So you're going to Trini Carnival?--Monday Wear

Hey peeps!!


As you already know my plane ticket, costume, and now Tobago accommodations are all set for Trini Carnival 2012! If I were to say I was excited that would be an understatement. It's so bad that sometimes when I can't sleep at night instead of counting sheep I think of Carnival until I drift off (over share, yes I know : D). So what's next? Fete tickets? No, it's a little to early for that.  Shopping for fete attire? That's a process that I will slowly do over the next few months. Monday wear? Yes, Monday wear!!! It's a large task. Long gone are the days when on Carnival Monday you would roll out the bed (or off the couch, the floor, back seat of the car or wherever you fell asleep after jouvert) and put on the top of your costume and some shorts and walk out the door. Now Carnival Monday is a show in and of itself; from  customized decorated wire bras to spray painted t-shirts people are making their own mas. Next year I want to turn it up a few notches myself and with my crew. I have been browsing threw a few looks from last year and so far here are a few that stood out:

ALL PHOTOS FROM TRINIJUNGLEJUICE and TRINISCENE;
My favorite source for pics of all things carnival!!

Winter Hats-- A Natural Hair Enemy?

Although the last few days in New York City have been fairly summer like  and unseasonably warm  I am pretty sure this upcoming winter will be something to be reckoned with. In an effort to prepare myself I have been stocking up on all of  the necessities: boots, tights, sweaters, coats and scarves. (I take my seasonal shopping very seriously : D) But what about hats? Let's face it, as a naturalista I depend on my hat to cover my hair while deep conditioning and to assist me on bad hair days. Despite its multi-purposefulness hats can cause breakage (especially wool and cotton hats) and dry out your strands. Luckily there are a few companies out there who have found a solution. Check out these two natural hair friendly items from HATSOME,  satin lined hats and hair accessories!




Hatsome 29.99

Hatsome 39.99

I also found an ETSY site that goes by the name of Threadmill that not only makes hats but is offering to line then with satin for an extra 15.00.



Threadmill $37.00

I was ecstatic to find  a few companies that catered to the hat needs of naturalistas but I was a little shocked by the sticker price. What do you all think? Are these hats worth the price or should I just wear a satin scarf under the hats I already own?

To Trim or Not to Trim ...

For the last few days I have picked up my scissors in an attempt to trim my hair and just as quickly put them down. Don't get me wrong, I know and understand that trimming hair is important for the overall health of your hair but the question is should I do it myself or pay a professional? The honest truth is I have been trimming my hair myself for years. My method is a simple one. I put my hair in a few big twists and trim about an inch off of each end.

Simple. However lately I have been wondering if I was doing more harm than good. Especially since this scene keeps replaying in my head; a few months ago I attended a natural hair meet up/event and a natural hair stylist asked, "when your hair was relaxed would you trim it yourself?", I stated the obvious and replied, no. She then asked me what was the difference now? STUMPED! I didn't have the answer at the time other than I didn't want to pay fifty dollars for something I thought I could do myself.

Naturalistas, I need your help!! I want to go into 2012 with a healthy head of hair! Should I do it myself or go to a "natural hair salon" like this one?

Today Was My Lucky Day!!!

It has been a crazy day!! My job is in FULL swing, which means little time for my self during the work day and being too tired to do much outside of work at night. Despite this time crunch an unusual chain of events lead me to Curly Nikki's Blog today (this used to be an everyday ritual but time just doesn't allow) and I saw this:

Needless to say I snatched this up and rsvp'ed within moments of seeing this flyer (I didn't even check the date).  As I racked my mind to decide who else to tell about this event it CLOSED! Yes, filled to capacity. Although I am disappointed I was not able to invite anyone, I am super excited to meet Curly Nikki!!! Be on the lookout for the review...

Simple Protective Styling

This fall/winter protective styling will be my main focus for keeping my hair healthy in order to achieve my hair goals. As a result I have been searching Youtube for videos that show simple protective styles for natural hair. SIMPLE,! I can't stress how important that is for me. Last year I had much more time to dedicate to styling than I do now. So this year if it is not quick, it's not for me. : D

Check out this style from African Export:

Tiny Hair Update...

This isn't big news but I thought it was worth sharing; the Senegalese Twists are gone!!   

They were nice while they lasted but I honestly missed my hair (I kept them in for a month). Sadly they caused some havoc to my hairline and I doubt I will be revisiting that style for a while. I actually feel a hair challenge coming on, its time to protect those ends and preserve my hair!!! Is anyone else starting a hair challenge for the colder months?

