What will you look like 10 years from now?

The summer before grade 7 I was chunky. 

As a matter of fact, my father nick named me “Slim.”  (Thanks, Dad, nothing like the right message to support your overweight kid!) But on his behalf, he did promise me a new wardrobe if I lost weight. 

He wasn’t so wrong, after all. 
First, he made me insensitive to being called “names.”  I was even able to laugh at myself. A good survival tool for life. 

Secondly, he knew my weakness for clothes and used it to encourage a win-win outcome. I would lose the weight and get great clothes for grade 7!

And, he would stop calling me Slim and be proud of the way I looked.
That year I became very aware of the way I looked because I started to like boys.

Weight loss and new clothes ... something was still missing??? Confidence! 
What could that look like?

Dad came to the rescue again...
I loved Sergio Mendez and Brazil 66 (I was the only 7th grader I knew who did!) and my dad surprised me with tickets to a concert! 

Oh my goodness, I was so over the moon I couldn’t stand it. I planned my wardrobe and hair for weeks and felt like a million bucks walking into that concert, until I looked at the backup singers on stage. 

They were drop-dead gorgeous! If I could look like that, then, I would be happy and confident! (Remember, I’m 11 years old.)

It was then and there I realized that when you see what you want for yourself you can get it. You can have a picture of what you want and you can go forward with an aim.

It was that concert and those tall stunning singers that changed my life and set my career in motion. I announced to my father that I was going to look like those girls when I grew up. He smiled. I could tell he was pleased that I set unattainable goals for myself😉.

And I can safely say that I began my quest for Ageless Beauty when I was 11.
I never thought of age (and still don’t), but I knew I wanted to look and be beautiful and sophisticated forever.

Of course, I got my priorities straight as I grew up. But I never lost the desire to look as good as I could at every point in my life and still do!

I never stopped looking at photos of stunning women and use them as role models to this day.

I created a game for myself where I would project where I would be in the future. “In 10 years, I will fit into a size_____. In 10 years, I will look like _____. Get the picture? 

I was telling my business partner, Dr. Yen, that Elon Musk’s mother, Maye, is my new role model. She’s absolutely stunning in an ageless way. She’s gray, youthful, published, accomplished, and models as a 70-something-year-old. If her age wasn’t  public information, I’d have no idea nor care about her age. 

Why should I? 

All I know is that she looks fantastic and I now have someone who sets the target for what I can achieve as the birthdays pass by.

Why should we care about a number when we can look ageless at every stage of our lives? 

Who cares about their number? 
It’s looking your dream best at every stage of life. See it, Be it, Choose ageless and know you’re the best you, you can be.

Would you like to know some of my ageless beauty regimen?

Please join us on the Ageless Beauty Facebook Group 

Fear of Aging

Holly came in for her monthly maintenance treatment and seemed a bit down. Once we started talking she told me she was afraid of aging.

She said, “I’m afraid no one will want me anymore!”

Coming from Miami and working in private clubs of the rich and famous, I saw it all...From face lifts to tummy tucks and everything in between!

I met glamorous “who's who” women and their wealthy indulgent husbands.

I watched them very closely.

With all that wealth and those toys and lifestyle what else could they ask for?

I watched some more.

What was missing in these seemingly perfect lives? What was it that made them so unhappy?

I watched some more.

Then, I got it! They were afraid of aging. They were afraid of getting and looking old and unwanted. Afraid of losing their lives. Afraid of not being loved and wanted.

How sad. If at any moment I thought I envied these people, I quickly realized I wouldn’t trade places with them for all their money, homes and toys.

My parents divorced when I was 7 and my brother was 3. Divorce in the 60s was practically unheard of.

Luckily, my brother and I were loved.

We lived with our mom and my father was always close by.

We would have given anything to be a whole family. It wasn’t easy to see other kids playing at the beach with both parents while we watched longingly.

The toys we had were material substitutes for a normal family life with two parents.

My mom was wise and loving and always stressed that being happy was the most important thing in life.

Something about those words rang true and deep in my head and heart.

As I grew up I never forgot that happiness was much more important than things money could buy.

Being kind and of service brought me happiness.

I believe when you love what you do, you're happy.

If you serve others with that love in kindness you bring your clients much more than what they came for.

When clients come to my clinic for service they know they will age gracefully, naturally and beautifully.

They understand that being healthy and happy are keys to graceful elegant ageless beauty.

They understand that we’re all aging!

It’s irrational to be afraid of this fact of life.

The idea is to age gracefully!

There is more to life than material things.

( What does aging gracefully mean anyway?)

If you could look your best and be your best as the years move on then you are an Ageless Beauty.

You’ll wake up in the morning, looking and feeling refreshed and energized.

People will notice something is different about you. You’ll have people telling you how great you look. They might even ask you what you’re doing.

Some women might even talk behind your back, jealous of who you’ve become.

You can go through life with confidence and grace.

Yes!,it’s possible without needles and scalpels and other dangerous procedures.

It’s safe and healthy and elegant and it’s very empowering.

Please join my Facebook family and let us know what you think.

We give you the best advice, hints and tips on aging beautifully.

What are you waiting for?

Please join us on the Ageless Beauty Facebook Group

Feeling stale?

Jenny said she almost didn't recognize herself in the mirror. Had she aged 10 years? Was it the bingeing on Netflix and chips during the lockdown? She did look kind of sad and defeated. Her eyes were tired.

