Author Maureen Castellon

Lumicell Wave 4

I recently tried on the most perfect pair of rose gold shorts. They were cute and they fit so well until I turned around in the dressing room mirror. Coming out the bottom was unsightly bulge. Gross, I thought, why does cellulite even have to exist? Men do not get it and they do not want us to have it either.

I go to kickboxing all the time and I eat as cleanly as possible. I just looked in that mirror wishing I could transfer that fat higher into my derriere. It bothered me for about a week and then I decided to call Brickell Cosmetic Center & Spa after I saw their customer reviews; I needed to have a chocolate chip cookie every blue moon that would not transform into cellulite the second I am done eating it. Read More

Smooth Skin

Before I went to Brickell Cosmetic Center & Spa, my skin was a mess. I had been a smoker for a few years (try decade) and I was starting to show the wear of working too late. My skin care treatment was going to be Smooth Skin. It is also referred to as a non-surgical facelift treatment. Needles do not make me squirm or anything, I have overly sensitive skin that reacts to everything. Despite my bad habit, I am very careful about what I use on my skin. Read More

Winter’s Mermaid

Winter’s Mermaid

It is better to look after a thousand goats than one curious girl.-Tican Proverb

My name is Pluma de la Oso and I am almost seventeen years old. I was born under the sign of the mermaid on the coldest day ever recorded in Tica. Tonight is a big night in our family. We are hosting a dinner for El Diego, our leader and unofficial king, at our house. My maid, Neptuna, reminds me that I have less than a year before marriage as she washes my hair and rubs an herbal paste on my round face. Mother makes her do my two sisters and my hair before functions so the photographers can capture us at our best. Ticans obsess over marriage, social standing and our dual religions: one from the Vatican and the other from the sea. Read More

What is the Best Sugar Reducer on the Market?

White Mulberry

What is the Best Sugar Reducer on the Market?

Limitless Abilities

Better Quality=Better Results

Do not bother with inferior products that may not even work.

Dr. Oz, America’s most recognizable doctor, brought white mulberry to the attention of the American market. Now scammers are rushing to cut corners and sell to uninformed consumers. Do not be fooled!

We at Limitless Abilities offer you the highest quality product. No doubt, you have done some research on this amazing product, but you should be aware of competitors selling lower grade products that may not produce results. Given the surge in popularity, many see this as an opportunity to cash in without regard to quality. There are many factors to consider when deciding which company is the best.

Read More

Video Script

Feeling overwhelmed, sadden, or even bloated? Wanting more productivity out of your hours, but not sure how? I have an easy answer for you, but first let me give you a scenario: you are a business owner and every citizen in America is a customer. Everyone! The housewife in Topeka to the toddler down the street. Over 300 million people not only love your product, but are addicted to it.

What is this product you ask. What is everyone in America craving at this exact moment?

(dramatic graphic)

The answer is sugar. Without realizing it, you are most likely a lifelong addict and I am going to help you on the road to recovery.

 

Hi, this is Catherine Donovan, Director of Nutritional Research at ________. In today’s informative presentation, I am going to show you how your body is in need of a retooling so you can start leading your best life emotionally while having your ideal body. I am going to explain why eating the foods you have been, maybe your whole lives, are not only making you fat and grumpy, but what you can also do about it. Right now, under your skin, your blood sugar might be peaking and you may not even know about it. You may have gotten used to feeling bloated and sluggish and have just accepted it as part of life. I am speaking with you now to show how living your best life can be easier.

Many people try to maintain a sense of balance and happiness in their hectic lives (Psychological Science May 1996 vol. 7 no. 3 181-185). They do their best, but results are slow or worse yet, never happen. All that effort is focused in the wrong way (Phyllis Moen, Jack Lam, Samantha Ammons,

and Erin L. KellyWork and Occupations, May 2013; vol. 40, 2: pp. 79-114). What will make and keep your mood stabilized is what your body has in it already, not what you put in or attempt to fix by working out to release endorphins, (“Radiant Recovery.” Radiant Recovery. N.p., 2005.) which are your body’s feel good chemicals. Your body is a complete system and what regulates your well-being is your hormones. Yes, hormones, what gave you pimples in middle school and drove you crazy at school dances (University of Alberta. 2007, December 17. What Is The Link Between Women’s Hormones And Mood Disorders?. ScienceDaily). Hormones are your body’s chemical messengers (Shimokawa, Noriaki, Shinnosuke Masuda, Hiroko Masuda, and Noriyuki Koibuchi. “CIN85 Defect in Brain and Neurobehavioral Disorder: Involvement in Excess Dopamine Signaling.”Http://www.hoajonline.com/hormones/2052-8000/1/2. N.p., 2013. Web.). You may have noticed that some people can go through stressful events seemingly with minimal effort and enjoy life without worry. Others can go ballistic over a paper cut or a red light. We see people in other countries have less than what we have and yet have higher rates of happiness. (Washington Post‘The Bliss Point’: The happiest countries are rich, but not June 14, 2014). Again, it all leads back to your hormones, which can be either your friend or foe. Today, we will learn how to get your body and mind back to being your best friend.

 

 

 

Tired of feeling anxious?

You don’t have to just take my word for it that you could be leading a more fulfilling life. Recent studies will back up what ancient medicines and cultures understand: sugar is bad for your body (Ancient Egypt: Medicine Ancient Egyptian Medicine In Sickness and in Health: Preventation . June 11, 2014). As you can imagine if there is sugar in everything we eat (Spark People The Hunt for Hidden Sugar April 29,2014), then what might be slowly destroying are health cannot be avoided. In fact, according to Dr. Robert Lustig, an endocrinologist turned anti-sugar crusader, (Opinionator It’s the Sugar, Folks February 27, 2013) sugar is toxic. Therefore, we must take precautions and protect our body with the least amount of work possible.

Before I go into depth on this matter and explain your health challenges in the easiest manner possible, I want you to know I was just like you despite my background in nutritional research.

