Tattoo ReDo

This is a seriously great before and after:

BEFORE

AFTER

Short story -

I drew the design and brought it to the artist my husband used.

The guy seemed friendly and it was a small thing so he said it wouldn't be an issue.

I specifically asked him not to use black - I wanted it pale and subtle.

He agreed.

I got the tattoo.

He used black..."to make it pop" and couldn't figure out why I was so upset.

I felt really disrespected, hurt, and haven't had a tattoo since.

I have always hated and tried to hide it.

Then, on a particularly nice day when I was walking somewhere new, I happened to notice a small tattoo studio Ink and Paint on Stone way. I emailed the owner and operator, Nina, and shared my story and inquiry on if she did cover-ups and asked her opinion on what might be done. She immediately put me at ease with her calm, professional, but caring demeanor. Her shop felt really comfortable - a mix of eclectic cartoon cells, dinosaurs, and current projects but everything still clean and organized. It felt like the shop of a working artist.

We came up with some ideas and since I really like camellias I did a few drawings and she did one and we tried but couldn't make it work. The star shape, single color, and tight proportions weren't working out.

I started to look for star-shaped flowers figuring that if we couldn't easily hide the lines it might be better to accentuate them instead.

Some possible options were: fuchsia, bittersweet nightshade, morning glories, and lilies.

Bittersweet nightshade was my favorite.

I like it because it grows in the East coast where I grew up and it grows on the West coast where I live now. I like it because it is a very pretty flower, but also one that isn't as showy - it isn't a lily shouting out front and center, but its flowers and berries are bright little stars against a green backdrop. I like it because although it is small and pretty, it is also strong. Bittersweet nightshade can make a person ill if they aren't careful. If you don't treat it with respect it'll get the better of you - that's a sentiment I much prefer (literally) over the one where a man made decisions for my body without my consent.

Nina was great, loved the images I sent her, and worked up a second drawing that aligned much better with the existing ink. The colors were also much more flexible - shades of purple and green that could blend into the stars as opposed to a flat red that would have been for the camellias.

It took about a month to find time in Nina's schedule - which was perfectly fine, I wasn't in a rush.

On my actual tattoo date we went through the placement, she double checked the colors, and it went fairly smoothly. Getting a tattoo on the space behind your ear is painful and LOUD and I didn't want to talk or move my jaw in any way for fear of warping the skin behind my ear. So I passed the time staring at Nina's dinosaurs and still-cells from different animations.

After the tattoo was complete she went through the normal post-tattoo review for care and gave me a sample of Aquaphor and a card with aftercare review. It has been healing lovely and during a bike ride with D we even stumbled across some bittersweet nightshade growing wild along the Burke Gilman bike trail.

What do you think?

Adventures in Maui: Make-up Bag

Heading out to Maui soon and so excited!

Today I got news that whales are passing by near the place I’ll be staying at. Very exciting! I hope that they’ll stay in the neighborhood just for a few more days so I get to see them in person. In the meantime, I’m packing up, wrapping up, and getting ready to go!

 

Last post I said I’d share my beach-friendly makeup bag with you, so let’s take a look!

I plan to spend most of my time in or on the water so I’ll be wearing reef-safe sunscreen and a snorkel mask most of the day. That doesn’t mean I’ve completely resigned myself to frizzy hair photos and sunburn. These are my go-to items for taming the frizz, detangling tresses, and managing my mane : Organix’s Moroccan Argan hair oil, Bed Head’s After Party smoothing and frizz control serum, and Bumble and Bumble’s Surf Infusion texture spray. If I’m going to be tough to my hair – like hanging out in the surf and sand all day, I like to add extra hair oil to my tips and ends at night and then wrap my hair loosely in a top-knot to let the oil soak in overnight.  

I made my own hair ties with an old pair of tights (instructable HERE) so I have plenty of hair ties that won’t break or snag my hair. I’ll also use some mini claw clips, but I’m skipping the hairpins. It is vacation.

