Lost and Found...love letters!

A few weeks ago while I was getting my salon ready for its expansion into a full service salon and day spa, I was going through tons of junk very important papers that had been left laying around for, well let's just say WAY WAY to long!!! As I was rooting through all of this stuff I came across a big stack of papers that looked like emails that had been printed off. At the time I just threw them aside, thinking they are probably just some old Aveda information and I wanted to keep at the task at hand...as all busy Momma's know you have to make use of every millisecond that you can get....so I kept trucking...sorting and pitching, it actually became very therapeutic after awhile.

After what seemed like hours of this same tedious job...I took a break and put my feet up. As I sat, that pile of white papers caught my eye...so I took a look...and to my surprise it wasn't just old insurance papers or long forgotten protocols for Aveda Products. It was actually all the emails that "T" had written to me when he was in Vietnam about 7 years ago. What a great find...and just what I needed that day! Honestly it could not have come a better time. Crazy how that happens, things just get plopped right in your lap sometimes with perfect timing!!

You see "T" went to Vietnam when we had only been dating for less than a year...we were still "young and in love" as the story goes...and these emails reminded me of a simpler time, when we only had ourselves and our fresh, perfect relationship to think about. As we all know, life can get busy and hectic and crazy especially when you add kids in the mix(and I know that has only just started for us, that is just going to get crazier and busier)...but sometimes you forget, you forget the really important but simple things about your life.

That stack of paper that almost got pitched, was like finding a treasure...the perfect reminder of all the things I am so so grateful for!

I hope everyone gets a wonderful surprise reminder of the wonderful things in their life sometime soon!
m

Finding Balance

The million dollar question, where do you find balance? Just that perfect mixture....the recipe for happiness for yourself and your family??

Yes this is something that in your childhood, teen years, 20's and for me most of my 30's, you don't even think about...or at least I didn't. Maybe it comes when you have children...or maybe it just comes with age and maturity. Lately I have found myself wondering how do I get that recipe for success...the perfect blend of work, family, friends, health and happiness for myself and my family?

I will admit I am a "go'er"....actually just this morning T and I were sitting chatting and I mentioned something like "you know that table downstairs, how do you think it would look upstairs"....he just looked at me and said...M come on the spa doors haven't even been open for 24hrs yet and you are already looking for your next project...can't we just let things ride for awhile??? Now I know his response really had nothing to do with the table in question(however we do have differing opinions on if it would look nice there or not), it was more about me...and how I just can't sit still....I always have to be on to the next thing.

So today I have been reflecting on this conversation and myself...my life, my goals...I think I really need to start focusing on finding balance in my life. I think the scales are tipped a bit too far in certain directions and things need to be leveled out.

Work definitely has a bit too much weight and my little family of 3 not enough...I know this and I am strong enough to admit it! Work for almost 17 years has been my life...and it has taken, well 15months to realize it is not the be all and end all....yes I work hard for my family...everything I do there right now is in hopes that in a few years it will enable us to have tons of adventures as a family with no worries at all. However I know that I can't got lost in the future...I have to remember how important the present is...I am trying!

I also struggle with the balance of my social life and things I do for fun...my relationships with girlfriends have changed drastically over the years...my job is so social I am so exhausted at the end of the week that I find it to be a lot of work to "socialize" outside of work...however I find more and more that I miss and need the interaction of girlfriends...real girlfriends that truly get what is going on in these over exerted hormonal bodies all women in their mid thirties have!

There is also the absolute need (for myself anyways) for physical activity! I can honestly say that if I go a few days without it...things are not good...I know that my whole psychi is off if I miss my workouts...I think this is mental for me...but I know that it is an absolute must!

Finally there is family time but then there is the most important time and that is the time spent nurturing and feeding my relationship with T...and as with lots of things in life the thing that should be the most important gets pushed to the back burner...boy have I seen this happen now that we have a toddler in the house...it is crazy...I heard people talk about it but never truly understood...we seriously hardly have 5 seconds a day to talk...and when we do it is just about the "stuff"...the day to day...did you call the exterminator for the cottage, did you call the daycare...that kind of crap...not the important stuff!!

So here I am on a Sunday afternoon, happy, healthy and probably over thinking a bit...but truly wondering and brainstorming ways that I can find the Balance...that perfect blend...!

I think I will start with a big glass of red wine...blended to perfection!!!
m
xo

10 years later...my dream is complete!!

I have been styling lovely ladies locks for almost 18 years now....WOW!! 10 years ago I fullfilled my first dream of opening my lovely Aveda Salon...my vision was always to utilize the whole entire space that I have invested in and open a day spa on the second floor!! Well today is the day that dream is finally coming true!! After tons of hard work...amazing support from my husband, family and fabulous staff and of course not to mention my little 15month old rascal...who is surely more of a rascal right now because Mommy has been so preoccupied....however none the less today, my day spa opens!! SO SO excited!!Here is hoping all the toes and hands and brows from my itty bitty town come down and get pampered!!

Happy Day Everyone!
m

Change!

I had a client in, a client that I love! She has been trusting me with her lovely crimson locks for almost 20 years!! WOW that is dedication, loyalty and a bit crazy!!!

Over the years I have obviously got to know her very well. She is a bubbly, carefree, smart woman...I have always admired her and trusted her opinion and expertise on different issues. However today and if I am being honest the past couple years really, I have noticed a change....an interesting change and last week it got me doing a bit of reflecting on a topic that has come up a few times in my life lately!!

