I've been in a slump lately. A really bad, no good, horrible slump. Entire days have passed by with me accomplishing not much of anything. Yes, I realize that just chasing after a three-year old and taking tween kids to various practices and meetings is work in itself. But I know that I've got more in me. We all get the blues sometimes, and what I've been going through may even be considered depression. True to my "baby steps" philosophy, I know that I need to just put one foot in front of the other to take positive steps in the right direction and change the path I'm on.

One thing I decided to do was to give my hair stylist a call and schedule an appointment for a whole new do. It's been months since my last haircut. I really have no excuse because I blog for a fantastic salon and can get nearly any service I want done without paying a dime out of my own pocket. I've simply let things become routine in my life and not taken the energy to step out of that routine. Leaving routine behind is why I started this blog in the first place - to remind myself that it's the "everyday baby steps" that make all the difference. You have to continue making those small changes in order to see any kind of results. So here's the difference you can SEE after taking those steps to the salon.

Here's my crazy before picture, with the frizz and roots growing out from summer. I was trying to let it grow out long. This is actually the longest it's been in awhile. However, I wasn't satisfied with it. I knew that I really preferred to have a shorter, sassy kind of style. So I went with my gut and asked my stylist to chop it. Here's the results.

These pictures show my hair right after getting it done. It's straight because I had a treatment called Brazilian Keratin Treatment, or BKT, done. There is a very expensive version of BKT, which I've blogged about before, but this is simply a maintenance treatment that lasts for 4 - 6 weeks and helps to lessen the frizz. I also got a richer, cinnamon color with blonde highlights done, and I love it!

Here's my new style curly, right after letting it dry. All I did was add some product, scrunch and let air dry most of the way. Then I dryed the rest while scrunching. It's so easy. And it's cute! The back is stacked and adds just the right amount of bounce.

Sorry I couldn't make this bigger, not sure why. I really like the versatility of this cut. Having a new hairstyle makes me feel better about my appearance and gives me the kick I need to choose a nice outfit and put on some makeup. After that, I'm more energetic and ready to face the world. What small changes can you make to change your outlook and energy level? If you can't afford a whole makeover, I totally understand. I wouldn't be able to, either, if I didn't trade out the work for blogging. Is there a hairstylist among your friends or family who could help you? Another possibility is to buy a few accessories to jazz up your wardrobe. Maybe you could take a class at a local community college to learn something new. Or start a new project like a craft or a new blog? Whatever it is, making a small change can totally transform you outlook. I truly recommend it.