YES! Sun care is the most important thing. Once you have found that perfect sunblock for your skin, the rest is easy. I wish I had known this in my twenties and I could have saved my skin from a lot of environmental damage. browntoestoo, have you heard about this product called Meladerm? I SWEAR by this stuff. I used it to lighten some age spots on my hands and even my husband was shocked how much they faded. I know melasma and age spots are different, but I think meladerm is supposed to lighten all kinds of pigmentation. Also, my sister's doctor had given her a product called triluma for her melasma several years ago. I did help her a bit, but I think she was allergic to it so had to stop. You can also look into this. But I believe it requires a prescription. If you are looking for triluma, their website is www.triluma.com. The Meladerm website is from a company called Civant. I found it through google. Here is a link that might be useful: Meladerm

Definitely into skin care and use Jan Marini skin products at night. They have glycolic acid in them. The product line was recommneded by a cosmetic surgeon I have used. She also recommends Cetaphil for a cleanser and Neutrogena Health Defense Moisturzier with SPF 45 for daytime. Cetaphil come highly recommended by many dermatologists. I buy the large size at Costco. Anykind of spotting on your skin will not be easy to get rid of without the help of a professional. Just be careful of who you use, if that is the route you decide to use. They are all not equal. The Jan Marini products may leave your skin a little dry at first. She recommends you introduce the products gradually starting with the cleanser on one area at a time. You can get them on-line. I use the cleaner and the bioglycolic cream.

Natal - Oh, I know. IMO Photoshopping like that shouldn't even be allowed. I always say anyone can be beautiful with the help of a makeup artist, hair extensions, spray tan, fake eyelashes, airbrushing, etc. :) So far I haven't spent a bunch of money on any product in general. I know most have big price tags with empty promises. I am a sucker for infomercials though so I have to stay away. lol My last purchase years ago was the bun and thigh roller! Nuff said. The appealing thing to me was that brand isn't pricey and I've heard AHA is good for your skin and dermatolgists recommend it? Since I bought all that I'll finish using it but I guess I've always figured in my mind a little wrinkle cream or serum can't hurt. An example that comes to mind often..Poor DH doesn't have much hair left on top of his head. At one point, he was using Nioxin products. I found it interesting that they have different steps to their line. System 1 is for fine, natural, normal to thin looking hair. System 2 is for fine, natural, NOTICEABLY thinning hair. There's probably reasons but I can't wrap my head around why you wouldn't just jump to system 2 if you were having this issue. Same goes with face products. Olay has a bunch of different systems. When I considered trying some of theirs it recommended the total effects. My mind wondered why I couldn't just buy something for skin that was already wrinkled thinking it would help more. Again, that may not be the case and I haven't done any real digging around but that's how I look at it. Jen - My t zone gets pretty darn oily so I also couldn't figure out why I was always hearing moisturize. Even oil free doesn't make sense to me really. Cooper - I figured you'd get what I was saying since you're not far away. There's not that many in the state. Even the ones I was 1st hoping to get into were a good hour away. I'm honestly a little leary of putting chemicals on my face in general and I think part of me doesn't want to know what's in them. This includes sunblock even though I've been using that on my face. The food we eat, the air we breathe.. I know that was windy but I'm feeling blabbery tonight. I really should be wrapping presents!

Thank you all. Tone is hard to convey; I don't have severe "oh no what have I done " doubt, just mild anxiety about using so much color. All of my favorite inspiration photos have colorful painted cabinets, and I really like how the greens/blues look with the doug fir frame: It was more an example I could use to commiserate with others on the ups and downs of building, I wasn't expecting the drama (or is this just me?): How to build a house Am_e style: Step 1) excitedly make carefully considered decisions during the design phase Step 2) materials come in/something gets built/see it in person, Step 3) promptly second guess decisions from step 1 (oh no, what were you thinking? really? I should have done that the other way) Step 4) wait a bit/sleep on it/see it completed - remember reasons for choices, realize it was a good decision after all, all is well. Step 5) repeat until house is done