10 Reasons Why I Love Autumn.

So obviously it's fall. It's pouring rain, i don't want to get out of bed and face the storm quite yet, so what better way to start off the season than a quick blog post? 

I spent yesterday, or the first day of fall, mostly sleeping, cuddled up watching football and being lazy and cozy. Sunday is my only weekend day off usually, so I usually like to do something, be busy, but not yesterday! 

So, here are my top ten reasons to love autumn... Just because! :) 

10. Cooler Weather.

If you know me at all, you know that I am pretty much a walking furnace. I am ALWAYS hot. It is something that I've always been, which means that summer generally isn't my best time of year for sleeping or being a functioning member of society. I love summer for the sunshine of course, but when it's in the 30+ I am just about as uncomfortable as I can get. So, cooler weather is definitely a welcome sight for me! I love a cool breeze in the morning, so I'm excited for the cool crisp days of fall!

9. Soup.

Along with cooler weather comes my ability to eat one of my FAVOURITE foods ever. Soup.
Soup is pretty much the best creation on earth. It's warm, it's filling, it's comfort food to the core, and it's cheap and easy to make and have for leftovers for the rest of the week! When I can start pulling out my soup recipes, I know it's fall, and I think they'll be making their way out of the recipe binder pretty soon.

8. Scarves.

I probably own about 35 scarves. That is not an exaggeration at all... I literally own about 35 scarves. Needless to say, cooler weather brings about my scarf collection getting some use, and I love it!

7. Crochet.

One of my favourite rainy day activities is to sit down and crochet a blanket, a scarf... anything really! When the weather is too hot, dealing with lots of yarn all over the place isn't exactly enjoyable, so with autumn comes one of my favourite pass-times! I don't know why I love to do it so much, but it's kind of one of those mindless things you can do while watching TV or before you go to bed. I find it SUPER relaxing, and after a crazy day at the salon sometimes all I want to do is relax!

6. Jeans.

Jeans are my wardrobe staple. I wear jeans until I wear holes into them, so in the summer when it is so hot I have to find other things to wear... and I don't like it! Being able to bring out my jeans and not feel like I'm going to cook to death is always nice!

5. New TV shows.

Okay seriously, who doesn't love this about fall? As much as I like the summer, there is nothing worse than waiting 2-3 months to find out what happens after a crazy cliffhanger season finale! As much as I hate to admit it, I watch a lot of TV, so new episodes and new series to watch always make me happy... especially when the weather isn't so nice!

4. Apple Picking.

Last year Alex and I went apple picking and it quickly became one of my favourite things to do in the fall! We love apples, and right around thanksgiving is such a great time to go with the need for apple pies! =) It's a super fun sunny fall day activity, and I'm counting the weekends until we can go!

3. Pumpkins.

At the very top of my fun fall activities list is the pumpkin patch. Alex and I carve pumpkins every year, and we love to go and pick our own out at the local pumpkin patch. It's a fun and inexpensive activity, and it should be on everyone's fun activities for fall list!

2. Hockey.

Beleive it or not, hockey ISN'T my favourite thing about fall... although it comes in at a pretty close second. When hockey season starts I know it's fall, and I'm so excited. The way that people feel about the NFL football season starting... that is how I feel about hockey season. I could probably watch it day in and day out.... maybe I should have been a hockey analyst....

1. Leaves.

My number one favourite thing about fall is the leaves, and we have so many trees in Vancouver we are SO lucky. They are so bright and colourful... they always look beautiful, and who doesn't like jumping on a few crunchy ones now and again? I would say leaves are the number one reason I want to get married in October, the reason why I love going out for walks in the evening, and definitely my favourite fall thing to take pictures of. As much as I hate to see the green die... if it is going to die at least it happens beautifully!

I hope you all had a lazy and relaxing first day of autumn like I did, and that maybe you find one or two things on my list that make saying goodbye to summer an okay thing! 

Enjoy your first week of autumn! :) 

Blog, and be happy, 

Kyleigh. 

Healthy Eating and Meal Planning: Part 1.

Let me start this post by saying that I am a hairdresser. I am no nutritionist, nor am I exactly an expert on health and fitness.... as a matter of fact I think I am an expert on how to sit on the couch and eat take out.

This summer has been one of "those" summers. You know the ones... not only is every single weekend full to the brim with BBQ's and parties, but even the weeks seem to find a way to get so busy that all you want to do is eat bad food and take naps.

We in Vancouver have been especially lucky as our weather has just been unbelievably amazing, which makes you want to get together with friends and have a couple of drinks even more than usual. All of this is awesome and great in it's own way... except for the fact that it is horrible on the healthy lifestyle and weight loss side of the coin.

Since fall is fast approaching (even though I'd rather tell you we have 6 months left of summer) it is time to get into a routine. I always associate "back to school" with getting back to normal, and even though it has been years since I was in school, and I don't have children, it's a good time of the year to reassess some things and start to recover from the awesome summer.

This September, Alex and I have sworn ourselves to healthy living. I feel like I have said this 100 times, but this time we are serious. I've been trying to think of various ways that we could really work on having a healthier lifestyle, eating healthier, and spending less money and so I have decided to try and meal plan.

I have never meal planned before, so I thought that I might chronicle my journey through meal planning and better budgeting our eating... not as a fitness and nutrition person, but as a regular struggling person who works a crazy job and just wants to be healthier. I have read so many meal planning and healthy lifestyle blogs and websites, and most of them are written by people who are naturally inclined to be able to be organized and be healthy, or they have lots of experience on the matter and just make it sound so easy. I am not one of those people.

This will be an experience, it will be difficult, and I am looking forward to it!

Blog and be happy.

Kyleigh.

My Crazy Summer.

I actually don't remember the last time I blogged, and not because I haven't had anything to blog about but because I have been extremely overwhelmed with things to blog about, it has literally been impossible to find a moment to post about anything that has happened this summer. So, to ease myself back into blogging, I thought is share a few fun things that my summer has brought me! 

 Camping. I love camping, well..... As much as I 'camp' I suppose. Trailer camping isn't real camping but it's the thought that counts! This year I managed to actually go up to Cultus lake where I have had the joy and luxury of camping there for my entire life. My grandparents have a seasonal spot there, so when I have a couple nights it's nice to pack a tent and a cooler and enjoy a relaxing mini getaway! Alex and I have managed 2 weekends up there, and I'm hoping we can squeeze one more in before the summer is out! 

Football. As most of you know I am a sports fanatic, and so I went to my first lions game this summer! Alex and I took my mom for her birthday since she is a huge lions fan, and we had an awesome time! Hopefully I get to go again soon! 

Berries. I love going picking. Berry picking, apple picking, pumpkin picking.... Summer and fall are the best time for this awesome activity! My mom and I went strawberry and raspberry picking in July, and we are preparing ourselves for the blueberry haul that we will go get this coming week! I'm looking forward to apple picking in September/October and, of course the pumpkin patch, one of the best things of the whole year! 

