There is a book called “The Lollipop Shoes” (a sequel to “Chocolat“, I assume you’ve seen the movie?), in which a mysterious woman called Zozie de l’Alba is well-known for wearing simply magical shoes. When I walked into Bianco this Tuesday – in a very gloomy mood, by the way – I knew these were just the kind of shoes Zozie would wear. In fact, the moment I put them on, I felt just like a new person, and it’s not often shoes do that to me (I’m more of a dress or earring kind of girl).

Just look at that! I considered getting the shoes in a glittery grey instead, but then decided if I was going to wear sparkly shoes, I might as well do it properly. I wore them to an exhibition at work later that day, and got at least six compliments. Magic shoes indeed.

Before I left, though, I sprayed three layers of this all over the glitter, as the (absolutely lovely!) sales girl at Bianco said it would prevent the glitter from falling off.

Every girl and woman out there should own a pair of shoes like this, I think. Something so fabulous you’ll be braver, more daring, happier. Just a little warning, though: they might work their magic so well you decide to do things that are completely unlike your normal self…

And when I say “easy”, I mean so-easy-anyone-can-do-it-easy! I used three polishes for this, but the third one is just glitter and isn’t strictly necessary. This blue/cyan colour is nr. 657 by MNY. For the stamping you’ll need a very pigmented white polish, like the white special polish by Konad. If the polish isn’t pretty much opaque in one coat, your stamping pattern won’t be as crisp (but it can still look good!). Because I just don’t know when to stop, I added Essie luxeffects As Gold As It Gets.

You can, of course, swap the colours for anything you like – and apply base and top coat if you wish. I used Essie’s All In One Base and RapiDry TopCoat by OPI. You also need a slightly coarse sponge (like the double-sided ones you use for scrubbing pots), nail polish remover and some q-tips.

Step 1

First, you need a decent-looking base. One coat of the MNY polish clearly wasn’t enough, as you can see above. Bald patches all over the place!

Step 2

After a second coat, though, everything is much better. If I was wearing this polish on its own, I would have added another layer, but as I knew there would be a lot of decoration on top, I didn’t bother. Wait until the polish is so dry that you can touch it gently. This way the colours won’t smudge together (unless you want that, of course).

Step 3

Next comes the sponging. Put a blob of your chosen polish on something like a magazine you’re not very fond of, or a paper plate. Dip a corner of the sponge into the polish, then press it lightly on the magazine/paper plate/whatever until the pattern looks good. Then simply press the sponge on your nail, using a very light touch.

Want the pattern to graduate towards the tip of the nail like mine? Start with a thin application covering about half of the nail, then sponge again, only further towards the tip, and then another touch of the sponge on the very tip. You’ll probably have to re-dip the sponge in the polish for every nail you do, and also add a few more blobs of polish to your magazine/paper plate/whatever as you go along.

Allow the sponged pattern to dry for a few minutes to avoid smudging it. Then comes the clean-up. Dip a q-tip in some nail polish remover, and use it as an eraser to remove polish that got stamped on your skin/cuticles. You don’t need much remover on the q-tip, just enough to make it slightly damp.

Step 4 – if you want to

Here comes a coat of glitter if you’re so inclined. I wanted my manicure to look a bit like the ocean in the summer, with foaming waves and glittering sunlight, hence the gold. Finally, a top coat will make everything smooth and shiny, and make the manicure last longer.

Next time I’ll try a pale lilac base with a bright pink sponged pattern. Ooh, or simply swapping the blue base here for a black one. Or a combination of different shades of red, with pink glitter on the tips. The options are endless!

All Polyvores created by me, and linked to their respective page

I know this might seem like a strange topic for a blog about personal style, but I just can’t not write about it. Also, it has definitely affected both my confidence and my fashion choices for that week of the month, so hah! Let’s get to it.

About the cup itself

The funny little thing on the picture is what is called a menstrual cup. That particular kind is called a Diva Cup, and it’s the one I have, but there are loads more. Basically, you use it instead of tampons or pads by folding it, then putting it where a tampon normaly goes. It opens up in there, creating a seal of some sort, and therefore collects the blood (no point in being squeamish in a post like this, right?). You empty and clean it every twelve hours or so. After each period, you boil it for twenty minutes to sterilize it – you might want to buy a separate little pan for this. The cups are made of a non-absorbent material, so they won’t dry you out like tampons might, and they’re easy to clean.

I know what you’re thinking

A lot of girls out there will cringe at the very thought of a product like this. “You have to put it in there? With your fingers? It collects the blood? And then you empty it? Ewww!” Or you might have a thousand questions and worries. “Can it disappear in there? What if I can’t get it in? What if I can’t get it out? Won’t it leak? Isn’t it strange to have that thing in there all day? Can it simply fall out?” Don’t fret, I’ll tell you all about it.

Yes, you do have to get a bit… acquainted with yourself when using a cup. There’s no way around it. I’m sure you’ve all learnt about the female physique in science class or something, but it’s rather different when it’s you, not a diagram in a textbook. That’s okay, though, because it only takes a few days or so to understand a whole lot more about it. You’re pretty much alone when trying to figure it out (remember to lock that bathroom door), so there’s no need to be embarrassed. It’s not gross. It’s just something new, and it will require som getting used to. Still, for me at least, the advantages are so worth it that I’m never going back.

