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GoodSkin Labs Blog 1: My Aging Concerns

(Beauty Blitz blog)
By Marni Andrews

Who, me? Never. You know what I’m talkin’ about. The dullness you’re getting way too used to seeing lately. That pesky — omg, yes, it’s actually the beginning of uh, ooh, a line? Oh no! This can’t be happening. But I think it is, because I just pinched myself and it hurts! Yes, I’m officially clocking in with, gasp, aging concerns.

You know, when I was 20 or even 25, I never thought about this stuff. I was having fun, I was carefree, I stayed up late all the time, I didn’t take off my makeup every night like I should have. But still my skin pulled through. Despite the repeated insults, the late night French fries, the one too many vodka martinis and not NEARLY enough green vegetables, Skin just showed up every day and looked fine.

So I can be forgiven for starting to take Skin for granted. An occasional breakout was about as bad as it got. Then it happened. I, uh, started to get a wee bit OLDER. Not a word I love but I’m a realist. The good thing (if there can be a good thing about getting older besides having better man radar) is that I’m discovering GOOD products!

For anti-aging, I really do love the wicked roller ball action of Sculptinex and the tightening wonders it can perform. Even better, it boosts my own natural collagen production. Nice. Gotta love that (and I do)! Getting older is not for sissies, but I intend to fight it every step of the way!

GoodSkin Labs Blog 2: Winter Skin Issues

(Beauty Blitz blog)
By Marni Andrews

If you’re anything like me (and a lot of my girlfriends), my skin has been changing over the last month or so. From beautifully moist and dewy for most of our long, hot summer this year, it’s now acting cranky. It’s throwing off dry little flakes and it’s lost some of that lovely healthy sheen it had in the summer and early fall.

What to do? I’ve started to exfoliate more often like a good monkey (one of my close friend’s favorite expressions and I use it whenever possible!), but it’s still not responding like it did. My other main problem is sensitivity. I’m very fair and my skin is fairly delicate, so any excess sun, wind, alcohol (both on the skin or drinking it) or harsh products shows up really quickly.

The best solution for me is  a longer term one — I’m super careful with my diet. It may sound boring but eating fresh, raw fruit and vegetables as much as possible, and as little processed food and red meat as possible, shows up almost immediately on my skin. Combine that with drinking lots of water, not so much coffee, and getting as much sleep as I can and it’s a winning combination.

GoodSkin Labs Blog 3: The Busiest Woman I Know

(Beauty Blitz blog)

I am the busiest woman in my life! All my family are out of town. My boyfriend is also out of town (120 km); I see him on weekends. So between phone calls to stay in touch and driving, and flying a few times a year to visit family, I log a lot of time. I have a pet and two jobs: an office-based director’s position and freelance work. Add laundry, groceries, exercise and errands and it’s busy!

Pampering? That would be nice!……………….. My tips are simple.

-Make lists and more lists and check things off!

-Walk and take the stairs to fit in more exercise.

-Carry a detailed appt book everywhere.

-Eat really well…. fruit and vegetables, no processed or fast food, lots of water and I never compromise on sleep! It’s too important.

-GoodSkin Lab products make it easy to keep my skin in shape, especially Exten-10 cream and Lumecin. Thanks GoodSkin Labs!

Is Your Fire Pit Legal?

(various newspapers)
ghostwriting by Marni Andrews

I love a backyard fire pit. It gives you that cottage feel without any of the upkeep or the long drive. Nothing more caveman than real fire. But building one can be a DIY nightmare.

A fire pit is a grownup’s campfire, nice looking and contained so it doesn’t start your house on fire. Check fire code, ordinances and permit requirements for your municipality. Open fires are illegal in many areas. There could be restrictions on type of fuel that can be used as well. Most rural areas will allow outdoor fires. Read more →

Sterling Silver Flatware

(Homemakers magazine)
by Marni Andrews

One of the best auction bargains is sterling- silver flatware. In Canada, classic
Birks patterns such as Georgian Plain and Saxon are popular because they are not ornate and thus fit in with most decor. The Old English and Fiddle patterns are also sought after. Pieces from the Georgian period to the early 20th
century are top finds. The Victorian period is more affordable and more abundant because much of it is ornate. While these 1877 Sheffield fish
servers (shown above),  brought $900 at auction, you can pick up a set of Victorian silver teaspoons from $20 to $25 per piece.

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