Lather, Rinse, Repeat

wilwheaton: neil-gaiman: butcherbilly: The Post-Punk / New...

Thu, 16 May 2013 22:14:42 -0400

neil-gaiman:

butcherbilly:

The Post-Punk / New Wave Super Friends by Butcher Billy

Who are your heroes?

Reblogged purely to make Amanda smile.

This is the best thing that was ever made so just turn off the planet now because we can all go home. Thank you, it’s been a great show.

When I see a bug in my room

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 19:33:09 -0400

whatshouldwecallme:

This guy is a classic

When someone says that they don't like cheese

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 19:32:55 -0400

whatshouldwecallme:

I’m just sayin

Downtown Canton, let's move on. I've got a new idea.

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 17:54:19 -0400

Well now. A few of you have been asking for the update/ ending of this minor debacle so here it comes.

Let me go ahead and fill in a few more details as to why I was so underwhelmed by the two entities I was ranting about. Maybe if I put the timeline together you guys will see how a (very) small business owner can feel dismissed or ignored but ultimately inspired to make changes and find her own solution to some things lacking in our fair city.

So you know from reading the first installment that I was set off by being left out of a nifty little app that was launched by Arts in Stark. Admittedly, I am not an art-focused business. However, neither is George’s Lounge, Heggy’s Candys, Crew Night Club, Mary Ann Donuts; the Desert Inn is 6 blocks further away than I am from the Arts District. Most of the art galleries listed don’t have regular business hours; they are basically there for First Friday. And why isn’t the Auricle listed on this app? Seriously.

Alright, so the rant starts with being confused as to why I was the only business on my block of 3 businesses that was not mentioned. But really, it goes back a few months to May. I sent an email introducing myself to Arts in Stark; letting them know that I was involved with First Friday in 2007 when I had Smitten and what my intent was for the upcoming FF (how it would tie in to their theme). I composed this email with a welcome, an introduction, a couple paragraphs and a closing and then included a link to my website. What I got back was beyond ridiculous. Here it is cut/pasted from the exact email, the only thing that has been edited is the title & contact info. You know, I don’t need a libel suit.

May 10

Can I ask exactly where your shop is located?

ArtsinStark

t…..@artsinstark.com

330-453-1075 x***

ArtsinStark - Kids. Jobs. Communities.

Really??? REALLY? WOW. Just wow. Maybe you can click the link? Maybe you can see who and what I am? Maybe you can look at the map that is on my website? Apparently…maybe not. Sorry to bother you. If I was a more sensitive soul or someone very new to business or not used to dealing with bad customer service, I might have been heartbroken. Chagrined even. A couple of emails followed that lackluster response and then boom, I’m in. You know from the last post how the rest of that went. But let me back up even further. This time will involve the Chamberpot.

I have a Twitter account for Loulou in Hollywood. I follow a great guy who goes by DowntownCanton and he is billing himself as simply a downtown enthusiast. He’s just a guy, like he tweeted to me after he broke the news of the app, who reports the scoop.

GET THIS: sometime this past winter, not too long after I opened, maybe Feb or something, Downtown Canton man came in to see the shop and take a picture, which he then tweeted to his 800 followers. Thanks man! That was awesome. Anyway, while he was checking out the shop, he told me he was next door at Thatsa Wrapp with his wife and he saw I was open, so he decided to pop in and have a look. He asked a few questions, I gave him my career history, etc. His wife never did stop in. But guess what? His wife works for the Chamber. Yep. She’s the one who responded at 10pm about my recent blog post and offered to meet. She is in charge of PR and marketing at the Chamber.

Am I just a little surprised that this man came in but his wife, who is involved with the PR and marketing at Chamber of Commerce, did not? Oh hell yes I am. And I am surprised that she wanted to meet after reading that rant….not to see what the Chamber can do with their tired ass business model that alienates not just me but a few of my fellow small business owners? Oh hell no. She kindly offered to get me involved in promotions. Fine.

And let’s not forget all the offers I have received to join their organization. I feel a little confused. On one hand, I tell myself there are tons of businesses of all sizes in Canton, there can’t just be a focus on Downtown or small shops. On the other hand, stop bugging me to pay you if you can’t do anything measureable or visible to increase my business. See what I mean? That’s a little insulting. And not exactly budget-friendly when you are just starting out in your own business.

I cancelled our meeting because I realized that what I had in mind was definitely not what they had in mind. What I thought would be helpful was a powwow with these two reps of Downtown Canton happenings to improve their systems of communication with new businesses.

