tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41049568422961339382024-03-13T04:58:51.712-07:00re-fabbing fortygardenlorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08119290632325203212noreply@blogger.comBlogger90125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104956842296133938.post-57407592791403659422011-03-31T12:07:00.000-07:002011-03-31T12:07:43.502-07:00transitions and tony hillermanI have given myself two weeks to do nothing but sleep, eat, read and write. Ten days in, three out of four isn't bad. The writing will come. It always comes. And until then, I will continue to refill the well. I have plenty of books to read for class, but have found myself more drawn to one of the Southwest's most beloved and well known novelist: Tony Hillerman. I'm not a huge fan of mysteries, but I love his books. The care he takes with cultures and characters. His spare, accessible style.<br />
<br />
I love the idea of picking an author who speaks to you and reading everything they've written. I've done it only twice (JD Salinger and Herman Hesse) and have several others I'm working on (Natalie Goldberg, Barbara Kingsolver, Michael Pollan and Mark Salzman). But here, in this place, Hillerman begs to take precedence. And so I have started collecting his books as I find them in used bookstores (of which Santa Fe has many) -- 18 Leaphorn & Chee mysteries, 4 other novels (including two for children), 12 works of non-fiction, and 5 books of photography. Five of his novels were made into films.<br />
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<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=nationalnovel-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0061092614&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br />
I've heard that Tony Hillerman considered Finding Moon his favorite and best book and it was definitely good, but for me it lacked the very things that I love so much about his Leaphorn & Chee mysteries -- his deep and compelling insights into the land and his characters. In those books it's like traveling with an anthropologist, not simply hearing a story about a friend's adventures. In Finding Moon, the primary character's growth (Moon Mathiason) was more about him realizing what everyone else knew about him -- it wasn't so much about change or growth as it was about accepting who he already was, which makes the title very apt, but the story slightly less engaging.<br />
<br />
As always Hillerman's descriptions of the locations were gorgeous and his story had the ending the reader hopes for. But I am looking forward to getting back to the books that split open the soul of the southwest and the people who live here. I just need to find a copy of the first in the series: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Blessing-Way-Tony-Hillerman/dp/0061808350?ie=UTF8&tag=nationalnovel-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Blessing Way</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=nationalnovel-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0061808350" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />. Because as with most series books, it's always best to start from the beginning.gardenlorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08119290632325203212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104956842296133938.post-88580667257788245602011-02-19T15:46:00.000-08:002011-02-19T15:46:35.170-08:00fresh ink book review: old man and the seaOkay, I'll admit it: I've never been a big fan of Hemingway. With the exception of one chapter from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0743297334?ie=UTF8&tag=nationalnovel-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0743297334" target="_blank">The Sun Also Rises</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=nationalnovel-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0743297334" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />, I've just never connected with anything he's written. Not so this book. It was spare and beautiful and free of so many of the things that make it hard to like Hemingway's work (especially as a woman). The story was so focused, so clean and so raw. I rooted for the man and the boy and the fish and the last line put me right over the edge. There was so much emotion in those 127 pages, all of it achieved without actually talking about it in the book. He merely showed the action and left the reaction up to the reader. Man, my writing teacher sure can choose a book.<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=nationalnovel-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&asins=0684801221" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>gardenlorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08119290632325203212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104956842296133938.post-17990443866021652592011-02-17T12:18:00.000-08:002011-02-17T12:19:26.386-08:00new directionsIt's been a while since I've posted here. Some of it was frustration at having so many things I wanted to do fall through. Some of it was business at work and at home. Some of it was pure laziness. And some of it was time spent working on a new plan. The good news is, with the possible exception of laziness, all of the other excuses have been resolved. Sometimes you need the rug pulled out from under you in order to get a new perspective. Thanks to that and some very synchronistic events, I am finally in the process of completely remaking my life, at least for the short term. Here's the plan:<br />
<br />
- Take 6 months off work (leave of absence approved)<br />
- Put possessions in storage, purge what I can<br />
- Move to Santa Fe (I've got a great 6-month house/pet-sitting gig lined up)<br />
- Attend Natalie Goldberg's <a href="http://www.mabeldodgeluhan.com/pages/natalie_goldberg.html" target="_blank">year-long writing intensive</a> (part one just finished)<br />
- Write (do daily writing practice, finish my november novel and get to work on my next project)<br />
- Get healthy (cook, exercise, sleep, breathe clean air, stay away from coyotes and centipedes)<br />
