Life updates, Why have I been so quiet? Whats Been going on?

Hi all,

Well, I'm back after a very long time away, There has been a lot going on here in the last 6 months and I simply feel like I haven't had time to sit and write.

I have a new job
I have had Hernia Surgery
I have got hair extensions
I have a new car

I now work for the national trust in the catering team at Clumber Park. I LOVE it! I feel like I finally belong, and have found a job I love to go to and get up in a morning and look forward to it. Yes, I have taken a pay drop and had to rearrange and reassess my spending. But its well worth it for actually feeling and being truly happy. My family have all commented on how I seem genuinely settled and happy.

I around easter found a lump in my stomach that was very painful, which ended up being a "paraumbilical hernia". I was signed off work and was operated on within 3 weeks. It was a painful recovery, and now 4 months on I am still not 100% strong in my core and stomach, but it has made me concentrate on eating well, and gentler forms of exercise and the process of building back up.

My hair never grows, and if you have been here for a while I have documented this. I have tried biotin and millions of different products. So finally I have taken the plunge and got tape in extensions, (I am now on my second install). They have lasted me about 8 weeks before needing to come out and be retaped and reinstalled. I have been truly amazed at how much my hair is growing while I have them in. I think its a mixture of the extra heat on my head and the sulphate etc free shampoo I am using to maintain them. I know it is growing as I am needing my roots doing every 8 weeks, and I can usually manage 12 weeks. I think they will be installed 2 more times and then my hair should have grown to my desired length.

I had a big life change last year when my sister died, and one thing I have learnt is that life is true too short and if you want something go out and do it. Well, I have always wanted a convertible "Sunday car". And I worked hard and saved hard and thankfully I went and bought it just before the summer weather started. I have been very thankful and happy to be driving around with the top down and tunes on over the last few weeks. Whenever I have felt low this has been a sure way to very quickly pick me up.

Lucy update - 6 months

Wow!
We have now had the pleasure of owning Lucy for over 4 months now, she is 6 months old,

I cannot truly remember my life without her,

We have now experienced:

• loosing teeth
• changing from puppy to adult food
• training to sit and stay
• sleeping in her room all night without accidents
• letting us know if we are out at other peoples houses that she needs to go out to toilet
• when she can or cannot come on the sofa

We need to improve:

• not pulling on the lead
• not jumping at people when coming in the door
• not crying when we leave the house (as from standing outside we know its been for like 30 seconds for attention)

I remember all the struggles and sleepless nights but I wouldn't have it any other way. 

From the day we were walking home and Lucy slipped off her lead, leading to her running back up a main road towards our house (luckily it was early morning with very few cars on the road) but it didn't stop me running like crazy and crying my eyes out.

To the time she decided to eat her flashing walking light (the size of a golfball) and waiting and checking on her sleeping for it to pass.

And all the little cute things, like sitting guard by our back door waiting for her nanny (the live next door) to come home from work, and wagging her little windscreen wiper.

To her being there when im poorly and giving me a cuddle when i need it, or licking a tear off my face when I cry.

I would not change her for the world, she is out little "cracker jack". Crazy, cute and sweet.

At home hair colour transformation

Hi all
Recently I had been going to a hairdressers for my hair to be cut and coloured after it was getting lifeless and boring looking by my at home colouring.
However I felt that every time I went it was getting darker and darker (not exactly what I asked for)
I researched how to get my hair lightened (i dont like highlights) and the best option was a colour stripping product, then a toner / colour to get back to the desired colour.

I enquired on prices for this and I was looking at around £100 (wow!)
So I started my research, of if I could do it at home.

I prepared myself and purchased online from superdrug: https://www.superdrug.com/Colourless/Colourless-Hair-colour-remover-Max-Effect/p/705718
Its was in the sale reduced to £6.99 from £9.99

I also bought 2 nice and easy no ammonia 24 wash colours ready to get my hair to the new colour (if the stripper colour wasn't right) https://www.superdrug.com/Save-%C2%A31-on-selected-Nice-N-Easy/Nice%27n-Easy-No-Ammonia-Hair-Dye-Dark-Ash-Blonde-90/p/576756


I knew my hair had been dyed to a dark nearly black brown, and I am naturally a light mousy brown, but my hair has had many shades of blonde and browns in between. From my research I knew it was quite likely that I would go a reddy / orange shade, and to get an ash toner product to calm this down.

So today was the day ... I got up and quickly washed my hair and blow dried it (as the instructions wanted clean dry hair)
On goes the stripper, just like any normal colour, maybe a little runnier, the smell wasn't as bad as i expected however you do want to open all windows etc.
Once finished and combed through I put the cling film on and waited (and used this opportunity to catch up on a kardashinas)

When it is working you dont see any changes. Then i jumped into the shower, washing the stipper out I didn't notice any colour coming out in the water either. I carried on and used the "shampoo" pot and again no colour noticed. This was the first time I caught a glance of the end of my hair and realised it looks a bit red.

Out the shower and a comb through and quick blow dry, this then showed my hair was between a rose gold / copper / orange. It was deffo lighter than before, and about my natural lightness, however very much a warmer colour than I am. My hair felt a bit drier than usual, however I had not used any conditioner at all, so I am no surprised.

However the reason I went for this brand over others was you can use this as a stripper directly before other colours. Other brands say to wait at least a week, (however there is no way I was staying this colour for that long).

So after having lunch I set to adding my toner, usual mixing and put it on, wait 15 mins and rinse out. I also after this step left the inbox conditioner on for about 10 mins.
Out of the shower and voila! glossy silky light brown hair.

The pictures dont overly show it (blummin weather) but it is chocolatey brown, no doubt that im anywhere near black, I am aware as i wash my hair this will lighten a bit (and thats my desired effect). I had chosen a colour dark ash blonde, however this is for sure a light to mid brown.

I would not hesitate to use this again, however I am planning on not getting my hair too dark again. But its good to know there is a useful product in case of a mishap again.