Sundays at the Salon

Sundays at The Beauty Box aren't just like any other day of the week. We turn the music a little louder, the dress code is more relaxed and everybody is winding down from the busy weekend. It's a nice day to book an appointment. Even though our schedules stay busy, it still has a more relaxed vibe since its just a small number of us working that day (most of the time). Don't get me wrong, we have our moments where it's a little chaotic as many salons tend to get, but overall its a great day to come and enjoy the day with us. 

Being the first Sunday of August, I heard a lot of conversations today revolving around fall getting closer and closer. All the clients are planning what to do during the next appointment due to the change of seasons coming. Hair color gets darker and richer. Some of those bright summer blondes are opting for more caramel tones and there at home product regime is changing. My last client of the day was already planning for her next return in september and said shes ready for big chunky sweaters and boots. As much as I love fall, Im not quiet ready for the temp to drop below 80. No, thanks.

Summer isn't quite over yet. Were still getting requests for some bright balayage looks and some bohemian summer braids. Our work family has so much fun getting inspired and making our clients feel beautiful. We put a lot of effort into making sure each client has a great Beauty Box experience and we have a great time doing it. 

Here are some looks from this week 

Here we have Megan who was given a gorgeous medium brown by our colorist Maria and then Lindsey from our styling team finished her off with a great cut and Bohemian braid

This Bright blonde was done by me. This Client has an amazing base color. When she came in her hair was a little compromised so we highlighted and then used Olaplex to put some strength back into it. Lindsey shaped up her hair with a beautiful cut and finished with a blowout. 

Balayage is bring requests are growing everyday. We love it. It lets us be so creative with whats in front of us

More color by me from this week 

Good Vibes for a Good Morning

Mornings are a pretty significant part of our day. It sets the tone for what's ahead of us. Lately, Ive been paying real close attention to what happens first thing after I wake up and how it affects my day.  I started throwing different routines in to see what would work and what wouldn't. Many of us lead busy schedules and are usually in a hurry to start their day instead of having a calm routine that sets the tone of it. I think its time to get back to when people weren't in such a hurry to be busy. These days, every hour is some sort of planned itinerary and after the day is over, we realize that we haven't taken any time to pay attention to ourselves. In these past few weeks, I've learned some new things that I have put into my daily morning that has shifted my way of thinking into a more positive outlook. The great thing about this is that it's not just for you, its for everyone around you. Once you feel positive, those good energy vibes your feeling can be passed on to whomever is around because energy is contagious. Now I finally understand the saying "If you want to be happy, then be". 

Ways for a Positive Morning

Don't immediately be on your phone 

My usual routine consisted of  my phone alarm clock going off. After I turn off the sound I start going through some of my social media apps to see whats going on in the outside world around me. After getting lost in my technology I realize that 10 minutes has passed by and my eyes are already strained from staring at my phone after a restful sleep. This past week, I made an effort to put down the phone and just give myself some time without any outside influences. 

Take a few minutes 

Its not necessary to jump out of bed as soon as you open your eyes. Give yourself some time to relax and do a few stretches while your still in bed. It will help your body charge a little bit and recognize that your going to be using a lot of energy soon to start your morning. Stretching will help get the blood flowing and relax any stiffness from laying down all night. 

Smile

I know this sounds weird, but cracking a smile while your still laying comfy in your bed actually makes you feel happy and gives you a good feeling. It automatically makes you feel better and good thoughts enter your mind which is good for the soul. 

Think of the possibilities

Each morning is a fresh start. You can make the day anything you want. I think its amazing that we have so many opportunities is this world. Its our decision of where the day takes us and how we let certain situations effect us. We have so much opportunity to learn new things, connect with people, think of new ideas and try something new for ourselves. The fact that we can control all of this is such an exciting thing. Thinking this way when you wake up makes you excited for your day and for what lies ahead. 

Take your breakfast outside

If you have a backyard, have your breakfast outside. This lets you have some time in the fresh air. If your someone who's work makes them be stuck inside all day, get the time in the morning to enjoy and take in nature. Behind outside is good for your health. The sun will give you your daily dose of vitamin D and you get away from the stuffiness of being indoors. It's also mood boosting which is what we want to achieve.  

Meditate and breathe 

Mediation is a great way to to quiet your mind from any outside stresses you may be feeling. It allows you to connect with your higher conscious and helps you hear your inside voice a little better. You can sometimes recognizes negative thoughts you didn't even know you were feeling during meditation. Focusing on your breathing is also important. When your body is in deep breathing it's forcing itself to bring it back to its center. This is great if your someone who experiences anxiety. Meditation allows you to have a dedicated quiet time to yourself during your busy day. 

