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Pink is my signature color.

Jenny and I totally just had a Steel Magnolias moment. No, we didn’t eat an armadillo cake (although I bet those are good) or have a kidney transplant… we got our hair done.

We were invited to Salon 11 in Germantown by the owner Melissa Hodson, who is, as it turns out, a loyal Mommin’ It Up reader. She’s got a new stylist, Mollie Shope, and they wanted us to come in to check out the salon and get our hair (and eyebrows) shaped up for the fall. Never ones to miss out on pampering, we happily obliged!

Here’s Jenny getting her wax job:

Just kidding! Jenny’s upper lip was carefully inspected and found to be hairless enough as not to require attention. At least she has that going for her.

Anyway.

I had not been to Salon 11 before, although everyone in my family has (more on that in a minute). It’s located in our town’s old jailhouse, and while they’ve made it beautiful, they’ve left a few relics of times past.

It is such a cute place! It’s small – one wash bowl, two styling stations – but in my opinion the size is what makes it so neat. It really encourages interaction among everyone there. We sat and talked to Mollie and Melissa and the other customers like we were all old friends… discussing everything from “Teen Mom” (my favorite subject) to bedbugs, and we had such a nice time.

It made me realize why beauty shops were once the hub of social interaction for women. I mean, they didn’t have Facebook, so I can see why they had their hair done once a week – they had to catch up on all the news! Salon 11 provides just that kind of small town, welcoming environment, while at the same time having young, hip (which even saying that word makes me decidedly NOT hip, don’t you think?) stylists who know that dark is the new light (at least according to my young, hip co-worker upon seeing my hair) and have the sense to steer old ladies like me and Jenny away from frosted hair and perms.

(No really, I have considered a perm. Like, within the last decade.)

We had a ball.

We love our new looks! And although we are geniuses and didn’t take “after” pictures of ourselves (someday we will grow up and become real bloggers, I swear), I will show you just how good Mollie is.

Yesterday afternoon (while I was at work, thank you Jesus) she took a screaming, writhing, boy who was determined NOT to get his hair cut, even though he was so shaggy he looked like he didn’t have parents, and turned him into this:

Is she good or what? As Sammy put it – “Mommy, my eyes aren’t in my hair and I can see the baseball now!”

So if you’re in the Dayton area, give Mollie at Salon 11 a call at (937) 855-1123 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (937) 855-1123      end_of_the_skype_highlighting… you’ll love her, you’ll love the salon, and you’ll love your hair!

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Lose-A-Palooza

Last year I got involved with Weight Watchers’ Lose for Good campaign. I might have mentioned it a time or two.

It’s that time again – today’s the Lose-a-Palooza. Here’s how the Weight Watchers people explain it:
Could the weight you lose help fight world hunger? Weight Watchers has designed a program to accomplish this. This September, the third annual Lose for Good campaign will strive to relieve world hunger.

Between September 5 and October 23, the Lose for Good campaign is teaming up members, online subscribers and charitable organizations to donate up to 1 million dollars to leading hunger-fighting organizations. These organizations, Share Our Strength and Action Against Hunger, will benefit from members’ weight loss and other activities.

Additionally, Weight Watchers’ Lose-a-Palooza campaign is a fun, easy way to spread the word and one of many activities you can join to encourage participation in the Lose for Good campaign. On September 14, you can encourage your friends and followers to help fight world hunger using your favorite social network. It is a one-day social media event where $1 will be donated every time Lose for Good is mentioned on blogs, Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare or through a Lose For Good Twibbon on your profile picture. You can also use the hashtag #LoseforGood to help spread the word and raise funds.

Pretty cool, huh?

This campaign is what got me started on Weight Watchers last year, and I truly believe it changed my life.

Unfortunately, I, for one, have apparently consumed a few too many ice cream cones this summer and have put on a couple pounds (but I’ve been running like crazy so it’s probably muscle, right? Nah, probably the ice cream cones) and it is time for me to get back on track. Lose-a-Palooza is the perfect time for that – it combines two of my favorite things, Weight Watchers and social media! I am back on board. You heard it here first, people. Hold me to it!

If you’ve been waiting for a reason to join Weight Watchers (like I was for years), let Lose for Good be it! You won’t regret it, I promise.

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Things I Love Thursday – the Chevy Traverse

When Jenny and I started thinking about taking a trip to the mountains, one question complicated our plans – “What are we going to drive?” Neither one of us have a car big enough to fit both of us and all four kids, and driving two separate cars seemed like a pain… and would make the trip a lot more painful less fun.

And let’s face it. I would have had to drop my kids off at the top of the mountain and go back down to get Jenny and her kids. She doesn’t really “do” mountain driving.

We knew Chevy had a very active blogger program and had given bloggers the opportunity to take “test drives” of their cars (they call it the “Girlfriend Getaway”), so we reached out to them to see if we could work something out.

They had just the vehicle we needed for our trip, and generously offered to let us borrow it for the weekend.

Meet the Chevy Traverse.

Isn’t it pretty?

With room for eight, we were able to fit four kids and two moms (plus a lot of stuff) very comfortably.

Sammy’s over there on the left, see?

(That’s him in his Safety 1st Air Protect Car Seat which really deserves a Things I Love Thursday post all to itself because omg bff I LOVE that thing.)

I had never been to Jenny’s parents’ house before (I was the family slacker in that department, but my kids LOVED it so much that I’m sure we’re going to be frequent visitors from this point forward) so I wasn’t aware of the terrain we were going to encounter. I mean, Jenny had tried to describe it to me and everything, but I wasn’t prepared for the actual climb up the mountain.

Did I mention that we got there in the dark? Yeah, it was awesome. I was driving four miles up a mountain I had never seen before, in the dark, on a gravel road, with two six-year-olds yelling “We’re going to DROWN! We’re going to DROWN!” and Jenny sitting next to me laughing at me for asking if the worst was over.

Now I know – the worst isn’t over until you shift into park at the top of the driveway.


See what I mean?

Needless to say, I was so glad we had the Traverse for that crazy drive! It handled really well and the big, wide tires were perfect.

We only had one problem on the entire trip. You see, the Traverse drives a little too smoothly… you can be driving a little too fast and not even know it.

Until you see the lights flashing in your rear-view mirror, anyway.

You should have seen Jenny trying to explain why exactly Chevy would let us borrow their car. Because, we’re, um, bloggers? Yeah, blank stare. Regardless, the officer took pity on us and only gave me a warning – shew!

Anyway, we had a great trip, and we both loved driving and riding in the Traverse. A huge thanks to Chevy for letting us try it out – it definitely made our trip easier, safer, and a lot more fun!

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For more Things I Love Thursday, check out Diaper Diaries.

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