Monday, October 02, 2006

This Week: Variations on a Theme.

On Halloween:

Peter, Karolina and I love Halloween. A lot! It has turned out to be one of my favorite holidays here in the States. It is so much fun to see all the decorated and decked out houses this time of the year, and of course to see all the dressed up kids on Halloween night. I love it, so much. Needless to say, Karolina loves Halloween too, and as the little actress that she is she loves dressing up. But ,you guys, it is so incredible hard to get a decent costume for a 10 year old girl. I don't want her to dress up as "Tina, the little tease" or as "Bella Cheerleader". Karolina has never been much of a girlie-girl and she has always despised being a princess or a bride. Hey, fine with me! She does not have to be a little lady as far as I am concerned. Actually I'd rather want her to see through all the fluff, and that she does. Today we were out in Dulles Town Center to pick out her costume. Sadly enough we did not find a thing...All the costumes they had in the Halloween store were either cheerleader costumes or sexy little vampires. Give me a break! There is no way that I am buying something like that. Karolina wants to be something scary, but not with a mask on her face. She wants to show her face, and she wants make-up on. Scary, scary make-up, of course. So, since we did not find anything today we have to continue our search for the perfect costume. Maybe we'll find something good, and scary, NOT sexy at Party City or at Target. We can only hope.

On Mens Hair Salons:

Yesterday I found a funny article in "The Post" that really had me laughing. Hard! It was about hair salons for men, or THE new kind of hair salons where the stylist will be nothing but sexy while the men get their buzz cuts. I wrote about it in Swedish yesterday in the post below this one. All I can say is "congratulations" to all the lucky men in Northern Virginia! Now you can go and get your hair-cut and get your eye candy, too! Have your hair cut by a young lady dressed in a bikini-top and a sarong. That, my man, is something to look forward to. Hallelujah, there HAS to be a God!
One of the owners of this salon were quoted saying; "Life is too short for an ugly barber."
Amazing quote! So, by all means, all guys should definitely go to "Paradise Cuts" in Fairfax, Virginia! These new salons for men will do for hair salons what Starbucks did for coffee. That is just awesome for today's busy man!! I am so happy for you, with a huge bit of sarcasm.

On Tweenies:

It is sort of scary to be mom to a "Tweenie". A Tweenie sees everything, and she is very observant of new trends and looks. Luckily we have raised our own tweenie not to "buy in to" everything she sees. But it is not easy when the world is full of botox'ed, silicon-boobie-blondes that are skinnier than skinny with huge boobs. Can a real woman REALLY look like that? And have those pouty lips? No, girl, she cannot. I think it is so important to explain that fact again and again for a young girl, and for a young boy too for that matter. Hey, maybe it is even more important to explain it to a boy. What you see is not true. What you see is fake, air-brushed, lifted, lipo-sucked, botox'ed, silicon'ed and collagen'ed. I think we have to point that out for our tweenies over and over again.
And then we have cheerleaders (sigh)...One of my hate-objects. I have such a hard time watching sports when I see the skimpy little cheerleaders jumping and shouting in the front. What is the REASON behind the sexy cheerleaders? Again, eye candy for the man that is watching the sport. American Football is full of them...Dallas cowboy's cheerleaders are about as famous as the team they are cheering for, and here in DC we have the "Redskinettes"...Please, let me go out and puke for a second..All right, I am back. But, that is not the worst. No the worst is when I see the "little Redskinettes" on the Thanksgiving parade up in Reston Town Center every year. WHY do parents do that to their 3 year old daughters???? WHY???
I am sure Peter doesn't mind cheerleaders, but I DO!

My Goodness, I am on a roll here. I'd better get a hold of myself...Next week, let's talk about movies, music or TV-series...I promise!!!

14 comments:

Keith said...

Sure, being a guy I don't mind football cheerleaders or women who cut my hair wearing nothing but a bikini! However, I don't watch football games because of the cheerleaders; it's because I enjoy the game. And I wouldn't change my barber just because one down the street features scantily-clad women. It's hard enough to find a decent barber even for men. And you know men hardly ever change for the sake of change no matter what else is out there. That being said, I do agree that the image of women as eye candy is pervasive. It does start at a young age, not only in magazines but in the other options girls have. Encouraging girls to join the cheerleading team or wear seductive outfits at a young age sends a message to them that being eye candy for men is a totally acceptable image to convey. It is good, though, that Karolina is stating her independence by not picking a costume off the rack so to speak, that she wants something unique. She is also forming her individual identity in the activities in which she participates like acting. You are doing a fine job in encouraging her not to follow the masses and determine the image she want to convey not only for herself but also to others.

Annika said...

