A New Start, A New Me

anngilbert1227@aol.com has a new email address

2011-10-26T13:22:00.001-07:00

TrueSwitch

anngilbert1227@aol.com has a new e-mail address.

Old E-mail Address: anngilbert1227@aol.com

New E-mail Address:lakishagilbert@aol.com

Hello,

I have switched my e-mail address from anngilbert1227@aol.com to lakishagilbert@aol.com. Please be sure to update your Address Book and use my new e-mail address from now on.

Thank You!

lakishagilbert@aol.com

Check out the new AOL. Most comprehensive set of free safety and security tools, free access to millions of high-quality videos from across the web, free AOL Mail and more.

2 yrs and 9mos

2011-09-19T22:43:00.007-07:00

Its only been 9 months since my last bathroom photoshoot, but my hair growth has been amazing even to me.

2 yrs and 9 days

1 yr

2 yrs and 9 mos 2

2011-09-19T22:43:00.005-07:00

2 yrs and 9 mos 3

2011-09-19T22:43:00.003-07:00

2 yrs and 9 mos 4

2011-09-19T22:43:00.001-07:00

Throw Backs- April 2010 #1

2011-01-17T08:31:00.001-08:00

Throw Backs- April 2010 #2

2011-01-17T08:29:00.001-08:00

Throw Backs- April 2010 #3

2011-01-17T08:24:00.001-08:00

Throw Backs- April 2010 #4

2011-01-17T08:20:00.001-08:00

Having a little fun with styling and makeup

2011-01-11T22:19:00.000-08:00

I haven't styled my hair in a while now due to me being so busy as a hairstylist. Crazy right? While I spending time making others beautiful, I neglect myself. I know I know.... Well the other night I was in the mood and spent a little time with me

And then I HAD to go into my collection of makeup to satisfy my inner Diva....

I was oh so serious wasn't I? I laugh at myself :D

Toodles..

My Baby is Finally All Natural!!!

2011-01-10T18:10:00.000-08:00

Do you remember my post "Looking Out for Our Girls by Eva" ? This was a post about a woman who goes to pick up her daughter from the child's grandmother house and the child's hair is relaxed. Well I had a similar experience. To fast forward, I decided grow the relaxer out of my daughter's hair. It's been about 16 months of talking to my daughter about her hair. Telling her her hair is beautiful, letting her touch and watch my hair grow. Putting her hair in twists, cornrows, extentions, everything. The only thing I left up to her was when I was going to cut the relaxed ends off. Well, MY BABY told me she wanted the ends cut off yesterday and here she is........

All Natural!!!

If it moves you to leave a comment please say something encouraging to my baby who is on her own natural hair journey respectfully.

I'll let her read them for encouragement.

Proud Momma signing off :)

Happy New Year!!

2011-01-02T10:24:00.000-08:00

So in my last post I announced that I had been challenged to get into shape. Well a couple of years ago, I found this website called Sparkpeople.com. and fell in love with it. There I could track my progress and also get great free tips. So I went back there to update my account and link it to facebook. Yes facebook for all of my friends to see. What was I thinking? I don't know, but I did and so now I'm motivated to produce results. I enjoy reading articles and getting recipes there. I understand that getting into shape should be a lifestyle change and not just some temporary diet phase, know what I mean?

I have been on my new journey of the more healthy slender me for 2 weeks now and have lost 14 pounds. I say I'm off to a good start. Yeah, BF knows he's in trouble :)

If you decide to take a peek at Spark People look me up....my username is At_My_Strongest

I have been challenged!!

2010-12-22T10:21:00.000-08:00

Chuckles...My BF decided it was smart of him to challenge me to get into shape by summer of 2011. Almost with a hint of "if you can" in his voice. *Not so smart for him* I am such a competitor and what he doesn't know is that before he wanted to challenge me on such a thing I had already began to put my plan into place. Hmmph. But I have a secret weapon. Buwahahaaa...~evil laugh~ I want to become vegetarian. I figure I would give it a try and if I didn't like it then I would eat meat again. Well folks, I have been eating only veggie meals for about a week and I gotta say I love it. I love to eat different tasty foods. I have found so many easy to make, low costing, delicious veggie meals that this dude is gonna loose his money. I mean, I started with this because come December 27th I'll be a sexy 30 year old chick and I need to start taking my health seriously. Winning this challenge will be all the more sweeter. ;) I will not loose!

I know I'm following some one's blog who has a wealth of vegetarian meals. I'm going to go look for that now. If any of you guys have suggestions or recipes for a new vegetarian on a shoestring budget, then please share chile!

Yeah, he smiles now....

come summer time I'll have the waistline, the health, and sheer enjoyment of victory!!

and of course braggin rights! :)

Comparisons- Happy 2 Years to me!!!

2010-12-15T23:20:00.000-08:00

1. 9 months

2. 16 months

3. 9 months

4. 22 months

and the rest, 2 years and 9 days to be exact! Can't believe I've made it this far :)

The pic to the right (10 mos)

Oh my gosh! I'm so amazed at the growth between now and at 16 months. This is crazy. I have to make a confession. I am a DIYer and last month I HAD to go to a salon to get my hair retigtened. I kept falling behind. So half of my head had 2 inches of new growth and the other half about .5 inches. Don't laugh. Between working and everyday life, I couldn't find the time to complete my whole head. Smh. Well now I have all of my hair caught up to the same and plan to keep it that way. The salon visit cost me 85 bucks. Ouch!

I will caution those of you who latch or interlock your own locs. This experience of mine cause me to loose 2 locs. The reason why you might ask? I still play in my hair. I know. Sad but true. By doing so with so much new growth, I would snag my hair at the root causing the base of those locs to become weak. So they popped. No worries. Lesson learned. I now have 2 puffs of hair in those areas, that no one can see, that will grow into healthy locs.

"Inty" way... enjoy the pics!

Hope you guys can see the pics well. Y'all know how these camera phones can be :)

I still walk the earth amongst you.

2010-10-20T11:38:00.000-07:00

Girls night on the town

I'm coming back you guys. I just have to get my computer up and running again. My digital camera died on me a couple of months ago so im still in mourning. Heehe

I am now in month 22.

curly locks

exhausted at a hairshow

17 Mos.

2010-05-19T22:39:00.000-07:00

Folks, some months have passed without pics to update. Here is month 17.

So my locs are growing fast but there's not much change as for my hair actually locking as far as I can see. Well, what do I know?

Look what I can do. Finally.

The sunny day put me in the mood to pose after a fresh reti

What is that catching the sunlight?

My peacock loc adornment

There's nothing like a good pair of earrings to add a little "extra" to the hair

Watchout nah!

Multimedia message

2010-03-22T20:35:00.001-07:00

So I'm trying to work this mobile feature on blogger so that I can use my iPhone to take pics and post entries while my digital camera is still in rehab. This pic is just me free styling which is what I often do nowadays. More pics to come!

Multimedia message

2010-03-22T08:17:00.001-07:00

Diva moment

Multimedia message

2010-03-22T08:14:00.001-07:00

eNTSvA MOMENTS

Diva moments

I'm coming back

2010-03-18T15:51:00.000-07:00

Hello all,
I'm just making a short post to inform you guys that I am coming back. Life has been so crazy as you all know it can get that way. I probably have 3 weeks or so to go in cosmetology school as I had to juggle school and finding work to pay for tuition. Can I get an amen? My locks are out of control! Oh how I love them. They are truly growing faster than I can keep up my retights. Oddly enough they are showing some length but I think I'm hitting the stage where they are starting to compact as well. Most of my locks from my crown down to the nape and as well around my temples have closed ends. The apex of my head is a different story. This is where my locs are truly my own. They are curly loose end rebels up top. Anywho, it has been 15 months since I've started my loc journey. I promise pics are coming soon. That is when I can figure out my digital camera. :)

All moved in

2010-01-17T12:07:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!!

