(almost a) what i learned in may (post)

portrait by the Wee Guy on our day out

So, May 2010. What did I learn?
Well, I took a week off work and suprisingly, it wasn't all about shoes though they did figure large in in my end-of-week summary!
So what did I learn?
Well, I learned that I have to schedule my time off and be firm with boundaries. It's a nebulous enough existence being the at-home parent so it's so easy to just drift .... a little sock needs picking up here, oh and 'I'll just prep these for tonight' there or 'while I'm in the mall I might as well look for x, y, z for the family too'. Boundaries!
I learned that there are certain things that cannot be abandoned, like childcare, parenting and matters of hygiene around the house!
I also learned that I needed to write a list of what I wanted to do with my leisure time and that this list did in fact work out OK.
I learned that I can have fun on a small budget, and that daily treats needn't be big, huge, lavish occasions. Small treat moments have the same impact. The important thing is to learn what these treats are and reward yourself regularly! V motivational.
I learned that not everyone has the ability to reward themselves with time off even though it's there right under their noses.


ahh relaxation!

Since my week off I've been back into the swing of things fulltime. The housework was there waiting for me when I 'returned', my craft business was still on the go, and volunteer duties needed to be filled. I've carried over some of that wonderful 'vacation' feeling into regular life by getting out and about every day rather than sitting cooped up (which is the main problem with an 'out of the home' worklife) so the Wee Guy and I have managed to fill his playdate void with some cool trips/activities. Taking some 'time off' has also let me focus on the bigger picture - I had headspace to ask (and answer) some tricky questions, and also to develop some streamlining techniques for 'in real life'.

I've looked more into what I value most, what I like/dislike about life right now, and where do I want to go. I've also faced the egocentricity of what I'm doing/thinking, realising that in fact everything I do/have done is in, around and in spite of the family anyway. Decisions made for me, myself, I are taken in total consideration of the Wee Guy anyway.

"We give our children life.  How, then, can we expect to keep our own intact afterward?  But we do.  We haven't yet recognized our new position in the natural order of things, and we keep trying to return to where we were before.  At first, out of innocence:  let me get back my looks.  let me get back my energy.  let me get back into the swing of things.  Then with ferocious will:  Let me get back into my life!" - Momma Zen by Karen Maezen Miller

"I find that there are many gifts in this space of quiet pausing between who I was, and who I will become." - Buddhism for Mothers, Joanne


"A mother best serves her child who serves herself." - Buddha  


with thanks to Mama Renew for the quotes above
 

Spirit Square in Coquitlam

"starfruit limeburst": wire and fibre flower brooch


If anyone local is looking for a fun night out in Coquitlam take note! The City is formally opening its very own Spirit Square on Thursday, 3rd June with festivities taking place between 5.30pm and 7.30pm.
Planned events include entertainments in a summer festival atmosphere and an artisan craft market showcasing local talent is planned.


er ... that's where I come in .... and I'd love some company under my tent. I'll have my wares out on show and plan to be finishing off some projects.
So if you'd like to see how it's all done or just want to see the fingers behind the crochet hook - come on down!


Come on down to here!

French Beauty Secrets- Madame Sportif

It is very hard to casually ask for beauty advice when you are first getting to know someone- especially if you are speaking French- but this is what I attempted to do during my last cooking lesson with Madame Sportif.

Admittedly I was a bit shy... I’m not really one to ask personal questions- for example, I rarely ask what people ‘do for a living’. (I just found out that one of my neighbors- who I have had numerous conversations with while walking our dogs over the past four years- is a real estate agent. I never knew! I suppose I’m not that interested in peoples’ occupations because not knowing makes them more mysterious... but that is another post and now I am veering terribly off subject.)

I did figure that flattery does get you everywhere and if someone were to ask me my beauty secrets, I would probably be quite flattered. So while Madame Sportif did not divulge as much information as I would have liked she did say the following...

French women take good care of their overall physique- physically and aesthetically. She said that they frequent beauty salons for waxing and skincare. (Madame Sportif has beautiful skin- not a blemish, wrinkle or sunspot to be found... and the other day while I was closing one of my windows I did see her laying out in the sun on her balcony, so I know that they do not have sun phobias like we do over here).

She said French women like to think about what colors look good on them and coordinate their outfits accordingly (not matchy- matchy, but with colors that ‘go’ together). When we are together she is usually wearing a ‘theme’ of colors. For example variations on taupe, or for our luncheon black and pink.

Madame Sportif loves to add coordinating accessories to keep her look polished. She will pick earrings that ‘go’ with her outfit and has a watch with interchangeable straps so the watch will never clash. (For our last lunch, her watch strap was baby pink croc- very cute).

And that was it... for now. She seemed amused by my questions, but was happy to answer them.

On a side note, I noticed that Madame Sportif utilizes le no makeup look on a daily basis. I can tell that she is wearing mascara and other than that she really looks as though she doesn’t wear makeup (but I know that she must!- her skin looks too flawless and her cheeks have a rosy color that must be due to blush).

I will try and extract more French beauty secrets during our next cooking session… à bientôt! xx

friday forte: little words and short sentences

family portrait by the Wee Guy


.... were all that were needed.
I was berating myself for going off at the deep end over being let down over some childcare arrangements, being annoyed with myself for reacting so badly when in fact it was such a small matter. I felt I should be coping with more grace but in fact, I was deeply hurt. It was The End of The World!


