Still, I thought you guys might wanna hit up the following:

• Use the code REPEAT2012 and get $15 off a full size bottle of perfume from A Perfume Organic. Green sounds like my kind of scent.
• Check out this post on caren’s  blog, which includes helpful tips concerning which ingredients to avoid in your sunscreen and which foods may protect your skin from the sun. Sup, dark chocolate?
• Take it from the queen of crusty elbows: this cornmeal scrub is worth trying.
• Who knew coffee filters could be so useful?

I’m off to study, nap, and then repeat. Wish me luck!

I won the sparrow and bird’s nest necklaces, the blue rose earrings, and the cozy organic cowl in a giveaway on Sandy’s lovely blog. The sparrow necklace and the rose earrings are from Sassy Lemonade; the cowl and nest necklace are from Melody Joy 1983. And can I just say that the cowl is one of the softest things I’ve ever felt? It’s a dream. The heart ring and earrings are from Kirby, and the poppy ring is from my sweet sister Erika. Each of those pieces came from Punky Bunny Designs.

Where is your favorite place to shop for jewelry and/or accessories?

]]> http://turbyandjohn.com/2012/04/17/a-few-of-my-favorite-things/feed/ 6 http://turbyandjohn.com/2012/03/13/five-finds-babies-on-the-brain/ http://turbyandjohn.com/2012/03/13/five-finds-babies-on-the-brain/#comments Tue, 13 Mar 2012 14:00:41 +0000 Dawn http://dawnandkirby.porchswingmedia.com/?p=4070 I’m 22 and still have a little over a year left of college. After that I hope to work and travel for a good 5 years before even thinking about being responsible for a tiny human (sometimes my dogs are enough to give me a headache, and all I do is bathe and feed them). However, most of my friends are several years older than I am and are in an entirely different stage of their lives. Since I’ve been to my fair share of baby showers lately, I’ve come across a few sweet gift ideas. I thought I’d share them with you guys today, in case you or your friends are planning on makin’ babies anytime soon (or even if you’re not…sometimes babies happen regardless. I did).

Because babies get stinky too.

These organic hooded towels are too sweet to beat.

Waxelene is great for diaper rash.

An organic cotton tiger onesie: for the coolest baby alive.

Finger puppets, y’all!

Sources: Wash, Towels, Waxelene, Shirt, Puppets.

Some days I’m too lazy to bother with wetting my hair. It’s on these days that dry shampoo comes in especially handy!

Ingredients (provided at skinnyskinny.com)- “Cornstarch*, brown rice powder*, white clay, horsetail powder*, baking soda, orris root powder*, essential oils *certified organic”

This product receives a low hazard score of 1 in the preliminary report I created for it in the Cosmetics Database.  The unspecified oils are the only ingredient with a hazard score above a 2.

Some great things about this product:

1. It’s free of parabens, petrochemicals, artificial fragrance and sulfates.

2. It’s made with organic ingredients.

3. It’s vegan cruelty-free.

Product Description(provided at skinnyskinny.com)- “These organic dry shampoos are, well, amazing. They are so easy to use and so effective that it’s not uncommon to go 3 days in between washings and all the while, your hair will look healthy and not at all oily. Besides, it’s simply not good to wash your hair every day, either. Plus, it’s time-consuming to wash, dry and style your hair day after day after day. Really, isn’t there something else you’d rather be doing? And if that’s not enough, these shampoos actually give your hair an awesome texture that doesn’t require as much styling products to have volume. In short, we LOVE these dry shampoos.

To use: Just sprinkle (or dust with a powder brush) along the roots of your hair, wait a few minutes, and then comb through. That’s it. You’re done. Now go enjoy your free time, dang it!”

Price-  $9 for a 1 oz. travel size and $32 for 4.5 oz.

Performance- I actually ordered the Lavender and Rosemary Dry Shampoo, so imagine my surprise when I opened the Amazon box to find an entirely different scent. Fortunately, jasmine would have been my second choice, and the scent is nothing short of lovely (see below). As far as the cleaning/oil absorbing ability of this product, I find that it works just fine if you use twice to three times as much as you think you should.  Since I’m a sucker for products that last forever, this isn’t ideal. I’d also suggest not using this dry shampoo on hair that has product buildup; I made this mistake the first few times I used it, and it caused my hair to look flat and feel pretty weighed down.

Scent- The scent is by far my favorite aspect of this product. It’s floral and just the dreamiest.

