How to Live Well- Room by Room

As you know, we are getting ready for baby chez moi. This has caused us (mainly me) to organize, declutter, rearrange, fluff and generally reevaluate our living situation. I’m having good fun doing this- and all of this housework has caused me to ponder thoughts on how to live well, domestically.

That is, after all, what this blog is all about- living well. It is my lifelong, ongoing quest to live well. And as I’ve said before- living well has absolutely nothing to do with money… it’s what you do with what you have.

For example, we live in a beautiful Santa Monica town house for which I am extremely grateful. Because we live in this beautiful town house (that comes with a not so beautiful mortgage) we do not have what I would call ‘ideal furniture’. It is a mish mash of items from our past- some of it cohesive, some of it not. But I have learned to make do with what we have and 'make it work' (as Tim Gunn would say).

I constantly remind myself that it is the American in me that wants an entire house full of brand new furniture… it is my French alter ego that reins my greediness in and tells me my furniture is just fine the way it is (but that is another post).

So I’ve decided, as I comb through my house getting ready for baby, that I am going to share a series of posts with you where I explore how to live well room by room. Your feedback and tips will, as always, be much appreciated… And perhaps by writing it down and discussing it, living well domestically will become like second nature…

I’m looking forward to our journey!

Pictured above is the orchid in my kitchen, which has, until recently, been dormant for a year…

My Trip to Beverly Hills

B and I don't really leave Santa Monica very often but this weekend the weather was so nice we took a trip to Beverly Hills. I realize that most of my readers are not based in Los Angeles, so I took some pictures of the city to share with you...

These are the high rises on Wilshire Boulevard...





The Beverly Hills Plaza Hotel...


Ahhh... this sign always reminds me of Beverly Hills 90210 and ultiamtely, the 90's...



It was such a lovely day, we drove with the top down!


Shopping, shopping...




Love the Teuscher Café... they have delicious hot chocolate...


The Four Seasons, perfect for afternoon tea...


and lastly...

Angelenos love their dogs... here a St. Bernard and Chihuahua coexist amicably...


We had a lovely day that involved buying a ridiculously overpriced pair of trousers at Brunello Cucinelli (note to self, ask the price before walking up to the register!) and as a result had to settle for a less expensive lunch at The Cheesecake Factory- not the chicest place in the world, but it was better than Mc Donalds- which was about all we could afford after the expensive pants debacle!

I hope you had a wonderful weekend...

xo

Friday forte: the old edition

St Fillans, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

It seems to be an "age" week this week, time flies by and already it's the evening ... on Friday ..... and still no Friday forte post.
Time, time, time .... passing ..... too bloody quickly perhaps.

One of my fave bloggers, the amazing Amber, has blogged about age, aging, not feeling your age, getting older..... I've felt at least double my age because of a cold, a domestic upset and the start of Spring Break among other things.

And this week I realised that, for the first time in my life, I am now older than the actor who plays James Bond. Humph!

Time is conspiring against me?
I'm sure that as I get older there are fewer hours in the day. I never felt so rushed when I was younger, or is it now that since I am statistically closer to the event, I realise that time is marching on leaving me with less of it to accomplish what I hope to? Is time giving me a kick in the pants to get with living before It's Too Late?

Maybe I am more aware of my own mortality, something that is missing in the invincibility of youth. There is nothing more sobering than realising that middle aged is exactly what it means ie. halfway thru, and that you really should try to stick around as long as possible for the child which you postponed having until your late thirties.

Whatever, I really should start getting the message and living each day yada yada yada ..........

Sarva Soaps Review And Special Offer!

Just Had To Share

I have had sensitive skin issues throughout my life, mainly on my face, but my body has had similar complications over the past 10 years since beginning peri-menopause. I get little bumps, dry skin rashes, not to mention the itchiness which accompanies our dry air in the winter time.

Sometimes the dry skin along with intermittent rashes could get so bad it would literally wake me up during the night. I would then be forced to reach into the nightstand in the dark where I keep my trusty back scratcher and put that itch back to bed. Ahhh....nothing like a good back scratcher.

Well in keeping with always being on the look out for that holy grail for my body care for cleansing, I recently found what I believe to finally fit the bill. I discovered the most creamiest, wonderful, beautifully handmade soaps ever.

I have tried many in my day! They have been from weekend markets offered by woman who enjoy it as a hobby.....from my local coop......commercial brands, claiming to be a simple bar of soap. Appearances are deceiving and all handmade soaps are not alike, just like all mineral makeup is not alike. Many squeeze into a certain generic type with mundane recipes and ingredients making the product less than exceptional. Formulations, finished product and most importantly, how it leaves our skin feeling, are the criteria for finding ones' holy grail.

Sarva Soaps ~ My New Holy Grail

I recently became aware of Sarva Soaps during my many tweets on twitter. The owner and I were interacting with one another during the Colorado Bill on Personal Care Products that I wrote about last month and I decided to give her website a looksie.

Trust me there are many handmade soap crafters out there and choices can get very confusing, so I have done the research for you. I am quite particular about certain ingredients that need to be in my soap to get that rich, creamy lather, and to not cause my skin to dry out. Plus in some instances, others' soaps left my skin feeling like it was burning a bit, convincing me that something was out of balance in formulation. For practical purposes my soap needed to possess Shea butter, along with Olive Oil or butter, and Avocado Oil or butter. I have found other soaps that may have one or even two of these components, but Sarva Soaps provided me with all three and then some.

Not only do her soaps fit the bill for me, they are exquisitely designed in a unique artisan fashion with finishes that are equally aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Sarva Soaps are also Vegan Friendly! The rich blend of oils and butters combined with fragrant essential oils makes for a truly pleasurable showering experience. The hot shower releases the aroma from the essential oils so you are steeped in fragrant steam, while pampering your skin with pure luxury. Learn more About Sarva Soaps!

