Monthly Archives
January 2016
I had dinner last week with a gentleman {may want to insert sip, right off the bat}… don’t worry, my husband was there too! This gentleman is a very successful businessman out of New York. His success, was no question… he seemed to have everything it takes, the charismatic personality, the look – with his black, mock turtleneck and tweed, sport coat. I’m not sure, but he may have been wearing jeans, which I think is a nice, approachable look. I couldn’t really tell because when I arrived at the steakhouse .. an hour late, he had already been seated. Late to a dinner meeting, you ask? Well, I am a woman! Actually, if I remember correctly, I think Macy’s may have been having a sale … you ladies get it, priorities. {sippy cup} Anyway, throughout the year, this gentleman travels all over the United States. He makes several stops to Michigan, thanks to my husband, who generates some good business for him. By now, you’re probably wondering where I am going with this. It’s ‘Word’s & Wine Down Wednesday’, I don’t have to stay on track. I’m a woman equipped with a lot of wires, and many tabs open. But nonetheless, grab your wine glass and I’ll tell you where it is that I am going … {sip, optional}
We’ve all heard, or at least I hope you have, the phrase ‘Leave people better than you found them’. It’s always been one of my favorite quotes. It sticks with me, I think about it once in awhile … mainly when I come across a person who has left me ‘better’ than they ‘found’ me. It doesn’t take much, trust me! I need as much ‘better’ as I can get! {gulp} So going back to this gentleman, and what it has to do with this quote. You see, this particular dinner meeting was one of those moments. Now I already knew that my husband highly respected this man. They have been doing business together for the past year and this gentleman has impacted my husband in many ways. But before this night’s socializing, I had never met the man in person before. I knew some things about him, I knew he had his faith, I knew he had raised five children who were all thriving, and he was a happily married man. I also knew that his wife occasionally traveled with him, and assisted him with some of the nitty-gritty’s of his training agendas. On one such trip, my husband had actually done business with her and didn’t even know it was his wife, until after the fact. I knew this man had built his own empire, starting out owning his own tool and die business and now his consulting firm. He told me a story about working as an intern while in college. Everyday, he would show up at the business he was interning for and a particular man that worked for this company would walk around ALL DAY and say, “3:30!” .. “3:30!” .. “3:30!” My dinner companian proceeded to tell the story. On the last day of the internship, he asked this man, ‘Why do you walk around all day saying, 3:30?” Very matter-of-fact, the man replied, “Buddy, you just wait! You’ll be saying those same words the rest of your life, too!” That was all it took! My dinner companian knew from that point on, he would NEVER work for anyone else but himself, EVER! And that’s exactly what he did! Ahh, the power of words. {my mouth is dry, after that …big sip}
Another interesting thing I knew about this man, was he had a grip on my husband, better than I do. {gulp} After sitting and chatting for several hours over ‘Oysters on the Half Shell’ and a few glasses of wine, {sip, optional} it all made sense to me. I knew exactly why this gentleman had such a grip on my husband. You see, he is one of those people that leaves you better than he found you. The trickle down effect is people have a strong desire to be with someone like that. They motivate you, they lift you. You are encouraged by them. You can’t stop looking directly at them and taking in every word that comes out of their mouth. Your ears burn, you want to pull out your smartphone, pull up your notes and start documenting what they are saying to you, with quotes, words of wisdom … but it’s all too fast, it’s all too much! It’s no wonder this guy speaks to several hundred people at a time and has more business offers than he has time to do. It all makes sense. People like this leave you better than you were. If we could bottle that up, put a patent on it ….. we wouldn’t need a Powerball for 1.5 Billion!!!!
While continuing our chat, this gentleman, whom I now admired, became concerned that he was boring me as he was telling me about his legacy: His failed first marriage, the disappearance of his wife at the time, and his two toddler children, whom he later recovered and raised with his current wife and their 3 children. We talked a little bit about politics, but you can do that when you’re on the same page with someone, and can shake your head in agreement. He talked a little about his faith, shared what all his grown children were doing, and a few laughs over the dynamics of married life and parenting a large number of kids. Most people can’t relate to some of the trials of a large family, so when you come across someone who has done it, and done it well, you’re drawn to them. Here I go traveling into another open tab. All right Tracy, back on track now sister, back on track. {sip time, and maybe a yawn}.
