hello.

there are some songs...even albums that resonate with me. some songs or albums just kind of remind you of a time and place in your life. flood of memories and what not.

2014 forest hills drive by j cole just does all the above. i think its the first hop hop album ive heard in awhile (because wale is a close favorite and his Gifted album was EVERYTHING) that reminds you of how beautiful words can be. how words MEAN things. and even the lack of them.
this album reminds me of regret, concern, sadness, joy, hard work, excitement, celebration, stress, worry, love, aspirations, admiration...damn, alot.

im kinda obsessed with it. and my favorite song on the album right now is...none other than..."hello"
you should take a listen. and be inspired.

love.

girlONfire

i love this song and it's completely a GO TO track for 5K training and just simply an anthem that only A Keys could do to remind you how awesome it is to be a WOMAN and most importantly a WOMANonFIRE and completely unapologetic about running hard, chasing hard and doing it all. you better sang that song, Alicia!

are you a girl on fire???

"im invisible to all the fellas..."

elle. varner. loves her.
quite honestly, u should too.

is sex better than love?

gearing up for bed...turned on my TANK pandora station (idk why i do that to myself...playin with Tank!) and then Trey Songz "sex aint better than love" comes on. now ive heard this song hit the radio a few times and never really paid much attention to it. because of alot of the music trey songz had generally put out before, theres no way i could find myself taking this one seriously...like, seriously, you think LOVE is better than SEX? who knew?

it all seems a bit contrary to some of his music money makers. in theory, i would readily agree with the song. love is better than having random sex with someone you dont love. but then i took a step back and thought about the general idea of sex and i think trey touches on it a bit in the song when he says "and it feels bad and it feels so good" and i think that pretty much sums up what sex kind of falls into...very little...

if you have found yourself in the situation where you have been with someone who you didnt a committed relationship with...you may agree that sex tends to have zero to no security. even when two people knowingly go into it casually...the likelihood of both coming out of the situation the same way they came in is unrealistic and unlikely. have you seen the movie "friends with benefits"? i think its a great sum up of how sloppy the concept can become. even more so, in the long run, difficult for women to comprehend and keep separate no matter how much they are aware of what is going on. its just UNNATURAL for a woman, particularly, to be absolutely disconnected from a man that she knowingly connected herself to. this doesnt mean the sex isnt good...i can just become complicated and then youre in public places trying to avoid this person whose name you cant remember or had a bitter text fight with that resulted in neither of you speaking again.....yeah, one of those situations...

& the security of love makes the act of sex...different. there is absolutely a purpose why God wanted us married before engaging in the act that would (1) generate children (2) provide pleasure and definitely allow two people to connect in a way that God intended..and thats for two to become 1.

so i guess i do agree with trey...love is definitely better. there are few words to describe what that level of intimacy is like between two committed individuals. and although a few *tank* or *trey songz* tracks could EAASSSILLLYYY lead to necessary yet unnecessary thoughts and situations...he got it right on this one. and its such a nice track to add...

BUMP WORTHY: G.O.S.P.E.L

The Gospel...in 4 minutes. Yes, in 4 minutes. I was captivated when this was shared with us last night, and I couldn't have found a better way to sum up Jehovah. I hope this encourages you like it did me!

Black Butterfly.

long time.

i was sharing tunes with my mama.
and every song seems like somethiing ive lived before.
but this one song...mama says, "oh i remember this song..."
and proceeds to share a story about when she was driving over a bridge when
this deniece williams classic came on the radio. i wasnt yet born.
she said it "changed her life". and could i believe that music can "change your life"?
of course i do. i was really encouraged by that.
it almost instantly felt this song was also...my song...

this short rant was simply to say...whats your song? what encourages you?
i started running through my mind all the countless times i stayed up
as a teenager at late and early hours just listening to music...
alot of it...changed my life, encouraged my artistry and shaped who i am.
and im thinking, "my God. what is it that my children will be encouraged by?"
of course, Christ. but music that can truly stick with you...is that even alive for the youngsters anymore?

idk...it just ran through my mind...how different things were from what they are now.
i sometimes wish...we had those classic hits that came before me in our generation. this particular song didnt even release until 1984. i wasnt born until 1986.

i guess im just old school.. but i just wanted to share that.
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if you are interested...

