Going Au Natural.

So I finally got my hair cut yesterday. Last time I cut it was in May, right before the wedding. Since then, it has grown grown grown, along with a gajillion split ends and tangles. I would like to take a moment to say how much I loved my hair-cutting experience. It was the first time I didn’t feel like crying after I left the salon. (I know, so drama.) I was referred to Naomi by Joan, who I believe was referred to her by Bee. And Naomi is great. Not only is she very considerate about what I want my hair to look like (unlike many Korean ajumah hair cutters in the past who have butchered my hair without my permission), she is straight up nice. She’s soft-spoken, gentle, amiable, and really sweet. I heart Naomi. I will go to her again. And actually–not that anyone is interested–I almost cut my hair SHORT! It may not be a big deal to you, but I haven’t had short hair since I was in eighth grade. I almost did it, but decided to keep it long for Maria’s wedding in May. Next time. Maybe.

Anyhow, Naomi told me that I should switch to organic shampoo. She said that my hair is really fine for Asian hair, and I should make sure not to use shampoos with too much conditioner in it. Normally I wouldn’t pay any attention to what a hairdresser tells me (because you know they’re always trying to sell you something), but I did. Why? Because 1) Naomi seemed sincere & she really didn’t have a product she was trying to sell me. And 2) I was going to switch over to baking soda shampoo anyway.

I am going green for personal hygiene. A couple months ago, I read an article on simplemom about using all-natural shampoo & conditioner. And shortly after, another article about all-natural face wash. It caught my attention because shampoo, conditioner, and skin care products are all so durn expensive. Tsh from simplemom offered a cheap and healthier alternative: baking soda shampoo & apple cider vinegar conditioner. Sounds nasty, but it’s actually so cool! It’s better for your hair, adds natural moisture but prevents extra oil build-up, gives your hair more body, and you don’t have to wash it everyday. I’ve already switched over to ACV conditioner, which is working out fine for me. As soon as I have another empty squeeze bottle, I’m taking the plunge and switching over to baking soda shampoo. I’m just dreading the extra-oil transition period…

As for the face wash alternative, it’s called the oil cleansing method. You make a  mixture of castor oil & EVOO, rub some on your face, steam out your pores, and wipe the remainder off. The good oils replace the bad oils in your face and prevent your face from producing more nasty oils. Keeps your skin naturally moisturized so you don’t have to use moisturizer. I actually convinced Steven to start doing this with me after he saw good results in my skin muhaha. My oil mixture has 50/50 castor oil to EVOO. Steven’s has 75/25 castor oil to EVOO (his skin is more oily than mine). It’s become our nightly routine–it seriously feels like a relaxing facial every night. (Actually I’ve never had a facial, but it feels like what a facial should feel like.) My skin feels baby soft after I do it… oh how I miss those days. Another plus is that I no longer use makeup remover; the oil works as a natural makeup remover. I also use a lot less moisturizer. And the result? Less oily, more moisturized skin!

Okay, I am done selling the natural hygiene route. Read the articles for yourselves & maybe you can take the plunge with me. Let me know. We can share transition period stories & admire each others’ hair & skin. Whoopeee!

Santa Barbara.

So here it is. Our weekend getaway to Santa Barbara. Twas super beautiful… The weather, blue skies. The museums, inspirational. The boutiques, so cute. The cafes, delicious. I loved the old town feel… brick roads all over, small shops, and people riding beach cruisers up and down State Street (including us!). It was a simple weekend with no planned schedule (much like our honeymoon), and perfectly relaxing for our worn bodies & souls.

Our little modern motel, the Presidio. Each room had its own personalized wall design by a local artist. Some of them were creepy, but I requested this one! Cute, huh. Mattresses were two thumbs down, but we looooved this:

Our cute little beach cruisers!! Our motel rented these out for free to their guests. We biked all around downtown SB. It was awesome!! I heart biking (downhill).

Spent the morning exploring the side streets…

Admiring cute window displays…

Spent a couple hours at SB Museum of Art…

This cracks me up. Ever since Steve sent me this article when we first started dating, we make a point to practice Tip #7 every time we go to an art museum.

Stopped off for lunch at the Natural Cafe, a small vegan place that had decent food.

Played with funny accessories at an old vintage store. We also learned that vintage is not the same as thrift… :[

But we did find an antique shop where we spent a good hour. Love antiques.

While I ran around taking pictures of anything & everything...

Steve reverted back to his childhood days & dug through boxes and boxes of baseball cards.

That's pretty much what we did. Lots of walking (Steve took lots of pictures like these...), window-shopping, real shopping, and eating. Things we like to do. :]

Found this itty bitty art gallery & absolutely loved her work. But we weren’t allowed to take photos, so I just took one from the outside looking in.

