Not Just For Cooking

Olive oil. My favorite thing to cook with. While curling my hair with a curling iron this morning I suddenly found myself very hungry...thanks to my hair...and here's why...
Olive oil. I hear more and more all the time that olive oil is good for you, has many health benefits, etc., and I was always curious, but never thought to try actually putting it to the test until yesterday. The first thing I heard was that taking a tablespoon of EVOO every day is good for your skin, hair, and nails. After further research I found that it provides your body with rich nutrients that are good for your heart, help lower cholesterol, help normalize blood clotting, and can even benefit insulin and blood sugar levels, so I'm now on the bandwagon, forcing down a tbsp of EVOO daily. I'll let you know in 20 years if it's been beneficial :) But what I want to talk to you about today is more immediately gratifying-my hair.

Olive oil. In my hair. For three hours. Gross, right? Not at all. After hearing someone talk about the conditioning properties of EVOO, I decided it couldn't hurt to try something new. So, knowing I had some time, I went for it. I checked online to see exactly how I should do it, and there were a few different methods to choose from, but I picked the 2 that I like best. They both involve 1/2 to 1 cup of EVOO (depending on the length/thickness of your hair) and getting your hands messy. One method employs a microwave to heat the EVOO for 20 seconds or until warm, the other does not. Since we don't have a microwave and heat can degrade some of the nutrients in the oil, I went with the latter. That's the only difference between the two. There are other methods out there that add more ingredients, but I wanted to keep it simple and not make a grocery store run just to grease my hair. So from there, I began putting quarter-sized amounts in my palm and massaging it into my hair from the scalp to the ends per the instructions. If you have extra-oily hair they suggest starting about 1/2 inch from the roots to keep from having to shampoo and rinse too many times. My plan was to leave it in for about an hour (both methods suggest at least 30 minutes), but got busy doing other things, and before I knew it, 3 hours had passed! Terrified of a greasy head, I jumped into the shower and started the cleansing process. After the first shampoo and rinse, I could still feel the slick oil in my hair, so I repeated the S&R cycle. The second time was a charm!

Olive oil. Two shampoos and it was out. Not bad at all. I then used my regular conditioner to finish the process. Now I must admit, even though my hair felt normal, I was still very uneasy about what I was going to discover when I dried it. Would it be a greasy mess? Would I even notice a difference? My fears were immediately put to rest when I started the hair dryer. I could instantly tell that my hair was softer, and it wasn't greasy in the slightest! It was actually very voluminous, especially at the scalp which, with my long and heavy hair, was highly unusual. I was so excited that when I finished drying my hair I ran downstairs and made Ray feel it. Even he was impressed! And little did I know when I went to sleep that night, the EVOO had yet another trick up its sleeve. While getting ready for church the next morning I began the usually futile process of curling my hair with my curling iron...at least I thought it was my hair...but really it was completely new and rejuvinated hair! It was like I had switched hair with one of those women you hate...whose hair is ALWAYS perfect. But now my usually unmanageable, hard-to-tame, curls-fall-out-before-I-leave-the-house hair was still so very soft, full of volume, holding curl, and laying beautifully! I must say, I have never been so happy with my hair! EVOO did everything I read that it would do and more. It was unreal! I am ecstatic with the results...and my new hair! Side note: I have naturally curly hair, so I've tested it on the natural curls too, and it gives you shiny, defined spirals that keep no matter what the weather. So if you have natural curls and wear it that way often, this benefits you too!

Olive oil. USE IT. You won't regret it. You don't have to leave it on for 3 hours every time, but if you'll make it a weekly routine, taking about 45 minutes from application to wash, you'll see the benefits and be as enthusiastic about it as I am! I'm completely sold on EVOO, and will DEFINITELY be doing this every week. I've used a lot of conditioners in my life. When you treat your hair like I do...with curling irons and blow dryers and flat irons...you need a good conditioner to repair the damage. I finally found one. It's all natural and works miracles! I highly recommend it to everyone...oily or dry, damaged or not, your hair will love you, and you'll love your hair. Try it once and you'll be hooked, especially if you have hair like mine. Let your hair soak in the goodness.

Olive oil. In your hair. GO!

Happy greasing!

~Heather~

Long Time No See

I'm laughing right now because I look at my last post and see that it's about teeth. And my most recent picture of Spencer was when he was 6 months old. Now they're no longer teeth, they're molars (WOW I wish they were still teeth!) and he'll be 2 years old in less than 3 weeks. HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?? Not the fact that I haven't blogged in over a year...that's simply explained by lack of internet access and finding time between cleaning up messes and keeping a toddler from condemning our house...what I'm wondering is how in the world he grew up so fast! One second he's my tiny little doll that I'm afraid to touch because I might break him, and the next he's an energetic and reckless toddler that I'm afraid might break me! My mom always said it goes by so fast...not to blink because you might miss it...and boy is that ever true! I keep asking him to slow down, but he doesn't seem to be down with that idea. As for the no blogging for over a year thing, I intend...INTEND...to fix that. We now have internet access at the house, so hopefully I'll be able to keep my blog up to speed with our life! So, enjoy the new pictures and stories, and I'll try to keep them coming! Starting with an update...

First, we moved! In March we closed on our first house! We are so excited! Home ownership is an adventure, and has been a little bumpy, but it's exciting! I finally got to paint and decorate my OWN house, and that was AWESOME! We even did some renovations, which are still in the works, but we're managing! It's so great to be able to own something, do what you want to with it, and take pride in it. I love this house, and can't wait to fill it to the shingles with memories!

Second, as I said before, Spencer is much older and much bigger now! As a matter of fact, he's in the middle of a growth spurt as we speak. I'm looking forward to his next doctor appointment to see where he is on the charts now. He's not small. He was 7lbs 10oz when he was born, and now he's 33lbs! He's a big 2 year old. My last post was March 2010, and at that point he had just started to crawl. He did the 'army crawl' for about a month and a half or so, then he started to pull up and was walking by 10 months. Since then he's been non-stop! He says a new word just about every day, knows his animal sounds, and has almost mastered the stairs in the house! Now we're working on ABCs and 1-2-3s. He's so smart, loves to play, and is already a pro at tee-ball. He throws with his left hand, so we may have a future major-leaguer on our hands! :) He's incredibly sweet, loves to give kisses, and loves his Mommy and Daddy. I couldn't ask for a better son. He steals my heart every day.

Third, I've gotten a new NEPHEW since my last post! We were so anxious to find out what Molly was having, and our prayers were answered :) Thomas was born in May 2010, and we just celebrated his first birthday a few weeks ago. He's SO CUTE!!! I could just eat him up! But he's not listening to me either when I tell him to stop growing up so fast. Why don't they listen???

Fourth, Ray was promoted to general manager of his own store last September, which was an answered prayer! That allowed us to buy our house and he now has a much better schedule (6-4 M-F) and we get to see him A LOT more! No more third shifts, no more working until after Spencer is in bed. Life is much easier now, and Ray is much happier where he is. I'm so proud of my incredible hubby!

As for me, this past year has been a battle. Me vs. Migraines and Pinched Nerves. I'm actually going to the chiropractor this week for the first time since I was pregnant, and I'm praying that he can fix me. I don't want anymore medication, I just want a straight happy spine! Prayers are welcome as we figure out exactly what's wrong and how to fix it.

There are many more things that I want to share, and I will, soon. But information overload is not a good thing, so I'll pace myself...and you! Thanks for stopping by and letting me catch up on my blogging! I'll be back to talk to you very soon! Much love! ~Heather~