6 Month Comparison

What's up people? How was everyone's Memorial Day Weekend?

Mine was like any other weekend, just one day longer. Unfortunately it rained the entire weekend so I didn't go to Atlanta Peach Carnival...there's always next year though. I hope you all enjoyed your holiday weekend.

I washed my hair today and decided to take a pic. Then I was looking at the last pic I took and decided to compare the two. The first was taken Nov. 30, 2008 and the other today (May 25, 2009). I know I will be wearing my hair up this entire week, but I cannot think of a style. I am tired of ponytails and wanted to do something other than the french braid. Any suggestions??? Isn't it crazy that I actually have time to spare today and cannot think what to do with it, lol.

I am going to look for loc style ideas, but in the meantime here is a video I found for curling shorter locs. Enjoy!

Breaking Bad Habits

The two rules of procrastination:

1) Do it today.
2) Tomorrow will be today tomorrow.

Hello readers,

So, I've made it through another week of school. It's already midterm point...for the first quarter; things are moving right along. I would update more frequently, but I virtually have no life! lol Although I'm doing well in my classes, I have an issue with procrastination. OMG, I would like to nip this in the bud now, but I just can't seem to. All week I'm in class and when you factor in the commute my days are pretty full. I get up before dawn, make it home around 3:30 or 4:00, eat dinner, read over material, and go to bed. The weekend is an entirely different story. My Saturdays go something like this:

~Wake up
~Eat breakfast
~Check e-mail
~Facebook
~Think to self *I have a lot of time to study today*
~Think about what a peaceful day it is
~Contemplate watching a movie
~Listen to music online (to help me study)
~Listen to every related song suggested (imeem)
~Check Facebook again
~Check a couple of messageboards
~Catch up on blogs :)
~Fix lunch
~Clean the house (this allows for a more conducive study environment right?)
~Check online sites one more time
~Turn on the radio
~Eat Dinner
~Think about how exhausted I am
~Go to bed
~Repeat on Sunday


LOL! So as you see, I accomplish NOTHING on the weekend. It's like I work best under pressure. For instance, I have never been able to type a paper ahead of time. Do any of you procrastinate on a regular basis? How can one break this habit?

It's Been 100 Days Mr. President

As many of you know, today marks United States President Barack Obama's 100th day in office.

First and foremost, I am proud of President Obama for setting a new standard.

With that being said, we have a long road ahead of us. This is just the first 100 days of four years. It is unrealistic to think eight years of damage can be undone in a little over three months. Don't forget to factor in our latest crisis, the swine flu. What will the next 3.75 years bring? Will we see progression? Will families finally feel like they can breathe financially? Will universal healthcare be established? Will our students be EDUCATED as opposed to being taught how to barely pass competency tests?

So many questions, so little time. So readers, what does President Obama's 100th day mean to you?

Kreativ Blogger Award (Recipient)

The lovely Ms. B Write Back has passed the Kreativ Blogger Award on to me. I must say this was a nice surprise and I humbly accept. :) Check her out y'all...she is an amazing poet.




Recipients of the Kreativ Blogger Award should:

1. Post the award on your blog and link to the person who gave you the award.
   
2. List seven things you love.
3. Pass it on! List seven blogs you love and let those people know you’ve given them the award.

7 Things I Love

My Son


My Mom



Haagen Dazs Mango Ice Cream


Falling Asleep to Oldies



The Lord




My Bed



Jewelry




7 Blogs I Love

B Write Back
On the Road to Queendom
Docs Locs
CurlzNaturally
Don't Be A Slut
Natural Hair Rules
Sereni-T's Spot


Be sure to check out their blogs!!!

Progression

This is a long overdue update...and I'll try to make it short (I have the tendency to be wordy, lol). So, I thought my hair growth slowed down quite a bit...um, apparently I was wrong. I had not retwisted my hair in a while so I decided to go ahead and retwist it while I had the time to do so. I must say I was shocked at the growth. *Happy Dance* Here are a few pics...enjoy and feel free to ask any questions you may have regarding my locs, products I use, or my poetry. Thanks for reading!


Before:


After:

19 Month Update

Time is really flying. I cannot believe I've been loc'd for 19 months now. *Happy Dance* My hair looks the same and although it's still growing, I think the growth has slowed down for now.

Okay, if anyone else is having the following issue, please let me know how you've handled it. Everytime I wash my locs they tend to marry one another. This has only been happening over the last few months. I only retwist my hair after it fully dries (I do, however, spritz the roots when I retwist because I KNOW not to twist on dry hair). While my hair is drying, after a wash, I am constantly separating my locs so they don't loc together, but they still do! At the root that is. I tried something different. I used to always wear bantu knot-outs when I wanted to curl my locs and I never had this issue then. So when I washed my hair this time I decided to put my hair into bantu knots to dry. I wasn't going for the curly look, but this method of drying my hair seemed to help with the marrying issue a lot! Each loc is still separate although I haven't retwisted them. What works for you guys?

In other news, I am pleased to say that I was finally able to put my locs into one french braid w/o using an excessive amount of pins. I never pin my hair up (laziness), but I will have to start now. That is because *drumroll* I was accepted into a nursing program finally! YES!!! Let's take a moment to celebrate! Hahaha! I have to have my hair off my collar for clinical so I'm glad I finally can pin it up. My hair is so thick y'all. When I've attempted ponytails before I could only do one in the top of my head, but last night I was able to finally put my hair into a low ponytail. Hooray for another loc accomplishment, lol.

Here are a few pics, including some from my recent vacation (Hilton Head Island, South Carolina) enjoy and thanks for reading!

Vacation:





Coligny Beach


My son, the prince :)





Hair Photos:


Bantu Knot-Out





French Braid





Ponytail

Update

My locs pretty much look the same. They are much more trained, however, and are growing at a steady pace. I colored my roots around the middle of this month and that's about it!





Locs in Motion :)





I didn't wear headwraps much this winter, but I still love them!











Until next time...*Toodles*

25 Random Facts

Here are a few facts about me (taken from my facebook)...

1. My favorite color is lavender

2. I love dogs

3. Cats are okay

4. I never stop dreaming

5. I am falling in love with ice cream

6. Cooking is pleasurable

7. I am artisic

8. I love gospel, neosoul, reggae, and r&b (oldies)

9. I think this note is stupid

10. I am bored at the moment

11. Midnight Pomegranate is one of the best frangrances in the world!!!

12. I am a "girly" girl

13. I love my (dread)locs

14. I hate when people ask me is my hair loc'd

15. No, I'm not planning on cutting them anytime soon!

16. I take pictures of almost everything ROFL

17. I lose interest in people quickly

18. I love watching First 48 and almost anything on HGTV (house hunters, property virgins, etc.)

19. I CANNOT sing

20. I bite my lip habitually

21. I am cranky when I first wake up!!!

22. I have many goals, but allow God to lead me

23. I am very observant, although I pretend not to be

24. I am a procrastinator (It doesn't get me in trouble and I meet deadlines, but I'm working on it!)

25. I love my life!!!

A few more recent pics:

Loc Update

I have now been loc'd for 16 months and thought I'd share a couple of pics. The first pic is 13 months, and the second is approximately 14 months. Enjoy!

Dreaming

Day in and day out

I think of you

Wondering what this is all about

Dreaming again

Of your touch

Of your embrace

Of your warmth

Of your grace

I more than want you

I need you here with me

So we can be...yeah...

So we can



Just



BE



I long for your smile

I long for your kiss

I long for that feeling

That feeling called bliss

When I smile

I can feel you smiling back at me

Baby please

Make my dream a reality

Innumerable Fires

As I sit in this room

Filled with background noises

The fan humming, television going

All I can hear is

You

Soft murmurs of reassurance

As you give me that "okay" touch

Reminding me that you don't require much

As each breath escapes your lips

Fingertips gently explore

Causing a wiggle in my hips

A double dose of caramel

What could be sweeter?

You don't plan to stop

And I don't want you to either

I wildly begin to pulsate

My river runs as you unlock the gate

You fit me like a hand in glove

And with every thrust I get a taste of your love

I confirm my pleasure with an audible moan

Causing you to reach deeper

Deeper

You feel so damn good we gotta pause this sex

Only for me to take the reigns next

Straddled

Your back arches as I commence my pole dance

These hoola-hoopin' hips have got you in a trance

You spank me on the rear

To inform me that your peak is near

Shortly after, you climax

We catch our breaths

And our hearts beat as one

And to think

We're not nearly done...

