Monday Musings- A Fresh Start
Happy Monday, ladies. I hope your weekend was a fun one. We had rain which allowed me to catch up on some reading and do my ironing…I know, I lead an exciting life:) I also moved some things around in my wardrobe and started another bag to donate once things open back up here.
Here’re are a few things on my mind this week-
Location Is Everything
Have you heard of the Nuface? It’s an at-home, advanced microcurrent facial toning device that promises to help improve facial contour, tone, and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. 
I bought one a couple of years ago because women seem to love it! I was excited to use it but hardly ever used it. Not because it’s hard to use or time-consuming, because it’s quick and easy. I never used it because of its location. I kept it on my dressing table where I sit to apply “putty and paint” as my husband calls makeup. By the time I spotted it there each morning it was too late to use. I vowed to remember the next day, then the day after that, and so on. I never did remember to use it before my shower, so I gave up and stowed it under my sink.
After reading another glowing review last week, I hauled it out and plugged it in right next to my toothbrush. Not glamorous, but I’ve used it every morning since. Proving that location is everything and that having things handy means you don’t have to rely on your memory. A win-win for me.
Wine
We belong to several wine clubs and love to go wine tasting. Several weeks ago I got an email asking if I’d like to receive two bottles of Far Niente wine in exchange for sharing Far Niente’s Join a Club, Help the Community initiative. This initiative donates $50 for every wine club signup to the Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation and the Napa Valley Food Bank through the end of May to provide relief to those in need. I said heck yes and decided to share it here as well in case any of you are wine lovers like we are.
Hair Raising
The salons here in California aren’t open yet and are showing no signs of doing it anytime soon 🙁 The longer I go without a trim or high and low lights, the thinner and flatter my hair becomes. My daughter is adamant I shouldn’t trim my own hair but I did do my bangs and that turned out ok. The color issue is a real struggle. The decision to go gray or silver has many working parts but the one I forgot, was how much benefit I get from the color process.
I have messaged Madison Reed and we’re talking about a color that could/would work for me. They promise salon-quality, at-home hair color that is ammonia-free and has no parabens. My mom used drug store hair color her entire life and looked great so how hard can this be?
Hummingbird Update
You ladies were right! These cheeky little birds prefer the least expensive feeder possible. I took your advice and boiled the filtered water and sugar and mixture and they’re coming around! The brazen little fellas aren’t concerned with my presence at all! There are so many around they’re even drinking out of my old feeder they previously wanted no part of.
Do you color your own hair? I’d love to hear about your experiences.
Thanks for reading and be sure to wear what makes you feel confident.
I’ll be interested in how your Madison Reed adventure goes. Like you, I have highlights and have been letting the gray grown in around them a bit, which has saved me from total awfulness. But it’s getting worse and worse. I’m not brave enough to try coloring at home, but if yours works out, I just might. I really notice the volume difference without color.
Wine is always a good idea ! I know what you mean about going gray….I always feel I would not be a “good gray” ! I have been cutting my husbands hair since before our first date, so he is getting regular cuts during this time. I have baby fine, thin hair that I wear in a short, spiky pixie. It is the best cut for my hair and super easy to style. Turned 65 this year and not ready to give up color. I have so little hair….I get it cut every 4 weeks and use 1/2 of NicenEasy package. I bought a little bottle at Sally Beauty to mix it, and save the rest for the next time. It works great for me, is a real bargain, and since my hair is short and gets cut so often every 4 weeks works. I ask my hairdresser if my hair is ok, am I damaging it….and she whispers “no, you are fine”….but I don’t think she wants anyone to know because it would cut down on her business. I get lots of compliments on my color….always use the same shade. Every once in awhile I go a little more golden in the tone….I am going to continue coloring. No plans to go gray!
Your formula sounds awesome Ann. Bravo!!
I bought a Madison Reed kit. It was easy to use, I have a lot of hair so it seemed like more dye was needed… but I made it work & it came out just fine!
Also, I cut my own hair using the “unicorn/scrunchie” method that is on Youtube – it looks good, also. I would do it again!
I will have to check out that cut technique
Hey Jennifer,
Sipping wine looks like a lot of fun! My husband cuts my hair for now and doing an ok job and he will do my roots tomorrow. I also have cut his hair for a long time now. I also took up ironing its part of my routine! It is actually kind of calming. Maybe I should sip wine and iron at the same time!
I like the idea about the hair dye I will check that out. Love your blog and so glad you are doing well…prayers are the answer.
Thank you Nicole…be well xx
Is been 19 months since coloring my hair and its the best decision I have made for myself in quite some time. Wish I would have done it 10 yrs. prior but my hairstylist kept telling me that I was too young! Well, guess I am stronger now because I now do things that I feel will be best for me no matter what others tell me! I colored my hair dark brunette for many years because I thought it was close to my natural color, but to be truthful when I look back at photos, I feel like it really was too dark for my skin tone. I can now go much longer in-between washing my hair, and I also do not lose all the hair in the shower like I did when I colored. And the bonus is, more $ in my pocket for the many other good things in my life…….healthy food, books, flowers and plants, etc.
Glad to see you have the Hummer feeder that has a rest. They do like to rest while they drink the nectar/aka sugar water.
I have the same feeder as you show. Home Depot usually has them every year.
So glad people are interested and help the hummers by hanging feeders, as so much of wildlife habitat has been destroyed…especially in urban areas.
My take away from this…Jennifer irons! Cool! I thought I was the last woman alive who irons!
Hair length & colour receives _so_ much attention it’s challenging. Your photos belie lack of volume, thinness or *gasp* greying. Had you not mentioned, i’d’ve not thought twice. Just noticed a stunning woman of confidence.
Stopped coloring my hair mid-1980s as DH couldn’t stand the stench, salon or home. Newly wed bliss was paramount =}.
It transitioned from ash brownette to silver with white & brown swirls. A co-worker’s son called me “Hugs”; finally figured out he meant Hershey’s chocolates! Great boost to periodically remember looking into the mirror wondering “what if”.
I’m in Illinois where salons may open in June, at the earliest. My Madison Reed order arrives on Thursday (long backorder). I’ve never colored my hair at home and I may not do it now. I’m worried my stylist will have to undo mistakes. The few greys don’t bother me that much and where am I going anyway??
My wonderful California hairstylist is struggling. Please may this be over sooner rather than later. I am letting my hair go. I was only getting some darker highlights among the grey, but now it is coming in white. I like that. It has been hot down south here, so I hope you’ll send us some of that rain for a day or two.
I’ve used Madison Reed and it worked well. I quit coloring my hair early last year and now it’s a combo of shades of gray and a little streak of white. Making the decision to go gray was not easy but I’ve enjoyed not having to worry about my roots growing in! I actually get compliments on my hair color which is a nice confirmation that going gray was a good decision. Now, all I have to worry about it getting a good haircut! That’s challenging right now but so far, I’ve resisted trimming my hair myself. I’m hoping hair and nail salons will open soon so I can get a haircut, manicure/pedicure for my granddaughter’s wedding on May 30.
I have gone conpletely grey now and stopped coloring about two years ago mainly because of cost and ! was sick of fighting the inevitable. Good decision for me over all. Now its looking really good because I have been using VIVISCAL-just sharing something good here ladies- and it has made a huge difference, my hair is thicker and fuller and looks healthy. Hair stylists always comment on it. You can get it at Target and I take the 2 pills a day and there is a coupon/discount in the box for next time. Another thing I do is use Sebastian dark oil or jojoba oil if i get a touch of the frizzly look and it smells nice too! Love the post Jennifer! Perfect for a rainy day.
I am looking into Viviscal because my hair has begun to thin again.
I no longer color my hair, but feel that anyone who wants to should do it.
