Marimekko Tote Giveaway

Looky loo. Did you know that Marimekko has done some products for Avon? Why neither did I, until I saw this.
It's the Avon Crusade Tote, in honor of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and it costs ten dollars. Could you die? Because I died twice, once at the cuteness and then again at the price. Avon's website says that 100% of the net profits, or $6.24 per bag, will be donated to the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade, which seems to be a for-real and sizable foundation.

The product listing doesn't say this, but that's Marimekko's Unikko print. It's their most recognizable pattern, and it's been around since 1964. Usually, when Marimekko sells tote bags, they don't cost $10. And what are two of my favorite things? Marimekko and purses. (I don't have a post to link for "purses," because for reference, please see my entire blog.) Anyway, you know I was on this like white on rice.

I've been using this as my purse for a couple of weeks. It's kind of nice to carry around something I don't mind dropping on the ground, frankly. I want to share the joy, so leave a comment on this post telling me about your purse. Because I am sincerely interested, and I don't know why I've never done a post just about this very thing. And I will randomly pick someone, scout's honor, and I'll send you one of these honeys. Anyhoo, if you're interested in clicking that link and doing some Christmas shopping, you should know that they're not super heavy-duty bags. Nothing like, say, those LL Bean canvas totes. They are much lighter weight--they must have stuffed the one in the picture. I don't know how many years of use they will provide, but gosh, ten bucks and a good cause.

Leave a comment before Monday night, and I'll pick a winner then. Matt and I are heading to California today, to Sam Clam's Disco (am I the only one who loves that joke?) and environs, and we'll be back Monday. We will be attending a wedding, which I'm sure you'll hear and see more about, as you will probably see photographs of every hotel bed we sleep in, 'cause apparently that's what I do. I am a river to my people.

Matt's mom and then my parents will be staying here with the kids and dog. We are maxing out our grandparent support for this one, so if you have any extra grandparents, please send them over. Seriously, our parents are too good to us. Mom and Dad, I'm sorry about all those extreme phone bills, and the years of sass, and the time I left your good suitcase in Rome.

Posting may be lightish the next few days. I'm trying to guilt my sister into guest posting for me, but she is a tough nut to crack. Y'all have a good end-of-the-week.

PS: I don't know what all this weirdness with the FTC and bloggers and free stuff is, though Lawyer Mom is trying to elucidate, but FTC, I bought this bag with my own money that my husband earned while I was tending our children and managing his life, and nobody is giving me any kickbacks on it, so are we cool? Tx!

My Love for Orla Kiely Will Not Be Silenced

Or it will after this, maybe. But I need to show you some of the Orla Kiely for Target stuff I got. After I had trouble finding any dishes or table linens in the store near me, I was slightly mollified to find that you could order the dishes online. Which I did. But I also had my mom on high alert in Florida. She was a real soldier, and one day she visited all THREE of her local stores, striking gold and picking up some goodies. She called me from the store:

Mom: Becky, it looks like they have the canisters here.
Me: Oh be still my heart!
Mom: But now, they're different colors, do you know that?
Me: Yes! Grab them!
Mom: Okay, do you want all three?
Me: Quickly, woman, put them in your cart, and watch your back.
Mom: Well, okay, but there's really nobody around. . .
Me: IN YOUR CART!

We had a lot of conversations in Targets that day. She ran me a tab. So really, there wasn't much I actually needed to bestir myself to go and get. Even by phone, she's my favorite shopping buddy. Thanks, Mom!

So here are some of my faves. These are the cork placemats that Laura was modeling the other day.

I think I'll use these a lot because they are wipe-offable. And I love the green, and the pear print is classic Orla Kiely. I'm still playing with what else to put on the table.

That is an old Red Wing Pottery console bowl and candle holders that I got an an antique store in Dillsboro, NC. I love the mid-century look, the freeform shape, and the two different glazes. I think that by mixing pieces that you already have with new stuff, you can avoid looking like you just brought the store shelf into your house. This is the fun part for me--seeing what works with what. And ooh, those are the O.K. coasters in the bowl. They are adorable and you should get them. There's one in every pattern of the line.

Here's another set of table linens that I like.