Survey

How many people have you kissed in '08 that actually meant something? 1

Last person you went swimming with? Son

Have you ever kissed anyone who's name started with a J, K, M, or D? Yes

Are you a forgiving person? Yes

Do you have any plans for tomorrow? Yes

What color shirt are you wearing? Green

Who was the last person you took a picture with? Son

Have you ever told anyone you were okay when you really weren't? Yes

Are you mad at someone right now? No

When was the last time you were extremely disappointed? Last Week

Would you live with someone without marrying them? No

Have you kissed someone in the last forty eight hours? Yes

Could you last an hour without talking? Yes

How was your day? Good

Do you currently have a hickey? No

Do you have unlimited texting? No

How many texts are in your inbox? 40

Are you tired right now? Yes

Where is your phone? On the couch

What is bothering you right now? Nothing

What do you want to be when you grow up? Wealthy AND Happy

Last place you went out to eat? Publix

When was the last time you were truly, completely happy with your life? Now

Has anyone ever told you you have pretty eyes? Yes

Where does most of your family live? None of your business

Do you drink coffee? Occasionally

What was your first thought this morning? Thank you Jesus!

Have your parents ever caught you drinking? I'm grown

Has someone ever spread a nasty rumor about you? No

What is better McDonalds or Wendy's? Wendy's

Are you addicted to anything? Snacks, lol

You're trapped in a room for 3 days with your worst enemy what do you do ? Pray ;o)

You're stuck on an elevator with the person you've fallen the hardest for, what happens? I tell them how I feel

You weigh 700 pounds, do you get liposuction or lose the weight manually? manually

Your best friend of the opposite sex likes you, what do you do? Depends on if I like them.

Have you ever liked someone on your top friends? Yes

Your boyfriend/girlfriend finds out they have AIDS, do you get yourself tested? YES

If you ever wanna live to see another day, you're forced to snort cocaine, do you do it? No

What about shoot up heroin? No

If you woke up in one of the Saw movies, do you think you could survive? Yes

You have to dye your hair a different color for the rest of your life, what color do you choose? Blonde

Someone asks you on a date, where do you wanna go? To eat, lol

You have to get a facial piercing, what do you get? Nose

You have to get a tattoo, where and what do you get? Neck back

When's the last time you were in a photobooth taking pictures with friends? 15 y/o

Are you mad about anything? No

Your good friend is getting beat up real bad in a fight, do you help out? Yes

Are you listening to music? No

When's the last time you had a birthday party? 11 y/o

Are you planning on/going to college? Yes

Do you smoke weed everyday? No

Is the moon out? Yes

Could you go a month without cursing? Yes

Are you currently reading a book? No

Have you ever ridden a horse? Yes

What's the funniest movie you've ever seen? Money Talks

Would you strip for a million dollars? No

Are you scared of sharks? Yes

You can take one friend on vacation with you (no boyfriends/girlfriends), who? Dunno

Have you met your dream guy/girl? No

Your friend has bulimia, what do you do? Tell them to get help

Who's the last person you had a sleepover with? lol, can't say

You get arrested, what for? Nothing

What are you wearing? Shirt, Jeans

Have you ever been called 'scene'? No

Abortion; yes or no? No

Next president? Obamaaaaaaaaa!!!

July 12, 2008

For the first time, at least the first time in a loooong time, I don't know what to feel. I feel upset, angry, and sad simultaneously...then 2 minutes later I feel nonchalant. Mentally and emotionally I am drained!!! I'm sick of thinking about tomorrow when tomorrow will take care of itself. I'm sick of waiting on people to do what they're supposed to do...changing my plans out of consideration when they ain't trynna do the same. Then people wonder why I blow the fuck up out of nowhere. Constantly suppressing your feelings to spare someone else's will eat your ass up! I'm not going to lose sleep over an idiass because I'm holding my feelings in. Fuck that! Let me refresh some of y'alls memory: I will tell you what I feel whether you like it or not and if you can't handle it...let it eat at you like maggots on shit.