Jennifer- I saw the pic of you wearing the turban & wanted to tell you that it looked very nice on you.
Have a blessed day everyone
Thank you Holly
Hi Jennifer
I use the Madison Reed glaze crema and I love it. It keeps my gray hair from turning yellow. It is one of the products I absolutely cannot do without!
Today is the day!! Roots be gone. I have never colored my hair before but the grey is getting the better of me and I am feeling frumpy. I wish I was the salt and pepper type, but I am the patches of grey kind. Bummer!!! My hairdresser won’t be opening here in CA for sometime, jumping in the deep end today. Wish me luck:)
GOOD luck. I love the look of salt and pepper too but I am mouse and spotty
I think ash shades of hair are the ones that turn silver. I was surprised at how much I liked it when mine turned silver. I also think the silver hair is more flattering to my skin tone than coloring it would be. I try everything to make it shine. Purple shampoos used once a month really help there. Not much, just a touch but it adds shine. A great hairdresser is essential if you have fine hair that’s for sure. She says I have plenty of hair, it’s just fine.
What is a good mask for helping even out skin tone?
Same with me. I started the process of going grey about three years ago and have never looked back. I love my silver hair, also use blue shampoo and conditioner. I use them every time I shampoo and it gives my hair a slight hint of blue/purple.
Your hair looks great pulled up. I don’t have bangs so my pulled up hair doesn’t look as good but still ok. I stopped coloring my hair and I’ve never looked back. I actually think my hair is in better shape now and it is fuller. I think the dye was damaging my hair. I still can’t wait to get back to my hair stylist for a cut. I enjoy your blog so much.
I am so desperate for a decent cut! CA seems to be opening very slowly
I’ve been coloring my own hair for 10 yrs. I don’t like the texture of my gray hair. It takes a while to gain your confidence but I continue to receive compliments on my hair color
Good morning! I’m so delighted that you now have resident hummingbirds enjoying the nectar. They are so much fun to watch. It’s interesting to hear how many women are embracing their grey hair since the Covid pandemic. My brunette hair is now sporting grey highlights. I can embrace it, but I will look forward to returning to my hair stylist to color my hair. I have missed this beauty regimen. I know hair color is very tricky and that is why I leave it to the professionals.
I colored my own hair for years (and years, and years). I also had an itchy scalp, diagnosed psoriasis, and was pretty miserable with it. But I kept coloring. About 5 years ago, I started having my hair professionally colored and have never looked back. My hair is naturally (or was!) dirty blonde or light brown – but now it’s mostly gray. My hairdresser colors my hair by weaving the color in…and the best part is that the color never touches my scalp. The difference in my scalp health is 100% better. No itching, no psoriasis at all. Because the medium blonde colors she uses are very close in tone to my gray, I only need to have it colored every 10 weeks. It has been a real win!
Barbara, I started going to a new hairdresser a couple of months ago – she uses the same process with high and low lights. I didn’t realize it was called weaving. So glad she came up with the process, she also uses products without ammonia which previously irritated my scalp. I now can go up to 8 weeks between appointments. I do admire gray hair but it doesn’t do anything for my coloring.
Gray and silver are lovely colors but not necessarily the most flattering to our skin color.
I’d love to know what color that dark blonde is Barb. My gal always makes it lighter than I want
I stopped coloring my hair years ago. Then had a weak moment and had lowlights and highlights done. Way too dark. Cut off ultra short and kept it short till all the color was off. Never again for me. I was like you, highlights and color give it so much volume. But not worth it to me. Now I have grown out to a short bob. I understand how you felt when you got the color you didn’t like. I say do whatever makes you feel good about yourself. I am at the stage where easy is better😂
I’ve always steered away from home coloring because I’ve seen some results on others that aren’t pretty! One acquaintance has dark hair that she wears parted in the middle, and the hair around the part is always much lighter than the rest of her dark hair. It’s been that way for years! I’m sure it’s a result of her skill level and/or product quality, but it’s always made me scared to self-color.