All posts by hannahviolin

I am a violinist. I also enjoy running, working out, reading, and hanging with my friends and cat.
Product Reviews

Nunaat Brazilian Keratin products

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I was recently sent some products to review for my hair.  The Nu naat Brazilian Keratin line of products, which includes shampoo, various conditioners, and a shine serum,was looking for people with damaged hair to try the products.  My hair is dyed and I blow dry it nearly daily, and I’m always desperate for it to shine and be smoother so I was happy to test it out!

Product description (from the company)

Everyday Moisture that Reduces Volume & Frizz

NAAT Brazilian Keratin collection restores and intensifies your hair’s nutritional balance, leaving it incredibly smooth, strong and flexible. Unlike typical animal-based keratins, our exclusive Green Keratin formula stays in your hair longer and is more resistant to rinsing. Promotes vibrancy and hydration, giving hair a natural, healthy shine. Products include: Shampoo, Conditioner, Hair Mask, Leave-In, and Serum.

 

I felt like the product didn’t do a whole lot for me, but maybe I didn’t need it that much.  It’s possible I’m overly critical of my hair to begin with.  Nonetheless, I loved the leave in hair mask and how soft my hair felt afterwards.  And I’ll keep using the products until they are gone!  (I’m never one to really rave, am I? But I did like this stuff.)

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I think that my hair looks GOOD and that’s what matters, right?

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Random thoughts

Is it Tuesday already?

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You know you’re in a weird place when people ask how your weekend was and you stop and think, when WAS the weekend?

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My view from the pit—Gina Galati and Steve Jarvi welcoming the audience.

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I spent a lot of time in the pit for Winter Opera St Louis‘s production of Tosca.  I thought it went really well.  That’s the end of the season—nothing until the late fall.  The company has been doing one fall production and two winter productions for a couple of years now. 

I also played a couple of weddings.  It’s not really wedding season yet, but the post holiday lull is definitely over and things are kicking back into gear.

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I took some pictures of my cat.

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And I got my hair cut today.  I went on a little bit of a self portrait kick, because I realized I’d been feeling bad about my appearance for the past month or so and hadn’t really taken many photos (for me), and I like my new haircut!  I also don’t think I look nearly as fat as I feel…spring is here though, and I’m back into running and working out regularly so I know I’ll be back to “myself’ (aka lose the five pounds or so I gained stress eating my way through February and then into March).

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Serious Hannah.

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Instagram filter!

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Out on the back porch.

The middle picture was pre eyebrow shaping, which frizzed out my hair a little, but I still like it.  The receptionist was laughing at me, but I told her I was taking pictures to send to my husband (I did do this of course!) and no, I didn’t need her to take one of me. 

I’ve been taking time off practicing.  My shoulder is definitely better because of it.  (Better.  Not perfect.)

Did you read my previous post about the Dirty Girl Run in September?  I know it seems a long way away but that time will fly!  Come out and run/walk/get muddy with me.

Running

Dirty Girl Mud Run

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I’ve never been an outdoor sort of person.  I don’t like dirt, or mud, or sweat, or tears, or any of that…but ever since reading Rose’s blog post awhile back about Mud Run tricks and tips, I’ve had it in the back of my head.

I’d read people’s blogs about mud run and think, hey, maybe that would be kinda cool.  After all, I do occasionally enjoy pushing myself past my comfort level.  But there weren’t that many options nearby and the dates didn’t work out when there was a race.  Until now!

I was offered the chance to run the Dirty Girl Mud Run in St Louis on September 7 and I hope you will think about it too.  You can use the code DGSTLBLOGGUEST to get 20 percent off your registration! 

The run is billed as a 5k women’s only run for all ages and abilities.  You’re encouraged to form teams and help each other finish and have fun.  Now, that doesn’t really sound like me, I know (I am a violinist, not really the epitome of a team player) but again, pushing myself outside of my comfort zone, maybe I can work in a team!  And brown looks good on me, right?

