It's finally spring in New England!

And here are my top picks for spring skincare from Rodan + Fields ...

1. EXFOLIATE rough winter skin (face and body) with our delicious sugar-salt scrub Micro-Dermabrasion Paste. Your skin will feel softer and smoother right away. Use up to three times a week or as needed.

2. Spring wardrobe changes are in the forecast! Get a safe, sun-kissed glow with our Foaming Sunless Tan. Follow up with our luxurious-feeling Daily Body Moisturizer to lock in that rich, golden glow.

3. Planning to spend a lot of time outside? Protect your skin from sun exposure with Daily Body Sunscreen SPF30. And if you've been using any of our retinol products, a cute hat will offer additional protection.

4. Treat your complexion to Mineral Peptide Powder. With SPF20, it's the perfect finishing touch. Available in three shades (combine light, medium and dark for flawless contouring!)

5. Gift yourself 25% OFF our top selling skin renewal products in our SPRING RENEWAL GIFT SET. It includes Intensive Renewing Serum with Retinal, our newly formulated Lip Renewing Serum now with moisturizing Macadamia seed oil and a touch of cooling mint, plus everyone's favorite time-reversing product Redefine Multi-Function Eye Cream. Spring Gift Set available while supplies last!

Place your order online here. Check out as a Preferred Customer and SAVE 10% OFF retail price plus get FREE shipping on all orders over $80. Become a Rodan + Fields Independent Consultant like me and save even more while sharing the #1 skincare brand in North America with others! Ask me how to get started! Learn more about the opportunity to share R+F here: yblacker.myrandf.biz

One Room Challenge: Getting Ready

Vintage Dress Form via Chairish

Wait! I’m not dressed yet!!! As is my tradition, I’m not quite ready to share the final reveal of my Calling it Home One Room Challenge design project. But I plan to post images from my new master closet here as soon as the dust settles (literally and figuratively!) Want to see it when it’s done? Subscribe to this blog and you’ll get the update delivered to your inbox. Thanks to all who have been following along!

Please be sure to check out the Week 6 reveals from the sponsored designers here and the participating guest bloggers here. Congratulations to everyone who made their deadlines! It takes a LOT of planning, dedication, resources and hard work to make these projects happen. I admire each of you and love seeing your final results!

Media Sponsor

New England Finery: Issue Two

Click here to view Issue 2 of
New England Finery Magazine

In honor of this week’s on-going celebration of Earth Day (it is officially on Friday, April 22nd) we are devoting our second issue of New England Finery Magazine to green living! Going green has become a huge part of the collective consciousness. Take a peek inside and be inspired by some New Englanders who have come up with eco-friendly ways of doing business.

Making green choices isn’t all business though ... also included are some fun fashions, earth-friendly design tips, and great garden ideas that can easily be incorporated into our every day lives.

And don’t miss the section on what’s new at New England Fine Living the retail store.

If you are in our Middleton, Massachusetts neighborhood, please stop by! Shopping local is
another great way of “being green.”

The design forecast for today ...

Citrus Orange
from Tray6

A–Z by Maisner

from Tray 6


National Cathedral
available at Amazon.com

An Italian beauty
from Pasotti



The Square from
Umbrella Heaven

Blogging and Graphic Design

I have met a lot of really nice people who have stopped by to browse at Beth Hylan Design Studio. Chatting with one, I discovered that she, too, is a blogger (she chats and posts on “life in sweet New England”). She handed me a few of her “mini blog cards” that feature her photographs on the front with her blog address on the back. I was totally impressed!

Moo MiniCards

The cards arrive neatly packaged in a
“I-will-order-them-just-for-the-box.”


Now, I have been in the business of graphic design in one way or another since I was 16 years old (I started out illustrating newspaper ads for a small gift shop) and I had never heard about these cute image-info minis. They have actually been around for awhile, but since I am new to blogging (first post, March 2009) I had never seen or heard of them.

The black wallpaper-like pattern appeals to me,
but my favorite is probably the chair with the bird
(just had to show the flying bunny collage!)

• Black + White Business
• Vicky Woodgate
• Don’t Panic


Today I spent **way too much time** checking out which versions I would choose for myself (I tend to “overdo it” just a bit with research : ). When I actually get around to creating my own, I will probably take some favorite images from my blog, or create a graphic illustration (actually, I might as well do both ... once a graphic designer, always a graphic designer!)

I did like this style for the back (or “details side”)


What would you choose for your blog?


For you DIY’s ...
make your own


Thanks to Cafe Chatelaine for the design tip! Here are a couple images from one of her recent blog posts ...


Cafe Chatelaine: A Day in Boston

I really enjoyed this post ... it reminds me of when I used to work as a graphic designer at an advertising agency (ISM) located on Commonwealth Avenue in Boston. Even at nine months pregnant, the part of day that I looked forward to most was walking up and down Newbury Street “window shopping” during my lunch hour.


Thanks, CC, for taking me back!

Public Service Announcement

www.gatheringchanginc.org