my bachelorette party!!!

Hello there lovely people,

This past weekend I had my first bachelorette party, and it was great!!!!  One day I had the awesome idea to have a bachelorette party to celebrate being single.  I don't understand why women (and men for bachelor parties) wait right until they are about to no longer be single to celebrate their singleness.  Therefore, I decided to take matters into my own hands and have a celebration while I am single (and for real single, not about to walk down the aisle single).  Now don't get me wrong, I do want to and know I will someday get married, but I think that I should celebrate my current status while I have it.  I feel like no matter what your status (even beyond single or married), there is something that you can learn, some way that you can grow, and something wonderful that should be celebrated.  So, I am embracing my singleness while it lasts, and trying each day to become a little bit better now so that when it is time to embark upon marriage I'll be exactly who I am supposed to be at that time with no regrets about what I shoulda, coulda, woulda done during my single days!!!

I was so fortunate to spend my bachelorette party (weekend) with three wonderful ladies.  The weekend began with yummy Cuban food at Mojito's on Gervais St.  Can I take a second out to say I LOVE some well cooked beans and rice, and don't get me started on the plantains.  Next we began our wild and crazy night in the Vista at 8:00 :-)  We went to Wet Willies and sat outside and talked and enjoyed various beverages.  Next, we went to Jillians where every one's eyes, except ours, were glued to TVs showing the Carolina game or some fight that was on and apparently a big deal.  We headed straight for the back to the dance section.  At first the music sucked, but after more people came back there the music got better.  After wobbling for a bit we headed over to Blue, my favorite night spot in Columbia.  When we first got there I was a bit skeptical because they had a new DJ, and the music at Blue is one reason I so like it.  However, new dude was on it, and toward the end of the night he mixed Rolling in the Deep and won award in my book for best DJ of the night.  And let me say that I don't even like that song, but dude was on it.  After that we went home and got much needed sleep.  Sunday was church at 11, which was awesome by the way.  After church went to Viva la Vista, a street fair type of event, for a bit which was hot, but quite enjoyable:-). 

All in all I found the weekend to be wonderful and am so grateful that Sheika, Nalisha and Breana were willing to spend it with me!!!  Now of course is nap time :-) 

Tootles for now, don't forget to embrace the place you are in 

Nalisha and me at Mojitos.  For the weekend I decided to wear my hair in two braids pinned up in the back.

Breana and Sheika at Wet Willies.  Apparently Sheika could never hear what I was saying during the night so she wasn't paying attention.....why is it a recurring theme with people that they can't hear me?  Why is it everyone else and obviously not me :-)

Me at Jillians.  I had a Tequila Sunrise, my first one, it was just okay.



Now this is real talent right here.  I took a pic of all four of us when it was said it couldn't be done.  Haters!!!!! :-)



it's the little things

I've decided that God is my favorite artist

Today I had quite a hectic day.  I was leaving Wal-Mart from picking up a few things and I was hot, hungry and getting a bit cranky (not a pretty combo on me).  As I was finished unloading my stuff into my car a gentleman who was headed toward the store asked if he could take my shopping cart.  I thankfully gave it to him, hopped in the car and blasted the air condition.  As I backed out I looked in my mirror and saw the guy put the shopping cart into the holder and continue walking into the store cart free.  When I realized that he asked for my cart simply to be a nice guy so that I didn't have to walk back and put it away myself, that completely turned my attitude around and made me smile.  I love when people do kind acts just out of the goodness of their heart.  

I don't know about you, but when someone does a good thing for me it just makes me want to go out and do something nice for someone else :-)  So, keep the love going this weekend and do a little good whenever you can!!!

Tootles for now, have a great weekend.

Love, peace and happiness 

is it just me or is dirty hair prettier?!?!? :-/

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Okay, so I know this sounds weird and disgusting, BUT, I often feel like my hair LOOKS the best right before I need to wash it :-/  This is so crazy, but a day or two before wash day my hair is shiny (oily), it moves (is weighed down with product), and is soft (from the tons of built up moisturizer).  What's up with that?!?!?  So, it feels oily and disgusting, but if you just don't touch it......gorgeous.  This of course leaves me not wanting to wash it and then I'm torn.  Do I want disgusting oily, but shiny pretty hair, or clean not as shiny and awesome hair?  I think this wash period I'll do a test.  I usually wash my hair about every 5.  Tomorrow will be 5 days since my last wash and I can certainly tell.  So maybe I'll just see how long I can hold off before washing.  Well.....I really want to henna, so maybe next wash cycle I'll experiment, we'll see.  I'm excited, I quite love experimenting!!!!  I'll keep you all posted on the decision and results. 

