Pink Polka Dot Bride... wedding details

So, I guess since my blog is titled "Pink Polka Dot Bride" that maybe I should write a little something about the wedding my fiance and I are planning. The planning is going great! We have the majority of the large stuff taken care of and now we're getting into detailed stuff.

Last week, my awesome wedding photographer asked me to do makeup for a photo shoot she was going to be doing. I got to meet her for the first time and I really like her a lot! She's not one of those photographers thats going to be super bossy and tell people, "honey, now stand here and Adam's dad can stand here and where's mamaw?", etc. And to top it off, her photography is absolutely beautiful!! I chose her as our photographer b/c I was actually brought to tears at some of the photos on her website and Adam agreed that the photos looked pretty cool.

Anyway, you can link to the photos here. While you're there, check out the other photos at Socialite Studios by Joelle Susan. I can't wait to take my own photos with her! :)

Here's whats happening for the wedding so far: Black and white with polka dots & hints of hot pink for colors/theme, Sunday Oct. 11, 2009, at Alhambra Hall in Mt. Pleasant, reception to follow, hot pink gerbera daisies, bridesmaids wearing these oh-so-cute shoes!, ostrich feathers for center pieces... here is a diagram of what I'm working on...

Splishin' and a Splashin' (otherwise known as, "Embarassing Moments", volume 1)

My mother decided to visit me at work yesterday out of the blue to inform me of her latest drama, but that's a whole different story that...TRUST ME, you don't want me to get into right now. I will, however, go into what she did while at my office.

I work at a very nice salon & spa, with a spa area in the back. Its very peaceful and we try to treat all of our clients as if they were to "feel at home". Well, apparently my mother took this literally because upon her arrival into the separate spa area, she went to "tinkle" in the bathroom....sans door closed! That's right, my mother peed. AT. MY. WORK. with the door wide open! I didn't shut it right away b/c I wasn't sure if anyone would walk back there, until Allison (our lovely massage therapist) popped back in the spa before her next appointment arrived. In a panic, I quickly laughed it off that my mom likes to pee with the door open and luckily Allison answered back,with a nervous chuckle I might add, "oh that's ok, we have an 'open door' policy in my home too!".

*FLUSH*

My mom washes her hands and walks out like she didn't just go pee in a public restroom with the door open. And in a splish, splash, it was over.

Then she follows up her public peeing episode, which I'm pretty sure you can get arrested for in some countries, with the fact that she's possibly moving down the street from me.

Someone pinch me, I need to wake up!!!!

Until next time, "if you sprinkle when you tinkle, be a sweetie and wipe the seatie", my mom had this on a plaque when we were growing up! hahaha

The Great Hair Debate

Not too long ago, I attended Cosmetology school. I graduated first in my class with a cosmetology license. I started school because I had a passion for wanting to do hair. I would watch tv shows and critique everyone on what they needed to do to their hair, eyebrows, make-up, & wardrobe to look better overall. I was giving everyone I met "mind" makeovers. All of my sorority sisters would come to me before a formal to get their hair and makeup done. I took pride in all of my work, I loved making them feel special and beautiful! I wanted to make a difference in other people's lives; to possibly one day write beauty articles for magazines, local newsletters, and be asked to go on live television shows to answer beauty questions!

My passion was lost. It got lost in the long, grueling clocked hours at school. It got lost on the clients who didn't give a shit about me because they preferred an African American student to do their hair instead. It got lost on the anxiety I felt about attending the school I went to every evening for two years. It got lost on giving up on a dream just so I could focus on graduating and getting the hell out of there. I got lazy in the process, searching for short cuts and different avenues just to say I finally accomplished something. I never learned anything about hair at all. I lost my passion. And instead of feeling great about my accomplishments, I felt like I had lost two years of my life with nothing to show for it.


The dream of becoming a stylist dwindled. Even thought I lost my passion for hair, I DID find a passion for doing skincare, so it is not all a loss. But I often wonder how things would have turned out for me had I become a stylist. Would I be known locally for my exquisite bridal updos? (something I wanted to specialize in while in school). Would I have already built a clientele? Would I be able to do everyone's hair b/c I was skilled in doing everything from corn rows, sew ins, quick weaves to foils and pivot point haircuts? I don't know.

Since I told people for two years that I was going to cosmetology school, everyone that doesn't work with me assumes I do hair. Its so aggravating! Its like shoving a dream that I once had into my face saying I couldn't cut it because I lost sight or got anxious, or scared about the dream. Its a constant reminder that I failed to follow through with it.

And while I did lose the passion, it doesn't mean that on occasion I don't like doing hair, because I do! I still do my family & friends haircuts and color. I have also been told I give one of the best scalp massages too!

And I can't regret going to cosmetology school in the first place because I never would have found skincare. I am now focused to be the best skincare therapist I can be! I love to do facials. Waxing is so much fun! I get to teach people how to take care of themselves everyday. People put their trust in me to make them look younger, more beautiful, tan, etc. and I'm proud to say that I truly enjoy helping them!


I guess the lesson learned here is, follow your dreams because even if they don't end up the way you expected (or the way others expected), you may find another dream on the way.

My hair.

Without sounding completely pompous, can I just say, that my hair is it's own entity. Everywhere I go, no matter what I'm doing or whom I am surrounded, someone comments on my hair. Its not like I have crazy colored hair, I don't have a weird, funky cut, I don't even have anything out of the ordinary, but for some reason, people always comment on it. And this should be a good thing, I mean, I work in a salon so it helps us to get business, but still, it has its own celebrity status.


For instance, two weeks ago, I was in the mall, minding my own business when a girl stopped me and said, "nice hair!". Ok, thank you. My pharmacist comments on my hair EVERY TIME I go in there (which is frequent b/c lets face it, I am a walking pharmacy in my purse). She said, "you're hair always looks so good!". Need I say, that was the time I decided to roll out of bed, head over there with a hooded sweatshirt on and dirty jeans, with no makeup and I didn't even BRUSH my hair! Was she just being nice, or was she genuine? who knows.


But its not just that. It doesn't just stop there. My family was out to dinner once and a lady basically lingered near our table, looking at me, whispering to her friends and then finally came over (I thought I had something in my teeth!). She stopped me to say, "I love your hair!!". Oh, thanks! You TOO can have a bob if you visit the salon where I work!

This morning is what really made me think of the insanity. My neighbor, whom I talk to on occasion, but not enough to know her last name, asked me, "oh are you letting your hair grow out? I noticed you had a clip in it the other day!". Actually, yes I am three weeks overdue for a cut, (thanks for noticing), but some of the stylists at work think I should let it grow a little longer to shape it back up before the wedding. This is getting way out of control.

I recently had a man at K-mart stop and touch my hair. He had his wife with him! I guess this is how pregnant women feel when they have people touching their bellies!

So, in honor of my hair, I thought I'd post a few photos of me with my many different styles throughout the years: The first one is recent, but not quite as blonde now, the second is from the year 2000, before I chopped it and I was quite smashed at a wedding during those photos, the third is from when I was in high school sporting the "Rachel" haircut and the last is my ultimate favorite b/c it suits me best!

What a Day!

3 brow waxes
1 back wax
1 bikini wax
2 facials
no a/c in my vehicle and the heat index is 113 degrees.

= one tired Esthetician.

PS> Lots of excitement for tomorrow though...after work, my boyfriend's Mom and her friend are coming down to visit, PLUS Courtney (my old roommate from college) and one of my all time best friends is also coming to Charleston! I can't wait!