Miss Scissorhands

Midday Encouragement

2012-02-17T13:07:00.000-08:00

I have a few minutes while my client is processing, so I thought I would put up a little encouragement for all my readers today....

This morning on my way to do volunteer work I was listening to the soundtrack for 42nd Street (my second favorite show on Broadway). I heard one song that I thought always helps you to hope for a better day. There's a line that says, "The sun may never ever shine. But somewhere the weather is fine." A lot of people have been going through troubles in life. I thought that line really shows us that there is always good to come in the future. Sometimes the bad has to happen for the good to ultimately make it's way and put a little sunshine in our lives. But when we get a little rain, we always have an umbrella...something or someone to shield us from sadness and troubles.

Here's what my day is looking like....

(my client is on the right under the dryer :D)

I hope you are having a wonderful Friday and happy weekend!!!!

Party, Party, Party

2012-02-13T07:04:00.000-08:00

Hello lovelies! How was your weekend? Mine was out of this world!!! I did so many things, but I'll just hit the highlights.

Saturday was Dbacks Fan Fest at Chase Stadium (you all know how much I love baseball...and pretty much every sport out there besides golf).

I was really excited because I've never gotten to be on the field before. There were so many people it was unreal! Lines were so long to meet the players. This is the closest I got...

But I was pretty happy to be this close to Ryan Roberts :)

We got to sit in the dugout too. Seriously....it was like I was 10 years old again.

That evening I had "Girls Night", which I so needed. I had such a crazy week and the most terrible day at work on Fri (which I might tell you all about in a post later this week. You'll die when you hear about it). I really needed some girl time. I love hanging out with the guys, but sometimes it's good to not have them around. We talked about every girl topic you could possibly imagine and laughed so hard I'm pretty sure people were staring at us. We had drinks at Olive and Ivy and went for dinner at Modern Steak. I have never been there before, but I need to buy a vowel because OH MY GOODNESS!!!!! Small portions, high prices, but OFF THE HOOK DELICIOUS!!!! Here's what it looks like. Beautiful decor!

Last, but certainly not least, I threw a going away picnic for my closest friends. They are moving to New York and I pretty much almost cry every time I think about it. They have been some of the best friends I could ever ask for. They have always treated me like family (I have appointed myself to be their middle child). They are exactly what you would want in close friends. They are loyal, truth worthy, and keep all of my secrets...the whole nine yards. I tried to put together a picnic and I didn't want it to scream "trashy". Over a hundred people showed up and we had beautiful weather to boot. Couldn't have gone better! Here are a few pics of the decorations...and one of us, of course!

We even did the dance from the Sound of Music for them...you know..."So Long Farewell". We all cried when it was over. I'm so thankful to have friends like these!

It was such a great weekend, but I'm ready for my day of rest today (it's hairdressers day off, you know). Hope your weekend was great too!

Chico and Harpo playing the Piano - The Marx Brothers: The Big Store (1941)

2012-02-10T09:23:00.000-08:00

When I lived in Payson, one of the things I remember doing is watching the old Marx Brothers movies. This clip comes from one of the movies that my dad and I watched together. We both never forgot this scene! I love how talented and funny these men are. It makes me sad sometimes because people don't cultivate their talents anymore. I guess everyone is just too busy. Anyways, hope you enjoy this!

P.S. Harpo's face cracks me up!!!!

Waffles for Dinner

2012-02-06T20:13:00.001-08:00

I decided this last weekend to take on the task of having a "Waffle Party" at my house. Breakfast for dinner isn't usually something that you invite guests over to enjoy and I thought that it was time to do something like this. If you ask me, the evening was a hit!

I made homemade waffle mix, but had each person cook their own waffle in the waffle maker. I had two waffles going full throttle when one decided to give us a light show. I mean, sparks were f-l-y-i-n-g!!!! Fortunately, the waffle was ok :)

We had drinks on the patio (mimosas, Koolaid, water, OJ, and beer) before we ate. Following dinner we played a game of Pirate Farkle. Anyone who has never played before really should. It's basically Greed (a dice game) but with a skull and cross bones in place of the 1 on the dice. Pretty exciting game :) Here are some pics as highlights.

I have the coolest friends! They all stuck around and helped me clean up. I couldn't have asked for more.

Hope you all had a super fantastic weekend!

High Hopes

2012-01-30T20:09:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I decided to take control and rid my life of some more "clutter", if you will. You never are quite sure if it the right decision. But I firmly believe that if you take all of the negative energy out of your life you will find more and more happiness and contentment. No lie....I only feel happier.

My sister keeps asking me why I'm so happy. She thinks it's weird. I'm the kind of happy people feel when they are in a new relationship. But I'm minus the relationship. Or maybe I'm in a new relationship with myself :) For the first time I'm pretty okay with the way things are. I would only like to change a few minor things. And I'm working on them as we speak.

I honestly can say that I'm not sorry to leave the old things behind. It's a new chapter in my life. One that I choose not to carry the garbage in and ruin. I'm working hard to keep this smile on my face. You gotta have "high hopes....high apple pie in the sky hopes" :D

Italiano

2012-01-24T07:09:00.000-08:00

Don't fall over dead...I'm actually posting two days in a row! Whoa! I'm working on being better these days. I've been really busy. In past posts I've explained how I am learning to speak Italian. I don't think I ever told everyone why. You see, I volunteer to do a bible educational work and I am trying to reach people who speak Italian. This is not the easiest thing to do in a city where everyone speaks mostly English or Spanish. But yesterday, I was so excited! I saw this restaurant and decided to give it a go. Inside I met the nicest Italian man and actually had a conversation! Well...sort of. It was a mix of English and Italian. But still. It was very exciting for me to see the progress on my part.

Learning new languages can be very frustrating. But I think I've finally gotten over my first hump. I'm still a mess when I speak, but I can understand so much more. I'm determined to get this language down!

The man was so sweet. He accepted some literature and said I could come back and talk again. He kissed me and my friend on the hand (so adorable) said, "Ciao bella" and we were on our way. I felt so good after that! I really am making a difference and people really do appreciate the effort. I will NEVER give up :)

Rolling the Dice on Life

2012-01-23T06:51:00.000-08:00

It's crazy how much life can change in just a moment. It only takes one person leaving....one person saying something....one person changing to make you realize how unstable life really is. Changes are not a bad thing, but they definitely force you to adjust. New circumstances make you realize what is important in your life and work hard for those things.

How does a person without drive survive? This world requires that we use all of our energy to keep rolling forward. There is no room for laziness. It seems to me that a lot of the people that get ahead don't really do anything at all. It just falls in their laps, while you have others that spend a lifetime killing themselves to succeed but only end up right back where they started.

Life is a game of chance. There are no guarantees. We roll the dice and hope for high numbers. NO SNAKE-EYES! But I encourage all of you trying to do whatever it takes to achieve your goals and achieve the life you want. No one will do it for you. And in the end, I'm sure you will find your level of happiness and contentment. I know I've found mine.

The Bachelor

2012-01-09T20:12:00.000-08:00

Can we chat for a minute about this season of The Bachelor??? I'm dumbstruck. Being a woman you live your life and never see those catty moments played for you on a screen. I've realized how crazy girls get over love. At one point I was laughing because everyone thinks they will never find another man. Don't get me wrong, Ben seems like a great guy. But it's impossible to be so attached to a man you've only spent a small amount of time with.

Have you and your BFF ever liked the same guy before? That is always a rough situation and someone always gets hurt. Friendships as well as hearts get broken. This show must feel like that to the 18th power! Here you have 18 woman in one room all competing for the attention of one man. A man they hardly know.

Don't get me wrong...I watch every darn episode of this show and have for the past few years. But every year I'm surprised that these woman are shocked when they get hurt. Not to be a "Debbie Downer", but when it is just you and one guy in a relationship you have a 50% of chance of it actually working out. Add 18 other woman into the brew and that makes it what? Like a 5.5% chance or something? Yikes!

I guess we'll see what this season brings us....and who will win the love of Mr. Ben from Sonoma :)

My Next Thirty Years

2012-01-02T10:28:00.000-08:00

I know that this is when everyone is making New Years Resolutions for 2012. I could definitely tell this morning at the gym. It was jam packed! On my way I heard this song on the radio and thought it's much better to think about your next 30 years. The first 30 have been good and bad for me. Let's hope the next 30 will be the best I've ever had!

What do you want to do with your next 30 years?

Don't Get Married Cause You're Lonely!

2011-12-29T10:07:00.000-08:00

I read something kind of clever a while back. It said, "Don't get married because you're lonely. Get married because you've found 'the one'." I wish sometimes I could hammer that into girls heads. It's crazy to think about how all of my friends that were married when we were younger (19-early 20's) are now all getting a divorce. This shows me that people get married for the wrong reasons.

There are a lot of people that also date because they can't handle being alone. But isn't that a really bad sign? Doesn't that mean that you aren't a happy person? If there's one thing I've learned, it's that a relationship is not what makes you happy. Those things are tough! When you are alone you have the opportunity to do whatever strikes you fancy at that very moment. No obligation to anyone else. I just want to shake some certain people right now. You look at them and know that they are making the biggest mistake of their lives, but all you can do is watch from the sidelines.

I've made the mistake of trying to help these kinds of people see the error of their ways. All they end up doing is hating and blaming you in the end. The reality is that they are extremely unhappy people because they haven't worked to better themselves as individuals.

Bottom line...I think I'm getting a small case of the "scared to commits". Relationships are too hard. Maybe it's just the ones that I have been in. But it's a scary thought to stick yourself in something that you can't get out of. Sometimes you can't get out because you don't allow yourself. And THAT is the most scary situation of all. I don't want to make the same mistakes that I'm seeing everyone around me make.

I guess I need to figure out what I want in life........To be continued, I suppose.

Swing Kids

2011-12-18T17:02:00.000-08:00

Remember that movie "Swing Kids"? It came out in the 90's, I believe. Well, that is what inspired my love for swing dancing all those years ago. I honestly haven't swing danced in probably close to 6 years and I've missed it terribly. But guess what?! Yesterday I revived my love for swing dancing!
For the past several years I have put my energy into salsa dance classes. Don't get me wrong, I totally love salsa dancing, but getting back into swing is just what the doctor ordered. It's nice to have a new (or not so new) challenge. It cracks me up because I guess I thought that there would be all these new moves for me to learn. The reality is that swing dancing never changes...duh! But, to tell the truth, I was quite rusty, borderline not so good at first. But after a few dances I was back into my old groove again (no pun intended).

Some might feel that swing dancing is "sooooo 1995"(a direct quote from a friend). But I think that you don't do something because it's cool. You do it because you love it! And love this I do! So here's to my new found love for swing dancing....may you bring me happiness and may we be lifelong friends :D

Remember..."It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!"

(Here's a video of me and my friend dancing last night)

It Was a Jam Packed Weekend!

2011-12-12T09:41:00.000-08:00

WOW! I've had a super busy weekend. It seemed like it ended before it began. I spent all day Saturday and Sunday in Casa Grande (only my AZ readers will know where that is) at an assembly. So much information, but so good! Got to see a lot of old friends and meet some new ones...always a lovely thing. But events like that always make me tired. Your brain hurts, your feet hurt from wearing heels, and my cheeks hurt from smiling. I guess those thing aren't all that bad. It the aftermath that is the problem.

Last night I went to a sushi/mustache party. I know, I know...you're saying exactly what everyone else says. "What the heck is that?!" Well, it's this extremely fun thing where you wear a mustache and make your own sushi. We had a blast! I decided to get a little creative, being a hair stylist, and made mustaches for me and my gal pal. The thought of eating sushi with a mustache kind of grossed me out, so I attached them to chopsticks so we could wear them when we were feeling frisky. Everyone had such great mustaches...all very different and very creative.

I'm not exactly sure how the monocle fit in to the mustache party, but it definitely made an impression on all of us!

Saturday night my sister Sunny (read about her life here) and I gave these adorable headbands to my little cousins.

A friend of ours makes and sells these on etsy. If you have a minute, you should check them out. Click here to see her selection. They are beautiful and well made...the girls absolutely LOVED them (and so did everyone else).

I hope every one's weekend was refreshing and I hope your ready for this week! Ciao

Some Football, Sweaters and Sushi

2011-12-05T09:52:00.000-08:00

I have been up to so much lately that I don't even know where to begin. I've been fortunate enough to spend a lot of time with friends these past few weeks. So many fun events! I'll start with yesterday....

Cardinals vs Cowboys. The owner of the salon I work at called me late Saturday night and offered me two (amazing) tickets to the game. I took my game buddy with me and it was a great game, despite there being so much blue in the stands! Cardinals won in OT....so...IN YOUR FACE COWBOYS FANS!!!!

Two weekends ago, my sister and I threw an Ugly Sweater party. Everyone went crazy over this idea! We had a contest for who wore the ugliest sweater. The winner received a $10 gift card for Starbucks...and even though I purchased it I secretly still wanted to win ;)

The Wednesday before Thanksgiving my girlfriend and I decided to go visit our buddy, who is a sushi chef at Shimogamo in Chandler. DELICIOUS!!! He made us this roll that was out of this world! First he sliced a cucumber into one long, thin strip (took some serious talent) and then filled it with a few different kinds of fish. I want another one now!

It's been good times these last few weeks. And now that the weather is getting cooler (finally), there should be more to come! Hope everyone had a great weekend! HAPPY MONDAY!

Ciao ciao

Dress Giveaway from Shabby Apple

2011-11-21T13:44:00.000-08:00

Don't you just love giveaways???? I recently was fortunate enough to win a $50 gift certificate to Total Wine. Now that's a lot of booze! But today I got on Blogger only to find out that one of my favorite bloggers is giving away this beautiful dress from Shabby Apple.

If you have never checked out their website you should. Absolutely STUNNING clothes!

I am putting in all four entries because I want to WIN!!!! You all should too! Check out Sarah Kate's blog at Nothing But Blue Skies. She is a great writer and has such an interesting life. Plus she's a super cute and funny gal :) Thanks for doing this fantastic giveaway! You're a girl after my own heart....no one loves free merchandise more than I do :D

Miss Crankypants

2011-11-14T11:10:00.000-08:00

I'm annoyed today. I'm cranky and unreasonable and it's all because I need to clean house with my friends. In past posts I've talked about how I only want to surround myself with positive people. People that build me up and that I can build up. That's what friendship really is. I think there are certain people in this world that need to learn what being a friend means. For example....being a friend does not include:

1) Not initiating phone calls, texts, or invites to social events.

