This is a video, though poor quality, of a few of the faculty/staff at my school dancing in the homecoming pep rally back in Oct 2007. It picks up with us finishing Soulja Boy's Spiderman going into some freestyle. I am in center court and I lead a few of the lovely sorors of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. as we do a strut to planet rock. Who says teachers can't get down. Check it out!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

I HIT THE 3 YEAR MARK TODAY! These pics show me today (literally after working out) 13 months into the journey and a few years before the journey. It's been fun!

MY WEIGHT AS I WAIT

Back in November 2006, I shared my journey of losing baby weight. At the time of the post, I had lost a total of 20 lbs but in the photo, it had only been 14. Well, as of today, my total loss is 25 lbs. (with some fluctuation thanks to this past girl scout cookie season). While the weight loss process is one that requires patience, so is this hair thing. We all want that "down to there hair" and it does come, but with patience. As I near my 3 year mark (14 May), I marvel at just how much growth I have achieved in a fairly small amount of time. But until I reach my goal, I'll just wait...

I REMEMBER...

.... the day that I found out I was pregnant with
my now five year old. It truly seems like yesterday.
I know it sounds trite and many moms can say the same thing about their children who are far into their adult years, but it's true. They grow up so fast, right before your eyes! This pic was taken at my oldest son's 5th birthday party. It really gives me the warm and fuzzies when I see this and other photos and just how much he's grown. Oh what a handful children can be at this age, but relish in the chaos and the unpredictability. As my mother would say, they will be grown before you know it.

To My Parents...



Oftentimes when I add a new post, it focuses on my hair, me, me and / or my hair. And while this blog is primarily geared towards my hair, its journey and everything sisterlocks, I realized that there is more to me than just my hair. These pictures were taken outside of a restaurant after leaving church Easter Sunday. My kids, as you can see, were tired and hungry and totally protesting photo ops. That's cool. Kids will be kids and they will forever be the love of my life...PERIOD. But it's the "seasoned" folk that you see with them in the picture receiving the KUDOS now. They are my parents. They are, hands down, the most supportive, coolest, johnny and joni-on-the-spot people I have ever met. My parents are truly my rock. They are there for me WHENEVER I need them. Single parenting is a daunting, highly-demanding, tiring, full-time job executed by millions of women daily - many without a support system. My parents are my go-to crew when I need "me time" , if both kids are sick at the same time and their father is not available (which is often), and for those last minute mandatory work-related meetings I must attend. I don't tell them nearly as much as I should but I love them. I love them sooooo very much and I thank God everyday for them. They read my blog from time to time. So this one's for ya'll. I love you both and thank God for each day he allows you to be here with me and the boys!

The Atlanta Sisterlocks Meet & Greet (Saturday, 15 March 2008). Please see below for a short narration of each picture

Starting clockwise: A rear shot of Dr. Jo's locks, 2nd, onxy cherry, naturally sophia and yours truly, 3rd, amba (event's organizer) and me, 4th, a rear shot of calla johnson's locks, 5th, Dr. Jo and me, and lastly Calla styling my hair for a mini exhibition during the meet and greet. This was a fantastic event! For those of you who couldn't make it, plan to be at the next one. I especially enjoyed meeting some of my fellow bloggers like naturally sophia and onxy cherry. until i blog again...

A COUPLE OF GREAT HAIR SHOTS

As I quickly approach my 3rd year of liberation, I don't take quite as many hair only shots as I used to. I mean, don't get me wrong, I do love my hair, it's just that time and a lack of visual difference in length have kept me from taking hair only shots. I will always take pictures 'cause it's what I like to do. I included these two photos in particular because they show my hair (which is mostly worn towards the right of my head) and then towards the left of my head. Towards the right is my usual, but I took a shot of the one going the other way to see how it would look...I didn't like it. My forehead is too big!!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

my lovely flowers and i in my office at work!

I WAS TAGGED!! AWESOME!

This is my first time being "tagged". I've always wondered what it was all about. Here goes!

I was tagged by Tra...

http://microbraidlocks.blogspot.com/

...and b/c i am a team player, i must post the rules (see below).

1. link to the person that tagged you

2. post the rules on your blog

3. share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself

4. tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs

5. let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog

-----6 non-important things/habits/quirks about me-----

a) i iron my clothes, my soon to be 2 and 5 year old boys' clothes for the week on sat. and/or sun.

b) i absolutely HATE for my TP (toilet paper) to unroll from the top. it must come from the bottom.

c) if i don't make up my bed in the am, i have been known to make it, then immediately get into it for the night.

d) i feel naked if i don't wear eyeliner...literally. i will borrow someone's eyeliner, burn it with the lighter from my car, swab it with alcohol, then put it on.

e) i hate black ink pens. i prefer blue ink.

f) i can't sleep if the french doors that lead to my bathroom are opened...even slightly cracked. i will get up and close it.

quirky enough for ya? huh? huh? :-)

tagging fellow bloggers!

http://exaltedlife.blogspot.com/

http://douluvitlockz.blogspot.com/

http://www.ambambigg.blogspot.com/

http://www.paylar.blogspot.com/

http://moniqacamp.blogspot.com/

http://nappturalbeauty07.blogspot.com/

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!
8 February
No, I am not referring to the birth of my locs but rather my actual birth. These photos were taken by my very, very special friend after a night of dining at the Palm restaurant in the Swiss Hotel. Nice! I decided to show the back of my hair since it's been a while since I have taken any shots of the length back there. My girls (locs) will be 3 on 14 May. And as for my birthday, I feel, correction, KNOW I look and feel better at 35 than I did at 25 and after two kids!

