Saturday, July 17, 2010

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Two of my little cousins are up visiting their grandma from TX and on Thursday they came down to Colorado Springs to go to the zoo. I was so excited to go with them. We had a great day, but I have to say those kids from the flats of TX just couldn't understand why the zoo was on the side of a mountain! They really were fun to have around and they ended up having lots of fun.

One of the most exciting things I saw that day were the Mexican gray wolves, which I have NEVER seen. However, they were very active that day, running all around their enclosure. It was great to see them, finally. If you didn't know, the scientific name is Canis lupus baileyi (which my cousin Bailey thought was great). Unfortunately, the primate house wasn't open, which means we didn't get to see the Naked Mole Rats either :( It was too bad because their are signs EVERYWHERE and the kids (plus me) were really looking forward to the exhibit.

So, overall, a very busy and educational day. Of course, we all know that kids have one thing they will get stuck on. What was it on Thursday? Chipmunks. They got to see grizzly bears, tigers, elephants, and hippos, but it was the chipmunks they got REALLY excited about.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

America the Beautiful Park

Join us today for the Colorado Farm and Art Market at America the Beautiful Park from 3-7. It is going to be hot out, but you can beat the heat in the Julie Penrose fountain!

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Show Your Funny Face

I've been hearing from a lot of my friends that they have been having a rough time. Someone is sick, someone is hurt, someone is having some sort of personal issue. Growing up is rough and sometimes adults forget to take time to be a little silly. It really does make you feel better. So here is to everyone out there that is having any kind of problems, I hope it gets better soon.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Masks (Masques)

I love my weekly mask. It isn't always easy to fit it in, but my skin always looks and feels great afterward, that I really try. The biggest bonus for me, is that it is 15 minutes where I will sit and do nothing. I take that time for me and I enjoy it. I also like that I can customize my masks to suit my needs. There are some wonderful masks on the market and I tend to prefer the dry masks that you mix each time you use it. This way I can use different liquids to make the mask depending on what my skin says it needs that week. Just be sure to choose a mask that will not dry out your skin. The purpose is to revitalize, not leave you feeling like this.


The main purpose of most masks is to draw out toxins in the skin for a deep cleansing. However, they can also serve as mild exfoliants or to increase circulation depending on the other ingredients. Most masks contain clays to help draw out toxins and tighten the pores. There are a variety of clays available and they serve different purposes. My favorite is kaolin clay because it is great for all skin types. It absorbs excess oils and is known for its healing and skin softening properties. People with very oily skin may prefer bentonite clay instead.

You can also make a mask out of fruit, dairy products, and even eggs. Many fruits contain acids that help dissolve dead skin cells and pore clogging nastiness. Full fat dairy products contain lactic acid which has a similar effect; the fat helps to replenish skin and restore skin "full" appearance. Eggs contain proteins and fat to help tighten and restore skin. Honey and egg is my favorite mask, but what a mess it will make; be sure to get your hair out of the way and do this one in the tub. Your cupboard is full of ingredients to make a super mask, so just look around.

The point is, you DO NOT have to spend a lot of money on commercial masks! You can make safe, economical masks in your own kitchen. Always be sure to use whatever you make right away, do not store these masks because of their perishable nature. If you do prefer to purchase your masks, please check the ingredients to make sure it is right for your skin and follow the directions carefully. Keep in mind that in product you dip your hand into should be used within a few months, so make your product last longer by using a clean popsicle stick to remove as much mask as needed. Always make sure your hands are clean and DRY, added water will cause mold to grow and that is not pretty!

Would you like to share your favorite homemade mask recipe?

Photo from www.flickr.com courtesy of dreamglow pumpkincat210

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Perfect Degreaser

The other day I cooked chicken fried steak. No, I don't want to hear any comments about how unhealthy it is. I know this, but I haven't had it in a LONG time and I wanted it. Plus, I used canola oil and not crisco, so at least I saved on the saturated fats.

If you've ever fried anything, you know that you get oil EVERYWHERE and it does not like to go away quietly. There are some very effective commercial cleaners that quickly remove all the grease (and some of my skin), but I've gotten rid of most of my cleaners. My current cleaner of choice is vinegar and water with a little orange essential oil. It works well on pretty much anything your kitchen can throw at you, but I wasn't happy with my stove or backsplash.

SO, I mixed baking soda, salt, and lemon juice! Together these make an excellent degreaser and a good scrub if your sink needs it. I wore gloves because lemon juice stings and I really didn't want to exfoliate at the time. I used a rag to clean up all the grease and then I gave my sink a good scrubbing! You do need to rinse well, but my normal vinegar cleaner helped get up all the residue. My kitchen is extra clean and it smells great!

What is your favorite "green" cleaner?

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Easy Sugar Scrub

Sugar scrubs are a very easy, inexpensive way to make your own exfoliant. I recommend only making enough for one application at a time. The main reason being that you won't have to worry about mold growing in your scrub. Plus, you can change up your recipe each time you make one to suit your current skin needs, which we know change.

Ingredients:
  • 1/2 cup sugar (brown or white, just make sure it is fine ground)
  • 1/2 cup any vegetable oil (I like grapeseed the best because it is light)
Instructions:
  1. Mix your ingredients in a sturdy bowl, I suggest avoiding glass because they tend to be heavy and your hands with be slippery.
  2. Stand in shower and wet skin. You may use the scrub on dry skin, but it will be much more scrubby!
  3. Gently (the sugar does the work) work the scrub over your skin in circles until you've gotten all of your skin. Start at your extremities and work your way in. Avoid damaged or sensitive areas. Avoid your face as well!
  4. Rinse with warm water, but don't wash away the oil! Pat dry. No need to moisturize because the oil is still there.
Variations:
  • Oil may be substituted for other liquids depending on your skin type. Milk and many fresh fruit juices contain enzymes to help cleanse skin. Yogurt and cream are great for dry skin.
  • If you have very sensitive skin, you can substitute ground meals or powders for the sugar. I use blue cornmeal on my sensitive skin and I love it. 
Not interested in making your own? Honu Naturals, LLC has options for you!

What is your favorite scrub, either homemade or one you bought? What do you like the most?

Monday, July 5, 2010

Farmer's Market Display

I'm having a good time doing the markets, I am meeting some other wonderful vendors, and I'm getting my products out to the public. I've already had one person come back from last week to get something new! It is always nice when you get repeat customers like that. I even had a lady stop this weekend because she remembered me from a show in December and she wanted to let me know how much she likes my stuff.

I have a pretty good display, but I need to spruce it up. Right now it is simple, but it doesn't pop or really stand out the way I'd like. So, here is a picture:
 Does anyone how any suggestions? My stuff is on the right because I'm sharing a booth with a friend of mine that knits. I know it isn't a close up, but I'm looking for suggestions to draw people in from this distance. What would make you want to come into this booth? I have soaps, lotions, lip balms, and some foot products to display and I'll be adding some baby care products this weekend. Suggestions from a consumer point of view would be wonderful!