I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that most of us prefer happiness to gloom…I know I do! But when a bad mood strikes, it can often be tough to break free. When you find yourself down-in-the-dumps, how do you handle your bad mood? Do you wave a white flag in surrender or do you forge your way to happiness?

In one of our featured articles, we touched on the idea of having a Bad Mood Emergency Kit. I love this idea. There are emergency kits for all sorts of catastrophes and injuries: earthquakes, tornadoes, cuts, burns, and bruises… so why not have a one ready to combat a lousy mood? It just makes sense! Plus, the idea of putting it together sounds like a lot of fun, too.

There are many ways to feel joy and many things can bring joy in different ways. Your emergency kit will be as unique and individual as you are. Although you are free and welcome to come up with any mix of items that suits you, here are some fun ideas to choose from: music, movies, scents, photos, memories, mantras, and activities.

My Bad Mood Emergency Kit includes:

• Get-up and dance music: Safety Dance CD
• 3 favorite feel-good movies: Amelie, Monsoon Wedding, So I Married an Axe Murderer DVD’s
• Uplifting scent: Spearmint Essential Oil
• Favorite photo: One I took in Oaxaca of a young girl sitting beside an old, blind man as he softly strummed his guitar and sang…
• Memory: Time spent with my newborn niece – I’ve got plenty of photos and keepsakes!
• Faithful mantra: “Everything’s gonna be alright” (for an extra kick, I’ll sing it Alicia Key’s-style)
• Perspective-altering activity: Anything involving fresh air

Putting together a Bad Mood Emergency Kit gives you a chance to reflect on all of the things that make you truly happy. And it’ll help bring a smile to your face whenever you need one.

So, what’s in your kit? We’d love to hear!

~Kristen
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Couture in the City: Jewelry You Can Feel Rich In!
To top Monday’s jewelry article, we thought we would bring our readers some real class. Today, at Couture we are featuring sterling silver with pearls, alongside gold watches. Some extra ’special’ rings to wear on your right hand. And some designer jewerly from John Hardy.

GlamSpirit: A Natural Remedy for Eczema
Relieve the itching and inflammation without a cortisone cream.

Moms Buzz:: Shared fun - An effective Way to Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem
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Tot Snob Chats with Cat Schwartz!
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Have you ever lost yourself to the rhythm? I become ecstatic when I see a small child bounce around the room–free to move and express themselves as they tune in to the music. I am envious. Why is it so hard for most of us adults to just get up and dance? One great way to let go of all the mind chatter and just cut loose is through a practice called the 5 Rhythms.

5 Rhythms is a form of improvisational dance. Teachers of this practice guide a class through 5 different types of moving expression: flowing, staccato, chaos, lyrical, and stillness.

Gabrielle Roth, founder of this practice, talks more about it below. I love how she describes the droning critical voice in our head, and learning to “Drown that voice out with the beat…”

I first discovered the 5 Rhythms at Esalen Institute in California. It is practiced regularly in the morning movement classes. As someone who has experienced her format, it is fascinating to explore the boundaries of your own self through dance and become a witness to your own life experience. Learn more here or find classes in the US or worldwide.

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Have you ever struggled with the awareness that two values are in conflict? This Sunday, I went to an organic grocery store first I reveled in the vibrant colors and smells of fresh produce. Then, when I came time to snatch some from the bounty I reached for the nearest plastic bag and reeled with the awareness that myself and everyone in the store (except one woman with a basket) was making a terrible mistake. The plastic bag, is my weapon of cleanliness to avoid any contact that the precious food might have with the grocery cart or–heaven forbid–with the checkout conveyor belt!! My husband laughed, reminding me that who knows how many hands and bins, and the truck ride itself a green bean had been handled by prior to my grasp.

So this Monday, I offer you, a humble and gentle reminder. Stop the plastic. It is an American obsession that has reached epic and harmful proportions to mother earth.

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Aaaah, I love Aveda products. There’s nothing like the fresh, earthy aromas of their products. Their shampoos, lotions, soaps, and even their make-up smell fresh and healthy. Little did I know that they actually bottle these aromas and sell them as pure-fume! (And yes, I did spell that correctly).

As I was perusing the Aveda shop near my house I came across a display of aroma therapeutic oils and “make-your-own” perfume. Aveda calls it pure-fume because they use all certified organic oils and make everything with pure plant essences. You can purchase a pre-made scent, concoct your own individual scent, or you can buy the purest form of all, essence oil. All three pack a powerful punch and last all day long!

If you choose to stick with a pre-made pure-fume, Aveda will blend a fresh batch for you right in front of your eyes! That’s right, you won’t get a bottle that’s been sitting on the shelf for months. It’s all about freshness and purity. Creating your own pure-fume allows you to experiment as you find just the right combination for you. Finally, if you opt for the pure essence, you’ll love the potency of this stuff and be thrilled with its longevity.

You can choose scents based on personal preference and also on therapeutic qualities. Different scents can be used calm and soothe your nerves, enhance the ability to think clearly, and balance your mind and body. Choose from sixteen different scents, including rose geranium, lavender, vanilla, ylang ylang, and sandalwood.

I bought one of Aveda’s pre-made scents and mixed one of my own. I love them both! They seem to last much longer than traditional perfume and I get compliments all of the time. So, get out to the nearest Aveda store or shop online and find the perfect scent for you!

~Jennifer Rosen

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Have you ever taken the time to ask yourself what you want to call your partner in your ideal relationship? Terms of endearment and “pet names” carry different meanings for different people, and having a name for the special person in your life can help you gain clarity on what you are looking for in a mate. It can also bring strength, courage, self-confidence, and self-awareness into your life.