Houston's African American Museum and Culture Center is hosting a symposium THIS weekend titled: Africans in America-The New Beat of Afropolitans! I highly encourage you to check it out and support these events. I have attached the link here: http://www.hmaac.org/afropolitan_schedule.html

BUMP WORTHY: L.O.V.E by Justin Forsett

FOOTBALL PLAYER? LOVE SONG? hold up...HE'S MARRIED...TO A BLACK WOMAN???!!


utter sarcasm above but to some intent...i think these titles of his may be oxymoronic. i shouldnt be surprised at the lyrical content but i am and THRILLED that this brotha has no shame in sharing his love for his wife and praising God in the midst of it! go Jesus! i hope this video becomes infectious. i love black love and i love Jesus motivated black love even more!

check out. it's cute! if i was his wife, i'd blush (if i could) and be honored to be his queen! i hope God continues to duplicate men like these...i know they are out there!

iGiggle at the lil rap segment & how the dude on Justin's right (whom i believe is a team mate) gets all Pretty Ricky-ish and some kind of i-wanna-be-the-lead-singer symdrome. lol very cute!

happy friday!

excercise myths...BUSTED!

Happy Friday! This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it! (Psalm 118:24)



I woke up this morning and realized I lost some weight when I jumped on the scale. Sweet! That's what I thought in my head. Pretty good since I haven't hit the gym in a little over a week because my knee had become bothersome (thanks to an old knee injury from highschool cheerleading). So, I had to chill on those 6 mile runs and started subbing them for pole dancing (yes! pole dancing) & dance in general. Wow! These are indeed body shaping substitutes that I'm proud of! Needless to say, I'll probably be back in the gym soon, but my healthy eating (aside for cupcakes and ice creams weekly) I'm doing pretty darn good and I look pretty good too (if I do say do myself)!

ANYWAY, I was browsing CNN and came across this great article. I hate reading health fitness articles. Everybody has a different perspective, and I've come to the conclusion that if you know your body you know what works for you! However, this article helped put some long mystifying thoughts in my head (and from what i've heard) to rest! READ IT HERE. IT'S FRIDAY. Your boss isn't watching. =)

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CHECK THESE OUT:
1. Interested in pole fitness in Houston? Click here.

happy hump day: memory.

i was browsing YouTube and this video was suggested to me. OOOHHH MYYY GAAAHHHH...i remember singing this song at Hightower...2004..graduation! super long time ago (when i think about it). this song was sad..but freshing! we were all so young then...embarking on so many new beginnings! the person am i now and the new people ive come to know...i would have never thought it for myself! good memories with this song! it's hump day! am i the only one glad? =) by the way, we sang waaayyy better than them. check out the bass line tho!

fear is so uncool.

topic this morning: FEAR.

i once heard someone say: fear is fake evidence appearing real.

i always thought that sounded corny as hell. & it still does but i can see where the logic came from and my mind was busy in another dimension when this acrynomn crossed my mind and im like wait...what if fear is REAL? is that impossible?

people have fears all the time. they have fears of REAL situations. fear of losing their job due to lay offs. fear of not being a good parent with a new baby on the way. fear of marriage. fear of intimacy. fear of God. fear of life. fear of aspirations. fear of going into a new business venture. fear of meeting new people. fear of...anything. fear is real to me.

