Is this thing on?

Hey cats and kittens, it's been a while. So much has happened since my last post that I feel so amazingly bad for not posting anything. Trust me, that's going to change.

See, ladies, I went through a Gal-crisis. Here I was, unemployed and gaining weight, on the side of depressed, and honestly, not caring at all about how I looked. I found myself looking hard at my roots (not my hair, duh), seeing what I'd become and where I was going. Then things changed.

I got a job (which I LOVE), have the summer off from college, and put on another ten pounds from not being as active as I was and working in the presence of bagels and doughnuts. It was evaluating what was different and where my attention was that I reached an epiphany. I was not living by my own life motto: Nothing changes until you make it change.

So, my dears, I have made a massive change. I am back to eating a mostly raw and mostly vegan diet starting today (I've been easing into it over the last week -- I'm a realist, duh!). I'm cutting wheat and corn completely from my diet (don't get me started on how bad they both are for the human body). I'm embracing that I am, in fact, a geeky gamer gal, bringing all aspects of my personality into my fashion choices. I WILL rock that X-men T-shirt with a cute skirt and shoes.

What am I doing for exercise? Read on.

I'm a huge fan of Hatha Yoga. Even if all I do is the Surya Namaskara (Sun Salutation), I feel calmer and more positive about my day, and all my little aches and pains disappear for the rest of the day. I haven't had to have a chiropractic adjustment since I started Yoga in January. I stopped practicing when I got more tired and busy at work, and have started incorporating it again. It's amazing how much of a pick-me-up the fifteen minutes I spend on a slow Sun Salutation makes me feel, and it keeps me limber.

What else am I doing? I'm actually going to start doing Para Para again and playing video games that keep my body moving. I miss playing Dance Dance Revolution and am strongly considering arcade nights again. I'm cutting my Warcraft and Mass Effect time to only a couple of hours, and I'm walking during my breaks at work.  I'm riding my bicycle to do errands. I'm parking at the back end of the parking lot when I go shopping. I'm watching my posture and doing ab exercises at my desk several times a day. I'm lifting more. I don't bend over to pick things up, I squat.

So what does all of this have to do with my Gal-crisis? Everything, really. Seriously, if you're feeling crappy for days on end and don't even want to look at yourself in the mirror, how realistic is it to think you're going to work on those falsies and bronzer every morning? For me, however, that's part of my personal revival. I'm doing my make up every day now, putting time into my hair. At work, I keep my look toned down for the most part, but I'm still being conscious. Being Gal isn't necessarily about pure vanity -- there's an attitude to consider.

I'm keeping my blog. I'm tracking it all. I'd love to see what you guys think about what I've said and get some feedback and suggestions for incorporating my inner-me with my outer-me. I'm a geek, a gamer, a personality, and I'm pretty sure I'm still Gal.

-J

Yoga Day

Hi, Gals! As I'm getting back into blogging, I'm going to make Tuesday a Yoga day. I'd love to see how many of you are interested in learning about my journey in the discipline of Hatha Yoga to improve my mind and body.

I know there are a lot of you out there who aren't the magazine-definition of Gal. Not everyone is skinny, has the same kind of proportions, or has time for hard workouts. I've learned that thirty minutes of Yoga every day can do wonders for physical fitness and mental wellness, so I wanted to dedicate a day to holistic goodness.

No, I'm not going Mori-gal on anyone, but I do believe that a strong mind is the key to a happy life.

-J

Foundation Tutorial

Sorry I've been absent, gals. Real life reared its ugly head and kicked my ass. In the interim, however, I will share with you an amazing video I found.

Now, I know not everyone has perfect skin without makeup, and this is a fabulous tutorial by someone with heavily scarred skin. I think she's beautiful without the makeup, but given the pressure on women to always look perfect, I think it was very brave of her to bare it all, as it were.

The thing I like best about this is that she blends very well and ends up not looking like she's wearing a mask or pancake face. Watch and learn, ladies!

-J

Make Up Makes it Better!

I feel it necessary to explain my lack of blogging lately. I know, I'm trying to post something once a week, but psh. I'm a realist. (See the title.) I've been supremely busy with the American River Review (I'm Gallery Director this year) and a few other projects going on. One of my clients is very ill, and I'm worried about him. Orange Lounge Radio has been nominated for a Podcast Award (vote for us please!), I went to Disneyland where I promptly got sick and have been sick for over a week.

