Do you wake up the same time each night?

I found this chart this morning in my in box for a brand of products that I love and take regularly- Super Elixir by Wellco.

This chart reflects TCM ( traditional Chinese medicine) our 24 hour body clock for each organs regeneration. My times are:

11/1/3/5am I'm finally up for the day!!

Quite interesting to see the connection between the wake time and your body's organs. Because I wake up so frequently ....I can see I have a lot going on! 

HBU?

I want to sleep better thru the night - so maybe I will try their new tea! It's called Sleep Welle Anti-Anxiety Tea.

Charcoal Treatment Mask - Deep Refinement and Cleansing for Summer Skin

Summer brings its share of humidity which affects the clarity of the our skin, compound that when you live in a heavily polluted area, and your skin can get build up, uneven texture, break out.

To the rescue....Beautycounter Purifying Charcoal Mask! Super effective and can be used weekly or as a spot treatment when your have a blemish appear (usually right before a big event...like a wedding!!) brings down inflammation and refines the skin, while kaolin and charcoal get to work on absorbing oils and dirt from the pores.

Use on clean skin apply a thin layer and leave on for 10 minutes, if it dries down completely, dampen your hands and apply to the skin giving a light massage adding more water as needed. Then remove with a soft cloth, sponge or shammy. Rinse well, splash cool water 10 times and then continue with your beauty ritual. I like to follow with the Beautycounter Balancing Face Oil $68 and Nourishing Night Cream $47 - click the shop button on the right and you can purchase products right there.

#beautifulskin #charcoalmask #beautycounter #faceoils #charcoalbar

The other favorite products to explore include the Lip Conditioner Calendula Balm, Cleansing Balm is such a huge favorite as I can use with or without water (reminds me of when my mom would cleanse her skin with Cold Cream back in the day and tissue off) so when I am traveling I can still use the Cleansing Balm that way. And also I will often add a bit more to clean skin at night and wear it to bed as a little special treatment mask for my skin.

Super Saturday ~ Stay Healthy

Happy Saturday! Living for the weekend. Here are some of my favorite ways to

Kick off the day: The Super Elixir Nourishing Protein (chocolate is amazing all organic plant protein) with prebiotic & probiotic for good gut health (which also benefits the brain!), keeps you fuller longer, digestive enzymes + 15 grams of protein. Add a banana or super greens and coconut milk. Seriously gets you thru the morning, no hunger! My friend Ela has added this to her morning routine as breakfast and lost 5 lbs in 2 weeks 

:-) nice benefit. 

Dr Frank Lipman l-glutamine helps reduce sugar cravings, plays a vital role in gastro health, promotes muscle tone and ALA reduces inflammation, balances blood sugar and protects skin collagen! www.bewellbydrfranklipman.com  use 15HYATT to save 15% this weekend!

Have an awesome weekend! #weekendwarriors #thesuperelixir #bewell #drfranklipman

The American Dream: Mirakle Cream

The American Dream Better: Skin Mirakle Cream.

I love a great American Dream. When an industry colleague sent me this product to try, I was immediately smitten. I loved the package right away, this little jar comes in this adorable drawstring bag with a beautiful color print to match the label on the jar, so vibrant!

Then I started using it, I first tried it on my hands, (which were bitten by my new puppy, Remy  she's teething) it was lovely, melted into the skin, hydrated my little bite marks, reduced the inflammation and redness. 

Then I tried it on my sons, they always complain of dry skin despite having a bit of combination T zone issues. 

In the winter their skin just doesn't feel comfortable. When the kids were little I could have used this cream, it would have been great on Dane's red irritated cheeks. It's healing and very comforting. I decided that night that I would forgo my expensive creams and serums, and try this little Mirakle Cream. What I found was it was divine. It kept my skin moisturized and soothed, all night. 

I wound up with my skin protected from TEWL (trans epidermal water loss) -especially in winter when the heat is on in Chicago and the air outside is cold, we lose so much water evaporating from our skin. The drier the skin the more sensitive it is, so you see the vicious cycle that so many people complain about their skin being uncomfortable in winter.

