After sharing all those photos of pumpkins and happy memories from a life once lived in California, our Halloween this year turned out to be a very quiet one, with only a handful of trick or treaters.
‘Window Mouth’ carving by Aspie D
(c) Sherri Matthews 2014
Still, daughter got one or two compliments from a few of the children about her pumpkin carving, one of whom told her: “I like its window mouth”.
So another week begins and here in the UK, we prepare for a celebration on Wednesday, the 5th of November, that sadly, I wasn’t able to share with my children when living in California.
Yet to come is Bonfire Night, otherwise known as Guy Fawkes Night.
This is the night when as kids, we built a bonfire in our back garden, put a ‘guy’ on top (the guy being a ‘man’ made up of leaves stuffed into a pair of Dad’s old trousers and a shirt with a stuffed sack or stocking for a head) and set fire to it. We also let off fireworks.
All to remember a man who tried to blow up the the Houses of Parliament in 1605. Oh what fun!
I didn’t know that one day I would be leaving California to return to England. Life didn’t turn out as planned, in fact it went spectacularly wrong in some ways, but one result of this was that my children got to enjoy American Halloweens and, years later, very British Bonfire Nights. Best of both worlds I would say.
These seasonal memories bring along a few others, some rather painful in their own right. Painful as in ‘Bad Hair Day‘ memories which Lisa has asked us to share in our bite size memoir.
Moi? Bad hair day? No, never. Surely not. Well actually, yes. Too many to count. Who doesn’t want beautiful hair? In my quest to achieve the perfect hairstyle, I have tried everything: long, short, in between and all the rest. Usually ruining it in the process.
Why are we never happy with what we are blessed with? My hair was curly and thick and, as someone once told me, ‘dishwater blonde’. Nice. What I really wanted was long, perfectly straight, gleaming black hair. Unlike my daughter, who by her late teens was experimenting with every colour under the sun, I did not go down the black hair dye route. Instead, I gave up on that dream and looked to another.
In the 1970s, Farrah Fawcett’s hair was ‘it’ thanks to the iconic television show Charlie’s Angels and I wanted hair just like hers. In my feeble attempts to achieve this, I did what I could with the help of a hairdryer (why couldn’t straighteners have been invented then?) and tried to ‘highlight’ it.
During my first trip to America, I discovered a nifty little product called ‘Sun-In’. This was (is?) essentially a bleach product that I applied to my hair and left on while sitting outside, waiting for it to be activated by the sun.
Not long after this photo was taken, my hair was well and truly fried. Your guess is as good as mine as to what I was hoping to achieve with this look:
Me 1979 – Los Angeles California Two years after this photo was taken I cut it all off.
(c) Sherri Matthews 2014
Here is my bite size memoir in 150 words, no more, no less:
Bad Hair Day
Always wavy and ‘full of body’, by the time I was thirteen my hair was downright frizzy and I hated it. So frizzy, that my nickname at home was ‘Crystal Tips’.
Thinking I had found the solution by going to bed with my hair wet tied back in a ponytail with an elastic band (giving it a smooth bounce, strangely), this soon ended thanks to the ruinous split ends it caused. A session at the hairdressers took every penny I had earned babysitting.
Keeping my hair long until I was 22, I cut it all off after my young husband died. The years went by, I tried everything including going through a ‘Princess Diana’ phase.
But years before that, with my hair as thick and frizzy as ever, I took full control: time for a spiral perm. Forget Lady Di, welcome Glenn Close, Bunny Boiler.
I blame it on hormones.
Me & Aspie D – California 1993
(c) Sherri Matthews
A View From My Summerhouse 
Wow! Have I actually got here first! I must be quick because there’s bound to be some other body busy writing a comment already and this would be an achievement to be FIRST on your blog!!
Love the bunny boiler look and remember Crystal Tips and Alistair very well ! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIT8iTLxRrM
Thanks for joining in. BTW – I think you look quite gorgeous in 1979!
Lisa xx
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Oh Lisa, that’s very kind of you but I hope that others look at the link you put in your comment! Haha…that was me, Crystal Tips in full glory. I tried to find a photo of me to full effect but those old ones are buried in boxes somewhere and time just wouldn’t allow it. I turned 13 and my hair just exploded. Then I ruined it with all kinds of gunk. You know I always enjoy your bites, thanks again for having me along, had a lot of fun with this 🙂 xx
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You’re beautiful with any kind of hair, Sherri! Actually in the first photo, you reminded me of Cheryl Tiegs. I’m loving little Aspie’s chubby and very dirty legs. 🙂 I only wish I had a photo of myself when my sister and her friend gave me a perm in the late 70’s. They left it on for two hours! My parents could have sat me on the front porch for Halloween. It was indeed a scary sight.
