top 450 luxury hotels.

To stay here is to experience winter, summer and autumn at its most beautiful. If you are raring to get up and go, you could hardly be better placed, 1800 meters above sea level. Alpine and cross-country skiing, curling and figure skating are all on offer here, not forgetting long rambles on 40 kilometers of winter rambling routes. Pure Alpine air is an added tonic. There are horse races on the frozen lake, hot-air balloon trips, paragliding and deltagliding, romantic rides on horse-drawn sleighs, and exciting toboggan descents. Don’t forget the mountain huts: the ultimate snug with exceptional culinary delights.

These man-made northern lights are just as magnetic. Perched atop Tschuggen Grand Hotel's new Bergoase Spa, the nine sail-shaped, glass-and-metal dormers illuminate the 43,000-square-foot minimalist facility, which comprises 12 treatment rooms, four indoor and outdoor pools, four sun terraces, and two spa suites, each with its own whirlpool and steam bath.

Since opening in 1929, the Tschuggen Grand has been one of Switzerland's preeminent winter retreats, luring skiers, snowboarders, and even paragliders to Arosa's 37 miles of trails.

http://www.concierge.com

ART/DESIGN



JOHN BALDESSARI
EAR SOFA; NOSE SCONCES WITH FLOWERS (IN STAGE SETTING)
Tate Modern 13 October 2009 – 10 January 2010

Opening on the eve of his eagerly anticipated retrospective at Tate Modern, Ear Sofa; Nose Sconces with Flowers (In Stage Setting) is the first ever tableau vivant created by acclaimed American artist John Baldessari, a living installation which epitomises the wry wit, visual ingenuity and conceptual vigour which has defined the artist's practice for almost five decades.

The installation centres on an ear-shaped sofa, on which a model sits, posed and poised, flanked on either side by a pair of nose-shaped, wall-mounted sconces. The sofa is framed by a large decorative semi-circular arch, and the gallery's glass frontage is shrouded by a sheet of sheer stretched silk. The palette, proportions, and geometrical forms deployed in the construction of the tableau are redolent of an Art Deco aesthetic, which further contributes to a sense of grand theatricality. The allusion to (or illusion of) Hollywood's Art Deco glamour in the exhibition's design has been developed by Baldessari in collaboration with acclaimed American production designer Naomi Shohan, whose credits include her BAFTA-nominated work on American Beauty (1999), Training Day (2001), I Am Legend (2007) and The Sorcerer's Apprentice (2010).

The retrospective exhibition John Baldessari: Pure Beauty is concurrently on show at Tate Modern, and will then tour a number of museums internationally:

Tate Modern, London: 13 October 2009 10 January 2010
Museu d'Art Contemporani, Barcelona: 11 February 2010 25 April 2010
LACMA, Los Angeles: 27 June 2010 12 September 2010
Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC: 17 October 2010 9 January 2011


http://thepandorian.com
http://www.tate.org.uk



HEALTH




WHAT IS THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM?

A healthy life depends on the circulation of the lymphatic system. It is our second circulatory system, FOUR TIMES LARGER THAN OUR BLOOD SYSTEM and the unsung hero of the immune system. Lymphatic fluid is located in vessels that run parallel to our blood vessels, moving in an upward fashion, responsible for ridding the body of all debris including fats, toxins, infection, bacteria and viruses. Ultimately, the lymphatic system represents the flow of life. A healthy, flowing system bolsters the body's immune system, fights disease, and strengthens energy for daily life.

Unlike the blood vessels, which carry nutrients and oxygen to our cells through discrete vessels and remove waste products from the cells, the lymph system carries waste and toxic fluids AWAY from our cells, enhancing total health. However, this system has a serious built in limitation because it does not have a pump to keep things moving. It must rely solely on good health habits of the person to function properly. When there are health challenges including mental and physical stress, poor nutrition and lack of consistent exercise, the lymph system can get overloaded and become quite sluggish, thereby making our bodies and us tired and toxic. Toxins, which are not properly processed through the system, will then, back up and store in lymph nodes throughout the body, negatively affecting our appearance, energy level and overall health. Correct maintenance, and care of the lymphatic system is a major challenge in today's hectic lifestyle.

When your lymphatic system is blocked or clogged, this creates a condition of stagnation, which promotes fatigue and ill health. Some of the most common symptoms include lumps, bumps, pain and swelling. Some causes of a blocked lymphatic system are due in part to stress, lack of exercise, improper diet, repressed communication and basically everything we do or don't do and every thought we have ever had.
Read more...

WHY DETOX YOUR LYPMH SYSTEM?

When the lymphatic system is flowing freely everything is fine. When it backs up, however, there’s trouble. The consequences can be serious, even life-threatening. Not only are the building, repair and waste disposal systems affected by a disruption, the body’s defenses against foreign substances are also impaired. In addition to filtering out toxic materials, the lymph nodes also produce substances which fight off invading viruses and bacteria and destroy abnormal cells that developed within the body, such as cancer cells. In addition to being part of the body’s plumbing and repair system, the lymphatics are an essential part of our immune system.

DOES YOUR LYPMHATIC SYSTEM WORK?

Lymph fluid plus the cellular fluids it is in contact with constitute 80% of body fluid. Blood supplies the remaining 20%. All nutrients and oxygen traveling to, and all carbon dioxide and other metabolic by-product wastes traveling from each of your billions of cells are carried by lymph fluid. Lymph fluid can either be reabsorbed into the blood, or be filtered by one or more lymph nodes before entering the bloodstream.
When not working efficiently, the lymphatic system reduces the ability for the brain and other organs to do their work. Toxins normally filtered out and destroyed by the lymph system are offloaded onto other organs ... overloading them. Even as happens in the intestine and colon with poor health and nutrition habits --- stagnant lymph fluid may contain old deposits of dead bacteria, metabolic toxins, and dead cells.

Factors influencing the lymphatic system negatively are:

overwork: lack of rest periods;
sedentariness: lack of healthy exercise;
processed foods: lack of fresh foods;
authority-based toxic shame;
chronic depression: bureaucracy;
toxic chemical-based pollutants;
energy block attitudes and behaviors;
materialism restricting spirituality.

When the lymph system becomes blocked or sluggish, an oxygen-starved, toxic environment is created which will influence all the cells of the body. A stagnant toxic lymph flow can produce thickened, turbid dirty lymph. It encourages degeneration of both cells and organs and contributes to tumor and cancer formation. Symptoms of congestion can include any one or any combination of the following. All of these conditions have shown consistent improvement following lymph drainage massage or other lymph clearing processes:

back pain; breast congestion; chronic bowel problems: constipation; yeast infections; chronic fatigue syndrome; fibromyalgia; skin disorders; cellulite fat accumulations; rheumatoid arthritis;
hormonal and emotional imbalances; recurrent headaches; chronic depression; muscle and tissue tension; chronic sinusitis, allergies; gum disease and bad breath; hearing, balance or sight problems; recurrent tonsillitis, colds; prostatitis; overweight; lupus; hemorrhoids; slow healing of burns, cuts, ....

