Confessions of a Hairstylist

confession's is moving!

2013-08-24T18:38:00.001-04:00

We are helping with a church plant in Kentucky, and we need some support!

God has put in on Justin’s heart for many years to plant a church. He recently had the opportunity to attend a conference full of church planters and organizations that help people do so. It rocked his world and he was ready to do it in an instant. The biggest hurdle he had to conquer was God changing Heather’s heart and making her open to the idea, which she was not in any way! Then came our visit to Louisville and our meetings with friends of a long time who were planting a church there. It felt like home, we loved their vision for church, and their passion for winning lost people to GOD! In that moment we knew that this is where God meant for us to be. Heather was even excited about the idea, which truly showed us that God was working in our lives and this is where what he wanted for us.

As the church we are moving to start is only in the forming stages and probably will not be able to pay us for a while we had also been applying for jobs and sending out resume’s and praying for everything to fall in place in God’s timing. We KNOW that God had huge plans for us, as he says in Jer 29:11, For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” We KNOW that this is what God has in store for us, so he will provide a way for us to get there and the money to survive until we get jobs! We have started an online donation fund to help, just like with missionaries we are going to need the love, support, and prayers of our family and friends to get us through this little challenge in our lives. If you can help support our call financially thank you so much, if you cant we totally understand and just ask for prayers and some extra love as we go through this! Thank you so much for everything that you do, the love you pour on us, and the prayers we know you constantly cover us with. We would not be the people we are today without people like you in our lives.

If you can help financially in any way please visit http://www.plumfund.com/pf/thecarners. All of the money we receive will be going to our relocating costs, with anything that is left over going directly to our new church home HopeCulture.tv. I encourage you to check out the church website, watch the videos, sign up for the email list. Its such an exciting yet scary time for the Carners!

boogie your Gluten Free buns

2013-07-10T13:19:00.001-04:00

Have you ever considered or have you already decided to go gluten free? Eating gluten free has become popular in the last 5 years, and it has been discovered that it can help with numerous health issues ranging from Autism to Eczema. Gluten is found in almost everything now a days! Bread is an obvious culprit but did you know cheese has gluten in it? Crazy right?

Thanks to House Party I got to host a Udi's Gluten Free party for our friends and youth group here in Ohio! We got a rootbeer keg, a ton of hot dogs, and some awesome Udi's Gluten Free hot dog buns! We live in the middle of no where so I had to travel about 20 mins away to find the buns, and I had to ask a store clerk because they were stored in the freezer, but once we got them all the work was totally worth it! Unlike regular hot dog buns the Udi's buns were very big, which was great because they could handle lots and lots of toppings for our hot dogs!

The buns were texturally different than a regular buns, but the taste similar to what a bakery bun would taste like! We didn't tell the youth students they were gluten free until after they had tried them, and their response was favorable! They kept on enjoying the buns even after we told them they were gluten free! They didn't even know such products existed or that there was a need for them, so it was a great opportunity to explain the products and why there would be a need for them! I LOVE having a reason to explain different things to our youth group students so this was lots of fun for me!

As you can see they also enjoyed some pool time at our Boogie Your Buns Udi's Gluten Free party, and the buns kept them full and energized long enough to play games, be in and out of the pool, and just be kids for over 5 hours!

They loved dancing and playing rootbeer pong with one another, which is one of our favorite youth group outreach activities! Its a great way to show them they can have fun and play "popular" games with out having to consume alcohol! It was so great to open their horizons to all of these great things, and all 30+ students had
a ton of fun! Our adult youth leaders had fun and enjoyed the Udi's buns too! A lot of our leaders are very health and diet conscious so they were very excited to try an alternative to regular bread!I told them about all the other cool products I discovered like the BBQ sauce, chocolate chip muffin tops, and even pizzas that Udi's Gluten free makes!

If you are interested in trying out some awesome gluten free products you can check out Udi's website for products and a location near you where you can find them! I would also suggest just keeping your eyes open at your local grocer because I found the products at stores near me that weren't on their store locator!

Isn't Redbook for "Older" Women?

2013-06-24T16:40:00.003-04:00

Magazines often review things. They contain articles with reviews of makeup, wrinkle creams, swimsuits, shoes, perfume, etc... but when does everyone ever review a magazine?

Here at Confessions of a Hairstylist I figured it was about time someone did such a thing! Plus myself and 25 of my friends got a one year subscription of the all new Redbook free from House Party, so I figured why not!

Before being reintroduced to the all new Redbook I categorized Redbook as an old lady magazine. I don't know why, or if I had ever read a Redbook but in my head it was a magazines that older women read. Not that I am a teen or young 20 something but I just felt it belonged right next to AARP magazine.

Then comes my opportunity to host a House Party and get (and 25 to give away) a Redbook magazine subscription! With my party pack I received a free issue, which was tons of fun to flip through and check out. I was thrilled with the quality of the content ranging from fashion to healthy eating and saving money!

One of the things that really caught my eye was the fashion part of the magazine. I was clothing for real women, on trend, and fitting a variety of budgets! The clothes were also rather modest, which appealed to my taste! I don't like flipping through a magazine and seeing partially naked models showing us what to "wear".

I also enjoyed July's article on foods that nutritionists swear by! Being on a health kick (28 lbs gone!) I am very intrigued as to what kinds of foods I should and should not be eating! Are avocados really okay to eat? Does cinnamon boot my metabolism? I got answers to lots of my questions in just this one article.

The last thing I really liked was the balance of advertisements versus articles in the magazine. Most "fashion" magazines are mostly ads and a few articles sprinkled in. Redbook has really found the balance so that you are getting actual content in the magazine, not just obnoxious amounts of advertisements!

I highly recommend that you go to your local new stand/ check out line/ bookstore and check out the all new Redbook magazine! There are lots of informative, entertaining, and educational articles. There had to be one that you will enjoy!

Shaveless Summer!

2013-06-08T21:23:00.002-04:00

If you are like me you really, really dislike shaving! Maybe its because my legs are really long, and my shower is extremely small. Or possibly the cuts, razor burn, and inevitable missed spot on the back of your ankle... whatever it is I dislike shaving a lot!

