tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36341960826427390252024-03-27T05:34:23.297-04:00My Bumpy Middle Aged Long Hair JourneyGrowing my hair to new lengths at an age when the rest of the world is telling me to cut it.FrannyGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05035408405310249769noreply@blogger.comBlogger269125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3634196082642739025.post-34246448267205923732016-11-03T17:04:00.003-04:002016-11-03T17:05:16.179-04:00FrannyGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05035408405310249769noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3634196082642739025.post-19206326393603737362016-11-03T17:04:00.002-04:002016-11-03T17:05:12.378-04:00I'm still awayIt's been over four years since I've posted here. I have been facing some challenges, and they are not over as yet.<br />
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It may be some time until I do post again. In any case, there is already a lot of information here for anyone who finds it useful.<br />
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Be well. <br />
<br />FrannyGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05035408405310249769noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3634196082642739025.post-20398178789692445422012-10-03T19:57:00.000-04:002012-10-03T19:57:08.690-04:00Oh, Please!<b>In reading various articles on the internet about long hair over 40, I was eventually led to <a href="http://thecareerist.typepad.com/thecareerist/2012/07/too-old-for-that-joni-mitchell-look.html">this blog entry</a>. In a way, I wish I hadn't read it, but I think I'm happier that I did.</b><br />
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The blogger in question seems to generally write a very helpful blog that gives good tips to career women. However, this post has a different tone completely. It seems downright snarky.<br />
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She starts off the entry with complaining about Hillary Rodham Clinton's recent longer hair. She descends into making comments such as, " I know this doesn't sound very liberated, but I find women over 40 with
very long hair unsettling—particularly if it is straight and hangs
more than a few inches below the shoulder. (And don't get me started on
straight, blond long hair on women over a certain age!) They look
rather sad and dated to me—as if they're desperately trying to
rechannel Joni Mitchell in her heyday."<br />
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Well no, it certainly doesn't sound very liberated. For heaven's sake, there are many business women who have longer hair!<br />
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I think it's a good idea to wear updos to the office if one's hair is too long to look or feel neat and professional for a whole day, and of course, for women with very long hair, there can be practical concerns as well. For those of you who are lost on how to wear professional but flattering hairstyles, there are a wealth of resources on the internet to teach you.<br />
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However, most women with hair just a few inches below the shoulders can and do look lovely with wearing their hair down at any age. <br />
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What bothers me the most is that almost 45 years after the advent of the Women's Liberation Movement, women are still criticizing women for their personal choices. <br />
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Women already have it rough in so many ways. Those who choose to stay at home to raise their children too often feel put down by career women, and many career women feel the need to justify just why they are choosing to work. It just doesn't seem right for women to continue picking on one another for our lifestyle choices or even something as simple as our hair choices. <br />
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It really has to stop!<br />
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It's 2012, folks. Yes, it's only hair, but isn't it time for we women to support one another and our choices? Is it really necessary to mock an older woman for her hairstyle?<br />
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I would never think of criticizing a woman for her hairstyle choice, whether her hair is long or short.<br />
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The most important thing to me is how a woman's hair makes her feel. If she's confident at whatever length, then she will succeed. So rock that pixie cut or that knee length hair! Wear it in a way that makes you feel good about yourself! It's worth it.<br />
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Love to all, and extra hugs to anyone feeling tired today.<br />
xo<br />
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<br />FrannyGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05035408405310249769noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3634196082642739025.post-13160087591024062432012-09-25T15:56:00.001-04:002012-09-25T17:22:05.085-04:00When Hairstyle Inspirations Go Wrong<b>Everyone remembers their pop style crushes, and I'm no exception. In the mid to late '70s, when I was in high school, it was all about either having Farrah hair, or having Dorothy Hamill hair, depending upon what one's style was. </b><br />
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I tried to emulate the Farrah look as best I could with hair that was never below my shoulders. Of course I had to perm my hair and use hot rollers and mounds of hairspray to get the desired effect, but that was no deterrent to me or millions of other girls my age.<br />
