An Oily Experiment

Upon my arrival to Washington a month ago (where does time go?), I began to realize that my hair got oiler much quicker than it had in the arid desert we like to call Arizona. I have been discussing and researching oily hair remedies for the past week or so and I've come to one conclusion. Talking about oily hair makes people as uneasy as discussing a much needed leg hair shave. The internet has provided far from convincing evidence.

I am the wash your hair every other day kind of gal. With a mixture of busyness + laziness, the pony tail has become a staple hairstyle for day 2 because my hair is just too dang oily. I also have leaned on the much needed support of the blonde's best friend...

I am also the kind of gal who knows little about hair products and chooses from what is inexpensive (okay, let's call it cheap) and sounds like it would be good for my hair. (However, today I realized I was using shampoo for color-treated hair...when I haven't colored my hair in almost 2 years...)

Anyway, after the purchase of 2 different kinds of shampoo that seemed promising for combatting my oily hair, I decided to put on my own scientific experiment!

So here we have it: For the next some odd weeks, I am going to do a case study on oily hair remedies. Each week I am going to try a new product and/or remedy that was suggested by the internet, friends, or simply what looked promising. I will blog about this once a week to detail my opinion on each product. This will begin Sunday August 1.

Until then, I am going to research different remedies, decide on my controls (you must have control variables in order to have convincing results), and lay out my experimental procedure! Each week I will use the same product all week and collect data on how soon my hair feels oily...or something like that. This obviously isn't the best scientific experiment because n=1, but I am going to attempt to keep good controls and an unbiased opinion.

Please, come back soon to see what I find!

A Nanny for YOU

Well after complaining and worrying about having no work, I was swamped with 60 HOURS last week! I worked with 7 different families. Yeah..holy moly is right. Only one of the families are a consistent weekly family. They have a new born baby boy who was born 9 weeks premature. He is full term this week and growing so well! (Note to self: don't have children for a long time. they cry too much).

I have been fully enjoying Seattle despite working so much! Two weekends ago Kevin and I joined some friends in Winthrop, WA for a hike. And let me tell you...it was quite the hike. I did not plan on hiking 7.5 mi with over a mile in SNOW. After the initial frustration (from me mostly...or only), we began sliding down the snow hills on our feet or bottoms and enjoying whatever we (I) could.

My roommates and I have weekly dinner and Bachelorette watching. This week Emily and I made a mass amount of nachos! Also this past weekend Kevin and I went down to Tacoma to go to the Point Defiance Zoo and Engine House No. 9 Brewery. The weather was nearly perfect (it was hot..I like a little chill) and we enjoyed delicious burgers. (I think Kevin actually had a chicken something, but I'll pretend we both had burgers).

Other than that, I have basically been working a ton! I also bought my textbooks online today. For anyone who knows me really well (I like to keep this secret close), I LOVE school. I love registering for classes, buying my textbooks, cramming for tests. The secret is out: I LOVE it. It's kind of a sick joke that this is what I love because some days I'm not sure if it will be the death of me, but whatever.

Well this post got long quickly. With the money from my over-worked last week, I bought a few treasures online so that I can create some new scrapbook and baking creations! Come back later this week and see what I've done (or just begun...).

For your viewing pleasure: here is my wonderful, loyal, loving father...who I miss way too much...in his new Husky Dad shirt! Hooray!

Actually posting a creation!

I was on my move up to Washington during Father's Day, but I told myself I would not forget to honor my dad with a card and gift.

We never (at least I never) tell our (my) parents enough how much they mean to us and how thankful we are for everything they've done for us. The older I get, the more I realize the amazing things my dad has taught me and given me. One thing I treasure (as does my self-esteem) is the fact that my dad would always remind me that I was beautiful. Through conversations with many YL girls, I realized this was not a common thing that dads tell their daughters. My dad never made comments like, "are you really going to eat that?" or anything demeaning. (Yes, some of my YL girls' dads have said things like this to them...it's crazy.) Anyway, I love my dad and he is pretty great.

For some reason the cards I make my dad every year seem to be my most creative cards. Here is my latest creation! Don't worry, I did write a nice note in it as well.

I also sent him a UW Dad shirt that I hope he wears even though it's purple. I made 3 other cards as well, but forgot to take pictures of them before I sealed them in envelopes. I'm going to attempt to make a paper bag mini scrapbook soon! I'm very excited.

I also bought these today:

I am SO SO excited about them. They are orange and fantastic and I don't care if I'm joining the Toms trend because they are SO comfy. Kevin and I made some SUPER tasty grilled pineapple and chicken quesadillas the other night and I am now obsessed with the Pioneer Woman! Then last night we baked chocolate chip cookies AND I am going to make banana bread as soon as my bananas get over ripened. Hooray for summer free time, which allows me time to cook and bake! Okay this is way too long (with too many links) and I have to go get ready for yet another nanny interview!

Some goodies

I realized I wonderfully failed at creating something every week and posting about it. I have made a few fun things that I'd like to share! Here are some pictures:

The first 2 are a bit blurry because they were taken on my phone. I made them over Halloween last year (obviously).

The brooms are shortbread cookies with pretzel rods and melted chocolate. They were SO tasty. The ghosts are brownies topped with jumbo marshmallows and vanilla frosting.

This is the first cake I decorated back in March for my Wilton Cake Decorating class! I can't believe I didn't take pictures of the Easter cupcakes and rose cake. I need to be better about getting pictures of my creations!

Kevin is obviously not 40, but we (more like I) joke that he has the tastes of a 35 - 40 yr old man. This cake was layered and had a delicious whipped cream / pudding mix in the middle!

Two posts in one day. Hooray! I don't have work today so I'm going to make some cards and cannot wait to be creative. Kevin wants to help me make a scrapbook table/desk and I am super super excited about this!!!

A little getting used to.

Here are pictures of a few things I do NOT like about Seattle:

1. HILLS. I have to park on one and it honestly makes me a sick...

2. There are rarely bike lanes and the lanes are pretty narrow. It's not terrible, just new for me!

3. Parallel parking. I knocked off my passenger side hubcap because I hit the curb so much. Better yet...I have to parallel park on this steep hill next to my house. It's a nightmare!!

However... who can't love driving north on I-5 into this beautiful city.

Just a small update for now. I am learning to drive better in Seattle--which means slower, more aggressive, more attentive, and more patient. Tomorrow, Kevin and I are going to the Mariners v. Yankees game and then to dinner at the Pyramid Alehouse (pyramid makes my FAVORITE beer - the Haywire Hefeweizen). I am very excited that the weather has heated up and the sun stays up until 10 pm! Soon I'll post some pictures of my great house and finally complete room! Miss you all back in AZ.