Product Review

If you're looking for a quick, gentle way to better cleanse your face check out Neutrogena's latest product, the Wave. It's battery operated to give you a gentle facial massage; and the battery is included. I love this little gadget, my skin is much softer already (4 days). The Wave comes with 14 cleansing pads (a two-week supply) and refills are sold in a 30 pack. Go to www.neutrogena.com/wave to get a 3.00 off refill coupon.

June 2, 2008

15 Things You Don't Know About Women

1. Women judge a man by the women in his life. Do you only date twenty-two-year-old editorial assistants? Is your mother a cold society matron? Are your only female friends ex-girlfriends? This aspect of us is not mere female cattiness but a deeply meaningful examination of your ethical place in the world.

2. We will never believe you if you say you don't have a type -- we'll just assume you do and it's not us. The last thing a girl wants to hear is that while, yes, you can't deny that in the past you've been strongly attracted to large-breasted dark women, we're just so wonderful that you find yourself falling for our fair, small-breasted physique. Even if you truly believe you don't have one type, make it easy for us and yourself: Tell us you do, always have, and you're looking right at it -- and hide all the pictures of your brunette ex-girlfriends.

3. Never underestimate the effect the shape of your ass in your Levi's might have on a woman.

4. Women eventually outgrow their attraction to assholes. It's important for a woman to date an asshole in her twenties as she fills out her relationship résumé, reads Goethe and Harold Brodkey, and builds sufficient character and experience to participate in the intense female-bonding ritual of heartbreak consolation. But as we get older, all those underwhelming but trustworthy guys we hadn't been giving any play have learned how to dress, lost their baby fat, and are hot as hell.

5. We get over you sooner than you think. Officially, that is. (You really don't want to know how quickly we're recycling your favorite songs into a mix tape for our back-on-the-market party.)

6. Women lust after younger men the same way men lust after younger women. But we don't marry them and let them take all our money.

7. Not all women love to shop. Regardless, we all hate "Shop-a-holic" novelty gifts -- T-shirts, memo pads, refrigerator magnets -- depicting a crazy-eyed woman engulfed in shopping bags and holding a smoking credit card. (We do, however, get a kick out of refrigerator magnets that say things like HEY, FAT ASS, THE LOVE YOU CRAVE AIN'T IN HERE!)

8. The "psycho ex-girlfriends" from generations past are today referred to as "Mom."

9. Pro-choice women feel a tiny bit bad that you have no voice in the fate of your unborn child. The same way you feel a tiny bit bad that we make only seventy cents for every dollar you earn. Yeah, we plan to do nothing about it, either.

10. Women have only one Halloween costume. It is a slut. You may be thinking, Wait, I've seen women dressed as sexy witches, sexy cats, sexy hoboes. ... But I assure you they were all dressed as sluts dressed as witches, cats, and hoboes. For us, Halloween is solely an opportunity to wear the whorish clothes we chastise true-blue sluts for wearing year-round.

11. Women produce half the world's food but own only 1 percent of its farmland. So we're fine with you picking up the tab. And after about three thousand dinners at Nobu, we should be even.

12. Women like porn, too. We just hate it when you hide the porn.

13. Women remember everything. Don't believe me? Ask your girlfriend where you met. She won't tell you it was at a party. She'll say it was a Thursday, she had just come from dinner, where she ate a veggie burger, and she was wearing her friend Cathy's pink top, which was big on her because Cathy is a big girl. You were wearing a blue button-down, drinking a Jack and Coke with two straws, and talking to Bill, that mutual friend. She waved and you gave her the "what's up" nod. This still infuriates her. ("How could you give me the nod?")

14. We think it's weird when you watch sports and concentrate to help your team.

15. Women hear better than men. That's before you even factor in listening skills and attention spans. Come to think of it, I should have listed this one first because I'm sure I've lost you by now.

May 30, 2008

These are just random thoughts:

First and foremost do not let this crazy society that we live in define you. Be your own person and take control over your life.

Before you act on those impulses, think about what you're doing and who you're doing it with!!! Take your time and get to know your love interest before you dive into a serious/long-term relationship. If it is meant to be, then it will be. The divorce rate has significantly increased and there are a large number of marriages that don't make it past the newlywed stage. Just remember, look deep before you leap; it will save you a lot of heartache.

