Friday, January 24, 2014
Blog Revival
After a long hiatus I am attempting to revive my blog and reflect my life out into the world again. Since the last post I published life has taken me on a roller coaster ride of illness, new life, loss of too many loved ones, stress on my marriage and raising my daughter from toddler to preschooler. In a way I feel that at this moment I am a phoenix rising from the ashes and that I am finally ready to adjust my sails and chart my course into a new direction of quality of life above all else. I hope that each of my future posts, whether on a lighter or more heavy topic, will benefit at least one person, even if it just to let them know that they are not alone.
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Body By Plants
I have long had a love of learning about food and nutrition and have read many books and watched many documentaries about it.
Growing up in a rural community as a descendent of pioneers and the daughter and granddaughter of very blue collar workers and farmers I didn't really need to think about where my food came from, I just had to look out the window. From the age of two I was expected to work our half acre vegetable garden that provided all of the veggies we would eat throughout the summer and winter after being "put away" in what seemed like hundreds of mason jars in our cellar along with bushels and bushels of potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, squash, carrots, turnips and parsnips of every description. Our dairy that we bought at the general store along with oats, coffee, flour and other unprocessed staples came from local dairy farmers like the one next door to us to the South. My brothers and I could stand and watch the cows happily roaming free and munching on grass. To the North was a farm that raised cows for the beef that we would buy by the half, lambs, turkeys and chickens would also be bought and frozen in the deep freezes in the back of the kitchen, all of it butchered by my dad's cousin who owned the abattoirs just down the road, who respected the animals and believed in dignity for all living creatures in both life and death.
When I married my hubby and moved to where he had his business in a larger town about 3 hours away I experienced some culture shock the first few times I went food shopping at what seemed like an enormous warehouse rather than the tiny family run establishments I was used to. Over time I have found a butcher shop I like that sells local traditionally raised and organic meats, I green grocer who does the same along with selling local dairy products and even an excellent bakery for when I don't feel like making my own.
I felt like I had it all figured out and was doing my best to eat a very healthy diet where almost everything was made from natural (antibiotic free, hormone free, free range, no spray) or organic ingredients.
Then I heard about The China Study book and Forks Over Knives Documentary and it blew half of what I thought I knew about healthy eatting right out of the water.
Since then I have. Even doing a lot of research reading books, blogs and websites to come up with a plan of implementation of this lifestyle for my family. Soon I will begin to post more about this with as many accessible and non- scary meal plans and recipes as possible.
I hope you find my new project interesting: "Body by Plants"!
Growing up in a rural community as a descendent of pioneers and the daughter and granddaughter of very blue collar workers and farmers I didn't really need to think about where my food came from, I just had to look out the window. From the age of two I was expected to work our half acre vegetable garden that provided all of the veggies we would eat throughout the summer and winter after being "put away" in what seemed like hundreds of mason jars in our cellar along with bushels and bushels of potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, squash, carrots, turnips and parsnips of every description. Our dairy that we bought at the general store along with oats, coffee, flour and other unprocessed staples came from local dairy farmers like the one next door to us to the South. My brothers and I could stand and watch the cows happily roaming free and munching on grass. To the North was a farm that raised cows for the beef that we would buy by the half, lambs, turkeys and chickens would also be bought and frozen in the deep freezes in the back of the kitchen, all of it butchered by my dad's cousin who owned the abattoirs just down the road, who respected the animals and believed in dignity for all living creatures in both life and death.
When I married my hubby and moved to where he had his business in a larger town about 3 hours away I experienced some culture shock the first few times I went food shopping at what seemed like an enormous warehouse rather than the tiny family run establishments I was used to. Over time I have found a butcher shop I like that sells local traditionally raised and organic meats, I green grocer who does the same along with selling local dairy products and even an excellent bakery for when I don't feel like making my own.
I felt like I had it all figured out and was doing my best to eat a very healthy diet where almost everything was made from natural (antibiotic free, hormone free, free range, no spray) or organic ingredients.
Then I heard about The China Study book and Forks Over Knives Documentary and it blew half of what I thought I knew about healthy eatting right out of the water.
Since then I have. Even doing a lot of research reading books, blogs and websites to come up with a plan of implementation of this lifestyle for my family. Soon I will begin to post more about this with as many accessible and non- scary meal plans and recipes as possible.