For face, my very pale and freckle-prone face, I use Skinceuticals Physical Matte UV Defense tinted sunscreen. It is SPF 50 but feels fairly light and dries matte not greasy. It costs a bit more, but I wore it in Mexico and managed to avoid a sunburn or the freckles that would otherwise show up all across my nose and cheeks. The tint is a little dark for me – but I just use less and blend in well and it works. If you have medium toned skin it would be perfect.

I also love and have been a long-time user of Benefit’s They’re Real mascara. I use the mini set since mascara shouldn’t be kept for more than 3 months anyways. Price per oz is generally higher for these mini items, but if I bought larger sizes I’d have to make a higher initial investment and still end up throwing out a majority of the product. With the mini I do indeed pay slightly more per oz, but still much less than a full-sized product. I also use more of it – so less wasted. And, lastly but most importantly, I’m not tempted to keep it around longer in a misguided attempt to use all the product (must not waste it!) while putting myself at greater risk of eye infection.

For lips – I’ve been grooving on TonyMoly’s lip tint in Red. It stains the skin and so stays on all day and won’t smudge or weep. It will bleed if fresh and put on too thick, so I usually do just a drop in the center of my lower lip and then blend out with my pinkie. It is super quick, goes on under some SPF chapstick and stays on all day in the water or out. The only issue I have is sometimes I use my pinkie finger to blend and then the tip of my pinkie is red all day :-/ Tradeoffs.

That’s pretty much it! I have a solid perfume from Lush and a night crème to help my skin heal from any stray sun exposure – but I’m keeping my bag light for this trip. Maui isn't someplace where I can't get a bar of soap or facewash so I don't see the point of packing 2 week supplies of lotion soap or toner. The items I'm bringing with me are just the ones I do have a little trouble finding, that are easy to transport, and that I wouldn't be as happy without.

What are your must-have items for travel beauty?

Floating: Meditation for the time-challenged

Everybody needs some time to relax. With the start of the new year and so many things happening politically, it is important to remember to take care of yourself too! Perhaps that was on the list for your New Years Resolutions? At the end of January is it still okay to talk about resolutions? Or are they the ghosts of holidays past by now? Well, my resolutions are still ongoing, so I'm going to share with you one of mine: Take time to mentally relax at least once a month.

 

For me, mental relaxation can be achieved many different ways - knitting, spending a day hiking, staring into a campfire, watching the clouds, watching the stars, staring at a calm sea - basically anything that cuts out stimulus, reduces excitement, and lets me put my brain on Auto Pilot.

 

Watching TV doesn't count since the whole purpose is to excite the brain and get you to watch the next show. Sports and reading, while physically relaxing, don't allow my mind to just wander where it will. Physical relaxation, both active and passive, are also super important - but not the focus of this post. Perhaps there will be a future post on physical relaxation in the future, but for now let's get back to mental relaxation!

 

The activities that I use for mental relaxation often take a while. Staring at the clouds for 10 minutes is great, but it doesn't help as much as an afternoon would. But setting aside a whole afternoon for cloud-gazing isn't really feasible, there's too much to do and I'd end up feeling guilty about taking that much time for myself when there are adventures to be had elsewhere.

 

So - what have I found to help that I want to share? FLOATING.

 

Okay, hippy-dippy stuff generally gets met with a bog ol' spoonful or skepticism from me. Crystal powers, rainbow water, astrology, and the power of magnets may be really helpful for some folks, that's awesome. For me, my skepticism doesn't allow the placebo affect or any affect to really kick in.

 

When I bought some discount passes to this new floatation center that was opening up nearby, I thought I would try it out. After all, skepticism isn't about not attempting things or not enjoying things, I have crystals all over my house - but if you sliced your finger in my kitchen I'm running for a Band-Aid and not grabbing some rocks to put on it!

 

So - new experience, new local business getting some luv, the float tanks weren't really tanks but rather extra-extra large bathtubs, only takes an hour...cool, I'll check it out!

 

It. Was. AWESOME!

 

Basically you go in, take off your shoes, and pour yourself some mint tea. You are led to a small bathroom and the person checks that you have earplugs and if you want music etc. There are towels already in the room, a bench to keep your stuff off the floor, a hook for your jacket - all the basics. Everything is the same creamy white color that turns everything sort of purple in the light.

