Lifestyle: The Meditation Podcast

Practicing meditation is a lifestyle recommended by many. Nowadays, with busy lives and no time to stop and smell the flowers, taking a few minutes of your time to relax and unwind is almost impossible. However, it is a much needed time off, bringing healthy benefits, and much welcomed by your body and mind.

Meditation is not easy to practice: to sit still for even 5 minutes may be a burden because our mind is so used to wandering and going back to thinking about our problems and lives and what to do and agendas etc. Finding a guided meditation to help you with the technique and channel you inside your own mind to concentrate on your breathing and deep relaxation is the best way to go if you're serious about spending some time on meditation.

I found The Meditation Podcast by chance, and it proved to be a great tool to deep relaxation. Those who are familiar with meditation and use the Silva method may also find this a different and more subtle way to meditate. The Meditation Podcast uses audio technology, called binaural beats, to slow the brainwaves, along with music and guided imagery, to produce a deep feeling of peaceful relaxation. The effect is similar to yoga, energy healing or a very restful sleep. You should listen to it using headphones for greater benefits when you're in a place where you won't be disturbed for a few minutes. It's also very important not to drive or multitask while meditating. This should be a time to unwind, relax and energize your body and mind and you can really do it!

The recordings are done by a couple, and both man and woman have soothing, calming and relaxing voices that help with the process.  They are not affiliated with any health care practice or religious beliefs, and their philosophy is based on the law of attraction, as you will experience on some of their guided meditations, such as my favorite one, "Positive Thoughts". There are 20 episodes on the podcast, and each one focus on a specific issue (sleeping, waking, energizing, etc). They add episodes every once in a while.

Check their site http://www.themeditationpodcast.com/ for more information, or look them up on Facebook. If you want to try meditation, this is a great tool for starters, as well as for those who are already practicing meditation through different methods or teachings.

Enjoy your peaceful time and meditate for great life benefits!

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Business: Don McGill Toyota in Houston: unacceptable customer service!

If you have a Toyota and need to service it, or if you're thinking of buying a Toyota, skip Don McGill on Katy Freeway and head to Mike Calvert on 610. You will be happy even if you have to drive a few more miles for a much better customer service experience. Or choose another Toyota dealer, but by all means, don't stop at Don McGill.

My first sour experience with this dealer was a few years ago when I stopped by to shop for a new car. I was by myself, just browsing around and looking for a comfortable place to make a car purchase, where there would be no demanding sales people and no pushing. No one approached me as I strolled down the aisles looking for cars. After 20 minutes I asked for help. The man didn't seem too eager to sell, or maybe he thought I was not a potential buyer. I asked some questions about the car I was interested in, feeling he was not particularly helpful. Then he asked me if I was a single mother because I was talking about driving around with a child! My personal life is none of their business and this type of question is totally inappropriate coming from a man I've never seen before! Is this a way to try to sell a car?

Then I went to Mike Calvert Toyota where I had a much more pleasant experience, and where I ended up purchasing my Toyota. A few years later, and they still send me birthday cards with fee oil changes as a gift! Way to treat a customer.

 

Last week, though, a light came out on the car panel, and since I was closer to Katy Freeway, I decided to stop by Don McGill and see if they could help out identifying what was wrong with the vehicle. I parked the car and no one came to welcome me or ask what I needed. So, I went inside where there were about two service associates helping other customers. I stayed there waiting to be assisted. No one acknowledged my presence, a simple "good morning, someone will be with you shortly" would have been nice. They looked at me and continued with their business as if I was a hindrance. Then 2 more customers arrived and stayed around looking for help. After about 15 minutes, one of the associates who was helping another customer finally looked up at the 3 waiting customers and said someone would be with us shortly. Another 5 minutes until I was told to go to a man who was talking on the phone. He kept me waiting for a few minutes, finishing his call, then told me to hold and left, coming back a few minutes later to finally ask me what was the problem. I started to tell him that since that morning, a light had lit up in my panel and I wanted to see what was wrong. Without asking anything else or trying to explain what might be the problem, he just said: "you need to leave the car here until the afternoon". Really??? I told him, how long? He said, a couple of hours, until about 4 or 5 pm (it was 10 am), he said they were busy and wouldn't be able to take a look at the car until the afternoon. No further explanations. No nice solutions (would he offer me a ride home? would I have to wait there until they were able to get to the car?). I left, visibly frustrated.

