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If you read my blog regularly, you know I’m a very hands-on person. I love doing everything myself (except washing and cleaning, of course ). Heck, I’d grow my own pasta and bacon if I could!

So like I said, I cut my own hair sometimes and I cut my kids’ hair when they were little. Just the basic cuts because I’m not a trained hairstylist and have never attended any hair schools in Wichita or anything.

So now that my kids are older and want different styles, I have no choice but to take them to the salon and let the trained professionals do their thing. If I could learn how to style, I would too !

So we headed to the mall first thing. Seems like it’s our weekend routine these days. This is a mall I used to frequent with a girl friend from work when I was a fresh-faced kid at my first real job. Fast forward to the present and now my kids are just finding out why this used to be their mom’s favorite hangout.

Raine and I just skipped along from store to store trying out shoes, shoes and more shoes. Each pair was cuter, prettier and more exciting than the last !! Here we are, trying to decide! Two feet trying on three shoes!

Skye was utterly bored out of her wits and started snapping pictures of our shoe insanity on one of her so-called spy gadgets aka hidden camera. Hip2bDad and Steev had long abandoned us to camp out at a computer store somewhere!

Four hours later, Raine had 4 new pairs to her name – 2 wedges and 2 flats. And I finally decided on this pair of wedges. So comfy, so cute, so me! Like it? *bats eyelids*

Gone are the days when I was the Queen of Fashion Decisions in the family. Back then, shopping was a breeze. I’d grab whatever I thought would look good on everyone – neckties and shirts for Hip2bDad, shorts and shirts for Steev, dresses, jeans and hair accessories for the girls – and usually ended up with nothing for myself (why do I always forget myself?).

Anyhow, no one ever complained about my choices whatever colors, lengths or styles. Everyone had complete trust in Mom’s good taste. Well, Mom still has a hip fashion sense (ahem!) but apparently teens want to have their say too. Shopping has gotten a tad more challenging since. Some days, we practically have to trawl the mall just to net that elusive pair of shoes or that impossible pair of jeans!

Recently we got just the perfect sneakers for the girls. They’re as hip and fiesty as holiday cards, don’t ya think?

We went to a wedding recently and Skye wore this earring that she made herself. My girls are pretty creative and love making their own jewelry.

Yes, she’s only wearing one side of the earring here… just like her mama often does! Blame it on that rebellious streak running through my veins. Some find it unnerving apparently. I’ve often been alerted by well-meaning folks saying “you seem to have dropped one of your earrings” – which I haven’t, of course, I’m deliberately wearing just one side !

On another note, note Skye’s flawless complexion without the need for Photoshop or treatment for wrinkles! Ah, to be young again and have skin as smooth as that !

Hello Kitty has lots of fans around the world. Are you one of them? If you are, you probably want to add these casual fun bags to your collection of Hello Kitty merchandise. Not only are they very presentable, they can double up for all your kiddy or baby stuff under the guise of Mom’s trendy tote bag.

Hello Kitty Big Bow Tote

This one’s so cute I just had to post a picture of it. It’s just the perfect shape and size, and it would be a cinch to coordinate with whatever you’re wearing. Makes an adorable gift of a young Hello Kitty fan too (read: your daughter and her friends).

Hello Kitty Quilted Face Bag in White

Some of the designs come with matching wallets just like this one. Just too cute!?

Hello Kitty Rocker Wallet

There are more stunning designs with applique and embroidery here,  all selling at 10% off. Be sure to use the coupon code – hkitty – at checkout. Offer good thru May 13, 2010.

I was window-shopping with the girls and we came across this. Not the best photo in the world, I know. It was taken in stealth mode using my pocket PC camera with Skye standing guard while I tried to snap this picture without being caught and thrown out of the store.

Figured it out yet? No? Well, it’s a pair of shorts.

Size 0 shorts, to be exact!

I mean, who wears a size 0?

If I wear a size zero, does it mean I don’t exist ? Or would gobbling down the best vitamin supplement put me back into existence?

I’m not sure if I mentioned this but I got my past-shoulder length hair snipped to, what I thought would be, a more manageable length. Slightly below the shoulder. It was a sort of compromise as I kinda liked my hair long for a while back then.

So I bit the bullet and barged into the saloon, bracing myself for an inquisition about why I won’t highlight my hair, or have it steamed like dimsum, and an earful about the latest hair loss products for women. I tried to smile politely through it all, timing my nods and ‘hmm’s to start the moment she finished each question. And I did well, I think. She seemed pretty happy with my responses. She even waved me a cheery goodbye.

Do I like my hair now? Well, it’s okay except that I still need to tie it up into a little ponytail when I go to the gym. And then I end up bundling it up the whole time as the hot weather shows no sign of relenting. I wish I’d cut it shorter. Next time .

… jumped out at me at the drugstore yesterday,

Yes, I know it’s your job to help customers make a biased choice. But please, please don’t jump on me from out of nowhere just as I’m reaching to have a closer look at that eyeliner. I don’t know if you recognize me or not but this is the second time you’ve scared the living daylights out of me.

See, I’m someone who prefers to dally and consider all my choices before making a selection. And I prefer to make that selection without a sales promoter breathing down my neck, thanks.

You people talk too fast. You confuse me. And it really gets to me when your answer to all my questions is Yes! Is this on sale? Yes! Will the eyeliner stay on a whole day? Yes! Can I use it to write on the whiteboard when my whiteboard marker runs out of ink? Yes! See what I mean?

Okay, so great, you tell me this crayon eyeliner won’t smudge and it has this cute little sharpener in the back. Nice! But you know what? I really don’t appreciate your drawing lines on the back of my hand with each color . It took me several hand washes to get it off!

You know, if you hadn’t done that, I might actually have bought that new-fangled crayon but since you chose to annoy me instead, don’t blame me for making a hasty exit without buying anything. Probably another day when YOU aren’t around to breathe down my neck.

Signed,

Shop-Stopped