#43 Gratitudes

I am always saying how much I love my job. It's true! I look forward to getting to work every day and I'm happy when I'm here. I enjoy the company of my co-workers. I love working in NYC. I stand by the products we sell and I use them myself. I feel so fortunate to be able to say all that. Many people I know dread Mondays...they drag themselves to a job they despise and they dream of escape from it. It isn't like that for me, thank goodness. I just wanted to express my gratitude for the good fortune I have. https://www.facebook.com/ecuretreatment

#21 No longer a gym rat

Every day is a challenge to eat in a nutritional manner. I am only 5' tall, so every pound I gain is another inch on my frame. I'm curvy and fun-sized, but that's only ten pounds away from dumpy and roly-poly.
Another problem is that I hate to exercise. I was a very loyal gym rat for a couple of  years. I was fit and I loved how I felt. However, life has since gotten in the way, and I no longer have space in my schedule for a trip to the gym.
Add on the terrible lifestyle of commuting to NYC. I spend five hours a day sitting on a bus. Plus another eight hours mostly sitting at my desk. It's not healthy to be so sedentary.

I try very hard to compensate for this by walking, briskly, around NYC. Every day at lunch I walk at least eight to ten blocks, sometimes a lot more. I walk fast enough where it's hard to talk. My legs cramp and I break a sweat, but not enough where I can't return to work. If Ispend the night in NY, I walk after work too.  Sometimes I go to Central Park http://www.centralpark.com/, which has some killer hills and flights of steps. Sometimes I just walk around Washington Heights http://www.nycgo.com/articles/neighborhood-spotlight-washington-heights , which also has some very steep hills. Nearby is Fort Tryon Park http://forttryonparktrust.org/ , which is just so beautiful to walk around. Flower gardens, rockscaping, the Cloisters http://www.metmuseum.org/visit/visit-the-cloisters , and soft grassy fields with large shady trees to sit under. Except I don't.
So the other part of trying to stay healthy is diet. Whether I'm at work or at home, it is so simple to walk into a restaurant. One of the problems I have with that convenience is that portions are so big in restaurants  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/22/restaurant-portion-size_n_1534458.html. And I'm paying money for it, so I feel an intense obligation to consume all of it. The solution is to avoid eating out. First of all, it saves a lot of money. Secondly, I eat a lot less when I'm making myself a meal. And finally, though I am not a committed vegetarian, I do observe certain dietary laws and so I avoid animal products in my foods as much as possible. If the first few ingredients are salt/sodium or high fructose corn syrup http://www.naturalnews.com/024466_corn_health_HFCS.html  I generally won't eat it. If it has things in the ingredients that I can't recognize or pronounce I won't eat it.
 Fortunately I love fruits and vegetables. I can eat a garden salad every day and never get tired of it. At places like Elias Markets http://www.eliasfoods.com/ I can a week's worth of produce for only a few dollars. I love making my own salad dressings as well.
Of course, I get urges for less healthy treats. I am a lover of chocolate. Today I satisfied that craving and my need for breakfast with a nutrition bar http://www.nugonutrition.com/ from Nugo. It actually tastes like a chocolate treat and it fills me up, for a couple of hours anyway.
Since I've started paying attention to this, I've actually lost almost ten pounds. I'm excited about that and it's motivating me to do more.
Hairstylists are known for not taking care of themselves. We stand on our feet for hours, sitting when not working, eating grab-n-go foods, etc. I strongly encourage everyone in the beauty industry to consider that being healthy is necessary to be beautiful over the long term. It's important to "look the part" as well as being a kind and generous person. And being beautiful, inside and out,  is what it's all about, right?
Note: Top photo: Belvedere Castle, Central Park, NYC
Middle Photo: The Cloisters Museum and Gardens, NYC
Bottom Photo: Fort Tryon Park, NYC
Yes, I have a fondness for gothic architecture. Those steps are fantastic exercise!

#11 Subway Station Art in NYC

NYC cannot function without it's subway system. The system started back in the 1800's. Basically there were two private, independent companies that competed with each other for subway fares. And then...well, to put it simply, the city goverment got involved. The fares were fixed and so neither company could compete effectively. Eventually, the city bought both systems, leading to today's "modern" subway system in NYC. I am hesitant to call it modern because the train stations have not been upgraded (or cleaned?) since the 1930's. Most stations no longer have public bathrooms, the once beautiful artwork in the stations has long since been covered with grime. It makes me sad as I look up at the ceiling of the 168 St Station and I can see where beautiful chandeliers used to hang. Quite a few of the stations have lovely mosaics reflecting the area of the city that they serve. For example, the 42nd St station, which resides underneath Times Square, has a mosaic that runs the length of the corridor. It features people celebrating New Year's, blowing horns and celebrating in their winter coats.
I have attached some photos of some pieces. I feel as if these stations are a part of NYC history, and it's a shame that they are slowly decaying away. I certainly hope that if the city does decide to upgrade the subway system (and I'm sure eventually they will) that they will preserve the mosaics and even some of the classic architecture.