I once too did not know how much damage I was doing to my body and peace of mind despite being considered an expert in the health field. I want to help you because I had to help myself first. I would wake up in the morning, walk the dog and then enjoy what I thought was a conservative breakfast of a low-fat latte and a blueberry muffin. Day in and day out, this was my morning fuel. When I would inevitably feel tired throughout the day, I simply drank more coffee (“Does Too Much Coffee Make You Gain Weight?” LIVESTRONG.COM. LIVESTRONG.COM, 25 Feb. 2014. Web. 14 June 2014. http://www.livestrong.com/article/214893-does-too-much-coffee-make-you-gain-weight/) and if I had a deadline, an energy drink might be picked up at my local gas station(“Energy Drinks.” Brown University. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 June 2014. <http://www.brown.edu/Student_Services/Health_Services/Health_Education/alcohol%2C_tobacco%2C_%26_other_drugs/energy_drinks.php>.). Lunch was a large salad with extra dressing because I thought- hey- if I’m being good by only eating a salad then I could splurge on a few extra calories. By two pm, I was already fantasizing about dinner and the bread roll I could eat because I had been so good at lunch. As I got into bed every night, I would wonder why I was not feeling better with all the healthy choices I had made throughout the day. My energy levels were never consistent and anxiety began creeping up on me. Why was not I happier? Why was I always tired? I was an expert in nutrition and packed in all the fruits and vegetables I could handle. Something was off, but I could not figure out what.

As I got deeper into my research, I realized my mistake was a common one the general public makes almost every day- I was unknowingly a sugar addict(Barclay, Eliza. “Is Sugar Addiction Why So Many January Diets Fail?” NPR. NPR, 09 Jan. 2014. Web. 14 June 2014. <http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2014/01/08/260781785/is-sugar-addiction-why-so-many-january-diets-fail>.) . My muffin was loaded with sugar as was the latte and the salad dressing. Hold up, salad dressing (Fairchild, Caroline. “We Live In A World Where Salads Have More Sugar Than Donuts.” The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 30 Oct. 2013. Web. 14 June 2014. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/30/sugar-food-drink-blow-your-mind_n_4166418.html>.)? Why would they put sugar in salad dressing if it is designed to be healthy? Sugar hides almost everywhere (National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web.) If all my healthy choices were wrong, what about the treats I allowed myself because I wanted to celebrate a birthday or simple indulge a craving? Day in and day out, I was taxing my body. It is a wonder I could think at all! My body was on a roller coaster, not because of what I was consuming, but by its effects on my blood sugar. Hormones were not allowed to stabilize because they were so overworked, they had developed complex defense mechanisms.

These questions fueled my research and as I begin discovering solutions, I started applying them to my life. My mood grew lighter and my research became stronger as my mind cleared from the sugar-induced haze. People began asking me if I had any work done because as an added bonus, my skin began to glow. Coffee became limited as my energy levels soared. I felt as if I had stumbled up a secret that could revolutionize not just my body, but also my quality of life. I felt the need to share this with others. Your life can be this easy as well.

Are you catching every bug that goes around the office?

Excessive sugar can affect immunity. 20 teaspoons in sugar or at least 75 grams, according to Dr. Barry Sears, inventor of the zone diet, the equivalent of two cans of soda can negatively affect your body’s natural resistance to sickness (Experience Life Sugar Shock May 2011). In taking too much sugar into your body’s system through any form of sugar from simple (table sugar) to complex (honey) can affect your immune system, as much as 50% (Sugar – Sweet Poison December 2010) , the white cells that act as an emergency rescue squad for your body. Think of them this way, if your body is the interstate; they drive around looking for any problems. If they see any sign of infection, they begin working right away. If your body is too busy trying to no avail to process the deluge of sugar, these workers are too overwhelmed to do everything. They may be running red lights and speeding, but they cannot rescue you. This detriment to your immunity can begin after thirty minutes after consuming excessive sugar and last up to five hours (Ask Dr. Sears The Trusted Resource for Parents Harmful Effects of Excess Sugar | Ask Dr. Sears® | The Trust 2013). In addition, your body’s resistance to germs is hampered by 40% during this timeframe of immunity suppression (UNON Joint Medical Service – Your immune system June 2010). Bacteria, germs, and infection all get an easy ride in your body because of your lifestyle choices.

But it isn’t just about simple cold and flus. Our bodies are already born with cancer cells (Cancer Supplement Center RSS All of Us Have Cancer Cells in Our Bodies January 25th, 2012). In 2013, a group of scientists got together to find out why cancer rates were skyrocketing and published their findings in the Journal of Physiology May 15, 2012. People were eating had more food and more leisure time, but something was driving these rates up. What they found was very telling. They found that sugars in the intestine lead to the creation of a hormone called GIP (Gastric Inhibitory Peptide), which is dependent on sugar for production, increases insulin in the pancreas. Insulin is the hormone that converts glucose (sugar in your blood) into fuel for your cells (Ballinger, A. “Gastric Inhibitory Polypeptide Links Overnutrition to Obesity.”NCBI. N.p., n.d. Web.). Too much or too little blood sugar in your system can be a detriment to your health (Weight Loss and Blood Sugar. The Gabriel Method. June 2014) Think of it like a car going up a steep hill. Sometimes, it back slides or lurches forward. Neither one are good for you and can create a state of panic, which is most likely going on in your body as you listen to the presentation. So, in this environment of sliding backwards or lurching forward creates an environment is which your cells are weakened in the fight against cancer. In fact, some tumors have insulin receptors that hijack sugar in your blood and divert it into growing bigger (AZ Big Media heart disease – AZ Big Media February 2012)

According to the New York Times, (The New York Times Why Everyone Seems to Have Cancer January 04, 2014) fifty years ago people were more likely to die from heart disease than cancer. What’s changed? There are plenty of factors that go into this rise, but it cannot be only a coincidence that there is now sugar in everything. Dr. Marion Nestle, professor of nutrition, food studies, and public health at New York University, observed numerous American take in roughly 25% if their daily caloric intake through sugar (Fats-and-oils. Food Politics March 19, 2014) So the reason you are feeling anxious is inside your body there is a rescue squad working to repair the damage from sugar. Not so great in today’s fast paced world where we need all our energy to be successful.

