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Tuesday 28 September 2010

A Pictorial Feast

16 Months and fully locked.
I Love me and I LOVE my LOC's ... Yeah ...  I guess you know that by the amount of pics I post!
Sisterlocks, a great journey, with great results.

Today, 3 days post retight and wash.

Compare ...



Pre Wash




Freshly Cleansed.







Wednesday 22 September 2010

Kindly Requesting Your Comments and Opinions, Are they Locks or Twists??

WHY?

Over the weekend I attended a friends 40th birthday party. It was great because we have remained firm friends since primary school, and are still close.
Now a majority of the ladies in attendance were Loc'd sisters! All of whom had mainly traditionals.
It was really great to see. I do know though that the friends of this lady are very afrocentric and much in touch with their African culture and roots. (Yes, she is Nigerian married to a man of Jamaican heritage)
We had not seen each other for about a year, so she was surprised to see my hair ... However her response was ... " Hey Nai ... Why you looking so hot and with ya sexy TWISTs too"!!!!"

She is and has been loc'd for quite a few years, so I ASSUMED that the loc'd state of my hair would be obvious ... NOPE!

She said ... "Well its that coolie mixed hair you got 'ennit, So it will look different ...

That was not the end ...

Another friend called me on Monday to ask  ... where I got my TWISTs done! Now I HAVE seen this person quite often over the last year , so she knows when I got Sisterlocks, but I am guessing that people are calling them as they see them ...?

NOW, this is where I request YOUR thoughts and  opinions .... I will not be (or am not)  offended if you think the same ... ;)))

Below are pics I have taken in the last 30 minutes and over the last month. Wet and dry ... WHAT DO YOU THINK?   ... Locks or Twists?

















I am also due for a retight this weekend, so gonna have to be up early to train before hair appointment ! :)))

I Can seee the growth at the moment, and feel it too, so am very interested to see how it will look on Saturday, Also I know it is longer because drying time has increased, I used to dry in an hour or two, now it seems to take much longer. :)
Have any of you used Baby shampoo to wash your locks? Or do you know of anyone who has tried it? What do you think?

Enjoy these pics, and I will compare todays with Saturdays, God willing :))

Ohh almost forgot, I have 4 loc's at the front that are CONSTANTLY unravelling! It is so annoying!!!! WARNING to all Sisters with fine soft hair ... do not over manipulate, wash, or curl your locks too soon. I didn't,  but STILL have to have some redone, and I am one week off 16 months locked!!!

... and Finally!

Work out / Training Progress so far ...

I Did Circuit training on saturday morning, (un wittingly walked to the gym beforehand :0) ... She nearly killed me! EVERY muscle from waist to knee was BURNIN!!.

Then, that night, I went partying .... Sunday morning I tried to get up and sit up  ... I tell you ... I could not sit down good for 2 days straight! SNM!

At a time when I would retain water (abdominal), and feel crap loads of pain. I am happy to report, reduced symptoms of oncoming cycle (PMS) and much reduced pain. I looked in the mirror on day of the 'onset' and saw not a fat bloated tender tummy but ... ABS DEFINITION!!!! HAAAA! LOVING IT LIKE THAT!!! and last night at Body Pump, I easily lifted my weights and even thought I should have gone heavier! I cannot believe there was a time I would have NEVER dared anything like this, especially on the FIRST DAY! Now, I do not think I could exist without it! As you may be aware I have posted this blog when I should have attended class, but decided on a hot bath, prayer and some time with my big babies ... :)

Bless you ALL  xxx. ... Nai ...x

Sunday 12 September 2010

Autumn, Training, Workouts and the excesses thereof ....


Oh Wow ...
I am hurting ... everywhere! It is more of an everywhere ache rather than one specific place. My tail bone is aching and I do not know why! I don't remember any direct impact on it.

As mentioned yesterday, I have finally discovered the joys of workout, my favorite activity is Body Pump.
Over the last 6 weeks I ventured along to Zumba and raved about it so much, Nita, my mate, drove all the way to join me in class. So that became our staple.
I loved it so much I began to go to both Zumba classes, I then fell into Ab attack, and was ecstatic and  amazed at how doing crunches killed pmt pains ... dead!
I enjoyed Ab attack (twice a week) and ended up staying for Body Blast, which led me to Body Pump and LBT's.
Well that, I think, was my down fall. The classes fall on separate days except BP and LBT which run consecutively. I went from one to the other ... and was downhill from there. I didn't feel pain as such, just sick, flu'ey type symptoms and then the asthma.
I think the big issue is that I am back to work and trying to continue my regime along with it. I have been unable to do ANYTHING all weekend .... errr I mean after B'pump yesterday ( which I performed terribly at, I had to reduce my weights, when, prior to this weekend, I had been increasing them steadily! )
Upper body strength development is part of my aim, But, I can already see a big change in my lower body and legs, I am naturally stronger here. But the erm biggest difference is the erm ... butt ...!
No one told me the glutes would get bigger, although I understand why ...! ... AND I am putting on more weight.
My legs are slimming, but muscle more defined. I am actually really surprised at all this because this really never was my sort of thing, seeing results so quickly is quite interesting.

However,  I am an addict. I like the buzz ... simple. Discovering another aspect of me. Had to call my trainer friend for advice because I was feeling so unwell this weekend. She reminded me that I would have done all of this years ago but  I was committed to raising the family so wouldn't get into it. Good friends are rare :)) She also warned me to REST, to allocate rest days  to allow my body to recoup. Wow, wanted to start pilates too tomorrow! ... hmm :P

My other problem is food, I have been starving most of this week, absolutely starved. But too tired to cook properly. ( or rather I am too fussy with my food) so didn't eat the right foods. I have been so bad I will not confess what I craved AND ate!

