October 29,2011

Free yourself from harmful chemicals.

*Parabens (methyl, propyl, butyl, ethyl), is used to extent the product life, has been linked to Breast Cancer. These are disruptive of normal hormone function.
*DEA and TEA are highly acidic and can cause allergic reactions, eye irritation and add dryness to your hair and skin.
*Sodium Lauryl (Laureth) Sulfate are harsh detergents used in car washes, engine degreasers, made from petroleum and can cause eye irritation, scalp irritation,and tangled hair.
*Propylene Glycol or Butylene Glycol is derived from petroleum and is an active ingredient in industrial antifreeze. These penetrate the skin and can weaken protein and cellular structure.
*Synthetic Colors and Dyes (FD&C, D&C), derived from coal tar and heavy metal salts that deposit toxins onto the skin, causing irritation. Synthetic colors and dyes are carcinogenic.

If your goal is living a natural non-toxic lifestyle, then try to avoid theses products in your hair.

- Iodopropynl butyllcarbamate - Lecithin - Resorcinol - FDC yellow 6 - Parabens - Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, SLS, SLES - Iocopheryl Acetate - Fragance, Parfum - Disodium EDTA - Isoproply Alcohol - Mineral Oil and Petroleum - PEG, Polyethylene glycol - DEA, TEA, MEA - Chlorine - FD, C Color Pigments - Imidazolidinyl Urea - DMDM Hydantoin

Try my Face Serums......free from all those toxic chemicals! Keep your body healthy ...it's the only one you got!

100% Organic, Anti Wrinkle, Chemical Free, Water Free, Face Serum
Go To:
www.ilovemybotanicals.com

October 29, 2011

I’ve been busy working on a Feature Film in Vancouver, Canada. Elysium (aka, Asgari), is a futuristic, science-fiction movie starring Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, and Sharlto Copley (District 9). The director is Neil Blomkemp. He is best known as the co-writer and director of the movie, District 9. Many of the actors are concerned about chemicals in professional makeup and hair products. So I have researched and found hair care products that are organic and free from all or most chemicals.

Nearly all of the professional shampoos still contain cleaning agents such as Sodium lauryl sulfate and Sodium laureth sulfate that strip away body and color, leaving the hair dried out and dull. Other harmful chemicals used in hair care products include Propylene glycol, a cosmetic mineral oil, which is also found in brake and hydraulic fluids, anti-freeze and airplane de-icers. Parabens (methyl, propyl, butyl) are preservatives that inhibit microbial growth and extend product shelf life. Most cosmetics use synthetic colors and dyes, which are made from coal tar and contain heavy metal salts that deposit toxins onto the skin.

Studies have shown that 40% of what you put on your skin can be absorbed into your system. Some researchers believe that 85% – 95% of cancer can be traced to environmental exposure from the foods we eat, the air we breathe, and the chemicals we are exposed to.

Onesta is one of my favorite professional hair care products that are natural, plant-based, free from Parabens, Sodium lauryl sulfate, Sodium laureth sulfate, Propylene glycol, DEA, TEA, colors, dyes, animal-testing and animal ingredients. Since there are no preservatives, it is best to by these products in small bottles and containers. Onesta is made in the USA and can be purchased at professional hair care stores.

Alcove shampoos and conditioners are another one of my favorite products. They are Sulfate free, salt free and Paraben free. Alcove products work well on color treated hair. Their shampoos offer a very rich and thick lather and are enriched with Oligo’s exclusive microcapsule technology. Microcapules Technology is a system that provides the hair with precisely the nutrients it needs. As the hair is dried, either naturally or with a hair dryer, the microcapsules disintegrate and release a dosed selection of essential nutrients. Alcove is a Canadian product that can be purchased at a salon or at a professional hair care outlet.

