Reluctantly Bobbed

My typical visit to the hair salon involves careful planning.  It's not that I am hard to please, I just like to be prepared.  I show up early for my appointment, a magazine in hand with a few pages dog-earred and marked strategically for discussion with my stylist.

After weeks of not being promptly attended to and responded to by my former hairstylist as I was seeking to make an appointment with her, I decided to try a new salon/stylist closer to my house.  Besides, does driving to Salem for a haircut every 6 weeks really make sense?  Anyway, because of this lack of visit to my former stylist plus an at-home coloring (which I am getting ready to do again tomorrow- this time Loreal Feria in French Roast = permanent), my hair had gotten into a rough state.  The ends were dry and split and it just needed some love.  My last haircut was almost three months ago and my longest layers were a little longer than shoulder length.

After dealing with car troubles yet again this AM and retrieving my ghetto-ass loaner car from my grandfather's office with my Dad, I impulsively decided to stop for a walk-in appt. at a reputable, large salon about 5 minutes from the house on my way home.  Besides, I needed a haircut and maybe it would be just the pick-me-up I needed...

When today's stylist asked me what I wanted, my response was simple... "Just a trim, only enough to give it a body boost and get rid of some of the split ends.  I'm in a wedding in October, so I definitely don't want to lose a lot of length."  She nodded in understanding and proceeded.

Friends, I now am the ashamed owner of a Katie Holmes bob BEFORE she got the cute bangs.  I never thought I would be so upset I had a bob.  Don't get me wrong; I love a good bob.  It's just that I had really been trying to grow my hair out for Meghann's wedding, and now I am finding myself googling "clip-on chignon hair pieces." (Now accepting suggestions for clip/wrap extensions for a faking a formal 'do or cute non-prommy alternatives to updos for short-haired bridesmaids.)

It's not that I can't rock the bob, it's that I didn't want to right now.

Has this happened to anybody else in blogland?  Have you ever had a snip-happy hairdresser cut too much off?

It just shows sometimes that when you think it's a good time to switch something up in life, it can bite you in the ass.  Needless to say, I didn't book my next appointment when I paid.

On another note, my car has now acted perfectly normal the day it goes to the mechanic twice in the past two weeks.  Meanwhile, the day before it sees the mechanic, it barely starts or runs.  Oh life...

Here's to a glass (or three) of vino.



XOXO,

Tuesday Morning Ramblings

I dropped the ball on my typical all-across-the-board Monday AM post.  I had several little errands to run yesterday morning and just didn't get it done. Not to mention we had a killer weekend at the restaurant and I have been stowing myself away in recovery.

1.  Fab Fall Findings
I went back to school shopping Friday with my Mom and bro.  That was way too fun.  We got Lance hooked up with nearly everything he is going to need for his freshman year of college and first run-in with dorm living.  I ended up coming away with 5 button down shirts (of different styles and varieties), 3 cardigans, 2 tops, 2 pairs of slacks and a pair of flats to jump start my professional wardrobe.  It was a great day and I didn't feel flustered trying things on because I wasn't fixating on size numbers, just the progress I've made.  I do need to get my pants tailored, but that shouldn't be too big of a deal.  I feel ready to start.

2. Reason #451928 Matt Osborne Rocks
Last night, we went bowling with Matt's work friends.  Typically, I lack skill in a big way in the bowling department.  Then my performance anxieties soared when my husband's colleagues were whipping out their own personal bowling shoes and their own balls, I thought for sure I was going to be making a huge a out of myself in front of his friends. And I did, but not at first. 
We had a few beers and lo and behold, the first game, I kicked Matt's ass!  I got several 9s (victories) and even a spare or two.  I beat some of the other owners of balls and shoes with which we were playing.  I was unashamedly overly excited about my mediocre play.  However, game two was not as fruitful, friends.  Consistency is not a strong point for me.  I went up to bowl bound and determined to get a strike and powerfully released the ball...into the gutter... and THEN... it spun out of the gutter and into the neighboring lane.  Then it proceeded to roll down that gutter, affecting one of the hardcores we were with's score (which was not easily fixed, btw).  Mortified doesn't begin to cover the emotion I felt.  Completely and totally.  Thank God my husband loves to laugh at me!  Reason #451928 Matt Osborne rocks?  His laughing at my idiocy, giving others permission to laugh as well, thus alleviating the competitive nature of it all.  If he hadn't laughed at me, I'm pretty sure some people would be pissed his lush wife gave that guy a 0, which his awesome bowling skills would NOT have afforded him.

