Monthly Archives: October 2011

October 31, 2011 · 11:58 am

Desperately Seeking Don: My Skunk Stripe Is Back!!

I have not had “good hair” since high school and I am not going say how long ago that was! Throughout my adult life, I have been a professional salon hopper…..I don’t consider myself that picky especially when it comes to my hair, but I just could never find the right mix….a mix of someone who could work wonders with my frizz mop and not expect too much conversation while I sat there for two or more hours through the whole cut and color ordeal….also, when I am paying mega bucks at a salon it is because I am assuming my stylist is the professional and can tell me what would look good and what is a “miss”….I have found that most are too noncommittal and default back to “what do you have in mind?”. It doesn’t matter what I have in mind or if I like Jennifer Aniston’s new do…what matters is what is going to look good on me….well, did I ever meet my match!!!

I was going through my usual “I need to go to someone new” routine when I stumbled upon Don, who billed himself as the “makeover king”… I immediately called for an appointment; and after what turned out to be a 30 minute phone interview, Don decided he liked me and agreed to give me an appointment for the following Saturday. I was warned by him to not even be 1 minute late or he would not see me!! He also didn’t want me coming any earlier than my 10:00 am appt or he wouldn’t see me– I was to come at exactly 10:00 am. Now since every clock/ watch/iPhone/ipad I own has a variance as to what the actual time is, I was very nervous about getting the timing right and getting to actually see Don ….luckily, I hit it right on the button and my appointment was underway…. Continue reading →

2 Comments

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , ,

October 27, 2011 · 6:27 pm

Feel The Burn, Wet The Whistle

I hate to exercise.  There, I said it.  And I really hate fitness snobs in their cute little outfits who act so superior about their workout regimens.  Actually, the soreness that comes after a workout doesn’t usually bother me so much – in fact, it  kind of makes me feel proud of myself.  I think it’s the sweating that comes with working out that I really hate.  And, I’m never really sure where to fit a workout into my day.  Before work is out of the question.  I’m just not that dedicated and am quite sure I don’t want to be around other people who are at that hour.  But, I don’t want to do it after I’ve showered for the day, either.  My husband (one of those fitness types) will take several showers during the course of a day.  But, as I spoke of in a previous blog, the whole shower/shampoo thing is a major hassle to have to do more than once.

So, I usually meet my friend, Marge,  a couple of days a week in the late afternoon at a nearby fitness center.  Our exercise days are always Tuesdays and Thursdays, unless we absolutely cannot get together.  For instance, if she’s stuck at work or I have a family commitment or she has a hair appointment or it’s too cold outside or we got there and didn’t see the other’s car so we left or we’re just not in the mood.  And, no, we cannot work out alone.  No.  But, in our defense, we’ve actually come a long way since our first days of trying to get fit.

Continue reading →

2 Comments

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , ,

October 25, 2011 · 1:41 pm

A Hairy Situation

I recently learned about a new product on the market – a dry hair shampoo.  Does anyone remember “Pssst”?  I’m pretty sure that was the name of a similar product back in the seventies.  That one didn’t last too long, but I understand this new version has real science to back up its claims.  The introduction of this product validates womens’ complaints for years about what a pain it is to wash our hair.  And I’m not just talking about waist-length hair, either.  Men don’t get it because, for the most part, their entire hair shampoo/style may take up to one minute.  Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , ,

October 23, 2011 · 4:08 pm

Close Encounters Of The Rabid Kind

My son recently had a frightening experience as he and his fiance were enjoying a leisurely walk along the lakefront on one of the beautiful fall days we’ve been having lately in Chicago.  They noticed something on the ground and Laura wondered aloud what it was.  Mike said it looked, at first, like a piece of garbage, but as they got closer, it appeared to be a dead bird.  Just as they were passing it, the thing opened its mouth, exposing fangs, and hissed loudly for several seconds and then spread its wide wings.  It was a bat.  In order to understand Mike’s terror at that  moment, I need to take you back many years to a warm summer day when I thought it would be fun to take my four young children for a walk along the Fox River. 

Continue reading →

2 Comments

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , ,

October 22, 2011 · 5:52 am

A New Thing To Hate…Or My Life As A Crafty Failure…

EPIC FAIL REINDEER COOKIE

Ooohhhh, a new thing to add to my list of things I hate:  craft projects.  Wow, I cannot believe I overlooked that.  And to think I started out planning to write about one of the things I like!!  That will come in good time. But, I just saw something that reminded me of crafty things and, whoa,  I had to change course.  I suppose I should make an important distinction here.  I’m talking about projects that force unwilling participation, all in the name of fun.  I don’t know, maybe it’s the people I hate.  And, to be perfectly honest, I haven’t been coerced into any creative project recently.  But, the pain is still there.

Probably one of the worst moments in memory actually occurred about  eighteen years ago.  And yet it still feels like the band-aid has just been ripped off.   My oldest son was in second grade.  Christmas was approaching and I had received a call from a well-meaning (I’m still working on the forgiveness step) mom, asking if I would mind helping out with the classroom party.  My primal instinct was to recoil, but I fought that with, “Help?  Um…sure.”   All I needed to do, I was told, was to bring into class thirty red ribbons, cut into six-inch lengths.  Reluctantly, I agreed.  It seemed simple enough.  I have to admit that I was pretty darn proud of myself, too.  I entered the classroom that day, rather cocky, as I handed over, not thirty, but forty red ribbons, cut into six-inch lengths.  Yeah, that’s right, forty.  You, know, just in case.

Continue reading →

4 Comments

Filed under Uncategorized

October 21, 2011 · 8:26 pm

Why Did I Eat That?

Have you ever just completely pigged out on something and loved every second of it until you swallowed the last bite?  Then you think “Oh my God, I’m stuffed.”  I just did that.  Not sure why.  Think I was just looking for something to nibble on and since there is NO food in my house, I decided to cook one of those frozen dinner entrees.  They’re supposed to be for dinner.  And for more than one person.  But, seriously, we all know those serving sizes are so wrong.  I have to say, though, that while I thoroughly enjoyed it,  I’m now thinking I probably shouldn’t have done it.  But, it was really good.  But, I’m stuffed.  Sometimes when I do something like that I’ll ask myself, “Now was that worth getting fat over?”  Quite honestly, often the answer is YES.  And, even though I’m feeling a little gross right now, I have to say that it might have been worth getting fat over.  And the best news is that I have another bag in the freezer.

2 Comments

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , ,

October 21, 2011 · 3:50 am

Why I Hate Immunization Records

So, I feel like I need to explain a little about our lists of hates and likes.  It’s true that we love to hate things, but, let’s face it, it’s more fun to be a little edgy – right?  The first item in the hate list is “Immunization Records”.  On the surface, that may seem a bit harsh.  But, the key word here is “records”.  We have been plagued over the years for evidence that our kids have had their shots.  Okay, I get it.  But, honestly, when will the madness end?  Continue reading →

2 Comments

Filed under Uncategorized

October 20, 2011 · 9:43 pm

Welcome

Welcome to Life on a Box Wine Budget.  Here you’ll find posts about our likes, dislikes, and whatever else is on our mind.  Feel free to join in on the conversation and comment on our posts.  Enjoy!

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized