Canning tomatoes- scary!

Dear Reader-

I’m an active pickler, but I haven’t delved into a lot of other canning. They scare me! Ptomaine this, botulism that, who wants to give their friends and family food poisoning?!

But I make a lot of spaghetti sauce, and making it with my own canned tomatoes is an inviting idea. So, I attempt one lowly jar of tomatoes in my canning bath with a batch of pickles.

The recipe is easy. Peel the tomatoes and put them in the jar with 1 teaspoon of lemon juice to balance out acidity and kill botulism as it matures. Great, my #1 worry come to pass. I put the jar into the canning bath and set the timer for a long 85 minute processing time. Thirty minutes in I yell out a string of expletives, realizing I forgot the death-averting lemon juice. Failure.

It cools on the counter, waiting to be tossed. I’m so mad at this point I get in the car, drive to the fruit stand, and buy more tomatoes because now I have something to prove. Sterlizing more jars, remembering the wretched lemon, I cook on, for 85 long, hot minutes.

 

My stove was working overtime. It was a lot of work for two prideful jars of darned tomatoes!

Not my best pickling day. But I will forge on!

Sincerely,

AS The Curl Turns

Cherry Coke Perfection

Dear Reader-

Today we are veering away from the usual hair topics to discuss something extremely important. Cherry Coke. Not that roughness in the can- homemade.

Hubs and I were at Peggy Sue’s malt shop in Downtown San Jose, and they had the best Cherry Coke I have ever tasted. I swooned over it to the manager and he gave me the secret- maraschino cherry syrup! Forehead slap, of course!!

First in is the ice. Second, spoon in some syrup and a few cherries direct from the jar. Then add the Coke. Finish with a straw. The straw is an important factor in this scenario. It allows you to sip up both juice and soda at the same time. Voila! Cherry Coke at its finest! And for all you retro kids out there, that is indeed a paper straw.

You are welcome.

ATCT

p.s- changing your baby somewhere other than your own home? Travel with puppy training pads. They are perfect to lay your baby on while changing a diaper, and they are disposable.

VIDEO TIME! Rolling Vintage Updos Everyday

Dear Reader-

A vintage hair connoisseur? Take a gander at this video for advice on how to keep it up everyday!

Sincerely,

ATCT

A New Year’s Resolution Kept!

Dear Reader-

Glamour Up! was my New Year’s Resolution advice for 2015. Even if it is only once a month for something nondescript. I wanted you all to know that I take my own advice and try to walk the walk as much s possible. I attend Bingo at the local Elks lodge once a month, and I utilize this opportunity to gussy up once in a while. I went last night and I wore vintage mink and heels. Yes, I said mink. I was definitely the most overdressed person there by far, and I will tell you this, my dear readers. I was the best dressed one there as well.

So- even if you feel a bit self conscious about being over dressed, let me say this: you will clearly be the better looking of all your peers, so who cares?! Grandma always said there is an outfit for every occasion, but As The Curl Turns believes there is a better version of that outfit to be had as well.

Best,

ATCT

p.s- Is your dog’s stomach on the fritz? Try a plain baked potato.

VIDEO TIME! Victory Rolls Tutorial!

Dear Reader-

Let Victory Rolls be a mystery no more!

Sincerely,

ATCT

Really Warm Blondes….Tsk Tsk Hairdressers!

Dear Reader-

I was in a waiting room the other day when I was passed by a lovely woman with the most dismaying shade of unnaturally warm blonde hair. Please do not misunderstand I love unnatural shades of hair. I myself sport an ode to Cruella Deville. But bad warm blondes just rub me the wrong way. Especially the very brassy ones. This particular young lady happened to be of Hispanic descent, which means a thicker hair shaft, which means notoriously harder to get light blonde, which means orange/yellow/gold warm blonde when not handled correctly. Handled correctly how you might ask? I’m so glad you did!

1- Realistic Expectations- If your client is clearly not going to get to a nice ashy blonde, or a pretty golden blonde, TELL THEM THAT. Let’s be honest- certain hair textures are clearly harder than others to lift. It may take more than one visit to get your Asian, Italian (me!) or Hispanic client platinum.

