There is No Box, Never Was...

Repost from Louise Hay's Newsletter

2012-01-18T20:05:00.000-06:00

Louise Hay has been an influential author/mentor in my life since I first discovered her book

"You can Heal Your Life" in the early 1980's. I have followed her teachings ever since!

This re-post is from her first online newsletter. Try a little exercise - look at your self in the mirror and

look right into your eyes, say your name and "I LOVE YOU" out loud. Sounds easy right?

Have a great hair day and a day full of self love! Becci

I have found that there is only one thing that heals every problem, and that is: to love yourself. When people start to love themselves more each day, it's amazing how their lives get better. They feel better. They get the jobs they want. They have the money they need. Their relationships either improve, or the negative ones dissolve and new ones begin.

Loving yourself is a wonderful adventure; it's like learning to fly. Imagine if we all had the power to fly at will? How exciting it would be! Let's begin to love ourselves now.

Here are 12 Commandments to help you learn how to love yourself:

Stop All Criticism.
Criticism never changes a thing. Refuse to criticize yourself. Accept yourself exactly as you are. Everybody changes. When you criticize yourself, your changes are negative. When you approve of yourself, your changes are positive.

Forgive Yourself.
Let the past go. You did the best you could at the time with the understanding, awareness, and knowledge that you had. Now you are growing and changing, and you will live life differently.

Don't Scare Yourself.
Stop terrorizing yourself with your thoughts. It's a dreadful way to live. Find a mental image that gives you pleasure, and immediately switch your scary thought to a pleasure thought.

Be Gentle and Kind and Patient.
Be gentle with yourself. Be kind to yourself. Be patient with yourself as you learn the new ways of thinking. Treat yourself as you would someone you really loved.

Be Kind to Your Mind.
Self-hatred is only hating your own thoughts. Don't hate yourself for having the thoughts. Gently change your thoughts.

Praise Yourself.
Criticism breaks down the inner spirit. Praise builds it up. Praise yourself as much as you can. Tell yourself how well you are doing with every little thing.

Support Yourself.
Find ways to support yourself. Reach out to friends and allow them to help you. It is being strong to ask for help when you need it.

Be Loving to Your Negatives.
Acknowledge that you created them to fulfill a need. Now you are finding new, positive ways to fulfill those needs. So lovingly release the old negative patterns.

Take Care of Your Body.
Learn about nutrition. What kind of fuel does your body need in order to have optimum energy and vitality? Learn about exercise. What kind of exercise do you enjoy? Cherish and revere the temple you live in.

Do Mirror Work.
Look into your eyes often. Express this growing sense of love you have for yourself. Forgive yourself while looking into the mirror. Talk to your parents while looking into the mirror. Forgive them, too. At least once a day, say, "I love you, I really love you!"

Love Yourself... Do It Now.
Don't wait until you get well, or lose the weight, or get the new job, or find the new relationship. Begin now—and do the best you can.

Have Fun.
Remember the things that gave you joy as a child. Incorporate them into your life now. Find a way to have fun with everything you do. Let yourself express the joy of living. Smile. Laugh. Rejoice, and the Universe rejoices with you!

Mastermind Group Study with Vivienne Mackinder

2012-01-02T20:12:00.000-06:00

I'm looking forward to starting the "Mastermind Series" group study

this Wednesday January 4th!

The entire 7 weeks costs $550.00 for you, your salon management or your entire salon! So if you have 5 team members in your salon it will cost a really low price of $16.00 a week for each team member and less if you have more on your salon team! It's so rare to have the opportunity to learn directly from such a renowned industry leader as Vivienne not to mention the special guests she will have on the calls each week! (Frank Gambuzza, Virginia Meyer, Lois Christy, Lyn Christian, Winn Claybaugh, Jo Blackwell-Preston and Mary Brunetti!)

Here is the info if you'd like to register yourself or your entire salon team at:

http://hairdesignertv.com/mastermind/or

You can also send an email to education@mackinder.com

Or you can call: 866-484-8622 if you'd like to talk to Vivienne or Dina.

(click on photo for large view)

Mastermind Group Study on
"The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership"
Facilitated by: Vivienne Mackinder

This is a 7-week in-depth study that will afford you the opportunity to join forces and mastermind with a unique group of like-minded individuals who are focused on taking results in every area of their lives to a new level. Having the support and ideas from other focused and driven people allows us to see things differently and to get a new perspective on goals and action plans. Together, we will learn how to effectively raise our leadership lid by understanding and implementing the principles of :

"The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership"

by the best selling author John Maxwell

http://www.johnmaxwell.com/meet-john/

See you on Wednesday and

have a great hair day! Becci

Investing in Myself and My Career With - Vivienne Mackinder and HairDesignerTV.com

2011-12-26T09:34:00.000-06:00

I am a team member andambassador and for Vivienne Mackinder and HairDesigherTV.com.Being part of Vivienne's team has enriched my life and my career in so many greatways! It all began about 2 years ago when I signed up for a month’s membershipwith HDTV I was so excited to discover HDTV because at that time the lack ofcontinued education for our industry was such a shame especially locally herein Kansas! I had been in the hairstylingbusiness for nearly 30 years and was starving for new information and newideas. Because of all the valuable training and education that I've received from Vivienne and HairDesignerTVI am ready to go into my next 30 years as a hairstylist full of inspiration,information, creativity and confidence and I want to share it with everyone! It’strue that when we discover something really neat we just want to stand on thehighest building and tell the whole world so as an Ambassador for Hair DesignerTV I want to tell everyone and help motivate as many hairstylists out there wholove this industry and help to stir up their passion for their career just as Iwas inspired by Vivienne to re-ignite the passion in my career!

~ 2012 is going to be a great year to

turn up the fire and let our passions run wild! ~

These video clips will tell youa little about who Vivienne is and give you an idea of what Vivienne’s dreamand goal is for HairdesignerTV or HDTV is.

Part One

Part of Two

If you don't believe your career is important and that it's not worth investing in then take a look at the trailers to the "Your Not Just a Hairdresser" series by Vivenne Mackinder! I have a feeling that you will change you mind and that your view will change and the value in yourself will increase ten fold!

View the trailers of the series here:http://hairdesignertv.com/INAH.php

Have a great hair day!

Red Velvet Cookies

2011-12-03T17:50:00.001-06:00

Originally from Corina Nelson

INGREDIENTS:
- 1 box Red Velvet Cake Mix (Becci’s notes will be in blue: I like "Moist Deluxe")
- 2 eggs
- 1/3 cup of oil
For FROSTING:
- 4 oz softened cream cheese
- 1/4 cup room temperature butter
- 1 tsp heavy cream
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 cups powdered sugar
This is so easy… seriously! First preheat your oven to 375 degrees!
1. Grab the cake mix, eggs, and oil. Add them all to your bowl/stand mixer and beat until combined. IF you want, you can sift the cake mix to make sure you don’t get any mix lumps! (I sifted and was not sorry for taking the extra time).
2. Using a scoop (my scoop gives about 1 tablespoon or so), start dividing up your cookies. Scoop and roll in the palms of your hands to shape and smooth. (Although the dough isn’t as sticky as I thought it would be I still I smeared a touch of cooking oil in my tablespoon measuring spoon and kept my hands a little oiled to keep the stickiness under control better.)
3. Place each one on a baking sheet. (The original recipe didn’t say if it was on a greased or ungreased cookie sheet so I used parchment paper).
4. Bake in the oven at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes. I like my cookies slightly under done so I take them out at 9 minutes, no more, no less! (My oven was perfect at the full 10 minutes). It's actually pretty easy to tell when these guys are close to done since the tops of them WILL crack, some more than others!
5. Let them cool slightly on a wire rack and in the meantime, make your frosting! You could totally cheat here and use a tub of pre made stuff too... I promise, I won't tell :) (Next time I’ll use the boxed mix but I’m going to use Grandma Jeanne’s frosting which I’ll add the recipe at the end here).
6. Cream butter and cream cheese together until light and fluffy and combined. Add vanilla and cream. Then slowly add the powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time. (I just used a good ole fashion spoon to mix this).
7. Ok set that aside for a minute... now it's time to make your cut outs! You could really use any cookie cutter, but try and find ones that are less than 3/4" or so! I chose hearts because, well, it just goes with the red cookies :) I got these at Michael's, right in the baking/cake decorating aisle! (I used a washed and dried hair spray lid to make circles!)
8. Divide cookies up into pairs. They should all be similar in size if you used a scoop or spoon to measure, but the oven may have made them a little "off"! I think I got 24 cookies, so I got to make 12 sandwiches! Take the "tops" of each cookie and cut out away!
9. OK back to doing something productive right? Grab the other "half" of your cookie sandwich and turn it over. This should be a more flat surface! Grab some of your frosting and plop it right down in the center. Smooth it out towards the edges slightly. Not too far out though since once you place the top on it will spread even more.
10. Grab the tops of your cookie and place it right on top!

Share them with someone you adore and love....

Madsen Bikes - Too Cute!

2011-12-03T10:40:00.000-06:00

I'd love to have one of these bikes!

HairDesignerTV.com and the Holland Lesson

2011-11-21T20:26:00.000-06:00

HairDesignerTV (HDTV) is a postgraduate, online learning and networking site for salons and stylists. World renowned hairstylist Vivienne Mackinder has condensed 30 years of her knowledge and experience into a comprehensive and highly-accessible educational series. We use streaming video, audio, animation, colorful graphics and printable lessons to demonstrate all the latest cutting trends, hair coloring techniques, dress work and more.

As many of you know I am an ambassador and educator for Vivienne and HDTV.

Please feel free to contact me anytime if you have questions
about learning new ideas or becoming a member of HairDesignerTV!

YourHairdresser@cox.net

This is “Holland” one of the dress work styles I compleated for the

“Certification Program”with HairDesignerTV.com.

(Click the photo to see better detail)

The first row is the actual lesson that I followed. Then after I got that finished I thought I'd loosen it up a bit for a softer look. The Holland Style is a beautiful classic look that can be adjusted to fit any personality. I love the contrast of exact same style!

Have a great hair day Becci!

Steve Jobs Commencement Speach Helps Mood Swings! YEA!

