So today's goal was to run 5-6 miles at the greenway. I woke up this morning with the intention of running, coming back home to shower, and then running errands. It didn't quite work out like that. I could not get myself to wake all the way up in time. I ended up running errands first, then getting back here close to noon.
I cleaned up my kitchen and front room, and then I got sleepy. I took a nap and by the time I got up, it was close to 3:30! I couldn't believe it. Now I was feeling, more than ever, like I did not want to run at all. But I knew I had to get it done. I did nothing yesterday.
I got dressed and headed over to the greenway. It was about 50 degrees, but the temp was dropping. I ran in a long sleeve shirt over my Thunder Road practice tee. By the time I got started it was about 4:30. When running by myself, I will only run out to the 1.5 marker and back, and then out and back to wherever I need to go to, to get my mileage in. The reason for this is, after about a 10th of the mile past the 1.5 marker, you cross a road and then end up on the "Research Park" area of the greenway. It's not paved (gravel and dirt), but it's also in the middle of the woods. If I'm going to make the 6pm news, I don't want it to be for coming up missing. It stays in the woods (and is not marked with mileage) until you get to the 2 3/4 mi point, at which it becomes paved again and is back in civilization. No thanks!
My plan was to keep this run between 10:30 - 11:00/mi, since I was going 6 miles. Apparently my body no longer wants to be anywhere near 11:00/mi, because I was definitely running faster than that. I haven't recalibrated Nike+ (I'm lazy, I may do it tomorrow), so I just kept checking the time every half mile to see what my pace was.
The first out and back was pretty good. It felt almost daunting to know that I had to do it again and had another 3 miles, but I kept pushing. After I got to mile 4, I was thinking that I'd slow up the pace to 11:00...but then it just got to the point where I wanted to get done, and I got some kind of second wind.
I finished the 6 miles in 1:01:14! That's a PR for me. I actually haven't run any 10K road races yet. But during half marathon training, we did complete some 6 mile runs, and I was doing well to finish those between 11:00 - 11:30. I'm psyched! If I'm doing the math correctly, I think that's a 10:13 pace? That's fast for me, especially at that distance. Did I mention that I'm psyched??
My Achilles, however, are not psyched. I have some serious stretching to do over the next few days. I need to go back to my therapy exercises. I would hate to make improvements and then get sidelined with an injury. Depending on how my legs feel in the morning, I will do a 3 mile recovery run.
Go me! :)
P.S. - did I mention that I have now coerced LDR into running? Matter of fact, I think he's signed up for 2 races (a 5K and I'm not sure about the second one). One he is going to run with his brother and his sister. Meanwhile, I am signed up for 0 races and need to do better. I keep trying to plant the "half marathon seed" in his mind, but he says he'll run a half as soon as I run a whole. Not! LOL
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Tuesday's Randomness
Yeah, so...I haven't had much to say that was cohesive. So I haven't blogged. But somehow, I can feel Serenity_23 giving me the side eye because I haven't blogged. :p
Let's see:
LOVE AND HAPPINESS: LDR will be here in 9 days. I need to plan some activities for us. But since I don't go out that much, this might be a challenge. I think I'll take him to House of Jazz, or maybe Wine Up. Would like to find a poetry reading in the area, or maybe some NeoSoul. I know we're going bowling, because he has thrown down the gauntlet, and I'll have to whoop his tail once or twice since he's talking smack. :)
RUN FORREST, RUN! I had two really great workouts this weekend! On Saturday I set out to run 5 miles. I guess I didn't get the memo, because none of the running group was there. It was sunny, but cold. I had my gear on and was ready to go. I ran the first three miles at a 10:07 pace. That's moving, for me. I felt a bit winded, so I walked fast for .25 mi to bring my heart rate back down some, then ran the last 2 at 10:13 pace. My left calf/Achilles started to get sore during the last two miles, and I just wanted to get it over with. But I'm proud I pushed myself to that pace. One day I'll be able to run it without the .25 walk in between.
On Sunday, I said that I was going to do a 3 mile recovery run at a slower pace. But something in my mind kept telling me that I was going too slow, and I ended up finishing in 30:27. Go me! I would like to do a 5K this year in which I finish in 30:00 or less. I think I can get that done. I'd like to run at least 4 miles today. We'll see how the weather holds up. I'd definitely like to run it outside and not on the treadmill. Hear my plea, Mother Nature!
CAN I GIVE THESE BACK? I've gained like 10 lbs over the last month or so. Not cool! These need to go back where they came from. Even if I concede that the elliptical has helped build some muscle in my legs, it's not all muscle. I can tell by my midsection. I feel like I need to do some type of cleanse to get rid of my cravings for sweets. I've started on my new Organic Life Vitamins, as well as my Chia Fresh Daily Fiber. I know I don't get enough fiber in my diet. I've found I hate this mixed with oatmeal, but love it in my smoothies. I need to figure out how to work in the second serving, as you need 2 tablespoons per day. I've also started my Barlean's Lemon Zest Omega Swirl Fish Oil. It actually does taste great! Unlike the Organic Life Vitamin which I simply CANNOT drink without mixing with a little bit of juice. Anywho, I'm trying to get my inside right, while I work on the outside.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YA: My BFF's birthday is on March 1. LDR's is on March 2. I'm not worried about him, 'cause I can give him his present when he gets here. I'm trying to figure out what to get my BFF. I don't want to just send her a gift card, although she loves NY & Co as much as I do. She's losing weight and I'm sure she could use some more items from there in her new size as well. Whatever I get her, has to be done between today and tomorrow so I can mail it in time for the 1st. Any suggestions?
