Combing in the Shower

All my life I have been told that hair is especially fragile when wet and you shouldn't brush wet hair. Knowing that I comb my hair after I have towel dried it, and sometimes I will go to sleep with towel dried (but still wet) and uncombed hair. You'd think it would be a mess to comb out in the morning, but it isn't at all.

Then Mariah posted on LHC that she combs in the shower under the running water. This intrigued me and I tried it. Of course I'm very careful and don't jam the comb and drag it down my hair. I lean forward and use a very wide shower comb. I begin at the bottom portion and comb it, moving up six inches or so until I've got the entire head combed. It takes less time than combing out of the shower!

Alan is Great

Alan's been doing much better in school. Miss Cerny said he's been gettng Greats on his contract quite regularlly. In fact, she's thinking of raising the bar and hoping Alan will rise to the challenge. Right now, if he gets 6 Greats in the day, he gets a treat. She wants to increase it to 8 or 9 I think. There are a total of 18 opportunities to get a Great, so raising the number isn't outrageous.
I'm so happy he's focusing on class more. I wish he'd work with me at home.
He was invited to spend the night at Tristans this Saturday. I told him it would cost him 20 points to go, and he had about 4 chips. He worked hard to get the chips but he also complained the entire time and wanted more choices on the list of jobs. That's just like him -- to want something other than what's available.
Something else was suggested about Alan. Maybe he is dysgraphic. I'm not sure what that entails, but I'm going to look it up and find out.

Certificates for Grace

Grace got her report card last week - all A's. Pretty darn good :) Plus she received two certificates for having the highest grade in her team for that subject. She got one for Social Studies and the other was English. Her school splits the grades into teams, and the 6th grade has 4 teams, each consisting of about 200 students. So Grace made the highest marks out of 200 kids, or 1/4 of the 6th graders. I'm so very proud of her.

The Great GM Experience

I had been reading the forums and saw a lot of talk about GM treatments and GM salons. Dr George Michael is a man who has developed a line of products especially for long hairs. He also trains people in the proper use of the products and his theories of long hair care. Unfortunately, there are about 20 salons in the US that are GM trained. And the closest to me is in Dallas.

One of the ladies on LHC mentioned she and another were going to Dallas, so I asked if I could barge in on their trip. This was an exciting trip for two reasons: the GM experience, and meeting Teacherbear and Dulci! We had a great time, they are both friendly and fun to be with. We chatted on the drive up to Dallas, checked into our room (we all stayed in the same room, a nice suite-type of place, highly recommended and close to the salon!), and then went out to eat. Afterwards, we went back to the room and played with hairtoys and styles. The room could have been a brighter to see all the great things we were doing. One of the best things we did was feel each other's hair. I'm not kidding! I'm not talking hair, the strands individually. I was amazed that each of our strands felt so different. My hair felt straight and thickish all the way down. Tbear's strand felt so thin I could hardly feel it at all. Dulci's hair felt thick and thin down the length. When you turned her hair it would feel thin and then thick. It was a helix pattern, I guess that's what gives her the curls she has. I couldn't believe this! Imagine, three women who had never met in person, check into a hotel room and touch each other's hair!?! It sounds strange, but we all felt very comfortable with each other. Dulci and Teacherbear are exactly as they post online, no false pretenses with them.

The next morning was the GM treatment. We had a wonderful breakfast at the hotel (they have a waffle maker!) and then went to meet Bill Mahavier. It is in a large complex of salons and beauty experts. I haven't seen a store like this before, but it was wonderful and very nice looking. Bill is a very friendly guy and has a great sense of humor. He took a look at our hair to determine his battle plan, I was to go first, then Tbear, then Dulci. I first was shampooed with the creme shampoo, rinsed, then he slathered on the conditioner. After the conditioner, he wrapped my head in wax paper, then put a heat cap on and let me 'bake' for an hour. Dulci and I talked while he did Teacherbear. After the hour was up I returned to the sink and was rinsed. Then he applied the creme rinse. I then sat in the chair where I was rollerset with big rollers and then sat under a hair dryer for about an hour (I didn't time it). I had to stay under the dryer longer after Bill checked the hair.

