Why I Quit Coconut Oil As A Moisturizer

by soniafd1 | Apr 24, 2019 | Skincare, Wellness

I first met Dr. Alina Sholar while I was in Austin this winter. It was time for a little touch up (if you know what I mean) and she was recommended to me by a beautiful Instagram friend who lives in the area. Dr. Alina is a plastic surgeon with an artistic bent and a keen eye. I was excited to hear what she had to say about the composition of my face. Everybody has a slightly different way of looking at things, and I am always awed by the artistic skill of the great aestheticians and when you get a chance to have a plastic surgeon look at your face all the better. I also spent some time on her blog and ran across an article on coconut oils as moisturizers. I have never been a fan for two reasons. One, I don’t like smelling like a fruit salad and two, it was too messy for me to use.
It turns out my instincts were correct. Here is the science on the subject graciously allowed as a repost by Dr. Alina Sholar. Visit her if you are in Austin. You will love her. I did!

For Goodness Sakes! No More Coconut Oil!

The use of coconut oil as “skincare” is an all-out raging trend. An internet search for ‘coconut oil for skin care’ returns thousands of results that declare coconut oil a miracle for cleansing, moisturizing and healing the skin.

🚫🚫🚫 This couldn’t be further from the scientific truth. 🚫🚫🚫

Skincare science says:

* Coconut oil disrupts the skin’s natural barrier function and can promote aging.

* Coconut oil does not provide hydration. Because oil and water do not mix- in fact, they repel one another – coconut oil cannot deliver water (hydration) to the skin whatsoever.

* Coconut oil is rated 4-5 out of 5 on the comedogenic scale, meaning it is a high offender of the cause occlusion, clogged pores, pimples, blackheads, milia or whiteheads.

*Coconuts are considered a tree nut so if you are already sensitive to any type of nut or have an allergy, coconut oil could cause an allergic or inflammatory reaction.

*Coconut oil used on the face has been linked to an increase in contact dermatitis.

*Coconut oil has no natural vitamin or mineral content that serves the skin. It’s fats flying solo.

👉🏼 The bottom line is this: don’t simply let current trends influence your skincare. Go with the science instead. . .

Summer Looks We Love with Ala Von Auersperg Kaftans

by soniafd1 | Apr 10, 2019 | Fashion, Fashion

Today we pay homage to another beautiful female owned business that we love to support: Ala Von Aeursperg. When I was reading Ala’s bio it felt like she was talking about MY family. From my grandmother to my mother, sister to myself, we all wore kaftans. Simple diaphanous ones at home and bejeweled beauties to dinner. A staple through my life. Such a simple beautiful style.

Kaftans have been the unofficial uniform of my family for as long as I can remember. My mother and grandmother used to wear them at home, and my aunt wore them in Morocco over bathing suits and to dinner at her friends’ homes. They would come home, change out of their clothes and put on a pretty kaftan. It was their alternative to sweatpants, and way more glamorous. The kaftans I grew up wearing continue to inspire the styles I design today.

~Ala Von Auersperg

I love this dress. Equal parts flirtatious and irreverent, AvA’s Mary Short Kaftan is an airy, festive style with oversized ruffled sleeves, flouncy hem and chic scoop-neck top. Its background of pale blue brushstrokes on white provides the perfect canvas for an arrangement of colorful Spider Lilies.

THE WATER MILL PRINT

Water Mill is new for the Spring/Summer season and is a vibrant print whose background of pale blue brushstrokes on white provides the perfect canvas for an arrangement of colorful Spider Lilies. Named for the beautiful Hamptons destination where Ala keeps a home and garden, Water Mill evokes a sense of natural freedom, where pops of red, yellows and greens seem to dance around each silhouette quite effortlessly. Like all of our prints, Water Mill is taken directly from one of Ala’s own paintings.

Shop the Look:

Alexandra Short Kaftan

Mary Short Kaftan

Alma Long Silk Kaftan

AvA Scarf

Introducing the limited-edition AvA silk scarf in our Water Mill print, designed in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month and the National Center for Victims of Crime, the organization Ala co-founded in the 1980’s. 50% of the scarf’s proceeds will benefit the NCVC helpline, which counsels victims following traumatic events. Women should know they have a place to turn after experiencing assault or violent crime, and the NCVC supports them by connecting them to services in their community.

