Music Theraphy: What are the Health Benefits of Music?

                             Tropical Inspiration & Music Therapy

Like many people, I love music and I believe that music has a marvelous therapeutic effect.
I believe that music is a powerful tool to:

• change our moods
• lift our spirit up
• and energize us.  

 I grew up in a tropical country and naturally, I find tropical vibes to be the most uplifting. On beautiful summer days like today, the sounds and images of some videos contribute to my cheerfulness.

So below I am sharing 2 of my very favorite tropical music videos. (Pause the pink music player above )and enjoy...

The first video is by Soumia and is entitled. "Mene Mwen" it could be translated as " Take me away"
                            


In the video below Soumia sings/asks to be taken to a place where she would relax , have fun and be away from her daily stress.

The next video below is by Kaysha and it's entitled " Something going on" . As you will see there's a lot going on in this video, it's just a beautiful video with sensual moves of Brazilian Zouk that I...                       
                             

Thanks for stopping by, sharing your comments, Following , Liking the Facebook page, subscribing by email, sharing with your friends and all those good stuffs...(smiles) Until next time have a better and healthier life...

N'na

The benefits of vacations: Fun in Orlando Florida

Hello friends and readers old and new. Thanks for stopping by!
It's been a couple of weeks since my last posting.
I was simply busy with a few things and enjoying some time in the "Sunshine State".

I can't believe that the last time I went to Florida was when I was a college student. It felt so good to return to the "Sunshine State" especially at this time of the year. My children got the pleasure of visiting Florida for the very first time and it felt good to acquaint them right here on the continental USA with small pleasurable details of my upbringing.

I was so delighted to see once again natural elements that surrounded me during my own childhood. Things such as...
Palm trees,

Hibiscus flowers

Birds of Paradise

 and other tropical flowers like the one below that grew in my backyward and that reminded me of my tropical homeland

I must say the weather and the environment made me pretty nostalgic! What added to the pleasure of being down South is the warmth and hospitality I felt where I stayed and the candor of the many people I met not just as locals but from other parts of the world. ( Canada, Brazil, Australia, just to name a few)

Above is one of my chilling spot for the past evenings...

Well, it's getting late I just wanted to catch up and say a brief hello.

I will share more pictures later so better stay tuned. For now check the link below for more pictures of the spot where I have been "chillaxing" in Orlando. Right across from :

as a matter of fact here's the real view from across the hotel

Oh, I am doing well, pregnancy is going quite well Praise God! I am feeling blessed and hope you are as well.

I am leaving you with this video that I am working on, it's a work in progress but it gives you an idea of what's up with me (smiles) 
http://www.youtube.com/user/goodhealthdiva#p/a/u/0/j1Rsmf9kbH8
 That's all for tonight! Have a great week !

Are you a Florida resident or fan? What's do you like most about Florida? What do you like most about Orlando?



N'na

The benefits of gardening: a sneak peek at my edible container garden

Gardening is a very rewarding activity and it feels great to have an edible garden as well. It's exciting to grow something new for the first time and it's rewarding to be able to bring some home grown food on the table!

The first time I harvested enough lettuce to fix a salad plate I was elated! I had limited myself to gardening flowers and herbs until now. I did not want to put forth the effort to get my yard ready for any substantial edible garden because I was not very confident in my abilities to maintain it! With the rewards from my container garden I am much more confident  in maintaining a large edible garden so I will keep you posted on my progress on this particular project! For now I invite you to take a quick tour in my container garden!

My first lettuce harvest

 It doesn't get more organic than that right? When you plant your own produces you don't have to be concerned about any recalls but you still have to rinse your food very well!

A very simple and healthy lunch: The strawberries are not from my garden, mine are still a work in progress

I tried to grow some strawberries last year but in seemed that some kind of creature was constantly nibbling on them before I could harvest even one strawberry! Thankfully I am being more successful this year...

The flowers are a very good sign that I have some nice strawberries coming...yeaah!!!

Yeaaaah some strawberries...

My Chives are 4 years old! They are a perennial herb that I find very easy to grow and much useful to use! As the weather get colder I generally cut them and freeze them, like this I can still enjoy them during the winter months. They are obviously great to top potatoes but they can also be used in soups and stew or to flavor sauces, mayonnaise, sour cream...

