UPDATE: My Natural Hair Regimen - My hair is chugging along like the lil engine that could

Ok so yesterday (Sunday) I was bored and decided to do a length check. So as of right now the length on my hair is 7 1/2 inches. Which is pretty good since I started off May 2012 with just about an inch when I Big Chopped. 

My hair before I going through my wash day routine

 So as I was going through my weekend whole co-wash/deep condition routine all I could think about was how tedious it is at times when you go through the routine especially with detangling. When it comes to the detangling part I won't lie, I HATE it!!! I get nervous when I see my hair in the brush and I take it out and see how much came out. Yet I think I've been doing alright especially when compared to what I went through when I saw Daisha in February and she had to deal with my head when it started to dread up. Yet as usual my ends are my battle even with me going through gently with my wide tooth combs and detangling brush. But afterwards I can get through smooth without any issues.

about the average amount of hair I lose when detangling

I also was thinking about how little my hair routine has changed in regards to the products I use. For the most part what I have been using for quite a while has worked wonders for me. Thankfully I don't feel as though I have had to change up anything out of necessity if anything it was more out of curiosity. I do enjoy how throughout the week my hair has a tendency to "rise up" from its curl pattern and I look a tad bit crazy. But I like it.

My hair for a 70's theme party I went to on Saturday

I know I'm due for my 6 month trim so I will be making an appointment to see Daisha very soon. I was trying for this week but unfortunately the timing wasn't right so hopefully next week will work out better.

My hair after washing day, shrinkage is a BEE-ATCH!!!

So if you can't already tell, I can't do any hairstyles on my hair to save my life. I'm still at wash and go phases and I'm pretty sure I will be this way for quite some time until I get some more growth on it. I should have taken pictures of it during wash day while it was covered in my Jamaican Black Castor oil and Coconut co wash. It definitely has some length to it and can definitely swing back and forth WHILE WET, but man when it dries back up.....THAT is a different story. Also during my last update I stated I was using the Tropic Isle Leave in Conditioner. Well after a few weeks trying that product I realized my hair was NOT feeling it so I was back in the hunt for another Leave in. So I ended up contacting Daisha and now I've added to my hair routine Design Essentials Leave in Conditioner and it works perfectly.


So for the most part my washing and maintaining regimens have not really changed since my last update in April except that my Leave in Conditioner has changed from the Tropic Isle Living to the Design Essentials brand.

So, out with this in my routine

In with this in my routine

The only thing better than finding something that works for you, is finding that they offer it in a bigger size:)

I bought the 32 oz version at a beauty supply store and will use this to refill my bottle:)

Now with my everyday routine with my hair, I'm still mist my hair lightly with water, then use Design Essentials Moisturizing lotion, then my DIY Shea Butter recipe with lavender ( I added this on my recent batch that I made because I'm just not feeling the Shea Butter nutty smell) and then I finish up with Design Essentials Reflections Shine Liquid.

Now there is something new I'm thinking about making as far as oil mixtures. I bought some pure Argan oil and Macedonia oil and I'm thinking about making a mixture with these two to alternate from time to time with the regular mixture that I'm already using.  I'm thinking 1 oz Argan oil to 4 oz of Macedonia oil and possibly adding lemon oil to give it a lively scent:)

The oil mixture I am currently using from Naptural85 - I've made adjustments to the recipe: I've gone from 2.5 oz of Jojoba oil to 1 oz.  I've added 1 oz. Grapeseed Oil, a few drops of Peppermint Oil and .5 oz Tropic Isle Red Pimento Oil.

Argan Oil

Macadamia oil

So.......yea that's is the take on my hair as of right now:)

Until the next episode....

 All That MsJazz

Cousin Bday Party in review: Vincent turns 50

Vincent being surprised and Jackie (his wife) who is responsible for the great party

Yesterday I went to a surprise birthday party for one of my cousins and the theme was the 70's. I had about three outfits to choose from and decided to go with a pink top, colorful skirt and some platform sandals. For my makeup I thought I would make it colorful and stand out.

So on the way there my mom calls and informs me that she and my dad are lost so I make my way over to them and I lead them to the Barrington Down Clubhouse in Florissant, MO.  My cousin Jackie was texting me to let me know that she and Vincent wouldn't be there until 7pm so I would be able to get there in time to take pictures of him when he came through the doors of the clubhouse. 