Ok, so it took me all the way to the 17th to say it. I'm all moved in to my new apartment. I wish I could hire someone to come unpack and decorate for free :) It's been 3 weeks or so since being laid off and I've had a few of my clients over to my home. I think this will work out while trying to finish school. As for school, I'm going day and night now to try to graduate early and go for my license.
My hair still looks great, but my scalp took a sort of beating due to me being outside in the cold moving and such. It's just so dry. What I did notice was that my scalp was not white. Yea!!! Dry, but not white. I think my scalp is finally coming around to not being slathered with petroleum or mineral oil. I did a oil treatment sort of. I shampooed my hair like normal then I used Anti-Itch Scalp Oil by Organic Root Stimulator concentrating on my scalp. Left it there for a few minutes while I finished my shower then rinsed followed by a vinegar rinse. It was very soothing, however I don't think I'll use it every time as it soften my hair. Thankfully none of my locs came undone. My hair has grown alot and it's amazing. My locs are still a little fuzzy, but I charge that to my hair type and I'm ok with it. I haven't been doing alot to my hair lately, just free stylin'. It's been 13 months and I'm still totally in love with my locs!
Well I'm off to catch up on everyone. Bye for now.

The puff, I love this style!

Opps! caught a glimpse of the dryer in my kitchen salon.

Awwl..look at my little baby. Yep, that's one of the ones I chopped off about a year ago. Hasn't it grown nicely?

The locs on the bottom are starting to seal and become round on the ends. The top and crown of my head, not so much.

"Wow, you are going to have alot of locs!" Told to me by an amazed spectator.

Good Bye, Hello

2009-12-22T07:30:00.000-08:00

1 day left before I say good bye to some friends and coworkers. As of December 23rd we will come to feel the effects of our wounded economy and face a lay-off. I've worked for my employer for the last two years. It won't be easy, but I'm optimistic. I welcome the change actually. It comes in a timely manner with other things that have changed in my life...

I've found myself newly single-again. No worries. There comes at time in an adult life that when things are not working, move on. No regrets. No drama. I'm reminded of a Tyler Perry play when Madea saids "When you're in your teens and twenties you make stupid mistakes cause you are trying to find yourself. But come 30, a light comes on and you get some sense... If a light don't come on, Check ya bulb. Check ya bulb. (Lol).

I'm moving soon. Not to my house yet, but definitely a better place than where I live now. I definitely feel that this move is a good decision for me full of opportunity and closer to my circle of family and friends.

And I'll be working on putting myself out more to start building a clientele for my hair care business. I'll start with natural hair and braiding as this doesn't require a license in the state of North Carolina. To tell you the truth, I like working with natural hair better any way. I felt so good talking a grandmother out of relaxing her 7 and 8 year old granddaughters' hair. I asked what she would hope to accomplish in relaxing their hair. She said to make it easier for me or any other stylist to work on their hair. Wrong answer for me. In this scenerio I was the expert and I acted as such. I told her there was absolutely nothing wrong with their hair and I would be glad to service them both. I told her that relaxing their hair would cause more harm than good if not properly tended to and at 7 and 8 it wouldn't be good. She thanked me for my honesty and I preceded to braid her grandbaby's beautifully big coily hair. (Warm feelings)

So I say Hello, to what lies ahead for me. To seek out new and wonderful opportunities, to boldly go where I've never gone before (kinda). I've had to start over before, but now I'm ready to embrace what I know that I am ~a strong woman~
Here I am again at a new start, embarking upon a new me...
What a ride this will be

I need suggestions

2009-12-09T09:01:00.000-08:00

First let me say that I can't believe I'm going to show this to you guys. But I can't help but feel that if I don't ask then I will never come up with a solution. And probably someone else is having the same dilemma, so here goes ladies...

Hair that is in my hand and down below it is what is complete. Also some hair on the sides is complete. In one day! I'm excited.

But.......

Ok, so it's been about 4 weeks since I last reti my hair. I started Monday, but didn't reti any yesterday. Let me just mark it as 1 day of reti complete. So I have the entire top of my head to do and here's my problem. Because I can't spend alot of time on my hair in one sitting, I have to come up with a way to style my hair and mark where I left of. On Monday I spent approx. 6 hours on my hair throughout the day because it's my day off. For the rest of the days I can only spend about 2 or 3 hours. Because I'm new to doing this myself, takes me about 3 to 4 days to complete. So how can I style my hair over a 3 day period that is decent? Or what can I do to keep my place in the World of Thick Strands?

This is how I wore today and it is horrible, but what else can I do? Any suggestions my sistas?
What's in the bun is what is needing a reti. This is still alot of hair. It would probably take me 4 hours. I go a little faster in the front because I can see.

awaiting what great ideas you have for me...

Sos....Sos....Sos...

My first loc year!!!

2009-12-07T08:16:00.000-08:00

It seemed like a year was centuries away last December but here I am. Locs and all. My locs have been through a lot in the last year.

First there was the holey locs...in my first month as well as cutting some of my relaxed ends on a whim...
The dilemma of two hair textures..in the 5th month
The demise of my relaxed ends month 7
Contemplating taking my locs down because of the parts not being straight and what I decided to do in months 8 and 9

and my locks today...

Curls from my curly mohawk done 2 or 3 days prior

The rubberbands for the 2 lower pony tails popped, so I was left with this half up half down do. Still cute I think.

I would like to put up some comparison shots. Can anyone tell me which photo program that I can use to do such things as collages?

Happy Happy Napday to me!

Re: Cshan's Curly Mohawk

2009-11-29T21:02:00.000-08:00

I don't think my sections were up high enough, but cute enough style to start the work week.

Instead of putting it all up, I kept a fringe.

My crown

A tidbit-Retigtening

2009-11-20T13:03:00.000-08:00

Sooo...I decided to retighten my hair 4 to 5 weeks instead of 6 to 8. It doesn't sound like much of a time difference, but trust and believe that it is. I finished my retight in 2 days. I combined about 5 in various areas of my head due to feeling like they were hanging on by 4 or 5 strands. I cheated a little. I was retightening my hair in class at school. Heheheheee. What? I was still doing hair. Well I let one of my classmates experience the mighty 4 point rotation with the nappy loc tool. I showed her how to complete a rotation and then allowed her to do a few. I even got her to correct some of my locs with holes in them. She did a very good job and for free.

Hmmmm........

Maybe I'll try to convince the instructor to allow me to teach a class on natural locks, interlocking or latching method.
I feel creative thinking flowing

11 months

2009-11-09T10:25:00.000-08:00

It will be 11 months on thursday so I decided to post today. I'm always late posting on my monthly updates, why not post early? So here goes....

I'm experiencing kamikaze hair balls. I've read of the little hair balls that form at the end of your locs and that it's just a part of the locking process, but mine are all over the place. They are not staying attached. I find them on my desk, on my shirt, and in my bed. I wonder why my hair is shedding so.

This weekend past, was the first time I shampooed my hair without B&B. It was great and my curly q's are back. Maybe because in the past I was braiding or twisting all the way to the end, not allowing my texture to curl in the moisture. Hmmm.. I don't know, but that's my theory.

a few pics for ya.....

fake it to you make it puff

flakes minimized (for now)

I have to give that herbal cleanse a try Ms. Fullroller

See my little hair ball down on the right?

One of the few that hasn't jumped off my head.

You make have to click on the picture to see it.

A hair pin holding down the rebels of the front. I really like my puff. I can't keep my hands out of it.

