3/16/2016 1 Comment On The Right TrackA few weeks ago, I got together with a group of girls and we did a photo shoot for The Community Journal. We were told to dress in bohemian, gypsy inspired clothing. It was going to be a fun afternoon with friends so with no hesitation I said to count me in. A few images in particular that were to be captured were of a "Traveler". They gave me a bag for a prop and I had my ukulele case so I took off walking like a traveling gypsy along the train tracks that run through downtown Ennis as the camera snapped behind me. I had no idea at the time how these images would speak so clearly to the place I have been in my life. A crossroad. I wrote recently about my desire to travel and about my bittersweet feelings of leaving Ennis. I talked about Ennis in terms of the sweet, supportive boyfriend who could possibly give me everything I've ever wanted if only he had my heart but I sometimes have a wandering eye and think that maybe the grass is greener...over there. (Where ever there may be.) What I have come to realize is that change truly is inevitable. Everything in my life is different from how it once was. My friends, my hair, my car, my body, my views of the world, my place of business, my relationships, my taste, my thoughts and opinions, my residence. I could keep going but you get the point. The only thing that hasn't changed at least in the last 10 years besides my phone number, is the undying passion I have for the work that I do. Somehow it has survived it all. My work as an artist is the one and only constant in my life. I call myself an artist instead of a stylist because stylist doesn't encompass all that I am on a mission to do. I want to create. Create a style for someone that makes them feel their best. Create a color formula that perfectly enhances someones natural tone. Create bonds with unlikely strangers. Create opportunities for personal growth. Create an environment that feels good and relaxing and more than anything I want to create a life around me that inspires others to live in their most authentic way. I thought for some reason that I had to decide between my business in Ennis and my longing to experience life in other places. I have come to the realization that I don't have to choose. I can have both.
I am proud to announce that I will be opening my own business in downtown Ennis in July. I have decided to call it The Studio. By definition, a studio is an establishment where an artist works. This will allow me the freedom to work in a space that suits me in a town that supports me so that I can create the life that I desire filled with business opportunities and personal advancements. My wanderlust has not changed either. The inspiration and knowledge I receive from spending time in other places and cities is essential to my being and keeps me focused. I can work and travel. I will keep all the details about this next adventure to myself until I have more to share. They say life is about balance. (Whoever they is.) I have found mine and I know I'm on the right track. Love, Stevi
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2/15/2016 0 Comments On The Road with SteviSometimes, you just need a break, in a beautiful place, alone, to figure everything out. -Unknown Last weekend I had the urge to take a drive. I was in need of the kind of clarity that can only be found in solitude. Solitude is the enjoyment of your own company. It gives you space to reflect without distraction or outside influence. I recorded this video about my trip and I wish it wasn't 10 minutes long but since I have no knowledge of video editing, it is what it is. I could have called up a few girl friends and pulled together a last minute Sunday brunch and talked out all the things that were on my mind over a carafe of bottomless mimosas but that would have just been a distraction. Sometimes you simply need solitude. First stop. Zilker Park. Austin, Texas. I was serenaded by Woody. Apparently he can be found playing his guitar and harmonica on any given Sunday in the park. I found peace and broke in my hiking boots at The Slab. Marble Falls, Texas. 14 hours and 500-ish miles. Longest day trip I've ever taken in my life.
