Beauty, health and wellness, Parenting past 15, That girl in the red coat

Sunday Confessions

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“Isn’t it strange that we talk least about the things we think about the most?” – Charles Lindbergh

I am a lover of quotes. I have been for as long as I can remember. Quotes and sayings that grabbed my attention or the attention of others were and still are my favorites. I fondly remember shopping with my mother in a gift shop in Elora Ontario. I was 8 years old and fancy shoe laces were all the rage. The shop had a display of them and as I was looking at them and planning my performance to my mother in hopes of getting her to buy me a pair, my eyes landed on a pair of laces that I thought were the letters of the alphabet…they weren’t the letters of the alphabet…they read “BULLSHIT”. I giggled and gasped at the same time. My mother came over and I threw caution to the wind and told her I found a pair I liked. I pointed them out to her, she read them and laughed out loud, took them off the display and bought them for me. I wore my “BULLSHIT” shoelaces with pride, to school, to the playground, even to my grandparents house. Back to the tale at hand.

The above quote I came across a few days ago on Instagram and have not been able to stop thinking about it. It made me think of all the things that I think about, but do not say. Sure I make a sarcastic quip to lighten the mood, and will give my honest opinion when asked, I do not however always talk about what is going on behind the scenes. I put on my game face and head on out the door. Over the past weeks, being given time to actually complete a thought and do some soul searching via conversations with friends and finding a fabulous book -Rising Strong by Brene Brown, I have been able to, slowly but surely, leave the house without my game face. What you see is what you get. I have been able to shed my skin of shame (as I like to call it) and just be me. Becoming honest with myself is allowing me to become honest with those around me. So many of us are dealing with some type of pain or anguish yet feel shame for doing so. Let the shame go, it’s a waste of energy, it serves no purpose. Sharing your stories will set you free, your stories may even set someone else free for they will realize they are not alone. For the naysayers out there I have a perfect example, a personal one.

My daughter deals with anxiety and depression. Her high school years were not gentle and kind. Over the years we tried to get her some help to deal with her thoughts and feelings, to no avail. It was frustrating to say the least, not only for her, but as her Mother for it is my job to protect her, to show her there is good in the world. How was I to get her to believe that when one door closes another opens when every door seemed to slam in her face? Over the years we did our best to support her, all the while telling her to speak to someone. She didn’t trust the system for it had failed her so many times before. Finally, God, the powers that be, the Smurfs, whichever you want to believe in heard our plea, saw our efforts and a door opened, my daughter was heard, was taken seriously and is slowly but surely gaining control of herself, her emotions and her anxiety. I know, I hear you …”what’s your point? Where’s your example?”. Here it is. Last year while working with my friend at her shop, a friend of hers came in for her morning Matcha. She looked exhausted. She looked distraught. She was on the verge of tears. I overheard her conversation with my friend, it was about her daughter. She was 17, not eating, depressed, anxious, couldn’t make it through the day at high school. Her Mother was at a loss and didn’t know what to do. I went over, excused myself for entering the conversation and told her I felt I needed to. My voice was shaking as I told her about my daughter. Why was my voice shaking? What was so wrong about speaking the truth? It was at that moment I realized that I was blaming myself for my daughter’s anxieties and in turn by doing so was making her issues about me, which serves no purpose and does not help my daughter in any way, shape or form. As I was speaking to this woman, her tears slowed, her breathing calmed, my voice stopped shaking and we both felt lighter. I told her “Don’t do what I did. This is not your fault and we have to remember this is not about us. I am here to tell you there is light at the end of this tunnel. It will get better”. I went home that day and told my daughter about the conversation and I apologized to her. I apologized for always trying to fix it, that I realized all the while I was trying to make it better for her, because of my fear and shame of being seen as a bad Mother, I was not helping at all. By speaking my truth to another, I let go of my feelings of shame I hadn’t even realized I was carrying and I released another of their feelings of shame.

