Flirty by Thirty--Long Tresses

I've been growing my hair out for ummmmm....about 15 years and until this year it has never been past my shoulders. I love getting hair cuts. It's a great way for a quick pick-me-up and let's be honest, I like the "Oh, your hair looks so cute" comments I get for a week after a new drastic cut. Plus, I've never had the patience to wait through that horrible in between phase. So how am I successful this time?

Well, the first reason is I don't have time every 6 weeks for a nice 2 hour appt at a salon and a short haircut needs that. Plus, last year I heard two different women say "well, I'm going to have to cut my hair soon. Long hair into your late 30's just doesn't work." In most cases I agree, unless your Catherine Zeta Jones or some other celebrity with massive thick shiny hair. All of a sudden it became one of those things that I had to do now or the chance will pass me by. For the most part I don't freak out about age, but there are times when I realize the train has moved on. Like when I was 19 and kept hearing about some 18 year old Olympic gymnast being past her prime. Shoot! I missed my olympic opportunity! Not that I ever had any type of athletic ability, but it is weird to be past the prime of a certain career. I also remember turning 24 and hearing about the Real World auditions in NY. I was too old! Of course, I'm way too boring and definitely couldn't bring the requisite slutty factor necessary to make it on the show. Oh, and I was married at this time. Still a shocker though. It was like I suddenly moved into a different generation. How could I seriously watch Real World if I was older than them?

But the hair thing seems doable...except for one thing. I'm not very confident with how it looks, which sort of defeats the whole point of flirty by thirty, right? Now if I could have it blown out twice a week at a salon, I'd be able to pull it off no problem. See, this is a few hours after a trim and blow out.

Body, shine, nice ends that aren't all stringy. Why is it impossible for me to make it look like this at home? I see other women master beautiful looking hair on their own. Could someone share the secrets? I've decided I'm going to stick to my guns and keep growing it out until the big 30 and then I may chop it all off.

Breaking the Toddler Glass Ceiling

My motto is a busy toddler is a happy toddler, and let's face it, in the winter this can be challenging. I'm always looking for fun activities for Penelope, preferably free or low-cost. A couple weeks ago I heard about storytime at Bob's Choo Choo Store in St. Paul. 2 miles from our house and free so a perfect activity. This morning Chris stayed home to tidy up, and I bundled Penelope up and told her we were going to go see Thomas the train.

In case you don't know, Thomas the Train is on PBS and follows little trains around the make-believe island of Sodor. When I was in 8th grade I babysat two boys who worshipped Thomas. I've always found the movies pretty boring, but Penelope fell in love with Thomas the train books at daycare. It never ever crossed my mind that trains are only for boys. I will say there is a double standard in my mind. For instance, tea with Eloise at the plaza...that would definitely be all girls, but a Bob the Builder get together or Thomas the Train event I would automatically take Penelope. Maybe I'd think twice before a transformer event, but not trains.

Yet when we got to Bob's Choo Choo Store, listened to story time and started playing with all the trains, I realized Penelope was the only girl. At one point I counted roughly 45 boys around the many train tables so we are talking a huge gap. Plus, we stayed for 2 1/2 hours so there were many little boys coming and going all morning. Another girl showed up briefly when her parents' dropped her brother off for a little boy's birthday party, but other than that Penelope was the only girl. Since the kids were all under 5, I don't think either Penelope or the boys really noticed, but the parents did. Most parents only intervened between the boys when a fight was about to start; however, if Penelope reached for a train or walked to a new train table, it was "Let the little girl play there" or "Give the little girl your train to add to the one she has." Manners and sharing seemed to be much more important when it was a girl vs another boy.

Penelope watching the trains. This was near the end of our trip. She had been so excited for 2+ hours she finally had to take a seat.

Penelope carefully putting her train on the track. At one point the room was almost library quiet, while Penelope and a dozen boys concentrated on their trains.
A look at some of the train tables.

It was really interesting to see. Little did I know I was going to be observing a sociology experiment at Bob's Choo Choo Store. Penelope showed so much enthusiasm for the trains we will definitely be back, hopefully with some of her toddler girlfriends to share the excitement of trains!

Enthusiasm

I know I've been a bad blogger. Sorry about that. I'm trying to not procrastinate too much, and it is a rare time when I sign on the computer, post a blog and get off. It is amazing how an hour can slip by on facebook, email, and reading all my favorite blogs in google reader. Plus, I've been able to spend some time savoring Chris's homemade bread right as it comes out of the oven.

Does anyone out there watch America's Test Kitchen? It is on PBS. Chris and I have been watching it for about 6 years and it is hands down my favorite cooking show. I feel like it is a secret though because no one seems to know about it, even my foodie friends. The name has changed to Cooks Country but it is the same thing. Chris's aunt Carolynne got him the cook book from the first 10 seasons. It is huge and dangerously wonderful. I think the beef stroganoff and vodka penne with homemade bread sort of contradicts the flirty by thirty but it was sure amazing.

But my main reason for this post is I felt guilty after my last post. Penelope isn't a monster child. She's just a lot like me with emotions...jumps from one end to the other. Since she turned two I really haven't complained too much about the tantrums. It is so great that she has enough vocabulary to really express herself. I'm just so glad that she has as much power behind her happy moments as her tantrums. It makes it all worthwhile. Check out this video of her playing with a toy she's had for 2 years. All of a sudden she got ridiculously excited about the song "Are you Sleeping?"