The No Nonsense Haircut

I got a haircut last week. I made the appointment quickly (thinking sort of spur-of-the-moment/the-baby-might-come-any-second), so I went to a new girl at a salon near our house. I haven't really found a stylist here that I'm completely loyal to - no one has really measured up to my Richard, who was the only person to touch my hair between the ages of 12 and 24. I've tried several different people in Louisville, and they were either too expensive, difficult to talk to, or impossible to schedule an appointment with. And each time, I was never completely satisfied with the outcome. Sometimes tears were shed!

So there I was last week, hoping that I would go into labor at any moment, yet thinking about all of the pictures that will surely be taken of me as the new mom. I knew I had to get a haircut - pronto - and I couldn't be nervous about seeing whoever was available on 2 hours notice.

Whatever I was feeling, it was in fact the FASTEST haircut I've ever had. Especially for the $50 they charged for this particular girl, who had achieved the Master Stylist classification. (Apparently the Junior Stylists are cheaper, but none of those had an opening that night.) No kidding - I was in and out of there in 30 minutes, wash, cut, blow dry, & style included. I thought about saying something like, "Is that it??" or "Are you sure you're done?" but I looked 100% better than I did when I went in there, so I decide to just pay the lady and grumble to Shelby later if I was unhappy about it.

No grumbling necessary! I don't know how she did it, but it's a very good haircut. Maybe that's why she's a Master Stylist. For about 6 swipes with the scissors, my hair is looking pretty good! She makes a lot of money per hour if all of her haircuts take that long. Maybe this is where loyalty kicks in? Thanks to Cherie for a good haircut - and no monkey business about it!

A run for my $$

I am 100% confident in my husband's ability to remain faithful to me. I really think he's being totally honest when he says I am the most beautiful lady he has ever seen. All sweetness aside, we have an incredibly strong relationship. But if there ever was a woman to give me a run for my money, it would be Cindy Crawford. And who could blame him? It's Cindy, afterall. Sure, she's got genes on her side. But she also seems to have a realistic view on life, body image, aging, etc - all to make the envious woman that much greener. One of my new favorite blogs, "Workout Mommy," recently highlighted Allure Magazine's feature on Cindy. Supermodel role model for the aging woman. As my mother would say, "she really seems to have her head on straight." If we can't all look like Cindy when we're 43, maybe we can at least have her self acceptance and confidence. And anyway, not everyone would look so sultry with a facial mole. Let's be honest!

George Strait sings about it

Most of the pictures I've taken recently have been from the shoulders down - aka a belly pic.  Of course I see my face in the mirror every day, but nothing could have prepared me for head shots taken 6 months into pregnancy.  I just don't look so great.  Not like I used to, anyway.  (Haha.)  It's apparent from the picture that:

- I don't sleep.

- I gave up wearing earrings several months ago.

- My posture has been compromised by my ever-growing midsection.

- I did not get the long, flowing pregnancy locks that everyone dreams about.

Cue the music:  All I can think about now is George Strait's song, "She Let Herself Go."  It's playing on repeat in my head.  Is this what motherhood will bring?  A constant disheveled look for the rest of my life?  What's a pregnant girl to do?  Some ideas:

- Not a lot I can do about the sleep deprivation.  I already feel lazy enough.  But what about concealer to hide those pesky dark circles under my eyes?

- Unless the holes have closed up (doubtful), I should really make an effort to throw on some earrings every once in awhile.  Especially for special occasions (as was the occasion for the above-mentioned picture taking).

- Slug every person who says, "You don't even look pregnant!"  This comment is the only comment I get as a pregnant woman, and it's really starting to get to me.  What do these people expect?  I do look pregnant - my appearance has definitely changed to pregnant-mode!!  1) belly, 2) slouching, 3) never standing for extended periods of time, 4) weight gain, 5) waddle, 6) boobs - come on, it's Obvious.

- Maybe I should switch shampoo.  Haircut is coming next week.

Kentucky Rain

This week has been one bad hair day after another. With all the rain we've been getting, there's no practical point in wasting electricity on the hair dryer, leaving style by the wayside.

Little did I know that Elvis sang his own sad tune about Kentucky rain. Poor Elvis, "walking in the rain, thumbing for a ride... Kentucky rain keeps pouring down." I imagine The King had his own hair troubles searching for his woman in the Bluegrass State. I can relate, believe me. A single trip from the car to the nearest shelter risks a complete drenching and creates an absolute necessity to carry several pairs of pants and socks with you throughout the day.

On a related note, my obsession with the TV show "What Not to Wear" continues, and I recently watched the transformation of a 29 year old from Seattle, where it rains more than it does in Louisville, although I'm beginning to wonder. The very cute girl and I must be related because she loved fleece and hated umbrellas (me too!). The WNTW hosts Stacy and Clinton convinced their subject (and by association, me) to find new ways to weather the weather. I'm actually wearing heals today - and the hem of my pants is dry!

Now, what to do about this hair...

Wedding Arms

With the wedding fast approaching, it's crunch time for last minute details - including significantly increased motivation to make it to the gym before the sun comes up.  The question is not how much weight I want to lose (don't wanna), the question is how to get Katharine McPhee's arms (gotta have 'em).  

Shelby gave me my birthday presents early, which included a kettlebell (I'm sure to mistakenly call it a kettleball) that I hope will help me with this new wedding arms goal.  Then, Katharine & I can make our own "3 Months to Great Arms" video - assuming that's how long it took her and how long it will take me/how much time I have... 

Beauty IQ - Go vs. No

Since moving to Louisville, I've noticed a lot of people are interested in good beauty products (skin care, makeup, etc.). I had barely heard of Aveda until I moved here, and now I see an Aveda salon practically on every corner. Of course, Arbonne is popular among most ladies I know personally. The skin is your body's largest organ, so it makes sense to use some sense in deciding what to put on it. Unfortunately, cosmetic companies are not regulated and can advertise benefits without disclosing any harmful effects their products might cause.

So how do you know what's best? Do you splurge on the $20 mascara? Will Clearasil do the trick on that ugly bump, or will it trick you into cancer in the process? Your hairstylist knows what's safe to put on your head, right?

Lucky for us, someone has gone to the trouble to test a lot of the products we use day to day. Skin Deep is a database that ranks skin care and cosmetics with a handy color-coded guide to know what to use and what to steer clear of. Pretty handy, don't you think?

Keep in mind: green means go, red means NO!