Readers Bra Metamorphosis 75A to 75D

     The Bra Metamorphosis is a series of posts that show photos of women before and after finding out their correct bra size. If you'd like to share your before and afters and inspire women to re-measure themselves, do contact me!

    Hey everyone, it's time for another bra metamorphosis! This one is close to my heart because N. won her very first correctly-sized bra on the Ea Michalak giveway on this blog! I almost feel like a fairy godmother (ok, me and Ewa).
     Also, this is the story you should be forwarding to small-boobed friends and relatives who insist that they have too few boobage to bother with fancy bras. Also, this story includes the typical misunderstanding that smaller-chested women get when they are unsatisfied with the fit of their bras, aka "you don't need support / you don't have much boobage anyway". Fortunately N's story story has a happy ending:

Measurements: 76cm underbust tightly, 88cm overbust

   "I have shallow, very wide set breasts. Since I haven't been able to try different brands with different underwire width so far, I can't tell for sure, but I think I need medium to wide underwires, as my breasts tissue ends almost under my armpits. I also have a mild Pectus excavatum condition.

   When I bought my first bra in middle scool I wasn't even fitted, the lady in the store just looked at me and picked a 75A. Because of my size I thought the bra's only job was giving me a decent cleavage, so I used to purchase only push-ups. But my instead of lifting my breasts up and together, my firm tissue just pushed the bra away and down (giving a droopy shape to the breasts) and bulged under the armpits. Frustrated, I even wore AA bras, thinking that if the bra is small enough it will squeeze my breasts closer together and make them look "normal". When I complained about the cups being too close together on all models and the bras giving me armpit rolls (which now I know was actually because the cups were too small and underwires too narrow) I was told that I have "small breasts" and that "the fit is fine and I am not going to find anything better". The center gore never sat parallel to my chest because of my pectus excavatum and I was told this was "because my breasts were so much apart", so I always bought plunges, where the center gore stuck away from my chest for an inch, offering no support. I was never offered bigger cups, just bigger band sizes, if the underwires were uncomfortable. I used to be ashamed of my breasts and I thought that I must have weird, unusual breasts, because I don't fit into any bras "my size". I was also teased at school for being flat chested and I used to wear very revealing clothes, just to show that I actually have breasts.
    About a year and a half ago (I am 20 now) my breasts suddenly grew and the "sideboob" became even more obvious. I purchased some 80B bras (which I picked on my own, not even asking the saleslady) and surprisingly bigger cups did fit me! I even tried some C cup bras and realised that I was wearing too small cups. I mentioned my discovery to my mom, who laughed at me and told me that I have small breasts and to get over it. She has larger breasts and she never understood why am I fussing about bras, if I am small enough to wear tank tops and I "don't need support"! Angrily, I began searching information on the internet and I discovered Bra matrix on Venusian Glow blog and later other sites and communities about bra fitting. There were no proper bra brands available in my country (I wandered  around the bra butiques, the fitters all starred at me when I wanted 75D/70D bras and than they tried to put me in A/B), but I was lucky enough to win an Ewa Michalak giveaway on this blog, so I got my first 75D. The bra feels much  better than the smaller ones, my breasts sit in the cups instead of being squashed to the chest and the centre gore lies parallel to my chest. I still have a bit of space on the lower part because of the recession between my ribs, but it stays on its place and feels supportive. And I don't spill half of my breasts under my armpits!

   I used to consider my breasts very small, but realized that they are actually average, I just don't have a cleavage because of the pectus excavatum and because they are wide-set. I still feel quite uncomfortable about them, since I find them proportionally too small for my body. But since I have started wearing properly sized bras I started to like them more, as the bras don't make them appear droopy (like the push-ups did) and I don't have so much armpit rolls. I hope to find a nice soft cup bra and a plunge, that would work on my pectus excavatum, as I wear a lot of  deep-cut necklines and the higher bridge on my current correctly fitted bra peeks out of my shirts.
   I also hope to convince my mom that she is wearing too small cups and that her sagging breasts would look much better in a well-fitted bra.
   I am very grateful to all bloggers who put their effort into helping others break out of their badly fitting, uncomfortable bras!"


   Don't you think that the Milady bra looks gorgeous on N? I'd like to thank her for sharing her metamorphosis with us. If you'd like to share yours, I'd love to have you! The "contact" button is on the top of the page, can't wait to hear from you!

Yes, You Can Use Men's Razors

   An irritating beauty myth that I keep on seeing in women's magazines is never to use mens razors for shaving as they are "sharper and more dangerous" because a man's hair is thicker than woman's.