- Reinvigorate my creativity (<a href="http://koru365.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">365 project</a>, sewing, painting, etc.)<br />
- Read good books<br />
- Figure out what I want to do next with my life and where I might want to do it<br />
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I'm currently working out new daily routines to be put in place once I reach my destination (some time in late March) and will post that and more soon. Until then, enjoy a little taste of my soon-to-be sanctuary.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--ZVUhAsDOg4/TV2Cc2E7wXI/AAAAAAAAAWA/MhR3HwMYBTk/s1600/IMG_3551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--ZVUhAsDOg4/TV2Cc2E7wXI/AAAAAAAAAWA/MhR3HwMYBTk/s400/IMG_3551.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>gardenlorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08119290632325203212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104956842296133938.post-70664098824608404712010-08-30T17:02:00.000-07:002010-08-30T17:02:51.282-07:00no impact experiment: days 1 & 2<b>day 1: consumption</b><br />
things i "need" to buy this week:<br />
- groceries (girl's gotta eat, farmer's market thursday)<br />
- <strike>shower soap</strike> (try dr. bronner's)<br />
- <strike>hankies</strike> (mom donating bandannas)<br />
- <strike>clothes for vacation</strike> (wait, see what i already have)<br />
- <strike>notebooks for vacation</strike> (found a bunch of unused ones in my closet)<br />
- <strike>mini alarm clock for trip</strike> (may be able to borrow one)<br />
- <strike>trash can with lid</strike> (non-essential)<br />
- <strike>new toiletry bag</strike> (see if old one still works)<br />
- <strike>new tennies</strike> (they can hold on a little longer)<br />
- train pass (girl's gotta get to work)<br />
- parts for car (the check engine light won't turn itself off, oh wait, it did)<br />
- gas for car (car's gotta get to mechanic)<br />
- <strike>sand for toilet tank weight</strike> (can probably scare some up somewhere)<br />
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so not too bad. looks like i'm down to food, transport and important maintenance. <br />
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<b>day 2: trash</b><br />
i was please to see that most of my trash falls into the following categories:<br />
- empty food cans<br />
- q-tips<br />
- kleenex (this will be resolved today thanks to mom-delivered hankies)<br />
- floss<br />
not one of them did i use for more than 10 minutes, though the food cans were on my shelves for months, which is why i buy them. i already compost food scraps and recycle paper (once it's used on both sides), so that was a big help. <br />
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i would like to find some way to seriously decrease my food-related packaging trash but have found it challenging for several reasons a) i cook only on weekends so need stuff i can store, b) i have pretty intense food allergies so bulk foods are out due to cross-contamination.gardenlorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08119290632325203212noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104956842296133938.post-4792474541799697922010-08-26T14:04:00.000-07:002010-08-27T11:17:12.185-07:00readying for no impactyesterday i read through the <a href="http://noimpactproject.org/experiment/your-how-to-guide/" target="_blank">no impact week how-to manual</a> and realized there's probably a little pre-work i could get done ahead of time to make things go a little more smoothly. <br />
<br />
sunday: consumption<br />
- make sign for computer that says "amazon" with a big red strike through it<br />
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monday: trash<br />
- get reusable produce bags (done)<br />
- make hankies from old dish towels<br />
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tuesday: transportation<br />
- research train and shuttle schedules and prices<br />
<br />
wednesday: food<br />
- find local farmer's markets (done)<br />
- research CSAs<br />
<br />
thursday: energy<br />
- plug computer power strip into light switch outlet for easy on/off<br />
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friday: water<br />
- buy, borrow or otherwise acquire a five-gallon bucket to put under the tub spigot<br />
- get my hands on an empty plastic water bottle to fill and put in toilet tank<br />
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saturday: giving back<br />
- look into local volunteer opportunities <br />
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sunday: eco-sabbath<br />
- share my plans to unplug with interested parties<br />
- make sure i have matches (or lighters that work)gardenlorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08119290632325203212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104956842296133938.post-12510019311123254642010-08-23T15:24:00.000-07:002010-08-26T14:04:34.941-07:00walking the walki keep writing and thinking about the life i want to live and the things i need to do before i can start living that life. the events of the last month or two have forced me to face an important truth: if you wait for your life to be just right before beginning, you very well may wind up waiting forever. i'll be writing more soon about just what that might entail, but in the interim, i have signed up for two events that should help get me re-inspired:<br />
<br />
1. <a href="http://noimpactproject.org/experiment/" target="_blank">no impact experiment</a>: i talk a lot about wanting to make a difference for the planet. what better place to start than in my own life and home. and having the support of like-minded people who are doing the same thing at the same time doesn't hurt either. <br />
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2. <a href="http://www.nataliegoldberg.com/workshop.html" target="_blank">writing and mindfulness retreat</a>: it's always surprising how the first habits many people lose in a crisis are those that can best help them get through. writing and mindfulness are two of the top three on my peak emotional health list.<br />