When I had finished being annoyed with myself my husband paused, then filled in a silence, saying, "But for you it was the last straw which broke the camel's back."


That little sentence, those few words ... and I realised he had been listening and had understood what I was saying.
Thank you.

Apple Cider Vinegar Acne Cure Move Over Apple AcneApps Is Here

In the past I used to wake up in the morning with the fear of going to the mirror and discovering a new pimple. Today, while my acne is under control for the most part, I wake up and discover some new development in technology has just set me back two steps even though I gained a step yesterday. If you are confused let me try to explain.

When I was young, if apples and acne were mentioned in the same breath, it would have immediately brought to mind an image of the apple cider vinegar bottle that was the main ingredient in my number one treatment for bacne. Unfortunately, vinegar having the acidic content that it does, made it too harsh for my facial acne. Oh, sure I could have diluted it with water down to a 9 to 1 solution but at that cut it was just ineffective for me.

As I got a bit older and began to understand that my acne is really the result of an imbalance that is taking place within my body. I started to learn what foods to avoid and more importantly those foods that were beneficial in my acne fight. The lowly apple came to my attention for its content of vitamins and minerals and especially the natural antioxidants that are packed in its peel.

Then the other day, I stumble upon an NYT article that professes a new apple acne cure in the form an Apple i Phone app. That's right, you heard me. No need to continue popping pimples or spending tons of cash for some over the counter acne treatment. For $1.99 you can get rid of your acne while talking on the phone. According to the AcneApp description you can use the antibacterial blue light and or the anti-inflammatory red light to cure your acne. Of course not everyone is jumping on the bandwagon, according to Dr. Alexiades-Armenakas "In studies we've done, data has shown that both blue and red light have a low efficacy range in acne treatment," I tend to agree, but as always will keep an open mind and would love to hear your comments on Apple's AcneApps.

It's Thursday and I'm a failure :(

kulan bottom, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

It's Thursday.
It's SPT day (I'll get round to taking and posting my portrait later - I'll be the one posing with the Gordons).
It has now been over three weeks since the Wee Guy had a playdate with one of his peers ..... and I haven't been able to arrange another one since then.
This is a major crisis in his life, and a depressing failure in mine since I am his de facto social secretary as he cannot drive, operate a telephone (for social reasons) or go out alone.
It's a heavy burden (and a loss of some valuable after-schoolcare resources).
He has some great younger playdates with whom he has awesome and spontaneous times (waves to O and X, waves to O and X's mums - you rock BTW!) but he also needs to interact with children his own age .... and that's where my sense of failure comes in.


yes, we even went to a shoe exhibition together

He and I have had some great excursions by ourselves, we can be good companions and will find something of interest for each of us to share. He needs the rough and tumble of social cues, the admiration and scorn of those his own age, and the ability to reach group decisions by discussion rather than by age advantage.
However, arranging these peer playdates means mum-to-mum interaction and his mum is failing big time. I may be old fashioned but this social secretary thing is supposed to be reciprocal, right? I arrange one play date then you get back to me with an invite? Well sister, it's not happening. What is it all about now he's of school-age - do I just give up - which is the in-crowd I should belong to so my child has friends to play with? I do wish someone would tell me.
I never felt a pressing need to be in the right crowd when I was at school but now I'm feeling the pressure to keep in there for my son. Whoa!
So I am a failure not for myself, but for the Wee Guy.
And this is making me sad.

What Are Micronized Minerals In Mineral Makeup?

Some Confusion Clarified

Micronized minerals have been the buzz word for advising consumers who purchase mineral makeup products, to avoid these at all costs to prevent the health issues that may be associated with them.

Then on the other side of the coin non-micronized minerals have been the descriptive for informing the consumer that these are safer and are non-penetrable to skin and lungs.

The actual truth of it is and to clarify, is that all mineral makeup is micronized in order for it to flow nicely and apply with perfection onto the skin without a heavy made up look.

Perhaps some of you may also be seeing the new buzz word of "micro-formulated minerals." This is surely another great way to describe the makeup, but again it gives the connotation of teeny tiny particles, which may cause undue concern. It's in the name "micro" which is examined.

Why The Variation?

Micronized was really about describing micron size of the particles. It was easier to ascribe to the theory, when you were buying micronized minerals which were commonly referred to as TiO2 (Titanium Dioxide) or micronized ZnO or Z-cote (Zinc Oxide), that these were the mineral ingredients with a tiny micron particle size. These are also referred to as sub micron or nano size of 0.25-0.30 more or less, and these are equal to 250-300 nanometers. This size is literally below an actual single micron.

Non-micronized would define those mineral cosmetics as being 3 microns or larger with them typically being similar to our micron size. Our minerals for example, range from 5-10 microns or equivalent to 5000-10,000 nanometers. So by accurate definition, ours can also be considered micronized, but they are not nano sized particles due to the finished size of the micron particles.

However, both types of minerals are micronized. Anything described as crushed has been a great way to eliminate confusion. However, finely milled would be a better way to convey nice smooth, silken coverage, but that the mineral powders are not necessarily micronized by the original definition or in the minds eye of the consumer. The reality of the "crushed" description though, is that crushed would also create a powder that would have a coarser texture with sharp edges that would be extremely irritating to skin.