   This piece of "advice" is wrong on so many levels. Firstly, while female leg hair may be finer, the hair on the bikini line is usually as thick as a dude's facial hair (sorry for the visual this sentence gave you).
   Secondly, sharper blades are actually safer than duller ones. When kids are taught to properly handle knifes, the knifes should always be sharp rather than dull -- dull knifes mean you need to use more pressure to cut and there is a higher risk that the knife may slip. Sharp razor blades allow you to use a lighter touch and thus there is less risk of cutting yourself or getting razor burn.

   Secondly, I'm not even sure that men's razors are sharper. However I do know that women's razors are usually overpriced. As a teen I saved up money and bought a pretty pricey razor with a high-tech looking handle and a wiggly head, designed "especially for a woman's curves". I have also used small colourful ones that were apparently designed for the bikini zone. Guess what -- they don't give better results than regular disposable razors. They are just prettier, curvier and the ads probably cost more to make.
   Since years I have been using cheap disposable razors -- I just make sure they have double blades and that moisturising strip. If you have very sensitive skin or a tendency towards ingrowns, I have heard really good things about Gillette Mach 3. The one for men. The key to getting a good shave is  providing a good slip with a lubricant -- never shave without one! I use a gentle soap or a conditioner for this purpose.
   If you need extra tips, my post about doing your bikini line has some nice ones. And while we are on the topic of hair removal -- I know that IPL devices for home use have been very popular recently, but German ministry of health has issued warnings against them as they can raise the risk of skin cancer when improperly used. Fortunately, you can always epilate or try the magic wand. Also, you can choose to not remove your hair at all -- always remember that it's totally up to you which hair you want to keep or remove. Because.

    If you shave, which kind of razors work well for you? Do you prefer to use razors meant for women, or do you like the ones meant for guys?

Advice Needed: Itchy Skin Under The Bra Band

   "Under my breasts, along the bandline, I get itchy. Painfully so. I will then scratch (as discreetly as I can!) until I've torn my skin raw. :( It's much worse when I get hot and sweaty, but it's a problem always, every day. It doesn't matter what type of material the bra is made of, and it happens even if I'm bra-less at home all day. It happens with brand-new bras on the first day.
   What I've been doing for years is, ideally twice a day (morning, night), I dip a clean q-tip into tea tree oil, and draw a line with it along the problem area. This helps somewhat but doesn't fully relieve the itching, and definitely doesn't solve the problem. If I miss a day or two, I'm back to scratching off a few layers of skin. (The tea tree oil doesn't irritate my skin, thankfully.)

   So, that's it. Let me know if you have ideas or questions. I'm waiting for health insurance to see a dermatologist, but I know her suggestion will be a medication of some sort. While I'm not totally against that, I'd like to avoid it because many medications aren't vegan (as I am), and I don't want, say, a steroid cream that thins the skin and could cause its own set of problems."


   This popped into the mailbox a while back. I have been thinking what to advise D, and though I did come up with a couple of suggestions, I'd definitely love to hear some advice from you all!


   After thinking about this for a while, here are a couple of possible causes and solutions:

   Clothes detergent:

     Regular detergents for the washing-machine can be pretty harsh on the skin. Switch yours for a natural product, or something meant for babies or people with allergies. I like Ecover stuff, but my personal favourite are washnuts. They are ecological, do their job well, and are extremely skin-friendly! On that note, avoid fabric softeners or dryer sheets. Use vinegar in the last rinse if your water is hard, and add a couple of drops of essential oil to get things to smell better. Brand-new fabrics usually have traces of chemicals on them that are used to process and dye the fabrics, so you might want to wash them a couple of times before first wear.

Contact Allergy

    You might have an allergy to the metal the underwires are made out of, for eg. nickel. If you do have a nickel allergy, you might probably have to write to bra producers asking them what their underwires are made out of, and hopefully you'll locate some nickel-free ones.
   However allergies may also appear in body parts that have not touched the allergy-causing substance. The allergy can appear on body parts where the skin is dry / delicate / gets rubbed by clothing. It might take a bit of time and observation to find the culprit for your problem. Detergents are a common culprit, so do switch your body products (soap, shampoo, body lotion) to hypo-allergenic / natural ones (cleansers without SLS, everything without perfume). Also, try to find gentle house-cleaning products.

Food allergy

    Often skin allergies are caused by foods, or by things you breathe in (dust, mold, animals). Common culprits is sea food, chocolate, spicy stuff, nuts, sugar, citrus fruit, milk and moldy cheeses. Have you noticed your skin getting worse after certain kinds of food?

Pityriasis rosea

    This is a skin disease that is benign but can be pretty uncomfortable. It does goes away on its own within a few weeks. You can recognise it by the "herald patch" which appears first and is slightly bigger.

Atopic dermatitis

   This skin problem is closely connected with stress, so a good way of dealing with it is taking care of yourself. You probably know what it is you need :)

Dry skin

   Skin that is too dry is more prone to irritations. Try keeping your skin moisturised -- I'd suggest an oil or a hypoallergenic cream applied after showers or at night when you won't be wearing a bra. Tea-tree oil is amazing for skin irritations, but it can be a tad drying, so moisturising the area would be a good idea.

