Fashion Night

I was waiting for this weekend so much cuz it's the last one before my leaving for Egypt for vacation. So I was planning to stay home this weekend and to pack my bags. But on Friday my husband brought two invitations for Fashion Party which was promised to be interesting and something unusual for Minsk. The guy who gave us these invitations told us there will be fashion performance with naked girls on stage in a national shoes called "valenki" which usually people wear in a village at winter. But designers styled them somehow. So after work on Friday we went there. All this meeting was organized in a National Beauty School where models take classes. So my mood was not so good at the beginning: 1) I was confused what to put on (it's fashion party so i had choice - or to feel comfortable or to look good, so i choose something medium); 2) i was tired after work, especially my husband who was driving the whole day and i felt so sorry about him and for my asking him to stay he was refusing cuz he promised me this party; 3) and i knew that we'll be there alone we didn't know anybody there. But we went.
So in general we liked it. There where good looking and glamor people, mostly up to 25-30, girls where different for any taste ) But over there they proposed such a sour champaign which i don't like (i prefer half sweet) and pineapple. The room was too tight for so many people and no conditions! It's so hot there that people tried to go out all the time. There where so many photographers and journalists, so it's hard to see anything, especially shoes. Not good light performance and too loud music, but as far as we didn't have any plans for evening we didn't regret about coming there. It was going to be disco there but we didn't feel like staying there in that hot room.

Rope course

Couple weeks ago I was at Rope course with colleges from job. Our boss organized that for making more friendly atmosphere in company between workers (though relationships are very good between us anyway). Besides he had a birthday and decided to celebrate it at nature. So it took us 1 day. We met around 9 in the morning up to 6pm. So as soon as we came there we were divided to 2 teams and went to competition. All tasks consisted with rope - to pass it without touching. Rather interesting, and they call it Business training which help to trust ur partner, and develop team mentality. So here'r some photos:

Starbucks coffee

One of the things I miss in NY is all this comfortable cafes where u can go in the morning just to take coffee "to go" before work, u can go there at lunch time to have coffee with cake and relax a little bit reading a newspaper or even u can go there in the evening for a date with a girl who u don't know well! And for all this things u can visit the same cafe!


What i love also in NY cafe - the opportunity to get coffee in a comfortable cup "to go", even in a car it's easy to drive and drink coffee. Unfortunately in Belarus (where I live) the only place u can buy coffee "to go" it's McDonald's, and it's only 5 of them in Minsk. So going (driving) to work without coffee makes me remind Starbucks.

Bath

I think that taking a bath is one of the best ways stress after hard working day to go away. It's so pleasant to relax there, with candle light and soap bubbles with a glass of cold juice or champaign or with a cup of coffee with ice cream. Also to turn on a light music in a lounge style. In this case u should do everything to make ur body, mind and soul to relax. Also it's good to use aroma oils.
So run a warm bath and ensure the door and windows are closed. When the tub is sufficiently filled, add up to 10 drops of essential oil to the water, circulating it throughout. As the oil is moved, the scent will rise with the steam of the water.

Now get in, take your time, and enjoy the wonderful aroma while you soak!

Recipe for a Relaxing and Calming Bath:

* 2 drops Lavender
* 2 drops Bergamot
* 2 drops Cedarwood

Recipe to relieve Nervousness:

* 6 drops Geranium
* 4 drops Basil

Recipe for Insomnia:

* 4 drops Chamomile
* 2 drops Lavender
* 2 drops Neroli
* 2 drops Marjoram

Recipe for an Energizing Bath:

* 3 drops Rosemary
* 2 drops Lemon
* 2 drops Frankincense

Types of candles

I love candles, as many people i think. I use candles for atmosphere, for sex, for meditation. Every time when I visit this kind of shops I go crazy there - i wish to buy everything there!!! And as far as they are not so cheap, I feel so sorry that can't afford to buy everything I want (everything in a shop!). But I remember one time I was in such a shop and really got confused cuz of such a big variety. So today I decided to public that and may be it'll help anybody in choice in a shop )

Candles come in virtually every shape and size imaginable. The following terms are used to describe common candle styles.

TAPER: A slender candle – typically 6 to 18 inches high and sometimes called a dinner candle – designed to be held securely upright by a candle holder.



