Need new hairstyle

I want to grow my hair out longer (maybe 2-3 inches past my shoulders) and my hair grows fast enough etc that this shouldn't take more than 6-8 months but I'm not sure how I would best style my hair. I'm short, 5'3" and petite (size 4) and people often say I look like Jada Pinkett. Due to this, I've always thought my hair looks best short. Also I've always heard that long hair on petite women just weighed them down so to speak. I know that I don't look good with my hair all one length and that I look best when my hair at the sides of my face is shorter--Any ideas on a hair cut that combines shortness on the sides while allowing me to keep length in the back? My husband loves long hair and I love the versatility of long hair (if it's not too, too long). Any ideas would be appreciated. I go to the salon on Saturday and would like to have an idea of what I'm growing to. Thanks!