I decided to leave that oil in overnight.  I put it up in a pony and the sides of my hair look almost like there are bald spots.  I don't know if this is because my hair is darker and my roots are coming in very light or because of the harsh treatment of color removal.
I'm a bit concerned.
Could it be related to ageing?
Got email notification that my Chagrin Valley soaps are coming.
Today I'm going to mix honey with my vinegar rinse and some sandalwood oil.  I think I'll dry my hair natural-haven't seen my waves for a while.

Thanks, Styg.  I was drinking regular Coke-I got addicted to the corn syrup.  I've given it up for short periods before, but I think this time is for good.  Giving it up at the same time as doing my detoxing has made it easier 1) to give it up and 2) to reevaluate what I want to put into my body and to focus on those foods instead.  I don't even miss it.
I think I'd like to release 20 lbs, although when I was 20 lbs lighter most people thought I was too skinny.
I've noticed from a few of your photos, Styg that you are quite slim.  I know you don't live in the US, but do you get unkind remarks?  I used to and I think it has kept me from making myself happy 'cause I didn't want others to be mean to me.
I'm in the process of reclaiming my power so it won't matter what other people say, but I fell into that trap and stayed in it for quite a long time.
I have noticed that I don't snack as often as before when I was still drinking soda, and if I do snack its almonds or prunes.  Yum!

I rinsed my hair today with 1 cup of beer, 1-1/2 cups vinegar, 3 generous tablespoons honey dissolved in a cup of boiled water and the juice of 1 whole lemon + enough water to fill the pitcher I was using.  I rinsed my hair well with water after and my curls were really abundant!  Unfortunately I decided to comb it out and put a bit of gel in and wound up with very little wave.  So!  Next time with same rinse NO COMBING IT OUT!
Can't wait to see result!!!

Styg,
I was underweight until I got accepted to travel with Up With People in 1989.  I decided to weight train because we had a 22 metric ton set we had to set up & tear down for each show.  I started out at 107lbs and was at 118 when I left.  Unfortunately, 6 months into the tour I seriously injured my spine.
No longer able to excercise I slowly gained weight but in 1999 I had Bell's Palsy and the Prednisone (steroid) they gave me caused me to gain a whole clothing size OVERNIGHT!  I haven't been able to get back down with my weight.  In highschool I was badly teased for being skinny-someone told one of my teachers that I was anorexic and she called my parents!  Of course I wasn't but still that was troubling.
Now, I'm not obese by any means and most people would say I look just fine but I don't feel fine in my own skin.  I guess I need to get my skin thicker before I get thinner?
When I was so slender I used to wish I had bigger breasts.  Now I have a C cup and just wish I was slimmer and could keep the breasts.  I hope I can keep the changes to by diet from the recent detox and to have the courage to start exercising regularly.  It may seem like an oxymoron, since I am a yoga teacher and my job is so physical but I work at the gym and I don't want to spend any more time where I work than I have to.  Time to get creative I suppose.

On a lighter note, my order from Ida @ Chagrin Valley soaps arrived today.  All these samples, I'm not sure what I'll try first!

Newest addition to the collection:
Spring Nebulae Holostix

Soooo pretty!  I love the holo finish!!!

I've been putting about 5 drops of jojoba on the ends of my hair and working it through with my brand new boar's hair brush and I like it!  Makes my hair shiny.  When I first brush it my hair flies out with static but then I smooth it with my hand and that's the end of that.
So far, sandalwood eo is my favorite to scrunch in my hair or to add to my vinegar rinse water.

Tomorrow I'm trying my soaps and shampoo bars.

that's normal (unlessyour hair is really well coated by grease), but you just have to calm it down with your hands.

It is a strange thing with the bbb and jojoba, but the end result is quite nice (after calming the hair down w/ my hand).

Valerie- you're so right.  Pretty much all of the attacks I received were from girls.
I think I'm soda free 3 weeks now.  I miss it a little, but only because I've been really emotional lately.  I hope you're also drinking water, we are a "wet works" system internally so like a car with low oil things will start to break down if not properly lubricated.  I can't drink diet soda-aspertame gives me a headache and I'd rather have pure sugar than chemicals.  I defo crave sweets less now, and I'm more mentally alert.  Which comes in handy with my job, like when I have to tell the difference between right and left!
I was also anemic in highschool, I sure was tired a lot.
It's been so long that I could excercise properly that inerta has set in.  That first step is the hardest!

This morning I tried the Goatmilk Oatmeal Honey soap and the Honey, beer & egg shampoo bar.  I think with my wavy hair I'll need to use some conditioner.  I washed with the shampoo bar and rinsed with vinegar, water and lavender oil.  My hair feels a bit coated so volume is nice (tho not a usual problem for me) and it's very soft.  I didn't put any styling products in my hair.  Scalp is a bit itchy, but I imagine that's just from trying something new.