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As the '70s wound down, there was increasing inspiration from the music world. I admired a lot of female singers, and there were a lot of great ones, with great style. The one woman whose style I wanted <i>to be like</i> was Stevie Nicks.<br />
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She had the face of an angel, that perfectly matched the ethereal sound of her voice. She wore clothes like a mystical gypsy goddess, and she gave off an air of being not quite human.<br />
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One of the essential ingredients of Stevie Nicks' look was her hair. She had beautiful, layered, (sometimes) big long blonde hair. It was a sort of rock take-off on the Farrah look, but far more casual and yet more daring. This is Stevie Nicks in the early-to-mid 80s.<br />
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I personally was never confident enough to rock clothing like Stevie Nicks back then, and as the '70s turned into the '80s, I was working in a retail store as a cosmetician, so my clothing was somewhat reserved, and even my clothing for going out on at night was relatively conservative. By 1981, I had cut my permed hair off, and I grew it into a simple pageboy.<br />
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In early 1983, I felt I needed a change. I went into my salon and simply told the hairstylist that. She suggested a perm with long layers. I thought it was a great idea.<br />
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I have to say, I loved my hair when I came out of the salon. It was shorter in length at the longest point, but it looked a lot like Stevie Nick's hair in the photo immediately above. To style it for work however, I styled it in more of the fashion of Olivia Newton-John's hair at the time. My hair was longer, but you get the idea.<br />
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Now, you have to remember that my hair is very fine, and stick-straight, so even with a perm, it was impossible to achieve the look I wanted with wash and go. It had to be styled with mousse, which was then the new best thing, a curling iron,and hairspray.<br />
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I was Olivia by day, but by night, I tried to style my hair to look like Stevie's. I think I did a pretty good job of it too.<br />
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The first night that I went out with my friends with this new style, I was feeling mighty fine, I have to tell you. Then one of my buddies took one look at me and he said, "Oh, you look like Rod Stewart."<br />
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D'oh!<br />
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So that was the end of my Stevie Nicks dream, then and there. Lesson: be true to your hair type. Even if it's not in style. <br />
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I'm still getting my blog feet wet again, so I may continue to post non-daily for a while. I will have a new hairstyle posted on my <a href="http://www.frannyslonghairstyles.com/">website</a> tomorrow.<br />
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'Til next time, my friends. Love to all, and extra hugs to anyone feeling physically or emotionally exhausted today. xoxo<br />
<br />FrannyGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05035408405310249769noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3634196082642739025.post-9881225353134015662012-09-23T08:37:00.000-04:002012-09-23T08:45:15.264-04:00It's SO Good To Be Back!!!Hello, my friends. Well, a few day's vacation from blogging turned into a few weeks, which then turned into a few months, which ended up turning into 21 months! Life just got crazy busy in so many ways, and the Internet wasn't on my mind, I'm afraid. Time does fly though. It doesn't feel as though I've been away from you for that long.<br />
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Since I last posted, I turned 50 and this year I turned 51. I like it! I still feel young, but I feel that I have more wisdom (I hope). I still have so much more to learn, though. I said to a friend recently that I wouldn't go back to being 18 for ANYTHING. I mean it. I wouldn't even go back to being 40, or 30. Truly.<br />
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I've trimmed more hair than I've grown since I last blogged, but it was to remove the thin ends caused by what I now know was a pre-menopausal shed. I'm back in growing mode.
My hair is now 28 inches/71 cm long, just about three inches from being well at waist length. I don't regret the trimming at all. This is the thickest that my ends have ever been at this length.<br />
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I no longer have a particular goal in mind, but I'm just going to see how long my hair will grow and still look decent at the ends. As I've said before, fairytale ends look beautiful on some people, but not on me, with my very fine, straight, hair. I really would like to get to tailbone if possible, but we'll see.<br />
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My hair is in good condition. I've really got my hair care regimen simplified though. I pretty much just wash it with conditioner, put a few drops of olive, coconut or jojoba on it, bun it when dry, and that's it, these days.
When I'm feeling ambitious, I do a deep treatment of some sort, but not often enough.
I'm happy to say that I don't have any split ends, even when I look with a magnifier.<br />
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So much has changed since I was last here, but I'll get into that in later entries.