Zinc

   A zinc-based cream should calm the irritation. These are usually available in drugstores without a prescription.

Calm the skin with potato starch

   Take two cups of potato starch, mix with a little bit of cold water, then pour some boiling water in it. Add this to your bath water, it really calms the irritation.

Silicium supplements

    A lack of silicium in the body makes the skin very sensitive to the environment. Try eating foods rich in silicium or taking it as a supplement.


   It is not easy to find the cause of a skin problem. On days that your skin gets worse (or better), ask yourself what did you do different? Other than that, I'd suggest going bra-less for a week if possible to give the skin a chance to heal, or trying to wear a bra on top of a thin tank top. It's great that you want to avoid steroids -- they work wonders short-term, but can really wreak havoc on the skin.


    Now, over to you, lovely readers. What would you advise D? Are any of you struggling with similar issues?

Weekend Reads 20-07-2013

      Hi everyone, have you been? I have been totally busy with my theatre rehearsals, and the premiere went really well! We have now a couple more performances before the summer pause.

      As for my challenge from the last before last week, I found out that I suck at matching bracelets, or maybe the bracelets that I have are not meant to be matched. Either way, i will stick to one-two pieces at a time.

     The coming week will be about tying loose ends together before the summer holidays -- there is a lot of stuff to do, so I won't be doing an additional challenge.

   On to the links for this week:

* Home: The AOSN method of decluttering

* Makeup: great tips on using a highlighter / concealer. You don't need to have that particular product they speak of, I personally use a lightly shimmery mineral base a couple of shades lighter than my own skin tone.

* Lol: How to always be on time

* Beauty: What a pretty fun French manicure!

* Hair: A great DIY hair mask.

* Brain: A hilarious science experiment

* Funny: I love CrackVids, and this one about Game Of Thrones is so funny! (spoilers of season 2). This one is good too.

* Movie of the week: If you liked Tintin, you'll enjoy the Secret of the Unicorn movie. The aesthetics of the comics are beautifully preserved, well-loved characters make unexpected appearances and there are delightful Easter-eggs hidden all over the place. The only criticism I have are the mindless and run-on-the-mill action scenes, during which I totally let my mind wander.

   Have a great day!

Why Evening Primrose Oil Is Amazing + How To Use It

   I want to show you my newest skin-care holy grail. This oil is my go-to product when I get breakouts, blocked pores or when my T-zone decides to be oilier than usual. Overnight it calms the problem area and I wake up with smooth and happy skin. But this oil can do more than that -- it is great for the hair and is also a healthy supplement.
   Evening primrose oil is one of the most valuable oils in skin care. It is very rich in GLA (gamma-linolenic acid) which increases the body's resistance and is anti-inflammatory. It can do wonders for the skin and hair, especially when taken as a supplement. Here is how you can use this wonderful oil:

Topically:

   Evening primrose oil regulates the functioning of the oil glands, so it can help dry, combination or oily skin regulate itself and become normal. The oil helps the skin heal faster, and can be used to fight problems like acne, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis and irritations or itching. It increases the skin's elasticity and fights wrinkles, and is great for mature skin as well. It also strengthens the nails.
   Primrose oil absorbs quickly and is not comodogenic (although what will block your pores and what won't is a highly individual matter), and the smell is almost non-discernible.

   You can use it pure on the face and body and massage it in; or add 5-15% to your moisturiser, serum or another oil. Bonus points if you remember to massage some into your nails!

As a supplement:

  Evening Primrose oil has many benefits (like helping with PMS), here I'll just mention the cosmetic ones: it helps against hair fall and speeds up hair growth; it also helps with too dry / too oily skin, acne, irritations; it is anti-aging and increases the skin's elasticity. It is also supposed balance out too a strong appetite and help the body to shed fat.
   If you want to take evening primrose oil as a supplement, consult your doc, check if there are any counter-indications or if it interacts with any medications that you are taking. You need to take the capsules for around a month to notice effects. Oh, and it is not very tasty.

      You can buy the oil in a bottle, like me or you can also buy it as a supplement -- you can open the ampoules to apply on the skin. I get my oil from the Hobbythek, but many countries it is not hard to get it online, or in health stores or drug stores. Do make sure what you are getting is pure evening primrose oil, cold pressed and preferably organic.


   Have you every tried evening primrose oil or a product that contains it? If not, I'd like to encourage you to try out this lovely oil.

(NSFW) Pictures Of Breasts With Broad Roots, In Too Wide and Correct Underwires + Narrow Underwire Fix

   Breasts with a broad root are breasts whose base is broad. By base I mean the part of the breasts that is attached to the torso. You can visualise such breasts as cones with a broad circumference.

