Strike Three!

A couple of weeks ago, I decided to cut the mop off my head.  In order to save money I called the beauty college behind my house.  It was a little after 3 p.m. and  I was informed that their last hair appointment was 3 because they close at 4, but to come tomorrow at 10 a.m. no appointment necessary.  That was a Tuesday.  My Wednesday was crazy busy (what's new?).  So Thursday was THE DAY!!!   I headed behind my house to the beauty college.

When I entered the building I noticed no one was behind the reception desk and several people were in an office chatting and just looking at me.  I smiled and waited.  hmmmm

Finally a woman walks over and begins to speak.  I recognize her voice; the same voice telling me to come at 10 a.m. when they open.

I tell her I want a cut.

"Oh, Miss. Everyone in class.  You come back at 10:30."

In a strained cheerful voice (I don't know, maybe my teeth were clenched because I was thinking "Why didn't you say this Tuesday when I called!") I responded "Okay!"

Well heck, what do you expect for a $4.00 cut.  Then I worried....what if I get a cut that looks like a four dollar cut???!!!

I got in my car and headed toward Supercuts.  As I arrive I realize there is NO ONE in the parking lot.  Do you ever wonder about "the why" there is no one in the parking lot of an establishment?  Like maybe there is a reason why no one is there???  I start doubting.  Is Supercuts the right place for my haircut?

I see movement in the building so I get out and walk in.  A smiling face comes to me and I am reassured this is where I need to be.  I go to her chair and show her a picture of the hair style I want.  I know stylists cringe when a thinning straight-haired person wants a super curly thick style AND no perm please!  hahahaha.  The style I want is one I have had before so I know it will work.  She looks at it and exclaims "It's a bob!"

"Will that be a problem?"

She assures me no and says on Thursday, they will be having a workshop on bobs and would I like to wait and come back.

"It IS Thursday," I whine!  I want my haircut, darn-it.

She tells me next week and it will be free!  Wow, I was worried about my $4.00 haircut looking like $4.00.  But FREE?  I'm in!

It is not exactly what I wanted but here I am after the cut.

Strawberry getting in the car before the wind plays havoc with new hairstyle!

Here I am in the bathroom trying to get a better look at the cut.  Those rearview mirrors aren't big enough!!!

The wind played havoc so I brushed out "my way"

Don't you just love the shower and toilet in the background?  Gee, anyone can sit in a bed of bluebonnets!

Want fries with that membership?

Do you remember the old monthly cosmetic membership clubs?  Back in the 70's when I was starting to wear make-up, I joined one; the name escapes me, but it was some beauty club.   For $9.99 + shipping and handling, you could receive a box of cosmetics right to your door. I got to sample expensive (to me!) products.  As a matter of fact, I still have a dark circle eye minimizer-- I know I should throw it away but I just can't seem to get rid of it.  I don't use it and it reminds me of days gone by!  My Mom for years and years had a membership to Doubleday Book Club.  In the 80's when I was out on my own, I, too, joined Doubleday.  I love books too.  I'm a hoarder; what can I say???

Well I just found out; I still have a love for those membership clubs.  No, I didn't subscribe to a book club or a cosmetic club.  This is my NEW love: paper-crafting!  You knew that, right?  You knew it was just a matter of time before I found something having to do with making cards?!?!

I succumbed and joined and yesterday  I received my first box!

Oh goodness!  How will I ever concentrate on my Theology studies?????  I posted on my FB page that all I wanted to do was play.  A former seminary student said John Calvin, a Reformation theologian would say I was "predestined to play!"  Hahahaha...So true.  Looky!  Now tell me, would you rather study theology or make fun cards with these goodies??

Colors and stamps and paper and pens, oh my!

I can always put off housework, studying, working, gardening, laundry, etc etc.  Paper, pens, stamps, bling, adhesive seems to call my name.  Wish I could figure out how to make a decent living out of it!  But then it wouldn't be "play;" it would be "work," and you know how I feel about THAT!!!!

Here is a new technique I learned.  Feathers!!!!

what to do with so many stickers?

I AM a masterpiece! HA

But let's face it, wouldn't we rather be sitting in a beach chair sipping a tropical drink?

Oh how I love to play and craft!!!!

Update:  Day 1 of meatless week went off without a hitch.  I did eat more wheat than I wanted, but hey, what can I say?  I was afraid to go to the store with all that Easter candy on sale!  

Breakfast: Took Boy to his 8 a.m. class and then stopped off at Jack in the Box and got a biscuit with egg and cheese (and NO, I am not going vegan).

Lunch: Picked up Boy and we stopped off at Stars to get a couple of salads.  They make egg-cellant salads.  Hubby and I love them because they include a hard-boiled egg with the lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, cheese and carrots. (Hubby is not going meat-free this week, so he had grilled chicken on his salad.)

