Everyone Needs a Little Gloss!

I have a confession to make.  Over the past 15 years or so, I have been a hairdresser whore.  I seriously haven't stayed with any stylist for more than a year or two.  I would go a year without a cut.  I would color myself.  I was negligent.  And I am ashamed.  This is the story of how I turned it all around.

Starting a few weeks ago, I began to feel like I needed a little pick me up.  It has been a LOOONNNNNGGGG winter already and it isn't even February yet.  Yikes.

So I was thinking...what can I do to lift my spirits a bit?  And then it came to me.  A HAIR MAKEOVER.

Not my ordinary, run of the mill kind of job either.  I was thinking something drastic.  And I found the PERFECT place to do it!

 

Gloss Salon and Spa in Wilmington, Delaware.

Let me tell you a little about them.  After starting Gloss On-site Wedding day Hair and Makeup, Bethany Keith decided it was time to expand.  She opened Gloss Salon and Spa in Newark, Delaware (home of the University of Delaware campus), conveniently located in Market East Plaza off of Main Street.  Just last spring, Gloss expanded to Wilmington with a Gloss in the City location on North Union Street, close to Trolley Square.

I work in Wilmington and had been dying to visit Gloss in the City for months.  So yesterday, thanks to Beth (who is a friend from high school), I finally went in for an appointment!

Immediately, I knew I was in good hands!

I was greeted by this fabulousness.

This is Jay, another friend from high school!

According to the Gloss website, Jay is "Director of Client Relations, Scheduling Coordinator, Salon Supervisor at GLOSS IN THE CITY, Director of Entertainment and overall Blast!! ~GLOSS IN THE CITY."  He is definitely a blast and he is most likely who you would speak to if you make an appointment (AND YOU SHOULD)!

Jay introduced me to my stylist Nickie and her assistant Jennifer.  Right away I felt comfortable with them.  I showed them a few pictures and they got right to work.  They mixed up the color and I felt 100% comfortable with whatever they chose.

Over the next few hours, we chatted and I laughed and laughed.  When I say I am contacting Bravo to pitch a Gloss Salon reality show, I AM SERIOUS!  Jay will make you laugh for hours and all of the stylists and clients seem to have great relationships with each other.  It is clear that they have many loyal clients...which is a sign of a GREAT salon!

Not only did I get a full foil, I also got color, a conditioning treatment, AND a blow out (which is such a treat with my curly hair).  Nickie was so excited to finish off the visit with a blow out, even though I had been there for 3 hours already and I was sure she was ready to call it a day.  However, she said that making people feel good about themselves is the whole reason she does what she does.  She was just wonderful!

She turned my back to the mirror and didn't show me the final product until she was finished.

And here it is!

The pictures don't do the color justice.  I have never had my hair this light, but I LOVE it!

I will definitely be back at Gloss In the City in a few months!  To be honest, I loved talking to Jay, Nickie, and Jennifer so much that I might just go hang out there.  I have found a salon to stick with for sure!  No more whoring around for me.

If you are looking for a new stylist or want a change, I can't tell you enough how much I recommend Gloss Salon and Spa!

Check out their website for contact info, pricing, and much more.  You will not be sorry!!!

Disclosure:  I was not financially compensated for this post.  However, I received  these salon services in exchange for my review.  All opinions are my own based on my wonderful experience at Gloss Salon and Spa.



Some words for the Biebs.

Justin Bieber is all over the news these days.  It seems so silly to me that this is "front page" breaking news. 

But it is.

And I have some words for Justin (or any celebrity who seems to be on a downward spiral).  Notice that I said celebrity.  That is who I am addressing here.

Justin, I know that you will make mistakes.  I know...because everyone does.  I get that you are a kid, really.  You are growing up in the spotlight.  And although that may be hard, YOU CHOSE THIS.  You chose it.  Your mom chose it.  It was a choice to have this lifestyle.  I am sure you were well aware of all the crap that came along with it.    

So get your shit together.  For real.  Since (again) YOU CHOSE THIS LIFE, you have to realize that you are now a role model.  Like it or not.  Try to make the right choices.  Try very hard, please.  There are millions of kids that make good choices everyday.  You can do it.  You cannot continue to make poor choices and answer to no one.  Or you can.  It's another choice you have to make.

