i'm going to attempt to do a weekly list. but this is not a set in stone thing. i've learned that i need the structure of a plan, but i MUST be flexible! so we shall see how i do! i'm still muddling my way toward organization around here, and hoping to move forward on my projects as well.
update on the scale and pedometer (not that anyone would care!) i weigh myself about 10 times a day. i've never owned a scale, so i've been a little too into it. but i think it's tapering off. and i have lost a pound this week! and the pedometer is fun. i have discovered that i'm not as sedentary as i thought i was, with all my sitting and editing. one thing that seems to make a difference, is the spread of our house....and the pedometer doesn't even take into consideration that 90% of my steps are literally on steps. you can't get from one room to another in our house without going up or down!
about today: it's my mom's birthday! happy birthday mama! i hope that she has a really great day in spite of the nasty cold weather! it's also my friend cheryl's birthday! yesterday would have been my gramps' birthday...oh how i miss him and gram. so much. i think of them often. gramps has been gone since brooke was 18 months old. i haven't forgotten....not even close. he had such a powerful impact on my life. it's interesting too, because many of my favorite characteristics of gramps, tom has. tomorrow is cari's birthday! happy birthday to all!
about tv: there are some worthless shows on. duh. has anyone seen "momma's boys"? wow. can you say control? that show is nothing but a power struggle. there are enough potential problems between the two women in a man's life, without the added drama that show creates! of course, that's what they want on a show like that. here's my thought: if you raise your son with good values and good decision making skills, shouldn't you trust his judgement on a woman? i think it's a matter of mama taking a step back and trusting. not competing. weird. one thing i don't want to be, is an overbearing mother-in-law. ick. and then there's "the bachelor". this season, i don't even really care! waste of time. tom refuses to be in the same room as that show. he's smart.
on to the list!
*b* list of skincare
(with a disclaimer that i'm NOT even close to an expert! i've just had a few people request this one! probably based on my age!)
*edit* while i was working out, i realized that i had forgotten something important. see #9 and thereafter :)
1. personally, i think it all begins with genetics. and then, i think it has a lot to do with what you eat. so based on this, here are my thoughts on eating habits and skin. i try to eat good food. lots of fresh and raw stuff. tom and i have been eating tons of fresh fruit (blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, bananas, pears and pineapple) and salads with lots of varieties of vegies (i'm not talking about iceberg lettuce either!) spinach, greens, mushrooms, celery, green onions, tomatoes. also, i'm a big believer in flaxseed consumption. i sprinkle it on my oatmeal or yogurt every day. i would love to bake my own bread and use it in that....but i haven't gotten that far yet. another thing that i think a lot of people miss, is the importance of good fats/oils for good skin. i read an article about this quite a few years ago. olive oil, avocados, nuts (i use the no preservatives, refrigerated kind of peanut butter too)....good stuff, that is actually vital to healthy skin. i think it's just key to remember moderation. in all things. don't get me wrong...i do eat junk too. i just try not to overeat the wrong stuff. i eat a little chocolate EVERY day. but i rarely ever OD on it.
2. i'm not a huge fan of any one particular product. i do really like philosophy products (by the way, check out the savings on the starter kit on their homepage!) and origins. but i don't use any one product line exclusively. i think it's important to evaluate your skincare needs and go with that. i know that if i were younger and had an acne problem i would try proactive. my niece has had dramatic results when she uses it.
3. discipline. this has been the biggest thing for me. i used to be super lazy about taking care of my skin. in my 20s, there were many times when i would go to bed with makeup on. now, i am finally disciplined (probably out of sheer fear!) about cleansing and moisturizing, morning and night.
4. fresh air. i think this is another important aspect of good skin. i don't think it's healthy (in many ways) to sit indoors with no fresh air or even ventilation. i may take this one to an extreme. i spend as much time outside as i possibly can....other than in january. ha!
5. cleansing. k, back to products. i'm all over the place! right now, i am loving philosophy's microdelivery cleanser. it's a gentle exfoliant, in addition to cleansing. as i've gotten older, and my skin is getting more dry by the day, i have found that exfoliating is almost as important as moisture. took me a while to figure this out, but it's made a huge difference!
6. moisture. i'm using philosophy hope in a jar right now. but i've used oil of olay too, and it's fine. another thing i would highly recommend is burt's bees radiance eye cream. i was getting some major wrinkles around my eyes, and i have to say that since i started using this, the wrinkles aren't nearly as noticable....although i think the 10 pounds i've gained may have something to do with that too! that is one of the only bonuses of having a little extra weight!
7. smoking. no offense to those of you who smoke. but i think you are fighting a losing battle. smoking and skin are enemies in so many ways....the most noticable to me, is the wrinkling around the mouth.
8. treatments. speaking of wrinkling around the mouth...i didn't so much have that problem, as i did peeling and that ugly seepage of lipcolor. whenever that starts happening, i use this lip treatment. it lasts a long time! and works great. the lip balm that comes with it, is luscious!
