I have an almost 16 year old son, Shawn. Shawn is bright, articulate and a typical smart ass kid. But he is mine, I love him and when he is messed with I get ticked.
Shawn has a Spanish teacher. They do not like each other, Unfortunately for the teacher, that means Shawn will be defiant with her, which I have tried to explain is not a wise decision. He's received some pretty bad grades in her class, which causes part of his arm to disappear for a while. His phone.
When reality kicks in and he gets his rear in gear and starts getting A's again, because he really would like to have his attachment back, she in turn, takes a very long time to post his grades.
The parent portal is the best invention ever for helping parents see their kids grades on a daily basis. We can see the grade average, the daily assignments and comments from the teachers. Love it!!
Yet when a teacher doesn't post a grade for a week, in my opinion because she doesn't like my son and I told her once that he loses his phone when his grades are low, I believe she is holding them back.
Now that's messing with my kid.
I admire teachers. My step daughter is a high school science teacher. I think they underpaid and over worked and all the time they spend at home working is not included in pay. Just don't jack with my son's grades. If he screws up, he pays for it, but when he does well, it needs to be acknowledged.
So Mrs. Barbara Culbertson? Please post my son's grades.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Friday, January 27, 2012
A Makeover Defines Beauty
When you stand behind a chair for over 25 years you see beauty differently.
When I first started I just wanted to do young, stylish clients who would only wear the latest styles and allow me to be my most creative. I still love doing clients like that but I've leaned that they are not the most important anymore. I'll leave that to the younger stylists.
I love it when someone who has never felt pretty about herself sits in my chair. One who is far from "perfect". One who has many flaws. It's not easy. usually these women have beat themselves down for years and never get a chance to feel good just about themselves.
As a hairstlist we should hold a second degree in Psychology. We listen all the time to our clients. We sense when they have been abused, or they share with us their unhappy relationships, how they don't feel loved. A good stylist learns that the best conversation is to listen.
These are the ones I want to make "beautiful" The midle aged woman who spent 15 years raising children, never spending a dime on herself, looks frumpy, sits slump shouldered. She is my favorite.
Nothing and I emphasize NOTHING feels as good s when your clients eyes light up and you know you have made her day. It may be something as simple as as a natural color, a easy to care for hairstyle, I may have given her a paraffin dip and massaged her hands while she was processing, handed her coffeee, brought her magazines. For a couple hours I was able to make her feel pampered and good about herself.
The pictures below are of a client I did last year. You will see below the transformation.
When I first started I just wanted to do young, stylish clients who would only wear the latest styles and allow me to be my most creative. I still love doing clients like that but I've leaned that they are not the most important anymore. I'll leave that to the younger stylists.
I love it when someone who has never felt pretty about herself sits in my chair. One who is far from "perfect". One who has many flaws. It's not easy. usually these women have beat themselves down for years and never get a chance to feel good just about themselves.
As a hairstlist we should hold a second degree in Psychology. We listen all the time to our clients. We sense when they have been abused, or they share with us their unhappy relationships, how they don't feel loved. A good stylist learns that the best conversation is to listen.
These are the ones I want to make "beautiful" The midle aged woman who spent 15 years raising children, never spending a dime on herself, looks frumpy, sits slump shouldered. She is my favorite.
Nothing and I emphasize NOTHING feels as good s when your clients eyes light up and you know you have made her day. It may be something as simple as as a natural color, a easy to care for hairstyle, I may have given her a paraffin dip and massaged her hands while she was processing, handed her coffeee, brought her magazines. For a couple hours I was able to make her feel pampered and good about herself.
The pictures below are of a client I did last year. You will see below the transformation.
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| Kimberly fit the bill. Battleing cancer and feeling bad about herself she came to the salon for a makeover. |
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| Kimberly after her makeover. She beamed and we were so happy for her. |
This is what I enjoy more than anything. Changing someone that one and making them beautiful. Life is good.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Golden Globes ARE for hairstyles and gowns
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| Charlize Theron, soft waves and headband |
When my stylists tell me they aren't sure of the new trends for proms and wedding I ask if they have watched the award shows. They will know then. As with this year, deep waves, shiny hair, not s many highlights, deep rich colors are the most popular.
