Sunday Spa Day - Face

After a long week of work (although I technically did not work this week, this week was a lot of work) and a long weekend of chores, I decided Sunday was the perfect day to indulge myself in some at home spa treatments. So each Sunday I will feature an at-home treatment to get you ready for another week ahead.
If you look at many commercial skin care bottles you will see they tout the word oatmeal on the label. Oatmeal has many benefits aside from a warm winter breakfast. Oatmeal is actually really good for your skin. It acts as a gentle exfoliator, gives moisture to dry skin, and smooths and softens. Combine oatmeal with yogurt and honey and you have yourself an at home mask that smells as good as it leaves your skin feeling.
Here is what I did:
Went to the kitchen to get ingredients for this Oatmeal-Honey-Yogurt mask

Put about 3 tbsp oatmeal into the blender and mix until it becomes a course powder (you can see the before and after pictures)

 

I put the oatmeal into a bowl and added 1/4 cup plain non-fat yogurt and 1 tbsp honey. Mixed until all the oatmeal is completely moistened.

 

 

I spread it completely over my face and let it stand for 5-10 minutes. Wash off with warm water, followed by a cool splash and then finish with my normal moisturizer.

 

…C



Splurge or Save

I had a friend over for some cocktails, before she came I had to run to the store to pick up a few things~namely the cocktails.
Normally I drink Michelob Ultra because I enjoy the taste and it is light on calories. If I do splurge, it is usually with Blue Moon. However, as I was in Trader Joe's perusing the beer aisle deciding if I wanted to splurge or save on my calorie consumption I saw this can that drew my eye. I looked a little closer and saw that it is brewed by Butternuts Beer and Ale in Garrattsville, NY.
How could I resist? From the name, Porkslap Pale Ale, to the can, to the fact that it is brewed in the USA, New York actually!
I went for the splurge. It is not a wheat ale like Blue Moon, it is a bit darker than what I am used to, however it was pretty darn good. I would buy again.


Check- for my buying American products challenge.

…C

Challenge Accepted

I have mentioned before that I am a teacher, among the classes that I teach is Financial Literacy. I recently had my class read an article that stated 42% of American parents fear their children will be worse off than they are. Every parent can attest that we want our children to be better, do better, have better, than we have. This article painted a dismal picture. Coupled with the talk of the looming fiscal cliff, I deemed it necessary to do my part to support our economy. That being said, I love a good challenge, so here is a challenge that I am going to try my best to take on and I think it is a doozey~30 day buy American.

So over the next 4 weeks I will post things in several categories that are all made in the good ole U S of A.

I was on Etsy today searching for some unique items. They feature a link in which you can choose a location in which to buy from. I simply entered USA and viola, made my first purchases for my 30 day buy American challenge.

I will post pictures soon!!

…C

My kitchen concoction

I was feeling a bit sniffly today and the last thing I wanted was to be sick over our Christmas break~ there is too much on my to-do list.
I hit the kitchen and made this remedy:
I will approximate all amounts as I am not one to measure.
Put about 2 cups water with 2 tbsp fresh grated ginger in a pan on the stove top.
Once close to boiling I added the squeeze of a half of a lemon and 1 tbsp honey.
Gave a few stirs, then strain into a cup. Down the hatch!

 

 

 

 

…C

New direction

Let's go crazy, crazy, crazy till we see the sun
I know we only met but let's pretend it's love
And never, never, never stop for anyone
Tonight let's get some
And live while we're young

Oh wait this post was titled New Direction not One Direction. Oops. I have a cute video of Kate and Emma signing and dancing to this song by One Direction but it does not transfer well to the blog.

I like clothes, don't get me wrong. However blogging about only fashion wasn't really leaving me satisfied. It was not a full passion of mine. So I have decided to give The Paper Gown a new direction, one that I feel passionate about and is a real interest for me.

Fortunately I have always loved vegetables and working out. However about two years ago I read The Beauty Detox Solution and really started to focus on how to eat in a more natural state.

So now the majority of my posts will have more of an overall lifestyle focus. Including healthy living and healthy choices for me, my family, and my home and being as close to homemade and natural as possible. I will feature such things as product testing, homemade remedies, buying local, sprinkled with a dash of economic and political stances from my point of view, etc.

