Random Thoughts

For some reason, I can't sleep. Actually, I think the reason is that it is one of my days off, and I'm trying to adjust to a "normal" day schedule, when I work nights. I went to bed at two a.m. last night (or, I guess, morning) and woke up at four. Luckily, Mauri was wide awake in D.C. and was there to keep me company via text message. Ugh, it was seriously a boring weekend since two of my best friends were out of town!

So, onto the randomness:

-Today I went to the dermatologist to get some suspicious moles looked at and to see what the heck is up with my face. Normally I have clear, porcelain-like skin and rarely break out, but the past few months I have been getting cystic acne and an increasing number of blackheads on my chin, as well as tiny little bumps all over my face. To most people it's not noticeable (seeing as I still get complimented quite often on my complexion), but to me, it is quite troubling. Well, first of all, the good news is that none of my moles look cancerous, according the the doctor. Second, I got a prescription for a topical gel for my face called Epiduo. I had never heard of it before, and on researching it when I got home, I found out that it just hit the market in January. According to the press releases, it's supposed to be the next big thing in acne treatment. It combines a benzoyl peroxide and a retinoid, and is supposed to be more effective than putting on each one separately. To those who know me, it's no surprise that I love having and trying the newest products, so I am very excited to be among the first to try this out. My local CVS pharmacy didn't even have it in stock, so i will have to wait to get it until tomorrow, but in the future, I will be sure to report on its effectiveness.

-I've known about the outcome of the Bachelor finale for several weeks now, but that didn't stop me from watching it. I'm gullible, so I truly want to believe that Molly didn't know this ending was coming. It's like a twisted fairy-tale ending for her. For every girl that has lost her true love, it is something that you always hoped that would happen, but of course, it never did. But don't get me wrong, I have much more sympathy for Melissa and know that it would SUCK to be in her shoes! I feel like I have been in her shoes before, in a sort of similar, but sort of different way, if that makes any sense! Before me and my most recent ex started dating exclusively, he dated me and this other girl at the same time before deciding to commit to me. I remember at that time actually feeling like I was on the Bachelor, waiting to get that rose, because I was aware that there was another girl that was vying for his affection as well! Long story short, he ended up "choosing" me, we were together for three years, broke up, and then less than a month later, he was already sleeping with that other girl from years ago. C'est la vie, I suppose. But I am much better off now, and Melissa will be, too, I can guarantee it!

-I feel one hundred percent better now that my roots are no longer a light reddish color. Ladies, let me tell you, your hair is too precious to trust to an acquaintance that does not have years of coloring experience under her belt! I made this mistake about a month and a half ago. Under pressure from mother to lighten up my almost black-brown hair (she said I looked like, and I quote, an "indian," whatever the heck that is supposed to mean), I went to a former coworker of mine from my cocktail waitressing days to get some *subtle* highlights to break up the color a bit. My normal hair stylist moved to Arizona about a year and a half ago and only comes into town about once every six weeks, so I decided to take a chance and let my former coworker do my color, as she is apprenticing at a hair salon and needs more practice and more clientele. Needless to say, it did not turn out at all like I wanted. Those "subtle" highlights lightened my hair several shades, the virgin hair at my roots lifted several shades lighter than the rest of my hair, and my whole head took on a reddish tone, when I should be a cool brunette, due to my coloring.

It was a disaster. I went back to her a week later to get it toned down, and while that made *some* improvement, it still wasn't what I wanted. When my regular stylist came in town the other week, I had her try to tone it down, and it *still* wasn't fully corrected. The roots were still much lighter and just drove me up the walls. I couldn't take it any longer and decided to just dye over all of it myself, so now I'm pretty much back to square one. Sorry, mom. But I am back to looking like Snow White, just like I like it! It's just been very difficult for my mom to accept me as a dark brunette, seeing as I was born a blonde, and kept my hair highlighted to a bright Southern blonde all the way up to a few years ago...

-So now the only thing I need to make all of my hair problems go away is to get a weave! Sorry, did I say, "weave,"? I meant very classy hair extensions! Another mistake I made the other month was to chop off my long hair into a bob. While my hair stylist is excellent at cute angled bobs, I knew that there was a reason why I have not had my hair shorter than shoulder length for nearly 7 years. It just does not suit me. I feel and look like a soccer mom. I have been looking longingly at pictures of me from a year ago when my hair was well past my shoulders and looking dark and lovely. Sigh. I will be so happy when 2010 is here and all of 2009's hair mistakes will be behind me!

- Drawing inspiration from other bloggers I have become familiar with through J. Crew Aficionada, one of the things I have decided to give up for Lent is buying new clothes. Let me tell you, it is already becoming difficult. After a little over a month of pretty much ignoring J. Crew, I have already discovered many new items that I want! I do have some stuff that I need to take back there. I wonder if I exchange those items for new things instead of just crediting the funds back to my credit card, if I will still be keeping my vow? I suppose only the good Lord will know!