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| Nicole Richie, timeless ponytail |
With as much seriousness as that man can muster he replied " You know, people really watch this for the hair and gowns, not for what it's about" I think my reply was simply "Really"? I then pointed to myself and said "Honey? That's why I watch it, I'm a hairsylist, I love the hair and the gowns. This show we are watching right now at this moment is the PRE show, where they do nothing but show that" He simply stated back "Oh"
Do I really care who won Best Director?? Not really. I want to see the new stayles, what the dresses look like, observe with my analytical mind the bad dresses and bad hairstyles. This is the precursor to the Oscars where I watch it for the same reason, although hopefully by the time they come out I will actually know what the movies are. At the Golden Globes many have not been released locally.
In all my years as a stylist, formal styles have been my favorite. Come on wedding and proms. I love them.
Can't wait for the Academy Awards to see who is wearing what. Mr. Wonderful will be peeking over his glasses.
Have a wonderful day,
DS
Friday, January 13, 2012
Teen Mistakes
Both of my boys are adopted. Erik, my oldest at 27 soon to be 28, was a tough kid to raise. When a child is adopted at an older age ( Erik was 6) their entire personlaities are already formed. You just pray you can guide them through life with a good understanding of what is right, what is wrong, what is moral and so on. Erik took a long way around, but has become a wonderful man.
Shawn is 15. Shawn will be 16 in April. I was hoping he wouldn't become a "teenager" as we all know most of them, but sighhhhhh, he did. There are days he talks, days he grumbles through them, days I want to choke him and days I want to hug him ( only if his friends aren't around because you know, not cool.)
I'm sure the looks from him must mean I have three horns growing from my head, but I believe it's mainly I'm an adult and he isn't, we don't live anywhere near the same planets, therefor I am the alien.
I've committed to getting him through these years and not losing my mind. There are days I am not sure where it is located, ( my mind that is) but I know I haven't lost it, just mislocated it.
Due to a really bad decision on his part, he won't get his license until he is 18. My heart sinks when I think of how this should be the time when he is practicing and in a few months he would leave in the car for the first time himself. I would be praying each time he left the house that if he has an accident, it be minor. Sadly, that won't happen for him and I am going to miss that time. I am wonderfing how if will affect him when all of his friends have their licenses and he does not. I can't say I'll miss the times he breaks curfew and is in a car, but there is something about the years our kids go through at this age, that even though we have a hard time with it, it's passage into adulthood. The mistake he made, the bad decision, will be with him for a long time, It will take away a lot of what he should be going through the next two years. Hopefully it will make him a better man.
In the meantime, he will still be surly, moody, gripey, slouchy and a teen. That would have happened anyways. I love him.
Shawn is 15. Shawn will be 16 in April. I was hoping he wouldn't become a "teenager" as we all know most of them, but sighhhhhh, he did. There are days he talks, days he grumbles through them, days I want to choke him and days I want to hug him ( only if his friends aren't around because you know, not cool.)
I'm sure the looks from him must mean I have three horns growing from my head, but I believe it's mainly I'm an adult and he isn't, we don't live anywhere near the same planets, therefor I am the alien.
I've committed to getting him through these years and not losing my mind. There are days I am not sure where it is located, ( my mind that is) but I know I haven't lost it, just mislocated it.
Due to a really bad decision on his part, he won't get his license until he is 18. My heart sinks when I think of how this should be the time when he is practicing and in a few months he would leave in the car for the first time himself. I would be praying each time he left the house that if he has an accident, it be minor. Sadly, that won't happen for him and I am going to miss that time. I am wonderfing how if will affect him when all of his friends have their licenses and he does not. I can't say I'll miss the times he breaks curfew and is in a car, but there is something about the years our kids go through at this age, that even though we have a hard time with it, it's passage into adulthood. The mistake he made, the bad decision, will be with him for a long time, It will take away a lot of what he should be going through the next two years. Hopefully it will make him a better man.
In the meantime, he will still be surly, moody, gripey, slouchy and a teen. That would have happened anyways. I love him.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Why I work where I do
When I started out as a stylist and worked in Minneapolis, my boss, Miss Bollenberg, who was from Europe and worked with Sassoon and Horst of Austria, knew I was planning on moving back to Oklahoma. I asked her how to find a salon I could build a good reputation in. She said to find the "top" salon in the area and do whatever it took to go to work for them.
Well, 25 years ago there was NO top name in OKC. None. You knew a few from the news programs, but no salon or stylist who had a stand out name. Even now, the "top"names are ones on the news programs who to the hair of the news personalitys for advertising.