I, myself have described our mineral powders this way and for the most part has worked for keeping things clear in the consumers mind. But with all that is occurring with CFSC and Skin Deep Data Base of late, I felt it was time to make some clarifications that will end confusion for anyone shopping for mineral cosmetics.

I recently changed this descriptive also on our website to end the confusion for our own customers, and why today I am writing this article.

What Is A Nano Sized Particle?

True Nanos, are particulates that are typically below 1 micron or 1000 nanometers. Also realize that when you see the nanometers reduced in number, the smaller the micron will be....example 0.1 micron size is 100 nanometers and is a sub micron..... this is basically so tiny, it is invisible to the naked eye, or I should say basically aerosol. In fact, at even the larger size of 1 - 2 microns, if this size particle were to be dropped from chest height it would not even reach the ground before being absorbed by the environment.

It is nano particles which may draw concern rather than statements like minerals being micronized. It suits the needs of the consumer if this is clarified for them and is why the statement "No Nano Size Particles" is being widely used now as a better way to convey the differences.

This sends a much clearer message that the micron size will not penetrate the skin or will not travel deep into the lungs, where they then can become lodged if inhaled by accident. Regardless of this fact, no one really goes around inhaling their mineral powders. And for those who may have a concern, that can even be reduced to practically eliminated by applying with the "moist method" we recommend.

Also realize that nano particles are in our environment naturally and are in the air we breathe every day in the form of pollens, dust, pollutants, etc. etc.

Creating Perspective

To really give the proper analogy, take a human hair for instance, it is as thick as 40 microns, and of course we can see our hair, so shrink this down in your mind to the numbers I gave earlier.

Huge difference isn't it?....so you can see how powders created with 5-10 microns are still very fine and provide smooth coverage, but to get smaller than that in micron size down to 2.5 or sub micron size as the minerals exampled above, is where questions of health begin to arise.

This is also why we once referred to them as non-micronized vs micronized minerals since the latter are more sheer in coverage and do not have the whitening effect. This is why Z-cote and TiO2 are the popular choice for being used in liquid sunscreens and foundations to avoid the ashy look on skin. They are more readily absorbed and basically disappear against and / or into the skin.

Clearly, also another reason when these types of minerals are used in mineral powders, and some still do use these, women don't achieve the coverage they need. The answer is, larger particle size, better coverage! However, for those that still want better coverage with less opacity, then a product like our Delicate Rose Petal Formula would be the choice since it is higher in Zinc Oxide which gives a very natural look. For more opacity and heavy coverage, then you would choose Velvet, and Dewy is in between both of these. But no matter what formula you choose there will be no ashy appearance or whitening of the skin due to the formulation structure of our mineral powders.

For those wishing to learn more about Micronized Minerals and gain a better perspective through scientific data as to health risks, here is an article I wrote more than 2 years ago on this subject: Micronized Minerals Versus Non-Micronized Minerals. Since this article was written, there has also been recent updates in regard to nano particles that fall on the positive side provided by the EPA Final Report of 2010.

Related Article: Titanium Dioxide In Mineral Makeup, Final Report By EPA

Have a nice Memorial Day Weekend and my thoughts and prayers are with those that have family serving in the armed forces.

wordless wednesday: i don't just rant, i make stuff too

exotic bloom wire and fibre ring


chunky white agate and blackstone wire crochet cuff


simply pearls: swarovski pearl wire crochet cuff

NB: ranting/making/parenting/blogging do go together FYI
PS: see you at Fab Fair in Vancouver 5th/6th June

How to Have a Good Hair Day (My Favorite Products)

Hair is very important to this daily connoisseur, and I’m guessing to most women (and men!) that read this blog. Isn’t it true that when you’re having a good hair day you just feel beautiful? I went to a new salon last week and had my hair cut and styled (Valentino from Salon Nesou is wonderful) and received 4 compliments from strangers in the next two days that followed. I believe part of it had to do with my hair looking good but most of it had to do with the fact that I just felt, well... pretty!

And as any connoisseur knows... a good hair day does not come easy. It usually takes a combination of the right products, the right stylist and the right diet to achieve your desired look.

In this post I am focusing on my favorite products. I’ve experimented with a lot of hair care products over the years and these are my current favorites:

Kérastase Bain Oléo-Relax

This smoothing shampoo by high-end brand Kérastase is little expensive but so worth it (the shampoo retails for about $25- which is pricey if you're used to purchasing drug store shampoos). I always try and convince myself that the $6 drug store shampoo is just as good, but it simply isn’t so. The lucky thing is a little goes a long way so you don’t have to buy tubs of it. This shampoo smooths my hair and helps prevent frizz.

Açai Anti-Frizz Conditioner

This is actually the conditioner salons recommend you use after getting the Brazilian Blowout- which I fully intend on getting (and can’t wait to try!) but must wait until after the baby is born. In the meantime, the stylist used this conditioner on me and I loved the way it made my hair feel. It has deep conditioning properties, anti-frizz components and is rich with anti-oxidants.

Moroccan Oil

This oil has been described as liquid gold (and pretty much is as it costs around $40... but again- it's worth it...) It conditions, creates a beautiful shine and does not leave a residue. The instructions say to apply to wet hair and then style, but I believe it works just as well when you rub a tiny amount into your palms and work into the ends of your dry hair. It really moisturizes and softens.

