It's been a long time baby...

Lawd it's been a long, long time but I think I am finally back on the radar.  I have just not been feeling like chit chatting on the computer, posting pics, or just doing anything, my poor blog has suffered and so has my Youtube channel, bless their hearts.  Lately I have been doing a lot of crafting and sewing and what not and decided to give this thing they call "blogging" another chance.  I see the last post was in February, I seriously thought I had posted something newer than that but I guess not, I am going to give it one more shot and if it does not go well this time then so be it.
So what have I been up to?
Lots of stuff, way too much to post in this one blog so I will give you a little of what is going on with my hair, crafting, and family for the right now and as the days go by I will post more updates.
My hair is in stretched loose two strand twists that I saw Alicia James do a tutorial on on her Youtube channel, if you want to see it check it out.  My hair has been twisted for two weeks and is actually coming down on this Sunday cause my scalp is getting itchy and my hair really just needs to be washed.  I really love these twists and can't wait to do them again

Today I wore a head scarf for the first time and now I think I am in love with them, I was feeling really cute in it too, I got this scarf from a thrift store.



I pulled my twists into a low pony and wrapped the ends of the scarf around it creating the bun, you can find some really good scarf tieing tutorials on Youtube.

So on to crafting: my two recent projects finished this week.

Project #1



This is a quilt I made for a coworker, she gave me  6 boxes of tshirts that she has had for who knows how long and I made her a quilt. It actually turned great but I won't be making another for a while.

Project #2, I took these bootcut jeans and turned them into skinny pink jeans, so me! Luv them and the color pink!



I got this project from Pinterest, that sight rocks, surely got more to come.

Lastly just a few pictures from my family reunion in Slidell, Louisian, for those of you who don't know where that is, it is about 30 minutes from New Orleans right over the bridge. We had a wonderful time celebrating the Rockett family, whoop, whoop!

Cafe Du Monde got the bomb beignets...I think that was my husbands

highlight of the whole trip.

Lake Pontchartrain

So these are some of the right now things I got going on.  Stay tuned to more..... hugs and kisses.

Still waiting

So the last personal bit of information I shared with you was about my miscarriage in December and all that I went through, definitely have moved on from that and back to feeling great. So hubby and I have been trying since last month...nothing yet. My birthday came and went on the 23 of January so a week later was testing time and nothing happened, wow what a shocker considering that with the first two pregnancies when we said lets have a baby I was magically pregnant the next day, not really but that's just how fast my body works, so when I wasn't this time I think we were kind of sad (I was mostly shocked) for about a day and then we were back to normal. I think my husband was more sad, I could see it in his face.
Fast forward to now, I am feeling some anxiety now because what if it doesn't happen again this time? I try to keep my mind off it and just let nature do what it do but that's hard, I know it's harder to get pregnant the older you get but goodness I ain't even 35 yet...and by the way my plan is to not have anymore babies after that age, don't judge me. I'm sure it's normal for me to feel this way  considering my past hoping there is nothing wrong with me after hearing how "easy" it is to get pregnant after a miscarriage.
Hubby and I have also decided that if it doesn't happen this month we are putting it off until the summer cause we don't want another December baby, two December birthdays is more enough. Right now I am just going with the flow, do I get excited of what may be but trying not to get too excited about what may not.
Anywho...I will get back with you when I have more news to share, until then check out Saturdays hair. I just had to throw some hair in there.

Thursday hair

Here is Thursday hair, I must say that I had a great time styling my hair on last week, it was a break from the usual twists that I keep in my pinup style. It only started because I was not all the way happy with the twists I had put in so I just decided to wear my hair out, it definitely is great to be able to style my hair now and not always wear twist outs. Check out pics.
Hair is just rolled and tucked to the back and with a side ponytail, hair is then just pinned under to protect the ends.

Wednesday Hair

Pictures of Wednesday hair...I braided already stretched hair into medium plaits over night, in the a.m I unbraided each and just did big flat twists across the top towards the back and did a high pony. The hair is just tucked under and pinned down and viola!

Monday Hair

So my hair regimen is going great, loving the results I am getting from my hair. Sunday I washed using Keracare cream shampoo which is wonderful, I deep conditioned using Mizani Curl Relenish, then used Cantu Shea Butter leave in with a little olive oil and finally blow dried, my hair has been great and feels great. Afterwards to style I twisted with Darcey's Botanicals Madagascar Vanilla Styling Cream with a little leave in on the ends. My first intention was to wear it pinned up in the twists but the next morning I decidef to do an out style just cause I haven't worn it ou in a while. Results.turned out great. Check out pics below.

Birthday Weekend

Wow so another year has rolled around wich means it's birthday time.  I will be 32, wow how time is rolling but I still feel like a spring chicken, lol.
My birthday is officially on Monday but I will begin celebrating on tomorrow of course and the rest of the weekend.  This year will be different though, no partying with the girls, nope, just me and hubby this time doing what I want to do.  I want to do something "couply", that's not a word but you know what I mean.  Like I said in my past post, we have been through a rough last month and just need a time to ourselves so we are just gonna have fun together, I surely have some things in mind for us to do.
So I am surely in need of a cute not too much work hair style and ran across Westndnbeauty's site Confessions of a Blog Vixen. I love the braid and curl so I think I will give it a try, my hair is still stretched from the previous washing and blow dry session on last Sunday so this is the perfect time.  Check out the video below and stay tuned for more pictures soon.

