Blushblog

My Natural Hair Journey: Protective Styling Decisions....AGAIN

2012-02-10T10:33:29-05:00

Since I got my ends trimmed this summer, my hair has been growing like a weed! I still have about a gazillion curl patterns, but its been doing pretty good. I really want to give it a rest, so i'm looking for a protective style. I'm always sooo indecisive when it comes to protective styling because there are so many good looks out there. I went with the Kinky Twists last time, so this time, I'd like to try something new.

I'm feel my inner Diva coming out, so I've been looking at Kelly Rowlands Hair. I may have to tone it down during the day, but I'd love to have the option to have it big and wild at night. I've been watching the leader of all educations, You Tube, and I think that I might be able to Crochet it myself (famous last words). That'd save me mucho dinero!

I could also Crochet Teyana's look

I found this style on the web. It's all the same style worn 3 different ways:

I also love this twisted style!

This one looks so natural

Back to my wild Side. These are also near the top of my list.

What do you think? Help!

AT&T 28 Days in Raleigh

2012-02-09T07:18:00-05:00

I attended the AT&T 28 Days program in Raleigh, NC last night. Common was the host and Kevin Powell was the speaker. Raleigh's own Brian Dawson from K97.5 was the DJ.

The program was AWESOME! Kevin Powell was great (although my picture taking is bad). Some of the points that hit closest to home are:

Speak to people. Get to know people. That really struck me because I remember my first day of freshman year on Hamptons' campus. My mom got me all set up and went back to MD. She of course called that night to see how I was doing and how things were going and I said "It's so weird. Everyone here speaks to you when they pass you. It's not like at home." Looking back, it's so insane that I was taken aback. But the reality is that I was. Now, I'm as social as a butterfly and not only in my circle. So I can cosign that. Speak to people. Build relationships and be genuine.

Education is important. Read and Learn. You don't have to be in school to learn. You can be on twitter, facebook, and cell phones, but balance it with books. Learn about your history. Also, pass it on to the youth.
Mentor. Help. Contribute. Mentor kids. Volunteer in at a shelter. Just help and give back.
Protest and Activate. Well, participate in activism. Make your voice matter. Got a problem? Work to fix it. Kevin (yeah we're friends now), spoke about how people come to his twitter and facebook page and wild out. They have things that they want to get off their chest, but they don't want to do it on their page or a blog of their own. Got something to say? Blog.
Lastly, a lesson that I'd like to pass on from this program is that these two men are F-I-N-E. It's ok. We can pass on the power while observing the sexy. Whew.

It was wonderful seeing them. At the end, Common kicked a freestyle for us. Please catch the AT&T 28 Days series if it comes to your town. If not, watch the telecast. Take as many youth with you as possible. You wont regret it.

Has anyone else gone to this program in their city? Will you check out future dates.

The Natural Hair Show

2012-01-31T09:45:42-05:00

It's that time again ladies and maybe I'll actually get to go this year. Women in general share tons of information about products and styles, but natural women do it x 1000. We are natural product junkies and love to pass on reviews and information. Well lets all get together and pass on the love.

Here's the info for this years World Natural Hair & Beauty Show in A-T-L. Are you going?

Time to Organize and a Sidenote

2012-01-26T09:51:40-05:00

Ok, lets start with the sidenote. I have a younger cousin who I don't even really know. We keep in touch through facebook status', but that's about it. She's about 19, maybe 20, but she's in college right now. Well I read her status the other day and learned that she is pregnant. I'm like dang. Did I miss something? Apparently I did because she's been talking about it for the past month. When I read it, something in me sank. I was like man, Ireally wanted her to breeze through college. She was having so much fun. At least that's what facebook said. I know that this doesn't necessarily mean that she wont finish. But her college experience will definitely be adjusted. I had to check myself like, "This is not your child. She is an adult." I just get so excited when kids go off to college. I get excited for them to experience college as a whole. Oh well. I hope that all goes well for her.

On a completely different note. I read this article about Organization today on Apartment Therapy and loved it. I've read about a million of these list, but never saw anything about "putting task on note cards." I think that it is a phenomenal idea. Here are the other tips:

1. Get Ready The Night Before. Start your day off a little less frantically by setting out your clothes, prepping the meals, getting the kids' bags ready, setting the coffee maker on automatic, etc.

