Monday Musings – New Hairdo and Hobby
Happy Monday, ladies. This week’s ramblings are, as usual, personal and all over the map. There’s some navel-gazing with a small amount of whining and other sundry things that are on my mind.
I don’t think I shared this outfit that I wore in Lake Tahoe over Thanksgiving. If I did, here’s your second look :)Fair Isles are synonymous with winter style, and I was anxious to get another opportunity to wear this dress. My fair isle sweater dress is from last year, but they have one almost identical dress this year. This dress from Talbots is also similar but without the pattern on the bottom, which would make you look taller. The cashmere scarf- similar here was a surprise and lovely gift from Talbots several years ago. My boots are eons old, but black riding boots don’t change much over the years. The velvet leggings are a toasty alternative to opaque tights I love to wear all winter long.
MORE FAIR ISLE SWEATER DRESSES
I don’t know about you, but my teeth are a train wreck, and the older I get, the bigger the problems become. I needed braces as a kid but didn’t get them. I’m dealing with a crossbite, plus I grind my teeth, so I have lots of chipped teeth and now cracked crowns. I tried braces last year, but I have two implants that were not a good mix with braces, so that didn’t work. I spent five hours in the dentist’s chair last week, and there will be many more visits before calm and relative order is restored in my mouth 🙂 I drive two hours each way to see my old dentist because I trust him with my teeth…call me crazy, but there you have it. Whining over…I’m lucky to have the teeth I do 🙂
I got a new ‘do last week, and it’s taking some time for me to get used to it. My hair has gotten so thin that my stylist and I agreed it was time to grow out my layers and go a bit shorter. The result looks dangerously like a bob. I say dangerously because bobs feel so expected on a woman with fine, thin hair, and I’d prefer a more unique style.
It’s the best haircut for my current hair, but I don’t care for the look, so it’s time to get a little creative with how I style it. She suggested a paste at the roots, which I’m game to try. As a funny aside, my stylist mentioned my color looked different than she remembered. I told her it’s just gotten older and grayer. She thinks I’m overdoing the purple shampoo, so it’s likely a combo of the two. At any rate, it’s not as silver as I want, so I’m a bit frustrated by it. BTW- this photo makes it look blonder than it is in person.
Taking up an old hobby
On our way to Lake Tahoe last week, we stopped for lunch and some window shopping in Truckee. As we strolled the main street, a store window stopped me cold…I mean, dead stop and stare. There were a few balls of yarn, knitting needles, and a handknit wrap in the window. I had to go in.
My mom taught me to knit at 14, and I became an obsessive knitter for 45+ years. I never went anywhere without a project and often knit for 8+ hours daily. I made myself and my family tons of sweaters, hats, afghans, etc. I’m not sure when I stopped, but I think it was when AWSL became more than a full-time job. Rather than occupying my spare time with knitting, I began spending my time creating content for social media, editing photos, or writing blog posts. Arthritis in my hands began getting worse, and I wondered if it was because of all the knitting I’d done.
Whatever the reason, I stopped knitting cold and never looked back…until that shop window drew me in. It pained me to buy knitting needles because I have multiples of every size imaginable at home. We would be at the Lake for three days, and I had to start knitting right then, so I bought the needles to do it.
My rusty skills took several attempts to fire back up, but once they did, I felt the old obsession take over. Knitting is a form of meditation for me. The repetitive motion and stitch counting are both monotonous and soothing. The kit I bought is not my favorite pattern, yarn weight, or color, but that’s not the point. The process is the point for me, and I’m delighted to have taken up this old hobby again.
What hobbies have you let go of that you might want to get back to now?
Thanks for reading, and be sure to wear what makes you feel confident.
We are always more critical of ourselves than anyone else. Your hairstyle is fabulous IMHO so I’m hoping that after reading all the comments saying the same, you’ll grow to like it. You shared more personal thoughts today than ever before and I feel like I know you a bit better now. Keep up the informative posts. You are appreciated!
I saw your outfit with the Fair Isle sweater dress and velvet leggings on Cyber Monday and immediately ordered it. I love that the sweater is 55% cotton and machine washable too! I don’t enjoy high maintenance clothes! Your hair looks great! I had to swallow that same pill a few years back. Now I really enjoy having an easier style to take care of
It’s a fun outfit for sure. I enjoy wearing it.
I am one of the people who like your new haircut. I have the thinning problem with my hair. Several places look so thin it’s embarassing. I also am not good with styling my hair so that it looks best. Your new haircut makes your hair seem thicker too. I’m interested in paste too. Could you maybe do a piece on it?
I used to knit a lot but had to quit due to arthritis in my hands. Knitting just made it worse and I was unable to keep the tension I needed to create a good product.
I also love your new do! My thinning hair may be convinced to try that which I have avoided. Perfect length. I also heard you re: knitting. I am trying to finish a long term needlepoint piece first, but the needles may a show up soon. Based on the picture, you picked it up just like riding a bike! You always energize my day! Be Well!
Jennifer I really like your new style too. It is very flattering and youthful. I find new hair styles traumatic so I feel your pain. I have a “vision” of what I think looks good on me and I won’t budge on a few criteria. I have to have bangs because I think my forehead (with it’s widows peak) is too large, and I want layers. I’m between stylists right now so I’m just growing it out until the shorter pieces in the back allow me to clip it up. I call this my hair crisis phase. I keep looking for style ideas for my next cut and every single one that meets all my criteria happens to be on Jane Fonda. Hair cuts and coloring are too expensive for us not to be pleased with the outcome. Yours really is cute.
I seldom like a new style so I shouldn’t be surprised.
