Roag, Storm, Wonder Woman!!!

It's time for a new look, and this year is the perfect time to do so. For the longest I had this idea to put a white highlight in the front of my head. Finally on April 2nd, 2011 I did it! Of course I was nervous about my natural hair falling out, but I put my head in my stylist hands. I avoided going to her for a while because I didn't want heat added to my hair. It would've been almost a year in August, but I couldn't fight the funk and I wanted my color in now! So here are some pics below on my journey:

I know I'm rough, but I was waiting for the color to set.

This is how it looked after the first wash.

*Ignore the face* Styled, colored, and still healthy hair. NO PERM, just straightened.

Different day: I tried wrapping up my hair and I made this stylish turban. It wasn't that hard at all and it's a cute way to protect your hair. I also used pins to hold the extra pieces in place. SN:I arched my own brows!

Nail Design

Hey ya'll! Well if you don't know by now, I'm a woman with many talents. But, the one I haven't done in a while is my nails. I still paint my nails like every week, but I haven't done anything funky with them. When  I went to the nail salon in WI, I hated the job they did. I asked for oval long and they gave me round and fat. So when I had the time to reshape them, color, etc... I did it. I'm kinda rusty, but hey I'm no professional. Check it out.

Hair Day!

Wash Day! Hey ya’ll once again its wash day, and this time I styled my hair! Don’t think that my hair has been dirty since the last post, no; I just haven’t been styling my hair. But this style took me the usual 4+ hours. I used Tea Tree products to wash my hair. After my wash, I used my new latest moisturizer, Organic Root Stimulator: Olive Girls (it smells wonderful), Palmer's: Olive Oil Formula w/ Vitamin E, and Aloe to condition my hair.I  know didn't what to do, I was stumped on how to style, but I needed to figure something out. 

After an hour of trial and error, I had a little direction and I came up with this. I styled my hair so that I can change it up during the week with some loose two-strand twist. I flat twisted my hair all around with various sizes so it can give it a fuller look to my hair. I hope this helps with your creativity on styling your hair! 

Rushed, Women Rushed into Womanhood

Hey ya'll My bad I've been really busy lately and my internet (or my netbook) has been acting really funny which has been requiring me to go else where to blog. Since my last post, you can tell I haven't been doing much travelling for the internet. But, I have some awesome news that will benefit everyone.

I run a women's support group called Rushed, Women Rushed into Womanhood. This year will be our 1 year anniversary and I'm also finally turning 21! (I've been 22 for like 3 years now, so its not that big of a deal. But, I can do a lot of things legally legit. hahaha shh.) Anyway, we are holding a gala at the Little Black Pearl on April 23rd for 8pm-12am. Some of my artwork and works of others will be displayed in appreciation of our oganization. I'm soooooo excited because we are have a contest where one of our members get to be chosen to have their own photo shoot and some of the shots will be displayed in the gala!

This is a very busy, but exciting time for me. We have over a hundred supporters on Facebook and a nice size group that come to our general body meetings. Join us in celebration and join our group http://www.facebook.com/Rushed#!/group.php?gid=105372386159762

Hair Day

 Hey I know it's been a while since I lasted posted a hair pic. I've been maintaining a co-wash (conditioner only wash) and using the same products as I listed in the past. But, my last wash, I used my chocolate bar soap in my hair which is good for multiple purposes. (Also I was really lazy and decided to just use the what was handy lol.) The pictures shown below are a result of a two day old hairstyle that I did. It took me about 4 hours to do. I started it at 10pm and finished at 2am.

You can barely tell by the photos that in the back it's mini flat twist going up or down to form a bigger flat twist. In the middle, I just did a big flat twist to complete the back. On the sides, I flat twisted it up in an angle and left the center without twist. On the first day I wore my hair, I did the loose part in two-strand twist and untwisted them in the morning to make it look like I curled my hair. That technique is good for on the go basis when you wake up and want to add a little spice to your hair.

My hair is naturally curly, so all I have to do to maintain a deep curl is add a little water to it and twist my hair for the next day. You can also add products like hair pudding, pomade, etc to give it an extra hold. But, this hairstyle with variations done to the loose part will be kept in for about a week.

