(Lov) // The Green Chair.

I asked my husband Brendan to write this blog for me since it is one of his all time favorite "stories of us". 

Roughly 9 years ago I found, sitting next to a dumpster across the street from my old apartment, a fully functional though slightly worn, green, stylist’s chair. Just a few weeks earlier through a good friend,  I had been introduced to Kelly who had mentioned that I “needed to do something about that”. The “that” she was referring to was my teenage ponytail, ill-fitting corduroy pants, and Birkenstocks. I was a kid from Colorado, newly 21, and new to Austin. I had long hair because I had no money to pay someone to care about it for me, as I certainly wasn’t capable of concerning myself with such things, being newly 21 and all. The next time I saw Kelly we made a deal: This old stylist chair in exchange for free haircuts for life. Neither of us had any concept to the magnitude of this agreement.

This month I turn 30 and Kelly has been my wife for almost three years. We have lived on the same street where the chair was found since being married. It has been our daughter’s highchair for the first two years of her life. I have had countless cuts and cups of coffee in this chair. Family, bandmates and other friends have come to our living room to get trimmed and styled. It has left ringed rust stains on the desk mat we have laid underneath it. We now own a salon, with many chairs. Some of which have made their way into our living room.    

We have decided to allow this chair to move along by placing it back where it was originally acquired, next to the dumpster, so many years ago. We also thought it a great occasion to take some family photos. I drove it around the corner, unloaded it from our truck, and placed it in the grass by the curb while Kelly and Lydia walked from our apartment. The first person to drive by stopped and got out of the car, looking at the chair in disbelief, “You’ve got to be kidding me! WOW!” I walk over to him and tell him the chair is fully functional, but if he wouldn’t mind waiting to take it away, as this chair has a bit of a story.   -Brendan 

And he patiently waited while we took our pictures. Goodbye and thank you, Green Chair!

(Lov)e,

-k.

(Lov) // Show Time!

My talented husband plays bass in three different bands here in Austin.  Saturday night he had a very special show with Whitey on the Moon, taking part in their debut performance!  WOTM is 12 piece funk/soul band that seriously brings down the house!  And being the proud, camera wielding wife that I am... I thought I would share some of my favorite pictures from the night.

It truly was an amazing night and I couldn't be more excited to see this band grow into it's full potential!  The jam-packed crowd was dancing, singing, and were having "hallelujah!" moments left and right.  They couldn't have asked for a warmer welcome into the Austin music scene and I'm sure it was just the beginning of many exceptional performances from this talented group of musicians and singers. Why to kill it WOTM!  

(Lov)e, 

-k.

(Lov) // The Who, What, When, and Where.

To me, it makes the most sense to begin with introducing myself and giving a bit of my history.  My name is Kelly and I am 34 years old.

Born and raised in the great state of Texas, I have spent most of my life in the lovely city of Austin. I went to school at UT, dropping out my Junior year to begin my professional career as a Graphic Designer before becoming a Hair Stylist in 2003. I married Brendan Vlass, the love of my life, on a beautiful Easter Sunday April 12th, 2009.

Brendan and I went from being just a married couple to a family when we welcomed our daughter, Lydia Clementine Vlass, into the world on June 7, 2010 at 6:59 PM. We opted for an all natural home birth with a midwife which was difficult, but a beautiful experience for all involved.

 

Lydia is now almost 14 months old.  She is healthy, strong, beautiful, musical, curious, bright, thoughtful, sweet, and willful. She has the face of her Daddy and the expressions of her Mama... a perfect blend of our looks and personalities; a joy and wonder to us both.  

 

In March, I became the owner of the salon where I have worked for the last 3 years.  My husband is a musician (bass player) and manages a local coffee shop. We divide our time between our many jobs, loving each other, and raising our little girl.

More about why I started this blog tomorrow. Until then...

(Lov)e,

-k.