Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee

Congratulations to our lovely Queen Elizabeth II on her diamond jubilee!

It has been 60 years since QE2 has taken the throne and her popularity has fluctuated. Ascending to the throne at the age of 26, her majesty became queen when Winston Churchill was prime minister of England. 

Throughout the years she has taken care of the commonwealth with grace and dignity, though she did not always gain a favourable reaction for some decisions. The queen's reign was celebrated with pomp and circumstance at the pageant on the Thames and Brits and citizens of the commonwealth tuned in and came out for the Queen's 1000 boat regatta. 

The queen wore an elegant white and silver dress and waves cheerfully, accompanied by Prince Phillip, the Duke of Edinburgh.

News sources say that the Big Ben tower will now be renamed "The Elizabeth Tower" in honour of her 60 years on the throne, Queen Victoria also had "The Victorian" named for her on her diamond jubilee.

The Queen and the royal family traveled down the Thames on the Gloriana, a barge commissioned for the occasion and decorated with over 10,000 flowers.

The Duchess of Cambridge wore a stunning red Alexander McQueen dress and red hat and accented it with the roman dolphins, a symbol for the Thames. Kate seems to be taking lessons from the Queen on the importance of themed jewelry. 

With all of this pomp and circumstance, some people wonder how the 32million pound pageant was paid for... The Queen, still thinking of the needs of her people,  insisted that the entire pageant would not take place unless it was funded privately. Several corporations donated to the event and not a single pound was spent from the taxpayers.

Congratulations your Majesty. Long may you reign over us!

BE YOURSELF! BELIEVE IN YOUR BEAUTY!

I  was thinking of something someone said to me last week and I felt compelled to make this.

I do not understand why many girls cry or make themselves sick to fit into a relatively new standard of beauty. I believe in my heart that being disgustingly skinny is not attractive and is a recent and sickening trend. If one is naturally skinny, I believe that you are beautiful if you are healthy. But when you weigh 110lbs and spend 3 hours doing cardio each day... that is insane. When you don't eat, that is insane!

Please girls! be happy with yourself! Enjoy life! Surround yourself with good people who love you as you are!

Natural Beauty: Skin Care

I have been asked by many friends and strangers who want to know my beauty secrets for softer or clearer skin, removing cold sores and many other remedies. I happen to be fortunate enough to have learned many useful tricks from herbalists, cosmetologists and of course, trial and error. I would be more than happy to share my secrets.

It should be said that many of the "cures" or "tricks" which are to follow in this article are simple and easy to do. In fact, many are so simple that you may feel silly for not realizing it sooner! For this article, I will only discuss the  questions which have been addressed to me by readers, friends or family about skin care. If you would like my advice on a topic, please feel free to ask.

Disclaimer:
I would recommend that anyone who wishes to try these tricks at home check for allergies before attempting my methods so as to avoid any complications.

Baby Soft Skin
I have several tricks to getting soft and blemish free skin. I have highly sensitive skin and often cannot use harsh perfumes, soaps or shampoo and prefer all natural options if possible. Recently, the Green Revolution has provided consumers with more natural, environmentally friendly options, thus making these products more readily available. For those who prefer to save some money, or be extremely in control over the products which they use, I recommend some simple home made options that have worked WONDERS for me.

My first bit of advice for both men and women may seem a bit ridiculous at first, but I assure you, it needs to be said. Learn to Bathe and Shower the proper way! Many people of my acquaintance ask me about my soft and blemish free skin. It consistently shocks me each time someone asks how to have smooth skin. When I inquire about their showering habits, I am often amazed at how many people shower incorrectly. It may seem like there is no right or wrong way, but there is. I do not mean to say that these people are dirty! Many shower everyday, use two or three products and scrub with hot water and an abrasive cloth or sponge- and that is the problem!

Bathing and Showering
Water Temperature
Showering is actually a very simple act which requires only a few simple and mindful actions. Firstly, extremes of temperature are never a wise choice. Even in extremely hot summers or freezing winters, extremes should be avoided. If you bathe in very cold water, you could catch cold easily. Bathing in extremely hot water, especially when coming in from the cold, could easily burn or damage your skin.

Each time I shower or bathe, I try to begin with warm water and adjust as needed. Always try to add hot to cold instead of the reverse t prevent severe burns and damage to the skin. If your skin is bright red when showering, you are doing something wrong. I prefer to start with the water warm but not hot to open the pores for cleansing and after the shower is complete and I have rinsed well, a slightly cooler water to close the pores and keep dirt out. When bathing, test the water before placing yourself in the tub. I always recommend showering after a bath also to rinse any remaining dirt, or products from the skin.

