I thought I would do a post on this as it's something that so many people have asked me about! Having dreads was a great decision for me, I loved the way they looked and I loved being able to decorate them with brightly coloured hair wraps and all sorts of beautiful beads. These days so many people make beautiful dread accessories that you're really spoiled for choice. It's also super fun to get some clay and beads to make your own! However it came to the time for me to take them out and make the transition back to my normal hair. I remember that I was in a yoga class and the girl in front of me was running her fingers through her hair and I realised how much I wanted to be able to do that again!
So decision made I tried to think of a way of taking them out, but they'd been in a long time and everyone I spoke to just suggested cutting them off! That would've meant having hair that was about 1cm long, no fricking way was I going to be doing that anytime soon! Especially as my main reason for saying goodbye to the 'locks was to have my long non-dreadlocked hair back. I took the tough road and decided I was just going to comb them out!
So, if you're jumping on the crazy train too then welcome aboard! Here's what you're going to need to do: get 2 bottles of conditioner, this needs to be of a good quality as it's going to be the lifeline for your hairs survival. Make sure you have about 2/3 days to spare, it's going to be a really slow process and you're going to want plenty of breaks as your arms will ache like crazy! You will also need 1/2 industrial strength combs, think something that would survive the apocalypse, and then buy two! Also make sure you've got a good series lined up or a few films you want to watch, you'll be getting pretty bored over the next few hours!
It probably took me about two days in total, but that included combing well into the night! I smothered my hair in as much conditioner as humanly possible and then just combed out, starting at the very bottom and working my way to the top. There were a few knots that I had to grab the scissors for, I was never going to win with them and it's good to know when you're beat! I kept a little box on hand for all of the beads and pretty things that I'd had in my hair, so that I could make something cute from them later on. I also had a couple of plastic bags on hand for all the hair I was combing out and the old hair wraps. You will lose a lot of hair when you comb out dreads, but don't worry - if you had normal hair you'd have just brushed it out, it's just that with dreads it tends to stay put.
Once I felt like my arms were going to fall off and all the dreads (but one) were out I visited my hairdresser, The Little Hair and Beauty House. The girlies who work there are delightful little angels and it's such a cute lil place too! I kept one dread in, just as a little bit of fun, but was pleased to have my hair back and really loved the results!!!
Monday 26 January 2015
Buttons and Twirls (How to Create Social Media Icons Post 2 of 2)
So I told you the other day about how I overcame my fear of HTML and got something to actually work on my blog, now here's some helpful info if you're trying to do the same.
Step 1 - Find the buttons you want to use, like I mentioned in my first post Design Bolts is a great place to look, or you can find links on Pinterest by searching 'free social media icons'.
Step 2 - Choose, download and open the file with your media icons, it may give you several different sizes so spend a couple of minutes deciding on the right ones to suit your style.
Step 3 - Click on 'create new post' and title it something like 'Not to Be Published' as this is a post just for you, in the background editing world.
Step 4 - Click onto the HTML setting and then by clicking the image icon upload all the buttons you want to use on your blog. Once uploaded make sure there is a blue box around each one by left clicking on the image. At this point it might give you options as to whether you want to centre your images or not, this is for you to decide how you want it to look on the blog. Now click 'add selected' a whole load of HTML coding should appear, don't panic! This means you've done it right :)
Step 5 - Switch to 'Compose' and you should see your images. Now to link each one simply click on it and click link, if nothing happens do the same again as blogger is a bit stubborn sometimes! When you click link insert the web address for that button (by copying from the website and pasting in the web address box) then click on 'open in new window'. By getting it to open in a new window it means you don't have folks dragged away from your blog. Click OK and repeat this for all the buttons you have uploaded.
Step 6 - Go back to the 'HTML' setting and copy all the text (highlight it all and press CTRL + C). Click 'Save'. Now head over to your 'Layout page', this can be found on your blog Dashboard, or if you're on your actual blog just click on 'Design' at the top right corner.
Step 7 - Click on the 'Add Gadget' text and then when the box appears scroll down and click on 'HTML/Java Script'. Click in the content box and paste (CTRL + P) your HTML text that you previously highlighted. Click 'Save' then click 'Save Arrangement'.
Step 8 - View your blog and jump around in delight as you see the magic for real!
Step 1 - Find the buttons you want to use, like I mentioned in my first post Design Bolts is a great place to look, or you can find links on Pinterest by searching 'free social media icons'.
Step 2 - Choose, download and open the file with your media icons, it may give you several different sizes so spend a couple of minutes deciding on the right ones to suit your style.
Step 3 - Click on 'create new post' and title it something like 'Not to Be Published' as this is a post just for you, in the background editing world.
Step 4 - Click onto the HTML setting and then by clicking the image icon upload all the buttons you want to use on your blog. Once uploaded make sure there is a blue box around each one by left clicking on the image. At this point it might give you options as to whether you want to centre your images or not, this is for you to decide how you want it to look on the blog. Now click 'add selected' a whole load of HTML coding should appear, don't panic! This means you've done it right :)
Step 5 - Switch to 'Compose' and you should see your images. Now to link each one simply click on it and click link, if nothing happens do the same again as blogger is a bit stubborn sometimes! When you click link insert the web address for that button (by copying from the website and pasting in the web address box) then click on 'open in new window'. By getting it to open in a new window it means you don't have folks dragged away from your blog. Click OK and repeat this for all the buttons you have uploaded.
Step 6 - Go back to the 'HTML' setting and copy all the text (highlight it all and press CTRL + C). Click 'Save'. Now head over to your 'Layout page', this can be found on your blog Dashboard, or if you're on your actual blog just click on 'Design' at the top right corner.
Step 7 - Click on the 'Add Gadget' text and then when the box appears scroll down and click on 'HTML/Java Script'. Click in the content box and paste (CTRL + P) your HTML text that you previously highlighted. Click 'Save' then click 'Save Arrangement'.
Step 8 - View your blog and jump around in delight as you see the magic for real!
Sunday 25 January 2015
Buttons and Twirls (How to Create Social Media Icons Post 1 of 2)
I'm determined to keep my New Year's resolution and get my head around HTML this year. Since I started this blog I've been spending a lot of time immersing myself in the blogging community. After all the best way to learn something is to get out there into the social cyber space and learn from the pros. One of the aspects I've seen repeatedly and really liked was the buttons or social media icons that folks have. A wonderful and seriously creative array of styles, with everything from cutesy bunting to fun and funky flowers.
I didn't have the first clue about how to set these up, so I asked a friend and blogging guru over at Lemon Freckles for some advice.
She pointed me in the direction of Pinterest, so I headed on over and searched for a style that suited my blog. It didn't take me long, icons seem to be an even bigger deal than I realised and everybody who's anybody is apparently creating them! I downloaded some from Design Bolts for free, it's a great website and has a huge range of FREE stuff for your enjoyment! So I grabbed my icons and downloaded them, then I sat looking at them wondering how on earth I was supposed to turn these pretty pictures into web links?!
My brain was baffled! So I turned to You Tube, which I tend to think of as my daily oracle! If there's anything EVER that I want to learn it's the best place to go. It never stops amazing me that there's always someone who has the answer! I sat for a few hours with a pack of jammy dodgers and a big mug of tea, watching as these tube geniuses wowed me with their skills/ Eventually I felt confident enough to do it myself and headed back to my blog, about half an hour later I was squeeing in delight and jumping around the room like a Springtime bunny as my icons linked through to my pages! I felt so pleased with myself, step 1 of understanding coding - DONE!
She pointed me in the direction of Pinterest, so I headed on over and searched for a style that suited my blog. It didn't take me long, icons seem to be an even bigger deal than I realised and everybody who's anybody is apparently creating them! I downloaded some from Design Bolts for free, it's a great website and has a huge range of FREE stuff for your enjoyment! So I grabbed my icons and downloaded them, then I sat looking at them wondering how on earth I was supposed to turn these pretty pictures into web links?!