Some benefits of Chives: 

they are high in Vitamin C and A and contain essential minerals such as potassium, folic acid,calcium. 

Rosemary and Lavender

are among my older herbs too. They are great for bath, homemade scented sachets, adding scent to your cooking or body oil.

My thyme are 2 years old, obviously another easy perennial herb to grow! 

Some benefits of thyme:

The oil of thyme is used in aromatherapy to elevate the mood! The ancient Romans used it as a remedy for melancholy! Thyme also has some therapeutic properties. It possesses  expectorant and bronchial antispasmodic properties, making it useful in the treatment of acute and chronic bronchitis, whooping cough, and inflammation of the upper respiratory tract.

 Oregano is a must have herb in your garden! It's not only a delicious addition to flavor your dishes but it's full in antioxidants.

Some benefits of Oregano:

Oregano actually has 42 times the antioxidants of a medium size apple! 

Did you know that Hippocrates the great Greek philosopher and scholar used it for its medicinal properties? Oregano has many beneficial properties and it's worth considering as a natural remedy to some ailments! For example, it has antibacterial properties as well as anti-parasitical properties! It can be used as a natural treatment to E-coli! Thanks to its anti-bacterial and anti-septic benefits, the oil can be rubbed on wounds and cuts. In some cultures it's used as a pain-killer probably due to its anti-inflammatory properties, as the oil can also treat inflamed joints and muscles. Well as you can see much can be said about this special herb so more about it later.

This is my first year planting some habanero peppers, I am glad to see those flowers! Habanero peppers are greatly favored where I grew up as many cooks will consider that a dish without habanero peppers is weak in flavor. If you intend on losing weight, spicing your food with hot peppers such as those will assist you in that effort I will keep you posted on my harvest...

It's also my first time planting some broccoli, I am not sure what to expect but I think it's a head coming forth, stay tuned! I am also planted some Brussels sprouts and some tomatoes in my container garden.

 I think that there are 4 great advantages to container gardening:

1) It allows you to start small in case you are not confident.

2) It allows you to still grow what you want even if you do not have a lot of  space! So if you do not have a yard you can still plant an herb and edible garden.

3) It's practically low maintenance.

4) It can move with you once you change residence.

I hope this quick tour has inspired you to try growing something edible in case you have never done it before. Can you think of any more advantages to container gardening? What do you grow in your edible garden?

The benefits of gardening: A sneak peek at my natural garden

Hello friends!
Hope all is well with you all! I know you all have noticed that it's Springtime... With the weather improving I am less often around my laptop and I am more busy getting my hands in the dirt!  Those past days I have been more active outdoors taking full advantage of the sun and especially....especially admiring my humble & enchanting N'natural garden in bloom! Yeaaah!!!

You know when we talk about living a natural life, being healthier and improving our lives, I think gardening should be at the top of the list of things that are recommended for a better body and a better life the natural way!
Think about it, to garden you have to move, carry things, dig, pull, lift, bend...well, you get the point...you got to stay mobile right? Well, that's great exercise and you don't have to time yourself or do some monotonous repetitive motions like when you are at the gym etc. You get the added benefits of seeing birds flying around, enjoying the breeze blow when you need it most, and you even get a free tan!

 Well those are just some benefits of the actual labor...Talking of labor I am sore right now, I feel like I have lifted some weights...when you think about the bag of 2 cf potting soil, the bags of 2cf mulch,  some weed pulling and moving some planters etc. I have had a good work out for the last 5 hours.  Time goes by so fast when you are doing something you enjoy, gardening is one such thing for me!!!
So I have had a good work out in while doing some gardening but I was in a great mood the whole time I was working and this is why...




Pink knock out roses and Salvia in bloom April 2011.
N'na's garden.

 

Yes, many of my flowers are in bloom! There are a few more roses and other flowers that are reserving me some surprises but today these flowers smiled at me....



Blaze roses and Clematis in bloom April 2011.
N'na 's garden




Mint, Clematis and more April 2011.
N'na's Garden

Clematis and Blaze climbing rose in bloom April 2011.
N'na 's garden.


