2012 Summer Retirement List - Thirty-One

Straight from the Heart of Thirty-One

The Sun

Hot. Hot and dry. That pretty much sums up the local weather. I don't remember the last time it rained significantly enough to thoroughly soak the ground. The sun has been shone brilliantly in the bright blue sky, though, which makes me forget about the heat. The sun, however, can wreck havoc on your skin, causing wrinkles, freckles (sometimes referred to as sun spots) and sunburns. Your eyes can be damaged by the UV rays as well.
Taking precautions when you're out and about is very necessary; using sunscreen is a must. But, what can be done about protecting your eyes? Funny you should ask! Sometimes we forget just how much protection we receive just by wearing sunglasses. Yes, you read correctly. Sunglasses. When working outside and/or driving, the brightness of the sun causes us to squint, which leads to wrinkles and I, for one, don't need any more wrinkles.
I've been known to purchase cheap-o glasses, until my husband purchased and gifted to me a gift card to pick out a pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses. I must admit, Ray-Bans are expensive, but oh, the cost is so worth it!
I visited a website Red Hot Sunglasses and found out there are over 200 different styles of Ray-Bans alone! You can also view different styles at   www.my-wardrobe.com/ray-ban and HappyGlasses
I decided to read up on just how Ray-Bans got started and what makes them so popular and better than other high end sunglasses. I found out that Ray-Bans were developed by Bausch and Lomb at the request of an Army Lieutenant, who's eyes were damaged by the sun. This Lieutenant wanted a pair of sunglasses that would provide protection and look sophisticated. Bausch and Lomb created a prototype known as Anti-Glare. The green lenses that are so well known are actually made of mineral glass that filters the ultraviolet rays that can damage your skin and eyes.
I'm not going to bore you with more details, but if you're interested, you can visit YouTube  and watch a video at your leisure.
Protect your eyes with good quality sunglasses. Don't be like me and settle for the cheap-o ones that don't do anything, but maybe look good on your face! Check out both Red Hot Sunglasses and www.raybanukglasses.co.uk to get a feel for the cost. It will be money very well spent.

Enjoy the sun, but take care in protecting your skin and eyes!

Beauty and Faith: How to Keep Your Hands Healthy

Beauty and Faith: How to Keep Your Hands Healthy

Matt Redman - 10,000 Reasons

Good skin care and a healthy lifestyle can help delay the natural aging process. I, for one, don't want to grow older any faster than I already am!
A weekly facial prevents the clogged pores and dull skin that come from heat, sweat and sunscreen. Below are some tips on how you can save money by giving yourself this daily treat. A facial should be given after you shower, while your skin is still damp, to achieve the best results.

1. Exfoliate clean skin with a sugar (or salt) scrub. The crystals are gentle because they dissolve quickly, unlike walnut or apricot shells. Sugar and salt are both humectants, so they hydrate. Skip this step if you use an acid or a retinoid daily.

2. Smooth on an algae mask. Packed with antioxidants, algae masks soften skin and boost circulation. Some are made with oil-absorbing clay and others add emollients to moisturize dry skin.

3. Get rid of those blackheads. Don't even think about using your fingers to dislodge a blackhead! Instead, hold two cotton swabs on either side, in a V, then gently press down. If the plug doesn't loosen, don't force it.
Do not, I repeat, do NOT go near red, swollen zits! Instead, cover them with a layer of 2.5% benzoyl peroxide cream followed by 1% hydrocortisone once a day for three days.

4. Apply moisturizer every day. Moisturizers don't just prevent and treat dry skin, they also protect sensitive skin, improve skin tone and texture and mask imperfections. This is an important step after you've removed the dead skin cells and natural moisturizers using the scrub and the mask.


Flawless skin is a thing of beauty. Take care of it!

Thirty-One Gifts and Planned Parenthood

There has been some discussion lately as to whether or not Thirty-One Gifts supports Planned Parenthood.
To be clear, Thirty-One in no way gives donations to support and/or fund PP. Thirty-One does, however, give to these charitable organizations:

• Dress for Success Worldwide
• Blume
• GOGO Gives: Get One Give One Gives
• Safe Horizon
• Domestic Violence Intervention Services
• YWCA of Central Ohio
• Girl Scouts
• Salvation Army
• Project Woman
• Interfaith Hospitality Network
• The Women's Fund of Central Ohio
• ROX ­ Ruling Our Experiences

Some of these organizations do give to Planned Parenthood, but that doesn't directly include Thirty-One Gifts. 

I did a search for companies that directly supported PP and I was quite shocked! If we, as a Christian community, decided to boycott ALL the companies associated with Planned Parenthood, I think we'd be quite limited as to what we bought. 

Just to give you an idea of companies that do indeed send support funds to Planned Parenthood, below is just the tip of the iceberg:

Pernod Ricard (alcoholic beverages, including Absolute, Ballantine's, Beefeater, Bancott Estate, Campo Viejo, Chivas Regal, G.H. Mumm, The Glenlivet, Graffigna, Havana Club, Jacob's Creek, Jameson, Kahlúa, Malibu, Maretll, Mumm, Perrier-Jouët, Ricard, Royal Salute).
TD Bank Group(financial services).
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts(lodging, including Baymont Inn & Suites, Days Inn, Dream Hotels, Hawthorne, Howard Johnson, Knights Inn, Microtel Inns & Suites, Night, Planet Hollywood, Ramada, Super 8, Travelodge, TRYP Hotels, and Wingate).
NACCO Industries (appliance manufacturing, including eclectrics, Hamilton Beach, Proctor Silex, Traditions, TrueAir, plus Kitchen Collection and Le Gourmet Chef stores).
Whole Foods Market
JPMorgan Chase (including Chase Bank, & Bank One).
Bank of America, Lost Arrow(Patagonia)
Danone (Dannon products).
Wells Fargo, Bob Evans (restaurants).
Chevron (includingCaltex, Texaco, Xpress Lube).
eBay (includingPayPal).
Arthur Murray (dance studios).
Bikram's Yoga, Midas (auto care).
Nike
Marriott Hotels & Resorts (lodging, including Courtyard, Fairfield,Renaissance, Ritz-Carlton). 
Johnson & Johnson
Staples (office/school supplies).
Darden Restaurants (eateries, including Bahama Breeze, The Capital Grille, LongHorn Steakhouse, Olive Garden,Red Lobster, Seasons 52).


I am very pro-life, which means I'm very opposed to abortion, but I've also come to the conclusion that we all have to pick our battles. What will we fight for that will make the most difference in the lives of those around us? In the end, God will have the final judgement. He will reward those who have furthered His Kingdom and He will punish those who haven't done so. 
For me, I will choose not to support Planned Parenthood directly. However, to even begin to boycott ALL the companies that are affiliated with PP, would take up too much of my energy and time and quite frankly, I'd rather spend that extra time loving on my family and showing the love of the Father to those who are lost. 


Until next time....