New Style

Hello everyone!

As you all have seen in previous photos, one of my favorite loc styles is CURLS. I have always achieved this style by putting my hair into bantu knots and then wearing a bantu knot-out.

As my locs have gotten longer I've been wanting more of a "spiral" look. I have read several posts on blogger and nappturality stating that the best way to achieve this look is to use pipe cleaners.



I had been planning on picking some up, but had pushed it to the bottom of my list of things to do. Well, a couple of weeks ago I was strolling through Family Dollar and spotted some for 1.00 so I had to go ahead and buy some.

You can use whatever products you normally use to style your locs. Also, be sure your locs are wet before you curl them and let them fully dry before you take the pipe cleaners out.

Here is a tutorial:



Mine are various colors so it may be easier to see...
Here's how I wrapped mine:







Here is the result:



The curls are kind of tight, I personally like my hair better as the curls fall; and that's exactly what happened as the days went on...

Day 2:


Day 3:



Day 5:

Happy curling! :)

Forever OUR King: Michael Jackson

Never Can Say Goodbye - The Jackson 5


June 25, 2009

5:00pm
It was a sunny day and I was laying across my bed with the curtains drawn watching television. I happened to flip to CNN and saw a banner across the bottom of the screen stating Michael Jackson had collapsed earlier at his home, was in cardiac arrest and had been transported to a Los Angeles hospital.

I thought to myself "wow...cardiac arrest...but he's so young..."

I followed it up with "he'll be okay" and flipped the channel to what I was previously watching.

Within five minutes every program was interrupted with this breaking news. I sensed something horrid about the report. I began to focus on what was NOT being said. I wondered why there was no comment that CPR had been effective and the King of Pop was recovering. Surely, they would report that ASAP. I began to add the time up in my head...almost an hour had passed since he collapsed in his home. As an EMT I know the chances of surviving a cardiac arrest of nearly an hour are slim to none.

My phone begins to ring and I answer it. I say "hello" and on the other end I hear a deep voice respond with "Michael Jackson died..." I asked in disbelief "really?" and my friend responds with "Yes, he was DOA". I said "oh, that's messed up" and end the conversation.

Now I cannot digest what has just been said to me. I do not believe it whatsoever. I am flipping between CNN and the local news and all I see and hear is "Michael Jackson in cardiac arrest".

I pause on the local news channel when I see the fancy graphics that spell out BREAKING NEWS seemingly coming out of the television. The news anchor comes on teary-eyed and she reports that Michael Jackson has indeed died.

I flip back to CNN and see the network has not updated his status. Even without the major networks confirming, the denial slowly begins to fade. However, I am still in shock. How? Why? It all seemed so sudden. Time continues to pass and I decide to give the television a rest.

I tune in to the radio and all I hear is Michael Jackson's voice...song after song. People are calling in sharing their accounts of watching the King of Pop while growing up. One woman called in and during her story she begins to cry...then I begin to cry.

That is when I realized Michael Jackson was more than an entertainer to us...much more. This was a man accepted by people from every race and culture.

I remember watching the video premiere of Bad back in the 80s. Me, my cousins, family, and friends gathered around the t.v. at a neighbor's house that night as if a movie was coming on. When the video began to play we were taking it all in, but by the first chorus we lit up. You could just feel the energy in the room...in other households.

Not many people have the ability to captivate audiences like Michael Jackson did, and still does, and that is why he is one of a kind. Michael Jackson you are a true legend and we salute you.

We...never...can... say...goodbye.

The Little Things

Hello Kings and Queens!

I have enjoyed reading your blogs this week. Keep the posts coming, all of you are very interesting and unique and I love that!

As you all know my break has ended and I must say I thoroughly enjoyed it. I did not travel out of the state, but I relearned how invaluable close friendships and familial relationships are. So what did I do? I went to a few parks and fed geese and catfish, visited a very close friend who I had not seen in over a year, took my son to see Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, and enjoyed a spectacular laser and fireworks show for the 4th of July.

As I get older I am realizing how much I enjoy traveling and seeing new things, but I also appreciate local outings and a relaxing break from all of the hustle and bustle. And let me tell you, there is nothing better than continuous laughter with childhood friends. It takes you back to the time in your life when you were oblivious to adult responsibility.

I hope you all had a nice Fourth of July or Canada Day. :)

Thank You

Thank you to all of my followers and readers. It's now back to school for me so I will be on a short hiatus. I hope to have a new post/update published by next Saturday. In the meantime, I will be catching up on your blogs :)

Thanks Again,