I hope that this summer is treating you well, and hopefully I'll be able to blog about some more awesome summer things soon! :) 

Blog, and be happy! 

Kyleigh. 

Recipes: A Mexican Feast!

It's a rainy day in the lower mainland today, and this usually means that if I'm not at work, I'm bored. So, usually I try to find something to do, and today it was making an elaborate mexican dinner!

I actually love spicy food, but it usually doesn't sit right with me (perhaps because a lot of it is quite greasy) but I tend to avoid it. I have a cookbook at home that I bought that I have yet to cook anything out of, so I decided that today would be a good day to read it, find some yummy recipes and, because I can't leave anything alone, change the recipes and make them my own! There were a whole bunch of awesome mexican recipes in there, so I thought I would give them a go and a have a yummy theme dinner!

I made a spicy black bean dip and guacamole served with warm chips, and shrimp and/or chicken fajitas!

Let me start with the Black Bean Dip, because it was what I was most weary of, but turned out SOO yummy. I've never really had anything like it, and I love it! We ate so fast I didn't get many pictures, but man was it delicious!

Black Bean Dip

1 19oz can of Black Beans; drained and rinsed thoroughly. 
4 cloves of garlic; minced to a paste
2 tablespoons of light cream cheese
1 tsp lime juice
1 tsp white vinegar
2 teaspoons of chili powder
1/4-1/2 tsp of Chipotle chili powder.*

*use to taste really, I used 1/4 tsp and it was plenty, but you might like more!

Combine everything in a food processor, mix until combines and has a dip like consistency (it's pretty easy to tell when all the beans are mashed up!) Put all the dip into a microwave safe dish, cover and heat 3-5 minutes, or until warm to your liking. Stir and serve with tortilla chips!

It is delicious, healthy and spicy! Definitely worth giving a try!

Some black bean dip and guacamole!

Secondly I made Guacamole, which I have also never made before, but it was so easy I should always just make it myself.

Guacamole Dip

2 avocados
1 clove of garlic, mashed to a paste
1/4 cup onion (I used yellow)
1 tbsp lime juice
1 tbsp fresh chopped cilantro
dash of chipotle powder (could use regular chili powder instead!)

Mash avocado in a mixing bowl (or I mixed mine in the food processor), add additional ingredients, mix until well combined. Serve with tortilla chips!

And lastly, for the main course, I made orange and lime marinated shrimp and chicken fajitas!

Orange and Lime Marinade (for chicken or fish)

1/3 cup Orange Juice
1/3 cup Lime Juice
3 cloves minced garlic
3 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
1 tbs olive oil
dash of chili powder

Marinate chicken (if using chicken) for 30 mins+, if using shrimp or fish only allow to marinate for a maximum of 20 minutes.

Grill or panfry chicken until tender (I chopped mine into bite sized pieces pre-marinade, so mine didn't take too long to cook) and grill or pan fry shrimp 2-3 minutes until cooked.

Served with cooked peppers and onions, cheese, any of the dips listed above, sour cream or anything else you love with fajitas. Heat up tortillas until warm, serve and enjoy!

Everything was delicious and totally worth the effort of making it all myself, and I will definitely be showcasing my black bean dip and guacamole at the next gathering that I can! =)

Blog, and be happy!

Kyleigh.

Review: My New Blender!

So I've wanted a personal blender for a long time... and while they aren't very expensive I just struggled with the thought of having two blenders at my house because that just seemed ridiculous!

However, the blender we have at my house is like a high powered beast of a blender. Seriously, it might as well be industrial with how loud and crazy it is. It's not exactly the best early morning blender, unless you want to wake up the whole neighbourhood! Also, I loved the thought of a personal blender being so much easier to clean and maintain since you blend the smoothie into the to-go bottle! It makes small, one person portions too, so there is much less waste than using a full sized blender. (I always seem to make enough smoothie for 4 people instead of just me!)

Since it was my birthday this past weekend, I decided that now was a good time while I have a few extra dollars in my pocket to go a buy the blender I always eye at various stores.

I did quite a bit of research on personal blenders because many of them have the blades built in to the bottom of the to-go mug. This was something that bothered me a little bit, and something that I think a lot of people don't think about! It kind of made me feel a little unsafe thinking that if I blended something and the blade broke inside the smoothie that I wouldn't know until the smoothie was finished! So, I set out to find a removable blade blender... and believe me when I say those things are NOT easy to find.

I looked all over the place at different blenders, and there are quite a few companies that make personal blenders. From Hamilton Beach all the way to the Magic Bullet, there are usually sections in the appliance area of a store dedicated to small blenders, however there was always one of two things:

1. The blade was built into the bottom of the mug, or
2. It was damn expensive!

I don't know about you, but I don't want to spend 99$ on a blender that I will literally use only for early morning and post work out smoothies! I could buy a whole new big blender for that much, so it just wasn't reasonable or necessary to spend that much on a mini blender.

Finally I saw the blender I ended up getting yesterday. The Oster MyBlend blender.

This is actually the perfect blender. It's compact, easy to use and easy on the wallet at only 34.99$, which includes the 600ml sports-style bottle. It's pretty high powered for being so little, and gets everything blended up in no time.  It's also great because they sell the bottles on the side in various colours, so the family can each have their own smoothie bottle!

I used it this morning for the first time and it was awesome. Thus far, I give it 5 stars! =)

So, if you need a mini blender, I'd definitely suggest this one!

Healthy smoothies to go for the win!


Blog, and be happy.

Kyleigh.

A weekend update!

Well I have just been a super neglectful blogger lately. It's not that I haven't had things to blog about but for some reason I just haven't had time to really sit down and write it out! I've been pretty stressed out lately, so I guess blogging hasn't really been on my mind. 

However, no matter how bad things get, good things still happen like this past weekend for example! We went to whistler and had a wonderful time celebrating birthdays and partying our faces off! It was so much fun spending time with great friends and just letting loose! 

We also stopped off at the Brittania mine museum on our way home from whistler on Sunday. It was super cool, I hadn't been there since I was like 8, and Alex never had so we had lots of fun exploring the mine! 

So, this week is a week of celebration. I'm going to de-stress, relax and celebrate MY life, because I was born 22 years ago this coming Saturday! If nothing else, I'm glad to be alive in this beautiful place and enjoying my friends and family!

I hope you all have a wonderful week, enjoy it and celebrate a little for me! :) 

Blog and be happy, 

Kyleigh 

My Mother's Day Project.

I can't believe it's already May. In a month and a half I will be 22... not that that's any sort of milestone but I'm just not sure where the last year went exactly.