We all have stories that ain’t so pretty. We all know someone, or are ourselves dealing with;

  • loss
  • divorce
  • addiction
  • mental health issues
  • parenting issues – form having your toddler ripping off it’s diaper to having to put a parent in diapers.
  • are we doing enough
  • are we doing too much
  • bad hair day meltdown

…the list is endless. Here’s the deal Beauties. There is no shame in speaking your truth, what ever it may be. In the immortal words of Dr. Suess ” Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”.

 

 

 

 

Beauty, Business, Hair Care, That girl in the red coat

A Moroccan Monday Motivator

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Here we are again Beauties. It’s Monday. All over the globe, coffee is brewing, children are whining, the dog is chasing the cat, spouses can’t find their keys, all the while we are trying to make sure we have a good hair day. I may not be able to produce a treasure map to find the lost keys or soothe a child’s Monday woes, I can introduce you to a FAB! new trio that keeps your hair color vibrant and your hair feeling soft and silky and smelling wonderful. Meet the latest addition to the Moroccanoil family – The Color Complete Collection

This little trio packs a big punch! Yours truly was fortunate to get her hands on this trial size pack. (#bloggerperks). Earlier this year, Moroccanoil introduced their own approach to color care that addresses all sources of color degradation = a line that helps to protect and retain hair color. The secret is the technology. Moroccanoil Color Complete Collection has two proprietary technologies that enhance hair health and color vitality. ARGAN10 – this technology uses the power of ionic attraction to deliver argan oil deep into the hairs cortex and lock in pigments for maximum color retention. COLORLINK – a blend of three main color actives that target hairs damage on both chemical and mechanical levels.

 

It is suggested for optimum results, to have a full Professional Chromatech Service preformed at the Salon – see http://www.moroccanoil.com for more information on this service. Although I did not receive the full Chromatech experience, I was quite please with my results. I used this trio for a full week, and I did see a difference in the color retention and vibrancy of my hair color – those who know my tales know of my signature magenta panels. My blonde did not get brassy and my magenta stayed bright. Here’s the lowdown;

Color Complete Shampoo – a gentle, sulfate free shampoo that repairs hair, chemically and physically so hair is able to retain color. A protective shield is formed that minimizes color wash out.

 

Color Complete Conditioner – formulated to restore hair health with each use. Features a nourishing, sulfate free formula that helps rebuild the keratin structure and lock in color.

 

Color Complete Protect & Prevent Spray – this little gem shields the hair from environmental factors including UV rays, pollution and thermal damage. It helps to reduce brassiness and fading at the source. A weightless leave in spray that contains Argan10 – technology that repairs and seals the hair cuticle.

Moroccanoil Color Complete Collection is created for all hair types. Strong enough to tame the thickest of manes, yet gentle enough for the finest of strands. I have fine hair and these products did not weigh down my hair.

So there you have it Beauties, another little tidbit from yours truly to help you get motivated to have a great hair day this Monday and everyday. No thanks needed, it’s my pleasure.

Beauty, health and wellness, lifestyle, That girl in the red coat, Women

Sunday Confessions

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At least once a day, I have the thought or hear myself saying out loud “I should blog about that.”. Many of the topics did not pertain to beauty per say, so I wasn’t quite sure on how to go about it.  Yesterday, I was thinking of one of my most popular posts  https://thatgirlintheredcoat.com/2013/06/09/sunday-confession/

and yours truly had another AHA! moment….don’t you just love when that happens? Start a Sunday Confessions series…funny how the universe works, since I wrote Sunday Confession in June of 2013, and 5 years later, the idea for Sunday Confessions came about in June. My goal for Sunday Confessions is to bring light to the dark, to talk about all those things that people don’t talk about at parties. We all, at one point or another have felt tired, scared, unworthy, ugly, you name it, we have all felt it. By no means I am the guru on the mount, I am a woman who is, in the words of June Carter Cash, “just trying to matter.”.

