TGIF

short+sassy

I hope everyone is amping up for a good weekend.  We've wrapped things up with our soon-to-be new tenants, so I am a lot more relaxed now.  It's going to be a total VEG-OUT WEEKEND!! and I'm really looking forward to that.  My H and I need it!  Off work in 90 minutes.  Quick stop at the bank.  Going home.  Taking a nap, lol.

We decided to still keep the rental ad up, though I'll need to tweak it later, because our unit next door...which is almost identical...will be ready in about two weeks.  FB hides conversations if I mark the ad as "sold" and I still have a lot of conversations going on with people interested in the next one.  But now it takes the pressure and time crunch off.  Plus, we're not setting specific showing appointments at this time.  So now my responses back to the relentless push-button "Is it still available?", is a cut and paste of "blah, blah...come by M-F between the hours of 9am-noon to take a look".  And then answering the occasional specific questions, which I actually enjoy doing when I'm not trying to fit it in while I'm at work.

charlotte989875

I’m getting down about the amount of gray I have since quarantine. I’ve only ever had my haired colored at a salon and I’ve never done at home or box color. But I’m not comfortable going into a salon at this time. Has someone used an at home that they trust? I’ve been reading the reviews of Madison Reed, but really nervous about at home color. 

Anybody have suggestions??

mrsconn23

I'd probably try Madison Reed if I colored at home.  Depending on your hair length, I'd ask your DH to assist to ensure you get good coverage.  Wrap an old towel around your shoulders and buy a cap to hold in drips.  Plus before you color, put a thin layer of vaseline around your forehead and ears to avoid dyeing your skin.  Oh and do an allergy test for sure.  

We had our pack graduation last night.  It was nice to see everyone and the kids were so excited to see each other. 

Dad just came to get DefConn and BIL met him here with older nephew.  They're going to a car auction today.  I am alone working for the first time in so long.  

I work tomorrow.  Lame.  

I have no idea about Sunday. 

DH wants to rip the shower door out of the bathroom in our bedroom (primary bedroom/bathroom?  I know that the use of 'master' bedroom is being phased out because of it's horrendous historical implications).  We're going to put up a shower curtain.  Eventually we're going to take out the shower stall insert and redo it with tile.  We're hoping we'll do that over the winter. Oh and DH needs to repair the toilet in there (*my* toilet).  He laughs that I have a preference for the one in our bedroom, but I do and I can't help it. 

short+sassy

charlotte989875 said:

I’m getting down about the amount of gray I have since quarantine. I’ve only ever had my haired colored at a salon and I’ve never done at home or box color. But I’m not comfortable going into a salon at this time. Has someone used an at home that they trust? I’ve been reading the reviews of Madison Reed, but really nervous about at home color. 

Anybody have suggestions??

I've done at-home kits before, though that was a long time ago and I always enlisted someone's help.  The instructions are pretty simple.  It doesn't even need to be anyone experienced with hair.  I think I even had my H help me once or twice.  His only experience with hair is shampooing (not even conditioning) his own, lol.  It's always came out fine.

I didn't use any particular brand, other than sticking to the typical major name brands you see in the drugstores.

However, in my endeavors, I wasn't trying to cover gray.  I was just trying to lighten my hair as much as it would go from a box without going to extremes.  Which was typically only a little lighter.  My hair naturally has shades from light blond to medium brown, with the overall effect being dark blond-light brown.  So the end result didn't even need root touch-ups, because it was close enough to my natural hair color.

That's also pretty true when I go to a hair stylist which is what I've now been doing for years, though they have better products that can get my hair even lighter.  But I've never gone an extreme hair color change enough to need bleaching, so I can still get away with not worrying about root touch-ups.  Which has been super great in times like these!

