An Update

You know, I haven't been as active on Bye Bye Beehive as I thought I would have been since my challenge finished a little over a year ago. The BBB 365-day project taught me that coming up with fun hairstyles is still fun, but that rocking simple & easy hair is also, well, easy... and I tend to stick with simple styles more often now.

Despite my lack of updates and posts on Bye Bye Beehive, I'm still around a few times a week over at Aunie Sauce, my personal blog that covers everything from big life events (I just joined the Air National Guard!) to little details and memorable moments. I would love to see you there.

Click here to see current hair posts on Aunie Sauce.

I CUT THE BEEHIVE!

Today is my twenty-seventh birthday. It's my Golden Birthday... 27 on the 27th. I'm not sure why, but for my whole life, I've always told myself that 27 would be my favorite year... and now that 27 is finally here, I can't wait to see what it brings.

Also, I kicked my birthday off with a "why not" of all why-nots:

I've always been a fan of change, and for this new year of mine, I'm embracing it fully. I ended up having 12 inches cut, and I'm donating my hair to Children With Hair Loss—they accept all kinds of hair and since the tips of my hair were bleached a few years ago, I picked their charity because some of the others have requirements against bleached & highlighted hair. I went to Kendall of Roots Salon in Boise (208-514-5895) and can't recommend her enough. This new cut is spunky, sporty, and of course—extra saucy. Why not, right?

Last year as I blew out my candles, I made sure that I didn't wish for "babies or anything crazy like that." This year, let's just say I can't promise the same, though I'm in no rush to make any changes that big (or small) quite yet. Oh, 27, I can't wait to see what joy you'll bring.

Here's to new short hairstyles and a brand new year!!

My Hair Identity Crisis

Top: very, very old (like, wore it to my high school senior Honor Society banquet in 2005 old), Skirt: Thrifted F21, Belt: old, Shoes: Mossimo, Bracelet: Premier Design, Photos: Taylor Love Studios

Despite taking a year off from using heat or styling tools, an excess of hair products, teasing often, and "doing" my hair—and even though I knew my hair was growing—it never seemed to get any longer... until I saw these photos! I looked at them and thought, "That's me?"

Here's where I get frank with you... I feel like I've been having a bit of a physical identity crisis lately.

• First, I'm still not used to myself with brunette hair (I've been brunette now for over 3-months... my longest brown-haired record yet!). After being a blonde for 26-years of my life, this change—though one that I like—still catches me off guard. 
• Second, my hair has almost always been a mid to short length. Never did it ever come down to my bra straps in the back. And now that it does... it's just different. I'm not used to myself, the way my hair feels (it's getting thicker due to my lack of highlighting & damaging habits), and how it looks. 
• Third, I haven't dyed my hair since early April, and I'm very surprised at my lack of roots. I had thought they would grow in ashy blonde like before... but I really haven't noticed them and it's throwing me for a loop. Am I a brunette now? A real brunette? 

Anyway, I think that all of this, coupled with a recent bit of weight loss (more on that later) has had me asking, "Who is that person in the mirror?" To be honest, I'm not always sure... but I like her!

What's your preference? Blonde or brunette?

The Bee Behind The Hive.

Well, hey there! I think it's about time I introduced myself, don't you?

This is me:

I'm a 20-something girl who is always on the move. I earned my degree in Health Education & Promotion from Boise State University, I work for St. Luke's hospital in Boise, and I'm always finding new ways to adapt to every change that is thrown in my direction. When people ask me where I want to be in 5 years, my response is "happy." I constantly have to go, go, go to keep my mind occupied and keep myself stress-free. I am always really perky and peppy. Everyone thinks I drink a lot of coffee, but I'm really just a bright spirit at heart.

Here are a few of my favorite things:

• Teased hair and hairspray (obviously!)
• Fuzzy puppies, especially long-haired chihuahuas
• Scrabble
• Hawai'i (Kauai pictured above)
• Ice cream
• Massages (...speaking of which... ahem...)
• Margaritas, especially my dad's recipe, though they are quite stout
• Family dinners (we always have the most inappropriate conversations)
• Sunny, 78 degree, no wind days
• Lovey butterflies (you know, that feeling you get when you're so in the moment)

There are so many more things that I can just go on and on about, but I won't bore you with too much about myself. I mean, I'd like to think I'm pretty cool... but not that cool.

So, yeah. That's me. Annelise. Whoopee...

See you tomorrow!