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Monday, August 29, 2011

memories on paper

Over the years, I have been semi-hoarding all the cards, notes, and letters that I have gotten from friends and family. There are too many funny, loving, caring, sweet, full of life memories that I can't just toss. It also seemed just as pointless to let them sit in a box in a cabinet where I never get to see them either. Lucky me, I stumbled upon a blog that showed her great idea for saving your cards! The way that she made hers was using a whole punch and keeping them in a small binder. It was really cute, but I wanted to personalize it for me. 

I have an addiction to journals. I can't help it. They are beautiful and I love to write. So needless to say, I can't finish one journal before I fall in love with another one. This actually happened to be perfect though! I had this amazing journal I had bought at Anthropologie and had been dying to do something really cool with. Seemed like with all my cards and this gem, I finally had that opportunity. 



It's gorgeous, right?


 

Pick your favorite memories! Cards, notes, letters, whatever! I used ModPodge to glue the cards to the paper.
( The second picture is Instagram'd- if you aren't addicted, you should be. )


This was my first page but you can decide to put whatever really.


just because's :)



Christmas cards




I love the way this came out! It is just so fun to flip through and see all the sweet words of encouragement, love, and joy that people wish you on graduations, birthdays, and for no reason at all. I am so blessed to be so loved by amazing people and their words are something I cherish so deeply and now they look adorable in my journal. Hope you guys can do something fun and special to you with your memories!!! 

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

I have been so glaze-y.

Call me shinyhair girl.
NOT because it's oily either, yew.

 I am struggling to fully commit to my next hair color for fall (red? keep my brunette ombre? ugh, decisions.). So, while I am not currently dying my hair (it's been 6 weeks!) I have found my go to. I guess it's really just an old friend! Did mine yesterday in between loads of laundry and I feel like a new woman. 

 I love Cellophane by Sebastian or PM Shines by Paul Mitchell. Both of the glazes (or gloss) are demi-permanent hair color, which is between semi and permanent. The lines are both deposit only, so it won't make you blonde if you are brunette, it simply just adds a tone or shine to your color you already have or will darken your color. Both of the lines have clear, reds, brunettes (golden-auburn-ashy), and golden blondes. Stick to your tone your stylist already gave you and just use these to up your shine or add vibrancy, not to change your overall color!



The Cellophane is an easy at home home product because it doesn't require processing liquid and only takes 20 minutes. The shine and feel that the product gives your hair is that just dyed shine and it actually makes it feel healthier too. The results last for about 4-6 weeks, depending on how much you wash. 

PM Shines is available only by professionals only. 
Cellophane is available at local beauty supply stores or by a professional. 

Monday, August 22, 2011

glamour girl curl

"That glamour girl curl is so hot right now."
Hot Tools recently came out with a ceramic curling wand in a couple different sizes, I went with the 1 1/4". I prefer my curls to be bigger and a little bit looser, but if you prefer them to be a bit tighter, than go for the smaller wand.  It curls so fast and is so easy to use. It gives you the very glamorous and retro curls that we all love and are so in this fall.



It's so easy to create the glamorous waves that stars are wearing a lot right now.
Here's how:
1. Section off your hair in 1 1/4" wide sections,  pulling majority of it up into a clip.
2. Wrap your hair around the wand in about 1" increments. 
3. Repeat with every section doing your whole head.
 *When you get close to your face you might want to do sections smaller so that the curl holds higher up on the hair shaft, keeping it's shape.
4. Spray hair with a lighter-medium hold hair spray and let it "set" or cool down for about 5 minutes.
5. Run your fingers or a brush through your hair and maybe one more spray of hairspray and TADA!


Jessica Alba


Annalynne McCord


Sienna Miller- this is the similar to the way mine came out yesterday


and of course, Taylor Swift, the queen bee of bringing glamour back to the curl world.

Coming Soon!!!
I am going to do a video soon of how to curl with a straightener too for those messy beach curls that I LIVE in...

Sunday, August 21, 2011

on the tube this fall...

Our favorite shows come back! The usual CW addictions of Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill, 90210... I should be embarrassed I know. Then there is Grey's of course. But I have to say, it is the new additions coming up that have my attention.

