Southwestern Eggs, Horses, & Toilet Water

Today I woke up and got breakfast sizzling away. Home fries, and southwestern eggs. I only had a few eggs, but I had a cartoon of fresh of the farm eggs,needing to be washed before using. We do not have our own chickens right now so I've been getting my brown farm fresh eggs from my husbands family farm, called "The Crosspatch" (). I love southwestern eggs, you know fully cooked, add some cheese, and top off with salsa!!! Yum, I really look forward to Sunday breakfast with the family. Usually we have a hard time waking my teenage daughter up, but with the smell of fried butter, potatoes scratching the pan with season salts sizzling it wasn't hard to get her to join the family.

After breakfast we all putted around the house doing this and that and then dressed to head to The Cross Patch. We have 2huge black Percheron horses that have been there for a couple months. They have an unbelievable black and white gypsy vanner stud and he is going to the auction in march. This led us to housing our 2drafts there for the winter to breed with him. This breeding was a process to. I am learning farm life as I have only lived and been around farms for 3years, yup I'm a city girl (probably why I'm a hair stylist). Now our black beauties are around 17-18hands high (68-72inches high from ground to withers), while Roy the studdley horse he is stands at about 15.5hands high(60inches). So breeding horses that are much taller than the stallion is quite a chore if your going to "do it" the good ol' fashion way, which we did. So a special platform was built and well we would back a mare up to the platform, while Roy would step up, literally, on the platform and they would do they thing. This was strange for me I think I even used the words "I feel like I'm watching horse porn" because it was so awkward. However, if it means we get beautiful foals than by all means bring on the porn..lol. Our horses have been breed and hopefully they took and we will have foals by Christmas.

In the mean time my husband (and I when I can) and my son have been going there almost everyday to help out with chores. TODAY WAS AWESOME!!! The little yellow machine that picks up the big bales of hay that drives out to the field to feed the horses was broken. Battery, starter, who knows, but what my husband did know was nighttime was setting in and only about an hour of daylight left. While his uncle messed with the machine, my husband grabbed our horses, harnessed them and told uncle Jim they were ready to work. YUP, the machine may be broke but the horses can work with out a starter or battery. So on went the forecart, and out to the field to get the wagon. Into the barn and the boys(my son and his cousin) adrenaline was pumping. They love climbing up on the bales sometimes four high, but it's like barn rule to not play on the hay and climb. They could fall or a bale could fall on them, and really we don't play with our food so we should play with the horses either. Well today they could climb and push and shove those bales down onto the wagon. Three loaded and my husband was off "step up" is the command to make our girls go! When they got back to the barn yu could tell they hadn't been worked in a while. Chores done, now off to home to do our own chores for the 3 other horses we have at home and me into the kitchen to cook dinner. When chores were down my husband came in and was like a school boy. He was exhausted but he had tons of feel good vibes, from being able to work with Max and Lace ( our girls nicknames max for Maxine and lace for Lacey).

To end the night here I am blogging, husband (his nickname is Bigs)is sleeping on the couch, two oldest kids in bed for school tomorrow, and my 3year old cries in the chair. Why is my little Miss Olive Amelia crying....well because I must be a mean mom because I don't believe in playing with tub toys in the toilet water, and she just doesn't understand why!!!

Roll with the Punches

Today was fantastic...well actually this whole week. There have been a few stumps I've had over the last few weeks but when you roll with the punches man can things happen!

A co-worker that went home for the weekend back to Pittsburg called and her grandmother passed away. I remember my own grandmother passing. My husband and I were living in North Carolina at the time I was pregnant and 2weeks away from having our son when I got the news. The plan was my mom was going to comedown and stay with my husband and I and watch our 2year old little girl when I went into delivery. I knew my gramma was sick and she had gone through so many surgerys, and suffering, so when I got the phone call....well a lump filled my throat and I felt confused. I cried and I was sad, my husband was with me. He was only going to be here until the birth of our son and than he was being shipped to Kosovo. So the emotion of not being able to say goodbye to my gramma, not being able to be home during this time, knowing my husband was leaving, and now facing the task of giving birth without my mom being by my side to help Was both physically and emotionally. Thanks to my aunts and uncles they all mourned and with a few days to spare my mom was able to make it down before our son was born. So when this employee called and said she wasn't sure what the arrangements were yet, all I could say while thinking of my own gramma was to "take the week off, we'll let your clients know and just don't worry about up here". In times like these you need to be with your family,and time to grieve with family. I called the salon and started rearranging schedules. I also found out that one of our assistants that was changeing to part time because she's going back to school, decided to make tuesday her last day of work to just focus on school.