The lights are low, its warm, there's soft music, you strip, put your things away, turn off your phone, take off any jewelry, and hop into the shower room. The shower room has all the supplies. You rinse off, wet your hair down, put in your earplugs. If you nicked yourself shaving the day before - they give you individual packets of petroleum jelly to put over the wound.

 

Then, you enter the tub. It really is just a super-big bathtub. The water is body temperature, not hot for a bath, not so cold you shiver. The water feels slick - there's so much Epsom salt in the water it is very easy to float. There is a noodle if you need it, just so you don't have to worry. You lay back and watch the lights slowly change color on the ceiling. You can't feel the edges of the tub, the plain ceiling is your whole frame of vision. You can hear music playing softly even though your ears are under the water. Slowly the light fades. Then, the lights turn off. The room is black, there are no windows, no light filtering through the door. You can't see the ceiling, you can't see the door, you can't see your hand in front of your face.

After that it gets really individual. There's reading on the subject and some scholarly reporting, but for me it is like taking a fast-lane into meditation-ville. It still has all the usual steps - random thoughts, saying hello and goodbye to unwanted thoughts, chill-zone, breathing, then fireworks and lights and all sorts of things, but the details are different for everyone.

What's important is that I'm in deep mental relaxation within minutes. I can stay that way for about 50 minutes before the session time is up. That time is deep, very deep, and where it would take me a whole afternoon to really get into it at home or while cloud-gazing, I'm out flying with the stars within 10 minutes of dropping by the float center.

Eventually the lights slowly start to come on, you come back to yourself, step out of the tub and back into the shower. I notice that the Epsom salt makes crystals all along my body where the water met my skin. It is kind of neat to be your own crystal-farm!

As you step out of the shower the tub has started to drain itself. Everything is where it needs to be and everything that needs to be done is being done. I refill my tea with warm water, get dressed, and step into the prep room where I can dry my hair and wake up a bit more while the staff handle any cleaning and room prep needed for the next person.

I'm happily buzzed for the rest of the day and into the rest of the week - and I still have the rest of that day to get things done, go on adventures, or just kick back and really get into some knitting.

It costs between $45-60 a session, so not something I can do every week, or even every month, but prices vary greatly all around the world and it may be more or less affordable depending on who you are and where you live. So - if floating is something you have heard of but didn't know if you should try - I encourage you to give it a shot!

PS - I'm not linking the site of the place I went to because this is not a paid ad. This is just my experience of a new adventure. If you'd like to have the website for the specific place I went to - just send me a message using the contact buttons under my profile photo.

Cheers and happy adventuring!

Mexico Trip Photo Bomb - Part 2

More Mexico photos from our New Year trip! This will be the last photo bomb from this trip - we have more projects and plans coming up - more house photos, Musty projects, motorcycle trips, camping adventures, foodie feasts, and lots of other news for the New Year!

My duffle bag! Earlier I made a post about what I had planned to bring, and I ended up bringing even less. I ditched the blue dress in favor of another tank top, and ditched a pair of leggings. Wrapping up my outfits with hair ties helped keep things organized and save space, and wearing my sneakers on the plane made it so I only packed my flip flops for alternative footwear. Most of my duffle was empty :-) 

My duffle

Clothes and personal items

Dr. Bronners, toner, and face wash in little squeeze bottles - perfect size! 

Best breakfast in Cancun

Xcaret adventure park - orange helmets and all!

Inside the caves

At the top of the ziplines

Stalactites 

What's in my travel makeup bag?

Travel time!

These are my go-to items for trips - be they weekend jaunts or week long vacations, I try to keep it minimal. I usually break up the liquids from the solids and put them in a plastic baggie which is handy for airport security and protects my bag / minimizes damage in the event that the liquid under pressure leaks or explodes.

1. Dr Bronners Peppermint Soap - I use this stuff for everything. Body wash? Yep. Washing socks? Yep. Makeup remover? Yep!! Before the flight I'll fold 2 or 3 paper towels in four and stuff them into a plastic bag with some water and a few drops of this stuff. They make great hand wipes and it feels so refreshing on the plane to just lean back and drape one over your face and eyes for a bit.

