Monday Musings – New Hairdo and Hobby
Happy Monday, ladies. This week’s ramblings are, as usual, personal and all over the map. There’s some navel-gazing with a small amount of whining and other sundry things that are on my mind.
I don’t think I shared this outfit that I wore in Lake Tahoe over Thanksgiving. If I did, here’s your second look :)Fair Isles are synonymous with winter style, and I was anxious to get another opportunity to wear this dress. My fair isle sweater dress is from last year, but they have one almost identical dress this year. This dress from Talbots is also similar but without the pattern on the bottom, which would make you look taller. The cashmere scarf- similar here was a surprise and lovely gift from Talbots several years ago. My boots are eons old, but black riding boots don’t change much over the years. The velvet leggings are a toasty alternative to opaque tights I love to wear all winter long.
MORE FAIR ISLE SWEATER DRESSES
I don’t know about you, but my teeth are a train wreck, and the older I get, the bigger the problems become. I needed braces as a kid but didn’t get them. I’m dealing with a crossbite, plus I grind my teeth, so I have lots of chipped teeth and now cracked crowns. I tried braces last year, but I have two implants that were not a good mix with braces, so that didn’t work. I spent five hours in the dentist’s chair last week, and there will be many more visits before calm and relative order is restored in my mouth 🙂 I drive two hours each way to see my old dentist because I trust him with my teeth…call me crazy, but there you have it. Whining over…I’m lucky to have the teeth I do 🙂
I got a new ‘do last week, and it’s taking some time for me to get used to it. My hair has gotten so thin that my stylist and I agreed it was time to grow out my layers and go a bit shorter. The result looks dangerously like a bob. I say dangerously because bobs feel so expected on a woman with fine, thin hair, and I’d prefer a more unique style.
It’s the best haircut for my current hair, but I don’t care for the look, so it’s time to get a little creative with how I style it. She suggested a paste at the roots, which I’m game to try. As a funny aside, my stylist mentioned my color looked different than she remembered. I told her it’s just gotten older and grayer. She thinks I’m overdoing the purple shampoo, so it’s likely a combo of the two. At any rate, it’s not as silver as I want, so I’m a bit frustrated by it. BTW- this photo makes it look blonder than it is in person.
Taking up an old hobby
On our way to Lake Tahoe last week, we stopped for lunch and some window shopping in Truckee. As we strolled the main street, a store window stopped me cold…I mean, dead stop and stare. There were a few balls of yarn, knitting needles, and a handknit wrap in the window. I had to go in.
My mom taught me to knit at 14, and I became an obsessive knitter for 45+ years. I never went anywhere without a project and often knit for 8+ hours daily. I made myself and my family tons of sweaters, hats, afghans, etc. I’m not sure when I stopped, but I think it was when AWSL became more than a full-time job. Rather than occupying my spare time with knitting, I began spending my time creating content for social media, editing photos, or writing blog posts. Arthritis in my hands began getting worse, and I wondered if it was because of all the knitting I’d done.
Whatever the reason, I stopped knitting cold and never looked back…until that shop window drew me in. It pained me to buy knitting needles because I have multiples of every size imaginable at home. We would be at the Lake for three days, and I had to start knitting right then, so I bought the needles to do it.
My rusty skills took several attempts to fire back up, but once they did, I felt the old obsession take over. Knitting is a form of meditation for me. The repetitive motion and stitch counting are both monotonous and soothing. The kit I bought is not my favorite pattern, yarn weight, or color, but that’s not the point. The process is the point for me, and I’m delighted to have taken up this old hobby again.
What hobbies have you let go of that you might want to get back to now?
Thanks for reading, and be sure to wear what makes you feel confident.
Jennifer, you might try Paul Mitchell Extra-Body Thicken Up Styling Liquid. Looks like you can get it on Amazon. I use Not Your Mother’s Plump for Joy Thickening Hair Lifter myself. I can now only find it at ULTA and it looks to be about to be discontinued. The Paul Mitchell was used on me in a salon years ago but was so expensive.
My problem is not thinning hair but the front part of the top of my head’s hair grows forward and I don’t want bangs, I want it to turn in the opposite direction.
I also use a cheap basic fairly stiff gel first, mousse doesn’t work. I have thick hair, tons of it. Put on the gel first and work that through well. Then section off about four parts across the top of your head one by one front to back, squirting the thickening spray right at the part area. Work it in well, then move to the next one. I also squirt about five squirts across my front hairline and work that in well with my fingers. Wash my hands and then blow dry. I don’t use a brush, just my fingers lightly.
Several companies make this type of product but it is hard to find. It is like a very thin gel. The tip gets clogged sometimes, it helps to rinse it with hot water.
New hairdressers cannot believe my hair does not grow back all over until they wash my hair and it is all out and then it starts snapping forward as it dries! It makes it stand up nicely too. I love it. I tried paste one or two times but it felt tacky and looked dull. It was not for me.
Good luck!
Thank you for your great suggestions!
First, love your hair. I like that you decided to try a new style. I’m always experimenting, but I’m lucky, I have very thick hair. Also, I recently went back to knitting. I love getting together with friends, and meeting new people, to knit,
I like your hair! I like the color! I like the style! You look fantastic!
