Tweens and Hair Colour ... yay or nay!



I think I might be getting soft in my old age. I never thought I would let my girls put colour in their hair, but guess what we did in the New Year ... yup pink and purple ends.

 

 

 

The Fashionista put a bright pink through her crazy curls.

 

 

Now some of the reasons I was initially against them putting dye in their hair (despite me having done so since I was 18 or so!) was that:

• I wanted them to know just how beautiful they are naturally and yet also didn't want them to put too much value on how they look
• I didn't want to put chemicals on their head (actually I am still not keen on that and it's one of the reasons I let them dye the ends only)
• I didn't want them "judged" or pigeon-holed by other people

 

 

Agent Smelly went for a purple which actually blends into her hair quite well.

 

 

Now here's why I changed my mind;

• firstly when you ban something you make it so much more interesting and desirable to kids
• their hair is going to keep growing so it can easily be cut off or even coloured over again. Piercings and tats are forever and we can worry about that if we ever come to it
• surprisingly it can boost a child's confidence if it looks cool ... so many of their friends are "totes" envious of how cool their hair looks and have complimented them.
• it gives them a chance to express some creative individuality in their own way on their "own" bodies. Their bodies belong to them, I do not own them and they need to learn that they have the final say in what can and can't be done to them.
• we are only young and carefree once, so why not let them have fun whilst they can. We need to lighten up!

 

Have you ever let your kids do something that you never thought that you would? Would you let your tweens and teens colour their hair?

 

Wetsuit Wackiness

One of the things I brought back from Melbourne with me, was a couple of wetsuits for the girls. Imagine, the cost of a new wetsuit (from supermarket ALDI) cost me as much as a second-hand one here of comparable quality (but with short sleeves and shorts legs) would cost me off TradeMe (NZ's answer to EBay) not including the postage! 

Please bring ALDI's to New Zealand ... paaaallllleeeeaaaaasssseeee!

They are so darn camera shy!

T is for ... "Tea Parties"

Anyone with girls knows that an important part of a their growing up is holding tea parties. When they are little you drink pretend tea and eat pretend goodies that are served on their cute little tea sets. Is there anything more heart melting than watching a male pretend to enjoy a cup of tea whilst a tiny little girls watches and makes sure they finish every little drop and respond with the appropriate comments?

It appears some little girls don't grow out of it but just progress to making real ones.

Today The Fashionista whipped up some ANZAC bickies (biscuits/cookies) made all by herself whilst Agent Smelly taught herself how to iron ... with an anxious Mama watching her in the background. The "look Mama I can iron standing on one leg" didn't help appease any fears!  The pair then sat down to enjoy their afternoon tea that The Fashionista had set out just like any good 1940's housewives would!

A Day Off ... maybe not!

Today's Saturday and we had no schoolwork scheduled ... then why did my coffee table look like this?

Oh that's right ... my girls decided to play school ... seriously, they are such gorgeous, wee nerds! 

I love how they even had dictionaries out ... they were making projects on their favourite subjects, mermaids and horses.

My Reluctant Reader

Today I had to take down the Christmas tree. I absolutely hate taking the tree down. I always seem to put it off as long as I possibly can. It is just so darn pretty and festive and makes me feel all warm and fuzzy when I turn the lights on each night. The heat around this time of the year doesn't help either.


Anyway I thought I'd better get a move on so I sent the girls outside in their bathers and a couple of water guns to enjoy some sun ... and I hate to admit it but also to get them out of my hair. Between us sometimes it's just easier and quicker to pack up without their "help", if you know what I mean.

At one stage I turned around and looked outside and noticed my "very reluctant reader" sitting out on the deck in her beanbag, with her mp3 player on and book in hands.


I was SOOOOO envious! Oh to not have a pile of things that needed to be done, like washing, cooking, cleaning and to be able to just go and flop on the deck with a book (maybe not in my togs ... I don't want to scare any wildlife!) now that is my idea of bliss.  You know in my innocence, when I moved here nine years ago, I had visions of me spending my afternoons sitting on the deck, wine in one hand, a book in the other, lazing back with that beautiful view in front of me, whilst my little kiddies played quietly at my feet. HA ... reality hit and nine years later that still hasn't happened. Maybe I should have made that my 2013 resolution ... to finally spend a day doing that. Not the wine mind you, half a glass would put me under these days.


I was also very happy to see The Fashionista reading without any prompting, just for pleasure! My heart did that little wee flip flop thing they do when we mama's are happy with our offspring.


Later she told me that the headphones weren't on, she just was trying to get some peace from her chattering little sister ... mwah, bless their little cotton socks.

