A Simple Idea & My Fav Comb

Such a simple idea - A brilliant idea - Drop your shampooed, long, wet hair inside a 100% cotton pillow case, twist, stand up and tuck it into the back. Why didn't I think of that!?!

It is so much easier to use than a towel or a turban 'cause all of your hair will fit. I bought a couple online from Dharma Trading Company. They sell 100% cotton pillow cases that don't have a finish on them - just pure cotton and cotton stitching. I understand that a cotton pillow case or a cotton t-shirt is the best thing to wrap your hair up in after you shampoo it.

I like the pillow case 'cause all you have to do is drop in your hair and it touches nothing else. Neither the cotton pillow case or the cotton t-shirt will sap all the needed moisture out of your hair like a bath towel or twisty turbun will. The end result is that your hair will then be much softer when combed and left to dry naturally.

And, this is my most favorite comb - Hairsense Seamless Bone Comb: Volume - 2 1/2" x 7". I've been using it for about a year now. I always grab for it first to hit any tangles that I might have in my wet or dry hair. Plus, it is great to use if you fight static in your hair like I do in the Winter.. I use it and now have no static to deal with.

The two hair forks (wood and plastic) I purchased on-line really cheap and decorated each up with jewelry findings embellishments and E6000 glue.

Backtracking To Christmas

I started working on this vintage Christmas wreath when I separated out the decorations for it while trimming our Christmas tree last month.

But, I never got back to actually making it until after Christmas as I had to find a wreath first. I completed it tonight. It really looks better in person. Then, you can really see the bright colors, the depth of the wreath and the glitter.

It has decorations that my daughter and I made when she was little, some I bought way back then, a couple (pink gingerbread boy and girl) from Avon back when I was selling it and a few I bought in recent years. The big elf doll I bought on clearance this year at Hobby Lobby and added buttons to his jacket and bells on his toes. And, the one elf dressed all in blue is a really old vintage decoration.

I hope my daughter likes it as I made it with her and my grandsons in mind. She will be getting it eventually.

Decorating For Valentine's Day

A lost, then found, little fiber optic Christmas tree found in the basement has now become my holiday tree that I will decorate for different holidays as the year moves forward. At night it is is so pretty and cheerful...

This year I would have loved to make decorations, but in an effort to save time to do/make other things I spent only 97 cents at Walmart for some super glittered confettii; found some tape and some ribbon and made some quick ones.

Also, I've always wanted to make a garland for the fireplace so I did this year for Valentine's Day using simply ribbon, tiny, tiny clothespins and store bought Valentines. So simple, yet effective...

Maybe I'll make something out of fabric to hang there after Valentine's Day is over. Plus, I have some really cute Easter fabric I could use to make a "flag" garland to hang there.

Long Hair After 50.

On May 1, 2010 I decided to start my long hair journey, layered hair and all, with the longest layer being 27-6/8". I want to see how long I can get it, with it looking good and healthy by the time I reach age 60.

It's been a slow go growing out the layers to achieve an all one length goal. For the most part, I'm there except for the layer of grown out bangs. Now I need to work on thickening the ends.

Currently my hair is between 32" and 33" - waist length on me. In the past, soon to be 2 years, I've cut an inch or two off here and there to get to all one length. Once I took a quiz to see what my growth potential is - the result was 39".

Currently at age 57-1/2 years old, we'll see...


25 Plus Things I Know Now For Sure While On My Long Hair Journey.


1. 1/4 cup of white vinegar in 1 cup of warm water is the best final rinse you can use to make your hair shine, adjust your PH and to prevent build-up in your hair.

2. Mixing some honey in your palm with your conditioner will make your hair super soft because it's a humidant, but it will over time lighten your hair. In most cases, the result is pretty though.

3. Using a water softener on your shower head is a must if you live in an area with really hard water that contains lots of chemicals. The result could be hair breakage if you don't.

