the fresh perspective...

OPI GELCOLOR

There's a real permanent polish phase going on and I thought I should touch on it a little.  Permanent polish is a service similar to gel nails.  It's a basecoat that you cure, followed by a thick nail polish that needs a UV or LED light to set or 'cure'.  Then you put a topcoat on and cure again.

The look?  Perfectly polished hands that can stay this way for up to 2 weeks.  The service is about an hour-long because you need about 10 minutes to remove the previous polish.  If you're getting it done for the first time it takes less than an hour and is dry instantly! No need to wait around the shop, or get someone else to dig into your purse to get your keys...when the topcoat is cured you can do anything you like.  The gel hardens and is set.

Remember everyone is different.  My permanent polish has lasted a week and that is a small victory for my hands and I.  At one point permanent polish only lasted on my nails for up to four days.  This is my first time trying OPI's permanent polish and it worked really well on me and finally lasted an entire week!

If you are a permanent polish lover and haven't had OPI's GelColor then you are missing out!  That's the fresh perspective...

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the fresh perspective...

LOVE Can I just say that Lauryn Hill and I broke up a few months back (we had a terrible fight, ask me about it if you really wanna know...) and since then I've been thinking...

Anyone that knows me knows that I love LOVE.  I like everything about it and I especially love songs about love.  The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill might be one of the best love albums of my life.  I know that's a heavy statement but, it's true.  Her voice, the lyrics, I'm touched.

I've been listening to her since we got back together and would like to share one of my faves off that album.  To all of you lovers out there, carry on.  To those of you still searching, this one's for you.  That's all, that's the fresh perspective...

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJ5BXfXUYwM&feature=fvst]

"Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You"

You're just too good to be true. Can't take my eyes off of you. You'd be like heaven to touch. I wanna hold you so much. At long last love has arrived. And I thank God I'm alive. You're just too good to be true. Can't take my eyes off of you.

Pardon the way that I stare. There's nothing else to compare. The sight of you leaves me weak. There are no words left to speak. But if you feel like I feel. Please let me know that it's real. You're just too good to be true. Can't take my eyes off of you.

I need you baby, and if it's quite all right, I need you baby to warm a lonely night. I love you baby. Trust in me when I say: OK Oh pretty baby, don't let me down I pray. Oh pretty baby, now that I found you, stay. And let me love you, oh baby let me love you, oh baby....

You're just too good to be true. Can't take my eyes off of you. You'd be like heaven to touch. I wanna hold you so much. At long last love has arrived. And I thank God I'm alive. You're just too good to be true. Can't take my eyes off of you.

I need you baby, and if it's quite all right, I need you baby to warm a lonely night. I love you baby. Trust in me when I say: It's OK Oh pretty baby, don't let me down I pray. Oh pretty baby, now that I found you, stay. And let me love you, oh baby let me love you, oh baby....

I need you baby, and if it's quite all right, I need you baby to warm a lonely night. I love you baby. Trust in me when I say: OK Oh pretty baby, don't let me down I pray. Oh pretty baby, now that I found you, stay. And let me love you, oh baby let me love you, oh baby....

Put your money where your your mouth is...

What a great weekend I had!  Yesterday I went to a fundraising event put on by the Israel Idonije Foundation and met so many wonderful people.  There were so many key people in attendance that were/are an integral part of the growth and viability of the IIF.  I was lucky enough to meet them and spend some time with some heavy hitters.

All in all we raised over $50,000 dollars!  I was so astounded and proud of the work that my brother has been doing.  During a little promotional video they showed, I realized just then how there is so much more that I could be doing in the field of philanthropy.

I believe that there is something each and every one of us can DO, even though our chequing accounts aren't deep and we don't ride in luxury sedans...  There is always a way that you can help someone everyday.  You don't have to go to a soup kitchen regularly or sponsor a young child abroad.  You can help your old lady neighbor by raking her leaves, or donate your used books, or donate your time.  I really believe that I don't have to tell you how to help.  We, as humans, know right from wrong.  We know a 'good' thing over a 'bad' thing and are all capable of DOING.

This week I urge you to check out the Israel Idonije Foundation and see how you can help.  If you can put your money where your mouth is, that's great!  If not, just telling others about his work is just as important.  Your words alone can motivate someone to help.

Peace

the fresh perspective...

Check this out.  Funny how accessorizing can say so much and yet so little... Personally, I love to put accessories in my hair because it adds just a little more.  I wonder what will be written about us in 20 years...  Thanks for the clip Pascale, and that's the fresh perspective...

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"Baby, let me be your motivation." -Kelly Rowland

All in all I had a pretty good weekend.  Got to rest a little, watched some sports (my fave), cooked a little bit...  I really can't complain.  Now that September is in full swing I can't help but to think of all the things I have lined up from now till the years' end.  I'm hosting thanksgiving dinner, running a 5k, taking boxing classes, taking hair classes.... I'll stop. I realized something about myself in the last few weeks.  I'm a bit of an overachiever with a high penchant for "gettin' stuff done".  What's my secret?  It's just who I am.  I like to have a few things going on at once and I find that I operate best at this level.

I looked up the definition of Motivation and here is one of the many I found:

MOTIVATION

Internal and external factors that stimulate desire and energy in people to be continually interested in and committed to a job, role, or subject, and to exert persistent effort in attaining a goal.

Motivation results from the interactions among conscious and unconscious factors such as the (1) intensity of desire or need, (2) incentive or reward value of the goal, and (3) expectations of the individual and of his or her significant others.

Is that it?  If so, then why are so many of us stuck in a rut and can't pull the trigger on much of anything?  Why do you think that so many people google this word at an alarming rate every day?  I'm not saying that I am the most motivated person on earth, but I'm not nervous about setting a goal and then actually accomplishing it.

What is the best motivator for you? Money? Vanity? Fame? Something external or is it more internal?  Just something to think about this work week...

Peace

the fresh perspective...

Crappy Hair

So, let's face it.  We've all been there, excited to get your hair done only to realize you hate it?!  If this has never been you then, bravo, stop reading.  It's rare that some folks may not have experienced disappointment in a service that they had paid for.

I think that's how we all should look at it. Our clients (you) pay us to do a service (hair) for them.  Most times it works out but, other times it may not.  This is completely normal and the point of my post today is that it's okay to 'complain'.  It's okay to speak your mind if you were confused about the service(s) you were receiving.  It's okay to hate your cut and color.   It's okay to wish you never tried something new.  The fact is, it's hair.  It grows everyday and after a few months -if your hair actually grows- you have new hairs to tamper with.

We need to realize, as stylists, that we may sometimes swing and miss.  We may sometimes suggest something that was not really suggestable (yeah. I made that up).  We may have cut your hair a little too short.  If you don't tell us then we assume everything is okay.  If you are ever unhappy with your hair, as my client, I would hope that if you liked me enough and respected me enough as your stylist, you would tell me.

Stylists and clients do have close relationships and that's why I think it's best to be honest if you are unhappy.  Obviously there are ways to express your unhappiness that should not include expletives or references to one's mother, but this type of reaction is only going to get you a bad reputation amongst salons.  If you're truly upset then don't call the shop till you've had some time to relax, and think it over.  Don't forget that it is just hair and the professional that caused your emotional collapse can probably fix it if you speak to them in a respectful tone.

I could regale you guys with stories of situations in which a client was unhappy and reacted negatively but that would be pointless.  No one likes to be yelled at or called names.  If your service was less than stellar it is your right as a paying customer to speak to someone in charge, just remember that the individual you are 'complaining' to is a person just like you.  That's the fresh perspective...

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