I love my stylist - I've been going to her since 1998, I found her through a mutual friend. I used to work near her salon, lived about 45 mins away in Atlanta traffic. I've since changed jobs twice and moved three times, now live and work about 45 minutes away from her salon but still drive in to see her every six weeks. I'll never let her go - she is fabulous.
How is the baby doing, Bargoo?
Allergies have been killing me this week. Just killing me. This month, really.
Last edited by Shannon in ATL; 03-29-2012 at 11:56 AM.
I think my allergies have progressed into a full-blown cold. It was definitely allergy related to begin with, but now there's coughing and sore throat with it, which makes me think virus. Ugh. Between that, my time of month, and stress about being unemployed and waiting for interviews and decisions, I am in a funk this week.
I'm still trying to find a stylist I love in AZ - had one for about 6 months but he disappeared. The search seems pointless now as I'm anticipating moving back east within the year. I'm satisfied with the last girl I went to, but not ecstatic, so I'll likely stick with her for the remainder of my time here.
My 2lbs of vacation weight are gone as of this morning. Weighed in at 134.8. I think I'm getting the hang of eating less again. It certainly helps that I'm back to running, which really is key to loss and maintenance for me.
Weight steady for me and that's good as I'm holding off to that half pound loss from yesterday.
DD came for dinner last night and she really looks good. She's got a lot on her plate right now. She was rejected by Indiana University yesterday. She's still waiting for UPenn, U of Washington, Texas A&M and one other. But I seriously don't think any will rule in her favor. (All are for positive psychology and she has NO psych classes.) I think she's starting to lean toward staying at Fullerton for a second BS degree in psych and then re-applying to CGU, which is her #1 choice. The UT Austin (so far her only acceptance), while a great program, is too much in music and she's now trying to get away from music as she's decided that's not what she sees for her future.
Becky, you are doing great, keep it up.
Jessica, good news on the 2 pound loss, that running is paying off.
Allison, I am still in the holding pattern, too, that means I didn't gain, so it is good news.....sort of.....
Allison-- what does dd want to do down the road? Does she know yet? Glad she is doing so well! I went to Texas A&M (met dh there when I was 18!). Great school and great town, but the school is huge (as is UT as well). I'm sure you would be happy if she stayed more local.
Michele~seriously, I have no idea what DD wants down the road. I know she'd love to become a professional student--but at some point she's got to get a job! All I know for sure is she doesn't want to teach school and wants to learn more about positive psychology.
I would say to the allergy sufferers I hope you find some relief, but I don't think that's likely given this season. So instead I will say sorry, and hope you find good air filters and medications.
I really like the stylist I went to in Jan of this year. I have to drive 80 miles to see her, and a cut is $60, much more than I ever paid before. But she did a great job! She is also part owner of her salon. I will definitely go back to her, just try to schedule my cuts when I'm going to the city anyway.
My hectic schedule this week has thrown a major wrench in my attempts to stay OP. I was out of town for work basically M-W of this week (well got home late Tuesday night, but had day travel out of town Wed). I just tried to get myself together last night and pack healthy food for today, and take today as one day at a time. With all the travel etc. work is really busy and my stress levels are sort of high. I have always struggled with willpower when at conferences etc where free, unhealthy food is offered, and it doesn't seem I've improved much in that area. I said no to many off-plan things this week but not everything, portion size is creeping, and unsurprisingly my weight is up.
Tomorrow I leave for the weekend-long bachelorette party. I cannot even tell you how much alcohol will be present. What I wouldn't give for a week of no social events, normal work days, and all food coming from my "safe zone" in my kitchen. I guess I will get it after Tuesday of next week and must hang on until then.
Years ago, when I was still a grad student, and desperately poor, I wandered one afternoon through an upscale suburb of New York City, dreaming of the day when I'd rejoin the middle class, which I considered my birthright. I stared after the affluent young matrons on the street, envying their nice clothes and good haircuts. I saw my reflection in a little clothing boutique window -- a store in which I could afford (and fit into) nothing except maybe a pair of costume jewelry earrings --- and knew that I needed a haircut badly.