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Haha…actually, I think Aspie D is having her own hair thing going on there if you take a closer look Jill! Ahh…I remember that day, I caught her playing in the mud, which she loved to do, ever the tomboy, and she was annoyed that I picked her up. Oh I wish you had that photo too Jill. But two hours? Yikes!! Did it burn your head? Oh the things we do to our hair…except in your case you had ‘help’. Your compliment is so kind but how we see ourselves is so often very different isn’t it? I think I must have been a bit annoyed or something in that first one. Like mother like daughter although I don’t think I had muddy legs 😉
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I’m surprised my entire head didn’t ignite, Sherri. 🙂 Oh yes, how we see ourselves is often very different and usually not in a good way.
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So glad that didn’t happen Jill…I bet you didn’t touch a perming product ever again! I know I didn’t after my Glenn Close fiasco, lol 😉 Have a good day, I’m signing off now and off to bed, been a long day. Nite nite my friend 🙂 xo
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Ha ha! I’ve never had another perm. Good night, sleep well! xo
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Thanks Jill, and I’m so glad to hear it 🙂 xo
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🙂 Yes, I can see the Cheryl Tiegs resemblance! Oh I’ve never really been happy with my hair – I’ve got the long, straight, nearly black hair you obviously wanted, but I always wanted pre-Raphaelite curls! I’ve gone very short, had a Mohican and very long – my greatest success was when I got my hair cut into a bob when I was young (after pestering my mam to let me have it cut) and earned the nickname ‘darth vader’. But, generally speaking I’m pretty happy with it now in a mid-length bob – haven’t changed it for quite a few years now 🙂
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Goodness, I wish I could see it! Oh Andrea, you do! You have my hair, haha 😉 Oh no…not Darth Vader? Glad you are happy with your hair now, it looks very nice in your photo. It’s always a good thing to stick with what you know and like. I’ve had my hair in the same shoulder length style now for some years too and long gave up on my dream of having long, black hair 😉
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I have the same hair as you: thick and frizzy! Most of the time I tie it back because it’s just too out of control and I can’t be bothered with the hair straightener.
That first photo of you is absolutely gorgeous. You look like a model!
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I hate faffing about with my hair and never use a straightener now. Daughter ‘borrowed’ it long ago anyway. Your hair always looks lovely Rachel whether up or down, it suits you so well. I was always told to be thankful for thick hair and actually it really is true. I’m glad for it now. That photo was taken a long time ago but thanks Rachel…oh to be young again 😉
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Love that you share your memoir with us what a classic beauty you are. I would not dare share some of my hairstyles Sherri they were off the scale of classic eighties. Tell your daughter the pumpkin is so cool. We had bonfire nights when I was a young thing too.
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I’ll tell my daughter, thanks so much Kath! Bonfire nights are so much fun aren’t they? A lovely family memory. Oh those 80s hairstyles were quite something. Quite horrifying to look back isn’t it? So glad you enjoyed the memoir Kath, thank you greatly 🙂
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I have a bad hair day everyday….. got none…
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Haha…you and hubby both Bulldog… 😉
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I agree with minuscule, you are a classic beauty. My hairstyle back then was horrifying…
Thank you for sharing your memoir.
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Oh Amy, when I look back at some of my photos I see so many dreadful hair styles. I never saw myself as anything but someone with very unruly hair. Thanks you so much for reading 🙂
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When I was young nothing about my hair was right! I slept with my fringe sellotaped down so it wouldn’t curl. I was cursed with thick, black, wavy hair in the 60’s, a time of long straight locks, or short straight locks – not a curl in sight! Then in the late 70’s my hair wasn’t curly enough any more and I had the afro perm applied, disastrously! Now I’m happy just to have hair! 🙂
Enjoy your Guyu Fawkes!
