Cheska’s Pride

Well, different people have different hair types. Some can be greasy, some are prone to hair-fall, while some are naturally healthy looking. Here are some tips for different hair types.

Greasy Hair - If you have greasy hair, it’s a good idea to avoid oily foods. Oily foods contribute to oily skin and scalp so less oil is better. In short, watch your diet. You can also use children’s shampoo once in a while since those are usually mild enough for greasy hair

Thin Hair - So you have thin hair that almost exposes the scalp? Don’t worry, the best tip I can give you for that is to have a haircut that would fit naturally with you head and face’s shape. You can also use thickening shampoos to have a bit of control on your hair.

Dry Hair - For dry hair, I suggest going to the salon once in a while and have them use hot-oil. Aside from that, try using moisturizing shampoos and conditioner to give it a bouncy feel. Make sure to use intensive moisturizers that don’t cause excessive rubbing or it will cause more damage to your hair.

Shoes, slippers, sandals - they are all footwear that we regularly use to keep our feet clean and unharmed. However, there are also footwear that are designed to be more than that or to be only used in a particular situation. Well, if you saw my previous post about the weird gadgets and accessories, you may have already seen the footwear designed for skating inside the office…I would consider that one of them, I think. Anyway, here are three special purpose shoes and their function.

Training Slipper - This pair of foot trainers were designed for training the foot to wear heels. They are meant to be worn when in bed to maintain the arch of the foot while sleeping. Although it’s meant for women wearing high heels, the foot trainers itself are heelless and has metal stiffeners to hold it to the leg. Don’t expect to use these for walking around, it’s impossible. Source says it is also used for bondage purposes…

Lotus Shoes - These are designed to be used by women with bound feet. Although it is no longer practiced today (it was banned, as a matter of fact), foot binding was used to limit the mobility of women in China. Bound feet were a symbol of chastity, the woman with bound feet would have irreversible dependency on her family or husband mostly because she would not be able to go far from home without an escort. Bound feet were also considered erotic. The small steps and the swaying of the hips are the possible reasons why it is so.

Japanese Geta - Not really terrible like the previous two but these can be quite heavy. These sandals are popular among Japanese and are worn to elevate the feet above the ground. They are used during rain or snow to keep the feet dry because of the added height and the material of the footwear. They are usually worn with traditional Japanese outfits like the kimono and yukata. There are two supporting wood pieces underneath that are called “teeth” and they make a distinctive clacking sound while walking.

Well, those are only 3 of those footwear with special purposes. Others would include kicking shoes, stilts, and skates. But I’m sure you already know those.

Hairstyling is part of fashion. You may have the most beautiful dress known to man, but without looking good yourself it wouldn’t help as much as you want to. Different hairstyles that would fit you depend on the shape of your face and features. Of course, like clothes everyone has their own taste and style. Some prefer their hair cut short, others like it to be as long as possible, while some don’t care at all. We can’t really avoid seeing someone with a hairstyle that…just doesn’t look quite right. Here are 5 weird hairstyles that I’ve seen so far.

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Is that a hood or a helmet? - Honestly, I’ve seen this kind of hairstyle a number of times. The hair is of medium length, just below the ears with the fringe covering both eyes. Perfect if you want to look mysterious but your vision would be slightly impaired with it.

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Is that a cloud on your head? - I’m still wondering what it’s supposed to be, honestly. It looks like an afro of some sort but…it’s a bit too wide. I wonder if birds would make its home on somebody with this hairstyle? I wouldn’t dare try it out of curiosity, seriously. Hmm, had it been made taller instead of wider, it would look like Marge Simpson’s hair.

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It’s a…torch? The Chinese, especially in television or movies, can have some of the weirdest hairstyles around. I mean, look at this one. It’s like her hair was shaped into the flames of a torch. I’m not sure how they made it stand like so, but it may be some strong hairgel, wax, hairspray, or…

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Wear your hair like a mask… Well, this is certainly a crazy but strangely amusing hairstyle. According to the website I found it from, it was the Icelandic singer, Bjork’s hairstyle in her album Medulla. You can check out the website yourself and see a lot more weird hairstyles. Those were not edited in any way.

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Queen Amidala - Natalie Portman’s hairstyles from the Star Wars movie were really weird. The one on the picture reminds me of a jester with a cap. For this one, though, the jester’s cap is the hair itself. I’m sure I’ve seen a lot of those “exotic” looking hairstyles from Chinese movies (with pics I didn’t include). Usually, hairstyles like these are formed to fit a particular ornament (or a number of ornaments).

