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I got a terrible haircut. It was supposed to be a trim. Just a trim. I look like I've been through a blender. I don't do short layers. There are a ton of short layers now. Ick. I've had LOTS of awful haircuts in my day so I'm an expert on how to deal with them!
Some things you can do to deal with your messed up mane:
1. Pin it. Use bobby pins to pin up the icky parts so only the bottom (longest layer) shows. Then it looks like you have longer hair all over, even when you don't. This is my number one plan of attack. I'm actually doing it right now. I pinned the top layers back and let the longest layers down so it looks like I didn't even get a haircut!
2. Use a flat iron to flip it out. Take the messy hair route and use some pomade to make it look messy. Then you take the focus off how short it is or how badly cut the layers are. People just notice your new messy look which is always in.
3. Wear a big and pretty necklace or a big colorful scarf. Takes the focus off your head.
4. Pretty headbands. Sparkles, wide or with a little embellishment, these will push the short layers back and away from your face, again, hiding the icky parts.
5. Blow dry it flat. Don't try to get volume on top right now, it'll just make the top layers look even shorter.
6. Take care of your hair. Eat healthy foods and drink a lot of water. Oh and brush it really well each night because scalp stimulation aids in hair growth.
7. Fedora. Snag a cool fedora for the weekends, you'll look stylish and hide the mess underneath.
8. Visit with a different stylist for a consultation and see if there's any hope in morphing your 'do into something you CAN do. Explain your ultimate goal (to grow it out etc), you don't want to take off much more but maybe there are adjustments that can be made to make it easier to handle. Better yet, scour the internet or hair magazines and bring the pics to consultation. Look for 'dos that are similar in length.
Good luck. Remember that hair grows. It won't be this way forever! Yes, I'm reminding myself to keep from crying.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Sunday Scoop
1. Had Monday off with the little dude and had a wonderful day. Play date, no whining, lots of play time. It was awesome.
2. Freaked out because I realized I am 33 weeks and not at all prepared to have this baby! I haven't been practicing relaxation techniques, no bag packed, no going home outfit for baby. Eek. I am feeling anxious, large and overwhelmed.
3. Started my project DIY baby book. Going to re-do Evan's so it's more personalized and gathering materials for the new baby's. Then they can see the love and creativity that went into their baby books.
4. John installed the new baby's car seat this weekend. It hit me. This is real. I am going to be toting around 2 kiddos. Oh my.
5. Got a hideous haircut this weekend. I asked for a trim off the bottom since I am growing it out. Somehow that translated into, "give me way too many layers that are way to short and don't listen to anything I say." I vow to cut my own hair from here on out. I've had more bad haircuts than I can count.
2. Freaked out because I realized I am 33 weeks and not at all prepared to have this baby! I haven't been practicing relaxation techniques, no bag packed, no going home outfit for baby. Eek. I am feeling anxious, large and overwhelmed.
3. Started my project DIY baby book. Going to re-do Evan's so it's more personalized and gathering materials for the new baby's. Then they can see the love and creativity that went into their baby books.
4. John installed the new baby's car seat this weekend. It hit me. This is real. I am going to be toting around 2 kiddos. Oh my.
5. Got a hideous haircut this weekend. I asked for a trim off the bottom since I am growing it out. Somehow that translated into, "give me way too many layers that are way to short and don't listen to anything I say." I vow to cut my own hair from here on out. I've had more bad haircuts than I can count.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Sunday Scoop
1) I'm 32 weeks. I can't believe it. We are getting close! Time to haul in the baby stuff, wash everything and start thinking about the sleepless nights.
2) Are nursing tops worth the money? I can't decide if I want to buy some. With Evan I just used my regular shirts but I remember it was annoying at times because the fit was too tight or the material wasn't stretchy enough.
3) I learned this week that ignoring Evan when he's being mischevious helps stop his actions quicker than saying "No," or "Don't touch that." He was standing on the couch messing with the lamp shade and looking at me with that mischevious smile. I turned away and didn't say anything. He stopped, hopped off the couch and went to play with his toys!
4) I don't like small talk. Small office talk, like at the copy machine. I'll do it to be polite but it is painful and annoying. I don't like when people give human traits to inanimate objects. Like when the copy machine stops working and someone says, "Oh, it's just tired, haha." Drives me nuts. Ok, I'm glad I could get that out.