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Sorry – typo! ‘Guy’ Fawkes 🙂
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Oh what a hair story. The things we do! I’m glad you are happy with your hair now Pauline, that is a good place to be. I think I’m getting there at long at last and it’s a nice feeling. I just wish I could figure out why on one day my hair can be just right and darn me if I can’t duplicate that ever again! Thank you, I just got the fireworks today 🙂
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Let me say first that I love the picture of your Halloween pumpkin! I was hoping that you’d share a picture with us 🙂 How right you are Sherri that we are never happy with what we have. When I was younger I would chemically straighten my natural curls and my mom would perm her straight hair. We used to joke about it all the time! P.S. I love the picture of you in LA- so beautiful!
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I’m so glad you like the pumpkin, I wanted to show you and a few others who asked what my daughter did this year 🙂 Oh I had to laugh at that about you and your mom’s hair, so typical isn’t it? Absolute classic 🙂 Thank you Heather for your lovely comment.
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Ha ha. I believe you look great in all the pictures. We all know our hair is an accessory and we love to play with it. It’s a female thing, right? 😮
Love the pumpkin. Fabulous job. ❤
I've had my hair every way but shaved and now I've finally settled down. 😀
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Absolutely…our play thing, meant to be messed with, haha 😀 Ahh…thanks Tess, so kind of you and I’ll send on your message to daughter. It does come to the point of settling down doesn’t it? I think I’m almost there, pretty safe at last, lol
😀 ❤
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😀 😀 After having done all I can, I have no more plans for changing my hairstyle other than hanging on to my hair. Seems to have gotten thinner since the hairdresser used new ‘natural’ color product on it.
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Oh dear…I wonder what was in that ‘natural’ product? It seems that we are always trying to find just the right product for our hair *sigh*
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I love learning the origins of holidays. This one is a celebration of the fact the Guy failed at his attempt, no? Anyway, Sounds like you had a lot of fun when you were a child at Bonfire Night. I’m glad you got to share both Halloween and Bonfire Night with your kids.
Oh my gosh! I got the exact same comment my whole life: “dishwater blonde”. Lovely, isn’t it? Is that supposed to be a compliment? An insult? Or just an observation? Whatever. I colored my hair dark brown in my late 20s. It was as close to that silky black hair as I dared go. (I wanted that, too.) I also have a purple streak. 🙂 Love your pictures.
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Yes, that’s right Sarah – his failed attempt! Guy Fawkes was caught in the act, quite literally, before real fireworks went off.
Ahh…thanks, yes, I’m glad too and nice of you to say about the pictures, crazy hair and all 😉
Oh isn’t that just the best ‘compliment’….not!!! I remember the first time I heard it as a teenager and I felt really insulted but maybe it was just an observation. I wonder what it was about wanting that black hair? I dyed my hair chestnut brown once and really liked it but went back to blonde and have stayed that way ever since. I feel right being blonde. As for your purple streak, I love it 🙂 My daughter has had so many different colours over the years. I mean black, blue, pink, red, blonde, and a vast array of streaks to match or not as the case may be. Thank goodness she inherited my thick hair as she thrashed it. It’s long and blonde now. You can just imagine the fun she had getting there from black…yikes 😮
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You are so cute and look adorable here. I used to use Sun in too. Turned my chestnutty hair a lighter shade with blonde nearer the face. Man, that was so easy! Then the gray started. 😦
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Ahh…well, that’s so nice of you Luanne, but I was a lot younger then, lol 😉 Yes, the Sun In worked to a point but I overdid it in the California sunshine and it fried my already dry hair. And let’s not even go there with the grey…yikes…
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Maybe I accidentally-on-purpose didn’t notice the drying hair ;). It was nice to spray and go!
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I also love the pumpkin’s ‘window mouth’. 🙂 Well done to Aspie! I have some great memories of Guy Fawkes nights, and it was at November 5th dance, that hubby and I met, 49 years ago. As for bad hair days, I’ve have more then my fair share. My fine, poker straight, blonde hair has undergone some drastic changes over the years, from Alice in Wonderland flowing, wavy locks, and pixie cuts, to the Afro look and also the spiral perm. When I ask hubby ,”How does my hair look, he always says, “It looks fine.” My reply usually is, “I KNOW it’s FINE, but does it look any thicker like this?” How I would love to have thick chestnut waves. Alas, that will never be, so I soldier on. btw You look absolutely great in both photos. 🙂 xx
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Ahh thank you, that’s so sweet Sylvia, I put the photo up for you and the others who asked to see it. I’ll let Aspie know 🙂 Oh what a great story, to meet your hubby on Guy Fawkes night! How romantic! No wonder it’s extra-special to you 🙂 It’s so annoying though when hubby says “it’s fine”. We want specifics lol! Your hair looks lovely Sylvia in all your photos. I would love to see some of your old photos. I look different in every one over the years. Onward and upward as you say 🙂 xx
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AHHH! I remember SUN-IN!!! I fried mine too! Yours looks way better! Love your writing! Loved this post!