I got a detailed email from Jess at the Chamber and she told me how to get my business up on the Downtown Canton site and list any specials for events I wanted to post. That’s awesome. Why couldn’t that have been done months ago? Better late than never? Maybe. But in my business, I only get one chance to make a great impression. And my livelyhood depends on it. People don’t want to pay if the service sucks, and/or if the provider is dismissive. Hear that AIS/Chamber?

These organizations dropped the ball on a couple of occassions. That’s no mistake or busy day. That’s just crap customer service. My business lives and dies by timely, friendly client communication, and making each and every client feel special, welcome and wanted. That is why I am having such a fit. I work my ass off to stay in business, and I brought my business to downtown Canton on purpose. Maybe those whose job it is to promote downtown could treat their clients a lot better, hm?

"Thirst Quenching Hair Tips" #1

Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:47:27 -0400

Ladies,

It has come to my attention that many of you do not believe a thing I say until you read it in a magazine. LOL! So lucky for both of us, Marie Claire has compiled a really great list of tips on getting that hair of yours in tip top smooth shiny condition. (You will notice my already dispensed words o’ wisdom annoyingly capitalized. That’s right. I told ya so).

Today we have tip #1, Lower the Heat:

Summertime is ideal for air-drying hair to reveal it’s natural texture, but if you must blowdry, make sure you’re USING A NOZZLE. If you don’t use a nozzle, there is no protection–the metal mechanism is right next to your hair. The hair looks broken down, frizzy, and thin because it’s singed. BLOWDRY THE HAIR ON YOUR ARM. If it’s burning your skin, it'lll burn your hair.

Who has witnessed my little show and tell with the heat protectors and blowdryers on my arm? If you have not, please request it at your next appointment. Then please purchase some heat protection and a nozzle. It’s not your hair color or bleach or the chlorine doing that to your hair, the frizz is from heat damage.

Stay tuned for more tips. This list is nothing new or Earth-shattering but it is a good review of some great habits to adopt.

Have a good hair day. I know I am!

Coral lipstick overload!

Tue, 07 Aug 2012 17:47:48 -0400

Taken at Loulou in Hollywood

Downtown Canton, kiss my grits?

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 20:57:03 -0400

Sigh. So. I am definitely bringing some fun and fabulousness (not to mention many Akronites) to Downtown Canton. And I am, to be fair, not exactly knocking on doors downtown to announce my arrival. I am a firm believer (from first-hand experience at the Beauty Lounge) in word-of-mouth advertising. But I am pretty steamed and have been for a couple of months. I am not sure if the implied downtown lovefest exists. That is, unless you are willing to pay for it or put out for it. Ready?

First, the Chamber of Commerce totally blew off my request for help in scouting out good locations and landlords 18 months ago. Now they want me to be a MEMBER! Next, the Arts District has whipped up a cute little app all about the downtown area. Guess who’s NOT in it? But both of the other businesses on my block are, not to mention a dive bar that I do believe is closed. I could be mistaken on the status, but a DIVE bar is listed. So discouraging.

Now, it’s not like the Arts District group don’t know about me; I was mentioned on the First Friday page and in their list of things to do for June’s First Friday (which sadly was a total wash, literally–it rained and stormed and I was going to do hair-chalking). Get this: on the day of the event, I was feverishly working on Mz. Linsy B; we looked up from the Shellac-fest and there was a sandwich board sign just plopped in front of my door announcing my shop and event. No one stopped in so I could introduce myself to them. Granted, this could just be some random college dude doing his drop-off rounds and not the Prez of First Friday, but regardless, I would have loved to have told them that my “event” would not work in a flippin’ rainstorm! I have to say, I didn’t call anyone either to let them know I wouldn’t be there. I imagine I was not on anyone’s to-do list; again, clothes-staining haircolor dripping onto your tween daughters best hipster t-shirt is something you avoid if you are smart. Hair-chalking for those of you needing to be filled in is coloring the hair temporarily with colored “chalk” pastels or in my case, the Color Bug by Kevin Muphy. It’s like hair-shadow. But anyway………

I cannot tell you the amount of people who have asked me, Oh did you get help/support from some Downtown Council to open your salon? UH NO???? Did you get money or a grant? UH NO??? So, if these ideas are seeping into people’s brains, are they put out there by some PR machine and I am not privy to all this help? Hmmm? HAHA. Actually, I don’t need nor expect any help. But if there is a downtown district that lists everyone’s business on their app and webpages, and the only other TWO business on my block are on there, what gives?

