WonderfullyOdd: Lifestyle

New Year, Better Me! (plus an alopecia story)

Hi guys!

This is my first post of the year, and I must say, everything is off to a great start! I just feel like this year is going to be great. As much of a transitioning time the past two years have been for me, I never really made any goals at the start of the new year. As a matter of fact, the new year seemed more of a relative time than an absolute. I still feel that way in some aspects, but at the same time, I see this as an opportunity to really begin. I've already set goals for this year, decided that I'm going to achieve them. With starting this blog and my YouTube channel, I feel I really have no choice. Since I've committed to something, I want to see it through.

I've spent just about my entire life in seclusion and as a loner (which has not really changed), so putting my life out here for people to see (not that many people will, x___x), is no easy feat. Alas, I've committed, and I do really enjoy it.

I've also decided to take a break from straightening my hair and work on trying to grow it out. For a while, I've been okay with the length it is at the moment, but after eating up some haircandy from the lovely Miss Dita Von Teese, I've decided I want longer hair. Unfortunately, this is no matter of simply willing and wishing, as I've suffered from a mild case of Alopecia since 2012. In 2010, it was far more severe, and I literally had like almost-bald patches throughout my head. After seeing some so-called hair professionals, who did little to nothing for me, I decided I'd go it alone. At first, I couldn't even think of a reason my hair would just start falling out. Then, in 2012, I cut my hair into a bob so that all of my hair was the same length. But of course, slowly but surely, the rest of my hair began to grow back, and those spots (basically the entire left side of my head) stopped growing at that certain length. Of course, later I realized that it wasn't that it stopped growing, but would begin to shed and break, leaving the hair in those places about 6 inches long with really thin ends. So, in late 2012, I was so tired of dealing with my hair, I just said fuck it! I relaxed my hair, just saying I'd go for my vintage styles (this was before I got how to pin curl on straightened down), but this resulted in my having to get a pixie cut as my hair fell almost completely out, lol.

So, here we are now. I went almost an entire 2 years wearing wigs (after rocking the pixie for a while). So when I finally went back to my natural hair mid last year, I was taking iron and biotin supplements, hoping that would help with the hair loss. No luck. My hair had grown to about the normal length (when I start seeing the problem) about 3 or 4 months ago, but with my layered cute, it didn't matter. Of course, once the rest of the hair starts growing but that side keeps shedding, it'll start to become noticeable. So, anyhow, that's one of my goals for this years. I've going to break from straightening it for a while and focus on all natural hairstyles.

I can't wait! So, if you're interested, stay tuned to my YouTube channel for more pin up hair tutorials for natural hair!

Also, I'm so excited! My new Lindy Bop dress just arrived, so I'll be doing a demo of it. Not a reveal like my last one, but just showing the dress.

As always, thank you for viewing and have a wonderful new year!

Vegan veggie/chip dip!

Hi guys! Y'know, I never realized the goodness of chips 'n dip, not until my sister my sister started going crazy on it. Every trip to the store, she'd buy rippled or wavy chips and one of the variety of dips that she likes. It's usually french onion. Anyhow, after a while of jealously watching her chow down on the addictive snack, I finally decided to do something about it! At first, I looked up recipes that didn't seem too difficult, but them I recalled the blue box that my mom had up in the cupboards for what seemed like centuries, that said "soup and dip mix." So, on my next excursion to the grocery story, I searched high and low for this blue box.

This is a very simple way to make a veggie or chip dip!

First, you want to start with your favorite vegan (or non-vegan) sour cream. I'm going with Tofutti's Better than Sour Cream. (Follow Your Heart also has very good sour cream!)

Next, choose your flavor! I like Ranch and French Onion. I particularly like Lipton, because they are kosher and they have a variety of flavors. But as you can see there are other brands to choose from!

Start by spooning the desired amount of sour cream into a bowl. I usually prepare just enough for one sitting, which is usually (for me) about 2 or 3 tablespoons.

This part is all up to preference, how little or how much flavor you want. The package (for Lipton) recommends 1 envelope of mix for 16 oz. of sour cream. I use about 1/2 tablespoons.