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Haha…what a memory, yikes!!!!! So glad you enjoyed it, thank you so much 🙂
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What a great story! I found you via Luanne Castle.
I remember “Sun-in”. Do you remember Dippety-do? It was a gel product that you used to style your hair by slathering it on a hank of hair and then twirling it up with your sponge rollers. I tried this product to tame my short hair/frizz using the methods described in the glossy hair-styling magazines – to no avail. Then I tried flattening it by putting a bobby-pin every quarter of an inch or so and then wore a toque to bed so it would be straight in the morning.It worked – as long as it didn’t rain but it was not very comfortable to sleep that way!
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Hi there menomama3, thank you so much for coming over from the lovely Luanne! Oh gosh yes, I do remember Dippety-do! Oh I love your hair stories, it’s amazing isn’t it what we did for smooth hair! We didn’t have anything like all the serums and hair products that we have now! Lovely to meet you – Sherri 🙂
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You just look so California girl in that first pic! I do recall Sun-In and lemon juice to highlight. I always wanted a head full of curls. I had the blonde, but straight as an arrow, thin, and fine. I dreamed of Farrah Fawcett hair and fried mine with perms. It’s still long, but I am so tired of the tangles and bother I am about ready to shave my head….except it’s about the only feminine thing I have going for me.
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Haha…well, actually, I really appreciate that SK as I think that is what I was hoping for at the time…mind you, it was my first time ever in California and of course that meant lots of trip to the beach 😉 Ahh…I’ve chopped off my hair and then immediately regretted it, only to spend months, years even, growing it back only to be fed up again of all the tangles. But think I’ve finally calmed down and am happy with the way it is now at shoulder length and much smoother! Oh I know what you mean, but please don’t shave your head, you look so pretty as you are 🙂
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Ah yes, Farrah Fawcett haircuts and Sun In. Although I didn’t use the latter, I certainly was influenced by the former. We are of an age! For many years I wore my hair very short, and was rather adventurous with the colour (for me, at least). These days, my hair is as long as it’s ever been, and much as I think about cutting it again, I find myself reluctant to do so. After all, is there anything as easy as a ponytail? As far as colour goes, once upon a time I was a sunny blonde all by myself. Funny how that colour darkens into something quite nondescript. As you might guess from my photo. I give it a little help those days.
I wonder how many readers will comment about Hallowe’en/Guy Fawkes Night and how many will want to talk about hair? I’m guessing hair will dominate the comments, lol.
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Hi Marlene! Haha,we are of an age indeed 😉 I love how your hair looks in your photograph and as you say, it’s lovely to be able to tie it back in a ponytail. Yes, I too was very blonde as a girl and then it darkened to that ‘dishwater’ blonde. Shame it does that isn’t it? Years later I used highlights to blonde it up and that worked well, especially living beneath the California sun. Same now with a little ‘help’ now and then to blend in with the well, you know… 😮 Great point Marlene…think hair will definitely dominate this conversation 😉 Thanks for your great comment, hope you had a fun Halloween talking of which 🙂
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That is a nice carving by your daughter! 🙂 Guy Fawkes Night sounds like fun and another excuse to get together, eat, burn something and watch fireworks. Sign me up! 🙂
Boy can I relate to bad hair days! Mine was always curly and frizzy/kinky, while my sister had the thick full and straight hair! No fair! I tried everything to flatten it. 🙂 I love the picture of you with what you call “fried hair”. I don’t see it as fried. It’s quite the sultry photo! 🙂
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Hi Maria! Ahh…thanks, she does her own ‘crafty’ thing as the mood flows 🙂 Haha, yes, Guy Fawkes Night is definitely a great night for burning lots of things. Oh do come on over, there’s plenty for all, what fun we would have 🙂 Now that’s just not fair! My mum used to tell me I was really lucky to have such thick, wavy hair because hers was/is poker straight and she always has worn it short. Of course I didn’t believe her. All I can say today is thank goodness for leave-in hair serums 🙂 Haha…sultry eh? I think I was actually cross with my boyfriend when he took that photo! My hair got a lot worse after that, I tried to find a photo but I only had a few from that time. Probably just as well
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Gorgeous as always my lovely Sherri! We did such crazy things to our bonces in the 80’s it’s amazing we’ve got any hair left. 😀 A couple of years back I had an allergic reaction to medication and my head said expelliarmus and launched most of my hair off. Terrifying to lose hair like that. Looked like a dandelion for months afterwards as it grew back. 😀 ❤ XXXX
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Oh no, Jo that sounds awful! Expelliarmus?? I’ve never heard that word, ever!! But yes, that definitely was terrifying for you. So glad your hair grew back as you look gorgeous now…but as you say, a miracle we do have any left, those of us who lived through the 80’s. What was it with hair back then? Truly awful. We’ve come a long way baby 😀 ❤ xxxxxx 😀
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Expelliarmus was from Harry Potter – although I probably did spell it wrong. 😀 ❤ XXXXXX
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Ahh yes, I thought it seemed vaguely familiar come to think of it..of course, duh to me 😀 ❤ xxxxxxxx
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I loved the “window” effect on the pumpkin! But Guy Fawkes Night–hmm, who exactly is the “man” burnt?–I’m going to have to look that one up.
