Curls, curly, curl, curly girl curls September 30, 2011

I am about 18 months into growing out my pixie cut. This is the 4th attempt to grow my hair out in the last 10 years – ever try it? It is NOT easy, and I am a pro at chopping off my hair then immediately growing it back out again. But pixie cuts, fugghedaboudit! A true nightmare.

I stayed strong though, and am now at the point where my hair looks SOMEWHAT intentional. That’s a good thing. Yeah, that and the CURLS! WTF? Where did these come from?

Prior to the pixie cut I had my hair in a pretty much no-style (meaning, it had NO style) chin-length bob. All one length. And I had waves. I have had piles and piles of thick poofy hair and waves all my life (which is usually why short hair is my friend). But as these pixie layers are getting longer and longer, my hair is CURLING not waving. I mean actual spirals that wrap around into CURLS!

At first I was a bit dismayed. And then I would get the shocked and surprised comments from people who hadn’t seen me in a few months startled by how different my hair looked.

Then, of course, the autodidact in me kicked in and I started doing research. There are now whole communities of curlies on the internet! And salons and products especially for people with hair like me!! Where on earth were all these people 30 years ago when I was a miserable teenager trying to deal with massively huge poof-head? I have hated, and I mean HATED my hair for the majority of my life. Some of my earliest memories are of my mother taking me to the neighborhood salon (yea, literally, the place in the suburban strip mall) and the stylist going on and on about how I had more hair than she had ever seen in her life as she proceeded to chop it all off of my 4-year-old head, which in turn allowed me to get mistaken for a boy for the next 2 years. Lets just say that 10 years of a pixie cut was really just my way of barely avoiding completely shaving my head bald because I was unable to deal with my hair.

So now, in 2011, at 43 years old, I have discovered (1) that I actually have curly hair (or some would call it wavy/curly, WHATEVER!), (2) there are actual haircuts and stylists and products and salons that KNOW how to deal with hair like MINE and DEAL with hair like MINE on an everyday basis, (3) everything I have been doing to my hair for the last 43 years are exactly all the WRONG things to do to hair like mine and finally (4) I can actually have hair I like and am proud and excited of.

Isn’t the internet the best?!

For all you fellow curlies out there, if you haven’t already, run, do not walk, to your nearest library or bookstore or internet bookseller and pick up a copy of Curly Girl by Lorraine Massey. Bible. Best. Info. Out. There.

And stay tuned – curls will take over the world!

The late, great John Hughes August 2, 2011

I happened upon this post by Ree on the Pioneer Woman web site, and I couldn’t agree more with her assessment of the best John Hughes movies of all time. May he rest in peace – he defined my childhood.

ChopChop July 5, 2011

From ChopChopMagazine.org

While in the waiting room at the doctor’s office, I picked up a free/giveaway copy of ChopChop Magazine - a food magazine for kids. I started to flip through it and it was REALLY directed at kids and food – how to make healthy choices, recipies that are geared for kids to make them themselves – with engaging photos and graphics.

I took it home and gave it to my 9-year-old daughter. She flipped through it initially, seemed mildly interested, then put it away. She pulled it back out again this week, and now she wants to make some recipes from the magazine and has asked me to subscribe for her. I gladly did, and I hope this start up magazine which is TRYING to get kids interested in cooking, growing and eating healthy food succeeds.

The ChopChopMagazine.org site has recipes and articles, and also a blog. You can subscribe to the print magazine at: http://www.chopchopmag.org/subscribe

The quest for the low-maintenance manicure June 29, 2011

 

Shellac manicure - day 13

I love manicured nails just like the next hard-working mom, but do NOT love (1) the time required to do it yourself, (2) the money required for weekly salon manicures, or (3) the time and effort to maintain nail polish during the very busy work week (and equally busy weekends!).

I am now on my fourth Shellac manicure in a row. That’s 8 weeks mind you, 8 WEEKS, with beautifully manicured fingernails. Hassle-free, beautifully manicured fingernails, truth be told.

This photo shows my current Shellac manicure at Day 13 – I’m scheduled for removal tomorrow. And I am a gardener, and chief cook-and-bottle-washer at my house, so these babies do NOT get pampered.

The only thing preventing me from going for Shellac manicure #5 is the time required for the salon visit. For anyone in the Milwaukee area, I drive out to Invitalize MediSpa in Franklin because they have killer deals on Shellac manicures (30% cheaper than other nearby salons), but it’s a good 35-minute drive one way from the office. The search is on for a salon nearby that does Shellac at a good price.