Now that I'm thinking about hair.  My hair has a "red base", so I always have to be careful it is an "ash" blond or the result comes out strawberry blond, lol.  I was shocked and horrified the first time it happened.  It was actually a pretty color and even looked very natural.  But it was so WAY OFF from what I was expecting that I hated it.  Now that over 20 years have passed since that "trauma", I've started coming around to the idea and have been tempted to purposely try strawberry blond.  But I'm scared of "reds" because they can go so badly, so easily.  It's a conundrum.

levioosa

I’m so happy it’s Friday. I’m ready for the weekend even though I had a short week. I don’t know what was wrong with people yesterday but everyone was mad and yelling at me. I pushed through a workout but it looks like I might have tweaked my back a little so I’m just doing a hike today and a light cardio day tomorrow instead of more weights. They haven’t canceled my Botox appointment (yet) so I’m hoping that still happens. I think I’ll try to make Sunday a day off for relaxing. FI’s family is having a get together but almost all of them think the pandemic is a hoax so we won’t be attending. 

Casadena

mrsconn23  He laughs that I have a preference for the one in our bedroom, but I do and I can't help it.

SIB:
I feel you.  I got a squatty potty for Christmas (highly recommend btw) and put it in "my" bathroom.  Even though H made fun of me for it, he now wants to always use it and has been exclusively using "my" bathroom in quarantine.  It's definitely one of those things that is really not a big deal, but is irritating the shit out of me at the moment (pun definitely intended.)

One of my best friends just told me she's moving to London in September (pending visa stuff, which is pending COVID delays).  I'm so excited for her and only a little bit jealous.  I can't wait to visit next year (hopefully)!

I might go into the office a little in the next few weeks.  We have super strict protocols for COVID safety, and grandmas will be helping with the babe a lot so I think I will be WAY more productive.  And it will be good for the executives to remember that I actually work there.  3 months of maternity leave immediately before 4 months of WFH is making me feel a little invisible.  

@short+sassy enjoy your lazy weekend!

short+sassy

mrsconn23 said:

I'd probably try Madison Reed if I colored at home.  Depending on your hair length, I'd ask your DH to assist to ensure you get good coverage.  Wrap an old towel around your shoulders and buy a cap to hold in drips.  Plus before you color, put a thin layer of vaseline around your forehead and ears to avoid dyeing your skin.  Oh and do an allergy test for sure.  

We had our pack graduation last night.  It was nice to see everyone and the kids were so excited to see each other. 

Dad just came to get DefConn and BIL met him here with older nephew.  They're going to a car auction today.  I am alone working for the first time in so long.  

I work tomorrow.  Lame.  

I have no idea about Sunday. 

DH wants to rip the shower door out of the bathroom in our bedroom (primary bedroom/bathroom?  I know that the use of 'master' bedroom is being phased out because of it's horrendous historical implications).  We're going to put up a shower curtain.  Eventually we're going to take out the shower stall insert and redo it with tile.  We're hoping we'll do that over the winter. Oh and DH needs to repair the toilet in there (*my* toilet).  He laughs that I have a preference for the one in our bedroom, but I do and I can't help it. 

The printing ability for tile manufacturers is so good now, you can get tiles that look just like real wood or stone.  I love that stuff.  But they're not.  They're typical ceramic or porcelain tile.

They can make fun and awesome looking accent pieces for a tiled shower.  We put wood-look tile flooring in one of our rentals.  We put in a tiled shower for a different reno about a year later and used about a 4" band of that leftover wood-look tile around the middle.  It is show stopping!  Everybody loved it and did a double-take when they first saw it.  Most people felt compelled to touch it because your eyes keep telling you it's wood.

I WISH I still had a pic!  But we've had the same tenants living there for 4 years and I haven't been able to find those pic files anymore.

CharmedPam

TGIF is right.

I didn’t get an invite for group zoom trivia I do every Friday, so I’m not sure if I’m not invited anymore?... or if it’s because the guy who invites me isn’t going and forgot? Lol.  Oh well. I’ll find a horror movie on netflix if not.

Juvederm shot tomorrow afternoon.  I guess I should plan to tidy up.  That’s it.  @levioosa, I couldn’t get my botox till the 30th, so Illinois cannot re-shut down before that.  I’m trying a new place because I’m not happy with my current injector. 

banana468

I have a toilet in my office and I still prefer the one upstairs.   We also have a bidet on it and doing so was LIFE CHANGING.  

