Celebrities dictate beauty trends. Fashionable Haorstyles.

Celebrities show us how to look fashionable and stylish this season. Hair fashion trends from celebrities:

Sleek haistyle. Emily Blunt and Jennifer Lopez were seen whis that hairdoes.

Long fringe. Lake Bell and Olivia Wilde go out covering their looks with long fringe.

Short haircuts. Ashlee Simpson and Emma Watson like short  naughty hairstyles.

Lent.

Tomorrow lent (the season of fasting from Ash Wednesday until Easter) begins.  No, I'm not Catholic, but I do think observing lent can be helpful in refocusing our attention.  Our church has encouraged us to give up something that distracts us from the Lord, so we can use the time normally spent on that distraction to focus on spending more time with the Lord. 

As I began to think about what I might give up, I was reading through 1 John and stumbled across a verse that really convicted me.  The scripture reads:

"For everything in the world- the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does- comes not from the father, but from the world (1 John 1:16)." 

That's when I knew what I needed to give up...all forms of social media (facebook, twitter, instagram, foursquare, and this blog).  I love starting and ending my day with browsing these sites.  They keep me connected and informed, but they also breed lust and boasting in my life.  It  is so easy for me to look at someone's blog or facebook page and be envious of what they have or what they are doing.  I also find myself feeling pressured to boast about the things I'm doing in return.  Talk about a distraction!

So, for 40 days and 40 nights I will not check any form of social media.  In addition I will replace my dependence on caffeine with a dependence on Christ as my source of strength and energy.  I'm going to miss my daily diet coke and morning coffee, but I'm looking forward to a renewed since of dependence and a life with less distractions.  Please pray that the Lord will honor this time of fasting and grow me in ways I never thought possible.

See you all again on Easter!

Happy Birthday Bestie.

Saturday was Laura's birthday.  After work we went to dinner with the birthday girl and some of our friends from church at Arkansas Burger Company.  Following dinner, we took the party to the Gunnels' house for Dance Central on the X-Box.  I only danced one time, but I had a ball watching everyone else show off their moves. 

Laura loves owls, so our friend Jessica made her this adorable owl cake.  Laura is also the "Martha Stewart of North Little Rock", so I gave her an owl flower pot filled with all the spring gardening essentials.

 

Laura has now joined me in being closer to 30 than 20.  I'm so thankful for friends and fun memories.  Hope your birthday was a happy one Laura. We love you!

Let's Talk Hair: Vol.4

I am a firm believer in using professional hair care products.  I'm well aware that many people think professional lines are just a way for us hairdressers to make an additional profit.  However, my stance when it comes to hair products is that (as with most things) you get what you pay for when you skimp on the price.  If you are having trouble styling your hair at home, it may not be you.  Try using the hair products your stylist used when styling your hair.  I'd be willing to bet you'll notice a big difference in the quality of your hairstyle. 

That being said, I am often asked what hair care products are my favorites.  I have lots of favorites depending on the hair type, but of course my personal favorites are the ones I use on my own hair each day.  So, I thought I would share what products I use on my hair on a daily basis, then you can comment and let me know what products you are loving.

S-Factor Smoothing Shampoo and Conditioner (far left).

Redken Guts- Apply to wet hair on the scalp for lift (the one with the number 10 on it).

Redken Align- Apply to wet hair throughout for smoothing frizz (next to guts, #12).

Redken Smooth Down Heat Glide- Apply a dime size amount to dry hair to protect from the flat iron's harsh heat (brown bottle).

Big Sexy Hair Powder Play- Shake a little of this powder on the root of your hair and rub to create instant body (small red bottle).

Bed Head Manipulator- Work a small amount of this sticky substance through your ends for added texture and body (small blue tub).

Bed Head Spoil Me- Spray on second day hair to restyle or defrizz (tall lime green can).

Bed Head Masterpiece- Shine spay and hairspray in one (tall teal can).

Rockaholic Dirty Little Secret-  Dry shampoo used to absorb oil at the root of your hair, providing an extra day (or two) of wear (black can with lime green top).

Redken Spray Starch-  Thermal setting spray, good for holding curls.  Spray all over the hair before curling (pink bottle, #15).

I don't use them all every day, but they all serve a purpose.  My hair wouldn't know what to do without hair product, that's why I never skimp when it comes to using professional brand names in hair care.  You can't put a price on feeling good, right? 

Now, I wanna hear what works for you.  Feedback, please!

Viva Las Vegas.

Gary returned home Thursday from a week long business trip to the gift show in Las Vegas.  I missed him like crazy and I have been eating up every minute with him since he got home.  We had a date night Friday night, trying out two new [to us] places:  Crush Wine Bar in Argenta and Dizzy's Gypsy Bistro downtown.  We loved them both, and ate so much we were sick.  Absence truly does make the heart grow fonder.