Ok finally about lovely LOC's ...

I love the fact I am loc'd and free. During the lessons I let them fly around (although this may not last long!) as they are falling into my eyes. I just shower and steam after the workout ... then dry naturally as I get on with the rest of my day.
My locs are getting firm and strong (not so soft and loose as before). I am no longer hunting products.
I already posses a grand selection. It is about maintenance at the moment. When I can remember, I use Vatika coconut oil on my locks and go directly in the steam room for about 25 mins, max. They look lovely healthy and strong  after a treatment. I still only wash once a week, It does not matter to me if my hair is "clean' or not when I steam.  The results are the same regardless. Actually my loc's never get 'dirty' really. I only use R and G water daily and occasionally (once or twice) Vatika or healing oil.
So as you can see, blogging is becoming a bit of a sideline now ... but to make up for it I might start posting ... FULL body pics ...  lol  IF you are lucky!!! ha ha

Have a blessed week all,  you can leave your opinion if you have one, feel free. :))






Saturday 11 September 2010

So ... what have I been up to ...?

Ok ... my blogging has been sparse, but for good reason. I have a confession to make, I discovered the ...

GYM!


Yes, feel free to laugh!

I was never known for my athletic prowess EVER! I despised games or P.E.

(Later in life i discovered my gifts lay elsewhere ... ;)))

However, at the start of summer I investigated ZUMBA, a work colleague recommended it, as she ASSUMED that I already exercised etc.  I have had about 3 memberships but the majority of the time I did not turn up! TWO good friends are trained fitness instructors ... and still I was not inspired.
Even after having the children the most I would do was a few crunches and leg lifts ( whilst still on the bed!!!)

I admit, I have been blessed, and not needed to either diet or exercise and I sometimes eat unhealthy food ... God is good in ALL things ... trust me.

Over the last 2 years my weight dropped to about 8 stone. I was not happy, I was thin, and losing my best assets. For some, that may be a dream come true, however, my genetics include generous curves, you know what I mean!

Over the last months my weight has increased and my butt has returned to its former glory.
After each Zumba class I felt great, and thanks to another class mate I tried another non dance class ... and I AM IN LOVE!

No ... I mean LOVEEEEE IIIITTTTT!

I never thought I had an addictive nature, but boy, I am training now at least 4 to 5 days a week. Even NOW I am rushing to get off here, to cook and get ready for my class this morning!

The atmosphere there, its really relaxed.

Maybe it is just my time, it has taken me 35 years but I'm loving it right now, oh and not forgetting the best part, I could see clear results after 2 weeks, definition ... hmm ...  yes ... loving the results LOL!

On the not so brilliant side,  I AM ALWAYS HUNGRY!!!

I am not trying to lose weight I just think I have a lot of energy and have found a good way to burn it.
As for my locks, I have kinda neglected them, although it is a blessing to have them as I also steam room    a couple times a week too.

So Bajan Lily I retract my previous statement!

Sooo thats me for this week , sorry! lol! gotta go! Bless x

Saturday 4 September 2010

Some Loc Love and Appreciation ...

Hi lockers

Even though I was on summer break for a long while my blogging has slowed down. This was for 2 reasons.

Firstly, I personally feel that once I got through the initial locking phases and issues, there wasn't really that much left to write about.  I am 15 months locked now and am in teenage growth phase, I think!
I really know what my hair loves and hates product wise. and the product junkie in me is slowly but surely settling down.

My locs love and respond consistently to only ONE brand of Glycerin and Rose water, and I mean just ONE!  This brand is the one in the picture that I cannot locate anywhere else besides my local chemist, and believe me I have tried. So I was glad to get a call from them to say they had managed to get hold of a supply, so I ordered 4! I was down to 1.5 bottles, and using it sparingly!

My staple shampoo brand is still Aubrey Organics, although I may be tempted to relapse a little to Inecto Coconut shampoo. I still have and will try my Olive shampoo from Body shop AND I have another Faith in nature  CHOCOLATE shampoo and conditioner, those I looong to try ;).  I also confess to an interest in Alberto Balsam Orange and mandarin shampoo (only £1 or 3 for £2 in Superdrug :)) As you can tell I LOVE variety...

However, there is a down side. I notice that too much choice only brings confusion and thus can lead to ... the wrong choice ... hmm. Then I end up washing the substances out only a few days later ... mainly because I cannot stand the look or the feel of my locs after the process.

Secondly, I have been very busy ...
There is an old song that comes to mind when I think about my new thing  '... I found my thrill ... on blueberry hill ...'  one aspect of my extra curricular activities involves a steam room. I love them so much I am going to BUY one and have it installed ASAP!  No ... really ... I am serious ... I have been going for a steam at minimum, twice a week for the last 6 weeks.

My locs, my skin, my whole being loves the experience. My asthma is helped and has become more manageable too.

I use a generous amount of TW healing oil then go into the steamer for as long as I can stand. When they dry a little I quick spritz R and G ... The result is lovely. How do I know? ...

... Well this morning/afternoon as I walked out of Island Village, A lady stood staring at me from the bus stop. I walked up towards her, thinking that she was looking at me because I was smiling ... ( I am apparently guilty of always smiling, without  my knowledge!)

The lady spoke to me out loud "WOW! What beautiful hair!, Your dreads are beautiful, the best I have seen! I want dreads like that! WOW! (she kept on complimenting my Locs!).
I was gobsmacked, really surprised. We chatted for a bit, and I referred her to my blog, she is soo interested she wants to do them NOW! like next week! I suggested that she contact me, and I said I would give her a shout out. HI MARGARET :))).
It feels good when you graduate to being a  walking Sisterlocks advert.

HEY Bajan Lily !!! Welcome back ...  MWAAAAH xxx Missed you ;)))