the fresh perspective...

Phenomenal Woman

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies. I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size But when I start to tell them, They think I'm telling lies. I say, It's in the reach of my arms The span of my hips, The stride of my step, The curl of my lips. I'm a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That's me.

I walk into a room Just as cool as you please, And to a man, The fellows stand or Fall down on their knees. Then they swarm around me, A hive of honey bees. I say, It's the fire in my eyes, And the flash of my teeth, The swing in my waist, And the joy in my feet. I'm a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That's me.

Men themselves have wondered What they see in me. They try so much But they can't touch My inner mystery. When I try to show them They say they still can't see. I say, It's in the arch of my back, The sun of my smile, The ride of my breasts, The grace of my style. I'm a woman

Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That's me.

Now you understand Just why my head's not bowed. I don't shout or jump about Or have to talk real loud. When you see me passing It ought to make you proud. I say, It's in the click of my heels, The bend of my hair, the palm of my hand, The need of my care, 'Cause I'm a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That's me.

Maya Angelou

the fresh perspective...

Are you HM?

High maintenance.  What?!  It seems like being 'high maintenance' is a phrase used for people who are über picky, opinionated about things, and a bit demanding.  Is that so?  I wouldn't say that I am very picky, opinionated, or demanding, but I have been called high maintenance.

What's the deal? Because I know what wine I like to drink and I get my nails manicured weekly?  Because I like my eyebrows to look a particular way and I never wear animal print?  Because I have been known to say 'no' to certain activities and 'yes' to others?  Because I know what my tongue likes to taste and what lip shade looks best?  This is not bad, this is good.  I know myself and I know what I like.  I do not push my opinions on others and always try to be edifying where I can.

Being HM has received a bad reputation because some folks don't know how to be polite.  Some people make things that should be so easy, so hard.  They are cocky about where they've been and who they know.  They let you know how much they spent on their last facial or what boutique grocer knows them by name.  That's not being high maintenance, that's just being rude.  The way that people act can say a lot about who they actually are.  'HIgh maintenance' has a negative connotation that should be changed.

A few weeks ago some of us were having this conversation in the shop.  Why is someone high maintenance because they only want blonde?  PLATINUM blonde: without any brassiness.  Why is someone high maintenance because they bring their own polish to a manicure service?

Well, there should be a different term for the type of rude gals that annoy us all.  I'll gladly be called high maintenance if it means that I know what Praise likes.  That's the fresh perspective...

the fresh perspective...

WHO'S ON YOUR TEAM? Being that it is the New Year, we all take the time to reflect.  We reflect on our weight, we reflect on our love lives, we reflect on our families and friends.  Basically, now is when we attempt to give our lives a total over-haul.

All of this New Year's stuff got me to thinking about my friends, or more-so, the ladies in my life.  I am very fortunate (some may say I'm lucky) to come to work every day and spend time with the gals on my team.  It's no secret that I love sports because I think it mirrors so many parts and aspects of life.  Winning and/or losing.  Practices, coaches, and meetings... The success or failure of teams strictly rely on the players, or the group that the team consists of.

Chloe Hodgson, Andrée Lavergne, Pascale Forest-Axford, Renée Girard, Amy Zacharias, Rochelle Senior and Christie Peters (in no particular order) play on my team and I think we have the best starting line-up.  I'm of course biased, but if any of you got to spend time with any of these women you would be changed.  They all have an easy ability to be themselves and appreciate it.  They all have a sense of what it means to be a part of something. They all know the meaning of love.  They all have been to work with little to no make-up on...

Without even knowing it, they make me want to be better.  Without even knowing it, they make me believe that I am already a part of something.  Without even knowing it, they have softened my heart.  They know now.

Who's on your team?  Do the people that surround you daily, have a way of making you see that there is beauty around, always?  Do the people you hold close have a way of making you stand up? Tall?  Do the people you love know that you love them...?

While you're evaluating how many pounds to lose, or how you can be more efficient, ask yourself...  That's the fresh perspective...

