Supercharge Your Beauty Routine - Almonds 4 Ways for Your Skin Health!

Those who know me well, know I am absolutely obsessed with raw nuts, seeds, dried fruit, and berries! In fact, I always keep pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, hemp seeds, and a variety of nuts in the house, and pack them in my bag daily for easy work snacks. And don't get me started on airport food - it's just the worst! I'm on an airplane every weekend for work, so eating healthy can be challenging. This is why bringing my own snacks has become a habit, in my book. 

Almonds are one of the most easily accessible type of nuts - you can find raw almonds in any local grocery store, at gas stations, and convenience stores, but don't let that fool you - they are a super-food! Almonds contain Vitamins B2, E, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Manganese, and Copper. Most importantly, a ¼ cup serving contains 49% of your recommended daily allowance of biotin! What's Biotin? Biotin, is also known as B7, is vital for the proper functioning of the nervous system and musculature and in maintaining cellular processes like growth, metabolism and energy. It is frequently referred to as the "beauty vitamin" because of its restoring properties on the skin. When we lack Biotin, our skin is the first to show the signs of deficiency. According to the Dermal Institute, these are the symptoms of B7 deficiency:

• Red, scaly rash around the nose, mouth and eyes.
• Thinning hair, sometimes with shedding and loss of pigment (graying hair).
• Possible depression, fatigue, hallucinations.
• Tingling sensations in the arms and legs.
• Muscle cramps after exercise.
• Possible high cholesterol and heart problems.
• Cradle cap, a type of seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp, head and eyebrows. In babies, crusty yellowish-whitish patches appear in these areas and may or may not be itchy.
• Increased risk for developing other health issues

Sounds like we want to keep healthy, and avoid any skin problems like this, right? I bet you didn't know this, but you can incorporate almonds into both your meals, and your skincare routine. I will show you 4 ways to do this, today! 

1. Incorporate Almonds Into Your Diet

Don't be confused by uneducated people telling you that consuming nuts will make you gain weight. Numerous studies have shown that incorporating unsaturated fats (such as nuts and avocado) actually helps stabilize weight. 

A 28-month study involving 8,865 adult men and women in Spain, found that participants who ate nuts at least two times per week were 31% less likely to gain weight than participants who never ate nuts. Among the participants who gained weight, those who never ate nuts gained an average of 424g more than those who ate nuts at least twice a week.

A serving of almonds has 162 calories, 14 grams of heart-healthy unsaturated fat, and 6 grams of protein. Remember, one serving of almonds is 23 almonds, which equals 1 ounce, ¼ cup or about 1 handful. Portion control is key. I also highly encourage you to stay away from processed nuts - I, personally, avoid any roasted, salted, flavored nuts at all costs. The best way to eat them is to sprout them. 

Sprouting or soaking nuts removes the outer shell, which contains phytic acid. Phytic acid is a naturally occurring botanical substance, it a strong chelator to the most essential minerals such as zinc, calcium, and iron. Whenever you consume nuts with phytic acid present (with the shell on, essentially), those nutrients will be removed, and not used by your body as they were intended to. When you soak and sprout the almonds, not only will you remove the outer shell, and the physic acid, but you will also increase the amount of active enzymes in the nuts - making it more easily digestible for those who experience stomach issues during digestion.

2. Use An Almond Scrub

Have you heard about microbeads? If not, I'd like to educate you on these little plastic culprits, and make sure you stay away from face and body scrubs which list them as an active ingredient. Microbeads are tiny round plastic beads that are found in some exfoliating products, and they are causing quite a stir in the environmental world. The plastic waste caused by these microbeads, which are not filtered out during sewage treatment, is damaging water ecosystems and killing marine life. 

A 2013 research at the University of Wisconsin-Superior showed that there were 1,500 to 1.7 million plastic particles per square mile in the Great Lakes! Not only are the beads damaging to fish, they are also bad for your face - microbeads can cause eye irritation, and promote rosacea and couperose. It’s no wonder that Illinois was the first state to ban the use of microbeads in June of 2014, and I sincerely hope all other states will quickly follow.

Instead of using these plastic beads, I suggest natural options like scrubs with ground up almonds, seeds and stone pits from apricots/peaches, crushed walnut husks, oats, coffee grinds, salt, and sugar. I especially recommend sugar for those dealing with eczema since it’s non irritating on broken skin, and sea salt for psoriasis sufferers, but not more than once a week. All other scrubs can be used 3 times a week, but not more - our skin needs adequate time to amass dry dead cells, and you definitely don’t want to over-exfoliate!

3. Use Almond Oil as A Body Moisturizer

Did you know that different vegetable oils rank differently against each other when it comes to how much they clog the pores? Oils rank from 0-5, a 0 being least comedogenic, and 5 as most comedogenic. ("Comedogenic" means tending to cause blackheads by blocking the pores of the skin.) Almond oil is an amazing 2 (moderately low) while Coconut oil is a high 4, rendering it a bad choice for skincare. Almond oil can be used as a hair moisturizer, a body moisturizer, and a wonderful massage oil.

