Empowered Traditionalist

While I do not agree with the religious beliefs of the LDS church, I have several good friends and colleagues I respect who are mormon and we share a similar stance on modesty. Hence seeing Tami Roberts flaunt her “mormon muffins” was anything but exciting.

While confessing to remaining faithful to her mormon ideals, (i.e. modesty) Idaho mom, turned pin-up girl, models for the sexy Mormon calendar in little more than a strappy camisole.

The LDS community is rightly outraged.

Nishi Gupta of the Idaho Times rights,

Tami Roberts of Idaho Falls is one of the “Devout Dozen” in this calendar. She says it was all done in good taste but not everyone agrees. Tami loves to spend time with her girls, help them with homework and knows her way around the kitchen. She also enjoyed being a vintage pin-up girl.

A local LDS gal comments,

“I’m disappointed in the way that she’s acting and telling people that she’s LDS but she’s acting this way. I don’t think it backs up the beliefs that we have”, Anderson said. .”

Obviously, the project is not supported by the LDS church; in fact, author, Chad Hardy, was stripped of his membership after his scandalous “Men with a Mission” (2008) calendar featuring half-nude mormon men. Hardy’s slogan, “Open shirts, Open minds” just shows how distant he’s traveled from his original values.

What concerns me is the rapidity in which Hardy is recieving applications for his Calendar project. The L.A Times reports:

After the first “Men on a Mission,” Hardy got more than 100 applications from Mormons eager to appear in the next calendar, many from men who understood its intended message.

“I don’t believe in perpetuating myths or stereotypes,” one wrote. “I believe in breaking them, overcoming them and yes — even parodying them. That’s what is so great about this calendar! It parodies that square, asexual box of what a ‘Mormon’ is supposed to be.”

When faced with awkward issues like this, it’s important to remember- true modesty springs from a heart that is committed to honoring God first. Kudos to the men and women who have protested this calendar and all that it represents regardless of your religious stance.

____________

Read the Articles:

KTVB, Idaho

NBC, Washington

LA Times

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Would you wear it?

Not so sure how I feel about plaid.

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Check out our interview with the Columbian!

A year before “Mad Men’s” Betty Draper and Joan Holloway first sauntered onto television screens in pencil skirts and curve-accentuating dresses, Salmon Creek designer Christa Taylor was building an eponymous clothing line spotlighting those same looks. The underlying philosophy behind the clothes in “Mad Men,” set in the 1960s, and Christa Taylor’s line is that it’s possible to emphasize a woman’s hourglass shape and be sexy while leaving something to the imagination.

Taylor started building her women’s clothing line right after completing high school in 2006. She launched her online clothing store, christa-taylor.com, in January 2007.

Her clothes are inspired by 1950s and ’60s icons such as Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Lucille Ball, Doris Day, Audrey Hepburn and Barbara Billingsley as June Cleaver.

Taylor, who was home-schooled, started designing because she was frustrated by the lack of fashionable, feminine yet modest clothing options available.

“I want to feel classy, sophisticated and chic without feeling that half my chest is exposed,” Continue Reading »

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Some of you know my sister and mega-blogger, Lindsay Edmonds (Passsionate Homemaking). Through a series of events we were both featured in the Washington Columbian in the span of 2 weeks. ET’s are making a difference!

Read the Article in the Columbian from Today’s Paper

Some exerts ,

Taylor started building her women’s clothing line right after completing high school in 2006. She launched her online clothing store, christa-taylor.com, in January 2007.

Her clothes are inspired by 1950s and ’60s icons such as Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Lucille Ball, Doris Day, Audrey Hepburn and Barbara Billingsley as June Cleaver.

Taylor, who was home-schooled, started designing because she was frustrated by the lack of fashionable, feminine yet modest clothing options available.

“I want to feel classy, sophisticated and chic without feeling that half my chest is exposed,” the 22-year-old designer said. Sitting against a rack of her label’s dresses and skirts in her family’s home office, Taylor embodies that ideal with what she’s wearing. A black pencil skirt from Nordstrom paired with a polka-dot blouse and pin-striped vest from her own line, accented with faux-snake skin heels from Goodwill, create a flattering silhouette without revealing much skin.

Taylor’s rules for her line dictate no skirts above the knee and no dresses or tops that need to be layered under something more substantial (e.g., no lingerie-inspired camisoles).

“We created a line that is feminine and beautiful without compromising self-respect and dignity,” she said. “We’re catering to young women who do not want to cave to fashion fads that exploit them.”

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I’ve wanted to do street interviews on this topic for months, but lack the time.
So, in the meantime, you are the guinea pigs.

How Would You Define Feminine or femininity?
(i.e. what comes to mind? )

Secondly:

Give one reason why women should ENJOY being feminine.

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Alright! the final step to the simple 1-2-3 before bed system that will change the world as your face knows it!!!

1. Cleanse    2. Tone     3. Moisturize

Following these first two steps with moisturizer is the completing act to a healthier face!

Moisturizers: Prevent and treat dry skin, protect sensitive skin, improve skin tone and texture, and can help mask imperfections.

Application: After applying toner, let stand for about 5-10 seconds and apply moisturizer to fingers. Try not to work the product too much in your hand before applying it to your face as this will break down the product, making it less effective. Proceed by applying the product first to the upper chest and neck (use upward sweeping motions) and continue up the face working the jaw and chin, the cheeks, and finally the forehead. I like this order of application as it prevents my applying too much moisture to the forehead area, which is usually supplied daily with more oil than the rest of your face. You may make a swipe around the eyes, although a facial moisturizer can be a little too heavy for the tender skin there, (this can cause puffiness and sagging) so i recommend using an eye specific cream.