For now, I'll leave you with my latest length shots and my comparison photo (All photos clckable for larger viewing).<br />
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I have missed you all <i>so much</i>! Love to all, and extra hugs to anyone feeling ill today. xoxoFrannyGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05035408405310249769noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3634196082642739025.post-89169224988493376142010-12-26T13:13:00.005-05:002012-06-18T08:29:51.738-04:00A Little Vacation<b>Well, even bloggers need to take a vacation from time to time, and I'm no exception. I am taking a couple of weeks off of blogging and I will return sometime in the first or second week of the new year, with my January update photos.</b><br />
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I ended up trimming my bangs on Christmas Eve, because I just couldn't hack having them in my eyes. I may or may not decide to grow them out. I think the Holidays wasn't a good time to start the process. We'll see what I decide in the next few weeks.<br />
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If anyone has any photos that they want to share of hairstyles they've done, please feel free to email me about it.<br />
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I wish everyone a joy-filled New Year, and I'll see you in a couple of weeks!<br />
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'Til a few days into January, my friends. Much love to all, and extra hugs to anyone feeling hopeless.<br />
xo<br />FrannyGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05035408405310249769noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3634196082642739025.post-85493120109228003782010-12-25T21:21:00.000-05:002010-12-25T21:21:30.942-05:00Wishing You Well<b>Whether you celebrate Christmas or if you don't, I want to wish you all peace of mind, joy, good health, prosperity, and hope.</b><br />
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'Til tomorrow, my friends. Much love to all.<br />
xoFrannyGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05035408405310249769noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3634196082642739025.post-30568348476688243232010-12-24T23:34:00.000-05:002010-12-24T23:34:01.455-05:00Christmas Eve<b>Christmas Eve is almost over for us. The kids were with us and we had a lovely, quiet family evening with a nice dinner, some singing and a lot of fun.</b><div><br />
</div><div>Today, I did touch up my roots, and afterwards I washed it with coconut oil shampoo. I am really happy with both the colour and the condition of my hair.</div><div><br />
</div><div>I had a big surprise this evening when I discovered that my mum has actually tried the coconut oil shampoo herself, and she is extremely happy with it. She purchased the coconut oil earlier in the week, but didn't use it on her hair until today. Her hair turned out extremely full of body and quite lustrous.</div><div><br />
</div><div>She's not certain on what her ratio was though. I do know that she used much less oil than shampoo.</div><div><br />
</div><div>A really great bonus is that in the meantime between buying the coconut oil and using it on her hair, she used it on a small patch of psoriasis that she's had for a while and it cleared it up in just a couple of days, after having tried many creams from the doctor that had proven ineffective. Coconut oil really has some amazing properties that make it a wonderful multi-purpose oil.</div><div><br />
</div><div>It's the coolest thing to turn my mum onto a new haircare routine!</div><div><br />
</div><div>Anyway, that's it for tonight. I'll be heading to bed and waiting for Santa to come shortly.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Whether you celebrate Christmas, another religious holiday or merely get to enjoy some extra days off work, I wish everyone the happiest of happy holidays.</div><div><br />
</div><div>'Til tomorrow, my friends. Much love to all.</div><div>xo</div>FrannyGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05035408405310249769noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3634196082642739025.post-31707295543376464342010-12-23T23:38:00.000-05:002010-12-23T23:38:17.833-05:00Final Holiday Preparations<b>Well, tonight we did the last bit of Christmas shopping, so all the gifts are taken care of and so are all of the groceries.</b><br />
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It's so nice to be sitting here right now with both of my kids on the sofa beside me and my husband sitting just across the room on his computer.<br />
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It's really finally starting to feel like Christmas now.<br />
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We still have a few things to do tomorrow around the house, but it will be taken care of. Both kids will be home and many hands make light work.<br />
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Also tomorrow, I'm going to touch up my roots, so I'll be prepping my hair with coconut oil.<br />
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I am so looking forward to a beautiful family Christmas Eve tomorrow night.<br />
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'Til tomorrow, my friends. Much love to all and extra hugs to anyone feeling lonely today.<br />
xoFrannyGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05035408405310249769noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3634196082642739025.post-64570749133307221172010-12-22T19:12:00.000-05:002010-12-22T19:12:16.115-05:00My Daughter's Home For Christmas (And Her Length Pics)<b>My daughter is home for the holidays, and I couldn't be happier. She arrived here just after 5 pm and we've been yapping ever since.</b><br />
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We did take a moment to take some length photos of her. Her dark blonde hair looks lovely, especially considering that she was on a bus for 7 hours.<br />
