A little behind

on my personal grooming, I'm about 2 months overdue for a cut and, well, I can't remember the last time I saw Erwin. Literally. I know I've been since The Bean arrived, but life has gotten in the way and forced many a reschedule. I have no idea how I haven't made it onto the salon blacklist, except that I've been with both Jae and Erwin since, well, for a long time. Jae and I have known each other longer than I've known H.

My hand forced by an also overdue annual doc appointment, I'm taking the afternoon in two weeks to do Stuff I Have to Do.

We won't mention that I'll conveniently have been to the salon the afternoon of the DC Scout Bday Bash, where there might be pictures taken.

Now...off to the outfit planning. This might just call for a new one.

Amusing Style

As always, one day after I say I'm going to take a break, I find something that Just. Has. To. Be. Posted. Funny Anecdote to Follow.

We wake up this morning to lovely babbling (and "MamAAAAH!") from the crib (we made it all the way 'til 5am - victory!). Out of bed, morning abolutions for the girls, Bean and H have breakfast (Mommy doesn't eat til at work 'cause she has too much to do), and back in our room to get ready. H disappears into the bathroom for his morning abolutions.

A few minutes later, I hear the clippers going. "Ah, trimming his beard,"* I think.

After he emerges, I dash in to get something, and roll my eyes at the whiskers in the sink.

"You have to rinse this out when you're done shaving," I cry.

"I wasn't shaving," he says.

"Well what were you doing?" I ask.

"Clipping my eyebrows."

With electric clippers.

"I get these really long ones," he defends. I've been after him for years to trim those suckers. I've given up getting him to go get plucked or waxed. I'll just relish the Mediterranean goodness that he is. But CLIPPERS?

Oh dear. Erwin and Azi must be fainting dead away.


*a goatee, people, not a full-grown beard!

A Special Place in Our Hearts (or War of the Gurus?)

Sleeping in last Sunday morning a little. Was awake, but not outta bed. Bal'mer Girlfriend calls me.

"Did you see the Sunday Source this morning?" she asks.

"Uh uh." I wasn't anywhere near the paper yet. I think maybe my eyes were open, but I'm not sure.

"I opened it up, and there's a big ad from Red Door announcing the arrival of 'Eyebrow Guru Azi [can't remember her last name].' We found her!"

You see (and I think I mentioned this in a long ago post), Azi was the first one. For both of us. She was the one who helped us through our first time eyebrow shaping. She plucked, our eyes teared, and we sneezed. We tried to maintain them ourselves, and then we went back to her. Then one day, she was gone. And we couldn't find her. We were sad.

Then, Bal'mer Girlfriend found someone up north, and I found Erwin. But there's always been a special place in our hearts for Azi.

And now she's back. She'll be in Erwin's old room, I guess, at Red Door. I'm torn. Do I go see her? Is that cheating?

And what will Washington do with Two Gurus?

The Greatest Accessory Ever

...is the eyebrow grooming.

I started a long time ago...and was very afraid. I was at my regular salon for a haircut, and decided to take advantage of the "complimentary makeup touchup" after I was done. Azi took care of me - made me look like me - only better...and then asked if I'd ever plucked my eyebrows.

"Uh uh," I said. She offered to do it for me. It wasn't expensive - $20, I think, so I went for it. Best thing I ever did. Amazing what a difference it makes. It really does. Opened up my whole face. Gave my face presence (I know it sounds silly, but it's true!) and purpose.

Long story short, Azi eventually left the salon, and I was lazy and didn't track her down. So I figured I'd maintain myself...uh huh. While I certainly kept them from being super fuzzy, I knew I wasn't the talented plucker.

And then a girlfriend found Erwin. Written up somewhere as "The Eyebrow Guru," she figured she'd give him a shot. Thank goodness she did. She came back with lovely brows and orders not to touch them - if she did, he wouldn't do them ever again. Now that's my kind of stylist. Take charge. No, you're doing it wrong, and don't ever do that again.

So I made my appointment, and in I went. Erwin's a doll. Sweet, smart, and the fastest wax in the District. Five minutes is a long appointment with him. But I always want to stay longer. I want to soak up his style. Impeccably dressed and groomed. Always. And unassuming. Not to mention kind.

Then, about a year after I discovered him, he passed me his card and told me he was opening his own place. First of all, it was the coolest card ever. Translucent, slim, simple. I emailed him, found out where he was seeing clients in between The Old Place and His New Place.

And now he's just about to open up Erwin Gomez Salon and Spa. I went in just yesterday (it had been just a little too long, but somehow I kept forgetting to pick up the phone). The space isn't done yet (they're working out of the upstairs right now), but it's all a bustle with activity. I felt like I was at a friend's house before a really cool party.

I can't help be a little perturbed (though happy for him, of course) that my grooming secret is out. Daily Candy found Erwin...so now the rest of the world will, too. It's kinda like that restaurant-that-you-love-so-you-want-to-tell-everyone-about-it-but-you-don't-wanna-because-then-if-too-many-people-know-you-won't-be-able-to-get-a-table dilemma.

But the secret's out, and it really is the best thing I've done for myself, appearance-wise. Doesn't take long, doesn't take much. And it only hurts a little. So go. It's worth it.

Just don't take my appointment.

And say hello to Chanel for me. She's the real star of the salon.