This is great product, at a great price with huge potential.....plus......

I love the story, esthetician moves from her native country to the US to pursue the American Dream, she brings with her amongst her prize possessions her recipe for a skin cream she made for her clients in her native homeland - The Republic of Uzbekistan, meets an industry beauty veteran and as they say the rest is history!

It reminds me of how many a great beauty companies started with a vision & a prized cream: Estee Lauder-Super Rich All Purpose Cream, Elizabeth Arden - Eight Hour Creme, Mary Kay started by opening a store front with just 5 products.

Here is a link to the product and learning more about the ingredients and story of the founders!

https://thebetterskinco.com

Nesting with Maureen Landry

Nesting with Maureen Landry, Part II of my interview with my favorite Fashionista! Not only does Maureen have amazing personal style in dressing, she has a knack for creating amazing homes. I have watched her over the 24 years of our friendship create 3-4 homes. You can bet when she comes to Chicago we are fluffing my nest! She never steers me wrong and we always have a great time. I took time to ask her a few questions about how she created her last home in an old brick grade school building that was transformed into condos, what a great use of space for these older school buildings. Still in a traditional neighborhood, it was transformed into homes. She took 2 condos and made them into one large condo with separate living quarters, 2 bedrooms at opposite sides of the condo. It gives communal space in the center of the home but the bedrooms offer privacy & lovely quite space to retreat to at the end of the day. I love being a guest at her home and always just soak up the serenity she creates. Here are her tips and some of the pictures of her last home in Wisconsin. She is available for projects too...

BC; What is your secret to having no clutter? 

ML: First of all, I hate clutter.  Just looking at it causes anxiety!  

I believe that organization is an extension of the design/decor of your home.  I love to open a drawer or closet and see clothes/linens neatly stacked; water bottles and cans facing forward in my pantry. 

Being organized is a combination of efficiency and committing to putting things away in their designated spot (being a bit OCD helps).

BC:  What are your tips to organizing a home?

ML: Use baskets to hide clutter and drawer organizers -

Here are some tools Maureen recommends:

1. Use drawer organizers for your kitchen and bathroom drawers and baskets to hold neatly folded linens, toilet paper towels, magazines and mail.

2.  Hang scarves and necklaces on hangers in your closet.  

3.   Always fold linens and clothes the same way so your shelves and closet always stay neat and clutter free.

4.  Get rid of mix-matched hangers and buy wood hangers. Then place all blouses together and then pants together and so on.  Group clothing by season, color and purpose so it's easy to decide what to wear.  

BC: When putting together a room what do you start with? Something you love? like a great couch or a bed?  

ML: I start with the largest piece of furniture that's going to anchor the room.  I always gravitate toward furniture that allows you to curl up and read. 

  

BC: I always see layering in your rooms, with a variety of texture from luxe fabrics, to furry soft pillows, to shine and metals, how do you keep it all together?

ML: I like things to have a certain harmony and rhythm so I work with one color in the space, but in different textures, shapes and sizes.  I keep furniture, rugs and paint neutral and add pops of color with pillows, accessories and fresh flowers.  

BC: How would you describe your style?  

ML: Contemporary

BC: Your condo you put together had so many great features. I loved the windows and being sub ground level. I also loved the basin you created for your guest bathroom. Where do you get your ideas and then describe the most challenging part of your last home when selecting fabrics (can be the counters, cabinets, open shelving, appliances etc not necessarily "fabrics".)

ML: I'm always reading design books, magazines and blogs, but my absolute favorite place to get ideas is Houzz...the best app ever made!  There are literally thousands of ideas and materials to choose from so the most challenging part of putting together a design project is narrowing in on your favorites.  I had amazing architecture so it made my build-out easier. I also found a great carpenter and cabinet maker.  I could show them a picture and they would duplicate it.  

