Burt’s Bees Citrus Facial Scrub..

Posted on July 31, 2010

This has nothing to do with photography. Absolutely nothing. But it is part of my life, thus I’m including it for you.

I love natural beauty products. Products that have easily understood ingredients, like coconut oil, or sweet almond oil, or poppy seeds. Things I know won’t seep into my skin and cause all sorts of maladies. And I have looked far and wide for these products. Some work, and some don’t. I thought I would start some blog posts that will include my faves, and the ones I would never buy again.

So, enter my quest for a natural facial scrub. My requirements? It needs to be gentle enough to use everyday, with enough scrubbing power so that I notice the difference.

I have tried that apricot one.. too many funny additives.
I have tried Oil of Olay’s micro scrub and that made my skin look like I had burned it.
I have made my own, and it was natural, but not convienent for me to use daily.

Along comes a glowing recommendation for Burt Bee’s Citrus Facial Scrub. I was a tad skeptical, but I love most of Burt’s Bees products, so I decided to give it a go.

(Sorry for the small photo.. failed to take a pic of mine before I used it)

The Deets –
$7.99 for a 2 oz. jar.
99.94% Natural
Made with ground almonds, pecans, and a blend of orange and almond oils.

My Thoughts –
I have been using this product for almost 3 weeks straight. My skin feels amazing. A very small amount of product is needed per use, so I am guessing this will last me about 2 months, given what I have already used. The smell.. oh the smell…Think Pumpkin Spice Latte or Cinnamon-y Chai. Delish!

Side note…If a facial product doesn’t smell good, I am going to have a hard time using it. Please don’t make me tell you about the horrific smell of Neem Oil.. Please. I still have nightmares from that sulphuric stank.

Anyway, this product is great. I would recommend it to any friend. It did not dry out my skin, or make me break out. Yay!! So, I say, you should go to your local health food store and pick up a jar.

Stay tuned for more reviews. Burt’s Bees Lemon Poppy Seed cleanser. Bare Escentuals. BeautiControl. I’ve got beauty reviews planned yo!

Feel free to leave some comments if you have tried a natural product that you love!! I would love to hear about it.

Family Suppers..

Posted on July 20, 2010

Chris Tomlin is playing faintly in the background. The remnants of a delicious summer supper are waiting for me to clean them up. BBQ Chicken my hubs grilled up. Fresh from the garden Green Beans from a sweet friend. Crispy celery and bell peppers. Family sitting together. Laughing at silly jokes. My pre teen still wanting to pray over our dinner. My daughter in a pink tank top reading Magic Treehouse books.
Oh, it aches. But it is a good good ache.

These are the moments I am just over-joyed for. I don’t want to miss a second of it. I don’t want to be so caught up in other’s drama that I lose out on what is most important. This is why I have made the decision to deactivate my personal Facebook account. The decision was made a few weeks ago, but the unpleasant conversations I had over the past week nudged the date up some. I still have a public photography page, but I don’t have access to any friends or family.. on purpose. No walls to read, no news feeds to pour over, no unnecessary drama to wrap my feelings around.
Now.. this is not an easy decision for me to make. I’m a sanguine. I love being involved in people’s life. I love knowing what’s going on. I love people. And my huge fear in this has been that I will lose touch with a ton of people that I adore…But, God has made it clear that I’m not going to be able to sacrifice my emotional health for online connection. Huge fear or not.. And so, it has been done.
Healthy, real live person connection is what I am striving for. Actually drinking a cup of tea with a person across the table. Watching Bacherlorette with the bff’s. Visiting. Talking. Laughing. Living. Facebook is not bad.. it’s just bad for me right now. I’m not strong enough to withstand it. Forgive me.
I hope you will find my public page and we can interact on there. I do have a cell phone. An email account. An address. I’m not gone.. it will just take a little more effort to find out how I’m doing, and the same can be said of me finding out how you are doing. Please don’t stop telling me how you are.. I want to know.

And now, I must run. Bacherlorette is on and the girls are waiting to watch it.

In the words of Sheri O’Teri as a Spartan cheerleader.. “Call Me!”

Trader Joe’s has my heart…

Posted on May 18, 2010

Britt Nicole is playing on my iTunes. My 10 year old son and I just spent some time in the kitchen fixing dinner. He is so very eager to learn and help. I think of his wife often in these moments. She better love me…

Yes, it would be so much quicker and faster if I just did it myself. Yes, I cringe on the inside as he spills a bit of our expensive grass fed beef from too vigorous a stirring. I try not to react. He is far more important than 50 cents worth of meat, I tell myself.

Of course he is.

