Pure, Essential, Therapeutic and Kind!

Our sense of smell does wonderful things to us...From creating a cozy-yummy atmosphere in your home when the smell of a delicious home-cooked meal emerges from the kitchen, to your favorite perfume that inspires you to feel powerful at work or sensual at night...From the warm smell our little babies have to clean sheets or the fresh flowers in the park...You get the idea! What would we do if we weren't able to use our sense of smell to create a better life?

I have long been a fan of this amazing Aromatherapy company called "Aura Cacia". Aura Cacia was founded in 1981 and uses nothing but pure essential oils of high quality combined with a strong belief for ethical environmental sustainability, giving back, no animal testing and minimal animal by-products (just beeswax).

In a nutshell, Aromatherapy is the healing through the use of essential oils extracted from plants. Essential oils exist in leaves, blossoms, roots and seeds of plants. Usually, these oils are massaged on the skin or scalp or inhaled. Different oils are used for different purposes, and a combination of oils can be even more effective. Some can promote relaxation, while others help reduce inflammation or energize you and make you happier. Some make a small place become more welcoming and others help purify the air. From my understanding the key is to realize that essential oils are not the same as synthetic fragrances, which will not have the same effect. High quality essential oils will usually cost you more, however, they last for a long time. If you'd like to learn more about Aromatherapy, follow this link here.

These small spray bottles in the 2 photos I took are some of the Aura Cacia essential oils I have and use at home. I love them all, and it's impossible to choose a favorite one, as each serves a different purpose. If you read the labels, you'll understand what I mean.

I find they have worked well on my pets, as well. I spray (with "Chill Pill") the area they sleep in a bit before we all go to bed, and not only does it smell very pleasant, but it seems to calm them down. I do the same in our room and it works well for us and the kids.

At the office, I find myself using "Pep Talk" a lot, as it motivates and inspires me to focus on positive thinking.  You see, our sense of smell can be healing! And here a great travel tip: "First Response" purifies the surrounding air/area. It can be used in hotel rooms, meeting rooms, cars, rental cars and can even be used to purify your hands, and anything you touch, like a telephone, door knobs, remote controls! Isn't this great? I use it in my car all the time. Once a week, my 4 dogs "bombard" my car, and I often have a little mess from the kids in the back seat. This essential oil mist comes in very handy all the time!

Do something good for yourself and others and positively impact your surroundings. This is just an example... I have long believed and used Aromatherapy. It's wonderfully healing. Everything always smells so great!

Last but not least, there is something I love even more about Aura Cacia! It has a "Giving back" program, where they give 1% of their sales back to organic farmers around the world in order to help them build their small communities. You can find out more about the company and its giving back program by clicking here.

Oh, by the way...Aura Cacia products can be bought online through their web site, and at other retail stores. I bought mine at my local "Vitamin Shoppe"! It makes for great gifts!...

Little girls' nails deserve the BEST!

Little, tiny fingers deserve what's best out there!

My girls love getting their nails painted and we usually do this on the weekends! My biggest worry is not a matter of an early onset of excessive vanity (honestly, I came to the conclusion that little girls are born with a nice healthy dose of vanity!), but the toxic chemicals present in nail polish.

Let's be realistic here: Kids put their hands in their mouths all the time. I truly don't want them to be ingesting all of the bad stuff.

So, I came across 2 companies that make beautiful nail polish with less toxic chemicals than other well known brands.

I often use them on my nails as well, after all, hey, we deserve good stuff too, and you can see them in the picture below: Zoya and Butter LONDON

Zoya's natural nail polish doesn't contain toluene, formaldehyde, camphor or DBP (phthalates). This is GREAT! They have over 300 colors to choose from, and I wish Ulta, the store I purchase them at here in Florida, had a larger selection. Please note, Ulta's web site is not showing they distribte Zoya. I don't know if they will discontinue carrying the line, so I suggest you either look at their web site or try different local nail salons.

Butter LONDON follows a "3 free philosophy" and the nail polish they sell is also free of toluene, formaldehyde and DBP. The great thing about Butter LONDON is that they also have beautiful lip glosses.  You can find them all at Ulta as well!

Again, as I had mentioned in previous posts: I have no affiliation with either Zoya or Butter LONDON. I simply love the brands and enjoy showing them off here! Good things deserve to be mentioned more often!

My point is: If I'll be spending money on my girls, I'll do so wisely. That doesn't mean "expensive". It means being conscious of what I'm paying for. In this case, I'm looking for less harmful health impact combined with fun and the possibility to create wonderful memories together!

I know what we'll be doing tomorrow morning after breakfast!... :)

Your skin SO deserves this!

I got good feedback from some of you about my post on cosmetics. Nothing like being KIND to our skin, right?
As I had written before, I would have been a great research subject for any Dermatologist over the years. Read my other post (click here) to understand what I mean!

Ever since I can remember, my Mom has always taken very good care of her skin. She's well over 60 now and always receives compliments on her skin. The benefits of using the right products, the need to protect, exfoliate, treat and put time (an sometimes $) into a good skin regimen SHOW. Alright, some of us have great genes that help tremendously, but, let's face it, it's not always the case. At least not my case!