Laura was "helping" me set the table by putting down a stack of Nancy Drew books. Does Nancy Drew go to the right of the water glass? Or over the dessert fork? Those two plates are actually from two different sets--I'm not sure what I like with what yet.

The napkins are really great quality--nice, heavy cotton. Each set has four different colors that coordinate with the flower pattern. Also, those placemats reverse to blue or brown. But you know me, I like a lot of look and I like to play around. That's another Red Wing bowl. Not married to it. Not married to the glittery pears either. Not sure why I own glittery pear candles? Possibly the outward sign of an inward and spiritual grace. So what instead of the glittery pear candles?

Finally, the canister set that was sold out online in like, hours. It's still out there in stores, though. These are great. Heavy stoneware with nice lids. Hey cuties!

So the most pressing question is, if these were in your kitchen, would you line them up in order of size, or stagger them? I know you may need to clear some time to consider this. And yes, I got both the green and the brown pitchers. Why are you looking at me like that? I think they'll make great vases.

Because I am merciful, I am not inflicting the mugs (nice and heavy), the rest of the melamine (adorable), the seat cushions (cushiony) and the floor mat (um, just fine) on you. I would love to hear/see what you got. And I mean that from the bottom of my heart! But we don't ever have to talk about this again if you don't want.

It's a Things I Love Thursday!

Orla Kiely for Target: Oh YES WE CAN!

Just when I thought life could not get one smidge better: A line of housewares designed by Orla Kiely is coming to Target on February 1. That's Sunday. Get up early, or blow off church (they'll forgive you) and get over there, because very little of it will be available online--you'll be at the mercy of your local Target and its vicissitudes. If your Target is in an area with a high-density of design freaks, pickings might be slim. You know how it is when they have a limited-edition designer range. Some pieces of it go gangbusters, like those elusive John Derian melamine trays, and get talked about and talked about in blogs and higher-end magazines. Those pieces don't stay in stores long, but they should be available right after the line debuts if you're on the ball about it. (Actually, I didn't think that Derian stuff was so stinkin' hot, but Orla Kiely is a whole 'nother thing.)

You might be saying, "What is an Orla Kiely?" Orla Kiely is an Irish designer who is best known for handbags and stationery with pretty, graphic prints. She makes clothing and other things too, but if you know me, you know I'm all about the purses. Her patterns are so appealing and modern, yet to me they also have a kind of 60's Pop-Art sensibility. So she's doing a line of kitchen stuff and organizing accessories for Target. This is kind of a big deal because in the U.S. her stuff isn't just everywhere. You might have seen it in the Garnet Hill catalogue, but that's the only mass retailer I know of who carries any Orla Kiely. The rest is here and there in little boutiques, though Nordstrom has a few things. So she has some crazy devotees, kind of the way those Cath Kidston people are like a cult.

I am behind in my design-blog reading, or I would have known this was happening before today. Caught unawares, people! Here's the folks at Apartment Therapy freaking out about it, and here's Holly at Decor8 freaking out about it. And here's me freaking out about it: I was at Super Target today, pushing my man Hank around in the buggy, and on an endcap back near the throw pillows, I spied some pretty storage boxes. From across the store I knew it was something new and different. I am, like, straight out of that Malcom Gladwell Blink book when it comes to retail. Thinking without thinking, that is my way. But I thought it looked like more Dwell stuff. When I got close enough to see the label, I had a talking-out-loud-to-the-merchandise moment. I said, "Stop it. No way. Just STOP IT!" People were too polite to turn and look. And Hank is used to shopping with me--he knew Mama wasn't fussing at him.

I don't know why my store had a few things out early (the storage boxes), but it wasn't the stuff I really wanted. So here's what's coming (pics from Apartment Therapy). There are canisters (ooh, according to the NYT the canisters have wooden tops), trays, dishes, boxes, tablecloths, napkins, cork placemats, aprons, and more. Holly at Decor8 says it's all priced between $2.49 and $21.99.