PILLAR: A free-standingcandle, usually having a diameter of 3 inches or more, and one or more wicks. Despite the name, pillars or column candles can be round, square, hexagonal, etc. Although they stand on their own, they must be burned on a heat-resistant candle holder.


CONTAINER, JAR OR FILLED CANDLE: A candle that is poured when manufactured into a glass, metal or ceramic container specifically designed to hold the wax and withstand the heat of the burning candle.



VOTIVE: A small cylindrical candle, usually about 1½ inches in diameter and 2 or 2½ inches high, designed to be placed in a "cup" or votive holder to hold the liquefied wax that results from burning. Votives were originally produced as white unscented candles for religious ceremonies; they are now available in many colors and scents.

GEL CANDLE: A transparent-type candle made primarily from gelled mineral oils or gelled synthetic hydrocarbons. “Soft” or quasi-rigid gels are poured into a container to maintain the candle’s shape. "Hard" gel candles have a consistency suitable for free-standing candles.Decorative wax items are frequently suspended within a gel candle to produce a special visual effect.

TEALIGHT: A small, cylindrical, filled candle -- usually about 1 inch in diameter and 1½ inches high -- often poured into a metal holder.

Meditation

Yoga meditation guidance was described thousands of years ago by ancient and mystical sages. Since civilized societies began to emerge, meditation has evolved into a structured practice. Although there is not a lot of recorded information dealing with the history of meditation, its roots can be traced back to ancient times.

Some meditation experts suggest thinking of your mind as a glass of muddy water and meditation helps bring clarity. Many forms of meditation result in the clearing of one’s mind. Meditation promotes a sense of calm and heightened awareness. And that’s the real benefit of meditation: teaching your mind to accept whatever thoughts, feelings and sensations come along, without judging them or yourself.

Scientific studies show that the regular practice of meditation can be a powerful healing tool. Meditation helps reduce stress and anxiety, lower blood pressure, and improve concentration, clarity and creativity. Additionally, many studies have shown meditation can significantly lower stress, chronic pain and anxiety.

From the dawn of time, meditation has been a vital part of self transformation and holistic health. Many physicians consider meditation a key element of an integrated health program.

While scientists are studying whether meditation may afford meaningful health benefits, they are also looking at how it may do so. Researchers say that meditation works at least in part by lowering your body’s responsiveness to the stress hormone norepinephrine. But meditation interrupts that flood of stress chemicals, so you don’t feel on guard or tense. As your entire being becomes absorbed in meditation, every stress and strain of daily life will fall from your shoulders. Through meditation, one can cultivate a wonderful inner quiet that will melt away stress and nervousness.

In general, meditation produces a reduction in multiple biological systems, resulting in a state of relaxation. Studies of brain physiology during meditation have most frequently employed the electroencephalograph (EEG) for the measurement of brain wave electrical activity. During meditation, the brain’s activity, as mapped by an EEG, alters significantly. These results reveal that meditation can have a deep and very profound influence on the heart and its activity.

The most well-known brain waves evident during many kinds of meditation are called alpha waves. The scans provide remarkable clues about what goes on in the brain during meditation. Although study results vary, there were similar findings: meditation lowers bodily metabolism, slows brain waves, and induces relaxation. Those most deeply involved in the meditation showed the greatest changes in brain structure.

This is accomplished as Meditation brings the brainwave pattern into an alpha state, which is a level of consciousness that promotes the healing state.

The researchers observed that the variability of beat-to-beat heart rate was directly affected by meditation. These results reveal that meditation can have a deep and very profound influence on the heart and its activity. If meditation is practiced regularly, these beneficial changes become relatively permanent.

One of many benefits of meditation is that it opens your mind to new ideas. What is more important is the acquisition of the purity and concentration of mind in moments of meditation. Purity of the mind achieved during meditation is essential to gain access to Higher Self.

Minsk style

Italian cafe "Grip" in the center of Minsk


One of the squares


One of the Universities


One of the most popular park in Minsk.


