Celebrating Southern: Hair and Make-up

Link up with Leslie @ A Blonde Ambition

This week we're Celebrating Southern! Being the lovely Southern Belle that she is Miss Leslie over at A Blonde Ambition has started a fun, week long writing project all about life living in the South. She made it clear that we didn't have to be from the South or even living in the South to participate. I was truly excited when she announced this link up last Thursday because while I can't say I'm a Southern girl, I'm certainly living in the thick of Southern Belle country and thought it might be fun to give a Northern girls point of view. Feel free to link up with Leslie each day this week!

A Little History

Before I start this process I want to go on record as to saying, I am a Maryland girl born and raised. And while many will tell you I'm either A) a Yankee or B) That Maryland is below the Mason Dixon line, either way you slice that I'm OK with it. Being called a Yankee is not an insult to me in the least and I've been called that many times when I first moved here to Alabama. Since then I've been dubbed a "Southern Yankee" by my Brother-in-law. I've been living in the South for almost 8 years now and I will say for the most part I feel I fit in quite well, that's not to say it wasn't an adjustment. Most of the rumors you hear are true, lots of others aren't.  Southerners are friendly, truth. Southerners are very protective of their kin, truth. Southerners make the best sweet tea on earth, truth. Southerners are polite, truth. Football is a way of life and a second religion, truth. Southerners are all married to their cousins, false. If you hear banjos you should probably run for your life, semi-true. Ok that last one was a joke! In all seriousness, just like any other part of the country there is an exception to every rule. Not all Southern men and woman talk with a thick accent (my husband disappointed many of my friends when they heard him talk for the first time and he didn't have an accent). Not all Southerners are polite, but if you could compare the slower pace and friendly ways here to say somewhere up North, I bet you'd agree people are much more friendly here. For me it wasn't a huge struggle to get used to this way of living. Lots of people smile, and say hello. They ask you how you are, and truly mean it. Most Southern folks don't go through their days in a rush - they take their time. Maybe in the bigger cities the hustle and bustle is quicker but the small town I live in currently doesn't reflect big city living in the least.

As a Northern girl, I truly love living in a land of Southern Hospitality. And being exposed to the Southern way of life is a nice change. I miss home, a lot but oddly enough being here in the South suits me too. Reese Witherspoon's character wasn't lying in Sweet Home Alabama when she said she felt right at home in both locations. It's true. I could be just as happy here in the South as I could back home in the East, so long as I have my husband, my family and know who my true friends are I'm 100% happy. P.S. She also wasn't lying when she said you need a passport to come down here, truth.

As a not-so-girlie girl myself, being in the South has helped me get in touch with my inner Southern Belle. One thing you must know is not all Southern ladies are Scarlett O'Hara, although they'd wish they were. And not all Southern Belles are Dolly Parton, although it wouldn't be a bad person to be compared to, would it ladies? Ok, ok, truth be told they'd rather you tell them they were kin to Carrie Underwood these days, am I right? If there is one Southern lady that has it going on, it's Carrie Underwood. The hair, the clothing, the body, and I'm sure most would say the Prince Charming-esque professional hockey playing husband is a bit of a dream thing for most Southern girls. {The profession is inter changeable, I don't know many girls here in the South that gives a rats tail about hockey!} But I digress - the topic today is Hair and Make-up trends so while I won't call myself a forerunner for this type of stuff I will comment on the trends or ways I handled living here in the land of Southern darlings!

Let's start with today's topic of discussion, shall we?

Hair and Make-up Trends

HAIR:
Long, layered and lovely. That's how most Southern belle's rock it. I still haven't figure out how they look so perfect, poised and not drenched in sweat, but they do. Since I've cut my hair shorter I wear it down more often and end up looking like a sweaty mess. I have vowed to grow my hair out again. If it's on your neck, it's going to look a sight here in the South. Either you have it super short, above your shoulders or it's long, flowing and in a cute pony. OR you stay in the AC all day long!

