My Spring Pics for 2013

My Spring Pics 2013 by shara91 featuring vineyard vines

1. Trina Turk has some super cute Cruz Wear for early spring featuring hot colors and some ultra preppy sheik pink and green.
2. Vineyard Vines, as usual, has some wonderful pieces for the season with some Sailor flair. Keeping it true to their tried and true color palate with the striped bikini as well.
3. I am not a huge department store beauty buyer, but a few Clarins items have really brought me back to the counter. The Clarins UV Plus HP SPF 40 Day Screen is a must! Only use about a dime size every morning with your moisturizer or liquid foundation and it covers your face and neck. Poudre Multi-Eclat Mineral Loose Powder is wonderful. Cheaper then most of the other mineral brands and has wonderful staying power and shine control the whole day. 
4. Lilly Pulitzer in true form delivers Spring after Spring with fun patterns like Luck Charm featured in the collage and a their spring standard, gold platform espadrille.
5. Kate Spade's line gets cuter and cuter every season. This year they are doing such great jewelry using quirky everyday items and making them forever jewelry pieces.
6. Skinceuticals delivers year after year with the best body mineral sunscreen around for your beach and lake romps.
7. Can't write enough about the Clairsonic skin brushes. They take years off your skin and come in many fun Spring colors.
8. Trina Turk delivers not only in clothing and jewelry but also in home design. Give your bedroom a Spring Awakening with her line of sheets.
9. Gotta loose 10, 15, 20, 25 maybe 50 pounds before the summer. Look no further then the Dukan Diet plan. I lost 25 and have kept it off for over a year with this revolutionary plan.
10. Elie Saab has this wonderful perfume that I discovered sniffing my way through the perfume area at Nordys. Just love it so much. Spring in a Bottle for sure.
11. My new obsession are these Electrolyte tablets for your water. Just throw one in a bottle and your body absorbs all the Electrolytes it needs to make it through a long workout or day in the hot sun.
12. Red's Outfitters is a great sunglass company. Started by two kids in their college dorm room. The frames and lenses are top notch and ultra stylish to.

Pink Lady Gift Guide Holiday 2012

For the Kids

I loved my star making machine when I was little and while looking for one for a family I found that they have come a long way. I found this great Star Projector and think this would be fun for the whole family. It is a wonderful family gift and can be given to children of all ages and to Boys or Girls. Another shout out to Green Toys still the best toys around non-toxic and just fun. 

Gimmy Some Beekman This Year

I love the Beekman 1802 website and all the lovely food, skin care and Homegoods they offer. Standouts are the Creamed Honey, Goat Soaps, Stick of Butter Lotion Sticks, Tis the Season Bunbles and a few more products I will mention below.

For your Hippie or Nouveau-Yuppie Gardner Friends

I have some friends that have gotten into gardening in a huge way over the last couple of years and this is a wonderful Hobby that I might have to try this spring. I found some great things to give to my friends on the Beekman 1802 site this year that they will just love like their Heirloom Seeds packs, Seed Pot Maker, Bug Stick and Garden Cruuk.

Gift Basket Bonanza

Giving a gift to a family or someone that has everything maybe even a Home Sick East Coaster then Zabars is your place to shop for the season. Zabars is a very old wonderful Deli in New York that is Internationally known and loved for their Fish counter to their Cheese Selection. Check out their Gift Baskets, Crates and other wonderful gifts.

Onion Goggles

For the home chef in your life these are the best. I don't know how many times I have thought while chopping onions that if I was in a rush I know I would fumble and chop my finger off if I was not wearing these. The Goggles come in many different colors as well. 

The Fountain of Youth Machine

You have read my Secret Weapon Post so you know this it is in facial and age defying care. The Clairsonic Facial brush is worth every penny to get great ageless skin. They come in a couple of sizes for face and body or travel and lots of colors.

The best Electric Kettle on Earth

This kettle has different settings for different styles of tea. I want one sooooo bad. A great gift for a tea lover or a Kitchen Gadget Junky in you life.

Tea For All

Tea is a great gift to get friends and family started on the right foot for the new year. Coffee is great but tea is better for sure. Tea Forte has great selection of types of tea. organic, rare, green, white, black and fun seasonal blends. Other great brands Mighty Leaf and Taylor's of Harrogate and of course Peets.