2011-08-25T10:13:00.000-05:00

This morning I woke up feeling not so good. I hate it when this happens because I have absolutely no reason to feel so f-ed up in my head! I have such a great family, I have a nice home a new car, I love my hairdressing studio, I am on a prestigious hairdressing team with HDTV, I'm healthy - so what on earth do I have to be so upset over?! My doctor says "now that you're getting older you need to get ready for the hormone roller coaster ride, it's going to be a doozy!" (What an idiot). Anyway, this morning I decided to try to chill out and go into Internet world and try not to think too deeply about stuff. I got my morning cup of coffee and sat down to check my Google+ messages. First post in my stream was from Tom Anderson. He shared this extremely moving video of Steve Jobs speech at Stanford U! I doubt it will stop my mid-life mood swings but hey it helped tremendously today! Please take the time to listen to his words. It's about 14 minutes and so worth it! Remember just how much control we really do have with our lives!

Layers Salon ~ Spring 2011 Newsletter

2011-08-09T09:34:00.002-05:00

Click on the newsletter to view a larger version you'll be able to read better.

If you missed the Spring 2011 Newsletter click here to read it. Remember you can click on the newsletter itself to see a larger version of it.

If you know of someone who may be interested in reading this feel free to forward it on to them.

I am always open to any ideas or feed back so feel free to let me know what you think!

Have a great hair day! Becci

2011 NAHA Awards Presentation LIVE

2011-07-31T10:10:00.004-05:00

You need to install or upgrade Flash Player to view this content, install or upgrade by clicking here.

Sign up to see the

2011 NAHA awards presentation LIVE

Presented FREE by HairDesignerTV
in association with the Professional Beauty Association http://hairdesignertv.com/showsignup.phpSunday, July 31st 9:00pm EST

Remember to check your time zone
http://www.town-usa.com/timezoneworldclocks.html

http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html

REGISTER FREE! Then Go To HairDesigner.TV.com/webcast.php

http://hairdesignertv.com/showsignup.php

You're welcome to chat with us live too!

Jamie Oliver's TED Prize wish: Teach every child about food

2011-07-27T18:59:00.001-05:00

Again, I know watching these videos is time consuming but I believe knowledge is so important. Ignorence is depressing, it causes fear and it's just not good! Although "Wilfred" is super funny, and South Park re-runs are freakin' hilarious they just don't do much on giving us the knowledge we deserve. It's about having a balance right?

So grab a tall glass of ice water, put your comfy clothes on and enjoy Jamie sharing powerful stories from his anti-obesity project in Huntington, W. Va., TED Prize winner Jamie Oliver makes the case for an all-out assault on our ignorance of food.

Look at your child and tell me they don't deserve to know how to be healthy.

http://www.ted.com/talks/jamie_oliver.html

"My wish is for you to help a strong sustainable movement

to educate every child about food, to inspire families to cook again,

and to empower people everywhere

to fight obesity"

~Jamie Oliver

TED is a nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment, Design. Since then its scope has become ever broader and the content has expanded to include science, business, the arts and the global issues facing our world. http://www.ted.com/

Thandie Newton tells the story of finding her "otherness"

2011-07-25T09:06:00.001-05:00

Actor Thandie Newton tells the story of finding her "otherness" -- first, as a child growing up in two distinct cultures, and then as an actor playing with many different selves. A warm, wise talk, fresh from stage at TEDGlobal 2011.

http://www.ted.com/

TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes.

Beautiful Dragon Fly!

2011-07-22T19:59:00.002-05:00

He almost let me me hold him :-)

Nick Arrojo Supports Goldwell Color and Haircare

2011-07-14T12:25:00.002-05:00

I have chosen Goldwell as the hair care and color line to use here in my Layers Salon Studio. One of the reasons I was ready to leave the last salon I was working for was because they chose to discontinue using the Goldwell products - Bummer... have used many leading hair care and color lines over the years have the very best results with Goldwell - hands down. It's a superior product and has the support I need to be able to give you the very best service I can.
As announced on the Arrojo Education Blog ~ Nick Arrojo, industry leader, celebrity stylist and owner of ARROJO Studio and ARROJO Education, and Cory Couts, President and CEO of KPSS, Inc. announced today ARROJO’s endorsement and exclusive use of Goldwell color products. ARROJO has chosen to use Goldwell color exclusively in its Manhattan studio, academy and cosmetology school as well as at all industry trade shows and events at which ARROJO participates. ~

I feel I have made a good choice
and with Nick endorsing Goldwell
I feel I have been validated!

Have a great hair day!

Phone Calls in Our Lives

2011-06-23T10:09:00.000-05:00

To touch base with another person and hear their voice adds a dimension to a relationship deeper than an email or text message will ever do. Touching base in person is even deeper than a phone call but I’m on the phone call right now and I’ll get back to that later.

Texting definitely has its place right along with all the other newest technology are great for quick little bursts of info and updates or a “just thinking of you” message when no conversation is really needed. What I’m realizing is simple but somehow gets lost in the everyday overwhelming amount of the bits of info I get. It’s the human interaction and the resonating sound of our voices.

The vibration of the human voice is considered

one of the most powerful healing forces.

I didn’t have a cell phone until the mid 2000’s and yes I had my hair like that and yes I wore those stupid owl glasses in the 80’s! Why did those glasses ever become the “style”!?

Spring 2011 Newsletter ~ Layers Salon ~ Becci Renfro

2011-05-14T16:49:00.000-05:00

Click on the newsletter to read a larger version.

Crazy Fun!

2011-02-26T16:49:00.000-06:00

Have a great hair day!

and go have an exciting new adventure :-)

What Does Ionic, Ceramic, Tourmaline etc. Have To Do With My Hair Tools?...?

2011-02-21T19:48:00.000-06:00

Quite a few years ago I saved this info from one of my trade magazines, I'm going to guess Modern Salon or American Hairdresser, because when all this technology was new it was and frankly still is very confusing! I hope this helps you to understand a tiny bit better what all the nerdy words mean :-)

I borrowed this pic from LadySpeak

Ceramic - An inorganic nonmetal coating on flatirons that provides constant even heat. If you recall, the Space Shuttle was made with ceramic tiles to control heat. Some less expensive flat irons are made with aluminum plates, but these are not generally recommended because they can be very drying and damaging to the hair.

Electromagnetic Frequency (EMF) - The speed of the electromagnetic wave divided by the wavelength. Blow Dryers that use the lowest electromagnetic frequency to protect ions break water molecules instead of boiling them.

Infrared - Electromagnetic energy at a wavelength or wave lengths somewhat longer than those or red light. Infrared heat warms the hair from the inside out, causing less surface damage. Heat will distribute evenly, straightening hair fast and reducing risk of damage.

Ionic - Produces negative ions which eliminate frizz and static by smoothing and closing the cuticle layer of the hair. Companies that want to provide individuals with a way to retain straighter and smoother hair are using ions more frequently.

Nanotechnology - The application of Naniscience - the science of very small particles. Nano sized ions transfer quickly to hair, creating shine and eliminating buildup, toxins,static and bacteria.

Ozone molecules - Triatomic molecules consisting of three oxygen atoms. Ozone molecules are emitted by some blow dryers to shorten drying time,improve hair health, help hold color, minimize frizz and fly aways.

PTFC Heater - Originally created for NASA for the the aerospace industry, they're now used in flat irons. They not only emit infrared ions, which drastically reduce cold spots and recovery time, but they're also know for their efficiency and precise heat control.

Titanium - A light weight, durable and scratch resistant metal that produces even distribution of heat, prevents static electricity, smooths and seals the cuticle layer of hair and adds shine.

Tourmaline - A semiprecious gem that is a natural source of negative ions and far infrared rays. When used in tourmaline hair styling tools, the crystal emits negative ions - six times more than only ceramic styling tools. These negatively charged ions actually help smooth hair by sealing the cuticles, and helping the hair to retain moisture. These negatively charged ions actually help smooth hair by sealing the cuticle layer and helping the hair to retain moisture. Everyone can benefit from using tourmaline hair styling tools but is best for people who have thick, frizzy or textured hair, or for those who blow dry, straighten or curl their hair on a regular basis.

Top Hair Trends for Winter and How to Get Them

2011-01-04T16:34:00.000-06:00

By: Angie Manson for Behind the Chair.com

Winter hair is particularly challenging. Even though your clients will be bundled up in knit caps, warm scarves and wool coats, they’ll rely on you to create looks that are not only on-trend and fresh, but can hold up to all of those strand-stressing cold-weather layers. Here, top celebrity and editorial stylists break down all the top cut and color trends for winter, plus tips on how to get each look.

What’s Hot: Heavily layered hair, cut to encourage the natural wave, falling just below the collar bone with heavy, chunky bangs

Says who?: Louis Angelo, celebrity stylist, Garren New York and Judy Casey Inc.

You’ve probably seen it on: Denmark model model Freja Beha Erichsen

“Freja Beha Erichsen undisputedly has the most requested, most talked-about hairstyle this season,” says Louis. “What makes this style so refreshing is the length (just above the shoulders) as well as the fringe and natural texture working together. Finally, a style that embraces waves rather than fighting them!” But beware! The look is not for everybody, especially clients who don’t look good with, or aren’t willing to maintain, a heavy fringe.

How to get it: “The most important, key point of this look is to make sure your client has some sort of natural texture,” advises Louis. He says to create a layered cut to encourage natural waves, then enhance them by applying René Furterer Volumea Volumizing Foam to wet hair and blow-drying with a diffuser attachment.

The trend: Rich, lustrous brunette color with natural-looking highlights

According to: Marco Pelusi, celebrity colorist, Marco Pelusi Hair Studio, West Hollywood

As seen on: Model/Actress Carol Alt

“This season is all about ‘easy-does-it’ hair,” says Marco. “A natural, rich brunette with subtle highlights placed off the scalp is right on for winter.” For styling, Marco says that less is more.

Get the look: Grab your large curling irons, folks! Wind large sections of hair around the barrel then break up the curls with your fingers to create flow-y, natural-looking waves. And don’t skimp on the conditioner. “Remind your clients to use a daily leave-in conditioner like Marco™ Color Anti-Frizz Leave-In Conditioner,” he says. “And make sure you offer a deep-conditioning treatment to every client in your chair!”

Trend alert: Full, sexy, free hair—no matter what length—colored in warm tones

Who loves it: Frank Barbosa, celebrity stylist, Frank Antonio Hair and Makeup, Newport, RI

You’ve seen it on: Anne Hathaway in Love and Other Drugs (the long version) and on Abbie Cornish (the short version)

“Hair definitely becomes a gorgeous winter accessory if it’s worn full and sexy under our scarves and hats,” says Frank. “I think we’ll see a lot of big, wintry hair in warm tones to keep us hot under the collar!”