Inserting and removing the cup requires some practice, but there are a million tips that can help you (more on that later in this post). Key words are clean hands, relaxed muscles and patience. Once you know how, the process doesn’t take more than a minute, really. Emptying the cup isn’t any more icky than throwing away a used tampon or pad. The cup can’t disappear inside you or fall out. If it’s placed correctly, you won’t feel it at all, and it won’t leak.

How to start using a cup

First, I suggest you do a little bit of research. Livejournal’s forum about menstrual cups is enormous, and answers even the most awkward and strange questions. Look in the sidebar to the right, a bit down, and you’ll find links to things like “Cup use FAQ”, “Cleaning FAQ” and “menstrual cup brands” (and a comparison between them). Wikipedia’s page on menstual cups is short and concise. If you’re Norwegian, Kvinneguiden’s forum has an decent thread on cups, and Menskopp.org is also very useful.

Buying a cup is easier in some countries than others. In the UK, for instance, they sell them at Boots, whereas in Norway you need to use the good ol’ internet. I bought mine from Bleieboden, but there are many other options. EDIT: a tip in the comments let me know that you can also find it at some farmers’ markets. Once you’ve got a cup, you can pretty much get started right away. As most cups are made of silicone (and therefore non-absorbent), you can even practice using it when you’re not having your period. All cups come with a little pamphlet, so you’ll have all the instructions you need. If you need more advice, Google is your friend. As is YouTube.

My experience

When I first heard about it from another girl, I was definitely curious. You see, I don’t like tampons. There, I said it. Pads are okay, but can be messy and impractical. I’ve never been very squeamish about my body, so I didn’t think the cup sounded completely gross, but it did sound a bit… strange. Also, why had I not heard of this before, if it was so brilliant? After some hardcore persuation from said girl, I ordered a cup. I liked the idea of not producing a huge amount of garbage each month, and it did sound nice to get the discreetness of a tampon without the dryness and all that bleach. Yeah, they bleach tampons. Pads, too. If you’ve ever been near someone bleaching their hair, you’ll understand why it might not be the best of ideas to keep traces of those chemicals so close to your body. I’m not judging those of you who like tampons and pads, I just want you to be informed.

In the beginning, inserting the cup took quite some time. I didn’t really know the… angles properly, and I sometimes felt so frustrated I wanted to throw that damned thing away. I used pads as an additional method, just in case of leakage, which happened a few times when the cup wasn’t properly placed. The next round, though, was a whole lot easier, especially after some googling. Still a bit of frustration, but most of the time I was just thrilled about how practical it was. Which brings me to…

Pros and cons

Cons first, I think. It’ll probably require an adjustment period, which might cause some people to give up. It needs to be boiled after each round, whish isn’t really a problem except someone seeing it might think it weird and/or gross. Also, you can’t have long nails, even just three millimeters, when using this. Trust me.

The pros, then. For me, the biggest thing is how practical it is. You only have to empty it every twelve hours. You can wear it while sleeping. Sports are no problem, even the ones that involve doing the splits, and it’s perfect for swimming. No one can see it, and you can’t feel it yourself. The cup itself is more expensive than a box of tampons, but it can last you at least five years if you take proper care of it. It doesn’t produce any garbage, so it’s environmentally friendly. Once you know how to insert and remove it, the process is very quick. Leakage is not a problem. After I switched to a cup, I bleed less and it doesn’t hurt so bloody much that week in general.

To sum it up

I really think it’s a scandal how cups are so unheard of (even though they’ve existed since the 1930′s), so I’ll do as much as I can to spread the word. If you’re happy with whatever you use for your period, then good for you, I won’t think any less of you for that. But if you’re the least bit curious, I cannot urge you enough to give this a try. Cups rule. If there’s anything you’re wondering about, don’t hesitate to ask in the comments below. No question is “too weird”, I’ll answer them all as well as I can, and completely honestly – as always.

Ah, hair. It can be a source of joy, beauty and even power, or it can drive you mad. This blog post is for those mad times. As you know, I like to think long term and focus on quality, so some of these tips require some learning time. But trust me, if you do plan ahead, 9 out of 10 bad hair days will go away. Yes, really.

1. Coconut oil.

I’ve tried so many conditioning and strengthening hair products, it’s ridiculous. The best one I’ve ever tried is something as boring as extra virgin coconut oil (I have the one called Cocosa, with the green label). I use a tiny amount to smooth flyaways and add shine, or to prevent frizz after I’ve done any kind of curls. Where coconut oil really triumphs, however, is if heated up, combed through the hair, and then left in there for as long as you can be bothered. I like to apply the oil, then braid my hair, cover it with a scarf, and sleep on it. After a shower the next morning, both my hair and scalp are super-happy.