4. Fine hair seems to hold best in a bun using forks instead of sticks.

5. Any hair ornament that isn't smooth will over time cut/break your hair leaving you with short wisps of hair.

6. Time is your friend when you're growing your hair to a super length so make it your best friend of which you have huge patience with.

7. My most favorite way to "shampoo" my hair currently is wet it completely, put conditioner on length and esp on the ends of my hair and use the shampoo only on the scalp - Rinse and condition again waiting the required time before rinsing it out of your hair.

8. Using a silk/satin pillowcase is a must if you sleep without a silk/satin sleep cap if you don't want your hair to be a mess in the morning with tangles which only pull your hair out. Ideally, using a pillowcase and a sleep cap is best. Your face could benefit too.

9. Quality over Quantity, ie. Length is your best route.

10. The only cure for layers is time and patience and more frequent trims to achieve all one length.

11. A healthy diet, lifestyle (exercise), vitamins and drinking plenty of water will grow hair.

12. Hair DOES grow faster in the summer months vs. the winter months.

13. Working some jojoba oil into the length of your dried hair and then brushing it in with a bristle boar brush keeps it healthy.

14. If need be, washing your hair every day, every other day or whatever is not bad for your hair and doesn't make it fall out. Sweat needs to be washed out of it and off your scalp or you could develop an itchy scalp condition.

15. A sock bun is not cheating - A bun is a bun is a bun.

16. My favorite long hair style is and probably always will be a cinnamon bun.

17. Going to bed wearing a braid, a ponytail, pigtails or my hair just flowing freely doesn't work for me. Even a bun now and then doesn't either because of the poking pins or the pull on my scalp leaving sore spots on my scalp.

18. If I can keep it on and I don't get hot, a sleep cap works best for me giving my hair a break from wearing it in a bun all day and keeps it from getting tangled.

19. Fine hair will tangle in the slightest breeze.

20. Fine hair is like delicate silk and is the hardest to grow long.

21. I never thought I'd say this, but letting my hair dry naturally using no hair dryer is working for me.

22. Aloe Vera Gel has been a great remedy for taming my fly aways and "healing" them when I pull my hair straight back.

23. Once I quit coloring/highlighting my hair, I found that I really like my natural white hair streak that starts behind my right ear and shows when I wear my hair up, and it's getting wider with some other white hairs sprinkled here and there.

24. I don't care if others think my long hair and/or my white hairs sprinkled here and there makes me look older. They think it does, I do not. Who are they trying to kid with their short cuts and dyed hair?

25. Cutting my own hair and not coloring or highlighting it anymore at a salon saves me SO much money. Money that I can spend on other things.

26. Having long hair makes me feel more feminine and since not many at my age have it, it also makes me feel somewhat special - Not better, just somewhat special.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year

An Early Christmas Surprise

Hubby took me to the mall a few days before Christmas so that I could visit Kay Jewelers and get free batteries for 2 of my best watches.

It's a special plan that I bought over 5 years ago. For the life of these 2 watches I can get free batteries for them. I didn't even buy the watches there! I expect when they advertised the special they figured most would lose their receipt and/or their watch would just quit working. ;o)

While we were waiting at the counter I saw hubby go pick up a sales flyer, and asked me if I would like one of these necklaces - Open Hearts by Jane Seymour "If your heart is open, love will always find its way in."

We walked out with me getting this for Christmas! My birthstone is a ruby so this one is perfect. He picked this pendant out as his favorite. I was just looking at and considering the smallest, 2 heart pendant that they had for sale.

Christmas 2011

A Gnome Merry Christmas

At night there is a light inside that can been seen at the door's window. :o)

FREE Wrap It Up and Tag It

FREE DIY Wrap Up: 90+ Tags, Toppers & Wraps

Knit Some Gators

Aren't these mini, knitted gators just too cute for words?

It's a FREE pattern!

My Mexican Casserole

I just took this out of the oven this morning - All ready for dinner tonight when hubby comes home from work.

Grease your dish - Add a little of this and a little of that; whatever your definition of Mexican is - Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 45 min. and you have Mexican Casserole.

