A day all to myself

Saturday morning I sat down with my notepad and started jotting down my list of to-dos.  And then it occurred to me that I wanted to do something different.  I wanted a day all to myself.

Sometimes on my birthday, I take the day off work and spend the day to my heart's delight.  I wander boutiques, get manicures, eat lunch at a place I've always wanted to go, hang out at coffee shops, explore thrift stores.  It's nice, but I didn't do that this year.

So it struck me suddenly on Saturday that I could do it now!  I felt such excitement, even though my plans weren't dazzling.  And the day turned out to be one of the most lighthearted, fun ones I've had in awhile.

I packed up my laptop and a bagful of books and set off. The first spot of fun was going to West Elm.  My mother-in-law gave me a gift certificate and I was excited to pick something out.  I ended up getting this sleek, modern, fun, playful chair for my office.  And it's a classic, pop-y red.  Which is even more fun because my mother-in-law was telling me that I need a touch of red - red is her favorite color.  So I hope we're both happy!

Then I wandered off to have a leisurely lunch at a place I've been wanting to try but never got to - Thai Fresh.
While I was there, I noticed Frenchy's a charming vintagesque beauty salon in a cute old cottage.  So I popped in to see if they had any openings.  Thus began the most spontaneous part of my day.  The hair cut.

Recently a friend told me she wanted to do something to really change her hair.  So I sent her photos as ideas and as I was looking at them, I realized, "Hey, that's what I want to do with MY hair, but I'm just too scared."  I was scared hubby wouldn't like it.  I was scared it would make my face look too wide. Blah, blah, blah.  Why is it sometimes the things we're afraid to do turn out to be the most exhilarating?

Here was my hairspirational photo by Courtney Brooke that I found at The Little Deer.  Face-framing bangs, seventies-style layers.  A bit like a long shag.

And here's how mine looked after I got home from the hairdresser.  She styled it a little wavier than the photo, but it's still pretty.  She turned out to be a goddess with a razor and knew how to sculpt my big mop!  She's definitely going in my Rolodex of hair goddesses.

 
I did it.  I LOVE it.  It's so freeing to just let yourself do something small like that.  At least for me.  I don't know why I'm so chicken sometimes?


So I want to know - What have YOU really been wanting to try, but you're still hesitating and why?