New Hair - extensions!

Once every year or so I give in to the fact that, despite my best efforts, I was not blessed with good hair.  So in go the extensions.  I've had them in different lengths and colors and it's a good way to have easy, workable hair for awhile.  

This time around, with the help of a fellow stylist, I got a couple inches added in length and filled in the thickness.

Here's a before of the back

and after

From the side before

After

We've all seen hair on these young girls, usually on myspace, that is obviously extensions.  You know the ones, short layers and long, super straight strands of hair... ack!  If done right though, by a professional, you would never know that someone has them in.  Just take a look at a Victoria's Secret catalog.  Every single model has some sort of extension work going on.  I know this because I recently read an interview from the on-set stylist.  Even with my hair, several of the stylists I work with didn't realize I had them in because they look so natural.

There are several different methods of putting in extensions including clip-ins, bonded, sewn, and micro rings to name a few.  My extensions are keratin bonded onto my hair and is 100% human hair.  Each extension strand comes pre-dipped in the bonding keratin.  With heat, the bond melts and is hand-formed around a small section of my natural hair.  Hair is made of keratin so that's why it adheres and holds on so well.  With proper care the extensions will last approximately 3 months.  Proper care of these particular extensions means they need to be treated more gently than your natural hair.  It's best not to shampoo the hair (or any hair) daily.  They need to be conditioned well but take care not to apply conditioner at the bond.  It's suggested to avoid any kind of silicone based product including any "smoothing" product lines.  Doing so will help prevent the bond from sliding off the hair.  You can style the hair just as you normally would, trying to avoid excessive heat from flat irons or curling irons and it's good to use a leave-in conditioner for added protection.  It's actually best to just wash (and condition) and wear.

The cost to have this done varies depending on the individual stylist and your own natural hair's thickness, texture and length desired. Including the cost of hair, it will run anywhere from $500-$1500.   You can have them done in just about any color or combination of colors, including bright "fantasy" colors for those with a little wild side.

If you're looking for a new look and think extensions is something you would like to try out, leave a comment or contact me and I would be more than happy to share more details with you.

~Ang

Redneck Games: NASCAR

When I was a kid there was never a ball game on in our house.  Instead, it was NASCAR.  It wasn't till I started dating my husband that baseball and football was a front running topic among the guys and because of their interest in the sports they had leagues of fantasy sports.  In an effort to form a more common ground with my dad, my husband formed a fantasy NASCAR league among my family circle.  It started small for the first few seasons, a hand full of guys that watched the races.  Eventually it grew year after year, adding cousins, friends and friends of friends, complete with web/chat site, a prized trophy that gets passed to the winning team each year, and an annual dedicated draft day that's decorated with a whole lot of trash talk and colorful language.

The season starts with the Daytona 500 and this year the draft was held at our house.  Very early in the morning around 4:00-5:00am my husband was up to start the cooking.  He decided to make smoked pulled pork sandwiches which turned out amazing and I'm not just saying that because it's one of my favorites.

At 9:00am everyone starts showing up and every guy has at least one of the following three items in their hand... their draft picks, beer, food.  I offered coffee and they looked at me like I had two heads.

The race starts at 10:00 so they don't waste any time getting started on the draft.

How many rednecks does it take to....


From the circle they're calling out who's up next and cursing each other over who took which driver.  It goes something like
"Carl Edwards"
"Taken"
"Son of a..."

Once they wrap things up it's race time.  Every time there is a crash someone says "who's driver is that?"  "your guy took my guy out, expletive, expletive, expletive."

Throughout the day spouses and kids filter in.  During the race you won't likely find an open seat in front of the TV, there are others in the garage (man cave) watching the race out there, others gathered around the food set up, kids playing video games in the other room, and a lot of laughing and just having a good time.

I believe the head count came up to around 35 people this year and you can bet your hiney we used paper plates and plastic forks. Eesh.