The funnies: I have to laugh at myself. I don't take myself seriously sometimes because I'm soo funny. So here I am thinking I'm posting my update early and happen to look at my side bar and my installation date and realized I'm 2 days behind. I'm such a hoot! :D

More Pics To Share

2009-11-04T07:54:00.000-08:00

Pictures of my friend's 40th birthday bash. She made us dress up, ya'll.

No, I wasn't singing, but if I was my face looks like I was "sangin" or at least that old-mother-of-the-wooden-church-in-the-back-of-the-woods humming. Some y'all know what I'm talking about. :-D

Million Dollars Smiles!

~Poor thing. He had scrunch down to get close to me and I had on heels!~

He Likes it

2009-11-03T11:29:00.000-08:00

I've read in so many blogs that there is a huge fear of women of color going natural. One reason that sticks with me is the reason they believe that their man or men in general won't find them attractive. I've also read in many blogs that that simply is not true and this I know for a fact.
My significant other loves my hair and he's not the only one. While at work, a gentleman strolls into the front lobby digging for info. A rep looking for a contact name to push a sales pitch to. I inform him that the facility would be closing in a month and so no new contracts or contacts would be made. He offers his apologies for the apparent job loss I would be experiencing in the near future and asked what would I do. I explained to him that I was a student of cosmetology and I would be focusing on my studies the more to graduate. He tells me that his wife is a stylist and loves what she does. He goes go on to explain that his wife is tackling to expand her target market to African-American clients. (That's right. He and his wife are caucasian.) I explained to him that most stylists feel that there is a huge difference in african descent hair and caucasian hair. The truth is, its not. What's different is the texture and therefore maintenance. Other than that hair is hair. It all needs to be cleansed, conditioned and nourished just the same. You just have to learn how to apply proper care to hair texture that is coily or very tightly curled, I explained. Very interested, he asks the super loaded question that he probably had no idea what it meant to a black woman. "Why do African-American women straightened their hair? I think yours is beautiful the way that it is and it's natural, correct?" I thanked him for the compliment and told him yes that it is indeed natural. But there was no way I could explain to him in totality my views as to why we as black women straighten our hair without taking up the rest of his day and mine. I simply explained to him, my personal reason and that was because my mother relaxed my hair while I was still in kindergarten maybe even as early as preschool. "For me, it was all I knew." "Well", he starts again, " I sure think your hair is beautiful and it looks as though you put some time into making it look so." Yes I do put time/work into the upkeep of my locs. As I did when I relaxed it. Except now this is my texture, the natural me. I thanked him again and he went his merry way with a good bye and a good luck to me.
Which brings me back to men, all types of men, love natural hair. Not all men do, but don't believe that there are just 1 or 2 out there admiring your natural coils. There are plenty of them that are secretly admiring you. All wide eyed in amazement at your gravity defying curls. Mesmerized by the appearence of softness that resembles cotton. Longing to know what it feels like. In complete awe of your beauty and confidence. They are out there do you see them?

Hair for a formal

2009-10-26T11:30:00.000-07:00

Hair pinned up above the ears on both sides.

What I used: Water and two hair pins.

~Maybe next time I'll be more creative~

Pics at 10 mos

2009-10-26T11:08:00.000-07:00

Well, I've found that dogone usb cord. Let's just say if it was a snake, it would had bit me :-)

Ok, so my ends are not exactly curly q's. Maybe, I'll call them curly s's? I don't know.

I have a little problem with flakes as you can see around my hairline. It's gotta much better. My scalp use to be completely white. I have stopped the use of mineral oil and petroleum since being locked. Maybe that has something to do with my scalp's improvement. Still I wonder if there's anything else I could try to get rid of these flakes without jepodizing the integrity of my locs.

My favorite pic. My locs doing their own thang.

a closer look. Uhmm...Please disregard the look on my face. I can't explain.

There's no excuse. lol.

top of my head. My scalp a little white. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

My rebels in the right corner. I love these babies.

Final pic, me trying to be cute.

Where's that durn USB cord?

2009-10-20T11:30:00.000-07:00

I've been holding out writing a post because I can't find my usb cord for my camera to download pics. Well I couldn't take it anymore and just had to update. I'll upload pics when I find or buy a new usb cord.
I'm now 10 months into my loc journey. I believe my locs are coming along fine.

I'm on day 3 of retightening my locs now. I have about 50% complete with the use of a nappylock tool. I keep encouraging myself that one of these days I'll be retightening my hair and won't even think about it. It'll be like second nature, taking only 2 or 3 days to complete instead of 4 and 5. It took a whopping 3 hours to complete only the nape area of my head! I never really had respect for how thick my hair is until I became natural and started doing it myself. I tell you, I thought that having approx. 375 locs was a little number, but now I'm grateful that I don't have more. It's a wonderful experience though. I'm learning alot about my hair, about it's texture, it's diameter, and density. I'm enjoying watching my locs change and grow. It's almost like tending to a garden. Having to make sure that the soil (scalp) can nourish seed (hair) growth by making sure there is plenty of moisture and nutrients. Also like a garden, my locs need love and care.

My hair is a looser coil type in texture and with medium diameter which probably means it'll take a year and a half to two years to completely lock. I have locs in the top of my head that still come a loose after 10 months. Only about 2 or 3 but it's ok. I'm learning to accept. I just braid, twist, or interlock it back and keep it moving. Since cutting my relaxed ends off, I've entered into the realm of the curly q's. I've read that they may seal up as time progress or maybe they won't. It doesn't matter to me. I may just end up with with some sealed ends and some curly q's. Talk about individuality! Speaking of that, it took me a good little time to accept that my locs won't look like the ones I see in the blogs everyday. They may not be as beautifully big and bold as Brunsli's or as long and manicured as Blaqkofi's, or look like any other of the beautiful heads of locs that I see everyday. But what they are and will be is mine. The more I let my locs be, the more compliments and stares I get. Not saying that I'm seeking those things, it's just I've taken noticed that when I try to make my unruly locs lie down or try to make them lay a certain way I get comments like "Your hair looks nice." When I let them be in a free style or wash-n-go, I get comments "You look so pretty!" "You're a beautiful woman." I know it sounds crazy, but it's true. I noticed how comments changed from being aimed for my hair to being directed to me. Can anyone figure that out?

Some of you know that I'm a part time student of cosmetology. I have another blog at http://www.cosmetstudent.blogspot.com/ that serves as a portfolio as well as a marker of my developement to becoming a professional in the arts of cosmetics. I am also a full time receptionist and have been for the past 2 years. Why am I saying this? Because the latter is about to change. As of December 23rd of this year the state that our economy is in will hit home. I will be loosing my job 2 days before christmas. I wanted to blog about it because it's bitter-sweet for me. While I'm concern about getting another job, I know the Lord has some awesome plans for me because I believe that. I was wondering how I was gonna leave my job after graduation. I was thinking how I am grateful for my job, I was becoming increasingly not interested in it. Basically, I was bored. Then the announcement of the lay-off and I was shocked, but relieved, because I know that this is a door closing so that another one opens to...
a new chapter in my life, a new season, a new start, A New Me.

Make'em Think

2009-09-17T06:39:00.000-07:00

I decided to post some of the things that are said to me from time to time about me locking my hair. Some are down right rude and some are really curious questions. Sometimes I'll say things back to make them think.
I'll keep posting under this label as comments, questions and opinions come my way. I'm sure there's loads to look forward to.

If I had a comb right na, I would get to your head and take that mess out.

Have I ever called your hair "mess"?

No, I just can't stand for a woman to go around with a nappy head. Theres too many ways to do ya hair fo you go 'round like that.