He took some good pictures of his trip on his iPhone, so I swiped them to share with you.  Viva Las Vegas!

*Disclaimer: We do not know the drunk guy passed out in the hall.

Oh Las Vegas, no worries, Gary will return to you in August, but for now he's mine, all mine!

What I'm Loving Wednesday: Music.

Happy Humpday y'all.  To get you through the rest of this work week I'm going to share 3 albums I've been listening to on repeat lately.  One is brand new, the others are not, and you may have already heard them and worn them out, but I'm including them anyhow.

1.  Adele: 21- no sign of a "sophomore slump" for this talented Brit.  You should definitely hop on the bandwagon and buy this gem on iTunes tonight.  Rolling in the Deep is my jam!

2. Arcade Fire: The Suburbs-  I know, they lost all their indie street cred when they won album of the year at the Grammy's last month, but this album earned it.  They are playing at the Orpheum in Memphis next month.  We're hoping to be there, and you should go too.

3. Florence + The Machine: Lungs-  Tate introduced us to this album when she was here in January and we haven't stopped listening to it since.  Florence was the stunning red head who sang in the Aretha Franklin tribute at the Grammy's.  She also sang "If I Rise" (nominated from 127 Hours for best original score) at the Academy Awards on Sunday.

You can't go wrong with these 3 albums.  They are what I'm loving this Wednesday, and for probably many Wednesdays to come.  Go add them to your Pandora stations and sing your way to Friday.

Our Finished Europe Itenerary.

We leave for our trip to Europe one month from today! We have been dreaming about, saving for and planning out this trip since we got married 4 years ago.  I can't believe it is now a month away.  The planes, trains, and hotels are booked and the daily itenerary is complete.  Here's a look at what we will be doing each day:

Day 1 Friday April 1st:


NYC
-Fly out of Little Rock at 7:25am to NYC, arrive at 1:05pm
-Check in to Hilton Garden Inn Times Square
-Explore Times Square- dinner and Brooklyn Bridge with Gary’s friend Stanton and and his wife, Erin.

Day 2 Saturday April 2nd:

NYC
-Breakfast at H&H Bagels
- 10:00 Circle line Sightseeing Cruise.
-New York Public Library and Bryant Park.
- Check out Grand Central Station and eat lunch there.
-Empire State Building.
- Rockefeller Center Station.
- See 30 Rock and Radio City Music Hall (50th St.).
-Go back to 5th Ave and turn right to shop! Keep walking until Central Park at 59th
-Walk around Central Park. Strawberry Fields.

Day 3 Sunday April 3rd:

NYC to London
-Leave hotel by 5:30am, take taxi to JFK airport.
-Plane leaves JFK airport at 8:00am.
-Arrive at London Heathrow 7:40pm
-Check in to Jesmond Dene Hotel (Phone # 020-7837-4654)

Day 4 Monday April 4th:

London
-9:30am- Take the tube to Russell Square to see the British Museum (open 10-5:30, free admission).
-Take the tube to Piccadilly Circus for lunch, then walk to Whitcomb St. and hop on the Original London Sightseeing Tour bus. See Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, and St. Paul’s Cathedral.
-Take the tube to Covent Garden and have dinner at Porter’s English Restaurant on Henrietta St.

Day 5 Tuesday April 5th:

London
-Take the tube to Tower Hill to see the Tower of London be there by 9 when they open to get in on the first guided tour. Afterwards walk over to the tower bridge.
-After lunch, take the tube to Knightsbridge to Harrods (open 11:30- 6pm). Shop and enjoy afternoon tea (between 3 and 5:30) at Harrods Georgian Restaurant on the 4th floor.
-Take the tube to Farrringdon to have dinner at The Bleeding Heart-The Tavern.

Day 6 Wednesday April 6th:

London
-Start out at 9am taking the tube to Westminster to see Westminster Abbey
-Walk over to the London Eye on bridge Road and take a ride.
-Take the tube to Leicester Square, exit for the Square onto Charing Cross Road and turn right into Cranbourn Street. This pedestrian street will lead you on to the North East side of the Square. Buy half price tickets to a show. (open 10-7)
-Take the tube to Hyde Park Corner and walk the park, If there is time take the tube to Charing Cross and see Trafalgar Square, have dinner at Café in the Crypt.
-Take the tube to the show.

