Wellness / Beauty / Inspiration
November 2005
 ...in this issue

Today's SPECIAL


... and so is tomorrow. Value each day as a gift. This is why it is called the present.
FROM THE ABBEY......  

Our Christmas wish for you is that you obtain all that you need, much of what you want, and the wisdom to know the difference.
"God bless us, everyone."
...
.

Nature's Pharmacy

MIGRAINE HEADACHES: BUTTERBUR

WARTS



FOUNTAIN of YOUTH QUICK TIP: A GIFT FROM YOU TO YOU  

Stress and tension are hallmarks of the holiday season. So why is that a problem?

Stress is more than an irritation. It depletes the body's nutrients, damages the immune system, and triggers headaches. Furthermore, it works silently on the cellular level by generating free radicals, those aging molecules that increase oxidation and destroy healthy tissue. The result is duller skin, more defined wrinkles, and less firmness. You know it shows when you start hearing statements like: “You look tired.” or “Are you okay?”

 

Help is on the way.

  • Your best friend during this busy season is yourself. Take time to step back from the fray, prioritize, and put it all in perspective. Realize what you can and cannot do. Separate what you must do from what you want to do. Accept that you cannot be all things to all people.
  • Get enough sleep.
  • Find humor in the vagaries of the day. A good hearty laugh is worth many Excedrin.
  • Take three deep breaths while raising and lowering your shoulders.
  • Develop a tradition of sending New Year cards instead of rushing to get Christmas cards mailed as well as packages.
  • Sit quietly with a good book and a cup of tea, even if it is for only ten or fifteen minutes. Doing this several times a day is even better.
  • Take a brisk walk outside, however short.
  • Look at the sky for one full minute.
  • Put on a pink shirt to lift your spirits.
  • Eat a refreshing snack.
  • Savor a glass of water with a lemon twist.
  • Repeat the mantra that “This too shall pass.”

You can only do what you can do. Accept that and give yourself the greatest gift of all: peace of mind.




SKIN CARE COSMETICS. HOLIDAY GLAM  

Less is Younger ~~ Keep it Natural

Skin that is losing firmness needs less makeup, not more. Makeup tends to slide into and accentuate even tiny facial furrows. Mineral powders applied with a light hand reflect light and minimize wrinkles and sagging.

Holiday Glam

The holidays are the perfect time to step out of your makeup routine and have a little fun. Subtle sophistication is the goal.

Eyes Use Eye Primer or a neutral powder color as a base. For pure sophistication you cannot beat smoky, dramatic eyes achieved by applying a deeper toned matte shadow. For more festive eyes, apply a shimmery or frosted powder. Shimmers should always be applied with a light hand that allows a little skin to show through. Finish by applying a thin line along the upper lashes in brown or black.

Lips The most flattering shades of lip color are only slightly darker than your natural lip color. For pure sophistication, use a more matte finish lip color. Choose lip powders or creams in peachy beige or rosy brown colors. Festive lips can use more gloss and even some shimmer. And if you can handle it, red lips are popular this season. Fair skin should choose a rosy-red; medium skin should choose a brown-red; and darker skin looks best with a wine-red. Precede any application with LipFix for long lasting color that will not run.

Cheeks The sophisticated look is achieved when blush color emulates a natural flush, as if Great-Aunt Millie just pinched your cheeks. Pale pink to beigy-pink looks best with lighter colored skin tones; rosy-brown to brownish tones look best with darker complexions. Use warmer tones for more festive looks without drawing attention away from your eyes. Use light brown to orange-brown for light to medium skin tones; a deeper bronze shade for medium to dark skin tones.

 

  
HOLIDAY FOODS that FIGHT FAT  

Thirty-two percent of Americans are overweight. That’s a lot of people. One walk through any crowded space will confirm this statistic to you. But it’s Christmas, and there is so much food, so little time. Prevention magazine put together a list of the best-tasting, lowest-calorie foods that can help you navigate the culinary waters this holiday season. Omitting such items as Peloponnese Eggplant Meze, the Abbey has culled the list for some of the more likely items you will come across that will allow you to eat, drink, and be merry with a minimum of guilt.

And, as always, the best strategy of all is:

EVERYTHING IN MODERATION

  • Shrimp (12 large = 66 cal/ 0.6g fat)
  • Lobster (3 oz = 83 cal/ 0.5g fat)
  • Silk Nog (soy eggnog): Half the calories and 17 g less fat than regular eggnog (1 cup = 160 cal/ 2 g fat)
  • Wine Spritzer: Save 82 calories over wine. (3 oz = 100 cal/ 0 g fat)
  • Diet V8 Splash: (16 oz = 20 cal/ 0 g fat)
  • Coffees (0-25 cal/0g fat)
  • Baked Butternut Squash: Candied yams substitute: save 102 calories. (1/2 cup = 41 cal/ 0 g fat)
  • Glazed carrots: Use 2 tablespoons butter + 4 teaspoons brown sugar + ½ c water for every pound of baby carrots to coat and glaze the carrots. Serves 4. (Per serving: 72 cal, 6 g fat)
  • StoveTop Stuffing: Use one-quarter the margarine (you won't miss it), and save 65 calories and 5 g fat over homemade. (1/2 cup = 130 cal, 3 g fat) Note: Okay, this may seem like heresy for dressing aficionados, but remember, we’re talking calories here.
  • Green Bean Casserole: Yes, the classic one your grandmother made. Use fat free mushroom soup and milk to make a calorie friendly version. (Per serving: 139-cal/ 7 g fat)
  • Pepperidge Farm Distinctive Bordeaux Cookies: A buttery taste that makes you feel you’ve indulged. (4 cookies = 130 cal/ 5 g fat)
  • Gingersnaps: (1 cookie = 30 cal/ .7 g fat)
  • Almondina biscuits: (1 biscuit = 35 cal/ 1-2 g fat)
  • Meringues: The trouble is being able to stop. (1 cookie = 15-20 cal/ 0 g fat)
  • Pumpkin Pie: Have it instead of pecan pie, save 186 calories and 12 g fat. Save another 64 calories and 3g fat if you skip the crust. (1 slice, or 1/8 pie = 316 cal/ 14 g fat)
  • Spiced pears: Boil two pears, 1 cinnamon stick, 4 cloves, and 4 slices lemon/lime, in 4 c cranberry diet beverage. Simmer 10 minutes until pears are tender. Serve hot or cold. Serves 2. (Per serving: 35 cal/ 0 g fat)
  • Sorbet: Drizzled fat-free sorbet with one tablespoon light chocolate syrup, or sprinkle with half a crushed candy cane. (1 cup = 130-170 cal/ 0 g fat)

Amidst all this, keep life in perspective and remember to enjoy the moment. Holidays are greater than the sum of their parts and spending time with friends and family around the table is a small price for an extra pound or two.

That is what new year resolutions are for.