Mental Health

There is no biological need to eat sugar (Ideas What You Need to Know About Sugar Dr. Robert Lustig Dec. 27, 2012). In fact, the most effective diets in the world all eliminate fructose. Fructose in the sugar found in honey and fruit(TAUBES, GARY. “Is Sugar Toxic?” The New York Times. N.p., n.d. Web.). But, why do we keep doing it if it is so unhealthy for us? Why isn’t it regulated like tobacco and alcohol? (Rogoff, Ken. “Coronary Capitalism.” N.p., Jan.-Feb. 2012. Web.) Well, fructose, maltose, sorbitol, evaporated cane sugar, syrups and xylitol are all sugar’s other names (Sugars and sugar substitutes CSID Cares June 2014). Big food companies do not always want to list their ingredients. Think about how long it took for certain companies to publically list the calories in their food.

Back in our caveman days, our ancestors did not always know which items were safe to eat. Without all the food labels we have today, they had to take their best guess. Most of this deciphering was based on taste. So, what tasted sweet was usually safe ((EUFIC) Tastes differ – how taste preferences develop February 2011) . In this Darwinian sense, sweet was safe. One bite and the brain rewarding the body by sending off reward signals. These are the feel good sensations of the body. Do you remember eating grandma’s chocolate chip cookies for the first time? Your body was flooded with feel good chemicals as a reward for eating something safe (Nutrition / Healthy Eating Why Do Men and Women Crave Sugar? May 2014). Now you may associate sweet with being comforted and herein lies another problem with sugar, it makes us feel fantastic.

My nieces live in Thailand and their nanny does not allow them to eat sugar. They have a very healthy diet and when they return to the states to visit, they are usually the thinnest of the kids in the neighborhood. They don’t run for the ice cream truck or drink soda. One day, just out of curiosity, I bought them a double chocolate chip cake. I handed them the forks and told them to dig in.

Their eyes grew wide as they let the first rush of sugar hit their tongues. I sat back and observed, what I saw next was shocking. My youngest niece, who was four at the time, started running up and down the living room as if I had given her coffee instead of sugar. She ran back and forth waving her arms manically. My oldest niece, nine at the time, rummaged through her phone and blasted her Pandora. She began doing a dance that I can only describe as quite possibly the oddest two-step shuffle I have ever seen. Forty minutes later, both were going strong. An hour later, both of them were asleep of the sofa with twitching limbs.

If I had not given them the sugar myself, I would have thought they had both gone crazy. When they woke up from their naps, both had tummy aches and the urge to eat more sugar. They had experienced their first highs and lows of sugar.

Can sugar cause mental illness?

Sugar cannot cause mental illness, but it can make the symptoms worse (HelpGuide.Org.UK June 2014). British researchers have been looking at the link between countries with high sugar consumption and high rates of schizophrenia and depression (The British Journal of Psychiatry (2004)184: 404-408doi:10.1192/bjp.184.5.404)

. Their findings reveal plenty about the insidious nature of sugar. Lead by noted British psychiatric researcher Malcolm Peet sugar suppresses activity of the key growth hormone called BDNF Brain-derived neurotropic factor. The low levels are present in those with schizophrenia and depression (Ilardi, Stephanie, Dr. “How to Beat Depression without Drugs.” Psychology Today. N.p., June-July 2009. Web.).

This is troubling information. In decades past, the average American would consume only four pounds of sugar a year, rather than the one hundred pounds a sugar the average American consumes (.Cohen, Robert. “Sugar.” July-Aug. 2013: n. pag. Web.).

That is a 96 pound increase! No wonder we are an anxious society that cannot sit still. How can we when sugar is in everything!

Clarity

When we wake up from a good night’s sleep or nap we feel refreshed and ready to take action. What if I told you that you could feel this way every day? Sound too good to be true? It isn’t. Sugar affects the way we think (Prevention 7 Weird Reasons To Give Up Sugar May 2013). Sugar impairs our cognitive function, the way we think, by shifting our hormones into panic mode. Fernando Gomez-Pinilla, a professor of neurosurgery and integrative biology and physiology at UCLA conducted and experiment using rats over a six week study (National Center for Biotechnology Information), they gave the rats a steady diet of high fructose corn syrup and had them run through a maze. The creatures were increasing challenged with memory and learning.

“Our findings illustrate that what you eat affects how you think,” said Fernando Gomez-Pinilla, a professor of neurosurgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and a professor of integrative biology and physiology in the UCLA College of Letters and Science (UCLA Newsroom This is your brain on sugar: UCLA study May 15th 2012) . Eating a sugary diet over the long-tern hinders your brain’s ability to learn and recall information. Imagine if it is doing that to rats what it is doing to the human brain. It is time to act.

What can we do about this?

 

Dr. Marion Nestle, professor of nutrition, food studies, and public health at New York University agrees that it’s time for policy changes, since many Americans take in roughly 25 percent of their daily calorie intake through sugar (Calton Nutrition Some Think Sugar Should Be Regulated like Tobacco and Alcohol but Could Education Work Better Comments. Carlton Nutrition, Feb.-Mar. 2012. Web. ) The American government cannot take away someone’s right to buy sugar. We have age limits for cigarettes and alcohol, but if you’ve ever been to a children’s party you know that it should be illegal for anyone under fifteen. The trouble is also that with sugar, as your addiction grows so does your tolerance (Rodale News. 10 Tactics for Overcoming Sugar Addiction. June 2010). What used to give you a sugar rush before now may not give you as much as a tingle.

Why is America so invested in sugar?

Sugar is the second highest commodity grown globally (Williamson, Duncan. “Sugar Is Big Business.” Live Well. N.p., Mar.-Apr. 2014. Web.). It is a key ingredient for the food industry. A whopping 51% goes into processed foods. If you think this is shocking, sit down for a moment; by 2020 the need for sugar is expected to rise a further twenty-five percent (The Economic Times. Sugar futures remain higher on rising spot demand June 2014). As a land intensive crop, this demand will not be good for the environment.

So there is no need for sugar, it does not cause anxiety but makes it worse and studies prove it slows us down. What is a person who leads a busy life to do with this burden to their body? We cannot hide out in caves in the Himalayas to avoid sugar and stress. We have to go home every day and leave for work in the morning. With all this new information, how would you like to change your life?