Like what? Nappy? You do know your hair is nappy don't you? Maybe you don't. You've probably never seen your natural hair have you? I can tell you this, it's not all that silky and shiney! Who told you it was ok to walk around like that, with your hair all straight? There's way too many ways to wear your natural nappy hair. (This conversation was with a family member)

I can't believe you went and did that to your hair.

Did what? Stop relaxing it? You can't believe that I stopped using a chemical that is use to dissolve hair from sink drains? Did you catch that? The chemical in relaxer is the SAME chemical that is use to DISSOLVE hair in sink drains. And you can't believe I stopped? Seriously?

What are you doing?

Retightening my hair

And you have to do that to all those tiny things on your head?

Yep.

Girl, you know that's a lifetime committment doncha?

Yep. You do know that if you don't wear your hair naturally, it's a lifetime committment relaxing it or keeping it straight, don't you?

True. True.

Say what! Say huh? 9 months! Get Out!

2009-09-15T13:20:00.000-07:00

9 months

No more relaxed ends (for the most part). But now my natural ends are doing some funky things

Like being frizzy and sticking up and out.

Some of my locs have curly rounded ends instead of the wild friz

The top is really the only part that sticks out due to the length (I guess). My hair is shorter on top.

No straight parts, but I'm starting to be ok with it. It's like I love my locs much more than the parts. Straight parts would have been nice, but now they're not worth the progression of my locs.

My new friend. Yep, I'm on the way to becoming a do-it-myself person (however you say it)

Using the nappy lock tool is sooo much easier for me, than using other tools that I personally made.

Looking Out for Our Girls by Eva

2009-09-02T08:34:00.000-07:00

Looking Out for Our Girls
By: Eva

An article I read on The Coil Review. This has actually happen to me and I was just thinking, what am I going to do?

The unthinkable happened to one mother one summer evening while her daughter was visiting at grandma’s. After a whole day to herself of summer revelry, she walks up her mother in law’s steps and stops upon hearing her daughter’s scream of delight from the direction of the backyard. Going around the side, the mother walks toward the back and slowly sees a little girl similar to her daughter shaking her pin straight hair running every which way. With a hostile glare at grandma, the mother volcanically demands with a voice unheard before today, “What did you do?” Her mother-in-law glides to the side of her granddaughter, saying matter-of-factly, “We got her hair relaxed, and it’s about time. She couldn’t wear her nappy hair forever. You don’t have to pay me now, but the salon receipt is on the kitchen counter.” Resembling Princess Jasmine from Aladdin, her daughter squeals, “Now Mommy my hair is like yours.” Needless to say, the next words out of the mother’s mouth were not rated for Disney.

and this is my comment:

I have had this happen to me! My child's hair is relaxed and it was done so with out my permission. Now when I tell her father and HIS mother (who are the culprits) that I want her to be natural and start to grow out her perm, he saids to me "Should we wait until she's old enough to make that decision?" Our daughter is eight now and her hair was relaxed around the time she just turned 7. I said to him, "That should had been the thing to ASK when you and your mother decided to relax her hair, hmmph!"
But now, what do I do? Her father is now married to a white woman (which has nothing to do with her race, but more about her hair) and when our daughter is with him, she sees his wife with her straight hair and their children (her siblings) with a looser texture of hair. How do I compete? Or rather how do I teach her about her own natural hair? My hair is in the teenage stage of the locking process. So now I have all my kinks,coils, and fuzzies in all it's glory.

What to do?~~ Kiki

***I need to make a correction here, my locs are still babies. I WISH they were in the teenage stage ~~Where did I get that from?~~***

8 months and counting.......

2009-08-13T07:44:00.000-07:00

8 whole months. Wow! I can't believe it. So here's the update. My locs are coming along...well sorta. I'm beginning to become nervous again. Not knowing how my locs will turn out is just about maddening to me. Since I've cut my permed ends, I am experiencing alot unraveling and I not sure how to handle it. Because my locs are shorter and I can't style as I once did, I'm starting to notice other things, like my parts. My parts in the top center and front are not parts at all. The locs appear to be sporadic. The person who retightens my locs said that there were straight parts, but perhaps were lost when I fell behind for one of my retightening sessions. (????)

(click for better detail)

I'm seriously considering taking them down to have some uniform parts put in. BUT here's the other dilemma, I really do like my locs. Sure there are some corrections that need to be made but overall I don't want to start over. I don't know what to do...

(click for better detail)

Comparison

2009-07-30T06:34:00.001-07:00

The night I cut my ends off. (sorry for the poor quality) 1 day later
3 days later

Besides the fact that my locs need to be retightened. Do they look different? Are they drawing up? They are definitely fuzzier.

Wow, big difference. That's probably a good 3 to 4 inches gone. In some places I probably cut 5 inches off.

Milestones

2009-07-28T08:04:00.000-07:00

My oldest child

Saturday, July 25th I celebrated my halfway point through cosmetology school. We had a great time. I don't always get time to spend with friends and family and so this was much needed.

I forgot to ask my other guests if I could post their pictures. Though this guest here didn't mind.

My niece

Also......

I did it! I got rid of those stringy, dangly, lifeless relaxed ends! Freedom. I must say that I was very fearful of cutting them, but they had to go. Turns out my hair isn't as short as I first initially thought. I feels great and looks better. To me anyway. I sure there are others that think other wise, but I'm the majority when it comes to my hair and soo it looks good.

click the pictures for better detail

Now if I can only get rid of this issue of my scalp flaking. That's what I'll be up on next.

My new ear-rangs

2009-07-15T08:26:00.000-07:00

I'm so thrilled about my earrings. These fabulous pieces where created by the beautiful Naturallynewbie.

They changed my whole look. I was telling her that the top I'm wearing in the pic, I have worn to work a million times. Well the compliments just keep rolling in. They are saying "Wow, you look great!" I told Naturallynewbie that I know it's the earrings.

Featured in my picture is a pair she named "Rasta". She has so many others that are great. She can also customize colors to your preference. Check out her Thread Girl Boutique.

Thanks NaturallyNewbie!

Something different

2009-07-14T07:59:00.000-07:00

I tried a new style today. I'm not sure if I like it, but at least it's different. Now only if I could change the scenery. I'm sure folks are tired of looking at my burlap wall and blue office chair :-) I need to get out more and take pics.

7 months update

2009-07-13T08:36:00.000-07:00

Seems like I just did a post for 6 months. Well here are my locks at 7 months. I'm ready for my relaxed ends to go, but still a little afraid. I'm scared I won't look right with approx. 4inches of hair. On the other hand, I'm not going to let fear stand in my way. I've set the date. The first anniversary of my locs I WILL be receiving a hair cut. (I feel nausea setting in) I believe that once these stringy wild ends are gone, my locs will take off instead of being hender by the bunching of the relaxed hair. I dunno. Maybe it's all in my head. Here's also a style I've worn to diguise the 2 textures.

Almost 1 year with out a relaxer

2009-07-08T09:33:00.000-07:00

I was just sitting here thinking, a couple of years ago I would had not even thought about going a year without a relaxer. What! Walk around with a nappy head. I don't think so. But as I was taught a long time ago, never say what you won't do.

Hi, my name is Kiki and I was a creamy crack addict. It has almost been a year of being clean.
Here are some of my "crack head" days.

I'm really cracking myself up right now. Ok, I'll stop.

oh yeah, bleached golden highlights.

Chile, You couldn't tell me "nuthin" in this pic

This was THE flat wrap, hear me.

Bra strap length hair in a rollerset. I suffered from "white girl syndrome" during this time. I heard this syndrome can lie dormant for a while and then come back with vengeance when my locs grow longer. It is reported to be triggered by wind blowing in your hair. Hmm...I'll see.

