Au revoir 2013!

Eeek I hope you don't mind one more of these types of posts…! This year has definitely been a difficult one, but looking back I can't help but think of all the wonderful people I've met and opportunities I have been given in 2013. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for supporting me and this lil' blog - when I say it means the world to me I really mean it. You guys give me something to look forward to when I wake up, and for that I can't thank you enough!

Favorite Outfits
Bubblegum  | Princess Bubblegum | Meowmaid

Seashells | Wishery | Visual Optimism: Blogging as Self Care

Favorite Things *
(* At least, a very small handful of them!)

Being drawn by such a wonderful variety of talented artists like Laura Manfre (who even sent me the original! A prized possession for sure), being sent amazing parcels from wonderful ladies like Marlena, working with truly phenomenal shops and brands such as Locketship, Emerging Thoughts, Dahlia, Yummy You!, and Mod Dolly.

Attending my friend Kayla's graduation party, being featured on Teen Vogue's website multiple times, and putting together my very first YouTube video (though I'm not happy with the end result I'm glad I did something so out of my comfort zone)!

And of course, reading the incredibly thoughtful and kindhearted emails, tweets, and comments you guys have left me! Thank you so much for making my 2013 pretty darn great, and I hope you have a wonderful 2014! I feel so hopeful about the next year and motivated to keep up with my resolutions (like draw more)! What were the highlights of your year and do you have any resolutions for 2014? ♥

Milk Teeths Vintage Giveaway

When I first discovered Milk Teeths Vintage, I was overjoyed! Not only is this vintage etsy shop filled with adorable and affordable vintage pieces, but it is owned by one of my favorite style bloggers, Ashley! I ended up buying this daisy dress there last spring, and I was completely satisfied with my purchase - it even came with the sweetest note! I am very happy to announce Ashley is generously offering one lucky reader $75 to spend at Milk Teeths Vintage!

Enter the giveaway using the widget below, but if you can't wait, Milk Teeths is offering 15% off with the code "mermaidens"! Good luck friends!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway is open internationally. Winner will be contacted via email. If winner doesn't respond within 5 days a new winner will be chosen.

Hair FAQ

As it's getting very close to time I rebleach and pink my hair, I thought it would be the perfect time to post a hair FAQ!

I tried to answer the most frequently asked questions I receive regarding my hair, but if you have any more feel free to comment or tweet me and I'll reply to the best of my ability! :)

What color did you have your hair before pink?
A super ugly faded black! Inspired by Louise Brooks era flappers, I had a very short black bob which I loved dearly! Over time, though, I decided I really wanted pink hair. Going from black to pastel pink is the absolute worst, though…! I let my roots grow out for months and months before using a bleach and pink hair kits from the grocery store. There was still A LOT of black at the ends, (see: May 2012 picture!) and I had no idea the pink dye I had gotten would be so vibrant, but in the end I LOVED it!

Bleach
How do you bleach your hair?
After a busy summer where I running around with pretty ugly roots and fading pink hair, I finally was able to get close to the perfect shade of peachy pink when, following Arabelle's advice, I started using Clairol's BW2 Powder Lightener and Clairol's Pure White Creme Hair Color Developer 30 Volume. Both of these products can be found at Sally's Beauty Supply and are a lot cheaper then buying boxed bleach at home kits. However, they are a bit scary and heavy duty, so I HIGHLY recommend getting your hair bleached at the salon if you can!

I usually keep the bleach on for about 20 minutes and then am careful to wash it all out.

Who bleaches/dyes your hair?
My mom, who has a long history of dyeing/bleaching her own hair as well as various family members and friends - so I was pretty confident she wouldn't ruin my hair…!

Will my hair be damaged?
Of course - your hair is going to be pretty dry after and I would recommend looking into various deep conditioners etc after!

Pink
What dye do you use?
I use a combination of Special Effects' Cupcake Pink and plain ol' white conditioner! Adding white conditioner dilutes the dye and even though it looks like a blue pink, diluted it turns a beautifully peachy pastel color! Add as much or as little as you want - though the whiter it is, the faster it will fade.

In order to help it last, I try to wash it in the coldest water I can stand (which, since it's been freezing here lately, I haven't been doing *cough*).