A new do!

So, I'm pretty much lame a rebel.  You know how most people cut their hair short for the heat of the summer and wear it longer in the winter.  Not me!  Nosirrreeee...  I do just the opposite!  And it's pretty predictable.  I grow my hair out all summer long, get my highlights just the way I want them and then, with the hopes of cooler weather around the corner, I feel the need to winterize!  So here is a before:

and after:

Whatcha think?  Can you even tell from these pictures?  Should I have stayed long and light?  Or keep changing things up?