Dress Desire

I thought I would some of the amazing dresses I've been finding for My Day Events. Check out more on the site!

Christmas Display Windows

In case you don't feel like going out to see them, here are some great window displays!!

Merry Christmas!!

What to Where to the Christmas Party?

I found these great photos that have all that you need for a good color themed outfit for any upcoming holiday party! I love it when ideas are just put together some perfectly for me!

Enjoy!

Happy partying!

Fabrics for my Quilt Project

So as you know I'm working on a quilt. I haven't gotten very far yet because I'm trying to do all of it without buying any fabric. It's been tricky, I've gotten a couple of donations, but my sister the other day said she would put together some stuff for me because she has heaps of little pieces and what not. She said she needed an idea though of what I am looking for so here you go Crystal! If anyone else feels like having a part in the memory that this quilt will be I'd love that! Message me and I'll send you my address!!

(All of the photos are linked to the sources)

Bijou ring give away

So I went in to Bijou just to check out some pricing and to look at diamond stud earrings (it’s amazing the range of pricing that is out there!). I saw this display and ad for a giveaway.

I grabbed a card because I was running late for another appointment but here’s how it works

Add them on facebook

Wrote 20 works or 100 (depending on what card you get from them) or less on why you should get the ring

- Get lots of people to comment on your write up, or like it (the person with the best write up and most comments and ‘likes’ wins)

I put one in for my mom because well, she deserves it! If you’re interested go nuts, write something up, but if you don’t care I’d love it if you clicked over there (here’s the link!) and ‘liked’ my write up! My mom totally deserves something like this and it would be huge if you got it. I know I can’t buy her a $6500 diamond ring but I would love to be able to get her one!!

Good luck!

Hair: A Different Sort of Braid

Oh I love this! Again another one where I wish my hair was long enough to be able to do this (and that I even knew how to in the first place!)

Hair: Side Bun

Wow, I wish I had long enough hair again to be able to do this!! Just a little idea for you guys for any party, wedding or event your going to. So classy right?

Making Change: The Feed Bags

I saw these bags and read about their mission and thought it was great!

I think a lot of people, as much as we want to help, we don't want to do anything unless we get something out of it. And we don't want to do something unless we can be flashing about it; "I have a feed bag, people are going to see that I did something good". I'm at the point that I don't care about your motives (although I hope and wish that they are pure and selfless) as long as you are doing something to help! So here they are, the FEED bag. I included their Mission below.


"FEED Projects goal is to reach hungry children through the sales of our FEED bags.

FEED bags raise much-needed funds for WFP school-feeding operations and awareness of the problem of child hunger.

All FEED products are made as eco-friendly and fairly as possible. Our bags are produced with high-quality, 100% organic cotton and natural burlap. We work with only audited and certified fair labor facilities. It's important to us to visit the places our products are made AND the places our donations are going.

The goal of FEED Projects is to market and sell as many FEED bags as possible and to FEED and educate the world's 400 million hungry children."

Health Tip of the Week: Chemicals in Makeup Pt. 3

Quaternium-15 is a toxic agent used in cosmetic creams. Quaternium-15 can cause skin rashes and allergic reactions. Trade names: Dowicil 200, Dowicide Q, and Preventol.



Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) is a surfactant, detergent, and emulsifier used in thousands of cosmetic products and industrial chemicals as a cleansing agent. It has a degenerative action on cell membranes and is damaging to hair and skin. High levels of skin penetration may occur at even low-use concentrations. Because it is derived from coconuts, SLS is implied to be "natural," but it is mixed with sulfur trioxide or chlorosulforic acid and then neutralized with aqueous sodium hydroxide (lye).


Sodium Laureth Sulfate (shortened from Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate or SLES) is a yellow liquid detergent similar to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, with higher foaming ability. SLES is considered slightly less irritating than SLS.

Talc – used in face powders and baby powders – can cause lung problems. Talc may be contaminated with asbestos. 



Color Additives date back as far as 5000 years. The desire to improve one's appearance is not a modern concept. Artificial colors and dyes are now included in nearly every cosmetic product.

Many coal tar derivatives are suspected carcinogens, and most artificial colorants have not yet been tested for cancer risk. About 76 D&C (approved for use in Drugs and Cosmetics) color pigments, and approximately 19 FD&C colors are used in food and toiletries. Six FDA "certified" colors are suspected carcinogens. Others may cause hives, eye irritation and permanent blindness, behaviour problems, emotional outbreaks, attention deficit disorder (ADD), chromosome damage, and reproductive mutations. Absorption of certain colors can cause oxygen depletion of the body resulting in death.