   It is not always easy to identify broad breasts on a photograph or in the mirror, as the proportions of the rib cage can make the breasts look optically narrower or broader. However when you try on a bra, you can usually tell if you have broad breasts -- narrower underwires (like those of Freya, Lepel or Comexim bras) cut of a part of your tissue, and you seem to need underwires that end at least in the center of your armpits, if not further.

   To help you understand how broad-rooted busts look like and the fit issues that they face, here are some photos of breasts with a wide root. Don't forget that broad-rooted breasts come in many different shapes -- they may be big or small, shallow, pendulous, firm, unfirm, bottom-heavy, top-heavy, wide-spaced or not, and so on. Even the broadness of broad roots differs: some are slightly broad and can still wear some Freya underwires, others are very broad and need to focus only on brands and models that have wide underwires.

Nekkid boobies after jump! Click to read more.

Troubleshooting Mascara + Alternatives To Mascara

    Mascara is probably the most-loved cosmetic of the times. Unlike most other coloured cosmetics you don't have to worry about picking the right shade or wonder where you should apply it. Everyone looks nice with longer and thicker lashes. Here is my post with lots of tips and tricks that will help you get your lashes to look great. There is not much wrong you can do. Still, mascara can present a challenge to some women. Here I will try to help with some issues, and suggest some alternatives to mascara that will still make your lashes and eyes look great.

Common Mascara Fears:

"I'll jab myself in the eye"

     If you have a serious phobia of touching your eyes, or if your hands shake, I'll give you a pass. Otherwise, applying mascara is not as hard as it looks. You should be holding the wand sideways, not pointed towards the eye; and you should own a good magnifying mirror. Use the brush as if you were trying to comb out your lashes, but slowly.
Solution: Start by applying the mascara only on the tips of your lashes. The wand will not get very close to the eyeball but you will already see the effects: the tips of our eyelashes are usually faded and invisible, applying mascara on the will make them look longer. When you feel comfortable, try applying the mascara from root to tip.

"Mascara will make my lashes fall out"

     Yes, this can happen, but only with crappy products with harmful ingredients (for example silver nitrate). Especially waterproof mascaras are harsh on the eyelashes (plus removing waterproof mascara is also harsh on the lashes)
Solution: I personally use certified organic brands because they are required to avoid ingredients that are potentially toxic. When in doubt, read reviews before you buy anything. And always remove mascara before bed with a gentle cleanser -- I highly recommend plant oils (like olive oil) or micellar solutions, both are very effective but not harsh. Be gentle!

"I'll forget it's there and rub my eyes."

   This still happens to me, and I end up waling with panda eyes (or just one panda eye, which is even worse). However, this trains me to not rub and touch my eyes, which I shouldn't be doing anyway (it stretches the delicate skin).
Solution: The embarrassment of walking around with panda eyes will cure you from rubbing your eyes. Or so I hope.

"It looks stiff and unnatural"

    With the trend going towards dramatic lashes, women are encouraged to pile on a hundred layers of mascara that lengthens and thickens the lashes as much as possible. However this doesn't look good on everyone, especially if you prefer a more understated look or if you have a more light and delicate kind of beauty.
Solution: use mascaras that describe their effect as "natural". Apply just one layer, and then comb out with a clean mascara brush.

"Won't black look to harsh?"

    Black mascara looks good on almost everyone, because the pupil of the eye is black. However if you feel that black mascara is too harsh, try brown. Look at the colours in your hair and eyes: if they are more reddish, a warm brown will work for you. If they are cooler, then a cool brown or black will look good.

Alternatives to mascara:

   If you don't want to use mascara, or if you want to get even more "wow" out of your lashes, here are some ideas:

Eyeliner:

   This will define the eyes and also make the lashes look more full. Use black if you have black hair, eyes, or if your iris has a black outline. Otherwise experiment with grays, browns and even deep violets and plums. Examine the colour of the outline of your iris -- an eyeliner in the same shade usually looks stunning. Pencil is usually easier to use than liquid liner, and more forgiving if you have a shaky hand.

Tightlining:

    This means drawing in between your lashes. I love this technique. It makes the lashes look much thicker, while being invisible -- it's hard to tell that you are wearing eyeliner! Perfect for the "no-makep makeup" look. Use an eyelining pencil, or a powder eyeliner and brush.  The colour of the eyeliner should be close to your eyelash colour (or black, if you plan to use black mascara afterwords). Look for the gaps between the eyelash roots, and wiggle the pencil and the brush to fill in the gaps. Here is a nice tutorial.
    This technique can be used together with mascara, for more thickness without having to layer on coats. It is also great for women with very little lid space or with hooded eyelids, who have problems with the eyeliner leaving no room for eyeshadow.

