posted October 08, 2008 01:37 PM            

Saturn return.... hmmm. I think you are better equipped than most at handling it.

The comparison of me pre-Saturn return, and post... I am an entirely different person. Most definitely more grown... the same things don't affect me.
I am.. settled and happy, compared to unsettled and trying to search for happy in the wrong ways.

posted October 08, 2008 01:46 PM            

Kids are great! My daughter is turning 8 in a little over a week. She's great to be around now. A real show-girl.. always entertaining. My oldest is doing really well in school ,and making his own halloween costume ( a wolf) and is doing a real kick ass job of it. I am always so proud of him.
My youngest is doing well also, he is growing and learning more everyday and is talking a bit more... we can almost have conversations! He'll nod or shake his head appropriately if he doesn't feel like talking. He's a little love and kisses beautifully. ( that's criteria for living here.. must pucker up lots)Here's a newer one of my youngest and me.

posted October 10, 2008 11:09 AM            

You just get more beautiful! And the little one is too sweet for words!

Glad to hear you are doing so well. Wonderful news!!

posted October 11, 2008 09:11 AM              

Youre very beautiful.

posted October 11, 2008 03:19 PM            

Bat guano and baby oil....lol
to tell you the truth, probably quitting smoking.
I could just start seeing some forehead lines and crinkles around my eyes, and a sallowness to my skin.... I've been smokefree for a few years now, and it hasn't gotten worse, and actually improved.

I am in the skincare industry... and I also have oily skin, so that helps....

oh, wait... I have a Capricorn Moon, remember? I reverse after age 30.

That's my story and I am sticking to it.

My baby man is so awesome he brings me to spontaneous laughter many times a day.

posted October 12, 2008 09:32 AM              

Hey i'm Cappy rising so I think I get a little of the age reversal thing after 30 too! People often tell me they thought I was around 22/23, so that's nice!

Glad to hear youve chosen to go into a field with some better hours and that's more suited to who you are right now. You'll have more time to spend with your babes which is the most important thing.

What's new with me....? Well, I'm just about ready to head back up into the cold north woods. Just in time for the snow...ugh. I'm really happy about heading home though. Things have fallen into place and I should be leaving mid week. It's been a rough year and crazy few weeks, but much 'good' has come out of it all too. Depending on how i choose to look. I have to make sure I remember the good times. I'm sorry to hear about your friend's father too. Let's hope they have found the healing they need and think loving thoughts for them. And thank you.

posted November 15, 2008 02:25 AM            

ooooh, wheels, I LOVE hats! Always have them on.
Which is helpful for curly headed lasses... in terms of the waking up in the morning but still have to get kids to school, no time to wash hair.... helpful for the UV, and also I can be a style diva is seconds!
A good coat or hat, and accessories, and I am smiling all day.
So.. Good Advice!!!

posted January 27, 2009 11:04 AM            

I am officially in college now and it is nice! I have made friends, and have much much homework! It is not a challenge in terms of content ( yet) but it is a challenge to have enough time to do it all and stay organized and have a family and a job on top of it all.
I am honoured and grateful to have the opportunity to improve myself though.
My Human relations class is my favourite so far... we watched the secret and chat about issues that are important to me and resonate, so naturally I like this class. The Professor is a storyteller teacher, and I always learn the most from that style... it feels effortless.
I am finding that even though I can type fast, from years on the computer, I don't do it the way they want me to, so it is challenging ( but doable) to relearn where to stick my fingers.
I am enjoying it.

posted February 23, 2009 01:59 PM            

I am off this week on reading week.
I even had a nap with Ells on the couch today. It was awesome.

Hi Quinnie! Skin care? That's my job, so I have either generalized or specific advice, yes, absolutely.

It is a question to a question to a question though.. firstly, your age/skin condition/concern/skin type/what is your preferred routine/etc. I always start this conversation with more questions in order to tailor my advice to the specific concern. Let me tell you what I do though and explain.

