WILW 7.6.11

Link up at this kind of love to play along!

I'm loving that today is my Mom's birthday! 

Happy Birthday, Mom! 

Hope you are able have a relaxing birthday.... ha! 

Wait.. has my Mom ever had a relaxing day? Between 6 kids, 3 grandchildren, a nursing career (and now a new legal nurse consulting business), dozens of animals including dogs, cats, ducks, peacocks, fish, turtles, hamsters, gerbils, etc etc etc.... I'm not sure I've ever known Mom to have a "me day." 

So here's to hoping that you spend your time in a lounge chair in the sun. Promise to make you a strawberry margarita next time I see you! 

I'm loving braids! Ever since I had hair long enough to fasten into a braid, I've been a fan. My older cousins taught me to french braid when I was really young, plus I was a child of the 80's so I often begged Mom to create all kinds of funky braided hairdos. 

I'm loving the fact that my niece Katelyn is spending the summer with her Dad on the East Coast. She's in my time zone... hooray!! Hopefully I'll get to see her in about 2 weeks!  I'm loving that she's so grown up she even has a prepaid cell phone for the summer. I'm pretty sure her Mama meant for it to be for emergencies, but she calls me every other day to discuss 

Justin Bieber.

Jammin to the Beib.

I'm loving my dogs.... Rocko & Bowser....as always, of course... but it's just that I recently spent a whole week apart from my furbabies and it's so good to have them stinking up my car again, shedding all over my clothes, and snoring loudly on the couch beside me. 

I'm loving the documentary Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead. I'm a nutrition nut struggling to navigate my way through marketing ploys, scientific research, hype, quacks, southern cooking, locally grown produce, social eating, and everything between. I may not always make the healthy choice, but I am determined to eliminate the crap from my diet once and for all. I believe food is the most important medicine around when it comes to preventative care.

I've always been fascinated with the concept of fasting, and I've even tried a few detoxes in the past. All the major world religions embrace fasting. It's been practiced since history has been recorded. This film was incredibly inspirational and I'm about two seconds from splurging on my very own juicer.

Have a fabulous Wednesday! 

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HeadCase by KB- Facebook

HOORAY for new orders!! Some of my friends & coworkers have convinced me to get business cards and set up an official facebook page (not just a measly group) and thanks to their enthusiasm I will spend the weekend making HeadCase accessories!

At first I thought it was cute because I was filling orders for people I know, but now I suddenly have strangers asking for clips and headbands and I'm a little shocked that these boogers are selling. Did that sound lame? Yes. I'm not supposed to admit that. Oh well.

Anyway, I just created the facebook page today and I'd love some new friends!! Find me at http://www.facebook.com/headcase.bykb and tell your friends!!

 

My fav model, Zoe

As always, most of the material I use comes from thrift stores, yard sales, and donated/unwanted scraps of fabric headed for the garbage. Thrifty AND green.... gotta love that!

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HeadCase by KB

Look at me! I'm an entrepreneur!

So apparently people are actually willing to pay me to make them hair accessories. It feels weird because making headbands, clips, elastics, key chains, pins, etc etc etc is just something I do for fun... but lately thanks to the encouragement of some of my friends, I've actually started selling the little boogers. Plus I'm really cheap.

Every design is one of a kind and created from upcycled material and people dig that. I love how goofy the giant flowers look on babies. I love making elegant clips for formal updos. I love the hippie chic headband look. I love using team colors for high school & college kids (& fans). I love giving them as gifts and I love selling them to strangers.

I recently started a facebook page and aside from desperately needing a model and someone with photog skills, it's out there!

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Rope Braid {A Hair Tutorial}

Please bear with me... the pictures are pretty bad for this one. I had to use my old half-broken camera that doesn't have a video feature. This tutorial is super easy, so hopefully you can get the idea despite the funky pictures. Also, please excuse my faded work shirt and worn off makeup....


STEP 1: Divide a section of hair into two pieces.

STEP 2: Twist the two pieces around each other twice. On the second rotation, pull a small section of hair from your hairline into the twist, as if you would pull sections for a french braid.

