19-07-2010 | Posted by: Maruja Retana
A few years ago I was obsessed with a book called 'Emotional Intelligence', which described how emotions play a very large role in the way we think and act, and in accomplishing personal and professional success. The writer, Daniel Goleman, has a fantastic way of writing, combining engaging anecdotes with scientific information. So...when I saw his book 'Social Intelligence' in the local bookstore, I didn't hesitate for a second. I started reading it yesterday and I'm loving it so far. 'Socal Intelligence' describes how our brains are designed to make connections with other people. We have a natural ability to do so (think of how easily we copy other people's behavior (yawning, smiling, crying, flirting, being irritated, etc.)), but we can also develop these skills in order to succeed even more in any social situation. Interesting stuff!
Daniel Goleman also wrote a book called 'Ecological Intelligence', about the environmental consequences of what we make and buy. Sounds very promising as well! Check him out in these links below:
12-07-2010 | Posted by: Lonneke EngelI just bought an amazing book!
The first page caught me: A picture of the burnt out control room of Reactor 4 in Chernobyl. More intense it can't get I thought.
This book has a great lay-out, it is easy to read, with pictures accompanying it to explain. It looks good so it is already a book good for your collection of amazing books!
The book is a few years old, but it looks like some of the issues are still very much happening right now.
What is it about? This book is a book the design of the world. What are the challenges? And what are the solutions? I am figuring them out right now :)
what do you think of this book or Bruce Mau? Leave it here.
28-06-2010 | Posted by: Lonneke EngelToday, when Eyal, Anne-Marie and me had a meeting to talk about all the fun events we are organizing coming months, we tried some really nice new drinks.
We met at Great Jones Spa, a spa that is trying to offer organic, and or healthy treatments, juices and foods. A perfect location to meet. Great Jones Spa is located-as the name shows already- On Great Jones in NYC.
The one drink I liked was Dr. Andrew Weil for Tea in Darjeeling. It was a fresh, light, refreshing little can, also called a "shot". Supposedly there are many antioxidants in one can, and no calories and 100% of daily value of Vitamin C. Dr Weil is a popular American physician, that focusses mostly on integrative medicine. He wrote many interesting books.
The other one was our all time favorite Coconut water, by Zico. Other really good brands are Vita Coco and O.N.E.. Also a very refreshing drink. low calories and sodium and high in potassium, making it an ideal sports drink.
Another new drink we tried was from the brand Alo, a drink made with aloe vera. There are different ones like "Awaken" that has wheatgrass and aloe vera, Enliven with 12 different vegetables and fruits, or Allure with mangosteen to name a few. This drink has chunks of aloe vera in it, and it comes closest (I think) to the bubble tea we all love! It is sweetened with honey and/or cane sugar. So they are not the lowest in calorie drinks, but don't have thickeners or emulsifiers in them, or other chemical ingredients. I liked the taste, but one whole bottle was too much for me!
Really nice also is to brew your own tea, and then chill it. You can sweeten it with a hint of agave syrup or honey. Or not.I think that is the best!
Cold drinks rule in the hot summer!
25-06-2010 | Posted by: Lonneke EngelI just started reading this amazing book by David Wolfe, talking about The Beauty Diet®. It is called Eating for Beauty, and I think you should read it, if you want to become healthier and more beautiful!
For you who don't know who this David Wolfe is, he is an expert in the field of nutrition, especially raw food, and what he calls "Superfoods". In "Eating for Beauty" he explains his nutrition plan to achieve beauty, and it is not about restriction, but about adding in amazing super foods. (Sounds good!).
When I went to school at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in NYC, he came as a guest speaker and was very captivating. He was like giving light almost that was how positive he was about the world and food! He believes in raw foods, as they have the most enzymes and most life in them. (not heated over 120 degrees Fahrenheit). He works with pictures called Kirlian photography, that show how much energy is in each food item. What you see in this way of photographing, is rays of light in different parts of the food. When you do this with raw foods, there are more and stronger rays, then when you do it with cooked or processed foods. You have to see it to understand so click to this page for the explanation: Kirlian photography.
There are certain foods that have so many good qualities, minerals, antioxidants or other good things in them, people call them: Superfoods. David Wolfe believes eating those kind of foods helps your cells function better, which could help you become the healthiest and most beautiful you can be!
David LOVES food, raw and vegan. He says there are so many varieties and colors in plant based foods, that eating these nutritious foods are like orgasms for your taste buds !( his words not mine!) I think he especially likes avocado, as his nickname is supposedly David "Avocado" Wolfe!
Some things he says in the book stayed with me for a while. He is absolutely right: Positivity is the way to go about food, not restricting, dieting, or being afraid of it! Your thoughts, and actions in every part of your life are connected to the way you look and feel. That's what I believe too!