Tigi Rockaholic Dirty Secret Dry Shampoo


My hair is quite dry and I use a lot of heat to style it so I only shampoo and condition a couple of times a week. I’ve heard that it is actually good to do this, rather than washing it every day, because the latter method can strip your hair of its natural oils and moisture. When I am in between washings, I like to use a dry shampoo to keep my hair looking fresh. I like the Oscar Blandi brand and I also like this one, as it does not leave a residue.

Chi Silk Infusion


I’ve mentioned this product before on my blog. I love using Chi Silk Infusion as a heat protectant right before I blow dry or flat iron my hair. It really leaves my hair silky (which is really quite a feat if you knew my hair). I love the stuff. Chi Silk Infusion retails at Target for around $25.

There you have my current favorite hair products.

I would love to know what you do to maintain beautiful hair...

The picture above was taken of me about a year and a half ago. I think the fact that I was having a good hair day prompted me to bring out my inner Tyra. ☺


I purchased all of the above products at my local salon (with the exception of Chi Silk Infusion- which I get at Target). I believe they are widely available in salons across America and in most cases can also be found on www.Amazon.com

balls!

silver wire earrings, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

So today has been mostly lost to a sick migraine bleh!
But I did manage to 'make stuff' and 'finish stuff off' yesterday in and around running the household, and volunteering at school. Not sure how I manage it but somehow it does come together :)

Boo migraine though! :(

handcrocheted silver wire beads on elongated surgical steel earwires

Cooking with Madame Sportif- Part Two

This time I invited Madame Sportif chez moi for my latest French cooking lesson. We had a great time, as usual, (she is the nicest lady!) and it was fun for her to see my place for a change.

On the menu? Zucchini Gratin and Mango Cake. It was the perfect light ladies lunch and I am happy to report- it was very easy to make!

Zucchini Gratin


Partially peel 3 Zucchinis (so they look like they have stripes), cut them into chunks and steam for 15- 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, whisk 2 Eggs together with 2 tbs. Half and Half

Once Zucchini is steamed (firm, not mushy) arrange them in the bottom of a gratin dish. Pour the egg mixture on top.

Lay enough slices of Swiss Cheese to cover the top of dish.

Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees. Run under broiler for one minute to brown the cheese.

Note: You can replace the zucchini with cauliflower, broccoli or leeks.


Mango Cake

First make a caramel sauce with 2/3 cup Sugar and 4 tbs of water. Stir over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved. Squeeze a tiny amount of lemon juice into caramel. Stir. Pour caramel into the bottom of a round cake pan.

Peel and cut 3 Mangoes into large chunks. Arrange the chunks on top of the caramel sauce in the cake pan.

Whisk together (in a Kitchen Aid or other similar device) 3 Eggs with 2/3 cup of Sugar and 1 tsp Vanilla Extract. Whisk until frothy. Add 2/3 cup of Flour and 1 ½ sticks of Melted Butter. Stir to incorporate.

Pour the batter on top of the mangoes.

Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.

Test with fork after 40 minutes. If it comes out clean, the cake is ready. Let cool for at least 10 minutes. Then turn cake upside down on a platter so the caramel mango topping is on top (kind of like a pineapple upside down cake).

This cake is seriously delicious and impressive looking (my hastily taken picture does not do it justice)... the perfect sort of cake to have in the summer time. It would be delicious with a cup of Ceylon tea...

If mangoes are not in season you can make substitute with pears or bananas...

We had lots of fun cooking and I attempted to grill her on French beauty secrets... which I will reveal to you in a later post...

I hope you have a wonderful weekend xx

friday forte: the 'so darn proud of myself' post

items featured in the Blackberry Artist's cooperative gift shop during May

This is the 'blowing my own trumpet' edition of friday forte cos everyone needs a little pride in themselves once in a while.


Achievements (in no particular order);

• successfully took a week off work ;)
• solo trip to my first blogging conference (and I even spoke to people!)
• successful and enjoyable family day out
• Mother's Day and there were no tears (well, a few from me at gift giving)
• my husband understood what I was talking about/getting upset over (big thing this one)
• featured artist at my local artist cooperative (see above)
• have blogged every weekday in May so far on my other blog and scheduled enough posts to cover May in the other blog
• didn't have a melt down at yet another failure in childcare arrangements :(
• had a date with myself
• Wee Guy lost one of his troublesome teeth (with my help) (hopefully avoiding a trip to the dentist)
• shoes!
• spinach, sunflower and kale seedlings coming up!!!!
• had lunch with a couple of friends; totally unexpected, spontaneous and great fun - new playdate planned as a result

Definitely an odd assortment but it's been a calm and pleasant week for a change. Apart from what turned out to be a minor blip (major blip smoothed over by husband) I'm wondering if this is what normal life is actually like? B - you may be onto something .......


forte!

how does a 24/7 SAHM take a week off?

So I took a week off. It happened last week, kicking off with a day out to the Northern Voice blogging conference last Saturday, ran thru Mother's Day, and ended with a family excursion to Capilano Suspension Bridge.
Northern Voice was incredible fun. I got to put faces to a lot of online avatars and listen to helpful advice re: blogging, podcasting and managing social media. Meeting IRL was strange but delightful - I waved at fellow tweeters in the seminars as I twittered my way thru the seminars.
But a whole week off? How can that be? and why?