You last picture, of your and your adorably muddy daughter–with both of your having a similarly cute bad hair day–is a wonderful picture of mother and daughter.
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Yes, all be revealed about Guy Fawkes tomorrow 😉 Haha…rather unusual that ‘window mouth’ isn’t it? Ahh…thank you Marylin, we both looked pretty wild and unkempt in that photo, I do love it for that. My daughter loved playing in the mud – if you look closely you can see she even has a muddy nose, bless 😀
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I used to love Charlie’s Angels but I was always more like the mousy brown boring shortish straight-haired one. I did have a curly perm once: bad mistake looking back but at the time I thought it was really groovy 😝
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Great programme wasn’t it? And Jenny, I will never put you and the word boring in the same sentence, definitely not, no way Jose…!! And as for those awful perms, well, why on earth did we do it? Does anyone even have a perm these days? Haha…I’m sure that you were very groovy…as we all were back in the day 😉
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I even had star printed loon pants – remember them? !!
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Oh yes…haha, how can we forget those!! But Jenny, now you’ve reminded me of my hot pants and I was so hoping to forget about them… 😉
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Oh, Sherri, you’ve made me laugh with that post 🙂
Bad hair days. As a sufferer myself, I have various solutions for dealing with the frizzies. Those include giving my hair a good groom with a pure bristle brush in the evening and using a comb made out of horn (plastic combs cause static). Also, I rub olive oil with lavender essence into my hair and leave it for at least 30 minutes before shampooing with organic aloe vera shampoo, followed by conditioner. Then, if I don’t need to go outside for 2-3 hours, I leave it to dry naturally with the help of a few grips to hold recalcitrant bits in place, then put a very tiny smear of olive oil and lavender essence on it as a serum when it’s dry. If I use the hairdryer, I put the oil on before drying. It’s also best to only wash your hair once a week.
PS Don’t hold me to it, as it’s possible that none of the above will work for you, although your hair looks pretty sleek in your current photo.
PSS Perhaps I should write a post over on my blog about dealing the the frizzies and tell everyone that it’s inspired by your post!
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Oh I’m so glad Sarah, love it when that happens 🙂 Haha…I definitely think you should write a post as you are a positive wealth of information about how to combat the frizzies! Thankfully these days my hair is much better and smoother thanks to a leave-in serum and yes, I only wash it weekly now, I discovered that really helps. But…I still get frizzy days, especially when it rains or is humid and I much prefer your natural serum of olive oil and lavender essence, I really must try that. Your hair looks lovely in your photo so it obviously works a treat. I didn’t know about not using a plastic comb (I do) or putting in the serum 30 minutes before washing. I don’t have a pure bristle brush either. I wish I’d known all this in the 70’s/80’s! Thanks a bunch Sarah, you’re a star 😀
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There are many, many things in life that I wish I’d known in the 70’s/80’s (might I also add the 60’s to the knowledge decade — i.e. wish I’d worked harder at school and behaved better!).
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Yes…quite agree Sarah 😉
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Sherri, please tell your precious daughter that her pumpkin is fantastic 🙂
And about the spiral perm! Haven’t we all had one back in ‘these days’?
