Yesterday morning there was nothing I wanted to do less than my Couch to 5K workout. Nothing. Face a pack of angry badgers? FINE. Walk/run three miles around my neighborhood in 205% humidity? NO THANK YOU.
But I did it anyway because, ALL TOGETHER NOW, if I let myself have even a tiny break it will turn into a five year running sabbatical.
After I dragged myself around the block a few times and made it home, I cooled down for a minute and then jumped in the shower because I had to run up to Caroline’s school for the Book Fair. I took the time to blow dry my hair AND roll it in hot rollers. Then I realized I was completely out of hairspray.
I stepped outside and before I’d even finished locking the back door my hair was as flat as a pancake. Any volume or curl was a distant memory. I had hot-rolled in vain. IN VAIN.
So after I left the book fair, I headed straight to Ulta to purchase new hairspray. After spending much time debating the merits of different sprays, I decided to take the plunge and buy a can of L’Oreal Elnett Satin. I’ve wanted to try it for the last year but the $14.99 price tag had held me back. It seemed pricey for an unknown hairspray.
But in their magazine ads it was touted as the brand STYLISTS ALL OVER THE WORLD have used for years even though it hasn’t been available in the United States until the last year or so. Allegedly, U.S. hair stylists used to stock up on cans of it while overseas and bring it back to the United States.
(This must have been prior to the days of the no liquids over 3 ounces rule took effect. Surely the L’Oreal marketing people wouldn’t exaggerate for effect.)
So now I’m the proud owner of the hairspray BELOVED by the world. Conveniently, it really was $14.99 which is my preferred price point to throw out to P when he asks how much something cost.
Anyway, my hair was beyond salvaging by the time I made it home with my WORLD-FAMOUS hair spray, but I sprayed a little bit on my hair just to get a gauge of the aerosol coverage and smell. And I’ll be danged if the smell didn’t immediately transport me back to my Me-Ma’s pink tiled bathroom and the years between 1971 and 1992. L’Oreal Elnett is one of the smells of my childhood and I had no idea.
Now I just need to figure out how my Me-Ma was getting cans of L’Oreal Elnett all the way to Beaumont, Texas when world famous stylists had to smuggle it back to the U.S. in their suitcases. I mean Me-Ma never even drove a car, much less jetted off to Paris to secure some hair product. It’s a mystery I will continue to ponder.
I will also continue to use the hairspray because the smell makes me happy. And I’ll be honest, it doesn’t smell very good. It smells a little like the ozone is melting around me.
And now for some fashion.
1. Wanigan Coat
I am so drawn to plaid coats. And I own at least two of them.
But then I see one like this one and think that it’s so adorable and would love to live in my closet.
See? I have a thing for jackets.
Last year I found a little scarflette thing on Etsy that I wanted to carry around in my pocket because of all the precious. Now, I’m slightly in love with the cowl neck scarf thing with the little flower. It looks so cozy.
And I’m not even sure what I’d wear it with, but I bet I could find something.
The majority of the time I just show y’all stuff that I really like but have no intention of actually buying. Not that I don’t want to, but because I have to save my money for $14.99 bottles of hairspray and Pretzel M&Ms.
However, I’m actually going to buy this jacket. It’s the perfect casual thing to throw on with jeans while running errands or going to school events or buying hairspray.
I feel the same way about this sweater. It comes in a bunch of different colors, it’s soft, and I can throw it on with jeans or a skirt. And it’s on sale.
6. Argyle Flannel Pajamas
I don’t know why I’m featuring flannel pajamas when it’s still hotter than the sun here. I’d just like to believe that someone, somewhere might need a pair of flannel pajamas to ward off the chill.
7. Shades of Carnelian Necklace
Another Etsy find. I love the colors in this. It would look so great with browns or greens or denim. Perfect for fall.
8..Mossimo Black: Studded Tote
I saw this bag at Target the other day and was so tempted to buy it and then I didn’t and now I can’t remember why. It comes in red, black, brown and maybe silver but I can’t remember for sure.
I just know that it’s seriously cute and a great deal.
About two week ago it was pouring down rain one morning and I got on the internet with a mind to get serious about making a rainboot purchase. I talked about it all winter long last year and never actually ended up with any rainboots, but with some seriously wet feet every time I had to pick Caroline up from school since San Antonio turned into Seattle for much of last winter.
But then I fell in love with these and showed them to P and he said we’re in a La Nina cycle or an El Nino cycle or some kind of cycle that supposedly means it’s going to be a warm, dry winter and so I decided to wait on the rainboots.
And it’s rained almost every day since.
Thus ends my tale of woe.
I have nowhere to wear this skirt. But if I had a job that required me to get out of my yoga pants, I would totally buy this skirt and I’d wear it with a velvet blazer and some great boots and I would reminisce about how much I loved the store Harold’s back in the early 90’s and how this outfit seems very Harold’s-like.
And how maybe I was wearing an outfit very similar to this the last time I smelled L’Oreal Elnett hairspray in my Me-Ma’s pink-tiled bathroom.
Y’all have a great Friday.