Give Gratitude  

You get what you give. Giving out gratitude to the universe and being thankful for what you already have can start your day off on a positive note. You are recognizing all the good things in your life before you start your day instead of focusing on the negative. Getting rid of the negative thoughts only makes room for more positive. 

 I hope you take some of these ideas and use them in your daily morning routine. 

Im sending good vibes your way. Use it for yourself and then pass it on. 

Beautiful Balayage

It's amazing how Balayage is so low maintenance! My client came in today for a haircut with one of our amazing stylists. When she was done getting beautified, her color looked absolutely gorgeous! This Balayage was done by me 3 months ago and has grown out with grace.

Balayage is great for anyone who doesn't want to be in the salon every few weeks getting touch ups. It's healthier for the hair and looks so natural it looks like you were in the sun all summer.

A hairdressers job isn't just making sure the clients hair looks fabulous when they leave the salon, it's making sure it still looks fabulous months afterwards.

Taco Tuesday

            I don't know about you, but tortillas out of a plastic bag just don't do it for me. They're stale, flat and the taste is so bland it's like eating floppy cardboard. I've been on the hunt for an easy tortilla recipe that doesn't sacrifice the taste and texture. Most of the ones I came across contained yeast and took a few hours to prepare. I just don't have that kind of patience during the summer, I want an ASAP recipe and relax the rest of the day, tacos in hand.

           Last week I was doing my usual Pinterest surfing for some new ideas. I came across such a foolproof recipe that anyone can do it. You don't need to be an expert and you can have fresh made tortillas within 20 minutes. I have stand mixer with a dough hook so for me it was a less challenging then if you don't own these things. Not that it's hard to mix the dough together with a wooden spoon, just takes a little more elbow grease to get it done.

Ingredients you will need

2 cups Flour
1 tsp salt
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
3/4 cup of water



In a large bowl, or stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment, combine together flour and salt. Next, mix in olive oil and water until dough is well incorporated.

Divide the dough into ten round balls, about the size of a golf ball. Put them back into the bowl and cover with a damp towel so the dough stays moist.

Heat up a large skillet. Working with the dough balls one by one, roll out the ball into a thin circle. Place the rolled dough onto the hot skillet and cook until both sides are golden brown, about 2-3 minutes for each side.

Keep the tortillas covered so that they stay fresh and soft.


This is the part where you realize you will never buy tortillas in a supermarket again. It just seems unnatural. Since I had the bright idea of making these at 10 AM, I made an awesome breakfast quesadilla with eggs, avocado and cheddar cheese. I have a feeling my house will never be empty of these little gems.

                                                   

                                                                    Happy Eating!

The magic of a haircut

All hairdressers have their pet peeves. Whether it's clients who can't sit still or someone who is chronically late for their appointments, we get all the little quirks of human beings on a daily basis. You really have to have a lot of patience in this industry. That being said, one of my biggest pet peeves of all time are clients who will not and completely refuse to cut their hair. 

Before I go any further, I'd like to give a big shout out to Francesca, who is my inspiration for this post. She knew the importance of cutting her hair after getting a fresh color and I applaud her for her good decisions

As you can see, Francesca's hair wasn't fried or stringy, just maybe a little dry since shes had a relationship with bleach for quite some time now. Once she had made the decision of going significantly lighter, she knew a haircut was going to be in her near future. 

Not only did she come in for a fresh new cut a week after her color appointment, she also had 2 beneficial  treatments with her service. This is how you do a hair appointment right. Color, cut and 1-2 treatments every time you come into the salon. All my blonde clients constantly ask me why there hair just doesn't feel as healthy and vibrant as it used to. I'll tell you why. 

You don't take care of it. 

Even if I gave you the most hair color you have ever seen, it will never look right if you don't get  a haircut. 

The picture up top is a timeline of what we did with Francesca. In picture number 1, she came in with some old grown out highlights. Being that her base color is so dark, its tough to get her as light as she usually likes it. Since foils weren't blonding as much strands of hair as she wanted, we decided to just go in and do a full Balayage. 

In picture number 2, it shows what her hair looks like after we balayaged everything. We brought her up to a gorgeous beige toned blonde. I couldn't believe we finally got her to that almost white blonde that shes been hoping for forever. 

Picture 3 is when the real magic happened. When she said haircut, I just figured she meant a trim to clean up her ends and bring everything together. After a few minutes in the chair with one of our stylists, I looked over and was so happy with what I saw. She chopped at least 3 inches and completely transformed her color. Her hair was falling so beautifully with her freshly cut layers and her blonde had a shiny, glossy finish. It allowed her natural dimension to shine through, giving her a rooty, lived in effect. 

Francesca is a perfect example of what a client should do after a color appointment. It shows that if you want your color to look gorgeous and healthy, get a haircut. 

