Jamie JJG Top Ten Holiday Favs!

1. EMERALD DIAMOND EARRINGS
2. DOLCE & GABBANA BOOTS

3. SALON BLOWOUT

4. ESSIE "CHOCOLATE KISSES" NAIL POLISH

5. PEONIES

6. COBALT BLUE BOWL

7. VEGAN SPINACH SALAD

8. VINTAGE GLITZ AND GLAMOUR

9. DECORATING

10. FACEBOOK

* My Favorites For Tis The Season *

1. Bergstrom Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2008

Josh is dedicated to biodynamics and is a great farmer an

d winemaker.

2. Brickhouse Pinot Noir “Les Dijonnais” 2008
Doug has been making wine in the Ribbon Ridge AVA for twenty years, and his years of experience couple with a very gentle nature.

3. Dominio IV Syrah “Song of an Uncaged Bird” 06

This is a dense, yet food-friendly wine made from bio-dynamically farmed grapes grown in the Columbia Gorge .

4. Soter Brut Rose
I don’t have a “why” I just love it.

5. 2007 Archery Summit Red Hills Estate Pinot Noir

I love this wine because it is the perfect compliment to the fall and winter months ahead. It is spicy, earthy, den

se, and lingers on the palate.

6. 2007 Archery Summut Premier Cuvee Pinot Noir
A blend of all of our single vineyards, this wine is a family portrait. It has the forward fruit of Arcus, the earth base from the Red Hills, the precision of Renegade, the spice from Looney, and the depth and structure from the Archery Summit Estate. It tells a story.

LA GIRL SECRETS TV LAUNCHED WITH GRATITUDE!

I am so excited so announce that LA Girl Secrets TV has officially launched! We have been working very hard with our collaborators to come up with special deals for our LA Girl Secrets Members, and now our wonderful sponsors can be showcased with video! Check out the video below of SPA 415 in Beverly Hills!

Don't forget to become an LA Girl Secrets Member to get exclusive deals all across Los Angeles! www.lagirlsecrets.com

* My Spa Home Away From Home *

I’m absolutely in love with the The Oaks of Ojai Spa! You can literally feel the stress melt away as you enter the beautiful Ojai Valley, also known as “Shangri-La.” Ojai is a small artist community just south of Santa Barbara near the Pacific Ocean. This where the The Oaks of Ojai is located.

This spa is a peaceful, healthy retreat, offering guests many choices from gentle fitness to endurance workout. The Oaks gives guests a casual, unassuming environment and affordable rates.

Accommodations range from basic double and single rooms to spacious courtyard suites featuring private courtyards with fountains, handmade tile work, fireplaces, jet tubs, and comfortable appointments. A well rounded 1,000-calorie a day food plan consists of three meals, snacks, and beverages.

There is also a dynamic fitness program ranging from specialized mountain hikes and water aerobics to hula hoping, belly dancing, yoga ropes, and rollerblading. Educational classes in wellness and nutrition complement many relaxing treatments. One of my favorite treatments is the The Ultimate Massage. This is a collection of 6 massage styles wrapped into one 75-minute session. Other treatments you might enjoy are acupuncture, Watsu, anti-aging facials, Reiki energy work, and the indigenous Ojai olive oil body soufflé. This place is pure bliss!

* Child of L.A. *

I am a true child of L.A. I have lived here all of my life and I love this city deeply. There is no place else on earth that is so eccentric yet inspiring, so eclectic and truly fascinating.

Sometimes when I fly in after being away for a week or two and I’m amazed at how large the city is. Looking down I think how daunting it must seem to many people, how immense and dispersed, a centerless metropolis. This is not Boston, or Chicago, or New York. Los Angeles is something entirely unique, a stream of suburbs flowing out to the desert on one side and an ocean on the other. Yet I feel something that I can only describe as love as we drop down lower and lower for the landing. I can see the Hollywood sign, the beautiful beaches, and the seaside hills. All of this makes me feel at home.

I have never lived anywhere else is my life. I was born here and never left. Yes, I’ve felt the occasional restlessness, the thought that maybe I should try a different city, a different state. But this feeling always passed in a split second. Over the years I’ve had many friends that did decide to move away. Some left for college on the east coast and never returned. Others left for their careers or for love. Many moved to cities that they felt were more manageable, “better for raising a family” they would say. I went to all of their going-away parties, some very close friends of mine. I would sit there and think, are our needs so different now despite our shared childhoods? Had Los Angeles not become engrained in their soul like it had mine?

