A change is gonna come.
As I sit here with fried looking hair, looking rode hard and put away wet, I have decided I need a change.
I googled ‘Fried Dyed and Laid to the Side’ This is what I got *Snort*
I work 40 hours a week. I come home and I work more. School work and housework never ends. It isn’t just me though. If I am working 40 hours, my husband is currently putting in 60 to 70 hours a week. A couple of days ago He didn’t get home from work until 9pm.
It is not just that though. Ever since I lost weight, I haven’t shopped for clothes I enjoy. I have work outfits that I have purchased for the sole purpose of work. They are okay looking, but they make me feel staid and just, ugh.
I am stuck in a rut. I don’t take care of myself like I should. I don’t do anything for me and my husband. We work, we come home, we pick up dinner, and we stare blankly at the TV for an hour or two before we get started on our bedroom rituals.
I’m frustrated and tired guys. I’m stuck in a rut. I was doing laundry this evening and realized I was stuck in a clothing rut as well. Let me give you the primary example I have. For about 10 years now I have bought one type of jean. I purchase the Lane Bryant Right Fit Jeans. You know the ones I am talking about. The ones that are folded up in the store. (Size 6 blue circle!). The quality has gone downhill over the years. I am not entirely sure they are real denim anymore. Plus they smell funny, no matter how many times you wash them.
Tomorrow I am making time for myself. Jeff is out of town for the weekend for work (boo), but I am going to make the most of it. I plan on doing a hot oil treatment on my hair, painting my nails, and just beautifying myself. I also plan on buying a pair of nice new jeans. I need to step out of the jean comfort zone. I still have homework and I still have housework, but I need to focus on myself for just a little bit.
My questions to you: Have you pampered yourself recently? If not, why? Is it something you struggle with?
What is going on?!
What a wild, crazy, insane past couple of weeks this has been people. I had a temp job, got hired at a permanent job (as permanent as employment can be nowadays), and school is running me ragged. I am so tired people. So very, very tired.
The great news is that I am learning tons. I am applying skills that I have learned in my studies. I miss being able to blog more, but I really like having all the little extras that my income affords us.
In hair news, my braids lasted two weeks I think. They were still holding up great, but I wasn’t. I was an itchy wreck. Plus, I forgot my rat-tailed comb one day while at my new job, and was sneaking off to the bathroom to scratch my hair in private. If you know me, this is kind of a big deal. I hate bathrooms. I hate going to the bathroom (as a side note of TMI, I am chronically constipated and I do nothing about it because I’d rather not poo) and I hate listening to people go to the bathroom. It gives me the willies. I am sitting in there scratching my head, when a lady comes in beside me and starts… I don’t even want to get into it. Needless to say, that was the final straw, and the braids had to come out.
Even after only two weeks of no manipulation of my hair, I saw remarkable improvement on how it felt and how it handled. This has made me switch up my regimen just a little bit. The way I figure, the less manipulation I have, the better my hair looks and feels.
My New Regimen
1. Saturday/Sunday: Co-wash hair, blot dry, detangle, and apply leave-in. Seal with Belle Butters shea butter mixture. 2 strand twist hair. 2. Monday-Friday: Untwist in the morning, fluff, and go. In the evening re-twist, adding more Belle Butters if needed. 3. Once a Month: Shampoo scalp
I really think this will work for me. What about you? What works for you?
Me at work in the bathroom. Not the toilet part though, just the sinks.
Goals, it is good to have them.
This was an uneventful weekend for me. There was a reason for that. My second class started today, and I wanted as much relaxing time as I could possibly have. My twistout lasted a decent amount of time. Saturday the hubs and I went out for steak. I put it in a pouf and stuck a flower on it.
It looked really cute. Lately though I have been noticing that I am getting more and more headaches when I put my hair up. I use ouchless hair bands. They are big enough that I can double them up and create the pouf. My husband seems to think that my contacts are probably playing a part as well. I hope that isn't the case. How do you make a pouf with your hair? Does it cause you to have a headache?
