Thanks...2008 vs 2009

Gosh, the past 12 months have flown by and so much has happened!  I am thankful to God for so many blessings and for every experience, good or bad!  Here are just a few things I am thankful for...in no particular order:  good health and mind, J-O-B, Sisterlocks hair freedom, the best Sisterlocks clients anyone could have, Dr. Cornwell, Natalie Owens, positive relationships, friends and family...

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....and of course must share some comparison pics of my locks...the first is Thanksgiving 2008, the second is Thanksgiving 2009!!  Whooohooooo!!!  Look @ all that hair! : )   

My Nat

Our friend Natalie (in the middle) who is fighting a very fierce fight against ovarian cancer and lupus! 

Love you Natalie!!  You are my SHEro!!

UPDATE:  Natalie passed away on 15 Dec 2009 - RIP Nat! We love you girl! *Angel*

Nov Install #3 - Miss K

Lockversary: 21 Nov 09...the pics are her last combing, a back view, then side view!!  : )

Welcome to the fam Miss K!!  : )

Nov Install #2 - Miss D

Lockversary: 15 Nov 09

Pics are the back before, side before and then 2 after pics!  Welcome to the fam Miss D!!  : )

Nov Install #1 - Miss K

Lockversary:  09 Nov 09

Pics of the back after install!!  Welcome to the fam Miss K!

Just Some Sisterlocks!

Here are some pics of some clients after their retightens...I need to become a "stylist" so I've started practicing a bit on some of my clients!  : )

Miss L...Lockversary: 09 Apr 09! 

We were lockin' her down ON my 30th birthday!  : ) (01Nov09)

Miss J - lockversary 17 Apr 09 - w/ permed ends! (31Oct09)

Miss M - Lockversary 09 Aug 09 (11Nov09)

...and this is me...25 Oct 09...my lockversary is 31 May 08

6 clients 9 days

This was a busy week full-o-Sisterlockin' = 6 clients over 9 days!!   Below are a few pics of 5 of the clients after their retightening sessions...I have used my wonderful Soft Spikes curlers a few times now and I loves 'em!!  They take a while to get them in, but so worth it!  The first time I used them I did not quite get the look I was going for...but the second time I had curls that lasted for 2 weeks, but had to wash!!  : )  Anyway...I'll do a Soft Spikes curlers post another day...

:::Below:::Caruso set her locks after finishing retightening

My Lil Sis & Her Locks

I thought I would do better at keeping my blog updated once I got my new laptop, but as you can see...not so much...

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But anyway...just figured I'd post a few pics of my lil sister's locks...locversary is Feb 09; pics are from this past Sunday, October 4, 2009...

Soft Spike Curlers Ordered!

In an attempt to solve my won't-hold-a-curl-locks issue, I just placed an order for some soft spike curlers that I have seen mentioned (and beautiful pics of) on my fellow Sisterlocked sisters blogs. Once I get them, they will be used and pics will be posted!! My fingers are crossed!

If you click on the words 'soft-spike curlers' it should take to you to the part of the website with before and after pics of a lady with Sisterlocks®! (if I did that correctly!)

I wonder if my locks won't hold a curl because they have doubled in size...? Who knows!?!?

We'll see how the soft-spikes work out for me...and although they won't hold a curl right now...

I still ♥ me some Sisterlocks®

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UPDATE::::I made this post about 30 minutes ago, received the confirmation email that my order was received, and I just got an email that my package has already been shipped!!! YAY! (through the post office, so we'll see how long that takes...but WOW!, they are already on the way!!! : )))

Install # 10 - Why not certified yet?!?!?!

I will start Install #10 tonight!! Yippeeee!

Q: Why am I not yet a CERTIFIED Sisterlocks® Consultant?

A: Because I have not taken the time to print pictures and put a lil' package in the mail to Sisterlocks®!

~~Seriously~~ I need to get my life together! Before Labor Day, I am going to get my packet in the mail! This is ridiculous! My third install was March '09! I should have sent my package in 5 MONTHS ago!! Makes NO sense!

Ok...anyway...wish me the best on Install #10...pics are coming!! : )

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The pic below was 16 Aug 09 (clockwise):

friend (3.5 yrs locked)

a client (4 months locked)

me (15 months locked)

my sis (6 months locked)

Just BEAUTIFUL!! We loves us some Sisterlocks®!! : )

I FINALLY got a new laptop! I got a MacBook Pro and so far it's been great! I was playing around with the iPhoto program...(me on 19 Aug 09).

Until next time...I ♥ ME SOME SISTERLOCKS®!!

Lesson of the Day (or year!): Sankofa (not hair related)

So...this WILL be my next tattoo...complete design is in progress.
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What is it?: The Sankofa
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Origin: The term sankofa comes from the words "san" (return), "ko" (go), and "fa" (look, seek, and take). This comes from the Akan people. Their culture is the most dominant and apparent in present-day Ghana.

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Symbolism: The past can help to guide the future or the thought that, if a mistake has been made or something is forgotten, the wrong can be righted and that one can learn from experience. A symbol of the wisdom of learning from the past to build for the future.

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COMPARISON::::1 day, 6 month, almost 15 months

WOW!! Each day I don't see how much my hair has grown, but when I do things like this, I see how much hair I have on my head!! It's PAST my nose now!! YAY!!!

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Top pic - 20 Aug09 - almost 15 months

Left pic - Nov 08 - 6 months

Right pic - 01 June 08 - less than 24 hours

won't hold curls!

I had my hair all rolled up from about 6pm yesterday, all nite...took the rollers out this morning and it was all curly...

Now it's 1:15 pm...I've been inside sitting at my desk all day and just went to the rest room, looked in the mirror and my curls are almost gone...

I wish I had done before and after pics so you could see...

