We brought in spring the right way.

a few things I've learned; jan - mar.

 



What is Holi DC?

Lots of color. Everywhere.

It’s a festival celebrating love – and the power of love to bring all good things into our lives.

It is held in early spring, one day after the full moon, signifying new life, new growth, new beginnings.

Holi, therefore, reminds us to color our life with love, faith, and a generous spirit. It calls us to give and receive. And best of all, it's just great fun. We get lost in color, forget about our usual identity, and experience life – and each other – from a whole new perspective.

When is Holi DC?

March 30th from 11am to 4pm

Where is Holi DC?

10310 Oaklyn Dr., Potomac, MD 20854

OMG, how fun does this look?! I love the concept behind it. This may be the perfect way to kick off the bucket list.

source

The hair shoot went great! It was my first time doing something like that and it was a lot of fun. I wouldn't mind doing it again. Feels good to try something new. As soon as I get my hands on the photos I'll post them. I have to admit that it feels a little weird to have my hair straight again after being curly for so long.. (lol) which actually feels even weirder to admit.

flashback 
-- 40(ish) Days of Curls --

 

( SIDENOTE: It snowed again last night; just as it was starting to feel like spring was within reach! I feel an overload of warm-weather inspired posts coming soon. I need some kind of relief from this never ending snow globe. )

oh, hey.

;)

Day 36 x 40(ish) Days of Curls

Day 36.

Length check!

And so, the no heat (40(ish) Days of Curls) challenge goes on. My curls are a lot more defined than they've ever been. They have also stretched out and hang a lot longer than before, which I love.

I know I will need a trim after all of this, but I'm hoping to achieve this same length post-trim.

( SIDENOTE: My hairdresser is using me as a hair model for her new website, so I may have to cut my curly hair journey short by a few days. :( But no worries, the curls will be back as soon as the shoot is through! )



Some blessings don't necessarily come in the packages that we want or might've imagined for ourselves

... but does that make them any less of a blessing?

how cool is this?

( SIDENOTE: Mercury retrograde is over. Hallelujah. )

Last night was the very first meeting of our newly formed book club!

The theme for the week, 'Wine and Desserts'... which went over perfectly.

We will be meeting bi-weekly to discuss each book, with hopes of starting a new book each month.

Every meeting will have a different fun theme.

I encourage you all to start your own. I'm already looking forward to the next one.

We had such a great time!

Or, you can read along with me. I'll be posting the featured book each month right here.

Book 1: "What Alice Forgot," by Liane Moriarty

What Alice Forgot

---

Another post that I came across from the same year. (2009)

I want to get back into being this personal on my blog again.

We shall see.

 So I took a moment to peruse my very first blog today, (which I'm surprised is still up, I must add) and came across some wise words from my twenty- one year old self. It's amazing how times change but we can still relearn the same lessons.

And a special THANK YOU to everyone that has been supporting the brand!

Words cannot explain how it feels to see something that was once just an idea bloom into a movement over night. I appreciate each and every one of you.

:)

Send me a pic in your 'We the Tribe' sweatshirts and I will feature you in a later post.

inspirethetribe@gmail.com



Just updated the site!

 'We the Tribe' T-shirts are now available for Pre-Order.

Get yours here ----> wethetribe.bigcartel.com

 

The test comes first.

Have to keep reminding myself..

curl check in

day 22
still going strong.

+
snow day (yes, SNOW!) boredom

texture.

I was out shopping the other day when these shoes caught my eye. I loved the "worldly traveled" look of them, but I wasn't fully convinced until I tried them on. Now I'm obsessed. I'm already trying to think up a brilliant story of how I found them while traveling abroad lol.

Hope you all enjoy your day!

( SIDENOTE: They were the last pair at a local off- price department store. )

If you love someone

Let them go

Give them room to grow

And hopefully the memories of your love will continue

To flow

In their mind
 

And the way back to your heart

They will find



I have to be honest

I'm losing the desire

to be the glue

that holds on to you

what about me

and all of my needs

in a relationship

where it feels the only one trying is me

but hasn't it always been this way

you one foot out the door

me,
doing whatever it takes to make you stay

working up a sweat

putting on a show

you are the star

the headlining act

treating you like caesar

all to receive what in the end

half ass efforts

skeptical ass friends

and a mind that never stops running

trying to convince a heart that's lost its cunning

 



one love

one way

happy march,

happy friday.

thinking about it makes me sick to my stomach... still.

new memories to block out the old.

heart willing

Here are a few of the products that have become my best friends on my natural hair journey.

L to R:

Aussie Hair Insurance Leave-In Conditioner 8 Fl Oz (Pack of 3)

My go-to leave in conditioner. I use this when my hair is soaking wet, fresh out of the shower.

