Turning 30 | Skin, Makeup, Hair and Health

Hey guys, it’s Andrea. I make things as ‘the codex club’ on here, but I’ve never posted a personal YouTube video where I even talk, so I thought it was about time. I turned 30 yesterday. And for some that’s not a big deal. But for me, it was always something I talked about when discussing goals. Like ‘when I turn 30…’ ‘this is what I want to do before 30’ and I realize I’ve done some of it, and I’m happy with where I am- but there’s a lot I still want to do. Here are some of the things I’ve worked hard to gather and share here.

Skin, Makeup, Hair Loves:

I had to pick up things when I was acting on shoots (and something a makeup artist did worked well), or a friend told me ‘do this’. My little sister actually gives me the most tips. My mom never really wore makeup, and stressed just taking care of our skin. Which is great! And she looks great for her age. But there are some things I do, and I hope it helps. 

Skin

1. Elf 83408 Blemish Control Primer Clear .47 Oz


2. Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Marine Boosting Mist travel size 0.24 oz


3. iS CLINICAL Hydra-Cool Serum, 0.5 fl. oz.

Makeup

1. Anastasia Beverly Hills - Brow Wiz - Granite


2. Benefit Gimme Brow+ Volumizing Fiber Gel Gimme Brow+ 5 Deep


3. Buxom Full-On Lip Cream Mai Tai (coral) .14 oz


4. Neutrogena Moisturesmooth Color Lipstick, 80 Rich Raisin, .011 Oz.


5. NARS Blush Orgasm

Hair

1. UNITE Hair 7 Seconds Detangler Leave In, 8 Fl oz

I saw a few Chinese-American makeup tips on youtube, but this is what I do. It’s not really who I am to just talk about products, so I’d like to also talk about general health, and what’s below the surface.

Health:

NutriBullet smoothies. A huge tablespoon of peanut butter plus as many fruits can fit, some spinach, and either milk or almond milk.

A book I like by Aubrey Marcus, Own the Day, Own Your Life: Optimized Practices for Waking, Working, Learning, Eating, Training, Playing, Sleeping, and Sex

Which I also wrote about in a prior blog post: http://thecodexclub.blogspot.com/2018/05/blog-post.html

Yoga videos on here (yoga at your desk! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAUf7aajBWE)

And just some reflections on Bourdain passing, and life in general. We live in an age that’s increasingly connecting through social media, and I’m inspired to try and make those connections more and listen to you guys so I hope we can keep in touch.



For a list of my goals (for the next thirty years) please see the updated 'About' page here.

A Day in Charleston, South Carolina (DAY 2 pt2)

WE LOVE CHARLESTON.

Here is a video montage of our morning biking through this wonderful city. A lot of people visiting Charleston South Carolina, choose to rent bikes and go by the water, and I completely understand why, now. This is the third part of our earlier road trip posts along the East Coast (see also, Virginia Beach and Wilmington, and Myrtle Beach).

Stayed at the Spectator Hotel, easily one of the best hotels I have ever stayed in or will ever. There was a butler! His name was Chuck and he had the best stories about the city and his life. Even helped us figure out where to go to dinner. Note: there are so many free snacks (My favorite were the benne wafers by Charleston Specialty Foods), and free cocktails in the room (as well as water, coke, and local sweet tea) that you might not get that hungry.







But the weather was wonderful and we could hear a local troubadour singing from City Market nearby, so we wandered down a block or two and saw the night stalls that were open. Through there and another block or two, we made it to Anson Restaurant. Really nice ambience, and a perfect romantic dinner of chicken for him, and grouper for me, by candlelight. On the way back from the restaurant, back through City Market, the singer was now singing 'Perfect' by Ed Sheeran, and I couldn't help but hum a little bit and stop with Mark against a wall to listen to him finish til the end.



Can we just talk about the view one wakes up to?







Brunch was at Butcher & Bee, a super hipster cafe where I got a Lamb Pita and Turmeric Tang juice, and Mark got the Roast Beef Sandwich. Took this photo outside:







'A good time occurs precisely when we lose track of what time it is' -Robert Farrar Capon



Drove to the nearby Shepherd Fairey mural that was still on the wall of their old location, then it was on to Savannah, Georgia.

