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I have the weirdest dreams sometimes. I think I need this book.

It’s based off a vintage book and can decipher dream symbols for you. What does dreaming about being a secret agent mean?

$9.95

Get the Fortune-Telling Book of Dreams

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watching: the Republican National Convention. I don’t blog about politics, but….I was astonished. We’ll leave it at that.

reading: The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. One of my favorite books. I love everything she writes. Everything.

It might be to heavy, but man it's awesome.

wanting: A motorcycle jacket. I think I want one. I know I want one. Possibly the one from Bona Drag you see up there.

photo credit: IM SNOT REAL

working on: moving to LA. It’s not a huge move, but it’s been a lot of work so far. Best part? You’ll get to see me shop for more house stuff, which I haven’t done for awhile.

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I’ve been on a kick of finding books to tell me morea bout life. No self-help, but those books that you finish, put down, and immediately have to think about for a day or two.

So here’s a list of books I’ve read so far that have made a difference:

Ishmael seems to show up on a lot of lists, for good reason. It’s a book about how we live our lives and how that can change our environment. It’s been awhile since I’ve read this book, but I try to read it every few years.

Ishmael is a talking gorilla, well, sort of and he’s a teacher. I think I read this book about the same time I read the following book, both of which are about mentors who show their students new ideas about how to live.

Way of the Peaceful Warrior got a little pres lately when it was made into a so-so movie with Amy Smart and Nick Nolte.

Same idea. Student meets teacher who shows him what life is really about.

This book is a little easier to relate to for me because it’s about a extremely passionate man who loses his way. I’ve been back and forth through my passion in life and they have taken a toll on my life, in both a good and bad way.

Oryx and Crake is a fantastic book about the future and where it could go if science goes awry. Like most Margaret Atwood books it’s got a rich storyline that is sort of post-apocalyptic view of life that is sort of sci-fi, but pretty realistic.

I’m not sure that this book has a “message” per say, but it’s got ideas about science that I simply cannot get out of my head. It leaves me worried for the way science can move if we make a misstep in the next few years.

So what are some books that changed your life?

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I was pretty excited when I found and was offered a review copy of “Not Just a Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry.”

The book is a intense look at the safety concerns that many beauty and skincare items, from the point of view of one of the co-founders of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, Stacy Malkan.

Bringing Out Concerns

I’ve swing between wanting effective products and wanting the greenest possible products. As I’ve tried to green my life I’ve gone through tons of “green” and “safe” face products. Lots of them were mislabeled. Many of them didn’t’ work. Some of them were fantastic.

I found a big list of ingredients that I wanted to stay away from because of health concerns. It was slightly disturbing to learn that some of the brands who sport a pink ribbon for breast cancer also have products that contain pthalates and other concern causing ingredients that have been linked to cancer.

Let’s take a step back here. I will agree with the notion that some natural and green brands will use this type of information to fear-monger. In reality, a lot of natural-based ingredients can make people with sensitive skin freak out. Just because it is natural doesn’t mean that you can’t have an allergic reaction to it.

So on one hand, I was throwing out freaky old nail polish, but I took all of the book with a grain of salt. Thankfully, the author does point out that a lot of the ingredients that she talks about may not have a huge affect in the small quantities that you see in cosmetics. However, there is the idea that there is no reason to expose yourself to that to begin with, no matter the risk.

Like anything, the ideas in this book are something to weigh in your mind. Yeah, I threw out some nail polish and I will continue to avoid SLS (sodium laurel sulfate) and similar ingredients because I am person that would rather not take the risk.

But, and it’s a big but, I will not get rid of products like my Avene Retrinal, which works perfectly well and is so effective that it is worth the risk to me.

Campaign for Safe Cosmetics

One slight thing to keep in mind. Malkan, like I said above, is a co-founder of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. A good portion of this book is spent on the story of the CFSC, which really is an intriguing story. You are not really signing up for a book like The Skin Type Solution, which gives you specific things to go out and buy.

