Happy New Year! 2016 Goals

Happy New Year! Once again, I am here to share my goals for the new year and to reflect on the past. 

MY HAIR

Last year I wanted to do several things. I continued with my Max Hydration journey which lead me to learn more about low porosity hair and proper haircare in general. This has lead me to make changes in my haircare routine. I did the 1/4" trims and quickly got over those, never tried that rollerset, and recognized a few staples.

This year I would like to do the following

• Trim my ends to get rid of a bit of thinning
• Get to waist length (this will probably be happening very soon!)
• Try new styles

MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL

I think my video quality improved, my thumbnails improved, I did collabs, and I gained 1,442 new subscribers. That's more than the 1,000 I had hoped to gain. 

This year I would like to do the following

• Get 2,000 new subscribers to my channel - Hey! Go big or go home!

MY BLOG

I have no goals here. I have been toying with the idea of just turning my blog into a website and not updating it anymore. #realspit

View past New Year Goal Posts: 2015 // 2014 // 2013 // 2012 // 2011

What are your goals for this new year? Comment below! 

If you like what you've read, never miss a post by following this blog with Bloglovin'. Also, watch my videos on Youtube. NEW uploads weekly!

The Liebster Award

When checking my email, I was surprised to discover that I had been nominated for a Liebster Award by Aicha at Bonjour Natural. There are times when I feel as though blogging is a lost art and no one reads my blog. Please go check out her blog if you--like me--can't get enough of old fashioned hair blogging. 

As a part of receiving this award, I am to answer the questions posed by Aicha, create my own questions, then tag other bloggers. 

Questions

1. What is your favourite post you've written?

This is an extremely hard question! Way to start it off with a bang! I think it would be a tie between "Understanding Protein" and "Protective Styles for Neck Length Hair." The protein post marks a pivotal point in my regimen. I had been experiencing a lot of breakage and had no clue why. I discovered that all of my products had protein and I was none the wiser! I wrote the post to prevent others from falling into the same hole as myself.

The protective style post has helped a lot of people over the years that it has been up! I felt so accomplished writing it because previously it was thought that people with neck length hair couldn't possibly protective style.

2. If you could be friends with any fictional character (human, animal or teapot), who would it be?

No one immediately jumps out at me as friend material. I think that's because I'm not really a friend making person in real life.

3. What's your best feature? 

My eyes are often complemented or commented on.

4. Would you rather be invisible for 24 hours, have the ability to talk to animals or be able to read minds? Why?

I'd like to read minds. I already know how to be invisible for real! lol. Animals? I'd rather not hear what my dog has to say. 

5. If you could only have one hair length for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Tailbone! This length would look long in a wash and go and could be styled to look shorter when I want a change.

6. Your favourite hair or beauty product of all time?

I'm not that loyal! During my relaxed days, I used to really love Hawaiian Silky, Suave Coconut, and Neutrogena Triple Moisture Silk Touch Leave-In. As a natural I may have to go for Tresemme Naturals Conditioner and Kinky Curly Curling Custard.

7. If you had the opportunity to go to space, would you go?

Nope! Next.

8. What do you find the most fascinating?

I find family history and genetics to be fascinating. People come out looking just like their parents. So interesting.

9. Are you an introvert or an extrovert?

Introvert.

10. Which decade (let's say 1920s-2000) do you think had the best fashion?

50s. Everyone looked so neat and well put together.

I tag the following blogs

• Nadege - Relaxed Hair Health
• Traycee - KISSseventyseven
• Christina - The Mane Objective
• Dee - My Experience With Max Hydration

I pose these questions

1. How long have you been on your hair journey?

2. What has been your haircare "aha moment?"

3. Have you had any setbacks? Explain.

4. What is your holy grail product?

5. What song is your "guilty pleasure?"

6. What food could you eat every day for a year?

7. Dogs or cats?

8. If you could trade hair with any blogger/vlogger for a day, who would you choose?

9. What has been your greatest blogging challenge?

10. Where do you see your blog in the next 3 years?

Feel free to answer these questions yourself in the comments below! 

If you like what you've read, never miss a post by following this blog with Bloglovin'. Also, watch my videos on Youtube. NEW uploads weekly!

Video: Vlog | Baby Brother's Graduation

Click the image to be taken to the video

My brother graduated from Tuskegee University with a Bachelor's in Chemical Engineering. He will be starting up his job really soon. Also among the graduates were my friend and my mom's principal's niece. 

