Natural Shaving Cream-is it worth it?

Still using that inexpensive foamy stuff in the can? It's hard to break away from that rich thick foam, I know. However, in an effort to avoid sodium lauryl sulfate, fragrance, and contents I can't pronounce I did have to search for an alternative.

Burt's Bees Natural Skin Care for Men Shave Cream. 100% natural with no parabens, phthalates, or sodium lauryl sulfate. Easily purchased wherever the Burt's Bees line is sold, however, will it be worth $7 a tube? Yes, I realize that's $6 more than the can but let's at least give it a try.

This is marketed as a men's product but do remember I tried it on my legs.

Does it foam? No, but it is thick and creamy
Can you access it with one hand? No and though we aren't purchasing it for packaging, if it's frustrating to use, it won't help you feel good about spending $7.
Good Shave? Yes, legs were silky smooth
Sting after? Same as any other shave. Not bad but my legs wanted moisturizing.
Efficiency? Washes off easy so if you leave the water running while you're shaving, don't lather up your whole leg at once b/c some of it will wash off before you get to it. Then you just have to reapply.

You can't get around the fact that it's 100% natural and paraben, phthalate, and sodium lauryl sulfate free but in all honesty it doesn't stand alone as a product worth $7. It still leaves you wanting an alternative.

My solution? A bar of unscented vegetable glycerin soap. That's what I use on my face and body and now for shaving as well. It doesn't lather up like a shaving cream so I'm a little more careful with the razor but for less than $2 a bar, you can't beat it. Though I use 365 brand sold in the whole body section at Whole Foods, vegetable glycerin soaps can be purchased at most health or natural food stores. Be sure to check ingredients for any unwelcome "extras". You're looking for a bar made with vegetable glycerin and water.

Hand Cream that WORKS

From Eucerin to L'Occitane, to pure shea butter, to olive oil I have tried them all in search of something to soothe my dry hands and keep them smooth. In an effort to avoid parabens and other chemicals, my choices have gotten slimmer and quite a bit more expensive.

A month ago while in the store, it was suggested I try MyChelle Dermaceuticals Hand Cream. "You will love it" I was told. At $14 for a 2.3 oz tube I doubted it and thought, "no thanks" but did help myself to a nice sample while I was there. It felt like silk. The next week, I tried it again. Hmmmm...my hands were still soft the next morning...again. When it happened the first time I thought it was a fluke. This really could be it.

Third time's a charm. Yes, I brought a tube home and I do love it. Because it actually works, I don't use it as often and don't need as much when I do. It stays in my glove box in the car so it's even ready to tackle my daughter's dry hands on the way to school. Today my sister tried it and said "it really does feel like silk".

Mild and pleasant fragrance that won't interfere with your perfume or essential oils. Most importantly it, and all MyChelle products, are phthalate, paraben, fragrance, and artifical color FREE.

The Pumpkin Renew Cream was such a treat for my face and neck. They sell the cutest sample sizes for less than $5.
NOVEMBER COUPON CODE: FALL15 for 15% off all online purchases through November.

Yummy Yummy Sweet Potatoes

My sister ran down Martha Stewart's Yummy Yummy Yam recipe and I scribbled it on the back of a piece of paper. Headed to the in-laws for Thanksgiving and was assigned salad and sweet potatoes. I always get off so easy :).

Made some alterations to Martha's recipe and the result turned out just like the recipe title says.

1/2 C Earth Balance (natural oil spread)*
2 Tb Almond milk *
2 eggs
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp Vanilla
1/2 C Evaporated Cane Juice
8 sweet potatoes *
2C marshmallows (all natural)

* denotes alterations (also omitted walnuts and apricots)

Bring a large stock pot of water to a boil. While waiting for the boil, wash and peel sweet potatoes. Chop them in equal sized chunks about 1 inch in size. When water boils, add potatoes and boil until very fork tender and falling apart (~15 min). Melt Earth Balance, let cool and whisk in almond milk. Preheat oven to 350˚.

Drain potatoes when they're done and put back in the pot or another bowl to beat with mixer. Beat til smooth (a few chunks are fine and add texture to final dish so don't look for perfection here). Add melted butter and milk mixture, 2 slightly beaten eggs, salt, cinnamon, vanilla, and evaporated cane juice. Mix til blended.

Put in a 9x13 baking dish. If you are serving this later, stop here. Cover dish and refrigerate until 30 minutes before serving. That's what I did. I took it to my mother-in-law's like this and baked it there.

When ready to bake, top with mini marshmallows (do not add ahead of time b/c they will get soggy). Bake ~20 minutes at 350˚ or until hot and marshmallows are golden brown.

Watch them disappear. Which is why I have no photo to show you. Loved this version b/c not too sweet, all natural and almost vegan. Just substitute 2TB olive oil for the eggs and you're there.

Oh Baby!

Shak-Shuka is a European website that has great gift options for babies, children, and mothers. This website has a huge selection of organic and recycled products including: organic cotton clothing, recycled plastic bowls, bamboo utensils, and BPA,PVC, Phthalates, Lead and Nitrosamine-free baby bottles. This website's goal is to ensure that the safest place for a baby is always its mother's arms.
(pictures courtesy of http://www.shak-shuka.com/Bumble-Bubble-Dress.html and http://www.shak-shuka.com/decor/)

Living Cards

Ok, I know; the second stationery post in less than two weeks. This may sound bad, but this is pretty cool, guys. Do you remember the living wall post? Well PostCarden is a company that produces living cards! Now is it just me, or is that super cool?! Especially with the holidays coming up, who wouldn't want to receive a cute mini garden?
(pictures courtesy of http://www.postcarden.com/)

Pigs in The Blanket

Our daughter's favorite party food is Pigs in the Blanket. Easy, right? Not if your using biscuits you pop out of the can. Those typically have Red #40 in them. Seriously? You make white biscuits with red food coloring. How gross does it get.

Thanks to Immaculate Baking Co. my daughter is denied no more! They make Crescent Rolls with unbleached wheat flour and NO hydrogenated oil or artificial coloring. Hallelujah!

I used the 365 brand chicken hotdogs-nitrate free of course and for the adults with finer pallets, Bilinski's All Natural Apple Chardonnay Chicken Sausage. Seven ingredients and that's all: Skinless Chicken, Chardonnay, dried apples, sea salt, black pepper, and dried onions. It's a kids party so have your wine in your chicken... And I guess technically these aren't pigs in a blanket, they're chicks in a blanket...somethin' doesn't seem right about that though.

Instructions from here:
Unfold the biscuit
Wrap the sausage in the biscuit (blanket)starting at the wider end of biscuit
The tip of biscuit should wrap around last
Put on baking sheet
Bake 10-12 min. at 350. Then watch them disappear

Pretty Paper

Nothing compares to finding a beautiful letter (and especially an invitation) in your mailbox. The now old-fashioned gesture is so sweet and sentimental. Urbanic Paper Boutique lets you enjoy and indulge in the beautiful simplicity of well crafted and eco-friendly stationery. The boutique is located in Venice, California and carries a gorgeous array of cards, invitations, and journals made with sustainable materials like soy-based inks and 'tree-free' paper. The store always has something interesting going on and is definitely worth a visit.
(picture courtesy of Urbanicdesigns.com)