Indoor Camping

This week whilst the girls and I were out visiting the shops after the post Christmas sales they saw a wee three person tent on sale for $45. Out of the corner of my eye I could see them huddled together near the tents, pointing at them and animatedly whispering back and forth. Uh oh I thought, I know what they are  up to. So of course, next thing, they came over to me and asked if they could buy it with some of their Christmas money.

We brought it home and they have patiently been waiting to put it. Well sort of patiently as I told them if they asked me one more time, I'd throw it in the bin. The Papa's on night shift this week and don't ask me why, but I'd prefer for them to sleep outside in it when he's around.

Anyway tonight Agent Smelly had a wee fall in the garage whilst putting her bike away and was looking a little sad and sorry for herself. She kept saying over and over again, "I'm alright, I'm alright", whilst at the same time clutching her side and trying to hold back the tears that kept slipping out and running down her wee squirrel cheeks. She really is a brave, little, soldier when she hurts herself. I wanted to bring a smile to her face so I proposed that we try and put the tent up in her room.

In a nano-second two extremely, excited girls followed me up to Agent Smelly's bedroom, (LEGO land is currently sprawled across The Fashionista's bedroom floor) and helped assemble their very simple tent. Two poles, that's it ... two poles!  I kept getting hugs and told what a great mum I was ... they are so easy.

We didn't put the rain cover on ... as we don't seem to get much rain in their bedrooms at this time of year ...  you know it being summer and all.

As Agent Smelly was still experiencing some pain from her fall, I was a little worried about her sleeping on the floor so went out and grabbed our stretcher beds. They are just a little too long and wide for the tent but with the flaps open they were OK.

As you can see they soon fell asleep ... not!  But there is a a smile on both faces and that's what this Mama likes to see.

A Pool to ourselves ... such bliss!

One of our neighbours was going away for a few days so we offered to feed their chickens for them. When I say neighbours, we are rural, so it's a jump in the car and a drive down the road ...

They have the most beautiful pool and said that we were most welcome to use it in their absence. So today whilst I fed the chickens, after much nagging and whining, I let the girls have a dip with their new flippers, goggles and snorkel set that they had received from Aunty H for Christmas.

Not a bad view from the pool is it?

After I had fed the chickens, I sat on the deck for a half an hour to so whilst they swam about. It was 6pm at night and so humid that I even took a quick dip.

Sadly there is rain forecast for the next couple of days so I am not sure we'll be able to use it again.

The Bobbsey Twins

Today the girls went for a haircut. They asked me if they could have their hair cut short. Now their hair has gotten very long over the years but I decided that it was their hair and that if they wanted to cut it short then it was entirely their choice. I did make sure that they understood that once it was cut, that was it, it would take a while for it to grow back but it would grow back.

I must admit I was a little apprehensive; what is it about little girls having long hair anyway. I even spoke to the Papa to hear his thoughts but he was like "it's their hair" and he spoke to them to make sure they really wanted to do it and also supported them by saying that it would be great to have shorter hair for summer.

So off we went and here are the results of two very pleased little girls and their new dos.

 

The Fashionista's natural wave has come out with her cut bob. She has such lovely hair but she doesn't look after it very well so hopefully this new shorter style will be easier for her to manage and brush!

 

Agent Smelly and her beautiful sleek bob. The Papa and I were a little taken back at how grown up she now looks but agree it's stunning.

I read this article a day or so after the girls had cut their hair and I really felt glad that I hadn't stopped them from getting their bobs. I think Jada Pinkett-Smith made some really good points.

 

quote

When Jada Pinkett-Smith was asked why she let her daughter Willow shave her head, this is what she said:

"This subject is old but I have never answered it in its entirety. And even with this post it will remain incomplete.

The question why I would LET Willow cut her hair. First the LET must be challenged. This is a world where women, girls are constantly reminded that they don't belong to themselves; that their bodies are not their own, nor their power, or self determination. I made a promise to endow my little girl with the power to always know that her body, spirit, and her mind are HER domain. Willow cut her hair because her beauty, her value, her worth is not measured by the length of her hair. It's also a statement that claims that even little girls have the RIGHT to own themselves and should not be a slave to even their mother's deepest insecurities, hopes, and desires. Even little girls should not be a slave to the preconceived ideas of what a culture believes a little girl should be. More to come. Another day."

unquote

 

Wrapping up ...

I love that the girls are getting older and finally I am getting some use out of the little toads ... seriously though, they asked me this afternoon if they could wrap some of the Christmas gifts we had purchased for their cousins in Australia. I agreed that they could do one each.

I have often had to give them a hand in the past but they declined any help from me, in fact the little terrors point blank, told me they did not want me to help them ... thank you very much.