If you haven’t tried it, and you love manicured nails but hate the hassle, you HAVE to try Shellac. You’ll be hooked.

 

*This post is not sponsored in any way and is just my personal, un-funded opinion.

What makes an outfit look dated? June 28, 2011

Picture originally uploaded to Flickr by wbaiv

Great discussion today on Corporette.com on What Makes an Outfit Look Dated? In addition to what you would think of in terms of overly trendy styles (think exposed zippers, shoe booties and shoulder pads – ’80s anyone?), the discussion is ranging from wearing bright tops with black bottoms (hmm… but not the inverse?) and clothes that are too big/too small.

Organizing Checklists Everyone Should Have — 5 Best Lists June 23, 2011

The summer travel season is upon us, and I found this collection of checklists really helpful from Lorrie Marrero, guru of The Clutter Diet . I am always looking for ways to get more organized. Thanks Lorrie!

The Midwest or …. London? June 21, 2011

Image courtesy of http://atlantaveggies.blogspot.com

We have had a very unusual June here in the upper Midwest. Typically, our spring looks something like this … snow, 40-degrees and cloudy, then 90-degrees and sunny with 90% humidity … all in the space of about 3 days. That’s our typical spring – we go from winter straight into summer.

But not this year. June has been consistently in the 50s and 60s, and rain, rain, rain. I have a feeling that the battle with the mosquitos this year will not be won by mere garlic juice alone.

My lettuce is loving it. My basil and tomatoes, not so much.

A little bit of humor to lighten the day June 20, 2011

The biggest chicken nugget in the known universe

Being of a certain, um, age, I grew up with (the ORIGINAL) Star Wars. The other day I just happened upon a blog post at MyModernMet.com highlighting these hilarious photographs of toy Star Wars Stormtroopers taken by French photographer Stefan Le Dou. Stefan’s current work can be found at Stormtroopers365.com. Consider me subscribed for my weekly bit of Star Wars humor. Nicely done.

Affogato! June 12, 2011

Photo courtesy of SavorySweetLife.com

I have been on the lookout for new ways to justify my new coffee maker (besides drinking LOTS of coffee – ZING!), and have recently discovered this amazing dessert called affogato. It’s Italian (certo!) for “drowned” and it’s when you “drown” a scoop of gelato with espresso and/or other liquid goodies.

We just experienced a heat wave here in the Midwest, and we went from 50-degree weather to 100+ degree weather in the matter of a day (welcome to Wisconsin!). Suddenly, turning on the oven to bake some biscotti did not seem like a good idea.

We were browsing our neighborhood Italian market to pick up some antipasto makings, which just recently remodeled itself from a hole-in-the-wall to a more upscale version of itself, including a gelato bar. There was a sign for this “adult” dessert which seemed simple enough.

It’s literally as easy as putting a scoop of gelato or ice cream into a glass, and drizzling fresh hot espresso over it. Seriously.

Some sites recommend Frangelico, Kaluha or other alcoholic libations (check out the post on The Bitten Word on Tipsy Affogato – BTW, my drag queen name would be Muffin Fennimore), but I was so impressed with the simple original that I’m not inclined to go the Tipsy route just yet.

Try it today – you’ll love it.

coffee coffee coffee coffee May 5, 2011

Image courtesy of cognacguy.blogspot.com

I recently had a business trip to Germany, and when I visited our European headquarters, I was introduced to what has turned out to be a little bit of heaven on earth. It’s called a Jura superautomatic coffee maker. Basically, you push one button – ONE BUTTON – and it will create for you the most delicious cappuccino, latte, or espresso you have ever had.

I could not believe this. I took photos with my blackberry and started texting my husband about it. I had about 100 cappuccinos in the space of 3 days. I obsessed.

Thankfully, hubby was equally obsessed. As soon as I sent the first photo he jumped into super shopper mode, and found not only the best brand, model and make of “superautomatic” (I had never even heard of this before or knew they existed) but also how to get the best deal on one.

One week after I returned home we opened up our very own Jura Z7 One Touch. I am obsessed.

Now I am not one to normally talk in casual conversation about the things I buy. But did I say that I’m obsessed?

When I wake up in the morning, I press one button and presto, delicious cappuccino. When I get home from work, I press one button and presto, instant espresso.

I am in heaven, and I am obsessed.