Am I whining too much? I have hooked up with all of these downtown overlord businesses on Twitter, “like” their pages on FB, and the only people reaching out to me are the Chamber. For a fee, they will “promote” me? Um, is the Chamber so insane that they think hairdressers get business that way? Not likely. But thanks for offering to let me pay you to join something that is a personal decision, not a business decision. Does your employer tell you where to get your haircut? Do you pick your stylist based on how active she is in the local hobnobbing and networking community or soup kitchen? These things are all well and good, but these are not requirements for my career. I better spend my time taking up to the minute color and cutting classes and learning to communicate clearly with other people, no?

Does the Chamber know that I am bringing to Canton, through my sheer talent and congeniality, people from that hub of hipsterness, Akron, Ohio???? Do they realize that they eat at restaurants after their visits with me? Or that on two occassions a client brought her daughter to visit a fabulously talented seamstress? This daughter lives in BOSTON, y'all. And she was loving Canton’s realness of seamstressness.

Anyway. What is my point? OH YEAH. I think maybe I am a little fed up when all I seem to hear– or hear other people say– is how Canton is so devoted to building up downtown, supporting people opening their businesses downtown, creative and artistic business are the way to go, blah blah blah. Who benefits from all of this? Mike King, the lovely landlord who collects all the rent for the art spaces and my neighbors and myself? He’s a fine restoration connoisseur, don’t think I begrudge him his living. But who are they pumping up? Us romantics who love old storefronts and on-street parking and people eating outside or walking around in the lovely sunny weather? People who want to have a cool scene that they’ve experienced in other towns not far from here? Nope. It benefits the taxman and the landlord. Have I been duped? Nah, I love my location. I have a park and a church across the street and it’s pretty to look out at even in the snowy weather. I’m happy there, truly. It’s just that…… Ok, listen. I don’t need to be included on a list, an app, BUT if everyone around me is going to be on the thing, what in the heck do I have to do? My lovely neighbor knows nothing about it and hasn’t seen it but she is listed. Business hours and what they do for First Friday. The restaurant two doors down has a nice little description about it along with hours of operation. And a new restaurant 2 blocks away that opened within the last month is there.

I do have to say, I didn’t see any other salons listed. I know that there is one other one downtown at least. So perhaps that is not their focus. And so be it. However, I do hostess a few local jewelry designers and a regional artist. But it’s true: food and art I am not. FART, I am. As in old and bitter.

I said Good Day.

Soy Renewal Beach Spray

Wed, 23 May 2012 17:17:46 -0400

If you are not so inclined to “do” your hair every day in the summer and won’t be needing the aforementioned Weather Proof, might I suggest this lovely product?

This is a great solution for summer hair. It’s a sea salt spray and is intended to give you that look you get after a day at the sea. You know that look………..full, tousled, sexy, messy-in-a-good way. Effortless. Instead of all the flat ironing and round-brushing in your hot steamy bathroom, you could spray this on at night, put your hair in a loose bun or braid and wake up with soft, un-done hair!

How else do you use it? It’s easy: you spray on damp hair and let it dry naturally or blow-dry with a diffuser for all over texture. You can use it on dry hair for detailing or to add volume to the roots without having to wet your hair (second day product). It’s for short hair too: I love sea salt sprays and you all know I have had short hair forever.

I have been a fan of a few brands but I am excited about this one since it’s from the Soy Renewal line. It has the same key ingredients that the rest of the line has: soy, cocoa and argan oil. Yes, you could make your own sea salt spray, but you will totally dehydrate your hair! If you use this one, you’ll get the texture and volume along with the nourishing moisturizers and UV protection. Even better.

Most hair will get a loose, easy wave even if your hair tends to be stick-straight. On shorter hair you will get a soft, volumized messy look. Come on in and try it.

I have small summer-sized bottles for $2 right now!

Sexy Hair Weather Proof Humidity Spray

Wed, 23 May 2012 15:46:56 -0400

Get ready for this: Like An Umbrella In A Can…Keep all that big hair volume amped up with protection from the weather with Big Sexy Hair Weatherproof Humidity Spray. Don’t let those damp, humid, bad weather days steal your hair style’s thunder! This specially formulated hair spray is designed to keep your hair style from deflating or getting frizzy. No more sticky mess or gummy feeling hair on those “not so fair weather” days. Light fresh scent, Color safe.

