My Journey to BSL Hair

I still have about 4 book reviews that need to written on this blog....however...today I am going to tell you about something that I have periodically done throughout my life. The thing I will inevitably do is decide that I will grow my hair very long. My hair will grow until I get a "wild hair" and then I go get it cut...sometimes really short. I am one of those people that really does not like being on the front end of the camera....I am much more comfortable being the photographer...so there aren't really a lot of photos of me. So, I will  use my Christmas photo from 2010 to give you an idea how long my hair was before it got cut. Here is a pic of me in December 2010.

I know it is a little hard to see but when it was out straight my hair was a little below my shoulder. In this photo I had recently gotten approximately 3 inches cut off.

Now let's move forward to February 2011. Take a look at this one. I thought I wanted short hair...after all when you get older shouldn't you have a shorter hairstyle? That is what I've always heard. There was no middle ground haircut here. I walked into my hairdresser with hair below my shoulder and walked out looking like this photo below. This photo was snapped when I got home from the hairdresser.

I was told by co-workers, friends and family how good the cut looked and how it made me look 10 years younger. Oh I was wallowing in all of these compliments. So I kept that hairstyle going. Then in May 2011....I went and got the same haircut. At some point between the May trip to the hairdresser and September 2011, I realized that I really did NOT enjoy this hairstyle. For one thing, I do not like having to spend a lot of time "fixing" my hair every morning. Having to use the curling brush/iron, the gels, the hairsprays.....these styling aids are just not something that I enjoy using. So, I decided at that point.....My hair going to be long again. Here was my hair in September 2011.

You can tell by the length of the hair in this September photo that I had recently made the decision to go back long. It is just beginning to grow back out. The next photo shows that my hair was at the top of my shoulders by December 2011. 

Now there have been a few trims to get my hair in really good shape between this photo and the next photo that was taken on July 6, 2012. 

You can look at this photo and tell that my hair is in pretty good shape. I do not take hair vitamins...as a matter of fact...I don't take any vitamins and I also eat very little meat. Most of my protein is plant based. This is not due to any agenda...I just don't care for meat.

I recently found a super forum for people with long hair or trying to grow their hair long. It is called The Long Hair Community. There is a huge wealth of information for anyone who is trying to grow their hair long or wanting to have healthy hair. I am still trying to find my way around the forum...but I know that it is going to be the perfect place for me at this moment.

Now...in the title to this post I used the initials BSL. This refers to a hair length that is at the bra strap. There are others. Here are some of the ones that I think are pertinent for me right now,

APL - Arm Pit Length

BSL - Bra Strap Length

BCL - Butt Crack Length

TBL - Tail Bone Length

One other length that I found interesting is what is called the classic length. Do you want to know what it means to have classic length hair? Well....I did, too! Classic length hair is the hair that is at the crease of the buttocks and thigh...pretty long. However...there are ladies on The Long Hair Community that have hair much longer.

Do you want to grow your hair and have it be healthy? Come join us on the forum at The Long Hair Community.

I will post updates monthly on my hair growth. Be sure to check back to continue with this saga!

A NEW "Old" Hobby

Recently, I had the urge to pick up an old hobby. One that I had learned many years ago from my mom...that hobby is sewing. Now I've come back and forth to this hobby periodically so it is no surprise that I am back to it once again.

I have used commercial patterns that I've bought in the past. But I was taught to take measurements and build your own pattern. That is what my mom and grandmom did. So this week, I pulled out some brown paper bags from one of the local grocery stores and ripped them open to use to make my pattern.

Since it is so hot here in Mississippi, I chose to go with a sleeveless top. Because I have somewhat of a protruding stomach for the first time ever (not counting the 2 times I was pregnant) in my life....I chose to make the top with some gathers in the front of the top with a yoke.

I didn't just come to the conclusion that I needed to do this....it is mainly because I found a sewing site last month that I really enjoy being on. The people are so friendly and helpful. You should check it out....it is called The Stitcher's Guild Sewing Forum.