You’re getting the story of a worthy cause and why they are working for it. I am glad I read it, because I’m a big fan of researching your purchases and I do use the database set up by the CFSC.

Overall

A great quick read at just over 150 pages, if you’re concerned at all about what you put on your face every day, I would get the book. Prefer to stick with what you know and not get alarmed by all the things that could cause you cancer? Keep walking.

Bonus!

Want to read the book after listening to my rambling? Like a true greenie, I’m going to pass on my copy. It’s got some dog-ears, but totally readable. Just tell me your favorite beauty product (green or not) in the comments and why you’ll use it regardless. I’ll randomly pick someone on July 18 and you’ll get this lovely copy.

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reading: The His Dark Materials Trilogy (The Golden Compass; The Subtle Knife; The Amber Spyglass by
Phillip Pullman. Actually, more like devouring. I love kid’s sci fi books apparently because I’ve been tearing through this like I did with Harry Potter.

watching: Blades of Glory. This movie is one of my favorites lately. Ever since I lost my job, I’ve need a pick me up and what is more smile-inducing than spandex and comedians?

working on: Being a better blogger. I started writing Chic By Nature in addition to IndieStyleFile and I’ve got a super secret project here that you’ll see in the next couple of weeks. It’ll be awesome and very pretty.

obsessed with: ColourLovers. For anyone that has a design fetish, whether you’re actually a designer or not, ColourLovers will entrance you. Look at color palettes, new colors and patterns to your heart’s content.

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reading: The Ruins by Scott Smith. Not scary yet, but it’s supposed to be stay up all night creepy.

watching: 30 rock on Hulu. The satellite man should be here to fix my real TV any minute now.

wanting: hot coffee. I just made this and it’s already lukewarm.

wearing: an Indian tunic I bought at a garage sale and Joe’s Jeans skinny jeans.

loving: this weather. First boiling hot, then super cold and windy *drips with sarcasm*

My, I am grumpy today!

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reading: Travels with Charley. Steinbeck is awesome.

eating: baked pasta. It’s el-cheapo week.

wearing: the american apparel wear-it-a-million-ways dress. It’s so very versatile. I need to buy another one.

loving: my flexees mini sucker-inner. I spend more money on undergarments these days than actual clothes. The pains of age.

wanting: a massage, please.

listening: A super sexy mix my friend Carissa made me.

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watching: Charmed. It’s cheesy, but I like it.

eating: Elise’s Arroz con Pollo. It reminds me of the Boy, who is in Peru right now.

reading: 1,001 nights in Iraq. A beautiful story about a prisoner of war.

doing: rearranging my apartment. First it was the living room, then the bathroom and my roommate jsut rearranged her room.

photo credit: thms.nl

loving: the weather. So nice out lately.

wearing: tee-shirts and jeans. Been too busy/lazy to put effort into what I wear lately.

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doing: puzzles. It started with a weekend and some friends. It’s nerdy, I know. Then it became an obsession. By the way, it’s a glow in the dark unicorn puzzle with a wizard. Nothing is more fitting for your first puzzle in years. I’ve got a four more in my car courtesy of freecycle.

wearing: lots of flowy tunics. It’s been that kind of weather lately. It makes me lust over this on etsy.

buying: nerdy macbook stuff. Some memory and a new battery.

reading: The Way of All Flesh by Samuel Butler. Pretty decent, for famous historical literature.

drinking: super coffee from my stovetop espresso maker.

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It’s Thursday, and high time you guys find out what has been in my head this past week.

watching: Don’t tell me who wins Project Runway. I’m about two weeks behind in my DVR.

listening: Joni Mitchell’s Blue. My good friend Jason got me a copy for my birthday and it’s been amazing.

wearing: still breaking in my Natural Comfort heels. I think they’re going tobe amazing once I stretch out the toe part a little more

wanting: some juice. seriously dehydrated lately or something.

reading: still Alias Grace. I just got The Ruins in the mail though and am waiting for some sleepless nights.

loving:  spectator ballerina flats from Forever 21. I think I need these.

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