Thursday, July 28, 2011

Farmaesthetics

I get daily emails from a great site called Pure Citizen (they host great deals from eco-conscious companies, with the opportunity to donate some of the money you're saving to a chosen non-profit organization for that product). Recently they teamed up for a sale with an amazing company called Farmaesthetics. Farmaesthetics has the purest ingredients I have ever seen! No preservatives or chemicals whatsoever. For example, here are the ingredients in their Fine Herbal Cleanser: witch hazel, vegetable glycerin, acylglutamate (a natural amino acid derived from sugarcane), geranium essential oil & lavender essential oil. (Disclaimer! I have to point out that not all Farmaesthetic products are vegan; some use honey, beeswax, and/or dried milk, but they do not test on animals.)

I picked up the Fine Herbal Cleanser, the Rosehip & Clay Mint Mask, the Pure Complexion Tonic, and the Nourishing Herbal Cream (which does contain beeswax). I couldn't be more in love with them! Yesterday I tried out my Rosehip & Clay Mint Mask. As suggested on the bottle (which is simple yet adorable by the way!), I mixed a tsp of the mask with a tsp of the Pure Complexion Tonic in my hand, then applied the paste to my face. The two go so well together; it smelled like heaven! The mask was lightly exfoliating, and my skin feels loads better. I think this combo is now a must-have in my life! I love the Fine Herbal Cleanser, too, because it gently and effectively cleans my face without stripping it. The other day, I tried the Nourishing Herbal Cream on my neck and decollate. It took a little while to absorb, but made my skin baby-soft! So, if you're okay with using family farm beeswax (which is supposed to create a layer that holds the moisture in your skin), I'd recommend it!

I have a long wish list of other things I'd love to try! Maybe if I manage to not be lazy, I'll take a picture of my goodies to add later. The owner handwrites the titles on the labels and sends them off to be printed. That added with the glass apothecary bottles and jars make for very attractive and useful bathroom decorations!

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Dreaming of the future

So... it's been about 6 months since my last post on here. Between classes, wedding planning, and *cough* World of Warcraft playing... life got pretty busy for a while there. I am Mrs. Evelyn Mara Meyer Steneck as of April 30th. So far marriage has been total bliss. I've never felt so happy and in love! The combination of marriage and uh... being unemployed with a college degree for the past 3 years has got me thinking a lot about the type of future I envision.

My dream for the future constantly changes as I find new influences. The latest inspiration I've found is from this amazing couple, Peter and Juwels (read their blog, The Winnebago Diaries). Besides being the cutest couple ever and making beautiful candles cast from antique bottles (which are beeswax, but I trust this couple probably gets their beeswax from kind sources), they live in a winnebago they refinished and decorated. They live an incredibly sustainable life! I don't think I could stand living in a winnebago, but now I've dialed down my future home ideas from some fancy schmancy green home, to some small place my husband and I can fix up to be eco-friendly and beautiful. I'm so lucky that he does remodeling for a living, so I'll have a pro at my side.

I'd also like to continue narrowing down and healthifying my diet (so healthifying may not be a word, but I likes it!). We currently have lots of Amy's microwave things, Annie Chun's udon soup, Panera, and Chipotle. I've been a lazy wife in lazy summer mode. I feel like food is something that should take time to prepare, and if it doesn't, I should be grabbing a piece of fruit or something. Besides, we got a super sweet Le Creuset dutch oven as a wedding gift that is screaming to be used more often (it's so pretty, thanks Harry!!!). One day I hope I can learn to be a decent enough gardener to grow some of our own food, but that currently scares the shizz out of me. I don't like bugs and dirt and getting smelly and bugs again!

For my future career, I've decided to go into nursing, so I can help and nurture people for a living. Have I mentioned that before? I took biology this past Spring, and in August I start Anatomy and Physiology I; I freakin love biology classes! I'm also going to take a jewelry metals class. The thought of making jewelry is so exciting, especially with my new addiction to rings! I could use recycled metals, and maybe even eventually have my own etsy shop on the side! Mmm, spending money!? Ooh, and the hubs is considering going into firefighting. Sexy! My hero!

Tony and I would love to move someplace we could enjoy the outdoors a bit more, such as Colorado or Portland. I want to spend my free time hiking, rock climbing, and bicycling, while of course keeping to my yoga. For a while, Tony and I took daily walks when he got home from work, but the temperatures in Texas have now reached 100+, bleck.

I promise to post some wedding pics soon!