Even to the point where I put it off for weeks! Thank goodness I don't wear shorts right?

Well, the putting off of shaving was a benefit when I got my Veet Easy Wax system free from
Influenster! Your hair has to be around 1/2 an inch for it truly to be effective when you use the system! So, seeing as how it had been almost 2 weeks since I last shaved I was in a good spot!

I was so excited when I got it... and then I remembered, this means I have to wax my legs! EEK! I usually dread the mess and stickiness of waxing! Even being a cosmetologist and being trained in waxing there is just no avoiding the mess that occurs when you spread hot wax on a large part of your body!

Not with the Veet Easy Wax system though! The system is self contained which means you don't have to touch the wax! It glides on smoothly and mess free! The system also controls its own temperature so there is no worries about it being too hot, or not hot enough! Once it warmed up it stayed warm enough to continue using, which was nice.

Now I'm not going to lie, waxing is not a pleasant feeling! What I did find though was after the first strip, the following ones got easier and easier! They still hurt but it wasn't that bad!
I couldn't believe how effective the wax was at removing the hairs, and how easy the whole process was!

Clean up was also a breeze as they included so clean up wipes to rub on your legs after to remove any sticky residue!

My legs were so soft and smooth after using the Veet Easy Wax system! Now I get wait 4 more weeks before I get to do it again, and thats not be being lazy! Waxing should last about 4 weeks! How awesome is that?

Tea for two

2013-05-27T22:34:00.000-04:00

Last week I got the amazing experience of visiting Charleston, South Carolina to explore Bigelow Tea and what makes them so different from everyone else.

When my friend Kristen of Mudpies and Tiaras called me up to invite me to join her on this adventure I was mostly excited about a vacation. Three days, warm weather, nothing to worry about! Who could beat it? Of course I said yes! I was expecting to just "survive" through the tea stuff and enjoy being away and exploring a new city. So, I packed up my carry on bag (forget paying for checking a bag) and began a three day adventure to the south! Not only did I "survive" through the tea stuff, I had the time of my life learning about tea!

The evening we arrived Bigelow had a special event for us at a house right on the bay that is now a museum. The house was the first house built in that area of the city and still has 90% of the homes furniture! It was a really cool experience.

Kristen and I met lots of bloggers, the Bigelow family, and representatives of the company that Kristen blogs for! We had a beautiful view of the ocean, delicious appetizers, and all the tea we could drink of course :) They provided us with bottles of America's tea the entire time we were there, which you can only purchase locally in Charleston. They were so delicious!

The next day we had breakfast and lunch at our sister bed and breakfast which was also right on the ocean. They brought in two historians to give us the history of Charleston and everything it had been through. Did you know that Charleston also had a tea party? Although not as large as the one in Boston it did happen! We even got a tour of the place where they stored tea, and prisoners back in the day!

The best part of Wednesday was the tea tasting! Who would have thought that when tasted properly and side by side, how much tea can be different from one brand to another! Across the board Bigelow was the best! In every flavor it was smooth, fragrant, and delicious. I didn't know I would like tea without sweetner until then! When you taste tea you make an obnoxious slurping sound, and you want to taste it warm and cool, to check the continuity of the flavor. I was so impressed by the Bigelow brand that when I got home I threw away any other tea that we had in the house!

The rest of the day Wednesday was spent on the plantation where America's Tea is grown, harvested, and dried! There are only a few tea plantations in America, which made this a very special event! The Bigelow family saved this plantation from becoming condos 10 years ago, and it has grown ever since! We got a trolly ride around the plantation, showed how to pick and process tea, a bit of relaxing time, and a delicious catered dinner on the veranda at the plantation!

The flavor, quality, and freshness that Bigelow tea provides in each little foil pouch is beyond description when compared with other brands. Bigelow only purchases tea leaves from over 4,000 feet of altitude, which means you are getting the biggest and best quality tea leaf! They even use better leaves that companies who charge you more for their product! Their company strives for sustainability! They recycle, compost, and even ship out their little tea foils to be remade into energy pellets! You can not go wrong by choosing Bigelow tea over whatever brand is your favorite! I promise you that you will not be disappointed!

Cindy Bigelow showed us so much about tea, and it was a pleasure to be with her and her parents all weekend! They are so passionate and genuine about the product they create, and the true quality behind their family name. It was an amazing experience to be around a family and company with such passion that Kristen and I can never look at tea the same!

Who doesn't love a white smile

2013-03-28T18:02:00.001-04:00

I love having a white smile.

I'm pretty much OBSESSED with it!

I have the strips, the gel, the tooth paste, the at-home remedies. I pretty much have done it all to keep my pearly whites white! I have over bleached my teeth to the point where I have found cracks in my enamel and blisters on my gums.

I think it stems from being a brace face for so many years of my life. I want to make sure that my teeth stay pretty and white because for so many years they weren't! I have been letting it slack the last few months because I really had over done it and made my teeth very sensitive.

Then in walks my Sugar and Spice Vox Box from Influenster! Influenster is this fun website that I am on where you review and share products, answer questions from users and just have fun and talk about things you love. I was so excited to be chosen as one of the few who got a Sugar and Spice Vox Box so that I could try out some new products! In there was my Colgate Optic White System!

They sent me the mouth wash, the tooth paste, and the tooth brush. I can honestly say I am IN LOVE and will defiantly be purchasing these products once I run out of my awesome supply from Influenster.

Colgate Optic White has made my mouth feel so so clean and kept it feeling like that all day long! I was truly amazed after using it before bed, that when I woke up my teeth felt fresh and clean, and my breath wasn't as horrible as it normally is in the morning!

The whitening effects are still under way (it takes about a week to see full results) but I have noticed my teeth just look healthier and brighter from using the Optic White! Especially in between my teeth which typically is a hard place to whiten! The mouth wash is all foamy and gets into those hard to reach areas, as cliche as it sounds :) Its a little tingly, but not too much like Listerene or anything, and the mint is a nice flavor. It also protects your teeth from future stains, which is huge for a coffee lover like myself! I think whatever ingredient is in Optic White that makes it protect against the stains is what keeps your teeth feeling so clean! It truly is amazing. I have never experienced anything like it before!

