Iva Messy

Well Hello There Spring 2010!

IvaMessy@gmail.com (Iva) — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 15:07:00 +0000

Happy Spring Friends! Hope you are having a super weekend!

Giveaway: My Little Eye's Blossom Ring

IvaMessy@gmail.com (Iva) — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 12:21:00 +0000

Laura, of Vancouver, is one super busy mama with 3 little ones all under six, two Etsy Shops {art and jewelry}, her own studio, and is a high school art teacher! She majored in sculpture and minored in painting, and today her "favorite items to work with are freaky mineral specimens and quirky looking stones".

1) Mixed Crystal Cluster Ring 2) Grey Druzy & Sterling Silver Ring
3) Colossus Pyrite Sun Specimen Ring 4) Tourmaline and Sterling Silver Dog Tag Necklace

{Little Robot Art Box with Silver Heart$20}

Laura would love to gift one lucky winner, their very own, one of a kind Brushed Copper Snow Blossom Ring with Sterling Silver Band.

For A Chance To Win:

1. Visit Laura's Etsy Shop and leave a comment below {1st entry}
2. If you are a friend/reader of my blog {thank you so much!} and would like a 2nd entry, please leave a second separate comment, saying you "follow".
3. For a 3rd entry, Blog or Tweet about this giveaway, and leave a comment to say you did.

Winner will be drawn on Wednesday, March 24th.

Good Luck Friends!

Happy Friday, have a fantastic and safe weekend!

Working On Your Fitness...Minus Gym Germs

IvaMessy@gmail.com (Iva) — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:27:00 +0000

EEEWWWW did he really just walk away from that piece of community machinery and not wipe off his pool of sweat that's marinating the elliptical?! Yuck. Sure sharing is caring, but we really don't need to be exposing each other to gym equipment germs. In fact, ABC News conducted a test with Dr. Philip Tierno, a microbiologist at New York University Hospital, to find out exactly which bugs we encounter at the gym. The results? Not so pretty. Candida specie, E. coli, klebsiealla, enterobacter, bacillus, sarcinia, and staph aureus were found on exercise equipment.

Which brings us to towels. Many people bring in their own and wipe down each piece of equipment before and after using it. Which is great! But then there they are, working up a sweat, jamming to 'pump it up' and use the exact same towel to wipe their forehead, completely forgetting where it was minutes before.

In comes Matt Barker. After getting an almost deadly staph infection at the gym, he developed the Athlete Outfitters Safe Side Towel, to protect people from gym germs. It creates a barrier between you and the gym equipment so you can workout in peace, and your body can stay vicious ;)

{$15 each, 3 for $29.80}

Peace Out Germs: the towels are antibacterial and antifungal. They are made with super soft bamboo material, which helps suppress bacterial growth. And is eco-friendly too!

ABC Easy As 123: the towel says GYM and FACE, so you know which side to use.

Happy Thursday Friends! Have a great day!

Laughter Is The Best Medicine

IvaMessy@gmail.com (Iva) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:17:00 +0000

You know how some guys think they are funny, but really aren't. You want to roll your eyes waiting for a super dragged out punch line cringing at the same 'ole joke...yet again. But you are classy, so you let it slide with a laugh. Fantastic! While you'd rather not hear another bad joke ever again, research shows that daily laughter, whether genuine or fake, can drastically improve the quality of your physical and mental well being. Laughter can boost your body’s energy and even your outlook on life. And really the best part about laughing is that it is completely natural and free!

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Weight Loss: laughing improves blood flow and heart rate, and contracts muscles all over the body from the face to the stomach, so while you laugh, you burn calories! Laughing ten minutes burns 50 calories.

Immunity: laughter helps strengthen your immune system. Research seems to show that when you laugh, the body produces infection-fighting antibodies.

Stress Be Gone: Stress is serious. It negatively affects your mind and body. An increase of stress releases hormones {adrenaline and cortisol} which can result in effects like depression and obesity. Laughter suppresses the release of those stress hormones and instead releases health improving hormones, helping improve your focus and increasing metabolism.

While it's a bit difficult for researchers to fully sort out the benefits of laughter on the body, because it is very difficult to determine cause and effect with laughter research, they all seem to be in agreement on one thing- laughter has an incredible ability to build positive relationships and strengthen bonds.

Happy St. Patrick's Day to you!!

We Have A Winner!

IvaMessy@gmail.com (Iva) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:00:00 +0000

KS from While We're Waiting is the winner of the Wee Ring Giveaway!
Congratulations! Email me at IvaMessy@gmail.com with your info ;)

My Old Makeup From College

IvaMessy@gmail.com (Iva) — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 12:57:00 +0000

Over the weekend I decided to organize, actually- make that reorganize and reorganize, yet again, the storage room. To be honest, I have an odd love/hate relationship with organizing. I'm never really in the mood to do it, but I love the end results and somehow feel more complete, like I cleared my mind a bit in the process.

