LOOK WHO'S STANDING

PRINCESS LEIA COSTUME

I don't know how she did it, but Grandma made Harriet the best birthday present ever:  a Princess Leia Costume.  From what she told me she modified a vintage Little Red Riding Hood pattern.  But the fabric was bang on and the attention to detail was amazing.  This made her entire birthday!  Speechless.

STAR WARS BIRTHDAY PARTY

 Come to the Dark Side, There will be Cake!!

Harriet has been obsessed with Star Wars lately.  I take full responsibility.  We watched all 6 episodes in a three week period.  On her actual birthday, we surprised her with a trip to the city and at dinner told her she was going to see the Force Awakens in 3D.  She repeatedly told me how it was the best birthday ever.

Of course, her birthday had to be Star Wars themed.  So my good friend put together this awesome cake, we invited her good friends and cousins and had a BLAST!  There was pin the ears on Yoda, Yoda Soda, Death Star donuts, light saber sticks (hickory sticks), masks and a handmade Death Star piñata.  All of the kids were so delightful and I think they had a really good time.

It was lovely for them all to join us.  It is a birthday she will remember forever.

May the Force be With You!

THE VINTAGE HONEY SHOP REVIEW & DISCOUNT CODE

I was recently sent this amazing teething ring by The Vintage Honey Shop to review.  I came across their wonderful shop through instagram.  Their designs are plentiful and compliment any mama and her look.  They recently launched teething necklaces in a variety of spring colours and without the large teething ring incorporated.  So many options.

The packaging was wonderful.  Just look at this detail.  Sweetly wrapped with beautiful string, a doily and a honey bee button for keeps.  Each bead is individually knotted.  The ends are finished with satin ribbon.  It allows for ease of getting the necklace on and off, but it also allows for length adjustment and it is just so darn pretty.

The Littlest Babe has been suffering.  By all accounts, she has been teething non-stop from one month on.  8 teeth emerged in a one month period.  We had tried everything:  soothers, camillia, medicine, rubbing the gums, amber necklaces, cold cloths.  Nothing would help.  I was hoping that something would soother the pain that she felt and I felt from seeing her in so much pain.

Once she latched onto it, it was hard getting her to let me model it for this post.  She was in love.  And the fact that it was attached to me while cuddling and soothing her, it made all the difference.

For those of you interested in getting your hands on one of these beautiful necklaces, please visit The Vintage Honey Shop.  Follow them on instagram and use the DISCOUNT CODE below to get 15% off before February 29, 2016:

VHSHARE

WHAT THE MAMA WORE: TURQUOISE HAIR

Well I went for a new look!  The blonde was cute but I guess deep down I dream of being a mermaid.  It wasn't a brash decision really.  I've been thinking about choosing a bright colour for months.  I have spent countless months perusing Pinterest.  All my cool friends were doing it.  Everyone on instagram had taken the plunge.  I just had to!  I had two inspiration.  The Dainty Squid.  My inspiration was Savannah Wallace from Maiedae.  

When choosing the colour I wanted to use a vegan formula.  For my first attempt with colour I chose Manic Panic's Atomic Turquoise.  After much help from the Papa and the Babes, this is the result.  I LOVE IT!  I can't wait to see how it fades and if I'm inspired to do it again or attempt another colour to wow you all.  

DEAR BABES: THREE

Dearest Babe,

Three.  Three?  Three!  We have arrived at this amazing place.  It is a land where language is bursting, laughs are a plenty, independence is emerging, dancing is abundant, smiles plaster our faces.  There are pretend palaces, mama milking mimickery, spins in satin gowns, raids of mama's closet, races around corners to be scared, sugary lemon concoctions, overly lip glossed lips, bouncy baths, chocolate chip sneaks.

It is a wonderful world.  And you share it with me, mostly.  You see, this magical place has rules now.  Rules that are managed by those that are only three.

