FOR GOOD

So its been 6 months since I started this blog ... I made many New Years resolutions in my first post and this is how they are going ....

1. SAVING MONEY

I have consistently saved $200 a month and sometimes more. Its funny ... because I am still doing everything I want to do (ok maybe not buying as many clothing items) but honestly I don't miss it. I also really enjoy watching that number grow. 

2.  WORKING OUT

Although during school I was doing awful about working out, I have made up for it this summer. My mom, sister, Kaitlyn (aka step-sister), and my cousin Lacey have all joined the gym with me, which makes it easier to go sometimes. I hope I can keep it up while I am in school ... because this was the 3rd week and I really see a difference in a lot of things. My jeans are looser, I sleep better, and I have way more energy during the day. I never thought working out (esp. at night) would give me so much energy the next day ... but I like it!! I am also completely obsessed with this gym ... West Jeff Fitness Center. Its like having a personal trainer ... without having someone breathing down your back constantly. Although Kait has pretty much become my personal trainer ... and sometimes I want to kill her because I feel like I am going to die if I go any longer ... but I must say I did 15 mins non-stop cross-country training on the elliptical on wed. and did not feel like I was going to die and that is something I would have never done before because I would have thought ... "No way I can do that." Well now I can do it because of Kait. She also pushed me to do this Kickboxing class which I am now also obsessed with and would have never ventured to do on my own. Our russian teacher Fabienne is amazing and its definitely a great way to get some anger and aggression out after 4 days of work.

3.  GETTING ORGANIZED

Since January my room has been coming along nicely. My dad and I have been kicking ass. Now I have entered a new stage ... the space is there ... but how do I fill it?? I have been shopping and finding tons of things I really like ... but I have a few problems. There are tons of stuff I packed away after Katrina and then even more from my apartment, and still more from putting things away when I left for Michigan so the room could be torn apart. So now its a matter of taking each box down, and deciding if it will continue into the "new room" or be thrown out. Well last weekend, I started. First, were the dolls my Maw Maw had given me. So I got them all out and put them where they belong. I know this is going to be a very slow process of going through everything but I know it will pay off in the end. 

4.  POLITICS

This one I don't really feel like talking about ... its so sensitive. All I will say is I do like the fact that I have been talking with various groups about Politics ... its a very hard subject for people and it shouldn't be taken lightly. I do enjoy seeing the different views. Its almost beautiful to watch someone talk about politics ... whenever someone speaks their mind about politics they are passionate about it and there is always a reason behind their beliefs. Usually something happened in their life that changed them in some way, and we must all see the beauty in that. Or be very very afraid! haha It could go both ways ... luckily I have only witnessed the brighter side. 

5.  TRYING NEW THINGS ... SEEING NOLA

New things that I have tried ... vegetarianism, kickboxing, oysters, blogging, ... I know there are more but I can't think of them right now. Seeing Nola ... I must say I have been non-stop since Kait got her ... but there is still so much I want to do and see! I have visited new places and ones I hadn't seen in awhile ... bridge lounge, baru, the zoo, St. Joseph's on Tulane. Much more to come this summer I hope! 

PS ... I would like to thank all my friends and family for helping me with my goals so far. You have all opened my eyes to things I have never seen or thought of before. And I will be mushy and quote a verse from a song "For Good" in my favorite play WICKED!

I've heard it said 

That people come into our lives for a reason 

Bringing something we must learn 

And we are led 

To those who help us most to grow 

If we let them 

And we help them in return 

Well, I don't know if I believe that's true 

But I know I'm who I am today 

Because I knew you... 

TANNING, IT'S NOT ALL BAD

 People get 90-95% of their vitamin D through exposure to the sun. Over the years in our society, we are seeing much less of it. For example, we work indoors, and get our sunlight more sporadically than we used to. It is difficult to duplicate the benefits of getting a vitamin naturally. Getting vitamins through the sun or foods are better absorbed by the body. One of the benefits of going to the tanning salon for a cosmetic tan is that the exposure to UVB light is the body’s natural way to produce vitamin D. Medical professionals are just now starting to see that individuals who have healthy vitamin D levels are much less likely to develop certain forms of cancer. Breast cancer, ovarian cancer, colon cancer and prostate cancer are significantly less common in people who receive regular sunlight. There is also research that show vitamin D playing a role in slowing the growth of cancer cells in these types of tumors. Going to a tanning bed 2 - 3 times a week for 10 - 15 minutes can help your body produce vitamin D. Tanning can also help with acne, because it dries out the skin. Especially for people that have acne on their back since it is a hard place to reach.  Sunlight also causes your body to release Serotonin, which is your happy hormone. Indoor tanning from sun lamps was first invented in Europe to help people that lived in places that did not see sunlight for many months or could not stay outside because they would freeze. This sun "therapy" helps with depression. Tanning outside is the best for you, but if you have to get it from sun lamps ... its better than nothing at all. Now there are many harmful effects from tanning, such as the risk to skin cancer or drying out your skin which can cause wrinkles. If you do it slowly and don't get out of hand on wanting to get as dark as possible, you can get a nice healthy glow along with vitamin D and seretonin! I use lotion to tan and immediately when I come home I put after-tanning lotion on. These lotions are specially made to hydrate your skin after you tan and are formulated to absorb into the skin quickly. So be careful, but not afraid to tan.

source: expertvillage

PLANTS AGAINST POLLUTION

I found this very interesting article on Earthsavers website, while shopping for a facial. I think I am going to go buy some plants myself.

plants against pollution

want the air you breathe at home or at work to be cleaner? 
when NASA scientists were looking for ways to clean the air in space stations, they made a remarkable discovery. They learned that houseplants remove pollutants from the air! 

indoor air often contains formaldehyde, benzene and tri-chloroethylene. these chemicals all come from treated wood furnishings, carpeting, clothing and household cleaning products. also, our gas stoves and furnaces give off carbon monoxide. 

the NASA scientists found that in addition to adding life-giving oxygen to the air, certain house plants actually removed the above mentioned pollutants from the air we breathe! 

spider plants, one of the hardiest of all house plants performed the best. english ivy, philodendron, bamboo palm, daisies, chrysanthemums and golden pothos, however, were very effective too. 

they also found that the potting soil in which these plants live removes pollutants from the air. 

we learned what combats the air pollution is not just one element, but the chemical interaction among soil, roots and leaves. 

the EPA suggests keeping these plants in homes and offices. putting plants around the house is not only esthetically pleasing, but an easy, in-expensive way that you and your family can reduce air pollution and breathe fresher, cleaner air! 

this is just another example of how many of our ills can be remedied if we just look to the source of all life - the natural world. 

researchers suggest putting one or two plants in each room. most importantly, place them in the bedrooms where you and your family sleep. 

run down to the local nursery, or ask your neighbor for some cuttings and start breathing cleaner air right now!

WRITING CREDITS

by Orisia Haas