Eyelash Tinting Escapade

Joel and I received a bunch of coupons from local businesses when we moved to NJ. A free haircut and an eyelash tinting session were included in this little batch of savings.  Joel encouraged me to make an appointment.   I put it off because I'm still recovering from salon mishaps I've previously endured.

Joel asked me every month, "WHY don't you use the FREE haircut?"
I always replied, " I don't trust that salon.  I KNOW nothing about it.  I don't know ANYONE that goes there.  This is my HAIR.  Obviously, you don't understand women and their hair.  _____'s wife completely agrees with me!  Don't you remember when I had fire engine red hair?" So on and so forth...

We quibbled about the free haircut for three months.  Finally, he appealed to my thrifty side.  I gave in and made an appointment.

Today was the big day.  I made it through the haircutting session unmarred, I think.  I still haven't seen the back of my hair AND I was charged $20 for the blow dry.  WHAT?  How is that not part of my hair cut?  Who lets their client leave the salon with dripping locks and no clue of what their wet hairdo looks like from behind.  I digress...

Anyway, then came the eyelash tinting session.  DUN DUN DUN.  I started getting a little nervous.  All sorts of questions started popping into my brain.

"What if they tint my eye-lashes hot pink? Or leopard print?"

"What if the tint leaks into my eye?"

"What if I look ridiculous?"

The tinting lady calmed my nerves.

"Relax.  It will look great!"

It did until I got home.  Somehow, the dye leaked from my eyelashes to my skin during the drive.  An angry dark streak of dye decorated the skin of my under-eye.  So, I scrubbed.  I rubbed.  I steamed.  I panicked.  I called the salon.

Me: "I have a HUGE ring of black under my eye."

Salon: "Relax.  It comes of with soap and water. Rub it in a circular motion."

Me: "OK."

So, I tried rubbing my under-eye with soap in a circular motion.  The black MARK still marred my eye.
I tried again.  I rubbed counter-clockwise, up and down and stood on my head (just kidding).  I still looked like a raccoon, only worse.  NOW, my eye was pink, puffy and tinted.  GREAT.

I called the salon again.

Me:"Yeah, the soap and water definitely is not working."

Salon: "Okay, why don't you come back in."

I returned to the salon. They started the rubbing process all over again.  It burned, stung and hurt like heck. In fact it still smarts...Luckily, the black streak has vanished.  My fear of trying new salons has not, though.

Do you think the free haircut was worth it?  The whole escapade ended up costing me $40 plus gas.  Blurg.  I want my old hairdresser back.

Couch Cushion Day

I hate cushion-cleaning day! Before you freak out and blame my adorable dog, I want to state that this was my doing.

See.  Maddie is harmless. 

I'm the one you should worry about.   I was able to de-stuff this cushion in mere seconds.  It took a few hours to wash/dry the covers.

No worries, though.  Things were back to normal in no time at all..

Christmas in NYC!

Yesterday we met a friend in the city. We took exactly TWO pictures.  Here is ONE of them.

Here is a shot of us 4 years ago in (almost) the exact same spot!

We have spent our first Christmas season in NJ starting new traditions. So far, we have:
1)  Gathered supplies for an Operation Christmas Child Shoebox
2)  Visited NYC
3)  Baked special Christmas cookies
4)  Watched Christmas movies every weekend.  We have enjoyed, "It's a Wonderful Life" and "A Christmas Story."
5)  Planned to donate chickens to a needy family through World Vision.
6)  Partied with our new church family.  Joel wore a suit coat and tie. I dressed up in a cocktail dress.  We should have taken pictures!

We are really enjoying our new life in NJ.  It still doesn't feel QUITE like home, but it's getting  there.

Cookies, Cookies....

On Saturday, Joel and I decided to make cookies. We baked a batch of gingersnaps speckled with chocolate chips.

Joel is a sucker for any cookie with molasses in it.  He also looks incredibly manly in his apron, right? :)   

Yet, another unflattering close-up taken by US. 

The final product. Num. Num.

We are enjoying the Christmas season, making new friends, and looking forward to what lies ahead.

Grow Where You Are Planted

I've been really struggling with the fact that I'm not employed.  Today my mom offered excellent advice when she stated, "Grow where you are planted."  So, even though I'm not making any money or using my plethora of education (8 long years to be exact),  I can still THRIVE and strive to be the best stay-at-home wife/volunteer/job-hunter ever.

The following is a list of how I'm attempting to "grow where I'm planted."  I'm learning how to 1) manage my household more efficiently 2) take one day at a time 3) trust God (this is definitely a slow process).

We Are Ready For Christmas

Our house is all decorated and Maddie sported a bow long enough for me to take a picture!  We are really missing family and friends this holiday season.  We're excited to travel south for Christmas!

Our First Thanksgiving in NJ

Our realtor gave us this turkey made out of cookies.  Delicious!

The flowers Milt and Linda gave us

Linda stirring up Oma's famous stuffing

Milt enjoying the Macy's Day Parade 

Maddie being herself

Me...in a very close self-portrait

Joel in all his morning glory!

We had a great Thanksgiving!  Hope you did, too!  I'm still missing my MN and VA family, learning the Jersey way of life and blogging.