What do you think? I saw the storage boxes today, and they weren't a must-get. That flower print is not that special. And the whole over-the-door organizer thing does not really work. But I see several tumblers, placemats, napkins, mugs, serving bowls, and plates that need to come to my house. My fever for melamine has been documented here before, and Mama needs more. Really anything with that pear print will be mine. Those pear seat cushions? They'll be cushioning my seat soon. My only Orla Kiely thing right now is this bag. Hi, precious.

The only problem is that Matt will most likely divorce me if I bring home any more coffee cups or dishes. So I have some tough choices to make.

Thanks for scrolling. I needed to tell someone. Have a great Friday!

Turtlemania

With Christmas approaching, I feel that Suburban Matron is in danger of becoming a shopping blog. NOT THAT THERE'S ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT. I can't help it--when I really like something, I want to tell. One day I'll be that old lady who rides the city bus all day, wanting to show you everything she's got in her shopping bag. Since it's Things I Love Thursday and all, I'm dying to share the newest addition to the family.

It's the Pottery Barn Kids turtle basket. I've linked to the PB site for informational purposes, but by no means are you to click over to shop. When you go the website, it will tell you that the large turtle basket (35"x22") costs $109. What do they take us for? Please, as if! BUT if you find it clearanced in the PB Kids store, the large turtle is $40. A very friendly price, especially if you took one look at the basket, like I did, and started saying, "Mine! Mine! Mine!" like the seagulls in Finding Nemo.

My mom and sister and I were having one last shopping hurrah a couple of days ago before Amy flew back to Australia (I miss my best girlfriend already). I guess I am going through a turtle phase, but I would have bought this even if I didn't have kids. I put it up in Hank's room, under his window, holding his stuffed animals. He took one look at it and said, "I can fight the turtle with my sword?" So I think he likes it. For me it's the right combination of modern and traditional, and whimsical, and wicker. And turtley. Happy Things I Love Thursday!

Best Ever Baby Jacket

When you're huggin' on your baby in the wintertime, it's nice if you're not huggin' on a stiff nylon jacket. This Hanna Andersson Best Ever Baby Jacket is my favorite garment that Hank has. It's one of those things you wish you could buy again and again. I'm breaking my pattern, for this Things I Love Thursday, to share this jacket instead of something I have around my house. But it does truly make me happy when I'm zipping him into this. It is the snuggliest, the cutest, and the best quality.
Cuteness to die for. And here's the thing--I got the 2-3 year-old size, which is roomy. He wore it last winter, and it was too big, but sweet. This year it is still plenty roomy, and I could even imagine him wearing it a year from now as a snugger layering piece. So a good value. It washes beautifully, and it has a childish look I love for tiny boys, as opposed to a Li'l Macho look. Every year they change the appliques slightly, and it comes in three colors. Buy it on sale. Right now it's marked down to $40, but we can do better, yes? I waited until midwinter and got it from Hanna Andersson for $24, about half the "regular" price. There are several on ebay, like this one, for $29.99, the Buy It Now price, with free shipping. I so wish Hank had a twin.

Remember that jingle, "If they could just stay little 'til their Carters wear out?" Well, Carters ain't what they used to be, but I feel that way about this jacket, and about all the Hanna stuff we have. (I am about done with Gymboree, and I'm going to throw my affections to Hanna, but that's a whole 'nother story.) So think about it if there's a baby or toddler in your life who could be just a teeny bit cuter. That's my Things I Love Thursday!

Around the House: How to Make a Feather Wreath

For today's installment of Things I Love Thursday, I'm focusing on something you might kind of hate. It's okay! We can still be friends. If you've been around for previous Thursdays, you know I've been sharing my favorite things around my house. To qualify for a Things I Love post, a thing has to make me happy every time I look at it. My previous TILTs--the rush seat stools, the Marimekko fabrics, the melamine plates--all do that. And all of them have a kind of modern, unfussy vibe that is representative of my taste in general. But THIS, I don't know how to categorize this. I just know that I love it:

It's a Halloween wreath that Laura and I made. We took a straw wreath form (we didn't even take off its plastic wrapping) and wound three feather boas around it, pinning them with floral greenery pins. Laura did most of the wrapping. Our wreath was about 15" in diameter, and we needed 3 6-foot boas to get good coverage. You don't want the wreath base showing through. We stuck an orange ornament up in there. Then we grinned and high-fived each other. It's hanging in our entryway above a little black table that has pumpkins on it.

