boo!

i don't think Sunday night's costume will be this scary ;)

A very happy Halloween to all my readers - hope you have fun trick or treating tonight, and that the sugar-overload doesn't make family life to uncomfortable.

PS: I still have no idea what my costume will be since I've left it last minute as usual (despite picking up two very nice jackets at Value Village yesterday). I think Lil' Sis red devil leftovers might be the answer (thanks for leaving them xox).

Any quick suggestions or commiserations from other SAH-parents who have been focused on That Mario Costume (there were at least 20 Marios at the school parade on Friday) or a quick fix princess in the house?

friday forte: the date night edition

There's nothing better for burying the mid life crisis than date night with a charming(?) young man. We had pizza at Flying Wedge, shared an ice cream sundae at Marble Slab Creamery, then hit Chapters in search of Silly Bandz (stretch 'em, wear 'em, trade 'em - the latest lure for Grade 2's to part with their pocket money; they are essentially overpriced rubber bands in funny shapes).

While it's not unusual for me to spend time with the Wee Guy, date nights are still special. He gets to call the shots mostly and I'm happy to go with the flow. It's an evening for us both to concentrate on each other's company without the distractions of housework, meal prep or homework creeping in. I think it' beneficial, definitely for me now that I'm being more focused on working more from home (yay! The business has covered child care costs for the second month running). I'm finding I do need some boundaries established between work, leisure and parenting times so that it doesn't all just flow into one confused mess. Multi tasking might seem to get a lot done but, in my opinion, it means that your mind is never truly on the job at hand.

Hence date night.
Hence a move to more equally shared parenting.
Hence a concerted effort to ignore housework during the week.

Hence dust bunnies (they make good wrinkle fillers).

self portrait: in all my finery - the gratuitous pussy shot

SPT 28th October: in all my finery - the gratuitous pussy shot, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

Being in celebration of the Etsy Self Portrait Thursday challenge where a bunch of Etsy sellers indulge in online vanity by taking pics of themselves

One of the most fun parts of making jewelry is the trying-on part. It's like having access to Mad Aunty Susan's dress up box without having to endure the smell of ciggies or the stale scones. Whee!

Anyhow, when I make stuff I also try it on (don't panic - I do keep it hygienic, and never not never wearing the earrings). Bracelets are quite easy to model - all you need is a wrist. Necklaces, on the other hand, require some wardrobe prep as I'm a firm believer in matching the jewelry to the neckline.

For example, a round neck carries a bold choker or an opera length chain (note: yes, more bloody pics of her jewelry); a turtle neck can carry a funky bib necklace or long pendant; a casual shirt V-neck probably looks best with a simple pendant on a non-threatening 16 inch chain, or a sparkly collar for evening.

This morning's modeling called for full on empty-neckedness and cleavage. If you've got cleavage, why not advertise it with something that leads the eye there ..... and thus away from any 'problem' areas?

So I stripped down to plungingly low neckline, low enough for the gratuitous shot of pussy as it turns out.

I apologise.

It will probably happen again.

PS: for a closer look at the necklace sans pussy or flesh, visit the other blog

The Skin Cancer Diaries

A Different Day

A week ago on Wednesday, my hubby and I decided to have a skin check for our moles since we both have quite a few. I thought this would be like any other time in the past.

We used to go to the dermatologist annually when traveling to Mexico due to the sun exposure we would get on our trips and my prebaking my skin in tanning beds. But we haven't been on this type of trip for more than 5 years. Nonetheless, we both felt it was time after skipping it for a couple of years.

2 1/2 years ago I had a suspicious mole removed from my back which later turned out to be nothing and was clear. Back in my early 40's I had chemo treatment for the prevention of squamous cell carcinoma with the use of Efudex since I had so much sun damage on my face. This kills the cancer in its preliminary stage known as actinic keratoses, whereby using prevention to keep the cancer from becoming the malignant form at a later date. This treatment is painful, unsightly and lasts for several weeks. This time frame was also when I began developing my mineral makeup formulas to help soothe and hide the damaged skin. Oh and how it worked so well!

But last Wednesday proved to be a very different day than in the past. Everything looked normal to me for the most part. I hadn't noticed anything really changing except for a funny spot on my left temple. A year ago it began as a small colorless nodule, smaller than a pea, so I just thought I was getting yet another colorless mole. But in recent months, it began to grow and become oblong with some scabbing.

My doctor examined me and took the nodule off my face, and then another teenie tiny spot on my abdomen right below my left boob, that he also noticed. It was black as black! I couldn't see it myself all this time since, well to be delicate...the old boobs don't quite sit where they used to when I was younger, so they....ahem....were kinda in the way.

For the most part he poo pooed it and wasn't too concerned. My hubby received a spritz of frozen nitrogen for some precancerous stuff going on on his left temple and he was given a clean slate otherwise, this trip.

The Phone Call

Two days later on Friday, having a seemingly uneventful day, and had all but forgotten about the dermatologist visit, my phone rang in the late afternoon.

It was my Doctors office with the news on the pathology report. My heart sank, I cringed and my mind clicked off when the word "Cancer" was uttered from his nurses mouth. My moles were no longer clear! The tiny spot my doctor removed from my abdomen was the early stage of melanoma, but on this one we caught it very early, so all tissue was clear in the surrounding area. But this was not the one it turned out as what I knew as the destroyer of lives.

In the same breath from the nurse, I was told I also had Basal Cell Carcinoma in the tissue removed from my face, and I required immediate surgery as the surrounding cells were not clear. Since it is an extremely invasive malignant cancer which destroys tissue at a very slow rate, they did not wish to wait any longer than they had to since I had had this thing on my face for more than a year. This in their opinion was catching it early. My mind remained "off" I heard nothing else after that.

I went silent.....CARCINOMA......wow, the word we all dread to hear in any context. It is cancer as is MELANOMA....these words hung on my brain like a dread of the unknown. I could no longer speak and handed the phone to my hubby to get the details. I was losing it...my body was changing and betraying me. My face was going to be cut on and disfigured....were these signs of things to come? I was not going to grow old gracefully....doom, doom, doom. My mind reeled, and it was all I could do to keep from passing out.

The Calm In My Storm

My hubby spent about 10 minutes on the phone with the nurse while I sat wringing my hands and weeping. She explained everything to him and how the procedure will be done. I had to go and have my surgery on Monday, so now I had the weekend to adjust and prepare....like that was helpful....waiting kills me, I would rather get it over with than deal with the anxious anticipation of what is to come.

My hubby consoled me and became my rock as he has always done in times past. He explained what the nurse said and how the procedure would be done. He told me that once the cancer was removed, plastic surgery would be performed right then and there to minimize damage to my face. He also told me he would be with me throughout the whole thing....you see I am a weenie baby when it comes to needles, scalpels and surgery....I'm only stoic when it is happening to someone else.