And her boss had just said he wanted to re-open as soon as they had the all-clear. Probably in about a week! She was still making Skype client calls—and said she didn't look too too bad on the screen if she sat a foot or so away. But in person? But Jenny loved people!

Jenny ha'd plunked down on the low brick wall outside her condo on the way back from our walk like she couldn't go another step and said she was thinking of getting her eyes “bottomed.

She'd been watching this show about selfie culture driving people to plastic surgery. Even 20-somethings were getting “injectables!”

Which she knew for a fact cause their 20-something receptionist Angela had gone for “a botox” just before everything shut down.

So Jenny was thinking about going as soon as she could book it and then taking a week's vac. Not a good idea when she had to get clients onboard and kitchen and office reno's booked ...

But was a week long enough to get over that frozen Botox look Angela showed up with?

Jenny said she hadn't asked Angela if she'd ended up with any of the other 'botoxitis' symptoms that some get—muscles weakness, vision and breathing problems, even trouble speaking or swallowing. Or the worst, which probably didn't happen too often—bladder control issues.

Jenny admired the flowers while I said that neither the frozen botox or the deer-in the-headlights stare (that you get from surgery!) would get Jenny more interior design clients.

What she needed was to feel better about herself, to find the pre-lockdown Jenny. To be ready to go as soon as they got the go--not take a week off.

Besides, Angela's frozen botox made her look so fake—even a little older—how could she even think that an injection would solve any problem she might have?

Snap.

Botox wouldn't help Jenny either. What she needed was to get her mojo back, not wonder if she looked older or stale (and had a crush on chips!). Practically everyone had been on the Quarantine 15!

She just needed to remember what she was good at for when things ramped up again—to be the old vibrant, confident Jenny.

She'd been having too much alone time--Jenny thrived on being social and people. Maybe she needed something to help keep focus.

The flowers in the condo garden were so fresh, vibrant, and alive. The pansies were maybe a bit droopy. But they still looked beautiful and with a little water would soon perk up. You simply can't compare real and artificial anything.

Fake might look okay from 20 feet away—but even on Angela it looked obvious. And artificial beauty is not natural beauty.

Plus it's temporary. If you have botox or a knife lift, you’ll not only have that frozen thing to get through, but soon need more work.

On the other hand, if Jenny was able to keep and enhance and refresh her inner, natural beauty, she'd perk up. She'd have that beautiful ageless empowered feeling and that wonderful natural glow it gives you —voila! In person or on Skype, she'd feel like herself again! She'd never feel stale. Maybe she needed support to get her confidence back.

So I suggested Jenny join the Ageless Beauty Facebook group…It's all about the knowhow, tips, tricks, and whatever you need to take control and make the most of you and your Ageless Beauty, inside and out.

To know the latest to enhance and refresh your natural lovely self, please join us on the Ageless Beauty Facebook Group and learn how to keep your Ageless Beauty going forever!”

Eye strain from staring at the computer?

Headaches or tired eyes?

Jenny's eyes were bothering her. I could see that she was squinting when we were on Face Time. She said no wonder. That she had a horrible headache and could barely see straight!

I said it's probably too much computer time. Jenny said yes! Partly because she was now doing all her work from home and the stress and strain were showing.

But mostly it was because her boss was also working from home. And his wife, who was in hospitality and not interior design like her husband and so wasn't working at all, kept putting her two cents worth in(!).

So Jenny's occasional headaches had turned into way too often. And she couldn't sleep at night, so was working at two and three in the morning.

As Yoko Ono once said, it's important to be able to smile in the mirror. If you do that every day, you start to see a big difference in your life. Well, Jenny clearly hadn't smiled at anybody for awhile.

Probably cause it's hard to keep smiling when you're scowling at the computer all day long!

I told Jenny it wasn't the boss who was really the headache—Jenny was used to him and to his wife's little ways--who always had an opinion and expressed it—but most likely eye strain

Her muscles were stressing around the eyes because she was spending too long at the computer during the lockdown instead of out and about in people's homes doing her job. What she needed to do was release the tension and voila.

SO I sent Jenny a video to show her how to release the tension around her eyes and other facial muscles.

She zipped right through the easy instructions. Said she felt the tension float away and muscles relax. And she looked loads better at our next chat on Face Time!

And a lot younger, too! Stress and strain causes fatigue and wrinkles.

Contact me (Maxine) and I'll send the video link!

Warm water keeps you young!

The Health and Wellness Factor—

When was the last time you were invited to a tea party and the star of the show was warm water, and not a nice cup of tea?

After a few interesting social gatherings with new friends, I noticed that quite a few people asked for warm water when the after-dinner beverages were offered. 

First I wondered what it was all about. Then I tried it. 

Sipping hot tea (without the tea 😂) was “comforting.” It made me feel calmer and comfortable in my body. 

It made my stomach feel satisfied without feeling full. And if I drank this after a meal, it helped with digestion. 

This was a good thing.

I decided to see exactly what this ritual was about and found some great facts about sipping hot water. it’s one of those magic ingredients with powers you never thought of or thought you’d need—but work wonders for your health and wellness factor. And the fact that it made me feel calm, helped digestion, and much more besides appear to be well-known benefits that I wanted to share.

Hot water can also help with arthritis, keeps you hydrated, reduces stress, improves circulation. So next time someone asks what you’d like after dinner, consider hot water!

