Every year, Beautycounter makes the tough decision to remove a few products from our line. They're always products that aren't best sellers, and they're eliminated to make room for more products coming soon (a good thing!!).

Still, some of these are favorites of mine (and I know many of you love them, too), so I wanted to be sure to share this list in case you wanted to grab anything before it's gone.

Some products will be gone for good, while others will be replaced with updated versions. Those new versions are TBD timing-wise, though, so stock up now if you have any favorites on this list:

• One-Step Makeup Remover Wipes
• Counter+ No. 2 Plumping Facial Oil - my favorite  (The Brightening Facial Oil is a good alternative for this one, as is the Glow First Priming Serum.)
• Counter+ No. 3 Balancing Facial Oil (This will be gone for good in this packaging, but the same formula with a new name will be released down the road. If you love the Balancing Oil, stock up now because we aren't sure when the new version will be available.)
• Retractable Foundation Brush. 
• All Counterman Products
• Color Outline Eye Pencil (These will be replaced eventually, but not anytime soon.)
• Countertime Adaptive Body Moisturizer
• Color Intense Lipstick (These will be back at some point.)
• Color Define Brow Pencil (These will also be back after some tweaks.)​

For those who receive Beautycounter emails, you may have read this in a recent email from Beautycounter HQ, but I wanted to be sure to address it as well.  Effective February 1, you'll see an increase of about 10% on pricing for all Beautycounter products. Please know that this is a carefully considered increase, and it's to account for rising production/material costs due in large part to the pandemic and the strain it's put on so many industries.

Two quick notes about this increase and ways to avoid it:

• If you need any products in the next couple of months, go ahead and buy them by the end of January and you'll bypass that increase. Remember to attach your purchase to the New Year New Skincare pop up so you have the opportunity to win the host rewards.
• Lots of our products are available for auto-replenishment, which launched last summer. (You can read about that program here, and see all the products included in this program! Look for the "Subscribe, Save 5%" option under a product, which means it's eligible. You'll get 5% off the first time you use auto-replenishment on that product, and 10% on any subsequent auto-replenishment of that item!)

*Another way to save even MORE on all of your Beautycounter purchases is to join as a consultant. You'll receive a 25% discount on all personal orders that way! Some teammates and I hosted a call last week on what being a consultant looks like, and you can check out that replay here if you're interested.

If you are anything like me, I'm always looking for gift ideas. Because you know someone might have a cooler or better idea than me. Or maybe I'm plumb out of ideas. At any rate I always love a good gift guide. I hope you enjoy the one I put together for you.

Do your kids or grandkids need a break from the screens? Give them the opportunity to learn about themselves as an artist while they explore art in the safety of their home. When my daughter was young she loved going to Art with the MJ's Art Camp. She did their summer program and their holiday edition program. I still have several projects she created during that time. My daughter loved their projects. I bet your favorite young person will love the projects in this carefully curated 12 Days of Art box. Check it out and download the below file to learn more. 

As the year is barreling towards the holiday season, many of us are trying to make decisions on the holiday gifting season. What items should I get for my spouse, family, friends or teacher.  Will they arrive in time? Shouldn't I support local? What does supporting local mean to me? Does that mean I only buy items from a local business that makes and creates items here locally? Or does that mean I purchase an item(s) from a friend who reps a product(s) from a larger organization. I feel any and all the above our important questions to ask.

I will try to make my purchases where it will have the most effect on my local economy. I will purchase items from local artisans or markets. I will purchase items from friends who rep a product line that I value, knowing the money they earn from my purchase will be put back into the local economy. Especially during these new times, we need to be supportive of each other and of our local businesses. Only together can we all thrive. 

In the vein, here are a few gift items for the holiday. 

Shop the sale here!

This sale makes it the perfect time to stock up on a few faves you might be running low on as well as a great time to try something you've been eyeing (maybe a fun new lip color (my fave is sheer genius) or our luxurious body polish, for example!).