At the time my confidence level was pretty low, my insecurities huge and I am not sure I could have sought out a salon like that anyways. See I hate feeling like I am not as good as everyone else. Some of the "highend" salons, especially nowadays, can make you feel like that. To go to work in a highend salon would have been far out of my comfort zone. I worked in a couple salons for several years, met some wonderful people, worked at a terrific place called "Hair Team" for about 8 years. Full of ladies who know how to run thier own businesses, who were busy all of the time, it was a comfortable , friendly salon and I was at home in it.
About a year after Hair Team opened a new salon opened across the street. One day a new client in my chair let me know that her best friend owned that salon. I was a bit shocked she would be sitting in my chair and not at her friend's so I asked her why she chose not to go there. I have always remembered what she said. Her friend was very very wealthy and wanted only people in her salon who fit the same category. What touched me the most though was her comment. "If I go over there I feel I have to have all of my makeup on and dress in my best clothes. When I come here, I can feel comfortable and just enjoy the day. I don't have to dress up". I knew then, if I ever owned my own salon, THAT was how I wanted clients to feel. At home and comfortble. I think I have accopmplished that.
My salon is in far south OKC almost to Moore. Many people consider it Moore. Moore is a city just south of OKC. The suburban area. I have heard comments from clients who come to me from far north or far west who tell thier friends where they are going and the friends have said to them "OH?? You are going to a salon on the southside?" Like we are something bad.
Last week I had a new client, wonderful young woman, had very long hair, wanted highlights and two hours later she was beaming with pleasure at her hair. She informed me that her friends had told her to find a salon in Edmond. That is the far north, much more expensive end of town town, where many people think is the only place you should go to get your hair done. She was surprised that she had now found a place in the south. Most of time when I hear things like that I cringe. What is worng with southside??
Last year I had a extension consultation with a lady who had driven the 45 minutes from the "North". I welcomed her in, we discussed her hair, she left with a price and said she would call me. A few days later I received a call. It went like this:
"Hi Debi, I was in the other day and we discussed extensions. I would like to make an appointment for that service."
"Hi Diane, I'm so glad you chose my salon. It will be a pleasure."
"Well I want you to know I still think it is a long way to drive, but the reason I want to come to you is because I felt comfortable in your salon, I didn't feel pressured and you were much nicer than the other place I went."
That my friends, is what I love to hear. While my reputation brought her to the salon, how she felt is why she continues to drive to my salon.
So when I have days when I think maybe I should have opened a salon up in the "better" area, I remember why I am where I am. I'm comfortable. I can keep my prices decent and when you do the right thing, people will come to you.
Have a blessed day, DS
Well, 25 years ago there was NO top name in OKC. None. You knew a few from the news programs, but no salon or stylist who had a stand out name. Even now, the "top"names are ones on the news programs who to the hair of the news personalitys for advertising.
At the time my confidence level was pretty low, my insecurities huge and I am not sure I could have sought out a salon like that anyways. See I hate feeling like I am not as good as everyone else. Some of the "highend" salons, especially nowadays, can make you feel like that. To go to work in a highend salon would have been far out of my comfort zone. I worked in a couple salons for several years, met some wonderful people, worked at a terrific place called "Hair Team" for about 8 years. Full of ladies who know how to run thier own businesses, who were busy all of the time, it was a comfortable , friendly salon and I was at home in it.
About a year after Hair Team opened a new salon opened across the street. One day a new client in my chair let me know that her best friend owned that salon. I was a bit shocked she would be sitting in my chair and not at her friend's so I asked her why she chose not to go there. I have always remembered what she said. Her friend was very very wealthy and wanted only people in her salon who fit the same category. What touched me the most though was her comment. "If I go over there I feel I have to have all of my makeup on and dress in my best clothes. When I come here, I can feel comfortable and just enjoy the day. I don't have to dress up". I knew then, if I ever owned my own salon, THAT was how I wanted clients to feel. At home and comfortble. I think I have accopmplished that.
My salon is in far south OKC almost to Moore. Many people consider it Moore. Moore is a city just south of OKC. The suburban area. I have heard comments from clients who come to me from far north or far west who tell thier friends where they are going and the friends have said to them "OH?? You are going to a salon on the southside?" Like we are something bad.
Last week I had a new client, wonderful young woman, had very long hair, wanted highlights and two hours later she was beaming with pleasure at her hair. She informed me that her friends had told her to find a salon in Edmond. That is the far north, much more expensive end of town town, where many people think is the only place you should go to get your hair done. She was surprised that she had now found a place in the south. Most of time when I hear things like that I cringe. What is worng with southside??
