Locks of Love and a 50s Housewife

Since my little family is here for this time of the year, we have the chance to be a part of Locks of Love. My aunt runs and owns a salon in Ramona, CA called Artistry in Hair, and every year they do Locks of Love. What is LoL? Well, it is when people grow their hair out to at least 10 inches long, and they go in and get it cut. The cut hair is donated to LoL, for people who are dealing with cancer and such. All proceeds go to the foundation as well. So this year, on Feb 14th, Jónas and I will take all money that comes from Elskan Baby that day and donate it. This includes us having a bunch of hats on location at the salon for people to purchase right away. I hope people will take the initiative and help a great cause! We are stoked to be a part, and to help out!


On a side note, I just purchased this awesome book that reminds me of the secret desire I have to become a 50's housewife. The kind that wears the frilly apron, and cooks dinner for friends, has tea time, and never has a stray hair. Maybe this book will help me get a step closer to that! OH, and to getting into shape! That is the big factor in me getting the book! Eating healthier!

Pretty Delicious: Lean and Lovely Recipes for a Healthy, Happy New You




You really should check it out!!

Giver or a taker?

A few days ago, my husband and I took Noah to the Icelandic "Zoo". It's really more of a family park with a few rides like a carousel, bumper boats, and some bouncing ride. Oh, and they have a few farm animals, and some seals. And a botanical garden right by.

It was my first time going, and we met up with a friend we hadn't seen in a while. There was live music playing, and it was an absolutely beautiful day.

Well anyways, Jonas and I get there, and put Noah into his carriage and start heading in to meet our friend. It's pretty crowded, because of the live music being played, and as we are walking down the paths, there are tons of other mothers with their strollers and such as well.

Something that I noticed after a few minutes of trying to go against what appeared to be a rush of traffic, was that everyone who was walking against us walked as though they owned the path, and even though there was room on the other side of the walk, they only used the "coming in" side of the path. I say it like this, because isn't there some unspoken rule of walking in certain places, like while driving? As in, the people going against you should be to the left, while you should stick to the right side of the path? Invisible "lanes" perhaps?

I suppose I was raised to think that there was a courteous way to walk.


But Jonas and I had such a difficult time getting to our destination! Everyone coming against us seemingly refused to move their own path to get out of ours, even though we were on the farthest right edge, practically in the grass. And Jonas and I struggled to weave in and out of the people. I realize I am probably painting this mental image to include way more people than there actually were, but it was a pretty narrow path.

It just got me thinking, "Why are Jonas and I the only ones moving out of anyone's way, and being considerate?". It made me question myself a little pit. Am I some sort of pushover? Can people instinctively tell that I would be the one to move out of the way? If I didn't move out of the way, would the people rudely run into me? Is my being considerate causing people to think of me as an easy target to walk all over?

Most parents weren't even bothering to try and make sure their children wouldn't get in front of our carriage while walking past us. It was pretty frustrating.

Sometimes I find myself amazed by how people can treat strangers. How sometimes it seems people's arrogance are just overwhelming. Some people who drive treat each other terribly, while not allowing a person to go in front of them at a red light, even though it won't really change the timing of their arrival by but 20 seconds or so. I drive with such consideration, maybe too much even.

Maybe we should all take a second and think about what type of person we are, really. And maybe take a few extra seconds out of our life to be a little more considerate of your fellow stranger. Good deeds do not go unnoticed. I definitely think you get what you put out. You can change someone's day with just one second of consideration!

Here is a picture or two from that day, as pictures are always delicious on a blog post!

Me & the boy.


The seal.

All about Brooke (I'm such a creeper!)

We seem off to a good start, two posts in one day! Although, I don't suppose the first blog ever should really count, as it is always kind of a filler/explanation as to why the blog itself exists. Well, in any case, we are on track.

I just felt the urge to delve into a little deeper as to this path I am currently walking, regarding making hats and such. I think it means a lot to me.

I live in Iceland. Oh, what? Iceland you say? Why, Heather? What brought you there? Well that in itself is a long story, and we wouldn't want to go into all that right now. I just do, and I am usually more happy than sad about it. I married an amazing man, and had an amazing little boy, and I am just still here. I do have intentions of moving back to my home place of California in the coming years.

Moving along... Well here in Iceland I have found it difficult to make friends. I can't really say that it is anyone else's fault besides mine, as I have lived here for two years. I find myself in most cases becoming a recluse, hiding behind the comfort of my own walls with my little boy and husband, thriving off of the internet and the connections it gives me back to my family and friends across the US. I pine often for the States.

I've decided that I tend to feel stifled, and creatively blocked, as being on a small island can be difficult when the things you know and love are hard to come by. Spicy cheetos, corn nuts, In-N-Out, Costco, huge craft stores... This list is long.

Well thank goodness we live in a generation run by technology. I can wake up in the morning and see what everyone is doing with their lives, and have visits with my parents who are some 6000 miles away... Simply amazing. I don't know what I would do without my computer and an internet connection. Sad? Maybe. But very true.

Seems this short story has turned a bit long. My fingers tend to get carried away, once they start typing. I simply love the clicking feeling and sounds that come from a keyboard, and that sound really is inspiration to start typing. Yay for blogs!

Ah, to the main part of my short story.

There is this lovely lady named Brooke. It's hard for me to describe the kind of friendship we have, as I think it is rather odd. She is such a lovely woman, and we have known "of" each other for some 7 odd years it seems. I believe we have maybe only seen each other in person 2 times? Maybe just one? Regardless, we knew each other through other people, and became connected through blogging back then. Over the years, we kept up on each other through all the popular sites, a comment here or there. I know that I kind of looked forward to hearing about her, and I really almost felt (feel) kind of foolish for being interested in her so much, as I barely knew her. And when I say "we kept up on each other", I truthfully don't even know if Brooke was indeed doing that, or if I am just alone in that whole bit. I find it funny that it seems we have so much in common, strangely so! But let me say, I have watched her grow and change so much, and it really has been so amazing to see her become the person she is. It's so fantastic to have someone to look at for inspiration! She's become quite the amazing photographer, and not only is the what brought me to Elskan Baby, but she has been so supportive, and for us not even knowing each other face to face, I find this so enchanting, for lack of a better word. I really just wanted people who come to this blog to know about this amazing woman, and to check out her work. Her photography has inspired me to be a better life chronicler for my son with my dinky point and shoot, and to put myself out there for people to see. So please check out Brooke's blogor even her website.

Better yet, follow her on Facebook