East Georgia (Mostly) (Video+pics)

Hilton Head, SC. 

        Hi! Hello Everyone! Izzy has left, sad face. Once she arrived in NY she created a wonderful video of her visit. Very Artsy. Love Love Love the video. Please Enjoy!

Memorial Garden at the Mighty Eight Air Force Museum

We have a thing for frozen treats

We're a gaming family. 

Izzy at one of the many souvenir shops

       There's something about touring places in the south. Perhaps, it's because I am from New York, but certain things would not be found in NY the way they are found in Georgia. Somewhat of a culture shock. A lot of the places have deep roots that were unfun times for people of color back in the day. Not sure how to decipher it.

Anyways, check out the video, it's a real mood brightener
Aku Oji

My Life Now: Short Natural Hair

        I woke up this morning, and thought about my current life situation and my hair crossed my mind. I also woke up and decided to watch some YouTube videos. It can be a guilty pleasure at times. I stumbled upon NaturallyNellzy. I like her talks about random stuff more than hair stuff (maybe hair stuff later). She said something about women with short hair being the most confident, something of the sorts. I've heard others mention how much guts and confidence it takes to walk around with natural short hair. Frankly, I was very concerned about having short hair. I jokingly say that I have "no hair"(some call me dramatic). 

        I've been out and about this past week with my sister. Some days I am conscious about my hair and sometimes I am confident about it. When I am getting ready to go out, I absolutely love my hair. I simply take my bonnet off moisturize, seal and go outside. When I am conscious, I think about how people see my hair and what they wonder about it. I never put too much thought into wondering these things because my hair was one way, a more easily accepted way according to this society. But now my hair is kinky, curly, tightly packed at times, it grows up and out. Anyways I wonder these things. 

        

An empty

Everyday style for the past week

       I am not quite sure if this hair fits me, personally, I think it's very fitting on me. I don't know, short hair can't work for everyone but I think it's working for me?  Maybe grown out hair will be my look? So, I have to try it before I stick with short. The goal is to grow my hair out so...not sure. I think the consciousness will pass, but it comes up a lot in my head when I have interviews. Especially since I want to work one-on-one with people because I'm convinced I'm a people person (I am). I obviously don't want to work with or for anyone who finds my appearance not up their "standards." I would hate for that to be a reason not to get a job but we live in funny times. Some looks are more acceptable than others, you guys already know. I love my hair but I'd be silly to think everyone else will like it and that's the thing, will my life be different because of hair? All I know is, if someone doesn't like it, kindly get over yourself, especially in a work setting.  

      I am natural, look at that. The best thing has to be not getting or planning a relaxer touch-up. I always knew that I did not want to be relaxing my hair for years and years to come, I did not want to spend money on relaxers and the amount of money I have already spent on relaxers!!! Gee Willerkers. I say all this to say, I do think short hair requires some form of confidence, whether you don't care what anyone thinks or you know you look great. 

Anyways, just some thoughts. Posts on my sisters visit/East Georgia exploration coming soon.

Peace and Love 

Guess Who's Coming to Town?! (+hair pics)

This was almost two years ago

Guess who's paying little ol' me a visit!? My little (3 years younger) sister, Izzy! YAY! Being far away from home can be very hard at times, sort of isolated from the world I once knew. I have three younger sisters all uniquely cool in their own way.

This is Izzy's first vacation and I want it to be great. Shopping, museums, eating out- a nice cultural vacation the best I know how (since I'm still new to Georgia myself). This vacation will hopefully be a good way to check out the town. The weather will be better (no offense to my New Yorkers) than the typical New England weather so maybe we can hit the beaches too!

First stop is a waffle house. I know, I know, how can I take her to a Waffle House when there are so many places to eat out here? But I think waffle houses are a staple down south.

conditioner/leave-in, water and oil.

I'm around two months BC, not sure. I came to terms that I am not attached to my big chop date. I often forget, I say around two months because I'm not too sure the exact date. Still trying to figure out the needs of my natural hair. I think I will keep it slightly stretched because I learned the hard way that my hair can become dry and extremely tangled (extremely) when I do nothing after washing and conditioning it.

New hair, same issue. Finding the perfect moisturizer. Right now, I use Matrix Conditioning Balm to pre-poo, over-night condition and leave-in. I bought it when I was deep into my transition (lol 6 months deep) and I didn't care for it to provide much moisture to my hair. But now, I make great use of it with my current hair.

Here's my hair after stretching for a couple of hours. Huge twists and some Ouch-less scrunchies. I don't twist or band my hair to the ends because I love the curly ends. Oh and after the trip to the barber, washing my hair and detangling has been oh so easy. Those ends were tired.

This is my hair. I think there's some henna
in it, not sure about my natural brown anymore

Slightly stretched texture shot

5 days to get ready for my Izzy's visit. So excited! *throws confetti*

Has anyone been to Georgia?
Any winning moisturizers?
Peace & Love,
Aku

October- Shape-Up at Barbershop/Changes

      Changes are coming. I'm feeling a little inspired. I just cut my hair and I am still very lost with it so I find it hard to write about. I also want to blog about moving to a new city and in order to do that, I need to explore. I've volunteered for three organizations, just trying to find the right fit. The weather has been great here in the southeast. More to come! Enjoy some pictures!

The day before my shape-up. Random pic of ice-cream
 from a festival this past weekend.

In the car right after the cut. Big hair, don't care?

Really, really old school

The next morning, I appreciated my cut even more.

Any barbershop goers in the house? 

Peace and Love

Aku