Au Naturale

This month made one year since I decided to cut all my hair off, like ALL of it!! What possessed me you may ask? Well a lot of reasons, mainly because I was brain washed by those "natural hair" girls who made me believe that I was beautiful just the way God made me and my hair was beautiful just the way it grew out of my head. How dare they right? I drank the kool-aid!!! I had previous sworn that I would NEVER go natural!! I didn't post about my "big chop" because I thought well it's just hair, who cares and because I kind of hated it. I went through some serious questions about my appearance during those first couple months. I was essentially bald and my self esteem took a hit. I can't speak for an entire culture but I don't think many would disagree with me when I say hair is kind of a big deal for black women. We spend thousands of dollars a year and countless hours in a salon to make sure the top of our heads look presentable, fly, fresh to death. It is the reason for all the jokes about us not getting our hair wet.  

Well it's been a year, October 23rd to be exact (I don't I'll ever forget that day) and I'm loving my hair! I wanted to celebrate one year of my new found freedom and setting my curls free with a post. Here are some never before seen pictures on the day of my big chop. 

I remember preparing for this day. Buying all the headbands and cute studded earrings I could find. I remember saying my eyebrows would always have to be done so that I looked "presentable" in public. I was so nervous about what people would think. I am naturally a very confident person, not the selfie a day kind of girl but knowing my worth and not being very concerned about what others thought. Cutting all your hair off will make you grow some confidence fast or make you climb under a rock. 

Being seen with no hair and no makeup was the ultimate no. I thank God for his strength where I am weak. 

Here are some of my early looks.

I started getting comfortable enough to leave my headbands at home, there was no hiding this five head!

As my hair grew I feel in love with it!

The only protective style I've tried is braids. I put them in for our trip to Aruba and they lasted a whopping two and a half weeks (meant to stay about two months). As much as I loved them I have always been very aware that I am not much of a weave person. I love trying new looks as you have seen in my previous 'I am not my hair' post but I can never keep it in for very long. 

If I have learned anything from this natural hair journey, besides that the fact that I may be a product junkie and that I have saved oodles upon oodles of money and time, it's that my confidence and self worth will never be dependent on the length of my hair. I have also learned to care for Noelle's hair so much better. I plan to blog on the evolution of her hair and some of the looks I've created for her. Her hair is now so much healthier and longer because I know how to take care of it. I pray Noelle never questions her beauty based on her hair. I will do everything I can to instill in her how beautiful her natural curly hair is and that we are all made just the way God intended. I will not be disappointed if she decided to straighten it when she is older (and out of my house, just kidding) because after all it is just hair. 

And I'll leave you with a length check because the shrinkage is real!

Anyone else have a hair story that shocked their confidence to the core?

My favorite products!

My curlspiration via Pinterest!!

One time for the curly girls!!!!!

Date Night

Hey good people! Sorry I've been ghost lately, just over here doing life. I've got lots new content coming your way for the next couple weeks so hang with me. First up another date night post!! This weekend we made our way out with the couple from our building. They know all the hot spots to eat in town so going out with them is always fun because we get to try something new and learn of more places to hit up in the future. 

Just a peek into what getting ready looks like for me. The bathroom in our apartment has no windows aka torture!! I love windows and I'd have them in every room and bathroom if I could (a must for our next house). Because of the lack of natural light I do my makeup in front of a window in our room and it's a free for all for ol' Nelly here. She gets into everything, pulling out every item and trying her hardest to open it. Usually the next step is to take out every brush and pretend to put on makeup like mommy. 

My look for the night was a really natural eye with a bold lip. I skipped my liquid eyeliner (my ride or die) and went with some natural lashes. I love this liner and lip color combination for the fall, you will probably be seeing a lot of it.   

Our first stop was a lounge at the Hyatt for drinks with a view.

We ate dinner at The Nickel, the food was great!

We ended the night with great conversation and dessert at The Crave. The great part about the night was that everything was downtown and in walking distance from each other. My new bootie's were super comfortable for a cool night on the town.

What I wore!

My long jean shirt, faux fur vest and tights are all from H&M. My suede fringe bootie's are Madden Girl and I got a great deal on them from Famous Footwear. I paired the outfit with a simple necklace from H&M and small stud earrings. 

Hope you all have a happy hump day!!! 

Circus Circus

I may have made a huge mistake in my career choice, I should have joined the circus! We attended last week and I haven't been to the best show on earth since I was a child, I am sure I enjoyed it more than Noelle. Tj got us some stellar seats and the action was so close. I wonder what act I would have been in!

 

 

Tight rope walkers, too dangerous.

This aerial act was so cool!

This 58 year old elephant was so cute and ginormous!

 

Noelle was sick with a fever earlier that day and pretty somber during the performances but came alive when the parade of elephants performed. I was more worried about being on "when animals attack". We were so close we would have had no time to scramble, I said a few prayers during the time they were kicking beach balls into the audience!

This aerial act was incredible!!! The hanging up side down AND spinning though, there's no way I would have been able to hold on to my lunch.

Mr. Coco for cocoa puffs himself. Fifteen tigers in a cage and little ol' him! My Mama didn't raise no fool, absolutely not!

Ok I'm thinking a dancer or clown!

 

Wiped out!! Too much fun!

Aruba

Bon Bini!!! The island of Aruba was never on my bucket list because of….you know. Well we felt no danger on this desert island and it gave me a generous dose of "get yo life"!! You know that feeling when you get a chance to just feel like you? To have a no kid zone, get your sexy back, get dolled up for yourself and your husband, whatever you want to call it, it was all that for me. It was really nice to get away with just my husband and close friends. After a crazy summer it was a great way to reconnect. There are lots of pictures so do some finger and wrist exercises because you will be scrolling but you won't regret it!

Noelle Meets The Mouse

Oh friends, how I've missed writing to you all!!! I knew it was going to be a crazy couple of weeks and it proved to be nothing less, but the best kind of crazy! With a trip home to Orlando including lots of breakfast, lunch and dinner dates with friends followed by the most refreshing trip to Aruba. I've got a lot to catch you up on so let's start with Noelle meeting a couple of mice. 

We were so excited to take Noelle to Disney World for the first time. She is a huge Mickey Mouse Clubhouse fan (along with every other kid her age) but that didn't mean she would be okay with the life size versions of her favorite characters. Well the picture below says it all! As soon as we got in arms length Noelle practically jumped out of my arms to meet Minnie. I think she was in shock that she actually existed "in real life" and was all too pleased to meet her acquaints.