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Ahh…thanks so much Ilka, I’ll definitely tell my daughter, she will be thrilled 🙂
And yes, definitely, I think it was a rite of passage back in the day…but we came through it and learnt our lesson…haha 😀
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I think you looked beautiful in both pics and I liked your hair in both very much. Oh, the things we (women) do (did) to our hair. Back in the eighties I used to perm AND dye my hair every three months (that’s how straight it is – not even a kink). Needless to say I now value what hair I have left 😀
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Oh thank you dear Yolanda, you are so kind. But you can tell I had many struggles with my hair..we never have what we want it seems!! Yikes…what was it about the 80’s and those perms? I do the same, look back in amazement that I still have hair 😉 Judging by your photo you have beautiful hair 😀
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Brill Sherri; I’m pretty sure a girl at school ad a patent formula for blond hair which, after contact with the sun turned it green. I think you look gorge but we all have a different perspective; bit like hearing your own voice recorded for the first time. Utterly emasculating.
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I can well believe it Geoff – I’ve had my hair turn green after a dunk in a swimming pool, something to do with the chlorine interacting with the hair dye, yikes! I also dyed it at home and turned it bright orange. So many hair disasters, too many to count. Oh you are too kind, but you are right…I absolutely hate hearing my own voice, despise it… 😮
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This is such a wonderful read! Not only your memory, but all the ones you’ve evoked. I tried the lemon juice trick, but it had no impact. Now days I have silver coming in along my hairline that makes it look like I’ve set in highlights! It took a while for my kids to realize it was gray hair and my daughter gasped, “Mom, look at all that silver.” Thanks, Kid. I noticed already. 😀 Great post and bite!
What a fun pumpkin and how cute for a child to observe the “window mouth.” Your daughter has a crafty hand. Guy Fawkes Day sounds like the event people in Wisconsin started when Bret Favre (the state’s star quarterback for years with the Green Bay Packers) retired, then instead picked up a contract with rival state Minnesota (MN Vikings). In MN, fans were horrified. In WI, fans were horrified and they began burning Bret Favre in effigy upon their backyard bonfires (you see, in WI the fans would watch the game on a tv hooked up outside by the bonfire–I love Wisconsin, they are so outdoorsy). I don’t know if it ever turned into a Bret Favre Day, but very similar!
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Ahh yes, the lemon juice! It didn’t work for me either Charli! Haha…I love that, you know, I remember hearing something very similar about a ‘silver’ streak. As you say, ‘Thanks kid’!!! Now I just blend blonde highlights which I get every few months with the ‘silver’ (sounds so much nicer than grey doesn’t it?) but for years I used to get my roots touched up every 3 weeks as my hair grew so fast. Cost me a fortune. Ha! So one good thing about getting older, hair care costs less, ha 😉 Glad you enjoyed this bite, and daughter’s handy work, thanks Charli 🙂
Love the idea of watching tv outside with the bonfire burning. We definitely didn’t do that as kids. The mind boggles to say the least, ha! Thanks for the great share 😀
Oh my goodness, what a story that is about Bret Favre! A modern day Guy Fawkes! I suppose to his fans in Winconsin what he did was the equivalent to trying to blow up the King and his Parliament, yikes
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I did not have time to read all the comments (whewwwww lol- some nice comments you have here 😉 – but I did notice bret favre’s name and had to read what Charli wrote – and well, I always wondered how fans reacted to his being on the vikings…. and I also feel bad for Favre – because he was injured by some new orleans players who later were fined for “bad practices” and I do not really know the full details, but he had such a stellar career and it seems not fair to have had to end things with an injury from some foul play… but I guess it is what it is… lol
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Thanks Y…lovely people here in blogland who are so caring and kind 🙂 As for Bret Favre, I don’t know anything about it other than what you and Charli wrote but it does sound like his situation caused some bad feeling along the way…as these things do, sadly…
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Hi mon amie – well only recently have I really learned of Bret’s special career – he had the most starts and was just a stud of an athlete – but his indecisiveness about retiring frustrated folks – and so after retired for another time he wanted to come back to Green Bay and he changed his mind, but they finally just said we want to go with Aaron Rogers and had to let Bret go – he then played for a couple of teams – and I think it was sad the way it unfolded – but I guess Joe Montana and other “greats” have also had careers that ended by wearing “other” jerseys and making folks cringe…. guess when it is all said and done it comes down to money and not the team heritage… but the NFL is a mixed bag anyways… ha!