Rating-  I’m subtracting 1 point for the price and another since a little of this product does not go a long way. 8/10

Yeah yeah yeah, I get it. Vaseline is a miracle worker. The uses are endless. I’ve heard it all before, and I even moisturized with it once or twice before I knew any better. Unfortunately, as versatile as that little guy may be, it’s petroleum jelly…meaning it’s a petrochemical. That’s a big deal breaker for me (regardless of the differing opinions on the matter), and it isn’t doing any favors for the environment either. Why on earth would we want to coat our skin in something that has to be heavily and carefully refined to be even moderately safe?

So now that I’ve made perfectly clear my distaste for petroleum jelly, let me tell you guys about its safer, fancier, and all around more awesome competition: Waxelene.

Ingredients (provided at waxelene.com- ”organic soy oil, beeswax, natural vitamin e oil, organic rosemary oil.”

The preliminary report I created for this product in the Cosmetics Database gives it a low, low hazard score of 0. There are no individual ingredients with hazard scores above 2.

Here’s what the Waxelene website has to say about each of its carefully chosen ingredients:

“Organic Soybean Oil- Non-hydrogenated, non-GMO, and of the absolute highest quality, our certified-organic soy oil is full of anti-oxidants, soy isoflavones, and unsaturated fatty acids. Fatty acids are extremely important in maintaining and restoring the health and the balance of the skin. Anti-oxidants such as Vitamin E and Vitamin B complex are fantastic for helping to keep the skin naturally beautiful and to prevent the development of wrinkles. Soy isoflavones such as Genisten help to increase the firmness, elasticity, and suppleness of skin.

100% Natural Beeswax-Our natural beeswax locks in moisture, which protects, softens and regenerates skin. Beeswax also provides superior and lasting chafe/friction prevention for sports such as running and surfing as well as restrictive clothing/diapers, etc. We use only unbleached raw beeswax so it retains all of its beneficial natural qualities. It is naturally anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant. According to the Food and Agriculture Association (FAO), “even small quantities show effects of improvement…”. The Mayo clinic recommends balms made from beeswax for prevention and care of chapped lips. It has been used in skin balms for centuries because it works beautifully.

Organic Rosemary Oil- A touch of Certified Organic, non-GMO Rosemary Oil rejuvenates skin by providing natural anti-oxidant properties and improves blood circulation. It also works as a natural preservative and anti-bacterial for Waxelene without having to use synthetic preservatives like parabens.

100% Natural Vitamin E Oil- Distilled from non-GMO soybeans, our natural unrefined Vitamin E oil (also known as mixed tocopherols) is wonderful for the skin. We don’t use synthetic Vitamin E such as Tocopherol Acetate. Its renowned anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties help to protect and regenerate skin cells.”

Some great things about this product:

1. It’s free of parabens, petrochemicals, GMOs; you name it!

2. It contains organic ingredients.

3. It’s cruelty-free.

4. The glass jar will fit right in with my growing collection.

5. It’s eco-friendly and biodegradable (see above: reduce, reuse, recycle)!

Product Description(provided at waxelene.com)-

“USE WAXELENE FOR:

• Anything you would use petroleum jelly for and more!
• Skin moisturizing, protection, and lubrication - lips, feet – anywhere!
• Protection from chafing, friction, and wind burn - jogging, biking, volleyball, etc.
• Make-up & removal - add extra gloss to lips/face or remove make-up the healthy way.
• Soothing chapped, dry skin (Eczema & Psoriasis)
• Reducing diaper irritation - babies love Waxelene!
• Aftershave for face/legs etc.
• Wetsuit rash prevention - won’t deteriorate wetsuit and no petroleum in the water!
• Hair - thick texture aids in styling while moisturizing and nourishing
• After Sun
• Hands - relieving drying effects from repeated hand washings or doing dishes
• Tons of other creative household and cosmetic uses”

Price- $6.99 for a 2 oz. jar or $15.99 for a 9 oz. jar (not too shabby, considering the endless uses listed above and below)

Performance- I probably couldn’t say enough positive things about Waxelene if I tried, but I’ll go ahead and give it a shot. I’ve managed to find a new and helpful use for it each day since I received it, and my skin has truly improved in each area it has been applied.