Cleansers
Due to my highly sensitive skin, I prefer to bathe with no soap products. If I must use soap, I prefer all natural products which may be home-made very simply with natural ingredients. I do have my favorites. I enjoy using baking soda, lavender, tea-tree oil and other essential oils to cleanse my skin. I also enjoy using Soapwort. Soapwort is a plant which can be planted in your gardens at home. If the petals of this plant are bruised or boiled with water, it produces a lather which is effective for the hair, face and body.
I always love to add some scented oils to my bath. I enjoy lavender for the relaxing scent and antibacterial properties it has. Tea-tree oil is equally effective but less desirable to some who may find that it has a harsh scent. Both of these two oils are great for preventing skin infections, healing cuts, warts and burns in addition to acting as extremely effective insect repellent.

If I must use shampoo or soap which was commercially made, I prefer the brands such as Johnson and Johnson baby was or the JASON line of all natural soaps and shampoos.

Showering Process
Some people have found it customary to shower every day. This has also become the accepted social convention. I recommend daily showers if you are physically active, live in a humid climate, produce excess oil  or odor, but showering everyday is not for everyone. Some people with extremely dry skin may wonder why they have a chalky outer layer or flakes. This is likely due to over washing. If you are constantly scratching your dry skin or finding cracks in your skin, try showering every second day. Your body may not be producing enough oils to properly hydrate your skin. Showering everyday will not only remove the helpful oils but cause your skin to become dry and cracked which makes you look older.

Harsh scrubbing can also remove the helpful hydrating oils from your skin. avoid any washing materials that feel scratchy. A good rule for finding your washing tools is whether or not you would wear the material. For example: If you find your cloth or sponge too scratchy to wear all day as a shirt, it would not be good to use as a scrubber on the majority of your skin. Harsh scrubbers are better left to those tough calloused areas such as feet and elbows.

If you have oil or acne prone skin, a wash with lavender or tea-tree oils will keep you freshly scented and act as an antibacterial agent. This cleans as well as disinfects. For serious conditions, I have recommended SpectroGel soaps and body wash, but you should always consult a physician or dermatologist. A thorough though gentle scrubbing for problem areas should prove effective.

Drying Off
After your shower, gently removed excess water from your hair (if it is long) by gripping the hair gently. Do not wring the hair to dry it. This causes damage. Lightly grip with the towel to dry your hair to prevent it from wetting the skin. Some people may choose to wrap their hair in a towel before proceeding.
After showering or bathing, drying off correctly is key in maintaining healthy skin. Use the same methods as above (selecting scrubbing tools and wash cloths) for selecting towels. Once you have your towel in hand, it is recommended that you carefully dry each foot before stepping out of the tub/shower, though I prefer to do the following steps inside the boundaries of the tub to prevent dripping on the floor.
Begin by lightly patting excess water off the surface of the skin before drying sensitive areas such as the underarms and genitals. Dry these areas well to prevent skin problems, infection or odor. Afterwards, wrap the towel around your waist and sit on the edge of the tub. Take this time to allow the air to gently dry the remaining moisture from your skin. Your skin, after patting it dry should not be soaking wet.
Some women like to use this time to examine their skin or bodies. Check for new blemishes. The spread of skin cancer is growing, especially in young people. Check your skin thoroughly (with a mirror if needed) for new moles or spots. If something has changed, grown or seems abnormal. Consult your doctor. Also, both women and men should take this time to examine themselves for specialized cancers such as testicular or breast cancers. If you wish, you may also use this time to stretch,pumice your feet, apply any product you may choose such as scented essential oil or brush your teeth. When you feel dry, hang your towel and get dressed.

Face and Body Treatments

Diet
The way we eat can affect our health so naturally it would affect our skin. I won't be the one to lecture you about staying away from chocolate and sweets, though anything in excess is never wise. Eating fruits and vegetables can not only give your skin a healthy glow but eating fruits can often give you sweet smelling skin. I am often surprised at how wonderful my vegan and vegetarian friends look and smell in regards to their skin. Try eating 5-7 fruits daily. Staying hydrating is also important for skincare. Not only will it keep your skin from drying out but staying hydrating reduces the need to sweat. Decreases perspiration can lead to less blemishes and odor.

