Beauty School Dropout

I don't know about you, but I am feeling quite homely these days. This morning, I read a post about a woman not enjoying her furry upper lip. My hair is about seven weeks past due for a trim and color. Thanks to all our al fresco picnics in the sunshine, my strands (nevermind the silver roots) are a hue I would never ask a hairdresser to duplicate. I am growing my hair out but the current shape is not cute, at all. A couple of months ago, I did Whole30 followed by Keto, and some 10 lbs down (another 16 to go, Jesus) I am still following a variation of the latter that involves falling terribly off the wagon on Saturdays. And, lest not forget the 5pm temptation as neighbors congregate at a safe social distance with beverages in hand(s). We are all only human. Nevermind the regular exercise in which I am engaging (Barry's Bootcamp trainer videos, these amazing barre classes with Caitlin, Yoga with Adrienne and daily neighborhood walks), the upward journey continues. Give yourself grace, people tell me. You created the miracle of life. Well, yes, I did and she is simply marvelous, but a closet full of clothes that only sort of fit is not okay. The season of white skinny jeans is fast upon us and mine currently look like a murder scene. 

In this uncertain time, the one element in my life of which I have total control is caring for my skin. I used to have horrible skin; in earnest, it looked like I had measles. I started seeing a dermatologist at a young age and my resounding memory is him looking at me when I was 16 and saying "oh shame." Two words no awkward teenager with braces and tragic skin ever wants to hear in reference to his or her appearance. We tried everything in the books to no avail. Fast forward a couple of months to our last resort, an Accutane treatment and a series of more embarrassing moments i.e. the nurse asking if I needed a monthly pregnancy test. The horror, "absolutely no reason for that" I told her. The unpleasant side effects hit me like the ten plagues: dry skin, nose bleeds, cracks in the corners of my mouth, sore joints, the list went on. My family holidayed in Spain the month I stopped the medication and we spent a week on the Costa del Sol. I do not know how my mother (or I) missed the sun sensitivity memo and I somehow found myself with third degree burns across my chest and arms. Let me tell you how cute I looked after a trip to the farmacia with gauze wrapped around my arms and the neon yellow ointment oozing through. Our family photographs at the Alhambra in Granada are especially charming owing to my adornments. But once the dust settled, I came out on the other side with (not to toot my own horn) beautiful skin. I was unrecognizable. 

And so, following the previously detailed acne trauma and per my mother's recommendations, I have given careful attention to my skin ever since. My medley was shaped by my skincare lady of the last twenty years (sadly she just sold her spa) as well as products about which I have learned from my mother, who has phenomenal skin. Quarantine life has infused an entirely new level of commitment to my skin regimen. I am not regularly going for facials anymore, and the below is serving as a close cousin. When I jump out of bed (and after my first set of 25 squats; I am doing a 100+ squat a day challenge with my cousins in London), I do the following. If you are interested in procuring them, Google around to find the best prices:

For makeup removal, I use Bioderma Micellair. It makes for easy peasy cleaning. I use this at night, too.

Arcona White Tea Purifying Cleanser - this leaves my skin feeling impossibly clean and the scent is amazing. My mother turned me onto this. I also use Sothy's Desquacrem. My facial lady has had me using this for years. They recommend Sothy's products. In the shower, I keep a big bottle of Dermalogica Skin Cleansing Gel. 

Fresh Rose Face Mask - smells amazing and my skin already feels so hydrated. A little goes a very long way. I put this on in the morning before I enjoy my coffee.

Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads - I have only recently started using these and I already see as well as feel a difference. My skin feels so soft. Almost as suave as Lucy's little tushy. Game changer for sure. 

Every once in a while, I use a dab of salicylic acid on my skin (after the facial pads). I like the Peter Thomas Roth number for aging skin. I am 40 and figure I need all the help I can get.  

After the facial pads or the Peter Thomas Roth (pea sized squeeze), I love this Sothy's moisturizer. 

When in the shower, I always exfoliate. My second mother, who is in her 70s and looks fabulous, says the key to maintaining youthful skin is relentless exfoliation. I really like this but this oldie but goodie works just fine, too.

I have used a whole host of expensive eye creams with so-so results, and shy of getting Botox (no judgement but my mother would kill me), I read an article that touted the benefits of Aquaphor. So I am on day four and so far, I like what I see. Stay tuned. 

Last but not least, I love, love, love serums. Back during my days living in Germany, the lady who did my facials was also enamored of them. The result was a gorgeous, dewy glow. Per spectacular reviews, I have just ordered the Skinceuticals B5 gel. It is not cheap but I understand a little goes a long way. What's your daily skin regimen? Am I missing anything?

Skincare aside, I CANNOT GET ENOUGH of the chicken patties made with the chicken used to create this stock. Many people add it back to the soup or for chicken salad but these patties are the way to go. In this blog, I have a handful of articles touting Jewish Penicillin but this is the new recipe to which I am adhering, and it's the jam. 

Chicken Stock and the most amazing Chicken Patties

Goods:

4 lb chicken
3 carrots cut in half
23ribs of celery cut in half
One head of garlic cut in half
One yellow onion - leave the skin on - quartered
Bunch of thyme
Bunch of parsley
Bunch of dill
Salt - lots of kosher salt
Pepper - lots of fresh cracked pepper
Saffron - a pinch (if you don't have it, star anise will give some depth to your stock, too)

Chicken Patties

Chicken meat - both dark and white meat
2 eggs
1/2 red onion - chopped
1 carrot - chopped
1 celery - chopped
Dill - chopped
Olive oil
Salt
Pepper

To do:

Put everything in a big pot and fill with water. Bring to a furious boil and lower to a simmer for four hours. Do not cover. Scrape the funk off the top every once in a while.

After four hours, strain and set aside chicken carcass. Broth is now ready for manipulation. I like to add chopped kale, red pepper flakes to ours. You can do a can of garbanzo or cannellini beans, carrots, celery, mushrooms; the list goes on.

And onto the chicken patties. These are crack. A whole chicken should yield 10-12 patties and I bet you a dime they won't last 24 hours.

Strip the white meat / nice looking dark meat and put in a big bowl. Shred with a fork, add two eggs and mix with your hands. Add salt and pepper.

Pulse carrots, celery, onion and dill in food processor. Sauté in olive oil. Once everything has had a nice chance to sweat, remove from heat and add to chicken and egg mix. Mix with your hands until uniform.

Form balls. Cook in olive oil on high heat - I like to smash mine with a spatula - flip and cook until crisp on the exterior.
Day #32, friends. Bon weekend.