But it all seemed okay after a bit and my husband assured me of the upside, according to the nurse, since she said, "for all the cancers to get, this is the best one to have and it is a good thing." Hmm...I'm thinking....okay....I guess....if having cancer is ever a good thing...but I'll go with that for now.

My Minds Eye

Of course this colorless mole he removed for biopsy was about the size of a large pea, but in my minds eye this thing was getting larger and became this gaping wound. I envisioned Frankensteins monster happening with my face. I had to keep looking in the mirror during the weekend to remind me of its' actual size....then I'd swish my hand at my reflection, thinking, "this is cake."

Sunday afternoon I became full of anxiety, not really knowing what to expect. Everything in the past was clear, I had no reason to think the worst. My Efudex treatments kept my face healthy, but alas, I was told it was not nearly as effective on Basal Cells, which is why I now was dealing with this. Head to the google button!

The Big Day

Once I was sitting in the room where surgery would be performed, the nurse and the doctor entered to explain the process, I was actually remarkably calm as they told me he would be performing the Moh's procedure. I had already discovered this over the weekend during my google search about treatments for basal cell carcinoma.

This is where they remove the actual tumor, then take some of the surrounding tissue of about 2mm to 4mm and send it to pathology while we wait for the results before closing me up. If the pathology shows more cancer, then they cut away some more until we receive the "all clear." This procedure prevents mistakes, reduces removal of healthy tissue unnecessarily, and recurrence, giving better results for the patient since they won't need to go back in and cut on me some more. The cure rate is excellent....98-99.5% whereas other methods have cure rates of only 50-80%. That works for me, let's get it right the first time.

So, they numbed me up and began removal of the growth, while I asked the doc "if he could give me an eye lift while he was in there?" just a bit of levity to ease the tension, but.....not today I guess....

I had to only wait about an hour for the results and the news was good, we had truly caught it early and there were no extending fingers into the surrounding tissue. So they closed me up using plastic surgery techniques. A sigh of relief flooded my system as I lay cool and collected for the first time in four days. The suture job took longer than the actual surgery. They applied a pressure bandage to wear for 2 days and then the stitches will come out in 8 days.

I asked the doctor how big was the incision when all was said and done, and it literally turned a pea size growth into a scar over 1 1/2 inches long. Imagine if the growth had been ignored and allowed to get larger, the damage I would have had to the area would have been quite measurable since this tiny pea size growth left this size of damage.

This is why it is so important to get checked out regularly, especially if you sun worshiped when you were younger like I did. Disfigurement doesn't have to happen if we get things taken care of while they are very small as in the case of the discovery of my small melanoma....the good Lord was watching out for me on that one.....perhaps it was the reason for the growth on my face that the other was found, since without it, I probably would not have gone into see my doctor that year either.

Remarkably, my incision is healing quite well and now the pressure bandage is removed and believe it or not, there is absolutely no bruising...how did I swing that?...and the scar is long, yet miniscule....the outcome of the final affect is going to be almost perfect....and what isn't, mineral makeup will take care of the rest.

I controlled the pain for the first two days with Tylenol, and Vicodin at bedtime only, so I was kept pretty happy. Now all I need is a bit of Tylenol and I am good.

Oh The Irony

It's ironic when you think about it...some of us would say, "ah it's just another common skin cancer" and others take the information and grow it in their mind as "things coming to an end as they know it." I tend to lean toward the latter, especially when I don't know the facts or the outcome of something that is foreign to me. I am no different in this regard to many others out there who worry about similar issues.

Doctors see this thing all the time, but I personally don't know a soul who has had skin cancer that I could talk to about their experience. Plus it really seems to become worse case scenario in the elderly for lack of understanding what is occurring to their skin, and men, who take most things related to medicine, "as not me", but they are strong and healthy, which this mindset is their undoing....thankfully my husband gets it and sees his doctor annually, now.

I know others who have had other forms of cancer, including melanoma, and they have either survived or died. Plus, I used to see all the disfiguring pictures of those afflicted with skin cancers..... so needless to say this exacerbated the stereotype I had pictured in my mind as a destroyer of our looks. This no longer needs to be the case with the new methods for getting it right the first time. With such a high curative rate, freezing, excision and chemo creams don't even compare to the Moh's.

But once I educated myself through searching the internet and researching the Moh's procedure and its' excellent outcome, I found it all to be anti-climatic. I had worried for nothing!

It All Makes Sense Now

Through my ordeal, it is clear to see how this is so similar to those that spread the disinformation about cosmetic and skincare ingredients causing cancer. The "C" word emotes fear and it is an excellent method when used in marketing campaigns of many personal care products or of the watchdog groups which are purveyors of fear mongering, though I find it shameful to scare people all for a dollar, donations or otherwise.

Nothing gets ones' attention more than cancer. As in my case, it suddenly became so apparent, since I had no idea of the outcome, so fear plagued my emotions, growing illogical scenarios in my head. However, once I educated myself from a sound source, not just someone writing about worse case scenarios, but the whole dynamic of the procedure to the actual outcome, I was much more relaxed on the day of the surgery.

Take this story for keeping yourself safe from skin cancer by visiting your health professional and catching that innocent looking colorless mole early, yet also realize that certain words when used in a marketing campaign will get the reaction they are looking for in order to convince you this product will prevent all the bad things that can happen....or take your money for a less than reputable cause based on a phony premise.

I say fight the urge to believe those that spread this rhetoric, since fear should never be a motivator for making a personal decision in our lives. Because....in the end, facts are all we have at the end of the day.

Cheers! Now off to wash my hair since I had to keep the area dry for the first couple of days....nothing better than fresh, clean hair.

wordless wednesday: slow food

slow food: slow roast chicken dinner, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

It is possible.
a discussion
the 'how to'
a year of slow cooking with links to crock pot stock making :)

do you know where you're going to?

and more importantly, who else knows where you are heading?


I've noticed an interesting stream of thought in my twitterverse recently relating to geolocation and social media, and it's not all "rah rah, jump on board". Much the opposite, it's sounding a note of caution and common sense especially for women. The app Foursquare is all about a bit of social media fun; you can play the game by announcing where you are in your locale ... and thus find new friends in the same neighbourhood. At the recent Social Media Camp held in Victoria, attendees were urged to sign in to Foursquare en masse to earn some kind of geolocatory accolade for biggest swarm. I did take a peek but didn't join in when I saw how intrusive a Foursquare account might be.

I've been aware of geotagging and similar since opening my flickr account. Any image you upload can be tagged with its point of origin - so far I've avoided doing this. Although my rough geographical location is available to any amateur internet sleuth, why make it any easier? A lot of my photographs are of home and family. In addition, I run an online business - people can find me if they dig. They can match locales with my images but I'm not going to hand them the shovel.

I've also noticed the privacy issues surrounding Facebook, and more recently Etsy (where sellers have been encouraged to sign off with their real names to "establish credibility and engender trust", regardless of how much anonymity they feel safe with). It seems that every account you open for whichever service online wants a piece of your www DNA ..... but did you know that these services are not shy about spreading it far and wide too?

