Tag Archives: hair care

Love Is In The Air…Or In The Hair? Practicing Self Care

It’s Valentine’s Day, and of course, everyone thinks that means Love Is In The Air.

Maybe it is for some! That’s awesome! For others it’s a lonely time. That’s not so awesome. If you are someone struggling from a serious hardship or depression, unexpected loss, deep mourning or grief, or unexpected tragedy,  which are all valid life changing grief processes, this is not meant for you. While there may be some takeaways in this post, I don’t want to minimize the validity of a grief process, or perhaps the need for spiritual or emotional counseling. In those circumstances, that route would be their self care.

This post is for those who find themselves feeling generally tired, feeling unappreciated, or overworked. Maybe they are lonely. These feeling are common threads in conversations amongst women, whether they are work outside the home women, work at home women, mothers, women without children, or extended family caregivers. For these people, unless they have learned to be content in all circumstances, embrace life changes, to love or value themselves, get outside help for within the home, and appreciate their own company, there can be sadness and loneliness. For these people, I’m talking about self care.


What do you love about you?

What are your hobbies, food preferences, favorite physical, mental, or spiritual attributes? What do you love about your own character and talents? Who do you prefer to spend your down time with?

**Write a list of things you love about yourself, and celebrate them! Don’t wallow in your disappointments and sadness. Keep persevering in growth, skills, and empowering of yourself.**

This brings me to your self talk  and your self care!

Loving yourself and how you were created is awesome!
Consider some things. How do you talk about yourself? How do you celebrate your daily or weekly or monthly accomplishments?  What are things you do to care for yourself? 

For instance: 

  • How often do you go to the hair salon?
  • How many times a year do you love a massage or a manicure/pedicure?
  • How many times a year do you take a personal day and go somewhere you enjoy?
  • How often do you work on a hobby that you enjoy?
  • How many books do you read each year?
  • How often do you buy yourself a new sweater or pair of earrings, just because?
  • How often do you make time to exercise?
  • How often do you read your Bible, attend a Bible study with others, or go to your place of worship?
  • How often do you arrange to meet your closest local friends for coffee or lunch?

Practice self care.

Put the things that help you care for yourself on the calendar, like an appointment, and don’t cancel! 

It’s good for you and your physical, mental, and spiritual health!

You are worth the time!


For the past year, I’ve written about a health journey, weight loss, eating healthy, and a general quest for good health. This was an effort to practice self care.

However, I am struggling with gaps in my self care. I do lack face to face friend time with my local friends! I lack hobbies. My husband and I are work a holics! Sadly, we’re passing that over work ethic on to our children. It really is okay to take a break, (Deb) people!

Needless to say, there is quite a lot of tension as a result. For at least the past six months, maybe longer, I’ve been having major headaches, facial numbness, neck and shoulder pain, eye twitching, dizziness, major fatigue, and a fog brain. It’s super easy to chalk it up to being a busy homeschooling mom, having a small home based business, lots of recent traveling, and other things. I was scheduling regular massages, and I do treat myself to coffee out sometimes. As some point, though, coffee wasn’t cutting the fog brain, I’ve been less productive, struggling to stay focused on tasks, and obviously, a bit grumpy in my responses to others. I always say “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” but obviously, something was “broke” and it was time for a change.

Of course, the problem is that I had a fear that I was struggling with something chronic, like multiple sclerosis or Lyme disease. It’s super easy to want to stay in denial that I didn’t have something needing fixing or that it was “just because I….” My massage therapist, who is also a dear friend, very firmly told me that I might be prideful thinking I could keep handling it all myself, and that I needed to seek help. What I was doing for self care had ceased working.

Being super conservative about health care, I started with seeking the opinion of a chiropractor. He did an x-ray, ruled out bone spurs and super scary things like degenerative bone disease and tumors. He said my neck was inverted to the direction it ought to be–out of alignment, I guess is the verbiage. He said he could help, and that it is a blessing I didn’t continue to tarry in seeking a resolution.

Praise God! His first adjustment had my facial numbness and eye twitching symptoms gone! By the third adjustment, I had enough energy to drive myself and four children to Florida and back as the only driver, and to attend a two day business social media conference. I was not out of pain, but I could tell that I was improving.

2018 is the Year for Better Self Care. 


I obviously needed help, and I’m thankful I sought it out. I continue to improve with my 2-3 time/week adjustments. Soon I will be in maintenance mode, rather than treatment mode. My pain continue to resolve itself.

This Valentine’s Day, vow to ascribe to love yourself enough for self care, no matter your circumstances. Drink that treat coffee, go out to lunch with a friend, go get the massage, take a walk in the woods, eat healthy foods and exercise, join a gym for accountability, do the hobby you love to do, play your piano, see your doctor or chiropractor! Just do it, however your self care looks. You will thank yourself.

