Cheddar.

This is going to sound blasphemous, but I've never been much of a cheese person. I'm not that into dairy in general, so cheese just hasn't been my thing. I have friends who would choose cheese over dessert, and that is just craziness in my opinion. But here I am, writing a post about cheese. Why?



Cabot Clothbound Cheddar. That's why. This cheese is, in a word, incredible. Nutty, tangy, creamy... I'm not a cheese girl, and this cheese was good enough to inspire a blog post all to itself. I wouldn't lie. You need to try it.

I bought mine at Whole Foods (and spent $10.75 on .43 lb - ouch!) but it looks like you can also order it directly through them here.

If you have any left over, you know how to get a hold of me.

Let's talk skin. Happy skin.

In a former life when I worked at a day spa, I got really into skincare. Prior to working there I really didn't take care of my skin, so it was enlightening to learn about all the different things women (and men!) do to maintain their faces. I fell in love with Dermalogica skincare products and thought I had become brand-loyal. That lasted until I no longer worked at the spa and no longer got my generous discount. That sent me searching for a skincare regimen that worked for me and was affordable.

It took lots of trial and error, but recently I realized that I have finally perfect my skincare routine, and my skin is happier than ever. While everyone has different skin types and skincare needs, I thought I'd share what's been working for me.

I start with a Dermalogica favorite: Precleanse. This stuff is wonderful. You massage it into your dry skin, prior to cleansing, and get gets deep down into your pores to release the gunk underneath.
Then I cleanse with my favorite cleanser ever: Philosophy's Purity. I buy this stuff in the biggest bottle I can find, since miraculously it works not only for Ben's oily skin, but also my combo/dry skin.

My next step is exfoliation. I don't do this every time I was my face - usually only two or three times a week. My skin can handle it, but I know many people have much more sensitive skin and only exfoliate once a week. So I discovered this scrub while shopping with my sister-in-law in Portland. We wandered into Lush and I had just run out of my old Dermalogica cleanser (one I continued to buy for years after leaving the spa). I decided to give their Ocean Salt a try and oh my, do I love it. It smells like a margarita and is made with salt, vodka and lime juice (among other, non-margaraita-ish ingredients). It makes my skin so soft and radiant - I'll never go back to my old exfoliater! You can also buy this one in a big tub, which I love. Saves me trips to the store!

My next step is toning. I totally credit my friend Shannon for teaching me that you simply MUST use a toner, as it helps restore your skin's pH balance and ensures you get the most from your moisturizer. I picked up this Weleda Toner at Pharmaca with a gift card I had, as I had recently used up the last of my Murad spray, and while I don't notice anything particularly wonderful about it (and don't so much love the packaging - it's a glass bottle and it doesn't have a spray), my skin really responds well to it. I guess I'll keep it around.

And the last step is an important one: moisturizing. Another brand of skincare I fell in love with while working at the spa was Pevonia. I loved their collagen cream (mainly because it smelled like roses...) but really couldn't afford the steep price tag without a discount. My mom told me her dermatologist recommended she use a brand called CeraVe. I wasn't particularly attached to the moisturizer I was using at the time, so I picked up a tub (literally, a TUB). This stuff is incredible. It soaks right in, and despite being a cream, is light and non-greasy. It even has a semi-matte finish, which I really love under my mineral makeup. I rarely flake up and it's even done good by evening out my skin tone. A total keeper, and the price is right. (Around $18 for the whole tub)
So there you have it! Here's to happy skin!

Reviving In Flats with my '30 Before 30' list.

I'm sure it's more than safe to say that I've lost what meager following I might have had, as this blog has been stale for almost a year. Tisk, tisk! But here I am.



I'm turning 30 in October. 30 is really neither here nor there for me, but I thought it would be a good opportunity to create a "30 Before 30" list. Now granted, I really should have started this endeavor last October, to give myself the benefit of a full year to reach these goals. But I didn't. Not sure what I was doing last October, but it certainly wasn't writing this list. Instead, I wrote it last night. In the bathtub. Avoiding water splashes.

2011 is clearly a goal-oriented year for me. On January 3rd I began my 365 Project (seen here, here, here, here & here). And then, in case taking a picture a day and posting it for a year wasn't enough, I added 30 more goals to my list.

A few notes about my list: I had the timeframe in mind as I created my list. I am hesitant about #6, but I'm going to see if I can make it happen. Also, these aren't all things I haven't done before. Some of them are things that enrich my life and I think I should make a priority to continue doing (collaging, swimming with Henry, camping with our friends, etc.). Some of them are things I've never done before (making soap, knitting, trying coffee). So hopefully the list is a nice blend of new and revived goals.

Aly's 30 Before 30 List

1 - Share a bottle of good red wine with Ben (I prefer white)
2 - Hire someone to do my business taxes
3 - Go camping with the Krugs
4 - Host a girls' dinner
5 - Go wine tasting in Woodinville
6 - Finish another quilt
7 - Make soap
8 - Finish a collage
9 - Spend a night (or weekend) alone
10 - Make a new recipe every night for a week
11 - Hand-write 5 letters
12 - Visit Drew and Gina in SF
13 - Take a meditation class
14 - Go swimming with Henry
15 - Take a knife skills class
16 - Run around Greenlake without stopping
17 - Go for a walk in the rain
18 - Take a portrait of a stranger
19 - Go to the gym 4x/week for one month
20 - Try coffee
21 - Bake cookies for Henry's teachers
22- Organize Henry's books
23 - Go kayaking
24 - See the lavender fields in Sequim
25 - Take an art class
26 - Purge my closet of old/unworn clothing
27 - Learn to knit
28 - Go on a trip (big or small) with Ben
29 - Read Henry 10 new books
30 - Try 5 new restaurants.

Wish me luck. I think goal 31 should be to share my journey here on In Flats.