LEMON SODA

Happy Holidays & Merry Christmas to those of you celebrating! A lot of amazing food and wine, cake and champagne and most of all family, have been making my holidays super sweet! I am giving myself a break from books, but inevitably I will have to get back to them — until I do, I will sit back and start thinking for the new year. It’s all about plans and goals for me, and wishing too.

I hope you guys have been having a happy time wherever you are!

My fine hair has been battling frizz eternally, and no matter how dry it is where I live, rainy days will be sure to ruin my life. It is a damn struggle. The worst periods of frizz fighting occurred while I was living in Hong Kong (thanks to the unbelievable humidity). At that point I decided to give up on straightening and blowdrying and just let my hair naturally curl and frizz any which way it so pleased. I have to say that actually did wonders for my super damaged ends.

But you know the old “we want what we can’t/don’t have”, and so I have always been set on straight hair. Or at least wavy NON FRIZZY hair. Here are six main principles that years of trial & error, frustration and hairbrush fights have taught me:

1. Do not wash your hair every day! This will strip it of natural oil and your ends become dry. Figure out how long you can go without washing it before you look like you’ve had an olive oil shower, and keep that interval. I’ve always washed my hair every other day, but I’m finding every two days works as well! I have yet to try the wonders of dry shampoo, and I’m guessing that would reduce hairwashing by about a ton.
2. Do two rounds of shampoo, massaging the scalp for volune (great for fine hair). Rinse and condition from your ears down. I have found that it is actually better not to comb hair at this point, but that may be personal preference.
3. Before you jump out of the shower, rinse your with cold water to close the cuticles; this seals in proteins & actually makes it look healthier.
4. Gently towel-dry your hair. Add a little bit of protecting serum and start blowdrying with cold air and finish off with hot air. Keep the nozzle on the hayrdryer so that the air hits exactly where you want.
5. Pick out soft hairbands to tie your hair up. I usually go for hairclips or bobby pins though.
6. Water, lots of water and protein based foods (hair is protein after all); healthy diet healthy hair! I’ve also heard salmon is good for its omega-3 fatty acids — did someone say salmon sushi? YUM!

I’m sure some of these were no mystery to most of you, but man did it take me long to figure out the entire routine! What is your hair care routine? Any favorite products?

It is almost Christmas (!) and I am still up to my neck in work! Besides my taking a break on Thursday and Sunday, I will be typing away at the computer, flipping through textbooks and cramming information into my brain. So my goals for this week are:

• Finish 3 assignments by tonight (without counting one I finished this morning)
• Get the last of my Christmas shopping done — I’m so unprepared! Boo!
• Have an amazing Christmas Eve with family, lots of wine and desserts.
• Finish 4 more assignments by Friday
• Start studying on Saturday

And there you have it! A holiday dictated by numerous cramming sessions. New Year’s shall be a nice break to go all out, then quickly back to it by Jan. 1st! I am a mix of excitement and anxiousness and so, so tired. But I’ll survive, no doubt!

How are you guys preparing for Christmas? Loving the snow this year, nice touch Earth!

anyone lived in a pretty how town
(with up so floating many bells down)
spring summer autumn winter
he sang his didn’t he danced his did

Women and men(both little and small)
cared for anyone not at all
they sowed their isn’t they reaped their same
sun moon stars rain

children guessed(but only a few
and down they forgot as up they grew
autumn winter spring summer)
that noone loved him more by more

when by now and tree by leaf
she laughed his joy she cried his grief
bird by snow and stir by still
anyone’s any was all to her

someones married their everyones
laughed their cryings and did their dance
(sleep wake hope and then)they
said their nevers they slept their dream

stars rain sun moon
(and only the snow can begin to explain
how children are apt to forget to remember
with up so floating many bells down)

one day anyone died i guess
(and noone stooped to kiss his face)
busy folk buried them side by side
little by little and was by was

all by all and deep by deep
and more by more they dream their sleep
noone and anyone earth by april
wish by spirit and if by yes.

Women and men(both dong and ding)
summer autumn winter spring
reaped their sowing and went their came
sun moon stars rain

— e.e cummings

This is damn cute. Thinking of getting this for a friend! I have to say I’ve never bought anything from Etsy. What are your favorite Etsy stores?