I know that owning your truth will set you free, and I gotta practice what I preach. My Sunday confession this week is, yours truly is smoking again. Yes, it’s true. Since the tender age of 16, I have been a smoker. On and off for over 30 years. A crutch that I put away in the closet, that I bring out from time to time. I quit smoking when I was pregnant (24 years old) and gave it up completely until my daughter was 6 months old. My Grandpa Jack passed away when my daughter was 2 months old and my Grandpa Clarence passed away when my daughter was 4 months old, my husband was helping his mother with his father’s estate, we were buying our first home and well, I needed a crutch. Fast forward 3 years, at 28 I quit smoking when going through my first thyroid cyst scare…finding a lump will do that. I stayed smoke free for over 12 years…I did have a few during the funeral when my beloved Gramma Leah passed away, other than that, not a drag for over 12 years. Those familiar with my tales know of my hubby’s heart attack and health issues, and the obstacles my beautiful daughter has faced. That accompanied with financial stresses, loss a job, gain of a job followed by another loss of a job, loved ones health struggles, hell, life in general, I opened up the closet door and pulled out my old crutch. By no means am I putting the blame on them for puffing away again – the decision to smoke is completely on me. I know I may be receiving some calls and messages from my friends and loved ones after admitting this, of this I am sure. I am hoping for these notes of concern will be ones of support, not ridicule, for I am a firm believer of not kicking someone when they are down. I am well aware that smoking is bad for me, for my health, the major reason I know I have to quit, and not put that crutch back in the closet, but burn that sucker. One of the reasons for this confession is by no longer hiding the fact I am smoking will in turn help me to quit. Making myself accountable for my own actions, plain and simple.

The purpose for this Sunday Confession is to, pardon my french, own my shit, because if don’t own your shit, your shit is going to own you. Also, to give myself and you permission to admit a fault or a fall without guilt or shame. We all have struggles and insecurities. Some, like me mask it with a cigarette. Some mask it with alcohol, some with gambling. For some it’s posting only the perfect pictures to Facebook and Instagram. Maybe for you it’s always redecorating your home, or having your hair and makeup picture perfect before you dare leave your house. What ever it may be, we all have crutch, and there is no shame in owning that we do. The only shame to be felt is when you are not being honest with yourself – there is no beauty in that. We are all on a journey, we are all in search of something, we all are just trying to matter. We need to focus on what matters to ourselves, and I believe once we do that, everything will fall into place and be as it should. Whatever is bringing you shame, admit it, own it and it will no longer own you. Plain and Simple.

 

Beauty, Hair Care, health and wellness, That girl in the red coat

…a FAB Monday Motivator

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Here we are, it is once again Monday. On my part of the globe, the sun is shining and the humidex is on the rise, and we all are well aware that humidity and hair, they just don’t mix. With the summer temperatures on the rise and humidity in the air, our hair can tend to look stringy, fuzzy, dry or all three. …not the best news for our selfie generation. Well Beauties, do I have some motivation for you on this finest of Mondays. Let me introduce you to Design Me FAB ME, a leave in spray that can mend 18 of your hair woes. Yes, you read that correctly, 18 benefits in one bottle!

This little green bottle is quite honestly a magic potion for your hair. I have fine hair, lots of it, but fine. Many leave in sprays leave my hair greasy,lifeless and weighed down. Design Me FAB ME does not. After using this spray, my hair was soft, silky with volume to boot!

Now, back to these 18 benefits I told you of. Design Me FAB ME offers;

  • protection against color fading – perfect for vibrant colors
  • smooths split ends
  • gives your hair a silky feel
  • helps to prevent damage
  • offers thermal protection against the heat of your blow dryer
  • revitalizes your hair’s natural protective layer
  • offers protection against environmental damage
  • detangles
  • helps hair become more manageable
  • reduces blow drying time
  • helps reduce static
  • offers frizz control
  • offers porosity control
  • adds shine
  • offers light conditioning
  • hydrates your hair
  • strengthens your hair
  • enhances volume

This gem is created for all hair types. For best results, apply to damp, freshly washed hair. Spray throughout, comb through, then blow dry and style. I have applied to damp hair and let my hair air dry. The major difference was blow drying added more volume. As with all Design Me hair products, this gem is cruelty free (no harm to the bunnies), vegan, sulphate free, paraben free, gluten free and the scent is pure heaven.