That's all I got! Hope everything is A-OK in your world. :)
Let's see:
LOVE AND HAPPINESS: LDR will be here in 9 days. I need to plan some activities for us. But since I don't go out that much, this might be a challenge. I think I'll take him to House of Jazz, or maybe Wine Up. Would like to find a poetry reading in the area, or maybe some NeoSoul. I know we're going bowling, because he has thrown down the gauntlet, and I'll have to whoop his tail once or twice since he's talking smack. :)
RUN FORREST, RUN! I had two really great workouts this weekend! On Saturday I set out to run 5 miles. I guess I didn't get the memo, because none of the running group was there. It was sunny, but cold. I had my gear on and was ready to go. I ran the first three miles at a 10:07 pace. That's moving, for me. I felt a bit winded, so I walked fast for .25 mi to bring my heart rate back down some, then ran the last 2 at 10:13 pace. My left calf/Achilles started to get sore during the last two miles, and I just wanted to get it over with. But I'm proud I pushed myself to that pace. One day I'll be able to run it without the .25 walk in between.
On Sunday, I said that I was going to do a 3 mile recovery run at a slower pace. But something in my mind kept telling me that I was going too slow, and I ended up finishing in 30:27. Go me! I would like to do a 5K this year in which I finish in 30:00 or less. I think I can get that done. I'd like to run at least 4 miles today. We'll see how the weather holds up. I'd definitely like to run it outside and not on the treadmill. Hear my plea, Mother Nature!
CAN I GIVE THESE BACK? I've gained like 10 lbs over the last month or so. Not cool! These need to go back where they came from. Even if I concede that the elliptical has helped build some muscle in my legs, it's not all muscle. I can tell by my midsection. I feel like I need to do some type of cleanse to get rid of my cravings for sweets. I've started on my new Organic Life Vitamins, as well as my Chia Fresh Daily Fiber. I know I don't get enough fiber in my diet. I've found I hate this mixed with oatmeal, but love it in my smoothies. I need to figure out how to work in the second serving, as you need 2 tablespoons per day. I've also started my Barlean's Lemon Zest Omega Swirl Fish Oil. It actually does taste great! Unlike the Organic Life Vitamin which I simply CANNOT drink without mixing with a little bit of juice. Anywho, I'm trying to get my inside right, while I work on the outside.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YA: My BFF's birthday is on March 1. LDR's is on March 2. I'm not worried about him, 'cause I can give him his present when he gets here. I'm trying to figure out what to get my BFF. I don't want to just send her a gift card, although she loves NY & Co as much as I do. She's losing weight and I'm sure she could use some more items from there in her new size as well. Whatever I get her, has to be done between today and tomorrow so I can mail it in time for the 1st. Any suggestions?
That's all I got! Hope everything is A-OK in your world. :)
Monday, February 15, 2010
Monday Recap
Happy Valentine's Day, bloggers. I meant to get on here yesterday and post, but yesterday turned into an all around lazy day. I don't think I could have summoned the energy to post, even if I tried. So, let's review:
FRIDAY: Friday started off pretty uneventful. I should say that LDR and I never even discussed Valentine's Day, and as such I had no expectations. I learned a while ago that if a dude can't show me how he likes/loves me the other 364 days, this one's not gonna make too much difference. LOL!
I was on the phone with a customer in Louisiana who was just as crazy as a bed bug. Really getting on my nerves...I was hungry and aggravated. I got an email from the receptionist stating there was a box for me at the front desk. And in the box was this:
I don't know how he does it, but he never gives away when he has some kind of surprise planned. I had no clue these were coming, and I had just spoken with him maybe an hour before they got here. He's slick! :) I gave away some of the chocolates, 'cause I'm not a big truffle fan, but they looked good.
Here's a pic of the flowers from yesterday, after some of them had opened up more:
Friday evening, I had a meet up with my Natural Hair Group, about natural home remedies. I'll have to do a separate blog on that. She gave some samples that could make their way into my regimen in the near future. I need to use up what I have so far. I was particularly happy to hear the info on dealing with PMS. I have ceased the use of hormonal BC, and now am dealing with the PMS symptoms I haven't dealt with since college. Yikes.
We got some snow that evening. I was supposed to go to a girls' night get together at a co-worker's house, but I refused to deal with the non-driving Charlotteans on the road. So I went home and got some rest.
SATURDAY: On Saturday I slept in. Bogey did not. She decided she wanted to wake me up with her purring and shenanigans. I got up and gave her some cat treats and then I got back in the bed! Then I remembered I wanted to come up to the job to work out. I sent Serenity_23 a text and she decided to meet me up there. LDR called and he wanted to know if I had checked my mail. Uh, no. Why? Now, I'll be the first to tell ya, I don't check my mail on a regular basis. It's generally bills and junk mail. I pay my bills online, and I throw out the junk mail. So pfffft. I told him I'd check it on the way to the gym. I did check, and there was a slip where the mailman had left a package in the leasing office. They weren't open, due to the weather, I assume. So I went on and worked out with Serenity, and then came back.