A healthy lymph system produces lymphocytes which target and destroy unrecognized cells which are assumed to be, and usually are, destructive diseases presenting germs.

REJUVANATING YOUR LYPHATIC SYSTEM

• Clean up your diet. Reduce your body’s toxic burden by avoiding processed food, eating organic when possible, and eliminating simple sugars and carbohydrates. Get tested for heavy metal exposure (lead and mercury are very common in the US). The idea here is that the less waste your lymph has to deal with, the more easily it will flow.
• A regular nutritional detox and colon cleanse, supported by liver enzymes, will ease your liver and kidney burden, which in turn will decrease pressure on your spleen. Even a two–week Quick-Cleanse can do wonders.
Read more...

http://shanti.com.au

NUTRITION



CAULIFLOWER

The milk, sweet, almost nutty flavor of cauliflower is at its best from December through March when it is in season and most plentiful in your local markets.

Cauliflower is a vegetable belonging to the Brassica oleracea species, which also includes cabbage, Brussels sprouts, kale, broccoli and collard greens. The vegetable originated in the Northeast Mediterranean and is presently cultivated in most of the countries of the world. It has a white head and stalk and is surrounded by thick, green leaves. However, the stalk and the leaves are discarded and only the head (white curd) is eaten. Cauliflower can be had in the raw, cooked or pickled form, though it the raw form that holds the highest nutritional value. Given below is complete information on the health and nutrition benefits of eating cauliflower.

Health & Nutrition Benefits of Eating Cauliflower

• The allicin in cauliflower is known to promote a healthy heart and reduce the risk of strokes
• Cauliflower contains selenium and vitamin C, both of which work together to strengthen the immune system.
• Cauliflower has been associated with the maintenance of a healthy cholesterol level.
• Being rich in folate, cauliflower is known to help improve cell growth and replication.
• The high amount of fiber in cauliflower improves colon health and can even help prevent cancer.
• Recently, it was found that cauliflower contains ‘indole-3-carbinol’, a substance that can prevent breast and other female cancers.
• The glucosinolates and thiocyanates, present in cauliflower, increase the ability of liver to neutralize potentially toxic substances.
• Cauliflower acts as a blood and liver detoxifier.
• Sulforaphane, a substance in cauliflower, can remove cancer causing chemicals and also stop the spread of cancer cells, even in the later stages of their growth.
• Maintaining optimum health
• Researches have suggested that cauliflower contains certain phyto-chemicals that might help reduce the risk of some hereditary cancers.
• Weight loss


Roasted Cauliflower Soup (vegan)

I used a blender to get this silky smooth, but a food processor or hand blender might also work. Be careful not to burn yourself opening and pouring from the blender because the mixture can be super-heated.

1 cauliflower (I used an orange one)
1 onion, cut into wedges
2 cloves garlic, peeled
4 cups fat-free vegetable broth
1 large potato, peeled and cubed
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
salt and pepper, to taste
4 drops truffle oil (optional, but good)
Smoked Spanish paprika, to garnish

Preheat oven to 400. Cut the cauliflower into florets and place them into a large baking dish sprayed with oil. Lightly spray the top of the cauliflower with oil. Bake for 20 minutes. Sprinkle the onion wedges and garlic on top of the cauliflower, spray lightly with olive oil, and return to the oven. Cook for 20-25 more minutes, stirring once halfway through.

While the vegetables are roasting, heat the vegetable broth and add the chopped potato. Bring to a boil and reduce the heat. Cook covered on very low until cauliflower is ready.

Add the cauliflower mixture to the broth. Puree it, in batches, in the blender until very smooth. Return it to the pot and add the nutmeg and salt and pepper to taste. Simmer for 10 minutes. Just before serving, stir in a few drops of truffle oil, if desired. Ladle into bowls and serve, sprinkled with smoked Spanish paprika.

Makes 4 large servings. Per serving: 45 Calories (kcal); trace Total Fat; (5% calories from fat); 2g Protein; 10g Carbohydrate; 0mg Cholesterol; 11mg Sodium; 2g Fiber. Weight Watchers Core / 1 Flex Point

http://lifestyle.iloveindia.com

GIFT



FRAGRANT ROSEMARY HOLIDAY TREE

Enjoy the fragrance and flavor of this culinary favorite throughout the year with our rosemary tree. This 2-year-old rosemary plant is happy on a sunny windowsill. Come springtime, transfer to the garden or outdoor container. Rosemary is hardy outdoors to Zone 6 and can be over-wintered indoors in colder climates. 15" to 18" high including basket.

http://gardeners.com

TREAT



HOLIDAY DELIGHT
Ina's Gartens Lemon Capellini with Caviar
(serve with champage)

Ina Garten, owner of the gourmet food store Barefoot Contessa in East Hampton, New York, likes to serve this special appetizer or dinner for a celebration or New Year's Eve. Use the highest-quality fresh malossol caviar you can afford. Osetra is usually the best for the money. We suggest serving with champagne.

Ingredients
Serves 6
• Olive oil
• 1 pound dried capellini
• 1/2 pound unsalted butter, melted
• Zest and juice of 2 lemons, plus additional zest for garnish
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper
• 150 grams very good black caviar

Directions

1. Drizzle some olive oil in a large pot of boiling salted water; add capellini, and cook until al dente. Drain quickly, leaving a little of the water. Quickly toss capellini with melted butter, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
2. Place one serving of pasta on each plate, and top with a large dollop of fresh caviar. Garnish with extra grated lemon zest. Serve immediately.

Friday, November 6, 2009

GEMSTONE



GEMSTONE - Citrine – Success stone


The citrine is a member of the quartz family its name is derived from the colour – yellow citrine. Citrines have mellow, warm tone which to captures the last glow of autumn, perfect for the November stone.

Associated with the third chakra, the Citrine promotes appropriate use of personal power and abundance. Its helps one to accomplish tasks, develop self worth and master ego. Additionally it helps develop courage and self discipline and dispels negative energy.

Physically, the stone balances digestion, food disorders, allergies, diabetes and helps to Cleanse spleen, liver, kidneys constipation, poor circulation, anemia. Good for asthma, and emotional trauma.