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Here are my daughter's hair photos:<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaPqh7uiB_G5FnQt3FeydRKNYIxvNQFXfiA_WymwyzdPNGd7vz4FnbSmIqcVC5uUAd9D5rEQB8dAyoAOzIi57I2Dv8DylXQvfLPjWk-loKFzDtpIddeG8pA1ExbDDuv9DrOAhql8RJY4UP/s1600/Annalee-Length-Dec-2010-b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaPqh7uiB_G5FnQt3FeydRKNYIxvNQFXfiA_WymwyzdPNGd7vz4FnbSmIqcVC5uUAd9D5rEQB8dAyoAOzIi57I2Dv8DylXQvfLPjWk-loKFzDtpIddeG8pA1ExbDDuv9DrOAhql8RJY4UP/s400/Annalee-Length-Dec-2010-b.jpg" width="165" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaRh5e7DgDg9Mw0VReNwKJYbHuZtLSJwaRiqapXaYvLxhybO4OghIDFbRIbB5jvsRgTU2q0y998vJrcfxVJMqUa9vWWfNidBHVxuOX_lPKMRy9hRyqd-TlE8knYUXtEexog4I9IYXGIjID/s1600/Annalee-Length-Dec-2010-c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaRh5e7DgDg9Mw0VReNwKJYbHuZtLSJwaRiqapXaYvLxhybO4OghIDFbRIbB5jvsRgTU2q0y998vJrcfxVJMqUa9vWWfNidBHVxuOX_lPKMRy9hRyqd-TlE8knYUXtEexog4I9IYXGIjID/s400/Annalee-Length-Dec-2010-c.jpg" width="192" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Well, I hope you'll excuse me making this brief so that I can get back to catching up with my daughter.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">'Til tomorrow, my friends. Much love to all.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">xo</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>FrannyGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05035408405310249769noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3634196082642739025.post-89654545652764642842010-12-21T18:00:00.000-05:002010-12-21T18:00:39.461-05:00Off-Topic Tuesday--Need a Break TodayToday I'm feeling overwhelmed, exhausted and I have nothing to say, so I'm taking the day off of blogging.<br />
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I am healthy and fine and so are my family members, but I just need a break.<br />
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'Til tomorrow, my friends. Much love to all and extra hugs to anyone who is living in fear.<br />
xoFrannyGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05035408405310249769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3634196082642739025.post-2337093065475614042010-12-20T18:44:00.000-05:002010-12-20T18:44:24.741-05:00Busy<b>Yes, I've still been so busy that I can't think straight. Added to all of my busy-ness is the knowledge that Christmas is only days away</b>.<br />
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I haven't had time to participate in the online hair forums, and I have pretty much been practicing benign neglect with my hair.<br />
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I've just been wearing it up in a bun, and brushing it just once a day to change the style slightly.<br />
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I've noticed that when I do the Movie Star Shampoo (oil soap) in the correct proportion, I can actually stretch out washes for an extra day, which is a surprising bonus.<br />
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I'm still waiting for my hair to be long enough to do some of my favourite styles, like the Celtic Bun, but I am finding it easy to be patient, given that I'm so busy these days.<br />
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I'm just not really giving my hair a lot of thought, which is probably a good thing.<br />
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I hope that everyone's week is off to a good start.<br />
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'Til tomorrow, my friends. Much love to all.<br />
xoFrannyGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05035408405310249769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3634196082642739025.post-80925931494992224142010-12-19T19:04:00.000-05:002012-06-18T08:30:51.010-04:00Quotes About The Nature Of Life, Love and The Universe<b>Here are some quotes that I've been pondering and mean a lot to me from a diverse array of authors. There might be one that strikes you.</b><br />
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</b><br />
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<i>"If out of all mankind one finds a single friend, he has found something more precious than any treasure, since there is nothing in the world so valuable that it can be compared to a real friend</i>.--Andreas Capellanus<br />
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<i>"There is more hunger for love and appreciation in this world than for bread."</i>--Mother Teresa<br />
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<i>"You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection."</i>--Buddha<br />
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<i>"We have to take the whole universe as the expression of the one Self. Then only our love flows to all beings and creatures in the world equally."</i>--Swami Ramdas<br />
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<i>"A human being is part of a whole, called by us the Universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings, as something separated from the rest a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circles of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty".</i>--Albert Einstein<br />
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<i>"It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope."</i>--Robert Francis Kennedy quotes<br />
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<i>"Wicked men obey out of fear; good men, out of love."</i>--Aristotle<br />
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"Man is a being with free will; therefore, each man is potentially good or evil, and it's up to him and only him (through his reasoning mind) to decide which he wants to be."--Ayn Rand<br />
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I hope everyone has had a lovely weekend.<br />
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'Til tomorrow, my friends. Much love to all, and extra hugs to anyone feeling misunderstood<br />
xoFrannyGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05035408405310249769noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3634196082642739025.post-74102698696212092542010-12-18T18:56:00.001-05:002010-12-18T19:04:51.655-05:00Hairstyle How-To: Asymmetrical Figure 8<b>This sleek hairstyle can take you from office to holiday party, depending on how you accessorize it.</b><br />