Recreate the trend: For Anne’s style, Frank recommends blow-drying René Furterer Vegetal Sculpting Gel into the hair. Next, wrap hair around a 1-inch curling iron and a ½-inch curling iron, alternating sizes as you move around the head. Make sure you don’t curl the ends! Shake out the curls and it’s ready to be topped off with an adorable knit cap. For Abbie’s full, mid-length bob, blow-dry hair using a round brush and upward movements. “Downward movements will flatten the hair too much,” notes Frank. Allow each section to cool on the brush after heating to lock in the style.

The trend: Short hair and high buns

Who loves it: Jacqueline Bush, celebrity stylist, Exclusive Artists Management

You’ve seen these looks on: Ashlee Simpson, Emma Watson and Janet Jackson (short hair) and Jessica Alba and Sienna Miller (high bun)

“I love Emma’s adorable pixie, Janet’s new short hair and Ashlee’s fresh ‘do,” says Jacqueline. “And the high bun is a great styling option for women with long hair.”

Tips for recreating: The best short cuts are done with a razored texture, and each of these short cuts have round layering. Don’t forget to texturize heavily. “That makes the difference between fresh and modern and ‘soccer mom,’” says Jacqueline. The high bun works best on long hair. First, prep wet strands with René Furterer Vegetal Sculpting Gel then blow dry for volume and bounce. Create a center part then tease the hair at the crown. Leaving a few pieces out around the face, brush hair up into a high ponytail. “It’s okay if the ponytail is not perfect,” she notes. “A slightly undone finish is what makes the look more modern.” The trick to the look is to pin a hair extension “doughnut” at the base of the pony then wrap the pony around the doughnut and pin for added volume and shape. Finish with a small bit of shine pomade and holding spray.

What’s hot for winter: Shiny hair, sleek bobs, and long wavy styles

Cases in point: Christina Ricci, Megan Fox, Uma Thurman

Says who?: Creighton Bowman, celebrity stylist, Exclusive Artists Management

“I find we don't go with any one style these days,” says Creighton. “We change the style and texture with each new season.” Christina is a great example of a celebrity with sleek, shiny, healthy hair, he says, whether she wears it down or up in a slick ponytail, straight and shiny is always the key. “Megan Fox looks great with shiny, highly-styled waves, and Uma Thurman is rocking a sleek, collarbone-grazing bob.”

Recreate the looks: For Christina’s smooth, sleek look, start with blown-out hair using shine-boosting products such as René Furterer Glossing Spray and a flat brush. Create a center part and flat iron the hair. “With this shiny, straight texture you can leave hair down or slick it into a high pony tail,” says Creighton. Megan is working long waves, but instead of a rough beachy texture, she’s opting for blown-out waves with more shine and style. First, blow out the hair with a medium round brush for volume, using René Furterer Volumea Volumizing Foam to add volume. Next, use a large curling iron to create soft waves. Uma’s bob shows off her blond highlights and gives her overall look more drama. This look is all about using your flat iron to create smooth, sleek strands. “Tucking one side behind the ear looks stunning, too!” notes Creighton, who adds that any winter-worthy look isn’t complete without glossy, healthy hair. “Recommend a color gloss to every client, and of course, use a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner to help combat harsh winter weather.”

I was reminded to be thankful

2011-01-03T20:54:00.000-06:00

I was chatting with Barbara, one of my clients who is in her 70’s. I was telling her about a friend of mine who was extremely up-set because she was going to be 30 years old this week and has been freaking out about it all month and how she truly felt her life was just about over! I made the comment to Barb that my friend should be really happy to be only 30 and how I would love to be 30 again and went on to say how at 50+ I realize now how strong I was at 30 and I how nice it was to have so much more confidence and horse sense than when I was in my 20's! At 30 my skin was still soft, no gray hairs and no noticeable wrinkles were appearing yet. Barb interrupted me and sweetly but seriously looked into my eyes and said -

"Becci, I would love to be 50 again"!

I realized right then and there how important it is to really appreciate, enjoy and love ourselves at every age. I will remember that whatever age I am I will appreciate and enjoy the benefits of that age.

Think of Your Hair as Fabric - Sandra Bullocks Hair:

2010-12-19T18:22:00.000-06:00

When you wash and iron a button up cotton shirt you want it to look crisp and hold the creases, so you would choose to use starch to help achieve the crispness you want.

When you wash and iron a silk blouse with ruffles then you would be using a fabric softener to enhance a soft flowing look.

Think of your hair as fabric.

If you want fullness and body choose volumizing products to support curls and fullness.

Such as, volumizing Shampoo, extra hold gel, pomade, paste, and hairspray -

These are the “fabric starches” for your hair.

If you want a sleek smooth hair style then choose softening products

such as smoothing shampoo, creams, silicone serums, spray shine -

These are the “fabric softeners” for your hair.

Have a great hair day! Becci

Retro Chic Hairstyles

2010-11-28T20:57:00.000-06:00

I believe YOU would look like

a class act with

your hair in waves!

If you would like your hair styled like this call me! Contact me :-)

By Becci Renfro

More Retro Chic Hairstyles - Here

YOU are the reason I love my career!

2010-10-17T12:05:00.002-05:00

You can click on this to open a larger view

then double click on that to see it even larger..'

Have a great hair day! Becci

TaTaTiana Gets Her Yearly Physical - Its all about early detection!

2010-10-10T20:38:00.001-05:00

Getting regular screening tests is

the best way for women to lower their risk of dying from breast cancer.

Screening tests can find breast cancer early, when it's most treatable.

http://ww5.komen.org/default.aspx

TaTaTiana loves taking care of her self on a regular basis.

She knows her beautiful body is a gift from her maker.

TaTaTiana appreciates her gift and she takes care of it faithfully!

This is a link to TaTaTianna's trip to

Progressions Salon and Day Spa

for her day of pampering:

http://beccirenfro.blogspot.com/2009/10/tata-tiana-pink-sock-creature-goes-to.html

Mammograms really aren't that bad...

are they?!

Yearly PAP tests too please...

Stay well you beautiful ladies!

Chicken Noodle & Wild Rice Soup

2010-10-10T15:09:00.000-05:00

It's a chilly early fall Sunday afternoon...

so it's time to make my favorite soup!

Dare Change

2010-09-22T08:30:00.000-05:00

HairDesigner TV is SO FULL of Information!

2010-09-20T19:35:00.001-05:00

I've spent all afternoon practicing a web site tour to present to my hair stylist friends and am studying the HairDesigner TV website so that I can become an expert on what the web site is all about. I'm doing this because I decided to join Vivienne Mackinder's team and begin training to be an Ambassador for HairDesigner TV.

Ambassador: am•bas•sa•dor /noun
/am-ˈba-sə-dər, əm-, im-, -ˌdȯr, -ˈbas-dər\
a : an authorized representative or messenger
b : an unofficial representative - traveling abroad asasambassadors of goodwill

I am more than happy to help represent and spread the word about

something I believe in and am excited about!

I found the HDTV's on line learning program about 6 months ago. I have looked it over, tried the membership out, did some of the lessons, interacted with some of the employees and with the art team and have thought deeply to see if this was truly a group of people who I could get behind and support.

And I'm here to tell you it certainly is!

I think this on line learning program is one of the very best I’ve ever seen and I’ve been a working hairdresser for a long time! (Email me and I’ll tell you how long). The lessons, the inspiration, the business advice, the web shows, the documentaries and the deep personal interviews inside the minds of experts in the hairdressing field as well as the experts who are not in this field, this and so much more are priceless!

But what made up my mind and sealed the decision to join Vivienne’s

team was I believe in her message. I admire her desire to better

our industry and to enhance our careers as hairstylists and I believe

she does it because she truly deeply cares about and loves our industry!

Anyway, back to what my original thought for this post was…
As I’m clicking around the HDTV web site, which I knew was full of great information, I realized that HairDesigner TV is packed fuller than I originally realized! I am pleasingly shocked at how much is here! And as I’m realizing this, I have also realized that this is only the beginning of HairDesigner TV!

HairDesigner TV is so awesome!

It’s about to explode!

HairDesigner TV

Becci on Facebook

Slight Body to Maximum Volume for Your Hair Style

2010-08-22T18:26:00.002-05:00

Weather you choose to use a curling iron, a round brush & blow dryer or rollers… there is one steadfast rule of thumb to remember.

If you hold the section of hair that is to be curled at a 90 degree angle or straight out from your head no matter where your section is on your head you will get curl and volume. If you hold it at a 45 degree angle you will have curl and medium volume and if it’s held at a 0 degree angle you will have curl but no volume. Ok, say you’d like more than the 90 degree high volume. Hold that section at a 135 degree angle for higher volume or at a 180 degree angle for the highest volume. This applies to every section you‘re going to curl.

Have a great hair day! Becci

Questions? Just ask... :-)

Why Women Love To Buy New Shoes

2010-08-16T07:31:00.000-05:00

Shoes and feet are symbolic.

Women know the importance of taking care of their souls and

protecting and nurturing the foundation of their lives.

Shoes surround and protect our feet which represent our

“souls” and are “our support”

for the foundation we walk on.

.
.

Matrix Mannequin Mania Entry #3

2010-08-08T19:26:00.001-05:00

This is Viola (<--- more about Viola) transformed into a Pandorian!

I made her for my 3rd ( 1st & 2nd entries)

in the Matrix Mannequin Mania Contest!

I guess the next thing I could do is watch the "Avatar" movie!

I just haven't gotten around to it!

:-)

Have a great hair day! Becci

TaTaTiana Goes to Progressions Salon & Day Spa

2010-06-26T20:08:00.002-05:00

When asked "who is the most important person in your life"

most will without hesitation say their children or spouse.

WROoooNG!

The answer to this question is YOU!

YOU are the #1, the Top Cat,

the Queen Diva, Your Royal Majesty!

So take loving care of yourself and stay well mentally and physically.

If you don’t and you get sick and/or go bonkers

then have to go to the funny farm

then who will take care of your family???

TaTaTiana loves her TaTa’s!

She eats well, exercises and gets her yearly diva breast exams
and PAP tests faithfully!

Today for a little a little relaxation and self lovin’ she is going to go to

Progression Salon & Day Spa (here)

and have Becci (Renfro) pamper her all afternoon!

