 Written by: Katie Cohen
Everybody expects their first kiss to be this monumental moment when gravity miraculously stops and you find yourself floating above the ground and gasping for air. Who even decided that it was supposed to be like that? I never understood the appeal.
Getting swept off your feet inevitably ends in a painful fall and having your breath taken away is a guaranteed trip to the emergency room. For a close friend of mine, it literally was a trip to the hospital, but not because she was gasping for air. Rather, because she woke up the next morning with a small bump on her lip after some eighth-grade stud took her kissing virginity. When her dermatologist quickly diagnosed this nasty little thing as a flat wart, my friend was sent home with a very strong cream to apply on the affected area before bedtime.
Less than 24 hours later, I received a call from a panicking teenager who insisted that her lips had tripled in size. When I entered my friend’s apartment with a sympathy tub of rocky road ice cream, and got my first glimpse of her blowfish lips, I realized that her mini tantrum was completely justified.
Another week went by, and the lip swelling only got worse, and was eventually accompanied by spiking. It was discovered that the severe reactions were side effects from the cream that was being used to treat the flat wart, which turned out to be a pimple according to the results of the biopsy. This cream that destroyed my friends mucosal membrane (particularly her lips) and compromised her good health is now recognized as extremely hazardous to the human body and is prescribed with great caution by doctors. More recent medical research has shown that the strong concentration of harmful chemicals in the formula can be “criminally dangerous” when applied to specific areas.
Unfortunately, so many of the ingredients in body and skincare products we use daily contain ingredients that are identical to those in the cream that my friend applied to her “wart”. Some of them are Paraben based, meaning they contain chemicals like Methylparaben, Propylparaben, IIsoparaben, Butylparaben. Phthalates are additional chemicals that should be avoided at all costs. It is outrageous that there are only minimal efforts made to expose the important truths behind the products we use, and even more astonishing that the majority of the products do more harm to us than they do good.
Our skin is a major player in our first line of defense, constantly fighting off harmful bacteria and toxins that our bodies come into contact with every day. So while we all want soft, clear, and youthful looking skin, we sometimes fail to remember that keeping our skin healthy has greater benefits than those at the aesthetic level! It is important to treat it with the proper care that it deserves by introducing treatments into our cleansing regiments that keep our skin clean without a toxic solution. It is counterproductive to clean your face with products that only contaminate your skin more in the end!
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 Written by: Katie Cohen
 Written by: Betsy Karp
My entire family and I went to go see one of the last shows of “War Horse” at Lincoln Center in NYC. I’m not sure what all the hoop-la was all about. We found it very hard to sit through and six out of the eight of us really had a hard time keeping our eyes open. My mother and father managed to stay awake even though this was their second time seeing it. How they did that, I don’t know. So many people loved it. I found it to be painful and boring.
We went to go eat afterwards at P.J. Clarks and had the perfect table downstairs in the back. It was a round table with a red and white checkered tablecloth that sat all eight of us. I was telling everyone about the workshop I went to and how we were asked to name one thing or one person we were grateful for. Scott, the eldest grandson who adores my father, blurted out with great enthusiasm, “Papa, you are caring and generous and you always put everyone before yourself. There isn’t anybody that can say ONE negative thing about you. You are the most well rounded person I know and I love that!”
Marc, the youngest grandson, chimed in, “Papa, you are my role model and you give and give without ever taking. You are so generous, caring, hardworking and intelligent and you are the best grandfather I could ask for.“
My mom had tears rolling down her face and I saw my father’s eyes swell a little. My dad said, “See sometimes going to a bad show brings out the best in all. Thank you!”
My sister interrupted and said, “Wait! I have something to say. Thanks Dad for always being there. You are my friend, my mentor and my hero. I admire and respect you, and love you with all my heart. I am proud to be your daughter.”
So then it was my turn and I stated, “Dad you are Remarkable! You are the most devoted, dedicated and compassionate father, as well as the hardest working, honest, and warmest man I know. Actually, I think you are getting younger than older in your years and I adore you.”
All you have to do is meet my father to see what everyone is talking about. My Turkish friend Sumru recently met him and said, “your father’s warmth radiates from him and his being. He is even warmer and nicer than you described”.
My father has taught me so many invaluable life lessons and he is the one person I look up to and always want to make proud. He, in turn, makes all of us so proud and we are grateful that he is our Dad and Papa too!
Who are you grateful for in your life? Reach out and make that person feel great today too!
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Hugs,
Betsy Karp,
Founder of i adore me
 Written by: Betsy Karp
It’s Christmas Eve and I hope you are all enjoying some wonderful eggnog, family, friends and holiday cheer. Tis the season to be jolly. Sing some carols and stay present…and enjoy the presents (pun intended).
If you get stressed out, wondering if you are giving the right gift, if you are drinking and eating too much or just being around “too much” family, take a minute for yourself and breathe. Let go and enjoy. Whatever will be will be.
Dress in something fun and festive. Wear red, green or hot pink. Red promotes passion, energy and confidence. It helps you to feel powerful within yourself. Green will help open your heart, letting you feel love and abundance. Hot Pink is playful and fun. It makes you feel like a child all over again.
