Happy Monday morning! You know it is one of my favorites and I’m so glad that you stopped by. The reason I blog is for the friendships and I so enjoy every time you visit and, especially, when you leave a comment. I thought this morning would be a great morning for a cup of coffee (or whatever suits your preference) and a little chat. So, please, make yourself comfortable. If we were having coffee….
– I would, first, ask you to excuse my hair! This whole “trying to embrace and/or enjoy curly hair” continues to be a struggle! I thought the curls would relax at some point but that has yet to happen. The morning curls are completely out of control so, if you are dropping by this space first thing, you will simply have to look past the hair. That said, under my bathroom sink, I have an entire bin of hair products for curly-haired girls. Seriously, I have tried a lot. They all seem to do one of two things: make my hair hard and incredibly crunchy (not pretty, trust me) or next to nothing and my hair just gets poufier and poufier by the hour. If you, or anyone you love, has discovered the secret to styling tight curls, please let me know!!
– I would probably then tell you, as I stirred a tad more cream into my coffee, that I am about ready to give up coffee altogether. I just do not enjoy it very much…so why keep drinking it? It really is for the social aspect – both when I am out and here at home. I enjoy our little routine each morning. A routine that includes my husband making us each coffee which we enjoy while we do our devotions. Of course, we can still do all that without my drinking coffee but I’m not one for changing routines, especially well-working ones. What to do???
– I would also tell you about our family fun night last Monday. It was the second one for this year and, believe it or not, it was a repeat of bowling! The plan was to try something different each month but my nephew was in town (which does not happen too terribly often) and it was his pick. The original suggestion was one of the very popular indoor putt putt places downtown. There are a couple different ones but all seem to have different themed rooms (almost like an escape room) and look super fun on the websites. However, my nephew said he had been and they were super overpriced and not worth all the hype. So, that was his opinion and we went with it. Can I just tell you….I am not a very good bowler. I have literally no arm strength. Zilch. It is pititful, if I’m honest. I gave it my best shot but will look forward to something different next month. For sure. Dinner after the bowling was at Maggiano’s. Do you have one of these near you? Admittedly, it can be hit or miss here but, last week, was a hit. A home run actually! So very tasty! I’m chalking family fun night (take two) up to a win!
– Then, I would have an interesting question for you:) Last week, I read several blog posts (in a link-up) where ladies were discussing five things they could not live without. Not things like our homes or our families, but those every day things that we are dependent upon. Not too deep here…especially first thing Monday morning. For those of you who did not post about it, any idea what you would say? Some of the things mentioned repeatedly were phones, water and/or water bottle, and the internet. Also noted were chapstick, tv, books and toothpaste:) I honestly had to stop and think for a bit. Think about the things I “have to have” every day. Otherwise, my day is just off. I did finally come up with five – four of which I use within the first 15-20 minutes of getting out of bed because they are just that essential in my world. Do you want to know what they are? I’ll pour you a second cup of coffee if that helps:)
My morning routine involves getting ready for the day (or at least 80 percent ready) as soon as I get up. The very first thing I do is…soak my head. Indeed. My hair is usually damp when I go to bed and, in the morning, is a hot mess. I put my head under the shower faucet and drench it. After I get dressed, I use some type of hair gel or mousse (always trying something new…as we already discussed) to tame my hair. Essential number one. I fill my eyebrows (that have been incredibly sparse since chemo) with powder – essential number two – and usually go ahead and put on eyeliner. Essential number three. If I was not a complete sissy, I would get permanent eyeliner but I am, indeed, a complete sissy. All three of these “essentials” are used before I leave my bedroom each morning. Essential number four is mascara. I often wait until after I walked in the morning before finishing my makeup but mascara is for sure and for certain an essential. I would never leave my house without mascara. And the last very important essential is earrings. I cannot sleep in earrings but I do put them on as soon as I get up. Why? I dunno. Something about habits and routines:)
– Now, if you haven’t found a reason to excuse yourself yet I would quickly show you my peace lily before you go. I received this plant – my very first houseplant!! – last year for my birthday. It was grown flowers before but they never would fully bloom. Before the flowers opened or even got exactly tall, they would die off. It was not only frustrating but sad. But I was happy simiply for the fact that I had not killed this houseplant. A first for me:) Well, don’t you know my sweet lily has not not one, but two flowers…and, just last night, I noticed another brand new shoot. Are you kidding me? Me? With three flowers!! Yes, I am that excited and I hope you will ooh and ahh over my pretty plant!! I am tickled pink over it…if you can’t tell!
Who knows what it will look like the next time you visit….so let’s just enjoy it today! I do hope that there will be another visit sometime soon. We cleaned the front porch rockers last week but the mornings are still a tad chilly for coffee visits out front. Hopefully…next time! Until then, have a wonderful week. I have quite a bit of this and that on my agenda but am so glad to have started the week with a nice coffee chat with friends!!
Good Monday morning and thanks for the coffee 🙂 I have enjoyed it!