My brain was baffled! So I turned to You Tube, which I tend to think of as my daily oracle! If there's anything EVER that I want to learn it's the best place to go. It never stops amazing me that there's always someone who has the answer! I sat for a few hours with a pack of jammy dodgers and a big mug of tea, watching as these tube geniuses wowed me with their skills/ Eventually I felt confident enough to do it myself and headed back to my blog, about half an hour later I was squeeing in delight and jumping around the room like a Springtime bunny as my icons linked through to my pages! I felt so pleased with myself, step 1 of understanding coding - DONE!
Thursday 22 January 2015
Gooseberry, Elderflower and Sauvignon Blanc Sorbet!
Last year I was given a gooseberry bush, the first one I've ever owned and a welcome addition to my little self - sufficient patch of green. I put it in a big pot to start with so it could settle into it's surroundings happily, without too many weedy invaders. I got so many gooseberries from it once it had flowered I could have fed a small fruitarian army! I used some last year but decided to freeze the rest for a tasty treat later in the year.
Well, 2015 has come around already and I decided it was a good time to detox my freezer. I find this is something good to do every January, which involves making yummy things from all the previous years pickings. The idea is to free up room which helps my annual de-cluttering of my little nest and to bring in the new year as I mean to go on - with many, many tasty treats!
Step 1 Put 300ml of sparkling Sauvignon Blanc, I used Oyster Bay and 250g of white caster sugar into a saucepan and heat until the sugar has dissolved to create the syrup base.
Step 2 Make sure your gooseberries are topped and tailed (this just means slicing off the stalk and the bit where the flower was). Add 900g of gooseberries (if you're using frozen like I was make sure they are defrosted first) and 5 tbsp of elderflower cordial to the syrup in your saucepan. Any elderflower cordial will do, you don't have to use the super expensive stuff, personally I really like the Belvoir range for this recipe. Allow the mixture to simmer until the berries are squishy and start bursting open, about 5 - 6 minutes.
Step 3 Pour your mixture into a blender or food processor, again anything is good so long as you can mash up the mixture. Even a handheld blender is good for this, or if you don't have anything a potato masher and a fork will do the job, you'll just need a bit longer. You can sieve your mixture afterwards to get the pips out if you want, personally I like the crunch, but it depends on your teeth!
Step 4 Pour the mixture into a plastic container, I use an old ice cream tub, and leave to cool. Place in the freezer and remove to stir the mixture every two to three hours. By the next day it's good to eat and will be a yummy treat!
I find this recipe a great one for when folks are coming over, it never fails to impress and tastes really unique and scrumptious!
Enjoy and let me know how you get on xxx
Well, 2015 has come around already and I decided it was a good time to detox my freezer. I find this is something good to do every January, which involves making yummy things from all the previous years pickings. The idea is to free up room which helps my annual de-cluttering of my little nest and to bring in the new year as I mean to go on - with many, many tasty treats!
Step 1 Put 300ml of sparkling Sauvignon Blanc, I used Oyster Bay and 250g of white caster sugar into a saucepan and heat until the sugar has dissolved to create the syrup base.
Step 2 Make sure your gooseberries are topped and tailed (this just means slicing off the stalk and the bit where the flower was). Add 900g of gooseberries (if you're using frozen like I was make sure they are defrosted first) and 5 tbsp of elderflower cordial to the syrup in your saucepan. Any elderflower cordial will do, you don't have to use the super expensive stuff, personally I really like the Belvoir range for this recipe. Allow the mixture to simmer until the berries are squishy and start bursting open, about 5 - 6 minutes.
Step 3 Pour your mixture into a blender or food processor, again anything is good so long as you can mash up the mixture. Even a handheld blender is good for this, or if you don't have anything a potato masher and a fork will do the job, you'll just need a bit longer. You can sieve your mixture afterwards to get the pips out if you want, personally I like the crunch, but it depends on your teeth!
Step 4 Pour the mixture into a plastic container, I use an old ice cream tub, and leave to cool. Place in the freezer and remove to stir the mixture every two to three hours. By the next day it's good to eat and will be a yummy treat!
I find this recipe a great one for when folks are coming over, it never fails to impress and tastes really unique and scrumptious!
Enjoy and let me know how you get on xxx
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