You can add a drop of lemon… and then you get the benefits from lemon, too, which boosts the immune system, helps with Vitamin C and cleanses the liver, among other tasks, but you don’t have to. Hot water all on its own is good for you! Maxine

More on the benefits of drinking hot water.

Diet and skin tips-the anti-inflammatory diet

Skin care from the inside out

Make conscious food choices and go for an anti-inflammatory diet (tomatoes, olive oil, green leafy veg, nuts, salmon, tuna, sardines, blueberries, cherries... check what's good and what's not). Many of the foods that make up the Mediterranean diet are also anti-inflammatory and make it, too, great for weight loss, general health, and your skin. The anti-inflammatory diet minimizes breakouts and improves skin tone.

Plus, experts say that inflammation in your body contributes to a huge range of diseases and conditions from Parkinson's to Alzheimer's, cancers, arthritis, and more. Battling these prospects while you eat is only sensible.

Make fresh veggies and fruits part of your life. Your food choices have more of an impact on how you look and feel than you might think, now and in the future. (“Good, I hope,” says Maxine!).

So aim for nine to 10 servings of fruit and veg daily. Emphasize fresh food and variety always/avoid fast food and desserts, especially those you didn't make yourself. Have your Omega-3 fatty acids from fish, some nuts (walnuts, Brazil nuts, cashews...), even dark chocolate. Also make sure you get your full fibre allowance (from 25 to 40 grams)—not only from whole grains, barley, brown rice etc., but fruit and veggie as well, from eggplant to nuts, beans, bananas and blueberries. 

Another way to get the best from an anti-inflammatory diet is to spice it up. Make turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, garlic, cayenne, and even black pepper a part of your healthy body and skincare diet. Turmeric is anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and an antioxidant. It’s the anti-aging spice—ingesting it protects against wrinkles, sun damage/UV radiation, and dark spots… plus! Read about turmeric and what it can do for your skin.

More tips

What turmeric does for you—see Marie Claire

Everything you need to know about inflammation.

More.

What is the best way to keep your complexion fresh and buoyant? If you've been following Maxine Warsh for a while, you'll know that the key is to wash (Warsh!) your face with only water and the Warsh Cloth.
 

Looking After You—Enjoying Today

Feeling rested and rejuvenated

If your life isn't looking (or feeling!) much like a day at the beach at the moment, taking time out to indulge yourself and your senses and switching the focus to relaxing can make a huge difference. Take a little break for reflection and living in the moment.

Stress and you—see the signs

Remember, if you're not getting enough relaxing time, your body will tell you. Stress will show itself in disrupted sleep patterns, assorted aches and pains—from headaches to back and neck aches—to the feeling that it's taking twice the effort to do what you used to do in a blink. It's important to destress—especially now—whether it's with meditation or exercise or a good book —when you feel you're losing track of 'you.'. As we all know, stress may also show up in serious ways—raising your risk of chronic ailments and life-threatening conditions and illnesses. The signs of stress vary from chronic urinary tract infections to problems in your love life.

And stress affects your skin, too, of course—especially our faces where it may show up in wrinkles, spots, and skin that looks dull. So if you look in the mirror and think you’re slowing your age, or have lost your usual glow… take time out to destress. It’s difficult, especially now, but there are easy ways to improve your looks and your wellness and health by getting rid of stress.

Taking time to indulge in the tried and true stress solutions from deep breathing to focusing on a healthier lifestyle and habits are all good. Meditation is an excellent way to deal with stress. And you don't even have to leave home to do it.

Start the day with meditation—it’s good for you

Your starting point should be to make sure the setting is comforting, then take a little time to focus. Check out Meditation for Beginners on this blog if you’re not sure what to do next.

When Mass General and Harvard Medical School neuroscientist Sara Lazar had a sports injury, she turned to yoga to stay limber and keep stretching. But before long, she found that she felt more patient, calmer, open-hearted—and set out to explore why. She came to the conclusion (after two studies) that mindful meditation was the key. Participants in the studies experienced a thickening in several regions of the brain involved in “learning, memory, and emotional regulation” or empathy. Read more about this research and the benefits of mindful meditation.

Good to know about meditation: even if you start with only a few minutes, change starts to happen. And it grows with practice. Even study participants who meditated over the course of a weekend retreat, for example, showed a difference in neurogenesis.

“I'm a strong believer in taking care of myself—from the inside and out—and am careful to exercise, live a healthy lifestyle, and make sure to take the edge off when I need to. Meditation is also part of my everyday routine.”  Maxine

If you haven’t tried it, check out the Meditation for Beginners blog.

And here are more living in the moment benefits!

ANTI-AGING TIPS FOR YOUR FACE AND BODY

Anti-aging tips for your skin—

Don't let the weather age you. Some days it feels like it's wrinkling and crinkling--we all know that summer sunshine is not great for your skin but neither is a hot and dry office or winterized home (fall isn't far away!). There are simple ways to take care of your skin from the inside out.

Water, water, water

Drink lots and lots of liquid—preferably water.  Everyone still recommends 8 glasses a day if you can do it. Tea and other liquids help, too.

Hydration is truly the key to beauty from the inside out!

You've probably noticed that your skin feels more springy when there's more humidity. This doesn't mean you can relax. Always wear a high SPF sunscreen outside in the summer and, even if you're in a damp climate, still moisturize often.

Sun damage when driving

Some people don't know that skin can still suffer sun damage through glass--in front of windows or when you're driving in winter and summer—so use an  SPF cream on all exposed skin. When you're outside, wear a hat whenever you can.

