All Natural Beauty Routine

It's been about a month since my 31st birthday -- which included a wonderful weekend full of celebrating -- and we are settling into a new back-to-school routine with 3 half-days of preschool for both children. 31 feels pretty good and, honestly, a lot more comfortable than 30 did. I guess I'm just still getting used to the idea of being in my thirties. The teens are long gone, but the twenties were so good... sometimes it's hard to let go! I'm not so worried about the passage of my youth, so to speak, as I am about the recognition that every day is a gift, at any age, and I want to enjoy it to the fullest extent.

But time passes, and things change, and generally that's a good thing. I am grateful for the blessings that the passage of time has brought into my life, and look forward to welcoming another new little "change" come late November. I'm counting down the weeks until baby girl's birth (hoping for an early arrival....before Thanksgiving) and attempting to predict just how much everything will change again once another little life joins our family. I'm a creature of habit, and routine is my jam these days. Throw a little change into the mix, and things can go haywire for a while. But that's the nature of life, and I'm learning to trust my anticipation/anxiety of change to the God who does not change (James 1:17).

But one thing I am really excited about changing up these days is my beauty routine. In different phases of my life, I've had varying degrees of interest in all-natural/organic/home-grown/etc. alternatives to the mass-produced products available on the market today -- from food and health products, to clothing and home goods, as well as beauty and self-care items. I've learned a lot about the toxins we are exposed to these days, even in the most standard of daily-use items. Lately, I've felt it's worth a little digging to discover ways of keeping things healthier and safer for myself and my family. So, for my 31st birthday, I decided to give myself the gift of a new, non-toxic beauty routine.

By researching items using the Skin Deep® Cosmetics Database and the app Think Dirty, I've come up with a new set of makeup that I feel completely comfortable wearing on a regular basis knowing that the nontoxic ingredients are not contributing to potential negative health impact. Both databases rate products based on overall hazard levels, including carcinogenicity, developmental/reproductive toxicity, allergies and immunotoxicity, and other use restrictions. If you read through the listing of ingredients used in every day products, it's scary how much potentially harmful junk is included! Identifying for beauty items that are paraben-free, sans sulfates and other preservatives or potentially toxic chemicals has gotten a lot easier with the help of these tools! I've been contemplating this switch for a while, and I knew it would be an investment, but I was also able to find several products that are both natural and affordable. I don't wear makeup every day anyway, and when I do, I tend to prefer a natural look, so this was more about finding products that would work best with my skin tone and even do double-duty for everyday, as well as the occasional "glam" wear.

From top left, clockwise:

• HAN Eye Shadow (Taupey Plum) - $13.00
• HAN Cheek & Lip Tint (Rose Berry) - $14.00
• BeautyCounter Tint Skin (Porcelain) - $41.00
• Physicians Formula Organic Wear Mascara - $7.48
• BeautyCounter Color Outline Eyeliner (Violet) - $23.00
• PuroBio Brow Pencil (28 - Dark Taupe) - $14.00

I also received as a gift a fantastic all-natural lip gloss by Au Naturale that is the perfect shade for adding a little glam. I really like when items have a "tool" incorporated, like the brush on the brown pencil, and the smudge stick on the eyeliner. Makes me feel like I'm getting my money's worth! I've also been using Pacifica Alight Mineral BB Cream when I want a little more foundation coverage in combination with the BeautyCounter Skin Tint, and have a few other options on my wish list to try for base/foundation options (Pacifica Ultra Radiant Cream Foundation, Juice Beauty SPF 30 Tinted Moisturizer, Benecos Flawless Face Foundation). I'm also still looking for a neutral/shimmer eye cream that can be used as an eyelid primer and color, and would love to try this non-toxic nail polish as well! 

Below are pics of my before and after face. It still feels natural to me, but definitely adds pop to the eyes, cheeks, lips! I feel more put together, even if I'm just wearing gym clothes to the grocery store. ;) I like that the BeautyCounter Tint Skin provides enough coverage to even out skin tone, but still allow my freckles to show through. That's part of looking natural for my daily look, and I can always layer it with the BB cream for more coverage. I've really enjoyed testing out these new products and researching the most cost-effective ways to incorporate a healthier, non-toxic approach to my daily routine. 

*Please pardon the bad hair and RBF (resting bitch face) 😝

A 31 (year-old) Woman

That's not me. It's just a picture of a woman with her arms wide open to the sky. But it fits, right?

