Keira-anne.com

You know how you wake up each day, go through the usual morning routine of showering, washing your hair, moisturizing, blah blah blah? And then one day, as you’re in the middle of said routine, a glance in the mirror causes an “ewww…what’s with my hair?”

Long and straight doesn’t require much maintenance, and I normally only get my hair cut about three times a year. A week ago, I had that “ewww…” reaction and promptly booked an appointment with my favourite pro.

I was supposed to go yesterday, but being that I spent two days holed up in bed with wicked food poisoning (or maybe a flu bug?), I had to postpone until this afternoon. I’ve been seeing Mari at The Lounge Hair Studio for almost two years, and it would take somethin’ fierce to convince me to see anyone else when it comes to my tresses. It’s like she told me today, working with me is more like working with a girlfriend than a client; we can talk, share things with each other and indulge in some good old-fashioned celebrity juiciness.

Not only does she do a wicked job each and every single time, she knows her stuff. Plus, it’s the place to hit up if you’re seeking out some Bumble-y goodness. I know I’ve already sent one satisfied client Mari’s way. Let the sun shine in, indeed!

I’ll make this short, sweet and to-the-point (or at least try)…

I got a lil’ haircut on Friday after work. Not much, but I’ve decided to grow my hair way out. I want mermaid hair. I want it to be soft, blonde, silky and just long enough to hide my sweater kittens when walking around in my panties. Did I say too much?

My brain is bursting at the seams with stuff to write to you all about, so hang on to your skivvies because here we go…

I am in a new relationship - with myself. Actually, with my body in particular. I am a firm believer that if you love your body by nurturing it and filling it with good things, as you would a relationship, goodness will be reciprocated.

I couldn’t wait for the work day to end because I knew that a budget-busting trip to Capers Market was going to occupy my evening. I very briefly touched down on some personal goals for myself without expanding on them a few days ago on my blog. One of these goals is as I just mentioned - loving my body by filling it with wholesomeness (I said my body, not my mind).

Tonight’s haul…

$100 and change later, my fridge and cupboards are now filled with an armful of organic vegetables and fruits, organic peanut butter, organic honey, organic coconut oil (good for cooking and just about everything you can think of - insert obvious wink here), cottage cheese, goat cheese, greens and herbs, applewood smoked cheddar cheese, bio-active yogurt, nuts, grains, mixed sprouts and so much more.

When I was in the Comox Valley and shopping at Edible Island Foods (no website, sorry) just about every chance I got, I discovered “Hornby Island Energy Balls.” They’re made of entirely organic ingredients by a woman on Hornby Island, and I was hooked instantly. I snagged two to scarf down before snowboarding. Fantastically enough, I found the recipe online and made up a dozen and a few tonight.

Sooo…tasty!

Before the night was through, I also managed to cook up a huge pot of organic turkey soup. One thing I did almost instantly upon returning to Vancouver was reorganize my kitchen in small ways. I figured that if I made the space more conducive to cooking, I’d want to spend more time in there making meals, even if only just for myself. On New Year’s Eve, I couldn’t help but continuously marvel at my Aunt Fran’s kitchen. It’s my dream kitchen, without a doubt. So in reorganizing my kitchen, I was inspired in little ways by her kitchen. I’m most excited about my new “tea drawer.”

There are more than a few other ways in which I’m making “body changes” in keeping with this new goal, so head on over to my Flickr for illustrations.

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Becky, you’re going to “go nuts, go apeshit” when you hear what I’m about to share with everyone.

Question: What is better than a combination of moonlight, shredding in powder and watching hot boys on snowboards?

Answer: A combination of moonlight, shredding in powder, watching hot boys on snowboards and a free lift pass!

Monday nights at Mt. Seymour is now known as “Guys Night Out” - and the girls ride free!

Every Monday night, between January 7, 2008 and March 24, 2008, the ladies can snag a free lift pass in an effort to “bring the pretty” to boys’ night. For more information on this and other events and excitements, visit Mt. Seymour’s website, and for a complete list of where you can get a voucher, click here.

So, um, Jack…can I have the car on Mondays? Okay, thanks.

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Being the lover of Bumble products that I am, I can absolutely never be without. I skipped over to The Lounge Hair Studio today at lunch, since that’s where I normally go. However, I was dismayed to find that with a new year comes new prices.

One 8 oz. bottle of Gentle Shampoo, one 8 oz. bottle of Alojoba Conditioner and $63.01 later, this girl can rest tonight knowing that she has a full-stocked supply in her shower once again. I think next time it might be time to consider investing in the 1L size - I’ll save money in the long run. I’m sure some of you are choking at the price, but let’s face it…my hair is soft, silky, long, strong, smells amazing and is all-around pretty effing rad.

