Video: No-Heat Wavy Hair

 

Here's how I get wavy hair without using any heat! If you were a 90’s kid like me, you might have grown up sleeping with foam rollers in your hair for special occasions. You might remember the feeling of your hair still being damp in the morning and curls not staying. You might also remember your hair getting tangled in the rollers and how uncomfortable it could be sleeping on top of a pile of plastic and foam. Here’s a better way to wake up with beachy waves! I saw someone post that they were trying the bathrobe curling trend, but they couldn’t get it to work. They didn’t post any instructions other than showing wrapping their wet hair around the robe. Here’s the number one trick you need to know: don’t leave your hair wet! You must dry your hair! If you think your hair needs some moisture in it to curl, dry it and then add moisture back with products or water in a spray bottle. AND make sure your scalp is dry. If your roots are wet, the wetness will travel down to the rest of the hair. I didn’t invent the bathrobe method (and I don’t know who to credit for coming up with it), but the two people I’ve seen doing it are doing it with wet hair. Try it with dry hair first and see if you get the same great results I’ve been getting. I HAVE to use mousse to get it to work, but use whatever curling/texture product works best for your hair type. This curling method has been a lifesaver for me! I’m short on time right now with taking care of a baby. This takes barely any time and lasts for so many days! Please let me know if you try it and if you have tips and tricks to share! What I Used: ‣My husband gifted me the bathrobe a few years ago. I think it’s from Walmart! ‣Aquis Hair Turban: https://shopstyle.it/l/bq18Z​ ‣The mousse is from EVA NYC, but they don’t make it anymore. I really like it, so that makes me sad! ‣It’s a 10 Silky Express Leave-In: https://shopstyle.it/l/bq182​ ‣Alterna Glow for It Hair Gloss: https://shopstyle.it/l/bq19U​ ‣Dyson Hair Dryer: https://shopstyle.it/l/bq19Y​ I think it’s silly I have to say it, but I feel I should in case I get comments about it. I know this is a very expensive hair dryer. You do not need it. It is very nice, though. My husband gave it to my for my birthday a few years ago. It’s the biggest birthday gift I’ve gotten. It was quite the splurge, and he wouldn’t let me take it back! I do really like it and the difference I feel it’s made with my hair. You know I love a good sale, and all the other products used were bought on sale (every. single. one.), so don’t come at me about this hair dryer! :)

My Year of Reading (and struggling to read) in 2020

This is how I’m reading books these days— curled up on the couch, under a blanket, holding a baby. Since having Elodie, I resolved to spend the moments I’m nursing or holding her while she sleeps to do more than just scroll on my phone. Let’s be real— there will still be a lot of scrolling. I just don’t want it to be the *only* way I spend this time. I try to keep a book nearby when I know that I’ll have time to be still and read while she’s in my arms. This is sometimes the only time I have to read in this season of life.

At the beginning of 2020, I didn’t want to set a goal for a certain number of books to read, but who am I kidding…I like setting goals for myself. I set a goal of reading 12 books for the year. That was far below what I read in 2019, but I wanted to spend more time in my daily Bible study, devoting more time to diving into Scripture, and not necessarily more time to a larger number of books. Colin and I were also hoping to add to our family, but we didn’t know that for sure when I set the goal in January. I knew if a baby came along that might affect the amount of reading I would do.

In February we found out we were pregnant. In March the worldwide pandemic hit where we live. Those two things affected my reading. My first trimester had me tired and sick. I didn’t have the energy to read. Harlow’s preschool was shut down in March due to covid, so I had her at home, taking away any alone time I previously had to read. Between consuming the news, explaining to our daughter why school, dance class and church were dismissed, processing what was going on around the world, and being pregnant in quarantine, my mind just could not focus on reading. I would pick up a book, read a few pages, and have no idea what I just read. I think it was mainly pregnancy brain, because I experienced the same thing with my first pregnancy. Focus was difficult! I maintained my daily devotions but could not motivate myself to read outside of that. I lost all desire to read.

A few months went by, summer arrived, and all of a sudden I started reading again. The desire returned. It also helps that I was in my second trimester and able to think straight again and had regained some energy.

By the end of 2020, I had read 21 books. I don’t know how I did it, but I really pushed through at the end of the year. I wasn’t trying to pass my goal or even hit my initial goal. I had given up on that. Somehow I passed it, though, and it felt nice.

I haven’t decided what my goal for 2021 will be. With having an infant who will be crawling and then walking all within this year, I know my quiet time will become harder to find. I’d like to just see what happens, but I also know I’m someone who really enjoys setting a number to reach, even if it’s a small one.

Are you setting a book goal this year? What books did you really enjoy in 2020, and what’s on your list for 2021?

Below are the books that I read in 2020. I put asterisk by my top five favorite books (not including the Bible). If you’re on Goodreads, come find me over there to see reviews of most of the books I read to know whether or not I liked them.

