Skin Care: Keeping it Fresh!

I love Philosophy!!!  These products are absolutely great.  Everyone knows of 'hope in a jar' from Oprah's favourite things and its pretty much true.  It depends on your skin type but there are a few formulations and for myself I love love love the Miracle Worker...since I've turned 30 I've noticed more and more wrinkles so I'm all about anti aging!  There are lots of great products from Philosophy but here are a few of my absolute favourites!

I do love going for a facial at the spa but I also like to keep my skin looking fresh by doing some home maintenance.  This Microdelivery Peel comes in two steps and takes about 5 min in total.  The first is an exfolient that you rub on for a couple minutes.  Then there is an activating gel that you put on top that warms and foams up.  Leave it on a couple more minutes and voila!  All done.

Do you have a cleanser that also takes off your mascara without having to work super hard?  This is the best one step out there.  Also comes in a few different sizes so you can take your favourite products on your travels without filling up your suitcase.

Got under eye circles?  These eye creams are great.  This one is the one I love cause it doesn't give you the little white lumps (you get them from using a product thats too rich in that area).

Got dry lips?  Use this!

This stuff is great for a mini-lift me up with no time required.  Just put it on under your moisturizer.  Brightens and firms you up!

These are just a few of my favourites!  If you are looking for a new line to try for your skin care, definitely give this one a try.  Reasonably priced and a product I LOVE!

Happy Mothers Day to all the fellow mothers out there!

Photography: Sisters E & C

These are two sweet little ones with a superstar of a mom.  I cannot believe how much she has managed to accomplish since little C was born!  She is super calm and much loved by her big sister, you can tell already they are going to entertain each other.  A couple cutie pies!

Photography: Baby E

Well this little girl was long awaited by her mama!  She had quite a trek into the world and came out perfect.  What a sweetheart.  She is especially loved by her older sister who looooves to give her kisses and cuddles.

Photography: Brothers G

These two little boys are close to my heart.  They are the children of my bestest friend and aunt (youngest of 10), and so I have heard everything about them from the moment they were born.  The older one, W, is a sweet little guy who just started kindergarten this year.  His interests vary from Mario to Lego...and once he's hooked on something he sticks with it till he's a pro.  Little B is a free spirit who definitely marches to his own beat.  These are 2 brothers who love each other to bits and we love them too!

Photography: Baby G

These are two of the cutest little people ever.  We always have a great time visiting and recently they added a little girl into the mix.  I don't know how she does it, always super relaxed and cool.  Our boys share a love of all things cars and you will always find one or two gripped in their little paws.  We are blessed to have made so many new friends in the last while and these two are no exception.  

The props are handmade from Eternally Hooked.  Catch her on FB or else here is a link to her shop on Etsy.  So cute.   Eternally Hooked

Photography: Baby T

Well, I've waited long enough to post these of my favourite little nephew!  We anxiously awaited his arrival and like many other babies he came a little late.  But what a cutie pie (so not biased!).  I can't wait to get some more snuggles.  I'm going to invite myself I think!  This little guy's 'cry face' is just like my little guys.  Cousins!

Reading: The Happiness Project or Why I spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun. By Gretchen Rubin

I realize I'm fortunate, and there are many things in my life to be thankful.  But with all of my thankfulness something I have struggled with is the word HAPPY.  I remember saying to someone over a beer once (classy, I know) - what does that word even mean.  How do you know when you are happy?  All I know is when I'm not ...sad, mad or anything that isn't happy.  And that is pretty much the extent of my deep thoughts on happiness.

So when I was looking for some new reading I stumbled upon this book (cause I liked the cover) and decided it was worthy of a read.  And it was!  A new perspective on creating your own happiness by changing small things in your life.

The author, Gretchen Rubin set out in January with new resolutions that compounded each month.  So for January she wanted to boost energy and this was how she was going to achieve it:

• Go to sleep earlier
• Exercise better
• Toss, restore, organize
• Tackle a nagging task
• Act more energetic

February: Remember Love

March: Aim Higher

April: Lighten Up

May: Be Serious About Play

June: Make Time for Friends

July:  Buy Some Happiness

August: Contemplate the Heavens

September: Pursue a Passion

October: Pay Attention

November: Keep a Contented Heart

December:  Boot Camp Perfect

I'll admit, the writer of this book is not of the same mind as I am.  There are lots of things I couldn't necessarily relate to (she doesn't like to shop), but that ok because there was much more that I could.  An example for the month of February...stop nagging.  How hard is that!!  But its true, nagging... I feel bad for doing it in the first place, I get madder because I don't always see results and in the end it seems to be an ineffective way to communicate with my spouse.  Another one from the month of June was remember birthdays and with that I'm going to include acknowledging births, events in other people's lives.  I think I am pretty good at birthdays but sometimes I mess up and forget, get busy, etc.  And who doesn't remember who visited their newborn when they arrived?  I don't hold it against anyone who didn't make it in the first few days but you don't forget who came either.  Gossip.  I never feel good about myself after I gossip...so why do it do it?

The writer came up with a few Splendid truths over the course of her experiment:

If I want to be happier, I need to look at my life and think about feeling good, feeling bad and feeling right, in an atmosphere of growth.

One of the best ways to make myself happy is to make other people happy.
One of the best ways to make other people happy is to be happy myself.

The days are long but the years are short.

If I think I'm happy, I am happier.

I'm sure I can find at least 5 things that contribute to my bad days, annoy me that I don't do, bad for my health, bad for my morale that all culminate to feelings of unhappiness.  I think I am going to try my own happiness project (small scale) and see how it goes.

So, today I love this book! Here's a link to her website.
http://www.happiness-project.com/