CHANGE...is it good, is it bad, does it matter...and why does it get so many people's tail in a knot!! Now let me explain...the changes that I am seeing in this client are changes that I have noticed since she started dating and married her one true love a few years ago. Now the changes in this woman in my opinion are not good, not bad...it is just that she has changed....she seems less tolerant...but more driven...her whole circle of friends have changed, and because I am from a itty bitty town I know that some of her girlfriends are very sad about that...but that is just the way it all turned out...they have different interests now and as couples she doesn't find that they have much in common...this is not a new thing...this happens all the time...I know this, but lately I have been asked this question in so many different ways...shes changed since she met him...she is different...etc etc...and my question is....well isn't that OK...if someone is happy that should be OK? Right?

I feel that, of course once you start spending time with a new person, and truly care for them you will start looking at life with a fresh pair of eyes....you may be presented with thoughts and opinions that had never occurred to you before. I remember this happening when I met T...my whole life I just thought that if my Dad said that it was OK then that was GOOD whatever he did I did...it was T one day that said...ummmm Hello M this isn't how the whole world thinks you know.....WHAT!??!?! REALLY!?!??! I said...lol lol...now this has happened many times since we have been together...sometimes I agree with hubby but and sometimes I am still that sucky Daddy's girl that believes that he is always right....I would say yes if I think back to when T and I met, I have changed. For the better I think....for the better in other peoples opinion?? I hope...but really does it matter...it shouldn't I know...but I guess there is a little part of all of us that wants to make sure our family and friends support our choices.

So what is this ramble all about anyways...honestly I'm not sure...this client struck a cord with me last week...something she said just sounded so much like something her husband would say...I strongly disagreed with what she was saying...(not out loud mind you, hairstylists rule...keep your opinions to yourself especially if they are not the same as the paying lady in your chair lol ) but it made me think WOW in a course of 2-3 years this woman has totally changed her views on things...amazing how time spent with a person can do that....is it good, is it bad...who knows, who cares...she is happy and that is all that matters!!

So I guess I am just thinking,  if you are truly happy and feel change happening...embrace it, do what YOUR heart is telling you to do...Enjoy your life...but always be you...that might mean a bit of the new and a bit of the old...Change I guess you just never know when it will happen...enjoy the ride folks!

m

A Fresh Start...extreme, Chalene Extreme that is!

The nightmare began when little "D" turned 9 months old, not sure why that was such a pivotal moment but it was the day that I stepped on the scale for the first time since she had come home. Well I think I must have been the only woman ever to have a 9 month old at home and actually weigh more then when she was born...seriously think about it...most that have their children naturally would by default lost weight without even trying....but this ass had about 10 extra pounds on it...and summer was coming FAST!!! So it was right then and there that I decided it was time to get into action! The 10 came off pretty quickly, with exercise and a better diet, i.e BORING diet...but I was in the groove!

All summer I have been very dedicated to my workouts that took that 10 pounds of unsightly fat off!! Yes I hauled my buns out of bed at 5am on the mornings that I was working and on the days that I was with little "D" I made good use of every napping moment! The program I was doing all summer long was Chalene Johnson's Turbo Fire. I was surprisingly, extremely happy with my results. If the fact that I did wear a bather in front of people this summer is any indication, then I would say the program was a pretty decent success!! lol....because these legs have not seen the light of day for many many years! Now lets be honest here,it wasn't a miracle worker...it was hard hard work and I still have cellulite coming out my ying yang but it was better...so a success in it's own right.

Well then summer happened....long weekends at the cottage, at my Dads infamous outdoor bar where tons of chips and wine are consumed. Don't get me wrong, fun is had by all...but these thighs are starting to scream PLEASE don't do this to me again...I can't stand rubbing into my partner here....OK OK I get the point. It's September, a fresh start...and I think time for a fresh program. I love Turbo Fire so much but I am thinking it is time to add something else into the mix...and sadly that is not chocolate covered almonds...I think it is time for a bit more strength training, combined with the insane cardio that Turbo Fire is. So in an attempt to not spend another 200 bones on yet another program...I hauled out my Chalene Extreme from last year....did a bit of googling and found a perfect little hybrid program combining the 2. Perfect!!

So here goes Week 1!....Oh you thought this is where I was going to do some before and afters...nope...you will have to just read about the results....lol lol

Wish me Luck and tell me, anyone doing a program that they just love right now?
m

The tat!

Well hello there! Yes it has been awhile and so much has happened....and pretty much all of it good! Which if you happen to have read this blog in the past will agree that is nothing short of a miracle!

Now I can't possibly get you up to speed in one post...but I am thinking that I might just get into this thing called "bloggin" again! So I promise to back track every once in awhile to give you the highlights!

For today though, I have to tell you about my Dad!

If you have read this blog before then you are aware that my Dad was diagnosed last year with stage 4 lung cancer. Yeah rotten luck hey!!!! So to say the least there have been some really rough patches in the past few years.... However my dad underwent an extremely risking surgery last November, we almost lost him due to various infections and complications but somehow after 100days in the hospital he came home less a lung, less a chunk of his diaphragm and some other various not as important body parts! Here we are 6 months later and the guy was lying on a massage bed face down getting a tattoo on his rear end that says f**k you cancer!

Yes it was a bucket list event....another one ticked off for him! Not a huge tat fan myself...but really this particular occasion I can't help but smile!

My dads spirit is infectious, he feels so truly blessed and lucky to be here, he has been through more pain, torture awful stuff in the past year....it takes my breath away sometimes, how fortunate we are to still have him here with us! A true survivor in my books!

No we don't know what will happen in the future...but for right now we are enjoying every bonus moment we have been given!!

So I'm with you Dad.... F**K you CANCER!!!

LIFE'S ROUGH.....wear a helmet!!!