Empowered Traditionalist

I first met Joy at a wedding we were both in. I was struck by her warmth and humility. We kept in contact for about 2 years, and started to meet more frequently over the past 2 months.

It all came together when my other modeling couple fell through. “Oh no, now what? I have all these deadlines centered around this photo-shoot- i can’t miss this!” I called Joy the day before- and her and Tyler agreed! Saved the day!

We’ll hear from them shortly- but for now, it’s enough to know- They love each other, and they love Jesus.

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Melaluca Alternifolia, otherwise known as Tea tree oil, is an incredible plant native to Australia.

I’m sure you’ve all heard about Tea tree having some sort of healing properties, but haven’t really known how it works or exactly when to use it, right? Well let me just give you a few (ok kind of alot) of ways to use this amazing product!! To answer a couple questions first, Tea Tree acts as a natural antiseptic, muscle and sensory stimulant, and helps build the immune system, if used correctly.  Literally, Tea tree could be your knew best friend!

Dental hygiene!!

sore gums?   bad breath?  Excessive plaque?  well, try 1 drop of tea tree with your toothpaste right before you brush. Also, looking for a cheap mouthwash that works??….mix 3 drops of tea tree per 1 cup of water. Only use diluted TT oil in your mouth and be sure to rinse thoroughly with fresh water afterwards.

DO NOT SWALLOW!! Although this is an outstandingly effective and natural product, it does have side effects if misused, such as immune suppression, diarrhea, excessive drowsiness, and the possibility of slipping into a comma. So PLEASE, if using Tea Trea in the mouth, be smart about it.

 Body Care!!

Athletes foot?  warts?   yeast infection?  eczema/psoriasis?  Acne?  Burns?  Scrapes? Poison Ivy?  Dandruff?  Ticks?

Any one of these can be temporarily or even permanently treated with Tea Tree oil.

Most of the time, all you have to do is add a few drops of Tea Tree oil to whatever you are currently using to treat the issue at hand. Pretty simple I’ll say.

Dandruff:  5-10 drops in your regular shampoo

Acne: 3 drops in your regular face was. Tea Tree also reduces redness…so after extractions, appy a small amount to each effected area.

Removing ticks: apply directly on the tick

Arthritis or sore muscles: massage directly onto painful area.

Tea Tree is really a fantastic product that is easy to use and extremely effective!! if you don’t already have it in your home, YOU SHOULD!!!

Where to get it: Whole Foods, Aveda, Fred Meyer. The best kind would be in glass brown bottles (to protect the product). They are usually pretty small, as it is an oil, and not much is necessary.

I’m a HUGE advocate of Tea Tree oil and hope you will be after trying it!!

~ Maresah ~

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This is cute, really cute. The blouse is a bit low, (on me, it would not be modest).

Like it? Hate it ?

The long feminine skirt is anchored by the bold geometric stripes on top. I think the mix of the vintage skirt and contemporary pattern is dynamic. To bring it into Fall, I would add a blazer and pumps.

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This is not necessarily a ‘How To’ topic, but it is a great subject….very intriguing. And as we are heading into the somewhat sunless fall and winter months, the need to keep that sun kissed look weighs heavily on our minds. Here are some things i found interesting about the subject…

Tanning booths verses direct sunlight.  After some heavy research, I have to say that exposure is exposure.

Many tanning salons claim to block out most all UVA rays “the Aging rays” from the sun, and filter the UVB rays “the Burning rays” from the sun.  Although, what people don’t realize, is that the rays in a tanning booth are about two to three times as strong as those directly from our sun. Hence, why you only have to go for about 8 to 12 minutes as apposed to laying beside the pool anywhere from 20 to 60 minutes. So the point in this case, is after the salon has “blocked out the UVA” and “filtered the UVB” you’re still getting the same, if not still more damage from the booth as you would just being outside!

Also, ever heard that you CAN’T get skin cancer if you tan in a booth?  Soooo false!!! the risk is actually just the same if not more, due to the intense localization of the light rays. Its crazy to look at some statistical studies….

Some links to check out:

-Customers Questioning

-Tanning Info Center

-Commercial Tanning vs.Sunbathing

basically my philosophy is “all things, if you must have them, in moderation!”

also, you will hear me talk soon about daily facial moisturizers with SPF …not a bad idea to get yourself one! Guys included!! it not only helps protect your skin against daily pollutants, but also daily light that effects your skin even through those fall overcast skies!!

~maresah~

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How to Syle a Patterned Dress?

Simple Accessories.

