Sleeping Beauty

Life in the city is so hectic that one often suffers from lack of
sleep and care of the body. I for one am apt to fall into this trap
until moi decided 3 weeks ago not to be caught up by the system. Here
are a couple of stuff I embarked on:

1.  Regular exercising
I started with thrice a week brisk walking and running gradually going
up to 5km only once! And that's 3 weeks ago! With my JP Morgan run
coming up next week and me still nursing a cold, I am getting all hot
and bothered. BUT and this is a HUGE BUT, I have learnt to take life
with its curve balls.  As Murphy's Law goes, when it rains, it pours!
So, I am just gonna take things in my stride!  Real looking forward to
the event still.

2. Eat right and happy
Well, I figured that to be healthy, one needs to eat right but to be
absolutely sated and happy, one needs indulgences of the vices now and
then. I for one live to eat and the constant challenge had been to
balance food I love aka sinful with soul food to keep my weight in
check. This is the conclusion I arrive at - I will never be supermodel
thin nor skinny but I am happy and satisfied with the way I look now.
It's a coming of age really where once body image issues will bother
me , I take them with a pinch of salt nowadays.

3. Stringent use of masks
Where once I could get away with minimal exfoliation and masking, my
aging could well do with some interventions these days. That's how I
discovered this glorious sleeping mask from The Face Shop. It had been
a best seller and together with this green tea blackhead remover, are
the loves of many gals I discovered.

The sleeping mask is infused with raspberry goodness that will hydrate
your face as you snooze and walah (!) you wake up with plump, fresh
looking face the following morning. Blemishes tend to recover faster
due to the higher moisture level and get this, this gel mask can
prevent them too especially when u use them intensively for a
couple of days after sun exposure. I for one had been reaping the
benefits by daily masking since sun evening. My makeup stays longer
too during the day and my face stays matt longer.

As I rave about my first love, let's not forget the green tea
blackhead remover. It is mineral oil based with green tea extract and
smells super calming. Apply a few drops on cleansed skin at the areas
where there are blackheads and massage with your fingertips (GENTLY)
for 2 to 3 mins. Thereafter wash off with warm water and cleanse
again. Typically I will extend the coverage to my T zone which is
great as my pores seemed to get smaller!

Both products are to be used once per week and after testing for 3
weeks, I'm happy to declare, they work! Goofing around does not pay
especially when you have oily skin like mine in a hot and humid
climate no less!

4. Activity bound weekends
Ah the weekend! A time to sleep in and just relax. Or so I thought. My
soul beckons ith promises of nourishment by undertaking activities of
the physical, intellectual and fun kind. So I had been involved in checking
out the recently concluded Maritime Amazing Race, joined the upcoming
JP Morgsn race, having leisure weekend lunches with my family,
visiting the museums, church or just meditating. I want to live my
life to the fullest and do not want to slow down one bit. The future
though unknown to me is full of hope and my strong faith in God keeps
me going. I believe that constant activity moves the mind, body and
soul. And constantly on the move keeps me alive too.

5. Dare to try the Different or New
I'm not born courageous and used to baulk at anything that seemed a
tad risky. To me being safe is the best bet. What changed my mind? When I
realized everything and anything will depend entirely for me to make
it happen, inaction included. That's when life embarked on a greater
meaning due to the meaning I give it. What could be more wondrous than
that? And the wheel of change and creation of happiness once started
cannot be stopped as new beginnings brings new happiness and more and
more happiness. Life still comes with its requisite bittersweet. But
the aftertaste is so much more well earned when I can say with a
smile, I did something different!