Up All Night
Christina Applegate and Will Arnett
NBC Wednesday September 14th at 8


The New Girl
Zooey Deschanel
Fox Tuesday September 20th at 9


Hart of Dixie
Rachel Bilson
CW Monday September 6th at 9


Some of my favorite movie stars return back to TV! Can't wait. Thank God for DVR :)

Monday, August 15, 2011

getting your hair healthy

Healthy hair is always in style and as a stylist, I get questions all the time about how to get or keep your skin and hair healthy. Here are some great tricks to get your hair healthy& shiny, and your skin glowing!


Now for those of you who have let your hair get damaged through the summer from chlorine, sun, color, or heat styling tools, then you need something to fix it now. Here are some great products you can use to start fixing what is already "broken"...


it's a 10 spray leave in conditioner and mask everyone can use!!


Brazilian Blowout shampoo, conditioner, serum, and masque are all amazing smoothing products. Dry and curly hair especially love these products, but anyone with color or heat damage can use them in moderation. I recommend alternating the shampoo and conditioner with another lighter product.


Joico's Kpak product is great for people with highly damaged hair that are in need of protein being put back into their hair ASAP.


I love Moroccan Oil! They have done a great job of making different levels of serum for each hair type, making this such an easy product to buy.


Paul Mitchell Strength is a great product for blondes or highlights because it adds in the protein taken out from bleaching, letting it fill the holes in your hair.


I love Pureology, it's what I have been personally using for about a year and I am coming up on the time to change it. I love the hydrate and reconstructive line. They are both organic and everyone's hair just loves Pureology. 



Whether or not your hair is healthy already, you always need to do at least two things other than a good shampoo and conditioner; a leave in conditioner and a weekly mask/deep conditioner. Everyone's hair can benefit from both of these. 


Remember when you are buying your products not to just look at price. In a lot of products, you are going to get what you pay for, but not everything is expensive. If you are going to pay good money for a cut or color, make sure you follow up on your part by taking good care of what your stylist did. 


DRINK LOTS OF WATER! Your hair is made up mostly of water so you need to drink lots! Your skin will get such a great glow from drinking enough water too.


Fitness.com has a great list of different foods that are high in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids that boost your hair and skin's health from the inside out. 
http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/recipes/healthy-eating/superfoods/top-10-superfoods-for-skin-and-hair/ 




Get a Brazilian Blowout. Make sure it is the actual Brazilian Blowout the brand not just a style of 'Blowouts', I have seen nightmares that cause more damage than good. The brand has had lots of negative press, but I encourage you to do your homework and you will see it's perfectly safe, and a miracle of a product. The product fills in the holes in your hair and smoothest the hair shaft leaving you with smooth, frizz free, healthy hair. I would only not recommend this product to those with really fine hair because it will take what little volume you have, but if you need it, just have your stylist do the tips of your hair. 



Next time you are out in the sun, try to wear a spray hair sunscreen- Kpak makes a great one that I swear by, so does Goldwell. For those of your who wear your hair in a part out in the sun like me, they now make a great alcohol free spf 30 for your scalp to avoid painful burns also! Or you can just simplify things and wear a hat or scarf. If you are going to go in the water- pool or ocean, you need to do one of two things; get your hair wet with regular water or put a deep conditioner on your hair. The idea behind this is to have your hair soak up either the water or conditioner instead of chlorine or salt water. 

Lay off the heat. Your hair needs at least two days off a week. Give it a break, let it air dry and go natural- that's usually my favorite anyway :)

Covered a lot of basics today, but if you have more questions, let me know!! 




Wednesday, August 3, 2011

i can't wait for fall.

hopefully i'll get bold enough to try this.


just when i thought she couldn't get any better. bangs are huge this season.
this color is perfect.

awh, fall. i just love it all. the colors, the smells, the style, pumpkin everything... i am ready not to be sweating while putting on my make up after a shower. i am ready for scarves and over sized sweaters. oh and tights :) i am ready for orange and red leaves against the grey sky. 
it's been fun summer, but i'm over you. maybe lets do this again next year.
Lexi Dawn Kiker. Powered by Blogger.