Magpie and Muttonfly

For the love . . .

  • Home
  • About
    • My town
  • Humble pie
  • Greatness
  • Quotes
  • Books
  • Miscellany
For the love . . .

beauty

Beauty and the beastly truth of it

31 July, 2012 by moi

I have a tendency to amass the simplest of beauty products. Plain, everyday brands adorn my cupboards; there’s nary an apothecary jar or chic label to be found. Gwyneth Paltrow would be appalled–appalled, I tell you.

But here’s the thing: they work. Not only that, but they work quite fabulously. And I should know. There was a day when I tried highfalutin brands; one, it seemed the festive thing to do; two, I figured the designer brand and elite price tag had to work wonders. Yet when it came down to it, those things I tossed in my cart with a head of lettuce often worked just as well, if not better.

And so the ‘chipper chicken‘ tradition lives on.

Right now, I’m quite loving . .

{Dove Visible Care Renewing body wash}

Some of you may still boast skin kissed with the dewy perfection of youth. The rest of us are happy for you–really, we are. But a funky thing happens the older you get; it happens quite suddenly and without notice. You go to bed, looking quite like yourself, you wake up the next morning and just like that “Your Body is a Wonderland” has whole new meaning.

One of the first things to go is your skin’s exuberance. It doesn’t retain moisture quite like it use to, giving it a tendency to look a bit dull. Well, fret not, my friends–Dove Visible Care | Renewing to the rescue. I’ve been using it for two weeks now and my skin is so soft . . . so soft. Even in the midst of a dry, hot summer.

My only complaint: the packaging. It’s large and unruly in size and the cap is difficult to open. Also, I have a feeling it will be near impossible to use all of the wash . . . and that’s just rude.

Also loving . . .

{Curel Foot Therapy}

If you’ve been around for awhile, you know I swear by Curel’s Hand & Cuticle Therapy–so it should come as no surprise that I’m equally delighted with their Foot Therapy. Since it absorbs quickly, you can even apply it right before slipping on your shoes, without fear of injury {ask not how I know this}.

That said, if you’re looking for a little extra moisture for your skin, I highly recommend the products, above. Give them a try–your epidermis and piggies are sure to thank you!

 

Posted in: Miscellany Tagged: beauty, what i think of it

Egg on your face

26 January, 2012 by moi

Acne. The word alone is enough to bring grown men to tears. One minute your face is bright and dewy, the next, you’ve got a third eye smack dab in the middle of your forehead. It plays dirty, too–hitting without warning, immediately proceeding the likes of a first date, your wedding, the one time you’re captured on national television.

Like most teenagers, I went a few rounds with this particular adversary. My mom spent copious amounts of money on doctor visits and presciptions; I whined and bemoaned my unfortunate state. As if it weren’t enough that I was a book worm, who rarely fit in–but to have a spots on my face? And let’s not forget about the horse pills I had to take at precise times–while avoiding milk products and the sun–which always made me sick. Oh cruel fate, what a tragic hand you dealt. . .

Lucky for me (and anyone in the immediate vicinity) the drama did not last long. You see, my mom came home one day bearing a copy of Ann Landers column on using egg to clear acne. Naturally, I thought it was the most ridiculous thing I’d ever heard–and going through the whole rigamaroll every day for a month seemed a bit excessive. However, given the alternative, I was willing to try anything.

Long story short, it worked.

Now, jump . . . however many years . . . and I’m faced with a spending freeze. No more organic miracle beauty products at the approximate cost of a small island. I’m back to using Purpose  and, yes, egg whites.

I’ve come full circle.

Speaking of which, I reread the Ann Landers column, only to discover the original “instructions” used egg yolks. I could have sworn I’ve always used the whites. Hmm.

But I digress . . .

So, the moral of the story is this: eggs are our friends (unless, of course, you’re allergic). They help heal skin–they tighten pores, people! While I’ve yet to go up to a complete stranger and say, “Oh no, red ugly spots on pretty face. You fix with egg yolk,” I have suggested the option to a friend or two. That’s why I’m suggesting it now. If you or a loved one struggles with acne, give it a try. There are several versions online–I’d go with the original, as instructed in the column, above. The only substitute might be egg whites, for egg yolks. They’re less fatty (read: less oil). Also, remember to apply it soon after the egg is cracked (Vitamin A whimps out rather quickly once exposed to air), with clean hands, in soft, circular motions.

For those of you looking for a little pick-me-up,apply it once or twice a week. You could even give it a try with egg yolks. After all, how often can you stand around with egg on your face, and it’s all good?

Posted in: Miscellany Tagged: beauty, little tips

To September

1 September, 2010 by moi

And a very happy September to you, dear readers!

Now I realize, the mere thought of being this much closer to autumn makes some of you a tad edgy.  But I’m tellin’ ya, it’s gonna to be great.  I can feel it in the air …  

Posted in: Miscellany Tagged: autumn, beauty

The forest for the trees …

20 July, 2009 by moi

Örebro is the sixth largest city in Sweden.  A University city, it’s vibrant and full of life.  There are peoples of all nationalities.  There is architecture to admire, shops to shop, cafes in which to sit back and watch the world go by.  There is also the beauty of the forest.

Behind my brother and sister-in-law’s neighborhood lies a wee bit of forest surrounded by a paved path.  Reminds me of something Pecos Bill might have lassoed from the top of a mountain and plopped down in the middle of a city, simply for others to enjoy.  And so we did.  On our first day here, we were so excited for a break in the rain, we headed for the forsest path.  Until the diluge returned, it was quite lovely …

IMG_0266_D4

IMG_0268_D4

IMG_0264_D4

The only problem was the fact that the rain brought out the slimy slugs.  As I was admiring the beauty around me, I heard my mom yell my name.  I stopped, looked down, and below my looming foot was this …

IMG_0272_D

A slug the size of Texas.  I EEK(!)-ed, jumped back, danced a little jig … and then waltzed back over to take a picture.  No need to thank me.  It’s just the kind of dedicated blogger that I am.

We also took a short drive to a lake.  There was not another soul in our little patch of the woods.  Just us, the water, the trees, the mossy rocks, and wildflowers.  We discovered some gold of the forest – or yellow ‘shrooms – took a swim or two, roasted ourselves some hot dogs, made banana boats, and, of course, sipped our java.

IMG_0669_D4

IMG_0679_D4

IMG_0704_D4

Surrounded by family and friends, and the beauty of the forest, I had a hard time fathoming how one could believe our world little more than cosmic happenstance.  From where I sat – on the stump of a tree – I saw the brushstroke of the Master all around …

Posted in: Miscellany Tagged: beauty, happiness, sweden, travel

Greetings & salutations

Just in case you're wondering what you've gotten yourself into, my blog's a lot like life: it's a hodge-podge. So pour yourself a steaming cup of goodness, settle in, and I'll tell you all about it--whatever 'it' happens to be . . .
  • Email
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS

The fine print

Magpie & Muttonfly is the place where I write about all the things that make our stories grand. Emphasis on me, myself, and I. Any review or recommendation posted on this site is solely my own {unless otherwise noted}. Occasionally you will find a link to Amazon.com. An eternal window shopper, I only list items that strike my fancy. Any time you click the link and proceed to make a purchase, I get a wee referral fee. You will not be charged more--but once or twice a year I earn enough to purchase a tin of my favorite tea. So I do thank you for that!

Copyright © 2021 Magpie and Muttonfly.

Lifestyle WordPress Theme by themehit.com