The two tweets which piqued my interest directed me to reasons why people are deleting their Foursquare accounts. (side note: bleh! if someone can show me how to directly link to the actual tweets i'd be v grateful). Some don't think it adds value to their online experience, others worry about Facebook's new geolocator (which I am opting out of as fast as a guin can piss on the floor) but others (women), and this is what scares me most, have reported unpleasant creepy interactions with strangers who know both who they are, and where to find them. Not.nice (not sensible either).

On a slight tangent but still on the privacy kick, guess what happens when you link your smartphone up with your social media? It blew me away but suddenly I have the email addresses and phone numbers of everyone I am linked to Facebook. OK it's the same info as I can find on Facebook itself but suddenly it's there, mobile in my hand and on my phone. Am I the only person who finds this uncomfortable? If I post from my smartphone to a blog or wherever it can also broadcast my location with the entry. I can turn it off but I'm still getting my location broadcast randomly (and reassuringly wrongly too, about 15km away).

It's enough to make me not trust the technology. Now, I've spent my adult life trying to remember what my parents said about stranger danger - this new online social media world is a whole different piece of cake. Personal vulnerability can be broadcast to any number of observers at the click of a button, and with ease. I don't think it's sensible to make the job any easier for those who wish to do harm.

Interestingly, I'm becoming more aware of how fortunate my own exploration into this 'new' online world in advance of my son's immersion might be. A lot of parents I speak to have no idea how Facebook (the big bogey man) works, let alone twitter, 4SQ or whatever. With any luck I can stay ahead of the curve for a while and might be marginally more clued up than him; maybe for enough time to steer him into these uncharted waters safely.

Sooooo ..... is it only me having the nightmares about social media and children? or does using social media mean checking your common sense in at the door?

The Top 20 Things I Learned While Living in Paris- #13 Look Presentable Always

Yes the last few beauty and style themed posts have all been leading up to this with the simple message: look presentable always.

Do you remember the story of my sweatpants with the hole in the knee? Madame Chic’s shock and dismay at the sight of them? Many lessons came out of that embarrassing incident (at least something good came out of it!) and the most important one was simple: look presentable always.

I remember once seeing Madame Chic as she was about to pop down the street for a baguette. Before she left she checked her appearance in the mirror and applied lipstick. It was a small gesture, but one that was duly noted.

Every component comes together for the French woman to look her best at any given moment. She is dressed well (easy to do with their 10 item wardrobe) and she is always well groomed.

Looking presentable always is not to be confused with ‘high maintenance’. You are less likely to see a French woman running late because it took her an hour to do her makeup and flat iron her hair. Pas du tout. They have their look down so well- that they put together an outfit quickly (without agonizing over what to wear), have a simple haircut that is easy to style and very minimal makeup (nothing too elaborate… you know- le no makeup look!).

You wouldn’t see a French woman walking the dog in her pajamas or in line at the boulangerie wearing tattered old yoga clothes. She won’t be dressed to the nines either- she will just look… pretty and presentable.

My tips for looking presentable always?

Avoid telling yourself you’re ‘just going to the grocery store’ (or wherever it is you happen to be going) as an excuse to look like a complete frump. You may think you won’t see anyone you know- but trust me, you will. You’ll see your ex-lover and your frenemy. Even if you don’t see someone you know- you should want to look good for yourself.

Don’t tempt yourself to be frumpy- throw out any clothes that are over worn, damaged, or unflattering (remember to only use the best things you have). There is no excuse for holding on to bad clothes- they serve no purpose and even if you live alone, you shouldn’t wear them.

For traveling wear comfortable clothes that are also chic- black leggings and a dolman sleeve top paired with ballet flats and a pashmina, for example, are equally comfortable to a track suit- and so much more presentable… and who knows… you might even be upgraded to first class!

If you must walk the dog in your pajamas (which, I'm not going to lie, I have been known to do on a few occasions) put an overcoat or long sweater on and perhaps a scarf and no one will ever know (OK I confess, I do this every morning)...

Break out of the mentality of ‘saving things’. Do you have a new blouse but you haven’t worn it yet because you are saving it for a special occasion? Well if that special occasion comes by all means wear it, but in the meantime wear it to your dentist appointment… after all, you are worth it.

Looking presentable always is simply a matter of respect- of respect for yourself- for people you love and for everyone that comes in contact with you.

Won’t you stay tuned for #12?


If you find yourself in France during the Spring, it's really worth it to take a trip to Giverny to see Monet's home. The gardens are spectacular (see above picture) and the inside of his home is filled with Japanese prints, which the famous artist loved to collect...

Sunday diversions

Spending Sunday at the Port Moody Rock and Gem Show with the Wee Guy while mr ebb gets his 'lycra and the lads' Sunday morning cycle run in.
This (the rock and gem show) is an annual tradition - he gets to smash a rock and decorate another while I catch up with a friend and hunt out some interesting cabs. We also get a peek inside the workshop and I continue to hope he'll eventually get the lapidary bug (cheap source of cabs for me).
How did your Sunday morning go?

See and download the full gallery on posterous

smashing pumpkins

pumpkin patch 2010, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

Over at Mommypotamus you can share the story of how you gathered your little pumpkin .... remembering the 'then' sometimes makes the parenting 'now' seem just that little bit easier :)

friday forte: ..... dudette - it's saturday

surviving yet another pro D day; playing pokemon from the sofa

.. and Saturday evening too! What gives (friday forte, my a** - to paraphrase John Malkovitch in Red)?

Well, I did warn you!

This week I have been working my little buns off (insert whichever metaphor is your choice) and Have Achieved Much;

• (this one's the biggie) Christmas inventory for two bricks and mortars (as opposed to online shops) completed - labelled, inventoried and ready to deliver (shop handmade, shop local folks!)
• lovely chat with potential retail and teaching venture in the big smoke
• I CAN SPEAK ENGLISH
• hoovered stairs (not really bragworthy but they needed doing)
• survived one Pro D Day, with migraine, in style (SD43 - please reconsider putting so many damn staff training days in before christmas - I have it on good authority they spend their time making hanging baskets anyway)
• sundry stuff (which means I have forgotten .....)

this is what pro D days do to you

However, in this mad blinding rush of human efficiency I have missed Self Portrait Thursday so now you will never know what I was thinking on Thursday ..... and I've also forgotten :)
I missed my nominal day off too (which I've been trying to schedule in).
I missed one day of work (see Pro D day above).
I missed out on exercise so cannot justify a blondie or delicious homebake at Cafe Divano (my reason for life itself)(and a great place to get some work done, eh?).


a little something i made this week (it's going to the Blackberry Gift Shop for the Christmas Marketplace)

To make up somehow we have ended up with not one but two mortgages on our house (?) for our renewal.
And we had a 'little chat' with the Wee Guy's teachers re: his behaviour in class (le sigh).