Thanks again Influenster for the awesome chance to try out Optic White! You've made this girl a believer!

...to be continued

2012-05-28T00:14:00.001-04:00

I can't believe that I have only written two blogs since July of last year. Obviously it has been a busy year with lots of new stories, lots of funny conversations, and lots of...um, interesting... situations. I have learned a WHOLE lot about myself this year, what I can handle and what I cant. What stresses me out and what I can push under the rug, and what gets under my skin like no other.

I have also discovered that I miss sharing my life with all of you. Which is something I promise to work on... PROMISE! So stay tuned, tonight I am too beat to think of anything entertaining to tell ya'll!

...to be continued :)

A doozy of a come back!

2012-02-20T01:31:00.000-05:00

It has been a very long seven months since I have last shared my life with the blogasphere. The new job has me crazy busy, and the better environment has left me with a lot less to complain or make fun of. I do have a few crazy stories stored up my sleeve though, so look for those to come soon!

This is a post of another nature, one of which I will share some of my heart with you all! This will be a doozy of a come back! Ready?

Typically I am a very private person, but sharing our story has been on my heart lately. Someone has to hear it, and maybe walk through it with us. I trust that eventually, at the end of this, there will come our moment to praise Him for all he has done for us. I know God will see us through.

Justin and I have been "Not, not trying" to have a baby for a year and a half or so now. We haven't been taking temperatures, or counting days, or anything like that. We also haven't been taking any preventative measures either. My period has been irregular pretty much since I stopped taking my birth control, I gained weight, and I had PMS like never before! Then came August of this year. September, October, November...and even a few weeks of December came and there was no period. I felt fat and bloated, moody and tired. It was finally time to call a doctor to see what all of this was about.

I was referred to a super cool Dr, who listens and actually pays attention to what I say. She talked, blood tested, ultrasounded...

OMG! Let me digress about the ultrasound! No one warned me that unless you are major prego the ultrasound is INTERNAL! Just imagine that surprise! I mean, I didn't even shave my legs!

...did more blood tests, etc. It was about a two month process (mostly because they have to take blood on certain days of your cycle, and well, I don't cycle) and finally came the diagnosis. I have Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome.

Polly sister over who's a what's it?

Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome is something about 1 in every 10 women have. The most obvious symptom is ovarian cysts, but it can also cause weight gain, mood swings, facial hair, sex drive issues, fatigue, irregular periods, and most notably fertility issues due to the lack of ovulation.

On average a woman with PCOS will only have 5 to 8 periods a year, which means only 5 to 8 chances to make a baby a year. Thank GOD I have a great doctor though who is willing to try some therapies with me, even though we aren't technically infertile (to be classified with fertility issues you must have been activly trying to concieve for at least a year). Our first try will be Metphormin. Metphormin is given to diabetics to help their bodies regulate their insulin. They find this therapy works on women with PCOS because the cysts are caused by your body not regulating your insulin well. Once the cysts are under control, you will ovulate again.

I really hope this works.

What sparked me sharing this with all of you is the constant "When are you guys going to have kids?" Having being married 4 years it is the normal progression of things, and I know people love babies and want you to be a sleep deprived as they are. I never really had a problem with this question until it was brought to my attention that we may not be able to have kids.

With PCOS is is highly likely that we WILL eventually concieve and have the four beautiful ginger kids that we want to have... but what if we couldn't? No one ever thinks of that when they are asking you about having kids, and they don't see the pain underneath when you slyly say "Oh, some day" and brush the conversation to the side.

29 Things to NEVER, EVER Say to Your Hairstylist

2011-07-08T00:39:00.000-04:00

Did you know that your hairstylist went to school? That's right! If you are seeing a licensed hairstylist he or she has completed the state requirements to conduct all matters relating to cosmetology. In Illinois this means having a high school diploma or GED, completing1500 hours of cosmetology school, paying the $15,000 tuition, passing the state licensing board exam, and paying the $180 licensing fee.

Why the job requirement information?

Sometimes I feel, as do many hairstylists, that people look down on our career, as if its a part time situation on our way to something bigger and better. Truthfully, it doesn't get any bigger or better for me! Believe me, I have done it all. I went to college for 2 years, I worked in numerous different professional atmospheres, and even tried the move across the country route. I have experienced more professionally, and would even say have succeeded more than most other soon-to-be 29 year olds that I know. I mean come on... I am an "ist". I rank up there with biologists, therapists, and sociologists. So don't look at me like I could be doing more with my life... because truthfully I am probably more successful, and way more happy than you Mr. tie wearing comb over dude!

So, with our 29 theme, and on this very topic... here is another list for the birthday month!

29 Things to NEVER, EVER Say to Your Hairstylist

Is this your ONLY job?
You don't look old enough to be the manager.
Can you cut my kind of hair?
Can you live off what you make here?
You know what you are doing right?
You aren't a natural blond.
So you hate picky customers?
I don't know, you're the professional.
So, did you like have to go to school for this?
Are you still in college?
Can you show me how much an inch is?
You won't give me a bad haircut cause you are in a bad mood will you?
Its Saturday, why is there a wait?
Can you do this quick, but make it good, I'm in a hurry.
Suave Professional is just as good as Redken right?
Oh, I can buy that at WalMart.
What shampoo should I use that I can buy at the grocery store?
No, I didn't box color my hair.
Whats a good tip amount?
How can you stand having hair all over you!
Why do you have scissors tattooed on you?
I like that choppy look, but really blended in.
Well, my sister's husband's cousin's hair stylist will do it for $____.
Will you do my hair at your house? That way you can do it cheaper and keep all the money.
You can fade right?
So, did you get those scissors at Walmart? You know they have hair cutting scissors there!
I want my hair like yours, but 4 inches shorter, and with no layers, and straight bangs instead, and brown not blond.
Can you teach me how to foil so I can do my friend's hair?
Whats the craziest story someone has ever told you?
Do you like Pantene?

Well, there you go guys. A list of 29 things I hear on a regular basis that I have to stop myself from using some sarcastic retort, as to keep my clients happy!

So please, as a birthday present to me, next time you sit in your hairstylists chair, please refrain from the ridiculousness that is that list, and just use common sense when talking to your stylist.