2- Toner- Please tone your clients! I do not understand the mentality of not toning bleach blonde clients. Bleach can’t do it all. If our client is yellow or brassy, tone them! Lordy.

3- Highlight- Instead of an all over uncontrolled bleach that may turn out who knows how awful, try highlighting in multiple visits to slowly get them blonde. The hair will be healthier and lighter, and those brassy warm tones won’t be as much of an issue.

Grandma may say look on the sunny side, but As The Curl Turns believes the cooler side is sometimes best.

Sincerely,

ATCT

p.s.- the secret to a great dip? Mix the dip the night before the party. It gives the dry soup mix time to hydrate and absorb into the rest of the creamy ingredients.

Christmas Tree Hair Accessory-DIY

Dear Reader-

This hair accessory, like some of my others, is not for the faint of heart. You will be wearing a Christmas tree in your hair. Literally. If you are ok with that, then let’s get started!

First, I had to find a tree small enough. What an odyssey that was. Of course manufacturers of these little hobby trees are making them for home display, or office holiday cheer. Not hair. So I bought the smallest one I could possibly find, and disassembled it. It had a cement stand!

Then I had to use wire cutters to dismember the poor thing. It was far too heavy. I needed fewer limbs and a flat back so I could lay it on some felt, and ultimately, on my head.. It took two different types of wire cutters to get through this bad boy! It needed to be thinned out, A LOT.

Once that was done, I could start decorating. First to be added were the ornaments. I tied them on, one by one, strategically placed.

Then came the lights. I couldn’t find dollhouse lights that had a battery pack light enough for my hair to support the weight, so unfortunately, they don’t actually light up. Disappointment.

And what is a tree without gifts? I laid the tree to the felt and glued the gifts onto the felt and the bottom of the tree.

Cut the felt, add the duckbill hair clip, and it’s done! I could not find a small enough angel for the top, another item for the search- along with working lights. Now you have to decide how you will wear your hair to best accent (and support) your newest accessory.

Now, be prepared to take a bit of blowback from your friends and passerby. You are after all, taking a fashion chance by wearing this piece of glory. Others of a lesser station may feel the need to say something snippy about your choice of accoutrement. Just tell this riffraff that you love your style and will never compromise. Period.

Merry Christmas Crafties!

ATCT

p.s- don’t forget to at least tidy up your living room before leaving the house this holiday season. You never know who may be dropping by with good tidings.

VIDEO TIME! Rosie The Riveter Bandana-Tie it!

Dear Reader-

Tying a Rosie bandana can be tricky, and keeping it on can be even trickier. Tune in to see how to keep one on all day.

Sincerely,

ATCT

Pumpkin Pie Hair Accessory, DIY

Dear Reader-

I have been asked many times about my unconventional hair accessories. The coffin, the vegetables, the party umbrellas….how did I make them? So when I went to start my latest project, pumpkin pie, I took notes.

The idea came from one of my clients, as we were discussing what food (fake food that is) I could use for my Thanksgiving accessory. I couldn’t find a fake turkey leg to save my life, so my client said “hey, pumpkin pie!” Oh yes.

Two types of felt, a pie tin, craft foam, fake whipped cream, (thanks to Etsy) and I am on my way.

Now for the “crust.” I cut the edges wavy and glued it to the pie tin as if I had laid in an actual crust. I then added the foam inside.

Now to add the “pumpkin” overlay.

Can’t forget the whipped cream! Just a few dollops.

Now the hard part- how to attach it to my hair??? My usual duckbill clip won’t work because the bottom of the pie tin is totally flat. It will be lifted on that side if I use one of these.

So I decide to go just with bobby pins, which is as flat as I can get.

Done! In and secure.

 

Eat dessert first,

ATCT

 

VIDEO TIME! Volume Shampoo, Making It Work For You

Dear Reader-

If you are finding that your shampoo isn’t getting the job done, it may not be the shampoo’s fault. It may be how it is being used.

Kind Regards,

ATCT