The decision to cut my hair was quick and firm.
Tim was finally feeling better after a terrible bout of allergies and had rekindled his love of fashion and all things style and was researching it all online.
I was so inspired.
It hit me in an instant.
I knew right then and there I wanted to make a change. A big one!
“What think you of me getting a bob?”
“Do it,” he said.
So I pinterested and pinterested and came upon many examples I loved of both cut and color.
Made an appointment for the very next day and lollied up in that salon.
“A choppy A-line bob, please!”
And bob it, she did. She snipped and snapped and fluffed and blew and straightened and curled and lifted and…
VOILA.
A bob I had for the very first time in my life.
Being raised Pentecostal meant I never cut or trimmed my hair until I was 19. And ever since then I’ve never had it above shoulder level.
But I knew! Just in that quick instant. It needed to happen.
Can I say how ADORABLE I feel? I have struggled with long hair literally my entire life. Struggled with it.
Not to mention it’s curly and frizzy to boot. But also kinda thin. And I need height on top to look proper. So… it’s always been a pickle.
But this… THIS! I love it! It’s fantastic!!
I haven’t gotten the color done yet as there was a scheduling booboo. So I go in next week for my first professional balayage treatment. So very excited about that.
In addition to the change of my hair, I’ve started to make shifts in other areas as well.
1. Growing my nails out.
Being on the computer most of the day and/or knitting/crocheting or otherwise working with my hands, I haven’t had long nails since… 3rd grade, perhaps? I cannot, CANNOT stand them. Or I should say, I haven’t been able to stand them. Until now!
Look at those pretties! I intend to keep growing them longer and longer until they break or I get tired of them or whatever. This is huge for me!
2. Designing a knitted triangle shawl.
I’m a crocheter first and foremost. Knitting is more of a challenge for me. So what better to do than to challenge myself further and not only knit a triangle lace shawl, but design one?
So several weeks in, I finished!
It’s purple. It’s shimmering. The color isn’t listed yet but I’ll keep you posted about all the details. Once listed (should go up in May) it’ll be in the Patterns category here.
And I’m starting to just do NEW things in general. Think outside the box! See things differently.
-I drank my coffee black this morning instead of loaded with milk. It was… tasty. Beany. Interesting.
-I’m wearing 3″ suede heels today. My feet hurt. In a good way. I will definitely do this again.
-I’m responding differently to other people. Oh that person doesn’t like what I’m doing? Thank GOD! That’s awesome. They have an opinion. I have an opinion! It’s all good! Life is SO good!
-Reading books that make me a wee bit uncomfortable.
Yes.
At the library the other day, I saw this book and immediately felt I should read it. But I read the back and had weird feelings come up and I knew it was time to push through those feelings, allow them up and out and read something that made me feel a bit uncomfortable.
The Surrender Experiment: My Journey into Life’s Perfection
I HIGHLY… highly recommend this book if you want a fascinating real-life story to get lost in. It describes the astronomical growth of his business, which I love, along with his decision to surrender to life. I couldn’t put it down.
So I read his other book:
The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself
WOW. Mind-blown. I tried to savor this one and read it slowly but I couldn’t help myself and plowed through pretty quickly as well. If you’ve gotten tired of the incessant chatter in your head…the endless insanity going on in your brain, then you’ll enjoy this book.
Get them both and devour them.
Fascinating.
Life changing.
Really.
Life changing.
Alright, now I’m off to plan my next crochet project. I’m thinking something wacky and funky and meditative. 😀 What does that even mean???
We’ll see, I suppose.
Wish me luck as tomorrow I’ll be running the Wanderlust 5 kg (a mindful/meditation/yoga 5 kg kinda thing) with my pal, Gemma. And I’m riding the train there (for the first time!!). We’ll see how that goes!
Onward to more fun and change and growth!
Chandi
You are a doll! Good for you to stretch and grow! BTW:you have a darling figure, no wonder…you are a runner!??
You go girl! Change is always a great thing. Good luck tomorrow.
Good luck on your run!! I enjoyed hearing about all that you shared! Your hair is a fun length! I’m glad you tried something different. We all need change at times. While I was growing up my Mother loved Pixie cuts for my sister and I so short hair is OUT for me, no matter how old I am haha! The books you read sound very interesting. I don’t read enough. 🙂
Chandi, just this morning I came across a FB posting for a knitting organization and I was actually laughing out loud at the fun this group was having…the knitting organization is knittingknockers.org… yep these ladies actually 102 global knitting clubs knit and some crochet breast prosthesis for those who cannot wear the heavy prescription silicone jobbies. And I immediately thought of you.. this group makes them and donates the ‘knockers’ to hospitals who give them out free. Also any woman who needs them can also just contact the organization directly and they too are free. I was thinking that perhaps you could feature a special “charity yarn club at some point… maybe this group, the Linus blanket group, the First Responder Bear Group and Wear Red for Women’s Heart Health, (our local group here knits red newborn and preemie hats for all the February babies born cause Mommies need strong hearts.) Perhaps folks willing to knit and crochet would be interested in trying your delightful yarns and these donations would be even more special. I even think this would be a good use for your Oopsy or The Tangled Skeins, because in making the bears or the knockers all the yarn really has to be is soft, and washable…you don’t necessarily need matching dye lots and one could knit around a knot and still have plenty of yarn to complete them. The Knitted Knockers website has all the details, the free patterns, they will even seam them if one uses the flat two needle pattern instead of the DPNs. Plus any resources if a woman customer might need a knocker or two! If I’m going to knit for charity, it would be such a treat for me once in awhile to knit with luxury yarn running through my fingers and bouncing off my needles and then give it away… I happen to have some left over Pearlescent Powdered Rose that I may use to make a Rosy Red Knocker… I just crack up thinking about making them… oh but my practical sense takes over the group says that neutrals by far are most popular.
