The Fresh Perspective...

Host Gifts

When invited to somewhere, especially someone’s home, it’s important to leave the host with a little something. Lots of time an energy goes into hosting and it’s a really nice gesture and expression of thanks.

Here is my list of great gifts!

• wine (be sure your host is into booze)

• plants (christmas cactus? yes please!)

• decorative candles (who doesn’t love coal and canary?)

• the cheesemongers fromagerie (vegan cheese is also available)

• anything that is personal to the host (this is a real nice touch if the host is really close to you)

If none of these are helpful, food is always a pretty good option. If your host is into to sweet or savory be sure to make sure you get it right. No point in giving a gift if it doesn’t suit!

That’s the fresh perspective…

The Fresh Perspective...

CAREER HOW-TO: Hair styling

2020 will mark my 20th year in hair styling! Can I get a ‘hellyeah’?! Hell Yeah! How did I get here? 20 years in the same job doing more or less the same thing day in and out has brought me to this point. I have also accumulated some tidbits during my journey, and if you think hair styling might be the career for you, read on!

When I began my journey, there was no such thing as social media. Honestly, many salons barely had a website and online booking was NOT a thing. I started out my hair career in a time when you had to get out and ask for business. Business cards were an integral part of growing your business 20 years ago. These days, your online presence is your number one calling card.

Social media allows your clients to see the work you are currently doing. No more of those weird shop magazines with hairstyles, it’s all on Instagram! You can post availability, ask for specific types of clients and even show ‘how-to’ videos if you so choose. To be fair all this does is to bring clients to your chair. You need to still have the skills to keep them coming back.

Once you are in a salon, it’s important that you keep learning and stay current. I believe the styles you struggle with are the styles you should try to do so you can get better. Take as many classes as you can and be ready to really work. The only way you’ll make any money is to be behind the chair, so maximize that. Do whatever you can to get clients in and then work even harder to keep them. Listen to what they are asking, and if it’s within reason, give it to them. Over time you’ll find your stride and be able to decide which lane is yours.

I love all the aspects of hair styling, but my ultimate fave is styling/finishing. This, in my humble opinion, is where I shine! When you know what your bread and butter is, it enables you to gain more confidence. I also think working in a shop that has a few master stylists is key as well. When I was coming up, I watched the master stylists closely and just copied the way they were with their clients. Having stylists in your shop that are fully booked, can give you an example of what you could expect in the future.

Was this helpful? I believe that if you really pay attention to your clients and their needs, you’ll be able to really thrive in this field. Being ready to work hard, and having a strong social media presence can speed things up and in a few years, you could be booked solid!

That’s the fresh perspective…

The Fresh Perspective...

Is a Degree necessary?

How many of you have been told that you are nothing without some sort of education? A career is important for some, but others might feel like giving 20-30 years to one position is preposterous! Is that what a career even means? The definition of career is quite vast. Starting with, a profession that you learned how to do with specific training over a period of your life, to a combination of jobs held, titles earned, and works accomplished over your lifetime.

These days, less and less folks are sticking to one job for 20 years or more. Some people move around every 4-6 years, changing aspects of their current job or changing companies all together. Somewhere we have connected too much to the word career. We put so much pressure on ourselves to accomplish so many things by a certain time in our lives. Is that even right?

Career or no career, one needs to be able to feel good about oneself. If there’s something in your life that you don’t like, you can change it! It’s never too late to try and be better today than we were yesterday. There’s always something new to learn, even if you’ve been at it for 20 years…

That’s the fresh perspective…

The Fresh Perspective...

Would you Home School?

It’s no secret that I have a boatload of kids! Ok, four, but that’s still a lot! Before I had kids I was quite opinionated about them. I had it figured out. “When I’m a mom, I’ll do things so much differently,” I said. Now here I am, 10 years in (my oldest is ten) and I realize that parenting is intense! There are so many aspects of parenting that I didn’t account for and even more so, aspects that I LOVED and wanted to uphold desperately!

Firstly, my children have made me realize how terrible we are to the earth and I have drilled it into their little heads about sustainability, littering, waste…. you know…. I never knew in my twenties that that would be something I would have stood for. I was all about their education and somewhere, deep down, I thought I would home school them. Well. No.

I found this PDF from the Government about Home schooling and I thought I should share. Turns out, that I have more faith in our school systems here in Manitoba after all! My children attend École Nöel Ritchot and do their studies in French, another thing I thought I would NEVER do!

Would you home school your child/children? Maybe? If you need more info check out Home schooling in Manitoba. All the best!

That’s the fresh perspective…

The Fresh Perspective...

Water park fun!

Here are some fantastic water parks right here in Canada! Do you enjoy water themed events or are you all about staying dry? Well, if you’re looking for something new to try, hit one of these parks up this summer. You won’t regret it!

Calypso Waterpark, Limoges, Ontario

World Waterpark at West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton

Magic Mountain Water Park, Moncton, New Brunswick

Waterpark at Valcartier Vacation Village, Quebec

Wild Water Kingdom, Brampton, Ontario

That’s the fresh perspective…

The Fresh Perspective...

Lash Extensions!

So this service is really a big hit and has continued to grow exponentially since it’s conception! I gave it a try last year with the intentions of doing it for an event and then I got hooked! One whole year later I was still going for fills and enjoying the look.

I’m about to go on holidays and I am really contemplating going for another round. The lashes, for the most part, are pretty great but there are a few things that I believe you should be aware of before going in. I found this list of reasons to get lash extensions and yes, the points are totally valid but the list includes no cons.

That’s why I will give you the 411. Here goes…

Here are our personal top 10 reasons why you should seriously consider getting eyelash extensions.**

1. They will enhance the look of your natural lashes. Check out the amazing difference of the before and after pictures. The really open up the eyes and make them more noticeable.

2. More dramatic then mascara but less dramatic then strip lashes. You can always go more (volume lashes) if that’s the look you are after.

3. You wake up looking stunning, every day without effort! Brush your lashes and out the door.

4. Saves money! No more mascara required. You might even find you don’t need to wear any eye makeup at all. Saving more money!

5. Saves time! Speeds up your morning and night time routine.

6. No more mascara clumping, getting mascara on your nose, eyelid or other random places it seems to get. No more drying out your natural eyelashes causing breakages. No more panda eyes, mascara running and smudging under your eyes.

7. Great for people with sensitive eyes. The fewer products around the eye area the better. Also great for people with contacts or glasses.

8. Great for the travellers. All your holiday pictures and selfies will look amazing and your eyelash extensions will last for the entire vacation.

9. Great for special occasions, weddings or conferences.

10. Great for the gym. Can sweat it up for hours at the gym and still have great looking lashes.

All these things are true but there is a decent amount of maintenance. I wasn’t a fan of the volume lashes but I did find that the classics were more me. About saving money, I’m not sure that is true. A tube of mascara can last me up to 2 months while a fill is around $90 and has to be done every month. Do the math and a year of lashes could be almost $1000 while the mascara could be around $300 for the year!

Don’t get me wrong, I really like the look but as a low maintenance lady, sometimes the effort of arranging your lashes or sleeping on your side face became annoying. Also, let me add that after a few appointments you do get used to the ‘work’.

I’m not sure I have been helpful, but I hope that maybe this can help you decide if you would like a set before the next wedding you’ve been invited to!

That’s the fresh perspective…

** List courtesy of Emphaseyes