Sun Protection
Sunscreen should be worn each day in the summer and during long outdoor winter activities. Apply once every two hours or every hour if swimming. It is advisable to prevent burning and skin cancer to use at least SPF 50. I recommend Aveeno and Ombrelle. If you are overly concerned about skin cancer or have a risk, you will need a sunscreen with Zinc Oxide.

Exfoliate
It is important to remove dead skin and excess dirt from the face. I usually do not use harsh, expensive products to do this. Many people use blackhead strips by Biore or other brands to remove tough dirt and clogged pores. If my pores become clogged, I use the following recipe followed by a gentle wash of the face and patting dry.

1tablespoon milk

1 tablespoon UNFLAVORED gelatin

Mix together in microwave safe cup

Microwave 10 seconds

Test temperature on back of hand

Brush onto skin with old makeup brush (that you don't care about)

Wait 10 minutes until dry

Peel off and see results!

No paper or fabric is necessary!

Another method I use to exfoliate my skin is to gently scrub my face with granulated white sugar... That's right! Sugar is good for your skin! Simply buy a bag of sugar and wash your face with warm water and no soap. After your face is wet, roll a generous handful of sugar in your hand, apply it to the face and scrub. Be sure to stop scrubbing after the sugar dissolves. Rinse immediately in warm water and make sure that all of the sugar has been washed away. Follow the rinse with a few splashes of cold water to close the pores. 

Many people prefer to use this method with salt but I find that salt dries the skin. Another alternative is to use sand; sand can cause scratching of the skin and may have contaminants depending on your source for the sand. I find that when done properly with sugar, your skin will be noticeably softer and clearer within three days! The sugar not only gives you a healthy, youthful glow, but a sweet scent. Another healthy alternative is used tea leaves. If you decide to use tea leaves, try green, white or herbal tea which has been boiled at least once and then cooled to prevent burning or coloring of the face. 

Cold Sores

There are many sores on the market for cold sores but they still take almost a week to work. As soon as you feel that familiar tingle in the corner of your mouth, apply some milk to a ball of tissue or cotton and hold it to the area for 10 minutes. Do this every 2 hours for the first day and each morning/evening every day after. If you catch it early, the cold sore will not even show up. The secret cure is found in the milk fat. There is a chemical called Monocaprin which has been found to kill the virus. Since the cure is related to milk fat, whole milk works best followed by 2%, 1%  and skim.

Make-up and Removers

I find it best for me to wear unscented make-up made with natural materials. However, make-up is an individual choice and so I think it best to simply advise how to remove it. I recommend removing makeup after each use, before bed and washing thoroughly. Many people use make-up remover pads with a high baby oil content. This causes breakouts. I like to use Physician's Formula make-up remover liquid. It is the same compound as the pads but I can control how much I use. This is safe for the face as well. The products by this brand are generally hypoallergenic and made with all natural materials. Many of the natural oils in these blends such as lavender and orange oils are conditioners for skin, lashes and brows and safe for everyday use. You could even use this to remove make-up and face paint used for children's costumes. I find that you get plenty of use from these products and they are worth the extra money and within normal price ranges. I find that even their makeup cleans and conditions my skin. 

True Beauty
Always remember that true beauty always is found inside your shell. What lies deep inside you and takes years to perfect is what people will truly value and find beautiful. Love yourself for who you are: a unique and beautiful person. Beauty comes in all shapes, sizes and colors. Be confident in yourself and remember that it is only when we crack open the oyster do we find the beauty of the pearl.  

Something Floral and Feminine

     I have been very busy lately so I put this together to tide you over.

Law of the Jungle: Tutorial on Animal Prints

         I am just going to quickly address an issue which has been bothering me for some time now. It seems that many people still do not know how to effectively wear animal prints. I understand that people see many photos in magazines of celebrities dressing in animal prints, but not all of the examples are good ones. We have all seen what can happen when animal prints go wrong, but let me refresh your memory on some basic rules:
Less is More
          Animal prints are high frequency patterns. That means you need less of these prints to make you stand out (in a good way). Pairing leopard print with a Neutral Black is often the best choice, especially for more formal occasions. If you are unsure of how much to wear at first, it is always better to play it safe. Start with accessories and work your way up. Make sure your leopard print is on high quality fabric! Stay away from Velvet or Spandex! Try these simple suggestions:

       

Soothe the Savage Beast

        Try not to wear anything overly revealing. Animal prints have a seductive quality to them. Wearing something too revealing can often look trashy...which isn't what you're going for. In some instances, the less skin you show, the more the print highlights your figure. If you are going to wear animal print lingerie, try starting with something subdued. You want your man to find you sexy not scary.