Sooooo we have 3 stylists and 1 assistant to run the salon the rest of the week (we are open 9am - 8:30pm)! Lucky for us tuesday night the salon was closing at 6pm for a business class! With business as normal minus our full staff, it ened up being amazing week. The business class was energetic and inspiring as always. We had a mini P.K. class on a new product line;called Scruples (which we found after using it this week this stuff is AWESOME) Myself and another stylist ended up working one day each from 9am till 830 and as tired as we should have been, I think knowing how much we love our business and our clients and each other we just rolled with the punches.

On Saturday by 12:00 all three of us stylists were booked and the assistant was busy with pedicures....our boss came in, saw this and called over to the Mothership (our other bigger location) and sent over a stylist to help. Funny thing, as soon as we knew that it was like magnetic "we've got openings" vibe got sent out to the community because within 15 minutes, she was booked solid too. Let me tell you a little comic relief that summed up the week. I've been a stylist for 14years and I know my stuff. Well we were so busy on Saturday, I forgot to focus and when I went to shampoo a client I just simply let go of the hose. Now if you've been in a salon an seen this happen you know it is hilarious. I tried to grabbed the hose and without knowing it managed to put it back in the holder, so now it's streaming straight in my face! My hands are flapping at the water, my shirt is getting soaked, I am laughing and finally I turn the water off. I soak the whole left side of the salon. Everyone is laughing, at this point I can't see because my makeup is running down my face, my glasses are drenched and my hair is dripping like a wet dog. I am laughing so hard and my client says very subtle "I didn't know if I should get up or stay here, but I didn't even get wet" . This sets me off into tearful laughing and ....I quickly crossed my legs to avoid another type of liquid to flow down my legs!!!! Well needless to say I now look NOT like a fashion forward stylist, but like a wet dog that didn't know how to put makeup on correctly.....I finished every client with smiles and my hair looking crazy!

Sooooo roll with the punches I did do this week. From sunup to sundown everyday was great. Although there were fumbles along the way I think between the business class and knowing the other girls on my team had hearts of gold I managed to stay sane and in good spirits. I can honestly still say "life is Good"!!!!!

This is AWESOME

I am a hairstylist that also manages the salon I am in. This week I talked with my mentor manager and she told me as "manager your not always going to be liked, and to care for and nurture a business tough decisions need to be made". This was a concept I once new but went soft in trying to please everyone with Flexible schedules, distributing clients out fairly, trying to teach the stylist that truly do not want to learn, and not getting rid of the bad apples.Wellllll I may not own the salon I am in but being manager I put my hard earned knowledge and endless hours into it.

The owner of the salon, told me story too, he said "I had a partner and we had two salons. We decided to split and had to split the staff. My partner he wanted all the master stylists. I just wanted to be done with the partnership so I said take um, go. You know what I had left? New girls that didn't know anything. You know what I did? I molded them created them the way I wanted, if a girl couldn't learn my way, than I got rid of them, and today I have one of the most successful businesses in Western New York. You see I knew what it takes, and Andrea you do to. I want you to get the girls mold them, train them, grow them. You know color, that's what you do, show them what you know. You know what happened to the girls that stayed with my partner? Gone all of them, no one stayed with him, no one learned from him, instead they just left."

So what does this mean, well just that....start from the ground put roots into the girls and grow them to be big and bountiful. Now in my business a bunch of girls, there is drama, there are headaches, and there are sacrifices that have to be made. Some will leave, some will stay, but most of all I have the ability to take those that are dedicated that want to learn and grow, that want to have fun and bring them into the most amazing career out there. This means if I take a girl and make her head of the nail department, she will actually know her job, know how to give 100% customer service, she will know all the products and how to do the services right, she will know how to retain clients, and how to teach others to be just like her. She will know what it means to truly be the leader of that division. THIS IS AWESOME! If I have.......Wait I am saying I when what I should be saying is if "We" we because it's a team. Our salon revolves around team work, it revolves around those that want to see a prosperous work place, it revolves around the team players that attend all classes, promotions, any outside events the salon participates in, and most of all team players that actually want a life long career in the business! So, now if We as a team decide that a future RISING STAR has the passion and driving force within them than yes we give them 100% of ourselves to bring them to the next level. If that future star shows lack of effort,or shows signs of controversy than I vow "YES I SAY I" to not let them take down our energy or our driving force!