The three soaps I chose and am currently enjoying are from her Spa line:

• Miss Lily ~ Ingredients: Olive oil, coconut oil, distilled water, sodium hydroxide, castor oil, shea butter; essential oils; calendula petals; ratanjot powder, annatto seed infusion.

Babies can be a real challenge at bathtime. They don't want to go to bed, they sometimes don't like getting a bath, or they get playful and wiggly in the water, and then they get soap in their eyes. That's no fun!

So, here's a soap designed just for babies. Engineered to have a gentle, abundant, creamy lather--no big bubbles to jump up into baby's eyes out of nowhere (some soap does that, even to grownups). There is just a touch of lavender essential oil, in case bathtime is a bit tense. And, no pink or blue! Calendula-infused olive oil, along with shea butter, creates a wonderfully mild formula. All pigments are natural, so there's nothing funky and synthetic going on your little one's skin.

Oh... by the way... Miss Lily is great for grownups too!

• Ritual ~ Ingredients: Coconut oil, castor oil, olive oil, avocado oil, sweet almond oil; sea salt; distilled water; sodium hydroxide; essential oils.

Ritual is Sarva's second spa salt soap, with the same base formulation as best-selling Ocean Mist. Ritual has quickly become just as popular!

Salt soaps contain at least 50% sea salt and provide a a unique creamy, lotion-like lather. You might expect salt in a soap to be drying or scratchy, but it's neither! You have to try it to believe it. Sarva's chunky salt bars have a nice heft, and their silky slip under water makes them feel so very special to use.

In Ritual, Spanish sage (a camphorous, clean-smelling sage), cedar, orange, and peppermint combine to cleanse and purify your body, mind, and spirit. Its fresh scent feels so healing... deeply therapeutic and rejuvenating. Allow bathing to become your Ritual.

• Sweet Dreams ~ Ingredients: Olive oil, palm kernel oil, distilled water, sodium hydroxide, coconut oil, avocado oil, shea butter, castor oil, mowrah butter; essential oils; ground and whole chamomile and calendula flowers.

Mmmmmm... smells like a cup of your favorite cozy, comforting herbal tea. And so wonderful to use! Shea butter and mowrah butter create an incredibly mild bar. Essences of litsea and lavender combine with a rich chamomile infusion to produce a truly comforting and soothing floral-herbal-sweet bathing experience with just a soft hint of cheery citrus. Great for bedtime use!

They almost look good enough to eat don't they? They will truly tickle your senses!

Her shipping was very fast and it came priority mail. She also offers free shipping on orders over $50.00....I was so excited to get these soaps, I kept watching for my postman until he arrived. I ran to my mailbox and upon opening it, I was tantalized by the delectable aroma coming from inside my mailbox.

It Only Gets Better

I opened my package quickly and began to enjoy the subtle aromas from the essential oil blends that are infused within every bar of soap. The soap bars were of a generous size, in fact they were larger than most other soaps I have used. She packages them in "Green Eco Friendly" boxes and provided a small pamphlet on more about her products. She also enclosed 3 additional samples of other soaps to try and though they were made without the favorite ingredients I look for, I was pleasantly surprised at the creamy feel and moisturizing lather they too produced.

In sampling these it completely changed my perspective on certain ingredients I thought I needed, to have truly moisturized, non-irritated skin.....Okay, I'll state it....I was wrong or let's say mistaken! A truly well made bar of soap with precision of ingredients for cold process will give you exactly what your skin desires regardless of that certain ingredient I was seeking.....this is what I learned! With such a grand soap of delectable substance, the ingredients I seek are merely icing on my proverbial cake only adding to the many benefits all Sarva Soaps provide.

So you can teach and old gal new tricks!

Every soap gives a creamy, lotion like lather, each scent is individualized with every decadent bar and what I truly enjoy is, they are not too perfumey....they are earthy, subtle, aromatic, spicy, floral, citrus warm and powdery all rolled into one making these soaps even your husband and children will enjoy. Sarva Soaps prices are moderate to high end, so every household can find the soap they are looking for depending on their desire and budget.

They range from $6.50 to $9.00 remembering however that these soaps provide excellence not only in ingredients used, but a a unique artisan beauty which is pleasing to the eye, and a whimsical feeling of holding one of these amazing soaps in your hand.

The generous samples consisted of Gentle Mint, Lavender Rosemary and Purity

A Side Note:

In purchasing Ritual, I was a bit hesitant since I had tried a handmade Sea Salt Soap before and I didn't like it. It was grainy, scratchy and irritated my delicate skin. It literally felt like I was rubbing a salt block on my skin. When I read Sarvas' description of her soap I decided to give hers a try since I do like sea salt for softening my bath water and she claims hers doesn't have that scratchy feeling.....I hoped for the best!

Well I am pleased to announce this soap is outstanding. The sea salt is clearly added to perfection giving me a wonderful creamy soft, slippery feel to my skin with no abrasion at all. And the scent is to die for. When using this soap, I felt like I had died and gone to heaven.....and pretty much felt this way with all of my soap choices. Ritual, the perfect name I might add, created the ultimate in a Spa experience of aromatherapy combined with skin softening benefits.....And the design of this soap is most generous in portion size and definitely has some heft to it. Loved it!

What Makes True Soap Special

What some may not know if they are not familiar with using "real soap" is the natural by-product of glycerin they produce during the cold process of saponification of the oils and butters. It is an expensive component that is typically extracted from commercial brands and used in other skincare products to give them their skin soothing and softening benefits.

Don't be fooled by imitations.....this is one reason why so called "soaps" you buy in the grocery store are either full of chemicals or they are not quite as moisturizing, still leaving the skin tight and dry because the majority of glycerin has been removed. For more on Glycerin check out Wikipedia.

There are melt and pour soaps where the ingredients are already saponified and basically melted and poured into molds...fun at best but they also don't have the sustainability of a true freshly made from scratch, bar of natural soap.

There are also Glycerin Soaps available but these bars are very soft and will literally melt away in the shower and don't possess any of the other mild ingredients that make soap so luxurious to use.