Yep, had a little chop. Split ends will do it everytime.

Now this is what I would do to my hair when I went about 8 to 10 weeks without a relaxer. This was "Old Betsy" the ponytail. She hid my kinky new growth every time. And her trusty side kick "Humpty." It took care of the front.

Just a rollerset, but what was I wearing? The chemicals must had got to my brain and clouded my judgement? I'm not feeling the shirt at all.

Did I have withdrawal symptoms? Sure I did. Within the first week of getting my locs, I woke up one morning and headed straight for the bathroom. I stood in the mirror to take down bantu knots. After I was done, I grabbed a comb. For what? I don't know, habit I suppose. At that very moment I took all the combs out of bathroom. I didn't need them anymore.

I thought I was pretty dogone cute back then, but I was a slave to my hair. It had a life of it's own and I had to obey. A strict 6 to 8 week relaxer schedule. Every 2 weeks to be styled or bleached. No swimming. No being out in the hot sun to sweat. It didn't do rainy days, and absolutely no late night meetings in the bedroom the first day or two from the salon. I wanted liberty! And now I have been liberated. Trust me, I still like to rollerset my hair. I still like to style it. The beauty of it all is if I don't want to, I don't have to. I'll still look great! Rainy day spainy day. A little rain won't hurt. If I forget my umbrella, no more waiting for the rain to let up to go to my car. No more finding some plastic bag to put over my head either.

This was a great decision for me to go natural. I love it!

Michael Jackson

2009-06-26T09:51:00.001-07:00

Just remembering.......

August 29, 1958 - June 25, 2009

National HIV Testing Day

2009-06-26T08:46:00.000-07:00

I found this out thanks to Writing Addict. She has a great blog full of great info and loads of inspiration. Check her out! http://www.ontheroadtoqueendom.com/2009/06/know-your-status.html

Know Your Status!

Half Way There!!

2009-06-22T10:43:00.000-07:00

7 months down and 8 to go! I'm have now completed half of my course at Sherrill's University of Barbering and Cosmetology. If you haven't figured this out, I'll celebrate almost any accomplishment! I started last November and my how time flies. I remember enrolling and the administrator telling me that my graduation would be in January of 2010. Well when its November of 2008 that seems to be a heck of a long time.

I'm so excited! I will be having a dinner in July inviting family and friends to celebrate my milestone. YEAAA!! I better hop on the details to my "half-way" dinner. July will be here in 8 days! See what I mean about time flying. Sheesh.

Something different I tried with my hair. Mohawk inspired. Whatcha think?

It's been 6 months? Get outta here!

2009-06-10T12:56:00.000-07:00

Yes, 6 little months. Where has the time gone. Some days I feel like "Hurry up little babies. Lock, lock, lock." Then other days I'm like, "Wow, 6 months and I made it? Who'd thunk it!"

Here are some pics. I already see that my locs are not gonna be perfect and at first that scared me. But now, I'm so ok with it. My locks are beautiful right now with there imperfections and all.

Are these buds? Can anyone tell from the picture? All I know my babies are doing something different and I'm excited!!

Aww...look at the siblings. One slim, one thick.

Bad hair Day continued....

2009-06-04T12:59:00.000-07:00

This is just to finish my last post..

So who said it? The co-worker or the HR manager? Drum roll please.........

The HR manager! Gasp!

I know. I know.

Any who this was what my hair looked liked, before the news flash that I was having a bad hair day.

Ok. A little puffy. Definitely 2 distinct textures, BUT certainly not a bad hair day when I look back on it.

A Bad Hair Day?

2009-05-22T07:24:00.000-07:00

I can not find my camera at this very moment to take a picture, but I have to blog about what I'm feeling right now. I thought my hair is pretty cute today. I'm 5 months into my hair being loc'd so it definitely doesn't like braids anymore, well at least up close they don't. So just in a general conversation with my co-worker and the HR manager I told them this question that was sent to me in an email by a friend that I thought was funny and interesting. The email read: "If you saw me in the back of a police car, what would you think I was arrested for?" I thought the email was funny and interesting because it gives you insight on what the people you have asked think about you or what they believe you are capable of doing. Well back to the co-worker and the HR manager--So I say to them, "You won't believe what crimes my friends came up with." And one of them said, "What, having a bad hair day." WHAT!! EXCUSE ME?

I laughed a little (I think laughter is a defense mechanism for me) thinking to myself, 'did this person just say that?'
How do they know I won't blow up in their face? How do they know I won't be offended? How do they know? Well who was it that said it? Surely not the co-worker while the HR manager was standing right there. This potentially could lead to me filling a complaint because the comment was aimed at my dreadlocked hair. Oh, no not the co-worker. You would think certainly not the HR manager. Again that comment was made about my dreadlocked hair. **Answer and pic tomorrow.**

You know what makes me even more upset. ME. When the comment was made, I immediately became defensive and self-conscious of my hair. I began to try to smooth it down in some way. I excused myself from their company and starting looking in every window and mirror I passed by to see what was bad about the way my hair looked. How could this be? I asked myself. How could I walk in this morning to work feeling pretty durn cute and in a matter of hours think there was something wrong with my hair? I let what people thought of me change my whole attitude of MYSELF. Oh, this is a wrong that must be made right, right now! I got to my car, and looked in my mirror once more. I said to myself, You betta shake this mess off! You said you looked good today and dag nabbit YOU DO! If others can't get wit that, then suga they are blind. This is YOUR hair at it's finest. Don't you EVAH let me catch you changing your attitude about how beautiful you are base on someone else's comment, opinion, question, or thought. You are a Queen and should be respected as such, but only after you believe that and command it. Chile, they betta watch out for you, because next time they poke at you they may draw back nubs.

~~Whew, I felt better. I felt empowered.

Soon after that, a vendor walked up to my desk and said "I absolutely love you hair"

Happy Birthday Sweetie

2009-05-20T07:58:00.000-07:00

Friday was my sweetie's birthday. I decided to buy tickets to see a broadway show since he's never seen a play. We went to see The Color Purple. Oh man was it awesome! The singing, the dancing, the story was fantastic. My sweetie sat in his seat, seldomly taking his eyes off the show. He was like a kid at the movie theater for the first time. It was great! And where was my camera for this memorable event. Yep! In the car. I was so upset with myself. Any way, there be many other moments to celebrate be the Lord's will. I was just so happy to celebrate his birthday with him.

5 months

2009-05-12T11:11:00.000-07:00

What a major difference in texture my hair is showing now. I'm really thinking about cutting my relaxed ends off, but I can't bring my self to do it. I know I probably have close to 4 inches of natural hair and my hair has never been only 4 inches long as far as I can remember. Maybe I'll do it after I hit 1 year of being locked. That is if I can hold out that long. I won't lie, I have to say that it takes some work to keep control over your hair when you have as much relaxed ends as I have. I can't freestyle be cause I have this ethnic type hair above and straight, frizzy hair closer to the ends. It's the pits! But still...

I really love my locs and my honeydew can't keep his hands out of my hair!! I play in my hair enough for the both of us and now him too!! Oh, no. I front as if it's an issue, but trust and believe it's not. He tells me my hair is sexy and I laugh and giggle as if I'm in high school again. What's up with that? Oh, true story, I'm riding down the highway, doing about 70 mph. This car in the next lane passes me and blows the horn as if the person knew me. So I sped up a little to try to get a glimpse of who was blowing the horn. It was some dude, trying to holla. I said to him (in which he couldn't hear) Dude! Seriously, we are on the highway! It goes to show that just because you rock natural hair (locs, twists, or afros) don't mean some maniac won't try to get your attention. :=D

I won!!!