• Business. Citrine is the best stone to use when trying to "Take care of Business" whether it be accomplish business matters, education, or settle family matters. This includes legal issues and lawsuits when materials or money is involved.
• Light: Citrine is sun energy - Used during the Middle Ages to treat people whose energy and moods become depressed during the long winter months, or during a long spell of rainy, overcast weather.
• Materialism: Although this stone is particularly good for material wealth, prosperity and career success.
• Entrepreneurs: Especially good for people starting a new business!! Supports your material and business success in addition to supporting your business plans and successful associations with vendors, partners, and suppliers.
• Relationships: Excellent stone for smoothing family or group problems, cutting to the quick of the situation and speeding up the process.
• Communication: Often carried in the pocket of public speakers, to give courage and strengthen communication skills.

The citrine stone is contained in the pearl enzyme exfoliating mask.


http://sobrietystones.com/
http://www.gemstone.org/gem-by-gem/english/citrine.html


DESTINATION



DESTINATION – BUTHAN AMANKORA RESORT

The resort

The richness of life is found in the still simplicity surrounding the remarkably unscathed geophysical and biological existence in Bhutan today. Due to a sincere Buddhist belief, adhered to since the 7th century, the co-existence of nature and nurture has resulted in a unique eco-system and a thriving mosaic of different peoples all linked by a common belief system that regards all life forms as sacred. This prevailing ethos washes the staggeringly beautiful undulating valleys, plains, deep gorges, and mountainous landscape with a force of supreme greatness; that of genuine harmony and environmental compatibility.

Amankora has created a series of lodges, all creatively unique and sympathetically balanced to their environment, in order to discover and comprehend the extraordinary wonders above and beneath this treasured land. The lodges are created to provide a circular pilgrimage in Bhutan’s breathtakingly spectacular central and western valleys.

Most journeys start at Amankora Paro or Amankora Thimphu. The lodge in Paro is nestled among glistening conifers in a 24-suite pine forest retreat. Amankora Thimphu, raised up in a blue-pine forest of the Motithang area, sits close to the capital’s intriguing sights and traditional shops.

Amankora Gangtey, set in the remote wilderness of the Phobjikha valley, proffers magical views across the bird-strewn gorge and to the empowering Gangtey Goemba, a 16th century monastery.

Amankora Bumthang rests adjacent to First and Second King’s palace, Wangdichholing, within the town of Jakar in the Choekhor valley, a valley sprinkled with an exotic mix of sloping pine forests, apple orchards, and restful fields of farm produce.


http://amanresorts.com/amankora/resort.aspx

INSIGHT



INSIGHT – SEA OF CHANGE

A tribute to our watery planet -- and real-life adventure story by Sylvia Earle, a World Wildlife Fund national council member and diving pioneer. In this book she introduces us to marine biology and recounts her many exploits underwater. Former chief scientist of NOAA (the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration), Earle has become our ambassador-at-large for the world's oceans. Using many examples of contemporary threats to the health of the world's oceans in this lively book, she takes us to the over- fished markets of Tokyo, sight of the Valdez disaster in Prince William Sound, and Persian Gulf oil spills.

Sea change is at once the gripping adventure story of Earle’s three decades of undersea exploration, an insider’s introduction to the dynamic field of marine biology, and an urgent plea for the preservation of the world’s fragile and rapidly deteriorating ocean ecosystems.

Earle takes us along on journeys to places of unimaginable beauty and unutterable destruction. She conjures up the exhilaration of swimming with humpback whales off the coast of Maui; she makes us comprehend the true environmental tragedy of the massive oil spills; and she leads us out into Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, the epitome of ocean wilderness but also the final resting place for tons of waste that drift in from thousand of miles away. This brilliant, thought-provoking, superbly readable book will inspire a new reverence for the majesty of the world’s oceans even as it opens our eyes to the intricate interdependence of all life forms. The book concludes with a detailed, constructive plan of what we must do to preserve our ocean resources.


http://longitudebooks.com/find/p/699/mcms.html

ART/DESIGN



ART – THE PHILLIPS COLLECTION
MAN RAY, AFRICAN ART AND THE MODERNIST LENS
OCTOBER 10, 2009 – JANUARY 10, 2010

While the influence of African art on modern painting and sculpture has been explored, Man Ray, African Art and the Modernist Lens examines a parallel history, the role of photography in shaping international understanding of African objects as art, in the 1920s and 1930s. The exhibition reveals photography’s complex engagement with African art by exploring African art in the context of American modernism and the Harlem Renaissance, surrealism, and the worlds of high fashion and popular culture, at the same time as it investigates issues of race, gender, and colonialism during the modernist era.

Man Ray (Emmanuel Radnitsky, 1890–1976) was an artist in many mediums, but he is best known as an avant-garde photographer. His Noire et blanche (1926), showing a white model with a black mask, is an icon of modern photography. Born in Philadelphia, Man Ray lived in ultramodern circles in Paris, from 1921 until the German occupation of the city in 1939. There he produced experimental photographs, fashion photographs, and celebrity portraits. He also produced a large body of photographs featuring African artifacts. In the wake of French colonial exploits, objects of a kind that he had previously encountered in museum or gallery settings in New York were widely accessible to him in Paris, appearing in flea markets, curio shops, as well as in private collections.

The photographs in Man Ray, African Art and the Modernist Lens include well-known photographs by Man Ray, as well as recently discovered documentary images by him, and the work of other photographers. Over 100 photographs, more than half of them by Man Ray, the rest by his contemporaries, including James L. Allen, Cecil Beaton, Walker Evans, and Alfred Stieglitz, are presented alongside many of the objects they depict. Among these are over 20 masks, carved figures, and utilitarian objects, the majority from diverse West African cultures.

The photographs themselves give no indication of the purposes the objects served in their original contexts, and by presenting images and objects together Man Ray, African Art and the Modernist Lens offers a rare opportunity to understand exactly how lighting, camera angle, and cropping manipulated the objects to serve Western ideas of beauty and art. The exhibition also documents the histories of the objects and explains their uses.

The Phillips Collection
1600 21st St., NW, Washington, DC 20009
Near 21st and Q Streets, NW

http://phillipscollection.org/exhibitions/current/index.aspx

ARCHITECTURE



ARCHITECTURE - PORTLAND

Eco Factor: 1949 sleeper car converted into lux home.
Have you ever wondered about what exactly happens to all those rail cars after they’re no longer in use? While most of them go for a complex recycling process, there are a few which have a different fate altogether. The Train Car Home in Portland is a stunning example where an old 1949 sleeper car is converted into a luxurious and green home with all the modern amenities.


The designers removed all sleepers and chairs from the rail car and replaced them with a fully electric kitchen, DSL, incinerator toilet and luxurious bedding. Impressively, the interior is built from the finest materials available on the markets. The railcar home is 85 feet long, 9.5 feet wide and has a 10-foot domed ceiling. The home is listed for sale at Laurie Holland, bearing a price tag of $225,000.

