The last time I got a haircut (so sad to admit) was before summer 2011—I’d say probably late May.  So, needless to say, my ends were very well split and I desperately needed a trim.  I was just planning to go home to NOVA to do so over spring break, but saw a coupon for Great Clips in a booklet they mailed out at school.  The coupon was for a $6.99 haircut—unbeatable!   But, wait, there’s more!  There’s a current promotion right now (no coupon necessary) for a $5.99 haircut at Great Clips.  I was a bit skeptical because (a) Great Clips isn’t exactly a salon, and (b) that price triggered inexperienced hair stylists.   Nevertheless, I still decided to do it because I figured there’s not much that could go wrong with a trim.  

I went to Great Clips down South Main St. in Blacksburg on a Monday afternoon (around 4) and there was a line almost out the door.  The sale posters obviously gained a lot of business.  I actually had to wait about 40 minutes for my cut.  I gave the stylist, Tara, very precise requests on how much I wanted to get trimmed, how I wanted the back to look, and how I wanted my bangs to looked.  She was very, very fun to talk to and had been styling for over five years.   HANDS DOWN, she is the only person in my lifetime of haircuts to have cut my bangs the way I want them.   I would definitely recommend checking this deal out and giving their stylists some credit!   Pictures to come!

Some would call me spoiled, but now even I’m confused about my family’s financial standings.   Mom, Dad—I don’t get it.  Are we rich or poor?  Stop confusing me.  You make me feel bad when I don’t take your money but yell at me when I spend it. Either way, I feel bad. 

I just watched Nick & Vanessa’s Dream Wedding special on TLC, and literally gasped and almost choked when a shot of her wedding shoes came on screen.   Even though her dress would not have been my first choice, the shoes, the veil, the private-island wedding, the flowers, the sexy-slit party dress, the fireworks, etc. made up for that.   I know I’ve done a blog about wedding shoes before, but there can never be too many blogs about shoes, or about weddings. :)

Louboutins.  I first came across these while browsing through “Real Weddings” on theknot.com.   I’m a sucker for the signature red and this makes the PERFECT “something blue.” 

Kate Spade Charm Sling Back.  I tried these on in a Nordstrom once, and felt like a princess.  I almost bought them so I could wear them on my wedding day…but had to be restrained. 

Even though I only caught a quick glimpse, I THINK these were the ones that Vanessa Minnillo wore for her wedding to Nick Lachey.   They were some sort of white/ivory t-strap, glittery sandal. 

So—against all odds and warnings—I’m going for a swim.   No expectations. 

“It’s like you had a kid, and now you don’t have to take care of it anymore.” 

Wise words that my brother used to analyze my love life on a walk we took while at Virginia Beach this past weekend.   That’s a great way to sum up a relationship—comparing its demise to getting rid of a child.  However, nothing could have summed it up better.   Hopefully I won’t ever have to live the life of a mother who has just abandoned her child…but what I imagine it feeling like really does make my brother’s insight the best summary of my new life. 

At times, I felt like I had to literally be like a mother in the relationship.  In the end, I was afraid of letting go because it was all I knew and I was afraid of leaving him stranded too.  My life has made a 180-degree turn in the past few months.   I feel more adventurous and “wild”—within certain limits.   Although I was never not allowed to do any of the adventurous things I’m doing now in the relationship,  I always felt an implied perimeter for my thoughts and actions.   London, particularly, was the first time I was able to break out of the boundaries without guilt pulling me back in.  

So, with that being said, am I ready for boundaries to be put back in place again?  For some reason, I have this magical “single life” envisioned for my senior year of college.   But, when I really think about it—what exactly do  want out of a “single life?”   I have my own morals and standards will keep me from acting in true single fashion, and I refuse to let my lifelong values go for the sake of this window of opportunity to “experiment.”    I keep bouncing back and forth between how I feel about my pending relationship…I just don’t want to lose what I have or put a halt on something that’s pretty amazing.  

Why can’t this stuff be easy?

1. Tom’s Grosgrain in Petal:  $53.95

2. Medium Longchamp Le Pliage Tote in Taupe or White:  $125

3. Pink Monster Beats by Dre (Limited Edition):  $200

4. A Macbook Pro:  $2,000

5. A Navy Long-sleeve sheath similar to these Erdem ones worn by the Duchess

only 5 things. is that too much to ask for? 

Everyone is pretty much gone.  I woke up at 7:30 to pack and clean the apartment with the remaining girls.  I was able to catch breakfast at The Tyburn with Trinh before she left.   I had this amazing porridge with strawberry and blueberry compote.  It was actually one of the best things I ate in London.   It was better than American oatmeal.  

After getting all of our stuff moved out of Flat 29, beloved, I went with James and Sean to Brick Lane—yes, again.   My parents and Mike were doing their little bus tour thing of the city because they didn’t feel like navigating on the Underground.  I will miss Brick Lane and going to these unique markets of London dearly.  

I met up with my parents around 4 p.m. on the steps of St. Paul’s.  I took them on my favorite walk across Millenium Bridge. 

I enjoyed a quite afternoon after that and finished the rest of my packing while kidding around with the guys and turned in pretty early.  Oh, London, you have been grand and I’m glad I was able to extend my stay by one day to have one last hurrah. 

Farewell luncheon at the Anchor. 

Treasure hunting on the Thames. 

Seeing my family.

Taking them to Chinatown.

Packing.