I love that I have the freedom for days like that. I love that I date a guy who supports and respects my desire for independence and I love that I have friends who would gladly hop in and tag along for the ride. Thanks for loving all my crazy. -Stevi 1/29/2016 1 Comment This week on Stevi TVI just recently celebrated a birthday. I've had 32 of these now. Thirty-Two. It is not what I thought it would be when I was 17. My teenage mind imagined I would be a working woman making plans and cupcakes and a weekly grocery list for my family. Evenings would be spent reading bed time stories and playing "This little piggy" with my mini-me's toes before falling asleep next to my husband while talking about our upcoming trip to Disney World. Married with children. That was 32. I may have just described the lives of a lot of women my age but it's definitely not mine. Hopefully there's still some playful sex in there somewhere but maybe not. I wouldn't know. It's not my life. If the 17 year old version of myself only knew how wrong she was. Fifteen years later, I am not married and the desire to have children seems to have been replaced with wanderlust that even I don't understand. I am often torn between my desire to travel around like a gypsy and the familiar comforts of home. I want coffee at sunrise on a cobblestone street and the view of a sunset from the balcony of a villa. I want to stare into a campfire surrounded by stars in the desert. I want a hot air balloon ride with picture perfect grassy hills below. I want to swim naked in the ocean if only for a few minutes just to say that I've done it. I want the smell of pine trees mixed with the odor of my hiking boots which haven't been used yet but one day they will be broken in and worn out and that's the scent I have in mind. I want the sound of chatter in an unfamiliar language followed by the sound of laughter. I want to kiss someone and dance in the rain like they do in the movies. I want to stay in a hostel. I want to see the view of an incredible city from the window of a helicopter. Venice. Greece. Arizona. Ireland. Hawaii. Colorado. Spain. Oregon. Paris. Just for starters. I don't know where this longing came from. As a child, I didn't travel that much so it's not that I was raised this way. I didn't pay much attention in my geography and history classes so it doesn't stem from the study of other places. We were constantly moving when I was kid so you would think that more than anything I'd want to create a life somewhere and stay put. Not the case at all. At least for now. Ennis is my hometown. I basically grew up in my dad's restaurant. B.J's Cafe. Best chicken fried steak in town. I learned to drive by cruising Ennis Avenue with my friends on Friday nights. I moved away after high school but I quickly returned to be with my first love. I opened my own salon on my favorite brick paved street at the age of 24 which lead to meeting my very best friend who came in as a new client for a haircut. I have created my life around this community. When I talk of moving or traveling for extended periods of time, I know my clients get a knot in their stomach because there's nothing worse than the first time you put your hair in the hands of a stranger, cross your fingers and hope for the best. It's almost worse than a break up but there are plenty of talented hair stylists in the community so I'm sure they will find their rebound stylist. The thought of completely disconnecting from Ennis is bittersweet. It's like a relationship with a really nice guy who would give you stability and support you in anything you do but for some reason you can't fully give him your heart. It's easy and it's comfortable and you don't want to start all over again with someone else because what if the new guy is an asshole!?! But what if he isn't? What if he's amazing? You'll never know if you don't follow your heart, right? I was recently asked how I would feel about my writing being published for the community and if I would be willing to write fun stories about my perspective of life in this town. I want to say yes but how can I when I feel this way? It's a great place with plenty of potential for growth and development and I have no doubt that plans are in the works and wonderful things are in the future for Ennis. My business is there but my heart is not. My 2002 Senior class quote was "I don't know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future." Most of my high school memories are a blur so I can't believe I even remember that. It couldn't be more true and fitting for me now. I guess in a way this is my notice. My one-year notice. If I say it out loud, if I type here for you to read, it makes it real. My apartment lease is up in February of 2017 and that will also mark my 3 year anniversary of working independently as a stylist at Tisha & Company. It was my intention after I closed my salon to make travel a priority while still accommodating my clientele. I have done that. I want to set a new intention now. I know that people will have questions. I don't have the answers. I'm sure when the answers reveal themselves, I will be compelled to write about it. I sometimes refer to my life as SteviTV...Stay tuned. Love, Stevi "Cause I'm still the girl from Golden Had to get away so I could grow But it don't matter where I'm goin' I'll still call my hometown home." Kacey Musgraves, Dime Store Cowgirl 12/16/2015 0 Comments My Un(Belize)able ExperienceLast year, I got my passport so this year my intention was to use it. I was set on going somewhere that was very different from America to surround myself in the culture and experience a new way of life. To see first