**TIP** To have less knots in your hair, wrap it up or sleep with a satin pillow case! 

(Photos taken by Nenna Rae)

Artist of the Week: Amp Fiddler & Quadron

Since I didn't provide Artist of the Week for last week, I have 2 this week! Thank God for the creators of Pandora, Youtube, etc because that is how I typically find my good music. While I was listening to some songs on Youtube, I heard "If I Don't" by Amp Fiddler ft. Corrine Bailey Rae. Instantly my ears were tuned into excitement!! Then right after me hearing that song, "Average Fruit" by Quadron gave me an eargasm so bad that I had to put it on repeat a few times.

So here is the rundown about Quadron:

• Danish Duo -Coco Maja Hastrup Karshøj and Robin Hannibal
• Making music together since 2009
• Debut album self-titled
• Genre- Electric Soul

Rundown for Amp Fiddler:

• Detroit's raised
• Was apart of: Enchantment, George Clinton’s Parliament and Funkadelic groups from 1985 until 1996
• Debut album  Waltz of a Ghetto Fly was released in March 2004
• Genre- Soul, Funk, R&B

Enjoy :)

Success....Can you handle it?

From past experiences, I've always wondered why? Why is there something that seems to hold me back from achieving great things in life? For a long time that question was pondering in my mind. I know I have what it takes to succeed, so what is it that is making me scared? I figured out the answer to that question and the verdict was....MYSELF!

Every since I was younger, I was always the "smart girl" or the "good girl" and the labels could go on. I took pride in myself that I was smart and was surrounded by like minded people. But, once I started entering my teens, I started to become timid. I danced in front of many crowds when I was younger, even sung solos. (If you know anything about my singing, you would say "Tia, really?" lol)  But, that just shows you how daring I was. I guess hormones kicked in and high school played a big role in my life because I started to get beyond nervous when it came to performing. I know being nervous is good, but it was to the point where I started to lose confidence on stage and be totally distracted and make a fool of myself.

By the time I went to college, my personality burst and there was no holding back. But, at times I would still get nervous. It came to the point where I had to really do some deep thinking and figure out where this came from. My nervousness came from peoples ridicule and hating tactics that got me off my square. Because of this, I was shy to show off the skills that I possess. I know that I'm a great dancer and I'm not afraid to perform in front of a crowd.

Since this discovery, I chose to not be afraid of success! It takes baby steps because I've been bound with that "afraid of success, shy, nervousness" for years now. Now I refuse to let that take over me, and honestly it tries to creep back in my life. When I start to get that feeling, I just do it.

So can you take on your life without being held back from yourself? Do it because  you only have one life! I know that I will be successful in all the endeavors I've started and will finish them successfully with Gods help. Take control of your mind and don't let fearful thoughts take over you!

Artist of the Week

Hey ya'll! Thanks for tuning in with me, and like I promised I have your artist! This weeks choice goes to Anjulie! While I was listening to Pandora, I heard this song "Love Songs" and thought it was really cute. When I looked her up, I noticed a few songs she's made that they have been played in movies. She is gorgeous, and I believe she is Indian. (I love India. I want to live there for a few months someday.) Her sound can be paired with MIA. Her voice is unique But, Check her out on Youtube.

Brrrrr, it's cold out here!

If you didn't go through that treacherous snow storm, well I want to share this with you. I'm so glad that this is my LAST WINTER in Chicago. I love the summer, but this snow storm was the icing on the cake. The only good thing about this storm was that I had 2 paid off days.

Cars were buried in the snow. While it was snowing, there was LIGHTENING!! No one wanted to go outside. I was feeling hopeless. My apartment was freezing cold. I wanted to cook, but no gas. I was going through somethings during this storm. When it was finally over, I wanted to enjoy this paid off day.  I decided to go outside and met my neighbors outside for some fun.

Mind you, my roommate and I are both undergrads. My neighbors are all graduates of Columbia College, and we grown wanting to play in snow. We had a blast!! Even though the snow came up to our knees, we raced, tumbled, ate snow (well that was only me) and so much more.  I haven't had that much fun in a long time. It was a good break from my full load of work and school with no play.