& i consider what fear evokes in people. it creates a whole line of "what-if" situations. it makes us second guess our first mind. or maybe it's our first mind asking us to make sense of a very real fear.

i was listening to a sermon from T.D. Jakes that my sister <3 sent me about making decisions. i probably listened to the part 4 sermon 3 times at work that day and im like...he makes such a complex thought process sound so easy. is God really that easy or do we just complicate Him because of fear? lack of faith?

i recall Jakes saying: you don't have to call on the Lord when you need to go to the bathroom to get His advice on that. He created your mind to make sense of that but you NEED to speak to Him when a decision becomes a point of transition. you dont just DIVE into a situation & then pray. by then, you would have probably made...a bad decision...

& so i look at myself! sometimes i think i THINK too much. how about putting faith to work so i can work less! how about truly praying for decernment so i can relinquish control of uncontrollable situations. how much feeling at ease w/ the concept of fear....

i am a prayerful person. i ask alot of questions. i appreciate these things about me. but at some point...enough is enough. either you're in it or you're not & just perservere through the fear. GOOD things can also be FEARFUL

& so i go back to my opening statement from someone i heard tell me before: fear is fake evidence appearing real. see, i think this applies when you've come to a place where you're SURE of something yet SCARED of the outcome of it all. the hurdles that you'll have to cross over. the pain you're going to have feel. the emotions that may live w/ you forever in the process. that's FEARFUL.

but i love Hebrews 11:1 [[faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see]] because it often reminds me that FEAR can be FAKE in very REAL situations. it's like a test of faith. a test of your endurance. a test of your knowledge. a test of strength.

this entry is definately a testament for me right now but im sure it could be for you too. keep pushing. seek counsel & pray often. a confirmation will come & you'll just move in the MIDST of the FEAR! i've spent the entire month teaching the lesson about FAITH and men and women in the Bible who acted in FEAR through FAITH.

i recall when Jesus went to fast for 40 days and 40 nights and the Devil came to tempt Him. can you imagine...the devil coming to tempt Jesus Himself? The mighty Son of the Father? hmph, not once should we believe that we're exempt from these tough times but thank God for His Word and His Son who have offered endless examples...


day 31 - praying

BUMP WORTHY: summer trax

A little over a month since my last post, folks! Are you excited about what God is doing for you? Through you? I AM!

I'd like to share a few tracks though that are just absolutely awesome to me right now in no particular order at all!

1. Solange "Left Side Drive"
2. Beyonce "1+1"
3. Vashawn Mitchell "Nobody Greater"
4. Kirk Franklin "Smile"
5. Rihanna "Man Down"


i love this song. solange has really grown on me alot these past few years listening to her music. she's in her own lane, and it's nothing like her sister...which is refreshing to me. plus, she cut all her hair off and now has a super sick disgustly awesome afo...i loves her for that! it's a beautiful soft indie type track.


loovveeeee this song! ugh, makes you realize how REAL love is. love love LOVE this one. im gonna pretend that she never released that nonsense called "run the world" and this is OFFICIALLY the original single. im a sucker for a beautiful love song. you can feel the love in this and whats better than summer love? :)


not only is he absolutely talented...he's absolutely handsome and most importantly...he loves the Lord! ive loved this song since i first heard and the video just brought life to it. every song vashawn has released has pulled at my heart strings about what it means to lavish your love on the Lord! when i hear a vashawn track, i wanna be that woman who dipped her hair in the perfume and wiped Jesus' feet with it! you're reminded of just how truly awesome God is and how truly unworthy we are and just how gracious He really is. man, thats really really what love is.


i didnt like this song at first! idk why but i didnt. it grew on me after awhile. i had to focus in on the lyrics. i heard it on the radio one day after work and i just started to smile. the song is infectious! i just started to think about how much God has given to me thats allowed me to even be able to AFFORD the car that im driving right now! then i realized the video was released on 106...went to peep it and danggone thing ha a few tears in the corners of my eyes. God is awesome, man! the colorfulness of this video just really makes you smile and we are so lucky God uses men like Kirk to bring to life His Word through music.


nothing really special about why i love this song! i dont think there's a video for it yet, but im a sucker for a good reggae jam! Aren't all Caribbean/African people?


on that note. EVERYTHING is well with my soul right now. God has been doing a good work around me, for me and through me (even if i dont see it), and im grateful for it all. sooooo many lessons learned in this short month season. i hope you love these songs like i do. =)

dare i say...BUMP WORTHY???

yes, indeed. i've found a new track that i actually really like! took a short road trip this past week, and i'm a Sirius radio lover so THE HEAT was definately my station of choice. they kept playing this song, which i assume is new, by Jim Jones called "Perfect Day".