I hope you find my new project interesting: "Body by Plants"!
Monday, June 18, 2012
We Bought A Travel Trailer!
Father's Day Travel Mug
Little G made her daddy her first crafty father's day present this year. We purchased an unglazed ceramic "I Am Not A Paper Cup" and then she coloured on it using Sharpie Oil-Based Paint Markers from Michael's (under careful supervision, of course). So far it has survived it's first run through the dishwasher on the top rack without having to be sprayed with any sort of sealer thanks to the fact that we used oil based paint. If you wanted to use the water-based paint makers that Sharpie makes then you would need to spray the mug with an acrylic sealer.
***FOLLOW-UP***
After a few washes I would definitely recommend sealing your cup to preserve the vibrancy of the Sharpie colours especially if it will be running through the dishwasher.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Ten Commandments of At Home Haircolouring
I just finished writing the "About Me" section of my blog and felt the need to come clean about calling myself a blonde. I am naturally a blonde, I was born a blonde, I mean REALLY blonde, in fact in the summer my hair would become white. Unfortunetly, as I have aged, it has become more of a dark blonde/light brown shade and very ashy, which I can't stand, so about ten years ago I started colouring my hair first exclusively in salons and later with DIY kits. I still go to the salon every three months for a cut and highlights (although for a while after my daughter 'Lil G was born I did the highlights myself as well, but more on that later). I have a long-standing interest in the art and skill of at-home beautification that started around the time I started Jr. High, as a young girl with a mother who NEVER wore ANY makeup, only cut her hair once per year and had zero sense of style, I had to figure out all of the "girly arts" on my own or with the help of my paternal grandmother and great-aunts. I have done a lot of reading about at-home haircolour over the years picking up tips and tricks along the way as well as reading a lot of testimonials from people who had not-so-great experiences with DIY colour. I would like to share with you all (if there are any of you) what I consider to be the Ten Commandments of Home Haircolouring:
1) THOU SHALT NOT TRY TO CHANGE CHESNUT TO PLATINUM: The number one reason for disasterous results when colouring one's own hair at home is not being realistic with what you can successfully accomplish in your own bathroom. It's in almost every article about at-home haircolouring, in order to avoid disaster you MUST stay within two shades of your natural hair colour. I know there is probably someone out there, maybe someone you know who is able to successfully change more than this, but the odds are worse than Vegas that it will be possible for you. So just follow this commandment, it's for your own good. When you go to the drugstore to pick out your colour or are on the brand websites, first identify your natural colour number using the pictures on their boxes (Be honest!) and then choose within the shades that are numbered between two levels darker or lighter. Example: if you are a natural level 6 you may choose between levels 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8.
2) THOU SHALT PERFORM A STRAND TEST: This is the number two reason women call their salon in tears. Performing a strand test is simple, fairly quick and will save you a lot of heartache and money you would need to pay to a salon for colour correction if you decide to experiment on your whole head without one and then don't like the results. The instructions for performing a strand test are on the instruction page in the box, there are also instructions for:
3) THOU SHALT PERFORM A SKIN TEST: While you have a sample of the colour mixture mixed-up to perform your strand test PLEASE also perform a skin reaction test to make sure you will not have a reaction to the product, remember we are dealing with chemicals here. The instructions for doing this can also be found on the instruction sheet in the box.
4) THOU SHALT READ AND FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS: Failing to do so is yet another reason why you find rants posted on the internet about at home haircolour. Please, please, please take the time to read everything it says on the outside of the box while you are in the store, even if you have coloured your hair before, this will help you to determine if the brand and colour you have in your hands will work for you. Look at the sides and back of the box, there are always pictures showing an approximation of what the colour result will be on different natural haircolours, this is what you should base your colour choice on, not the pretty face on the front. Very Important: If you do not see your natural colour represented in the results pictures this is NOT a shade that will give you good looking results. There should also be a note about what to expect if your hair has gray in it or if your hair has reddish tones. When you get home read through the instructions a couple of times until you fully understand them and keep them handy to read step-by-step as you are colouring. If you have any questions dial the brands 800 number (found on the box and instruction sheet) for answers before you begin.
