This is the beginning of a very exciting month for me. In just a couple of weeks I will be back in London, preparing to leave my old school life behind and start university. When I was going to Australia I was mainly scared, but now that I am going to a familiar place with lots of family around I am more excited than scared. I hope that I have made the right decison and chosen the right university and the right course (okay... since WHEN have I wanted to do International Relations and French? It's so hard to choose a course when you have so many interests!)

Also, this summer I have been eating very badly and have put on 2 more kgs. I put on 2 kgs in April on Spring Break so I am currently 4 kgs over the weight that I like to be - 50 kgs. I don't currently LOOK overweight at all, and it only just slightly shows , but I want to take care of it before it gets to a point where I can't handle it. I am changing my diet back to what it used to be - healthy food at all times, junk food only once a week, fewer carbs at dinner, and lots of fruit and vegetables. Instead of having chips for snacks I'll have fruit, bean sprouts, honey on brown toast, oat muffins, or other healthier options instead. And in addition to my morning yoga session, I am adding a sweaty disgusting workout in the afternoon, but ONLY until I lose the 4 kgs. Boy how I hate doing sweaty workouts (haha). It's only very few exercises - squats, treadmill, stationary bike, abs, and steps - but it's a lot for me because I am used to doing gentle yoga.

Love,
~*Leia*~


Pic from July 9, 2006

2bMiii
Current length: 42" on August 27, 2006

Growing since January 2003; found TLHL at the end of June 2003 and was at 25". I am 5'4.5".

Leia's Journal

Last Updated: August 27, 2006

It's funny that my hair is 42" this month, because it was also the same length this January. I guess I have been trimming a lot. But I do see a difference. Look at the comparison pictures between that 42" and the current 42".





It looks a bit shorter in the second pic, but much healthier I think, with a much neater hemline as well. I'm very happy with my current length. Maybe 42" is a good length for me to maintain .

Love,
~*Leia*~


Pic from July 9, 2006

2bMiii
Current length: 42" on August 27, 2006

Growing since January 2003; found TLHL at the end of June 2003 and was at 25". I am 5'4.5".

Leia's Journal

Last Updated: August 27, 2006

I was a bit down earlier, but now I am feeling much better - I am listening to a Dave Brubeck CD my cousin gave me for my birthday (he plays jazz piano - this particular cousin is trying to get me to play more jazz ) and I just realized that my hair turned out great from my treatment last night.

Actually, it was a very normal treatment, it's just that I haven't done one for a while and my hair really needed it. I massaged my scalp with Everyday Mehndi Lavender Hair Growth Oil and I put bhringraj oil on my length. I let it sit for a couple of hours with my hair in a bun while I sat with my mum, worked on my current cross stitch project, and watched tv. Then I went and mixed up my 5-herb pack: a tablespoon each of sandalwood (my new batch smells sooooo sweet and wonderful), shikakai, amla, aritha, and bhringraj powders. I applied this on my length, bunned, put on a shower cap, lay a small towel by my pillow, and slept. Oh, I forgot to mention that some of the Lush Fever massage bar melted in my hands and I put that on my ends.

***Side note: while I was in London last month I bought their honey and white chocolate massage bar, I will have to look up the name, but it smells DIVINE!***

Yes, as I was saying, before I applied the herbs, I put some of the melted massage bar on my ends. Usually it is overly conditioning for me and I used quite a lot (about a tablespoon) but the herbs really helped get most of it out. Anyway, this morning, I readjusted my bun to a comfier position and did my morning workout (10 minutes of yoga and 20 minutes on the treadmill). Then I rinsed out most of the herbs upside down with the handheld showerhead before getting into the shower and shampooing right-side up. I think I used my Pure Roots Shikakai Shampoo. I used it mostly on the scalp, but also put some on the ends to make sure there would be very little residue of the massage bar.

I had to go out today to some curtain shops - Mum and I were buying some for my brother's room in London (they're less than half the price here!) - and it was a REALLY hot day, so I ended up putting my hair up. Just now I took it down and it was completely dry, and I combed it out. Usually I know how my hair has turned out from a wash when I comb it out. Well, it is soft, smells amaaaaazing from the herbs, and the ends are REALLY soft and only slightly overconditioned from the Fever. All in all, a good hair day.