This weekend was also my cousin's oldest son's 18th birthday and Mother's Day. 

Watch: https://youtu.be/Z__xHEkcNms

Did you enjoy this vlog? Comment below! 

If you like what you've read, never miss a post by following this blog with Bloglovin'. Also, watch my videos on Youtube. NEW uploads weekly!

Happy New Year! 2015 Goals

Happy New Year! As usual, I am here to blog about the goals I have for my hair in 2015. This year I thought I'd kick it up a notch and add my youtube channel and blog to the goals.

My Hair

• Continue to increase the hydration of my hair through the Max Hydration Method
• Incorporate seasonal micro trims of 1/4"
• Try a rollerset 
• Establish hair staples again

My Channel

• Improve the quality of my videos - I got lazy at times in 2014
• Be more purposeful with the thumbnails
• Do a collab - Seriously, who wanna go in on a collab video?
• Gain 1,000 new subs - Hey, I got that many in 2014!

My Blog

• Get a domain name - I've been dragging my feet on this for years!
• Get business cards
• Be more purposeful in my content
• Improve the beginner-ability of my blog - That's not a word but I used it! I want beginners to feel like this is a place that they can put their hat down and their feet up!

As a person I'd like to be more hospitable and considerate. I admit that I am in my mid-twenties and have a lot to learn about life and interaction in general.

View past New Year Goal Posts: 2014 // 2013 // 2012 // 2011

What are your goals? Personal or web; share them below! 

If you like what you've read, never miss a post by following this blog with Bloglovin'. Also, watch my videos on Youtube. NEW uploads weekly!

30 Days of Thanksgiving

November is the month of giving thanks. If you take a moment to begin or end your day by giving thanks and showing gratitude, you will see a positive change in your life. This month I am challenging myself to come back to this post daily and write at least one thing that I am thankful for over the 30 days in November. I'm going to try to keep up with it on my snapchat, too.

Day 1: Weekends off.
Day 2: Ihop breakfast. Beach time with my husband and dog.
Day 3: Free time during the work week because my work is done. Sleepy Hollow episode.
Day 4: Strength of mind
Day 5: That timely cupcake from students
Day 6: Friendly coworkers
Day 7: #GoogleIt! shirt a parent made me and that I'm wearing today. It's my catch phrase!
Day 8: Fresh Nails
Day 9: Advil.
Day 10: Immune System.
Day 11: Veterans 
Day 12: An observation during a lab
Day 13: A new beginning
Day 14: Paydayzzzzzz
Day 15: Affording an impromptu cookout
Day 16: Getting things done
Day 17: The little Spanish I can understand
Day 18: Warm clothing
Day 19: Public school art as a child. I know who Frida Khalo is!
Day 20: My husband.
Day 21: Running, hot water
Day 22: The Diffuser
Day 23: Good times with good people
Day 24: No fear of driving in the rain.
Day 25: Style
Day 26: A car to travel this holiday season
Day 27: The living parent I have
Day 28: Time with my Grandmother
Day 29: Two headlights! (Seriously, single lights are an epidemic!)
Day 30: Having hair at all!


                               




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My Fear of Speaking Out

Hello, my name is Kayla and I am afraid to state my opinion. Whenever I post certain things I am afraid of the backlash and negative responses. The first time I posted something rather opinionated, I posted about a weather woman who was fired after responding to Facebook comments on her channel's page after being asked not to. I did not take the common opinion and was bashed for it.

I was told that I was self hating, ignorant, and self absorbed. I dealt with it a day and then I couldn't bear it anymore and deleted the video. Now, whenever I post something that may be opinionated I sit with my nails in between my teeth, waiting for an attack. One of the more recent instances of this was when I uploaded this video speaking about people who feel that you can't do anything to your hair because of fear of damage. I expected to be told off or worse.

I was surprised when the video reached a healthy amount of views and likes and received positive comments within its first 24 hours of being online. I am dealing with this nervousness day by day because it would be boring if I never said what I truly thought on my blog or channel.

"well-behaved women seldom make history." -Laurel Thatcher Ulrich


                               




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Kreative Blogger Award

Hello all, Lacoya of I'm a Natural Black Girl awarded me with the "Kreative Blogger Award". Thank you for thinking of my blog Lacoya! (side note: I saw you from afar at homecoming) As part of this award I must link back to the giver, answer the following questions, and award ten other bloggers--like a YouTube tag. I think this is pretty cute so here goes.