5) THOU SHALT NOT COLOUR OVER COLOUR: If you currently have hair dye on any part of your hair do not attempt to use a boxed colour to colour over it, they are not formulated to do so. Choose the colour you wish to be using the recommendations above and then head to your salon to have them change your colour to the one you chose using salon strength products. Remember when you colour you hair the cuticle is opened and colour is deposited inside so if you try to use home haircolour to colour-over colour you will be essentially mixing two different colours within your hair shaft with unpredictable results at best. Also if you continually shade swap your hair will start to look dull and gunky, like you rubbed shoe polish cream in it. Once your colourist has changed your colour to the new one you have chosen, you can maintain it yourself by colouring your virgin regrowth (roots) with your chosen shade of at-home colour.
6) THOU SHALT SLEEP ON IT: Do not decide to change your hair colour on impulse, during or immediately after a major life change (example: break-up) and always wait 24 hours after you purchase your new colour to actually use it on yourself so you can me certain you are making the right choice for you. (You should be waiting 24 hours anyway for your skin test to develop). Remember you are choosing to alter the picture frame around your face.
7) THOU SHALT DO IT DIRTY: Do not wash your hair for preferably two days minimum before colouring your hair, the natural oils will help protect both your hair and scalp from the colouring chemicals. Just give it a thorough brushiing before you begin.
8) THOU SHALT BE PREPARED: Make sure both you and your bathroom are ready for colouring, protect your work area both counter and floor with newspaper, old sheets, or towels before you begin, also protect yourself and clothes by wearing a cape or old clothes while colouring. Also handy to have are paper towels or rags for wiping up drips or spills on you or your sink. Lastly remember colour removes colour on surfaces, it doesn't sound logical but it works, if you get a little colour on yourself or somewhere else that doesn't wipe away dab a little of your colour on a cloth or paper towel and use this to remove the wayward product.
9) THOU SHALT USE THE RIGHT TOOLS FOR THE JOB: While your initial colouring job will be easy to do using the tools that come in the box, the vast majority of your colouring experiences are going to be regrowth (root) touch-ups every 4-6 weeks or so and they can be made easier by emptying the contents of the colouring bottle into a glass or plastic container (NEVER use metal anything anywhere near hair colour) and using a colourists brush (found where you buy colour) to apply the colour mixture to only the regrowth. A rat-tail comb is helpful for parting hair if your colouring brush doesn't have a pointed handle and plastic hair clips can help you manage your hair as you colour.
10) THOU SHALT WATCH THE CLOCK: Not following timing instructions exactly can cause damage to your hair and unwanted results with your colour, this is especially true with the new foam-type and fast-processing type hair colours because even a minute too long can cause a different shade result.
My personal hair colouring regime is: L'Oreal Superior Preference shade# 18 - Medium Ash Blonde (I never use anything else but L'Oreal Superior Preference it is in my opinion far superior.) When I did do my own highlights at home (I stopped because my hair is very thick and I like a lot of highlights, which got to be too much for me find and touch-up) I used L'Oreal Touch-On Highlights in #H90 - Iced Champagne, I love the finger tool it comes with and the results it gives without a cap and hook.
1) THOU SHALT NOT TRY TO CHANGE CHESNUT TO PLATINUM: The number one reason for disasterous results when colouring one's own hair at home is not being realistic with what you can successfully accomplish in your own bathroom. It's in almost every article about at-home haircolouring, in order to avoid disaster you MUST stay within two shades of your natural hair colour. I know there is probably someone out there, maybe someone you know who is able to successfully change more than this, but the odds are worse than Vegas that it will be possible for you. So just follow this commandment, it's for your own good. When you go to the drugstore to pick out your colour or are on the brand websites, first identify your natural colour number using the pictures on their boxes (Be honest!) and then choose within the shades that are numbered between two levels darker or lighter. Example: if you are a natural level 6 you may choose between levels 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8.
2) THOU SHALT PERFORM A STRAND TEST: This is the number two reason women call their salon in tears. Performing a strand test is simple, fairly quick and will save you a lot of heartache and money you would need to pay to a salon for colour correction if you decide to experiment on your whole head without one and then don't like the results. The instructions for performing a strand test are on the instruction page in the box, there are also instructions for:
3) THOU SHALT PERFORM A SKIN TEST: While you have a sample of the colour mixture mixed-up to perform your strand test PLEASE also perform a skin reaction test to make sure you will not have a reaction to the product, remember we are dealing with chemicals here. The instructions for doing this can also be found on the instruction sheet in the box.
