Author: the outside lane

Happy. That about covers it.
Uncategorized

In the Red

the outside lane

My newly reddened hair.

My hair length has come to one of those points of aggravation.  It isn’t quite long enough to be called long hair, but it is longer than medium.  It’s longer than my shoulders, but only annoyingly so–you know, where it’s just getting caught in the neckline of my shirts and snagging on the seatbelt.  That means it is come to a length of decision:  Cut it or color it–just do something!  So, I colored it.

 
I used John Frieda’s foam color in Light Golden Brown, which I figured (rightly) would redden up on me.  I love this color.  This is exactly the color I was going for.  What I do not love is how the coverage failed me.
I was a dark blonde when I foamed up, and I knew that I would see some differences in tones where I had highlights, where the virgin hair was at the root, and where the most damage is on the ends.  What I was not expecting was that the color would not set everywhere.  I ended up with a strange hand-sized pattern of shimmer on the side of my head, where bits and spots are shiny blonde.  I’m hoping it just looks like lighting!  I’m going to wait a couple of weeks and then do an all-over color again.
 
I really liked the Frieda foam when I used it to go baby-blonde, but I’m finding it hard to come by on the store shelves.  I do hope they continue making this shade because I’m kind of in love with it.
Uncategorized

Washing That Pool Right Out of my Hair

the outside lane

First, a product I love:

You know I swim all the time now, and the Pool Chemicals + the Blow Dryer + the Flat Iron + the Maybe She’s Born With It = Hair Damage.  My hair is baby fine, so too much product leaves me looking like a greaseball, but lord knows I need conditioner. 

 

In the past, I have used Infusium’s leave in conditioner to combat my pool hair, but I wanted to try something new, so I picked up the Nexxus Humectress Luxe leave in conditioner and am IN LOVE.

I haven’t had hair this soft since the first time I colored it (i.e. sophomore year in high school–orange–accidentally–fortunately, it was a rinse.)  This leaves me shiny–shimmering even–and doesn’t weigh down my hair.  Also, it works with my washing routine.  I like to wash my hair every other day, and normally with a Leave-In I have to wash daily to keep from looking greasy.  This wears very well and does a good job keeping me tangle free.  Just to add to the excellence, I can’t smell a fragrance in it.  I recommend.

Speaking of swimming, I am getting nearer to my goal of 30 minutes of Crawl time.  Now, my 45 minute workout is about 60/40 Crawl/Other, and I am strong enough to go for long distances Crawling without stopping.  I am also swimming about half my workouts in naked feet.

Thor starts school next week, so I am changing up my schedule from 45 minutes in the pool MWF, to 60 minutes in the pool TTH.  I think I might be able to do 75 minutes if I can get my booty out of bed early enough.  MWF, I’ll be walking the boy to school, and might start running a bit.  Might.  I’m not making any kinds of promises to myself there because I hate running.  If B decides to join the gym with me, I will probably start swimming on Saturdays, too.

Today, it felt so good to be in the water that I didn’t want to get out. 

Uncategorized

Things I Like

the outside lane

Have you ever visited The Hairpin?  That is one of my favorite websites.  The articles are smart, funny, and legitimately helpful.  I highly recommend.

 

Some other recommendations:

  • CoverGirl Lash Blast Mascara  I bought this in the checkout line of Walgreens on a day that I realized I had forgotten to pack my mascara into my gym bag.  This is my new favorite mascara.
  • Sally Hansen Lip Inflation lip gloss in Bare  For a nude lip, you can’t beat this gloss.  It’s got just enough color that your lips aren’t corpselike, and just enough plumping agent that you get a nice natural color under the shimmer-gloss.  This is a must have for neutral makeup days.
  • Scunci Bobby Pins  My hair secret.  I use bobby pins like most people use hairspray.  These are the best I’ve found.  They do cost more, but they hold and don’t slip.  Love them.
  • K-Y Touch  I’m gonna slip this in here because we’re mostly adults and even if we aren’t, it’s useful information.  I hate feeling sticky, greasy, or oily.  This is none of the above, and I don’t have the compulsive urge to stop whatever I am doing and go wash my hands no matter what else I might be missing.
  • Jim Parrack  The guy who plays Hoyt Fortenberry on True Blood.  I love being able to say when I meet actors who are kind people.  When I met Jim, he was a true sweetheart, and that delighted me because Hoyt is my favorite TB character.
  • Pilar Alessandra of On The Page  I met Pilar through my high school compadre, the lovely and talented Laura House, when I took her Coffee Break Screen Writer workshop.  I think I learned more in those 3 hours about drafting out a storyline, than I learned in all my years of college.  If you are so inclined, you MUST get one of Pilar’s books, or attend her workshops.
  • Weight Watchers Toasted Coconut Dreambars  Oh. My. Word.  So tasty.  So sinfully tasty.
  • Jag Jeans Pelly Crop Pant  These are my favorite pants, and I am going to be really sad when I shrink out of them, as I almost have done.  Mine are chocolate brown, soft as butter, and are more comfortable than anything else I own.  And I got them marked down at Nordstrom Rack, so the price made me happy, too.
  • Free Air and Water  My husband’s blog.  I am always trying to decide if he is smarter, or better looking because, y’all, he is brilliant and handsome.

 

Uncategorized

Do Your Best, Be Your Best, Never Give Up

the outside lane

My son went to two schools last year, and at his Kinder-point-of-origin, his school had a pledge. Daily, the students repeated that they would: Do their best, be their best, and never give up. I thought that was terrific advice for life in general, so we still make this pledge to each other as I drop him off in the mornings.