2. Skinceuticals UV Defense SPF 50, Tinted - weightless, non greasy, matte, tinted SPF that lasts. I wear this most days and have smaller travel sized / sample sized ones I use for trips.

3. Benefit, They're Real Mascara - This is great mascara! It doesn't smudge, run, or dry out my lashes and the small .14oz size is perfect for my make up case.

4. Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm - I wear the Hibiscus, but there are lots of other great colors as well.

5. Sephora : N.69 - Desert Dune - This is a great brightening eyeshadow. I actually line my tear bags (google it if you don't know) with it and it brightens up my eyes like no other.

6. Tiny Hair Claws - Handy for hair, or gripping headphone cables to your shirt, or...well, hair mostly.

7. Aveeno Natural Protection SPF 50 - Let's face it, I'm pale. I don't tan, I just burn. If I go outside without protection I end up looking like a blistered lobster. It hurts! So, to protect my skin - and the eyes of those around me - I use SPF 50. I like the Aveeno because it feels less greasy, but if I'm going in the water I'll switch to Banana Boat.

8. Benefit, They're Real Push Up Liner - Another item from Benefit. They have been a good brand for my skin temperament and tone. This liner is easy to use since the bottom just twists the liner through a very narrow silicon sleeve. You have to clean the sleeve, by wiping it off so there's no build up, but that's much easier than remembering to bring your pencil sharpener.

9. L'Oreal True Match Crayon Concealer - This is great for under eye circles or spots. The pencil is easy to clean and the coverage on my skin is true to the color on the product.

10. Clean & Clear Advantage Spot Treatment - Works. Does what it says it will do. After the stress of flying, strange foods, different climate, and whatever else comes my way - I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

11. Bandaids - Another item I'd rather have and not need than need and not have. I'm accident prone.

12. Hair Ties - I make my own from old tights. They are stretchy and never snag my hair. Just roll out your tights, cut off the bottom and top so you have two long cylinders, and then cut the cylinders about every two inches. The 2" strips will roll into bands and BOOM hair bands!

13. Armani Si Perfume - Personal choice. Having a little something that make me feel like a luxurious jet-setting rock star makes me happy and can put pep in my step after that 8 hour flight. I also like the solid perfume from Lush. I use their Gorilla Rose, but for hotter weather I'm sticking with the water tight bottle of Si.

14. Wooden Comb - I don't use shampoo or conditioner (see older posts) so I can save that shampoo and conditioner room for my comb and hair ties. I'll treat my hair to a good brush and maybe a vinegar rinse before the trip and then not worry about it the rest of the time. Beach waves here I come!

15. Advil - Plane flights are very hard for me. Advil and lots of water make it slightly more tolerable. Slightly.

16. Plastic Baggies - I use clear pencil cases or reuse Ziploc baggies with the big zipper on them since they are easier to open. See #1 and the opening paragraph for some awesome uses - others include - dirty laundry, swimsuit storage, jewelry storage, and holding shells found on the beach.

17. Sunglasses - I get my sunglasses through Zenni. I am a huge fan of Zenni optical and have started a glasses collection thanks to them. Check out my bathroom tour if you don't believe me. They have their own wall storage!

Going to Mexico - Capsule Wardrobe

Happy New Year!

I'm heading out for an adventure in Mexico! I've never been before, but I'll be visiting folks who are living there and having a great time. They have some things planned, such as: exploring some ruins near Tulum, cave swimming, swimming at the beach, shopping in the plaza, and checking out all their favorite restaurants. I'm excited to see them and I'm also really looking forward to a break from the chilly Seattle weather. 

So, packing for these adventures... serious business. My goal is keeping it light and breezy, like this vacation, and not packing too much or too heavy. With that in mind, I'm only bringing my carry-on duffle and a purse. 