Surprises at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (DAY 2 pt1)

DAY 2 of our East Coast Road Trip is split up because of just how much happened when we hit the Carolina's. (DAY 1 on Williamsburg, Virginia Beach, and Wilmington here)



The rain was coming down really hard, the morning we set off for Myrtle Beach. This city is on South Carolina’s Atlantic coast, and the hub of the Grand Strand, a 60-mile string of beaches. The plan had been to get toes wet at the water's edge, but the downpour and a slight burn from Virginia Beach the day before discouraged us. Went to Wal-Mart to get some sunscreen and snacks, and I researched from last minute indoor activities.







Black Biker Week was going on, as it happens, every year over Memorial Weekend at Myrtle Beach. It was the coolest thing to see all the bikers and their motorcycles. I remember seeing the event on an episode of Eastbound and Down, and it was something we also hadn't planned but were really happy to be unwitting spectators.

There was an area on Celebrity Circle that had a bunch of cute shops. The rain had stopped a bit we were able to feed fishes from a boardwalk. I'll never forget, relaxing in one of the deck chairs under a shop awning, watching the rain. Everything smells more clearly when it's wet, and the all the colors around you look richer, more saturated.

Wandered into a Laser Maze Challenge. This was probably more for children, but made us feel like Catherine Zeta Jones in Entrapment. And we beat the Expert Level- twice! There was also a connected Mirror Maze, that was really fun. They give you gloves when you go in, because you keep your arms out to check which pathways are real, and which are the mirrored halls.

Grabbed lunch at a big restaurant by the water called the Sea Captain's House, mostly because it had a big parking lot across the street and you could walk from the dining area to the water. Pleasantly surprised to try she-crab soup for the first time there; it was really good.



Went back to another boardwalk and shops area but this time to see some tigers!

The best possible last minute thing ever - the T.I.G.E.R.S. Preservation Station at Myrtle Beach Safari. The first time slots start at 5:00 pm, so we hit up a magic store across from the entrance (saw a 'Zoltar Speak's machine, just like they have at Coney Island and the Tom Hanks movie, Big). When the time finally came- we were so excited. The admission goes to funding preservation efforts- and the monkeys, wolf cub, and two-month-old tiger were so amazing to hold and touch. I still can't believe we had that once-in-a-lifetime experience, and it was my favorite part of our time at Myrtle Beach.

And then it was off to Charleston for the evening.

The history of the codex club

Something not a lot of people know about the codex club, is that we've been doing it for a while (the license to the name was filed in Sept 2015). Moving to Baltimore from New York was one of the scariest things I've ever done. My first job was very corporate and utilized my technical graphic design skills, but not as much the creative part of it. To still have fun, I made greeting cards, about cultural events and inspiration around me (Trump, the Kardashians). Some of the coworkers I liked were creating their own illustrations- I started printing some of their designs on the cards too, and set up an etsy shop for us. Did some in-person sales as well, and had a lot of fun. When I left that job late last year, I had to think about the next steps for the club, and what I really wanted it to be. People and experiences come in and out of your life- and it's always been really important to me to document and keep records. That was the whole point behind the name; codex means a written record, the earliest form of books.



Updated the logo from a simple riff of two c's mirrored/interacting, to a fresh version of Mark's family coat of arms. Tossed around the idea of a sort of key-club, or organization that would be a little like a creative workspace. Most of all we want to continue branching into other sorts of products like clothing and home goods. The codex club website blog has been up since the new year, in an effort to connect and share news/inspiration. We hope you'll check it out and keep in touch!

Williamsburg, Virginia Beach, and Wilmington (DAY 1)

DAY 1

Let me just preface by saying that we planned this entire road trip for a long time! (for example, this entry from February). Lots of hand-scrawled notes and maps and google spreadsheet formats. Right on the cusp of our thirties, we really wanted to make the most of this trip and hope you enjoy the tips we found useful.