Crop Over 2011 Review: Limerz Cruise

Hands down the best fete/party I attended the whole two weeks I was in Barbados and Grenada (I wore the wristband all the way through Labor Day weekend). The pictures I have don't even fully capture the time that I had. Before I get into that  I have to shout out Chris the promoter. He answered all my email questions promptly, allowed me to Western Union my ticket money to him, and personally hand delivered my tickets to me (I couldn't even explain to him where my guesthouse was but he found it). Chris also made sure we had a ride to the afterparty and made small talk on the road Kadooment Day (talk about good customer service). Chris you are the best! Keep up the great work!
THE EVENT:


 I must say the day of the cruise didn't start out so well for me. I woke up early, was running through the streets of Bridgetown looking for tights that match my skintone (more on that later), and was having a hard time picking up my Cohoblopot tickets at Cave Shepherd. When I finally arrived to the pier where Limerz Cruise was leaving from I found myself surrounded by more people than I was prepared to deal with and the only breakfast they had left was ham cutters (think ham sandwich). I was hungry (I am another person when I am hungry and she's not so nice) and I don't eat ham so I chocked down the bread and waited to board my boat. As they started to organize boarding among the 5 catamarans the rain started to fall. By the time I got on my boat it was POURING. Water was coming in the boat, people were getting soaked, and I was ready to go home.
<><><><> <><><><> <><><><>

Those gray skies soon gave way  to RAIN!

 Then I was  handed  this and everything changed:
<><><><> <><><><> <><><><>

The cup that changed everyting...

Every time try to explain to people what made Limerz Cruise the best (this usually stems from questions in regards to the tattered wristband on my right hand) I am at a loss for words. How you can explain just the perfect mixture of positive vibes: an intimate crowd (about 50 people per boat), great dj that was spinning everything not just "Jones and Wuk Up", two bartenders  that kept your cups full, views of Barbados from a catamaran, the freedom to do WHATEVEVER you wanted (the best vibes were on the top of the boat), competition between the other boats (the BLACK boat was the BEST hands  down.  Until this day, more than a month later, I can not pin point what exactly made Limerz Cruise the best but it is a definite must do if you find yourself in Barbados for Cropover.
<><><><> <><><><> <><><><>

What more can you ask for...

<><><><> <><><><> <><><><>

The DJ and MC

<><><><> <><><><> <><><><>

My cups ALWAYS looked just like this!!! Full!

<><><><> <><><><> <><><><>

Just enough people for a good time....

<><><><> <><><><> <><><><>

Lawlessness

<><><><> <><><><> <><><><>

I forgot to mention all the water sports...jetskis

<><><><> <><><><> <><><><>

Not sure what to call this....

One of the other boats...

Limerz Cruise vs. Booze Cruise

Wish I could rewind to this moment

The view from the top...

"More Belly Than Bam Bam"

The costume is picked out,  the down payment paid, and my crew is all set. I know eventually I will find the perfect boots, Carnival Monday wear, and accessories but there is one thing I can not buy online. My carnival body. What's wrong with your body, you say?  I looked at some pictures from Cropover this summer and I am not impressed ( I won't say what I think I resemble ). So either, this year in preparation for Trini carnival, I work on the belly OR learn how to keep it sucked in for carnival Monday and Tuesday. -_-

I'm thinking about doing some socacize classes to start my preparation for carnival. Look at the video and tell me what you think:

Hmmm...If this works out maybe I can become an instructor.

Yuma...Yuma...Yuma

Hi Folks,


I know it has been about a week and I am still not posting on a regular basis but trust me I am working on it!! I did want to share with you all some good news. ..I am officially a Yuma(n). Confused? Yuma is a band that is producing mas for Trinidad's carnival and despite how difficult it was for others I GOT IN!! Thanks to my boys Mannie and Kevin!


So if you are playing mas in YUMA next year, look for me in this:

Source

Back Again...This Time For Real!

Hey Folks,

I know I have been gone for awhile AGAIN but this time I promise my return will be long lasting. I realize that my 31 day Life Reset Challenge has somehow slipped into month three, my pictures from my carnival hopping vacations in Barbados and Grenada are just sitting on my computer, and my hair...well words can't even explain whats going on (or not going on) with that. I will admit for the past few weeks I have been focused on one thing, FUN,  but now it is time to buckle down (it's September and work is back in FULL swing). TOMORROW my blog will resume some normalcy but for now the song/video that recaps my summer (I saw this video for the first time when I was in Cali and fell in love! Watching RiRi in her Cropover costume made me wish I could press rewind on my whole summer and relive it one more time.) :

Until tomorrow...ciao.

~Nelly