 In the winter, think humidifier. Even a small unit in the bedroom will help you to avoid the long-term effects of weather and dryness on your skin. 

Top anti-aging tip- do the 7-minute stretch

The best anti-aging tip is to exercise. Being on the go more often than you're sitting helps to make sure all your cells and functions are in motion. Nowadays, experts recommend never stay sitting longer than an hour at a time, but many studies say no longer than 10 minutes--even if you just stand up and wriggle. Even a short stretch period (the 7-minute stretch instead of the 7th inning stretch!) serves an excellent purpose to keep your muscles active and functioning and blood flowing.

So exercise, exercise, and exercise to battle aging— get up off the couch or your chair often to get a drink of water. Take a peek outside or talk about the weather. Chat with your colleagues or neighbors—any excuse to get up and move

Maintaining activity is a disease fighter—from cancers to cardiovascular. And research shows that social activity of any kind may help prevent dementia and with depression. The combination of exercise and social interaction is excellent—so keep moving and start talking for anti-aging benefits—to your body, skin, and mental condition.

How to moisturize for anti-aging

The all-natural skincare product range from Maxine Warsh.

Use mucho moisturizers—on your face and your body. Slather it on while you're still damp dry—just blot your skin lightly with a towel and then use your lotions and potions.

It's a good idea to keep a body cream or moisturizer next to the shower or bath, so you can give your skin a drink each and every time you emerge. I recommend my all-natural epiCARE™ range of skincare products (of course!). 

Also, don't forget exfoliating regularly—this deep cleanses your skin and makes it more receptive to moisturizers.

And what is the best way to exfoliate?

Hint— “This is another excellent reason to use the  WARSH Cloth twice daily for a healthy complexion—because it's a natural exfoliant. Not only will it clean your skin of makeup and grime.  All you need is water for a fresh, receptive skin and cleaning with only water means you're not adding cleanser or soap chemicals or preservatives that dry out your face. Your complexion will look fresh and glowing—and thank you for it... and so will the planet.”

“Do the 7-minute stretch—even if you only stand and wiggle at your desk (or couch!). This is one of the best anti-aging tips I can share to keep your cells, systems, and body functioning at its best!”

Health & Beauty News

HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR LIFE—

Age Well (and Skin Care)—this section is about Aging Well and feeling great—because when you feel great… you look great. Taking care of you is good for inside and out and that includes your complexion and the largest organ in your body, your skin.

LIFESTYLE IMPROVEMENT TIP # 1—THINK POSITIVE

“I'd love everyone to commit to a year of living beautifully. Take a few minutes every day to Relax, Think Positive, and Be the YOU you want to be. Because this has a big effect not only on how successfully you live your life but, experts say, on how long you may be living that life.

“We can't influence every little thing—but stats show that thinking positive  works. Science says so! Positive statements help challenge and overcome self-sabotage and negative thoughts. When you repeat and believe—you change (and because I love Re words… you are refreshed, rejuvenated, renewed… etcetera!)” Maxine

“And the great side effect of taking the time to build yourself up? You'll see the results not only in the way you look at life—but in your mirror!”

See what Positive Psychology says:

LIFESTYLE IMPROVEMENT TIP # 2—TAKE PLAYTIME

Play is important for adults and many of us don't take the time to do it. Between To Do lists and the sheer number of calls on our time, we go from morning to night keeping busy and rarely allow our playful side to show or memories of happy childhood times to peep through. Yet health experts say it's essential to our physical and mental health to let go of busyness once in a while. Allowing a few minutes for fun means you're immersed in the moment—and is considered an active form of mindfulness that alleviates stress, worries, anxiety, and depression.

Muscles and the complexion--anti-aging advances

Microcurrent and toning the muscles under your skin—

We’ve been asking for years whether exercising the face reduces wrinkles. And saying for years that our microcurrent is like an exercise session for your complexion—it tones and gives bounce and spring.

But by our 30’s we’ve had years of frowning, smiling, and the many other facial expressions that can speed up the creation of wrinkles. Plus there are other aging factors—maybe you’ve spent too long outside or smoked or not been eating nutritionally or drinking enough water.

So yes, face exercises can reverse wrinkles. But not in the way you think—not by stretching your mouth wide and wiggling your eyebrows.

Microcurrent treatments are based on your muscle structure—they are designed to lift and elevate and restore—by working on specific muscles under your skin and giving your skin a boost. This is the way we’ve always done it, but with additional medical expertise we’re now going further with amazing visible results.

The new microcurrent MAXlift includes a unique, proprietary facial muscle therapy to give great results. and help combat the aging process. The microcurrent muscle therapy helps strengthen the muscles underneath our skin in our face. This fights the effects of years of facial expressions and use of our face muscles,—we’re reversing the damage by strengthening the damaged face muscles. Over the years these muscles have begin to weaken and our face begins to wrinkle due to the elongated weakening muscles. So it makes sense that strengthening these muscles can reverse these negative effects.

We tend to the rest of our body at the gym so why not keep our face in shape? In a nutshell, what happens under the skin is—as the muscles weaken and elongate, our skin will begin to sag. This sagging skin on the outside is what causes aging. By working the right muscles we stimulate blood flow to those muscles, and also increase the amount of oxygen that the skin receives. By receiving more blood and oxygen the skin can begin to produce more healthy skin cells. Treatment improves lymph and blood flow. Water retention is reduced. Yeah!