Anyway. Since it's May I've decided that I am going to spend the next two weeks (or at least the few days off that I have for the next two weeks) working on a project for my Mom. Mother's day is only a couple of weeks away, and I think it would be fun to put together a basket of stuff for my mom that I spent time making, rather than running out and buying a bouquet of flowers at the last minute or something. I also feels like mom's always cherish things you make for them way more than something that comes from the store... even if you aren't 6 years old anymore.

Pinterest has offered me many ideas, and I'm excited to see how many different things I can make for my mom before Mother's day!

I've seen so many cool things from making jewelry, making candles, putting together recipes in mason jars and making things for out in the garden! I am going to scavenge the dollar stores (of which it seems a new one pops up every week or so..) explore my local thrift shops and set myself a dollar limit so that I don't go too far overboard. I always seem to have the best intentions and get myself into a place where I just can't get everything finished in time!

If I have the time I might put something together for my Grandma too! 

Anyway, I am loving spring, absolutely adoring this beautiful sunshine outside my window, and looking forward to the wonderful May we are about to have!

Do you have your Mother's day gifts organized yet? You only have 12 days!

Blog, and be happy!

Kyleigh. 

From the Mouth of a Hairstylist: Hair Masks

So, it's been a while. These past few weeks have been stressful and busy and so I haven't had much time to think about a blog post, but I was inspired today to walk you through hair masks and why they are so important to the coming spring and summer weather! 

Hair masks should be a very important part of your haircare routine, if they aren't, you should make it an important part! As we move away from the harsh (and humid, in this part of the world anyway) winter, you hair could really use a boost before you throw it into the equally damaging sun! 

Almost every single haircare company makes a hair mask, whether your do your beauty shopping at your salon or at your grocery store. From L'Oreal to Oribe and every company in between there are so many to choose from it's hard to tell what sort of mask you might need, so I thought I would point out a few of my very favourite masks for you to try!

1. Bumble and Bumble Deeep.

This is definitely one of my absolute favourite products ever. In the bumble and bumble description of this product:
"For the chemically dependant or seriously parched (colour junkies, styling abusers or sun worshipers) a protein masque to revive lifeless locks"
This is the masque to go to for dry, damaged and over processed hair. Enriched with protein, this is a weekly masque designed to replenish hair's lost shine, bounce, and over all health. It smells amazing, and works like a charm the first time, and with every time you use it your hair gets stronger and stronger! Plus, it smells awesome and you can leave it on for quite a while to really help restore your hair.
Sold in a full size and a travel size at all Bumble and Bumble network salons, and at your local Sephora, it's an awesome product and worth grabbing on your way out of your winter jacket and into your bathing suit!

2. Kenra Platinum Recovery Mask

This is an awesome mask for colour treated hair. Designed for those of us who colour maybe a little too often, this recovery mask does exactly as the title suggests... it helps your hair recover. It smells like candy, and since it's a 5 minute mask, you can use it right in the shower! Making hair feel smooth and revitalized, it is definitely an awesome product and worth using as a weekly mask for less damaged hair, or a daily conditioner for those who could use a daily boost!
I use this product all the time, and dedicated a whole post on it here. I love it, and it works great on my most fine textured hair! 
Available where all Kenra products are sold, it is an awesome product worth taking a look at!


3. Joico K-PAK Reconstructor

This reconstructor is the epitome of reconstructors. This is the absolute best for those who have crazy damaged hair. Another 5 minute mask, it completely restores hair back to it's healthy condition. I have seen it work miracles, and it is incredible. Filled with protein and moisture, this mask is best suited to thick, dry or curly hair, but can work well in moderation on finer hair as well.
Available at Joico network salons and at select grocery stores, Joico is available to the general public quite easily! This is an awesome product for those dry summer months!


Outside of those available for purchase, the DIY craze (which is totally awesome!) has produced some awesome hair masks you can make at home yourself! There are so many out there that its impossible to try them all, but I have found ones made with egg base or avocado base to provide the best repair!

The DIY masks are also great because if you find that your hair is extra thick, making a little extra mask is often cheaper than spending 30$ every time you need to do a mask!

So, this summer I challenge you to try a few hair masks. Put it on your hair, wrap a towel around your head and lay out in the beautiful sunshine for 30 minutes, and be amazed how awesome your hair feels! Whether you go to the store and try a few different bottled brands, or you have a girls night and try to make your own, it can only help the health of your hair!

Enjoy the sunshine, and for the love of your hair,

Kyleigh.

Happy Anniversary to Me, and A Deep Thought.

So yesterday was a pretty big day. April 3 is always a busy day of the year as it is both Alex's birthday AND our anniversary. Why? Who knows for sure. It wasn't exactly our first date, but it was pretty much the first day that we acknowledged the fact that we were a couple, and it just stuck. (Plus, Alex can never forget it because it's his birthday... he thought he was a genius until he realized he had to buy me a present on his birthday. :D)

Anyway, we have been together for 3 years! It's crazy how time flies when you are having fun! It was a nice evening filled with a yummy dinner, cake and TV shows! Nothing is quite as nice as just spending some quality time together.

He also got me these:

So pretty! =)

So while yesterday was a wonderful change from my normal stressful life (well sort of...) Some things lately have not been so easy.

After one of my coworkers had to suddenly leave the salon due to severe illness I realized that life is, indeed, very short and that you can't always put the needs of others before your own needs. You need to spend your life bettering yourself and putting yourself in the best position to succeed, which is something I have always known but have not always put into practice.

I read somewhere this quote from an annonymous source, it said "Never let false guilt get in the way of bettering yourself." It's probably the best advice I've read since I started to re-evaluate my life.

I always let false guilt get in the way. I am always afraid that if I do something that is good for me that people will hate me or be disappointed in me, and that makes me feel so bad. I am always putting other people ahead of myself, and I don't think that's the best way to make a name for yourself in the world.

I have decided that in some aspects of my life I need to take charge and realize that some things aren't personal. Some decisions that you make have to be for you and your life, and not for the good or convenience of others. I have decided to set some changes into motion, and I am excited about it.

I hope that you all have had a wonderful start to your April, and I hope that spring brings you an opportunity or a desire for change like it has for me! 

Blog, and be happy.

Kyleigh. 

A springtime update!

Ahh. Spring! It actually feels so much like summer this weekend I pulled out dresses and wedge shoes and I felt amazing! Unfortunately it doesn't look like the heat is going to stick around, but man is it nice while its here. Can't wait to enjoy it some more! It has definitely taken my mind off of some things that I really needed to think about and absorb, and now I'm feeling a little more refreshed and capable of getting through the next little while!

Anyway, unfortunately I have had to take a small blogging hiatus from my blog series due to some unforeseen things to do with work and what not. This week is also super busy as its Alex's birthday and our anniversary, and so I have to take a breather and try to enjoy these next few weeks and try not to get overwhelmed. Basically, my only goal is to survive, which means not stressing myself out over trying to get blog posts done! They shall return, but I need to deal with many things before I get myself back into the groove of sitting down and writing! So for that I apologize! I really love writing them, but for now I just have to take a deep breath and try again later!