That’s not even a question, but on long days when my head is pounding, I easily forget these truths. Thank God for His precious reminders. However, when both of my kiddos want to help, and they start bickering over who has gotten more stir time at the stove.. I am unfortunately not so gracious. I am fully admitting that I am a work in progress.

Thankfully, today Miss H decided to watch some Spongebob. Praise the Lord.

I really try to soak in these moments because they are so very fleeting. My son is entering middle school next year.

WHAT??

Yeah, don’t even get me started. I am a 33 year old woman who still feels like an 11 year old chubby girl entering middle school myself.
You don’t? Maybe it’s just me.

Anyway.. feeling like that, how can I possibly have a soon to be middle schooler? And how can I possibly pass up any and every opportunity to spend some quality time with this boy-man, who will be taller than me shortly. With his Justin Bieber hair and gray blue eyes and the world’s most gorgeous smile I can’t… and so we cook and stir and make messes.

And why do I love Traders? Reason #453…Because they make fixing Taco Salad a snap. Their new Taco Seasoning mix is gluten free (whoo hoo) and MSG free (yay), oh and a whopping .79 cents.

Word of Caution… It is a bit spicy. I added the whole packet to 1 pound of grass fed ground beef (another great deal at Traders!) and it was a bit much for my sensitive tongue-d daughter.

It’s ok. She drank 2 bottles of water during her meal. She’s perfectly fine.

(Next time, I will only add 1/2 a packet and see if that helps.)

Trader’s is great. Cooking with your kiddos does all sorts of good things with their little souls. And, after the mess is cleaned up, I think my soul is refreshed as well. In fact, I know it is.

What are you cooking?

Where’s My Starbucks cup at??

Posted on February 12, 2010

So, I had a few friends tell me recently that my Starbucks cup (ceramic mug, or to go cup) makes an appearance in a few of my mobile pictures.

I thought about that and agreed. It certainly does.

Am I addicted to Sbux?? Well, I used to be for sure. But now, I am off of sugar and caffiene (for the most part) so those substances don’t have the same pull they used to. You know the feeling.. where every afternoon you can practically taste that Iced Carmel Macchiato, and the need for one will cause you to do almost anything to get one?? I have a very addicitve personality so if there is something a person can get addicted to, chances are I avoid it.

No Dr. Kaiser.. no Vicodin for me.

No Mr. Starbucks..

No Party People…

Does this mean I think everyone who does the above is wrong?? Absolutely not.. please don’t misunderstand.. I just know myself and the devastation I can do if left to my own devices. (Insert a huge prayer of praise for the Mighty God who redeems me daily!!!)

So, back to the point.. My Starbucks cup goes a lot of places with me, and I thought I would start putting a few here and there to document the when’s and the where’s.

Today.. my cup.. filled with delish Candy Cane Green Tea watched my ever favorite author/speaker/mentor from afar with me.

It was good. (The tea and the message..)

Where is your cup going with you??
Awww yeah!!

http://img158.yfrog.com/i/mdoi.jpg/

Thoughts..

Posted on February 3, 2010

It is cold in this house. Candles have been lit to create the pretense of warmth. Hands are grasping a steaming cup of decaf. Feet are snuggled in a pair of the rattiest (and most comfortable) leopard print slippers. I know.. my fashion sense is too much for you to handle. Don’t hate me because I am on top of the trends.

But it is quiet. Quiet except for the clicking of my keyboard. Quiet except for the slight hum of electronics. Quiet except for my daughter’s crazy hamster running amuck in her cage. Quiet except for my thoughts.

And oh, how I have many of them. So very many.

If you read this blog, you will know that I undertook a 3 week social media fast. I honestly didn’t think it took up that much of my time. But what I discovered was something even more interesting/concerning. The few hours a day I spent on social media wasn’t the only time it took up space in my brain. My eyes were opened to just how much this comparison to others was affecting me.. and how, long after I was off the computer, my brain gave room to those destructive thoughts.

The I’m never going to be good enough thoughts..
The I can’t do what they do thoughts..
The I should really just give this up thoughts..
The what if I fail thoughts..

These thoughts can be related to photography, as that is the majority of twitter-ers I follow. But of course my role as a homemaker is not immune to those thoughts. Nor my role as a child of God.

See, God is good. And He knows me so well.. better than I know my own self. He knew what my thoughts were doing. He is the One who prompted the break. And during that break, I was able to fill my brain space with His truth.

I am Sarah.. the one He fearfully planned and wonderfully created.
I am a flawed human who is being redeemed by His love every day.
I love babies and light and sparkly eyes and photography.
I am good at what I do.
I have much to learn.
I am loved.

These are the thoughts that will be taking center stage. Truth. God’s thoughts about me. How precious to me are Your thoughts, O God.