Oh yea, I almost forgot...on our journey to Walgreen's to get snacks, we walked in and everyone was looking at the 5 of us like, "Ya'll grown, what you doing covered with snow?" Lol hilarious! 

Heading to Walgreen's

Renee stuck in the snow

My snow angel

Artist of the Week

Hey ya'll! I'm starting this new thing called Artist of the Week. The title is self explanatory, but basically I will post an artist I find or was recommended and post one artist or group of the week. So here is the first one:

Well today I went to Wow Boa and while I was chilling and eating with a coworker, there was this song that came on. Our ears were really tuned in into the rhythms of this song. I quickly started to find a Ramble (poem) that I wrote and tried to see what will go best with the beat. Once I tried a few snippets and realized none didn't fit the flow, I started freestyling. I'm not the best cypherist in the world, yet I'm still learning. But, I managed to come up with a few lines that were clever and went with it. So I bet your wondering what song got me inspired right? This artist goes by the name of J-Live.

I love music in general, but underground hip hop and 90's R&B are my favorites to listen too. Music is my life and without it, I couldn't function. I dance to anything that has a beat...seriously! But, I just wanted to share my music discovery, tell me what's yours?

If you want to check out the original track of J-Live go to Rhapsody (or click on the link) and type in the information. The song is called "Listening" featuring Kola Rock. But, as I listened to a few other tracks by J-Live, I notice his old school mixes into his tracks which make his music a plus. Welcome  J-Live as artist of the the week!

My Favs from Spring 2011

Hey y'all! I love looking fab on budget, but I also love to follow the latest trends for the seasons. I've been following a few of my favorite designers for the past few years now. I can say for this spring season, I was a little disappointed in BCBG, Chanel, and few other designers. But, I did find some great looks that I want to share that I may try out for this year. Trust, if I had the funds to buy it straight off the runway....I WOULD! But, for now I have to find similarities in other stores for a reasonable price. I get some of my looks from thrifting, boutiques, chains (Forever 21, H&M, etc), and more. So take a look at a few of my likes from this season and hopefully it inspires you to find your look for this spring. Enjoy!

Jean Paul Gaultier- Can I say edgy? Yup indeed.

Jean Paul Gaultier- Simple is sometimes better.

Christian Dior

Christian Dior- This dress...I'm at a lost for words for the fabness it carries.

Christian Dior- I love this dress. Just look at how sexy the back of it is. Mmmm yes!

Christian Dior

Christian Dior- This dress is glitter and I want this to be mine.

Giorgio Armani- I see me up and down in this outfit.

Giorgio Armani- Minus the pants...this dress alone is fire!!! I could def. rock this in the spring.

Moschino- I want these yellow pants. #thatisall :)

Moschino- This look is seriously screams EVERYDAY wear. I love this because it's so simple, but chic.

Louis Vuitton- I love the cut of this dress. The colors add versatility to the dress which can be worn to dinner, party, etc.

Moving...Everyone can do it

Hey everyone, I've been so busy since I last made a post. Within a week and some days time span, I've managed to look for apartments and move in. I went through a course of a total of 12hrs registering for school and working a full time schedule. With that being said....I've Been VERY busy! But, it was all worth it with Gods help.

I was accepted for the place on Friday, Jan.14th, 2011, and moved in the the next day. Saturday I didn't have anything packed, but my roommate and I were blessed to have a total of about 11 people helping us move. Everyone came and went right to work and we were able to get everything moved into the new place in 4 hours! It seemed longer because we started when it was still daylight and when we were finished it was dark outside. But, I want to give you a few tips on how to pack if you have to pack and move the day of.

Tip 1: Reserve a truck a day in advance or early morning moving day. (It's best to do it online and confirm your reservation over the phone before pickup.)


Tip 2: Call all your friends, family, neighbors, ex's, trainers etc to help you move. If you have a lot of furniture like I do, your going to need all the help you can get.

Tip 3: If you have a lot of rooms (I had a total of 9 rooms) divide your team of helpers and assign them to a certain room. Make sure to tell them how to pack your belongings and they will go from their.

Tip 4: Move the big furniture out first into the truck then gradually work towards the minor bags last.