2. Learn three hairstyles.

Only professional hair stylists need to know a whole bunch of different hairstyles for pretty much every kind of hair. You only need to learn three styles that work well with your hair. Granted, it requires a bit of time in the beginning to learn them, but once that’s done, you’ll be able to style your hair quickly and with a wandering mind. My three styles are; my natural hair, but with the ends curled inwards using straighteners; one french braid on each side of my head, with the ends pinned up to create a low updo; and a messy updo with my bangs away from my face.

3. Learn things on YouTube.

YouTube is my favourite place for tutorials. There are millions of them on every field, many of the uploaders have excellent skills, and you can pause and re-watch the videos as you please. When it comes to hair, I really like Let’s Make it Up!. Not only does she have plenty of great tutorials for specific styles, but she also does videos like The Braid Encyclopedia, what to do before you curl your hair and Bobby Pinning 101.

4. Read hair blogs (at least once in a while).

For info on hair that isn’t styling tutorials, there are lots of blogs out there. My favourites are Hair Romance, She Lets Her Hair Down and The Beauty Department’s hair section. Not only can you learn useful things here, but it’s also wonderful inspiration.

5. Know your tools.

I currently have five electrical styling tools. Actually, six, if you count the heated rollers. I use two of them – a blow drier and the ghd IV styler – 95% of the time. The more versatile a tool is, the better. With a good pair of straighteners you can straighten, flick, curl and give volume to your hair. I think I know at least three different ways just to create curls! Also, different kinds of clips/pins have different uses. If you know them, your hairstyles will look better and last longer.

6. Understand styling products.

Let’s start with volumizing mousse, shall we? I’ve yet to meet a girl who doesn’t own a can, and yet almost nobody seems to know what to do with it. If you want it to create volume, it needs heat. Same goes for salt water sprays. Remember to use enough of a product to get the best effect, and to apply it gradually to avoid using too much.  If your hair, like mine, is very smooth and slippery (hello, Nordic girls!), a product that’s very sticky can be super-helpful. I’m a big fan of L’oréal’s Studio Remix Styling Paste. It looks like it would be most suitable for short, spiky hair, but a pea-sized amound spread throughout the (semi-dry) lenghts of my hair works wonderfully. The got2b glued hair spray is also great for slippery hair, both as a finishing touch and to add texture before styling.

7. Rinse conditioner thoroughly.

I only just discovered this, and it has made such a difference. We’ve all heard that after a heavy conditioning treatment, you have to rinse properly. But my guess is you can probably rinse a bit more thoroughly even after ordinary conditioner. I’ve started rinsing about twice as long as I used to, and my hair is so much lighter than before! It doesn’t get oily as quickly either, come to think of it. Might be worth a shot if you think your hair feels a bit limp and heavy. After you’ve rinsed your normal amount, rinse a bit more. Then some more. Go on, a bit more. There you go.

8. Know what you like and what suits you.

If I forget to add a bit of extra volume on top when doing any kind of updo, I’m never satisfied with the finished look. It’s just something about my hair, the shape of my head, my face, that means I need some height on the crown. The good thing is that as I’ve realized this, all my updos now get a good start, and the chance of me liking the finished look is much bigger. If you know that you need a bit of hair loose around your face to feel comfortable, don’t start a hairstyle with scraping everything away from your face, for instance. But, if you’re willing to broaden your horizon, try to leave your comfort zone on a day you’re not doing anything important. Who knows, you might discover something lovely!

9. Tiny things can make a huge difference

Taking one extra minute to cover a hairband with a strand of your hair can make that ponytail look five times better. Messy updos always look better with somewhat curled ends, so if you don’t have naturally curly hair, spend four minutes giving your tips a bit of a curve with your straighteners. If you’re blonde, gold bobby pins will blend in with your hair for an elegant, pulled together-look – and black ones will instantly make a hairstyle look more casual. Neglecting such small touches can prevent a hairstyle from ever looking the way you want it. The devil is in the details.

10. Be realistic.

One of my biggest pet peeves nowadays is that in EVERY SINGLE TV-SHOW the “default” hairstyle for women (and even little girls!) is long hair that has been given big waves with a straightener. Pretty much 90% of hair on TV looks like that nowadays, and it’s just so boring. Also, I think it has somewhat the same effect as PhotoShop can have on how we look at our bodies/skin. We gets so used to looking at this huge, perfectly waved and glossy hair, that we forget that it’s pretty much never natural, and would require touch-ups every fifteenth minute or so, not to mention a surprising amount of extentions. Hair can be beautiful without styling it to death, and it isn’t necessary to look so bloody pretty all the time, either. We have more going for us than just that, don’t we, darlings?

Oh, Cookie! When I sent you that e-mail with that link, I was hoping you’d get me this for my birthday in August. To get it just a few days after I’d e-mailed you, as a “just because”-present… you’re too sweet, you really are.

I’m lucky to have a sister who gets me so well, and don’t think I’m not super-grateful, kid! Also, I like that you’re just as much of a Disney fan as me, and completely agree that the evil guys are always the coolest, and that Maleficent is pretty much as evil as they get.

It takes a special kind of girl to understand how I can actually need a purple lipstick in my life. But you do, and I love you for that (and other stuff, too, of course). Thank you so much, you clever little minx.