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<iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=nationalnovel-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0312429835&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align:left;padding-top:5px;width:131px;height:245px;padding-right:10px;"align="left" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=nationalnovel-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1590307941&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align:left;padding-top:5px;width:131px;height:245px;padding-right:10px;"align="left" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe> and let me add one more quick note: there was an inspiring article in the paper last about the <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2010%2F08%2F22%2FHOBM1ET424.DTL" target="_blank">radical homemaking trend</a> that's sweeping the land. especially cool: one of the featured homemakers is someone i know (okay, the wife of someone i know, but close enough).gardenlorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08119290632325203212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104956842296133938.post-14952437302835878232010-08-16T12:18:00.000-07:002010-08-16T12:18:47.516-07:00asking for helplast week i attended a very interesting training through work called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Self-Leadership-Minute-Manager-Effectiveness/dp/0060799129?ie=UTF8&tag=nationalnovel-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">situational self leadership</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=nationalnovel-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0060799129" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />. it was actually a really great course with some great information about development stages and what kind of support you need from your manager during each stage. the most important thing i learned in the class was this: no matter how long you've done a job, or been in an industry, there is always going to be some new task at which you are a beginner. and as a beginner, you will need help. for me, that means two things:<br />
<br />
- learn to recognize when you need help <br />
- when you need help ask for it<br />
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you can't assume anyone is going to know what you need and automatically give it to you, especially if you don't know yourself. and even if they do, you may not realize you need it and may turn them away.<br />
<br />
there is at least one new task in my job that i have been struggling to get a handle on without the information or experience i need. this has caused me a ton of undo stress and more than my share of mistakes. the good news is, i now know to ask for the help i need (even if i don't know what it is because i've never done this job before).<br />
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the question now is: where else in my life am i trying to make a change or take on something new where i could use a little help? it may be time to call in the cavalry.gardenlorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08119290632325203212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104956842296133938.post-62367529854771931972010-08-07T10:50:00.000-07:002010-08-07T10:50:22.462-07:00creative inspiration<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eTyC7y3BIXE/TF2a1Mv8QvI/AAAAAAAAAM8/rZ4taVmtFOM/s1600/30+day+drawing+challenge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eTyC7y3BIXE/TF2a1Mv8QvI/AAAAAAAAAM8/rZ4taVmtFOM/s320/30+day+drawing+challenge.jpg" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">i love <a href="http://princesssylvia.tumblr.com/post/797361069/it-was-an-ugly-ugly-drawing-but-i-just-wanted-to" target="_blank">this idea</a>. it seems the perfect way to get the creative juices flowing. not sure i'll be able to do them every day (or post them daily if i do), but i'm going to give it a shot. its been a long time since i've done any drawing at all, so it's going to be interesting.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"></span></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eTyC7y3BIXE/TF2a1Mv8QvI/AAAAAAAAAM8/rZ4taVmtFOM/s1600/30+day+drawing+challenge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
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</div>gardenlorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08119290632325203212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104956842296133938.post-47636423229517887412010-08-05T12:18:00.000-07:002010-08-05T12:18:06.619-07:00further adriftfirst school, now houses and jobs. the balls that i got rolling over the last few months have come to a screeching halt. this morning i woke up and wrote a long list of all of the actions i can take to try and force this forward but later, after 30 minutes on the acupuncture table i decided to scrap that list of external action items and instead focus on internal refocusing. to that end, rather than pushing forward on projects, i resolve to do the following over the next seven days:<br />
<br />
- read (one book at a time) instead of watching streamed TV<br />
- shop at at least one farmers market per week<br />
- plant something (or better yet, transplant something<br />
- go outside<br />
- reinvigorate my daily meditation and stretching practices<br />
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sometimes when you chase something it runs, but if you sit quietly it may come lay its head on your lap or let you feed it an apple from your lunch box.gardenlorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08119290632325203212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104956842296133938.post-56821916468253795072010-07-30T13:09:00.000-07:002010-07-30T13:09:14.070-07:00ruglessSo for the last month or so I have been diligently (voraciously?) preparing for my impending return to school. I bought the books, reorganized my apartment in a more study-friendly way, even canceled my cable and donated my TV to remove my single largest distraction and help offset the costs of registration fees. So while the rest of my life continued to flounder along in uncertainty (should I buy a house, change the job, reconsider the relationship?), the promise of school gave me purpose and direction... gave, you ask? You caught that, huh?<br />