My point is, don’t underestimate the power of what you can do in someone else’s day, week, or life. This isn’t about giving someone a welcoming smile, or a nice compliment, or buying them dinner or a gift… sure those are all great and have thier appropriate time. I’m talking about approaching every interaction and every situation with the intention of leaving anybody better off than when you found them. That’s what a legacy is. That’s what creates a life that will live far beyond your years. That’s true power!!! {tippy-tippy} It’s the beginning of the year, and we’re all doing our January Jumpstart! Lets make a concious effort to not only make ourselves better, but other people better, too! I’ll drink to that!
Oh the wine, I almost forgot, AGAIN! (sip) Today’s wine is a Cabernet Sauvignon by ‘Dark Horse’. My daughter likes this wine and brought home a bottle for this past Monday’s, Bachelor night. This is not personally one of my favorite Cabs. It’s definitely a cherry bomb hitting the olfactory sensors laced with smoke, wood and licorice, then layers of cassis, boysenberry and concord grapes. It lacks the little bit of sweetness I am looking for in a cab. I generally drink white wine with fish, but I had a glass of this ‘Dark Horse’ prior to eating my dinner and still was not as fond as other Cabernet. I would rate it 5 out of 10. But my daughter likes it, so it may be worth trying for yourself. Don’t forget today is also ‘What I Eat Wednesday’ on my Snapchat (@ tracy_hensel). Here’s a look at tonight’s dinner. What wine are you drinking with your dinner tonight? Feel free to comment below or snap me!
If you take one thing from this post, besides the wine recommendation (of course), “Be the one who nurtures and builds. Be the one who has an understanding and a forgiving heart. One who looks for the best in people. Leave People BETTER than you found Them!” ~ Marvin J. Ashton
Zara Blanket Scarf: sold out, eBay has a similar ‘Zara’ here, and other ‘Zara’ options here and here . I also LOVE & have this one here | Sweater: sold out, similar here and check out this one on clearance for $14.99 here | Burgundy Skinnies: on clearance here and here Boots: Sold out, similar here, here and here | Phone Case (mentioned on Snapchat): Cabernet Phone Case
Disclaimer: Beverages containing alcohol are often associated with sharing, pleasure, unwinding and socializing. However, there are times when drinking at all, or too much can be risky to you or to others. This blog post is for light-hearted, sharing ONLY! If you are over the age of 21, and choose to drink, please drink responsibly and don’t drink and drive.
If you live in a state that has brutal winters, you are well aware of the havoc it wreaks on your skin. It is near impossible to keep all areas of the body protected from the elements, at all times. As much as we try, our hands cannot always be snuggled up in a pair of $100 fur or cashmere lined tech gloves. As a matter-of-fact, my hands have NEVER been snuggled up in a pair of $100 cashmere or fur lined gloves, even as a try on. As much as I lose gloves, which is usually one glove and not the other, I better stick to Dollar General. There are measures, however, you can take to ‘Care for Winter Hands’.
5 Tips to Care for Winter Hands
1. Drink Plenty of Water … Sometimes you have to force this, as you may find you’re not as thirsty during cold weather months. Aim to drink half your body weight in ounces (ex., if you weigh 140lbs., drink approx. 70 oz. of water, per day). If you struggle getting your water in, here’s a tip – Take an empty clean milk jug, pour (in ounces) the water recommended for your body weight, mark it with a permanent marker, and work off of that, refilling each day. Eventually you won’t need to do this, anymore. Your thirst will naturally require it.
2. Humidify The Air … To put moisture back in, humidify the air inside your house. A GREAT way to do this is by placing a plate of water near heaters. You can use Rose Water that also fills the air with a delicate scent and works as aromatherapy. This simple measure will prevent your skin, including the skin of your hands from over-drying.
3. Moisturize Your Hands … Several times a day, use a hand cream to nourish and moisturize the skin on your hands. Really work it in, especially the often neglected top of your hands. Avoid using hand creams that contain petroleum. Petroleum just sits on the skin, which does not provide any hydration. My absolute favorite daytime hand cream is by L’Occitane. Any surprise? All of the scents smell AMAZING and work the same. But I am never without my favorite, Delicious hands. I have tubes everywhere from my car, to my purse, and all over the house. As for my bedtime hand cream, my favorite is the Burt’s Bees Almond Milk Beeswax Hand Creme. I have tried many others, but always go back to my tried and true. I have to warn you, however, only use this product at bedtime. It is much too greasy for daytime use. I keep a jar in the drawer of my bedside table. If waking up with baby soft hands is what you’re looking for, this stuff ROCKS!
4. Wear Rubber Gloves When Doing House Work … Always wear Rubber Gloves while washing dishes, and especially so in the winter. Overexposure to both water and harsh chemicals in dish-washing liquids draws natural moisture and lubrication out of your hands. For the same reason, do not wash your hands too often, unless you work in a health care setting. When washing your hands, use tepid water. Hot water will only dry out your hands more.