Optical Illusions

      Avoid mixing prints with other animal print or high frequency patterns. It isn't terrible if you mix prints with a shirt that has some text or a jacket with some studs but try to avoid competitive prints like polka dots and stripes.

Finding your spots

         Avoid crazy permanent experiments with prints, such as tattoos or hairstyles. These can be costly and regrettable. Wearing prints can take some time to figure out but you will look classy when you get it right.

Try to find new and creative ways to integrate animal prints into your sense of style. Be creative and experiment. 

 

Final Advice

DON'T overuse colours such as neons, yellow, green purple.

DO pair animal print with neutral or solid colours such as black, white, beige, pink, or red.

DONT use animal prints to look trashy.

DO use animal print as a subtle accent to complete any outfit.

DON'T mix animals prints or other high frequency patterns.

DO find combinations of clothes you can wear in various ways with your animal print.

DONT leave the house looking stupid or trashy.

DO ask for help when you are unsure.

Spring Eggs: Ancient Tradition and Modern Elegance

      Because Spring has finally come, I have decided to make the first blog about a wonderful custom which has been around for centuries. I just love Easter Eggs. Though I will refer to them as Easter eggs, as that is what I grew up with, I understand that these lovely creations do not specifically relate or even originate with the Easter celebration. I simply find them beautiful and wish to address the many lovely decorated eggs.
     The egg is a symbol of fertility, rebirth and new life and has become associated with spring as a result. ancient  Zoroastrians painted eggs for Nowrooz, their New Year celebration, which falls on the Spring Equinox. The Nawrooz tradition has existed for at least 2,500 years. The sculptures on the walls of Persepolis show people carrying eggs for Nowrooz to the king. In more recent centuries, the tradition of Easter eggs was adopted by Christians and used to celebrate the coming of Spring. It is unclear how pagan ceremony first became associated with Christian Dogma, however, In North America, the tradition is mainly for children.
     The decorating of eggs is usually done on Easter Morning or the eve before. Parents then hide the eggs for children to find. Recently, Easter eggs have been replaced by chocolate or sugar treats shaped like eggs and the decorating remains as a separate activity.
     I believe that the tradition of creating Easter eggs for friends, family or spring decor is a wonderful way to get into the spring spirit.
     There are several versions of spring eggs which one could admire.
Faberge Eggs

    One of the most well known types of decorative eggs are Russian Faberge eggs. In 1885 Tsar Alexander III commissioned the House of Fabergé to make an Easter Egg as a gift for his wife, the Empress Maria Fedorovna. These eggs were made of precious metals, gems and enamel. Though these eggs are generally beyond the price range of many of us, several imitations have been created and sold for reasonable prices.

Ukrainian Easter Eggs

     These "pysanka" are Easter eggs which are decorated using the wax resist dying style and traditional Ukrainian designs. The word comes from the verb pysaty, "to write", as the designs are not painted on, but written with beeswax. This name refers specifically to these traditional eggs and cannot be used to refer to other eggs decorated by wax resist methods. These eggs are often sold to tourists as they have become world famous for the exquisite and elegant designs. Typical colours for these eggs are black, red, white, yellow, blue and green.

Perforated Eggs

    Perforated eggs are lovely but very delicate. These eggs are carved very carefully and often resemble lace when the design is complete. The designs range from simple to extremely complex. They are difficult to locate in stores and a great deal more difficult to make if one is untrained, but definitely worth having.

Home-made Eggs
    It is possible to create lovely eggs at home. Traditional egg decorating uses coloured dyes. Recent commercial egg-dying kits provide brightly coloured chemical dyes but it is easy to create your own dyes from "green" or all natural materials. Natural dyes can be created from turmeric for yellow, red cabbage for blue and beets for pink. It is also easy to adhere flowers, leaves, pictures,
silhouettes, glitter or gold leaf to eggs in order to decorate them. Home-made egg decorating tips can be found on websites like Marthastewart.com or in specialty books and magazines. Get creative and try out some of these techniques yourself!

                                                              Faberge Inspired eggs

                                                          Origami Decoupage Eggs

                                                                     Gold Leaf Eggs

                                                              Carved Butterfly Eggs

                                                  Oversized Botanical Decoupage Eggs

                                                                          Glitter Eggs

                                                       "Green" All Natural Easter Eggs

                                                                 Chocolate Filled Eggs


I'm youth, I'm joy, I'm a little bird that has broken out of the egg.
                                     ~J.M. Barrie

A Little Preview of What is to Come...