I Need a New Attitude...

So I REALLY need a new haircut.  A new style, something.  I think I've had the same hairstyle since I was 16.  No matter what I do, or what "celeb pic" I take with me to the hairstylist, it still looks like this (see pic to the right). Sorry I look so unhappy...I was trying to figure out the screen snapshot off my Mac while taking this.  Wasn't sure if it actually took a picture. (Plus I had one too many last night, and have not had enough fried foods to sop up the leftover liquor).

Anyhoo...So 5 years ago, I had FINALLY found a great stylist who charged me UNDER $100 (she charged me $50, in fact) in NYC, and even though my hair always looked somewhat the same when I came out of there, I still felt...brand new :)

Then she moved to Japan.  Back to square 1.  OH recommended her hair stylist who she just LOVED LOVED LOVED.I met him, and I will have to admit--I LOVE LOVE LOVED him too.  Except he charge me about $150 a visit (new prices for new clients apparently, and this was not inclusive of tip).  SO although everyone LOVED my hair every time I walked out of his salon, I didn't feel new.  I felt like I was being charged 3 times what I normally paid, for the same haircut I always got.  He's an amazing stylist, and if you can afford it, I definitely recommend Mario (www.mariodiab.com).  Mario is so wonderful, has a great vision, and is just so amazingly cultured.  But at $150, I can only go to him once a year, and he's not too happy with my hair when I go in.

My little sister, being back in NYC for a matter of 6 months, found a very hipster fab stylist...in Brooklyn.  And although I do love Brooklyn, I think it's been over 2 years since I last was there (I'm not counting the 3 hours OH and I spent in October doing our own Cancer Walk in Prospect Park, as everyone else walked in the other direction).  I know I'll never get my lazy butt down there, thus, again, only visiting the salon once a year.

And the reason why I've had the same haircut for almost 15 years...I'm scared to do anything different.  I'm scared something shorter will make me look chubbier.  Something too trendy will make me look silly.  Something too "normal" would make me look like I've aged 50 years.  I don't know what would suit me besides the above shot as per this afternoon. And I feel THAT look is just weighing me down.

Last night, after the 4th or 5th Grey Goose & Diet Coke, I came home and couldn't fall asleep.  I was thisclose to getting the scissors and just lopping off my hair.  I even started "measuring out" my bangs with my fingers. I decided I didn't want to wake-up King of Written Street and Polar Bear who were visiting this weekend by trying to find the scissors out in the living room.

So I have two dilemmas--finding a new stylist in NYC who won't charge me the same amount as a new pair of shoes, and a new hair STYLE period.  Please help.

My New Year's Hopelutions

The King of Written House has informed me that my blog has started off on a dark note, and would like me to sunshine it up a bit. This post, King, is for you.

So every New Year's Day, millions and millions of people "resolve" to do or quit something that year. The most popular being - lose weight, quit smoking, stress less, and so on. The gyms and grocery stores grow more crowded, the quit smoking hotline becomes busier, and the daily "to-do" lists analyzed. And come January 15th to February 1st, the gyms grow quieter, the Restaurant delivery business increases, life becomes more chaotic, and the people shivering outside my office building trying to light their cigarettes is back up to the usual again. And all of these people have a darker look in their eyes. A look of disappointment and frustration. And, sadly to say, I'm one of those people (sans the smoking--yuck!)

This year, after watching a few news reports and listening to my friends decide, in all gusto, that they are not making ANY resolutions this year, I decided to make a list of HOPELUTIONS. Things that I HOPE to do or make happen this year. No actual deadlines. NO strict rules.

So here's my hopelutions' list (in no particular order):
1) Lose another 10lbs
2) Learn to swim (*I can tread in water, but that's about it)
3) Stop being a shopaholic (*Hubby's favorite off my hopelution list)
4) Learn fluent Hindi & Spanish (*both of which I can only "get by" on now)
5) Take up dancing again (*I took every type of dance class you can think of from the ages of 3-14)
6) Declutter my life (*my office, my desk(s), my apartment)
7) Change my hairstyle
8) Keep a manicure for at least 5 days to a week (*mine tend to chip after a day...if they even make it out of the salon unscathed)
9) Write more (*that's what this blog is for)
10) Get back into my creativity (*Photography, sketching, writing, dancing, general creating)
11) See my nieces and nephews more (*at least those who live in the country)
12) Cook more often
13) Read more (*any good book recommendations? check me out on GoodReads)
14) Go back to school (*I'd like to eventually get my masters...just not sure in what yet)
15) Be more confident
16) Take on more responsibility at work
17) Do more outdoor activities (*bicycling, roller-skating, jogging...once the weather gets warmer)
18) Take up yoga/meditation (*quiet my mind)
19) Workout 4-5 times a week
20) Volunteer more / become more involved
21) Stop procrastinating
22) Increase my energy
23) Organize my finances / understand my finances
24) Wake up earlier / sleep better
25) Stop drinking Diet Coke
26) Be more on top of doctor's appointments (*mine & Hubby's)
27) Buy an apartment
28) Keep up my correspondence with people
29) Organize the addresses/information in my address book
30) Start a family
31) Find AT LEAST one new buyer/store to sell our clothing line to

If you would like to post your hopelutions online, check out 43Things