2) Stealing all the guys from your friend crowd and not inviting you because you want to beef up your self esteem.

3) Not being loyal. (If there is a break up I think I deserve some loyalty, as does the opposing party.)

The bottom line is that you can have a lot of acquaintances, but only a handful of people that prove to you that they want to be there for you for the long haul. Those are the ones worth the effort.

Weekend Update (slighty behind schedule)

2011-11-08T09:25:00.000-08:00

I meant to take some time on my day off yesterday to post a little bit about my weekend. I'm amazed at how a day off can get so filled up and end before it even began. So, today I am going to hunker down and get this stuff up.

My weekend was pretty good. I got to spend time with some amazing people and do some pretty fun things. Friday I decided to stay home and relax. (I have to admit that it was pretty fun.) I don't do that very often, so it was nice to take a load off and enjoy just chilling. Sat afternoon I got to do something I've never done...BEER FEST! I just loved it! They charged $8 to get in and then you buy tickets to taste beer. It's nice to be able to try all of the different beers and then you have a taste for what you like and what you don't. Plus the weather was out-of-this-world! It was cool enough to finally start wearing our fall clothes. LOVED IT!

Sunday I took a little trip in a time machine. About 5 years ago I started taking Salsa dance lessons at this place called Paragon in Tempe. I took them for about 2 years and since then I have been hit and miss at Salsa Sunday's. This past weekend I got to go back for the first time after a whole year! Every time I go there it's like time stands still. The same faces, the same music, the same dance moves. There's something comforting about the consistency of this weekly event. Anyways, I basically picked up where I left off. Most everyone recognized me from the "olden days", so it was like a dance reunion. I found a couple of pictures that were posted on AZsalsa.net from 2007 (don't laugh...I was young, plump, and silly).

It was great to dance here again. I'm pretty sure that my dancing skills have improved so much since then....and let's pray that my sense of style has improved as well :)

I hope everyone else had a fabulous weekend as well. "Party on Wayne...Party on Garth!" :D

Self Analysis

2011-10-29T09:54:00.000-07:00

Last night I spent a while having a phone conversation with a good friend and her mother. We accomplished a lot. At the end of the conversation, I realized the importance of doing a little self analysis. About what, you may ask? What else is there to analyze....BOYS!

So, I'm 30 years old and no boyfriend. Most people might see this as pathetic, but I see it as perfect. Your 20's are usually so full of mistakes and not knowing who you really are. This is my chance to finally make a good decision based on womanly logic and not silly girl ideas. Here it goes....

The first step is figuring out what the common thread is in all these guys. Not just boys (yes I will call all you males out there boys) I've dated but any boy I've "liked" (such a grade school term). This isn't the easiest thing in the world.

Not every guy looks the same, has the same personality, or upbringing. The commonality lies in certain qualities that I find attractive. This, my friends, seems to be where the problem lies. I'm obviously attracted to a certain quality that isn't good for me. The trick is finding out what exactly that quality is.

I have been reminded on numerous occasions that I have a need to try and fix people. I know this has carried over in a lot of my relationships. The problem is that you can't fix anyone. They have to fix themselves. Maybe that is the quality of attraction. It could be, whether it is something big or very small, there is something to fix in all of these people. They may not even know it and maybe I don't either, but no matter...it's there.

Now I'm not saying that my ex-bf's are these crazy boys that are a total mess. That isn't it at all. I just know that everyone has something that they struggle with. Something that we all are working on. We are all fixer uppers. Perhaps I just find people that I don't compliment and that makes the work on themselves that much harder. And in the process I become frustrated because I want to be a source of encouragement to people...not bring them down.

I think I need more time to ponder over this. The details might be an entry for my personal journal and not for the entire universe to see over the Internet. I know what I'm feeling is not really a unique situation. There are so many that feel the same thing. So I encourage you all to do the same thing I am doing. Try and figure it out! It won't hurt at all. It will only make you a better person and help you make better decisions in your life :)

Thankful in my Thirties

2011-10-27T10:45:00.000-07:00

I'm approaching 30 and 1 month and I'm starting to think that this isn't so bad. I have a lot to be thankful for. I was so scared to turn 30 because I worried that I would see a rapid change in my life...AKA get old, boring, and ugly. I don't know why. I guess I'm crazy like that. The wonderful thing is that I am in charge of my own destiny. I have a choice in how I live my life...and an old fuddy duddy is not what I see in my crystal ball!

So here are 5 things I am thankful for in my 30's:

1) Fabulous girlfriends! I don't know what I'd do without them. They pick me up when I'm down, laugh with me when I'm happy, and hate with me when I'm cranky :)

2) Family...you can't live with them, but you can't live without them. They are the only ones that will tell you the truth. (Not that I always like hearing it.)

3) MY JOB!!!! I'm so thankful to have a career that I love through and through. I have so much fun and love all of my clients!
4) Dance. I know...I'm a nerd. I still love to dance. I'm pleased to still be able to shake even in my old age :) Plus, taking my Latin dance classes really make me smile and helps me to improve myself and my confidence.

5) Comments on my blog! I know I haven't spent much time blogging lately (because of my recent injury), but I have always loved writing and for some reason when I get a comment from someone it makes my day! It's nice to know there are people out there that take an interest in what I have to say.
I think the list could go on and on. We are all thankful for so many things...the trick is to focus on the thankful list and not so much on the "why I'm angry" list. So what are some of the reasons why you are thankful? I'm interested to know :D

Warning! Sports Are Not For Girls!

2011-10-20T15:40:00.000-07:00

You are all going to laugh when you hear what has happened to me. I have been laid up the last few weeks with severe neck, shoulder and arm pain. It was seriously bad. I hate going to the doctor, so you know I'm hurting when I voluntarily go two times. Praise the lord...I'm better now!

How did I hurt it, you might ask? Well...by playing sports. Some friends were visiting from Italy and told me that they had never played baseball or football before. I was so excited to teach them how to play! But, as usual, things got a little out of hand and I ended up getting clobbered. I bounced up and continued playing, but a few days later I realized I was in some trouble. Thanks to my Chiropractor I am now in working condition...more or less. At least I don't feel like I have a broken neck anymore!
Our team!
Me teaching the Italians how to swing a bat. (For reals!)

I think I've learned my lesson! I'm going to stick to Zumba and dance from now on. Anything else seems to be a bit dangerous for me :)

San Diego Highlights

2011-10-06T14:01:00.000-07:00

I have to say that I am ashamed about how little I have blogged over the last few months. Who knew the summer could be so crazy. I thought that October would be my relaxing month, but I am already booked up for almost every weekend!

I kicked the Fall off with a trip to San Diego. I got bumped on my flight over, but scored a $159 voucher for Southwest Airlines (woot woot!). That made it totally worth it. We packed so much in the few days that I was there. Time flew by and I had such a wonderful time with my family and friends.

We started off with a bike ride around Coronado Island...seriously...we biked SO FAR! Almost around the whole island, but I love it there!

We stopped for drinks at the Del and enjoyed the view of the ocean. SOOOOO relaxing! We ended our day with a glass of wine on the patio in Imperial Beach watching the sun set

The next day we went to Little Italy to walk around and have lunch. It was probably some of the best pasta I have ever had.

I was so incredibly full I hardly could walk...but I still got down a cup of Mango Gelatto :)
On to the next adventure! BALBOA PARK! This was my first visit and I still cannot believe how beautiful it was! Coming from such dry dusty state and going to a place where there are flowers and grass...amazing!

I have always wanted a caricature done of myself and there was a man doing them for donations. I figured what the heck! Why not? :)

In the afternoon we popped in to an adorable little bakery for dessert and coffee. We finished off the evening with Martinis with the cousins.

All in all a great vacation! Gave me the little pick me up that I needed. Thank you to my cousins for having me and putting up with me :) I think this trip will make turning 30 a little bit easier.

ZUMBA!!!!!

2011-09-12T18:03:00.000-07:00

First off, my apologies for not blogging recently. I realized today that it has been foreverness since I've even been on Blogger. Sorry to everyone for not getting a chance to read your wonderful posts and comments. Let's hope I'm back on track.

SO...I think I'm officially becoming the nerd of the century. I am loving Zumba so much and I can't seem to stop myself. I've always loved to dance (especially Latin dance), but Zumba seems to be the best thing for me when it comes to working out.

I've been a runner since I was 14 years old. I'm totally sick of it. I started taking Zumba about a year ago and loved it. Unfortunately, I got out of my routine while I was on my crazy long vacation time in July. That made it hard to get back in to the swing of things with my workout routine...August was a not so good month for that. I stepped on the scale a couple of days ago and realized I had put on 5 lbs. UNACCEPTABLE!

Now to most of you 5 lbs is not the end of the world. However, I will be turning 30 in less than 4 weeks and I REFUSE to let myself go. It isn't getting any easier from here on end. Time to buckle down, get those few lbs off before more creep in.

I highly suggest Zumba for all you workout people out there. It's a fun and great way to workout. Plus, it gives you a great body. You just have to stick with it and shake that booty :)

Turkey Day in August

2011-08-29T21:07:00.000-07:00

I was very busy this last weekend playing "Suzy Homemaker". I just love throwing dinner parties and decided it was time to have another one. I pulled the turkey out of the freezer, rolled up my sleeves and went to work! The food was delicious, if I do say so myself :)

After dinner we had homemade pumpkin pie and a tea party. A nice way to finish off the evening.

I was happy to have a few close friends over to enjoy a meal and some great conversation. Martha Stewart says to have 8 guests to make the evening enjoyable....I had 7 (close enough I think).

Here are just a few pictures of our lovely evening...

I've been enjoying leftover turkey and all the fixings for the last few days. My favorite part of cooking! I'm stuffed fuller than a teddy bear! Thanks to all my friends for attending and letting me have the joy of cooking for you! (fingers crossed that no one got poisoned....only kidding, folks.)
CIAO!

Men's Hair 2011-2012

2011-08-21T12:43:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I was talking to a friend and he said he was looking for a new hairstyle. I suddenly heard a word that made me shudder....FEAUX HAWK! Just looking at those letters on the page gives me the heeby jeebies. I decided it was time to educate the world on the hottest trends in men's hairstyling for 2011-2012.

I read something that stuck with me. In talking about the latest hairstyles, an article said, "Its out with the new and in with the old." I thought that was quite clever and true. Here are some pictures of the latest and greatest hair for our men...cause sometimes us ladies gotta give them a nudge in the style department.

Two of my fav celebs that have done a nice job of showing men how to wear their hair...Bradley Cooper and George Clooney. Those boys know how to work it! SIZZLE SIZZLE!!!

Enough of all this drooling!!!!

So now you know! MEN! Loose the feaux hawk and go for something a little more sophisticated....your ladies will thank you!

CIAO!

Weekend Update

2011-08-20T11:48:00.000-07:00

I decided to have a quiet Friday this week. Normally I'm rushing around after work trying to meet up with friends and be social. I think my busy life has finally caught up with me.

I was supposed to meet up with friends around 9 p.m. at this wine bar in Downtown Phoenix called The Roosevelt (picture is below). I love this place, but after two days of studying Italian I got a horrible headache and ended up going to bed early. (How lame am I? Single lady....Friday night...asleep by 10 p.m.)

This morning I woke up feeling so much better. I had a good ole' fashioned country breakfast with my sister Sunny which was followed by a cup of coffee at Starbucks. We decided to try a new location....(we do not accept change well.) This was such a nice Starbucks! It was so nice sitting outside under a mist of water, chatting and people watching. We don't get to do this very often in AZ....the 115 degree heat sort of puts a damper on outings that take place in a non-air conditioned location.

This afternoon I have my Italian meeting, so I'm sure my brain will be good and tired by tonight. I hope you all are having a lovely Saturday! Enjoy your weekend before it's time to head back to the office....or your version of the office :)

CIAO!

Hairdresser Monday

2011-08-16T08:43:00.000-07:00

Yesterday is universally known as the hairdressers day off. I love Mondays for that reason. While the rest of the world is heading back to their boring offices and saying how much they hate Mondays, I am sleeping in and deciding what delicious restaurants I'd like to eat at that day.

My Monday was not exactly the most interesting. In fact, I accomplished absolutely nothing...unless you count watching 3 episodes of a horrible TV show called "Teenage Moms" on Netflix and eating Thai food an accomplishment.

Being the girl that I am, I started feeling guilty for not getting anything done yesterday. I intended on doing things such a tidy up, wash my car, go to the bank and do some studying. However as the day progressed I rapidly lost interest in the "honey do" list I had made for myself. Hanging out with my sister, sampling her rice crispy treats that she made seemed like a much better idea.

By the end of the day I was exhausted (yes...from doing nada) and my tummy hurt from eating too much rich food. I decided to retire to my bedroom to read my new book "One Day" (it must be read by Friday. That's when the movie comes out) and relax a bit more.

I wake up today thinking what a waste yesterday was...and also that it was kind of fun. I have today off as well (I only work 3-4 days a week). Today is the day to get 'er done!

I think it's time to sign off...too many rambling sentences and too many parenthesis. Fare the well, my friends! Have a beautiful Tuesday!
CIAO!

D-Backs!

2011-08-15T11:17:00.000-07:00

Last Wednesday me and some friends decided to go to the Diamondbacks game.This is only my second game of the season. Most people say that they aren't really fans of baseball and hate going to the game. Well, I love baseball and I especially love being at a game. I figure you have 3 uninterrupted hours of hanging out, eating the junkiest of junk food, all the while yelling, screaming and jumping up and down. I can't think of any other place where that would be appropriate.

I bought a D-backs shirt from Old Navy in the off-season a year ago or so. It was only $4, but is definitely the wrong size and not exactly the most flattering of shirts. But I'm cheap and figure it only will be worn a few times a year, why break the bank? Of course, me being a creative and crazy redhead, I decided to put a little spin on the shirt...just to add some pizazz.

Now I'm not one that normally cuts up t-shirts and ties them all back together. I'm usually not a fan, but I figure at a baseball game where I'm eating nachos and hot dogs it could possibly be the only exception to the rule. SOOOOO......here is a picture of the shirt before and a picture of the final product......

Anyhow, the game was great! The D-Backs won....woohoo! Food was so yummy and my friends and I had a blast! Looking forward to going to another game soon....only so I can wear my new and improved t-shirt, of course :)

CIAO!

Goodbye 20-Somethings!

