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SWEET SUMMERTIME BRIDESMAID HAIR

The Roaring Twenties are in full swing, so get ready to dust off your formalwear and prepare to dance the night away at all those postponed weddings that are finally happening.

For all you bridesmaids out there (we know, it’s never as fun as promised), who love an updo, here’s a breakdown of four different ways to style the front of your updo to bring the heat and glamour all night long.

First look: Center part with loose pieces framing the face

Step 1: Begin at the top of the ear and spray Kenra Hot Spray 20 and create loose curls going away from the face with the flat iron.
Step 2 : As you work your way up, begin to backcomb and spray Kenra Volume Spray 25 to lock it in place.
Step 3: Once you’ve completed the curls on both sides, run your fingers through to soften the hair. Then softly begin to twist and pin back the curls organically towards the center back.
Step 4 : After your pieces are in place, go through with the Kenra Volume Spray 25 and lift the roots with your fingers for a natural look.

Second look: Side part without any pieces out

Step 1: Start at the top crown and begin to backcomb the roots, and spray them with Kenra Volume Spray 25. Then, work your way down, curling pieces away from the face with a flat iron. If you’re not comfortable using a flat iron, you can use a 1″– 1.25″ curling iron.
Step 2: Once you have all the pieces curled, pin the hair back, row by row, detailing and placing hair as you go. By working this way, you will create a dimensional look. As you work up, be sure to direct the hair back instead of down. Repeat steps 1 and 2 on the opposite side.

Third look: Swept back hairstyle

Step 1: Start by sectioning the front mohawk and clipping it aside. Then begin on one side and spray the hair with the Kenra Hot Spray 20 from roots to ends.
Step 2: Curl hair away from the face and up with a one-inch curling wand. Work the hair back with your fingers, spray with the Kenra Medium Spray 13, and pin the sides of the hair in the back. Repeat process on the other side.
Step 3: For the mohawk section, spray the hair with the Hot Spray 20. Then saturate the hair before using a smaller iron to create a tighter curl pattern. Work the curls back with the Medium Spray 13 and secure with bobby pins. Pay special attention to the very front sections and take your time detailing to ensure everything is cohesive and in the right place.

Fourth look: Classic side part with loose face-framing pieces

Step 1: Backcomb the side sections, spray with Kenra Hot Spray 20 and curl with the flat iron away from the face.
Step 2: Comb the flyaways into place. Pull the side curls back, and bobby pin them in place.
Step 3: Take the very front piece and tuck it behind a part of the hair above the ear. Repeat on the other side.

From: https://www.kenraprofessional.com/blog/summertime-bridesmaid-hair

By: KENRA PROFESSIONAL

Make the Most of Colorado’s Mud Season

April 18, 2021
community, hiking, massage stress relief, nature hike, Self Care, shop local, skiing, snowboarding, Summit County

“Make the Most of Colorado’s Mud Season”- Shoulder season means bigger deals and smaller crowds.

In the Colorado high country, mountain folk have an expression for that slowed-down stretch of time after ski season and before the busy summer hike-bike-festivals season rolls in.

Aptly named “mud season” refers to late April through May when spring’s sun melts winter’s snowpack, rivers swell and trails transition from frozen to sloppy to dry.

Here are our top tips for making the most of Colorado’s shoulder season in the mountains.

Focus on the quiet

Take a deep breath of glorious mountain air and revel in the lack of crowds. The beauty of the spring off-season lies in wide-open sidewalks, rested and smiling locals and fewer cars on I-70. Daytime temps can climb into the 50s, making for a nice stroll down mountain town Main Streets.

Mid-May is also a great time to go whitewater rafting in Colorado. The river flows are picking up speed and rafting outfitters are excited to get their boats back in the water.

Spring is when Colorado’s rainbow and cutthroat trout start to spawn, making for optimal fly-fishing conditions. Other do-it-while-it’s-quiet ideas include mountain brewery tours, historic walking tours and hot springs soaking (we recommend Iron Mountain Hot Springs or Trimble Spa & Natural Hot Springs). Be sure to explore Colorado’s four national parks before the summer crowds arrive.

Eat cheap

Many mountain town restaurants that remain open in May offer diners 2-for-1 deals. Buy one steak dinner and get the second one free. It’s the perfect excuse to book a date night and try that fine dining spot you wouldn’t normally splurge on.

Some restaurants throw locals appreciation parties and serve up steeply discounted or free apps and drinks, while others host end-of-season keg draining bashes to sell off winter’s brews before they usher in summer seasonals.

Disclaimer: A handful of mountain restaurants close entirely for mud season. Call before you go.

Stay for less

Reduced rate lodging is another prime shoulder season perk. Hotel, condo and resort discounts can often range from 30 to 50 percent off. Call ahead, check online and follow your favorite mountain properties on social media—they’ll throw out offers to loyal fans.

Score gear deals

Spring is a fantastic time to spruce up your outdoor gear collection. Ski and apparel shops are slashing prices, pushing out last season’s gear before the new biking, hiking and running garb comes in. If you’re in the market for a new snowboard, boots or skis, May is the time to wrangle a deal.