TaTaTiana’s had a very busy schedule with her modeling career and magazine photo shoots for

“Stuffed - The Crafting of Softies”

(Summer 2010 Volume #3 Issue #2 Page 112 & 113).

http://www.stampington.com/html/stuffed_s10.html

Have a great hair day...

and please take care!

You are the only you there is!

:-)

History In The Making!

2010-06-04T20:21:00.002-05:00

Join Vivienne Mackinder and Hair Designer TV

Monday June 7th 8:00 pm EST, 7:00 pm CST , 5:00 pm PST

for a history making episode of VivTV!

View the video promotion here at:

http://hairdesignertv.com/hdtv-blog/?p=751

With over 30 years of experience in the profession each, Mark Hayes and Vivienne Mackinder reunite. Mark Hayes, who Vivienne rates as “the greatest hair cutter in the world”,

is the International Creative Director for Vidal Sassoon.

Join Vivienne and Mark for the upcoming (free) web show where they will demonstrate and share their knowledge on camera. For the first time these two great artists speak candidly and together share their passion, creativity and techniques.

Sign up here:
http://hairdesignertv.com/freeshowdetails.php

The Show Features:

■ Precision cutting – Mark Hayes

■ Edgy Razor cutting – Vivienne Mackinder

■ Interview with Vidal Sassoon

■ The 6 Faces of Fashion – Vivienne’s latest collection as fashion Director for Intercoiffure

■ Dress work demonstration from award-winning artist, Sharon Blain

To learn more about Hair Designer TV

http://hairdesignertv.com/hdtv-blog/

Help With the Oil Spill Cleanup

2010-05-30T12:55:00.001-05:00

http://www.matteroftrust.org/

Another very informative site about making the hair matts:

http://ottimat.com/

Below is the hair we collected in about 5 days at
Progressions Salon and Day Spa
Matter Of Trust sends out addresses the to mail the hair in waves
so that they don't get too much hair all at once. The address changes
with each mailing because the oil spills are constantly moving...
I received our address so I needed to mail in what we had collected so far.
Although it didn't seem like much they said it was and that every single bit matters!

Have a great hair day!

Winn Claybaugh came to Wichita!

2010-05-13T10:57:00.000-05:00

I love Winn because he loves the cosmetology industry and I love how he teaches us to be nice and to love people as well as ourselves. Winn Claybaugh has started a “be nice revolution” http://www.beniceorelse.com/ with his book called "Be Nice Or Else! ". He tells us the time has come for us to be nicer and to be a part of a revolution to create a nicer world. He says that: “You can decide that you will no longer participate in a lifestyle of being mean to people, in big ways, small ways, overtly, covertly, intentionally, or unintentionally. You can decide that you will no longer let good service and kind words go unnoticed. You can decide to show your appreciation for every act of kindness, no matter how small or large. Remember to live life daily as if all people – even strangers – really matter. Everyone deserves to be treated with kindness and respect, and all we have to do is treat others nicely”.

~ This week I was fortunate to meet, shake hands, and receive two hugs and to listen to Winn talk. Thank you to Paul Mitchell the School - in Wichita for inviting us! What NICE people! http://school.paulmitchell.edu/wichita-ks/

A few thoughts Winn shared with us:

There are visionaries, fence sitters and resisters.

Winn reminded us that it’s our natural right to be happy, to feel joy, freedom, contentment anywhere, anytime and with anyone. And that everyone can be a visionary, not just a fence sitter or a resister.

Some of the traits a visionary are:

• They love to say “yes”. Yes to new ideas and new opportunities. And that we can still be a visionary, be nice and say no when we need to. We are not doormats. Winn says being nice is not about being a doormat. We can say “no” - a lot and still be nice.

• Visionaries have an eclectic group of friends. Which means their friends are all ages, have different belief systems, and are from all kinds of different professions etc.

• Visionaries are the first to arrive and the last to leave. Arriving first means to be there early, not right on time. If I have a meeting at 10:00 and I get there right at 10:00 then I’m late. Visionaries will be at the meeting 10 to 15 minutes early and will have no problem staying late after the meeting to try to finish a project, or maybe to visit with the others about their thoughts on the meeting.

• For the visionary it’s not just about the paycheck. They never have that “it’s not my job” attitude. They get things done.

The fence sitter:

• Doesn’t easily make decisions or care what decisions are being made.

• They could go either way.

• A fence sitter’s loyalty and commitments are tied to their mood for that day.

The resister:

• Argues just to do it.

• They are good at planting seeds of negativity all around.

• They criticize they gossip, complain, work hard at not working and will try to convince others not to do their best either.

Everyone will have all 3 of these traits at one time or another. But it’s the nice people who will try to have a visionary’s ideas as often as possible. Some people are born happy and are natural visionaries. For others, it takes work to be happy and to be a visionary. It’s so easy to have that “I don’t give a care” attitude and be a fence sitter or to just not do anything at all like the resister. It takes courage and strength to be the visionary.

Winn reminded us that we always have a choice and can decide which we’d like to be - a visionary, a fence sitter, or a resister.

Like I said, I love this man and I love his idea of reminding all of us that life can be good and it can be happy and all it takes is to simply BE NICE!

:-)

My Mannequin Mania Entries

2010-04-30T09:50:00.061-05:00

Mannequin Mania

First entry:

Princess Flaire of TMI Land

The inspiration for my mannequin head came after seeing a display mannequin that Freddie French was working on in an old film clip in one of Vivienne Mackinder’s documentaries. I think he covered his in wax but I felt the desire to cover mine in newspaper print. One thought leads to another and so began my creation. I find a creative place within my mind and go with the flow. Usually I don’t know how a project will turn out until it’s finished. But I do believe that art will usually reflect the subconscious feelings of the artist. So after stepping back, thinking about and taking a look at Princess Flare I admit that I do feel as though my head is going to explode with all the news and information I am exposed to everyday. These days the news in our world is puzzling and at times is quite a joke to me. At times I feel faceless and like I could easily lose touch with who I really am with so much information!

Second Entry:

Lady Flutterby

I have always been inspired by the styles of the 18th century and while I was doing research on costumes and hairstyles of that time period I came across the meaning of a few phrases that I’ve heard all my life but never knew the origin of “. During the 1700’s time period, it was fashionable to “Powder” the hair or wigs with a pomade and flour. During the course of the day the powder would flake off so it was necessary to excuse one’s self to the “Powder Room” to freshen up. It's was also probable that mice nested in the towering structures because the hair with all the yummy pomade and flour powder still in it had neither been combed nor washed for some time – thus “her hair looks like a rats nest”.

Judging

•In August, our head judges will select the 3 finalists for each category, and Tabatha Coffey will provide her expert commentary on the entries for all to see on MannequinMania.com.
•All finalists will be featured on MannequinMania.com and from September through October, America will vote online to crown our first-ever Matrix Mannequin Mania Masters!
•Judging criteria: Mannequin Originality (34%); Mannequin Execution & finished work (33%); and Originality of responses to Contest questions (33%).

When voting begins...

I'm going to ask for your on-line vote

Have a great hair day!

Becci

Getting Arboreal: A Nature Collection Part III

2010-04-05T11:08:00.002-05:00

This has been virtual photo excursion that

documented a single trees journey from

Winter to Fall to Spring.

My tree is living in Wichita Kansas at

The Botanical Gardens.

You can visit my friend Julie's blog to follow links to see the trees that others have posted on their blogs

http://www.julieprichard.com/lostluggage/2010/4/5/attention-arborists-its-getting-arboreal-week.html

ar·bo·re·al

/ɑrˈbɔriəl, -ˈboʊr-/[ahr-bawr-ee-uhl, -bohr-]

–adjective
1.of or pertaining to trees; treelike.
2.Also, arboreous. living in or among trees.
3.Zoology. Inhabiting or frequenting trees (arboreal monkeys)

Winter

Fall

Spring

Great Hair Day!

2010-03-23T19:31:00.000-05:00

I LOVE my

Painter 11

Photoshop CS2

Wacom Intuos4

Good ole' paint and paint brushes

I started the background last year in

Dustin Parker's

"Center for the Arts" class

where I confess I had no idea what

the hell I or Dustin was doing!

I loved his class.

Little did I know then that his class would be

the beginning of my efforts to not be so perfect

and to stretch my self a little with my art.

Julie, your workshops are a continuation

of my journey to learn "abstract" way of painting :-)

"Layer Love" and " Super Nova".

The background of this painting is from

Dustin's class and is done with real paint & a brush.

Then I digitally painted her hair and dress in Painter11

then finished it up in PhotoshopCS2.

Viola's Transformation #1

2010-03-15T20:27:00.002-05:00

Viola's going to go through

a few transformations.

I plan on trying new things with her hair

so you can see if something

strikes your desires

for a bit of a change.

I used HDTV's "Berlin Cut"
adn Goldwell's "Petal Partings" for her color.

Note:

the darker edge on the underside of her bangs.

This gives the appearence of a shadow!

I LOVE IT!

:-)

Have a great hair day!

2010-03-06T19:58:00.000-06:00

You are not here to duplicate & replicate.

You were born to initiate.

-- Alan Cohen

Have a great hair day!

I do not like when my jeans curl up! Flat Iron - multiple use!

2010-02-26T11:22:00.002-06:00

voilà

Variant(s): or voi·la \vwä-ˈlä\

Etymology: French, literally, see there,

used to call attention, to express satisfaction or

approval, or to suggest an appearance as if by magic!

Unconditional Love from Every Cell

2010-02-23T09:33:00.000-06:00

"Religion, philosophy, greeting cards, self-help books—they all tout the power of love. Being a chronic and earnest spiritual seeker, I have tried to love selflessly in all my significant relationships. I came closest to feeling and activating unconditional love as a mother. I frequently have given it as a friend and a sister, sometimes as a colleague. I fail at it at often (okay, daily) as a wife.

"But with my grandson, blissful and bountiful unconditional love flows from my every cell. I have so much of it I fear I'll drown the poor little guy, so I have to give the excess away."- Elizabeth Lesser

Pseudo Dreds - Faux Locs

2010-02-19T11:35:00.001-06:00

( I know, I know... I spelled PSEUDO wrong...)

Little pieces of copper colored extensions were added here and there to Shawn’s hair otherwise this was done on her real hair.

