Um, ordinary?

Ordinary.

Nah. That's never been a word I liked.

I'm to0 much a fan of acessories, bobbles-n-bits, and sparkle to allow that word in my everyday life.

Just this Sunday, my outfit to church was completely centered around the accessories.

Check it: Ann Taylor Loft sheer creme 3/4 length sleeve "sweater" complete with V-neck front and back as well as covered buttoned sleeves and ribbed high waist bottom. I use the term sweater ever-so-lightly here as it was really sheer. That would be a total of $1.00 from a yard sale. Next up, GAP tweedish textured crop pants with the wide leg. Dressy not a casual look. Flat front. That would be $1.00 from another yard sale.

Which leaves me to the accessories.

Ahem.

Vintage pearl/glass beaded/silver studded long necklace from here last year.

And these bad boys:

Total loss-of-consciousness purchase. They spoke to me as I walked by the rack. They even jumped in my buggy before I could blink. They WERE NOT yard sale priced. I splurged. Totally under the $50.00 mark, which is still more than I really want to pay, but hey...they bossed me right into buying them. You know what they say about red and power. It's true.

Topped it off with my Ruby Woo lipstick purchased by my husband from here.
He has a tradition of buying me make-up every year for Christmas. Make up from MAC. The story of how he explains himself purchasing make-up from another man WEARING make-up is priceless. It goes something like this:

"Hi. I'm here to buy my wife something special. She loves MAC make-up. Her initials are actually MAC. She likes to say her compact is monogrammed. I am not here for male make-up. I like to buy for her. I will look around and let you know when I am ready to purchase."

He then goes straight for the lipsticks. He likes to buy those best. I usually get a new tube and gloss (he's a fan of the MAC glass) every year for Christmas along with some type of carry case monogrammed, of course.

I like to say I'm lucky to have a left handed husband; he's got an artsy sense about him and it works for me. Football defensive coordinator and all.

Anyway, back to the church ensemble. I was so jazzed up about the accessories, I completely opted for the pull-down-the-pontail knot, shake-it-out-and-go hair look.

Kenny was not a fan.

Neither were the girls in my 4th grade Sunday School class. They asked me what I did to my hair. I told them "absolutely nothing". To which they quickly replied, "You should have used a flat iron."

I taught one little girl's older sister a couple of years ago.

Her little sister said, "Erin told me about you and your hair. She said you were crazy and to expect your hair to look like that from time to time."

I took it as a compliment.

I won't go into the details of my younger years doing my own hair and how I COULD NOT wear it the same way twice. Visit here for the scoop on that. Let's just say, I pushed creativity's limit.

And I won't mention how the middle school years almost killed me with the push to conform. Bangs curled tightly and teased with ONE silver barrette of your hair half pulled half up. (half up. That is a total middle school word) Between that and it being NOT COOL if you ate lunch, I was definitely considered UNPOPULAR. A girl's gotta eat and a girl's gotta look cute in my book.

So when clients ask for my help in dolling up the ordinary, it brings a big fat smile to my face.

So your back-to-school list says "clear backpack only". So.

Accessorize and be you.

Stand out and smile.

"1 pencil case". No problem.

Don't EVEN think of the Wal-mart ones.

Because living life in the details is what I advocate most. Young or old: find your nitch. Get comfy and grow there. And don't blink at what anyone else says if your heart is happy. Crazy hair or not.

Today's Tuesday School day for the kiddos.

Their supply list asked for an old t-shirt or a smock for art time.

My kids. Ordinary. Well, whaddya think?

.mac :)

Dream A Little Dream of Me.

This was me about 8 weeks ago.
At a traffic light, I snapped the above.
My hair: DIRTY.
My hair: ON ITS WAY TO BLISS.
Dream a little dream of me, won't you?


This is my salon. Dream Hair Studio.It is elegant, sassy, and comfort all rolled into one design space. Located in the downtown artsy-crafty district of Chattanooga on Frazier Avenue for all you locals. The music is jive'n and hair is thrivin' in this studio.
Meet Ashleigh Carver. She is my hair engineer; my stylist; my lock lover, if you will. She is exactly what I need too.

A perfectionist.
Meticulous.
Down to earth.
Helpful.
Honest.
Edgy.
Humorous.
Passionate.

