Any one out there?

If anyone actually reads my blog, or would like me to continue please comment. I have great plans that you may want to follow starting August 1 :)

What is good hair... my take.

I've seen this being discussed multiple times in reaction to the Tyra Show airing of this controversy.

As defined by India Arie...
"Good hair means curls and waves. Bad hair means you look like a slave."

First let me say, I think it's gross. In saying that, I know that I'm hypocritically going on with the topic, the argument of "good hair and bad hair" is just a recap of slave days. The theory of separating the slaves by skin color to turn them against each other so that they wont rebel against the masters. I believe that by arguing the "good hair and bad hair" theory we're continuing this separation. That if your hair is closer to white raise you're a beneficiary. A theory raised in the community of those who are of African decent.

That is what is disgusting to me. We're doing this to ourselves. Talk about some self hate. I don't think white people could care less if my hair is more like theirs because I'm still more than 5%. Only in the black community it's seen as the ability of "passing". Internalized oppression much?

Maybe it's my privilege to argue that. As someone who is biracial of African and European decent I arguably have "good hair", or so I'm told. Let me tell you of my experience with this idea. It this concept I do believe I had it better being raised by a black family. I say this because only in my home life and in my black community am I told that my hair is good. I believe I hear this because the majority of black women are experience in working with a coarse texture so with my hair being less coarse it's something "easier" to work with. In comparison, when I go to school in a majority white community I've never heard that my hair was anything close to good. Why, because it's in my opinion that white hair isn't coarse, so when dealing with coarse hair it's a struggle.

But I try to find that one piece of sensible argumentation in corrupted ideas. I will say that my hair has the ability to blend more with the white race but that is only through chemical processing (founded by a black woman... self hate?). I've been natural before, I loved my curly hair texture, so that's not why I decided to relax. I decided to relax because I'm lazy. It has nothing to do with not wanting to take pride in my heritage.

"At the turn of the century, Its time for us to redefine who we be. You can shave it off Like a South African beauty, Or get in on lock Like Bob Marley. You can rock it straight Like Oprah Winfrey. Its not what's on your head. Its what's underneath." -India Arie

And it's what's underneath that is separating us. Come on now, yes my hair is curly, yours may be a fro. But damn we're both black.

It just pisses me off that this is something that is argued. When other matters that are encouraged by society aren't. (IE:) Women feeling the need to shave. Women feeling the need to wear makeup. Women feeling the need to paint their nails.... damn society.

"Don't be offended, this is all my opinion, ain't nothing that I'm saying law. This is the true confession of a life learned lesson, I was sent here to share with y'all. So get in where you fit in, go on and shine, free your mind, now is the time." India Arie

a Summer Outfit for under $55

This casual, bohemian chic outfit is from Forever 21 of course.

Outfit:

Concave Feather Earrings $3.80

H81 Heather Slub Cardigan $15.90

Long Length Ribbed Tank $3.50

Roll Waist Geo Skirt $14.90

Broadway Cage Sandals $14.80

***Finish your look off with a messy bun, 3 coats of black mascara and chapstick

Summer Beauty Routine! Living beautifully on a budget.

Hey everyone!
Okay, summer for me is one of the most rushed times of my life. It's funny though because I'm always really busy with school and I don't even care.... Senoritis kicked in 2nd semester freshman year. Anyway, I like to look cute, even at all the camps I'll be counseling and the Leadership Institutes I'll be attending. Trust me this works, I do it every summer, because it's fast, easy, and a very exotic/tropical/summer time look.


FOR THE HAIR:
-I only do my hair once a week

-I never wash my hair with shampoo in the summer (I rarely use shampoo anyway), Instead I use warm water to soak my hair. It melts out all the product..... trust me, it works.

-Once a month I do a deep condition treatment mixing equal parts of these ingredients, I leave it on for a full day, putting on in the morning and washing out that night, put a plastic cap on to prevent leaving the greasy goop everywhere. You hair will be kind of greasy for that week, but it will be really shiny and it makes the hair really strong. Some times I'll use it as a conditioner and a product, and leave it in all week, its such a great deep conditioner. Especially when out it the heat.
1. pure coconut wax (2.99 at most beauty supply stores)
2. pure honey (99 cents at "deals")
3. Grape seed oil (2 for a 1 at "deals")

-Once a week (usually a weekend) I'll use "Motions: Deep Penetrating Treatment" it cost me $5.99 from walgreens, I put it on and leave it on for 30 minutes then gently rinse and comb hair (I only comb hair when it is wet in the shower, I comb it all straight to the back with no part [it's so chic and exotic looking!])