I seem to have mislaid my midlife crisis somewhere .....

Ingredients: Topical Application versus Ingestion

Clearing Up The Confusion

It is a never ending cycle of assisting customers with clearing up their confusion on certain ingredients and the interpretations put out there by many bloggers or forums filled with those who really don't know what they are talking about, or the undue panic they cause others through their rhetoric.



In recent weeks, I have dealt with concern, fret, and paranoia brought about by those who enjoy making up stories and trying to take ingredients, whole or in part, and make them sound as bad as getting the bubonic plague.



Through the continuing education provided by my articles and references to Personal Care Truth and their ongoing science based research publications, we are creating a constructive exchange between client and manufacturer over ingredients used within the beauty industry.



Personal Care Truth since their launch in May of 2010, has had nearly 3 Million visitors. (UPDATE: August 20, 2011, Over 8 million.) This is very telling and conveys that consumers want facts, not fiction.



Does Ingestion Of Ingredients Extrapolate To Topical Application?



Our most recent concerned client was worried about our use of Boron Nitride in our mineral makeup because she had read on the internet, in a single blog article, regarding the possibility of it increasing testosterone levels in her body. Of course, yet again, this is a blog that was written by another cosmetics company with absolutely no science based research, which is no longer in business BTW, yet the article remains for all infinity, spreading its conjectures....of course it does.



They also disclaimed the use of Squalane since it comes from sharks....(cruelty factor). However, they clearly don't know their science since squalane is actually a derivative of squalene and can be 100% derived from Olives. It is shown to be excellent for protecting us from the aging process, and purported for its' healing benefits to chronic skin conditions, and is closely related to our own natural sebum, whereby assisting with reducing over production of the element which contributes to acne. So sharks do not have to be used primarily in creating the cosmetic squalane (squalene).



Hyaluronic Acid was another one they attacked based on grounds of animal cruelty since it is their belief it is extracted from animals....again, it can be vegan friendly and derived from the fermentation of yeast. It is a natural compound found in human tissue and we lose the ability to reproduce it as we age. When used topically, it penetrates deeply into the surface of the skin, boosting the hydration and elasticity of the skin. It also protects the skin from free radical damage which creates sun spots though oxygenation of membrane cells. It retains high levels of water against skin and adjusts to humidity in the air helping skin to look and feel plumper all day, making this an exceptional skincare ingredient.



So this blogger lambasted not only Boron Nitride, Squalane and Hyaluronic Acid under false pretenses, but a slew of otherwise very safe ingredients which they had decided would not be in their cosmetics for whatever reason they chose to suit their marketing needs, and for solidarity as a supposed signer to the compact for safe cosmetics...(which I checked, yet could not locate at the site). Fabrication of convoluted facts or half truths through an ideology they possessed as a business, is not the same as showing the science, but is strictly self promotional....and repugnant!



Of course after reading this article myself, I certainly understood her concern because as a woman and a consumer, she would not necessarily wish to elevate testosterone levels, but a man might wish for this boost, especially as he ages. Fortunately, there is absolutely no correlation of boron nitride, as this article tried to imply "boron" as being one in the same, whereby increasing testosterone in the body. But again, with this article, damage was done to an individual that was looking to our industry for some facts, yet only found someone who was basing the foundation of their business on negative campaigning....which we fondly refer to as the "chicken little syndrome."



The inference in the article, is it can also be absorbed through the skin in topical application for a mutually described benefit or counter benefit, depending on your point of view. However in all subsequent data, boron is strictly referenced as a dietary supplement. How in the world this cosmetics company owner took the oral component and extrapolated it into a problem for a topical cosmetic ingredient, simply astounds me....never mind the fact that Boron and Boron Nitride are not the same thing at all...



It is clear, once boron nitride is created out of chemical synthesis, it becomes an entirely new ingredient, changing the composition of the ingredient borax (boron) which is used in manufacturing it.



Now what I tell my customers that locate these seemingly obscure articles, fact check and then check some more, and always challenge the data that is presented, especially in any article created by an "anti" blogger or a self promoting cosmetics company with an axe to grind against the synthetic chemical industry or as a marketing tool.



Common Sense Analogy: If our body could assimilate all ingredients that are applied to the skin, then we could get drunk by sticking our hand in a glass of liquor or get our caffeine jolt by bathing in our coffee instead of drinking it...... we could rub the tetanus on our arm instead of taking it by injection. Just think, Botox would no longer need to be injected, we could simply rub it on our faces.



In the land of Shangri La this would all be wonderful especially since I hate needles. But the fact remains, if we wish to affect a true, lasting change to our bodies, it must be injected or ingested.



For those that may say, "but what about those chemical patches worn on the skin?" Again, do not equate this as the same since these are drugs which are created through nano science and a cosmetic ingredient is primarily created with a micron size at 5 to 10 or higher, making it impossible to permeate into the blood brain barrier, much less beyond the epidermis layer.



Side Note: Some essential oils can be penetrating into the dermis layer, utilized for their known healing benefits.



The same thing applies to many allergies. Something you ingest may cause a severe reaction outwardly, such as with those who have celiac disease (allergy to gluten) for example, but according to the Mayo Clinic, this does not translate to causing a similar reaction to that same ingredient being applied to the skin since gluten cannot be absorbed through the skin.



Just The Facts Please



Hexagonal Boron Nitride is an inert, inorganic, non toxic mineral that is a compound made from Boron; an essential plant nutrient, and is an ultra-trace mineral which is found in fruits and vegetables which is taken up from the soil they are grown in. It is found in abundance in the Mineral Ore, Borax which through synthesis with Nitrogen creates Boron Nitride. BN powders have been found in Independent Laboratory Studies to have shown it to be extremely safe for use in cosmetics worldwide.



Furthermore, as much as I don't care for the EWG and the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, or the fact the Skin Deep Database is their "go to" place for providing skewed data, as I live and breathe, they actually rate Boron Nitride at a bit fat "0". Furthermore, it has been shown to NOT BE bio-accumulative or to be an environmental toxin. I guess one could theorize that if it is not an environmental concern to EWG, no point looking at it from a cosmetic perspective.



Of course, I don't rely on this database or their significant data gaps, but the fact that they fabricate so much detrimental evidence without the scientific research to support it against many otherwise safe ingredients, it was a surprise to see this rating....but then again with extensive research on this ingredient, there is absolutely no scientific data reflecting any toxicity to the body when used as a cosmetic ingredient for topical application....so there is nothing for them to report.



The Ingested Supplement With Component Of Boron (click through)



Boron by itself is used in oral supplements for health benefits and may be a catalyst to increasing testosterone, yet no actual human studies have been performed to equate the two. However, this is an element found in body building supplements on the premise this ingredient will do just that. So increasing testosterone is in and of itself, not a "dangerous" issue, but a desired effect by some. But it is clear that cosmetics are geared toward women, so to make this association, is grasping at straws in an attempt to elevate a concern over something that simply is not even relevant. Plus, there are also parameters by which to use this supplement, and safety and efficacy is not yet proven.