 

And then I headed to the nearest Auto Zone. A very nice and friendly associate immediately scanned my car and gave me, in 5 minutes, the diagnostic for the yellow light in my panel, and didn't charge a penny!!!! And it was not a serious issue, but something I could fix myself.

Don McGill Toyota doesn't value customers. They won't ever get my business, ever again!


Avoid: http://donmcgilltoyota.com/
Go to instead: http://mikecalverttoyota.com/

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Business: Gold Buying Girl Parties

One of my friends has been doing some work as a "gold buying girl" and approached me about the business, inviting me to host a gold buying party at my place. The concept is easy and simple: you throw a party for your friends and invite them to come over and bring their unwanted gold jewelry to be evaluated and possibly sold. It is sort of a "tupperware" party, however, instead of your guests coming in ready to spend money, they actually come in ready to make money. Sounds too good to be true? That's what I was thinking until I decided to give it a try.

So I planned the party and invited some friends to come over. Several people didn't make it, several didn't even respond to the invitation, and some came, somewhat skeptical about the whole concept, asking several questions about pricing and trust. We had no idea how much money would be made. One of the guests brought a bunch of unwanted gold and silver jewelry and ended up with a check for over 400 dollars. She was really excited. It was much more than she thought those pieces were worth it. She guessed she would make about 50 dollars and left with 400!

Based on the results of the first party, I decided to throw another one a month later. Some of the guests that didn't make it to the first one, after realizing there was money to be made, decided to join in the fun. So the second party was planned and the result was a total success. Based on the reality of the testimonies from the first party guests, more friends had the courage to show up bringing their unwanted jewelry and checks were issued for amounts over $1,500!!!

It's a great way to reconnect with your friends, in a relaxed, informal setting (your own home of course), and everyone leaves happy with some extra cash. There is no pressure to sell, if the piece is not worth the gold price alone or if you're too emotionally attached to it and decide not to sell, no worries. No losses either for your guests. The great thing is that the gold buying girl will buy most gold that is 10, 14, 18 and 24 K and even remove stones if the jewelry is encrusted. She can tell what karat the gold is, price it, and issue you the check right on the spot!

What are you waiting for? Want to make some money? Go take a look at your jewelry box and your drawers and collect all unwanted, broken, ugly jewelry and even dental work (wow!) that is left to collect dust and trade it for money!

The business is legitimate, no scam and nothing hidden. If you want to schedule a party, send me a comment or note through the blog and I will get you in touch with the gold buying girl! Have fun selling your gold and entertaining your friends! Let me know if you have questions about how to throw the gold buying girl party!

www.goldbuyinggirl.com

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Food: CupCaking Desire in Austin, TX

When you visit Austin, TX, you should not miss one lovely pink trailer parked on 10812 RR 620 N next to Magnum Trailers. The owner, Lu, a very dear friend of mine, who I consider to be the most creative and talented person I've met, is also Brazilian and is a really good cook and dessert maker. 

Here's the cutest bakery you've ever seen!

She has opened the first mobile bakery in Texas capital, and named it CupCaking Desire. Not only does she sells the most creatively decorated and delicious cupcakes you can try in Texas, but she also offers a variety of bakery items for a wonderful and unforgettable breakfast! The presentation of the baked goods is phenomenal. With her artistic background (architecture and interior decoration), she designs and creates different and unique themes for her cupcakes and lolly-cakes, a new fad of cupcakes in a stick, that can be a welcoming treat for birthdays and parties. 

Can you believe this is edible and delicious? Yummy Lolly cakes!!!

Customer service at the mobile bakery is unparalleled, and she will go to any lengths to please the most skeptical of cake lovers. Offers include also gluten free freshly baked items, really hard to find. 

Check the website and like her page on Facebook. You can also find more information on yelp.

http://www.cupcakingdesire.com

http://www.yelp.com/biz/cupcaking-desire-austin

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Restaurants: Eating Vegetarian in Rio de Janeiro

Below, find three places that make up the hip scene of the vegetarian (as well as non-vegetarian) crowd.