We had spent so many afternoons together roaming our suburban streets. We entertained ourselves with games of hopscotch, trying hard with each hop to balance so perfectly and move quicker than our friends. We tried to take it to the next level with each game of Chinese jump rope. No other generation would ever have the easy freedom that we enjoyed. The children’s security apparatus was in force yet. There were no milk cartons haunted with faces of the missing. Parental fear wasn’t in overdrive. Our life was spent outdoors.

Everyone has their own path that they will follow. Some move to other cities, states, or even countries. I love to go and visit these places and soak up all the wonderful things they have to offer. But Los Angeles will never be old for me, even after all the years I’ve spent here, this city still continues to surprise me, to inspire me. This is my home.

CL

Who ISN'T A Spa Girl These Days?

It's almost the weekend and I'm in the mood to pamper myself! There is no better way I can think of than a mani/pedi! How can you not love getting your nails done? It's so relaxing and refreshing! One of my favorite places is Paint Shop in Beverly Hills, they've got tons of great rejuvenation procedures for your hands and feet.

If your feet are looking for some rejuvenation you have to try the Dharma Pedicure. This pedicure is actually designed to energize you! Amazingly intense foot massage + coordinating lacquer color= pure bliss!

Now for those nails! The Shaken, Not Stirred Manicure may make you crave a cocktail, but will leave your hands looking luscious! You can choose from a cosmo or green scented hand bath prepared in a cocktail shaker ala James Bond ;)

Another great option for those nails is the Chai Tini Manicure. First you dip your digits in an all-natural chai tea liqueur, then enjoy a warm latte style float of Voyant drizzled in a crystal goblet. Bring that I.D. ladies and get a shot of Voyant while you're in the chair!

And last but certainly not least, the Dharma Soothie! Relax those muscles in a Epsom salt soak with lavender and eucalyptus oil. This treatment not only moisturizes, but also improves your skin.

September's To-DON'T List!

Doesn't it get so overwhelming trying to keep up with all the new stuff you’re supposed to do to live healthy? Here’s what you really don’t need to bother with!

Never, ever missing a workout. Kim Kardashian landed back in Los Angeles from a trip to Australia and stopped at the gym for a sweat session on way home from the airport. Why not just drop your bags—and then drop into bed?

Doing an extreme mega cleanse. Naomi Campbell told Oprah recently that she did one for a full 18 days. There was only one time in our lives when we subsisted on liquids that long, and it was when “itsy bitsy spider” was our favorite song.

The newest trendy hair color: lavender-gray. Kelly Osbourne and Lady Gaga may be able to get away with this one, but we’d just look like Norma Bates “mother.”

Worrying about going organic for everything from your hair gel to your shoes. Natural should make you feel good, not stressed.

EAT, PRAY, LOVE – Themed Jewelry, Tea, Perfume, and Furniture. Enough Already!

Genetic testing for your thighs. The new CelluliteDX Genetic Test helps doctors predict whether you’ll develop cellulite. No need to spend $249 to know what cellulite will eventually plague most of us—even supermodels.

Ultra-punishing exercise routines. The latest: Convict Conditioning, designed to replicate hard-core prison workouts. The program’s creator, a former San Quentin State Prison inmate, says its “primitive” and “Brutal.” Isn’t Spinning class brutal enough?

Doing a total plastic purge. A Chicago woman has decided to lead a plastic-free life, buying food from bulk bins and even making her own bread, yogurt, and toothpaste. We are all for getting the BPA out of our cabinets—but you have to draw the line at mixing our own toothpaste.

How to Choose the Right Ring!

Shopping for a wedding band can be complicated! There are so many different materials to chose from and you should be happy with whatever choice you make. You'll be wearing this ring for the rest of your life so you better know what you're buying!

One of the most common materials used is PLATINUM. You can expect to pay a bit more, but this is the wedding ring equivalent of royalty. Pure white and so far more rare than gold, platinum is also naturally hypoallergenic.

