It's Saturday!

SWEET SEPTEMBER

We’re back at it everyone! It’s a new month, and I’m still here doing what I do! For anyone just joining us here, I am Praise. I am the owner of Freshair Boutique, an upscale eco-conscious hair salon in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

I’ve been cutting hair for over 20 years and through my trials and tribulations I have been blessed enough to have been given this platform. My experience is quite vast as I am a mother, wife, full time student, business owner and so much more. Seriously, there is so much more to me!

Two Saturdays a month I will do my best to keep you up to date with salon news and information. Sometimes I’ll have gifts, sometimes I won’t. This month we are focusing on C H A N G E S. School is back on, corona is still keeping us all on our toes, and we are all coming to terms with our new normal.

The new set-up is as follows: On Mondays, the fresh perspective will be my own opinion on all the things a human can have an opinion on! September’s focus is changes. Changes?! That word makes me so happy you don’t even know! From haircut changes to menu changes, I’m here for it all! We aim to try to give you a well rounded experience so please let us know if we are missing the mark. I love a good critique! Each Wednesday is wordless and features images for your viewing pleasure handpicked by me! It’s fun and refreshing. And sweet Saturdays are my salon reports and such. For example, the month of September has three staff birthday wishes! Niasha, Krista and I are all born this month! If you’re in the shop in September send us some well wishes!

September is also bringing us ‘Kwik tips with Kitty’, a new feature on our instagram TV. Be sure to check it out and give us a follow! She will be featured twice a month and has a lot to share. It’ll be a nice CHANGE to our lineup (see what I did there?)… Change is inevitable so why not lean in?

We have some fun stuff coming up this month as I explore changing your mindset and how corona really changed me, as well as some IG before and afters and some health and fitness inspo! Thanks for reading and if you are so inclined, drop me a line!

-p

the fresh perspective...

Praise Okwumabua’s go-to fancy hair styles

Hi there! I’m Praise and I’m the owner of Freshair Boutique! I’m also one of the three senior stylists that work at this shop and I have attended my fair share of fancy events and parties. While doing a little scavenging in my iPhone, (I’m a selfie connoisseur) I found some of my favorite ‘fancy do’ images.

In my opinion, what usually makes a hairstyle fancy is based on a few things. 1) Volume, 2) Stay in placeness (not a word…) and 3) Height. While I have seen many formal fashion houses and party goers rock the slick bun (no height OR volume), this look does have number 2, staying in place abilities.

So when you are styling your hair for your next fancy thang, remember my three points. Or don’t, I’m cool with whatever you’re cool with! Oh yeah, I forgot another really easy way to gussie up your hair do is to add a little something. Brooches, sparkly pins or even bow ties can really take a bland hair do to the next level!

Have a good time out there and remember to be safe!

That’s the fresh perspective…

the fresh perspective...

The fresh perspective is now going to be  a place where I can get on my soapbox a little bit and tell you all how I really feel.  Is this a good idea?  I am very passionate about a lot of things.   If I feel like sounding off about how much 'stuff' we consume, or how I think that face tattoos are a joke, I may offend some people.

I do not mean to offend.  I realize that my opinions are my own and I'm very aware that they may not be popular.  I will say, I find it hard to dispute that any person with a face tattoo CANNOT be taken seriously.**  I'm a little old school and prefer paper cards over e-cards, and I think hair is meant to be changed (it grows back so no worries right).

In light of all the changes we've been going through, I'd like to change things up. TFP started out as a review thing, then a 'favorites' thing, and now it's a soapbox?  Here we go!  That's the fresh perspective...

**If your face is tatted.... I'm sorry.

the fresh perspective...

The Freshest Ladies The salon has went through, and is going through, changes.  We have expanded, I had a baby, we'll be hiring for two positions... It's been a while since I had posted anything and it's funny how much I missed writing.

There was so much that I thought I would want to say for this first entry back, but I think I just want to thank the ladies I work with.  They have all played a very important role in their own ways during the past two months.

I'm grateful that I work with women who understand the type of business I want to run and they do what they can to enhance the experience for all the clients.  I appreciate each and every one of these ladies and I know that all the goodness and changes that Freshair Boutique has went through wouldn't have been possible without these 7 ladies.

Christie, **Chloe, Amy, **Heather, Andrée, **Tessa and **Olivia, thanks girls!  That's the fresh perspective...

**Not pictured.

the fresh perspective...

Pure Anada Mascara It's review time folks!  We've been carrying this product now for over a year and we're moving it pretty decently.  I am going to be on my third tube in a few weeks and it got me to thinking...

I really love how natural this product is, but I can't say I'm in love with the longevity of this mascara.  It's funny how conditioned we are as North Americans to view value as something that gives you a lot for so little.  The price is good but the mascara doesn't last at all.  Don't get me wrong, it lasts on my face and does a great job making my lashes glorious, but I feel like it dries out and clumps a lot faster than my old chemical filled mascara.  Is that such a bad thing??  No! No it's not.  I may need to buy more tubes of this brand of mascara, but I'm okay with that because I value the quality care that it's ingredients gives my only set of eyes.

My L'Oréal mascara seemed to stay moist and clump-free (in the tube) FOREVER but it was also full of harmful chemicals like formaldehyde and a boatload of awful preservatives that may slow my eyelash growth and leave me relying on eyelash extensions in my forties.  What am I saying?  I'm saying that even though this product may not last, and you may feel like every other time you're in the shop you're buying another tube, it's okay.  Don't sweat it.  You're supporting a local Canadian business and supporting your peepers and eyesight.  Like I mentioned in a post a year ago, there's something to be said about knowing that your hard-earned money is doing good things.  Even if it is only for your face...

That's the fresh perspective...

...all my children.

It was three years ago when we had our last family portrait done and as I looked through the album I couldn't believe how fast three years had gone by.  I know that time has passed because of all great things that have happened between then and now, but when I look at the images of my 5 month old and my 18 month old babes, I'm shocked!

They are 5 and 4 this year and are growing, growing.  One will be starting school in the fall and the other will cease to be my baby and become a big sister by the end of the summer.  Our family is growing and I am excited/nervous/anxious/relieved all at the same time.  Having children can be trying and tasking but there are times when I am truly in awe of them and am thankful they are mine.

Over the past week I've had numerous conversations with people about children and it seems that nowadays having no kid or one kid might simply be enough for some.  I am a firm believer in following your heart.  You know yourself and what you think you can or cannot handle.  The decision to have children, in my opinion, shouldn't be taken so lightly.  Think it through.  How will your life change?  Is your partner into it (if you have one)?  What type of lifestyle do you yearn for?  Do children fit into that lifestyle?  Sometimes I think we just need to let people decide for themselves.

One more, and I will close the chapter on babies.  It's been a wild ride but I don't regret a thing...

Peace