The Story of Cosmetics

Got this make-up in the mail recently. It's from a cosmetic company based in Exeter, Ontario and, as you can see, it's called LUVU Beauty. But this isn't any ordinary cosmetic company. I ordered these amazing eyeshadows and concealor from LUVU because they specialize in organic cosmetics and skincare (and they go on SO well!). Organic cosmetic and skincare products have become increasingly important to me because I've come to realize the amount of toxins that make up (no pun intended!) most cosmetics.

To prove to you what I mean, check out this video: 

You can also check out this website, the Environmental Health Association of Nova Scotia's Guide to Less Toxic Products. It is so useful and insightful. And then there's this one, a Montreal-based company called Femme Toxic and their Toxic Twenty, which is a list of 20 chemicals to avoid. Even better is this website, the Skin Deep Cosmetic Database. Get this: you can look up how "toxic" the cosmetic and skincare products you use are!

I started thinking about all this about a month ago, when I attended a Femme Toxic-based workshop put on by the Saint Mary's University Women's Centre, where I volunteer and go to school. In this workshop we made a completely natural lip balm, which I absolutely love! It goes on smoothly and stays on! Here's the recipe for two:

Ingredients:
3 tbsp. cocoa butter
3 tbsp. beeswax
1 1/2 tbsp. olive oil
A few drops of essential oil
*(we used peppermint extract, which works just as well)

Directions:
Melt the cocoa butter and beeswax in a double broiler. Add the olive oil and the essential oil!

Enjoy!!

Snowy Streets

Took these photos on Sunday. The snow is melting away, as you can see, thanks to this warm weather we are having here. I'm not sure how I feel about it, though I also hate the cold! But it's actually a pain when the snow melts, it's just so slushy and wet. I think I'm actually looking forward to more snowfalls, especially as Christmas is around the corner!

Well, 26 days until Christmas! I have to say, I am so looking forward to going home to Ottawa for the holidays. I leave in just under three weeks from now, but it couldn't come any sooner. I so badly want to get out of my daily routine and relax with family and friends. AND, get this, I'm going to NYC (for the first time) for New Years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know. I'm psyched. Details will come!

I was wearing:

Zara Turtleneck

Thrifted Danier Leather Skirt

Change Lingerie Tights

Thrifted necklace, as seen in this post

Vintage Coach Purse from this store on Etsy

Locale Boots

Snap Coat

Good Ole' Stereotypes About Women --> ARE Sexist!

Recently came across this article on this blog thanks to a friend of mine. Was I ever impressed! I so appreciate that it's written by a man who cares about the current treatment of women in Western societies. Not many men speak up about these issues, let alone view them as issues at all. It's a bit of a read, so I'll sum it up. It basically talks about the extent to which women are dismissed as crazy, stupid, too sensitive, and irrational in a patriarchal attempt to emotionally manipulate them. The author calls this gaslighting and describes it like this: 

"Those who engage in gaslighting create a reaction—whether it’s anger, frustration, sadness—in the person they are dealing with. Then, when that person reacts, the gaslighter makes them feel uncomfortable and insecure by behaving as if their feelings aren’t rational or normal."

So, gaslighting dismisses an individual's feelings and reactions as illegitimate in order to avoid taking responsibility for the her/his own actions. Although the author states that this may not occur to all women, which may be true, I've definitely seen a pattern of this occurring mostly to women, and often at the hands of men. At the same time, I know I do this, too. With that in mind, I understand and firmly believe that sometimes this happens; individuals fight, get angry, want revenge for hurt feelings. We are all human, so we should ALL take responsibility for our actions. It's when this is used as a way to FURTHER oppress and subordinate women that I draw the line. The author claims that this occurs most to women because:

"women bare the brunt of our neurosis. It is much easier for us to place our emotional burdens on the shoulders of our wives, our female friends, our girlfriends, our female employees, our female colleagues, than for us to impose them on the shoulders of men."

Furthermore, as a result of sexist and oppressive ideologies, "we have come to accept the idea that women are unbalanced, irrational individuals, especially in times of anger and frustration." So it's just easy to blame women, right?

Although I don't really like that this article victimizes women to the extent that he does (does it really render women "emotionally mute"????), I nonetheless believe it to be important because it calls attention to (and takes responsibility for!) naturalized and normalized sexism, sexism that is do discreet that it does not appear to be sexism at all. And, I'm so so SO sick of being dismissed in such a way. Aren't you?