First salon visit in three years

Sooo, after 3 years I decided I wanted to go to the salon, a natural one, and get my hair did up.

Yeah I was very nervous, you know after doing your own hair for so long it makes you a little hesitant to let someone else get in your head especially with it being the first time meeting.

I went in for a rod set, and while the style came out nice the experience is unforgetable.

The shop I went to is actually owned by a coworkers cousin whom I know fairly good, she has had her shop for several years and does great hair, but she is not the one who did my hair, and on top of that my sis in law goes there too, this was not a shop that I picked out eenie meenie minie mo....

First she shampooed my hair twice which I never do, that's when I started getting nervous.  Next she conditioned with this very light conditioner that only smelled good, as quick as she put it in she rinsed it out...another uh oh.

Last she applied a light leave in conditioner, mind you those type of condtioners are like water only to my hair, no help at all. She took me to her chair and started to prep my hair for styling.  

Ladies hold it together now...this is the part where I should have got out the chair and ran for the door.

We'll call the stylist "D"

"D" began detangling my hair with a comb, it took all I had not to scream.  She started with the back which is pretty easy to detangle but when she started making her way up I literally heard my hair popping and she was just a combing.  All through my mind were thoughts of what I wanted to tell her and do, just snatch the comb out of her hand  and throw it.  I kept my cool but softly and politely asked her to add more leave in then I told her that I never use a comb on my hair and only detangle with lots of conditioner, then she told me that my hair was detangling good...you think, probably because she was snapping the tangles off.

Really I know I should have left at that point, but I did not want to look like a crazy in front of the other customers and the owner.  

You live you learn...

"D" finally got the rods put in using some mousse only then under the dryer I went and that brought me back to why I don't like hair salons, I swear I was under the dryer for eternity that I was ready to holler out.  I think the owner could see it in my face cause she kept asking if I was alright surely knowing I wasn't.

I finally got from under the dryer and rollers were taken out.  I really did love the style and was excited to not have to do my hair for the week, my hair was soft and bouncy and shiny.

taken at bed time, not my 

cute face

Sadly this style only lasted for three days, by Tuesday night I had to brush it out and go back to my twist out since the weather got to it, three and half hours and $?? later my style was  a hot mess.

hair by Tuesday-frizzed out

So yes was upset that my hair was a total loss, not even salvagable but oh well.  

Would I go back, I don't know, If so definitely not to her.  My sis in law showed the owner my hair and she got in touch with me and wanted me to come back in.  I really need to think about it.

I feel like this appointment could have gone better if "D" would have talked to me about my hair, since I am the one who knows more about it cause I work with it everyday even though she may have a license  and think she knows how to do hair doesn't make her a knowitall for all hair types...sorry.

Anyways, we'll see, cause I do need a  hair break and twists are not an option, maybe some braided up style.

We'll see...

Big Girls protective style for the week

I hope this style lasts for at least 2 weeks. It was most definitely time for the mohawk to come down and be on to another style. So we shampooed and I came up with this, nothing fancy I have seen several girls with this style, the only thing different is that I did the ends in ghana plaits with the weaving thread. The extra hair I wrapped into a ball and added a hairbow. I love it and so does Big Girl.
Next "project" is Baby Girls hair (yes her hair is a project)
Have a great weekend!

African Hair Threading: Ghana Plaits

Ghana plaits- using a piece of weave thread to wrap around a section of hair making it look like it is twisted but it really isn't (this is my definition)
Lately I have fallen in love with this method, I think it is the cutest style especilly for the little ones.  I decided that I will attempt these on my girls hair once school starts back and there is no more swimming, right now I stick with protective styles that are easy to wash.
I came across a few videos showing how to do Ghana Plaits and thought I would share them.

Here are a few sites for more information:

African Hair Threading 
 by Cherishmydaughter

Side Swept Flat Twists and Ghana Plaits
by Girlsloveyourcurls




I will be trying this on both my hair and my girls when school starts back.  Stay tuned.

Box braid cuties

Once again we have moved on to another protective style, the past week the girls had small cornrows that looked a hot mess by yesterday with all the swimming they do in the summer. This time I decided to do box braids, a first for them, hopefully we can get two weeks out of this style.

Before taking the cornrows out I softened the hair with a spritz of water, a little VO5 moisture milk, it hlps taking those little braids out much easier. I then shampooed conditioned, and DC'd, since it had been a while for that. Yes I do DC my girls hair about once a month.
To each braid section I sprayed the same spritz  mixture as above but added aloe vera juice and olive oil then sealed with my whipped mango butter, perfection, their hair turned out great.