9. drink lots of water! so important.
"Proper hydration is essential for healthy, younger-looking skin. Drinking water helps to give your skin the moisture it needs to maintain elasticity and suppleness and to prevent dryness. The body also relies on water to detoxify properly, allowing yourself to look and feel your best." alana gold
10. low maintenence days. i try to have a low maintenence day every week. no makeup, no hair products. just cleanliness and moisture for the skin. i think it's important to give your skin a day off.
11. sunscreen. i'm not a freak about this. i do use a mild spf daily. but i think with the vitamin d deficiencies they're finding, maybe too much of even a good thing, like sunscreen, is too much.
on a sidenote about skin:when i was in my 30s, tom always complimented me on my skin. at the time, i thought that was a sort of an offhanded compliment...as if that was the only thing he could think of, that was okay about me! i think at that time, i took good skin for granted. NOW, as i've gotten older, i realize that it is something to appreciate...without it, it can make a real difference in a person's appearance. so now, i like to hear him say that i have beautiful skin! and come to think of it, he hasn't said that in a long time!
here are some lists i'm thinking about for the next few weeks:
what women wish men knew about valentine's day
budget-wise decorating tips
what makes a house a home
photography tips
whatcha think? again, these lists will consist of my opinions! and i'm not claiming to be an expert! i just like to share ideas and thoughts. i would love to hear any skincare tips from you all! i learn a ton from all of you when you comment.
so after the holiday break from photo-taking, i am ready to go! i had a blast with eric and libby! they have so much chemistry...unbelievable...and i hope i captured it.
hot, right? they'll be getting married in 4 months!
i hope you have a great week going-God bless!
I am also a HUGE Philosophy fan. I am blessed with pretty good skin myself. I think for me it is because my father's side has naturally oily skin and while I can control the shine, the oils in my skin help keep it more radiant and elastic. The Philosophy exfoliant is the bomb! I got it in the super size to keep in the shower. I mix it with the Purity cleanser and together the two super sizes will last for at least a year. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE them. I have also started adding a bit of green tea to my water for flavor and health. This is the year I am gonna lose a LOT of weight, so we'll see how bad my skin sags after that! Hopefully, it is healthy enough to take it!
Kris
Posted by: kris | January 13, 2009 at 09:14 AM
thanks for the recommendations. i have HORRIBLE SKIN! i still get zits all the time! and it's oily in some places dry in others. i HATE my skIN! maybe it's all the JUNK i eat though!
tara
Posted by: tara pollard pakosta | January 13, 2009 at 09:40 AM
first of all woman, i gotta tell ya'-that new picture of you --good gracious, you look like you are 21
you hottie!
so glad you gave me some skin care tips as requested!
Posted by: paige | January 13, 2009 at 11:09 AM
oh yes...big score on the starter kit...now we're talking!
Posted by: paige | January 13, 2009 at 11:10 AM
Love the photos, the last one showing the tatoo is so good, I bet they love them!
Posted by: Leonie - Australia | January 13, 2009 at 12:05 PM
Gorgeous Photos! See you at CHA if not before.
Posted by: vicki chrisman | January 13, 2009 at 01:15 PM
I love your comments about skin care and aging! I really believe in the importance of water, Vitamin D, and calcium. I've always been a huge milk drinker (it was raw - not pasteurized or homogenized from our own cows) and I think all that calcium has made a huge difference in my health. Lots of people don't believe that I'm 53 and I attribute it to calcium. I love Oil of Olay daily moisturizer and I'm going to look for that Burt's Bees product. I use their Lip Shimmer Sticks all the time - got them in every color!
The pictures today are great!!
I love your ideas about future lists - sound great to me!! Lovin' your blog even more this year - if that's possible!!
Posted by: Crystal | January 13, 2009 at 01:53 PM
This is going to sound weird, but I want a photo shoot so bad with a guy that has tattoos! I think it would be a cool photo to have in my gallery :) Great photos!!!!!! I love your work!
Posted by: Heidi Sonboul | January 13, 2009 at 11:04 PM
I just love your lists, Becky! Keep up the great work!
Posted by: Julie - On the Dot Creations | January 14, 2009 at 05:20 AM
WOW!!!!! This post is fabulous! Love it! Gorgeous shots too! Have a great day!
Lynn
Posted by: Lynn | January 14, 2009 at 08:43 AM
i must know what his tattoo says!
Posted by: jenwcom | January 15, 2009 at 08:40 AM
Lots of beautiful photos and lots of great tips! I'm a fiend for good skincare.
Here's a book I got that I really enjoy: How Not To Look Old http://www.amazon.com/How-Not-Look-Old-Effortless/dp/0446581143/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232324615&sr=8-1
Posted by: Maija Lepore | January 18, 2009 at 04:24 PM