I should say that in most aspects of life I shun the froufrou. Give it to me clean and simple, every time. But there's something about a feather wreath that is SO over the top, I cannot resist. It's exuberant, and just so dang fluffy! So you're saying, "Okay Beck, it's a cute Halloween decoration, but you wouldn't have a feather wreath in your house ALL the time, right?" Ahem.

That's a corner of my bedroom. And that is my feathery friend. Practically nobody ever sees this but Matt and me. Now you know everything, internets! Some history: Two Novembers ago, I went on a late-night foray to TJ Maxx, and this green creation was tucked among the Christmas decorations. It called to me, and I liberated it (only $14.99!) and brought it home. As I bore it into the house, Matt said, "That is fine as long as you didn't pay actual money for it." He also said it looked like a Muppet, which it does. We were still getting settled in our house, and we had a lot of bare walls. I hung it in our bedroom to bring in a little holiday cheer, and I liked it so much, it stayed and stayed. I go back and forth on whether it looks too Christmasy. What do you think?

It's a lime-ish green with a pink bauble. The color maybe kinda tweaks it away from Christmas for me. Maybe. But in any case, I love the color. I love the way it relates to the vintage lamp next to it, and I love the way the round fluffiness contrasts with the hard, straight lines of the chest of drawers. I love the whole thing. And, just like a stopped clock that is right twice a day, we're entering the season of the year when this wreath is marginally appropriate as a holiday decoration. All the rest of the year, I just love it for its own fabulousness.

If you're into it, you could make some fab wreaths by getting the supplies at Michael's. Or, these people sell them. Looking at their site with all the wreaths on one page kind of hurts my eyes. It's all about context. Apply sparingly. More important, taking the froufrou thing out of froufrou surroundings makes it work, for me. And whaddaya know, Pottery Barn is doing it. Or this girl made an adorable Halloween wreath--she started the way Laura and I did, and just used more ornaments. I do love this for Halloween, I think it's sophisticated, but friendly.

So that's my feathery confession, and a Thing I Love. Am I crazy? It's okay if you think so! And for more beloved objects, hasten to Diaper Diaries.

Does This Header Make My Butt Look Fat?

You can be honest. I made it last night using Scrapblog. I first heard of this site yesterday from Carrie at Buzzings of a Queen Bee. It is the awesomest--so easy to use. I am certainly no graphic designer, and my skills with photo editing software are junior-grade. I don't understand all the tools in Photoshop. But Scrapblog lets you click and drag and make pretty pictures, and it all works just like you expect. I can't even imagine how much thought and work went into making their builder so intuitive. I hear there's a great video tutorial on the site, but I just started poking around while listening to Anderson Cooper and 29 other commentators talking about the debate.

One fun thing about Scrapblog is that all their "stickers" make it really easy to add little holiday motifs to your header, if you're into that. I like what I made, but I don't know if I'm married to it. Change is hard, and I love the familiar. I liked my green page, because I love green. I read something about how green is the most soothing color because seeing green is like giving your rods and cones a massage. Science, people. But I was starting to feel like I was in a fishtank that was overrun with algae. So I'm trying this. I am not sure it sets the right tone. What do you think? I'm still playing with it, so pardon my dust! And pardon me for saying "butt." I am vulgar.

Scrapblog is the newest Thing I Love. Check it out, and scoodle over to Diaper Diaries for more love objects. Other things I love are here, here, and here. And here.

Around the House: Melamine Plates

One part of my brain that I could be using for something useful, like understanding the financial crisis, or remembering when I last changed our AC filters, is instead busy following trends in melamine tableware. Melamine plates and bowls have the obvious benefit of being kid-friendly. Even better, they bring some bold and interesting patterns into the dish rotation, but they don't cost a lot and you don't have to fuss over them. For Things I Love Thursday, here's some of my favorite melamine, and some I'm still coveting.