Ah, yes, I did another decent dutch braid for sleeping last night-the front was even better this time!
Before braiding, I oiled my ends with jojoba and sandalwood.  I love drifting off to sleep to the smell of eo's.  I brushed the oil in with my bbb and was surprised that my ends didn't seem oily.  My hair is very shiny still this morning-I just brushed and bunned and my hair color looks like golden honey.  It didn't look like that before bbb and I think I've gotten the hang of how much jojoba my hair can take w/o looking oily.
Yipeee!
I think I had a hair growth spurt overnight because my bun today looks fantastic.
I've decided that when I have my next trim on May 17th that I won't have her cut too much.  Originally I thought I'd maintain at about 19 inches until the ends are in better shape, but I think I want it longer before I do that.  Having that color stripped has, in my opinion trashed my ends, so they'll still be trashed unitl the hair that received that harsh treatment has been cut off.  I think my hair was about 18 inches long when the damage occured, so it's going to be a while if I can be so patient.
So, why not go a bit longer?  So far my s&d missions are keeping the damage to a minimum and I think that since I'm oiling the ends regularly now I'll have a good result.
I'm so happy my hair looks shiney with the oil and not like a greaseball.  Yuck.

I'm pleased to announce two new additions to my collection:

Sparkling Twilight GlitterStix
and
Morning GeishaStix

WOW!  ST is my first cube bead-I really love it.
The colors of MG will go with so many of my other sets, so I can wear 'em together!!

Today is the first morning when I've slept in a french braid that the sides did NOT slip out!  I really must have had a growth spurt.  Yiipeee!  I think I'll leave my braid in all day-through tomorrow when hubby & I go hiking.

Can I just say how much I like actor commentaries on DVD's?  I so enjoy hearing about their experiences.  8)

I'm for sure going to try COing next wash.  I hate having a flakey scalp.  Now, pie crust is another matter but I've had such dry skin all my life it's embarrasing to have those flakes in my hair.  I also wear a LOT of black so flakes are sooo noticable.   

My costume is on its way-  I hope it gets here by tomorrow but probably Monday.  I'm looking forward to putting it on and practicing the song with it.

Still waiting for snoods- she said it takes 3 weeks to make so I've still got a bit of a wait.

Had 3 white eyebrow hairs last night.  I am secretly hoping it means that my hair will be white in my cronedom but my hairdresser said it is no guarantee.

So interresting, these ups and downs today I'm up and noticing habbits (which is good so I can change them) but the recent downs have been very intense.  However, it is my opinion that if I could not feel the depths of downess I'd never feel the heighs of love, joy or bliss.  Or passion.  Balance is mandatory in the universe.  Boy, are we going to get it (ecologically speaking).
Where did this come from?  I'm going to go finish watching my cast commentary on The Two Towers now.

Guess what?  Today I got an email notice that Lady MacSnood has sent me a package.  I won't have to wait so long afterall!!

I'm feeling a bit giddy after posting my first picture!  Can hardly wait to do more!!!

Today at Dim Sum I ate taro root (one of my absolute favs), har kaw (shrimp dumpling), BBQ pork bun (a little dry today ),
custard bun (dessert) and almond jello.  Not really jello, the Chinese version I guess.  YUM!  The last time I had dim sum was in January for my birthday.  That was also the last time I got to dine w/my friend Elaine.  I sure do miss her.

We decided to hold our hike-very windy today.  I think we'll go walking in the dark.  Its nice and cool now, it got up to 89 degrees today.

I made some of that scalp stimulator (posted in 13 bodies' journal) and applied it last night.  I was out of lemongrass so I left it out, and only 1 teaspoon of Basil oil was on hand so the recipe is not verbatum BUT it was a bit tingly and smells great.  I decided to leave it in since my scalp has been so flakey.  I put oilive oil all over my hair (after leaving stimulator on for 30 mins or so by itself), put it up and slept in it.  My scalp is not showing flakes today, I washed the oil out CO style.  Hair still smells great and is quite soft, even with gel.

I also tried the dead sea spa soap from Ida.  My skin is very smooth and normal looking (if you've got really dry skin you know what I mean).  It really soaked up my body shop body butter-cocoa butter after the shower.  YUM.  Hubby loves that smell.  How did I survive without this stuff?

I found a picture of Clara Bow, I think I'll do my makeup patterned after her for my performance as Millie.  Sure hope I can figure out a good transition from 1920 to 1950 for Cole Porter's "It's All Right With Me".  I could hardly sleep last night imagining myself in costume, makeup and cool shoes singing and dancing.  Just under 1 month to go...

Yes, G_L cubies are yummy and I'll be on the look out for 'em!
I'm hoping my next pair will be deco, but so far no luck.