Another choice is SILVER. Sterling is the most budget-friendly. Durability varies based on what alloys are mixed. For example, a platinum-silver blend is less expensive than pure platinum and has whiter, more tarnish-resistant finish than regular sterling.

You could also go with a TITANIUM ring. It’s less shiny than traditional options, but strong and lightweight, perfect for you gals on the go!

One more alternative is WHITE or YELLOW GOLD: This is a classic choice. It’s cost-effective and ordered in various levels of purity. The colors are created by blending alloys-like copper for yellow, palladium for white. Watch out for scratches: Gold is a soft metal and shows wear quickly.

...SOMETIMES LIFE FEELS LIKE THIS...

The way one feels when swimming laps, almost done, strokes getting sloppy, breath getting more and more ragged:

eyes rhythmically shifting from the peaceful underwater where cellulite-laden thighs and bellies float with the grace of jellyfish; alternating with:

the harsh chlorine vapor and fluorescent lighting, the sight of pale flesh kowtowing and vibrating to the pull of gravity, the bored lifegaurds turning their acne-pocked faces back and forth and blowing whistles at children who keep bursting into a run:

the feeling of being the graceful underwater organism and the heaviness of the arm heaving up for another stroke: all if it jumbled into a crazy collage of sensation, smell, sound, and effort:

and the sound! the fury! all of it going by so fast!

And in it are you lost in your thoughts, projecting your mind into the next 10 minutes (you'll be in the shower), the next hour (you'll be home having dinner), the next week (you'll finally get to see that movie everyone's been raving about), the next year (maybe you'll finally get out of this dead-end job you've been in for so long and do something real with your life?)

I realized quite recently, after about 15 years of studying yoga and several years of teaching it to others, that although I thought I knew what it meant to Be Present, I had actually been faking it. I had been adopting the posture and the demeanor of someone who Knows How to Be Present.

~Spirituality & Health

Wake Up Call on Ethics

Normative ethics is the attempt to provide a general theory that tells us how we ought to live. Unlike metaethics, normative ethics does not attempt to tell us what moral properties are, and unlike applied ethics, it does not attempt to tell us what specific things have those properties. Normative ethics just seeks to tell us how we can find out what things have what moral properties, to provide a framework for ethics.

Normative Ethics

For any act, there are three things that might be thought to be morally interesting: first, there is the agent, the person performing the act; second, there is the act itself; third, there are the consequences of the act. There are three types of normative ethical theory--virtue, deontological, and consequentialist--each emphasising one of these elements.

Virtue Ethics

This first normative ethical theory, virtue theory, concentrates on the moral character of the agent. According to virtue theory, we ought to possess certain character traits--courage, generosity, compassion, etc.--and these ought to be manifest in our actions. We therefore ought to act in ways that exhibit the virtues, even if that means doing what might generally be seen as bad or bringing about undesirable consequences.

Deontology

Normative theories of the second type, deontological theories, concentrate on the act being performed. According to deontological theories, certain types of act are intrinsically good or bad, i.e. good or bad in themselves. These acts ought or ought not to be performed, irrespective of the consequences.

Consequentialism

The third approach to normative ethics is consequentialism. Consequentialist theories hold that we ought always to act in the way that brings about the best consequences. It doesn’t matter what those acts are; the end justifies the means. All that matters for ethics is making the world a better place.

Application

To give an example, then, suppose that a man bravely intervenes to prevent a youth from being assaulted.

The virtue theorist will be most interested in the bravery that the man exhibits; this suggests that he has a good character. The deontologist will be more interested in what the man did; he stood up for someone in need of protection, and that kind of behaviour is intrinsically good. The consequentialist will care only about the consequences of the man’s actions; what he did was good, according to the consequentialist, because he prevented the youth from suffering injury.

What Are Facebook, Twitter, Youtube & Blogging All About?

Are you caught in the computing slow lane while everyone around you seems to be texting or posting things on Facebook, Twitter, or Youtube? Does "blogging" sound like somethign you'd do in the snow, or "podcasting" something coming from outer space? Don't worry, you're not alone. We're here to help get you up to speed. Social networks like Facebook, Twitter are online communities and they're fast becoming an everyday way for hundreds of millions of people to communicate and share information. I will help you set up your own Facebook, Twitter accounts and maneuver through them. You'll learn how to blog and podcast, and find out what makes Youtube so addictive. Discover ideas and methods for using these fun and fascinating sites to communicate with friends and business associates, including how to advertise your products or services and broaden your network of contacts. So come on in and join us!!