Good healthy products were used and will be easy to remove with shampoo and conditioner and some patient combing - (hopefully HA!)

We did this on Tuesday and today (Friday) it still looks great! Actually it looks better than it did on Tues. because it’s gotten a bit more matted and is lying flatter to Shawn’s head.

Wouldn't this be the best for Prom?!

I bet the girl who wears Pseudo Dreds steals the spotlight!

Beauty is always there.

2010-02-11T09:53:00.001-06:00

Winter can be a humdrum crappy time of the year, especially for creative people. Creatives are always wanting/needing to create and nothing much inspiring is going on. People are closed up in their homes because of the cold. Nothing is growing, not very many little animals running around, there's not much color - just coldness. Classes, conferences, new stuff in the stores don't kick into gear until closer to Spring time.

Ahhh…thinking about Spring.

I love Spring, things are rested, I am rested and beginning to come alive and get going again!

I feel refreshed and alive in the Spring!

I bet I was a bear in a past life!

If I were a bear I'd make this into my hibernating cave.

This frozen fountain is in Kansas City.

I saw this beauty right in the middle of Winter.

Beauty is everywhere.

It's allways there.

It's there if we choose to see it.

Here is proof of beauty in the midst of humdrum crappy Winter...

Crusade No. 36

2010-02-01T16:09:00.000-06:00

One of my favorite cyber friends (Michelle Ward) has a fun thing going over at he web site.

Every month-ish she posts a fun project to do that is creative, inspiring and fun!

Join in on the fun at:

http://michelleward.typepad.com/how_cool_is_that/

I only compleated 1/2 the project this time but hey...1/2 is always better than nothing at all!

I will have the 2nd 1/2 to do on another day.

I do plan on painting, stenciling and journaling with my snow flakes, I just love Michelles idea!

I've been cutting, styling and painting!

2010-01-29T20:20:00.001-06:00

"Camden" haircut and style with HairDesigner TV (HDTV)

I have joined an online learning and networking site for salons and stylists with Vivienne Mackinder who is a world renowned hairstylist (and my new mentor) and has condensed 30 years of her knowledge and experience into a comprehensive educational series. Even though over the years I have done most of what is being presented in these lessons in one way or another, I'm still learning so much! Vivienne’s idea is to take us back to studying and mastering the basics. Yes, I can put someone’s hair in an up-do and it will look very good and very beautiful when I'm finished but I never have felt I was in control. I feel like I just wing it, which is really just using my intuition but I love the idea of using my intuition and being in control of not only what I’m doing but why I'm doing what I'm doing! Even haircuts and colors can become repeatitious and I'm not thinking about what and why I'm doing what I'm doing... hummm...

In the hairdressing business styles and tastes change and rather quickly I might add! It's very important to me to keep up with these changes. Vivienne encourages us to take pictures, lots of pictures to document what we're doing. She says "the camera will be your best teacher. It will show you things you didn't see before". In this "Camden" haircut and style excercise I think I have the style done very nice but when I saw it through the lens of my camera I could see two things I didn't like. First was that the style looked a bit dated and second that I had the left side about an inch longer than the right side! ARGG!

Anyway, I'll decided to fix the length later and use my blow dryer and brush on her hair to see if that would loosen her up and update her. This is shown in the last 1/2 of my slideshow. I am very happy with the project and I'm sure my clients will love to wear this style!

What are your thoughts? Do you see the differences between the first 4 pics and the 2nd 4 pic?

Which version would you like to wear?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I’m taking another on line workshop called

"Beyond the Color Basics"

with Julie Prichard & Chris Cozen.

(You can still join in and sign up for the workshops)

In lesson 1 Julie and Chris are helping us to understand color relationships, mixing color and most importantly, learning and having a better understanding of the paints I have. The first thing we did was make swatches of all the colors we have onto a transparency sheet. This is only the first step of this lesson...I'll be working on finishing lesson 1 this weekend...

I have all kinds of beautiful watercolors that I’ve collected and painted with over the years but I‘ve never painted with acrylic paints until Julie came into my life with “Layer Love”. Through Julie’s classes I have begun to collect Golden Acrylic paints so my collection is small. I love Golden Paints, they are absolutely beautiful! I'm possitive my collection will grow!

Have a great hair day! Becci

If you’re not happy with your hair cut then I’m not happy!

2010-01-10T17:22:00.000-06:00

Over the years I have learned a lot of very nice haircuts and styles that I can suggest for you but somehow I haven't mastered mind reading. If you don’t know how to tell me what you want chances are you might not be happy with the end result.

Here are a couple of situations you may find yourself in at one time or another in your quest for a new hairdo.

1st situation - You have an idea of how you want your haircut (or color), you can visualize it in your mind but you can’t find the words to describe to me what you want and you don't have a picture to show me. This is a scary situation for you and a frustrating situation for me. I want you to be happy with your new hair cut but when I have no idea what you’re asking for chances are slim that you’re going to get the cut you are hoping for.

2nd situation - You have absolutely no idea what kind of hair cut you want. My suggestions puzzle you and you just can’t close your eyes and let me do what I think would work for you.

When you feel you might be in one of these situations here are a few ideas to possibly calm your nerves and help us avoid the frustration they cause.

~ Ask for a little more time. I, along with most stylists, allow ½ hour to 45 minutes for a haircut and style. I care deeply for my clients, and I love knowing you and your families, but to be honest, in my business time literally is money. So when you call to make your appointment ask the receptionist if she will book a little extra time for you because you want to visit with me about what you’d like to have done. This is helpful to me so I can spend the time to help you without worrying about getting too far behind and having to make my next guest wait. It’s perfectly acceptable to ask for more time once in awhile without an extra charge but it’s unreasonable to ask to take extra time for every appointment.

~ If you know someone who has the cut you like ask her to come with you to your next appointment so I can see how her hair is cut. Friends actually love to do this.

~ You might see someone you don’t know while you are out and about shopping who has that perfect haircut you’ve been dreaming of. Muster up the courage and ask her if you can take a picture of her hair with your cell phone. Tell her you want to show your hair stylist and assure her you will keep it private and not post it on FB. Get a front, side and back view if you can.

~ Start a visual collection of pictures. Cut out pictures from magazines, catalogs and print pictures from the Internet. Put them in your purse right away so you‘ll be sure to have them with you when you come to your appointment. There are too many times I hear “I had some really great pictures to bring you but I left them at home”. Well, this doesn’t do any good for either of us! While you are collecting pictures of what you like consider collecting the ones you do not like as well. Knowing what you don’t want or like helps us both to get closer to what it is you do like.

~ You can also e-mail any pictures to me that you like.

I hope some of this helps you, if you have any questions send me a note.

My e-mail address is: YourHairdresser@cox.net
My Blog: http://beccirenfro.blogspot.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BecciRenfro
Twitter: http://twitter.com/BecciRenfro

(It’s kind of silly to have so many addresses, right?) :-)

Your are Beautiful! (yes, you are!)

2010-01-04T17:32:00.000-06:00

I'M THANKFUL I'M NOT ALONE...

2009-12-30T17:22:00.000-06:00

I'm in a DARK, UGLY, FAT, FRUMPY MOOD!!!

I'm feeling a bit like crap, which my grandson (6 yrs) informed me this morning that crap is a cuss word but that turd was OK. Still, what ever word I use to describe my funk it seems to return every year! I can't seem to get enthusiastic or find the energy to do much and this makes me super bumed out and crazy! I always know it's coming and I always try to mentally prepare myself and gently remind myself that this is the time to just be. In our world today we are expected to be producing all the time - this is just not natural. We're meant to rest, retreat and recharge at some point. I guess nature thinks this is the best time of the year to do this, because the weather is chilly or as it is here just down right freakin' cold and icy! I wonder if freakin' is on the cuss list? Or maybe we get the urge to hibernate because we were all bears in a past life ! Oh I bet that's it!
To cheer myself up a little I decided to go blog crusin' . I started with Kelly Snelling's blog and to my delight she was feeling her shadow self emerge and was in the dumps too! And even better so were most of the people who left comments! I'm sorry that my cyber friends are feeling poopie (cuss word?) but to know that I'M NOT ALONE cheered me up!

Anyway, I'm going to go brush my hair get out some paints and enjoy the rest of the day...

:-)

Santa's almost ready!

2009-12-24T10:00:00.001-06:00

I need to give Santa a little touching up

before he heads out tonight!

Merry Christmas!

Our Wichita Art Museum Art Doll Demonstration

2009-11-24T19:29:00.007-06:00

We were invited back by the museum to give another demonstration

on how we make our sculpted Art Dolls.

Our Art Dolls are sculpted with a ploymer clay

and have needle sculpted soft bodies.

They are all one of a kind with no moulds ever used

I make all my own patterns and sew their costumes.

Click on each photo if you'd like to see a large view of the Art Dolls

While we were doing our demo and visiting with everyone,

Enya was playing over the sound system and

we sat under the "Confetti Chandelier" by Dale Chihuly,

which is part of the Wichita Art Museum's collection in here in Wichita Kansas

We met lots of new people, and visited

with good friends we hadn't seen in years!

It was such a beautiful afternoon!

Getting Arboreal - Part II

2009-11-22T20:24:00.000-06:00

Last September I took a photo of one of my favorite trees here in Wichita for a little observation project. My friend Julie and many others are documenting their favorite tree in their home towns too. http://www.julieprichard.com/lostluggage/?currentPage=2

Here is the link to the September post and the picture of this gorgouse tree.

http://beccirenfro.blogspot.com/2009/09/getting-arboreal-is-that-real-word.html

I was delighted with

the vivid change of this beauty!

Thank you tree

you are a gift!

Adult or little girl?

2009-11-18T19:44:00.000-06:00

I recently had my 52nd birthday and for some reason I still feel like a kid.

I rarely feel like the adult in a room even when it’s clear that I am.

Is this a good thing? I wonder…

What is age anyway, a frame of mind?

My mind is so full of new thoughts and ideas and

I regularly have spontaneous impulses that I like to act on freely.

I love to pretend, draw, color, be silly…

Kid things right?

Hummm…

Wichita was beautiful this fall!

2009-11-04T10:58:00.001-06:00

These are 3 cute little trees that are on my short drive to the salon every day.

I never noticed them before.
Their colors were so vibrant and so beautiful this year

that they stood out in the crown of all the other trees!

I plan on taking these pictures to Johnson's or Brady's nursery

next spring to have them tell me what kind of trees they are.

