Sistelocks @ 3 Months

Finally an update on my hair.

I'm not really feeling my hair right now, lol. So that's why I don't post much.

My locks are doing ok, just wished they would lock already, I ALWAYS have slippage because my locks are  rebellious! I have dry scalp and combination of dandruff and it has seem to gotten worse now that the weather is trying to change! Nothing works! So I just suffer having snow falling from my scalp!

Anyhow one day my consultant decided to put in Bantu Knots for me after a retightening. I must say they actually came out nice. With my first set of locks me and Bantu Knots did not get along. I tried the style like 2 or 3 times during the whole 4 years, lol.

My Bantu Knots were set on dry hair and I took them out the next morning. The curls came out really nice and my curls lasted a few days!

Here are a few pics

Change of subject. I started to take charge of my health again.(Yay me!)

I started to become a vegetarian again with the goal to become vegan! I made this blog visible again so If your interested you can follow my journey and find links  to other vegan/vegetarian resources and old pics/recipes of food I cooked.

Here is the link My Journey 2 Veganism Blog

I've also started walking/running again with a goal to become a TRUE runner, lol. I have gotten out of control with my weight, and eating healthy alone without exercising does nothing for me so I had to start putting in the work. Couldn't wait until the New Year's had to get a head start!

You can also follow my Running/Weight Loss Blog  Run My Way

Well hope all is well with everyone and take care,

Until Next Time Much Love

~~V~~

Happy Birthday To Me & My New Do

Yesterday was my birthday! I turned one year younger! I look like it but too bad I don't feel like it. Don't worry I'm working on that!

I decided to keep my locks for now, despite my imperfections, some of those were caused on my behalf and some I had no control over. I have a feeling that if I do start over, I will regret it later. So I'll keep the good with the bad! I styled my hair with a side pony tail and 4 flat twists. Not sure why I chose this style, guess I wanted to feel young again lol. Anyhow I love it!

I styled my hair right after I retightened and washed it.


I loved the ponytail with the straight locks, but I decided to jazz it up with some curls! I used Soft Spike Curlers. I let my hair air dry. My locks was still slightly damp when I took them out the next night, but the curls came out great!



This year I promised myself that I would style my hair more often. I just hope I keep my word. I know it will be very hot this summer. So I plan to try alot of updo's and ponytails. (ahh that feels good to say, never had a ponytail in my permed life, unless it was fake, lol). Plus I plan on getting back on track, with my dieting, and running. So the hair must be out of my way!

My exercise/running blog is back up & running. FYI for those who are looking for inspiration buddies and encouragement. Also if there are any of you locked Sisters that have a weight loss or exercise blog, let me know I need the encouragement and inspiration as well! You can find my blog HERE
Also it will always be linked to the left sidebar of my blog.



I had a great birthday! I went skating and had a blast! I would go skating twice a week every week if I could! That was my jumpstart to get back into exercising, but then I ruined it with my birthday cake. It was strawberry shortcake. What's a birthday with no cake?

Until Next Time Much Love

Dandruff + Beautiful Locks Does Not Mix

I need help.

Lately I have been having problems with my scalp. It's starting to get to me.
It's like I experience dandruff with the seasons. Sometimes my dandruff is controlled( like I never had the problem to begin with) than other times it's never ending. Like after washing your hair a millions times only to see that the dandruff is still lurking around, like you didn't wash your hair at all. I hate it!

I'm not sure what to do anymore, it's like I think I know what works and I thought I used what works, but apparently it's not working for me, or I'm doing something wrong. Anyhow so I come to all of you asking for your tips and advice. My consultant advised me to see a dermatologist but I hate going to doctors (go figure) and I want to try to get rid of this problem one last time on my own. I would hate to go to the doctor and spend all that money only to have those products not work for me. I know there is something or some routine out there for me that could possibly work I just haven't found it yet. Anyhow enough of that.

