3EHairUpdate: August 2016

I haven't done one of these in a while so I figured I should. 

I finished the Mane Choice manetabolism vitamins earlier in the year and have decided to not get more. I got good results with them but they are quite pricey and my discretionary funds needed to be channeled somewhere else :-).

So first up, JOE's hair. It is GROWING really fast and she is yet to get her first hair cut. She goes to Kindergarten next year and I am hoping she will be more open to getting a good trim. She has REFUSED to cut her hair and loves to say she is Rapunzel. 

 

 

This is her hair freshly washed and BRAIDED so imagine how long it is...yup...way past her butt at this point. 

 

As for me, I haven't really done much with my hair this summer. It feels a lot thicker and instead of using a comb, I have been using my fingers to detangle it. That seems to have helped with retaining my strands. I also have done a couple of clay washes and non-sulfate shampoo washes this summer due to sweating on my scalp and getting more build up. 
I noticed late in the Spring that the hair at my temples was pretty scant so I have decided to stop pulling my hair into a bun for a while and instead, wear it out more. 
Here are some of the styles I have worn over the summer. 

I love this hair tie from AyoBE Boutique. Very versitile and easy to wear!

On to JAE. With her, it is back to square 1 as far as figuring out what works. JOE's hair has quite a bit of texture and is somewhat similar to mine. 
JAE on the other hand only has a few waves and has mostly her dad's hair type. I have tried braiding it but it doesn't hold. So now, I have to learn what works for her hair. For the most part, we put it in a high pony. I am trying not to manipulate her hair too much so her strands get a chance to come in nicely. 
I will admit though that because she and her sister spent more time at the park and at the mall this summer, I have started using a small amount of my oil mix in her hair since the mix contains peppermint oil. I use just a small amount and massage it throughout her scalp after I wash it. I have a SERIOUS FEAR of head lice and since lice don't like peppermint oil, I figure it can serve dual purpose in this case :-).

JOE recently requested to have her hair wrapped at night. She looked so grown and I couldn't help but snap a picture of her. This request lasted for about 2-weeks. She has since refused to wear the hair wrap and just sleeps on a satin pillow.

Sporting the Everest Hair Tie from AyoBE Boutique. Go get one! It is an excellent way to add some color to your locks and look quite chic :-).

 

Picture of my hair length in June.

Picture taken in July.

 

Another one taken in July.

 

Me. I love everything about this look! Hubby got me some "just because" earrings and I wanted to capture a picture of them. Also, loving the lip color. I think I am definitely hooked on red lipstick! :-)

My little fashionista. She is such a girly girl! She loves ALL bags and ALL shoes and if you put her in a skirt or dress, she flares out her fingers by her side and walks around. LOVE!
Check out her model walk.

Another style wearing the Azure Hair Tie from AyoBE Boutique.

Am I the only natural hair person that wears a "smoother" look when going for an interview? I often get scared to wear my hair out. If you read my last post, you know I went on interviews a while back. This was the look I chose to go with.
I'm eager to know...how do you wear your hair when you interview for a job? And do you think it makes a difference in how you are perceived?

 

Hair length in August. 

Its grown QUITE A BIT!

Check out the shrinkage! I love it though. I don't really like hair on my back so shrinkage is definitely one thing I welcome when my hair is in its curly state. 

I am wearing the Pocahontas African Print Hair Fascinator in this picture. I will definitely be wearing it out more because it adds a little more elegance to my natural locks.

So there you have it. That's how we're all doing with our hair. I plan on getting it straightened again but likely before Christmas so I can wear it for a few days before letting it go back to its naturally curly state. 

Do you have any hair goals? If so, how is it coming along? Have you tried anything new/fun with your hair this summer?

I am testing out the Mane Choice 3-in-1 leave in conditioner. I will post my personal take on it next month. 

Have a fabulous weekend and remember to be kind to strangers!

Smiling in the midst of clouds

You work hard, you prepare, you set goals and try to meet them and then feel like you suddenly hit a wall. When I was younger, my parents drilled into me the importance of hard work. However, this is one time where I felt that hard work did not pay off. 

If you are a long time follower, you know that in addition to being a Christian, wife and mom, I also work full time as an IT Project Manager. 

I have been doing it since 1998 when I graduated from college and practiced it through graduate school until now so I guess you can call me a "seasoned Project Manager."

I know Project Management and love what I do and even though I sometimes complain about it, it really suits my life because I love to keep things organized. I feel like when things are organized, you can better plan and other things around you just make sense. 

The cloud:
I have been praying and working hard towards the next level in my career. I had some interviews a few weeks ago that I felt quite optimistic about. I was sure that one of them would result in a job offer. But then I found out a couple of weeks ago that I didn't get any of the jobs. To say I was very disappointed and let down would accurately describe how I felt. I decided to take a break from blogging for 2 weeks because I just did not feel like I had anything positive to say and I try to stay positive in my posts.

I understand that at the level I am, it is often about networking/who you know in addition to your experience. I am often friendly with people. I am also a go-getter and want to see things completed/accomplished. However, the one area that I just can't find the time right now is networking outside of work. Since I primarily work outside of my home, it is important for me to spend time with my kids after I get off work. The occassional happy hour is not an option for me given my 1+ hour commute each way and my husband's sometimes unpredictable schedule. Throw in the fact that we pay by the hour for childcare and you can see where outside of work networking can be a challenge. 
But I have worked hard and felt that it should count for something. 

Reasons to smile:
In the midst of my "pity party", something remarkable happened! I got several orders in a row for AyoBE Boutique. What makes this situation unique is that the last time I received a "thanks but no thanks" notice for a job I interviewed for was in early May and the same thing happened! When J and I pray each day, we ask God for direction and focus. 
These orders definitely gave me a reason to smile and caused me to take a moment to  refocus and to come up with a new strategy for career success. 

I plan to continue to work for the foreseeable future. That's not going to change unless we hit the lottery. However, I also plan on using my free time in the evenings and weekends wisely by focussing more on my family and on my business. It is great to have a career but it is also great to have an outlet and having an outlet that not only allows me to express my creative side but also to earn some change :-). 

I remind myself that not everyone is creative, not everyone has a career they love and while I am not where I want to be with my career, I am where I want to be with my thriving business and I am head over hills in love with my family. I am learning that no matter the situation, it is all a matter of shaping your thoughts. 
Focusing on the positives and work on overcoming the challenges. I know I'll make it to the next step someday. It might not be in the time I initially planned but I will get there and will appreciate it more. In the mean time, family is my #1 priority and growing my business is my #2 and these are great reasons to smile. 

Have a wonderful week and remember to smile through the clouds. Because as the Annie song lyric says, "the sun will come out tomorrow!"