These are a few...well...29 to be exact!

2011-07-01T01:46:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow it is officially the month of my birth, or today if you are reading this after midnight. Either way it is again that time of year where I grow one year older. I really am having no problems with this at all. I think that is one thing my mother taught me, things get better as we get older...so why fret about it?

This year, on the 29th day of July, I will turn 29. Thus making it my golden birthday. So, for the month of July we will do things that revolve around the number 29. Fun right? I think so! I am also starting a year long project on my birthday... but you will have to wait for that one!

So today, 29 days away from my 29th birthday I am going to give you a list of my 29 favorite things right now. I wish I was rich like Oprah and could give you all of the things, but unfortunately I am not. But I will try to provide links if you wish to obtain these things or honor the things by liking them and showing some love on facebook.

My 29 MOST FAVORITE things at this moment, in no specific order:

(list subject to change, probably as often as my hair color)

My PINK room

Red Mango Frozen Yogurt -probably the most delicious summer treat I have experienced in a long time. Only 30 calories per ounce!
Lush Cosmetics -its a mini spa visit every time you go! I got the cupcake mask, aqua marina face wash, and mint julips lip scrub!
Iro Custom Cosmetics -who wouldn't have fun mixing their own custom shadows, lip sticks and bronzer?
Undulating Irons- get a sexy, humidity proof summer hair style! I bought mine on e-bay for $9.99 and its ceramic!
VS Pink- a constant in my life. I don't know if anyone has researched addiction to comfy clothes, but I may for sure have one... especially if they are PINK! I even have a room decorated in the stuff!
Redken Chemistry Treatments -unless you are a stylist you can not buy them, but you can come get one from me at the salon, only $11 and it rebuilds your hair from inside!
Starbucks- probably will always be on the list, but my new love is the Iced Via packets! I can make iced coffee at home when I'm running late!
Cibu Ancient Serum- Not only good for your hair, but great for your skin too. Not as heavy as Moroccan oil, and not as expensive either!
Lily belle locks- my go to place for feather extensions. Super nice and very accommodating for ordering!
Dansko shoes- so comfy! Great for people who are on their feet all the time. Thank goodness clogs are back in so they look stylish too!
For the love of Scarves- she makes the cutest stuff! She has expanded to Angry Birds, Mario, and even bacon styled winter wear!
Miche Bags- you can change the look of your purse to match every outfit, and you don't have to empty it out! SCORE! I'm giving you my rep's FB link, she can get you some great deals!
Scentsy- they are all the fragrance without the flame, and they smell amazing! Again, my rep's FB page for you to order from!
Hair Royalty gear- a great option if you are looking for a super fantastic birthday present for me. All the stuff is pretty cool, and I love their mission!
Kandee Johnson- fellow blogger, you tuber, make-up artist. She is sweet and inspirational. Truly loves Jesus and making people pretty, just like me!
eShatki - *disclaimer* I have never ordered from them myself, but my friend has and she is addicted. Its clothes, specially made, tailored to fit your body, modified the way YOU want, for very reasonable prices ($70 dresses!)
NetFlix- we subscribed to the Netflix stream on our PS3 and it has completely changed the way we watch television. I haven't turned on the regular channels in months. We don't have cable, and only pay $8 a month to watch pretty much whatever we want! Its so stinking awesome! it also works on the iPad, and our iPhones!
House Party- an awesome website where you get chosen to host partied unveiling products. You get tons of free stuff when chosen, and its FREE!
OPI Shatter- amazing effect from a nail polish! Looks great, and helps mask chips in your mani/pedi! Great thinking!
1 Sale a Day- a crazy site that brings you one amazing deal a day. I know someone who ordered a topaz ring for $9.99. She said it was beautiful. Like them on FB to see the daily deals.
AWESOME!- yes, that's the name to my favorite cleaner. It degreases, removes stains, and you can usually get it for around $1 at your local dollar store.
Roasted Garlic and Black Bean tortilla chips- made by Tostidos, I am completely addicted and in love! With taco dip or Guacamole you can't beat it!
Its a 10 plus Keratin- great leave in product for crazy over processed or weak hair. Just don't use it too much, the Keratin is like protein, you can have too much of a good thing! I also use the shampoo, conditioner, hairspray, and styling serum a lot at work!
iPhone- need I say more? I thought I loved my android, then I got an iPhone. I can now truly experience love of my electronics. You can't beat a phone and iPod
What a Tease- I've loved this 'lil gem for almost 2 years now. All the height you could imagine without the work and damage of teasing your hair. It truly is backcomb in a can!
Glee- One show I can always count on to make me smile. I love musicals, love the songs they do, love everything about it!
5 Below- my new favorite dollar store, they have phone accessories, beauty, clothing, toys, seasonal, candy, etc and nothing is over $5.
Wedges- a pretty general one but defiantly captures my heart. I love wedges, hate heels. so comfy and so many cute styles!
Jergens Natural Glow- the ONLY way to stay tan. After watching a plethora of videos on malignant melanomas I will forever get my tans out of a bottle. Usually around $8 I have found it at 5 Blow... just a hint!

Okay, I am not going to lie, that was actually kind of hard to come up with. I don't know how Oprah did it every year.

I hope you have fun searching those links and loving all the things that I do! July is going to be fun on Confessions... just you wait and see!

Its better than the alternative...

2011-06-21T00:27:00.000-04:00

Life is short.

Life is too short.

Do you ever truly think about it? We are only on this planet a limited amount of time, then one day... its over.

Why do we complain so much? We only get one life. Once chance to make your mark on the world. One chance to experience joy, pain, sadness, anger, excitement. One chance to work, to experience the hot of summer and the cold of winter. Just one. Why would we take any of that for granted? Why do we hate the cold, then hate the heat. Why do we not want to go to work then complain about being broke? Why do we complain at all?

I'm pretty sure what ever it is we are complaining about, its better than the alternative. If you have nothing to complain about, well... then you are dead. Don't get me wrong. I have been through my share of situations that I didn't want to be in. I have a story that could fill a few chapters of situations I complained about. But thinking back its all relative.