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Yes, gave. You see, after all that, the program didn't meet its minimum enrollment and was cut last week. So no school for me, after all. At least not this year. Talk about having the rug pulled out from under you. And I still don't feel like I have my footing back yet.<br />
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The good news is that my enrollment has been guaranteed for next fall (should they get enough people then), so at least I won't have to re-apply. As for the rest, I'm trying to remain philosophical. Now I have the chance to address some of those other issues which could very well have turned an exciting learning adventure into a high-stress nightmare.<br />
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So yes, universe, I get it. And I have already begun actively working on clearing stress from my life. But I will also be continuing to pursue whatever opportunities I can find that may help prepare me for my academic project once next fall rolls around.gardenlorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08119290632325203212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104956842296133938.post-42283596263370900572010-07-20T10:49:00.000-07:002010-07-20T10:50:47.621-07:00loose endsit's 54 degrees outside and i have cleaning on my mind. over the last week or so i have been purging my office at work. my file drawer was so stuffed with papers that i could barely open the drawer. sure i could have gotten another cabinet, but the truth is, there are only a few folders that i ever look at, so why keep all that paper? especially when most of the documents are on my computer anyway. so out they go. i've finished all but two: HR paperwork and the dreaded miscellaneous folder. including those two as-yet-unweeded files, everything i have left takes up less than half the drawer. love that.<br />
<br />
<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=nationalnovel-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=143915046X&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>the unclutter your life in one week book was a huge help in terms of helping me decide what to keep and what to toss (hint: if it's info that will advance your learning or cover your butt keep it, if not, let it go). unfortunately, the author's idea of what can be done in a week is a little unrealistic. take all your clothes out of closets and drawers, try them all on and divide them into keep, donate, sell or toss before work on a monday morning? not likely. i doubt i could do that in a day (though i intend to try as soon as i get a day). but as long as you aren't trying to accomplish it according to the tight schedule (or can take a week off, or at the very least send the kids away) it's full of great information and tips. then again, so is <a href="http://flylady.com/"target="_blank">flylady.com</a>, and her plan is much more manageable, though with admittedly much slower results.<br />
<br />
also accomplished: signing up for auto-pay on my cell phone bill (will sign up for e-bill as soon as i get the email address updated). best way to tame the paper monster: don't get the paper in the first place.gardenlorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08119290632325203212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104956842296133938.post-76259100235097031392010-06-22T11:29:00.000-07:002010-06-22T11:30:04.065-07:00the bigger picturei was going to write that i've gotten derailed from this project, but that's actually not quite right. i have still been reading and thinking about style and personal brand, but i've also found myself drawn out into the bigger picture.<br />
<br />
the purpose of the last 12 weeks has been to focus on specific, detailed aspects of my life to try and get myself back on track. and it's been working. i'm taking better care of myself. i've identified my core values and what i need in terms of my physical environment. i've reorganized my living space and my priorities. i've even taken some first steps toward changes i've wanted to make for a long time with regards to work and "good works." now it's time for (to quote elvis) "a little less conversation, a lot more action."<br />
<br />
to that end i applied to and was accepted into a graduate program focused on just that.<br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>We do not believe that being educated consists of "knowing things." Rather, we believe that it consists of being able to think about the "things" that you know. And involves being challenged, being confronted with other viewpoints, and being able to articulate your own changing understandings.</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>As people become aware of the magnitude of dilemmas and issues in the world they inhabit, they often express the desire and need to go beyond studying these problems; they want to know what they can do about them. This program is a response to that question. We emphasize the interrelationship between three themes: economic/social justice issues, ecological issues, and the personal and political dimensions of change.</i></span></div><br />
i cannot wait to get started.gardenlorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08119290632325203212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104956842296133938.post-81631790592558564522010-06-16T14:03:00.000-07:002010-06-16T14:04:21.168-07:00style notes from the etherthe internet is a veritable smorgasbord of style and brand insights today.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.motherearthnews.com" target="_blank">mother earth news</a> has a <a href="http://www.motherearthnews.com/hands-on-how-to/is-long-hair-the-answer.aspx" target="_blank">fun discussion</a> of whether letting hair grow naturally long is a viable answer to the age old question "cut it myself or spend bank on a salon?" (i, for one, have adopted a middle ground, choosing to keep my high-priced salon but only getting it done two or three times a year; i also stick with my natural color which saves money, time and exposure to seriously toxic chemicals.)<br />