I thought I'd write down a bit of non-related stuff - my current projects.
- The cross stitch I mentioned earlier: it's a bunch of flowers in a vase (I will try to remember to post a pic when it's done) and I am on the 7th out of 8 sections. Not long to go before I finish it!
- My second puzzle since coming back to Dhaka. The first one was a murder mystery that we finished in less than a week, and now we are working on a 3D one of Venice that will take considerably longer because it's 1580 pieces! You can see it here: http://wrebbit.com/puzz3d/index.htm
- I'm reading Lord of the Flies (it was on my should-have-read-when-I-was-younger-but-never-got-around-to-it list. Also on that was _Gulliver's Travel's_ which I finished a couple of weeks ago.) I also read _The 5 People You Meet in Heaven_ by Mitch Albom, which was a very sweet book.
- Exercise: I am currently 2-4 kgs heavier than I should be, due to lots of junk food consumed in London and Sydney. Mermayd mentioned that all exercise done after 20 minutes is pure fat-burning, so I am going to try and increase my treadmill time to 30 minutes, starting tomorrow. I have been doing 10 minutes of yoga, 20 minutes on the treadmill, 12x4 squats, 15x4 crunches, and sometimes 15 minutes on the stationary bike (but not all at once. Usually everything in the morning and the bike in the afternoon).
- Diet: Trying to stay off the junk food and eat healthily.

So that's what is keeping me busy till I leave for London on the 14th. I don't have time to look over this long post, so forgive me for any typos!

Love,
~*Leia*~


Pic from July 9, 2006

2bMiii
Current length: 42" on August 27, 2006

Growing since January 2003; found TLHL at the end of June 2003 and was at 25". I am 5'4.5".

Leia's Journal

Last Updated: September 3, 2006

Ah, how I love the lazy days of summer. It just occured to me, while I was thinking about my health/exercise/diet etc. during school that I may have wanted to be healthy, but just never had time. And when I DID have time, like during winter or spring holidays, I was so physically exhausted from all that was going on at school that I just needed a break. You know, I've talked to many other kids my age and have found out that most youths didn't have as strenuous a school life as I did. I guess it really depends on so many things, and my family and I decided what we wanted and got it. My parents wanted me to go to the best school, and along with that came many academic responisibilities. But it was I who wanted to join many clubs, do community service, teach piano, go to my own music lessons, perform in concerts, etc. So I really can't "blame" anyone but myself for always being on the go and not really having much time to think about other issues, such as health. And anyway, I don't think I need to even blame myself. I had a really wonderful school experience and I am SO fortunate to have been able to do what I did. I look around me and see so many children who can't afford to go to school, not because it isn't free, but because they have to work from young ages to help support their families. I really was (and am) extremely lucky.

Wow, I really did digress from where I wanted to go with this post. I wanted to talk about how I am being able to exercise daily and really enjoying it! And how I am indulging in feminine routines, like scrubbing my feet and and my face and enjoying clean hair twice a week (rather than saving it all for Saturdays and making that my beauty day; even then, I hardly had time to do all that I wanted to). I am taking care of my diet and the pounds are just shedding off. I am making time for myself in so many ways, and doing things I enjoy, and I just feel so pretty and happy.

And in a week from tomorrow I will be heading off (again!) to start my new adventure. I have already started making arrangements, like finding some music teachers, looking at all the opportunities to join clubs, and trying to enrol in my classes online. I guess I should go and pack some of my warmer clothes. I am oh-so-worried about the cooler weather. I don't think I was built for the cold!

Love,
~*Leia*~


Pic from July 9, 2006

2bMiii
Current length: 42" on August 27, 2006

Growing since January 2003; found TLHL at the end of June 2003 and was at 25". I am 5'4.5".

Leia's Journal

Last Updated: September 3, 2006

Well, here I am in London! It's been a very exciting week for me. We are getting the floors redone in our flat, so that has been an adventure as well, plus I did all the orientation stuff at the university, started meeting people, etc. It looks like this is going to be a very interesting year. My workload is quite light - I only have to be at the university for 10 hours a week, which is spread over 3 days. I've also got my voice teacher all sorted out (she said I'm talented and have potential! Yay!) and am still working on getting a piano teacher.

My mum is leaving on Tuesday and I have NO idea what I am going to do without her. Luckily, I am here with my brother, so I am not completely alone, though our hours and interests are quite different. It's going to be a bit of a battle adjusting to living with him (we've been apart for 4 years while he was at university) and though I love him lots, it's hard to live with someone who has absolutely no experience or interest in housework!

My hair has been doing quite well. It's in need of a bit of a trim, which I will do on the 26th (I think that's the MM day...) I am still doing my twice weekly washes and my hair has IMMENSELY cut down on the greasies. Tonight is wash night and I still haven't decided what to leave in... maybe I won't leave anything in and will just wash it with shampoo in the morning. Recently I haven't been using conditioner at ALL; I don't even have any with me at the moment. I just don't like it. It makes my hair feel unnatural and greases it up, rather than nourishing it like shea butter and oils do. Hmm... I could oil it tonight... I haven't done that in a long time.

We are taking it easy this weekend, resting up well (I woke up, brushed my teeth, and am back in bed on the computer, lol!) to make sure we are fresh for classes on Monday. Wish me luck, everyone!

Love,
~*Leia*~


Pic from July 9, 2006

2bMiii
Current length: 42" on August 27, 2006

Growing since January 2003; found TLHL at the end of June 2003 and was at 25". I am 5'4.5".

Leia's Journal

Last Updated: September 23, 2006