Needless to say he was completely shocked and couldn't believe the 70's attire. After everyone congratulated him and wished him a happy 50th birthday the festivities kicked off in full gear and we had a good ole time. I tell ya it was one of the BEST birthday parties I have been to in a LOOOOONG time:) 

The dancing though.....was out of sight;) DYNOMITE!!!

Until the next episode....

 All That MsJazz

Cousin Bday Party in review: Amilli turns 2

Amilli in her couture outfit, checkout the gladiator sandals and yes the top was custom made.

Well this past Sunday I went  out to Tower Grove Park along with my mom for one of my lil cousin's birthday party. The theme was Carnival style. So we arrived there and things were still being setup. There were a few people there at first including some other family members that I recognized. Within a hour more people had shown up and the rest of the setup had been finished. Things went into full swing and great time was had at all. 





I can honestly say this birthday party pretty much has trumped any other lil kids birthday party that I've been to. I mean where else have I been where they bring blow up jungle gym  items for the kids to play around in, a clown that paints face, Mickey and Minnie mouse make an appearance. Oh and potato sack races were hilarious to watch. But you know what? I was already sold when I saw the snow cone and popcorn maker;)

Until the next episode....

 All That MsJazz

Back to work already ...antidepressants anyone?

Well this week has been trying to say the least. I officially was back on the job August 1st. Last Thursday and Friday were busy but no where near as busy and crazy as this week. This week was a test to my sanity and nerves.  The biggest thing this week was dealing with new student enrollments. Now normally this wouldn't be a big thing for me in the past but with the passing of the Cooperating School District (CSD) ruling it has become more of a challenge.

Since this Monday I've been juggling getting all information that I need on all our new students whether they are based in our district or coming through the CSD program. On Tuesday and Wednesday evening we had our registration nights for those returning students to come through and drop off paper work. So imagine being at my desk and you are having to input God knows how many kids into the system as new students, oh and did I mention I also throughout all this sending off  transfer requests to all schools involved about our new incoming students?????????????????????????????????? That paperwork is coming in slowly by the way. Oh and I haven't even BEGUN to go through returning student demographics yet and update any information that might have changed.

By Thursday pretty much everything came to a boil for me when a district employee came to my office and informed me the registration packet that I had revamped last year had never been board approved.  Now mind you I already had just dealt with a parent 5 minutes earlier who was enrolling her child and she had just brought to my attention that somehow I had mistakenly given her a copy of LAST YEAR'S registration packet....................................................

When she the district employee handed me the papers that I had to put back into the packet I just stared at them and was like, "I'm done, like stick a fucking fork in me I'm done." I know I must have had the look of just utter complete defeat on my face because the lady felt bad. I told her it wasn't her fault, but I knew who I needed to blame on it. I had worked my ass off in regards to getting that damn thing done and to find out all my hard work on it had not even been taken in front of the board for approval. I could feel the steam coming out of my ears. I was SOOOOOOOO fucking pissed I started to tear up at my desk. I didn't even make to to the restroom before I just started bawling. 

What I looked like in the bathroom stall just a few shades darker

So after being in the bathroom for at least 5 to 10 minutes I come out of one of the stalls and I look in the mirror. My makeup which I had done earlier that day had me looking like a sad clown because of the mascara streaks down my face and my lashes clumping together. I informed my coworker in the office that I was taking my lunch break OUT of the building and that I would be back in 30 minutes. I just needed a breather and didn't want to be on campus. So after I went to McDonald's and just decompressed for a while, I went back to work and finished out my work day. A friend of mine saw my message and invited me to workout with her at her gym. I tell ya, it was definitely what I needed to burn off some of my frustration of the day.

My tweet in the bathroom stall..

Now it takes alot to get under my skin when it comes to my job, but all this crap this week had just taken it's toil on me mentally. I know after everything has died down I have to revamp the fucking registration packet for new and returning students. But I can't even BEGIN to worry about that yet because I still haven't received packets on some students or for that much been able to meet parents that I still need to give packets to because they have YET to come up to the school and pick them up and did I mention that school starts on Tuesday?


So today (Friday) I was feeling better. Even though I was only working on about 5 hours of sleep (still worried about stuff from yesterday), didn't go to bed until 1:15am I was doing slightly better than the previous day. I was able to get some more work out the way, but it still felt like a "quicksand" day. So I'm not looking forward to Monday because I'm assuming that more stuff will come out the wood works in regards to parents coming through to do last minute registration but hey those are the trade offs to job security...

Out of my mind......

Until the next episode....

 All That MsJazz