Pin up girl

I've been trying to do other things with my hair, than simply occasionally wash and ponytail it. More specifically, I've been trying to understand and actually attempt the use of bobby pins. Oh, and "product." Quite unfortunately, merely owning bobby pins and product does NOT magically bestow upon me all kinds of hairstyle knowledge and skill. So, I've been trying. I never spent hours in the bathroom or in front of mirrors practicing and perfecting all kinds of hairstyles during my junior high and high school years, and it shows.

The other day I washed my hair. I put "product" in it. I bobby pinned with determination. I emerged with what I thought was a tolerable manner in which to display my hair NOT in a ponytail. Several hours later Superman arrived home. I was eager for honest feedback.

Me: Look at my hair. I "did" it today. Do you like it? Not like it? Thoughts?

Superman: *considers my hair* Eh, not really. It's not my favorite.

Me: Specifically, how I pinned it up like this. Here and here. *points out pinned spots*

Superman: Oh. Yeah, that part's okay. It's just really poofy. Maybe if you put some anti-frizz stuff on it or something.

Me: I did.

Superman: Oh.

Evidently I didn't use enough product. I'm tempted to just throw it back in a ponytail until it's 5 or 6 inches longer and less likely to poof. Product is expensive, yo.

Brain dump

I wasn't born with curly hair, it was very fine and thin. Here's a picture of my hair before kids:

I have curly hair now. It's still very fine, but there's so dang much of it that it gives the illusion of thickness. Here's a picture of my hair now. Apparently, Elaine and I had a fake smile contest; who do you think should win?

I have no idea why it's changed - the only thing I can think of is two pregnancies and the hormones that go along with that. It's also gotten less and less blonde as I've gotten older. My mom's hair did that too. She was a total towhead and now her hair is dark brown.

I don't know anything about hair, and that includes my own hair. The extent of my hair care and style routine has gone somewhat like like this:

1. Shampoo
2. Condition
3. Air-dry
4. Pony tail

I've recently eliminated the shampoo/condition part and replaced it with baking soda and vinegar because it's cheap and I get exactly the same results (minus the fruity 'clean' smell and minus the exposure to various chemicals I may or may not be excited about rubbing into my scalp on a regular basis.)

Wearing my hair down has become fairly impossible. My hair is frizzy and the slightest breeze blows it into my eyes or mouth or both which I CANNOT stand. I dutifully got a straightener and though it was certainly easier to wear down when straight, it took me at least half an hour to straighten it and I quickly wearied of holding my arms above my head (see also: french braids.)

I don't even remember how I ran across this website, but it's awesome for a newbie curly person like me. It's a tad overwhelming, but I'm learning and hopefully I'll soon discover how to get my hair to do something other than a pony tail. This is another site that I've been reading, especially in knowing how to cut curly hair. It would seem that not many stylists are really knowledgeable about that. My hair has layers now, with lots chopped off in the back to keep it from poofing (but it still does) but I think I'd like to have longer hair overall with less layers.

What do you think? (Tara and Karen, especially!) I had no idea I wasn't supposed to brush it when it's dry (though it makes sense!) or that some people wash their hair only with conditioner. Whole new world.

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In other news, Elaine has been off the anti-MRSA antibiotics for two days now and has appeared to be completely fine. I am relieved, but await the blood work that will be done on Monday to confirm the absence of infection (though I would think we'd see symptoms before then if the MRSA wasn't gone.)

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In still other news, I'm feeling depressed. I think it's mostly because for the past several weeks I've more or less been on high alert about the MRSA and Elaine's general well being. And now my body's just reverting to the other extreme in an attempt at overall homeostasis.

Sucks to be feeling down, though, especially with two little people looking to you for, oh, everything, especially emotional well-being, which is kind of tough to provide when you aren't feeling particularly emotionally healthy.

I've been doing much better at dissociating the depression from ME. I know this sounds so cheesy, but the depression does not define me, it's just something that I have to deal with. When I think of it that way it makes it a lot easier to prevent my head from taking off down the mental pathways that are so familiar but SO unhelpful for emerging from the depression sooner.