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The solution to beat those back-to-reality blues after a holiday and Christmas vacation? Keep your schedule packed!

Tomorrow I’m hitting up Fifth Avenue Cinemas with Amy to make use of our memberships and finally see Juno. We’ve been gushing over Michael Cera for about two weeks and the time is now.

On Saturday I’m going to hit up an art gallery with my Becky, but which one I’m not sure. I’ve got my fingers crossed for the Vancouver Art Gallery because one of my favourite Emily Carr pieces, Strangled By Growth, is there and I’d love to see it again. However, something tells me she has a different gallery in mind…

Sunday’s wide open. Any ideas?

Forget Sunday…as it turns out, I have to come into the office. However, in a weird twist of fate this works to my advantage because now I can take February 1st off without consequence. Stay tuned and I’ll fill you in on my upcoming adventure.

It’s winter and it’s cold. With the cold air comes the dry air and with the dry air comes dry hair. My hair has been very dry…not to mention over-processed. On a daily basis, I use no less than Gentle Shampoo, Alojoba Conditioner, Tonic, Brilliantine Cream and Does-It-All Hairspray, all from the Bumble & Bumble line. What can I say? I’m an addict.

Photo courtesy of Bumble & Bumble

This week is a no-blowdry/no-product week. Aside from shampoo, conditioner and my Tonic spray, my hair is going wild and free. It’s been two days and already it feels ridiculously softer. Just thought you needed to know that.

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On the weekend, I popped into my local SPCA shelter to support the Toy Drive for the Animals. I was, without a doubt, incredibly impressed by the outpouring of support from the community. There were toys, treats, blankets, beds, kennels and so much more, stacked as high as the ceiling. Touring the facility was encouraging in that there are a lot of people out there that care about lost, abandoned or hurt animals. It was, at the same time, heartbreaking because I just wanted to cuddle and hold each one I saw.

To those of you that were able to help out on Sunday’s Toy Drive, I extend to you a huge thank you! As I mentioned, there is a great need year-round, so if you’re in Vancouver, visit our shelter to find out ways in which you can help.

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And lastly, this Friday sees the beginning of my very-much-needed Christmas vacation. My work-related stress level is most certainly at its peak, and I need a few days to let that drop off. It will be two glorious weeks free of meetings, dress pants, agreements, orders, transcriptions and Chambers applications. It will be two glorious weeks full of baking, music, pajamas, Charley, my family, friends, Christmas tea, twinkling lights, falling snow and, undoubtedly, snowboarding at Mt. Washington with cute boys men.

HOT DAMN!

Photo courtesy of Mount Washington Alpine Resort

That photo was taken at 10:14 a.m. today. The mid-mountain base is already at 181 cm. I hopped into HMV yesterday to pick up some new music to ride to because my record collection has a serious case of complacency. I’m bored with it. I grabbed Jay-Z’s “American Gangster” and both “College Dropout” and “Late Registration” from Kanye West. I haven’t listened to either Kanye record yet, but gave Jay-Z’s a spin after work for a bit. Don’t get me wrong, there’s always room for Big Pimpin’, but he has most certainly evolved as both an artist and producer. The record is laced with rich beats and smart lyrics, so I’m already stoked to shred the slopes just listening to the record.

I’m sitting here at my desk, drumming my unmanicured fingertips (yikes!) on my desktop and coming up completely dry with something to blog about. I’d like to think that the rain would somehow inspire me since I love the rain so much, but brace yourselves…you may very well get to the end of this post and be filled with such anger at me for completely wasting five minutes of your life.

Last night I got my hair cut. I decided to buck out all the layers and go blunt in an effort to grow my hair to mermaid proportions. The bangs need to catch up though.

Why the webcam photos lately, you ask? I’ve lost my camera. Maybe it was stolen - I have no idea. I had it last time I was home on the Island and now it’s magically disappeared. I’m not really so terribly upset because it was a total piece. Also, I’m keeping my fingers crossed that Santa will put a new Canon under the tree for me this year. If not, I’ll dry my tears and buy one anyways.

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Lately I’ve really been discovering my roots…er, rather Roots, that is. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always had a strong dislike for the blandness that’s been produced by that store. It was far too Canadiana after they sponsored the Canadian Olympic team, but over the last few weeks, I’ve been exposed to how fantastic it’s become. True outdoorsy clothes, super cute and uber soft sweaters, leg warmers (!!), girlie toques, cuddly scarves, sweet waffle weaves, furry collars and everything else that is actually just so very me in terms of style.