Well, April was Incredibly Busy for me and close to the end of the month I was feeling the burn so I decided to make a little vacation time for myself. With some planning I cleared my schedule of all the tedium and priority stuff then populated my planner (aka scrap of paper) with fun things to do. Since I'm such a clutterhead these days I started a writing down Good Ideas for free time a week ahead and had a list to keep me busy in my leisure. OK, the list ran a little odd; knickers, sunglasses and Hat Shop were entries. I cleared my housework duties, made sure the freezer was stocked and put my feet up for hedonism.

Did I manage it? Despite a setback regarding playdates (a mum 'forgot' the tell me her son was now in after school care!) at the beginning of the week yes, I think it went well. I feel that I had "time off" though it was difficult to demarcate what "time off" would look like. It was a great reminder that, when I'm working at or from home all the time, I forget to reward myself with treats. And that these treats don't have to be large and expensive; something as simple as coffee out will do. In fact it became apparent to me that the simple act of leaving the house to relax was a and should be a vital part of each day for me, or at least something to be planned once per week! I shopped till I dropped, I had coffee in regular coffee shops every day, I had lunch with my husband (and he was v sweet re: the playdate fiasco). I did a lot of the things I had forgotten how to do since becoming a SAHM. It took planning but it felt good. I even managed to ignore housework on the whole.....

and I.bought.shoes.
Oh yes :)

Personal Care Truth! No More Science Fiction!

Long Time In Coming

I am pleased to share with all of my readers a new site that has been launched in response to all the scaremongering, fear tactics and disinformation that has been strewn across the internet over the past decade. Much of which is created for the purposes of pushing more government control or to simply use it to promote a certain organic or natural product that the company wishes to purvey as being the next best thing since chicken soup.

My Gratitude

This site was created with the consumer in mind providing links to many agencies within the cosmetics industry, along with experts dedicated to sharing up to date information with the public in the way of informative articles. Apparently all my research and publication of those findings which I have been doing over the past several years has been recognized by others in my industry as well. I was extremely humbled and grateful when I also received an invitation to join this professional panel of experts to further share the research I have accumulated over the years and will continue to accumulate, since this is what I love to do. It is my sincerest hope this site will begin to lay some of the fears and paranoia to rest while providing an excellent resource center for getting down to the nitty gritty of it all. It is loaded with scientific research showing both sides of the equation on ingredients without bias or promotion of any kind, and creating an atmosphere of trust which hopefully consumers can rely on in the future.

Click on Picture below to take you to the website!



Great Panel

Personal Care Truth is the brainchild of Lisa Rodgers of Cactus & Ivy, and Kristin Cotte of Grapeseed Company, co-founders of this excellent website showing true dedication to their industry by creating such a well thought out and long awaited information center on personal care products.

I join my esteemed colleagues not only in the U.S., but also in the U.K. of which make up the panel of experts. It consists of manufacturers, chemists, scientists, herbalists and aromatherapists. They too have published many articles about falsehoods and made up science and have assisted in quashing government bills which try to remove the choice from the consumer based on little to no real scientific data. Colorado Personal Care Products Safety Act is a prime example. I look forward to many future collaborative efforts with all of them.

Those Opposed To The Idea

We as a group are aware of those that wish to accuse or try to convince the public that our industry is tainted and self regulated so looking at our research is one sided in favor of our products.

With that, I remind the skeptics that the groups who promote through fear are using Junk Science or No Science with this direct quote from Susan Roll, co-founder of the Campaign For Safe Cosmetics, as an example during the Colorado hearings:

"I'll tell you I'm not a scientist. I'm actually a social worker so I'm reading what you're reading and also trying to make some 'um' educated guesses about it, 'um' when we have chemicals that cause tumors in rats I think that it is okay to say we don't want those chemicals in consumer products. Do we have evidence that they are causing mammary tumors in humans?...... No, we just don't have that yet. We are not that far with the science....I wish I could say more. I wish I knew more of the science. I wish we had more science...I would just say that I think we have enough of the science that we need to make some steps towards safety."

"We can't wait for the science..if we wait for the "good" science we are going to be sick. I believe we should err on the side of caution to prevent further harm to the public."

We Care About All Consumers

I can assure my readers, those of us in the industry get it....and we want a healthier lifestyle like anybody would. It is not in our best interests to promote or push a product deliberately we know to cause harm. Number one, FDA would be notified, so in regards to self regulating, this answers that since the FDA would become involved. We could be shut down, fined, sued, and the list is endless of what could happen if we were pushing some harmful toxic concoction knowingly, as fear mongers would have the consumer believe through their insidious articles. Creating something harmful would create so much damage to our businesses, it is incomprehensible. So the insinuation from this group of people that we are tainted, so our science must be bias, is without a doubt more of the same....perpetuate fear and confusion.