Boron is required by your body in trace amounts for proper metabolism of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus. Boron helps brain function, healthy bones, and can increase alertness.



As boron is not yet considered an essential nutrient for humans, it is not clear whether deficiencies occur. However, diets that are low in fruit, vegetables, legumes, and nuts provide less boron than diets that contain more of these foods.



It's found in raisins, prunes, and nuts and are generally excellent sources of boron. Fruit (other than citrus), vegetables, and legumes also typically contain significant amounts. Actual amounts vary widely, depending upon boron levels in soil where the food is grown.



If one is truly concerned about boron elevating testosterone (yet to be factually proven) then one could surmise these otherwise extremely healthy foods should be cut from the diet. However, the removal of the anticarcinogenic and antimutagenic benefit these antioxidant rich foods offer for the human body, would pose detrimental issues more grave than an insignificant trace element of boron, whereby opening us up to far more dangerous assaults on our bodies....this is referred to as checks and balances in our daily lives.





Know And Understand The Differences



Significant and measurable changes made to the body are reflected through either ingestion or injection, since both routes of delivery allow for the ingredient(s) to infiltrate the blood brain barrier, with the exception of some nano sized particles.



Something you apply to the skin CANNOT and will not affect the body with any significant change, and only provides a temporary change to our outward appearance each time we use it. Cumulative effects occur through continual use, yet stop the use of your favorite skincare product and the skins' appearance returns to its' original state before using the product.



However, take something internally or through injection, these will show in our appearance outwardly, whether as an improvement or as deterioration of our cells since the blood supply fuels every cell of our being.



Examples of outward effects to the body based on internal consumption:



Abusing Drugs and Alcohol

Smoking

Poor Diet

Over Eating

Lack of Hydration or the opposite

Vitamin Rich Supplements

Diet Rich In Fruits and Veggies

Aspirin Regimen

Protein Drinks

Botox Injections

Insulin Injections

Etc. etc.....



Some companies try to claim ingredients penetrate our skin and alter our DNA, as the unmitigated truth.....ahh..... if only THIS were true, because this is not necessarily a bad thing since it could actually make us healthier and stronger than past generations. To reiterate, life would be easier since we would no longer need vaccines or take oral medications, or inject insulin, we simply could apply it topically to our skin....and life would be heaven....unfortunately, this is not the reality we live with everyday. Only with the innovative discovery of nano science technology utilized in some areas of medicine, are we able to reduce some of the hassle of receiving meds.



However, rubbing Aspirin on our skin isn't going to make that headache go away or thin the blood to prevent a heart attack or stroke without ingesting it.



Bathing in a tub of water is certainly not going to hydrate the body, but can actually cause deterioration of skin if one should stay in the water too long....let alone the fact you'll die of thirst waiting for that to happen.



Any Questions?



So I hope now the confusion is cleared, that something you ingest for health benefit will not extrapolate to something you apply to your skin or vice versa. Ingredients applied directly to the skin can bring about excellent results for which it is intended at the skin level, even reaching the dermis with certain ingredients, but the blood brain barrier is rarely, if ever, affected.

Wordless Wednesday: evening sunshine

See and download the full gallery on posterous

hoobloodyray

pumpkin patch 2010, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

This morning's little adventure involved a short commute, a medium length wait outside a computer lab (in which my nerves ran amok), an even shorter period in front of a computer followed by elation, then relief.

This morning it was confirmed that yes, I do speak English. In fact I speak English well enough to be educated in English and can thus proceed with my college application. The fact that I have so far receive all my education in English is apparently not that important.

This is a great reassurance to me since I do not speak any other language (seeing as I took sciences back at High School in Scotland which is, by the way, officially a monolingual country, and apparently could not accommodate language skills with science in the school curriculum) and thus failing a test of English would have been quite a blow to my self esteem.

Failing an English language assessment at this stage in my life would indeed cause me to question how I have managed to gain a graduate degree, a PhD and all my High School exam certificates ..... all taught in the English language (which by now you will understand is the only language I speak) during my education in Great Britain (monolingual apart from bits of Wales, a few villages in Cornwall and the elevated or island-y parts of Scotland).

Without wishing to hammer the point home (but I will nonetheless), failing to speak the only language I've grown up speaking would ..... render me speechless ....

..... which is I'm sure what you are wishing on me now :)

PS: I got 120/120 for the reading comprehension so I understand wot is wrote too. Yay me :)

The Top 20 Things I Learned While Living in Paris- #14 Define Your True Style

If you are anything like me your closet has at one time or another showcased a rather schizophrenic wardrobe. Bohemian, preppy, urban and god knows what other looks have all been in there in the ultimate attempt to find my true style. The question is- when does the searching stop?

French women really seem to know their style and stick with it. Madame Chic had her signature look down- she was very conservative and liked cashmere sweaters, A-line skirts and flats. She was completely comfortable and at ease in her look.

Madame Bohemienne’s style was entirely hers as well. She loved (can you guess?) bohemian-style, flowy skirts and three quarter sleeve tops. She rarely strayed from her look. Both of these women knew who they were and were completely comfortable with it. I can’t imagine either one of them standing in front of their wardrobe- frazzled because they couldn’t decide what to wear.

It has taken me a while to find and define my style- what I’m comfortable in. I would define my style as ‘French Minimalism’. I like classic looks for daytime like skinny jeans, polo shirts, striped bateau tops, wayfarers, a-line skirts, cashmere sweaters, cropped blazers, ballet flats. I like my clothes to be simple and very well made- and I don’t wear very many accessories (hence the minimalism). Think A.P.C., Lacoste and J. Crew.

Eveningwear is a different story- I like to glam it up a bit. Black skinny pants, blazers, silk tops, dresses and heels. Think Diane von Furstenberg, Nanette Lepore, BCBG. I feel comfortable in these clothes and confident navigating the world in them.

Now that I have (finally) investigated and found my true style I save so much money and time. I basically ignore the trends and stick with what I know and like. Clothes shopping is a joy. I just see what my favorite brands put out each season and purchase a few key elements to enhance and supplement my wardrobe.

Finding my true style didn’t happen quickly. But I must admit living in Paris and observing French women in their chic, minimalistic clothing certainly planted the seed.

I would love to know… how do you define your true style?


Won’t you stay tuned for #13?


The Seine is pictured above... isn't it beautiful?

Best Way to Get Rid of Acne

You know I don’t think a day goes by when someone doesn’t ask me what is the best way to get rid of acne? You would think after all this time I’d have a pat answer or maybe even have a business card with the answer printed on it. But I don’t and if you have any suggestions or better still know the answer, please pass it along.

