SL Gathering March 30, 2008

My New Favorite Hairstyle

So this is how I have been wearing my hair for the last week or so. To be honest I don't think the photos do it any justice (lol)! To achieve this look I set my locks on caruso curls. Once the set got old (the next day (-:) I pulled the sides back with a metal free black ponytail holder (not tight at all - I didn't even double it) and then used open end bobby pins to put the bottom sides and back in to place. This look holds all day and is super simple to recreate the next morning! The ladies at the the SL Gathering liked it a lot! The other reason I like this look so well is because it makes my hair look a "little" bit longer and surely you have figured out by now that I like long hair on me (hahahaha)!

A side note here: Can ya'll see that little beady bead there on the side?....I thought I had "baby toothbrushed" her in to place (she is such a rebel)!

Holla,

Tra

Ski Trip 2008- Breckenridge, CO

These are just a few pics from my trip to Breckenridge, Colorado in January. I was there for the National Brotherhood of Skiers Summit (Black Ski Summit). It was a lot of fun. I even skiied some advanced blue ski runs. I didn't fall at all and I was so proud of my improvements.

My hubby and I, along with three other couples rented a large house in Breck for a week. It was beautiful there and yes it was reminiscent of the movie "Why Did I Get Married". Whenever someone heard that is what we were doing we got ask that question (-: . However our trip was planned well before the movie came out (lol). We even had a bit of drama from one of the couples to top it off. Word to the wise be careful who you travel with (hehehe). Still, it was a good trip!

As a bonus I ran into Ms. P who has sisterlocks and also lives in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex. She was looking fabulous as well and we both marvelled at how easy we had it in the hair dept. with our lovely locks!

If you have never been skiing going to the summit is an awesome way to be introduced to the the sport. You can ski during the day and party like a rock star at night!

Holla,
Tra

I Got Tagged 2008

So I was tagged by Muslimahjlocs http://muslimahlocs.blogspot.com/

and I am going to do my best to comply with the rules. Linking to other blogs in a post has always been a weak spot for me so that is why you see the entire URL. Does that count as a fun fact?

1. link to the person that tagged you,

2. post the rules on your blog

3. share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself

4. tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs

5. let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog

Here we go!

1. I have recently developed an obsession with Jimmy Choo handbags. I have only one but I long for more. This is an obsession that I cannot afford and cannot justify to myself or my hubby so I "best" get it in check...we are in a recession right?

2. I used to be really fascinated with east coast accents. So much so that I visited NYC in my 20's and went back home (Oklahoma City) with one....it was hilarious and so very wrong!

3. I had my nose re-pierced a few weeks ago. It is a small teeny tiny rhinestone and I love it!

4. I can still "drop it" on the dance floor and get up w/o assistance. This doesn't happen often but watch out when it does (-:

5. I really enjoy getting together with other black women and having open conversation about life, love, parenting, everything. I learn so much about myself and others this way.

6. I cut my hair weekly... since I split so many locks I find that I can't abide the varying thickness/thiness of some of my locks. This is another reason I wear my locks up so much...to try and keep the scissors out!

Folks I am tagging:

http://audreyspleasure.blogspot.com/

http://tamarabella.blogspot.com/

http://creyole.blogspot.com/

http://sister-in-locks.blogspot.com/

http://www.sisterlockswithstyle.blogspot.com/

http://knotsnlocks.blogspot.com/

I'm out!

Tra

Out on the town!

I really don't get out too much. However every couple of months me and a few friends make our way to a Happy hour that turns into a party! Such was the case earlier this month. I had such a good time and I really didn't even get a chance to shake my groove thing (lol). For those that don't know dancing is what makes a night out fun for me. However on this night it was fun just hanging out with my girls and watching folks do their thing! The hair was pulled up with a B-tie. Typically any night out comes with a "you remind me of Jill Scott" (-: ! This night was no exception (lol).

She is coming to town in February and me and my DH are going to see her. This will be my 3rd time seeing Jill in concert. I love her voice and her stage persona!

Holla,

Tra

Apres Ski Boots!

This is a first of a kind post for me. I was inspired by all the fun stuff that Brunsli puts on her site about retail items. So check it out!

These are my first real pair of Apres Ski Boots (after ski). I am super psyched about them! The first time I went skiing I saw all these ladies with the big furry boots on after they came down from a long day of skiing and boy did they look fly. This was waaaay before all the ladies of hip hop and video vixens starting sporting them in videos with half tops and boy shorts on (lol), before every shoe designer and there cousins started making a fur trimmed boot from rat fuzz (hehehe), and it was also during the time that idea of spending more than $60 on a pair of shoes was sort of foreign to me (lol). In any case I have been wanting a pair since 1999... so do ya think I waited long enough (-:?