Woke up bright and early Wednesday morning before Memorial Weekend to visit Colonial Williamsburg VA, Virginia Beach VA, and Wilmington NC. This was the first leg on a road trip that would span all the way down the East Coast of the USA from Baltimore, MD.

Out of the many options out there- we went with National Car Rental Service. Got lucky with a Hyundai Tucson that had only 9 miles on it! Though it was picked up at the BWI Airport, the expectation was that it would only be driven one-way and dropped off at the NOLA Airport eventually. Armed with Starbucks Almond Chai Latte (no foam, no water) and Herbal Tea, we started heading down 95.



If you drink water and tea at the start of the trip, you'll start wanting to take a rest stop around Colonial Williamsburg appearing on the route. Having never been there before (but I had heard stories about the reenactments and history), we stopped by the Visitor Center and wandered through the Great Hopes Plantation for a bit. The weather was really nice, and there a lot of old examples of housing structures and a windmill.







VIRGINIA BEACH



This is the largest city in Virginia, known for it's naval installations and shoreline beaches. It wasn't long after leaving Williamsburg that we got to Cape Henry Lighthouse. I had no idea it was part of a military establishment! Fort Story is a beautiful area right on the water. Though we weren't expecting for our vehicle to be investigated before admission, it made the destination feel more hidden and special. There's a Memorial and beach outlook point across the street from the Lighthouse, that's nice to stop at. *One thing we found out the hard way is enter through Gate 8*.







I highly recommend printing out the VA Beach Public Art Scavenger Hunt map. It made it much easier to identify the art installations scattered along the Virginia Beach Boardwalk, and became a fun game. Our favorite were the Beach Balls and Birds in Flight.

We dipped our toes in the water, and ate froyo from Kohr's when it got hotter (Strawberry/Banana, and Chocolate/Peanut Butter).



We stopped at Commune for lunch, and were not disappointed. There was a healthy mix of families and young people. Everything was responsibly sourced and delicious. I had iced coffee (from local coffee company, PJ's) with burnt honey and a Ham & Jam Biscuit (both the Peach and Strawberry jams were great) for less than $10 total. The parking lot they share with Esoteric, a bar and restaurant is so beautiful, right?







This was our longest driving day, 550 miles, so to get something that would keep us alert and feeling our best went really, a long way.



WILMINGTON



Chris Dixon writes this in this New York Times article 'In Wilmington, N.C.', "a band of fortune seekers and opportunists braved the un-air-conditioned heat -- as well as the mosquitoes, alligators and bears along the banks of the Cape Fear River -- to create Wilmington, which in time became the northernmost hub of the Southern rice culture. Now it makes its living as a resort, a busy port and an aspiring movie capital. In 1983, Frank Capra Jr. found Wilmington a good place to shoot his film "Firestarter," and now his Wilmington studio, EUE/Screen Gems, says it is the largest film production facility east of California. Downtown this fall, you might find the cast of the WB network's "One Tree Hill" among the contented tourists in search of antiques, a night at the theater or a bowl of ground white hominy".



Dinner was at Front St. Brewery Taproom. I'd heard good things, and the person who checked us into our hotel also recommended this place. Best Pulled Chicken Burrito I've ever had, for around $10. The Mug of the Day beers are a great deal, where you can get their choice of beer that day for $1.99. (Normally it's $4.99 a beer.)



We wandered into KGB Lounge nearby for drinks, sipping a mule and dark & stormy. From there we kept walking down to the water a bit before getting some much needed rest.







In the morning- the heaviest rain we would get occurred.

Ate breakfast at Ezzell's Breakfast House, a local diner. The coffee was strong. Solid breakfast food. A little group of local older folks held court near the entrance.



Full and happy, we headed down to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

New Spring Photos on Shutterstock

Nothing better than a bright, sunny day in the park with chips. Those and hot dogs are my dream summer diet.

(FAVORITE BBQ CHIPS are Utz Kettle Classics Smokin' Sweet BBQ Crunchy Potato Chips.)