Let me know if any of you ever experience this feeling of beautiful dirty!!!

Tootles for now, 

Love, peace and happiness 

resisting temptation



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Hello lovely readers,

This morning I went to get my oil changed/tires rotated, and I had a big decision to make.  I always take my car to the same place, and I usually go in the morning.  Since I scheduled the appointment yesterday I had been thinking about how excited I was to get a donut when I got there.  In the waiting room, they always have a box or two of donuts in the morning.  Now, sometimes they have Dunkin Donuts and that's no problem for me to leave alone.  But this morning, I walk in the waiting room and there to my delight I see two dozen Krispy Kreme donuts.  Mmmm......as I worked to keep the saliva from dribbling out of my mouth I already started feeling guilty about eating them (because I had already decided I was getting 2).  So I thought about it for a moment, and decided against the donut.  I sat at a table (in an adjacent room, and that may have helped me resist), opened up my mini can of V8 and decided that I would resist the temptation.  As I downed my V8 (I'm sure I was pretending it tasted like donut) I was so proud of myself.  I decided recently that I need to start eating better because I have been terrible lately so I felt like this was a big step for me.  I think one of the best things about resisting temptations is how proud you feel of yourself afterward!!!!  The yummy taste of the donuts would have only lasted for about a couple minutes as I ate them, but my awesome feeling of resisting has lasted all day!!!!!  

Feel free to share your stories of resisting those urges, good deeds you've done, or just something lately that has made you feel good inside.

Tootles for now,
Peace, love and happiness

posting a comment

In these pics my hair is in a flat twist out done on an old braid out done on an old two strand twist out.  Can we say time for a wash?!?!?! My butterfly is an old iron on I have from a t-shirt I made, and I put a clip on the back and turned it into a hair accessory. 

Hey there peoples,

I have had a couple of people tell me that they were unable to post comments.  I just tried to post a comment and it worked if I selected the Name/URL account or if I selected the google account.  To post using Name/URL simply type in the name (or link if you have one) that you want to post under and that should work.  For the google account I had to accept terms of use to create/use blogger.com (if you do this you don't actually have to create a blog).  For both of these options I had to type the security letters dealio, and I had to click post comment multiple times before it actually posted.  Comments will not be directly posted; instead, I will receive an email and approve them so that they may be posted.  

Thank you all so much for reading this blog.  Please continue to read/follow and continue to post comments.  Without comments, I figure no one is reading :-(  If you try to post and are having difficulties let me know (curlykinkybeauty@gmail.com).  

Thank you so much for your patience and support!!!
Tootles, 
Love, peace and happiness 

5 must haves for a natural beauty

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Hello there lovely peoples,

I have narrowed down five items that I feel are essential to a natural beauty such as yourself. 

1. A great hair oil: hair needs oil.  Everyone's scalp natural produces oil (sebum); however, the amount of oil that is produced varies across people (although it is most similar in people of similar ethnic backgrounds).  Typically, women of color have high sebum production; however, because of all the twists and turns in our hair the oil rarely travels down the strand as it does on straight, wavy or loosely curly hair.  Oil can coat and protect your hair and add shine.  Oil may also be bought to put on the scalp in order to prevent it from getting dry.  The type of oil you use is up to you.  My favs are Castor oil, Jojoba Oil and Vatika Oil for my hair.  Castor oil/jojoba oil or Castor oil/olive oil for my scalp.  However, everyone's hair and scalp are different so try out different oils and see what works best for you. 
2. Cute hair accessories:  I LOVE accessories!!!  So naturally I love hair accessories.  Okay, hair accessories aren't pertinent to healthy hair, but they do make your hair so much more fun.  I suggest getting a variety of accessories so that you can change it up: flowers, headbands, hats.  I also highly recommend making your own hair accessories.  For inspiration you may want to check out this post, this post or this post from the Mop Top Maven. 
3. A great conditioner:  An awesome conditioner is so essential to having healthy beautiful hair (natural or relaxed).  It is very important that your conditioner moisturizes and detangles preferably without leaving a bunch of build-up and residue.  My fav conditioner currently is Aubrey Honeysuckle Rose.  Some others that I like are Aubrey GPB, Say Yes to Cucumbers, Herbal Essences Totally Twisted
4. A hair routine that works for you:  Some people may say that having a routine is not necessary.  However, having a hair routine cuts down on stress tremendously.  Having a hair routine also helps reduce product junky tendencies.  Included in a hair routine is an appropriate night time routine.  I recommend your night time routine including a scalp massage, oil your hair (and scalp if necessary), putting hair in a protective style such as braids (maybe just 2 or 4 or so) and sleeping on satin (pillowcase, scarf, bonnet).  Although it sounds weird, your hair will respond better to having some type of routine, trust me.
5. Patience:  learning your hair is a process.  You and your hair should be friends not enemies or frenemies.  Even if you have been natural for some time, don't be frustrated if you feel like you haven't quite figured everything out yet about your hair, it takes time.  When you get frustrated (and you will at some point about some hair issue), just take a breath and chill out.  