By taking Limitless Abilities Mulberry capsules. Mulberry has been found to divert sugar from the bloodstream to prevent its absorption. As we have said throughout this presentation, sugar is virtually unavoidable.

I am excited to share with you a new breakthrough discovery for optimal health. This plant is considered to be a key ingredient in Eastern medicine (Dharmananda, , Subhuti, Dr. “FRUIT AS MEDICINE.”Http://www.itmonline.org/. N.p., Sept. 2003. Web.). In fact, every part of this plant in used in ancient Chinese medicine (“White Mulberry.” Tao of Herbs (n.d.): n. pag. Print.). Grown in Asia, it is used in China to ease the symptoms of diabetes and prevent an influx of sugar hitting the bloodstream ( Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine Volume 2013 (2013), Article ID 948627, 10 pages http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/948627)

. The most common form of mulberry in Asia is specially brewed teas, but Limitless Abilities offers quick and easy capsules. This wonder plant contains high levels of amounts of vitamin A, B1, B2, C, protein, lipids, and anthocyanins all of which benefit the body (“What Are the Health Benefits of Mulberry Leaf Tea?” LIVESTRONG.COM. LIVESTRONG.COM, 22 Mar. 2014.).

Limitless Abilities offers quick and easy capsules.

Article published in the “International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition” in 2006 (Akbulut, Mehmet, and Mehmet Musa Özcan. “Comparison of Mineral Contents of Mulberry (spp.) Fruits and Their Pekmez (boiled Mulberry Juice) Samples.”International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition 60.3 (2009): 231-39.), informs that mulberry leaves contain calcium, iron and zinc which help keep the body healthy. Mulberry also contains the antioxidants ascorbic acid and beta carotene (“Mulberry Benefits and Medical Effects.” Super Foods. N.p., 21 Feb. 2013. Web.). Free radicals cause damage to the body’s cells, (“Antioxidants and Cancer Prevention.” National Cancer Institute. N.p., 16 Jan. 2014.) Web. which can be ingested during high sugar consumption. Free radicals are also present during smoke and radiation exposure. According to PubMed Health eating foods rich in beta carotene is great for the skin and eyes (An extract of black, green, and mulberry teas causes malabsorption of carbohydrate but not of triacylglycerol in healthy volunteers. Litao Zhong, Julie K. Furne, Michael D. Levitt Am J Clin Nutr. 2006 September; 84(3): 551–555.)

.

In a study published in “Diabetes Care” in 2007, mulberry was studied to see its effect on Type 2 diabetes patients (Andallu, Bondada, et al. “Effect of mulberry (< i> Morus indica</i> L.) therapy on plasma and erythrocyte membrane lipids in patients with type 2 diabetes.”Clinica Chimica Acta 314.1 (2001): 47-53.). There were two groups: one with diabetes and the other with healthy participants. They were all given a sugary drink, but some received a dose of mulberry extract while others received a placebo. To insure accurate results, both groups had their blood sugar levels tested. Testers then tested the levels at different time intervals to gauge sucrose consumption. Those who received the mulberry extract we contain calcium, iron and zinc which help keep the body healthy. Mulberry also contains the antioxidants ascorbic acid and beta carotene (Rosenberg, Dr. “NEWS Index.” Food Trients. N.p., n.d. Web.). Free radicals cause damage to the body’s cells, which can be ingested during high sugar consumption (Rahman, Kahlid. “Studies on Free Radicals, Antioxidants, and Co-factors.”Dovepress (n.d.)). Free radicals are also present during smoke and radiation exposure (Nitric oxide in health and disease of the respiratory system

FLM Ricciardolo, PJ SterkPhysiological 2004 – American Physiological Society). Eating foods rich in beta carotene is great for the skin and eyes (Mathews-Roth, M. M., et al. “A clinical trial of the effects of oral beta-carotene on the responses of human skin to solar radiation.” Journal of Investigative Dermatology 59.4 (1972).

 

 

 

 

 

A study noted that participants did not to have a substantial sugar spike in their blood. Mulberry could be useful both in the treatment of anxiety symptoms according to the scientists conducting the research.

 

Congratulations! If you have made it to this point, you are probably wondering eagerly how to begin to change your life. Now you are probably wondering how you can get your hands on this nutritional powerhouse. It wasn’t that long ago that I too was eating all the wrong foods and living in a constant state of frustration. Every bite I took was increasing the damage in my body. When I began my research to seek a solution, I never dreamed it could be as easy as including an ancient plant in my diet.

The company I work for is called Limitless Abilities. Its mission is to bring the purest supplements available for the public. Why do I work for this company? Quality is my top priority as a scientist. Not only do I take these supplements myself, but so do my families and friends. I would not recommend a product I do not use daily for my health. All ingredients are 100% natural and packaged in an FDA approved lab.

To ensure the greatest quality, there are no middlemen at Limitless Abilities. This means the founders of the company take full responsibility for their product. It is a complete trust in our products that guarantees their high quality.

Another reason you should buy from us?

In the supplement world, products become rancid or oxidised is a major problem. Who knows how long something has been on the shelf? At Limitless Abilities we pride ourselves on giving you the freshest product possible. Rancidity can cause indigestion, burping, and sour taste. Special care is given to all of Limitless Abilities’ products in storage and manufacturing.

So right now how do you feel about sugar? Are you shocked its in everything, worsening anxiety and turning you into an addict for a crop that may be hurting the planet? The time to act is now and with the freshest product out there. Why sit around as your mood is on a rollercoaster and your energy levels are in flux? This is your body and while you cannot eliminate all sugar from your diet, you can do your best to keep it out of your bloodstream. Your best life is waiting for you to order from us. Think of how much better you’ll perform in the office: calm under pressure with a clear mind and the ability to see things through with steady energy. Maybe you could get a promotion just by takes our product.

Get off the roller coaster and into the corner office with Limitless Liabilities.

Business Writing=Collaborative Art

Business writing is a collaborative art form. The entrepreneur has the vision while the writer has the ability to bring it to life. There has to be a level of trust on both sides to create a masterpiece. Businesses generally work together in teams. Indeed, a writer must work with business owners to establish tone, goals and writing styles. Do you want a formal tone? Conversational as if chatting with a confidant? Is your piece a call to action or informational? The more questions asked by the writer, the better the outcome.

