And then there were three
June 17, 2011 § Leave a comment
A+O had a visitor at the office the other day. W is a beautiful dog who somehow manages to completely change the balance of power in the pack:
Everyone is laying down. No one is whining. No one is jumping. Needless to say, this makes me consider the sanity of a third dog. Or maybe I have just watched one too many episodes of “Sister Wives”…
xx
(Kind of blurry photo of the dogs and a waste basket at my office: Some Cozy Night)
Puppies make you feel better
June 10, 2011 § Leave a comment
So here is a photo of one of my adorable terriers at about five months old, on one of his very first walks on grass:
He looks so serious, but still, I think any puppy pic is going to yield a smile. I hope this one does.
xx
P.S.
I would not be a good supporter of the animals that I love if I didn’t mention that buying a dog from a reputable breeder (check out the AKC website) or adopting from a local shelter is the best way to personally contribute to the elimination of puppy mills. Ok, I have stepped off my soap box now.
(Photo: Mr. H)
Maintenance
June 1, 2011 § 2 Comments
In my teens, attempting to look “good” centered on pimple and nail management. I added eyebrows, cellulite (we’re besties now), and figuring out my hair in my twenties. More of the same in my thirties, but I also began began to combat those “early signs of aging” that I kept hearing about, super dry and sensitive skin and gray hair. I completely understand those who give up: It takes a lot of time to look human and maintenance is a b****.
One of the best things about turning forty is that I know things. Lots of things. And some of them help keep me looking human and feeling less insane. Here are some of my top picks:
1.) Cellular Patch Cream by Sonya Dakar
The packaging is so unattractive that I keep it hidden at all times, but all of this company’s products are top flight. I have been using them for just shy of a decade now and anytime I try some other line, I regret it. The facial washes, daily hydration lotions, eye creams and various other concoctions are staples in my Skin Maintenance Routine, but I think the one product that has truly kept me from looking eighty at forty is the Cellular Patch Cream. For get Le Mer, this is the stuff. I don’t know how, but I believe it stimulates collagen which keeps things bouncy. And bouncy is the goal. Who cares if you don’t feel that way….
http://www.sonyadakar.com/index.php?l=page_view&p=sd_search
Not inexpensive, but not negotiable for me.
2.) Astara Daily Refining Scrub
If your skin is like mine, you cannot use this every day. But I use it at least three times a week for the exfoliation portion of my SMR. Gentle, but serious. Also good on the elbows if you accidentally squeeze out too much.
http://www.astaraskincare.com/shop/Astara-Daily-Refining-Scrub.aspx
3.) Astara Golden Flame Mask
Let’s say you fly a fair amount and have hideously dry skin. Pre-flight, put a light coating of this on your face, carefully avoiding the eyes (really…it burns), and prepare to have air travel stink a little less. I sometimes put it on again as a mask post-flight for a little extra hydration.
http://www.astaraskincare.com/shop/Astara-Golden-Flame-Hydration-Mask.aspx
You’re welcome.
4.) Kiehl’s Ultimate Something or Other Hand Cream
Should you be in a situation where you are washing your hands constantly, or live somewhere so inhospitable to skin that your hands look like cured meat, this is your new hand cream. We’ve had a thing going on since Mr. H and I decided that getting two puppies at the same time was a great idea. Trust me: This works.
http://www.kiehls.com/Ultimate-Strength-Hand-Salve/522,default,pd.html
5.) Esse’s “Sugar Daddy”
Now that your hands are all nice and pretty, you need a polish that isn’t needy. This is lovely and shows very few dings and cracks, especially if you are diligent with your top coat applications.
http://www.essie.com/shop/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=sugar%20daddy
6.) Bliss Foot Patrol
We’ve been together since 2000. Get yourself some kind of pumice/paddle thingy and this lotion and enjoy wearing sandals again.
http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P6869
7.) Annick Goutal Eau d’Hadrien Soap
Sadly, my beloved soap won’t be available until the end of the year per my sources in Paris. (Yes, I confirmed with contacts in France. Or rather Mr. H confirmed with contacts in France, since my French is non-existent. He likes me. He really, really likes me!)
This is the world’s most perfect soap and while it may not make you more human-looking, it will make you feel that way. In the meantime, their Eau du Sud soap is an extremely able substitute. Thank you Kind Gentleman at Annick Goutal near the Place Vendôme.
http://www.annickgoutal.com/fr/home.aspx
8.) Aqua di Parma
Moving south to my “homeland”, let us celebrate all that is lovely about the classic Aqua di Parma fragrance. The bath gel is divine — especially when mixed with epsom salts per prior posts — and the candle is a little bit of humanity accessible via match. (Remember those matchbooks, people.) Go classic yellow on this — none of that blue stuff.
And aside from suggesting that you get cozy with your hairdresser, find a good dermatologist and facialist and — most importantly — try to have as much fun as possible given one’s Life Contraints, that is all I have for this evening.
xx
Ms. M
(Photo of the Magnificent Eight: Some Cozy Night. For the record, this was a hard photo to take.)