I'm an avid music lover, mostly extra old stuff. I enjoy that music more often because it always makes me feel like I'm going through a story. I like to visualize where the artist is taking me, the sounds they put together to take you there and the lyrical content is the foundation. It's like building a cake!

Won't lie, I never found myself to be in love with anything by Jim Jones, but this one is definately a softer touch and definately something I like. I'm actually looking forward to whatever new things he has going on that might be similar to this new single's feel.

Dare I say...BUMP WORTHY??! Yes, it is! Great flow, variety in beat and decent lyrical content that you can see exactly where he's going. He takes you there, and you don't feel like you will probably get shot going there. LOL I mean, the dude IS pretyt intimidating. Didn't you see that episode of HipHop Wives?? Ow, lawd. Anyway, please enjoy.

It's a beautiful day in Houston. I'm impressed with this track, and it's very fitting for the day. Aren't we all just looking forward to a "perfect day"?

ode to my loaner phone

i have a motorola cliq....less a than a year of having it and it hates me. it's not longer charging and it has a mind of its own. it comes on and off when it wants to and it ends my calls whenever it feels like...pretty freakin annoying. but i love the features of this phone. it's death (or unconscious state) has left me phone for a little while. pretty depressing.

found out tmobile has loaner phone....yyeeesss. totally put them in a positive place in my book after being pissed at them for so long with their wack phones...but this loaner phone isnt like a phone ive seen since the first time i had a phone ages ago...

it's basic. the basic functions. the sum of everything u basically need a phone and one thing that a smartphone DEFINATELY cannot compete with...BATTERY LIFE! i have literally not put this phone a charger in probably...3 days and it hasnt moved from full battery yet! every smartphone owner knows that this is basically unheard of. even more so, you know that leaving your house WITHOUT your phone charger is just an evil mistake waiting to happen.

so i just wanted to give a dedication to the loaner: Sony Ericsson Equinox for being so darn awesome despite being uber basic. and in honor of the "ode" i'd like to share a song that pays an "ode to marvin" =) enjoy

dont blow me away.

i was in a solo kind of mood and figured id share one of my favorite songs from the Solo-Angel and Hadley St. Dreams album...

aren't we all like sandcastle sometimes? we're built well but can easily feel like we can be blown away? with one swift motion, everything can some crumbling down. i think that people who are perceived as STRONG are the tallest sandcastles. would you agree? i mean, we have to be strong, confident and bold for so many reasons. our hopes are to see the well intentions of those around us and to be disappointed makes the sandcastle walls crumble a little bit.

aren't we all like sandcastles sometimes?

idk..i was just in a Solo mood. seriously, this album kills. happy Sunday.

where are thou romeo?

so, it looks like im becoming a Dancing with the Stars fan! tuned in for the whole episode tonight for the first time in the history of this show...BIG DEAL! now, it's quite OBVIOUS that there's some handsome fellas on this show, but have you seen Romeo (aka Lil Romeo) lately? dude is looking about right, right?! To add, he was impressive on the dance floor tonight that I was totally motivated to vote for him (and Sugar Ray) tonight and NOT only because he's handsome...or should i say FINE? i havent used that F word in a really long time to describe a man.

not gonna lie...wasnt the lil romeo fan at the slightest. i think i was still stupid on B2K (smh) but i loved this video because it was absolutely hilarious...and the elbow swing at the end is a flippin classic! we probably did this a thousand times in my living room growing up...ahh...lil romeo aint so little NO MO!