The square of Victory (one of the center for making appointments)


National Library

One day off

It was Sunday and honestly I don't like this day of week cuz next day is Monday. On Sundays i usually don't know what to do - to relax (but u can't make party up to the night) or to start work (psychological). So in that Sunday i decided just to do what i really want. When i woke up i felt like going somewhere to drink coffee. Usually we do it in the evening but i said why not? So it was around 10 in the morning, not many people in the city and we (my husband and me) went to MacDonald's. Spent there around 2 hours and relaxed under the sunshine outside, we fed the birds there and went to walk around the park. Few people and cars, nature - everything is green - and fresh air, no plans - all this gave us the feeling of freedom. We were moving somewhere just by impulse. We meditated a little bit on the bench in the park and then kept going. We decided to go to bookshop. I was interested to find a book about "Tantra sex" but they didn't have it. Well, without long thinking we went to the movie on "Spider man" (it's my husband wish) on kids time (14.00) and in half an hour after the film started we left. I didn't like it (& either my husband). We came home tired and fresh. So sometimes it's very useful just to put away all ur plans for weekend (cleaning, washing, cooking etc) as many women have and just do wherever ur soul wish. )

Still complain?...

"U still complain? Observe around u and be thankful for all u have in this life. We are lucky. We have much more than we really need in content."

Thinking about people who live in Africa very poor and sick I have some questions for myself...

Actually don't like such material cuz can't look at it without tears. U know i really share the opinion of Buddha who said that "life is suffering" and all the time thinking about sense of life and philosophy I get depressed cuz I get confused sometimes, Many years ago I opened the sense of life for myself - it's gathering love for God, to born this feeling inside and save it as much as possible. But sometimes to feel love for Life and world becomes difficult. So that's why i get depressed after such photos, cuz i can't help this people and they r dieing.

But sometimes I think about material world and think that i really don't have strong wishes which would help me to reach something serious in life - career, more money etc. U understand what i mean. So i'm satisfied with what i have for 100% and i feel sometimes that it'd be better if i really needed something (wishes). I just control my wishes for 100 % and if I can't have something I tell myself that I'm happy and without that thing. So it's subject to think about...

How to feel happy with what u have and still be a little bit unsatisfied which will push u to be active in material life to reach something???...

Cuz it's a fact that a man do something only if he needs something - i mean u should be in a crisis situation full of needs and only then ur mind start work faster and u find the opportunity to change situation. When u were born in a rich family and u have everything u want u don't need to do something herself, u have it already! But the less u have from birth the more chance u have in life to achieve something. So how to feel harmony and love inside and at the same time to be aggressive (in a working sense) and unsatisfied to be active?...

Nostalgie

I'm from Belarus, Minsk. I was lucky to visit some countries such as England, France, Germany, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Poland, Turkey. I've been there just for couple days, in some of them I spent my vacation. But 3 years ago I've been to New York. I came there through student program (at that time I was studying in University) "Work&Travel" and spent there 3 months. It's a great feeling - when u can earn urself, without parents support. U can live there, u can feed urself, work and have fun at the same time. I liked my country (and still love), but all my American friends used to advice me to stay there and go to college, but when I remembered the face of my parents who stayed at railway station and where crying when I was leaving to Moscow to the airport, I couldn't stay. The most interesting feelings during these 3 months i had: first month I was very excited and I was happy to be there but wanted to come back to my country; second months I started hesitating - and my poor mom was all the time worrying if i come back or not - she even couldn't advice me what to do; the third month i decided to leave but an awful pain and regret was in my heart cuz I can't do another way. I just have to come back cuz of my parents, my university...
So all my friends told me that it's my last chance to stay there and pushed me not to do a mistake, cuz I'll never get visa again.
So I left. I missed everything there but didn't regret.
Another summer came and again I was lucky and got visa. But this year was everything different. In my country I left my future husband. I was enjoying being in NY, I fell in love with this city, but I didn't have a moment about thinking to stay there, cuz I missed my (that time) boyfriend a lot. I left NY 2d time and now I'm in Belarus, married with my boyfriend and we'r very happy. I like my country a lot. But last time, when summer is coming I see in my dreams how I come to NY the 3d time. I see NY in my dreams. If anybody would ask me if I regret i didn't stay - no, i don't regret, i just feel sorry I had such circumstances which all the time made me come back. Now I play Green Card with my husband and still I'm not sure if I wish to leave here everything including parents and my status (which doesn't give me anything), my friends and all that 5 years of studying here and diplom and to start everything from the beginning. I know just that I miss NY, and in my dreams I come back there sometimes...

