freshfood

DON’T CALL IT A COMEBACK, I’VE BEEN HERE FOR YEARS

This is my time, again.  I have said many times that writing was something I would like to work on and maintain.  For those of you who have been here from the beginning, you may have remembered freshfood as a Saturday blog post about literally, whatever.

remember those loooong nails?!

My mind is an open field of thoughts, dreams, questions, ideas and ideals.  I can’t stop it from trying to discover, learn and understand (I’d love suggestions on how to slow down your brain).  I think that freshfood was sort of a creative outlet for me and I didn’t even know it!

In a world of ‘likes’ and digital glory, it’s hard to know if you’re really doing it right.  I wrote every week for a few years and our followers might have been around 5-15 people (who probably felt bad for me honestly).  Compared to other blogs I’ve read or how online products grow, freshfood was/is developing at a snail’s pace.  As long as the 5-15 of you care to peek inside my mind, I hope to bring you nothing but pure entertainment if no education or knowledge is gleaned from my ramblings.  The goal is to stay consistent and hopefully some folks will be into my words.

…my future’s so bright!

So yeah, here we go, the first of a few/many.  I’m hoping to get some things off my chest and also ask some serious questions (i’m very intrigued by perspectives that are different from mine so this could be interesting). Since the pandemic and the death of George Floyd, I have myself experienced a sort of renaissance and freshfood (even though it’s old) is really a by-product of my “newness”.

I’m back at it and I’m ready for anything!  Don’t forget to subscribe! 😬

-peace

*lyrics from mama said knock you out- LL COOL J

It's a new dawn, a new day, and a new life?

We are about to embark into the coldest season of the year, and even though it’s been a rough year (pandemic, everything) I’m looking forward to all the newness that fall brings. It’s been hard navigating the current standards of our culture as a business owner, AND a mother! Can I just say that I have never been in so many ‘emotional’ situations in my life! From the changing business standards and our changing social standards, I’m learning, growing and developing more and more each day!

if you don’t succeed…

While changes in my life are inevitable, I’m looking forward to the changes here, at the shop! The pandemic has forced us to re-evaluate how we currently run the business and how we HAVE BEEN running the business until the shut downs of 2019. This time we are challenged with how to stay open in spite of our stylists being unreliable because of illnesses. At first, we noticed that clients were cancelling and now, it’s the stylists! These cancellations and closures have slowly made us aware of how inconsistent and slightly unreliable a service industry can be. What to do? How do we solve this issue?

so many rules, so many changes

Full disclosure, I’m not sure what all the answers are, but I am here, ready and willing to find out! This day and age, online businesses are truly taking off! Our hair salon has not yet evolved to doing haircuts online but hey, maybe one day?

We can really feel the power of online sales when we deliberately make posts to move our followers to our site. E-commerce is a new area for me to learn about but like I said, new things are now my jam? We are hoping to develop a little more on this platform by offering unique items that are sustainably made/sourced and that will make your life easier, while staying local and close.

Our body wash and lotion have been exclusively used by all the Okwumabuas in my house! I prefer body wash over bar soap because I find the bar soap really dries my skin out. Freshwash (body wash) DOES NOT. It is almost like a cowash for your skin! It’s moisturizing AND cleansing at once! I love how it makes my skin feel during the shower and afterwards as well. The lotion is pretty great too, but I double up with shea in the cooler months as Freshbody (body lotion) is quite light. It’s great for the summer or if you need a light layer of moisture.

We have some other products available for a subscription services so that you don’t have to think about coming in to get your hair products or lifestyle products. You can sign up to have them automatically ordered and set up for delivery or pick up at your own convenience! We’re here to help you, help us, help you! 😉

just one step at a time buddy

As the year continues to unfold, we are hoping that some small changes will help keep our doors open for as long as possible. We are chnaging our salon software and will also be making changes here, to our website, in order to capture more sales. While cutting, coloring and styling hair is my main focus and the shops main source of revenue, this NEW way has made it almost impossible to see the future without more “digital” services.