Love your hair. And totally understand about the dentist. Once you find a good one, it’s hard to trust a new one. I played flute throughout school and college and then stopped. Life got in the way. In 2019 I decided to take up an instrument. I chose the oboe and have been playing and taking lessons ever since. I was 68 when I took it up, arthritic hands, macular degeneration, and all! Good luck with knitting and don’t give it up. Wish I knew how to. I think I would find it meditative as well.
Your new cut looks really cute on you! I have worn a pixie cut for a few years due to thin hair and in the process of growing it out to a bob. I don’t know if I can make it before it drives me crazy and I go back to a pixie. I use Hair Biology purple shampoo from Target almost every day. It really helps from getting some yellow streaks out of my white hair.
Todays post was spot on for me! I have been thinking lately how much I love Fair Isles and should really make use of the Talbots coupons and treat myself! My hair is nearly identical to yours – I wore it short for years and have now grown it out – it’s about the length yours was before your cut . My family loves it grown out and although I trust my stylist I am still on the fence – so afraid it makes me look drab and dowdy! As for hobbies – the one I want to pick back up is cross stitch – I just have to get a magnifying lamp – my eyes aren’t as sharp as they used to be!
Cheers to a fabulous week !
I also had been a knitter for many years, and found I had to quit due to arthritis plus neuropathy in my fingertips. It was painful to knit because the repetitive movement made my fingers go so numb. I don’t think I can go back and I do miss it and all the friends in my knitting group. I do love your haircut and may ask my hairstylist to try it on me as I have thin hair, too. Right now I do long layers. I bought the volume rollers, but hard to use with my arthritic fingers.
Oh my gosh, Jennifer, your post resonates deeply with me. Same issues with my teeth at this stage—so frustrating. Same hairstyle for the same reason—thinning hair—but I love that look on me: I call it Art Deco, similar to Erté paintings and the stylish women of the Roaring Twenties. I think this style looks even prettier on you! And I’m returning (soon after the holidays) to embroidery, which I enjoyed as a teen. Thanks, Jennifer. As always, I love your posts!
Your hair always looks great, but I know the struggle of thinning hair…I have a few spots that I can really notice it. One product I love is Aveda Pure Abundance Style Prep. It’s less aggressive than their “thickening” product, but gives me some extra volume and makes my hair last a couple days. I do use purple shampoo about once/week.
Teeth are another (frustrating) story as we age. But I’m glad to still have mine and wear a bite splint nightly, as I’m a horrid grinder. 😊
Love the outfit in Tahoe.
Well Jennifer, you are going to get tired of hearing this, but I like your new hairstyle too!! I also want to know about paste. I have really fine hair and have to be careful with products because they weigh down my hair. I have found a couple of volume sprays that work ok, but too much of anything makes my hair feel yucky. I am sure you already know about this, but just in case, I find that biotin really helps my hair. I take a tablet daily and my hair is stronger and thicker and my nails are better. Knitting! I have a long history as well. Probably not as proficient as yours, but a love affair for sure. But my knitting has fallen to the wayside in favor of other hobbies. I have been thinking about starting it up again for a few reasons. It is so easy to pick up and put down, it is meditative, it’s portable and you can do it anywhere. Yippee. I may just be inspired. Thank you!!!
Love your hair cut, yes to much purple shampoo can’t affect the hair color, should only use it once a week at the most or every other week. I feel for you at dentist, I don’t like them and haven’t found one I can trust in years. I’ve tried knitting but it’s a mess.
Obsessive Knitter…..Absolutely! I love how it calms my monkey mind and making things is totally my jam. I wish I lived somewhere cooler where hand knit sweaters can be worn comfortably more than a few weeks out of the year!
You hair is adorable! Very very becoming. My hair has been white for 15 years, my teeth are a mess and expensive too and I knit allllll the time. My mother tried to teach me in my youth but an innovative shop in our area named Loops (great website btw) and all the wonderful circular needles with interchangeable tips, etc. did the trick and now I am addicted! Something is cast one them (or several somethings🤠) all the time!
I have a set of those interchangeable tips in ebony. I love them. I’m not even finished this scarf and want to cast on something else. I love the excited, hopefully feeling of casting on. It is addicting.
Love the new do! Looks great on you!
Your new cut is flattering! Give it time to grow on you. 😉
That’s what I need to do. 😁Thanks
Your new hairstyle looks great! Always enjoy your posts.
I’m with all those above who love your new hairstyle. I, too, have the thinning hair problem and have been too embarrassed to go to a salon since covid hair grow out. I thought I was the only one. Maybe I’ll venture to a salon with a picture of your “do” and try it. Thanks to you and all who chimed in on hair thinning. BTW, my daughter, who is a nurse practioner, encourages me to keep knitting to keep fingers nimble and, hopefully, arthritis at bay.
You are far from alone. Thinning hair really beats up our confidence, but don’t let it!! Go to the salon. You’ll be so happy you did.
Love your new style. It looks fuller too! I also have a bobish style. Many women of a certain age cut their hair short, though I love short styles, I prefer a more flowing style and a bob will do that. Enjoy your new cut…remember it takes at least two weeks to fully be one with your hair! Happy Holidays!
Happy holidays! I never heard that it takes two weeks, but I think you’re right!
Jennifer, your hair looks great on you. And I love the lipstick. What color and brand? Gosh, I’m sorry you have to go through the hours in the dental chair but at least you have teeth! ;0)
Great point! Most have “help” or are implants but they don’t come out at night 😁 I’m just wearing this lip pencil. Lipstick seems to stick to my temporary crown so I’m just wearing pencils these days.
I LOVE your new haircut! It looks so flattering and on you. Yes to the new do😉