Contemplating My Curly Hair

Last night for the first time I really started contemplating cutting my hair, something called the "big chop." When ladies who previously would relax and straighten their hair but have decided to go natural, cut off all the relaxed hair, so only the natural curly hair remains. Of course, this is a pretty momentous occasion, because your hair will be significantly shorter, and it's a big change in how you look and feel about your hair and appearance. So, it's pretty scary to think about doing. Especially since I haven't had short hair in a very long time, and my young trauma still haunts me a little bit. I'm not worried about being mistaken for a boy anymore, just worried about how different it will look, if it will work for my face, how I will make it work, how it won't be a big annoying poof of a mess. I'm not really sure yet, but I would only do this after the wedding, and I'll talk to the lady who is going to do my hair for the wedding about the possibilities and styling options. Not everyone does the big chop, but having two very different textures and types of hair gets weird, and it tangles much easier with the dry, straight hair in the way. My curls underneath the top layer are really quite defined and pretty, and a good few inches long at least. The cut wouldn't be too short, but still, short enough to potentially freak out!

I found a couple blogs (here and here) and a couple tumblr pages that have inspired me to seriously consider this drastic change, and to believe that natural hair could work for me. It's still scary, though, but I feel like the time would be right for such a change, and really, what I have going on on my head isn't really doing much for me either. Yikes. What do you think?

It would certainly be a while before my hair would look nearly as good as any of these ladies, or for me to be comfortable with it being so...big...but one day, maybe...

images via here and here

I Want to go to There

Somehow I went from being the girl who ran off to Europe for a year (ok, I guess a planned exchange student year is not really "running off to Europe") and was planning on returning to study abroad in college, to instead being married with two kittens in the middle of Texas. In quite a short amount of time, too. I certainly changed a lot in the last five years or so, but the desire to travel remains. I don't long for the freedoms of young, unattached travel, nope not at all. I just want to travel with my husband now, and he wants to travel with me, so it has worked out nicely. A while (this post has been a long lost draft since January, heh) ago I watched this video and scanned this article, and they got me thinking about the places we want to go.

On a related note, one of my Christmas gifts to Kyle/us was this...

Which I found on Etsy. I could probably make one myself, but I just came upon this right before leaving PA and ordered it as I thought it would be nice for Christmas. If you don't recognize it, or if you do but can't quite place it, it is replicated from the movie Up.

Right around Christmastime, Kyle also brought Bonnie home if you recall...

which has prompted (though we were already talking about it) us to start a list of places we should adventure to on the motorcycle. Here's what we've got so far.

Possible future Motorcycle or Car Road Trips:

The Alamo
Sea World at San Antonio
California
Shiner Brewery

Having never been for a ride on a motorcycle, however, I don't know if I will like it or hate it, so we will have to see if those trips will be made by bike or by car. Here are just some of the places I'd like to go, a little further than I think Bonnie could take us.
Trips that Require Airplanes:
New Zealand

Scotland

Greece (I mean we're naming our future baby boy Apollo)

Egypt

Norway

Australia

back to Finland (my number one destination)

and really, what I wouldn't give to go whale watching, somewhere.

images via Pinterest

Lately, this Week

 Darwin has taken to sleeping here, by my desk in the corner.

 Also she sometimes jumps to the top of the door and then onto the shelves in the bathroom. bad kitty.

 after the freezer was left open one night, the popsicles haven't been the same

 Darwin was trying to catch the water from the tap. She wasn't too successful and just got very wet. I took a video. It's probably a boring five minutes, but it was pretty funny. had to be there...

 Hux thought the pizza was for him.

 yes, the things in this bag are for the wedding. ;)

My swap mug arrived. :) More on this later.

 my shoes came, finally after being back ordered!

We got take-out salads to bring home so we could watch the Pens!

Kyle had today off, so we're enjoying a long weekend. Well, we'll enjoy it if the Pens win this game...

Thursday Thoughts (4)

{one} The Penguins beat the Flyers, 10-3 last night. TEN TO THREE. This after losing the first three playoff games, badly.

{two} New Jason Mraz cd came out Tuesday. I downloaded it of course. I have unfortunately been spoiled by getting to see the 'mazing Mr. Mraz live several times, and the produced stuff is never as good as live. But, still pretty good.

{three} Husband and I love these popsicles. We love mango. We love popsicles. Unfortunately the freezer was left ajar Tuesday night, and the shape and solid state of the popsicles has certainly been altered. Still good.

{four}I'm taking a bio course from University of Phoenix online starting next Tuesday. Also, I have to get a meningitis shot before I can register for Baylor classes. I thought I was good to go as I've had one within the last five years as they first told me, but not within five years from the first day of school, boo. I guess it's time I found a doctor down here anyway?

{five} My new phone background- a photo of the print I ordered for the wedding!

{six} Parks and Recreation is back tonight! My favorite.

{seven}Kyle sent me this and it made me chuckle. 

{eight} Today I am especially glad we switched our car insurance to USAA. Kyle locked his keys in the car at work.

{nine} I couldn't wait anymore, I had to try on my dress. It was definitely doable, since it's a simple zip up, though I had to close the door to keep the cats out, and worried about picking up all the dirt and dust on the floor. But, it was fun! It fits pretty well.

{ten} There was talk of possibly going to Sea World down in San Antonio this weekend. It's about equal distance from Austin as we are to Austin, for 2.5 hour drive down. I am conflicted though because I know animal captivity is not always that great, but I really like seeing animals. Sigh. We could go just check out San Antonio, and visit the Alamo...

{eleven} I made these pork chops for dinner yesterday. Pretty good. I used Bully Hill red wine- really tasty wine. I like to try one new recipe a week at least. I definitely want to try this cajun chicken pasta next week!

{twelve} Many thanks to Meghan for all the awesome favorite things of hers that she sent me! I'll write a post on the two swaps I've participated in soon. :)