Sunday, February 22, 2015

The Many Looks of "ME"

 
I thought I would do something a little different today and share with you something personal.
Pictures of me and my many different hair dos.
 
For many years my hair and make up never changed. From my senior year in high school (class of 92 rocks!) until my late 20s, I wore the same hair cut and color.
 
My hair is naturally curly and auburn/red so keeping it curly is EASY. Very low maintenance as all I do is scrunch and go.
Easy peasy!
 
In college I tried low budget highlights with a do it yourself box kit my friends or family would help me do. This was the kind of kit where you pull your hair thru the cap.
 
Then as I got older I started having my highlights professionally done using foils.
 
Then as time went on, guess what? I started to see some gray hair. GASP!!!!
 
So then I took it up a notch and started having low lights and highlights then before you know it I turned 40...another GASP! and now I do an all over color with highlights and some low lights.
 
Sigh.......
I know, I know......its a lot of work but I like the way it all looks together so that is what I do.
 
So enough with the boring stories of the aging process and my gray strands....here are some pics of me over the past four or five years and my many different looks.
 
 
Here is one of my favorite looks. Dark auburn hair color and straightened with the chi iron.
 
 
Here I am with it longer, lighter and straightened.
 
This was a year and an half ago when I was engaged and growing it out for my wedding.
 
 
 
....same time but in the bathroom doing a selfie with my tablet. Fancy, I know. LOL


 
 
 
 This pic below was taken last fall. I was coloring my hair with color from a box kit you get at a mass retailer.
 
You can actually get pretty good results with box color IF you can find the right shade for your skin, but it fades so fast.
Hair glossing treatments help preserve your color but the box kits fade fairly quickly regardless.
 
 
 Here I am with a reddish blond color from a box. Its very bright and vibrant at first but always fades after the third week. I tried compensating for it by going brighter, but it was a bit too bright for my liking.
 
 
 
 So on that note, here  I am a few months ago with professional cut but home hair color.
 
My basic cut is long bangs and lots of layers. I also have my stylist texturize it which helps think it out a bit and keep the curls from poofing out like a fro.
 
 
 
 
 
Here I am at the Chiefs game back in 2010. I was wearing my hair shorter and I really like this cut. I didn't have as much gray then so my hair stylist was throwing in some auburn lowlights and soft blond highlights back then.
 
This is my favorite way to wear my hair!
 
 
 
Before getting grays, my red hair was losing its vibrancy year after year so my hair was looking blonder every time I got highlights. There was no contrast so all you could see was blond, and I liked it for a while but then it started to look washed out and dull, which lead me to get low lights and highlights.
 
 
Then I got the cray-cray idea to go brown.
 
BROWN HAIR DOES NOT LOOK GOOD ON ME!
ick!
 
I HATE this picture below and its one of the only ones I have with this hair color.
 
If you are looking for auburn colors, keep in mind there is auburn that is more red than brown, then there is auburn that is more brown than red. 
 
Not all auburns are created equal!!!!!


This hair color was short lived. I think I tried this four or five times and finally gave up. It just doesn't look good on me and my skin tone.
 
I usually always wear my hair with the long layers and wispy curls.
 
I used to stack it in the back which makes it shorter in the back and longer in the front and I really liked it, but because I have naturally curly hair the stacked look grows out too fast and ends up looking like a 1980s bob, so I don't do it anymore.
 
So there ya have it! A little glimpse of me on a personal level and all my different looks.



 If you have red or auburn hair, and/or naturally curly hair I am always up for sharing tips and tricks!

I would also love to hear about your experiences with different colors and cuts. Do you have one look that is your signature go-to look?



Jennifer
 

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Young Living Essential Oil Blog Hop & Giveaway!

 
 

Disclaimers:

*The information in this post has not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

*In addition, I received a sample oil in exchange for my participation in this blog hop and for the purpose of a testimonial. All opinions are my own. By being a part of this hop, I have the chance to receive a referral bonus.

 

http://doyledispatch.com/essential-oil-blog-hop/

 



Welcome to the Essential Oil Blog Hop!


Each participating blog has a different post on a number of topics, from how to use essential oils in general to actual uses and testimonials for the oils themselves. We hope that you will have some fun and learn a bit as well! If you are new to essential oils, you may want to start with some of these introductory posts:





And now for some information about Thieves Household Cleaner.





Information and Uses

The Thieves household cleaner contains all-natural ingredients formulated to distribute the power of therapeutic-grade essential oils in your home while killing germs and bacteria! Thieves as an essential oil blend has a 99.6% bacteria kill rate, and the Thieves cleaner is specifically made for all sorts of household cleaning. Why wouldn’t you want to clean with a product like that?

Not only is there a great, non-toxic cleaner that can be used in all sorts of dilutions for different cleaning surfaces, but there is an entire Thieves line of products, from toothpaste to mouthwash to hand sanitizer and even dental floss!



Here is the current Thieves product line:

  • Household cleaner
  • Spray
  • Wipes
  • Toothpaste (different varieties)
  • Foaming hand soap
  • Mouthwash (can be used for mouth infections such as gingivitis)
  • Lozenges
  • Hand purifier
  • Dental floss
  • Bar soap
  • Essential Oil



Along with the Thieves line, there are many other products that Young Living sells, such as beauty creams, natural energy drinks, and even pancake mix (among many others).



