My First Sisterlocks(tm) Installation

Hello everyone! I pray that everyone reading this is well. I haven't had anything exciting happen since my last post. OH...I did finally complete my retightening. By the time I got done with the back (I started in the front), it was about time to do the front again (sigh.) So I see that I just need to do my hair on an ongoing basis, that way it won't be so daunting to do it all at once. OH HOW I wish I could find someone to do my hair!

Anyway, I wanted to share my first Sisterlocks(tm) installation that I completed on New Year's Eve. Ms. B is a family friend, and it took me about 30 hours total due to a number of interruptions! At first I brought her to my house, but because she smokes, she kept getting up to go to the garage to take a few puffs of her cigarette (because there is no smoking allowed in the house.) When I finally finished the section I was working on while she was at my house, I made up my mind that I would just take my chair to her house for the next session, otherwise, at that rate, we would have never gotten finished. Then we get to her house and she still had to cook and run to the store and take care of her family, so the various interruptions sort of broke my momentum, but we did finally get done. The results are beautiful and she absolutely loves her hair. She has the kind of hair Sisterlocks(tm) trainees and consultants dream of. It's got all of the characteristics of perfect locking hair. When I did her first wash and retightening, (I will also post pictures of her first retightening) she had absolutely NO slippage whatsoever! I wish my hair had been so well behaved! Anyway, without further adieu, I present to you, Ms. B! Please leave comments and feedback about my work. Be honest and thanks for your time!

My God...The Dead has Arisen/ Happy New Year!

HELLO!!!!!!!! Look what the cat drug in! Happy New Year to those of you that still visit my blog! I pray that those that are reading this are blessed, in good spirits and in good health! WOW...have I got a TON of updates since last posted. Let's see here...

• My locks are now 1 year and 7 months old and boy have they changed! They are very much locked on the ends but I also have bunching so it is a little irritating. I love them, but they are also at that awkward length that is driving me crazy. This is not a good picture of me, but it was taken just yesterday and it shows my hair pretty well.
  
  
• My husband and I went to New York shortly after my last posting. It was my first time visiting and it was a beautiful experience! We traveled via subway and did it the way we were supposed to so I got the full experience of it all. Though I did love visiting, I would NEVER EVER want to live there! Talk about congestion and commuting! (Please find the pictures below.)

• About a month after my installation, I made another major life decision. As I was standing over a skillet cooking some ground turkey for spaghetti...it was the strangest thing...I was just looking at the ground bird particles and was suddenly repulsed. I said outloud "I don't want this mess!" I did make the spaghetti and ate it, but I had already decided that I would become a vegetarian. I have not eaten any meat since that date! I was already beef and pork-free for 12 years. I am what they call a "pescetarian," which means I only eat fish/seafood. I can't let that go yet and I don't see that day ever coming! I thought that my new lifestyle would help my acne. As you can see, IT HAS NOT. (Siiiigh)
  
  
• God has blessed my husband and I with a HOUSE OF OUR VERY OWN! We have lived in our new home since December 1, 2007.

• As you all know, the wonderful and talented Paulette at Locks4Life installed my locks and at first I was riding back and forth to Detroit for my retightenings. I did that about three times until I could find someone here in Cleveland...well, I did. She did my hair three times and all was well because I was pleased with her work. Then one day she sent me an email telling me that she could not do my hair anymore. OH I WAS DEVASTATED. I IMMEDIATELY looked for a retightening class at Locks4Life and got enrolled. I had to BORROW half of the money for the class since it was coming up so soon. I have been doing my own hair since March of 2008.
  
  
• After I got my locks installed, two of my good friends wanted their hair done, too. They immediately went to Locks4Life got their locks done. They were also riding back and forth to Detroit for their retightenings until I shared my good experience and they started going to the same lady that I was. Well, when she turned me down and I took the retightening class...my two friends wanted me to retighten their hair. They both have the same pattern as me so it wasn't a problem. I started doing that and the Sisterlocks bug bit me real good. I found that I enjoyed doing their hair and decided to attend the Sisterlocks class..so guess what? I AM OFFICIALLY A SISTERLOCKS TRAINEE as of August of 2008! I am ELATED!
  
  
• I got a good digital camera for Christmas, so now I have no excuse not to have plenty of pictures to share.

