by leeroseemery on July 26, 2010
There’s nothing like a cold glass of lemonade on a hot summer day. I’m positive that you have your own blossoming lemon tree in your garden and squeeze your own lemon juice regularly, but I personally like this 5 minute short cut yet (seemingly) fancy version, with fresh strawberries.
Ingredients:
One jug Trader Joe’s Organic Lemonade (I like this one as it is made with sugar and not high fructose corn syrup.)
½ cup fresh strawberries
A handful of fresh mint leaves ***
1) Pour the lemonade in a pretty pitcher. (Hide the big plastic jug!)
2) Blend the strawberries in a blender with a little lemonade.
3) Add the strawberry mixture to the pitcher of lemonade. Stir.
4) Garnish with a handful of mint.
Serve it up, and bask in your faux Martha Stewart summer moment.
You can also experiment with different fruits. I like blueberries, peaches or blackberries.
(Mint is actually super easy to grow in LA, and I have a completely brown thumb. Here’s what you do. Buy a little pot of it at the farmer’s market, and plant it in a planter with some dirt and place it in a sunny spot. Give it a little water every other day, and it will grow like mad. People will think you are so fabulous when you add sprigs of mint to everything, or tie it up in a ribbon and bring it to a brunch. “Here’s a little something from my garden…”)
by leeroseemery on July 13, 2010
When I was pregnant I was so careful about treating my body with care. I remember not even wanting to have a manicure or pedicure because I read somewhere that the chemicals in nail polish and nail polish remover were toxic and not good for pregnant women. Now that I have my kids I seldom consider that many of the beauty items I currently use might have harmful ingredients in them. Why shouldn’t I be just as vigilant about my health now that I am a Mom?
I recently had a chance to try Odacite, a certified organic skin care line that is completely natural and free of any parabens or toxic chemicals. Not only that, Odacite is made fresh for each customer, and comes with a stamped freshness date and expiration date. Odacite’s founder and CEO, Valarie Grandur, invented the line after she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Through her recovery and healing process, Valarie searched for fresh products that she know were completely free of harmful ingredients, preservatives, and carcinogens. Coming up short in the market, she then created her own in small batches for herself and friends, and then eventually launched Odacite.
Because Odacite is made in small batches to insure freshness, it is delivered to you by mail. You won’t find it in stores as it does not contain the preservatives that are needed to maintain an endless shelf life. (Most store bought cosmetics are designed to last for years.)
Odacite skin care is made from plant extracts and vitamins and is full of antioxidants that are found in nature. I was impressed with the entire line of Odacite skin care products. I have sensitive and dry skin. LA is hard on skin as we are exposed to so much sun all year round. Odacite’s cleanser is very light, yet I felt that my face looked clean and bright after using it. The day cream is soft and does not feel greasy but still feels moisturizing. The night serum is a little thicker and when I wake up I do feel like my skin is hydrated and fresh looking. I also tried the eye cream and exfoliant, which I also liked. All of the products are gentle, and fragrance free. They are made in Topanga California, and none of them are tested on animals. I feel really good about using products that I know are so pure. If you are looking for a truly natural skin care regime, try Odacite. E-mail them and they will send you some free samples.
The Environmental Working Group’s cosmetic data base is a great way to look up some of the cosmetics you may be currently using to see how they rate in terms of harmful ingredients. I was discouraged as I noticed that many of my main stay products had poor scores on purity.
There is no reason that we shouldn’t all be conscious about what is in the products we use on ourselves and our families. I hope as awareness builds that consumer safety and safe practices will be a priority for all companies.
by leeroseemery on July 8, 2010
I’ve often posted about the Los Angeles Papo d’Anjo trunk shows in LA that happen several times a year. But I wanted to tell you about their on line sale right now with prices up to 65% off. Papo d’Anjo clothes are so beautifully made, and many of the fabrics they use for the girls’ dresses are Liberty print cottons. The Papo d’Anjo polos for boys are thick and so comfortable. The sweaters are deliciously soft cotton or cashmere. These clothes take you back to a more elegant time, when little girls wore dresses and not leggings and t-shirts. Each year I try to buy my kids at least one of their great offerings. They become the pieces in their closet that I rarely pass on even to smaller nieces. After they outgrow them, I pack them away and hope my daughter will one day discover them one day to adorn her little daughter or son, as they are truly timeless. At their regular prices these clothes are quite expensive. So if you need a few special items for your kids, check out Papo d’Anjo’s on line sale.
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