Monday was Halloween, and while I don't particularly celebrate it anymore, I took the opportunity to glam up a bit. I'd been feeling horrendous all day, and I still felt crappy, but dang it, we were going to see Ghostbusters at the movie theater, and I wanted to have fun. I did white and faint pink eyeshadow, dark thick black eyeliner, heavy mascara (which always makes me look like I'm wearing falsies), and a really cute casual outfit. The result? I was still sniffly, still tired, but emotionally, I felt great and had a really good time.

Just goes to show, there's some benefits to this girly stuff after all.

Take care, Gals!

-J

Lip Care - A must!

This one should be a huge "duh" when it comes to taking care of your face in general, but a lot of people don't really pay attention to it. Well, I am. Why? Because winter will be here before too long, and everyone's going to look chapped. Well, maybe not everyone. I personally have had an on-going problem with chapped lips ever since I was in high school band, so here's what I do to keep them healthy and un-peely.

Exfoliate! 

You don't need to buy any expensive special "lip exfoliator". There are ways of doing this safely and gently. Here are a few tips:

• Use a wet washcloth or face buffer (gently!)
• Make a sugar scrub (or use dead sea salts)
• Use a soft toothbrush

These are all super easy. Here's a recipe I found at bellasugar for a sugar scrub:

All you'll need is a teaspoon of olive oil, a teaspoon of honey, two teaspoons of white granulated sugar, and a dash of lemon juice. Mix these ingredients together to make a sugary paste. Then use your finger or a toothbrush to gently sweep the mixture back and forth on your lips. The result: Softer, smoother lips for not a lot of money.

See? Most of us have this at home. It works wonders!

Moisturize!

Your lips need the moisture, too! I actually use just a touch of cocoa butter-infused baby oil (I use Johnson's Baby Oil with Shea and Cocoa Butter) after I've rinsed off the scrub. I don't wear lipstick because of skin sensitivities, but I do love Burt's Bees lip gloss. I also use Burt's Bees Lip Balm (the tinted ones are nice, too) whenever I feel a little dry. I haven't had a problem with moisture since I've started using these products on a regular basis.

--

There's a few warnings I do want to pass on, and I'm not being some hippie eco-chick or anything by saying this.

Be careful with your lip products: Petroleum products are not good for you to use on your skin every day simply because the skin should be allowed to breathe. Some of the dyes and other chemicals in lipsticks are considered low-to-moderate hazard, meaning there is a degree of toxicity and people with sensitivities (like me) could react to them. Read the labels and be aware of what you're using.

If you're worried about what's in your cosmetics, try using the Skin Deep Cosmetics Database.  It's fairly complete and should help you make an educated decision.

It's also a good idea to switch things up. If you are normally someone who wears a ton of lipstick, try putting the makeup emphasis on your eyes and going with just a little gloss for your lips. They need a day off every now and again, too! Sometimes the best way to bring your lips out in a natural manner is just to use a little highlighter or white eyeliner outside your natural lip line. Blend it well, and your natural lip color will stand out.

I hope you've all found this useful! Leave me a comment to let me know what you do to keep your lips healthy or what products you like.

J!

Product Review: Organix Moroccan Argan Oil

I've had a lot of people suggest Argan oil to me to use in my thick, coarse, curly hair. I've been told that it will control frizzies, make it shine, and keep it healthy. Well, when they used it at the hair place I go to, it just felt a bit sticky, and after a day or so, my hair felt greasy. When I saw Organix Moroccan Argan Oil on sale, I decided to give it another chance.

First off, what is Argan oil? Here's how Wikipedia defines it:

The Argan (Argania spinosa) is a species of tree endemic to the calcareous semi-desert Sous valley of southwestern Morocco and to the Algerian region of Tindouf in the western Mediterranean region. It is the sole species in the genus Argania.

Argan grows to 8-10 metres high, and live to 150–200 years old. They are thorny, with gnarled trunks. The leaves are small, 2–4 cm long, oval with a rounded apex. The flowers are small, with five pale yellow-green petals; flowering is in April. The fruit is 2–4 cm long and 1.5–3 cm broad, with a thick, bitter peel surrounding a sweet-smelling but unpleasantly flavoured layer of pulpy pericarp. This surrounds the very hard nut, which contains one (occasionally two or three) small, oil-rich seeds. The fruit takes over a year to mature, ripening in June to July of the following year.

