Christmas Gift Idea That Comes Highly Recommended

 

If you are anywhere near a Trader Joe's, GET THIS.  

I read somewhere a few months ago, that this was wonderful and very hydrating body lotion.  Since my skin gets extremely dry once cooler/cold weather sets in, I thought it was worth a try.  So the next time I went to our local Trader Joe's, I bought a bottle for myself.  ($6.99 for 12 fluid ounces)

This stuff is amazing, at least for me. I primarily use it on my arms and legs, and I have to tell you that I haven't had any "snow" from dried skin since I started using it about a month ago.  Generally, I slather it on after a shower, and it easily lasts until my next shower.  It seems that especially in the last few years, when I would undress in the cold weather months, as I took off my jeans or whatever, all of these little pieces of dried skin would come off my legs with my clothes - gross!  I have used other body lotions, and there are a lot of them that I like, but this one wins out.

It has no discernible scent (at least that I can notice), which is a plus as far as I'm concerned, and it has a really lovely, smooth feel going on.  You may be concerned that it's so "wet" going on, but it absorbs into your skin almost immediately, and so you don't have to wait around 10 minutes or more to get dressed.

I love it. You really should give it a try if you have the chance.

Inexplicably Camel

Do you ever get something in your brain that you want to find in a store, and then you become a teensy bit obsessed with it, and you're not even really sure why?  

That's my current situation.  I have decided that I want to have either a pair of camel-colored slacks:

(not necessarily this specific pair, but you get the gist)

or, a camel-colored skirt:

(again, for context)

I am not sure why all of  a sudden I feel like having something in the camel shade would make me happy, but there you go.  Practically speaking, I'm sure that I would get something on it almost the minute I put it on to wear.  But I do that with everything I have - if it's not a pencil or pen mark, it's a spill, or dog drool, or who knows what?  

And, pants would probably be more versatile, and warmer when it's cold.  But then again, I do love skirts and dresses.  

In any case, it's really kind of a moot point, because I have no plans to go shopping anywhere anytime soon, and more importantly, I have no money to spend!  

But in the meantime, it's kind fun to look ... 

In Which I Have Plans ... But Have Not Gotten Started

In my continued attempts to make small changes to my/our lifestyle that will keep us from using so many disposable products, I have decided - at least 6 months ago, if not more - that since I do a lot of knitting, and have a lot of leftover bits of yarn, that I should knit some reusable makeup remover pads.  This plan led me to a further plan - knit a few and gift them to my nieces for Christmas, along with a mini-size makeup remover product.  Good idea, right?

I have the yarn - even some leftover cotton yarn, which would be good and sturdy for this kind of thing.  I have the needles I need.  I don't feel like I need a specific pattern necessarily, but I did look to see if there were patterns and there are quite a few.  I have even identified the mini-size makeup remover I plan to buy, one at a time after each payday in our family.  So I'm all set to go, right?

Yes, I'm all set to go.  I *have* been all set to go.  So why I am not going, so to speak???

Excuse #1: There were a couple of projects that I really wanted to finish before I got started.  Fact: They are finished as of last week.

Excuse #2:  I have plenty of time.  Fact:  I had plenty of time when I first thought of this.  Now we are in to October, and as we all know, once October hits, the holidays are suddenly right on top of us.

Excuse #3:  Laziness.  Fact:  I am lazy.  I really want to make them, I do.  But I am lazy.

Solution:  START.  Often if I just simply get started, that's all I need to continue.  I am certain that if I made even just one pad, I would be inspired to continue, because I will actually get almost immediate gratification making these, because they are so small.  And I do love me some immediate gratification, especially with my knitting!

Look at these - this is pretty much exactly what I'm thinking about!

Small, with whatever colors I have available.  Since it will all be leftover yarn, the cost of this part of the gift will be only my time, and these will take no time at all.

Whereas, if I ordered them where I found the photo, I would have to pay for them, probably pay for shipping and taxes, and then hope they arrived in a reasonable amount of time, which in our current postal climate in the U.S. (why is Louis DeJoy still in charge of the Post Office???), could mean anywhere between 2 days and 10 months.