When I was little my dad did home renovating as a side job on nights and weekends. Most weekends my sister and I would work with him. At that time we HATED IT! Except for the money he paid us, and McDonalds breakfast, there was nothing good about working with dad on the weekends. We had to get up at the crack of dawn (usually before the sun even rose), wear nasty work clothes, load/unload the truck, clean up after dad all day, do the nastiest jobs, get yelled at for slacking off, then load/unload the truck again and go home. We probably complained the whole time.

The things and situations that I have been through have made me who I am today. The kind of woman who can install a sump pump all by myself (yup, that happened today), make someone feel beautiful, be the hair cutting baby whisperer, work hard, love harder, and survive any situation God puts in my life.

My husband lost a dear friend today. He battled cancer for years, lived his life as normally as possible, and today he lost his fight. He fought a good one though. No one would say any different.

This whole thing has me thinking. I want to be able to give thanks for every situation that I have. Even if not at that moment, but looking back at it. I want to be the person who grabs life by the horns and says give me all you got! No regrets, no complaints, no worries. Because when it truly comes down to it, we never know whats around the next corner...and we have no way of controlling it.

May we all strive to quit complaining and enjoy whatever is thrown at us. One day it will all be taken away, and complaining won't make it any easier.

Rest in peace Chris Peppers. May you dance hard, skate harder, be without pain, and enjoy a Gunter or two with God.

Chipped Manicures, This Frustrates Me.

2011-06-11T00:45:00.000-04:00

I went with the seester yesterday to get a pedi and decided to get a mani at the same time. Total fail because it is already chipped today. Even after several extra coats of top coat. I really want to try that gel manicure stuff, but I feel like there are no cute colors yet.

This frustrates me.

I had a guy call three times and ask a million questions, then still be completely nervous when I cut his hair the other day. Now I may not be a "master stylist" (which btw is a measure of their request rate, not any skill set), but I am the manager... so please don't freak when I go to cut your hair. AND at least sit still if you are nervous. I can't cut a straight line if you are moving around as though the seat is made of broken glass.

This frustrates me.

Again, for the BILLIONTH time, there is no such thing as a regular hair cut. Seriously, Google it! I sure as heck did. You know what came up?

This Picture------->

No Joke. Google regular hair cut, click images. This is the VERY FIRST picture that pops up. So, apparently according to the #1 search engine this is a regular hair cut. Any time that anyone sits in my chair and asks for a regular hair cut after I ask them at least 5 probing questions will bet this hair cut. FO SHO. (At least this wasn't at a HC salon, lol) Seriously though, if you are over the age of 13 and have been getting your hair cut the same way for more than 3 months you should be able to explain your hair cut. Ask your stylist to write it down for you. Show a picture... something!

This frustrates me.

Well, the rat tail really frustrates me, but there isn't much I can do about that. (SN: don't give your kid a rat tail, they will grow up to be toothless and drink Milwaukee's Best for breakfast)

Wedding Barginista Tips!

2011-05-16T19:18:00.000-04:00

I love weddings. They are beautiful, romantic, fun... and expensive!

Justin and I got legally married on December 7th, 2007. We went to a pastor friend of ours' office, he signed our certificate, we prayed, and we were married!

Well, Heather, how do you have wedding pictures then?

In July of 2008 we had a wedding. I wanted the pics, I wanted the party, I wanted the cake. So we did it. Ceremony, reception and all. We were not financially able to pay thousands and thousands of dollars towards this thing, and we had 250 guests coming... WHAT WAS I GOING TO DO?

Well, I made it work, with only $1,500 and it turned out beautifully! Now, take into consideration that my FIL is a chef, so we did not pay for food or our cake... but everything else was paid for out of our pocket.

It is truly easy to do, here are some of my tricks and tips of what you can do to make your wedding beautiful, yet inexpensive:

*The dress... this is where most brides have the hardest time cutting corners. You want your dream dress, no matter what! Its what you have always imagined and will not do without! I completely understand, but there are ways to find your dream dress less expensively! Go to the stores, try on all the dresses you can, have the experience, but DO NOT buy your dress in the store that day! Write down the style number, designer, model number, everything you can off the tag that you may be able to use to describe your dress. Then go to google and type it in! You never know what you will find. My Dress, in the store was marked $798. Online, at that store's website, I got it for $348! No joke. I guess when you take out commission, stocking, etc charges you get a GREAT deal!

*The flowers...some girls are totally flower lovers and want them everywhere, I was more of a minimalist. I bought 12 dozen roses the morning of my ceremony. Some floral tape, and some black ribbon and girls putting flowers together for hours and they turned out so pretty. I loved my flowers! Pink and white roses really stood out against the bridesmaid's black dresses beautifully. Total cost, about $120 for 7 brides maids bouquets, my bouquet, and two centerpieces,

*Hair... I know not everyone is a hair stylist, so not everyone can do the hair for their own wedding. Chances are that you know someone who knows someone who is a stylist, or used to be, or just LOVES to do hair. You can usually pay one flat rate, or a much lower rate per person if you have the girl come to you, instead of doing it in a salon. There is also the option of having girls just wearing it down and straight or wavy. Natural hair always looks pretty in pictures.

*Pictures... With digital photography being all the rage, editing sites like Picnik, and inexpensive print sites like Snapfish and Walgreens your photography should NOT cost you an arm and a leg anymore. I have lots of friends who do photography as a hobby who LOVE doing weddings at inexpensive rates. You may also just ask people to bring cameras, and provide them with memory cards that they can just give to you at the end of the night.

These are my favorite tips and tricks to not spending too much on your wedding! If you have any specific questions, feel free to throw them at me! I love this kind of stuff!

I mean, who else cries at EVERY episode of "Extreme Home Makeover"?

2011-05-09T12:14:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I started reading Captivating by John and Staci Eldridge. Now, I am only a chapter and a half in, but it already as me thinking, and I wanted to share my heart with you.

As women, we often feel like there is something wrong with us. We are too fat, not cute enough, too emotional, not strong enough, etc. Did you ever sit and think that we are the way we are, because that's how God intended it?

