the fresh perspective...

How much is too much? How do you know when you have let yourself be overcome with 'stuff'?  During this season of giving and getting, it's a wonder we have space in our lives for the things we will be getting...

We go from shop, to boutique, to mall, looking for that perfect something to give the ones we hold the nearest and most dear to us.  We anticipate seeing their faces light up when they open their gift.  Something about that, I guess, is why we give.  But why must we give things?  Why do we fail to see that the gift of time-spent is something much more valuable?

Giving time instead of material things seems easy but let me tell you, it's harder than you think.  Even now as you read this, your mind has already traveled to all the places you need to be by the day's end.   All the things you need to accomplish before you sleep, gently nudge you through your day.  So to think that you would need to spend little or no money, but time, might be challenging.  Let's face it, it's easier to buy someone a gift than to give them four uninterrupted hours of your evening.

I'd like to challenge everyone this year to maybe give time as a gift.  This holiday, begin with one or two people.  Start small because your time is valuable as well and if your family or group of close friends are many, all your time will be gone.  That's the fresh perspective...

[polldaddy poll=6747140]

the fresh perspective...

FULL AGAIN

This product is bananas!  It makes your skinny hairs full.  The amount of thickness you can get from this little bottle is mind-blowing!  I know I'm sounding a bit pumped but...I'm pumped.

Depending on the amount of hair you have, you have to be careful not to use too much.  I used a bit more than I should have once, and my clients hair felt just a bit too full. (hee hee)  It felt a little too producty... ( Yes.  I made that up.)    I know you all know what producty means...  When you go to touch your hair it feels like it's full of gooey, goop, products.  Hence, producty.

Just a couple more pointers about this gem of a product.  It has very little hold and may need to layered with a mousse or styling product to achieve better hold.  It is a thickening lotion and should not be confused with a volumizer.  It does make your hair feel full and a bit bigger.  It just depends what type of hair you have.  It may work as a thickener and volumizer for you fine haired folks and maybe just a thickener for those of you with an average amount of hair.

If you're curious, ask about it when you come for your next appointment.  For those of you who are not from around these parts, look for Kevin Murphy products in your area or ask your stylist.  That's the fresh perspective...

[polldaddy poll=6733640]

the fresh perspective...

With the holidays quickly approaching, it's sometimes hard to keep it all in perspective.  December will be upon us next week and we'll all be operating on auto pilot.  Just going through the motions to get through this time.  We shouldn't view December as a pain but, let's face it, most of us do.

There are family gatherings, shopping excursions, holiday parties and winter events happening all month and it makes it hard to appreciate December when it seems it's the busiest time of the year.  If you're in retail, your ears have probably been bombarded with Christmas songs already and I'm sure you seen a few Holiday displays around.  If you're fortunate to NOT be in retail (sorry mall workers...) you might be able to stave off the aforementioned Holiday preparations for a few more weeks.  Eventually we'll all be in it, spending, waiting, eating, laughing and crying with our friends and family alike.

This time of the year is by far my favorite because it helps to remind me about what's really important.  Spending endless hours with my children 'doing' things, chatting about the past year with my mom and mother-in-law,  getting into it with the boys about why the Bears will/won't go to the playoffs, and just being surrounded by love and life...

Regardless of what you believe in or celebrate, please try to accomplish December with a small amount of joy in your heart and laughter in your voice.  It only takes a minute to get caught up in the material-ness of the upcoming month and I urge all of you to try to remember that there are other ways to approach December.  That's the fresh perspective...

[polldaddy poll=6714895]

the fresh perspective...

For CP- In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.

-Abraham Lincoln

Abe Lincoln seems to have been an amazing man.  I'm excited to see the movie about his life and learn more about him.  It seems like he was a man who wasn't afraid to be the first.  I don't know very much about him but his quote above spoke to me.

For all of you who have lost someone and feel like you can't pick up the pieces, this Lincoln quote should be able to give some perspective on the current life that you do have.  Are you spending time with the ones you love?  Are you making a difference?  Are you happy?

That's the fresh perspective...

the fresh perspective...

KEVIN MURPHY

This product line is very, very interesting and I've been using it here and there this past week.  It has about 25 items and the prices range from $26-$40.  That's a healthy chunk of change!  Especially now with the added taxes to your services in the salon.

How much is too much to spend?  When does the 'brand' become bigger than the actual product and then is reflected in the price?  Do expensive products really work better than the cheap stuff?  All of these questions make sense and are things you should be thinking about when you do spend your hard-earned money...  My perspective is simple.  You get what you pay for.

The Kevin Murphy brand has went to extreme lengths to make sure that the ingredients in all their products are the best for your health, skin and hair.  Where they can, they use all natural and where they can't they use what's better and that may mean more money.  They don't care because they believe that the stylists using these products also have more exposure to the items.

I can go through about three products on a head.  I may have anywhere up to 8-10 heads in one day.  That's a lot of spray I'm breathing in...  Kevin Murphy cares about me too and that's well, fantastic!  This line does have many products in it and I'm sure there's something for everyone.  The questions are simple and can only be answered by you.  That's the fresh perspective...

[polldaddy poll=6679921]

the fresh perspective...

TREATMENTS We're officially on the countdown to the holidays.  Every morning I wake up and anticipate my attire for the day.  I usually end up donning layers, upon layers because I love the way a fall kit goes.  I love the boots, cardigans and toques.  I love the tights and the corduroy.  I love the light film of cold that lingers in the air.

I don't like the dryness though!  Ugh!  My lips, my feet, my hair and hands... It's a trade-off I guess and I just want to prepare you all.

Treatments are the best way to keep your hairs condition during these dryer times.  You can and should definitely be booking them with any service you receive from now till March.  You can also double up and get a take home deep treatment that you can do on your own every two weeks or so.  How many times you do a 'home treatment' is something you should discuss with your stylist.  He/She would know the type of stress your hair may be under and can recommend a good schedule.

In regards to your nails (hands) and feet, you'll need to chat with your esthetician and get a recommendation here as well.  I know for me, I was told to use a scrub on my cuticles and a heavier lotion for the soles of my dry feet.  My feet are dry ALL the time so I use heavy lotion always (just a little FYI).

Regular manicures and pedicures will eliminate a lot of the guess work related to the maintenance of your dry extremities.  Getting these types of services on a regular basis will keep your cuticles under control, your callouses soft and your feet moisturized...

Treatments are just that...a treat meant for something specific.  Don't sell yourself short! While you're running around this month preparing for the impending snow and large family gatherings, think of your body and all it's dry, cracked and frizzy parts... Take good care, that's the fresh perspective...

FYI- CHECK OUT OUR FACEBOOK FOR UPCOMING SPECIALS ON TREATMENTS, MANICURES AND PEDICURES.

[polldaddy poll=6660638]