To finish, we offer a Collagen Face Mask—and apply microcurrent to this damp mask, so that it’s easily absorbed—and you leave the treatment room with a face that feels refreshed, rejuvenated—and knowing you look young and beautiful!

Are you the oldest in the room at work?

ON ENJOYING OUR BEST SELVES

Stella is amazing—she’s vibrant and happy and always seems to be the one making suggestions and organizing places to go and things to do for our group of friends who’ve been hanging out since high school. Even though some of us are moms and some work 24/7—and some do both—most of us have such busy lives—yet we make time for each other and we always have each other’s backs.

So when I saw Stella frowning when nobody was looking at her (she thought! but I’m crafty!) on our last coffee date and she said that at the office they’ve been hiring younger workers and now she feels like the oldest. She isn’t—but she feels like it, I knew what I had to do!

Luckily, I was able to save the day--and, pat on back, Stella's smiling again! Because another friend had come to me with the same problem.

WHY STELLA FEELS OLD

“It's true,” she said. “Okay, the new women are not 10. But sometimes act like it. They wear leggings and crop tops and boots and I'm in a dress and a jacket and carrying a bag big enough to hold all the makeup I need.”

I asked her why she needed makeup. She used to hardly wear any—and I’d been shocked when she sat down to see how much was caked on. She said she'd started doing a refresh at lunch--to keep pace with their fresh young faces--at first just lipstick and a touch of mascara as usual—but now she did a complete makeup in the morning and a redo at lunch.

When I asked if it helped, she shook her head. And it turned out her new colleagues weren’t acting like they were 10—they were simply being—their age!

My other friend with the same problem--had said her clients were getting younger and younger.  And we’d put our heads together and come up with a variation on the elevator pitch.

THE NEW ELEVATOR PITCH

We all change a little as we get older—hopefully, we feel more comfy in our skin and more capable, knowledgeable, and able to relax. It doesn’t mean we have to look older. (see microcurrent!) But our elevator pitch needs to change a little as we do and show who we are and what we do.

Focus on the truth—and thinking positive (of course—you know me!). Not that you can't do your usual jog around the block at lunch because your knee hurts... but that you've discovered gentle yoga and like that so much better. Plus you're not pounding on the pavement anymore--which isn't good for you!

YOU ARE GETTING BETTER

So I told Stella that it's not that you're older--it's like that commercial used to say, “You're Getting Better.” That's your elevator pitch.  What Stella offers that nobody else has--her unique experience, capability, practical knowhow, and a couple of decades of how things work and dealing with situations in the places she's lived such as Paris, Miami, and the other places I can't even remember that she moved to when she was exploring the world.

Plus she has 3 decades more experience of life and work in her brain on how to respond to people in stress or suffering loss—to help with the complaints from angry, disappointed, or irate customers in the customer service department of her insurance company.

The 10-year-olds don't have that (sorry if you’re reading this and one of the 10’s!) . Stella’s useful to know because of where she’s been and what she’s done, and she she can help!

She was going to start sharing little tidbits of knowledge and expertise, to help them get beyond the know-it-all confidence that could take them into hot water.—and actually begin to do the job. She was going to lead—be who she was.

She was going to help them grow and be the GO TO when they're stuck. Stella was revelling in her role as a mentor just thinking about it.

So that's what she did--she rebooted her elevator pitch, stopped wearing tons of makeup (truly, she had on triple layers when I met her for coffee!). And next time we had coffee was her usual bubbly self and I was in stitches. And she was wearing leggings under her long tunic and little flats and looked great!

At that first coffee date, I also gave her my Warsh Cloth so she could make sure to get all that makeup and grime off--and not further damage her skin. And shared my Cheat Sheet—5 Ways to Look Younger (and only one of them has to do with how you wash/Warsh your face--stay tuned or email me for a copy!)

Coming soon!

and stay-tuned for more!

Top food choices to boost energy

Most of are well aware that extra cups of our favorite coffee or a candy break are not the best choices when we need get up and go. The boost is always temporary (although coffee has been shown to be very good for your health—try for at least two cups daily. And you can enjoy up to eight with good effect!)

But what should you reach for in your kitchen when you would rather be having a nap and need an energy boost to get moving?

The best combination are options rich in protein, fibre, and complex carbohydrates—so the energy boost lasts and doesn't show itself as a big sugar splurge that leaves you tired and in need of another boost.

What are good food choices for energy?

Nuts are good choices—especially with lower fat Greek yogurt, but make sure to keep a close eye on quantities with nuts—they seem like such superfoods with complex carbs and nutritional benefits —but the carbs can soon add up.

Top of everyone's list is quinoa. While we may think quinoa falls in the same category as wheat or rice as a grain and prepare it as such, this nutrient-dense carb is actually a seed. It comes from the same family group as spinach, chard, and beets. It has twice the protein of rice or barley, and is an excellent source of magnesium and manganese, calcium, has several B vitamins, vitamin E, fiber and has all 9 essential amino acids making it a perfect complete protein choice. Have it instead of breakfast cereal or at lunch and dinner.

Lentils are another great choice. A high fiber powerhouse, lentils contain cholesterol-lowering fibre and help to stabilize blood sugar for long periods, contain seven important minerals, B vitamins and protein—and they're amazingly low calorie. 

Beans are protein and a complex carb—toss some in a salad for an instant energy boost. And if you make it an iron-packed spinach salad to keep your energy up all afternoon. More on what's good for you next time!