For the sake of my self-respect, since my inner voice was starting to beat me up, I spontaneously decided to do something about my appearance.
I found a salon on the main street. Which, after entering it, immediately seemed like a bad idea, as the place frightened me. The Soho-ish decor intimidated me. The receptionist frightened me with her attitude ("You don't have an appointment?") and makeup. The other women getting their hair done frightened me. But I determined to stick with my plan to be a walk-in client -- because fortunately, they took credit cards. I suddenly felt I **deserved** this haircut which I could barely afford.
I sat there flipping through Vogue and Town & Country, becoming even more demoralized because of the images I saw there, and finally a very handsome young man with blue eyes and wavy light brown hair -- rather similar in texture and color to mine -- appeared before me and winked at me.
"Hi, I'm Patrick. I can fit you in today."
Reader, I married him. I mean, as his loyal client. I have been with Patrick to this very day. I followed him when he left that salon after a new manager took over and didn't manage to Patrick's standards. In fact, I am driving five hours on Saturday just to be with Patrick and sit in his chair while he applies balayage highlights to my hair and cuts and blow-dries it.
I wish I could tell you that I found Patrick by querying women whose hair looked great, and always hearing his name on their lips, but it was just dumb luck. And fate.
I did find out afterward that yes, a lot of women in that town adored him, and that his colleagues at the salon looked up to him, that he'd trained in the Fekkai salon in Manhattan, and that he routinely got new trainees assigned to apprentice under him because he was an excellent and skillful teacher. But all that happened later.
I mean, I could have gotten one haircut, and never gone back. But I am just fascinated by gifted, passionate craftsmen. When I find one, I do anything to create a relationship. And life seems to keep sending me these people. They're not always easy to deal with, but I can't tell you all the ways in which they have enriched me and served as models for my daily conduct & life choices.
Saef - I love that story about how you discovered Patrick. That is fantastic. A good stylist makes such a difference - you are right, they are craftsmen who just use us as the canvas for their art.
DSS didn't have a great day yesterday. Not terrible, but bad enough. It is looking to be a rough spring break for him... Nothing he can do at this point will earn back his video games. If he is perfect today and tomorrow he may earn back one cartoon a day and the art show tonight. Maybe.
I went completely off the rails yesterday. Instead of exercising in the afternoon I ate 800 calories of crap and took a long bath, then went out to dinner instead of cooking. I made a good dinner choice, but the damage was already done. I have to get it together and stop letting all of this stress drive me. I need to lift some iron and do some yoga and start kicking bootie again. I did get up and go weed the garden at the school at 7am, so I was able to get in a run after that before the day started. I feel so good when I exercise, why don't I do it?
And - I am completely addicted to Draw Something. I think I now have a game going with every maintainer who is playing on my FB. Any of you guys who aren't on my FB and who would like to be can PM me, by the way. I'm not searchable, but if you send me your email I will search for you. Then I can try to entice you into my Draw Something addiction.
saef, love your story about Patrick. Please promise me if he ever relocates to the Sacramento area that you will let me know, I know you will be traveling 2000 miles to get a haitcut if he should happen to move.
Shannon~I just downloaded Draw Something. Feel free to start a game with me! (or Words with Friends, or Hanging With Friends, or Scramble, LOL). So sorry to hear about DSS. Take care and try not to let the stress make you overeat.
Any of you can start a game with me, for that matter!
Saef~that is a great story about Patrick. You sure got lucky!
It's funny. I have a friend from high school who is a stylist. He must be good. The other day he had a client who had been seeing him for over 20 years call to wish him well as she was moving from the area. He said they both cried!
Allison, good luck to your DD with whatever she decides to do. I think I'd prefer to be a professional student myself... but none of us can really do that, I suppose!
Megan, have fun at the bachelorette party!
Saef, amazing story about your stylist! I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have had the courage to walk in to the salon like you did.
Shannon, I feel the same about exercise - it makes me feel so good, but I just can't get myself to do it regularly like I used to. Gotta shake that... also I might have to check out the "draw something" which I keep hearing people talk about!