Day 7 Thursday April 7th:

Paris
-Take the first train (5:25am) out on the Eurostar to Paris, arrive at Paris Nord at 8:50am.
-Take the metro to Cite to see Notre Dame Cathedral.
- Walk over to Sainte Chapelle to see the stain glass windows.
-Grab lunch at the near by Les Deux Palais or eat at the restaurant in the Musee d’Orsay.
-Take the metro to Solferino and visit Musee d’Orsay.
-Take the metro to Trocadero to see the Eiffel Tower by day.
-Take the metro to Ecole Militaire for dinner at La Terrasse du 7eme.
-Take the metro to pernety (line 13) and check in at Le Fabe Hotel (Phone # 00-800-97-33-42-26)

Day 8 Friday April 8th:

Paris
-Take the metro to Palais-royal-Musee du Louvre at 9:00am, and tour the Louvre following Rick Steves’ guide.
-Lunch at café le Nemours- leaving the Louvre, cross rue de Rivoli and veer left to 2 place Colette.
-After lunch take the metro to Charles de Gaulle-Etoile, follow the sortie # 1 champs-elysees/arc de triomphe signs. And go to the top of the Arc De Triomphe then walk the champs elysees.
-If there is time, go to the Pantheon. Metro Luxembourg.
-Take the metro to Trocadero and arrive by 6:00 to purchase a lift ticket to the first floor for our 6:30 dinner reservation at RESTAURANT 58 TOUR EIFFEL.

Day 9 Saturday April 9th:

Paris
-Check out of hotel by 7:30, take the metro to Gare du Lyon and check luggage.
-Ride the RER C line (C5 –Rive Gauche station) out to Versailles.
-Do the Garden at lunch time so you can see the fountain show at noon.
-After returning, (if there’s time) take the metro to Anvers then take the funicular to Sacre Coeur. Grab dinner.
- Take the overnight train to Florence at 6:54pm.

Day 10 Sunday April 10th:

Venice
-Arrive in Florence at 7:13am and switch trains, leaving on the 9:30am train to Venice.
-Arrive in Venice at 11:30am.
-Take the Vaporetto 1 or 82 to Accademia (eat lunch close by) to see the Gallerie dell’Accademia, (make sure to see “The Last Supper”).
-Head toward San Marco, taking the footbridge over the Canal Grande.
-Have coffee at Caffe Florian or Caffe Quadri and shop for Murano glass.
-4:05 reservations to St. Mark’s Basilica in San Marco.
-7:15-Dinner at Vini da Gigio (take Vaporetto 1 to Ca d’Oro then walk up to Strada Nova, turn left, pass the bridge, then turn right and right).
-Gondola ride in San Marco either before or after dinner.
-Take the vaporetto to Santa Croce to stay at Hotel Antiche Figure (phone #041-2759486)

Day 11 Monday April 11th:

Florence
-Leave Hotel by 6am. Get bags and go to Florence. Train leaves at 7:39am. Arrive at 9:30am.
-Duomo. Climb the dome and get a view of the city and visit the baptistery.
-Get lunch at Consorzio Agrario Pane Co. and gelato at Gelateria Vivoli on the way to Santa Croce church.
-Check out Santa Croce.
-Walk over to Piazza della Signoria and Palazzo Vecchio to shop and eat dinner (either Osteria Ganino or Pane e Vino)
-Hotel David (Phone # 390556811695).

Day 12 Tuesday April 12th:

Florence
-Leave the hotel around 7:45.
-Be in line at 8:15 when Accademia opens to see the David.
-10:00 be at Galleria Degli Uffizi
-Cross the Shop lined bridge, Ponte Vecchio to get to Oltrarno, the Artisan’s quarter, shop and eat lunch.
-Go to Piazzale Michelangelo for a view of the city.
-Dinner at Osteria del Caffe Italiano.

Day 13 Wednesday April 13th:

Rome
-Take the 8:10am train to Rome and arrive at 9:45.
- Get on the 110 Open Stop and Go Bus Tour.
-Stop at the Colosseum and the Roman Forum.
-Eat lunch at the nearby Angelino ai Fori.
-Get back on the bus and finish the loop, get off at the stop near Piazza Navona for a visit to the famous piazza. Then stroll to the nearby Pantheon.
-Have dinner at the nearby Er Faciolaro.
-Hotel Crosti (Phone # 064468597)

Day 14 Thursday April 14th:

Rome
-8:00am-Take the metro to Cipro to the Vatican (8:30-10:30) to see the Sistine Chapel
-10:30-12:30- Continue on to St. Peter’s Basillica
-Lunch: Get Pizza at II Tempio del Buongustaio.
-Walk or take bus 62 or 64 to Lungotevere Vaticano to Castel Sant’Angelo.
-Cross the river over Ponte Sant’Angelo. See the Spanish Steps.
-Walk to L’Antico Forno di Piazza Trevi and grab some dinner. Walk over to the Trevi fountain and eat, then stop at Gelateria dei Gracchi for some dessert.

Day 15 Friday April 15th:

Rome
-Open day to just wander around, shop and eat. Maybe take a boat tour.

Day 16 Saturday April 16th:

Home
-5:15am- Take shuttle (Arrange through the hotel) to the airport.
-Fly home- Leave FCO at 8:15am and arrive in Little Rock at 6:15 pm.

AHH! I can't wait.