Monthly Archives: May 2012

Enjoying the benefits of Aloe Vera!

22 Tuesday May 2012

Posted by in Forever Living Products

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I’ve been without a computer the last ten days, which has been really frustrating,,, And before you think that I’ve been on a lonely island web-wise, let me assure you that I am grateful for my smartphone, and mr. Iphone has been saving the day, every day.

A month ago, I joined a good friend of mine; Benedicte, at a meeting for Forever Living Products. The information about the waste product line of Forever was great, and I thought I this sounded almost too good to be true. So, I had to try. And I’m sold… and now selling products from Forever!

The thought of starting every day with a shoot of Aloe Vera Gel, seemed scary and almost repulsing at the start.  But after a couple of days, my body reacted very naturally on this new routine of mine. I’m now enjoying the benefits of Aloe Vera in tree healthy varieties of fresh, stabilized aloe vera gel – Aloe Vera Gel, Aloe Berry Nectar and Forever Bits n’ Peaches. The primary ingredient of all three varieties is pure Aloe Vera fillet gel from the centre of the leaf.

Imagine slicing open an Aloe leaf and consuming the gel directly from the plant. Forever Living Products Aloe Vera Gel is as close to the real thing as you can get.

The miraculous aloe leaf has been found to contain more than 200 compounds.   A product of Forever’s patented aloe stabilization process, the gel is favoured by those looking to maintain a healthy digestive system and a natural energy level.

The first to receive certification by the International Aloe Science Council, this rich cocktail of pulp and liquid authenticates this product just as nature intended. Taken daily, either alone or mixed with pure fruit juice, it is one of the best health drinks available!

My favourite of the three, Aloe Berry Nectar, contains all of the goodness found in our Aloe Vera Gel, plus the added benefits of cranberry and apple.

Besides their reputation as a cleanser for the urinary tract, cranberries provide a high content of vitamin C. They are also a natural source of healthful proanthocyanidins. Apple juice contains many flavonoids as well as pectin.

You can drink Aloe Berry Nectar with meals or alone. The delicious flavour is totally natural, prepared from a blend of fresh cranberries and sweet, mellow apples. Fructose (a natural fruit sugar) sweetens it just enough to please both adults and children alike.

The third option of this “health on a bottle” is called Forever Aloe Bits N’ Peaches. A taste sensation like no other: pure chunks of aloe vera bathed in the flavour of sun-ripened peaches. Forever Aloe Bits N’ Peaches provides another great taste to enjoy with its 100% stabilized aloe vera gel and just a touch of natural peach flavour and peach concentrate.

For many centuries, people all around the world have used aloe vera for its health benefits. The addition of peaches provides carotenoids – valuable as antioxidants and a source of vitamin A. They are also essential for maintaining the proper function of the immune system.

Bits N’ Peaches offers many healthful ingredients – all packed into a great-tasting drink.

I use the drinks to provide me with the benefits of the aloe vera, and I take a small shoot glass every morning. But you really have different choices; pour over ice or mix with fruit juice, and enjoy the delightful taste of nature’s bounty any time of the day!

NOTE: The statements contained in this blog have not been evaluated by the FDA. The products discussed are not intended to diagnose, mitigate, treat, cure or prevent a specific disease or class of diseases. You should consult your family physician if you are experiencing a medical problem.

If you want to know more about these products, you can read more here.

And at the Forever Living Products site.

The Trial of The Norwegian Terrorist

09 Wednesday May 2012

Posted by in Society

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The on-going trial against the Norwegian terrorist is starting to wear us out and put restrains on our lives. I know several families who have changed their tv-routines, and stopped buying the main newspapers, to protect their children and the families for the exposed evil.

Not since the end of World War II has Norwegians had to deal with such monstrous acts and statements. One out of four Norwegians knew or knew of one or more of the victims. They are around every dinner table, in every school and lunch room, on the bus and on the television. With such strong emotions in a close knit community, this trial is an extraordinary test of Norway as a nation and the quality of the Norwegian legal system. Much has been said about how Norway reacted as a nation in the immediate after-math of the attacks, but the real test is now.

When the terrorist began explaining his actions on that fateful day to the victims, their families, their friends, the Norwegian people and the world he admitted to having bombed the Government’s buildings in Oslo, killing 8, before traveling to Utøya were he shot and killed 69 people, most of them only teenagers. He also pleaded not guilty, claiming he acted in self-defense of the Norwegian people against the “conspiracy of multiculturalism”.

The first challenge we have is to accept that no punishment can ever fit this crime. Some have called for changes in the legal system to allow for longer prison sentences or even death, but even if those had been real possibilities no punishment in the world is ever going feel just enough or undo what has happened. Although my heart is filled with anger, fear and sorrow, I am therefore glad that the Norwegian legal system treats everyone the same and is not subject to popular opinion.  It was designed at a time when the nation did not feel outraged and those objective rules are there to deliver justice when emotions gets the better of us. If we Norwegians can hold on to that we have already won a great victory.