One of the threads that I have read through and been posting to is the 2012 Summer 6PAC Collection Sewalong (May - July). This is a discussion where you are challenged to choose color choices and create 6 pieces (hence 6 PAC).

I signed up the other day to join this endeavor even though I was late starting an may not have time to finish all 6 pieces....but it will be fun trying. I chose to use white as one of my neutral colors...for 2 reasons....it is summer and HOT here in the delta; and...since I haven't been sewing for a while, I am limited on the fabric that I have available to use (there doesn't seem to be any fabric shops close by either).

So here is the top that I made yesterday.

 

 What do you think? Is there too much gathering in the front of the top? I know its plain...but that was the idea....I can wear it that way or dress it up with accessories. What do you think?

Shoney's Restaurant - Greenwood, MS

Up until this point, this blog has been all about book reviews. Tonight I have decided that it will also include reviews of restaurants as well any other "life" happenings that I decide to share with my readers. Yes...I do have 4 books that have been read and I really NEED to get the reviews written. I will get them written within the next couple weeks and posted.

Tonight....you will get my review of the Shoney's Restaurant #2351 that is located at 629 Hwy 82 West, Greenwood, MS. (662) 453-0491.

Let me first clarify....I am old school....I mean really old school....I am a 50 something woman who believes that if you are going to work in the service industry....then you need to be ready to show some courtesy to the customers that come into whatever establishment in which you are working....otherwise...get out of the service industry and go into some other line of work.

My husband has cancer and due to the chemotherapy that he has received, many foods either have little to no taste or they actually taste bad! Tonight he wanted to go to Shoney's in Greenwood to eat supper and I was happy to go.

As we walked into the door, we were greeted by the hostess and seated. At this point I noticed that there seemed to be only one waitress working and she was totally bogged down with a party of about 10-15 people. My husband decided he would eat off the seafood bar and went and got himself a plate. He got back to the table and realized he had no silverware. So, being the good wife that I am....I went up to the waitress station and asked one of the three people I saw standing there chatting if I could get some silverware and napkins...at which point I was told, "she will be with you in a minute." OK...I get that I was not her customer and she wouldn't be getting a tip from me...but she was standing right next to the items I was asking for. So...I asked again, stating that my husband is eating from the food bar and needs silverware...once again I was told, "she will be with you in a minute." OooKay! Now I can be a real BITCH sometimes....but I decided I wasn't going to allow this person to cause me to really show that side....although....I did state to my husband that I was about to change my mind about it.

When our server got to the table and took our order, she was very apologetic. I explained it wasn't her fault she was obviously very busy and the person I had asked was not only NOT busy (chatting with other workers) but also standing right beside the items I requested. After our server came by and took our order, the hostess came by and asked if I was alright. So...at least two people in this restaurant understand good customer service.

Now...let me say.....the food was good. My husband ate like he hasn't eaten since October 2011 when he began his chemotherapy. He was really enjoying his food. I have NO complaints with the food.

When I went to pay the ticket, I asked to speak to the manager. The hostess called him Mr. Lamar, however, the receipt has his name as Lamar Franks. Mr. Lamar walked up to the register and just stood there....never asked what he could do for me or anything. So, I proceeded to explain that I wanted him to know what an excellent server....Carolyn...(our server tonight)...had been and that I hoped he knew he had an excellent employee in her. I THINK...now I said THINK he said thank you....but I am not real sure....he certainly NEVER smiled or was even very courteous. I realize managers expect to get reamed out when a customer asks to speak with them....but once he realized I was complimenting a member of his staff....couldn't he have been a little more courteous to me and happy that I was saying something nice....especially since I have no doubt he knew exactly what had happened earlier with the other person in his employ.

Oh...yeah....as a parting shot....I told him to be sure to "Google" Shoney's Greenwood, MS on Saturday, May 19, 2012 to see the review I would have written by that time about his restaurant.