Anyway, I hope you are all enjoying this awesome weather as much as I did this weekend! Back to a busy week tomorrow! Just remember to breathe!

Blog, and be happy!

Kyleigh

From the Mouth of a Hairstylist: Hairbrush 101

These next few posts are going to be about the tools you should have at home, and how you know that you have the right ones! I've decided to start with brushes, as I feel like lots of people out there are using the wrong brush type for their hair - so, here is my Hairbrush 101!

There are TONNES of hair brushes out of there, and it's always hard to tell which one you should have. Round or flat? Plastic or natural bristles? How ever are you suppose to know what one is right for your hair? So, I've come up with an easy to follow way of determining what sort of brush is best!

Types of bristles:

There are basically 4 types of bristles that you can consider - Boar bristle, Nylon bristle, Mixed bristle or porcupine, and Ionic bristles.

Boar bristle is exactly what you think it is - a natural bristle made from the hair of boar. It's soft, and really the most ideal type of brush that you can buy. Boar smooths the cuticle of your hair and leaves you with soft, smooth and shiny hair. They don't pull and tangle as much as some other brushes can, which makes them great for people with easily tangled hair. While it is best to look for 100% boar bristle brushes, they tend to be quite fragile and tend to be better for finer hair, but a mixed bristle brush with mostly natural bristles are great all around brushes for everyone!

Nylon bristle covers basically everything from plastic to nylon to rubber bristles. You see them a lot on flat brushes, but they can really be on any type of brush. Nylon brushes are great because they are sturdy and, depending on how close the bristles are together, can offer great control over the styling of your hair. Never use nylon brushes where the bristles are at two levels on the brush. These brushes pull the hair and create more problems than they solve - always find brushes with even length bristles when it comes to synthetic! Nylon brushes can sometimes become tangled in hair, so I never recommend them for people with exceptionally fine hair, but when used in flat or cushion brushes they work great as an every day brush for most hair types!

 Porcupine bristle, or a mixed bristle brush uses both synthetic and natural bristles placed together in the same brush. They are really the best of both worlds, and typically are the strongest of all the brushes. They are great all around brushes for both fine and thick hair, and offer great control for styling. When looking for porcupine brushes, look at the base of the bristles and make sure there are multiple bristles coming out of the same starting point. This allows the mixed bristles to pass through the hair more evenly!

Ionic bristles are ceramic coated bristles that speed drying and help to smooth out frizzy hair. They are typically only found on round ceramic or tourmaline brushes that are designed to speed up drying times, but I've noticed the technology moving into other forms of brushes too. They are also fantastic for creating volume in hair, so if you are looking for a great volume brush this is the way to go! Sometimes you can find these bristles mixed in with natural or synthetic brushes, and they are a great way to increase drying time and help with smoothing out hair!

So, now that you are educated on the types of bristles, the next step is to figure out what shape of brush you need for your hairstyle. The best way to figure it out is to determine what your style goal is. Are you looking for smooth and straight or for lots of volume? Ask your hairdresser or pay attention to what they are using when they are blowdrying your hair. They are often using a brush similar to the brush you should have at home to help you recreate your style.

There are several shapes that brushes come in: round, flat, cushion and denman or radial.

Round brushes are pretty straight forward. Used most often to create volume, they are great for people with fine or limp hair. The best type if you can find it are vented which allows the heat from the blow dryer to pass through the brush and dry the hair faster, which means less damage to the hair. Often you can find round brushes with ceramic or tourmaline centers which are awesome for smoothing hair as the ceramic heats up. Available in all sizes, these brushes are great for anything from short to long hair!

Flat or paddle brushes are great every day brushes for people with long hair. They often have a huge surface area which allows the job to get done faster, and work well for getting the tangles out, especially if made with boar bristles. When using as a blowdry brush, they work best for smoothing hair and dont provide much in the way of volume.

Cushion brushes are probably the most common brush people think of when they think of a brush. With the bristles lifted up off the handle of the brush by way of a soft plastic backing, these brushes have a lot of give and are great detangling brushes for fine and normal type hair. As a blowdry brush they are used mostly for smoothing and tend to work best for medium length hair.

Deman or Radial brushes look like half a round brush but should not be used as such. They are a classic styling brush that works best for smoothing bobs and bangs, and don't have a huge amount of use away from smoothing out shorter haircuts. Men with short styles really enjoy using this type of brush. If you want to use a Denman brush, I recommend you talk to your hairdresser about the best way to use them. They are a very hard bristle brush and can be hard to use, but once you know how they are a great tool in your brush arsenal!

Brushes are very crucial to your ability to keep your hair with minimal damage from heat styling and pulling at your hair, and they are also very important for your daily style.

The reality of it is, you could probably use one of each kind of brush. I don't think that one brush can do it all! If you are really looking to have one,great all around brush, it is actually worth spending a little extra money on one that will serve multiple purposes and help you style your hair. Dollar store brushes are often not the best thing for you hair, so consider looking for something a little bit higher quality.


All of the brushes pictured above are made by Denman Brush Inc which is absolutely my favourite brush company. I have slowly been converting all of my work brushes over to denman brand because I just love them, but there are tonnes of other fantastic companies to consider too. Look into companies that you trust like the brand that makes your blow drier or flat iron. Those companies often sell companion brushes for their hot tools and are generally great products!

Anyway, I hope I've taught you a little bit about brushes and what you should look for in a brush for your hair type!

For the love of your hair,

Kyleigh.


All photos above are from www.denmanbrushus.com and are used for educational purposes only. All credit goes to the company Denman Inc. and the photos are not used maliciously. No copyright infringement is intended, and all photos link back to the original site.

Happy St Patrick's Day!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day! It is absolutely beautiful outside, which of course means I'm at work, but it's still lovely to see the sunshine!

Is it just me or is it only on this day that you realize you don't own anything green to wear? I would have sworn that I had a few green shirts, but turns out I don't! If you're like me you should really go out and get some green stuff, Emerald is the colour of the year, so green is going to be all over the place! I actually really like green too, and being a redhead (well... A faux redhead) green has always looked good on me. Time to go on a green shopping spree??... Maybe not! :)

I hope you all have a fantastic and lucky St. Patrick's day! :) Drink some green beer and kiss someone Irish! ( I am not Irish unfortunately, but Scottish! Oh well!)

From a redhead with a green flower in her hair...

Blog and be happy!

Kyleigh.

From the Mouth of a Hairstylist: Hair Damage and How To Prevent It!