Every time I reorganize, I come across things which either bring back childhood memories or pieces I completely forgot about. This time I came across some boxes which have not been opened in a few years and found an old makeup bag of mine from college.

I used to be super into MAC Cosmetics, and while I still love their stuff, I mostly use other brands these days. Plus, they discontinued my favorite lip liner {Test Pattern} at some point during my college years, which may or may not have left me a bit bitter ;)

{some of the shadows broke, turned into powers and made a huge mess}

{While I don't do this nearly as much as I used to, I tend to grab colors I think are really pretty, completely setting aside the fact that I'm suppose to be wear them...on my face. I never even attempted that hot pink shadow.}

Since using any of these again is entirely out of the question, I'm going to use the Back to MAC Program, which by returning 6 containers you receive a free MAC lipstick of your choice.

Happy Tuesday Friends!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Happy Birthday Mommy! I love you!

Turn Back The Clock On Your Skin

IvaMessy@gmail.com (Iva) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:17:00 +0000

An antonym of aging is antioxidants. Ok well, not literally, but antioxidants are essential to preventing and even reversing aging. As their name implies, antioxidants help prevent the damage caused by oxygen exposure. They are among the most popular anti-aging cosmeceuticals in the market and have become leaders in anti-aging skincare.

In its natural form antioxidants come from fruits, plants and veggies, which have built up unique antioxidant cellular defenses against free radicals {premature aging}. These super rich defense compounds are called polyphenols or lycopene and produce the plant or berry’s protective dark color.

You should eat five servings of antioxidant-rich foods a day. They can be found in a variety of different foods, so grab your favorites and starting singing forever young ;)

Vitamin A protects dark green, yellow and orange vegetables and fruits from solar radiation damage, and is thought to play a similar role in the human body. You can get it in carrots, squash, broccoli, sweet potatoes, and tomatoes.

Vitamin C is a water-soluble compound that fulfills several roles in living systems. Some sources include citrus fruits, green peppers, broccoli, green leafy vegetables, strawberries, blueberries, raw cabbage and tomatoes.

Vitamin E is fat-soluble and protects lipids. It can be found in wheat germ, nuts, seeds, whole grains, green leafy vegetables, and kiwi fruit.

Polyphenols are a plant defense from solar radiation damage. Find some in berries, tea, grapes, red wine, beer, olive oil, cocoa, coffee berry, walnuts, peanuts and pomegranates.

Resveratrol are in the skins of dark-colored grapes, and concentrated in red wine.

Happy Monday! I hope you had a great weekend and that the time change didn't making getting out of bed this morning near impossible ;)
Have an awesome day!

Planting Fruits and Veggies!

IvaMessy@gmail.com (Iva) — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 23:47:00 +0000

I've always wanted a beautiful garden filled with assorted fruits and veggies. The thought of being able to walk in the backyard and gather our lunch, makes me smile. Today is a completely gorgeous day, making it perfect to begin digging a patch to plant a garden. While my Jelly Belly is too young to truly get to experience planting, I am sure she will be able to help with digging ;) My Little Man, though, is already thrilled with the idea of picking his very own strawberries, asking "are they ready yet" and "NOW are they ready" every few minutes, and I am just as excited!

I hope you are having a great weekend!

Giveaway: MetalSmitten's Wee Ring

IvaMessy@gmail.com (Iva) — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:21:00 +0000

Jessica focuses on sterling and argentium sterling silver handmade jewelry and is starting to incorporate fused glass enamel work as well. She specializes in unique rings and pendants, 'using the eco-friendliest materials she can find'. By making each piece from scratch, and avoiding 'pre-made findings', each of her pieces will vary slightly. She is an animal lover, and says 'I think I'm part hippie somewhere deep down inside'.

1) Trinket Ring $15 2) Narwahl Sterling Silver Pendant $40 3) Less Than Three Earrings $25

Jessica is offering one lucky winner their very own, one of a kind Wee Ring with Amethyst Handmade Sterling Silver.

For A Chance To Win:

1. Visit Jessica 's Etsy Shop and leave a comment below {1st entry}
2. If you are a friend/reader of my blog {thank you so much!} please leave a second separate comment, saying you "follow" {2nd entry}
3. For a 3rd entry, Blog or Tweet about this giveaway, and leave a comment to say you did.

Winner will be drawn on Wednesday, March 17th.

Good Luck Friends!
Happy Friday, have a fantastic and safe weekend!

Bye Bye Dark Under-Eye Circles!

