TWA in the workplace

So what is a TWA you ask? Teeny Weeny Afro! That is the classification of my hair at the length that it is at right now. Although I think I will be past that stage very soon because I am almost able to put my hair into a ponytail now... MILESTONE!!

Anyway... That's not the point of this post.

A few weeks ago I received a message from a fellow 'Nuturalista' asking me about styling options for her TWA for work. She was bored of wearing her hair in just the Afro and wanted something "more professional".

Around the same time, there was a lot of discussion in the natural hair forums that I frequent, about how much trouble some women were having in the workplace with their natural hair. There were some that even suggested that natural hair is not professional (huh?). Some women said that they wear wigs to work in order to look more presentable.

My take on this? It's not just your hair that makes you look professional or presentable. If you don't look like you put any effort into your entire appearance, it won't matter if your hair is natural, relaxed, twisted, straight, long, short, whatever!

Also, if you don't have confidence within yourself to know that you are beautiful with your hair the way it is, it will show... and this will just open the door for ignorant people to add their unnecessary commentary. But that's just my opinion.

So... I was inspired to go through a week and style my hair the way I would to work (yes I have actually worn ALL these styles to work before). By doing this I hope to inspire those who are either bored with their TWA, or simply just want new styling options.

Video tutorials are also available if you click the captions... Hope you enjoy!

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

stop babying him...

Out of all the things people say, with respect to giving me parenting advice, I think this advice is the most annoying for me to hear... "stop babying him".

Baby J is now seven months old and he's developing his own personality. In general he's a pretty content baby and he doesn't fuss much (he definitely gets that from his dad). He is also becoming very independent (he gets that from me). This is great because when I do hear him fussing I KNOW there is something bothering him, so I will tend to him. And that's when the comments start... "you're going to spoil him", "let him cry a little", "you're picking him up too much", "stop babying him"...

What gets me is, most of these comments come from people who aren't even around him enough to know his true demeanor. Isn't that how it always is?

First of all, he's still very much a baby, so I don't see anything wrong with "babying" him. Second, ever think that maybe he's such a happy baby because I DO tend to his every cry? There are hundreds of articles that support 'Attachment Parenting', suggesting that it improves baby's development and behavior. Lastly, there's this little thing I've been developing since I was pregnant... Instinct. If my instincts tell me to pick him up, console him, baby him, guess what? That's what I'm going to do.

Every baby is different, we all know. What works for one is not guaranteed to have the same effect on another. I don't know every baby, but I do know mine, and if I hear him cry you better believe I will be there to tend to him. There will come a time when he won't want my hugs and kisses because it won't be "cool"... So while he still likes my cuddles, I'll give them to him whenever he cries.

my earring obsession

Back in March 2011 when I cut my hair and decided I wasn't going to put any more chemical relaxers in my hair, I found a new love for earrings. It started because I was trying to find ways to feel more feminine with my short hair.

Now its not even about my hair anymore... I'm just obsessed with earrings... big, bright, long... I just love them!

I think there are worse things I could be obsessed with so... I don't feel bad :)

reasons why i love you

Every year, my husband is very specific as to what he wants for Christmas so it has never been hard for me to please him. Sometimes he doesn't even want me to bother wrapping the gifts because he already knows what it is (where's the fun in that?!). He is a very practical person when it comes to gifts. Christmas, birthdays, whatever.

So this year I decided that I was going to get him everything he wanted, but I also wanted to do something a little special, something different... so here's what I came up with. :)

It's just your regular standard playing cards and I stuck some adhesive paper to the back of each card and started listing all the reasons why I love him. To keep it interesting I also mixed in a few romantic favors. You can let you imagination run free and be as adventurous as you want here.

He was definitely not expecting something like this but he loved it and he always wants to pull a card. Whether he pulls a card that tells him one of the reasons why I love him, or a card with a favor like a sensual massage, you can't go wrong... Try it!