I know I said I was going to talk about hair colour this week, but I changed my mind! Instead, please enjoy this post on hair damage and how you can prevent it! =)

I have a lot of friends who have extremely long hair. With extremely long hair comes the reality of damage - but this isn't just a problem for the long hair folk. There are also those of us who are chemical junkies, heat styling addicts or, worst of us all - the triple threat. Long hair who can't stop colouring and require a blow dry & flat iron every single morning!

So, I've come up with a list of things you can do to help your hair through the toughest of times!

Hair How To: Hair Damage and How to Prevent it!

1. Regular Hair Trims

The absolute best thing you can do for your hair is to see your hairdresser for regular hair trims. This is especially important if you are trying to grow out your hair. While I know you don't want to lose the length you have worked so hard to gain, getting rid of the broken ends will help with having longer, stronger hair!

2. Rock Second Day Hair

Some people can't do this, I get it. I struggled with it too at first, but learning quick hairstyles that allow you to not wash your hair every single day makes a big difference in the damage done to your hair! I don't wash my hair every day, and I work in the hair industry! Learn how to pin back your bangs and do braids. I often curl my hair on the second day... you already have product built up in there from yesterday and the oils from your scalp will help protect your hair from the heat. Try a dry shampoo, there are lots on the market that work really well, and if you really must wash it before work every day, try to give it a day of rest on the weekend! Your hair will thank you!

3. Shampoo

I actually have a post all planned out on how to pick the right shampoo, but this is really important! Using a shampoo that is for your hair type is important, and it's the basis for your daily style! Always make sure you are only scrubbing at your scalp. Rubbing shampoo into your ends roughs up your hair making it seem more damaged than it already is, and if you have coloured hair, it fades it much faster! Roots and scalp only!

4. Conditioner.

Along with shampoo, using the right conditioner is important too. Make sure to use a wide tooth comb to coat every strand while you're in the shower to seal down all the rough parts of your hair. Conditioner doesn't only apply to your daily rinse, but make sure to try and do a repair mask once in a while (once a week is best if you are ambitious enough!) Also consider a leave in conditioner for your after shower routine - find one that is light and moisturizing, and only apply it to your ends, especially if you have fine hair!

5. Don't Over Colour

If you are like me and you are a colour addict who can't stop going from light to dark and back again, be prepared for the consequences. If you can help it, try not to change your colour every 6 weeks and stick to changing it with the seasons - or just summer and winter. You need to let your hair rest between colourings, and going overboard with highlights and colour does a number on the health of your hair. Also, try to avoid colouring your hair at home if you can, this does substantially more damage than getting it done in the salon!

6. Learn To Use Your Hot Tools

Teach yourself, or get your hairdresser to teach you, how to curl and flatiron your hair. There are ways to use your hot tools that prevent more damage than necessary. When possible, allow your hair to air dry, and if you must use hot tools every day use a product that protects your hair from heat before you blow dry and before you use your irons! (If you are really stumped on how to use your hot tools, don't fret, I've got you covered with picture tutorials for how to curl and flatiron your hair in the coming weeks!)

7. Sleep With Your Hair Up
I was talking to some friends about this the other day, sleeping with your hair up or braided really makes a difference, especially if you are a toss and turner like I am! Pile it up on top of your head and it won't get in the way! I've been doing it for years, and not only is my hair not a huge disaster in the morning, but I don't have to spend 10 minutes trying to brush it out and creating more breakage than it already has. If you really can't sleep with your hair up, try to find a satin pillow case. It's one of those urban myths that's actually true!

8. Brush Your Hair Right.

To prevent breakage, never brush wet hair. Always comb wet hair and brush dry. When brushing your hair, make sure to start at the ends and brush working your way to the roots. If you do have chronically knotty hair, try using a spray in conditioner or detangler, they can really make a difference in the fight for smooth hair!

9. Keep it Out of the Sun
While I know that we all love the natural highlights that the sun gives us in the summer, wearing a hat not only protects your scalp from burning, but protects your hair too. The UV light from the sun (and tanning beds too!) damages the outer layer of your hair, and can lead to frizzy, dull hair. Blonde and grey hair are the most susceptible to damage from the sun, but remember if you are a bottle red or brunette that the sun fades out your colour too!

10. Be Healthy
Being healthy changes your hair dramatically. Things like stress, eating poorly and not exercising can lead to unhealthy and brittle hair. Medications can also affect your hair's health, and while we can't all avoid medications, taking only what you need when you need it can save your hair (and skin) from unnecessary stress! If you find your hair seems more damaged than it should be, try to change your diet and see if that helps!

Nothing feels quite as good as soft, smooth, healthy hair! Try these ten tips, and see how healthy your hair can be!

For the love of your hair,

Kyleigh.

All photos used in today's post come from www.sxc.hu and are used under their CC license. Their license waves me from any liability due to copyright infringment. No copyright infringement is intended. 

Upcycled T-Shirts - My New Quilt Adventure!

When I was in highschool I was always involved in something... I was part of the art shows, I was in the choir and the band, but most of my time was spent rehearsing for about 3 plays a school year. I loved to act, and in commemoration and promotion of the shows we would always get t-shirt made!

Needless to say, I have a LOT of t-shirts from this era of my life, probably around 20. I love them, but they aren't really wearable anymore other than as lazy day shirts or gym shirts, and even then I don't tend to wear them that often.

It's frustrating because they bring back great memories, but I really can't afford to keep them in my drawers any longer... they are taking up valuable drawer and closet space that I could be using for all the clothes that really don't have a home and end up... well... you know... living on the floor...

So, being a Pinterest addict like I am, I decided that I was going to try and find something I could do to upcycle some of my old shirts and still be able to use them. I saw lots of things from grocery bags (which are genius in our world of not wanting to buy plastic bags whenever you go to to the grocery store!) to underwear (which I really don't need!) and I came across my new project.

I don't know if you watch the show Rules of Engagement, but there is an episode a season or two back where Audrey makes Jeff a quilt out of all of his old shirts.

I always thought that it was such a cool idea, and I never really thought about doing it with all of my shirts that I don't wear! So, the other day when I was on pinterest and saw a similar quilt, I realized this is the way I'm going to be able to keep my shirts, but upcycled into something even better - a nice warm quilt!

I have never quilted before, so it's going to be an adventure to say the least. I've made blankets before as I am a crazy crocheter, but this is totally different! I am super excited to get it started though and I'm sure it's going to be a long project, but I can't wait to show you guys what I come up with!! =)

Blog, and be happy!

Kyleigh.

(P.S. Stay tuned for the second post from my blog series... it's only a couple of days away!)

From the Mouth of a Hair Stylist: How to Get the Haircut You Want

Well, I suppose I should start by saying: Welcome! Welcome to my blog series 'From the Mouth of a Hair Stylist!' I am seriously so excited that I am here, and that you are too! So, without any further ramblings, please enjoy part 1 of my 10 part blog! =) 

Haircuts are really the start and finish of everything to do with hair. While hair has moved into more complex chemical services over the years, haircuts really do remain the staple of the salon industry. Everyone needs a haircut, and thus it raises a lot of questions for people. Should you jump on that new haircut trend, or stay in your haircut rut?