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In still OTHER news, Superman and I have really been liking the whole idea of minimalist living. There's tons of articles all over the web, but here's just one site that I've spent just a little time on. I haven't had a lot of time to look around, but I think this lines up quite well with my frugal nature and the recession and such. So many people's lives are so cluttered with stuff I think they don't really understand what truly makes them happy and fulfilled. Stuff doesn't make anyone happy and fulfilled in the long run.

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Thus concludes my brain dump.

Age and jays

Today I got my eyebrows waxed for what I think was the third time in my life. I'm pleased with the results. I'm pretty sure I'll go back and start doing this regularly. This whole getting pretty thing is quite the undertaking!

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I don't know how it is for you, but sometimes I don't age with my body. The age I feel I am inside doesn't match my physical age. For example, for a long time I felt like I was only 23, just with a couple of toddlers I had to take care of. Even being called "mommy" took some getting used to. It still blows my mind that the giant three year old who lives in our house is my daughter.

Recently, though, I've been feeling more my age; I'll be 28 next month. I don't feel helpless or overwhelmed or want to call my mommy with every turn of events (though I do still call her a lot!); I feel like a fairly competent 27 year old. I haven't experienced a whole heck of a lot in comparison to my peers (the list of things I've never done is embarrassingly long, but I'm past caring about that - it's the way it is) but I have gone through some pretty "adult-ish" stuff and emerged a little older and wiser. Or, I’d like to think I have.

Lookit me! I'm finally feeling all growed up.

I'm getting a handle on marriage and settling in to being content more often than not with my marriage… and everything that comes with it - namely, a 6'3" 220 lb. man named Superman.

I'm discovering what my parenting style looks like and feeling less pressured by "them" to do it x, y or z way or else it's WRONG. Mothering isn't a responsibility I take lightly and there isn't any other person on this earth who knows my girls more completely than I do. That doesn't mean I won't listen to your insight or experience or suggestions - I'll probably just feel less threatened, afterward. =)

You know what else? Some times I actually LIKE myself. That negative dialog I'm so accustomed to playing in my head hasn't been all that negative recently. I've known all about grace for most of my life but only recently have I actually, truly accepted and experienced it. I'm happy with my strengths and try to be realistic with my limitations. Heck, the fact that I can TELL you what my limitations even are is huge.

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Yesterday morning I noticed the dogs were very interested in something under our patio chairs. I went out to investigate and it turned out to be a teenager-ish blue jay who either couldn't fly yet or had a hurt leg or wing. I immediately put the dogs inside and stood back to watch as the parent jays swooped in to check on their offspring, chattering and whistling their concern and encouragement.

A few hours later I saw the parents were still hanging around in the lower branches of the lime tree so I went out to investigate. Sure enough the little baby bird was huddled down in one of our bushes. It looked strong and seemed to be able to get around just fine, just obviously couldn't fly. I took it water and bread soaked in a little milk and retreated inside. Val was particularly concerned. She assured the bird, “don’t worry baby birdie, those big dogs can’t get you. Don’t be scared. It’s OK.” That night, the bird was still there and the bread had hardly been touched, if at all.

This afternoon I took it some crushed mixed nuts and raisins soaked in water. The bird looks strong so if nothing else its parents are feeding it dog food that for some reason my dogs haven't been finishing. I've noticed the parents hopping down to help themselves to the dogs' food and water for the past few weeks and suspected they lived near by.

I think the parent birds are beginning to trust me. Whenever I go out the mama bird whistles low to me and I try to make reassuring noises back. I don't want to mess with them but I do want to help their little one if they'll let me or if they need it. Once I didn't see the baby (good little bird was hiding just like his mama told him to) until I was practically right on top of him, in the bush, and so he felt threatened and hopped out and squawked/flapped at me. I think he's healthy enough, just can't fly yet. So maybe we'll be lucky enough to watch him learn!

The dogs resent being banished to the side yard, but they'll have to deal with it. It looks like they didn't hurt the bird and I'm glad about that (Jackson especially likes birds.)

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Edit: I just checked on the bird family this morning and it turns out there's two babies on the ground now. Did it fall too or did the parents just decide they might as well keep the family together? Either way, it's more dangerous now because the local squirrels (there are MANY) have noticed the babies. I've chased away two already and am keeping my kitchen window open so I can hear the parents' calls if they come back. I also picked up the food.