To learn more about Onesta go to: www.onestahaircare.com

To learn more about Alcove go to : www.oligoprofessionnel.com

As you can see, the layout of the blog has changed.
A lot of you wanted to have a wider screen for the blogposts and pics, and unfortunately my template did not have that ability.
Im now using a different and customized template, and this one is a lot wider.
Don't mind the header and such, I need time to make a good new one, for now, this is it. :P

If anyone has tips on how to create different pages for the 'about me', 'links', etc, so the layout will be even more spaceous and a lot less cluttered, please let me know. I'm not sure if I even have that option in Blogger.

At least now Ill be able to post bigger pics, which I think is a lot more fun. Even though the pics were always clickalbe to a bigger version, it's such a bore to do that with all the pics.

Anyway, feel free to leave me some tips or criticism, because it's not finished yet...I think.

Goal: To find a perfume that smells like candy, made completely from natural ingredients.
Brand: Agape & Zoe Naturals
Product: Eau De Parfum Spray in Sugared Crush
Description: The original Sugared Crush! Same sweet, sugary smell, more goodness and wholesome ingredients. Cotton candy and bubble gum combine with pure vanilla essential oil to create the unique scent of Sugared Crush. Phthalate free, Paraben free, Petrolatum free, Not tested on animals, Cruelty-free, VEGAN and Gluten-free.
Ingredients: organic flavor oils, organic grain alcohol*(*USDA certified organic grain alcohol).

• Price: $ 29.99
• Size: 1 oz. (30 ml.) 
• Texture: Spray
• Scent: Like candy :)
• Visual Attractiveness: Cute! Label print could be a tad darker.  
• How Much I Needed: Just a spritz or two.
• How Long I've Used It: About two months.
• Where to Find: Agape & Zoe Naturals
• Sample Sizes: Not sure what your signature scent is? Try a sampler set here.
• Acquired: Sent to me to be reviewed with my honest opinion.
• Customer Service: Patricia is so sweet and super helpful! Great Customer Service!
• Loved: The ingredients and the scent!
• Hated: That the scent doesn't linger as long as I'd like (most naturals don't though... but see my comments below).
• The GG's Final Thoughts: Finally! A natural perfume that smells like candy instead of all the usual, you know - hippie scents! I think companies sometimes forget that just because we want natural ingredients doesn't necessarily mean we want to smell like a Tree-Hugger =) Ha ha. So in other words, I'm more than happy to welcome this to my new, totally natural perfume collection. The sweet, candy-licious smell of this sort of reminds me of one of my toxic, old flames... Victoria's Secret's Strawberries and Champagne Body Spray sans the headache. Only complaint? I wish the scent lasted a bit longer. What I've noticed from testing several different brands of natural perfumes, is that the alcohol based ones tend to wear off more quickly than oil based ones. Now, this is just my experience and every body's body chemistry is different. When I had last spoken to Patricia, the owner of Agape & Zoe Naturals, she mentioned that they were possibly considering switching over to an oil-based formulation, if she does- that would be a HUGE plus! I really hope they do. In the meantime, I've found that the currently sold (grain alcohol-based version) works a teeny bit better if I spray it on my clothes versus just directly on my pulse points, and it hasn't ruined anything so far. I would just test a small area first to be safe though. Thanks Agape & Zoe Naturals! xo  

This is a pretty simple EOTD with some lightpinks and coralreds. I really like the combination of these colours and I think it makes my eyecolour pop more.

I don't really know which products Ive used for this one anymore, but you can use any brand you like, the colours speak for themselves.

 I used black eyeliner to add a bit of black to the look. Since I don't own a lot of lashes, this is a way to pretend I do. ;)


With some Catrice Light Burgundy on my cheeks, and Sleeks Cherry lipstick on my lips:

hello. welcome fellow friends from around the world

This is a NOTD with Color Club's Red Velvet. This is a beautifull black polish with gorgeous red glitter in it.

 The pictures really don't do this polish justice, because the sparkles are amazing. The red really lights up from the black

 This is a bit tamed down version of my christmas nails with Ruby Pumps over a black base.