The package was a box from Dick's Sporting Goods, with a card. Now, he had told me he was going to Dick's to get himself some new sneakers. Sneaky, sneaky! I couldn't wait to open up the box. Inside were these items:
Let me tell you why this is sweet. 'Cause I know you're looking like, um...he sent you some workout gear? Yes, he did. But he sent me things I had casually mentioned in several conversations...heck, I forgot I even mentioned these things. I told him how I lost one of my gloves during the half marathon...I think I told him that in December. I've been running outside since then, and I don't recall complaining about my hands being cold, but maybe I did and I was rambling and just don't remember. He knows I can't stand wearing hats, and I know I have talked about my ears being cold, so he sent the ear warmer. I remember one day he asked me what I was wearing to work out, and I mentioned some crop pants...and that I needed some more. And then, the 'Cuse t-shirt, 'cause sometimes you gotta rep the home town. :) Bigger than the presents is the fact that he LISTENS to me. Even though my rambling and giggling and whatever else, it's like he's sitting there making little mental notes. I love when people do that. I try to do that for others. So needless to say, he gets extra points for that.
Saturday night I went to a birthday celebration for my friend Stacy. Her birthday is actually on the 14th, but you know how that goes. When your birthday falls on a nationally recognized holiday, you generally get shafted. You get those "combination" gifts, or whatever. Apparently she had never had a birthday bash with just the girls, so that's what we set out to give her. She had so much fun, I was so glad to be a part of it. Not to mention, I now have a 2 minutes of video or her dancing around like she's crazy to some teenybopper song...I can't even tell you which song it is. We had lots of food, lots of drinks, and lots of fun. You don't need to hit up the club to have a good time!
As I said, Sunday was a lazy day. I cleaned up around the apartment, and ordered pizza for dinner. I never even got dressed. I decided I wasn't even going to go skating. I had my pizza, my wine, my blanket and my couch. And everything was gravy. :)
Hope everyone had a good weekend!
FRIDAY: Friday started off pretty uneventful. I should say that LDR and I never even discussed Valentine's Day, and as such I had no expectations. I learned a while ago that if a dude can't show me how he likes/loves me the other 364 days, this one's not gonna make too much difference. LOL!
I was on the phone with a customer in Louisiana who was just as crazy as a bed bug. Really getting on my nerves...I was hungry and aggravated. I got an email from the receptionist stating there was a box for me at the front desk. And in the box was this:
I don't know how he does it, but he never gives away when he has some kind of surprise planned. I had no clue these were coming, and I had just spoken with him maybe an hour before they got here. He's slick! :) I gave away some of the chocolates, 'cause I'm not a big truffle fan, but they looked good.
Here's a pic of the flowers from yesterday, after some of them had opened up more:
Friday evening, I had a meet up with my Natural Hair Group, about natural home remedies. I'll have to do a separate blog on that. She gave some samples that could make their way into my regimen in the near future. I need to use up what I have so far. I was particularly happy to hear the info on dealing with PMS. I have ceased the use of hormonal BC, and now am dealing with the PMS symptoms I haven't dealt with since college. Yikes.
We got some snow that evening. I was supposed to go to a girls' night get together at a co-worker's house, but I refused to deal with the non-driving Charlotteans on the road. So I went home and got some rest.
SATURDAY: On Saturday I slept in. Bogey did not. She decided she wanted to wake me up with her purring and shenanigans. I got up and gave her some cat treats and then I got back in the bed! Then I remembered I wanted to come up to the job to work out. I sent Serenity_23 a text and she decided to meet me up there. LDR called and he wanted to know if I had checked my mail. Uh, no. Why? Now, I'll be the first to tell ya, I don't check my mail on a regular basis. It's generally bills and junk mail. I pay my bills online, and I throw out the junk mail. So pfffft. I told him I'd check it on the way to the gym. I did check, and there was a slip where the mailman had left a package in the leasing office. They weren't open, due to the weather, I assume. So I went on and worked out with Serenity, and then came back.
The package was a box from Dick's Sporting Goods, with a card. Now, he had told me he was going to Dick's to get himself some new sneakers. Sneaky, sneaky! I couldn't wait to open up the box. Inside were these items:
Let me tell you why this is sweet. 'Cause I know you're looking like, um...he sent you some workout gear? Yes, he did. But he sent me things I had casually mentioned in several conversations...heck, I forgot I even mentioned these things. I told him how I lost one of my gloves during the half marathon...I think I told him that in December. I've been running outside since then, and I don't recall complaining about my hands being cold, but maybe I did and I was rambling and just don't remember. He knows I can't stand wearing hats, and I know I have talked about my ears being cold, so he sent the ear warmer. I remember one day he asked me what I was wearing to work out, and I mentioned some crop pants...and that I needed some more. And then, the 'Cuse t-shirt, 'cause sometimes you gotta rep the home town. :) Bigger than the presents is the fact that he LISTENS to me. Even though my rambling and giggling and whatever else, it's like he's sitting there making little mental notes. I love when people do that. I try to do that for others. So needless to say, he gets extra points for that.