2009-05-06T12:15:00.000-07:00

WHO is so excited right now, me!!! I won an all too cute loc adornment. I got it by entering in a giveaway hosted on the The Road to Queendom blog. I could hardly keep my seat! I was cheering at work, at the front desk (I'm a receptionist) like I won the powerball lottery! LOL. It's the little joys like this that keeps me going.

Thank you so much Writing Addict.

Holey Dreads!- update

2009-04-22T06:40:00.000-07:00

Remember my post holey dreads? Well here's what I've learned about my baby locs. The bumpy-ness I felt before was because of the relaxed hair being interlocked. It apparently doesn't like it. Also, right at the line of demarcation there was and still is bunching going on. My relaxed hair and my natural texture hair are fighting in that area. Good fight, but I already know who's gonna win.

Line of demarcation of relaxed and natural hair. Sometimes causes bunching in which can make the loc bumpy.

The holes in the locs and the Y shape bases come from rotating in the same direction twice or rotating from the same point while still alternating. Confused? Don't worry. It's me, not you.

If 4 points is being used in rotation then it should go something like : 9,6,3,12. Well if the circumstances are right meaning you wait too long in between you retightenings and your loctician has to do alot of new growth combined with the loctician loosing her place, sometimes it could end up being: 9,6,6,3,12 or 9,6,9,6,3,12.

No worries. I've also learned on my journey that there are few things that I should actually be so upset about and Y shape bases and bumpy locs are not 2 of them. Why? Because it can be fixed. Before I blow things out of proportion I try to think and ask myself these 3 questions:

1. Is the problem REALLY that serious or is it just a nuisance to me?

2. Can I actually solve the problem or have it solved for me in a way that is carefully thought out? In other words, Can it be fixed?

3. What did I learn by meeting this problem and can I prevent it from happening again?

Oh yes, A new start, a new me. What makes me happy? Being stress free!

I'm planning a makeover

2009-04-21T06:43:00.000-07:00

I want a new look. I think it's time for an update on my wardrobe. I want to look sexy and fashionable, but also age appropriate. I'm not interested in mini skirts paired with leggings. To me, that's for the teenagers. And I sure don't want the knitted sweater with all the big flowers knitted in the middle paired with tan or taupe color elastic waist pants. That's for my sweet granny. I'm looking for a look that's me. A look that saids I'm cool, casual, fun and feminine. I don't want to look sleazy trying to keep up with the teeny-boppers and I don't want to look like me and my mom could go for sisters. Catch my drift?

I 'm planning to add a more color to my look. I've always gravitated to the outfits of more conservative neutral colors like the browns, blues, and grays. Which is ok, I just need to add color and change it up a bit. I went to this store called Dots and I really liked what I saw. I think I'll start there. I'll probably post before & after pictures just to see the comparison.

I feel as though I'm headed in the right direction. When I saw this bag it was a "I gotta have it" bag. This will be too cute for spring. I think.

These 3 I feel would be great addition as well. Nice colors!

These cuties were found on www.dezignerfashions.com

~~Big shout to my girl for having such cute bags!~~~

Comparisons!!

2009-04-14T11:12:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited! I just learned how to put 2 pictures side by side for a comparison using the program Picture It. As you can see, it doesn't take much to get me excited!! Trying to put pictures side by side on Blogger seems impossible. Anyway, here are my comparisons.

Big difference when you get your locs retightened huh.

The arrow indicates how much growth I've had. There's a subtle reddish brown color that has moved about 1.5 inches from my scalp. Yea!!!

My hair at work, school, and home

2009-04-14T07:40:00.000-07:00

I've have been thinking alot about my hair lately. I think about how my locs are changing and what impact that will have at my work place. My locs were installed in December of 2008 while my workplace was closed during the holidays.
Before I left for the holiday break I wore my hair somewhat like this....

Well when I returned to work in the January of the new year I looked somewhat like this..

Now obviously there's a big difference. Most people at work thought I had microbraids. You know what, I let them think it. Why didn't I tell them right then that they were locs? What was I afraid of? I don't know. I haven't completely wrapped my head around that one yet. Only a hand full of co-workers know that these are locs that I'm cultivating. Well after 4 months, my locs are changing. They are not as shiny as before. There are becoming a little fuzzy. And surely someone is thinking, When is going to take those braids out? I don't know. Maybe it's all in my head in my situation. I get compliments about my hair. I always had. But now they're from different people. The people that complimented my flat wrap (1st picture above) are now not saying much about my hair nowadays. At first they did because it was different. It was curly looking. Not kinky looking. Now my texture is peeping above the relaxed ends. Well guess who is paying the compliments now. One black natural hair wearer and a couple of Caucasian men. GO FIGURE!

I try my best to keep my hair professional looking while at work, but baby locs are rebels! They go and grow the way they please. They defy gravity. I have even tried to pin my hair up only to find 5 to 6 locs that had escaped after a few hours.

When I leave work I go to cosmetology school in the evenings. There I feel as though I have more freedom. I have actually gone to school without a roller set. No curls whatsoever. Before I went inside, I put my hands in my hair and tossed it up. It was everywhere. Walked in the door and my gentlemen classmates went crazy! :-) It was like.......

~What's different about you today? ~Wow, you just have a glow about you! ~Did you do something different to your hair?(Yeah, freestyle) ~Can I get a hug? ~Can I touch your hair? ~Your hair is so cool! (teenage admirer)

Needless to say that I enjoyed every moment of that, hehehehe.

At home, my honey is wondering why it doesn't look like the woman he saw on the blog yet (Blak Kofi). Ugghh! Men! My daughters all take it differently. My oldest (13) likes it. She thinks its "straight" which is quite the contrary, but her way of saying she likes it. My 9 year old is still trying to figure it out, and my youngest (8) wants to know when will it be straight again, like I had it before. She liked the flat wrap long and straight down my back. My mom doesn't say much. She's more of an observer. My sister is contemplating locs because she likes mine already. My dad hasn't really seen my hair in the past 4 months and my brother could care less if I was bald. :-) That's just the way it T. I. is

Anyway, I'm enjoying it. I love it actually. I must admit I do have some anxieties like, will my hair turnout right? And I consider myself a patient person, but my baby locs are trying my patience. When will they look like locs? When will "buds" develop? I'm learning to calm down. See what new adventures awaits me on my natural hair journey. What obstacles will I face? What triumphs will I have. I think I'll sit back, strap in, relax and enjoy the ride.

4 mos

2009-04-07T12:36:00.000-07:00

I follow the lockitup group on yahoo and give my input if I have any, but most of the time I just read to see what others are going through. Well one post that I read recently just stayed with me. I don't remember the arthur of the post but she stated that no locs are perfect, and she's right. I'm still kind of chewing on that. I look at my locs in the mirror sometimes and think to myself, "why my locs don't look like miss lady's blog picture?" Then doubt sets in and I think maybe I shouldn't had locked my hair. But I now quickly put those thoughts in check. These are my locs. They are "Kikilocs." Yep, I have bad hair look days. I say bad hair look because I have learn to accept that my hair is not bad. Neither is anyone else's. It may be straight, wavy, kinky, coily, coarse, or thin, but none of it is "bad" hair. I have locs that are bunching mostly because I still have relaxed ends. I have the little white follicles peeping though. I have a few locs around my hairline that just defies gravity! Some stick straight up in the air and others stick out from my temples. It all looks like I trying to pick up radio signals, LOL. But they are mine. I'm learning how to accept my hair for what it is. I go with the flow. I work with it. My locs are definitely changing in appearance. I'm starting to get the "Oh, you're locking you hair" comments. Instead of the "Oooh, cute curly braids." comments. It's great. I must admit, I anxious for more length so that I can cut these relaxed end off. How so true that patience is a virtue.