TREAT



TREAT – THE BUDDHA COOKIE CUTTER

A fun alternative to traditional holiday cookies!

Cinnamon Buddha Cookies
adapted from Dorie Greenspan’s book “Baking: From My Home to Yours” (Sweet Tart Dough recipe)

Ingredients
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
• 1 stick plus 1 tbsp (9 tbsp) unsalted butter, chilled and cubed
• 1 large egg yolk
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon

Method
1. Preheat the oven to 375 F (190C) degrees.
2. Pulse flour, sugar and ground cinnamon in a food processor. Add butter and pulse until it resembles a coarse meal. Stir in the yolk and pulse again until the dough forms clumps and curds. Turn the dough out onto a work surface and very lightly and sparingly, knead just to incorporate dry ingredients. Chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours (preferably overnight). If you have a cookie mold like I do, just press small pieces of the dough inside the mold and pound it on the counter to let the cookie come out. If not, then you can roll the dough to any thickness you like and cut out cookies of various shapes.
3. Lay a sheet of parchment paper on a cookie sheet. Place the cookies on top and bake for 20 minutes covered with another layer of parchment paper, remove the paper and bake for another 5 minutes. Let cool.

You can buy it here
http://cafefernando.com/cinnamon-buddha-cookies/

RESTAURANT



RESTAURANT – FLOUR + WATER

Flour + Water is a San Francisco Italian restaurant that focuses on seasonal ingredients sourced from the unparalleled and ever abundant California artisans and growers.
Their menu changes daily and is intentionally small and focused. The cuisine of flour + water has literally been done for hundreds of years in Italy—they are not re-inventing it rather trying to pay tribute to what we believe is the world’s purest style of cooking.

Opened last May in a restored Victorian building on a quiet corner a few blocks from the center of the Mission District, flour + water is the latest in a steady stream of high-caliber Italian restaurants to enter the neighborhood. The owners, David White and David Steele, are longtime Mission residents, with roots in the food trade.

“We make the kind of food that chefs like to eat,” Mr. McNaughton said of the restaurant’s cooking style. Given the restaurant’s name, it should come as no surprise that pizza and pastas are focuses. The kitchen has a wood-fired oven, and Jon Darsky, the pizzaiolo, is a skilled operator; even before you take a bite, the aromas that waft through the restaurant make that abundantly clear. A tangy margherita with fior di latte, a fresh-milk cheese, is delicate yet substantial.

The pastas, all housemade, included a maltagliati with a dark and earthy braised giblet ragù ; and a roasted corn and crescenza cappelletti with bitter honey, which gave the dish a pleasantly sharp finish.

For dessert, the restaurant offers an understated chocolate budino with sea salt flakes and espresso-caramel cream ; and a honey-pistachio semifreddo, topped with a little mound of green frost — a granita of herbs and simple syrup.

Flour + Water, 2401 Harrison Street; (415) 826-7000; www.flourandwater.com. Open daily, 5:30 p.m. to midnight.


http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/09/27/travel/27bites.html?ref=travel

NUTRITION




NUTRITION - JUICING


Benefits of Green Juice:
Leading medical authorities, nutritionists, dietitians, and other known experts in the medical field recommend that we consume three to five servings of green leafy vegetables a day. No vitamin or medicine is a legitimate substitute. The healing elements that are found in green leafy vegetables are so powerful and synergistic, no combination of synthetic medicines or supplements could ever match their power.

Five main benefits of green foods are:

Chlorophyl power
• Chlorophyll is quite possibly the most powerful element that exists in the universe. Chlorophyll is one of the most intensely researched elements and has been used in the treatment of everything from periodontal disease, diabetes and low iron, to open wounds, ulcers and body odor.

• Its chemical makeup strongly resembles hemoglobin (the portion of the blood that carries oxygen). The center element of chlorophyll is magnesium.
• Some research is now suggesting that chlorophyll can efficiently release magnesium, and replace it with iron. In other words, chlorophyll can actually be converted to hemoglobin, which increases the flow of oxygen to all parts of the body.
• Oxygen reduces stress on the body, creates greater energy and endurance, and creates an aerobic environment. In an aerobic environment, disease cannot get started.
• An aerobic environment also is beneficial to the so-called friendly bacteria which promotes digestive health and detrimental to bad bacteria which contributes too disease, body odor, and bad breath.

Trace Minerals
• The recommended source of virtually all minerals and trace minerals is green leafy vegetables. It is not an accident that while we have begun consuming fewer and fewer green foods, the lack of trace minerals quite possibly has become the number one cause of disease within Western culture today.
•Chlorophyll is the only food that creates an environment that is ideally suited to deliver and to maintain those proper mineral qualities.
• Chlorophyll contains magnesium which is immediately delivered to the muscle tissue. This mineral is absolutely essential for both cardiac and respiratory wellness. Night leg cramps bother you? Take more magnesium.
• While many women need to increase the iron in their diets, but conventional supplements usually result only in constipation and headaches. This is because the body does not know what to do with the iron it is receiving. When you ingest minerals through plants, you can never suffer from toxicity.
• There are many other benefits to the trace minerals. Potassium is important for digestive health, chromium helps blood sugar control, and selenium aids the metabolism. Calcium reverses osteoporosis, and helps build stronger bones and beautiful hair. While calcium is probably the most popular mineral consumed through supplements, the bioavailability of such products is a fraction of what you can receive by consuming green leafy vegetables.

Vegetable Protein
• Lightweight complete vegetable protein contain all eight essential amino acids, which are building blocks for the immune system, enhance reproductive function, and creates lean connective tissue which leads to dense, heavy permanent muscle on the body.
• Without proper body volume and the quality of peptides, we will begin to break down our own bodies. In other words, the body feeds on itself.
• All of the phytochemicals found in green food are interrelated. You cannot isolate them. You cannot mix liquid chlorophyll, digestive enzymes, antioxidant enzymes, mineral supplements, an alkalizing agent, and lightweight protein supplement and expect to come up with an effective food.

Enzymes
• Green foods contain phytonutrients that are capable of initiating chemical reactions. cleansing, detoxifying while enhancing the immune system.
• Plant sources contain both antioxidant and digestive enzymes identical to those manufactured by the body. This becomes vitally important when we realize that our bodies have a limited ability to manufacture enzymes, and when we run out, death will result.
• To make it simple, cooking and processing food eliminates enzymes, while raw, unprocessed foods contain them in great supply.