I am a girlie girl to the core (with a bit of rocker chick dying to come out, lol). I love sparkles and twirly dresses. I love make up and hair and chocolate. I cry at sad movies, happy movies, sappy commercials, and television shows I am emotionally invested in. I think its sexy when my husband does manly things, or "rescues" me, and for my entire life I though this made me weird, weak, and crazy. I mean, who else cries at EVERY episode of "Extreme Home Makeover"?

This book is making me see that who I am is exactly who God wanted me to be. I (and every woman out there) represent the softer, emotional, beautiful side of God. My heart is God's heart, and my emotions are God's emotions.

I also believe this is why I love my career so much. I love making women feel like women. I love doing their hair, waxing their brows and making them feel pretty again. When a woman feels beautiful there is a certain power she posses, a certain strength she carries that is breath taking. She may sit down in my chair feeling ugly and worth less and leave feeling beautiful and powerful. I can't even count how many times someone has said to me "I feel so much better" or "Thank you so much I feel great." If you read those carefully neither one has any sort of visual aspect. They don't look better, they feel better.

So, all of this out of a chapter and a half I am sure I will have lots more to share with you guys as I get deeper into the book. So if you'd like, pick up a copy and read it with me! Leave your thoughts and ideas below! I love comments and discussions!

Ive got a secret!

2011-03-30T23:29:00.000-04:00

So, for the last two and a half months I have been hiding something from you.

I am doing something that I have never EVER done before. I am working out! The husband and I joined a gym and have been going regularly (well, I have been). I feel like I have more energy, and losing weight, and am already having to buy new pants!

I am telling you this because I am having a little frustration. My gym buddy and I were talking on our drive home about how we feel that our arms, legs, butts, necks, etc have all gotten smaller... but when is my gut going to feel smaller? Will I be a size two with a santa belly...probably not, mostly because I will never be a size two... I'm just not built that way. Seriously though, why is it that the one thing that you are MOST concerned with is the one thing that is impossible to loose?

If you know any magic tricks let me know. Until then I will just be the "Incredible everything is shrinking but her gut Shrinking Woman"...sigh

Change is good, it stirs the soul.

2011-03-10T13:40:00.000-05:00

I've neglected you guys for almost a month now, but there is good reason! I had a lot going on in my mind, just couldn't quite share it with you yet. Now that I have shared whats on my heart with people that it affects, I can share it with you!

I have left the salon I have been at for a new opportunity!

There comes a time in every one's career where they make a change. Weather its feeling trapped, needing a new environment, looking for more opportunities, or just feeling the itch for something new everyone does it eventually.

Change is good, it stirs the soul.

That is what I keep telling myself at least...

I love doing hair, and I look forward to my new career opportunity, but its a scary thing. When you are somewhere for four years you get comfortable. Your peers become your family, you get to know every little nuance of their life. You see them 40+ hours a week and live your lives together. You know how everything works, where everything is, and what to expect.

I believe that this change is part of the bigger plan that God has for Justin and I. I am so excited for the future and to see where all of this is heading! A new job is like a new relationship, and I hope to be able to build this one and do the best at it that I can. I'm so glad that I still get to do hair and make Rockford a more beautiful place... and excited for my new opportunities!

I Love My Husband, but This Valentines Blog Isn't About That!

2011-02-14T22:37:00.000-05:00

I feel like today is the perfect day to tell you all about my new love. Its the kind of love that makes you feel at home, comfortable with who you are, passionate about life again, excited to walk in your calling...

Justin and I have fallen in LOVE with our new church!

Since we left Ohio we have been on the hunt to find a church home. It was our goal to find a church that we could invest our whole life in, and not have any qualms with it. Somewhere that we fit in, that appreciated our gifts and talents, and a church that genuinely helps and loves people. We were also looking for a church that would balance the seeker-friendly and still be in depth. A church that is bibically sound and relevant...

Not too much to ask right?

It seemed like it was. We spent a few weeks at different churches in the area, trying to find one that felt right. We found churches that we wanted to like, and just couldn't. They had what looked like on the outside as exactly what we wanted in a church, but as we sat there it just was not. There was the option to go back to what was comfortable, even though we may disagree with things, or to continue attending church online but miss the opportunity to serve and have fellowship with people in our church...

Then we did the unthinkable.

We stepped through the doors of the church that we had all the misconceptions about. The church that we swore we would never attend, the church that we were never going to get anything out of. It was God thing, for sure. As we are walking through the hall way Justin looks at me and says "I feel like we are going to wonder why we haven't been coming here all along". It was true.

It was kind of like our relationship, we knew right away that we were going to spend the rest of our lives together. We knew right away that we loved the church.

Now its time to do the work. We have healing and serving to do. Loving and seeking. Its not so easy to get back into the swing of things when you have been out of them for over a year, but we are excited to do so with our new church family. The people we have come into contact with have been amazing and more than real. They can see us for who we truly are, not just a number to fill a seat or a servant to wear to the bone.

If you would like to join us you can find us at Heartland Community Church. Sunday mornings 11:00am is our usual service time. We would LOVE to see you there!

A First Created by a Record Breaker

2011-02-02T17:50:00.000-05:00

So, Ive decided to do my first ever photoblog, which was inspired by the 13.9 inches of snow we got last night. These then created 6 foot snow drifts, and shut down our town.

This is what it started to look like Monday Night. At this time I was praying for the snow to come that night so I could have an extra day off!

Instead, we closed the salon early when the storm hit Tuesday. By the time I got home there was already 3 inches of snow!

Once it started to get dark the pictures didn't turn out as well, but you can see that the bricks are now covered and there is much more snow!

This was around 8:30pm. Madden and Bella, our dogs, love the snow!

This was around 2am. As you can see the snow was about 8 inches by then with 12 inch drifts. This was when I went to sleep.

I woke up to this. 13.9 inches of show on the ground. Drifts of 6 foot.

The snow was so high we couldn't get out the front door or the back door. This is Bella wishing she could get outside!

When Justin go home last nigh this was as far as he could get into the driveway... I had fun shoveling THAT out. Thank God for neighbors!

Finally we got outside through the side garage door. The pupz loved it!

It was a nice snow day. The entire city closed down. Neighbors helped me shovel, since Justin is all gimped out right now. Now I am exhausted and going to relax and watch some movies. I hope you enjoyed my day!