In Balance- The Best Posture for Meditation

by Matthieu Ricard

Your physical posture can affect your mental state. If you assume a pose that is too relaxed, and especially if you lie down, chances are that your meditation will stray into drowsiness. One that is too rigid and tense, on the other hand, might laed to mental agitation. Buddhist texts recommended what is known as the "seventh-point posture."

Whole Living

Volunteer! It'll Pay You Back in Surprising Ways

We know: You’re busy, money-crunched and probably working more than ever. How can you possibly volunteer now? Because the payoff for you is huge. Consider: 63 percent of volunteers say giving back has positively affected their careers, one survey found. And another survey showed that more than 78 percent of professional women who volunteer say the experience helped them develop leadership and communication skills.

Volunteering may also make you healthier: Studies show that those who donate their time (less than an hour a week!) have lower incidences of heart disease and depression, plus longer life expectancies. And with this historic recession driving up rates of unemployment, hunger and homelessness, let’s face it: There’s more need now than ever for volunteers.

OK, you’re convinced. So how to find the time? Input your zip code and interests at volunteermatch.org for opportunities in your area. For the very busy check the “Virtual

Opportunities” box for ways to help from the comfort of your couch. “This offers the most flexible schedule and let’s you donate skills like building non-profit’s website or writing a business plan,” explains Robert Rosenthal, spokesman for volunteermatch.org.

“You gain experience, and they gain critical services they couldn’t otherwise afford.”

And it doesn’t have to be a multiyear commitment. Glamour features director Veronica Chambers took one hour to read poems to fifth graders at a school near her house during National Poetry Month. “You think, Oh, volunteering, I’m way to busy right now,’ she says. “But I loved feeling like I was part of my neighborhood.” Encouraged, she volunteered again with a teen journalism program. That time, “I met an editor who gave me one of the best jobs of my career.” Inspiring a future poet or community leader while getting ahead yourself? Not bad for less time than it takes to get your cut and color.

Find more ways to give back at glamour.com/about/glamourgives.

Glamour

Hosting an Afternoon Tea Party with two or more friends

Hosting an Afternoon Tea Party

A partnership of two or more people focused on the same goal or vision is very, very powerful. Whether praying or meditating, working or playing, focused, committed parters can create miracles.

Teas comes from the Camellia Sinensis plant and there are five main types, which are defined by how the leaves are harvested and processed:

WHITE TEA: White tea is the rawest form of tea, because it involves almost no processing. The leaves are picked from the plant and then dried, allowing only a natural oxidation process.

GREEN TEA: Green tea is processed in two ways, steamed or wok-fired. Green tea from Japan is steamed, whereas green tea from China is wok-fired. Natural oxidation occurs in green tea.

OOLONG TEA: Oolong tea is not a well-known tea, but is gaining in popularity. When the tea leaves reach the oxidation level, those harvesting the tea create the flavor profile they are looking for by quickly baking the leaves to stop the oxidation process. Oolong tea is partially oxidized between one to 99 percent.

BLACK TEA: Black tea usually comes first to mind when people think of tea. It is 100 percent fully oxidized and comes in many varities.

PU-ERH TEA: Pu-erh is made in China and the processing of this type of tea is a well-guarded secret. This cave-aged tea is the only tea that gets better with time.

Here is a great addition to your afternoon tea party: Organic Oatmeal Cookie Recipe

Jamie JJG

.♥´´¯`•.¸¸.☆

When In Doubt, Upgrade With A Spring Renewal ♥

This is a time associated with rebirth and rejuvenation. But if you're having trouble awakening your sunnier self, book a spa tratment that will help you welcome the uplifting change the season brings.

By: Melissa MacCalla from Spa Magazine

Outdated Beauty Routine -> Makeup Lesson: An Educational session with a spa makeup artist can help you spruce up your look and cater your cosmetics to warmer weather. Bring your maeup kit to the appointment so the artist can recommend ways to make the most of what you have and suggest additional products that will work with your routine.

