We have had a busy summer. Busier than the past two, and definitely the busiest since having two. It feels like we’ve been on the go more than we have been still. Once I made the decision to leave my job to spend more time […]
This is the 10th year I have been running this blog, and my 12th year of blogging. I feel like those deserve some sort of acclaim, but haven’t figured out how I want to celebrate yet. Maybe instead of #tbt, I’ll do a #blogthrowback […]
Menu, friends. Menu. You want to see me happy? Offer me coffee and the new issue of Vogue with Nicole Kidman. ANDlet me drink the coffee while its still hot. The combination is perfection. I would have happily just sat there and read and drunk coffee. But there was more coming. Like this really adorable stylist who, instead of just throwing me in a chair and messing with my head, sits me down and starts talking to me about my life. What I do, why Im there, what I imagine my hair could be. I think that stylists are equipped to be psychologists on the side. She listens to me go on and on (because I know the antics of a two year old are the highlight of anyones day, yes?) and then says she has an idea and begins showing me images of how my hair could be. She is warm and encouraging and believes she can bring it back. So I make one of the hardest decisions of my life. I say, You know what? I trust you. You can do whatever you like. Then I sit back in the chair with my coffee and Vogue and get to work on catching up on the important stuff. Like what people with absurd amounts of money are going to be wearing in New York this fall, and is Nicole Kidmans marriage still going well? In case youre interested, rich people will be dressing like Mad Men with a touch of color this fall, and Nicole Kidman is currently living on a farm in Sydney when she isnt working.
While Im hanging out, drinking a French Vanilla Latte, Katie is hard at work behind the bar mixing and mashing a variety of colors in so many little dishes for me. She tells me shes going to pull out the color my hair had at age 12. I had really pretty hair at age 12, so Im super excited. She foils my entire head, and then I am left to hang out again. Looking around Samuel Cole Salon, I realize what I am also really loving is that it isnt salon-y. Sure, there are typical salon chairs, a washing station, color station, etc, but the ceilings are high and there are so many windows, you feel like you could be in a lounge. The air doesnt smell strongly of chemicals and everyone in the chairs lookshappy. Hands down, this was the best salon experience of my life.
When Katie comes to get me a little while later, she tells me that she uses Oribe (pronounced Or-bay) and Wella products- vegan, never tested on animals, and free of chemicals that have been recently linked to cancer. Then she reminds me that not only am I getting this amazing cut and color, but I am also due products. I try to play it cool, like Im always getting free shampoo, but break into the same smile I had in tenth grade when my braces finally came off. Katie recommends a shampoo, conditioner and gloss that I pay for because my hair looks that good.
One deal that Katie and I made was for me to wear my hair down every day for a week, and to really practice working with it to see how to make it both beautiful and every-day manageable. Thank you Samuel Cole Salon! I am in week 3, and not only is it still down most of the time, I am still getting compliments on it. Win, win, win.
Oh, sweet friends who are due in the year of a royal birth, take note. Dont forget to bring your favorite heels and hairdresser to the hospital. I mean, I love Kate as much as the next person, but seriously? TEN HOURS after birth she […]
Last week I had to be a grown-up. Again. Normally I can squeak by in what I lovingly refer to as pseudo-grown-up world. Thats where you are technically at a physical age in which you are considered a grown-up, but […]
Sometimes things come too close to home. Almost a week ago in Chapel Hill three young people were shot and killed at a condominium complex. They were killed by a man who had a dispute with them over a parking space. Some […]
After reading that you are probably wondering how you missed the part where my sweet baby, the one who just celebrated a birthday, grew up. Fortunately, dear readers, you havent. Shes still a little bit, though she regularly grows in her sleep, […]
Over the last seven days, these are actual thoughts I have had or things that I have said, that I think directly connect us to both the joy of Christmas and the stress that goes with it. Merry Christmas!
1. (happened in Target): In the event of a sudden onslaught of zombies, what are my weapon choices? Ahh, the wooden Advent Calendar marked down 30%.
2. (Harris Teeter) How did I leave without milk? How am I in my car, full of groceries, without the @!)$#K milk?
3. Maybe it’s time SL drank more water than milk.
4. Did I really just ask the guy behind the counter to help me find a “lighter oolong tea”? Who am I?
5. I’m going to go for a run. Nah, I’m going to take a nap.
6. Did Mary stress over Hannukah gifts for Jesus every year?
7. There is a Prius with a “I’m a Conservative” sticker. Right next to an Elephant sticker. Oh, irony.
8. “Yes, I’m looking for fresh cranberries. Not canned. Well, would you mind going and looking? I know it’s 5 p.m..”
9. The reason I shop in Fresh Market is because they offer me free coffee. Every. Time.
10. I’m pretty sure Jesus would never have demanded Lego anything.
11. While I’m worried about having the right presents under the tree, I wonder how many people around me are worried they won’t have any presents under the tree.
12. Oh, alma mater, I don’t want argyle socks in exchange for donations!
13. “Next pea that goes on the floor, well, that means dinner is over.”
14. “Welcome to our home!” (directly stolen from Christmas Vacation)
15. Maybe I should email the Amazon Wishlist out. No, it’s too out of control and dated.
There are so many other things floating around in that space, but these are some of the ones that have me really thinking about my own humanity. About what happens to us around the season of Advent, about how easy it is to get so distracted by the chores that need to be done, we forget to take time to always, always, be aware of how we are blessed. I am one of them. Merry Christmas to everyone out there who would never want anyone ever to see what is going on inside their heads at any given time. Merry Christmas to those who walk the aisles of the mall with straight faces and don’t stop at every cookie kiosk and pretzel stand. Merry Christmas to those who literally can’t think of a single thing they want, and thus will end up with new socks or a membership to the Jelly of the Month club. Merry, Merry Christmas.
“Oh no, nobody’s walking out on this fun old-fashioned family Christmas! No, no, we’re all in this TOGETHER!” – Clark Griswold
Occasionally, it is time for change. There are some fixtures, however, that dont change. Monday- Friday, barring a plague, I go to work. SL usually goes to bed by 7:30/7:45. In the morning I have oatmeal, then I kiss my baby and head off into […]
