Things I Forgot About Long Hair

It has been almost two years since I have had my hair this long.  And while I greatly missed the length when it was short, there are many other parts of having long hair I did not miss.  Two years is a long time to grow out your hair and in the mean time you forget what it is like to have long hairs on your head.  But now I remember.

I forgot... about all of the knots and tangles.  I have curly hair.  I do not brush my curly hair (I comb through it in the shower).  So the longer it gets the more tangles and knots I get.  Rats nests worst than a 6 year old who hasn't brushed her hair in a week.  And I hate it.

I forgot... how hot and sticky long hair can be.  My short hair was well short and did not stick to my neck when it was hot.  Plus the more hair I have the hotter I get.  

I forgot...that hair always in my face drives me nuts.  My hair is not just long, it is thick.  Really thick.  So by the end of the day it surrounds me and I end up pulling it up to get it out of the way.  But then it gets a crease in it and I have to wear it up for another day or two before I wash it again.

I forgot...the more hair you have the more product you use.  I am a lucky girl that all I have to do is wash my hair add product, and let it air dry in order to get some pretty awesome curls.  The only reason I use product is to contain the frizz. When it was short all I needed was one little dollop and could go almost two months without buying new product.  Long hair calls for multiple dollops and new product every 2-3 weeks. And it ain't cheap stuff!

I forgot...that the more hair I have the more I can do with it.  With it longer I have now been able to add some new hair styles to use.  I love more options.

I very much so have a love/hate relationship with my hair.  When it is short I want it long.  When it is long I want it short.  And right about now I am DYING to cut it all off.  But I made a promise to myself I would wait till after graduation to cut it.  So waiting I will do.  6 more months.

Live 6:10

Oh friends have I got something amazing for you all! I am so so so excited to be sharing with y'all all about Live 6:10. I met Amanda here in blog land and just love everything about her. She is absolutely the cutest thing ever. And her heart for The Lord is amazing. She has a great story and y'all should really go get to know her.

Back in July Amanda went to Guatemala on a missions trip. While there she visited a local dump where people live. And that is where she left her heart. She met the sweetest little girl, Myrna, who has inspired her amazing venture into a non-profit. 

Live 6:10 is that non profit. She makes it all work and supported by the paper beads she makes into bracelets and necklaces. When I first saw what she was doing I knew I had to get my hands on some!  

I waited and waited for her to open her etsy shop and finally she did! And you can bet I placed my order ASAP!! Here is what I got:

I absolutely LOVE my beads. I love mint and and grey and they are absolutely perfect! I like a long necklace and this one was the perfect length. Here is what I wore it with the other night. Gives you a better idea of how long it is!

Today is your lucky day friends! I know you all are just dying to get some beads of your own. Sweet sweet Amanda had offered a discount for my readers!! Use the code BLOGLOVE20 and you will receive 20% off your purchase.  This is only good through January 20th so you best head over there now!

Thank you so ugh Amanda for my beautiful beads! Send love and prayers your way as you work so hard to make your dreams come true!

On Beauty

Yesterday I was watching Bethenny.  I seriously love her show and watch it anytime I am home to do so!  One of her segments was based on this clip of a woman being photoshopped.   If you have not watched it please go do it.  You will be amazed.
When you see her before and after picture next to each other she does not even look like the same person.  They did not leave one thing about her the same.  It saddened me to watch the video and then hear her perspective on it.
She claimed on Bethenny that she likes what she looks like in the photoshopped picture better.  Granted when I have not makeup on and am not smiling I will never say I like what I see.  This got me thinking about myself and how I view myself with and without makeup.
In the picture above you see my before and after from yesterday (neither have been edited at all and I tried to get them in the same light).  The left is my before.  I had just gotten out of the shower and all I had done was moisturizer, deodorant, and put in my hair product.  
The picture on the right is my after.  My makeup is all done and my hair has been dried and pulled back out of my face.
It's not that I do not like what I see on the left.  I just feel more confident with the after picture.  
Over the years I have gotten better about being seen in public without makeup on.  I remember the years of NEVER going anywhere without at least some foundation and mascara.  I have now gotten to the point of not caring.  I went work on Saturday without nay makeup on.  And plenty of people saw me!
Who decided what was pretty and what wasn't? Who said we always have to wear makeup and look put together?  Whoever they are…I'm not their fan.  I wish I had more confidence to not wear as much makeup as I do.  I try to keep it simple…but honestly I wear a lot more than I probably should.
I remember back to my camp days when we would have princess week (my favorite week ever!) and we would ask the girls to wear no makeup, not do their hair, and not look in a mirror for a whole day.  We even would cover the mirror in all the bathrooms.
The girls HATED that day (and I did too when I was a 14 year old camper!).  We were at a coed camp and saw the boys all throughout the day.  It broke my heart as I got older that so many girls would CRY over not being able to wear makeup.  They were all so beautiful without and who really needs makeup when it is 100 degrees out and we are playing sports!?
We are all made in the image of God. How can one not find that beautiful? Why would you want to change what God made you into?  I know everyone has their insecurities (I know I do) but if we could all just learn to embrace it all the world would be such a different place.
We  need to stop putting other women down because their nose is too big or they have acne or their hair is a wild crazy mess.  Who are we to judge?  Everyone is beautiful and everyone should embrace it!

