So, this is going to sound completely vain, and not the usual food related topic, but please bear with me.
I have been wavering back and forth for months now on a probably silly decision. Do I dye my hair or embrace the grey?
Here are my pro and con arguments for this debate.
Dying my hair:
I work in service-related industries. Unfortunately, appearance is important. When I am doing my day job of cleaning houses, I need to have a neat and pleasant appearance so clients will trust that I will take equal care of their homes. When I am selling at Farmers Markets, my appearance also inspires trust in my product. (Think about it – are you going to buy from the grungy farmer who hasn’t showered for days? I think not.)
I am 40. For better or worse, I still usually refer to myself as a girl. (Read into that what you will …) Although some mornings I creak and groan like an old tractor, for the most part I still feel pretty young.
I have young-ish kids. I don’t want to look like an old, unhip mommy.
I’m attractive, but not exactly gorgeous, so sometimes I think I need all the help I can get!
I like playing with my hair and doing new things to it once in a while. I get bored easily.
OK, this is really vain, but I believe (as do others) that I look a lot better now than I did in high school. I don’t want to be one of those people others look at and think “wow, she let herself go”.
Embracing the grey:
Darn it, I earned every stinking one of these grey hairs!!!
Grey can look really great if it’s done with attitude.
It’s way easier to maintain.
Maybe I’ll look good in grey. You know … wiser, more mature.
I don’t know. How do you decide? Or do you just let indecision be your decision? Let it all grow out and hang out, and be ok with it however it grows? I feel like I’m at a weird place in my life. Not young, not old, and maybe not quite right. I guess I have to figure out how to come to grips with the in-between. I’m open to feedback and advice on this one. Do you feel like you are in-between at this point in your life? Let me know how it’s going!
I thought I’d give you the recipe for Gluten-Free Cream Puffs this time. I was trying to think of something with a passing reference to this topic, and I thought – cream puffs – not very wing ding to look at, but darn do they have a yummy filling!
Gluten-Free Cream Puffs
1 cup water
4 tablespoons vegetable oil
¾ cup gluten-free all purpose flour
¼ tsp baking soda
¾ tsp baking powder
3 eggs
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Bring water and oil to a boil. Remove from heat and add dry ingredients; stir together. Return to medium heat and stir constantly until mixture thickens and leaves the sides of the pan (it may look a little oily). Scoop into the bowl of a mixer and let cool slightly.
Beat the mixture with an electric mixer, adding one egg at a time. Beat well between each egg until mix is smooth and shiny. Scoop by level tablespoons onto the baking tray. Spray lightly with cold water to aid in rising.
Bake for 10 minutes until they rise and start to brown. Reduce heat to 375 degrees and bake for 10-15 minutes or until cooked through and golden brown.
Let cool. Slice the tops off and fill with sweetened whipped cream or chocolate mousse. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!
These will keep for a few days in an airtight container. If they become soft, reheat them at 300 degrees for 10 minutes.
Angeline Street
Glass Slipper Cleaning
Whole Hog Farms GF Sausages
Tel: 250-954-0246
Email: angstreet@telus.net
See all articles by Angeline Street
Hello Angeline,
I couldn’t find a date on your article….was it recent or some time ago? I am curious to know what you decided. After decades of blond highlights and eventually dying my whole head, I decided in my early sixties (last year) to see what natural was. To my great surprise, “natural” suited my face. Somehow the changes in complexion gradually match up with the greying locks.
After a very long year of multi-toned hair, I am now a natural platinum. No need for conditioners – the comb runs through without a tangle. It shines. I have no regrets and it had no effect on how people see me or how I feel about my age. That seems to be based on factors other than hair colour. Vive les cheveux gris!
Hello
I have decided to just be grey. So far, no one has commented. It is still blonde enough that hopefully the shining silver strands show up mostly as highlights, although I have noticed that I have one large streak right in the front that is decidedly silver.
I have to admit that every once in a while, I still look in the mirror, and wonder if I’ve made the right decision. You know, those mornings when no matter how much makeup you put on, you still look old and tired!?@!
Oh well. I am me. Luckily, my husband still thinks I’m hot. And I guess that’s all that really matters. Grey hair or not!
Grey is an attitude – embrace it or be embarrassed by it. It’s all in how you hold your head. I have found both women and men think my grey (about 40% grey now) looks great and even my hairdresser does not want me to dye my hair. I have halfheartedly toyed with dyeing my hair for the past two years (ever since I turned 50) because as an Interior Designer, my appearance is very important – yet every time I mention colouring my hair I get a resounding “Don’t you dare!” from everyone. I have never coloured my hair and frankly am not interested in the maintenance that goes with it, but I worry too that it might age me. I can easily pass for 40 now – what if I didn’t have the grey? Ultimately, I like how I look and as I said earlier I don’t want the extra maintenance so as long as I stand tall and proud that’s all that matters. Of course nice clothes and a little makeup helps too 🙂
Angelina you can be a girl in your heart for as long as you like.
I always think of you as one of my cousin Janice’s girls. Re the the everlsting question to Dye or not to Dye..? try it if you dont like it grow it out.