Ear-rangs to die for!

From time to time I visit Etsy for crafty, homemade, and rare accessories. I came across these beautiful alluring earrings from AfriqueLaChic. They're only $30 bucks! And you know the chances of seeing someone else with them are indeed slim. Click on the pic to check them out, along with some of her other handmade accessories. Support Small Businesses!!!!!

HAUTE FALL SHOES

I found these after a co-worker referred me to http://www.barefeetshoes.com/. These peep-toe booties are only $29.99!

Loc Style Inspiration

HAUTE SHOES

Found these hot sandals at http://www.journeys.com/. They are on sale for $19.99. I love a good deal.

thin roots

I love the summertime, mostly for swimming! the bad thing about it, however, is the chlorine from swimming pools in my locs. I went swimming, a few weeks back, right after a fresh wash and retwist. big mistake. after swimming i had to wash the chlorine out. Greeeaaattt.... My roots are already thin and now I feel i'm making it worse with frequent retwisting.

My faithful members of Natural Diva World tell me not twist as much and I try to leave them alone like in the early budding days, but I have this weird obsession with each hair belonging to a specific loc because I always figured that there is not supposed to be any loose hair when you loc! I don't mind the nappy look, I just want to make sure each patch of hair knows where to go at the end of the day.

I forget at times the the whole point of locking is to let your hair be free...and now i'm putting stipulations on it's freedom. Mature Lockheads are so much more easy going about their locs. They mention dragonheads combined locs at the roots) and even sewed a couple together. Many have freeformed. Many only use 1 product for twisting and moisturizing.No biggie. Yet I notice those mature lockheads have the healthiest looking locs from root to tip.

I do notice many other recent locwearers who have the same problem as me. What does this mean? Have we not enough patience? Do we value the look more than the importance of locs? I can only speak for myself, but I think at times I do. Locs have become mainstream recently and I think we try to keep up with the styles more than nourishing our locs. We care about the products more than the simple things. And we are so anxious to get them long, so we can wear more styles. It's great to have versality with locs, but sometimes I loose focus on the beginning reasons for taking this step into Locdom.

So if you are having the same issue as me with thinning locs, fret not. Take this as a message from your hair that YOU CARE TOO MUCH. Be easy and don't sweat the small stuff. Don't twist locs so tight and let it air dry a little before twisting (because we twist tighter when hair is soaking wet, this can thin the roots). And if you're still worried after trying some new tactics, consult a pro!

Good Readin

The book I'm reading now is called Mocha Manual to Turning Your Passion Into Profit, by Kimberly Seal-Allers.
 For a long time I've been thinking about channeling my creativity through starting my own business, but have let fear take over my drive to prevail. Fear of not succeeding, fear that my products may not be desirable or good enough to create a name for myself. I thought this book could give me some encouragement and guidance.

So far, I'm loving it! It gives you success stories from women who have been through all walks of life. It teaches you how to figure out your strengths, weaknesses, desires, and gives you helpful tactics. It also teaches you how to do a business plan, which I have been stuck on for the past 5 years!

It really explains, in layman's terms, what starting a business is all about, what to expect, and how personally rewarding it can be with diligence and dedication.

I recommend anyone who has been considering starting a business to cop this here book. I got mine from Amazon for $8. But right now they're on Amazon for $3.97 and up! You can't beat that! Happy Reading!

June's Diva of the Month

Each month I feature a Diva of the Month on my website, Natural Diva World. This month's representative is Kim Lockett!

1) How long have you been natural?
I've been natural for 2yrs.

2) What prompted you to become natural
In high school I did straw sets and wore my relaxed hair wavy
and I absolutely loved it! After that, I wanted to see my natural
texture. I thought, if my hair waves and curls with a relaxer, Then
I must have a pretty good texture! Also my hair was super long when
I was younger. As soon as my mom put a relaxer on my hair it got
extremely thin and super short. My hair hates relaxers!

