Swell and Not So Swell

Making the transition from ChicoMichelle to MontagueMichelle has been interesting, but not very post-worthy when it comes to matters of beauty or style. I spend much of my days wearing a uniform in the market where I'm working - black pants, black shine-able shoes, and a polyester shirt  in maroon and off-white. It's not cute, but on the plus side, I work my butt off in that outfit and in the time that I've worked at the market (2 months), I've lost 30 lbs.

Losing weight is not easy when you are in your 40s. It requires a bit more effort, a tweaking of your work out schedule, etc. Unless, like me, you are in a business that requires constant motion. Want to lose weight?  I suggest getting a job as a bagger. (Unless you find it necessary to pay bills - in that case, you are pretty much screwed.).

I highlighted my hair a little yesterday. I feel the need to do that as soon as the weather starts warming up. Sun equals highlights in my brain, apparently. I also have some fun new products to review for you - Nexxus's new Pro-Mend anti-split-end line and Lily B's botanical skin care. Watch for those reviews later in the week.

For now, here's a photo of my cute puppy, Katmandu. I think he's swell....

Swell Skin: LUSH Massage Bars

My boyfriend is one of those manly wood-cutter types. He can cut, split, load, and deliver a cord of wood in a day. What is a cord of wood? My point is this - my man works hard. Working hard usually translates to a sore back, so I give him massages just about every day. I've used a variety of oils on him, but my favorite thing to use is a massage bar. I got one from LUSH last year and that worked perfectly.


LUSH sent me one of their newer bars to try last month. It was one of their Once A Year Massage Bars (similar to this one) made especially for warming with cinnamon essential oil and a touch of glittery gold. I found it to work as well as the first bar, melted nicely, very smooth for a massage, but after awhile I got tired of sleeping next to the cinnamon scent every night and the glittery bits went through my sheets onto my feather bed underneath. Next time I'll pick up a bar that has more of a neutral scent or maybe one with a cocoa butter fragrance like the first one.

LUSH products are made with pure essential oils. They are handmade with no preservatives and they contain only vegetarian ingredients. These bars are great for massages or moisturizing straight out of the shower. They come with a little tin, so you can take it with you (our bars have gone camping with us). The bar is much more convenient than an oil. I've shopped around for a similar product locally and have been unable to find anything that works as well.



Image credit: LUSH.com