Hmmmm..so what can I do to make my curls last longer? : (

WOW! Message From a Stranger...

So I logged onto Facebook today and had this message in my inbox:

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I saw your profile and loved your work. If only you could help women with some balding hair would be a blessing.... God gave you the talent.. And you are so awsome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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All I could say is WOW! She loves MY work!?!! So humbling.

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It's definitely all from God:

our beautiful natural hair (black women)

the creation (Dr. C)

the talent (all of us Sisterlockin sisters)

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I think Miss Blenna has mentioned something about helping women with some balding hair...I will have to check with her on that so we can continue to bless our beautiful sisters!! : )

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I ♥ me some Sisterlocks!!!

New Sisterlocked Diva! - Install #9!

Introducing the newest member to the Sisterlocked fam - Miss M!!

Locversary: 09Aug09

Total time: ~30 hours over 4 days (but who's counting!?!)

See the before...(she has A LOT of hair!!!) - and it's so pretty!

...and here's the back after...

...the side after...

...and here we are! both glad to be finished...worth every minute!...
I posted pics on Facebook and there were comments within seconds about how good Miss M's hair looked!

It's all about what Miss M was given by 'Him' and Dr. Cornwell's creation!! : ) Thanks Dr. C.!

Lovin' some Sisterlocks®!!!!

The Car = Hair-dryer!

Yeah, it's been forever since I have made a post!!...I plan to post some pics from the months I missed, and I am gonna do better!! Actually, MY MacBook shipped out today and I should have it within the next 6 days...since it will be a new 'toy' I am sure I will be using it pretty regularly!! : )

I loves my locks!! I washed my hair this morning (yes, I did something BEFORE leaving for work AND got to work on time!!)...of course I didn't have time for my hair to dry, so my hair-dryer this morning was a 20 minute ride in the car with the windows down, sunroof open and wind flowing thru my locks! By the time I got to work they were almost 100% dry!!! The wind wasn't hitting the right side exactly right and I didn't think it was too safe to stick my head out of the window as I drove down the highway...but I did think about it!!

The car was my hair-dryer today! What a beautiful thing!

Almost 1yr!

This is a 'back-post' to show my locks just a couple days before my 1 yr locversary!

I ♥ my Sisterlocks®!

Install done, 11th month, piggy

I just finished Miss A's hair!!! YAY!!

Another beautiful sister has been added to the fam!!  Not sure how many hours total..will have to add it up...but that's not important right now!

She has started her journey! That's what's important!

Today marks my 11th month locked-up!! WOW! It'll be a year May 31!

Times flies when you are lovin' your locks!! ; )

Hmmm..what else...?

I have a retightening for Client # 2 on Saturday...Miss E next Monday...they are keeping me busy!!!

Still watching the reports about the piggy flu!...ughhh...tryin' to ruin my cruise plans!

No More Bundles For Me!!!!!

When I saw Miss Blenna in Charlotte, she said I did not have to braid/bundle any more when I wash...well, still in the front because my hair doesn't like to stay in the locks there!

So, I washed my hair for the first time last nite without bundling the back! It was SO weird! It felt like...I don't really know...it was just weird. I am kinda scared that maybe my hair is really not ready or not stable enough...now, I am sure Miss Blenna knows what she's talking about, but I just don't know~....It almost made me feel more comfortable bundling! Here's an after shot (yes, I was sleepy!):

Who'dathought I would WANT to bundle!?!?!?

Swine Flu!?!?! WHAT!?!?!?

uh...this really needs to go away!

QUICKLY!

i have a cruise schedule for May that stops in Cozumel, MEXICO!!!!!

yeah, there have been no cases in Cozumel yet, but, er, uh....

what am i gonna do!!!???!?!!

Miss A's Install - Start date: 23APR09

I started my (play-play) sister's install last nite! YAY!! I'll update as we go...we have a lot going on this week/weekend (work, funeral, bowling, baby shower, church, etc...), but we wanted to go ahead and get started anyway - need the new do b4 we go on our cruise!!

Day 1

Sisterlocks Refresher Training!

I attended the training class again this as a refresher student! OMG! I am so glad I made that decision!! Since I have done about 5 heads of locks, I had some 'REAL' questions this time around and I got them all answered! ...I think! I'll be going back again within the next 12 months! I wanna be the best consultant as possible for my clients!! ; ) If you have attended the training once, I definitely suggest attending again, and again and again!! There were ladies in the class who had taken the class 5 years ago and had several clients; they learned stuff!!! SO, I know I'll be back!

Below: Ebone', Miss Michelle (Master Trainer), Tasonya

Below: Miss Blenna (Master Trainer, MY Consultant),

ME, Miss Michelle

Tasonya, me - ready for biz!

Me!

Our beautiful trainers: Blenna & Michelle!! The BEST!!

30th Birthday - April 5, 2009

So on my birthday, I was finishing up a client!! Miss L!!

My sister surprised me and had a brunch for me at the house! I am sitting there just lockin' away and people just kept ringing the doorbell and strolling in!...and my client was in on it!!! It was pretty cool!! Even though I was working (not such a bad thing!), I did have a lil' gathering at the house!

I hear life begins at 30, but as I was looking online, I came across this:

So I wonder...is it 30 or 50!?!! If it's really 50, then what is going to happen between 30 and 50. Has life not really begun?
The quote on this mug is not too encouraging either!
But you know what, regardless of what anyone says..for me, LIFE BEGINS @ 30! That's what I am going to believe! Even better than believing, I am gonna make it happen! I can't wait to see what 30 has in store for me! Plenty I'm sure! The 20's were very interesting - full of good, bad, blessings, discouragements - some of everything! hopefully most of the 'good stuff' for the 30's!!! ; )