Furthermore, there are so many choices out there, and for some my products may not work for them, personally....and that is okay. For instance, some may always be looking for that naturally preserved product so my ONATI skincare line may not fall within their needs for naturally preserved, and that is okay too. All I can continue to do is show the facts and share the data on why I know through research, a naturally preserved product will not hold up to the challenge from bacterial and mold growth, as one example. Synthetic preservatives are not the enemy and will actually keep skin safer and healthier in the long run through prevention of microbial invasion which can cause serious harm to skin and eyes, especially if you have any type of open sore, such as a pimple.

Mindset Is A Funny Thing

As many of us know, throughout life we meet those that have a certain mindset and no matter what side of the issue they are on, you will never change their mind if standing on the opposing side. In fact there are some that want to always believe the negative despite the evidence to the contrary since it is easier, serves their purpose or agenda, and / or creates drama in their lives which sustains them. That is fine, but they must also realize that those that oppose the spread of fear through propaganda will also be there to refute the unscientific information and buck a relentless marketing trend which uses this tactic.

Don't be afraid of your personal care products...always use due diligence of course and remember to separate out in your mind what we use on our faces and bodies versus what we use as chemical household products. I myself limit certain household cleaners and such in my life, but unfortunately, the scare groups are not making these mutually exclusive in their antiquated research or on their data bases, and frankly, no bones about it, they are mutually exclusive....period! Another example: the 1100 + ingredients that these individuals quote for the European Union as banning, only about 1 - 3% of this list were ever used in skincare and cosmetics. Personally, I don't know when diesel fuel or metaldehyde (slug poison) was ever used in a skincare product, do you?

Come Visit Us!

So hopefully, for those who wish to learn more and want to see both sides of an issue, you will find it at Personal Care Truth! We will show you all the research including the negative aspects. No sugar coating or recycled junk science since we already have enough of that floating on the internet, and sadly this will continue for ad infinitum.

But we are here folks, ready to bring truth and research to the forefront of the industry, and we will no longer sit idly by while others with an agenda work to destroy the cosmetics and personal care industry as a whole with false claims and accusations....come discover both sides of a story and finally lay the confusion and fear to rest.

Cheers!

wordless wednesday: what do i not do all day

tidying up other people's plates which didn't manage to the journey to the dishwasher below


diet


shopping: groceries or domestic


dusting or housework unless for sanitary or hygiene reasons

 

How to Live Well- The Master Bedroom

Last year I did a post on guest bedrooms that outlined everything needed for a perfect spare room. This one is dedicated to your own bedroom- which should have more character, personality and luxury than the guest bedroom.

In fact, the master bedroom could be the most important room in your house. It is the room you spend the most time in (even though most of that time you are sleeping…)

For living well in the master bedroom here is my essential list:

A large, comfy bed. This is pretty self explanatory. My husband is quite tall, I like to stretch out in my sleep and Gatsby is (unfortunately) always at the foot of the bed so nothing short of a California King will do for us ☺

A fluffy duvet and very good pillows. By ‘good’ I mean the most comfortable for you. We have lots of fluffy pillows to prop us up when we read but my favorite one to sleep with is the Tempurpedic with neck support. For the duvet, the lighter and fluffier the better… a good one makes you feel like you are sleeping in a cloud…

White linens. I’m sure not everyone is with me on this, but I just prefer all of my linens to be white. For me, clean, crisp, white linens are the only sort I like to sleep in.

Overhead lighting on a dimmer switch. Dimmed lights in the bedroom are so important. They can add so much atmosphere and really help prepare you for sleep. A good bedside lamp for reading is also essential…

Music. Whether it be through your iPod or an old fashioned cd player (which is what we have). I love to play classical music or opera when I am getting ready for bed. It just makes rubbing in those night creams and changing into your nightgown that much more decadent.

No television… talk about a passion killer.

Miscellaneous items that make you happy. For me that is my perfume tray, jewelry box, candles and orchids…

Curtains. (I prefer curtains to blinds) Ours are cream colored linen- they filter just the right amount of light in and add a softness to the room.

A system for putting your clothes away (either out of the room in a dirty clothes hamper or hung back up in your closet). I try to only keep my dressing gown on the bench at the foot of our bed.


C’est tout! We are currently looking for a beautiful bed frame/ headboard and in the meantime are sleeping with our mattresses on the floor (I feel like I am in college again!) but I am still comfortable and am getting plenty of luxurious nights of sleep- which I plan to enjoy to the fullest before the baby arrives…

I would love to know… how do you live well in the master bedroom?

Gatsby is pictured above in our master bedroom…

only way across

only way across, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

We (the family, all together, all of us ...) had a good weekend. I worked Saturday in the artist's cooperative gift shop, made stuff and chatted with People Other Than Family Or Other Mums (NB: I generally have nothing against most other mums but sometimes it's good to break out of the loop for a while). On Sunday evening I got up to speed by scheduling blogging for the Blackberrry Artist's blog and continued "Telling Tales" over on my 'business' blog (it's a garden theme this week in case you're interested). In the middle of it all we managed a (successful) family outing to run around at Capilano Suspension bridge (long scary wobbly rope bridge over a big drop gorge!). It was fun.

