Preparation

Yesterday I took the Christmas decorations down from the attic. We decorated the tree to Christmas carols and ate mint brownies. I think we're ready for Christmas. (except for the shopping. . . minor details).

While I was up there (in the attic, not the tree) I thought maybe I'd take down the baby clothes and stuff like that. You know, since I had an important reason to be up there anyway and everything. I sorted through them and now I just have to wash them. Last week I bought some doll sized diapers and wipes and nursing pads (that's everything, right?). I think we're ready for a baby.

Good thing too, since my doctor estimates he'll come in the next week and a half or so. Any day now, really. My strategy for preparing myself for giving birth is to not think about it until it starts to hurt. Clever, aren't I?

There was one other thing I've been pretty concerned about: Aaron. He's been the baby of the family and gets LOADS of attention, since Ev and Dave were pretty old (5 & 7 irrespectively) when he was born. He's excited every time we talk about having a baby in our house, but of course, I've been worrying a little about jealousy.

Last weekend we went to visit some friends in Warsaw who have a three month old baby. Liz (aka Lith, aka Anion,according to Aaron for some strange reason), the mother, was shadowed by Aaron almost the entire time we were there because he just couldn't get enough of little Ania and watching and "helping" Liz care for her.

I worried a little that he wouldn't want me or Greg to hold her, but the only issues of jealousy were expressed this way, "Aaron hold it!?! Aaron hold it, baby Ania!?!"

This picture, taken after at least five minutes of him sitting like this, sums up how Aaron feels about babies. I think he's ready to be a big brother.

Prom Hairstyle Tips: Virtual Hairstyle Software

When you are ready to change your hairstyle, you can use the free virtual hairstyles software on the Internet. See yourself with a short hairstyles, as a blonde, brunette or red head, or change your mind and try different hairstyles. Here is where to find free virtual hairstyles software and how to use them.


Free Virtual Hairstyles - TheHairstyler

• Offers new hairstyles for women and men, sign up now for free.
  
• Choose from over 7,000 hairstyles and 50+ colors. Men can choose to see themselves with a beard, moustache, or goatee.
• Upload your photo and use the three options to make quality corrections.
• Choose you hairstyle and color and play with it until your find your new hairstyle.
• There are about 100 3D images to work with.
• Use the search function to find a certain category such as hairstyles for Prom night, long hairstyles, formal hairstyles, curly, wavy or whatever you are looking for in a new hairstyle.
• There are explanations for the care of the hairstyle and provides styling tips.
• You can use the ‘email’ option to send your new hairstyle to a friend to see if they like it.

Makeover Solutions - Free Virtual Hairstyles

• The free virtual hairstyle software option allows you to upload 1 photo of yourself but also have models with different face shapes for you to work with.
• If you choose to upload you photo find one where you are looking forward and your hair is not covering your facial features. Once uploaded use the easy process of aligning the eyes, lips, and facial areas.
• The editing options available with the free membership include a few hairstyles and 10 face models. You can color your hair and also apply high- and lowlights.
• Choosing your new hairstyle is complimented with cosmetic colors to work with and accessories to choose from.
• Continue on to change makeup options and share your new hairstyle image through Facebook or MySpace.
• If you would like to join there are choices, 3 month, 6 month, and one year.

Prom Hairstyle: Lisa Rinna Prom Hairstyle

Most girls dream about prom as often as they dream about their wedding. You got your prom dress, shoes and all the necessary accessories for this prom night, and now wonder what prom hairstyle to wear on this important night. Why not think out of the box this time with Lisa Rinna Sassy Prom Hairstyle.

Lisa Rinna’s hairstyle is the epitome of the popular sassy and tousled look. Here we’ll tell you how her hair is cut and how to style your hair to look just like hers.



1. Cut this hairstyle for both fine and thick hair. Curly hair or hair with slight natural wave that can be blown dry straight will be easiest to style like Lisa Rinna’s.

2. Leave top layers longer so you can smooth them towards the front. This cut will work best if it is done via a razor cut to get that choppy feel to it. If the layers are too blunt they won’t blend and move as well.

3. Leave the bangs long (below the eyebrows) and wear them piece-y but full on the forehead.

4. Cut the sides with a razor but shorter than the top layers. The sides should be roughly to the bottom of the ear.



5. Cut the back to where the top of the shoulders meet your neck. This too is cut via a razor so you can create that sexy flip.

