Landlocked Mermaid

I am not the biggest girly-girl out there. I would rather sit in my jammies and play Final Fantasy than go for a mani-pedi. You know, that construct of femininity that society shoves down our throats. No thank you. Having said that, I do enjoy glamming up every now and then. I have some lovely make-up I've collected over the years. (I'm sure anyone who knows anything about make shelf life just cringed then!) At University, part of the going out ritual was getting glam; doing my hair, putting on my make-up, picking out a pair of ridiculous heels. Nowadays, I get glammed up for weddings and meals out. Because I don't do it that often, I have not owned a make-up remover since the last one ran out and I do not even remember when that was! However, in doing research for making my own beauty products I found out that aloe vera can be used in make-up removers. Praise be the holy, multi-purpose aloe! Mama Aloe before she got floppy Looking into it, there are make-u...

A couple years back, I pilfered one of my mum's aloe vera plants. I'd seen somewhere that they promote good sleep because of the amount of oxygen they kick out, or something of the like. Since taking on the aloe, it has spawned many a baby plant to the point where I have gone from keeping it in one pot to at least three. With bare minimum gardening too. Imagine how much more I would have if I actually looked after it and watered it more than when it goes brown! I still keep one plant in our bedroom, to help with the sleep thing. But the mama plant, Mama Aloe*, lives downstairs in the kitchen and looks a little like this: One floppy Aloe Mama. I decided it was high time to do something with her. Maybe lighten the load. As I have mentioned before, I am a pale kid. I get sun burnt inside. Next to an open window, of course, but still indoors. If we get anything remotely close to a summer this year, I am sure to go a little pink. I use sun screen, but even factor ...