Ayshah's Journey Exposed

I read this article today and felt so sad that someone would deem themselves ‘regular-looking’ and say it to the world. 

http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/personal/09/28/tf.friends.with.pretty.women/index.html

At some point, people should begin to take responsibility for themselves.  In the past, people have told me that things come easily to me.  I have always believed that I am special and I still do. 

I feel pretty even though I was always teased in school and kids called me “Skeletor”.  And all my life people have commented on how skinny I am, that hurts just as much as if you told a heavy person that they look fat. 

This article is so one sided and to be blunt, I believe that the chip on your shoulder may be the last 10, 15, 20, whatever pounds you are holding onto. 

If you just focused on the good then you too could be pretty.  It’s all in your attitude.  If you have a ‘used up’ attitude then no one wants to have anything to do with you.

The energy you exude is what makes you look and come across as average or beautiful. 

I know some very beautiful women who I would call ugly.  Some ‘regular-looking’ women that I would call beautiful.

We are all going to age and gravity will set in but to label yourself ‘regular-looking’ sends a message that you have given up on your true potential which has nothing to do with the way you look at but instead how you feel about yourself.

Don’t get me wrong, I have insecurities just like the next woman but those are the things that have always made me special, I think!  They’ve made me grow.

People want to believe in The Golden Rule but everyone has been flawed with their prejudices in life in some way or another.  You can say that you believe in the Golden Rule but if you don’t do onto yourself as you want to be treated, how are you going to do onto others as you want them to?

Chatatya lataa… Ayshah

Great find!!!

I encourage all parents to use this tool with their child.  If you have not discovered this book, you will be so happy that you finally have discovered a wonderful tool to help boost your child’s self esteem and awareness.  What a great way to marry your How Full Is Your Bucket? knowledge with your child.

The #1 New York Times and #1 BusinessWeek bestseller, How Full Is Your Bucket? reveals how even the briefest interactions affect your relationships, productivity, health, and longevity.

Check it out:  http://strengths.gallup.com/116092/Full-Bucket-Kids.aspx

Enjoy!

Chatatya lataa… Ayshah 

I do not have any tattoos on me but ever since the Ed Hardy (http://www.examiner.com/x-18242-Mesa-Fashion-Examiner~y2009m9d9-The-downfall-of-Ed-Hardy) craze surfaced, I have thought about it.

Still not brave enough to get one and not sure I’ll ever be but if I were going to a tattoo shop, I would explore on here first…

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It’s kinda cool and low risk and there are over 3000 designs you can take to your tattooist.

Chatatya lataa… Ayshah 

I cannot believe how lame Sephora’s marketing gimmick is.  Really, it’s all lotions and potions and with how expensive the product people purchase have become, you would think that even if you just browsed the store, you could walk away with a featured product sample for the day. 

The Sephora retail concept is awesome how they have created a retail environment that invites customers to roam the store and try on different product made by many different manufacturers. I love not having to feel like Angelina Jolie or Jessica Simpson when walk into the store.  Instead we have to deal with the lipsticks, eyeliners, blush, or perfumes paparazzi of department store cosmetics counters that force us to interact with their commissioned swindlers to sample a product. 

I hate how retailers do not look long term though.  I am starting to think that Sephora is so chintzy with the samples.  How are people supposed to know how great this manufacturers’ new invention is if not everyone gets to sample it?  That’s just stupid. You want everybody to buy it but you do not let everybody try it.  Who is the genius who came up with that marketing ploy?  Nice effort. 

Marketers just look at their week over week balance sheet and what CNN reports.  CNN, they are always right, RIGHT?!?! 

Then, they determine what the world’s buying habits are forever based off of an abbreviated period in time.  Do marketers ever think about brand loyalty?  They say they do but that is just more sales and marketing jabber. 

I think if we started to measure the market and how rich or poor a brand is year over year; we would see that in the end, the one with brand loyalty is where the money is.  That over the decades the brand loyalty will win and the fly by night imposters that come and go month over month do not make the scale.

