30 Day Challenge - April

When I hinted about my April challenge, I had 2 very entertaining phone calls.  They went a little something like this...

Call #1
Me: Hey Mom
Mom: Hi Honey.  I read your last blog post.  [small pause] Um, are you giving up makeup!?
Me: Heck no!
Mom: Oh, okay.  Good.

Call #2
Me: Whazup
BFF: Hey.  I read your blog.  What the *french toast...  Are you give up MAC?
Me: Lord no.  Mom asked me the same thing.  Do you people think I've lost my mind?
BFF: Um...
Me: I'm being frugal and simplifying my life.  I have NOT gone blind.  I'm well aware of what I look like without makeup on.
BFF: Sweet.  Just checking.
Me: No worries.
BFF: So what the *heck are you giving up?
Me: My Chi.
BFF: Why the *heck would you do that?  We're curly-haired-sisters of another mister.  We straighten.  And it takes you like 4 minutes to do your hair.
Me: I know, I know.  And actually it's more like 15 minutes when it cooperates.  20 when it's being difficult.
BFF: It still a heck of a lot faster than mine is.
Me: True, but I'm trying to get out the door faster.  Plus, I have a new curly-haired-sister friendly cut.  It's pretty short.
BFF: Hmm.  I'll just have to see it and then decide.
Me: That's fair.
(*Edited because Courtney cusses like a sailor, and this is a G rated blog.  Plus we don't want Bonnie threatening to wash her mouth out with soap...again.)

Ohmygoodness, I cannot tell you how much I love my BFF, Courtney.  She's so much like me in some ways, it's scary.  And our conversations are quite entertaining.  I'm sure people listening to either side think we're insane.  Which, some days, is totally a legit assumption.  Even accurate at times.

I wish she didn't live a zillion miles from me now.  Well, it's only like 150, but it feels like a zillion most days.  There are just some things that aren't the same over the phone.

So yes, I've given up my Chi flat iron.  OMG, right!?  I was thinking I'd be all energy {read: MONEY} efficient, but turns out the Chi doesn't pull much power really.  Shocking considering it heats up to 350 degrees. 

That brings me to my next point.  350 degrees of daily damage to my hair cannot be a good thing.  Plus, it does take 15-20 to do my hair start to finish.

Enter stage right: Brooke.  Brooke is one of my good friends and she's in cosmetology school.  And, I volunteered to be a human test dummy.  Armed with several inspirations pics, I sat down in her chair and let her go to town.  After 1 "take a tiny bit more of the back" trim, I LOVE my new do.  She's going to be an awesome hairdresser!

The cut is very similar to this:

My hair is a bit curlier than Maggie's, but it still looks good.  Got the Mom and co-worker seal of approval.  These are people I KNOW would tell me if I looked ridiculous.

Bonus?  It takes me 5 minutes...at the MOST!  SCORE!

I'm saving about $53 a year on energy costs, no longer need the $15/0.53oz bottle of hair poofer [Powder Play] which only lasts about 2 months, and I've cut 15 minutes off my morning routine.  I can now get out the door (cranky 7 year old in tow) in less than hour.  Bo-yah.

I have an idea of what I'll give up in May, but I'm not sold on it yet.  Do you guys have any suggestions?  Anything you've given up in exchange for more time or money?  Let's discuss!