Michael Todd Blue Green Algae Toner

I'm a big fan of white noise - and YouTubers.  On the dreariest of work days, I sometimes que up some videos by my favorite WebCelebs (FleurdeForce, Tanya Burr, Zoella, Elle and Blair Fowler, Daily Grace....) in the bottom left hand corner of my screen while plugging away.  This has really helped keep me in good spirits on bad days and given me some not-so-necessary reasons to online shop during lunch.
Always in search of a good organic skin care range, I was intrigued by the vast quantity of Beauty Gurus who rave about Michael Todd True Organics and last spring, I figured I should try it out for myself.  A huge fan of sample bags, I snagged a discovery kit that contained the Blue Green Algae Toner everyone covets.

Local Beauty Product Spotlight: Mojo Spa Bath Salts

It's been a pretty rough winter so far here in Chicago - practically no sun, loads of snow nearly weekly (if not more frequently), temperatures in the -40's (F) with the windchill.  Needless to say, this means I've been cooped up in the house avoiding the elements and am starting to get ridiculously depressed because of it.  

It's easy to recommend that someone "get out" and grab a bite to eat with friends, go to a museum, head to a spa, but we've made it our goal in 2014 to save money for a number of big trips we'd love to take in the near future (Morocco, Mt. Kilimanjaro, New Zealand....), and there's only so much staying in I can do.

To try to lift my mood, clear my head, and warm up at the same time I started taking weekly or twice weekly baths.  Having used up my Lush bath bombs, baths weren't as exciting a prospect as they could be.  I remembered my stylist at Fringe Salon mentioned a local store in Wicker Park that pedals goods similar in ideals to Lush, but on a more unique scale - Mojo Spa (1468 N. Milwaukee - right by Wormhole).

Couple on a Mission: Irish Soda Bread and a Sunday Roast

Sundays aren't typically the most eventful of days for us.  If I'm feeling up to driving out to the suburbs, I'll go visit family... If we're a bit hung over, we'll go for a greasy brunch or (better yet) Taco Bell (you aren't allowed to judge - this is basically my favorite food group ever; and yes, I know it's disgusting, but have you tried the new Grilled Stuffed Nacho??).  Given that the weather has been absolutely awful here in Chicago and you can't really get out of the house much, we thought we'd ring in Episode 1 of the 4th season of Downton Abbey with a scalding hot Sunday Roast and some home made bread.  Really - what's better in the middle of winter than that?  (Actually - it's a toss up between a good roast, beef stew, my mom's chili, her spaghetti, and hot dogs with mac&cheese and spinach souffle....)

Addiction Confession and Review: Nyx Lip Butters, Rimmel Show Off Lacquers, and Korres Lip Butter

I have a confession.... I am a bit of a product addict.  This used to be something of a secret I tried to hide from the world by squirreling things away in various drawers and cabinets, baskets and armoirs. This is no longer really possible unless, self admitted organizational freak that I am, I want to break down in fits of sobs over having a huge mess on my hands, so I'm just admitting it.  The category that takes up the most space (two compartments) in my makeup drawer is lip products.

Recipe: Polar Vortex Veg and Lentil "SToup"

If the words "polar vortex" instill just as much desire to fill up on intense quantities of warm foods in you as they do for me, then fear not the swirling winds - and boil up a delicious, thick "sToup".

Review: Love me some Tart(e)s

As you may guess, I'm always on the hunt for fantastic "friendly" makeup.  By friendly, I mean products that skip gross chemicals, like parabens, and at least somehow seek to make the world a little friendlier through a lack of animal testing and an honest use of recycled packaging, etc.

One of the first lines I've found that embodies many of my values in terms of "friendliness" while providing truly fantastic products is Tarte.  This brand, the brain child of Maureen Kelly, boasts impressive color and product ranges that not only make you look fantastic, but contain richly beneficial ingredients such as maracuja oil, natural fatty acids, Vitamin C, and it's signature Amazonian clay.

In 2013 I "updated my collection" (a kind way of saying I spoiled myself by purchasing) the brand's new BB Tinted Treatment and a summer sample collection containing a blush, eye shadow paint pot, finishing powder, primer, full size concealer, shadow brush, and sample of their pure maracuja oil.