Firstly, I am in my early thirties. I have oily skin, prone to breakouts, I have early facial expression lines.
I use sunscreen EVERYDAY and I wear a hat when I can help it. Sunglasses are a good idea too.
I use Neo Strata products to manage my skin well. The Glycolic acid formulations work the best for me, I use Oil free foaming cleanser with 4% glycolic acid, and 8% tonig solution.
( and Bioderma Micellar sensitive eyes make up remover) I also use an Elizabeth Arden eye cream that I adore. It's called 'Intervene'
I use an Avene mattifying moisturizer, and sometimes Neostrata daytime 10% glycolic... and I use
Pur minerals for my face.
I love the minerals for treating/preventing/looking luminous.
This combination seems to work well for me, although because I am in skincare, I change it up quite frequently.

So depending on your skin type/concerns, I can give you some specific advice.

posted April 02, 2009 12:10 PM            

My skin's a nightmare. I get these spots that aren't really spots (the good kind, that you can squeeze) they feel really hard and they stay around for ages. Obviously I have a go at squeezing them because I never learn but it ends in disaster. Mostly they are on my cheeks and this is weird because I never normally get spots there. I have normally very oily skin on my T zone but nowhere else. If anything my cheeks are drier than they ever were - so why the spots?

Thing is, if I try to moisturise to keep my T-zone happy it doesn't address the dry cheeks. If I use something too oily it makes the T zone a horror-show.

*wails*

I haven't got a lot of money but can you suggest something. One thing I can't do is all that cleansing and toning etc, I'm 35 and it's not likely gonna happen now. Can you recommend a moisturiser?

Background: I'm 35, get a lot of exercise, drink too much coffee, don't drink enough water, don't eat meat, take no supplements, probably eat quite a lot of crap but quite a lot of good stuff too. Not overweight.

posted April 09, 2009 09:06 AM            

You have what sounds like cystic acne. It is very common, even in women our age- even if we've never had problem skin before.
Usually the zone you get them in is indicative of the reasons.
AND skin changes throughout our lives. Just when you think we are used to it..

Firstly, for cystic acne, the best thing you can do in terms of treatment is leave it alone- no squeezing. Sometimes squeezing a blackhead or pustule is prudent, but never the kind that's under the skin-- picture a vast network of chambers, and the pore that opens up to the surface becomes clogged, so the oil that erupts mingles with dead skin cells bacteria and debris, and rather than coming out to thin membrane and bursting, it dams up behind the opening and stays there, backing up, becoming painful and being unable to escape. It pools against the side of the deviated pore rather than coming to a head an disappearing. It becomes a cycle. It will go away but the next time the conditions make it right to erupt, it does not go to the top, it stays underneath, because the pore is structurally deviated, and it is easier for the debris to just continually pool inside.
Imagine now, squeezing it. There is no place for it to go, so it damages the cells around it and can create scars and more problems.
So the cystic type of acne is not a good idea to try to get rid of in that way.

I actually recommend seeing a dermatologist. They can prescribe a Clindamycin and Glycolic acid formula that you apply topically, ( similar to the toning solution I talked about)
Or oral antibiotics/something dermatologists, not cosmeticians, know more about.
BUT I will suggest, if you'd like a moisturizer... Focus on oil free moisture... if you have combination skin, you want to make sure you are well moisturized but not an oil slick, to respect your other conditions.
There are plenty of formulas for you. I suggest 'gel-creams' or lotions.
Or even serums.
Serums are often packed full of hyaluronic acid ( great for binding moisture to the skin) and glycerin.
I hope I helped a bit, even though I am late with it.

posted April 09, 2009 09:45 AM            

Thanks a million, I am so grateful for the comprehensive response, and you were very clear in your explanation of what was going on under the surface of the skin. I will consider seeing a dermatologist as both my sisters (2 and 4 years older than me) are also having a hard time with their skin and one of them has just been to a dermatologist, so maybe I can get there before it gets really bad.

I promise to leave them well alone from now on!!

posted April 09, 2009 11:26 AM            

Talk as much as your lovely self would like to!

posted April 27, 2009 10:43 AM            

another re-do!

I guess a few of us were deleted! I was among them again.
A fresh start.

I almost went with a new username but didn't want to lose my identity here among those who know me, so I am back , as me, again!