So I Finally Did It...

I finally added the pink to my hair that I've been so desperately wanting for the longest time. I've been meaning to tell you guys since a week and a half ago when I first dyed my hair. But, I'm not sure how I like it. Actually, I really don't like it at all...

I don't feel myself with this color in my hair. I initially wanted  the color to be teal, not raspberry, but it was sold out at the Sally's I went to. Regardless, I was so so so excited to add a fun color to my hair. I almost cried at how unhappy I was when I washed it out. It certainly was not how I had envisioned it to be.

 I myself am pretty darn conservative, and I feel so out there with this hair color. I mean, what did I really expect, right? I just love it on so many other gals, I thought I'd love it on me as much as I do on them...I guess not. It's still currently in my hair, but I will be dying it in a few days back to dark brown. I miss my red soooo much, so once the pink is out for good, the red will be back in. I guess my confidence level has plummeted and I've had the strangest looks (but one really nice compliment from a stranger). I still wanted to show you guys so you know I finally did it! I wish the outcome was better, but maybe one day I'll do the teal. Who knows! 

xo.

[My first] End of Year Recap!

What a crazy ride this year was. Tons of ups & tons of downs. But I'll be focusing on the ups today! I know I haven't been around that long (only since May!), but I've grown to really love blogging and I'm so happy to have my shop. Here are the things I've accomplished this year...

• Created Autumn Balm Botanicals. This was something I've wanted to do for quite some time. I'm a Skeptical Susan...I have an idea (that's usually pretty great), but I never usually roll with it. I create too many excuses in my head as to why I can't do a certain thing. But this, this shop I had to do! I felt it in my bones to start ABB. I'm so so so glad I did. 

• Started this wonderful Blog! I've finally found an outlet as to where I can share my voice with more than just myself. I can share my favorite things, my uber love for cameras and nails, and everything else in between. I can meet wonderfully inspiring people. I can literally go on and on. I know you all know what I'm talking about... I really want to take my blog to a new level in 2012, I really do! I can't wait to bring you all with me! 

• I finally stretched my ears. This is something I loved on other people, but always doubted I could do for myself. I always got self conscious and turned my head at the thought of finally doing it. But I had to put my foot down and do something for myself. I'm very much a giver, so this I knew was something I could do for me. I'm very glad I did. I just sized to a 10g tonight, and I can't wait to get to my goal (00g). 

• I chopped off all my hair & kept up with it. This is something I usually do every other year, but then I just let it grow out until I can chop it off again. I then, gawk at my Facebook pics and drool at how much I miss my short hair. So I decided enough was enough, I was going to get rid of my long thick hair and go (and STAY) short. I'm letting it get a wee bit longer, but it's still staying short. I love it! 

There are other things of course...like getting my first SLR, allowing my vintage camera collection to grow, start to thrift regularly again, watch my niece's birth, start my first herbal garden, expanding my crocheting skills and so much more. I hope I allow myself to accomplish so much more next year. 

I love reading everyone's end of year list, here are my favorites I've read so far:

Nearsightedowl

Onesheepishgirl

Talk2thetrees

Scathinglybrilliant

Just to name a few. I hope everyone had a great New Year's Eve-Eve. 

xo.

Mumbo Jumbo

As I promised earlier in the week, I was going to do a post on my new hair color. I miss the red a lot, but there is a shade of red in my new do too! I'm starting to get used to the dark color. These pictures aren't that great, I took them before work yesterday morning and it was still dark outside. Not to mention, I wasn't wearing the cutest outfit in the world :p 

I had to capture a picture of cute little Bogart and I couldn't help but share how adorable this guy is!! He's growing up so quickly!! He's a little daredevil I must say! 

I seen this online today and I neeeeeded to share this. It's toooo  cute. I want to squeeze this little guy and give him tons of kisses. I love owls!! Hoot :) Now I need to get back to finishing up my homemade xmas! I still have so much to crochet and make, I'm getting exhausted thinking about it :/ Hope you all have a great night!! 
xo.

Hair Itch...

Ah!!!!!!!!!! I want to dye my hair a FUN color. Red is the most fun I ever got, and golly-bee, I want to do more!!! The Dainty Squid has to be my favorite blog of all time. Everything she posts just makes me jealous. I love her style, hair and creativity. I have major hair envy when it comes to her. In a perfect world, this would be my hair:

And this...

One day I need to gain enough courage to do this! But first I need to start small. Like Elycia for example...

I'm considering doing chunks of fun colors and going from there. Sounds like a plan I'd say. Soon after the holiday's pass and my wallet will start collecting $$ again! 

