Thinking about dusting off the old blog
A little poetry for the night ..
Poetry & literature were my first real loves in life. I remember once reading somewhere that only poets truly see the stars. It’s as if they drink in the delights of the world and sing them to us in verse. I haven’t posted much on the blog while I’ve been in Canada working on the new show. And I’m thinking maybe a tumblr would be better – it’s all so confusing, which outlet to use, how to communicate in this era where people can communicate in so many ways without ever having to met or really truly knowing them. I posted these on my facebook page a few years ago, and I thought I would share again.
“Here are two from my all time favorite American poet ee cummings
His words always sensual, the voice is clear and he references silence so much, which is something I find to be of tremendous value for those on this journey … I tend to steal from him quite often … so I will share two of my favorites … You see as he matured in age, his poetry became much more sexual, the touch, the taste of each one is very raw. (The 30’s seemed to have a wonderful sexual revolution in literature .. an era I wish I could have lived)”
Enjoy ..
IT MAY NOT ALWAYS BE SO
(ee cummings 1923)
it may not always be so;and i say
that if your lips,which i have loved,should touch
another’s,and your dear strong fingers clutch
his heart,as mine in time not far away;
if on another’s face your sweet hair lay
in such a silence as i know,or such
great writhing words as,uttering overmuch,
stand helplessly before the spirit at bay;
if this should be,i say if this should be-
you of my heart,send me a little word;
that i may go unto him,and take his hands,
saying,Accept all happiness from me.
Then shall i turn my face,and hear one bird
sing terribly afar in the lost lands.
MAY I FEEL SAID HE
(ee cummings 1935)
may i feel said he
(i’ll squeal said she
just once said he)
it’s fun said she
(may i touch said he
how much said she
a lot said he)
why not said she
(let’s go said he
not too far said she
what’s too far said he
where you are said she)
may i stay said he
(which way said she
like this said he
if you kiss said she
may i move said he
is it love said she)
if you’re willing said he
(but you’re killing said she
but it’s life said he
but your wife said she
now said he)
ow said she
(tiptop said he
don’t stop said she
oh no said he)
go slow said she
(cccome?said he
ummm said she)
you’re divine!said he
(you are Mine said she)
A year passes in a flash …
I am almost shocked that an entire year has passed and I haven’t posted on the blog ~ what happened??? Well luckily I was working and exploring myself as an actor. I had the enormous privilege of being cast in a new SYFY series titled Alphas, from a tremendously talented team of writers lead by Zak Penn (Incredible Hulk, X Men) & got to act along side some pretty classy actors. Woohoo. Rachel is the character I will be discovering this year and she is kind of special – a girl with extraordinary abilities, to say the least. But more on that to come Summer 2011 🙂
One of the best things about the show is that I get to live in a new city while shooting. The show will be shot in Toronto, ON and I got to spin in the energy of living in a new city, having to make new friends, find new markets, new pilates, discover the cities immense resources and potential. I’m thrilled to bits to know that I will have the chance to discover places like Kensington Market, go shopping in Yaletown or catch a BlueJays game downtown …
So what to do with my blog … well, I’ve decided to dust it off and take it for a spin again. All things, life, style, health, travel, & work. And this year will introduce philanthropic endeavors into the blog. 2011 is a special year for me as I am joining the March on the Bridge for the 100th Anniversary of Women’s Day, March 8th to join thousands of women in celebrating the courage, strength and beauty of women globally. And will join forces with other Afghans to create more awareness for the good work of the UNHCR. They are so committed to changing the lives of so many Afghan refugees (& refugees all over the world)
In my business we can all become singularly focused, seeking the approval of others, looking for ways to be shiny and pretty … but at the end of the day, global perspective is key. We are so lucky we have access to information, beauty products, organic foods, sheesh basic human rights even. Access to these things should brighten each day up for us, but we are always in constant need for more, more, more. And the truth is, we have too much. So what do we do … we find small ways to give. To impact, to affect, to inspire – even if it’s one persons life somewhere far away that you have never met, or a neighbor who is suffering. Something as little as 20$ to a charity like the ones listed above, can provide food, a warm blanket to sleep in, or maybe even just a soccer ball for a small group of kids to play with. That small act of kindness equals impact … imagine if all of your friends, your union, your book club did this … how many children could eat or play, how many people you could keep warm, how you could make a stranger smile by a simple click on a computer. So this year, as we blog about health and staying sharp in mind, & body – we are also going to incorporate “acts of kindness” into this virtual community of ours, to also keeps us sharp in our hearts.