5. Wear Gloves … The skin of our hands is thin, delicate, and often dry, this is why it is the first to suffer from cold winds, frost, and dry heated air inside our homes. The most important hand protection from winter elements is as simple as just to wear gloves! Make it a good habit to wear warm gloves or mittens every time you go outside, even if it is just to check the mail or get into a car. This measure is especially important if your hand skin is dry and irritated.
What are some of your favorite hand products for the winter months?
Rose Water // L’Occitane Delicious Hand Cream or from Amazon // Burt’s Bees Almond Milk Beeswax Hand Creme
If you’ve been following my January Jumpstart series, you will notice I am hitting on the topic of DETOXING. We have Detoxing Water, Detoxing Soup, and even a Detoxing Bath. Is everyone detoxed out yet? But what if I told you there was a wellness trick that took only five minutes a day, improved your health, and cost nothing? Would you do it? Well, guess what? There is …. Dry Brushing! Some of you may be asking, “what is that?” I am here to answer that question and give you ‘A Step-By-Step Guide To Dry Brushing’. It is so simple to do and has a number of health benefits.
So how does it work?
Your skin, the largest organ in your body, is an organ of elimination. One-third of your body’s toxins are excreted through the skin. Through dry brushing, you unclog pores and excrete the toxins that have become trapped in the skin.
To get started, follow these simple steps:
1. Purchase a natural (not synthetic) bristle brush with a long handle so you can reach all areas of the body. I use the Yerba Prima Skin Brush. I prefer using my brush with the handle removed, but this can make it more difficult to reach around to the back. Find what works best for you.
2. Get naked and stand in a bathtub or shower to catch the falling skin. It’s a bit gross, but once you start doing this everyday, you won’t even see the dead skin droppings.
3. Begin brushing by starting at your feet, moving in long sweeping motions towards your heart. Remember, always brush towards your heart.
4. Brush several times in each area, overlapping as you go.
5. Take care as you brush over more sensitive areas. Note that your skin will become less sensitive the more you dry brush.
6. Once you’ve brushed your entire body, jump in the shower. I like to alternate between the hottest water temperature I can tolerate and the coldest. This stimulates blood circualation, bringing more blood to the top layers of the skin.
7. After getting out of the shower, pat your skin dry and apply a body oil (preferably natural). I like L’Occitane Supple Skin Oil and Jason Vitamin E Skin Oil . Both these products smell WONDERFUL! You could also use rose hip, almond, or coconut oil.
8. Continue to dry brush your body every day. Like everything, once you get the routine down, it’s easy-breezy.
Remember to periodically clean your brush with soap and water. Leave it out to dry in a clean, sunny spot to avoid any mildew accumulation on your brush. If you self-tan, your brush will get slightly discolored.
Benefits of dry skin brushing:
1. You’ll exfoliate dead skin. As much as I still love my loofahs and my Tree Hut Detoxifying Mediterranean Salt Scrub, you will not get all the benefits from those products that dry brushing can do.
2. It stimulates your Lymphatic System. Dry brushing your skin will kick start your Lymphatic System, which helps you remove toxins from your body. The stiffer the bristles on the brush, the better the Lymphatic stimulation you’ll create.
3. Dry brushing helps to reduce cellulite. This benefit generally catches people’s eye. Don’t expect miracles, but improvement! Simply put, cellulite is a toxic material that has accumulated, and are trapped in your body’s fat cells. Unfortunately, they are unable to be eliminated from the body. Forget lipo, Ladies! Dry brushing helps to break down any trapped toxins from within the body and also help your body eliminate them through its elimination channels. If you want to see remarkable differences in your skin texture this year, incorporate dry brushing, drinking this Lemon-Ginger Water, add in 3-4 days of resistance training, 4-5 days of cardio, and a CLEAN diet …. TRUST me, you will see results in no time.
4. It unclogs pores and de-congests skin. Dry brushing unclogs your skin’s pores and helps your skin absorb more nutrients. Daily skin brushing promotes healthy, breathing skin. It’s a real TREAT for the largest organ in our bodies.
There you have it, ‘A Step-By-Step Guide to Dry Brushing’. I hope you enjoyed this post and give this wellness trick a try. Let me know what benefits you notice. Since we’re on the topic of exfoliating and showering, you may enjoy taking a peek at What’s in My Shower {Body edition}.
Yerba Prima Skin Brush // L’Occitane Supple Skin Oil // Jason Vitamin E Oil // Tree Hut Detoxifying Mediterranean Salt Scrub