{ Birds of a Feather Flock Together }

time to treat yourself (and baby)

brittanyjoyce — Tue, 15 May 2012 15:11:32 +0000

With Mother’s Day being this past Sunday, we thought we’d fill you in on Dr. Hauschka’s Skin Care for Moms and Babies. Dr. Hauschka’s products continue to be made with organic and bio-dynamic ingredients as well as free of things like coal tar dyes, ethanolamines, parabens, phthalates, and other nasties. The products are also hand harvested and processed in pharmaceutical grade facilities. This ensures purity and that’s just what you and baby deserve after all.

Products like the soothing Lavender Bath, Rose Body Wash (a natural, soap free cleanser), and Rose Body Oil make bath time enjoyable for the both of you. You’ll notice that Dr. Hauschka includes rose in many of the products for baby and it’s not only because the rose is known as the “mother of all flowers”. The oils found in rose petals are gentle yet protective (just what baby needs) as they moisturize, balance, and nurture. Moving to the changing table, Rose Day Cream and Body Silk are available as well as Rose Body Moisturizer to provide protective warmth and hydrated soft skin all day, every day.

And moms, Dr. Hauschka has you covered whether you’re a new mum or not. The Blackthorn Body Oil supports elasticity and helps minimize the appearance of stretch marks due to weight loss or gain as it warms and protects. The Soothing Mask returns the complexion to a balanced, even state and when nighttime rolls around, the Rhythmic Night Conditioner is there to restore harmony and calm skin post pregnancy. It sounds like a nice way to end the day. And speaking of nighttime, when you’re spending the wee hours with your little one, try out Hauschka’s Eye Solace. It soothes and renews those tired, puffy, yet pretty eyes.

So treat yourself and baby – all of the above products are available here at the Aviary and we are itching to see you. And of course, happy Mother’s Day. You’re wonderful.

Classic Vs. Mineral

brittanyjoyce — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:13:57 +0000

No, it’s not a mean-spirited competition but it IS a question often inquired about suncare products at the Aviary. We are excited to tell you about our classic AND mineral sunscreen collection by COOLA Suncare.

COOLA is a pretty cool company itself. The organic suncare company boasts products that are hypoallergenic, noncomedogenic, and Paba, Paraben, Petroleum, and Phthalate Free. Clearly they have your best interest (or skin) at heart. We should be just as conscious about the things that we put on our bodies as we are about what we put in them. That’s why COOLA uses all organic, sustainable, and local (when possible) ingredients. They also only produce limited quantity batches in California so they can reformulate when needed, taking into consideration new suncare developments.

As for the difference between classic and mineral – be prepared to change your thoughts on sun protection. Classic sunscreens use organic active ingredients (chemical) and protect by absorbing and dissipating the UVA/UVB rays. Mineral sunscreens use mineral active ingredients of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide (physical) and protect by scattering and reflecting the UVA/UVB rays. Therefore the rays never even penetrate your skin’s surface. Sounds good to us! Another plus is that mineral sunscreen is effective right after application where classic sunscreen should be applied at least thirty minutes before exposure. And

we know there’s little room for patience when you just want to jump out into the sun and into the pool.

We carry the COOLA Mineral Face 20 as well as Classic Face 30 (both in unscented). Come check it out – you’ll want to reward yourself for such a great discovery.

ubuntu at the aviary

brittanyjoyce — Tue, 01 May 2012 16:20:57 +0000

Ubuntu means helping one another in the common spirit of humanity and this is what nonprofit organization, Monkeybiz, strives to do. Founded in 2000, this income-generating bead project has taken South Africa by storm with their belief in and mission to create sustainable employment for women. They have a strong focus on women’s economic empowerment as well as health development – two issues poor communities in South Africa continue to struggle with. The profits are reinvested back into the community in the form of services such as yoga and weekly soup kitchens. Monkeybiz’s commitment to developing artistic careers and skills, providing access to nutritious food, greening townships, and providing care for AIDS orphans through simple bead work is outstanding. One thing I love about Monkeybiz is their pure devotion to their mission. Each piece is unique and signed by the artist (Monkeybiz works with over 450!). The pieces are beautiful, handcrafted with provided wire, recycled cotton, and glass seed beads, and reflect the life of the individual artist. We are so pleased to have Monkeybiz at the Aviary as well as spread a little Ubuntu ourselves. Come check it out – your perfect beaded animal is waiting for you, I promise.

One Love Organics + Alime Pure = amazing!

newmoonskincare — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 15:44:39 +0000

I’ve been obsessing over One Love Organics Skin Savior for about a month. This multi-pupose balm is completely waterless and can be used for cleansing, moisturizing, healing tired hands and feet, as a lip balm or for dry cuticles between manicures. I have even used it on my 2 year old’s bum when irritated with a diaper rash. But the geniuses at OLO taught us this way to mix your own mineral foundation using your favorite loose powder like ours from Alima Pure. Did I already say genius?

Summer CSA!

newmoonskincare — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 14:11:59 +0000

I’m very thankful to see things beginning to bloom! The daffodils, tulips and Bradford Pear trees signal the rebirth of our beautiful green space in Atlanta, Georgia.