Doughnuts at Home

Everyone has that go-to recipe for when they're in a hurry. There have been countless times when I want to show up to a home with baked goods and not enough time to whip up what I need, until I found this recipe. 

Ina Garten is my favorite chef. You may also know her as the Barefoot Contessa with a show on Food Network. Any recipe that she puts out to the public has always been a loved meal in my home, shes never failed me. My first book that I bought by her is called "Foolproof". The meaning is in the title. It is impossible, unless you have bad luck in the kitchen, to mess up any of her recipes. 

One of my favorites are her Cinnamon Baked Doughnuts. Every time I bring a batch into a room they are gone within 5 minutes. They're always sure to be a hit and it makes it seem like you spent all day baking when really it takes a very short time. Since its such a loved dessert everywhere I go, I thought I would do everyone a favor and share the recipe, courtesy of Ina Garten of course. 

You will need a 2 doughnut pans for this recipe. You can get them at your local chef central or whatever kitchen appliance store you have around your area. 

Cinnamon Baked Doughnuts 

Baking spray 

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups sugar 

2 teaspoons baking powder 

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1 extra large egg,lightly beaten

1 1/4 cups whole milk 

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

For the Topping  

1 stick unsalted butter 

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350°. Spray the two donut pans. 

Into a large bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.

In a small bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, melted butter, and vanilla.

Stir the wet mixture into the dry ingredients until just combined.

Spoon the batter into the baking pans, filling each one a little more than three quarters full.

Bake for 17 minutes and then allow to cool for five minutes.

Tap the donuts out of the pans.

For the topping, melt the butter into a pan.

Combine the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.

Dip each donut first into the butter and then in the cinnamon sugar either on one or both sides. 

Enjoy!

The Best of Belgium

   

It's really special when you know how to make your own Belgium waffles. It's amazing how we thought having Eggo's for breakfast was a gourmet treat at the age of 10 years old. I'm happy to say my taste buds have evolved since then. I'm always on the hunt for a different and exciting way to make breakfast. Yes, this is what my free mornings consist of. Pinterest is so great for that. It's the mecca of recipes. Anything you want to find, it's on there. The place is a goldmine. As I was searching through for some new waffle recipes, everything kind of looked to similar and nothing really caught my eye. Finally, I found what a was looking for. 

Leige Waffles. Never heard of them but they sounded delish. After reading what they actually were, it's basically the waffles that they actually make in Belgium. Not the Americanized version of waffles you get in your local diner. These are better. They're like having dessert for breakfast. Picture a croissant, brioche bread, and a waffle all in one. It's like being able to make a homemade pastry right in your own kitchen, just in waffle form. The difference between this and the americanized version is that this is not a mix, it's a dough. A beauitful mound of buttery dough pressed into a waffle iron with specks of pearl sugar that are caramelizing as it bakes. Yea, it's as good as it sounds. It was even better when I topped it with some tiramisu gelato. Thanks Talenti.  

Making the dough is a little time consuming. If your planning on having them right when you wake up, I suggest making the dough the night before. If your having them for brunch then you just have to wake up a little earlier to get them started. It's well worth it. 

Liege Waffles

1 packet of dry yeast (7g, 1/4oz)
1/3 cup lukewarm water
1 1/2 tbsp white sugar
1/8 tsp salt
2 cups plain flour
3 eggs
220g unsalted butter, softened (1 cup)
1 cup of pearl sugar

Place the flour into a large bowl or into the bowl of your electric mixer fitted with a dough hook. Make a well in the flour and pour in the yeast mixture. Begin to knead.

Still kneading, add the eggs, one at a time. Then add the butter about 2 tablespoons at a time, mixing until each addition is incorporated. The final dough will look like a mixture between cake batter and bread dough.

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow the dough to rise until it doubles in size. I let it rise from about an hour to hour and a half. 

After it's done rising, gently mix in the pearl sugar and let it rest for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, heat your waffle iron. 

Pearl Sugar can be found in your local health food store or somewhere like Sur La Table. It's a little tricky to find so if you rather make it at home, you can do that do. It's really just clumped up sugar. Heat a cup of  sugar with one tablespoon of water over low heat and stir until small clumps form. Let it sit over heat about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and let it cool. 

When ready, take an ice cream scoop and scoop a couple of tablespoons of dough onto each section of the waffle iron. Close and let cook for about 5 minutes. Check waffles every once in a while to make sure they are not burning and everything is cooking evenly. This recipe makes about 12 waffles. 

If you're anything like me, you can have ice cream at any time of the day. My personal favorite is Talenti Gelato. Each flavor is so smooth, rich and creamy and it blows regular ice cream out of the water. 

I took Talentis' newest flavor, Tiramisu, and scooped it in between two of my Liege Waffles. This is what breakfast is all about.