2011-08-10T09:20:00.000-07:00

As my my 20's draw to a close I realize how happy I am to begin my 30's. No woman looks forward to getting older. We do everything possible to hold on to our youth...slathering on creams and inspecting the wrinkles around our eyes, willing them to go away. They key to aging well is staying young on the inside. Everything else will fall in to place.

My 20's have been full of so many experiences, good and bad. But these are the things that have made me the person that I am today. I'm proud of who I am. I've worked hard to be where I'm at in my life. I feel that I am a successful person inside and out. Of course, there are always things to work on, but I'm fairly pleased with where I've ended up. I've reached 90% of my goals that I have set for myself and I'm working on the other 10% as I speak. I don't know many people who can say that for themselves.

Perhaps I'll make a goal map for my 30's...something to give me a little direction. I don't ever want to become stagnant in my life. I always want to be accomplishing something. This will keep me young and keep me from absolutely losing my mind :) There are a lot of woman that don't feel the need to take on new adventures. I am NOT that woman....adventure is my middle name.

So, bring it on 30! I'll show you what I got!

CIAO!

pour some glitter on it

2011-08-08T19:16:00.000-07:00

Some of my friends that make me smile :D

Today I realized that I haven't had a terrible cry in the longest time. This is good news to me! I've dealt with so much garbage over the last 3-4 years that I think I'm due for some smiles :D

I think that I should thank all of my friends and family for contributing to this. These are the people that make my life a happier place to be. Without them I would only have me, myself, and I.

This past week has been a busy one for me and it made me see that I really do have a lot of wonderful people in my life. Most people only have 2-4 close friends that they do everything with. I'm pleased to be surrounded by fist fulls of people that I can call good friends. The best part is that they are all completely different. They are special to me for different reasons.

I understand that nobody has the perfect life and believe me, mine is so far from being perfect. But I think it's possible to work hard at dwelling on the wonderful....focusing on the glitter in your world. I have a lot of ugly things in my life. But when you pour some glitter on the ugly stuff it makes it more appealing.

That is what I'm going to do. Try to turn any negative into a positive. Focus on the happy and good and forget all the bad. And when I think about how happy I am now, this plan will only make for a happier me!

Why don't you all try to do the same thing? We'll turn the world into a happy place one blogger at a time :)

CIAO!

I'm Baaaaack!

2011-07-25T17:02:00.000-07:00

I am officially HOME! And home I am glad to be. I've been gone for most of 3 weeks and I am so tired! Traveling always takes a lot out of me. I think it's because you are never in your own bed and you're living out of a suitcase.

I spent one week in New York...so amazing! It was a great trip. I got to spend time on Long Island and spent time in the city, as well. The minute we touched down we were off and running. I lugged my suitcase so much and I think my right arm is twice as buff as my left :)

Here are a few pics of NY....

Next we had our annual family reunion in Newport Beach, CA. It is always absolutely gorgeous there. We've been doing this for 15 years and it never gets old. It kind of feels like home now. I got to spend an entire week on the beach...I never drove anywhere and I never put on a droplet of make up. It was wonderfully relaxing.

It feels good to be back in my normal routine. I am glad to be back to work and my wonderful clients. It's amazing how much normal life means to a person. I love vacations, but if that was all I did it wouldn't be a vacation anymore.

Lovely to see you all again and read your lovely blogs!

CIAO!

Salon Photo Shoot

2011-07-01T22:00:00.000-07:00

Just a quick hello to share the pictures from our salon photo shoot. I think they came out AMAZING!!!! I just love where I work! In case you all can't tell...I'm the midget redhead in every picture :)

CIAO!

Update

2011-06-30T08:42:00.000-07:00

So I haven't been the greatest about blogging recently. My life has gotten out-of-control busy! I am not exaggerating. You know that feeling when you are so busy that you think your brain is going to explode? Yeah...that was me.

About a week and a half ago a good friend of mine taught me and my gal pal how to make an authentic Italian sauce. We had so much fun an it tasted delicious! I've made it once more since then. It is out of this world!

Us girls chopping onions (my eyes teared like crazy).

We spent last weekend in Tucson, AZ (not the most beautiful place) for a convention. It was great to see all of my old friends and also nice to hear wonderful information. Hopefully I can remember most of it and put it to good use in my personal life.
Me and my sister in Tucson

Yesterday was a photo shoot for our salon. We are trying really hard to do some advertising and make a name for ourselves. It was fun, but I realize that I shouldn't quit my day job. I'm a terrible model. The minute the camera is in my face I freeze up...not pretty.

That's me standing up. I refused to sit down and wrinkle my skirt.

That's just a brief overview of some of the things I did in June. July is my vacation month. I will be in New York from July 6th through the 12th. I get home, work for three days and leave for Newport Beach, CA on the 16th through the 23rd. I most likely won't be here to blog for about three weeks. So everyone enjoy your summer vaca and I will see you when I get back!

Kisses and forehead licks! CIAO!!!!

Bridal Shoot Part II

2011-06-17T13:53:00.000-07:00

Just a brief note today. I've had an absolutely wonderful past couple of days. Looking forward to even better times ahead :)

Here are a few more pictures of my bridal shoot. I'll let them speak for themselves. Have a glorious weekend!

Ciao!

Before

Me and most of the girls.

Secret Secrets

2011-06-16T07:53:00.000-07:00

I have a not so secretive secret to share today. Everyone has a secret nerdy thing about them. Most people can hide their "thing", but mine is sorta out there in the open. I LOVE karaoke! I could do it anytime of the day or night. It's sort of strange because I have major stage fright when it comes to singing in front of people. My first song of the evening is always shaky and terrible...but then I get warmed up and it's not so bad.

When I tell people about my secret hobby they always ask, "Do you sing well?" My response is always the same. "I can carry a tune, but it really is a matter of opinion." I figure some people might enjoy my voice, while others might think it sounds more like nails on a chalkboard :)

I'm going to be brave today and post a clip from one of my karaoke nights from a while back. I have to thank all of my friends for being good sports and accompanying me on these outings. I'm sure it isn't always fun for them. I owe them one!

A Moment in Time

2011-06-10T16:18:00.000-07:00

It's Friday. This means I still have one more day of work this week...Saturday. But that's okay. I've finally learned that working Saturday isn't all that bad. On Monday, I'm chilling poolside while the rest of the world is sweating hard at work. I'll take it. I can have breakfast at the best places without having to brave big crowds of annoying people. All in all...I have the best job!

This week has been fairly uneventful. And by that I mean drama free. SOOOOO NICE! I've decided to take the drama out of my life and just enjoy everything. A friend/client said to me today that his life is made up almost completely of "moments" (not an exact quote...but you get the idea). That sounded so nice to me. I want my life to be full of those special moments. That means enjoying everything you do and finding delight in it. It also means not letting every little thing bother you and stress you out.

So! I'm starting this today. I am going to enjoy my weekend...it's a very laid back one! I'm not going to stress out about money. I am going to fill my days with things that bring me happiness. Here goes nothing....:D

A Taste of my Work

2011-06-08T11:34:00.000-07:00

On Monday my best girlfriend and I decided to put together a bridal photo shoot. She is an amazing photographer! We decided to scratch each others back and help to build our portfolios. Here are a few of the pictures so far. She did an outstanding job! Hair and makeup was done by yours truly.

We had such a great time! Lots of laughing and goofing off! There are more pics to come....this is just a taste!

Heart of Stone

2011-06-05T10:49:00.000-07:00

At what point in a person's life do they start to think that they own the world and deserve to control others? Sometimes people try to control you by not doing anything...taking a stand of silence. But does this really work? Does purposefully hurting the people closest to you really make you feel happy on the inside? How can you be pleased with your actions?

These are questions that have been running through my mind over the years. I'm not sure if there are any answers. I know that when I'm treated this way, it really does cut me deep in to my heart. I take it very personally and instantly wonder what I've done to deserve to be cut off.

I'm the type of person that believes that no one deserves to be stripped from my friendship. I would be there for someone til the day I die. I understand that people are not perfect. We all make mistakes and don't handle situations properly. But I always think that when there is a difference between two people, it never is just one persons fault. That's where communication is key.

People who fail to communicate properly or feel that they are always right will never be able to settle a difficult situation. It's easier for them to run away then to face it head on and struggle through the turbulence until it's smooth sailing. But I think that at the end of the day....you can run but you can't hide. Eventually it will catch up with you in another way. With different people and different situations. All having the same outcome. We all have to try and mend the broken part of us. Otherwise we'll end up chasing our tail...trying to blame everyone else when we get dizzy.

Loyal love is hard to find in friendships, family, and romantic relationships. If you find it don't take it for granted. And don't be quick to throw it away. A hardened attitude can turn to stone...leaving you with a lump of coal where your heart should be and an icy look in your eyes. But a person quick to cover over and have that unconditional love will always be warm and have that special something that draws us to them. I don't think there is any question which one I'd like to be!

I love you all and hope to always be a source of encouragement to everyone....especially those close to my heart!

Vacation Day

2011-05-31T08:33:00.000-07:00

I had a good day yesterday. In the morning I went and visited the Body Worlds exhibit at the Arizona Science Center. (I was so excited because they were charging $12 for parking in the garage, but since it was a holiday I scored free parking on the street!) The exhibit was really cool. I've never been before and being able to really study how the body looks under the skin really made me realize how intricately we are designed.

Later in the afternoon my girlfriend and I went to toast by the pool at a friends house.
It was a fairly cool day, so we didn't spend much time in the pool, but we did get to lounge in the cabana for a bit.

Suge wore his fancy sombrero for us and kept us company. I think everyone was sneaking him tastes of their food. He was one happy puppy!

I want to thank our wonderful host for allowing us the opportunity to enjoy all his stuff! I'm pretty sure we ran from room to room making a mess, the kitchen being the worst. But we appreciate your superb hospitality!!!! I wish every day was a vacation day!

White Trash Wednesday

2011-05-25T18:55:00.000-07:00

Today is "White Trash Wednesday". And let me tell you! We had a funny one. I couldn't help but snap this pic of my sister after she had spilled her coffee on her dress outside Circle K with that huge barrel of pop we call a Thirst Buster. Only in America can we get 44 ounces of fizzy, syrupy, sugary goodness for only 79 cents. It's no wonder that we spend so much time at the dentist and the gym....but whatever. Even though it was trashy, the "Buster" hit the spot! There is nothing wrong with a treat every now and then :) But I think I need to buy a sippy cup for Sunny's anniversary!

That's Amore!

2011-05-19T16:21:00.000-07:00

(my fab study group! they really are great people through and through! love you guys!)

Last night, after an extremely long day of activities, we had our Italian study group. Sounds so serious, but in reality we're just a table full of goof-offs trying to learn a language together. This makes it so much more enjoyable.

Even though we spent a lot of the time dreaming about trips to New York and Italy, we still got a lot accomplished. This month I think I see a lot of improvement. It isn't like we all suddenly understand and speak Italian, but our pronunciation is much better...not that I would really know :) But I am proud of us. All of our hard work has really paid off. Now all we need to do is actually use the little bits that we know.

(the magazine article that we studied. we only made it to paragraph 5, but an improvement. last time it was paragraph 2.)

Learning a new language has really been good for me. It keeps my mind occupied and fills my time with something useful. I notice that when a life-changing situation occurs in my life, I need something new to learn so that I feel that I am moving forward. I don't like feeling stagnant. I don't like the idea of always being the same. Maybe this is why I enjoy being a hair stylist. It allows me to be progressive. Styles are always changing. There are always new things to learn.

Anyways, I guess I'm in a good (and very busy) place in life. And I have one thing to say, "When the moon hit's your eye like a big pizza pie THAT'S AMORE!" I guess I'm in love with life :)

CIAO!

my taxes are haunting me

2011-05-16T08:39:00.001-07:00

I'm sitting here with a pile of checks that need to be deposited and should have been last week (like Wednesday). I also have in front of my mug a beautiful letter from the IRS asking me for my money. UGH!!!! So basically I'm having a panic attack trying to figure out how I'm supposed to pay my taxes for last year and save money for taxes this year. I realize I have a problem.

I always think that I am cheap. I hate spending my money. Usually people have to pry it out of my cold little fingers to get any of it. But I have one thing I will spend money on....CLOTHES! It isn't like I buy the most expensive clothes. I definitely bargain shop. I do have a love for designer clothes, but with places like Marshall's and Last Chance out there it's easy to get that gorgeous Coach purse at a very reasonable price. But I've learned that when you add up 4 designer items at a fairly reasonable price, it equals a lot of money.

I've decided to make a public promise so that I will have to be held to it. For the next two months I am not going to spend more than $50 a month on clothes. I know, I know...I should probably say I won't buy any clothes at all. But please. Let's be real for a minute. That is not going to happen to me. If I have one good quality, it's that I'm honest about the kind of person I am. Self-control is not my best quality (and neither is patience...a story for another day). I have to have a little bit of play time or I'll go crazy and buy the whole mall!

So if anyone hears about me making a huge purchase. Something that I don't need. Feel free to yell at me on Facebook, Twitter, or on my blog. I need a little help so I can pay off my yucky taxes!

Fire Babes!

2011-05-10T08:54:00.000-07:00

(My Bro-In-Law and his crew doing a news interview. He is the second one in on the left.)

So, my brother-in-law is a firefighter (AKA firebabe, as I like to call them lol) and I think I've never thought about his job before. A lot of my friends have said that they want to work for the fire department because they get to sit around watching TV in big comfy chairs and work out all day. I hate to break the news, but this is not exactly what it's like.

My sister and I were talking the other day and she started telling me about just a couple of his calls last week. I'm not going to repeat them in this post, I don't want anyone to depress anyone. But let me tell you, it is AWFUL! I'm scarred for life and I've only heard the stories! I can't even imagine having to see it all first hand and being a part of the situation.

In his book "Timequake", Kurt Vonnegut said, "Hooray for firemen. Scum of the Earth as some of them may be, they can all be saints in emergencies." I used to think that was funny because it was slightly true of some. However, now I think that if you are working hard to save my life, at that moment I don't really care what you do in your personal life. You will be a hero to me.

I now have a lot more appreciation for our firefighters. They work so hard to save our lives and deal with things us normal people can't. So, thank you fellas for your hard work! I know it involves more than driving around in a big truck with your buddies. It's something that comes from your hearts. You really are brave men!

Emily at Revolver Hair Studio- Summer Special!