In a salon things can change fast and rapidly crumple, just as I felt everything was slipping away, tonight we had a class. Oh and thank god we did. It's at a time when what my mentor manager, and the salon owner now all makes since! I feel the end is not near , but instead the beginning has begun to rise...tonight was an awaking of who I am, what I am, and what I am about to become!!!!!

There are Pessimist, optimist, and yes I have both with in me, but what I know most is above all there is the opportunist and that is what I am is an OPPORTUNIST....so my friends that are near welcome to the Andrea you once knew in a little place that was know as Rapunzel's. It was no fairy tale, it was my life and I am starting to make this Rapunzelgirl come off the shelf, shake off the dust and DO MY THING! To those that do not know me, know this...never ever let what you know, be put away and collect dust, stand up for what you know, don't be afraid to say what needs to be done, even if it makes enemies, because hey everyone can't always be happy. Especially those that are not OPPORTUNIST, so no matter what always LIVE LIFE LOUD!!!!!!!!

"Kiss Cancer Goodbye"

As a hairstylist I realize I will always work on Saturdays, however to take one off here and there can brighten my whole world! Usually I take a Saturday off to "work" lol, confusing but I will leave the salon and travel to a a hair show/training and work. I'm sorta addicted to my career! So the first weekend in March off to Chicago I fly to work Americas Beauty Show. While I'm there I will celebrate my 35th birthday. I wish my husband could be there with me, but he cannot. Good news I am taking a co-worker with me. Ironically enough this is a stylist that I totally think secretly we should be best friends outside of the salon because we get along so well , but in the salon, well....I think her husband calls us "Alpha Dogs" because we are to much alike. Well I seriously can't wait to work with her and hang with her for an entire weekend and I can't wait to share my birthday with her! So jasmine, Chicago, and 35 birthday here I come!!!!

At the end of the month I am taking a Saturday off NOT FOR WORK! I have found I truly love living on a farm, and horses and all animals. My mom asked me if I would go to the parelli tour with her and I immediately said yes. I don't often spend time out of the salon, or with my mom, or to learn about horses, so I am looking forward to my time away from the salon once again, this time for myself not work.

Finally in June I haven't even told my boss..oh yeah he will probably be mad, but once again I'm taking a Saturday off. In ellicottville, ny there is a 5k run called "kiss cancer goodbye". This will be the first time Ever I've run a 5k. After the birth of my first child in 1997, I kept gaining weight. It was seeing a good friend lose 50lbs that inspired me to start losing weight too. Than another friend that not only lost over 200lbs but also started running marathons made me say "I can do this too"! But which one, where, will I be ready? Well when I saw this run I thought yes this is the one. My dad has kidney cancer and my family went through hell dealing with it. It's still hard when every three months he goes back to Roswell to see if it's returned, or grown in size. My aunt she too had cancer. I love that women, and she made the choice to lose her breasts rather than her life. Then there are my clients in the salon. I can't tell you how many have gone through cancer, or lost a loved one because of it. Hearing my clients sorrows can take an emotional toll on me, but I stay strong for them. It's funny how at times clients are closer to their own hairstylist than their own family. 3days ago my husband came home and told me his uncle has cancer. This is a stubborn man that so many people rely on. It brought tears to my eyes. Now let me say I have no clue about a 5k but I googled it and I think with 4 months to get myself ready I can do this. If they all can fight for their lives, their family, their sanity, I can run in their honor.

So I will take this particular Saturday off, not for work, not for pleasure, but for all of those that have been affected by this cruel disease of cancer!