Let me tell you a little story, Justin.  Today is pajama day at my kids' school and my 5 year old wanted to wear pajamas with your face and name all over them.  She loves those pajamas.  They were on her Christmas list.  A 5 year old took the time to add "Justin Bieber pajamas" to her list for Santa.  I told her she was not wearing them to school and explained why.  I was mostly honest with her.  I told her that you were speeding and that you were not respectful to the police officers.  I left out the whole drugs and alcohol and DUI thing.  She didn't believe me so I showed her your picture...yep, the one with your smug ass smiling nice and big for your mug shot.  She was sad that you had to "go to jail".  She said she wanted to take your poster down from her wall.  She was let down.

Kids are let down.  They spend their money on your clothes, music, or concert tickets.  And frankly my dear, you don't deserve it right now. 

I pray that you get your f*cking act together.  I really do.  I pray for your mom.  I pray that she had nothing to do with your little escapades (as some news outlets are reporting).  I hope that all the little kids who look up to you don't continue to be disappointed.  I don't think any of this is funny so I hope you don't become a joke.  I hope you EARN people's respect.  Because you CHOSE THIS LIFE.

I'll say it again, you are a role model.  Like it or not.  Now f*cking act like one.

  

Melt away your chins with Plexus!

It's Giveaway time!!!  Oh, and weight loss time too!

This past summer I tried Plexus Slim and was very happy with my results.  I lost about 8 pounds in one month!  I even posted about it...and hosted a 3 day trial giveaway.

I love that the Plexus products are:
~all natural
~safe
~and the Slim (a powder packet you mix with 16 oz. of water to make the "pink drink") tastes great!

Last month, a friend (who is a Plexus ambassador) approached me about doing another review and giveaway.  I was very excited because I loved the products when I tried them in the summer and I was looking for a way to get through the winter without gaining weight...and even losing some!

Before the holidays I honestly felt like I had 6 chins.  It might sound crazy, but even my neck even felt bloated.  Then I saw some pics to prove that I wasn't crazy.

So I started the Plexus Slim/Accelerator combo before the holidays.  Although I wasn't as consistent with it as I would have liked, I managed to lose a pound right before Christmas and to NOT gain any extra weight over the holidays.  I'll consider that fact alone a big success...considering the eating and drinking that took place.

Last Monday I decided that it was time to get super serious.  I started prepping better for my meals and I didn't skip a single day with my Plexus "pink drink" and accelerator.  I have also starting up my running again after a few weeks off.

Every day I have a light breakfast and around mid-morning I drink my "pink drink" and take one Accelerator.  In one week I have lost 4 pounds!!!  It might not sound like much, but I feel great.  Even my chin and neck feel better (seriously)!

My friend Amy has so kindly offered a 7 DAY TRIAL to one of my lucky readers.  And trust me, you will see and feel a difference in 7 days!

All you have to do is enter below.  The giveaway ends in 1 week.  Pay attention to the entry form because you have to like both my facebook page and hers (you must request to join her page "Pinkalicious Amy").  You can also get bonus entries if you comment on this post!

If you would like more information on Plexus and the awesome products that they offer, check out Amy's site at PinkaliciousAmy.com

Good luck to all!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The day I wrote about the weather.

I always thought that when you didn't have much to say, a safe topic to talk about is the weather.

Can you believe this heat?

How about that storm last night?

I heard that it's going to be a cold one tomorrow!

It appears that I was wrong.

Here's the situation.  If the weather becomes unseasonably, dangerously cold in your area and schools close...apparently it becomes a MAJOR debate.

I posted this on my facebook page last night after seeing many comments on school district posts that were upsetting to me, both as a parent and a teacher:

Seriously biting my tongue on facebook tonight but I thought I could vent over here.

I live in Delaware and we are getting the coldest temps we have had in decades tomorrow. So most schools have closed. Parents are complaining about it and saying that the districts are "insane" and people are "sissies". Well, I'm about to flip the freak out.

School administrators make the call. Those same administrators will still be at work tomorrow...cold and ice and all. They are not insane. They are putting the safety of the students first.

I am a teacher. Will I be off tomorrow? I'm not sure yet. But if people think that teachers are so lazy that they NEVER want to work, then that is sad. Yes we like a day off here and there. I know almost every teacher that I know is/would be shocked to be off tomorrow. But WE don't make the call. WE go to work or not...either way is no biggie to me. But I do bus duty EVERY morning. I stand outside for 15-20 minutes in the cold or rain or whatever. Yes, I have gloves and a scarves and a jacket (like smart asses like to point out) but it is still cold and I stand there and welcome kids to school with a smile each morning.

We have kids at my school that get bused in from ALL over northern Delaware. They wait outside for the bus...and some ride over 20 minutes in a cold, barely heated bus to school. Some kids have to walk to school. Those are the kids that are being protected when the schools close. Classrooms were cold today... I am sure they would be way worse tomorrow.