The name to know is Thomas Paul. He makes beautiful dishes and throw pillows (that's another TILT post waiting to happen). His website doesn't actually sell his stuff, but it's good for seeing what's out there and what the collection names are. Velocity sells all of these online, but there's no need to pay retail, is there? (I'll explain more below, but the best place to buy Thomas Paul is Ebay, and there are some great deals right now.) My favorite, favorite set is Folk:

The woodland motif on the dinner plates reminds me of Tord Boontje (remember the holiday collection he did for Target)? I love these plates. They're kind of Christmasy, though not exclusively so, and I use the large platter (up top) as a cake plate during the holidays.

More Thomas Paul. Artifacts: The big trays would be great propped up as decoration, if you're into that. Or these, in the Gothic pattern, on a wall. How adorable would that be?
And the one I totally covet, Sea Life:
I got all of my Thomas Paul plates (and pillows) on ebay. The most current collections (like Sea Life) won't be listed, but slightly older ones like Folk and Artifacts pop up, brand new in their packages. This guy is the biggest ebay seller of Thomas Paul, and I've bought a lot of stuff from him. Right now, he has a set of 8 plates (4 dinner and 4 dessert) for sale for $12.95. He has twenty of these sets, so check it out. With shipping, it's probably closer to $20, but that's still cheaper than Target's melamine. Also, he has a deal where you can get 6 of these platters, either the pink or the aqua, for $29.95. They retail elsewhere on the web for $18 apiece. Very inexpensive presents or hostess gifts:

Okay, I could go on, believe me, but I will stop now. Hope you liked this taste of Thomas Paul--I loved sharing. Thanks for stopping by. And if I seem obsessed, it's because I really, really am.

Earlier Things I Love posts are here and here. And this I also love.

Around the House: Marimekko Wall Hangings

It's Things I Love Thursday again, and I am sharing some of my favorite things in my house. Today's post is about what might be my very favorite of all: Marimekko fabric wall-hanging kits. If you have been in my house, you can testify: I am almost evangelical about these. They are an inexpensive way to have a major decorating impact in your space. The patterns are beautiful, and there is tremendous variety available. Marimekko is a Finnish design house that's been around since 1951, and to me they are the epitome of a colorful, graphic Scandinavian look that I love, and that never goes out of style. The ones I'm highlighting are my personal picks, but there is a Marimekko pattern for every taste.

This is Kaiku. I have the green one on the right. It is 54 inches square when it is put on the frame, and it's $135 at Textile Arts, which is hands-down the best place online to buy all things Marimekko. When you order a kit, they send you four wooden frame pieces that you put together to make a stretcher, then you iron the fabric and staple it to the frame with a "craft" or light-duty staple gun. Hanging hardware is included. The kits come with very good instructions, and if I can do it, truly anyone can. For a big piece like the one above, it's good to have two people doing the stapling, but I do the smaller ones by myself. Here's how big it looks on the wall:

This wall is right by our entryway, and it's cluttered up with the thermostat, the AC intake, and (up high) the doorbell. It also had a lot of nail holes in it from the previous owner. So I needed a big gesture of some kind, and this was perfect. If you hang around blogs like Apartment Therapy, you've probably seen the Kaiku pattern--it even comes in shower curtains and tea towels. But just because something is popular is no reason not to love it!

Another great piece, if you need something big and dramatic, is the Aarni, above. This would be great in a bedroom above the bed, or even in place of a headboard. I don't have this one, but I do like to visit it on the website from time to time. I'm telling you, once you get one of these fabric hangings, you want more, and you start noticing all these corners of your house that would benefit from a little Marimekko. I'm holding myself to two pieces in the living room, because more than that might start to look too uniform. The other piece I have is above my mantle:

It's the Hevonen design, and it's a steal at $65. I love this one, with a love that exceeds the love I usually feel for material objects that don't say "Marc Jacobs" somewhere inside them. Before I got this horse, I changed the art up there with the season. I had some bright naïve paintings in the spring and summer, and the Marimekko Paasky hanging in the fall and winter.