Dinner at Arigato Sushi. Loved sitting at the sushi bar–got to try recommendations from the top sushi chef. And loved eating sushi, ho ho.

McConnell’s Ice Cream for dessert. Opps was happy.

Walked into a contemporary furniture store. Very cute, but we could never afford it.

This was my fave eatery in SB, Tupelo Junction Cafe. Came highly recommended by Michelle Chung & did not disappoint! I got pumpkin oatmeal waffles, which were absolutely scrumptious. :]

Our fave coffee shop, the French Press. They make all of their coffee by french press–isn’t that cool? Loved the decor & the feel of the place. And the typography on their sign won me over–I basically dragged him in with me. (He loved it too.)

Then we said goodbye to Santa Barbara.

And hello to LA! We heart Korean BBQ. Me possibly more than him.

And one last stop: LACMA. I’d been wanting to go for a loong time, so I was thrilled when he said we could. :]

I love love loved this exhibit. Don’t know if it’s still there, but you should definitely go if you haven’t! The first piece we saw may be one of my favorite things I’ve seen in an art museum EVER. Unforch, we weren’t allowed to take pictures.

Thought this was so cute. It says “We are happy” in Korean. Sounds cheesy, but made me smile. We tried to get a picture of ourselves with it in the bg, but obviously failed.

The end. We had a great & refreshing time away from everything. We did everything I love (which thankfully, he likes too haha). I love my husband. And I thought the ending of our trip was so appropriate to describe where we are… we are happy. The Lord provides for our every need & is so kind to bless us with the beautiful gift of marriage. So thankful!

Lessons in Trust.

Steven left for a business trip in New Orleans about four hours ago, which leaves me here home alone for the next 5 days. I’m a bit scared & just sad at the thought of being alone for so long, but I’ll try to make the best of it. I think the hardest thing about being apart is not being able to go to bed together. Already in four months, I have gotten so used to having him beside me when I sleep–the thought of having to go to bed by myself in our dark & empty apartment makes me really sad. I wonder if other wives feel the same? We’ve also developed somewhat of a nighttime routine: washing up, reading a couple psalms, praying together, then a little bit of pillowtalk. (Depending on how tired we are haha. Steven never fails to remind me about the time I drifted off while he was “pouring out his heart to me” haha.)

This became our little routine shortly after our miscarriage. For a few weeks following our loss, I experienced a number of anxiety symptoms & bad dreams. Our future brother-in-law, who is a doctor & biblical counselor (talk about a timely entrance into our family, huh?), advised me to meditate on the psalms during these times & to have Steven read them to me before we went to bed. It was kind of amazing how quickly my bad dreams went away as we sought comfort in His Word & came before Him in prayer each night. My symptoms & bad dreams have pretty much ceased, but I’m so thankful that our nightly routine hasn’t changed. One psalm that we keep coming back to is Psalm 16. This psalm struck my heart & brought me so much joy in a time of sorrow & distress–I can’t seem to move on from it.

Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
I have no good apart from you.”
As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,
in whom is all my delight.
The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply;
their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
or take their names on my lips.
The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold my lot.
The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
I bless the LORD who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.
I have set the LORD always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
my flesh also dwells secure.
For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see corruption.
You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

He watches over us & works for us. Even in situations like these, the lines have fallen for me in pleasant places. My life is still full–overflowing even–with blessings. There are times when my flesh gets the best of me–I feel I can’t drown out my thoughts of self-pity & despair. But even then He is faithful to replace my sorrow with joy and my thoughts of self with thoughts of Christ. I believe it now much more than I did when I was very young in my faith… in those days, I felt like I could blink and drift away from Him in an instant. And who would save me and bring me back to Him? But now, even in my darkest moments, I feel a certain confidence that I could never wander so far that I am beyond the reach of God–it is He who will save me and bring me back to Himself. Surely all pain and suffering is good and worthwhile if deemed by our loving Father… If He is producing in me a purer faith & devotion to Christ, what more could I ask?

Been reading through another of Elizabeth Prentiss’ books: The Little Preacher. Read a part today that encouraged my heart so. It was a conversation between a young wife & mom named Doris, whose husband is very ill and on the verge of death, and her wise & godly mother, who had learned to love the Lord better through the loss of most of her children & husband:

“But, mother, while God was doing such dreadful things to you, did you keep on loving Him?”
“Keep on! Why, don’t you see, my Doris, that they made me love Him more than ever? For these were the answers to my prayers.”
“Yes, I see. But He does not take such dreadful ways to answer everybody’s prayers.”
“He takes the very best way, my Doris.”

What a beautiful thing to have that kind of peace and trust in the Lord as a result of having been stripped of earthly idols. It gives me hope and comfort that no suffering is in vain, but that it is a means to producing an invaluable faith that cannot be stripped away. What a great & loving God we serve!