Trip to New York June 21, 2007

From the Archives: Brian McKnight Flyaway February, 2005

I mentioned in my last post, "tagged" item #6 , that I would post pictures of the trip I won to see Brian McKnight in Chicago. Well, here they are. As you can see, this was before I had even heard of/discovered Sisterlocks. I was wearing my favorite style - the twist-out. Hambone and I (oh yeah, and if I haven't told you guys already, her nickname for me is "Chickenbone") had such a wonderful time staying in such a nice hotel with the MOST comfortable beds ever, cruising Michigan Avenue and buying things. My money was rather funny since the trip was so last minute, but I was able to buy a few things thanks to financial assistance from hubby. Needless to say, it was an experience I shall never forget!

Since I LOVE to eat, I thought it appropriate to have my first picture in Chicago taken in front of the Cheesecake Factory! I wish I could brag and say how great the food was here but I can NOT! This was the absolute WORST food we had ever had in ANY restaurant (yes, both my AND Hambone's dish was a disaster and we got two different things. I even let her taste my dish and I tasted hers and they were equally bad!) It was so bad that it was inedible. We asked for our money back! We were shocked at the quality of their food being that this was the first and original Cheesecake Factory. Cleveland's is much, much better! They had to have just been having a bad day otherwise they would have been shut down!

This is Hambone standing in front of Tiffany and Co. happily clutching a freshly purchased heart pendant bracelet!

Here I am patiently waiting for Brian's performance. My hair looks nice and shiny in this picture. Then again, it was loaded with Paul Mitchell "Wax Works" so, I am sure that helped.

This picture isn't great in terms of clarity and color, but it gives you an idea of how close we were to the action. It was very, very nice. He looks much better in person that he does in pictures.

Hambone and the man of the hour.

And here I am...rubbing elbows (ha!) with Mr. McKight himself. I do NOT like how me OR my hair look in this picture but who's looking at me anyway?

First Wash and Lock Count / I've Been Tagged!

Well, I washed my hair for the first time on yesterday. I carefully braided and banded my hair on Friday night with every intention to do it thereafter. NOT! I fell asleep all crumpled up on the couch as if I had been drugged! So, I woke up on Saturday morning to finish the job. Although I fell asleep, I did get the chance to count my locks! I actually discovered a better way to do it compared to the way I did it with my first set. With my first set, I made bundles of 9 locks each and then counted the bundles. This time, I didn't try to bother with making sure I had exactly 20 locks or whatever amount in a bundle, I just grabbed some locks, counted them, braided them together, then wrote down the amount I had counted. I did this until I was finished and then added up the numbers with a calculator. The grand total is 480 +/-! I am so pleased! That is a whole 210 more than my first set! I knew that I wouldn't have 600 or any huge number like that, but almost 500!? Oh boy...I hardly know how to act! Woo hoooo!

These pictures were taken yesterday (6/9/07.) The ones in the car, I took while hubby and I were on our way from seeing Spiderman 3. Boy, was it good! I was all into it! That movie is one that I would keep in my movie collection (when I get one) and I am really picky when it comes to movies that I would consider having on hand.

This was taken Friday at work as we celebrated the Cavs' first finals game. Since I don't have any Cavs gear, I had to scrape up some wine and gold. I thought my hair looked pretty cute in this pic. I wonder what I'll wear on Tuesday for our first finals home game? Well, if I can't find anything, I am doing my nails in wine and gold as soon as I finish this post so that should suffice. I will take a picture of them, too.

I'VE BEEN TAGGED!!

I'm so honored! Now that I've celebrated...what shall I write about? Hmmm...

Here are the rules: Each player starts with 7 random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to then report this on their own blog with their 7 things as well as these rules. They then need to tag 7 others and list their names on their blog. They are also asked to leave a comment for each of the tagged, letting them know they have been tagged and to read the blog.

I don't know how interesting these facts will be, but here it goes!

1. I am an only child and so is my mother. When I was growing up, kids use to be so envious of the fact that I was an only child and would assume that I was so spoiled. That has never been the case. Being an only child is not so great. I still wish for a sister or a brother.