2011-05-03T17:04:00.000-07:00

Party of 1

2011-04-26T20:09:00.000-07:00

Tonight I saw something that really made me be thankful for my life. I was getting take out Chinese food and saw this sweet, little old man eating all alone. He looked so sad and lonely. I started wondering what his life used to be like. I'm sure he was married with a good job and a nice family. But as time had moved on I'm sure things changed. Watching him almost made me want to sit down and give him some company.

The thing is, we can never ensure eternal happiness. It isn't one specific thing that makes our life perfect. We will never have that complete feeling of contentment. I guess life is all about living from one happy moment to the next with a little bit of yuck in between. Focusing on the good moments is what gets us through the garbage.

So tonight I want everyone to think about what they are truly thankful for. And appreciate all of the good things and good people that are in their lives. You never know when that will fade....and you never know when you'll be eating your dinner alone with nothing but an empty chair facing you.

boredom in the making

2011-04-23T19:27:00.000-07:00

I haven't exactly been inspired to write recently. Everything that I've been doing in my life seems pretty unimportant. Every week is almost the same as the week before. I used to say that there is something comforting about being consistent. But now I'm thinking I said that because I wanted to have a consistent lifestyle. Or all of this could just be a bunch of mumbo jumbo.

All I know is that I don't want a whole lot of drama anymore. I've had enough drama the last few years to hold me over for a lifetime. Some people thrive on it. I think when I was young and immature I did also. Now I want nothing more than normalcy....well, as normal as someone like me can have.

I am proud to say that I am reaching the goals that I have set for myself. I'm also proud to say that I have evolved. Sounds strange, but true. I think about the things that I wanted to do and the people I wanted to hang out with just a few years ago and I realize I don't want that anymore. No more crazy late nights (maybe once in a while I'd like to say up late laughing my head off).

I look at the things that a lot of the people around my age are doing as far as recreation goes and I realize...it's pretty lame. It's the stuff you do when you're 21, not 29. Perhaps I'm becoming boring in my old age or a fuddy duddy, but whoopin' it up makes me tired.

I'd much prefer to have my closest and dearest friends surround me. Maybe a bottle of wine, and some good conversation, and a great view. That's the stuff a good life is made of! The only thing that concerns me is that this attitude is how you stay single FOREVER! But in the words of Scarlet O'hara, "I won't think about that today. I'll think about that tomorrow." (Or maybe never.)

I No Speaka Italian

2011-04-14T08:36:00.000-07:00

I'm starting to get very frustrated with learning Italian. I thought that my background in Spanish would help, but not really. Last night I poured over these two paragraphs in an Italian magazine and got confused out of my mind. It's possible that I'm making it harder than I need to.

Learning Spanish was so much easier! I understand that we live in a country where Spanish is no longer a foreign language, but the second language. I suppose that I've always had an ear for it since I grew up around people who spoke it. Sometimes I wonder if I should just stick to Spanish.

Wouldn't it be lovely if I could just totally immerse myself in the language by going to Italy? That's wishful thinking...any extra money that I have goes to the IRS (I just love those fellas). *Sigh* I guess I'll just have to settle for Italian night at my friends and going to the meetings in Italian.

Well....whatever. I'm determined to figure this language out. I'm hoping that if I keep working hard at it, one day it will all just click! Italian is such a beautiful language! And I want to be able to speak it beautifully!

So until next time.....CIAO!

BASEBALL!!!!

2011-04-10T14:57:00.001-07:00

I have so many things to talk about and so little writing space :) As usual, I'm about 2 weeks between blogs. Between work, getting the flu, and everything else life throws at you, I have little extra time. I would complain, but I don't have time to :) First on the list for discussion...my sister, Sunny (http://thatextra20pounds.blogspot.com/), and I decided to head to the last game of Spring Training. It was at the new baseball diamond in Scottsdale called Talking Stick. LOVED IT! We had a fabulous time! We ate hot dogs, nachos (which had a hair in it...nasty), and drank pop. We both super blew our diets, but it was well worth the calorie-fest. Sitting in the sunshine, getting a sunburn was absolutely wonderful. The Mariners won and so did we because we somehow scored free parking. Great day! Unfortunately, this week I had the flu. Bummer! It was probably the worst I've ever felt in a long time. But...the show must go on! I still had to force myself out of bed to do some work. Today I finally feel myself again. I was able to go to Zumba this morning and even get some food down. Now that's what I call a successful day! I hope all of my readers have been in good health and are ready to spring into Spring! I'll see you all next time!!! CIAO!!!

The Superiority Complex

2011-03-29T07:26:00.001-07:00

I have a rant today. I am so sick of people having a superiority complex. It has to be one of the most ugly things I have ever seen. And trust me....I see them a lot! I don't know why, but I always attract people that think they are the closest thing to perfection. Their opinion is the most important. They have the best taste. They know what looks best on everyone. They are the only one who is living their life properly. Everyone else is just an annoyance to them and if only they could control the rest of the world it would be a more perfect place. So why do people feel this way? I wish I could understand. I'm pretty sure that I land more on the inferiority side. It seems that the people I have been surrounded by (a lot of them anyways) have told me that I wasn't good enough. And they have been very specific when we have this conversation. To be perfectly honest, this cuts me so deeply. I carry with me all of the ways that I have been unable to measure up. I think people think that because I am a strong woman and hold myself together well in any situation, that I like to be told what's wrong with me and it doesn't hurt me when you pitch me aside. Well, to all you people who have done this...(not that any of them will read this)...it does hurt. And I carry with me wounds that I've worked hard to heal, but have left a scar. I know I will never live up to some people's standards. I'm just me. That may not be very special to you, but it's all I got. At some point, in all of these relationships, I have just shrugged my shoulders and realized that there wasn't much I could do to fix it (and trust me, I have tried). Any relationship ,platonic or romantic, takes work on both sides. There are always reasons we each have to forgive and be forgiven....and then move on. We need to appreciate each other for the wonderful qualities we do have and not focus on the junk. So, I love all of the great friends I have! You have made my life a better place! Thanks for loving me for who I am and not inflicting your superiority complex on me :D

Maka Hair Show

2011-03-28T07:45:00.000-07:00

Another weekend passed so busy that I didn't even have much time to think. I did all my usual stuff...work, meeting, and study. Besides all the normal stuff that happens on my weekends, I threw in a baby shower and a hair show to boot. The baby shower was great! I love seeing my friends with their cute baby bumps. The weather has been so perfect here, so they had it on their back patio with white tents. Each of the tables had fresh cut roses. It was so pretty. Of course, me being so nontraditional, my gift was the only one not wrapped in pretty pastel paper. It was black with yellow and white polka dot ribbon. I still thought it was pretty even though it stuck out like a sore thumb. Now, on to my favorite part of the weekend. The Maka hair show. It was FAN-TAS-TIC!!!! I really enjoy them because it's a fun day. You're in and out of classes. You're outside checking out product and the models. And you get the most delicious brunch! This show takes place at the Valley Ho here in Scottsdale...and let me tell you....the bacon is to-die-for! I mean it! I spent $59 to go to this show mostly because I wanted that bacon again :) Besides the yummy food, I really enjoyed the classes. One thing I learned that I plan on putting to use is sewing in up dos instead of pinning them in. This gives your creation more support without having a million bobby pins weighing down the hair. Another class I took was on men's haircutting. My clientele is predominantly male, so I look forward to using the new techniques and also spoiling my "Hero's" a little more (i.e. hot towels for their face, hand massages). I also got to meet Oscar Bond. He won NAHA last year for his fabulous haircuts. He is a GENIUS! His class was so great. I definitely learned some new things about face shape that I will be using. I was so tired when I got home last night, but all in all....it was worth it! I'm a happy camper and hair stylist :D

Reading Getaway

2011-03-17T07:28:00.000-07:00

Lately I have been able to escape from reality through books. Many people usually do this through liquor and partying, or never allowing their brains to rest...being busy with people and going places. I've decided the best way to clear my mind is by reading.

We all need a break once in a while. We need time where we aren't thinking about the stressful things in life. Working out is always a good way to do that, but I notice my mind still wanders back to the things lingering over my head...taxes, bills, work, and such. But my books allow me the joy of visiting someone else's life for a while. Reading their story allows my imagination to take over. It's almost like taking a vacation...a brain vacation.

So if you have a book that you think I would enjoy, please let me know! I'm always looking for a new author or a new book to read. My stack is piling high on my nightstand...but I have plenty of time to get to it.

I hope you all have been able to find a way to escape the pressures of life. If not try something new...well...not so new...READING!

Jane Eyre

2011-03-11T16:28:00.001-08:00

I just finished watching the best version of "Jane Eyre" that I have ever seen. It was the BBC version through "Masterpiece Theater". I LOVED it!

That movie really seemed to stir up a lot of emotion for me. I'm not exactly sure why. It isn't like I'm a plain looking orphan who was left at the alter by a man who already had a wife. She isn't even a real person. But for some reason it touched my heart.

Looking at her life, I felt so bad for her. She never had any family to love her and when she finally was loved it was taken away from her in a moments notice. She had no choice. She was disappointed and seemingly hopeless.

Perhaps that is something that I identified with. Her sadness and disappointment was out of her control. And no matter what she did, she felt she would never find that love again. But like all fictitious stories, there was a happy ending and she got almost exactly what she wanted.

I think that my happy ending is half-way written. And if it never is completely written, I still could die a happy girl. Do I have regrets over the decisions I have made in my life? Certainly! We all do. But I feel that I have learned from my mistakes and grown above and beyond all of these things. This is what has brought me true contentment...and for this I am happy...perhaps my happy ending has been written after all.

True happiness and contentment are the keys to living life. All the other things that I want but can't have are minor details...I think. Either way, I'm pleased with what I have and how far I have come. That's the best I can do.

Long Time No Write

2011-03-04T06:35:00.000-08:00

It has just occurred to me that I have not blogged in a few weeks. WOW! That is kind of unusual. I guess that is a sign that things are very busy...busy in a good way. But it's time to take a second to breath and reflect.

Things are finally back to normal for me. I'm glad about that. It's taken hard work, but it was absolutely worth it! Everything that started out as work now is second nature and I am enjoying it so much! I'm glad all of the hard stuff is behind me. Now it is just smooth sailing from here on end...I hope :)

Yesterday was a GREAT day! I did volunteer work with people who speak only Spanish. I'm pretty impressed with how much I remember. I thought it was all gone for sure. But I was able to hold my own and with a little help from my best friend, we had a fun and successful day! I hope to be able to do this again soon.

This coming Saturday I am teaching a line dance class. A lot of you may not know this, but I was a swing and line dance instructor for 7 years. I haven't taught for 5, though, so I'm a little bit nervous to be in front of a class again. I'm excited at the same time. I'll be sure to post pictures next week!

I hope you all are having a lovely week and look forward to fun things this weekend!

My Journey of Self-Improvement

2011-02-17T09:23:00.000-08:00

On my journey of self-improvement, I have come across so many helpful things. I picked up the book "Understanding the Enneagram (the practical guide to personality types)" and really learned a lot about myself and people in general.

Each and every one of us has a decision to make. We can either be a good or bad version of ourselves. This is a scary thought, but we have total control over who we become and what version we choose to be.

The book says that I am personality type Seven: The Enthusiast-spontaneous, versatile, distractable, and excessive. At my best I "assimilate experiences in depth, becoming appreciative and grateful, enthralled by the wonders of life." I can be "multi talented,...practical, productive, and prolific." But I have to be careful because "unhealthy Sevens are very easily and quickly frustrated, becoming rude...as they demand whatever it is they believe they need to keep their growing panic under control." I also can be "terrified by [my] growing inner chaos, [I] act out impulses rather than dealing with anxiety."

Unfortunately, I can see all the good and bad in me. So how do I control this? Obviously I will never be perfect and will always have these bad tendencies...but I can't just roll over and say, "This is me. Nothing I can do." That is just UNACCEPTABLE!

The books says that I need to recognize my impulses and then let them pass rather than giving in to them. That way I can figure out which ones are worth acting on. "The more [I] can resist acting on [my] impulses, the more [I] will be able to focus on what is really good for [me]." I'm really going to have to work hard on this. I, most definitely, am led by emotion...sometimes a very bad thing. I need to learn to take a breath and a step back so that I can make good, balanced decisions.

It also brought out that "most good opportunities will come back again-and [I] will be in a better position to discern which opportunities really are best for [me]." So not being scared to let things go and let time pass is really important. Just because something good goes away doesn't mean that I can't find it again...and it be GREAT!

I think I have learned so much from this book. We all have so much to work on and by being aware and putting forth effort, we all can be the best version of ourselves. I know I try to be.

But remember, "A person does not have to be perfect to be good. Give yourself the true satisfaction of becoming human, not inhumanly perfect."

Sushi Party

2011-02-15T07:04:00.000-08:00

Last weekend was a good weekend. I had Saturday completely off, which doesn't happen often. My sister and I spent the morning at the farmer's market here in Scottsdale and we also got to listen to the band "Code Blue" play at the Parada Del Sol party. The weather was so beautiful and we got to eat some delicious food too...always a good combination!

That evening my friend Zach had a sushi party. He is an AMAZING sushi chef! (He works at Shimogamo in Chandler.) He was kind enough to host a party at his house. The sushi was absolutely fantastic! This is the second party I have been to and I still say that his sushi is better than any other...and I've tried it all...believe me.

It was nice to relax, see old friends and make some new ones at the same time. It seems to me that entertaining people at your home is a dying art. But Zach is always a good host. So...thank you, Zach, for putting forth all of that effort to show us all a good time! The sushi was outstanding, as always, and the evening was a success! You're the best!!!

Emily at Revolver Hair Studio

2011-02-03T18:25:00.000-08:00

February is Client Appreciation Month. Check out what I'm going to pamper all my clients with! You get a FREE brow, lip, or chin wax with your hair service!

Go to http://emilycutsmyhair.blogspot.com to take a look at my service menu.

Thanks!

Elizabeth Gilbert's Wisdom

2011-02-03T05:36:00.000-08:00

I was watching the news yesterday and the author Elizabeth Gilbert was on. She was talking about her new book "Committed" (which I am very excited to read). It was interesting, though, because she started to talk a bit about her last book, "Eat, Pray, Love".

I'm sure all of my readers know how much I love this book. But she said something that made me think. She said how she wrote the book to talk about her journey through life to find herself, get through all of these emotions, finding love in the process...all of these feelings being very unique to her. But the funny part was that she realized that it really wasn't that unique at all. Women everywhere feel exactly the same way that she did. That made so much sense to me!