I can visualize them in our yard!

This is a picture of trees on the river downtown...so pretty!

Family Portrait Circa 1991

2009-10-25T18:00:00.001-05:00

Learning to use Corel Painter & A Wacom Tablet!

2009-10-19T19:35:00.003-05:00

This is the beginning stage of the new

"can-O-worms"

I got for my birthday!

A Wacom Intuos 4 Tablet and Corel Painter!

It's taken the better party of the day to figure out how to use

all the tools and gadgets and I'm actually getting the hang of it...

:-)

I'll work on this and I'll try to post the stages as I go. I have no idea how she will turn out but I think it looks really cool so far!

I love it!

TaTa-Tiana the "Pink Sock Creature" goes to Progressions Salon & Day Spa

2009-10-12T18:11:00.000-05:00

"Pink Sock Creatures - for the Cure" with Becci Renfro

at ChiART Studios in the Delano District Wichita, Kansas

Sunday October 18, 2009 at 9:30am to 4:30-ish pm.

Phone: (316) 558-5750

Workshop includes:

lunch, all materials, an outfit of your choice

and you will finish a Sock Creature to take home with you!

*Students please bring i pair of your own

pink argyle, striped or any kind of pink socks.

Percentage of workshop fee

goes directly as a donation to

the local Mid-Kansas Affiliate

of Komen Race for the Cure!

This is a fun day for all!!!

Don't miss out on learning how to make these sock creatures!

Christmas is coming and they make great gifts!

Here are a few links to more info on my Sock Creatures:

http://beccirenfro.blogspot.com/2009/09/im-working-on-my-next-sock-creature.html

http://beccirenfro.blogspot.com/2009/06/sock-creature-workshop-was-fantastic.html

I hope to see you there! :-)

Progressions Salon & Day Spa

2009-10-06T16:42:00.005-05:00

I just discovered this little commercial clip on YouTube

for the salon I work at:

The Photo of the lady in the red dress is one of my

styles that I did for a contest I entered.

And that's me giving the haircut,

well it's my chin and hands anyway!

I’m working on my next Sock Creature Workshop!

2009-09-28T14:30:00.008-05:00

TaTaTiana the Pink Sock Creature!

This project has been so fun is coming along really well! This has been a bit of a surprise to me that there are so many who love these silly creatures!
It all started when my son and grandson needed to move back into our house after an unfortunate experience. We have a small home and the only extra bedroom was my art room. So I began clearing that room out. I boxed up everything to store until we could get our lives back on track. I had discovered a neat book called “Stupid Sock Creatures” by John Murphy a few months before and had made one of the creatures following one of his patterns in the book. It was so easy and the creature turned out so cute that I had to try my hand at making up my own pattern for a sock creature of my very own…SO I did and “Apricot Star” was born!

Also about that same time I had seen that Stampington & Company was coming out with a new publication called “Stuffed: A Gathering of Softies” and that they were taking new submissions. Since my sock creatures were getting boxing up with all the rest of my stuff I thought I’d send them off to Stampington & Company’s headquarters in Laguna Hills, California for a vacation! Well, they arrived and were accepted for the first issue! This snowballed from here! Scott Publication called on me and wanted to know if I’d do something for their magazine called “Soft Dolls & Animals”. I said sure and this is when "Ernestine R. Renberry" was born!

I received a call from Susan Bane who owns ChiArt Studios downtown Wichita. She had seen my creatures and wanted to know if I’d give a workshop and teach other how to make a sock creature of their own. Of course, I said yes!

I gave that workshop and let me tell you there were some really crazy creatures created that day! Everyone had such a good time and I had more fun than I can remember in a long time! I enjoyed meeting all the ladies who became my new friends and look forward to meeting more new friends at the next workshop on October 18th where I will teach you how to make TaTaTiana. Along with learning how to make sock creatures for yourself and for gifts to give your friends and family, this workshop will also be helping with breast cancer awareness.
TaTaTiana is going to raise a few bucks to help save the TaTa’s!

Here’s a little close up of TaTaTiana’s healthy TaTa’s!

For workshop information about this Pink Sock Creature workshop write to Susan at: chiart@sbcglobal.net
Or me, Becci at:
YourHairdresser@cox.net

Art Comes in so Many Different Forms!

2009-09-23T09:27:00.003-05:00

This video is about 8 minutes long but is well worth taking the time to view it!

The art by this beautiful young lady is truly a gift...

Mary Travers

2009-09-21T11:47:00.000-05:00

Peace be with you.

Hey Hey! on a lighter note

2009-09-21T10:40:00.001-05:00

Monday nights at 7:30 was all I waited for all week!

Have a great hair day! Becci

Finger Waving Idea

2009-09-13T19:50:00.007-05:00

The Kansas State Fair started this weekend...so what this means to me is a very slow week at the salon! I'm use to being booked from the time I arrive until it's time (and after it's time) to go home! Saturday I had an hour to pass so instead of sitting and moping (which I really do) I decided to try and idea I'd been pondering around in my head. Finger waves are one of the number one things that will flip out any good hairstylist during the state Board exams. They really are tricky! This is what I came up with and I love it! Not show here is that the way I set it was after I got the hair pinned into place I used my flat iron to set the waves into my mannequin's hair.

What do you think?

Would you have your hair set like this?

HAVE A GREAT HAIR DAY! BECCI

Getting Arboreal (is that a real word?)

2009-09-10T10:35:00.007-05:00

Nestled in the heart of Wichita sits one of Kansas' best kept secrets--Botanica Gardens
Here is one of the most beautiful trees in Wichita. This is the tree I have chosen to follow how it changes over the seasons. We do have some dramitic season changes here in Kansas but Iv'e never really thought about watching just one tree

and taking note on it's seasonal beauty.

Over at my friend Julie's blog (<---click here) others have

joined in to do the same thing with watching a chosen tree where they live.

I'm going to enjoy this little trip through the seasons with

my blogland friends!

This is the summer time picture of my tree

and was taken the last week of August some time...

Thinking about NAHA

2009-09-02T20:12:00.009-05:00

Babak has always inspired me, I love his photography and his energy!

At least I knew who he was but I was so dumb struck didn't know what to say to him.

I got my picture with him and I have no idea what I was looking at! Oh well...

Thinking about my trip to Las Vegas for the North American Hairstyling Awards or NAHA I'm now realizing what I need to do to prepare for next years trip...

I met some of the industries top and I mean top leaders and I, being a naive small town girl didn't know I was in the presence of so many movers and shakers! It just didn't dawn on me the opportunities I had that weekend - BUT I do now and I have the year to think about a plan of action or 2010 NAHA!

I most likely will blog once in a while about what I do to prepare.

Vivian MacKinder is officially my new mentor!

I love every thing about this woman...I'm not alone because she won the "Lifetime Achievement" Award for 2009. http://www.probeauty.org/naha/honorees/

Thank you Vivian!

My Sister met me in Vegas. It turned out that it was only a 3 1/2 hour drive for her. We had such a good time and plan to do this more often!

The man that took this picture for us was from Japan and was more than tickled with the two of us being so silly and wanting a picture with this boob sculpture! He said we thrilled his evening! What ever he meant by that! HA!

Yes, it rains in Las Vegas!

I took this picture out our hotel window. We stayed at the Excalibur and our view was perfect to pretend we were really in Camelot!

No I didn't win any thing...at all!

Art Journaling Super Nova - I'm giving it a try!

2009-08-22T17:06:00.006-05:00

My Friend Julie's newest online workshop experience entitled,

Art Journaling Super Nova

is comprised of two parts.

You may purchase one of the parts or both; whichever topic interests you the most!

http://lostluggage.typepad.com/the_land_of_lost_luggage/art-journaling-super-nova-is-here-register-now.html

Art Journaling Super Nova Promo Video from Julie Prichard on Vimeo.

And...

have a great hair day! Bec

Hair Matt for Cleaning Up Oil spills? YES!

2009-08-12T09:17:00.007-05:00

This is a real good video at this link but the html was disabled so go to the link to view it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tg9vdnOuEhk

This is the link to the organization that is doing this:
http://www.matteroftrust.org/

Tousled Barrel

2009-08-10T15:16:00.013-05:00

I think this is such a pretty hairstyle.

Although these pictures I found here are on long hair this can be done on shorter hair as well.

Give it a try...

Before you curl your hair you will need to get the softness of your freshly cleaned hair textured up. Use a styling mousse on your hair before you blow it dry then after it's good and dry use a light hairspray or setting spray to further prepare your hair.

I use Aquage Finishing Spray to do this. This really helps to hold your curls in.

Spray the product into your hair then comb it out smooth.

Spray it again to build up the texture if you have heavy hair or hair that is resistant to curls.

Here I'm using a 1 1/4" curling iron (I think). An 1 1/2" iron is a good size too.

Remember that the bigger the iron, the bigger the curls.

See how I didn't roll the hair all the way to the scalp and how I leave the ends of the strand out.

I curl some of the strands forward and some back to give more interest to the waves.

After you get all your hair curled lightly comb through and tousle the curls with your fingers.

I use the Aquage Molding Paste or Illuminating Gelade

to smooth, separate and define each curl.

Then I will give it an overall spray with the "Finishing Spray" to hold it.

Have a great hair day!

A goofy mohawk, junk & eyes thrill my day!

2009-08-03T18:26:00.016-05:00

I'm not at the salon on Mondays so this is my run around and follow my nose day. Monday is a peaceful day to have off as oppose to a weekend day because there really aren't very many people out and about. Most people are at work and kids are either in school most the year and in the summer there still aren't' any kids around. I wonder where they are. Day care? Basements playing video games? I'm not sure come to think about it...But I do know they aren't out playing in the neighborhood. That's a sound I miss.

Today on my way to the antique mall

I saw a great mohawk on a car at Quick Trip.

Yes, a car!

Super!

I bought a bag of odds and ends of broken jewelry at the antique mall and it turned out to be well worth the $10 bucks I forked out! Lots of goodies to use in making my junk jewelry necklaces and bracelets!

This interesting broach is especially neat. Actually, I think it's worth at least $5 bucks! It's made of little brass balls that look like acorns attached to a chain and then attached to the pin back.

Then when I got home the eyes I ordered from EBay arrived!

They are exactly what I was wanting!