Hair color is like toothpaste to me.
You don't leave home without using it.

Now, I realize that not all women abide by this code, and that's okay. I have several friends and loved ones that are Au Naturele. Others who are once-a-year streakers and even a few who are Clairol straight-out-the-boxers.

And it's all good. If you will remember, I even had my stint at playing kitchen beautician. Here and here tell all about it just to keep us all up to speed.

I NEED color you see.

NEED not WANT.

My hair does better. I do better. Mama is happy. Nuff said.

Now, I fully realize that having my hair professionally done is a perk and a treat. I even will budge so far as to say that the NEED not WANT statement up above is a stretch. I don't wanna admit that, but I will.

Not that having your hair professionally done on a consistent basis needs justification or anything, but just to make myself feel better, ahem:

1. I don't get manicures or pedicures.
2. I clean my own home.
3. I do my own landscaping.
4. I pay nothing in day care.
5. I ONLY shop at Goodwill and yard sales for my clothing with only the OCCASIONAL Target clearance item splurge.

There. I feel better.

Because Dream Hair Studio is a TREAT.

More importantly, Ashleigh Carver is a TREAT.

Allow me to ramble, won't you?

Here she is acting all silly before I jumped in her chair and the mane magic began. Now let me just say, I am a loyal customer. Before finding my way to Ashleigh, I was with my previous stylist for almost 6 years. {I can't help but note the slightly comical comparison here to dating. "I was with..." It's so true in the hair world, isn't it?!}

Client's time and a stylist's performance have to match, you know?

And with Ashley and me, they do.

"I don't think I will ever not be a stylist. I have a passion for it too much."

That was one of the first things she said to me. And let me just say it spoke volumes about her as a stylist. She totally is passionate about her profession. Allow me to elaborate:

• This girl had me bring in everything that went into styling my hair at home from the shampoo to the last finishing product so that she could watch me style my hair and help me get the look I have when I leave Dream with MY OWN products! She guided me with styling tips, and even advised me on what over-the-counter products were "worth their salt" and which professional products were musthaves. Her words, "I want to make sure you can style your hair to make it look the very best for 2 reasons. First so that you feel confident and happy about your hair, and secondly, your hair is my billboard. If people notice your hair, then that's an opportunity for my business to grow." Entrepreneurial and an advocate of one's personal best: I love it.
• I go every 8 weeks for service. She has me come in at the 4 week mark just to have my bangs trimmed up to keep good styling shape...FOR FREE.
• She actually looks over my color and if she sees something she would like to correct or make better, she asks me to come back in the next day so that she can fix it. She has done this twice all with a smile and the determination to make my head of hair its very best.
• She is nice and down to earth.
• She went on a missions trip with her husband to Yemen to teach hair to the ladies there so to help them learn job training for income.
• She shoots me straight. Ashleigh is a quick read on what kind of style her clients can pull off. And I quote, "I am not here to make people think they look good in one style when they really don't. I am here to find the right style for their personality and face shape. From there, I find my desire to create." Genuis.

And Ashleigh has helped me to step out of my conventional blonde highlight box. She asked me to tell me a little about what I like for my hair. So here is what I reported:

1. I am a huge fan of blonde. Always have been. I want to resonate with the mousy brown I naturally am, but who's kidding here. I just feel better blonder.
2. I also love the reddish-auburn chestnut look.
3. I have a high forehead.
4. I like being unique. I love to create, design, paint, write, and sew. Texture and color mean a lot to me.

And here's the finished product:
Long bangs. Holy cow has this cut my mile long forehead in half. I have not had bangs since my sophomore year of high school as in high school I was given the nickname, "Blossom" after the TV show. See what nicknames can do to you?
Auburn-chestnut saturation in the back. Yippee!
Color and texture changes.
Punky fun to fit the creative side of me. This last trick was Ashleigh's idea. I was a little nervous at first, but have fallen in love with this edgy look.
So, I like her. She cracked up when I came bee-bopping in with my camera and told her I wanted to do a blog post about her. As you can see, she obliged with a happy heart and sweet smile.