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Okay, I was reading a men’s magazine I borrowed and came up with this idea. Take note that these are not really lies but are phrases that could mean a different thing. So guys, if you’re reading, watch out for these.

I’m breaking up with you. Hold it! It’s not really the end of the world right then and there. Sometimes, us women say this just to check if you really do love us. I admit, I said this a couple of times. I like being pursued by my boyfriend. There’s just something I want to hear him say and that line sometimes gets him to do so. Of course, it could REALLY mean we want to break up. But hey, don’t give up so easily.

You know, you’re a nice guy and all… Or, “you’re like a big/younger brother to me…” Well, a lot of us say this because of one thing: we’re not really aiming for a relationship with you but we still like to have you as a friend. We can’t really just blurt out, “No, you’re not exactly boyfriend material. I’m sorry.” Else, how do you think you would have reacted from that?

We’re actually just friends… Weeeell, another similar line would be “He’s actually gay.” But we could be saying that (especially to a suitor or rival) just so we don’t hurt anybody’s feelings. And no, I won’t let you check my messages (from him) or even hear our conversations - you’ll be a lot more confused with that.

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Bags are a part of us, women, as our clothes and shoes. When we go shopping or traveling, it’s always part of our list. Now, of course some bags are better than others in different aspects. Here are three tips when choosing a bag.

Make sure it’s durable - Of course, no matter how wonderful the bag looks, it’s nothing if it falls apart too quickly. Before purchasing, make sure to check everything down to the straps.

Style - Like I said before, bags are a part of our fashion. So of course, what bag we bring depends on how it fits with our clothing. When choosing a bag, make sure you have an attire that goes with it. If not, go get some clothes that would.

Security - Another important factor but something you can do without IF you are feeling confident. Anyway, hello? You do know that we put in important stuff in there like our cellphones and other gadgets. We can’t really afford having a bag that would allow something like rain to seep through and wreck havoc in there would you? Some more compartments would do as well to prevent thieves from easily grabbing our stuff.

So are you thinking of dressing up your pet real nicely? Or is there an occasion where you want your pet to fit? Well, here are some fashion stuff for your pet (mostly dogs and cats) you might want to consider.

Tuxedo - Have your pet wear formal clothing for occasions where it would fit nicely. Top Hat completes the look. Hopefully, your pet tries to keep it on the whole time (usually, they’ll try to remove it if they’re not used to it). Costs around $20.

Source: http://www.mypethaven.com/dog_formal_wear.htm

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Harness Dresses - Oh, so your pet is female and would also like something to wear? Well, you could try out some dresses like the one on the picture. Give your pet the attention it needs with a lovely dress. The dress costs around $34.

Source: http://www.mypethaven.com/small_dog_dresses.htm

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T-Shirts - For that casual look on your pet, give him or her a shirt. Like the above, these can be worn by cats too, although cats take a lot of time to get used to clothing like these (in my experience).

Bags, especially handbags, are as much a part of women as their clothes. We all like our bags, especially since it’s the most visible accessory in our fashion. As much as we treat bags that way, there are some designers who like them weird. Aside from these weird bags, here are some other weird bags that I found while browsing.

The Face Bag - Yoshimi Ezura certainly designs some unique leather bags and one of them is the face bag. Put it on the desk and it will just sit there smiling. Cute but a bit creepy. *shivers*

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Punching Glove Bag - Don’t ask me where these came from. I just found it at JustElite while browsing. Anyway, wear these like a regular bag when walking around or wear it as boxing gloves when your boyfriend does something to displease you and sock him. Just kidding.

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Handcuff Bag - Here’s another one that had a weird premise. What better way to protect your bag from thieves than to…wear it like a handcuff? The black leather bag is perfect when you’re wearing an all black attire. Just like in the picture.

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Doggie Bag - This one is created by artist Meryl Smith for the Honey Space Gallery in New York. She made it using leather and papier-mache. And it sells for $3000! Unfortunately, it looks weird to me so I’d rather not have this one.

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No! Shopping Bag Bra - Now this is what I would call weird. But the creators certainly have a purpose in mind. According to Triumph International Japan, it is designed to reduce plastic bag consumption. Since Japanese shoppers use around 30 billion plastic bags a year with 30% not being reused, it contributes to environmental problems. Curious about how it works? Check the pic! Source

Trees are amazing. They reduce pollution by absorbing carbon dioxide and give off oxygen in the air which we can breathe. They prevent flooding by absorbing water from the ground and holding the earth with their roots. Above all is their aesthetic value. They stand there looking beautiful - their blossoms swaying with the wind. Here are 3 of my favorite blossoming trees.