Dinner: Ate out twice so here's the poor person dinner-- 2 pieces of toast with peanut butter.  A bowl of yogurt with blueberries and granola.
And ahem, a few pieces of chocolate.  I tell ya, I can sniff that stuff out!

All in all, not a bad day for my first vegetarian day.  I've told Boy to keep reminding me that I'm doing this.  Old habits are hard to break and I have to constantly remind myself about what I'm doing or supposed to be doing.  

Oh yeah, time to read Calvin!!!

This little piggy

I am a carnivore.  I admit it.  I am also an animal lover.  I cry during those adopt an abused animals commercials and feel an uncontrollable urge to pick up every stray animal on the street.  I honk at cows ("Cows, Bella!") and have an almost unhealthy relationship with the birds in my backyard.  (I try to run off the neighborhood hawk that likes to munch on MY birdies!)  Yet I continue to eat beef and poultry without a thought of how it got to my table.  I do the proverbial "stick my head in the sand" because quite frankly I didn't want that knowledge to taint my food.

The apostle Paul says in Romans 7:15 (The Message):  What I don't understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise.  Can anyone say "Strawberry!!!!"    So here's the news.  I am taking the US Veg Week pledge to go meatless not just on Monday, but all week long.  You might not want to come by and see me this week; your thigh might be too tempting!  It is best to call or text and keep in contact with Hubby and Boy too!
No, really, all joking aside my moral compass is telling me that God created EVERYTHING and called it good.  God did not say eat and practice unfair and cruelty upon my creations just like God did not say to totally destroy the earth with cruelty and unfair practices (that is a post for a different time).  All I can say with certainty is I will go meatless this whole week.  If it leads to a lifestyle change-- all the better.
Below, I've posted a snippet off their webpage.  Hopefully their link will go through.  If not, check out usvegweek.com for more information.  I would love to have some company on this journey.  Any carnivores ready for a change?  For this week?  This little piggy wants to know....  

 
From the USVegWeek.com website:

Kicking off on Meatless Monday and the day before Earth Day, US VegWeek 2014 (April 21-27) is a weeklong celebration exploring the many benefits of vegetarian eating—for our health, the planet, and animals. This year’s celebration will be bigger and better than ever!
Restaurants are offering specials on delicious vegan fare; events from cooking demonstrations to movie screenings are being held throughout the country; and thousands of people nationwide — including elected officials— are taking the 7-Day VegPledge. After all, with 52 weeks in a year, why not make at least one meat-free?
Compassion Over Killing launched VegWeek in 2009 in Takoma Park, Maryland (our hometown) thanks to the inspiration of MD Senator Jamie Raskin. Sen. Raskin eagerly signed up as the first person to take our 7-Day VegPledge — a pledge he’s kept to this day — and VegWeek was officially recognized by our city through a Mayoral Proclamation.  Energized by his new vegetarian diet, which he refers to as “aligning my morals with my menu,” Sen. Raskin has since helped COK expand our VegWeek campaign into a nationwide effort encouraging people choose meat-free foods as a way to build a kinder, cleaner, and healthier world.

The Throne

 If you grew up in the 60's or 70's (maybe before then....I wouldn't know!), more than likely you had a bulletin board jammed packed with pictures, ticket stubs, and homecoming mums.  Fast forward to the wonderful world of home computers and internet and you've probably been introduced to "Pinterest."  It is a virtual home bulletin board on the net where you can "pin" favorite things to your personal virtual bulletin board.  Warning: you can spend hours upon hours looking through it.  Looking for a recipe?  More than likely, someone has "pinned" it.  Want a card idea?  Why, yes I do.  It's on there.  Photography? Vacation spots?  The list goes on and on and it can get costly.

Recently I came across a Better Homes and Garden bathroom idea on Pinterest.  The shape and layout of this BHG bathroom looked just like mine.  Even Boy noticed. (speaking of Boy, I have to go pick him up....be back in a moment.  Pretend you are listening to Muzak music while I'm gone.......). I'm back!

I wanted to show you the BH&G idea.  I tried to use things I already owned and cut down on a bathroom redo cost.  Unfortunately I couldn't find towels in that color or curtains so I went on a low-cost bathroom redo hunt.

http://www.bhg.com/bathroom/decorating/bathroom-decorating-ideas/

Look at the layout of their bathroom and look at mine.  Almost identical!

Blank slate.  Don't you love the toilet bowl cleaner in the photo???

Ta.....Da!!!!!
 

I made the curtains out of inexpensive twin sheets (on sale!).  The only costly item was the bamboo window shades and I'm just that anal-- I HAD to have the exact bathroom in the BHG or as close to it as possible.  I didn't change out the medicine cabinet.  I kept my hospital metal variety-- although I'll keep my eyes open for any sales.  I also did not add decorative molding around the windows.  Little at a time.  I'll get it...some day. Thinking back, I could have made a valance in a brown fabric or bamboo fabric.  Note to self:  it doesn't have to be exact!!!!  Any who that's my recent project.