Brushing the eyelashes:

    If you use eyeshadow or face powder, chances are that your lashes also get dusted with the powder and don't look their best. Simply brushing your eyelashes out with a clean mascara brush will get rid of that powder and fan them out.

Colourless mascara / oil

       Colourless mascara deepens the colour slightly and adds shine. Oils also protect the lashes and may help with stimulating growth. I used to use colourless mascara a lot.

Lash curler

     A lash curler can be used on its own, as well as together with mascara. It curls the lashes, opening up the eyes. It makes straight eyelashes optically longer, because you can see more of them when they swing upwards than when they stick out straight. I also highly recommend it for women with hooded eyelids. In a pinch you can also curl your lashes on a spoon, but I wouldn't recommend doing this every day as it does pull on the fragile skin a lot. An eyelash curler looks scary, but is actually pretty easy to use. Choose a better one without any sharp edges. To avoid pulling out the eyelashes use before applying mascara; be gentle and press (not pull).

Eyelash extensions

     These are fake lashes that are glued on by cosmeticians and stay on for around a month. They can look spectacular when done right. However, a word of caution: my neighbour had them and after some months her own lashes started falling out. Either the glue used was to blame, or the false lashes weighed down her natural lashes. So do your research about what and how your cosmetician will be doing.

False lashes

    These can be a lot of fun, but the glue can be damaging to your real lashes. So don't use them too often and when you do, try to not get the glue onto the lashes (only on the eyelids).


    Personally, I love mascara and pencil eyeliner, and want to buy an eyelash curler. What about you? What do you use on your eyelids and lashes?

Oils As Natural Sunscreen?

  I found this extremely interesting infographic of the SPF factors of oils, based on research done in India. The wheels in my head are turning and I am thinking about how o use this information.

Here are my thoughts:

* The carrot seed oil, the raspberry seed oil and the wheatgerm oil are the only two that have SPF worth taking notice of. I have used raspberry seed oil on my face and liked it, it sinks in well and is not greasy. Wheatgerm oil is much heavier and I used it on the body, I could not imagine using it on the face unless I had very dry skin. Carrot seed oil is an essential oil, so it cannot be applied straight on the skin; but it could be added to the wheatgerm oil or the raspberry seed oil to increase their SPF.

* Some women use oils to get a tan quicker, however as you see most of the oils on this table have a low SPF and will protect your skin only for a short time.

* I could definitely imagine using raspberry seed oil as sunscreen, especially on the body. In fact, using an oil with high SPF as a moisturiser would be a very smart move. I'm thinking of adding a little bit of the Alverde oil mix to a bottle of wheatgerm oil (to improve the scent and feel) and make it my staple body oil. I use oils or body butters almost every day in the summer, so switching them up for something with SPF is probably a good idea.

* Oil won't fry your hair in hot temperatures. I have protected my hair with oil in India just like the locals, and I have seen that it does a good job of protecting it against damage. If fact going out in the sun without hair oil makes it very dry, brittle, and lightens the colour. In the west though, oily hair = dirty hair, so I limit myself to a small drop -- just enough to lock in the moisture and add shine. No it looks like raspberry seed oil is the logical choice for this in the summer.

* All-natural sunscreen based on these oils will appear on the market any time now. There must be someone trying to create one as we speak. Just you wait and see.

* Obviously I will still be using my favourite sunscreen on my face, wearing my extra-large hats and staying out of the midday sun.


    What is your experience with oils? WOuld you use any of the above to protect yourself from the sun?

Weekend Reads 07-07-2013

      Hi, how have you been and what have you been up to? I am nursing a sunburn because I didn't think to apply sunscreen to my back and shoulders for a theatre rehearsal that ended up happening partially outside. To make up for it, there was also a delightful street festival with all the charming little courtyards and gardens suddenly open to everyone and full of tables with people selling food, drinks, clothes... Love!

   About last week's challenge: my subconscious is a d*ck and I promptly forgot that I was supposed to schedule all those appointments. I remembered only on Friday evening, when it was obviously too late. Apparently I need to schedule scheduling appointments... I'm so embarrassed and I mean to do it next week.

   Next week's challenge will be to stack on bracelets! I have tons but I rarely wear them, and then only one or two. I love the fun look of a couple of artistically mismatched bracelets on the wrist. The week will be very warm, and bare arms are perfect for bangles!

On to the links:

* Home: I loved this story and am relieved that even design editors don't know anyone with home that looks like the ones in design magazines. Also, the book sounds good and I want it!

* Bras: Petite Pleniful is the new small-busted blog on the block!

* Bra fitting: if you ever wanted to have on compact page to print out with fitting directions, buying  guide and more, this is a good one.

* Body: Eating veggies is a healthier alternative to tanning. I can personally confirm that carrots and beetroots give you noticeable colours (in a good way) and keep the skin from looking greyish.