3) How long was your transition?
It took me 3yrs to transition

4) What type of reaction did you get from family, friends, and significant others?
Well my mom & sister like it, I think it takes my mom back
to my younger years, especially when she presses it! Lol. The rest
of my family doesn't care for it but that's ok! :)

5) How is the dating scene for you and your natural hair?
Honestly, things haven't changed. I've never been a big dater
and being 23 and in college doesn't change that much! Guys still
want to talk to me and still compliment me but no dates. I think
that's due to my own personal view of dating... Casual dating is
practice for divorce. If you get angry with someone or grow tired
of them you just walk away.

6) How did you you transition ( braids, flat irons, wigs, sew ins, etc.)?
I transitioned with my all time favorite Flawless Weave (sew in)! The longer the better! Lol

7) Did you start the transition yourself or consult a
professional?
I started on my own. The lady that does my weaves just so
happens to not relax the hair when she does weaves. She'll put a
texturizer on the hair but I wouldn't even let her do that! Lol

8) What products do you swear by?
I must have my Tressemé Vitamin E shampoo & Moisturizing
conditioner, Carol's Daughter Tui Hair Smoothie, CHI Silk Infusion
Oil, & BB grease (a little goes a loooonnng way!)

9) What product would you like to try that you haven't
yet?
Oh that's easy... Miss Jessie's Original Curly Pudding!

10) What is you favorite style to rock?
The bun! Pulled up or back!

11) Homemade products, mass produced, or small business
products?
Nope. I try to stay away from those! I'm no chemist by a long
shot! Lol

12) What is your hair regimen?
I co-wash my hair every morning and wash it with shampoo every
weekend. Nothing fancy but it works! :)

13) Why do you love your natural hair?
Because it's soft, long, healthy, easy to style, stylish, and
the list goes on!

14) What is the most difficult thing about having natural
hair and how did you overcome it?
Well though styling may be easy, it can be a bit time consuming.
Because I co-wash every morning I'm in the shower longer so that
slows me down and makes me have to rush out the door for class. I
had to start getting up sooner so that I wouldn't be late for
class.

15) What is the craziest question you were asked about your
hair or a story you would like to share?
I have a hair straightening story! I don't wear my hair straight
too often, and when I do my mom presses it! A few years ago I
didn't feel like waiting on my mom to press my hair so I tried to
do it on my own. Well, I let the comb get too hot & burned a
good bit out! Lol. It turned gold and then the little length that I
had fell off only to leave little short fried roots! Lol I cried
and vowed that I'd never press my hair again! Lol

16) What's your advice to someone interested in going
natural? locking?
My advice is embrace your texture! No one texture is the exact
same. Keep looking forward and dare to be different! :D

17) If you have children (girls), what is your opinion on
their hair (keep it natural until they choose otherwise, forbid
perms, perm it, etc.) If you don't have children (and desire to one
day) what is your plan for their hair?
I don't have any children but when I do have them i will not
relax or press (lol) their hair! I'll leave that decision to them
when they get older. I hope that they'd choose to stay on that path
but once they are old enough it's their decision... Not mine!
18) If you could be any type of fruit, what would you be?
why?
If I could be any fruit I'd be a pear! Pears are the only fruit
that I can think of with a shapely "figure" and they are sweet and
they don't have a tough skin. That to me means they are delicate
like a lady ! :D

19) Where else can we find you on the net (personal blog,
website, youtube channel, fotki, etc.)?
www.twitter.com/key2kim
www.twitter.com/rgsisters
http://www.theredglassessisters.com/ (Online boutique Coming Soon)
www.facebook.com/kimlockett


20) Who is your favorite natural hair blogger?
I don't have one. I only visit them every so often. Now plus
size fashion blogs are a different story! :)

lookin for love in all the wrong places

The other day I was listening to the Word via CD while working at my temp job. This particular CD was entitled Naked and Unashamed: Healing Heartbreak. The title comes from Genesis 2: 25 'The man and his wife were both naked and they felt no shame.'  I listen to it ever-so-often when I'm feeling some resentment from past relationships and need spiritual food to get me thru it.