<br />
and then there was this <a href="http://missussmartypants.com/CDA5240F87574D8387EBDE8FEC733210/news/news.asp?item=115004">interesting piece</a> in the daily <a href="http://flylady.com/" target="_blank">flylady </a>newsletter about style from regular contributor <a href="http://missussmartypants.com" target="_blank">missus smarty pants</a> talking about wardrobe choices and style. i especially love her intro where she compared dressing well to eating a well-balanced diet: if you don't have the right basics in your pantry, you can't cook a healthy meal. read about it or <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/missussmartypants/2010/06/15/missus-smarty-pants-fashion-rescue" target="_blank">listen onine</a>.<br />
<br />
while i was surfing her site, i also found a <a href="http://missussmartypants.com/CDA5240F87574D8387EBDE8FEC733210/page/display.asp?id=19314" target="_blank">nice little article</a> on the whys and hows of closet purging. definitely a good place to start. i'm hoping to do some of that soon myself. my closet is so packed with clothes ranging in size from zero to nine that i can hardly get dressed in the morning. <br />
<br />
and while we're on the subject, i want to get back to flylady for just a moment. personal style is about more than just how you look. your style gets reflected in your choice of car, your interior decor, and so much more. and while i absolutely love the way my apartment is decorated, i don't so much love what the piles of papers and laundry say about me. if you're the same way, <a href="http://flylady.com" target="_blank">give flylady a fly-by</a>. i have to say, it really works.gardenlorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08119290632325203212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104956842296133938.post-4470400359979096152010-06-14T10:59:00.000-07:002010-06-14T10:59:46.314-07:00link love: 8 steps to creating a brand personathis morning facebook served up <a href="http://www.briansolis.com/2010/06/the-social-media-style-guide-8-steps-to-creating-a-brand-persona-2/" target="_blank">this</a> lovely, topic-related link from new media guru <a href="http://www.briansolis.com/" target="_blank">brian solis</a>. it's simple, clear, timely and definitely worth a read.gardenlorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08119290632325203212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104956842296133938.post-78373185547045193422010-06-09T17:59:00.000-07:002010-06-09T17:59:15.525-07:00week eleven: personal styleokay, i've been wallowing around in weighty topics for a while now. i think it's time to lighten things up. but maybe just a little. because let's face it, as fun as personal style can be, how you look, dress, act and communicate has a huge impact on how other people see you. and sure, it's easy enough to say "i don't care what other people think," but when it comes right down to it, these other people can make your life either a lot easier or a lot harder. but beyond that, i have always believed that it's really important to somehow express what's on the inside on the outside. it's one thing to be judged for who you are, and another thing entirely to be judged for who they mistakenly believe you to be. sure, you can't control other people's perceptions, but you can take a firmer hand in what you're projecting. and what's the first step to that? to find out what it is. <br />
<br />
so, for the next two weeks i plan to...<br />
- assess the current state of my style: wardrobe, appearance, written communication, verbal communication, non-verbal communication, actions, work styles<br />
- figure out what impressions these styles give others (when in doubt, ask)<br />
- fix it<br />
<br />
but first, (or at least in tandem) it's important to decide how you want to be perceived. that way you have something to measure against.<br />
<br />
as robin fisher roffer put it in her book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Make-Name-Yourself-Personal-Strategy/dp/0767904923?ie=UTF8&tag=nationalnovel-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">make a name for yourself</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=nationalnovel-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0767904923" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />,<i> </i>"if you don't brand yourself, someone else will." which is fine if you like what they see. if not, it's time to make some changes. and while you're at it, it doesn't hurt to simplify your life a little...<br />
<br />
<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=nationalnovel-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0061093947&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>gardenlorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08119290632325203212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104956842296133938.post-6144473588176010622010-06-08T09:33:00.000-07:002010-06-08T09:33:33.914-07:00one more quick note on homesthis morning i found out that the second offer on the house was for more than i can afford, so this is not my house after all. i'm a little disappointed but not as much as i expected. i believe there are two reasons for this:<br />
<br />
1. reorganizing my current living space has made it much more livable<br />
2. as i wrote about yesterday, home is not a building, it's a feeling, and i am learning to disassociate that feeling from "place" and instead carry it inside of me<br />
<br />
this does not mean i will stop looking. i do believe my house is still out there and we will find each other. i am in no real hurry, and i need to trust the universe.<br />
<br />
