Ruthieg...I can't answer for Michelle...but I can tell you that I, personally, wasted large sums of money trying every lotion/cream/salve that was recommended by a pharmacist and/or dermatologist. The insidious thing about eczema and psoriasis is that not everything works for everybody and recommendations from real live sufferers are my best sources for tried and true products so I return the informational kindness forward when I'm able. This is a wonderfully helpful forum for those in need of actual experience info and I, for one, hope it continues to be for those in need. Anne

I didn't see that any of you have ever weighed your purse to see how much extra weight you might be hanging on your shoulder. I know my purse is WAY too heavy, but I can't seem to pare down the "ingredients". I just weighed it and it is a tad over 5 and a half pounds. My job is not in the same town I live in, so I feel that I need to be prepared for all contingencies, LOL. I do have a wonderful organizer (actually, my purse is so large that for a while I had TWO organizers in it) and I can always lay my hands on exactly what I am looking for. I know my Kindle adds weight, but still less than the book I previously carried around pre-Kindle. Just this weekend, I decided I would clean out anything unnecessary, and you know what? I couldn't think of a thing to remove. Very few articles of my clothing have pockets and I'm "fluffy" enough so that I don't want any extra bulk in that area anyway.

Mtn, I understand what you're saying. And I agree that this is by and large all about being mindful of the items we use day in and day out. Last year I "invested" in four very nice (to me) purses that cost more than any other purses I've ever bought. I just figured at this stage of my life, it was high time for my handbags to be a testament to my career and I owed it to myself to stop carrying around junky stuff. To that end, I HAVE found myself being much more mindful of how I handle and store my purses (well, the spilled Mentos in the bottom of a Kate Spade notwithstanding), and there is some small "something" that is triggered in my mind whenever I reach for one of them on the closet shelf that is quite satisfying and causes me to have a momentary (tiny) rush of gratitude. Perhaps that's similar to what Kon Mari suggests, although I'm still not going to unpack a purse nightly and tuck it in for beddie-bye. (Not yet anyway. If I ever get a really, really, REALLY nice purse, then I may change my tune.)

chisue...thanks so much. I ordered the cream. I used Mary Kay on my face and haven't been as happy with it as in the past, so when I use that up, I'll try the lotion you recommended. I may get the healing ointment for my feet...they are tough as leather on the soles and heels. I have had a hard time finding something that wasn't greasy. Here's hoping this is the one for me, thanks so much! malfleur03...my doctor proposed the same thing...it's hard for me to take less baths and showers. I never feel right unless I have one or the other and a clean set of clothes each day!