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Ivy Van Dusen


I really enjoy talking about hair & beauty and that is something I want to do more on this blog! Like always, I don't do collaborations with any businesses unless they are products/brands that I look into on my own first, and that I actually like. I feel like lots of my favorite blogs have really been saturated lately with fake reviews of brands, and I always want to make sure I am honest and real with everything.
Anyways! 
As many of you know, my hair has been through a lot. I grew up with light blonde hair, and as I got older I got bored with it, and in high school I decided to go brunette. Except I decided that I liked it really dark, and it ended up being close to black. I box-colored it myself all the way until my wedding a year ago.
Then, about a month after we were married, I decided I wanted to switch things up. I was getting tired of the super dark hair with my lighter skin and I just needed something new. So I went to a salon in California and started getting the ends lightened and tried to do an ombre. Then after that I decided I wanted to take the whole thing just a little lighter. Then I had orange-ish hair and didn't like that. And THEN I decided to go platinum (I am so bad at making up my mind, I know). After going to lots of different stylists, I went to Heather at Seasons Salon in Orem, UT and she helped me have the guts to pull the trigger and go all blonde. I was scared, but she did an AWESOME job! I was finally happy with it.


So many people ask me how I went from that dark to this light. Honestly, it is a good question because usually when people try to do that, they fry their hair right off. I trimmed off a few inches, but I was able to keep most of my length because my stylists all used Olaplex when they bleached my hair. Olaplex is honestly the greatest thing that's happened to my hair. Without it I'd probably have a pixie cut right now and I don't think I could pull that off. Basically there are 3 types of Olaplex. The first two the stylists use when they do your hair, and it is only sold to professionals. The #3, however, is sold in some places and you can use it as a type of hair mask. I just bought some today and am so excited to use it again, because I haven't in months. You just put it on your hair (mostly your ends), let it sit for 10 minutes, although I usually leave it for 45, and then wash it out. It feels so good and healthy when you're done. I'm not sure what exactly goes on chemically, but it does something that makes your hair feel and look so healthy. I had a stylist one time tell me that if used correctly, it can actually make your hair healthier than it was before you colored/bleached it. SO GREAT. And I feel like a lot of people haven't really heard of it, so you're welcome! 

You can buy it at a lot of salons, but sometimes you have to ask for it specifically because they don't have it out. The cheapest I have found it for is $28, but maybe you can do better (I know it's expensive. But this is something that I actually think is worth it).

So there's my hair journey. Let me know what you think about Olaplex or any other hair treatments you've tried!
xo
1/29/2016 No sweet note{s}

I heard somewhere that there was a study that said that the less money you spend on your wedding + as newlyweds, the longer your marriage was predicted to last.
If that study is even a teeny bit true, it is very likely that Kody and I will be together forever! 
I have been reading these fashion blogs lately (I seriously don't know why I still do that to myself) and so many of these girls are around my age and somehow have these crazy, elaborate, massive houses. Like...HOW? How are you 20, not have a job and afford a brand new home? 
This world is insaaane. 
Someday I'll buy a pair of Valentino Rockstuds, have a beautiful all-white kitchen and go on a crazy vacation to Bora Bora with Kody. 
But for now we will just eat our mac and cheese in our 90's kitchen, shop at Ross and play Just Dance :)
(actually we'll probably always want to play Just Dance b/c we are obsessed)
xo
1/24/2016 No sweet note{s}

This weekend Kody and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary! It is so hard to believe that we got married over a year ago. Time is seriously flying and it is so surreal. 
This past year has been absolutely amazing. I have learned more about myself than I ever have and I have LOVED being with my best friend. 
--
Top things I learned during my first year of marriage:
-You can't care what everyone else thinks, you just can't. If you're 19 and married, EMBRACE IT. Everyone is different and does things differently. 
-the Gospel of Jesus Christ=most solid foundation a family can have
-YOU are the only one who make your marriage work and be happy. Not fate. Not money. Not romantic getaways. Not fun things. Not even God (although He does help), it is up to you...I already knew this before, but I just realize its' truth more and more all the time. And it is kind of awesome, you can make it whatever you want! :)
-You have to say when you want something. Men aren't mind readers and you can't expect them to be.
-Living along-just the two of you- is the most FUN THING EVER. You can literally walk around in your underwear anytime shame-free. (tmi? nah). 
-Going to the temple w/your spouse is one of the very best things in the world
-Kissing is still so fun even when you're married :)
-It is okay to be broke. You can totally rock those oak kitchen cabinets from the 90's...its all good :)
-stock up on ramen and mac and cheese because sometimes you don't feel like cooking
-Marriage is absolutely the best. I hear people all the time (especially on the internet) saying that they would much rather "travel the world, live in the city, and make money" than get married (b/c apparently you can't do both?) well, they are just full of it because marriage is better than all of those things combined.
LOVED this year with my sweetheart and can't wait to see what this next one brings.

And there ya have it. 
xo
1/24/2016 No sweet note{s}

my current spot: my favorite little secret study place on campus...perfect for naps+watching TV+calling your mom

Late last week we found out that we got a new apartment
(which in Provo, that's a big deal because:
- number of apartments available in Provo for married people = 0
-number of people getting married in Provo = 10 million)
So yay for us! We got lucky! But that also means that we had to move, and moving is so not fun.
Especially when it is 14 degrees outside + you live on the third floor. We spent all day going up and down those darn stairs.
But now I am so happy because hey, we actually have room for things in this apartment! Our last one was so cute and cozy and fun because it was our first apartment BUT so beyond overpriced for 500 sq feet. This one has a whopping TWO bedrooms and we seriously don't know what to do with the other room. I think I'll put a yoga mat in there and tell everyone I have a home gym.

In other news:
-looking on Pinterest for dinner ideas is not a good idea when you're hungry (only 2 more hours until I can make that chicken parm)
-I am minoring in Family Life now, and I am DYING at how interesting everything is! It is seriously the coolest minor and I am so excited.
-You know life is busy when you are behind on both the bachelor + Kardashians...I haven't missed one in months.
-Our marriage is almost a one-year-old!! It is honestly so weird to me that it's been a whole year...people always say that marriage is SO hard and SO much work and blah blah blah (which it is sometimes) but honestly? IT IS AWESOME YOU GUYS! More on that later, but ya. 
-I have a theory that Vasa gym in Orem is the byu/uvu equivalent of a bar, because instead of working out, I am pretty sure 90% of the people go there for the sole purpose of hitting on each other. When I get done there I am a nasty, sweaty, makeup-less mess and everyone else is in full-faced makeup + hair extensions + smell like roses. Come on guys, not cool. It does get 5-stars for it's quality of people watching though.

xo
1/14/2016 2 sweet note{s}
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Wife, mama, lover of laughing, makeup and good food :)

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