4) THOU SHALT READ AND FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS: Failing to do so is yet another reason why you find rants posted on the internet about at home haircolour. Please, please, please take the time to read everything it says on the outside of the box while you are in the store, even if you have coloured your hair before, this will help you to determine if the brand and colour you have in your hands will work for you. Look at the sides and back of the box, there are always pictures showing an approximation of what the colour result will be on different natural haircolours, this is what you should base your colour choice on, not the pretty face on the front. Very Important: If you do not see your natural colour represented in the results pictures this is NOT a shade that will give you good looking results. There should also be a note about what to expect if your hair has gray in it or if your hair has reddish tones. When you get home read through the instructions a couple of times until you fully understand them and keep them handy to read step-by-step as you are colouring. If you have any questions dial the brands 800 number (found on the box and instruction sheet) for answers before you begin.
5) THOU SHALT NOT COLOUR OVER COLOUR: If you currently have hair dye on any part of your hair do not attempt to use a boxed colour to colour over it, they are not formulated to do so. Choose the colour you wish to be using the recommendations above and then head to your salon to have them change your colour to the one you chose using salon strength products. Remember when you colour you hair the cuticle is opened and colour is deposited inside so if you try to use home haircolour to colour-over colour you will be essentially mixing two different colours within your hair shaft with unpredictable results at best. Also if you continually shade swap your hair will start to look dull and gunky, like you rubbed shoe polish cream in it. Once your colourist has changed your colour to the new one you have chosen, you can maintain it yourself by colouring your virgin regrowth (roots) with your chosen shade of at-home colour.
6) THOU SHALT SLEEP ON IT: Do not decide to change your hair colour on impulse, during or immediately after a major life change (example: break-up) and always wait 24 hours after you purchase your new colour to actually use it on yourself so you can me certain you are making the right choice for you. (You should be waiting 24 hours anyway for your skin test to develop). Remember you are choosing to alter the picture frame around your face.
7) THOU SHALT DO IT DIRTY: Do not wash your hair for preferably two days minimum before colouring your hair, the natural oils will help protect both your hair and scalp from the colouring chemicals. Just give it a thorough brushiing before you begin.
8) THOU SHALT BE PREPARED: Make sure both you and your bathroom are ready for colouring, protect your work area both counter and floor with newspaper, old sheets, or towels before you begin, also protect yourself and clothes by wearing a cape or old clothes while colouring. Also handy to have are paper towels or rags for wiping up drips or spills on you or your sink. Lastly remember colour removes colour on surfaces, it doesn't sound logical but it works, if you get a little colour on yourself or somewhere else that doesn't wipe away dab a little of your colour on a cloth or paper towel and use this to remove the wayward product.
9) THOU SHALT USE THE RIGHT TOOLS FOR THE JOB: While your initial colouring job will be easy to do using the tools that come in the box, the vast majority of your colouring experiences are going to be regrowth (root) touch-ups every 4-6 weeks or so and they can be made easier by emptying the contents of the colouring bottle into a glass or plastic container (NEVER use metal anything anywhere near hair colour) and using a colourists brush (found where you buy colour) to apply the colour mixture to only the regrowth. A rat-tail comb is helpful for parting hair if your colouring brush doesn't have a pointed handle and plastic hair clips can help you manage your hair as you colour.
10) THOU SHALT WATCH THE CLOCK: Not following timing instructions exactly can cause damage to your hair and unwanted results with your colour, this is especially true with the new foam-type and fast-processing type hair colours because even a minute too long can cause a different shade result.
My personal hair colouring regime is: L'Oreal Superior Preference shade# 18 - Medium Ash Blonde (I never use anything else but L'Oreal Superior Preference it is in my opinion far superior.) When I did do my own highlights at home (I stopped because my hair is very thick and I like a lot of highlights, which got to be too much for me find and touch-up) I used L'Oreal Touch-On Highlights in #H90 - Iced Champagne, I love the finger tool it comes with and the results it gives without a cap and hook.
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