And if I find myself becoming consumed again by what the world might think of me?? Back to the fast I will go. Our lives here are but a breath. And because of this fast, I can’t stand the thought of wasting one spare second on what another photographer/wife/mom/child of God/person might be thinking. Learning and growing and discovering from others is a wonderful thing, and that I will continue. Comparing and criticizing and judging myself is not and that will stop.

I might be the only one who struggles with this, but just in case I’m not, I am putting this here for all to see. There is a verse from a song by Francessa Battistelli that I will leave you with..

“Don’t take much for this crazy world to rob me of my peace.
And the enemy of my soul says You’re holding out on me.
So I stand here lifting empty hands for you to fill me up again..”

I allowed social media to rob me of my peace. Are you??

With lots and lots of love.. Sarah.

My fast is almost over..

Posted on January 29, 2010

Well, my fast from FB and Twitter has been an experience to say the least. I will save the entirety of my thoughts on the matter for next week when I post about what I learned from my absence.

Here are a few Happy’s and Sad’s that have been happening lately –

Sad’s-

*Mean girls. Go here to see what I am talking about.
*Hormones. And, really, do I need to expound on this?? My poor husband looked a bit scared yesterday when I went crazy in the car. I needed lots of Jesus time to get me through. I mean lots…
*Thinking about my life in terms of 140 characters or less. I have had so many good ones to share with you all, but I couldn’t. Oh well.
*Porcelain Tile floors.. beautiful to look at.. a bear and a half to sweep every day. Did I mention that we have tile throughout our entire house? I’m talking even the bedrooms. Get me a broom, paint me green, and call me Elphaba, because that is what I do everyday. Maybe I will turn it into a Happy and sing Defying Gravity whilst I sweep…
*Having to explain to my little Miss why she can’t have gluten for the umpteenth time, only to have her declare in a very loud voice that She. Will. Be. Eating. Gluten. When. She. Turns. 18. Hahaha.. I do love her so. I guess that is the magic age where everything I have taught her flies out of the window.. Non-Gluten goods, bikinis, the evils of sugar all free for the taking.. Dear Jesus, I hope not.

Ok.. let’s get Happy, shall we??
*The hubs going out and getting me one small bag of peanut butter m&m’s… I do love HIM so… and only crave those suckers once a month. (See second Sad post above)
*Naps. The end.
*Good books. (I will be compiling a list of my fave reads very soon.. stay tuned!)
*Beth Moore’s bible teaching. AMEN!!! That woman brings it every time, and I have so so needed to hear it.
*My sisa, sushi, and Sally’s Beauty Supply.. I mean, how could that not be a happy?

Ok, my people. I will be back bright and early Monday morning to give you the run down of what’s been going on. I’m so excited y’all!!

Mean Girls..

Posted on January 27, 2010

Let me paint you a picture.

7th grade. Chubby girl. First chair flute player. Thick straight frizzy hair with a wall of bangs that I made my mom perm every 6 weeks thankyouverymuch. I had such a poof on the top of my head.. girl, I was a mess. Needless to say, I was a walking target for meanies.

However, I was put into Weight Watchers at age 11, (oh, trust me.. I’m in therapy for that!) grew a few inches and over one summer became the skinny popular 8th grader. My bangs had grown out a bit, and I replaced flute with drama club. I even was class speaker at graduation.

Yep.. I peaked in the 8th grade. True story.

Sad sad sad true story.

High school was even sadder than 7th grade. My weight came back on with a venegance and I returned to the social suicide that was “Organized School Music Programs” only this time it was show choir. I mean, I could not get any hotter my people.

Debbie Downer moment, if I may.. I believe this is one of the moments when I realized that, in this twisted culture of ours, if skinny=good, then chubby=bad. Math was not my forte, but that was one simple equation I could figure out. Oh, how I desperately wish I could go back to that sweet little 15 year old and tell her a few things.

Why the outpouring of emotions tonight on my unsuspecting blog?? Well, for one, I am in the full throes of pms. Yay! TMI?? Secondly, my sweet squishy 8 year old daughter is dealing with a mean girl of her own. And boy, I have never wanted to pick a fight with a mean girl more than I do right now, even if she is only 9.

The short of it.. this little girl has been harassing my little girl for almost 2 years, off and on. We have constantly tried to encourage our bubba to stand up for herself in hopes we can teach her some life lessons about how life is hard, Love is the answer.. blah blah blah.. and up until this point, it was mostly playground hierarchy.

However, when said mean girl gets an entire table of 2nd graders to make fun of my daughter over her lunch contents? And my daughter comes home telling me an entire table accused her of passing gas because she was eating a smelley hard boiled egg?? And she doesn’t want to eat eggs ever again?? And mean girl told people at the table to smell my daughter’s booty?? Umm.. Mamma Bear (and Papa Bear for that matter) are. on. it. On it!

