Hello, everyone! I’m back from a week away from my computer, and feeling much more relaxed. I did a lot of reading – I had two days where I lounged around with a cuddly pup and read for more than 4 hours and 5 hours respectively, which were glorious! – but didn’t get a lot of time in the workshop because my back’s been pretty terrible, but I did make a few fun things I’ll be sharing with you shortly, like these cleansing grains with botanicals and powdered surfactants I first shared in my It’s not easy being green e-zine in 2019.
I had hoped to do a Zoom workshop on the 14th, but I was reminded that this is Valentine’s Day and probably not a day with strong attendance. As well, it’s a holiday here on the 15th, so that’ll reduce attendance as well. So it looks like we’ll be doing one on Sunday, February 21, 2021, at 11 am PST (Vancouver time). I’m not sure about the topic yet as there are loads of interesting things to talk about – using rheology modifiers, thickening surfactants, combining emollients, making the lotions from Newbie Tuesday/Formulating Friday, demonstrating some new ingredients, using preservatives – so I’ll start writing out a few posts or handouts and see which one makes me the happiest.
All the monthly suppliers’ coupons are updated for $10 members, so click this link to see those.
I will be resuming Newbie Tuesday and Formulating Friday next week, so Tuesday, February 16th and Friday, February 19th with the body butter formulas, followed by cream formulas the following week, and rounding it all up with facial moisturizers. I hope to get some ingredient write-ups on ingredients we can use in facial moisturizers, like actives and botanicals, on the blog in the next few weeks so we can make some modifications to the formulas from this series and the previous ones as well.
I’ll be going through the comments and e-mail I received over the last week, which may take some time as they often turn into posts. I see your questions in the monthly Q&A, and when I answer them, I’ll create a comment and let you know. If there’s a post, I’ll share a link, otherwise I’ll just share my thoughts in a short paragraph or two. This might not be an overnight thing, and might take me over the next week, so I’ll beg your patience as I also have blog posts to write along with the monthly e-zine.
I’ve realized I don’t have time for direct messages on social media, so I won’t be answering those and encourage those of you who have contacted me that way to write to me via the contact me page or share your thoughts in the monthly Q&A as that post is a priority for me and I check it daily.
Thanks for your patience as I took some time out to recharge my batteries and rest for a bit. I needed to incorporate a few things back into my schedule, like exercising, reading non-cosmetic chemistry books, practicing for singing lessons, and playing video games, and I managed to do all of that. I love this blog and cosmetic chemistry so much, and it’s easy to get lost in it for days, neglecting other things that need my attention, like exercising, going for walks, leaving the house, eating meals, standing up more than once a day…
We’re expecting lows of -11˚C (12˚F) with wind chills taking it even lower, so I think I’ll be more about the exercise bike and using my stretchy band things than wandering about in the very bright, but very cold outdoors this week.
I’ve got a standing desk so at least I’ll do a little less sitting, although Timothy Caulfield points out in the book I just read, Relax, Dammit, that there isn’t a ton of evidence indicating there are huge benefits to this kind of set-up, but for me, any change in position is good to keep from getting too stiff and immobile.
I’m never going to be an “all things in moderation” kinda person, but I can be someone who creates a more healthy schedule that leaves time for all the things I need to do in a day with the energy to do it. A huge part of that is about creating boundaries and maintaining them in the face of opposition or pushback, which I know will happen when I say “no”, but I’m prepared for it.
Thank you for supporting the blog and our family through your subscriptions and your lovely comments here and on social media! And thank you for always inspiring me to look into new ingredients, new products, and create lovely things I can share with you here!