With long waves and short pixies, undercuts and bobs all popular right now, how ever can you possibly choose between everything that's out there, and more importantly, know if it's going to look good?

That is why I hear this question more than any other:

"Okay, so I have no idea what I want my hair to look like... you're the expert! What kind of haircut should I have?"

I'm not going to lie to you, it is my most loathed question, which is why I've chosen to start here.

The reason that I find it so difficult to answer is mostly because there isn't one haircut that is the be-all end-all for your face shape and hair type. While of course there are cuts that work best for hair types and face shapes, with the plethora of hair products and tools available to the every day person, not to mention that everyone has different problem spots with their hair, there isn't really a clear cut answer to what sort of hair cut you should have.

To top it all off, the haircut you "should" have varies from hairdresser to hairdresser. What I think you should have could be very different from the cut "that terrible hairdresser" you use to see thought, and it could also be very different from that cut your "very favourite hairdresser EVER" gave you - and we could all be giving you 'textbook' hairstyles for your hair type!

So, I've come up with the top 5 things you need to think about before you head to the salon so you can get the haircut you WANT rather than the haircut you "should have"!

How to Get the Haircut You Want:

1. Ask people you know (including your hairstylist) what they think would look best on you. Almost everyone knows someone with great fashion sense, and they can often offer you wonderful ideas you never thought of. Always run big changes past people who will be honest with you, and consider them for longer than 5 minutes. Cutting of 2 feet of hair on a whim almost always ends in tears. If you have a big change in mind, they will always be the ones you can trust to tell you if it's a good or bad idea! Make sure to trust your hairstylist to tell you honestly what they think too, and don't let anyone, including your stylist, bully you into something you aren't comfortable with!

2. Come in with a style in mind. I'm not asking you to come in with a folder in your phone of pictures of your perfect haircut from all angles (although that's always helpful, us stylists are generally very visual people!), but consider how much length you are willing to part with, or if you want bangs or not. Even something as simple as knowing you "just can't part with anything more than an inch" is helpful! Your stylist will tell you if they think it's not going to work, so let them help you find something similar that will, and always make you sure you feel comfortable with the final decision before the cutting begins! (Oh, and always physically show me with your fingers your idea of an inch. My idea of an inch and your idea of are often different!)

3. Look at pictures, but don't look at pictures of your favourite celebrities. If you are going to bring in pictures, consider trying to find people with a hair and face shape that looks similar yours. If you have thick, unruly, curly hair and a very round face, trust me when I say you aren't going to be able to have Anne Hathaway's cute pixie cut without a LOT of work in the morning. Try to block out who you are looking at and look just at the hair - you have to remember you don't look just like Kim Kardashian or Jennifer Aniston (and you don't have their daily stylist either). Lastly, consider looking back at old pictures of yourself. If there is a time when you thought "yes, this was absolutely the BEST haircut I ever had - I felt amazing!" it's probably something that should be considered again! (unless, of course, it's a mullet. Never consider that again.)

4. Consider your daily routine. Are you a wash and wear kind of person, or do you have an hour every day to do a serious styling routine? Do you have specific fall back styles you can't let go of like the sock bun or braids? Are you skilled with a round brush or does the idea of having to put product in your hair every day scare you? All of these things are very important to consider! Be honest with yourself, and be honest with your stylist. If you sleep in every single morning, a high maintenance style is not for you. Your routine is also important to consider when it comes to thinking about your future haircuts! If you are going to get that super short pixie cut, are you going to be willing to come in every 4-6 weeks to get it re-shaped, or are you a haircut once every 8 months kind of person?

5. Remember - you know your hair best. We are the professionals, but you have lived with your hair your whole life and know what it is like! You know all the problem areas, and you probably already have a good idea of what types of cuts will work best for you. Trust your instincts, you are more knowledgeable about your hair than you think!

Your haircut should make you feel great, and if it doesn't you need to say something. While we will always try to provide you with the best haircut we can, everyone has bad days and this is an industry where we are always learning. If you leave with a haircut you hate and you never say anything, we don't continue to learn and grow as stylists - but be constructive and don't lose your cool. Sitting there and saying "I just hate this", pulling at it and crying, or playing the blame game is not at all helpful, so be specific. "I hate my bangs because they are too long" gives me an idea of what you see and why you aren't happy. Specificity is key! This goes for when you are getting your hair cut as well, not just after. Saying "I want this piece shorter" is not as specific as "I want my layers to start right below my ear" or "This piece needs to be 2 inches shorter." But please don't micromanage your stylist. Trust them and don't ask them to explain in technical terms every single snip!

Oh, and never, ever, ever, ever, EVER cut your hair yourself. You aren't 4 years old, you are a grownup. I don't want to have to scold you when you come in because you have chopped your bangs too short! Most salons do bang trims for a few dollars, so drop in for a few minutes and see if someone can trim your bangs for you. When you've worked so hard to find a haircut that works for you, trimming it yourself is just asking for trouble!

My last point on this matter is this: Save yourself some money and the chance of disappointment by finding a stylist that understands what you are asking for. This goes not only for haircuts, but for every facet of your salon experience. If that stylist down at the 15 minute haircut place isn't getting it done, stop going. Ask your friends and family, check reviews online, or even ask that lady with the great hair at the bank who their stylist is, and stick with the one you like once you've found them! Trust me when I say that it will save you lots of unnecessary tears and money if you take the time to find the stylist that gives you what you want!

While I can't provide you with all the answers when it comes to getting haircuts, I hope that I have given you some tips on how to make your haircut experience the best it can be! Keep those 5 points in mind before you leave for your appointment, and it will save yourself (and your stylist) a huge headache when you get to the salon!

Next week: Hair Colour!

For the love of your hair:

Kyleigh.

10 Part Blog Series: Coming soon!

So I've been tossing around the idea for a few weeks now that I would do a 10 part blog series answering some of the frequently asked questions I get at the salon all the time. I feel like I answer the same questions so frequently that it must be something that every stylists hears all day long as well, so putting all of my answers in one place seems like a good idea to me!

I always pride myself on being able to answer a lot of questions, and being patient with clients who are nervous or, my favourite, "hate hairdressers". You'd be surprised how many of these people I see, and how many of them I've been able to retain because I don't brush them off! There is something to be said about being a great hairdresser, but if you can be a great hairdresser and an even better friend to your clients by making them comfortable, I feel like you're setting yourself up for success!

So, starting hopefully next week, I've decided I'm going to dedicate a post a week for the next 10 to my blog series which I'm calling "From the Mouth of a Hair Stylist". I'm going to focus on a lot of key things I get asked about like what kind of haircut you should have, what products you should be using, and what sort of tools you need to have at home to make your life (and your hairdresser's!) easier.

