Elastic Head Band

This one caught my eye right away!  http://cute2tryhairdos.blogspot.com/2008/10/elastic-head-band.html  I love the styles with tiny elastics like this, because they tend to stay put in Bee's hair for a few days - and ease is what I'm all about!!   Here is how our version came out:

I used a curling iron to curl her ends, as she has naturally straight hair - the curlies didn't last too long, but the body did.

There you have it!  This one takes a little time, so if you try it, plunk your gal in front of her favorite TV show.  That's a trick of the trade around here!   Have a fantastic day!  T-minus two days until the talent show. There's a lot of work to be done around here!

Stacy

Weigh-in Wednesday

Today I want to share this link: http://www.acaloriecounter.com/ as it has been a life-line to me in this dieting adventure. I'm sorta doing things the old-fashioned way - eating less, moving more...and counting my calories!   I really like that calorie counter.

This week, I lost FIVE pounds!!   I feel more energetic, lighter, and happier than I have in months. Woohoo, for a diet that is working!

Hope your day was great,
Stacy

More Wrap Around ponies...

I promised in the last post that I would post another with this hair style: http://www.cutegirlshairstyles.com/2010/04/hair-wrapped-ponytail.html in it.   I just love how easy it is, and how pretty it looks!   I can't believe the number of people who saw her like this, and asked, "how did you do that?"  It was fun to tell them how easy it was.

Here is how she wore it during the day:

I did a zig zag part - to give it a little something "extra".   :)

Later, for dance (where she needs to have her hair all pulled out of her face) - we just kept the style going.  I continued the zig zag part, and added in four more of the wrapped ponies.   This photo was taken after and hour long dance class, and her changing into her jammies (pulling a shirt over her head):

The held up pretty well!

Bridgette loves how quickly they go in, and said (this is huge for her) "they don't hurt at all!"   Hope everyone is having a great day. Our weather here is having an identity crisis.   I'm off to work on a talent show.

Have a good one, and as always, feel free to copy!

Stacy

Two styles in one!

This past week has been a bit nutty around here. I want to be posting every day.  It's good for me to sit at the computer, alone, and do something I enjoy - blogging - each day.    I have a few "catch up" blogs to do, to get me current.  Sorry for the lack of posts lately.

So - to start.  I decided to combine this hair style: http://www.cutegirlshairstyles.com/2010/04/hair-wrapped-ponytail.html with this one: http://shaunellshair.blogspot.com/2010/04/little-girls-hairstyles-how-to-use-4.html and this was the result:

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The author of Adopt 'A 'Do wasn't kidding - the wrap around stayed in all day long! She even slept on it, and it was tight the next morning.   I love this new way to wrap hair!  Be looking for another post that shows it in another style soon...and as always, feel free to copy!!

Stacy

Weigh-in Wednesday

Okay, so I realize this isn't Wednesday - but I've been working on this post for a few days now - my days have been really busy this week. It's my intention each week on Wednesdays to write something about health, weight loss, or family meals.   I've joined a local TOPS (taking off pounds sensibly) group, where I'm hoping to shed some unwanted poundage that I've had since the cherubs were born.  So each Wednesday, I'll let you know how I did at my weigh in and offer up something that's working for me in the battle of the buldge. 
First the weigh-in: This week I lost 4.9 pounds!  :)  Oh, happy day!

Next, if you are dieting (or just want to get healthy), buy this book:

It is a recipe book that compares restaurant dishes you love to their low-cal copies.  You would think that they wouldn't be very good - but NO!!   The recipes in this book are fantastic.  Last night, we had Honey Mustard Salmon and Roasted Asperagus.  This meal took only 20 minutes from start to finish.  It tasted so good, and the entire meal was less than 400 calories!  I didn't think to get a photo of the food until my hubby was on his SECOND PLATE (seriously, that is how you know it is good - if the husband wants seconds of health food) - so the presentation isn't great in the next photo - but you get the idea.  If I can do this:

anyone can!!

Who wants to join me in getting healthy??  Oh - and I should mention that the kids tried this as well, but I did have fishsticks on hand for anyone who didn't like it.  :)   I'm getting away from making them separate meals, but in this transition time - I'll have something there for them that they like.

As always, feel free to copy!

Stacy

criss cross 'do into a side pony

Ugh. I've been sick - so my beautiful girl's rainbow 'do lasted a few more days than anticipated!   :0)  Thank heaven for hair styles that last several days!

I've been wanting to try this style http://cute2tryhairdos.blogspot.com/search/label/criss-cross%20do for a while now, and sadly, I didn't do it very well.  My problem was two fold - my part wasn't quite right (I didn't leave enough hair on the right side to continue the x's) and I used to much hair in each small pony - but live and learn, right?

It still turned out pretty cute- and today is day two of it with a different flower, so it also holds up well.  Anyhow, not so bad for coming off of feeling like death for three days.  :)

I hope you have all been well.  If there is a great hairstyle out there you've seen that you'd like me to try, or want tips on, let me know!

