My Glam Squad..

Here are my skincare products. I am showing this because unlike most people, I am old fashion. I use pure soap and "cold cream... I don't really have a philosophy behind being old sckool just that they have worked for all of these years...





No to take a look inside the Glam Squad House...(the make up bag)
This is like a never ending bottomless pit...But this exersise helped me clean it out...

This says it all...

"I decided to stop complementing everybody else. I'm done bowing down for others...now its my time "-Nicki Minaj

I think that courage! Courage that I admire and long to have for my own aspirations!
Some day!

Still Trucking Along!

I learned a new craft, Crocheting!!! These hats are to be donated to the hospital. I have made several more since this picture and I am on my way to starting a new project! Whoo-hooo!

The Crafter in Me...

So I stepped into my new found hobby by going beyond what I have taught myself to do and meeting up with a new band of sisters!!!

For the first time I joined the AA County Sit and Stitch group. A band of knitters, crocheters and other crafts; and they ROCK!!!

There was chitting and chatting, there was knitting and crocheting; there were talks of personal lives and professional ones but mostly there was a group of women, from different backgrounds and life experiences all stitching together- it was a lovely sight!

These women exzooded confidence in themselves as crafters and in the less-confident crafter (that would be me!), they were not only warm and inviting but encouraging and willing to teach; they embraced me like I have been there from the beginning and I really enjoyed thier company.

I am going back this weekend!!!
These are my projects.
1. A soon to be scarf! (I hope before the winter comes!)
2. I tried to teach myself to crochet but it didnt go so well, so this is a bookmark (I guess???)
3. My second project that I started. Changing colors was still new to me and I am not sure as to what this will be.

The Results...

Here is the results of my first knot out. It was beautiful! I received numerous compliments about it and it lasted 3days out and one day in a bun. I am still working on the signature bun but this is more-than-likely a style that will be rocked again. Also this was wet styled so i am going to try it blowdried, then styled to see if my roots will look a little better.

In my blog-researching, I noticed that many people either talk about or ask about the transitioners self esteem.
Well my story is like manys...I had good self esteem, I wouldn't say it was great or high but it wasn't bad or low. It was positioned in the middle but more on the higher side. But weather we are willing to admitt it or not, our hair plays a big part in our self esteem, men and women because it has the ability to alterr the way you look to yourself and to others. So with that said, my self esteem has taken much of a hit on this roller coaster ride of transitioning. Some days are harder than others or lower than others and some days are better than others or higher than others. But every week sometimes twice a week on those lower or harder days, I have a conversation with myself saying "Self, you will not get a perm today. We will see the thing through" and depending on how I feel aftter that, I might have to go over the pros and cons of the two situations. I really realized and recognized that this was going on yesterday. There were some events happening with my family and I just couldn't get it together; this was the lowest it had ever been. And I realized this is why there is so much chat about it, becase this is what people are going through. Now, I will see what I will do better to make my self esteem higher bit recognizing that this is a problem for me is the first step to fully transitioning. And in mu honest opinion, you can't fully transition until your hair and your emotions about your hair are delt with, and that's from a future psychologist counseling others and herself/I mean myself. I hope this helps!

A W. I. P. (work in progress)

Well, I am a work in progress. I'm still working the natural look, every 3 to 4 days I have to say to myself "I am not getting a perm!" a couple times when it was really close I had to look at myself in the mirror and say it. It is complicated but this thing didn't get complicated until styling came into play. I was happy to rock a ponytail but it no longer looks the same. With thicker roots I don't like the look; it doesn't look the way I used too.

So now what?
Well so far I tried a twist out which FAILED and a braid out which looked great for one day. I got lots of compliments on that style so that was encouraging and I will try it again.

But today I am trying a air dry knot out. I will post pics once it dries. 

My life in Transition...

Life has many transitions- some that warrant drama and some that don’t. However any woman would understand the drama behind this area that is in transition…MY HAIR!!!

I made the decision 4 months ago to go “natural”. I have been relaxer/ perm free for almost 5 months and it has been a crazy roller coaster every since. Only because I don’t do very well with change-which means I can’t make up my mind!

First, the whole reason for the decision was that dreads was the way that I was going. Well, I changed my mind! Now I am trying to leave my hair out and style it as it grows out.

Well, let’s start from the beginning. The decision was made and I have been just rocking a ponytail and that’s it. However, my roots have been extremely thick and my ponytail wasn’t lying as neat and sleek as it usually is. But you know you can’t get anything past your family- especially the women!!!

They proceeded to “rip me a new one” about the state of my hair (talk about needing thick skin!) But anyone who has gone through the transition or is in transition knows that your hair goes through an “ugly” phase and if you don’t know, please understand that it will (prepare yourself). Anyhoo, my family knows that I am very low maintenance when it comes to my hair but they also know that I have a lot of hair! So, I decided to use this blog to document my progress and the process of it.
So, lets get to it!

Products:



These are some products that I had in my cabinet. I have not gone out to purchase new items for going natural. I believe that you shouldn’t go “cold turkey” on everything when transitioning. It is just like being on drugs, I have been chemical-lizing my hair for at least 15 years, my hair and scalp could go through withdrawal, you never know, so I am deciding to ease my way into the natural state.

Also, I was already using staple products in my repertoire that infused moisture and promoted healthy hair I will not change unless I see a change in my hair and scalp. Many people believe that they have to chuck out all of their old products and go purchase new ones which will be pretty expensive- I don't think so!

Look at your hair regimen that you were using and figure out why you were using these products; see if they are worth carrying over into your new natural regimen. If not, wait until they run out then invest in new products; on at a time. Some people may be like me who runs out and invest whole heartedly in an idea and don’t really think it all the way through. I have wasted a lot of time and money on these half-witted ideas that took my time and money and it went no where FAST! So take it slow, research and invest in staple products that can be multi-talented for you and your needs.

Styling:
Oh Lawd!! I am trying y’all! I am soooo not a fan of big hair. I think it is gorgeous on some people, men and women but not on me. Not only do I just not like it on me, but just in case you didn’t know, I am a teacher of 3 and 4 year olds so having my hair out and all over the place is not conducive to my line of work. However, through the use of blogs and other internet based information, I am finding more options. So here are the results of my first twist out and braid out… (I had no idea what this meant until I researched it!) lol!


Lord Help Me!!!