Don't get me wrong, I am not perfect-not even close. I do not make perfect choices all the time. However I attempt to make the best choices most of the time. I will chronicle this and share what I find. 

Hope you don't mind and enjoy.



…C

 Happy Holidays from our family to you all!!!

 

Shine...Every Day!!

After my post titled Simple Elegance, Shannon from Styles with Shannon approached me with the opportunity to collaborate with another great local business.  Olivia Cornell, owner of Cornell’s Jewelers on Monroe Ave in Pittsford provided me with the beautiful pieces on this post to show everyone that you can wear your precious jewels MORE, actually EVERY day!

I must admit though when I walked into Cornell’s it was a bit intimidating (at first). I had to be buzzed in, once inside I looked around in awe at the sparkle of everything. The showroom is gorgeous; it is sleek, modern and overall just beautiful. I was immediately put at ease once I walked around and met and spoke with all of the jewelry consultants there.  All of the women that I interacted with were wonderful; very helpful and interested in helping to pick the perfect pieces.

I left Cornell’s with this beautiful necklace and cuff links. I paired them with a couple of work outfits and a casual outfit. These precious jewels work perfectly with outfits that I wear every day, whether it is to work, shopping, or at a children’s Christmas concert.

 

 

…C

You stole my heart

I am typically a cold person. It is not unusual to find me in sweat pants, sweatshirt and wool socks walking around my house in August. Yes I said August! Hubby loves his central air, I prefer windows open but what is a marriage without compromise? So when the air is on, I simply bundle up. So you can imagine how I dress in the winter months.
Needless to say I love scarves. They provide me the perfect opportunity to bundle up, feel comfy/cozy while keeping me warm. However there are times when scarves can be, well, a bit bulky.
When I was at the Rochester Women's Expo a few weeks ago I browsed some of the great vendors there and my heart was "stolen". I found this great stole that is perfect to wear when you don't want to add that extra bulk that comes with the territory of wearing a scarf. It is perfect under or over a fitted jacket.

 

Pants - Gap
Leather Jacket - The Limited - similar
Stole - Love it Local - Fire and Ice Jewelry and Accessories - 1334 Culver Road, Rochester
Shoes - Target

…C

Classic, mordern and everything in between

I love pearls, to me they are so versatile. They can go from classic to modern and everything in between. I have a couple of great pearl necklaces. Some I love to pair with a pencil skirt and a button up shirt for a classic look. But I also love to stretch my pieces, wearing them several different ways and getting the most bang for my buck. Here I show several different looks for your pearl necklaces.

 Above I use my grandmothers pearl necklace she wore to my parents wedding. I wrapped it around my wrist to wear as a bracelet~Vintage pearls.

 

 

 Above is literally a 10 foot long strand of pearls. I twisted it upon itself and attached each end using a clip-it (from Premier Jewelry Designs)

 

 

 Again using the 10 foot long strand, I simply put it on similar to a scarf.

 

Still more with the 10 foot long strand, wrapped it around 3 times and added an oversized pin.

Above is 6 strand pearl necklace, I added the offset broch for a little something extra.

 

 

…C

Minor Details

I am always looking to re-use something in a new way. Here is my latest:
For this outfit I started with a classic white button up shirt and a sweater. I thought what could I add? I looked through my goodies and found a pair cuff links, these were actually my husband's grandfathers. The cuff links are a minor detail but details make the difference.
Last thing, the necklace. It is actually a long strand that I simply wrapped around tight. The closer the pearls to your neck the more classic the look. The longer you keep the strand, the more trendy.

Sweater -Gap
Jeans - Gap, similar
Shoes - Target
Cuff Link - vintage, thanks to Grandpa Vincent

…C

Can we mom, can we, can we please?

