by Patricia | Oct 28, 2013 | Blog, Empowerment, Featured, Wellness
When you’re pursuing a BIG goal, it seems that feelings of giving up are a part of the process. I have only anecdotal evidence to support this idea, nothing hard or scientific (yet!) but it would seem that, if you’re walking towards the life of your dreams, it is natural to think about giving up. And why not? Staying put in whatever shitty/mediocre/bland experience you’re having feels “safe” and comfortable. There are those of you who will say that there’s nothing wrong with wanting to be safe and comfortable – I know this because I hear it all the time. And while safety and comfort are not bad things, they can be “wrong” when they stand in the way of living your dream life. If you’re looking at this site, I hope you were not thinking this was just going to be some feel-good new-age take-it-easy kind of place. Nope. Shine! by Patricia Gene, Rise Your Shine ™ and everything else associated with this business are all about stepping into and living the life of your dreams. And it will take work to get “there.” And it’s not always going to feel good to get “there.” To get something you’ve never had, you have to do something you’ve never done. And once you start doing that something, you might have to keep on with it, over and over, even when it’s not the most comfortable choice. And it might take awhile for you to really LIVE the life you’re dreaming of, but you will get there if you keep going. Quitting, however, will make the process SO much...
by Patricia | May 21, 2013 | Blog, Featured, Self Love of The Day, Wellness
I came home from work and I was TIRED. I woke up too early, and I’m still sore from yesterday’s Insanity workout (Plyometic Cardio Circuit don’t play!) Also, I stayed at work an hour longer than my body would have liked. And then there’s the humidity in NYC today….ugh! The LAST thing I felt like doing when I walked in the house was cooking. THE LAST. Standing over a stove? Even assembling a salad? Just not into it. I could have gotten my boo to run out and buy some chicken or something nearby. But instead, I put my feelings to the side and went in: I cooked and assembled my salad and now that I’m post meal, I’m so glad I did! I made something that not only nourished my body nutrient-wise but also nourished my taste buds! While making it, I reminded myself that crafting a nourishing meal IS an act of love even when I don’t feel like crafting. Putting my momentary (but real) feelings of fatigue aside lead to a great meal experience AND an energy boost, telling me that I probably needed to eat some hydrating foods to feel better (arugula, zucchini and tomatoes made most of the meal and they’re all pretty high in water content). Tonight’s dinner reminded me why #selflove is so important, all day, every day, even when it’s not the most comfortable choice. P.S. If you haven’t tried Saba yet, you really should! So yummy and versatile! I’ve tried it on meat but it could work on a salad and maybe on dessert. P.P.S. Check out my Instagram...
by Patricia | May 6, 2013 | Beauty, Blog, Empowerment, Featured, Self Love of The Day, Wellness
As important as my hands are, I don’t show them enough love. So my self-love of the day was pampering them with a nail buff and trim, a coconut oil massage (that’s the oily results at the top), and then painting my nails in a pretty purple shade with a little gold glitter accent. A tip: coconut oil is great for moisturizing every part of your body (as long as you don’t have an allergy), and helps maintain the strength of your nails and hair. My motto: if you love it, you have to show it. And I love me some...
by Patricia | Apr 16, 2013 | Beauty, Blog, Empowerment, Featured, Wellness
It can’t be a coincidence that I came across Dove’s new campaign right as I was preparing to write a post on changing your mind about your beauty. This brief documentary (below) compellingly demonstrates just how readily we discount or deny our beauty – and just why we should take the time to appreciate ourselves. I watched this clip and ever since I can’t help to wonder how the way I view myself compares to the way others view me. Watch, and I’m sure you’ll find yourself wondering the...
by Patricia | Apr 9, 2013 | Beauty, Blog, Featured, Wellness
My happy place is where beauty and wellness meet! One of my favorite things about this “place” is how readily I can beautify and groom using day-to-day ingredients, creating beauty solutions that are as high-quality as anything you’d buy in a department store. Here’s one of favorite ways to pamper and beautify while nourishing my skin: 2 part extra virgin olive oil 2 parts sugar (white or brown is fine) 1 part lemon juice Mix the ingredients together, and use as needed! Recommended use: Great as a face or body scrub. After scrubbing, wash off with warm water. Do not use more than once a week. Store in a sealed container. Keeps best in a refrigerator. Aside from the effects of exfoliating, this scrub treats your skin to nutrient rich extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice. Olive oil is full of antioxidants and phytonutrients, and lemon juice, itself a great exfoliant, also provides a dose of Vitamin C. Give it a try, enjoy your softened, exfoliated skin and let me know what you think!...
by Patricia | Apr 1, 2013 | Beauty, Blog, Empowerment, Featured, Wellness
A couple of weeks ago I posted about the free screening of the documentary Hungry for Change. I have watched it twice and I am SO GLAD I did! Before watching I thought I’d be able to write a post breaking down all the information, but frankly there’s way too much in the documentary to do any justice in a blog post. I plan on using the video as a tool in my coaching – if you work with me, you’ll likely hear all about it! Here are points from the doc that stuck out to me: Diet sodas suck! Aspartame, an ingredient found in most diet sodas, is associated with a build up of formaldehyde in the brain, frontal lobe inflammation, migraines, visual disturbances, headaches, neuralgic problems and is considered carcinogenic. Aspartame is also recognized by many pilots as a big NO because it can cause severe aberrations in their vision. Diet sodas are generally a vehicle for aspartame or another non-caloric sweetener and caffeine, a combo that’s found to kill brain cells. The combination creates excitotoxins that kill the cells. Research shows that non-caloric sweeteners contribute to weight gain because they create carbohydrate cravings. Whenever you trick your body into thinking it’s getting a nutrient (like a carbohydrate) but you aren’t actually eating it, your brain will send a signal directing you to eat until you actually get the nutrient!! (I can vouch for this effect!) What you consume, you wear. Consider that we are programmed to scan people for good health for reproductive purposes. Those with luminous skin, healthy hair , bright eyes, etc....