Stacy

A Rainbow of Puffy Braids - Headband

As you all know, my girl loves rainbows!!  When she came out with this shirt for the millionth third time this week (yes, it was clean each time), I figured I ought to do a 'do that went with it!!  I found this at one of my favorite sites: http://cute2tryhairdos.blogspot.com/2008/08/puffy-braid-headband.html and did it almost exactly the same - just two minor differences.  The first difference is putting in six rows of puffy braids instead of five - so that we'd have a row for each color of the rainbow.  Secondly, do you see in her photos how the ends of her daughter's hair stick out a bit?  This is adorable on little girls - but when they get a little older and conscious about how their hair looks - Bee doesn't like it sticking out so much - there is a simple way to make them lay flat!  I used my "mini-tospy tail" on the ends of each puff braid like this:

Here is the final look from all sides!  Can you see the rainbow?

Today is our last day of nice weather before some storms come in, and I expect we'll spend quite a bit of time outdoors today.   It's our first Friday after co-op ending, and it feels like we have all the time in the world!   Enjoy your babies today, and like always, feel free to copy!

Stacy

Tricks of the Trade: Homeschool Music Class

I wish that I could play the piano, but I don't.   I love to sing, though, and want to pass that love along to my children during our homeschool music classes.  We've been blessed to belong to a co-op where my children have had incredible music instruction, and our curriculum includes a study of classical music, but I really want them to be able to belt out a tune, in key - and love every minute of it like I did when I was in school.
My "trick of the trade" for today is.... http://www.youtube.com/ !  

There are literally thousands of songs on that website that are "karaoke" versions.   You know, it's just the music, with the words scrolling on the bottom of the screen?   My kids have learned so many songs this way!  This week, we've been gearing up for our co-op's talent show, and Bridgette has been learning a new song.   It couldn't be easier. Each day, I play this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVmkbDzikvE , and let her sing along.  If she needs "tweaking" in any area, (words, diction, speed, etc.), I simply press the pause button, review with her what she needs to know, scroll back the arrow to the place she needs to try again, and viola!  It's like having your own accompianist in your home.   I have done this several times with my children in the last few years.   Here is Bridgette's song she is currently working on:



And one from all the kids this past Christmas:



The reason they are not looking at the camera is that they are looking at the screen for the words.  They do eventually memorize the words, and then all you have to do press play, and turn off your monitor.  The music will still play as normal, but they can no longer see the words.     This really works!!  All you need is a computer, and access to the internet.   And best of all, it's free!  :)

I'd love to see videos of your children singing along with youtube videos!  Send me a link, and I'll post them here on the site.   Today is a "running" day for our family - here, there and everywhere!  But people are already up and moving and in good moods which helps.   Have a fantastic day, and as always, feel free to copy!
Stacy

Triple Twists into Piggies

This blog is fantastic: http://www.cutegirlshairstyles.com/2008/10/triple-twisty-buns.html   She has three or four little girls, and they always look amazing!   Bee and I found this hair style together, and after modifying it a little bit (bee wanted pigtails instead of buns) here are our results:

And of course, the silly shot.  :)

And the outfit of the day shot.  She loves that shirt, and I swear we bought it three years ago. Eventually it won't fit...right??  Then we can get a My Mom Rocks shirt to replace it.  :)

The sun is shining, and we've started our day early around here!!  May your day be productive and blessed, and as always, feel free to copy!

Stacy

Braid-wrapped piggies

I sat down yesterday to do Bee's hair before dance, without being really clear about what I was doing to do - and this is what happened!  After I did the first side, I liked it so much that I grabbed the camera to get a step by step of the second side.  Here is how I did it:
Part your hair like you would for pigtails, and clip one side away so that you are only working with one side of hair at a time.   Then, make three small braids on top of the head, near the part.  I made mine in the shape of triangles, but squares or circles works as well.  It should look like this:

Have your daughter hold those three strands up, so you can pull the rest of the hair into a low pony tail.

In the next step, you will wrap the outer braids around the pigtail and the middle braid.  First, bring the middle braid down, and hold it against the pigtail.

Then criss cross the outer braids around the pigtail/middlebraid combo.

Then, bring the braids you just crossed under the pigtail, and back up and around.

The middle braid should now be secure, and you can let go of it.  Take the two braids under the pigtail one more time (after crossing on top) and fasten with an elastic under the pigtail.  This is what it will look like when you are done with that step:

At this point, you could just leave the pigtails down, and it would look beautiful that way:

But we were heading to dance class, and needed to have her hair pulled all the way out of her face - so we kept going.  In the next step, simply pull the two pigtails together with an elastic, and add a pretty flower or bow to cover the "gap". 

Here is is from all angles...

For some reason, my camera is over exposing everything - and the next shot is the only one I got of her head on - so you get albino daughter in this one...   :)

 

but at least you can see what it looks like from the front.  :)

Today is starting out bright and early and happy around here - all the kids are up and raring to go.  Looks like it's time to start school!  I love early starts to our school day - they mean early ends to them as well, and lots more play time!

Have a great day and as always, feel free to copy!

Stacy