Now I at least prefer to use that for well...you know. 

kvruns

I'm mentally done today. I was in 3 nearly back to back meetings this morning lasting about 3 hours so I feel done. I dont know how coworkers do this regularly bc I dont like it! My boss was even like you should take the rest of the day off but I have some stuff to monitor but I'm definitely phoning it in as much as possible. 

MyNameIsNot

short+sassy said:

charlotte989875 said:

I’m getting down about the amount of gray I have since quarantine. I’ve only ever had my haired colored at a salon and I’ve never done at home or box color. But I’m not comfortable going into a salon at this time. Has someone used an at home that they trust? I’ve been reading the reviews of Madison Reed, but really nervous about at home color. 

Anybody have suggestions??

I've done at-home kits before, though that was a long time ago and I always enlisted someone's help.  The instructions are pretty simple.  It doesn't even need to be anyone experienced with hair.  I think I even had my H help me once or twice.  His only experience with hair is shampooing (not even conditioning) his own, lol.  It's always came out fine.

I didn't use any particular brand, other than sticking to the typical major name brands you see in the drugstores.

However, in my endeavors, I wasn't trying to cover gray.  I was just trying to lighten my hair as much as it would go from a box without going to extremes.  Which was typically only a little lighter.  My hair naturally has shades from light blond to medium brown, with the overall effect being dark blond-light brown.  So the end result didn't even need root touch-ups, because it was close enough to my natural hair color.

That's also pretty true when I go to a hair stylist which is what I've now been doing for years, though they have better products that can get my hair even lighter.  But I've never gone an extreme hair color change enough to need bleaching, so I can still get away with not worrying about root touch-ups.  Which has been super great in times like these!

Now that I'm thinking about hair.  My hair has a "red base", so I always have to be careful it is an "ash" blond or the result comes out strawberry blond, lol.  I was shocked and horrified the first time it happened.  It was actually a pretty color and even looked very natural.  But it was so WAY OFF from what I was expecting that I hated it.  Now that over 20 years have passed since that "trauma", I've started coming around to the idea and have been tempted to purposely try strawberry blond.  But I'm scared of "reds" because they can go so badly, so easily.  It's a conundrum.

Speaking as someone who's trying the opposite, you should try it! I'm naturally a little red (was really red when I was a kid, now it's faded to a strawberry light brown. Normally when I color, I'm looking to bring in a little more red. I tried doing my own forever in my 20s. Everything with red was so pale that it was barely noticeable and faded out within a week or two. I eventually learned that if I wanted real red, I needed to go to the salon. So, I don't think you'd be horrified if you wanted to try something strawberry. You're not going to accidentally turn out looking like a clown. 

SSDD here. I'm thrilled that it's Friday. This two-hour meeting that I have to attend every month had to get rescheduled for this afternoon, so I'm not looking forward to that. But, once it's done I'm logging off for the day. 

ei34

TGIF everyone.  @short+sassy enjoy the lazy weekend!  @charlotte989875 I've helped a few friends dye their hair...I think the kits were Revlon and L'Oreal.  My dad helps my mom dye hers, I've always thought of it as a two-person job for that reason, lol

My twins turn 5 tomorrow.  We decided to invite my parents and sister and her family to join us for pizza, the kiddie pool, a pinata and cakes tomorrow around 4.  At first it felt a bit careless, having a "party", but the invitees are all a part of our 10-person quarateam that we swim with a coupe times a week anyway.  It'll be outdoors unless anyone has to use the bathroom, and a quicker thing, maybe an hour and a half or two hours.  This is my first time hosting anyone since early March and I'm so. freaking. excited.

levioosa

@CharmedPam where are you getting the filler? I’m getting my lips perked up too. Also Brilliant Distinction/Juvederm Ultra/Volbella has $75 off a syringe right now. I’m killing it with all the discounts I’ve cobbled together over the last four months lol. 

