Aspiring 23rd Birthday Hairstyles

For some time now....Well for the past year, I've been on a mission to re-embrace the joy of my birthday. Let's just say last year's sucked... BIG SOUR BALLS. And though it was partially my fault for not having anything planned, the way in which it played out was at the hands of an individual I'd rather pretend is dead at the moment! LOL Hmmm...was that too harsh? Idk, maybe I'll re-edit this in a month's time with something nicer but for now, it's staying that way.

SIDENOTE:
I know it has been a while since I've posted and honestly, feeling my emotionally synced fingers run across the keyboard is making me wonder why I ever slowed down on writing blog posts at all. LOL--I'll admit, I only have about five followers and where it concerns publicity and getting my blog out there, I am not the sharpest needle. Kill me dead, but I still say having no interaction on something that's meant for the public plays a bit of hardball with my esteem and writing capabilities. Why write if no one will read...or listen, right?

Anyway, I didn't open up this post to ramble so let's get back to business.

In short, for this post, I will share the hairstyles I am ranking as contenders for my upcoming 23rd birthday celebration. And I pray at least ONE of them gets done!!

HAIRSTYLES

~*CassBeccai*~

bout a week ago, I came across Cassandra Beccai, a fellow natural who has a natural hair product line out called Eden's Heart ... Though I have never tried her products, I became quite attached to her through her YouTube page. And on her page, I came across a hairstyle she did herself. Cassandra is a spirited young woman with a calm sense of life. She put me at rest from the get-go and she might not have crazy humor, but sometimes you need a content person to convey happiness to you! Anyway, here is the video she made and the hairstyle I am so0o tempted to try. Not saying I'll do it for my birthday, but it is quite tempting. Plus it reminds me of Havana Twists (which are way more expensive) because it looks so natural!



~*India Davis*~

India Davis--of the YouTube trio-ed sisterly sensation, MyNaturalSistas-- has been bedazzling my eyes since I came across them on the Tube! This lady right here! She can do it up with some curl formers! So I figured I would given them a shot and what better time to order my Curlformers than Black Friday!! So that is what I did! I know there are a million exclamation points in this one subsection but oh well~ LOL ... I am DEFINITELY considering doing this fluffy style for my birthday! I am going to start my trial hopefully next week, by washing, detangling, deep conditioning and moisturizing my hair. Then I will apply the curl formers in sections with each section using a different product so that I can see which product worked better! Here is a tutorial on India putting in her Curlformers! It seems so easy and with mine waiting for me at home, you better blieve I'm going to lay this all out in a strategic manner!

 ~*NeEkNinja*~

I actually came across NeEkNinJa tonight before I decided to write this blog. Maybe she was my inspiration--idk--but I LOVED this faux bun tutorial she did! Made my creative gene itch to step out of the box. I must say, for about a month now, I have been wanting to try doing styles with add-on hair--whether it be Marley braid or regular Kenekalon. So this may just be a contender! And a great protective style, might I add! I've also included a bonus style. It's Yarn Braids/Wraps that she did and then styled into petals!!! Can you say AMAZING?!

Autumn and Castor Oil Rendezvous!!!

IT IS OFFICIALLY AUTUMN

Happy Fall, my loves! We have so much to look forward to for these colder months! And I am not just talking about the comfort food and quilted blankets! I'm talking about the preservation. Getting my skin care back under control, elongating my days where it concerns constantly shaving my legs, and heading back into the gym with a sweatshirt on instead of a skimpy wife-beater so that fellow members can't see how much I REALLY have to get done on my body. *Sigh*... low-self-esteem-much???

Anyway, this autumn, I have also included getting my hair care up and running. I need to finally LEARN my hair. I mean, I already know it likes a mixture of all-natural and unnatural products, but I need to finally find my staples and thank you LORD for this Castor Oil challenge I am participating in with BlakIzBeautyful of Kinky Curly Coily Me, I feel like my blog name ~*ForeverCoily*~ will now have some expectations to live up to! Let's start with this Castor Oil challenge! 