We read that drug dealers get people hooked by giving them a sample and now we have a drug epidemic.  Why haven’t these big business retailers and manufacturers figured it out?  Maybe we can strive for a product epidemic?  I think even Martha Stewart would say, “It’s A Good Thing!”

I get it, it’s expensive to front the samples, well, at least that’s what they say.  My feeling is, you shouldn’t play if you cannot pay but expect the consumer to pay out their nose and these retailers and manufacturers need to stop advertising their free card tricks and give the consumer the benefit of the doubt.  At least these guys do not under estimate the way consumers think… <a href=”http://16bd07u2fo6y9u0tmex0yp4o8x.hop.clickbank.net/” target=”_top”>Click Here!</a>

 If I use myself as an example, I still have few more decades to spend more money and can name off about a hundred people who will have the same situation. I will remember the day I ran out of a certain product and had to go back into my drawer and use the sample that was given to me at the store.  Not only will I want to purchase it if I have a good experience but the dependable product will have a warm place in my heart because of the time it came through when I really needed it. 

Chatatya lataa… Ayshah

I just read this article http://blogs.reuters.com/fanfare/2009/06/26/michael-jackson-overshadows-farrah-fawcett-on-a-sad-day/ about how Michael Jackson overshadowed Farrah Fawcetts death. 

I immediately thought, Farrah Fawcetts probably didn’t want the fan fare.

I really enjoy Michael Jackson’s music but am so disappointed in how the media has over shadowed Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, David Carradine, Karl Malden and Patrick Swayze’s death. 

My mind goes back and forth about how unfair it is that the other celebrities received no recognition, and then it goes to feeling as though Michael Jackson loved and enjoyed the fan fair even though at times it back fired on him. 

Michael Jackson was an entrepreneur who was the icon to putting his attention into something so he developed a following which became attracted to him.  Brilliant! That’s the law of the universe and is magnetized because of his fame.  Even though he is gone, his presence and fan base have adapted his desires. The issue is that I do not think Michael Jackson ever developed discernment and self-awareness, therefore he could not distinguish between what was beneficial or destructive that he was attracting into his life. 

All of us, including celebrities, are accountable for every thought, word, action and deed we express.  Some of us recognize the wisdom of restraint and being aware of the intentions of our actions, others do not. Putting yourself out there means the accountability is magnified.  A concept, I do not think Michael Jackson truly appreciated. He did and seemed to be on a rhythm of experiencing ‘burn-out’ and stress, which actually would’ve hindered his fame and fan fare. 

Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, David Carradine, Karl Malden and Patrick Swayze seemed to be somewhat balanced at the time of death.  It is my thought that we choose moderation in all aspects; we bring balance into our lives.

I hope people can finally learn to maintain our connection with our inner peace and true reality.

In alphabetical order:  David Carradine, Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, Karl Malden, Michael Jackson and Patrick Swayze rest in peace.

Chatatya lataa… Ayshah

9/17/2009 12:09:39 PM 

Like any entrepreneurs’ mind, I often wonder what Henry Ford would have crafted for a Science Fair Project.  Ha!   

Everyday each of us plays Marco Polo with all the discoveries that Benjamin Franklin would be amazed out today… maybe that’s a stretch!  Like when I first discovered the Table Toss’, ColorOn Pro make up, and many more that my brain may explode from thinking about!  I just want to share my recent discoveries with everyone so just like Ayshah does, I decided to.  I just love to shop, surf the web and just people watch.  So enjoy links to my favorite products, services, etc without being sold hard to check it out…

ColorOn Pro… I bought these online when they first came out and now, I’ve seen them at Sephora.  They are cool because I am not into spending a ton of time putting eye makeup on.  Only thing I didn’t like was how wet the first application was (Oh, and I used one application about 3 to 4 times not just once like the instructions say). Otherwise, I didn’t regret buying them once.  Would I buy them again? Hmmm… verdict’s still out… http://www.coloronpro.com/

Pandora.com… Who needs iTunes when Pandora.com plays what I like all the time.  Oh, did I mention, IT’S FREE!!! I don’t have any regrets signing on right now.  Would I sign up again? Hmmm… right now, yes but the verdicts still out… http://www.pandora.com/#/

Table Toss… Okay the perfect accent pieces for any table and there is no fuss at all.  My guests are pretty neat folk so I reuse them.  They say they are disposable but I use them about 5 times before ‘toss’ one. Would I buy them again? For sure…  http://tabletoss.com/

Chatatya lataa… Ayshah

You either love professional marketing ads or hate professional marketing ads but we all have been affected by them, one time or another. Many folks, especially women, become frustrated with the advertising that you see in magazines and let everyone know how they feel. Just take a look at Coca Cola. Ads are part of our culture, society and generation. I say, embrace it!