But now that I've got the horse up there, I'm going to leave it. The colors and the scale of the design are the only thing I've really found that works with the stacked stone of the fireplace. I'll just switch out the other stuff on the mantle from time to time. And here are a few more of my favorite fabric panels--I don't have these, but I love them. The panel below was in an issue of House Beautiful, hanging above the sideboard in a dining room, and costing a fraction of the price their usual accessories do. The Satakieli:

Love it. I haven't even touched on the huge selection of kid-oriented textiles they have, but you could do many different styles of kid rooms with their stuff. Here's just one I like, and then I promise I'll quit. The Kulke:
So I've given you a sort of Becky-oriented selection, and my taste may be different from yours. I love abstracts and big, big graphics. But go poke around on Textile Arts, and you'll see lots of different kinds of florals and figurals. (If I had a sewing machine, I'd buy some of the smaller prints and make pillows.) So go take a look, and thanks for reading along--I hope you find Marimekko as refreshing and beautiful as I do.

Around the House: Rush-Seat Stools

Decorating my house is a favorite pastime of mine, and I'm going to start writing about it now and then. By decorating, I don't (usually) mean shopping. I love finding new ways to use what we have and to buy strategically. After living in small apartments for years (hey California!), I am reveling in having the space to live with more things I like, to do stuff like seasonal decorating, and to mix things around to keep them fresh. Maybe in my next lifetime I'll work on that whole Zen simplicity thing, but in the meantime, I love stuff! There are lots of things in my house that give me pleasure every day. As part of Things I Love Thursdays over at Diaper Diaries, I'll be sharing some of my favorite things here at home.

Today I want to show you my rush seat stools, and to suggest that you might want to have some around. Here's how this came about: I love magazines like House Beautiful and Domino, and it's fun to try to translate their ideas to my non-gazillionaire lifestyle. In the April 2007 issue of House Beautiful there was an apartment decorated by David Netto (designer of all that drool-worthy and super expensive baby furniture). The article opened with a two-page spread--here's a piece of it.

Okay, check out the stools in front of the coffee table. You might want to embiggen the picture. I have memorized every detail of this apartment (you can see all the pictures here), but I really loved the idea of having low stools in front of a coffee table. That was the takeaway for me. It just seemed fresh and kid friendly. I didn't recognize the stools and they weren't sourced in the article, but by looking around online, I realized they are by Hans Wegner, the Danish midcentury designer, and they can be yours for $469 each at Room and Board. Yes, they are $469 each. Beautiful, and so sturdy you could park a Volvo on them, but ouch.

So I set about finding a cheaper version. To me the key design features of these were the proportions--they need to be about the same height or a little lower than a coffee table, which is about 15 inches high usually, and the rush seat. Actually, the Wegner stools are papercord, but it's the fiber look that's important. I didn't have much luck. Months went by. Then I found Plow and Hearth, the online/catalog company. Now I would not usually think of them, because they seem to sell a lot of things adorned with chickens, but they had a collection of rush stools.

Alright, now to the modern-loving eye, these are a tad more traditional than the Wegner version. They have turned legs, for one thing. But I like the little stool and the bench. And the small footstool, the one shown in black, is $69. STILL seems high if you love to thrift-shop like I do, but I took a chance on a couple and they are worth it. I love having flexible, portable kid seating, and they add a little interest to the room. Here's my sunroom (this was taken last year when Hank was a tinier tot):

So, this room ain't Netto, but it sure was affordable. And I love how the darker wood wound up working with my painted furniture, though trying some of those other paint colors could be fun. The wood kind of grounds all the paler colors, and the stools made the room seem a little more "finished." Both Hank and Laura find these stools to be a great size for working at the coffee table, or moving around to different places. They don't take up much floor space--I recommend them if you want a little shot of something new.

So thanks for reading along. And if anyone knows where I can get a cheaper version of that vintage French midcentury desk in the Netto apartment, let me know right away. Because it is gorgeous. Or, I know, it's probably at Ikea.

Oh, and the whole time I was putting this post together, I could not stop thinking of the "Stool Boom" song from Waiting for Guffman. So I'll just leave you with:

"You will drool at the splendor of these magic stools.
It's the rule, everyone has a stool.
Just three legs, it's the thing for which a monarch begs.
Hock your jewels, use the money for stools!”

