tuesday things

1. About a month ago, I decided to switch to L'Oreal Sulfate Free shampoo and conditioner. Hello, hair transformation! It makes my hair so smooth. I've tried other sulfate free shampoo and conditioner, but my hair was so dry and wiry. This one's a keeper. (Plus fewer chemicals in my s&c means that I'll have a little extra room for the chemicals that I drink in Diet Coke. Even trade. Right?)

2. To keep hair care as a theme, Melanie on The Big Mama Blog recommended two products a few months ago. Her book is great (finished it in two days), but her hair care recommendations turned out even better. Both of these are by Kenra; the first is blow-dry spray. What used to be 15 minutes spent drying my hair is just over five minutes. Totally worth it. (Be careful though, one spray too many will result in some greasy hair.) The other product is dry shampoo. It is so much better than using baby powder. How did I not know this?

3. Disclaimer for the above: I hate the getting-ready process. These products speed it up and/or make my hair look good. I realize it's quite contradictory to use a shampoo and conditioner with fewer chemicals, and then use two new products on my hair AND drink a bit of Diet Coke. For now, I'm totally okay with it.

4. As of now, we don't miss paying for cable. Or even having cable, for that matter. Early this week I had some withdrawal symptoms since it was two weeks without New Girl, The Mindy Project and Modern Family. (Apparently, they aren't usually released to Roku for at least one week.) But all is well. I've caught up. Maybe not on the most recent episode, but it's okay.

5. We've developed a deep affinity for Community. It is so much fun. We've also tried The Following; I can't do it. Way too intense in the first six minutes. So Jeremy will watch that one alone.

6.We had a wonderful Easter Sunday. Although we've been known to skip church on Easter in the past (because we go year-round), we served during two services. This is definitely a Sunday that the church needs volunteers! We greeted and filled trays of pastries. It was a really nice morning. Then we headed to J's parents where we ate lunch and stayed the afternoon. Some of my family came over, which made it even better.

7. On Monday, I had a root canal. These get such a bad rap, but really aren't that bad. Plus it's the only time I'm prescribed a Valium. Valium + laughing gas = one not bad procedure. I'm a little sore, but it'll fade in the next few days.

Spin Pin Review: Curly Hair

In June, my life was changed by the Spin Pin. You can read about that here. Here is THE Spin Pin:

I have naturally curly hair, so during the summer, I wear it curly almost everyday. (Otherwise, it curls on its own after I step into humidity or begin to sweat, which doesn't take long in 107 degrees.) So, I was curious to know if I'd have the same results with curly hair.

And I did!

Doesn't that look fab?! (Not me, my hair!)

Again, I have a gagillion layers, so I had to use a few extra bobby pins to tuck away the little stray pieces caused by the curly, shorter layers. But the 'do really stayed in place. FOR THE WHOLE DAY! It made me so happy!

I love the Spin Pin! They're definitely worth the $5 price tag.

Even after my fabulous Spin Pin review in June, the Goody peeps still don't know who I am. :)

I bought my own Spin Pins, did my own hair and took the pictures (in the mirror) all on my own.

It Really Works!

After a few weeks of summer, I've decided that I just can't take being a step away from translucent. Ha! Seriously, I have fair skin that just doesn't tan easily. I wish it did. When I was younger and much less wise, I visited the tanning bed several times a week. But then I decided that scrambling my DNA, risking skin cancer for me and possible birth defects for future children really isn't worth the risk it takes to be a little darker. I stopped tanning and never looked back.

On occasion, I've gotten a Mystic Tan. You know, the kind that sprays on? That's only tricky because it sprays for about 30 seconds on the front, and then 30 seconds on the back, and I NEVER KNOW WHEN TO BREATHE. Not only that, but I have flashbacks of Ross from Friends having quite a mishap in the sunless tanning booth. Those playing on repeat in my head made me decide against doing it for my wedding. So, I was a fair-skinned bride. (It's a good thing Husby thinks fair skin is attractive!)

Just this week, though, I decided that enough is enough. I need color on my legs in a major way. Enter this tube of magic from Jergens. I'm on day 2 and can already tell a difference; I'm not nearly as bright white as I was! Hallelu!

So, all you fair-skinned girls (or girls who have a healthy fear of the tanning bed), try it out!

This is just my opinion. Jergens has no idea what joy they've brought to my life. :)

(Unsolicited) Spin Pin Review

When I saw the commercial for Spin Pins, I was so intrigued. They take the place of TWENTY bobby pins. Always a sucker for good marketing, I thought I might like to try them, but doubted their ability to hold my hair in place. I have very fine, thick hair that's cut into a gillion layers. (Otherwise, it's so weighted down on top and so frizzy at the bottom, that I look like my hairstyle is a triangle. Nice, huh?) And most often, during the summer, I wear it curly. I didn't think it'd work on curly hair.

Soon after my inclination to try them, one of my BFF's shared her wonderment of the Spin Pin on facebook. After a reply from me about the curly hair issue, we received assurance from a friend of hers that they DO work on curly hair. I was sold. But the next time I was in Target, the were sold out.

Today, Husby and I made a quick trip to Target after lunch. Though they weren't originally on the list, they made their way into my stack of things to buy. As soon as we got home, I decided to give them a try. I was amazed at HOW WELL THEY WORK! Look at the results:

I'm so excited to have these. They make a messy-cute bun. I think they'll be a great option to the classic ponytail-on-a-bad-hair-day. They are so simple. It just a ponytail, twisted around into a bun with a spin pin in the top and bottom. Just "screw" them into the hair. Goody (the maker of Spin Pin), has the how-to's on their site. Along with other products that I just might have to try!

Even Husby liked the look. He said it's cute. Which means I'll wear my hair like this until he mentions that he loves my hair curly and half-up. Then I'll pull up the Goody website and do the half-up 'do with the Spin Pin.

I plan on wearing curly hair tomorrow, just to see if they really will work. I'll keep you posted.

P.S. I did try using the Spin Pin with a bun on the side of my head, but the layers in my hair are too short to sweep all the way to the opposite side of my head. I'll have to let them grow out just a bit and try it again.

My Heart is Smiling

My college roommate and wonderful friend is currently in Africa. Her parents are missionaries in Malawi; she's visiting them for the summer AND working on her master's in ethnomusicology.

(In case you're wondering, the first step in applying for this degree plan is spelling your intended degree. It weeds a lot of people out on the first day.)

(Just kidding. But it'd be a good idea.)

Adriane and I have travelled together, and she knows the type of picture I like. Typically, I love a building or window or door. The more run down, the more character, the better. So you can imagine my delight when I was tagged in a photo on facebook. Normally, I wonder who's taken and posted a picture of me from a bad angle. But not this time. I found this picture, and it made my heart smile. And put in a request for more pictures burned to a CD and given to me for my half-birthday. Totally serious about that.

Enjoy.