The second challenge is to remain true to the values of Norwegian society. It is easy to be sympathetic to demands for stronger censorship, policy controls, and online surveillance. Many will question if the terrorist could not have been stopped if only… But those questions should not be allowed to change Norway. Freedom of speech also includes freedom of anonymity. As hard as it can be to accept, extremism of any type is not fuelled by those who speak in public, under real or false names, but by those who feel that no one speaks for them at all. There must be room for even the dark sides of human nature if Norway is to remain Norway. Only then can we as Norwegians emerge on the other side of this challenge as greater and stronger people than we were before.

The third and last challenge is to see and accept one another. This is a tragedy that has touched those who were there, their families, and their friends, but it also touches all those who didn’t know anyone and still shed tears when they think no one is watching. Understanding that this is a pain and a trauma that not everyone will handle the same way or with the same composure is key to helping each other move on. As Norwegians we will make mistakes and as individuals we will overstep, but if we are forgiving in our dealings with others we will slowly find that we do have the strength to get through this together.

During this trial the terrorist who took so many innocent lives will get the chance to explain himself. The court will question his witnesses and it’s allowing the terrorist to look into the eyes of the world while stating that he has no regret and only wish he had killed more. At the end of this trial, these 10 weeks, a just legal system will pass its verdict and he will disappear into the books of history as nothing more than a reminder of all those we have lost. They will never disappear and it’s for them that Norwegians now need to pass the test that is on-going in and outside the court of 22.July.

We promise to forget your name and your face. We promise to replace it with unity and grace. You name won’t be written in the history books. You won’t be remembered, just the lives you took.

Perfect Cosmopolitans

08 Tuesday May 2012

Posted by in Arts, Entertainment

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My colleagues had organized a far-well dinner for me, since I’ve quit my day-time job to write fulltime. Before I met my “up-until-a-week-ago colleagues#, I went to my favourite place to do my nails, Parfymelle Syrdalen. Lovely Eva used her great artistic abilities, and made my nails in to shades of purple. Since she had some time on her hand, she also did my makeup, so when I met up with my girls, I felt fabulous!

I did not leave Parfymelle Syrdalen Parfymeri before I’d done some shopping:  the two nail polish in purple,  a lip gloss, and the cutest perfume ever. Look at this flacon. I actually had plans of giving it to a fourteen year old girl this Sunday, but I’m keeping it!

Dinner was great, we ate at the newley reopened restaurant Ruffen, and then some of us (those who now slowly are adapting a more bohemian lifestyle..)  went to salsa night at Pollen Bar. While some of my friends were dancing, I must admit, I was staying in the crew that enjoyed some cocktails. 

Cosmopolitan is still my all-time favourite.

And Moses at Pollen Bar made them perfect. It’is kind of difficult to make this drink top notch, a lot of bartenders don’t add the right amount of Cointreau and lime, and the drink get sticky.

But Moses came down from the mountain,,,, or flew in from London, and made us some great Cosmopolitans tonight!

Bestsellers of the night (and day)

When in Rome…

04 Friday May 2012

Posted by in Arts, Entertainment, Travel, Uncategorized

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My Sister in law will be celebrating her fabulous 40 later this month, and is going to Rome with her Mum. She asked me for some travelling tips, and since I now have done this research and written down my favourite places, I thought I might as well post it here on my blog.

ROME is the city that oversleeps. Unlike other European cultural capitals, this glorious jumble of history and art changes slowly. But lately, Rome has welcomed some new sparkle. A futuristic museum in the historic center has added color to the city’s architectural scene. Around town young chefs are experimenting with local ingredients to create new tastes. Even old palazzos have been given makeovers. After years of hitting snooze, this ancient city might just be waking up.

1) MODERN CURVES

The Maxxi (Via Guido Reni, 4; 39-06-3996-7350;fondazionemaxxi.it), opened in April 2010, and is still the talk of Rome. Designed by Zaha Hadid, it is the city’s most ambitious contemporary art museum, and offers playful views with its odd-angled ramps, hidden corners and oblique windows. And although still young, its permanent collection features works by a respectable range of contemporary artists, including Francesco Clemente,William Kentridge and Gerhard Richter.

2) ARCHITECTURAL APERITIVO

For a modern aperitivo, glide over to ReD (Via Pietro de Coubertin, 12, 16; 39-06-8069-1630;www.redrestaurant.roma.it), a trendy restaurant with a lively lounge bar that draws concertgoers and musicians alike. The lounge is situated on the sidewalk outside the Auditorium (auditorium.com), a multifunction complex, designed by Renzo Piano, which has become a cultural hub since opening in 2002. If it’s fall, check out the Roma Europa Festival (romaeuropa.net), which brings music, dance and theater from around the world. 

3) PASTA NOUVELLE

For a change from the usual spaghetti all’amatriciana that dominate Roman menus, head to the residential neighborhood of Prati whereSettembrini (Via Settembrini, 27; 39-06-323-2617; ristorantesettembrini.it), a chic new restaurant, uses classic ingredients in novel ways. Mullet on a bed of vegetables (16 euros, about $22 at $1.33 to the euro), tender rabbit (12 euros) and a risotto with the deconstructed ingredients of eggplant Parmesan (14 euros) are standouts. Décor is minimal but warm and the outside tables on a broad boulevard are roomy.