hand how others do differently what we believe to be the right and only way. That is the real beauty of traveling. I booked a trip to Belize with my mom as my travel companion. For 4 days, my mom and I stayed in a small cabana on Caye Caulker Island, 20 miles off the coast of Belize in the Caribbean Sea. You get there by water taxi. There are no cars. There are no paved roads for that matter. Only bicycles and golf carts occupy the 3 main streets on the island that measures 5 miles long by 1 mile at its widest point. There are no resorts. Only small inns, hostels and rental properties. It is a traveler's paradise. Not a tourist's paradise. There is a difference. The locals experience life at a much slower pace than most of us are used to. I had never seen palm trees with real coconuts growing naturally or turquoise water. It was a beautiful new world I was seeing for the first time. On my last full day on the island, I was up before the sun and rode my rented bicycle to a sunrise yoga class. Standing in tree pose on a wooden dock with a grass hut cabana at sunrise was something I had only seen pictures of other people doing on the cover of Yoga Journal magazine, while I myself stood in line at the grocery store. It was surreal to me. All of it. Anytime I travel, I am usually faced with something that brings me to my own attention and encourages personal growth. This was no exception. Caye Caulker Island is essentially the top of a limestone cave so all sorts of sea life are directly under you. I wanted to snorkel one last time while I was there so by afternoon I had made my way to The Split, a popular area of the island ideal for relaxation, swimming, snorkeling and a little day drinking. I had only been in the water for about 10 minutes when I spotted a giant starfish hanging onto a piece of coral. I had my waterproof camera so I snapped a few pictures of him, took a few underwater selfies and all was great until I felt my foot slide across something and I instantly knew that it wasn't a good thing. Within an hour, I was driven by golf cart taxi to a tiny medical clinic that resembled nothing like any medical clinic I've ever seen in the United States. If I wanted the local experience, I was about to get it. Three Belizean women discussed in another language what to do with my foot and as it turns out, sea shells are pretty sharp. Atleast that's what they decided it was because of the clean slice in my foot. (For future reference, I'll wear flippers next time. They would have made for the perfect photo op and served as protection.) They gave me a shot and 2 stitches, wrapped me up and handed me a small baggy of pink pills. I was told they were antibiotics and to take them for the next 3 days and to keep my foot clean and dry. The clinic excepted donations as payment. I had $60 Belizean dollars on me. The equivalent of $30 American dollars. I gave them what I had and limped out of the door grateful that they had taken such good care of me. I'll admit I was a little bummed that taking antibiotics meant I wouldn't be partying on my last night in Belize. We went to the local bar and I drank Sprite from a glass bottle so I still had the sensation of holding a beer while listening to live music. That was my way of making the best of the situation. My pink hair faded on that trip. The ocean water stripped it out almost completely. I thought nothing of it assuming I would refresh it as soon as I got back just in time for the holidays. But I haven't. At my last salon appointment in October, I was so compelled to write about my hair. It's almost as if subconsciously I knew that it would be the last time. The other night I was super nervous but I played my ukulele and sang for The Drifter. The next day he told me that watching me was a kind of beauty he couldn't even describe. That it was as if I was sloughing off fear like some old, useless skin. It really does feel like I'm shedding. In so many ways. I have clients and friends who think I am adventurous and I suppose that's true to a degree but I have not always been this way. 6 years ago, I was afraid to fly in an airplane. I used to get very anxious in uncomfortable situations and unfamiliar places. The 25 year old version of myself would have never been that far out of her comfort zone and she would have had a panic attack at the very thought of needing medical treatment in a foreign country. I was completely calm. Maybe it's age and life experience or a new mindset but I'm not that girl anymore. Bright pink hair is something that I have identified with for almost 4 years. Four days in Belize washed that away and I realized that I may not be that girl anymore either.
I'm not saying that I will always play it cool or that I'll never again have colored hair but it feels good to be aware and let go of stories and ideas that no longer represent the best and most authentic version of myself. Change is inevitable. The Drifter told me once that he wants to be the kind of person that he would admire. I'm on a mission to do the same. -Stevi 11/16/2015 2 Comments The Mermaid and The DrifterI posted a picture of me and the guy I've been dating on Facebook last night. It's strange that this is somehow a right of passage and means something for our relationship according to social media standards. We are not friends on Facebook so he is unaware and to my knowledge he has never read my blog so he may never know. We've been dating for four months and people have asked if we're serious. I'm not really sure what that question means. I seriously like him. I think he seriously likes me back. That is all I know and I suppose that is all that really matters. This is why.