OH....Mr. Lamar....I also am very heavy into the social media scene....you know....FaceBook....Twitter and such....and I began with those outlets before writing this blog post!!!

People....if you don't give a damn about customer service and all you are interested in is some good food....then by all means....visit the Shoney's in Greenwood, MS....but if you are old school like me and believe that if you work in a service industry you should show courtesy to your customers....then you might want to stay away from that particular Shoney's.

Now...Understand....I am NOT talking about all Shoney's....I am talking about one particular Shoney's....the one in Greenwood, MS.

Tell me what you think! Am I expecting too much in from our society today? Have we all fallen so low that courtesy has flown out of the window? Give me your two-cents!!! I really want to know!

Making Wire Jewelry - A Review

The Absolute Beginners Guide: Making Wire Jewelry by Martine Callaghan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Martine Callaghan gives concise, easy to follow instructions in this beginner how to book on Making Wire Jewelry. She makes no assumptions what someone might already know and provides the learner with some awesome photos that show step by step instructions. It was just like having her right there every step of the way.

Martine starts off the book with the basics, such as the different types of materials and information about each one in language that is easily understood by a beginner. Then it is on to the tools needed and workspace requirements...which by the way....there are minimal tools needed and very little space is required for someone to make the projects she has given detailed instructions for in this book.

Making Wire Jewelry contains 28 fully detailed projects as well as many professional tips given by Martine. Any beginner would do well with this book and be well on their way to becoming a talented wire worker and making many amazing pieces of jewelry.

I truly enjoyed reviewing this book even though I already had some experience in creating wire work jewelry. It gave me some good tips and refreshed my memory on some of the procedures that I haven't used.

View all my reviews

Life Happens

The title of this post kind of says it all....life really does happen and sometimes not in a good way. But we all have to deal with those issues in whatever way brings us the most peace and comfort.

I have been having some personal issues lately that have prevented me from spending as much time on my reading as I would have liked....therefore this blog hasn't had a review posted since December...YIKES!!!

However, things seem to be settling down a bit and I believe that I can get back to the business of reviewing books.

If you have a book that you have written and you would like for me to review it....send me an email and we can discuss it. My email is dbibb5134@gmail.com

I do have a couple books that I will be reading and reviewing within the next week. So be sure to stop back by to check out the reviews.

Until Next Time!

Rippler Series by Cidney Swanson

Rippler by Cidney Swanson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Cidney Swanson has written a spectacular piece of fiction in Rippler. I knew from the first page of reading this was going to be an awesome book. I love the way Cidney has taken a genre and put a new twist. There is never a dull moment in this story. It is page after page of interesting writing.

If you are looking for something different and interesting....this is it!!

This book was provided to me by Cidney Swanson, the author because I won book 2 off LibraryThing and wanted to read book 1 first.



View all my reviews Chameleon by Cidney Swanson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ms. Swanson did not let me down with this book in the series. It was just a interesting and suspenseful as book 1. I really liked the way book 2 picked right up where book 1 left off without any interruption.

The Rippler series is a super read with a different twist. When reading the first book, I remember thinking what a fantastic way to change the genre.

I was very fascinated by all the history entwined into the story line.

I would definitely recommend this series to all my friends.

I really can't wait for another book!!!

I won this book off Librarything and in return promised an honest review.

View all my reviews

Tangled by Erica O'Rourke - A Review

Tangled by Erica O'Rourke
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As usual Erica O'Rourke has come through with another fabulous book. Once I began reading, I didn't want to put this book down. I was drawn into the plot and felt like I was there with the characters in this book. When a reader gets totally drawn into the story line and it feels like they are participating in the activities, then you know it is a GREAT book!

Mo Fitzgerald is your average teenager...but yet she isn't and with all the turmoil and twists within the book..I was really rooting for her to come out on top.

I highly recommend this series of books!

View all my reviews