Guess what?  Father’s Day is THIS WEEKEND!  I know!  It caught me off guard too.  I’m here today to tell you not to stress.  I have a great idea.   Send your dad, grandfather, or husband to get the ultimate haircut experience.

If your man is anything like Greyson, he was due for a summer cut.  Today we took him to the Hair Saloon for Men in Cary, NC for an early Father’s Day treat.

It was a large and open lobby with lots of “guy stuff”.  I thought Greyson was getting special star treatment because I’m writing this blog post, but I was wrong.  EVERY man who walked in this place was treated fantastic.  He got a cold drink from the cooler before watching ESPN in the lobby and laughing at Charlotte as she chased golf balls on the putting green.  She developed quite the affinity for the John Wayne cutout.  The spitoons that lined the hall cracked me up and fascinated Charlotte.

No one at the Hair Saloon for Men waited long for service.  The staff was quick and courteous.  The stylist was very professional, giving Greyson exactly what he wanted in a cut and shampoo.  She took extra care shaving his neck.  He loved that she made great conversation.  How awkward is it when some hairdresser thinks she’s really witty but annoys the crap out of you?!   Greyson says that has been the case at a lot of other hair salons that target men.

His experience was topped off with a hot towel and a mint.  Your guy can get a shoulder or scalp massage.  Greyson said he felt relaxed and comfortable there.  He said that other places force the whole “manly-man-guyness” down your throat.  Greyson said the Hair Saloon for Men reminded him of the old Barber Shop where he used to go with his dad as a kid, but with a modern twist.

Greyson even got a complementary shoe shine while he held his little girl.  She was fascinated by Chris.  He is a local high school student and totally adorable.  I love businesses that employ local teens.  Charlotte had to give him a high-five after making her Daddy’s shoes look brand-new.

I had a handsome, happy Hubby after our trip.  He says he’ll be going back on Friday afternoons when he gets off work early.  He says it will be some good time for just him.

Find a Hair Saloon for Men near you.  They have locations all over.  Take your man this Father’s Day!  Let me know how it goes!  Have any of you been there before?  How was your experience?

Disclaimer: Hair Saloon for Men was kind enough to sponsor this post.  They are awesome and made this a good Father’s Day!  

We spent much of our weekend prepping our house to be “staged” to sell it.  Blech!  I hate that term.  I’m not getting rid of our pictures.  That’s ridiculous.

Side note:  Don’t cook fish the weekend you’re preparing your house.

When we decorated the nursery we painstakingly made the perfect space for our girl.  As much as I’m ready to move I will miss that little room.  It’s by far my favorite spot in the house with it’s pink and yellow walls and throwback pictures from my own youth.  I packed away tiny newborn clothes and stashed the changing pad before stacking the bookshelf on the dresser.

Suddenly it became less a nursery and more of a little girl’s room.  It was all at once a sad and thrilling thing to leave the space where she spent her babyhood and go somewhere else to begin childhood.

We have to let you in on a not so subtle secret.  This is our POD.  I’ve named it Todd.

Why do we have this monstrosity parked in our driveway?  Because WE WANT TO MOVE!!!!  We are busting at the seams in our little townhouse here in Raleigh.  It was perfect 7 years ago when we moved in.  Greyson and I were over-the-moon newlyweds when we found a place with hardwood floors and a first floor Master Bedroom.  It’s a great house and we  have loved living here.  We have the worlds greatest neighbors with whom we developed lifelong friendships and a rather exclusive clique.

We’ve done a lot of drinking, sledding, and drinking with our friends.  We  babysit each other’s dogs and children.  We just love them.  They call us “Greymy” and our daughter “Baby Greymy.”  We’ll be so sad to leave them.  The good news is we won’t be going far.  Last weekend we went to the new house of the first couple to leave the neighborhood.  So, it’s not that big of a deal.  We just won’t be able to stop by for chats before dinner.

We’ve packed the Pod and will spend this weekend scrubbing, sorting, stashing, and replacing light bulbs.  (While our neighbors babysit, naturally)  We’ve met with the mortgage lender and the realtor.  We’ve already starting looking and falling in love with houses.  (Stupid!  Stupid!  Stupid!)

All right, ya’ll!  In about a week, come buy our house!

See this cute little potty?  Well folks, be glad it’s closed because MY KID CRAPPED IN IT TODAY!  Woo Hoo!  We’re so freakin’ proud.  We’ll have a little celebration tomorrow night.  Maybe some ice cream, or bran muffins.  You know, something to encourage more bowel movements.

We understand it will be slow-going since she’s only 19-months, but we’re excited.  (Oh wow.  Did you catch that explainabrag?  Sorry.  I’ve learned parents can do that.)

I’m pretty sure my daughter experienced the toddler-equivilent of a tween going to a Justin Beiber concert or my mom and her friends going to a Barry Manilow show.

It was our first Sesame Street Live.

Yes, we paid to watch grownups wear mascot costumes and dance on stage to tunes catchier than I care to admit.  (Don’t tell me you don’t sing along to the theme song if you’re between the ages of 25 and 40.  You remember old school Sesame Street as much as I do.)  

We kept telling Charlotte she was “going to see Elmo,” but I don’t think it really sunk in until the lights went out and the curtain rose on Big Bird center stage.  Her eyes grew wide and she squealed and pointed.  All the characters were introduced.  The tension built until the king himself was revealed.  It was like an Elvis sighting for Charlotte when Elmo took the stage.  We had great seats down low and the show did a great job of keeping a pace that kept her attention.

At intermission the marketing machine that is the “Sesame Street Empire” came out with merchandise.  Take a look at these balloons and take a guess at how much they cost.

The man seated next to us was with his pregnant wife and their son who I predicted to be about 3 1/2.  They were a very typical family in this crowd.  I asked him, “Sir, if you don’t mind me asking, how much was that balloon?”  Ready for this?  $10!  $10 for a freakin’ mylar balloon!  When he told me that I chuckled and said, “Oh, okay.  Well my daughter may just have to admire your son’s balloon.”  He laughed and said his son didn’t get one at Charlotte’s age either.

Many more experienced parents were envious of our child being too little to beg for overpriced souvenirs.  The family in front of us with a 4 and a 6 year-old gave us some tips for navigating intermission.  We didn’t need much advice because she was so happy.  Charlotte loved the show.  She ate snacks and danced along.  It was a great day.  I soaked up the moment of Elmo being her hero before some obnoxious boy band is.

Oh yeah, she took a killer nap afterwards.  Thanks Elmo!