Thing is, I don't get to ski as often as I would like and just could not justify buying a pair before now. I still won't get to ski as much as I would like but I am not getting any younger so what the HEY! The fur is rabbit and I wish I had a nice chocolate fur coat to match them but maybe next time. If you are an active member of PETA or just a person that doesn't believe in wearing animal skin don't come raining on my parade (lol).

I am assuming the coined term "apres ski" boots is French or maybe Italian (I don't know). I just know I love these boots and I can't wait to wear them on the mountains!.

Thanks for letting me share. There is one hair post below (-;

Tra

Her joy is my joy!

Here we are at my daughter's recital (I need to come up with a blog name for her). She took the pic of me and I think she captured her momma so well (lol). There were 5 dance and 4 costume changes for this recital. I was running back and forth to help her change and catch her performances. She had so much fun up there and I can tell that she loves being on stage and isn't at shy. Wonder where she gets that from! Several family members came out to support her but I didn't ask them if it was ok to post there pics so I won't do that. It was an awsome night and I got so much joy out of watching her have a good time!

Peaceful Pose

This is the ending pose for one of the dances my daughter's dance group performed at the recital. I love this shot because it looks so calming and peaceful.

Jan-July-Nov 2007 Growth?

This collage represents the growth of my locks over this year. Many of you recall that in October of 2006 at my one year locversary I experienced a "lock chop". In January of 2007 I ask Gigi a wonderful sisterlock consultant to please trim my locks and give them a "Fresh New Look". Gigi did an awesome job and since that time there has been some growth. The top row is Jan/July/Nov of the back and so on and so forth (-:

Personally I don't thik the side had major growth but again a lot of that has to do with me splitting several of my locks in the top and on the sides. I really am loving that I am finally getting some length back and really enjoy my hair on most days. I am going to Creyole for my retightenings now and she is doing a fantastic job!

Feel free to share your thoughts.

Tra

Thoughts on being locked 2 yrs.

Hey girlfriends and guyfriends (don't think I have any male readers but just in case) ! As usual it has been forever. Unfortunately I left my camera over to a friends house and the updated pics I planned to post won't be included today )-:


However during my time away I had my two year locversary in October!


The Shake Down:

1. My locks have certainly grown. I will prove it when I post (lol), not shoulder length yet but sooner or later they will get there and hopefully beyond.


2. I colored my locks dark in September in an attempt to get closer to my natural color. Those pesky highlights have already re-emerged (Brunsli does this sound familiar?) I think I will just leave it for now. I know that it won't keep the ends from going back and could cause more slippage and unraveling.


3. Some of you may recall that I began splitting my locks back April or May. Well 6 or 7 months later I am STILL in the splitting process. This is for the birds and although I think the outcome will be really good the "going through" part is driving me nuts. I already had over 400 locks to begin with. I am not sure how many I will have when this is over but it will be A LOT. I wonder if I am prepared for this. I know for sure that I didn't consider what all the extra locks would do to my retightening time can you say $$$Cha-ching$$$. I have become impatient with this and find that I will seperate the locks sometimes before it is ready leaving a really short piece of lock to retigthen (lol)....you should see some of tiny twigs I have in my head. Luckily I have enough hair to hide most of them. I am back to doing some braiding and banding when I wash my hair.


4. I am not OVER my hair yet. Two years later and I am a little more content but definitely NOT over it! I will be glad when I am.


5. I feel very cute with my locks but I am not sure if that is entirely a new feeling (generally I can always find something cute about myself, is that talent?) or if it comes and goes depending on the day. By that I mean that I have "good" hair days and "ok" hair days but not really "bad" hair days because I can pull it up into my Brunsli Hairtie and keep on trucking.


6. Something that I am "OVER" is trying to convince others that locks have versatility. I figure I can show you better than I can tell you. Still I feel no pressure to keep my hair styled to prove a point (-:

7. Advice for newbies - It has all been said before and I know you have read it on all the blogs that you stalk (hahaha!). That being said I don't have any unsolicited advice. However if you havent' already, check out Blaqkofi, Creyole, Goodnapps, Brunsli, Cheleski68 & Renea (Haven) for some good real world advice and suggestions. They are in my links area. Oh and I am open to answering if you have a specific question for me (-:


I think that is all I have for now. My intent is to get my camera back this weekend and post pics then. Thanks to all of you who keep checking my less than active blogging. I do appreciate the comments and have become quite the lurker these days.



I'm out!
Tra