Saturday night I went to a birthday celebration for my friend Stacy. Her birthday is actually on the 14th, but you know how that goes. When your birthday falls on a nationally recognized holiday, you generally get shafted. You get those "combination" gifts, or whatever. Apparently she had never had a birthday bash with just the girls, so that's what we set out to give her. She had so much fun, I was so glad to be a part of it. Not to mention, I now have a 2 minutes of video or her dancing around like she's crazy to some teenybopper song...I can't even tell you which song it is. We had lots of food, lots of drinks, and lots of fun. You don't need to hit up the club to have a good time!
As I said, Sunday was a lazy day. I cleaned up around the apartment, and ordered pizza for dinner. I never even got dressed. I decided I wasn't even going to go skating. I had my pizza, my wine, my blanket and my couch. And everything was gravy. :)
Hope everyone had a good weekend!
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Stubborn is as Stubborn Does...
Yesterday I went home for lunch. I grazed on leftovers and watched The Young and the Restless, which is FINALLY getting good again (although it's still rather nonsensical in general, lol). My phone rings around 1:20. It's my brother J. He never calls me during the day. I immediately got that "something is wrong" feeling, so I just picked up the phone and braced myself for whatever it was.
My mom has an old back injury from when I was in junior high. She herniated three discs in her back trying to catch a falling patient. Her back hasn't been right since. My mother hates needles. Hates them. You only get one shot to draw her blood and then she's done with you, so you better get it right. So when she goes in for a pain injection for her back, I know she's hurting. As of late, the herniations are pressing on a nerve in her spine, and she's had trouble lifting her left leg. Well, she was on her way in to work, crossing the bridge from the parking deck into the building. They apparently had a floor mat down for folks to wipe their feet on. She said that the mat was flat, but she just didn't get her left foot high enough and she caught the edge. She did a "belly flop" and then hit her forehead on the floor.
So they called my brother at 12:30am and he went up to the hospital. He said my mom was on the stretcher but she kept trying to get up, saying she had to get to work. She was a bit loopy. So they admitted her for a bit and an MRI and CT scan were done. Apparently they didn't find anything wrong, so they released her yesterday afternoon. At which time she proceeded to just carry on with her normal schedule.
Ah...no. Please go sit down! But she wouldn't hear it. She even went to work last night. I called her this morning, and she sounded like her normal self. She swears she does not have a concussion and that her discharge paperwork had no restrictions. I told her I don't believe that and I need to see the paperwork! But I did talk to my brother, and he confirmed no restrictions. But still.
She is the epitome of stubbornness. Always working hard. Doesn't get enough rest. Just doing too much. I have those same tendencies. At least I got it naturally. What's crazy is, yesterday morning, on my way in to work I was talking to LDR. I don't even know how we started talking about my mom, but I was telling him about her back problems. I told him that I can't wait for her to retire, and that I'm worried about her falling due to that left leg. Then I get a call that afternoon that she fell the night before. Craziness!
This morning we were talking and he says, "maybe she should just move in with one of you guys." Screeeeeeeech! Pump the brakes! We've already tried this. First of all, she's not going anywhere while my grandma is still alive. She's gonna be up at that nursing home every day making sure everything is in order. Secondly, she's too independent. She's not going to want to live with anyone. Maybe if I have a kid or two. Maybe. But she just has so much going on, I can't see her slowing down or leaving NY right now.
He suggested that we just tell her that she has to do it. I burst out laughing.
Me: Clearly you're not understanding just how stubborn she is, and how telling her to do it will just make her dig her heels in more. We're going to have to Jedi mind trick her into it. Or something.
LDR: "So...basically, she's like you? Or I guess we know where you got it from..." (chuckles)
*crickets*
Me: "You know what? That's not the point! I'm getting off the phone now!" (lol)
LDR: "I'm just sayin'!"
Sigh.
So, yeah. Whatever. I'm stubborn. I admit it. At least you know this about me early on. But if I bopped my noggin, I'd probably take a day off.
My mom has an old back injury from when I was in junior high. She herniated three discs in her back trying to catch a falling patient. Her back hasn't been right since. My mother hates needles. Hates them. You only get one shot to draw her blood and then she's done with you, so you better get it right. So when she goes in for a pain injection for her back, I know she's hurting. As of late, the herniations are pressing on a nerve in her spine, and she's had trouble lifting her left leg. Well, she was on her way in to work, crossing the bridge from the parking deck into the building. They apparently had a floor mat down for folks to wipe their feet on. She said that the mat was flat, but she just didn't get her left foot high enough and she caught the edge. She did a "belly flop" and then hit her forehead on the floor.
So they called my brother at 12:30am and he went up to the hospital. He said my mom was on the stretcher but she kept trying to get up, saying she had to get to work. She was a bit loopy. So they admitted her for a bit and an MRI and CT scan were done. Apparently they didn't find anything wrong, so they released her yesterday afternoon. At which time she proceeded to just carry on with her normal schedule.
Ah...no. Please go sit down! But she wouldn't hear it. She even went to work last night. I called her this morning, and she sounded like her normal self. She swears she does not have a concussion and that her discharge paperwork had no restrictions. I told her I don't believe that and I need to see the paperwork! But I did talk to my brother, and he confirmed no restrictions. But still.
