5 Uses for Sweet Almond Oil

1. Eye Make Up Remover
Almond oil can remove mascara and heavy eye make-up quickly and gently. Just place a few drops onto an organic cotton pad and wipe over eyes.

2. Dry skin / Night Oil
Apparently Liz Hurley uses Almond Oil on her face to rehydrate dry skin. Try using it a few nights a week before bedtime to help skin repair during winter time.

3. Hair Dye Removal
Remove stubborn hair dye stains on skin around hairline. Green women who still want to dye their hair (with ammonia free natural dyes) will understand the trouble of removing dye stains on the hairline. Using Vaseline was once encouraged but as it contains petroleum, a different and more natural solution is needed. I covered a cotton pad in almond oil and was really impressed by how effectively it worked.

4. Décolletage Moisturiser
Do as the French women do and start moisturising your décolletage area daily. Almond oil works wonderfully as a body moisturiser, nourishing the skin without leaving a greasy residue.

5. Carrier Oil for your favourite essential oil
Use with coarse sea salt and lemon essential oil for a zesty body exfoliant or add a few lavender drops to almond oil and rub onto stomach during that time of the month.

I use Absolute Aromas Sweet Almond Oil which is available at most good health food stores or online at Goodness Direct (£1.86 for 50ml) or the organic version at Amazon UK.

Organic Jeans by Kuyichi

What to Look for in Denim
¨ Not treated, washed or finished with chemicals
¨ Organic / Fairtrade / Sustainable Cotton
¨ Ethically Made
¨ Naturally dyed

Kuyichi Organic Denim
Organic: Yes (SKAL certified)
Fair Trade: SA8000 Certified (Social Accountability)
Made: Some garments made in Peru
Price Range: £85-95
Buy In Store: Stella (Camden Market, London) or Equa (Islington, London)
Buy Online: Adili or Stella and Equa (as above).
Did U Know? You can trace the journey of your garment through the ‘Track + Trace’ system (courtesy of MADE-BY). All you have to do is find the ‘Check it Out’ code on your clothing and follow a link on Kuyichi’s website (http://www.kuyichi.com/).

Image: Kuyichi Lisa Jean available at Adili. To learn more about Kuyichi, click here.

Best Organic Shampoo for Damaged Hair

Green People - Intensive Repair Shampoo Organic Geranium & Sandalwood (£9.30)
I have struggled to find an organic shampoo to befriend my unruly locks but this shampoo from Green People is quite simply incredible. Hair is left looking and feeling soft, shiny and sleek. The shampoo is an award winning and top selling Green People product, ideal for coloured and constantly coiffed hair. It is highly concentrated, so will outlast all its competitors and with nourishing ingredients such as green tea, sandalwood and B vitamins, you will be left wondering why you did not switch sooner to green hair care.
Available at most health food shops or purchase online at Green People UK.

Holiday Chic Gift Guide: Chinoiserie

As worried as I am about the future of art, I'm even more nervous about the future of books. I've been hearing rumblings that the publishing houses aren't doing so well which scares me. I love my reading and can't imagine pulling out a Kindle instead of a real book. And what will happen to all the beautiful coffee table books? You definitely can't read or enjoy them on a Kindle so my Holiday Chic (get the play on words?) Gift Guides this season will all have a theme based on a different book beginning with Chinoiseries. I've tried to include a fun range of ideas, some reasonably priced and a few purely of the Neiman Marcus Fantasy Catalog variety because sometimes it's just fun to dream! Hope you enjoy them!

As a designer, I thought I should add a few examples of Chinoiserie inspired furniture and the Chinoiserie Laquer Etagere from Hollyhock would make a lovely over the top present and a perfect place to display many beautiful books. My favorite part are the gold fish and hanging tassels!

This beautiful gilt Chinese Chippendale Style Mirror from Deadwyler had it's price cut in half to $1900 but while it's still not cheap, you would be getting a gorgeous bargain.

Pieces in Atlanta is one of my favorite stores and I think that this Red Pagoda Chandelier would look very smart over a breakfast table or in an entry hall.

If home furnishings are too expensive for your budget, then perhaps a $32 candle would be a better gift idea. I love the Pagoda Box Candles of Seda France and luckily their candles smell as fabulous as the packaging looks. My personal favorites include Hyacinth and French Tulip but Chinese Mandarin Vanille clearly fits the Chinoiserie theme perfectly!