I have been going to Ashleigh for about 8 months now. {I can't help but wanna change "going to" to "going with" just to keep the dating comparison going from above. ALAS, I will refrain.}

I just had my hair done again this past Thursday too. Subtle new look from the above...tee-tiny chestnut low lights into the blonde front for a bit more definition, more blonde added to the crown of my head in the for a little more pop of color, and a shorter, shiftier bang set. So far, I am lovin' it! {No visual here as my head has been immersed in pool water since then in celebration of the 4th!}

Thanks for the vein outtake and all to "Dream a Little Dream of Me." I couldn't resist the title.

If you are a local and need a stylist, Ashleigh Carver is your girl. Stop by and tell her I sent you!

And I wanna know the low down on your own locks.

Let me offer you a choose your own adventure question set:

1. Are you happy with your hair?
2. Do you like your stylist?
3. What do you like best about your locks?
4. What would you like to change?
5. What do you like best about your stylist?

Do tell!

"Locked" and loaded,

.mac :)

Texture

Indebted I am to your gracious gifts.
Gleefully glad to breathe it all in.

Tulips
Sunny yellow; bright as bells.
gathered and bundled
On the mantle, the stories your blooms tell.

Geo Trax
stacked and piled
ready
no destination known

Add a noggin full of plans and dreams,
And off your twisting form is shown

Texture
How I need you?
Desperate, I am.
Wearing pants with rippled ridges
Fashion Fauxpaux Before Easter Committed
I pair textures not akin.
With ridges, I choose you, linen.
Loose, lax, and lovin' on my skin.

Locks dirty,
Not clean.
A crumpled concoction...
of a LONG ago washing.

Texture
You astound me.
You're everywhere I see.

The curvy swerves of flowers,
Patience.
As each year I wait for thee.
Transformations
Of what's old that now becomes new.

A Great Gram and her Grand Munchkins
Life's continuance.
God's promise.
A bloodline fresh and new.

New
~Our Mollye~
my niece
beautifully innocent
brilliantly blue
A birth and a blessing,
Our family's texture accrues.


Friends who become family.
Celebrating their little one's turn of a year.
Raising boys together with smiles and sometimes frowns,
Cups of sugar borrowed; backyard camp outs,
Texture...just a few doors down.

Fabric sorting.
Sifting through the scraps and collections of old,
Patterns, palettes, and preparations,
Making room for the new k.Mac story to be told.

A cake.
It's liquid chocolate smooth.
Whipped crystally goodness,
We dive into the richness and yummy goo.

A warm-up?
Perhaps prematurely baked?
Nah, it's just more texture,
To our family's dinner plate.

Years build.
Stack one and one on top.

This year.
I am blissfully grateful...
that my texture doesn't stop.

.mac :)

p.s. What texture(s) in your life are you appreciating the most right now?



p.p.s Find the # hidden in the k.Mac giveaway logo. What does that number stand for?

p.p.p.s Answer the above questions to enter this week's giveaway Winners will be announced this Friday afternoon, March 20th.

p.p.p.p.s. Your name x 3 if you link this post to your blog or facebook page!

It broke.

It was my staple. My woobie if you will. It dates back to circa oh 'bout 1994. You know, when the clip phase was sorta on its way back in, but notsomuch the banana version. The clips were larger and had somewhat of a decorative seashell or odd looking bow molded into the actual plastic. They came in all different colors, but I specifically remember choosing a brown. I felt that was the most practical and versatile color of choice.

So this clip is/was 14 years old. That's like the age of a trusty family pet, I say.

Aside from the daily pull-the-hair-back face washings at night and the usual get-this-mess-out-of-my face reach-twist-clasp after long days at the school house, this clip has seen my through:

* my wedding day preparations
* my honeymoon lounging by the pool
* countless trips camping with our good ole pals on the lake
* lotsa sick days

AND...

BOTH of my boys' births. She has lasted. Endured. Really been there for me. Oh how she made it all better as I began the nursing process each time with the boys. No mama wants her long locks flowing about when your milk comes in for the first time while a skid dish and quite sleepy newborn dozes as the involuntary milk shower initiates him and mama. Thank you, clip. Thank you for keeping at least my hair dry and clean during that process.

The boys now like to play with my assortments of junky jewelry, clips, shoes,and lotions while I get ready in the morning. Their father isn't exactly overjoyed with this activity, but the make-up gets on right real nice, I think.