~Closer to my scalp it looks wild and fuzzy, but then I see my locs sprout out. Somewhat neater than the root.

~My baby chopped locs showing off some length and color

~Definitely 2 textures going on here.

~Most of my locs at the nape are starting to settle. Not all, but most of them. This is my favorite loc in that area. It stays put and it even starting to curl up at the end like a little ball.

3 month update

2009-03-10T10:47:00.000-07:00

Well nothing much has changed in my hair that I can see. I have notice that not nearly as much slippage is going on as with the previous months. I finally got my hair retightened. It cost a little more too, but with good reason. I waited too long. I went about 7 weeks. As a result a higher bill and two locs that decided that they couldn't live without each other and joined together. You know what's funny. I went so long because I couldn't afford my sessions. So I waited, and I waited, and waited. Until finally, my loctician called me and asked how my hair was doing. I was so glad to hear from her, but at the same time I almost cried because I didn't know what to do. Well, she worked around my hectic schedule and worked we me so that I could continue to have my locs maintained at such critical stage of their development. Now I feel good. I look good too or at least I think so and I'm the majority. We all know that majority rules!

~The do is a fresh pipe set. Nice and tight~

I don't try to disguise my little babies on the sides anymore.
(Sorry for the so-serious look. I'm pretending that I'm working.)

2 months loc'ed down- update

2009-02-12T07:40:00.000-08:00

Ok, remember I chopped off my little ones in the front and on the sides? Well check out the little babies now. It has been just about a month when I did this. I think they add a little flava to my "curly Sue" hair style that I have been rockin' on a day to day basis. Now they seem to defy gravity?!

~~1 month ago~~

Over all I'm enjoying watching my hair change. Heck, even before the change I was enjoying it. I didn't even know what my natural hair looked like. Anyway, here's some more pics.

~~Today~~

They now have little fuzzy ends. Funky!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ms. Curly Sue (Do you see me posing? I know you see it.)

Holey Dreads!

2009-01-30T08:03:00.000-08:00

Ok, I'm not gonna panic! I'm just seeing things right? Nope, it's real. I'll let my loctician know what's going on and give an update later on the resolution. Some of my locs are bumpy, I see these holes in some and some have Y shaped bases (not pictured). This can't be good. I'm just hoping no do-overs. These little whipper snappers took 19hrs of my life to be installed.

Self Talk

2009-01-28T06:20:00.000-08:00

I started this blog because it's therapeutic. A New Start, A New Me. I wanted a change in my life and so I have to be that change. It starts with me. What happens when I become stressed, excited, angry, happy? I write about it. No I'm not the best writer and probably my grammar teacher would just faint if she knew how I was writing today. Still, it best to just get it out and so I write........

I had to release. Tears came flowing from my eyes. My emotions running crazy. How long will this last? I thought to myself. I work two jobs. I go to school 24 hrs a week. I miss my kids terribly. I'm frustrated. I'm tired. I'm mad. But then I think, I'm bigger than this. I'm stronger than this and if it's becoming overwhelming, then maybe I'm carrying too much of the weight. How about I shift a lot more of the load over to Lord. He won't mind.
Sometimes I feel alone. I feel like I'm by myself, trying to make a better future for me and my daughters. Then I open my eyes wider and say 'Hey girl, what's this I hear? You're not trying to give up are you? What are the consequences of giving up now? All that you put in and went through thus far, was it in vain? Were you just foolin' around and waisting time or do you have something to accomplish? I'm just wondering. Because the woman I know is not a quitter! The woman I know is a straight up warrior! Ah Ha! Where's your armor Warrior Princess? Are you wearing your helmet of salvation? Protect yourself with the shield of faith. And by any means necessary do not lay down your sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. What's that you say? You are busy! Too busy to prepare for battle? Well that's the kind of thinking that has actually started this so call release anyway. Rethink the way you are going about this. Get in touch with the One whose really in control. Put on your armour and stop roaming around unprotected like your adversary is not lurking around seeking whom he may devour. This war is not over. FIGHT! There's a victory waiting to be won.

After that. I needed a hug.

Now I'm motivated again. I'm ready! CHARGE!

Thanks self. I needed that.

History Was Made- The Inauguration of President Obama

2009-01-21T11:48:00.000-08:00

I'm hung over by the adrenaline rush of excitement! My boss actually was there in D.C. yesterday. How jealous am I? How exciting it must have been to be there to see with your very own eyes history in the making. Wow! It was reported to have been 1 to 2 million people there to witness our 44th president of African descent take his oath and watch the exchange of power take place. I was thrilled! At home, glued to my t.v. I wished I could have found a newspaper or magazine to scrapbook the memory on yesterday. Truly, I will never forget it. Nonetheless, change is here. Obama Style.

During tough times, You need family

2009-01-16T09:12:00.000-08:00

Having a circle of people that really love you and care for you is so important nowadays. Times are hard and life can be down right depressing. You need those people that are family & friends that encourage you to hold on, hang tuff, and keep your faith in the Lord. I heard on the radio this morning that some 20,000 out of 100,000 people are suffering from depression to the point of a suicide attempt. Out of that 20,000, 11,000 actually succeed. My numbers maybe a little off, but the fact is that it's happening. What's even more astounding is that the suicide numbers are on the rise for young people (late teens into the twenties). So with that in mind, I said to myself that I would let my loved ones know that I do indeed love them. If there's anything that I'm able to do for them then I will. Even if it's just to lend an ear at 3am in the morning. I would do that. As for myself, I will keep looking to God and keep my faith in Him and build on it. Depression is a very serious condition and often times goes un-noticed. There's a lot of people suffering right in the workplace that come to work everyday and even offer up smiles and laughter. But deep inside they are hurting because they feel hopeless.
I have a lot to be thankful for and I know it. My life, because everyday the Lord sends I'm given a NEW opportunity to make it better. My children, I have 3 beautiful daughters. One who is 8yrs old today! That's my baby girl. She is the youngest. I truly love all of my children. My family, They don't see me often, but if they don't hear from me they turn into private investigators. I'm thankful of that. And my friends, dear friends. The ones that will send the message 'Hello! Can we hang out at some time in this century. We are friends, in case you didn't know.' Ah, yes friends. :-)

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

F.r.i.e.n.d.s group-Females with renewed incredible endurance, and never ending devotion & strength.

One sunday afternoon.

OMG, What have I done?!

2009-01-14T06:31:00.000-08:00

Oh. My. Goodness. What did I do.

So, I was gonna cut my hair. Only to the natural. You know, to get rid of the relaxed ends. Well, I started and then chickened out! So now what? I have a tapered look I s'pose. I'm trying to disguise it. Can't wait until the summer. I think that's when I'll appreciate my "tapered" side a little more. Oh well, moving on.

Here's my disguise. Can you tell? Maybe a little? Oh, well. It'll grow back. I hope.

1 month loc down

2009-01-12T12:11:00.000-08:00

It has been 5 weeks since my hair has been locked! These are pictures my first retightening. The locks in the top portion is where you see the new growth. Below is where it has been retightened.

This is a pic of how much relaxed hair I still have. What's above my fingers and maybe even an inch below that is relaxed hair. I'm waiting for growth before I cut them off. I'm not mentally ready for 1 to 2 inches of hair all over my head. I just have to be patient.

Some new do's

2009-01-12T09:44:00.000-08:00

1. flipped

2. flipped

3. braid out free style

4. braid out- tapered

What a weekend!