Would you ever dye your hair a fun color? If so, what color?

Eeeep!

I can't believe how quickly this weekend has passed. Today I dyed my hair dark redish brown. I'm actually rather sad about this...because I had to say goodbye to my red. I'm broker than a joke and I can't afford my red dye and I had some dark brown on hand...so I had to use that. My roots were out of sight! I'll post a photo one day this week of my new do, but it's almost exactly this color (this is a year old):

I loved it then, so I think I'll be okay :p It does still have a red hue to it, thankfully. It'll just be hard to get used to. Today I tried curling my hair with a flat iron (I got the idea from Elycia) and it worked out pretty well. My hair hardly, if ever, curls. But I did get a wee bit of a wave goin on. It was fun to do! She's got a week of vlogs going on and they're pretty hilarious, so you guys should check it out! I think I should do that (but man, I feel so shy/scared to make one)..maybe soon :)

Well I'm off to watch Home Alone 2 and warm up because I'm freeeezing!! 

xo.

Wennnnnailsdayyyy.

Ohhh I've been so excited to show you all this fun nail design I came up with over the weekend. I had gone to Sally Beauty Supply and snagged quite a few awesome shades of nail polish. I promised you last week that I would show you my nail routine. Here's the supplies I use to do my nails:

I remove any prior polish with nail polish remover. Then I clip my nails to my desired length. I file them so there aren't any sharp edges. I have to say, I think the cuticle clipper is the best invention, ever! This thing comes in handy for sooo many things. I'm not one to clip my cuticles. I use this primarily for hangnails and any little skin slivers I have hanging around. Then lastly, I buff my nail to take the ridges away. This really makes such a difference for me. My nails are so much stronger since I've been doing this. 

Next I pick out my polish of choice.

Now, to keep my nails and cuticles perfect, I keep up on them every day. I use my Cocoa Salve every time I wash my hands. I apply it to every nail, and then I put on lotion after that. Using that on my nails has done a world of difference.  My cuticles have no cuts anywhere on them. They've never been this healthy, I use my cuticle clipper as needed. 

Say hello to my fun Halloween inspired nails! I seen both these orange shades and knew exactly what I was going to do with them!! I wasn't able to draw the pumpkin face on my right hand (I'm not coordinated enough) so I just did dots on that hand. 

Revlon in Tangerine. 

I got this one on clearance at Sally's and it was 50% off of the reduced price. WIN! 

I looove this shade. 

Now I mentioned yesterday that I got my hair cut. I did get the bangs. I was pretty hesitant on doing those (flashbacks to my childhood - eek), but I wanted them to be a little different. I didn't want straight across bangs, I opted for a gradual angle.

I simply LOVE them! I can't believe I waited so long to do something semi-drastic to my hair. I always was so self conscious about a lot of things about my body, especially having short hair (since I gained a ton of weight). But now, I feel comfortable being me. I can really care less about other people and what they think. Hey, it's the 21st century, right?

\

xo.

What's the best way to procrastinate? Write a blog entry!

Yeup, I thought I left procrastination at school, but it seemed to follow me years down the road. I will be leaving for Minnesota tomorrow at exactly 9am. And am I packed? No. Is anything charged? No. Are my clothes clean? No not really. And what am I doing? Sitting here with all of you, typing on my MacBook, and watching the Crazies. Yeup, sounds good to me. Even though I am beyond excited to be leaving the state tomorrow (and seeing my dad), I just don't have any motivation to do anything. How sad really.

Last night I had dyed my hair red. It was red before but faded majorly. I guess I'm not one to keep up on my hair as often as I would like. Primarily because I'm afraid I would damage it if I dye it frequently. So I wait until my color fades and my roots get hideously long before I apply the dye again. Just before I dyed my hair red the last time, I was pretty much done dying my hair. I was tired of paying the money, tired of the up keep, and I just missed my natural hair color (see below).

Circa 2007

But as my blog readings have expanded, I found myself envying people with amazing hair colors. The last time I dyed my hair red was the first time it had ever been that color. I didn't really ever desire to be a red head, but I was tired of being brown...
And I was tired of being blonde...

Circa 2008

So what's next you ask?? RED! Here is the before:

And After:

Looking at these pics, I guess it doesn't look too different, but I love the new color better. I really would love to do a crazy hair color in the future, but that'll have to wait until I work at a job that allows fun colors :) Well, I suppose I procrastinated enough, time to pack! I will be updating from MN with fun adventures! I can't wait :o)