FALL 2012 CASTOR OIL CHALLENGE
The Fall Castor Oil Challenge began September 1st, 2012 and will run until December 1st, 2012 (my birthday month, YAY!!!) It consists of you dedicating yourself to using Castor oil on your edges, nape, scalp, and/or strands for no less than 3 days per week, and for those who would like to be considered for the challenge prizes, participants must post their responses and encouragements on each of the blog's weekly posted check-ins at least 3 times a week. Now I must admit, I don't even know what the prizes are for this challenge, and quite frankly, I am not in it to win anything. I just want to put my hair to the test and see if I too can--for once--stick to something concrete. A regimen of sorts, if you want to put it that way. Anyone who knows me, knows I LOVE to talk about my obsession for having structure in my life. But I've slowly realized that I've never really KEPT structure. And that shows in the fact that I started my hair journey in 2009 and have only accumulated about 2 inches of length SINCE. Need I say more?

This rendezvous I have with falling in love with Fall and having this strong friendship with Castor oil has gone far beyond what I expected. So much so that I have FUN writing my weekly check-ins and words of encouragement to fellow participants. I mean, my last response was a NOVEL. It'll be posted below if you're curious. This week's check-in was about finding favorite products, how we form our criteria for a favorite product and how we are coming along our fourth week in for this challenge. And I can not wait to read the rest of the responses!!

I do wish, I wrote this post sooner and no, not EVERYTHING in my life is going smoothly. But at least some things are and those ae the things I will be dwelling on. So let's forget the opposite sex. Let's forget the stress of gaining a second job, and let's put to the side, the fact that I am having a HARD time saving money. No! I'm not a shop-aholic, but an entry-level position with minimum wage can only get a sistah so far, especially when she has bills to pay. Thank GOD I didn't not have to take out loans for college! This Fall Mentailty is REALLY turning around my bitter feelings of the summer. 

For more information on the Castor Oil challenge, click the link above. You won't be able to enter to be considered for prizes, but you can always follow along and see what Castor Oil can do for your hair too! My response to this week's check-in is down below!

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WEEK 4 CHECK-IN    

Hey all! Happy to be back for another check-in! So let me jump right into it! .

-1- THERE ARE SO MANY PRODUCTS ON THE MARKET? WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITES?
So yesterday was my wash day and I decided it was time I buckled down to find some staples....Since the winter months are slowly approaching and all. A few weeks ago, I attended the Fashion Week natural hair meet-up at Marx on the UES and was one of the raffle winners. My prize was from the Sofn' Free GroHealthy line and I received the "Nothing But...Intense Healing Mask and the "Nothing But...Curly Wake Up Spray." To top it off, our gift bags came with sample sizes of the line's Shampoo, Conditioner, and Pure Pudding as well! I was a bit hesitant but I figured why not try the line out. And I must say that I LOVE this product line!! I mean my regular faves include the Creme of Nature Argan Oil line, an occasional cheapy conditioner, Shea Moisture's Curl Enhancing Smoothie, and an oil mixture. But THIS LINE!! PLUS the use of my Castor Oil has topped all expectations! And on the first try too?!? Usually it takes 2 to 3 washes for my hair to "succumb", like, or love a product, but even before I washed out the final step--the mask--I had the MOST silky soft hair. So soft that I even let my hair air dry like 90% of the way with NO product. And I still have leftovers of the samples. That's how THICK and light the products are. So this is now my FAVORITE product line. And I haven't even used their pudding or spray as yet but I'm expecting good results! 

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-2- WHAT QUALITIES DOES A PRODUCT NEED TO HAVE IN ORDER FOR IT TO BECOME ONE OF YOUR FAVORITES?
Besides the shocker quality, my favorite product needs to be at my disposal, it's price range should equate the integrity of its ingredients, it should leave my hair feeling moisturized for longer than 2-3 days and it shouldn't weigh my hair down (without my permission). And the Sofn' Free products definitely passed this criteria!

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-3- SINCE USING CASTOR OIL, HAS YOUR HAIR BEEN MAINTAINING MOISTURE?
I believe castor oil is the REASON for my light, free, feathery, wind blown, soft, silky, hair. LOL. I swear, before this, my hair felt like barbed wire. It was thick but in a matted tangle-y way. Now I can use Castor Oil, do a twist up and wake up the next morning looking like I just got a light blow out. I don't know about length because I'm not good with my own judgement, but as for feel and moisture, Castor Oil definitely gets my vote! 