And here's what it looks like:

The plant has been used for centuries as a hair and skin treatment as well as used in cooking as a dip and dressing given that it's rich in essential fatty acids. These same fatty acids make the oil fantastic for hair and skin, much like how one finds olive oil treatments and the like. The pure oil can be pricey, so the best thing to look for are good blends.

That's where this product comes in: Organix Moroccan Argan Oil.

Now Organix makes a number of Argan oil products like shampoos and conditioners, but I used the Penetrating Oil. I've been using it for about a month now, and I really like it as long as I don't accidentally use too much. It does have a habit of pouring quickly from the bottle.

It feels rather sticky at first use, but it spreads evenly through the hair, and only a small bit needs to be used. I use it immediately after a shower once my hair has been towel-dried enough to keep it from being drippy, and make sure there's an even coat of it through my hair. I always let my hair air dry as it tends to dry out quickly, so once it was dry, I took a picture.

This is an unedited shot of my hair after it dried:

I haven't combed or picked my hair other than running my fingers through it. There's a little frizz, but no where near the amount I usually have, and the curls and waves are well-defined. It's also quite shiny under the light and the color comes out a bit richer. The photo is just a bit blurry (sorry), so it's hard to see some of the definition, but the ends also look a bit healthier.

Overall, I really like it. The one drawback is that I can't go as long between hair washings as I normally do. Again, because I am prone to very dry hair, I only wash it every three to four days unless I've been working hard at the gym or have been swimming (thinner oilier hair needs washing more often). With the Argan oil, I have to do it every two to three days or it feels dirtier than it is. If I use less of the oil and use it in conjunction with my regular leave-in conditioner, then I can stick to my usual three to four days.

If any of you have tried a different brand or have anything to share on your experiences, please leave a comment below!

J!

Multiple Haircolor Disorder

I'm sure many of us have gone through the whole hair chameleon thing. When I was super gothy, I had hair that was black in front, black on the underside, and blood red everywhere else. It's been completely unnaturally red, coppery red, dark brown, black, purple, tree green... you name it, my hair's probably been it. I started using Palty Sakura Creamy because I heard the dye really blends older colors well, will lighten darker dyed hair, and I loved the color.

The color on the box is very much a creamy red, slightly coppery, but subdued. It's a gorgeous color, and I fell in love with it immediately. This is what it looks like when my hair is freshly dyed.

Sadly, this does NOT last. My natural hair color is a sort of mousy brown that picks up a little red in the winter and a little blonde in the summer. I love having some red in my hair, and was a little upset when the color was gone in three weeks. The last time I dyed my hair was about two months ago, and this is what color my hair is now.

These were taken directly in front of the bathroom lights. (Please don't judge my poorly-styled hair; I'm getting it cut  and dying it later.) As you can see, it's pretty darn blonde except for my roots. It's a lovely golden color, and I don't really hate it. My hubby loves it, as do most of my friends, and a ton of people says it's very youthful on me. As you can see, however, it's NOT a creamy red.

Now, I understand why it's like this. Palty dye is meant for Japanese hair, meaning it will lift black. When one bleaches black hair, it turns orange initially, and I'm positive the dye takes that into account. When you bleach a lighter brown, it turns blonde. Mine will turn near-platinum with 20 minutes of 40 volume peroxide. That being said, as much as I love the Palty dye, I may have to give up using it if I don't find a color that will last better.

This is really hard for me, since I love nearly everything about Palty dye. It smells nice, it leaves my hair in decent condition, and the applicator bottle makes things so easy (I even saved one in case I change back to American dyes.) The only things I don't like is the super-tiny conditioner packet and that not as much seems to come in the bottle as American dyes.

Since my hair comes out this blonde color after a couple of weeks, I'm considering trying a different Palty color to see if I have the same issue. I'm considering Maple Doughnut.

It's pretty much the color the Sakura Creamy fades into, and I think it might be more consistent to where I don't have to worry about it changing colors on me. I still have three boxes of Sakura Creamy left, which means one box for my next dye job and probably two for the one after since I'm growing out my hair.

Ah well, First World Problems and all of that, but hopefully my experience with this helps shed some light on any person of Caucasian origin who might think Palty dye looks interesting enough to try. If your hair is brown, THE RED WILL FADE. Not in a bad way, but... it will.

J!