2009-01-12T08:20:00.000-08:00

Oh man was it a tuff weekend. Between working multiple jobs and going to school, I had my behind handed to me on a plate. But I made it! I just have to tweek my time and scheduling a little better so I will not burn out. Some of my family members and friends wonder why do I put myself through so much? They are concern that maybe I've taken on a bit more than I can handle. I won't lie and say that it doesn't bother me when I here such comments or questions like, 'Why are you working so hard? or 'It doesn't make any sense that someone is as busy as you are. What about the girls (my daugthers)? Have you seen them or talked to them?. I absolutely hate being critiqued, even if it's constructive. That's why I strive to do everything perfectly and even that is a flaw with in itself. I mean, how do you tell a perfectionist that no one is perfect? Despite of hearing some of these things from loved ones, no one is as hard on me than me. Go figure. While I was completely exhausted this weekend and as I thought about all the things that have been said to me, I thought to myself;
"For your dreams, goals, or aspirations no one will ever work harder than you. No one will work as half as hard as you. They will have excuses as to why they can't do or why they can't push, because after all it's your dream or goal. So don't get upset or angry when they don't understand your drive. Don't be dis-hearten when they seem as though they'll never give you the encouragement and support that your thirst for. They don't have your passion at heart. After all, it's your aspirations and desires that you're working towards. Continue to love them, but keep your eyes on you destination. The journey to your accomplishments is temporary, if you don't loose focus. Take no detours nor deviate from your plans. You have an appointment to keep. Look out for pot holes. Many folks want a nice and comfy life, but most won't do what it takes to get there. Those same folks will want to reap your benefits."

Bargain Hunters

2009-01-09T13:03:00.001-08:00

I work with this beautiful lady who seems to NEVER pay full price for anything. She dresses in the nicest chic clothes and always have fashionable accessories. I mean seriously how does she do that? I not talking a measly 5 or 10% off. I'm talking a shirt originally price at $60 and she brings it home for ridiculous price of 15 or 20 bucks! Where is she finding coupons? How does she stay informed about the sales? I need all the help I can get. Tuition and rent is a deadly combination. A force to be reckoned with.

19 hours you say?

2009-01-09T05:01:00.000-08:00

Yep. 19 hours! In one day! NEVER will I have to go through that again! The main reason I did not care for microbraids is because of the time it took to put in and to take down for that matter.
Don't mistake me however, I'm so excited that I have my locs and anticipate my hair journey as they mature.

I started with relaxed ends and about 2 inches of new growth in the back and about an inch in the front.

This actually was the first row installed. This is all natural hair. It's rather soft and more wavy than kinky at my nape.

Yes, I was probably asleep.

It looked and felt like thousands of little locs to me.

And the results of my Bantu knots

A New Year, How about a new start?

2009-01-05T11:51:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone!

I'm thankful for the wonderful opportunity today to be and to achieve what I didn't accomplish yesterday, or yesteryear. I hope every body's holiday was great and I wish for everyone to have a prosperous new year.

I have lots to update. School is going along just fine, I'm still trying to settle into my new place, I have celebrated my 28th birthday, and oh yes, a new look for me! Oh, it'll take me a week just to share all of what has happen over the last month! I'll start with what I'm most excited about, my hair! Yes, I'm officially "locked down." I initially started researching on ways to lock my hair about 3 months ago. I came across the Sister Locks technique due to me having relaxed ends in my hair. I went to have a consultation with a wonderful consultant and felt very excited, but due to me being laid off my job temporary, found it too much for me to bare in my budget. So I research further for other simular techniques. One that didn't require me to cut my hair right away. Well, I found it! I have had traditional locks installed and can I just say I'm in love! Let me introduce you to a part of me! The natural me! My hair journey, to me, symbolizes the journey I've have embarked upon on finding myself or getting to know me. I started very young in life taking care of other people. My children, a husband, family. I never took the time to get to know who I really was. Thus, not knowing who I really am. Yes, I can say about myself that I am strong. Very resiliant, but who am I? What really makes me tick. Where and in what do I find delight? Oh my friends, these are questions that I realized just a short while ago that I had not the answers. Which takes me back to my hair. What does it really look like? Sure I can wear some of the most beautiful doobie wraps. Or at least that's what I thought. My hair grew long straight down my back, but that's my point. I didn't know what my natural hair was like, but what I did know is that it wasn't Straight. I have seen the new growth, and remember the puffiness as I frantically called my stylist for a retouch. I remembered getting my first relaxer and my mom having the pictures to prove it. I was in kindergarten. Putting me right around the age of 7. So if my hair is not bone straight, then what is it? Let's begin.........

Can you see what is natural appearing at the hair line?

Whew child! This is about 1 1/2 to 2 inches of new growth in the crown and nape area.
A little pose for the camera. This is the night before my installation. I must say that, for the 6 months it took to grow about 2 inches it almost drove me nuts. I'm talkin' every 6 weeks I went to my stylist like clock work to get a retouch. But I wanted something different. I had to follow through with waiting. This is teaching me patience for myself. I could be patient for my children and even other folk, but for myself????

And here are my locks!!

I'll have to tell you all about my labor of love in the next post. This took 19hrs to complete!

Why Am I Doing This?

2008-11-19T10:43:00.000-08:00

Why all of a sudden this strong urge for change? What happened? I mean, for the past 14 years things have somewhat been the same for me. Wrong moves, bad decisions, cloudy perspective, the works. So why change now? What happened to me? No doubt, I will make more mistakes and make more decisions that will probably end of not being good ones for me, but I want change! I want something different in my life. 'In order to get what you never had, you must do what you've never done.' I don't know who said that but boy did they hit the nail on the head or what! I need to be content with who I am. I need to be content with who God saids I am. So that led to the question; Who am I? If I don't have the answers to those very important questions, then I believe that my life will be a complete waste. I'll never forget when God gave me a personal word. He said "You are going through what you are going through not just for you, but for those that come after."

I'm Dreaming because my daughters need to know that is the start of desire.
I'm Striving to achieve because my daughters need to know to NEVER give up.
I'm Achieving because my grandchildren need hope to grasp to.
I'm Being or Becoming who God saids I am and Learning about myself because my children and their children's children need to know that that is the ONLY person they should strive to be!
So I am doing this for ME. I am doing this for Them. I am doing this!

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

(from the movie: Akela and the Bee)

I have my reasons

In one Week what have I accomplished?

2008-11-17T08:39:00.000-08:00

I must say alot. I have found an apartment in Durham and put the deposit down on it. It was hard work too. Finding an apartment that you can afford is no easy task nowadays. I have finished my first full week of classes at Sherrill's. I mean I'm absolutely psyched about everything! I'm tired when I go to class just because it's directly after work, but I heard a man say one time, 'You have to step out of your comfort zone in order to reach your dreams'.
I also visited a beautiful lady yesterday. She will be locking my hair in about 21 days! Yeah, I made that decision to be me, naturally. So alot has been going on.
I'm a little nervous about everything changing so fast. I can't lie to myself and say that those thoughts of what everyone will think of me haven't krept it's way into my mind, but I'm dog determined that this time I'm living for me. My daughters are excited for me being in school. At their age, school is so fun! They are just so happy that mommy gets to go to school and have fun too! At their young age, they have more truth and wisdom than they even realize, because they see life in it's simpliest form. Their way of thinking is : Say you're sorry and then hug, love your family and show it, be friendly and have friends, and have as much fun as possible.

This Time It's Different

2008-11-04T10:47:00.000-08:00

I made up in my mind that this time was going to be different. I have spent so much of my young life afraid of what people might think of me. What would they say? If I did that, how would they see me then? Well no more! I mean seriously, it's my life and I only have one. Since it seems that I have waisted enough time, I think I'd better get to living for ME!