7 Statements:
Favorite Song: This changes but for now I'm loving YG - Up, J. Cole -Workout, and T-Pain- 5 o'clock
Favorite Dessert: I enjoy black tie chocolate cake and red velvet cake and practically any "birthday" cake.

Something that pisses me off: I don't like unprepared, indecisive, or long winded people. Please, don't waste my time. I can't get those minutes back!

When I'm upset: I become really quiet and watchful of whoever or whatever is upsetting me. I may also write a lot.

My Favorite Pet:I never really had pets growing up. I don't know enough to have a favorite.

Black or White: I like the crisp look of white.

My Biggest Fear: That I will be a failure.

My Best Feature: I think my ability to relate and empathize and my "sexy" legs are my best features.

My Everday Attitude: Life is more about how you react than what happens. My reaction is usually passive.

Perfection is: Marshmallows and chocolate with the hunny <--where this came from...I don't know.

Guilty Pleasure: Candyyyyyyyyyyy

7 Random Facts About Me
1. I have a permanent black dot on my left middle finger
2. I probably have 7x as many first cousins as the average person.
3. I have been with my hunny for nearly four years.
4. I have been a Pescetarian almost two years.
5. My favorite chapstick flavor and soda is Dr. Pepper
6. My personality is very much like that of a cat.
7. I have MANY diaries starting from high school into my freshman year of college.

10 Bloggers
I am very aware that many of my readers have blogs. If you would like to do this on your blog, link me back, answer the questions and add the facts, then comment me and I will add you in this section. When I get 10, I'll shut it down.

Q & A: Switching to a Labret Stud From a CBR

Amanda writes:

 I have mine pierced with a cbr, and I also feel that the ring is causing more harm than help. I tried to change it to a labret, and had no problem getting the cbr out, but I can't get the labret all the way through. I could find the hole from the back fine, but since its been healing curved i can't get the straight one through. Do you have any tips on switching from curved to straight?

Kayla Responds:

Well Amanda, I definitely know what you mean about the curving of the piercing as it heals! I have to wonder what kind of labret you are trying to wear. I switched to a BIOFLEX labret from my CBR, which is a flexible, plastic type of labret that you can get online, at Claires, and in stores like Spencers and Hot Topic. This labret can get in a curved piercing and bend however it is bending. I noticed that my BIOFLEX bar was curved when I first put it in. It has since straightened out. If you want to go the metal route, you may want to look into a curved barbel. 

 
 ♥ KAYLA

DISCLAIMER: Let us remember that I am in no way a professional--personal experience is all I can offer. 

Tragus: A body Piercing Tale

So, if you know me, I've had my tragus pierced for about 5 months now. The tragus is the flap of cartilage over your ear hole. I had seen this piercing on a couple of people and thought it looked cool. You can never have too much "ear bling" lol. Anyhow, my tragus was pierced with a captive bead ring which is a small ring with a snap on ball. I truly think the ring was bumping the piercing around and causing it to bump and swell. Also, the ring wasn't really my style and I wanted it out!

It's not recommended that you try to take this ring out yourself because 1, it's really hard to do with such a small ring and 2, you could seriously rip your ear up. So, I went looking for places around here to get it changed to a bioflex labret stud. (I got it pierced at school and I'm at home now) Bioflex is a flexible plastic material that's great if you have sensitivity to certain metals. A labret is any flat backed stud. These are commonly used in oral piercings. Bioflex labret studs are especially good for protecting your teeth from scraping metal.

I went several places, but the piercer wasn't there, they didn't do piercing, or they flat out didn't want to put in a bioflex piece. I was frustrated so I looked up how to remove the captive bead ring on YouTube and took the plunge. It snapped out after a while, but I COULD NOT get the bioflex in! I had to ask my mom, who didn't want me to get the piercing in the first place, to help. She got it in after much blood and soreness. Yes, there was blood!


Now that the labret has been in a while, the swelling and bumps from the months of wearing the ring has subsided. I think anyone wanting to get this piercing should get it done with something straight. I love my tragus and think the new heart shaped labret is cute. Once I feel it has healed enough from the ring I may go out and get more at Claire's. They now carry little packs of bioflex labrets. I got 2 studs for $12.99 someplace else, but at Claire's that same price will get me 3x as many.

Get a stud similar to the one pictured here!

What is YOUR tragus story? Are you looking into getting your tragus pierced?

♥ KAYLA