My hair is looking kind of busted right now, but that is okay. After I do the dishes, I am getting dressed and headed to the gym. The plan is to do the machines for a while, and maybe some light weight lifiting. Then I plan on going swimming .When I come home, I am going to twist up my hair (adding gel for more definition) and work on homework. I really don't plan on un-twisting it until it is time to go somewhere.
What does your week look like this week? Anything fancy going on?
It’s OVER!!!!
*Runs manically through the house*
THE SEMESTER IS OVER!! AHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!
Until summer School.
*starts crying again*
Accessorizing My Natural Hair *haul, kinda*
You made it through the week! Woo! I promise I won't put up the annoying Rebecca Black song... Instead...
If Rebecca Black is a disease, this is surely the Cure. *Snort* You see what I did there?
Anywhoozle, there hasn't been much going on in my natural hair world, and although I took a bizarre foray into the relaxed world, that was just a temporary thing.
I did however, purchase (and was gifted) some spring time accessories. Lets take a look-see.
I am forever looking for a bright pink lipstick. Because I am so dark, something that looks bright pink in the tube, just makes me look like I have glossy lips. I want to say I had given up hope of ever finding anything, but that is a lie, I am always looking. I was flipping through my Youtube makeup subscriptions, when I came across MrsRoss.
I've watched her Youtube videos for about two years now, but I tend to skip over a lot of them. She rambles sometimes, and there are long pauses as she searches for whatever product she is talking about. However in one of the stills I noticed she had on a bright pink lipstick! She is only a shade or two lighter than me, so I decided to check it out.
Rose Hip
I know it looks more red than pink, but on my skin tone it comes out a pink
Royale
This is a little lighter pink than the Rose Hip, but it has enough pigmentation that it shows up nicely on my lips!
I was so excited about these purchases, I had to share them with you!
Finally, It was a special week this week at the Tale of Going Natural. I was so excited because one of my close friends, Kim came to visit Indiana from Vegas! I have spoken about Kim on here once I think. She came bearing gifts as well. Her sister-in-law Emily, has an Etsy shop and creates all sorts of fun things. She asked her sister to create something for me!
Sorry my face isn't showing, I look a hot mess.
Isn't it cute! I don't own a red one either! Thank you Kim! Thank you Emily!
That is pretty much all for now. I hope you guys have a safe and happy weekend!
School, Accessories, and Hair Length.
First off, a non-hair note: I had to go to school yesterday. I know that is an odd statement, seeing as how I am IN school, but 99% of my classes this semester are currently online. Let me back up a second. This semester I am at two schools. The majority of my classes are at IUPUI. All of these classes are online. I got lucky this semester with that. I hate physically going to class. Let us also not forget that I am a computer information technology major, which means I generally get stuck in classes that include only guys. Last semester I had a class of all girls, but it was an English course I needed for the technical communication certificate that want to get.
However, Math 153 and I have been having issue at IUPUI. I discovered that Ivy Tech has a comparable class. Plus it transfers over to IUPUI. So I am taking it there. I went to Ivy Tech for my associates degree, so I knew what to expect. It has been a bumpy ride over there. The administration is kind of horrible. But I just need this class and one more math class (which I plan to take online) and I am done there. FOREVER!!!
Anyway, I had to go up to IUPUI yesterday for a couple of reasons.
- There is a job fair next week, and I want to go. However, I have only been to one job fair in my life. Said job fair was not hiring for IT positions. Boo. Plus, I didn't really know how to act or what to do at a job fair. This clarified a lot for me. Shout out to Laura Bernal in the Academic and Career development area of IUPUI for hosting that. Needed it!
