The National Ice Cream Day was founded and declared by the president Ronald Reagan in the year 1984, whom i suspect liked ice cream, enough to make a day all about it.

remember, treat yourself to some ice cream… to promote the national event.

Thanks for reading.

People with dry skins should use a cleansing gel, containing aloe vera, which not only rehydrates the skin, but also restores the normal balance. For oily skins, cleansing lotions containing mint, rose, lavender or lemon are ideal. Massage the cleanser lightly into the skin and remove it with moist cotton wool. After cleansing in the morning, tone the skin, using rose water. Using cotton wool, wipe the skin and then pat it briskly. In fact, the skin can be wiped and refreshed this way several times during the day.

During the festival season, it is best to use a protective cream to protect the skin from the effect of pollutants in the air. Anti-pollution cosmetics can be “cover” creams or even sunscreens. We recommend a protective base containing sandalwood, which can be mixed with a moisturiser. It forms a transparent protective film on the skin. In fact, it can be used as a base under make-up and help to prevent irritative rashes and eruptions. It acts as a barrier between the skin and pollutants in the air.

Exfoliation of the skin with scrubs helps to remove dead epithelial cells and thus brighten the skin. It also stimulates blood circulation to the skin surface and brings a glow to the skin. A scrub may be used twice a week. Facial scrubs are easily available nowadays. Or you can make one at home. I would recommend mixing sesame seeds (til), dried mint leaves and honey. These ingredients are not normally used, but they have a protective and revitalizing effect on the skin, both for face and body. Crush the sesame seeds coarsely and powder the dried mint leaves. Mix them with a little honey and apply on the skin. Leave on for 15 minutes and then moisten with water and rub gently on the skin with circular movements. Wash off with water. Sesame seeds actually have protective properties and also soothe the skin. It helps to remove tan and produce an even colour tone. Mint has a stimulating effect and adds a glow to the skin. It also prevents rashes, while honey moisturizes and softens the skin.

Scrubs also help to discourage blackheads. Mix rice powder with rose water. Apply it on the areas with blackheads daily. Rub gently on the skin with circular movements. Leave on for 5 minutes and wash off with water. This can be done after cleansing in the morning.

The scrub can also be applied on open pores and the marks left by acne. Stubborn blackheads should be removed at a skin-care clinic, by a trained therapist, using proper methods. Pinching blackheads, or trying to remove them at home, not only leads to infection, but also scarring.

To prevent skin eruptions and rashes, take one cup of Basil (tulsi) leaves. Add it to a litre of water. Simmer it on a very low fire till the water is reduced to half. Cool and strain. Use the water to wash the face. Make a paste of the leaves and apply on the face. This also helps to keep the skin healthy. Neem leaves can also be used the same way.

The air pollutants can also affect the eyes, causing burning or redness. The eyes should be washed with plain water several times.

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Thoreau wrote, “Time is but the stream I go fishing in.” Never mind that he lived in his mother’s back yard, about as independent as any basement dwelling youth of today.  Time is but the place and space we make of it, and any day is a good day for building memories.  Some are better than others; some are down-right painful.  But by picking the better ones to keep close to our hearts–even when they dwell right next door to the painful ones–we can keep on going.

I awoke with hope, and a little trepidation.  My youngest son was planning to come visit; but by evening, we had come to the mutual agreement that neither of our budgets were going to support plane tickets at this time.  Not so many years ago, a blow like this would have eaten up my happiness till I could not function.  Instead, we comforted each other with reminders that there are those modern inventions called telephones, and MySpace to leave pictures…and let it go.

I’ve made a habit, since getting a digital camera, of carrying it about with me.  It’s a great way of capturing grandkids unawares, or just catching a special shot that would have been missed if a trip had to be made to get equipment.  After hanging up the phone, I got out the camera to harvest the day’s pictures.

With the current shape of the economy, I’ve been devoting quite a bit of time to planting things.  Today, I weeded out the mint bed, planted Stevia and lettuce seed. The morning air was clear and bright, cheerful with birdcalls.  In the distance, the church bells rang out.  Automobile sounds reminded that humans were also stirring about.

A mother robin feasted on the tiny ornamental strawberries that grow all over my lawn.  Sadly, they are not the delectable sweet strawberries of my childhood; while edible, they taste rather like water.  Mama Robin didn’t seem to mind. 

I saw her gobble down three or four of them, and then carry a fat grub to her two fledglings.  The baby birds are almost as big as she, but have not yet fully developed their wing feathers.  They would hop up into the hedge, and then practice short flights under their mother’s watchful eye.

In the distance, a mourning dove crooned.  A pair of blackbirds perch in the sycamore branches overhead.  The air is perfumed by the roses, blooming hedge, and the tulip tree’s blossoms.  The air is crisp, with a promise of heat later in the day.  A light breeze stirs the leaves, making the maple leaves twirl about.

Yesterday, I read an article about a book by neuroscientist Mark Waldman called How God Changes Your Brain: Breakthrough Findings By a Leading Neuroscientist.  As I read the blurb on his website, I wasn’t totally certain how scientific his interpretations of his findings might be, but I was aware that over the years, there has developed a body of work on meditation, prayer, and changes in measureable brain activity.  After all, that was what the whole bio-feedback bit in the late 70’s was about.

I ruminated over how, in centuries past, my gardening activities on a Sunday morning would have been considered inappropriate at the very least.  Indeed, all over the near-by countryside, at that very moment, were probably people who were sitting inside four walls attending morning services, who would be of the opinion that my time could be better spent in similar environment.  The morning breeze combed gently through my hair, the trees lifted their branches to the sky.  A saucy cardinal (who wouldn’t hold still for his picture to be taken) shouted out, “What Cheer! What Cheer!”

In that moment, tensions I had been hoarding all week flowed away on the wind.  I felt rooted in the earth like the trees; the birds shouted out joy in living/being.  A soft rain of downy Sycamore seeds reminded that growth, living, death and rebirth are the eternal cycle, needing no explanation or excuse.

Say, you have a loud alarm clock, like many of us?  That loud alarm clock knocks you out of REM sleep, when your body isn’t ready to get up.

Solution:  A dawn simulating alarm clock.  It mocks a sunrise.  The light gets you out of REM sleep easier.

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Stress #2 Being Late

Do you ever think to yourself, how can I move faster in the mornings? 

Solution:  I’ve found that lathering up with soap scented with jasmine, citrus or mint does that job.  These aromas are said, to turn on parts of the brain that control alertness.  It would also good to put a radio in your shower.  The music can really get you going in the morning.

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Stress #3 You Don’t Have Time For Breakfast

There are days you find yourself running out the door, and it hits you: “I didn’t get any breakfast”.

Solution:  Breakfast bars to the rescue!  Breakfast bars have taken a makeover.  They are now made for a more health conscious society.  Breakfast bars are low in fat with more protein and fiber.

Stress #4 You Have The Munchies

You got munchies on the mind and your fighting it!  This can be stress full and actually make you eat more. 

Solution:  Don’t deprive yourself, but don’t wreck your diet either.  You need something sweet fruity try yogurt and fruit.  Salty more your taste try a handful of nuts.

Stress #5 Everyday Annoyances

If work, traffic or endless lines are stressing you out, then you can easily fix it!

Solution:  Go ahead and kiss your mate.  Kissing lowers the stress hormone cortisol and boosts your mood.

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Stress #6 Your Clan Is Bored

Over a span of 10 years, researchers have found, that people in tight-knit families are happier than anyone else.

Solution:  Take out some board games or turn on the video games.  Playing games, with your family, makes everyone happy and strengthens family bonds.

Image via Wikipedia