Business owners also must have questions for the writer. The most important question to ask is to see a writer’s portfolio. Samples of my work are available on my website. I believe in showing my work as quickly as possible. I want to make sure my clients and I are a match.

Another question to ask is of the writer’s background. One selling point that I always mention is that I teach business writing as an adjunct professor at Miami Dade College, before that I was a writing instructor for over thirteen years. My writing originally started with fiction; I wrote a few novels for clients and myself. Overall, I have written over fifteen books including fiction, self-help, business books (most recently on SEO and internet marketing) and memoirs.

The only way to know if someone is competent at something is a capability to teach it. Many people can make certain claims about their abilities, but until someone pays you to teach others, it is all still a guessing game. Remember in school when you had to explain a concept to a peer who was confused? You became a better student when you could understand how to deliver the concept in multiple ways. That moment of clarity in the other person’s eyes when they understood was worth every effort.

Something else to consider is how open you are to new ideas. A writer can offer fresh perspectives on a project. From blogs, to memos to books, a writer can take your wisps of ideas and flesh them out into deliverables. As mentioned earlier, businesses have a vision and the writer must bring it to life. The key element is trust. Always have a writer, especially a ghostwriter, sign a confidentiality agreement. This provides security on both sides. You have the peace of mind your ideas will not be shared and the writer has the assurance to continue composing for your company.

Money is a topic we have all been told not to discuss. However, in business dealings, it is always wise to avoid sticker shock. At this moment, I charge $30 an hour. This price includes writing, research and editing.

The decision to outsource writing is a leap of faith, but choosing the best writer to make your vision a reality makes it always worthwhile.

SIREN PUBLICATIONS ONLY GOAL IS MEETING YOUR WRITING NEEDS FOR SUCCESS
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Melusine, the siren with two tails, represents the two branches of writing provided by Siren Publications: business and creative.

Your search for a writer who can address all your writing requirements ceases with Siren Publications. By understanding your needs, together we can create first- rate content with clear and effective communication to reach your target audience.

In today’s ongoing digital revolution, it is important to provide high-quality content for your target audience. Solid business writing communicates solutions to your customer’s needs and focuses on your business goals as well. When you opt for Siren Publications’s writing services, you can depend on high-quality content delivered in a timely manner. Read More

Becoming the Best You Possible

Prologue

 

Congratulations on selecting this e-book! You are ready to improve your life and that is a very good thing. We all seek change when obstacles arrive in our lives. There are so many adages in our consciousness as all thinking beings have to endure a disruption in their lives at one time or another. There is nothing wrong with going through a tough time. The trick is to accept your circumstances and continue your evolution. Change is scary, but being stuck in unproductive situation, however comfortable, is terrifying.

Most people do not like talking about their negative situations or how they pulled through. It is too personal or fresh to be cocktail conversation. Think of how helpful it would be if everyone united and offered their best piece of advice. What would yours be?

In the following pages, topics will range from motivation to persistence. If you want to jump around then do so. All subjects will be discussed in full with vignettes from other seekers will be provided. As humans, we want to connect through our journey. We are learning machines and sometimes we need to walk in the paths of others to earn heavy-duty knowledge. Certain identifying features have been altered in the story to protect client privacy. All triumphed over their challenges and so will you in time. It is a comfort to read about others in similar emotional situations.

Many areas of life warrant their own books, but the three main topics covered in this e-book are romance, business, and life. Humans like to think they are complicated creatures who have thought of everything under the sun. In reality, most of our thoughts have centered on our love interests, our jobs and the meaning in our existence. With most things, we need to start at the beginning.

 

Why read a self-book?

The economy took a big hit in 2008. America has been a superpower for so long that many scoffed at the idea of The Great Depression happening again. Houses were bought on credit. If you did not have a house, then you were lazy and financially irresponsible: it was a great investment. Many people had too many credit cards so the greater public would think they were wealthier than they were. A new bag, heels and an outfit were necessary for big events. It was getting out of hand as corporations grew greedier and no one seemed to care about the future. Then one day it happened. Everything came crashing down. Markets crashed and overnight unemployment skyrocketed. No one was safe and lives were forever changed. People once secure in their livelihoods panicked. Hardly anyone saved as their grandparents had because there was an air of arrogance. People felt they were untouchable and used retail therapy rather than being truly honest about their feelings. Buying anything cause a little high, though while fleeting was satisfying. Numerous citizens lived above their means. The time of reckoning had arrived. People could no longer rely on material goods to define themselves. Unemployment, foreclosure, and black clouds darkened people’s lives. Adaption was a matter of survival. Money had trumped character for quite a long time in our culture.

Nothing could distract the country during this time. Those that had jobs feared losing them and those waiting to hear back from jobs had volcanoes of anxiety waiting to erupt at a moment’s notice. When you are consumed with denying reality and chasing transparent dangling carrots, you lose the ability to be still. America came to a standstill and for many it was a thoroughly unpleasant experience. Others had a different experience. They were able to shed the job and lives they hated. It was forced liberation.

Back to you, maybe you have made a decision to improve your life and it is scary. What if you change so much you lose your friends or your job? These are reasonable fears. Whenever you go through a major change, circumstances alter. You chose a different life path the moment you purchased you book. Sometimes when you go beneath the surface, things you have been in denial about are given air. Do not fear. At some point, things will get better. The worst thing to do is to stop and start. Go the distance, remain consistent and be fearless.

A beginning is necessary in order for evolution to happen. Be aware that some people who are afraid of life might try to hold you back from being a better, stronger person. You do not need to avoid them, simply pass them by. When someone tries to put doubts in your ear, think of anything else like your grocery list or participate in a fantasy relationship with your favorite celebrity. Just drown out their noise.

No one wants to lose friends or find that their current circumstances are suffocating. You might start to see that your comfort zone is more like a prison. Step out slowly. Some people want to burn their lives and rise from the ashes. Others want a gradual change and to avoid incineration. Whatever style fits you best, go for it. There is not a paid employee overseeing your life. Take the reins. You will be given a series of exercises to explore your motivations. The process is not easy, but is worthwhile in the end.

