the fresh perspective...

GREEN CIRCLE SALONS It's official guys!  We are officially a Green Circle Salon as of July first!  I'm very excited to introduce this new initiative to Winnipeg as the first salon (that I know of) that is committed to recycling up to 90% of the waste we produce while hooking you up with your hair dos.

With this program we will be able to recycle almost everything we use that produces some sort of waste.  Be it chemical, hair, paper, plastic, wax and wax strips... It's incredible!  When I opened up this shop 4 years ago I hoped for something like this to aid in lowering my salon's carbon footprint.  Unfortunately this service wasn't available in Manitoba until now!

Check out this video.  You'll be surprised at how much waste is produced by a simple cut and color service.  All the waste being produced by the services we perform will be turned into something else.  Some waste is turned into fuel for machines and others are made into bicycles and play structure for kids.  How does this work you ask?  Let me tell you!

GCS will pick up Freshair Boutique's waste and ship it to its appropriate recycling destination.  This service comes with a small fee.  We will be charging an environmental fee of $1.50 for every service bill.  This surcharge is similar to the fee you get charged at a grocery store when you buy soda in cans, glass, or plastic.  This charge is what allows us to ship the waste away and allows the companies to change the waste into something useful and great!

I know that some of you may have an issue with the surcharge, but I urge you to watch the video and see how great this system is.  Because of clients like you who choose to support local, and who believe in a better place to live for your and your families, a system like this is needed.  GCS has salons all over Canada.  It's largest concentration in the western part of Canada and I'd love for the prairies to take up the cause as well.

I know Winnipeggers aren't always receptive to change but this service is something that I think is important for businesses like mine that add to the environmental decline of our wonderful earth and sometimes our health.  I hope that all of you that patronize us won't be discouraged by our efforts to really help improve our lives and lifestyles.

Please feel free to ask me any questions about this initiative.  I also ask that you do all you can, in any way you can, to try to make our communities and our environment sustainable.  Is a $1.50 to much to ask?  Thanks so much for supporting Freshair Boutique and our commitment:

Choosing our business helps you get on the right track visually, with our beauty services, while consuming less, reusing certain items and recycling.  Our main goal is to put the best you together, while doing the least damage possible to the earth and ourselves.

That's the fresh perspective...

Thanks!

...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

The heat is on

What did you get into this weekend?  It was a splendid weekend of heat and sun and warmth and heat and sun.  Oh, it was glorious!  Especially after suffering through minus 55 degrees on more than one occasion, I welcomed the sun burning my skin a little bit.  It always amazes me that Manitoba has the ability to have the MOST extreme weather conditions.  Blistering hot or chillingly cold... We got it.

Any specific way you try to beat the heat?  I'm sure you all have tips and tricks.  What about for hair?  For sure during this time, you could ease up on your cream rinse (it's too heavy during these humid months), maybe stay away from cutting bangs (it's a built-in heat keeper), and get a few more highlights (this dries out your hair so you need less washing).

At the end of the day, getting your hair up and out-of-the-way will always be the best way to beat the heat.  Use whatever you can, and if need be, ask your stylist for some tips.  We know how to help you help yourself!

Peace

the fresh perspective...

SUMMERTIME IN MB

What are you thinking about getting into now that the summer is here?  I, for one, am an avid planner.  I have a few things lined up for the summer.

If I'm in town, I'll be checking out the festival on Canada Day on Osborne.  For August I'll be going to Stonewall for Quarry Days and driving out to Morden for the Corn and Apple Festival.

There's so much to do in Manitoba if you're into going for a bit of a drive.  There's a lot to see IN Winnipeg, but that much more to see OUTSIDE of Winnipeg.  It's funny how before having kids, I never really bothered with my province.  Now, I find that I'm looking for things to do to help us spend time together and help us get out to enjoy the nice weather we can have.

At sometime I'll head out to Falcon Beach and at some point and we'll pitch a tent in the backyard.  I'm also into watching movies in the park (sans children).  I'm excited and ready!  If you have any suggestions of places I should check out, leave me a message!  I'll try to make an appearance!  That's the fresh perspective...

One moment in time

This Whitney Houston song has such great lyrics.  I just posted an excerpt of it, but feel free to click on the link to see the video and hear the whole song.  Happy Monday!

"One Moment In Time"**

Each day I live I want to be A day to give The best of me I'm only one But not alone My finest day Is yet unknown

I broke my heart Fought every gain To taste the sweet I face the pain I rise and fall Yet through it all This much remains

I want one moment in time When I'm more than I thought I could be When all of my dreams are a heartbeat away And the answers are all up to me Give me one moment in time When I'm racing with destiny Then in that one moment of time I will feel I will feel eternity

**an excerpt

Peace

the fresh perspective...

Excuse me, how much??

We've all been there.  You go somewhere and you know how much you always pay.  That coffee shop that has that latte you love, that breakfast spot that makes you weekly cheese denvers...  You know how much it is.  Then one day, the price goes up.  What?!  Do you feel like you've been taken off guard?  Do you feel a little silly when you have to dig in your wallet for more change cause you thought you had the exact amount?  It's weird.

Well we're raising some prices at the shop and even with our best intentions of signs and posts, we're sure to not have informed everyone.  I know that someone will slip through the cracks and be a little taken off guard by the change.

Why do prices go up anyways?  There's always the obvious 'inflation'.  Business expenses go up so the price goes up.  Product prices go up so the service price goes up.  Employees get raises and, oop, prices go up.  I can say for our shop that when we do increase prices in services it's for a myriad of things.  I would like our loyal clients to know that when prices go up at Freshair, we want to make sure that you are not feeling at all that it's for nothing.  We aim to increase customer services, product selection, and overall experience for anyone who does choose to spend their hard-earned money in our business.  We value your opinions and support, and because of you, we aim to be better, always.

I have been styling hair for almost 15 years and have a license and a lovely clientele and I always make sure that I keep up with training and educating myself.  This year, for the first time ever, I will be changing my schedule to accommodate my growing family.  My prices will be going up in June and I anticipate that I may lose some clients because of less availability and higher prices.  I urge anyone who is struggling with higher prices to chat with your stylist about it.  It's okay to ask why.  It's your money and you should feel comfortable when you have to part with it.  If your stylist is becoming too expensive but you love the shop you go to you can discuss it with your stylist.  They may be able to refer you to someone else who does great work at a lower rate.  Think of it as paying for experience.  Someone who has had their hands in many heads of hair for over 20 years has probably seen it all and may have a solution to most hair issues, adversely, someone who has had their hands in heads for 5 years may do a great job as well.  The clincher is the experience and the expertise.

Just because I have been cutting hair for over 14 years doesn't mean I've NEVER had someone call back and complain, or tell me their cut was crooked, or thought I was bunk.  It happens.  I'm human.  My skin has gotten very thick over the years and I've learned not to sweat the small stuff...but I'm still raising my prices! :)

That's the fresh perspective...