Anyway, I actually had a talk with the boys specifically about this clip. I explained in depth how important this item was to mama and they were not to play with this doo-dad ever. Matter of fact, I even walked them through what to do if they saw it lying around on the coffee or end table.

I can't tell you how good it feels to hear Eli:

"Case, that is mommy's favorite clip. I bet she will be looking for it soon. We better get it back to her."

OR

Casey: (while playing stumbling upon my clip) "No-no! Mommy!" (grubby hand then gives clip to his mama.)


They knew. Man, now that is what I call good hometraining.

Well, no more.

The clips lasted me through so many things and yet it had to go and crack while I was flipping Casey over my head on the floor with my feet. JEEZ.

I heard the crack and thought: "Oh no. Nu-uh. There is no way."

As I lifted off the ground, my hair fell down around my shoulders and I knew it was for real.

Out came my clip in 2 pieces. Sigh. Sniff.

Good things must come to an end. I loathe that phrase.

I have contemplated the idea of hot glue. Not gonna work.

So, it was a good run.

I am reverting to my other brown "new age" clip that is half the size and although aesthetically cute as a button, it doesn't hold my hair worth a flip~

Ugghhh.

2 thoughts keep floating around in my mind:

1. Maybe it's time for the locks to go. Paige boy? Long bangs and some stack action?
2. This clip cracking is a sign. Something else is about to go awry. What on earth could it be?

With that, I am scouring hair magazines and online pictures for a possible new look all while trying not to speed, forget to pay a bill on time, or cut the boys' apples while talking on the phone...

Down and out and tired of re-positioning my "new age" clip,
:-( .mac

Tell me you guys have fond/obsessive attachments to old items too? Don't even get me started on my pajamas...

Drum roll, please...

DISCLAIMER---HUGE surprise at the end of this post! If you like surprises, read the post first! If you want to ruin it, heck I don't care! How will I ever know?!!


How did it go?
Is that what you say?
Are your ends fried?
Did you go get it fixed? Tell me, how much did you have to pay?

As for my ends well, they're all in tact.
My mood has lightened, and my happy spirit is BACK!

It seems an evil culprit was weaving his master plan.
How does that monthly curse seem to always ruin the place where I am?

Now don't get me wrong,
Those boys helped too!
Thank goodness for box wine,
And for bleach that is blue!

What's that?
You think you might wanna see?
Well, there is a surprise waiting...
It's for you from ME!

In my desperate attempt to make myself smile,
Well, you know me, I went the EXTRA mile.

Oh no, I didn't stop at color and bleach,
No, the down-n-out me decided on an even BIGGER change,
So for the perm solution...I DID REACH!

So go ahead and check out the grand finale pics,
Can't wait to hear your comments on what you're about to see...
My appointment book is open,
You are all welcome to schedule a visit to the k.Mac Hair Company!!!

Happy Friday!!!

.mac :-)








SURPRISE!!!!
Totally kidding on the perm part!!
Did you think I was totally CRAZY???
Two french braids brought their BFF's, pink sponge rollers, over to my house for a slumber party last night!
Can't you tell from the pics, we had a blast?!!
GOTCHA!!!!
Have a great weekend!!!

I Don't Like Her...

....I don't' trust anyone who does their own hair. I don't think it is natural.

- Truvy from Steel Magnolias


I didn't want to do it. Honest, I didn't. But desperate times call for desperate measures (that was my back up for the title of this post).
So, I played Kitchen Beautician.
I know. I know. You don't have to tell me. I already know what "OH MY...NO YOU DIDN'T" thoughts are going through your head.
It started like this.
I am a loyal customer. I am a consistent customer. I tip. I show up on time. I wait. For six years I waited every appointment. I have waited up to 1 1/2 hours before. But I still go back.
Why?
Cause she is dang good at what she does. That and she agrees with me that there should be ZERO roots after a color session. I mean ZERO. NO 1/4 inch break from the scalp and then the color begins. No.No.No. One must pour the dye/bleach into the root cavity if at all possible so that the re-growth might even have a tint of color.
Yep, that's my girl.
But we had a fall out. Such a long story to tell, but it involved back to back appointments that left me feeling not so much appreciated and valued as a customer.
So I decided to move on for the time being.
I tried someone new. (even though I felt as if I was having an affair)
He didn't pan out.
It seemd he liked the 1/4 inch break before beginning color.
No go.
So this left me stranded. I have let my hair just grow and I am to the point where even when my hair is fresh washed (stealing a term from my good ole gal pal, Angie here) it still looks dirrrrrrrrrrrrty.