Every January I create a vision board. It is a piece of art that displays a collage of images that symbolize things I want to accomplish, the way I want to feel and things that I desire for the upcoming year. I also choose a word that encompasses my self created theme for the year. I hang this piece of art in my home as a daily reminder. This year on my vision board, perfectly placed among my desires, is the word I chose for 2015. Drift: a natural, continuous and gradual movement without a predetermined destination. Basically, drifting is going along without knowing what is next. I want to be the girl that can fly by the seat of her pants with no plans and no expectations but the truth is, that does not come naturally to me. I like being organized. I like to be prepared. I want to know the details. I like to have control. (There. I said it.) This year, I was going to practice the art of drifting. I'll be honest. By summer, I was really lacking direction. I kept thinking that somehow I had manifested these circumstances by choosing drift as my theme. I had even considered making a new vision board. Picking a new word. A mid-year reevaluation. I'm not even kidding. I take this stuff seriously. And then I met this guy. Drew. He is a writer, an adventurer, a traveler. He flies by the seat of his pants with no plans and no expectations. This is where it gets weird. For the last few years, he has referred to himself as Drifting Drew. Are you f*cking kidding me? Where did this dude come from and why now? The answer is clear. He is in my life to help me drift. He shows me how to be completely present in each moment. He is not religious or even spiritual for that matter, but he guides me in ways that he is completely unaware of. He's a cool guy. I'm a cool chick. He wants companionship. I want a partner. We have fun together. We are spontaneous. We are alike. We are different. It works. Drifting along and enjoying the ride, Stevi 10/22/2015 0 Comments The Power of Pink HairI got my hair done today. It is quite the process. We bleach my roots, rinse, add the pink, shampoo it out and then style it. This takes somewhere around three hours. I have done this every 7 weeks for the last 3 1/2 years.
"What made you go pink?" is a question I get often. The answer is pretty personal and might come as a surprise to some. It was an effort to save my marriage. Yep. You read that right. In February of 2012, I was a wife and my relationship with my then husband was really struggling. He had his own business. I was running my own salon. We had only been married for 7 months. I was 28. We had a mortgage and all kinds of heavy responsibilities. We were domesticated and it all seemed very "adult" to me. Soon people would be asking about when we were going to start a family. It was a life I couldn't see myself in but there I was. And I had brown hair. I am not saying anything bad about brunettes. I personally love rich chocolate and caramel tones in hair. I love seeing them on other people and creating the look on my clients. But for me, at that point in my life, everything was f*cking brown. I wanted to express myself and break free of the dullness I felt. I wanted to feel vibrant and fresh. I wanted my husband to see me in a new way. I wanted to remind him and myself that we could create any life we wanted together and it didn't have to fit inside anyone else's box besides our own. So how was I going to do that? Color my hair hot pink. Changing your hair is not a cure all. Although, it is where most women start when they are craving something different in their lives. It won't actually change your life unless you change your life. I would be my own worst client because I actually hate getting my hair done. The time it takes, the chemicals etc... but anyone who has ever been to a salon knows that the shampoo process is the best part and then the end result is beautiful. I suppose it's just like when your going through crap in your life whether it's a break up or a life change. The process of it might suck but it's almost always worth it in the end. The lesson: Coloring my hair pink did not save my marriage but in a way, it served as a catalyst in the process of saving myself. They say that blondes have more fun. I disagree. I'll have more fun with my pink hair any day ;) -Stevi 10/8/2015 0 Comments A Love Note for the BrideTwo years ago this week, I went to New York City for the first time to meet up with my dear friend, Ivana. We were single and feeling free. We were both looking for something. Inspiration. Peace. Adventure. We found it in New York. We tried to see every inch of that city. The Statue of Liberty. The Brooklyn Bridge. Grand Central Station. Times Square. We stood in awe and in silence at Ground Zero. We ate fancy Italian dinner and drank wine in Chelsea. We watched the most incredible sunset from Highline Park. We did cartwheels at night in the park. We got drunk and ate pizza at 4am. We danced in the aisle at a Sara Bareilles concert while she sang "Brave" at Radio City Music Hall. We absolutely fell in love with that city. October 10th, 2013 was our last day together on that trip. I felt like a completely different person from the girl who had arrived there. Ivana would agree. It sounds cliche but NYC will always have a piece of my heart. Shortly after that trip, Ivana met Stephen. Someone