I started thinking about all of the situations that bring up all of these different emotions that I have felt...and it's true...all (or most) women know exactly what you are going through. Take my recent situation as an example. The closest friends that know details of my life have been able to sympathize with me. They can comfort me because they have been through similar situations. They can tell me it will be okay and I can believe them...they are living proof of this statement.

So, it brings this question to mind: Why do we always tell people that they don't understand our situation? Perhaps it is because when you are knee deep in troubles and swimming in your own tears, you drown that little voice of reason that lives inside of you. You want to WALLOW in it! While this isn't always a bad emotion, you just can't let it get the best of you. That is what I've learned. You have to go out there and get your happiness! If you don't, you'll be missing out on so much in life.

It's like I always say, "You gotta fake it til you make it." I'm not saying be a phony. I'm saying put that fake smile on your face and go out and search for your happiness. Eventually that smile will be accompanied by that glitter in your eyes and that glow in your cheeks that you once had. That fake smile you plastered on your mug will now be genuine! THAT is when everything turns out okay :)

Pretty in Pink Curlers

2011-01-31T13:44:00.000-08:00

Today I was at Target with my sister looking at random items. I picked up a bag of pink sponge curlers. You remember those...the ones that Jan Brady wore at night. Man! Did those bring back a lot of memories!

I remember saving my money for months when I was a little girl, so that I could buy those (they cost around $8). I was so excited when I brought them home. The idea is to put them in after you shampoo your hair, sleep with them, and in the morning have beautiful bouncing curls! What I didn't know is that my hair was already wavy and when I put those tiny pink curlers in my hair curled up so much that I looked like the trashy version of Shirley Temple. The other thing I didn't think about was how uncomfortable it would be to sleep with those suckers in my hair. I'm pretty sure I was awake all night because of those dadgum curlers!

The next morning I woke up with ugly hair and I was so tired that I didn't have the time or energy to fix it. I remember putting a clip to pull back half of it and went to school. All day long, I would look in the mirror to see tight curls with kinks in them ( I wasn't very good at setting hair back then) and bangs that were curled so tight you could see my whole forehead. UGLY!

Seeing those curlers today made me laugh. I sure have come a long way when it comes to styling hair! Who knew that those silly pink, sponge curlers would be the beginning of a life-long love affair with hair styling :)

Sunday Happy Day!

2011-01-30T09:51:00.000-08:00

I have had such a busy week, I don't know where to begin. It seems like I didn't take much time for relaxing. This isn't a bad thing, but I decided to take today off to do whatever I want to do. The pile of clean laundry that is begging me to fold it will just have to wait until the evening or tomorrow and my broken credit card machine at work will just have to fix itself...I wish.

Right now my eyebrow is twitching like CRAZY! I think this is a sure sign that I need to take a deep breath and let my brain take a vacation. Ah! It feels so nice!

This very moment, I am dressed for the gym. I just love working out! It seems to be the best release my body and mind can have. I think today I deserve a smoothie after my workout. I've been doing really good about saving money by cooking at home, getting some of my bills down and not wasting money on mani's and pedi's and such.

So, enjoy your Sunday everyone! Make sure you spend a little time on yourself before the hectic week begins again tomorrow!

The Opinion of a Friend or Foe

2011-01-23T10:54:00.000-08:00

A friend was kind enough to point out to me this weekend that I am a total mess. They feel that I have so much work to do on myself. And just because I get sad once in a while over "things", that means I'm not okay. Can I really call this person my friend? Or am I really a mess?

These are questions that run through my head. It's hard to know what the truth is through all the sludge. Everyone has their opinion of me and how I handle myself. For some crazy reason, I had it in my head that I had made great improvements and I was starting to feel very optimistic about life. But, how do I know if I've improved?

Doesn't everyone get sad once in a while? I think this is normal. It's normal to express emotion. It's how we deal with things...make sense of it. Another friend told me a long time ago that it isn't often that we get to feel these emotions, so enjoy it...feel it...and then move on. That sort of makes sense to me. If every time you feel an emotion that you don't want you just force it aside and never face it head on, it will just turn in to this big, ugly monster that one day will show it's nasty head and you'll crush beneath the weight and fall to pieces. BUT! By dealing with things as they come, it's easier to pull it together.

I'm not sure if any of this makes sense. It may just be another crazy thought from my emotional self. But no matter... I just keep on moving forward...fighting for improvements. Eventually, I'll be on top.

Whether anyone believes it or not, I really do try to work on who I am on the inside. Undesirable characteristics always exist, but by being constantly aware...and constantly reminded...I can constantly improve. Let's hope it won't go unnoticed ;)

French Woman Don't Get Fat

2011-01-18T07:11:00.000-08:00

I've never really had a huge weight problem. In high school I was so scrawny that a friend's parents asked if I had an eating disorder and a boy told me that I had knobby knees. I always ate what I wanted, but I exercised all the time. I took dance and loved to run.

After high school things sort of changed. It isn't that I put on incredible amounts of weight, but I couldn't eat all the junk I wanted anymore. I was working in an office as a secretary, so I didn't move as much as I did when I was in school. My clothes were still a size 4/5....but really tight (and I'm only 5'4"). I started buying size 6's...ugh!

I finally learned how to watch what I ate and I quit that god-forsaken job. I dropped down to my normal weight and felt so much better. The stomach pains subsided and I started buying clothes in a size 2/3. Yay!

Since then, 5 lbs come and go...come and go. It's never been much of a problem to get it off. But here's the problem. I'm 29...this year I'll be 30....then 31....then 40 hits! It's getting harder and harder to lose those few pounds and I don't wany any more creeping in.

My sister loaned me a book called "French Women Don't Get Fat''. It's a great book! I'm not going to be as hardcore as the girl in the book was. I just want to reboot my body and lose about 4 lbs. So, for the day I am eating this delicious leek soup that I made.

-I did a pound of leeks (or you can do pearl onions...I added some red ones for sweetness) and covered them in water.
-Boiled them, than brought it down to a simmer for 20 minutes.
-I added sea salt and pepper for flavor.
-Separated the leeks and broth.

Today I'll eat a cup or so of the broth every 2-3 hours and at meals or when I'm hungry have a half a cup of yummy leeks with olive oil, salt and pepper,lemon juice and some cilantro.

I decided not to work out today, because I'm not going to be eating any protein and when I work out...I WORK OUT! So, we'll see how this goes. I'm hoping tomorrow I will feel amazing and my body will be recharged and ready for healthy food choices :)

A Little Italian and Some Diner Food Mixed In

2011-01-17T09:40:00.000-08:00

Sometimes a relaxing weekend can still have a lot packed in to it. That seems to be how most of my weekends go. I always think at the beginning of the week that I will get a lot done around the house on the weekend, but by the time it arrives I've filled my days up with fun outings.

On Saturday I was able to attend the Italian meeting. It was so great! There were so many people there! Many of them were kind enough to come all the way from San Diego to support our group. I was pretty surprised how much I understood. My background in speaking Spanish really helped me out a lot and I feel like I could pick up Italian very easily. I have exactly one month to do some homework and see how much I can learn on my own. This is one of the things that I will add to my goal map...learn to speak and read Italian.

Sunday, my sister and I decided to try this new restaurant in Phoenix. It's called Joe's Diner. Not only are the biscuits and gravy TO-DIE-FOR, but it is so reasonably priced that you can't believe it. We both ate ourselves into a coma for the mere price of $11.89. Where can you get a deal like that for two people?

That evening I made a quick visit to Four Peaks Brewery. I wasn't really in the mood for beer, but they have the best root beer. Four Peaks brings back a lot of memories of my early 20's. It's so nice to chill and eat good food, all the while laughing with friends and whoever happens to overhear your conversation :)

After eating we went back to my girlfriend's house and I finished the night and weekend by cuddling with Martini...the cutest little Yorkie!

All in all....a good weekend. The only problem is I ate my weight in carbs and butter. SO! Starting tomorrow I'm going to do leek soup for the day and maybe some veggies to give my system a break from the junk. I'd start today, but everyone always says they'll start their diet on Monday and never do...I feel like being a diet rebel :)

Weekend Update

2011-01-10T07:53:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you, but I had such a fantastic weekend! It went by so incredibly fast, but I got to spend a lot of time with good friends doing fun things :)

On Saturday, we woke up super early (4:30 a.m.) and took a drive up to Snowbowl for a day of snowboarding. I was too excited to really sleep the night before. It felt like I was a 10 year old getting ready to go to Disneyland.

The snow was good and the day was beautiful! The sun was shining and I even took off my scarf and gloves for a bit. Of course, I'm not so great at snowboarding yet. I don't go enough to be good. I pretty much fell down a lot, but every time I go I get better...that's what keeps me coming back for more :)

On the drive back from Flagstaff, we got a flat tire. That was a bummer. We were missing a very important piece of equipment for tire changing...we didn't have part of the jack. But, with a little creative thinking we were able to change the tire on the side of the highway without being run over by a truck and made it home by 9 p.m.

Sunday morning I woke up soooooo sore. It was mostly in my arms, so doing my hair seemed like a chore. My soreness didn't stop me from enjoying my day. That evening my sister and I met up with some friends. My BFF, Tarrah, and her husband came and brought some of their friends.

We went to Kazimierz in Old Town Scottsdale. I absolutely love that place! The have a sign that says, "Like all good speakeasy's, the entrance is hidden in the rear." The entrance is sort of off the beaten path and they don't have an obvious sign. I think that is what makes this place so great. It's hidden away and feels like your in another world. I had their house shot, which I can never get enough of. It's nothing less than amazing. And as usual...a glass of bubbly. To eat I ordered the Gouda plate. It comes with yummy crunchy bread, grapes, green apples, pecans and, of course, Gouda.

Even though my weekend wasn't full of earth shattering events, it was enough to make me smile. Sometimes it's the simple things in life that bring you the most enjoyment. I hope you all had a great weekend!

2011...The Year I Turn 30....

2011-01-03T08:37:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure how I feel about 2011. I'm definitely happy to have a fresh start to a new year. Not that 2010 was all bad. I had a lot of fun and a lot of things that made me smile. There was just too much junk mixed in between.

The only problem with this new year is that every month brings me one month closer to 30. It isn't that I'm afraid of growing up. I'm glad I'm not 21 anymore. I'm much wiser and much more settled in life. 30 just sounds like a scary number.

When I was younger, I thought that my life would be completely planned out and I'd be exactly where I wanted to be by the time I was 30. Although I am partway there, I still have things that I want to accomplish. So, perhaps I'm not scared of 30....maybe I'm just disappointed in myself for not being who I thought I'd be.

The good thing is that I still have 9 months to get it all together. I have my goal map to get me started in the right direction. I've been working on a few of the things that I put on my map. So far, so good. I have made progress, although minimal, and that makes me feel good.

So, it's farewell to 2010 and my beautiful 20's. I'm excited to see what 2011 will bring! This may be my year for happiness beyond all of my expectations! I hope all of you find more happiness than you could ever ask for and I wish for all your dreams to come true!

The Fiesta Bowl Parade

2011-01-01T07:16:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was one of the coldest days here in Phoenix. My sister and I decided to brave the freezing weather and go the Fiesta Bowl Parade. For some reason my sister doesn't own any winter clothes, so she was freezing to death. But we still had fun, even though I thought my nose was going to fall off.

Once the parade started we forgot about how cold we were. This was the first time I've ever been to this parade. It was pretty cool. We got to see quite a few marching bands, which have a special place in my heart (I used to play in the band all throughout my school years). I had to take a picture of my people, the flutists :)

We also got to see Kurt Warner. Sunny turned to me and said, "Who's that again?" HELLO?! He was the amazing quarter back that took the Cardinals to the Superbowl...oh yeah...and his wife was there too.

No parade would be complete without a bunch of old ladies dancing around. The Sun City Pom Pom's were there. I have to say that the ladies had the best legs! It made me almost want to join their troop.

After the parade I went to lunch with a couple of friends at Postino Winebar and had dessert next door and La Grande Orange.
Even though I complained the whole day about being cold, I had a great time. Yesterday showed me that you don't have to spend a lot of money or go somewhere fancy to have a good time. It's all in the company you have with you and your attitude. You can be happy anywhere, doing anything.

Darkness or Thoughts?

2010-12-30T07:21:00.000-08:00

I was remembering last night how my 7th grade English teacher used to have us journal. She would ask us to close our eyes and write about what we saw. Most people,when they close their eyes, see only darkeness. I realized last night that I don't.

When I close my eyes, that's when my imagination takes over. My mind runs at a million miles an hour from thought to thought. They aren't disquieting thoughts, just different things that have happened to me or that I want to happen.

Does this mean that I am a dreamer? I think it does. But I'm okay with that. I'd rather be a dreamer and see something inside my head than only see darkness.

What do you see on the inside of your eyelids? Do you see a slideshow of memories and ideas? Or do you just see an endless space of darkness?

My Goal Map

2010-12-23T17:42:00.000-08:00

I finally hunkered down and made a goal map. I wasn't exactly sure how to go about doing this (I'm not sure if this is just something that I've made up). I sat for a bit, thinking about where I am now in life. I decided to start there.

My life now doesn't seem as amazing as I want it to be, but it's a start. It can all only go up from here. So, I wrote down what I am and what I'm doing now. From there I wrote down where I want to be and what goals I want to attain in a month. Then I took it to 6 months, then a year, then 5 years, and finally 10 years.

I understand that things can always change. None of these things are written in stone, but it's nice to have some direction. A person can't go through life skidding along with as few roadblocks as possible...just hoping that everything will work out and not have a plan. That would be an easy life, but I don't think I could be content with that. I have so many things that I want to achieve and be. I'm not a lump and don't want to be a lump. I want to be the best person I can be with a life full of happiness and wonderful experiences.

I've had these things in the past and I look forward to a beautiful and hopeful future. John M. Richardson Jr. said, "When it comes to the future, there are three kinds of people: those who let it happen, those who make it happen, and those who wonder what happened." I'm taking it one day at a time and making it happen!

San Diego Highlights

2010-12-16T09:45:00.001-08:00

Last weekend was my short visit to San Diego. It couldn't have come at a better time. I went to visit my cousin and her husband and we jammed so much stuff in that weekend. I had a great time and I'm so glad that I went. It was nice to relax with family and friends, meet new people, and have a change of scenery. We all need that once in a while. Takes our mind of the junky stuff in life.