4. Use Almond Milk as An Activator For Powder Masks

Who says you can't play with your food? I love the idea of incorporating almonds in every step of the beauty routine. Almond milk is gentle and soothing on the skin, which makes it a perfect activator for  powder enzyme masks. Simply mix the powder with a bit of warm almond milk, and apply to the face for 7-10 minutes. The result is a bright, supple completion! Using this mask helps to pull out oils, exfoliate, and reduce the appearance of sun damage, wrinkles, cellulite and even stretch marks. It's perfect for blemished skin, blackheads and even cystic acne, and excellent for soothing skin conditions such as rosacea, eczema, rashes, psoriasis, and acne.

Did you like these cool suggestions? I had a blast putting these ideas on paper for you, and I hope I inspired you to start something healthy today!

Beauty

Beauty isn't about fitting or standing out, being a certain size, or always having the perfect hair day. Beauty is defined by our kindness to others, by our ability to give a helping hand, to take a moment and listen to someone's story, to reach out and support other human beings in need. Beauty shines through our skin when we laugh, it radiates in our eyes when we look at our loved ones, and it is what makes us unforgettable. Take a moment to look into the mirror today, and tell yourself "I am beautiful and I love and respect myself!"

Goodbye 2015, Hello 2016!

This year has been one of the most challenging, as well as the most physically and mentally exhausting years of my life. 3 months have passed since my beautiful mom died in my arms, and I still relive that moment DAILY. It's hard to fall asleep, sometimes, so I dance until absolute exhaustion, and sleeping becomes an unavoidable necessity.

This year, my aesthetic and health articles were published in 6 magazines, and my product has been featured and mentioned in more than 20 magazine editorials. I have managed to put out 4 new skincare items: http://saian.net/product/clinical-strength-eye-serum/ , http://saian.net/product/vital-k-creme/ , http://saian.net/product/pure-hyaluronic-acid-spray/ , http://saian.net/product/collagen-ampoules/ , and 2 supplements: http://saian.net/product/snc-labs-hyaluronic-acid-complex-ha/ , http://saian.net/product/snc-labs-hsn-hair-skin-nails-complex/ , as well as formulate a brand new cellulite gel ready to debut in 2016: http://saian.net/product/bio-contour-slimming-cellulite-gel/ all pretty much from the hard hospital reception room chairs and benches... 2015 was the year SAIAN Natural Clinical Skin Care expanded into the EU, and we now have an amazing Academy in Sweden, where skin care professionals get the highest quality training and certification with our natural products.

I'm brave and fearless, but I have to admit it's hard for me to post all this. I usually don't like to share my business on Facebook - I only keep this page for my close friends, my salsa family and classmates. Growing up in Russia, we had been told by our mothers - don't gloat, because no one likes a show off - your friends will hate you for being successful, and resent you for your happiness. This is our collective Soviet philosophy... but it's not MY way of thinking or living. There is nothing that makes me happier than seeing my friends succeed, be healthy, get married, have children, travel, receive gifts and prosperity from the universe. This world is so infinitely abundant - we can ALL have what we desire, and all the good in the universe can be ours, and if we can somehow share it with each other, that is even better! Give love, give time, give touch, give care, give a shoulder to rest a friend's head on, and give 10 minutes to listen to someone's story.

As we go into 2016, I would like to remind you that the calendar is absolutely arbitrary, and tomorrow is just the same as yesterday. No one will hold you accountable for breaking resolutions or for flaking on promises, except your own conscience. No one is ever able to hold you accountable for anything you decide to do, because YOU are the only thinker in your mind, and you can change your thoughts to be POSITIVE. Be YOU, do your own thing, focus on your own health, and surround yourself with people who inspire you.

My Simple Advice to Keep you Going

I'm often asked what keeps me so positive, and always motivated in life, especially given the experiences I have been through in the past few years. Daily, I encounter people eager to learn self-discipline, good work-ethic and professionalism from my workshops and published articles. If I have learned anything from life, is that all of us experience it in different ways, and there is no one proven system that works for everyone. Our experiences shape our outlook on life, and guide our way through it. You can go through life complaining, or let gratitude guide you. I choose the latter, and it hasn't failed me yet.

There are a few words that I like to use to encourage power, growth and progress. Use these words often, to expand your worldly experience, and amplify the magnitude of your existence. Make a conscious effort to use these words daily, and you will FEEL expansion in your lungs whenever you say them out loud.





1. Gratitude
Feeling grateful for what you have at the current moment encourages more good to come in to your world. We often become desensitized, and forget that we have so much to be thankful for. It's very easy to fall into the trap set by up the media - daily, we are encouraged to buy, buy, buy unnecessary items we absolutely "need". We are told to hate our "overweight" and "hairy" bodies, change our "big" noses, increase the size of our "flat" chests, when all we really need to do is be grateful for our health, eyesight, hearing, movement, clear thinking, and all the glorious things our bodies are doing for us 24/7!

You may not be feeling your 100% best, but realizing that you have good experiences, an education, health, a roof over your head, food, clean water, family/friends, electricity, a cozy bed, and whatever else you see around you brings a sense of being GROUNDED, and that is something many of us feel we lack, at times.