If you ever find the magic potion for curly hair, please invite me over again. I’ve tried so many products over the years and not one single thing works the way it works on IG or TV. Not one. Years ago, after the book The Curly Girl Method came out, I followed their regimen and my hair did pretty well.
Simply put – don’t use shampoo but once a week. All other days, use only conditioner. Scrub your scalp with water and conditioner, rinse, then to finish off, take a small amount of conditioner and run it through your hair and scrunch until the water is out. Now wrap in a hair towel and let it sit while you do something else. I use that time to put my make up on.
Take your hair out of the towel and don’t brush, just loosely use your fingers to shape it. Let it air dry, if possible.
Try it and see. You can also buy the book as an ebook and it shows videos and pictures of how to do it all.
Hmmm…5 things I couldn’t live without…my phone (too many people I need to see), my Bible, pen and paper, a vacuum, coffee
Thanks for the coffee 🙂 Hope you’ll come sit on my porch this week. You can see my one houseplant. Oh, I better go water that thing!
Bye!
Enjoyed the coffee chat this fine Monday morning! Re, the bowling- we have this new place where one can play mini bowling. The balls are lighter (yah!) the lanes are shorter and you can wear street shoes. Jacob mentioned that there is a mini bowling place by him (a different place than the one near us) so maybe that is a new trend? And one that is better for the under 100 score bowlers?
Is your hair long enough to straighten t with a straight iron? I noticed that with my friends with curly hair, when they straighten their hair, it looks really good. It´s like their hair can only be on extreme- really curly or really straight via a straightening iron. My hair is naturally straight but not stick straight so I use a straightening iron. But it´s weird that it doesn´t look as straight as my curly hair friends when they straighten their hair. I cannot figure it out!
Have a great Monday!
Jennifer, I love coming here. I so enjoy your writing style and your sense of humor. I look at your picture here on the blog and try to imagine you with curly hair. I know this is a result of your hair coming back in after chemo, but it has to be frustrating to try and figure out what works best for you .
I’m trying to think of five things that I couldn’t live without…hmmm…
okay #1 tea!
#2 crackers of some sort
#3 water
#4 house plants
#5 treadmill
That exercise took some thought! 🙂
Love your peace lily. It is beautiful!
I have been trying to figure out the while curly girl hair thing as well. But I can not do multi step routines. Or wash my hair upside down. I need to wash my hair when I shower and then put in one maybe two things and wahlaah! But so far I have had oily days, wet crunchy look days.. poofy days and very rare good hair days.
Yay on the peace lily producing flowers.. you are doing a good job.
I have curly hair and never every use a dryer – my very best tip is to wash ( or wet and condition) your hair before bed. I put in a leave in conditioner and then an anti frizz gel for curly hair – bend over and scrunch it dry with a towel and then (this is key) put it up on the top of your head, still wet/damp and go to bed! In the morning take out the bun and your hair will be frizz free and curly, with a little volume on the top!
Full disclosure I do get my hair cut at Ouidad in NYC – but lots of salons have a curly hair specialist!
Hello, sweet friend! I enjoyed the afternoon chat–I say that because it’s late afternoon. You made me laugh about your hair, but I know it’s not as funny to you, I’d guess. I do have one suggestion and that is to grow it out some and see how it goes from there. I think if you can stand to let your curls get a little longer, they usually lay prettier. I’m not sure how short or long your hair is, but you should try it and see what you think. Also, YouTube and Pinterest are so very helpful for what to do with your curls! I use both a lot and have implemented some of what I’ve learned, and it’s made a huge difference. I’m so glad you had a good weekend and another fun and successful bowling night!
How lovely to join you for a cosy chat and coffee. I like the sound of your family fun night – how lovely that you all get together and spend an evening out.
Now, I’m going to have to think about five things I couldn’t live without, maybe I shall make that into a blog post sometime soon!
Good luck with finding the mythical marvellous hair product to enhance your new curls, I suspect that as they grow longer they will lose some of their spring.
Love your daily prep routine. I also put my earrings in every morning. Don’t want the holes to grow closed.
And I love my coffee in the mornings. It’s good for you, as well. Cuts back on strokes by 50%!
Happy Spring!
hugs
Donna
Hello, my friend. Could I please have another cup with some creamer? Then, I will tell you how much I enjoyed our chat today. I love visiting over coffee, especially with my blog friends. I think I would have to say I couldn’t live without my toothbrush, stack of books, cozy clothes, glasses, and prayerbook. Have a wonderful day!
Your peace lily is looking great! Mine stopped blooming for a few years too but it stayed nice and lush and green so I left it alone. I did move it to a new location and now I suddenly have blooms again. I guess it likes more sun than it was getting? Your essentials are lots of fun. I don’t wear make up so those items would never make it onto my list but I do wear earrings and rings every day with the occasional necklace or bracelet thrown in. I don’t feel like I really got dressed until I accessorize!