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For several years I’ve been shaving and waxing for bikini hair removal and it hasn’t worked out that well. If I shave I get red bumps because my skin is so sensitive, and if I wax I’m cursed with ingrown hair. Waxing makes your hair thinner and weaker, so the more I did it the worse my ingrowns got, and in the end I actually started doing a combination of both. This seemed expensive and silly and I was never that pleased with the results, so after hearing good things I wanted to try laser hair removal.
I researched a few different places, got recommendations and then decided to make an appointment. I chose a reputable dermatologist and made an initial consultation. I knew that I wanted to proceed so I put some numbing cream on prior to my appointment. I used the numbing cream Emla, which I would highly recommend to anyone for waxing or hair removal. It completely numbs the skin and you feel no pain. I love it!
When I arrived at the clinic I was given a waiver to sign and an information sheet. On the information sheet it says that some people actually burn their skin from laser hair removal….eeeks! This made me a little nervous.
In terms of treatment it wasn’t that painful since I’d used the numbing cream before we started. The treatment took about 20 minutes and I was a little red, but it didn’t hurt too much. In some ways it was just like getting a wax – someone is doing things to your neither regions and you are asked to place your body in some very strange positions!
Since I’ve had my treatment I’m happy with the reduced hair growth. To make sure the treatments work you are not allowed to wax between laser treatments, but you can continue to shave, so I’ve been shaving about once a week to keep things tidy.
One thing I’m not happy with is the ingrown hairs that have developed since my first treatment. My bikini line doesn’t look excellent with my new red bumps. I’ve been using a loofah, but it doesn’t seem to be working. I’m going to call the hair removal clinic and see what they recommend for the ingrowns or what they can do about them. I expect them to help me take care of them, since they helped to create them.
I also wasn’t that happy that I received my first treatment without meeting the dermatologist. I was told on the phone that the doctor meets all patients prior to treatments, but when I went in I never met her. It seemed unprofessional to me, and I’ll definitely make sure I meet her next time I go in.
My next treatment is scheduled soon, so I’ll keep you posted on how I’m progressing. I’d really like to be hair free by the end of 2009, so it’s important that I stick to my schedule to make that goal.
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Amalfi Coast
I had huge expectations for the Amalfi Coast. I thought it was the playground of the rich and famous, a place where the elite go to relax and enjoy beautiful views and a warm culture. As it turns out I was wrong. It wasn’t so fancy (neither am I since I don’t even know where the fancy people go!), there were no Italians, and it seemed like a beautiful landscape that earned a great reputation many years ago and has held onto the reputation that is now no longer warranted.
Don’t get me wrong, the scenery is outstanding, but if you want to go out and about and discover the towns be prepared to pay a fortune for anything and be englulfed in the crowds of middle aged Brits and Americans – not the charming old Italian grandmothers and friendly locals that I was expecting.
To find something less touristy we drove into the hills one night for dinner. There were still many tourists in Ravello, but I was distracted by my delicious meal. I had the best fish I’ve ever eaten – it was grilled and came with a fresh mint, olive oil and lemon sauce on top that was heavenly. I still daydream about it.
After spending two days in Priano, Positano and Amalfi I was happy to get back on the beautiful and twisty rounds and move to our next destination.
Stay Tuned: My favourite city is next!
For more on Italian travel journals see the post on Florence, Tuscany and Rome.
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Rome
We left Tuscany very early in the morning and drove to Rome hoping to arrive prior to rush hour traffic. You’ve probably heard that the drivers in Italy are crazy, and that’s 100% correct. Luckily for me my boyfriend drives like an Italian very comfortably – he’s an expert at driving inches away from other cars at one hundred miles an hour, changing lanes like a madman, and passing people on roads that only fit one car. For most tourists driving in Italy is stressful, but for my boyfriend it was the ultimate driving test, and he passed with a gold sticker!