RECLAIMing YOU

LIVE THE DREAM—

The Importance of Revisiting (and RECLAIMing) You

I like the RE words--refresh, rejuvenate, relax... you may have noticed my product names. Check them out. But one I haven't used (yet!) is revisit. As you've probably heard or read, I believe that when you feel great about yourself you look good. This is because, at every level, you're doing what's good for you.

But the current thinking is you also have to learn to feel relaxed about time—all the experts say that being proactive about aging does have a visible impact.

Rejuvenation and refreshing—for your complexion—and in your life work best when you're happy with who you are today.  If you're feeling miserable—this is going to affect how you look, how you go about your day, and—as many experts now say—your longevity. So what can you do to feel good about where you are today?

What did you want to be when you grew up?

Revisit you—and while you’re there—RECLAIM YOU. This may mean reclaiming your dreams. Shake them out and dust them off—did you give up, get sidetracked? Worry too much about what would happen if things didn’t work out and so you never even bothered to try?

We all need hopes and dreams. And re-examining (another RE word!) what you wanted when you were 20 and seeing if you’re got there yet… and if not, REbooting(!) is the best anti-aging and Rejuvenation advice I can give.

And it’s also good to Remember that saying so helps make it so. And taking the time RECLAIM You—perhaps the you that you thought you'd left behind when you turned 30 and had to commit to serious efforts like making a living and raising a family... is good for you in so many ways. Not feeling that you've missed the bus/train/ or that it's too late to get going on new plans or revisit your old plans and reboot—is good for our health.

It’s never too late to follow your dream!

Looking behind often helps with realizing that now is a good place to be. But it can be even better if you can refresh and revisit your dreams—reclaim them—and change your life. It’s never too late. Try a new approach or a new venture, or simply dust off your old goals and if they still beckon, go for it—knowing what you know and who you are.

This is an important step —knowing that where you are now is where you want to be. Take time to refresh, rejuvenate, and to RECLAIM YOU. Assess your good fortune—even if, this week, it only consists of a walk in the winter sunshine or sitting on a park bench for a few moments to rest and enjoy the scenery from your busy day.

How Maxine reclaimed her passion!

“Or, like I did recently, reCLAIM your passion. I love Ballet. It feeds my soul. I just wasn’t seeing as much dance as I wanted to—always a childhood love! So I decided to become a subscriber to The National Ballet of Canada. I had no idea just how much enjoyment was in store.

“Recently I attended my second ballet of the season(Etudes & Piano Concerto #1 & Petite Mort). I rushed home from work, made dinner, cleaned up and got myself ready to go.

“All dressed up, I decided to take the subway...maybe feeling a little overdressed for this stretch of the journey. Yes, people were looking at me funny!

“But I suddenly realized how much fun I was having.on a date with myself!

“I had never looked at going out unescorted as being on a date with me. But in all the excitement and anticipation of a “special event” and being all dressed up to match the occasion, I was having a ball.

“ ballet was wonderful— better than expected. Life is good. And then there’s ballet and dates with one’s self. It was a good gratitude reminder around my favorite holiday of the year, Thanksgiving. So much to be thankful for.

“So, my rejuvenation treatments fill the lines and wrinkles and plump up your skin.

“But it's being happy with who you are—and that may mean Reclaiming a little bit of who you were and having fun being you again— is the most important anti-aging advice I can give. Nothing has the more on our well-being than feeling good—because then we look great. Feeling great equals looking good.

“We don’t have to want to be our young selves all over again. But that doesn’t mean we can’t reclaim he passion or dream and make it new —perhaps even go on a date with you—and teel like yourself again! This was a small reboot for me… stay-tuned for more!” Maxine

6 STEPS TO REBOOT YOU!

1) First—what was the dream? What did you want to do or be when you grew up? Are you there yet?

2) Ask yourself if you still would love to achieve or do that—or do you have a new dream? Write it down.

I WANT TO… finish the sentence.

3) Deadlines work—so give yourself a deadline.

I WANT TO … …………………………………. by………………

If you want to fly a plane, the target doesn’t have to be the fly by date… make it the first-lesson-date, or the phone-the-flying-school date—you know you best. Will you be more successful if you plan every stage, take small steps first, or jump in with both feet?

4) Sign the paper where you wrote down your dream of a lifetime. Take a picture and send it to your best friend (or me!)

5) Put it up everywhere—on your fridge under your favorite magnet, copy it and carry it in your wallet so you see it daily.

6) Visualize it. THINK ABOUT WHAT IF? Allow yourself a daydream—are you smiling yet? Revisit your dreams and work out a schedule and imagine doing whatever it might be or becoming—and how wonderful it would feel and what people would say… And how you’d probably be beyond happiness-you’d feel over the moon.

THEN JUST DO IT. TAKE THAT FIRST STEP OVER THE MOON TODAY!

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About affirmations—

Do you remember the fun of Valentine's Day when you were in grade school?

Ignoring Valentine’s Day

Does your partner bring you roses, chocolate, plan a night out—or just ignore the whole thing and call Valentine’s Day a holiday invented by Hallmark?

You may think that things have moved on. That you can’t expect the same excitement now—whether you’re years into your relationship or decades—as you did at the start. Why would they do anything different on Valentine’s Day when you’re there, day in and day out?

Childhood Valentine’s

You might spend a little time missing those childhood days when we cut (or punched with our fingernails!) the bright colored Valentines (were they from Hallmark? ) to give to our friends. They were so much fun. We counted how many we had and who we would send to—and hugged close to our hearts one from that special someone who we’d wanted to notice us. It was thrilling when they did!