Above: This is the guest bathroom featuring a custom made sink, of thick wood thats been coated to a shiny finish with polyurethane to withstand the moisture in bathrooms.

Below is the master bathroom, the 2 Kohler mirrors open to store toiletries leaving the sink clutter free!

Another view of the Master Bath room

Master Closet, notice how the shoes are organized on the wall shelf to the left of the mirrors? Fancy 

This is the kitchen looking into the family room

Add caption

 Another view of the kitchen, with open shelves to the left and you cant see the gorgeous Wolf 36 inch stove but that would be amazing to have!! Love it.

This is the living room, the windows are at ground level, which is really cool.

BC: Maureen, Love your style and your vision! Thanks for sharing your unique concepts in design! XOXO Love you!

Spring Break

Friends, so sorry I have been late in posting!

Life has been so busy ....a great loss... of the patriarch of my husbands family, Grandpa Kjeldsen passed on 2.21.15 at 96 years old. Such a loss but a vibrant life and well lived one at that. Here he is at Christmas 2014 with his some of his youngest great-grandchildren. He had a sharp memory right up until the end, a successful career, and he was totally self made. Took up flying at 42, loved the outdoors, traveled well, played golf, enjoyed hunting, fishing and boating. Held his family deep in his heart, and a handful of friends that he kept. Their crowd was super cool, sadly out of a group of 12 couples, only 2 of those remain today.

This year is also my son's senior year in college, so lots of exciting things happening. The bookends of college! for those of you that may be starting college or your children going to be freshman this fall, you have lots of emotions going on.... from graduating HS to moving into the first steps as a young adult going away to college.

Then, what seems like a flash ....you're (or in my case my child!) planning college graduation and life as a young adult. Exciting times indeed.

Needless to say life has prioritized my days of late.

So for now we are trying to be in the moment, for 4 years we planned this spring trip our son affectionately calls the "Sauer Farewell Tour" - he has played D1 baseball for 4 years and like anything great, all things must come to an end. We are following the team around on their spring break. They are playing in Memphis ...and yes we fit in a visit to Graceland to see Elvis ;-)

Today, we are in Starkville, Mississippi and playing Mississippi State University. What a wonderful few days visiting this glorious campus. The school is massive and quite impressive. There is a very strong focus on sports here among academics.

With any road trip or vacation, I don't know about you but I forget something and have to run to the local Target or similar store. I found a Walmart near our hotel to grab some things I needed.

Here is what I found...a lovely black hat (this will help me keep the sun off my face with this wide brim & since my wardrobe has 90% black in it ...naturally this will fit). My polish was chipping and I hate a chipped nail! so I was able to pick up this super portable nail polish remover THESE ARE AWESOME! Equate Beauty line of Nail Polish Remover Pads, every travel bag needs them.

And a quick dry polish in a bright color From Sally Hansen for my toes and fingers to bring some cheerful thoughts of summer...along with Seche Vite, this is a product that is a super quick drying top coat that was originally for professional use only but now available for purchase. It's one of the best on the market. I had the CND Solar Oil in my beauty bag, this is something I try to use daily on my cuticles, it moisturizes, penetrates nail lacquer and helps keep nail beds moisturized + keeps the lacquer looking shiny.

Lastly being in sunshine and 77 degree weather is a far change from the cold & snow I left in Chicago requires some color on my pasty white skin. I found this mousse moisturizing product that builds color over a couple of days. It works! Its easy to apply and while it is not a colored mousse so you can see where you are applying, just make sure you cover all your areas in circular motion and blend in well. A pro tip is to then use a blow dryer to dry it down so you can get dressed quickly.
(+ benefit...You will look better naked with a little color! ha ha)

Cheers to Spring and hoping you have something fun planned for your spring break!

Wednesday's Woman: Fashion Influencer Maureen Landry

Maureen Landry: Fashion & Design Influencer

Maureen Landry, left & I

Maureen Landry is a dear, dear friend (adore!) and one of the most amazing stylist in fashion and home design. She has worked on my home & the room is still one of my favorite in my house.  And everything about her recently designed condo was the perfect pied de terre! I will be featuring that home which recently sold on another segment so watch for it!