Do not be afraid to get dirty in life. You are supposed to get dirty and roughed up; it builds character. Having a good or bad time, is just a stretch that is fleeting. Be in charge of your destiny. Weigh whether it is better to be stuck or uncertain. You can prepare along the way. Keep the number of people you tell about your plan to change on one hand; do not feel too committed to proving yourself to other people. You can do it.

The ghosts of the past are always ready to haunt. Think of the freedom you can achieve when you travel down the rabbit hole of your mind. Be your leader. If you dig deep enough, no one will be able to hurt you again and if your outside world changes then it will not cause your head to explode. Stay strong change is ahead.

Read this book at your own pace. Decided how quickly you want to change and always be honest with yourself. Grab a highlight and start marking the passages that move you. Make notes in any way possible. Compose a note if you are moved to do so and put it in a visible place to remind the old you that the new you is moving in. Mark the pages that you are not ready to grasp just yet. Always go back to what has given you an emotional jolt. Nothing needs to make sense the moment you read it. It is a long process getting to your new place of understanding. At times, it might feel too long or too short, but it will happen. Another thing to keep in mind is no one needs to know what you are reading or that you are in the process of change. People only truly know anything about you just based on the information you give. Some people will not understand why you want to be different and it can be very threatening to their own stability. While some people may be naturally supportive, other may be hostile to change. If you are fine with either criticism or praise then talk away. Be your own person and relish in your newfound stillness. Read on and forge a path that is comfortable to you to allow freedom and enjoyable success into your life. Life is what you make of it. If this book helps you in great or small ways, then please pass it on to someone in need. We should focus on making the world still through compassion. We are all connected in some way and all that separates us is knowledge of this unity. Best of luck in all your endeavors. This book will help you in innumerous ways if you allow yourself to take risks and consider options. Fortune favors the bold and may reading this book be your first step to greatness. Proceed…

Chapter One

IMPROVEMENT

COMMIT TO LEARNING

Back when we were in school, learning was boring and teachers were the ultimate losers. They knew nothing and we were the masters of the universe waiting to be unleashed. Upon graduation from either high school or college, we jumped out into the world ready for action. Yet, things were tougher than we imagined. There was not a welcoming committee greeting us into adulthood. The world had not waited for us to get older; in fact, it had not waited for anyone. People were annoyed instead of patient when we did not understand. Adults, unless they were paid to do so, were not interested in helping up reach our full potential.

Many of us began to understand during our first job interview that we were unqualified barring making coffee or doing grunt work. It may have been beneath our sensibilities to do task that clearly did not display our smarts. The greatest irony is that some returned to the classroom to keep themselves safe and employed. In many ways, the first six months after college were almost as informative as the whole four years.

Unfortunately, there was a learning curve that actually exists and we all found out the hard way. Being an adult was harder than we imagined. Some had parents who helped out financially and others had to learn completely on their own. The danger in having overly indulgent parents is the kids are never set free. They do not learn how to struggle, fail, and then try anew. Everyone should learn to fail when they are younger and pick himself or herself back up again. The time old idea of falling seven times and picking yourself up eight to be successful is true. If you did not set yourself free from your parents at this time, you will most likely never be free of them. Being on your own is the best experience in adulthood, but no matter how terrifying. If you have already gone through that phase, look back gently at all the common sense you acquired. We did not know how to balance our checkbook or follow a budget at one point. Managing a household was foreign to us and budgeting became sacrifice. One of the biggest disappointments in life is seeing how little your paycheck actually goes. Some are better than others in learning how to be completely responsible for their well-beings and education. Still, there is a lot to be learned after graduation and the wise recognize that.

 

Here is a brief list on how to be an adult if you have already not gone through the process and if you have, try to figure out at which age and how you reached these milestones.

1.   Your parents do not owe it to you to bail you out of trouble. They should not be the first people you call for bail money, you need to make alternate arrangements if you want to get out of jail, literally and figuratively. Find odd jobs, clean house, or get a second job. If ever there were a time to have two jobs, it would be in your twenties.

2.   Being an adult means coming to terms with your limitations. If you cannot carry a tune, do not think local karaoke contests are going to result in you being discovered. Do not be the last one to realize you are not talented enough. If you want to pursue these dreams, do it on the weekends. Join a community theater and perform at karaoke. Just don’t give up your day job.

3.   Do not cry at work. Ladies this seems like a tall order, but nuclear meltdowns and the bathroom stalls are not the places to be emotional. Learn to control your emotions. If something bad happened at work or a coworker hurt your feelings, then do not blast it on social media. Gentlemen-Do not punch a co-worker. Yes. They deserve it and you would show everyone how strong you are. Nowadays you can be arrested for assault. One crazy outburst can follow you for the rest of your professional life and afterwards. Do not embarrass your future self. Also, do not quit a blaze of glory. Telling people off makes you look like a fool.

4.   Learn to properly apologize. Gushing through a stream of excuses is not good enough. No one cares how it happened; you did or said something that you should not have. I am sorry are three powerful words. They can come out of your mouth easily and should. Be responsible for your actions. Flowers, chocolates, a new Chanel bag, a card or simply saying the words will show you are a mature person capable of being answerable to society as a whole.

5.   Your needs do not come before the good of the group. Do you remember, if you are lucky, your parents waking up very early on Christmas morning to celebrate? No adult willingly wakes up early on a major holiday. They took a hit for the team. Now as an adult, you have to take some hits. Maybe you need to pull an all-nighter to save a co-worker at a presentation. The good news is someone might help you as well, but companies want you to be a team player. So suck it up and act appropriately.

6.   Do not party all night and then go to work. You think you can inhale a gallon of espresso and perform like usual. Nope, not even close. People notice and they talk. Your hair will smell of smoke and hedonism. If it happens more than once, you will be labeled a Lohan. Use your weekends to rage, but on weeknights go home early.

7.   Plan for the future. There is this whole YOLO thing happening (you only live once) and people throw caution to the wind. Do not buy into this nonsense. Take some risks, but do not be stupid. A quickie wedding or a leg tattoo will taint your future. Save money and plan for a rainy day. The easiest way to do this is to automatically deduct from your checking into a savings account.