3.  Time to Re-focus
I have two and a half weeks until I weigh in next, and I need to recapture my hardcoreness.  I feel like I am in the same place as I was last time when I went to weigh in.  I may have spent too much time being overly confident about that last weigh-in, that I let myself lose focus.  The workouts haven't been a problem in the least.  I am still hooked on how working out makes me feel and I have remained consistent and faithful.  However in my dieting life, I am starting to let myself do a few forbidden things here and there, which is a huge red flag for me.  For example, I had a Diet Coke yesterday.  I had lots of beer last night, which at the time, I rationalized was okay because I didn't have dinner (which is a stupid, novice way of rationalizing that, given that the lack of dinner hugely impacted my already record-low tolerance).  I need to re-focus.  Okay now that I have typed it out, I think I can!

4. Dentist Dilemmas
I hate the dentist.  So much in fact, that I haven't been in...wellllll, let's just say a little longer than the recommended time.  I now am the proud owner of  Delta Dental individual dental insurance policy... meaning I am running out of excuses to put off going to the dentist.  But guys this anxiety is way worse than I can illustrate to you.  Thinking about the sounds in the dentist office make me nauseous.  I could literally vom right now.  The drill... I hate.  That suck-all-the-water-out-of-your-mouth thingy is awful.  I wish I could be completely sedated during a dentist visit, even a check-up.  One of the waitresses at the restaurant recommended this place in Salem. http://www.carolinewallacedds.com/services.html (See below as to why)



5. "Emotional Hoarding"
The Today Show is currently talking about something called "emotional hoarding" which is a psyched out term for professional grudge holder.  I think I probably am one.


XOXO,

Advertising Inaccuracies

Okay, so I almost hate to say something about this after my amazing Ann Taylor Loft spy/employee friend Shelley snagged some trouser jeans for me for seven bucks last night ( I know! I'm still reeling at the deal), but I can't keep my trap shut about a recent debacle Ann Taylor is having.

I saw this news story late last night that spurred some thoughts in my brain about body image and advertising on yahoo and then I visited the initial blog where it was exposed (http://jezebel.com/5605608/ann-taylor-we-agree-our-retouching-has-been-overzealous)...

Ann Taylor has quite the PR crisis of her hands, as this is not the first time the company has been called out
for retouching images in their ads.  This crisis is all the more delicate and tricky, as an apology and promise to do better has also been previously issued...and clearly not heeded

Okay so let's get down to the nitty gritty here.  Which of these images do you prefer?

Not that I ever will be or ever want to be in this realm of skinny, but I have to go with the image on the left.  The product is accurately represented by the tops gentle creasing naturally against the "curves" of the model, while on the right she has been vectored, liquified and generally over-doctored in Photoshop to have her unnaturally thin figure.  Her waist might be a grand total of ten inches, if she was a real life person.  And the top isn't even shaped like it seems in the left photo.

So first off, can you guys tell me who the hell looks like this doctored image in your waking life?  I literally maybe know one or two people and it's because they are extremely tall and thin naturally.  You can tell the damn difference between natural skinniness and an image that makes you want to tackle a graphic designer.  Do these companies think the general public is completely inept? Perhaps they are right... but not this girl.

I have to wonder how the marketing team at AT has been misled to think this product representation is the best channel to selling clothing.  According to a March 2009 LA Times article, the average American woman weighs 162.9 pounds and wears a size 14.  And with the way America eats, you know that size and poundage has only increased over time.  So why then, are size 14 women, the supposed average size American woman, treated as freaks in these retailers' ads and windows?  Houston, we have a problem.

This "high fashion" concept of boniness/European chic/starving model/sallow sourness bullshit has been bleeding into the marketing teams of American designers who make career and casual wear for audiences of slightly below average to above average income American women, like you or me.  I don't know about you, but some things in high fashion makes me want to barf or just laugh my ass off.  No one in small town USA can pull off some of the shit you see during fashion week.  So why do we get marketed to like we can?

If you wore this to a cocktail party, would your friends giggle and possibly talk about you behind your back?

