There and Back Again

It appears Benedict Cumberbatch is a fan of Dr.Hauschka products. I love his name, it sounds like a breakfast item - a glorious mixture of high-class cuisine meets roadside café fare.  He has a role (I so want to write “roll” to continue my breakfast musing..) in the upcoming Hobbit movie and this made me think of my journal.  This is not, I should hasten to add, because I believe there is a great need for Melissa Day Cream amongst the hairy-footed residents of Middle-earth, rather due to the full title of the work - “The Hobbit: There and Back Again”. I like the idea of a journey that returns to the same point, symbolizing the cyclic nature of life. 

WARNING (for anyone who has read my post Friend Number 159 and the Magic of 8) Yes, I am going to start rambling on about leminscates again, this time with the help of a swan!

It was on my early morning walk, that the reflection of a preening swan triggered a “leminscation” (my definition: reflection on the importance of the figure 8).  Please someone tell me they can see the figure of 8 in this image as well; otherwise I can only conclude my breakfast (alas chia seeds and not a Benedict Cumberbatch) has hallucinogenic properties.

 

I always energize my cleansing water by gently swirling it in the shape of a figure of 8 (note to self: another potential definition for my new word "leminscation").  Whilst doing this I reflect on, and feel grateful for, all the blessings in my life.  The swan seemed to so gracefully encapsulate this concept – the water, the reflection, the figure of 8, the cleansing, the beauty of nature – the perfect image for this post.

 

However, ramblings about hobbits, swans and leminscates aside, what about my 30 day journey?  Ok, well, on physical level:

My skin problems area Day One:

 

 My skin Day Thirty:

 

Using Dr.Hauschka doesn’t guarantee that you will kiss all your problems goodbye, although I can hand on heart state that it has massively improved my own skin concerns. I still get spots, lumps and bumps, but very mild in comparison to when I use any other products. It also strengthens my relationship with my skin; the products gently nudge me in the direction of treating my body as a whole, with love and respect.  If I were to return to the image of the swan, this would not be to state that Dr.Hauschka magically transforms ugly ducklings; rather that it enables you to see that no duckling is ever ugly:

“Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it” – Confucius

 

I have loved sharing this journal and I feel sad that I won’t be charting the progress of the plants (one nasty incident yesterday - involving a cornflower and a slug- the slug won), or posting another picture of the day,  recipe, quote of the day or a random reflection. Note: if you saw the state of the embroidery you would be relieved I’m not sharing that ; ) 

 

Finally, you will have noticed using Dr.Hauschka doesn’t magically make me less camera shy (I know which side of the camera I like to be, my cat quite likes the opposite side and would have merrily been photo of the day for the whole period, in fact is still quite miffed that she wasn’t!).  However, the seed of positivity taking root in my soul, I’m working on that as my own Dr.Hauschka journey grows..

TO BE CONTINUED

Day Twenty-Eight

Date: 24th August 2012
Weather: Feeling Autumnal

Products used:	AM	·       Sage Bath (in cleansing water) ·       Cleansing Cream ·       Clarifying Toner ·       Melissa Day Cream ·       Lip Care Stick
	PM	·       Lavender Bath (in cleansing water) ·       Cleansing Cream ·       Rhythmic Night Conditioner ·       Fitness Foot Balm
Reflections, observations, random thoughts, mental notes!		FROM NOW UNTIL 11AM TUESDAY 28th August 15% OFF the entire Hero Products collection online – this includes • Rose Day Cream • Cleansing Cream • Facial Toner • Melissa Day Cream • Normalising Day Oil • Rejuvenating Mask • Regenerating Body Moisturiser • Birch Arnica Body Oil • Hand Cream • Translucent Bronze Concentrate* • Volume Mascara • Translucent Make-up *I have heard excellent reviews of this product, perhaps I should try, I am just so pale I fear any bronzers will turn me into a carrot.

My Skin How comfortable does my skin feel after cleansing?

8.25 and rising.