As we were driving into Rome I thought my boyfriend was going to explode with enthusiasm over the architecture and historical buildings. After stepping out of the car many times to see the buildings we were passing we finally arrived at our hotel, only to leave within seconds and see the sights – and they are sights to behold.
We went to the standard tourist spots like the Coliseum, the Forum, the Spanish Steps and Trevi fountains, and then we just walked around the city getting lost, taking little alleyways, and stopping for coffee and wine often.
I really wanted to go shopping in Rome and shop we did! We were all messy and sweaty from walking around all day but that didn’t stop us (even though I’m sure many shopkeepers wish it did). Shopping in Italy is a serious activity, it’s very expensive, and not something to be taken casually. Everybody dresses up and looks their very best to go to the shops and be waited on. And, there is a definite etiquette to be followed….I don’t know what it is, but I know that I don’t know it. The funny thing is, the salespeople in the luxury stores were much friendlier than at the mid price stores. We went into Prada and although we seemed like misfits (messy, dirty, looking like tourists and touching everything) they were very nice to us. But at Furla the girls were so obnoxious and rude. It made me crazy that this girl was two steps behind me re-organizing everything that I touched and huffing and puffing the whole time, like I was causing her major undue stress. Ummmmm – you work in sales right? Customer service? Oh well, I was on vacation so I wasn’t going to let that bring me down!
After two full days, and plenty of sight seeing and shopping, it was time to move on. I really enjoyed Rome – it felt like an actual Italian city and not just a tourist spot. There are locals around, going to and fro work and they tend to co-exist much better with the flocks of tourists than in Florence. I could have spent a few more days in the city, but it was time to move south.
Up Next: the beautiful Amalfi Coast
For more Italian travel journals see my posts on Florence and Tuscany
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Last month I made a big effort to use more natural products, including natural deodorant and organic moisturizers.
In the beginning it was fine, and I didn’t notice any difference from my un-organic products. Then, about two weeks later I noticed that I was a bit smelly and was sweating more than I was used to. I thought it was because I was stressed at work and my hormones (smell) were a bit different. But, three weeks in, I knew there was a problem.
Natural deodorant does not work for me. This is the second time I’ve tried to use it, and both times within three weeks of regular use I got really smelly and all my clothes had a lingering sweat scent.
So for now, I’m back to regular deodorant. No more lichen and moss deo for me!
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Recently I had a chance to reflect on life over the past year. It has been a great year for me in my personal life (just a hint, but I met someone lovely), and it’s also been a good year for me financially. I was able to get a better job and weather the economic crisis with a good chunk of savings. Here are some of the things that I did that made a difference to my bottom line.
1. I bought a condo that was affordable. Instead of being tempted to buy a larger 1bdrm apt that was over my budget I settled on my bachelor apt. Yes, it`s small, but so are my mortgage payments. Besides, I know I won`t be here forever, and I`ve been able to save a lot living in this very affordable space.
2. I switched to a cash budget. Every month I watched my money very carefully and made sure I never over-extended myself. With cash it is so much easier because you never get a surprise credit card bill in the mail.
3. I paid off my debt and saved like crazy. I needed to have a large safety savings account so that I could feel comfortable everyday, in case something bad happened. Now I know that if I lose my job I will be okay for a few months.
4. I socialized differently. I love going out to fancy restaurants and very much enjoy great wine, but I don`t need to indulge all the time. This past year I`ve had friends over for dinner more than ever, and I drink my fancy wine at home, too. If I do go out it`s for a special occasion, or I meet my friends for drinks after dinner.
5. I shopped for less expensive clothing alternatives. Instead of going for the pricey brand names I`d opt for the less expensive clothing lines. The funny thing is, people often ask me if I got my dresses at designer stores. I was at a wedding in Montreal and a girl at my table asked me if I got my dress at BCBG, but really I got it at Bedo. As long as you stick with decent quality you`ll be fine.
6. I second guessed purchases. When tempted by a purchase I`d step back and figure out if I really needed it. If the answer was maybe, or no, I just moved on.