Result:  Now that I have put this out into the cyber universe, I have a responsiblity to be true to my plan and also complete it.  This coming weekend is a three-day weekend (for Columbus Day, now Indigenous Peoples' Day for us), and what better time to start?  Heck, I may even make all of the ones I was hoping by the end of three days!  

And so, in my next post, I hope to show you my progress on the whole makeup remover pads gift idea.  I am determined to have at least two to show you. 

Stay tuned ... 😊

Accomplishing Goals, Slowly

In my last post (yeah, longer ago than I meant to be, sorry!), I talked about my efforts to start exercising regularly, and how I'm keeping track of my weight and my workouts.  

My aim is to be more fit and healthier.  I'm not obsessing about my weight, though at my July appt with a cardiologist, he suggested that if I dropped a few pounds, it would be a help to my heart.  So I had a little bit of an extra push in that department.  Anyway, as I mentioned in that post, I know that my efforts are paying off because my clothes are fitting better for one thing, and I've been able to do a bit more in my exercising.  

So this morning when I weighed myself, I was happily surprised to see that I had lost three pounds.

This made me happy, since I felt that it meant that I was losing some weight but not losing too much too fast.  Which every doctor and every reputable health-advisor-type person will tell you is the thing to do.  

The other thing that makes this good news is that seeing and feeling these results has made me more committed to keeping myself on track.  And apparently in my case, making note of my weigh ins and workouts is the way to go for keeping me on course.

I'm posting about this, because it proves that you don't need to do elaborate things to be healthier.  My workouts are not all hardcore, believe me!  But what they are is MOVEMENT.  

Now - the week after this one, we have to return to work 5 days a week in our building.  This is going to really cramp my style, I must say.  You might say, well, Bridget, just get up earlier every day to exercise.  That means I would have to get up earlier than I already do, which is 4:45 a.m. during the week when I'm working.  So, I don't really want to do that.  

I do walk back and forth to work every day, but I think that after a while, my body just counts that as normal movement, not extra.  So at least at first, that will be helpful.  Also, on nice days, I plan to ride my bicycle back and forth, so that will move some different muscles.  If I can find the energy to do so, I can always do some of my lighter exercise routines in the evenings.  But I think I might need to up my weekend activity, to keep going as well as I can.

I have this week to figure out a "trial" schedule, so we'll see what happens.  I would like to stay friends with the scale.

(Spoiler alert - not me. Not even close. For one thing, this woman is too dressed up to be me before or after exercising ...)

And even more importantly, I want to keep feeling good like I do now.  I have so many things in my daily life that can get me down, especially at work, and if I can keep going with my exercise, it will be a huge help both physically AND mentally!

Finding An Oldie But Goodie

Since the start of June, I have been making an extra effort to get more fit and in better shape.  I was a bit active prior to that, but I decided that it was time to take it up a level, and get myself on more of a schedule.  Between my work schedule (2 days a week) and The Tim's (3 days a week), we made a deal that on the days he works but I don't, he would take Hamlet for a walk in the mornings.  This meant that I had three early mornings that did not have to be "scheduled," and I decided that the best way to take advantage of that was to make sure that at a minimum, I did some serious exercise on those mornings.  

I did OK with this during June and July, but didn't commit as diligently as I should have.  At the end of July, I decided to make myself more accountable.  So I started a list for each week of August and it looks kinda like this:

Week of August ___

xxx pounds ; arms * body workout * pilates

We have a weight scale, and I know it isn't that accurate, but for the purposes of accountability, I decided to include my weight for that week, done on Sunday mornings before I eat breakfast.  

This has been really working for me, as knowing it is "written down" somewhere has made me much more disciplined to exercise.  And not always killer exercise - but something that moves me around/stretches/builds strength on my three free mornings.  

Besides just exercises that I already know, I have found TONS of YouTube videos that have been helpful.  So another reason I think it's working, is because I have some variety.  

But I gotta tell you, the other day I found that someone had put an oldie but goodie on YouTube, and yesterday, I did that workout.  Remember this woman?

It's Susan Powter - you know, STOP THE INSANITY!!

Back in the day, I had one of her strength building exercise videos, and though I always thought she was kinda weird, that workout was a killer, and really good.  Plus, there were things that I found amusing even back then (spoiler alert: they still amused me yesterday!), and that's always a bonus.  So I decided to give it a try again yesterday.  I gotta tell you, it kicked my butt, and I'm feeling it today, but it also felt good to find something that I already knew had worked for me in the past.