Activities & Mood:	A morning on the underground: The wonderful thing about the underground, which let’s face it isn’t accustomed to sharing the same sentence with such high praising adjectives (“dirty”-yes, “overcrowded”-frequently, “scary”-on occasions, but seldom "wonderful") is the gift of anonymity.  If people-watching were an Olympic sport, I would get gold. Sometimes I desperately want to alight a couple of stops early so I can hear the end of a snippet of conversation.  On other occasions, I want to rush over and tell someone everything will be alright, always prevented by the fear of losing my seat (just joking), really held back by the fear that I will be intruding on a moment of freedom to cry alone.  This morning I sat and scrutinized make-up styles – I am going to be brave, the next time I am in a store offering complimentary makeovers I will go for it…definitely, well almost definitely, perhaps..maybe I will just order a lipstick or some volume mascara.  An afternoon breaking things:  What is it with me an electrical gadgets?  This is so not the X-Man power I requested.  The cursor on my work laptop is dancing in a frustrating “catch me if you can” fashion (oh no you can’t and I have just randomly opened 1001 applications hmmmpff!).
Picture for the day:	Another bargain basement plant – shriveled and brown on arrival – simply add water and a little love:
Quote for the day:	“Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul.” Henry Ward Beecher

Day Twenty-Seven

Date: 23rd August 2012
Weather: Whatever the weather is I'm feeling slightly under it....

Products used:	AM	·       Lavender Bath (in cleansing water) ·       Cleansing Cream ·       Clarifying Toner ·       Melissa Day Cream ·       Lip Care Stick
	PM	·       Lavender Bath (in cleansing water) ·       Cleansing Cream ·       Rhythmic Night Conditioner
Reflections, observations, random thoughts, mental notes!		Using the different Bath oils really adds another dimension to a cleansing routine This morning, as I made my choice, I remembered a quote comparing lavender to Mother Teresa: “Tireless, always even-tempered, with unfailing gentleness and devotion.  Lavandula cares for and calms, listens to and remedies a thousand ills.  She takes care of children, adults and elderly, animals, plants, the earth and sky.  She looks after everyone with equal love and if there is anyone in the world whom she neglects it is herself” – Mailhebiau (A Portrait in Oils) Put another way, if my Lavender bath could sing this morning it would be the following song by Sinead O’Connor “This Is to Mother You”

My Skin How comfortable does my skin feel after cleansing?

Comforted, nurtured and protected.

Activities & Mood:	Very occasionally my dreams transport me back to that horrible night at the hospital with Dad.  I woke up very early, clammy and unsettled, so read a “comfort blanket” book – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time – this is a fantastic read and I would highly recommend it.  I think I need win.zip for my thoughts. I have so many jostling around and vying for position, I want to compress them.  I am having a difficult internal debate about a situation with a friend, there is a fine line between patient understanding and turning into a doormat (this made me think of a line from the film “The Holiday”, also made me think that a bit like Lavender you can sometimes expend all your energy on others and neglect yourself).
Picture for the day:	Who didn’t check the battery on my beloved camera? (hmmm…I shall have strong words with self).  Normal service will be resumed tomorrow.  In the meantime, Test Card F seemed a suitable image for suspension of activity:
Quote for the day:	Iris: “You’re supposed to be the leading lady of your own life, for God’s sake…” The Holiday

Day Twenty-Six

Date: 22nd August 2012
Weather: Another not sure if I want Salad or Soup day...

Products used:	AM	·       Sage Bath (in cleansing water) ·       Cleansing Cream ·       Clarifying Toner ·       Melissa Day Cream ·       Lip Care Stick
	PM	·       Lavender Bath (in cleansing water & a bath) ·       Cleansing Cream ·       Rhythmic Night Conditioner
Reflections, observations, random thoughts, mental notes!		Lesson learnt: Never ever attempt to use a brand spanking new muslin cloth if it has not been pre-washed…instructions are given for a reason!

My Skin How comfortable does my skin feel after cleansing?

Soft, soft, soft (which apart from being unlike an unwashed muslin, sounds like an advert for a brand of toilet paper, the one where you have to plant three trees for every pack sold… well they do the planting)

Activities & Mood:	After watching the Great British Bake Off, this is the first attempt at an eight-strand plaited loaf  (ok, so my plaiting is a little dodgy, but a vast improvement on my embroidery/knitting/sewing "skills"...plus bread making is a gloriously therapeutic way of de-stressing after a distressing day) I had a Jackie Chan day workwise.  Alas, this doesn’t mean I turned into a martial arts master and deftly sorted the printer jam with a cleverly placed side kick, rather nobody understood the words coming out of my mouth ; (  I think I will go and have a relaxing Lavender Bath that will put the world to rights.
Picture for the day:	A beautiful rose (well it is has been a hard day and they are my favourite ; )
Quote for the day:	“Renew, release, let go. Yesterday’s gone. There’s nothing you can do to bring it back. You can’t “should’ve” done something. You can only DO something. Renew yourself. Release that attachment. Today is a new day!” Steve Maraboli