Soft Spikes?

I just finished reading Brunsli's post on her large Soft Spike Curlers and I thought to myself: "Are my locks long enough for the small soft spikes?" The answer, I really don't know--that's where you guys come in. Is there anyone out there in the blogger verse that has any idea how long ones locks should be/need to be before they can use the soft spike curlers? My friend is getting married in 2 weeks and I would love to style my locks for the first time in the almost 10 months since my installation. Another question...does anyone with soft spikes actually use the gel or do you use water or some other kind of setting lotion. Any suggestions/advice would be welcomed and appreciated. Thanks!

Tough Times

Well, blog-friends. It would seem that no one is recession-proof these days. Due to a lack of funds and some union business that I am not at liberty to discuss, the job that I have only had for 3 months will be closing on September 10th. I have less than 2 months to find a new job...and in this economy.

We found out about 2 weeks that we were closing. In case you didn't know, I work in a methadone clinic as a counselor. My clients rely on me to be the listening ear that they likely didn't get for much of their lives and now, we're shutting down because some people decided that they didn't want to do the things necessary to save the hospital...and now these same people, instead of sacrificing a few dollars, won't have a job at all.

Am I worried, most definitely...especially since my boyfriend and I work for the same company and therefore both of us will be out of a job come September. We do have plans, however, and I am back on careerbuilder searching furiously. If worse comes to worst I will be a nanny and work under the table until I can find something more permanent. I know we will be okay but I am more worried about my clients. Who is going to guide them and help them through their quest for sobriety if there are no counselors? Many of them have trust issues and it has taken them almost 3 months to build rapport with me and begin to open up and begin to heal...I really feel like this will be a potential setback for a lot of the clients and it saddens me to think that after finally beginning to make some headway they will have to start all over again.

I will keep you guys posted on my job hunt and this whole situation. We are praying that something can be done to keep the clinic open...what that something will be I am not sure...but only time will tell...

Brotherlocks!

Here is the finished product of my honey's brotherlocks! It took 10 hours which is about the same amount of time that my install took. Myself, honey, and our consultant Brandy had a good time talking and laughing. Luckily she came to us so I took a nap since she started at 6am and I went to bed at like 2am. Can't wait to see how his locks develop. Hopefully his don't grow longer than mine!

Locked Love

My honey is getting brotherlocks! He had his consult yesterday with my new consultant Brandy. His install date is July 18th!

They dangle now!

Clearly not working because I'm playing in my hair

9 months!

Obviously the back haha...yay me!

Weight Watchers Week 1

I lost 2 lbs! Yay me!! I'm going to keep this update short and sweet because I'm hungry and don't feel like typing.

What I did Well:

• Drank lots of water (I would rather use my points on food than beverages)
• Exercised every other day (I took a rest day in between to recover)
• Tracked what I had eaten HONESTLY
  
• Discussed how I was feeling with a fellow WW friend (it's good to know you're not alone)
• Planned my meals out the day before (when you know what you're going to eat it leaves less room for surprises)
• Didn't beat myself up for "cheating" (you can't really cheat on WW unless you are dishonest in journaling what you are but in that case you're only cheating yourself and can't be surprised when you haven't lost any weight)

Things to Improve:

• Keeping fresh fruits and veggies stocked in the fridge.
• Measure out certain things like oatmeal, rice, pasta, cereal so that I can confidently calculate my points.
• Expecting to have lost 10 lbs in one week (it's healthy to lose 1 to 2 lbs a week)
• Intensify and mix up my workouts (I got bored with the treadmill quickly and it became more and more difficult to drag myself down to the gym)

Moral of the story: Things are going well but I do not expect to lose weight every week. The weeks when I do not lose weight I will re-evaluate things I did well and things I did not do well and could improve on and try something different. I'm feeling encouraged...update to come next week.

P.S. Tomorrow (July 1st) is my 9 month lockversary! Pics to come later...I have a retightening on Thursday =)

Weight Watchers

Yes! I have joined Weight Watchers! I am tired of not feeling comfortable in my own skin and I am aware that changes need to be made so I can lead a healthier lifestyle. Its not just about weight loss but more about eating right and reaching optimal health. Of course a perk to eating healthy is weight loss lol. I am excited and can already feel my confidence returning. I will update weekly on my results with some tips as well. Wish me luck!

WTH?!

So when yesterday I decided I wanted to go for a nice jog on the treadmill in my building. I got the key from the front desk, did my jog, and proceeded back to the front desk to retrieve my i.d. and return the key. My favorite security guard was there talking to some girl (as usual...I swear this man must be a mack...there are always women standing at the front desk talking to him). The girl had traditional locks that were dyed a kind of rusty red/orange and they fell just above her eyebrows, at least in the front (she must have had it pinned in the back or something). I wave the treadmill key at the security guard and as he is grabbing my i.d. the conversation with the girl goes like this:

Girl: I like your locks...
Me: Thank you (turns back to security guard)
Girl: How long have you been locking?
Me: Ummm, 9 months
Girl: Oh...(looks puzzled) did they start as nubs?
Me: (trying not to kick her teeth in) No, I have a lot of shrinkage going on, they're longer than they look
Girl: (confused) Oh, I've been locking 8 or 9 months too (clearly said to say her locks are longer than mine)
Me: Well, I don't have traditional locks...these are sisterlocks
Girl: Oh...I figured (smirks)

What the hell is wrong with people???? Did they start as nubs! You can't even start locks from a nub...and what the heck did she mean by nub anyway? Every time I've heard the word nub was when I would hear African Americans say: "Touch me again, you'll draw back a nub!" The whole time she was looking at me so smugly as if her locks were so much better than mine. Hello! We're both natural...we have something in common. Not anymore, we don't. I'm hoping not to ever encounter her again...she is not worthy of having a lock conversation with. Hmph!

I love them!!!

My babies are getting so big. This is Socks and Pip sleeping. They add so much to my life...they're insane haha <3