Thursday Highlights

Every three weeks I visit a cute salon for my short "Jack McFarland" haircut. As a former military officer, once the hair even remotely touches my ear, it's time for a trim! I'm all about low maintenance. The salon is located in Salisbury - an affluent neighborhood with a fancy country club on one end and a swank golf course on the other. Since The Simple Laugh launched less than a month ago, I wanted to take advantage of my hair appointment and use it as an opportunity to market one of my most popular products - the "Flower Pot Mug". So, I planted an indoor plant in a mug and with the salon owner's permission, I placed it on the counter with my business cards. I made sure it was a plant that needed only "low light" so it wouldn't require too much attention on their part. I took one step back, cocked my little head sideways, and stared at the placement of the mug and cards, then hoped that the display will interest clients in their tennis skirts and plaid golf sweater vests.

It was my turn next. Would it be low lights or highlights for my "Just Jack!" hairstyle?...a typical decision for the beginning of each summer. Hmmm... This time, I decided on ALL LIGHT...all blond...something crazy to reflect my crazy idea to resign from my government job after 15 years and start my own business in these less than delightful economic times. Needless to say, my hairdresser was excited, as she sports a different outgoing style and color each time I see her.

Phase One: Pour on the Clorox! After which, I sat under the HOT dryer while my head was surrounded with an odor similar to the one in my laundry room when I'm washing whites. Result: No more distinguished grey hair...I am completely blond! I look like comic book "Richie Rich" - minus all of the money.

Phase Two: Another toxic concoction to tone down the color, so I don't scare small children. Between the bleach and the toner, I'm buzzed...at 11 AM...alcohol not included. I try to stand up from the sink and almost fall over. Result: I can hardly stand and I look like a candidate for Hitler's Aryan race with my white skin, blue eyes, and my toned-down blond hair - minus the swastika, of course!!

Phase Three: In my hairdresser's own words: "Now, let's cut it all off!" Wait a minute...I'm paying for all of that color and now it's going to end up on the floor in less than 60 seconds? I'm in the wrong business! The hair begins to fly and it all starts to come together...the eye-catching color...the trendy style. Result: I'm stoked! I look like Pink - minus the seductive, little outfits, fish net stockings, ...oh, and the ability to sing while dripping wet, suspended in the air like something out of Cirque de Soleil.

There you have it. Low light for the plant in the Flower Pot Mug, and all light for its creator! Now, I need a tan.

The End. And Scene.

~The Simple Blonde...jodi

The Simple Solution

If you are interested in purchasing any items from thesimplelaugh.com in bulk, please contact us for a discounted rate. Imagine Problem #1: You're invited to so many weddings this summer, but you won't have the time or the energy to creatively choose gifts for each happy couple. The Simple Solution: Merely purchase Coffee Scoops from The Simple Laugh at a discounted bulk rate! Not only are they beautifully hand-crafted 100% pewter (appropriate as an elegant wedding gift), they are packaged in a Tiffany-style gift box along with a satin gift bag.

At the same time, we also offer custom-made orders. Imagine Problem #2: Your softball team is in desperate need of new team shirts with a fresh design...ones that do not show the stains of defeat any longer. The Simple Solution: join a bowling team instead? I think not. Contact us for personalized service to create noticeable, trendy shirts that will distract the other teams! Besides, you can't work on your tan while bowling indoors.

With that said, please support our small business and keep us in mind for any bulk or custom-made orders. Thank you!

Side Note: During my 10+ years as the manager for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) store, I created many unique, custom-made designs for the employees. And, what was the biggest selling item? The "Survivor" T-shirt that I designed in recognition of our agency changing its name for the third time. (Years later the agency changed its name for the FOURTH time!)

If you're reading this, Mark Burnett...I want to know why you haven't yet chosen me for "Survivor". Give me 39 days and I'll help you with your ratings!

The Tribe Has Spoken.

~Jodi

Adventures in Trail Running

After two consecutive days packaging/shipping orders and creating personalized custom-made items (which I will talk about more in my next post!), I really needed to get outside with nature yesterday. So I put on my athletic gear, harness my Jack Russell Terrier (Biscuit), hop in the Jeep, and head to the park for a trail run. It's the middle of the day and already 85 degrees...in May. Welcome to Virginia.


We arrive at the park, walk to the head of the trail and begin our 3.5 mile run. A quarter of a mile into the run, I start to realize how loose my shorts are...You know, the mesh shorts that you've worn so many times that there is absolutely no elastic left in the waist band! (But they're cozy and still in style, so it's all good.) As I run over large stones, fallen branches and exposed tree roots, I'm pulling up every side of my 20-year-old shorts in an attempt to keep them on. It was becoming SO daunting! I don't know what was wearing me down more?...Heat exhaustion, focusing on not falling, or continuously hiking up my drawers!


Now don't forget, while I'm handling the shorts situation with my left hand, I'm also holding the leash of a hyper Jack Russell with my right hand. Foreshadow. So the run continues, as "Focus. Focus. Focus." is in my mind, while "Squirrel. Squirrel. Squirrel." is, of course, in Biscuit's tiny Beetlejuice head. Twenty minutes into "the situation", as I *should have expected*...a squirrel dashes right out in front of us! @#*!! Needless to say, Biscuit nearly RIPS my arm right out of its socket in pursuit of the ballsy, little trail rodent. I finally regain control of the pup and continue to run, but realize that I've been running with my shorts around my knees, which end up in seconds around my ankles. And, there's an older gentleman behind me with his dog. Of course, there is. Super. You're welcome, Sir, for the free show of my white Joe Boxers.


Not as funny as this past Fall when Biscuit jumped out of the window of the *moving* Jeep when I told her to look at the bu-bu-she-she as we passed a farm! ("Bu-bu-she-she" is our word for sheep.) Even so, I wanted to share my lovely experience with all of you.

The End.
And Scene.

Now, back to business, Jodi! Focus. Focus. Focus.