I like the polish a lot, but as said above, I can make something similar with the polishes I already own.
This will find a new home, and I think I already know who Im going to giving it to. :)

When I did this look, I was going for a bit of steampunk feel, but I ended up with an 80's twist.

The colours were darker in reallife, but my flash just decided to annoy me..it does that sometimes...well..a lot of times actually :P.

 I used the Oh So Special palette by Sleek for the browns, to make a simple EOTD. As I've said above, the browns were much deeper and darker.

 Then I added the Coastel Scents gelliner 24K, which is a pretty gold colour, which in combintion with the brown gives that steampunk feel.

 Below the eye, I applied Gosh's Metallic Brass, which is a brown with golden shimmer in it. But the camera really failed me on this look :( It was much prettier in real life.

Then I asked hubs which lipstick I should use, and he pointed to Sleek's Paint Polish Port. Which is a much brighter pink on the lips then it looks like in the tube.
I also wanted a vintage hairdo, but when I was trying to make a poofy front, it decided to stay in this hairstyle that I myself had when I was 10 orso.
All in all, it really gave me that 80's vibe, and I just went with it.


Normally I would have gone for some shade of red, so this bright pink with these colours, aswell as the light eyeliner, really felt weird to me.

I wore the brown/gold skirt that I posted last week with this vest, to create that steampunk look.
 I also wore a black tight shirt with poofy shoulders, a black legging, and wedges. And my awesome Octopuss necklace that I bought on ebay for less than 2 dollars, score!

In the end, it turned into something totally different than I was going for, but when I went to the mall, I got a LOT of compliments on it. :)

This is a simple EOTD I did with 2 of the new Catrice mono eyeshadows:
C'mon Chameleon! and My first Copperware Party.

C'mon Chameleon is like a duochrome colour, it's a brown with a very pretty green shine over it when the light hits it. It reminds me of MAC's greenbrown, but is still different. (and a lot cheaper!) I also think this brown is much warmer and prettier than th brown of Greenbrown. But that's a simple matter of taste I guess.



I applied C'mon Chameleon over my whole moving eyelid, over Hema eyeshadowbase.

 Justn look at that pretty green! It's hard to catch on cam, but it's very obvious in real life.

 Above the crease, I lightly applied My first Copperware Party, which is a really softlooking copper that is close to a metalliclooking brown.

I added a bit more green to the EOTD, by appluing Essence gelliner I love NYC.
I think this is a very pretty combination, even though it's very simple and easy to accomplish.

I seriously recommend these two new colours by Catrice!

Most of you will know that I work in a clothing store, I've also been making clothing since 2002, so it's not really strange that my clothingcloset is pretty stuffed. I still have tops that I wore when I was 14 orso, but when I love something, I won't part with it. Especially not when it still fits. I do clean up from time to time, and sell some, or give it away, to make room for new stuff.

I also love sale, I find it really rewarding to score something in a sale for only a fraction of the original price. Having said that, I also have a discount at work and we have so many special sales and discounts, that it's sometimes hard NOT to buy something, hahaha.
Anyway, this is once again a haul from MONTHS (most was bought in the summer), so it's picture heavy!


All from Takko:

 A cute black pleated skirt, I love pleated skirts, one of my favs is the one I made years ago. And I keep making variations on it. :)


A cute tutu like skirt made from chiffon with polkadots. All layers are trimmed with lace.


 Another lace skirt, yeah, I love skirts and I adore lace :)

A bit of a polit like fake leather coat. I bought this for the inbetween time, when its to cold without a jacket, but to warm for my fall/winter coats. We had this is a steampunk brown aswell, unfortunately brown does NOT look good on me.

 A simple longshirt/dress with lace and a print with roses.

 Awesome (and heavy) belt.