Something Blue

For about a year now I have been a member of Influenster.  If you are a blogger and not doing this you are just CRAZY!  Free fun things to try and then blog about?? Count me in every single time.  
This time around I received the Something Blue Vox Box since I was in a wedding just a little while ago.  What I would not have given to have had some of these things with me during that time!  At least now I know what to bring with me!
Here is everything I received in the box.  Not pictured is this magazine thing about ring sets.  Yeah not getting married anytime soon so that was not of much use.  

Unfortunately I do not wear false lashes.  I already own a pack of these and have never used them.  So if anyone is in need of some let me know and I will send them your way!

I cannot wait to try this headache relief.  I am kinda picky about flavors that I drink and if the powder dissolves all the way, but I hope it works.  I do not get headaches all too often but when I do I am now prepared!

I am always looking for ways to whiten my teeth.  I will try any new whitening tooth paste out there.  Unfortunately most of them do not work.  This one claims to make a difference in one brush, I didn't see this happen.  But maybe soon there will be a difference.  Oh and this one doesn't taste all that bad either...but it is BRIGHT blue the whole time.

These Qtips are the bomb.com.  I am ALWAYS betting mascara everywhere but my eyelashes and these have come in handy a lot for that.  The pointed tip is perfect for little touch ups!

These Dr. Scholls for Her shoes cushions are the number one things I wish I had had at the wedding!  Even in wedges my feet were killing me!  Hopefully I will get to try these out soon and let you all know how much I love you.

I love being and Influenster and you can be too!  Go to their site and sign up today...you never know when you will be chosen for the next Vox Box!

This is a sponsored post from Influenster.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Weekend Recap!

1. Friday morning I went over to Lauren's apartment to hang out.  Loved being there with a warm cup of coffee, some apples and peanut butter, and an awesome friend.

2. Brought Lauren her gift for winning my giveaway.  Love her heart for feeling bad for winning and wanting to give it away to someone else.  I had to make her take it!

3.  Before I could even make it to Lauren's I had to scrape my car.  It was an ice cube.  This definitely made me miss home!

4.  Went and got a gel mani.  I was uber disappointed when they told me I had to do a color because my nails were too tiny for a french.  

1.  Saturday night made a yummy dinner with Jessi and Becky.  Chicken marsala casserole, mashed potatoes, and a yummy green salad.

2.  I was in major need of some pants that I can teach in since I start my Practicum today (my other pants no longer fit).  Also found a cute new top!

3.  Made mini pizzas on english muffins for dinner Sunday night.  Easy and healthier way to fix my pizza craving.

4.  Tried this make your own pore strips. NOT MY BEST IDEA! I totes forgot about that whole thing where I have really sensitive skin.  It hurt like no other peeling it off.  Imagine waxing your whole face.  Future reference only do the areas in need.  At least my face is smooth as a babies bottom?

Influenster Beauty Box

Back in May sometime I received my first Beauty Vox Box from Influenster.  I was so excited and loved just about every single item I received.  Needless to say when I got the email that I would be receiving another beauty box I was beyond excited.
Well that excitement kinda ended when I opened the box.  I really was not a fan of the majority of the items I saw.  But I still have to try some out, so maybe I will change my mind!

Here are all the items I received.

Boost is a drink supplement that is suppose to give you energy.  I have not tried this yet, but orange flavor things are usually not my thing.

Vitabath fragrance spray in Citron Leaves.  No thank you! I know I am picky about perfumes, but this one I just could not handle.  I tried using it the other night and did not like it at all.

I will say I am excited to put this one on my candle warmer! It smells so good!

The one thing I was most excited about was the biggest bummer of all.  When I opened my box this eyeshadow was EVERYWHERE.  As in it broke in the box and I now have silver shimmer all over everything.  Really sad about this one.

I don't wear fake eyelashes nor do I have an opportunity in the near future to so...trying this out will be interesting.

I never would have picked these up in the store.  I like the concept, but I think my hair may be too short for these to actually work.  Totes worth a try though.

I am always looking for new products for my hair so I was excited when I saw this one.  Cannot wait to give it a try!

If I change my mind on any of these products, or absolutely fall in love with one I will be sure to let yall know!