Hello, Friends!

Oh my gosh, I have a treat for you today! Chip and JoJo have nothing on Amanda Connor, or “Trixie,” as Brad and I like to call her. And she has agreed to share some of her beauty tips and tricks with us. We are so lucky!!!

But, first we start with the backstory….

When my boys were growing up, I prayed that they would have at least ONE true friend who would be there for them. With one true friend, we can move gracefully and confidently forward through our days. I was lucky to have that myself and I knew the difference it always made for me. Now, I pray that same prayer for my granddaughters.

Of course, in order to have a friend like that, we have to BE a friend like that. And we need someone to show us how by their example.

Sidebar: That is another type of mentor we all need: Friendship Mentors. I feel another post coming on……

Amanda was that kind of friend for our sister, Amy. For those of you who don’t know, our baby sister, Amy Jo, was born with Cystic Fibrosis. She shattered all expectations and lived to be 50! I pray today that just seeing that number gives someone a BUNCH of hope.

One of the best parts of Amy’s story is that she LIVED her 50 years-she wrung the JOY from her days without complaining or letting her illness be an excuse, even when she would have been VERY justified to make it one. She was a wonderful, wonderful example of kindness and spunk and determination and we miss her everyday. You can read more about Amy’s inspiring life HERE.

And for many, many years of her life, her friend Amanda, was right by her side. They had so much fun together shopping, junking, going out to eat, and just visiting. They were together A LOT!!!

Did I mention they loved to shop?

Amanda was not just a fair weather friend either. She was by Amy’s side when things were going well, but she was also there when Amy experienced one of her many, many health crises. She stayed with her in the hospital, took her to many doctor appointments, cheered her up, put up her Christmas tree when Amy was too sick to do it, planted her flowers.  And on and on.

In short, Amanda was by our sister’s side through think and thin when many others might have been too busy. And I know her heart broke, too, when Amy went HOME.

I will always be grateful to Amanda, and her entire family, for the care and love they showed to someone whom I dearly loved.

We will never forget Amy, but life goes on, doesn’t it? It has to.

So.

Back in the olden days, before Pinterest and Fixer Upper marathons,  I had to pick up a magazine to get decorating inspiration. And with the exception of Country Living and Country Home, it seemed like the people who had the most talent lived in a city-if not Chicago, LA, or New York, at least a next-tier-size town.

Even my two favorite magazines with “Country” in their names didn’t really give a lot of credit to those of us who actually did live with a Rural Route address. The editors showed us pictures of what life was like in rural America where they went to their second homes for the weekend.

Boy, have times changed. Now because of Mr. Google and his friends,  we KNOW FOR SURE that the uber-talented don’t all live in a city. One of the most gifted interior designers I know lives just down the road from us and is a hair-stylist, too. She might have been raised on a country road, but she has big city style!

Amanda recently opened Glamour Barn and it is the cutest hair salon EVER!!! This little building, where she transforms frizz into fab, sits on the property where Jean and Rosie, her grandparents, once lived, and it has served a variety of purposes in its lifetime. But it has never looked as cute as it does now!

I was so tickled when Amanda agreed to let me take some pictures of her “dream come to life” and share some of her fashion and beauty tips with us, dear readers.

Drum-roll, please……….. straight from one who knows…..

Tips and Tricks from the Glamour Barn

• Choose the right shampoo and conditioner for your hair type.

  There are numerous types and brands of shampoo, but I am here to tell you not all shampoo is created equal. My personal GO TO is Big Sexy. 

• Avoid excessive heat on your hair.

  You get what you pay for in regards to flat irons and blow dryers. If you go cheap, your hair will pay the price. My personal Go TO: Chi, Rusk, Hot Tools

• Brush or comb your hair properly. 

  It is possible to damage your hair by incorrect or too forceful brushing. My personal GO TO is the WET BRUSH BRAND. This brush can be used on wet or dry hair.

• Visit your stylist on a regular basis. 

  Monthly visits to your hairdresser ensures the healthiest of hair.

• Hair color…..Leave it to the professionals. Enough said.

• Make-up….

  I use a cocktail of various brands when it come to makeup. My GO TO’S are Lancome, MAC, and Mary Kay.

• Face Wash…

  Look for a product that contains Benzoyl Peroxide.

• Beauty Bar…

  I love Dove unscented. It is great for sensitive skin and is a fabulous moisturizer.

• Style…. My style is bohemian fashion with a splash of vintage. I like to shop the smalls, frequenting the local boutiques.
• My final bit of advice….when in doubt, always dress up and never leave the house without mascara, eyeliner, and a splash of blush!

Wasn’t that fun?

Thanks, sweet beauty, for sharing your lovely business and advice with all of us. This girl followed in her multi-talented mother’s footsteps and knew early on what her passion was. Amanda has been living out her dream one curl at a time for 16 years.

Local peeps, message me if you want Amanda’s business hours or contact info. Also be sure to sign up for A Vintage Farmwife newsletter to gain access to more tips and tricks from Trixie just for our newsletter family. Watch those inboxes for an upcoming issue!

And I feel like I owe Max an apology. I didn’t know a dog could roll his eyes at me, but this one did!

Until next time…