Of course, once we are back to work regularly in the building, I don't know how dedicated I'll be to my exercise schedule.  I already get up really really early on work days (4:45 a.m.), and getting up even earlier to exercise makes me feel like it might not even be worth going to bed ... 

In the meantime, I'm doing what I can to be more healthy and more fit.  My weight (at least according to our inaccurate scale) hasn't really changed, but I can detect things about my body that make me know my fitness level has improved.  That was my goal, and I have to say, now that I'm more regular about it, I don't have to do as much talking-myself-into-exercising work.

Oh, and Susan Powter?  Here is what she looks like today, according to several different sources, including ABCNews:

Hm.

Keeping My Head Happy

I have fine, thin, very straight hair - but a lot of it!  Seriously, when I get my hair cut, I'm always shocked at how much is on the floor for them to sweep away.  I wear my hair short, and even elaborate products (when I use them) don't seem to last very long.

Even though my hair is short, in the summer I do a LOT of sweating - not glowing, or perspiring, but straight up sweating!  And so when I wash my hair, I always want to use something that makes *me* feel like it got clean.  A few years back, I tried some of the Paul Mitchell Tea Tree shampoo and really liked it.  The minty-ness of it made me feel like my hair and my head were clean and refreshed.  However, being that it is a "designer" shampoo, it's pretty expensive, even though I don't have to replenish things that often.  So after buying it a couple of times, I just went back to normal, everyday shampoo.  Though I'm somewhat picky, it's not really for any consistent reason, so as long as I could find something I liked, it was all good.

Moving right along, one day last fall, I was at Trader Joe's for something specific we like that is only found there, and I decided to take a look-see and check out the personal care aisle.  Guess what I found???

Ta-da!!!!

I was so surprised (I know, maybe you all already know about this, but I didn't), and pleased because it was maybe more expensive than some of the drugstore shampoos, but not a lot more, and it was much less expensive than any of the 'fancy' ones.  So I bought a bottle to try it out. (It was maybe $7.99? - sorry I forget, as it's been a while since I purchased it.)

And now that I have been using it - yes, the same original bottle - for nearly a year, I have to say, it's a keeper.  You don't need to use much to get a good lather going, and the tea tree and other botanicals feel so very good on your scalp.  It's just plain old refreshing, even if it's not during the heat of summer.  

So if you are looking for a shampoo that is a step above the plain, everyday ones that are pretty much everywhere, and you are near a Trader Joe's, I recommend that you try this one.  I can guarantee that your head will be happy too.  😊

I Promise It Was Technology's Fault, Not Mine!

After making a big deal about how I was going to try to post here at least once a week, I didn't post at all the next week!  But truly, it was not all my fault.  Google sent out an update for Chromebooks that had a typo (a typo!) that caused Chromebook users to not be able to log in at all.  They supposedly sent out an update, but I never received it, so on Monday morning, I performed the "nuclear option" and wiped my computer clean, meaning I had to start all over again.  I did manage to post on my other blog using my tablet, but it was so slow and painful, I decided to skip posting here.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it.  

Anyway, there are like 2 people who read this, so hopefully they are willing to be generous.  😊

Today I want to share with you the BEST everyday sunscreen that I use on my body all summer long.  I may have shared it before, but that was a while ago, and I want everyone to consider giving it a try.

Yep, the lowly store brand from CVS is my holy grail of body sunscreen for everyday use.  Here is why:

1. It is very inexpensive (particularly if you have one of the many many coupons CVS gives you whether or not you care). This bottle/tube of sunscreen generally lasts me about 4 months - which means it is very effective on a cost pers use basis. I slather this on my arms, chest, and neck every single day, and I use a lot of it!
2. It has an extremely light scent that almost immediately disappears once you apply it (it's barely coconut scented);
3. It stays on without making you feel like a greaseball all day;
4. It WORKS!  I recently wore this when I was at a baseball game on a very hot, very sunny day, and when I got home, I didn't even have a light pink spot on my person.  