As my 31st birthday approaches (this Friday!), the "Proverbs 31 woman" has been on my mind quite a bit. I guess this is cliche since it seems the topic has been exhausted by women's Bible studies, devotionals, books, podcasts, sermons, etc., in recent years. For many, this Biblical paragon is an elusive model of Christian womanhood that brings with it a tinge of bitterness....but I believe that is a mischaracterization we can attribute to the downfall of sin, as with many other Scriptural misinterpretations (read: http://churchleaders.com/pastors/pastor-articles/161344-aubry_smith_why_i_hate_the_proverbs_31_woman.html). It's tempting to feel intimidated by the poetic representation of a woman who appears to "do it all", as verse 29 states:

“Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”  Proverbs 31:29

She is a woman of talent and character, hard-working and always putting the good of others before her own... she seems perfect, too good to be true. And perhaps she is. A tiny notation on these verses (Proverbs 31:10-31, "The Wife of Noble Character") states: "Verses 10-31 are an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet." Ah ha! These verses are poetic -- symbolic, even! This isn't a representation of a real woman, it's just a collection of admirable attributes, individual character traits arranged in alphabetical order towards which we might strive, clever and pretty-sounding.... like a Dr. Seuss poem.... right??

While that would be an easy out, I'm inclined to think not. God never expects less than perfection. In fact, He requires perfection, which is exactly what we cannot achieve. On our own. He sent his perfect Son, Jesus, to achieve it for us. Even the Proverbs 31 woman knows this, because she is a woman "who fears the Lord", and "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Proverbs 9:10). She cannot become "a wife of noble character" on her own. She does not wake up every morning with a checklist to "bring good, not harm, all the days of her life." No, she begins with the fear of the Lord, the summation and binding factor of any praiseworthy deed. She is trusting in His provision to bring to completion the work He has begun (Philippians 1:6). And beginning with that trust, she can do all things in His strength.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Philippians 4:13

As I approach turning 31, I feel overwhelmed by all that I cannot do. This feels like a much larger hurdle than turning 30 last year. Even entering a new decade was not as daunting as approaching motherhood of three children 4 and under, while running a freelance design business, maintaining a functioning household, fostering personal relationships, and "extending my hands to the needy." These are all things the Proverbs 31 woman achieves. And still "she can laugh at the days to come"! Laughter is not the first thing that comes to mind when I anticipate the days ahead... unless it's the kind of hysterical laughter that accompanies insanity. But my fearful approach is not rooted in the fear of the Lord. He is the giver of all good things -- the greatest of these being our salvation in Christ -- and with the ransom He has paid comes an unquenchable hope, an undying joy. Suffering is inevitably a part of the Proverbs 31 woman's life, though this section of the poem does not recount it in detail. But, even knowing struggles will come, she can live without worry or anxiety, because she knows in Whom her strength is found.

"Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."
Romans 5:3-4

So, as I welcome 31 and all that may accompany it, I am armed with this timely reminder of the 31 woman. Hers is a high calling, and a worthy one. And not so intimidating when I cease relying on my own strength to accomplish the "good works, which God prepared beforehand..." (Ephesians 2:10). These traits of "a wife of noble character" are achievable and it is very good to have a model (alphabetized in Hebrew, no less) by which to recount them. Will I achieve them all this year? Not likely. Perhaps not even all in my lifetime, if that is not the plan God has laid for me. But I will cease to fear the task laid before me, fearing the Lord instead, and rejoice in the sufferings -- and the hope -- that come along the way.

Summer Dining

After several weeks spent not wanting to cook dinner at all (thanks, all-day morning sickness), I'm finally back in the swing of things and enjoying the benefits of fresh summer veggies, outdoor dining, and cooking on the grill.

Since summer is prime time for fresh fruits and veggies, I try to incorporate these into every meal. We've been loving berries of all types (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries...all the berries!!), as well as fresh corn and tomatoes. Plenty of both around here! My favorite meals include a grilled meat, steamed veggie and grilled or roasted starch/carb. These meals are simple to prepare, relatively quick to cook (under 30 minutes), and healthy, too. We've also done pizza on the grill, which was a fun test -- the dough still needs some work, though.

Here are some shots of recent favorites...

Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Chili Fig Sauce      |      Grilled Prosciutto & Tomato Pizza

Pan Seared Salmon with Steamed Green Beans and Potatoes Au Gratin

Grilled Tenderloin Tail with Red Potato Wedges and Tomato, Corn & Avocado Salad