Wash Wash Here, Wash Wash There

So today we got a full taste of how these core classes are going to be. Some days we're going to combine with the other core class to make a long lesson be easier on both of the instructors - Most of the morning was note taking on a thing called Forward Focus, a thing about another thing and the thing system that's made to focus more on the positives about the day so we don't end up being complete grumps all the time. We're still human and some bad days will still occur, but I find it to be a system to be rather helpful when it comes to a day looking a little grim. I kind of like to associate it with a quote from Disney; "Keep Moving Forward."

After handwritten notes, it was time for handout notes. This time they were about parts of the hair, types of hair, and even the anatomy of the skull. Turns out we need to know the anatomy that way we can determine how to give a proper haircut depending on a customer's bone structure!

Those took a while to do as well, and then it was time for our first hands on learning: Washing hair! Yay!

Before going into the Wash House (an enclosed area with washing sinks and calm music), we were taught how to properly drape people. There's the single drape, with just one towel, and the double, with two. The double is more used for hair dyes and other chemicals and a single is used for shampooing and haircuts. After a demonstration, it was time for a race game to see who's class could drape the fastest. We won :3

Finally at the Wash House, I used a double during my turn to wash hair, though, because I felt it would be more comfortable for my classmate (I even asked, it's okay to do that.). Those porcelian sinks can sure hurt the side of one's head without any comfort whatsoever to cushion it! It turned out washing hair was really fun to do and I got it done properly, as well as letting my partner do mine, too.

Then it was time for learning proper blow drying and styling practice with some of our new brushes. Said classmate and I decided that it would be fun to try and straighten each other's hair as well, so we tried it out. It was a lot of fun to do!

Tomorrow we're doing braiding :)

Finally There

So today was my first day at Paul Mitchell! I was so excited that I needed sleep aids last night so I could at least fall asleep.

Of course today's weather had to be absolutely ridiculous. Snow and a horrid windchill with a dash of fog. Nevada, make up your mind!

I got there 45 minutes before school even started and those 45 minutes went by painfully slow.

It was this empty for at least a good 30 of that 45.
Oh lookie here, what was on my chair?
And on my desk! BOOKSTUFF!

It was nice to meet some of my classmates one by one, though! I think I'm the youngest one in the room by around a good 2 to 4 years...

For the first hour, the entire student body was in the room. PM calls it a Powwow and it occurs every Tuesday morning to discuss how our past week went and what victories we achieved. It was incredibly inspiring to focus on the positives from everyday.

After that it was more of any other old first day of school: Sign here, you're agreeing to this, time for the Name Game, etc. Most of us just kept eyeing the cardboard boxes on one side of the room because we just wanted our kits already and wanted to explore! Our patience started to run thin during lunch; WE WANT THE KITS.

As the day went by, we went over cirriculum, again, like any other first day of school. But then we found out something cool: The hands on stuff starts right away! The first half of the day, we're in class for our core courses, and the rest of the day is a pattern of hands on with manniquin heads and some other splashes of core classes.

I expected to type out this huge story as to how my day went, but other than being a fun first day of a new adventure, it was very full of paper and cardboard, not much else. Maybe I'll type a little entry with every new lesson! Tomorrow's a first lesson on the basics: Shampoo.

I think this was a good choice of a school. Thank you so much, Regretsy, for bringing me here! It's a dream that's now reality. <3

Finally Getting Started

I feel awful to say this, but I lied when I said I was going to start Paul Mitchell in November of 2011. It's been a really big delay due to the fact work had gotten in the way due to Christmas hours (And with that, some bonus school money, hooray!), and another two times to fill out my FAFSA, not to mention that for some reason, the school has a hard time answering my calls to make appointments!

But, even with this large delay, my FAFSA successfully went through, I've gotten my financial aid, and I've officially enrolled at the school, starting March 6th, 2012. My job is willing to keep me on the days that I have off, so I'm glad I was able to finally get all of this done. A huge weight has been lifted off of my shoulders from how stressful this has turned out to be, and now I'm getting lightheaded sometimes because I'm so excited!

I'm sorry for any disappointment with the delay, but Operation: Fairy Godmother has officially begun!

- Carli

Thank You, Regretsy!

Dear April and members/viewers of Regretsy,

I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your support. With each sale and donation, my smile grew wider and wider to know that I was not alone and to be reminded that there is still goodness in this world.
The past week has flown by as I’ve filled out each order as quickly as I can and saw my store decrease as my joy increased; I will never forget this experience. It’s been the happiest time of my life, and I couldn’t ask for anything more.

Last month, I bought this necklace from April’s Army.

[CLICK FOR IMAGE HERE]

I’m going to wear it every day as I attend Paul Mitchell. That way, when people ask, “What’s that?” I’m going to explain the story of how a snarky internet website based entirely on strange crafts granted me a new start.

