Pros & Cons: Glasses & Contacts

Hello! Oh my gosh, my second post in a week! IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD. Anyways, right now I am watching "Say Yes to the Dress" on TLC waiting for the season premier of "My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding"...I have a problem. I love TLC. I can't help myself. Especially on Friday...I mean Bride Day. I can dream about my own wedding can't I? Moving on! So today, I want to talk about the pros and cons about wearing glasses and contacts. As you all know, I prefer glasses simply because I know I am not the type to keep up with contacts. But there are tons of people who do not like the way they look with glasses on. So, which would you prefer?

So I guess we should start off with glasses! I have been wearing glasses since 5th grade. I remember constantly squinting to see the blackboard and trying to get closer seats to the TV and what not. Ever since 5th grade, my eye sight has weakened significantly. I have thought about lasik eye surgery, but that seems out of the question for a while, haha. Anyways. Let us visit the pros of wearing glasses!

PROS TO WEARING GLASSES:
1. You do not have to clean your glasses on a daily basis.
2. They slip on and off, so there is no wrestling to put them on.
3. They have a certain look that some people like.
4. Low maintainence. Point blank.

CONS TO WEARING GLASSES:
1. They can hurt your nose and your ears.
2. If there is high humidity, your glasses will fog up.
3. They may fall off or slide off easily. (However, if fitted correctly, they shouldn't do this often.)
4. When driving or walking, your peripheral vision is blocked or distorted.
5. They are not ideal for sports...or swimming.
6. Your vision will more than likely be distorted.

PROS TO WEARING CONTACTS:
1. It is great if you want a more natural appearance.
2. They come in more than one color if you would like to temporarily change your eye color.
3. They won't fall out too easily.
4. They won't fog and water will not block or smudge your vision.

CONS TO WEARING CONTACTS:
1. It requires learning and practice just to put them on.
2. Very high maintainence & can be costly.
3. They can get irritated easily especially in a smoky environment.
4. Since they are not as big and bulky as glasses, they can be difficult to find if lost or dropped.
5. Most contacts you CANNOT sleep in.
5. Great for sports.
6. It creates a more natural vision without distortion.

In a sense, it's all a matter of preference. If you know you would not be able to keep up with the up keep of contacts, then glasses maybe your best option. If you'd like a more natural look and are willing to put effort into it, contacts are for you. For me, I don't know how I look without glasses. It's been a 9 to 10 years. But, I know I am way too lazy and low maintainence for contacts. I've made glasses work though. I even have a pair of perscription sunglasses (transition lenses don't work in the car...so be prepared to fork up $300 for a pair of perscription sunglasses that are walmart brand).
Well, I hope this has been helpful for you all! I know it has for me when I had to make my decision and even remake it. Anyways, I hope you all have an amazing weekend! I think it's going to rain all weekend here...ugh. Allergies AHOY. Take care and stay blessed!
Thanks for reading~! <3
With love,
Taylor Rae

Yet another birthday picture...:)

How to Maintain Red Hair

Oh my gosh! I have neglected this blog for too long. My apologies!! March has been beyond a busy month. The final payment for mine and Anthony's trip to Israel was this month, so fundraising was in order and trying to come up with the money some how was necessary. With that said...WE ARE GOING TO ISRAEL!!!! It's official. Bam. But also, yesterday was my birthday. I turned the awkward ol' 19. We didn't do a big party or anything, me and Anthony went shopping for Israel and then met up with my parents at a Japanese restaurant that I love for my birthday dinner. We didn't even do a cake, but then again I've never been a fan of cake although I do bake a mean batch of cupcakes! Anyways...moving on. So, today I decided to dye my hair a dark brown/red color. I wanted to do something different and dark since I went a bit lighter the last time I dyed my hair. And quite honestly, I have no idea how to maintain red hair...and quite frankly, I'm scared. I know I added more brown to it just so it would take less maintainence...but still. So, I did some research and here are some tips on how to maintain red hair.

I am still working with my bangs!

I don't think you can really see the red in this picture seeing as how it's taken in my poorly lit room but it gives you an idea. So let's get started!

Maybe that should've said "Dyed Red Hair"...too late.

So like I've said, I'm kind of a noob when it comes to maintaining red hair. I've always stuck with very neutral colors that requires little to no maintainence. But, I guess this will help me appreciate my hair and take incredible care of it. Moving on...

Tip #1: Cold Water - After watching many videos and reading many articles...ALL I SAW WAS COLD WATER. When you wash your hair in warm water, it opens up the pores and the color can wash out even faster. Red hair tends to fade incredibly fast, so in order to slow this down especially in the shower...go ahead and turn that dial on cold. Cold water helps close porous hair which will help the color stay in and last a tad bit longer.

Tip #2: Dry Shampoo - Whenever you wash your hair, you are washing some of the color out regardless. With red hair, you have to be extremely careful because red fades faster than most hair colors. Try to limit how much you actually wash your hair to every other day or even less than that. And for days where you skip a wash, go ahead and use dry shampoo. This will make your hair look like you've showered and what not, but you're not risking the color.

Tip #3: Moisturize - Anytime you dye your hair, you're already damaging it and stripping it of moisture and all them goodies. So you may want to use moisturing shampoo or conditioner or even just a mask. I prefer to use a mask of course, but the choice is all yours. It's always good to keep your hair healthy and moisturized because it'll give it a beautiful shine!

Tip #4: Limit the Sun - As with most colors, the UV rays from the sun will fade your hair. Red just so happens to fade incredibly easier. Of course. Try to stay away from the sun as much as possible. This is gonna be difficult for me since the trip to Israel is coming up. BUT, there is a way to protect it if you like to go outside...it's called a hat. I just bought one. I'm sure you can too.

Tip #5: Minimize Heat - Using heated tools such as a blow dryer, curling iron, or a straightener will strip your hair of necessary moisture that your hair needs strictly because it is dyed. If you need to use a heated tool, be sure to use a heat protectant spray (I need to buy one...) and if you blow dry, try to stop before your is actually dry so that you can preserve some moisture.

Those are the most common tips out there! If you have any that you'd like to share, please comment! I love to hear reviews and ideas and tips from others. Especially on subjects I have no clue about. I'm so glad to finally post again! Thanks to everyone who wished me a Happy Birthday and I hope you all have a wonderful and blessed week. Take care everyone!

Thanks for reading~! <3

With love,

Taylor Rae

A photo from my Birthday...