Friday, 13 November 2009

Thursday, 12 November 2009

  • What I Wore: An (Almost) Maternity-Wear Free Pregnancy




    A while back I wrote about having a stylish pregnancy on a budget, and now I want to share some photos that illustrate how I did it.
    My main strategy was buying only maternity trousers, and relying on non-maternity clothes for the rest, mostly stuff that I had worn before the pregnancy. Most of what I did buy were things that I could wear even after the pregnancy.
    I couldn't bring myself to buy maternity clothes that I'd wear for 9 months and then post-partum  just 2-3 months. (Maternity clothes are too big to fit in the first trimester, and after that, well, there is such a thing as seasons. I started my pregnancy in the fall, and then went from cold snowy winter to quite a hot summer. So stop telling me maternity wear is an investment.)
    To make the whole thing work, I used belts, leggings, belly-belts, and big jewelery.


    Here are some snapshots, of outfits that I found snap-worthy.

    All stuff, unless otherwise specified, is thrifted. Pardon the lack of shoes in most photos, I never wear them at home and forget to put them on for the outfit shots. Also, I'm no fashionista, so pardon the less-than-perfection of it all.



    Title photo (top): dress from Malaysia (thanks FL !), leggings from Pimkie



    Wool trousers from H&M I loved them, because I could unbutton the top buttons as my belly grew, and the lower buttons would keep the trousers nicely in place.
    Warm stole from Zaragoza street market, Spain





    I love the sweater, hate the shoes. But my black ones looked even worse. Actually the trousers should be longer; I've given them away for that reason. Nothing like taking outfit photos to learn what doesn't work.





    The belly is apparent only from profile. Zipper of the jeans is held by an elastic.





    White bead bracelets from India





    I made this high-waisted skirt from a10-year-old's dress. I just cut off the top part.
    Oh, and this looked much better after I put on hose.





    Nothing really interesting here, I just wanted to show how I used the same stuff for different outfits.





    Necklace is a gift from Bolivia, belly band from H&M (looks like it's a top worn underneath, but it's just a tube. It hides the open fly of the trousers.





    The gorgeous bat brooch on the scarf is from my grandma. I'm wearing matching earrings. The tunic from Avanti (C&A), cost around 6€ on sale. The jeans are maternity from H&M, I didn't like them very much because they were too roomy in the thighs.
    I wore this to some concert in the "lets do stuff while the baby still lets me" stage.




    Here I commit the cardinal sin showcase the avantgarde look of wearing leggings as trousers.
    Same tunic as in the above photo, it's wonderfully stretchy and it's not even a maternity tunic. Before you tell me that it makes my belly look huge, I'll tell you that my belly was huge. Really really huge.





    This dress always won me a lot of smiles, am still not quite sure why. The shoes are not clear in the photo, but I call them the Harlequin booties since they are half light grey and half dark grey.
    My belly was so huge that people would get nervous being around me. Blame it on the movies, which show women collapsing on the floor and screaming for ambulances. A real birth starts slowly, giving you enough time to walk home, feed the dog and watch a movie before you call the husband.




    I wish I had a better photo of this. It's an Indian Kurta-Salwar (aka Salwar-Suit aka Punjabi), stitched for western tastes. If you can get your hands on one of these (try Ebay), it's totally worth it. The roomy trousers and tunic are way more comfortable than any maternity wear, especially if you have a sensitive and itchy belly.
    I'm wearing it with a golden chain belt, and this peacock solitaire (from Bolivia) in one ear. The occasion was a Medieval Festival.





    My inner Hippie. This was almost the end of my pregnancy, which I spent among the Peonies.
    Dress is from Ebay, from Hongkong, I think.





    Photos: Eternal*Voyageur
    You might also want to read:

    * Maternity bra myths
    * Guide to Pregnant Backpacking
    * Malaysian postpartum belly wrap: Bengkung
       *more*

Wednesday, 11 November 2009

Monday, 09 November 2009

  • DIY Tutorial: Eyeshadow Palette From CD Jewel Case







    If you are like me, you hate having your eye-shadows and blushers in lots of tiny little containers. I often apply my make-up in the last moment, and I can never find the container that I want !

    So, I decided to put all my eye-shadows on a single palette, and blushers on another. I used CD jewel cases, and it took me around 15 minutes.

