Hi Mrs K! Sorry to hear about the allergies...totally stinks. As much as white hairs are super tempting to pull, I think that white can look super classy! I'm sure it doesn't look as bad as it seems....

Is there any way to experiment with different products to see which ones might actually be causing you to react?

Keep at it! You're doing a great job!

I’m really sorry about your allergies.. I hope you’ll find out soon what it is exactly your allergic to in the hair dye, so you can maybe buy one that won’t cause any trouble..

I’m thinking of you my dear, I hope you feel better soon! Don’t give up :)

Oh my gosh, that sucks. You have hair and you're allergic to it/maintaining it. I'm looking for a non- chemical hair dye also. I just read most hairdyes are linked to liver cancer! Argh. And Europe have banned sale of all hair dyes containing 20 dangerous chemicals. However these hair dyes are still available else where in the world. Scary!!!!!!

Are your urges up at the moment? Stay tough, you poor thing. Xoxo

Sorry not liver cancer, bladder cancer.

am better with the urges and my allergy seems to have calmed down - just a small patch above my lip (which has been there since may!!) and I get really red when I cook - have to make the hubbie do it hahahaha.

things are OK here although I feel weird in myself, really anxious and strange and keep having odd dreams. hmmm

Glad urges and allergies are better :)

Hehehe yes make husband cook :) perfect!

Perhaps you're feeling weird as this is a new phase on your life.. Starting fill time work again. Didn't you mention that you left your last job due to stress? Are you worried about that happening again? Sorry, i hope I'm not invading too much. Shhhhh sam. I find it helpful to hang out with good friends when I'm feeling "weird".

It’s good to hear that you’re doing better :)
Hehe it’s an excellent plan to make your husband cook. Unless he’s a terrible cook off course..

He is a terrible cook :)

Sam I left my last job because basically the management decided to scrap my subject - and tried to bully me into resigning - I stood up to them and so they tried to make me redundant, my union and lawyers fought them and I got a deal to leave (paid 4 months)...it was really stressful and I did take time off with stress - the result of a year of bullying, undermining and negative stuff.

am hoping it won't happen again!!!

Oh my gosh :( I really hope that doesn't happen again! Seems unlikely.

Make your husband watch some cooking shows ;)

he is getting better - he made me brekkie (boiled egg and toast) at weekend and did a stir fry with instructions from me...his mother refused to let him know how to cook, she wouldn't even teach him to make a cup of tea/coffee as she thinks its a woman's job. One time we stayed with her she fainted when I got him to make us a cup of tea and wash up, I mean FFS!! He lived on his own for 12 years - how else was he going to manage? Get a maid?

That was the very short version of the story Sam, it went on for about a year in the end - I was soooo glad to leave, since I have left I have seen other co-workers who have left and they also are really relieved and enjoy wherever they have moved on to much more. I am hoping that I will like my new job, I know there can be problems with any job but hey.

well I dyed my hair yesterday (risky with my allergies) but I just used a 24 washes one instead of a perm as I think the ammonia irritates my skin a bit. So far no ill effects yay!! I have gone for a more brown shade (I have been red since spring but need a change now winter is here) its OK not as chocolatey as I want though. Might get it salon done at some point. The last time i got my hair salon done was in 2004 and I had been good with pulling for a couple of years (as i I had been pulling but not much so didn't have bald patches but growth was very mixed) they did one block colour to help it all blend in the lengths but it was a lovely colour, a rich dark espresso shade. I have that hairdye smell now though LOL. Am still plucking up courage for a haircut...not sure I am emotionally ready yet....am waiting waiting waiting. Maybe at xmas I will feel ready.

OOOhhh how xmasy is the world??? we had guy fawkes last weekend and fireworks everywhere so so pretty :) and strictly and merlin are on TV. weekend after next it is our towns Christmas lights switch on, which we go to, the have fireworks, mulled wine, cakes and carol singing....weekend after that its the medieval fayre in the big castle nearby - lots of costumes, hot spiced mead, sausages, fire and light shows, markets etc....can't wait its a corking day/evening out!! And Birmingham has the Frankfurt market coming next week (there until xmas) Proper Exciting!!! Got to decide what to have for our meal now as well yippeee!

I just bought hair dye, I'm dying it a dark brown too (definitely has a lot of red in it at the moment). Oh my gosh, that's crazy (your husbands mother). Thank goodness he lived on his own for a while before you net him. Nothing worse than a guy who thinks cooking and cleaning is a woman's job.

Hey I've been reading an article about skin disorders and allergies, and the basic message is living a clean lifestyle makes all the difference. Basically eliminating chemicals, including preservatives in food and shampoos etc that contain chemicals. They also mention Chinese medicine, eg maybe that's something to look into.

When I was in London it was already starting to get all christmassy. Here.. Not so much. Probably in our local Westfield it will be though. Enjoy your celebrations, sounds like sooo much fun. I love mulled wine.

Hello ladies,

well monday is my 8 month mark. urges not bad at the moment yay!!

I am returning to thinking about the dreaded haircut - what styles do you think I can do? Hair is shortest on crown and longest at the back (look at my pics for recent shots) since my pics done had a slight bit more growth since then. I am just not sure how doable a haircut is - what sort of style I can get etc ick!!

WOOHOO!!!!! :) Fantastic!!! Amazing!!!

My advice would be to go to a salon, and ask them what they think. That's what I did, and I ended up with something that really suited my face. It's all well and good to pick a style that will work with your hair, but if it doesn't suit your face then it won't look as good. Plus they can do wonders with blending. I had a fair few pieces of hair that were rather short, but she blended them to look intentional! It helped that I have curly hair, but this can be done with straight too.

I know how hard it is to muster the strength to make the call, and then to GO IN THE SALON AND TAKE OUT YOUR HAIR! Aaaaaaargh. But, it's worth it.

Here in the US, the stores get all Christmas decorated on November 1st (the day after Halloween). I think it's way too soon. By the time Christmas actually comes, I'm sick of Christmas decorations and music.

And yeah, that is crazy about your husband's mom. Glad he's breaking that cycle and learning to cook. :)

As for hair, it depends on what you want. If you want a haircut that'll look flawless right now, you'll probably want to cut it a lot shorter, but if you just want them to do some layering to make the length you have now look better, they can do that too. If you want to cut a lot off, I like this style (sorry about the long link, but it should work): http://api.ning.com/files/-0TBj9ZHxeX6D-wEr3q4YPebK149WETop*vdgIxckaY6mWQkgW4xQSvcHyjDqT9YsYjFUgL5CXdkh4IQrQwCwXYv17U0HC4T/5chinbob.jpg

Congratulations on your 8 months! That's incredibly fantastic.

yes you are right sam. I do want to go short but not as far as a pixie cut - emmy I love that style but my hair is a bit wavy/curly/fluffy I know it wouldn't work...

I wonder if I can get away with this one (the second one down) http://hairstylesclips.blogspot.com/2011/05/popular-short-hairstyles.html

or some of these http://2011shorthair.blogspot.com/2011/09/2011-short-hairstyles-for-oval-faces.html I love 1,2 and 7 and also the one on the asian-ish girl about half way down.

I can't afford haircut til about another month has gone, I reckon then my shortest hair bits will reach the top of my ears (they aren't far away now)

ho hum, so hard.