But, don’t tell me popping pimples and squeezing blackheads is the best way to get rid of acne. Running the risk of permanent acne scarring doesn’t seem like a reasonable trade off. Your acne really isn’t going to be less noticeable and it’s not going to really heal any faster. Besides if that’s the best response mankind has come up with then... well… I have nothing I can say.

I’m not trying to be crass, I’m just frustrated. I wish someone would come up with a best way to get rid of acne so I could do it tonight and wake up tomorrow with clear skin and never have to worry about my blackheads, pimples and zits again. I don’t care if it’s a pill or a cream, an exercise that involves walking backwards on my hands down a crowded street while I whistle Queen’s We Are the Champions. I just want to know the best way to get rid of acne.

Alas, after all these years I know it just doesn’t work that way. What works for me may not have the slightest effect on you and vice versa. We can put a man on the moon, but we can’t get this crater off the middle of a forehead! Little kids are starting to stare and point while they shout “Cyclopes”! Washing my face with cold water and massaging my skin with an ice cube closes my pores and prevents bacteria from accumulating. It works wonders for me and is a technique that I use often. For others closing your pores and not allowing them to drain is just what you don’t need. It’s just so frustrating!

With that in mind I guess I’ll just post some rid acne home remedies that work for me. I hope some of them will work for you too.

The juice of a cucumber acts as an excellent toner and will cool and calm your skin.

Rub a raw tomato slice over your skin. Leave it on for a few minutes then rinse. Tomato has excellent astringent and cooling properties.

Ice cubes rubbed on your skin will tighten your pores and can reduce inflammation.

Cut raw garlic rubbed over blemishes can be very effective. Due to its active sulfur content it makes an excellent and natural antibiotic.

Steep sage in some hot water, allow to cool and apply

Apple cider vinegar is a good skin toner

The above natural tips have helped me over the years and are among my favorites that have produced positive results. I thought I’d pass them along to you. Especially if your outbreak is mild, try these natural treatments and see if you have any success with them. They can’t hurt you and you will nourish your skin in the process; regardless of how your acne is affected. The only repercussion you might have is a strong smell of garlic salad permeating from your skin. . Who knows maybe one or two of them will become your best way to get rid of acne.

friday forte: plans and intentions

hard at work at the bench

I think I can leave the mid-life crisis to chug along by itself for a while and concentrate On Other Things. For one, Christmas is coming up and I've recklessly booked up for not one but five craft fairs (three of them are all-weekenders). High on my priority list is creating enough inventory for them, and also for the two craft boutiques plus a couple of gallery exhibitions I've committed to. It's all good business sense ....... but I'm getting a little antsy about how much I have to do.

This is in addition to managing the social media and blogging for the artist's society, and undertaking a re-write/revamp of a local non-profit website (... there aren't enough hours in the day .... wail).

I've also applied for a diploma course (part time only - I'm not completely nuts) in professional writing (anything to justify the amount of time I spend online!) so I have an English assessment to schedule (to prove, as a monoglot UK dweller, that I can speak the language) then (if all goes well) a portfolio to pull together and a group interview to prep for.

In summary, I really do need to ruthlessly timetable my days, plus plan out a business strategy to boot. As well as committing to cover two days per week after-school care (which is when I plan to do most of my work I guess), my business will also potentially be funding college courses ..... I've done the sums and they don't look too bad (and this is where I start pitching the "buy my carp" message .... I'll try not to ..... I'll be at Canzine West on Saturday hawking my wares .....). My business needs to make obscenely huge amounts of  some money.

In translation (sob) that I need to cut down on my online "frittering" time (adiós twitter) and "up" the creating time. I need to blog more efficiently here by writing/scheduling posts in advance (my collection of mobile tools will help), I need to blog more there to market my work, I really ought to tend to my online shops more efficiently (they do need weeding), and streamline the domestic stuff (monthly menus, sharing housework, etc.). I promise I will not be hard selling over here but expect more mentions of what I am up to "at the bench" (see above - there won't be any time left for parenting/housework/spousal crises).

Oh, and I want to fit in some snowboarding time when the snow hits .... am I being realistic? or do you want an email once I'm back on my usual pre-menopausal track? sign up below

SPT October 15th: what am i thinking about?

SPT October 15th, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

SPT = self portrait thursday, in which a bunch of Etsy sellers take pics of themselves and post online in a flickr group to stay in touch :)

(thinking) fashionista! thrifted Rocketdog boots, thrifted tunic, thrifted cardi, new haircut and leggings :)


(thinking) how can he be so grumpy in the morning? and how come I still have to remind him how to get ready for school when this is the third year of us doing the very same thing each morning?


(thinking) whee! it's component day - I get to put all these together! (will they be ready in time for this weekend's craft fair??)


(thinking) ugh! should have done this last night ....

(thinking) phew! another piece ready for a gallery show. but how much more do I have to make, have I got enough time (panic panic).


(thinking) how much longer? (mrs pig on the left was diagnosed recently with cystic kidneys. she's drinking a lot more than normal which means her kidney function is already compromised).

What Does "Dermatologist Tested" Or "Clinically Proven" Really Mean?

Really?!.....

After dealing with a head cold this past week, I spent many waking hours staring at the T.V. since sleep wasn't as important as trying to breathe. Thank goodness for nasal sprays!

Of course, what is on during the wee hours of the morning is the inundation of beauty and skincare products, weight loss programs, and the ever bubbly effervescence of exercise gurus. It is enough to turn your mind to mush and place you in a drooling stupor.

And when it comes to skincare and cosmetic claims...well let's just say, "if I had a dollar for every "clinically proven" or "dermatologist tested" claim I have seen, I would be retired right now, laying on a beach with a mai tai in my hand!"

The claims abound and the promises are made with so many different medical terms, convincing us we have just tuned into the next best thing since the sleeping pill. Sometimes the claim is so outlandish, I can't help but to bust out laughing.

The Ever Professional "Dermatologist Tested"

The definition of this term invariably means nothing, but is used to give credence to the claims of the product and to provide credibility to those who are selling the latest in their skincare invention. This presents that the product is the best and safe for use on all skin...... Now that's a broad term!

The term creates an illusion in the customers mind that a medical panel of dermatologists somewhere, has investigated the products thoroughly, and perhaps tried it over a period of time before coming to the conclusion of their endorsement.

However, literally all that may take place or is needed to state this claim, is a single dermatologist tests the product on their own skin or perhaps a patients skin, and if they don't have a reaction, they may endorse the product. If there is a reaction, well this would probably be chocked up to an assumption of being an oddity and would never be conveyed to an audience.

There is no panel of experts making this declaration.......Also, in many cases doctors may actually have a stake in the product they are supporting or they are a paid endorsement. This is something which is behind the scenes, so the consumer has no way of knowing the actual validity of the claim....but at least there is no LIE...since a dermatologist did test it....however subjective that opinion may be.

Oh, and by the way, be mindful of the endorser who sports the Ph.D. after their name.....yes they are a doctor with the earning of this title, but the question is, a doctor of what. The advertiser rarely makes this distinction to the audience.