Alkalizing Agent
• Acid and alkalinity is measured on a pH scale of 0 to 14 with 7 being neutral. Scores above 7 are alkaline, and scores below 7 are acidic.
• Certain ecology of the body must be alkaline in order for humans to be healthy. The most notable example is the human blood which must a pH of 7.4. It will begin to steal potential the mouth, small intestine and the urinary tract.
• The first ecology that it will rob is the mouth. There are a number of common problems: including cavities, plaque, bleeding gums, periodontal disease, and bad breath. Green foods can reverse this dangerous process.
• The small intestine needs to be alkaline in order to regulate the passage of glucose through the intestine. The benefits of regulated blood sugar are many, including potential weight loss, increased energy, and higher metabolism. Both hypoglcemics and diabetics find that they benefit significantly by taking green juice, which alkalizes the small intesine, which in turn, regulates the passage of glucose through the intestinal barrier. This results in energy, stamina, and endurance.


http://allonhealth.com/barleylife/more-than-multivitamins.htm

Friday, October 2, 2009

NEW



NEW - själ KASHMIR PERFECTION

A perfectly balanced facial designed to restore fatigued and exhausted skin, mind and body. pearl enzymatic mask for polishing and brightening followed by kashmir perfecting mask for restoration.

Specially chosen gem stones for massage, clarity and chakra balance. Includes lymphatic drainage using precious oil infused with blue kashmir sapphires. Finished with O2 blast leaving skin hydrated, toned and glowing.


Read more here:
http://sjalskincare.com

EVENTS - BREAST CANCER AWARNESS MONTH



EVENTS - CANCER VIXEN

Read more:
http://cancervixenfund.org

HEALTH



HEALTH - LIN SISTERS

Lin sister herb Shop was opened with the goal to help those seeking eastern medical practices for alternative healing and prevention. They have a wide selection of patent formulas, as well as the filling of custom herbal prescriptions.

Lin, along with his sisters Susan and Jane, started working in the herbal field in 1983, shortly after immigrating to New York from their native China.

"We had the idea for this business when we came here," says Lin. "If we went to see a doctor, we found that the medicine was not part of our culture, what we believe in."

Today, the Lins operate treatment centers in New York’s China town on Elizabeth Street and the Bowery, where customers walk past a small library featuring books on Chinese diet therapy and massage and a wall of wood drawers, from which staffers dispense their organic remedies. Upstairs, on the white-tiled second floor, a receptionist helps clients schedule appointments with licensed acupuncturists.

The treatment center also offers chinese medical diagnoses, reflexology, moxibustion and meridian work at reasonable prices.

Lin Sister is located at 4 Bowery, New York City, N.Y. 10013
Tel: 212-962-5417

http://linsister.com

ART/DESIGN



ART/DESIGN - BIRD'S NEST

Ai Weiwei was born in Beijing in 1957 as the son of Ai Qing, one of modern China’s most renowned poets. He entered the Beijing Film Academy in 1978. In 1979 and in 1981 he took part in exhibitions held by the avant-garde group "Xingxing (The Stars)." Soon afterwards Ai moved to the U.S.A., returning to China in 1993. Since his return Ai has worked in publishing and also been active in his support of young Chinese artists through his China Art Archive & Warehouse (CAAW). In 2000 he was one of the curators of the influential exhibition "Fuck Off." Since designing his own residence and studio in 1999, Ai has been involved in over 70 architectural and urban planning projects. His recent exhibitions include the Venice Biennale 2008, 2008 Liverpool Biennial, Documenta 12 (Kassel, 2007), and "Mahjong: Contemporary Chinese Art from the Sigg Collection" (touring since 2006).

Ai Weiwei is one of contemporary China's most exciting creators, with a range of activities including everything from art and architecture to design, publishing, and curating. In the last few years, Ai's international reputation has grown dramatically through a series of highly acclaimed projects, including his contribution to Documenta 12 in 2007, and a collaboration with architects Herzog & de Meuron on the "Bird's Nest" Olympic Stadium for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

http://www.mori.art.museum

GEMSTONE



GEMSTONE - PEARL THE MARINE GEMSTONE

Largely calcium carbonate, pearl is produced within the tissue of shelled mollusks.

The pearl represents faith, charity, truth and spiritual knowledge. It is a unique stone as it comes from the animal kingdom yet is reflective of the mineral world. Pearl’s water origin gives it a natural resonance with tidal and lunar forces and is thus considered to be good for emotional states. Pearl powder contains properties for brightening and helps to inhibit the tyrosinase (or spotting) process. Pearl also contains high levels of glutathione which is a natural anti-oxidant or detoxifier.

Micro-Pearl is contained in sjal’s enzyme exfoliating mask, orbe eye crème, balans cleanser, cela and kura intuitif. Pearl granules are contained in the exfoliating pearl mask for physcial polishing and exfoliation.

DESTINATION



DESTINATION - VIEQUES

VIEQUES is less than 10 miles off the east coast of Puerto Rico and is an easy flight from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Pristine, secluded white-sand beaches and proclaiming the island to be the season's "undiscovered jewel." Vieques derives its name from the Taíno Indian word 'bieke' - for small island.

The timing of the attention is no real surprise. Vieques officially entered the tourist spotlight on May 1, 2003, when the Navy, the island's largest landowner, withdrew from its holdings and turned over control to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. This sudden power shift transformed nearly 80 percent of Vieques from a limited-access military enclave to the Caribbean's largest wildlife refuge.

"It used to be that if tourists found Vieques, they were actively pursuing it," says Sharon Grasso, a biologist and owner of Island Adventures, a local tour company. "With the departure of the Navy, we're an everyday word. It's pretty hard to keep it secret now."

Unlike its nearest Caribbean neighbors - the main island of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands of St. John and St. Croix - Vieques isn't packed with the high-rise hotels, chain restaurants or duty-free malls that often accompany large-scale tourist development. Instead, the local economy is dominated by small, locally owned businesses, including a handful of small hotels, a few guest houses and scattered restaurants, jeep rental companies and tour operations that serve the island's trickle of tourist traffic.

Under the watchful eye of the Fish and Wildlife Service, the beaches officially close at sunset, leaving the evenings free for beachcombers to explore the more civilized areas of Vieques.

http://vieques-island.com

MUSIC



MUSIC - DEVA PREMAL

Deva Premal is a musician known for her meditative spiritual music, which puts ancient Hindu mantras into atmospheric, contemporary setting. Known for her top-selling chant CDs, Deva Premal is a classically trained musician and gifted singer. She grew up singing mantras in a German home permeated with Eastern spirituality. Her albums have been popular in yoga studios and healing centers throughout the world.

Born in Germany in 1970 of a mystic/artist father and a musically talented mother, she was taught violin, piano and received voice training. By the time she was five years old, she was already chanting the Gayatri Mantra daily, and since that time she continues to integrate meditation into her life.