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-4- HOW DID YOU USE CASTOR OIL IN YOUR HAIR LAST WEEK (WEEK 3)? DID YOU FIND YOURSELF LOSING MOMENTUM OR ARE YOU STILL GOING HARD?
Since I had a braided protective style for 7 days I just made sure to spritz my hair morning and night with water and to put castor oil around my edges and nape. My scalp stayed moisturized until I pulled out the style 7 days later. Thursday night, I pre-pooed with a cheapy conditioner and my castor oil. Friday morning I washed, conditioned, and did a deep treatment on my hair. Then I styled it with castor oil and Kinky Curly Knot Today, and it stretched my hair to the max in about 6 hours (all air dry--NO HEAT). This past week, I am impressed with myself because I haven't lost momentum. However, I have noticed that because I'm going hard, I have been combing and detangling my hair more often which is resulting in more shedding than usual. Sounds like a good thing since I'm keeping my hair detangled, but the constant use of the comb is not making me feel better. 

The Fall Mentality

In my last post I mentioned the "Fall Mentality". But I feel like I must elaborate on this point. so in this post, I 'll keep it short and sweet.

Since I could remember, I have always loved the autumn and winter months. Many blame it on me being born during the quiet of winter but I just say I've always loved big comfy quilts, warm desserts and some down time to re-evaluate and fix. I mean, think about it! I can never re-evaluate my body come summer time. By that time, I'm already in the mood to show some skin, scaly or not -__-. LOL So when the winter time comes, and I have to keep warm under all those layers, I make sure to give my body a break. I stop shaving (unless I have a boyfriend...which is not often), I make sure I moisturize, extra well, I keep my limbs agile, and I even take the season to do damage control for blotches, blemishes, or future trouble spots.

You see, my fall mentality is adorned with wise decisions, whereas my summer is more like a "throw it to the wind" mentality... so I really can't wait until Fall really is here!!  

Broken Promises and a Cooking Mentality

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So I told myself on the 1st of August that I would enjoy this break I was taking from my blog and just relax. But I noticed lately that I was becoming so antsy about getting back into the fall mentality that I didn't realize I NOT having fun! So I've broken my own promise to get back to basics and write down the overflowing thoughts in my head? And why is this?? Well it's because I've been obsessed with food lately. Yes...I said it ...and I am PROUD! I have always been a foodie. And it's because of my constant search to find the balance between healthy and tasty eating.

Many more posts will be appearing in regards to where my life has ...and has NOT been going in the last 3 months of my posting absence. But for now; let's talk food. ^_^

This morning after editing and uploading a video from scratch for the fourth time on youtube, I decided i'd let it go. If the shit ended up crashing and failing again, I'd just have to disappoint the family with various clippings of shots from the event. Because, at this moment, I'm just so fed up. I mean come on!! FOUR TIMES?

...but I digress

Back to cooking...

I've never learned to cook. Yes! I am an American woman, born of Jamaican decent, with no proper training on how to feed myself from the home, care for others physically, OR--for my own temperament--PLEASE a man...v_v'

Nope. My mom has just never been one to teach me how to cook. She doesn't like anyone in her kitchen. So you might say that the few dishes I do know how to make stemmed from rainy days at home alone while mom was assisting in the Operating Room at Kings County Hospital. I won't complain A LOT because truth be told, I knew her reasoning behind it--be it a selfish one--she wanted folks to constantly depend on her...and in her mind, teaching your children to cook was like saying "Thanks mom but I don't need to eat your chicken soup! I can make my own now!"... Can someone say RUDE? But where is the hint of morality??

Doesn't matter. Because of this selfish mentality, my 26 y.o. brother and lil ole' me never learned how to make all the awesome traditional dishes from our roots or even simple American dishes to keep us--i don't know--ALIVE!

As of now, I still can't step foot in the kitchen when she is around because if she is, she'll just grab everything out my hand and make it for me. So lose there. But what I can do it stock up on some recipes. That way I'll be all prepped when the day does come that she's not home and I once again have to kitchen to myself... rain or shine.-___-

So, what's my motivator, you may ask?

Kin Community of course!