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Here are some photos, clickable for larger pictures as always, with instructions following them.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguuDN8SRXZxm1hdqEE7q9TYZIVxAqpMIrBo_Oyn2k238NKar7oDc7P4SBEFpMO7XIDE_r5kaMJzufJW26HuvfErTirD8G4oLwuem50wzZcz5-e3-uKan5x95CQNMkYooqZbmtJmn4tXN47/s1600/Asymetrical-figure-8-b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguuDN8SRXZxm1hdqEE7q9TYZIVxAqpMIrBo_Oyn2k238NKar7oDc7P4SBEFpMO7XIDE_r5kaMJzufJW26HuvfErTirD8G4oLwuem50wzZcz5-e3-uKan5x95CQNMkYooqZbmtJmn4tXN47/s400/Asymetrical-figure-8-b.jpg" width="346" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7aF2QJWhitKcCOPqttCy-m22M6AHFaoZmcGEcXbuBfAr5RKS7VdYU3XDTxqt7AiNrOEGQG8p1kyv8tUAMcNGrS1bKHCAVDf_p3nHwkl0xnOH42ohS8hNanqXHSCZMZ-avx8UmgTB2G3RH/s1600/Asymetrical-figure-8-a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7aF2QJWhitKcCOPqttCy-m22M6AHFaoZmcGEcXbuBfAr5RKS7VdYU3XDTxqt7AiNrOEGQG8p1kyv8tUAMcNGrS1bKHCAVDf_p3nHwkl0xnOH42ohS8hNanqXHSCZMZ-avx8UmgTB2G3RH/s400/Asymetrical-figure-8-a.jpg" width="345" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK3BJbHkYexA-qQLaYgto7wIJF6m_l_ceoCsg23vOgiSZP33j4UrX8eOC7Zn9lZ5XrZpduWTJCMhYKLgULw7kRnltys832CYAHWyfwF50S4dh4bMLstCyDkK9VC5xxfQmYOlcF8K8H_g94/s1600/Asymetrical-figure-8-c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK3BJbHkYexA-qQLaYgto7wIJF6m_l_ceoCsg23vOgiSZP33j4UrX8eOC7Zn9lZ5XrZpduWTJCMhYKLgULw7kRnltys832CYAHWyfwF50S4dh4bMLstCyDkK9VC5xxfQmYOlcF8K8H_g94/s400/Asymetrical-figure-8-c.jpg" width="356" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>It's made by doing a Figure 8 updo as shown in <a href="http://frannyslonghair.blogspot.com/2010/09/video-how-to-figure-8-updo.html">this entry</a>, however, instead of moving the top coil of hair <i>straight down </i>to create the "8 effect", you move the coil in a<i> slightly diagonal </i>direction.<br />
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After that, move the coils to position them for your desired look. This makes it look much less like an 8.<br />
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Put in hair sticks and you're done. In these photos, I'm using Mei Fa Hairstyx in Raspberry.<br />
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Hope you're having a lovely pre-holiday weekend.<br />
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'Til tomorrow, my friends. Much love to all, and extra hugs to anyone feeling alone today.<br />
xoFrannyGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05035408405310249769noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3634196082642739025.post-69241974060885426262010-12-17T18:06:00.000-05:002010-12-17T18:06:56.516-05:00Another Busy Day And No More Oil Slick :)<b>Well, I have just now (hopefully) finished doing the personal business that has kept me busy for the last 10 days, at least for today. I'm hoping to have the weekend off of that, and the boys and I are going to clean the house and get things ready for Christmas. We will wait to decorate when my daughter arrives home, as is her wish. We like to decorate late anyway, so that the magic of the decorations is still in bloom on Christmas day.</b><br />
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My husband and I will be doing some Christmas shopping tomorrow evening. The last Saturday night before Christmas is absolutely the best time to shop if you don't want a crowd. Most people are out at Christmas parties, and the stores are relatively quiet. It's the best kept secret in retail! We can do five hours worth of Christmas shopping in an hour and a half. We know what we need, so it's going to be fun.<br />
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I washed out the oil slick with a 1.5:1 ratio of coconut oil to shampoo, and my hair is back to its happy self. It's amazing really, how much difference it can be from saturation level to the appropriate level of coconut oil to shampoo. I actually might have been okay with a 2:1 ratio, but I wasn't taking any chances, given how oily my hair was. I'm still working on finding the perfect mix.<br />
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Some people are having success with merely a 1 :4 ratio of coconut oil to shampoo. We're just all so different. It amazes me.<br />
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Right now, it's just me and the dog. My son is at work and so is my husband, although he'll be home for a dinner break later in the evening. I'm wound up like a top right now after a day full of phone calls and errand, and I'm bone tired.<br />
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Once again, I'm going to do my best to relax this evening in hope that I'm ready to spring into action tomorrow.<br />
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I wish everyone a wonderful weekend, and for those of you who will be partying, please be safe.<br />
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'Til tomorrow, my friends. Much love to all, and extra hugs to anyone feeling frightened today.<br />
xoFrannyGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05035408405310249769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3634196082642739025.post-73204976766426553152010-12-16T16:58:00.001-05:002010-12-16T17:17:43.138-05:00Can't Allow Panic To Set In<b>Well, I have a migraine, I've been busy with taking care of things for my parents to the exclusion of almost everything else, the house is a mess, Christmas is coming, and I can feel panic beginning to arise.</b><br />
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I <i>need</i> to put a firm stop to that ASAP. I cannot afford either mentally or physically to go into panic mode. After I write this, I am going to chill, chill, chill and then chill until there is not a lick of anxiety left in me. I<i> have </i>to do it.<br />
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Logically, I know that all of the Christmas stuff will get done, and so will everything else. There really isn't all that much to do, so I'm worrying needlessly. I'm just overwhelmed right now.<br />
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I don't have a thing to say about my hair, as I haven't given it a single second of thought today.<br />
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Okay, my mind is a blank, so I guess that's it for today. Not much of a post, I'm afraid, but that's the kind of day it is.<br />
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Hope to be clear-headed and write a worthy post tomorrow. How I would love to have a hairstyle photo to show!<br />
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'Til tomorrow, my friends. Much love to all.<br />
xoFrannyGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05035408405310249769noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3634196082642739025.post-3447243872206407412010-12-15T16:35:00.000-05:002010-12-15T16:35:27.208-05:00Arrgggghhhh! I'm an Oil Slick<b>I think by now it's clear that I'm in love with my coconut oil soap. From reading the reports of everyone who is using what is now being called "Movie Star Shampoo", everyone seems to need a different ratio of coconut oil to shampoo. Some use more shampoo than oil, others, like me, use more oil than shampoo.</b><br />
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However, the last time I washed my hair, I accidentally doubled the amount of coconut oil in my mixture.<br />
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Let me tell you, it ain't pretty.<br />
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The ends of my hair are fairly happy, but all of the hair from the forehead to the nape just looks plain oily. Wearing an updo barely helps, because it looks as though I greased my hair back. Yipes!<br />
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So, I'll be making sure to be more diligent about my measurements in the future. When I do the correct ratio, my hair doesn't look oily at all. In fact it just looks lustrous and full.<br />
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There's a lot going on right now in my life that's distracting me, so I'm not really in shock that I made such a goof. Anyway, one shampoo will take care of that little oops.<br />
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My bangs are already at the stage when I would ordinarily trim them. I guess I forget how quickly they grow. They're starting to irk me already, so I may have to start using gel to keep them out of my eyes.<br />
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I don't know how this bang-growing-out thing is going to work. I just might not have the patience right now.<br />
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I'm starting to get a bit nervous about Christmas. I've had so much on my plate that I really haven't made the proper preparations as yet.<br />
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I guess things will get done though, as they always do.<br />
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'Til tomorrow, my friends. Much love to all.<br />
xoFrannyGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05035408405310249769noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3634196082642739025.post-14269945992777351662010-12-14T19:13:00.004-05:002010-12-19T19:03:52.368-05:00Off-Topic Tuesday: Another Quote<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">“Be the change you want to see in the world.”--M. Ghandhi</span></b><br />
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Sometimes we feel so small and helpless in this world and feel that we can do nothing to change things. We may feel that our feeble efforts are of little use. Yet, even in the smallest ways, if we behave in the way we wish the world to be, it <i>does </i>change the world, even if only one person learns a lesson or benefits from us.<br />
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You don't need to be perfect; heaven knows I'm not. However, if you can behave in ways that improve your own or someone else's life, even in the smallest way, you are making a difference.<br />
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Perhaps you give a smile to someone who needs it. Or maybe you say a kind word just when that person needs to hear it. Maybe you'll open up a door for a stranger at a store, and that's the first kindness that they've experienced in some time. You might stand up to a bully and tell them that what they're doing is just not acceptable. You may have been an abused child, but have made a firm commitment to never lay your hands on your child. That in itself is a little miracle. You have broken a cycle.<br />
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Even a genuine compliment given can change a person's mood and therefore their day. We can literally give a gift to every person we meet, if we choose.Who knows what chain of positive events we might start.<br />
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It doesn't take a world leader or a saint to change the world. It doesn't take money. We can make little differences every day. Don't <i>ever </i>forget your own power.<br />
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'Til tomorrow, my friends. Much love to all.<br />
xoFrannyGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05035408405310249769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3634196082642739025.post-80615210989962466142010-12-13T18:40:00.002-05:002010-12-14T19:11:01.898-05:00Thinking of Growing Out My Bangs<b>I <i>love</i> my bangs, but sometimes I want to change up my look. </b><br />
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Since I won't be cutting my hair any time soon, getting a perm, or changing my hair colour, growing out my bangs seems like the only way to change my hair's appearance. If I grow out my bangs, I'll be able to include them in crown braids or other hair styles that I really like.<br />
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The last time I grew out my bangs, it was a hassle, even once they were fully grown out. Because my hair grows straight down, my hair was always in my face unless I clipped it back or put it behind my ears. It was fine for updos, but not when I wore my hair down.<br />
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Ideally, I'd like to "train" my bangs to frame my face, but as much as I tried, it just doesn't work for me. Gel was not an option at that time, because the only gels I knew made my hair stiff and dry.<br />
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Since then, I discovered my <a href="https://morroccomethod.com/shop?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=59&category_id=22">Morrocco Method gel</a>, which is flexible, hair friendly has amazing hold and requires very little product. I'm hoping I'll be able to use that to keep my hair out of my face. In any case, it's going to be quite a while before I have to worry about it because I just trimmed my bangs about 2 weeks ago. Mind you, I generally need to trim my bangs every 3 weeks or so; maybe I'll need to start holding my bangs back artificially fairly soon, come to think of it.<br />