-I then use "Jamaican Mango and Lime Locking creme wax" $4.99 at walgreens. It's ment to be used for dred loc twisting but I like it more than mousse because mousse has alcohol in it. Lately I've discovered that my hair grows alot faster when I cut out the products with alcohol. It holds curls perfectly and smells great

SKIN:
-For the Face: I use AcneFree Oil Free purifying Cleanser $5.99 at walgreens, I use it with a facial cleaning brush
-I use witch hazel as a toner 99 cents at walgreens
-I use Neutrogena oil free mosturizer for my face $4.99 walmart
-I use White rain body wash, it cost a $1 at walgreens.
-I use Petroleum Jelly as a skin mosturizer for the body

Maybe I'm just growing up or maybe I'm finding myself...

So Today, I cut 5 inches off my hair. For the longest I thought that long hair was attractive (long being below the shoulder). I would hold on to my hair and split ends till they all broke off just to have the length. Cutting off the dead ends made me smile, and let me tell you something, I love the look of my medium length hair. Now I'm actually considering going even shorter, maybe a bob for the summer.

Maybe a little something like this.

Heck, maybe next I'll go totally natural... only time will tell.

Is it possible to "redo" a room with $75

So, I may sound crazy but I want to redo my room. Yes, I know, I have one more year left in this house. That's the reason why I set my budget so low. I really just want to enjoy my last year, and I've always hated my room.

So here is the budget breakdown: Total budget =$100

Bedroom =$75

Bathroom =$10

"Office" =$15

...... how crazy. Alot will be DIYed.

So currently I'm scanning through sites. I guess this goes with being obsessed with bohemian chic style.... currently.

I'm in love with this color family by dutch boy called "Sunny"

-http://www.dutchboy.com/colors/families/oranges/sunny/index.jsp

I'm not even in college, But I'm already obsessing on my life's path

As my high school career comes to a close (well in a year), I've found myself fighting mentally over what I may possibly want of my life. I have so many Hopes and ambitions, it scares me. I know the type of person I am, Intellectual, Caring, Helping, Giving, Motivational and Reachable. Yet for some reason, I'm obsessed with the old "american dream". I know that part of me only wants that lifestyle because I wasnt raised with it. Another part of me, loves the stability it has to offer. Every since taking the PLAN test, where it said I should be a Lawyer I've been stuck on that idea. Dont get me wrong, I love the idea of the Law, and the opportunities for improvement in our Criminal Justice System, but the idea of being a Defense Attorney makes me sick. The corruptiong in it, defending those people that I morally know should be found guility, the idea of people wanting to kill me because I got off the person who killed their daughter scares the living christ out of me. Literally. I would be selling my soul to rack in about $500,000 yearly. That's what gets me, on average a really well sought out Defense Attorney can bring in on average [on average, some make more!] $500,000 yearly! That annoys the hell out of me, Teachers make about $45,000 yearly, and the education they offer keeps people out of jails..... You would think, If the government paid more on Educators, there may possibly be less people to take through the Criminal Justice System. I'm at the point of my life where I'm trying to get around these money driven factors, but I'm so drawn to them. I know that I wont be happy making only $50,000 yearly, and I'm far too smart to be making that little. I know my potential, and I think that $50,000 is a joke for what I have to offer. My top two career choices would be Humanitarian Law and teaching, I may decide to potentially do both. Oh yeah, did I forget to say, I want to join the peace corps at some point in this craziness. I'm excited for what my future brings.

In closing... Something that someone sent to me:

God won’t ask which car you drive, but will ask how many people you drove who didn’t have transportation.
God won’t ask how big is your house, but will ask how many people you welcomed into your home.
God won’t ask about the fancy clothes in your wardrobe, but will ask how many of those clothes helped the needy.
God won’t ask about your social status, but will ask what kind of class you displayed with others.
God won’t ask how many material possessions you had, but will ask if they dictated your life.

God won’t ask what your highest salary was, but will ask if you compromised your character to obtain that salary.
God won’t ask how much overtime you worked, but will ask if you worked overtime for your family and loved ones.
God won’t ask how many promotions you received, but will ask how you promoted others.
God won’t ask what your job title was, but will ask if you reformed your job to the best of your ability.
God won’t ask what you did to help yourself, but will ask what you did to help others.

God won’t ask how many friends you had, but will ask how many people to whom you were a true friend.
God won’t ask what you did to protect your rights, but will ask what you did to protect the rights of others.
God won’t ask in what neighborhood you lived, but will ask how you treated your neighbors.
God won’t ask about the color of your skin, but will ask about the content of your character.
God won’t ask how many times your deeds matched your words, but will ask how many times they didnt.