annnyywaaayyyy...let me not dwell on all the handsome goodness on the show this season. im excited to see the progress even though i am SURE i will be missing the elimination show tomorrow! day 3 of the social networking fast. how you feeling about DWTS? you watching? =)

you're beautiful.

a friend shared this with me. the video immediately had me captivated. what is this? two black people...nude? i dont think they will play this on television! but as i kept watching...i felt like i looking at moving art. i havent been captivated by music (at least the recent releases) in a long time.

this video. this song. made.me.think.about.love. and what it looks like. and what it feels like. and what it sounds like. it sounds like...harmony. this video. this song. is abstract. you can look at it, hear it and embrace it from many different directions. it is indeed art.

i know many of us have wondered if "real love" with another person outside of the love we're already offered with God...is real. is love like that real? the man he craddled her. the way she looked at him...like a king. she trusted this man so mcuh so that carrying on his "legacy" was a privledge to her. i am engulfed by the committment by this couple.

i just wanted to share it. a reminder to myself. a reminder to countless faithful singles who are believing, just like i am, that a king/queen is the future and that a committment like this would be like singing to the Heavens that you're proud to stand close enough to them to be one person.

enjoy.

Artist: Timothy Bloom
Site: Facebook or MySpace
Lyrics: CLICK HERE

just for T.O.N.Y

When I first thought about writing this, it was titled, “I hate T.O.N.Y” because you think about T.O.N.Y nothing about him makes you think with a clear head. Haven’t we all had those T.O.N.Y moments? That man/woman whom absolutely became a consumption and a feeling that all of a sudden things changed? For whatever the reason for the change, the love...the need for them and the desire did not go away. The realization is that you just can’t have it like that anymore. It’s not at your disposal. You can’t control him/her but you can’t control how you feel either. Hmm…then, the hate sets in. “I hate him. I can’t stand him.” Quotes that are often untrue but easier to say than admitting that you still love someone who is no longer healthy for you. It’s the hate of how you can’t handle the confusion.

Although the song is referencing a relationship she had with a man, we can encounter T.O.N.Y with our friends and our lovers. I too have had similar experiences but how we deal with them becomes our defying moment that T.O.N.Y simply cannot offer us. I tried to think of Scripture that would be fitting for this, but it wasn’t until recently while studying with a friend that I realized Luke 5 is a great way to recover from T.O.N.Y.! Why? Because it teaches the lesson of being out with the old and being in with the new!

In this point in Jesus’ life, He was doing miracles, healing people, prophesying and being an example. All the while, He had the naysayers and nonbelievers following His every move and discounting His work. Can we equate these naysayers to T.O.N.Y? Yes! Whether he/she walked away or whether we chose to send them packing, it was GOOD reason for doing so! Maybe they were supportive, became a person who revealed they were unreliable or trustworthy, a person of little faith and small minded…whatever it was, it was a GOOD reason for YOU and that’s all that really matters! This is the same with Jesus’ message in Luke 5. He decided to make a change in things that He saw fit to be changed ACCORDING to God’s mission for Him. The people whom were used to following the NORM weren’t ready to accept His change but one thing I’ve learned from Jesus’ ministry is that He didn’t waste time trying to CONVINCE you that what He was doing was right with His words…He was a man of action and conviction and diligence which is something the Pharisees didn’t appreciate. He just moved forward regardless of what any else said He knew that this was what He was supposed to do. Although it is harder for most of us to relieve our minds and our hearts of T.O.N.Y because he/she has been with us for a long time and has also been with us in good and bad times, we references Ecclesiastes that reiterates that there’s a time for everything! And there time is UP!