BATTLE OF THE FRIZZ
I've always had issues with frizzy hair. I thought I knew humidity when I lived in Maryland, and don't get me wrong it DOES get humid there but darlin' you haven't known humidity until you've lived a summer in Alabama or any of the surrounding Southern states. Someone once said to my husband, "Breathing the air in the South is like trying to breathe in mayo." They were SO spot on with that. Gross, yes, but it's the truth. The air here in the summer is thick, extremely thick. Oddly enough, so is my hair. Thick, a bit course and very wavy. In my youth I had straight hair, but after years of perms in school I really think my hair decided to stick with the waves and bid my silky locks a general peace out when I was in high school. Since those days of bad perms I have been fighting the frizz and waves in a never ending battle for straight, pretty hair.

via google

My first defense with this issue is smoothing shampoo, followed by frizz ease products and finished off with a flat iron, and more frizz ease products. I seriously swear by John Frieda products. I start with my LO'réal EverSleek or EverPure sulfate free shampoo. It isn't a huge NEED but I love the way it smells and keeps my hair feeling soft, clean and manageable. Then I follow up with my arsenal of Frizz Ease styling products. Truth be told I probably don't need all of these in my hair but it's a tried and true method I've been using to keep my hair nice for days on end. I try not to wash my hair every day. I will often try to go 3 days or more if possible to keep my hair healthy. I'm no spring chicken and neither is my hair the less I dry it out the better. Add to that not having a super greasy scalp and I will say, I'm blessed.

My Anti-Frizz fighters are as follows: ALL FRIZZ EASE - 3 Day Straight Spray {thank you Misty for the tip}, Straight Fixation Smoothing Creme, Hair Serum, and Flawless Finishing Creme. Lastly I do use the Heat Protecting spray for my flat iron as well. (See John Frieda link above for details about each one).

Yes, I use all that in my hair, but not a huge amount of them. I use a dime size of each thing and work it through my hair. Blow it out straight, in sections, then iron out any kinks and then live in it for a few days. Yes, I still have to fat iron out kinks each day, and yes I wear my hair in a top knot while I shower and iron it again but in the long run it works for me. I still battle frizz and kinks but I found that it's not as bad as it used to be. If John had his products when I was in HS my life would have been much easier.

FRIZZ FRIEND: WAVES
Some days I just don't have the time to blow out my hair. It takes me a half hour most days to get this hair in check. Now you see why I don't like to blow it out all the time. If I'm in a time crunch, or just don't want to fight my natural texture, I will wash my hair the night before and add in some frizz fighting product and a bit of mousse, sleep on it and handle the rats nest in the morning. I will then curl my hair using my curling or flattening iron to make soft waves. Thankfully this style will last me a day or two as well. I usually think it looks better on the 2nd day. My Southern dolls I have not perfected the poof, or teasing my hair for volume - I may need you all to come hold my hand.

SPEAKING OF VOLUME
I know a huge trend here in the South is big hair. Thankfully big hair is pretty now - some of the old big hair, ala the 80's [metal AND country] was just plain scary. I totally rocked the huge 80's bangs if you're wondering and mine were fabulous thanks to all those evil perms! Trends here in the south for big hair now are less beehive and more, poof. And not Snookie poof, heavens no! Poofs are reserved now for volume in your crown, your ponytails and your updos. I've heard it quoted "The higher the hair, the closer to God." Am I right Southern ladies? Truth be told I'd like to think this look is "natural" but I know damn well that Carrie's stylist teased her hair to the heavens to get that volume. Note to self: Perfect the tease! Can we all take a moment to gaze at Carrie's perfect locks. I want to hate her, but I can't.

via google • she makes it look so effortless!

Let's talk Make-up!