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Crystal Tips is way better than bird’s nest (which my sister used to call me at times)…..I did have frizzy, wayward hair if I let it grow a bit 😦
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Ahh…these names stick don’t they? Darn that frizzy hair…too bad we didn’t have the products back then that we can get now
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Oh, well, since I’ve had a decent cut and kept my hair short (for many years now) my hair has behaved!
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That’s good Sue…I had my hair short for years too in a bob and now it’s shoulder length and I’m happy thanks to leave-in hair serums. But you are right, a decent cut is definitely the answer 😉
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I remember Sun In. At the time it was popular my hair was still blond so I didn’t use it. Now my hair is a dark brown. I’ve never been much of a hair fan and it I didn’t have such a tiny, lumpy head I would shave it.
And I forgot that there will be lots of fireworks tonight. My dog hates it.
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Oh no…don’t shave it TB! But I know what you mean, it can be such a faff keeping our hair how we want it.
Yes…make sure to keep your furry babies safe indoors tonight, our cats hate it too. They tend to spend the night hidden beneath our bed, quite safe and dark there! Have a fun Guy Fawkes whatever you do 😀
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Always like how you tie your childhood memories to your kids’. I know how unique and also challenging it can be. As for hair, I wish I had perfect hair too. I smiled when I read that you believe that none of us is happy with what nature has given us. How true! I wish for a curly red mane and … I got straight light brown hair. Also for the ‘dishwater blonde’, here I heard ‘dirty blonde’. How nice! I actually like your current hair color and hair cut!
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Thank you Evelyne for your great comment as always. And yes, you certainly do know, oh so well. Ahh…curly red hair!! Isn’t it funny the ideas we have as to what we think perfect hair should be. I’m not sure what’s worse with the ‘blonde’ descriptions!! As for our hair now, I can only say that is very nice of you to say, thank you, and I happen to think your hair looks very nice in your pic too. I think I’ve settled down now…no more messing about 🙂
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I agree with the post above mine because I do love how you tie your children’s and your memories into your stories! I would have loved to have your hair but fully understand the trials and tribulations we go through to obtain the unattainable! 🙂 Never give up I say. Well both holidays are now over and Christmas just ahead. Enjoyed this post and as I write have a smile on my face going down Your memory lane!! ❤
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Oh our hair…well, at least now I am happy with it, to a point, lol 😉 I always wanted hair down to my waist but somehow never quite managed it! Never give up indeed my friend 🙂 Yes….Christmas just around the corner, yikes 😉 I love having you walk along memory lane with me, and as always, love that you read along and smiling with it! Love your comments my friend, always 🙂 ❤ xoxo
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Also should have said how very brave you are to post what you think of as your bad hair days although I thought you looked very pretty in both!! I would never post mine, coward that I am! Do you remember my blond daughter’s bad hair day back at Creekside in SLO? I think that was the absolute worst-yikes!! have a great weekend my friend! ❤ xoxo
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Oh I do remember that Diane, what a time that was o_O. Well, I don’t know about brave…I didn’t post the really bad ones, lol 😉 Ahh….here I am and it’s Monday, got to your reply late but you know why I’ve been a bit held up. Thinking of you having a super family time… much love dearest friend 🙂 ❤ xoxo
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P.S. Loved seeing your daughter’s creation-wonderful! xo
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Ahh…I’ll tell her, thanks Diane 🙂 xoxo ❤
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Like you I’m naturally blonde and have always wanted dark hair. I’ve never understood why people dye their hair blonde or what the attraction is. Dark and mysterious seems far better than dumb blonde to me. Unlike yours, my hair is straight and very fine but there’s lots of it. It has a mind of its own and sticks up all over the place so I’ve given up on the long hair and the styled hair and gone for short and choppy. That way I hope it looks like it’s meant to be a mess 🙂
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I wonder if anyone is actually happy with their hair? I’ve had my hair dark brown and also a chestnut brown and really liked it but always went back to blonde and highlighted it as I felt like it was more ‘me’ despite the dumb blonde jokes, haha 😉 I’m glad you found what works for you…I like short and choppy but I could never do it with my hair, it needs some length to weigh it down otherwise I look like a mushroom 😀
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thanks for the fun in this lighthearted post with your hair phases – and I was in Long Beach in 79 – only for about 6 months – but we could have crossed paths and never known – and well, I really like your hair in that photo – and I did not use “sun-in” but know many that did. 🙂
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Oh my…Y, we could have done! Imagine that!! I went to Long Beach in 79!! Again in 86 when my ‘stuff’ was shipped over from the UK…and we used to take the kids there with the grandparents to Ports-O-Call. Ahh…the memories. Well, that’s so kind of you and thank you but after that I really fried it with that Sun-In and cut it all off. Then I hated it even more so had to wait ages for it to grow back. And so it goes 😉 Have a great weekend mon amie and see you soon 🙂 ❤ 😀
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well get this – I was back in Long Beach again in 1986 too – how cool is that – from October to March of 87 – indeed our paths were close – and I made it to LA a bunch of times too – which was fun.