  And I smiles right back! I got to be honest with you, it's much prettier in reality! Seeing them in bloom, and watching the bees actively flying around the Salvia... I have been waiting for Spring with much anticipation! Today I was enchanted!
It was 4:30 pm before I finally had lunch. I am exhausted but I am so pleased. Gardening is such a rewarding activity! If you are a gardener I am sure you will agree with me!!!




Pink knock out roses, Iceberg Roses, Salvia in bloom April 2011
N'na 's garden.

Two days ago I got the pleasure of fixing my dinner with some lettuce from my container garden.
I have a big yard but I am not up for tilling and all so in my first attempt at growing some vegetables I created a small container garden on my deck. I have a lot of experience growing herbs in containers and this year I ventured into lettuce, broccoli, peppers and Brussels sprouts. So for a newbie I am so excited to see that I can now fix my salad with home grown lettuce! Yeaaah! I will keep you posted on my progress with the other plants.

My first dinner plate with home grown lettuce! Yeaahhh!

For now all I wanted to do was share with you how rewarding gardening is to me! From enjoying the beauty of flowers in bloom to the satisfaction of home grown produces, gardening is truly one of the most rewarding Natural Hobby one can have!
If you are not used to gardening give it a try this season it will totally improve the quality of your life. A few years ago my husband had a coworker who started to garden and he reported that she lost a lot of weight as result and she was a nicer person to be around! I think that it has some great psychological benefits! It's a great outlet!

Iceberg and Catmint in bloom May 2010 in N'na's garden!

One thing I love to do when my flowers are in bloom is to create small vases and treat a neighbor or one of my husband's coworkers to some fresh flowers! It's a small gesture but I have been told many times that they brighten their days in ways I could not expect and that I always seem to know the right time to deliver my small gift! I also love to make some tea bags or some sachets with the herbs from my garden and offer them as gifts!


Iceberg roses in bloom May 2010 in N'na's garden!


Gardening has the power of bringing people together. I had neighbors share their cucumbers, squash or okra with me and it's always exciting to receive fresh produces that are unquestionably organic (lol)!

 N'na's favorite:  Joseph's Coat Climbing Roses May 2010!
This is my favorite rose from my garden will tell you why later! It will soon be in bloom...

 If you are concerned that you might not have a green thumb just take a chance! It starts as a very small investment with very great reward! I say starts because once you fall in love with gardening you will invest more, but the reward will always outweigh the costs!  

Since gardening is one of my passion you will get to read more and see more pictures this Spring and Summer! Last year I took hundred of pictures, this year I will get to share some old and new pictures with you all.  I hope you enjoyed your little tour in N'na's garden. (Smiles). Please come by often, become a Follower here, Like the facebook page Goodhealthdiva and spread the word. I love hearring from you so leave your comments and let me know...

Do you have a green thumb? What's your favorite thing to grow? Do you garden for pleasure (flowers) or for consumption (food)? What's to you the most rewarding thing about gardening? If you are not much of a gardener are you now inspired to become one?




N'na

Eating Al fresco and savouring my day in little ways...

Hellooo! How are you all doing today?!
Here the weather has been gorgeous for the past few days and I couldn't be happier!
On Saturday I got the opportunity to visit Huntsville Alabama and Sunday my husband and I went on a bike ride it was so pleasant! I will share the pictures with you very soon!
The week has started on a  pretty busy pace and today was another one of those very productive days!
I managed to squeeze a 20 minutes walk this morning. Better than nothing! I can't seem to function well unless I have exercised in the morning.  After my cup of coffee first thing in the morning I had to create 20 minutes to enjoy the outdoors after my morning stretch! No time for running today or going for an hour walk! I still savoured every seconds of this short walk!
On those busy days, even eating seem to be difficult to manage.I know that it's unhealthy to go hungry so I made sure to eat at least a yogurt for breakfast

and make some freshly squeeze citrus juice using one pink grapefruit, a lemon, and 4 tangerines.

