Category Archives: Blog Posts

Most of the time, whatever I think, comes right out my mouth. Luckily, for me, I can make my fingers say virtually the same thing, right here on blog posts.

Run Your Fingers Through My Feathers

Posted on by
7

I meant, run your fingers through my hair, and feel my feathers while you’re there!  Yep, I know I’m not 14 but I thought I’d be trendy and add the hottest hair accessory to my golden locks.  FEATHERS.  (Makes me want to make clucking sounds, but I’ve found I’m better at pig noises than bird sounds.)

I noticed some twittering about where to get them in Wichita, and while they are readily available here in town, apparently that still isn’t the norm across the country. Today at Salon Knotty, owner Pam Cutler, attached a little color to my normally butter colored locks and told me Wichita is finally on the cutting edge of hair fashion with all these little extensions.

Salon Knotty has a GREAT selection of unusual feathers and you can put them in any combination of your choosing.  (The cost runs 8 bucks a feather, or five for 37……I have three in mine!)

I was instantly drawn to the lime green one, but I think that one has an age limit, so we chose the blue/purple one to accent my eyes.  Trust me, it gets you noticed, my 10 year old almost flipped because the feather she got a while back fell out two days later.       ( Note from Pam, if that happens the salon will be happy to put it back in – at least Salon Knotty would be).

One advantage to selecting Salon Knotty, those girls know their extensions.  For six years, they’ve been putting long locks on short and thin haired heads all over Wichita.  The feathers use the exact same locking system they use to hook on plain ole hair so they know what they are doing.

What I learned today.  You can wash, curl, straighten these little feathers just like real hair, so the options are endless even if you are stuck with the color for awhile.  I’m thinking Pam picked the right shade for me, of course, I’m so matchy-matchy, I’m probably going to be wearing a lot of blue/purple in the days ahead……go ahead run your fingers through my hair, and admire my feather while you’re there!!

I just said, YES.

Posted on by
Reply

When I wonder, “How do I get myself into these things?” the answer almost always comes back to,  ”Well, I just said, YES!” So when you see Cochran & Rogers hosting an estate sale this weekend in East Wichita, look no further than the dorky blonde sitting at the register, when you wonder how we got there!!  A friend said do you guys do that kind of thing, and I, the dorky blonde  who will be at the register said, “YES! Yes we do.”

Actually, my business partner Sally (The Rogers of Cochran & Rogers) and I have thrown lots of garage sales over the years, including one I wrote about here on www.anitacochran.tv so we do have some experience, it’s just that I forgot how much work they are to put on.   Since we’re going to all this trouble anyway, you might as well stop by and say Hi!  W ho knows maybe you’ll find a bargain, and come on we all love to snoop through other people’s stuff!!

The sale is listed on Wichita Craigslist.  It’s this weekend (yes, we know it’s Easter- April 21,22,23) Some of the other pictures of cool stuff I couldn’t fit on there are right here….. If you see anything you have to have, let me know, I’ll put your name on it.

It’s funny, Cochran & Rogers (which specializes in home decor with custom bedding/curtains) uses the mantra, “Putting Your Home Together.”  In this case, we’re also up for “Taking Your Home Apart !!”

 

Extreme Home Make Over – UNVEILED

Posted on by
5

It’s time.   Yep, this is the weekend, we finally get to see inside the Carl Hall home that so many of us were lucky enough to work on as part of ABC’s Extreme Home Make Over Team.   Some of you know my long-time friend, Sally Rogers, a seamstress EXTRA-ORDINAIRE and I have joined forces as Cochran & Rogers.  A local decorating business specializing in custom bedding, draperies and just about anything else you can think of!! (Last week we actually did the painting of a living room and this week we’re helping a client with an Estate Sale….and you thought I only knew how to read from a teleprompter!)

So back to the Make Over.  EHMO – was Cochran & Rogers first gig, and while we didn’t get paid, Sally was the lead Fabricator which means she was in charge of all seamstresses on the job site.  We named ourselves, the Needle Chicks, and we left our mark inside the Hall home (first one to find proof wins a prize!!)  The stuff they give us credit for comes in the form of duvet covers and pillows, and cushions, and even an eight foot padded table!  You’re gonna have to watch the show to figure out what that was for.  Anyway, this week I can’t really say much yet, but I’m gonna tell you some of what went on, right here as we all get excited for the big reveal.

For instance, Needle Chicks (Despite the sort of off-beat name) started out with a team prayer.  I won’t say who said let’s pray but I can tell you everyone of us jumped in on it and NEEDED all the help we could get!  The week was fast, the work was frustrating at times because of the tight deadlines and in the end turned out to be a real God thing.  It was a blessing, not just for the Halls who received one heck of a home, but for all of us, who got to play a part.  Thanks God, for making it all come together, oh and you too, Ty Pennington.

This is just one group of us the night we helped put finishing touches on the house.  More to come…..

Holy Crap Craigslist Works

Posted on by
6

There aren’t many things I haven’t tried and that now includes Craigslist. Oh sure, like the rest of you I’ve wondered over there and gawked at all your crap. There just hasn’t been anything I thought I could live without, so I look and look (By the way it’s File Cabinets I’m obsessing over these days) and then I can’t find what I want for 20 bucks so I get bored and twitter. That all changed this weekend when I totally (when I say totally I mean like 500 dollars worth) messed up the checking account. What pray tell would I have sitting around the house worth 500 bucks? Yep, a washer and dryer. So without further ado I posted those puppies and waited for the phone to ring. Within half an hour we had four calls and one person came to the house to look at them. Can I just say SOLD. It worked so well, I thought about posting a picture of my husband. I bet I could get a thousand for him. It was his birthday, so Kenty, I decided to keep you……but just remember, at any moment your phone could ring (I always make potential customers call him!!) cause Holy Crap, Craigslist works.