Enjoy yourself. It’s Christmas. Focus on all the love that surrounds you instead of the problems that arise. I hope this holiday brings you lots of peace in your heart. Wishing you all lots of love and a great BIG holiday hug.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
You can never have enough hugs and kisses!
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Hugs,
Betsy Karp,
Founder of i adore me
 Written by: Betsy Karp
I can’t stop thinking about the tragedy and massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Fri, Dec. 14th. My heart and my condolences go out to all of those who lost anyone in this unthinkable, unfathomable occurrence. I am sending wishes and love to all those that are mourning and in deep, terrible pain.
I keep having this vivid visualization of 20 little, white angels in a beautiful circle, all holding hands with white snow coming down all around them. They are warm and toasty in their beautiful, white, down jackets and matching fleece berets, and they’re singing “Jingle Bells.” Everything is so pure and white, clear and clean, and the sky is lit up with so many beautiful stars. But there are perfectly, 20, brilliant stars shining down on each one of them. They are joyful and their spirits are so filled with love.
I keep picturing this over and over so that I can let go of some of the dark, angry, black and horrible feelings I have of this terrible tragedy. 20 little angels are singing, are loving and their spirits and souls are forever in our hearts. They are so pure and so loved, even for those who did not know them.
Take a minute now, close your eyes and envision what I have been visualizing. See if you can try to imagine these beautiful, 20, white, little angels. It is said that our spirits and our souls leave our bodies when we pass on, so let’s all remember and embrace them. If we all put our energy and love together for these families, just think how much lighter they will start to feel.
Life is so precious. It could be gone in an instant. So take some time today and remember how special the people in your life are. Don’t take anything for granted, because we don’t know when our time on this planet will be up. Look up in the sky tonight and let those 20 little angels shine on you.
Please comment below and share with your friends.*
Hugs,
Betsy Karp,
Founder of i adore me
There is a saying that it is better to give than receive. Whether you can give a little or a lot, giving is giving. Are you still searching for that perfect holiday present? How about sharing your appreciation and love? What could be better than giving someone the chance to experience self-love, catapulting them towards their dreams? Give them the gift of a happier, healthier life. Who doesn't deserve that? ***The person lucky enough to get this gift certificate from you will be able to use it towards any program of their choice listed on the work with me page. When redeeming this gift certificate, they will also get 20% off the total cost of the program(s) they choose.
 Written by: Steven M. Goldsmith
I have recently begun to focus on my self-talk, and the more I do, I realize how much I use the words “should, shouldn’t, can’t, must, have to, need.” It’s amazing how often these words come up in our daily self-talk as well as in conversations with others. Have you ever stopped to think how detrimental these words can be?
These words come from a perfectionist realm. They are basically saying, “I NEED to do this or it won’t be right. I SHOULDN’T do that, because I’ll fail. I MUST behave this way to get what I want.” One of my favorite quotes from Julia Cameron is, “What would I do if I didn’t have to do it perfectly? A great deal more than I am.”
Words can make or break us, and more often than not they break us. Why? Because we focus on what we SHOULD and SHOULDN’T be doing. When we take these words out of our vocabulary, it leaves a space for us to mess up and be imperfect. Imperfection is what makes us unique and beautiful. It’s what sets us apart from others. Why wouldn’t we want that?
We always strive to be unique, and yet we try to be perfect and conform to the “norm.” But when we decide to take out the Should’s and Shouldn’t’s, Can’t’s Must’s, Have To’s and Need’s, we can relax in who we are and let life take us where it may. We land more in the flow and ALLOW life to happen. We give ourselves permission to “make a mess,” and that is an extremely kind act.
When we use definitive words like MUST and NEED, we create inner turmoil and fight with ourselves. We wind up beating ourselves up and throwing in the towel, because we put too much pressure on ourselves. Even using these words on seemingly “small” things still has an adverse affect. “I NEED to clean my house. I HAVE TO go to the store. I SHOULD go to the gym.” These are really harsh words whether they appear to be or not.
Give yourself a challenge. Try substituting these words with things like, “it would BE BENEFICIAL if I…, I would FEEL BETTER if I…, I would LIKE TO…” When you do this, you are giving yourself permission to do things rather than turning your voice into a scolding teacher or parent. You will notice how things won’t feel so much like a chore and it’ll be easier to tackle what you “SHOULD” get done. Sounds silly, I know, but just try it. It’s a gentle shift that will make a HUGE impact on your life and those around you.
“I would FEEL BETTER if I cleaned my house. It would BE BENEFICIAL if I went to the gym. I WOULD LIKE to go to the store to finish this chore so it’s not on my mind anymore.” This is kind self-talk. The other is an attack on your psyche. Try it for the day. Pay attention to your words and catch yourself. When you do, substitute the scolding words with the more supportive, loving words. Watch how your attitude changes and makes your daily activities more bearable. It’s a practice in self-love and self-nurturing. You deserve that loving self-talk more than you realize.
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