After the hair was suitably dry, I was unrolled and brushed out. Wow! The hair felt so smooth and silky! Bill gave me the brush and I brushed my hair following his instructions. After the brushing lesson and the fun of seeing my lovely hair, I stood up straight and let Bill trim the ends. I didn't care how much he trimmed, after all he's the expert and knows what is good hair and what needs to go. I think he cut about 1/2" off.

Bill's attention then turned to Tbear and Dulci. Teacherbear's hair was so golden and smooth, like flowing honey. Her hair is so long that she got to stand on a stool for her trim. The flip at the bottom was very sexy. Dulci was looking forward to running her hand through her hair without it snagging on her curls. She got to do it! But it was short lived, because her curls slowly started bouncing back in. I loved it though, her hair has so much body.





After the great care provided by Bill we had him take lots of pictures. We then turned our attention to Nordstroms for hair toys. I learned how to pronounce Ficcare (Fi -car- ray) and found a large maximus in brushed silver that I just had to have. The Mei Fa's were very pretty too. Dulci bought a pair. I also bought a Ficcare circle barrette in brushed silver and a velvet scrunchie in brown tones. At the Ulta store I picked up a brush that Bill recommended for me to help with the flakes I'm plagued with. I also bought some magic Grip pins and a cheapie tortoise shell prong. I forgot to mention that I also bought the GM shampoo, creme rinse and 12 min conditioner from Bill.

As if reading this wasn't enough, you can read more about it and other's comments at the net54 board where we posted our trip report.

Lifting

I kinda figured Alan was stealing poker chips when he had the chance. I set him up and he denied it. The next day, he fell for it again. This time I told him I knew he was stealing and he should come clean. He did but it took some time for him to relent.

So now the poker chip bank has a padlock.

Getting Rid of the Flakes

I've always had a problem with flakes. That's one negative thing about having dark dark hair - everything shows up light a neon sign. At first I thought it was due to using the same old shampoo week after week. Then it was not rinsing well enough. Then it was the change of the seasons. At the GM treatment, Bill suggested I should brush my scalp more often. That only made the flakes smaller and more numerous!

This time I think it is dry scalp. All my life I've thought of myself as being an oily. Maybe and maybe not. I'm not going to worry about what went wrong then, I've got to deal with this scalp now. If my scalp is dry, then it needs moisturizing. So my plan for the past week is to condition my scalp in addition to my hair and see how the flakes react. So far, I have noticed a definate decrease in the flakes! I'm keeping my fingers crossed, I'll keep this up for at least another month to confirm my findings.

-- posted on Tuesday, March 25, 2003



UPDATE: I think my test is working. I've been conditioning my entire hair including the scalp and have noticed a significant decrease in the number of flakes! After I shower and comb out my hair I used to see flakes appear on WET hair, now I don't see any! This IS a major major improvement in the health of my hair as well as in decreasing my stress.

Mei Fa Hair Sticks

These little hair sticks are very classy in an understated way. I have bought several on Ebay and really like the design. Here's one set that I just bought; they are black sticks with a gold disk, a black ring, a cut design to add sparkle, then the long gold bead with a small black bead on top. The picture doesn't show off the detail (note to self: figure out how to show detail better) but they are just darling. The small size scared me off at first, but then after trying them, I realized they hold up my buns very well and don't poke my neck at all.

Two Silver Slides

I like this slide because it is a simple design. It is too small to hold all of my hair, but it looks great with my front hair pulled back into it. Because my hair is so slippery, I often use a pony elastic to hold the pulled back hair. I then use the slide to cover the elastic. Having the elastic in place holds the slide much better. The stick on this slide is straight; I didn't bend it like I did the others. Measurements: 3.25 x 2 inches (8.5 x 4.5 cm)

I fell in love with this slide. I like the spirals and the small flower accent. I think this slide could be used 'upside down' easily (something for lefthanders to think about.) This slide measures in at 3 3/8" wide and 2 1/2" tall (8.75 x 6.5 cm) I bent the stick part a little to accomodate more of my hair. It wasn't easy to bend, but it did with some care.