Besides the dandruff problems. My locks are coming along pretty good. I'm not sure if I mentioned this before but my new consultant had started several new locks for me due to so much new growth in between parts, however those new ones have sinced been washed out due to me forgetting to clip them down so they don't come out. Anyhow on my latest visit they were restarted along with several more at the front of my hair line and sides, which is a good sign it means my edges are filling back in, they are not completly there but it's a start. I'm hoping the next time I go back she can reattach the locks that were cut off from the ones that I combined together. Anyhow because of that I now have my straight parts again which wasn't a big deal before but now I like my parts. So my locks are still a work in progress but my hair has never been healthier and I'm so in love with my hair.

I finally got my camera but I haven't took any flatering pics of my hair yet so until then you all will only get this sneak peek.



As for my hubby locks, yes he still has them. He's hanging in there and he really likes how they are turning out. The only thing is he doens't like when I retighten them.I guess I do them to tight. I promised I would ease off some but he still hates it. I try to tell him its not good to wait too long in between retightenings and that it wouldn't take so long if he would get them retightened more frequently, but you know men, they never listen.
So I have a pic of his locks from early Nov. @ 7 months ( yes it's been that long he is going on 9 months now) However I will be retightening them soon and will post with updates.




As far as my kids they are doing great, they are getting big. My daughter is so bossy and likes to beat up on her older brother, and my son he is the total opposite of her he is calm and laid back so he lets her get away with it. I'm curious to see how long that lasts. I'll update you with pics soon, they are too cute.

Anyhow as far as my weight loss blog I have finally updated it, I ve been off track way to long and slowly but surely I'm getting back on. I had put back on 10 pounds but I have since lost 6 of those, so I'm getting there. If anyone's interested the link is on the left side bar or you can find it HERE


Anyhow I'll be back sooner than later,

Unitl next time much love!

The Illusionist

Okay so I have came to terms that my hair is NOT thick nor will it ever be. However this is the healthiest my hair has ever been so I shouldn't complain. I should be happy that I still have some hair left due to all the damage and mistreatment that I put my hair through! Anyhow so since I don't have thick hair I have learned ways to make my hair appear full. Roller sets are my favorite they really create the illusion that my hair is full. Also twist outs and braid outs work as well. As long as my hair is not straight it looks fuller! (In the side pic this is how my hair looks when nit is wet, flat and thin like paper, lol)


Lately I still have been thinking about starting my lock over. I'm still not happy with some of my locks in the front. Some have broken off(Which I think is due to the dye that I put in before I initially got my locks)Don't worry this hasn't happen recently but has happened over the years. Anyhow it just seems that my hair is really week in the front. For instance before I had my daughter I had started 5 new baby locks and soon after they all disappeared! No seriously is like they fell out one by one. Is there anything out there that can help my thinned and weak edges? Please let a sista know. I've decided that I will wait another year and if I'm still not completely happy with my locks I may start them over. I'm not sure which route I may go but it may be Braidlocks or Sisterlocks. ( In this pic I'm trying a bantu set the results are in the pics below with different styles).

Okay enough of my soap box. Don't get me wrong, overall I do love my hair this is the healthiest and longest my hair has ever been. So going natural was the greatest thing I ever did and I wouldn't have it any other way! I am fast approaching my 2 year mark which is next month and my locks are still not 100% locked, it's okay I'm over it. I had to combine a few more of my locks in the front due to the thinness so hopefully that should help. Retightenings still take me forever. I have learned waiting 8 weeks in between IS NOT for me. I HAVE to retighten my hair every 4 weeks, no matter what! I really wanted to dye my hair for my 2 year anniversary but I really don't think that is a good idea so I'll wait a little while longer. Overall I think my hair is doing pretty good I just probably need to take a chill pill!

Below are the results of my Bantu Knots. They came out really good in the front and the top but in the back the curls dropped pretty quick.



On to other things remember when I said I was going to start running? I was serious. I have started running and I recently just ran my first 5K! I had such a great experience! My intentions was to run and walk during the race but due to all the excitement and all the other runners. I couldn't stop my body wouldn't let me! So I ran the whole race. For those that don't know a 5K is 3.1 miles! I can't believe that I ran the whole thing, I am still amazed. And another thing it only took me 35 mins! I think that is an awesome time for a beginner like me! I'm officially addicted to running! Me and DH( his first) are suppose to run in another race next month and I can't wait! As for weight loss still working on that I have loss a total of 19 pounds so far, still have a lot more to go but I think I'm on the right path now!