This was the problem I ran into when trying commercial brands that claim "pure and natural" soap. It looked pure by all accounts on the label, but the lather and after feel left little doubt they no longer contained the glycerin benefit of humectant properties any longer.

Cold Process Of Saponified Oils And Butters With Sodium Hydroxide (Lye)

Now when you see this ingredient, some may take pause since we know that Lye is caustic and extreme caution is required when working with this raw ingredient. It is used in the making of cold process soaps so using the heat method is no longer necessary. It is through the chemical reaction once mixed with the oils and butters that heat is generated and the cold process begins in saponifying the oils and butters. However, once the cold process occurs and then finishes, you end up with completed bar of soap and the lye no longer remains in the soap....it is gone! The cold process using sodium hydroxide creates a very hard bar of soap compared to using potassium hydroxide which is used for creating softer or liquid soaps. To learn more about the safe use of lye check out Wikipedia.

This is another reason I am so impressed with Sarva Soaps....she lists sodium hydroxide in her ingredients (probably more as an identifier for noting the cold process) even though it is not required since it is not an ingredient that remains in the soap. You may see other labels read "saponified ingredients of" instead of listing the sodium hydroxide. She clearly possesses the talent to create the ideal bar of soap through accomplishing the task of making them extremely gentle to delicate skin types like mine. The cold process requires exact measurements of lye to oils and butters to get the creamiest lather and lasting goodness in every bar. She also cures her soap for more than 4 weeks before sale. This allows the bar to pH balance and get harder with each passing week.

She also provides a FAQ page for you to learn more about her artisan creations and is ready to answer any further questions you might have....she's the expert after all!

Special Care Of Your Soaps

A true soap bar is harder than beauty bars or glycerin bars and they provide all the benefits of gentle moisturizing cleansing without harsh synthetic ingredients or the removal of the essential glycerin.

Since natural soaps retain the glycerin you'll need to store unopened soap in a cool, dry, dark place away from humidity. This also helps preserve the natural colors and essential oils from losing their intensity and potency. So keep your bars of soap fresh until ready to change them out...if you like to change out your soaps like I do for a different showering experience, simply allow them to air dry and then store the same as unopened.

Also they will do fine staying in the shower with one caveat; make sure that you provide a soap rack allowing them to fully drain, otherwise even a truly hard bar of soap will melt and not last as long. With a bit of care, they are resilient gems of beauty treatment.


My Final Word On Sarva Soaps With A Special Offer

On a scale of 1-10 I would rate Sarva Soaps an 11. She also offers a diverse soap line from seasonal soaps like Pumpkin Pie (check it out) looks just like a slice of pumpkin pie and as of this article 10 remain in stock, and Yule (check it out) as of this article 2 remain in stock and both are currently on sale right now. Mens soaps along with practical soaps with super cleansing power for getting out that grease and dirt are also available. Check out her entire line since other choices are also on special right now.

Also their practical line of less expensive soaps are perfect for keeping at the kitchen or bathroom sink to replace all the sanitizers. Doctors have reported that using just soap and washing for 20 seconds to kill germs is ideal and better for our skin....plus natural soap will not leave your hands feeling chapped!

Join with me in supporting other enterprising Indie women in business, where ethics, integrity and love for their craft in bringing to us, the consumer, their exceptional products is of the utmost priority.

Special Offer by Sarva Soap for our Readers only: 15% off any order of $10.00 or more and they will continue this offer until 4/15/2010. At time of checkout enter the coupon code of STERLING. Please note codes are case sensitive.

Due to the richness in moisture and the natural humectant properties these soaps offer regardless of your choice, they make for great prepping of the skin for keeping it moist when using our Grecian Secret Body Souffle. Our souffle is also made from Cold Pressed Olive Butter and Olive Oil for an after shower complete body treatment.

Limited Time Offer: Special of 20% off our Grecian Secret Body Souffle while supplies last. No code necessary, already reduced within the cart.

Treat yourself to a truly skin softening luxurious experience with Sarva Soaps and our Grecian Secret Body Souffle. Remember, the body souffle is also fantastic for the face. Check it out and get yours today!

All Sarva Soaps were purchased by me and my review is based on my personal experience and my own research for a completely unbiased review!

signs of ageing

For the first time ever, I am now older than the current Bond actor (but not by much!)

Portrait of Madame Chic

Recently I received an email from Lana, a reader of The Daily Connoisseur. She wanted to know more about Madame Chic’s fashion sense and lifestyle. She had such great questions I decided to devote an entire post to the subject and have attempted to answer her questions below.

For those of you who are new to the blog, Madame Chic is the mother of the family I lived with when I was an exchange student in Paris. I could have also called her Madame Traditionelle because she had a very classic sensibility... but then, I’m getting ahead of myself...

Madame Chic’s Style

Madame Chic was a Parisian in the most traditional of senses. She was conservative and her style reflected her values gracefully. Madame Chic always wore a skirt. Always. On the coldest of winter days she would wear a skirt. The skirts would always be a-line, in tweed or wool, very sensible and slimming and hit just above the knee. She would pair a beautiful high quality sweater set with her skirts and wore minimal jewelry. In the winter months she donned a thick, wool coat, as the warmer months approached, she wore a classic trench coat.

It was not so much Madame Chic’s style that was extraordinary but the way she wore the clothes she wore. They fit her, flattered her figure and she felt comfortable and beautiful in them. Her portfolio of outfits was not overwhelming. In fact, her closet probably only held ten items. She would wear and repeat the same outfits all the time, but always looked put together... toujours. She did not change her outfit or style when hosting or attending dinner parties, but then again, her everyday clothes were a lot more formal than the average womans'.

How did she schedule her days?