That's all I felt like saying really.  As a former student of public relations, I don't understand the strategic choices in aligning products with unattainable lifestyles of the market.  Let's just remember as unattainable skinniness continues to be shoved down our throats, that most of us look more like this... (Thanks Dove).

XOXO,

Why Am I Still Tired?

For the past three days, I have been tired.  Not just a little sleepy, but just generally energy-less.

And I was thinking working out would be my salvation Tuesday (As has been the norm for the past few weeks, I skipped Monday's gym trip because I was a little sore from being on my feet all weekend at work).  So I woke up yesterday in this same sleepy fog that plagued me Monday and this morning.  I dressed for the gym and went about my routine, just knowing beyond the shadow of a doubt that working out would give me that amazing boost I needed like it normally does.  So it turned out that I actually yawned during my cardio workout and did not feel one lick revitalized after I left.
This could have been me:

That was supposed to be kind of funny...but it could have happened (not really).

Anyway, I even had a second workout later that day power-walking with girlfriends.  While it was enjoyable,  I was still feeling blah when I got home.  I did have a bad day yesterday, but I'm not having one today and Monday was great.

I've been eating my fruits and veggies.  What's wrong with me?  Has anyone else ever had this happen?

XOXO,

Monday Morning Ramblings...(Plus August Cardio Playlist!)

Monday morning ramblings brought to by Tired Audrey. Because when the sun doesn't shine neither can I.

1. Chelsea Outshines Her Former Awkward Self

Chelsea Clinton was probably among some of the more unfortunately looking adolescents in the world.  However, she looked amazing and radiant in her wedding photos.  What a transformation she has made!  I really respect the degree of privacy the Clintons were able to maintain during the planning process.  I also respect that they did not bombard Chelsea's guest list with their movers and shaker pals.  Kudos Bill and Hil.

2. I Got Cold at Work

Y'all know I have been jonesing in a major wall for fall (see last post).  Well yesterday at work in my tiny little cash register alcove by the door, I got cold!  I wore jeans and a teeshirt to work and ended up having to borrow/claim a Homeplace hoodie (coming soon for purchase, btw) to keep myself warm!  Once I changed clothes, I felt fabulous.  Didn't sweat or thinking of sweating at all. But I heard that the humidity isn't peacing out for long...thanks Patrick McKee... what a buzz kill.

3. Closet Inventory

I've mentioned my need for professional, good fitting clothes for student teaching.  After ransacking through my closet this weekend, I found a few things that will work, but more that will not.  In this particular case, it is kind of a good thing I am a huge pack rat and still own some of my older, smaller clothes from years past or I would be screwed.  So after my inventory, I made a list (who's surprised?) of what I need to keep in mind during my back to school shopping.

I think this will be my unofficial mental checklist.  I am not going to be a total stickler about it, but at least it gives me a little direction.

2 pairs of trousers

1 skirt I can sit on a floor in without showing my a

1 pair of jeans (I'll get some casual Fridays probably and I really just need these at this point in the game anyway.  I have a black pair of jeans that fit great, but I need a regular dark wash jean)

2-3 cardigans

3+ dress shirts of some kind (whether they are collared oxfords or otherwise)

1 versatile comfortable pair of gray or black flats (I have some fab brown ones from last fall)

4. August Cardio Playlist

Cardio Rut!  Here is some revitalization:

1. Welcome to the Jungle Guns and Roses

2. Rock That Body Black Eyed Peas

3. Wannabe The Spice Girls

4. I Like It Enrique Iglesias ft. Pitbull

5. Boom Boom Pow Black Eyed Peas

6. I'm Your Baby Tonight (Dronez Mix) Whitney Houston

7. Unstoppable Kat DeLuna ft. Lil Wayne

8. Highway to Hell ACDC

9. Don't Stop Believin' Journey

10. Temperature Sean Paul

11. Helter Skelter Dana Fuchs

12. Hell and High Water Black Stone Cherry

13. Yeah/Toxic (Blades Blend Remix) Britney Spears ft. Usher

14. Hella Good No Doubt

15. Wrong Way Sublime

16. Walk it Out Unk

5. The Nature of the General Public

Working with the public since age 15 has been an experience, but something that I am grateful for.  I got to thinking that most people you encounter are really no different than me or my family and friends.  I think keeping this in mind is important as we go out in public places.  It helps me to keep empathy for others to know that most people are good. I think it's something to think about.

XOXO,