Preclude to Snowmageddon

2011-02-01T18:57:00.000-05:00

Would you ever just call up a mechanic and ask "how much would you charge to fix my car?"Probably not. So why, oh why, do people expect to call up the salon and get an exact quote as to how much getting their hair done would cost?We get at least one of these phone calls every day.

Its simple things like this that drive my crazy on any given day.

In other news we are experiencing a possible record breaking blizzard here in the midwest. I plan on doing my first ever photo blog tomorrow. Be excited about this...cause I am!

I will also soon be writing about a decision I have made in the new year, how I am doing it, and how I am doing with it.

Tonight I am just too tired, so you will all hear from me tomorrow!

Its kinda a BIG DEAL!

2011-01-16T14:25:00.000-05:00

So, this week was crazy at work, I don't know if people started getting their tax money, or if the holiday blues had set in. Either way it was super busy, which is good! To top it all off, something VERY fun happened to me! I was in OK Magazine this week!

Now, it wasn't any special celebrity drama. I am not having Charlie Sheen's baby or loosing my child cause I bet my boyfriend on 16 and Pregnant, it was something much more fun! I was the featured reader pic! My salon was mentioned too...so maybe my following weeks will be even busier.

(I know the picture is fuzzy, just go to the news stand and pic up a copy... you'll be glad you did!)

I also want to thank you all for entering the drawing for the hat. It was fun to be able to pair up with For the Love of Scarves. She is a talented and wonderful friend. If you need any crocheted items, like a sock monkey hat, she is your lady! My goofy husband LOVES his sock monkey hat, and every time he wears it he gets lots of compliments!

Now here's your favorite, a funny tale of my hair doing! This week I had a first time client come in. She saw one of my girls at work and loved her hair, so she decided to come see me. (Clients who send referrals are the BEST by the way!) She seemed pretty normal, until we got to talking. She lived out in the country for 40 years of her life and had recently moved into the city due to a divorce. In this first time conversation the client proceeded to tell me about her pain pump, lack of sex drive, numerous tattoo experiences in the last year, and the kicker... she got "down below" pierced! Now, she is not the ONLY person I know who has this, so that in itself was not a big surprise, but she is 45 years old... that's a lil strange to me.

I just want to assure you all that my recent fame (lol) will not change my attitude or my love for all of you. I will not charge more to do your hair, and Ill try to stay out of rehab... I don't think I'd get along well with Lilo! I just like the idea of being kind of a big deal :)

Well, HELLO to you too 2011!

2011-01-11T01:01:00.000-05:00

Two thousand and eleven did not start out well for me.

Day 1: Dealing with some serious family issues that I have never had experience with in my life.

Day 2: Car would not start

Day 3: Open the salon to find water dripping from the ceiling and puddles all over the floor

Day 4: Repeat Day 1

Day 5: Repeat Day 1, again...

After hours and hours of phone conversations to family, landlords, people who are smart about Volkswagen's, family, maintenance men, etc I got all of worked out that I have the human ability to.

This is not the first time my new year has come in with a boom, but this is the first time I have consciously decided to take it in stride and be okay with it. I will NOT let the first 4 days of my year effect the next 360 (or is it 359 and a leap year?)! So what did I do? I changed my hair color of course, and thought about the positive things that will be happening in our lives this year. God has some big plans for my husband and I, figuring them out is half the fun.

What will 2011 bring for me? Possibly deciding to start a family? Finding a new home church here, or starting a ministry of our own? Who's hair will I do, and what CRAZY stories will I have from it? How many different colors will my hair be?

Maybe I will sell all of my things and move to the Cayman Islands. I hear its rather cheap to live there.

I am excited to experience it all, and see where our path is going this year. I am so thankful to be able to share it all with you!

Having a bad hair day? We've got a Give-a-way!

2011-01-01T17:25:00.000-05:00

Happy new year! I am so thankful for each and every one of you who read my blog. With the start of Confessions of a Hairstylist in 2010 I never knew how therapeutic and helpful this blog would be, not just for You but for me too!

Because of this I have decided to help you battle the biggest problem that we all face on a daily basis... BAD HAIR DAYS! My Friend at For the Love of Scarves has agreed to do a Facebook/Blog giveaway with me! She crochets amazing scarves and hats and has one for us to give to YOU! Its a warm and fuzzy chunky hat that can make even the craziest hair look cute! She made it, by hand, and was kind enough to give this hat to you!

Now, I'm not going to just make this super easy on you! Here is what you have to do to be entered to win the hat:

1. Like For the Love of Scarves on facebook.

1. Comment on her blog that you want to win the hat (will be posted tomorrow 1-2-11)!

2. Like Confessions of a Hairstylist on facebook!

3. Comment on this blog with your contact info!

Whew! That's a lot to do! It is my first give-a-way though, so I had to make it a difficult one! We will choose a winner using a random selector and will contact you if you win! Again thank you for your continued loyalty! I wish you all a stylish, beautiful, fun, and cozy new year!

My Christmas Present to You

2010-12-19T23:03:00.000-05:00

On my Facebook page (you can find the link ---->) I posted my Christmas present to all of my readers. As me any question you have about hair and I will answer it...

Well, although I had a lackluster response I figured I will still go through with it, because it was a promise... so here we go!

1.Why does hair turn gray???
Well let me tell you a story. Yale did a multi-million dollar research project on said question, (okay, I don't know if it was Yale, but it was a prestigious ivy league college) and here is the answer to the question... old age and stress. SERIOUSLY! They could have paid me a hundred thousand and I would have gave them that answer. Anyway, through time your hair follicle stops producing pigment, and when that happens it turns gray. Graying early can mean one of two things, you have bad bad genes or you were overly stressed as a child. Either way you can't fight it, except to have a really good hairstylist!

2. How come when u style my hair it is so cute but when i try it looks horrible???
There is no way to answer this question without sounding pretentious, so I'll just tell you the truth... because I spent $15,000 to go to beauty school. STOP HATING!
Just kidding! Seriously though as much as people thing we are just trying to sell product, well to sell product, they truly do work better. We refer to them as liquid tools and the right one can make anyones hair look great. Paired with the right shampoo and conditioner, and a flat iron that gets as hot as mine does... you look FIRE when you leave the salon.