Listing For Blackbird Earrings

My Blackbird Earrings were chosen for an Etsy treasury. That link is inside the listing.

Fun, New Hair Toys

HERE is where I found my new hair toy set below made out of upcycled kitchen forks. I love this set - joy and sorrow.

On a side note, it's the first week of November and my hair now measures 31 inches after a couple of trims. I've lost nearly 2 inches in length, but almost all the layers have now grown out. Yay...now maybe I can stop trimming the ends for awhile and make some length progress.

Click on the pic for detail of these forks in my bun...And, I wear my white streaked hair color proudly and it's maintenance free. I'm done coloring to cover it...Who am I kidding?

Super Easy Monkey Bread

I've been wanting to make some Monkey Bread for awhile now so when I saw Paula on The Talk on Halloween giving out her recipe, I decided to make it for our Halloween.

Paula Deen's Monkey Bread

3-12 oz cans of refrig. biscuits (I used Pillsbury Grands jr - Golden Homestyle Buttermilk) 10 to a can.
1/2 cup white sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 stick of butter (8 T)
1 cup packed light brown sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Grease a large bundt pan.
3. Mix in a bowl - 1/2 cup sugar and 2 teaspoons (or to your liking) of cinnamon.
4. Cut each biscuit into 4ths and roll each in the sugar/cinnamon mixture and drop into greased pan.
5. Melt 1 stick of butter (I used Blue Bonnet stick) and mix it well with 1 cup packed light brown sugar.
6. Pour mixture evenly over the arranged, rolled biscuit 4ths.
7. Bake for about 45 to 55 min. Mine was done a little before 45 min.
8. Remove from oven and cool in pan for only 5 min. and then invert while hot onto a plate.

Next time, for just hubby and me, I'm cutting the recipe in half.

My Grandsons - Halloween 2011

It's Been A While...

October was filled with both good things and bad things. Both of which have kept me away from blogging.

First the good things...

My daughter invited me to visit her for a few days. We got to go see the new Footloose movie together and then that night watched the original. That was great fun. We also spent a lot of that time playing around with stained glass and glass fusing. Her Etsy shop owned along with her hubby is Wood And Glass.

With her help, I designed and made a few pendants (which a few will be in My Shop soon) and also tried my hand at making a fused wall vase using my original drawing of a bleeding heart fairy and using her perfected technique for making them. I was also gifted one made by her. One small area next to the bed in "my room" was lined with all the wall vases she'd made so far for me to pick one to take home. All were filled with water and fresh flowers and a vase beside the bed was filled too. It was a wonderful, thoughtful surprise.

I also had a wonderful time getting together with my 2 grandsons. And, the first day, I got to enjoy breakfast together with she, her hubby and the 2 kids during their usual morning routine. My daughter and I along with the youngest (who just turned one in Sept.) got to enjoy him playing in the kids' center at a nearby mall. It was fun to watch him interacting with all the other kids. We also got in some shopping and I came home with a microwave kiln I purchased for 40% off at Hobby Lobby and some gifted and rounded up glass fusing items to use with it from my daughter. Three of the pendants in the pic were made with it - The two that are red with a single yellow flower in the middle and the one with a white flower.

And now the bad things...

I had been experiencing back spasms the day I left on my little trip and continued to suffer to a mild degree while I was visiting. Then, I came home to hubby who was limping around on a badly hurting and swelled knee. Then, my back spasms got worse to the degree I could hardly walk along with a sore throat, then a cold and then had to visit a walk-in clinic 'cause I'd developed bacterial bronchitis which I'm still in the process of completely getting over. There was a day there where both hubby and I needed someone to wait on us, but we survived through it. Now, my bad spasms are all gone (thankfully, they were gone before I got really sick). I'm getting over my bronchitis and hubby's knee has been treated and is doing good. So, the month is ending on a good note.

Click on each pic for more detail...

Monthly Hair Measure

Now that I've been on my thyroid meds (for a low thyroid) for several months now I think my hair is finally taking off and hopefully will now get thicker too. Hair measure for this month is 33" - tape measure from front hairline to end of hair down back.