Stay tuned for more casual patterned looks!

Sources:

Style Bakery

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When Anne Fogarty, (one of my personal heroes) first published her book in 1957, I don’t think she realized the impact it would make on the generations to come.

Here I am, 50 years later,  reading the advice from a former fashion designer who knew well the art of dressing with modesty and panache.

Our lesson from Fogarty (inspired by the soggy drizzle outside) is “Be Prepared”.

Secrets for Success:

The Prepared woman Thinks ahead

Will you be away all day? All evening? Is it going to rain? Get very warm? Will you be sitting on the grass or walking your feet off? Continue Reading »

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What’s it like to feel like your brain is a blank slate?

Well, I can tell you, because mine feels pretty much squeaky clean right now. It feels cloudy, mushy, and something like an inebriated old vegetable.

I have a huge mound of work to do, but where to start? Ever wonder how a whole day goes by without the pile diminishing? …at all?

Do:

-Write a list. Even put the small things on there like “Tidy Bedroom” or “Burn Cd of Pics”. If you accomplish something that wasn’t on your list, write it down- then cross it off. It’s important to feel that accomplishment. (My mentor told me this, and she’s a project manager…it really works)

-Feared Things First. This would include all the icky, awkward or plain bothersome tasks. This varies per woman. If you’re like me, you put the things you don’t like at the bottom of your list- wrongo. Note to self: Put Fabric Sourcing at the top of my list

-Break down your Tasks into Action Steps. See example below My list says, Source Fabric for 2010. Action steps are listed beneath,

Source Fabric for 2010

-Find Fabric Guide

-Clip pages with correct fabric

-Call 5 of the 10 listings

-Request samples

-Shake off the cloudies by touching your toes ten times. The shooting pain sensation works every time.;)

-Schedule all your errands on one day. Sounds simple right? Huh. When I pull out my calendar, I feel like I need battle armor to go with it. I shoot half my day if I have an errand in the middle of it. Note to self: Must work on getting all my Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday appointments on the same day.

-Don’t:

-expect to get everything done. This is the number one pitfall of womankind. We are maniacal at getting things done, but there is always one more load of laundry, 1 more stack of invoices, or 1 more project left unfinished.

-Try to do 3 things at once. Unless your an octopus, it really doesn’t work out so well.

-Go on Facebook. Facebook is a productivity killer.

-Listen to the little voice saying your getting overwhelmed. She’s lying.

-Put off to tomorrow, what could be done today. If you have time, do it. Maybe we should come up with some clever motto.  or not.

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Free shipping, today only, on your purchase of two or more items.

Use coupon code: FFriday at checkout

NOTE: All sales are final on FF purchases, shipping deducted after purchase.

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Seems pretty simple right? well, it could be if you knew all the things that make this situation go wrong!

so, i’ll make this a simple 1, 2, 3…..4 stepper : )

1) SWIRL! the wand in the tube! pumping the wand causes air to get trapped in the tube and therefore produces unnecessary drying and, as we all know what happens after that, flaky, clumpy mascara…..ewww.

step 2) Start with the weaker side! It never fails that one side looks better than the other, right? Well try starting with your weak side (like if you’re right-handed, do the left eyelashes first) it will then be much easier to manipulate your strong side to match!

step 3) Apply to TOP lashes first! Start with the top lashes of one eye then proceed to apply remaining mascara on the lower lashes of that eye before re-swirling the wand to avoid excess product on those tender hairs.  THEN, re-swirl the wand and apply to the other side.

step 4) Wiggle don’t flick! this change of motion will help give a much more clean look, and help prevent missing the lashes and smearing the skin. Start at the outer edge base of the lashes and wiggle side to side as you sweep up to the tips. continue working your way towards the center. Same goes for the bottom lashes. Starting with the outer edge, work towards the center, wiggling base to tip.  For a fuller look, reapply a second coat. Although, you should find that by wiggling, you will apply more product than with flicking, and therefore should be able to avoid having to apply a second coat.

Give this a try and let me know any differences you find!!

~ Maresah ~

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So many questions in one week! I’m surprised you havn’t ditched us yet.

We want to shoot some of our new Fall line this weekend.

Because of some Weather conflicts (Why does it rain so much here?) it looks like I’ll have to post-pone the shoot a day. Meaning, I don’t have my models anymore.

Cue subs-

We have 2 options -1) Adorable Husband/Wife duo  or 2) Adorable Father/Daughter duo

What do you think? Should we shoot a couple or a Father/daughter?

Help me decide!

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