Keith: What? you are not watching football because of the cheerleaders??? No,just kidding.
Yes, the mens salon is about the worst I have ever heard, to be honest. It is like an extremely BAD joke. I hope they will fail, big time.

Anonymous said...

I know how you have always "trigged" karolina on how to hate cheerleaders...You go girl!

Swede-gal

Annika said...

Swede-gal: Not sure if I know who you are, but you are very right! I have always encouraged K not to be impressed by cheerleaders, so true!

Anonymous said...

Hi Love, The bikini barbers are too much but I like how they are starting to cater to men. If a barbershop had large screen TVs with sports and started serving cocktails all for the same price haircut, I would switch in a heartbeat. I just want that extra attention.

I am happy that Karolina is not too influenced by what the media deems as important for women. I always encourage her to try different things so she doesn't develop a narrow view of the world. Being her father, I do enjoy when she shows her tomboy side. Okay back to work. love, Pebo

Annika said...

Pebo: Yeah, sure you think it is nice being pampered with a drink, or two, while at the hair salon. Then you can say bye-bye to hair cuttery...:-)
Love!

Anonymous said...

I hate to see Karolina dressed & made up to look so scary. I can barely stand to look at her with all the "blood dripping" from her mouth, etc. She is such a pretty little girl, it looks like she would enjoy being a princess or something else feminine. I'm sorry that she doesn't but it is HER decision & none of my business. Now I think I know why she did not particularly like the Disney costumes we got for her at Disney World years ago.
Sometimes Halloween is a chance for people to dress up & try out a role they might want to see how they like.
In any case, as you know, I don't like Halloween & do as little as possible (buying candy for trick or treaters). I'm sorry, but I was brought up that way. I DO enjoy Suzy's wonderful Halloween parties. I DO like fall & carmel apples, etc. so can enjoy the holiday for those reasons. No biggie. I love you all & want you to have fun & I don't really care how you dress for Halloween!

Annika said...

Margo: I KNOW!!! You are right! About those dresses! BUT to tell you the truth she wears them every once in a while, especially when she has friends over and they play dress-up.
I also know that you are not as Halloween crazy as this B family is ;-))
Be prepared to see a scary little girl this year again. Scary girl, but o so sweet!

Anonymous said...

I have to say that I can't imagine how those bikini-clad girls will like cutting hair if they are worried about their breasts falling out and in the dead of winter. Who would want to work there? Maybe strippers who went to cosmetology school! I think this gimmick will probably not work -- men are more interested in convenience when it comes to haircuts. However, Hooters did work, so maybe this will too. On another note, I like Halloween too. I just hate having to get the whole costume thing worked out. It is always such a headache and I start thinking about it in July! Who knows what the kids want to be this year -- no doubt it will be impossible to find in a store. Sam has already said he wants to be a safari expedition leader -- because he hates poachers and he is really into protecting endangered species right now. That should be a fun costume to find in Target! In addition no one in my family ever just wants to be Superman or Spiderman -- why not?!

Annika said...

Melinda: Yes, yes...Hooters did work, and it works well. So, who the heck knows about these new hair cutteries for men? Maybe it will be the next best thing after Starbucks.
Halloween...Complicated costume for Sam. But I do like the idea he has on being a safari leader. And then I guess it will be no easy task in finding costumes for C or H either. So we all need a little luck in that department.

Suzanne said...

Okay I wrote a comment and it is not showing up so I am going to send this one and see. It's a different one than before. Anyways, I just wanted to say that Hooters is successful because of the draw the attractive staff brings in but also because their wings are good. The hair salon is seriously annoying and a little on the fruity side for me. If Brian switched from his "barber shop" to Paradise Cuts I might worry about it for other reasons than the attractive girls.

Annika said...

Sara: Sara! Nice to have you here, girlfriend!!! Yes, as for now I am writing in English once a week, but who knows? Maybe I can start doing it more often...

Suzy: I've never been to Hooter's. Maybe I should go, just to check the place out? As an experience...
Paradise Cuts...ARRGHH!!!

Suzanne said...

Well this is the third time I have tried to post this comment, here's hoping three's a charm. I love halloween and agree that it is impossible to find a decent costume. If someone started a business making good quality and original costumes, they could make a lot of money! I search online every year with no luck!

Karolina should study costume design as well as acting with her theater pursuits. I bet she would be good at it! Aunt Suzy would love to do her scary make-up sometime! It would be done with Chanel and MAC make-up though not costume shop stuff! (that way she can be scary AND beautiful!)

Annika said...

Suzy: That would be great!!! Scary AND beautiful! Now, that sounds perfect!
Yes, we all have to hunt down the perfect costume for our little ones...