Wordless Wednesday!!

Our Thanksgiving "thankful tree"!! We write down things we are thankful for from now until Thanksgiving. We will read them all together on Thanksgiving Day.... And yes one of mine is nap time!! hehe

Bossy Pants

I am a boss!!

It is by far the absolute toughest job that I have...it takes the cake over Mom, Hairstylist, Wife, Home Maker, Chef, Decorator, Personal Shopper...domestic goodness...everything...being a boss to 10 very energetic, artistic and very different women keeps me on my toes every single day!!

I have to be honest, it is the job I least like as well. I hate being the "boss"...or "she" as I am sometimes referred to....you know it... you know what I am saying, especially if you have a boss or have ever had a boss(which if you haven't, all I can say is WOW how did you manage that)...you  know what is said....sometimes things like "well she said it was OK" or "He doesn't like it done like that"...hey I know, bosses even though you may like them you don't REALLY like them...it is an unwritten rule somewhere, be scared of the boss...they are the enemy! Which just totally BLOWS when you happen to be the boss!!! I hate it, I want to be every one's friend...however I am smart enough and have been doing this gig for long enough that I know, friends we can not be!! It just doesn't work!!

In the past 16 months I have been kind of the absentee boss....I have only been working 3 days a week and am home the rest of the time with little D! Which I love and wouldn't change for a second....and I would bet millions of dollars that my team loves this little away time as well!!! Can you imagine, your boss goes from being in your face literally 24/7 to hardly at all, because when she is there she is SO swamped she doesn't even have time to keep her own head on straight!! Yep you guessed it, they have been having a PAAARTY for the past 16 months!! Not that they haven't done a super job at keeping up with clients and all the day to day tasks, actually they have done more than that, they have been amazing and supportive of me and my decision to stay home for these precious days with D...I couldn't have asked for a better group of girls...however over time rules start disappearing, things start becoming more and more relaxed until we get to a point like this Saturday when "she" finally has had ENOUGH!!

Yep it started building a few months ago....and it has just been topping out at the boiling point for the past 2 weeks....nothing major just little things not getting done, people coming and going as they please, tiny little things that inevitably become big HUGE things if left alone. I will admit it, I am the queen of letting things go....I HATE CONFRONTATION...can I say that again I HATE CONFRONTATION....I would rather put up with tons of shit, get shit on, take shit out...before I confront people...it is one of my worst qualities.

So what did I do....I wrote a message to everyone....I know shameful....I am just so bad at talking about the hard stuff face to face...I don't want to hurt any ones feelings, I don't want anyone to hate me, it is so ridiculous!! I like to tell myself it is because we can never find a time to get everyone together due to schedules etc...but yeah right, bosses call staff meetings all the time....command performances as my last boss called them....(who by the way was the most frightening man on the planet, one of the reasons I try so hard to be the "nice boss")!
So I sent out this message with as much encouraging stuff in it as there was expectations on performance etc. etc...so I guess we will see what happens now....will there be a change! I guess time will tell!!

ugggghhhh seriously if someone could find me a backbone please send it ASAP....lol this not so bossy boss really needs it!!

Happy Sunday Everyone!
m

Once upon a time!

Once upon I time, I started a blog....named Bloggin Instyle. I don't know what possessed me to do it at the time...I think I was filling a void of some sort...however I have always had the urge to write(which is hilarious because if you have read even 1 of my posts you can see that my grammar sucks and thankfully we have spellcheck ha)...I do remember as a young girl though telling my Mom I was going to start a book about my life...well I think I got a few pages down and then in true Michelle style I went on to the next creative outlet I could find...who knows...maybe I started to hook a rug, or begged my Grandmother to once again show me how to knit(how I wish I would have retained that skill she so patiently taught me), but the point is I always wanted to write...journals never cut if for me though....maybe it's my desire to be in the public but not really be in the "public"...or maybe it was simply that I saw a friend on FB say that she started a blog and I wanted to see what all the hype was about(she doesn't have a blog anymore, go figure)!

So I started this blog and I loved it LOVED it....I loved being able to write my own story, whether others read it or not I just loved to get it out. I guess it was therapeutic in some way. There were some things that did drive me nuts though, the fact that you have no idea who is reading it and when I first started I made what I think was a mistake for me personally, I displayed my blog on my FB page so of course my 400 hundred "closest" friends had access....and at the time I thought that is what I wanted. But as time went on, and clients came in and would say, "I read on your blog" or, "oh how was that shopping trip" etc etc....it just seemed a bit wrong and a tad creepy...but I soldiered on, loving the wonderful connections I was making...meeting women who were also struggling with infertility and adoption, other stylists, other women just like me!! I was loving pouring my heart out and having people enjoying my posts...laughing and crying with me but most of all supporting me on my journey.