she would come to describe as her soul mate, her best friend and she fell in love all over again. This Saturday, October 10th 2015, Ivana will become Mrs. Stephen Rushlow. Two years to the day that we left a piece of our heart in New York City, she will give hers forever to the man she adores. To my beautiful friend, just days before your wedding, if I could tell you anything, I want you to know how truly happy I am that you have found your partner. I believe life is meant to be shared. To share all of yourself, your dreams and your life with another person... How extraordinary to experience that kind of connection with another human being. You inspire me more than you'll ever know. I am grateful for our friendship and the trip that changed us both. I think it is absolutely magical that two years ago, you could not have imagined that this would be your life. I guess that's the case for all of us but I think it's a beautiful coincidence. I am proud of you for following your heart and trusting yourself. I wish you and Stephen the best this world has to offer. I know you will create an amazing life together. "I love you for like ever" Your favorite brides(Mer)maid, -Stevi 9/28/2015 0 Comments Plenty of Fish: Part 2I've said before that I like dating and that is true. I really do. Everyone seemed to be able to relate to me or atleast get a kick out of it when I shared some of my experiences. By request, here are a few more of my random date stories. The Merman. The online dating world can be a strange place. I once had a guy send me a message on a dating site with creepy pictures of himself posing and swimming with a tail on. While some might think that's perfect for me, I was completely weirded out. I talked to him briefly out of pure curiosity but never agreed to meet up with him. Hopefully, he has met his mer-match by now. The Leprocan. A few years ago on St. Patrick's Day, I was approached by a guy in a restaurant. He was short, dark and handsome, dressed in green and his name was Patrick. I wouldn't have believed him had he not shown me his license. We talked briefly, he asked for my number and within an hour, he had text me and we were on our first date. It was one of the most hard to remember-unforgettable nights I've ever had. To this day, I believe that is the most drunk I have ever been. I do seem to recall a piggy back ride to the car at 2am. The Other Josh. *Note to Self: They probably shouldn't have the same name as your ex-husband. Our first date was at a really cool, brand new coffee shop where he mostly talked about himself and how he wanted to be an actor in Hollywood. Yeah, yeah, yeah... I just drank my free coffee and enjoyed the vibe of the place. That afternoon, I started getting sick and by the next day, I had full blown strep throat. He brought me fresh soup, organic tea, vitamins and cough drops and even sat with me and watched TV. He didn't seem so full of himself then and had redeemed himself with the get well gifts so I agreed to another date. Oh, Jesus... Literally. He would not stop talking about Jesus. I mean, Jesus is cool and all but there's a time and place for that conversation and it's not Happy Hour on your second date with someone. It was loud and uncomfortable and controversial. I prayed for our check to come and when it did, I quickly got out of there. Thank you, Jesus! The Friend with Benefits. They make movies about this scenario so we should all know how it goes. Instead we ignore that because our situation is different and "It's not like that..." Bullshit. It is like that. You like him. He likes you. You enjoy spending time together. You wouldn't like it if someone else took his attention away from you and it's likely that he wouldn't like that either. This goes on long enough until you have to have the uncomfortable conversation about "what this is" Word of Advice: Just don't do it. Watch the movie with your best girl friend instead. The San Francisco Treat. I met this guy in a shitty bar in Texas. He looked at me through the fog of cigarette smoke and asked me "What do you want for your life?" It felt like he spoke to my soul. Maybe he did. Maybe it was just the alcohol. Six months later, he was living in San Francisco and I jumped on a plane for a 3 day weekend to explore our connection. We had only shared a few text messages and had not seen each other since that first night in the bar. It was the bravest, possibly stupidest, most exciting thing I have ever done. I will never forget that weekend with him. The way he marveled at life and saw the beauty in everything. I will likely never see or talk to him again. I don't need to. We all cross paths for a reason. We experience connection. We recognize ourselves in others. We learn. It is what we are here to do. A group of fish in the sea is called a school. Maybe there's something to that... Still learning... -Stevi 9/15/2015 0 Comments What I Learned This WeekendThis weekend I spontaneously took a trip to Tyler State Park. Within an hour of getting off work on Saturday, I had found a dog sitter for my pup, bought some snacks, filled up a cooler with beer and ice, threw some clothes and toiletries into my backpack purse (Yes, I carry one of those. I loved them in the 90's and I love them even more now) and we were on our way. These are a few things I learned/relearned this weekend. 