This is what I'm packing -

Capsule Wardrobe For Mexico

Item Breakdown -

(Brands included on items I adore)

• Lace Bra from Caciqe (Layne Bryant) - Lace dries fast and this is a comfy yet breezy piece!
• Sports Bra from Panache - To all the larger busted ladies, try this sports bra out! Yes, it is pricey. No it is not super sexy. But you know what else isn't super sexy? Sore shoulders, wearing two bras, busted wires, and that just-punched-in-the-chest feeling when you are running / jumping or being very active. Larger busted ladies can sympathize. I love my Panache sports bra. It holds 'em in, has wide shoulder straps, is easily convertible to a racer-back, wicks away moisture, and is just a tough-as-nails bra.
• Lace Skivvies - Again, lace dries fast and is pretty while still feeling comfy.
• Makeup Bag: Tinted and SPF Chapstick, Benefit mascara, SkinCeuticals Physical Matte UV Defense SPF 50 tinted base, First Aid Beauty Eye Duty (eye brightener / depuffer), Armani Si perfume, two bandaids, Advil, a small container of toothpaste and floss, travel toothbrush, and a small container of Dr. Bronner's Castile Peppermint Soap, two elastics, a hair clip, and my cheap but chic Zenni prescription sunglasses.
• Credit Card - Check your card's fees for international transactions and always bring a back up payment option. A friend's sad experience of having lost his wallet reminds me - don't carry all your money / cards in one place. Always have a back up!
• Passport - yay!
• Shorts - I never wear shorts, but hey, this is vacation!
• Black Capri Leggings - can be worn alone or under shorts or skirts depending on the weather. Also good for sleeping and on the plane.
• Tankini - Apparently tops are optional and rarely seen on the beaches I'll be headed to. Extra sun block here I come...
• Full Bathing Suit - Because two is better than one, and a girl needs options.
• Royal Robbins Discovery Skirt - This was an awesome find! I was thinking of buying it on Amazon as I was looking for a good outdoor skirt for summer, but it was over $60 and that was just too much for me. So I put it in the back of my mind as a gift or something for later.  Then, just a few days ago, I found one in my size at Goodwill for $7!! It looks brand new, is lightweight, wrinkle resistant, the materials is slightly stretchy, and has zipper and flap pockets. I lucked out on finding this skirt. If they ever go on sale, or I get massively rich, I'll be getting more. :-)
• Simple Blue Charm Necklace - When you have a limited wardrobe ( I live in a tiny house with no closet ) it can sometimes work better to let your clothes be the canvas and your jewelry be the paint. I like buying and wearing jewelry and I'll probably buy some in Mexico, but I'll wear my blue charm necklace for most of the trip since it goes with most anything.
• Blue Maxi Dress - Comfy, beach wear that can be dressed up or down as needed. This one rolls up easily and doubles as a towel if necessary.
• Black Hoodie - Mostly for the plane and evenings but I can get cold anywhere!
• Tank Tops x 3 - The black spaghetti strap is tunic length and can easily be worn over leggings. I'll also be bringing my trusty black wide-strap cotton top and a grey exercise top that fits loosely and is great for hot weather.
• Shoes - Sketchers Go Walk - Super comfy for long walks on the pavement in town and hiking all those stairs. 
• Shoes - Sanuk Women's Yoga Sling Flip-Flops - These fit great, don't cause any friction, are flexible, and actually stay on my feet. The cotton straps hold everything in place without causing pain between the toes and the yoga mat bottoms are cushy while still being light weight. These are my favorite summer shoes.

Travel Tips!

With the New Year coming up it's time to refresh our travel tactics!

For short trips of 2-3 days I can get away with a small duffle or overnight bag. Longer trips of 4 days or more with lots of different activities generally call for a carry-on; not because I need to cram it full of clothes, but because I will generally be bringing gifts back with me. I'm trying to pack lighter though - my goal is to move from my larger hard-shell carry-on to a more flexible small duffle type or backpack type carry on.

Below are my tips and tricks for before packing and suggestions of what to bring -

First off - where are you going, what are you doing, and what's the weather look like?
Take note of the places you intend to go and what activities you'll be doing.
Swimming? Don't forget your suit!
Fancy parties? Maybe pack a set of heels or a nice blazer.
Hiking? You'll need appropriate footwear and long layers.

Make a list of the items you know you'll need - medicines, charging cables, specific clothing, prescription glasses, etc.

Are you remaining in civilization? Then don't worry about under-packing. The people who live in the place you are going to will probably have similar toiletries, clothing, and basic needs as you. You can always pick up a cheap pair of socks or an extra T-shirt when you get there. Also, they do wash clothes in other places...if you need to, use the laundromat.