Madame Chic worked part time and also did a lot of volunteer work. Her work schedule was relatively light which gave her a lot of time to take care of her family- doing the daily shopping, planning and cooking meals, cleaning the apartment (they did not have a cleaner) and preparing a lovely breakfast and delicious supper every night. Sometimes if I had time between classes to venture back home she and I would lunch together. Other days she would have girlfriends over to lunch. Madame Chic also loved chatting on the phone. She always got up before Monsieur Chic at the early hour of 5:30am. After the two of them breakfasted together and after my breakfast was served (a considerable time later), Madame Chic would chat on the phone to friends for twenty minutes to an hour each day.

What did she read and listen to?

I am not sure what Madame Chic read for pleasure. There was not a bookcase in the main part of the house. I did not see her reading during the day so if she read, it was in the evening, probably before bed.

The family did listen to music every evening. They had a vintage record player and after dinner every night (like clockwork) they would put on a record of classical music and sit and listen to it while the men smoked cigarettes. Other than the playing of classical music every evening, Madame Chic did not listen to any music during the day, save for a morning radio show that she promptly turned off as soon as I walked into the kitchen for breakfast.

Thank you Lana for your questions. I love getting questions from readers… If you have questions about any of the subjects I write about, please leave them in the comment section or email me and I will do my best to answer them!

Pictured above is my trench coat by A.P.C.– a classic Parisian wardrobe staple (inspired by Madame Chic) and one that I readily invested in after living in Paris...

Friday forte: so what now?

So what now? What does all this "friday forte" stuff really mean?
This is not a cry for help or for commiseration.
It's not seeking sympathy or pointing accusing fingers (though I really do rant on a lot about it).
It's not begging for solutions though I love your comments. They are thoughtful and insightful and supportive. Although no one can tell me what to do, the mere fact that you are dropping by to leave your mark is a great boost to me. Thank you.
No, this is me choosing to publicly (well as publicly as you can get with a blog readership of 28) describe what I'm going through right now. These posts are what is happening inside my head as I try to justify and make sense of the way I feel right now at this point in my life. It's not pretty and it's quite scrappy; to be completely honest I would rather not be having to do this.
Simply put, I am trying to move thru all of this emotional and other baggage to get out on the other side. I'm trying to discover how I should make my way thru the rest of my life, with enthusiasm and passion and confidence abounding to pass onto the Wee Guy. It's something I really do need to work out for myself - I've done it before, possibly more painfully, and arrived on a good path to take ... and it's been all my own work ..... which I've been more at ease with eventually than with someone else's solution. Where do I go now?
One of the most influential books in my life has been Dale Carnegie's How to Stop Worrying and Start Living which I got my hands on (and no doubt extra worries) when my husband moved in with his vast eclectic library of self help books (ranging from writing a resume to the tao of sex!). The main thing I learned from Dale was that I should name and prioritise my worries before facing them. It still works for me hence the blogging about it.
So far I've faced and 'beaten down' image (new hairstyle, and revamped wardrobe), adding a little spring in my step. I've tackled what I need to do every day by timetabling/prioritising, and tried to paste in a little 'me' time once in a while. Following some seriously depressing online counseling I've made more effort to widen my circle; as an avowed hermit this is not easy. I've stepped up the exercise. I've also identified what was stopping me in my tracks and boosted my babysitting options. My home business is benefiting.
Spring is bursting in on the scene and with all that I've achieved so far, I'm feeling very optimistic. On reflection and in hindsight, maybe I should have planned the motherhood thing and mid life crisis not to happen at exactly the same time, but with efficiency I can knock two birds on the head at once! Still on the drawing board are the biggies; career/employment/further education, business planning for pomo mama design, family life/relationships/parenting (an ongoing work of art!), my dreams. Stay tuned!

forte!
More Friday forte posts here

Spring Clean Our Makeup Drawers And Skincare Cabinets

Roll Up Those Sleeves And Bring The Garbage Pail

Now is as good a time as any to take a peek into our treasure trove of dated cosmetics, skincare and personal care products and get busy sorting out what is old, what we don't use anymore, and well...what we thought looked good on us in the store, turns out to be quite different once we get it home. We hang onto it in the hope that at some point it will perhaps magically change and look better after some time passes.

What we seem to lose sight of is that makeup and personal care products cannot hang around our bathrooms indefinitely. There are environmental factors which play a huge role in how long our products are still good, let alone safe to use. Yep....and even mineral makeup has a shelf life to a degree!

If you are like me, I hate to waste anything. But the reality is, despite what we may have spent on something, thinking we'll use it up later is not always practical and may cause harm to our bodies. This usually happens when we find the latest and most fantastic makeup, lipstick, eye shadow, shampoo and conditioner (I'm famous for hoarding these), facial care, anti-perspirant, body lotion and any other personal care product.

So with Spring just around the corner, let's get busy tossing out products that have been buried deep in the dark recesses of our cabinets and drawers.

Time Factors For Safe Use And Efficacy

Now remember variables in these factors will be based on preserved, naturally preserved and preservative free products.

• Liquid Makeup ~ Preserved Unopened..... 1-2 yrs. Once opened use it up within 4 months. Naturally preserved, unopened.....6 months. Once opened..... 30 days, and Non-preserved unopened.... 2 weeks tops. Opened.... 1 week. Most liquid foundations typically have a water component.
  

If your liquid foundation is a pump bottle you can use it longer extending it to an extra month or two depending on preservative formulation.

• Mineral Makeup Loose ~ Preserved, Naturally preserved and Non-preserved, unopened.... indefinite. Opened, all loose mineral powders.... 2 years tops.

Caveat....not because of anything growing or spoilage of your minerals, but due to efficacy. Mineral Makeup will begin to oxidize and degrade over time especially when left on the counter. Light and air is this products' enemy. Iron Oxides fade and change color when exposed to oxygen and light giving your once perfect shade an odd color to your skin tone. Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide will also lose potency for sun protection due to oxidation. Despite what advertisers tell you, powders don't last forever!

Our Raw ingredients and batched colors are all stored in a cool, dark, humidity controlled facility in airtight containers for optimum freshness and efficacy.