    You will need:

    • Eyeshadows or blushers
    • Empty CD jewel cases (look for thicker ones, not the flat thin ones).
    • A knife
    • Glue, or glue gun



    I didn't use the glue gun in the end, since I figured it could get quite messy



    HOW TO:



    ** Carefully, pry the eye shadow loose from it case.**

    You will notice that the shadow in in a little metal container, which is glued into the plastic base. Be careful to insert the blade between the metal and the plastic ! That means, outside of the metal rim !

    * Watch out: Be very gentle, and work slowly !
    If you don't do this part carefully, you might crack the shadow.
    If you do crack the shadow: Cover the shadow with a piece of foil or plastic bag, then press very hard with your thumb. Hopefully the pressure will squeeze the powder back together.
    * Watch out: not all eye shadows can be taken out this way ! Sometimes the metal rim is too soft, and starts bending. In that case, I guess its best to leave that shadow alone, otherwise it might break.





    **Remove the inner part of the CD jewel case.**

    Not all CDs have this ! If yours doesn't, make sure that it is the thicker, bulkier kind of CD case ! The thin flat ones are usually too thin for makeup.






    **Arrange you make-up in the case.**

    You might want to group it by colour, or by lightness/darkness. Or you might want to separate the matts from the glitters. My stuff had all different sizes, so I worked with that.
    Watch out: Try closing the lid of the case. Usually there is a gap on the left side, and small protrusions on the top of the case. If the lid doesn't close, you might want to move things around a bit.


    I left the black palette as is, because it was impossible to take out the pigments without cracking them (the metal containers were too soft). The lid and little feet of the palette have been removed, though.


    Glue the pigments into the CD jewel case:



    Top: eye-shadows.
    Left: blush & bronzers; right: eye-shadow from Dr. Hauschka. It's organic, and after I collect enough of it I plan to throw the toxic ones away.


    Finding it a bit plain ? Decorate away !

    You could use paint, ribbons & lace, rhinestones, decoupage...


    Ta-da !



    I used window colours on this one.



    Any idea on how to reuse these ?






    I hope that you liked this little tutorial ! I'm constantly making little stuff around the house, and I have realised that I could make photos and post little tutorials on here !


    Have you ever made something similar ? Do you have ideas on other ways to make a make-up palette ? Let me know in the comments !

    Photos by Eternal*Voyageur (me).
    If you use them, please link back to me !

Friday, 06 November 2009

Wednesday, 04 November 2009

  • How To Keep Your Home Clean & Tidy In Just 15 Mins A Day






    I'm a messy cleanness freak. That is, I love my home to be organised and clean, but I never manage to have it that way.

    I used to ignore my home for days, then suddenly I was overwhelmed by the mess, freak out, and go for hours-long cleaning sprees. These made me burn out, and I didn't want to clean ever again. The mess started piling up again. Circle. Chain. Whatever.

    Sounds familiar ?

    Now I clean for 15 minutes a day (apart from vaccuming and cleaning the kitchen work surface). Most time I'm on top of the mess, and when someone threatens to visit, I only need to clear up toddler food and socks. Oh, and feel like I clean less than before. Just 15 minutes. Every day.

    I got the "15 minute clean" idea from the Uncluterer. Let me tell you how I made it work for me:


    * How "15 minutes" works:

    • 15 minutes is so few that you can't use the excuse of not having time. I mean, you can't not have 15 minutes. (If you really don't, you need to quit one of your 3 jobs). So, you are likely to actually clean every day.
    • 15 minutes is short, and this make you work faster to beat the clock. You get more done.
    • You're not fed up of cleaning after 15 minutes. That means you don't burn out, and you still feel up to cleaning the next day.


    * How to use the "15 minute clean-up":


    "15 minute clean-up" a regime cleaning your home for just 15 mins a day. That's it. Cleaning means putting stuff away as well as washing off dirt. It does not include vaccuming, putting clearing up dishes after eating, or mopping up the smoothie from the floor.