EYES
Most Belles will tell you that you are not to leave the house without your face on. At the very least you should be rocking mascara. Well ladies I'm here to say I break this cardinal rule all the time. Not for lack of my Northern mother trying. My mom never went out without her make-up on. I can recall going to the grocery store, being told we were going and about 45 minutes later we left. She insisted she put on all her make-up. I didn't get it - I do now. Trust me if I didn't have bags under my eyes, I wouldn't mess with as much make-up as I do now. I NEVER wore make-up until I was 19. I started wearing it in college. My inspiration? Rose from Titanic. I wanted her eyeliner so bad and thus started wearing it and mascara, regularly. I say that I break the rules now all the time because once a week I vow to not wear make-up and give my face a chance to rest/breathe. That day is usually Sunday. Most of the time it's spent relaxing at the house, with the off chance I have to hit up the store, I still will go sans make-up. I should care more, but I figure all the women here judging me will say "Oh, bless her heart... she just don't know." Then they will see the Jeep tag that reads MARYLAND and give me a free ticket. I think it's good to let me my face breathe from time to time, so wrong I know but it feels so right to me. NORTHERN FREE PASS!

MASCARA
I've found that water proof IS vital. I don't wear it all the time but for outdoor events, hot days and kayaking it's a given. Yep, you read that right, Mrs. Odd Pants over here will wear mascara when she goes kayaking (as well as light make-up) but not to the store. I'm flawed, clearly. I don't ever recall my mascara truly running from crying lightly at weddings but why chance it right? Kayaking I sweat a lot, and it runs into my eyes sometimes, having waterproof isn't just a beauty thing but a safety thing! Safety first!

BB CREAM
It's a fairly new trend and I'm completely on the band wagon. It's lighter to me than most liquid foundations and/or tinted moisturizers. It goes on well, gives me ample coverage and I only have to grave a few bad spots with cover-up. It also helps with my dark circles. This product also let's my freckles shine through - I don't like covering them up. Since it helps me I then only have to use a light powder and bronzer to feel 100% covered. Again, I'm new to all this make-up stuff. Well I guess as new as a 30 something can be, but I like to look natural, not overly made up unless I'm going out for the night so this helps me. Having a less thick face covering also keeps me cool and makes me less concerned when I have to blot my forehead/face/cheeks from sweat.

SERIOUSLY HOW DO YOU LADIES STAY SO COOL AND PUT TOGETHER?

LIP GLOSS
I don't know if it's a trend but I'm obsessed with lip gloss. If I had one product I would swear you couldn't take away, it would be my lip color. There you have it... this Northern gal likes her lip smackers, and gloss, and stick - I love it all! I think it's the quickest way + mascara to look dressed up and put together in a pinch and it also can cover you in the blush department if you're in a jam.

So there you have it, my not so Southern ways of trying to fit in with the sea of Southern beauties that have it all figured out! See you tomorrow when we discuss more Southern Topics!

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Today I am back on the wagon. The workout wagon. I am going to be starting Chalean Extreme for the second time. I had a lot of luck with it before and it fit my lifestyle a lot better having 2 days of rest vs. just one. I want to make this a goal to change my way of thinking about fitness, weight loss and health in general. It's not a quick fix. If I treat it as one I will gain all my weight I've lost back again, for the third time. No more! Check back for updates! I will be listing my Workout of the Day [WOOTD] at the bottom of each daily post. Operation Fit Into My Snowboard Pants has started!

WOOTD: Burn Circuit I: Chalean Extreme

friday confessions and musings: vacation style

HELLOOOO Friday [the 13th]. This morning has been rather good for me. I only hit snooze one time and I got ready well before I had to leave. I even had to pick-up dog crap because June decided she didn't want to tell us she had to go and/or she didn't want to go out in the wet grass to do her business. Normally a pile of shit in the kitchen would ruin my day but I did my motherly duty... picked up the doodie and kept on trucking.

I figured I'd make my musings and confessions about my vacation. It's the best way in my mind to share with you my adventures in Maryland AND not bore you to tears with a long winded story about each event, so here goes. My vacation musings AND my confessions. Link up with Shana and Leslie and join the fun!!!

Random "Vacation" Musings:

Linking up with Shana @Fumbling Towards Normalcy

• A 12 hour trip isn't that bad when it's broken up into 6-7 hour increments. We left out of Alabama Friday after work and drove until midnight thirty to Bristol, VA. Slept in a Motel 6 (they leave the light on and are dog friendly). And woke up the next AM ready to rock out the rest of the trip.

