Favorite Things Vol. 2 (Shower cap revival)

I know many an old lady image comes to mind when thinking shower cap. Blame it on the lunch lady that had the same hair with or without the hairnet. In any case, my favorite thing this month is indeed a shower cap. In my quest for matching items for my new bathroom decor, I found caps to match (see photo). With hair that looks best blown dry, not having to spend the time after every shower is a welcome gift. They're available in a variety of materials and prints. If you have long hair be sure it's roomy enough to clip or wrap your hair up into.

And, for those of you lucky enough to travel often, the single use shower caps given out at hotels work excellently as shoe covers in your luggage, keeping pairs together and dirt or grit off of clothes.

A simple google search provides a variety of styles and price points. Yet another reason to sing in the shower.

Favorite Things Vol. 1

If Oprah can do it, so can I, right?
I love to shop at places like TJ Maxx but dread removing the pricing stickers from shoes and household items. In addition to being a favorite tool for oops moments in crafting, my favorite thing for today is an adhesive eraser. Two styles, both work well.

The Haircut Conundrum

I admit it - I am fully "hair-impaired" What was a luxury of my childhood - having a mother who would "do" my hair any way I wanted any morning of the week - has turned into a continual adulthood dilemma...

The Hair

Most days it's just there, and rather than revel in it's presence, or the fact that I have enough hair for several people inhabiting my scalp, I look in the mirror and think, what next? It isn't that I don't have s multitude of things that I could do, or a variety of objects with which to adorn my locks, I think the trouble is really, well, vocabulary.

Each time I go to a salon I ask for a haircut and each time I'm less than satisfied with the result. Herein lies the power of using the appropriate vocabulary. What I really want from the salon is a hair style. Such a simple distinction and yet such immense power in the employment of one simple word.

Finally, I finally jumped in and did it. After three or four years of a variety of color - the blonde, the blue, the purple (which I loved,) I realized that while these things were fun they still didn't help with the overall impact that my hair, sometimes unfortunately, made. So, just a few days ago I went to the salon and asked for a hairstyle. The result was something I actually liked. The price involved having to realize that being an adult and wanting nice looking hair was going to require a small amount of effort and a complimentary amount of well placed hair product. The result is that I no longer feel like my hair is an animal that rests and sometimes attacks from a perch on my shoulders, but is now an asset. A part of me that I can and intend to enjoy.

So, my advice to those of you who are sporting the perma-pony weeks from when you've stepped into a gym; take the leap into the salon and get the hair style of your life.

The College Bookstore

8.20.12

I don't think the aura that surrounds college bookstores will ever wear off for me. I was there today this time at University of Nebraska Lincoln on the first day of classes. Despite the potential deterrent of both thousands of other students on similar missions, or the significant diminishing of one's bank account balance I instead had an overwhelming sense of excitement, joy and anticipation like few other places on earth have given me. Being a college student again (for the fourth time) I'm not sure whether it's the crisp pages of newly printed text, the allure of the empty notebook or the perfectly smooth fine line pen with ink in your choice of colors from anywhere on the rainbow, but in amongst the texts and t-shirts, I  felt nothing but energized and alive.

Does everyone else get giddy at the prospect of spending hundreds of dollars to fill their heads with the latest and greatest that research and knowledge have to offer? Perhaps. Did the rest of the people waiting in line with me realize the unique and magical world of college that they are now a part of? Doubtful. Perhaps what is more likely is the nostalgia I feel for the times in my life when I have been in college, the promise and the potential all coming together in this moment, this day.

I'll probably visit the bookstore often, so I can remind myself to look at the world with the optimism and anticipation that is present somehow only in this place, and each time relive great memories and experiences as I eagerly continue to be a learner in the classroom of life.


PS - I would be remiss not to mention the Carleton College bookstore too, where it all began.

In the beginning...

A little background on the name and the purpose...

Teal Bugs Etc. was the name of the "store" that I used to "own" when I played store with myself and friends as a child. And, in looking for some inspiration for a title to my blog, that's where I went. Sometimes you have an idea, sometimes you wonder, sometimes you reflect. This blog is the place where I will do all three, I hope you'll come along on the journey with me.