• Pressed Powders of all types including eye shadows ~ Preserved, Naturally preserved and Non-preserved unopened....same as for loose powders. Opened, all formulations within 1-3 months.

Same rules apply as above but with another caveat....skin debris, body oils, skin cream residue, germs, bacteria and viruses can build up and live on this type of surface and the pressed powder quickly becomes a filthy makeup pot. All future uses are less than sanitary.

• Lipsticks ~ Preserved, Naturally preserved and Non-preserved unopened.....1 year. As a rule due to the formulations, lipsticks can dry out and become more brittle. Those comprised with silicone oils may last longer. Opened, all formulas....4-9 months.

Lipsticks can be extended and salvaged if used during a cold sore outbreak by dipping in alcohol and allowing to dry.

• Tubed and Potted Lip Colors ~ Preserved, Naturally preserved and Non-preserved unopened.....1 year. Once opened.... 3-6 months. No water formulation is typical.
  

Forcing air and moisture into a tube causes rapid breakdown of the oils and butters plus contamination from a cold sore or other bacteria. Bacteria and mold can take hold in this environment once any trace moisture has entered into the tube. Always make sure you apply to dry lips. For best results apply over the top of a layer of mineral foundation.

• Lip and Eye Pencils ~ Preserved, Naturally Preserved and Non-preserved unopened.....2 years. Once opened all formulas.....1 year.

Pencils are unique in that, once sharpened repeatedly, this exposes a fresh clean surface of application. The only reason for shelf life really is due to the waxes being used...over time they will become rancid and harden.

• Mascara ~ Preserved, unopened....2 years. Once opened..... 2-3 months tops. Naturally preserved and Non-preserved are not an option. Avoid these at all costs.

When dealing with our eyes, mascara requires preservative to kill bacteria and viruses. On occasion we can poke our eyes with the wand which in turn can cause an infection...pink eye is spread through use of contaminated mascaras. Air and moisture forced into the tube repeatedly promotes rapid degradation of the product. Without a preservative system these little tubes of beauty can go as far as to cause blindness under the right circumstances. If you should hang onto your precious tube of mascara up to 4 months, you'll notice it is getting thicker and clumpier. This is a sign that the product is degrading and should be discarded regardless of still having product in the tube. They are not designed to use until it is all gone.....never, ever add water to the tube to extend the mascara.

C'mon ladies...toss it already! Besides, this allows you to go try the next new mascara that hits the store shelves.

• Body, Face Scrubs, Washes, Lotions and Creams in a jar with water or distillates added ~ Preserved, unopened....2 years. Once opened.....4 months. Naturally preserved, unopened....6 months. Once opened.....30 days. Non-preserved, unopened....1 week. Once opened.....1 week tops with refrigeration. Water is the medium to begin bacterial and mold growth so if the company professes made all natural and is preservative free, consider the product suspect.
  

If you have purchased these without water or distillates and it is comprised of all butters and oils then shelf life is considerably longer.

Caveat.....Naturally preserved and Non-preserved will not provide protection once opened despite this factor. Moist hands, humidity in a bathroom or light exposure sitting on top of the counter will cause these products to produce bacteria and mold growth at a rapid rate. Butters and oils possess natural humectant properties attracting moisture from the air to the product every time you open the jar....ever see droplets dancing on the inside lid of your jar? This is due to the humectants! With preserved products, remember to wipe out periodically to keep the inside of the jar as dry as possible to extend shelf life.

• Body, Face Scrubs, Lotions and Creams in squeeze bottles, tubes or pumps with water or distillates added ~ Preserved, unopened....2 years. Once opened..... 1 year. Naturally preserved, unopened....6 months. Once opened.....1 month. Non-preserved, unopened....1 week. Once opened.....maybe 1 week tops and if you refrigerate. Same as above in the jar, water is the problem with bacterial and mold growth.
  

Products in tubes, squeeze bottles and pumps with no water or distillates will have considerably longer shelf life unopened.

Caveat....much longer than a year however, you are dealing with the probability of rancidity and loss of efficacy. Once opened...same as above for Preserved. Naturally preserved, opened...2-3 months. Non-preserved, opened.....1 month with refrigeration.

• Shampoos and Conditioners usually in tubes and squeeze bottles without water~ Preserved, unopened....2 years. Once opened..... 1 year. Naturally preserved, unopened....1 year. Once opened.....2 months. Non-preserved, unopened....1-2 months. Once opened.....maybe 2 weeks tops and if you refrigerate. With water the same rules apply as above, plus humidity from the shower will prove to be a contaminating factor. What we may not realize is when we release the pressure from squeezing out our product, we then suck back into the tube or bottle humid air from our shower.....now the product is in the beginning stages of bacterial growth or mold.
  


• Anti-perspirant ~ Preserved, unopened....2 years. Once opened..... 4 months. Naturally preserved, unopened....1 year. Once opened.....1 month. Non-preserved except for crystals are pretty much done after a couple of weeks.

To extend any anti-perspirant, store in your drawer and always apply to a clean underarm. Toss it if you don't use it within these time frames...typically they will dry out or get runny and this occurs when the added skin moisturizers separate from the active ingredients....I have had this happen to me on many occasions when it is only 2 months old or I start to get down to the last of the roll up.

Same Time Next Year

Every Spring is a great time to begin this adventure, just like changing out our smoke detector batteries. Make it part of the annual ritual to discard products that are gathering dust or have been exiled to the back of the makeup drawer or cabinet.

Remember, the list above are guidelines, and variables occur based on storage, care and handling, dry versus wet climates, heat versus cold. But a great rule of thumb is......When in doubt, throw it out!

Also, unless it is mineral makeup, don't stock up on products that go on sale...as tempting at this is, you have to take into account unopened shelf life. Having your favorite makeup, lipstick, skin cream or shampoo sit in your bathroom because you bought a years supply, this product is already compromised by the time you open it....just a wrinkle for you to iron out in a thought process we are all used to when shopping for personal care products.

