Today's a been a stay at home day for me. I've been able to do chores, cook, write and most importantly, enjoy the peace and quiet.

Most important event in my hair life today has been washing- this time just a simple wash with Honey Beer Egg & ACV rinse. Otherwise, I've just kept hair up and out of my way as usual.

Health: I'm happy to announce that I have achieved my weight loss goal for January! Since New Year, I have lost 3 kg:s/6.6 lbs. I'm very happy with the result, and think it proves that my new weight loss strategy really works! This is also the first time I'm comfortable with my diet, so I'll continue with it for February. My weight loss goal is 0.5 kg's/ 1.1 lb's per week. While it's not as fast as humanly possible, losing weight more slowly feels much better and is way less annoying.

Hair: Yesterday was washing day. I decided not to do a deep treatment this week, just an ordinary wash with Honey Beer & Egg poo + ACV rinse. I also did a small S&D mission. I didn't find many splits, but OTOH, I don't want to delay S&D missions until I do. Today, my hair is clean and so slippery that even my Ficcare didn't hold a bun. So, claw clip it is again.
   
Presidential Elections: Today's the Election Day, and in late evening, we'll know the winner. During the past days, I've grown increasingly worried: the right wing candidate has gained a lot support, and the difference between Halonen and him has disappeared to the error margin. What are people thinking? The same people who have given Halonen unprecedented support for her whole term in office?
     I suppose that in the evening, we'll find out.

It's here... 

When I was leaving to the meeting yesterday, I decided to do a quick, nice cinnabun with hairsticks...and it didn't work. I tried a French twist. It ended up looking lumpy and weird. In the end, time ran out and I had to leave with a segmented ponytail.

Same thing this morning: cinnabuns just aren't what they've used to be. Lumpy and weird and holding poorly. Thinking positively, this must mean that my hair has grown while I was playing with claw clips! And this time I was prepared. So, instead of becoming puzzled and annoyed, I grabbed a RapunzelStix (Peridot Panache), and quickly twisted my hair into a hairstick knot bun. Problem solved!

It feels weird to think though that for next months (who knows for how long, really!) cinnabuns and twists aren't going to be my trusted everyday styles. Last time when this started to happen, I lived for a while in some sort of denial, trying to tell myself that I was just having a bad hair day of some sort. When I finally had to admit that I probably can't have 30 bad hair days in a row with very healthy hair, I became annoyed (I suppose that that in fact influeced a little on how large my December trim ended up being), thinking that if I can't wear my dear cinnabuns, do I really want to enter new lengths?
   So, I suppose that the extra time I gained by generous trim came in need. Now I know that there are nice and easy updos that still work and look nice: claws, hairstick knots and maybe even buns with SpiralStix should take well care of my updo style needs, and in addition I've started to like the look of segmented ponytails. Temporary end for cinnabunning is a big event, but it's not a disaster. This time, I'm trying to embrace change and think of it as an opportunity.

Yesterday when I was in a meeting, I also realized that IRL, I have managed to surround myself with quite exceptional people. Long hair on adult women is rare where I live, but around the meeting table I noticed that all the ladies present (our regular shorthaired lady absent) had longish hair. K and T had shortest, around shoulder length. I think I and L are second shortest with nearly BSL hair, though L is naturally curly so it's hard to tell. P has almost waist length, pretty graying hair. And H- well, you should see her hair! It's straight and ii like mine, but a bit lighter blonde, very healthy and between hip and classic length. She seems to always keep it in a low ponytail. I hope that in a few years, my hair will look something like hers. Maybe it's just a coincidence, but it's cool- three of above mentioned ladies are well in middle age, all of them great evidence of that long hair continues to look great as we age.

I'm sure it does, it's very inspirational. 

Today, it's been snowing all day, which is nice for a change. I started my day with dentist appointment. It was least uncomfortable appointment so far, and my dentist said that I have only two more visits to go, at least in case I don't decide that two of my wisdom teeth (sp.?)will have to go...I'm thinking about that. Today I had x-ray of them taken, and if the roots are nice and compact, I might have them pulled out. If they're not, I'm less eager.

When I came home, I found an already familiar looking envelope from my mailbox. I had received the hairtoys I got from France Luxe GO. I had ordered: new chignon pic in Carmel Horn, French Twist comb in carmel horn, and a pair of Nacro White hairsticks. They are simply gorgeous- it's hard to believe that they are plastic at all. The colors are lively and beautiful, and the workmanship is excellent to the smallest detail. Finally I have a French twist comb that really blends with my hair. The hairsticks are also very nice- being a bit longer than most of my hairsticks, they work well in my hair (not in cinnabuns though). I'm definitely going to order from France Luxe in future.

Today was also washing day. I did a small S&D, and washed my hair with Rosemary Lavender Aloe shampoo & AVC. Ida's shampoos should be used in about one year, and I still have plenty left. While I rotate the bars, I'm still very pleased of how long they have lasted. I suppose that I'll need to order more in spring, but not before.