CHERISH THE TIME and

LAUGH OFTEN

My high school classmates (1991)planned to get together last Friday night and go to our high school's basketball game and then for happy hour afterwards. A great time was had by all though we had just learned of the untimely passing of one of our classmates (a young woman whom I have known since 1st grade AND whose family lived across the street from my parents as kids...who are still there by the way). It seems unfair that someone so young (34) should leave so soon. Have fun, enjoy life, laugh and let the bulls$%t of life roll on! We will miss you Dee!

DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY, INC.

13 JANUARY 1913

HAPPY FOUNDERS' DAY!

a few of my lovely sorors posing for a photo op during a breakfast at work on Friday, 11 January 2008
yours truly in front with jacket

DROP IT LIKE IT'S HOT!

Now, let me explain the title. The sides of my hair, literally, seem to have just dropped over night! I mean, length is occurring, but the sides appear longer all of a sudden. I take most of my pics while at work during my planning period and this is the best shot of the length.

This 2nd photo, though not clear, shows just how long it is. I go back for a retight in January. My last retight was in November. I go every 8 weeks and I ALWAYS see a difference in its length. And interestingly enough, my sides were not the longest section of my hair when relaxed. How could you not love natural hair?

(taken 6 months before installation)

2.5 YEARS...

...and the love affair is still going strong!!! I hit the 2.5 year mark on 14 November. I can remember at the beginning of my journey visiting blog after blog, drooling over pictures of healthy, long and gorgeous locs with anticipation. I used to think "I can't wait until my hair is long" or "Will my hair ever grow?" Well, I am here to tell you, it's doing its thing! I started with 2 inches of new growth and relaxed hair. My hair has NEVER grown so fast, so quickly! That's not to say that I have not had my share of issues (losing locs, thin locs, slippage) but the positives so outweigh the negatives! So for all my newbies...just relax, be patient, and enjoy the trip. The length will come!!

(these were taken

november 8)

CAN LIFE BE ANY SWEETER?

I really don't think so! Needless to say this is halloween with the only REAL men who matter in my life. I am pictured with a mini, much cuter version of Shrek and a police officer for whom I would intentionally cause an infraction just to be pulled over. This was taken at my baby boy's in-home daycare center prior to going to the mall. And while ALL parents think their children are the cutest, absolutely most adorable coagulation of cells on this earth, mine were truly all the rage! Check out the photo of complete strangers (shoppers) clammering for a photo opt with Shrek and his sidekick cop. :-) We ended the evening with dinner, a bath, a few pieces of candy and snuggle time with mommy in her bed. All in all, it was a sweet day!

all natural at work

These are a few of my lovely colleagues, one in particular is most lovely (note the photo above)! They are recent converters to the natural life. Aisha, my soror, has loc extensions and Sam (a member of the pink and green) is in her 4th week of sisterlocks. She has been natural for a while now, but finally made the commitment to the life. I've wanted to put their pictures on my blog sooner, but never got around to taking any photos until now. Aisha has had her extensions for about a month and a half. I have been sisterlocked now for 29 months or 2 years, 5 months. There are other natural folks at the job, but these are by far a few of the coolest natural people at work! :-)

I HAD TO DO IT...I JUST HAD TO!

I have been (had) been tinkering with the idea of re-coloring my hair for a while now. After having it dyed the first time, I pretty much 86ed the idea of dying it again because I didn't want to become a slave to coloring it. See once you start, ya gotta keep it up. Well after many sleepless nights and several questions about my roots (from those less vertically challenged than I) I decided to go for it, as you clearly can see. I got more highlights than before. For this reason, I am sooooo stocking up on Taliah Waajid's Protective Mist Bodifier which I just absolutely LOVE and using the Sisterlocks Reconstrutor Conditioner (as a leave in) every two weeks (which happens to be my current ritual). Oh well, I guess a slave I shall be after all cause I so LOVE my color! Go Joy (colorist at EcoColors) ! You rock!

"EXCUSE ME, BUT ARE THOSE SISTERLOCKS?"

While playing around with the camera (yes like most folk, I have become a wee bit narcissistic), I noticed just how much my hair has grown in 27 months. I started with 2 inches of new growth and have, oh I don't know, a lot more!!! Monday, 6 August was my first day back at work (I'm a teacher) and 4 women asked me if I had sisterlocks. One woman was in such awe of my little locs, she trotted me around the breezeway to show my hair to a few of her friends. One was in the early stages of sisterlocks and another woman just had to know what I did for my hair to have so much bounce! Isn't it amazing what some cheap, beauty supply sponge rollers can do! OH, HOW I ADORE MY SISTERLOCKS!

HIGH SCHOOL CLASSMATES

These are a few of my friends from high school. We met up a local restaurant to discuss and plan a gathering for our graduating class (1991). The cute chick on the left is my cousin / BF Leronica, the handsome dude (who was cute but not as in high school BTW) is Chad, me and my bestest friend, Godfather-extraordinaire to my two boys, James! Not a great shot of my hair, but I had supa-dupa tight curls earlier in the day. It rained and was humid that day, but I think it held up okay considering the weather. Another reason to get locked up!

LIKE AN ONION

This is a shot of my hair after a wash and condition on 26 June. I took it (forgive the glare) with the help of a mirror. The conditioner allowed for a better view of my layers. I have been asked by several people on different occasions about my hair...Did you cut it in layers? Was your hair layered when it was relaxed? Why is it growing like that? I can answer with no, apparently so, though I didn't realize it, and I have no idea. What do you think?