8.   Give yourself permission to change. If you have always been a jock or a drama kid, consider new avenues. You can make your own decisions now. Explore who you are and do not be afraid to change. No one controls you anymore. If you are not comfortable in your own skin, then you are going to be pulled in a million directions. Growth is a process and you must, must be willing to explore options for your true identity. If you lose a few friends, you will find new ones.

 

Beware of the lure of being a professional student. School is safe for all of us. After the 2008 crash, many took out student loans to earn MBAs and other graduate degrees. School is great, but realize that if you pursue higher education it must be practical. The new term for students who have avoided careers to stay in school are now labelled professional students. They do not learn how the real world works and believe in idealism. Those that leave school after undergrad know there are nuances in every adult situation. The following is a tale of two students: one from the school of hard knocks and the other from the ivory tower of academia.

 

Mavis started college as a party girl. If her parents’ bothered to look at her too closely, they would have seen addiction issues. They had raised her to be pampered, though neglected. In rebellion, she dated an older man who drove an ice cream truck and played pool badly in local bars.

Jolene was the complete opposite. She grew up in a strict household rocked by divorce. At the start of college, she was still nervous about boys and trying to get over her high school ex. Drugs were unimaginable to her; she did not want to disappoint her mother.

Mavis and Jolene both started college with monthly allowances. Mavis spent her on drugs and booze. Jolene bought a few dresses. However, Jolene’s father remarried and the new wife did not want her new husband paying for a college education. Without good reason, Jolene was cutoff. In her devastation, she pulled herself into a shell. Mavis, on the other hand, moved in with a mimbo.

The two became friends though Mavis was not always sober enough to be a good listener. If Jolene had better circumstances, she probably would have stayed away. Jolene graduated on time and Mavis stayed a year longer to be a five-year senior. Jolene’s mother died of cancer a year after her graduation. Her only caring parent was gone and Mavis did not even travel to attend the funeral.

Jolene became a teacher because she had to secure her survival. She hated it and began to lose faith in the goodness of life. Mavis, meanwhile, was having a great time in college still. They both began dating men named Charles. Mavis new boyfriend was very calming and she changed her raging ways. Jolene’s boyfriend was emotionally abusive towards her. The grief over her mother’s death made her lonely enough to endure her Charles’ vicious diatribes against her though she was the only one with a job.

Five years on Mavis was in graduate school. She had decided to pursue a Ph.D. in cognitive psychology. The real world made her nervous and instead of self-medicating with party favors, she was taking anti-depressants. Life for her was a series of studies and experiments. When she complained, people would roll their eyes at her self-pity. While she was accruing debt, she was safe. She would continue with school because it was all she knew.

Jolene, meanwhile, was teaching in a public high school that was supposedly in a good neighborhood. One day one of her students ingested a bag of crack before school to elude being captured by police. Unbeknownst to her, she asked him to go up to the board and instead he walked over to her desk. She handed him the marker and he began hurting her. It took a school officer to pull him off her.

Mavis took visits to see other friends from college, but did not take the time out to visit Jolene, who was recuperating in bed with a sprained spine. She was barely able to pay her bills with her meager savings and workman’s comp. Jolene got better and walked again very slowly. Mavis was glad that she was better so she could have someone to listen to her. Jolene toughed it out, but the irreparable damage was amassing.

Mavis had great news a few months later. Her boyfriend proposed and the wedding planning began. Mavis wanted Jolene to be as involved in the wedding. Mavis was still in school and able to go obsess over details such as color schemes. Jolene started a new teaching job at an elitist day school, which was incredibly stressful. Mavis wanted all of her attention and called as soon as school ended to discuss napkins, invitations, etc. Jolene was amused at first; it provided an escape from grading essays. People told her most wedding planning last six months. Mavis’s mother, who was paying for the wedding, wants a specific venue and the first available date was 18 months away.

Jolene was patient until sixteen months before the actual wedding. She had endured countless conversations about family drama and menus. It was enough. After listening to all the details for months on end, Jolene was downgraded from the maid of honor to just a bridesmaid. It was insulting and hurtful. Mavis felt Jolene had emotionally abandoned her when she had to attend to some disgruntled parents at work.

Mavis was furious that her friend had taken focus off of her upcoming event. At this point, Mavis had not left the hallowed halls of academia. She did not know how to have a full-time job. Their paths had reached the point of no return. Jolene had outgrown the tedium of the narcissism involved in wedding planning. Mavis wanted someone to help her through the tremendous anxiety of her life changing. Neither was right and yet neither was wrong.

Weeks later, the two were not speaking. Jolene had discovered meditation and Mavis was threatened by this. In one heated exchange, Mavis told Jolene that she was boring after finding inner peace. She needed Jolene to stay the same to make it through her days. Jolene grew tired of her professional student friend. Jolene lived in the real world while Mavis was able to luxuriate in her Peter Pan syndrome.

Fast forward ten years later, Jolene is still a teacher, but has saved enough money not to fear starvation. Mavis is thousands of dollars in debt and unable to find a job. They still miss each other, but their worlds had been too far apart.

There comes a point in every adult’s life when they need to get a job and feel the burden of adulthood. Otherwise, they exist in a state of professional student hood and miss all the crucial milestones to maturity. Jolene learned too much and Mavis learned too little in the classroom of life.

 

 

NOIR

Fade In:

Exterior. New Home-Day

On a hot summer afternoon on Pelican Street, a couple moves into a new home.

HENRY, a mid-30 white man dressed in overalls is visibly annoyed and unpacking boxes.

Interior. Kitchen-Day

HENRY

Babe, can you pick up some nails when you go to the store?

Henry fingers the bottle in his overall pocket, catches himself doing this and moves a ladder.

Sarah follows his eyes and rubs her bump.

Sarah

I’m going to stop by the baby store and look at some strollers. I want to get a pink one or maybe yellow…if we have another one.

Henry

Let’s just get this one over with first.

Sarah: (rubs her bump)

Let’s start with the pink one. Maybe we can get one at the thrift store.

SARAH waits for HENRY to show some excitement. SARAH leaves and we see Henry take out the bottle. He takes a quick sip.

We see him walk over to a covered section of the pantry where there are several -hidden mini bottles. Henry puts another one in his pocket.