• We ate Burger King - I got the Carolina BBQ Tender Grill Chicken Sandwich, I may or may not be addicted at this point. It was my 2nd in 2 days.

• Dad sent me a text to make me aware that due to the huge storms that ripped through VA and MD the night before, he was without power. Great, just what we need on our vacation, no power, and sweating and 100+ degree weather. I tried to stay hopeful.

• We always fill up the tank when it gets to half when traveling. It's an old standard I've always made myself do. Safety first. When we got to half a tank we stopped at 2 different places, both were without power. We started to joke that it was feeling a bit like Mad Max out there on the road. You could tell people were already starting to feel desperate. No power means no gas, no food and no easy place to stop while traveling. Heaven help modern day humans in the event of a true crisis, or worse Zombie Invasion. Finally upon passing an exit where I saw the bright red glow of gas prices near James Madison University - I yanked the wheel up the exit and drove into the gas station that did have power!

• Heaven is a gas station, sometimes. Not only did they have power, they had clean, private bathrooms (score), beer for days aka Abita Strawberry & National Bohemian, aka Natty Boh (double score), combos, chex mix and water (score, triple score, score). We loaded up on goodies, gas and ice and proceeded to my father's house. Note: I may or may not have ODed on Combos, pizza flavor addict over here.

• We dealt with a total ass hat who had road rage while driving. I might have to make a whole blog dedicated to him just so you can hear this story. Let's just say it was so bad, we actually called the cops - I never do that. But this was warranted, he was a total douche and endangered us greatly. 

• 7 hours later - we arrived at my dad's house and the power was still out. We settled in for what we believed would be a miserable night.

• We had cold beer, and an offer to stay at a friends home in the AC but we decided we would rough it. And it was a bit rough. I almost contemplated sleeping in the back deck. If it wasn't for the fear of being covered in bug bites. Needless to say that evening Mike, my father, June and I all hung out in the dark on the back porch. It was SO quite, and actually sort of nice.

• Mike and I had the conversation over dinner that night (see below) about how odd it was seeing SO many children out playing around town. You never see that. The parks had kids playing, the pools were packed and kids were riding bikes, walking with their parents. It's amazing how much changes when the power is turned off.

• Our first night in town Mike got the most amazing Reuben sandwich EVER! It was so amazing we actually went back to get them again two days later. At a small little bar and grill in the shopping center near my dad's home. They had power and we took full advantage!

• From 10:30 pm Friday night until 7:30 AM on Sunday morning Dad's neighborhood was without power. I actually sprang out of bed when I realized the power was on, Sunday morning - I ran through the house to find my dad cheering and gleeful. I love technology, I won't lie. I could survive without electricity, but I frankly don't want to. We were lucky, many residence of DC, MD and VA were without power until that following Friday!!!!

• Mike and I made it to Baltimore - but not to the O's game like we planned. We instead went and toured Fells Point, one of my favorite Coves in the city. We enjoyed Brick Oven Pizza which rocked my socks off and shopping here and there. We also went to the Inner Harbor but the heat was SO horrible we only shopped inside. No true sight seeing.

• One sight to see - We stopped at the 9-11 Memorial at the foot of the Baltimore World Trade Center. (Image below) - twisted beams from one of the twin towers. In the marble base names were carved to remember the Maryland victims of the attacks. It was an emotional place. I went from perfectly fine, to complete tears in moments. Just as I turned to the side of the beams, looked at them and thought, these once held up 1000's of pounds of weight and people. The beam laying on it's side really brought out thoughts of fear, pain and loss. If you are ever there I suggest trying to stop by. One day I will make it to the memorial in NYC until then I was thankful to have a quite moment to remember all those lost, from my home state, as well as nationwide.

• Naps happened everyday - not wise to sleep away vacation but frankly it felt great. The heat really takes a lot out of you. So does afternoon drinking.