5) I want to read some new blogs. Any suggestions? What's your favorite? I like blogs that pertain to cooking, mommy stuff, inspiration, decorating, DIY etc.
2) Are nursing tops worth the money? I can't decide if I want to buy some. With Evan I just used my regular shirts but I remember it was annoying at times because the fit was too tight or the material wasn't stretchy enough.
3) I learned this week that ignoring Evan when he's being mischevious helps stop his actions quicker than saying "No," or "Don't touch that." He was standing on the couch messing with the lamp shade and looking at me with that mischevious smile. I turned away and didn't say anything. He stopped, hopped off the couch and went to play with his toys!
4) I don't like small talk. Small office talk, like at the copy machine. I'll do it to be polite but it is painful and annoying. I don't like when people give human traits to inanimate objects. Like when the copy machine stops working and someone says, "Oh, it's just tired, haha." Drives me nuts. Ok, I'm glad I could get that out.
5) I want to read some new blogs. Any suggestions? What's your favorite? I like blogs that pertain to cooking, mommy stuff, inspiration, decorating, DIY etc.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
January Focus: 21 Day Yoga Journal Challenge
This month I am choosing to focus on the 21 day yoga challenge. Each evening after Evan goes to bed, no matter what (with the exception of headaches and nausea) I will do a yoga practice (whether it's the practice that is part of the challenge or my own) and attempt to meditate.
To expand on this focus, I'll be more aware of my family's health, eating habits and stress levels. I hope to reduce our consumption of meat and sugar, increase our consumption of water, veggies and fruits and to increase our physical activity (to as much as I can handle at this point...) I also hope to reduce our stress levels by slowing down to get rid of that rushed feeling as well as getting more sleep. This means getting things ready the night before (lunches, bags, clothes etc) and planning better and going to bed earlier.
In focusing on these things, I'll put aside my hobbies like baking and reading and my concern for the dishes in the sink. Those things can wait. The laundry might not get folded, oh well.
I am 2 days in and I feel really good! I also feel calm and patient which is rare for me. I think this focus is going to a good one to prepare me for the dark days of having a newborn!
I hope you are on your way to achieving your 2012 goals!
To expand on this focus, I'll be more aware of my family's health, eating habits and stress levels. I hope to reduce our consumption of meat and sugar, increase our consumption of water, veggies and fruits and to increase our physical activity (to as much as I can handle at this point...) I also hope to reduce our stress levels by slowing down to get rid of that rushed feeling as well as getting more sleep. This means getting things ready the night before (lunches, bags, clothes etc) and planning better and going to bed earlier.
In focusing on these things, I'll put aside my hobbies like baking and reading and my concern for the dishes in the sink. Those things can wait. The laundry might not get folded, oh well.
I am 2 days in and I feel really good! I also feel calm and patient which is rare for me. I think this focus is going to a good one to prepare me for the dark days of having a newborn!
I hope you are on your way to achieving your 2012 goals!
Monday, January 9, 2012
Sunday Scoop
1. Evan has been getting up and crawling into bed with us at 4:00 off and on. He plays, makes his doggie bark, pokes our faces and kicks our stomachs. Not fun.
2. I'm really excited about the 21-day yoga challenge that starts today! They email you a daily practice, meal and meditation tips.
3. I saw a bumper sticker that said, "I bet Jesus would use his turn signal." Hilarious!
4. Watched The Help. LOVED it. Makes me want to write a book.
5. After a week of healthy eating, reduction in sugar in-take and increase in water consumption, I feel great!
2. I'm really excited about the 21-day yoga challenge that starts today! They email you a daily practice, meal and meditation tips.
3. I saw a bumper sticker that said, "I bet Jesus would use his turn signal." Hilarious!
4. Watched The Help. LOVED it. Makes me want to write a book.
5. After a week of healthy eating, reduction in sugar in-take and increase in water consumption, I feel great!
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Lentil Edamame Soup
After indulging in the holiday treats of sugar and butter topped with more sugar, I am ready to eat healthy. My taste buds feel worn out and my body is in need of serious nourishment. Since my January focus is health, I am excited to try out recipes that are chocked full of goodness. I'm looking to reduce the amount of meat we eat, increase the fruits and veggies and lay off the sodium. Even if I get only a couple healthy dinners in each week, I'm happy and feelin' good.
I was thumbing through an old issue of Cooking Light, looking for inspiration, and found a recipe for lentil soup. The picture made it look so yummy, I had to try it. I changed it a bit to fit our taste preferences and also to use what I had on hand. It was awesome and I had leftovers for lunch. Score.