As a heads up, brand new products (like our new Think Big All-In-One Mascara and Lid Glow Cream Shadow) are excluded from the sale (although they're both amazing, so you might want to add them to your cart anyway...). Sets, collections, and bundles, as well as last chance items, are also not eligible for the 15% discount.

The sale runs today through Monday, August 16.
Oh, and if you're a Band of Beauty member you just might have a credit to apply to your order as well. Remember your credit will show up as a payment option at checkout, or you can always reach out to me to check in on your credit amount. As a member, you'll get free shipping if your order totals $100 or more, too (saving you an additional $6.95). Yay!!

And if you are not a Band of Beauty member check out the benefits here. 

Earth Day's 51st Anniversary is this Thursday April 21st. I still remember being in Kindergarten when we celebrated our first Earth Day. Do you remember what you were doing? I would love to hear about it. For this anniversary I made Earth Day sugar cookies.
I used a basic sugar cookie recipe, one from Gluten Free on a Shoestring and the other from Whole Kitchen Sink.

Make the cookie dough recipe. Then divide it in half. Color one half with matcha and the other half with blueberry powder. ( I dumped a bag of Trader Joe's Freeze Dried Blueberry's in a blender and hit blend.) You could also use spirulina or Butterfly Pea Flower.  I put in about 1-2 tsp of match or blueberry powder into the dough, then mix well.  

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We LOVE this grain free and vegan chocolate cream pie. Many times we will bring it out for special celebrations like Pi Day, 3.14 aka at March 14. 
You can has this quick & easy pie to made in a few hours. You’ll need a bag of Momma’s Mammoth Munch, flavor of your choice. Plus additional nuts (almonds, pecans or walnuts). Dates, full fat coconut milk, maple syrup, cocoa powder, arrowroot flour, whip cream, chocolate bar, sea salt & vanilla. 
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Crust: 

• 1 ½ C Momma’s Mammoth Munch
• 1 C pecans, walnuts or almonds
• 1 C pitted dates

Plus in nuts in food processor or high speed blender until you have a coarse mixture. Slowly blend in dates until it becomes a sticky mixture. If it’s too dry add a few more dates, one at a time until you reach the right texture. Pat down in a pie pan. Set aside. 
Filling:

• 13.5 oz can of full fat coconut milk
• ¼ c maple syrup
• ⅔ C cocoa powder
• 1 TBSP arrowroot flour
• ½ tsp vanilla extra
• dash sea salt

Use only cream from the can of coconut milk. To get cream from a can of coconut milk put it in the refrigerator for a 2-4 hours until is separates. Take the top the creamy top part of the coconut milk to use for this recipe. Save the watery portion for smoothies. Whisk the milk to break up the clumps. Then whisk the powdered cocoa, maple syrup, salt and vanilla extract. Pour into the crust, spread evenly, refrigerate for 2 hours or more until serving. Top with whipped coconut cream (homemade or from the store)

Coconut Whip Cream

• 13.5 oz can of full fat coconut milk
• 1 tsp of maple syrup

Place can in refrigerator for up to 2 days. I've even done this over night and it work. Chill your bowl and beaters for about 30 minutes before, however if you forget it will still work. Scoop out just the creamy top of the coconut milk. Beat this on high speed until peaks form. Now add the maple syrup beat well. Keep refrigerated until serving time. Whip again is needed. 

To serve drop a dollop of coconut cream onto a slice of pie with shavings from a dark chocolate bar. It'll have your friends and family swooning for more. 

This past Saturday, my husband Dave & I had one of our first outside dates since the pandemic started. It was wonderful. We choose to visit Bull City Ciderworks for their soft opening, which turned out not to be a soft opening. Apparently a lot of other people were looking for things to do or waiting for our first cidery to open in Greensboro. YAY!! Finally we have a place to hang and have a few adult beverages.
Dave enjoyed the Smooth Hoppenator, dry with a bit of hoppiness. Reminiscent of a beer, which he really misses since being diagnosed as celiac.  
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