Not too long after I landed we went for brunch. We had Mexican food and drinks. Margaritas are not my friend, so I had a yummy mimosa. It was DE-LI-CIOUS! After that we went to Old Town to do some shopping. Cousin Joey and I decided to get our faces painted while we were there.

Joey liked his so much that he decided to wear it to his surprise anniversary party later that night. I wasn't as brave as he was. I scrubadubdubbed until mine was fully removed :)

The next day we made a trip up to Julian. I had never been there before and wasn't sure what to expect. It is such a sweet town. Reminds me a lot of Pine and Strawberry, so I felt like I was home. They are known for having yummy apple pie and cider. Of course, I decided to order cherry pie. I don't know what I was thinking but it still hit the spot.

On Monday,I got to go to school with Cousin Courtney. It was strange to be back in the classroom, but she has such a cute room and is a wonderful teacher. I wish I had a cool teacher like her when I was in 8th grade.

Later that day, us girls went to Coronado. I LOVE it there! It is so beautiful. The weather was absolutely amazing! 80 degrees and sun-shiny. I had a drink at my favorite hotel ,The Del(this is where my favorite movie "Some Like It Hot" was filmed), took a walk in the sunshine along the beach, watched people ice skate with tank tops on right beside the ocean, and had lunch at "Tent City" (it's not what you think AZ people).

I flew out that night completely exhausted, but glad I came. We stuffed a lot in this weekend, but I couldn't ask for anything more. Thank you to my family for their hospitality and kindness! I love you all and hope I can return the favor someday :)

2010-12-14T08:19:00.000-08:00

I don't think that it is any secret to anyone that these last few months have been the hardest thing I've ever had to go through. Now, the next unknown amount of time may be harder. Things don't seem to be working out for me. But no matter what happens, the sun always rises and the days continue on and there isn't a thing I can do about it. All I can do is wake up and fulfill my obligations in life. I can try to have some happiness, even though I carry a lump of lead where my heart should be.

My cousin told me that I need to take time to put myself back together again. I don't think that I am this mess of a person that can't function or be a normal, but I think that means finding happiness however it comes to me.

I just know that I need to be smart about this. Make good decisions. I have watched so many people try to find happiness for that moment. Once your magical moments wear off and you're back to reality, it's only worse than before.

I think I need to write down a goal map for myself. Where I want to be in the next 6 months, the next year, the next 5 years. All I know is that putting these pieces back together has to start today. Not tomorrow, not the day after. Cause I don't want anymore rain on these sun-shiny days....easier said than done....

Taking a break

2010-11-22T08:37:00.001-08:00

There comes a time in everyone's life where they hit rock bottom. I think this is mine. Being deleted from someone's life is excrutiatingly painful. Knowing that you have done something so bad to someone that they can't even stand the thought of having you anywhere near them tears your heart out and smashes it into dust.

I've talked so much in past posts about changing who I am and becoming a better person. But at this moment it's really hard...I took 10 steps up on the ladder of self-improvment and now it seems I've been pushed down the ladder, falling flat on my back and knocking the wind out of my soul.

People say that time will make things better. But when you're staring a horrible situation in the face it's hard to think it will be better. I can't help but be overwhelmed with this. I'm not the kind of person that let's things swallow them whole...but I can't seem to figure this one out. It's bigger than I am. And much more confusing.

So, I'm going to take a break from my blogging and my facebook. I have a lot to figure out.

Echo Coffee

2010-11-19T20:27:00.000-08:00

Normally, Saturday is the day that I set aside to do my studying for my Sunday meeting, but this Saturday I have to work from morning til night and know that I won't feel like using my brain to read by the time I get home. Today I was fortunate enough to have an unscheduled day off. I decided to use it to the best of my ability and study so that I would be good and prepared. I went to a small neighborhood coffee house called "Echo Coffee", just off of 68th street and Thomas. I had such a good time! It was so nice to get to relax with some banana-nut bread and an Americano and get my reading done.

While I was sitting there in the "living room" of the coffee house, this little old lady came and sat on the couch across from me. She smiled, opened her book and read. Then a man in his late 30's came and sat down on the other couch. Looked at both of us and cleared our empty dishes. I couldn't believe it! How often will a stranger do such a kind thing for you without expecting something in return! Pretty much, like, NEVER! He then struck up a conversation with the sweet, older woman. He decided to move closer to her, so they could talk without shouting, and proceeded to offer her half of his sandwich. I smiled to myself...this man really captured my attention for a lot of reasons.

Watching his interaction with others suddenly made me very aware of how calloused I have become. I'm from a small town where everyone knows everyone else and you are always polite to strangers. But this man went above and beyond the usual for us. I think that I want to try and be more aware of my surroundings. It's easy for us to keep our head down and mind our own business. There's nothing wrong with that...but think of how it can warm your heart if you are a happy and generous person. And I don't mean generous only in a monetary way. I mean truly giving of yourself. This, to me, is what makes a person happy and fulfilled.

Let's all do a little experiment! Let's all try to be kind and friendly and see where it gets us...I have a feeling that the whole world will open up!

My New LBD

2010-11-08T16:43:00.000-08:00

I just had to share my newest treat! Today, like most Mondays, I went to Last Chance hoping to find a cute dress...and find one I did! I found my new LBD (for those of you not familiar...Little Black Dress). It may not be a Chanel, but it's a Michael Kors and I love every stitch of it! When I put it on I can't help but feel a bit like Audrey Hepburn. To me she is the epitome of grace and style with just enough pizazz to make you do a double take.

I take pride in the fact that I only paid $49.95 for this beautiful piece of work. (It retails for $169.95.) And I may not look exactly like the model in the photo, but I still think I can wear it just as good :)

Ladies! I think it's time for you to get your new LBD. Wear it proud...cause there's a little bit of Audrey in all of us that's just dying to come out!

There's No Place Like Home

2010-11-07T19:10:00.001-08:00

It seems to me that fall brings more change than weather and leaves. A lot of people in my life are experiencing forks in their road. I think at first I thought it was just me, but the more I talk to friends the more I find out that they have huge decisions to make. My heart goes out to all of these people.

Now I know I've been through a lot lately. But I know that I am a strong person and have made it through hard times before and I know I'll make it out on top again. The thing is, a lot of people can't handle traumatic situations very well and I worry that they will carry permanent hurt with them for the rest of their lives.

To all of you who feel that hurt I wish I had ruby slippers to give to you. That way you could click your heels three times and go "home". Home being wherever you feel safe and happy. But don't forget that Dorothy had friends too....the Tin Man, Lion, and Scarecrow. Always surround yourself with positive support...people who see you for who you are and your potential. Just make sure you return the favor. Friendship is never a one sided deal.

So, it's love and lollies to all my wilted and wounded souls...keep following your yellowbrick road...and maybe sing a couple songs along the way to make the trip go faster :)

Return From My Absence

2010-11-05T08:19:00.000-07:00

You'll have to excuse my recent absence. Trust me, it was for good reason. I can't say that I'm back on the horse again full throttle, but I'm starting to trot. The Internet has really made life a lot more complicated than it needs to be. Basically, you put all of your personal thoughts and experiences out for the public to see. This is wonderful when your world is filled with angels with butterscotch wings and rainbows. But what happens when everything changes for the worse and you just don't want to talk about it?

It isn't all that bad, I know. It just seems that way at this minute. Every day is a promise of things getting better and every day offers another chance to right the wrongs. And every day that passes brings you that much closer to the happiness that you had before...but to the 10th power

So, here is what I'm going to do. TAKE ACTION. Take the necessary steps to ensure this does not happen again. Next....enjoy some treats to cheer me up.

-An iced peppermint mocha from Starbucks. Whipped cream? Yes please! (Sweet treats should be rare...we mustn't trade spoiling ourselves for tubbiness.)

-A weekend getaway to San Diego. (I've already looked at dates and tickets.)

-Lunch at Arcadia Farms. (A goat cheese tart and salad with their yummy lemonade can soothe the soul.)

-Spend time with good friends and accept their kindness. (I'm allowed to be taken care of once in a while.)

So no more dwelling on the sad and wishing for the past. No more tears. As Peter Pan says, ''This won't do. What's the matter with you. All you need is faith and trust. OH! And something I forgot. Dust....just a little bit of pixie dust."

I may not have pixie dust, but I have something that seems like magic....and I plan to throw myself in to it.

My Weekend Treats

2010-10-18T15:45:00.000-07:00

I am pleased to say that I had a great weekend! On Friday night we decided to jet to Payson, AZ for a weekend of cafe food and hiking. Unfortunately, we hit a few speed bumps and didn't make the hike, but we still had a fabulous time. We walked through the woods a bit and sat around the fire eating smores. The fresh air was SO nice! I swear I can think clearer when I'm around trees.

It's funny because when I lived in Payson I didn't appreciate it as much as I do now. I love being in the city, but it's nice to be where there isn't any traffic and most people are pleasant. For instance, we were in Safeway looking for allergy medicine and couldn't find it. A lady shopping next to us asked what we were looking for and pointed us in the right direction. We passed her in the store later and she checked on us to make sure we found what we needed. And she did all this with a smile! How often would that happen in Scottsdale? Uh...how about NEVER!

It was nice to see old friends and show the BF where I grew up. I can't wait to go back and actually get to hike :) But we did get to put our dance lessons to good use while we were in the woods...

Next order of business....my gorgeous, new Cole Haan belt! The BF was soooo sweet! He took me to lunch and then bought me this amazing belt! I can't wait to wear it...I think I need to buy a new dress just for the occasion :) I've been trying it on all day, but it doesn't look quite right with my white tank top and jeans.
These are just a couple of the treats from my weekend. Hope you all had a delightful one, as well!

*Love and lollies!*

The Walrus and The Carpenter

2010-10-17T20:10:00.000-07:00

I found this poem and had to share it. It's something we read with our parents when we were kids...and it's also from Alice in Wonderland :) Enjoy!

*Love and lollies!*

The Walrus and The Carpenter
Lewis Carroll
(from Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There, 1872)

The sun was shining on the sea,
Shining with all his might:
He did his very best to make
The billows smooth and bright--
And this was odd, because it was
The middle of the night.

The moon was shining sulkily,
Because she thought the sun
Had got no business to be there
After the day was done--
"It's very rude of him," she said,
"To come and spoil the fun!"

The sea was wet as wet could be,
The sands were dry as dry.
You could not see a cloud, because
No cloud was in the sky:
No birds were flying overhead--
There were no birds to fly.

The Walrus and the Carpenter
Were walking close at hand;
They wept like anything to see
Such quantities of sand:
"If this were only cleared away,"
They said, "it would be grand!"

"If seven maids with seven mops
Swept it for half a year.
Do you suppose," the Walrus said,
"That they could get it clear?"
"I doubt it," said the Carpenter,
And shed a bitter tear.

"O Oysters, come and walk with us!"
The Walrus did beseech.
"A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk,
Along the briny beach:
We cannot do with more than four,
To give a hand to each."

The eldest Oyster looked at him,
But never a word he said:
The eldest Oyster winked his eye,
And shook his heavy head--
Meaning to say he did not choose
To leave the oyster-bed.

But four young Oysters hurried up,
All eager for the treat:
Their coats were brushed, their faces washed,
Their shoes were clean and neat--
And this was odd, because, you know,
They hadn't any feet.

Four other Oysters followed them,
And yet another four;
And thick and fast they came at last,
And more, and more, and more--
All hopping through the frothy waves,
And scrambling to the shore.

The Walrus and the Carpenter
Walked on a mile or so,
And then they rested on a rock
Conveniently low:
And all the little Oysters stood
And waited in a row

"The time has come," the Walrus said,
"To talk of many things:
Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax--
Of cabbages--and kings--
And why the sea is boiling hot--
And whether pigs have wings."

"But wait a bit," the Oysters cried,
"Before we have our chat;
For some of us are out of breath,
And all of us are fat!"
"No hurry!" said the Carpenter.
They thanked him much for that.

"A loaf of bread," the Walrus said,
"Is what we chiefly need:
Pepper and vinegar besides
Are very good indeed--
Now if you're ready, Oysters dear,
We can begin to feed."

"But not on us!" the Oysters cried,
Turning a little blue.
"After such kindness, that would be
A dismal thing to do!"
"The night is fine," the Walrus said.
"Do you admire the view?

"It was so kind of you to come!
And you are very nice!"
The Carpenter said nothing but
"Cut us another slice:
I wish you were not quite so deaf--
I've had to ask you twice!"

"It seems a shame," the Walrus said,
"To play them such a trick,
After we've brought them out so far,
And made them trot so quick!"
The Carpenter said nothing but
"The butter's spread too thick!"

"I weep for you," the Walrus said:
"I deeply sympathize."
With sobs and tears he sorted out
Those of the largest size,
Holding his pocket-handkerchief
Before his streaming eyes.

"O Oysters," said the Carpenter,
"You've had a pleasant run!
Shall we be trotting home again?'
But answer came there none--
And this was scarcely odd, because
They'd eaten every one.

Back In The Swing of Things

2010-10-13T09:07:00.001-07:00

I just realized that it has been such a long time since I've blogged. It isn't that I haven't had anything interesting to say (cause I am just SO interesting :D), I think I've just gotten wrapped up in other things. I shouldn't neglect my writing. It's a healthy way of expressing my feelings and a way I can share my experiences in life.

So! Last weekend my family went to the "Best of Phoenix A'Fare". It was AMAZING! Free food from all over the valley and free drinks. We got to get dressed in cocktail attire then gorge ourselves on delicious food. I ate 3 tamales, 3 plates of chips and salsa, a pulled pork sandwich, apple cobbler, a bite of tuna with some weird puff thing, another strange tart-like item that I didn't like, 2 sprinkles cupcakes and an iced coffee...oh yeah...and a rice krispie treat. I'm sure there was more in there, but that's all I can remember. My belly was stuffed! You can see the food bump in the picture...

The building was amazing and the view was even better! All in all a great night!

NOW! Next order of business...my running. I'm trying to get back into the gym scene again. The last few weeks I've been a slacker and I sure can tell!!!! So...I'm gonna get back to my show pony status once again! But I don't know...you can take the girl out of the couch potato, but you can't take the couch potato out of the girl :) I'll keep you posted...

