It's a Hairicle: Living Proof

Hairicle: Living Proof by elbonner featuring living proof hair care

It's cold outside, and unless you live in a tropical climate or you are one of those freaks who enjoys it, life is pretty terrible right now. It was 18 degrees last Thursday morning; what the hell is that?! Anhywho, something that goes hand-in-hand with frigid temperatures is dryness, whether it be your hands, face or hair, it's all over the place! Winter is literally sucking the moisture from your body!When the going gets tough, this woman gets going to Sephora to pick up things to make life worth living again int he winter. Now, I have mentioned this brand before, but only very briefly, and it deserves much more attention than a blog blurb every once and a while. So here it is, my ode to Living Proof: my favorite haircare line ever!

Living Proof was created by a bunch of eggheads up at Harvard University, citing that haircare has evolved little in the past 40 years and it was time for a shake-up! They created a molecule, OFPMA (Octafluoropentyl Methacrylate to be exact) that was created to seal the hair shaft without the use of oils or silicones which can weigh hair down and hold onto dirt. OFPMA is responsible for Living Proofs amazing ability to keep styles cleaner and longer lasting, making it easier to go between styling and keep dryness at bay by reducing the frequency of washings. I thought this was a bunch of bologna until my mom got me a few products for Christmas 2013, after that I couldn't bring myself to really care about any other line of hair care. It keeps my hair from being greasy, smells AMAZING, and just makes my hair look healthier. I have collected a few favorite products and I am going to share them with you!

Frizz Shampoo and Conditioner- Great for frizz (no way!), this shampoo has the signature Living Proof scent which I cannot help but huff in the shower. This contains OFPMA which smooths out hair, helping to keep excess moisture out. This combo is also very moisturizing if you have issues with dryness, but it also isn't so heavy that it makes hair greasy. All-in-all a great combo!

Style Extender- Touted as "primer for your hair", this product is put on after washing to help keep your styles lasting longer. It's free of anything heavy or greasy and can be used from root to tip to keep hair looking good for way longer than normal! If you don't shampoo your hair daily, this can be used after a quick rinse to add some moisture to ends. I love this stuff and use it a lot!

Restore Instant Repair Lotion- Like a leave-in conditioner that really leaves frazzled hair feeling stronger. I think this is a great winter hair treat when the weather is drying out everything and it needs a little TLC!

Perfect Hair Day 5-in-1 Styling Treatment- This is probably my favorite Living Proof Product. This stuff smooths, shines, and volumizes without being heavy or sticky. I use it daily and I will always have it around. It makes everything easier and more manageable!

Straight Styling Spray- This stuff is incredible. It gives you a flat iron-like straight style with just a blow dryer and a flat brush, getting rid of an extra steps worth of heat damage. Just spray all over damp hair, grab your paddle brush, and get to drying! I couldn't believe I could get a style as straight as I did without a flat iron. Why didn't I have this when I was obsessed with super straight hair, which lead to it's ultimate destruction from all the heat damage! A must-buy for those who crave straightness!

Satin Hair Serum- After you straighten your hair and you want a little extra shine, try the satin hair serum! It's light and doesn't contain silicones like most hair serums that leave hair with that weird, pseudo-greasy feel that builds up over time and weighs hair down. This one makes things shiny and smooth for multiple wears. It's probably the only hair serum I've ever really liked.

Instant Texture Mist- After being a long-time user of Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray, this stuff is a pretty good alternative. It gives damp or dry hair windblown texture that looks super cool and undone. We spend so much time trying to make done hair look un-done; this mist makes it easy! Just spray and go!

Now, I am in now way bring sponsored or paid by Living Proof to rave about these products, but I wouldn't hate it if they did. The truth is, Living Proof is definitely pricier than your typical drugstore haircare, but if you want no nonsense, excellent style every time you use a product, I feel like that's worth it. The only time I have really awful hair days are when I decide to use something different (fool!). If you've got some extra dough around or just want to try something new, give one of these products a try! Good hair days for all!

All Products available at SEPHORA or LivingProof.com

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Get To Stepping: New Years Resolutions!