A new hair toy I found on Ebay...

Wedding Anniversary Soon

Has it really been that long? - Where did the time go? - It kinda seems like yesterday...And then it kinda doesn't... lol...

Next month will be hubby's and my wedding anniversary - 17 years!

As with most marriages we've weathered some pretty bad storms, but we did it together. He still makes me laugh, and we still have fun together. I think that's quite a good thing to say after 17 years.


The 17th wedding anniversary is a day to celebrate a past filled with accomplishments and commitment. It is a day to look ahead to all that a future may hold.

Furniture is the singular association for a 17th anniversary gift. Where it would be thrilling to purchase a new dining room set, a new bedroom set or even a plasma television, these large-scale purchases may not be an option. If you feel strongly about adhering to an anniversary gift list, but do not want a large purchase, just scale it down. Furniture doesn't have to mean a new couch or desk. It can be something as small as a plant stand or trinket to enhance existing furniture.

I think the huge Victorian framed picture that we found at our local Salvation Army fits the bill to a tee!

My Great Find

Hubby and I had some electronic items to drop off at Salvation Army Sat. and look what I saw for sale in the window of the store! I immediately had to have it if the price was right.

It's a huge, very elegantly, framed print and cost me only $20. It measures 34" wide x 29" high. Originally, I think it cost somewhere around $100 new. At least that's my best guess in researching the company printed on the back of the picture which is The Bombay Co, Inc. which was established in 1950. Hubby paid for it and loaded it into the truck while I checked to see it I could find anything else - but didn't.

I have a few places to repair/repaint on the frame itself which has been nicked in a few spots. The frame is not wood so any significant bump will knock off a bit of the frame design. But, all in all, I think it was a great find.

This Year's Garden

We really don't have a garden anymore this year after all the rain we had early on and then the 3 diget temps last month.

The 5 Hungarian Sweet Peppers I planted were the only plants that produced much of anything.

I got only 1 yellow squash before the few plants that we had either died or were almost dead so I yanked them. Our tomato plants really took off after all the rain quit, but then it got so hot (which I never knew it could be too hot for tomatoes) the tomato were just stunted. We have tomatoes, but small and they won't ripen.

I'm not sure I'm even going to bother next year. I really feel for farmers.

Featured again...

My Kitchen Scrubbies from my Etsy shop - Sew Art It Is By Kitty Red were included in a Treasury back in July. I just noticed that today.

Working For Yourself

Sometimes I think I'm much better walking out the door to work for others rather than staying home and working for myself. I'm a threat to myself and others. *sigh*

Some of you will know what I mean and others will find this post purely cryptic.

Love, Love, Love...

this website I found on the list below...Even the guys would love this one!

I am humbled by just how talented some people are...

http://www.ana-white.com/

Top 50 Mom Craft Blogs-2011

Check it out...Some of my favorites are on the list.

SHE'S HERE! My Girl is here...

She made it all the way here from Japan in only 3 days.

Of course I guess she should with shipping costing $31.00. I know...yikes. And, I had to sign for her (I was never notified about that!) which luckily worked out when normally I wouldn't even have seen or heard the mailman. It was just pure luck or I would have probably had to wait until Monday or Tuesday to go pick her up at the post office.

Apparently, one HAS to take pics of the delivery and unwrapping/unpacking of the doll especially if it's your first one. But, I doubt I'll ever get another Blythe since they aren't exactly cheap. But, I'm sure I'll want one... So anyway, I documented the event in pics (without asking the mailman for his pic...*grin*), but I haven't even been to bed yet and it's past 2:00 in the afternoon so those pics will have to wait until another time.

The only thing that I found not to my liking which is really nothing is that her pet Chihuahua's leash won't go over his head. It's no problem to make another one though as it's just ribbon.

I bought him a dog crate anyway 'cause I saw one in a doll set at The Dollar Store that works great - and only a $1.00.

I love them both...