Homemade fresh citrus juice

I had a very late lunch.  It was 3:00pm by the time I had the chance to enjoy something good to eat but it was worth the wait! I made it worthwhile by eating Al fresco! I love eating AL fresco each time the weather allows it!
My lunch consisted of a serving of lettuce with no dressings. I squeezed half a lemon on it and it was tasty enough for me! I also had a Southern Home Chicken & Wild Rice soup with a glass of water.

Al fresco healthy lunch lettuce and soup

Hummmm... finally...20 minutes of peace while eating on my deck! Enjoying the musical sounds of nature, having my cheeks kissed by a gentle breeze and smiling at the view of a bird perched on a branch,




Bird perched on a branch in the backyard while eating my late lunch!



an eagle flying over my head, he was too fast for me to capture him but he was gorgeous...I love days like those! Thank God for good weather!

Well I am sharing those pictures with you and I am off to my other tasks before the day end! Still have to make dinner! I just wanted to say before I leave...remember to pamper yourself and treat yourself even if you have a busy day! Make time for you even if it's only 20 minutes.  I don't care if you are eating lunch by yourself, with a friend, at home alone or in a public place, always find little ways to make your experience a treat!
 Learn to savour the moments in your days even if you only have 20 minutes to do it. Take a walk, stretch your body it needs it, massage your feet they serve you well or simply turn a meal into a pleasurable moment even if you are short on time!

If it's your first time on this blog I suggest that you read one of my most popular posts:
http://goodhealthdiva.blogspot.com/2011/01/pampering-yourself-is-good-for-your.html  and the following posts
http://goodhealthdiva.blogspot.com/2011/02/shrimp-soup-for-soul-and-good-night.html
http://goodhealthdiva.blogspot.com/2011/01/its-good-for-your-spirit-cest-bon-pour.html

This being said I am eager to hear from you...
When was the last time you took time to appreciate yourself and turn a mundane activity into a moment of pleasure? What small thing to you do to be good to yourself that turns out to have a big impact on the quality of you day and of your life?




N'na

Stress relief with a little bit of faith inspired by a song...

I am realizing more and more that nothing relieve from stress as well as music does, especially a song that touches our souls when we are going through some things. We all know that stress is a threat to our health and our lives, and from experience we know that worrying in itself doesn't improve a thing. There are times we do not have a clue what to do next. Complaining doesn't help, making impulsive decisions make matters worst and at times we just have to sit still, let our minds drift a bit from our concerns so that we can get a fresh perspective or a renewed strength. Music seems to be our best companion. A song can get us to get up and dance, a song can change our mood withing minutes, a song can give us hope, and strangely enough  the lyrics of a song can be that message we receive at the most unexpected time. I am sharing the clip below because...

Life is full of many challenges, for those who chose to believe in God and have a  true relationship with the Most High, nothing is sweeter than to be comforted by the most simple things and music has a way of reaching us in ways that could never be fully described. I just wanted to share a song I felt in love with. I do not understand the meaning of the song like I do not understand some of the challenges on my path, but  I am comforted and reassured through that lovely song that some ways some how things will be better than okay.
Instead of letting my mind be filled with worries and my body tensed with stress, I am choosing a better option, some would just call it positive thinking and they are right, my word for it is very simple and it always makes life better.It's faith !


Someone on You Tube had that translation below: Ijoba orun, l’ere onigbagbo o (2ce) (Heaven is the believer’s reward) Ma je’n ku’na baba, mu mi de’le o (Father, don't let me miss it, Take me there) Ki n ma ku s’ajo, bii eefin (That I would not die like smoke in its path) Mu mi de’le (Take me there) Owo ti mo ni (The money I have) Ko le mu mi de’le o (Can’t take me there) Moto ti mo ri ra (The cars I’ve bought) Ko le wa mi de’le o (Can’t take me there) Ore ti mo ni (The friends I have)
Apparently the singer is a Yoruba from Nigeria.

Please share with me your favorite "stress relief songs" or let me know if this one has been a blessing to you.
Remember that the right focus and perspective can greatly lift up our mood/spirit, impact our health and improve our lives and the simplest things ( like a song) can make a big difference.
I wish you all reading this today a great week-end and a better mind, a better health and a better life.
For some Christian inspiration and motivation I invite you to visit and follow the following linkhttp://www.greaterworksministries.blogspot.com/