I had an unfortunate incident with a casting director in my business this week, someone who chose to berate me when I was in a vulnerable position and I felt so helpless. So what did I do, I made a donation to help someone who is way more helpless then me. And you know what, it made me feel good to help. To send positive energy into the Universe and change a negative feeling I had today into positive change for someone else.
Can’t wait to see what the year ahead has in store for us all. Love & Light & Happiness to all …
Azi xx
The Daily Plate
I’ve been completely MIA. Focusing on work, studying, traveling and then with my family for the holidays!
But I’ve stumbled upon a great site http://www.thedailyplate.com …. which can act as a food and fitness journal to help you achieve some personal goals and get a better understanding of your intake of sugar, et on a daily basis. Great way to refocus on your healthy goals for the New Year.
Cheers to a wonderful 2010!
My Skin Gets Thirsty
Well — Luckily I’ve been busy working — but as anyone who has read any of the blog knows, I suffer from sleep issues. The worst is when I have a very early call time and I’ve only gotten 3-4 hours of restless sleep. It doesn’t work for me in this business AT ALL – babies gotta wake up looking refreshed and ready to take on the world. I’ve discovered a couple tricks that help my skin retain tons of moisture. This seems to be key in making my stressed out skin look healthy and glowy. If I’m traveling I am that crazy person that puts Vaseline all around her eyes and cheeks – after 5-6 hours the vaseline sinks into my skin and voila, I don’t look like I just got my face kicked in. I know some people swear by Elizabeth Arden’s Eight Hour Cream for nighttime & travel, but that never really worked for me. And since Vaseline is a little intense to use daily, and doesn’t really work if I have to go to a set where someone is going to start applying loads of makeup on me, I kicked into Dora the Explorer mode and investigated some different solutions. I stumbled upon what I like to call Heaven in a green jar – a product by June Jacobs called Intensive Age Defying Hydrating Mask. 
I recently started to apply it in the am before I went to set and would rinse it off with tepid water or tissue it off and the makeup artists would immediately comment on how healthy my skin looked. A fabulous compliment after only a few hours of sleep and a few days in really heavy makeup for several hours. June Jacobs is Paraben free which is essential for me, since my skin seems to react to those nasty little parabens. The intense hydration sinks into my skin making it look glowy and healthy and super fresh – which is something that’s important to me since I don’t like putting on tons of makeup daily. I use it in my daily life when my skin seems to be dehydrated from a lack of sleep and I want to look well rested before a meeting. Click here to go to the June Jacobs website. The brand veers towards the luxury end – so if it’s a little steep – take a look at some other terrific hydrating moisture masks online. Places like http://www.skinstore.com carry an array of products that are top of the line and reasonably priced. And of course one my favorite places to get lost in, Target carries several types of hydrating masks that can fit in anyone’s budget. And if you are a do-it-at home kind of gal, you can always slather on a coat of Vaseline before bed time to wake up dewy eyed and refreshed. I’ve done it for years … and always will.
Oh & click on this to learn more about why Paraben Free is important.
Secrets from a Superstar Trainer …
Any one who knows me well, knows I love to exercise. “Keep it light, keep it tight.” Right. I run, dance, and practice yoga on a regular basis, but I also love to try new exercises & classes to give my body a little challenge and keep me inspired. I’ve been taking a class at my local Equinox taught by Grace Lazenby called All The Right Moves. The goal of Grace’s class is to keep you long and lean by combining yoga, pilates and dance moves to challenge those tiny little muscles in our special female bodies. A few people have been asking me about where to go, how to take these classes? There are tons of options in cities throughout America – most are called Cardio Barre, Mat Pilates, there’s Physique 57 in NYC et … But for those of you who can’t get to this class and workout at home, I wanted to attach a terrific quick exercise video created by Tracy Anderson, the tiny powerhouse who keeps Gwyneth Paltrow looking like a million bucks. She emailed this video to Ms. Paltrow post Holiday 2008 while she was away and Ms. Paltrow then put it on her website. Goop.com
I thought I would repost it for those who don’t subscribe to the GOOP newsletter and haven’t gotten to see it. Give it a whirl – you can do these exercises at home, in the office or in your trailer. All you need is a chair and the motivation to do a tons of reps.