Last year I had a extension consultation with a lady who had driven the 45 minutes from the "North". I welcomed her in, we discussed her hair, she left with a price and said she would call me. A few days later I received a call. It went like this:
"Hi Debi, I was in the other day and we discussed extensions. I would like to make an appointment for that service."
"Hi Diane, I'm so glad you chose my salon. It will be a pleasure."
"Well I want you to know I still think it is a long way to drive, but the reason I want to come to you is because I felt comfortable in your salon, I didn't feel pressured and you were much nicer than the other place I went."
That my friends, is what I love to hear. While my reputation brought her to the salon, how she felt is why she continues to drive to my salon.
So when I have days when I think maybe I should have opened a salon up in the "better" area, I remember why I am where I am. I'm comfortable. I can keep my prices decent and when you do the right thing, people will come to you.
Have a blessed day, DS
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| My wonderful corner of the world. |
Monday, January 9, 2012
Meet Mr. Wonderful
Mr. Wonderful is my nickname for my husband. He is far from perfect, just wonderful. He has selective hearing, but comes back with such wonderful comments that when I scold him for it, that I am putty in his hands. He is my rock and you will hear much more about him.
His goal in life is to be a curmudgeon. If you have ever watched the ventriloquist Jeff Dunham and met "Walter", that would be the best example of a curmudgeon. He wants to be able to say whatever he thinks and people just blow him off because he is old. While he has a ways to go, I am practicing saying "I'm so sorry, he really doesn't mean that" He blows a lot of smoke too though. Inside he would do anything in the world for me, and he has. He has been with me through two knee replcements, a bout with a type of drug similar to Chemo, rotator cuff surgery, two salon moves, teen problems, emotional ups and downs, tears, joys and much more. All of this in about 6 years. We met a year after I divorced my husband of 23 years and were married a year later.
He is my calm. I am a roller coaster. I get bend out of shape and he never loses his cool. He can put his arms on my shoulders, pull me too him and I melt away. Although sometimes I think he is afraid to do that to me because I'm sizzling. He does know when to invade my space and when to stand back.
I have a photo frame that says Mr. Wonderful on it. I think it embarrases him that I have his pic in it. I also call him my "Hunk of Burnin Love". He is. You'll rarely hear me fuss about him.
He isn't perfect by any means. I do all the cooking, but I found I like to cook for him. My kids and ex were so darn fussy I never made a meal for 20 years that satistfied everyone. Not even desserts. One liked choclate, one lemon, one strawberry, one hated coconut..I didn't cook rice for 20 years or make anything much that wasn't fried. ( I saw a pic from about 15 years ago and yes sirree, there is that fried food all over my body).
When I met Mr. Wonderful and realized his palate was a bit more advanced, I started enjoying cooking. Ok so he is a bit picky. NO macaroni and cheese, but outside of that I can cook pretty much anything. Baking, not so much. Nuts, he loves nuts and he dislikes peanut butter ( can you imagine?) coconut, oatmeat, fruit..just about everything but nuts and chocolate or butterscotch. Although I have quite a repetoire of recipes with those ingredients.
Mind you if I make an apple pie, he won't eat it, but if we go out to eat and I order an apple pie ala mode, he will eat half of it. Go figure.
He doesn't shower me with jewels or unexpected gifts, but he has remodeled the entire house ( except one bathroom) and I enjoy that much more than glittery things around my neck and fingers. When he has bought me something shiney I about fall over.
So I think I will keep him. Took me 50 years to find him. Yes he has brothers but they are married so don't ask.
It's early, I think I'll go snuggle a bit more.
Have a blessed day.
DS
His goal in life is to be a curmudgeon. If you have ever watched the ventriloquist Jeff Dunham and met "Walter", that would be the best example of a curmudgeon. He wants to be able to say whatever he thinks and people just blow him off because he is old. While he has a ways to go, I am practicing saying "I'm so sorry, he really doesn't mean that" He blows a lot of smoke too though. Inside he would do anything in the world for me, and he has. He has been with me through two knee replcements, a bout with a type of drug similar to Chemo, rotator cuff surgery, two salon moves, teen problems, emotional ups and downs, tears, joys and much more. All of this in about 6 years. We met a year after I divorced my husband of 23 years and were married a year later.
He is my calm. I am a roller coaster. I get bend out of shape and he never loses his cool. He can put his arms on my shoulders, pull me too him and I melt away. Although sometimes I think he is afraid to do that to me because I'm sizzling. He does know when to invade my space and when to stand back.