After months of having the blog up and running a few not so nice things happened. I had a few different people in my life confront me about some of the things I had said in my posts...and these were important people in my life...so I cared! Yes everything I was writing was truly how I was feeling....things were never written to hurt others...honestly like I said earlier I had no idea that these friends were reading my blog...however they were and they were hurt, and that hurt me. Did we clear the air, I hope so, I truly believe we did. However to be honest I never truly forgave myself, I really felt awful about hurting friends feelings on my blog....but I continued to write.
Then one day when I was feeling very down about our lack of adoption opportunities and just feeling so so sad I wrote a post about adoption and a group of women read it and very strongly disagreed with what I was saying.....they commented and called me every nasty shitty name in the book,  terrible things...I just couldn't believe my eyes(however I had never had so much traffic on my little blog lol)....I know now this happens and I know that people are not always going to agree with you...but this hit the core of me....I was distraught over it.

After those few episodes my desire for blogging dwindled a bit....I would still write from time to time but just wasn't feeling it. Until somewhere between failed adoption number 1 and Little D arriving I stopped completely. I maybe posted 4 times in the past few years. It's too bad really because the last year and a half would have won me some bloggy prizes I'm sure, cause this road has been super bumpy......however I really didn't give Bloggin Instyle a thought....until Labour Day 2012 hit!!!

My sweet bloggy cousin Britt, you can find her @ www.takingordersfromacookie.com was just getting her blog going...so we spent the weekend talking about blogs and potential posts and klout scores etc etc...as we chatted I pulled up the ole blogger account and there she was Bloggin Instyle..."now a family of three page"....hmmm it had been awhile...there were even some old comments that I hadn't published, some sweet bloggy awards...Britt and I talked about blogs all weekend and she said M you have to start again...come on...do it....

So here I am....starting again!!!!! I hope to stay....I hope to make connections, I hope to make you think, ponder, wish, dream maybe even cry and most definitely do your best belly laugh from time to time. What I don't mean to ever do is hurt you, anyone...from family members that tune in, to friends or clients..or people  I have never meet face to face....I am truly writing how I feel, writing from my heart. I hope you will join me as I saddle up once again and start Bloggin Instyle!!!

m
xo

Wordless Wednesday!

Who needs food...when you have jewels!

Quirky Question Tuesday!!

When you are a hairstylist or anyone that chats continuously day in and day out with different people, the material that you are given on a daily basis that you could blog about is endless!!! Seriously, the things people say to me is just out of this world sometimes. I could never fully give each ridiculous comment it's due time on this blog and furthermore some of the sarcastic remarks I have in rebuttal should probably be kept to myself!

However some are just too good to keep to myself, they must be shared with the world(haha, or the few people that might be reading my posts!), because man they are that good! So I thought I might do a weekly post on the quirky, crazy downright nutty questions or comments I get....I will post my fav each week. Now I have NO idea who reads this blog......sooooooo with that being said, if you are a client, a friend, an enemy(hmmmm hope I quote you someday), or maybe a coworker, a family member or I have no idea who you are you just struck me as funny....well sorry guys try not to take offense, because this is just a little step inside my world...I say be proud...you my lovely take the prize, the favorite of the week! Whatever you did or said was a keeper...you kept me giggling or thinking or crying for days...you my friend actually took up some headspace, and quite honestly because I talk to so many people I can barely remember who I worked on at the end of a day let alone what they said to me!! So "good on ya" as my uncle would say in his really disturbing Australian accent....you are the reason I have something to write about today!!

So as I am sitting here trying to think of the best from last week (a heaping handful are coming to my mind)...I must stress some of these questions will be funny, some will be serious and some will be downright mouth dropping ridiculous!! To start us off though I think I will try to keep this light!

So this weeks question and let me give you some background here...this particular someone has just looked at my most recent pics of D that sit on my station at the salon...she has admired them "ohhhh what a dolly, she is so precious...and getting so big" you know the drill...and then it comes, the craziest thing I have heard yet in reference to little D!

"M, Little Miss D's hair used to be so dark...I can't believe that you are coloring it so young"

WHAT???? I seriously thought I would look up from my perfectly angled, angled bob to see a twinkle in her eye...you know when you can see the laughter, the haha good joke hey!!...Nope nada nothing, completely blank, questioning look....waiting for my response?!?!?

Come on people...I realize I have access to literally every colour in the rainbow, but do you really think I would colour my 15month olds lid..maybe some stylists do, but not this momma....I barely have time to get my own hair coloured, as I painstakingly yank yet again a crop of nasty grey's as we speak!

So I looked at her, choked on my most sarcastic response(remember at this point she is still a paying customer....I'm repeatedly chanting the customers always right the customers always right) so I said "oh no no I don't colour D's hair...it is the sun...the sun and just the normal process for a baby...lots are born with dark dark hair and are white blonde by the time they are 1. "Really", she said "I have never heard of that". End of conversation!

