RT @BodyandSoulMag and @TerriT “Ten Thoughts on Whole Living”

I was looking through a past issue (December 2008) of Whole Living: Body+Soul magazine and found this beautiful list of things to be mindful of during the mad rush of the holiday season. It was written by Terri Trespicio.

Generally, I’m quite calm during the holiday season but it’s the other people in my life and in the stores who don’t always take the time to keep things in perspective. Seriously, don’t leave home without this list on paper, embedded in your head and even more so in your heart. ~tlr

• The best way to entertain guests is to spend time with them. (The dishes can wait.)
• Rethink power shopping: Opt for fewer gifts that mean more.
• Breathe deeply – and watch things fall into place.
• Revisit natural, time-honored treatments to heal what ails you.
• Generous acts are more than simple gestures. They’re a way of life.
• Don’t confuse what you give with who you are.
• Exercise can be an effective coping tool, not just another thing on your to-do list.
• Rather than ignore stress, take note of it. Only then can you create a plan for change.
• Be mindful of what you drink. Nourishment comes in many forms.
• It doesn’t take a Herculean effort to be a miracle in someone’s life.

Follow Body+Soul and Terri on Twitter.

Wear Green without Envy – Sustainable Clothes and Accessories

Frank & Faith

Locally made, ethically made and beautifully crafted.

Julie Skirt 100% Organic Cotton - BLACK & WHITE STRIPE - $74 (45 GBP)

Felicity Cardigan 100% Organic Cotton - BLACK - $80 (49 GBP)

Cathy Cardigan 100% Bamboo Jersey - BLACK - $81 (50 GBP)

Kailia Footwear

Sustainable eco-luxury footwear made in Italy.

Bella Embroidered - $325

Bella - $195

Nobilia - $245

CUSTOM SOPHIE - $168

CUSTOM SUSAN - $196

Athletic Gear made from Used Coffee Grounds

Athletic Tee made from S.Cafe

I read about Singtex Industrial’s use of used coffee grounds to create a sustainable fibre that is absolutely smart and highly durable. The yarn created from the grounds is turned into S.Cafe tm fabrics.

Products Straight from the “Shark Tank”

I’m a major fan of Shark Tank on ABC (Watch on here on Hulu.com) and on a recent episode I took interest in three of the product lines brought before the “sharks” for the purpose of investment. Click on the logos for more information about each product. And for the record, Robert and Barbara are my faves but Kevin and Daymond provide a lot of laughs.

Chill Low Glycemic Organic Soda

Pet Food Supplements

Gayla Bentley Luxury Plus Size Clothing for Women

People for the Ethical Treatment of Food

Every week (or so) I’ll spotlight foodies who treat food right and defend the cause of cooking unlike me. This week I’ve chosen Irene, Alton Brown and Ted Allen.

Don’t You Love a Great Robe?

I nest in the winter and comfort is paramount. One of my favorite and necessary pieces of clothing is a great robe to slip into after a bath or shower. The construction of the robe has to allow me to move effortlessly, feel cozy and not frumpy and make me feel secure should I decide to curl up on the sofa. Most of all, I need a robe that makes me feel warm.  I looove these…

Can’t decide on the chocolate or the garnet.

Monogrammed Cashmere Robe, Restoration Hardware, $169.99

This robe is not on my radar or a consideration but God bless the woman who can afford it. (Do you think it can be monogrammed? Or come with four men named Roberto who will answer at your beck and call?!)

Loro Piana Classic Cashmere Robe, Bergdorf, $3,495

Skin Free: A New Direction in Skin Care (Product Review)

My skin – face and body – is very sensitive. I suffer from food allergies and in the summer months I have been known to have eczema outbreaks, which leaves blemishes and some scarring because your girl scratches her itchy skin (bad Robin). So if you go through my products you will find tons of things I’ve tried to relieve my skin and repair it. When I read about Skin Free, I wanted to try it to see if the products would do anything different from some of the products I have purchased over the years.

And I’m happy to report that it did do many things differently.

Skin Free sent me Whipped Tamanu Body Butter, Extra Moisturizing Soap & Shampoo Bar and Sweet and Smooth Sugar Scrub. All of their products are all natural, contain no harmful chemicals or preservatives, no fragrance, no petroleum products, no colorants, not animal tested, non-greasy and contains no steroids.

That stated, the products are pretty basic and the scrub is quite ugly to look at… However!!!

To make this brief but to the point I absolutely love all three and feel quite comfortable in not only recommending them but also buying them. (The price points are great too.)

The Sweet and Smooth Sugar Scrub ($14.99) exfoliated my skin unlike any other home product I’ve ever used. I literally watched dead skin roll off without irritation or even feeling like I had raw skin after each application (I’ve used it several times). My skin felt so smooth it was almost unnatural and quite like it does after a professional treatment. I kept touching myself in disbelief after the first application. Moreover, I have hyper-pigmentation on my ankles and feet from eczema outbreaks and not only did the scrub soften those areas but the discoloration has disappeared significantly.

I love the Extra Moisturizing Soap ($3.99). It lathers well and it is gentle and softening. This is a perfect bar soap for winter months and even summer. I used it before and after using the scrub and thoroughly enjoyed the way it felt. Maybe too much. It’s time to replace it.

The Whipped Tamanu Body Butter takes some getting accustomed to because it is not thick or rich in texture but it is indeed effective as a body butter. It is not greasy and it instantly absorbs into the skin. I use it on my feet and it softens beautifully.

Skin Free can be purchased at Walgreens and CVS. Visit the Skin Free Skin Care blog to learn more about the products, the company and their BOGO program through Walgreens.