Design Me hair FAB ME can motivate you to have a FAB! Monday, or any day that ends in “y”.

Beauty, Hair Care, That girl in the red coat, Women

Changing lives with every good hair day

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Imagine each time you used your flat iron, you could be changing another woman’s life and the life of her children. The simple act of doing your hair for a day at the office, the soccer field or a night on the town could give another woman an income, food on the table, independence. Well Beauties, there is no need to imagine such a scenario. Thanks to AG Hair Care, making sure you have a good hair day enables another woman to have such things.

Let me introduce to you to AG Firewall, a thermal protecting (flat iron) spray. AG Firewall is one of the members of the AG Smooth line. This gem provides;

  • high shine
  • a smooth protective barrier between your hair and your flat iron
  • smooths, protects and prevents breakage
  • controls flyaways
  • controls unruly hair

AG Firewall is infused with Argon oil – sustainably sourced, fair trade organic Moroccan Argon oil, which is rich in Vitamin E and antioxidants which keep hair smooth, soft and protected. AG Firewall is cruelty free (no testing on the bunnies), Paba free, Paraben free and Gluten free. It is an aerosol spray that contains NO CFC’s = friendly to our ozone.  It is meant to be used on dry hair only, right before you use your flat iron. For best results it is best to section out your hair. The smell is heavenly, it leaves a soft, workable hold to your hair, it does not flake and is not sticky. Created for all hair types.

So, how are you changing a woman’s life by having great hair you ask? Using any of the AG Smooth line hair products helps women in the poorest regions of Morocco. The Argon oil used in their products is sourced using sustainable and organic farming methods and is produced by local women of the Berber tribe. In turn, this give the women employment and an income which equals independence. It enables these women to support their families and provide education for their children.

Imagine looking at your reflection in the mirror with the thought that because of you, another woman can have pride in her reflection too. Now that is a thing of beauty.

Beauty, Fashion, health and wellness, lifestyle, That girl in the red coat

The 10 minute mani

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I received a message a few weeks ago from a lovely lady I met at a motivational seminar over 6 years ago. Thanks to social media, we have stayed in touch. (…the real reason for social media, in my not so humble opinion). She let me know she enjoyed my Instagram posts and my blog. She then asked me for my professional opinion about a new gel nail polish system. …professional opinion, a lovely compliment at a much needed time. Of course I said yes, you all know how I LOVE to try new products, how I love researching new things. Without further adieu, let me introduce you to GelMoment.

GelMoment is an at home gel nail polish system, and I gotta tell you, it is FABULOUS! In 10 minutes, yours truly had her nails done. 10 minutes, from start to finish! I love a good mani, I am not a fan of waiting for my nails to dry, and since I can be a little klutzy, I usually have to retouch or redo a nail or two. …but not with GelMoment! This system cures and dries your polish in 45 – 60 seconds. It does. Select your shade, apply a coat, place your nails under the light, wait – 45-60 seconds and that’s it! After the polish had cured under the LED light I pressed down as hard as I could on each nail – no smudge, no finger print indent, nothing but a smooth, shiny finish. I did dishes, I did laundry, I cleaned the house, I even worked in the garden – no chips, no peeling, nada, just a pretty mani.

GelMoment is a DIY one step gel polish application. GelMoment is;

  • non toxic
  • made in Europe
  • Lasts up to 14 days
  • Dilbutyl Phthalate free, Toluene free, Formaldehyde free, Formaldehyde Resin free and Camphor free
  • Cruelty free – not tested on animals
  • Solvent free
  • Gluten free
  • Latex free
  • Safe to use on children

The GelMoment removal process takes a little more time, 20 minutes instead of 10. It is just as easy as the application process. Gelmoment offers remover pads and clips. You simply place the remover pad over your nail, place the clip over the pad, wait 5-10 minutes and VOILA! The gel polish is removed, no damage to your natural nail or the skin around it has occurred. …those of us familiar with acetone know how dry our fingertips can get while removing any kind of polish. If you find that there is a tad bit of polish residue left on your nail, GelMoment provided a cuticle pusher that can also be used to gently remove any remaining polish.