- I had an appointment with my academic advisor to get my classes set up for summer and fall semester. Shout out to Danny King who worked my schedule like a champ! He kind of looks like Bobby Flay...except Bobby Flay's eyes are like a washed out denim blue. Danny King's are bright blue. I digress
Anyway, come to find out, I GRADUATE MAY OF 2012!!! I am almost there people! Then we shall party like it is 1999. Or, if you were in my 9th grade French class, we shall party like it is mille neuf cent quatre-vingt-dix-neuf!!!!! I may go back for my masters one day. But for now, my bachelors IS IT!!!
She will add either an alligator clip or a barrette for you, making this the perfect hair accessory. Gotta love it! While she only has the one flower in her shop, she is making more, and if you message her, she can customize flowers for you. She also can make a rose, which shows you how much I know about flowers, as I thought this was a rose. She also does crocheted hair kerchiefs, and scrunchies, which I think would be really good to pineapple your hair with.Melissa can also crochet the flowers onto a headband! So stop by, say hi, and let her know I sent you!
Each day I am noticing more and more how much longer my hair is getting. It has been a long time coming. In November of last year when my hair got chopped it was SHORT.
My beautician put my hair in these cute little coils, She was trying so hard to make sure I didn't cry I think. I didn't do short hair. At all. Usually anytime anyone came near me to cut my hair, I cried.
Now, I am here:
Sorry they are of poor quality, they are off my phone.
I can't wait to see where my hair goes from here!
Haven’t been writing much- Negative Imagery in fictional books.
I am a busy bee let me tell you. School is kicking my tail end. Next semester remind me not to take 5 classes. Want to see what I have been working on? This is part of my database homework:
Yeah boyyyeeee! Database city! You don't have to understand it. Just as long as my teacher does (that in my incoherent babblings) we will be okay.
I wanted to talk to you guys today about something that kind of seriously bothered me. Negative imagery of natural hair in books.
Now, I know there are a lot of books out there that show us and tell us how to embrace our hair. Case and point:
And this is fine and dandy, this is great! But what about, every day books? Books you just happen to pick up and read for fun.
Lately I've been on a Vampire/Zombie kick. Don't judge me. I enjoy the books. There is a series currently out called "House of Night" I started reading them a couple of years ago. They are by a mom and daughter writing duo named PC and Kristin Cast. Here is a photo:
Picture from Here
I happened to pick up the first book in the series yesterday for a re-read. It is called Marked. When I read this before, I wasn't on my natural hair journey, so I wasn't as sensitive to the imagery. Here are some passages:
I was just getting ready to ask for more of an explanation when a girl rushed up and, with a big huff, slid herself and her tray into the booth beside Stevie Rae. She was the color of cappuccino (the kind you get from real coffee shops and not the nasty, too-sweet stuff you get from Quick Trip) and all curvy with pouty lips and high cheekbones that made her look like an African princess. She also had some seriously good hair. It was thick and fell in dark, glossy waves around her shoulders.
For the record, I would like to say that the main character in this book is a Caucasian, female, age 16. I have never heard a Caucasian female use the term "good hair." It is sort of a derogatory term that African Americans have seemed to coin. Hmmm.. Let's check out another passage shall we?
Two girls were standing behind her, dressed in much the same way. One was black, with impossibly long hair (must be a really good weave).
So in the first couple chapters of the book, you learn that all vampires have long hair. It's one of the things that they do; their hair just grows impossibly long. Why does hers, have to be a weave?
I could go on and on about this, there is a passage in the book about someone having hair that looks like "It never has the nerve to nap up."
It makes me tired, and it makes me sad. What about you? What could be done to combat this imagery?
Stuck in the ice
For those of you that do not know, I live in Indiana. We had a bit *cough* of a winter ice storm. It has left me, my husband, and even my dogs completely lethargic.
I poked her with a stick after taking this shot. She grunted and rolled over
I have had the same twists in my hair for a while now, and while watching Battlestar Galactica, I took them down. The plan was to hop in the shower, co-wash my hair, moisturize and retwist my hair. I got it untwisted...then old man lethargy set in.