CharmedPam

levioosa said:

@CharmedPam where are you getting the filler? I’m getting my lips perked up too. Also Brilliant Distinction/Juvederm Ultra/Volbella has $75 off a syringe right now. I’m killing it with all the discounts I’ve cobbled together over the last four months lol. 

Actually using rakuten, groupon and then paypal 5% reward card I got a syringe of Voluma for $475!  I’m getting it in my chin, I hear it can help with double chins. I saw a lot of good before and afters and I’m to scared to try kybella.

At first I thought you were asking me what location.  I’m like “midway medspa... but it’s nowhere near close to you” lol

im really thinking of lips.  Top lip really. 

Eta:  sorry, went back to my email and it’s $421/syringe 

levioosa

@CharmedPam I did cool sculpting for my double chin and it helped a lot. And it ended up being cheaper than the kybella which they recommended multiple rounds of. 

I like having my lips done. People who meet me now don’t even know. I’m like ha, I was the lipless wonder until last year. 

CharmedPam

what do you use for the lips and how much ml? My fear is to end up looking like someone who did have them done (my 90 day Fiancé group know who I’m talking about lol).  I did coolsculpting in the chin twice and noticed a difference but then it went back to normal after a bit.  Kybella is highly rated but aren’t you bruised for like a week? I really should have done it while in quarantine and no one was looking at me. 

Eta words

levioosa

@charmedpam it’s been so long since I got my lips done I almost forget what I use. I get Juvederm Ultra XC. The XC stands for xylocaine so it numbs as you get it, which helps, but definitely isn’t painless. The amount you get is highly dependent on your facial structure, existing lip size, etc. Everyone thinks that one syringe will give them Kim K lips but that’s almost never true. At my most I had probably a syringe and a half (1 mL per syringe) and while my lips looked fuller they didn’t look fake. I probably could have gotten a full two-three syringes before it would be like okay, slow down girl. I promise most of the people you see with outrageous lips have at least three syringes in there. Its work to get them that big. And also way too expensive for me. 

CharmedPam

my trip to this place was so weird it coulda been on tv!  Lol.  A dentist who opened up a med spa on the side so going back and forth to that and the dentistry job.  Fun guy - but kinda eccentric.  He was older and seemed really forgetful actually! BUT between him and his assistant (who I think I trusted more) I think they got what I was asking and this morning saw some definition in my chin I was looking for. I also ASKED for a 2nd syringe and they never tried to upsell me. They were willing to use just the one I purchased and he asked his assistant “we only have .1 left.. where should we put this?” And I said since I was already there, may as well inject another to get the results I want. 

Are you part of brilliant distinctions @levioosa?  I signed up and got points for what I spent today plus a &75 off sign up reward.... but it expires 9/1!  Now I’m seriously thinking lips.  But I probably have to take a Friday off and lay low for 3 days because don’t they swell for 3 days? How long does the ultra last in the lips?  I feel like I need to use this, like all the other coupons I get and must use!

levioosa

@CharmedPam I am and I use the rewards heavily lol. The ultra lasts up to 9 months. At the beginning you’ll need them done more frequently as the filler settles into the structure of the lips. I would say for awhile I was touching up with 0.3-0.4 mL every three months. I got 1.2 mL the first time. Now it’s been over a year and my lips were still holding on since my last appointment in January. I did get a full syringe on Saturday to get them fully back. They will be pretty swollen day 1-3 but the swelling really takes about 1-2 weeks to fully resolve. Usually the next day is the worst and you think “oh no, did I go too big?” But then day 2-3 you wonder “should I have gotten more? These look nice.” A week in they’re relatively where they will be. I did get some good bruising this time and I expect that will take about a week to resolve. Good thing I’m wearing a mask at work lol. I forgot to take arnica a week before and I didn’t use my arnica cream on them afterwards. That makes a huge difference. And of course avoid any NSAIDs or alcohol the day before or the day of (*cough* I definitely had drinks on Saturday *cough*).