* Bloggers: 6 (More) Oddly Obvious Mistakes You Might Be Making Online -- I found this really sound advice!

* Music: Hey You, What Are You Listening To? is a seriously cool idea and a great way to discover new music. Plus, it's seriously funny how you can't match people's exterior to the kind of music they like!

* More bra fitting: I have been interviewed for this article on Lingerie Briefs about breast tissue migration. Do read the insightful comments as well.

* Book of the week: If you are interested in ancient civilisations, Aku-Aku is a great book in which Thor Heyerdahl (of Kon Tiki fame) searches for the secrets of the Easter Island. Plus, it's seriously funny in many places and reads like a story and not a scholarly teatries. Besides, Thor Heyerdahl is my hero.

So apparently your school maths teachers have kept the cool parts away from you. This is seriously cool, and the girl is adorable:

My Very Best Parenting Hacks For Small Kids

     Some of you might have realised that I am a mom of two pre-schoolers. I have also helped to raise my younger brother, who was 11 years younger than me and a total sweetie. So I have a bit of experience, and have developed some really useful tricks! Here they are:

* The double hand hold:

    This is my own invention and has two advantages: the kid thinks that they are holding your hand, when in fact you are holding their. Second, it is super secure because it is much more difficult for little hands to slip or wriggle away than in the normal hand hold! How to: Let the kid hold your index finger. Now, with your remaining fingers, grasp their wrist.

* Notice patterns before they develop into habits:

Small kids, once they develop a rut is is really really hard to get them out of it! Ask the mom whose kid refuses to eat anything but noodles, or the one whose .... . Now, as a parent you have to spot these when they are forming. If your kid asks for noodles (or other less-healthy) three days in a row, don't re-buy noodles and tell him that the store ran out of them (or distract him with something else while shopping). He might be upset, but this is nothing compared to denying him noodles after he has been eating them regularly for weeks. Soon he'll get hungry and will eat something else.

* Instead of colouring books, encourage free hand drawing and painting.

    Kids never manage to draw within the lines and often get frustrated, besides most colouring books seriously lack aesthetic. However, even very little kids can produce pretty and imaginative pictures when allowed to paint freehand. Bonus: drawing on a blank piece of paper not only allows the kid to experiment more, but also helps them to process their experiences and emotions.

via

* Trays as work surfaces

    I totally stole this from the Montessori schools, where small kids are given trays as work surfaces. This helps to keep stuff from getting all over the place (especially stuff like modelling play, crayons or beads), protects your tables and catches spills. Also, the tray is easy to move from surface to surface, when you need to make space on the table for lunch or your kid wants to play in another room. The tray should be rectangular with handles, not too heavy, and the design should not be too loud or distracting (you can always re-cover the bottom with wax-cloth).

* Hang a bag with books and toys on the stroller:

    Most parents loved this: I hung a small bag by threading the loops on the umbrella, and filled it with little books and toys (usually flea-market stuff than neither of us was really attached to, because they would sometimes get lost). Every time the kid got bored, she would pull out her little books and entertain herself. Also, this means I didn't have to keep stuff to entertain her in my handbag.

via

* Shallow baskets with handles are amazing for storing toys. 

   The ones almost as flat as trays allows the kids to see what's inside and at the same time corral stuff.  Best if the have handles. I totally stole this from Waldorf Kindergardens. Also, the nature tones add a calm look, and makes the toys more visible.

* Keep stuff in their hoods

   This one I stole from a fores play-group :). During the cold part of the year the adults kept a paper tissue and gloves (when the kids took them off) in the hoods of the kids (the hoods were hanging down because the kids wore caps). That way they could re-use the tissues and match the right gloves with the right kid. I have often put scarves, comfort items and toys in them when the kids gave them to me to hold. Surprisingly, the stuff never falls out!

* Distraction is the best strategy

    Distracting the kid works when there is a power-struggle going on, or you feel a tantrum coming up, unreasonable request, bickering between siblings. It's amazing how distractable small kids are, and many of the power-struggle ones are thankful for the change of topic (because they don't want to lose but know they can't win). Ways to distract include: songs and finger games, pointing out something interesting you see, asking for help (especially with a "grown-up" task), starting a new activity, or even asking a question that requires concentration to answer. And of course doing a silly dance or pretending to be a dragon that is hungry for kids.

* Use their age as a guide

    Their kindergarden does this a lot an applies this to many different tasks. For example they recommend that a kid gets so many guests on their birthday as their age -- this keeps the kids from getting overwhelmed and the party from turning into a chaos. Or their age determines how many tasks to do: the three year old puts away three things, while the five year old puts away five things.
      Kids seem to understand this pretty well, because they know that everyone grows and besides their age is a very important thing for a preschooler! I'm sure you can use this to determine many things -- from food portions to pocket money.