The CD suggested (and I always listened but never actually did it until now) I write down all of the guys I was involved with, mark the one's I was emotionally involved with, mark the one's who hurt me, and mark the one's I need to forgive. After doing this I realized, I had some serious emotional attachments to SELFISH people who hurt me and I have yet to forgive them for it. I also noticed there were only about 2 I didn't have serious issues with, which was in my early years. But after puberty,  it seemed like I found what I thought was love in ALL THE WRONG PLACES. I was in love with people who either didn't love themselves, or didn't know how to love. I, in turn, loved enough for the both of us until I grew weary and gave up. I carried baggage from one relationship to another with hope and desperation to please, yet each one added to the pile and increased my painful load.

However, the last one was the worst. He was a combination of everything I thought I wanted, and a a little bit of all the assholes in the past who screwed me over; of course I didn't see the latter until I removed my love goggles. The good thing about him was he brought me to reality. He helped me realized I put him before my father God. He helped me realize how misguided in relationships I was because I had not the proper covering from a man. He helped me realize that no one could love me better than God. He helped me see what it is I really want in a relationship with a man.....To be Naked and Unashamed. Not just physically, but more important, emotionally. To feel no fear as we walk together in Christ.

 I want someone who has my best interest at heart. No he doesn't have to help me do girly things. No he doesn't even have to be able to cook and watch romantic comedies with me 24-7. I just want him to love and follow God, and that alone shows me we can work on everything else. I want him to help me stay strong in my spiritual walk, and I in turn will do the same.

As I looked at my list of past heartbreaks in amazement, I abruptly decided to forgive them. I decided to move on. As much as I may still think of them (good and bad), they probably are having the best time not thinking about me at all. I decided to write each of them a letter of how I feel, end it with forgiveness, then burn the letter, and let the ashes dissolve in the wind. I decided to stop reaching in my past for answers. I decided to stop trying to figure out when, where, and why we fell apart. Why I wasn't enough. It's pointless, because at the end of the day, honestly, I know I'm a good woman and someone will appreciate me someday. Why am I wasting my time trying to figure out why someone (who is screwed up themselves) didn't love me enough to change? Someone will see my worth. He will know that he deserves me, as I deserve him. What he doesn't deserve, are my currents efffects of past relationships. 

God didn't put us all here to be alone forever, for the Bible says 'it is not good for man to be alone' . Therefore I'm not going to spend my remaining 20's wondering why I'm not married yet like some of my friends. I'm simply going to spend it enjoying my freedom and being open to love's newest possibilities. When the time comes, I want to be completey ready to be Naked and Unashamed with him forever.

Fly Earrings!!!

Just browsing online like I always do on Sundays and I came across Black Onyx's accessory website. She's popular on Youtube for her beautiful natural hair and informative tutorials. She's definitely a creative diva to looks out for. These earrings are super fly. There $16 and available on her website

Natural Diva of the Month

I JUST POSTED OUR FIRST DIVA OF THE MONTH, monthly feature on Natural Diva World. Check LADY D out and visit www.naturaldivaworld.ning.com

1. How long have you been natural?

3yrs 7mths

2. What prompted you to become natural?

I saw locs as a way of expressing myself being free and being
different, to me it was me matching to the beat of my drum. Even at
age 13 I knew this was something I wanted to do.
3. How long was your transition?

One year.

4. What made you decide to loc your hair?

I was turning 30 that year and realized a new chapter in my
life, new me, it was the opportune time to begin the journey. Time
to express who I was, to be free to just do ME.

5. When did you loc?

Sept 30, 2006

6. What type of reaction did you get from family, friends,
and significant others?

Growing up in the Caribbean “respectable people” didn’t wear
locs or dreds as its called, it was frowned upon. I initially my
mom thought it was a phase. In December she said to me “you still
have those things in your hair?” Some friends were against it
others encouraged me. But being the person I am frankly I didn’t
care cause I match to the beat of my own drum.

