Once you are Real you can't be ugly...

Real isn't how you are made, it's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real. It doesn't happen all at once, you become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand.

- The Velveteen Rabbit

NYE Dress...Should I?

I haven't even decided if I'll stay in Kentucky or head back to Tennessee yet for New Years Eve.  But I'm in looooove with this dress and was thinking it could double as a Rehearsal Dinner Dress for one of my best friends.

Thoughts? Yes, No?  It's $250.  Free shipping if I spend $300.

Hm!

How to get in the Christmas Spirit!

I have been a little "Eboneezer Scroog-ish"this Christmas season.  It has just been unusually warm.  And with the news headlines recently and a busy, busy past few months at work.  I've been in a unable to get into the holiday spirit.  Normally I am jamming Christmas tunes and John Tesh's MixMas before Thanksgiving (until I made my "No Christmas before Thanksgiving rule.)  Shopping for Christmas gifts has even made me more grouchy.  Long lines, crowded boutiques, zero parking.  Just yesterday I made a list of my favorite songs and made myself listen to them and they put me in the best mood - and now I am finally home and with family and getting into the holidays spirit.  Below are my favorite holiday tunes, Play these throughout the house and get into that Christmas spirit friends!

Merry Christmas, I hope you have a lovely, safe, and blessed holiday!

1. The Drifters - White Christmas
2. The Ronettes - Sleigh Ride
3. Bing Crosby - Mele Kalikimaka
4. 98 degrees - This Gift (Yup! ;) ) 
5. Sister Act II - Joyful, Joyful 
6. Mariah Carey - All I Want for Christmas is You
7. The Beach Boys - Little Saint Nick
8. Diana Ross & The Supremes - Silver Bells
9. Zooey Deschannel & Leon Redbone - Baby, It's Cold Outside
10.  Dean Martin - Baby, It's Cold Outside
11. Dean Martin - Let It Snow
12. Frank Sinatra - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
13. Brenda Lee - Rockin Around the Christmas Tree
14. Frank Sinatra & Bing Crosby - Happy Holidays
15. Eartha Kitt - Santa Baby
16. Eagles - Please Come Home for Christmas
17. Bell B. Sox - Bells of St. Mary
18. Gayla Peevey - I want a Hippopotomus for Christmas

What is your all-time favorite Christmas song? Sometimes I forget the good ones!

"me" day, NeuLash update, & yurman earrings...oh my!

I was able to finish all tasks and clean out my email for once without interruption.  It was lovely, after finishing up the work from home today, I went to Shine Salon in the green hills area (right down the street). and saw Jana.  She was the only one that offered online booking (yeah!) and after doing web research and reading rave reviews, I booked my appt.  You all may remember my struggle finding a stylist that won't mutilate my hair.  She was fantastic.  I can't wait for her to cut my hair.  She acknowledged the mess that the prior stylist did to my hair.  I got the "Express Keratin Treatment."  It is far less expensive than the Keratin treatment, faster and you can was your hair after 24 hours (not 3 days...) So far it looks very straight and not frizzy.

I then went over to Brow Gal, who polished up my eyebrows.  I'm so happy they look thicker again.  Also just a small update on NeuLash, you may remember my post, here is working wonderfully.  Please let me preface with the fact, I've had long-ish lashes, but I barely put on mascara now and they're out of control long.  The main reason I've been using the Neulash is to get thick, full eyebrows back, but I always put on my lashes before popping into bed.  I'm really happy with both the results of my brows and lashes. (Sorry for the creepy pic haha)

I am heading over to my friend Caroline's End of the World Party, Just in Case to celebrate Christmas and the holidays with friends!  I just finished fixing up my roommates hair before her big Christmas date with her almost-fiance (any day now) and she just text this over! Yes, he got her yurman earrings!!! Which reminds me, why haven't I met Mr. Right down here yet? I keep meeting the wrongs :)

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, Safe travels my friends. 

Picking your battles.

Do you ever just get tired of constantly unloading the dishwasher? Cleaning up those crumbs.  Picking up someones glass of water they left behind.  Trash they've left in your.  As I get older, I've kind of learned to just be done with the petty arguments and clean up after others.  I guess what I feel most angry with as of lately is the lack of appreciation for these small acts.  Constantly getting the mail, consistently cleaning up after someone.  Do you all ever deal with this?  Its so petty, but is so frustrating at times, and I find myself getting aggravated at everything, anything.

How do you fix this? :)

Express Keratin Treatment.

I'm finally home and back in the swing of things after a week in New York for work.  It was glorious.  The city sparkled with Christmas delight, but I was more than content to finally sleep in my own bed, and go about my normal weekend routine, and not work.  I have a Rusk hair dryer (that didn't make the cut, mostly due to not fitting into my luggage), when I was drying my hair with the normal hotel hair dryer, I realized how desperately I need to get a Brazilian Blowout...Since moving to Nashville, I've discovered that most salons offer a "Keratin Treatment" as opposed to the BB due to the controversial formaldehyde that forms when the chemicals meet the heat of the dryer and iron.  I prefer the Brazilian Blowout, it isn't as intense or heavy on my hair and I just like the results better, but I don't like having to wear a face mask nor do I appreciate the dirty looks from the other salon guests... I've researched a few salons here in Nashville and I've made several calls (after getting 2 keratin treatments, that were far less than exceptional, and add up to a month's rent in Nashville.  I've been looking into the....

Keratin Express Treatment.  This is only $100, lasts for 6 weeks, and is lighter and more mild than the typical Keratin treatment. SO, my question to you lovely ladies with curls is...Have you had this done? Do you like it?  Is it worth it?  I don't want to waste more time or more money on another hair thing that I don't love, but I'm really bored with my hair, I like the color and length, I just want something that will make my curls more tame and look healthier.  Do you have any recommendations?

Nashville ladies, any salons that are TDF? Stylists that you love. That is another thing, I have yet to meet someone here that just loves their stylist..and I've heard horror stories of $400 haircuts, WTH!! I am looking for a nice salon, nice stylist, willing to pay a tab more for someone that makes me love my hair.

you. are. the. best. thing.

I get to see this guy Wednesday at the historic Ryman.  I am so excited. 

Nashville, 

You are. the. best. thing.