She is the epitome of stubbornness. Always working hard. Doesn't get enough rest. Just doing too much. I have those same tendencies. At least I got it naturally. What's crazy is, yesterday morning, on my way in to work I was talking to LDR. I don't even know how we started talking about my mom, but I was telling him about her back problems. I told him that I can't wait for her to retire, and that I'm worried about her falling due to that left leg. Then I get a call that afternoon that she fell the night before. Craziness!
This morning we were talking and he says, "maybe she should just move in with one of you guys." Screeeeeeeech! Pump the brakes! We've already tried this. First of all, she's not going anywhere while my grandma is still alive. She's gonna be up at that nursing home every day making sure everything is in order. Secondly, she's too independent. She's not going to want to live with anyone. Maybe if I have a kid or two. Maybe. But she just has so much going on, I can't see her slowing down or leaving NY right now.
He suggested that we just tell her that she has to do it. I burst out laughing.
Me: Clearly you're not understanding just how stubborn she is, and how telling her to do it will just make her dig her heels in more. We're going to have to Jedi mind trick her into it. Or something.
LDR: "So...basically, she's like you? Or I guess we know where you got it from..." (chuckles)
*crickets*
Me: "You know what? That's not the point! I'm getting off the phone now!" (lol)
LDR: "I'm just sayin'!"
Sigh.
So, yeah. Whatever. I'm stubborn. I admit it. At least you know this about me early on. But if I bopped my noggin, I'd probably take a day off.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Dish It Out!
This weekend was my friend Yvonne's 29th birthday. She decided that she wanted to go back to a place called Dish It Out. There are three locations here. You walk in and they have unfinished pottery items on shelves on both sides of the store. They have everything from bowls, pencil holders, ring holders, picture frames, big letters, plates...everything. You pick out the item of your choice and paint it whatever way you choose. It's $10 + the cost of your item. They provide brushes, paint, and some guidance. How much can you get from some college kids who looked like they could care less...lol.
Anywho, we brought in snacks and a cupcake cake for Yvonne, and the 8 of us got to painting. I wish I had taken pics, but I forgot my camera. It was just a time for the girls to bond, talk about whatever, and paint like little kids.
I decided to go with a square plate, which I will eventually display on my mantle with a plate holder, once it's finished. What do you think?
That particular plate was $20. All of our pieces will be fired in the kiln and ready no later than 2/13. They will call if they are ready earlier. You take your receipt back, and pick up your item. I really enjoyed it. I think it's a fun activity for adults and kids, although I could see where it could get a little pricey as a family activity. And it's definitely not a place to have kids running around like a bull in a china shop. Whatever you break, you buy. Aside from that, I definitely recommend this activity if you're in the Charlotte area.
Anywho, we brought in snacks and a cupcake cake for Yvonne, and the 8 of us got to painting. I wish I had taken pics, but I forgot my camera. It was just a time for the girls to bond, talk about whatever, and paint like little kids.
I decided to go with a square plate, which I will eventually display on my mantle with a plate holder, once it's finished. What do you think?
That particular plate was $20. All of our pieces will be fired in the kiln and ready no later than 2/13. They will call if they are ready earlier. You take your receipt back, and pick up your item. I really enjoyed it. I think it's a fun activity for adults and kids, although I could see where it could get a little pricey as a family activity. And it's definitely not a place to have kids running around like a bull in a china shop. Whatever you break, you buy. Aside from that, I definitely recommend this activity if you're in the Charlotte area.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Pamper Your Lips!
My lips are pretty much the most prominent feature on my face. I don't really wear eye make up or blush, but I almost always have on foundation and lip color. We've had a very dry winter here. My old practice was to slather on Carmex every night before going to bed, like it was going out of style. But I noticed that during the day my lips were always getting dried out. Between the Carmex and the lip gloss/lip colors I was using, I wasn't helping much with the actual moisture of my lips.
Here is a pic of my current lip arsenal:
Sorry it's kinda blurry. My camera phone is not the greatest! I'll talk about each product below:
MYCHELLE LOVE YOUR LIPS
(Ingredients list/breakdown from MyChelle's website here.)
Review: So, while I was in Atlanta I stopped by my favorite wallet-drainer, Whole Paycheck - a.k.a. Whole Foods. I saw this over by the lip balms and decided to try it. As you can see above, it's full of so many yummy, yummy ingredients. MyChelle Dermaceuticals' website boasts that her products are "always free of phthalates, parabens, propylene glycol, ureas, EDTA, fragrances, encapsulated nano particles, and artificial colors." 2 thumbs up!
I like this. It glides on smooth. It's a pretty big tube (the purple and yellow one). I don't know how I feel about $11.99 for the price. I'll let you know when I get to the end of the tube. I usually put this on at night before I hit the sack. Or any time during the day if I feel like my lips need a moisture boost.
BURT'S BEES BEESWAX LIP BALM
Review: I purchased this to replace the Carmex I had previously been using. Similar in consistency to Carmex, I like the tingle I get from the peppermint oil. Natural ingredients, although not vegan due to the beeswax and lanolin. This is a good night time balm as well. It absolutely keeps my lips soft/moist. I will rotate between this and MyChelle at night.