STEP 3: Continue adding hair to your rope braid. Be sure to only add hair from the bottom (your hair line) each time you twist. Adding hair from the top of your head will create a funky part.

STEP 4: Once you have pulled back the desired amount of hair (depending on how much you are trying to keep out of your face), continue twisting without adding any more to your rope braid. I usually stop adding hair after I get past my ear. However, if I'm aiming for an updo, I continue adding hair until I have most of it included in my rope braid.

STEP 5: Secure and decorate!

** For a more formal look, twist rope braid into a bun and secure with bobby pins

Source URL: https://joshhamiltonblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Bella
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Cleanin' Out My Closet

So I'm not big on television, but over the years I've watched an occasional "What Not to Wear" here and there. Aside from a few too many catty remarks, I think Stacey and Clinton are just phenomenal. You see, I have a confession to make. I adore people watching... but I tend to compulsively give them a mental makeover. In line at the bank, sipping coffee in a cafe, even standing at the crosswalk. (Perhaps I never grew out of being a Barbie fashion consultant?)

I don't mean it in a superior judgy sort of way... I just happen to love clothes and makeup and hair and accessories and the art of putting it all together. AND I'm a Virgo so by nature I'm a detail-obsessed perfectionist.

I love the fact that Stacey and Clinton set out to teach the fashion victim how to shop and how to dress. The fact remains that people are all different shapes and sizes and the sizing system we face is a confusing inconsistent nightmare. However, it's nothing a good tailor can't fix. Why does all their advice seem like common sense after you hear it?

Anyway, I periodically clean out my closet and pretend Stacey and Clinton are helping me. That clearance dress I didn't have time to try on and ended up a disaster? Gone. The gifted jacket with the funky seems? Toss it. My favorite pants that are worn beyond repair? Bye bye. The thrifted scarf that I can't get the funky smell out of? It must go. It's an exercise of brutal honesty and leaves me wishing I had better lighting and a 3 way mirror. How on earth did I end up with so many frumpy outfits? Yuck!

I also love trends, but it can get me into trouble. If you suffer from this affliction, you've been there. You fall so deeply in love with the feminine ruffled neckline that you fail to recognize the fact that your cup size and ruffles should never ever be combined. Unless, of course, Tits McGee is the look you were going for.

This time around I filled 2 large trash bags and parted with a few items that I should have ditched years ago. I'm 29 years old and should not own the mini skirts from my younger days living in Hawaii just because I'm really glad I can still fit in them. Especially since I never wear them and have no desire to so much as use them for beach cover ups. I'm embarrassed to admit I still ever owned them!

Anyway, in the spirit of What Not to Wear, here are a few of the fashion disasters I see when I'm out and about that drive me nuts:

The "clear" bra strap. Ok ladies, you aren't fooling anyone by wearing a shiny plastic strap that catches the light at every turn. If you can't find a great strapless bra, ditch the garment that calls for one and find something else!!

The dreaded muffin top. How the HELL women can tolerate the feeling of having their circulation cut off I don't understand. To me, the only acceptable pain caused by your wardrobe involves your feet and a pair of killer heels. Anyway, this is a time to remember that the size tag is irrelevant. Buy the bigger pair and stop lying to yourself.

NOT flattering, ladies!

Homegirl has no curves. She's allowed to rock 'em.

Skinny jeans. I'm sorry, but unless you have a particular frame, uber skinny jeans are simply unflattering. A tiny percentage of the population can carry off this fashion trend that refuses to die, and in the mean time we are forced to witness the masses convince themselves the tapered look is good for hips and thighs of women shaped like women. Didn't we learn anything from the 80s? I am not shaped like a 12 year old boy and that's something that I'm thankful for. I dig looking like a woman. Why on earth would I want to jump on a fashion bandwagon that makes me hate my shape? I won't even discuss men in skinny jeans... makes me wretch.

Tacky acrylic nails. There's a fine between tacky and funky. I like funky. But absurdly long fake claws with airbrushing and rhinestones are just heinous. Do we even want to discuss how this woman deals with certain hygienic practices? No.