Things to Consider/Warnings

Thieves as an essential oil is considered a “hot oil,” and it should be used with caution, especially near eyes. The Thieves product line has been specifically formulated to be handled in each of the respective uses.



My Testimonial

When I was given the opportunity to try out Thieves from Young Living essential oils I didn't know what to expect. 

 
 
 
 
 
First of all I had never even heard of an essential oil called Thieves and was skeptical but also curious, so I gave it a try and decided to put it to the test on my oven.
 
Whenever you come over to my house you will see this:
 
 


Doesn't look bad from the outside....BUT when you open up the inside you see a completely different story!
 
 
 


There is baked on gunk that has accumulated over the years that is virtually impossible to remove.
 
In the past I would clean the oven with the strong hazardous oven cleaner that you find at your local retailer.
 
You know the one.....it requires you to wear gloves, open windows, and clear out the house.
 
I was always so leery about how hazardous these cleaners were that I avoided cleaning the oven too often and only did it once every couple  years. Yikes! (I know, I know).
 
So naturally when I was asked to try Thieves and found out all the wonderful things it could do like clean and sanitize, I jumped on it and knew I wanted to try it on the oven.



 
For starters, just spray it directly over the entire area.
 



 
Let it sit for a couple of minutes.....
 


 
 
Then I ran a sink of hot water and dipped my scrubby sponge into it and got to work....
 


 
 
Once the water hit the cleaner it suds up......
 



 
 
And was breaking down the stuck on greasy mess
right before my eyes......
 

 
 
 
So I wiped it down with a paper towel and sprayed it again for a second round.
 
 

 
 
I let the second round sit for a few minutes while I sprayed some of the Thieves onto the door of my dishwasher. (Another caked on mess in desperate need of attention).
 



 
 
There was dried spaghetti sauce, hard water deposits, and other gunk and grime that was caked on.
 

 
 
 
But with a few swipes with the paper towel it all lifted up and came clean.
 



 
I was making progress and moved back over to the oven. I wiped it down with a paper towel and voila!
 



 
 
I could see through the glass again and the light bounced off of it for the first time in at least two years!




 
 
And there she is. Squeaky clean!
 
 
There were no nasty fumes-the Thieves oil actually has a pleasant smell to it, and I didn't have to wear gloves!
 
It so nice to be able to tackle this project in 15 to 20 minutes and know that it was safe to use.
 
 
Here is the before and after:
 
 




Please spread the love and visit some of the other posts in this Blog Hop!


There are so many uses for essential oils...just see the pictures below with all the different uses,


and if you fall in love with essential oils and are interested in purchasing the kit (more on that here), make sure to mention my blog as a referral!
 

And  for the giveaway!
We are going to be giving away a roller bottle of Stress Away to one lucky reader!
You have many ways to enter!


Pin It 
 

 
 

 


a Rafflecopter giveaway
























Linking Up to:


 The Bajan TexanIvy and Elephantshttp://www.thethriftyhome.comPhotobucketPhotobucketI'm Not a Trophy WifeTreasure Hunt Thursday-From My Front Porch To Yours

Sunday, February 8, 2015

Touch of Early Spring

Ground Hog's day was last week and that little rodent forecasted another six weeks of Winter. 
 
Well I disagree!
 
Its time to say good-bye to cold weather and gray skies and hello to pretty colorful tulips, birds chirping and sunshine!
 
 
I found this cheerful basket of flowers while thrifting recently and thought it would be the perfect little pick me up from the winter blues.
 
 
 
 
It was just the right size to hang on the door that goes to the basement.
 
The space is kind of a hallway between the front room and kitchen so I pass by it all the time and it just adds a little cheer to the space.
 
 
 


 
 
The pops of orangey red tulips and yellow flowers brighten things up and remind me that Spring really IS on its way! ........despite what that pesky rodent says! :)




The tulips and basket sold me on this piece. I couldn't resist!







The basket also has a nice texture. I think it was painted with chalk paint so it kind of has a rustic or country look to it which compliments my décor.




I was happy to find such a nice piece and couldn't wait to get it home and hung up.
 
It adds life to the space and reminds me that soon we will be welcoming all those pretty Spring flowers and dyeing Easter eggs, and until then I will enjoy my new basket of flowers.


 

Pin It
 
You can see the floral arrangement I picked out last year HERE.
 
I like to keep my eyes open at the thrift store for quality floral because it is so much more affordable. 
 You don't find it very often but when you I do I don't hesitate to pick it up.
 
 
So who is with me? Are you ready for Spring?
I can't wait!
 
 
 
Jennifer





Linking Up To These Great Parties:

Marvelous Monday Linky PartyNew Blog Hop Button125 Rustic and Refined
 
 The Bajan Texan

Savvy Southern StylePhotobucketDwellings-the Heart of You HomeTreasure Box Tuesday The Bajan TexanTreasure Hunt Thursday-From My Front Porch To YoursIvy and Elephants
http://www.thethriftyhome.com11 Magnolia LanePhotobucketI'm Not a Trophy Wife