And how I have missed my Spring and Summer veggies! One of my most favorite things to do this time of year is cook and eat outdoors…porches, picnics, patios, grilling. I am looking forward to hosting our third Spring and Summer CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) from D&A Farms.

Attached below are the details for signing up to the CSA at Aviary. You may mail them a check and sign up online at www.DandAFarm.com…once you are on the signup page, select “Other Atlanta Pickup A” and when prompted to put in a comment, add The Aviary. Pickups are Wednesdays weekly from 4-7 pm at the salon. We aim to fill about 20 spaces so sign up fast if you are interested. They will sell out quickly!

Aviary {organic beauty collective} is InStyle!

Amy Leavell Bransford L.E. — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 18:53:34 +0000

In one of the interviews that I did the last year, I was asked what the most exciting thing that I have ever won. My answer: accolades. To be able to do what you love is truly a gift; I feel as blessed about that as I do my family and friends who support me. But, in all honesty, to be told that you are good at it is something that brings a me level of validation that I never experienced with report cards or trophies.

Though I love to learn, I was never an excellent student (actually I was a pretty bad one) and even though I am “tall” (which apparently equals must be great at sports), I am much more clumsy and awkward than nimble. Plus I pretty much hate anything that requires running. So when I got the call that I was being considered for InStyle Magazine’s roundup of the Nation’s best beauty services, I had to catch my breath. And then throw up a little because I still had to perform a facial for their tester.

I feel fortunate that our Atlanta tester was a real champion for the ATL. She told us that she had been hounding a friend who works for the magazine to stop overlooking our great city for this annual feature…and they finally obliged! How my name got tossed into the ring, I will never know. But we made it. And the me of my twenties (a PR girl) is super proud of the me of today…because I don’t think I even got this excited to get a band written up in Rolling Stone or the New York Times. As I read the other services and salons who are featured, I feel even more flattered to be included…my friends at WAX got a great shoutout under waxing. And Adore Hair Studio, which is also right around the corner, was featured under hairstyling. So yay Eastside ATL!!

Anyway, I appreciate the kudos from InStyle and I hope you’ll take advantage of the 20% discount that they are offering to their readers. We at the Aviary are just doing what we love to do everyday, whether providing a service or just hanging out with our friends. On most days it feels like one in the same to us.

Touch Therapy is Good!

Amy Leavell Bransford L.E. — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 17:41:14 +0000

I LOVE this article in last week’s New York Times about the benefits of massage. There are so many reasons to experience touch therapy and this recent study goes far in proving that massage isn’t just for sore or tired muscles. Another incredible and captivating read on touch therapy is aptly titled, Touching: The Human Significance of the Skin by Ashley Montagu. Skeptics beware: After reading this book, you’ll want to check in with Aviary CMT Christine Legnon.

Thanks to our inspired client, Jennifer DeVault, for sharing her NY Times read!

Ashley Longshore does Anthropologie

Amy Leavell Bransford L.E. — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 01:39:27 +0000

I get pretty excited to open the mailbox and be greeted with the Anthropologie catalog every month. Like teenage-boy-with-the-swimsuit-issue excited. I don’t know how they do it but the creative forces that drive that company really nail it. I often tell my husband that I am Fantasy Shopping as I flip through the pages, imagining how I might redecorate either my home or wardrobe with a Lotto of $200 or $500 or $1000 or $5000 and so on. So, when I saw my friend Ashley Longshore’s artwork made into a Danish armchair in this month’s catalog I got REALLY excited. Like I-went-to-high-school-with-a-celebrity excited.

Ashley and I went to Brenau Academy together and graduated in ’93. We’ve kept up sporadically through the years but thanks to the Social Engineers at Facebook, we reconnected earlier this year when she was in Atlanta for an art show at Staceage. I love friends who you can pick right up with as if no time had passed at all.

Ashley started painting sometime after we graduated. She was always one of the most animated and rowdy girls in the school…and I say that as one of the animated and rowdy ones. It’s probably what landed me in boarding school to begin with. I remember staying up past curfew in the dorms and laughing until my sides hurt at her improvisation of Janis Joplin. You could practically hear Ms. Janis rolling over in her grave…whisky bottle in hand, cigarette in the other. Anyway, Ashley has definitely put her affable ways to good use and she counts a few celebrities as her clients. I won’t name who because, you know, the code and all that.

If you happen to find yourself in New Orleans, Ashley has opened a gallery there on Magazine Street. Stop in and say hello. Tell her I sent you…

The Family Tree

Amy Leavell Bransford L.E. — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 14:38:03 +0000

My pops was featured on Anderson Cooper 360 last night. For the record, my dad is TOTALLY a treehugger. Go, dad!!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lt6iHS7EPGk]

The Story of Cosmetics: What She Said

Amy Leavell Bransford L.E. — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 19:21:34 +0000

This is one of the funnest and compelling little viral video pieces that I have seen in a long time. I don’t have much to add, other than if you need help finding some good non-toxic products to replace the bad ones in your makeup bag, then you should book some time with your favorite Aviary therapist or stylist. We always aim to educate, not just sell products.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfq000AF1i8]