New Years Resolution by elbonner featuring traditional home decor

It's that time of the end of the year again, time to start thinking of what you want to make of the new year to come, and boy does that tend to put a lot of pressure on people. I either make very lofty goals or do totally nothing, my objective for 2015 is to sort of become a more efficient self. That doesn't mean I want to become a workaholic, everything-must-be-perfect-machine, but I want to become better about some things that plague me in life. I've made a little infographic explaining what I'd like to work on this year:

Getting Organized: Probably my biggest hurdle. I am a pack rat. I am emotionally attached to so many things that clutter my life: t-shirts, magazines, birthday cards, refrigerator magnet, you name it! I blame it on Toy Story, but I feel as if everything I own has a soul and will feel abandoned and lost without me and I feel so guilty getting rid of anything. My goal this year is to try and not become so attached to things, but to focus that attachment to people. Not like a velcro-friend, but by spending more time with my friends and family and not so much time acquiring stuff and feeling guilty about not using it all. I did a major closet and stuff purge this afternoon and it was so hard and so ridiculous how I lets things rule my emotions! Plus, everything looks so much nicer when it's organized!

Try New Recipes: My meals have turned into so many permutations of chicken and vegetables that it's starting to drive me insane. It's time to find new ways to make healthy foods without feeling I have to adhere to the "separate protein, vegetable, and vegetable" approach for every meal and not just replace everything with pizza. I want to find a salad I actually like to eat and I really want to try more soup recipes! There's so much food out there that is good and easy to make and I stick to the same crap night after night. It's time to try something new, even if it's just once a week!

Exercise: I tell myself I'm going to get radical when it comes to my workout routine every year, but I'm doing pretty well when it comes to the gym. I am trying to run more races this year, because they are a lot of fun plus a medal and a t-shirt. I guess my exercise resolution is to keep up the good work and pat myself on the back for once for sticking with my gym routine. I've been going 4 times a week pretty regularly for the past year and that's pretty great for a bigger person. I've upped all my lifts tremendously and I've kept insecurities at bay and done what I wanted. This year, I want to continue the gym habit while adding fun stuff on the weekends that are active!

Drink More Water: There have been days where all I've had to drink is a cup of coffee in the morning, a 10oz glass of water at lunch, and another 10oz at dinner. That is not enough water! My goal this year is to make it a habit to drink at least 24oz of water 5 times a day. That's right, basically a gallon a day. It's not really that ridiculous, I've been doing it for a few weeks and on days where I've been slacking my body lets me know really quick! I have one big Tervis full at breakfast, at work between breakfast and lunch, one at lunch, one between lunch and my workout, and one at dinner time. It all adds up and makes my skin look good and keeps my stomach in check. This is what I really want to make a habit of this year!

Save Money: I try so hard to save money because I am really afraid of being totally broke. I don't have a job where I get money thrown at me from all directions and I find my account balance a little too close to $0 than I'd like from time to time. I guess my biggest issue is being totally aware of my spending. I'm not a compulsive shopper, but I do justify buying things that aren't necessities more often than I'd like. I heard a trick from a coworker that was imagine the price of the item you want and then figure out how much work it would take you to earn that item. Do you really still want it? Do you really want a nail polish that costs as much a half an hour's work? It's a great way of putting money into perspective. I just want to be able to have some saving for car emergencies or any bumps in the road without having to sell my body on the street! 

Relax: Now, this isn't a "take a spa day" or a "kick your feet up and make it all about me" kind of relax. It's  more of a "things happen, it's not the end of the world. Life is what you make it" relax. I take too many things personally that are in no way directed towards me that cause me unnecessary stress; all brought onto me by me. It's high time for that to stop. For the most part, people are caught up in their own lives too much to spend theirs making personal jabs at you. If someone makes a remark that upsets you, confront them about it or brush it off. When I first started just brushing things off instead of getting angry about them for an hour, the result was so incredible and I felt so dumb for being so sensitive for so long. I still take things personally, things that I had really nothing to do with, but I made myself a part of it for no good reason. Just let it go! I also spend way too much time feeling guilty about things. I do this with work a lot, feeling bad about things that  no one else will ever notice or care about. If someone asks you to do something out of the ordinary that you really don't want to do, it's ok to say no (just don't be unreasonable). This is not to say there is no such thing as personal responsibility, but your life should not be run by guilt. Worrying does nothing but take my eye off the prize and the older I get, the more I want to savor every second I have. I want to spend more time doing things I really love, like going to the beach, seeing my friends, reading, writing, making things, spending time with loved ones, and learning new things. These are the things I find relaxing because they enrich me and make me happy. Taking a nice bath doesn't hurt either! Happiness is relaxation!