In addition to the many uses listed above, I’ve found this product particularly useful in the following areas:

• Lips-I’m particularly partial to a generous application before bed and a light coat underneath my W311 People Universalist Multi-Use Stick (mixing the two results in a pretty, natural tint that I’ve yet to achieve otherwise).
• Eyebrows- These furry monsters, especially the left one, can get a little out of control every now and again. A swipe of Waxelene on each one before heading out the door and they’re tame, dark, and decidedly fierce.
• Elbows and knees-The four most neglected areas of my body appreciate it the most.
• Inner Thighs, Breasts, Hips- Nothing is a complete miracle worker for puberty’s few remaining stretch marks, but this stuff (with its regenerative beeswax and vitamin E) certainly can’t hurt!

Scent- It has the faint, pleasant scent of rosemary. Think slightly sweet and a little green.

Rating- I wouldn’t dream of giving this product anything lower than a 10.

Bath time is probably my favorite time of all, so I needed very little convincing when Justin from Simply Bath Salts contacted me about reviewing one of their products. After checking out their various scents and consistently impressive ingredients, I decided to go with the Clary Sage. I think it’s safe to say that I made a solid choice. : )

Ingredients (provided at simplybathsalts.com)- “Atlantic Sea salt, Dead Sea salt, Epsom Salt, organic Jojoba oil, organic Clary Sage (Salvia sclarea) essential oil.”

Some great things about this product:

1. It’s made from just 5 ingredients, all of which are familiar and safe.

2. It contains organic ingredients.

Product Description(provided at simplybathsalts.com)- “Clary Sage bath salt infuses your bath with over a dozen pure essential minerals through a rich combination of Atlantic Sea salt, Epsom salt, and Dead Sea salt. Aromatic Clary Sage oil is said to be a sedative and balancing* while organic Jojoba oil offers an all natural source of vitamin E. Both of these oils are Oregon Tilth certified organic to ensure no pesticides or chemicals make it into your bath. Clary Sage bath salt carries a musky scent, almost nutty, and heavy. It blends well with cedarwood, geranium, and lavender. Our bath salts work to restore vital nutrients and rehydrate the skin in a 100% natural way that won’t leave you feeling sticky or greasy.”

Price- $12.99 for one 24 oz heat sealed package

Performance- As the directions suggested, I added one cup of bath salts to the tub while the water was still running. The results? Soft skin and an especially relaxing bath. Oh, bath salts. You are a girl’s best friend.

Scent- These bath salts really do smell like a dream. The scent is rich (but not overpowering), relaxing and it’s neither too feminine nor too masculine. Kirby and I both love it!

Rating- 10/10. I have no complaints.

The Omega Daily Moisturizer is the last Sophyto product I’ll be reviewing for now. I’ve enjoyed this brand a great deal, though, so I have a feeling you’ll see it again on the blog soon.  : )

Ingredients (provided at sophyto.com)- “aqua (spring water), *simondsia californica (jojoba) seed oil, cetearyl alcohol, *butyrosperum parkii (karite) fruit butter, *helianthus annus (sunflower) seed oil, *daucus carota sativa (carrot) root extract, sodium stearoyl lactylate, glyceryl stearate, *oenothera biennis (evening primrose) seed oil, *punica granatum (pomegranate) seed oil, *rubus idaeus (raspberry) seed oil, *cera alba (beeswax), *aloe barbadensis (aloe vera) leaf juice powder, levulinic acid, sodium dehydroacetate, lecithin, *paeonia lactiflora (white peony) flower extract, *rosa damascena (rose) flower extract, glycerin, tocopherol, *guar gum, xanthum gum, *alcohol denat, sodium hydroxide, citric acid  *Organic, 90% of the agricultural ingredients are produced organically”

The preliminary report I created for this product in the Cosmetics Database gives it a hazard score of 3. The only ingredient with a hazard score above a 2 is lecithin.

However, as Ishtar pointed out, “lecithin is listed as moderately toxic despite the fact that it is known to be a safe emollient. Yes, it is derived from soy and it is also a penetration enhancer but the rating is the same whether it comes from a GM-Free source or not, or whether or not toxic ingredients are used along with the lecithin.”

Some great things about this product:

1. It’s free of parabens and artificial fragrance/colors.

2. It contains organic ingredients.

3. It’s cruelty-free and vegan.

Product Description(provided at sophyto.com)- “Ultrahydrating, lightweight formula with ingredients that help reduce the appearance of fine lines and improve skin’s elasticity. Optimum levels of nourishing fatty acids and deep hydrating agents maintain a supple, smoother looking complexion. AWARD FINALIST “Best Eco Beauty Finalist” 2011 CEW Awards. Always guaranteed to be free from artificial fragrance, colors, fillers and parabens. pH 5 for normal skin range.”