Cherish your true friends. They are few and far in between these days.

Never give up on your dreams. No matter how far away they seem and regardless of your age. Dreams give us that extra push to that next opportunity. Dreams make us think outside of the box. Dreams breathe life into us.

Long time...

Wow I haven't posted a blog in almost 8 months...that's a good thing because it means I have been BUSY. Today is a gorgeous Saturday and I have spent it doing absolutely nothing for a change. Yaay! If I'm not at one school I'm at the other and if I'm not in class I'm doing somebody's hair; so today is a good day. I have come a loooong way compared to a year ago and I thank God for every opportunity I have been given. I am finally graduating, with a 4.0, and I am ecstatic, but this is just the beginning for me...I am looking forward to many more opportunities THIS YEAR and in 2009. If you are reading this, know that God is an AWESOME God and He will never fail you. Sometimes we cannot understand why our lives have been detoured, or rerouted altogether, but He has the ultimate plan for us; a plan that is bigger and better than what we see for ourselves, we just have to TRUST God and have faith in Him and everything will fall into place. Amen

Open Your Eyes...and Ye Shall SEE!

I have asked God more than once to show me what people's motives really are, the last time being early this year. I also pray that my spirit be receptive.

Well, God has never failed me. Unlike a few years ago, I am not confused and stuck trying to figure people out.

Recently, some people from my past have been contacting me all of a sudden. I'm like...wait...what does so and so want? I'm not saying that EVERYONE must have an ulterior motive, but these are people that I have no reason to talk to. My friendship with them didn't end on a sour note either, but each time we went our seperate ways and again there is NO reason for me to converse with them. So, eyebrow raised and phone in hand I check my messages. It's the ol' mundane "Hey M*****, I am just calling to see how you are doing, I haven't talked to you in a while...okay, bye." I blow it off. Two days later here comes someone else leaving a voicemail for me. I can't even remember the last time I talked to this person.

When things like this happen I take a step back and let people reveal themselves. It is so easy to get caught up in the moment when you should take yourself out of the situation and let things pan out. So I did just that. I was thinking (a) these people are idle and decided to call just because, (b) [ulterior motive theory goes here], or (c) this is a test, the devil is trying to distract me.

It's not coincidental that when you are doing what you are supposed to people full of negativity come your way. When I was going through my season of trials and confusion no one was interested in "how I was doing". Now that I can see clearly here comes all of the naysayers and the ooh and ahhers. This has happened time and time again and it is a part of life. When you're down and out you are the last thing on anyone's mind, but when you are BLESSED those same people swarm around you like bees trying to suck up your milk and honey. What do you call them? Um, frenemies. I don't think there's a such thing, but I know they're my enemies. "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies." Psalm 23:5

If you are ever in doubt of someone's intentions, take a step back and ask God to reveal them to you; you will receive your answer.

Be Blessed.

The Road to Locdom

I have embarked on yet another journey... locdom. I must say this is one of the best decisions I've made in my life. It is not an easy journey and it has taught me so much about myself... including how much more patient I need to be. I have maintained my hair myself from the initial twists until now, with the exception of one visit to a loctician a couple of weeks ago to make sure I was doing everything right. I have no idea if and when I will go back because that's 70 dollarsUS I can keep in my pocket and retwist myself. I wash my hair every week and let it dry in the sun if the weather's nice. If not, I towel dry it. I wash with Jamaican Mango Lime Shampoo and condition with the protein conditioner from the same line. That is pretty much it besides oiling my scalp (burgamot grease) from time to time. I know you shouldn't use any products with oil, but my scalp needs oil! When I retwist I use Jamaican Mango Lime Creme Wax. The shampoo clarifies well so I haven't had a problem with product build-up. Oh, and I spritz my scalp with water in the morning if it's itchy. I have a pretty simple routine I think. I will share some photos of my progress (none from the loctician visit) so far and keep you all posted as I emerge!

Twists: So I did these twists for my 1 year nappyversary and decided to loc with them:



Shrinkage:



Month 2: Starting to see a LOT of fuzziness...so I'm moving right along:




Bantu Knot Out:





That's my progress up til today!