2. Honor
I love this word and use it often. When you look at your worldly duties from a perspective of privilege and honor, life will become grand, and your self-esteem will reflect it. Don't look at teaching someone as a chore, be honored that someone has trusted you enough to rely on your knowledge. Don't be upset by people cutting you off in traffic or in supermarket lines - take it as your noble doing to let them go through. Being a business owner, or a manager, is a great honor, and carries the responsibility to treat others with respect and understanding. Meeting someone is an "honor", and I like to let them know that by using this exact word.

When my mother got sick, people didn't understand how I completely abandoned my own life to become her sole caregiver, but it was really my HONOR. I'm honored to bring good to people, because it is a noble purpose.

3. Purpose
This is a very important concept, and once you truly "get it", life becomes fulfilling and easy. Your life doesn't have to be a struggle to make ends meet, when you feel a strong urge to engage in a certain type of work or business, give it a go! You will always be able to make a living doing what you feel you were born to do, because your drive will fuel your progress. Something you do exceptionally well doesn't have to stay a hobby- you are always able to create a life around your passion. A person with a sense of purpose has goals, values, and is never bored - there is always something to do! Some people discover their purpose early in life, and some may come to it later, but age is never a factor here, as long as you are perpetually grateful, the years will pass without regrets.

My mother's purpose was her work in skincare, and her beloved business. She started a skincare brand with a laughable $3,000, and was able to turn it into a thriving international corporation. In 2013, mom was diagnosed with Grade 4 glioblastoma (malignant brain tumor) the size of a grapefruit. She bounced back relatively well after the first surgery, although it left her with limited movement and no feeling on the right side of the body. She was a fighter, life was FOR her. All she wanted to do was work out to get her sensation back in her right side, to get back into the office with me and the staff. I invited a physical therapist home daily, and purchased all the necessary equipment for her to use in her spare time - all day she was using Therabands, the recumbent bike, and the treadmill. That woman had a plan, she was needed at work, where she belonged.

A year and a half passed, and she became weak again. She started jumbling up words, and the MRI confirmed our fears - our cancer came back. She had another surgery, and again started to exercise. She wanted to prove everyone wrong and go to work. When the third tumor appeared six months later, it was no longer operable... I knew she would never be able to go back to reading, even walking... the doctors gave us 3 months. She lasted less than 3 weeks from that point, but when even when hospice came in to help me care for her in the last days, I never ONCE have her the idea that she was close to death. Of course, at this point she couldn't talk, eat or move,but she could hear - I know it. I sat next to her 24/7, and told her that she will be ok, and she will finally go to the office, and get work done. I told her we were getting new facial machine prototype samples, and that I was working on new serums. She was holding on to life, even without food or water for the last 5 days, because she had purpose.

If a dying person would hold on to life by a thread, because she has a sense of purpose, why can't you? It's not too late to grab on to life and try your best to live it to the fullest.

I promise, it will all make sense to you once you give it a go. I love you.

New Trends in Health for 2016

Being an esthetician, and a certified nutrition and wellness consultant for almost a decade, I have an immense passion for health and beauty, and an insatiable hunger for knowledge. I have always been a dedicated proponent of the organic and holistic lifestyle, so when tragedy struck in my family, I had no choice but to rise up to the occasion and educate myself as best as I could. For the past three years, I have been doing research to support my mother through her fight with the most aggressive brain tumor – grade IV Glioblastoma. These few years have taught me to appreciate the fragility of human health, and to never compromise the well-being of my body in search of vanity. I have some valuable information to share with you, and I hope my advice is helpful to you on your path to optimum wellness. My mentor, Louise L. Hay believes that all systems work well for different people, so the key is finding a balance. There is no need to frantically purchase all the items I list in the article, but incorporating some of these supplements, foods, and exercises into your daily routine will greatly benefit you!

A number of years ago, my mother was giving keynote lectures on candidiasis, and the importance of alkalizing the body. Now, as 2016 approaches, more and more people are becoming aware of this diet plan, and are healing themselves of acne, candida, gut issues, headaches, weight issues, fatigue, and many other health problems. The goal to this nutritional approach is alkalizing the body by properly balanced pH food combinations. This way of eating stresses the repopulation of the gut with friendly bacteria, especially after antibiotics, by using fermented vegetables and kefir, and it allows you to fully enjoy food without feeling bloated, fatigued, or spaced out. The key is eliminating all sugar, alcohol, caffeine, dairy, and bread from the diet, and following the 80/20 principle. The 80/20 principle states that 80% of the food on your plate must be alkaline (green leafy vegetables, cruciferous vegetables, sea kelp) and 20% of the food or less can be acidic (meat, grains, etc). Another important element is only eating until the stomach is 80% full, leaving 20% empty for comfortable digestion. In other words, stop before you feel full.

A great new idea is to try new fermented foods containing probiotics. Foods such as sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha, miso, microalgae, and kefir contain friendly bacteria that will populate your gut, and create a healthy intestinal flora. 