I have never pushed my body before so I'm sure it will be hard but I can do it. I am nervous but more importantly I hope this run that so many people will run in will help to truly "kiss cancer goodbye"

Blindsided but not hit by the Bus

What an emotional week. Is it in the water? Well here I sit at Starbucks for my 45minutes of peace before the day begins. At work my co-manager, Stacey, got moved back to Foote Avenue. They are upgrading to the computer system we have and her constant presence is needed. I have loved being part of the Salon 1 family. I from the moment I walked into Foote avenue right up until we opened the 3rd street studio.... I found out this week that (at71yrs old) my boss may be selling the location I am at. What an emotional roller coaster. Does this mean I'll go back to foote ave, or will there not be room. I can't imagine working in another salon, this is now home for me. But then I question, what will happen when he does walk way, who will take over, will it be the same. Is this a sign, that it's time to move on? Is times like these that make me miss my own salon Rapunzel's. Should I look at going into business for myself again. What does it all mean, do I find a booth to rent? It's not panic time, but I do worry about my clients. Some drive more than an hour to be with me. I'm sure there are other stylists that can live up to my expectations, but who? I devote hours to further education. I devote hours to being an educator, I devote hours to being the best I can be....I honestly don't know another stylist in a 45mile radius that does what I do. I feel like a bus has hit me....but wait I caught a glimpse before it ran me over and now I see the future of possibilities. I have a lot of soul searching. My dad has encouraged me to look into sales...possibly my own distributors hip branch. Could I do that, financially? I love being behind the chair. I love doing hair, I love crating. My husband says when the time is right you'll know what to do. He is right I always do! For now I go to work at my beloved Salon 1 and hope the future will unfold without obstacles. No worries I'm not going anywhere. I do know through this emotional roller coaster to rely on myself.i am a go getter, I seek and attack situations. I know right ffrom wrong, I know when I've been played or used. I think what hurts the most is I am a smart business women. Where has my head been, on easy street perhaps. It is possible I went with the flow to much instead of making the waves people around me are use to. I do know this, sometimes you have to fall deep down before you become a rising star. My friend Mary Gamble from behindthechair.com taught me this. Also my friends at Life is Good taught me to be open, remember your inner child, and most of all don't change who you are for the corporate world. I am thankful for them and for all who swarms my presence...I feel after writing this I can laugh today, it's been over 4 days since I smile. TODAY I WILL RULE THE WORLD, so to speak, with open arms and I am ready for the future!

I am Iluminati

The term Illuminati, is the plural of the Latin, Illuminatus, meaning "one who is illuminated." the Iluminate states "The most difficult decision in life is choosing whether to walk away or try harder"! What a concept, walk away or try harder. What I have found to be true in life is I am a successful person. Not due to the money I make, the happiness I have, or the items in my possession, but because I simply try harder every day. To say "I will just walk away" is not reasonable. When you walk away and leave it in your past at some point it will reach up from behind and become your twisted new present. If you take the moment your in, give it your all, try harder with each moment you will know you'll never have to walk away. You gave 100% of the being that you are to become successful in that breathe. I think people who give there their all are the true "Iluminati" in life. I think most of the people I surround myself with are Part of my own order of the Iluminati, they are the ones that others come to for advice, direction, and a ear to listen. Their minds do not stop thinking, or rest, but instead create new obstacles to create new solutions. I don't know any single person in my direct circle of friends, or family that say I'm just gonna walk away. The people in my "Order of the Iluminate" are the ones that go above and beyond their best and have the highest goals, they take each moment and live it they are the ones that are illuminated!! ....and for this I thank them and I constantly challenge my own steps towards my next successful moment.

Finding your labyrinth

Sitting at one of my favorite places, the labyrinth press company. It's a merge of artist expression, great coffee, and vegetarian dishes. As I sit here I hit I listen to a young girl talking to a reverend about her life. Sounds like she has parents that aren't active in her life and a guidance councilor who doesn't give this kid a chance. He she is talking to a man of god. I think god works in mysterious ways, somehow through this man this young girl has hope. She is excited to talk to him about school, and he listens and advises. He is extending his hand of humanity saying " you are loved and cared about" . Why can't more people be mentors toward these young kids....oh my gosh she said "asshole" in front of him. He said back some people don't know how not to be. Yes that sounds like good advice " some people know how not to be an asshole" . I know plenty of them.
Another table is a couple holding hands. One has a coffee the other it looks like a smoothie. They are to far away for me to hear them. Secretly I think they are planning their future together. You can tell how much he adores her by the way he holds her hand.
A rickety old chair sits in front of me, filled with some Brit kid that goes to the local community college. He is talking to his buddy about the professors.
I love this moment. Just sitting here, writing, living in the moment. There is so much culture and entertainment around each nook of the labyrinth. The is a painting on the wall I want to buy. It's $40.00, I think I'll go buy more paint supplies tonight and paint my own. I think when people get down on their community they haven't found their "labyrinth" filled with life....is there just keeping looking, or perhaps you can come to 4th street and enjoy the atmosphere and fall in love with my labyrinth!