Decisions are made based on the safety of the kids. Period.

Educators aren't lazy people that close down school for "insane" or "ridiculous" reasons. I am very sorry if you are inconvenienced. I get that. But such is life. It's a big fat INCONVENIENCE sometimes.

And sometimes it's a surprise day off.

The response to this post was OVERWHELMING.  At this time, over 72,700 people have seen the post, 315 people have shared it, and there are 1977 likes and 338 comments.  That is a big deal for little old me.  

After reading ALL of the responses, I have come to the following conclusions:

You can't please everyone.

And....well....yep, I think that is about it.

Everyone has an opinion.  Some people are open to hear the opinions of other, some are not.  Some want to state their opinion in an a**hole-ish way.  Some are rather polite and mature.

Bottom line is:  parents and teachers want what is best for kids.  Maybe we don't agree on what is best at that moment.  But hopefully we are all doing our best.

And fingers crossed that this ONE very cold day off in the winter of 2014 won't raise a generation of sissies (as this seems to be an odd concern of many).  Just tell those kids to MAN UP and get out in the cold...especially those little 5 year olds that would be waiting for a bus this morning.  Or just keep them safe and warm inside and call it a day.

I am going with the latter.

 

Where was the manual?

You have heard it before...kids should come with a manual or instruction booklet.

But I say LIFE should come with one.  I mean...seriously.

Where was the manual when I was in high school?  It clearly would have told me not to take stuff so seriously and to kick crazies that cause drama to the curb.  It would also have told me about quality hair products for unruly, naturally curly hair and how important it is to wear your retainer for, like, the next 15 years.  And I can't forget the bangs.  It would have told me NOT to cut bangs...

Where was it when I was in college?  It most definitely would have led me down a career path that would result in a financial windfall.  Sure, teaching is good and all...with those summers off.  But the manual might have given me more options.  Especially options that offer a part time route.

Where was the manual in my early 20s?  It surely would have told me that NO, I wasn't fat.  In fact, I would've known that I would someday look back on those years and wonder how I ever thought I was fat.  I would be envious of the me that was a decade ago.  The manual would have also told me that it was the best time to tighten the belt, save for the future, and maybe even work a half dozen jobs while I had the time and the energy.  Oh, the energy.  I miss the energy.  The manual would also have told me to enjoy those years more and not to always be thinking about what was next. Next would get there soon enough.

Where was the manual when I was planning my wedding?  Damn, it was a fun wedding.  But there were corners that could have been cut.  Money that could have been spent elsewhere.  And the manual would have told me to go ahead and get that videographer.

Where was the manual when I was a newlywed?  I really could have used the pages of it then...when it would have certainly told me to slow down a bit.  Starting a family didn't have to be an almost immediate goal.  It would have said to enjoy the freedom...the ability to fly by the seat of our pants.  But I probably would have ignored it then anyway.

And when I became a mom.  If there was ever a time that I could have used a manual, it was then.  It would have told me that my baby wouldn't suffer hypothermia from a 10 minute bath and to relax that first time I bathed her at home.  It would have told me not to worry about a whole bedding set.  Babies can't even use those damn things anyway.  It would have told me that I will always, always, always feel guilty.  Guilty if I take time alone...guilty if I don't.  Guilty if I spend too much money on my kids...guilty if I buy something for myself instead.  Oh Lord, the guilt.  But the manual would say that it's okay.  Most moms feel the guilt.

The manual would make it a point to note that two kids are harder then one (duh)...and that 3 can be unmanageable at times.  There would be a chapter on how to break up fights over who has the bigger cookie, who got the last string cheese, and who got down the steps first that morning.  It would tell you how to get permanent marker out of clothes.  (NOTE:  You can't.  That's why it's permanent.)  There would be suggestions on ways to relieve stress...like sitting in your car alone and screaming at the top of your lungs, then eating a Taco Supreme with a fountain soda while listening to Salt and Pepa to make it better...just so you don't go all Mommy Dearest on their asses.  But the manual would also say that it's okay if you do happen to go a little crazy and yell a bit because you just can't take their sh*t anymore.  

Most importantly, it would tell you to forgive yourself.  Try again.  And that you can't do it all alone.

But even if there was a manual, I'm sure I would have read it cover to cover then ignored the whole flippin' thing.  And that would be fine...because then I would be right where I am.  Which is a pretty good place to be. 

Have you ever wished you had a manual for life?  Please share.  I'd love to hear!