(So many faux flowers!)
This December will mark ten years in our current home, and as I’ve been preparing the boys for school, I’ve begun to realize how much stuff we’ve accumulated in that time. I’m a tidy person and haven’t read a certain book on the subject that’s really popular right now. But from time to time, I like to do a clean sweep of things and really weed out unnecessary objects from our house.
As an ethical consumer, I’m aware that what I choose to remove from our home doesn’t magically disappear, so I’m trying to think of creative ways to pass things along to others. My goal is to share my findings with you as I slowly but surely cull some of the items that have piled up after a decade of living in the same place. These things are mostly decorative and serve no real purpose, so I’m not emotionally attached and am happy to pass them along to other people who might enjoy owning them.
Alongside my series, my fellow members of the Ethical Writers Coalition will be participating in a Second Hand Challenge in September. I will give you more information soon, but the idea goes hand-in-hand with my quest to find alternatives to throwing things away. I hope you might find this series insightful, and feel free to offer your own suggestions, too.
(Late summer flowers.)
This week was all about going back to school and learning new routines, and next week will bring more of the same. Things change a little with the start of each year, but the boys are doing well and hanging in there. It will be nice to have a relaxing weekend after the hustle and bustle of this week. Here are a few things that caught my eye.
Getaway offers the chance to experience a tiny house without the commitment of moving in.
A gorgeous, modern ranch house in California.
Why we should spend our money on experiences that make us happy.
George, a new chapter book for children, tells the story of a young transgender girl.
And one clever guy turns IKEA products into puns, just to annoy his girlfriend. Hey, Donna.
Have a great weekend!
(A few of the serums I’ve tried lately.)
Serums have become quite popular in the beauty world lately, and now that my skin is calm again, I’ve been trying samples of different serum types. Since my skin is oily, I was nervous to use anything with a lot of oil, but I’ve found that just a drop or two in the evening adds enough moisture without overpowering my skin. You can technically use a serum in the morning and evening, but I’ve found that nighttime use alone works best for me.
I recently learned about Seed to Serum, a lovely online site for natural beauty, and was thrilled to discover that they offer deluxe trial sizes of most of their products. This is a great way to try out a serum or other item before committing to the full-size bottle, and I ordered sample sizes of R.L. Linden & Co.’s Fairer Than Lilies Serum Cleanser, made especially for Seed to Serum, as well as their Time After Time Serum, which I really love. The cleanser is oil-based, so I use it as a second step after washing my face, usually when I need a little extra moisture. And the Time After Time Serum is light and really lovely, so I usually skip my evening moisturizer when I use this.
I’m also several weeks into my bottle of Kahina Giving Beauty’s Brightening Serum, and it smells gorgeous and sinks gently into my skin. Kahina Giving Beauty uses argan oil in their products and also employs a cooperative of women who produce the oil, so it’s a brand I’m happy to support. The Brightening Serum promises noticeable results after six weeks, and I’m enjoying it very much.
I personally don’t consider facial serums a necessary part of my skincare regimen, but I’m happy with the types I’m currently using. Do you use a facial serum? I’d love to hear which brands you like, so feel free to let me know!