For a daily supplement, I recommend Jarrow’s formula probiotics – shelf stable capsules with 5 billion viable cells per capsule. The formula contains all the beneficial bacteria your gut needs:

Lactobacillus rhamnosus R0011, Pediococcus acidilactici R1001, Bifidobacterium longum BB536, Bifidobacterium breve R0070, Lactobacillus helveticus (L. acidophilus) R0052, Lactobacillus casei R0215, Lactobacillus plantarum R1012, Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis R1058

I also recommend taking certain key vitamins daily. Unlike most other mammals, we do not have the ability to make vitamin C, which means it needs to be added to your diet. In addition to being a powerful anti-oxidant, vitamin C plays a key role in collagen, serotonin, and carnitine production, vasodilation, and lowering blood pressure. 1,000 mg once daily is sufficient.

Also, consider taking 5,000 IU of vitamin D-3 daily. Getting enough sunshine throughout the day, and monitoring your blood D-3 levels is always a great idea. Research shows that vitamin D-3 plays a very important role in preventing disease and maintaining optimal health. We have about 30,000 genes in our bodies, and vitamin D-3 affects nearly 3,000 of them. Your skin creates same D-3 in response to sunlight as the D-3 you get from an oral supplement, and it’s much safer than tanning! 

More than 90% of the Nation is deficient in vitamin K. This vitamin is abundant in Japanese fermented natto, but can be purchased as a supplement over the counter. 100 mcg per day of vitamin K-2 is enough to help make your bones stronger, increase vascular health, and support the immune system!

Make sure you’re taking Omega 3 oils daily – I recommend 2 soft gels a day, each with 180 EPA / 120 DHA. While doing my cancer research for mom, I came across Johanna Budwig - based on her work on fatty acids she developed a diet that she believed was useful in the treatment of cancer. She was a German biochemist, pharmacist and held doctorate degrees in physics and chemistry. Budwig was nominated for the Nobel Prize 6 times, and her genius recipe is still reviving patients, and helping them live longer. You can look up the “Budwig Diet” for additional info and recipe.

Mushrooms also play a big part in reducing inflammation that causes stress, fatigue, brain fog, weight gain, acne, and many other issues. My favorite blend is Aloha Medicinals Immune Assist Critical Care Formula – certified organic full spectrum mycoproducts. Each 6 capsule dose provides 1500 mg of a complex profile of beta-glucans, nucleosides and other bio-active compounds extracted from six different well known medicinal mushroom species.

I also take bio-curcumin (derived from turmeric) for brain health, and prevention of brain tumors. I believe in turmeric with all my heart, and think it is a truly amazing substance! 

Organic and natural food is extremely important, and plays a tremendous part in our body's functions, pH balance, weight, hormone levels, digestion, and mood. Eating right, and taking the right supplements is a step in the right direction, but a systematic lifestyle of healthy nutrition and exercise is the key to longevity and vitality! There is no one exercise plan that is perfect for everyone, but I believe in 3 key elements of physical activity which strengthen, lengthen, tone, and condition the body, and when practiced often, give the best overall results! 

1. Aerobic exercise, such as brisk walks, jogging, dancing, trampoline, bicycle, swimming, and anything else that gets you breathing and oxygenating the body, as well as your blood circulating and moving stagnation. Obesity is a 21st century epidemic in America, and with lack of aerobic exercise, the body can amass a fat padding not only on the outside, but even around the internal organs! All forms of aerobic exercise help to massage the colon, and move waste matter out of the body, therefore detoxifying and cleansing. While we are healthy and strong, we need to adapt to an exercise routine that will build up our endurance, so in the unpredicted case of general anesthesia (GA), the risks of anything going wrong will be minimal. Aerobic exercise is wonderful conditioning for the body - once you get used to this sort of fast paced physical activity, you will never walk up a flight of stairs huffing and puffing ever again! Personally, I never take the elevator - stairs are a great way to get some exercise in during your workday or while running daily errands!

2. Weight training! I hear many opinions on this topic, especially women who are afraid of weight training, thinking that they will look bulky and masculine. Don't fear this form of exercise, because it's a guaranteed method for strengthening muscles, toning flabby areas, and conditioning the body. You don't have to use heavy weights, that is not the most important factor. It's more important to keep correct form, and do these exercises slowly. Never do jerky movements, never strain yourself, and remember to keep your knees softly bent when working with a barbell or free weights. When your muscles are firm, they will hold your internal organs in place, keep your back straight, and burn more calories than fat, even while at rest. 

3. Stretching is incredibly important! I know it may seem useless for most of us to be able to bend over and touch our toes, but believe me, it is essential! Our spine is like a doric column supporting the roof of the Parthenon, except our column (spine) has our spinal cord running through it. Have you been to the chiropractor for an adjustment? He will roll you from side to side, stretch you out, and alleviate any pinching of the nerves that may have occurred in your spine. With regular stretching, you help yourself by allowing the spinal fluid flow freely, reducing the pinched nerves, and lengthening the muscles. Stretching also reduces the buildup of lactic acid in the body, and helps move stagnation. When we get older, with no stretching or weight training, the back can start to collapse forward, forming a hunch which can cause the lungs to collapse and take in a reduced amount of oxygen, and the ribcage to press down on the stomach, therefore releasing acid, and causing GERD. A great form of stretching is hatha yoga - it is both enjoyable and beneficial to the body!