Another good thing about the race is that they give money to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.  I’d rather it be a more generic cancer charity like the American Cancer Society (breast cancer gets so much more money than other kinds!) but I still think that’s pretty cool.  Cooler YET is that you can register for free if you are a cancer survivor.  I’m signed

Okay, who wants to come mud run with me?  Does it sound fun to you? (I’m bummed that it’s women’s only, honestly, because I’d love to make Chris come and get him all covered in mud…but I digress…) I’m signed up for the 9 am wave…so come join me!!

Deep Thoughts

I love spam comments

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Every once in awhile I go through my spam comments folder and make sure nothing got mislabeled.  Some of the comments are pretty awesome though—if you are a blogger reading this, you probably already know what I mean.  But here are my two favorite from today.

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So nice and complimentary, right?

And then this one…

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NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Hope

The opposite of nostalgia

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As you all know, I’ve been doing a lot of playing (violin) lately.  Wednesday night before the opera started I realized that there was something wrong with my right shoulder…kind of the same wrong that there was approximately a year ago.  By Thursday morning I knew it was the same thing, so unlike last year, when I ignored it for awhile until it got REALLY bad, I decided to go ahead and start with the rest and ice.  Of course, I’ve got to finish this opera and today I have a lot of weddings, but other than that (ha!) I’m not making the exact same mistakes. 

I still haven’t gone to the doctor.  I know some people will recommend that, but I have the exact same hesitations as before.  You know, stubborn and convinced I know what is best for me, plus cheap, and presuming aside from surgery there is nothing that can really be done beyond rest and ice.  And as Mike put in, as much ibuprofen as I can stomach.  (He qualified that statement by saying, I’m not a doctor so don’t necessarily take my advice.)

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But I’m not letting it get me down. I’ve been down enough since mid-to-late-February, and a little forced respite isn’t going to bother me. There’s some other big news that’s happening (I am going to be one of those annoying bloggers who hints at things they can’t say, but I can’t say right now, not for a month) that will mean some changes (job-wise, no, I’m not pregnant, because I re-read and saw that if you were obsessed with whether or not I were having a baby you would assume I meant that).  It’s the fun of being a freelancer!  Every once in awhile you get to reinvent yourself.  Downside: every once in awhile you HAVE to reinvent yourself.

I still love my Grand Adventure post from two years ago. I wrote that right after we were really really hopeful about a job opportunity for Chris, and it just didn’t happen the way we wanted. We’re still alive, and doors keep opening and shutting in front of us. Opening just enough for us to see through, and then shutting as soon as we are about to go through them…

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Product Reviews

White Mountain Foods Review

I was recently asked to review some products by White Mountain Foods. White Mountain Foods is a company that strives to make the purest whole foods possible. Their mission is simply to provide their customers with completely additive and preservative free, minimally processed, organic when possible, tasty, vegetarian foods. I was sent the Bulgarian Yogurt, Tofu Onion dip, Tofu Salad, and Chipotle Mushroom Tamales.

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I started with the Tamales.  I made them according to the package instructions and they were pretty tasty and quite spicy.  I ate these on more than one occasion (keeping them frozen in between) and enjoyed them both times. 

I tried the No-Egg Tofu Salad and was a little less pleased.  It was a little too mustardy tasting for me, but that’s simply a personal opinion.  I tried it plain, on crackers, and even on a sandwich.  Okay, well, obviously I liked it well enough to eat it a couple times!

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The yogurt I only tried in a couple of smoothies, but it was great.  I don’t like eating plain yogurt too much, but I love it in my protein smoothies (yogurt, protein powder, fruit of choice).  I recommend it!

And here’s my confession…I didn’t try the onion dip.  I kept meaning to, and even got carrots to dip in it…and then you regular blog readers know I was traveling and then had a bit of a breakdown…and then it was expired.  I’m betting it’s worth trying though, especially if you are vegan—the No-Egg Tofu Salad is another great vegan option, I think. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the product mentioned above for free for review purposes from White Mountain Foods. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.