7. I didn`t go into stores if I wasn`t looking for something specific. I avoided the temptation. If I didn`t need to go shopping I`d do something else that made me happy, like read a book in a coffee shop, or go for a walk outside. That way I didn`t feel like I was denying myself.
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The Tuscan Countryside
After two exhausting days in Florence it was so nice to escape to the countryside. By chance we made a hotel reservation to a modest looking hotel, the Borgo di Fontebussi, which turned out to be a luxury retreat. The pictures on Expedia do not do justice, and the price was amazing for what you got. As we drove up to the gated retreat I just wanted to sit inside and take a nap…until I saw the place we were staying….and then I felt like a princess who just landed in heaven. There were many different buildings, a lovely pool, two restaurants and many seating/park areas. The views from the hotel were outstanding and it was filled entirely with Europeans that wanted a little getaway. Everyone was just relaxing and having lovely slow meals, drinking wine together, sitting on the grass and enjoying life. It was bliss!
After spending our first day in the retreat it was time to check out and go to Cinque Terre, but I just couldn’t leave. My very accommodating boyfriend had no problem with losing money on our other hotel reservation and staying on one more night….he’s so lovely about these things.
Since we had an extra day we decided to peel ourselves away from the heaven retreat and visit the Chianti route. We drove around all day and visited many different towns, cafes, restaurants and vineyards. It was nice to just chit chat away driving down the country roads, getting lost and seeing amazing views at every turn. Throughout the entire day I was concocting plans in my head figuring out how I would take a six month sabbatical in Tuscany, living in a farm house, eating glorious food at every meal, and drinking the best wines I could imagine. Tuscany is a place to lose yourself in fantasy….and indeed I did. I felt so relaxed, blissful and in love with everything, and I’d go back tomorrow if I could.
Stay Tuned: The crazy city of Rome is next!
For more Italian travel journals see posts on Florence and Rome
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Recently I went on an eleven day whirlwind trip through central Italy with my boyfriend. We had tossed the idea of going to Italy around, but like so many things you chat about them, and then you get lost in daily life….until I found an amazing seat sale. I was able to book the flights from Toronto to Florence return for $577 per person ($500 US)….amazing! So with tickets in hand we constructed a brief travel plan and then adapted it as we went along.
To make my trip diary a bit more digestible I’m going to post from each city for the next few days. First, let’s start with…
Florence
We landed in Florence in the morning, and spent the entire first day walking around the inner city. I was jet lagged and running on fumes so I kept on drinking double espressos thinking it would perk me up….it didn’t work that well, but luckily I didn’t get too jittery. Florence as a city didn’t wow me, it was totally over-run with tourists (7 tourists for ever resident!!) and I didn’t really feel like I was in Italy since I couldn’t find any Italians outside of people that worked the tourist industry. We spent two days in the city, and I felt exhausted from walking all day and dodging the throbs of people.
The best place to visit was the Uffizi museum. It is a very cool building and the art is outstanding. It’s a place that you could go into every day for a week straight and still be wowed. We were able to reserve our tickets through the receptionist at the hotel, so we avoided the mile long line-up outside. Thank heavens! There’s nothing like going on vacation only to wait outside in the burning sun to see fun stuff – no thanks!
The most memorable thing about Florence was the restaurant we went to on the last night, Castello di Sabbia(they don’t have a website, but here’s a map with reviews ) . The restaurant specializes in fish and truffles and you won’t be disappointed. It’s owned by two guys, one of them a former police officer who speaks English and is very friendly. To get to the restaurant you need to take a taxi, which the owner will reimburse you for – a very nice perk indeed! The drive up is great, because you get to see where the actual Italians are, and it really sets the tone for the evening. After you’ve traveled for twenty minutes via taxi you find yourself in this beautiful cabana style building perched atop a hill with a view of the nearby area, and once you eat the food you will FALL IN LOVE. We had an antipasto appetizer, a pasta course and then a steak with truffles that was absolutely perfect. I still dream about it. We actually went back on the final night of our trip, and the host greeted us like we were returning friends. It was the perfect send off.