Deliciously fresh coconuts by the beach

1. "Balada Mix": with 8 restaurants in several areas of Rio de Janeiro, you can spot some famous Brazilian people having dinner at this cool eatery (the last time I was there on a Wednesday night, I spotted 2 soccer players and a well-known comedian having dinner), as well as fashionable people and athletes having a bite after working out. The menu offers grilled and fat free meat choices and an amazing variety of salads and fresh juices and fruits, as well as delicious desserts. One of my favorites is the fig salad, a mix of wild greens with fresh fig slices and nuts in a zesty honey flavored sauce, a very vegetarian meal, accompanied with a glass of healthy, cool and hydrating coconut milk.

2. "Delírio Tropical": this is my favorite place, with also 8 locations spread throughout town. The lines during lunch time can be long, especially at the Ipanema location. The chain has their own produce plantation and distributes it to their restaurants, ensuring the food served daily is fresh and organic in all locations. The mango salad, a mix of greens and fruits with a tangy mango sauce is amazing, and the quinoa cake with nuts and passion fruit sauce is also worth trying! If you´re really hungry, get the 3 salad plate and choose from a variety of delicious options. "Delírio" also bottles their own coconut milk and offers fresh juices and other natural alternatives.

3. "New Natural": this is another vegetarian´s delight. There is only one location in the posh neighborhood of Ipanema, but the price is very affordable and you pay by weight of your plate. Lots of different empanadas, cakes, soy food, hot and cold entrees are offered in this self-service buffet restaurant. Fresh juices and coconut milk (also served fresh on the coconut, not bottled) complete the abundant variety of delicacies found at this cool spot, where you will find an interesting crowd, including those who are stopping for a bite after a nice morning sunbathing in Ipanema beach. http://www.baladamixrestaurante.com.br/index.php?submenu=principal
http://www.delirio.com.br/

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Book: Flower Therapy - Doreen Virtue and Robert Reeves

I had no idea what to expect when I received this book. I had read books talking about angels and alternative medicine and therapies before and was somewhat skeptical about the content of Flower Therapy - Welcome the Angels of Nature into Your Life.

Surprisingly, the book is amazingly light and fun to read, and it's also a beautiful volume, with high quality illustrations of 88 different flowers, highlighting their benefits and what they can do to help heal or improve a specific area of our lives.

The flowers are listed in alphabetical order, and the pictures help identify the type of plant. The correlation with the respective angel that is associated with the flower completes the description of the flower and how to utilize it for our benefit. There are also hints on how to make infusions with the flowers for different purposes and all to help clear the body, mind and spirit.

Cover of the book

You don't have to believe in angels to read this book. You can still find lots of interesting information about the flowers, and how to clean and energize your house and your environment, including yourself. It is an inspirational book that providers beautiful insight into the flowers and the benefits nature can provide us!

http://www.amazon.com/Flower-Therapy-Welcome-Angels-Nature/dp/1401939686/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1346175429&sr=1-1&keywords=flower+therapy

I was not financially compensated for this post. I received the book from Hay House for review purposes. The opinions are completely my own based on my experience.

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Book: Wishes Fulfilled, Dr. Wayne Dyer - read!

When I found out this book was coming out, I was immediately interested in obtaining a copy. I have read several books by Dr. Dyer and every time one of his books finds a way into my life in the exact right time, as he says, in synchronicity with the situation that I'm living.

It was with no surprise that I found Wishes Fulfilled, Mastering the Art of Manifesting, another jewel of inspiration. Full of extraordinary testimonies to the power of manifestation, the book provides fascinating insight into the law of attraction, presented in an easy to read format that flows peacefully within our minds. The examples that Dr. Dyer provides about his own life and his family's life as well as the lives of other people that come in contact with him in a synchronicity of events makes it even more interesting to relate to the teachings that are discovered in the book.

It's an enriching volume of self-discovery and we need an open mind to absorb the messages presented in this book. Wishes Fulfilled is a lesson in self-discovery, self-esteem and the magic of believing in yourself and your strength to make you create your life in the best possible way. Thanks to Dr. Dyer, it's possible to see the world in a new, encouraging and positive way. I am that I am. Believe, and manifest. Believe that with God, all things are possible.

I was not financially compensated for this post. I received the book from Hay House for review purposes. The opinions are completely my own based on my experience.

http://www.amazon.com/Wishes-Fulfilled-Mastering-Art-Manifesting/dp/1401937276/

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