Today I woke up with super clean, super shiny and super slippery hair. It was snowing heavily and rather cold, so I quickly concluded that I had to put on my bonnet when leaving the house. Which, of course, created a problem: my hair was obviously too slippery for claw clips, and though I managed to make a pretty French twist with my new France Luxe comb, even it started to fall in an hour or so. As my last attempt, I made a Chinese bun with Mamacat hairstick, hairnet and extra pins...and it worked! Phew!

I gave in and ordered my first set of BPAL imps: March Hare, R'Lyeh, Magdalene, Sophia, Eos, Sea of Glass, Magus, Kyoto, Veil, The Great Sword of War, Bliss and Tzadikim Nistarim. It's half of the scents I'd like to try...

Speaking of things to shop, there's Ficcare group order open on LHC. I have no idea of what I'd like to get: right now my hair doesn't cooperate with my existing Maximas too well...OTOH, Ficcares are too beautiful and so difficult to obtain if one lives near the edge of the civilized world...besides, I haven't decided what else I should fit to this month's hairtoy budget and therefore don't know how much I can spend in Ficcares. But, it's luxurious to think stuff like this  , I may enjoy pondering this so called problem after I've completed my grant application (tomorrow, I hope!).

Work: Grant application #2 is almost completed. After I've sent it, I'm giving myself a couple of days off. I feel the need to "detox" my brain before starting to work with the article on theory of knowledge.

Health: Diet-wise this week hasn't been exactly a success. While I've managed to eat the right amount of calories every day, the way I've managed it isn't too great. It seems, that every evening this week I've eaten something that I shouldn't have eaten and I've balanced it by pinching from breakfasts. While I think it's ok to do so maybe once a week, this week I've done it every day. Not good. I think that my evening hunger is more or less hormonal- it seems that feeling more hungry (and craving more sugar/fat combinations) than normally is my version of PMS. Weird. But, one day at a time- my immediate goal being not eating anything but fruit tonight.

Playing with hairstyles

I'm making progress with 5-strand braids.  The only problem is how to get even sections, but otherwise, my 5-strand braids (I've tried French, Dutch and English) look pretty good.
I've also played with my new France Luxe French twist comb, and am pleased to report that with it I can make way better French twists than with my Ficcares. It's a bit slower though and I suppose that I need more practice, but I'm happy to know that French twist isn't a completely "lost" style yet- just the easy Ficcare version.

Hair was a bit oily after yesterday's deep treatment (Winter Hair Food, after I saw weather forecast), and I ended up washing it again. It seems always end up being that way, no matter how carefully I try to wash afterwards. But, extra trouble or not, Winter Hair Food is still a wonderful treatment that I can't live without. At least, I wouldn't want to try living without it.

Thanks. I suppose it's actually even a bit more now, this week ended up being success at least in the sense that I didn't exceed my limit. Next week, I'm just hoping to do it in a bit more sensible way.

Hair: Cinnabuns are really beyond me. This morning I didn't manage to make even a lumpy one for a stay at home day. So, log roll with claw clip is effectively reestablishing its place as my staple hairstyle. At least until I'll become able to make nice looking braided buns and secure figure 8's.

And now comes something completely different.

30 facts about Galadriel

1. Though I'm now considering moving to countryside, so far I've lived in a city for my whole life. 
2. I love roses.
3. My favorite computer game is Sim City.
4. I bake at least once a week, usually twice.
5. I don't enjoy shopping IRL. Internet shopping is a different story...
6. I fell in love with my rabbit, Liina, when I saw her in a pet store- a tiny baby bunny who could cross her ears. Later, I found out that crossing ears is her way to express being annoyed.
7. I'm hooked to pinball game that came with my cellphone.
8. IMO, most horrible food in the universe is peanut butter and grape jelly sandwich.
9. I don't like having my pictures taken.
10. I hate to work on computer when someone can see what I'm doing.
11. I find most comedies depressing.
12. I'm HSP -highly sensitive personality-, being especially sensitive to loud sounds (including music) and bright colors.
13. My both parents have dark hair. My only relative with blond hair is a cousin (woman) whom I've never met. Judging from the photos she looks like my twin, but what I've heard of her proves otherwise.
14. I think that green is most beautiful eye color. Don't know why.
15. I don't have siblings.
16. My favorite fiction book is Mika Waltari's Dark Angel.
17. My favorite philosophy book is Aristotle's Nichomachean Ethics.
18. When I was a child, I wanted to become a surgeon. Now I think that ill people, hospitals, doctor's work...everything related to them, in fact...is disgusting.
19. I like metal music.
20. I don't usually like parties.
21. I'm terrible at math. I suspect that I actually suffer from number blindness.
22. I enjoy knitting socks.
23. I wish I could dedicate more of my time for studying metaphysics.
24. I really like Kalevala Jewelry. http://www.kalevalakoru.fi
25. I have very bad eyesight. Though I own contacts, I usually use glasses.
26. My favorite season is fall.
27. I love chocolate.
28. I need a lot of sleep. I usually go to bed around 9-10 pm. T is the same way and I consider it one of the small luxuries of our relationship.
29. I like antique.
30. I'd love to know more languages than I now do, but I don't have the patience required for studying.

Hair: Clean and probably as nice as it can be right now. Playing with styles continues. I quite like that new weird clip I found yesterday. It's comfy and secures a French twist nicely.