Cordially Cara

Heading home for the holidays to meet your latest beau's parents? Yikes. Bonne chance.

For some concrete advice with a good dash of humour, Cara Lehocki is back at the keyboard again, bringing us more tips and tricks for mess-free living... or at least making an attempt at it!

How to Meet the Parents.
By Cara Lehocki

Well it’s that time of year again, Christmas tunes are playing on the radio, snow is falling outside, and our exams are finishing up as we prep ourselves for another Christmas. This season could typically be a stress free break from all things academic and give us an opportunity to bake a few treats a la Martha Stewart style. For some of us this may be the case while some of you are in mere panic mode mentally preparing yourself for what could be the most uncomfortable social setting, yes I am talking about meeting his or her parents for the first time.

So you met a cute boy or girl in one of your classes, things have been going well and guess what...they want to take you home for Christmas to meet the good old rents! I have been there and let me tell you I tried to do everything right but ended up doing everything wrong. Last Christmas I dashed around town trying to find the perfect outfit, wine, chocolates and homemade card (which I remade and destroyed four times until I was satisfied with its level of perfection). Then I drove my nerve racked self over to the boys house (for his protection we will call him McDreamy). I was in that house less than 5 minutes when I somehow managed to smack my teeth into McDreamy’s chin, split it open so deep we had to go to the emergency room and spent the entirety of the evening in the hospital getting McDreamy’s chin stitched back together(for those of you wondering we were just dancing and goofing around in the kitchen. Ha!). We missed the dinner they had made for us and we missed the Christmas concert they had bought us all tickets to. My worst fear happened- I ruined Christmas, Yes I really did.

It is always nerve racking the first time you meet the parents so follow these few tips so you don’t do what I did last year..ie-make a horrible first impression.

Dress Appropriately:
This is not the time to show off your curves or new micro mini skirt. Don’t change your style but air on the side of conservative yet fashionable.

Easy on the Wine:
One tends to over drink when they are nervous. There is nothing worse than someone asking you a question about your family and your response is “Oh yes I would LOVE some more wine”. Remember they are trying to get to know YOU, not the silly sloppy you.

Contribute to the Conversation:
It is not enough to look cute and act sweet. Show them you are intelligent and opinionated, they want to see what attracted their son or daughter to you.

Bring a Gift:
It doesn’t have to be something crazy or expensive, just a small thank you for the meal, generally wine or a dessert works well.

Stick Around:
Always offer to help clean up and try not to run away after the meal. If they want to hang out with you to play cards or watch a movie do it, plus it may help ease your nerves and allow you to feel more yourself.

Now I am clearly no expert as my invitation to McDreamys Christmas family affair 2009 is still pending, and my title to this day remains “vampire girl” which I may never be able to redeem. But Despite my self-deprecating humour all I wish to do is pass the little wisdom I have accumulated from experience to those who find themselves in similar positions.

I bid you good luck on all your Christmas pursuits!
Cara “Vampire Girl” Lehocki

Cordially, Cara

Please join me in welcoming a new talent to our Romantic pages,
Miss Cara Lehocki.
Comin' at you from the East Coast (N-B, to be particular) Cara brings us a healthy dose of reason in the crazy world of DIY beauty.

A fringe to Cringe at-how NOT to cut your bangs
By Cara Lehocki

Lets forget about getting ready for a moment and remember something a little more crucial...how not to get ready, or in this specific case how not to cut your own fringe. Yes I admit this is not the first time I thought myself to be a talented hair cutter, there was that time in kindergarten, oh and grade 2.. and who can forget the 6th grade bang catastrophe...

And yet, here I am, all grown up, a mature university student...
who has yet to learn her lesson.

Living in a small town, I often find myself utterly bored and to say the least “city-sick”. The options on how to spend a Friday night are....well, less than inspiring, and one must learn to be resourceful in times of drought! Which is why I had the brilliant idea of cutting myself a stylin' straight across fringe. Right? Wrong!

I did my research (a few less than helpful YouTube videos posted by less than helpful girls who also had nothing to do on a Friday night). Borrowed someone’s scissors (which only now I realize may not have been actual hair-cutting scissors) took a long sip of red wine, held my breath and began to cut.

Where did I go wrong?
Let’s just say I did a better job in kindergarten at sculpting the perfect fringe then I did at 21 years old.

Here are some helpful hints if you ever dare to go where only professionally trained hairdressers should go....or if you have a steadier hand then yours truly.

Number one: Iris to Iris!!!! I repeat do NOT cut more hair in front of you face if it is on the OUTSIDE of your eyeballs irises. If one forgets this rule you may end up with what I like to call a “half head fringe”.
Or you could just come out looking like a bowl cut monk.

Number two: make sure hair is dry, not wet, while you are cutting - otherwise they will shrink up after they dry- ew.

Number three: Cut up. What I mean by this is after you make the initial chop at the length you so desire, remember to cut the ends of your hair with the scissors pointing up to the ceiling. This will help them look softer and more natural, unless of course you want the very blunt look which is also quite lovely.

Number four: most importantly one must remember that when they are done they are done! That means put the scissors down and leave them alone! I know the temptation to keep cutting is strong but believe me you will regret it when you cut more off than you were planning.

Lastly remember that it is only hair it will grow out. You can always pin them back if things really get out of hand!

Happy chopping!
Cara