My two girls and myself are literally tied at the hip. I rarely do anything without the two of them. So they have often been in tow as I have been snapping pictures of myself for this blog. They have questioned what I am doing taking all these pictures of myself, but their more burning question is if they can they be in the pictures too.
After umpteen times of the question - "can we be in the picture mom?", I decided to share a post where they are the stars.
So for this post I will introduce you to my kids and combine some of the things I love. Kate (4 years old) and Emma (3 years old), doing craft projects with them and the holidays.
Each year I have family pictures taken and we rotate the seasons in which we take them. I will then use that picture for our family Christmas card. Well this year our family photo shoot is schedule for January so for our Christmas card I decided to take my own picture. But of course I had to attempt to make the card whiz-bang so I created my own photo shoot with them.
Here is what I did:
Hard part-always the hard part for me is finding finding their outfits. I do not like them to be in something that is too matchy, matchy (or wearing the same exact outfit) but they need to be something that goes, of course. So we headed to the mall (always a fun trip with a 4 and 3 year old) and went into The Gap. While there, we worked together, because 4 and 3 year olds can be oh so cooperative, and we came up with mutually agreed upon outfits.
I then bought a basic white sheet. Next, headed to Michael's Craft Store to buy a star stamp. They did not have a stamp but had a star wooden box instead that I thought could make work. I used marker and paint to put random stars onto the sheet. The sheet did not turn out like exactly like I wanted it to (you know the vision I had in my head) but under the time crunch that is my life, it had to make do. I taped the sheet to my dining room wall, uttered a few "Say cheeses" and there you have it. Our in-home Christmas card photo shoot.
I was really running behind on putting this together so it literally took me 20 minutes to do everything! They were sitting on the sheet and the paint was not even dry yet. I was praying and pleading with them not to move too much as to not get paint on themselves. So if you try this and leave yourself more planning time with your sheet and painting you can outshine what I have done here.

Kate and Emma's outfits and shoes can be found at The Gap

…C

Fashionably Loud

As I have gotten older I must say that I have become much more confident in my own skin. I can strut around comfortably in pretty much any outfit and feel great while doing it. That confidence has allow me to be become more fashionably loud. Whereas I used to shy away from bold colors and patterns, I now say bring 'em on and I will rock 'em!
I am not afraid to take chances and you shouldn't either. Go on, buy something that you may have shied away from a few years ago, step out of your comfort zone and strut confidently down in the aisle at Wegmans, the check out line at Target or past your bosses office.

If you imagine yourself confident and able to rule the world, everyone else will too!

There is no shortage of bold colors in stores these days. Two colors I love pairing are purple and turquoise-the combination is perfect. Here I pair my bold purple pants with this turquoise necklace and ring.

Pants - Old Navy
Shirt - The Limited, similar
Necklace and Ring - Target, similar

…C

Black is not always best

Black is slimming, black is a neutral, however black is not always best.
After the turkey and stuffing is cleared from the table, the holiday shopping season is in full effect starting with Black Friday. My sister-in-law has been asking me to go for years and this year I finally took the plunge and braved the trip. I must say overall I enjoyed the experience. I snagged some particular deals I was looking for but don't want to divulge to spoil anything that may appear under the tree. The most shocking thing I would say was the ages of people that were out. I saw everything from 1,3 5, 8, and 13 year olds~at 3:00 in the morning!! Oh well!
Anyway, I just wanted to let everyone know that today (Saturday) is Small Business Saturday or Shop Small. Don't forget to support your local businesses during this holiday season too.
Today I visited Rock, Paper Scissors Salon, Craft Company #6 - specializing in fine handmade jewelry, woodcraft, blown glass, pottery, fiber, metal arts and art. Rosies' Boutique in Schoen Place, Pittsford - women's consignment shop with labels including, Polo, J Crew, Talbots, etc. and Pittsford Wine and Spirits.

…C

#thankful

As we all know, Thursday is Thanksgiving and like everyone else I have so much to be thankful for. My children, husband, family, friends, my health, my home, my job...well you get the point. I am thankful everyday for these wonderful things in my life, I do not necessarily need Thursday November 22 to say "thanks", so this Thursday I am going to say thank you to leggings.

Due to the fact that I do not normally cook big meals, let alone cook at all, I generally over-indulge on Thanksgiving. I love turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, corn, etc, etc. So when thinking about my Thanksgiving outfit, this is what went through my mind-comfort.