hope you have a great weekend too 🙂 TTYS
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Wow…that is very cool Y… I lived and worked in downtown LA from July 1980 to Sept 1981 and then again in June 1986 for a couple of months and then for the rest of the time I lived on the central coast went to LA all the time to visit the grandparents…and of course frequent trips to Disneyland 😉 It is a small world indeed… 😀 ❤ 😛
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What gorgeous hair you have, Sherri. Thick and long. I thought you looked like a model right there in the first photo. I can just imagine you strutting down the catwalk, hair billowing everywhere in the right direction 🙂 Oh yes, good hair days are what all of us ladies want. When I was in my teens living in Malaysia, my hair was very frizzy but as I grew out of adolescence, it became much straighter. I suppose this is due to hormones or it could have been the humid weather in Asia.
A good hair day for me would be when my hair stands up, full of volume. Flat hair makes me look like I have no hair, lol 😀 I like to blow dry my hair with a hair-dryer, that helps. But it also depends on how I sleep at night…if I sleep on my side then one side of my hair gets squashed! Thanks for another insightful post, Sherri. All of us have our hair struggles around the world. Arrghh. Now I want to write a post about hair too 😀
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Haha…oh Mabel, you make me laugh out loud, as I imagine me on the cat walk, lol 😀 That is so sweet of you, and what a lovely compliment, but I just know I would be the one who would fall over or rip her clothes or have some disaster 😉 Oh yes, we all have our hair struggles, that’s for sure. I get the same depending on which side I sleep on and also with the volume. My hair definitely calmed down as the old hormones settled down and I got over those dreadful perms! Thanks so much for your great comment, I loved reading your ‘hair raising’ experiences and yes, now you must write a post about hair, I can’t wait to read it 🙂
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In your gravatar photo, your hair still looks lovely, as always. I hope your kids have nice hair too 😀
Ah, you’ve challenged me to write a post about hair! Challenge accepted. At some point, the time will be right, I know it 😀
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Ahh..so very kind of you Mabel, thank you. And I would say the very same about your pic too, you look as if you have beautiful hair, just the sort of hair I longed for 🙂 My kids all have thick, wavy hair thanks to both me and their father…all different colours…dark auburn, black and dark brown. Go figure 😉 Great…I’ll be awaiting with eagerness your hair post Mabel…can’t wait 😀
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I’m wondering how you get any real writing done with all these comments to answer? 🙂 How wonderful you have so many readers. So just one more a bit late as usual. Hair for women is a touchy subject. I’m grateful to have some. My brother started losing his at 16. My sister and mother got the slightly curly perfect hair. I talked my mother into letting hers go natural when it started to gray. It softened her look and made her appear more approachable. She and my sister were the lucky ones in the hair department. Mine is fine and poker straight. I have to perm it for body but that gets costly. So I’m back to square one. Spend money to look nice or let it go into an elastic band to keep it out of my face and shed all over the place. Like the rest of the commenters, I too struggle with a look that works. I would have loved your curl but I can see how hard it might be to manage as well.
Your daughter did a wonderful job on that pumpkin. I too colored my hair when I was a young hairdresser. Once, for a show, it was sectioned off into six or seven parts and each one colored a different color. They sent me home from high school the next day. I was causing a stir. I had to wash it out before I could come back. Sometimes a girl just has to play. 🙂
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Oh Marlene, I adore your comments! I love how you share your stories, thank you so much for taking the time to do so. Your ‘hair-raising’ story at high school did make me laugh. I bet you caused a stir! I got in trouble for wearing platform shoes and my mother received a letter from the headmaster telling her to make me stop wearing them, otherwise I might ‘break my ankle’. Funny isn’t it when you think of the things they worry about at schools now
Reading your story and the others here, I wonder if any of us are ever happy with our hair? It is expensive now to have colours and perms isn’t it? So we do what we can 🙂 And no reason why a girl can’t still play…bring it on 😉
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