Levis

Now this is a great gift for the men in your life. Jeans are a no brainer for Men. You just have to know there waist and in-seem measurement and have an idea of body type. Men never buy new jeans unless forced. This is a great gift and Levis has some great styles out this year. Fancy brands that are well made and made of nice thick denim like Diesl and Lucky are great to.

Socks

Boring socks no more for your guy. Stance brand are well made and so fun. Also for more colder climates Wigwam are the best choice. Get your guy out of his basic black or white tube socks and get him some fun yet masculine socks this year.

Photo from Shop-Eat-Surf.com

A box of Chocolate

I am a fan of giving locally made goodies for the Holidays. This year I think Woodhouse in St. Helena need to be show cased. Not only locally made but delicious and absolutely beautiful.

Jewelry

Want to give Jewelry and the "Blue Box" is not your style then James Avery and Sundance Catalog may be up your alley. I have been a customer of James Avery for as long as I can remember. All made in Texas with a wonderful selection of Jewelry for everyone on your list. Known for their charms and charm bracelets and excellent craftsmanship. Sundance is Robert Redford's catalog store with locally made Artisan made jewelry with a more natural design aesthetic have some wonderful options for that special person. Alex and Ani is a very hot jewelry line as well that offer many options at affordable prices. 

The "IT" Book

I am big fan of the Blog Young House Love and am so proud of everything they do for the DIY world and even more pleased that they put out there own book. The book is awesome. I gave it to my best friend right after I found out that they sold their condo and bought a new home. I knew she would get a lot out it and would make a lovely decorative coffee table book to.

The Wine People
Yep, how could I make a gift guide without a wine gift option. Everyone that knows me well knows I am Rose' Sparking Wine Slut! Yep, I said it Slut. I LOVE Rose' Sparkling Wine. My very good friend Laurence had bottles and bottles of MUMM's Rose' at her 40th Birthday and we where both in pure heaven. This year I have a new favorite and one that should be bought for any Wine-Snob on your list. Pommery Brut Rose is my number one pick! I just love it! Wish I could afford to buy it enough to have it all the time.

My secret weapons: the best budget friendly face care products you will ever use...

In the last four weeks I have been asked what I do to my skin to make it look the way it does at least twice a day. I am working with the public and with all women so they want to know what magic potion I brew up. To their surprise what I use is pretty cheap and besides the two pricey pieces of equipment and having the luck of good genes, thanks Mom!:), they are all ears and take notes.  I used to spend a arm and a leg on skin care for years until in the last few years I had to budget and pair down. So as usual I did a lot of reading and stuck with some things I have always used and replaced the super pricey department products with others.

My Mom and I about three years ago in Kentucky visiting my Grandparents at the Saint James Art Fair. Aren't we cute!

What I use is as fallows:

Tea Tree oil face wash $9.29 last about 4 months with Ben and I both using it 
I wash my face in the shower with the Tea Tree oil wash. It helps heal any cuts or eye issues I might have created by maybe using my mascara too long. It is a great anti fungal/bacterial. Stings a bit but that usually means getting rid of something that should not be there. Great first phase make up and bacteria remover for the face. People do not realize how much they touch there face and eyes in a day and it needs to be washed with a natural anti bacterial wash like a tea tree oil based cleanser before bed no matter what your age.
Jojoba oil $13.99 last about a year or so...
Once I am out of the shower I put a few drops of Jojoba oil on a cotton circle and wipe down my eye area face and neck. I cannot believe what it removes. If you did not wash your face in the shower first and let the steam open your pores you have really no chance at removing the days dirt, makeup and bacteria on the deepest level. Basically, you go to be with clogged poors and are aging your skin at a more rapid rate.
Rose Water $9.95 and last about five months
Next I take another cotton circle and wipe my face again. This removes the access Joboba oil residue and removes the really fine dirt that the last two steps did not get. During the summer I may stop here and put some eye cream on and call a day, but I may add some of the below described splurge seriums. 
Pineapple enzye face wash $14.99 last about a year
I use this every morning. It takes soooooo little for this to do its' job. I usually leave it on for a few minutes and then splash off with warm water. Love this cleanser!
Nuance by Salma Hayek Eye Cream $16.99 last about 8 months
I apply this to my "crows feet area" of my eye morning and night. Works great and cheap!
Nuance by Salma Hayek spf 30 face cream $16.99 last about three months( I use what the Skin Cancer foundation recommends)
This is the best Moisturizer and sunscreen on the market as far as I am concerned. I have used them all and this is it. I use it in the hotter months of the year because it is very light. 