These type of eyes are hard to find, if you can believe it! I use them in the tutorials for my sock creatures in both "Stuffed" and in "Soft Dolls and Animals" magazines! Rats! I did finally find a source so if you are needing some let me know. I just put some in the mailbox for a lady who is making her version of "Apricot Star".

Have a great hair day! :-)

NAHA 20 - North Americam Hairstyling Awards

2009-07-26T08:28:00.015-05:00

I'm going to introduce myself to Robert...

Robert Lobetta and Becci at NAHA 20

I have wanted to be part of the North American Hairstyling Awards competition for quite a few years now. I have a NAHA file folder that I've been collecting ideas and articles in that have dates as far back as 1998. For one reason or another I talked myself out of ever participating. I had reasons that were understandable and some that were not at all. I have to admit the worst excuse was that I decided I just wasn't a good enough hairstylist. Blah.

So about two weeks ago I made a final decision to buy a ticket and get myself to Las Vegas to see the award presentations live and to decide once and for all if I really want to or could compete!

I actually am very creative in darn near every thing I create so I believe I would do very well with this challenge! I understand now after my weekend in Vegas that the true and most important reason for giving this a try is actually the process of it all. It's not just the award, it's about the brain storming for ideas, finding models, photographers etc. and then it's the creating the hair styles and seeing them all come together beautifully in the end!

~ The process is the reward ~

Have a great hair day! Bec

PS. I think I'll get a sexy little evening dress next year!

Salon Product Diversion. You decide.

2009-07-07T09:27:00.007-05:00

This is a problem and you are taking an unnecessary risk.

MSN.com has a good article about it. Click here to read.

Sock Creature in "Soft Dolls & Animals" Magazine!

2009-07-06T17:43:00.005-05:00

September 2009 issue!

My Sock creature even got a little piece of the cover!

Funny thing about this is I made my first sock creature for my Grandson Bryce but ended up sending it to Stampington and Company (who also published my creatures) on a whim instead.

I never did give it to Bryce! Oh bad Gramma!

I.O.U. sweetie pie!

I have a couple more classes planned for this fall 2009.

In October we will make PINK sock creatures for breast cancer awareness!

Email me for the details at:

YourHairdresser@cox.net

"Layer Love" Lesson #5

2009-07-04T17:07:00.006-05:00

This is Lesson # 5 finished. A little city began to appear at the bottom so

I scratched in some impression-ish windows.

You can click on the inage to see the detail.

I am a high contrast lady.
I love sharp, bright very concentrated colors.
I love the colors of the Sunday funnies or

the "educational page" as my Dad would say...

So this is the color inspiration I chose for this exercise today. It turned out absolutely in no way, size, shape or form the way I intended it to but I LOVE it!

A LOT!

Now what on Earth do I do with it?

Maybe... the up coming mother of all online art journaling classes

"Art Journaling Super Nova"

which starts on 9-1-09 with registration on 8-08-09 at:

http://lostluggage.typepad.com/the_land_of_lost_luggage/ on 8-08-09
will give me some direction as to what to with my Layer Love projects...

Different cookie sheet this time :-)

Happy 4th of July!

Layer Love Lesson #4

2009-06-30T16:38:00.005-05:00

I'm having trouble adding stuff to my finished lessons. So I decided to call each lesson "finished" until the day comes when I find that perfect thing to write about or to collage.

So until then...I decided to make a digital finished piece!

Oh Digital, I love you!

This is how I began Lesson #4.

Like the cookie sheet? :-)

I bought Golden Crackle Medium and was so excited to try it! I'd never heard of the stuff until Julie added this to our lessons... When I was ready to do the crackle layer

OH-MA-GAWD! it was all dried up! Crap!

The next day I found some Ranger Crackle Paint but the only colors they had were yellowish orange and a pinkish color, thus the yellow choice in this lesson...

I like it!

The scratching and squiggling work real well in the crackle paint.

Have a great hair day! Becci

"Layer Love" Lesson #3 and a Couple Discoveries!

2009-06-17T19:21:00.013-05:00

This is my finished lesson #3 ready to add some journaling and /or collage.

I decided to buy a sample box of Golden paints because the Windsor Newton paint I was using just wasn't looking quite right. Under the paint tubes I discovered a nice big color chart and history of the company.

I realised this color chart was a mixing guide!
It shows how to mix almost every color Golden makes!
O-MA-GAWD!
I won't need to go buy all the colors that I wanted for this workshop!
These paints are expensive pretty little buggers!

For example Julie is using Burnt Umber in the lesson and my little box didn't include Burn Umber. Sooo, I'll make Burnt Umber by mixing 4 pts Quinacridone Magenta, 8 pts Hansa Yellow Medium, and 1 pt Pthalo Green, which all came in the sample box!

My other discovery was that using a paper plate to mix my paint on was wasting the paint. The plate was too absorbent and sucked up the paint too fast. So, I mixed my paint on a plastic baggie until I can get a proper paint mixing pallet.
Oh yes...
MUCH BETTER!

Finished!

Geeze that was hard work , it pooped out Wiggles!

Have a great hair day! Becci

Sock Creature Workshop was FANTASTIC!

2009-06-16T09:21:00.016-05:00

I had so much fun teaching this workshop to these wonderful ladies! But the best thing about the day was that we all made new friends and everyone produced some very very cute creatures to take home and love!

I’m so astounded how fast the day went! Not too long after lunch it seemed as if everyone was getting close to finishing their creatures and I began to worry about how I was going to make this class last closer to the scheduled ending time of 3:00. I then looked at the time and it was already 4:00! 6 hours absolutely flew by! The saying “time flies when you’re having fun" is 100% true, that’s for sure! Can you tell I’m amazed about how fast the time went? :-)

I loved how this group was so funny and so silly! We had more than a few moments where were laughing so hard our eyes got teary! Some of the jokes were borderline crude which made us laugh even harder and made our goofing off just that much funnier!

In the process of presenting the workshop I came up with a few ideas to help add to the value of future classes. I suppose that every time I give a class I‘ll come up with new ideas.

Everyone was familiar with sewing and using a sewing machine. Although I would have been more than happy to help someone who had never touch a sewing machine it did make it much easier for me to keep the class moving along smoothly.

I loved that they listened to my presentation and then ask the question “what would happen if I did this or that to my creature?” By using their imaginations they all come up with original, one of a kind creature to take home and love!

Thank you all again for making my day!

BrideZilla! Oh NO000ooo!

2009-06-06T14:40:00.005-05:00

My first client yesterday Morning was Debbie, BRIDEZILLA! How can someone who is getting married be so horribly unhappy and so ugly???

I found these hints on “eHow” to help deal with a bitch to be helpful and have incorporated these ideas into my hairdressing, actually not just with hairdressing but in all kinds of relationships as well…

Step 1 - Never show fear. Get control over yourself and take a few deep breaths. This will give you the time that you need to override your natural responses. Keeping calm is going to piss her off because it sends a message loud and clear that she hasn’t gotten to you.

Step 2 - Deliver a rebuttal that makes her back down and puts you in charge.

Step 3 - Feel sorry for them. It’s difficult to get angry with people when you pity them. They don’t have a grasp on their own lives and therefore try to shatter someone else’s because inability to control their own jealousies. It is a condition that deserves pity and compassion, but also intolerance.

Step 4 - Look at yourself from their perspective, it’s good to get another viewpoint. Very few of us are perfect. We likely have a trait that drives everybody else crazy.

Step 5 – SMILE

Does anyone else have any suggestions to add to this?

And

do have a great hairday! Becci

Cute Hair Style Idea

2009-05-27T18:44:00.003-05:00

This very cute young cashier at Kohl's told me she hated her hair and was so bored with it that she really wanted to cut it all off! She said never knew what to do with it and it was like a "ball and chain" to her! During the course of the day she began sticking ink pens into the plane ole' bun she had finally decided on in the rush to get out of the house. I told her she had amazing hair and she must have a very creative soul to come up with that cute interesting idea! She was genuinely surprised that I said that to her! She told me she in fact was an art major and that she had to drop out of school to work full time to pay for an expensive accident that she had happen to her. She was so unhappy working at Kohl's because it was SO un-creative and she was about to go nuts! There were little tears welling up in her eyes as she told me all this thus, making me start to tear up too! we both stood right there in the Kohl's checkout line crying like little babies!

I just mad that all up...Sorry!

Have a great hair day! :-) Becci

Layer Love Lesson 2

2009-05-24T20:25:00.003-05:00

I glued a page from an old dictionary to my painting and like the result of that.

But the rest of the painting looks better in this pic than it does in real life. In reality it's very dark and very dull and I don't like it at all! So instead of getting upset and feeling like I'm not so perfect I decided to take the advice of an old friend who is a famous professional artist...He said just tear it up or shred it if you don't like your finished piece (he really does this I know because I've seen his shreeded pieces in the trash!) Don't ever worry over it just learn from it and go on.

So I tore it up!

I decided to keep the collage piece because it in reality looks neat. I'll use it in another collage project someday...

The rest of it is in the trash!

Who wants to bet that in the morning I'll be trash diggin'? I'm just that way!

New Feature in Blogger!

2009-05-22T10:12:00.000-05:00

New feature - "Blogger Following"

http://buzz.blogger.com/2008/08/show-off-your-followers.html

Blogger.com bloggers check this out:

Would you like to know who enjoys reading your blog? Or stay updated with your favorite blogs right from your Blogger dashboard? You can do those things and more with Blogger’s new Following feature.

This is pretty neat if I do say so myself!

Have a great hair day! Becci

Layer Love Lesson 1

2009-05-19T19:38:00.016-05:00

This is the result of lesson 1 and my first "Layer Love" painting

Visit my good friend Julie's blog: http://lostluggage.typepad.com/the_land_of_lost_luggage/

This is a really good on line workshop and is done so well!

We're going to do so many projects, I think 9 all together!

Very worth it!

I enjoyed Julie's process and by the time I finished my first painting I was excited to do another one right away! I didn't because I was so tired from my long day!

Things I noticed while I was painting...

Messy placement is a good thing.

Catching the paint at just the right time for texture and scratches is harder than I thought.

My perfectionism wasn't raising it's critical head this time...Wonder why? I think it's because I was "getting it"!

The Windson Newton acrylices I have are transparent and beautiful!

"Layer Love" I think I get you!

Have a great "Layer Love" and hair day!

Sock Creture Adventures!

2009-05-09T21:02:00.005-05:00

Sock Creature Workshop (PARTY!)

