Hair: A Color Story - now featuring the tresses of me.

Where to begin...
A few weeks ago, Troy helped me color my hair.  For those of you that don't know, he has been doing it for years.  He is really good at highlights...normally.  Well, this time he did an awful job.  It was all globby and the highlights didn't go all the way down my hair.  Even Troy finally said "you have to do something about your hair."  So, I used one of my normal boxes (a dark brown, all over color)...it didn't work.  The highlights bled through...so they still looked just as bad but in a different color.  UGH.  Then Natalie came over with fabulous red hair, and I thought that's what I'll do.  Well, I bought 3 boxes of dark red/burgundy/auburn dye.  After church last night, Michelle came over, and we finally picked the same color that Natalie used.  It said on the box that it was intense light auburn for naturally dark hair.  I have naturally dark hair...it just hasn't been naturally dark for years.  Anyway, I put the color on my hair, and I set the timer.  Then I sat down with Michelle, and we started talking.  After awhile, I went to check how much time I had left...and it turns out I didn't START the timer!  So, Michelle and I were trying to figure out how long it had been...had enough time past?  I would have been smart to say I should probably wash it out.  But instead, I gave it 10 more minutes.  I finally got in the shower and was in there for at least 30 minutes.  THE WATER NEVER RAN CLEAR.  Seriously, even in the shower this morning, it never ran clear.  My scalp was a special color of fuchsia last night.  It is a little better today.  I have named my hair Goth: The Red Edition.  I kind of like it, though, maybe...I think my inner rebel is pleased.  Who knows if I will keep it, but I have dyed my hair 3 times in as many weeks...I think the hair needs a break.


Ian (as we went outside):  Mom, did you dye your hair red?
Me:  yes
Ian:  It doesn't look good on you.
Me:  Thanks, hon.

A little later (inside):
Ian:  Mom, I like your hair.
Me:  You said it didn't look good.
Ian:  Well, outside, it looked red.  Inside, it looks black and red, and that's cool.

UGH.  Let the Georgia jokes begin, Jason.

Product Reviews and Tips!!!!

K - First, I must say there has been a tragedy with my beauty products.  My body frosting was thrown away.  I know...it's awful.  I am in mourning.  Saving up for a replacement, but I am going to look less...glowy for a few weeks.  My back-up plan is Precious Gold by Bare Escentuals.

I don't love it like I love the body frosting, but it will do.  There are some obvious differences.  It is a loose powder that applies with a brush.  That means there is less coverage than with the body frosting; it does not work like a bronzer the way the honey glow does.  It also has more of a glittery look.  I still don't think it screams teen glitter queen, but it is more obvious than the body frosting.  Body frosting transforms my skin...it covers and glows.  This just has a radiant glitter.  Different look but both bump up your skin's look.




Alright...on to new product reviews.  Tonight:  the maxi dress and a girl's best friend - lip gloss!

I LOVE a good maxi dress.  They are easy and comfortable...a great way to get a dressy casual look that takes no work to put together.  They can also be very flattering.  Here are 2 examples of a maxi dress...1 is a good example and 1 I would encourage every one to stay away from.  Let's see if you can figure it out as I give you some maxi hints.  The key to a maxi dress is the drape of the dress.  If it doesn't have a good flow, it will look boxy and make you look like a column.  The thing that makes a maxi flattering is the empire waist.  It should drape and flow from that point instead of going straight down.  That definitely has to do with the fabrication of the dress.  If the dress is made of jersey or, like, t-shirt material, it will have drape.  If the dress is made out of "blouse material," it will have structure which is good in a blouse and so not good in a maxi.  Also, a maxi dress is probably not for you if you are trying to look tall.  I don't happen to care.  I am so short that I am not fooling anyone.  I strongly advise wearing flats...flip flops, really, with a maxi dress; first, by definition a maxi dress should cover your feet and, second, a maxi dress is not meant to be a gown.  Did you figure out that the second one is a no-no?  It puffs out from the empire waist and is made from a linen-cotton blend which equals no flow.  I own the first one in several colors (Old Navy).  Shop wisely, but a maxi dress is tons of fun.