My Mom has taught me by example. Her diligent routine has allowed me to understand, over the years, the benefits of taking good care of our skin. Mostly, protecting it from environmental damage, like the sun, cold, pollution or dry and recycled air. No matter what phase in my skin situation I was in (puberty, adult acne, dry & flaky skin, allergies, sunburn, you name it), there was always something that could be done.

But all these cremes, lotions, serums, ...all this time and money spent! Yes...it's not always easy. The idea of keeping it simple is so appealing, but that will also depend on your skin type, your budget, the time commitment you want to put into it and your age!

There is ONE product, however, that I now LOVE with all my heart and wished I had started using a while ago. This one thing goes well for every skin type and I say that because it's part of a major step: cleansing. I'm sorry, but don't you dare put on anything on dirty skin. No, no. Go wash it first!

I can't picture my life without the Clarisonic Skin Cleansing System. If you don't have one yet, either go get one now or save up (prices range from around US$120 to US$235) because IT IS THE BEST.

Our hands-on way of cleansing our face and neck doesn't get all the dirt and make-up off, and if we wanted to try, we'd be scrubbing for the longest time, irritating our skin and potentially damaging our skin's collagen. Because our gentle hands can't possibly do the real deal work, creams, serums and lotions have a bit more of a challenge penetrating our skin, jeopardizing how many benefits we're truly getting from all these products.

What I find with  the Clarisonic brush is that it's gentle brush massager truly cleanses the skin. I can even feel the water totally refreshing my pores. I'm not joking. I use the Clarisonic brush mornings and evenings, and use a bit of the gel cleanser from that brand (they have a good variety of gel cleansers to use with the brush).You wet your face, apply the gel cleanser, turn on your handheld Clarisonic brush and use light, circular motions over the face to cleanse it. Then, you rinse your face with water. Work wonders. It's quick and efficient.

Do something GOOD for yourself and invest in a Clarisonic Cleansing System. I honestly don't think you'll be disappointed at all. If you want to pass the kindness along, this makes for a grate birthday gift, Mother's day gift, Christmas gift, Valentine's gift, raffle prize, silent auction prize or even graduation prize!

Please note, these are my personal opinions on this product. I don't have any connections or affiliations with Clarisonic International. I'm simply a very happy customer spreading the word and sending out good vibes!
(picture of the product found in Google Images)

Happy cleansing, all!

From my personal "Collection"!...

Don't we all have things we simply love? Some people are crazy about shoes. Others love journals and fancy pens. I have a friend who's the biggest "PEZ" collector (yes, the candy!...Hi, chica!)! We all have things, stuff, we love! These things make us happy, don't they?
I, for example, LOVE pajamas! If you know me, you didn't see this one coming, huh? I sort of collect pajamas! I use them, I really do! I'm a bit of a fake collector, guess. I USE my collections - I don't just leave them alone.
Another collection that I actively use is SOAPS! I LOVE soaps! The more, the merrier!

There are a few requirements for a soap to make it into may collection, though: It's gotta be "cruelty free" (not tested on animals" and should have the least amount of animal products (such as honey, goat milk etc) as possible. Handcrafted soaps are a big hit in my collection!

Some soaps I truly love come from two companies that are so hip and won't break your wallet: "Shea Moisture" and "Pharmacopia". The soaps from Shea Moisture are made in the U.S.A. and I find them at Walgreens and Target, while Pharmacopia soaps, made in Canada, I buy at The Vitamin Shoppe! You see, nothing that will require you to spend a lot. And the smell SO good!

Let me show you some examples of these great soaps that would also make great GIFTS!
Below you will see pictures of 4 soaps. It's so sad you can't smell them!...

While I love these 4 soaps, I'd like to point out the "African Black Soap" (great for troubled, combination skin - bumps on your back, anyone?). There is such an incredible story behind this soap! In 1912, Sofi Tucker started selling Shea Nuts at their local market in the small village of Bonthe, in Sierra Leone. When she was 19, this Mom of 4 and at that time widow, had a wide array of natural beauty products she was selling; all homemade! Sofi left a legacy, empowering disadvantaged women to follow their dreams of a bigger and brighter future! When you purchase these soaps from Shea Moisture, you're helping a wonderful cause! Isn't this simply amazing? Give the gift of kindness, to yourself and your loved ones!

Be Kind to your (aging...) skin!

I am grateful my skin has been changing over the years.
From puberty's pimples to an oily adulthood, passing through 2 pregnancies, breastfeeding years, stress, happiness, awful eating habits in College, wonderful eating habits packed with exercise, facials and TONS of medicated and non-medicated cosmetics, healthy sun bathing and terrible sun burning, good make-up and cheap make-up - my skin has been through it all over my almost 35 years.

Today I want to talk about an awesome skin line: Dermalogica

This privately owned company is headquartered in Carson, California and has offices spread around the world, in dozens of countries. All products are made in the USA.
I first explored Dermalogica a bit when my Mom, in her mid-60s, purchased a starter-kit at Ulta about a year and a half ago. My Mom's very dry and aging skin did not react very well to it, however, as my Mom was used to a much richer consistency. I do not remember which starter-kit she purchased.