      Do you have kids? Do share your own tips and tricks that help you deal with the little people in your life.

Cosmetic Favourites June 2013 + What I Recommend At Kiko

   Hey everyone, time for the monthly round-up of cosmetic reviews. This month I had luck, and am in love with all my purchases! read on to find out what stole my heart this summer:

 

Alverde Natural Glossy Lip Sheer in 02 Neutral Beige

   I wanted a lip product that was nude, but not zombie-nude. Something understated for everyday wear. The Alverde Natural Glossy Lip Sheer is pretty close to perfection. The colour is a warmer beige with a light frosty shimmer, sheer enough to give a pretty natural look. The product is creamy and the finish is frosty -- there is nothing glossy about it. It is sheer enough for some of your original lip colour to show through, which means that the colour will look different on you in a good way: it won't clash with your skin tone, and won't look dead. The Alverde natural glossy lip sheer can also be applied over a more intensive lip colour, to soften it and add a bit of frosty shimmer; or just in the middle of the lip for a highlight.

   The Alverde lip sheer is very moisturising (contains beeswax and tons of great plant oils) and feels soft and smooth. It doesn't gather in the lines and wears off evenly. It will last a couple of hours if you don't eat. The Alverde Natural Glossy Lip Sheer is also available in Light Magenta, and Soft Plum. I paid 3,75€ for it.

Natrue certified organic, cruelty-free.

Alverde Mamaglück Body Butter Wilde Malve

    I usually use oils to moisturise my skin, but I was tempted by the texture and feel of a body butter. I picked this up for and am quite happy. It sinks in quite fast, leaves the skin soft and smooth. A little bit goes a long way, so the tub will last and last. The main ingredient is shea butter, which I adore, as well as sunflower oil which the skin absorbs really fast. An important ingredient is evening primrose oil which is a wonder-oil that increases skin elasticity, regulates the oiliness of the skin and is great for all skin types (incidentally, this oils is also an amazing supplement for anyone with skin allergies, irritations or hair fall issues). This products is marketed for pregnant women and moms, but don't let this scare you off. In fact, most pregnancy products are less likely to contain anything irritating, and are good for increasing the skin's elasticity. The only issue I have with it is that the scent is a bit strong for my taste: I feel like a coconut macaroon; and it overwhelms the scent of the light dab of patchouli essential oil that I use as a perfume.
   Bottom line: love this, but would switch to a version with another scent.
The Alverde Mamaglück Body Butter is Vegan, cruelty-free and natrue certified.

P2 Summer Attack splashing all over bronzing mist

   After I saw this, I knew I had to have a leg bronzer. This one is not a self-tanner, it is basically a colour you spray on and spread with your palms. The colour is matt, no sparkles or sheen. However the tone is very yellow-orange, so it will look weird if your skin tone is very cool. If your skin is on the warmer side though, it can look natural if you manage to spread it around evenly.
    The bottle doesn't really mist it evenly over your legs, it kind of sprays out a bit and you need to use your palms to spread it properly. (Be careful and don't spray it while standing on a white carpet). I prefer to apply it on wet skin because it is easier to blend in. In the first moments is like "arrgh this colour is horrible and it's streaking" but after a few minutes sinks into the skin and looks quite nice. In the photo above I have the P2 Summer Attack bronzing mist on my right leg. My legs are already lightly tanned, so the effect is not so dramatic, but it is noticeable yet subtle. It is pretty much waterproof, I need soap to get it off, and it doesn't rub off on clothes.
I have to admit I bought it without looking at the ingredient list.
The product is limited edition, so grab it! 30ml kost 4,95 €.

Alverde Deo Roll-On Soft Aloe Vera Perle

    I got fed up of the Speick stick, and wanted to find something with a more delicate scent. Also, the Specik deo started getting less effective (do the bacteria breed to get resistant to all my deos?) This deo from Alverde met my criteria of not containing alcohol or baking soda (both dry out my armpit skin). The main ingredient here is zinc oxide, which is new to me as a deodorant.  Other deodorising ingredients are silica and sea salt. The scent is very mild, flowery but not too strong or sweet. The deo doesn't dry out my skin at all. The only (slight) minus is that the skin is white after application, and it takes a couple of minutes for it to sink in.
  Here is a bit more about zinc oxide in deoorants + a diy recipe.
Bottom line: love it and will probably stay faithful to it (until my beloved crystal deos start working for me again).
This Alverde Deo is Natrue-certified and cruelty-free.