As soon as the race and interviews with the drivers ends the crowd started to thin and as the guys leave they say stuff like "see ya later, good luck this year" and in their head they're saying "I hope your driver doesn't qualify, or gets pushed into a wall and gets knocked out of the race and loses their sponsor."

Ah yes indeed, it's race time.

Raspberry and Chocolate Treasury Feature

A very pretty, very vintage and feminine treasury featuring my vintage dark brown gloves

'Chocolate and Raspberry' by PrimroseandRuby

Two of my favorite flavors.

50's 60's Rasberry C... TheVintageStud... $96.00	Vintage 1950's 3 Strand... NYStyle $21.00	Vintage .. Signed Raspberry ... dibabeads $9.00
Vintage Bob Mackie for Glydo... MadMakCloset $175.00	Vintage Dress - 50s Taffy ... TheRubyKitten $148.00	Vintage Etienne Aigner 1960s... RageoftheAge $5.00
vintage 40s Fischer Silk Neg... EGVintage $75.00	Swing Baby Great 1940s Vinta... HartsCloset $199.99	Vintage 1960s Raspbery Pink ... blythehopesvin... $35.00
Fab 40s Chocolate Brown Woo... HartsCloset $64.99	Vintage Dark Brown Gloves GoneTheSun $10.00	vintage TORTOiSE TiLE petite... shopREiNViNTAG... $32.00
vintage faux topaz and auror... diannesdesigns... $19.95	chocolate ALLIGATOR LEATHER ... TheLovedOne $38.00	50's Chocolate Brown Seq... thegreedyseagu... $125.00
Unusual Vintage Rhinestone N... RescuedRelics $24.50

Treasury tool is sponsored by Lazzia.com A/B image testing.

The Etsy Treasury

Something that has become sort of a hobby of mine is creating Etsy treasuries.  If you're not familiar with etsy.com, it's a website full of countless "shops" that sell only handmade and vintage goods and supplies.  I, myself have a vintage shop on the site called Gone The Sun.  On the front page of the Etsy site you will see a treasury of items that have been compiled for front page display.  The front page treasury rotates frequently and it's a creative way to introduce products and sellers.  For me it's also a fun way to find cool stuff and display them in a pretty way for anyone to see.  It's always flattering to have one of my own items featured in someone else's as well.

Below is my most recent treasury.  I love succulents and this treasury was inspired by the awesome succulent wreath shown below.  I've never seen anything like it, it's so pretty and it's living.  You actually have to take it down and water it occasionally.

Anyway, here is the first of many treasuries to be posted here.  Every one of the items is for purchase if something should catch your eye.

'succulents and such' by GoneTheSun

tiny planter no. 7 - retro s... variousandasso... $6.00	Beautiful Succulent Wreath, ... SucculentsGalo... $68.95	Vintage, Collectible Jadeite... jacklovesfroni... $55.00
SET of 3...Air Plant Urchin ... peacocktaco $28.00	Aloe polyphylla- ... Horticopia $22.00	Vintage German Milk Glass Ne... theresajtoo $16.00
Large Handmade Mother of Pea... Greatvintagest... $120.00	Sempervivum 'Sir William... SteveSuperGard... $4.99	Pair of Succulent Micro Tile... elementclaystu... $160.00
Blue Turquoise Concrete Bowl... StonyGardenPla... $30.00	Crab shell Baking Dishes LaBestia $15.00	Vintage Mckee Jadeite 4 x 5 ... vintageatchirp $54.00
By the Seashore.. Vintage Wh... thewhitehome $39.00	Midnight Moon - Throw Pillow... TheHomeCentric $27.50	moss mound floresdelsol $24.00

Treasury tool is sponsored by Lazzia.com A/B image testing.

Listing Listing Listing

... gotta do some listing.

I've had an etsy vintage shop since 2009.  It's been a fun way to turn a hobby into profit.  It gives me an excuse to scourer the thrift shops for fun finds and give me some extra cash in the process. 

Here's my POV at the moment.  

