Ladies Blend Blog

New Partner-Make Mine Chocolate!

                                                                               

"I am an advocate for a variety of organizations that are committed to animal welfare, rights and  a better future.  The Ladies Blend website and Ladies Blend Thymes blog are responsibly used as a means to portray, relay, support and assist."  Pennie Mills

Amongst daily business, company changes and challenges, new product labels, new product pictures, getting the paper work together for Co-op America's Green Pages Directory and CCIC (Coalition for Consumers Information on Cosmetics), a lovely invitation was received to partner with Make Mine Chocolate!, a group of dedicated and caring people  committed to educating the public about the responsibilities involved in keeping a companion rabbit before a rabbit is brought home.

What turns out to be the demise of too many fragile rabbits, (not limited too, but especially this time of the year) is truly heart wrenching and terribly sad.  I'll be writing more about this wonderful organization, in the meantime, please take a moment to read about their mission and visit their website where you will find all kinds of information, materials and a raffle for a beautiful piece of art work painted and provided by Joseph Larkin.

From their website:

Each year, unwanted, former Easter rabbits fill local rabbit rescues and humane societies. The goal of the "Make Mine Chocolate!" campaign is to break the cycle of acquisition and relinquishment by educating the public about the responsibilities involved in keeping a companion rabbit before a rabbit is brought home.

Rabbits are a familiar symbol of the Easter holiday. In the days leading up to it, they appear on television commercials and packages of candy, and stores are filled with stuffed rabbits. It is no surprise that children beg their parents for a bunny of their own. Ill-prepared to care for these unique creatures, their "owners" often quickly tire of them. In the months following Easter, local humane societies and rabbit rescues are flooded with rabbits, former Easter gifts whose "owners" no longer want them. The unlucky ones are dumped outside where predators, cars, illness, and injury virtually guarantee an early death.

In 2002, in an attempt to address the problem, the Columbus House Rabbit Society began a campaign to educate the public on the realities of living with a rabbit, and to discourage giving live rabbits as Easter gifts. Using ceramic pins in the form of chocolate bunnies as the symbol, the campaign's goal is to spread the message that rabbits should not be casually acquired and to educate the public about the special needs of these often-fragile creatures. The pins serve as conversation starters. Comments about the pin provide the wearer the opportunity to share our message with the general public. These informal conversations are supported by a card that is distributed with each pin, and by business cards that can be handed out to interested parties. Both the pin card and the business card list important facts that should be considered before bringing a rabbit into the home. Our goal is to educate the public of the challenges of properly caring for rabbits and to encourage them to purchase chocolate Easter bunnies (or stuffed toy animals) rather than live rabbits.

Website:  "Make Mine Chocolate!" 

Why do I blog?

  I do get asked that question every now and then and was just asked it again yesterday.  Not by those of you that read this blog, mostly by other people that are not quite sure of the blogging concept.  People do use blogs for a variety of things, but why do I blog?  I'll tell you why...

Ladies Blend is an online store, blogging is another source to communicate on a more personal level, and that is why I blog-plain and simple.

If I had a little shoppe in a quaint section of the city that I live in, I would welcome you as you walked through the door.  I would at the very least offer you a cup of tea or something to drink and a kind,  friendly smile.  I would lend an ear, but not over bend yours, I am a listener more than a talker.  Sometimes I would have more time to spend with you depending on how busy the shoppe was, so I would always have a nice selection of complimentary books, articles, resources, beauty recipes and other things that pertain to what the shoppe was all about right there for you to peruse.  I would offer a cozy seating area where you could relax for a bit and chat with others or contemplate your day.  We would talk about other things like your family, what you were planning for dinner and probably exchange food recipes.  We would talk about decorating and crafts and if you were a knitter, I would try to persuade you to teach me how to knit :)   I would tell you about all of the lovely people I have met at my shoppe and tell you about other places that I think you might enjoy too.  When you walked through the doors of my store, my passions would be evident, just as they are on this blog and website.

My blog is an extension of my website, the place for you to see me as a real person and not just a web address, a place for me to assist you better and offer you more, a place where you are always welcomed unconditionally, a place for you to be heard or a place for you to quietly peruse, whatever you choose.

This is why I blog, I blog for you, I blog for me. 

Warm Oatmeal & Peaches Facial Masque

It was 36 degrees this morning, VERY cold for us.  I know that in some areas it is below zero, so I'm not complaining and growing up in the country in the Finger Lakes area of New York, I have lived through my fair share of snow and cold weather.  Still, I must say, I don't do "cold" very well, so  thankfully it should warm up to about 70 later on today. 

Today I had planned to take some time for a homemade facial and even though I am inside all cozy and warm, the last thing I want to do is to slather a cold masque all over my face, so I came up with a new recipe.  As always it is very easy to make with just 2 ingredients that most of you probably already have in your kitchen, I hope you enjoy it too.

Warm Oatmeal & Peaches Facial Masque

Ingredients:

Oatmeal, Water & Peaches

Directions:

Prepare a packet of instant Oatmeal or a single serving of regular Oatmeal (I used plain organic oats), then puree about a half of a peach, if you use canned, strain the juice first.  Mix the pureed peaches with the warm oatmeal and apply to your face and neck.  Leave on for about 5 minutes or so, then tissue off the bulk  and rinse well with warm water.  If you can handle it a final quick splash of cool water is always good to do.

*Peaches have substantial amounts of alpha hydroxy acids that assist in cell renewal, soften wrinkles and help to unclog pores lending a healthy glow.  Oatmeal helps to soften and heal dry itchy skin and aide in other minor skin irritations.