Urban Comfort

Turning Back Time

I had a birthday on Friday. My celebration started on Thursday and stretched into the weekend, but there was definitely a point where I sat up and thought, I'm how old?!  I don't mind getting older. I just want to look and feel good doing it. So in the spirit of sharing, I have three goodies to share with you, products I think are worth investing in and are making a real difference in my life. 

Fish Oil Supplements

Yes, I've heard about these for years, but I don't even take a multivitamin on a daily basis, so fish oil supplements seemed like just another thing to remember - until I went for my yearly eye exam and mentioned to my doctor how dry and red my eyes had become over the last year. She confirmed that my tear production had dropped off and suggested a therapeutic regimen of fish oil supplements.

Discomfort tends to motivate me more than health concerns, so I bought a bottle. What surprised me in the end wasn't just how much better my eyes felt, but how much better I felt in general. I've noticed changes in my mood and mental acuity and general wellbeing. I'm a believer now.  And if you're wrinkling your nose, thinking about a fishy aftertaste or smell, I can assure you there are quality brands that don't have anything fishy about them - and I take four a day, so I should know.  (The brand I've been using is Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Soft Gels.)

 

Retin-A

I have the very sensitive, fair skin of my father (Scottish and English descent) coupled with the genetic gift of younger looking skin, courtesy of my grandmother (Spanish descent). I've taken decent care of my skin over the years, but I'd started noticing some changes that over-the-counter products just weren't touching, so I asked my dermatologist about Retin-A. She told me it was still the gold standard in treatment for wrinkles, sun damage, and general aging, and thought I could use it, even with the rosacea that I suffer from on occasion.

She was right. I started using it every other night, in a gel form (Tretinoin Gel .01%), and after just a month I started to see and feel the difference. There is an initial adjustment period - in my case, some dry patches and flaking skin (but no irritation) and different levels of benefits as you continue to use it.  The first two months you can expect to see a difference in skin texture. Months three and four bring a reduction in hyperpigmentation and sun damage.  After four months it goes to work on wrinkles and crows feet. 

It's only available through your doctor's office and the price tag might seem heftier than over-the-counter products, but you end up using a lot less than non-pharmeceutical grade anti-aging products, meaning that in the end it costs almost exactly the same. 

 

Adora Calcium Supplements

I know how important it is to take calcium supplements and yet, I've never been able to bring myself to take them on a consistent basis. I hate the giant pills, have no real fondness for the chews...but my mother-in-law just introduced me to to Adora, which looks and tastes exactly like a piece of chocolate - REALLY! (I've only tried the dark chocolate, but it comes in milk chocolate as well.) Problem solved. I no longer have to eat my way through the cheese tray to get enough calcium in my day. 

 

Here's to another year of health, happiness, and beauty in all its forms!

 

(Photo from Temari 09) 

New York

I'm in New York for the next six weeks and I can't think of any place I'd rather be, until I get homesick for New Orleans, that is.  I'll be visiting friends and family and hopefully gathering up inspiration along the way.

I'm planning to spend some time exploring Brooklyn (which I really don't know at all) and revisiting old favorites in Manhattan. Having never blogged on the road for an extended period of time, I'm not sure what will happen here. But if it begins to feel like a never ending travel journal, just know that I'll resume a more normal routine in July.

In the meantime, if you have any New York favorites, let me know! Restaurants and cafes, boutiques, supply sources, favorite flea markets, bakeries...I'm interested in all of them.

Velvet Fig

Every summer I get impatient waiting for fig season. This year, with high temperatures and drought conditions, it seems unlikely that we'll get them at all. But thanks to the dried version, I can get my fig fix in liquid form anytime I like.

Buy a pound of your favorite variety of dried figs from a store like Whole Foods (I've used both Black Mission figs and golden Turkish), chop them in quarters, and add one 750 ml bottle of vodka.  Cover, refrigerate, and begin to check the flavor after 3 to 4 days.  You want the vodka to smell and taste like figs, but still retain a little bite.  However, if you let it sit too long and it gets too sweet and fruity, just mix in some plain vodka to taste. When the vodka infusion is complete, strain it and rebottle it. We store ours in the refrigerator.

You can mix it with club soda (try muddling some fresh tarragon with the vodka first, then strain it and top it with 2--3 ounces of soda) or try this cocktail my husband created, perfect for steamy days and nights.

Velvet Fig

1 1/2 ounces fig vodka
1 ounce fresh orange juice
1/2 ounce John Taylor's Velvet Falernum 
2 dashes Angostura bitters
2-3 ounces club soda

Place all ingredients in a cocktail glass (adding soda last).  Add ice, stir. Garnish with a skewered fig half (if available) or an orange twist. 

 

Clay Craft

I'm back!  May was one of the craziest months I've ever had, but crazy in a good way. I can't wait to unveil the fall projects I've been working on. But really, who wants to think about fall when there's summer to enjoy? At any rate, I thought I'd return with a project I did for my column in the July issue of Family Circle.

I've been obsessed with texture for the longest while now, which led to the lace decoupaged containers and then to these clay projects. I won't hesitate to tell you they were inspired by high-end pieces of pottery crafted by true artists. And while these inexpensive versions will never have the nuance and subtlety that finely crafted pottery has, they satisfy me just the same - both in the making of them and the finished result.

This was only my second time working with clay (and the first time was kid-oriented, so this was an entirely new approach for me). I was able to make about fifteen pieces in one day.  Drying time took anywhere from one to two days and sanding, glazing, and varnishing was quick. It was fun, rather than tedious, and very addictive once I got started.

Make a set of coasters or nesting bowls as a weekend house gift, make party favors for summer gatherings, or place them around your house as handy catchalls. It's also a good activity to do with your kids (my 4 year-old loved making the walnuts and pressing things into the clay). But keep in mind that these pieces aren't food safe and while varnish makes them water resistant, they aren't fully waterproof, so clean them when necessary with a damp cloth. 

See the July issue of Family Circle for directions or get them at Family Circle.com.

 

Unfinished:

Glazed & Varnished:

Examples of items to use for texture:

Leaves (sturdy, heavily veined leaves work best - fig leaves shown here)
Crocheted Doilies
Stiff, textured lace trim or vinyl lace (I used a vinyl lace tablecloth on some designs)
Plastic Texture Mats (such as the wood pattern shown) or Texture Wheels
Honeycomb Foundations (from beehive supply companies)
Shells
Pasta or Pastry cutters to create decorative, pinking style edges
Twigs
Candy or cookie molds (I used two cookie molds to make the walnuts) 

 

Resources:

Basic Supplies -

DAS Air-Dry Clay (found at Michaels)
Sculpey Clay Mat and acrylic roller (found at Michaels)
Americana Glazing Medium (found at Michaels)
Ceramcoat Interior Varnish (found at Michaels)
Acrylic craft paints found at all craft stores 

Textural Elements -

Crocheted doilies from Jo-Ann stores
Vinyl lace tablecloth from K-Mart
Woodgrain Texture Mat from Chinese Clay Art
Honeycomb Foundation from Golden Bee
Walnut Tartlet Molds from Fantes
 

**UPDATE:  Click here to see clay dishes imprinted with evergreens.