Hopefully this advice has been helpful to you, and will get you motivated to incorporate these suggestions into your daily routine! I am wishing you health and longevity!

I am Worth Loving

You don't have to EARN love, just like you don't have to earn the right to breathe. You are lovable because you exist. You are worth loving, and as you love others, they will mirror this feeling onto you. ❤️ P.S. I love you.

Joy of Dance

Joy is such a beautiful emotion - you can rejoice, enjoy, and be joyful! To me, joy is an absolutely wild, careless, and authentic expression of inner emotional release. Everything I do comes from a sincere place of joy, and brings me back joy in return. The amounts of endorphins that joy produces in my body are enough to fuel a rocket! 

Following a partner during a dance is second-nature to me, just like breathing in and breathing out. I don't think about how messy my hair looks, or what others see when they watch me. Joy is an expression of free spirit, and it is as uninhibited as any wild movement can be... and if you want to kick back and enJOY life, you can't avoid getting your hair messy.

Join Me for a 30 Day Challenge!

Do you recognize any of the following red flags that indicate your body is having a difficult time eliminating toxins?

• persistent fatigue
• foggy thinking
• digestive problems
• skin eruptions (acne, rashes, or eczema)
• stubborn weight gain
• hormone or blood sugar imbalance

If any of these symptoms resonate with you, your body is sending out distress signals and is suffering from toxic burden. The good news is you don’t have to feel like this! Our bodies have built-in cleaning mechanisms or “detoxification pathways,” the routes by which toxins leave our bodies. These pathways need to be reactivated in a way that resets your body for deep and lasting transformation. Join my dear friend and nutritional guru Donna Gates-The Body Ecology Diet for the 30-Day Detox Challenge which starts on June 1st and is completely FREE! You can register automatically for the 30 Day Detox Challenge by going here:

 http://detox-challenge.com/

Both my mother and I have gone through this program numerous times, and it has benefited us greatly! My mother's most famous acne workshop was centered around Donna's food plan. I will be doing the challenge with you, so you will be in good company! Sign up today, and experience what it FEELS like to align yourself in perfect balance! 

Alkaline Vegan Quinoa Recipe for Clearing your Complexion, and Boosting your Energy!

Meet my favorite summer creation - Dasha's Vegan Power Salad! Those of you who have taken an acne workshop with me know how much I stress the importance of alkalizing the body! It is a proven way to get rid of candida, and starving the yeast that can create a toxic environment in the gut, acidic bodily fluids, and acne-prone skin. The reason I call this a power salad, is because quinoa is so rich in protein, and so are black beans! Quinoa is a power-grain, because it is alkalizing, and easy to digest - it's a beautiful alternative to rice and porridge that is easy on the stomach, but has the ability to fill you up!

Today's recipe is a cold salad of organic boiled quinoa, with black beans, organic tomatoes, organic cucumbers and organic orange bell peppers. Tomatoes, beans, and orange bell peppers are not alkalizing, but cucumbers and quinoa are. If you are on a strict alkaline diet, substitute these ingredients with red bell peppers, zucchini, red onions, scallions, broccoli, cauliflower, cranberries, or haricot vert. I always try to change up the ingredients in my favorite salads, so if you're not on the strict candida plan, feel free to add avocado, boiled beets, pine nuts, raisins, fresh corn, garlic (yes!), ginger, or whatever else floats your boat! 

While the quinoa is cooling, I marinade my black beans in lemon juice and Barlean's flax seed oil, then I combine all ingredients an a big bowl, and add chopped cilantro, basil, and a pinch of salt! Quinoa is super easy to prepare! 1 cup of quinoa to 2 cups of water. Bring it to a boil, turn off the heat, and cover the pot for 15 minutes. Once 15 minutes have elapsed, take it out of the pot and cool in a separate bowl, or eat it hot - just like rice! Enjoy!

Ingredients (I use only organic ingredients):
1 cup quinoa (dry)
1 1/2 cups boiled black beans
1 large tomato
1 cucumber
1 orange bell-pepper
5-7 leaves of basil
1/4 bunch of parsley
juice of 1 lemon
1 tbs flax seed oil

Life is Beautiful!

There is a cashier at the Hollywood Whole Foods Market that I always get in line to see - Alex. He is a tall, white-haired elderly Russian man, probably in his late sixties. This man used to work at the Sunset and Fairfax Rite Aid when I was still a teenager - this is when I first started chatting with him at the register. The other day he looked very sad when I came up. 

When I asked Alex what was wrong, he admitted that he was bored with life, and felt like he is missing out. "Have you been to Europe?" He asked me. "Sure, Europe is very refreshing and full of interesting places to explore!" "Well, I haven't. I haven't seen many things, and I can't get a long vacation. I feel like my life is terrible." "Life is beautiful, Alex! Don't ever say otherwise! You are so lucky you live in the USA, you are so lucky you are healthy! You have to be grateful you are employed, look at this beautiful store! Look at these nice people, and clean environment! Be happy!" A smile graced his face. "5 minutes with you, and everything just changed! I can't believe it, you just breathed life into me again, you're absolutely right! I'm healthy, I'm working, I can't believe it, you really changed my whole mood!"

