High Maintenance Women

Here's the question: Are guys intimidated by attractive women? I recently asked a gentleman acquaintance this question. He said, 'Yes, in most cases they are, because an attractive woman usually means 'high maintenance'...(which, of course means Big Bucks). I said facetiously, 'You get what you pay for'!

It is possible to look H.M. without being H.M. However, the reverse is also true!

This debate reminds me of a quote by Dolly Parton, ' It takes a lot of money to look this trashy'.

Or, to quote my Mama, 'You can't judge a book by its cover'. I had a hairdresser friend that used to say, 'You cant make chicken salad out of chicken s***'!

Aunt Era used to tell me that it doesn't matter how pretty you are on the out side, if you're not pretty on the inside.....She'd say, 'Pretty is as pretty does'.

As for me personally, I love to dress, love my jewelry, love my having my nails done, love pedicures and facials, love playing with my hair color..I love all that girly stuff, but that doesn't make me high maintenance because I don't ask or expect anyone to bankroll my personal indulgences. In fact, I call it 'creative marketing'. I am, after all, in the beauty business. I must constantly endeavor to perfect the art and science of looking high maintenance, while not breaking the bank. I love my job!

So guys, the next time you see an attractive woman, don't judge a book by its cover. But, FYI, if you happen to run into a gold digger, their motto is: 'If you wanna play, you gotta pay'! Hmmm, come to think of it, that doesn't sound like such a bad idea! Just kidding...maybe!

Excuse me while I go attempt to balance my checkbook. I need to see if I can afford to go to SteinMart tomorrow. It's the perfect place for girls like myself, who have Champagne taste on a beer budget!

Just doing a little creative marketing, ya'll

My New Walls

I love this taupe color in the Family room. It's Martha Stewart 'Tumbleweed'. You can see the contrast with the unpainted wall to the right. I'm still looking for just the right window treatments. On the mantel, I arranged a colorful Fall swag with red votive candles nestled among the leaves, enhanced by clove scented pillar candles. I'm thinking about antiquing the mantel...what do you think?
Here is the entry hall. The wall color is actually a bit darker than the picture shows. It too, is a Martha Stewart color called Jasper, a soft sage green. It contrasts beautifully with the creamy taupe in the family room. I love the way it brings out the richness of the dark brown metal side table and other accessories.

I love it Ya'll!

Me and My Chicas

A few of my good buds met me for lunch today. My birthday isn't until Saturday, but Wednesday is the day we all get together to celebrate special days.

Of course, if you go to a Mexican place, they always sing and make you wear a silly hat!

Ole! ya'll

Where Were You?

What a perfectly beautiful morning, I thought as I hung up the phone and looked out the back door. A perfect day for flying...I had just finished talking to my daughter in Florida. We were both excited and making plans about our visit. I was scheduled to fly out the next morning, September 12, 2001. My birthday is on September 16 and my son in laws' is on the 14th. We thought it would be fun to celebrate together. I remember thinking, as I continued to get ready for work, 'I wish I had left yesterday (the 10th), I would already be there having fun'.

I had the radio on, as usual, listening to my favorite DJ's on KSBJ, a Contemporary Christian station. I looked at the clock, it was about a quarter to eight. I was running a little late because I had stayed on the phone too long. As I ran to get dressed, the DJ broke in to announce that there had been some sort of explosion at the World Trade Center in New York City. I quickly turned on the TV to get more information. To my horror, there it was; live coverage of this horrible event. I couldn't believe what I was seeing and hearing! Suddenly, I saw an airplane heading toward the second tower, the first tower already in flames. The plane crashed into the building and appeared to come out the other side. I watched in utter disbelief as pandemonium broke loose.

I had to leave for work and by the time I got to the salon the whole world seemed to come to a halt. All of the local radio stations were broadcasting live reports. Everyone seemed to be in shock as we listened to this unbelievable tragedy unfold. As the day wore on, I realized that I wouldn't be boarding a plane the next day because all flights were grounded...every airport in the nation was shut down. At the end of the day, I went home and turned on the TV, once again seeing the Towers being assaulted, watching as they tumbled to the ground. Over and over, they showed them as they fell. By this time, the reality of what had happened became clear. The hijacked planes, the attack on the Pentagon, people running in the streets. I finally had to turn it off. I was numb. I called my daughter, my son...every one in my family.

The next morning I got up to another perfect day, weatherwise, but I wasn't going anywhere. I turned on the TV. There it was again, footage of the Towers coming down. Stories began to unfold...it seemed to go on and on. I was so sad and angry. I had to turn it off and get out of the house. I put my bathing suit on and went out to the pool and floated around all morning. I lived close enough to the airport that I could hear the planes as they took off. They flew over my house as they coasted in to land. The noise of the airport was just a part of our daily life. But not this morning. As I floated around looking at the perfect, cloudless blue sky, there were no planes, no noises coming from the big airport. The world was eerily quiet. The trees were almost perfectly still. There were no birds chirping or flying about. No dogs barking, very few cars passing by. It was as if the whole universe had been paralyzed by this tragic turn of events. I began to pray; God help us all! Then came the tears. Our world was forever changed that day. Now, five years later, we are still shaken...WE WILL NEVER FORGET!