Bunjiibun

If you haven't seen or heard of bunjii's you're missing out on a wonderful product. It has replaced all my pony elastics because I can get the tension I want with the bunjii and they don't tear up my hair when I take it off. Also, it holds ALL day. They come in a variety of colors and can have a pretty bead or smaller silver beads added to the tail.

Besides the normal ponytails you can make with them, I have worn it to secure a bun and left the tail hanging down for a different look. This picture is of an orange bunjii with silver ends and a cute lampwork bead. The bun is larger than what I normally wear, but is typical of my cinnamon bun making abilities.

My Experience With Henna

MagpieDee had this poll on the old LHC board and I thought it was worth keeping my answers here also.

1. How long have you used henna? How often do you use it? If you no longer use it, why not?

Only 6 months, with a total of 2 applications 4 months apart. Still using it.

2. When did you first try it, and what was that experience like?

October 2002 was my first time. I did it according to the Reverend Bunny's site. It worked well, except I didn't use as much as everyone recommended (I was too scared I'd turn out red red)

3. What brand(s) do you like? What brands would you NOT recommend? Where did you get them?

I bought body-grade henna from www.everydayhenna.com. It is called Kimia, very nice color and sifted fine.

4. What process do you use to henna your hair?

I mixed the henna in a plastic tub with lemon juice (I used three plastic lemons) and ACV to get a consistency of yogurt. Let sit in a warm spot overnight to allow the stain to come out to it's fullest.

Then I wet and towel blotted my hair and applied vasoline around the hairline and on the ears to protect the skin from staining. Using gloves and an applicator bottle (with the hole cut large) I squirted the henna into my hair in sections, working it all over.

After it has all been applied, I wrapped my hair on top of my head and put on a plastic showercap and then a towel warmed from the dryer. I kept it on for 4 hours and then rinsed it all out.

I rinsed and rinsed until the water ran clear. I didn't use shampoo nor conditioner.

5. Do you find henna beneficial or damaging to your hair health overall?

I think it does neither. I thought it was softer but I'm not fully convinced yet. I am sure it isn't damaging.

6. What is your favorite thing about henna? What is your LEAST favorite thing?

Pros: The way it shines in the sunlight. How it is barely noticeable in my hair in normal light.

Cons: I suppose it is the process of putting the goose poop on your hair. I've never colored my hair so I can't compare the process to that, but I'd think it was similar.

7. What else should someone know if they have never used henna but are considering their first henna experience?

ALWAYS DO A STRAND TEST, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'VE ALTERED YOUR HAIR (DYES, PERMS)

You shold know that henna stains, especially the hands and feet. Henna leaves a translucent stain on the outer shaft of the hair, not the inside like chemical dyes.

Eunice Cleans House

Eunice, our housekeeper, cleaned house yesterday. She comes maybe
once a month to help me keep everything neat and clean. I've been
doing a pretty good job of keeping the house clean. Alan on the other
hand has a room that looks like a tornado lives there.
I am always onto him about cleaning it, but he doesn't really care
even though he can get paid for it. I told him if he'd do just one
section of the room, I'd pay him. Even 20 minutes would be worth it.
But he's stubborn, that one is.
So, I warned the kids that Eunice was coming. She's been known to
move things around to where the kids can't find their things. Alan
had that happen to him yesterday - his beloved poker chips were gone!
He called me at work frantic that his chips were missing and demanding
that I repay him. hehe I know they have to be somewhere in his room,
she doesn't mess with things THAT much.
When I came home, his room was very clean. Not spotless because he's
got so much junk there is no way to have it spotless. Besides, he's a
kid and kids don't need spotless rooms. But he was right, I couldn't
find the chips either. Now I've got to count my stash (the bank) and
see if she added them to the bank.
Poor Alan!

MGM Studios

MGM Studios was my least favorite at first glance, but after going there, we came back an extra afternoon. Grace wanted to ride the Tower of Terror again; we got there early enough to ride it twice that morning! I liked all the movie structures, the ride inside the studios, and the backstage tour.

This page was made using a page layout stencil. I printed the title from my computer. I picked this dull blue to match the cloudy sky. It makes the page ugly, I should have chosen another color.