The online store is open 24 hours a day and while my chair is not available all day everyday, freshairboutique.ca is. It’s seems like this is the number one way that we can make some financial progress without relying or depending on service providers. It makes me sad that folks are seeming less dependable these days, but that’s just how things are now. The sooner we accept the changes, the sooner we can move on.

remember the time?

Thanks to all who support us! You might be sitting in our chairs, or only shopping online, but either way helps and either way supports. Now that we are in the last quarter of the year, we really hope that all of you consider our online store while you’re shopping for back to school items or holiday gifts or whatever your heart desires. We are always open!

-p

It's Wednesday!

FITNESS

I’ve been using the Peloton app for three months now and I am VERY impressed with my results. It’s a wonderful miracle, this thing we call the human body. And it never seizes to amaze me the way that my body has showed up for me time and time again. Through numerous pregnancies and fitness challenges, she has supported me through.

should i get a bike? a peloton?

I have taken a year off running (i’ll be back in june) and I am now seriously considering getting a bike to ease up on my aging knees. The app sparked a new awareness and I think that’s all we need sometimes to jump start our health hopes.

get it!

With a new year around the corner, maybe this is a good time to start a new fitness regimen? Also, maybe not? There are so many ways to stay active and healthy and if working out isn’t for you, look into other options. Life is short.

I can finally do these!

It's Wednesday!

ECO BOUTIQUE

What’s new in the store? Check us out as we start bringing in the holiday gifts. From Last Object to Bottle None, we have your back! Even more so with our in house body lotion and body wash, also available in the boutique. Unique bath salts and soaps can be great gifts for any occasion. Stop by at our shop now!

introducing the big box tissue

small silk sea sponge (great for the face)

Be sure to check back in to see the new items as they come! There are lots of goodies for the holidays! Bye bye summer and hello fall!

It's Wednesday!

FOOD

Is it too soon to be thinking about baked foods? I mean, it’s still summer… I can’t help it. The planner in me is already looking for new recipes for the colder months. I often love one pot dishes and my photo montage this week is an ode to the skillet!

cheeseburger bake

mexican tempeh bake

tuna bake

All hail the skillet meal! I would love to get some of your recipes in the comments! Commenting not your thing? Fell free to drop your recipe in our inbox at salon@freshsirboutique.ca. Happy eating!

✌🏾

It's Wednesday!

FITNESS

It’s no secret that I love to move my body! I have found over the past few years that fitness, to me, is more than just looking good and working out. It’s about feeling strong and healthy and looking decent while doing so!

Tennis is a game I grew up watching and in 2009, I decided to get lessons and really try. I have always loved to watch and my father used to play when I was young. It’s been around my entire life and as I’ve played, I’ve improved. It’s still a challenge though, and that’s why it’s fitness to me.

Tennis allows me to run around, get my heart rate up, and all the while, reminding me to breathe, relax and stay calm. Does that make sense that so many controversial things are happening between a serve and your opponents first stroke? Coaches are always telling me to relax and wait for the ball, while making sure I get back and I don’t forget to breathe because the anticipation is enough to knock you down. That’s how I feel anyway.

It seems that tennis has really taken a positive upswing because the pandemic has forced us to think outside the box in every aspect of our lives. Folks are looking for new things to do that follow covid protocols. Many outdoor courts are fully booked nowadays and because you never really get close to your opponent it works during a the era of social distancing. Lucky for me, the girls play. We try and get out as much as we can. I am a member at our local tennis club and I can always access other players when I’m looking for a bit more of a challenge than a 6 year old.

What kind of fitness are you into, if at all? Are you the type that doesn’t enjoy getting sweaty and out of breath? I mean, tennis might be for you because you can play at a pace as slow or as fast as you like! Honestly, I’ve never played a sport where so many people play over the age of 55! You can literally play for life!