KUUMBA MADE LIP SHIMMERS (Colors: Tierra and Sedona)
Review: I just bought these two last night from Healthy Home Market. They were $2.99 each and definitely worth the price. The color is very light. I have on the Sedona in my photo montage from yesterday's blog. Today I have on Tierra and it goes very well with my complexion. Very neutral. There is truly a hint of shimmer. Pics don't really catpure it - it looks best in person.
My lips feel so soft and moisturized right now. These are definitely going to become a staple. You can't beat what you're getting for $2.99. They come in 2 other colors - Dawn and Twilight - those were a little too light for me. Check out their website
here.
KISS MY FACE SOS (SHEER ORGANIC SHINE)NATURAL MINERAL COLOR - GARNET
Review: I've been using this for about a month now. While it has other flavor oils, I mostly just smell and taste the peppermint oil (sweetened by the stevia). The color is natural mineral color and shea butter, cocoa butter and jojoba oil are all moisturizing. Kiss My Face products don't contain any parabens, SLS, phthalates, syntehtic colors or synthetic flavors, and they don't test their ingredients on animals.
This is moisturizing...sometimes the oils can separate, so I would suggest sort of squeezing the tube up and down (with the cap on) to get everything mixed together. There are only 6 shades right now. Garnet works best with my complexion. I hope they'll be able to come out with more shades soon. Using natural products can sometimes limit the color combos, though. I'm happy with this. The color is strong, and it's easy to apply. Matter of fact, I have to be careful not to squeeze too much out. I will continue to purchase. Cost: $6.99.
One thing all of these products have in common is that they don't use any harsh/dangerous chemicals. No petroleum, no mineral oil, no parabens...nada. If you are looking for some alternatives to commercial products, I would definitely recommend all 4.
Have you tried any natural lip products that aren't listed here? What were your results. If you try any of these, be sure to come back and leave a note in the comments as to what you thought of them. All of these can be ordered online. You will likely find Burt's Bees and Kiss My Face at your local health food/organic grocery stores, but I think Target also carries some Kiss My Face products. If you're not sure where to go, I recommend a going to the manufacturer's site and using their 'Store Locator' function. Or look up health food stores in your area, and call and see if they carry these products.
Here is a pic of my current lip arsenal:
Sorry it's kinda blurry. My camera phone is not the greatest! I'll talk about each product below:
MYCHELLE LOVE YOUR LIPS
- castor oil: Barrier agent against harsh climate, soothing. From the castor bean.
- beeswax: Purified wax from the honey comb of bees. Thickening agent with emollient properties.
- coconut oil: Moisturizer.
- grape seed oil: Counter-irritant with soothing anti-bacterial properties.
- organic melissa: Soothing, anti-viral. From the mint family.
- ginkgo: Antioxidant.
- passionflower: Antioxidant, soothing.
- rosehips: Soothing, astringent, high Vitamin C content, from the rose bush.
- shea butter: A moisturizing, soothing emollient fat (from the karite nut tree) with cellular renewal properties.
- kokum butter: Emollient, stabilizer, from kernels of Garcinia Indica tree in India.
- aloe vera: Hydrating, softening, healing emollient with anti-microbial, and anti-inflammatory properties.
- organic green tea extract: Powerful antioxidant, bacteriostatic (an agent that causes inhibition of the growth of bacteria without destructuction), soothing, nutritional qualities and increases the effect of sunscreens. Also prevents irritation of the skin caused by glycolic acid.
- D-alpha tocopherol: Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant, free radical scavenger, photo-protectant, and moisturizer as well as a preservative due to its ability to protect against oxidation.
- L-lysine: Amino acid helps prevent and heal fever blisters.
- L-ascorbic acid: Powerful antioxidant, the chirally correct form of Vitamin C that assists in the production of collagen.
- propolis: Protective barrier, anti-inflammatory, stimulates cell renewal, boosts immune system, made by bees.
- natural flavor blends: Delicious aroma and flavors.
stevia leaf extract: Natural, non-caloric sweetener. From the chrysanthemum family.
(Ingredients list/breakdown from MyChelle's website here.)
Review: So, while I was in Atlanta I stopped by my favorite wallet-drainer, Whole Paycheck - a.k.a. Whole Foods. I saw this over by the lip balms and decided to try it. As you can see above, it's full of so many yummy, yummy ingredients. MyChelle Dermaceuticals' website boasts that her products are "always free of phthalates, parabens, propylene glycol, ureas, EDTA, fragrances, encapsulated nano particles, and artificial colors." 2 thumbs up!
I like this. It glides on smooth. It's a pretty big tube (the purple and yellow one). I don't know how I feel about $11.99 for the price. I'll let you know when I get to the end of the tube. I usually put this on at night before I hit the sack. Or any time during the day if I feel like my lips need a moisture boost.
BURT'S BEES BEESWAX LIP BALM
- beeswax
- cocos nucifera (coconut) oil
- helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil
- mentha piperita (peppermint) oil
- lanolin
- tocopherol
- rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract
- glycine soja (soybean) oil
- canola oil
Review: I purchased this to replace the Carmex I had previously been using. Similar in consistency to Carmex, I like the tingle I get from the peppermint oil. Natural ingredients, although not vegan due to the beeswax and lanolin. This is a good night time balm as well. It absolutely keeps my lips soft/moist. I will rotate between this and MyChelle at night.
