THE HAIR DIARIES

Hello friends, I hope you had a wonderful weekend. Saturday I went to CD102.5 Summerfest, and got to hear the Lumineres sing my favorite song of the moment {Ho Hey}. I also made a quick 24 hour trip to my hometown to help my sis and mom with our garage sale, AND get my hair done - which leads me to this... 

The photos below are examples of my dream hair. I've always wanted those rocker-chic bangs and beachy "I just woke up this way" waves. 

When my sister, Katie, and I were little I wanted her hair. Really bad. {I still do.} She had this perfectly pretty, straight hair with shiny bangs. And mine was naturally curly and out of control. In high school and college I swear I had super long 80s hair-band hair, à la Jon Bon Jovi. It wasn't until I was 22 that I found a flat iron that actually worked, and I spent the next four to five years battling Chicago weather trying to keep my hair straight. Finally, around age 27 I found my answer in a big barrel curling iron. I think it just took me longer than the average person to get it all figured out. Yep, I curl my naturally curly hair with a curling iron. Kind of ironic, I know. I don't even remember the last time I left my hair naturally curly, but I can tell you the result is somewhere between Felicity, Melina Kanakaredes... and Curly Sue. But not in a good way. Naturally curly hair basically rules out cool haircuts, so I've always colored my hair when I got bored. It's been blonde, blonder, brown, red, ombre, and everything in between. I really should have put together a "my hair over the years" timeline for you... Or not. No one needs to see that. 

So... bangs. Do any of you have naturally curly hair with bangs? How do you control them in rain or humidity if you're hair is naturally curly? Do they spring up like Little Orphan Anne? Unfortunately, I've never imagined bangs and natural curl playing well together... 

Well, this Friday when I was sitting at Katie's station at the salon - she got tired of hearing me talk about my bang wishes and worries, and she decided we should just give it a shot. And so she cut. She cut before I could second guess myself. 

I have bangs. I haven't had bangs since 90's mall bangs. 

Kate followed it up by putting a global keretin treatment on my bangs, which is basically a miracle product. I haven't been allowed to get my bangs wet, which made for some entertainment at Summerfest on Saturday when it started raining. I reacted so fast - slapping my hand over my forehead and throwing my jacket over my head. My bangs were the only thing that stayed dried.

For now, you can see a picture on my new hair via my instagram. Because I just can't bring myself to post a picture of moi in the same blog post as Kirsten Dunst.

{photo credits: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5}

SLAINTE, BIG SIS

My sister and I are Irish. Well... we are about 1/4 Irish {or something like that}, but I would say we both cling to that little bit and like to think it's more. {There is a magnet on my fridge that says, "There are only two kinds of people in the world, the Irish... and those who wish they were."} We both have an abnormal love for St. Patrick's Day {second only to Christmas}, bagpipes, and green beer. Some of my favorite memories from the years I lived in Chicago hail from St. Patrick's Day - watching the river be dyed green, being in a bar downtown... with bagpipers coming in to play. I used to call my sister and Mom and just hold the phone up for them to hear. Ireland is at the very top of my wish list of places I'd like to visit. 

Tomorrow is a big day for my big sis. She leaves for Ireland tomorrow morning {with our cousin, A}. To say I am jealous would be putting it mildly... but I am definitely more happy for her than I am jealous. Most days. 

In honor of my sister's trip, I wanted to share a recipe for one of my favorite things - Irish soda bread. Truth be told... I love bread in general... any bread. The below photos and recipe are from a lovely blog I found via pinterest, The Pastry Affair. I will be trying out this recipe very soon, maybe this weekend!

 

I love you, big sister. I hope you have the most wonderful time in the history of wonderful times. Take lots of pictures, drink lots of beer, and bring home something really cool for me.

"May the road rise to meet you,

May the wind be always at your back,

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

The rains fall soft upon your fields,

And until we meet again,

May God hold you 

In the palm of his hand."

{Ireland landscape image credits: 1 / 2 / 3} 

WISHBONE

I don't remember how it began, because it goes back as long as I can remember. Each year at Thanksgiving my Mom set the turkey wishbone aside to dry out. A few days {or weeks} later my sister and I would pull it apart and make a wish. Whoever got the biggest part of the wishbone got her wish.

And all of this past tense is really incorrect because we still do it to this day.

This year... at Christmas... I won!

Over the years we have both acquired wishbone necklaces. They have a very special meaning to us. Sisters... two halves of a whole. I think my next wishbone necklace needs to be this Georgia Varidakis lucky bones necklace.
My good friend, M, spotted it when we were at the Artists and Fleas market in Brooklyn {thanks, lady!}. I grabbed one of the artist's postcards {for contact info} just in case someone loved me enough to order it for me. Anyone?

WHAT I WORE {FOR MY SISTER}

This post is for my sister. While we were on the phone last night, she said that I needed to do an outfit post. According to the big sis, it is fine that I have ventured away from my blog strictly being a style blog {more here}, but I have gotten TOO far away from fashion-related posts. So... this one is for my big sister. Kate, I promise to insert a bit more "fashion, recipes, and personal stuff". Big sisters... they know what they are talking about. 

ps. These are my new-ish Warby Parker glasses {talked about here}. I keep forgetting to do a post on the pair I decided on - the Winston Old Fashioned Fade!

The guest bedroom is still a work in progress, so judge us accordingly. And Bailey really likes to be in outfit posts.

old GAP blazer

Malene Birger henley sweater c/o Leal

Tilo scarf c/o Leal

Paige jeans c/o Leal

Report Marks nude booties

HEY KATIE, IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY...TODAY!

Today is this pretty lady's 34th birthday!

When I sat down to write this post, I thought of all the amazing photos I wish I could share. Unfortunately most of my favorite old photos are at home in my parents' albums {except for these few below, and this}. Those favorites include, but are not limited to, the following: both of us wearing my Mom's fabulous 70's boots that came up to our thighs, with my Dad's hats and hunting vests... the perfectly timed photo right after I pushed her down in the kiddie pool... building snow forts... holding hands while we watched a parade... wading into Lake Erie with my Dad, jeans rolled up to his knees... 

We were the very best of friends and that has only grown stronger with our old age. We are getting so old, sister!

My Mr and my sister are like peas in a pod. It makes me love him even more to know he loves her like she was his own. I love how close they are... until they gang up on me, which tends to happen frequently now that I think of it...*Ahem*

We like to be silly and do senior pictures poses in front of the tree on Christmas Eve...

{circa 2010 and 2008?}

I could go on and on about how amazing she is... the fabulous food she cooks, how funny she is, how when she laughs it makes you laugh, how she is the most generous person I know... how much she has been there for me over the years, like my rock... her beautiful eyes, big smile, and bigger heart. I could go on and on, but I won't. Because sister doesn't like it when I'm mushy. She does love it when I throw myself at her, hug her and won't let go. Right, Kate?

My birthday post has to end with this. Can you believe they still make these, sis? I didn't have time to order the cd, so just imagine he is saying, KATIE! {We need to find that old record}

I love you so very much, K. I am the luckiest little sister in the world.

xoxo, M and Captain Zoom