For those who get bored and miss the buzz of tourism and trail traffic, don’t worry, it will be back right around Memorial Day. Hang on tight and get your fill of rafting, mountain biking, camping and hiking—summer in the mountains flies as quickly as the wildflowers bloom and the rivers flow and ebb.

By Lisa Blake

“Make the Most of Colorado’s Mud Season”
From: https://www.coloradoinfo.com/blog/colorado-mud-season

Ways You Can Help Local Businesses Right Now

December 12, 2020
community, shop local, Uncategorized

Small businesses need our help now more than ever. Here are 10 creative ways to lend your support without risking your health.

Ways You Can Help Local Businesses Right Now. Social distancing is the right thing to do right now, full stop. But the worry is that if everyone stays home, we won’t just shut down Covid-19, we’ll shut down small businesses as well. Most local businesses have already lost massive amounts of revenue as people self-quarantine, and some states are starting to mandate the closure of bars and restaurants. With potentially weeks’ worth of lost income, the local businesses that are so integral to the fabric and character of our communities may not have the margin to survive.

So maybe quit panic-buying toilet paper and start panic-buying stuff from the local stores, restaurants, and service providers you care about. Here’s how to support the small businesses that need your help right now — without risking your health.

1. Buy a gift card.
Businesses need cash flow right now, and the easiest way to help them out is to buy some gift cards to use down the road. Lots of shops are offering gift card bonuses right now, so treat yourself. Even better, treat someone else. Email a gift card that lets your nurse friend order some after-work tacos. Donate an art store gift card to your local school. Or stock up on cards from coffee shops, nail salons, yoga studios, and bookstores to hand out as gifts down the road. It may be hard to believe, but Mother’s Day, birthdays, and teacher appreciation week are still going to happen this year. Get your gift-shopping done now when it can make a huge impact on a struggling local business.

2. Get delivery.
Hanging out in your favorite diner is not a good look at the moment. Luckily, most restaurants and shops have stepped up options like delivery or curbside pickup so you can minimize contact with humans. If you can afford it, commit to ordering in a few meals this week.

3. Shop local online.
Lots of local shops keep at least some inventory available to order online. That boutique bag you’ve been eyeing? The great piece of local art? Now’s the time to treat yourself. This is a perfect time to support indie bookstores, too. Many of them have closed to the public but are offering free shipping, curbside pickup, and local deliveries. And trust us: you don’t want to quarantine without a stack of good books. (Prefer audiobooks? Get your favorites through libro.fm, an audiobook company that partners exclusively with indie bookstores.)

4. Tip like a boss.
It’s a crappy time to be a waiter, delivery driver, or barista, because not only are they likely working fewer hours, they’re getting fewer tips from their nonexistent customers. (Plus: Sick leave? What sick leave?) If you can afford it, make someone’s day with a massive tip.

5. Keep paying the people who work for you.
If you’re taking self-quarantine seriously, you’ve canceled the piano lessons and sent the housekeeper and the tutors away. But that doesn’t mean you should stop paying them. Venmo is no-contact and germ-free. Maybe throw one of those gift certificates their way while you’re at it.

6. Skip the refund.
If you missed a local show that you had tickets for, consider writing it off as a donation instead of asking for your money back. Now’s also a great time to sign up for that membership to your local nonprofit arts association or subscribe to the summer theater series.

7. Schedule a service for later.
Coronavirus has created the ultimate cancel culture, but all those missed reservations and skipped services are stressing out local workers. If you can, schedule works with a cleaner, a painter, a plumber, a contractor, or a salon. Simply knowing that work is coming their way can alleviate some anxiety and make a big difference in helping them weather this difficult time.

8. Provide a signal boost.
Give a shout-out to your favorite local businesses by leaving them a stellar review on Yelp, Google, or Facebook — that thing you always meant to do but never had time for. (Thanks, coronavirus!) While you’re at it, follow all your favorite businesses and artists online and share their social media posts. They might have their own ideas for how you can support them. (Indie musician Roxi Copland suggests buying merch online.)

9. Reach out to government leaders to ask for help.
In one of the cities hardest hit so far by the coronavirus, Downtown Seattle Association president Jon Scholes has said, “We need to move quickly at the local, state, and federal level to provide economic relief to the small business and workers who are out of jobs.” To get serious about boosting local businesses through this mess, email your legislator and ask them to help small businesses.

10. Say thanks.
All of us are mega-stressed right now, but local business owners worried about their livelihood have a special level of anxiety. Send a thank-you note or an email to let them know that you see them and you’re thinking of them. A little compassion and connection right now go a long way.

“Ways You Can Help Local Businesses Right Now”

From: https://livability.com/topics/love-where-you-live/10-ways-you-can-help-local-businesses-right-now

By: Melody Warnick is a freelance writer and the author of This Is Where You Belong: The Art and Science of Loving the Place You Live