1. Coppertone Waterproof Sunscreen is the shit and Deep Woods Off is no joke. I am the sunscreen queen and mosquitos love me. Mermaids are used to being under water so we burn easily and that shit sucks. I've decided that mosquitos are little vampire bastards and they like to suck my blood. I am happy to say that I came home without a sunburn and I don't have West Nile. 2. Sometimes no plans are the best plans. Everything about my work life is scheduled. I know what my day will look like every hour on the hour for about the next 4 weeks. I can tell with a quick glance at my appointment book if I'll have time for a yoga class, whether or not I'll have a lunch break that day or if I'll be off early enough for Happy Hour. I have dates marked for trips, weddings, parties and concerts. It's nice to be this organized but it is also very liberating on my days off to do whatever the f*ck I want, whenever the f*ck I want. There is freedom in that. When you have no plans, you have no expectations and you can allow things to just happen naturally. 3. You can turn anything into a taco. I brought along a package of roasted chicken lunch meat and a container of store bought potato salad. There's nothing quite like a lunch meat & potato salad roll up on a beautiful day sitting next to a lake with a handsome guy. Try it sometime. 4. A kayak is quite possibly the most peaceful form of transportation. There's a first time for everything and I was a kayak virgin. I sat up front and Drew sat behind me. (I think the person in back has to do the most work.) The trees that surrounded the lake were gorgeous. The breeze felt amazing and it was so quiet out on the water. It forced me to silence my mind. I could have stayed out there for hours. Very cool experience! 5. There is something truly magical about a sky full of stars. I grew up in the country but I now live in the city and you just don't see stars here. This weekend was a New Moon. The moon is not actually visible on a New Moon which makes the sky that much darker and the stars that much brighter. I don't know much about stars and constellations but I do know that looking up at the vast sky and seeing all of those stars shining down on me was incredible. I saw 3 shooting stars that night. I felt like Simba in The Lion King trying to make sense of it all. I had an amazing weekend with new experiences and I was reminded again how important it is to be open and why I have that longing for adventure. Hiking, swimming, kayaking, drinking beer, gazing at stars, good conversations and reconnecting with Mother Nature. That's the good stuff. 9/8/2015 1 Comment My Labor of Love on Labor Day"You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with" -Jim Rohn. I think he's got it right. I don't know much about the guy except that he's the author of The Art of Exceptional Living which I've never read but maybe I should someday since he seems to know what's up. I'm dog sitting at my friend Katy's house this morning. As I was sitting here drinking my coffee, I just looked around me. Katy is quite possibly the most creative friend I have. She has an extremely vivid imagination and can create anything. A piece of furniture, a piece of art, the inspiration for her next tattoo, an idea for a children's book, an eclectic outfit. She's a true artist (whether she knows it or not) and she inspires me. This got me thinking about that quote and the other 4 people I surround myself with. Who are they and why am I drawn to them? Megan. She is hard to put into words. She is calm. She is wild. She keeps me grounded and helps me find clarity. She is up for adventure and always down for a good time. She feels connected to the ocean and the desert as well. She is balance. She is love. She is my best friend. Whitney. She's a fashionista hippie chick if there is such a thing. She has a gypsy soul and an open mind and I love her for it. We tell everyone we met in a bar and she took me back to her place on the first night. That's the truth. Best drunken decision I've ever made. Meagan. I guess you could say we were almost sister in laws. She had a baby with one brother and I married the other. Everything happens for a reason so maybe they were just the connection we needed for our friendship. She seeks adventure just like I do. Whether it's a trip around the world, a long drive with the windows down and the radio up or trying everything on the menu at a super sketchy Chinese restaurant, she's always down for whatever. Drew. I've found myself spending more time with this guy lately. When I try to think of words that describe him, I realize that they are the very things that draw me to my closest girlfriends. Creative, grounded, open minded, adventurous. They say you should surround yourself with people who reflect the person you want to be. If this is true and Jim Rohn is right, then these are qualities I possess as well or atleast desire to. There are plenty of people I didn't mention who play absolutely vital roles in my life. You know who you are. We have laughed and cried together. We've stayed up all night and talked about everything from the meaning of life to our crazy shananigans. We've shared secrets and dreams and each other's clothing. I've shared my sandwich with you. Maybe even let you sleep in my bed. I am grateful for each and every one of you. Happy Labor Day! Love, Stevi |