Sometimes when people grow older, retire, get weaker, they don't feel appreciated, especially when they see bustling life around them... Please breathe life into those who need your affirmation. It will make you happy, too!

"You can't be everything to everyone."

I had a favorite marketing professor in college, who once said something that stuck with me, and resonated deeply within my being. "You can't be everything to everyone." I always repeat this affirmation when I am feeling lonely, down, not worthy enough, anxious, or disappointed. There are billions of people on this glorious planet, billions of beautiful, talented, intelligent, and successful people. No matter how famous, interesting, sexy, fit, talented, rich, popular, or successful you you are, there is someone who may have surpassed you in the eyes of another, and that is OK. 

When I remind myself of this, I feel a relief, as if a weight is lifted off my shoulders. How great it feels to know that I don't need to compare myself to others to feel good about myself! How easy it is to work when I know I don't need to be as big as some brands or as rich as some businesspeople, or as beautiful as a some women to be the center of my own thriving universe. 

I release any resentment towards those who didn't want to date me, I release any resentment towards those who didn't befriend me. Those who are with me are with me for a reason, and I am grateful for having this awareness, to keep me balanced, and alive!

5 Ways to Improve Your Kid's Childhood Experience, and Teach Kindness

Everything I have learned in life has been a stepping stone to my current state of well-being, prosperity and balance. I am a constant learner, and am always open to self-improvement, even now, as an adult. Children get most of their ideas about themselves and the world around them by what the adults in their life say and do, so it is important to be fully aware of the message you are giving to your little ones. In this short blog entry, I will give you some wonderful ways to nourish and encourage your children's creativity, promote kindness, and engage in positive activities that you both will enjoy and treasure as cherished moments! I do these activities now, as an adult, so this will be excellent advice for people of all ages.

1. Cook Something Healthy

Making healthy food daily is an absolute must in my life - my food nourishes my mind and body. Give your children a chance to participate in food preparation, and they will take responsibility and pride in their task. Small tasks such as washing the veggies or ripping lettuce leaves for the salad allow your kids to feel like they have contributed to making the meal, and teach them how to become efficient and autonomous. Sharing food is a beautiful way to show love and care, and I often make enough food for my family, as well as the neighbors. My neighbor is a doctor, and works late, so I often invite her for dinner. I also have an elderly woman on the cul-de-sac, and I feel that it is a privilege for me to bring her food. A wonderful weekend activity is making sandwiches for the homeless, and passing them out. Make food with love, share food with loved ones, and teach your children to share and care.

2. Make Bird Friends

I currently live in a house with a large back yard, but I have grown up in an apartment, and have learned to live comfortably and efficiently in a small, urban space. I have a dog and a cat whom I love very much, but if your living conditions don't allow for pets, this advice will be wonderful. It can be challenging for parents to tell their kids they can't have pets because of space or time constrictions, so a great alternative is to hang up hummingbird feeders filled with nectar, and watch these lovely beauties come to sip their sweet nectar. Here is a photo I took yesterday of the bird flying up to drink - they are truly majestic, and therapeutic. Making the nectar is easy - it's a 1-cup sugar to 4-cup water ratio. Simply bring this mixture to a boil, cool, and pour into the feeder. I make enough for the week, and store the rest in the fridge - it's much more convenient, also. This is a wonderful activity to do with the kids - they will love it! Another great idea is to put out feed for the larger birds, especially if you have colorful birds in your neighborhood, like I do. I buy bird feed in bulk, and put it out for them in the flat bowl feeder I have in the back yard. It's great to know that even little creatures can benefit from your kind gesture.

3. Grow Something
Buy a plant that the child will have the responsibility to water. If you have a chance to start a small
garden together, there is nothing more fun than digging in the dirt while taking care of your vegetables or flowers! Children will take great responsibility in doing their part to water veggies, or flowers, and proudly display their labor when it is time to harvest! This is a great activity that will beautify the home, and will also teach the child the values of farm-to-table lifestyle.

4. Volunteer
Lending a helping hand to others is a divine privilege, and a task that will not only fill your children's heart with joy, but will serve as a wonderful reminder of how important each and every one of us is on this planet. I've been caring for my grandmother for the past few years, and one day I thought of
the countless number of elderly people who spend their lives at retirement homes, and rarely get visitors. I went to the dollar store, and picked up puzzles, coloring books, crossword puzzles, crayons, beads, glue, and a couple of poster boards, and showed up at a retirement home. The feeling of joy these wonderful elders experienced made me so happy! Your children will enjoy interacting with elders, and vice versa! I volunteer with kids at an orphanage in Mexico, and the days spent with them have been as rewarding for me, as they have been for them. Gratitude and appreciation creates children who mature into appreciative and self-sufficient adults.

