a little too much off the top.

since i'm the nanny i don't make the calls on the kids.  i do what i am told and then execute the plan in the best way possible.

take hair for example.

when i take the boys to get hair cuts, i do as i am told.  just a little trim, shorter on the sides and back.  you know, a big boy haircut.

well on said haircut day this guy was testing my patience just a tad bit.  he needed a little extra attention and love and i was the gal for the job, so while i got him settled with his hair cut just a little off, not too short, just clean it up, his one minute older brother was around the other side of the mirror getting what i thought was the same deal.

except when i rounded that corner and saw the #4 blade rolling across the TOP OF HIS head cutting of all those pretty locks of brown hair that his mama loves, i almost died right there.  yeah, it's just hair.  but i am the nanny.  i do as i am told.  twas not what i am told.  all i saw was me being fired in my future.
so i texted mom a big long text with a lot of i'm sorry and it was a misunderstanding and you know...that was after i begged the barber to just glue said hair all over the floor back to his head to which he said no.
humph.

luckily when we got home the electricity was out (thank you jesus i can hide him in the darkness!!!) and i knew i could get the kids to bed before their mom came home, so she wouldn't have to see his head until morning.
and you think i am joking.
this is serious.

but you know what hottie said as soon as he looked in the mirror?
oh ms. jessica, look how well you can see my nice face now!

i kept my job, but lets just say i think my barber rights may be revoked.

mondays marvels: hair

i am a marketing persons DREAM.  my best friends say "if its marked limited edition, jessica's gonna want it!"  and that is so true.  package it well and i am sold.  i have been trying to think of something to come up with to share things i use and love once a week..this week we are going to focus on hair.

i recently, after having dark hair my entire life, went lighter, like really light.  i go to a bumble and bumble salon and usually tend to use aveda product.  but since i am spending more money than ever to look just like emily maynard's twin, i needed to find something a little cheaper as far as product but comparable to the brands i had used it the past.

my stylist told me i needed to get some shampoo for blonde hair---i was at the grocery last week and saw this shimmer lights and immediately was taken back to the days when i still lived at home and mom used this god awful purple shampoo for grey hair...i am sure i used some brand of teen spirit that was way fruitier and of course much cooler...yeah well, that was then.  this is now.  guess what i love for this blonde huuur?
shimmer lights baby.  if you have blonde or grey hair and don't wanna break the bank.  try it.  it really made my color last.  i am a fan.
suave infusion keratin.  i really wanted and needed a keratin treatment since my hair was done well, but still over proccessed.  but again, cost.  i saw this and thought i would try it.  it is amazing how GREAT it makes my hair feel.

shimmer liiiiights AND suave keritan...

it's almost like i don't have hair that is totally NOT NATURAL.  

because my hair feels so amazing.

then there are those days...yes, days---(you do it too!) well, that i don't wash my hair.  and then brad says, "hey lets go grab a bite of dinner."  like in public.  and i looks like a girl with unwashed hair.
dove dry shampoo.  yeah, i thought this was for roller set grandmas too.  well, i am a fan.  spray some of this right in the part...and look at my freshly washed huuuur, brad...could we go to dinner already?
dove dry conditioner.  last but not least.  this was bought by mistake, but i LOVE it.  probably something i have discovered lately that i love the most.  if you just feel like your hair needs a little extra love, well, here you have it.  works great.

p.s.  i painted my nails this week.  errr, yesterday.  went all crazy and well, you'll see...






p.s.  that first picture is totally crooked.  so that is making this entire post look all kati-wompas.  huh?  do you see it?  just hold your head a little to the left and you'll be fine.

six {6!} new uses for hairspray via real simple.

we interrupt this regularly scheduled blog for a informercial, maybe commercial, really just widely informative information that you can't live one more moment without little to-do about hairspray and some uses for the stuff that every girl reading this blog can't live without.

i happened to buy the new issue of real simple this weekend because the cover drew me in and it had to go into my bag, and i learned SOOO much new information that i could not keep it to myself:

real simple.  yes? but, did YOU know that there are more uses for hairspray than making your hair stay in place than just getting that lipstick out of your shirt?  here are six uses for hairspray that they highlighted {or should we say hairsprayed? am i the only one that thinks that's funny?}

1.  ...lipstick remover...
kiss that smudge of really red good bye.  if the fabric is machine washable, saturate the spot with hairspray, let it sit for ten minutes, then dab with a damp cloth or sponge to remove.  launder as usual to wash out any residual stain and spray.