I found them on YouTube a few weeks back and fell in love when they came on as an advertisement before one of my natural hair videos started playing. Kin Community is basically a channel geared towards domestic living but of course, in my world, editing is everything! So it's more than cooking or crafting to me! In short it's like a freedom to react anyway you want when in the presence of food and trinkets. And who doesn't like freedom, right??? I even described it to a friend as a vessel "that brings me THAT much closer to my SATC (Sex and the City), success-with-a-white-picke

t-fence and Brooklyn Heights apt type life! HA!"

This channel is just so simple but delicious and it makes me want to clean my bank account buying goodies in the organic markets spread around Brooklyn! 

Here's a flavor of why I love this channel! And I hope you guys enjoy it too!

SPINACH ARTICHOKE DIP

  

Till next post
--With Love, from Brooklyn
~*ForeverCoily*~

It's All About: What Happy People Do!

"To be happy is to be focused on the present moment"...

The past couple of days haven't been the best and I have a strong feeling it's because I'm dwelling on what I'm afraid of instead of what I am energized about. So in response to this video below from FitLifeTV, I'm going to share the 10 things that I am presently grateful about in my life. But by all means, definitely watch the video first to gain some inspiration. As a human being, are you doing any of these 5 things? View my list down below, then share your own!

10 GOOD THINGS HAPPENING IN MY LIFE
1. I have a faith driven mindset
2. I am supported by family members no matter how small it may be
3. I am getting the opportunity to broaden my horizon
4. I'm reaching out of my comfort zone for success
5. I have a job that allows me to be me
6. I have friends that always give me well rounded observations
7. I'm pursuing my long term goals
8. I'm ALIVE
9. I'm Blessed
10. I love

Weekened Tunes: Olu

So... I have no idea what this song is really about, though it sounds quite self explanatory... but it came on and now I'm bopping my head to it like a 22 y.o. in 1995.

Take a listen, loves! I think you'll like it as well!

Keeping the Do Professional

I, like many natural-haired women, believe natural hair can definitely be considered professional. I've never had a problem working in a corporate scene with a fluffy side swept bang and a tailored bun sitting at the base of my nape and quite frankly, many of my corporate bosses have shown their fascination in my ...ethnic do's. I mean, I've even gotten the "wear it in an afro one day" comment once or twice but that's a different story for a different day. Point blank, there has been a triple standard against black women and themselves for some time now.

We ask ourselves questions like:

• How will I do my hair for work tomorrow after I leave the gym?
• Can I even go to the gym?
• Maybe if I....but that's not professional... =/

And because of these struggles between work, exercise, and being true to oneself we've, in an immense way, thrown the one important aspect to the waste side; exercise and health. I can vouch for myself when I say that while interning at a corporate-styled office, I threw out a few good exercise days I knew I needed just so that I could keep my hairstyle. Yes, it did give me that feeling of shame, but in worse light, during that time that I was caring for my hair more, I managed to gain back a week's worth of weight that I had managed to lose some months ago. 

Ashamed, I was and it didn't help when I also decided to rationalize it all.

• Well maybe if I just eat better, I'll lose weight the same way
• Toning can always come later (after this internship)
• I have a presentation tomorrow so a good night's sleep and a fierce do is way more important!

Once more, after I ended the stupid rationalizations, I thought back to when I had finally embraced my natural hair. All the good thoughts running through my mind. How I would never have to be that woman worried about her hair while free-styling on the elliptical. How I could always reach for my go-to bun style. How professionalism and exercise would never clash because I knew within myself that professionalism didn't just consist of a hair do but also a demeanor. But now look where I was.... acting like that same stereotype of "I can't sweat out my style"....and becoming unhealthy because of it. And it wasn't just me. I mean, the video below explains it all and so does BGG2WL  

Ladies! Long story short, I had to literally find my way back to sanity where it concerned my hair and it's healthiness as well as my body's healthiness. I didn't promise myself I'd never stray off track again but I try to be realistic about my situations on a consistent basis. I don't want to be the next stereotypical black women who is unhealthy and in no shape to get healthy because of something as small as keeping my hair do professional.

Balance is always key. As long as you confess to yourself that you can keep it professional while you work out!