When we get to the point where we’ve accepted that this individual is no longer going to move forward with us, there will be people (including T.O.N.Y) who will either support you or discount you. Have you heard these before?
- “He takes good care of you. If he cheated, you need to forgive for the sake of the family…”
- “Nobody’s going to love you the way that I did”
- “You can’t continue doing this without me! It will fail!”
- “Girl, I am SO glad you left him! You know n*ggas ain’t no good anyway!”
That’s just to name a few. The last one was like a positive negative. They are supportive of you but in general, they still place a negative connotation on the collective. We must be mindful of all the good and the bad feedback we receive and weed it out to focus on our decision being our decision allow. It is okay to seek WISE counsel (the Bible supports this) but the decision has to ultimately align with what our hearts know is correct. If you refer to Luke 5:15-16, you notice that Jesus was receiving great feedback after people saw all that He was equipped to do. Yet and still, He “often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” It brings into perspective how Jesus dealt with making decisions, good and bad ones regardless of public response. He spent time praying and being alone which is OFTEN the best decision when we know we are making decisions that will provide overall and personal change!

But I know it’s easier said than done! You might feel like Beyonce in the verses of this song (see below):



I know I did, and it doesn’t feel good at all. It’s a work in progress from moving T.O.N.Y from being seen in the positive light because all we want to remember are the best of memories but we have to accept the reality that they were a learning presence in that point in our lives and God will not remove something it is not going to be replaced with something better! It goes back moving us from the old and into the new and I love how The Message Bible translation sums it up in Luke 5:36-39. And if continues to be difficult, I always found this video a comic relief and another way of putting things into perspective >> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wykNRjoU8jo We love the T.O.N.Y for what they were because sometimes it’s not that they did anything wrong to us it’s just simply that they no longer fit into God’s plan for us and that’s okay too. =) Good luck.

#1 cause of death amongst blacks??

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

i hope yours was as FABULOUS as my own!

I definately wanted to share that i saw this commercial that grasped me while in bed all day yesterday. Whether you've made the decision to the pro-choice or pro-life, I think we can all agree that the facts do not lie and quite frankly, this is a huge problem in our community. There is more information available by visiting BlackDignity.org

In a recent episode Teen Mom's "No Easy Decision", Anne Chan of the Today show gave some commentary and also posted a clip from the gripping episode. It was disturbing, disheartening and also interesting to watch.

A related topic at the Washington Post provided commentary on the episode that gives some insight into what some viewers may have also felt about the teen mom.

However, I was disappointed that the episode or commentators did not bring into discussion the statistics of African America women and the long term and short term effects that this decision can have on the mindset. Even as a 24 yr old stable woman, I cannot imagine what this would do to my psychy. The thought of what could be going through their minds are only a travesty. In addition, the inadequacy of the locales in providing after-math support to these young girls and women after making such a life altering decision. Although many may appear that it is a life saving decision (for the women not the child), it's touch on these women to handle what has happended to them.

I've met and known many women like Markita, and I hope that we will become more responsible in educating our girls and women in how to ABSTAIN rather than how to PREVENT because the only 100% prevention is and I figured thats a whole new disucssion altogether! I know right, HOW DARE ANYONE ASK YOU TO SAVE YOUR BODY! But seriously, we should promote some aspects of avoiding the immediate gratifications of sexual encounters to appreciating the relationships in our lives and courting to marriage. I mean, does courting totally not exist anymore? Probably a totally other discussion as well...hmph...

and on that note, i figured i'd share a classic video.

if i were a boy...

i hope everyone have a great christmas! i had a great day, and i kind of wish christmas had ended up thursday so i could have that extended weekend before i have to go back to work. but it's cool. but i was driving home from my mom's and i was thinking about, 'wow, if i were married, i wonder what would be going through my husband's mind at this time? would he be stressed out about the christmas thing? spending and all that?' and im not sure what drove me to the thought...

but it made me think...wow, i cant even imagine what its like to be a man...the minute he comes into the world he will carry it. and without proper guidance, it will be so hard for him to know how to handle the authority and power he's been given. just thinking about all the things that a man has to handle...hisself and then his family and everybody is expecting him to be everything. some men just cant handle that. they leave their kids. they leave their lives and they become like children just wanting to be but then the men whom actually chose to carry their cross and must walk through the public square and be subject to ridicule, praise, honor & dishonor...i just cant imagine the burden he carries...