She has studied Shiatsu, Reflexology, CranioSacral Therapy and Massage, but music remains her first love. The influence of Indian classical music is evident in her singing, although she has never attempted to copy or steal from the tradition. "It just comes naturally," she says, "as if I'd heard it all before, in another life."

http://devapremalmiten.com

INSIGHT



INSIGHT - VORTEX

A vortex is a power spot were a great concentration of energy emits from the earth. These can be positive ( expands energy) or negative (dissipates energy) . The red rocks of Sedona, Arizona are considered a major area because four powerful positive vortexes are within a few square miles of each other.

Native American Indians tell us that the towering red rocks stimulate sensitivity and that here a person realizes his true dreams and ambitions. People are drawn to this area and have written thousands of pages documented life changing moments, developed psychic ability and had actual physical healing. I too have had a physical healing experience in the red rocks. While hiking, I asked for a sign to show me that this place was indeed all it claimed to be and that my spiritual evolution was on the right path.

Two days later, several painful cysts I had noticed on two fingers had completely dissipated and
have never returned. Sedona is a place of exceptional energy which can elevate consciousness.

If interested, read Dick Sutphen Presents Sedona: Psychic Energy Vortexes.

My best to you, Karen.

BEVERAGE



BEVERAGE - KOMBUCHA TEA

The secret of Carpe Diem Kombucha is in the fermentation of a select mixture of herbal tea with Kombucha cultures, lactobacilli and sugar.

During the fermentation process, most of the sugar is converted and valuable organic acids and carbohydrate splitting enzymes are formed which give the drink its particularly pleasant and unique character. Kombucha contains natural antioxidants and Kombucha has a harmonizing effect on the metabolism.

A legend tells of a monk named Kombu who once cured the Japanese Emperor Inkyo of his stomach troubles with his “cha” (= tea). Thus this mystical drink, which was already known in the days of the Tsin Dynasty in 221 B.C., found its way into the Zen philosophy of life. The symbol of the Zen masters, the archer, expresses purity and harmony of the body and soul. And the Zen masters have always attributed precisely this duality to Kombucha.

Since ancient times, Kombucha has been considered a beauty elixir in Asia. It seems to contain the secret to porcelain smooth skin and strong healthy hair. During Europe’s eventful history however, Kombucha faded from the memories of those in our part of the world. After being rediscovered, this tea beverage wrapped in myth conquered the “New World”. Today, renowned magazines are reporting more and more on this amazing Asian tea beverage from such glamorous locations as Hollywood. There, Kombucha has long since been an insider’s tip for natural radiance and well-being.

http://carpediem.com

PRECIOUS MINERALS



PRECIOUS MINERALS - GERMANIUM THE HOLY GRAIL OF MINERALS

Located on the periodic chart as symbol Ge and atomic number 32. Germanium is an important semi conductor and is considered one of the purest metals ever obtained .

Germanium acts as an oxygen catalyst for cells and helps to increase the level of organ activity. Germanium helps to fight disease by raising oxygen levels, expels harmful pollutants and pathogens and detoxifies metals in skin and body. Germanium is also known to strengthen the immune system.

Thought to protect against cancer and tumor growth, researchers suggest gemanium, may be used to treat cancer of the lungs, bladder, larynx and breast. Traditional herbs and medicinal plants contain large levels of germanium (ginseng, garlic, aloe vera).

Holy water in Lourdes, France known for its healing properties contains large amounts of Germanium.

sjal use germanium in orbe eye cream, serum1 & balans cleanser.

http://cancer.org

Monday, July 13, 2009

EVENTS



EVENT - FACIAL LAUNCH AT MONDRIAN HOTELS NYC

On Tuesday, June 23 or Wednesday, June 24 at Mondrian Hotels sjal has launched its first facial treatment from the luxurious holistic line and it utilizes two new masks and a custom-blended facial oil, the själ blue kashmir-saphir facial.

The själ pearl enzyme exfoliating mask for polishing, clarity and renewal, the själ kashmir saphir perfecting mask for revitalization and restoration, and the nutrient-rich själ saphir facial oil charged with blue sapphires from kashmir, india.

http://sjalskincare.com

EVENTS



INTERNATIONAL EVENTS – Korean Celebrities meet sjal skincare 2009

PRECIOUS MINERALS



PRECIOUS MINERALS - SILVER

Silver and silver compounds have many uses. When used in skincare, silver colloidal is a natural antibiotic or anti-microbial. It eats the bad bacteria while leaving the good bacteria. Colloid inhibits and kills growth of viruses, fungus and bacteria. Silver promotes healing, there are no harmful side effects as there can be with other antibiotics.

Since Nano-Silver acts only as a catalyst, meaning, it influences a change in the rate, or occurrence of a reaction of one-celled organisms, but does not enter into any chemical reaction with the body tissues. The presence of Colloid Silver near any virus, fungus or bacteria will immediately cripple their oxygen-metabolizing enzyme which dies usually within six minutes. The dead organism is subsequently cleared out of the body by the immune and lymphatic system.

During the summer in polluted cities, we need as much help as we can get!!!

http://periodic-table.org.uk/element-silver.htm

GEMSTONES



GEMSTONE - SMITHSONITE

Smithsonite Crystal Meaning
Named after James Smithson (1754-1829), British chemist and mineralogist, founder of the Smithsonian Institution Washington. This stone is used for calming, opening of the heart and to new beginnings. Smithsonite is thought to provide a firm and comfortable removable from unpleasant situations. Aids in recovery of trauma and allows one to move on from the past with optimism and enthusiasm. When placed at the crown chakra it aligns all of the chakras and changes the persons’ vibration to a suitable frequency reaching the highest levels within. It is known to stimulate the path towards enlightenment. In addition, it helps to remove negative energy as it opens the etheric body and clears the astral body allowing the psychic connection to become clearer and lighter. A very usable crystal for both healing practice, psychic and spiritual development.

Smithsonite Healing Use
Immune System, Skin Eruptions, alcoholism, osteoporosis, sinus disorders.

Smithsonite colors: White, Grey, Yellow, Pink, Purple

sjal’s new pearl enzymatic exfoliating mask contains Smithsonite.

NUTRITION



NUTRITION - QUINOA

Pronounced (it's "KEEN-wah"), this nutritionally exceptional grain has grown in popularity during the past decade as more people have become familiar with the taste of this diminutive grain.

Cultivated in South America for thousands of years, quinoa was a cornerstone of the Inca diet. It's a comparatively recent addition to U.S. supermarkets and health-food stores, but its popularity has been growing steadily. This is no doubt due to its exceptional nutritional profile, which boasts a protein content as rich as milk and an alphabetic list of vitamins and minerals (including B vitamins, and vitamin E, calcium, iron, phosphorus, and potassium). Its gentle nutty flavor and speedy preparation time (it cooks more quickly than rice and is just as easy to make) only heighten its appeal.