Have a great weekend everyone and enjoy the Spring sunshine. Personally, I am looking forward to getting out into my garden and taking trips to the nursery to get it ready for bloom and growth....tidying up the yard is great exercise and begins the process of endorphins flowing with the sun shining. Plus, flowers simply make me smile.....A lot!

Cheers!

Update: On Why We Are All Sisyphus

I recently did a post On Why We Are All Sisyphus, where I continued the discussion from Alexander McCall Smith’s book, The Lost Art of Gratitude, about the sad, repetitive nature of certain cyclical tasks. Many of you responded and told me reasons why you are like Sisyphus. I loved your answers… there was talk of blow drying hair, making beds and even mother-in-laws!

I have tried to take my own advice from this post (you know… treat each dreaded task as a meditation, not wishing I was doing something better, etc.) and I have to say it has paid off significantly…

Primarily, I have noticed that my house is a lot tidier. When the mood strikes me, I love to clean, but this elusive mood does not strike every day. In fact, I generally dread the small tasks- such as cleaning the kitchen every night, sweeping the floor, the constant flow of laundry, etc.

Normally, in the kitchen, for example, after a late night if there are a few dishes left in the sink or some crumbs on the counter top I leave them there because I cannot think of anything more dreadful in that moment than cleaning them up...

The trouble is, when I wake up, and sleepily wander into the kitchen the next morning, I still can’t think of anything more dreadful than clearing it all up!

So this past week I have completely cleaned the kitchen every single night. It does not take more than 5 to 10 minutes. Instead of wishing that I was in bed or reading a book I have treated the cleaning of the kitchen as a meditation. I even hum while doing it! And in the morning it feels glorious to walk into a spotless, serene space.

And now… it’s time for the laundry…

I would love to know... how have you been approaching you Sisyphean tasks lately?


Sisyphus by Peter Vinton is pictured above

Peter Vinton's artist website can be found at http://www.petervintonjr.com

How

I'm not really sure ...... but here's a typical day with the crafting (and business side of crafting) slotted in.

• Wake up - if this is a good day there will be basket of laundry ready to fling in the machine before breakfast
• Wake up the Wee Guy (on a good day he'll already be awake, and might even had breakfast)
• Breakfast prep - includes feeding the Wee Guy and packing school lunch/snack, corralling school items and gently (or not so gently) reminding Wee Guy he needs to eat all his breakfast up pronto.
• Breakfast (for me) - includes dealing with emails, catching up on The Archers podcast and drinking coffee
• School - on a good day I'll get the laundry in the dryer before heading off on the school run, on a bad day success is getting out of the front door with clothing appropriate to the season (him and me)
• Laundry - might be done, might not even be assembled!
• Emails and internet stuff - with focus and discipline I can finish before 9.30am ...... nuff said!
• Crafting project ........ damn, there goes the washer/dryer/guinea pigs to feed
• Phone calls - screened thru voicemail (sorry, but sometimes I feel like being a real hermit)
• Computer on frizz/camera battery dead/website not behaving - damn
• Several hours later - back to crafting project (if I'm lucky and there's no grocery shopping, minor emergency housework which cannot be put off, or school volunteering)
• Laundry most likely, creased and forgotten in dryer - shake and fold.
• Meal plan - what am I going to feed the hordes this evening?
• School pickup comes waaaaaay too soon.
• End of day aka start of domestic stuff
• Too tired to finish off abandoned project in evening - bath/tv/mindless internet surfing which requires no conscious thought process/bed
  

fountain of youth part II

fountain of youth part II, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

So just how to fit the handcrafting in, around and in spite of the family?
Well, the answer is location ... location, location, location .......and a recent snowfall.
The boys, with cross country ski passes for Cypress burning holes in their pockets, took very little persuading to leave the house together this Saturday.
Childcare - check!
Leaving me peace and quiet to get some housework done ..... pardon?
Not a chance! I was 'oot the door' off to the local Swaporamarama meet up at Douglas College in Coquitlam.
What an absolute blast! - tables of sewing machines (thanks to Sundrop Textiles who were a major sponsor of the event), embroidery by hand and by machine, screen printing (sponsored by Yudu), overlocking/serging services (from PoCo Sewing Machine and Vacuum Ltd) and tables of clothes just begging to be upcycled into fabulous!
The event was in full swing when I arrived (late, thanks Translink). I picked a T shirt and some fabric scraps then tackled a modern sewing machine (my current at-home model is about 25 years young).
Ten minutes later; sewing machine 1, human nil.
Luckily help was at hand for the threading up and installing the bobbin (totally defeated me and I know how to machine sew!). Once all my loopy threads were corrected I settled down to make flower ruffles for the neckline of the simple green T shirt.
It was great fun!
There is something truly relaxing but inspiring sitting crafting away from the home. For one thing, there's no housework or dirty corners giving you the evil eye. For another, the company was truly inspiring. Entire garments were being stripped down, refashioned, re-assembled and joined with other elements. Simple jersey became funky fashion pieces, skirts became jackets and plain fabric embellished with paint. Awesome!
After stitching yards of ruffle I joined the hand embroidery table to stitch my creations. To my right a pair of flannel PJ trousers had their snowflakes embellished while the embroiderer talked about her sister's doll making. Krista, running a smooth and quirky embroidery table, talked about combining creating with a science background. Students dropped by to ask questions.
Eventually my T shirt was done, photographed and clean up commenced ...... and I was ready in time for the boys to give me a ride back on their way home from skiing.
Yay location!

Friday forte! the frugal edition

new beret, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

Despite the new ravishable hairstyle and self-propelled makeover I'm still obsessing majorly over my complete lack of status in this modern materialistic world of ours, where net worth is based around the size of the pay cheque. Do I really contribute nada to the family income?

Let's take a little look .....