The best part of Christmas is unpacking all the old ornaments and remembering the stories behind them so I was think an ornament makes a lovely present. While you could get something cheaper at Hallmark, this $115 L'Object Pagoda Ornament would certainly be treasured for a lifetime.

Everyone knows that Mrs. John L. Strong makes the most luxurious stationery and paper products and I especially love them for their Chinoiserie motifs. These Pagoda note cards and lined envelopes would have to be saved for only the chicest correspondence though since they cost $135 for a box of 20.

If you really wanted to blow the bank, then I suggest a trip across the pond to have a drink in the "deeply glamorous" Artesian cocktail lounge at the Langham Hotel designed by the fabulous David Collins. I mean, who couldn't use a few drinks these days! It's just the kind of place that Auntie Mame would love.

And speaking of Auntie Mame, it's one of my all time favorite movies. I not only love it for it's hilarious madcap mishaps and divine interior design (Chinoiserie inspired among others) but for it's heartwarming story part of which is set at Christmas during the Depression. It's also actually based on a book, Auntie Mame: An Irreverent Escapade by Patrick Dennis which I think I'm going to put on my Christmas list this year. I have a lot of time on my hands now for reading and this is just the sort of story I need! Happy Holidays!

Ugallery Sale!

I need to start my holiday shopping, or what little of it there will be this year, but I want to buy meaningful things and also items that don't cost a lot of money. So it was perfect timing when I received an email from my new friends at Ugallery informing of their upcoming 20% off sale. I think original and affordable art would be a great gift that would also give back to the student artist who created it. Everyone wins! I'm also not paid to advertise for them. I just really believe in the talent of the artists and the quality of their work and want to support them. Below are some of my favorites.

The Ugallery 20% off sale starts Wednesday, December 10th and runs through Sunday, December 21st. Enter the coupon code "wishlist20" at checkout to redeem the discount. Happy Shopping!

Road at Sunset, 2007, oil on canvas board, Geneva Smith, University of the Pacific, $90

Enlightenment Experience, 2007, oil on canvas, Veronica Franklin, University of Colorado, $1500

Chance, 2006, oil on canvas, Lauren Prezanno, SUNY New Paltz, $150

Green and Pink Abstract, 2008, print on paper, Charlesey Charlton, East Tennessee State University, $250

Hidden Fortress, 2006, oil on canvas, Kevin Yang, The Cooper Union, $1000

Farm House, 2007, oil on masonite board, Rachel Miller, The University of the Arts, $300

Boat on Big Lake, 2007, photograph on paper, Mike Christy, University of Arizona, $75

DC Curve, 2007, photograph on paper, Brian O'Doherty, University of Maryland, $80

Bird in Flight, 2007, photography on paper, Jenn Bomar, Michigan State University, $70

Top Artwork: Autumn, 2008, oil on canvas, Comusina Hardman, University of Georgia, $450

No Mean Reds for Me!

I want to thank everyone for the wonderful emails and comments today! Your support and encouragement are helping me get through this scary time. I think I would be much more nervous if I didn't have the blog and all the connections that I have made from it. I am confident that things will work out for the best and definitely plan to make the most of new found time.

My first day at home has made me realize that there are actually some benefits to being unemployed such as...not having to leave your cozy apartment on the coldest day of the year. It only got to 28 degrees today! (I did actually go out later but just to pick up more diet coke!) You can stay in your robe and pajamas all day if you want to. (I don't plan on making this a habit but it was fabulous for one day! Don't worry, I got dressed to go to the store.) You spend less money by making your own lunch than you would buying it at City Bakery. (Sliced roast beef on arugula with shaved Parmesan cheese. Don't mind if I do.) You have lots of time to work out. (You actually have to motivate yourself exercise though which might be a problem.) You have time to make holiday treats, decorate and write out your Christmas cards. (You just have to make sure you give away more sweets than you sample!) And best of all, you also have more time to blog!

It was getting too hard to juggle everything with my day job so I am looking forward to having more time to put together more in depth, interesting and original posts. I also had someone contact me today about guest blogging for them. Things are definitely looking up!

Everything Happens for a Reason

HC is the latest victim of the current economic crisis. I'm trying to look at this as a positive thing since I never felt that the firm I was working for was a very good fit. And now I have time to focus on what I really want to do which includes working on my own client projects, writing, styling, and consulting. I'm also excited to start accepting advertising and sponsors on the blog since I have so many readers now. (It might be nice to earn a little money for all my hard work too!) But in the meantime, if anyone needs an interior designer or has any job leads, give me a call. I have a lot of free time on my hands!