You probably anguished over what you’d write on their Valentine and watched to see it opened if you could, feeling your heart skip. The valentines sometimes came in books and sometimes in packs… and I noticed at my supermarket the other day that they still sell them—or something that is the modern equivalent. Whether your valentines went into your school mail box, bag, or the old ‘Valentine Shoebox” it was a special fun party day.

Any Day Can be Valentine’s

That was then and this is now. So if Valentine’s wasn’t great this year, do something about it. Were you waiting for someone else to make a move? Own it—and make any day Valentine’s Day. You buy the flowers—whether it’s for your partner or just for you.

The phrase we’ve been about this week—Just Do It!—has resonance beyond sports in real life. Don’t wait for others to make the first move. And be upset when they don’t—it might have nothing to do with you!  They might have forgot, be too busy, stressed out, thinking you’re too busy even…

Reinventing Valentine’s Day means it can be any time Make it yours Instigate that Valentine’s feeling. My bet is that your partner will be happy you did… and perhaps a little skip in their heart that you took the time, thought, and love to check in on your relationship. Wine and chocolates, and flowers, anyone?

And if you want to just stay home and watch a good movie— If you haven’t seen Tommy Lee Jones and Meryl Streep in Hope Springs about a relationship that needs TLC and rejuvenation, it’s a great pic for a warm cozy make-any-day-Valentine’s-night on the couch!

Hope Springs

Life Lesson # 1 from Kobe Bryant

On Life Lesson # 1:

ON GIVING IT YOUR ALL—

Do you want to shine, attract smiles and pats on the back, feel you’re a stand out?

Perhaps you head to the hair salon or check online for a new look—or remind people how you’re living the dream or such a great leader in your job or company that everybody else can…

When really, all you have to do is give it your all. Kobe did in 2013 when he tore his Achilles—he said he felt for the tendon and it simply wasn’t there.  He got up and—hobbling—sunk his free throws, the Lakers won, and he went on extended sick leave.

 And made a lot of friends forever. When you give it your all, you shine. People see you, know you, and will come for miles to watch you. 

Click to read MAXAppeal—the newsletter

Relax and destress with family and friends

Which is better? Family time or friend time?

One of the best ways to relax and destress is to spend some away-from-work time with those you love—this means family and friends. According to the experts, sometimes spending more time with family is good but sometimes the people closest to us seem…. a bit too close on a particular day? So it adds anxiety to the mix even if you're not having family tiffs, and who doesn’t sometimes?

So for family-cantered holidays—even long weekends like the February Family Day in most of Canada and President’s Day in the US—think outside the house for things to do and stay happy. And you can do these with family or friends (or both!) or even just you if quiet time is what you need.

Sharing fun and the other stuff

On vacation with friends!

Still, make some time for family time—because this is what memories are made of. Spend time as with the family members you truly feel at home with.

But add in some friendship time to the mix, especially with longtime friends. These are the people you can share anything with, good times or bad, because you've already faced so many ups and downs together.  

The gift of life

Whether you spend your downtime with family or friends, “Reaching out means we are giving each other, literally, the gift of life,” says a report in (of all sources!) the Tri-State Livestock News. 

We increase our chances in the longevity stakes when we spend more time with friends and family. According to JAMA Internal Medicine, 23 % of people who reported being lonely during the study period died within six years. Scary! But only 14% of those with regular companionship did in the same period. (Report Simplemost)

TIME Magazine says that spending time with friends can be as important (or more so than spending your relaxing hours with family.  Quality friendships—with people you understand and get on with and vice versa—is especially important. As are friendships with spouses, children, and other family members. But the relaxation factor may be greater with longtime trusted friends, who have been through it all with you and know who you really are—and are still there because they love you, not because they’re family

The bottom line is that the more social interactions you have, the more impact this will have on your good health, wellness and your chances of a longer life. And smiling and being happy boosts your skin health and how young you look, too… stay tuned!

RENEW, REVIVE, AND REJUVENATE WITH MAXINE WARSH. YOUR SKIN WILL KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.

Retailers carrying the Warsh Cloths

Here are a sprinkling of some of the locations/retailers carrying the Warsh Cloth.

• Sporting Life

• Cinderella Suites, Woodmere, New York

• Carol Kelley, in L.A.

• PharmaSave

• 889 Yoga

• Rosemarie’s Cosmetics, Pompano, Florida

• Sekt Studios, St. Lawrence Market area, Toronto

• Eyes on Sheppard, North York

• Ilana Stein-Attali, The House of Vitality

• Lee Renick Cosmetics, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

• Daniel Sade, Healing Fragrances, Concord

• Ladies Golf Club

• Palais Royale, Bayview Village

• Palais Royale, Yorkville

• Granite Club

• Parisa Hair Salon, North York City Centre

• Look Hair Studio

• Delineations

• Hair Dynasty

• Lezah Skin Care, MississaugaAyala Raiter Jewelry Couture

• Dr. Diane Wong, Glow Medi Spa—Yorkville, Aurora, and Markham

• Michelle Romanica at Great Lakes Dermatology, Wisconsin

• Beauty & Barber Supply outlets

• Grace Makeup for Midlife

• Susan Kirsch Makeup

• Weston Golf & Country Club

• Classic Nails

• Sweetgrass (at Verity)

• Pestacio Fine Foods

• Bayview Village Sport Specs & Opticals

• Jewelry Secrets, St. Jacobs

• David’s Fine Linens @ Bayview Village

• and the new Vaughn location

• Natural Life Health Market (GTA)

• River’s Edge Gift Shop, Rockwood, On.