2.  ...stocking saver...
the polymers that hold up an updo can also reinforce the toes of your hose.  spray after each wash to help prevent nylons from running.

3.  ...artwork protector...
hanging kids art in high traffic areas, like the refrigerator door? a light coating of hairspray will keep chalk or dried, flaky paint from brushing off.

4.  ...petal preserver...
spray fragile, dried flowers to help them stay put n their stems. (here's hoping your wedding bouquet sees it's silver anniversary.)

5.  ...gum unsticker...
free chewed juicy fruit from the carpet without wasting a wad of time.  douse the gum with hairspray to harden it quickly, then scrape it off with a knife.

6.  ...shoeshine fix...
a light spritz of hairspray gives newly polished loafers a long lasting patina.  test on a small area before spraying the whole shoe.

[via]

and one more thing while we are on the subject - i have tried EVERY spray known to man, trust me, i have.  this weekend i bought this for lack of time and i have a walgreens obsession:

tresemme climate control finishing spray.

rocked my socks off - and more importantly kept every hair in place.

do you have any hairspray tips to add?  what's your favorite spray?  you should really grab this months real simple, it's chalked FULL of eye candy and useful information!

the end.  i gotta go spray my hair.

taking care of me.

its harder than it should be. i have never been good at this and have fought with myself my entire life to do better.  and i do.  then i don't.  i feel the best about me when i am in the "let's take care of jessica mode" but then it goes away because it is an effort at every turn.  its not natural for me.

i think about others to a fault.  yesterday, i was telling my boss how when i go to the grocery, i make sure that i get the appropriate things for brad's lunch and for our dinner, but items that i need and want, i just don't buy.  i would rather spend the money on the things brad needs and wants and sacrifice myself.  which is silly, i am at the grocery store and i can't even take care of myself when it comes to simple choices such as brad like sugar free yogurt and i like yoplait so i get sugar free and just don't eat it.  it is really absurd.  just get the yogurt you like too, jessica.

my chosen profession, after graduating with a bachelors in special education has been to nanny.  to take care of children that are not my own.  also in being a nanny, you get the privilege of taking care of the family as a whole.  what you do for the parents child(ren) benefits everyone and makes their life easier.  also, its a profession where you are not in the equation any longer, if you are needed you go.  a dream job for me.  i am needed.

getting my hair done, i will put it off for any reason because that is taking hours out of the day that internally i think i should not be spending on me.  

working out?  fuuuugetabout it.  how selfish can you be?  as selfless as i know i truly am, its also my biggest downfall and frustrates me to no end.  the feeling that i feel leaving the salon with a fresh new cut is like no other, and leaving the YMCA after a bout of cardio leaves you fresh for hours.

yet i don't do it.  because it's selfish.  {except its not.}

but the past two weeks i have decided i will do it.  improving yourself and making you better for those around you is a part of life and growing and that is what i desire to be: better.  

for the past two weeks, i have taken time away, although sometimes it KILLS me, from things i would rather be doing for someone else and went to the gym.  i should say, back to the gym.  i'm not a complete couch potato, y'all.  and my hair - i got it done last month and am going to do so again this month.  i am.

taking time away from brad or the ones that i love to in turn take me better is just going to make every thing around me better.  because it will make me happier with me.  

that's where it all has to start.  so one day at a time i am going to lace up those shoes and take time for me.  without a cell phone to see who needs me - just me and the hum of the machines and i will get better.  and i will do better.  

because i am able and because i can. (and because she ain't as young as she used to be...)

p.s.  i bought myself a new toothbrush today AND some yogurt.  watch out!  i think i am going to call tomorrow and get a hair appointment.  i know!  just call me selfish.  please?  wait...no don't.  i might spiral out of control. (insert smiley face here...i crack myself up)

thank you for the therapy session and good day.