Divorces

I remember my teen age when my mom told me that the main condition of happy family life and relations is respect. I didn't understand it at that time. Now, when I got married and looking around at my friend's marriage it seems to me my mother's words are true for 100%... I'm only 23 and I'm only 1 year in a marriage and almost 3 years in relationship with my husband and of cause I'm not experienced in family life enough, but I'm enough experienced in relations and the fact that all men I ever knew are my friends now and we still respect each other gives me the right to write this.
So the main (one of the main) things of happy relations is respect. What's that? Before in the time of my grands it was associated with: restraint in emotions, behavior and sex, to say You instead you, to go by the name, etc. But when the "free" time of XXI century came, youth doesn't control the manner of talk to each other. Again looking at my friends couples, I see the way they talk:
1. She allows herself to criticize Him in front of friends, even more - His parents, she compares Him with another man in front of people and shows his disadvantages.
2. So He does the same - he discusses her weight in front of her girlfriends; makes compliments to her girl-friends trying to show her that she cooks for example worth.
And what's more awful each of them thinks that the more he/she will disrespect another one, the better he/she will be looked in front of people, something like "I'm such a good one, and I'm so unhappy cuz I'm much better than my partner and people should feel sorry about my "poor" destiny and tell my parter how much he/she should appreciate me!". My God, this village people!!!
Instead of showing how lucky I'm cuz God sent me this person and he/she is with me, and show out the advantages, they enjoy disrespecting the partner. I hear sometimes as men call their sexual partner or girlfriend "bitch". That I can't understand even if they have just sex with them. So people lost respect. Of cause here's lack of culture, background, aesthetic attitude to life in general. That's why I think young people, getting marriage, are doing that being lead by sexual passion. When passion is finishing they don't have true love which consist of respect.
Here's eastern wisdom:
The attraction of minds burns respect...
The attraction of souls burns friendship...
The attraction of bodies burn passion...
The union of 3 ingredients: Respect, Friendship and Passion - burns LOVE...

p.s. I never found the definition of LOVE better than this one.
p.s. I have all this 3 ingredients in relations with my husband and today I feel the most happy person. And wish everybody has the same. :-)

Women' Jealousy

I'm a very jealous person. Even more awful - i want the person to be just mine. I wanna him to see just me, to breath with me, to live in me. Brrrr!.... Awful! I know that. But can't do anything. I wanna be not even loved (it's not enough), adored by my partner!!! According to all issues of men psychology I supposed to be alone the whole life, cuz men are afraid of such woman. But when men are so jealous - woman should be tolerant and accept that as a norm. Well, but my happiness is that i can control my feelings somehow, not to show that (that's why I have the best men as a husband now and besides I never had problems in relations since 19 years old). So I live according to the principal: or I give all of myself to the partner Or i give nothing (the relations shouldn't be started - I'm alone). So I can do everything for man just only in a case if he'll give me back just a small-small thing... his soul :) (like a small devil). But, men, don't worry, my partners and ex one live happily now, they are in a good health and feel sorry that they lost me one day. Cuz being objective I really give all myself to the partner. So my jealousy is coming out as (not scandals, God save!): if i notice that my partner doesn't adore me when I need it (every one has sentimental moments) I getting very cold. In my mind I feel very lonely and I push away the partner. All my love and warmth disappears somewhere. But physically everything the same. But emotionally the partner feels it. I kiss him, i can embrace him, prepare breakfast or something like this. But everywhere in the air here's "winter"... cold... Probably many guys, reading that, feel so sorry about my husband (calm down guys, he'll be saved). And what's more interesting sometimes I love these moments, cuz If before in period of "summer" I couldn't imagine how I would take the pain if a man leave me, so in these moments of "winter" I feel power to live alone very good. I'm getting a very big power and confident. And it makes me stronger, when in my heart only LOVE for myself is left. That's great. After that when my mood changes and I'm not so sentimental, I come back to usual relations and forget about these minutes. Notice: no scandals in relations, just some changes in my soul. Actually the partner can behave as usual, but my mood is very changeable. Of cause I'd love to have the same mood every time about my partner, it'll me easier for me, but from another side it's boring. I think that to be more calm about relations I should love a little bit less. It means I should love myself more. But I can't live like that. Everything or nothing - my stupid principal. I'm honestly write about myself. I know it's not the best feature of mine, but believe me - in "summer" period it's hard to find woman better than me :)
p.s. For woman who a jealous as me:
1. don't make scandals. If u can't accept something or ur tolerance has finished - just leave.
2. don't shantage ur partner with sex or things u usually do about the house (preparing meals)
3. don't talk about problems with ur parents and girlfriends (for ur own good)
4. just start LOVE urself more