Well, these are the five things that I have found most essential to working toward healthy happy hair and Shayna.  What is it that you feel should be added to the list.  

Tootles for now!!!!    

Feeling naturally inspired in the professional world

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Hello there lovely peoples,

Yesterday I went to a press conference and luncheon devoted to increasing the number of women in politics in SC (and just in case anyone is wondering, SC ranks number 51, yes 51!!! in the number of women holding elected and appointed political positions).  Anyhoo, I was thrilled by the women I saw and met there.  It was so inspiring to meet strong independent women wanting change.  And to my pleasant surprise, there was such an array of women there.  I mean there were old women (including a 91 year old lady who was one of the first females to graduate from USC Law School), young women, Black women, White women etc.  It was beautiful to see.  I was especially delighted to see that these women were intermixing and mingling regardless of these very apparent outward differences.  And of course one of the best parts of all for me was all the Black women who had natural hair :-)  I mean I saw TWAs, big thick puffs, pulled back natural and myself rocking a twist out (an old big twist out, but still cute ;-), and I loved it.  All of the women despite choice of hairstyle looked professional, confident and comfortable.  Who says that natural hair, regardless of the texture, can't be professional and beautiful?!?! 

With that said, I strongly encourage all of you wonderful women of SC (or women who know women of SC) to get involved in politics.  We should all seriously consider running for a political office or committee or supporting a woman who is.  Currently there are only about 15 women in the SC House of Representatives and 0 women in the SC senate.  We rank behind every state and Puerto Rico for number of women in politics.  Really?!?!  It's 2011, it's time to stop letting the boys run things and make decisions for us when we are fully capable of making decisions for ourselves.  Okay, as I step down off of my soapbox I will leave you with the final thought that women are naturally programmed to be leaders.  I mean we already multi-task, resolve conflicts, budget, act as a liason, compromise, and over commit and come through in our daily lives, how different is politics :-) 

Well, that's all I have for now,

If anyone wants more info about getting invloved in politics let me know!!!!

Tootles

This year the Southeastern Institute for Women in Politics is really pushing to increase the number of women elected into political office in SC in the year 2012. I encourage us all to join the campaign and help out as best we can!!!!

Course/thick, fine/thin

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Hey there lovelies,

Often we use terms, well misuse terms, that we really don't know the meaning of.  So, I wanted to quickly clear up what the terms course, thick, fine and thin really mean (as I understand it at least).  Course and thick are not synonyms for one another, and neither are fine and thin.  Course and fine are opposites, and refer to the diameter of your hair.  So, these two terms deal with the size of an individual strand of hair.  Thick and thin refer to the number of hairs that a person has on his/her head.  So, a person can have course, thin hair.  Therefore, when reading descriptions of products or methods that may help you out don't assume that because your hair is thick it is also course.  Course hair is typically about the diameter of a piece of thread.  So, in your copious amounts of free time feel free to go and measure the diameter of a few strands of hair (maybe your hair is course in one area and fine in another).  

Anyhoo, I just thought I'd clear that up for you all.  Check out this link from the Curl Whisperer (live curly live free) for more info on these terms as well as other useful terms and tips about curly hair.

That's all for now, 

Tootles

Love, peace and happiness