5. Help the Homeless

Vacation season is approaching, and many of us will travel with our families. I frequently travel for work, and spend a third of the month in a hotel room, but since my company manufactures skincare, I bring my own products with me.  Did you know that you are paying daily for the toiletries in your hotel room, and they are yours to use and take? Give your children the task of collecting all unused shampoos, conditioners, soaps, and small toothpastes each day, and putting them away into their suitcase. In six months to a year, the child will have a large box of travel-sized items to donate to the local homeless shelter/mission. These small toiletries may seem like meaningless items to most people, but every little bit counts for the less fortunate. I regularly send monetary donations to charities, but since children don't have the financial ability to help, teaching them to help in this way will get them on the path to sharing and giving. When generosity becomes second nature, so do gratitude and abundance.

Be well, live abundantly, and give abundantly!

Sending Love From the Heart

From an early age, I learned by the actions of my mother, to send thank you notes and letters, instead of calls or emails. I love to write, and have a special box with stationary, greeting cards, and thank you notes on hand, so I can concentrate on writing a special message, not on running and picking a card ASAP. My other favorite activity is cooking, and I have several notebooks with clipped recipes I have been collecting since the age of 16. Some recipes are typed and added by me or grandma, and some are trimmed out of food magazines. Life is beautiful when you can put down your words on paper. Whether you keep the notebooks you write in, or send letters to loved ones, you can heal your life, and the life of others with words from the heart. 

Microbeads and The Environment

Have you heard about microbeads? If not, I'd like to educate you on these little plastic culprits, and make sure you stay away from face and body scrubs which list them as an active ingredient. 

1. What are plastic microbeads and why are they commonly found in skincare products?

Microbeads are tiny round plastic beads that are found in some exfoliating products, and they are causing quite a stir in the environmental world. The plastic waste caused by these microbeads, which are not filtered out during sewage treatment, is damaging water ecosystems and killing marine life. 

2. What are some negative effects of these plastic microbeads?

A 2013 research at the University of Wisconsin-Superior showed that there were 1,500 to 1.7 million plastic particles per square mile in the Great Lakes! Not only are the beads damaging to fish, they are also bad for your face - microbeads can cause eye irritation, and promote rosacea and couperose. It’s no wonder that Illinois was the first state to ban the use of microbeads in June of 2014, and I sincerely hope all other states will quickly follow.

3. What are some alternatives to these plastic microbeads and how are they better for the client and the environment?

Instead of using plastic beads, consider other natural options like scrubs with ground up seeds and stone pits from apricots/peaches, crushed walnut husks, oats, coffee grinds, salt, and sugar. I especially recommend sugar for clients dealing with eczema since it’s non irritating on broken skin, and sea salt for psoriasis sufferers, but not more than once a week. All other scrubs can be used 3 times a week, but not more - our skin needs adequate time to amass dry dead cells, and you definitely don’t want to over-exfoliate!

4. How can skincare companies make clients aware of the issue and the benefits of using products that contain safer plastic bead alternatives?

Companies can provide the full list of ingredients on their packaging, and encourage the use of natural, biodegradable ingredients with explanations in their ads. Educating the consumer is the best strategy for forming a long-term honest relationship!

Heavenly Vegan Bulgur With Sautéed Brussels Sprouts

My heavenly vegan bulgur with sautéed brussels sprouts, parsley, and carrots is a warm, soft and fluffy dinner you can make in 15 minutes! Brussels sprouts can be delicious, if cooked correctly, and I am here to teach you. This is one pilaf you will LOVE!

Ingredients:

1 cup bulgur 

1 1/2 cup organic brussels sprouts 

1 large organic carrot

1/2 medium sweet organic onion

1/2 chopped organic parsley

2 tablespoons organic cold-pressed coconut oil

pinch of salt

I love the 10 Minute Bulgur from Trader Joe's , and use it for all my bulgur recipes. The first thing I do when working with a grain-based salad or pilaf, is start boiling the grain, and while that is on the stove, I chop the veggies. Bulgur is just like rice - you will need 2 cups of water for 1 cup of bulgur. Bring it to a boil, cover, and let simmer for 10 minutes. Take off the heat, and let rest for 5 minutes with the lid on.

Thoroughly wash, and cut the brussels sprouts in half. Warm up a skillet on medium heat. Sweat the onions and thinly shaved carrots in the coconut oil until clear, and add the brussels sprouts. Sauté for 5 minutes, just until the brussels sprouts begin to look soft. Add this mixture to the bulgur, along with salt, and stir in the chopped parsley at the very end, so it stays fresh, and flavorful! Enjoy, and be well! 

UCLA Brain Tumor Conference

Still processing the UCLA brain tumor conference hosted by my mother's amazing doctor - Dr. Timothy Cloughesy, in my mind. Even though I received a mass of knowledge regarding pathology, neurosurgery (including a video of the amazing Dr. Linda Liau removing a glioma from a composer's brain while he creates a melody), radio-surgery, radiation equipment, tumor bank, 3D models, chemo etc., the most absurd reality is: 

1.) Not one of these world-renowned experts is sure what the cause of malignant brain tumors is. 

2.) The pathology of different types of gliomas is 100% clear and understandable to them, but they still don't know how to CURE the issue (because they haven't found the correct combination of drugs to cause complete tumor necrosis). 