Corny graphic tees. I just HATE them. Most are overpriced and are even uglier than the knockoffs. Why are they all so obnoxious?!

Holiday junky sweaters. The women who indulge in this tacky mess still haven't been clued in by all the "Ugly Sweater Christmas Parties" people throw to make fun of this horrid tradition.  I once saw a woman in a Ground Hog Day sweater. {shudder}

Jorts. No explanation needed. Right up there with mullets and fanny packs, but somehow more popular.

Mariah Carey Syndrome: when women refuse to dress their age/size/both. Overall slut-tastic look on an otherwise attractive person.

What are some of your fav fashion faux pas?

Source URL: https://joshhamiltonblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Bella
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Project Paraben Free

There is a ton of controversy swirling around parabens which are basically preservatives [antifungal / bactericidal agents]. The big corporations say they are perfectly harmless and there is insufficient evidence to suggest otherwise. The tree hugging granola crunchers say they are a terrible poison that should not be legal. There are many who think that the government agencies in charge of keeping our food, medicine, and cosmetics safe are in fact turning a blind eye to mass poisoning thanks to the big companies habitually lining the pockets of those in charge. I do love a good conspiracy theory, but Blumtastic is not a place where I'll be blogging politics.

So what is a cosmetic loving consumer to do? I'm not the kind of person who reads a headline or hears a news story and believes every word. I stand by the work published in peer reviewed journals written by people who have dedicated their lives to finding answers. That said, how many of us subscribe to a scientific journal? How about a medical journal? And how many of us catch snippets from a 24 hour news channel or browse news web sites? Marketers know it's confusing and journalists know sensational scary news sells. 

I could spend all afternoon citing analysis reports from The Archives of Toxicology and the American Journal of Medicine, but I'm saving all my research paper energy for actual graded assignments. If you're curious, look it up for yourself... what you find will astound you. Basically there is still a great deal to learn concerning parabens, but we do know that they affect reproductive health, growth and development of both babies and adults, and mimic estrogen. Some people even suffer from paraben allergies.

To me, the fact that there is a correlation between breast cancer and parabens is enough for me to eliminate these unnecessary chemicals from my life. Tiny amounts of parabens have been found in tumors, and as I said before, parabens have been known to mimic estrogen. Scientists have not figured out the physiological link that explains the what and why, but I suppose I'm just not in the mood to cross my fingers and wait for them to tell me it's all a big coincidence.

Everything from toothpaste to spray tan to shampoo and lipstick contain parabens. Start reading your labels... you will be shocked. As part of my 101 in 1001, I am ditching parabens altogether, which unfortunately isn't easy. I've spent hours reading labels and I'm sad to report that the local drugstore and corner market don't have much in the way of paraben-free anything.

I do think it's interesting that many companies seem to want to jump on the pink ribbon bandwagon and throw money at "the cause." They offer everything from pink ribbon nail polish to free pink ribbon tote bags with purchase. Revlon even sponsors a Breast Cancer Awareness Run/Walk and advertises such nonsense as "shower for the cure" gel and "kiss for the cure" lipstick... first of all, an undisclosed portion of proceeds goes to breast cancer research. Uhhh I'd like to know just how much! Avon calls their little marketing project a "Breast Cancer Awareness Crusade." Yet both Revlon and Avon openly use parabens and other chemicals that are linked to cancer.... as do the majority of cosmetic companies.

I came across the book Toxic Beauty by Dr. Samuel Epstein (thank you Amazon, for knowing what I'd like to read) and I ordered it on the spot. I'll keep you all posted on every tid bit of beauty health I learn from this book just as soon as I get my hands on it.

For now, though, I will share with you the few paraben-free brands I've found and love. I'm having a hard time finding decent haircare products...

If you're not choosy about what you're feeding your body (and that most certainly includes feeding your skin), then I hope you consider reading some labels sometime soon. If you're a natural product-loving granola cruncher like me, then for goodness sake recommend products! I'm still actively phasing out all the crappy paraben products, so let me know what to replace them with!

Source URL: https://joshhamiltonblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Bella
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