*Love and lollies!!!*

An Eventful Saturday

2010-09-27T14:29:00.000-07:00

What a fun Saturday I had this last weekend! First of all, I got to spend all day with the BF. That was so nice seeing as he hasn't been around for three weeks. He came home on the perfect week because my cousin had a book signing at Barnes and Noble in Kierland Commons. Her book is called "Pampered in Paris", by Kim Horton Levesque (http://www.smallbatchtravel.com/) . Such a neat book! If you get a chance to check it out, you really should! It's very well-written and has the most colorful and beautiful pictures. I was fortunate enough to be able to win a copy, signed by her and the photographer, because I was the first one to show up. Yay for me!!! And thank you Kim!

While we were at Kierland, we decided to eat at Chloe's. I love the fact that they sell coffee for only 50 cents. Being an ex-barista I can whip up a fancy iced vanilla cafe au'let out of nowhere! The BF got annoyed when I told him four times in twenty minutes that the coffee was only 50 cents! Hey...can't help it...I was raised to appreciate a steal of a deal!

That evening we attended Trends Charitable Event at the Biltmore. I have to say that the BF looked quite handsome in his suit...and I was feelin' pretty sassy in my new Ted Baker dress and stunning earrings from Turkey:) We drank, we ate, we laughed and we smiled....by the end of the night we were exhausted!!!

I'm so glad that we were able to be together for both of these events. Tony Robbins put it best when he said...."You see, it's never the environment; it's never the events of our lives, but the meaning we attach to the events - how we interpret them - that shapes who we are today and who we'll become tomorrow."

Saturdays like this last one become good memories that last a lifetime and add happiness to our lives and our relationship :)

Hope you all had a fantastic weekend!

*love and lollies*

Home Sweet Home

2010-09-21T14:59:00.001-07:00

FINALLY! After two and a half long weeks the BF is finally home...well...sort of. He's at least in the same country, which means texting and possible phone calls:)

While he was away he was sweet enough to send me a message and photo to let me know he hadn't forgotten me.

I can honestly say that this is probably the most thoughtful thing anyone has ever done for me. As woman, we have a slight tendency to let our emotions and imagination run away with us. Okay...maybe a little more than a slight tendency :) But a photo like this helps to give you a little reminder that you aren't dispensable or forgettable.

He was sweet enough to bring me home the most beautiful earrings from Turkey! I simply adore my earrings....every girl loves a little gold...it makes our eyes sparkle a little brighter :) They are so unique and exactly what I would have picked had I been standing right there next to him.

(I had just gotten them back from the jeweler.

He had to make a small adjustment.)

I think that the time apart really helped me to reinforce how wonderful it is to have someone special in your life who cares about you. Each and every one of us need to do what we can to appreciate family and friends that support us and show they care. Sometimes it's easy to take them for granted. Just make sure you notice them before it's too late to say thank you.

"At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us."

-Albert Schweitzer

Weekly Update

2010-09-16T11:23:00.000-07:00

Update:

-Work is picking up. That's good news. Always can use more money to stash away for life's little surprises.

-The BF comes home on Sunday (even if it's just to make a mad dash back to the airport for another quick trip). I'm excited to see him and spend a little time together.

-I've been back to my religious gym routine. I needed that for my emotional and physical well-being. You don't realized how much working out helps you until you put it on the back burner. I can already see and feel a difference in my body.

-I've taken up a new addiction. COFFEE. I'm not sure if this is good or bad. When I drink it in the afternoon I find myself staring at the ceiling for hours at night. I'm thinkin' that's bad.

-Tried to clean out my "hoarding closet". I almost have it done. Parted ways with two huge bags of memories which are, by now, a the city dump. I also have three bags of clothes, purses and shoes to give away. Feels good to clean out my life....and I'm making room for new memories :)

That's it so far! Tried to keep it short and sweet. Hope everyone is having a fantasmical week!

*Kisses and forehead licks!:D

No Man Left Behind

2010-09-10T23:51:00.000-07:00

So, I don't mean to be lame...but I do not like being left behind. The BF has been in Egypt for only one week. I still have a week and a half left to go before he comes home for one day only to shoot off out of state again. I mean, really...how am I supposed to survive? That's like an entire month!

Now I know I'm starting to sound like a needy little elf, but I can't help it. It's not like he's just a text away. He's like G-O-N-E!!! It's a weird feeling to be here. Almost a lonely feeling. I never thought I would think like this. I've been single for so many years and had more time alone than with boyfriends. This is the first time I've ever realized that my life SUCKED before him. Okay....so not really...but it definitely was missing a certain something. It makes sense to me why single people go out on the town so much. They're trying to fill that void.

I suppose I could be positive and think that at least I have someone to miss....being positive bites! For once in my life I want to wallow in it! And wallow I shall for only one evening. Tomorrow I have to "pick myself up, dust myself off, and start all over again!"

So to him, I say, come home soon! And come home safe! We got a lot of catchin' up to do!

Revolver Hair Studio

2010-09-01T20:57:00.000-07:00

Today was my first day at the new salon. I am so happy to be there! It is so different than any other salon I have ever worked in. I really do enjoy working in a studio and pretty much being on my own.

I guess that I am one of those people that really does like to be left with my own thoughts. I had clients there most of the time, but it was nice to be able to have silence while they were gone. It gave my mind a chance to catch up.

I absolutely LOVE working here! I love that I can offer my clients coffee or tea. I love that they all feel right at home and totally comfortable as soon as they walk in the door. I think it was a good move for me. I have to admit that I was really scared to make the change, but ultimately...it was the right choice. It has forced me to progress as a hair stylist and progress as a person.

I hope all of my clients enjoy it as much as I do, 'cause I am home sweet home (er rather...salon sweet salon)!

This Loser Finally Wins :)

2010-08-21T17:03:00.000-07:00

So, check this out! I am the person who is always entering giveaways and sweepstakes and I NEVER win. I'm being for real....I could have a 9 out of 10 chance and still lose to the person that didn't even care. But this time....I was the winner!!!!

I was reading Tania's blog, as usual (http://www.growingtowardsadream.com/) and I came across her wonderful giveaway. She was giving away one of those fancy Starbucks cups that look like their iced to-go cups. I love those things and have been looking for one all over AZ to give to my sister. I was so excited! I entered and crossed my fingers hoping I would win. And guess what??? I DID!!!!!

Thanks to Tania, I was able to give my sister the cup she had been drooling over for a long time. I love your blog and think you are a great woman! Keep on keepin' on!!! I owe you big time!

I'm the annoyingly happy person

2010-08-19T16:00:00.000-07:00

It's strange, but it seems that everything in my life has changed. And I mean EVERYTHING! I almost don't recognize myself. The more I think about that the more I like it. I wasn't super thrilled with who I was before. It isn't that I thought I was this really bad person with a bad life and a boring personality. It's just that I realize how much happier I am now.

I'm starting a new salon, I have a new man in my life, I have a different car and pretty much an all-around new outlook on life. It's almost like I got a "do-over" and it was just what I needed.

So, thanks to all my family, friends, and significant others (you know who you is:D) for all your help and support. I love you all and hope to return the favor sometime soon!

P.S. I threw this picture up for fun! We all need a little silly to pass the time :)

New Salon Experience

2010-08-15T21:25:00.001-07:00

Starting in two weeks I'll be starting a new salon that isn't too far from home. I'm a little bit scared and excited all at the same time. It's exciting to be able to start a new place with all the unknown experiences and I look forward to growing as a hair stylist. But it's also scary to think that I'm leaving behind a place that I am completely comfortable with and embarking on an adventure that may or may not bring me the happiness I'm looking for.

I will be working at Revolver Hair Studio in Old Town Scottsdale. It's a very small, clean, trendy salon with only 6 chairs and 2 shampoo bowls. Sounds tiny, I know...but there's plenty of elbow room and no full-time workers. Sounds like my kind of place! (I'm all about making money, but not killing yourself for it.)

I'm really not sure what to expect. I suppose that every place has it's ups and downs, but hopefully I can keep my head down and my nose clean. The cool part about my job is that I'm pretty much just doing the same exact thing with the same exact people...just a different location. Most people would kill for a job like mine. I have to say that I LOVE what I do.

So, even though I'm a little nervous, I can't let myself show it. Chin up, shoulders back...IT'S SHOWTIME!!!!!

Castle Walls

2010-08-09T20:04:00.000-07:00

I think the scariest part of being a human with baggage is letting down our guard. We all have baggage, no matter who we are. We are imperfect with imperfect pasts. The trick is not building those castle walls around us that shut out those we care about most. We do this so that we avoid getting hurt again...especially when we're too happy and it scares us. I laugh because that's how we ruin the best of relationships, whether it be with family, someone we have romantic interest in, or good ole friends.

I wish that I could say I've never done this before. Being a silly girl with a silly past...I have. BUT the one thing I've learned? The minute you let it all go is the minute you life begins! We all need to open up to new things and new people, even if it means you MIGHT get hurt. Life is a strange maze with twists and turns a roadblocks. But there's always a way out. You just have to find it.

It only takes one person to make all the past hurts go away. Maybe you still have your castle walls, but try building a draw bridge so that there's a way past those walls. You might be keeping out your everlasting happiness.

Staycation at the Hottest Place on Earth

2010-07-25T18:47:00.000-07:00

My sister Sunny and I decided to take a much need vacation away from our lives. We decided not to leave the comfort of our own city and stay at the Westin Kierland. This was the best idea we've had in a long time.

It's funny how life just sneaks up on you and one day you realize that all you want to do is get away from it all. Since the summertime here in Phoenix, AZ is like hell on earth all we could think about was a nice pool with a lazy river. We also wanted to make sure that we would have a room with comfy beds. (Enter- The Heavenly Bed at the Westin.)
We had such a great time! The moment I stepped foot into the room I put my swim suit on and never took it off! We spent an entire day by the pool and in the lazy river. At night we opened a bottle of champagne, walked around the grounds, listened to live music, and watched TV til we fell asleep. The next day, was a repeat of the first. But this time we decided to mosey over to Kierland Commons and eat sandwiches at a cute little place. I had a BLT and Sunny had a roast beef. DELISH!!!!!
Now that it's the end of our weekend, we are both complaining of sunburns but neither one of us would trade it for a different weekend. I'm not looking forward to getting back to real life...but I still have my bracelet for the pool...perhaps I can sneak in on a blue bracelet day undetected....wink wink :)

The Old Meatloaf Cycle STOPS!

2010-07-05T17:59:00.001-07:00

It amazes me how much being treated right can affect you. In previous posts I've talked about how I was mistreated by some of the men in my life and how disappointed I am with the male species. The funny thing is that they really aren't all like that. There are more people out there than just the few dummies that we silly girls choose to surround ourselves with.

I know that I deserve, not just better, but the best! We are the ones that allow people to walk all over us and treat us like old meatloaf. The thing is....I'm tired of it. It's exhausting to constantly work at making the people that don't matter like you. All you're doing is wasting time on the wrong ones, when really the right ones are out making other wrong ones happy. It's confusing....

So my question is, why do we all continue this insane and ridiculous cycle? Because we THINK we know what we want. The reality of it is that I really didn't know what I wanted. I guess I was striving to be someone that I wasn't, because someone had told me that the real me wasn't good enough.

Now that I am surrounded by people who care about me for who I really am and treat me with the utmost respect, I see how foolish I was. I want to thank everyone in my life that has been there for me and everyone that treats me like the lady that is dwelling somewhere deep inside my soul...you know who you is....:)

Auntie B's Ticky Town Time

2010-06-13T14:50:00.000-07:00

I was remembering today a story tape that a woman gave me when I was a little girl. It was called "Auntie B's Ticky Town Time". I absolutely LOVED that tape as a child. In fact, I wish I still had it. It was such a wonderful story about a duck in a world made of cakes and licorice and every other tasty dessert you could possibly imagine.

I remember listening to it over and over again, visualizing every stair made of chocolate cake and every fence made of peppermint. It reminded me of Willy Wonka's chocolate factory, only better. I wish I could make a world of my own like that. A place where there were no problems, just delicious food and happy, sticky people :)

I think I enjoyed that story tape mostly because unhappy things didn't exist when I was caught up in my imagination. The funny thing is that I really haven't changed. I still have a crazy imagination that runs away with me sometimes. Some people might view me as a foggy-headed dreamer who can't face reality. But every goal I've ever dreamed up has come true.

If you ask me, the world could use more dreamers. Instead of a lunch break, we need a day-dreaming break. We'd all be a happier people and maybe, just maybe...my car would be made of dark chocolate with rock candy for windows, brownies for car seats, and sugar cookies for wheels :)

Put On Some Pants and Work Already!

2010-05-23T07:51:00.001-07:00

The other day I was talking to a friend/client while she was getting her hair done and our conversation took the inevitable twist to men. I got the usual "you're so great, what's wrong with these guys" lecture and told her that I think I'm just not willing to settle. It seems my expectations may be a bit high. I told her that all I want is a man that has to put on a shirt and a nice pair of pants and go to work.

Now, this may sound shallow and make me seem like a gold digger to some of you, but it really is quite a reasonable requirement. I just want someone who works as hard as I do. Taking it one step further, this would apply not only to their job, but also in everything in life. I don't want to be busting my hump trying to bring home the bacon AND make a successful relationship all the while trying to be the best person I can, while schmo-face is sitting there playing video games all day and drinking beer.

Is it so wrong to want someone that has a hobby that they are passionate about? Is it so wrong to want someone who has a little drive and some brains? If so, then color me happy and let me be single!

If you ask me, the men of today have been spoiled by their mamas. They've been told how wonderful they are and how they can do no wrong. Instead of using this positive reinforcement to make themselves confident, they have let it blow up their already huge egos. Throw in a decent bod and a cute face and we got ourselves a monster :)

I know I sound like a man hater. I'm not. I'm a Scottsdale man hater and that's okay by me. You can't turn a player (or a wannabe) into a real man! So, take your fancy shirts and expensive jeans and try that fake crap on some other unsuspecting girl! I'm not buyin' it!

My Version of A Marathon

2010-05-12T19:25:00.000-07:00

So, I know that most people run these really cool marathons and half marathons, but I guess I'm just not that cool. It seems exhausting and long and too trendy for my taste. Not that I'm knockin' it...I just don't have the dedication it takes to run a bajillion miles and be happy despite the pain and nausea. So, I decided to run my own version of a marathon. A 5k. Most people would say it was a lazy excuse for a marathon, but I'm still proud of myself.

Before it started, my mother gave me Fortune Delight to drink so I'd be nice and hydrated (as seen in the above picture). I was afraid to drink too much because I didn't want a sloshy stomach. I was a little nervous and worried that I wouldn't do very well. I had a goal of running it in under 30 minutes. I know I was pushing it a little, but I figured by having a goal time it would give me something to work for.