I am glad to hear you are knitting again. As a seemingly life long knitter myself, I understand what you mean by the process is what is important. I knit some every day and have knitted sweaters, socks, gloves, hats, etc..
My other “hobbies” are baking, ( I love making pastries. Because they are almost always gifted to friends, neighbors, and family, I am a well loved person). I am an artisan soap maker. I love beautiful soaps and luxury formulas so I decided to perfect the soap making skill. Recently I have taken up paper crafts. I belong to a group of crafters that I have learned so much from. I do cards and fancy boxes. It is very relaxing to create new designs and work with beautifully designed papers.
In my life time I have engaged myself in many many creative hobbies, and even now at 74y/o I am always looking for new creative outlets.
Bottom line Jennifer, I am happy you are knitting again, and enjoying it so much.
Thank you so much, Elaine. I love the sound of all your crafts! Creating beautiful things gives me such joy.
I love your hair. Very classic, but timeless. And I recently started crocheting again. It is very relaxing & can be beneficial. Eventually!
Serendipitous, I just returned late this afternoon from getting my hair cut and sat down with a cup of tea to catch up on your blog. Agree with all the compliments on your new ‘do” as my latest style is very similar to yours as is my ‘growing-out-the gray-since-July 2021’ color, super fine texture and seemingly thinning by the year (and I’ve always had thin hair to start with). My stylist called the cut a Bixie, combining a bob with a pixie. I wasn’t familiar with the term, and she explained it is popular since it isn’t as short as a pixie or as helmet-hair predictable as a regular bob. You’re “trending” and it sure looks like the fan base here loves it!
I just have to say that normally on the Internet, the number one rule is to avoid the comments. That is so the opposite on this blog! What a lovely community of strong, supportive women. I’m 51 and have been reading for about three years. I love your style and recommendations and I love your new hair! I’ve tried a lot of different things for thinning hair and for me the magic combo has been washing less, Aveda shampoo, hair vitamins, and a silk pillow case. Anyhow, thanks for providing such a wonderful community and such fantastic content.
Thank you for being part of this community , Jen!! I do the silk pillow case too. I need to write everything down that I do to help my hair. It’s a long list.
Oh my! the teeth problem! Me too! My mom had all her teeth capped in her sixties try to avoid false teeth like HER parents! She later had decay under these and I wonder if that added to dementia??
Our aged dog died of teeth decay going to the brain….
I have had two implants and now are being advised to have another… how does one know…who to trust???
You look so cute so just keep up what ever…
We all are on a path and the INSIDE is what counts most!
❤️
I have two implants too! I’d be in big trouble without them.
Personally I love the new hairstyle. I like it better than your old style.
Thanks!
I love your new hairstyle and you have inspired me to start knitting again!
YAY!!!
You look fabulous in your Lake Tahoe outfit! I like your new hairstyle and maybe you’ll like it better with time. I don’t know how often you were using the purple/blue shampoo but my hairdresser warned me not to use it more than once a week.
I’ve cut back to that now 😁
Your air looks great! I’m a few years older than you and I, too, have been searching for a new style. My hair is gray and now is yellowing more than I can control. But, at least I have some hair to worry about.
Well, I have to chime in with so many others and say I love your new do! I think it looks chic and sophisticated. I took up quilting when I retired but gave myself permission to not stress about finishing anything. I love the process as like you, I find it calming as well as creative. Finishing is just a bonus and I do finish most projects. Now I’ve move on to card making as it’s like making little mini quilts in much less time. Still lots of $$ tied up in materials. But isn’t that also half the fun, collecting and planning new things.
Love the new hair style! Wow, those eyes really pop..
I love your new cut! I know what you mean by not wanting to go there with a bob. My hair is almost exactly like yours, but my stylist found a modern way of doing the back. Now when I wake up in the morning, I just run a comb through it …and it falls in place. That part I really like!
I absolutely love your new hair style. I, too, am really thinning….since menopause. My friend and I are considering taking Nutrafol. I’ve read good and not so good results with it. At this point, I will try anything. I envy women with nice thick hair, but I’ll be satisfied if I don’t go completely bald.
I’ve been taking Nutrafol for several years and don’t plan to stop anything soon.
Jennifer,
I love, love, love the new hair! Looks beautiful and very fresh and updated. The good thing about hair, ( and this is from someone who has a VERY short cut), is that it always grows! lol
Love your hair! Just beautiful and very flattering!
Love, love your hair!
I usually go close to a week before washing mine, it keeps it fairly healthy. PS, I do shower every day though!
I certainly don’t have perfect either, I did have retainers as a child but unfortunately refused to wear them. Only the “rich” kinds I knew had braces.
You are an inspiration, thank you.
You’re so sweet. My folks could only afford braces for one child and I wasn’t the one who got them 🤣
Your hair does look nice, but I agree with you. I wear a bob, too – but don’t particularly like it. It’s just so expected! Boring. I’ve tried it with bangs and without. Changed hairdressers last year, but it didn’t help. I want a medium length haircut that’s NOT a bob – is there such a thing?!
I had some long layers in my hair for the last few years which I really liked. A long bob, with just a few layers for life.
I LOVE your new ‘do”,it is so pretty on you! Maybe you will grow to like it. 🙂