Now, one thing you should remember is that you need to get the YELLOW sunscreen - the one in the blue tube or the yellow tube smells more like you expect, and they are harder to get out of the tube!  Just say no to the other containers.  

Just for the record, CVS doesn't know I exist, so they are neither sponsoring this post, nor do they give me any kickback for recommending this product.  It's just that there are a lot of the CVS stores near my house, so I tend to go there more frequently for this kind of stuff.

Please note that I don't use this on my face.  That's mostly because I have really sensitive eyes, and the only time I tried this on my face, it moved into my eyes when I sweated, and that whole thing did not end well.  Your mileage, of course may vary.

But no matter what brand/type you use, PLEASE USE SUNSCREEN!!!

Time For a Reset

I realized today that it has been just short of a YEAR since I posted here.  Now I know I don't post that often here to start, but ALMOST A YEAR???  That is completely unacceptable! Why bother to have a blog if you never write anything?

So I have determined that it is time for a reset here.  Part of my hesitancy to post here was because I am not really a "beauty influencer," an exercise guru, or really an expert on anything related to beauty, health, or fashion.  But you know what - who the H cares???  I started this blog in addition to my other blog because these are also things I enjoy, and I should be able to share that if I like.  Most of the readers of my other blog are primarily interested in crafting and reading, and I'm not sure they would care what I thought about say, eyeliner, you know?

Now I'm not saying I'll have something to say every day here - I don't even do that on my other blog or on social media.  But I'm not going to sit back because a) I'm not an expert, and b) because I am worried what my non-interested-in-this-topic friends might think if they come across this particular blog.  Like most people, I contain multitudes, but that doesn't mean that everyone has to like all of them!  And if reading what I think about a lipstick or what my latest exercises consist of annoys you that much, I probably don't care if you just sign off altogether.

It feels good to get that off my chest.  😌

Anyway, my goal is to post at least once a week here if not more frequently when something strikes me.  I can't say it will always be riveting, but that's not the point.  I enjoy writing and I like to share things I do like and don't like with others, whether or not "others" are even here!

******

Consider this the first post in my reset.  Have you heard of Flower Beauty?  I know it started a few years back, with Drew Barrymore* behind it.  I was kind of excited to hear about it, because it was a cruelty-free brand at a time when there were not that many of them at a lower price point.  Originally though, the brand was only available at Wal-Mart or online.  I tend to not buy lower price point things online if I have never tried them, because the shipping and handling often takes the price up enough that it's no longer any more affordable than other brands.  And I am not a fan of Wal-Mart at all.  I'm not saying I never have gone into a Wal-Mart, but when I have, it's usually been a last resort, and I am fortunate enough to live someplace where there are other choices.

Anyway.  About a month ago, I was in the neighborhood CVS, and noticed they had an endcap devoted to Flower Beauty products - surprise!  

I decided to give one a try (well, OK I also had a CVS coupon for $3.00 off), and chose the Color Shift Lip Smoothie.

It only comes in this one shade, but supposedly once you put it on your lips, the color adjusts to your pH and your lips look like yours, but better.

I figured if nothing else, it might be a nice lip moisturizer, and as someone who has dry lips year round, I use something all of the time, even when I'm just sitting around at home.

Well - in my case at least, this turned out to be a lovely product.  It goes on nicely, without any "tugging" on your lips, and feels not just smooth but soft, if that makes sense.  The color actually was extremely subtle, but it did make my lips look a little bit brighter.

Like most lip balm/moisturizer/whatevers, it isn't long lasting, but I didn't expect that.  The very best thing as far as I'm concerned is that it is NOT sticky at all.  Nothing bugs me more than anything on my lips that feels sticky or tacky - ICK!

I recommend this if you want a bit of a color upgrade with your lip balm.  As I said, I had a CVS coupon, but I think it generally retails for $10.00, which is not completely cheap.  But it's not that expensive, considering that a tube will last you for a while.  And it's not expensive at all when you compare it to some of the "better" brand's products that make you feel like your lips are either varnished with glue, or with some sticky substance that will never go away!

*Drew Barrymore.  Sigh.  I'm never sure how I feel about her.  On the one hand, she kind of makes me crazy.  On the other hand, I have a sense that she is exactly who she appears to be, and I give her props for that.  It's a love-hate relationship I guess ...