2. Open Mail Over The Recycle Bin. Don't set it down in a pile to get to later because you know what will happen. Get rid of the paper and junk right away, and put the important stuff in your mail/bill area.

3. Write It Down. I know this is a big thing for me. If I don't write things down they just keep a constant party going on in my head. Writing it down helps to free me and let me relax. You can't keep it all in there, it's just too much and can keep you awake at night. Get it out.

4. Slow And Steady Wins The Race. I for one am terrible at this. I see a project at hand, and I attack it like a maniac till it's done. Because I'm this way I tend to get overwhelmed by the thought of it and end up never starting. So focusing on a little bit at a time would be a much better solution. Unpack one box in storage a day instead of waiting for that whole day to tackle it all that seems to never come.

5. Time Out. Set a timer for ten minutes and clean whatever you can in that amount of time each day. If you have kids it could be like a game, who can get the most done the fastest and the winner gets a prize. You may be shocked how much you can accomplish in such a short period of time.

6. Play Cards. Write household tasks on index cards and draw one each day. That is your chore for the day. Be sure to include a few Free Day cards in there. When you finish the box start again. This is also a great way to incorporate kid's chores as well.

7. Pad Your Time. The phrase, "Just give me five minutes" is often overused and rarely true. Most things take longer than five minutes. Try to set a realistic time frame for the little things you need to do so you can have a more accurate time management system throughout the day. 10-15 minutes per task is much more realistic and lets you slow down and breathe if you end up with a little buffer.

8. Set Goals. Write any long term goals or dreams on a set of index cards, then arrange them in order of importance. Write deadlines on the top of each card, break them down into mini-goals and schedule time to achieve them.

9. Give It Up. Whenever you see something that you don't use any more immediately put it in a box. When the box is full bring it to goodwill. You don't need to wait for that big clean out day you're going to eventually do.

10. Put It Away Now. Don't wait to do it later. Everything should have its home and when you are finished with it put it back. It takes just as much energy to be disorganized as it does to be organized.

(source: Apartment Therapy)

It's a day on..Not a day off

2012-01-12T11:49:21-05:00

Do you know what Monday is? Yes, it's Martin Luther King Jr day and many of us probably have the day off. But after talking to my friend, I was reminded that it's the Martin Luther King Jr National Day of Service. Yup you got it right. There are various people who fought for many of us, who helped our families, and who are just there to lend a helping hand. Even if it was indirectly. Monday is the day for all of us to give some of that back or to just pay it forward.

As quoted on Dr. Kings website:

The MLK Day of Service is a way to transform Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and teachings into community action that helps solve social problems. That service may meet a tangible need, or it may meet a need of the spirit. On this day, Americans of every age and background celebrate Dr. King through service projects that strengthen communities, empower individuals, bridge barriers, and create solutions.

Are you unsure of how to help? Take a look here for some suggestions or share some of your own!

Everybody can be great. Because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve.... You don't have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love. ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

Blushing Ladies: Will you be serving on Monday? What will you do to serve? Do you have any suggestions for anyone else?

Bah Humbug to Pottery Barn

2011-12-26T14:21:26-05:00

Ok, I ordered at the last minute. I'll admit that. But our good friends at Pottery Barn said, "You've made the deadline. We can have your order to you before Christmas!" Great I said. So fast forward to Christmas Eve, no present. I call Pottery Barn, the woman says, "Your order was shipped on the 21st." I said, well, I haven't received it yet, what's the tracking number. She says "I don't have your tracking number here because UPS had to make up a bunch of numbers for the Christmas holiday." *Side eye*

I said, well, if it was shipped on the 21st, then it should be here right? She says, "it should be there today. Definitely, today." I said, "Well when I ordered it, the woman said it'd be here the next day" (that's the 21st). She says, "Well, when it's monogrammed, you have to add on a couple of days to the quoted date." So I let out a sigh and say "So even though I ordered it thru the rep, I (exaggerated "I") have to add on a couple of days to the quoted shipping date. Why doesn't she just give me the correct date." *silence* But she still said it would be here Christmas Eve. Christmas has come and gone. No package and I'm pissed.

Pottery Barn better get on the ball. Hell, they can keep it and I can hit the mall. I sent them a nice email to exhibit my frustration. We'll see what they do. Other than that, it was a good Christmas. I just had to get that off of my chest.

How was your holiday? Was Santa good to you?