**Do not forget to put sunscreen on your ears paying special attention to the top. My Grandmother is a clear example of not doing this. She has had many growths removed.

Night time moisturizer for repair and deep moisturization
I use two different night time moisturizers depending on the time of year. The Nuance AM/PM is the best for pretty much any scenario but if I am up in Tahoe in the winter I use the Bubble & Bee moisturizer or I mix the two together as well in the cold, dry Winter nights.

Mineral Fushion spf 40 Face Moisturizer $19.99 last all about four months
I only use this in the summer when I am going to be in direct sun otherwise I use this in the dry colder months. Extremely moisturizing and goes on clear for a mineral based sunscreen. The best I have ever tried. 
Green Clay Powder with yogurt and honey mixed in about $2.19 a packet gets about two to three masks out of each one.
I make a mask out of this clay and use it twice a month. Sometimes I add lemon juice and yogurt to the paste or honey and lemon juice as well. I use about half the pack and apply it to my face and neck. Love this stuff. So cheap and works!
Baking Soda dirt cheap I buy the huge bags from Costco
I take about a 1/2 cup of baking soda in the shower with me about three times a week. I just take a bit at a time and scrub my entire body in sections unti the cup is empty. Works great to make my skin smooth and clear. 
Body Butter from $16.00 to $25.00 last three to five months 
I like these waterless body butters and lotion sticks. They are concentrated and you use less and they work much better then a regular lotion that is made mostly of water. You put a bit in your hands and rub together to warm up and apply every where. I also like the Beekman 1802 lotion sticks as well. 

Big Investment Equipment that has made a huge difference:
Clarisonic Face Brush
It truly is like giving your self a facial every day. Just like the Pro sonic toothbrush it loosens the dirt on your face and in your pores. When I wipe my face with the Jojoba oil and rose water I get so much more on the cotton circle if I didn't use it. It helps bring everything to the surface. I love this tool. It really tones my face and keeps the pores nice and tiny. Worth every scent. It has saved me tones of money getting facials.

Air-O-Swiss Cool/Warm Mist humidifier
I live in a very dry climate most of the year and this has saved my skin and my sinuses. The reviews on amazon for the brand I have are all over the place, but I have had this model for two years and not one issue. I notice a huge difference when I forget to fill the tank or forget to turn it on. I bring it up to Tahoe in the Winter and it has put an end to any sinus headaches that I would have usually gotten in the past.

Splurges:
Any of the Nuance line by Salma Hayek. I have tried almost every product and they are so well priced and worth every penny. I have used some very fancy skin lines and her line is just as good or better.

One more thing that I tell the Lady's to is I drink water like a Camel and I do not eat foods with hormones, fillers, preservatives, additives, refined sugars or chemically made sugar substitutes. I keep it clean, organic, gluten free and grain free. I do not drink that much espresso or coffee, lots of white and green teas. I also do not do fat free anything. I eat good fats of course, but I do not fallow that "fat free" is better mantra anymore. I get at least eight hours of sleep, more the better and I am not afraid to sweat it out either in a good work out but I wash my face asap right after. 

