Jenny and I totally just had a Steel Magnolias moment. No, we didn’t eat an armadillo cake (although I bet those are good) or have a kidney transplant… we got our hair done.

We were invited to Salon 11 in Germantown by the owner Melissa Hodson, who is, as it turns out, a loyal Mommin’ It Up reader. She’s got a new stylist, Mollie Shope, and they wanted us to come in to check out the salon and get our hair (and eyebrows) shaped up for the fall. Never ones to miss out on pampering, we happily obliged!

Here’s Jenny getting her wax job:

Just kidding! Jenny’s upper lip was carefully inspected and found to be hairless enough as not to require attention. At least she has that going for her.

Anyway.

I had not been to Salon 11 before, although everyone in my family has (more on that in a minute). It’s located in our town’s old jailhouse, and while they’ve made it beautiful, they’ve left a few relics of times past.

It is such a cute place! It’s small – one wash bowl, two styling stations – but in my opinion the size is what makes it so neat. It really encourages interaction among everyone there. We sat and talked to Mollie and Melissa and the other customers like we were all old friends… discussing everything from “Teen Mom” (my favorite subject) to bedbugs, and we had such a nice time.

It made me realize why beauty shops were once the hub of social interaction for women. I mean, they didn’t have Facebook, so I can see why they had their hair done once a week – they had to catch up on all the news! Salon 11 provides just that kind of small town, welcoming environment, while at the same time having young, hip (which even saying that word makes me decidedly NOT hip, don’t you think?) stylists who know that dark is the new light (at least according to my young, hip co-worker upon seeing my hair) and have the sense to steer old ladies like me and Jenny away from frosted hair and perms.

(No really, I have considered a perm. Like, within the last decade.)

We had a ball.

We love our new looks! And although we are geniuses and didn’t take “after” pictures of ourselves (someday we will grow up and become real bloggers, I swear), I will show you just how good Mollie is.

Yesterday afternoon (while I was at work, thank you Jesus) she took a screaming, writhing, boy who was determined NOT to get his hair cut, even though he was so shaggy he looked like he didn’t have parents, and turned him into this:

Is she good or what? As Sammy put it – “Mommy, my eyes aren’t in my hair and I can see the baseball now!”

So if you’re in the Dayton area, give Mollie at Salon 11 a call at (937) 855-1123 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (937) 855-1123      end_of_the_skype_highlighting… you’ll love her, you’ll love the salon, and you’ll love your hair!

It’s BlissDom week! Emily and I are super-excited that on Thursday, we are jumping in Cortney’s truck and heading down to Nashville for BlissDom for the second year in a row. We expect to engage in all kinds of bloggy fun and even learn a few things! We have LOTS of fun an exciting stuff to announce this week to go along with our trip to BlissDom, but first, I am going to get semi-naked before you. EEEP! Ok, not that kind. I’m going to show you my face with very little makeup. Double EEEP!

My vanity has done me a favor in that Mary Kay has generously give Emily and me some makeup to wear to BlissDom so that we will look as FABULOUS as we ARE. Using my mad makeup skillz and Mary Kay product, I’ve done a tutorial on how to get a neutral makeup look. This is a great look for every day and any day! Hope you all enjoy, and try to remember what I look like at the END of the video, not at the beginning!