I love my new redo.  Spring is such a happy time for new beginnings. 

Spring is busting out all over

Yes, I'm allergic to most pollinating things.  They make me sneeze.  They make my throat hurt.  They give me headaches.  But once they bloom....ahhhhhh....sheer beauty.  As a child, I begrudgingly following my Mom around garden stores.  I just did not get flowers or wanting to BUY AND PLANT the things.  Didn't God provide beautiful wildflowers (aka weeds) in our yard?  Why work and till the ground when those puppies would sprout and bloom all over the place?  I just didn't get it.  It must be an age-thing with me.  Like broccoli.  I  despised-- no  h.a.t.e.d. broccoli as a kid.  I tried feeding it to the dog.  When the dog refused to eat it, I knew that crap would not go down my throat.  Funny thing. I love broccoli now- fresh broccoli and even the frozen broccoli, but not that broccoli that comes in the frozen box.  It just smells weird and reminds me of the broccoli of my childhood.  Yuck.  Still can't stomach that smell.  And guess what?  If you let broccoli go in your garden, it sprouts a pretty little flower or zillion!  Again, God's great beautiful flowering world.

Here's a little glimpse of all the flowering things in my yard.  Yes, I did buy most of them.  Another funny thing--- I love garden stores and all things blooming (except my allergies-- they do not like all things blooming!)

Enjoy!

I forget it's name!

I do not know why I can't remember this plant's name, but I love it.  So pretty.  It's sister (to the left) is a sickly child, but she is making attempts to come back to life.  She is a pink variety.  I love pink; wish she'd get her act together and bloom!

Striped geranium.  Pink, of course!

Oliver just had to be in the photo too.  See him?

Mandevilla.  Don't they look like pink lipsticks?

Now those lipsticks have opened!

Yum! Bell peppers

Pink (what else) hibiscus

double bloom red amaryllis

more pink and red

Happy Sunflower- Happy Strawberry!  I've always wanted great big sunflowers in my garden

petunias and pansies. Hubby bought these (notice they are not pink?)

pretty orange Gerber Daisy.  That's a tomato plant beside it and a tomato is in the gerber daisy pot

close up of green tomato

more bell peppers in the making

Happy Friday, Grainiacs.  Hope all is well with you.  For those in colder climate, come on down and be a snowbird!

More catching to do

Yesterday I posted pictures about Boy and Cosmos got a little jealous!  He wanted you to know that he also honored Boy in Boy's accomplishment (actually Cosmos had no say in the matter-- I pulled the Momma card on him because quite frankly he smelled!).

Whaddya mean I smell?

He was getting a little hairy around all open parts of his body, if ya know what I mean?  I love those traveling vans that come to your house and park in your front yard and beautify your pet and then ring the doorbell when all is said and done.  You just can't get more lazy than that!  Love. It.!!!!

And ding dong....guess who is lighter and happier and smiling?

ME!!!!!!

The groomer had to cut his beard a little strange.  Hubby and I are reminded of Stripe in the Gremlins.  Thankfully it is growing out because late at night, that dog freaks me out.  Thank you 1980's movie!

little tuft of white hair doesn't show up well, but look at that beard- Stripe, right?

got this photo off Bing images

Stay tune for tomorrow's before and after pictures!  I love spring.  New beginnings. New sprouts. New life.

Would you like fries with that "catch up?"

I can't believe how long it has been since I last blogged!  I figure it's time to play ketsup, er Catch Up.  Have you ever played that game?  Boy was telling me the other day that the idea that you can never catch up on sleep is a myth.  I'm too tired to look it up!  He finds all sorts of little jewels on the internet and will correct me at every moment.  Ah the pleasures of having all sorts of wisdom at your fingertips (literally) with a push of the button.  I do not want to hear any previous generation complaining about child-rearing!  Just be thankful you didn't have the internet.  When you said something, you could feign intelligence and your kids listened (maybe doubting you, but having to go to the library to research said info was just too timely!!!)  You know what I mean.  If my Mom said something that I didn't think was correct, I just thought "aww, she doesn't know what she's talking about" but I couldn't prove it!  Now! Thanks to Al Gore and his invention, kids know for a fact that we parents don't know what we are talking about!!!  I digress.  This post was going to highlight one of the reasons I haven't blogged in a while.

Back to french fries, I mean, catch up.... For those of you who do not mesmerize your time on Facebook, here are a few pics from the Eagle Court of Honor.

He has grown up so fast.  Sniff sniff.  I'm going to cherish all the snarkisms and bantering because pretty soon, Hubby and I will be empty-nesters.  And then we are going to Disney World!