If you are leaving civilization - be more mindful of weight (hauling a heavy bag isn't much fun) but also do more careful research on the things you'll really need. If you are camping for two weeks in the backwoods - do you need 5lbs of chunky jewelry and 4 sets of shoes? Is there much use for your laptop, or can you just have your cellphone or Spot?

Pull your clothes into outfits, don't just throw stuff in for fun.
Two or three bottoms and 4-5 tops should get you through the better part of two weeks. Use layers to your advantage and make your outfits adaptable. Bandanas and non-infinity scarves are great multi-taskers.

Also consider the customs and practices of the place you are going to. If they are a more conservative culture and you show up in booty shorts and a tank top, yeah, you might get some unwanted attention. At the very least you'll be screaming 'foreigner.'

I'm not saying you have to give up your personal style, but if you want to get access to the local venues, it pays to look like a local.

Luggage - What are you going to haul?
Backpacks are the best. They count as a carry-on, they are collapsible when not in use, they move fast without ruining your posture/ grip strength / shoulders.

Second would be the small duffle. Cross-body straps mean you aren't dragging your clothes through the streets, if the duffle is small it can count as your carry-on, it is collapsible when not in use, and - like the backpack - washable.

Third would be a rolling luggage. Make sure it has 4 wheels!! It really puts a drag on your trip to have one of the two wheels break just after landing at the airport when you know you are taking public transport to your destination.

If you can avoid checked bags - do. If you can't, seriously try. If you really, really can't - make sure your checked luggage is sturdy. I used four-wheeled hard-shell bright orange luggage with a green luggage strap for myself when I went for a year to Japan. It had four wheels so I could roll it around easily and it stood on its own, it was weatherproof with the hard shell, and the luggage strap gave me piece of mind that if the zippers popped it wouldn't explode everywhere. It was bright flaming orange and visible a mile away and the luggage strap wan neon green. I looked like I was rolling a pumpkin to the State Fair - but I still have the carryon sized piece years later and I still love it for all those reasons.

Toiletries - 3oz or less and one bag max.
This will be hard for some people, but let's give it a shot.

Grab a sandwich bag. Look at it. That's your toiletry allowance.

 

This is all the liquids you should have to pull out for the baggage inspector. I even pack my baggie and any electronics in my purse instead of my carryon so I never have to open my luggage until after security.

What you put in there is entirely up to you, but I do have a few suggestions:

- Dr Bronner's Castile Soap: Use it for your face, body, hands, laundry - it really is super versatile.
- Chap stick or lip balm
- Moisturizer with SPF ( I like SkinCeuticals Physical Matte UV Defense SPF 50. It works well and has a tint to it. )
- Toothpaste
- Dry shampoo (make your own with arrowroot powder / cornstarch, add cocoa powder if you have dark hair)
- Mascara (Benefit mascara is awesome AND they make a .14oz version which is tiny!!)
- Deodorant (Check your local 'mart for travel sizes)
- Powder make up and any brushes you use. (store your powder brush in its own baggie or saran-wrap)
- Floss ... seriously, don't forget it!

Handy Hackables

Water Bottles - Stay hydrated, it's some of the best travel advice I could ever offer. Look for bottles that are BPA free, have loops, wide openings, secure lids, and (for the ultrapacker) are collapsible.   Some come with water filters or you could pack some water tablets if you think you may need them.

Travel Towels - These awesome fabrics pack light, can be used multiple times, can be worn as a scarf or bandanna, used as a blanket, beach towel, are super absorbent.

Hair Ties - Guys and Gals, hair bands could save your trip. Use them to organize your cables, group your tools, and of course - tie up your hair. Buy metal-free or make your own using a pair of tights!

Roll or Fold - Roll your clothes if space is at a premium, fold them if it isn't. If you do decide to roll, consider turning them inside out and using a hair tie to keep them wrapped tight. Balling things up and tossing them in your bag expecting them to look good later is insanity.

Dryer Sheets - Toss one or two in with your luggage - you'll thank me later.

