The Value of Words

Have you ever been to the ocean and written something in the sand? I have. When I wrote in the hard packed sand, the waves came and washed my words away. When I wrote in the soft sand, the winds came and blew my words away. I did not care because none of those words were significant. They did not have value.

I want the words I send out into the world to have value. I want them to touch your heart so you feel what I am saying. Or to touch your mind so you think you’d like to remember them. Or to make you laugh so you feel less stress and more joy.

As a minimalist, I try to get rid of the excess in my life to make room for those things and experiences that are important to me. To put words out here just to say anything adds to the clutter of the world. Not much in my life recently has given me the type of words I prefer to write as I simply focus on rest and recovery. I will write more when words worth sharing come to me. Even if it is just to make you laugh.

TTYL,

Linda

Dry Shampoo

The more you wash your hair the oilier it gets. I know that sounds wrong but it is apparently true. So, if you have oily hair you should wash it less often.

But, how do you get through the transition time until your scalp learns it no longer needs to produce so much oil now that you are not washing it away all the time? Dry shampoo to the rescue!

The best dry shampoo is corn starch. You just brush it onto your roots then brush it out of your hair.  Easy, right?

Not so much if you have dark hair. You can brush forever without feeling like you are getting all that white power out. And if you brush the roots too much you may stimulate those oil glands again.

So what is a brunette to do?

Cocoa powder.

Cocoa powder

Stir about 2 Tablespoons of cocoa powder into 1/4 cup of corn starch and the powder you don’t brush out will not be so noticeable. Adjust the amount of cocoa powder you use according to how dark your hair is.

Now that is easy.

TTYL,

Linda Sand

January thaw?

In the Minneapolis area we usually have a few days in January where it gets warm enough for the snow piles to melt at least part way down. We call this the January thaw.

This year the January thaw came in February. The last two days were sunny with temperatures above freezing and most of the snow on our balcony disappeared.

Which, of course, led to this today:

snow

 

Ah, the joys of living in Minnesota in the winter.

TTYL,

Linda

Minnesota Sunset

Many of my friends who are in Arizona at this time of year are posting pictures of the beautiful sunsets that are fairly standard items there.

As you all know, I am not in Arizona right now. I am back in Minnesota.

Where the sunset last night looked like this:

MN sunset

Not as dramatic as those in Arizona, but not a bad view from my comfy chair in our living room.

As long as I don’t go out on the balcony intending to enjoy it. Brrrr.

TTYL,

Linda

House Warming

We were sitting quietly watching a replay of Downton Abbey when the invitation to the gathering arrived.

Quickly dressing in warm clothes we joined our neighbors in the lobbies and on the landings of our apartment building.

There was much excitement as we all waited the arrival of the most important person due to arrive that evening. Yet none of us were anxious to venture out into the very cold weather to be among the greeters.

At last the fireman arrived and turned off the alarms allowing us all to return to our quiet evening.

The rumor is that there was a small fire in the second floor elevator lobby at the far end of the building. It must have already been extinguished before the fire truck arrived, though, as it came with no lights or siren. But they have to determine the fire is fully out before they can turn off the alarms.

It never actually got warm at our end of the building. Other than the warmth we generated hurrying down the stairs in our winter coats, that is.

TTYL,

Linda