Bare Escentuals 100% Natural Lip Gloss

Alright, I know I am not going to change many minds on this one.  Every girl has her favorite lip product.  This is mine.  Honestly, I am not a lip person.  I spend my time on my eyes and keep all my lipsticks and glosses in my purse and mostly forget to put them on.  BUT this gloss is amazing.  It is not sticky or tacky which is my biggest gloss pet peeve.  The color pigmentation is great.  The colors are true to the color you see (which is not always the case).  The gloss transforms my lips.  It makes them pillowy soft.  They feel healthy and kissable.  It also smells like glazed donuts...yummy!  Speaking of yummy, it is 100% natural so no harm in eating it!  There are tons of colors to choose from.  Some of my favorites are chiffon, jelly roll (super bold color), sugared strawberries, and sugar plum.  Having multiple favorite colors brings up a good point.  Don't get in a rut with your lips.  Especially, if you are in a lipstick rut.   Everyone should be wearing a good gloss...if not instead of lipstick, definitely in addition to your lipstick.  Lipstick can be very heavy and drying.  Lighten it up.  Also, your lip color should balance out your face, if you do a dark eye, wear a light lip color.  If you go light on the eye, punch up the lip color...which doesn't necessarily mean dark, dark just  more noticeable...it could be a coral or pink - just bright.  Pulling off a dark lipstick is tough stuff.  It tends to wash you out.  Mix it up!  Make-up is so much fun to play with and lip gloss is an easy, cheap way to play!!!

Our Story

SO, I have been wanting to get the story of Troy and I "down on paper" for awhile but a few things recently have pushed that to the forefront.  First, during a conversation with Tara and Natalie on Thursday night, Tara said several things that reminded me of the feelings I was having when I was around her age.  She also said several things about a boy she knows that reminded me of Troy.  When I pointed out a few things about our situation, she said it didn't sound very romantic. Second, I've kinda watched several hours of Bridezilla today.  Troy caught a snippet of the show and correctly pointed out that our wedding had little-to-no drama.  Third, Tara's blog (fabulous and insightful) discusses courting today...which is exactly what we did.

I met Troy in Sunday school in Germany when we were 16.  I don't really remember it at all, but we became good friends.  We were both consistently in other relationships but still had a really good, flirty friendship.  He was my best platonic guy friend.  I know now that he always kinda liked me...I maybe knew that a little in high school.  After we graduated, he went to college in Tennessee, and I ended up in Georgia then moved to USF here in Tampa.  With the exception of my high school sweetheart, Troy is the only person that I kept up with from high school.  We wrote each other letters fairly consistently during our freshman and early sophomore years in college.  I custom made the envelopes out of pages from magazines.  He hung them on his wall...I've heard they were a dorm hit! But we were still friends. 

Then I broke up with the hs sweetie.  I called Troy and cried over it...he came to visit to me. (September)  Things kind of changed...especially for Troy.  We were still just friends (mostly because I was still tangled up with my ex - God helped me take care of that). 

In February, I turned twenty and God called me to be a minister's wife (a story for another time).  I began to really examine my life...where I was at and where I thought I would be.  Honestly, I thought I would be thinking wedding with Craig, but I had not spoken to my ex in months.  I felt that I was entering the decade that was supposed to be about creating a family, and I was moving away from that - not towards it.  It was a mini-crisis.  I poured out my heart to my friend, Troy, in an email.  I was wondering about the one.  His reply was "maybe the one already knows and is waiting for you to figure it out."  Around that time, I got a birthday card from Troy.  It wasn't really a friend card.  The front had a dozen roses and, on the inside, he wrote that he loved me.  I can't remember if he had said that to me before that point.  I loved him as a friend and I think that he had said it...but this felt different. 