Once Upon a Time

There is a tunnel going under Cinderella's Castle and along the walls of the tunnel is a beautiful mosaic. The tiny tiles form a lovely picture of castle life among princes and princesses.

To make the photo border, I used a punch on a strip of paper and cut it to fit the photo. The title was printed on the paper from my computer and redrawn in gold ink.

Main Street Electrical Parade

Oops, I was wrong, we also planned on seeing this parade too. It is certainly popular; there were people lining the streets 90 minutes before the start time! But it was worth it, the music is very contagious, the lights sparkle and the cast members are so friendly and fun. I let the kids sit up close to the action while Mike and I watched from much further behind. You can see Alan's blonde head in the lower left corner of the photo of the pirate ship on the second page. Thanks goodness for those walkie talkie radios!

I used a layout from the Disney scrapbook. It really shows off the bright lights of the parade. I used corner photo punches to hold the photos in the frame. I saved the punchouts and used them to form the circle of the title. I traced the title text from a computer font. The Mickey shape I drew onto paper using a quarter and two dimes.

A Train in Germany

In EPCOT's World Showcase there is a railroad and village in the Germany section. The kids loved playing with the controls and watching the train travel through the village and countryside.

I need a title for these pages! I made this pair at a local scrapbook store's crop night. I saw the train design in a Disney scrapbook and wanted to use it. One of the teachers there had been extolling the wonders of torn paper and I thought it would be a good idea in this page.

A Tapestry of Nations

I think this was the only parade we planned on seeing. This parade happens along the countries in World Showcase. They have two shows every evening, but canceled the first due to winds. It wasn't windy, but after seeing the tall characters I understood the concern for wind. The music was very captivating, so much so that I bought the CD. One thing that I remembered was the HUGE drums that rolled along and the drummers. They were exactly like the drums I remember seeing in parades when I lived in Japan.

I hope by now you can see that I've used this scrapbook to try a lot of different layouts, styles and formats. The background is two papers - first the blue paper then a page of vellum over the top. I thought the vellum was similar to the breezy floating characters in translucence and in the stars and swirls too. I was very mad that the photos came out much darker than I wanted. I admit I'm not much of a photographer. The title was printed on the computer and then torn. I tried to handwrite a lot of the paragraphs throughout the scrapbook, but this time I printed it from the computer so that I could get all that I wanted to tell on the page.

Test Track

I think Alan loved Test Track more than anything. It was a very popular ride. The neat thing that Disney does is provide you with something to see and think about while you are waiting (and waiting) in line for a ride. Test track's waiting line was all about the testing process and the famous test dummies. We rode in a car that took us along a simulated test track, and then we circled around the outside of the building for a really fast ride. I admit it was a good ride. After the ride, you are taken to the sponsor's area where a bunch of new cars are shown and there are some simulated driving games.

This was a fun page yet simple in design. I had an easy inspiration - the steering wheel. To get the rough cut I used deckle scissors. The font is a StarWars font printed from the computer.

World Showcase

		World Showcase was very interesting. Too bad we didn't stay there longer, but then I could say that about everything at Disney. At each country there is a kids stop where the kids are invited to add something related to the country to a mask they make. At one stop they might add feathers, or beads, and so on. Then the cast members there, write the kids' name in their native tongue on the back. Each country's cast members are residents of that country and have come to work at World Showcase for a year. It's a great opportunity for the cast member and a great one for us to visit with the citizens of each country. In between the EPCOT ball and World Showcase is a huge lagoon, it doesn't seem so distant, but it is. When we were there, they had constructed this citrus pyramid from oranges, lemons, and grapefruits. It smelled wonderful.

This set of pages was a belated joy. I wanted something simple and basic and then got the idea to silouette the panoramic shots of World Showcase and use it for a bottom. Then I wrote in the countries as a sort of map of the Showcase. The title was printed from my computer. To replicate the large masks the kids made, I cut out smaller versions and asked the kids to make mini masks. The initial caps on the second set of pages were traced with a light board from a computer font. The Mickey shape I drew onto paper using a quarter and two dimes.