Stay tuned: I’ll blog about Tuscany next…and that truly was a dream…
For more Italian travel journals read posts on Tuscany and Rome
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While ladies tell their girlfriends every last detail about their dating life, men tend to keep silent. To help solve some of the mystery here are seven little dating secrets that you’ll never hear from a man.
1. Men want to find their perfect match as much as women do. Everyone wants to be in a fulfilling, supportive and loving relationship. It’s just not cool for guys to talk about it. Instead they talk about humping girls and sports.
2. A challenge is a great thing. Think low maintenance is sexy? To a certain degree it is, but if you say yes to everything and don’t challenge your man on some things that’s boring. Really boring.
3. Girls with limits are sexy. Don’t let your man get away with bad behaviour. Secretly, guys love it when you let them know you expect to be treated like a princess sometimes and you will accept no less. They will push your boundaries, and test out if you will stay strong on these, so make sure you are strong and believe in what you’re asking for. Don’t go overboard though. For some girls it’s as simple as their man opening the car door for them on date night, for others it’s getting him to make reservations at your favourite restaurant instead of you doing it…..whatever it is make sure it’s important to you, otherwise it’s just silly.
4. Men love to be loved, admired and appreciated. Every man wants a woman that lets him knows he’s great, and says thank you for the little things, and provides support and encouragement. As much as we love it when our friends tell us we look cute and sexy and that we really helped them out by driving them to the mall men love it too. If your guy does a sweet thing make sure you tell him. It makes him feel great and makes him want to do more sweet things for you.
5. Men love to feel powerful. They like to feel that they know what they are doing and that you are confident in them. One of the main killers of this great feeling is when women nag. It’s just annoying. Sometimes if your man takes a longer route to a party and you know a better way, just be quiet. If he’s stressed and work is bothering him, let him know that you think it’s great how dedicated he is and how you know he’ll come up with a great solution. It’ll make him feel great, even if he never tells you.
6. Sex is a great reward. It’s just that simple. If you want your man to feel great and powerful and like a man you should be having lots of sex. And not mercy sex either. Do what you have to and get yourself in a mental space where you love the lovemaking. Read some sexy novels, buy some new lingerie, talk dirty….whatever it is get yourself ready for sexy times and then get at it!
7. There are lots of things men love and they’ll never admit it. See numbers 1 – 6 for more details.
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I was recently watching a morning tv program and the presenters looked into local women’s makeup bags.
I would be soooooo mortified if someone were to look into my makeup case – I’m sure I’d go to cosmetic jail for make up murder and crimes against aesthetics. Almost everything is past the due date, my eye liners are all hard, and my lipsticks are so worn out that I have to dig to get the colour out of the lipstick tubes.
It seems like someone is due for a shopping trip, which seems to fit in perfectly with my shopping plans for the afternoon!
Photo credit: Ben Nye Lipstick
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Earlier in the summer I felt like I wasn’t having a summer. The weather didn’t help, but mostly it was because I spent most of my time in my office, with air conditioning and cubicle dividers, and nothing summery!
Not one to rest on my laurels, I decided to seek outdoor activities that would be fun, and somehow convinced my friend to join me. I found an outdoor exercise class in this lovely local park in the evenings – it was just what I was looking for.
It’s been a few weeks since we’ve started and I can see some changes in my physique, but that’s only part of the fun.
There is the ride to class and all the chit chat along the way with my friend, the lovely clean smelling outdoor air, the joy of releasing work tension while doing push ups outside…and of course the laughs we give all the passer-byers who stop and watch twenty girls in tight outfits doing lunges and squats in a park. Sometimes they look confused, sometimes they smirk, and sometimes they stop, sit down and open a can of beer. Who said you need a tv for this kind of fun?