This soup is so good AND versatile AND cheap! The edamame and lentils together make it so hearty that I'm not hungry an hour later. It packs a protein punch. Here's the surprising thing: my 17 month old devoured his bowl! I was not expecting that at all. (cut the edamame in half for the little kiddos)
I usually top everything with cheese. Ever since I was little, it's been a habit. I'm trying to stop that. So, I didn't put any cheese on this and instead, I focused on the different flavors and textures and guess what? I didn't even miss the cheese. Good riddance.
Like many soups, you can toss in, substitute or omit stuff to make it work for you. You could totally toss in any veggies you want and play with the seasonings to make it yours. Next time, I'm throwing in roasted butternut squash. I love flexibility.
This meal cost me around $5 and took 45 minutes to prepare BUT you could cut that down to 15 minutes with some night-before prep.
Lentil Edamame Soup
Ingredients:
1 c of brown lentils
1 c frozen shelled edamame
1 tbs olive oil
1/2 red onion, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained
2 tbs parsley, chopped
1 tbs fresh mint, chopped
1 c water
1/2 tsp of salt
pepper to taste
Make it:
Put the lentils in a saucepan and cover with water about 2 inches above lentils. Bring to a boil then simmer for 20 minutes, drain. Place edamame in a saucepan of water and boil for 5 minutes, drain.
In a dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat then add onions and sauté for 6 minutes or until slightly tender. Add garlic and cook for 3 more minutes. Add tomatoes and remaining ingredients along with the lentils and edamame. Stir to combine and cook for 5 minutes over low-medium heat.
Get it on the table faster with some night-before prep:
I was thumbing through an old issue of Cooking Light, looking for inspiration, and found a recipe for lentil soup. The picture made it look so yummy, I had to try it. I changed it a bit to fit our taste preferences and also to use what I had on hand. It was awesome and I had leftovers for lunch. Score.
This soup is so good AND versatile AND cheap! The edamame and lentils together make it so hearty that I'm not hungry an hour later. It packs a protein punch. Here's the surprising thing: my 17 month old devoured his bowl! I was not expecting that at all. (cut the edamame in half for the little kiddos)
I usually top everything with cheese. Ever since I was little, it's been a habit. I'm trying to stop that. So, I didn't put any cheese on this and instead, I focused on the different flavors and textures and guess what? I didn't even miss the cheese. Good riddance.
Like many soups, you can toss in, substitute or omit stuff to make it work for you. You could totally toss in any veggies you want and play with the seasonings to make it yours. Next time, I'm throwing in roasted butternut squash. I love flexibility.
This meal cost me around $5 and took 45 minutes to prepare BUT you could cut that down to 15 minutes with some night-before prep.
Lentil Edamame Soup
Ingredients:
1 c of brown lentils
1 c frozen shelled edamame
1 tbs olive oil
1/2 red onion, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained
2 tbs parsley, chopped
1 tbs fresh mint, chopped
1 c water
1/2 tsp of salt
pepper to taste
Make it:
Put the lentils in a saucepan and cover with water about 2 inches above lentils. Bring to a boil then simmer for 20 minutes, drain. Place edamame in a saucepan of water and boil for 5 minutes, drain.
In a dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat then add onions and sauté for 6 minutes or until slightly tender. Add garlic and cook for 3 more minutes. Add tomatoes and remaining ingredients along with the lentils and edamame. Stir to combine and cook for 5 minutes over low-medium heat.
Get it on the table faster with some night-before prep:
- Cook lentils and edamame.
- Chop onions and garlic.
These 2 steps can save you a boat load of time to get this hearty meal on the table quick!
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Monday, January 2, 2012
lessons from a toddler christmas
I ordered most of Evan's gifts online. Reading the reviews and consumer comments helped me pick out some stuff that looked really fun and interesting. I was so excited to see him playing with some new toys and puzzles. Boy, I was way way off base with my gift choices! He really only likes one thing, which was not even from Dad and I! So here's my list of gifts to Evan:
Evan is a 17 month old who likes being outdoors or in the kitchen playing with pots and pans and spoons. He's really active and loves to climb and run. He's not into drawing and making forts just yet. I need to be more observant and stop making him grow up faster than he is!
Oh, the lessons of parenting. Did you get your kid something they aren't interested in?
