Kiss My Face: Ultra Moisturizer

Dry hands, dry arms and dry itchy skin are all the result of wintry weather requiring furnaces to crank out heat 24/7 during the cold months in Chicagoland. Pre-washing dishes prior to placing them in the dishwasher only contributes to the dry skin problem. An all natural lavender and Shea aroma therapeutic lotion from Trader Joe's has come to the rescue. Kiss My Face is an obsessively natural ultra moisturizer for dry, sensitive and chapped skin from an all green company created by two vegetarians searching for healthy skin care products. Aromatic lavender's calming, relaxing and fabulously soothing qualities are mixed with wild crafted Shea Butter, used for centuries to protect the skin from the fierce sun of the Sahara. If it works there, it has to work in Northern Illinois. After just two pumps from the 16 fluid ounce bottle ($10.99 US) the skin immediately feels sensual, luxurious and hydrated. The fragrance is comforting, never offensively heavy, and even a husband wondered what smelled so good.

Started in an ancient house on a 200 acre organic farm in in the Hudson River Valley of New York in the early 1980's, Steve and Bob (their real names) decided they could create and sell healthy products for a green world. They were right. Twenty-five years later Kiss My Face now creates more then 200 all natural bath, skin-care and home products sold in 19 countries, and the two vegans are two happy, and probably wealthy, dudes. "Kiss My Face puts a smile in the aisle," according to one retailer who sells the fabulous product line. Often sold in health stores, the product line is available at Whole Foods and Trader Joe's. Kiss My Face put moisture back into the skin on these hands and if that doesn't cause one to purchase it, the name alone could do it. Kiss My Face is a keeper.

Photo attribution: By Thowra_UK

Holiday Floral Arrangement

Flowers add warmth and charm to any room, especially at the holidays. Finding just the right arrangement can be both time consuming and costly. For a beautiful and somewhat different holiday arrangement with flowers, greenery, cranberries and pomegranates, grab your vase and get creative. The stately arrangement shown was made in ten minutes, once the car was unpacked and the necessary components were laid out in the kitchen. Start with a large glass vase, often seen at Pottery Barn or Target. The one in the photo is a 24 inch footed vase, but other versions are available in rectangular or square shapes.

Head to a good supermarket, Costco's or Trader Joe's, whatever you have in your area, where you will purchase a bag of fresh cranberries and one large pomegranate. Flowers can be purchased in any hue that compliments the red of the cranberries, such as raspberry, deep red, maroon, even dark rusty colors, and stems can vary in length. Use a minimum of three different flower colors in your arrangement. Greenery in three different textures and colors needs to be purchased and it is often sold separately. Some of the greens in the photo were cut from a backyard shrub, while others were purchased at the market. Also be sure to purchase green floral wire from a hobby store such as Michael's or Hobby Lobby. Head for home and you are ready to start playing Martha Stewart.

With a smile on your face and a "can do" attitude, trim the bottom of the flowers with a sharp knife and quickly place them in a jar or tub of cold water. Once done trimming, arrange the flowers on pre-read newspaper by placing various colors together in a bouquet, add the greenery and tie it in place with the green floral wire. Be sure the flowers are of various heights and the entire bouquet is circled by the greenery. Now you are ready to create the final piece. Place a pomegranate in the bottom of your large clean vase. Add cold water and the bouquet of hand tied flowers. Center the bouquet on top of the pomegranate. Carefully pour the bag of fresh cranberries around the bouquet, to encircle it with the berries. Cranberries float, which keeps the bouquet centered in the vase and adds an additional element of color, surprise and texture to your hand made floral arrangement. Wipe off any water from the bottom of your vase and with pride, carry the vase to it's intended place of honor. Stand back and let yourself take in the beauty you have created, you clever person. Every room needs a colorful and unusual natural floral arrangement to create interest as well as entertain the eye. Yours will be a hit this holiday season. Give yourself a pat on the back, your mother would be proud.

Sonoma Diet To The Rescue - Again

Eighteen months ago, in April of 2006, I went on yet another diet in pursuit of a slimmer more svelte body. If I were to number each attempt at weight loss, this would be Diet 142, or 3, or, you get the picture. But this time I followed sage advice from my husband's homeland, Greece, and I used olive oil, Kalamato olives, tomatoes, whole wheat pita, fish and fresh vegetables. I bought the book, The Sonoma Diet, read it and followed it, and in a few short weeks had lost 2o pounds.

The Sonoma Diet is actually a lifestyle that allows one to eat, drink wine, and relax while losing unwanted fat from the prime fat location on any woman: the stomach. Based on the eating habits of those living in the Mediterranean area, the Sonoma diet asks one to divide their dinner plate into fourths, filling two fourths (or one half) 0f the plate with salad and veggies, one fourth of the plate with a whole wheat carb, and one fourth with a protein. The goal is to eat more veggies and fewer carbs while removing anything "white" from the diet: no white flour, no sugar of any sort, and during the first 10 days, no fruit.

Amazing things happen around the 12th day -- the scale indicates a loss of anywhere from five to ten pounds, and the weight stays off. I have been amazed at the difference in my eating habits since April of 2006; I have been happy with Greek Salads and know where to find the best ones in Chicagoland. I have Greek olives in my refrigerator at all times, and I am not hungry, except for air popped popcorn. My weight has been maintained, for the most part, but I am back on Sonoma big time again to lose five pounds that found their way back on with the hot summer ice cream splurge(s).

Today the scale was again my friend, as I have lost two pounds in about four days by following the Sonoma diet plan. My staple is a wonderful mixture of brown rice and wild rice that I make and then eat as my carb for breakfast and dinner. I fill in with other carbs, proteins and veggies. Here is the recipe:

1 1/2 cup of brown rice, 1 1/2 cup of wild rice, 1 large can (that holds 6 cups) of chicken broth, a large diced onion, and some parsley, dill, basil, salt and black pepper. I cook it for about 30 minutes and then let it rest to reabsorb the liquid.

This tastes great --- hot or cold, it is good to eat. Add some cooked chicken or fish and it is a complete meal, except you need to eat 1/2 a plate of veggies as well. So give it a try -- I have, and if it works for me, it will work for you as long as you don't cheat and eat anything white....unless it is popcorn from Trader Joe's.