The run was so much fun! There were 607 people that attended the event. We all lined up and the starting line and moved like a herd of cattle alongside the lake. It was almost impossible to pass at first, but the further along we got the more spread out we became. I surprised myself that I wasn't tired, but in the last stretch they decided to put a hill...it felt like Mount Everest but was more like and ant hill. After that, it was smooth sailing.

As I crossed the finish line I couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. It felt good to do something for myself. Even though it wasn't 26 miles, I still felt pleased with myself for being an active and healthy person. My time wasn't what I had hoped (30 min 42 sec), but I did come in 163rd out of 607 people. Maybe next time I won't line up at the end of the herd with all the people with dogs and strollers :)

So....GO ME!!! (and Karen and Jen, they ran with me) for going outside my workout box and doing something fun and different! I'm not just a boring gym-rat and I'm not just a one-dimensional person. I'm ME and no one can take that away!

Qween Emily Gets A Text

2010-04-28T20:20:00.001-07:00

Has anyone ever had one of those weeks where you feel like you just want to crawl under a rock and sleep until all the bad goes away? Well, I had that whole thing going on a few days ago. Anyone who has gone through this before knows that it isn't fun. I think it's brought on by stress and hormones. A nasty combination. But yesterday I got the sweetest text from my little cousin and that made it all go away...well...for the most part.

I took the little girls to McDonald's ("Donowd's", as Miss J calls it) and bowling. We had such a good time! It was the first time I've ever taken little kids bowling before. I'm not gonna lie, it was exhausting. But soooooo much fun! The girls seemed to enjoy it as well. On the drive home I could tell they were beat. "M" and I sang songs and afterwards Miss J would say, in a soft voice, "I like that song..."

Once we got to their house we gave hugs and kisses. "M'' was nowhere to be found, so I just left. A little while later I recieved this text..."Dear Emily I did int get To say good night to you I was just going to theBathroom some time's IForget to say good nightLove "M'' and "J".' Then she sent..."Qween emily we love you." This pretty much made my night.

It amazes me how smart these little girls are. It's nice to know that no matter how crummy of a day you are having and how much you feel like you can't do anything right, all it takes is one small kindness to one small person. And that small person will appreciate it more than anything in the world.

I love these girls more than anything and know they will always care about me too. I'd do anything for them...well...except give them caffeinated pop after their bedtime :)

Dance Isn't A Form It's A Way of Life

2010-04-19T11:31:00.000-07:00

Today I had my second dance lesson at Fred Astaire Dance Studio. It was nothing short of AMAZING! I realize how much I have missed my dancing.

My whole life has revolved around dance up until about two years ago. I've done every type of dance you can think of, but I never really buckled down and really put my all into one style. This is my chance to do that.

I decided I wanted to do ballroom because it is something you really can use in the real world (given that you have a partner to dance with). Also, I really do believe that it is the most beautiful type of dance. It's two people working together and moving with the flow of music to create an electrifying story through movement.

My instructor was a very wonderful and patient man (pictured above). We have been able to cover several different dances so far, such as: Waltz, Salsa, Paso Doble, Tango, Hustle, Swing, Quickstep and Cha Cha Cha (I have to say that the Hustle is my favorite. It's so energetic and fun!). He was working so hard with me on my frame. I would get it right, we'd start dancing and it would all go to pot. THIS is why I'm taking lessons :)

I'm so excited to continue to learn more. Everytime I get better and more comfortable with the dances. Not only is this bettering my dance experience and my body, it is also improving my outlook on life and boosting my confidence. I'm so thankful to have the opportunity to express myself in this art form!

A Great Night For a Great Win!

2010-04-12T07:32:00.000-07:00

Last night I FINALLY got to go to a Suns game. There is nothing like it. I mean, we all watch the games on TV, but it doesn't exactly have the same feel as being right there in person. It seems almost magical. I know that sounds dramatic, but it's true...at least to me.

I decided to take the Light Rail to save time, money and energy. (The worst part about going to any game is the stress of the traffic and the exorbitant prices for parking. Seriously? $15 to herd my little Sentra on to a dirt lot like cattle? I'll pass!) The Rail ended up being full of Suns fans, so it was a pretty nice ride. They do a special before the game. You're game ticket acts as a Rail pass 4 hours before the game through the end of the night. I definitely took advantage of this.

Once I arrived I was so excited to get there. I probably would've run if I there was room for it :) I was walking in a pack of the train riders. Finally, when I did walk in the cool air hits you and there is a distinct smell. Like popcorn, beer and hot dogs. Mmmmmmm....makes me hungry. We made our way up to our seats, but decided to grab a beer and some food first. For some reason Bud Light tastes so much better when it costs $9. I drank every last drop and practically licked the bottom of the cup.

The game was GREAT! I was a little nervous that they were going to lose, but they ended up pulling through at the end of the night. My boy Steve Nash did an amazing job and so did Amare! Final score: Suns 116, Rocket 106. GO SUNS!!!!

Nothing compares to sitting and watching the Suns win with a beer, good company and conversation. Now that basketball season draws to a close, I'm a bit sad. I will cry...but only once :) Oh wait! What's that you say? It's baseball season?! D-Backs here I come! I just LOVE sports...don't you?

Just Admit You're A Poser

2010-04-05T22:11:00.000-07:00

There is so much more to life than meets the eye. I think most people spend a lot of time trying to be a person that seems ''cool". I wish everyone could just admit they are posers like the rest of us. No doubt we are all nerds on the inside. The trick is to accept your inner nerd. The minute we do this we become the most amazing people.

Think about it. If we aren't trying to keep up appearances then we won't become a stranger to ourselves. How can we be comfortable in our own skin if we are trying so hard to be accepted by society? It's an exhausting lifestyle that can only lead to unhappiness.

The other side is that people need to be accepting of those who aren't your typical person. Oddities make the world a more interesting place. I think I would be bored if all of my friends acted and dressed exactly the same. The world is a complex place and each person is even more complex. We all need to appreciate each other for our differences and complexities. It's not like we can control these things :)

I think they key to this whole situation is to have friends that are real people. Friends that can be there for you through thick and thin. Friends that can understand your soul. These friends are a rarity anymore. I've been fortunate enough to find a few. I just hope my oddities don't scare them away :D

Destined to wander the written world alone

2010-03-22T19:43:00.000-07:00

I was just thinking about my blog and hoped that maybe someone had commented on my previous post. I logged in with a feeling of anticipation inside of me only to see that there were 0 comments. Kind of a let down. So, I begin to ask myself...is anyone even listening out there?

People comment about my posts on my Facebook. But to be honest, sometimes they don't really apply to what I've written...leaving me to believe they read the title, looked at the picture, left a brief and witty comment and moved on. But none of this bothers me. You don't write for other people. You write for yourself. There is something so special about putting your innermost thoughts and feelings down in print. You can say things you wouldn't otherwise say out loud to a person sitting in front of you.

I write to organize my thoughts, emotions, aspirations, and experiences. Those of you who do read and just don't comment...thank you for reading. Those who comment...thank you for your support.

Even if I'm destined to wander the written world alone without oodles of comments on my blog, I still get satisfaction and enjoyment from putting my crazy thoughts on paper. That being said..."Writing is a form of personal freedom. It frees us from the mass identity we see in the making all around us. In the end, writers will not write to be outlaw heroes of some underculture but mainly to save themselves , to survive as individuals." -Don Delillo

Sing like no one is listening.

2010-03-18T21:56:00.001-07:00

Recently I have been frequenting my favorite karaoke bar The Grapevine. Last night I realized that the regulars that go there all must have such an interesting story. You sit in this bar where everyone picks their "best" (I use that term very loosely) song and can't wait for their time to shine. Everyone is supportive of everyone else. We are all full of compliments on each others singing as well as song choices. But last night I had to laugh to myself. There are so many strange characters in that joint. A documentary wouldn't even capture the uniqueness.

First we have the DJ. There are four rotating DJ's, our favorite being Ollie who kisses and hugs me every time I see him. He must be in his 70's and loves music more than anything. Next, is the woman always wearing a red dress that only sings male songs, such as Neil Diamond. She is one of my favorites. She shows up alone and drinks coffee wearing whatever costume she has created, but always sporting red lipstick and a red dress. After her is Jim, the Willie Nelson singing man who never can remember me...yet he continues to introduce himself to me every time. Then there is Stephen. AH! Yes....he has the most beautiful voice. It's like honey on a warm spring day. But to look at???? That's another story.

Here is this eclectic collection of people that all come together for the soul purpose of enjoying and sharing music. The thing that I have learned most from these people is that life is too short to care what everyone else thinks of you. Sing it, own it, and be happy with it. At the end of the day, you make yourself happy and if someone thinks you're a nerd for being yourself...that's their own problem. Embrace who you are within! We are all worthwhile and true individuals with talent unlike any other! So, let's all cultivate that talent!

"Dance like no one is watching. Sing like no one is listening. Love like you've never been hurt and live like it's heaven on Earth."
-Mark Twain

Changing The Beast Within

2010-02-15T20:32:00.001-08:00

Every one of us knows that we have faults. Whether we come to grips with the fact that something needs to be done with them is our own business. But is it really possible to change these things?

Not everyone chooses to see their faults. Some feel they are perfect just as they are and those around them need to adjust or accept them. Every day, I see my faults and imperfections. I wish and hope and try to change them. The process seems to be slow with very little progress. Slightly disheartening.

I've decided to put forth a concerted effort to make myself beautiful on the inside. I feel that I have so much to work on. Sometimes it becomes overwhelming. But I know that if I can focus on improving myself as a person that can only bring me greater happiness.

Making My Mom Beautiful!

2010-01-09T10:40:00.000-08:00

Almost every man that sits in my chair voices concern about hair loss. Male patterned baldness is scary for every man in the world. But the thing they don't realized is that women have the same worries. My mother was one of them.

For the last several years she has complained about thinning hair. It was mostly on top of her head. When she was young, she had the most beautiful hair. It was so thick and healthy. But, unfortunately, as we all grow older our bodies and hormones change and that in turn changes our hair. We decided to take matter into our own hands.

Michelle, our salon owner, does hair replacement and has done so for over 15 years. She does an amazing job! I decided this was something I was interested in learning so that I can increase my area of expertise. My mom was willing to be my guinea pig :)

I am so proud of how it turned out! It has given her the confidence she needed just to go about her daily activities and not feel self conscious. Thank you Mom for letting me make you beautiful and thank you Michelle for being awesome and helping me learn this process! You both are amazing women to me and have helped me to further my career in so many ways!

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

2009-12-27T15:03:00.000-08:00

About three weeks ago I was invited to a costume party. I thought and thought about what I wanted to go as. A Rubik's Cube? NO! Strawberry Shortcake? No thanks! After a little brainstorming, I came up with Barbie. I only had a short wig, but once I got my makeup all airbrushed and lashes on...it wasn't too shabby! The party was a lot of fun and definitely opened my eyes to something. Blondes really do have more fun!

It was quite interesting to see the reactions of people. It seemed to me that strangers were more likely to come up to me and talk. The even funnier thing is that I suddenly had this new found confidence! I can't even explain it. I have never felt that as a redhead. Don't get me wrong, I'm not embarrassed, or anything, by my dark red hair. But it was pretty exciting and strange at the same time. Us redheads don't get the attention we deserve. I think it's because society has all of these men thinking blondes are the epitome of beauty. I beg to differ.

I think I will stick with what I have. Any woman can make themselves into the blonde bombshell that they see in the movies, but no one will ever be me. Some women look better as blondes. I felt it took too much time and makup-ing to make me look that good. But I do know this...if I can turn myself into Barbie with a few sprays of the airbrush, than think of what I can do for the women of America! A line will be forming shortly outside Mesha Salon and Spa to turn all you fabulous women in to Malibu Barbie, Evening Gown Barbie, or Scottsdale Barbie! See you soon!!!

Happy styling!!!!

The Honest Award

2009-11-01T15:54:00.000-08:00

Ok. So I just realized my sister Sunny awarded me the honest scrap. So here are my 10 things:

1. I hate that I am getting wrinkles and I stare closely at my face everyday to see if there are any new ones.

2. I love reading junkfood novels. My reading list is not very impressive if you're looking for books that take some intelligence. I like books like The Devil Wears Prada, etc.

3. I know that I talk entirely too much, but can't seem to help myself. I think I'm interesting :)

4. Even though I am the youngest I sometimes like to do things alone, like eating and shopping. Company can be exhuasting at times.

5. I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE doing hair for a living! I can't imagine doing anything else.

6. Growing up I always wanted to get away from living in a small town, but now I kind of wish I still lived in one. Simple life...simple desires...simple happiness.

7. Sometimes my big sister gets on my nerves, even though we don't live together and are completely grown. It seems that sibling rivalry never goes to rest.

8. I would love to do more work out from behind my chair. I want to be more involved with photo shoots and so on. I love getting creative!

9. I taught dance for 7 years and as much as I love dancing, I HATED teaching it. Strange but true.

10. I'm glad my sister sent me this so that I would have something to blog about :)

I think I will give the Honest Award to Jaime. She will tell all her dirty little secrets! LOL!

Don't Play Beauty Shop!

2009-10-16T10:43:00.001-07:00

Not too long ago I had a woman walk in to the salon with her two little children. One was a boy about 8 years old and the other was an adopted little girl about 4. I asked them the usual questions...how are you and how can I help you? The mother looked at me and said, "We aren't very good at all. I hope you can help us. My little boy decided to cut my daughters hair. It was down to her waist. Can you fix it?" I walked around the counter to look at the damage. I couldn't believe what I saw.

There was the cutest little girl with huge brown eyes, beautiful brown skin and the shiniest hair I've ever seen. When I started looking over her hair I could not believe what I saw. On one side and in the front it was cut all the way to her scalp. On the other it was a bit longer, but still chopped up. Half of the back was short and the other half had a long string of hair. It reminded me of a European style fashion mullet. I looked at her face and I thought she was going to cry.

Apparently her hair used to be to her lower back. She had never had a haircut before...and this was going to be her first experience?! Poor little thing, sitting there in my chair while I tried to connect the dots and make it look like a style. In the end she didn't exactly look like a super model, but at least she didn't look like her head had gotten caught in the paper shredder. As we were finishing up, the little boy asked if they were still going to take him to McDonald's. Fat chance little stylista! All the mom said was, "Look at your sisters hair and tell me the answer to that question."

Happy styling!!!!