You are valuable.

You deserve to love yourself with the talents, aspirations, gifts, and resources for which you were created.


It’s Valentine’s Day, and of course, everyone thinks that means Love Is In The Air.

Or,

Love Is In The Hair!

What is your hair color?

Is changing your hair color part of your self care?

It doesn’t happen to be mine, but I know for many ladies, experimenting with new hair color highlights, hiding the silver wisdom highlights, or even drastic color changes, is part of their self care, and they find it fun and exciting.

Accessories To Coordinate With Hair Color

There is a wide variety of color and style choices for “blinging up” Valentine’s Day, or any day of the year. This handy little guide helps choose what would look best in some hair colors.

I tend to coordinate more with my clothing and jewelry wardrobe, but I have noted that black clips can get drowned in a person’s hair who is very dark. There needs to be a balance and consideration of hair color. Sometimes a person does want her clip “muted” against her hair color. No matter what, the Lilla Rose products are still beautiful against all colors of hair and personal styles.

I love using clips, and purchasing them is a “self care” tactic for myself and for my girls.

Don’t miss out on the sizing video on my website but this handy guide helps determine a starting point for flexi clip sizing.

And, finally, maybe you want to reward yourself and try a clip out. The perfect time is with A Lilla Rose Sale!

Blessings,

Deb

This article is linked with an article on Sassy Direct.

For those who might be considering Lilla Rose as a Business Opportunity, there is a great Q&A call-in this Thursday night at 9:00pm eastern! You can find more information here!
Maybe your self care is starting a business of your own, where you glean the benefits of friends, community, a rewarding challenge, and extra income. 

This could be just in time to use your tax return!!

If you are joining in on the call, let me know here so that I can join in with you!

Come join my Business Builders Lilla Rose Opportunity group for more information! 

 

Promoting Healthy Hair & Scalp: Ringworm Prevention Tips

As a parent, don’t you just hate it when you think you’re doing a good thing to keep your kids healthy only to find out that what you’ve been doing actually creates a different health issue for them?

Cue the Mom guilt, right?


Parents may have “health reasons” beyond basic hygiene for having children shower nightly, and to wash their hair. Besides teaching good hygiene, Moms are attempting to prevent a health issue, especially if a family has animals and the children are the caretakers of the animals.  Most don’t realize that going to bed with wet hair is a bad thing. Most Moms might be thinking that it’s a good thing, obviously!

First, if hair is long, or very thick, parents figure this is a time saver for everyone. Nobody spent a long time at the end of the day blow drying hair with kids complaining about the snarls.

Logically, the hair would have had time to dry naturally, while the child is sleeping, and this is a Mom’s dream: multi tasking!

Natural is a GOOD thing.

Second, Moms everywhere are assuming that by not blow drying, there is reduced damage to hair follicles and of hair strands drying out. Frequent blow drying can make hair become dry and brittle, or not allowing those NATURAL hair oils to penetrate the shaft.

Girls who use a scrunchie to hold up their hair in pony tails, buns, or braids to reduce tangles don’t hurt the scalp while their heads are on the pillow. It’s a soft product, after all!

Thank you Pixabay for a scrunchie photo!

Thank you Pixabay for a Scrunchie photo!

And, speaking of that pillow, it probably has a breathable cotton pillow case on it, and they are probably having their sheets and pillowcases changed at least weekly, because Moms are imparting that good basic hygiene to their children!

Prevention is GOOD and NATURAL, and, all of this is just hygiene management, right?

WRONG.

Not always.

When we know better, we do better.   


I’ve had several customers tell me that they know of people with long thick hair who go to bed with wet hair. They described that the person had “mold” grow in their hair. I’ve wondered, as a “retired” nurse, turned Mom who homeschools and believes in life long learning, turned hair care management direct seller, what that is all about!

Going to bed with wet hair sets up conditions for a warm, moist environment for a fungal infection, especially since it takes so long for hair to dry. That scrunchie they’ve been wearing harbors that fungal infection, and allows the infection to spread if it’s not washed in a hot wash/dry every few days. It also holds in the dampness and prevents air flow to the scalp. Cotton pillowcases cause that drying hair to stay on a damp warm surface, thereby promoting more fungus growth.

Once a fungal infection (dermatophytes) sets up on the scalp, often called ringworm (tinea capitis), there is a red scaly rash with irregular borders on the scalp. “The fungi attack the outer layer of skin on the scalp and the hair shaft.” The infection literally cuts the hair at the follicle shaft, so hair loss is occurring. There may be itching and burning. There are photos and more information of what the condition looks like at the Mayo Clinic website.

It is contagious in that the fungus is on anything the scalp touches. This includes hair styling tools (comb/brush), elastics and barrettes and scrunchies. It includes pillow cases, coat hoods, and hats. A child who shares any of those items can also spread the infection to another child, or even to a beloved pet, as carriers of the infection. A family might also find that the infection carrier is actually that pet who could be asymptomatic!