KUUMBA MADE LIP SHIMMERS (Colors: Tierra and Sedona)
- Organic Castor Oil
- Wild Harvested Candelilla Wax
- Natural Iron Oxide and Mica (minerals)
- Wild Havested GMO Free Vitamin E
- Certified Organic Avocado OIl
- Certified Organic Rose Hip Oil
- Certified Organic Lemon Myrtle
Review: I just bought these two last night from Healthy Home Market. They were $2.99 each and definitely worth the price. The color is very light. I have on the Sedona in my photo montage from yesterday's blog. Today I have on Tierra and it goes very well with my complexion. Very neutral. There is truly a hint of shimmer. Pics don't really catpure it - it looks best in person.
My lips feel so soft and moisturized right now. These are definitely going to become a staple. You can't beat what you're getting for $2.99. They come in 2 other colors - Dawn and Twilight - those were a little too light for me. Check out their website
here.
KISS MY FACE SOS (SHEER ORGANIC SHINE)NATURAL MINERAL COLOR - GARNET
- Castor Oil,
- Beeswax
- Glossamer (canola oil polymer)
- Jojoba Oil
- Shea Butter
- French Vanilla Flavor Oil
- Chocolate Flavor Oil
- Peppermint Oil
- Cocoa Butter
- Tocopherol (non GMO)
- Mica
- Titanium Dioxide
- Iron Oxide
- Stevia
Review: I've been using this for about a month now. While it has other flavor oils, I mostly just smell and taste the peppermint oil (sweetened by the stevia). The color is natural mineral color and shea butter, cocoa butter and jojoba oil are all moisturizing. Kiss My Face products don't contain any parabens, SLS, phthalates, syntehtic colors or synthetic flavors, and they don't test their ingredients on animals.
This is moisturizing...sometimes the oils can separate, so I would suggest sort of squeezing the tube up and down (with the cap on) to get everything mixed together. There are only 6 shades right now. Garnet works best with my complexion. I hope they'll be able to come out with more shades soon. Using natural products can sometimes limit the color combos, though. I'm happy with this. The color is strong, and it's easy to apply. Matter of fact, I have to be careful not to squeeze too much out. I will continue to purchase. Cost: $6.99.
One thing all of these products have in common is that they don't use any harsh/dangerous chemicals. No petroleum, no mineral oil, no parabens...nada. If you are looking for some alternatives to commercial products, I would definitely recommend all 4.
Have you tried any natural lip products that aren't listed here? What were your results. If you try any of these, be sure to come back and leave a note in the comments as to what you thought of them. All of these can be ordered online. You will likely find Burt's Bees and Kiss My Face at your local health food/organic grocery stores, but I think Target also carries some Kiss My Face products. If you're not sure where to go, I recommend a going to the manufacturer's site and using their 'Store Locator' function. Or look up health food stores in your area, and call and see if they carry these products.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Check 1, Check 2!
Time for a length check! I've been lazy and not at all dilligent in the last couple of months with regard to hair. I've slacked off of my henna regimen, and that just simply won't do! I need to go and get my ends trimmed (last trim in August - yikes), because the tangles are hindering my length retention.
So, here are some length shots - I've updated my Fotki as well. I promise to be nicer to my hair for the rest of this year. I will henna, use my other Ayurvedic powders, oil hair/scalp regularly, and stick with my committment to natural products that avoid 10 of the yuckiest synthetic ingredients.
Here are the length photos:
So, here are some length shots - I've updated my Fotki as well. I promise to be nicer to my hair for the rest of this year. I will henna, use my other Ayurvedic powders, oil hair/scalp regularly, and stick with my committment to natural products that avoid 10 of the yuckiest synthetic ingredients.
Here are the length photos:
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Sugar Scrub!
If you're like me, you appreciate a good body exfoliation. Especially if you have body break outs like I do. *kicks trash can* I've noticed that since I started exfoliating on a regular basis, my skin is doing much better. Here's where I provide a simple sugar scrub recipe for you, and rebuke you from ever buying another sugar scrub from the store again. I mean it.
"If you buy another sugar scrub, everythang you do gon' crumble..."
Listen to Miss Celie!
INGREDIENTS:
Now, my beautiful, lovely, natural/organic friend Kenya advised me that I should try this with organic brown sugar, so as to avoid any pesticides that may have been used in the production of regular grocery store sugar. The first two times I did use regular sugar, but the last batch was made with organic brown sugar.
Organic brown sugar is lighter in color that regular brown sugar. If you use regular brown sugar from the grocery store, the mixture will be much darker in color. Mix your oils/honey together in a measuring cup. Put the sugar in a bowl where you have room to mix well. Gradually add the oils to the sugar, mixing with a fork. You can add more or less oil, depending on how you want the mixture to be. I find that I like mine a little less oily, so I use less than 1/2 cup. Play around with it.
This stuff is great! It can get slippery in the shower, so please be careful. The first few batches, I used olive oil. Now that I have some sweet almond oil on hand, I think I like using a mixture of them both. Don't scrub hard! The sugar will take care of the exfoliation...gentle, circular motions. I personally like to use my castile soap first, to take care of washing away the day's grime/dirt, and then I follow with the scrub. Some people do it the other way around.