If the grass is greener...

Proven point!
When you work in a business that relies on referrals it's a proven fact that if you just talk they will follow. Or so they say.....
I've been doing hair for 15 years. The salon I'm in now is about 40minutes away from where I live. I've been down on my luck lately and the grass is looking a whole lot greener on the other side. Living in one area and working in another has made the road rougher than what I thought.

To make this potentially long story short, I have failed myself. It's hard to admitt but I say it loud that way I remember. I have used every excuse in the book on why my business isn't as busy as I was at my own salon. I especailly use "well im not from here" excuse. EXCUSE is the perfect word.....people in my business say talk about what you do, I have not done this for a longggggg time. Today for lunch I decided to try Cibo Cafe. I had a bourbon burger with cottage cheese and there homemade brownies.....yum as I chew it down. When the waitress brought me my meal and viola the chance for me to slip her a card. She told me she just moved back from Florida and loves my color. I'm thinking it's time to fertilize my own lawn???? Yes I did I filled her with my knowledge and hook line and sinker she repeated my name to me 2times. I think she is trying to remember my name for a reason. Ding ding ding yup she ask for pricing...which in return I gave her a personal referral card and she returned to the kitchen. Within 1minute the owner of Cibo cafe came to my table, Brian introduced himself and asked how our big fashion show just went. Which means my waitress went in the kitchen and talked about the girl from Salon 1, for him to come out and ask about the event we just finished on saturday night. Well I caught him up to speed we exchanged hand shakes and he was excited to share his business information with me. Now I'm sure he to would become my client except for one thing, HE IS COMPLETELY BALD!

So to say I have failed myself is a big admittance, but today I talked. Everyone in the biz says if you just talk about what you do it will make a difference. Today that point was proven and I'm back in action. I thank you to the leaders in my industry that remind me to do what I do best "just talk"!!!!! (and let me add I got the best fertilizer around so watch out)......

Living amongst the Muck!

A little unknown fact about me is I do have a life outside of the Salon. Hard to believe but true.
My husband and I made our vows in 1997 and since then I've been on the go with work. I worked in a commission salon, a booth rent salon, even my own salon. Each day I would go to work 8-10 and sometimes more hours. I come home and my mind is racing with ideas for the salon. Honestly I don't know how my husband has handled my business mode, but he has. I love my job so much I even became a national educator for Matrix a division of L'Oreal from 2005 - 2011, an international director for Babe Hair Extensions from 2009 - 2012, and I now work as part of the Wella Proffessional team a division of Procor and Gamble. Guess what I do all this outside of my regular day job in the salon. I seriously love my career, but.....oh there is a but; 3 years ago my whole life changed.
Three years ago my husband and I purchased a farm house with land. We got some animals and soon I found myself thinking about home while I was working in the salon. Ahha my life outside of the salon. As much as I love my salon life and life on the road I find myself daydreaming about riding horseback, or driving a carriage, or running around chasing pigs, goats, and chickens. Soon after our move my husbands family nicknamed me "pig farmer" as silly as this is I love it. Pigs are the stinkiest animal I've ever been around, I'd rather muck a horse stall than a pig pen any day. I have found fresh farm eggs have a better flavor than store bought, raising our own meat has more meaning at dinner than ever before, and everyday I fall in love with my husband again as he teaches me new things. This year I have started taking horse back riding lessons. My hope is that I some day can become a team penning fanatic or barrel race.
I'm sure you will read my funny stories (blogs I should say) as time goes by. I actually have taken my stories of motherhood, life behind the chair, and living amongst the muck and I'm creating a comedy skit I hope to use at the laberynth Press Company's open mic night. I am truly at home when I am in the salon everyday, however I found my home outside of the salon at "Broken Beam Farm" ( that's the name of our farm, how we named our farm is for another blog )!