I hate…HATE…that my lovebug has to suffer this inevitable? girlhood tragedy this young.

I implore you to tell your sweet things they are precious and loved and safe.

And that the God of the universe finds them beautiful and captivating.

And He is simply thrilled over them, and has been since the day He created them.

I am absolutely positive of this fact.. if every girl knew these things without a doubt, our world would change radically. I know my world would have been vastly different had I understood that a little earlier.

Please.. let’s do our part to stop the meaness.

A recap..

Posted on January 26, 2010

Oh my gravy.. I haven’t been on here in a while. July 2009? What? I have been so busy with the business side of things, that I haven’t had a moment to breathe and write a bit about the haps with our little family.

A few brief recaps..
* We went to Disneyland with the kiddos during their fall break and even stayed in the ohsoMickey-fied Disneyland Hotel. My sweet deprived children had never seen such decadence.. It wasn’t that decadent.. they just haven’t gotten out much.

* The holidays were full of twinkle lights and hot cocoa, family time with some family drama thrown in. Add a huge car repair bill to the mix and it makes for interesting times.. But God provides, and we are blessed. That’s all I have to say about that!

* Our sassy Miss H turned 8 years old last week. Coconut smoothies and Tortilla soup from Island’s was her pick. I will dedicate a whole post to her day as soon as I get her 8 year old portraits done.

* I have been seeing a biocranial doctor to help with my migraines and fibro.. it seems to be working, so yay??!!

I need to get to bed, but wanted to fill in the details. I will be back soon!

Goodbye Twitter and Facebook…

Posted on January 11, 2010

For 21 days.

Yes.. you thought I was ending it all, but alas I’m not. I am participating in a church wide fast that will end on the 31st of January.

See, because of my illnesses (fibro, migraines, DVT) I have to abstain from a billion different food groups. Ok.. maybe not a billion, but some days it sure feels as if the list is ohsoverylong. So, fasting from food wouldn’t be a sacrifice since I have to do that every day of my life.

I also thought about t.v., but I truly don’t watch a ton of it and…I have a DVR. Friends.. I know myself! I would just record all the shows and spend the entirety of February catching up. Not such a great plan!

So, I kept pondering and praying.. What is the thing You want me to leave for a bit God?

The urge to give up social media was almost immediate.

Dangit..

I don’t really want to. (Insert visual of 2 year old stomping her tiny foot..)

I have the very loud thought, spinning round this brain, that I will most decidedly be missing out ON EVERYTHING! I will not know what is happening anywhere. I won’t know which new photography products are all the rage. I won’t know where my friends are at every minute of the day. I will not know who bought a puppy, who’s relationship ended, who is now engaged, which friends are twitpic-ing super fun things… I mean, the list is truly endless of all the things I. Will. Not. Know.

And that is one of the very reasons I believe God has asked me to give it up for 21 days. This flawed human being so fills her head with everything that everyone else is doing. And sometimes that overtakes the wonder of what God is doing in my very own life. This comparision junkie needs rehab…

So, I am off to find that wonder. I am going to get on these knees that are messed UP from years of roller skating.. well.. really years of falling, but that is another story for another time. I’m going to get myself facedown so I can seek My Saviour. It won’t be a 24/7 thing.. but every time I have the urge to check out Twitter or Facebook or Bloglines, I am committed to finding a way that draws me nearer to the heart of God… praying, praising, journaling, whatever He asks of me.

Of course you can still contact me through my cell or business email, and I might possibly blog some thoughts along the way. As of 5 minutes ago, I have turned off all notifications, so if you ask me a question through one of those sites.. I won’t be answering until January 31st.

It is drastic. Some may tell me it’s unnecessary, or extreme. But there is no way on this earth, I am going to miss out on what God has for me. If not participating in social media for a few weeks is the thing… I’m all in.

See you on the other side. Peace out friends!

Sarah Tolson Presents A photo competition..

Posted on August 19, 2009

Hi.

How are you??

Me? I am doing great, thank you for asking. I did want to let you know that I have been accepted in a photo competition and would love it if you wouldn’t mind placing a little vote-y vote for me. (Only if you think the photos deserve it, of course.)

What?

Oh.. you would like the links to make it easier for you? Of course I can do that!

I had made a series of beautiful faces around San Diego, all in a high contrast black and white, and they were accepted! I deeply appreciate your time, and I will let you know how it goes!! (In fact, there is an amateur competition with fabulous grand prizes too.. You should totally enter..Umm for reals!!)

This is the link to the most popular one.. I need your votes!!

Thanks for all of your help friends!!

Love Photo Contests..

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