What was a sacred crop to the Incas has been classified as a "super crop" by the United Nations because of its high protein content. It is a complete protein, which means it has all nine essential amino acids. It also contains the amino acid lysine, which is essential for tissue growth and repair, and is a good source of manganese, magnesium, iron, copper and phosphorous.

Both the grain -- which is actually the fruit of the Chenopodium quinoa plant -- and the spinachlike leaves are edible, but the leaves are a rare find. If you spot some at a farmers' market, use them in a salad. The grain is most commonly available in red or white -- each of which grows on a different variety of the plant -- and should be stored in the refrigerator. Red is less prevalent, so if you can't find it use white instead. Either can be served hot or cold and will add a great texture to baked goods -- not to mention, of course, a whole roster of nutrients.
Isn't that why you bought quinoa in the first place?

http://npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15749697

DESTINATION



DESTINATION - HIGHLINE NYC

The High Line is located on Manhattan's West Side. It runs from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District to 34th Street, between 10th & 11th Avenues. Section 1 of the High Line, which opened to the public on June 9, runs from Gansevoort Street to 20th Street.

The High Line was originally constructed in the 1930s, to lift meat trains off Manhattan's streets. Section 1 of the High Line will soon open as a public park, owned by the City of New York and operated under the jurisdiction of the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation. Friends of the High Line is the conservancy charged with raising private funds for the park and overseeing its maintenance and operations, pursuant to an agreement with the Parks Department.

When all sections are complete, the High Line will be a mile-and-a-half-long elevated park, running through the West Side neighborhoods of the Meatpacking District, West Chelsea and Clinton/Hell's Kitchen. It features an integrated landscape, designed by landscape architects James Corner Field Operations, with architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro, combining meandering concrete pathways with naturalistic plantings. Fixed and movable seating, lighting, and special features are also included in the park.

Access points from street level will be located every two to three blocks. Many of these access points will include elevators, and all will include stairs.

http://thehighline.org/about/park-information

INSIGHT



INSIGHT - LECITHIN

In Stuart Wilde’s “The Art of Redemption” he discusses fear, anxiety and its causes. According to an English shaman whom he consults with “low-grade fear isn’t a result of psychological issues it’s often due to dehydration.”

People should consume daily 6 pints or 3 liters of water each day. If your water intake is less than this amount body cells become dehydrated, and apprehension and insecurity dramatically increase. Also hydration will help being less scared and depressed.

If you start drinking enough water dramatic improvements will be seen in a short time. In addition to the water you should eat lecithin table or granules, which will help cells absorb water. Your anxiety level will reduce as quickly as three days. To fully re-hydrate yourself you need to do it for about three weeks. If you keep your body hydrated with water and lecithin, low-grade fear and mild depression can be subsided or lessened.

Work cited: Wilde, Stuart. The Art of Redemption. 2007.

ARCHITECT/DESIGN



ARCHITECT - THE DOLDER GRAND

After 4 years of construction, Zurich celebrates the return of one of its most prominent landmarks, the Dolder Grand. The original "Curhaus" (health spa), built in 1899, has been transformed into a luxury-class city resort in Switzerland. In the process, the hotel's glittering past and vibrant future have been fused together, as reflected in the architecture by renowned architect Sir Norman Foster.

The Dolder Grand located on a hilltop above Zurich, the Dolder boasts sweeping city/lake views, an 18 hole gold course (a rarity in zurich) surrounded by prestine woods. The historic Main Building and the two new wings together offer 173 luxurious rooms and suites. The Main Building installs a sense of history, while the two wings are modern and minimalistic. European and Japanese influences shape the 4000 square meter spa complex. It comprises a pool with panoramic views, Ladies’ and Gentlemen’s Spas, Workout, Movement and Mind-Body Studios, as well as 19 Treatment Rooms and two Spa Suites for private relaxation.


http://thedoldergrand.com/en/
http://kiwicollection.com/property/the-dolder-grand

DESIGN



DESIGN - ROXY PAINE

American artist Roxy Paine (b. 1966) has created a 130-foot-long by 45-foot-wide stainless-steel sculpture, especially for the Museum’s Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Roof Garden. Giving viewers the sense of being immersed in the midst of a cataclysmic force of nature, Maelstrom (2009) is Paine’s largest and most ambitious work to date.


The latest in a diverse body of work, this sculpture is one of the artist’s Dendroids based on systems such as vascular networks, tree roots, industrial piping, and fungal mycelia. Set against Central Park and its architectural backdrop, the installation explores the interplay between the natural world and the built environment amid nature’s inherently chaotic processes.


http://metmuseum.org/special/se_event.asp

Friday, May 1, 2009

EVENTS



EVENTS - LAWFIRM PARTY AT FRED'S

On April 23rd själ skincare held a successful shopping evening with Louis, Brisbois, Bisgaard and Smith Lawfirm at Fred's Barneys New York.

SWEEPSTAKES



SWEEPSTAKES - COMO SHAMBHALA RETREAT

Win 5 nights at Como Shambhala Retreat and full line of själ products!

Tablet Hotels is the cure for boring travel -- the one-stop prescription shop for the jaded and harried traveler.

Tablet wades through tens of thousands of hotels and brings you a tightly edited selection. It's all about choosing hotels which have personality while obsessing on the details.

Como Shambhala is their choice for the perfect escape. It advocates proactive holistic wellness. Their vision encompasses healthy eating, exercise and self-development, with various inspirational locations worldwide.

In May, själ skincare and Tablet Hotels offer the chance to win a full line of complementary själ products and a 5 night stay at the beautiful Como Shambhala resort and spa. You only have to enter your email address to give yourself a chance to win.

http://tablethotels.com/newsletter/Sweepstakes
http://comoshambhala.como.bz/Default.aspx

Friday, April 24, 2009

PRECIOUS MINERALS



PRECIOUS MINERALS - ROSE QUARTZ - The Love Stone

Known as the love stone, rose quartz is considered to be a stone from the heart and for the heart. It helps one to feel a strong sense of self-worth and unconditional love.

Rose Quartz gives the user a gentle vibration of love. It is said to provide inner peace allowing one to give and receive love in all its forms. Rose quartz also acts as a rejuvenator for the skin. It is believed that washing the face in water charged by rose quartz will help fade winkles and keep skin looking young.