Black Binder Clips - Use them to cover your razor, organize your cables, and hold onto your ear buds. These things have a million uses!

Tic Tac Dispenser - Great for your bobby pins or a small sewing kit.

Zip Ties - When things break zip ties make a strong temporary fix. Luggage lock, zipper pulls, cable ties, water bottle loop, broken purse strap, zip ties have saved my day so many times!

Inflatable Neck Pillow - When you want a pillow / seat cushion / knee support - this awesome invention is there for you, as firm or soft as you choose. Bonus - the covers generally come off and are washable. Double bonus - when you don't need it, let the air out and fold it up to save space!

Reusable Shopping Bags - Lightweight and easily collapsible, these bags are bonus for storing your shoes, picking up a few items from the local grocer, or holding dirty laundry. Some even have little clips so they can attach easily to a purse or a backpack.

Storage Alternatives - Altoids containers, tea canisters, contact lenses cases, sunglass cases - all these things make for great storage alternatives. I do not recommend using old pill bottles for jewelry storage. 1.) They have personal information on them, and 2.) they are bright orange 'come steal me' signs.








 

I Don't Wash My Hair - And It's Great

If you don't wash your hair, do you:

• have gross hair?
• get lice or bugs?
• smell?
• have tons of knots?

Well, it's been 3 months and I can happily say that no, none of those things are true! :-)

Forever my hair has been a bit hard to manage - it always had a strong wave to medium curl depending on the cut, weather, and products I used on it. Often I'd just get tired of it and wear it up in a bun/braid, or cut it short, or straighten it within an inch of its life. I could have fun with my hair, but it cost me in product, time, and frustration.

So, one day while Youtubing hair tutorials, I came across a video about water-only washing and, while I initially put it off as another "crunchy" scheme, it stuck in the back of my brain and I kept thinking about the idea of water-only hair. I was already cutting down on the number of times per week that I shampooed and considering doing no'poo, but, sparked by a pending bike trip, I just quit cleansing cold-turkey.

Greasy hair on a road trip with bandannas and helmets may be tolerable, but at the office...not so much. So, with my hair up in a pony tail, I went back to Youtube and the grand ol' intranet to see what I could do about it. Turns out, there's lots! :-)

Here are the key things to know:

• Scritch, massage, rinse, repeat 
• Preening is not just for birds
• Boar bristle brushes and wooden combs are miracle workers
• Essential oils are, well, essential

Scritching and Massage - Scritching and massaging are very important techniques when it comes to water-only hair. For massaging, all you need do is release your hair if it is up or tightly wound and gently rub your scalp with your fingertips. You don't need to push down - this isn't Swedish massage, just a gentle (and relaxing) way to increase circulation, improve sebum production, and it just feels really good.

Separate your hair into sections if you need to. If not, just start at one side of your scalp and move slowly to the other side rubbing gently with your fingertips. I usually spend a few minutes giving myself a head massage while waiting in the ever present Seattle traffic. Not only does it feel good, but it also helps reduce stress from all the traffic congestion!

Massage is followed up with scritching which is done by lightly and quickly running across the scalp with the fingernails. Clean fingernails please. Scritching is still gentle, don't scratch yourself and damage your scalp, and don't overdo it - listen to your head.

Preening - After separating your hair into sections, you gently pull the oil from your scalp to the ends of your hair. This physically moves your natural oil from your scalp down to the tips of your hair. This part really helps you get to total coverage (the end goal) faster.

Wooden Comb - These combs help your hair by evenly distributing oil from your scalp to along the length of your hair. Unlike plastic combs, wooden combs don't create static or have seams to snap your hair.

Keep it clean (with jojoba, coconut oil, or olive oil) and enjoy it as a thing of beauty.

Boar Bristle Brush - I cannot begin to say how much I appreciate my boar bristle brush! Like finger-preening, it moves the oils from your scalp down along the shaft of your hair to the tips. Just make sure you get a 100% boar bristle brush and not one with polyester filler fibers in it - they can cause static.

If you are vegan, or otherwise not comfortable using a boar bristle brush - just skip it. Include more time for finger preening and using a wooden comb.