ACTORSDIET.COM – GUEST BLOG
So I was lucky enough to be asked by the talented and health savvy duo that created actorsdiet.com to write a guest blog for them – you can check it out below. And go check out the **site, for the whole post as well as fun recipes, ways to manage health and diet,etc:
Eating Out? Two Out Of Four, and There’s Nothing More To It!
Hey there Actor’s Diet …… Lynn Chen & I were lucky enough to work on a film a few years ago, so I was thrilled when I found out she was one of the creators of this neat site, and even more thrilled when she asked to me to write a guest blog.
I love to eat out … in LA, there are great restaurants, and I consider myself a tiny but mighty LA Zagat/Google machine when it comes to restaurants. Name a street and I’ll tell you where to eat, from fine dining to casual healthy spots, a single LA gal spends a lot of time in restaurants. But as an actress, a lot of my job depends on staying in shape, physically and emotionally. So how does one eat out and stay in shape without losing her mind?
Well we all know a night at Mastro’s or heck Cheesecake Factory, is going to be pretty decadent in the calorie department. The portion sizes, the steak, the bread, the butter, the dessert the vino – it’s all so glorious and tempting. I once read a nutritionist talking about her eating out trick, one that could save you 2000 plus calories at dinner and it’s the first thing I share with people when they say the need to shape up but don’t cook at home often.
Two out of Four is all you need to know!
When at dinner, pick your 2 out of 4 for the evening, the four being:
1. Bread
2. Appetizers
3. Alcohol
4. Dessert
So, if you are starving and need the (1) bread and dying for an after work (3) cocktail then SKIP the (2) apps and the (4) dessert. If you know you have to have the (4) special “dessert” at this restaurant and must have that amazing (2) appetizer – then stick to iced tea or sparkling water and no (1) Bread.
A pretty straightforward formula that saves me lots of extra time in the gym after a few nights of eating out . I vote two thumbs up on this quick and easy formula. And just think, if you eat out often it could save you from gaining those “where hell did those 3 pounds come from?” Until next time ……..
Something I love ….
I guess for anyone who has read my blog – I talk a lot of FOOD! Well, really being healthy and making smart choices about what you put in your body. I honestly believe that being conscious of your BODY is a direct link to being conscious of your MIND and your HEART (like the Erykah Badu song says) 360 degrees, all connected. I realize that when I am least happy in my life, I abuse myself in lots of ways. Indulging in things that my body, my mind and my heart physically and emotionally reject. And when I’m “seizing the day” I’m light as a feather, ready to be a peaceful warrior, at ONE … Shut your zen face, right? But come on, it’s the truth, only truth.
We tend be kinder to strangers than to ourselves. Why don’t we nurture ourselves and take the time to say that its okay to want to be better in all aspects of our life? We’re all a work in progress — but we have to take ownership of the things we want to make better in order to continue to expand to our highest potential. I love human beings, and I love women – I was shaped by insane, intimidating, ferocious women, who continue to challenge me. And by a mom who taught me to always moisturize, whether it was with Nivea, Vaseline or Cooking Oil (yes, crazy gypsy afghans.) I’ve been slathering moisturizer on since I was little with no clue as to why?
Now as a big girl, I’ve tried about everything on the market, and am lucky enough to get to try a lot of things first. This product has become my new obsession, Lisa Hoffman Day & Night Serum. I’ve been using this for the last 2 months, and on site people immediately compliment my skin. Coincidence? I think not.
Skin care specialist recommend using a serum to sink in after washing your face and before your moisturizer. They are lightweight, so they easily absorb. Good Serums provide a ton of anti-aging benefits, and also claim to help with skin cell renewal, reduce the appearance of fine lines, tighten saggy skin, repair sun damage and hydrate your skin, et. Ultimately making it super glowy. 
Adding this into your daily routine will easily upgrade it to star status. Lisa Hoffman SkinCare (created by the lovely wife of Dustin Hoffman) is fantastic and boasts really reasonable prices, well except of course the serum that I love. It is the priciest thing in line (again, of course). So, if its not within your price range check out a bunch of the fabulous ones at Target or your local drugstore (i.e, Loreal, Boots, & Olay all carry serums in there skin care lines).
