Dread Update

I know I haven't seen a lot of you since I have put my dreads in and I know you are dying to see how they are doing! *wink* Here is the most recent pic.

                                 

 Front and Back

This is the day of my "whenever I feel like it' washing.

I have had them since October 2010 and it has been a journey so far. I put them in by starting at the bottom and working my way up in small sections. I would work on one section a night. I started back combing and twisting and then I used the crotchet method. Which means I took a small crochet hook and twisted the dread I was working on and stuck/weaved the hook in and out of the hair (this takes hair from the bottom and brings it to the top giving it a sturdy, knotty base).

When I first decided to put them in I was really gung-ho about working on them all the time and keeping them as perfect as you can for dreads. I did work on them every few weeks for the first month or so, but it got way too tedious and time consuming. My poor arms were always sore! The more I read online and looked at pictures, I realized that leaving them alone works the best.

I was washing them twice a week because my scalp was so itchy! I started off using Dr. Bronners Lavender soap and heavily diluted it with water. I just washed my scalp and rinsed with water. (I do actually wash the front of my hair with shampoo and conditioner because that is my only "normal" hair left.) I found that the Dr. Bronner's was REALLY drying my scalp out and that is why is was so itchy all the time. I would try different shampoos for 2 weeks to see how they would work for me.

Next came the dandruff! I have never had dandruff before in my life prior to this (everyone said it wasn't that bad, but to me it was a bit embarrassing). I gave the Dr. Bronners a rest for awhile and was using diluted baby shampoo. But that started the dandruff and itching again. A friend then gave me LUSH Happy Hippy body wash and shampoo. I know this isn't the most "natural" thing to use on my dreads, but it did not make my scalp itch and didn't give me dandruff so that was a major plus on my end!

I have since decided to not really wash my hair unless I really feel the need to. In other words, I just leave them alone and rinse them with water once in awhile and let them air dry. I also spray them with either a sea salt mixture or Bumble and Bumble surf spray to tighten them up.

About a month ago I was like "what am I doing??!!" But after getting over the fact that dreads really are not supposed to be perfect and that they take time to tighten up, I decided to keep the routine going and just look at other long term dreadees for inspiration.

Right now I am happy to be on my dread journey and really like them. As for everyone else....well, they can just keep staring! They are here to stay!

First Post, I know you are excited!

Well, hello! I have always wanted to start a blog, but never thought that anyone would be interested in the things that I am interested in. After searching around, I found that there are a lot of blogs out there that I really enjoy! But they did not put together EVERYTHING that I like to look at and do. I was looking at one blog here, another blog there. I was thinking, "If they were all just on one blog that would be so much easier!". So, here I am creating my own blog. So bare with me if it is a little newbie-ish, but hopefully I will become a seasoned bloggess and you will enjoy this as much as I will.

This year only has a couple months left and boy, am I glad about that!! There has been so much stress, death,and  negative things happening to me and everyone I talk to. My motto for this year is

"2010 can kiss my butt!".

This year started off pretty rough for me. My Mom had a cancer diagnosis in 2000. She had Kidney Cancer and one of her kidney's were removed. She was cancer free for those ten years and then had her Thyroid removed due to polyps found in her thyroid. Those polyps came back with 3 different types of cancer, one including the Kidney Cancer. It came to be that the Kidney Cancer had spread to her thyroid, pancreas, liver and was in Stage 4. Everything went very fast and we lost her very early at the age of 53 on May 24th, 2010. 

My Mom is one of 10 kids! *Yes I have a huge family!* She was one of the hubs for everyone in the family. She was fun loving and an awesome Oma (grandma in German, she insisted my sons called her that, very cute) to her grandkids and loved all of her nieces and nephews.

My Mom holding me, one day old.

Oma and my son oldest son

 She was a Cancer survivor for many years. She also had Ovarian Cancer when I was in high school.

I miss her more than words can say.

 I see a lot of my Mom in myself (whether I like it or not!). Her nickname was Crazy Mary, if that tells you anything of how fun she was. She loved joking around, dancing, and knew how to get a party started. I hope to carry on that legacy :)

 I deal with her passing day by day and hope to be able to share my thoughts and feelings with anyone else out there who has also lost a parent sooner than they expected.

I am currently reading this book, and so far, it is very helpful.

I will also be turning 30! this year! With that, and my Mom passing I have decided to just live life to my best definition of happiness. I have to say, I am still learning. But I am really starting to live by the motto-

You only live once!

Here are a few things that I have been doing to be the person I want to be:

 Dreads!! I began my dread process a couple weeks ago and let me tell you, it is a process! Everyone says let them be, but I have been a hairstylist for 7 years and I am leaving them alone to my best ability. What inspired me is the blog theorganicsister.com. But I got a lot of info on starting them from here. I will let you know how my dreaded journey goes throughout this blog.

The Future Begins Here

I also LOVE tattoos! I have 6 so far, these are my most recent:

One of my best friends, who is a hairdresser too, and I got matching ones. On our inner arms.

I think peacock feathers are beautiful and they also symbolize change in a person's life.

I am hoping there will be more tattoos to follow.

I also LOVE thrifting! I am hoping to get some skirts and dresses with fun patterns and revamp them with my *beginner* tailoring skills! Here are a few of my finds.

All of these clothes plus two shirts, and 3 sheets with fun patterns that I will upcycle

 into something else, for $34! Right On!

*bear with me, my camera is getting fixed and this is a phone pic*

I will end with some things that are keeping me interested and busy!

• My kids cannot get enough of this homemade playdough
• I am going to make a bunch of these upcycled aprons for Christmas presents
• Great way to recycle your movies, books, and video games.
• Purchased one of these, and received it in the mail yesterday can't wait to wear it tomorrow!