About 2 weeks ago, I went to Ulta looking for a skin-brightening solution. My skin started showing some serious sun damage. I love freckles, don't get me wrong, but those are sun spots from toasting in the sun throughout the years before I understood the great importance of a good  sunscreen!
I browsed around, left and went back a few days later. I wanted to research online before settling on anything and spending a bit more than usual. Good skin care IS more expensive. Do NOT believe in cheap miracles. Really. You WANT to put good stuff on your skin! It's your skin! Be kind to it! The quality of the ingredients, the place from where and the way natural ingredients were acquired, the packaging, the care, the storage, the Chemists, the team, the research (hopefully NOT involving animal testing!!!), oh my goodness, all this COSTS. The more you eliminate from the large equation, and the more you mass produce and the less care you put into the cosmetics, the cheaper it will get. I want good stuff for my skin.It deserves it! Please note, I don't splurge on cosmetics all the time. I go to Walgreens and CVS all the time. There are some things, though, that I believe are worth the big bucks.

I fell in love with Dermalogica's mission, which puts strong emphasis on Education and Innovation, offering us products free of common skin irritants, free of animal testing, free of fragrance and artificial colors, mineral oils, alcohol etc). To the company, skin care is a health issue, not just a cosmetic problem. The focus is not on selling us their products through pretty packaging and catchy names. They are straight-forward as can be. You know what you're getting and what I've gotten for my skin is MARVELLOUS.

I just recently started using the Clarisonic Mia 2 Skin Cleaning System. I feel the skin cleaner and more fully and efficiently absorbing the products I use.
This is what I bought from Dermalogica and rave about:

C-12 Concentrate: A strong brightening treatment I use during the day. I apply sunscreen afterwards, without a doubt. I learned my lesson! I have an oily T-zone, but the smooth, silky texture is just perfect for my skin. It's very light!

Overnight Repair Serum: Even oily skin needs to stay moisturized. Don't think that by drying it out you'll keep the oil away. Our skin needs a natural barrier against indoor and outdoor exposure. I love this serum. It makes me feel I'm truly nourishing my skin with so much goodness. It's greasy, but don't be fooled: It's good stuff from Argan and Rose oils, which, by the way, smell oh-so-good! I have tried the serum by itself and have mixed it in with my night moisturizer. In the morning, my skin feels soft, looks bright, looks rested and stress-free. This serum is a serum that helps your skin cope with aging. Everyday our skin ages. It doesn't matter if we are 25, 30, 40 or 50. Skin is still aging.

Be kind to it.

Christmas Eve - Eve !

What was I thinking? Starting a Blog during the busiest month of the year? I guess spontaneity has entered my life without knocking on the door! Maybe this comes as a blessing, as I believe being spontaneous is NOT a bad thing; I just don't know (yet!) how to use it to my benefit!

With this said, you can see 11 days have passed since my first post. Not a problem. Let's allow the implications coming along with spontaneity sweep through and move along...The Blog is ON!

I hope you are able to spend Christmas with many of your loved ones! This is SUCH a special time of the year.

This year, we are mainly focusing on presenting the kids with gifts. The way we do it in our family is the following: The kids get our gifts on Christmas Eve and Santa's special gifts on Christmas Day.
We came to the conclusion Santa will eat way too many cookies and drink too much milk while he visits each household, so, Santa will find our favorite Protein Bar (Luna, flavor: Lemon Zest) and a refreshing glass of cold Almond Milk  (Unsweetened Vanilla) when he visits our home. Our little Nati suggested strawberries or carrots. I guess Santa will find all of this very interesting!...I will post pictures on Tuesday!

A note on Almond Milk: We love its flavor and smoothness. Almond milk is dairy and soy free. You can find it sweetened or not, flavored or not. It has been a staple in our household for over a year and a half now. I have never been a fan of cow milk and don't particularly love the taste of soy milk. I find Almond Milk delicious and so kind!

What I plan on doing for myself tonight is laying the girls to sleep and giving myself a relaxing manicure accompanied by a chilled glass of Pinot Grigio. I always do my own manicure. I learned so much from years and years of getting my nails done in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where I grew up! I had the same nail technician for years and by simply observing Rose do her magic I learned her tricks.

I wish you a great Christmas Eve-Eve (!) and hope you are able to unwind while getting the house, the kids, the gifts, the pets, the food...ready! Cheers! Don't forget to make time for yourself!

(All products mentioned here have a direct link to their web site, as well as a picture taken from their web site. I did not take these pictures myself.)

Wine for the evening: 2011 Banfi , San Angelo Pinot Grigio. This Tuscan wine has a lingering personality with hints of tropical fruits. I would consider it as a rich "Summer wine", however, we're in Florida! It's really not too cold here at all!
Nail Polish for Christmas Eve: Butter London "Queen Vic". This festive red wine color reminds me of a classy party girl! The best part is, it's formulated without the awful chemicals Formaldehyde, Toluene, DBP or Parabens. I love using this on my girls' nails!