made stuff
Having a Good Weekend together was the bonus for Going Thru Some Family Angst caused by a certain wee person's aversion to Hard Work and Piano Practice. Shouty McShoutyperson was at home two evenings running and lots of Things Were Said Which Were Regretted By Both Sides. Sleeping heads were patted in the night, tears were shed and vows were made to Do Things Better etc etc etc according to all things New Parenty.
Then breakthrough!
One of the best things we (DH and I) have ever done for Family Harmony has been showing the Wee Guy how to use the video player, tv and Wii totally by himself! This simple act has resulted in many a quiet weekend lie in (or bed bouncing, whatever) and tempers are restored.
However, this weekend, instead of rushing to the Wii to create another hundred Mii's or vanquish a duck or two or jam with a 100-piece orchestra the Wee Guy instead treated us to a concert of his piano pieces. Yes, the same piano pieces over which much wailing, teeth gnashing and shoutiness had occurred the preceding two evenings.
The it occurred to me, following a comment on another blog post, that he takes after me. If something bugs me I have to deal with it a most painful and foul-to-me manner with much (inward) shouting, ranting and wailing (OK not all of it inward). It's a very physical process and a very emotional process but in the end I'm usually pretty pleased with the solution I've arrived at. It's been my own work, not something imposed on me. And then I remembered - I was like this as a child. I never really took the easy road (and still don't) or conformed or ran with the crowd.

Poor Wee Guy! It's not going to be an easy life but it will be truly crafted by yourself to your eventual satisfaction. Hopefully you can learn some strategies to make things easier (pssst! if you find some, let me know too).

turmoil and a long drop

woman at work

my view from the gift shop desk out into the gallery

I was at work today.
Let me rephrase.
I was at work outside of the home, covering my shift at the Blackberry Gift Shop in the Port Moody Arts Centre. It's part of my membership obligations for belonging to the artist's cooperative and selling my work thru the gift shop. One shift per month - not too bad! I get to leave the house (on my own) and sit surrounded by amazing pieces of art and talk to people .....

..... about art .....

..... not about piano practice, meals and nutrition, playdates, scheduling, childcare, business travel, groceries, meal planning, laundry, toilets, bathtimes, why not's, when's, threats, discipline, hygiene, bedtime .....

..... and so on.

If it's quiet, I make stuff too.


wire and fibre brooch detail
 
:)

friday forte: you need friends ........ and i need your comments

Or do you?
I'm not totally and utterly convinced of their absolute necessity as I do possess serious hermit tendencies. Maybe I consider them a luxury item; nice to have but life will go on without them?

We've got a bit of a dilemma going on here. The Wee Guy's bestest friend (ever) went back to the UK a few weeks ago. They were in the same class and had regular playdates. The mum (the amazing G) was a great neighbour and friend but she missed dear old Blighty. Since they left well, playdates have gone down the toilet basically. Wee Guy's only other regular playdate has started afterschool care and I'm not sure where that leaves us for our own afterschool arrangements. Wee Guy has been haranguing me about organising more playdates.

Which is where my dilemma comes in. I can be a complete and utter hermit. Even more hermit-ish when I'm depressed. IMO friends are good for only one thing - letting you down, leaving or not being there (OK, three things - it's late and I can't count). And being let down is A Very Big Sin in my books so when I'm feeling completely down and lacking in ability, the last thing I want to do is let anybody down ..... which is easily solved when you don't have friends in the first place.

But, the Wee Guy is highly sociable, a bit of a handful emotionally and really needs his peer interactions aka playdates which requires me to interact with other mums to organise them. Which is why G was so great cos we had a regular playdate thing going on which needed nothing more than a "Next Thursday?" "Yes, fine!" interaction every few weeks. So far other playdates have been High Maintenance and since I've been a Right Moody Bitch for almost the whole school year, arranging two or three playmates has been the pinnacle of my achievement. Oh, and I have this thing about it always being me doing the running - is it some kind of working-outside-the-home mum thing that believes the SAHM has sooooo much time on her hands that doing all the social scheduling is her thang???

Back to square one now though. And I try to parent by example. I'd like to reinforce my Wee Guy's belief in friendship since, as a singleton, I think it will be important for him to develop close ties outside the family and be well socialised. SO I really should make an effort and develop some IRL friendships. This has been brutally underlined by some recent Mama Renew homework. I am meant to ask a close friend what he/she loves about me. I do not have close friends on this side of the pond; I could ask my husband but, for many reasons, I hate to count him a close friend (for the record, I think it's dangerous having a spouse as a close friend cos who do you rant to when he's the cause of the rantiness?). I also find that making friends gets harder the older I get - maybe I don't take the risks I used to or maybe there's less opportunity with not working outside the home. Being an incomer doesn't help and I'm still not used to coping with the deafness - it kills the conversation dead if I can't make social shit chat. I have had close friends here but they always seem to move away (!) - one even moved to Australia.

Is it me?

So I have no friends for my homework ........ which is where you come in, dear reader (I married him)(sorry, couldn't resist that literary pun) - what do you love about online me? Don't pull your punches - leave a comment (pls).

SPT May 13th

SPT May 13th, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

Oh my, I had some fun today!
This week's Mama Renew homework was to have a date with our pre-baby self. I spent mine at Cafe Divano reading my PhD thesis (1999, University of London) and drinking coffee(decaf).

Then I went home and got in touch the real pre-baby me!

Oh yes!

That's her all right!

..... and on the left from oooh, about 24 years ago.

*SPT = self portrait Thursday

Sun Tan Swimwear & The Miracle Suit

Neat Discovery

As I was channel surfing the other day, I happened across a segment on the Rachael Ray Show where she had a dermatologist as her guest and was featuring swim suits with all the bells and whistles for the upcoming summer.