Been taking photos around Maryland through the fall and winter so far this year (here's when I posted some in January).



Just added some new Spring photos to my Shutterstock Profile!



So so so excited for the road trip this week coming up. Been planning this for a while (here are some of the plans and notes that I drew up back in February). I can't believe it's finally here. Going from Baltimore to New Orleans, with a bunch of stops in between (Wilmington, Charleston, Savannah, Panama City Beach, and more). Will share as much as I can!

When it Rains

Isn't it 'April Showers bring May Flowers'?

Baltimore's been getting an insane amount of rain the last few weeks. There was hail once or twice too. As you can imagine- it adds to a lot more driving time. At least it's not cookie dough.



Here are three simple ideas I use to try and stay motivated on days like this.



1. Start Energized. The majority of people wake up and go about their days dehydrated. Thanks to a book I like by Aubrey Marcus, Own the Day, Own Your Life: Optimized Practices for Waking, Working, Learning, Eating, Training, Playing, Sleeping, and Sex - I fix a glass of water with a quarter lemon and pinch of sea salt. It's energizing and motivates me to start the day hydrated and with a clear mind. I also like coffee lol. My strong and steady, is Café Bustelo, with half a tsp of condensed milk and some ice cubes melting in.



2. Stretch Your Legs. This is another thing Aubrey talks about in his book. Being in the sunlight, moving around, and getting hydrated within 20 minutes of waking up. Often a change of scenery is what we need to get motivated and be productive. Get up and walk around your office or in the building, depending on your workplace setting. You'll end up getting more done with those little breaks, than if you sat there for hours staring at the screen.



3. Focus on Critical Tasks. One thing I struggle with is narrowing down what to do. It all seems important! I had to teach myself that you don't have to do everything all at once. When it rains I notice the garden being nourished, and it's a gentle reminder that you can't rush how fast plants will grow. Like vegetables and flowers, certain tasks need time to develop, and it'll save you more time long-term, to tackle it later. If it helps, set a google calendar reminder. In the end, ironically, this is more productive than repeating the task later, and fixing things down the road.

New Summer Items!

We have almost twice as many products on the site now, ready for your strong start to the upcoming Summer months. I hope you're going to travel, dream, and explore. That's what I want for myself and everyone I know. After a pretty rough winter, it just seems like time to overcompensate and truly soak up the nice weather.

Following the Junot Díaz News

Following the Junot Díaz news lately after the recent New Yorker piece, and wanted to share my favorite passage by him, below. It’s hard to hear when anyone’s been treated in a way that echoes for the rest of their lives. I will say he put into words what myself and other women couldn't about love and life, for many years.



“This is how you lose her.



You lose her when you forget to remember the little things that mean the world to her: the sincerity in a stranger’s voice during a trip to the grocery store, the delight of finding something lost or forgotten like a sticker from when she was five, the selflessness of a child giving a part of his meal to another, the scent of new books in the store, the surprise short but honest notes she tucks in her journal and others you could only see if you look closely.



You must remember when she forgets.



You lose her when you don’t notice that she notices everything about you: your use of the proper punctuation that tells her continuation rather than finality, your silence when you’re about to ask a question but you think anything you’re about to say to her would be silly, your mindless humming when it is too quiet, your handwriting when you sign your name on blank sheets of paper, your muted laughter when you are trying to be polite, and more and more of what you are, which you don’t even know about yourself, because she pays attention.



She remembers when you forget.



You lose her for every second you make her feel less and less of the beauty that she is. When you make her feel that she is replaceable. She wants to feel cherished. When you make her feel that you are fleeting. She wants you to stay. When you make her feel inadequate. She wants to know that she is enough and she does not need to change for you, nor for anyone else because she is she and she is beautiful, kind and good.



You must learn her.



You must know the reason why she is silent. You must trace her weakest spots. You must write to her. You must remind her that you are there. You must know how long it takes for her to give up. You must be there to hold her when she is about to.



You must love her because many have tried and failed. And she wants to know that she is worthy to be loved, that she is worthy to be kept.



And, this is how you keep her.”