・Susie: The Life and Legacy of Susannah Spurgeon, wife of Charles H. Spurgeon: https://amzn.to/3b0YmKB

・The Gospel According to Satan: Eight Lies about God that Sound Like the Truth: https://amzn.to/353AAdc

*・Adorning the Dark: Thoughts on Community, Calling, and the Mystery of Making: https://amzn.to/3503QkT

・All That's Good: Recovering the Lost Art of Discernment: https://amzn.to/3oaGkt1

・Daisy Jones & The Six: https://amzn.to/3pV8pFx

*・Suffering Is Never for Nothing: https://amzn.to/2L91Tvz

・The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church’s Complicity in Racism: https://amzn.to/2JDSuvH

・The Songs of Jesus: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Psalms: https://amzn.to/38SrhxL

・Great Moments in Chocolate History: With 20 Classic Recipes From Around the World: https://amzn.to/3n5tURX

*・When People Are Big and God Is Small: Overcoming Peer Pressure, Codependency, and the Fear of Man: https://amzn.to/2Xhj29n

・Not What You Think: Why the Bible Might Be Nothing We Expected Yet Everything We Need: https://amzn.to/3868NKV

・Galatians: Gospel-Rooted Living: https://amzn.to/3ocLYuP

・Galatians: Paul's Charter of Christian Freedom: https://amzn.to/2LaaZZ0

・Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers: https://amzn.to/3olbRsg

・A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World: https://amzn.to/3rPNzZA

・30 Days to Understanding the Bible: Unlock the Scriptures in 15 Minutes a Day: https://amzn.to/3ocMl8H

・One-to-One Bible Reading: A Simple Guide for Every Christian: https://amzn.to/3ncvKjT

*・For the Love of God: A Daily Companion for Discovering the Riches of God's Word: https://amzn.to/2JDTQ9L

・CSB Notetaking Bible, Navy/Cross Cloth-Over-Board: https://amzn.to/3b8iXgl

*・This Was Hollywood: Forgotten Stars and Stories: https://amzn.to/3hD8lam

・Gospel Fluency: Speaking the Truths of Jesus Into the Everyday Stuff of Life: https://amzn.to/387DdNa

I’m using these two books below for my daily Bible reading for 2021 if you’re searching for a way to read through the Bible this year. There’s still time to grab them and catch up on your reading!

・The Daily Bible: https://amzn.to/385EHHt

・The Bible Recap: A One-Year Guide to Reading and Understanding the Entire Bible: https://amzn.to/3hIDDwv

Here’s to reading in 2021 and finding some enjoyable and challenging books!

Halloween Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Icing

My oldest daughter turned 6 this month. I usually make a cake from scratch or alter a cake mix or go all out with the cake decor. Since I was making the cake with a 2 1/2 week old baby in the house, I needed to try to make an easier cake this year. This is what came out!

The cake is Duncan Hines Dark Chocolate Fudge box mix. It's a yummy cake and so much quicker and easier than the chocolate cakes I usually make from scratch. Yes, I prefer my scratch cakes, but if you put enough icing, any cake tastes delicious!

The icing is the one thing that's homemade. I'm an icing fan, so I think it's worth the bit of extra work to make your own instead of using store bought. The peanut butter icing recipe is from Brown Eyed Baker, and I covered the cake with her chocolate ganache recipe, too (in the same post as the icing recipe).

I knew I wouldn't have time to make my own cake decorations since I was home alone with a newborn. Thank goodness Halloween candy is out right now and comes in different shapes and colors! I used Reese's peanut butter pumpkins, bats, and ghosts. They all kind of looked liked blobs, so I used icing gel to differentiate them. The gel melted a bit on the bats, so you still can't tell they're bats 😂.  I used lollipop sticks (from Michael's, I think) to put the Reese's on the cake. I had the sprinkles already, but I think they're still available at Walmart with the fall cake items. The gold candles are from Walmart. The number 6 is a Wilton candy piece from Michael's. On the front of the cake is "Witch's Brew" Kit Kat green candy bars, and candy corn is along the back of the cake. The candy corn "leaked" a bit in the fridge. Let's pretend that's part of the Halloween aesthetic. 

The cake was yummy and perfect for an October birthday. If you have the time and the motivation, I definitely recommend making the cake from scratch. If you're short on time, the Duncan Hines mix is a good substitute. You don't have to tell anyone that it's a mix! The icing is good by itself...on a spoon...in case you wondered.

Nursery Tour

As we get ready to welcome our second baby into the world, we have finally finished her nursery. If you recognize the room, it's because this was the same room our first baby came home to (see that tour here). We remodeled a room in our house to move our oldest daughter into, and I'll share that soon. Today let's take a look around this re-decorated room for our new little girl.

Monogrammed Wood Round

Burlap Banner

Framed Name

Star Mobile

Crib

Lace Mobile

Rattan Pendant Light (be sure to use Rakuten to get cash back on this purchase)

Fox

Burgundy + Floral Blankets

Rug

Cart

Mint Box with Lid

The cube system was bought at Walmart six years ago.

Fabric Cubes

 

Nursery Decor Using Scrapbook Paper

If this picture could talk, it would tell a tale of a command strip betrayal.😖

This picture is hanging over the baby’s crib and was simply made with some scrapbook paper. The floral paper and gold paper are from Hobby Lobby. The pink paper is Martha Stewart textured paper from Michael’s. I used my Cricut to cut out the name.

I was trying to avoid putting nails in the wall, so I originally hung it up with command strips. The frame fell and busted, so I had to order another frame. I bought the first frame on closeout at Michael’s, and it’s no longer available. The replacement frame came from Amazon and had a crack and slight bow at the top, so I can’t recommend it. I was too frustrated with the whole saga to send it back, though.😝

The good news is it didn’t fall on the baby. And yes, now there are holes in the wall.😜