I went back and forth for years – yes, years – on whether to do the half-shave/Skrillex haircut that has littered the fashion and music world for quite a while now. After completely bleaching my entire head multiple times and way beyond its texture recognition, first for blonde-ish and then for a mermaid’s mane of blue/teal/green, my hair hung limply from its follicles, displaying none of its virgin bounce, curl or wave.

When I refer to my hair texture, this is to it air-dried, because I am LAZY – all caps - with my hair. After spending eight years of wearing dreadlocks, I was accustomed to devoting more time to other beauty rituals, like makeup application so, when those strands went Sayonara, my haircuts had to be wash-and-go, taking advantage of my natural texture.

But now that I had no texture, I thought, eh – what have I got to lose? I’ll cut half of it off and see what happens. I even posted a pre-cut cry for help and advice on Twitter, asking "Is too late for me to jump on the #undercut #halfshave #skrillex haircut #trend?" Only to receive one response – which was a thundering "hell no."

Tell me no – and I am more likely to advance, however. And so I did. I booked an appointment for two weeks out, and then changed it for a week out and then texted my stylist, threatening to lose my guts to cut if we did not get my rear in the chair in the next 24 hours. She obliged, eager to wield her scissors and razor in a way they don’t usually get a workout.

I went back and forth the night before, but went the "change is good" route. I emailed my stylist almost 25 photo references to be sure we were on the same page. I knew we would have to get a little creative, since two weeks before she had shaped my fringe into a "New Girl" curve. We’d be camouflaging and growing that out with this new ‘do, my "Girly Skrillex," as I like to call it.

I audibly cringed as she lopped off the left side of my locks and wildly stared into the…

Wisconsin has bred some of music’s most creative innovators, from bands like The Violent Femmes with their unmistakable sound to Les Paul, inventor of the solid body electric guitar.

Included in this group is Greendale’s Glenn Boren, proprietor and designer of Trophy Straps, a company that locally manufactures instrument straps. These straps are so strongly tied to Wisco that their flagship straps have ends made from the same leather used in Harley motorcycle seats.

Trophy was founded in 2011 primarily making guitar straps, but Boren is excited to announce that "just this year we have expanded to include Cotton Mandolin and Ukulele straps, as well as a line of adapters that will retrofit any strap for banjo, mandolin, ukulele and acoustic guitar, as well as a buckle adapter that will extend the length of any strap to fit any player, no matter the size, as well as those who like to wear a strap really, really low."

All Trophy items are available through its web store, eBay and Amazon.

Boren’s designs include original and custom motifs and also reissues of historical guitar strap patterns, like his wildly successful Lennon "Rooftop" and "Peace" tribute straps.

Boren adds: "These two straps have gone on to become the de-facto go-to straps for the worlds finest Beatles tribute acts, including Let It Be London, Let It Be Broadway, (hitting the stage this July,) Rain, American English, The Fab Four, Legends In Concert, Them Beatles, The Beatlez and many more."

Insistence on local production, unique, original designs, integrity of materials and details like being the only strap manufacturer to use natural cotton web for strap backing sets Trophy apart and is an integral part of its success that boasts a thriving Ebay store with a 100 percent feedback score from 22655 reviewers. 

Now, Boren has his sights on bringing the same quality, "Made-in-Milwaukee" philosophy and patterned straps to the fashion world.

He is currently test marketing "Purs…

Ballet dancers are masochists.

I know this for a fact after experiencing two weeks straight of Mary Helen Bowers’ "Ballet Beautiful" DVDs. I am sent fitness DVDs to experience and possibly review all the time and this duo of videos was no different, except that masquerading in the guise of "pretty ballerina" filmed in billowy white light and set to a repetitive piano concerto, "Ballet Beautiful" is in reality, the most grueling, punishing, torturous set of calisthenics I’ve ever attempted.

Bowers was a dancer for the New York City Ballet for 10 years, but is perhaps best known for training Natalie Portman for "Black Swan." Portman has always been slim, but her transformation for this film showcases her personal discipline and the fact that Bowers obviously knows what she is doing.

For two weeks, I rotated between the hour-long "Classic Workout" (divided into semi-more tolerable 10-minute segments) and the (what seemed much longer than an) hour long "Blast" made up of 15-minute, teeth-gritting sessions. The first three days I was driven by adrenaline and being obsessed with gazing at the stunningly, exquisitely gorgeous Bowers who seems to be executing each move with the greatest of ease. Her tiny, yet elegantly well-muscled body covered by only the slightest sheath of a leotard inspired me to drive forward through each second of muscle-burning punishment. But, after three days, I dreaded her cheerful voice and endless counting of eight reps for four sets.

Still, I persevered. I made it through 14 days straight – at which time I was promised I would see results. Did I? Other than feeling tighter (or really sore,) I didn’t look any different or drop any pounds. (From my experience, I do believe "feeling different" is "results." I personally think it takes longer than two weeks to experience real results from any exercise program. I like to give at least six weeks for the body to catch up to the physical program being inflicted upon it.) They only recommend usi…

Breaking bread with family and friends is really important to me. You know from reading my previous posts that getting time around the table enjoying a good, home-cooked meal is a priority. But, hey, I love going out to eat, too.

There’s been a lot of travel in our family since March, which means the fridge is more of a barren cavern than stocked with it’s usual bounty of healthy fare. So, by default and out of admitted laziness, we’ve been enjoying more meals "out," than are typical for us.

So, how are we avoiding the major ouch in our pocketbook and around our waistlines? Well, we’re splitting entrees.

Inspired by my mother-in-law and her beau, who always practice this money-and-calorie-saving dining-out style, we’ve been challenging ourselves to find something on the menu that we can agree on and share. This can be something of an adventure and exercise in marital compromise, but we’ve been making it happen.

We’ve even tired splitting our cocktails, which for a lightweight like me is perfect.

The reality is that restaurant food portions are often scaled for two or more. So, after getting over the initial feeling of being deprived of our very own, full plate of restaurant yumminess, we are realizing that splitting a meal leaves our appetites perfectly satisfied and never overstuffed. Which is really the healthiest way to consume food! Don’t chow until you are stuffed, but only until you are almost full.

That way there is room for digestion! For those watching what they eat, sharing an entrée is a great way to keep tabs on portion size and overall calorie intake.

More than that, it puts a smile of accomplishment on our faces when the bill arrives.

Sharing a meal saves a ton of money – even at fancy, upscale establishments that charge a fee to share an entree. Often, at steak houses, they will charge a small "split plate" fee, but serve an entire plate of sides to both diners. For us – that’s perfect! I can have a few bites of the prime cut …