Here I Am...

So I definitely have not updated my blog in a while! I have been super busy lately just getting everything together.

Okay so first thing first: I have officially declared my major! I am a Science Education, specifically Biology, major. Meeting with an academic counselor from the College of Education here has really put things into perspective for me. It feels like life's puzzle pieces are finally coming together. For a long time, I had been unsure about what I wanted to major in and where I wanted to go with that once I'm finished with school. I'm finally figuring it out! I also wrote out a life plan to help keep me focused on what I'd like to accomplish by the end of the semester all the way out to a year after I finish school. I feel really focused this semester to really stay on top of things and get it done!

Secondly: I love my hair! I don't know if I said it before in another post (most likely not) but I got another haircut around late August and I love it! I'm really working this short hair! I went a little shorter this time than I had before. My plan is to go shorter with every haircut, maybe until there's no more left to cut. I kind of want to see if I can rock something a bit longer than a fade, still something feminine, of course. But I take style tips from other short styles I see in magazines or on other women and I incorporate what I like into my own style and play around with what works for my own length and specific cut.

For anyone trying to get into a routine for their hair, it definitely is alot of work in the beginning, but it does get easier. I promise! The hardest part is just figuring out what products work for your hair, but once you figure that out, it's pretty easy from there. As far as my own hair care regimen, I will gladly share! I have been doing this for a couple weeks now:

I wash and condition about once a week with the moisturizing shampoo and moisturizing conditioner with shae butter from a line called Influance (http://www.influancehaircare.com/). It leaves my hair so soft and shiny! (I recommend this product to anyone looking for a great shampoo and contioner!) I was home at my parents house once and washed my hair without these products and I could really see the difference that these products make on my hair. Then I towel dry my hair and apply some Cantu Break Cure Strengthening Creme to it. I don't wrap my hair or anything, but I do apply some Motions Wrapping Lotion to my tapered sides and back so that the hair lays flat. From there, I let my hair air dry. I try as much as I can not to blow dry it because of all the heat styling I do, but I will occasionally. Once it's dry, I apply some Motions Hairdress and let that set in. Once I'm ready to curl/style I use some marcel curling wax by Softee. Then I use a little styling spritz by Pump It Up Regular Formula for hold (depends how I style it), but I try not to use too much because it dries out the hair. I restyle maybe about every other day and the heat from the iron reactivates the spritz so I don't reapply any spritz. I may add some Smooth N' Shine Polishing Gel to the sides and back because that part gets a little wild looking after sleeping lol...I also relax my hair as I feel I need to. New growth is more noticeable on my tapered sides and the back so I relax those parts maybe every 3-4 weeks. With the longer parts, I go every 6 weeks. I just switched to Dark N' Lovely from Africa's Best. DNL works so much better for me!

I would like to get back on my skin care regimen as well, but I don't know where to start. If you have any tips for me, let me know!

I know this is getting a little long so I'm going to end it here. I promise I'll be back to update sooner!

~LaDai

Hmm...

Regardles of my successes, sometimes I wonder if I failed anyway for not setting my standards higher.

Anyway...I'm excited to go home for 2 weeks! I definitely need this "vacation" lol... I plan to do nothing at all. Might hit the beach. That's all, though.

Super Busy

So school has kept me super busy with everything! There's only one more week left. I'm so happy! I've been feeling so drained lately. I'm good, though!

I haven't really had any inspiration to write about anything lately. Not even my hair.

But since I'm on the subject lol...

I haven't really been feeling my hair lately. It's growing out and getting to be a weird "in between" length. It's too long to wear it how I usually do, but still too short to do anything else. I've been able to experiment with different styles, so that's a good thing about the length. I secretly had an impulse earlier to just let it grow, but I love my short cut! So I have decided I'm going to get it cut next time I go home. I also had another impulse to just cut it all off (I have random impulses to do things sometimes). That way I won't even have to be bothered with any hair!

At this point in my life, I'm just tired of having hair (as weird as that may sound)! I don't want to be limited or put into any box based on who/what people assume I am based on what my hair looks like. I just feel like everything is conformist in some way. I don't even want to wear a bra anymore lol...

Anywho...that's my piece for now. Hopefully I'll be back sooner than it took me this time to get back!

~LaDai

I'm So Excited!

So lately I have just been living life and enjoying every minute of it!

School started Monday so I'm pretty busy with that. Being in class all day is draining, but I finally feel complete (lol). I love school! I enjoy learning new things. Although I love summer too, I was getting tired of just hanging out all day! So I take American National Government, unfortunately, and I also take African History After 1870. I could care less for my first class, it was either that or economics, so I'm just gonna stick with it. I love my second class though. The professor is very passionate.

I am also a peer mentor for a freshman intro class. I really do enjoy my position! I was that student just last year so now getting to work with them from a 2nd year perspective is really cool. They're a quiet and shy bunch. We've only had 3 days of classes so far, but I'm sure they'll come out of their shells soon. They're just a little nervous right now, figuring out how to adjust to their new settings.

There's also a new guy in my life. *smile* He's a little rough around the edges, but he's so very sweet! I won't say too much about that, though. Ha ha!

I'm going on a family trip for July 4th to visit some other family in North Florida. I can't wait! We're going to have a good time!

I believe that is all! Until next time...

~LaDai

It's About That Time

So I think I'm gonna relax my hair today. My new growth does feel good to me don't get me wrong. BUT (there's always a but), I can't deal with it in my short style.

I do feel bad about it because I know what I'm really doing to my hair (and my identity indirectly). Lately I've been reading hair blogs and all that good stuff.

It is what it is!

~LaDai

Happy Father's Day!

...To all the fathers out there taking care of business and all the mothers and grandparents who work hard and stepped up to the plate to be mom and dad for any child(ren)!!

I'm lucky to have my dad in my life. My parents have been married for 17 years now. Growing up, sometimes I didn't really understand how good I had it. Within the last few years, I've definitely been able to see and understand the sacrifices my dad has made and makes everyday to keep us happy. I love the man that he is! I truly strive to be like my father--just to be as loving, caring, kind, and selfless as he has become. I thank God everyday for him!

I pray that I can have a husband in my life someday like my father. A man who loves me unconditionally, just as my father has loved my mother, and someone who is willing to make whatever sacrifice or compromise to keep our family happy!

...Just a little bit more of me!

~LaDai

Why you do that there?

The question was, "Why would you put something in your hair, that you have to use gloves on your hands, to get it in your hair? If it's not safe for your skin, you'd assume it isn't safe for your hair," in reference to why anyone would bother to relax their hair.

I don't have an answer for that question. I said why I relaxed my hair in a previous post. Initially, it was just to fit in, but I can't tell you why I still get my hair relaxed. As a matter of fact, I just bought a relaxer the other day. I find it ironic that the hair companies wouldn't name a relaxer anything other than "african". African Pride. Africa's Best. Really? I think not!

The more and more I think about going natural, the more and more I get frustrated with my relaxed hair. Anything but relaxing.

~LaDai