4) FRUIT SCOOPS

Skip dessert and grab a cone at the Gelateria dei Gracchi (Via dei Gracchi, 272; 39-06-3216668) or Al Settimo Gelo (Via Vodice, 21a; 39-06-372-5567; alsettimogelo.it), two of the city’s best gelaterias, in a city full of them. At Gracchi, the fruit and nut flavours taste fresh off the tree, and might just be worth the price of the plane ticket.

5) RESTING PLACES

Like Père Lachaise in Paris, the Protestant Cemetery (Via Caio Cestio, 6; 39-06-574-1900;cemeteryrome.it) is one of Rome’s most meditative and overlooked spots. The final resting spot of non-Catholics for centuries, the cemetery counts John Keats among its permanent residents — his tomb reads “Here lies one whose name was writ in water.” Besides romantics, there’s often a steady stream of graying lefties, who pay tribute to Antonio Gramsci, the founder of the Italian Communist Party.

6) PROVINCIAL MARKET

For great food, friendly service and low prices — and priceless views of Trajan’s Column — head to the Enoteca “Provincia Romana” (Largo del Foro Traiano, 82-84; 39-06-6766-2424). The sleek new wine bar was started by Rome’s province of Lazio to promote local products and wines. The meats and cheeses are excellent, as are its salads. Sit and enjoy the scene, or take a delicious pressed sandwich of spicy grilled eggplant with fresh mozzarella and basil (about 3.50 euros) for a picnic in the nearby Roman Forum.

7) MADE IN ROME

Not all of Rome is set in stone. For a dose of neo-realism, stroll around San Lorenzo (madeinsanlorenzo.it), a former working-class district near the Termini station that’s come alive with chic boutiques and workshops. Find handmade women’s clothing and jewelry at Myriam B. (Via dei Volsci, 75; 39-06-4436-1305; myriamb.it). Claudio Sanò (Largo degli Osci 67/A; 39-06-4469-284; claudiosano.it) makes custom bags and other leather goods, and Candle’s Store (Via dei Campani, 49; 39-06-446-4849; candlestore.it) has artisanal candles.

8) CREATIVE KITCHEN

A handful of restaurants specialize in what Italians call “creative cuisine,” new takes on old standards. One of the newest is Pastificio San Lorenzo (Via Tiburtina, 196; 39-06-9727-3519; pastificiocerere.com), an upscale yet informal restaurant and wine bar that opened last year in a former pasta factory. Favorites include a breaded poached egg in a delicate Mornay sauce (10 euros), grilled tuna with a yogurt sauce (20 euros) and a roasted suckling pig with sugar-coated figs and blanched French beans (18 euros).

9) STREET LIFE

No night on the town would be complete without a stop in the once gritty, now hopping neighborhood of Trastevere. Cool bars include Freni e Frizioni (Via del Politeama, 4-6; 39-06-4549-7499; freniefrizioni.com), where you can drink while looking out on the Tiber. Or you can grab an artisanal beer at the pub around the corner, Ma Che Siete Venuti a Fa’ (Via di Benedetta, 25; 39-380-507-4938; football-pub.com). If you prefer to stay in San Lorenzo instead, follow the party to Aurunci 42 (Via degli Aurunci, 46; 39-06-445-4425;arcoaurunci.it), a friendly bar in the Piazza dell’Immacolata, which becomes an open-air lounge on weekend nights. 

10) CHARM OF THE BOURGEOISIE

From the Galleria Borghese to the Palazzo Massimo, Rome has a daunting array of boutique museums in varying degrees of repair. Just reopened after an extensive renovation is the National Gallery of Ancient Art of Barberini Palace (Via delle Quattro Fontane, 13; 39-06-482-4184; galleriaborghese.it). Its formidable collection, now reorganized on freshly painted walls, includes Caravaggio’s “Judith and Holofernes,” in which the biblical heroine winces slightly as she draws her blade.

11) PIZZA BY THE SLICE

Three years ago, two ambitious young chefs, Stefano Callegari and Gabriele Gatti, took over a hole-in-the-wall in the Testaccio neighborhood and opened Pizzeria 00100 (Via Giovanni Branca, 88; 39-06-4341-9624; 00100pizza.com), named for the grade of semolina flour. The popular pizzeria specializes in “trappizzini” — triangular pieces of thick pizza bianca, which they fill with pillowy meatballs, tripe and other savory stuffings (from 3 euros).

12) KEY TO THE CITY

Amid the general chaos, the city has wonderful pockets of calm. Stroll up the quiet Aventine Hill to find the city’s best Baroque joke: a keyhole at the headquarters of the Sovereign Order of the Knights of Malta (Piazza Cavalieri di Malta) that perfectly frames a view of St. Peter’s Basilica. In the orange garden down the street, the view of the city stretching out beneath you is breathtaking. That is, after all, why you came.