*photo taken from this website

New In: Vintage Necklaces

These were a beautiful and thoughtful gift from my sort of mother and father-in-law. My favorites are the orange necklace and the pearl bracelet (which I think are real pearls!). The bracelet is so simple and classic, it will be great to spice up fancier outfits, especially ones I hope to wear around Christmas time. The orange necklace will be great to add that pop of colour to any plain and simple more casual outfit.

This post is short and sweet today because I slept in (which I so so so needed) and am running out of time to get ready and get to a craft fair with Jimmy. I really wanted to do another very exciting post today, but it will have to wait until tomorrow!

I hope you all have a lovely Sunday, and don't forget it's only 28 days until Christmas! (if you celebrate Christmas, that is!)

Oh, and please "like" me on Facebook!

Candlelight

I love baths! They are so relaxing and peaceful. And candlelight is beautiful, especially when photographed, so I couldn't resist taking these photos.

It's Friday, which means 30 days until Christmas! Have a beautiful day!

Don't forget to "like" me on Facebook!

"Saturday Night, Dance, I Like the Way You Move"

Spent Saturday night with some friends that I met through Jimmy. We went bowling to celebrate the completion of one friend's Master's Thesis, which took him a long and stressful couple of years. Congrats again, Noam! This night was a truly great time! There were lots of laughs in between cheap wine at the bowling alley (which isn't actually that bad!) and almost bowling my arm off. I was SO sore the next day!

31 days until Christmas! Don't forget to "like" me on Facebook!

Remember this song?

Family Tree

This post is inspired by a post by Danielle over at Exist & Inspire. The photos I've complied here are of various family members from different generations, most on my mother's father's side, who was born and raised in Craftsbury-on-the-Common, Vermont. The first photo is of my absolutely beautiful grandmother (my mother's mother), who recently passed away of old age. It was her favorite photo, and it might be mine, too! The second photo is of a woman who raised my grandfather after his mother died of pneumonia shortly after giving birth. Her name was Ruth, and my great grandmother's name was Caroline, and hence my name, Caroline Ruth. Thanks, Mom. The third photo down is of my mother's aunt Frieda, who, like my grandmother in the first photo, was an amazing artist. I'm so lucky to be born into such an artistic family! The other photos are of Ruth's parents (second to last) and Ruth's wedding (last). The other two of my mother's father. 

Have a beautiful day! 32 days until Christmas!!

Quick Tips: Keeping Buttons On.

To keep buttons from unraveling, seal the threads with some clear nail polish! I haven't tried this myself, but I plan to! I took this quick tip from my amazing book called Mary Ellen's Best of Helpful Hints, which you can find here. My Mom owns this book and I used to always flip through it as a teenager, trying to find cheap beauty remedy's. l remember actually putting mayonnaise in my hair at one point, which wasn't SO bad! Needless to say, I ended up buying this book for myself when I moved out. Despite that it was published in 1979... it's amazing!

One day closer to the weekend! And 33 Days until Christmas, so let the Christmas countdown begin!

P.S. Don't forget to "like" me on Facebook!

Saturday at the Market

Saturday was such a beautiful day! Jimmy and I walked to the Halifax Seaport Farmer's Market, which is only about a five minute walk from our apartment. We spent time oo-ing and ah-ing over different foods and keeping an eye out for Christmas gifts. There are so many local artisans around here, and many attend the farmer's market on a weekly basis. The above artist, Suzanne Albert, for example, is new to the Farmer's Market, but she is brilliant. I love her work for it's layering, colours, and abstract qualities. Beautiful! The above jewelry, too, is absolutely breath-taking! Check out Doré Chic's website here, you can order online! The jewelry is honestly amazing--I can testify to that! And I believe there is no tax from now until Christmas...

Speaking of Christmas, I am getting so excited! Looking forward to Christmas, despite that it's still November, just gives me something to look forward to and a way to preoccupy myself with excitement. Why not, right? Do you have any holiday season plans?

I was wearing:

American Apparel Sheer Button-up

PURE Jeans

Le Chateau Scarf

Hush Puppies

Talula Sweater/Jacket (from Aritzia and thanks to my awesome Dad!) 

Axessimo International Gloves (purchased in Montreal)
Vintage Coach Purse, from this store on Etsy

P.S. Don't forget to "like" me on Facebook!