With the GelMoment system, there is no need for a base coat or top coat. There is a hint of a scent, no overpowering polish scent like you may find in other systems. GelMoment offers over 45 colors, so there is a shade for every taste or fashion sense. GelMoment offers an array of accessories from files to nail art gems, hand lotions to buffers.

For those of us who feel short on time due to our own schedules, our kid’s schedules, our work schedules and life in general, GelMoment is the perfect system to have on hand at home for everyone who loves a fresh, professional looking mani.

#thatgirlintheredcoatapproved

Beauty, Business, health and wellness, That girl in the red coat, Women

…don’t ask…don’t get

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As of late, many of those that I hold dear are feeling inadequate, feeling like they are missing out on something, wondering “is this all there is?”. Between loss of their job, their business closing, their marriage ripping at the seams, their kids struggling to find answers to questions they don’t even know how to ask, you name it, the struggle is real.

For those of you who follow my tales, you are all familiar with my past and present struggles. For those of you checking yours truly out for the first time, let me shine some light for y’all. I have been the girl who felt like she didn’t fit in. I have been the new wife wondering what my role was to be. I have been (and still am) the Mom wondering if I am screwing up my kid. I have been the woman who couldn’t look at her own reflection. I have been the woman who hated her hair and her body. I have been the woman who lost her job because of a store closure. I have been the wife of a husband with health issues. I have been the daughter of parents with health issues. I have been the sister of a wonderful gal who’s life was turned upside down. I have been the woman who found herself thinking on more than one occasion “now what the hell am I gonna do?”. I am here to tell you that no matter how dark the day may seem or how overwhelming life can get, sooner or later, the light begins to shine and you will once again feel in control. You will. Seriously, you will. You want to know how? Ask. Plain and simple. Ask for help. Ask for advice. Ask your business contacts if they know of any opportunities. Ask for a glass of Chardonnay if you need, just ask.

I know. I know. You’ve heard this before. Tony Robbins makes you walk on hot coals. The Secret tells you to put it “out there.”. Vision boards are all the craze. Everywhere you turn someone is telling you or pushing a Pinterest post in your face or sending a kitten meme telling you “when you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on!”. I for one believe that the mind and your perspective have a HUGE impact on your life’s outcome – here’s the little nugget that seems to get lost in translation – you gotta ask and you gotta do the work. You gotta. Walking on hot coals may remove something from your bucket list, if you don’t follow through with the tools bestowed on you, you will just have sore feet. Putting your desires “out there” is a fantastic idea, if you don’t put your plan into action, the universe will deliver to the wrong address. Creating a vision board is fantastic, I have one of my own. If you just look at it all day without speaking to anyone or leaving the couch, it’s just going to be something you made and look at.

We cannot control everything. We may not be able to reverse a health issue for a loved one or stop a toddler from throwing a fit in the parking lot. One thing I know for certain is, although we cannot control our job status/career, we can damn well have a say in it. The point of today’s tale is to give you the proof you need that if you don’t ask, you don’t get. In the big scheme of things, my accomplishments may seem tiny, to me, they are huge. I have been blogging over 6 year now. The last year I did not write as much as I wanted to. I thought my blog should change – I was listening to fear…big mistake…huge. (Pretty Woman reference…love the movie). After the shop closed, instead of asking myself what I should do, I let people tell me what I should do. Not their fault, that’s on me. Long story short, shit happened and the universe, the powers that be, the smurfs…whatever you want to call it gave me a wake up call. Gave me the opportunity to realize that my blog is fine just how it is. That it grew and opportunities flooded in when I was doing what was true to me. It gave me the back up to ask. To take take chances. I asked and took a chance and ended up on http://www.salonmagazine.ca 7 times. I had my tales followed and retweeted by Hollywood and Grammy Award winning stars. I had companies agree to have me write for them, review their products. I made new business contacts that have now become friends. I have been referred by said contacts to give Salons retail consultations to help them build their business.

