Friday Favorites 2/21/14

Emma has tendinitis from too much DIY!  (Don't worry, doc says she'll pull through.)  Diana has sustained a few crafting injuries herself, so we thought we'd share our favorite ways to take care of ourselves after the inevitable hand-crafted physical trauma.

Emma's Favorites

MaxiFlex Ultimate Gloves

When I was in the construction field we simply called these "dexterity gloves."  They're pretty thin and very tight (even on my "bird hands," as my mother calls them... what?), so you can even tie your shoes with these on.  They are cut-resistant, but not cut-proof, so still use caution.  They kind of feel like sandpaper on the outside of them, so you can handle scratchy plywood or pick up nails without injuring yourself.  They won't protect you from pinch points though, so as always, be aware of your surroundings.  HERE is a link with the specs, and you can find on Amazon to purchase.


Klean Canteen
You're hard at work, so involved in your project that you've completely lost track of time.  As soon as you dare to take a break, WHAM! Headache hits.  Depending on what you're doing, it could be from fumes, your body positioning, or most often in my case, dehydration.  But dehydration is preventable!  I love my Klean Canteen (but why can't they spell it correctly?) not only because I can always keep water nearby, but also because it's far less harmful to the environment than using bottled water.  And who doesn't love the environment?!??
HERE is a link to purchase.  I'm loving the green one!

Diana's Favorites

Compression Gloves

After a while, crocheting all of those hexagons for my afghan made my right hand and forearm muscles ache. I didn't want to stop making hexagons while I had my crocheting mojo back--knitting tends to be my primary crafting language--so I knew I had to find a solution. I wanted to get that blanket finished!

I picked these gloves up at Michael's so I could keep crafting. They retail for about $15, but I made sure to use one of Michael's weekly 40% off coupons. Now, I'm not sure if they actually worked or if it was just the placebo effect, but I didn't have any muscle pain after I started wearing them. I choose to believe the former!

Trader Joe's Hand Lotion
I use my hands A LOT, so I try to take care of them. I bought this lotion on impulse in the checkout line at my local Trader Joe's. Thank goodness I did! This lotion is awesome.

It sinks into my skin easily without making it feel slick, which means there's not a lot of greasy-hand-down-time. I love a lazy beauty product... and it's only $1.99! For that price, I can keep a tube at work, a tube in my bag, and a tube on my nightstand without breaking the bank.

Happy Friday!

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post! All items were purchased with our own money and we were not paid to feature these products.