I got my first German haircut yesterday. And this is the cute little salon in my neighborhood that I went to.

The name is Liebesdienste, which literally translates to Love Services…but that’s not why I picked it.

I asked some salon expert friends, scouted it out last weekend, and had even received their postcard in the mail. It got my stamp of approval, so I decided to give it a try.

I usually get my hair cut by stylist friends, but I wanted to get my hair done in a salon this time. And it was magical. The head massage made me want to fall asleep. The consultation, the pampering, the lemongrass green tea!–I usually only write about these things every day. To be able to experience them as an actual client is completely different.

The salon I went to is also a coffee/tea shop. Note to self: go on Saturday next time to experience the fresh baked goods.

Aside from the time to sit, relax, and unwind–a luxury for most of us–it was a good refresher for me on how a salon works. It put a little color to what I do every day in a grey and white office. The meetings, suits, emails, briefs, de-briefs, presentations, conference calls…all a part of work life. But sometimes we need to get out of our box or silo or ivory tower and put some meaning behind why we do what we do. It adds new perspective to a daily routine.

And the result…bring on the festivals, and the year of 33 (nothing like taking a selfie on the train).