A Bug's Life

This little area in MGM Studios was a lucky find. We were tired and the kids wanted a break; I can't remember where Mike was at the time. There was a playground that was of gigantic proportions to make you seem small. It was very innovative - a roll of film was a slide, blades of grass were slides. And the giant grashopper and fly were so real looking. It was a lot of fun.

I was very happy with the way this page turned out. I think it's because it is an easy layout and the colors are so bright. The grass paper was an easy choice for this page. I then found the vellum leaves and thought it would be a good addition. I also like how the one page matches the other but they both don't have the same page color. Having two pages with the grass paper would have made for a busy set of pages.

Minnie's House

Minnie's House was about the only pictures I took while we were in the Magic Kingdom. I guess it is because there was so much to do, I didn't have time to place the shots.

I wasn't too happy with this page. It looks like a child did it, and I'm sure a child could do much better. I had the two photos and thought about using the stencils along the edge, but the markers made it look fat and fuzzy. I printed the title from the computer and cut out the letters in pink and blue.

Winnie the Pooh!

		In Animal Kingdom, there is an area specfically for snapping pics with the characters. We found all the gang from the Hundred Acre Woods there. Then in MGM Studios, we found Piglet who gave Grace a big hug. I can't remember where Tigger was, I think he was in the Magic Kingdom. Eeyore was in Magic Kingdom right around Minnie's House. It was a very busy line, and we couldn't get all the pictures we wanted

Another set of ugly pages. I had bought the papers knowing I had some Pooh photos. The problem with the busy papers was that I couldn't think of good layouts. In the Piglet and Tigger pages I used a pen to make photo borders that resembled the background paper design. In the Pooh and Eeyore pages I tried to find paper to match for borders.

The Itinerary

It took a lot of planning to be able to see so much and we still didn't see it all. Since we stayed onsite, we could easily return to the room for naps and a quick swim in the Mickey shaped pool after lunch. The kids complained furiously the first day, but were happy afterwards and even looked forward to it in the days to come.

I think this is my favorite set of pages. I like red, white, black and a splash of yellow. I copied it from the Disney Scrapbook, I wish I could say it was my own idea, but it isn't. I used my computer to type the info on the pages and also to print the title letters. I used a big dot for bullets in the list for each day and then penned in the Mickey ears. I purchased the punchies from Ebay for pennies. The three tickets were our park hopper passes, the other card on the second page was our room key, and the Mickey was a cutout from a set of Mickey papers.

Animal Kingdom

This was a new park at WDW. We went in the morning hoping that the animals would be more active before the heat of the day. The show in the Tree of Life was very good, the kids absolutely loved "A Bugs Life."

I really worked a long time on this layout. I am happy with it but I realized that I need to speed up my page creation or I'll be doing this scrapbook for years. Finding that great animal print paper was lucky and it fit so well. I had a photo receipt that a cast member gave me when he took our photo at the entrance. We didn't like the photo, but I kept the receipt. I used it for the Animal Kingdom title. The monkey and giraffe were copied from a coloring book and cut out of a sage green paper. For the second page, I used a layout stencil and cut the ends of the pictures to fit within the animal print border of the page.

This is the first page of our scrapbook. We went in the summer of 2000; it was hot but still very enjoyable. This trip takes planning because there is so much to see and do. I read through the guidebook I bought and talked to the kids to choose our top choices for each park - the things we absolutely had to do. After that we filled in the trip with rides and shows. We decided to take advantage of the park hopper passes we bought and see two parks in a day. I chose parks that had Early Entry for those mornings, and we stayed at Magic Kingdom for the late hours. In between parks, we went back to the hotel to nap or swim. Also on some days we visited the water parks. I bought autograph books and large fat pens (the kind that can write in several different colors) so the characters can sign with their big fists. Each one of us wore a fanny bag. In the kid's fanny bags were their Gameboys, candy, disposable camera, and autograph book and pen. Also, a water bottle fit on the outside of the bag. My bag had my keys, money, some snacks, glasses, wipes, and my camera. The bags were crucial to our enjoyment of the parks. During long wait lines the kids would play on their Gameboys. Many families commented that this was a smart idea, and the kids were very happy to show the other kids their games - instant friends. The snacks were helpful for those times when someone gets hungry and you know it will be an hour or two before you have a chance to stand in another line at a restaurant. If you want to see a larger picture of the page, click on the image. To return, hit your browser's back button.