I haven't done a thing to my hair in two days. It is driving me nuts, but i cant seem to, get up and go. Today is the first normal day I have had. The hubs is gone, the dogs are fighting, and I am in front of the computer working on programming homework writing this entry. I will get the hair done. I WILL FIGHT OLD MAN LETHARGY WITH A STICK, A TANGLE TEEZER, AND MY LIFE!!!
In addition to the contest that I have going on, Naturally Curly is having a 14 day Curl Love giveaway. Check it out!
A rough couple of weeks.
Hey guys.
The past two weeks have been absolute HELL. Filled with school work and more school work. I am weary, the house is a wreck and my writing has slacked. I apologize.
Because of the weather and snow outside, I have pretty much been wearing my hair in two strand twists under a beret. It is really cute. I really like how it looks. I pop in either some dangly earrings or some hoop earrings and VOILA! Instant style.
I was watching some older videos and ran across this long forgotten Musiq Soulchild video:
I just want to say, I LOVE the main girl's hair style. Does anyone know what that is called? *jealous*
In more annoying news, just today I posted this on both my Facebook page, and The Tale of Going Natural Facebook page:
The comment that I put to it was this: "Let's start this weekend off right, shall we?"
Shortly after I posted it to my personal Facebook page. I get a comment from a girl I went to high school with:
I am not my hair? Really? Jeez. My favorite part is when Akon states '...the sex only come when I cut it all off.' Obviously, these artists have nothing more important to say. This is sad, and it really goes to show how superficial, ego-centric, and avoidant popular culture is. 🙁
I just looked at the comment. How can someone be so blind, or stupid? I responded with:
In black culture, we are often told that unless our hair is straighened, you have nappy, knotty slave hair. We tend to be a culture obsessed with our hair. The African American hair industry is a booming business. What she is stating in this video is that we do need to worry less about our hair, and more about the person within. It's not a sad ego-centric video. It's attempting to bring a positive message to an issue a lot of black women (and men) deal with.
I don't know if it is Facebook messing up, or if she deleted the comment, but sometimes you can see her comment now, sometimes you can't. A lot of her posts are pretty much retarded, and I am seriously considering deleting her from my list. It isn't like we talk. We didn't even really talk in high school. She was weird then too.
She just responded again, but I am not even going to waste my time on it. *bangs head on the table*
A lot of time has been spent on twitter when I am on the computer researching or writing or programming. Can I just say that I love the natural hair hashtag (#naturalhair). It is a great group of people with different videos, ideas, advice, and questions. Sometimes it does get a little militant on there with the natural hair v. relaxed hair, but for the most part, they are pretty cool.
I still have not henna glossed my hair. I am really too busy right now and I am not entirely sure what type of conditioner I can use to mix it up. The instructions say to use a no protein conditioner. Well....other than the back of the bottle saying protein, I have no clue what other words are considered protein. If anyone has any ideas on that, please, do not hesitate to let me know.
In between times that I take my hair out of the twists, co-wash and then re-twist them, they get dry. Another girl on twitter was having this same issue and didn't know what to do. My solution is inexpensive and easy. put olive oil and warm water (who wants cold water?) in a spray bottle and shake. Mist it lightly over your head. I don't have any measurements, I am sorry, but generally speaking I do equal parts of each. When I am in the shower, I bring the spray bottle in there with me, and let the hot water run all over it, heating the cold water up (I put enough for more than one application in a spray bottle so it will cool down after a few minutes or so). Two things I can't stand: Water running down the back of my neck (which is weird because I love to swim) and cold water running down the back of my neck. Warm water is the lesser of the two evils.
Okay, so that is enough babbling for right now. My goals today are to clean the house and get back to programming, database design, and math (my arch enemy).
Oh! One more thing. Book Recommendation of the day:
Have a great weekend guys!
Just did not have the time
While I said I did not have the time to write a blog, honestly, with all the time it took to process this video on youtube, I could have probably written a blog. Any way, here it is, in all of its glory. Please comment, rate, or review or all of the above!
Espionage Cosmetics