A single study does not an accurate test make! As many of us know and have been victims of these ad campaigns, when we get the product delivered at our door, the eager anticipation overwhelms us. Then after a week or so we start to have a reaction or a breakout, only to end up returning the product once again when we discover the claims are bogus.

No ingredient can be 100% in not causing a skin reaction since everyone is different. There are skincare ingredients with a long history of being gentle for the majority of the population, but even then, some will still have a reaction. So unless the products were tested on a wide majority of the populace over an extended period of time, "dermatologist tested" is just more hyperbole in a jar!

But It Is Clinically Proven

Now this is a bit more of an insidious term. This gives the illusion there were product trials in some clinic, somewhere, at some time, proving the results they claim....Okay, let's go with that.

Now here is the challenge: Was it a double blind study?.....how many participants were in the study?....was a placebo used?....was it an independent study?

This is again another term which means absolutely nothing in the above questioned context.

Double Blind Study: a scientific experiment where some of the persons involved are prevented from knowing certain information that might lead to conscious or unconscious bias on their part, invalidating the results.

Number Of Participants: numbers are important to a study in order to see the best results and learn the percentages of those showing improvement or not. Some products make claims like in 65% to 80% of women, they saw a visible improvement...etc. What kind of improvement?....and 65% to 80% of 10 women or 10,000 women. Numbers mean everything when dealing with this term since percentages may drop drastically when spread out over vast numbers.

Using A Placebo: without the use of a placebo, it can never be shown whether the perceived results may have been an emotional reaction rather than an actual result to the product. Many people can believe they see improvement, when in actuality nothing has taken place except in the minds eye of the participant, and it is why this type of testing is used in the creation of new drugs.

Independent Study: Peer review is most important to determining actual validity to the claims made. Best studies are performed by those with no financial gain or interest in the product being promoted....such as a leading University or independent lab for an extended period of time.

This last point is a type of study (experiment) in humans which evaluates a diagnostic or therapeutic product. Typically clinical studies go through Phase I (safety), Phase II (initial efficacy and dosing), and Phase III (large scale studies assessing both safety and efficacy and may represent a pivotal study that provides exacting results.) This type of clinical study is similar for a new drug coming to market and is FDA approved.

By this terminology here, it is clear to see the costs incurred would be huge and why drug companies for instance spends hundreds of thousands of dollars to bring a new pharmaceutical to the market. A cost most beauty and skincare product companies are unwilling to incur, but the term "clinically proven" sure drives the point home since this is what we equate this statement to represent in the last example.

The truth of the matter is, most studies are controlled and performed by the brands own lab researchers or the products namesake, which means, the studies can be limited in order to create the desired effect the brand seeks.

More Shill Than Fact

When dealing with the scenarios I laid out, it is clear to see how these two descriptive terms will invoke the emotion which drives us to purchase. But the reality is, it is all marketing hype and many of the participants shown are the very best test subjects they found to convince you of their products ability to do incredible things.....and the underlying motivation of those that participate is unknown and anyone's guess...but in most cases it is a monetary one, and in others, perhaps it is to get their 15 minutes of fame.

Proving My Point: I actually witnessed a woman using a liquid makeup on the shopping channel and when they placed it near her eyes with sponge application, her eyes began to tear and flowed down her face like an endless stream. They quickly tried to dry it up with a tissue, but her eyes just kept flowing....

Camera - pan right - to the snake oil salesperson who now distracts the audience (hoping the audience didn't notice, I'm sure) with her now completely unbelievable hype, while the woman with the reaction gets replaced with a new model. So much for "clinically proven" or "dermatologist tested"....as clearly this one woman had a severe and immediate reaction to something in this cosmetic....and it only takes "one" and shows that not a single product on the market is 100% perfection. But on a side note, I found the whole presentation became disingenuous when there was no concern for this stoic models apparent discomfort....ugh...it's all about that sale!

Equate This To Drugs

If all this testing really occurred to the level of a drug study, then you would see the cosmetic then be transformed into an OTC (over the counter) drug and their monographs would be represented as such through the FDA. This would be label declarations of "active" ingredients, dosage, side effects and warning labels.

But of course this is never the case for these products on early morning television or on your favorite shopping network....and most have the disclaimer, "results not typical" or "results may vary". Only on an infomercial are these statements ever present. If the results were truly unequivocal to being fact, then these statements would not be necessary since they essentially have created a drug in skincare or a cosmetic product, and the manufacturer would shout it from the rooftop, along with the claims flashing on the t.v. screen in red, I'm sure.....I know I would!

Furthermore, the FDA does not recognize these two terms and gives no weight or merit to them. Short of the FDA approved clinical studies, this sales pitch is nothing more than product fluff!

The Only Declaration That Matters: American Academy of Dermatology

Headquartered in Schaumburg, Ill., the American Academy of Dermatology (Academy), founded in 1938, is the largest, most influential, and most representative of all dermatologic associations. With a membership of more than 16,000 physicians worldwide, the Academy is committed to: advancing the diagnosis and medical, surgical and cosmetic treatment of the skin, hair and nails; advocating high standards in clinical practice, education, and research in dermatology; and supporting and enhancing patient care for a lifetime of healthier skin, hair and nails. The Academy does not endorse or recommend any products or services. The AAD SEAL OF RECOGNITION® recognizes over-the-counter products with review of independent testing results by an independent scientist and a panel of dermatologists to verify that the products meet stringent, evidence-based criteria. For more information, contact the Academy at 1-888-462-DERM (3376) or www.aad.org.

Their recognition is the only one that matters in dealing with the stringent guidelines for providing excellence and supporting marketing claims of over the counter drugs. Their main focus is on skin cancer and sunscreen products.

Take Heed

So now you have the undeniable facts behind these two statements and hopefully will be a bit wiser when making a future purchase based on the next "fountain of youth" product claim.

Even I have been advised by marketers when introducing my skincare or mineral makeup line to market, to master the art of technological verbiage to promote my products....and believe it or not, I cringed when I heard their ideas....I simply cannot go there and bluster or espouse overblown terms to make my products seem more innovative than they are, even though most of our formulations are unique.

I love my products and the benefits they offer to my customers' skin. I made sure the ingredients I selected had a history of safety and efficacy, and then tested the finished products on volunteers (no animal testing here) to make sure the risk of irritation factors were minimal to non existent...again nothing is 100%. However, the proof is in the proverbial pudding, and that is only shown through the unpaid testimonials of those that have tried them and seen for themselves how they actually benefit their skin.

Base your opinions on the trial you see for yourself from any product....and if the ingredients look excellent, don't tend to pose an allergy risk for you, are beneficial, and it makes your skin look and feel better, then that is the only end result one is looking for..... and no hype or sales pitch will ever replace the actual results....good or bad.