Shoe Maven

Good Morning! If you have ever had an interest in fashion or design, you have probably heard of the Fashion Institute of Technology here in NYC.  http://www.fitnyc.edu/ Its a college devoted to fashion and they even have a free museum open to the public. I haven't toured the museum yet but I will write it up as soon as I do. That being said, I am surrounded by people on the forefront of the fashion industry. I love walking down the street in my ordinary American mom clothes (we have a casual office where jeans are ok) and I end up walking next to a tall, thin model in haute couture with sky-high heels. At least it seems that way since I'm only 5' tall.
 I have noticed a trend amongst many on the train and in the neighborhood. Tom's Shoes seem to be very popular right now. Please understand, I LOVE shoes. My brother-in-law owned a shoe store and I can't tell you how it felt when he retired and sold the store. So yes, I look at everyone's shoes. Forgive me.
 I complimented a lady on the train on her black, bubbly, comfy looking shoes and she gave me a bright smile and said, cheerily, "They're Tom's!"
So I visited the Tom's website http://www.toms.com/ and it turns out that for every pair of shoes you purchase, they donate a pair. They come in a wide variety of styles and colors for women and men. They also sell eyewear. I was told by the lady on the train that they are extremely comfortable and I guess it's true since I'm seeing them everywhere. She also said they stretch so they need to be a half size smaller than usual.
The closest Tom's retailer to my work is Whole Foods, which sells the shoes in their pharmacy section. Not sure if that makes any sense, but I think I will visit and try on a pair to see what the deal is.
And now back to work. Happy Monday!

#8 Happy Friday! Favorite youtube videos

I love to learn new things, but history and science are two of the topics I am most fascinated by. I keep myself entertained and informed in a variety of ways, including Youtube videos.
Youtube links I enjoy include the Vlogbrothers and The Creepy Bard. Actually, I have met the Bard and seen him perform in Central Park. He was kind enough to autograph his cd for me and we've been friends ever since.

John and Hank Green are the Vlogbrothers. They each have separate channels as well as one together.

http://www.youtube.com/user/vlogbrothers Raising Nerdy to the power of awesome.

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBDA2E52FB1EF80C9 Crash Course World History. John Green teaches you the history of the world in 40 Crash Course episodes.

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3EED4C1D684D3ADF Crash Course Biology. Hank Green teaches you biology.

http://www.youtube.com/user/TheCreepyBard/videos

Gather round to hear as David Anthony, The Creepy Bard regales you with songs of drinking, roving, fighting, and things to keep secret from your mother. You will laugh, cry, blush and wonder where you left the whiskey.

Throughout his travels, David Anthony, The Creepy Bard, has learned many great songs and ballads, from songs of gallantry meant to stir men to great deeds, to songs rife with metaphor and innuendo meant to make the ladies blush. Whether at a royal court or at a common pub, The Creepy Bard will entertain men, delight children, and charm the lassies right out of their corsets.
 David also frequents the Shire of Sterling in Tuxedo, New York, in the guise of Christopher Hatton, minstrel to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth.

And of course, the videos from Armada-USA, the company I work for:

http://youtu.be/tIqgECdTHPM How to do the e-Cure Treatment

http://youtu.be/eQYeJU5wXic the e-Cure Treatment at the International Beauty Show in NYC


I hope you find these videos as entertaining and informative as I have. Enjoy the weekend!

#5 The Cloisters, NYC

Many people are very excited about visiting NYC. They want to experience all the scenes from TV and film: Times Square, Broadway, the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, etc. Those places are great to visit and certainly memorable. But this past Friday I was fortunate enough to visit The Cloisters Museum and Gardens. It's not a museum you hear a lot about but it definitely is worth visiting. If you love anything to do with History, especially the Renaissance or the history of Christianity....if you love Art...if you love gardening...if you love castles, Harry Potter, or even Gregorian chants than this is the place for you. I have attached pictures and a link below.
http://www.metmuseum.org/visit/visit-the-cloisters/

#3 Japanese BBQ with my co-workers

One of the central conversations in our office is about food. We are a very diverse blend of people here but we all love to try new and interesting foods. Our office is located close to midtown Manhattan, so we are surrounded by restaurants serving food from all over the world. Prior to joining the Armada team, I had the pleasure of enjoying Japanese Sushi & Hibachi. Now I'm thrilled to have tried Japanese Barbeque at Gyu Kaku ( http://www.gyu-kaku.com/ny/midtown.htm) on a recent night out with my co-workers. I am amazed that this is actually a franchise (which I associate with fast food) as opposed to the top notch dining experience we enjoyed! Similar to Hibachi, in the sense that there is a grill in the center of the table, but there are no crazy chefs flipping shrimp tails into their pockets here. The staff will bring you your menu selections prepared, seasoned, and raw. They will carefully explain the proper timing for cooking each item and leave you to your own devices. As Mayu is from Japan, she was able to explain in detail the delightful dishes we shared. Appetizers included a Japanese cucumber salad (heavenly!), edamame, and salmon that was cured and served with seaweed. The main course stretched over the hours to include various types of beef, pork, chicken, and shellfish. Even the drinks and dessert were amazing. I am so blessed to work with amazing people whose company I enjoy, and I definitely am looking forward to our next night out!