Also, I have no idea what kind of birds these are. They're blue with a white underside. No crest. Very slightly brown around the shoulders. Dark blue/black heads and eyes. They look more like a blue jay, which I think aren't supposed to live here, and even though Steller's jays are supposed to be native here I don't think that's what they are. I'm pretty sure they aren't a blue birds, either.

Ah HA. They're a family of California scrub jays. Duh. I should have known that.

Science of clothes drying

We turned on the clothes dryer today after several months of not using it. Our homemade clothes tree stand has finally bit the dust and we're trying to brainstorm a better design. I think we'll need to weld a few things before we're ready. Where do you go to get some welding done? Superman can do it, he just needs the tools.

Drying all your clothes inside the house on a 6-foot-square clothes drying tree seems like a really geeky, green thing to do but I bet it's saved us at least a couple hundred dollars by now. The ancient electric dryer we have here gets the job done, but certainly not in an efficient way. True, it takes longer for things to line dry. The tree can hold two large loads of laundry at a time and it only takes 24 hours to dry. I think two large loads of laundry a day isn't bad at all.

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In preparation for buying make-up and more skin care products (I'm reaching the end of my Ahava stash) I've been combing over these two websites:

Beautypedia and Cosmetics Database

I'm a geeky scientist at heart and therefore the studies and scientific nature of these sites appeal to me.

Beautypedia dispels various beauty myths and talks about the formulation of various products. I found out that Neutrogena's moisturizer with sunscreen is just as good as some higher-end, expensive brand because the formulation is nearly identical. Why would I want to pay more? I wouldn't.

Then, after I've picked a product that has potential, I can check it out on the Cosmetics Database to find out what it's comprised of and if any of those ingredients are potentially harmful chemicals that I won't want to smear onto my skin on a regular basis.

It's all very systematic, this way of choosing make-up and skin care products, and that appeals to me far more than simply deciding on a whim if this or that product smells/looks/feels nice. Plus, I'm nearly always distrustful of marketing jargon because I know it's DESIGNED to convince me of things that may or may not be entirely (or even slightly) true.

The flip side of that is, once I'm sold on something, I'm SOLD and will probably be calling you tomorrow to convince you to buy it too.

Speaking of which, I've got to do my DivaCup entry soon.

Make up your mind

Hey guess what time it is? Fifteen past midnight! And I'm just starting a post! Woo hoo! Bring on six AM!

Guess where I went tonight? I visited a highly-recommended make-up lady at the mall. I say make-up lady. I think she's my age. I felt like a hillbilly. Kuh-yuk.

Anyhow, my sister and sister-to-be and her mother all converged on Sandy at the Lancome counter and I was beatified. I told Sandy I wanted something I could wear on a daily basis - very basic. I know it will shock none of you, but here's what she wanted me to wear every day: foundation, concealer, bronzer, one eye shadow, eye liner, mascara and lip gloss. That's, like, SEVEN things! Can I ask a personal question? How many different things do YOU put on your face every day? Does seven seem unreasonable?

I'll get used to seven things. I'm sure it'll seem like hardly anything in a few years. I've got to put something on my face, though, because age is not kind. Nor are kids. Earlier this week Val asked me to raise my eyebrows so she could feel and play with the wrinkles on my forehead.

Sandy said she was shocked at how thick my eyelashes were and wondered that they weren't longer. Longer? I think they're quite long enough, thank you. I also think I'm allergic to their mascara (or she just applied three more pounds than I usually do) because my eyes were beginning to sting and turn red by the time I got home. She suggested conditioner. For my eyelashes. So they could get longer. Who knew such things even existed?

I talk as though Sandy was pushing product on me right and left, but she really wasn't. I didn't even buy anything (the store was closing) but I'll be back. My sister(s) told me that she's very reasonable about what you need and don't. In the end she told me the top two things she would recommend and they were eyebrow pencil (I forgot one! EIGHT!) and foundation.

Here's a picture I took when I got home, in my bathroom, with incorrect camera settings and less-than-desirable lighting. Then I washed my face and marveled over what some people do every day. Goal one, getting done.

Next up, eyebrow waxing! (Pssst! Mother, you're coming with us! We have a good recommendation this time!)