My CSA Box- Natural Trading Company

I finally found a CSA to join that was in our budget and met our requirements. I could get fresh eggs for happy hens, all organic, with a good seasonal variety, winter harvest along with other seasons, give not too big of shares of the harvest(just Ben and I so I did not want to waist any of the share, plus we can order from two sizes of shares), easy to pick up, easy to put on hold if we go out of town, easy to stop if we move, weekly reminders/updates, great communication with the farm owners, auto payment and charged week to week instead of for a whole season or a whole year at a time. The Natural Trading Company in New Castle, Ca fit the bill to a tee. We pick up our share every Friday at the farm because we live pretty close. It cost $20.00 a week and we get eggs every other week and those weeks cost $26.00. Like I said perfect:) Ben and I eat a lot if veggies but with these boxes it is a no brainier with incorporating more fruit and veggies into your diet. No meal planning required either you just work with what you get and it just makes cooking so much easier.
This week we got:
Garlic-2 heads
Turnips a very large bunch
Red potatoes about three pounds
Butternut Squash
Persimmon- 5 Fuyu variety
A huge head of purple lettuce
A huge bunch of collards
Heirloom carrots about 10 in the bunch
One dozen eggs
Plus the box comes with a weekly newsletter with a recipe incorporating the share.
All organic and $26.00 total!!!

Pink Lady Holiday Gift Guide

Now I have wanted to get one of these for myself for a long time, but they where always too expensive.  Breville has now made a great compact juicer that is under $100.00 and makes for easy clean up as well. It has over 700 five star reviews on Amazon.com. Now that is proof that this is a great deal and product. I would gift this to anyone that is wanting to have a healthy start to 2012. This would be a great gift to give to a family as well.

Royal Apothic Home and Body Fragrance Products. I love these products. I heard about them around the Royal Wedding. Kate used Jo Malone candles at the wedding ceremony to scent her day. From what people said the church smelled wonderful. Jo Malone candles run about $65.00 each. Kinda pricey for sure. I do have some of Jo Malone perfumes but could not bring myself to buy the candles. So I was doing some research and found out that the queen uses these candles and stocks all her bathrooms with the lotions and soaps. I went to the website and saw they carry them at Anthropologie and went down to my local store to take a sniff or two. These are the best fragrances I have ever smelled. I love the Toca  and the Fresh lines but these where incredible. I think these would be great gifts for hostess or scent junkies as well.*Don't forget to never spray perfume on your skin only on your clothes and hair.

Peas and Thank You Cook Book. I love this cook book. I think it would be a great gift really for anyone. This cook book makes eating Vegan fun and easy to do. A great book for a family or friend that would like to to do a Meatless Monday or a Animal Free day. If everyone at least did a Meatless Monday we could make a huge difference in our environment also you can save sooooo much money as well. No joke going meatless and dairy free one or two days a week can decrease your grocery spending by 30% to 40% depending on the quality of meat and dairy you buy. In this economy that is a big savings.

Garden of Life Primal Defence. I tell people this and they look at me like I am nuts. I have not had a cold, flu or any type of bacterial infection in FIVE years. Ben has not been sick in TWO years. We both take Probiotics. I have tried different brands but this is the best by far. Probiotics help your immune system fight off bad germs and bacteria that you ingest from being out with the public. I would give this to everyone of my friends and family if I could afford it and if I knew they would actually use it. The bottle runs about $24.99 and worth every penny.

Bob Harper Total Body Transformation Dvd. O my god! I did this work out for the first time not too long ago. I felt like I was back at RB High doing my sprint works outs. The ones where I would loose my lunch during. This work out is no joke. If you have a super athletic friend or someone that is looking to burn off the Holiday calories for the New Year then this is it. I will warn you this is NOT for beginners. Bobs' other Dvds would be better for a more moderate exercise routine.

J Brut Rose Sparkling Wine. This is my FAVORITE!!! I think this is a great gift for a wine lover. Something a little different as a Rose' Sparkler is perfect for your wine loving friends and family. J is a great wine maker in Napa. This would make a very special hostess gift or something to impress a boss for sure. The price is right to just under $30.00!

The Stieg Larsson's Millienuim Trilogy box set is another well priced gift. I don't know if you have heard of this trilogy of books written by the late Steig Larsson, but if you are a reader or know a reader I would at least buy the first book in the set The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and give it a read. I actually watched the first couple of movies that where made in Denmark and they where great even with the sub titles. Now I am starting to read the English translations. I think the books could be gifted to anyone that likes to read at all from the age 13 and up. If you have a mystery or sci-fi junkie friend these books and especially this box set would make a great gift.

Custom Converse and Jack Purcell Sneakers. I bought these for my Teenage niece. These are just too cool for school. You can customize the whole shoe down to the rubber and have their name, initials or whatever embroidered on them to. These would be great for a Boyfriend, Husband, Male or Female Teenagers. I know you are thinking it may be hard to pick everything out but you can either give a gift card to let them do it them selves or go with using their favorite colors and design them your self. Just  a great gift for under $80.00!!!