 

 

When I realised that they were doing such a good job, I went and got more of my Christmas presents out and had them wrap them all. They were enjoying themselves, so I suppose I wasn't contravening any child labour laws. I'll put it down as a "good deed". They spent the next couple of hours wrapping lots of different gifts whilst listening to one of their Glee Christmas albums (which between us I may accidentally lose for a while). It was quite a nice way to spend a quiet Friday afternoon.

 

My Little Shutterbug

The Fashionista has decided that she would like to be a photographer rather than a fashion designer now. She has decided that because she still loves fashion so much, that she would actually like to be a fashion photographer and take photos of models. It should suit her as she is artistic, loves beautiful things and likes bossing people around ...

I found a pile of photos on her camera today that she has been taking of her little sister. She even goes so far as to tell her sister what she needs to wear for the shoot! I asked her about this shot and she said she was going for modern funk ... good heavens. Agent Smelly's "model" pose cracks me up. I think she is rahter enjoying all the attention.

I wonder what The Fashionista will be when she grows up.

I wanted to be a lawyer when I was quite little (I wonder if I knew what one actually was!), then a journalist as a teen and then when I realised how invasive you had to be, I decided I'd be a writer. Nope, did none of them, ended up in shipping of all things. Funny thing is that I can see myself still doing any of those things, except for the study required. What did you want to be when you were little? Did you end up doing it?

I do hope my girls end up doing whatever it is, that makes their hearts soar.

Puppet Theatre Opening Night

Yesterday, after we had dropped Grandma off at her Aunty's funeral (Grandma is 85 and her Aunty was 97!!!), the girls and I popped along to a nearby shopping centre. We wandered up and down the street and ventured into a pile of second hand and recycle shops ... my idea of bliss! 

Whilst in the Salvation Army Shop, two sets of young eyes zoomed right in on a small wooden puppet theatre that was for sale. It was $15 and the only thing wrong with it was that the sign on the top had a crack through it (even I silently thought it a great buy) and after some conferring between them, they decided that by pooling their pocket money, that they could afford it. So after speaking to their loan agent ... yup moi, they settled up with the lovely lady in the store, who was just so lovely with the girls. Where do they find those dears?
  

It was too big for a bag so they had to lug it along between them ... hey I am teaching them responsibility ... wink!  OK, after awhile we swapped bags and I took it from them. It wasn't heavy just a bit annoying as the side bits (doors to close it all up with) kept swinging open on us.

Further along the street we chanced upon a toy store, where the lady who worked there, after sighting said puppet theatre, showed the girls some small finger puppets (clever marketing I thought). After yet another mini conference they decided yes they could afford those too and so the loan agent forked out another $15 for a set of six wee finger puppets.

We arrived home and of course the girls were rather impatient to set up their new toys, so after settling their debts, without being asked to I might add, they headed outside with paper and pens (to write the script apparently) and their new theatre and puppets.

A couple of hours later The Papa and I received invites to go outside and were met with an usher who handed us a ticket to a show called "A happy ending ... NOT!"

 

As soon as I walked around the corner and saw The Fashionista I had to halt proceedings in order to run back inside to grab the camera. Up until then, The Papa and I had had no idea that they had done any of this.  If they popped inside, they wore dressing gowns over their clothes; I just assumed they were a bit cold.

We were shown to our seats ... the chairs were numbered and The Fashionista actually took our ticket back off us before she seated us to make sure we were at the right seat, just like at a theatre. She had the arm sweep going on and all. Then we were handed our tickets back and told to enjoy the show. I was a little hard pressed not to crack up laughing.  Our other usher, aka Agent Smelly, meanwhile was tying back the curtains.

The show started. It was all about a nasty, mean witch who wanted to rule a country.

She turned herself into a beautiful princess, had the prince fall in love with and marry her, and then she turned back into a witch. Then they have a big fight and she kills him! 

The Papa whispered into my ear that he thought it very much like real life ... he got an elbow in the ribs!

They had a great time performing their little show for us, which surprisingly went a little longer than normal and had a proper story to it. The Fashionista has been working on writing this term and I think the fact that she had scripted this show made it a little less fumbly and giggly than normal. Although, as always their were giggles, especially when they had the prince and princess/witch kiss at their wedding.


Just between us ... Later when they were in bed, and The Papa and I were lazing on the couch watching TV, he leaned over towards me  and said, "so, how 'bout it? I did take you out to the theatre tonight" and then he winked at me. I fell off the couch laughing ... men, bless their little cotton socks!

Oh No Agent Smelly's arm in a Sling?

The Papa had been out in the garden for some time and when he finally came in he was met with the site of  his baby girl's arm all wrapped up and in a sling. Poor fella nearly had a heart attack and quickly wanted to know what had happened to her.

She immediately started to look woeful and sad but before she could start to say what happened she burst into delighted giggles. She hadn't actually done anything to her arm but had earnt her First Aid badge during the term at Brownies and was simply practising what she'd learnt.

