How to Flat Iron your Hair

A friend of mine (who's quite a bit older) told me that when she was a teenager,
 

if they wanted their hair straightened, 

they used to lay their head on an ironing board and have someone iron their hair for them. 



She said it it worked. But it took forever, and left you with a bad kink in your neck.



Lucky for us, they've since invented the straightener.  It's easy to use and works

Four-Strand Braid with a Scarf

Here's a simple and fun twist on a four-strand braid.



This time of year,
after the holidays, you can find yourself busy with kids out of school, New Years parties, cleaning up Christmas, and on and on and on.



So I thought it only fitting to give you a quick and easy idea to enhance your regular braid. Just grab one of your scarves and an elastic and you'll look elegant in a few

Easy & Quick Up-Do for SHORT & THIN Hair

So another Christmas Eve is here.  I hope you have
found time to enjoy family and friends and that feeling of giving that's in the air.



And if you're running to get last minute things done, you're not alone.  So here's a quick and easy do you can use anytime, or for that holiday party tonight.  



It makes thin and short hair look thick and full of body (it works on long and thick hair

Elegant Christmas Up-Do

I've heard about all the winter storms closing down the airports in different parts of the U.S.
and leaving travelers stranded.  I hope the weather will let up in time, and that despite the snow, you'll all make it home for Christmas.



There's nothing like being home for the holidays, where the traditions run deep and the feeling of family is all around.  



From our family to yours,

Candy Cane

Who can resist a candy cane?

I don't even
like candy (unless it has chocolate), 

but I LOVE candy canes.



So does Lanie.



We took the kids Christmas shopping last night to choose presents for their siblings.  Each of them had a couple dollars they had earned and saved from their cookie and lemonade stand in the fall and were eager to get gifts.  I was helping Lanie.  (I can't say what

Christmas Hairstyle: Side Swept Up-Do

Growing up, we hoped every Christmas would be a "white" one.  It  was beautiful and holiday-ish, 

but mostly we wanted to go sledding.  

Our street was on a small hill,
but you always had to move for cars coming up the road.  And our school playground had a very steep hill, but it was always crowded with other kids.

So my dad would take us and a bunch of friends on a drive to a snowy

the Simple Bow

When I was in first grade, my family moved and I changed elementary schools.  Needless to say,
I was really nervous.  



I remember my teacher paired me up with a girl who was going to be my buddy.  She was supposed to show me around and teach me all the new things I needed to know.  So the first thing she taught me was that every day she rubs the angle of her shoe to tell whether or not

Christmas Ribbon Braid

The family I grew up in is (for the most part) very musical.  Most of us by choice, the others by coercion.  
That being said,
every year at our extended family Christmas party, we were expected to do a number from singing to dancing to reciting a poem and my grandma would let us choose a treat from her Christmas tree once we'd performed.  
So we've kept up that tradition when my brothers

Wet to Set -- Christmas Rosettes Bun

Since this is the 4th Christmas hair-do we're giving you, I wish
I had a name that could go with four calling birds...but I don't.

  

Hopefully, though (because the holidays are usually so hectic and busy) you'll be pleased to know that this is a wet hairstyle and will save you a ton of time.  

So you can free up your day for shopping, wrapping, baking, decorating, helping those in

Christmas Bow

I have an aunt, Mary, who can gift wrap anything and leave it looking spectacular.  I've never seen her
give a gift without it looking like a work of art.



If she's out of cellophane, I bet she could even use a garbage sack and leave it looking beautiful. 



In fact, with her talent for decorating, she could probably wrap up what's in the garbage with a piece of cellophane, a platter,

Pretzel Crown

On the second day of Christmas...Bella brings you this hairstyle.



Every year for Christmas my mom makes
several treats which are DELICIOUS, but labor intensive, so we usually only make them at Christmas time. Besides the orange rolls, the fudge, or the caramels, one of my favorites is the chocolate-dipped pretzels.  



We use the long and fat pretzel sticks and dip them first into milk

Milk Maid Braids

We just moved from the city to the country, and I'm still in 

what I call "rural shock"!

Here's an example:


I was riding the bus to school the other day and was surprised to see cows grazing by the side of the road outside the bus window.

I pointed and said, "Hey, look. Cows!"

Their response:  "Yeah? Where do you think you moved to?"



Funny, but the milk maids by me (and I'm sure