NOTE: Some things to be aware of as you use your moisturizer; the most effective and safe moisturizers should have a lockable top such as a lid that twists to a closed position, or a pump with a lid to cover it when not in use. However, if it be in a tub like container (which many night creams are as they are of a thicker consistency) always use a spatula to remove the product. All of these methods help prevent bacteria growth and prolong the shelf life of the product.

Remember that with all products you are not just looking to “moisturize” the skin, as with this step, but to feed the skin what it needs with appropriate ingredients!   (can’t wait for that post!!)

~Maresah~

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“A modest woman dressed out in all her finery is the most tremendous object of the whole creation.” – Oliver Goldsmith

Wouldn’t it be nice if we had buckets of cash to expend on our wardrobe? I wouldn’t mind a new Prada bag, in fact I could go for a Balenciaga gown for my next cocktail event.   ::chuckle::

I have good news for you.

Expense does not assure good taste, nor is “good” taste necessarily expensive to acquire. It’s an accepted fact in the fashion world that many of America’s best-dressed women do not have the most expensive wardrobes–and that some of America’s worst-dressed women are those who spend thousands on clothes that couldn’t be more wrong.

So never delude yourself into being the poor little match girl with your nose  pressed sadly against an out-of reach price tag whimpering that life would be beautiful–if you only had the money.

_______

Sources:Anne Fogarty, Wife Dressing: The Fine Art of Being a Well-Dressed Wife

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On to the next step of those important moments before you go to sleep tonight!!

After Cleansing: 

Tone! A toner refers to a lotion or wash designed to cleanse the skin and shrink the pores. To be honest, many people either do not know about this step or simply don’t think it is necessary. I, however, have found that using a toner makes a wonderful difference in how much moisturizer is used and the reduction of redness in the skin.

Application:     1) Spray directly onto the face with a spritz top nozzle on the bottle.
2) Apply to a damp cotton round, then onto the face.

One form of toner is a freshener –
These are the mildest form of toners; they contain virtually no alcohol (0-10%), water, and a humectant such as glycerine. Humectants help to keep the moisture in the upper layers of the epidermis by preventing it from evaporating. A popular example of this is Rosewater. These toners are the kindest to skin, and are most suitable for use on dry, dehydrated, sensitive and normal skins.

Another form is a Tonic –
These are slightly stronger and contain a small quantity of alcohol (up to 20%), water and a humectant ingredient. Orange flower water is an example of a skin tonic. Skin tonics are suitable for use on normal, combination, and oily skin.

Another form are Astringents –
These are the strongest form of toner and contain a high proportion of alcohol (20-60%), antiseptic ingredients, water, and a humectant ingredient. These are commonly recommended for oily skin types as they are drying, but NOTE that the removal of oil from the skin can lead to excess oil production as the skin tries to compensate for the lack of natural moisture left on the skin. (a little oil is natural and healthy). Witch Hazel is an example of an astringent.  To prevent dehydration, astringent is best applied only to problem areas of skin, such as blemishes.

As toner is formulated to shrink the pores to retain moisture, it is somewhat drying because of this. Therefore, always moisturize afterward(which we will talk about later as our next step)!!

~maresah~

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Trusted Skin Care Companies:

Aveda:
Has a skin care line to target every skin type, along with a wide range of daily, weekly, and monthly specialty care. I have many masks and facial products from Aveda and have only wonderful things to say about them. I definitely like how their packaging is NOT gender specific so gentlemen are comfortable using it as well. Products are available in Aveda product stores and salons as well as the internet.

Pangea Organics:
Every product explains what natural ingredients make up the product and what it does. Very interesting and helpful! I am currently using some of these products and have absolutely loved them! I have not found a store that sells this line, but it is available via internet ordering.
(See their: “very natural”  line)

Arbonne:
Products range from teen focused skin care to the very mature. Generally you must order through a consultant with this line as it is not sold in stores, (contact me if you would like to get in touch with a consultant) or you may order via internet.

Jafra:
Carries a wide range of facial products targeting every skin type from baby to teen to mature. I have and do personally use the Royal Jelly products from this line and have found instant benefits from it! love it! This line, as well, is generally ordered through a consultant as it is not sold in stores (contact me if you would like to get in touch with a consultant) although you can order via internet.

Well, there is some information for you all to munch on for the week!! As i said in the beginning, my goal is to educate on matters of the body in a relatable and understandable way, so as i break down information i will also give more references to check out and easy step lists to follow: )

Stay in touch for next week’s goals as we move on to the next steps of caring for your facial skin (Toning and Moisturizing)!! For as i hope you all know, its just not enough to wipe down with soap!

~Maresah~

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What skin type are you? 

Severely dry, flaking, or very mature skin: you’re going to want to use a cream based cleanser. This type of cleanser does not suds up and is formulated to hydrate while cleansing.

Normal to oily/dry skin: you’re going to want to use a foaming or gel cleanser. This type of cleanser is formulated to prevent too much moisture from staying on the skin while offering effective cleansing properties.

Sensitive skin: you’re going to want to use a cleanser that targets your most obvious issue, if that be oiliness or dryness, choose a cleanser which still targets the issue, but more gentle. (many companies do not carry a “sensitive” line per say, but some do) if you suffer from consistent redness, or common allergies to fragrances or astringents, just do a little research and find whats right for you.

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