2. My husband and I met on the internet! Not on a match-maker type service or anything like that. I was in chat room (somewhat of a computer newbie and still fascinated by the chatroom...now I can't stomach them) reading all of the garbage they were talking, not in on the conversation...just reading and I received a private message. It was not unusual for me to receive a private message whenever I was in the chat room so I responded to him nonchalantly and didn't think much more about it. A few days later, I received an email from this same person talking about how he wanted to meet me and how nice I was and all this and that. I thought he was stone crazy so of COURSE I declined. We exchanged emails a total of about 3 times in a span of a year and 1/2...just brief emails like "How are you?" "Have a great holiday..." type stuff - nothing deep. Well, one evening I was online again and receive an instant message from this mystery man. He expressed that he wanted to meet me and asked for my phone number. I told him NO...he was not getting my phone number, but that I would give him my pager number and he could page me whenever he got to his friend's house (he did not have a phone at the time) with their number that way. When I first heard his voice, it was deep, pleasant and HEAVILY ACCENTED. OH MY. So much so that I had to really listen in order to understand him. He told me he was from Uganda. Our conversation was brief and he promised to call me again. We talked and had numerous, but brief conversations over the course of about 2 weeks. He wanted to meet me and frankly, I wanted to meet him, too. He asked me if I wanted to attend a baseball game with him because he had tickets. I told him "NO...if we meet, we are going to meet where I want us to meet." I told him to meet me at a local mall. Well, to shorten this already too long story, (if you guys are even still reading at this point) he had told me what he'd be wearing so, I walked up and saw this tall, (well, taller than me...I'm 5'5", he's 5'10") handsome, bald (voluntarily,) chocolate man looking at shoes. I smiled and introduced myself. He smiled in return and revealed the nicest smile with a deep dimple in each cheek! He fit the description of the man I had been asking God for every night before I slept. From that day on August 9, 2000, we have been together and got married on March 9, 2001, exactly 7 months from the day we met. We have been married 6 years! It seems to get better with each year as we learn each other more and more each day. But I am so grateful to God for blessing me with a good hubby.

3. I love to sing. I have been in a choir for as long as I can remember except for lately, as I do not have a church home. In my high school choir, I had 2 different solos, "How Excellent" and "No Greater Love." I also sang some opera which I thoroughly enjoyed. I sang "Porgy and Bess" (duet) "Summertime," and "Ave Maria." Oh, how I miss those days. :-)

4. I am a former track star. LOL. I ran track in 7th and 8th grade. My events were 100 meter hurdles, 400 meter dash, and I was the anchor on the 1600 meter relay. I even got MVP for which I still have my trophies! I tried to run in high school but I couldn't deal with that gloomy indoor track. DEPRESSING!!!!

5. I have never, ever had my nails done professionally. I have always done them myself. I always have people approach me and ask "Who does your nails? " and I always proudly say "Me!" I guess if I had acrylics to do, it would be more of a challenge, but thankfully my natural nails grow well as long as I keep them protected with polish.

6. In 2005, I won an all expenses paid "Bryan McKnight Flyaway" trip to Chicago on the radio! I couldn't believe it because I wasn't even trying to win! I called in to win some Cavs tickets and got qualified for the grand prize drawing. They called me on Monday to tell me that I had won. The trip was that Friday coming up! (can you tell it was a black radio station? Giving away prizes on CP time!) The trip included a round trip flight for two, limousine service from the airport to the hotel and back, a hotel room at the W, and seeing Bryan McKnight perform. I had less than a week to prepare and request the time off! I hadn't even been on my job a year, but my boss was gracious and kind enough to allow me the time off! Well, the first thing I did was called hubby to let him know where we would be going. He couldn't go because he was finishing up police academy and could not miss ANY days. So he ws out. I called Hambone to tell her and she hit the roof! OH she was so happy! So was I! Hubby would have gotten on my last nerve anyway because he wouldn't have wanted to cruise Michigan Avenue and linger in different shops like girls do. Needless to say, we had a ball! And to top it off, we didn't even have to leave the hotel for the performance because he was performing only a few floors up IN the hotel! It was such an intimate affair with maybe 60 people in attendance. It was just so nice as waiters and waitresses walked around serving us hors'deourves (sp?) and drinks. We then were invited to another room to mingle and talk with Mr. McKnight himself. Well in actuality, that was only a opportunity to stand in line, get a signed photo of him and snap a picture with Mr. McKnight. It was great! When I remember, I will add the picture to my blog so you see that I'm not telling a tall tale! ;-)

7. I am embarrassed to say this, but I had a Jheri Curl until I was in 10th grade in high school! (1992.) I guess because of my skin color and because I didn't wear it dripping with moisturizer, people used to think that my hair was naturally curly. I finally grew it out it by getting braids.