• We were foolish to think a trip North for the 4th would be a relief from the heat... instead the temps were just as bad, if not worse in Maryland.

• July 4th was hotter than hell - muggy, and sticky. We went to a friends for a "Carry Out" Cookout. She got fried chicken. I am not one to normally eat fried chicken that often but when I crave it, I have to have it. I was so pleased with this chicken. PERFECT! We had a rain shower during the party, but it's all good. The weather was so hot my hair was already ruined, wet and frizzy - a reason to come inside with the cold AC was good for me. We had fireworks to shoot off, a huge water slide moon bounce for the kids and great times and convos with friends.

• Got the AC fixed in my Jeep. I couldn't be happier. I really love that when I go home for a visit I also get my vehicle fixed. It's a huge load off my shoulders. I just wish I could find a reliable mechanic here in Alabama. My father's best friend spoils me, for sure! Greatest mechanic ever!

• CRABS - I couldn't get enough steamed Maryland blue crabs while I was home. I had crab cakes at my favorite place to eat when I'm home. I sort of regret not getting the prime rib but I was dying for seafood. Later in the week we went to a place with my dad called Jerry's Seafood in Bowie, MD. If you're ever there you MUST go. Their "CRAB BOMB" is amazing. All back fin, jumbo lump crab meat, no filler made into a ball, broiled and amazing. 10 oz. of pure magic. I could barely finish it but I realize now I'm ruined for life when it comes to crab cakes. Nothing in the future will ever compare!  We also got steamed crabs the last night we were in town. AMAZING! Of course half way through our meal, the restaurant lost power. Yep... again, 1 week later. Their transformer caught on fire. Thankfully we were outdoors, our food had already arrived and we had emergency lights to light our meal. I wasn't going to be turned down my crab feast y'all I only get it once a year!!!!

• Speaking of good eats, I had Portuguese Chicken @ Nandos. Random, I know. My best college bud and his girlfriend met us for lunch in Gaithersburg and introduced me to this fun little chicken joint. I got a quarter chicken (breast and wing) with spicy rice and corn on the cob and it was awesome. The skin gets wonderfully charred and crisp just the way I love it. I can't wait to go back there. And the conversation with J and S is always fun!

• SHOPPING - I love shopping with no agenda. This is what happens when Mike and I are vacation. We wander around downtown areas such as Fells Point, MD, or Frederick, MD with no real goal in mind other than to wander around, dip into stores to cool off in the AC and check out places we can't usually shop. We dug through old records in Downtown Frederick, shopped in vintage stores and took our time enjoying each other's company. We met up with friends for lunch most days, had great laughs and did what was most important to us both, RELAX.

• REUNIONS - I reunited with most of my group of besties on this trip and it was great. I even saw old friends during July 4th. The last Friday I was in town we all went downtown to Frederick, originally to bar hop but instead we stayed at Griff's. I ran into some old high school friends I hadn't seen in ages.

• OLD SCHOOL MUSIC - Friday night at the bar the DJ must have read our minds. Never have I danced so much in a long ass time. Every song was one that one of us would say to the other... DO you remember when??? LOVE nights like that. The memories and drinks were flowing and me and peeps were dancing non-stop. It was an amazingly fun night.

• AFTERNOON DRINKING - I had drinks every day, and loved it. Tiki bar drinks are the best. I had lots of frozen goodies while in Fells Point. Mike had an amazingly awesome Mexican beer, on ice, with a salt rimmed glass and splash of fresh lime juice. Perfect for a hot day.

• FIGHTS - Gotta love bar fights. Especially when you can watch and not be involved. Apparently upon leaving the bar that Friday night in Frederick - there was a squabble between two guys. One dudes girlfriend got involved when a bouncer snatched up her man. From what Mike tells me (I don't remember this... tooo much rum) the girl was jumping on top of the bouncer and punching him in the head, sans pants. Not sure where her draws went but she was beating the bouncer in a tank and panties... he assured me it wasn't a "short dress hiked up" but a tank... Love to know where her pants went! Once we finally saw the cops arrest her, we went outside and there was another girl hanging out of a cop car, screaming at someone. I wonder if they were filming an episode of Campus P.D. Love that show. Frederick is a semi-college town, but I rarely remember it being that rowdy at the bars. OK, that's a lie, I totally remember it being that bad, and sometimes being the cause of it. Oh my 20's!  After making a mush face and petting a girl's Pitt Bull in the parking lot we all said our good-byes and Mike, my DD drove us home.

