For the love of......

Natural Sun Highlights

2011-05-26T12:46:00.001-04:00

Calling all Blonds!! Do you want a way to keep that "just got my hair did" look? I have the solution for those unwanted roots and dingy locks...and it only cost around $10 or $0 depending on your stash of groceries. Yes, I said groceries, meaning you're going to be putting food on your hair...

I have natural blond hair, but like most blonds, I like a little sparkle in my drab locks...so twice a year I have my great friend and favorite stylist slap on a little Platinium Plus and 30 volume developer and sit under a heater while we chat about life and love. The price is well worth the service and the conversation but because of my vitamins, my hair grows an inch every month and I'm not in a place in my life to spend that money every 3 months. Well, I've found a remedy to keep my hair luminous in between visits and all it takes is a little vinaigrette! Yep, I put salad dressing on my hair...

I call it Hair Dressing...here's what you'll need:

Sunscreen

Sunglasses

Towel

Spray or squeeze bottle

Comb

3 lemons (1/3 cup)

1/4 cup olive oil

2 tbsp. honey

Whisk lemon juice, olive oil and honey until combined and pour into a spray bottle and spray onto hair until soaked (you can use a squeeze bottle for more accurate placement). Be careful not to get it on your skin or scalp as it will cause you to burn.

You can put it on wet or dry hair, the dryer your hair the lighter it will turn. Part your hair where you want the highlights to be. Tilt your head over a sink or bowl and spray or squeeze the product, starting from the roots and comb down. If you only want streaks, don't soak all your hair, just drip and comb where you want the highlights, if you want all over highlights, soak entire head - it won't take away what highlights you have, it will only accentuate them making them brighter than the natural blond. Once hair is soaked, wipe any juice from your skin and scalp with a towel, apply sunscreen and sunglasses and head outside. Lay in the sun for 1 hour with hair in a position to absorb the sun (the longer you sit in the sun, the lighter your hair will be). It will accentuate your salon highlights and give your natural blond a boost. It may take more than once to get your desired result, however, I wouldn't suggest doing this method more than twice a week as it will leave your hair feeling dry and brittle.

Here's how it works...

Because of the acidity in the lemon juice it acts as an accelerate to the sun's natural lightening abilities (everyones hair gets lighter in the sun, this just speeds up the process). Because the lemon dries the hair, the olive oil adds moisture and conditions the hair naturally while also adding to the highlights leaving your hair feeling soft and healthy. The honey gives a natural highlight while also adding moisture and gives hair great body and bounce.

Not only have you gotten yourself a tan but you've given your dull hair a brilliant shine that will last for months and a great conditioning treatment leaving hair silky smooth!

***This technique is for NATURAL blonds NOT for those with dark hair, if you have Browns or Blacks in your hair, avoid do-it-yourself lighteners because there are certain products or developers stylists use to keep your color from turning orange or red that are not in these products.

***The effects of this treatment can be just as harmful as going to the salon and it's not in a controlled environment, it's just cheaper and can be done in a pinch. Just make sure you use a repairing conditioner treatment after. Here are some great treatments I've used myself and they've given me incredible results!!

My Questionable Green Thumb

2011-05-16T15:23:00.005-04:00

I'm new to gardening...really, I'm new to dirt. I'm 25 and have just started learning how to get dirt under my fingernails and not freak out. BUT it's never too late for anything, right?! Admittedly, I didn't start my garden the way I was supposed to, in little pods of dirt, sitting in a window...I actually filled up medium size pots with soil, poked my finger in the dirt, put in a few seeds every couple centimeters, and covered it up with dirt. I actually drowned them with water instead of spritzing them with a spray bottle, causing all the seeds to float to the center of the pots. But I was riddled with excitement and just wanted to seem like I knew what I was doing. Looking back, there are so many things I should have researched, but as long as things grow and taste good, does it really matter?? It does, so there's always next time - I'm learning as I go!

I have to tell you that I'm thrilled about my herb garden and love watching it grow, however, I'm so impatient and get easily frustrated when things don't grow as fast as I'd like. If that sounds like you, Basil is the herb for you! It is the only herb that makes me literally clap every time I step outside to check on my little green yummies because it's the only one that looks the way it should. The one I've experienced the most impatience with is Rosemary and what I mean is it's just not growing. PERIOD! According to http://growanherbgarden.com/herb-germination-times, germination of Rosemary takes 21 days and I planted my herbs 6 weeks ago. So I'm not sure what to do, because I think it's a little late to start over. This is probably where the window/spritz process would have worked for me, but like I said, I'm learning as I go.

Another yummy I'm having a problem with is the Chives, but I think that's because of bugs...the bugs LOVE Dill too. We've all heard the saying, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away" and I'm not sure how true that is, but fortunately this saying is a proven one - "Dr. Bronner's and water to spray on every day keeps the spider mites away." Or so my friend and fellow gardener says, I look forward to trying it because I really want my Dill!

Here it is!!! -Basil, Dill, Oregano, Rosemary, Parsely, Thyme, Chives, Tarragon, and the one without a pin is a mixture because I had a moment and forgot I had already planted something in it...

My pretty Basil :)

My non-existent Chives???

The bug-chewed Dill :(

Page One

2011-05-14T22:26:00.000-04:00

OK...so this is my second blog and contrary to my first, I'm struggling for a topic right now. The purpose of this blog is basically to document my trial and error of specific experiments and/or endeavors. Call it "Memoirs of a Blonde" if you will. Throughout my journey, you will see me take on some of life's simplest and most difficult (to some) hobbies with zeal and hopefully SUCCESS! It should be very entertaining for all of us.

One of my favorite so far (yes, this means I'm in the process of completing it now) is quilting. It's a very tedious task and deserves my full attention and a large room that only I can access - because everyone gets in my way and I have to put it away every night - but it's my favorite kind of accomplishment! I'm an immediate gratification kinda girl, and I love to see my progress...this is the hobby for me! I also started an herb garden that is currently driving me crazy, simply because of the thing I just mentioned - IMMEDIATE GRATIFICATION - and because bugs love dill apparently.

I'll be trying some healthy recipes, jumping off bridges, and going to some concerts so stick around...

OH...feel free to give me ideas or even feedback on things you've tried! :)