....and you have 3 grown children....

I don't know but that question really struck me as funny, odd, and a bit worrisome...lol So just in case anyone is wondering no I haven't hi lighted, streaked, ombred, or even glossed D's hair as of yet!! Keep a close eye though, you just never know!

M

Our Terry Fox!

One year ago today, my Mom and I were walking the trail doing our first ever Terry Fox fundraising event. I would be lying if I said it wasn't with heavy hearts that we walked.

It was a very emotional time, my Dad had just finished his 5th round of nasty chemo and had made the decision that he would not take anymore....we were all still waiting on word if he was eligible for a crazy radical surgery to remove his left lung, the linings of his lung and heart and part of his diaphragm. Did we want him to have this surgery or didn't we....it was so risky, chance of survival was questionable and with only a 15% chance of getting all the cancer....we were walking in a cloud...just not sure of what to think or feel.
I remember my Mom turning to me and saying "well I wonder if your Dad will be able to walk this with us next year"? I have to be honest my heart sank...and tears started to well up in my eyes....I didn't want to put a damper on her momentary high spirits...however I wasn't feeling quite as optimistic. I'm sure I made some sort of remark...positive I hope, but inside I was not feeling that hopeful.

Fast forward one year and boy I am glad I was So So wrong!!!! Today was team DMF's second Terry Fox Run. Not only was our team bigger and better....not only did we raise yet again an incredible amount of money...not only did we get snapped up to be in our local paper...yes the local paparazzi was there....not only did little D look absolutely adorable in her own tinsy Team DMF shirt....not only did we go out for a big ole family lunch after....not only was there absolutely NO family drama(and folks that's big with this group) not only all of those things....but the best the absolute best was that my Dad, Team DMF's own personal Terry Fox walked...OH yes he did!!! Incredible! One lung later...100 days in ICU later...after infections, stage 4 lung cancer aggressive diagnosis later....

He WALKED!!!

As I have said before....we don't know what the future holds...but man are we taking every advantage of these days....the bonus days....the small miracles, like being able to take that walk with us!!!
Dad you are our Terry Fox!

xo

The CrazY Tantrums!

This week was one of those weeks your mother never warned you about.

Parenting 101...well she forgot this little chapter...yeah she mentioned it, but I was not aware that it would happen at the very young age of 15 months!

Have you guessed what it is, I know if you have kids 1 and older you have experienced it as well. Yes the week of the TANTRUM!!!

Holy moly, move over terrible twos cause we have an over achiever here and she would like to start this phase early....like last Wed or so!!

It all started with this really evil look she started giving when you are doing or asking her to do something that she is really not that fancy on. WOW is all I can say...this girls looks could kill!!
Then she decided that the look wasn't really getting her anywhere...except people making comments like "oh boy wait until she is a teenage, she is going to give you a run for your money" and they were saying these things to me...so totally back-firing for little miss D, she was thinking what the heck is wrong with you people this look is to get you to pay attention to me not my mother...clearly this wasn't working for her. 
So she decided to get her body involved in the action....and this folks is something that you just have to see...or maybe you do right in your own living room....the act of forming your body into a human pretzel...she folds her body in half at her torso...feet planted firmly on the ground while the top of her head hits the floor....it is amazing and through all that her hands are flailing, feet start stomping and she is screaming at the top of her lungs! IMPRESSIVE!! This is were things get difficult for me...it is so entertaining and downright hysterical!! How do you not laugh, but at the same time I am so frustrated with her as well that I really feel like stomping my feet around the house...and truth be told I sometimes do!!! lol

I know you are thinking wow 15 months this is a bit early...and you haven't even heard the worst of it yet!!!
I made a very big parenting mistake on Friday....I should have consulted with the Mommy Club because this was a doosey....I took D to TOY r US.....I know I should be punished, where was my head....please forgive me for my ignorance!!
Don't worry though I paid for it, for my stupidity...she was terrible as you can imagine and who could blame her she was in rainbow coloured, sesame street, mega blocks heaven. Can we say OVER-STIMULATION????

Thank goodness my Mom was with me and Grandmas kind of have that calming affect on everyone don't they..."don't worry dear, she is fine...I'll push the cart you just go get what you need"....as I cross the store all I hear is my childs screeching voice at the top of her lungs...I guess I should feel lucky that she can't really say anything that makes sense right now so what she was really saying no one could understand....because I am positive it would have sounded something like this..."I want that and that and that and if you don't buy it for me I'm going to make the rest of your day a living hell"....and sure enough that is what she did!!

Whew this parenting gig is tough....and I know, I know the Mommy Group made it very clear...it has only just begun!!!!
Happy Sunday Everyone!
m