& it brought to mind Mary's (Jesus's mother) husband Joseph. I mean, what was he supposed to do knowing that a man was being born from his wife whom he did not impregnate? A man who would come from his wife and be the man to change the world as he knows it? The Bible doesn't talk much about Joesph though...

but i never feel like they get enough credit. im sure Joseph had to get his ego in check to handle what was about the happen in his life. and i can only imagine the only countless men that ive known who have had to swallow their pride to humble themselves to be leader and follower simutaneously. and i have yet to believe that i will ever understand what it's like to be a man but unlike the "if i were a boy" song...i have great faith that ALL men have the best things to offer. in fact, God has ordained them to be our fathers, friends and leaders. and we should have no problem uplifting them when they EXCEED our expectations because they chose to stand in their authority. the issue is often our expectations are low and our brothers are running on low energy...

i read a quote from @MonicaMyLife via Twitter that said: To all my fellas so much is expected of you, but don't hesitate to reach out for help from those u love. Being 2 strong or 2hard will break u


i TOTALLY agree! sometimes we are quick to speak, quick to request and simply do not listen to them. you know...when Jesus got tired one time He sat at the well and asked the Samaritan woman if she could draw Him water. He told her things that other people did not know and she went back to tell others the Good News. i do not equate our brothas to Christ but the situation is similar. The men in our lives ask for a little when they know we demand alot and already know what we want and need. He is simply trying to get some wiggle run to become a priority on your list as much as you're a priority on his.
 
so the next time you're listening to that Beyonce track..don't forget their are countless, faceless and nameless men whom are working overtime on our behalf, on the behalf of our communities and their families. and aren't we glad that they still exist?

 
i'm praying & interceeding for all of you =)

consumed by hair.

YES my hair journey continues and im keeping my product use to a minimum while maximizing my styling potenial! im REALLY loving this natural hair journey this time around. it's making me be creative and explore other parts of me which is exactly what my last natural hair journey did but in a different way. THIS time around im totally aware of who i am and now im just playing with it...and dressing it up!

so i got a NEW protective style which i have totally fallen in love with and im really having fun trying new things with it. thanks to youtube and my own hands and water bottles...AND HairStopandShop for the discount ive really been able to transform, reform and mold my new hair piece! if you're interested in what the hairpiece is please visit: BK's new protective style at HairStopandShop


im not sure if everyone is a FAN of wigs. at first, i wasnt either. it freaked me out because after seeing so many lace front wigs out there (which i OPENLY hate)...i was totally against looking crazy with a false hairline and a crazy piece on my head that made me look...soulful (my new favorite word). but my last 2 protective styles have been wigs and have gotten rave reviews from friends, coworkers, strangers etc. so im just going to continue to run with it!
 
but as far as my hair regiment. im sticking to the basics. i've been really utilizing oils and hair milk (of any brannd) to keep my hair moisturized. with the changes in the Houston weather, i've gotten used to washing and co-washing my hair every 2-3 days and moisturizes my hair with the milk really good and putting on a shower cap overnight. i'll put my wig cap on and put on a hair piece to where for the day. it's been really great overall for my hair and it almost feels like it's growing out faster than expected. i'm trying REALLY hard to stay away from the "BIG CHOP" this time but we will see.
 
so here's some pics of my hair process lately and what the growth is looking like:
 

my hair dry
 
 my hair wet

my hair after a day of conditioning and then braided

shower cap underneath and my current protective style VERY natural looking.


so im REALLY working out this hair thing and LOVING it! and i figured the song & video above was very fitting for the occassion. happy Monday, folks =)