$250.00

UPDATE: Vote For GE’s Great American Grandma

by soniafd1 | Mar 19, 2019 | Lifestyle

I’ve been going on and on since January about GE’s Great American Grandma Job Search.

If you missed my video you can check it out here.

Well, GE has narrowed their search down to 10 candidates, one of whom will ultimately be named the Great American Grandma. Each of the top 10 impressed GE’s search committee with their energy, creativity, camera presence, storytelling ability, spunk and more.

Watch all 10 videos on their site, then go like, share or comment on your favorites to show them some love! (And you must be nice! Remember – Grandma is watching!)

GE will announce the final winner during the first week of April (and no, not on April Fool’s Day). But they will also give many of their applicants the opportunity to take part in future Great American Grandma projects, so stay tuned. GE’s Grandma will be hired part-time for a 10-15 hour per month gig, sharing the secrets of great recipes… of food, fun and family. The job will include:

$50,000 salary
Will receive 5 brand new, top-of-the-line GE Appliances kitchen products
Serve as a social media spokesperson on GE Appliances channels

A Gem in the Hill Country: Our Staycation at Camp Lucy

by soniafd1 | Mar 17, 2019 | Fashion, Travel

A lesson in staying in the moment.

A few weeks ago, we were at dinner with friends, and the conversation turned to must-see places and experiences in Austin. My friends regaled me of an outstanding restaurant outside of town called Tillie‘s. I open the website to find the most gorgeous architecture and tile work at a restaurant of an event space called Camp Lucy in Dripping Springs, Texas. Beauty was all around so I thought that it would be a great place to shoot our spring fashion story.

I talked Scott into taking the 20-minute drive out of town for a Staycation at Camp Lucy. We headed to the little town of Dripping Springs. I was so excited, but Scott had slight trepidation as we got further away from Austin and into the “wild” of the Hill Country.

Twists and turns down narrow roads we go! It’s not far from Austin, but you feel like you’re in another country entirely. Driving past a river and crossing over narrow bridges it feels like we have gone for miles. Where are we?! We stop to speak with a gentleman by the side of the road. I immediately knew there was more to him then meets the eye. “0h just go up the road until you see the green tile roof” and on we go. We’re on the right track.

As we pull up, our eyes get bigger and bigger, we enter the most beautiful setting made entirely from repurposed buildings from Asia. The tile work is magnificent, and the people are lovely. Camp Lucy is a wedding destination that houses five different venues. There’s a swimming pool, private dining areas, and landscaping that goes on and on. Everything is beautifully planned out, from the church to the steeple. But there is so much more to this Hill country ranch than that.

Camp Lucy is the kind of place where you can escape the pace of the city and relax in a calming environment. We call this a “staycation destination” and the middle of the week is a perfect time to escape!

On the property is Tillie’s restaurant, a true fine dining experience in the heart of the Texas Hill Counrty. It is worth the 20-minute drive from Austin for dinner alone (or breakfast, lunch, AND brunch). With a seasonally (if not daily) changing menu, Chef Brandon Martin combines flavors and textures in a way that is so satisfying for your palette. Think Southern Comfort meets Asian flavor.

You’ll find this theme throughout the rest of Camp Lucy as well. All of the structures on the property have been imported from Vietnam, rebuilt and revamped on-sight. The most impressive structure on the site is the gorgeous 19th Century chapel, built from intricately carved ironwood.

Scott and I had the privilege of staying in the luxury suite which had a fireplace, a stone zero horizon bathtub and honestly the most comfortable bed we have slept in in ages. All of the rooms at Camp Lucy are individual little cabins (it feels like you’re at summer camp!) and are thoughtfully and elegantly decorated, you’ll feel right at home.

Ideally located near wineries, breweries, and a host of Hill Country activities, the beautifully crafted Camp Lucy guest rooms in Dripping Springs also offer a unique escape from the ordinary.

The whole experience was terrific for us, but as always, it is the people that make a place memorable.

Between the management and staff, nothing is left to chance right down to Smore’s in one of the outdoor fireplaces. Whether you are in the large suite or one of the cabins overlooking the ravine ( which reminded me of a trip to Africa), there is not a wrong spot in the house.