I went with a basic pair of black leggings, we all can dig a pair out of a closet or drawer somewhere. These will give the perfect stretch to provide comfort throughout the day as I continue to eat. I threw on a cute but over sized sweater to, well, cover everything up. And then topped it off with the fall boots. This outfit, while simple, is serving may purposes. Allows for continued comfort as the days goes on, especially if you have to make multiple stops and eat more than one meal. It is also super comfy and cozy. Perfect for indoors or heading outdoors to watch the guys play a little Thanksgiving football out in the back yard as I sip on wine.

Easy hair- side braid, this way if you are preparing or helping to prepare the Thanksgiving meal, your hair is pulled back and will stay out of the food.

So everyone enjoy your family and friends during this holiday season and give thanks for the big and the little things.

…C

Simple Elegance

As a busy mom of 2 there are days when I feel accomplished if I can get out of the house having put a brush through my hair and without a stain on my shirt. We have all, at one point in time, felt the stress and pinch of being in a rush trying to get out the door yet still want to look presentable to the world.

Well we can all calm down, take a deep breath and without much effort or time make ourselves look fabulous every day no matter the circumstance.  Let’s coin our own phrase and call it simple elegance.
Step 1: Find everyday pieces or styles that you have and throw them on.
Step 2: Take a look at some other pieces or things that you may own but only dig them out for a special occasion.
Step 3: Add them together and viola, you look like you actually had an extra 30 minutes to read the latest Vogue magazine and put some time and thought into your look before you had to race out of the house.

Example 1: Have you ever had zero time to blow out and style your hair; or despite your best effort you were just having a bad hair day? No problem, throw your hair in a simple messy bun but add that elegance with a pop of red lipstick – 5 minutes.

Example 2: On the run, throw on a pair of your favorite jeans; pair it with a staple - the simple white t-shirt. Quick go into your jewelry box and pull out that elegant necklace that you wore once to a holiday party. Throw it on, out the door – again 5 minutes.

 

 

 

Boyfriend Jeans - Gap

Shirt - Old Navy

Coat - Old Navy

Shoes - Nine West

Necklace - Love it Local - Reckless Necklace. Local artist, Blynn Nelson is the owner and designer of these fabulous pieces. They can be purchased at The Gallery Store at The Memorial Art Gallery, Arenas Florist or at local events and festivals.

 

…C

Love it Local

I am a big proponent of supporting local businesses. I love attending local farm markets, mom and pop hardware stores, fledgling craft stores and up and coming boutiques. Each post I will try to bring you something that can be purchased at a local business. I call it love it local. After all, Rochester and the surrounding areas have a lot going on and there is a ton of cool, undiscovered talent all around. So lets love it local and tap into these businesses to support our local area entrepreneurs, artists, and the like.

 

 

…C



Trader Joe, my hero

I have always been a bit obsessive when it comes to my skin. If I had to go back and do it all over again I may be a dermatologist. When I was younger I had the typical teenage acne. Nothing major, however random breakouts were a part of my life. As an adult, I no longer experience breakouts however I just have lackluster hoe-hum skin. I lack that glow that I wish I had. Especially now as we begin to set in for a long, dark, gray, sun-deprived Rochester winter we need to get our glow back.

I have always been searching for the perfect product that will leave my skin looking and feeling great. I have spent endless time and money scouring aisles, reading labels, magazines, etc. trying to find the perfect product that leaves me feeling satisfied with my skin.

Well my friends, I think I have found just what I am looking for in Trader Joe's Vitamin E Oil. I know, I know, when I thought face and oil, I freaked. I did not want to relive teenage years embarrassed by breakouts. But I decided to take the puddle dive and give the oil a try. I tested it out for 3 weeks. Two to three nights a week, after washing my face I would put three drops of the oil into my palm and with a gentle circular motion apply it to my face.  Each morning I wake up after using it at night my skin feels as soft as a baby's bum and it just seems to have a glow. I can tell the difference waking up from nights I use it and when I don't use it.

But wait it doesn't stop there, I have found it to work great on my hair too. It repairs dry damaged hair as well as split ends if used regularly reviving lost shine and luster. In the shower, after I shampoo and condition, I rub several drops onto the ends of my hair. Shannon from Styles with Shannon told us we need to work with and not against our hair. I think your hair will give you a big thank you for giving it a drink of Vitamin E oil.

So run to Trader Joe's and pick up a bottle for just $3.99!!! Best 4 bucks I have spent in a while.

…C