3. How to beat the frizz without weighing down your hair or making it look oily.
"Frizz" can mean different things to different people. If you are talking about the little baby fly aways that peak out all over the place those can be tamed by a light mud or shine syrum, you just have to find the right one. Redken's Matte Sponge is a great one that is NOT heavy or oily what so ever, and BedHead's After Party is another great product that won't weigh down or look oily. If you are talking about the unstyled crazy hair that you wake up with every morning, then the answer is styling. Unless you are asian or a specific breed of hispanic NO ONE wakes up with pretty, smooth hair. Heat, product, and a little bit of time are the only ways to turn crazy hair into nice hair. This may take some trial and error, trying different things, but eventually you will figure out the right combo for your hair. Lastly if you are talking about the "I have done everything you mentioned Heather and it still is frizzy" hair, then its probably regular trims and maintaining a haircut that is the right length for your hair type.

4. Does heat REALLY damage hair?
Too much heat and unprotected heat, yes. If you have fine hair and blowdry your hair on high without putting anything in it your hair will become a crazy hot mess. If you iron your hair on 495 degrees three times a day without putting a heat protectant on you will start with little white dots on the ends of your hair. Then eventually it will just break off.*Sidenote, funny personal story* Three years ago I was flat ironing my hair and not paying attention and I heard SIZZLE... yeah, the whole right side of my head fried off, shriveled up, and looked like brillo on the side of my head. My flat iron had malfunctioned and gotten so hot on one side that it burnt the ceramic. Bad day.This is when my hair got cut short, into the Bob.* If you use a heat protectant of some sort every time you iron, get regular trims, use conditioner, and maintain a healthy level of heat for your hair then you should have no problems.

5. I know perms are very popular with the old lady crowd, but do you think they'll ever be back in style for the younger crowd?
I have been excited to answer this question since I saw you post it! YES! THEY ARE NOW! I know you are like "hold up, I never see girls with perms anymore." That is because you are picturing the 1984 crazy curly perm. I am talking about a softer more wavy perm, sometimes called a body wave. If done correctly with larger perm rods than that of the older crowd, they can turn out beautiful and classy looking.

Well, there you go girls. All the worlds hair questions answered... lol...

Christmas blog coming soon, this week will be crazy! Wish me luck! (oh and I ran into CBDL at the grocery store today, she kissed my arm... CREEPY!)

Oh for me? Thank you so much!

2010-12-06T22:14:00.000-05:00

Its that time of year again, the time of year for pretty lights and sparkly ornaments. The time for egg nog and snow storms, for giving what we can and trying to look our best while doing it.

Its also that time of year when you wonder what is appropriate and appreciated for your favorite service providers as a Christmas present. (I am doing this blog early in the month so you can make sure to follow accordingly.) Wait, Christmas present? Am I supposed to give my stylist a Christmas present?

If you have a long standing relationship with your stylist, she has been doing your hair for a year or more, has always come through for you and keeps you looking hawt... then yes. A Christmas present is very much appreciated! I'm not saying go out and buy them something, or make them cookies... because we all know in this world who has time to think about what to get your stylist, and cookies... well they make us fat! (Okay, you could bring me cookies... cause I love homemade gifts.) The usual is cash. A bit extra of a tip when you see them around the Christmas season.

Now we all know times are tough, and I am not going to go all out there like an article I read and say your tip should be as much as your regular visit would cost, although that would be nice. I am just saying may be an extra 10-20 dollars, if you have it, is always greatly appreciated. Now, if you are always an extraordinary tipper, I don't think you need to go way above and beyond what you normally do, if at all. We know how much you love us, if you always give us a $20 tip.

Now, don't take this as stylists being greedy. The before mentioned article also said that you should gift your mailman $20, which is the max amount they can take as a gift. They also mentioned giving gifts to the following people (grab your pen and pencil, and get ready to take out a 2nd mortgage): garbage men, school teachers, cleaning lady, landscaper, paper delivery person, office assistant, boss, regular food delivery person... and the list goes on. As this may get a little expensive, I can understand why people may not get into the spirit and give gifts to all their favorite service providers. I would say though, that those that are most important to you, the ones who keep you beautiful, we may enjoy a homemade baked good every now and then :)

My mom used to leave a case of beer outside for the garbage men, and food gift cards for the mailman. I was trained well!

What's it worth to you?

2010-12-03T22:35:00.000-05:00

Sometimes getting your hair done the way you want it can be expensive.

Today a client came in with long black hair. Of course she had colored it with black box color, and wanted a nice beige blond color. We took the time and explained to her nicely everything it would take to even get the black out of her hair, and to even get it close to a caramel color. Then she looks at the stylist and says "so, that will be like $40 right?" I thought I was going to die laughing. Multiply that by 4 maybe... if we are being nice.

The thing is that my salon isn't even expensive. We are super reasonably priced and cut most people really good deals, but when you come in with hair down to the middle of your back and need 2 to 4 processes done to get your requested result, what are you expecting? Of course she said she had to step out and see if it was okay with her mom, and never came back. I'm sure we will see her in a week or so to fix whatever it is that she attempts to do on her own, or whatever the bargain basement salon in the back of our building does to it. Either way though she can add another $40 to the price quote that we gave her because now it becomes a color correction which may take even more time.

Here is a good way to figure out what you are being charged for when it comes to your hair: take their adult female haircut price and multiply it by 5. That is more or less what you will be paying, per hour, of your stylist's time. Now don't go throwing this figure around to every Stacy, Heather, or Rachel that does hair. That is about what I figure that my time is worth.

You also need to keep in mind that unless the owner of the salon does your hair, it is not 100% profit for your stylist. You have to subtract the chemical and styling product cost, the booth rental or commission portion that goes to the owner of the salon, and in some places the portion of the utilities that the stylist pays. So even though $100 for your hair color may seem expensive to you, your stylist may make a whole $50 for the entire 2 hours it took her to color your hair.

Keep in mind, if you love your stylist and really want this look you are after, money should not be an object. If it is you should ALWAYS ask your stylist what he or she can do to get you close to achieving that look within your stated budget!