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Friday, February 22, 2013

Winter days...

I've lived in the North my whole life. Because of this, people often assume that I have a love affair going on with the cold and dark, saying "oh you're used to it" when mention is made of our long winter season. And that is somewhat true. I am used to it. By the time crisp September is over and the winter months loom, I admit I look forward to the long darkness and quieter moments in my life.





Winter for me is hunkering down, bundling up, catching up on my reading and movies, almost like a hibernation mode. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy getting outside and I do partake in many of the winter activities offered here. But I also enjoy the slightly slower pace of life winter brings. Heavy snow and the roads are bad? Ah, lets just stay home tonight....

There is a certain comfort in being at home, tucked in on the couch, maybe with a fire going and a nice glass of red wine. There is a stillness to the winter months, a reprieve from the frenetic activity that the endless daylight of summer brings. Up here, during nice summer weather, one almost feels obligated to be outside all day. Because you don't know how long the nice weather will last, and you know those dark nights are coming soon enough. A big part of me enjoys not having to worry about planning my day around the sun.

Yet this time of year, I find myself beginning to long for those summer days. Over the years, the winter and accompanying darkness seems longer and longer. I begin to wonder what the sun feels like on my face, what its like to go without a heavy coat. I remember my bare feet on the warmth of the back deck, and gaze at all my summer sandals, lined up and ready to be worn again.

I have a love-hate relationship with this place sometimes, but it is home to me. I've traveled the world and still see it as the most beautiful place on earth. We are lucky here, to have modern amenities and urban choices, with the backdrop of magnificant mountains, ocean and wildlife. There aren't too many places where you can drive 15 minutes and be on a wooded trail, where you are more likely to run into a moose or bear than a person. I appreciate all of this, and love many things about this place.

But the winters, the hibernation, grows longer as I get older. I find myself tired of the snow, of the cold, of the dark. I long for spring, for flowers and green grass. I miss it.

We talk of leaving here when my youngest finishes high school. When that time comes, I think I will be happy to  go. Yet when spring arrives, as it always does, and I break out my bike, take off for a run, and put my winter coat away, I remember that the changing seasons are one thing I love about this place. And maybe endless sunshine can be as tiresome as endless winters.

And I love how excited we get up here when the weather does finally change. People break out their shorts and flip-flops as soon as it hits 50 degrees. We start planning our summer hikes, camps and fishing trips. We shake off the dark grip of winter and look forward to those summers, so short, but so sweet.

It's snowing. But I hear spring breathing under that coat of white. We are waiting. We are ready.


Friday, February 1, 2013

Birchbox for January

Someone recently asked me, "What the heck is a Birchbox?" A Birchbox, my dear friends, goes something like this:

It's a little box (okay its not made of birch, its made of cardboard!) full of delicious samples of all kinds of new beauty products. You can sign up here. For a mere $10 a month, you get a bevy of beauty delivered to your door. Some months are, of course, better than others. But there is usually at least one full size sample in the pack, worth at least as much as the $10 you pay.

Here's what this month's "Best Year Ever" box contained:

LASHEM Lash Gel Serum:


This is meant to be applied along your lash line, to help grow thicker, fuller lashes. I haven't tried it yet, mainly because some of the reviews were less than flattering. If I do try it, I'll let you know how it works!

Number 4 Clarifying Shampoo:



This is a travel size shampoo, but is actually a nice size. Better than some of the travel size stuff you get that lasts all of 48 hours of your vacation, then you're left looking for the nearest drugstore....

Anyway, I tried it. It took a little getting used to because it is very thick and creamy. But it works! My hair felt super-clean and shiny afterwards.

theBalm Cosmetics in Hot Mama:
This lovely shadow is what makes Birchbox worth that $10 a month. I absolutely LOVE this color, its a little brighter than the picture and its a great accent on my eyes. It is considered a two-in-one blush and highlighter, but I swept it right across my lids and it looked FAB!

Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream:


The Birchbox gals put three samples of this in the box, which was a nice extra. One little sample isn't really enough, in my opinion, to see how well a product works. Especially something like face cream, where you need at least a week or so of regular use to see any results. I like the way this smells and the lightness of it. I think I would use it more as a day cream, I like a heavier (wrinkle filling!) night cream.

I also got a perfume sample of Harvey Prince Skinny Chic, which claims to not only make you smell good, it is supposed to fight cravings and keep energy levels high. I know that smells can definitely trigger our desire to eat, but I'm not sure if this really keeps me from dreaming of chocolate cupcakes. It does smell great though, a nice blend of apple,mint and lotus blossum.

So there it is. Birchbox. A box of goodies, not a box of birch.

Go check it out and see what kind of wonderland awaits! In addition to the monthly sample pack, their website offers regular discounts, specials and video tutorials!