Another reason to love the beaver? Live Green. Not only are they offering fabrics made out of eco-friendly bamboo, but Roots is spreading the anti-global warming message through a series of t-shirts to support Environmental Defence Canada. If that’s not enough, a new initiative in greener shipping options is putting forth an effort to tackle climate change. To learn more about how Roots is working with ZeroFootprint, click here.

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The plan for tonight was to visit Fright Nights at the PNE. With the rain and cold, kicking frightening bad dudes in the shin was the last thing I felt like doing. I contemplated joining Becky, John and Duane at Fogg ‘N’ Sudds to watch the game, but not only am I not drinking for a long time after last weekend, tomorrow I’m doing the Gulu Walk with Chelsea. So what instead?

A trip to the Ridge Theatre at 16th and Arbutus with my friend Amy to see the Sean Penn-helmed Into the Wild. I really know nothing about it except that it looks like a fantastic, outdoorsy story with a moving message underneath. I’d rather re-cap it tomorrow instead of trying to tell you about it right now, so visit the website if you’re thirsty for more.

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And last, but certainly not least, let’s have an updated look at Mt. Washington’s 24/7 live webcam in an attempt to tease you all. Having a mom and aunt living 10 minutes from the chain-up area is oh-so-sweet…

I wrote a post earlier today that positively reeked of testosterone, sweat and dirt. Mind you, not that there’s anything wrong with that. I’ll be the first girl to raise her hand and declare that she prefers the way a man naturally smells rather than doused in cologne. However, that’s an entirely different post.

When I open my medicine cabinet, I feel just as Charlie Bucket did the instant he pushed through the lumbering door of Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory.

It’s a wonder of bright colours, silky lotions, sweetly-smelling perfumes, nail polish, luxury for my locks and tons of little surprises. Sure it doesn’t look organized, but I know exactly where everything is and exactly what it’s for.

In your upper left corner you’ve got fast first aid when you can’t be bothered to open the kit. This includes pain killers, throat lozenges and Tums. Below that is every girl’s necessary stash of nail polish, preferrably OPI because it goes on oh-so-smoothly. Word to the glitterati: check out their new Russian-inspired line for the fall…I snagged “Boris and Natasha” last weekend. On the bottom you’ve got the first of the practical items like nail polish remover, sunblock and mouth wash.

Behind Door Number 2 (*snicker*), from top to bottom (*snicker again*) you can find base cosmetics, various deodorants - it’s good to switch it up sometimes - and hair care on the bottom. Anyone that knows me knows that I whore myself out for Bumble & Bumble products. The stash in my shower is even bigger.

Last, but certainly not least, we have The Essentials. Life Brand natural cocoa butter lotion is my cheapcheapcheap beauty bargain that’s a must. Also to be found are eye make-up remover, hydrocortisone cream (I don’t condone this, but it’s good for under-eye puffiness), toner, floss, tooth brush and paste and depilatory cream (because everyone knows that body hair on women is unnatural - yes, even arm hair).

Yah, I’m bored tonight.

P.S. And for the record, I have never seen the newer, Tim Burton-directed version of the above-mentioned movie because - let’s face it - Freddy Highmore was a brat supreme in “Finding Neverland” and I just couldn’t bear to see him in a role as precious and classic as Charlie Bucket.

Having long, straight hair doesn’t require a lot of maintenance. All that’s really required is the use of a great shampoo and conditioner combo. I recommend New York City-based Bumble & Bumble - their products are all I ever use for washing, conditioning and styling.

The only problem with long, straight hair, however, is that one day you wake up and look in the mirror only to find that there’s a mop sitting on top of your head. Bad hair finds you totally unaware and one day - BAM! - it’s there and not going anywhere until you do something about it.

That’s where haircuts come in.

I finally got mine chopped yesterday and it feels amazing again. It’s light and not heavy, and now it actually looks like I want it to look instead of taking on a mind of its own.

If you’re in Vancouver, I recommend The Lounge Hair Studio on Richards street. My usual stylist is tripping around the world so I got hooked up with an uber cute Japanese girl, Mari, who gave my hair a nice cut and a little edge. And, of course, The Lounge sells the complete line of Bumble & Bumble products, so you know a girl like me is in heaven there.

P.S. I’m listening to Definitely Maybe by Oasis right now and I can’t tell you how great it feels to do that on a sunny day like today. I’m off to Davie Day, so expect a report tomorrow or later today.

* Update: Davie Day sucked. Lots of vendors, cheaply-made wares for sale and more BBQ booths than is really necessary. I stayed for maybe 20 minutes.