While there obviously isn't any one straight answer to all of these questions - I find hairdressing is very objective in that everyone has their own way of doing things - I have done a lot of research on the answers I'm going to be providing. From well know experts in the trade to people I work with every day, I'm going to find answers to your burning hair questions and give you a helping hand!

I have some good ideas of where to start, but if you have any burning questions you need answered, let me know and I'll be happy to find those answers for you too!

I am SO looking forward to this blog series! Keep your eyes open, the answers and tips are coming! =)

Blog, and be happy!

Kyleigh.

The Blog Renovation!

Welcome to my new blog!!! =)

Under all technicalities, this isn't a new blog. The URL is changed from the former 'youllneedastamp' to the new and improved kyleighfrancks.blogspot.ca, so if you have me bookmarked somewhere, please update that! HOWEVER, all of my old posts, recipes and years of quirky posts are still available for you to admire! =) I decided that I needed to make my blog easier to figure out, and by using my name as the url I have created the opportunity to open my blog up a little more and use it not only for my personal musings but also as a semi-professional blog.

As you can also probably tell, I have changed the title of my blog from "Don't forget to write, you'll need a stamp" (Which was actually quite hard for me... I've been running blogs under that title for nearly 4 years!) to "Her Wet Hair: musings of a hair stylist" which, despite how painful it was to change, I am super excited about it! I love the idea of something fresh and new, and since it's nearly spring, it was time to do some spring cleaning and make some changes!

Visually I am super stoked about my blog too. Recently my friend Taren over at Life of Taren renovated her blog, and it's super cute! I decided to go in the direction she took her blog - simple, easy to follow and pretty to look at! While I haven't gone all out and bought my URL yet like she has (it's definitely something I'm considering though!) I think I'm moving toward a better blogging experience for you and for me! 

I have also added a new page tab up at the top right of the blog. This tab will take you to a page dedicated to all the information you could possibly need about my hairdressing venture from where I work to when and how to get a hold of me! By adding this page, I hope that you might be able to share me with your friends and help me get my career off the ground! =)

 Otherwise, everything is basically the same. I plan on continuing to update my blog by adding a recipe link page to all the different food I've made over the years, plus I have a little more cleaning up to do around the blog... however I finally feel like I'm moving in the right direction for my future of blogging! After fighting with my blog for nearly 4 hours this morning, it's just time to take a break!

I look forward to sharing this new blog with you, and I hope that you enjoying reading my musings as much as I love writing them!

Blog, and be happy!

Kyleigh.

Kenra Hair Mask

On Tuesday, while I was out enjoying the sunshine and running my errands, I ended up at the beauty supply (as I usually do on my days off... they really know how to clean out my pockets!). I went in there originally to get Alex some new hair product as he was running low, and ended up buying myself a hair mask.

I love hair masks. They smell awesome and make your hair feel AMAZING, I've just struggled finding one that I really, really like. I'm one of those hairdressers that gives awesome advice to my clients, but I never actually listen to what I'm saying and apply it to myself... anyway. I decided that my hair was feeling a little dry and could use a boost, and I bought Kenra's Platinum Recovery Mask.

So today, because it was disgusting and rainy (you know, since the weather here changes at the drop of a hat!) I decided that I would give it a go and see how it makes my hair feel.

It really a great investment because you can use it as an after shampoo boost in the shower by leaving it on for 3-5 mins, or you can do what I did and leave it on for about 20 under a shower cap to get a little bit extra out of it. It's colour safe, smells amazing and wasn't heavy in my hair (which is a big deal for us fine-haired folk!)

Gotta say, I love it! It was just what my hair needed after months of chemical damage without much repair. My hair feels soft, less frizzy and looks SOOOO shiny. Did I mention that it smells awesome too? Kenra is seriously candy for your hair. There isn't a product line that I've worked with that smells as good as Kenra does, and that's important, because people care about how their hair smells! Wait- or is that just me?

Anyway, I needed to share my find, as I know that there are lots of people out there who are like me and damage damage damage without much recovery. It's hard sometimes to find a mask that isn't overpowering or too heavy, because the last thing that I want as a girl with fine hair is to weigh my hair down before I even get out of the shower!

Believe me, hair masks are worth the investment as a weekly treatment, ESPECIALLY if you colour your hair, heat treat it all the time, and layer it up with product over product! As a professional (and an avid destroyer of my own hair) I would definitely recommend this to all my friends and clients alike! =)

Blog, and be happy!

Kyleigh. 

BB Cream and a little update!

Working in the beauty industry, I always find myself wanting to try new products and see what works and what doesn't! Of course, I spend most of my time trying hair products since hair is my thing, but lately I've been contemplating trying some new makeup products too!

When it comes to make up, I'm actually a huge snob. Generally speaking, I only use MAC products, and I adore them. I've been using MAC ever since I started wearing makeup (minus one or two adventures as a young teen!) but it's what works best for me, and so I usually don't like to stray to far from what I know works for my skin type and makes me feel comfortable.

All that being said, MAC products really add up - I don't even want to think about the amount of money I've spent on the stuff, and lately since I've really been pinching pennies I've been thinking about venturing into the realm of something like a BB cream to give me some light coverage that I can layer a light coat of powder over and go. I also find that in the summer and on my days off I really hate wearing a heavy coverage makeup, but that I don't really feel comfortable going out without anything on my face!

So last week I got a sample of Maybelline's Dream Fresh BB balm and I thought that I would give it a try today and see how it feels on my face. I actually really like it. It's light, moisturizing and matched my skin super well with the light/medium colour. I layered a light coat of my MAC studio fix over it to cut the shine down a little, and my face feels great and it definitely gave me just enough makeup for a more natural looking day!

Since I liked it so much I took a run down to the drug store and actually managed to buy it on sale for 7.99$! A 5 dollar savings off of it's regular price (not to mention about a 25$ difference from my usual purchase of MAC!) I'll give it a go over the next little while and see how it goes, I figure for 8 dollars I might as well give it a try, right?


As for the rest of my life, just busy with work and trying to keep myself on track with my goals (which is always way harder than it sounds!) However I did have a great Valentine's day with Alex... we went to a spa and had a couple's massage which was fantastic, and went for a delicious dinner at Onyx Steak house which I love! If you live in the Vancouver area and have never been to Onyx, you are missing out! The food is fantastic, and the staff is always beyond helpful. Love it! It was a great day!

Speaking of fantastic days, today is amazing outside. It's warm-ish, sunny and a wonderful day for a drive! I spent mine running errands and being outside, and I hope all of you get a chance to enjoy a small bit of it! =)

Oh, and I can't forget, Go Canucks, Go!

Blog, and be happy!

Kyleigh.

On a Serious Note: West Coast Living.