Over the past few weeks, yours truly has been an asking fool. I didn’t get all I asked for, but I did get a few things. I have an opportunity coming my way – not telling yet! You are going to have to stay tuned, all because I asked a question. I didn’t just put it out there, I put myself out there. I did the work, I followed up, and low and behold, it worked out in my favor.

Here’s the deal. Ask. The answers are there. The answer may not be the one you wanted, in my experience, it’s the one you needed. Don’t ask…Don’t get. Plain and Simple.

 

Beauty, Hair Care, health and wellness, That girl in the red coat, Women

Design Me a Monday Motivator

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Good Morning Beauties! it’s Monday and you all know what that means! Gather ’round for That Girl in the Red Coat’s latest Monday Motivator! Grab your coffee, if you have little ones, tell your kids whoever stays quiet the longest wins a prize and get ready to meet a FAB! product that will make this Monday a little less mundane.

Have you ever gone to spray your hair with hairspray and realized it was either too much hold for your soft curls or not enough hold for your sleek updo, which in turn resulted in you having a meltdown with your toddler on the bathroom floor? Well Ladies, toddlers will still freak out over the kleenex being thrown out or having to wear clothes, this is one thing I have no remedy for. What I do have a remedy for is your hairspray woes! Let me introduce you to Design Me Hair Hold Me Three Ways!

The gems at Design Me Hair have created a hairspray that has an adjustable nozzle that achieves adjustable hold! You can get back up on your chair, it’s real! Trust me. I was a little wary, I found it hard to believe it would work. I was proven wrong. It is, in a word, amazing. First of all, it smells heavenly. Second, no matter which hold factor you select, no flakes! None. This hairspray is cruelty free, paraben free, sulfate free, gluten free and vegan. Every hold factor offers long lasting hold, adds shine and UV protection.

Here’s the low down on the hold factors;

LIGHT = perfect for taming flyaways and for keeping your loose beach waves intact without creating stiffness to your waves

MEDIUM = can be used as a pre-curl setting spray. Also lovely to use to keep sleek, flat styles intact. I love it for along my part where my little hairs like to pop up. Also keeps my shaved sided down in between my hair appointments.

HIGH = your updo’s new bff. Lovely for braids, tight curls and for styles that need their volume high all day.

To use – always apply to dry hair. Select your desired hold factor. Give the can a good shake upside down (just as you do with canned whipped cream), then spray. I suggest holding the can at least 10 -12 inches from your hair. (30 cm or length of a ruler for my metric friends).

No more meltdowns over hairspray. A good hair day on a Monday and everyday. What more motivation to you need?

Beauty, health and wellness, lifestyle, parenting, That girl in the red coat, Women

…speaking of Beauty

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In the age of Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, you name it, it seems that beauty is all around us. Everyone has beautiful hair, beautiful clothes, beautiful vacation destinations, beautiful homes, hell, even beautiful pets. Being on the cusp of 46 years in this earthly realm, I know that everything you see and everything you hear may not always be true. Unfortunately , being bombarded by all these pictures, posts and hashtags on a daily basis, many women I know and hold dear to my heart are feeling less than beautiful. Feeling like they don’t measure up or feel like they are missing out or made the wrong life choices, be it marriage or their new hair style. All of this came to a head for yours truly a few days ago when I was chatting with my daughter. She is now 21 and going through what we all did at 21. Trying to figure out where our lives will lead. Wondering what path is the correct path to take. Feeling like the only person in the world going through this strife. Wondering why everyone else seems to have it all together. Wondering what’s wrong with me?

As we were chatting, the conversation came around to social media…being a parent of a millennial, this is a constant issue. I reminded her, as I have to remind myself, that people don’t post the ugly, only the pretty. I posed her the question I have posed to many others, “Wouldn’t it be lovely if more people posted and spoke of the ugly?”. One of the many reasons I am proud of my girl is she is honest with her posts, be it her achievements or her struggles. It’s a scary thing to put yourself out there, warts and all, and I for one believe people should be applauded for it. I also told her, much to her chagrin, that those feelings will pop up many times over the course of her life, that they are not only a factor of being 21. What she, and we all need to focus on is what matters most. Our inner beauty, for it doesn’t matter how coiffed our hair is or how we achieved the perfect smoky eye if our soul and our mind cannot see it, or feel the wonder that is us.

