Sock Bun tutorial for short or long hair

Yes, short hair people can do sock buns too.
This has been my favorite hair do of the summer since I go to work each day and come home with hat hair at night- something has to be done. So this happens every day. Plus, it makes your hair look way thicker than it actually is.

 I got my little sister to do a video for the short hair tutorial and I'll do a picture tutorial for mine since I don't like the sound of my voice on video.... ...?
So for those of you who don't yet know how- sock buns.

And long hair sock buns.

Take a long sock and cut off the toe part (unlike the short hair one, you keep this one long so it'll be thick). Then roll it up into a scrunchy looking donut. And place your hair in a pony tail- for me I prefer it on the top of my head.

Put your hair through the hole and bring it mostly to the top.

Curl your hair around the sock and tuck the ends in- don't worry if you have layers and they fall a little bit. Continue rolling the sock down and tucking hair in as you go- however tight or lose you like.

When you get further down you can tuck in fallen layers.

Give it one last tight tuck at the end...

Tadaaa. Sock bun.

It really only takes like 3 times practicing to master it. Also, it looks different every time. 

And is super good to sleep in if you're like me and need to get your hair out of your face.

And PS...I'm pretty sure that sock bun overnight curls are a myth- if you've heard of them. I've never gotten them to work.

Sunday mornings

I find myself every Sunday morning with the house all to myself while I wait til 1:00 when my church starts. Most of the time I take advantage of the quiet hours and sleep in extra long- which usually results in guilty feelings of a wasted day. But occasionally I wake up early and do stuff. This morning was especially peaceful as I spent most of my time finishing a book I've been reading outside by the garden. Sitting in a banana chair that I dragged out, with the sun on me, getting distracted by the bees and the trees. :) Quite peaceful indeed.

It made me happy so I thought it was worth mentioning. Plus. Days always feel so much more productive when you can actually wake up for them.

Father's Day

So for father's day I'm doing two things. One. Officially allowing my dad to look at my blog (he hasn't been allowed to since the 10 things I love about my dad article was supposed to be a surprise for father's day...so I made him wait). And two. Giving him a flower arrangement. I know that flowers are stereo-typically for girls, but I'm pretty sure boys like them too. Plus I made sure they were masculine ish colors (yellow orange and blue). And it's an idea that I've wanted to do for SO long. 

This is my older sister Erika who I always drag to the store with me to buy flowers

And yes, I'm still cheaply buying them at the grocery store, not a flower shop.

Carnations and Gypsophila...and then I used Daisies from the garden at home

In an Ikea watering can.

I'm kindof proud of it anyways...and it was fun to make. Actually...one of my favorites so far.

Also. While I was making this I watched a movie with my family called Green Card. It's kindof ironic. Here's the deal. It's about a girl named Bronte (why I wanted to watch it) who's obsessed with plants and lives in New York with a gorgeous apartment and a huge greenhouse. Living the dream. And then it's a chick flick and she falls in love with this French guy. But I thought the parallel was pretty funny (besides the fact and I'm not in love with a French man), and it was actually a good movie. My favorite quote was when she's telling him how she got her name (named after the Bronte sisters...writers...as am I) and she says "I think they named me that hoping I would end up doing something artistic" or something like that. You get the point...It was fun.

Chalk the Streets!

One of the blogs that I read does an "Awkward and awesome" post once a week...basically just saying the good and bad moments she's been having. So here is my Awkward and Awesome about the Chalk Art Festival this year. (Except it wasn't really awkward...but you get the point).

Awesome:

People watching- seriously one of my favorite things. Also, since we were down town a lot of people have really good fashion (sometimes the children have better fashion than myself) but it was like watching my whole Pintrest wardrobe walk around. Plus- people do some crazy things...and say some crazy things. Nothing like men walking around in costumes, children saying whatever the heck they want because let's be honest...children are just honest, and listening in on the middle of people's conversations as they walk by.

Awkward:

People watching us- Sometimes I feel a little bit like I'm in a zoo. People passing by the artists just don't realize that we CAN infact hear them. And while we sit there they pass by and take pictures and critique what we do.

Awesome:

We always have a sleepover in between the two days and I tell ya...it never gets old. Staying up laughing until one in the morning over the dumbest jokes like crazies. 