Important notes:
- the boar bristle brush is NOT for detangling. Use your fingers and a comb!
- Keep your brush clean. After using it run a comb through it a few times to get out the loose hairs and then run it under the faucet in warm water and gentle soap. Allow to dry bristle-side down.

Essential Oils - Lavendar, cedarwood, grapefruit, rose - there is no reason to leave behind your favorite shampoo scents when you leave behind the sulfates, isopropyl alcohol, and parabens. After stepping out from the shower and T-shirting (not toweling) your hair, add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to a tiny bit of coconut oil and distribute evenly to the ends of your hair.

Some of my favorites -

• Peppermint
• Sandalwood
• Grapefruit
• Clove
• Frankincense
• Lemon

Important notes:

 - Get your oils from a reputable dealer and check your brands and pricing.

 - You only need a drop or two...really, just a drop at a time!

Final Thoughts

 

Prepare for your hair to be weird for a few weeks. That doesn't mean it has to look weird - wear it up, scritch and preen, clarify (check out the interwebs for recipes) and relax...it's just hair.

Have the right tools for the job. A wooden comb, a boar bristle brush, and essential oils take up way less space in your bathroom than shampoo and conditioner bottles, serums, and a billion styling gadgets.

Be Brave. If going head-first into water-only rinsing isn't for you, check out no-poo methods.
Go through your bathroom and pick out a few of your favorite items. Look them up on ewg.org to see how they compare with other products in terms of toxicity. Find out what all those really long words on the back of the label mean.

                                                                             

 

My 4th Seattle Birthday!

Today was my 4th birthday in Seattle!

For such a momentous occasion I took a holiday from work and spent my morning reading in bed, then a late breakfast/ brunch at my favorite local pastry shop - ( Fuji Bakery on 15th, I don't want it to close - so SHOP THERE ) then scooting about the city going to various home building supply stores.

I'm not an online purchaser. I like to see it in my hands, feel the texture and weight, and haggle about the price before buying something. Online offers none of that experience to me. So, I went to all these stores - stroking counter tops, opening and closing cabinet doors, curling up in tubs, etc.

I visited - the Re-Store, Morgans, Seattle Homes, Builders Hardware & Supply, Greenhome Solutions, Keller Showroom, and Home Builders Center. Not bad for a few spare hours.

Best customer service goes to the Re-Store - they were the friendliest and most helpful - letting me borrow tape measures and showing me where to find things. They had some options, but it is a re-store so the options may change pretty fast.

Greenhome was... well I wanted to like it. I went that direction just to go there and the showroom is nice and there are lots of options... but NO ONE said hello to me. I don't know if it was the way I looked (riding gear and messy hair from my helmet), but it felt like I was being purposely ignored. I made eye contact and smiled at one guy and he just kept walking right past me. No hello, no are you looking for something, nothing. I was invisible. So that was pretty shitty and I'm not planning to return.

Morgans knew their stuff. Decent customer service, fast, efficient. I got an older guy... that seems to be important to Yelp.

Everybody else was okay - friendly, fast and helpful. I'd go back to anyone but Greenhome Solutions.

After tub-hunting, I went out to eat with D and Hubs at one of our favorite Mexican spots in Ballard and then to Hot Cakes for dessert.

Also -

Green apple peridot ring! I love this shade of green! 

First day of work shoes!

Sorry for the blurry photo - This was taken at the store in DSW - but they are super cute!!

It's my birthday and I'll squee if I want to, squee if I want to , squee if I want to!

So - Halloween is headed our way and that means the great satanic celebration ( my birthday ) is almost here! Normally I keep the party to myself to relax and reflect, but this year features friends, new jobs, and apparently - great gifts!

My husband - the Great Doc Venture, is an amazing, if not normally thoughtful, person. He is smart and funny but I wouldn't call him kind or considerate. He wouldn't describe himself that way either.  I bring the kindness to our table and we are both cool with that. But this year he surprised me! He was thoughtful and giving and had a gift planned for me but put his grand plans aside when I saw this purse and he knew I wanted it more. 

If you're interested - I asked him to describe himself in three words and they were:

1. Laid-back

2. Nerdy 

3. Funny

What are your three words?