According to Raj Patel's book, "The Value of Nothing" the unpaid work in the world amounts to the grand total of 16 trillion dollars in unpaid salary cheques! It will come as no surprise that this massive effort is mostly bankrolled by women who are not paid for the bulk of childcare, reproduction, homemaking and civic work which makes the world go round. How do I contribute?

I am neither a starfleet commander nor clever with extreme financial politics but I do know how much it would cost, on a very basic level, to replace me in the home.
In other words, how much does my frugal-ness contribute to the family income by leaving the cash in the bank (and we're being very frugal here right now ever since our spanking brilliant new floor was installed, thus eating up some of our savings)? It's an exercise I've run thru in my head ever since my father-in-law asked the dreaded question, "So what are you doing with your time these days, Amanda?" regarding my new immigrant-ish just followed the spouse on HIS relocation unemployed status.

Well, I am a SAHM (say it loud, say it proud cos no one else has a fucking clue). In translation I am never far from the homestead if my family needs me. Thus I take care of the childcare (five afternoons of after school care at $150 per week, lordy knows how much at the weekend), the housework (I'm guessing at $100 per visit every two weeks) and a full home-cooked meal service (priceless apparently from the looks on faces at the dining table most evenings) usually from scratch.

So far I've "saved" about $800 CAD per month.

I also do all the grocery shopping in person (no delivery service though I have used one when I was too sick to move). I ferry the Wee Guy to his piano, swimming and skating lessons. I pay our bills and deal with household admin myself.

I maintain our major investment ie. our house, trying to keep it looking good to realise its maximum re-sale potential. This week I stripped down, olied and replaced the sticky lock on our front door, thus saving the pricey visit from a locksmith when we got locked out.

I clip coupons for our necessities and shop around for AirMiles deals (saved approximately $15 this month alone). I scuttle around our banking accounts to pay off credit card bills promptly without incurring interest (you would not believe the amounts of interest we were paying during the brief financial holiday I took leaving my DH in sole charge - turns pale at the memory). I source stuff we need from thrift stores and Freecycle. I don't heat the house when it's just me at home. I mend. I make. I improvise. In short I am frugal with the money I don't earn.

But what do I cost my family to have me with them? Well, I get a haircut every 6-8 weeks ($55), and I need clothes every so often (thrift or Value Village mostly). I eat (not too much) and I like chocolate (in moderation) and I need a roof over my head. Wine is nice sometimes, I have no expensive eating out habits (since that comes from the household budget and is thus subject to my frugal-ness). I drive the car but then again, I save on taxi fares. I don't haunt the spa and wait a minute! my craft business pays for all my treats, gifts and sundries anyway.

By my extremely conservative estimates I am at least stopping an extra $1000 CAD from leaving the family coffers each month and in return I am 'paid' my board and lodgings. So should my annual salary be $12000 CAD or the $135,519 I calculated on that old chestnut, the Mom Salary Wizard?

Heck, I contribute majorly! (and I'm proud)....

PS: BTW, I don't think my husband is anymore paid for being a dad going out to earn the family's bread and butter than I am for being a SAHM, it's just that his name is on the pay cheque and he doesn't get the vacant looks when asked by a salaried member of the human race what he does. IMHO (ok not so humble, more rant-y) we both should be paid an allowance from the household income for what we do to support the family.

More Friday Forte posts here

the secret of youth

SPT with fascinator, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

Fans - I have discovered the secret to eternal youth, or at least a rapid fix for wrinkles ..... and I'm willing to share it with you without recourse to Facebook spam ads or shady pleas for cash.

Over exposure.

Over expose the heck out of your self portraits.
Works every time (also bleaches out age spots, freckles, pimples, ...)

PS: the fascinator shown in the pic is not yet finished, I'm still playing around with the placement of the wire crochet stars. Eventually I will be satisfied and wire them on securely. I'll be selling them at the Blim Community Market, Sunday March 28th in Heritage Hall, Vancouver.

Walking- Comme les Français

This week Gatsby and I went on a seaside walk with Madame Sportif. We had arranged the walk a week in advance and I knocked on her door at the appointed time. I was wearing my usual walking gear: beige sweatpants by Lucky Brand, tan tank top, hoodie and Adidas tennis shoes. You know… active wear.

So when Madame Sportif opened her door and looked as though she were going to take a stroll on the Champs-Élysées for an afternoon of leisurely shopping, I panicked. She was actually wearing the same thing she wore when we cooked lunch together three weeks ago- nice black capris, a pretty cotton blouse and a beautifully knit fishnet-esque sweater (Remember, the French are not obsessed with being caught in the same outfit twice. They simply do not care). She was also wearing pretty dark brown sandals with a leather flower embroidered on them. We eyed each other anxiously for a brief moment. I looked down with chagrin at my cream colored hoodie that read “Tokyo” on the front. Was I underdressed for our walk? The two of us walking together would be comical- like a high society woman and a hobo taking a stroll! I wanted to change, but it was too late…

“I should put on some walking shoes!” Madame Sportif said and quickly changed into chic little ballet flat cum tennis shoes. She carried with her a Longchamp backpack and sunglasses and we were out the door.

This little exchange reminded me of the vast differences between our cultures. When Americans exercise they get kitted out in tennis shoes, sweat pants, visors (not me, but you know, some people do) and all other sorts of gear to suggest that they are exercising. The French? Non, pas de tout. They incorporate exercise into their every day lives so they do not need to differentiate with their outfits. And they would rather be seen wearing their beautiful day clothes than work it out in comfortable exercise gear.

After I got over the initial shock of the vast difference in our attire, we had a lovely walk. Madame Sportif, Gatsby and I walked for nearly an hour and a half, down to the beach, up the Palisades Park and through the beautiful houses back to our neighborhood. The entire time we spoke French and I was terribly proud of myself for being able to hold up my end of the conversation...

We talked about art and films, cooking, baby names and various other subjects and had a wonderful time. When the walk was over we said we must do this again.