7. How is the dating scene for you and your locs?

Nothing has changed really, only issue is folks on a date asking
to touch my hair- grrrrrrrrrrrr.
8. How did you start your locs: braids, coils, twists?

Twists

9. Did you start them yourself or consult a professional?

An acquaintance

10. What products do you swear by?

Top Brass for dandruff

11. What product would you like to try that
you haven't yet?

None

12. What is your favorite style to rock?

I don’t have a favorite style, as I look at my hair as an art form so I
love experimenting.

13. Beeswax or Shea Butter?

Shea butter all the way- I make my hair treatment: shea butter, coconut oil, olive oil,
avocado oil, almond oil and lavender oil

14. What is your hair regimen?

Wash every 2 wks, palm roll if am in the mood, grease my scalp
with top brass (because I do have dandruff). In between treatments
include oiling and shea butter crème also sleeping with a satin cap
is a MUST.

15. Why do you love your locs?

I consider my locs my babies. They empower me, there a days when
I don’t feel beautiful but looking in the mirror my hair reminds me
that I am an empress, a queen, and that lifts my spirit. Embracing
those thoughts has helped me in loving and accepting me-Delma.

16. What is the most difficult thing about have locs and how
did you overcome it?

The thought of rolling my hair after washing, but I look at it as
me romancing my hair- we have a love/hate relationship-lol. My hair
is my crowning beauty so yeah I do have to take care of it.
17. What is the craziest question you were asked about your
locs or a story you would like to share?

One day on the train lady comes to me “excuse me Ms, but your
hair is beautiful” I responded very graciously. What stunned me was
her next question “do you mind if I touch it” my response to her,
“do you mind if I touch your weave”. Nuff said.

18. What's your advice to someone interested in going natural
and/or locking?

Go for it, it’s is a journey, but it’s one you have to be
prepared for mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Many consider
it a style but it’s more than that. It is freedom, it is
empowerment, it is self love embrace it enjoy the ride.

19. If you have children, what is your opinion on their hair
(keep it natural until they choose otherwise, forbid perms, perm
it, etc.) If you don't have children (and desire to one day) what
is your plan for their hair?

I have not kids but yes my wish is one day if I do have a kid I
will loc be it boy or girl.

20. If you could be any type of fruit, what would you be?
why?

A mango- its sweet and juicy, also one of my favorite fruits as
a kid. I have many fond memories of sitting under the mango trees
or climbing them on hot summer days.

21. Where else can we find you on the net?

"http://www.empresseswithpcos.blogspot.com">www.empresseswithpcos.blogspot.com

"http://www.midsummerlens.etsy.com">www.midsummerlens.etsy.com

Youtube Video Tutorial Worked For Me!

There are some great hair style tutorials on Youtube for those with natural hair. I went to a party a few weeks ago and was dying for a new style. I used one of my favorite video's as a guide:




And this was the outcome.....

Sorry I don't have a closeup for ya but trust it was an easy style (for all you short loc divas), it lasted a week, and i got compliments on it 24-7. I think I converted some folks who were skeptical about styling options with locs and natural hair. So don't be afraid to try something new divas!!!!!

Fly Natural Divas

Here are a few styles I found on the web while doing my daily surfing. I hope these serve as inspiration to those who are natural and those who are considering going natural and/or locking!

Pictured above is the lovely, sultry Jill Scott at the movie premiere of Tyler Perry's "Why Did I Get Married Too" (I can't wait to see it). I think this style would be great for natural divas, or those who are transitioning. You could even add some hair for body and length. How versatile of Miss Scott!

I found this pic "On the Road to Queendom" blogspot. This lovely is freeforming her locs and I must say they look so fly!!!! Kinda makes me want to combine some locs for the width. I think a lot of people are afraid to freeform because of the unknown outcome and the fear of not being able to control every aspect of the locking process, but this diva gives me a whole new outlook!