With that said, I'd like to point out that even though prognosis and statistics for high-grade glioma patients are very poor, after attending an event like this, the real answer to the problem is connecting with the right people. Just like in any other life situation, a kind and understanding physician may not have all the answers in the world, but will put the patient's heart at ease, and increase his or her quality of life. Understanding, patience, and kindness.

I am not sure why I am writing all this... probably because I feel a very strong love for people, and keep seeing people create amazing things for saving other people's lives, such as all this medical equipment that seems like something out of a futuristic movie. The work that is done by these physicians is mind-blowing, but a heartfelt hug and a smile of reassurance is sometimes a more comforting part of the job.

See you at Orlando Skincare Show!

#Estheticians Join SAIAN Skincare at  Premiere Dayspa in Orlando for some amazing classes! Click for full program: http://goo.gl/bmLjTQ

I Love You

Show people how you want to be treated by treating yourself with respect, first and foremost. If this is difficult, ask yourself what is stopping you, and instead of berating yourself, just FIX it. Stop doing things that bring you down, and start thanking yourself for being wonderful. Learn to be calm and centered in all situations. Smile often, and don't take everything so seriously. If you are willing to accept advice, listen only to winners, because they have proven that the KNOW what they are talking about. Don't mind the commentary from people whose lives are a mess, and always be open to change. You are always YOU, yet you are always changing.

We often go through hardships, and find ourselves in the darkness and despair. We ask The Lord "why me?". We think we are broken, and hopeless, but that isn't true. We have come into the world to love ourselves, love each other and love God. Rest assured that The Lord will guide you and guard you, and the process of life is always on your side. No one said life was going to be easy, but you can do it anyway! Look how far you've come! If you haven't been told how wonderful you are, I am here to assure you that you're amazing, and I love you.

Vegan Quinoa Sushi with Kale, Avocado, Carrots, Purple Cabbage, and Cucumber.

Not sure what was more enjoyable - thinking this dish up, making it, or the cleanup afterwards! Haha, just kidding! But, seriously, quinoa sushi was the best idea ever! Quinoa sushi with kale, avocado, carrots, purple cabbage, and cucumber. This sushi is accompanied by Bragg's Aminos, instead of soy sauce, a shaved cucumber and cabbage salad, and kale! Yum!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup quinoa

1/2 avocado

2 carrots

4 leaves of kale

4 leaves of purple cabbage

2 cucumbers

1 package of sushi nori

Bragg's Aminos for dipping sauce

optional: sesame seeds or flax seeds for garnish

You will need to start by boiling the quinoa. Rinse the quinoa thoroughly, and put in a pot with 1.5 cups water. Quinoa is a bit different from rice, and it needs more water to plump up, but still remain flaky, not clumpy and lumpy. After the pot starts to boil, turn off the heat and cover with a lid for 10 minutes. I like to use white quinoa for sushi, because it's more sticky than the brown variety, and will keep its shape well! After the quinoa is done, place it on a large plate to cool, and start working on your veggies.

Wash the kale and cabbage leaves well, and remove the hard stems, so all you're left with are the soft leaves. Dry them thoroughly. Cut the avocado, 1 carrot and 1 cucumber into long strips, and leave the other carrot and cucumber for the garnish. Place your nori on the sushi mat, and fill it with rice, leaving one edge empty, so you can seal your sushi after you roll. Lay your  leaves on the quinoa, then lay the strips of veggies in the middle. You will only need 1 strip of each veggie for the roll. Roll the sushi, and slice in 1 inch pieces.

To make the garnish, simply take a vegetable peeler, and make ribbons out of the carrot and cucumber! Plate and serve with Bragg's Aminos or lemon juice. This is a nutritious and delicious meal that will leave you feeling nourished and light! Enjoy!

Sorting Out Your Priorities

I'm always amazed at the number of people I constantly meet, who feel drawn to my ideas! I just returned from Miami, this weekend I will be teaching in NY, and everything I put my mind to is a success because of one simple reason - I have my priorities sorted out correctly. 

So many people live their lives in constant stress, because money is their main priority. Getting more money, spending more money, having money only to help others, having money only to show your status, spending money on others because they have spent on you, believing money is difficult to come by, etc. 

Are you allowing yourself to have fun with your money? Why not? It's just a means of exchange, that's all it is. This constant stress is what I feel, has created cancer in my mother's perfectly healthy and beautiful body, and (adversely) has helped me realize how to set my own priorities. For the past 2 years that I have been taking care of my mother and grandmother, while running a corporation, I have realized that prosperity thinking has nothing to do with marketing, making money, or having any special system of living. Prosperity comes when we realize that we are stable and have all the wealth we need when we know our next breath is provided for us. Just in the same matter, if your bills are paid, and you are safely asleep in a comfortable bed at night, trust that your stress will not aid you to make more money. 

I am completely aware that I don't have the ability to cure my mother's cancer, and this doesn't mean I have to break down and mourn her illness. Having my priorities sorted out, means that I take care of my family first, uphold the integrity of my business, take care of my own mental state by releasing anxiety, engaging in positive activities, helping the less fortunate, and doing my best not to project into the future. Who knows what is going to happen next? Just make the best of the time and sort out your priorities.