I know this is a bit of an essay, but it's the new year, baby! Anything is possible! There are so many things that I think I should have accomplished by now, but I'm healthy, I'm not homeless, my friends and family love me, and I don't hate myself, so I think that's a pretty good place to be. Start with baby steps and you can accomplish something, even if it isn't earth-shattering. Happy almost-New Year everyone and make some dreams come true!

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Holiday DIY: Pom-Pom Garland

 

Many times I find myself in situations where I just can't find exactly what I want when I go out looking for something. Stores sometimes just don't have what I want and that fact is never more apparent than when I'm looking for things to decorate my house. It's even more-so a problem at Christmas time. I am just not into pine cones, wicker wreaths, and cinnamon brooms. I like bright, obnoxious colors during the winter months as much as I do during the summer time, and because of this I find myself having to make things a lot of the time. This Christmas, I decided to make myself something that I've been wanting to make for a long time: a pom pom garland! Tinsel is too messy and regular garland is always one boring color, so why not make something fun and colorful for me to enjoy for many years to come! Today, I will tell you how to make your own pom pom garland with greatest of ease! Your supplies are a follows:

A Large Hand Sewing Needle

2-3 Yards of Knotting Cord (I used white)

Large Bag of Multi Size Pom Poms 

1. Pull out as much knotting cord as you need to make the length garland you want. Thread the cord through the needle and leave a bit of overhang so that the cord doesn't slip through while threading the pom poms. Tie off the end so pom poms won't slip off the end of the cord.

2. Pierce pom pom through the middle and pull all the way down to the end of your cord. I spaced my pom poms out at least 1.5-2 inches, but you can make a tightly spaced garland if you have lots and lots of pom poms.

3. Thread as many pom poms as it takes to fill up your cord. I like the look of spaced pom poms, but you can make a very tightly packed garland if you've got a lot of poms and a lot of time. Tie off the other end of your garland once you're done and wrap it around your tree!

If you have any left over, like I did, You can make some cute door hangs to go over doors ways to make them more festive!

This is a fun and easy way to make Christmas decorations that are all your own. Decorations that can be handed down for generations that have the story "mom made it" or "grandma made this" instead of "I bought this last minute at Target because there was nothing else". 

If you have some extra time or want an excuse to create some quiet time for yourself in this season of crazy stress, over-togetheredness, and an onslaught of face-to-face family time, get to work on your pom pom garland! Good tidings, all!

Get Your Hands on Some Vans!

Get Your Hands on Some Vans! by elbonner featuring flower print shoes

Like any person on this planet with a brain in their head, I love me some shoes! Not in a Carrie Bradshaw sense where I willingly put myself into bankruptcy in order to cram my man-feet into some tiny Manolo Blahniks. I just likes a good pair of comfortable shoes in a bajillion different colors and patterns to match with everything I possibly could. That being said, I can safely say that my favorite kind of shoe is a classic pair of Vans; Authentic, Old Skool, Van Doren, Era, Sk8 Hi, all that good stuff. They're good for skating, walking, standing, lifting, and surprisingly good when on sailboats. I've been wearing Vans since I was in elementary school when I had vast color choices like black and navy blue. Nowadays, Vans come in all sorts of cool colors, materials, and patterns and are perfect editions to your casual everyday outfits! Vans also make great gifts for people because they are good shoes at a good value that only get better with age. Vans look just as good out of the box as they do after a summer of boardwalking and block partying! If you're looking for a cool present for a special shoe-loving person in your life, do them a favor and get them a cool pair of Vans!