Greetings from the road & Updates

Yes I have nothing else to do but post from the road, I was reading but I have to save the rest of my book for the ride home. It was hard to put down cause it is so interesting, I will have to post a list of the books I have read, you will not be disappointed.
Anywho, on our way to Texas for the 4th to visit my mom, girls in the back with a little car sickness as usual, they got it honest from me, and that's with the bracelets and all. While driving I thought I would post about my hubby who cut his Loc's out after getting them started several weeks ago. In all fairness I don't blame him, it's hot and he works on air conditioners which makes him sweaty then he starts digging in his hair making it look a mess like it was yesterday. So instead of making me do his hair he decided to cut it off, no worries though he his going to grow it back out and start over in the Fall. Pics at the bottom...

Quick product review: with a little water last night I retwisted my twists from Tuesday with Kimmay leave in and the As I Am Twist and Define Butter...the best definition ever. Took twists out while riding and my hair is so defined and shiney, can't wait to seperate and fluff some more. I think I am in love with the Butter, again.

Hair Yesterday/ Expo Coverage

Hey all, two quick things.
1. I am so excited to say that I will be covering the  Tennessee Natural Hair and Wellness Expo coming to Memphis on next month. I am soooo excited about this event, surely this will get some products rolling in and through here. So make sure you stay tuned...can't wait to see who and what will be there and all the Beautiful Natural who will be attending.
2. Just a quick pic of my hair after the small cut on Sunday, I love this so much better.

My Sisters New Do

A few days ago I told you guys about my sister who I cut/combed her locs out (my wrist is bandaged due to all that stress), so she calls me the other day and tells me she is going to get a brazillian blow out cause she just can't deal with her hair.
Well yes she did it, she came by Thursday with a style she I haven't seen her in for a while, but I think it was a nice change for her. We were so tickled pink...especially when I told her I can smell her hair ;)- . Would she do it agai? Don't know, guess we will see.

As I Am Hair Samples

Surely we have all heard of As I Am hair products by now, if not where have you been hiding.  Just Kidding!! But if you don't know then check out the site and products HERE and get some free samples, all you have to do is pay shipping which is $3.25.  Better hurry though, apparently this ends on Friday.

Avocado Treatment Video

Avocado Hair Treatment

I love avocados and guacamole is a definite go to with some chips but surely I never thought to put it in my hair, but as I type this I am sitting with avocado hair treatment under a shower cap, now, who knew.
Apparently, avocados are geat for hair growth, strengthens hari and adds shine...one serving of avocado mask for me please.  Avocados (oil) are full of Vitamin E which is important for healthy hair growth and reducing shedding hair, the oil is next on my shopping list. 
Let's not forget about the protein in avocados too, I'm not a protein fan especially after reading some scary failed attemps at protein treatments.  So why not give this one a try, it's not a chemical so surely no harm can be done.

Here is what I did:
2 Avocados
Olive Oil, I started with 2tbsp then added more as needed
jojoba oil, about 2tbsp
water
and blended in my mini food processor.
for storage I put it in my plastic containers, make sure you put the seed in there with the mixture to keep it from turning brown.  Freeze any extra.

My thoughts:  I didn't not have that hallelujah moment with this, but it was a nice treatment.  It was the same effect I get after doing a deep treatment after shampooing and sitting under the dryer, I definitely liked skipping that part.  My hair was shiney though.  Would I do it again, yep, just because...maybe in another 2 weeks to see if the effects are consistent.

Afterwards I used my KeraCare samples to finish washing and styling my hair, be back with that review soon.

Hubby's Loc Journey

Saturday, May 30, 2011

My husband has been growing out his hair for the past several months and finally got his Locs started...by me.  It was either get a hair cut or start the process. The first idea was to go to my sisters Loctician and get them started, $125, I just couldn't justify paying that much but she is good and does scalp treatments out of this world which is what he needs for his dandruff.  The second choice was me do his hair...and my hair...and my two daughters hair, too much hair doin.  In the end I did it and it took almost 7 hours to do due to the tedious parting and twisting and clipping of the hair, it looked pretty good.

This is half way done and looking

pretty good. Hubby has lots of grey :)

The good thing about me starting his hair is that if he changes his mind in a few months and cuts it off the money is not wasted, of course he says he is going to keep it.

To get the Locs started he washed his hair and used the shampoo brush to get his scalp good and clean from any dandruff or buildup, then conditioned, for the twist I used Taliah Waajhid Lock It Up Gel  for resistant hair, that means for grey hair cause it is stubborn.  After twisting I used the short metal clamps to hold down the roots and let dry, took them out and....

Viola,

  finished hair...

 This lasted a whole week and just got redone on this morning when I re-twisted.  The one bad thing is he has type 3? in the back of his head and it does not want to hold so I had to re-twist that section during the week, I tried adding a little Eco gel with the Lock it up for that part to see how it holds.  We'll see.  Be back later for more updates and length check.  Length Check + Hubby = Weird!!!

Easter Hair- bantu knot out

Here is yesterday and today hair, Easter hair.  I did a bantu knot out using My Honey Child products. I will definitely be back with my thoughts on them later on.

I luv the chinkyness

me and babies

me and hubby, my hair

is bigger than his head, lol.

and I made some homemade bread pudding for the 

first time, the other side does not have raisins

cause one child does not like them.

Might I add it was delicious.

Have a happy Monday!!!!