Hey Loves!

I just wanted to share a quick craft with you all. Recently, I have had to throw away a few water bottles because they were very difficult to clean by hand and the dishwasher couldn’t get them clean either. That left me using my nice monogrammed travel cups to use at the gym, decreasing my water drinkage during the day…crazy cycle.

Earlier this week I was returning something to TJ Maxx and (I just had to browse) and found these two tervis-style cups with lids for $3.99. They were supposed to have straws and the miser in me could not pay full price for ½ the product, so I was able to get them down to $3.

I ran home, washed and dried them. Then selected vinyl colors and fired up my cricut mini. Because the price of the cups was pretty inexpensive, I was able to play around a bit. I made my monogram for one and placed Proverbs 31 on the other. It took about 20 minutes and I am very satisfied. $6+tax for two personalized travel cups. You can’t beat that with a stick!

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I am about to rant. After reading this, I may, quite possibly lose a few followers and friends, and I am ok with that. At the end of the day our lives our measured by love; who we love, how we love and where our love was shared. No one has the right to tell anyone who they should love. No one has the right to deny anyone the joy of sharing sweet love and making precious memories or being happy. It saddens me so that our culture embraces a reality TV show where one man can have 11 children by 10 different women and TV shows where we root for the mistress to win but one man cannot love another man. The good Christian legislators can fight for tireless hours against gay and lesbians having legal rights but ‘common-law’ is still a tax deduction and 4 year-olds can shoot other children. No, I have not been affected by the lack of protection for gay and lesbian couples. In fact, because I am married ‘the right way’ (*throws up in mouth*) I can do just about anything with my husband’s signature. God forbid, but if anything were to happen to him I am entitled to all of our assets and even his inheritance from his family, but this isn’t about me. This is about the millions of people that are left, not only heartbroken, but destitute because, even though stated in a will, did not have rights to a shared house, bank accounts or cars. I encourage you to read the article of a brave gay man and his struggle. I don’t care if you are not moved or don’t like or share this. I am just doing my part so now you do not have the choice to be ignorant. Ignorance is NOT bliss people. Fight for people so that someday somebody may fight for you.
http://orlandoweekly.com/news/39-til-death-do-us-part-1.1470451?pgno=6

Hey Loves!

So, the full-head sew-in, with an invisible part lasted six weeks! Wow, right! I was pleased. However, when the sixth week arrived, it was like my hair and the weave were both done. My hair (braided underneath the weave) didn’t retain oil like it did just one week prior and began itching a bit more. The weave became more course and frizzy.

About a week or two ago, I began researching what I was going to do with my hair and was very undecided. I knew my hair needed a break from protective styling (in this manner). I knew I was going to attempt another full head sew-in in mid-April and I wanted something different and low-maintenance for the time in between. Through my research, Confessions of a Blog Vixen posted this about her own journey in straightening her hair. I have never straightened my hair and decided it was time because:

1. I need to do a length check
2. I need to clip my ends
3. I need to overcome my fear of straightening my hair.

So on Good Friday, I took down my weave by simply cutting the threat attaching the weave to my hair (being super careful) and gently undoing the braids. I then lightly detangled with my hair bean (shown below) and then mixed my pre-poo mixture.

A pre-poo is a conditioning mixture to add nourishment to the hair before cleansing. I used this you tube tutorial and used EVOO at the hair oil and Carol’s Daughter Mimosa Honey Hair Butter as the scalp oil. I applied to my hear and covered with a shower cap and a heat thermal cap for several hours while I crafted and cleaned (of course I will post about that later) and did a clarifying mask.

That night, I rinsed my hair and then cleaned with Entwine Coture Act 1 Shampoo and followed with Act 11 Conditioner, leaving in my hair 15 minutes with a shower cap and my heat thermal wrap.

I then detangled and twisted in about 8 twist.

The next day, I continued to let my hair air dry as my hair was not completely dry (you can blow dry your hair but I wanted to decrease the heat I was using). When my hair was completely dry, I gently untwisted one twist; applied the Tresseme heat protectant spray; using a special comb (pictured below) I used a blow dryer down the shaft of my hair one time to maximize stretch. Then I followed that with a pull threw of the flat iron (Hot tools ceramic tourmaline, med-hi heat). Using that same cob, I clipped my ends. I continued the above steps until my whole head was flat ironed and trimmed.

Easter morning I applied hot rollers for about 20 minuets while I dressed and applied makeup.  After I was dressed and make up complete, I took out the rollers and viola!

How do I like it? I do like the fact that I was able to see my hair and do a length check. However I discovered that my hair is growing in these crazy layers and my ends needed some serious trimming around the crown of my head which was disappointing and difficult for styling. It also required more maintenance than my kinks! Thus, this was nice and a good change, but I  miss my kinks. (Kind of…I am also ready for protective styling).

Reply and comment! Let me know what you think!