Curls - Kickin' It Old School

When the kids and I were invited to a Halloween brunch, I decided to make a half-hearted attempt at a Regency Era (Pride and Prejudice) costume. I wore a gray maxi dress with a black shrug and some lace-up boots. However, I knew that to really make the costume, I needed Regency ringlets.

So I did some searching and found this tutorial to make the ringlets using rags. Love it! I'm a big fan of styling without heat and an even bigger fan of a curling method I can do at night while the kids are asleep. So I wrapped my hair and slept on it for a few hours, and here's the result:

Yay!
The curls are actually a lot tighter than I meant for them to be. I think they look a little more Federalist or Victorian

Later in the day I decided to comb out the curls with my fingers. I absolutely loved that effect. I'll probably use it the next time I dress up as Elizabeth Bennett.....you know, next week or whatever.

I'm definitely becoming a fan of old-fashioned styling, using pins and rags to curl my hair rather than heat. I created some pin curls for a photo shoot this summer, and I had lots of fun with that style.

Photo by Paul Nicholson

I used these tutorials, which were very helpful.  Recently I bought a vintage silk scarf to wrap my hair at bedtime so I get a frizz-free style.

I think my grandmothers would be proud.

Shhhhh, I escaped

Don't tell anyone, but I escaped. After another week of the entire household being sick, I broke free and ran away. Joined the circus. Found my bliss.

Okay, so maybe I'm sitting at a coffee shop 5 minutes away from my house while the kids' grandmother watches them, but it sure feels like freedom. And this arctic mint hot chocolate I'm sipping doesn't hurt. (Seriously, East Nashville, have you seen Sip's menu of hot chocolates from around the world? Yum!)

Product Review: Burt's Bees for Sensitive Skin

My latest fun find as a Bzz Agent is Burt's Bees Natural Skin Solutions for Sensitive Skin (whew! what a mouthful!). BzzAgent.com sent me a full size Daily Cleanser and Daily Moisturizer to try and review. And what can I say? I love it.

I usually like the items I try for Bzz Campaigns (although honestly, there have been a couple of stinkers lately that I didn't even want to blog about). However, it's rare that I find a product I would recommend to almost anyone, a product that I plan to continue to buy long after the campaign is done.

I have long been looking for a skin cleanser that works well and is good for me and for the environment. So many cosmetics these days are filled with icky ingredients. I tried some popular organic skin care lines only to end up with dry or sticky (eek!) skin. I had settled on a locally made skin serum that worked fairly well, but I still found my daily skin regimen a chore.

Enter Burt's Bees. I was excited to try the Sensitive Skin line because I have skin that turns red if I even think about going into the sun or wearing a wool scarf. Plus I find myself wearing more makeup now that I am in my thirties, and I need a gentle way to cleanse my skin every night.

The first thing that hit me about the cleanser and moisturizer was the delicious smell......a wonderful minty-fresh fragrance that feels clean and invigorating. The products are considered fragrance-free, but the ingredients combine into a wonderful smell. Then I found that the cleanser did a terrific job of removing my makeup with just gentle motions on my part. After cleaning, my face felt smooth but not tight. Finally, the moisturizing lotion felt creamy and luxurious without feeling greasy. All in all, I had such a positive experience with the products that I now look forward to cleaning my face every night (whereas I used to be --gulp -- an occasional wear-makeup-to-bed girl).

The best part for me is that the Burt's Bees Sensitive line has no parabens, pthalates, or petrochemicals, which means the products are better for the environment and better for me. I'm not going to claim these products are environmentally perfect, but I love seeing a mainstream brand be so committed to being truly healthy
.
 A+++, Burt's Bees.