Sundepil hair removal pads

   The Sundepil pads were sold at a kiosk at a fair I went to, and they are an impulse buy that I regret. Not that the pads don't work -- they work really well, but I see no reason I'd prefer them to razors. The manufacturer states: "The active surface of sundepil pads is covered with small crystals. These crystal surfaces help pluck the hairs from the roots by rotary movements, leaving the skin looking soft and slightly fair, as if freshly exfoliated." I'd correct this and say that the hair is not plucked out, it is simply rubbed off. You massage the skin with the pad, and you remove the hair and exfoliate the skin the same time. As the hair is removed only on the surface, it grows back just as stubbly as after shaving. I tested it out on the face, and the crystals are too harsh for me and scratched me. The epilating pads worked really well on the legs and arms, but again I see no advantage over razors. Maybe if you nick yourself a lot? I have not noticed any "razor bumps" with the pads but then I have been shaving for so long that I have stopped getting them from razors years ago.
    The price was 20€ for one big pad and one small, with 4 surface replacements for each.

Featured Store: Kiko Makeup Milano

    So a branch of Kiko opened in my town some time back. I have been there a couple of times and wanted to share a couple of recommendations with you. If you don't have a Kiko in your town, chances are you can buy these goodies online!
  First of all, Kiko has the cheapest nail glass file that I could find :) It costs 2,50€. Yay! Glass files are much kinder to the nails than normal files.
  I also like Kiko nail polish -- it is durable, has a big selection of colours, and is quite affordable (costs much less than Essie or Sally Hansen). Many nail salons in my town use Kiko nail colours.
At Kiko you can find the famous Konjac cleansing sponge. This is the only brick-and-mortar store I have seen these sponges in.
  The last thing that I really liked at Kiko are the eyeshadow pens called Eyetech Look. It is basically loose eyeshadow inside a pen with a sponge tip. The tip is actually big enough to use easily. Such an eyeshadow pen is great for travelling or for your handbag (although you'd still need a brush for blending). The only downside is that all of the colours are very shimmery/metallic.

    Their skin care products didn't impress me, the couple I had a look at were your typical stuff with a bunch of non-skin-friendly ingredients. I didn't bother to go through all of them, not when there is such a big choice of affordable natural products in other stores.


    Which products have you fallen in love with this month? Have you ever shopped at Kiko, and if so what would you recommend? 

Sneak Peak: Parfait Affinitas Spring/Summer 2014 Collection

   Parfait Affinitas, the US producer of lingerie from A till K is preparing the collection for the spring/summer season 2014. Parfait Affinitas consists of two brands, Affinitas which produces lingerie in sizes 30-38 A-DD and it's sister line Parfait which is targeted at bigger-busted women and offers sizes 28D – 40K (the biggest cups are not yet available in all models).
   I have got a sneak peak for you of the new pieces, which will be available for sail from Jan 2014. I will focus on the ones I found most interesting from both of the lines. Most of the bras as well as the briefs will be available in several styles and often also in different colours -- which is something I really like about Affinitas, since it increases the chances of finding a piece that appeals aesthetically to you, in a compatible construction.

Parfait:

   The theme is neo-romance and you'll see lots of florals, pastels and delicacy, with the exception of the bright Natalia.

The Louisa, also available in red/white as well as blue/ white, is my favourite from the new collection. The florals are fresh and not overwhelming and the lace adds just the right amount of lightness to the construction. Available as a Wire Bra, Half-Padded Bra, Brief and Hipster.

   For those who prefer something with more "pop", the Natalia is a fun option. I love the white piping, especially on the bottoms. The Natalia will be available as a Underwire Babydoll, Wire Bra, Padded Bra, Hipster or Bikini.

  The Casey, a great basic that I have reviewed here, will now be available in tow new styles: Little Black (Plunge Molded) Bra and the Little Black Boyshort.

I have already written about the Charlotte, Alexis and Sophia which will now be available in a K cup.

   I always love seeing how the lingerie looks like on film, so here is the video that showcases a couple of the new pieces:

 * * *

 Affinitas:  

 The theme for this collection is Romance By The Sea, so there is lots of softness and subdued tones. New things include first-time size expansion of 32-38DDD in select styles, reintroduction of the Triangle Bra silhouette and cotton as a fabrication. The collection offers a nice selection of basics which have subtle embellishments or points of interest which sets them apart. 

  The Julienne bra has the potential to be a great everyday piece: the beige colour is unobtrusive under most clothes, yet the set is pretty enough to not fall into the category of ugly-basics. Also available in reversed colour version (blue with white details). Available as microfiber Soft Padded Bra, Chemise, Bikini and Boyshort come in colorways Coral/Ivory and Ivory/Latte.

Here the clasp in the front intrigues me. The Nicole might be interesting for those with issues in the center gore! in Ivory and subdued pink Heather.

The Lara is the most ladylike animal print possible!

   What do you think of the Parfait Affinitas SS 2014 collections? I love the Louisa and would grab the Casey bottoms in all colours. However I am missing a kick of colour here, as a girl can't live on sorbet tones alone. 

   What would you be tempted to buy or at least try on? What kind of colours or patterns do you like to wear in the summer?