Salma Hayek Beauty Products. I just started using Salma's line and I love it. Paraben free and quality for not much money. You could buy any of the range for your girlfriends, Teenage girls, Mothers and Grandmothers even the Man in you life could benefit from the skin and hair care line. I would think the best things to pick up  for gifts is the spf

LLBean Emergency Radio-Cell Phone Charger-Flash Light no batteries needed!!!I bought these for my parents last year. My Dad just loved the whole idea that they use a crank to make the power and no batteries. I have seen the both use them a lot this year. These would be wonderful practical gifts for anyone. I got one for each of my parents to put in their cars. They make a larger one with more features to keep in the house for big emergencies.

Happy Balls! Kentucky Bourbon Balls. I LOVE these. I dream about these balls. When I go visit my Grandmother I have to get these. They are so good. These are another local made gift that people would love to get. These instantly bring a little Southern charm and sweetness into any ones life.

Jams-Jellies-Dried Fruits from Twin Peaks Farms. This is a local farm that Ben and I discovered this year. They make the best jams and jelly form there harvest and dried fruit mixes as well. I think these would make a great office gifts or even gifts for Teachers maybe a neighbor that helped you out this year and you want to get them a little something. They also ship seasonal fruit year around as well. The fruit delivers are great to people living in places that cannot get quality fresh fruit in the winter months.

A membership to a CSA near you. This would be another gift for a whole family or maybe friends that are having a hard time financially this year. You can pick different options of what kind of locally grown and produced items from what ever CSA farm is near the family or friend. Some farms offer seasonal deliveries or half year or year around share of their crops. It is a great way to get more healthy produce in your diet and support local farmers doing it right.

Zoya Nail Polishes and Nail Products. I love the ESSIE nail polish color range, but hate the toxic chemicals that comes with it. People do not realize your nails do absorb the toxic chemical you paint them with. Your skin and nails are no different then your mouth. When you put make up, lotion and anything on you skin you pretty much should be able to eat it to a point. Yep, that is right, your skin absorbs everything you put on it and it goes through your blood stream. That is why I started to use as chemical free nail polishes, lotions, makeup and skin care products as I can years ago. The ZOYA line is great and has great staying power and color range with out the harmful chemicals that most polishes have. These polishes would make great stocking stuffers, Hanukkah gifts for any Women, Teenager or Little Girl you know.

Life factory Water Bottles-Baby Bottles-Sippy Cups. Do you have a couple that just had a baby? Do you have a guy friend that is hard to shop for? Do you have a whole family to buy for? Maybe a girl friend that buys cases of water bottles from Costco and you want to guide down the path of not filling a land fill with her waist? The Life Factory bottles are the way to go. They are glass bottles covered in a impact resistant cover that is non-toxic and BPA free. Ben has a couple and has dropped them several times on cement ware house floor and has never broken one yet.

Wilton's Donut Baking Tray. Now this is a great gift for a Gluten Free or Wheat free friend even a friend that is trying to watch calories as well. This donut tray creates the best donuts without frying. You could pair this with a a Donut recipe cook book and you have a great gift for a individual or a family. They will love it.

Global Girl Friends Jewelry-Clothing-Accessories. I am in love with this line. The non-for-profit company goes into villages and helps women create there own businesses form crafts and products they create. The products are un-believably affordable and well made. I love to pick up earrings, scarfs and bracelets for my girlfriends. These are gifts that give back and what else could be better then that.

Recycled Plastics and BPA Free Toys by Green Toys. I buy these toys for all my friends kids. I like to buy the nice non-toxic wood toys as well but these are little more budget friendly. The babies and kids LOVE them and the parents love that I cared so much to buy non-toxic toys for there little ones.

PetNaturals of Vermont Treats. These treats have changed my cats quality of life for sure. The hairball formula has helped Cashmere so much when he starts to shed his winter coat. The vitamin treats keep him healthy and happy as well. They make a full range of Dog and Cat treats and I have been told the dog treats are great. So if you have a pet lover in your life I would think these would be a great gift.