Fragrance chemicals are added to cosmetics and toiletries. Fragrance on a label can indicate any of 4,000 individual ingredients, nearly all synthetic. Fragrance exposure can affect the central nervous system, causing depression, hyperactivity, irritability, inability to cope, and other behavioural problems. "Fragrance-free" and "unscented" products may still contain fragrance chemicals without listing them on the label. 80%-90% of fragrance chemicals are petroleum derivatives that can enter the body through inhalation, skin, or ingestion, and go directly to the brain.

Information found at townsendletter.com

Health Tip of the Week: Chemicals in Makeup Pt. 2

Mineral oil is used as an emollient to prevent water loss from skin, but can be toxic and actually dries out skin.




1-Naphthol and 2-Naphthol are coal tar derivatives used as dye intermediates. They can be absorbed through skin and are skin irritants. Oral doses larger than one teaspoon can be fatal.




Nitrosamines are a class of carcinogenic compounds that can be absorbed through skin. Nitrosamines are by-products created by the chemical reactions of many cosmetic ingredients. However, vitamins C and E act as blocking agents, inhibiting the toxic effects of nitrosamines, and some manufacturers add vitamins C and E to their products for this purpose.




P-Hydroxybenzoic Acid Benzyl Ester (PHB Esters), are widely used preservatives more commonly known as methyl paraben, propyl paraben, ethyl paraben, and butyl paraben. They are highly toxic, causing skin rashes and can behave as xenoestrogens, raising the risk of breast cancer in women and low sperm count in men.


Petrolatum (petroleum and paraffin jelly) is a type of mineral oil used in baby oil, creams, lipstick, makeup remover, and lip-gloss. This type of waxy mineral oil sits on top of the skin, clogging the pores which leads to blackheads, whiteheads, and eventually, enlarged pores.




Propylene Glycol is a petroleum derivative found in most forms of makeup and other cosmetics as a humectant (moisture retainer), surfactant (oil emulsifier), and solvent. Its industrial uses include hydraulic brake fluid and antifreeze. Surprisingly, it is an ingredient in many products claiming to be "natural." Because of Propylene Glycol's ability to quickly penetrate skin, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires workers to wear protective clothing, gloves, and goggles when working with this toxic chemical. The Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) warn against skin contact because of possible brain, liver, and kidney abnormalities. Stick deodorants have concentrations higher than most industrial applications.

Information found at townsendletter.com

Health Tip of the Week: Chemicals in Makeup pt. 1

Mercury is both a deadly poison and a heavy metal. The skin easily absorbs mercury, and it accumulates in the body. 

Mercury exposure may cause allergic reactions, skin irritation, or neurotoxicity problems.

Phenyl mercuric acetate is a highly toxic chemical used as a preservative in eye makeup, even though it does not protect the consumer from bacteria in products that have become contaminated by use.

Bronopol is used in mascara and other cosmetics. A skin irritant, bronopol has caused blindness and death in laboratory animals at concentrations much higher than used in cosmetic products.



Formaldehyde-releasing ingredients are found in nearly all brands of skin, body, and hair care products, antiperspirants, and nail polishes. Imidazolidinyl urea and DMDM Hydantoin are just two of many preservatives that release formaldehyde, which can irritate the respiratory system, cause asthma, allergies, or skin reactions, even trigger heart palpitations. Formaldehyde exposure can cause joint or chest pain, depression, headaches, fatigue, dizziness, immune dysfunction, and cancer.

Hexamethylenetetramine is a carcinogenic formaldehyde-compound used in lotions and creams, and must carry a warning label if used in concentrations greater than 0.05%. Trade names: Aminoform, Formid, Uritone, and Cystamin.

Lanolin, a fatty secretion from sheep's wool, is found in many cosmetics. Although lanolin is a natural product, it may be contaminated with DDT and other pesticides used on the animals.1


Information found at townsendletter.com

Health Tip of the Week: Toxins in Makeup

All cosmetic products contain a certain amount of bacteria, prompting manufacturers to add preservatives. Parabens are toxic and allergenic synthetic chemicals used extensively as preservatives in cosmetic products. Aubrey Hampton, of Aubrey Organic Cosmetics, informs us that preservatives are not added to protect the consumer from bacteria, however, but to extend the shelf life of the product.



Toxic metals can be found in moisturizer, lotion, sun block, sunscreen, mascara, eye shadow, rouge, face powder, lipstick, and theatrical and clown makeup. Health effects may include nausea, cramps, vomiting, skin rash, joint and bone pain, mouth sores, cancer, stillbirths, genetic damage, immune dysfunction, brain and learning disorders, and impulsive and violent behaviour. The toxins in makeup are numerous and you’ll hear all about them in next week’s post. 


Information found at townsendletter.com