Happiness!

What most of us ultimately strive for is to be happy. We simply hunger for happiness. But the fact is, although we all strive for happiness, very few of us seem to reach the level of happiness we desire.  How come? Reaching happiness is more complex and we have a hard time finding that constant happiness, partly due to the fact that too many of us search fulfillment in material things that create temporary enjoyment, but don’t cause lasting happiness. Also, we all have different opinions on what it means to be happy. Just ask yourself this; are you truly happy? Besides, what is it that makes us happy? Lastly, is happiness a choice?

So, what precisely is happiness?  If you ask me, a happy life is one that is filled with love! The more love I experience, the happier my life. The more love I feel, the more fulfilled and accomplished I see myself. The more love I give, the more love I receive. Likewise, a happy life is filled with compassion and abiding joy. It is a long-lasting serenity, that inner peace and emotional tranquility – which is a very rare achievement indeed. Happiness is a combination of the present, the past and the future. In order to be happy, one must ascribe positive emotions of the past, for instance gratitude as well as positive feelings towards the future i.e. hopefulness, optimism and confidence. Additionally, one must have a positive attitude toward life.    

But why is it that happiness is so hard to reach sometimes? If we are unhappy and unable to reach happiness, it could be because we tend to focus on reaching perfectionism, which most likely leads us to dissatisfaction when not reaching it. Equally, we live in an era where many of us focus on materialism, meaning a lot of us focus on receiving rather than giving and for that reason we only reach momentary joy.  Similarly, too often we focus on all the things we don’t have rather than being grateful for what we have and appreciate it while it is there.  

For the most part, it's up to us. So in order to be happy and to boost happiness we must be grateful for life, for our family, for our friends and our loved ones. Being grateful is the essential for personal happiness. And there are so many things we should and ought to be grateful for, but somehow we often forget them. So, learn to be grateful and you will be open to receive an abundance of joy and happiness.  The real gift of gratitude is the more grateful you are, the more present you become. We tend to forget that happiness doesn’t come as a result of getting something we don’t have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have. Appreciate your life and all you have! And, be GRATEFUL!

Needless to say, a lot people seem to have forgotten that the key to a happy life is much simpler than we think. In our pursuit of happiness we should remember; it is in the small things in life that we find happiness. If we do, we might just find that the moment we stop wanting more, and stop trying to be happy, we will actually start to enjoy life and find happiness. Therefore, smile, hug, give, love and say “thank you”!!!

Have a Happy Wednesday!

Mason Pearson - The Holy Grail of Hair Brushes

Beautiful, healthy hair just gives a woman that extra look of glow, health and feminine beauty. So, a good brush is like a great haircut. I recently bought a Mason Pearson’s boar bristle hairbrush. And, for those of you who don’t know, Mason Pearson is an English brand, which specializes in handmade hairbrushes and has done it for over 130 years. They offer brushes with boar bristles, nylon bristles or a combination of these two, depending on what type of hair you have.

This is the best brush, which helps create volume, reduce frizz, enhance shine and make your hair feel like silk. The bristles stimulate your scalp in a gentle but awesome way and make your hair look shiny, full and bouncy.

Mason Pearson includes a cleaning brush, which helps maintain the quality of your brush lasting you a lifetime.

Take into consideration the thickness of your own hair when choosing which brush to buy. The thicker your hair is, the sturdier bristle you will need. So, if you have fine to normal long hair you should go for pure bristle brushes. If you have normal and short thick hair, you will need a combination of bristle and nylon brushes. On the other hand, if you have very thick hair, all nylon brushes are best for you.   

Simply put, this handmade brush is AMAZING. The nylon and boar bristles are meant to massage your scalp and evenly distribute the oils in your hair, making your hair healthy, shiny and strong. Comparing the quality and construction, this brush is the pinnacle of hairbrush couture. And, if you ask me Mason Pearson brushes are worth the cost.

And remember to brush your hair 100 times before you go to bed. It is a good thing, because when we brush our hair we are pushing our natural oils down the hair shaft to the ends of our hair. It only makes sense, brushing keeps your hair shiny and strong. 

Stunning Hair Secrets

Shiny hair is essential for a healthy and polished look. Yet, when it comes to your health and beauty your hair can sometimes seem like an afterthought. And, before you know it, you’re left with frizzy, dry and damaged hair. Here are three great treatments that will help you refresh your hair – and the best part is the fact that you can do them right in the comfort of your own home! No need to visit a hair salon.

Argan Oil Treatment

I love this Argan oil treatment. It makes my hair so soft and silky. If you did not know, Argan oil is high in antioxidants and vitamins A and D. For that reason, this treatment prevents breakage and gives you healthy, smooth and moisturized hair. The antioxidants slow down the negative effects that breakage and damage can have. Argan oil hair treatment repairs moisturize and nourish all types of hair using its powerful antioxidants and minerals. It is recommended to do this treatment once a week.

Ingredients

1 dime-sized drop of argan oil.

Directions

Wet hair. Put the drop of oil into your hand and apply to your hair, starting on the underside of your scalp. Comb through hair to distribute. Style hair as you normally would, with or without a hair dryer.

Brown Sugar Scrub

Brown sugar is a natural exfoliant with no chemical preservatives. It removes product build-up, dead skin cells and other pore-clogging impurities.

Avocado oil is high in antioxidants, vitamins A, D and E, and amino acids. The antioxidants help fight against damage, and the amino acids help strengthen and fortify hair. Also, the oil acts as a humectant, which helps keep hair moisturized.

Ingredients 

1 part avocado oil

2 parts brown sugar

Directions

Wet hair and apply combined ingredients to scalp (not ends) of hair for a few minutes. Rinse thoroughly. Shampoo and condition as you would normally. This treatment can be done once a week.

My Mama’s olive oil & egg hair treatment

This combination of eggs and olive oil is a healthy, inexpensive, homemade hair treatment recipe. Eggs are natural moisturizers, because they are a rich source of vitamins A, E and D and fatty acids. Vitamin A, E and D contribute to hair growth, prevent the development of split ends and enhance silkiness to the hair. While olive oil is used for ensuring continuous blood circulation in the scalp. Heated lukewarm olive oil exfoliates hair. It helps to maintain hair color and texture. Olive oil is used as massage treatment for dry scalps.
 Therefore, a mixture of egg and olive oil prevents hair from drying out and becoming brittle.

Ingredients

2 egg yolks

4 tbs. olive oil

2 tbs. lemon

Directions

Mix all the above ingredients and massage well into your hair and scalp, wrap your head in a hot towel and let it stay for 30 minutes. Then rinse off and shampoo as usual. You can also leave the oil in overnight and cover with a plastic shower cap to protect your pillow while you sleep. Shampoo out the olive oil in the morning.  

Apply these hair treatments at least once a week and get the hair you have always wanted, namely healthy shinny, and beautiful. Enjoy!