Hairs to you

Hair...this is a favorite topic among women. We try to decide whether we are going to grow it, cut it, color it, wear it up, wear it down or even extend it!! I find that one of the questions that we are asked most often by our members is, "What hairstyle best suits me?" Well, as much as I would love to answer that question in this blog, it just isn't possible. Why? There are way too many answers and they are as individual as the woman! So, why am I bringing hair up? Because, like every woman, I go through the same questions.

I am currently in the ...should I grow it out mode. I have had short, spiky hair for several years and as much as it suits my personality....there is just some appeal in being able to flip your hair over your shoulder. So in an effort to decide what to do, I have been wearing a variety of hair extensions.

I'm not talking about the extensions that you have put on by a professional. I am talking about the kind that you find at the kiosk in the mall. They come in so many varieties of style and color. I have a wavy up do, a spiky up do, a long ponytail and a more formal up do. So, over the course of the past few weeks, I have been wearing one of the varieties almost every day. This gives me a feel for what it would be like to have long (past my shoulders) hair again.

I do have to warn you that if you are in the market for one of the faux hair pieces, you really have to watch the color. There is nothing worse than getting out into the sun and discovering that the hair isn't even close to your natural hair color (or what you are currently calling natural)! If you have multiple highlights and low lights, make sure that the piece also has a variety of color.

So what have I found in my journey to discover if long hair was in the cards for me again? I love the ability to flip it over my shoulders. I love the ability to pull it into a ponytail and go. But, ultimately...it just isn't me. I will be heading to the salon soon to get my shorter, spiky do. But what fun I've had trying on this different personality!!

What do I wear to a party

This blog is a little on the lighter side. It is the holiday season and there are soooo many parties to attend. At every single one of them I have someone tell me that they just didn't know what to wear. It is one of the most common issues that women have. WHAT TO WEAR!!!!!

I tell this story to men all the time, but when I was saying this at a party the other night, the women got on a roll. We laughed until we cried because of the crazy things that we do.....and know we are doing them! Okay, so here goes the story I tell husbands:

You are getting ready to go out for the evening. Your wife is standing in front of her closet in her underwear. You ask her what is wrong and she says that she has nothing to wear. In total and utter confusion you look at the multitude of clothing hanging right there in front of her and wonder whether she has gone blind!! You have a moment of panic and then realize that she means that there isn't anything in that mass of clothing that makes her happy. Whew!!! At least she isn't blind :)

Finally, you have to go. You have someplace to be and it just isn't an option....your wife has to choose something to wear. And then she's mean to you because she hates the way she looks.

Of course, the men started nodding clear back at the beginning of the story. It has happened to all of them. As women, we've pretty much all done this. We know we are doing it and it still keeps happening. Its like an illness that we just can't stop!!!

At the party, we girls were rolling because we know we do it. Some of us had done it that night. We had a party to attend and didn't feel like we had that special outfit that would make us glow. I can't tell you how many times I hear this!!

So, what is the solution? The first thing that we have to do is to remember that we are there for the company. We came to spend time with our friends. They are probably not deciding whether to continue their friendship with us or not based on what we are wearing. Not what you were looking for?

Alright, short of just accepting what you have, letting go and having a great time despite what you are wearing....what can you do? The obvious is to join anatomyofstyle.com (okay, give me a break for the shameless plug). But, if you decide not to go that route, get yourself a minimum of one party outfit that you look fabulous in. Don't worry that you will wear it too often....most people don't remember what you were wearing!!! Spend a little more if it means feeling great and enjoying yourself more. Don't go too trendy. You want to be able to wear this outfit for several seasons (remember you spent more)! Don't think that your evening outfit has to be black....color makes a woman stand out and shine a little brighter.

Enjoy your holiday season and relish the relationships that you have built. Buy yourself something fabulous, but don't get caught up in being perfect....no such thing!!

Beauty Secrets from Audrey Hepburn

Its inevitable...if you use email to any degree, you are going to get forwarded jokes and inspirational emails from friends and family. Since the majority of our business is done via the internet, I spend an inordinate amount of time on the computer. I get and delete hundreds of these forwarded emails every day. I try and take a little time to open each one and see what it is about just in case it is something that I don't want to miss. I'm like that....can't stand the thought of missing out on something!

So, one of my mother-in-laws best friends sent me this email, "Beauty Secrets from Audrey Hepburn". I was so inspired by what it said that I wanted to share it with you. And, I was glad that I took the extra 15 seconds to open and read this.

For attractive lips , speak words of kindness...
For lovely eyes , seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure , share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair , let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day.
For poise , walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone...

People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived,
reclaimed,and redeemed; never throw out anyone.

Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older, you will discover that you
have two hands; one for helping yourself, and the other for helping
others.

One of the things that most women do at the beginning of a new year is to look at ways to be more attractive. This year, instead of the typical....joining a gym, buying new face care products, or getting a new do....look at the way that you interact with others. Incorporate Audrey Hepburn's beauty secrets into your life and see the reaction that you get. I believe that you will have your most beautiful year ever!!

Love Letter to Myself

I don't watch a lot of television, but we recently got DVR and I have started recording a number of programs I wished that I could watch. Those nights that I can't sleep or just need to veg, I can choose from a list of programs that I always wanted to get into. The other night I was in one of those veg modes and sat down to watch Private Practice. I mean, it is a spin off from Grey's Anatomy and I have always been a big Grey's fan.

Well the episode of Private Practice the other night was hotter than anything McSteamy or McDreamy have every done. I was glued to the tv....actually riveted by what I was watching. Even if you have never watched this show, you will want to catch this episode. You can see the full episode of this particular show at ABC. Just to give you an idea of what was going on....Dell, who manages the doctor's practice gives a poignant, beautiful speech about how he feels about one of the women in the practice. You can't help but getting lost in this speech, wishing that someone felt about you what he feels about this woman. That's what got me to thinking.....why can't we feel about ourselves the way he feels about her.

So, I sat down and I wrote myself a love letter. No, this isn't egotistical or narcissistic. Why can't we love ourselves. Why can't we spend some time looking at our personalities, our appearance and our interaction with others just like a lover would. When we do this, why don't we say, "Yes, I am a fabulous woman with so very much to offer and I am glad to know myself." I thought I would share a little bit of my letter with you because it made me feel great about myself. So, here goes:

"Dear Gini,

You have such a beautiful spirit. I see that you embrace life and all that it has to give with total abandon. I love that you are willing to try anything and that even when you are afraid, you can push through and look at something as an adventure. It means a lot that you don't worry about what people think and you get the most out of your life. It gives me pleasure to be a part of this amazing person."

It is so hard to sit down and write nice things about ourselves. We have been trained to be modest and to not brag. Therefore, when we have to talk about ourselves or write something loving to ourselves, it is a chore. But why should it be? When we are asked to write a reference letter or we send a friend a heartfelt note for something that they have done, we are not as uncomfortable as when we love ourselves. Here is what I would challenge you to do. Think of your special characteristics, talents, spirit or appearance....really anything that makes you the person that you are. Think about these things as if they are another person. Get outside of yourself and see you the way that others may see you. Don't force yourself to write a long soliloquy. Just let your thoughts flow, stay positive and enjoy seeing the beauty in yourself!!