So, with a brown bag of fuckery and a kick in the ass, I’m thanking you all with all I have, and I’m proud to say I start school in November of 2011.

[CLICK HERE FOR IMAGE]

- Carli

P.S. Here’s a poem I wrote especially for the occasion.

Now this is a story all about how
Regretsy turned my frowns upside down.
And I’d like to take a minute just sit right there,
And I’ll tell you how it helped me out this year.

In Northwest Nevada, I wasn’t born, but raised
Sittin’ on the internet most of my days
When a friend told me about a hilarious site
And at the time, I had no clue about Etsy, right?
It was snarky and fun, sarcastic and cool,
Decided to mark it like I would a book,
Then I found their charity and what they did,
And one day I finally got to buy from it,
But I just graduated and found a new (expensive) school,
So I decided to ask April Winchell, who’s cool.

I told her about my problems with cash,
And she answered me with help in a flash,
That my case was different, that peeps help with cheer,
So I thought, “Hey, she’s being perfectly clear.”

At the end of August 2011,
April’s Army helped; they’d all go to heaven,
Bunch of angels on earth full of big hearts,
All whimsical fuckers who all did their parts.

__________________________

Dear April and your Magnificent, Kind, Unselfish and Amazing Army,

From all that I am, every fiber of my being, I send heartfelt thanks to each and everyone of you for the fabulous gifts of hope and joy that you have bestowed upon my daughter Carli.

With each donation, each purchase, each twinkle of interest just shouted out "I BELIEVE IN YOU" ! I can't begin to tell how much this was needed in her life. I can't tell you the worth... it cannot be measured monetarily.

We never know the truth behind the eyes, what life is truly like for another but I would like you to know that you were all just part of a miracle, a wonderful and beautiful miracle.

So, again I thank you and send blessings, rich and wonderful blessings to you all, 1000 fold, for being April's Army of Angels.

With deep gratitude, hugs and love,

Loretta ( Carli's mom)

Hi everyone! I'm Carli.



This is my brother, Seth, and my mom, Loretta.



And this is my dad, Russ.




I've had a childhood dream I want to come true through hard work. That lifelong dream is to be employed by the Walt Disney Company and make other's dreams come true.

My passion is cosmetology. I have learned about the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique located in both Disney parks, and I wish to work in the Disneyland Resort. There isn't anything I would love more than to make little girls into their favorite princesses and put shining smiles on their faces. I want to be a Fairy Godmother and grant wishes.

Finding the right college for me has been super difficult. But I had a breakthrough and found this amazing school:



Not only is this a partner school of a popular Hollywood artist, but it's the least expensive kind of beauty related education I've found in my area.

There's a few problems, though. My family, like a lot of families these days, have issues with finances. We filed a FAFSA for Paul Mitchell, but this school doesn't have a code, so federal aid has been thrown out the window.

Right now, my dad is trying to fund a family of 6 that occasionally includes me. My parents divorced and he remarried, so the two of us became many more and he's been spending a lot more money than he'd planned. He's been taking several side jobs that barely keep his bills and mortgage payments on time.

My mom on the other hand, is a single parent. She works at home, and as much as she would love to send me off to school, she can't commit as much as she wants to. The most she's able to do that's related to school is pay my car insurance and gas so I can commute about 35-40 minutes. My dad and I are fixing up an old car, and I really do count my blessings with this matter. I consider myself extremely lucky.

So, it's not because my parents don't want to send me to school, it's just that they can't afford it. They've worked extremely hard their entire lives, and I don't want to put them into debt for sending me to college. I don't want to make them work harder than they do every day.

I understand that asking for help to get into college is a lot to ask of people, especially these days. I am not afraid to work my way up in the world, but everybody needs a place to start. Any amount of money would be greatly appreciated, and I promise one day to pay it forward.

If you're interested in helping, here's what you can do!

You can go to April's Army on Etsy and purchase from there.

You can purchase from my own Etsy store, The Simple Stuff.

Or, you can donate to me directly via Paypal!

All funds made from this will go toward my student kit, pictured below, and my college tuition. If you're curious about what the student kit comes with, there are links below that!



The student kit consists of:

Several hair brushes, 3 pairs of scissors, a hairdryer, and clippers.

Several mannequin heads, a curling iron, and a flat iron.

A bookbag, Be Nice (Or Else!) book & CD, a Paul Mitchell T-shirt, a Hairstyle menu, The Road to Success DVD, and a manniquin head stand.

A complete makeup kit with many brushes, a manicure kit, a mirror, a metal spray bottle, a Connecting To My Future book, The Basics DVD & Book, Paul Mitchell aprons and client capes, a "how to haircut" minibook, and The Color System DVD & Book.

A few extra pictures of the school can be found here.


Thank you so much for viewing and considering!

Carli