Price- around $45 for a 50 ml bottle.

Performance- This product was hydrating and lightweight and everything I could hope for in a moisturizer. I have no complaints. However, my love for the Super Skin Concentrate ultimately overshadowed this little guy.

Scent- It honestly doesn’t have much of a scent.

Rating- I’m subtracting half a point for the hazard score of 2 and another since $45 is more than I’d usually spend on a moisturizer.

The third product up for review from Sophyto’s Daily Skin Rejuvenation Collection is the Multivitamin Facial Serum. Here we go!

Ingredients (provided at sophyto.com)- “Aqua (spring water), glycerin, beta-glucan, sodium stearoyl lactylate, sodium hyaluronate, *arctium lappa (burdock) root extract, *taraxacum officinale (dandelion) root extract, *aloe barbadensis (aloe vera) leaf juice powder, levulinic acid, potassium sorbate, glyceryl stearate, *alcohol denat, *yeast extract, tocopherol acetate (Vitamin E), tocopherol, ubiquinone (Coenzyme Q10), ascorbyl palmitate (Vitamin C-Ester), thiamine HCl (Vitamin B1), pyridoxine (Vitamin B6), sodium hydroxide *Organic, 92% of the agricultural ingredients are produced organically”

The preliminary report I created for this product in the Cosmetics Database gives it a low hazard score of 2. The only individual ingredients with hazard scores above a 2 are tocopheryl acetate and potassium sorbate.

Some great things about this product:

1. It’s free of parabens and artificial fragrance/colors.

2. It contains organic ingredients.

3. It’s cruelty-free and vegan.

Product Description(provided at sophyto.com)- “Vitamins and minerals are essential for healthy skin and can be applied topically to help reduce the effects of aging. This silicon-free, vitamin-enriched serum includes CoQ10, Vitamin C Ester, B1, B6 and sodium hyaluronate to help promote a healthier, softer looking complexion and eye area. To optimize results, we have included a high quality NATURAL ORIGIN CoQ10 (trans-isomer) which is fermented from yeast and identical to our body’s own CoQ10, making it benefical for most skin issues associated with nutritional deficiencies. AWARD FINALIST “Best Eco Beauty Finalist” 2011 CEW Awards. Always guaranteed to be free from artificial fragrance, colors, fillers and parabens. pH 4.8 for normal skin range.”

Price- around $45 for a 30 ml bottle.

Performance- After cleansing with the Glycolic Foaming Cleanser and following with the Marine Peptide Brightening Treatment, I applied this serum sparingly to my face with clean hands. It seemed to dry pretty quickly without leaving any sticky residue, and I felt like it did a great job of softening my skin and preparing it for the next step (which I’ll be reviewing tomorrow). I was/am impressed, and I’m also pretty bummed out that I’ve already managed to use it all.

Scent- It smells like vitamins and waffles, which is a surprisingly enticing combination.

Rating- I subtracted .5 for the hazard score of 2 and another .5 since I’m not accustomed to spending $45 on skincare products, but this serum definitely earned the remaining 9 points.

Wanna see what I got?

I haven’t shampooed my hair in months, and it’s definitely healthier for it. Still, I can always get on board with something that will make my hair smell like something other than…hair. That’s my one complaint with using only baking soda: it smells like nothing at all.

Either none of my friends or family can take a hint, or a neti pot isn’t an appropriate gift. Either way, I finally bought myself one that isn’t raggedy and plastic.  As long I stick to distilled water, I won’t have to worry about the elusive brain amoeba.

I have a feeling this book is gonna rock my world.

I guess I can finally stop stealing Danielle’s. Also my hair will thank me for this.

A few drops of this + argan oil = the perfect moisturizer. Danielle taught me this.

Learning is fun, y’all!

Dry Shampoo, Neti Pot, Book 1, Argan Oil, Essential Oil, Book 2.

I’ll be reviewing and/or discussing my experiences with all of the above very soon.

from Danielle:

From left to right and top to bottom- Rock Sugar, Bar Soap, Mustard Bath, Teavana Tea.

The soap, sugar, and teas smell like a dream, and I cannot wait to use that mustard bath.

and Kirby:

L to R & T to B- Skin Tea, Glass Teapot, Glass Kettle, Stress Tea.

Kirby knows that I tend to get stressed, particularly when my skin is misbehaving, so he bought me a tea to address each problem. He also got me a new glass kettle since my old one cracked and a cordless, electric kettle that is way too awesome.

Is there someone in your life who always knows just what to get you?