At the bottom of each set of pages I'll try to describe the scrapbooking involved. This is my very first scrapbook, I'm sure you can see the amateur work but hopefully you can see the progression I've made in reading and looking at other's works. I tried to use a lot of different methods and layouts to see the variety in scrapbooking as a hobby.
This page was made at my very first scrapbooking 101 class. I cut out the Mickey character from a set of Disney papers I bought. The lettering for the title was a royal pain. I cut out each letter by hand (and knife) and then cut it out again but larger the second time. I have forgotten where the letters came from: a stencil I think. Or was it a diecut? The Mickey head was made from a quarter and two dimes.

Frankincense

This is another favorite tree. Break off a leaf or small branch and smell the wonderful aroma. No wonder the magi gave it as a gift to Jesus! I like the stumpy trunk and the thin leaves. Such a difference in texture. Notice the peeling bark? The only thing is that I'm not sure how to prune it. I haven't done anything to it, and so it is pretty leggy. I'd like to prune it back and see if it will ramify a bit.

Bald Cypress

This mother and daughter tree is very very young and ugly. I bought it at the Bonsai Society's auction 2 years ago. Maybe one day they will be something worthwile, but for now they are just baby trees in a growing pot.

Scandinavian Delights

I've shown you my first silver hair toy from this place. Well I was so enchanted with their silver that I had to have more. I bought three more items! Two were different hairslides, but the third is a ponytail holder that I absolutely love! When my order arrived, it wasn't in with the two slides, so I had to write to the store asking for an explanation. I didn't hear back from them for nearly two weeks! It might have been because it was Spring Break Weekends. Anyway, they sent back a note saying that item was backordered and they'd send it when the shipment came in. It came the next week.

At first try, I have too much hair for the slide to capture all of my hair. So I ponytailed it and then put the silver toy on covering the ponytail. It works like a charm and I think it holds better. After I secure the slide with the stick, I then wrap my hair around the bottom spiral, which then captures the hair and looks so good. It's a real fun ponytail holder. Measurements: 1 3/8" x 3 3/8" (3.5 x 9 cm)

My 12 year old girl!

Grace is now 12. She's grown so much I'm amazed. She had a few girlfriends over this weekend for a sleepover and a trip to the movies. It was a lot of fun, she said she thought it was better than last year's party. She got some CD's (from me), lots of clothes especially from Old Navy, and makeup. The usual haul for teens. One of the girls gave her a picture of the two of them in their kindergarten class; it was so cute!

Grace has been complaining of pains in her abdomen. I am worried that is it appendicitis, but I'm sure it's just a precursor to menstruation.

I put up the hammocks that Fran brought back from Mexico. They are in the front yard each hanging by some nylon rope. Grace's favorite resting place is in that hammock reading a book with a soda and barefoot. I can't blame her, it is very relaxing. I've sat in the hammock when I'm stressed after work or even late at night. It's very soothing.

Poker Chip Payment Plan

After that terrible terrible week, it didn't get much better. On the first we instituted the poker chip payment plan. It is based on getting paid for things you do, and paying for things that you want. So, if he makes his bed and brushes his teeth without my telling him, he gets 3 chips for each job. Feed the dog - 3 chips. You get the idea. Now if he wants to do something, he has to pay me 5 chips. Watch tv for 30 minutes during his time? - 5 chips. Play with friends for an hour? - 10 chips Play with his gameboy for 30 minutes? - 5 chips. Alan really screamed and protested this, but I stuck to it. He's calmed down now, but we still have some questions to iron out.

For instance, I think some things are ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY and must be done. Right now, it is brushing teeth, writing in his journal and doing homework. Should I up the payment for these items? Alan insists he will not write in his journal, despite the fact that he's doing badly in writing and that he doesn't even know how to write his address.

Also, what do I do about temper tantrums, backtalking, stealing and the lying? Shouldn't there be payments for this type of behavior? That's why I am using poker chips; they aren't something found in the house that he can steal.