Sk8 Hi Slim- Simple, classic, and hugely popular this season. Keep your little ankle warm with a hi-top style that immediately adds 50 points to your coolometer. Now they come in cool patterns, like the one pictured above, and even beautiful colored suede that makes them as durable as they are stylish.

Authentic- The original Vans shoe that comes in every color of the rainbow. I love this pacific/royal blue color and think it would make a great addition to any shoe collection.

Era- I like the Era because it typically mixes prints and colors and look really cool. I have a black and leopard pair that get compliments everywhere I go! Has a little cushion in the heel and makes them a comfortable shoe for long days.

Slip-On - I love slip-ons. Sometimes I am so lazy, tying my shoes just isn't an option. These shoes make that heinous chore a thing of the past! I love the classic checkerboard style and I actually wore them for work for a while. I am loving the orchid suede pair pictured above!

VANS OFF THE WALL

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Cool Runnings: Winter Run Gear

Winter Run Gear by elbonner featuring Under Armour

Last weekend, I ran my first race in over five years. I was so nervous because I didn't train as much as I wanted and worried about being the slowest person there and I was genuinely afraid of letting myself down. It was also my first really cold-weather run I'd had in a long time and I was convinced I was going to do a bad job.I ran a bunch of races a few years ago and they were what motivated me to really get into shape. They were so much fun, but I trained long and hard for them. What the hell was I doing running this race that I barely prepared for? Now that it's dark out before I get home I don't like running outside after work which leaves me with the treadmill. I truly hate the treadmill and like a good treadmill-hater, I avoided it while I should have been utilizing it. I did go on Sunday runs at a local park, but it was by no means enough practice. 

As I stood in my corral, I tried to pick out who I should pace myself with and what time is everyone going to get. Could I even make it the whole way without taking a break? My friends who run get awesome finish times; what's mine going to be? Well, three minutes out of the starting line, all that went by the wayside and I cleared my mind and finally focused on having fun. I've got a lot of accomplished runners in my life and trying to compare myself to their times just wasn't happening. I changed my outlook from "don't look like an ass" to "just do your best", as ridiculous as that sounds I really needed to beat that into my brain. I finished around the time I thought I would and never stopped the whole time. I wasn't magically running 7 minute miles or 20lbs lighter, but I did kick all the negative thinking in the nards an kept going. After I got my medal and my free banana, I was ready to sign up for a bunch more races. Why wasn't I doing this every weekend?! Now that I know I can once again run a race without stopping, who knows what else I can do? I've made it my goals to run as many races as I can manage next year so I can have a healthy habit all while gaining lots of new t-shirts.

That being said, running in the winter is especially tough. It's hard to be motivated to run when it's cold or wet outside. I dd get my ass out of be on Thanksgiving morning and put in three rain-soaked miles before I nearly ate myself to death and I felt so much better having done so. One way I've found to get myself motivated is to get a new outfit. Nothing like spending too much on an outfit to make you get out and use it! Above I have compiled all sorts of cute winter run gear to get you going on even the coldest of days! Get to stepping!

(left)

Nike Windrunner Jacket- Super cute and can be worn with jeans if you need some motivation for a late-day run!

Nike Epic Lux Tights- Good for days when you need some extra warmth, but nothing bulky. Plus is has a convenient key pocket and butt-enhancing capabilities.

Nike Storm-FIT 2.0 Run Gloves- On cold days, no amount of bunching your hands into your sleeves is going to keep your hands warm. Save yourself the trouble and get some gloves!

Nike  Air Zoom Structure 18- This shoe is made for overpronators (heels roll inward when running) which is my current handicap. Would love to try these out since they've been getting such awesome reviews. Finally, stability shoes that aren't totally fugly! Wishlist item!

C9 by Champion Knitted Beanie- Protect your chilly little head with this fitted, moisture-wicking beanie that's a steal at Target.

(right)

Under Armour ColdGear Infrared Crew- ColdGear is great stuff, especially if it's 30 or below. I wear mine when it's snowy and it keeps be pretty toasty without the bulk of a sweatshirt!