so there we are -- closure for the two weeks focused on home as sanctuary. time to move on to the next topic and let the universe work its magic in the background.gardenlorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08119290632325203212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104956842296133938.post-65850421784148467372010-06-07T22:32:00.000-07:002010-06-07T22:32:22.607-07:00the meaning of homemy apartment is clean, well, mostly, and completely rearranged. the dining alcove now holds my red chenille couch, my grandparents' coffee table and a shiny new imac. and in the living room, my books, my sewing machine, my desk and if it works, soon, my small dining room table and chairs. the tv is still here, but not for long. yes, i am getting in my dying media hours while i can. i will be donating the tv and dvd player to goodwill as soon as i can find someone to help me move them. the whole place feels more open and more suited to the life i want to be living. but that's not what i wanted to write about.<br />
<br />
over the weekend i went back to look at the house. it's not a perfect house but it feels like the right house. it feels like my house.<br />
<br />
i talked to the realtor for a long time. he told me about the house. he told me about the neighborhood. he told me about the history of the town. he told me about the fog festival and that the nearby cafe barbecues every summer weekend. and then he told me that the real yard for the house was two houses down and across the street -- the beach.<br />
<br />
after i left i walked those two houses down to the ocean, out onto the pier between fisherman, then down the beach. people were flying kites, and having picnics. they said hello and met my eye as i walked by. it was like living in a small town. the kind where everybody knows your name. it felt like home.<br />
<br />
a house is just a building. it's what you find inside -- the house, the neighborhood, the town -- that matters.<br />
<br />
send me good thoughts. they decide on my offer tomorrow night.<br />
<br />
<br class="webkit-block-placeholder" />gardenlorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08119290632325203212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104956842296133938.post-61955924008028107872010-06-02T18:11:00.000-07:002010-06-02T18:11:45.958-07:00floods wash the world cleanas i probably mentioned i had hoped to spend the long memorial day weekend getting my literal house in order -- cleaning, sorting, reorganizing, etc. unfortunately, due to the great water-heater flood, not only did i not get anything done (i spent the entire weekend staying with my parents), i actually lost major ground. items from the flood zone now rest willy-nilly throughout the drier areas of my apartment. and while furniture is mostly back in the right rooms, it still stands well clear of walls that need restorative patching and painting.<br />
<br />
this has left me feeling extremely demoralized. as in week one where i got sick as soon as i turned my attention to health, having my home dismantled felt like a huge blow to my desired progress. but for some reason, today that feeling changed. i suddenly saw it as an opportunity, not just to make the current layout work, but to completely rethink how i use my space. should the dining room remain an office? maybe. or maybe it should become a craft room. or maybe even a dining room. the possibilities are endless. okay, maybe not endless, but you see where i'm going here.<br />
<br />
meanwhile the house hunt continues. i've found a place i really like but am waffling. partly because it stretches my price (a lot) and partly because i fear commitment to another home -- the work, the cost, the permanence. which is silly, because the permanence is actually what i am longing for. at any rate, the plan is to see it one more time and make a decision. i don't want to lose another house because i waited too long.gardenlorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08119290632325203212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104956842296133938.post-79735280593319002092010-05-29T17:43:00.000-07:002010-05-29T17:43:29.926-07:00setbacks, signs and testsmy plan for this long memorial day weekend was to make some serious progress on the current topic at hand. i had seen one house on wednesday and had another scheduled for viewing this morning, with a third to see on sunday. i also planned to get my current apartment cleaned, sorted and generally made more conducive to creativity and health. i woke up early this morning raring to go, jumped out of bed and into the swampiest carpet i'd ever laid foot on.<br />
<br />
after some sleuthing, i figured out that my water heater had burst sometime during the night, flooding the storage closet that houses it, the entire patio and the interior of the apartment including the bedroom, laundry room, bathroom and part of the office.<br />
<br />
the good news is this:<br />
- caught it fast<br />
- only the bedroom is carpeted<br />
- my apartment maintenance people responded with amazing speed<br />
- after weeks of rain, it is actually 80 degrees and sunny outside<br />
<br />
the bad news is this:<br />
- the bedroom had to be emptied of everything except the pictures on the walls<br />
- it will take at least 24 hours for the carpets to be dried<br />
- it may be a while before i can sleep in my own bed again<br />
- i spent the morning moving furniture instead of visiting house number two<br />
<br />
not only did i not get to do the things i wanted and needed to do, i lost serious ground. my living room and kitchen are so stuffed with the bedroom furniture, you can't even walk into them. in fact, my bedframe had to be put outside because there wasn't enough room. <br />
<br />
i have been trying to be philosophical about it. after all, there's not much i can do. but two conflicting thoughts keep rearing their ugly little heads:<br />
- clearly i need to move the hell out of this place<br />
- if i owned the home i would have had to fix it myself<br />
<br />
but it also made me think about some of the important things i'm looking for in my next place:<br />
- a feeling of safety<br />
- a measure of control over my environment, and by extension, my health<br />
- space for creative expression<br />
- manageable size but with plenty of room to move<br />
- garden space (roots in dirt)<br />
- light<br />
- airflow<br />
- warmth<br />
- clear of mold and other allergens<br />
- quiet<br />
- amenities within walking distance (ideally groceries, library, yoga)<br />
- clean air <br />
- soothing<br />
<br />