Team Freshair, you are loved.

-p

P.S. Rochelle is our newest member and has no images yet...soon enough though...

the fresh perspective...

Happy New Year!

I hope you all had a great week, and spent the eve of the beginning of the year doing something that you enjoy with people you enjoy.  Here we go again, and let's make it a good one!

My New Year's resolution

I will not throw the cat out the window Or put a frog in my sister's bed I will not tie my brother's shoelaces together Nor jump from the roof of Dad's shed I shall remember my aunt's next birthday And tidy my room once a week I'll not moan at Mum's cooking (Ugh! fish fingers again!) Nor give her any more of my cheek. I will not pick my nose if I can help it I shall fold up my clothes, comb my hair, I will say please and thank you (even when I don't mean it) And never spit or shout or even swear. I shall write each day in my diary Try my hardest to be helpful at school I shall help old ladies cross roads (even if they don't want to) And when others are rude I'll stay cool. I'll go to bed with the owls and be up with the larks And close every door behind me I shall squeeze from the bottom of every toothpaste tube And stay where trouble can't find me. I shall start again, turn over a new leaf, leave my bad old ways forever shall I start them this year, or next year shall I sometime, or .....?

Robert Fisher

That's the fresh perspective...

the fresh perspective...

Season's greetings to you all!   Once again here's a snap from our Christmas card this year! The girls had fun and we are very excited for the holidays.  All the best to you all!

That's the fresh perspective...

the fresh perspective...

Going gracefully PART 1 -The conversation- So the day has finally arrived.  You are going to let your grey come in and just 'see' if you like it or not.  You're just a bit curious to see what you'll look like.  Also, you're tired of coloring every month.  Whether you do it yourself, or pay someone to do it, you're done.  So how do you do it?  Well people, let's get to it...

I believe, and most of you know, it starts with a conversation with your stylist.  Then it will be an appointment to start the color process of going lighter, then it's the cuts, and then it's your homework.  After those four steps you should be on a path to no coloring bliss or at least fully grey.  Now this all depends if your locks are short or long.  This depends if your hair is thick or thin.  This also depends on the state of your hair.  Are you curly or not so much?  All of these factors will come into play while your going through the steps.

It will be a conversation to tell your stylist what you want and then they can tell you if it's possible and if so, how to get there.  The conversation is very important because this will determine what happens next.  You need to realize that whatever plan your guy/girl sets out for you will only go as far as you allow it.  If you break down and throw some color on your hair during the process you will make it harder on your stylist and most importantly yourself.

Why do you want to be grey? Start there.  I feel like most of us want to do it because we are tired of coloring.  So fine.  You stop coloring your hair and you are now grey.  Your problem won't be solved overnight if you aren't prepared to start DOING your hair.  If you let the grey come in then I believe that a good time to start looking for a really good cut would be now.  Grey hair that is cut and styled nicely is quite stunning.

This conversation should cover all areas.  Your hair might be more coarse so you'll need to change your products.  Depending on the type of cut and style, you might eliminate hot tools all together.  Maybe you can GROW your hair now that you're not coloring?  Don't ask for other people's opinions on what you should do.  You and your stylist should decide.  Trust me, if you let your grey come in and you just neglect the cutting and styling part you will appear to be lazy and unmotivated.  Your friends and family will urge you to color your hair again.  If you're going to commit to letting the grey come in then you need to really buckle down, focus, and put the work in.

While your deciding, look around you and take note of the folks with greys that you see.  The ones you like will be the ones who have found the cut and style for them.  Maybe that sleek bob or that short shag.  It's all going to depend on what you think you might like.  After you and your stylist get it all out then you can figure out what method would be best.  This depends on where your majority of grey is.  Temples? Part line?

In the next Going gracefully we'll chat about the coloring process.  I urge you to get friendly with your stylist and if he/she tries to talk you out of it, let them know how serious you are in going grey.  If they still aren't being supportive then it's time to find a new stylist.  Yeah, I said it.  That's the fresh perspective...

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