I started thinking about Troy differently.  I firmly believe God was opening my eyes to His plan.  I finally decided to visit him during Spring Break.  My best friend, Tiffany, made me promise to tell him what I was feeling while I was there.  We had a great time...as friends...kind of.  We hung out, played football, talked tons...I never said anything.  Fearing the wrath :) of Tiffany, I called Troy the night before heading back to school...and I said nothing.  But he told me to call him when I got back to school.  So I did...and I beat around the bush but I asked him several questions about marriage...in the flirty tone our relationship has always had.  Finally, I asked "Do you think you know who God wants you to marry?"  He said "I think so."  Of course, I asked who.  He said that he wasn't sure it was God's time yet and that he would have to pray about telling me.  He said he would call me the next night.  That next day was a Monday...St. Patrick's Day in fact.  I had class and butterflies all day.  It was the most beautiful anticipation.  That night he called and said  "It's you."  So began our courtship...which I define as intentional dating.  We knew marriage was our future.  I don't know about romantic by worldly standards, but I don't think you can beat God writing your love story.  It gives us a firm foundation now...which I wouldn't trade for anything.

Product Reviews!!!

I have decided that I would like to share some products with you because there are so many things that I love that I don't think many people know about!  I have added a new page called a few of my favorite things and my absolute favorite products will end up there.  (check it out - a few things were instant favs!)

I'll start with 2 new products that I can't believe I ever lived without!

Baked Body Frosting by Laura Gellar

OK, Girls, this stuff is amazing.  There are three or four color options to choose from: Sugar Glow, Honey Glow, Angel Glow and, maybe, Tahitian Glow.  I have Honey Glow so that is the one I want to tell you about (obviously!).  This is a baked liquid that applies like a powder but goes on like a liquid.  The Honey Glow is a rich tan color that I apply to my decollete and sometimes my face, but you can put where ever you'd like.  It goes on easy and smooth and looks AMAZING.  Right now, because it is summer, the color pretty closely matches my tan so when I apply, it completely erases my tan lines and makes my skin look smooth and healthy.  Before I was this dark, it performed like a bronzer.  Here's the kicker:  it really does make your skin glow.  It is kind of like a sophisticated, grown-up version of body glitter....but so don't think glitter.  It really is a radiance or glow.  If you get close enough, you can see a bit of sparkle but from the distance most people stand, it just looks beautiful.  It is kind of one of those products that boosts your appearance in a way that people notice you look better but can't put their finger on why.  Troy says something almost every time I wear it.  It's my little secret.  I LOVE IT!

Bare Escentuals Prime Time Brightening Eyelid Primer

I have oily eyelids...which I never knew and never mattered until I wanted my eyeshadow to stay all day.  I also have dark eyelids.  This products fixes both of those issues.  It brightens my eyelids and makes the color stick all day.  Eyeshadow colors go on more true to color and stay on all day.  The colors look prettier all day long.  It saves me time and product because I am not having to reapply mid-day.   I will caution you to let it dry before adding a shadow otherwise a glob of powder will stick in one place.  I also put a little under my eyes which keeps the concealer that you all are glad I wear on and in place all day.  One last trick:  because it is illuminating, I dab a little right in the corner of my eye (against my nose) and it makes my eyes look bigger and brighter.  Who doesn't want that!

defeat

Ugh.  I hate when you think you are past something, and then it hits you in the face.  Bam.  Out of nowhere.  You think "I can't believe that just happened"  But, really, you can believe it because it has happened before...more than once.  You know what it feels like..it feels like walking away and then someone yanks on your ponytail hard and drags you back.  Not only does your head hurt, but you are back where you started.  Unfortunately, that's been my day.  More than once today, I've had my ponytail yanked.

Update - more about me...