It's All About... Doing It Yourself ^_~

Around October of last year, I took up a new hobby of making my own jewelry. Simply because I knew I'd be broke when Christmas time came and I was trying to find and economic way to give out thoughtful presents. During this time, I came into contact with a craft store known as Beads World. They had all types of trinkets to mess with and a million more items to create with! So I set out on a journey. I promised, I'd make my three closest friends a box of gifts. Each person would get my own rendition of a Fingerless Glove and Earwarmer set I crocheted and it would come with one or two pars of earrings.

Well the former idea was a breeze. While on my crochet frenzy, I made 3 pairs of fingerless gloves and earwarmer sets. You can see the blogpost I did on them here! And then when it came time to make the earrings, I began slow. Now the studs were no problem. I had found a bunch of unwanted buttons at my job the previous week and decided to tamper with them--in the end, creating some awesome button/studd earrings. And then I fooled around with tough wire and realized I could also combine my crochet and newly found jewelry making skills together to form awesomely unique earrings.

However, by the time December came around, I was still in my "tampering stage" all excited about the wonderful discoveries and pieces I had made. Let's not forget, by the time Christmas and my depressing birthday had passed, I was no longer in so much of a "giving" mood. Needless to say, I still had these piece close to me. So I said "what the heck" Ill just keep them for myself ...thus ends my sweet little story.

In the end, only one of my friends (who I am no longer friends with) received my crochet warmer kit, and NO ONE received my handmade earrings. Nope! Instead on days when I'm feeling pretty, I rock 'em to work...and to this day, it still never ceases to amaze me that I did this and that people would stop me on the street to give me compliments on them!! Good ole DIYs ^_^...

 I made these pieces playful jewelry. So I know after seeing these pics you may ask if I could make you a pair, and the answer MAY just be yes! However, please keep in mind that I post hyperlinks in my blogs for a reason. These are all projects any guy or girl could do...if their interested enough

...And I say, if they're NOT interested enough, then why even ask ME to make them a pair! Pics (and possibly more hyperlinks {tutorials}) are posted below.

ENJOY! <3

My most recent pair

With them on!

My very first pair of the "crochet style" These flowers are made here!!

With them on!

Some cameo studs

My first pair using Felt reinforcement

My Regal pair!!

Buttons made into studs!

testing out hard wire

Some button studs!

Pearl Button Studs!

Don't believe these can be earrings?

I'm sure you all can do it! Just purchase some buttons, earring posts, stubs and some awesome E6000 glue! 

Thanks!

Weekend Tunes: Jilly from Philly

When in doubt, I've always turned to my favorite songstress, Ms. Jilly Scott! And tonight I'm in doubt about all this weight I'd like to loose... give or take 40 l-b's...So to end off this tasteful yet abrupt weekend, here's one of her fantastic songs i've got on rotation in my MIND! lol 

Also an awesome welcome into the real flow of Spring!
Enjoy! <3

Natural Hair: As Compared To...

When I first began my natural hair journey, I compared it to losing weight. It was no longer a habit. It was something I had to turn into a lifestyle. And everyday my mom saw me carting in a few more bottles of oils to try on my hair, was the more she understood that I was no longer turning back. And it was the same with my weight loss. Now I kow I haven't lost a drastic amount of weight, but I haven't gained any either.

When I left High School, I was a whopping 192lbs. Not my best look and definitely not my best feeling. But I got into college and without really putting into perspectiv the hills I had to literally climb everyday to get to class, I slowly dropped weight. Yes ladies and gents. I wasn't one of those girls who gained their freshmen 15. I, in fact lost it, and kept it off throughout school because I eventually (though late) made it a secondhand lifestyle. I say secondhand because though I want it to be a first priority, my healthy has still taken the back burner amongst other things in my life. Anyway, let me stop ranting.

I got inspired to write this blogpost because of a recent video I saw on my YouTube subscriptions list entitled "Natural Hair: It's A Sport". This vlogger has a thing with the [natural] ladies in the YT community but he also spits a lot of truth. And I thought I would share. You can watch his video below or click the link in the line above.

Nevertheless, I completely understood where he was coming from! Just like a lot of Natural sistahs see it, he was able to grasp the concept of having natural hair and what it partially means. A sport you may ponder?... hmmm... I know. But what's the diff? He calls it a sport, I call it a lifestyle.