Mo, in the 23 years that I have known you, you've always had the most amazing style both in your homes and fashion sense. With such an amazing eye! I have always felt so relaxed in your home & charmed by the order, there is no chaos! And when I think of your style of putting together an outfit, I never think "trendy" although you are always on pointe! You have a great mix of classic with a nod to trendy but never outrageous and always so appropriate.

BC: How would you describe your style?  

ML: I'd describe it as euro chic with a bit of an edge

BC: Who influenced you growing up?

ML: Both of my grandmothers influenced my personal style. One wore skirts, heels, twin- sets and pearls every day.  My sister and I would play in her closet when we were little. Some of my fondest memories are of us trying on her shoes, clothes and jewelry. She was part of that era when women dressed up before they left the house.  I still remember the matching handbags and shoes!                     

My other grandmother was European. Her clothes were tailored and feminine.  I admired her effortless style. She always smelled so nice (I wish I knew the name of her perfume). Their influences are evident when you look in my closet.  It’s filled with classic pieces; pencil skirts, cashmere sweaters, tailored jackets, silk blouses and ladylike accessories. I keep things neutral and simple so everything is interchangeable.  

 

BC: How do you select an outfit? It is based on where you are going? 

ML: I base it on how I feel. You know I love being organized so I set up my closet to look like a boutique.  It makes it easy to pick out an outfit.  I always have a silhouette in mind and dress for my body type.  You remove anxiety and chaos if you always have 2-3 core outfits that you can count on in a pinch. I have a go-to sheath for special occasions, skinny jeans and a silk blouse for going out and comfortable leggings and cashmere for travel.  It's like creating a tool kit. It helps me achieve a sense of confidence and comfort when I don't have to stress about what to wear.  

BC: How you want to feel (i.e., classic, sexy, confident, laid back etc) or an image you want to portray?  

 

ML: I like to look polished.  I think you naturally feel sexy and confident once you've defined your style. It's something you have in your head when you’re deciding how to put everything together.  

You don't second guess yourself because you know what works. 

 

BC: Do you cover-up one feature for highlighting another? (ex: you wouldn't have a low cut blouse and a short skirt?). 

ML: I dress for my body type so I gravitate toward clothes that create a definition for my boyish figure. I look for simple,  tailored clothing and for pieces that won't exaggerate my broad shoulders. 

 

BC: What types of accessories are important to you? I love Designer accessories.  As you know, I'm crazy for shoes!! 

ML: I'm drawn to ladylike pumps (Manolo's, Gucci). I go for bold/chunky jewelry (Eddie Borgo) and large handbags.  I’ll spend money on quality accessories, but I'll pair them with inexpensive pieces.

 BC: Do you prefer to invest in quality pieces or quantity?  

ML: I go for quality.  I've found that I'm always looking for ways to edit/curate the perfect wardrobe. I go through my closet 2 times a year so I can keep it simple.  I get anxiety when I have too many choices.  

BC: What items do you save on?  

ML: I save on jeans, t-shirts and a couple of trendy pieces for a new season. I love shopping at Zara for tops and dresses.

BC: What is your must have list for fall?

ML: Poly Vore Fall Must Have List

BC: What is your favorite tee: ML: J Crew t-shirts are my favorite.  They are so soft!

BC: Favorite Jean: ML: j brand

BC: Favorite watch:  ML: Cartier

BC: Favorite sunglasses: ML: Classic Ray Bans or my big Chanel tortoiseshell frames

BC: Favorite boots: ML: Gucci

BC: Favorite coat: ML: Dolce & Gabanna (amazing tailors)

BC: Favorite bag: ML: Hermes- Birkin...I don't own it yet 

 

BC: Maureen, Thank you so much for sharing secrets to you style and I am looking forward to featuring your home on the Beauty Curators blog very soon! IL&G