IvaMessy@gmail.com (Iva) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:47:00 +0000

So you set aside your rock star ways and have been getting far more then your usual shut eye, yet raccoon eyes still follow you. That's because while fatigue and lifestyle can contribute to oxidizing hemoglobin {a.k.a dark under eyes} , it is not the main cause.

Some of the most common reasons are:

Allergies and sinus problems which can dilate and darken the veins that drain from your eyes to your nose
Sun exposure prompts the body to produce more melanin which is the pigment which gives skin its color
As we age, the thinning of our skin and loss of collagen and fat makes the blood vessels under our eyes more obvious
If traumatized, blood vessels can sometimes break
Vitamin deficiency
Heredity
Lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol and caffeinated sodas contribute to the problem

Since most often these bad boys are not medical problems there are a few natural, inexpensive, self-care treatments which can help.

Bathroom run! Green tea helps rid the body of excess liquids, which contribute to dark under-eye circles. Drink lots of water to flush the toxins out of your system.
Consume lots of vitamin B and folic acid. Green leafy vegetables are especially helpful in ridding raccoon eyes naturally.
Elevate your head with two or more pillows to prevent puffiness that develops when fluid pools in your lower eyelids.
An over-the-counter saline spray can help relieve nasal congestion.
Cold compresses can temporarily reduce dilated and discolored under-eye blood vessels. Try thin cucumber slices which have cooling and astringent properties.
Wear dark sunglasses and use sunscreen.
If buying an eye treatment look for vitamins C, E, K, chamomile and green tea extract in the ingredients. When applying eye cream, use your ring finger and work from the inner corner outwards in a circular motion.
Avoid salicylic or glycolic acid around the eyes which can irritate delicate eye tissue, making redness and swelling worse.

Have a great day Friends!

{images via google image search}

Eco Friendly Bedroom

IvaMessy@gmail.com (Iva) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:41:00 +0000

Sleep is key to helping your body detox and recover from the physical, environmental and emotional stresses from the day. Lack of sleep prevents the body from replenishing itself, which can actually lead to insomnia and lack of energy. Your bed in one of the most important areas for your health, so keeping it as toxin-free as you can is a good way to go.

If you can, try choosing 100-percent organic cotton and certified low-impact dye sheets. Sheets which are not organic might have been treated with formaldehyde and anti-wrinkle chemicals that outgas VOCs.

Organic Sateen Sheets by Loop Organic $177

Aubergine and Plum Sateen Sheets $34

Target Home Organic Sheet Sets

Organic Leaf Print Bedding at Gaiam

If you have allergies or asthma, a great thing which you can do is create a barrier of protection with dust mite allergy-proof mattresses and pillow covers which either Clean Rest or Allergy Store.

Sweet Dreams Friends!

Easy & Fun Fitness Workouts

IvaMessy@gmail.com (Iva) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:47:00 +0000

Goals like get healthier, loose weight and workout more, top many New Years resolution lists. We are a few months into 2010 and some workouts might be seeming a bit dull. Lets look at a few super fun ways to workout while having fun, helping you stay motivated and turn those resolutions into lifestyles.

Hula Hooping improves balance and can burn 200 calories in just 30 minutes, while tightening your belly and narrowing your waist. It also strengthens your hips and knees. Hoopnotica offers classes and DVDs, and you can even start your own hula hoop community.

Ballet improves posture, relieves stress and tones your entire body while increasing flexibility. While you get beautiful toned legs, ballet also builds muscles which help protect the spine. Try it in the comfort of your own home with the Element: Ballet Conditioning DVD. Mix in some yoga with your ballet by giving yollet a try.

If you really wanna shake what your mama gave ya try The Bollywood Dance Workout with Hemalayaa or get totally ripped with Hip-Hop Dance.

Happy Tuesday Friends! I hope you have a great day!

Word Association...

IvaMessy@gmail.com (Iva) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:17:00 +0000

Happy Monday Friends! I hope you had a great weekend!

{image}

"Time"

...the first word(s) that comes to your mind, that you associate with time is
____________________.

Happy Friday!

IvaMessy@gmail.com (Iva) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:29:00 +0000

{image credit}

Hey, Hey!! It's Friday!
Happy Friday Friends! I hope you have a great weekend!!

CB2

IvaMessy@gmail.com (Iva) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 16:15:00 +0000

{Hopscotch Rug $199}

{Teardrop Diamond Hanging Vase $4.95}

{Oliver Appetizer Plates $2.95 each}

{Cheers Wine Glasses $19.95}

{Ring Holder $7.95}

Tons of fun at CB2.com

Telephone Cord Sheep Sculptures!

IvaMessy@gmail.com (Iva) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 08:21:00 +0000

{images via This Blog Rules}

Telephone sheep by Jean- Luc Cornec, in the Museum of Telecommunication in Frankfurt.