Now will I be Walking, Comme les Français in the future by wearing day clothes rather than active wear? Peut-être, peut-être pas … but it is food for thought…

Pictured above is my beloved Tokyo 'hoodie' by Lucky Brand Jeans... not the chicest of walking clothes, but it is awfully comfortable...

Sharing Mineral Makeup Stories...How About You?

Hi Everyone,

These past several weeks have been extremely hectic to say the least, not only having to make sure business runs as usual, but to also be involved in supporting my fellow skincare and cosmetic manufacturers in our efforts to quash the Colorado Safe Personal Care Products Act.

In doing this and maintaining the status quo, I have exhausted all brain cells. So this week I have decided to take a wee break and stop and smell the roses, and as such, today's article is simple and allows for my customers to express themselves.

Thanks to everyone who writes in to me and shows support for what I do and to those that let us know how well their skin is doing since using our Skincare products and Mineral Cosmetics.

If you have a story to share, feel free to comment here or send us an email for future publication. The following stories are listed from the most recent.

Thanks and until next week, leaving you with positive thoughts and a special picked rose for each and every one of you.

This most recent email I received in response to last weeks article: If you can't see the lovely roses due to rss feed, simply click on the title of article to go directly to blog.


Congratulations!

I have only been using your products a month now and I should have taken photos prior to me using your makeup. I have rosacea (age 53) - so for YEARS and yes, I mean YEARS have never had a foundation that did not add to my breakouts. I was relieved to be able to purchase a sample because skepticism always creeps in along with not wanting to have to pay out money for something that doesn't do what the product says it does. The first day I put it on my face - I DID NOT ITCH or BREAKOUT. I almost felt it to be too good to be true.I wear the Evening Rose Veil underneath and then the foundation on top. Everyone who knows me has commented on how GREAT my face looks.I personally would like to "THANK YOU" for your diligent work and I would gladly and willingly at anytime stand up for you and what you do.

Sincerely,

Dagmar R.
Houston, TX


Hi Katherine,

First,I'd like to say thanks for such a great product. I'm new to the world of mineral makeup and yours is the second I've tried. I think it will be my last! My first experience was not a bad one, but there seemed to be something missing. So, I ordered some of your samples and Wow! what a difference. Just looking at the minerals I could tell it was superior to the other brand I tried. It was light and fluffy with no clumping. It kept getting better upon application. It was so smooth and silky on my face. And the coverage lasted much longer as well. Love the Evening Rose Mineral Veil too! My skin feels beautiful when I wake. It's soft and supple instead of slick and slippery with oil. My skin is well on it's way to looking and feeling much better. Add the fact that even though the other company was located in my state, your order shipped days faster and arrived in less time. I'm looking forward to many years of product love! Thanks again!!

Elena L
Dallas, TX


Hi Katherine and Customer Care,

I received the products today and am so excited to try them as soon as I can. I even showed it to my workmate here so she will get envious! (just kidding, she loves using mineral make-ups too and I find that she is always reliant from my reviews and advices before she purchase anything as long it regards to mineral make-up). Every time I have a new product that I am sampling, I always share it to her so she could feel and see the difference of different products then switch to the one that her skin and she will like.

When she was in Hawaii few months ago, she saw BareMinerals everywhere at a much cheaper price (we find that some American brands, once it hit Australia, they become too expensive even though they are not as expensive in the US). But she remembered that I don't recommend this brand at all so the cheap price did not tempt her to buy one, her sister though got one for herself. My friend told me that her mom tried the BareMinerals foundation and she had a bad reaction on her skin.

Thank you also for the eyeshadow samples that you gave, they are beautiful shades since I am of Southeast Asian decent.

Every Friday (in Sydney), I always look forward to receive an email from your company in the media zone. I love reading Katherine's very informative and helpful blogs.

Wish you all the best and have a lovely day.

Eimee A
New South Wales, Australia


Hi Katherine

Thank you. I love your foundation! BareMinerals always made me look like I had a mask on and my face was going to crack. Your finish just looks flawless and doesn't "settle in" to lines. Plus I think they use parabens.

The Hannah color is perfect for my skin tone---I have a hard time finding the right one but this one is exactly right!!

Thanks for your help,

Kristi R
Tiverton, RI


Hi Katherine,

I just wanted to say how much I love your products!!!! I've been using mineral makeup for years. I have sensitive, acne-prone skin that is now beginning to age, so the products I had been using were no longer doing the job.

I spent a couple of hundred dollars on another very famous line of mineral makeup and had terrible results immediately. My skin not only broke out, but it became irritated, inflamed and just terrible looking.

So, I did a Google search and found your company. I've tried several samples of foundation, blush, etc. I absolutely love them all! In fact I've finally found *the* foundation colors for me!!! And I found a shade of blush that wasn't too pale or too clownish.

Not only that, but the minerals sit beautifully on my skin, don't irritate, and don't cause breakouts. My skin is absolutely glowing once again and I have more confidence than I've had in a long while.

Thank you for making such wonderful products! You've got a customer for life!

Sincerely,

Denise B
Williamsville, NY


Hi Katherine,

I'm sure you get many emails and comments about your wonderful company and product, but here is another one! Thank you, thank you for your makeup line. I've ordered 2 sample orders and just recently purchased the big foundation (hoping to make more purchases in coming months as budget allows). I have suffered from candida induced acne for the past year almost and it has weighed me down in my personal life. I spent all summer buying and trying foundation after foundation that didn't break me out on top of my candida issue and yours is the only one that fit the bill! As my acne is finally improving, I still have cheeks full of scars that your product covers up beautifully without making things worse in my skin.

I have a blog series that I write to recommend products to my readers that I find. I posted one about Sterling Minerals today and wanted to let you know :-)

Leah O
Waxhaw, NC

OMOMMA Writes Blog: Sterling Minerals Review

Cheers and wishing everyone a sunny and warm weekend.....here's hopin'! And remember take a moment for yourself and I hope you all will also stop and smell the roses.

wordless wednesday: revealed

coiffure, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.