Speaking of DH he decided to try this locking process one more time. ( They say the third time is a charm) We shall see. This time he decided to go the braidlock method. The only thing we are concerned about is his ends. To all you braidlockers out there or to who any that may know. What do you do with them. His hair is so puffy at then ends. As of now he has rubber bands on the ends to keep them from coming a loose but I'm not sure if that will help. So if you have any suggestions please be sure to leave a comment. He was not concerned about having neat parts so it was just a grab and braid routine. I think that they may turn out nice if he decides to keep them. His last attempts didn't last more than two months so I'm not holding my breath. If this does last I'll be sure to update, if you don't see any updates you know that it didn't last.

Sorry for the long post I had so mcuh to update you all on. I recently started back working so thats why I have been MIA. I'll try not to be a stranger and plus next month will be two years so I have to come back! Lol Anyhow I hope all is well with everyone. Take Care

Until Next time much love!

My Quest To Lose Weight

THIS MY BEFORE AND I WILL BE AN AFTER




It's a New Year and it's time for New Beginnings. I have decided to take my health more seriously and do something about those extra pounds that I have been carrying around, because it is not cute! Lol

Anyhow as most of you know I was on this same journey last year around this time. However my daughter Justice thought she would come in the picture and put my goals on hold. So anyway I am back on my quest to lose 50 pounds! It's actually 41.8 but I'll explain later.

I started my journey in the beginning of December. With no luck the entire month I stumbled upon Maryee's Blog and I found a link about her and Jen's experience on the Master Cleanse. You can read more about it here. So I thought I would give this a try to jump start my weight loss! I have done this before in 2006 for 3 weeks and lost only 9 pounds due to some severe cheating lol. However this time I was a little more successful. I lost 13 pounds in the minimum of 10 days recommended! Overall it was a great experience. I felt great and full of energy throughout the whole process . However after I started back eating I gained 6 of those pounds back but I was okay with that if you want to find out more info about The Master Cleanse aka The Lemonade Diet you can read more about it here.

I decided to rejoin Weight Watchers to help aid in my quest to lose weight. I had to quit last year because of my lil interruption. I am so glad I rejoined! I lost 4.8 (almost 5) pounds in the first week. I tried doing WW's on my own back in December only to fail. Going to meetings and having extra support really make a difference to me, I feel more accountable so if going to meetings will help me lose weight then so be it!

I have really decided to make a lifestyle change as far as being more active. I challenged myself to take up something different at least once or twice a month. As far as skating, riding a bicycle, kayaking, hiking, playing tennis, basketball, swimming, and boxing. Doing the normal exercise routine all the time can tend to get boring. So I thought adding new activities would spice things up a bit!

However the most challenge of them all is running! Yep I decided to take up running. I know it is challenging and that is why I decided to take it up. I want to commit to running and eventually that will be my primary exercise. My goals for this year is to run in two to three 5K(3.1 miles) races. Or two 5K races and one 10K (6.2 miles). My ultimate goal is to eventually run in a half marathon and a marathon. I haven't set a date on that goal yet because a run like that. I will need some serious training. Now I don't expect to place in these runs.I will be doing it just for the fun of it, just completing the races will satisfy me alone.


















Now running is a serious sport. I admire runners now. To help me become a good runner. I had the opportunity to purchase this lovely Nordic Track Treadmill ( AS I am not ready to show my extra jiggle outside, lol). It is really great and it has special programs that will help train me with my running goals. I figured since I don't have the opportunity to go to the gym at the moment I will bring the gym to me! I also purchased a Garmin Forerunner 305 which is a runner's best friend. It has a GPS system, Heart Rate Monitor and lots of tools to help you train. I love it! I must admit the price is a little expensive but I was able to get a bargain at amazon.com. I am so ready to take on this new challenge, I am even having dreams about it. I know I'm crazy.





Anyhow I started this weight loss journey at 210.5 but then gained two pounds. Anyhow I have loss 6 pounds with the help of the Master Cleanse and an additional 5 rounded off( 4.8 ) with Weight Watchers. I only have 42 more pounds to go. I know it will not be easy but I am determined. Well I hope everyone is having a great week so far. Until next time much love!