Dark blond

I look *just* like this. (via)

My natural hair color asks not be seen. It hides in the dark. It whimpers in the sun. It’s dark blond.

I happen to grow the darkest shade of blond in my hairdresser’s color-wheel flippy thing, I'll have you know. And did you know that many people misspell "blond/blonde"? They do!

Opinionated relatives assert that I look much better with blond highlights. It’s been a long road coming to terms with the fact they might be right. Highlights could be my friend, something to embrace. Let there be light!

And then a voice shouts - FUCK THIS high maintenance bullshit coming out of your mind right now. Don’t change your hair color to look better when you already look fine. No. No. No. No. No high maintenance.

But this dark blond! No longer highlighted to perfection by youthful summers of sun and swimming. Just dark blond. And quite a bit of gray. Some fading highlights. Roots, I dunno, maybe 3 inches deep. I still get natural highlights toward the very front. The hair at my temples is nearly white, and I like it.

This is not exactly a crisis situation. But damn, highlighting my hair as a way of life? Millions of women do it. Does that sound so crazy?

Doesn't that sound so crazy?

I sense another 2015 DIY challenge.

The gift of play

Like any modern American, I find out when holidays are by Googling them.

My mother is the kind of person who likes to get gifts. To her, a gift shows you really care. Thoughtless gifts are almost worse than no gift at all. Almost. Among her five love languages, gifts rank supreme. This can be challenging, of course, for her husband and four kids because we don't necessarily feel that gifts should be so indicative of one's love. But she does, and she's my mom whom I love, so I've learned to oblige.

This year for Mother's day I'm getting my mom a book on crafting with kids. She is impressively crafty when the inspiration strikes. There's an artist in there - and an ever present teacher. Since she's the much beloved grandmother of five kids under the age of seven, now may be just the time for a creative nudge.

The universe had me read about Playful, and then Amazon suggested I might like a few more. Here are 4 books worth considering:

This cover makes me worry the book is a little more pretty/styled than practical/awesome.

Screen-free? Yes please! But by telling me there's a website, I waver on the purchase.

This book cover makes me think, GRRRRRRR LET'S PLAY!!!! (Ding Ding Ding?)

Not for crafting with kids necessarily, but this new book is receiving lots of praise.

Don't they look inspiring? I'm convinced anyone near kids would like this gift. Sure there are countless websites collecting kid craft ideas, but my mom is not one to dick around on the internet (she'd totally approve of the phrase "dick around" by the way). I want to flip through each of these in a bookstore to figure out which is best for her, but ugghhh, stores.

So tell me - what am I missing? Are there other books out there in this category that you can recommend? If so, tell me soon! This gift cannot be late.

P.S. Grandparents day is Sept. 13th, but please don't tell my mom about this. Without dicking around on the internet, she will never know.

Bonus link cause it's Friday!

Egg quadrants

Appetizing, I know. My dinner is never ready in the daylight.

Relying on just a fancy toaster oven and a pie dish was fun while it lasted. Pictured above is one of many variations on roasted diced vegetables that, once roasted in the dish, are pushed into an 'X' to create egg pockets. 

Crack in the eggs. Add some cheese. Don't forget the hot sauce.

A low oven until set.

With toasted California sourdough.

Life ain't bad.

DIY difficulties

How I feel every night as work-work switches over to house-work.

A month and a half ago, the cats and I moved our permanent residence two thousand miles across the country to root in Oakland, California. This marked my first time ever moving back to somewhere I've previously lived (disregarding three summer breaks from college). It’s been a trip, a good trip, to say the least.

My Dots DIY mission, however, is suffering.

I seem to spend all of my time taking care of a thriving adult human – me. Just existing without getting sick or mental breakdown is hard work. Is that sad? Being responsible for your home, your pets, your important relationships, your financial, social and civic duties is non-stop. It can feel like a slog. Then I try to add happiness, or peace, and feel grateful for the opportunity to try.

I hope that’s not sad.

On top of merely staying alive, I want to make pretty and functional things with my hands. But first I have to create some space to enable the creativity (instead of melt-downs) to flow. That sounds like such an excuse, I know. But look at that pile of books and DVDs up there from mid-February. It's even worse now!

With self-forgiveness in my heart and home improvements on my mind, here are a few ideas that have me daydreaming:

Marbelizing something with nail polish

Using chalkboard paint for the first time

Hand stamping a wall

Showcasing my nail polishes

Printing on tea towels

Making long, light necklaces (top, lower left, lower right)

Making my own tinted lip balm

I will also be helping in the construction of three walls, the addition of a sink, and generally turning a large warehouse into a welcoming nest. One revelation in my twenties was how much I like hosting parties large and small (mostly small). I know some of these DIYs are just begging for small gatherings (we'll light the grill I don't have yet, drink homemade beer from the tap that's not ready yet, sit around the table that's currently obstructed...). 

Well, sounds like I better get to work.