but speaking tactically, no carpets is key. and i will seriously consider an on-demand water heater wherever i wind up.gardenlorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08119290632325203212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104956842296133938.post-2015294507363220612010-05-25T15:52:00.000-07:002010-05-25T15:52:45.058-07:00week nine: home as sanctuaryyou know that old saying a man's home is his castle? well, for this woman, home is her sanctuary. or it should be anyway. but right now, it's definitely not. it's small, it's dark, it's crowded and thanks to my upstairs neighbor, it is often loud and smells like cigarettes. (you know you're getting old when the first thing you think about your bass-playing upstairs neighbor is "time to move" and not "wonder when his band's playing.")<br />
<br />
at any rate, after years of living in over-priced, over-populated apartment complexes, i've decided it's time to give home ownership another shot.<br />
<br />
i've actually been hunting for a while now. i started out looking in sonoma county, hoping to take advantage of the rock-bottom prices now and move there later, but realized i didn't want to have to pay rent and mortgage or become a landlord, so now i am looking closer to home. it will cost me probably double, but given how much i'm paying in rent right now, i may even come out ahead.<br />
<br />
so this week (and probably next) i will:<br />
- define and document what i want from a house (the "qualities" not the specifics)<br />
- check out the local house and townhouse inventory<br />
- find ways to make my current living situation more sanctuary-like (not sure how yet, but something will come to me)<br />
<br />
double lucky for me, i have a long weekend coming up in which to get it rolling.gardenlorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08119290632325203212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104956842296133938.post-20125254141692980122010-05-24T13:11:00.000-07:002010-05-24T13:13:08.291-07:00week eight recapwow. the last two weeks focused on natural beauty have been great. after years of talking about it, i have in that short time been able to swap out nearly all of my toxic beauty products. even better, i learned that the folks who make my favorite lotion have changed the formula so that it is now toxin-free.<br />
<br />
i am still working on three items: facial cleanser, facial moisturizer and sensitive toothpaste (actually, make that four, i just realized this morning that my lip balm includes an ingredient that i am allergic to), but i have faith that with kelly's help i will soon find solutions that are even better than the toxic ones i use now. <br />
<br />
one thing i want to point out (mostly to remind myself): the three best things you can do for beautiful, skin, hair and mind are drink water, get enough sleep, and eat right. now that my products are all in order, i need to make sure i pay as much daily attention to what goes into my body as to what goes on it.<br />
<br />
next up: home as sanctuarygardenlorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08119290632325203212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104956842296133938.post-3752806605980027702010-05-21T12:57:00.000-07:002010-05-21T12:58:52.764-07:00product review: desert essence organics fragrance-free hand and body lotionokay, i'll admit it: it may be a bit premature to review a product i have only had in my hands for... oh, about 47 minutes, but after one use, i already love it. it's rich but not too thick, creamy, not greasy; and although it's fragrance-free it does have a very subtle scent from the all-natural ingredients that's reminiscent of butterscotch.<br />
<br />
<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=nationalnovel-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B0017QNQZM&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>pros:<br />
- 100% vegan, wheat and gluten-free and also free of parabens, sodium lauryl/laureth sulfates, pthalates, artificial fragrances or colors, silicones, EDTA, glycol and petroleum-based ingredients<br />
- feels great going (and staying) on<br />
- pleasant, very mild scent<br />
- great price<br />
<br />
cons: nothing yet... will keep you posted<br />
<br />
verdict: only time will tell, but at this moment, i'm feeling like i found my new lotion.gardenlorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08119290632325203212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104956842296133938.post-2177168443189758822010-05-19T12:41:00.000-07:002010-05-19T12:41:20.834-07:00extending natural beauty weekthings have been picking up at work. this has made it much harder for me to tackle a topic in only one week. so now that the week is half over, welcome to week two of natural beauty. <br />
<br />
yesterday i continued my work by ordering a number of products from a fantastic online supplement and natural product shop called <a href="http://iherb.com/" target="_blank">iHerb.com</a>. here's what's winging its way to me as i type:<br />
<br />
- <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Crystal-Body-Stick-Deodorant-4-25-Ounce/dp/B001ET764E?ie=UTF8&tag=nationalnovel-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">crystal body deodorant stick</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=nationalnovel-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001ET764E" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> to replace <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Speed-Stick-Antiperspirant-Deodorant-Unscented/dp/B001ET76VM?ie=UTF8&tag=nationalnovel-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">my usual deodorant</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=nationalnovel-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001ET76VM" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> and the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Toms-Maine-Deodorant-Unscented-2-25-Ounce/dp/B001FB5O7M?ie=UTF8&tag=nationalnovel-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">natural one</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=nationalnovel-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001FB5O7M" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> i bought to replace it which contains aloe and therefore makes me break out in a rash after a day or two<br />