My Beauty Autobiography: Sell a Child and Buy This Stuff

When I woke up this morning, and saw myself in the mirror, my first thought was, “Who is that enchanting vixen? Her pores are microscopic!” So I decided to tell y'all of my love for Origins skincare. Specifically, for the Dr. Weil Plantidote Mega-Mushroom products. (No, I did not make up that name, and I am not getting paid for this endorsement, but I am not against the idea. . .take a note, Origins).

Let’s just say the Lord laid it on my heart to tell you this. Plus, Origins.com is having an awesome deal right now (more below). First, a brief history:

Through much of my twenties, my skincare regimen was minimal. In the shower, I washed my face with Dove soap. Then at night, I blotted it with a wet cloth. Then I used this Olay alpha-hydroxy lotion. This was when alpha-hydroxy and fruit acids had just been invented. Also, dirt was new and God’s dog was a puppy. Anyway, I thought that it was all about constantly sloughing off layers of skin. Or sometimes I didn’t do ANYTHING at night and tumbled, carefree, straight into bed. I only wore sunscreen when I was at the actual beach. So I looked fine, but who doesn’t in her twenties?

It dawned on me in my late twenties and early thirties, after having my first child, that I needed to, um, try a little. While I was actually pregnant, I felt like Charlize, but afterwards, not so much. My skin no longer felt as smooth as an angel’s bosoms. I hardly EVER wear foundation or anything like that, so how my skin looks all by itself is a big deal to me. Thus began a long relationship with Neutrogena products: Pore Refining Cleanser, Anti-Wrinkle cream, and Antioxidant this and that. I was naturally skeptical of more expensive stuff, and I figured that drugstore products were good enough. I was all about minimizing my pores and preventing wrinkles. And they worked great. Honestly, if I hadn’t moved on to harder drugs, the Neutrogena would still give me a fix. I still wear their sunscreen every day, even if it’s cloudy.

Then last year my awesome sister-in-law went to work at Origins. Though saying that Kate worked at Origins is like saying Michelangelo worked at the Vatican. She’s since moved on, but I really think that skincare and beauty is her spiritual gift. So she gave me some of the Dr. Weil products, in their pleasingly medical-looking containers, and I really liked them. Ever since Christmas (as with crack addicts, my first hit of Origins was free), I’ve been using the Plantidote cleanser, face serum, and moisturizer. And seriously, it is awesome. Then, last night, I took it to the next level. I used the Clean Energy cleansing oil first (it’s an OIL that washes your face, people. What a country.) Then I patted on some Plantidote toner. So two new products. And this morning, I was all tiny-pored and smooth—like noticeably so.

I feel sheepish, and like I’m betraying my interests in frugality and simplicity. (You didn’t know I was interested in those things?) This isn’t one of those “great beauty uses for Vaseline” posts, though I love those. And for those of us who play the CVS game, it’s hard to imagine paying money for beauty products. I know. I’ve tried my share of free Olay, Garnier, and Boots products in the last few months. Meh. So I can’t tell you, “Buy this really cheap thing and it works!” I’m more saying, “Spend a wad of money on this Origins stuff and you will love it!” So aren’t you glad you came by?

Anyway, from now until September 3, shipping is free on the Origins site AND with any order you get a free sample set from either their Organics or their signature line of products. (The Dr. Weil sample sets are all gone.) And the samples are pretty big. For $66, you get a bottle of the Plantidote Face Serum, which will last you a year. That’s the key item, I think. Then another $30 gets you the Plantidote toner. Split those into two online orders and get two free sample sets, then you can try out the other stuff.

So if you are not happy with your complexion and/or your current beauty regimen, and you have some cash to spend on it, consider it, because I think you get a great return. OR, if you have an Origins store near you, just go in and ask for some samples and pay nothing. I am actually kind of low-maintenance, and I am not crazy for products, but I like this stuff. I’m just saying. You will notice a difference.

The only potential downside, other than the price, is that men might not like the smell. It doesn’t smell perfumy—but it has a more high-end, kind of fresh smell. Like some kind of greenery. I don’t know how to describe it. But when I got into bed last night, Matt said, “Mmm, it’s like I’m in bed with Dr. Andrew Weil himself!” So there’s that. But I will say, dude must really have a thing for Dr. Weil.

(This has been my first Works For Me Wednesday post.)