Product Review: Anjolie Ayurveda Lavender Hair Elixir

I don’t think I’ve mentioned hair yet on this blog. My own hair has been a challenge for most of my adult life. It’s fairly thick, but it grows in a strange mix of curly and wavy textures. I don’t color or straighten it, so it’s as natural as it can be, but it’s still prone to dryness.

I’m completely devoted to my stylist, who prevents any potential hair-chaos with long layers and careful shaping. Without him, I’d be a mess. On my own, I use gentle shampoo and conditioner and I blow-dry with a diffuser after applying a curly-hair styling cream. Sometimes, especially in cold, dry winter weather or humid summer weather, my hair still needs a little extra something. The challenge is adding moisture without weighing down my style. Continue reading “Product Review: Anjolie Ayurveda Lavender Hair Elixir”

Photo Album: By The Sea, Part 2

During our recent weekend “down the Shore,” my husband and I stayed at a bed-and-breakfast in Ocean Grove, but we also spent time in adjacent Asbury Park. Asbury Park is by far the better known of the two towns, famous for its boardwalk amusements and its longtime association with Bruce Springsteen. Like Ocean Grove, it has also made something of a comeback in the past quarter-century. Continue reading “Photo Album: By The Sea, Part 2”

Photo Album: By The Sea, Part 1

Although I grew up in central New Jersey, I can count the times I’ve been “down the Shore” on my fingers. For one thing, I was (and still am) usually more interested in spending time in New York. Furthermore, I don’t like heat or sun or rowdy crowds, so a trip to my home state’s beaches in the heat of summer has never held much charm for me.

But I learned a few years ago that I really do enjoy beaches in my own way: off season, when the weather is mild and attendance is sparse. My husband and I just spent a weekend in Ocean Grove and Asbury Park. It was my first visit to the area in many years, so I took a few pictures. Continue reading “Photo Album: By The Sea, Part 1”