Skin, Hair, and SXSW.. an epic battle.

In three weeks and two days Austin will become the crazy madhouse that is SXSW. I am anxiously awaiting that magical week when I can just walk along any downtown street and stumble upon loads of free music. My hair, not so much. My skin, not a fan either. It's gonna be rough out there. Heat. Dust. Sun. What is a girl (or boy) to do?

Rule #1 -- Sunscreen
This might seem like a no brainer, but I can not tell you how many times over the last decade that I've called Austin home that I have kicked myself for leaving the sunblock at home. I mean if you plan on doing anything for SXSW, you will have to deal with that big fiery ball in the sky. So slather it on. Many times.

Rule #2 -- Water
Again, this seems obvious. Let me just remind you of what you'll be dealing with. Free parties that start around noon, walking all over downtown and the east side cause parking is a mess, lots and lots of beer, and our old friend from earlier.. the sun. The last thing you want is to have a great day at the beginning of the week, get all dehydrated, feel like hell the next day, and ruin your experience. For the love of Pete, just bring a big old jug of water with you and keep filling it.

Rule #3 -- Scarf/Bandana/Hair Elastic
Ok kids. It will be hot. You will get sweaty. Your hair will feel like straw at the end of the day if you don't take care of it. I'm all for looking cute while running around in the chaos, but you can totally still be cute while being nice to your hair. I would suggest washing and drying your hair and using as little product as possible. A nice leave in conditioner is great, and some even have an spf. Put it up in a ballerina bun or tie a pretty scarf in it to keep your hair from getting windblown and frazzled.

Need examples?

Remember these very basic rules, and maybe this year your hair and skin won't be mad at you after SXSW. Healthy hair and skin is happy hair and skin, and happy hair and skin is pretty hair and skin.

Who can write about hair when it's Valentine's Day?

Oh Valentine's Day.. It always gets here whether we're ready or not. (Get ready cause it gets here tomorrow!) It has to be the most lovely yet stressful days of the year. You may have been asking yourself, "What do I get my Valentine?" or "Will he remember it's Valentine's Day?" or you might even be thinking "Oh yeah! It's Valentines Day." Whatever thoughts are going through your head, I say relax. Valentine's Day should be a time when couples look lovingly into each others eyes and remember why they love each other. A time for singles to remember that a little indulgence is good for the soul. And yes, a time for lots and lots of sweet treats!

Speaking of sweet treats.. This weekend I had the pleasure of finally checking out one of my downtown neighbors the Tea Embassy. They had quite possibly the best idea ever, a tea and chocolate tasting! It was the perfect start to my Saturday. I mean really, I got to walk over there in the sunshine to meet up with a couple of girlfriends and be girlie for two hours. The owner and staff were so friendly and knew so much about tea, and they were the opposite of snobby. That's a big deal for me being a lifelong coffee drinker and tea imbecile. I even walked away with some very reasonably priced tea that I have been thoroughly enjoying this morning. If you are one of the many who has forgotten that Valentine's Day is tomorrow, get your booty over to Tea Embassy for some fancy chocolate and any kind of tea you could possibly want. They even have romantically themed teas like their chocolate and rose flavored Love Story Black Tea.

And on that yummy note, I leave you to enjoy this beautiful day. I'll be spending it with my Valentine who just happens to also be my favorite eleven year old ever. Happy Valentine's Day everyone!!

How could I not love this kid!?