Cheers!

wordless wednesday: random acts

See and download the full gallery on posterous

thanksgiving

Oh ... and Happy Thanksgiving. We celebrate late in this house - there's no family to descend on (us), no big meals (heck! we're not even canadian in anything other than certificate), and for domestic efficiency, any cooking of birds is done at the end of the weekend so the afters last into the busy times (I'm sneaky).

But I'm still appreciative. The sun shone and so did the son. He rode his bike properly for the First Time Ever, just as mr ebb and I were beginning to lose hope. I mentioned maple leaves on the other blog (in a rabid attempt to sell some of them).

.... and then ...

Me: So, I'm running the dying laptop on Ubuntu right now.
Lil' Sis (on other end of skype connection): Ubuntu?
Me: It's like the last hope for dying computers, when they're too sick to cope with anything else. It's like Windows Incredibly Lite, and doesn't really run anything. Any attempt to run a Windows program is met with a polite refusal or "ooh, we've never thought of that before!"
Lil' Sis: Ubuntu ..... it sounds like that drink thing we used to get ..... what was it called? Um Bongo
Me: Um Bongo! It had a really wild advert on telly about "drinking it in the congo" ... totally colonial, not a hope these days
Lil' Sis: "Um Bongo, Um Bongo, they drink it in the congo" (laughing). Wish I could remember it a bit more.
Me: I'm sure it's on YouTube .... anyway (pause as skype breaks down again, insert obligatory "are you still there?" comments) Happy Thanksgiving.
Lil' Sis (no longer puzzled by quaint Canadian festivities, bless her): Happy Thanksgiving - I suppose I should be sorting out an plane ticket soon. How's the turduckenpigdonkey thing going?
Me: Ugh! I finally caught sight of one on a friend's twitter stream - all I can say is never.
Lil' Sis (laughs)
Me: However, we are having turduckenpigdonkeygiraffeelephanthippo for Christmas (more laughter) .... it's sharing a room with you. Is that OK? I thought it could have one bed and you could have the other. I'd need to turn the heating down though and open the windows (more laughter) and pray that the bears were hibernating .....
Lil' Sis (still laughing): and a line of prawns down the backbone
Me: Ah, seafood .....but I'm not saying which backbone.
(mucho laughter and danger of knicker-wetting)
Lil' Sis: Yes, I'm sure it will be on YouTube
Me: You, get your tickets sorted.

..... and it was! Happy Thanksgiving (here's to a wicked sense of Brit humour).

The Top 20 Things I Learned While Living in Paris- #15 Le No Makeup Look

Le no makeup look is one of my favorite beauty tricks I learned while living in Paris. (If you couldn’t already tell… I write about it all the time!)

As you know one of my favorite activities in Paris was to sit for hours at a café with a cappuccino and people-watch. And while French men were very fun to observe (for other reasons)- I equally enjoyed watching the women- who, for the most part, all looked polished, yet natural. Were they wearing makeup or weren’t they? It was hard to tell but their cheeks had a natural glow, their eyes slightly defined and lips a pretty, earthy shade. I came to the conclusion that what I was observing was le no makeup look and its many variations.

I love the idea of this look and so wholeheartedly embrace it because before I discovered le no makeup look, makeup application was a bit intimidating to me. I either wore a lot of it (for going out at night) or I didn’t wear any at all- there was no in between . I never really knew how to translate makeup for day while still being tasteful.

What is so genius about the look is that it subtlety enhances your beauty- just enough to give you confidence and a certain polish. It says ‘I am a natural beauty, have great taste and am too busy with important things (like philosophizing and romancing!) to worry about applying an entire face of meticulous makeup”...

I started to experiment with my daytime look while living in Paris by emulating the fresh faced women I observed every day and I continue to cultivate and refine the look to this very day.

The following are my three favorite variations of Le No Makeup Look:

Au Natural- This look is extremely subtle. It includes a light foundation to even out the skin (either powder or tinted moisturizer), blush, mascara and a neutral lip color. It is just enough to give you a pretty, professional polish but also looks completely natural. This takes no time to apply and is a great look for everyday- for when you just want to feel pulled together.

Defined Eye- This variation boasts a defined eye and neutral lip. It uses the same process as Au Natural but employs my favorite makeup product- eyeliner. This look is very gamine- very Parisian and suggests that the wearer is chicer than the average person. She simply got out of bed, tied her hair back, slicked on some eyeliner and went about her day! (Whether that is true or not. In my case it takes a bit longer to get ready but you do get the idea).

Defined Lip- This variation showcases a defined lip (red maybe?) and neutral eye. It would include powder, blush a bold color lipstick (berries, mauves or reds) and a neutral eye (no eyeliner- just mascara). This look is more romantic and clearly draws attention to the mouth- perfect for when you are feeling passionate, whimsical or adventurous. It also suggests that you have better things to do than carefully apply makeup everyday, but that you are feminine enough to not forget your lipstick!

Voilà my top three Le No Makeup Look variations. Even now with the baby I manage to do one of these variations a day. What with the dark circles currently under my eyes and less than radiant skin it helps to keep me feeling beautiful and is quite fun to channel my inner French girl. Charming!

Won’t you stay tuned for #14?

The above picture was taken of me in the gardens outside the Chateau de Versailles.

From Evernote:

In a former life

10 years ago I would have been at the conference on the second level - this year it was a social media conference which held my attention.

salsa (the salad, not the dance)

Another quick way to save time, save brain cells, and spice up mealtimes = theme night!
I bring you slightly Mexican night, since I would not claim any authenticity what so ever.

Salsa - the salad

• Dice a punnet of cherry or grape tomatoes (smaller ones are generally sweeter and therefore more acceptable to maturing palates). 
• Finely dice a quarter red onion and add to a bowl with the tomatoes.
• Add lime juice (approximately half a lime), chopped cilantro, salt and pepper to taste.

Guacamole - the spready stuff

• Mash one ripe avocado with juice from the other half of the lime.
• Add a teaspoonful of garlic puree or finely chop/crush a clove (whatever, to taste, eachto their own).
• Season if required. 
• Optional: add chopped cilantro, finely diced red or green onion
• Keep in an airtight dish until serving or it will go brown and provoke cries of "yuck" and general non-compliance :(

The more astute reader will note that the above dishes are merely sides. The feast can be completed with a do-it-yourself taco fest (ground beef chilli, or fajita-style chicken), ready-prepared enchillada, microwaved taquitoes or similar dishes, or even a tamale pie (spicey bean hot pot under a cornbread and cheese crust). If you're ambitious then chicken enchilladas are ridiculously simple to make at home. A couple of cooked chicken breasts shredded into a grated cheese, green salsa and cream sauce, and diced tomato mix makes a great filling. Arrange the filled soft tacos or similar in an oven-proof dish on a bed of more of the green salsa/cream sauce. Top with more sauce and Monterey Jack cheese. Bake at 385 F for approximately 20 minutes until bubbling. A dollop of plain yogurt always completes each serving.

bon appetit :)