Janelle Monae, on of my fave artists, is famous for her natural mane. I imagine to gain this look, you'd need big roller (or great tuck and roll tactics) and a lot of hair pins. I think this would be a great look for an afrobella with a whole lotta hair who wants to try something new. If you decide to try this, please send me a pic and I'll post the comparison on Naturaldivaworld.ning.com

Ms B pictured from Ms B Speaks. This is my ideal length. OOOOHHHH I can't wait til my locs get this long....but I guess I don't have a choice. Braid outs look so beautiful on long locs. Grow hair grow!!!!

This is an old pic of Ciara, but I still love the style. If my hair wasn't locked, I'd definitely take a trip to my nearest African braiding salon and get these conrows for the summertime! Great for transitioners too!

Marsha and Natalie (of Floetry) represented the natural world well. I love Natalie's whimsical highlights. I'm thinking of doing something like that this summer, but maybe I'll wait for more length....

Finding God

Have you ever felt like been missing something out of your life? Using relationships with the opposite sex to feel whole, buying material things more than you need, always trying to overcompensate to feel appreciated? Well this was me. Have you been stuck in an emotional rut longer than you realized? Well welcome to my world. It's hard to describe the full extent of what I've been going through emotionally because I'm still trying to sort things out. Fortunately day by day I grow more and more in God's image. Since I've found God, everything makes since now.

In November, I started attending Victory World Church, right outside of Atlanta, GA. Before I started going there, I always have brief moments with God, a shaky relationship; kind of like being friends with benefits, but not a real relationship. But ironically, I put my all into my friendships and relationships with people who continuously let me down. And I honestly got tired of it. Sometimes it takes getting things taken out of your life for you to wake up and find God. I realized we can't put our faith into people, we're all human and can't expect a human made of flesh to the perfect being in our lives....Jesus is that perfect being. The only one that can complete me. The sooner I surrendered to him, the sooner I got peace of mind and begin to see things clearly in my life and relationships. I then decided to be accountable for my actions and become committed to growing my relationship with God. That's what I love about my church, they really make you want to look at yourself in the mirror, take some responsibility, and make the Lord happy....and in turn, you'll gain everlasting life.

The sooner you realize how temporary life is, how we are not of this world, just in it. The sooner bigger problems become little problems in your life. Life, my friends, is just a dress rehearsal for what is to come. When you face God he will ask you 2 questions: 1) What did you do for Jesus? 2) What did you do with the gift I gave you? What will you say. I'm working on my answers now....God Bless

inspirational quote

The Lord doesn't always choose men for what they are, but for what they can become.

Color Chameleon

I'm looking to achieve this color this spring and summer. I wanted to wait until my 2 year mark, but why? Do any of you know if I could get this color using henna, instead of colors containing ammonia? My hair is sensitive.....

CuTee of the Week

Strictly for the Leos 2/19/10

Today's Horoscope:
You might have doubts about your current course of action, but rest assured that there's no clear right or wrong path now. No matter how you proceed, it's going to be a circuitous route and the detours will teach you more of what you need to learn than just zipping along a superhighway. Don't be too quick to judge yourself in a negative light because you'll have a very different perspective in a month or so when you look back at this time.

Strictly for the Leo's

Horoscope for 2/16/10:
Today's lovely Venus-Jupiter conjunction is in your 8th House of Intimacy, tempting you to push through residual fears that are stirred when you are in love. Thankfully, the potential reward is great enough that the risk doesn't seem so bad now. But you still have some work to do, for old unresolved issues may resurface once you are closer to the prize.

Black History Month: The History of Dreadlocks

Though I do not recognize my locs as dreadlocs, mainly because I do not believe the look is dreadful; as the reason for the term....Anyway I thought I'd share the history of Locs for those who are interested in where they came from.

The first known examples of dreadlocks date back to North Africa. In ancient dynastic Egypt examples of Egyptians wearing locked hairstyles and wigs have appeared on bas-reliefs, statuary and other artifacts. Mummified remains of ancient Egyptians with locks, as well as locked wigs, have also been recovered from archaeological sites.


