Get baby soft, luxurious, glowing skin for a steal.

Your skin is the largest organ your body has and is the most susceptible to the world around you.  Your skin is affected by what you slather on it, what you put into it, and by the  pollutants in the air and water around it. It's important to baby your skin; Healthier skin translates to a healthier You.

Can you remember when you were an infant? Your skin was extremely soft, flawless, and amazing. You can achieve this supple softness again with an amazing D.I.Y. home made scrub. It's the simplest to make and you'll be on your way to beautiful porcelain, baby soft skin in no time.

What you need:
Apple cider vinegar (un-distilled)
Honey
Granulated sugar

I'm amazed at the difference this has made in my skin with only one months use. Once a week I've scrubbed my face and body with unbelievable results. Softness I never thought I could have again in my skin. Believe me; I've tried many store bought scrubs with very little positive results. I'm happy to share with you my routine to achieving the best results with this sugar scrub.

In a small bowl add
1 tablespoons apple cider vinegar,
1 tablespoon honey,
and 1/4 cup granulated sugar.
Mix well with a spoon

You will end up with a loose, smooth paste.

I like to start with my face. Make sure your skin is clean without make-up or foundations. Smooth the paste on your entire face focusing on the chin, cheeks, forehead, upper lip, and nose areas; Avoiding the delicate eye area. You will notice the strong aroma of the vinegar and the vapors may make your eyes sting and/or water, this is normal. As long as you avoid getting it in your eyes you're OK. I usually close my eyes while I scrub.

Now that the mixture should be equally distributed on your face lightly scrub in circular motions all over your face concentrating on the areas with the most "roughness". For me I focus more in the T-zone area around my nose, lips, chin, and forehead.  Again, don't scrub too hard; a light touch is key to avoid abrasions.

Focus on scrubbing for about 3-5 minutes and then move on to the body scrub. I recommend doing this part in the shower, without the water running, to avoid making a mess everywhere. I focus on my upper arms, derrière, back and front of thighs, and calves. I smooth the remainder on other areas to have full coverage, but really spend the majority of the time focusing on the roughest skin patches. Once I'm done scrubbing I rinse under Luke warm water and follow with a moisturizing body wash. After rinsing dry off gently

The next step is to apply toner to your face. I really like Thayer's rose petal witch hazel with aloe and vitamin E. It is alcohol free, smells wonderful, moisturizes, and refreshes your skin. If you're not a fan of rose petal scent, they do have other options which are just as useful.  If I'm out of Thayers toner, I use Clinique's step 2 clarifying lotion. A toner is great for for the face after washing to help hold in moisture and pick-up any remaining dirt and oils.  Avoid harsh drying tonics that contain alcohol; these types of toners suck the moisture out of your delicate facial skin and lead to acne and extreme dryness, or something worse. 

After the toner dries, I slather my face and body in lotion.  I use Clinique's dramatically different face lotion and my body is coated with Cerava lotion or cream.  Cerava is amazing and boasts a wide range of skin healing and moisturizing properties. I think Cerava is a miracle worker.  I use Cerava cream on my face at night and find it even more therapeutic than Estee Lauders' time zone; a powerful and pricey anti-aging night cream.

When you're finished and the lotion has soaked in you will notice the difference. Softness unlike anything you could imagine. The reality of having baby-soft skin is within reach once more.

The other benefits that I've noticed is a reduction in rosacia, Keretosis pilaris, and eczema. I have very sensitive allergy prone skin and this wondrous scrub has made my skin beautiful again; Blemish free, even-toned, smooth, and healthy looking.

You've got to give it a try.

*****While I love sharing with you, please keep in mind I am not an expert, nor do I make any claims to be.  When experimenting with home remedies or recommendations, please proceed at your own risk.********

Spring mix tape 2011

I'm a sucker for a good music mix.  Recently I've realized, to break-up the unvaried, monotony of a full album of just one band, a "mix tape" is pure Ear honey.  No, Not the ear honey you're probably thinking of, the crud that you excavate with a cotton swab, But sweet, sweet musical bliss.  I'm always up for something new, something that begs to be played at full volume when cruising down the road or doing anything around the house. Spring in Seattle is like a cold, wet, itchy, gray sweater; the urge for anything that will medicate the massive fiending for warmth and sunshine is much appreciated.  And so here it is a sampling of what some of my spring 2011 faves are (in no particular order).  Links to youtube.com accompany each song listed.  

Spring Mix 2011 

Yuck - Operation - http://youtu.be/Jrg-iVJJjys

Toro y Moi - New Beat - http://youtu.be/W4J6bFDvvwY

Twin Shadow - Castles in the snow - (There are multiple versions of this song I like the video of this link) http://youtu.be/IUlVZKqs5oc - (I like the recording version of this link) http://youtu.be/Q7oCA_X1_5w

DeerHunter - Helicopter - http://youtu.be/G5RzpPrOd-4

Peter, Bjorn, & John - Second chance - http://youtu.be/wZyBmN6hWsk

Strokes - Machu Picchu - http://youtu.be/lZOYg2Qy7HM

TV on the Radio - Caffeinated Consciousness - http://youtu.be/qp5y3GioGTU

Kills - Satellite - http://youtu.be/hniPVDz12bc

Cold Cave - Villains of the Moon - http://youtu.be/TCtcQiOTg9s

The Cults - You know what I mean - http://youtu.be/HiGtIa8lO8Q

Cut Copy - Need you now (one of the strangest videos I've ever seen) http://youtu.be/r2xovJyBo-0

Gil Scott-Heron (remixed by Jamie of XX) - New York is Killing me (RIP Gil Scott-Heron) - http://youtu.be/W7c3wRzUUjs

My first time

So I finally did it. I started a blog. A blog not specifically about one thing or another, about this nor that, but about my own whims, thoughts, critiques, and obsessions. My random daydreams and a menagerie of unrelated strangeness.

First I do have to give props to my close friend Melissa at Seattle Lite blog (http://newseattle-lite.blogspot.com/) for her inspiration. She started a fashion blog and has shown me how easy it can be to start a blog myself. Thanks M. Also thanks to my buddy Roberto (http://www.dating-relationship-advice-for-women.com), who insisted many times that I start a blog because of all of the various benefits.

So here it is, Sparkle gun Daydream. A hodge podge of my mental celebrations.