Enjoy!

It's All About: E.L.F. Products!

Night out with the Besty!

So about a week ago, I sent off for some make-up products, seeing as how I am trying to become better versed in using make-up. Not saying I'm going to using it on a regular basis but it is always good for a woman to know a few tips & tricks up her sleeve when it's time to really get down to it. I must say I am still new at this whole world of make up. I have done a few looks, like the one to the right (I'm wearing the leopard scarf). However, that "smokey eye" didn't turn out as smokey as I wanted it to... and I realized that my finger was obviously not the only tool I should be using when I apply makeup. So I began my search!

 NC 45 Concealer

First I went to MAC with my girl Netchem and splurged (or what I call "splurge") on their "NC 45" Concealer and their "Spiked" eyebrow pencil. These can be seen to the right and below. All together, I paid a whopping $40 for just these two trinkets but I am happy to announce that I definitely didn't have any buyers regret when it came to MAC! Anyway, the next task at hand was to find good tools. At first I was all focused on a brush that would jazz up my eyebrows--the one asset on your face that makes AND breaks your look depending on how you treat them. However, after being realistic about 1) my money flow and 2) my skills, I settled for a brand we all know about.  I went over to the Eyes. Lips. Face. website, surfed their site for brushes that they have in stock and went nuts when I realized E.L.F was a God send!!! Their brushes--almost all of them range in price from just $1 and can go up to $5-$8.

"Spiked" Pencil

When you think and compare, yes the other brands may use real fibers and hair, or wrap their strands more securely to prevent shedding but that's nothing a bit of Shampoo and conditioner can't take care of! So my main goal! Find a good Angled brush to use on my eyebrows ...even if it happened to be at their top price of $8 and that was an easy fix! Then I added a few more brushes, a pencil or two, a $10 100-pallet eye shadow kit, a powder to the bag and I was ready to check out. Now, I know myself better than anyone. Looking at the checkout price of $40, I was very impressed with myself but I KNEW I could find a way to get that bag lower.

So what did I do? ...

I went to trusty GOOGLE and found a site that housed E.L.F. coupon codes. Many didn't work but one did give me like $5 off of any purchase $25 and up. Just when I thought I was set and ready to go, my brain told me to take another look through at the coupon codes and out of nowhere up popped one link that would give me 12 free BRUSHES with my $20 or more purchase! I instantly plugged the code into my shopping cart and when I found out it worked, I knew it was time to adjust. First I searched for the free model that the code was giving you. Yes they turned out to be the cheaper set but who cares! Like I said, I am NO professional. So I went back to my cart, removed all the individual brushes I had added and then went back to boost my cart up to the $20 amount so I could get the 12 free brushes! Along with what I kept, I just had to add one more kit to the bag and what better than an eyebrow-ready kit.

*sigh*

I have NEVER been more proud of myself! And I believe I did very well. For now, I guess my advice to new make-up"ers" out there would be:

• Identify what you would like to enhance on your face, like how I wanted to enhance my brows and play down my blemishes
• Focus on ONE thing at a time. If you try to get EVERYTHING, you'll most likely lose a good bargain!
• You also want to start little. Don't feel like you have to get all the best brands out there. What's the point in paying for them if you'll end up using them only once a year, or at all at that!

...Pics are below to check out! And I hope this inspires all the ladies like me that are trying her best to show UP and show OUT!!

Packaging really does matter!

My 100-pallet eye shadow kit

The colors!!


MY 12, FREE BRUSHES

My eyebrow kit

My Pressed Powder

My Angled Brush (for my brows)

My turquoise shimmer pencil

Weekend Tunes: Changing the World

Writing my paper with the music blasting in my ears and I don't care HOW many people disagree with me. I just get this beautiful aura around me as soon as T-Pain's "Change the World" comes on. So beautiful I had to blog about it. Adapted from Eric Clapton's awesome original "Change the World", I could not be more proud of adaptations. All joke aside, the auto-tune can get on my nerve sometimes but this just really gave it a better feel. I don't know if it was the Harmony or Akon's alto in the back, but this song will always be a favorite of mine. Give it a listen below!