HENRY(mumbles)

Just a sip. I got this. Just a sip.

He continues painting the pantry red. We see his hands shake and the lines are fractured.

Scene

Int. House Day

Sarah walks in the door and puts her keys down.

Henry

How did it go? (quickly puts a piece of gum in his mouth)

Sarah

(sees him do this and closes her eyes).

They said the vitals are good. We need to start deciding on names.

Henry

I wanted to leave that up to you.

SARAH

This is our baby. When she grows up, she wants to hear about how we chose her name. Y’know a cute story. How did you get your name?

HENRY

I don’t want to talk about it.

SARAH

Please… I need to feel as if you have some interest.

HENRY

My adopted parents named me. My birth mother couldn’t look at me because I reminded her of my fathers

SARAH

You never told me this.

HENRY

My birth mother was raped by my father. He got her when she was walking home from school.

SARAH

How old was she?

HENRY

I think she was 14. Her parents were Catholic, so they made her have me and then give me up for adoption.

SARAH

(covers her mouth)Was he…?

HENRY

An alcoholic? Like me?…I don’t know.

SARAH steps towards him and watches him step back.

Henry

I never told you this before because I just don’t think about. I don’t want that type of history. I’ve been thinking what to tell the baby about her grandparents.

SARAH

We don’t have to tell her.

HENRY

Kids ask.

SARAH

I never asked.

HENRY

That’s why I married you. You always allowed me to take my time.

SARAH

Well, yes for the most part.

HENRY

I already told you when we separated the first time that I had too many secrets for you. You wouldn’t like me if you knew everything.

SARAH

I love you, that’s a whole lot different than like. We are married and we’ll figure something out about what to tell her.

HENRY

SARAH

I like the name Hannah.

HENRY

She can’t be named Hannah.

SARAH

Why? You don’t like it?

HENRY

That was my mother’s name.

SARAH

HENRY

(fingers his bottle)

I like Georgette.

SARAH

That could work. (sing songs) Georgette, come here so Daddy can give you a kiss.

HENRY

(smiling for the first time)

Maybe I can read her a bedtime story or go for a walk at night.

SARAH

Georgette can be Daddy’s little girl.

HENRY

Yes. Teach her how to ride a bike and scare off boys who come to the house. Maybe get a nice shotgun.

 

SARAH

Hold on now, we have to let her date a little.

HENRY

So can we name her Georgette?

SARAH

Georgette Amelia Harris. I like it. Sounds like a French movie star.

HENRY

I don’t want her to grow up and be an actress. Maybe she can be a lawyer or a doctor. Something big. Something I couldn’t be.

SARAH

Whatever she does, as along as she has a daddy to love her, she’ll be happy.

HENRY

I hope so.

SARAH

I know so.

CHAMPAGNE

I recently gave my best friend a Champagne lesson on a road trip to Orlando. She had no idea about true Champagne. Well, for starters, I explained sparkling wines have extra carbon dioxide, which makes them fizzier. These bubbles are the very reason we bring it out to mark special occasions; it is simply more fun to drink. There is just something decadent about the bubbles. Champagne’s arrival is credited to a French monk who promptly declared he was drinking the stars. That monk was Dom Perignon, a holy man who made strides in white wines when France was still predominantly a red wine producer. A monk? Yes, back then the monks could make wines and drink all day.

Champagne identifies as true Champagne when produced in its namesake region in France. Otherwise, it is considered low quality. The cheap bottles in the drugstore cannot be considered anything other than blasphemy to oenophiles. Secondly, since it is a wine it comes from grapes. These grapes must be from the Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, or Chardonnay grapes, which are native. The name Champagne carries a lot of weight because it is high quality, almost like carrying a Hermes Birkin bag.

The last element to true Champagne production is it has to have gotten the famous bubbles by enduring the fermentation process twice: once in barrels and again in bottles. Other sparkling wines can call themselves Champagne as long as they credit the process. The most visible types of Champagne are Blanc de Blancs, Blanc de Noirs and Rosé.

Blanc de Blanc can also be called white Champagne. By law, white Champagne has to be made with Chardonnay grapes and is a single grape production. Mostly this type of Champagne pairs with light fare such as seafood. It also makes an excellent aperitif.

Blanc de noirs are white Champagnes made only from the black grape varieties of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. These sparkling wines are known to be full-bodied and deeper yellow-gold in color. Ideally, they should be paired with full-flavored foods, including meats and cheeses.

Rosé Champagnes are produced by one of two methods. The classic method centers on the addition of a measured amount of Pinot Noir still wine to the base wine just before the second fermentation. The skin contact method involves the pressing of skins soaking with the juice of the grapes prior to fermentation. Rose, or pink Champagne, has moments of high and waning popularity. The color hue lends itself to romance, but can be overused by desperate men. It is paired well with someone by whom you want to be romanced.

If you think there are too many strict rules with Champagne, here is another one: as each year lapses into another one, producers of Champagne must hold on to least twenty percent of their wine for use in future non-Vintage Champagne. Vintage Champagne has a prestige that a bottle of Andre cannot touch.

There is quite a bit that goes into a bottle of Champagne. Inside the dark glass lurks three times the air pressure of a car tire. If anyone has been accidently hit with a Champagne cork like I have (long story), you know that the uncorking is a reason to cover your face. The longest recorded flight of a Champagne cork is over 177 feet. There are contests to see who can get the cork farthest. Once you go through the opening whether it be dramatic by letting the cork fly or more European where it is simply a polite pop, Champagne is tricky to drink. It is a sipping wine as the alcohol content is so high, drinking it too quickly can cause a headache. This is ironic given Marilyn Monroe only drank Champagne to avoid hangover headaches.

Ever notice how Champagne bottles seems denser than other wine bottles? Well, this sparkling wine is more sensitive to temperature and light. Too much light and temperature fluctuation can affect the taste. Chilling Champagne consistently between 40 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit is the ideal.

The movies might have gotten something right about Champagne. The traditional way to chill a bottle of Champagne is to place it in an ice bucket, half filled with ice, half with water, for 20 minutes. We ended the road trip with a celebratory glass of Champagne and made sure to savor every delicious bubble.