Tip 5: Gather your important documents into one bag/box and put that in the truck last. Because when you move, you don't want to look through every box to find one sheet of paper.

Tip 6: Have someone in the truck help organize your belongings by room if possible. This helps when you move your items into the new place you can move it into the right room and it avoids moving heavy boxes if help isn't around.

Tip 7: Once everything is moved into the truck, make sure everyone has a ride to get to the new place. Figure out seating arrangements so you don't have to make double trips to pick up someone.

Tip 8: It's time to unload. Form an assembly line because it makes the job faster. Give the women the "lady boxes" and the men the heavier items to carry. The key is to keep a system that is organized and persistent to make the transition from the truck to the apartment safe and quick.

Tip 9: Once everything is moved in, FEED your help! If they didn't ask for any compensation, please remember to order a well deserving meal in appreciation for their help.

I hope these tips helped you and that you will use these for your next unexpected move. Have a great day.

Hair Day Yay!

Hey loves, you know what time it is.....it's HAIR DAY! I've been cowashing my hair for the past few weeks. (Cowashing is washing your hair with conditioner and not shampoo.) This time around I braided my hair and left my hair loose in the back. This braiding technique took me hours since I did it myself, but it was well worth it.

I tried some Plum Lipstick...throwback 1990. What you think?

What inspires you?

Hey, I just want to share some thoughts of mine and ask you this: What inspires you? From my own story, I'm inspired by beauty, music and personal experiences. I write my Rambles (poetry) from a personal experience or I place myself in certain situations and think about how I would feel. When I paint, I get inspired from beauty. It's the things that randomly make me smile that give me a thought or an idea for a painting.  Also the people that I surround myself inspire me everyday. The life experiences give me drive to live for another day to do what I'm purposed to do in life. I just want to encourage you to never give up on your passions no matter what the circumstances are. Let those experiences good or bad be your drive to pull out the best work in you!

Brrrrr......It's Cold out here!

Living in a Chicago during the winter makes me enjoy the countdown to when I move to LA! Right now Chicago is cold, but February is around the corner and that is the COLDEST month of them all. They say Chicagoans should be use to the weather since we've lived here for so many years, but I know my bones will never get used to -20*  weather! As a Petite woman, I know it's sometimes hard to find cute winter gear for everyday purposes. So I found some looks that can help you to be fly on a budget and keep you warm!


MEN: The key to surviving this winter is to layer, layer, LAYER! You can layer in style or you can be relaxed. Whatever your steez, please make sure to layer. Also pair up your style with a nice warm coat. It doesn't have to be fancy, but something you can wear in most occasions. (That way you don't have to buy a plethora  of coats for each occasion. The key is to save money.) Also, you can pair your look with a nice pair of dark denim. Dark denim fits the season and if worn right, it will definitely catch the eye of femme. Lastly, top of your look with a nice hat and a pair of boots. Depending on your style, you don't want your boots and hat to completely throw off the style of the coat, but rather look for something that compliments it.

  

 

EVERYONE NEEDS A SCARF!

WOMEN: I know we all like to look good no matter your shape or size.  The number one rule for us is to LAYER as well. Layering is so important in Chicago because the wind chill is no joke. (They don't call us the "Windy City" for laughs and giggles. It's brutal out here.) But, when you layer remember to have a comfort, warmth, and protection layer. (This is key for tops and bottoms. If you like to wear leggings all the time, just put on an extra 2 pairs for harsh weather days.) 

Make sure you purchase a coat that fits close to your frame. The key is so show your curves and to not look like a square box in your winter coat. Pair your layered look with some accessories. If your not about accessorizing just put on a pair of earrings that will look nice with your cute hat. Showing your studs, dangles, or hoops helps bring a glow to your face when walking down the street. Pair your coat and hat with some chic warm boots. I know they say "Beauty is pain." but in Chicago we say, "Beauty is pain, but we gotta stay warm in CHICAGO!" (Well at least that's what I say.) I don't care how cute the boot is, if your toes are going to be frost bite within a few hours it's not worth it! (But, if you really can't resist, just wear a thicker sock if possible.) Lastly, top of your winter look with a cute handbag. This will make your whole outfit look glitter!