My latest find on no animal testing products. Palmer's Face Soap

I am a content consumer with the latest additions to my cruelty free arsenal. This new face soap deserves a mention.  I have struggled to find a face wash that is kind to the purse strings, environment and animals.  

Cruelty free mascara "Too Faced Better Than Sex", "Barry M Showgirl" and "Milani Grandissimo Lashes" review

 
My favourite cruelty free mascaras are
1.) Too Faced Better Than Sex (reviewed)
2.) Barry M Showgirl Extra Lengthening (reviewed)
3.) Catrice Lashes to Kill, Ultra black.
They are rated on look and feel, lengthening and long lasting effect.  There is one here for all budgets.  No excuses, come along the cruelty free road.

More thoughts on unemployment...

Right now I'm trying to find inner peace with coffee and self help books sitting in Coffee Bean in Brentwood; coffee in one hand, bagel and book in the other. "The Road Less Travelled " today specifically. 

Cruelty Free e.l.f Makeup Review

elf cosmetics are a little god send. They have the PETA cruelty free seal of approval and as I am replenishing my beauty products one by one with alternatives that are not tested on animals, I need to have everyday items to reach for when beauty sleep escapes me.  E.l.f stands for eyes, lips and face and can be purchased online, at Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, CVS and other retailers.  They are exceptionally cheap and affordable.  All 5 products listed cost me less than $20. My cheap side was dancing. 

My American life, the beginning. Emigration & Immigration

Quote -  Bono

I am a freckled ex-pat.  You could say my American life began properly this summer with my marriage and more recently with the approval of my green card. I feel lucky and know I am blessed. The anticipation and anxiety around this coloured card has been palpable.  Not only was there apprehension regarding it's approval and the interview process but now there's the exciting, wonderful, pinch me am I dreaming, I'm so grateful feeling paradoxically juxtaposed along side the realization that comes with all of that. "Permanent residency" and I am terrified.  It's bringing with it it's own kind of loneliness and nostalgia.  

Permanent Residency: but wait a minute, I'm Irish and more importantly I'm from "the Gar".  Now I'm the first one to call out Bono on being a self righteous knowitall so and so, I have a love /hate relationship with him, which I'm sure concerns him gravely. I'm proud that he's Irish, I'm a U2 fan, his wife's a stunner but he does go on a bit by times and I can't stand him holding court like he does but I love this quote from him (picture above) that's stenciled on the wall of the "The Little Museum of Dublin".  When I read it, I was instantly struck by how perfectly it synopsized my feelings about the beautiful island. Lately quotes like this one have been making me cry. 

Paul Mitchell- Cruelty Free Shampoo. A Review

I bought the color care shampoo and the strengthening conditioner. Paul Mitchell is an animal friendly brand and currently has the PETA and The Leaping Bunny cruelty free, does not test on our cuddly companions stamp of approval.

First the shampoo: I bought it on sale for $9 in Bed Bath & Beyond.   Participating in a normal shower routine, I reached for the Paul Mitchell Color Care Shampoo.  My first impression is that the smell isn't strong at all, it's pleasant but faint.  I pour a decent to average amount in my hand and go to work only to find my tools appear to be broken and my tools are not my hands.  

My Brain and Unemployment

This week has been a busy life week. A welcome change from the recent day to day norm. My limbo-land is finally drawing to a close. 

When you have ten to twelve hours alone with only your head and reruns of Grey's Anatomy for company you can discover a lot about yourself.  Meredith and Co. became my best friends.  I enjoyed my fantasies about Hunt and Sloan and which character I am most like on the show, but when the hour turns into three and four episodes this can quickly become old and unappealing.  I unearthed how both resilient and weak I can be at the same time.  A conflicting duality.  

Feminine Care - A review: whatever your preference … can you make it friendly?

This post may make the general population a little uncomfortable and the male reader a mixture of disgust and intrigue; but like a biology reproduction class or that unforgettable birds and bees conversation with your parents, it happens and needs to be addressed.  

I think there were two possible scenarios to your own birds and bees, his and hers conversation; either you totally knew more than you let on and were horrified, terrified and excited by the whole subject or you had no idea what this embarrassing and embarrassed adult was talking about and you were still horrified, terrified and excited. Awkward and as cramped as that may have been, "Menstruation", my period, flow, the painters, your friend, the visitors, me yolks, whatever you call your menses, is a bodily function and a monthly affair and I think it is an extremely important issue to talk about. 


The different choices of all the monthly feminine care products available was brought to my attention approximately one year ago.  I have to credit an old co-worker with  shining the light on this for me.  I shamefully admit that I was in ignorant bliss about the rag(e) pads.  I never really considered what happened to the used ones after I skillfully rolled them up like a thick cigar and strategically placed them in the bathroom bin so they couldn't be seen by other bathroom enjoyers and I blithely forgot about them and went about my day.  

Aspirations of no perspiration, an update. What I have found not wearing deodorant for 5 weeks

My aspiration of no perspiration began just over a month ago now, 5 weeks to be exact.  I took this leap to rid myself of my dependancy on antiperspirant and deodorant once and for all.  I must confess I did attempt this cold turkey in 2009 whilst working in Dublin and well, the results were an epic fail. Two days in I caved and grabbed a co-workers spray and doused myself. I couldn't cope with my own smell and that's saying something. I feared everyone could see this stench surround me like a decomposing discoloured aura. 

I know a few people, three in total that don't use an antiperspirant or deodorant and never have. All three claim that when they do use it they sweat more and smell worse than if didn't put it on.  My interest was triggered again  upon my first visit to Los Angeles.  I bought a cream antiperspirant stick and when I read a possible side effect being linked to kidney function and failure I thought that's a bit weird, what on earth is in this stick that would affect my kidneys? As a side note I did not think that I would be living in the beautiful La La land years later. Life is good that way.  Thinking no more about my kidneys I blindly went about my day.  I carried on as normal smelling powder fresh for the next 6 years.