Stop laughing.

My New, Beautiful Babies!!

Well, after my mom finished with my hair I had to go home and wash it AGAIN to remove the grease that was used in order to get it straight. OH MY GOD. I must have washed my hair 15 times. That damn grease would NOT come out! I even used apple cider vinegar! After all that, I still needed to blow dry it and braid it, find some clothes for my son and I and pack. By time I did all that it was 4:00am! I closed my eyes for 30 minutes and got up to get ready for our 3 hour trip. I bought myself some Red Bull and we were on our merry way. Amazingly, I did not feel sleepy while driving, Thank GOD!

We arrived to Paulette's shop at 9:00am! A 1/2 hour after my scheduled appointment due to an exit being closed which took me 7 miles out of my way. It was great to see her in person! Her locks are absolutely beautiful and fitting for her. They are so micro and tiny. Stunning! I introduced Hambone and My Little Artist, and shortly after that, she went to work. Well, we only breaked for the restroom and for lunch and 16.5 hours later, my hair was completely locked and beautiful! Actually, it would have taken more like 19 hours if Paulette hadn't solicited some help from one of the ladies that works in her shop and they worked on my hair simutaneously. She also has beautiful locks done by Paulette. Oh the relief when she told me that she was finished!!!!!! They look great! I don't miss my length AT ALL!!!! I should have had it cut into a nice shape long ago! And that awful, dull, dry-looking color is GONE! So, without further ado, I present my new locks...check them out!




I am amazed at how un-scalpy it looks!
Looks nice and full already!


The wonderful and talented Paulette and I.

Preparation

This picture was taken Friday night. You'll have to excuse me because I am looking particularly greasy in these pics. My skin is very oily AND it was hot!

Anyway, I arrived to my mother's kitchen at about 8:30pm. MUCH LATER than I intended because I wanted to get enough sleep so that I could feel rested for my 3 hour drive to Michigan but Hambone had gotten into a time crunch herself when she left work later than she intended. Luckily, I had gotten off early because of a team-building event (bowling) my department went to. So she had a hair appointment at 4:30pm and needed to get her car serviced and ready for our trip to Detroit (oil change, tires checked, wheel alignment.) She was stressed because it was 4:00pm and still hadn't been able to have her car serviced. Well, I dropped her off at the salon and took the car to be serviced. So we got that taken care of and that took a big load from her plate. Okay so by the time that was done, she took me home and I jumped in my car to go to mom's.

I got there and immediately washed and blow dried my hair. My mother then began straightening my hair in order to prep it for the cut. I need to add, my mother is NOT a hair stylist, nor has she ever been or had any type of training. After she got my stubborn hair straight enough to comb through, she began to cut. I was so pleased with the shape! Mom did such a great job! I had more hair left than I thought! I thought it would be much shorter than this! Check it out.

After the blow dry------------ After the cut


After she hot curled it for fun. Mom wouldn't
let me leave without putting a few curls in it to
see how it would look. My son said I looked
like the girl in Austin Powers (Beyonce)...lol.

EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!!

It was quite unfortunate that I was in Detroit having my new locks installed and completely unable to watch the game!! All I have to say is I am so proud of our Cavaliers. Being in Detroit took away from some of my elation as I watched and listen to Detroit residents sulk through the streets and on the radio. Dare we look happy as we drove around with Ohio plates in enemy territory! But now that I'm home, it's a different story!!!! WOOOO HOOO! Go Cavs!!!!!!!!!!

Confession - CAVS UP 3-2!!!!

My name is Mali and I have a crush on Lebron James. He's my hero. He's Cleveland's hero. He has given me a reason to watch basketball and has made it worth watching. He's an angel sent from Heaven to save our dingy town from mediocrity. He's sexy. He's humble, yet confident. I just think he's great! *Dreamy sigh* I just had to get that out!!

I find it truly ironic that I will be in Detroit at the same moment that the Cavaliers and the Pistons will be engaged in one of the most important games in Cavs history. Oh the tension! I hope that Paulette will have the game playing while my hair is being done because I might die if I am not able to watch!