My Favorite Things

Somehow life always gets in the way of blogging.... but, here I am!

I have been busy with lots of fun little projects.... a couple Goodwill before and after projects, some fun Halloween stuff and some yummy dinners.

But, since my camera is in the other room and I am watching How I Met Your Mother from last night all you get is this wonderful new commercial.

First, let me say that this has to be the best movie ever made. I have loved it for as long as I can remember and I can't wait until I can show it to Miss A. Also - have you seen that the entire cast is going to be on an upcoming Oprah episode?!?! I cannot wait.

Isn't it great? And, I love that black and white dress.

It is back

Ah..... It is back.

It has been a long 18 months.

I have taken pills** to help this process. I have taken herbs to help this process. I even drank this nasty, awful stuff. I am pretty crazy about it.

And, I can finally say that my hair is long again. Remember how short it was?

And, I love it. I am definitely a long hair gal. Short hair takes too much time to fix, you cannot put it up in a ponytail and you have to get it trimmed all the time. When my hair is long I can go a loooong time in between hair appointments. I know you should get the ends trimmed, but my hair guy always tries to talk me into layers or cutting off 'just a couple inches' and I don't want layers and I want to keep those couple inches. Plus, even the biggest Costco sized bottle of Pantene Conditioner is cheaper than a visit to the salon.

**Actually, I have been taking these since my sophomore year of college. I would dump them into an unmarked container, because who wants rumors being spread that you are taking prenatal vitamins? I mean, how would that look when you are at the bar that weekend? Not good people. Not good.

****New pictures on Baby M****

Rapunzel, Rapunzel

Last year (around this time) I chopped my hair off for Locks of Love. I maintained that short do for a while, but now I am ready to have my looooong hair back. Yet, for some reason when I get my hair trimmed I always agree to “framing the face” and “adding body” or “take some of the weight off.” That is just hairdresser code for “I am going to keep cutting your hair because long and straight hair is boring.”

It may be boring, but I want my hair back.

Some may say that hair that long is a lot of work, but not for me. Wash and dry. That is it. Maybe I should double up on my prenatal vitamins.

Hair Help!

I need help and advice! In the past week, this very pregnant person has developed an oily scalp. Yuck. I hate it!

I need a shampoo / powder, etc. that will help this problem. Any suggestions or advice?

(The posts have been sporadic because we are out of town... will return to normally scheduled programming next week... and Happy New Year!)

The Hair Trifecta

I have expressed how I am borderline obsessed with my hair. I am not going to lie – I love my hair and I really hope that the baby gets my hair genes. (I know that is is bad to wish for your unborn child to possess certain genetic traits, but oh well….)

That being said, come October / November, my scalp gets really dry. Not everywhere, just my hairline. Combine that with dark brown hair and well, you get the picture. I think I have finally found the right combination to solve this problem.

Olive Oil. Tea Tree Oil. Plain Shampoo.

After extensive online research, I think this is the best combination. Once a week, I will smell like I salad - olive oil rubbed onto the trouble spots, then covered with a shower cap for 30 min – 1 hour. And tea tree oil shampoo is all I use now, but I make my own. I added a couple drops to a half empty bottle of Suave clarifying shampoo and voila! I have only been doing this for a couple of days, but I noticed a huge difference immediately. Flake free, plus soft and shiny!

Product Junkie

I am a HUGE product junkie.... lip gloss, lotions, hair serums and shine stuff, make-up, and shampoo / conditioner. Plus, I am always tempted when a new product hits the market and tend to believe their marketing claims (silly me) and inevitably end up trying out the products. With shampoo / conditioner, I always end up going back to Pantene. Nothing works better.

That being said, I am a couple months post hair chop and I want it long again. At least long enough for a pony tail. When I saw the Pantene that promises to make your hair stronger while growing it out -- I had to try it. The Beautiful Lengths collection is great.... smells wonderful, leaves your hair soft and sleek, plus has a nice price tag.

Chop, Chop..Part 2.

Just how short will I end up going?

I think this is the shortest I can handle.....

Locks of Love

I forgot to mention what I am going to do with that 10" ponytail.... That mess of dark brown hair is going to make some gal or guy very happy.... Locks of Love will be getting a package of big ol' Texas hair any day now.

I can sign up for a thank you note from whomever gets a wig from my hair... I think that is pretty cool. You can also submit pictures, so I am going to upload some of my before and afters. It would be neat to see what my 10" makes!

Chop chop!

I did it!

Off with your head! I mean hair...

The appointment is on the books..... Wednesday at 5.

I found this pic of Jessica and it is making me wonder....

Jessica or Katie?