-<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Toms-Maine-Sensitive-Toothpaste-Wintermint/dp/B001MS7ETO?ie=UTF8&tag=nationalnovel-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"> tom's of maine natural sensitive toothpaste</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=nationalnovel-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001MS7ETO" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> to replace the oh-so unnatural <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sensodyne-Toothpaste-Sensitive-Prevention-Whitening/dp/B001ET6YCE?ie=UTF8&tag=nationalnovel-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">sensodyne</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=nationalnovel-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001ET6YCE" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /><br />
- <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Desert-Essence-Shampoo-Organics-Fragrance-Free-Ounces/dp/B0019GZCYI?ie=UTF8&tag=nationalnovel-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">desert essence organics fragrance free shampoo</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=nationalnovel-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0019GZCYI" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Desert-Essence-Conditioner-Organics-Fragrance-Free-Ounces/dp/B0017QSW92?ie=UTF8&tag=nationalnovel-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">conditioner </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=nationalnovel-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0017QSW92" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />to use when the avalon organics gets too "clarifying"<br />
- <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Organics-Unscented-Hand-Body-Lotion/dp/B0017QNQZM?ie=UTF8&tag=nationalnovel-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">desert essence organics unscented hand and body lotion</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=nationalnovel-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0017QNQZM" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> to use in the morning when coconut-oily hands just won't do<br />
<br />
can hardly wait for them to arrive so i can give them a try. and if i don't like them, i won't worry too much before passing them on because the prices were really good.<br />
<br />
and of course, i'm still looking forward to <a href="http://kellytirman.com/" target="_blank">kelly</a>'s recommendations because i know she won't steer me wrong.gardenlorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08119290632325203212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104956842296133938.post-91386637289136284822010-05-18T12:43:00.000-07:002010-05-18T12:44:41.070-07:00product review: spectrum organic coconut oil body careokay, so next up on my quest to rid my life of toxic beauty products: replacing my beloved <a href="http://www.amazon.com/VTae-Vanilla-Hydrating-Lotion-8-Ounce/dp/B002S0P06E?ie=UTF8&tag=nationalnovel-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">v'tae vanilla lotion</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=nationalnovel-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002S0P06E" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />, which sadly contains parabens, with all natural coconut oil.<br />
<br />
<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=nationalnovel-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B0011DKJY2&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br />
pros:<br />
- smells yummy<br />
- makes skin amazingly soft, especially over time<br />
- works great as an overnight hair moisturizer<br />
<br />
cons:<br />
- super oily and stays that way (it is an oil, after all)<br />
- sometimes the smell is too much<br />
<br />
verdict: i love this product, but it's best used at night when it doesn't matter if you accidentally touch your face or hair with oily hands. it also seems to be the perfect solution for the over-drying shampoo issue from the last post. just run oiled fingers through hair, sleep, wash. it works like a dream. (so well in fact that over the weekend i purged my stash of toxic shampoos -- don't worry, i donated.)<br />
<br />
of course i will need to find a new day-use product, but luckily <a href="http://kellytirman.com/" target="_blank">kelly tirman</a> is on the job. will keep you posted.gardenlorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08119290632325203212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104956842296133938.post-67841060947502570132010-05-14T10:29:00.000-07:002010-05-14T10:31:16.204-07:00product review: avalon organics lemon clarifying shampoo & conditionerfor my first forray into natural products i decided to give avalon organics a shot. i chose the lemon clarifying shampoo and conditioner because the only other one they had was lavender which sends me into sneezing fits. so...<br />
<br />
<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=nationalnovel-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B000IZA200&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>pros: <br />
- all natural<br />
- great lather <br />
- hair is shiny, bouncy and clean<br />
- conditioner does not leave slimy film on skin<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=nationalnovel-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B000NW6QEO&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>cons: <br />
- clarifying formula is a bit too drying for every day<br />
- smells a little like lemon-scented cleaning products during application (luckily this goes away once it's dry)<br />
<br />
<br />
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the verdict: i actually love this product, but will need to find either a different everyday shampoo or a way to get more moisture into my hair so the ends don't get too dried out.gardenlorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08119290632325203212noreply@blogger.com0