That’s right, it is a no-hold product that simply keeps the humidity away from your lovely ‘do. It’s the last step before you leave the house to put a barrier between your products and the weather. I personally had it “tested” by giving it to a client who owns a restaurant and works in the kitchen. She has fine, limp hair (she’d tell ya that, it’s not an insult) and works hard to build and keep volume. Apparently this stuff kept all the steam from the kitchen away from her precious hair. Now that is up close with some heat and hair-do wrecking dampness and she said it was a success.

Not convinced? Read this lifted from an Amazon review: I also did a little test on this, I sprayed a index card with this product (front and back) and threw it in a bowl of water. Even after 3 hours the card had no water soaked in. Pretty cool!

Pretty hilarious, but inquiring minds must want to know. IT WORKS! It’s very new so there aren’t alot of reviews but if this post isn’t enough to convince you, come in and I’ll spray ya.

#photoofthedaymay Day 20: something you can't live without

Sun, 20 May 2012 20:02:27 -0400

Taken at The Maxi Pad

Anthropologie-inspired hair pins.

Fri, 11 May 2012 13:52:25 -0400

Taken at Loulou in Hollywood

Farewell, Vidal Sasson

Wed, 09 May 2012 17:48:20 -0400

katespadeny: thinking of maurice

Tue, 08 May 2012 22:44:42 -0400

katespadeny:

thinking of maurice

animalstalkinginallcaps: BARBARA, I CAN’T EVEN TELL YOU. HE WAS...

Sun, 06 May 2012 20:41:25 -0400

animalstalkinginallcaps:

BARBARA, I CAN’T EVEN TELL YOU. HE WAS JUST SITTING THERE ON THAT BRANCH LIKE HE WAS DOING IT A FAVOR AND I WAS SO BUSY STARING AT HIM I FLEW RIGHT INTO THE MULBERRY BUSH.

I KNOW! RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY CRUSH! I WAS MORTIFIED!

I’M TELLING YOU, IF YM MAGAZINE WAS STILL AROUND I WOULD HAVE SUCH A SUBMISSION FOR THE SAY ANYTHING COLUMN. I DON’T KNOW HOW I’M SUPPOSED TO GO OUT IN PUBLIC AFTER THIS.

#photoofthedayMay Day 6, You

Sun, 06 May 2012 15:13:58 -0400

Taken at The Maxi Pad

Would you go one month without any cosmetics?

Sat, 05 May 2012 22:13:26 -0400

This woman did. The way my eyebrows multiply overnight, it’s just best for everyone that I don’t give up any of my beauty regime

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2134194/How-look-month-cosmetics-We-challenged-woman-ditch-entire-beauty-routine-The-results-say-revealing-.html#

Makeup Alley to the rescue!

Sat, 05 May 2012 18:50:39 -0400

1m
Loulou in Hollywood ‏ @LoulouDowntown

Need some advice on that new beauty product you’re debating about? This is a life (and $) saver and has an iPhone app! loulou-lov.es/J5swXW

This is a wonderful site I like to utilize when daydreaming about new makeup I don’t need. Now, as with all online reviews, you must take things with a grain of salt and understand that some people are challenged when it comes to following instructions and using things properly. And it’s best to read through as many reviews as possible to see if you read about the same issues from different reviewers: runny consistency, awful scents, product not lasting through the day, etc. I think it’s really hand because there is an app you can use when you are right smack in the middle of the cosmetics section or at Sephora, Ulta, etc. It tends to need exact names of products which is only an issue for me when I am trying to figure out something I read about weeks ago, etc etc.
Try it and see what you think. It saved me from buying a really expensive foundation in a too-dark/too-orange shade and guided me to my first in a looooooong time drug-store foundation. Which I am LOVING by the way. More on that next.

Loulou in Hollywood (louloudowntown) on Twitter

Sat, 05 May 2012 18:33:45 -0400

3 May
Loulou in Hollywood ‏ @LoulouDowntown

OMG! I may finally have to quit complaining about how hard it is to wear intense lipstick shades: loulou-lov.es/JvlE3b

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9:34 PM - 3 May 12 via Twitter for iPhone · Details

via twitter.com

More help for false eyelashes!

Sat, 05 May 2012 18:25:18 -0400

3 May
Loulou in Hollywood ‏ @LoulouDowntown

Remember what @MrbillyB taught us about false eyelashes? This’ll help too! loulou-lov.es/L1okLX

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9:29 PM - 3 May 12 via Twitter for iPhone · Details

via twitter.com

#photoadayapril day 23, something you are grateful for

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 10:39:47 -0400

Taken at Loulou in Hollywood