I should have known better. I really, really should have.
But I got suckered in by the video posted on Facebook.
The gal made it look so amazingly easy and simple. And I figured that even me — the non-fashionista who pretty much only has three hairstyles in her repertoire — could pull it off.
Boy, was I wrong!
I’m absolutely sure that Brittney from Brittslook wasn’t trying to mislead us. I’m sure she is an incredibly lovely person. And I’m pretty certain it probably was a case of user error on my part.
But the experiment went awfully, pathetically wrong.
I almost took a picture of the frizzy, crazy, sticking-out-in-all-wrong-places mess my hair came out as, but then I realized that it might frighten young children and break some computer screens.
Because there are just some things that are so awful, that once seen, they can’t be unseen.
Yes, it was B-A-D. Very, very bad.
Suffice it to say, I should probably keep my hair far, far away from all foil and electric hair straighteners in the future. Or at least anything that involves the two of them together and my hair.
Experimentation Can Be a Good Thing
As I was lamenting to Jesse about this major hair fail and how I wasted 30 minutes of my life that I would never be able to get back again, he looked on the bright side instead and said, “Well, at least you know it didn’t work.”
And he’s right. I think it’s so important for us to remember that time invested into experimentation isn’t necessarily wasted time.
It’s good to try new things on occasion. It’s good to not get so stuck in a rut that we’re not open to seeing if another method or strategy would serve our families better. And if it doesn’t work, you can always go back to what you were already doing.
But Ultimately, Do What Works For You
In addition, this hair fail is a great example of how what works for one person won’t necessarily work for another. Just like each of us has unique hair and different styles and techniques and products work differently depending upon our hair texture and length and weight, so the same is true in many other areas of our life.
Your friend might have discovered a solution that works beautifully for her, but it just doesn’t work at all for you. Don’t feel badly about that.
Every family is different. Every person is different. We all have unique needs, struggles, and capacity. We all have our own strengths and weaknesses.
Some of us are really great with managing money. Some of us struggle with it. Some of us are really amazing at juggling a lot of responsibilities. Some of us can only do one or a few things at a time.
Some of us are incredibly gifted when it comes to decorating or cooking or gardening or crafting or, yes, fixing hair. Some of us just aren’t talented in these areas. And that’s totally okay.
Keep experimenting. Keep trying new things. Keep learning from others. Keep being inspired by others. But at the end of the day, do what works for you and your family and don’t worry if it’s completely different than what works for others.
Just for fun: Have you ever had a hair fail or other online tutorial fail? Please tell me I’m not alone! {And if you have a tried and true hair tutorial that you think a complete non-fashionista like me can actually pull off, please leave the link in the comments. Because I need all the help I can get! :)}
Aldi
10lbs Russet Potatoes – $3.49
2 2-lb bags Carrots – $1.58
1 bunch Bananas (2.32lbs @ $0.35/lb) – $0.81, plus receive $0.25 back from Checkout 51 – $0.56 after rebate
2 dozen Eggs – $2.98
1 3-ct pkg Romaine Hearts – $1.99
2 16-oz cartons Egg Whites – $3.98
1 3-lb bag Gala Apples – $2.99
1 large bag Kale – $1.99
2 bags Spinach – $1.98
1 2-lb bag Lemons – $1.59
1 16-oz box Baking Soda – $0.49
1 8-oz carton Heavy Whipping Cream – $1.89
1 Cucumber – $0.49
1 8-oz can Baking Powder – $0.99
2 Avocados – $1.98
1 5.75 oz jar Spanish Olives – $1.19
1 16-oz jar Black Olives – $0.99
1 32-oz carton Plain Greek Yogurt – $3.89
2 8-oz pkgs Cream Cheese – $1.78
1 24-oz pkg Zucchini – $1.99 (which accidentally didn’t make it into the picture!)
Total: $38.41
Harris Teeter
2 large pkgs fresh Chicken Leg Quarters (13.11lbs @ 0.49/lb) – $6.46
1 dozen Egglands Best Eggs – $2.00, used $0.35/1 Eggland’s Best Eggs, exp. 5/1/15 (SS 02/01/15 R) (doubled) – $1.30 after coupon
8 16-oz pkgs assorted Frozen Vegetables (Green Beans, Broccoli, Spinach, Cauliflower) – $7.92
1 18-ct pkg Tampax Pearl – $3.99, used $2/1 Tampax Pearl or Radiant Tampon, exp. 3/31/15 (P&G 03/01/15), plus $2/1 Harris Teeter evic – FREE after coupons
1 jar McCormick Roasted Garlic Seasoning – $1.39, used $0.75/1 McCormick Spice, Herb, Extract or Food Color, exp. 4/19/15 (RP 03/15/15) (doubled) – FREE after coupon
1 gallon Milk – $2.99
2 12-ct pkgs Rhodes Dinner Rolls – $2.39, used 2 $0.50/1 printable (doubled) – $0.39/2 after coupons
Total after coupons and tax: $19.42
Weekly Total: $57.83
Weekly Menu Plan
Breakfasts
Oatmeal with Strawberries (from the freezer) x 3
Scrambled Eggs (Veggie Omelettes for me) and Toast x 2
Homemade Granola x 2 (for the family, Refrigerator Oatmeal for me)
Lunches
Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Apples, Peppers x 2
Build-Your-Own-Salad-Bar, Leftover Easy Potato Bread
Leftovers x 2
Baked Potatoes with Broccoli and Cheese, Kale Chips x 2
Dinners
Chicken Vegetable Soup with Homemade Noodles (I currently have some sick children, and this is always a feel-better meal!), Easy Potato Bread
Upside Down Pizza (using ground turkey), Tossed Salad, Steamed Carrots
Crockpot Venison Roast, Perfect Baked Potatoes, Cauliflower, Cream Cheese Biscuits
The Best Chicken Breasts (although I am going to be trying this with bone-in thighs and legs ;)), Steamed Broccoli, Homemade Baked French Fries, Tossed Salad
Ham and Bean Soup (using more of the ham that a friend gave us a couple of weeks ago), World’s Best Honey Cornbread, Relish Plate
Leftovers x 2
Snacks
Zucchini Muffins, Popcorn, Strawberry Smoothies
