Thursday, January 3, 2019

Thirty. Four.

01.02

It's not just a day on the calendar - it's my birthday.

So, yes this post is a day late but that's me.

This year I turned 34 and for some reason that hit me hard. I can no longer claim I'm in my early-thirties. 34 is officially mid-thirties.

It was really hard to look at the mirror - I see a lot of grays, I see wrinkles. I see my overweight body. I see a lot of flaws. I may not have my own home, or a brand new car. I may not be my dream weight. However, I have the best husband ever. The most amazing kids known to me. I have nieces and nephews that I adore. My friends have my back and many who adore my kids. My job keeps me happy (for the most part).

I have things to be thankful for and that is what I am going to concentrate on for year 34.

Tuesday, January 1, 2019

Best Boys Haircut in NH

If you're like me, when you're in the mood for a new haircut/style, you search Pinterest and then hit up your stylist for an estimate/time and go.

If you're like me with a son, you overthink and overwork the thought of the haircut to death. To spare you some stress, here are some tips/barber shop opinions for you to look through.

1) Search Facebook for a local moms group and get barber recommendations. Heck, search the barber shops on FB and check out the reviews! The ladies in the group pointed me to 3 local barbers who have had the chance to cut Brody's hair. I got an idea of pricing and what to expect from them as well.

2) Know your numbers - or at least the hairstyle you want. I know, it sounds silly but barbers are efficient folks. They're not a stylist who has time set aside for you. They're the kind to give you a good haircut as quickly as they can before moving on to the next.
*Numbers, for those who are unfamiliar, are the clipper size.

3) If your kid has any sensory issues, give the barber a heads-up! Let them know it's a first haircut or if they need to use scissors due to the noise. Equip them with whatever tools you can to help make the haircut a smooth one.

If you're in the Concord/Manchester area of New Hampshire, here are 3 pretty decent barber shops we've had good luck with:

1) Modern Man Barbershop & Shave Parlor - Hooksett, NH

I have amazing things to say about this place. Very roomy (it's a newer location to them), very clean and nice. They have an Xbox/Playstation, pool table and pinball for those waiting. There is a small kids table with some toys to help distract as well. This is the only barbershop I've been too where the kids have their own seat (a fire truck with a tray for an iPad) and the kids also get to wear a fire jacket.

2) Handsome Devils - Hooksett/Manchester line, NH

Brody's first haircut was here, but we haven't been back since. They did have a fantastic waiting area for kids with tons of toys and books to keep them entertained. The barber we had one was incredible - very friendly, immediately saved a lock of hair without me asking. The one aspect I didn't like was that Brody's seat was just some booster-style pads. There was nothing to restrain him if he moved/lost balance.

3) Lucky's - Concord, NH

Lucky's was our most recent barber visit. I loved the old time feeling I got walking in. The guys were all dressed in slacks and button down shirts, some were with vests. They had the canvas-type of apron on as well. The place is a bit small and there's no real space between the barbers so I felt like I was in the way the whole time. Their kids seat is a small "bench" that fits across the seat bars so once again, the kid isn't fully restrained. But our barber did a great job - worked fast, was gentle and kept asking if Brody was good.

If you have a barbershop we should check out, definitely let me know!