“Three Rules of Work: Out of clutter find simplicity; From discord find harmony; In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” Albert Einstein

I’m back. In fact I haven’t been away but more busy with academic stuff and something I have been working on as a sideline project to university for years. I’ve hinted it a few times on Instagram but never got explicit about it because I don’t like talking about unfinished ideas. I was working on my own product. I have been on it for a long time and it started with my interest for cosmetics chemistry. My focus lies on two things which couldn’t be more different: functional and sustainable polymers for cosmetical application and the new integration of long forgotten but effective ingredients. Both of it are things I just can’t stop thinking about and for a year I’ve been getting samples exotic butters and nut oils straight from the junge (I’m not kidding) or new active ingredients like EGF from labs. I have gathered a big collection of antique and new books about herbs, old tribe recipes from all over the world or old german scripts of ointment formulations and tinctures. I formulated little batches of stuff I wanted for myself (and good friends) and thinking about the application of various sustainable nature derived (bio)polymers and any ancient eastern herbs like tcm herbs. When I first found myself using one effective recipe over and over again and saw a visible difference it made for my skin I made a big version of it and did major research how to naturally prolong the shelf life of it. I found a lot of literature of how nature protects itself from stress factors and radicals and as my friend got their hands on it I was encouraged by my best friends to make it a real product. This week the first real prototypes arrived and I am very satisfied. I will keep this blog updated with every step and ideas that lead to the final product. Ea

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today: angles

“It is paradoxical, yet true, to say, that the more we know, the more ignorant we become in the absolute sense, for it is only through enlightenment that we become conscious of our limitations. Precisely one of the most gratifying results of intellectual evolution is the continuous opening up of new and greater prospects.” Nikola Tesla

It’s nice to have a big bust except for wearing COS dresses or doing cardio workout. Finding a seamless but high support sports bra which doesn’t come in UV disco colors is probably as hard to find as higgs particles or natural painites. The ones I own, which do hold my (european size) 75D, are a pink Victoria Secret and violet Fabletics sports bra, colors I wear like… never. I guess the search has an end with this Nike Revolutionary Support Bra with a “360-degree exoskeleton which surrounds each breast and provides compressive support”. Sounds good. Because it has no seam, it feels like a second skin. Everything is adjustable with the 10 levels flaps of this bra (see picture). I love it.

By accident I came across Rachel Aust’s Youtube channel (see here) and I really like her. She’s not only living a minimalist lifestyle but also really fit (though she studies two degrees at the same time). Rachel and her boyfriend opened up their own gym in Brisbane which looks amazing. If I’d live there I would subscribe in an instant but since I live in Germany I joined their 12 Weeks Challenge which comes with a meal plan and a few exercises. The Challenge starts January 18th, so if you want to participate it’s not too late. It is in the middle of my weeks of exams but I noticed daily exercise helps me to concentrate a lot. I’ll keep you updated with the final results. Looking forward to workout, Ea Birkkam.

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today: monochromatic gym

“However, creativity is not simply originality and unlimited freedom. There is much more to it than that. Creativity also imposes restrictions. While it uses methods other than those of ordinary thinking, it must not be in disagreement with ordinary thinking — or rather, it must be something that, sooner or later, ordinary thinking will understand, accept, and appreciate. Otherwise the result would be bizarre, not creative.” Silvano Arieti

Have you ever had a Writer’s block? It’s been 2 months since my last cyber life sign on my beloved realm for thoughts, this blog, and I started many blog entries which sadly ended up as drafts in my WordPress because I was never satisfied or something was missing. It’s not me doing nothing, in fact there’s a lot going on with my product project, a lot of research and quite some work in university since the next round of exams starts right after Christmas. When you live a life so full of creativity sometimes you are very likely to mash up and interfuse different topics which can lead to wonderful new ideas or nothing altogether. Three time consuming topics competed against each other the last 2 months: extensively reading papers and books on Herbology and traditional chinese medicine, travel and the hunt for a good product packaging in small amounts first, which both turned out to be hard work. Don’t get lost in your own projects and ideas!

So all talk and no action, this is a future list of the next topics:

diy – SK-II sheet mask dupes
science – The Science of Aging Part 2
art – Richard Serra
beauty – December Beauty Favorites
science – Magic dust chemistry Part 1: ashwagandha and rhodiola
art – Nino Zardalishvili
science – Magic dust chemistry Part 2: lion’s mane and shilajit

I finished the first one and it will be up by tomorrow. Best, Ea
 

today: sericin and fibroin

“Essentially only one thing in life interests us: our psychical constitution, the mechanism of which was and is wrapped in darkness. All human resources, art, religion, literature, philosophy and historical sciences, all of them join in bringing light in this darkness.” Ivan Petrovich Pavlov

It’s this time of the year again… when weather is colder (at least in Germany) and the days are shorter and darker. Maybe it’s the reason (though I am not a big fan of religion) I get a cozy, warm feeling around christmas time. Born into a roman catholic familiy I happen to enjoy thinking about special gifts, get-togethers and the delicious food. Our typical christmas eve is full of classical music like Corelli’s christmas concerto or Bach’s Christmas Oratorio and my christmas menu. Our eve ends with the exchange of christmas gifts and that’s the moment of truth which reveals if you really guessed the desires of the gifted person right. If I don’t know it otherwise my presents turn out to be quite simplistic. Above is my list of personal favorites for 2014! Preferably wrapped in this or this or an old natgeo. Merry christmas everybody, Ea

today: simplistic outfits with winter boots

“Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things that escape those who dream only at night.” Edgar Allan Poe

Relaxation is so important in life. Oftentimes people are confronted with stressful situations like frustration, sad feelings or overwork and knowing your own limits, weakness and ways to invigorate can be crucial to your mental health. My personal preference is a long walk in fresh air and to resort to cozy surroundings (e.g. my bed) and pamper myself with various treasures like french tea or a bath with exotic oils. Oh, and there is a world of beautiful books that just wait to be read.
Fully faineant, Ea Birkkam.

today: the white trainer