Hair down to there

Photo from Petula Pea PhotographySo, just in case you didn't know this about me, I obsess. Yes, yes, I know it's a surprise for all of you, but when I get something in my head, I obsess about it non-stop. A few months ago my hairstylist at Detour Salon in Encinitas showed me the hair extensions that she was getting put in later that week. I was intrigued. I thought extensions were only for Paris Hilton and the Real Housewives. But then she started pointing out all the other girls in the salon that had them in...and I began to obsess. See, I love trying out new beauty trends. I've done spray tans, sugaring, waxing, eyelash extensions, Latisse, Shellac nails and a crackle pedicure...anything that can make something longer, fuller, shiny/bright and/or 10 lbs skinner I have tried. 

Yes, I am a product/service whore like that.

So extensions?! I NEEDED them. 

As luck would have it, a few weeks later a woman who had seen me speak at the San Diego Social Media Symposium came to me asking if we would be interested in doing a SDMOMfia Blow Out Bootcamp event at Detour Salon. Little did she know that I had been a client (and huge fan) of the salon for the past 4 years - and I jumped on it! I mean who DOESN'T want to learn how to get those Victoria's Secret Supermodel curls? After chatting back and forth, they asked if I would be interested in modeling and trying out hair extensions - they would put them in for me that night and I could model the new procedure during the event. I was thrilled...I may finally have the long, thick hair that I've spent years, and possibly thousands of dollars in products, trying to achieve. 

I've had them in for 1 1/2 weeks now and I can tell you that I love them. I'm thrilled with not only the length but the thickness of "my hair." But I have gotten a few questions that I thought I would answer:

 - How did they put them in?

Unlike the individual extensions that you always see half grown out on Brittany Spears, these ones are a band of hair that is sewn into my hair about 1/2 way down the back of my head. They use my real hair to sew the band on, and then a tiny metal clap is used to secure the hair.

Did it hurt?

No - but I will let you know that I have an abnormally high tolerance to head/hair pain. I always joke that my head was desensitized after years of having to have massive tangles combed out of the back of my head. 

Is it human hair?
Yes - from Europe. But it has gone through a huge process to clean it and sanitize it. Here is more information on the actual extensions: www.nxshair.com

Can you wash it and brush it as normal?

Yes. I wash it in the shower with my normal shampoo. I'm just careful when washing it.  When I brush it, I have to use a boar's hair brush. 

Does it itch?
A little. Not enough that I would get them removed. And let's be honest, I'm not sure if it's the extensions that itch or the constant talk of head lice being found at Lucas' school that's causing my head to tingle.

How long does it last?
According to the information on the hair, the piece will last 4-6 months. I do have to go in every 4-6 weeks to get it tightened. 

 Will it ruin my hair?
I really hope not. :) I've been told no. The clamps are not permanent and can be removed without damaging the hair. Which is why they can remove the piece and tighten it.

Final Thoughts:

I will admit that that I was worried about it. For about a week, NOT ONE PERSON mentioned it. While on one hand I thought it meant it looked totally natural, the paranoia in me took over and I kept thinking that it looked really bad/fake and no one wanted to tell me that it looked like I had plastic Barbie hair. Not to mention that Zoe kept stroking it while singing songs from Tangled...I was getting a little nervous. Then it happened - someone commented on how long my hair had gotten, then a few more people noted about how beautiful and thick my hair is. And now? I'm hooked. And tossing my head around a lot. 

*If you would like to see what all the other SDMOMfia Mama's said about Blow Dry Boot Camp at Detour Salon, please check out the post here. If you want to join the MOMfia at one of our fun events, "like" us on Facebook and keep an eye out for our next great event!

Challenges: Sprinkles Cupcakes

So what better way to spend a night of your first week on Weight Watchers than attending a VIP Grand Opening party for Sprinkles Cupcakes. Veuve Clicquot and Red Velvet - enough goodness to test the willpower of even the most anorexic celebrity.

The event was amazing. Candace Nelson, CUPCAKE QUEEN OF THE WORLD, spent about 45 minutes with us, talking about everything from how she started her cupcake empire to how many cupcakes she eats a week. It was a fantastic evening. Check out the whole post, the video and the AMAZING cupcake GIVEAWAY over on The San Diego MOMfia site.

Special Thursday Night Confession: 3 days and about 87 points later...

So since Monday my head was all a flutter with deep thoughts of life, I didn't confess anything for the week. So I thought I would make it for it tonight, with my confession of this: I've re-joined Weight Watchers. 

The new year, Jennifer Hudson, a lady at TJ Maxx that asked Zoe if she was going to "be a big sister soon", and my friend Maria all played a big role in the decision. But since I actually completed all levels of Angry Birds, I needed something new to obsess over. So off I went to weigh in and sit through the introduction of PointsPlus. My take? It's lipstick on a pig - just a new color lipstick.

However you slice and dice it, we all know the answer to weight-loss is actually fairly "simple" - eat less, drink more water and exercise. Viola. We see the men in our lives do it all the time! "Honey, I'm feeling flabby..." all of a sudden they are running again, not eating bags of chips while standing over the sink and switching to diet soda and BAM! They are 15 lbs lighter (MEN. But we get to birth babies! I don't think that was really a fair trade there, ladies). And while yes, the points have changed - most people get 29 points a day {forever} and 49 weekly BONUS points, fruit is now free (because as they like to say, "you're not at WW because you ate too many fruits and veggies!") and wine is now 4 points instead of 2 (priorities) - it's basically the same program.

But what I do like about the new PointsPlus is that they have made it easier to make the "better health decision." This was my biggest problem with the program last time I did it: that instead of eating right, people (myself included) just ate as much processed low-point food as possible. 

Take the 3 PM snack attack - you have 2 points to spare, do you reach for a 2 point apple or a 2 point bag of baked Doritos or a 2 point Jello Pudding Snack? In the past, one would probably reach for the chips or sweetie. Now, being that fruits are free, it's more like "I'll have that apple/pear/grapes/banana first so I can have a glass and a 1/2 of wine later!" Okay, maybe not the best example, but you catch my drift. 

The best part about Weight Watchers for me, and why I've been moderately successful with it in the past, is that I am held accountable and forced to face the music about just how fattening the majority of food I consume without thinking about it is. I'm the queen of exclaiming "Really! I usually do eat healthy! I don't get it!" and really, it's true. Fast food is an occasional occurrence, I don't buy big bags of chips, we use 1% milk, and buy "better for you" alternatives from Trader Joes. Yes, we do eat out, but at good restaurants that serve good food. But even "good food" can be bad. 

A great example is the leftover from NYE Ham Sandwich-fest Boudin sourdough roll. Sweet and innocent looking and something I consumed 3 of earlier in the week, this sucker clocks in at 8 points. EIGHT POINTS. For a BUN. That's 2 glasses of wine and a banana, in case you are keeping track. 

So now I'm thinking about things more. Instead of the random handful of almonds (not "technically" bad, but still), I will try to reach for grapes. Instead of an assortment of crackers, salami and cheese, we will have sliced cucumbers and tzatziki sauce! Pizza will be a treat, not a staple, in the dinner rotation. And I'll recite the good old 80's WW mantra that we probably all remember from our mothers: "Nothing tastes as good as it feels to be thin!"

Except for maybe tots and chicken & waffles. Those taste 50 million times better than being thin.

Oy. Issues.