Remember the heros and those who lost loved ones, ya'll

The OTHER Sister

Aw, ain't he cute? His Auntie just wants to give a big ole birthday kiss! It's kinda hard to pucker up with these buck teeth, though.

Seriously...

Recently I crossed paths with a young man whose political views and philosophy on life is totally opposite from mine....someone who, if I encountered him on the street, or saw him hanging out at the mall, I would label as a skater or a punk. He's a 19 year old kid after all! Why would he and I have any inclination to want to know each other?

Well, certain events lead us to meet, along with a few of his friends. They seemed uncomfortable, even though I tried to make them feel welcome in my home. I'm sure I represent a lifestyle that they have had very little exposure to. Nevertheless, I tried to make them feel comfortable for the short while they sat in my living room. I admit I was a little uncomfortable myself.

I silently sized him up while the introductions were being made. I immediately noticed the cold, blank look in his eyes. He seemed emotionless, as did his buddies. It was as if he didn't want to make eye contact. There were none of the usual social gestures made. No "Hello, pleased to meet you" from him or the other boys. He had a small boom box with him and began checking the batteries. He then asked me if I had any extra ones he could borrow, as the batteries were dead. How weird, I'm thinking. So, for the remainder of his brief stay he concentrated on changing out the dead batteries.

Because of circumstances that I can't go into because of privacy issues, I felt it necessary to find out "where he was coming from". Through Myspace I started a dialogue with him. ( I had checked out his site and was a little shocked and concerned at what I saw). I began by telling him it was nice to meet him and that I hoped they enjoyed the reggae concert. I asked about his family. I asked about the *ska* lifestyle. He told me his people were a bunch of rednecks from Mississippi and that he didn't fit in with them. He came here to visit his brother and decided to stay. He's more punk than ska...he's also an anarchist, not into religion and believes that the bible was written by some random guy, and just like Harry Potter, it's stupid. He has morals, he says, but people judge him and call him a satanist when they find out what he believes. Politicians invented religion to control us, America is the next Hitler and on and on! The boy was getting fired up! I'd heard enough! I never could get him to tell me why he believes as he does. Ironically, he signed each post; peace. I wonder, how can a person who believes in chaos and lawlessness have true peace in their life?

No, it's not up to me to judge him or anyone. That's God's job. As a Christian I feel sad for him...for his young soul. What a shame and a waste to be filled with such negativity and bitterness. Of course, I pray that his heart will soften and that he will come to know that there is a better way to live. I wanted to tell him more but he stopped communicating with me when I (politely, I might add) called him down for being disrespectful. The *Mother* in me was starting to kick in!

If the eyes are the windows of the soul, I saw nothing but emptiness and darkness when I looked into his. There's only one thing that will light up that lost soul...the light of God's love and grace! I pray that he finds it!

Know God
Know Peace

No God
No Peace

Bless Ya'll!

Goofin Off

I've been painting my entry hall all day. No, this is not what I look like right now. Let's just say that I look like I've been painting all day and leave it at that. A lovely Martha Stewart sage-y green. I'll take pictures when I'm done.

I like my hair color this week, so I took a few pictures so I wouldn't forget what to mix when I touch it up next time. I hate my nose! Oh well, I'm not going to bother getting it 'fixed', so I'll just live with it. If I were going to spend money on plastic surgery, I would have *the girls* whittled down and made to stand at attention. I still dream of wearing a hippie halter top. Anyway, back to the hair...I never can remember from one time to the next what I've done. I'm always experimenting..to see what I come up with. Better on me than my client, dontcha think?

I like to name all my hair colors after desserts, spices and other food. I did a tri color hilight/lowlight combo the other day...called it gumbo, you know, two shades of spicy red, and golden roux . My client is from Louisiana originally. That's why I called it gumbo. She liked it!
I do a choco-latte/french vanilla combo that is yummy. Then there's gingersnap and cinnamon.
Golden vanilla is pretty. Clients love it!

I love these sunglasses. I found them in Dallas when I was at a Hair Show. In the bottom picture I'm saying something goofy so I enhanced the picture when I edited it. That's not dirt on my lips, it's just the 'cartoon' effects on my editing program. My hair looks rather brassy too.
I don't do brassy...ever!

I'm pooped! Can't you tell from the content of this post...such randomness!

Think I'll go soak these weary bones in the garden tub and crash.

Night, ya'll