Why are sugar scrubs good for you?
USAGE/STORAGE:
OK so, there's no preservative in this mixture. There is a little vitamin E oil, but nothing major. It is important that you don't introduce water to this mixture. I sit the container on my hamper and use a scoop to get the sugar mixture out and then dump it into my hand for application in the shower. Don't stick your hands straight in! I make small batches, and tend to be heavy-handed with my products, so it doesn't take me long to use up the mixture. I've doubled it and kept it in a jar for 3-4 weeks without issue. If you take care not to introduce water/bacteria to the mixture, it should be fine. This link states that the mixture should last a couple of months, but after that it can go rancid. I love using this, so I use it twice a week and mine doesn't last long. I've never had any issues.
I follow my scrub with the body butter from yesterday's post. This is the softest my skin has ever been. Try it and see!
"If you buy another sugar scrub, everythang you do gon' crumble..."
Listen to Miss Celie!
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup sweet almond oil (or olive oil, or a combo of the two, or whatever kind you feel would be beneficial for your skin
- 1 tsp vitamin E oil (optional, not required. But why skip this yumminess?)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (optional, for scent)
- Natural fragrance oil of your choice (again, optional)
- 1 tsp honey (if you need added moisture)
Now, my beautiful, lovely, natural/organic friend Kenya advised me that I should try this with organic brown sugar, so as to avoid any pesticides that may have been used in the production of regular grocery store sugar. The first two times I did use regular sugar, but the last batch was made with organic brown sugar.
Organic brown sugar is lighter in color that regular brown sugar. If you use regular brown sugar from the grocery store, the mixture will be much darker in color. Mix your oils/honey together in a measuring cup. Put the sugar in a bowl where you have room to mix well. Gradually add the oils to the sugar, mixing with a fork. You can add more or less oil, depending on how you want the mixture to be. I find that I like mine a little less oily, so I use less than 1/2 cup. Play around with it.
This stuff is great! It can get slippery in the shower, so please be careful. The first few batches, I used olive oil. Now that I have some sweet almond oil on hand, I think I like using a mixture of them both. Don't scrub hard! The sugar will take care of the exfoliation...gentle, circular motions. I personally like to use my castile soap first, to take care of washing away the day's grime/dirt, and then I follow with the scrub. Some people do it the other way around.
Why are sugar scrubs good for you?
- Cleans skin and unclogs pores
- Sugar scrubs are rich in alpha-hydroxy acids
- They promote the growth of healthier, more uniformly colored and textured skin
- They help to hydrate your skin
- Help to stimulate/circulate lymph fluids
- WHo doesn't want smooth, soft skin?
USAGE/STORAGE:
OK so, there's no preservative in this mixture. There is a little vitamin E oil, but nothing major. It is important that you don't introduce water to this mixture. I sit the container on my hamper and use a scoop to get the sugar mixture out and then dump it into my hand for application in the shower. Don't stick your hands straight in! I make small batches, and tend to be heavy-handed with my products, so it doesn't take me long to use up the mixture. I've doubled it and kept it in a jar for 3-4 weeks without issue. If you take care not to introduce water/bacteria to the mixture, it should be fine. This link states that the mixture should last a couple of months, but after that it can go rancid. I love using this, so I use it twice a week and mine doesn't last long. I've never had any issues.
I follow my scrub with the body butter from yesterday's post. This is the softest my skin has ever been. Try it and see!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Body Butter!
I think I posted before, that I no longer buy lotion. I haven't bought any in ages. For the most part, I had been using either shea butter or coconut oil. But now I've stumbled upon a recipe I really like.
INGREDIENTS:
4 oz unrefined shea butter
2 oz mango butter
2 oz unrefined cocoa butter
1/2 tsp Vitamin E oil
1 tbsp sweet almond oil
1/4 tsp essential oil (optional)
DIRECTIONS:
I pretty much followed the directions here. Except I don't have a double boiler, so I end up putting my butters into a glass jar and then sitting that jar into a pot of warm/hot water.
Mango butter and cocoa butter are very hard butters. It will take them longer to melt down than the shea butter. It took me a while to get this the way I wanted, but I found out it worked better if the freeze and mix cycles were kept closer to 5 minutes each. Your mileage may vary. :)
Once I was done, I scooped it into the container pictured above. It will "set" and become a very solid body butter. It almost seems a little dry, at first. When you scoop it out, it will crumble a little bit:
But once it hits your body temp, it will go ahead and start to "melt":
I love this stuff. A little goes a long way. The essential oils are definitely optional. I chose to use a comb of patchouli, lavender and lemongrass for this batch. I made a different batch for a friend whose husband was battling some serious ash. I didn't put in any scent because everything I have is "girly," and then I figured she might want to try it on the kids. I'm happy to report, the family is ash free! :lol:
If you try this recipe, let me know. Feel free to tweak it. Her recipe is for shea butter only - as you can see, I added my own combo of butters. I'm sure there are more butters out here conducive to a nice, moisturizing mixture, but this works for me. I use it from head to toe (although I have not tried it in my hair yet). I've let several people try it at work, and they all have given 2 thumbs up.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)