The great part about this is that you get to decide on this name—you can refer to this special person however you want! Among many others, you can call your partner your lover, husband, wife, girlfriend, boyfriend, significant other, better half, spouse, companion, spiritual partner, mate, honeybunch, one and only, biggest fan, sweetie, sweetheart, love of my life, soul mate, the “one,” or even snookums, if you want! Reading through this list can help you see how different names conjure different feelings.

When I first heard the word “beloved” I felt a sense of peace, honor, respect, and love. I found that when I said this word it spoke to me and gave me clarity on what I want in a relationship. I believe that this word came to me as a gift when I was figuring out what attributes and values I wanted in a partner. I became absolutely inspired when I chose to use the word “beloved.”

So, how about you? What word best suits your ideal partner? Think it over and, if you like, share your ideas with us in the comments!

~Melissa Risdon

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Technorati Tags: Glam Media, Glam, GlamSpirit, Wellness, Health, GlamNetwork, Relationship, Partner, Husband, Wife, Feelings, Peace, Ideal, Man

Are you familiar with the itch and scratch cycle of eczema? The constant itching and scratching, scratching and itching…. As a result, you can end up suffering from red, irritated, and raw skin that can be very uncomfortable. Eczema is an inflammation of the skin that causes itching and discomfort. Eczema can be triggered by stress, dust, animal fur, food allergies, and environmental conditions. The unpredictability of this disease can be rather upsetting since many different factors can set it off at any given time.

I have lived with eczema my entire life. I have scars on my legs and suffer constant breakouts on my arms, neck, and hands. As advised by my doctor, I have always used over-the-counter hydrocortisone to relieve the itching and inflammation. It wasn’t until I realized how dependent I was on my cortisone cream that I felt the need to find a more effective and natural solution to address my skin problems.

Here is a natural recipe for a paste that finally allowed me to toss my hydrocortisone. The ingredients include Vitamin E oil, goldenseal (an herb in the powdered form), and honey. Together these components hydrate, relieve itchiness, disinfect, and reduce inflammation—the most aggravating and uncomfortable eczema symptoms.

Vitamin E oil – this oil heals the skin and helps keep it moisturized, therefore reduces the dryness that causes itching.

Goldenseal – along with its many health benefits, this herb treats eczema by disinfecting, and reducing inflammation. Goldenseal is an infection fighting herb and often considered to be a natural antibiotic.

Honey – serves as an antioxidant and has antimicrobial effects which aide in the healing of wounds. Its anti-inflammatory agent helps reduce swelling, pain, and scarring. Honey is also an overall immune booster.

To make this wonder paste, mix vitamin E oil with goldenseal powder, and add a small amount of honey. Apply the paste on the infected areas and live eczema-free the natural way!

-Michele

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“Research at Washington State University showed that those in an office with plants experienced a 12 per cent improvement in reaction times when compared with those in a plant-free office, as well as lower blood pressure and quicker recovery from stress”

The article also explains that plants lead to healthier atmosphere because they reduce COs, absorb VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) and keep the air more moist and cool.

I just paused to say thanks to my little plant and the flowers at my desk for bringing good vibes and peace of mind my way…

Note to any new plant owners~most plants die due to over-watering, so go easy on the watering can. And opt for plants without flowers to avoid allergy ailments.

~Rebecca

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Are you looking for a pleasant, nurturing way to sooth your aches and pains? How about a treatment that you can easily do at home? Then hydrotherapy might be just the thing for you. Hydrotherapy is a form of therapy that uses water to heal what ails you through the use of temperature (to increase circulation, reduce inflammation, release toxins) and weightlessness (to calm and relax).

In Turkey and Japan, public bathhouses were built to promote the use of water as an aide to increase health and well-being. Today, hydrotherapy can be used to treat spinal cord injuries, burns, strokes, paralysis, and is often used to reduce stress. There are a few different types of hydrotherapy—let’s take a look:

One form is called “packing.” This entails tightly wrapping the body in a hot, wet sheets and covering them with several dry blankets. This technique causes the body to heat up, which encourages sweating, thus releasing toxins from the body. A body wrap at a spa is on par with this. After treatment you should feel relaxed, rejuvenated, and hopefully less toxic!

Next is something called hot air baths—a term I hadn’t heard of, but realized that it simply means “sauna.” Temperatures are usually in the range of around 66 degrees centigrade (151 Fahrenheit) for curative purposes. Saunas are a great way to release toxins and increase circulation. Often times after a sauna an ice cold bath is sought to further aid in circulation.

Hot compresses, something we consider more of a first aid remedy, are also a form of hydrotherapy. Hot compresses can be administered either hot or, amusingly enough, cold. A hot compress helps aid in respiration, while a cold compress can reduce inflammation of the skin. These may be used for long or short periods of time, depending upon the condition being treated.

Finally, there are baths. A bath in your home or a bath at a spa will help to calm and relax , while a sitz bath assists in circulation. Alternating between hot and cold water is said to have a powerful effect on the cardiovascular system and general congestion problems. There are tons of products from basic epsom salts to fragrant bath salts and essential oils to add a touch of luxury and release to the treatment. In fact, you can even go a step further by dimming the lights, lighting a few candles, and tossing fragrant flower petals into the tub. Then hop in, take a deep breath and relax….

Hydrotherapy is easy enough to do yourself or at a spa for common ailments, but for more serious conditions, you should seek the help of a professional.

~Jennifer Rosen

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