Here’s a link to her products:
http://www.lisahoffmanskincare.com/skincare.html
Good Food Facts For Good Skin
In honor of answering some of your questions via Twitter, I’m going to make a quick list of foods that you should Absolutely consume to help in your mission for gorgeous radiant skin. Regardless of what your specific skin concerns may be, there is a short list of power foods that are consistently on every dermatologist’s list. These super good for you foods can help reduce inflammation, combat aging and even prevent skin cancer.
1-ANTIOXIDANTS in the forms of Blueberries, Blackberries, Strawberries & Plums, these 4 specific fruits rate the highest in antioxidants, which protect your skin from being attacked by those nasty free radicals we are exposed to daily (sun, pollution, et).
2-OMEGA 3 in the form of SALMON, Walnuts & FlaxSeed. Chock full of essential fatty acids, salmon, walnuts and flax seed are powerful for both skin & BRAIN! Omega 3’s are a major resource in keeping your skin supple & glowing.
3-GREEN TEA is your skins best friend – its polyphenols combat damage from ultra violet rays and is brimming with Vitamin C & Zinc. Plus this little magnificent bonus; green tea is full of something called ECGC, which is an antioxidant known for helping speed up your metabolism.
4-LOW FAT DAIRY – Full of Vitamin A. The A in low fat dairy is easy for your body to absorb, allowing you to see results sooner. In addition Low Fat Dairy also contains ACIDOPHILUS, aka healthy bacteria, that helps keep your digestive track normal.
5-Water/H2O/Agua – Clean, filtered, spring, distilled water – not water in sugary beverages. Try and consume at least half your body weight in oz. (i.e. 150lb female should try and consume 75oz a day) It may seem like a lot, but it has been know to help hair, skin, and nails stay hydrated.
Obviously any foods that are NATURAL, WHOLE FOODS from the earth are full of vitamins and minerals that are beneficial for overall well being. But as we continue to learn about all of them, let’s start with these top rated choices.
Try these tiny tricks: Switch your afternoon or am coffee for green tea. Add blueberries to your morning cereal, oatmeal or Low Fat Yogurt. Eat 2 servings of baked or raw salmon a week. Sprinkle Walnuts in your dinner or lunch salad. Since I don’t eat dairy, I personally take Power-Dophilus pills that I find in the refrigerator section at Whole Foods and get my Vitamin A from Spinach and Sweet Potatoes.
Now Look at that. Healthy body, healthy heart, healthy skin. Stress, poor diet, the sun, et take a terrible toll on our bodies. Let’s take control by adding small daily changes to keep ourselves in fighting form.
For More Detailed Information on the items listed above: http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/features/skin-food
So Fierce … Christian Siriano for Payless
Oh dear sweet shoes, how I love thee …. I’m a shoe gal and I love heels, what girl doesn’t? I will shop thrift and be the girl in a $12 dress from the bin at Squaresville or off the rack at H&M. And I will rock it like a queen. But with shoes I spend, and I spend big. Lanvin, YSL, Gucci, Chloe are a few of my staples, I like chunky, sleek, tall, wedge, knee high, ankle, strappy and on and on. However, to my predicament my favorite Lanvin heels that were $500 3 seasons ago have crept up to $900 a season, I’m sorry What? $900 for a shoe is ridiculous, and designers should scale back and go with the flow of the market, but since people still buy them, they’ll still sell them that high.
What’s a girl to do … well of course, sale, outlet, ebay .. but here’s a dandy little find. As I was flipping through my September Elle (all 10,000 pages of it), I stopped at a blue ankle boot that looked FIERCE. Lo and behold, according Elle, Christian Siriano, the lovable winner from Project Runway has created a line of shoes for Payless that will debut in the FALL. They look impeccable, the structure, the carved heel, the colors … and all at a cost of $25-45, that is it? $25 for some fabulous shoes for Fall.
A cost that affords some to play with styles they might not otherwise enjoy (ankle boots are not everyone’s favorite). I say try and scoop them up as fast as you can, because they will sell out FAST. Christian Siriano for Payless available at select stores September 2009.
AzitaDaily 