Needless to say I became fascinated with what is out on the market for keeping it simple and hopefully safe from the sun. Plus checking out the latest in swimsuit fashion also had me curious.

Getting Rid Of Tan Lines Without Losing Your Top

For women who still are die hard fans of getting their tan the natural way instead of a fake bake or spray on tan, there is a suit made by Cooltan Swimwear.

The unique patent-pending fabric used in Cooltan tan-through swimwear is made with a special knitting technology that creates millions of tiny pores in the fabric. These pores allow approximately half of the sun's light to pass through to approximately the same degree as a medium level sunscreen.

The model that tested the product said it worked remarkably well, however, she still did experience tan lines a bit where the fabric was rolled or double seamed such as in the straps and edges of the suit.

The Doctor warned that if not careful you will still get burned in these suits and to use a sunscreen when wearing it all day. Otherwise, when you take it off at the end of the day, you will be surprised to see a nasty burn. In his opinion, he only gave the suit an equivalent of SPF 6 to 8 based on testing and concurred with rating provided by the company. So precaution when wearing these suits is still very important in monitoring our level of sun exposure.

They also provide tan through clothing for not getting that Farmer's tan we see so many people sporting.

Hiding Those Pesky Flaws

Another suit that was demonstrated is known as the Miracle Suit for keeping everything in its' place and for helping to reshape and redefine our heavenly bodies.

They utilize a fabric called Miratex that basically sucks it all in and redistributes bumps and bulges through special sewing techniques and certain bra structure for complimenting our curves while providing comfortable support. Designs and patterns of fabrics are also utilized for camouflaging certain aspects of our bodies that have not held up so well over the years. They claim it will make our bodies look 10 lbs lighter with slimming attributes.

The one caveat they provide when purchasing their suits is they tend to run small than the typical suit you may buy.

They can be located at Bloomingdales, Bare Necessities, Zappos, Spiegel, and Eddie Bauer to name a few and of course you can purchase them online at all of these stores.

I took a peek at these suits and they really are quite flattering and the styles are modern and funky also. These are not your mothers' one piece suits!

My particular favorite is the Tankini, and have worn the version made by Victoria Secret which also had a boy short. Loved this suit and wore it out until I it was falling off of me. But this suit made by Miracle Suit, I find to be just my taste and appears to be very flattering to the body. The added bonus of a mini cover-up is also nice for hiding those flawed regions of our bum, hips and upper thighs.

UV Alert For Sun Safety Suits

How cool is this?....especially for kids. Canadian based LuvGear Protect Me Suits provide alerts for Cold, Heat and UV Levels. Originally created for children in mind they are now providing this protective gear for adult women and teens as well. They even have a maternity section.

Me personally, I am always getting that first year sunburn. However, this year I am going out of my way to make sure it doesn't happen by slathering on the sunscreen and wearing my mineral makeup always on my face, neck and decollete.

When they demonstrated this suit I thought this is innovation that is sustainable and so timely. The mom who tried it out on her 5 year old son, told a story of his enjoyment of participating in the monitoring of the suns rays while showing off the cool technology to his other friends. You can see the emblem above the leg opening on the right.

As we all know, we get to having fun in the sun and lose track of time, not realizing or remembering to keep that sunscreen on or to really know the level of UV rays during any given day.

Oh.....how I wish they had something like this when my kids were little since they are also fair skinned, fair haired and blue eyed like their father and I. Making sure that sunscreen was always in place throughout their play day was all consuming. My kids would have loved this!

The patch on the suits are designed to change color as the UV rays intensify during the day, serving as a reminder to us to either get out of the sun or put our sunscreen on. They also provide some cool clothing for keeping it cool and protected while playing and enjoying our day.

These suits can be located at JC Penny, Target and Sears. You can also find them online.

Total UV Protection

Then of course there is the clothing and swimwear lines that provide superb UV protection from the sun all day and are available through many outlets including a multitude of online stores. Just simply Google UV Protective swimwear and you can have your choice.

Not only do these suits protect us, but they also protect the delicate eco-balance of coral reefs and sea life when going in the water other than a pool.

In fact many ecological oceanic parks such as one I visited while down in Playa Del Carmen called Xel-Ha, pronounced (shell hah), would not allow you to wear any chemical sunscreens due to them harming the delicate balance of the coral reefs. This was my very first experience at snorkeling and also is what turned into a past time for me on every vacation after that. It was literally like swimming in a pool with visibility over 200 ft. Incredible experience!

The park provided a water based sunscreen but the lasting time on these was maybe 30 minutes tops. Not much piece of mind during intense midday rays.

This is where swimwear geared toward not only protecting us, but will also protect the ocean, is a great product for those excursions we take on vacation, preserving our skin and our environment. Another reason to use mineral makeup where you can on your body since it really is extremely water resistant and you won't find it floating on water surfaces like a chemical sunscreen will. For this very reason and after seeing the amazing color and beauty of the sea world, I totally get it!

Just a small fact: Some of the best diving and snorkeling in the world are off of Indonesia and Thailand....just in case you were curious. Cayman Islands and Belize tie for second.

Enjoy The Start Of Your Summer!

Cheers!