• Really Neat Stuff

• Inner Peace Spa, Etobicoke

• Perfume Passion

• Bambuu Hair Salon

• Elemental Core Healing in Newmarket

• JC Salons, Toronto

• The One Nail and Spa Hair Design, Milton

• Mara Swartz

• Partners in Beauty— Stacey Elson, Chatham

• Partners in Beauty— Nancy Matteis, Chatham

• Partners in Beauty— Cathy Zarzycki, Conestogo

• Eye World, Markham

• Cass Bella, Vernon, BC

Please contact Maxine if you'd like to carry the Warsh Cloths or the Black Label epiCARE range of all-natural skincare products! 

Life Lessons from Kobe Bryant

A lot of media personalities and people I’ve spoken with have been asking what it was about Kobe Bryant that attracted our attention and made us all like and admire him. It wasn’t always smooth sailing for Kobe, but he kept going. And he shared the benefits of his position.

 And I think that’s the essence of what makes us live on…and a great lesson for us all.  Maybe he thought life had given him good options. Despite his bumps in the road, he kept playing and helping. He mentored, supported community charitable causes, and shared his good fortune—to open the door to opportunity for others.

 I imagine as a boy with two unusual names—Kobe (i.e., the Japanese cattle breed was the inspiration!) and Bean, he must have come in for some teasing. 

 But he didn’t become a big meanie who took it out on others in lesser positions—as bullies do and even some celebs. When he died, he was working to share his good fortune—taking the time to support his daughter’s team and being there.   His life approach was to elevate and energize. Whether it was on purpose—what counts is that is worked—and it worked on those who had incidental contact or none at all. (Like me!)

 The number 3 Life Lesson is important—even when it’s not smooth sailing, he picked himself up, dusted himself off, and got back into the game, so to speak!

 4 is Share—he did share the wealth and helped others achieve their dreams— sharing not only financial support but personal time—

 And he was loyal to his team—and to his family. Despite a bump in the road years ago, he and his wife remarried and stayed the course and were, clearly, a very happy family. 

 Above Kobe and Gianna—posted on Instagram by his wife Vanessa.

THE ANTI-AGING BENEFITS OF MICROCURRENT

Cosmetic microcurrent reduces the look of fine lines and wrinkles and firms and tones your complexion.

THE “ELECTRIC FACE LIFT” OR MINI LIFT

“It's like going to the gym to build your muscles. Firming and toning, tightening, sculpting, and contouring—treat yourself to a happy face and arm your skin against the negative effects of time with amazing results. Restore your self-confidence and feel like you. I think of it as a healing technology. And the experts say that it really is—and not just for its anti-aging impact on your complexion." Maxine.

Alternative health experts say that medical microcurrent has many anecdotal benefits from minimizing pain to speeding up recovery after surgery and help with fibromyalgia and conditions such as arthritis. It is also believed to reduce your body’s inflammatation—this is believed to be a major factor in fighting disease including cancer and cardio vascular issues. One US-based practitioner reports anecdotal stories of people coming in for a microcurrent facial and finding other issues are resolved and then bringing in family members for a microcurrent facial.

“This is my experience also,” says Maxine. “I have researched and read lots of anecdotal details about people finding their other ailments improve after a microcurrent facial or Mini Lift.

I hope the medical community gets behind this and does more follow up research—but my own story about how I discovered microcurrent bears retelling. A close relative was suffering a form of palsy and had medical microcurrent on her face to help with this. The medical practitioner said that it would also have the most amazing anti-aging effect—and this proved to be the case and awakened my interest in microcurrent as a cosmetic anti-aging method that works, without down time or surgery and at a very reasonable cost. The rest is history!”

EVERYONE’S TALKING ABOUT THE ELECTRIC FACE LIFT OR MINI LIFT—

TRY ANTI-AGING COSMETIC MICROCURRENT TODAY WITH THE MAX LIFT OR QUICK LIFT—THE EFFECT IS CUMULATIVE. YOUR FACE WILL THANK YOU FOR IT.

Showing Gratitude is Good for You--and Everyone on the Receiving End, Too!

We talk a lot on Face Talk about thinking positive as it’s good for you inside and out—you feel better, you look better—and more good things tend to come your way, say the experts. (It’s also anti-aging—feeling happy adds to longevity and means fewer wrinkles!)

A recept clip has been doing the rounds on the importance of showing gratitude—and as we celebrate Canadian and US Thanksgiving this month, it seemed a good time to focus on the importance of saying thanks, even if it’s only to yourself. It means you’re living in the present and noticing the small, perhaps insignificant things, that help make your day. Increasing your enjoyment in tiny ways—and noticing it—has impact in other ways.

According to a recent piece in Forbes, “acting grateful can actually make you grateful… Even a forced smile, research shows, triggers the release of feel-good chemicals in the brain.”

Apparently, exressing gratitude stimulates the brain’s reward center and the areas of our brian that regulates how we feel stress. It persuades us to think positive… even if we’re not in that particular frame of mind.

The article points out that it’s the same principle as striking a “power pose” to feel confident… even if, at that moment, you’re not feeling particularly upbeat. It helps to make you feel confident and ready to face adverseries or a difficult situation. More from Forbes.