At some time in our lives, we have all felt fat. We have all felt ugly. We have all shrugged at our reflection under the horrible lighting in the change room. We have all felt our stomach drop when invited to a pool party knowing we have to put on a bathing suit. We have all burnt dinner. We have all yelled at our kids for something that was not their fault. We have all dismissed our spouses. We have all “forgotten” to call our parents. We have all lost our shit. Speaking from personal experience, all of the above happened when I was focusing outward, not inward. Think of it this way, you remodel your bathroom, it is Pinterest worthy. If the plumbing wasn’t put in correctly…it ain’t so pretty. I came across a great passage courtesy of Iain Thomas…

“…and every day. The world will drag you by the hand, yelling “This is important! And this is important! And this is important! You need to worry about this! And this! And this!”

And each day, it’s up to you to yank your hand back, put it to your heart and say “No. This is what is important.”.

Comparison is the thief of joy Beauties. There is no comfort in that. Where there is comfort is in our commonality, in our stories of short comings and how we overcame them, in speaking of the ugliness that came along with pulling ourselves out of the mud, how we brushed off the dirt to find we were fresh and clean underneath.

As for all the pictures and posts you will see today, see them for what they are. Moments. Be happy for others achievements. Celebrate their moment of happiness. Remember, we are all just trying to get through the day, and most of all, be your own beautiful. In the end, in the wee small hours of the morning, that is all that really matters, what you think of you and how you feel about yourself.

In the immortal words of  L.M. Montgomery’s character Anne Shirley “Tomorrow is always fresh, with no mistakes in it yet.”.

 

Beauty, Business, Hair Care, health and wellness, That girl in the red coat, Women

Monday Motivator

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It’s Monday. The sun is shining on my part of the globe. The birds are chirping, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee is in the air and my bed head game is stronger than ever this morning. Some mornings I don’t need coffee, just catching my reflection and seeing the state of my hair jolts me awake.

As I was scrolling through my Instagram feed and checking on my notifications, one commonality I found was no one was happy that Monday had arrived. I may not be able to write you a doctor’s note to excuse you from school, nor am I able to mimic your child’s voice calling you at work telling you I am sick and you need to come home. What I can do is offer you a solution to make your Monday a little more enjoyable. Yours truly has decided to bring back the “Monday Motivator” segments. Every Monday I will give you tips and tricks of FAB! products to make every Monday a little less melancholy. As we all know, a good hair day equals a good day, plain and simple. …you know it, I know it.

This Monday Motivator is brought to you by yours truly and Joico! Meet one of my all time FAB! favorites….Joico JoiWhip!

You may remember this gem as IceWhip. …back in the day, before the name change….oh the 80’s early 90’s. This has been a go to of mine for over 20 years, whether I had a perm or a pixie, blonde or brunette. JoiWhip is a lightweight yet potent mousse. A little goes a long way Beauties. Joiwhip is a firm hold mousse (level 7 out of 10 on hold factor scale) but don’t let the “firm hold” scare you. It is not sticky, it will not flake or leave that residue feeling on your hair. Thanks to Kukui Nut and Evening Primrose Oil, essential fatty acids that provide moisture and protection, JoiWhip will not leave your hair looking or feeling dry. Created for all hair types, it truly is fine, limp hair’s bff.

Always give the can a good shake, upside down as you do with whipping cream. Keep the can upside down as you dispense the desired amount *TIP! a little goes a long way!. Apply to damp hair, then blow dry & style. *TIP! for my girls with curls – air dry or use a diffuser depending on desired curl effect and style.

My Monday wish for you…. May your coffee be strong, your Monday be short and your hair be FABULOUS!