6. Apply a smoothing serum to towel dried hair to style your hair like Lisa Rinna. Be sure to distribute the product evenly throughout the hair. Using a wide toothed comb to comb the hair after applying the product helps get it everywhere.

7. Using a flat brush, start at the crown of your head and blow dry your hair forward and slightly to one side. Don’t create a definite part—this style relies on a messy and tousled look for its charm.

8. Wear the bangs super smooth and full across the forehead. You can sweep them slightly to one side if full bangs aren’t your thing.



9. Blow dry the sides down and slightly flipped back. Let the ends of your layers spike out a bit. You don’t want your sides too smooth or they won’t match the tousled look of the top.

10. Focus at the back of your hair to get some volume at the back of your head and have the hair smooth down and taper into your neck. Flick the bottom layers out by placing the brush on top of your hair and giving your wrist a twist so the hair wraps around the brush and flips up. A quick shot of cool air from your blow drier will help set the flip.

11.Use a flat iron to smooth any areas that aren’t behaving. Heat up the flat iron (hotter for thick hair, less for fine hair) and smooth sections as needed. Start at the roots of the section of hair and enclose the hair in the flat iron plates. Slowly glide the flat iron to the ends of the section and let that piece of hair cool. Repeat as needed.

12. Coax a flip like the one in Lisa’s Rinna’s hairstyle by using a flat iron to smooth a small section of hair as you would to straighten it. The trick to the flip is once you get close to the ends of the hair twist your wrist up and pull the hair out slightly from the head as you glide through the last couple of inches of hair. Let the hair cool before touching it again.

13. Finish up this hairstyle by rubbing a small amount of styling wax through your hair to separate the layers and add definition. Place hair as you want it with your fingers and give your hair a light spray with a medium hold hairspray.

Prom Hairstyle Tips:-
You can view yourself with Lisa Rinna's hairstyle with virtual hairstyle makeover software at Hairstyler.com

Hairstyle Tools that you'll need:

* Medium hold hairspray
* Hair Styling Wax
* Flat brush
* Smoothing serum
* Hair blow dryer
* Flat iron

Perfect Day

Today is a holiday (Poland's Independence Day) so Greg and the kids stayed home. Here's what it was like for me:

warm house full of happy children

gray and drizzly all day

leftover chocolate cake

I can't imagine better conditions for curling up with a good book. So that's what I did. Except for the curling up part. Because you can't really curl up with a binder (especially not with an enormous belly), and what I was reading was a binder full of recipes. Recipes that suggest that you "thoroly blend" ingredients together, or that tell you to drop the dough on a "cooky sheet", or that require you to drain or reserve "sirop" from a can of fruit and give you the option to use either a chopped bar of chocolate or "packaged chocolate pieces", and where 90% of the cakes and cookies call for shortening instead of butter. There's also a separate section entitled "Leftovers" and one for "Canning and Freezing".

I'm so completely charmed by this 1949 Better Homes and Gardens Cook Book that belonged to my stepmother's great aunt (how's that for a cool connection?). It's just fascinating reading for me. And the book's stuffed full of old newspaper clippings of recipes and ideas for entertaining (with the fantastic advertisements here and there). I've been completely transported back in time, and I LOVE it. I feel that if I can just stick with this book, plus another favorite of mine that my mom gave me, The Art of Homemaking (1969), and also develop the fashion sense of this lady, I'll be my perfect self.

I just received it in the mail yesterday and the fact that I've already found two recipes (identical recipes!) that I already make regularly and love dearly (brownie pudding and borscht) makes me really excited to start trying out some of the other recipes.

Thanks so much to Pam for the cook book!

Prom Hairstyles: Sexy Swept Curly Hairstyle

Everyone know Leona Lewis is such a strong, powerful female and she’s got a strong presence in the music industry and she’s got great music.

Not only that, she also has a great style too. Leona Lewis rocked the 2009 MTV EMAs red carpet with a sexy side swept hairstyle, featuring lots of curly texture pulled over her shoulder.


This hairstyle is really rock for Prom night, not to highlight about all the benefits of of this hairstyle.

Side curly prom hairstyle on long hair don't require much of a commitment as they can be worn in several ways. Side curly hairstyle can be brushed to one side, held in place with a headband or barrette, or even pulled back as part of a high ponytail if they are relatively long.