The Hindu deity Shiva and his followers were described in the scriptures as wearing "jaTaa", meaning "twisted locks of hair", probably derived from the Dravidian word "caTai", which means to twist or to wrap. The Greeks, the Pacific Ocean peoples, the Naga people and several ascetic groups within various major religions have at times worn their hair in locks, including the monks of the Ethiopian Coptic Church, the Nazirites of Judaism, Qalandari Sufi's the Sadhus of Hinduism, and the Dervishes of Islam among others. The very earliest Christians also may have worn this hairstyle. Particularly noteworthy are descriptions of James the Just, first Bishop of Jerusalem, who wore them to his ankles.

Pre-Columbian Aztec priests were described in Aztec codices (including the Durán Codex, the Codex Tudela and the Codex Mendoza) as wearing their hair untouched, allowing it to grow long and matted.

In Senegal, the Baye Fall, followers of the Mouride movement, a sect of Islam indigenous to the country which was founded in 1887 by Shaykh Aamadu Bàmba Mbàkke, are famous for growing locks and wearing multi-colored gowns. Cheikh Ibra Fall, founder of the Baye Fall school of the Mouride Brotherhood, claims that he was "the first dread in West Africa".

In Jamaica the term dreadlocks was first recorded in the 1950s as a term for the "Young Black Faith", an early sect of the Rastafari which began among the marginalized poor of Jamaica in the 1930s, when they ceased to copy the particular hair style of Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia and began to wear dreadlocks instead It was said that the wearer lived a "dread" life or a life in which he feared God, which gave birth to the modern name 'dreadlocks' for this ancient style.


Africans


Africans and people of African descent are known to wear this hairstyle. Members of various African ethnicities wear locks and the styles may change from one group to another. The warriors of the Maasai nation of Kenya are famous for their long, thin, red dreadlocks. Many people dye their hair red with root extracts or red ochre. In various cultures what are known as Fetish priests, sangomas, or shamans, spiritual men or women who serve and speak to spirits or deities, often wear locks. In Benin the Yoruba priests of Olokun, the Orisha of the deep ocean, wear locks. The Himba people in the southeast of Congo-Kinshasa also dye their locks red, but their style is thicker than that of the Maasai. Other groups include the Fang people of Gabon, the Mende of Sierra Leone, and the Turkana people of Kenya.

Africans brought the hairstyle with them to the Americas during the African diaspora. As a result of this the style can still be seen on people of African descent in North America, South America and the Caribbean. Well-known Black artists who wear or have worn locks include musicians Bob Marley, George Clinton, Rosalind Cash, Bobby McFerrin, Tracy Chapman, Lauryn Hill, Lenny Kravitz, Eddy Grant, Lil Wayne, T-Pain and members of the band Living Colour; authors Alice Walker and Toni Morrison; and actors Whoopi Goldberg, Malcolm-Jamal Warner and Keith Hamilton Cobb.

Throughout the diaspora, particularly in America, dreadlock styling and mainenance for Africans has grown and evolved to be increasingly stylistic. In the early 90's for instance, Dr. JoAnne Cornwell launched a more versatile hair care system that involved creating fine dreaded tresses called "Sisterlocks" or "Brotherlocks." The company Sisterlocks has regulated the spread of the techniques of sisterlocking since 1993.




Most Rastafari still attribute their dreadlocks to Selassie as well as the three Nazarite vows, in the Book of Numbers, the fourth of the books of the Pentateuch.[citation needed]



All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the LORD, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow.

— Numbers 6:5, KJV

Recipe: Stuffed Turkey Burgers

You'll Need:
1 1/4 pounds lean ground turkey breast
1/2 cup chopped roasted red peppers
1/2 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
1/4 teaspoons salt
Freshly ground black pepper

To Prepare:
Divide turkey into 4 equal sized rounds. Make 2 equal sized patties out of each round so you have 8 patties total. Sprinkle 4 of the patties with 2 tablespoons red peppers and cheese, and top with remaining patties, working the turkey around the edges to seal burgers closed. Season with salt and a few grinds of pepper. Grill or broil until cooked through, about 5 minutes per side.

obtained from FITSUGAR