1. Mamas are not allowed to help.
2. Kisses and hugging is only to be deemed allowable if requested by said Three year old.
3. Jumping on the Mama at any time is allowable.
4.  Listening is by choice.
5.  The Papa becomes the thing immediately upon arrival.
6.  Size does not represent power.  Quite the opposite.
7.  Bedtime is negotiable.
8.  Dancing at dinner mandatory.
9.  Clothes at dinner optional.
10.  All above may change at any moment when said Three Year old decides it is okay.

Navigating the World of Three has been a challenge.  There are no maps.  My guide, shall I say, has her own itinerary.  But it is a world that I navigate daily because I love you and my responses shape you and our relationship.

You have grown into this amazing, silly girl.  There is never a dull moment.  I look into those big blues and just see an ocean of ideas, love, mischief and happiness.  It is the best.  Please keep being this amazing you.  The one that asks me to chase her for a scare. The one that gives kisses with her eyes open.  The one that dances like she means it.  The one that tilts her head and pushes out her hip for emphasis.  The one that tells me she loves me and "all you guys".

To being Three!

TIPS FOR GOING BLONDE

Recently, I decided to dye my hair blonde.  I have always dreamed of having long luscious silver locks.  The thought of being a seventy year old with long white hair delights me to the core.  Due to time and money constraints, I must admit that I am a box-job dyer.  I love the ease of going to the store and picking out a colour.  There are also those times when I get in a mama rut and the thought of changing up my look inspires me to make more positive changes in my life.  

With that being said, here is my little tutorial for going blonde at home from dyed dark brown.  Firstly, remember PATIENCE.  You will be removing colour from your hair.  In my case, I was removing all of the colour plus hoping to strip the natural colour as well.  This presents many problems if using a box bleach.  The hair is already damaged from colour dye.  Bleaching is very harsh.  The box dye also doesn't contain the bleach volume that is needed to whiten your hair in one go.  This essentially means you must strip the hair several times before achieving the look you want.  My natural colour also has reddish and brown undertones.  Achieving a silver, white look is nearly impossible (or so I've been told).

Knowing all these things...let's begin

Choose your hair bleach.  It has been suggested to me that you use the same brand.  This could be because the formulas they use to produce the product is created and tested in the same lab.  I chose Feria by L'Oreal (Note:  this is not a vegan product by any means.  There may be vegan bleaches, I just don't know of any.  So please, if you do know some, pass along the names.)

Prep your hair.  Do not wash your hair for a week or longer.  This is not a problem for me as I rarely add soap to my hair.  I'm a non-pooer really.  Allow the oils in your hair to naturally produce themselves.  Some friends have suggested melting coconut oil, allowing it to cool and then placing it on the hair, generously.  I skipped this step.

Leave your roots last.  I cannot emphasize this enough.  When I did my first bleach, I didn't read the box and did all of my hair.  It left me looking like a skunk.  The roots were bleach white and the rest of my hair an orange.  I had to wear a hat for 3 weeks.  

Saturate the hair with bleach.  I started from my roots down.  The tips are split and damaged from wear and dyeing.  Once saturated leave on for a generous amount of time.  Check OFTEN!  I looked every 5 minutes. Do not leave on longer than 40 minutes.  This is a process and you will do it again.  You will not get the desired result immediately so please do not fry your hair and end up with no hair.  YIKES!!!

Once at the desired lightness, WASH EVERYTHING OUT IMMEDIATELY AND THOROUGHLY.  After one of my bleaching treatments I woke up to find myself at three in the morning with the most dry, dead hair.  I forgot to get it all.  I raced downstairs to the sink and just worked at it until it was gone.

Condition and Toner.  A must!  Don't skip.

Wait 4-8 weeks between treatments, cutting the ends each time.  This entire process took me over two months.  In between bleaches I did not wash my hair at all, avoided heat and conditioned with a macadamia nut oil.  Coconut oil is the best!!!

And voila!!!

Stay tuned for my next hair post about adding vibrant colour!  If you want it you must achieve this look first or even blonder!  Hope it helped and please if you have any tips or vegan sources, I'm all ears.  Comment below.