• Big Macs aren't the best end of a drunk night food, Taco Bell is better - just saying.

• Good times, with great friends and family. We ate our way through vacation and I couldn't have been happier. OK I would have loved to have 80 or 90 degree weather but the bottom line is I came to do all I did and enjoyed myself the entire time. I only wish the amount of sweat I dripped all week long equaled weight loss. Then again I guess what I sweat out I filled back up with in fatty foods - but it was worth it. Pizza 2 days in a row? Yes please!

• While driving on vacation we listened lots of podcasts and I'm addicted to them now. The Nerdist is my favorite.

Confessional Friday: Vacation Style

Linking up with Leslie @A Blonde Ambition

I confess...

The ass hat that we called the cops on that started the entire road rage issue, wasn't the only guilty party. I am sure I totally egged him on by flipping him and his girlfriend off. I feel like I need to share this story so I will have to do that maybe this weekend. It's a doozie!

I confess...

My liver is actually thrilled about this past week. No booze in it's system. While on vacation I may have had beer, or booze every single day. Not that it's a bad thing but I can tell my liver is not happy. I only drink on the weekends normally.

I confess...

I was over the moon excited to go to the O's game the Sunday after we got to Maryland. After the power outage, the sweating all night and the lousy sleep, the last thing we wanted to do was sweat at a game in 104+ degree heat. We canceled our plans and went to a sports bar with friends to watch the game in air conditioned comfort. The O's lost so I'm actually sort of happy I didn't go to the game.

I confess...

I ate 3 pieces of the fried chicken and shoved 3 cupcakes down my pie hole during the 4th. Diet? What diet? I don't diet on vacation and pay for it when I return, every time!

I confess...

I feel like I need a detox. My souvenirs that I brought home from vacation weren't items, they were pounds. I ate everything, drank everything and enjoyed myself to the fullest and I guess that is what truly matters.

I confess...
I might have a nerd crush on Chris Hardwick aka The Nerdist. I'd add him to my list of celebrities that I want to have a beer with, but he doesn't drink. So I guess we could totally talk nerd over some sodas right? [Please note my husband would be along for the ride, he's a big Nerdist fan too and the only reason I got started listening to the podcasts w/ Chris].

I confess...

I've officially gained back all the weight I loss before the wedding and I need to fix that.

I confess...
I ate another BK Tendergrill Carolina BBQ Sandwich this week. Gee, wonder how I gained all my weight back? I think I'm finally at the burnout point with this sandwich, or in need of a 12 step program not sure.

I confess...

I feel like I need another vacation from my vacation.

Enough of the written word: Let's look at pictures!!!

All Photos are via my Instagram feed and Mike's Tumblr Feed

Insta-vacation-dumb Twenty Oceans Twelve

1. Breakfast of Champions // 2. Independent Record Store, Frederick, MD // 3. Gnome, Downtown //  4. Happy June Bug //  5. Darkness, no power //  6. Brews and Books! //  7. Ice cold beverage on a hot day // 8. July 4th FUN! // 9. BOH and BAMA // 10. Griffs, Downtown Frederick // 11. Inner Harbor, Baltimore, MD //  12. Fells Point, MD - roof top bar view // 13. Baltimore, MD World Trade Center 9-11 Memorial // 14. B.O.P. Pizza mmm! //

making peace, so to speak.

I've been working on a vacation recap most of this week but it's truly hard to jam a weeks worth of events into a single blog post, and not be long winded. So while I work on that I wanted to let you know I'm over at From the Sidelines today talking about making peace with a certain player.

Happy almost weekend y'all!