It's been awhile.

I have gone through a lot in the past few years that has set me back from doing anything for the shop (& more). I have moved from place to place and had lost a loved one which had taken a tole on me emotionally.

But, the good news is: I have grown a lot (and still am!) from the path that life has taken me on and I am here alive, breathing and wiser than I used to be.

I used to believe that I've lived a simple life, but it was just the idea of it that made me believe I have. As I am still learning and growing, I am trying to limit a lot of things in my life. One of the things I believe in is that your mind is your home. keeping it from being cluttered helps you see & think more clearly. your mind is not clouded from all the poisonous thoughts that can affect your true judgment and your long-term happiness. Anyway...

For the past few days, I have been thinking a lot about this shop. I believe it was due to the heavy flow of creativity around the home from giving my writing desk a face-lift to creating accents for my room. I have a few ideas that I wish to add to the shop. I have my ideas in motion, now they just need to be executed. I can't wait to share them with you!

Until then, many good blessings to you!

it's 2012!

This is just a little update to let readers know that this blog is not dead!

I promise myself that I will post more often (when I can). I will be launching new products this year (finally!) so keep a look out.

In the mean time, did you know...

Brushing your teeth 3-times a day is important. But, flossing is more important than brushing your teeth (this doesn't mean you should skip the brushing, though!).

Why?

Flossing reaches below the gum-line and gets out food  that brushing cannot reach. Having left-over food particles causes bacteria to grow. This can cause tartar built-up, heart disease, gingivitis (inflamed gums), periodontal disease (infected to the bone) and bad breathe.

- If you have difficulty sliding your dental floss in-between your teeth (this is due to the tight contacts of your teeth), try using floss coated with wax.

- If you have arthritis or have difficulty using floss, "F-shaped" or "Y-shaped" floss picks may be of help.

This has a 1-star rating on their website, but what I love using is Oral-B Floss Picks.

So... Next time you decide to skip the floss, think of it this way:

You only get ONE set of adult teeth. So, take care of them and your health!

less is more

I was going through a few old entries from random bloggers. Last year, May 14th, 2010, was Bloggers without Makeup Day by MummyMayhem.com. I kept searching if it would be an annual "event", but it was just for that day.

What is my take on this No Makeup Day?

I think every woman should embrace her natural beauty, with the minimal wear of makeup or without makeup at all. That's what good skin care products should be aiming for & that's where you come in.

If you take care of yourself - inside & out - there's no need to wear makeup at all. Eating right, staying active, drinking plenty of water and meditation (or what ever will help you stress less) will help you look good and most importantly... feel great.

Think PREVENTION.

Taking care of your skin is one of the most important things to do along with what I mentioned above. How?

Wear SPF every day, rain or shine.

Moisturize right out of the shower, one for your face & one for your body.

Exfoliate once a week with a soft scrub, like sugar or oatmeal.

Retinol cream every night for anti-aging.

Get to know your skin well & know what it's needs are. I will get more into the importance of them on my next post. 'Til then, I'll leave you with this great Health reminder from Etsy from twitter:

In the making...

I have been working on a new product for awhile. What is it?

FACIAL TONERS!

I've created a few before & sent some to Chickage, a friend/makeup/fashion enthusiast, to try out. But, I am currently working on the ingredients.

There will be two main ingredients I will be using: Melaleuca alternifolia and Eucalyptus globulus - also known as Tea Tree & Eucalyptus. Why these two ingredients?

Tea Tree is known to help skin heal by encouraging the formation of new scar tissue. It's also an excellent treatment for acne. One study shows tea tree oil to be as effective as benzoyl peroxide, but without th side effects like redness and peeling. If you happen to have Tea Tree Oil on hand, it can be great to treat minor wounds & prevent infection.

I'm known to always smell like or have pure Eucalyptus Oil on hand. Great alternative for (premenstrual) cramping if you don't have a heating pad available. Just rub it into your skin & it will slowly warm up your skin. Always avoid your eyes and lips! Eucalyptus is known to have a cleansing effect on the skin and reduces redness and irritation.

I can't wait to share with you the finished product!

Finally...

A place for body laundry!

After trying to write in the shop announcements on Etsy & being annoyed at the fact that I had to write short announcements so readers don't have to click on "read more", I've decided that it's time to create a temporary blog (before the launch of the website).

Usually shop announcements are important and the readers should be able to read it word for word without having to click on "read more". I know, it's just ONE click! I guess you can say it's like a pet-peeve of mine. It's like hearing a juicy gossip about someone & having the story cut short because they walked into the room. Or having that delicious dessert in front of you, only to get it taken away when you're about to take a bite!

So here it is... You can find what new product I'm currently working on, product info & what ever comes up in my head.