She really is a minx although I must say she certainly knows how to make a good sling!

The TK Beauty Salon is Open for Business

Today the girls and I spent a good part of the day, having them try on their clothes and shoes and working out what they had grown out of.

We ended up with nearly two garbage bags full of items (and we didn't even get to their tops and jumpers) and some of the items had hardly been worn. So I spent the later part of the afternoon sorting what could be donated and what was still good enough and remotely worth reselling on NZ's answer to EBay, TradeMe.

Whilst I sorted, photographed and listed items, the girls left me to it. Every now and then I could hear giggles emanating from their end of the house. So I wandered up and this is what I came across ...

Unbeknownst to me a beauty parlour had been set up under my very own roof. They had my foot spa going and a CD playing whilst The Fashionista gave her little sister a manicure.

Truth be told, I was a little jealous that I was too busy for an appointment but am hoping to be squeezed in tomorrow.

Hair today, gone tomorrow

Today I arranged for the girls to have a hair cut with their favourite hair dresser, Debbie. They haven't had their hair cut in absolutely ages so it really was needing a good cut. Especially as I am forever nagging them to do it and they get cross because it's all knotty and want me to do it. When it's shorter, it seems to be more manageable for them and there's less whining (and nagging by me!).

The Fashionista had a few inches taken off and her hair layered again which means that some of her natural curl has come out again. 

Debbie always does a little something with the girls hair once she has finished cutting it. Today she pinned The Fashionista's hair back and it looked just lovely.

Agent Smelly also had a few inches off, in fact she would have liked to have had her hair cut even shorter but, I wasn't sure about her getting a bob. Last year she pleaded for a fringe and then a month or so afterwards she wanted it all back to the same length as the rest of her hair again and so I really didn't want to go through that all over again. As you can see we are having to use bobby pins or headbands to keep it off her face and out of her eyes whilst it's growing out. Isn't that in between length really annoying? 

Debbie gave Agent Smelly a lovely side plait; she looked quite cute. She has such lovely thick hair and I didn't have it layered again as it looks beautiful and glossy when brushed.


The girls have a lot of hair ties and headbands, etc but they all end up in a big mess in their bathroom drawer so were hardly ever getting used. Every so often I would sort all the gear into little containers but in a few days it was all over the place again. A couple of months ago I came across one of those hanging shoe holders for just $5 so I grabbed it as I had seen someone using it on Pinterest (of course) for their craft items. After contemplating it's best use I ended up hanging it (temporarily) on the shower door and placed all their hair accessories, sortly mostly by colour, into the pockets.

Well I am happy to say it has been a resounding success. The girls find it easy to  find what they want but, better still it's easy for everyone to pop the hair ties that are constantly popping up around the house into a pocket. Now that I know it's worked so well, I am going to pop a towel rail across the wall behind the bathroom door and hang it there.


Those big, hard, headbands were a bit too big to sit comfortably in the pockets so we are going to make up some headband holders out of some of those giant Milo tins. We now just need to get through all the Milo!

Agent Smelly's New Fringe

Agent Smelly decided today that she wanted her hair cut into a bob. We then determined that what she actually wanted was a fringe (whew), so The Mama thought she would give it a go ...

I went a little short but she looks adorable don't you think.

Being Appreciated ...

Whilst the girls were having their lunch break today, and I was in my room putting some washing away, they shut the double doors which leads from the lounge off my bedroom to the main lounge/dining area. They were in the main lounge so I couldn't see what they were up to.


As I walked towards the doors I remember thinking "what on earth are up they to now"?


Imagine my surprise when I opened the doors and they both were holding this sign that they had made ...

Aren't they sweet!

Kudos on spelling "appreciate" too ... great job their spelling teacher is doing ... lol

Going to Fiji with Imagination Airlines

Today the girls decided they were going to fly to Fiji.

They made their own passports and I just love the pictures they drew of themselves.

With a little help from The Mama and this site http://www.makeuseof.com/dir/ticketomatic-airline-ticket-generator/ we produced some very realistic looking airline tickets.

Whilst the girls were out in the lounge setting up their plane, I made them some airline safety cards as a surprise. It was rather hard trying to find them online you know but some nerds people actually collect them as a hobby so I simply printed a copy of someones collection. Seriously this person had so many he had them alphabetised by airline!

Here's them on their plane. You can tell they are seasoned flyer's,

note the luggage stored under the seat in front of them.

The girls landed in Fiji and were met by someone with their lunch. After lunch they decided to head outside to play in the lovely warm "Fijian" sun and guess who was left to clean up! Actually they did offer, but as it had been raining on and off all day I sent them out to get some sun whilst it the sky was clear. You get that in the tropics ;)