Rescue Apple-Crab - These ornamental apple trees are very beatiful and are common in Canada. Their color can vary from yellow, red or whitish. They prefer sunlight and well-drained soil.

Russian Olives - These are native to southern Europe and to western and central Asia. Their life expectancy in the US is only around 50 years so they are considered short-lived. They also rarely reach 30 feet.

Cherry Blossoms - My absolute favorite. These trees are part of Japan’s culture. In 1912, Japan gave some of these trees as a gift and have since lined the shores of Tidal Basin in Washington. The sakura, as they are also called, attract a lot of tourists and have been part of many festivals llike the Sakura Matsuri or the Annual Cherry Blossom Festival.

So I was dressing up my dog so it would look reaaal cute. Pets should look fashionable too, you know. So then, I took her out for a walk and a neighbor told me she looked absolutely wonderful. She has a pet cat that wore a beanie (with holes for the ears to go through), which it promptly removed after a few minutes of wearing it. Then it hit me, how many people actually dress their pets to look lovely? As I searched for an answer, I came across not only that, but a few funny ones as well.

• Around 21% of pet owners dress their pet nicely.
• 58% of pets are included in family and holiday portraits, while 70% of owners sign their pet’s name on greeting cards.
• The most pet dogs — being owned by almost one in three families — are located in the U.S. and France.
• In the U.S., approximately 1 million dogs have been named as the primary beneficiary in their owner’s wills.
• 79% of owners give their pets presents for birthdays and holidays.
• If you look at your dog while it’s sleeping, sometimes you’ll see its eyes move and twitch under its eyelids - meaning they also have dreams.
• Dogs can smell a thousand time better than humans and can hear noises that are cannot be heard by human ears. Cats have a sense of smell that is fourteen times stronger than a human’s.

Sources: http://www.thirteen.org/extraordinarydogs/funfacts.html
http://www.bestfriendspetcare.com/pet_facts/index.cfm

I found an interesting article a while back when I was in Richmond. It talks of how a child can be compared to a dog, and when he or she grows into a teenager - to a cat. I was able to relate to the article especially when I recalled how I was when I was still growing up. During my teen years, my world revolved around my friends so I rarely paid attention to my family and relatives (don’t we all?).

Anyway, read the essay or article and tell me your thoughts. I still haven’t found the one who wrote this - even after searching on the Internet - so if you know, kindly tell me (with proof) and I’ll edit this post to give credit to the author.

The Cat Years

I just realized that while children are dogs - loyal and affectionate - teenagers are cats. It’s so easy to be a dog owner. You feed it, train it, boss it around. It puts its head on your knees and gazes at you as if you were a Rembrandt painting. It bounds indoors with enthusiasm when you call it.

Then around age 13 your adorable little puppy turns into a big old cat. When you tell it to come inside it looks amazed, as if wondering who died and made you emperor. Instead of dogging your footsteps, it disappears. You won’t see it again until it gets hungry - then it pauses on its sprint through the kitchen to turn its nose up at whatever you’re serving.

When you reach out to ruffle its head, in that old affectionate gesture, it twists away from you, then gives you a blank stare as if trying to remember where it has seen you before.

You, not realizing that the dog is now a cat, think something must be desperately wrong with it. It seems so antisocial, so distant, sort of depressed. It won’t go on family outings.

Since you’re the one who raised it, taught it to fetch and stay and sit on command, you assume that you did something wrong. Flooded with guilt and fear, you redouble your efforts to make your pet behave. Only now you’re dealing with a cat, so everything that worked before now produces the opposite of the desired result. Call it, and it runs away. Tell it to sit, and it jumps on the counter. The more you go toward it wringing your hands, the more it moves away.

Instead of continuing to act like a dog owner, you have to learn to behave like a cat owner. Put a dish of food near the door, and let it come to you. But remember that a cat needs your help and affection too. Sit still and it will come, seeking the warm, comfortable lap it has not entirely forgotten. Be there to open the door for it.

One day, your grown up child will walk into the kitchen, give you a big kiss and say, “You’ve been on your feet all day. Let me get those dishes for you.”

Then you’ll realize your cat is a dog again.

To end things. Here’s a nice video of a cat that looks like Puss in Boots from Shrek. Cute!