Feelings after sex

As many lovers we can have - as different feelings we can have after sex.

Physically all feelings can be divided just into 2 parts:
1. u can feel tired and lazy after sex
2. u can be full of energy.

It actually depends on the energy exchange of both partners. And here are different practice and methods to share energy with ur partner and to save it. One of the most popular practice for "sex for health" is Tantra. But unfortunately I can't fond of it cuz of lack of information. The more energy we have - the more healthy we feel. Freid used to say that here's just one kind of life energy - sexual energy, it means that the source of energy is in sexual excitement. I can't totally agree, but may be I just don't know something, anyway I'm not a scientist as him. So during sex a person loose a lot of energy, it's fact. So to spend the energy one should have it before. That's why one of my principals (to have sex only with person who I LOVE) is based on it. I take energy from my Love to share it during the sex with the partner not to feel emptiness of strengths after sex. Of cause here's much more different factors influencing on our physical condition after sex - time, weather, place, feelings, stress etc. But again i repeat - mostly it depends on energy exchange - our relations with partner, thoughts and attitude to this process. To "give" - not to "get"...

Psychologically...
From one side here's more difficult, from another - much easier. How many times, feeling uncontrolled passion before, after having sex, u felt urself so lonely and empty? Why? Again 2 reasons: or u didn't need that partner at the beginning and just couldn't resist to passion OR ur partner didn't meet ur expectations and left u without attention after sex. So here is more difficult cuz u never know how ur partner will behave after sex, and easier - cuz all this feelings are inside u and u can control them changing the attitude to circumstances. When the relations between partners are steady and strong, of cause everyone wants to be covered in an embrace of the partner in a cozy, warm blanket, feeling a hot breathing of partner somewhere on a neck, hearing some whisper of pleasant words in ears, and be covered with small-small light kisses in chicks. That's perfect psychological situation after sex. But if u don't know the partner long and after sex he or she doesn't give u the warmth u need, to my mind it's better just to get up and to leave. Why? Cuz having done that u'll feel much more confident and not so lonely. Did u notice that sometimes when something goes wrong in relations with ur partner, being in the same room together u feel so awfully lonely. And opposite - being alone u don't feel lonely. That's why to stay with a person for who u was just for sex and u hoped for some more serious relations will put u in depressed feeling, disappointed, u'll start blaming urself for another mistake u did, and more awful feeling disgusting about urself. That u can't let happen.

So and I have one question for u guys: what would u like ur partner to do after sex (to prepare a drink, coffee, massage, etc)?

Eirikur Hauksson - Valentine Lost (Iceland)

I'll let the music play while love lies softly bleeding
In heavy hands - on shadow lands
As thunder clouds roll in sunset is receding
No summerwine - no Valentine

A tiger trapped inside a cage
An actor on an empty stage
Come see the show
Rock and roll can heal your soul
When broken hearts lose all control

Some rivers still run dry and jungles burn to embers
Gold autumn days - must fade to gray
There is a reason why a haunted man remembers
One frozen night - his darkest day

A tiger trapped inside a cage
An actor on an empty stage
Come see the show
Rock and roll can heal your soul
When broken hearts lose all control

A passion killed by acid rain
A rollercoaster in my brain
But how would you know
In your satin silk and lace
Another time another place

A tiger trapped inside a cage
An actor on an empty stage
Come see the show
Rock and roll can heal your soul
When broken hearts lose all control

A love that loose and painted black
A train stuck on a broken track
I'll let it go
Rock and roll has healed my soul
The stage is set on with the show