Which brings me to today.
I took the boys and went to visit my grandmother, Mom-mommie.
Boys + road trip + today = kitchen beautician.

It was a ROUGH day. Lotsa whining, lotsa timeouts, lotsa spanks, lotsa lotsa.
As I was driving home listening to the boys oh insert any of the below here ___________.

* click their tongues in unison
* scream "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO" to one another as loud as they could
* shout the word "poopy" and then laugh hysterically like goats
* kick the backs of the bucket car seats
* play tug of war with Casey's blanket until it turned into a meltdown (you know the kind where laughter immediately turns into rage crying. Meet Casey.


I decided I needed a pick me up. This is where I'm wired a wee bit backwards. You see, when I am under duress and feeling stress I don't naturally tend to want to veg out.
No, no. Not me.
No, what I like to do is add more on my plate. You know start a new project, try something I have never done before, cook a brand new dish while sewing about 10 new custom purse orders or even perhaps attempt to color/highlight my hair ON MY OWN.
For those of you who know me well. This ain't my first rodeo.
I used to live with a hairdresser right out of college. I would occasionally get tips and how to's on how to do certain tricks. But mostly she let me play in her hair stash. For a period of about 3 years, I did my own highlights. Just a little "homegrown" looking from time to time and I'm not gonna lie. MAYBE, just maybe some hairs were burned off from over processing. But just once or twice. Or three times.
Once moving to Chattanooga, I found my girl wonder and I was set.
Like I said, until now.
So I get home; feed the angels.
What's that?
That's right. I fed them waffles.
Why?
Cause I didn't have a care in the world to try to even attempt coercing them into eating vegetables at this point. I did throw some applesauce out for an appetizer. It went over pretty well.
By this time Kenny walks in from practice.
He is a true GOD send.
He whisks the boys off to do baths and bed and I hit the floor running to the store.
Why Sally's Beauty Supply, of course.
I have a quick convo with my old roommate Amanda the hair dresser as to what color to buy. I went with a 6N and 5G and combined them equal parts. These are a dark brown color with richness in tone. Kind of like a light Chestnut color.

I buy some bleach for my highlights and all the necessities and I am out the gate.
My sister-in-law, Kim, gave me a book today which sort of prompted me for my next stop:

So I went and picked up this:

(AAAHHHH, the ole box wine. Straight Aunt Sharon style. Mom used to drink this too. Cheap, lots of it, and just what I needed after a day like today.)
I get home. I do the color first. Kenny, again the GOD send husband, helps me get my hair evenly through the cap.

Go time.
25 minutes later. I rinse and wash.
It is dark. I like it. Now time for highlights.

Amanda recommended I use the cap pull through technique for this, but I had another idea...see how I like to play rue let right up until the very end? Crazy I say.

I broke out the aluminum foil and decided to ahem,"be creative." I blame it on being left handed...way too much artsy fartsy stuff going on in my mojo at times...way too much.

Check out this bad boy:

Yep, that humdinger is mine. Yanked right out of the basement from my good ole days of Kitchen Beautician. Ain't she a beaut? Bought this trendy dryer when I was a wee 22. That's 10 years ago. YIKES!!! This ole gal teamed up with mom's/my old teaching chair and made one helluva beauty parlor!
One glass of wine down, the 2nd one poured and I am rollin'.
It took me awhile, but NOT NEARLY AS LONG AS I USUALLY SPEND AT MY HAIRDRESSERS INCLUDING THE WAIT TIME!!!!!
It's not perfect and no, you are not getting a grand finale picture until tomorrow!
The suspense is killing you isn't it? Either it's that or this hideously long post.
Perhaps tomorrow will be the unveiling of the hair. Perhaps.
Wonder what you guys are thinking right now...

In the words of Truvy... There's no such thing as natural beauty.

Ain't that the truth!

:-) .mac