Abstinence:  I guess condoms were not around back then. Did they think this advertisement would accomplish getting men to keep their ‘package’ sealed? I don’t think so.

Blow In My Face And I’ll Punch You: Second hand smoke was in, apparently. The tobacco industry had it made but this ad is just rude!

Ah Refresh Yourself With Uro: Move over Coca Cola, I remember Tab being the fave fad but not Uro as the soft drink of choice.

 Chatatya lataa… Ayshah

I decided to try this recipe after watching Martha Stewart and her friend Jane prepare this ham for Easter quite a few years ago.  You can also use Pibb Zero, or Diet Cherry Coke.

It was advised to not use a spiral-glazed ham or it would tend to dry out faster.  Not so.    

This marries perfectly with my Easy Honey Drenched Sweet Potato Biscuits.  As Rachel Ray from the Food Network (http://www.foodnetwork.com/) would say…  “Yumoooo.”

This recipe will be sure to please any brunch or supper dinner, guaranteed!

3-7 lb spiral ham 

1 lb brown sugar Twin

1 (12 ounce) can of Coca-Cola Zero, Diet Cherry Coke, or Pibb Zero

1 (14 ounce) can pineapple rings

1 cup Manishevitz wine (sweet Concord grape wine)

10-12 maraschino cherries (optional)

1/2 ounce whole cloves (1 small container)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees

Purchase an already scored ham like the ones you can buy at Costco or Sam’s Club.

Place a clove in the intersection of each square.

Mix the whole pack of brown sugar Twin, soda, pineapple juice and wine together.

Pour liquid mixture into an aluminum roasting pan that you have placed on a baking/cookie sheet.

Place ham into roasting pan.

Bake for another 20 minutes

Bake the ham for about 15 minutes per pound, basting every 20 minutes with the juices.

During the last 20 minutes, decorate ham with pineapple rings.

Use toothpicks to hold the rings in place, and put a cherry in the center of each ring with a toothpick.

Prior to serving, remove all toothpicks.

Serve Martha’s baked ham, sweet potato bisquits, and greens and you’ll be in brunch-time heaven!

By the way, check out Martha Stewart on David Letterman when they banter about her doing her time.  I admire how she got through her white-collar crime and has truely reinvented herself.  Bravo, Martha!

Enjoy!

Chatatya lataa… Ayshah

Because Enzo was on the GFCF (Gluten-Free, Casein-Free) , everytime Enzo was invited to a birthday party, I would cringe because I knew he would be so disappointed when it came time for the cake.  Here’s Enzo’s face right after we would sing happy birthday and it was time for cake.

What on earth are gluten and casein?

With Enzo, we saw that he showed a dramatic improvement in speech and behavior after these substances were removed from his diet.

Here is a snap shot of Enzo as he realizes that he does not get what everyone else gets to eat. No, we packed his very own ’special Enzo cupcakes’ that all the other kids cannot have.

He’s not buying it… he wants the cake that all the other kids get to eat.

Ugghhh… break my heart!

Chatatya lataa… Ayshah

Rocco, our beautiful and sweet Rhodesian Ridgeback, passed away 2008.

He was the best Ridgeback ever.

We can’t believe he is gone.

Rocco was a great dog, especially after training.

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The breeder, Cynthia Kelly called us and we rushed over from Los Gatos to Oakland to go pick our little bundle of joy out. 

If you want to enjoy such a wonderful pet too contact http://www.barrc.org/. 

We will always love Rocco!

Mama