Prom Season Arrives

Posted on by
4

This is one of my favorite times of the year to go out to dinner.  It’s the only way us old dudes can check out what’s hot in Prom Fashions.  Well it used to be the only way. Luckily for you…..You have me.  I was at Foggy Bottom for the fashion show last night, and took that little flip camera along so you could see what’s hot too.   Okay, if you’re a parent of a teen, you already know what’s hot, but don’t ruin it for everyone else and tell us what you had to spend to take one of those dream dresses home!

I’m a KNOTTY Girl

Posted on by
5

It was time for something new, either a cut, new color…..or just a face mask.  So when it comes to salon services, I decided this year I’m gonna be a Knotty Girl.  Salon Knotty is owned by Pam Cutler, a friend of mine that goes way back.  How far back you ask??  Well I met her shortly after I came back to KSN as the Morning Anchor/Reporter and was out doing a special report on “Urban Cowboys.”  See told you it was WAYYYYYYY Back.

Pam and I have been friends through the years.  She taught me how to wrap my colicky baby like a burrito so she would stop crying (it only worked when Pam was holding her).  Her granddaughter and my daughters built homemade Gingerbread Houses together.  We’ve sailed with the dolphins together and more importantly she introduced me to Passion Tea.  Oh, and as you can see by the picture, she always wins best costume at our Super Bowl parties.  Anyway we’ve been friends forever , but as a hairdresser and owner of Salon Knotty (inside Genesis East)  other commitments only had me using her services partially.  Now we’re going for it, ALL IN.

First step, get this overgrown bush back to good health.  Since leaving TV the whole goal was to do with my hair what I wanted without having some guy  (insert BOSS) come up to me and say, “You need to cut your hair it looks more professional.”     Why all the hot young girls on network TV could have long hair but local anchors at my station had to cut theirs short never really made since to me…..but those days are over.

Growing out has been a LONGGGGGG process, so the ends are a bit overdue for a cut.  Step one, trim.

Step Two.  Personalized color.  Since my cut right now is still growing, Pam wanted my color to say, This is MINE!  It’s called personalized color and she whips foils around in some weird concoction.  Anyway, my hair feels healthy with the fried ends gone, and the color has just a splash or two of color you wouldn’t expect. (Nope, Pammy I didn’t expect it either….but I’m kind of having fun with that dark mysterious piece!)

Anyway I’m now back in shape with instructions not to wear my hair so tight when I have it up and back (to help prevent breakage) and to use Redken’s Extreme, Anti-Snap. It’s a leave-in treatment that is gonna help keep my floor clean (you should see how many little blonde ends fly off my head everyday!)  I’ll let you know how it goes.  The end results….much better. I may be a Knotty girl, but I like the smooth look myself.

Come Play With ME!!

Posted on by
Reply

So excited for this month’s Fashion Focus on Location.  We’ll be at Foggy Bottom playing dress up tomorrow (Tuesday, February 8th, from 5-8).  Trunk show and snacks.  I’m bringing the daughter because the whole family needs knock out dresses for a family wedding in August.  Woo Hoo, you should come to.  I’ve been collecting some great stuff for future posts,  I’ve been lazy thinking no one would miss me if I didn’t post.  I’ve since decided, I don’t really keep this website going for you to read it, I do it for me to WRITE it.  I know.  I’m the weirdest person I know, but tomorrow in Foggy Bottom dresses, I’m gonna feel like a princess!!

Better Late Than Never

Posted on by
6

Remember back almost two years ago when I decided to leave that TV News career behind?  Well, it seems that since then I’ve done everything except figure out what I really want to do in my next life.  So, better late than never, I’m starting over AGAIN.  Yep, I quit all my part-time jobs, or they quit me…..and I gave up all my commitments (non-profits, etc.), or they quit me.  I’m finally giving it up to God.  I always thought that was a little lame, but having watched myself grasp at everything that came my way (whether it was good for me or not) I’ve decided God wouldn’t have put that much crap on my plate.   It was me trying to control my destiny, even though I had no idea what that might look like.  I know that now because few of those “projects” worked out mentally, or financially.   Through it all though I learned God wants me to be happy, this is the year I’m going to trust him to show me how.

So for me, it’s back to the drawing board.  2011 is the year I’m going to get it, or go bankrupt watching the final season of Oprah trying.  On my list to do – Be a Mom, train for a marathon, Pray & Obey.     I’ve surrounded myself with the people who can help me do that, and together I think I can find it.  When I do, you will be the first to know what “IT” is.

Duh?

Posted on by
1

Just when I think I’m really hip, I ask something like, “What is that?” and wish the answer was less obvious.  That’s what happened this week at K-Lane’s in West Wichita.  We were doing some Christmas Shopping with Women’s Focus Magazine…..and I stumbled upon what I think is this years best stocking stuffer.  Yep, I asked the stupid question so you wouldn’t have to.  (Then I bought THREE of them!)  Happy Holidays.

I Think I’m A Bear.

Posted on by
5

You know when you’re singing along to the radio and you switch the channel anyway??  I do that, and a second ago, I was thinking, “I’m having a great day, why do I want to go to bed?”   Then it hit me.  I must be a bear, since the weather started cooling off  all I want to do is hibernate!   That or am a lazy old blonde who is just unmotivated in this chapter of her life.   If those are my options,  I kind of  hope I’m a bear.