I have a photo frame that says Mr. Wonderful on it. I think it embarrases him that I have his pic in it. I also call him my "Hunk of Burnin Love". He is. You'll rarely hear me fuss about him.
He isn't perfect by any means. I do all the cooking, but I found I like to cook for him. My kids and ex were so darn fussy I never made a meal for 20 years that satistfied everyone. Not even desserts. One liked choclate, one lemon, one strawberry, one hated coconut..I didn't cook rice for 20 years or make anything much that wasn't fried. ( I saw a pic from about 15 years ago and yes sirree, there is that fried food all over my body).
When I met Mr. Wonderful and realized his palate was a bit more advanced, I started enjoying cooking. Ok so he is a bit picky. NO macaroni and cheese, but outside of that I can cook pretty much anything. Baking, not so much. Nuts, he loves nuts and he dislikes peanut butter ( can you imagine?) coconut, oatmeat, fruit..just about everything but nuts and chocolate or butterscotch. Although I have quite a repetoire of recipes with those ingredients.
Mind you if I make an apple pie, he won't eat it, but if we go out to eat and I order an apple pie ala mode, he will eat half of it. Go figure.
He doesn't shower me with jewels or unexpected gifts, but he has remodeled the entire house ( except one bathroom) and I enjoy that much more than glittery things around my neck and fingers. When he has bought me something shiney I about fall over.
So I think I will keep him. Took me 50 years to find him. Yes he has brothers but they are married so don't ask.
It's early, I think I'll go snuggle a bit more.
Have a blessed day.
DS
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Where the hell did my eyebrows go?
It's gone. I didn't realize it until yesterday. Most of my life I had full nice brows. I never had to pluck or wax them because they looked good. I have also worn glasses my whole life so never thought I needed to do anything.
As I am in the 5th decade of my life I have noticed many changes. Besides everything dropping, I noticed my brows were thinner. They seem to get thinner by the day, but GONE???
Yesterday in the salon we were talking about our eyebrows. Some women have naturally beautiful ones ( count me USED TO BE in that category). The beauty of working in front of mirror all day (or the horror) is during a conversation such as that I glanced at my eyebrows. Well what was left of them.
How do I sit there every morning applying what seems like more and more makeup as I age, and MISS that I only have half a brow on one side. My left side. Seriously. It's so thin it looks like it's gone. Maybe a few hairs but I look like I got mad and shaved half of it.
Mr. Wonderful and I went to a movie last night. That dang brow bothered me all evening. I went to the restroom and lingered in front of the mirror looking at my suddenly missing brow.
When we arrived home and headed to bed I sat on the side of the bed looking in a mirror. Hubby "What are you doing"? "Plucking my brows" ( Hoping that if I shaped it it would look better) He knew not to ask why. He rolled over. I don't own a brow liner. I do have brown eyeshadow. So at 10:30 last night as Mr. Wonderful is starting to snore away I get out my little brush and my brown eyeshadow. Just a little bit. WOW..looked better already. Just a bit more!! Voila!! I have a brow. Looked so darn good I added some to the soon to be looking the same way right brow. Ahhhhhhhh now I have brows. Goodnight.
As I am in the 5th decade of my life I have noticed many changes. Besides everything dropping, I noticed my brows were thinner. They seem to get thinner by the day, but GONE???
Yesterday in the salon we were talking about our eyebrows. Some women have naturally beautiful ones ( count me USED TO BE in that category). The beauty of working in front of mirror all day (or the horror) is during a conversation such as that I glanced at my eyebrows. Well what was left of them.
How do I sit there every morning applying what seems like more and more makeup as I age, and MISS that I only have half a brow on one side. My left side. Seriously. It's so thin it looks like it's gone. Maybe a few hairs but I look like I got mad and shaved half of it.
Mr. Wonderful and I went to a movie last night. That dang brow bothered me all evening. I went to the restroom and lingered in front of the mirror looking at my suddenly missing brow.
When we arrived home and headed to bed I sat on the side of the bed looking in a mirror. Hubby "What are you doing"? "Plucking my brows" ( Hoping that if I shaped it it would look better) He knew not to ask why. He rolled over. I don't own a brow liner. I do have brown eyeshadow. So at 10:30 last night as Mr. Wonderful is starting to snore away I get out my little brush and my brown eyeshadow. Just a little bit. WOW..looked better already. Just a bit more!! Voila!! I have a brow. Looked so darn good I added some to the soon to be looking the same way right brow. Ahhhhhhhh now I have brows. Goodnight.
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