Fall Preview

So here for the past few days, the weather here has been incredible! Mid/High eighties for the past few days is like heaven! I know it's because of the hurricane, and I do keep those in the path of said storm in my thoughts and prayers (I've been through my fair share of hurricanes and typhoons, so I know what you're going through!), but I do hope against hope that the weather continues. It's so great to re-think your wardrobe to make it a little more Fall-ish! 

I know... Fall? But it's still August! Yes, well, this is the South and we don't get a lot of weather change, so we do what we can with what we've got. 

Speaking of such things, roommate Michele found this style blog that has changed our lives. 

Putting Me Together is a fun little blog about rethinking what's already in your closet and building a really versatile and usable wardrobe. For all you fashion forward people out there, this is probably nothing exciting for you, but for the rest of us mortals, shopping in your closet can be a whole lot of fun! Especially when you live with three other girls of similar size and taste. 

In other news, I am LOVING my new job. I start with my school groups and some possible Adult Day Care groups this week, so that's super exciting. I am so much happier here, doing what I love and what I know God had planned for me to be doing. And that's a good feeling. 

Michele and I have signed up for the Color Me Rad 5K in October. It's my first 5K and I am really excited! It looks like so much fun a so little pressure. So I've started running in preparation. Whew! I thought I was in pretty good shape- I went to the gym on a regular basis for the whole year I was at home, did the elliptical all the time, and then I started running outside. In the heat and humidity. Great day. I'm getting better! Every time I push just a little harder!

God has been working in me a good bit lately. Arg. He's been using the people around me to open my eyes to myself. I can see where I had gotten pretty negative and sarcastic, and as a former minister of mine once told me, the world has enough of that in it already. I struggle with my self worth a lot- not just accepting myself for myself (read: body image), but wanting to find my worth in other people- how they see me, if they like me, that kind of thing. But who am I living for? God or man? 

I'm both excited and apprehensive about what God's got in store for the upcoming year. I know great things are going to be the end result, but the process of getting there is going to be a long and arduous battle.

(No So) Dirty Little Secret

So, if you know me, you know that a few months ago, I came to find out I have a gluten intolerance. (It's a real fun story- it involves pasta and hives, remind me to tell you sometime.) Whelp, one of those fun side effects of eating gluten when you shouldn't be is undernourishment- because you are causing damage to the inside of your intestines, the villi can't absorb nutrients, blah blah blah. And you know what a fun side effect of that is? Hair loss.

My lovely thick hair isn't anymore. Thinking back, I can see that my hair has been gradually thinning for a few years. I don't know if that's all thanks to gluten or if other life stresses or hormones have a play in there somewhere as well. Either way. Not the point.

I had also done some reading on the whole "No-poo" movement and how it's better for your hair, especially if you have curly hair- which I do. Well, better for my curls and less stress for my hair? I'll give it a whirl.

And not having to buy shampoo ever again? Yeah, I can go for that.

I stopped washing my hair probably around March. And no one knows unless I choose to tell them. Including the ladies at the hair salon.

Now, in the six months I've gone without washing my hair, I have gone to the beach, the pool, the gym, and I live in the South. It's hot. I sweat. It's part of life. My hair does not smell. It's not greasy. (Sidenote- there is a week or two when you're first starting that your hair does look a little greasy. It's your scalp trying to compensate and acclimating itself to not having all the goodness stripped out of it.) I condition my hair every day (or at least every 24 hours. If I know I'm going to the gym later in the day, I'll just wet my hair in my first shower. But it's curly hair. You can't just skip getting it wet. Sigh.) I use whatever conditioner strikes my fancy- at the moment, I use Dove intense hair therapy or something like that. Nothing fancy, nothing expensive.

I do "clean" my hair every couple of days. I put product in my hair to help with my curls and to keep the frizzies at bay, and that tends to build up. I clean my hair with a super complicated combination of baking soda and water. You can find a giant box of baking soda for less than $3 at the grocery store. Way cheaper than shampoo. I've seen lots of differing opinions on ratios of baking soda to water. I've used both a "paste" consistency and a much more watery consistency. I actually prefer the watery consistency, but I've been doing this for awhile. I also add a few drops of lavender oil to the mixture to make it smell nice and to stimulate hair growth. I keep said mixture in a jar in the shower in the paste consistency and mix enough for my hair cleaning in a travel bottle when I'm going to use it. Also, said paste can be used on your face. You know. Should you ever have the desire to rub it on your face. I've also used it to shave my legs. I'm convinced there's nothing baking soda can't do.

So there you have it. I don't wash my hair! And I don't intend to!

Pinterest in Real Life

Wow... it's August already! I have relocated, started my new job, ended my old one, moved into a new apartment with three other girls... things have been mighty busy around here!

Well, my new job gives me much more down time. So here's a post in the effort of bringing you an update on some of the crafty things I've been getting into lately. 

First, The Table.

I got this table for all of $10 at the thrift store and the big book you see there for $1. I had seen a Pinterest post I wanted to replicate, and the need for a coffee table in the apartment lent itself to this project. 

Step One: Sand table. I used the power sander you see above, which I would recommend using if you have one. The table itself was a little rough on the top- some stickers stuck to it, a few stains, but otherwise in great shape. No wobbly legs, solid wood- a great find, if I do say so myself. Anywho, either sand your table or use for of that fancy primer or paint that you don't have to sand to use. I'm old school and like to sand that varnish off. 

Partially sanded table. Don't get overwhelmed with excitement.

Step Two: Paint your table. I had most of a can of flat black spray paint in the garage, so that's what I used. I actually like the flat finish for this project, but paint whatever finish and color your heart desires.

Painted! Notice, I didn't paint the top of the table. You're going to cover it, so don't waste the paint. 

Step Three: This is where our tale get's a little sad. Step three involves Modge Podge-ing book pages to the top of the table. I used your basic MP to adhere said pages from my book. Be generous, but don't go overboard. Most wrinkles will work themselves out as it dries as long as you haven't put on way too much MP. Let dry completely. Now, I didn't take a picture of this step because I was going to wait until it was all nice and sealed. Well. Dad suggested I put a layer of poly-urethane over my layer of MP that I used to seal the table. I thought "Sure! That makes sense- then it'll be water resistant!" So on went the poly, and here's what happened...

 

Those wet looking spots? Yeah, those were dry. The table had been left to dry for three hours. Sigh.

So, I resanded and recovered. 

Final product! (Again...)

Overall, I love my table. The only thing that bugs me are the rough edges. Using a rectangular or square table is much easier. Since my original table, my friends have also done one using old comic book pages (for a guys house) and there is another one in the process of being covered with printed scrapbook pages. The possibilities are only bound by your imagination! 

I stole this picture- credit for photo and crafty awesomeness goes to Christie, Alicia, and Ashley the most amazing women ever who made it for the most amazing of all guy friends. =) This is the comic table, obviously.

Stay tuned for more Pinterest in Real Life stories!