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Anyway, wish me luck. As many of you know, growing out bangs requires oodles of patience, and I'm already using up my supply.<br />
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So I guess we'll see.<br />
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'Til tomorrow, my friends. Much love to all.<br />
xoFrannyGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05035408405310249769noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3634196082642739025.post-86207286869617809192010-12-12T18:05:00.001-05:002010-12-13T18:42:30.240-05:00Another Unexpected Benefit of Oil Soap<b>I've been extremely busy taking care of some things for my parents as well as coping with a migraine for the past few days, and while I've been showering, I haven't been washing my hair.</b><br />
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In the past, whether I used shampoo and conditioner or conditioner only, I've always felt my hair is greasy by day 3.<br />
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Today, my hair feels as clean as it did on the day I washed it. I can't begin to tell you my surprise. That oil soap is becoming better and better, as far as the benefits.<br />
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Who would have thought that using all of that coconut oil with shampoo could make such a difference and leave my hair feeling so soft but not oily?<br />
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I couldn't be more delighted with my results, as I've already said.<br />
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I hope to hear from some of you who have tried the oil soap method. It's the most revolutionary thing that I've tried since starting my long hair journey.<br />
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It's important to know that everyone seems to need to use a different ratio of coconut oil to shampoo, and some people are using no conditioner afterwards at all, while some of us have to.<br />
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Anyway, if you've tried it, I'd love to hear about it.<br />
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I hope that everyone has had a wonderful weekend.<br />
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'Til tomorrow my friends. Much love to all.<br />
xoFrannyGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05035408405310249769noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3634196082642739025.post-4882060415486785292010-12-11T17:12:00.002-05:002010-12-12T18:03:39.112-05:00Sometimes This Is Tedious<b>While I have oft said that I am not trying to rush into the future and wish my life away, I must admit that this hair-growing can be tedious. It requires every ounce of patience that one possesses.</b><br />
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I know that some of you are lifelong longhairs, and can't relate, but for us growers, the difference from month to month is so frigging minuscule.<br />
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When I look at my progress from February to December, I realize just how far I've come, but I have a feeling that my next trip to waist is going to be a very, very long haul.<br />
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I guess this is an exercise in patience that I sorely need.<br />
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On the upside, I am still very happy with the present state of my hair. Aside from the fact that there are many hairstyles that I can't yet do, I am enjoying my hair as much as is humanly possible. I JUST WISH IT WERE LONGER!!!<br />
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Of course, I'll get there in due time, so I'm doing my best to relax about it. Unfortunately, once in a while I have days like these.<br />
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I suppose everyone has days like these whether it comes to hair, saving for a special item or losing weight. We get past it and don't let it get us down enough to give up.<br />
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Speaking of weight, I hadn't weighed myself for some time. I weighed myself 3 times this week, and there's no doubt about it; I've lost 10 pounds. It doesn't really show much, but I do know that the next 10 pounds will show a lot.<br />
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Realistically, I don't expect to lose more than another 10-13 pounds, unless I become a long distance runner. I will look quite good 10 pounds from now and I'll be able to wear my jeans!<br />
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So one thing frustrated me; one thing makes me happy. I guess we're all this way to some extent.<br />
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'Til tomorrow, my friends. Much love to all, and extra hugs to anyone feeling alone today.<br />
xoFrannyGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05035408405310249769noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3634196082642739025.post-82585828453902328012010-12-10T18:26:00.003-05:002010-12-11T16:56:32.552-05:00Hairstyle How To: Double Vertical Braids<b>This is an different variation on wearing a regular single braid or double braids. It doesn't look too interesting when you're standing still, but it creates an interesting swing when you walk.</b><br />
