Okwumabua Gardens

So I officially weeded our garden yesterday!  I actually enjoyed it and surprisingly surprised myself!  My knees are  little sore but I feel thoroughly accomplished...

Okwumabua Gardens will provide tomatoes, cukes, and corn.  I have been told that no bounty will be harvested till late August... I can hardly wait.

Before I lead you all to believe that I had anything to do with Okwumabua Gardens, the truth is that my husband asked me to weed for him while he was out.  There.  He asked me.  I did it.  I liked it! Twas a good Sunday...

Just a little disclaimer Praise may/may not have had everything/nothing to do with the lack/presence of crappy/amazing produce.

Peace

Motivation

So I'm just gonna say a few things...

Maybe your life blows right now... Maybe there are some things that you're going through alone... Maybe you're too overworked (and mildly under-paid)... Maybe your relationship is fading... Maybe you haven't spoken to him/her in months... Maybe all of these or none of these apply to you right now, but if you are a human being on this earth you will go through something completely epic and you might feel like there is nothing you can do.  There is always something you can do...

While life is difficult you can always count on one thing to help put the pieces of your puzzle together... Positive Thinking.  Focus on only the best and most positive things/aspects.  You don't need glasses? You're legs work, you can walk? You have a car? You have a best friend? You have a great smile? You have kids? You have a partner? You have good skin?  Your teeth are straight and you're not prone to tartar build-up (I'm having teeth issues. :)) You inadvertently have life, and that in and of itself should be enough motivation to keep you focused on what needs to be done in your life to make it better.

It's all up to you, what do you want to do with your problems/life?  We all go through situations that test us daily, please focus on the good and it should help a little...

Peace

I have a dream...job that is!!!

I just had a great conversation with my client/friend Carla.  She was just telling me some nice things about how I do my job and we got to chatting... Carla has been seeing me for years and in the time that we have been together I have noticed that she has changed so much!  Apart from her hairs, her demeanor and attitude towards life has really taken off.  Talking to her today made me realize a few things...  First, she said that when she used to go to the hair dressers they would always tell her about her limitations... Your heads too small, your hair's too fine... It's silly because everyone knows the crappy things about their hair already... (Tell me something I don't know, jerk)... It made her feel worse about herself, and then she would have to pay!!

Since seeing me she said she felt like I never talked about her limitations but about all the possibilities we could address regarding her hair.  She said that she feels like I want her to leave my chair empowered and I want her to be able to do the things that I do to her hair herself.  Ahhhh... it was such a great talk and hearing her say the things that I believe that I do makes me feel like I am doing the dreamiest job ever!! I absolutely love what I do and I want that to translate to every client in my chair.

I want you guys to know that if you are feeling a little 'dead end' with your stylist it's okay to express it to them.  Tell them about what bothers you... Tell them about your hair hopes and wants... Tell them everything and hopefully they will want to help you along.  If your stylist could care less about you and your hair then I suggest you move on.  Try another stylist in the same shop before you leave the shop altogether.  You'd be surprised about the other talents in the shop you've been frequently visiting and may find a perfect match.  When choosing a stylist or shop try to pick one that jives with you and your style.  That way you can be able to be comfortable enough to say things about your hair woes.

Thanks Carla for chatting with me about the way a client/stylist relationship should be!  You inspire me as well!!

Peace

sweatpants and vanity...

Well today was my first day back to the gym after the birth of my second child...shout out to @coachbeaks at MPS!  Anyways, I've been dreading this day for the whole nine months I was pregnant.  I gained an impossible amount of weight and knew the dawning of this day was only a matter of time.

Last week I went to sev in some rough-looking sweatpants and my grade twelve hoodie.  It was crazy cause I thought to myself, "self, should I be going out in public like this?" I answered yes and went.  Can I just tell you that some young man (god bless him) commented on how pretty I was?  I couldn't believe it?! I looked like a hot mess and I still garnered some positive attention.  It's too easy to just slack off and think that things are just fine the way they are even if we know we have pregnancy pounds to lose.  It would have been nothing for me to just take the compliment and accept my squishy physique. I know I don't look horrible, but I know even more that at the weight I am, I don't feel healthy.  I am prepared to go the distance no matter how hard it's going be.  Why is complacency accepted when it comes to making decisions about how we look?  How many times have you heard or told someone, "you're not that big, or that hair color isn't too bad."  Why do we  want the people we care about, or even ourselves to just settle?  It isn't being vain, it's caring. Unfortunately most times, folks will label it vanity.