    Here is how to do it:
    • Divide your home into 7 parts, one part for each day.
      You may want to give yourself a day off on certain days, like the weekends or a day when you are very busy. Alternatively you can schedule the 'easiest' room on those days.
      Keep in mind other activities: schedule the bathroom after your messy home beauty treatment.
    • Start the kitchen timer.
    • Work fast, first doing the essentials (putting away unsightly stuff, throwing out what needs to go, and emptying the room's trash into the 'main' trash.).
      It might be useful to have a list of these essential tasks somewhere in that room.
    • Then leave the room. Come back, and note which ugly, messy or dirty thing catches your eye. Deal with it.
      As the Unclutterer would say: “What single action would make the greatest impact right now?”
    • Do the stuff that need to be done only occasionally: clean the windows, remove spots from walls, declutter a drawer, remove spiderwebs, clean the TV screen, wipe the light switches.
    • When the timer rings, stop. You're not allowed to do anything else. If you do cheat and continue working, you won't want to work tomorrow.
      Ok, if you've done most of the window, you can finish it. But try to keep track of time while working, so you'll have an idea how many tasks you can fit in.

    If after 15 minutes your room is still a mess:

    • Train family members to put their stuff away and help with the household chores. You are not their slave.
    • Organise your stuff, so that you always know where everything is, so that it's easy to put away, and that the ugliest stuff is in closed storage.
    • Practice the habit of putting everything away after using it, immediately.
    • Get rid of stuff. You probably have too much clutter.
    • Lower your expectations. The house should be for you, not you for the house.

    What else ?

    I try to have an end of the day routine, when I put stuff away for a few minutes, and make sure that I'm greeted the next morning by a clean kitchen work surface and sink (nothing starts your day like doing dirty dishes from the day before). 


    If I still have the time and energy to clean after my 15 minutes. I check out Kelly's Missions. This lady is great to remind me to deal with areas that often get ignored (like the spider webs).

    Photo by juliealicea1947


Tuesday, 03 November 2009

  • Bolivians Do It Way Better. Costumed Parties, I Mean.

    Halloween has nothing on these guys. Absolutely.
    The colours, the fantasy ! There must have been hundreds of costumes, from angels to demons, each fantastically handcrafted !

    These photos were taken by my amazing backpacker husband. He was just walking down a street of Cochabamba, Bolivia, when he bumped into this. I miss living in a country where I could randomly bump into awesome stuff.


    Click on the photos to see them large. These fantastic costumes absolutely deserve that !




    I wish I knew what the stuff on these cars represented. Anyway, check out the lamas on the 2nd car !

    2009-10-250073.jpeg




    2009-10-250091.jpeg



    Tinkus



    Most of the costumed people were dancing. Some of the costumes must have weighed a lot !






    Yes, this guy was dancing too. Try to imagine it ! His costume is huuuge !

    2009-10-250134.jpeg



    This costume is cool. Move over, Batman.

    Amazing costume



    And this little condor is the cutest:








    Spaniards. Conquistadores. Donas and Torros. Ole !

    Spaniards



    And the Indians. With lots of feathers.

    2009-10-250137.jpeg




    Of course, no procession is complete without Cholitas. Here in green and orange.

    2009-10-250114.jpeg




     2009-10-250129.jpeg




    2009-10-250102.jpeg





    For Bolivian Wolverine and neon Archangels, see the rest of the photos.



    Photos by Intiwawa


Monday, 02 November 2009

  • Just A Few Toxins Won't Hurt You







    A common reaction to warnings of toxic chemicals in cosmetics is "but such a tiny quantity couldn't hurt !"

    Ever heard of Homeopathy ?

    Homeopathic medicines are made by diluting the active substances so so much, that the final medicament contains infinitesimally teeny tiny amounts of it, maybe a couple of molecules. And yet these medicaments are powerfully effective (they cured me of a couple of nasty sicknesses.)
    So you see, even a tiny amount of something can have a powerful effect over the body.


    It adds up

    We are exposed to thousands of chemicals each and every day. All those tiny quantities add upto a chemical body burden of at least 700 chemicals for an average person!



    We can avoid half of toxic chemicals we take in

    We put around half of these toxins voluntarily into our bodies: we do have the control which food, household detergents, cosmetics and water bottle we choose. Some of us have even some control over their work area, like choosing not to use air fresheners.
    We cannot live in an environment completely free from toxic chemicals unless we escape to the Amazon basin, but we can do a lot to avoid a good chunk of them.



    Be smart. Read the labels.
    Don't let yourself be poisoned.
    You don't have to choose between beauty and health.

    Photo by Will Gortoa
    You might also want to read:

Friday, 30 October 2009

Thursday, 29 October 2009

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