So, I said that I have no motivation to diet or exercise.  Well...I'm not sure how motivated I am...but I am doing both.  Here's the thing...I gained weight when I got married and going through a really difficult transition time...into marriage, the workforce, a new place, ministry.  When I finally felt comfortable and at least semi-stable in those things, I got pregnant.  Basically...I kept almost all the weight that I gained while pregnant with Abby.  And with her, I gained a ton.  I kept it through two more pregnancies where I gained very little and lost it quickly...without trying.  I've kept the weight for 9 years now.  But honestly, I feel like I have learned how to emphasize my assets, dress my shape well, use make-up, jewelry and my hair to put together a pretty fantastic and, well...pretty picture.  So...having said that I did have gestational diabetes with Nate and run the risk of getting Type II.  Every time I get blood work, my sugar levels are borderline...so my doctor is encouraging me to be mindful of diet and exercise.  My mom is constantly trying to motivate to me to lose the weight.  She actually did motivate me by losing about 50 pounds in the last year doing Atkins.  But I think the push that solidified the choice is Troy.  He very much wants to lose weight and very consistently pursues that, but it is hard to diet when you are the only one in the house doing it.  So, I am doing it for my man.
We are doing Atkins because it obviously works for my body type.  Both of my parents are doing amazing on it.  Troy is finding success as well.  And he is dragging me to the Y when we don't have some other commitment in the evening (some weeks work better than others).  I had been just walking on the treadmill...trying to increase my time or distance walking, but, today, I remembered that my doctor said that I should be lifting weights because it burns more sugar than cardio.  So I did both, and I really enjoyed it.  It was fun to have a Troy as my own personal trainer and doing the weights really made my time walking more beneficial.  We will see what happens.

Conviction in Prayer

So, I am going to try to be honest about how I feel without telling anyone else's story.  My goal is to not share things someone might not already know.  If you read it...it is not a secret. 

I have two friends who are in similar situations with very different circumstances and details.  These two friends are very dear to me.  I care deeply about both of them.  One is a heart friend...she is someone my heart instantly connected with.  We were supposed to be friends.  In a short time, there was just tons of depth to our relationship.  The other is integral to my marriage.  He means a lot to my husband.  He has made Troy's life better.  Our relationship is really great as well.  We have a lot in common and he knows more about me than most of my girlfriends.  All that to say, I really want them to be happy but, more importantly, I really want God's best for both of them. 

The similar situation is troubled marriage that has the potential to end.  Like I said, the circumstances are drastically different...not even in the same field of thought.  What I am finding about myself is that I am praying hard for him and his marriage but while praying hard for her...it is hard to pray for her marriage.  I don't know either spouse well and have not had a positive opinion of either for the most part.  Not that that matters.  God's Word is clear on marriage.  I believe His ways are true and right even if they aren't easy.  I don't know what my problem is...why I have prayed over and over for reconciliation, restoration and healing for him but am praying truth, wisdom and guidance for her.  I firmly believe that God can heal both marriages.  There is nothing He can't do.  I guess, it is just in the shortsightedness of my vision, I don't see it.  I am praying God with correct my vision and my prayers.  Show Yourself mighty, Sweet Savior.

Do you know your love language?

I listened to The Five Love Languages on tape on my way to my best friend's house when I was in college.  At that time, while understanding and appreciating the idea...I didn't really care.  In the last four or five years, I have begun to see the value in understanding someone's love language and operating within that. 

My husband's love language is acts of service.  When I started to realize how Troy's love tank was filled, I realized how infrequently I serve him in comparison to what he needed.  I also began to see the things he did as acts of love.  I felt more loved in return.  When he puts gas in my car, brings me a drink, or makes dinner...he is loving me.  The same is true of most relationships.  If you love people in their language or see their actions as expressions of their love language, relationships are enhanced.

My love language is quality time...for the most part.  I understand so much more about myself knowing that.  I have learned that I very much feel my love language.  Jason isn't even totally sure what his is; I can't even comprehend that.  I feel my love language very deeply.  I wear it like a coat.  If I haven't seen someone in awhile, I think they don't like me.  If someone bails on me, it hurts my feelings.  Absence does not make my heart grow fonder. 

I said for the most part because if I think about Troy...my love language is physical touch or words of affirmation.  I feel most loved by my husband when he holds my hand, touches by face, says he loves me or tells me I look beautiful...things like that.  I have wondered if that is a natural feeling or if it is based on our relational history.  We had a long distanced courtship and some other circumstances that make me wonder if I crave physical touch and sweet words based on those things.  I also wonder if maybe all of us want to be loved in all forms by the person we love most. 

Our church did a sermon series on The Five Love Languages a while back.  One of the most profound things I learned was that Jesus loved perfectly in all languages.  Of course, perfectly is how he does everything, but I never really considered how Jesus loved.  The sermon series showed Jesus perfectly loving those He came in contact with each love language.  Pretty profound.  He created us to give and receive love and gives us the perfect example of how to do that in every situation.