Passionfruit! Stupid things! No more cedar!

[fenchurch]

Last Friday, I found some passionfruit at a local grocery store for a not-completely-hideously-high price... and, of course, that means only one thing: cheesecake!!! So, rackham made cheesecake on Sunday evening and we've been indulging in a slice every night since then, with wonderful fresh passionfruit pulp squeezed over the top. Yum!

The last few days a few things have cropped up that have made me want to smack my head on the desk a few times, because obviously my brain hasn't been working (warning, this is all rather boring and somewhat embarrassing, but I figure if I share, maybe I'll be inspired to use my brain a bit more often in the future).

Stupid thing #1: Yes, the brand of shampoo really does matter.

About three months ago or so, I ran out of my regular shampoo... which is a bit on the pricier side (although I generally buy the mondo bottle and it lasts me over a year) and can only be purchased at licensed outlets (okay, it's Aveda). I didn't exactly have the time to run up to the Aveda store in Alderwood and I was leaving on a trip so I picked up something from the grocery store that looked like it would do the job... and it did. In fact, I was actually fairly happy with it... enough so, that when my hair started having problems a few weeks later, I didn't connect it with the change in shampoo. So, for the last few months I've been battling horrible hair day after horrible hair day. And then three days ago I stumbled across a bit of the old shampoo still in my cupboard and the wheels in my brain suddenly began turning... Two days of hair washing later, and my hair is happy, healthy and cooperative. *headdesk* I sure could have saved myself a few months of grief if I'd put two and two together back in the beginning.

Stupid thing #2: Hey, did you know Outlook has its own Junkmail folder?

I didn't. Well, I did... you know, in a theoretical sort of way, but not in a practical "Oh, I should check the Junkmail folder to see if the mail I've been missing has been languishing there for the past SIX MONTHS." *headdesk again*

Part of the problem is that we were using some REALLY good spam filtering software on our mail server until the first part of the year when we had to find a different spam filtering solution... and the previous one was good enough that the Outlook junkmail folder was a dusty wasteland of nothingness, so I had quit checking it and completely got out of the habit. Considering how long things had been piling up since the switchover, I was a bit surprised that there were only about 3500 messages in there (meaning our alternate spam filtering methods were actually working, mostly) with around 200 of them from email lists I really did want to read: a bunch of CJ stuff, everything ever sent on the Beta-reading email list I'm on, half the stuff sent to another SF&F list since February... you get the idea. I'm just glad I noticed the lack of messages from CJ this last week (when I knew there had been some) and finally thought to check it out. *add another headdesk for good measure*

And, finally, I found the coolest stuff up at Top Foods recently, in their garden department... it's a garden mulch made from shredded coconut husks! It looks quite a bit like regular bark mulch but is much more lightweight (it has to be rehydrated after you spread it) and comes in a compact little cube wrapped in plastic, so it's easy to transport. Even better, it's not cedar!!! No more worrying about itchy eyes, swollen eyes, swollen throat, or having my lungs seize up. Yay!

Comments

[petzipellepingo.livejournal.com]

They are also making mulch from ground up tires these days as well. Lightweight, dark, no smell and doesn't degrade so it lasts forever.

[rosiewook.livejournal.com]

Since hair is the only beauty thing in which I indulge, I actually sympathize with you on the shampoo thing. It's amazing how much it can make a difference; especially when compared to Aveda products.

Now that my stylist has opened his own place, I'm back to Aveda. I also rather enjoy the Bumble&Bumble line. And there's a fantastic new line called Wella Professional that is amazing! It's just starting, so is kinda hard to get, right now. (Plus, I'm not willing to frequent my stylist's old salon as they are evil.)

As for the Outlook Junkmail folder? Mine has never worked. I'm surprised yours has. Wild!

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

Umm - re the Junkmail folder - you are not alone (http://curiouswombat.livejournal.com/74626.html)!

[tx-cronopio.livejournal.com]

Ah, interesting! I've always been the Suave Shampoo gal, but you are one smart cookie ... it really makes a difference? Well, I've been having hair woes of late, so maybe I'll try a bottle of the good stuff :)

[jerusha]

Hooray for passionfruit and no more itchy eyes! That coconut mulch sounds very interesting. As for the stupid stuff, you know, I think I'm having the same problem. I've been noticing lately that I've been shedding quite a bit, and until your post, I hadn't put two and two together that it might be the new brand of shampoo I've been using...

[wildrider.livejournal.com]

On the whole, my hair is happiest with Pantene (smooth formula), but every so often I have to change brands because, like a cat, it decides it's tired of THAT kind, and wants something ELSE for a change... *g* I oughta see if there's an Aveda store anywhere near here.

Mmmmm, cheesecake...

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

I've seen that stuff! At this point, though, I really am looking for something that will look good but will also degrade into the soil. I'm still just tickled pink that I managed to find this stuff!

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

I've tried a few things in the past that have worked pretty well, but I always seem to come back to Aveda. I just can't believe it took me so long to catch onto the problem!

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

LOL! I'm so glad I'm not the only one!

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

It can make a difference. If Suave works for you, I stay with it... but if you're having problems, it might be worth checking around for another brand.

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

It's definitely worth fiddling with the shampoo a bit to see if it helps! I'm still feeling like whacking my head on the desk a few more times for not thinking of it sooner. :-p

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

I've been mostly using Aveda for years now... with a few forays into other salon brands and, this last time, a short switch to Pantene. I always seem to go back to Aveda though... and maybe next time I'm tempted to try something else, for whatever reason, I'll remember this and not bother with it.

rackham makes excellent cheesecake. We finished it off tonight, although it did outlast our passionfruit... so we drizzled on a bit of Midnight Moo from Trader Joe's (organic chocolate syrup). Almost as good!

[wildrider.livejournal.com]

I make pretty good cheesecake, although it's one of my things I don't do often enough to perfect - labor intensive and I never CAN get it not to crack, so I always have to have toppings. But it tastes good. *g*

I forget the brand of chocolate syrup we just picked up - also organic, I believe, and the first we'd seen without the dreaded High Fructose Corn Syrup!