The treatment and cure can take weeks to months, depending on the treatment route you and your doctor decide to take. There is no one size fits all approach. Sometimes schools will prevent a child with the infection to return to school until they’ve been on an oral antifungal for a week or ten days. As always, medication does not come without risks, and there can be difficult side effects. It also means blood test monitoring for liver function.

You and your doctor may opt for a more conservative approach to treatment with a prescription shampoo or a cream, or any combination of medication, shampoo, and cream. If a parent opts to try essential oils or an herbal approach to cure, they should ask their doctor or pharmacist for any drug interactions of the oil, supplement, or herb to any prescription medication, and be careful to research its proven efficacy. Ringworm *is* hard to treat, and daily consistent treatment is somewhat laborious.

Daiy hair washing with a prescription 2% ketoconazole antifungal shampoo, and blow drying hair and the scalp will likely be part of the treatment  There ought to be daily pillow case changes and daily cleansing of hairbrushes and combs with barbicide cleaner from the beauty supply store.  During winter, one would also need to wash and dry snow hats. Silk pillowcases keep hair friction and stress to a minimum, as well as keeps the scalp cooler. Obviously, cleaning any hair ties or barrettes or flexi clips a child has been wearing is in order to prevent a re-infection. Anything that can be hot washed and hot dried during an infection is best. Keep hair loosely braided to allow air flow to the area. To treat a potential carrier in the home, all family members may also consider using a Nizoral shampoo at least weekly. This is all important in order to avoid reinfection.


As I said earlier, when we know better, we do better!

Now you (and I) know. 

Let’s do better hair care together!

For more hair health tips and information like this,

come join my Facebook customer group,

my LoveLeavingLegacy business page,

the Sassy Direct blog where this article is linked,

and sign up for my newsletter!

Blessings,

Deb


Don’t just take my word for it. To read more on this subject:

  1. Cincinnati Children’s
  2. Healthline
  3. CDC: Ringworm prevention 

 

Ten Homeschool Benefits For Youth Using A Family Business

A few weeks ago, the LoveLeavingLegacy crew was honored to be the Lilla Rose vendors for the INCH homeschool conference in Lansing, MI. We got to model what it could look like for families to have a business with low start up costs, and to enable parents to teach entrepreneurship and business skills through a real life family internship at their finger tips, all while reaching family financial goals.

Not all our business working children were able to make the conference. We had some illness the same weekend.

We had a great time, and talked to many lovely families.


Have you ever considered a family based business to teach your children these skills?

What Could Your Youth Learn By Your Family Having A Business?

  • Bookkeeping
  • Marketing And Social Media
  • Graphics and Video Making
  • Product Demonstration
  • Communication
  • Salesmanship
  • Ethics in Business
  • Office Work
  • Inventory Purchasing
  • Money Management

I’m sure there is so much more.


Maybe you are a woman wanting a second job, a Mom needing a way to earn some extra money for the family while getting a night out. What would be YOUR why? Just because my Why is to get to work with my children doesn’t mean that is yours. My Why won’t be my Why forever either.

Our children grow up and start their own lives. But, I have a vision for being able to travel with my husband, care for my parents, travel to see our grandchildren, relieve some burden on my husband, and maybe to do missions. I’d love a job that can travel with us, and building this business now prepares us for a future like that!


So what could you do with a small business? How would it prepare you for your future if it’s not because of homeschooling? And what could you learn with your children if it’s for homeschooling today?

Here is a list of other benefits to a Lilla Rose business:

  • Community and Relationships
  • Extra Income Potential
  • Love the Products
  • Leadership Opportunities
  • Fundraising Potential
  • It’s also Family Owned With Family Emphasis


As my children grow, I realize there is a season for everything. I’m still in a planting season with my children, but I’m also in a harvest season. Lilla Rose has been a huge benefit to us in both planting, nurturing, and harvesting. We are still building through homeschooling and a Lilla Rose business.


Where are you in your seasons?


If you see yourself wanting to train up a generation of entrepreneurs through a low cost start up business, we should talk. If you see yourself needing a hair care system business because you both love the products, need the community, need part time or full time income, or would love a fundraising vehicle, I would love to talk.

Blessings,

Deb

Enjoy this tribute to our Stars and Stripes in Lilla Rose Style with newly released patriotic products, plus the return of former July Flexis of the Month and other limited release products. Also note that all patriotic clips are 10% off, and other select clips are 20-30% off as well, now through Sunday night, 11:59 PM PST. Note also that with a $70 retail order, you can choose an extra small FREE from this selection of flexi clips. Which would you choose?

Credits to United States National Anthem, by Francis Scott Key. Video made with Animoto.