Awkward:

The next day being way super exhausted and HOT and let's be honest here for a second. This year's picture probably wasn't our favorite and we were getting a little sick of it by the end. And were maybe not the happiest with how it turned out...

Awesome:

Chalking with two of my best friends for two days straight. And chalking. It's the funnest thing to see this huge convention of adults using sidewalk chalk to the extreme. Plus, who doesn't love making art?

No close ups on the work- but you can pretty much see it.

Awkward:

We won first place for People's Choice. Which is fine and all..because who doesn't like winning? But there were just so many other completely deserving artists there!! Also I and all my hate for texting have a problem with the voting system which is based on text. So maybe we won more due to our huge support group of friends over actual artistic skill this year. But what can you do?

PS...to see the other Artist's work go to their facebook page "Chalk Art Festival" and they'll be putting pictures up come Monday. My poor little camera didn't take pictures that could do everyone justice, so you have to go facebook for a good representation. There was some INCREDIBLE stuff this year. My personal favorites were the Dreamcatcher, Mary and Jesus, Dr, Seuss, and the Foster Friends...if you look it up. :)

This one just because I think people take the most beautiful pictures when they are looking down and unaware. It makes them look peaceful...This is my gorgeous best friend Leah.

And my family sitting nicely in a row.

A quick note after some requests/ideas

So...ever since I did that post about not wearing foundation for the Summer I have had quite a few reactions and comments.
Most common reaction= seriously? You're actually doing that? And yes. It's for real. And yes, you should probably jump on the bandwagon and try it out.
Then I've had a couple people ask me what I've been doing instead of facewash (since that was part of the deal...no facewash) and here is the link to the soap I've been using. Unfortunately I bought it in Las Vegas so the store isn't exactly reachable- but they are online. I've always been a fan of Tea Tree oil- natural stuff...it really does work quite a bit. But I can't stand the smell of it as an oil- it's pretty strong! So when I found it in soap form I was pretty excited. So no facewash...just some natural soap.

 And then third I've heard about this natural foundation. My friend told me about it and I've had a few people tell me that they tried it and it's been working great! So the link here . And if you hate following links I'll just tell you. It's this article about not knowing what you are putting on your face with makeup, so they give you a new idea for foundation...drumroll....cornstarch. That's it. If you're pale like me you can just use straight up cornstarch. If you're lucky enough to get a summer tan, you can mix in your powder foundation with it to color it and that will make your foundation go farther! It's a good idea.

A funny little story

Because life's supposed to be funny. Right?
So lately I've been hearing all these creepy stories from my coworkers. One of them was about some creeper stalker peeping tom in college who would do freaky things like scratch on her window and other stuff. I don't want to talk about it really- just a little background so you know the reason why I'm so paranoid in a minute. Anyways. My parents are out of town- so I sleep in their bed. That's normal right? I didn't want to sleep in the basement by myself and I just wanted to be on the same level as my little sisters since my parents were gone. And it's a dang good thing I did! I went down to my room to get dressed in the morning and I hear this awful scratching on my window. My first thought, of course, is that there is a mass murderer in my window well! And then I realize that it's morning time and so that is obviously not the case. So I open the drapes and lo and behold I find a gofer. In my window well. I obviously can't deal with it. I mean- first off I'd freak out and second- I would never be able to kill it- which is what you're supposed to do with pests right? (The girl at my work said I should have dropped it off at the humane society :) ) So I run off to work and make my little sister take care of it. So this is her solution...Open the window (a major NO in my life- do you know how many spiders dwell in that window well?!) set up a cardboard box, and scare it into the box with a broom handle. And then...she just threw the box away. Some people call pest control, but in the Baird household, we throw our pests away. ...? But think about it! What was she going to do if that little creature were to have ran into my room instead of the box!?? Anyways. The point  of the matter is- it's a good thing I slept in my parents bed or I would have been mega freaked out by the scratching of the windows at night. The end.

Just getting excited for some chalk!

Chalk Art Festival is THIS WEEKEND people! I have been looking forward to it since like...last year. It's my favorite. Anyways. Here are pictures of chalk arts past. Maybe to get you excited too?

year one

year two

two and a half (high school chalk the walk)

Year three

Even though Girl with the Peal Earing was our best yet artistically speaking, there will always be a special place in my heart for Jimi as the most fun and personal favorite. 

And sneak peak...this is the picture we are doing this year!

 Do you kinda think she's pretty? Cause I do!