- A tent that was MUCH bigger than I thought. It stands about 4.5 ft tall and takes up half of his room. He crawled through it a couple times and walked away....It's going back to Costco.
- An easel with a chalk board and white magnetic board along with easel paper, markers and crayons. He's not really tall enough to use it well. He drew on it a little bit then started to eat the crayon and draw on the couch. I looked closer and the easel is for 3 years old and up....I didn't see that when I ordered it. It's going in the garage for 2 years....
- An little chair made just for little people. He uses it sometimes but mostly to stand on and give me heart attacks. He'll sit in it to eat his snack for like 5 minutes. I'll keep it around but I should have given this more though before dropping $70 on it....
- A ball popper push toy. He likes this for a few minutes a day. Usually in the early morning...It's loud. I trip on it. I'll keep this in his room but it's not an attention keeping or learning type toy. I wasted more dough here :(
- A climber/slide contraption for the backyard. Now, this was from the Grandparents. It's sweet. Evan climbs up the ladder throws balls off the top and slides down the slide all by himself (of course I'm standing right there so he doesn't fly off or tumble down the slide) all while laughing and squealing and staring over the side in awe at how tall he is. He plays on this for 45 minutes or more and gets really upset when it's time to go inside. Clearly he is an outdoorsy type kid and I should have focused on that when gift buying. The kid loves to be outside and run around.
Evan is a 17 month old who likes being outdoors or in the kitchen playing with pots and pans and spoons. He's really active and loves to climb and run. He's not into drawing and making forts just yet. I need to be more observant and stop making him grow up faster than he is!
Oh, the lessons of parenting. Did you get your kid something they aren't interested in?
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Sunday Scoop
Here I am for another edition of the Sunday Scoop:
1) Speaking of scoops, I discovered Ben and Jerry's 3.6 ounce containers of deliciousness. It's enough to satisfy your sweet treat craving but ensures you don't eat an entire carton of ice cream. Yum!
2) Evan has learned to take us by the hand and guide us to what he wants. For example, if he wants to go outside he will grab your hand and pull you to the door. He cracks me up.
3) I learned some important lessons for toddler gift giving. I'll post more details soon but lets just say that most everything I picked out could be returned and he wouldn't miss anything. The one thing he LOVES involves a slide.
4) John and I had the week off from work and it was lovely! Except for the 3 hour glucose test I had to endure last Thursday...ick. Other than that, we spent time together, playing. getting outside, going on walks (it was in the 70s for the most part!) and John exercised his carpentry skills to make us another piece of custom furniture (more to come on this)!
5) I'm now 30 weeks pregnant and times are getting' tough. I can't get comfortable. I have achy hips, sciatic pain, cramped stomach and lungs and I'm just plain tired. On the bright side I have 10 weeks to go, I can't believe it!
6) For a while now, Evan has been making diaper changes something I dread. I was at my wits end this week and decided to post a question in the MOM365 forum. I got some great feed back with ideas and tricks from other mom's in the same boat. Check this out if you need ideas for taming your toddler during a diaper change.
Happy New Year!
1) Speaking of scoops, I discovered Ben and Jerry's 3.6 ounce containers of deliciousness. It's enough to satisfy your sweet treat craving but ensures you don't eat an entire carton of ice cream. Yum!
2) Evan has learned to take us by the hand and guide us to what he wants. For example, if he wants to go outside he will grab your hand and pull you to the door. He cracks me up.
3) I learned some important lessons for toddler gift giving. I'll post more details soon but lets just say that most everything I picked out could be returned and he wouldn't miss anything. The one thing he LOVES involves a slide.
4) John and I had the week off from work and it was lovely! Except for the 3 hour glucose test I had to endure last Thursday...ick. Other than that, we spent time together, playing. getting outside, going on walks (it was in the 70s for the most part!) and John exercised his carpentry skills to make us another piece of custom furniture (more to come on this)!
5) I'm now 30 weeks pregnant and times are getting' tough. I can't get comfortable. I have achy hips, sciatic pain, cramped stomach and lungs and I'm just plain tired. On the bright side I have 10 weeks to go, I can't believe it!
6) For a while now, Evan has been making diaper changes something I dread. I was at my wits end this week and decided to post a question in the MOM365 forum. I got some great feed back with ideas and tricks from other mom's in the same boat. Check this out if you need ideas for taming your toddler during a diaper change.
Happy New Year!
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