 Moroccanoil Curl Defining Cream, 8.5 ounce

This is my second favorite product when it comes to defining my curls. It has a light fresh scent that I love.

Organic Coconut Oil 14 oz.
I use this when I want to condition my hair throughout the day. It leaves my hair feeling very soft and moisturized, and the fact that it is organic doesn't hurt.

Jane Carter Curl Defining Cream, 6 Ounce
MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE PRODUCT EVER. It does exactly as the name reads... defines my curls to perfection. I can't tell you all how many of these tubs I go through. If you're looking for a new product to try... try this.

Shea Moisture Smoothie & Treatment Masque Duo

This is a new product that I've been using for about a month. It's a little heavier than what I'd like, so it's something I would use as a back up to the Curl Defining Cream and Curl Control Cream. I'm not sure if I'd buy it again when this tub runs out. I'd give it 2.5 out of 5 stars.

Ion Volume Builder
When it comes to my hair, the bigger the better. This helps on days when I have freshly washed hair and want to try to build volume that I usually can only achieve on the second or third day. I just spray it in at the roots and brush it through. (I brush out the bottom layers of my hair to achieve the biggest fro/ bush possible.)

What products are you using? Share with me.

Oh joy, Mercury is in Retrograde

Feb 23- Mar 17

"Someimes the other planets appear to be traveling backward through the zodiac; this is an illusion. We can this illusion retrograde motion.

Mercury's retrograde periods can cause our plans to go awry. However, this is an excellent time to reflect on the past. Intuition is high during these periods, and coincidences can be extraordinary."

"Mercury is the messenger, and in this time, the delivery is warped or the message gets lost en route. Some people find that their computers go on the fritz or phone lines go down. If you're at all jittery about it, go ahead and back up your important files.

There can be delays, so give yourself plenty of time to get places. What happens in those down times? Mercury retro is known to be a time of 'fated' events -- who will you meet? What will be revealed?

Mercury retrograde gives us time to catch up with ourselves, and reflect. Something from the past returns in a different form. People, ideas or buried insights that are keys to moving forward, float to the surface. Often it's felt as a slowed down, contemplative time, and depending on the sign, a chance to go over old ground again, to claim what you missed the first time.
There's a long-held belief that it's best to avoid making set plans during the Mercury Retrograde. This means holding off on signing contracts, and forming partnerships and alliances. What gets put in writing at this time may turn out to need serious revising after Mercury goes direct. But since tying up loose ends is the domain of retrograde, this type of finalization might fly.
In our relationships, sometimes we gloss over things that pushed buttons at the time, but which we let slide. What seemed not worth the trouble may reveal itself as a major issue in need of our attention. The Mercury retrograde is a time for review, when the underlying patterns come to light.

A major cause of stress at Mercury retrograde is frustration from mishaps, things breaking down, computers going black. But if we know it's cycle, this makes it feel less terminal. If things go pear-shaped, see what's there to see. Take a break from the usual routine.
Just observe and see what happens, and be open to the past returning for review. If it's coming back, there's likely something more to learn or release from it. This can be a good (and productive) time, in its own way."



 

 

source
source 2

Footage from the Solange concert Thursday.

I love this woman.

If she comes to your city.. don't hesitate!

She puts on a great live show.

 

 



I'm a little late posting this, (exactly one week to be exact), but I decided that this year I really wanted to push myself in what I would sacrifice for lent. I'd given up sweets. I'd given up red meat. Both of which had found their way right back into my diet within a matter of days beyond the fast. This year I wanted to give up something that might bring everlasting change. Immediately I thought of taking a break from heat straightening my hair. It was something I've wanted to try for a while; not only to maintain the health of my hair and hopefully gain some length in the process, but also to learn to embrace my hair in its natural state. 

You see, I've never been one to feel 'glamorous' when wearing my natural.. as silly as that may sound. It was more so something I'd turn to for convenience, or when in between appointments. No matter how many compliments I'd receive, or comments of, "If I had your hair I'd wear it like that everyday," I just wasn't having it. My curl pattern was inconsistent.. there would be too much shrinkage.. and it would get tangled beyond belief.

So here I am.

I decided what better challenge to myself than to face forty(ish)-days and forty(ish)-nights of nonstop curls! I'm challenging myself to feel glamorous in them, to find the beauty in truly embracing myself in my total natural state (I'm not an avid weave wearer but my hair is usually blown out bi-weekly) and ultimately to reach and inspire anyone else that's ever felt this way. I will post pics along the way and share what products worked/ didn't along my journey.

Stay tuned.

 

Can we bring this movement to America? How cool is this?

source



I've decided I'm not a strong enthusiast of 'routine.'

I don't like settling into a series of repeated events, actions 

because the very moment that routine is broken,

everything goes awry. 

each friday I'll feature one of my favorite posts from the past three years.

enjoy.

secret regrets.