 Dress with skullprint. I has a small black belt aswell, but I removed it to take in the waist. Normally I can't wear white, but the print makes it wearable for me.

Those above were all from Takko, and most of them are on sale again right now, so check it out!


 A very Tim Burtonesque dress, in a bodycon styled stripe. I adored this dress ever since I saw in in the window at Lake Side. BUt I thought it was too expensive and that the white and stripes wouldn't look good on me. A long time later, I was browsing the store's sale, and I found exactly ONE left of this dress. It was a lot cheaper now, and even though it was a big size, I still tried it on. I LOVED it immediately, and even though I have to take it in allover and even shorten it a bit, I'm really happy that I still could score it. Yes, my butt looks enormous in it, but I love it so much, I don't really care :P

 A simple skirt that reminded me a bit of steampunk, it was only 10 euro's at McFibre, so I took it home with me. It looks awesome with my steampunk-like shoes.

 They also had this one hanging in fron of the shop. With Sid being a big Star Wars fan, and it only costing 1 euro(!?) I had to buy it :)

All from Action:
 Very Sapph like tops, which was between 3 and 4 euros I believe. The colours are much deeper/darker and warmer though.

And a simple lace top. I love layering tops wtih lace tops, so this will probably be paired with a black top.


In search of flat shoes/bootd that I could walk on longer, I found these. Most flatheeled boots look well..dull. So these still have a heel, but I can walk on them much longer without pain than other heeled boots I have. I like the bands with the clasps at the side, makes them look a bit tougher. These are from Van Haren.


Below all from Takko again:
 Simple grey knitted dress that folows the bodies cruves. I have to take in the waist though. I love simple dresses like this one.

 Some jewelry:
A bracelet with some roses and stuff hanging from it. A brooch with a skull that Sid really liked. A silver ring, and some hairclips.
 Close up of the ring, I love the way the leaves bend around my finger. It was only 2,99 I believe :)

And one of my already fav bracelets, a wraparound which is formed by two leaves.

I know it looks like a lot, but this was over a time period of 4 or 5 months, so I think it's not that bad. :)

I'm behind on so much, so I need to cramp in some personal stuff otherwise ill be getting behind evern worse :P

These are pictures form the weekend I spend at my parents, to celebrate my 30th bday with family. (Who I hadn't seen for almost a year! :( )

Let me start by saying that Sid made all the pics, and he has a knack for taking pics when I'm in the middle of a sentence, which makes for weird pics :P

Trainride to Brabant, me eating. im not a morning person, can you tell?

my mom printed these pics and hung them in the kitchen..awww

me talking to my mom, no idea what about

eating from the garden, missed that!

first fresh walnuts of the year, woohoo!

aftr just having eaten my moms famous tomtatosoup, hence the apron

sid being silly

me, looking drunk. in reality, sid cam has the brightest flash EVER, that hurts your eyes

i love this pic from my mom

us

looking for my toothbrush or something

The next day we went to a big market with anything ranging form antique to rubbish in Belgium, a tiny carneval in a really small village, and the Abbey of Postel, to eat fries.

mon and me looking at jewelry

me, trying on jewelry, as usual, nothing fit.

just bought Pink Floyd's The Wall

loving this pic of sid and my dad, LOL

me and mom

me and mom

quess what we are doing, hahaha

waiting for our drinks

us, looking dead tired

cant go and eat at the Abbey of Postel without a beer form them aswell?

my sweet parents

at the carneval, lookin for a prize

we didnt win...obviously

Eindhoven trainstation, waiting for our train to go back home.

We had a wonderfull and fun weekend, with great weather and a lovely party. It was great to see everyone again. Especially after so long. Going home afterwards is always a sad and joyous occasion. I love going to my own home, to hug my cats, to sleep in my own (much softer) bed. But weekends like this also make me miss my parents that much more, so it always has a sad tinge to it aswell.
Still, I'm glad I was able to see them again, and we had a lot of fun :)