Wanting to make a standing appointment for your hair cut so you never look dishevelled, or applying a little blush even if you are going to sev in paint stained sweatpants isn't a display of vanity but  a display of caring about your appearance.  Looks aren't the most important things in the world but  your appearance does make a huge impact on how others see you and how you carry yourself. Don't get complacent about where you are in life and don't just accept the way you treat yourself. Spend a little extra time on your lid in the morning or go to the gym a few times a week.

We can't always look perfect on the outside but on the inside we should always strive to care about ourselves. If even in sweatpants (not the lululemon type either. Picture paint stained and almost see through. Man, what was I thinking..) I can get a nice complement then maybe I looked alright?  I do know that I felt great in my sweatpants and maybe that was all it was...

Peace

Permanent...

 

So as I was driving to work the other day I started to consider the word permanent.  Permanent. It can mean many things...  In the world of hair it means a color that can cover grey, a change from poker straight to ultra curly (perm aka permanent), or the opposite (curly to straight).  In the real world it can be related to things like tattoos, Botox, tummy tucks and boob jobs just to name a few...

Really what IS permanent?  We all know that even after you get that permanent color your greys will return and the perm in your hair will start to grow out.  Tattoos fade and cosmetic surgery must be updated to maintain its 'permanency'.

Definition: Permanent

–adjective 

1.Existing perpetually; everlasting, esp. without significant change.

2.Intended to exist or function for a long, indefinite period without regard to unforeseeable conditions: a permanent employee; the permanent headquarters of the United Nations.

3.Long-lasting or nonfading: permanent pleating; permanent ink.

–noun

4.Also called permanent wave . A wave or curl that is set into the hair by the application of a special chemical preparation and that remains for a number of months.

In short, nothing is permanent.  The word, I think, is one that is used when we want to denote something that is serious or legitimate. When you let someone know that something is permanent they know that it is intended to be long-lasting, a for sure thing....but it isn't...  I feel like knowing that nothing is permanent would make me want to live life a little less stressed. If I sound like a broken record on the particular topic of 'living life', I cannot help it.  That's always the silver lining to any thing I write about.  Life is too short to get uptight about stuff.

One of my clients has had blond hair for over five years and last night she colored it darker to prepare for the onslaught of cold weather we are about to partake in.  I gave her some serious dap for stepping outside the box and trying something that seemed to be unchangeable.  I assured her that it wasn't permanent and if she ever wanted to change it we could. I wish some other things in life would be as easy as changing your hair color...oh well...

Peace

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

I'm back!  So, I know that this blog thing is all about consistency and I have not been... I was just reading my brothers blog...turnjacson.wordpress.com and he made me realize that this is no joke, (by this I mean blogging).  I've been through a boatload of changes since the ballgame and my terrific leg cramp.  I had a girl child, hired an esthetician, got a new shop manager, part timer and started on the journey of my new body.  Sigh...  Change is good and a bit scary at times as well.

With the time I had off I had some time to reflect on what I really want this blog to achieve.  I guess in short I would like to be able to share with everyone my thoughts on just about everything... I've been getting some feedback and someone told me that I should separate the shop from my life.  I beg to differ because I feel that the shop and my life and gently entangled.  My clients who have been with me for over ten years know a ton about my life and my family.  I feel as though the type of business that I'm in allows for a blurred line between work and play... Enough about that... Changes....

I would like to conclude this blog by listing my changes...

On November one I will begin a weekly regimen to shed the pounds that my girl child gave me.

I will reclaim my blog.

I will bring lunch at least three times a week.

I will eat breakfast everyday.

I will read.

Ok, so yeah, let's start there.  And so should you, if you need to make a list just do it.  It kinda holds you accountable when you look at your goals in black and white.  I will be keeping you posted...

Peace