Under Armour ColdGear Infrared Leggings- Probably my favorite cold-weather running tights. They are lined with brushed fleece and keep your legs and butt warm on cold runs!

Under Armour Fleece Headband- If hats won't stay on your head, opt for a headband. I have an odd-shaped head that a hat will never stay on so I always wear a fleece headband.

Under Armour 2.0 Sports Bra- No bouncing here, this bra also has removable padding just in case you don't want the world to know how cold you really are. 

Patagonia Micro-D fleece Neck Gaiter- These things are a life saver! Get over the fact that you may look like the unibomber and enjoy your runs free of cold-burnt lungs! I can only run in the cold if I'm wearing one of these up over my nose or else my throat will be killing me and my chest will be on fire. Everyone should have one!

That's all for now folks! Hope your turkey (or Tofurky) day was full of fatty goodness. Now it's time to get back to work! Happy running!

Gifts That Keep On Giving: Charitable Gifts!

Give A Little Bit! by elbonner featuring xmas ornaments

Ever year around the holidays, I think about all the stuff I really want, divide them into lists, and send them off to whoever requested them. Every Christmas, I am also riddled with guilt knowing that many people never get anything, regardless if it's the holidays or not. Now, I am not a wealthy individual; I work hard for the pay that I get, but I do not make enough to donate significant amounts of money or support to charities or causes I believe in. I give when I can, but I would love to one day be in a position to be able to help others with something more than a few dollars here and there. The reality is, the holidays are an expensive time. You're spending money on friends, family, meals, transportation, heat (if you live in a cold place), food for work parties or family gatherings; sometimes giving lots to charity gets put on the back burner. What I've started to do is shop a little smarter, buying gifts from companies who give back with every purchase. That way, I'm able to get a gift for a loved one and also know that my purchase is making a positive effect on someone elses life where they may not have money fr shoes or even clean water. I have put together a list of things you can purchase this Christmas that will satisfy your the receivers, as well as help someone in need:

TOMS

Toms is a wonder company. It started out with their One-for-One shoe campaign and has spiraled into a plethora of products that all benefit people in need all over the world. They give a pair of shoes to a child in need for every shoe you purchase, as well as glasses for every pair of frames you buy. They even have a marketplace full of artisan crafted products that gives back to the community where they were made. Toms now offers coffee that provides clean water for a week for each bag purchased. I really don't see any drawbacks with this company; their products are well-made and stylish and they help those in need!

Ankle Boots

Slippers

Necklace

Coffee

Sunglasses

Nena & Co.

Nena and Co is a company that makes some of the prettiest bags I've ever seen. What makes these bags even more beautiful is that they provide skilled workers in impoverished parts of Guatemala with jobs that are desperately needed. Nena & Co is working with communities to provide clean water and educational opportunities for local children, all while creating good-quality bags and accessories. While they are pricey, each unique piece is made by hand using recycled or handmade fabrics that are benefiting more than just your personal style. A bag like this will last you forever and your contribution to Nena & Co employees may change their communities forever, too!

Tote

Daybag- Camel

Daybag- Chocolate Brown

Toms+Target

I know, Toms again?! This is a bit different! Toms has teamed up with retail Gigantor, Target, to create a collection of clothing, shoes, accessories, and home wares that do more than make great Christmas gifts. Each item benefits a different cause: each item of clothing provides someone with meals for a week, with each blanket purchased, one is given to someone in need, shoes for shoes, you get the picture! These items are available at all Target locations and are great quality products, ranging from t-shirts, to candles, coffee mugs, journals, and even some really cute bracelets! They fit into any price range and are great for Christmas gifts on a budget. Even though you feel as though you're spending very little, you're still impacting someones life in a positive way. I recently purchased the denim shirt pictured above and not only is a comfortable and cute, but it provided a hungry person (in the USA) with free meals for a week! That's one full week not spent worrying about where dinner is coming from, and I think that's pretty amazing.

Mugs

Bracelets

Blanket

Shirt

This is the season for giving; if you're going to be doing some questionable things to get good deals this Black Friday, at least help out those who couldn't even imagine buying anything new. Shop smart and shop responsibly and make your purchases count past Christmas morning; give a little bit!