Here are a few quotes I thought were very powerful:
"If you want to become beautiful, you have to become that type of person on the inside first, and then attract beauty to you. It seems to work this way in all facets of life"
"The logic of "You are what You eat" implies that those who wish to become healthier should eat the healthiest foods. Those who wish to beautify themselves should eat the most beautifying foods"
David Wolfe actually started to offer those beautifying foods, with his company: Sunfood nutrition. You can find their products at many health food stores, and supermarkets. Their range of products include raw cacao powder and beans,coconut oil, goji berries,aloe vera and hemp seeds to name a few.
I think David Wolfe is amazing inspiring person. I really think you should try one of his foods ( so yummy!) or read one of his books. Besides Eating for Beauty he also wrote Naked Chocolate (all about chocolate) and The Sunfood Diet Success System (in which he explains more about his theory of fresh, raw and vegan (super) foods).
David Wolfe has so many good things about him that it is too much to tell you in this post! So better go check him out yourself!
13-05-2010 | Posted by: Lonneke EngelMy favorite new discovery is Intelligent Nutrients. Skincare, Haircare and Aromatherapy!
When I was at ABC Carpet in NYC, a magical place where they sell a lot of beautiful and organic things for yourself and your home, I found a rack with great products from this brand.
I spoke to the manager, Marisa Gubert, and was intrigued with this brand.
Why?
The packaging is very simple and beautiful. On the packaging it tells you about what Intelligent Nutrients stands for. Which is pure, organic, ethical, cruelty free, organic products, in recyclable packaging, and good for you.
Founded by Horst M. Rechelbacher,this brand focusses on plants and aromatherapy, with the goal of creating sound nutritional products for both a healthier personal ecosystem and a healthier planet.
Horst also started the Aveda company years ago before he sold it to Estee Lauder.
More information I found on his site:
"Horst was voted one of the most notable Austrians living in America by the Austrian press, along with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Wolfgang Puck. Vanity Fair magazine voted Horst as one of the most influential environmentalists in the U.S. in 1995 and again in 2005. Horst is one of the three original founders of Business for Social Responsibility, which promotes the idea that businesses have the greatest responsibility and opportunity to provide sustainability to all living species. In 2004, he became a founding member of the Organic Center for Education, Research and Promotion, and the beauty industry awarded him the Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2007, the International Congress of Esthetics and Spa presented Horst with the Crystal Award, and he received the Rachel Carson Award for a Lifetime Commitment to Environmental Ethics & Integrity. Later that year, the Spa & Salon Professional Association Incorporated honored him as an Industry Innovator & Legend for his lifetime contribution to the cosmetology industry."
But that's not all!
Right now I am reading the book Horst wrote:
It is an easy read and gives a great insight in the leadership of Horst M. Rechelbacher, of one of the most innovative skincare companies in the world! He gives tips and advice how we all can make this world a better place, including offering good products that respect people, nature and animals, which in his opinion, is the only way we can guarantee a safe future of Planet Earth.
I AGREE!
Intelligent Nutrients and Horst M. Rechelbacher:
I am a big fan!
08-04-2010 | Posted by: Irene DirksTuesday I went to a concert of the band of Pancho Amat.
He is a famous guitar player from Cuba and he and his band performed typical Cuban Son music.
I’m so crazy about this music.
I totally love it!
A few years ago I travelled through Cuba for one month.
I saved up for a very long time to have an amazing trip on my own.
I joined a group tour which travelled through Cuba for 18 days.
And at the end everybody else went back home and I stayed in a beach resort for another 5 days in Varadero and then another 5 days in Havana before I went home.
It was truly the best trip I have ever taken!
It had everything I liked:
Culture, lots of history, beautiful nature, blue oceans, nice people, cocktails, dancing, music and of course SUNSHINE!
I remember arriving the first night so well!
I had just arrived from the airport, checked into the hotel, had some food and then with a few people went out to the Malecon (the boulevard in Havana) and sat down for some drinks.
Immediately people came up to us and started to make music.
I was so happy I finally arrived so far away from home.
The furthest away I have ever been!
I saved up for so long, listening to the music and reading books about Cuba, that being there was just thrilling!
But realizing that everything what I read about the music was actually TRUE! (That they make it on every corner and wherever you looked) was AMAZING!!!!
Couldn’t stop smiling!!
Later I realized that this was the worst band we saw on the whole trip!
But at the time it was simply the best I had ever heard!!!
So Tuesday at the concert, everything came back to me.
The whole trip flashed before my eyes.
It was amazing!
Now I definitely know for sure I will go back again one day
I <3 Cuba!!!
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