Happy Wednesday Friends!

Word Association...

IvaMessy@gmail.com (Iva) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 08:21:00 +0000

Happy Monday Friends! Have a great day and I hope you had a super weekend!

{image credit}

"Drama"

...the first word(s) that comes to your mind, that you associate with drama is
____________________.

Happy Birthday Jelly Belly!

IvaMessy@gmail.com (Iva) — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 20:47:00 +0000

Happy 1st Birthday Baby Girl!
We all love you so very much!

Bed Hog!

IvaMessy@gmail.com (Iva) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:48:00 +0000

{Bed Hog}

Sue and Patrick were happy newlyweds when suddenly an important debate came up in the bedroom. Patrick accused Sue of hogging the bed, but Sue was confident that she, if anyone, was the aggrieved party.

One night, they both came up with the same great idea – they should make sheets with a line down the middle. That way, they could prove who the real Bed Hog was.

Now Sue & Patrick sleep on their own set of Bed Hog sheets. And now Patrick has to grudgingly admit, “Well, I guess you’re not as much on my side as I thought you were.”

{all language and images courtesy of Bed Hog}

Word Association...

IvaMessy@gmail.com (Iva) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:31:00 +0000

{image}

"Patience"

...the first word(s) that comes to your mind, that you associate with patience is
____________________.

Mosstika

IvaMessy@gmail.com (Iva) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:21:00 +0000

Edina Tokodi is a Hungarian artist living in Brooklyn, behind studio Mosstika. Edina creates art from moss, designing silhouettes and other motifs which are often displayed on the street. Her latest project moves in a new direction, integrating a wood frame and irrigation system to create a Living Wall, in the image of a woman.

Happy Monday! I hope you had an amazing weekend!

{all images courtesy of Mosstika}

Perfect Little Vacation Spot

IvaMessy@gmail.com (Iva) — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 14:21:00 +0000

{Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland}

Happy Friday Everyone! Have a great weekend! ;)

Cuddle Class....Couches In Coach

IvaMessy@gmail.com (Iva) — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 13:21:00 +0000

" 22 "Skycouches" will take up the first 11 rows in the economy cabin of the carrier's new Boeing 777-300 planes, and will be formed out of three economy seats abreast that fold out to create a lie-flat space (complete with full size pillows) stretching right up to the seats in front. The increased space could also provide a valuable play and sleep area for those traveling with small children. For two adults traveling, purchasing the Skycouch will be based on buying two seats at standard prices with the third seat at approximately half price. Full airfare details will be announced when it goes on sale in late April.

"For those who choose, the days of sitting in economy and yearning to lie down and sleep are gone," Chief Executive Officer Rob Fyfe told reporters. "The dream is now a reality, one that you can even share with a traveling companion – just keep your clothes on, thanks." The first routes to offer travelers the Skycouch will be between Auckland and Los Angeles from December 2010 and Auckland and London from April 2011. All other services will feature the seats by around 2012. The airline's Premium Economy Cabin will also be getting an upgrade and will feature "Spaceseats," set two abreast (it is currently three abreast) and designed so that the center aisle seats can angle together to allow couples to dine at a shared table."

{images and language courtesy of Guardian.co.uk and Air NK's New SkyCouch in Action}

Whiteflash: Dreams of Africa

IvaMessy@gmail.com (Iva) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 18:21:00 +0000

"Dreams of Africa was set up by Whiteflash as a way of helping the African victims of 'blood diamonds'. With the introduction of the Awear range of jewelry for kids, young people can show the world that Love and Hope is alive and well."

Diamonds For Life, 100% of all profits go to WCCI.

"Worn near the heart, the pendant will touch the hearts of all who share our dreams of Africa. Whiteflash commissioned the design of this pendant to give expression to the desire to help heal the broken lives of the victims of blood diamonds. The sparkling conflict-free diamonds symbolize innocence, the sapphires stand for truth. The center stone is mother Africa and the spirals portray awareness as it spreads out to the world we all share."

I try to always be exceptionally contentious of all my purchases. Actively trying to always be part of the change. Courtesy of Whiteflash, and their Dreams of Africa line, I enjoy a new ring.

{Scattered Diamond Band}

{Dreams of Africa Diamond Cufflinks}

The Kimberley Process, is to be greatly applauded as the 'blood diamond' trade has been reduced by 95%, still areas of conflict remain.

Happy Wednesday Friends! Have an awesome day!

{all images courtesy of Whiteflash}

Knock Knock...

IvaMessy@gmail.com (Iva) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 08:21:00 +0000

{image}

Have you ever 'walked in' on anything that you can't get out of your head? ;)