To chop or not to chop....

I am conducting a poll.

Should I cut my hair or leave it long?

And yes, that is a photoshopped pic of my face on Katie Holmes body... that is the cut I want.

Success!

Last night was another hair trial and it was a smashing success! No more worries about having ‘Amish Medusa’ hair or fear of going bald from all of the teasing and pulling. My wedding hair is going to be elegant, sleek, and not teased at all.

Hair Trial #1:

Hair Trial #2:

Kelly from MakeUp Logic is wonderful! If you are in the Dallas area and ever need hair and/or make up, give her a call.

Hair-Arexic

My name is Mrs. Preppy and I am a hair-arexic. Admitting you have a problem is the first step to recovery – right?

Let me explain…. Years ago when Sweet Home Alabama came out I did a copy cat move and got the Reese Witherspoon haircut. I looked exactly like her – except for the fact I have dark brown hair, I am 5’7”, and I have brown eyes. Plus, I think my hair was about 2 inches shorter than hers was. That is what happens when you start talking with the lady cutting your hair and you have to tell her to stop because the ground is covered in a sea of brown hair. I had that hairdo for my college years and started to grow it back out a couple years ago.




The growing out process started mainly because I was the maid of honor in my best friend’s wedding -- 4 years ago. I can now safely say that I have long hair, but for the longest time I continued to think I had short hair. Jaw length hair – still short. Shoulder length hair – still short. Pony tail length hair – still short. That is when I jokingly referred to myself as a ‘hair-arexic.’ For the longest time I always thought that my hair was shorter than it was, but now I can safely say that I have long hair. (See post below)

Well, this long hair has caused quite a problem in the past couple weeks. You would think that long hair would be easier to do far a wedding – right? Not the case. I guess it is too heavy, because every time I have a trial run on my hair it ends up disastrous. I wanted a simple, low bun.

What I got was this.


What part of that looks like a simple, low bun? I think it looked more like an Amish Medusa. My normally stick straight (and smooth) hair looks more like a rat’s nest that has been teased and sprayed and filled with bobby pins.


Hopefully when I have my hair trial this week, she will be able to perfect the classy, low bun. Wish me luck. Heck, say a prayer and light a candle.

Shine, Shine, Shine

I am an admitted product junkie. I am an admitted HAIR product junkie. I am willing to try almost anything to give me shinier, bouncier, longer hair. (See Apple Cider Vinegar post) Therefore, when I heard that you could purchase the shine conditioner that is normally sold in Clairol hair dye, I had to try it. Keep in mind, I am also extremely paranoid about coloring my hair.... I have virgin long, dark brown hair. I think the main reason I have never even highlighted this mane is because I would rather spend money at J Crew, versus the salon.

(Mr. Accountant and future Mrs. Preppy engagement pic)




Clairol Nice'N Easy ColorSeal is one of the best shine products that I have ever used! I highly recommend it, plus at less than $5 a pop, it is steal. I use it after my normal conditioner, mainly because I would have to use the entire tube, but the directions say to use it instead of conditioner. Either way, it smells great and makes you have soft and shiny hair!

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apples are great. Cider is perfect on a cold night. Vinegar is even good on salads, especially when mixed with olive oil. Separately all of these things are good, but as soon as they are combined to produce Apple Cider Vinegar – ugh! I have read the numerous health benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar, especially Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar, so I decided to give it a go. How bad can it be? 2 teaspoons, on an empty stomach, each morning and then 1 teaspoon at night. I can drink 2 teaspoons of anything – just down it like a shot and everything will be good. Or so I thought.

This morning I sleepwalk out into the kitchen to measure out the 2 teaspoons of Apple Cider Vinegar, all the while trying not to get a whiff of the awful vinegar smell. I pour it into a juice glass, hold my nose, and then take it like a shot. UGH!!! No wonder this stuff has so many weight loss benefits – it makes you want to vomit! Why does something with all of these heath benefits taste so bad? Plus, I have heard that it does wonders on your hair, not only from drinking the stuff, but can also be used as a rinse. So, if you can get over the fact that you might smell like a walking salad, you will have luxuriously shiny and full hair.

INTERNAL BENEFITS

Rich in enzymes & potassium
Naturally support a healthy immune system
Helps control weight
Promotes digestion & ph Balance
Helps soothe dry throats
Helps remove body sludge toxins

EXTERNAL BENEFITS

Helps maintain healthy skin
Helps promote youthful, healthy bodies
Soothes irritated skin
Relieves muscle pain from exercise

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to make Apple Cider Vinegar more bearable? Maybe I should drink it in apple juice or mix it with warm water and honey.