Camera waiting to upload pics, items for sale.  Lots of goodies I've been sitting on for awhile because really, it's more fun to find the goods than it is to take pictures of them and my husband would be so happy that I decided to stay home and list what I have rather than what I had planned to do today, which was go out and add more to my stash.

  I've fallen a little behind lately on the listings too so I guess I need to get on it.  

Any minute now.

Eh, maybe later.


 If you would like to check out my shop go to http://www.etsy.com/shop/gonethesun

jewelry organizer

I’ve been looking for a new way to organize my jewelry  since I started seeing the pretty jewelry trees and stands hit my favorite stores and then compared them to the mess I called my jewelry box.

I really love the way they look but I know how I am.   I just drop my jewelry down as I go past the jewelry box on my way to kicking off my shoes and it never actually gets put it where it goes.  Therefore it looks like this.

and this

and good luck finding what you're looking for real quick before running out the door because you're already 10 minutes late because you couldn't decide on the boots or the heels and then decided to go with the heels but then had to go with different pants.  It's an ongoing battle that goes unaccessorized.

I knew I wanted needed to get something new but if I was going to spend the money then it was going to have to be something I really liked and not one I buy on a whim.  Something pretty but not too girly. 

I love this 

 from redenvelope.com

but with my habits I can see it turning into a tangled web of nonsense.

Then I was leaning toward something like this 

etsy.com

but I needed to find the right one for the right price.

Then I found this

ikea

It’s actually a 3 tiered food stand but I’m all for re-purposing and of all places, I found it at Ikea for a mere $15.  Score!  It’s clear glass and oval shape and so simple and timeless that  I won’t get bored with it anytime soon.  Pretty display and organized jewelry, check.

After several days, I can honestly say that it's a job well done, definitely serving it's purpose.  I can find what I'm looking for when I need it and everything easily goes back in it's place.

2nd Grade Vocbulary

I was going through and checking my 7 year old's homework tonight.  I'm impressed by his quick grasp of contractions:  I'm = I am, they're = they are....  Math: greater than, less than...

Then there is the weekly vocabulary and let me give you a sample of this one.

Word:  Secure
Definition:  To make something safe from getting lost.
Sentence:  I make sure my sister is secure.

Awwww, melt my heart!

Word: Culture
Definition:  A thing that a group of people do.
Sentence:  Our culture is tamales.

Umm.  :)  I guess if you're going by this definition, in his world this is correct.

Word:  Customer
Definition:  People that buy goods.
Sentence:  My mom is a big customer.

I guess I've been called worse.

Hey, at least his homework is done.

Sweet Dreams

Although I've been doing hair for 15 years and I love what I do, I can't say I'd want to ever open my own salon.

I would on the other hand love to own a sweet shop.  I've only come up with this idea just recently and seriously, I love candy!  You ask my favorite candy, I really can't pick just one.  I love them all, even black jelly beans.  Really, I can't even walk near a candy store without stopping in, even just to take a look around.

I wouldn't want just any candy store though.  A sweet shop.  Containing all things sweet.  It'll be brightly colored, neatly organized, yet whimsical and be a feast for the eyes as well as your mouth.

We'll start with lots of hand-twirled lollipops

just 'cause I think they're pretty

It will have a good collection of confectioneries that you won't find at just any candy counter and they'll be displayed in pretty labeled jars rather than barrels or acrylic bins.

There will be an ice cream counter

and an icee bar

and donuts.  I love donuts.

something like these with their own signature style

and the staff would be encouraged to be as bright and cheerful as the candy 

much like a Harajuku girl because really where else could you work and this look actually be acceptable for your everyday attire?

I'm going to need a great logo and stand out, signature packaging as well.  Something that will get noticed in a customer's hand as they walk through a busy downtown area known to have a lot of foot traffic.  It'll be the Tiffany of the sugar world.

The storefront will have great picture windows and seasonal displays that will draw the eye and the consumer.

It would be fabulous, I just know it!

 photo credits