There is a nice little group out there of Toronto Mama bloggers. There are many, many more that i haven’t included here, but i urge you to check them out. Each one is fabulous. funny. heart-felt. Many of these mamas have known each other a long time. some of them even know each other in real life. I have been blogging since early 1994 (holy crap…it’s been a long time) but only recently found all these great hometown mommies. The only one i know in real like is my girl Haley, yes, of Cheaty’s Celebrity Gossip fame!
Well, the lovely Julie at Metro Mama decided to change all that by inviting the mommy bloggers over. to her house. for cocktails.
Gah! at first i was overjoyed and excited. getting to meet all these women?!! awesome! it will be so cool to put a real live face to a name. and actually have a conversation!
but now, since the party is tomorrow night, the panic is setting in. what if they don’t like me? what if they all know each other and i’m the odd man out? what if i say something stupid? what if i mix up someone’s kid for someone else’s kid? what if i’m less smart, less funny, less …well…fabulous than i am online? what if i show up and say, "hey, I’m Ali!" and *crickets*? ali who? who are you?
so, i got my hair cut on Wednesday. it’s been a long time coming. a good 18 months. no, i’m NOT kidding. the last time i had my hair cut was when i was 3 months pregnant with Isabella. and since she’s almost 15 months old, let’s just say – without even having to do the math – that it’s been an embarrassingly long time.
getting my hair cut frightens me. there are two things i hate about it. a) the pressure to get my hair cut SHORT. why do all hairdressers want to cut it all off? usually, i cave to the pressure because.i.can’t.say.no and end up regretting it later and b) the pressure to buy all the products. "Oh, Ali, how dare you use Herbal Essenses on your hair? you MUST buy the $80 bottle of bumble and bumble! and the conditioner! and the gel! oh, and this and this and this! and because i can’t say no – once again, i’m a complete sucker – i end up buying it.
This time i had someone new. His name is Pasquale Filippo and he works at the Donato Salon in Yorkdale. he was a pure joy. he was adorable. and best of all? he cut 4 inches off, and didn’t even try to cut more AND he didn’t pressure me to buy anything. love! this one is a keeper.
If you are looking for a great hairdresser, i really urge you to try him out. tell him i sent you!
(and i guess if i’m a super flop at the party….at least i’ll have good hair!)
song of the day: Cruel by Calexico.
come on over and see my pictures of my little 4-year-old birthday boy! and get the friday tv recaps 🙂
Another one with a fear of the hairdresser!!
I actually had a great hairdresser – specializes in long hair. She’s nuts, though, and I would get my hair cut with a cat on my lap much of the time.
Haven’t been to her in a while, unfortunately – can’t be bothered to trek downtown. I have found another salon, verdict is still out, though, I’ve only been there twice.
In two years.
It was so great to meet you and you are completely fabulous! Hope we get to do it again real soon.
I will personally rub up against you and croon sweet compliments about your hair. So, no worries about the party, ‘kay? Good.
I am still looking for the “right” hairdresser here in Perth after 10 YEARS!!! Think I have found one now – Lisa at Global Hairdressing, fingers crossed.
I used to see Gino at Capucci Salon in Bloor West Village – he was fantastic. My BF has been to Donato in Square One a few times and to Yorkdale as well.
Your hair looks really nice alas I am trying to grown mine out after 4 years of the Sheridan Crane from Passions “look”. I am very frustrated as I blow dry it straight and 2 hours later, it still looks boofy LOL!
Hope you have a great time tonight – I got together with my online girls on Thursday evening and we had a great time!
I can be counted on to f*** up people’s names, forget their children’s names, have too many cocktails…don’t you worry!
I got my hair cut today too. Vince at Vescada–he’s awesome.
Looking forward to meeting you.
Gorgeous hair, dahling! And, you’re going to have a great time tomorrow. I just know it. I’m TOTALLY missing out. I LOVE my hairdresser. But, one always needs a change. I’m not ready for that yet, but when I am, I’ll check out Donato! 🙂
I SOOO need a new hair cut and a new hair dresser so I am glad to have read this. Only I won’t get to be nearly as cute as you by tomorrow night unless he takes last minute panics.
I am looking forward to meeting you. Sure some of us have met a few times before but not everyone. Plus I am going to be like the guest with the plague … oh what do we say to poor Sandra who we know has been crying all week. Yikes. I am looking forward to dodging those conversations and having a few cocktails! I know you’ll love everyone!
I have long hair too and I know it’s every hairdressers dream to cut cut cut, don’t you see those makeover shows; whenever someone comes on with long hair 99% of the time they chop it off.
btw you look great and I wouldn’t worry about the party. I’m sure it’ll be fun!
Your hair looks awesome, Ali. And all those bloggers are going to love you, of course!
I had my hair done on Wednesday too. I get my hair cut and colored every 6 to 8 weeks – it’s the one luxury I treat myself to! (Because I’ve been getting grays since I was 17) But, I go to a girl who has a salon in her basement and she gives me awesome prices because once she started doing my hair she got (literally) about 100 new clients. Seriously, people loved my hair that much, strangers would ask me for her name and number. Now she’s not even taking any new clientelle. She’s totally awesome. I’m still all about the stripey highlited look although I toned it down some this time. Went to a really dark all over color with just a hint of a red cast on the top.
hi ali you are fabulous and those mama bloggers are gonna love you.i only get my hair cut every 2-3 years.you are right about them wanting to shorten it always.my hair is like 3 colours naturally and gray is one of them. in august a friend whos a hairdresser coloured it dark reddish brown for me.its growing out and i have a metallic gray streak down the center now,kinda looking like morticia from adams family right now.lol oh you’re little guy is adorable by the way.
Ali – your hair looks great! May try your guy as I still don’t have someone I love. You, of course, will be a huge hit at the party. I’ve met you in person and you will be just as Fabulous as you are online…actually more!
Kath – I started getting gray at 19 so have coloured for a long time. I just do one colour though, my natural darkish brown. No highlights…went out with the 90’s.
My biggest challenge is finding a good place to get my daughter’s hair cut. After the scalping she took last year at a playdate gone horribly wrong we are one year in and her hair is finally chin length. I would never go to just anyone for her hair but it needs to be evened out. Sigh.
Ali: you are beautiful! Even your pretty avatar doesn’t do the real thing justice. And your hair is fabulous too 🙂 I hear you about getting a good hairdresser! I had one I loved in TO and then we moved to Calgary. I’ve spent the last 8 years looking for someone as good as Mary (she began cutting my hair in grade 11, folks…yes, that’s 1985-6!!!!) But I could never find one. *sigh* About 1.5 years ago I found Cecilia (who has a home-based studio) and she’s really good, but we just don’t have the same history. Plus it’s a long drive to her house and her prices are nearly the same as the salon. What to do?
Oh, btw…what’s everyone’s thoughts on colour? I’m quite ANTI COLOUR right now (esp. chunky, obvious highlights…sorry to offend!). But I am developing a pretty healthy gray streak. What to do? Keep the bride of Frankenstein look and age gracefully? Or colour (which means, remember, that you have to GO BACK and drop $150 every 8 wks or so!)