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I often do triple vertical braids, but for today i just did two. I didn't part the hair evenly enough into two sections that the braids were equal in width, but this gives you an idea of how it's supposed to look.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdj4pBPmFp8FjDh5QXJEn3-YIwcjWvavRx2HjPTPVnwTgvEZnGIejS_LSV7UJyQ0jIu72LsXXrTPcIO8XSjLSA9H85l1Uw86h1ue3l83iPZcxKXapNxbcjy-vska-hviMAZ3DCQ-R1Q0bL/s1600/double-vertical-braids-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdj4pBPmFp8FjDh5QXJEn3-YIwcjWvavRx2HjPTPVnwTgvEZnGIejS_LSV7UJyQ0jIu72LsXXrTPcIO8XSjLSA9H85l1Uw86h1ue3l83iPZcxKXapNxbcjy-vska-hviMAZ3DCQ-R1Q0bL/s400/double-vertical-braids-1.jpg" width="191" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFn51X5jCztZAb1xF7oSw0Ktr6IvrDLAZhqNyUwOKQ-t8NlF56ai5KSubgUHaDeUDIB3RjWnvntmpKDIh0x6LN06LmoRmcFlswa2A94DuUX2cuh5AEJs6A2Hy65cGJg-6dn_ubvgMNjmEr/s1600/double-vertical-braids-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFn51X5jCztZAb1xF7oSw0Ktr6IvrDLAZhqNyUwOKQ-t8NlF56ai5KSubgUHaDeUDIB3RjWnvntmpKDIh0x6LN06LmoRmcFlswa2A94DuUX2cuh5AEJs6A2Hy65cGJg-6dn_ubvgMNjmEr/s400/double-vertical-braids-2.jpg" width="178" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is clearly an easy hairstyle to do.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Firstly, I parted my hair as if I were making a half-up, and I braided that area.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Secondly, I braided the remaining hair.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As I said earlier, this style has much more impact when one is moving. It creates an attractive swing, and has even more impact if you try three vertical braids.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">'Til tomorrow, my friends. Much love to all.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">xo</div>FrannyGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05035408405310249769noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3634196082642739025.post-3471550059298199602010-12-09T18:33:00.002-05:002012-06-18T08:32:24.328-04:00Quick EntryToday I've been busy with family business for my parents. I've spent the day running around and/or on the phone, and I am completely spent. If I have any brain cells left, I can't access them.<br />
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I'm just popping in to say that while I didn't respond as yet to yesterday's comments, I really enjoyed them.<br />
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Just keep supporting your friends, what ever their style may be. And if someone gives you unwanted advice about your own personal style, let them know that it's not okay. We can't change the whole world, but we can effect change occasionally one person at a time.<br />
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Having a great hair day!<br />
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'Til tomorrow, my friends. Much love to all.<br />
xoFrannyGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05035408405310249769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3634196082642739025.post-58875597274658872512010-12-08T18:08:00.001-05:002010-12-09T18:29:32.927-05:00Further to Live and Let Live<b>On Sunday I discussed the seemingly constant cry for women to cut their hair that seems to permeate all media.</b><br />
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</div><div>I really appreciated all of the comments left on that blog entry and the emails. A point was raised that of course, women cutting their hair into particular styles keeps the women going back to the hair salons and that is completely true.</div><div><br />
</div><div>The world of beauty and fashion would be nowhere without changing styles. With regard to hair, new hair cuts and styles leads to more business for hair salons, it creates a need for certain new styling products and appliances, and generally benefits all businesses who have a stake in the hair market.</div><div><br />
</div><div>So I do understand why beauty and fashion editors will discuss the latest trends in hair, which will then in turn benefit their sponsors.</div><div><br />
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</div><div>What I don't understand however, is why they can't just show off the latest styles without putting down people who dare to be different. It's one thing to show what's hot right now; it's another to insult an entire group of people.</div><div><br />
</div><div>It seems to be a constant that long-haired women of a certain age are treated as unstable people who are either trying to recreate our youth or to trap a man. There are endless articles trying to uncover the "hidden reasons" why a woman over 35 or so would choose to wear long hair.</div><div><br />
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</div><div>The really sad thing is that so many women buy into it. I wouldn't mind if they just bought into it for themselves alone, but it so often seems that women are on a mission to change other women who don't fit into the current fashion mold.</div><div><br />
</div><div>I myself have had hurtful things said to me about the length of my hair and my age, and by people very close to me. For the most part, I get compliments on my hair, but the negative comments, especially from friends and loved ones, do sting. I can't lie.</div><div><br />
</div><div>So once again, I ask you to support your sisters in whatever their style happens to be, whether they wear a brush cut or hair down to their ankles. We women are so much stronger when we are supportive of one another's differences rather than expecting everyone to be the same and belittling those who are not. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Wouldn't a world where we all looked and dressed completely alike be boring? I think so, and I like to celebrate every woman's own unique brand of beauty.</div><div><br />
</div><div>'Til tomorrow, my friends. Much love to all.</div><div>xo</div><div><br />
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</div>FrannyGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05035408405310249769noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3634196082642739025.post-12496212226759379492010-12-07T20:30:00.001-05:002010-12-07T20:32:27.094-05:00Off-Topic Tuesday: Domestic Violence<b>I have been blessed to have a gentle and loving husband.</b><br />
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So many women have not been so blessed.<br />
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If you see any woman being abused in a domestic situation, please, please don't be the person who wants to mind their own business and stay out of it.<br />
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Please report any instances of spousal abuse to the police. You very well may save a life or more than one life.<br />
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'Til tomorrow, my friends. Much love to all, and extra hugs to anyone in pain today.<br />
xoFrannyGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05035408405310249769noreply@blogger.com0