T-Pain feat. Diddy, Akon & Mary J. Blige

Trouble Sleeping?...

I arrive to work at 12pm and by 12:45, I already feel like I'm going to fall face first into the keyboard. So what do I do? I open up my email and prepare for a massive cleaning. Lets put aside the fact that I only have 4 unread emails and I'm OCD when it comes to organizing my account. Everything has it's own label, folder, and importance. Much ado that did *pssh*. Anyway, I come across an update from the blog, A Black Girl's Guide to Weight Loss--Yes! there is a blog out there for everyone--andf I notice they actually have a post up for people who have trouble sleeping. Can my self-appointed arrows shine any brighter?

If you have Trouble sleeping, I feel like this is an awesome Guide to keep you in the know. It's also filled with cool animation so that you're not just reading someone's boring thesis or script! Check it out and tell me what you think!

So far, I approve! You can click here to be directed to the post.

Free-99 Tales...

I was in my junior year of High School when I experienced my first adrenaline rush on what it could be like to acquire free things. "FREE-99" as my loves like to call it! Granted, it was a $3 Starbucks card--barely enough to purchase a "Tall Vanilla Bean Frap" from the vast coffee chain-- but it was $3 of sweet, creamy, goodness that I didn't have to flirt with to get a hold of...*pause*. And let's not forget to mention that homie was giving out 3 cards at a time just so he could get back to his "in-store" position; safe behind the counter making holiday lattes and mocha orgasms.  

Soon after that, I was acclimated into an organization with a former supervisor and because of all the events she took me to, I was picking up gift bags left and right. Yes! This was my Grammy's. And best of all, I was getting the award, the recognition, and the gift bag. Not just the plaque and a hand clap; poor Denzel and Halle at the Oscars! 

Listen, I don't mooch and I've never thought of possible ways in which to get free things but they sure have been coming my way a lot. Maybe it's my choice of career path or maybe it's a heap of good blessings. Using the word "Karma" would crush my mum--"DON'T YOU BELIEVE IN GOD, BONNIE?" she would ask. Nevertheless, I am pretty secure in writing my vast blessings/karma down. So the gift bags came and then the offers were pushed and I relented. It was just an awesome feeling. The greatest memory I have is of my 2010 summer internship at Penguin Group (USA). 

I was an editorial intern eager to get the job done and to have the bulbs to go off in my head with ideas. Hmmm, that was all good and propah (as the Caribbean would say) but the day I was given the green light...and the official I.D. card to gain access to the editor's storehouse, I didn't make joke to stack up. I'd go down with my awesome supervisor and she'd ask me if I need this or that--for the office I assumed but the day she gave me an extra pack of pens to start off the semester with, I was hooked. For the next ten weeks (1 day a week), we'd go down and she'd fill me up with rubber bands, paperclips, binders, those good-good  recyclable notebooks, fountain pens, highlighters, Post-It labels, Paper Mate markers, anything that would probably help me finish my upcoming semester of college smoothly.

After just a ten week internship, I was not only stocked for my upcoming semester but I was good until I graduated and then some. It was like heaven. 

Another encounter came up when I discovered my love for the health of hair. After taking a Journalism course and doing my final report on the sudden trend of African American women reverting back to their naturally grown tresses, it took me two years to fully gain an understanding for how big this phenomenon was. And so it occurred. I got hooked on to Natural Hair YouTubers like RusticBeauty, Kimmaytube, Blackonyx77, BeautifulBrwnBabyDol, and learned that there were activities to do that wouldn't sound suspect. Natural hair meet-ups are what I'm referring to. At these meet-ups, usually hosted by said YouTubers, we'd get to link up, meet each other for the first time, in a way be bedazzled by how many more women loved natural healthy hair, and in the process we would gain that support system that would banish all the doubts we ever had about transition back to our roots while still living in a Eurocen[trically] styled world. These meet-ups would consist of the gift bags I relished about above and inside would be every product [hair]-junky's dream! Nothing could be better than coming home with a compacted bag of top of the line product samples and possibly a raffle win. 

YES! My days of living under the Free-99 rule have benefited me in so many ways. I could not ask for better blessings...though I do accept other forms as well. And it's not about what I can get really; it’s about how I ironically get it.