Try our mineral källa tonic and balans deep pore cleanser – charged with Rose Quartz and feel the love!

http://shopsjalskincare.com/mineral-kalla-energy-toner.html

DESTINATION



DESTINATION - Parrot Cay, Turks & Caicos

Local legend purports that female pirate Anne Bonny camped out here in the 1720s, lending the original name - Pirate Cay. This 1000 acre island with its mile-long powdered beach, now hosts the ultra luxurious and very private vacation hideaway Parrot Cay Resort and Spa, called by some the world's most exclusive resort where anyone can enjoy the solitude and anonymity. Beachfront homes have been built for notables such as Bruce Willis and Keith Richards.

Here you will find an award winning holistic spa, health cuisine and beach houses with private pools. At Parrot Cay Estates, the soul is unique with space to rediscover those forgotten rhythms of long days and easy nights.

Enter to win 5 nights stay at Parrot Cay's Como Shambhala.
http://tablethotels.com/newsletter/Sweepstakes

http://parrotcay.como.bz/Default.aspx
http://turksandcaicostourism.com/parrot-cay.html

INSIGHT



INSIGHT - GEMSTONE ELIXIRS

Gem elixirs are liquid preparations made from gemstones. They are prepared by placing gemstones in a clear glass bowl filled with water. The bowl is then placed in the sunlight for several hours allowing the water to be charged by the gemstones.

The electromagnetic vibration specific to the stone is transferred to the water via osmosis. Once ingested, the electromagnetic vibration in the water alters electromagnetic vibrations in the body for proper chakra alignment.

It is normal to have two or three chakras out of balance. Gem elixirs provide an excellent means of sorting out chakra imbalances. Gem elixirs are specific to a particular chakra and can assist in balancing their activity level. Experts suggest choosing two or three gem stone elixirs to balance the charkas helping to restore the body to normal activity.

There are seven chakras or energy centres in the etheric body plus the spleen chakra that obtains and circulates energy to the physical body. The chakras are defined as bio-physical resonators that activate the endocrine glands and maintain the health of the organ systems. The seven major spinal chakras are involved with various levels of consciousness.

http://thepurplepeople.com/amber/gem_elixirs.html

ARCHITECTURE



ARCHITECT - POBLET MONASTERY, Catalonia

This stunning Cistercian abbey in Catalonia located an hour and a half from Barcelona is one of the largest in Spain. Poblet was founded in the middle of the 12th century by French Fontfroide monks.

Located at the end of a winding road in the Prades mountains, inland from the ancient Spanish city of Tarragona, the Cistercian monastery of Poblet is not only difficult to find but hard to leave behind.

The monastery has a natural spring in a center of the main cloister and is surrounded by fertile fields and silver mountain peaks balancing both the spiritual and practical.

The Cistercians did full honor to the site with architecture that was not only noble in scale but, harmonious in proportion and austere in detail.

Although Poblet remains partly in ruin it is serene inspiration for those who reach it.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poblet_Monastery

DESIGN



DESIGN - J. CHEW PORCELAIN

Jamie Chew is transforming the modern dining table with her unique take on traditional Chinese porcelain. Influenced by her Malaysian homeland, Chew has lived in Paris, Beijing, Geneva and Shanghai, fueling her inspiration for her ‘east meets west’ Limoges porcelain.

Her ‘tradition with a twist’ cultural patterns come in sublime shades of red, green, blue, brown, pink and lavender. Each plate, cup and saucer is handcrafted, with all designs applied by hand. Each of the five patterns features a dinner plate, salad plate, bread and butter plate, teacup and saucer or you can purchase a five place setting. From the traditional Arabesque pattern, available in earthy Arabian Spice, red Hibiscus or Bluemarine, the bold floral and circular Lotus Pavillion pattern in turquoise or tangerine, to the playful Shangrila pattern with a butterfly, lotus flowers, fish or toad in apple green or ecru, Chew’s designs incorporate influences from India, Arab and Egyptian cultures.

J. Chew Porcelain encourages us to have a swish dinner party, even if our version of cooking entails our favorite take out!

http://jchewporcelain.com/

MUSIC



MUSIC - BRYAN FERRY/ROXY MUSIC


From his earliest recordings with his group Roxy Music, at the beginning of the 1970s, Bryan Ferry has taken his place as one of the most innovative and distinctive singers and lyricists to emerge in popular music. In his music you hear an original vocal brilliance which merges – with effortless, breathtaking elegance – the poise of Sinatra, the charisma of Gainsbourg and the intensity of Johnnie Ray.

But then there was something extra – a quality of nuance, verve and performance which seemed so ultra-modern, and so refined, that it seemed to break wholly new ground.
Bryan Ferry’s vocal genius lies in his peerless ability to merge musical styles – from French chanson, through classic crooner to hard edged rock – creating that sheen of pure drama which has become his artistic signature.

He achieves a perfect tension between languor and melodrama, the results of which become a classic definition of high romance.


http://bryanferry.com/bf_site.html

http://youtube.com/watch?v=5W7hpm0MP6k

BIOTECHNOLOGY



BIOTECHNOLOGY - SYN-TACKS

Syn®-Tacks is an innovative combination of two peptides that interact with the most relevant protein structures of the dermal-epidermal junction (DEJ). DEJ provides structural and functional integrity to our skin.

However, the functionality our body's DEJ starts to change around the age of 30. This decline in functionality continues and is accelerated by external and environmental influences such as UV light.


Syn®-Tacks simultaneously stimulates Laminin V Collagen type IV, VII and XVII and Intergrin with significant results. With this broad spectrum activity it is possible to achieve the utmost structural benefit for the skin. By increasing the activity of these proteins the whole structure of the DEJ is improved. This leads to a significantly visible cosmetic benefit.

Functionality:
- Improved structural integrity
- Improved epidermal nourishment
- Improved molecular communication within the skin
- Improved skin tonicity
- Reduced wrinkles
- Improved skin firmness

Syntacks bio peptide contained in sjal’s cela and kura intuitif.

http://centerchem.com

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

SPRING OFFER





Wednesday, March 4, 2009

EVENT



NY FASHION WEEK - SJÄL BEHIND THE SCENES

Gucci Westman using cela intuitif back stage at Rag and Bone –
Fall 09 collection

PRECIOUS MINERAL



GOLD - GOOD VIBRATIONS

Gold is important for tissue regeneration and DNA optimization. It contains highly conductive properties which help to amplify or raise vibration levels.

Gold elixir aids in the absorption of gold, magnesium, oxygen, phosphorous, silver and vitamins A, B, C, D and E. Gold’s stability allows it to resist most forms of radiation.

Gold can be used in the mending and bonding of tissue. It is known for healing and rejuvenation of the heart, muscular tissue, nervous system, skeletal structure and skin. It is the great balancer of the heart due to its purity level and is one of the three elements that the heart needs to stay alive.

All själ skincare products contain the purest form of gold exilir.