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Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Riddle me this.

Riddle me this internet.  How do you break up with a hairstylist but keep going to the same salon?

I love the salon I go to.  It keeps my Ulta Rewards points up and I can stay a platinum member, therefore my points don't expire.  But.  I want to switch to a different stylist.  I used to rave about my stylist and about how I LOVED how he cut my hair.  But lately...?  Not so much.

I haven't been loving the fact that my appointment ALWAYS starts a half an hour later than it's scheduled.  I haven't been loving the fact that even though I've said over and over that I don't like a lot of layers in my hair because it makes it poof up and then I can't throw it in a ponytail when I need to, I still get freaking layers in my hair.  Annnnnnddd, no matter how many times I correct him on how to say my name, he always gets it wrong.  I understand it can be tricky.  I've lived with being called the wrong name for at least 20 of the 25 years of my life, but after two plus years... Annoying and frustrating.  

Someone, please help me.  I'm past the point of trying to make it work and now I know I just want to go to a different stylist.  I don't like awkward conversations, so I don't really want to just tell him that I want to go to someone else.  I've cancelled two of my last appointments because I've been putting this off.

So, what do you suggest?

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

OCM

I'm going to talk about some lady stuff.  Some lady beautifying stuff.

Have you heard about the Oil Cleansing Method, or OCM?  I've recently heard of it and I'm giving it a try.  Basically, instead of using a face wash that has too many chemicals that I can't pronounce, I'm using oil to wash my face.  It sounds counter productive, but it's not.  You clean oil with oil.

I've only been doing this since Saturday, and I'm clearly not an expert, but I've already noticed a huge improvement in my skin.  My face is a lot less oily and my makeup looks fresh.  I started reading about this on Pinterest last week and it went from there.  I haven't noticed a decrease in any acne blemishes, but a blemish I did have yesterday morning is gone today, which is very rare.  I've been struggling with adult acne for the past year or so.  It's been as bad as it was when I was a teenager.  I went to the dermatologist last summer with little to no results.  Cleansers that used to work for me, no longer do.  My skin is changing as I'm aging.  Womp womp.  So, I thought to myself, "Let's try this OCM thing.  Clearly, it won't hurt because nothing else is working."

I've been pleasantly surprised.  When I went to wash my face pre-shower post workout last night, it looked like I had just applied my makeup for the day.  No oily face for me. 

Let's break down what types of oil I'm using on my skin.  First and foremost, OCM calls for Castor oil because of it's cleansing properties.  Over at theoilcleansingmethod.com, it says various ratios and some suggested oils to mix with the Castor oil.  I read in my research this weekend that jojoba oil is a good oil to mix with the Castor oil because of its moisturizing characteristics.  So, I went to Trader Joe's and picked up some jojoba oil.  I found the Castor oil at Walgreen's.  I mixed a 3:2 ratio.  Three parts Castor oil to two parts jojoba oil.  I mixed it in a travel sized shampoo/soap container.  I think next time I'm going to try a 1:1 ratio.  I've read that finding the right oil to mix with the Castor oil and the oil to oil ratio varies from person to person so there is a bit of trial and error associated with it.

Here's what you do at night before bed time.  You wet a wash cloth with super hot water.  Wring it out carefully without burning yourself and lay the wash cloth over your face for a minute or until it starts to feel cold.  Next, you massage about a teaspoon of the oil into your face for a minute or two.  Then, you take your wash cloth and wipe your face off and pat dry.  Boom.  Done.  Easiest face washing ever. 

My face is super soft after doing this.  I've been using the prescription retinoid I was given last summer at the dermatologist as well.  Apparently the retinoid is supposed to help with adult acne and aging skin.  We'll see how long using that lasts...  Then, in the morning in the shower I just rinse my face off with water and apply some moisturizer like normal post shower.

Anyway, I wanted to fill you in on a new nightly routine.  I'll keep you updated with any major results, but so far, it's pretty fantastic. 

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Monday, February 11, 2013

Twenty-five.

As I previously wrote about, I had a birthday party over the weekend. Let's post some photos shall we?

Side note, these pictures were taken on my iPod and the photo quality isn't super great...

If you want flowers, but yourself some flowers.


My to-do list the morning before.

Mustache cake I made. Better pictures will be a Jacques soon.

In the three pictures Sean and I took, I look great but Sean looks red and drunk (which he wasn't).

Thanks to Katie for bringing the mustache straws!


Playing Cards Against Humanity - the first time.


Katie and her party hats. I can't remember what type of dinosaur she said she was.

The aftermath the next day.

Friday, February 1, 2013

It's my party...

Did you know it's my 25th birthday next week?  Whoa, when did another year fly by?!

Have I told you I'm having a birthday party?  I'm determined to make my 25th birthday better than my 24th birthday.  In an effort, I'm throwing myself a mustache themed birthday party.  I'm making myself a mustache shaped birthday cake.  I'm going to make cupcakes.  I'm going to serve meatballs or lil' smokies because that is what I like.  I'm going to eat queso dip and tortilla chips because I also like that.  I'm going to drink grown up cocktails.  It's going to be a grand time.  In preparation for this, I've been making lists of food to serve, groceries to get, alcohol to stock up on.

Friends and family are invited, obviously.  I want to take the time to celebrate the people that have made the past year of my life so great.  So, are you coming to my party?