Handmade Natural Beauty

I don’t want to spam. I hate spam. But I’d like you to let me know if you’d like to be put on my mailing list for promotions and free samples. Just email me at abracarnahan<insertatsymbolhere>yahoo.com or comment here. Cheers!

HNB

I finished my official training for Handmade Natural Beauty. I am a sales consultant!! Upon completion of my training, I was given permission to give my clients an additional 10% off their orders for the month of March. The discount code is 3030918425  so let me know if I can help you out with that. Also, if you would also like to become a representative for this company, I’d be happy to give you the details. You can email me at abracarnahan@yahoo”dot”com. I don’t want to spam here. And there is a link on the right-hand side under Abra’s Work if you want to check it out further. Cheers!

Handmade Natural Beauty

I am in the process of becoming a sales rep for this privately owned company that produces handmade toiletries and cosmetics. I bought some lotion, soaps, foundation and lip balm from them a couple weeks ago. I’ve been using it everyday since and I’m completely addicted. Even Ben keeps stealing my chapstick! The mineral foundation is especially fantastic! I was talking to Betsy about it this morning. It’s really light and has the perfect coverage and I haven’t needed to reapply it. Equally, the soap is made with natural glycerin which has made my sensitive skin quite happy.  I finish my official training next week but in the mean time, feel free to take a look around and let me know if I can help. Cheers!

Soap Therapy

My husband is amazing. In anticipation of the just-had-a-baby-feel-like-poo mood I get into after childbirth, he picked up yummy smelling soaps to help lift my spirits and make me feel less like a science project. The first is from Trader Joe’s (Jacques). It is the French Liquid Soap in Orange Blossom Honey. He said it was very affordable, but I don’t know the exact cost. This soap looks like honey and smells like honey and every time I use it, I fight the urge to eat it. It’s fantastic! Very smooth and silky. It does what soap is intended to do. The second item he picked up for me is Dr. Bronner’s  18 in 1 Hemp Lavender liquid soap. Judging from the packaging, this doctor is a quack, but his soap is to die for! Very aromatic, and made with organic oils. This stuff can be used as regular hand and body soap or as shampoo (and yes, I do!). It’s even gentle enough that I used it on Mira for her first sponge bath. If lavender isn’t your thing, it is also available in Peppermint, Almond, Tea Tree, Eucalyptus, Unscented Baby-Mild, Rose and Citrus Orange. It is a bit pricey (Ben paid $5 for 4oz at our local market), but I think it’s worth it.

Nails

I don’t bother painting my fingernails except for special occasions anymore. I’m always amazed by moms who can keep manicures. I’m just not talented enough. Mine chip or peel or I chew them. My toes are a different story, though. I’m a sucker for a pedicure! It just feels so good and looks so pretty! Especially on those days when I barely get a shower in, I like to have pretty toes. Reminds me that I was a wife before I was a mommy.

Last January when I visited Abbea, she introduced me to Creative Sticky Start and Super Shiney Finish. They are about $6 – $7 for a half ounce and worth every penny! I apply a coat of Sticky Start right before my polish. I usually wait until the next day to apply the Super Shiney Finish on top, simply because I want to make sure the 2 foundational coats dry through before putting on the last one….and because I don’t have the time to sit still for more then 10 minutes. Having a quality bottom and top coat has allowed me to quit investing in expensive nail polishes. I just use BonBons (you know, the cheap kind from Walmart for 88 cents a bottle!) now and the color lasts on my toes for 2+ weeks looking glossy and fabulously chip-less!

Winter Skin

The winter is the worst time for my skin. It becomes pasty and uncooperative. Suddenly, it doesn’t like my detergent anymore, it itches constantly, and eventually just breaks out in a rash. When I lived in Moscow, I used to go tanning for about 5 minutes a week just to ward off SAD which also took care of my unruly skin. But here, fake baking doesn’t really fit into my grocery budget! I’ve had to become fairly innovative this year in keeping my body happy through the sunless months. Here are the few things I’ve found really helped. Please let me know your ideas, too!

• Good moisturizer. When I can’t afford to get the really good body cream, I’ve just added a bit of Vitamin E oil to my cheap moisturizer and that seems to work pretty well.
• Exfoliation. Especially after I shave. Helps slough off the dead skin and, coupled with moisturizer, keeps the itches away.
• Air. I found sleeping with less clothing and wearing skirts and loose clothes around the house gives my skin room to breathe.
• Sans makeup. I know. It’s hard enough to feel pulled together with cosmetics. Foundation is killer on your skin, though. It creates an un-even complexion and clogs your pores. If I really need to wear makeup, I just mascara my eyes. If I’m going out, I just use cosmetics around my eyes..which is also nice because it takes care of the whole foundation line dilemma, too.
• Water. Actually, this is a good idea no matter what the season, but drinking my 60 oz a day has really helped my skin.

Okay, O is awake and my charge is here. Times up!

Keeping Your Head

I was recently reminded that is it good thing to take a mom time-out every now and then. It has been a rather bumpy week with adjusting back into the swing of non-vacation life and illness (anyone have good remedies for colds?). My sanity felt like it was being washed out to sea with every wave of responsibility. Admittedly, my attitude wasn’t helping anyone, either. Housewives just can’t allow themselves to be basket cases. If mom crumbles, so does everyone else! I knew it was time to bring out the big guns: after Ophelia had been bed down for the night, and Ben was fed and grading papers, I broke out the champagne that Kat gave me for my birthday (last October). I located my hidden stash of leftover Hershey’s kisses from Halloween and settled down in my favorite chair with a book and the remote. I read for a bit and then watched That Touch of Mink on TCM. I may have lost an hour or so of sleep I would have had if I hadn’t pampered myself, but I was a much stronger, happier person for it the next day.

Saving Face

I recently conducted a little experiment to discover what all the hype was about Omega-3. Everyone seems to be hailing it’s glory and I wanted to know if it was worth it. Last week I picked up a bottle of Molecularly Distilled Omega-3 Fatty Acid Dietary Supplement from Trader Joes for $8.00 and proceeded to take 1 (containing 1100mg fish oil and 500mg epa & dha) with breakfast, lunch and dinner. I’d heard it would help my heart, my mood, my digestion, my libido, and my skin. So, let’s break it down.
Heart: I’ll take the AHA’s word for it.
Mood: maybe you should ask my husband.
Digestion: I haven’t noticed any difference here, but it’s only been a week.
Libido: I’m not complaining.
Skin: This is the one that really got me. On day three of beginning the supplement, I noticed perkier, less tired looking skin.

I have combination (sensitive and oily) skin, so in the morning and evening I wash with Cetaphil, which is your basic facial cleanser. At night, I slather on a good bit of Vitamin E cream and sometimes (costs are prohibitive) I’ll use Aveda’s Tourmaline Charged Eye Cream. My main concerns in taking the fish oil was whether it would a) cause my evil teenage acne to reappear and b) whether it would cause distasteful burping and other embarrassing airs. So far, I haven’t noticed any ill side effects and I’m thrilled with my skin! It was ridiculously affordable compared to the other products that claim to do the same thing. For the first time since I became a mommy I don’t feel the need to wear concealer and I don’t have buyers regret! In short, my review of the fish oil hype is this: it seems work miracles for my skin. As to the rest of the claims……..(shrug).

If you choose to try this supplement, please remember to use common sense. Drink lots of water, don’t take it on an empty stomach and, as always, if you have special heath needs, consult your doctor before beginning any new dietary habits.