GaGa Oo La La: the Hair Bow How To...

Lady Gaga Hair Bow



Start with straightened hair ...



You will need: 2x rubber bands, 1x hair clip, many many bobby pins, and a whole mess of hairspray ...



Tie hair into a ponytail where you want the bow to end up. Separate out a little piece from the front of the tail to become the centre of the bow.



Clip it forward. This is where a fringe comes in handy!

And uh ... I forgot to take any more photos. BUT!
x tie another hair tie 3 inches down the ponytail.
x split the part of the pony tail between the 2 hairties and bobby-pin the hairties together. This makes the 2 'ears' of the bow.
x split the rest of the pony tail in two, bunch up each tail & push each half inside its respective bow-ear.
x unclip the middle of the bow. Lie over the gap between the bow-ears. Pin to the hairties.
x bunch the rest of the middle of the bow up and fit inside one of the bow-ears.
x pin pin pin.
x hairspray hairspray hairspray
x proceed to be adorable.



or alternatively, just watch this video tutorial:

Day Two: Nara to Kyoto

After our first full day in Osaka, Craig and I caught the train to Nara, on our way to Kyoto.



Nara is famous for the deer which, designated as National Treasures, roam freely through the 502ha Park.
They are almost tame! almost. According to the warning signs (which are ENTIRELY in Kanji) they can shoot electricity out of their heads. Creepy deer.



I took about 7000 photos of the deer.





I didn't buy an inflatable deer. But I did buy a hat which makes it look like I'm wearing a deer on my head!





Craig outside Tōdai-ji, the largest wooden building in the world, is a temple which houses a 50 foot tall Buddha (have I mentioned that I love Giant Buddhas?) Vairocana.



Vairocana (this iteration) is a Buddha who is the embodiment of Dharmakaya, and who therefore can be seen as the universal aspect of the historical Gautama Buddha. In Sino-Japanese Buddhism, Vairocana is also seen as the embodiment of the Buddhist concept of shunyata or Emptiness.





Painting roof tiles. Auspicious.



Most of the leaves had turned by the time we arrived in Japan but some trees were still astounding.







I'm guessing it says "Caution. Angry deers can electrocute".













Then we bought special deer crackers and fed the adorable little beasts.



I found it a little terrifying though, they are quite tall. I mean, compared to me.









The platform for the train from Nara to Kyoto was lovely. Rainbow glass and special boarding points for ladies (at peak times only of course).



We caught the train to Kyoto, struggled (just a little) to find our hotel then collapsed.

Introducing ... Wilbur!

The birth of Wilbur, my dia de los muertos sugar skull tattoo.



Craig took me to Manu Tattoo in Petone & held my hand as I breathed & zen-ed through the outline. Then he took this photo where I look wiped out and you know what?
IT HURT SO MUCH MORE.



From the sacred heart on his forehead to the tudor rose on his chin & all the swirls and twirls in between? he hurt a LOT.
More than I was expecting, and I was expecting a lot because of the whole baby-skin on the underside of my arm.



On the other hand, it was good practice for my yogic breathing, mind power, disassociating tactics. I closed my eyes and breathed slowly, focussing on sweeping the pain around my body instead of leaving it inside my arm.
I squeezed Craig's hand until my fingers turned purple, and tried very hard to not twitch.



It worked! I survived & he is worth it. I love his little face.



And by the way? I have no idea why I named him Wilbur. It just seems to be his name.



Craig: huh. It almost looks blue where it's not coloured in.
Me: That's called BRUISING.

Now? he's yellow. A yellow aura of bruising.





It's love!

Week Fifty

Sunday
We finally moved all my books from Trinity to Park Place. Boxes and boxes of books.


Monday
99 by Jeffrey Campbell, back ordered then delayed then posted to the old address, finally collected. I adore them.
I bought half a size too big but that allowed for insoles & heel grips which made them delightfully comfortable.


Tuesday
New sheets, a magazine stolen (BORROWED) from my father, and bedside table. My bedroom looks like it belongs to a grown up. Very strange. Also? note the pile of books-to-read.


Wednesday
O.P.I. tries to tell me that this colour is Lime. I say it's Mint Green.


Thursday
It is REALLY DARK up the hill. Very few streetlights. So I bought a solar powered light.


Friday
Craig accompanied me to Manu Tattoo in Petone. I had Wilbur put on my arm and good LORD but it hurt.


Saturday
Ahhh my creepy phallic Santas.
Craig and I hunted out our Christmas decorations and bought a real live Christmas tree, our first one as our own little family.
I like that we still have Firsts.


&



Silvery-Grey eyeshadow.