Toxin Buildup -> Detoxifying Treatment: This is the perfect season to give your body a through cleanse. Head to the spa for a stimulating massage or warming wrap to increase circulation and help flush out impurities, leaving you refreshed from the inside out.

Winter Weight Gain -> Nutrition Consultation: A nutritionist or registered dietitian can evaluate your current eating, exercise, and lifestyle habits and create a customized plan to help you reach a healthy weight in time to show off your swimsuit.

Lackluster Skin -> Faux Glow: Spa bronzing treatments usually include a skin-softening scrub and a flawless self-tanner application. To keep the golden hue all season long, perform touch-us at home.

Unslightly Feet -> Pedicure: Remedy rough, callused soles before sandal season by scheduling a pedicure that includes a soak, scrub moisturizing masque, and polish application. For an edgy yet sophisticated look, opt for a matter nail lacquer instead of one with the standard shiny finish.

Your World Around Networking Support

Words of Wisdom

By consciously choosing where to stand and what is good to hold onto, we create healthy support and harmony. We often take on characteristics of our environment. It is important to surround ourselves with what we wish to be or want to become, while remaining a unique and powerful individual.

WHAT KIND OF NETWORKING SUPPORT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

Techniques on How to Network:

• Meet as many people as you can. Network everywhere, all the time–at business conferences or with your neighbors on a plane ride.
  
• Act like a host, not a guest. Guests wait to be introduced. A host introduces himself.
  
• Don't do business while networking. It's inappropriate and impractical. Make a date to meet your contact for drinks or lunch.
  
• Give and get. You can't always be a buyer. Do favors. They're like a savings account. Someday you may want to draw on it.
  
• Follow up. This is all-important. Meeting someone is just part of the battle.
  
• Keep in touch. Go through your Rolodexes. If you haven't talked to someone in a while, call just to say hello.

The Organization Man is dead. The patience he demonstrated for getting ahead is no longer a virtue. Gone is the knocking on doors, the cold calls, the waiting in the office. Any salesman riffling the telephone book for prospects is out of his mind. Today, we are a nation of networkers. Networking is the art of making and using contacts. It is the single-minded pursuit of useful contacts at every convention, seminar and neighborhood barbecue. And today networking is exploding. It is changing the way we do business and the way we socialize. Some people say it is purely a pragmatic technique, but the true networker knows it is more. The true networker proposes a new outlook. Previous societies considered every stranger an inherent threat. To the networker, every stranger represents an opportunity, the chance to find prospects, reach targets or meet friends.


Article from Success April 2010 by Richard Ellis

State of Mind

"There is a tremendous abundance around us that we often ignore. Acknowledge the prosperity around you and you will soon harvest the rewards. By being grateful for what you have, you will be enriched."

I think too often in life we take forgranted the things that are the most important. After all, the most important things in life are not actually things, but are in fact: family, love, happiness, traditions and relationships.

•*¨*•.❤Blog Girls LA❤.•*¨*•

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄ƷJamie JJGƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

Relationships

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Relationships are a key part of developing and cultivating an understanding and appreciation of love. Relationships contain a powerful energy that carries with it the ability to change lives. This project is born from a deep love and appreciations for the value of strong connections. It is from these connections between friends, family, and even strangers that we learn to grow and expand in many ways. As our world evolves as a global society, it is becoming clear that each of us has a contribution to make to our planet. By accepting the responsibility to make an impact, we acknowledge and honor our role in the universe. There is no shortcut to discovering our place, but here are many tools that can be used to access our talents and awaken our full potential. This journey is different for each person, but it begins in the same place, desire. This desire for change, growth, and a life full of love is the catalyst for this path of self-discovery. When a person can revel in this path and appreciate the journey, the secrets of life begin to unravel. It is like a whisper at first, beckoning into the unknown. The uncertainty that can sometimes be created by learning to follow your personal path might seem daunting. This is my response to the growing need for clarity and guidance. Too often we are programmed to react to circumstances, but it is how we respond, our responsibility that determines our success as an individual. My goal was to develop a resource, a virtual guidebook where those who hear their calling can find the clues they need to turn up the volume on their inner voice, and turn that whisper into a beautiful song.