Oh Chandi, you are just so beautiful !!! I was raised Pentecostal, too, but have NEVER heard of not trimming or cutting my hair until I was 18, yikes, what church did you go to girl???? Anyway, you look fabulous dawling ! You are so sweet and I would love to meet you someday. Hugs & love…..
Deb K.
United Pentecostal church!
UPC, Same here. When I moved out for college and snipped at dead ends for years before I took the plunge and did a bob. It felt so freeing. I don’t stay with it, but go back to it as a welcome to summer as it warms up. Now, It’s been a few years and I still haven’t learned the makeup skills you rock in your photos but friends have promised to teach me. Your inner beauty shines with and without them. Congrats on the changes and enjoy the journey!
Love the haircut… and your outlook on things.
You go, girl!
P.S., it looks like your right shoulder is lower than your left one in the front on pic with the white tee…..when I notice that on me or my hubby notices, I get right to my chiropractor for an adjustment & my massage therapist for alignment….just something I noticed and wanted to help. Hugs & love.
Deb K.
Just started The Untethered Soul !!!
Love the new “bob” !!
Change is growth !!
Have a great weekend !
I highly recommend Sally Hansen Dimond strength base coat for growing and strengthening nails. I use it all the time either by itself or as a base. Try it.
My brother always said, “When a woman changes her hairstyle, there’s alot of other changes going on, inside and out.” That is true for you! I love your yarn, your website, your super quick responses to my email questions, and you, for with your blog you are showing the world what a beautiful person you are all around!
Change can open the door to new opportunities . You took the first step in getting the courage to be willing to accept change . That is very hard to do. So now you were often running to new possibilities and learning new things. Plus you are taking baby steps. Kudos all around!!!!
Oh thank you!
Wow! Chandi! You look a m a z I n g!! I love the first pic you have posted above. To me it smacks of your personality! Love it.
I just started a new diet today. I’m tired of feeling like I’m dragging a whole other person around with me. Soooo, so far so good!? I need to get into shape so I can enjoy Disney World this summer with my grandchildren, ages 10 , 6, and 2!
Good luck tomorrow in the marathon!?
Love ya girl! Karen A.
So awesome!! That is great. Keep me posted on your progress and have a great trip!
I LOVE your new hair Chandi! It fits your fun and spunky personality so well.
You look amazing.
Have a great run! Love and miss you!
Love and miss you too!! Thank you!
Chandi you have been such an inspiration to me.
Wow, words are all fighting to burst out of me. I want to go on and on about the parallels I see in our lives. But this is not the place. So I will simply say…Amen Sister!! ❤️
Can you post a pic of the back of your hair? I have an A-line bob after 30 years of long hair and I’m trying to figure out cute ways to do the back. I have a funky curl in my hair and all bobs I see are straight.
Thanks for inspiring me to create, create beautiful yarn yummies, create words, create a better me!!! ❤️
Thank you so much! Yes, I will try to get a photo of the back for you!
Your hair cut is cute. Love listening to you talk in your blog. It never feels like reading because you share your personal thoughts.
Thanks.
I agree with the other ladies. I am new to your site. It did not take long for me to know you are a kind, fun, wonderful woman. Love your new hair style. Wish I had a slim body like you and of course love your yard.
Chandi, you are so inspiring to me!! Thank you so much for posting your encouraging words for me to read. You bring light into my life. I would love to meet you. Your hair looks amazing!! It looks so cute! I love your hair color, too. I just got mine cut too, except it’s the second time it’s been short. I have these two big braids in a bag. That shawl pattern looks so gorgeous!! I can’t wait for it to come out! When will the crocheted shawl (the one that looked like a butterfly) be coming out? It looked amazing. (I’ll definitely read The Surrender Experiment and The Untethered Soul if my mom says yes!!)
Much love,
Shannon
Shannon, that crocheted shawl should hopefully be available in either May or June! Thank you!
Chandi,
With your new hair, you look confident and as though nothing can hold you back. Lovely photos from Tim as always. In these, he captured a look in your face of determination and liberation. You also look as though you are ready to take on any challenge. Congrats on your run. Growing up in a family with a small business, I can appreciate how much time and energy it takes to make it successful. Congrats also to making that dream come true!
First of all hats off to you and to your work.with long hair you looked sober but this bob cut just gave you a new personality and we saw a new chandi.you look amazing!!!thank you for recommending the books.thank you for inspiring me and giving me hope.thank you for everything.
Chandi, you look adorable!! Love the haircut! I’m very happy for you with all the changes you’re experiencing! You are a lovely, beautiful, enchanting person! And I and a lot of other people love you! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Love the new hair style!! You’re adorable and always look fantastic!! I am so happy to have stumbled across your videos and site. Love love love it all!! Keep up the great work and inspiring us all to live life to the fullest, love our crafting and creating and just loving ourselves! Looking forward to more blog posts and seein the beautiful patterns you design. Have a wonderful weekend ?
I love your new haircut! It is fantastic and fun! Love your inspiration to all of us! Cindy