2009-05-08T10:43:00.010-05:00

June 13th, 2009 - 9:00am at

ChiART 1007 W. Douglas Street in the Delano District
Wichita, Kansas
ChiART will be hosting this creative party, and will be instructed by Becci Renfro!

You will learn to make and finish a “naked” Sock Creature.

Becci’s sock creatures have been featured in the premier issue of

“STUFFED, A Gathering of Softies” a Stampington Publication

and will be in the fall issue of

“SOFT DOLLS AND ANIMALS” magazine!

$75 per person will cover all the supplies you’ll need, lunch,

and tons of fun!

The two creatures you see here are from the same pattern. You can see how different each sock creature can be with just a little change and your own individual personality!

Above is Snooty Toots. He’s not stuck up - not by any means - but he does have quite a snoot and yes…he toots! You will make a creature resembling him for this workshop.

Above is Ernestine R. Renberry. She is made with the same pattern as Snooty Toots but I used a white sock and added silly eyes! There is a sweet story behind Ernestine. My father-in-law passed away this year so in his memory Ernestine is made from a pair of his tube socks. Her necklace belonged to my mother-in-law and the dress and hat are from my collection of vintage doll clothes. Ernestine will be passed down in our family for years to come and loved in the memory of Ernie R. Renfro.

For questions or additional information about this creative party, contact:
Susan Bane at ChiArt(316) 316.558.5750 or email Susan at ChiART@sbcglobal.net
Becci Renfro, (316) 721-5639 or email Becci at YourHairdresser@cox.net.

Have a great hair day! Becci

Mermaid Workshop

2009-05-05T18:17:00.003-05:00

I'll be getting my

Suzi Blu Mermaid Party pics

posted soon! Satyed Tuned!

:-)

Dehydration - Not to be taken lightly!

2009-05-05T09:28:00.010-05:00

I found out the hard way that dehydration is serious! I just didn’t realize how easy this can happen and how sudden, or how seemingly sudden! I’m very active at the salon with walking back and forth and standing all day but I don’t get my heart rate up. I get my regular check-ups, breast and PAPs etc. and am very healthy. Although looking back on the past few weeks and even months I realize that I hadn’t been drinking water much and some days not at all! I got my wake up call loud and clear that dehydration is not to be taken lightly – at all!
I am 51 years old and think I am close to menopause. I haven’t skipped or stopped my periods but I’ve been experiencing a few hot flashes especially at night and nothing bad just uncomfortable for a few minutes. I wake up at night and have never ever done that before, I love my sleep! Another symptom I’ve been having is forgetfulness or hazy thinking…I don’t like that but I figure its part of the process…Well not always! Dehydration can have much of the same symptoms! I have to shamefully admit that I do not drink much water at all. I often work 8 hours straight and not pee once! I am booked with haircuts and colors so tight that I skip brakes a lot and when I do have a break we have a Star Bucks coffee machine at the salon and to keep up my pace that’s what I usually grab to drink. Coffee is a strong diuretic and compounds my dehydration! I’m comparing menopause symptoms to dehydration symptoms because they are similar. I’m wondering how many women are just dehydrated when they say they are so tired all the time or that they are so ditzy, scatter brained and forgetful.

Note to self:

Dearest Becci,
Take care of yourself – please! You are a valuable soul, a shining star and you still have to much left to do and offer this world to waste it by neglect. Your body is a gift from God. Respecting it is only right. It’s an honor and your duty to take care of your body (gift). Eat well, drink lots of water, exercise and get plenty of good sleep. This is the stuff you were taught in grade school, the good ole’ basics! Nothing you don’t know! If you are too busy to take care of yourself and to say thank you, you are too busy.

Love, Becci

WebMD.com says: Without water the body begins to shut down. Symptoms of severe dehydration include altered behavior, such as severe anxiety, confusion, sleepiness or not being able to stay awake; faintness that is not relieved by lying down; an inability to stand or walk; rapid breathing; a weak, rapid pulse; and loss of consciousness. Unfortunately, thirst isn't always a reliable gauge of the body's need for water, especially in children and older adults. A better barometer is the color of your urine: Clear or light-colored urine means you're well hydrated, whereas a dark yellow or amber color usually signals dehydration.

When to see a doctor:

If you're a healthy adult, you can usually treat mild to moderate dehydration by drinking more fluids. Get immediate medical care if you develop severe signs and symptoms such as extreme thirst, no urination for eight hours, shriveled skin, dizziness and confusion.

Symptoms:

Mild to moderate dehydration is likely to cause:
• Dry, sticky mouth - Yes
• Sleepiness or tiredness -YES!
• Thirst – Not usually. Seems like I would but I guess I’m thinking and visiting so much I don’t realize.
• Decreased urine output - yes
• Few or no tears when crying – Not a problem
• Muscle weakness - yes
• Headache - Sometimes
• Dizziness or lightheadedness – Sometimes

Severe dehydration, a medical emergency, can cause:

• Extreme thirst – Not really
• Extreme fussiness or sleepiness; irritability and confusion - Yes
• Very dry mouth, skin and mucous membranes - Yes
• Lack of sweating - Yes
• Little or no urination — any urine that is produced will be dark yellow or amber - Yes
• Sunken eyes - No
• Shriveled and dry skin that lacks elasticity and doesn't "bounce back" when pinched into a fold – Yes, though it was from getting older…
• Low blood pressure - No
• Rapid heartbeat - Yes
• Fever - No
• In the most serious cases, delirium or unconsciousness – YES! I fainted at the restaurant! I was so embarrassed! This is woke me up to the fact that I was not taking care of me!

~Please stay healthy~

2009-04-27T19:40:00.001-05:00

OK! open to close - Seaworld is over the top! We're pooped! :-)

It's Prom Time! AND My California Trip!

2009-04-19T17:59:00.015-05:00

Saturday was prom in our area. I can hardly believe how many girls got their hair and make-up done! We had 37 young divas come into the salon!

Judging by this, I don't see signs of a bad economy here!

I didn't get a chance to get pictures of some of the girls who were getting their hair done but

I thought I'd show you a few pictures of an up-do I did on my mannequin for a display.

Doing up-do's puts me into the same creative mode that drawing or sculpting does. It's intuitive and and in most cases can't be repeated twice! I've tried to take step by step pictures of my hair creations so I could try to reproduce a look but for some reason I still can't get it to ever look the same again! That's' OK because that makes for one of a kind hair do's for proms and weddings!

-----------------------------------------------------------

FRIDAY April 24th is the day

That I've been waiting for for months!

My son Sean and I are heading out early Friday to San Diego. When we get there we will rent a car, get checked in to our hotel then head on over to the baseball stadium to see the Padres play!

Then the next day I'm gong to meet up with my friend Julie who I met last year on the Internet via Michelle Wards GreenPepperPress Street Team. We have never met in person so I am so super excited to finally do just that! The two of us are going up for a two day art party at Suzi Blu's house by the beach! Two blissful days of painting and creating eating, and what ever we come up with!

While I'm having fun at the art party Sean is gong to do his own thing. He'll drive around and see what he can see, lay on the beach, go on a boat ride, what ever he decides he wants to do!

Testing out email posting

2009-04-18T18:43:00.003-05:00

OK now this is really something I'm going to like...I can post to my blog via an email! I wonder if I can add a picture this way too??? Let's give it a try!

I tried to copy and past a pic into this email an couldn't...so I am trying it as an attachment...

It's now 2 days later, I didn't think this worked but discovered it just now in my drafts!

NEAT-O!

I found this picture of my sister Theresa and I in a hidden box during my last visit to see my dad. That box was a gold mine of old photos I'll tell you that! YES! Anyway, I remember the evening this was taken so clearly! It was father/daughter night with my Brownie troop. We planned spaghetti and meat balls with garlic buttered bread to serve our dads and then had a dance and played musical chairs! I had a bad cold but I wasn't not going to miss this for the world!

Have a great hair day! Becci

2009-04-18T18:35:00.001-05:00

Tonight I am posting to Blogger via my phone! Lets see how this is going to work out...

I used Avon's "Anew" serum!

2009-04-03T09:02:00.002-05:00

OH NO!!!

I have only used my "Anew" 2 times!

Is Avon going to take over the world? Avon/Resident Evil?

2009-04-01T16:22:00.010-05:00

Watch this video from the Resident Evil: Apocalypse preview first...

Then watch this video for Avon's new product Anew clinical Durma-full X3...

Is this weird or what!

John came home tonight with a bottle of the Anew for me to try! I hope it takes care of my wrinkles and doesn't turn me in to a zombie!

I hope staying a human is guaranteed if not I want my money back!

Where The Wild Things Are!

2009-03-30T16:33:00.004-05:00

Forgive the gigantic URL, I couldn't find a better link...

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808412037/video/12676677/20090326/126/12676677-300-flash-s.82556007-,12676677-700-wmv-s.82555996-,12676677-700-flash-s.82556008-,12676677-1000-flash-s.82556010-,12676677-1000-wmv-s.82556003-,12676677-300-wmv-s.82555993-,12676677-100-flash-s.82556005-,12676677-100-wmv-s.82555986-,12676678-6800-qtv-s.82556015-,12676678-10300-qtv-s.82556018-,12676678-2700-qtv-s.82556013-

The Arcade Fire http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNfWC4Sgkcs is on the sound track too!!! OH MA GAWD! How cool is that!

NetWorkedBlogs...WHAT?

2009-03-27T22:52:00.005-05:00

About NetworkedBlogs.com

NetworkedBlogs.com is an extension of the NetworkedBlogs Facebook Application to make their user-generated blog directory accessible outside Facebook and provide more exposure to their blogs.
The web site is still in it's early stages. And, currently, it only provides a subset of the information that we offer inside Facebook. With time, you plan to add more features and more information.

What in the world does this mean?! What ever it means I clicked the buttons to see what would happen...still can't figure it out!
The widget is in my side bar and I have 1 follower! So what that it's me!

I remembered my freedom today!

2009-03-26T11:03:00.006-05:00

Click the image for a larger view

I do have choices and I'm happy to remember this today! This is something I forget this so often. I have the luxury of planning my life and a cow doesn't -

POOR COW!

Thinking about this I am finding myself wanting a

"Five Guys Cheeseburger"!

"A man cannot directly choose his circumstances, but can choose his thoughts, and so indirectly, yet surely, shape his circumstances". (quote by James Allen)

Have a great hair day! Becci stagnant