I can't sleep. It is cold, and I swear my bones are aching from the wet weather. I have basically lived in Vancouver my entire life, but somehow the dampness still manages to make even the born-and-raised west coast resident frustrated.

I can't imagine living anywhere else though. Life on the west coast is one of those things that you hate, but you love to hate it. We have so many amazing things here, which come at a cost of course, but it's sometimes a little too much and not enough all at the same time.

If you have never been to the beautiful city I am so priviledged to reside in (Vancouver, BC) I beg you to travel here and experience all that our wonderful city and province have to offer. The pacific north west is really unlike any other place you can go to, and in Vancouver we really have it all.

.... and yet, I am bored of it. I love to live here, but I want to leave so badly. I search the internet for vacations to hot, sunny places because I am so tired of the foggy, the cloudy, the rainy... the sunless days. I live in a place where it feels like it is raining 8 months of the year (even if it doesn't), and even on the beautiful winter days that we get occasionally, they are always forgotten rather quickly as they never seem to last as long as you hope they would.

Unfortunately, I have adopted a career that does not give me a lot of flexibility to explore the world the way I wish I could. I love doing hair, it has consumed my life in every amazing way I could want - but with a client based career comes responsibility to always be there when people need you. Unless I win the lottery, I will never be able to get away for extended periods of time to enjoy the beautiful world we live in.

I do not regret my choices to be young and rooted in a career, and yet I wish sometimes I had debts from experiences in foreign lands rather than from a half-assed attempt at a useless degree and scissors and shoes full of hair. I live vicariously through my clients who tell me of exotic places - and I am nothing but envious of their opportunities to leave this place I call home and see somewhere else.

But I have nothing but time. I am only 21 living in what I know is one of the most amazing places on earth. I dream of being imersed in the history of Europe.. the history of my ancestors, and yet I haven't seen everything my own homeland has to offer. There is so much left to see, and so much left to do in my own back yard, but none of it excites me... and that makes me sad. I need to get away to appreciate all that I am surrounded by... but I know a few days under the sun won't give me what I'm looking for. I don't even know what I'm looking for.

I am tired of this damn rain.

I am tired of being in Vancouver.

I never want to leave.

K.

Paper Organization and a New Journal!

I am horrible at organizing things. If you've read some of my previous posts, you will have seen that one of my New Year goals was to start getting myself more organized. I have done a few things which have made a big help in my daily life, but lately I have been trying to organize the bigger picture... namely all my paperwork.

I have a LOT of paperwork, from going to university to hairdressing school, all of my tax forms and various warranties and receipts... let's just say that I needed a better way to get everything into one place. My papers are always in various envelopes strewn between several rooms... it's not good. So, a few weeks ago I decided to try and collect up all of my paper work and put it into one super folder.

This is my super folder. I went to Staples and I found a 16 section accordion file folder. 16 sections might sound like a lot, but when you actually start to break down all the different sorts of paper you accumulate, you'll end up closer to 16 than you think! I love it because it's purple, firstly, and because it can expand quite large so I shouldn't have to upgrade to a bigger one for quite a while!

Inside, as you can see, I have everything divided up. I keep everything separate so that when I need that warranty receipt or phone bill, or when I cant remember when my next car insurance payment will come out, I have it all in a spot where I can find it without having to dig around hundreds of random things to find what I'm looking for!

This has already been useful and I only did it a couple of weeks ago! Not to mention how much tidier my room looks not having a bunch of envelopes and papers stacked up on my desk and dresser! It's awesome to know that everything in there is something I need too. I shredded everything that I knew wasn't important, so I actually got a little bit of spring cleaning done as well!

Along with my new super folder, I have also started a new special journal. Because I have decided that I need to be more organized, I have started to write things down more... and not in a fun blog/journal way, but in a personal way to try and keep myself on track and accountable to the goals I have set. Along with trying to get more organized, I've set some monetary goals to try and get myself out of debt. Going to school over the past 4 years basically non-stop has really given me a chunk of debt that I need to work on. So, I have started a debt journal!

I find it's the best way to keep myself accountable for my credit cards and my payments, and since I started it on January 1st, I'm happy to say that I have actually made HUGE progress on my debt. I write down every payment and charge made to my credit cards so that I can keep track of my spending habits, and know how much (or how little) I have paid down on my debt each month. It has been beyond helpful to write out a budget and set a goal to get that paid off. Every time I pay a little bit of money down onto my debt, I can breathe a little easier, and over the past few years that has been a very stressful part of my life. 

I hope that this new year has given you an opportunity to make some goals, and maybe you're starting to make some progress like I am! And if not, that's okay too. I don't believe in resolutions really, but in setting up a plan to make your life a little better day by day! It's so much easier to see the short term than the long term! =)

Blog, and be happy!

Kyleigh.

Hope chest: New Dishes.

Recently, my mom has been purchasing a few new things here and there around the house, such as pots and pans and cutlery and asking me if I would like to keep the older stuff for my future home to save me some money when i first manage to move out. While I'm not exactly close to finding a new place to live, I have decided that starting a hope chest is something I really need to think about, as coming up with a lot of things like dishes and other things for the home cost quite a bit of money if you don't gradually accumulate it over time.

So, today while at ikea I saw these 12 piece dish sets for only 20$. They are a cute minty green, and really, for 20 bucks, it's something down the road I won't have to worry about right away even if its only a small starter set. So, I randomly splurged on them (if you can consider spending 20$ splurging!). I'm actually a little bit excited about them, even though I won't use them right away, but the idea that my hope chest is actually accumulating a little bit of stuff makes me feel happy!

Now, all I need to do is make more money so I can move out..... I guess my hope chest has a little more time to grow!

Blog, and be happy!

Kyleigh.

Hello, 2013!

Wow, I can't believe that 2012 is actually over! What a crazy year. I'm sure everyone feels that way looking back on 12 months of life. I'm always so excited when a new year comes along - it's like a new chapter, a chance to start over, or at the very least a time to attempt to move on from the things that hurt you the year before and try to give yourself a fresh perspective.

I found this picture on Pinterest, and I think that it's something we can all aspire to do a little better! There are definitely things I would like to work on this year, I would like to eat healthier, feel better about myself, get more organized... but I think that this pledge covers more than just a resolution to do physical things... it's a pledge to change your state of mind, which is something I could really use!

I think I'm going to try and make this pledge my motto for 2013. I need to stress less, embrace the joy in my life and really take the time to enjoy every moment. 

I am lucky to live my life. I have a wonderful, loving boyfriend, an awesome family, fantastic friends, a job that I love and a life I am lucky to live. I have a roof over my head, food on my plate and spare change in my purse and if you have even half of the things that I have, I hope you feel just as lucky as I do. 2013 is going to be a wonderful year, and I am so excited to share it with you! =)

Blog, and be happy!

Kyleigh.