Hi there! I have loved your enthusiasm this week about froyo, Coldplay and Target. Read to the end of the post for the giveaway winners! 🙂
I have a little more shopping to share with you + some delicious recent eats.
Talk about stores that suck you in and make you spend more money than you intended to…Ulta is just as bad as Target!!! My FHI Nano hair dryer died on me and would only blow cold air. To be honest, I never loved that hair dryer and it was a little pricy. I always felt that it was a little too heavy and it always kind of cycled through being hot and just kind of hot. A replacement was in order! I wanted to get something nice but not quite as expensive. I went with the Hot Tools Ionic Professional dryer at the suggestion of a store associate. She said she sells more of this dryer than any other and it’s a good value for the price. It is usually $84.99 but I got it on sale for $59.99. I have only used it once but I really like it so far. It’s super lightweight and powerful.
While I was there I also picked up a set of hot rollers. I don’t think I’ve had these since high school!!! I am on a mission to STOP using my flat iron this summer and to either a) wear my hair with natural waves/curl or b) blow it out and curl it a little. My hair has become so damaged from the flat iron and I need to give it a rest! I’m also tired of the stick straight look and ready for some volume and curls. Since I am completely unable to maneuver a curling iron, I’m sticking with rollers! I got the Conair Infiniti Pro 1 3/4 inch rollers. I used them yesterday and I’m not sure that I love them. I kept the box and might return them. I want a little more curl than they provided. Anyone have a suggestion?
Last, I picked up John Frieda’s Luxurious Volume Thickening Mousse after a quick Google search in the store showed it was one of Allure’s top recommended products.
I guess this will be the summer of big hair!
While we’re talking beauty, I had an appointment at Carolina Facial Plastics on Wednesday morning for my regular facial treatment. In addition to my in-home routine, I also get a facial every 6-8 weeks to keep my skin glowing and fresh. After five months of a consistent home program and regular treatments, my skin is finally really clearing up and evening out. I’ve started receiving compliments on it randomly. I’ll take it! You can read about my current skincare regimen in this post and this post. My (amazing) aesthetician Dede and I have discovered that my skin responds best to “The Signature Facelift” treatment which features vitamin c, glycolic acid and active enzymes to speed up cellular turnover and brighten and lighten your skin. I love it!  It doesn’t cause any redness or peeling but leaves my skin so smooth and bright. I always go makeup-less for the rest of the day after my treatments.
Also note I blew out my own hair and used the rollers for the first time in this photo!
I haven’t really photographed my food this week but here are two highlights of what I’ve been eating.
I had clients at 5:30 and 6:30 this morning. My 7:30 cancelled so I had a break before my 8:30. I got coerced into eating pancakes but they were so worth it. Banana pancakes, turkey bacon and an egg from The Original Pancake House. I think their pancakes are better than IHOPs.
And I had lunch with a friend yesterday at Zoe’s. I had the quinoa salad with a side of hummus.
And because I have to…a picture of my little angel. She came to the gym with me this morning and made herself right at home with her frog legs.
Finally, giveaway winners.
TCBY $10 Gift Card – #161 Stephanie
Coldplay Album – #15 Kristin
I’ll email you both!
Have a great day!
No way! I am so excited, I have never won anything like this before!! I cannot wait to rock out to the new coldplay album! Thanks so much Jen!!
original pancake house is 10000x better than IHOP!!!!!!!!
I usually avoid bacon, but that turkey bacon looks really good. And banana pancakes are always welcome for breakfast!
I’m trying to stay away from my flat iron too! Not that I was really using it much with the new baby around, but I really want to learn to embrace my waves. I actually thought about getting some hot rollers too and wondered it they still sold them- good to know! 😉
I really love the Conair curling wand. It’s so much easier than a curling iron. I still don’t get how to use them, but there are also great non-heat ways to curl your hair. My sister picked up some spiral curlers from walmart (can also get them from target or sally’s) which work great or you can get curlformers from Sally’s beauty. I really like the curlformers and they aren’t too bad to sleep in just make sure your hair is dry before doing. I woke up with tight spirals once when I curled it wet.
Maybe you can try to braid your hair when they are wet and unbraid it when it is dry?
I haven’t got the chance to try it but heard that it works pretty well.
My flat iron broke a few months ago, and I’ve not replaced it for the same reasons you mention. As for the curls, I thought I was the only one who was completely inept in the ways of curling irons! My suggestion would be to return the rolls and pick up a curling wand. I got one of the bed head brands from ulta, and I absolutely love it. No clamp to worry about, so much easier and the curls are awesome. They have different widths depending on what your lookin for. Not sure how much that is really savin my hair versus a flat iron damage, but hey. If I’m just doing ends or halfway, I can be done in about 5 mins and I have long thick hair. Good luck 🙂
I love the OPH buckwheat pancakes! I can never stray when we eat there. 😉
I’m trying my best to give my hair a break and reduce the amount of styling I do. Rockin the natural curls these days!
I used hot rollers years ago, but really like velcro rollers as an alternative. Nice volume, big waves (depending on the size of the roller) and a sleek, smooth look. And, I can get more days between shampoos using them–always a plus!
My hair never does what I want it to. I’d love to quit the flat iron but id look ridiculous. For volume I use big sexy hair root pump and also tease at the roots.
My hair and I have been fighting for years and I am finally waving the white flag. This is the summer of changing my haircut for the first time in years and stashing away the flat iron. Think I’ll pick up some of that mousse too…
I’ve always had better luck with hot rollers that have a mix of curler sizes. My set that is all large, works the same way you showed. No curl! I also spray the hair before I put it in the curler!
Either way it looks really cute, you have great hair!
I won! I never win anything. Thanks again Jen!
Those curlers are probably much too big for your hair — definitely invest in a 1″ NON-tapered curling wand. I think this will work best with your hair, is so easy to use without the clamp, and honestly takes minutes to do your whole head.
Those frog legs are too cute! Have you tried a diffuser while blow drying?
I, too, was inept w/ styling tools but broke down and bought a 1.5 inch barrel curling iron and sat down w/ some YouTube instructionals. With a little practice, I had it down! It definitely curls my hair, maybe even too much sometimes, so I don’t think non-curling would be an issue. It’s a Conair from Ulta, don’t remember exact name/model but it was in the $30 price range and I’m happy w/ it.
love that you’re feeling curls/natural hair this summer!!