Stuck with 2 Styles and etc.

Okay, so I'm totally loving my hair, BUT I feel like I am restricted to like two styles. The two-strand Twist out and the Bantu-knot out. Today I wore my twists outside because they weren't dry and I needed to head out. Not bad, but is there anything else that I can do on my short natural hair? Another issue I'm having is the small patch of natural hair that I still have in the front of my head. I find that bantu-knotting the permed part, even when I do a twist out, helps blend in the permed with the natural. Again, is there any other style out there that I can do that helps add variety as well as blend in the patch of permed hair? I bought a bunch of hair flowers, barrettes, and head bands to spice up my look. I love it....just felt a bit bored today when I was twisting my hair. 

I bought some organic shea butter and that seems to help a lot with holding my twists, conditioning and moisturizing my hair. I love it! Sometimes I feel like my hair isn't getting enough moisture but I've realized it's not my hair that's dry, its my scalp. Anyone have any tips on what to use to moisturize the scalp?

FYI: For those that are interested on how I'm doing with the GRE studying....its eh....I need to study a lot more, that's for sure. My dad traveled to Nigeria (I'm of Nigerian decent *greenwhitegreen*) and he texted me today saying that he hoped I was studying hard for my exam because he doesn't want me home in September (lol). He claims that he's gonna have a tent posted outside on our lawn if I am (yikes). I'm trying daddy I swear it! My Princeton review classes end this coming Monday. I MUST take the exam no more than a week after my class ends in order to ensure MAXIMUM performance on the exam. Anytime after that, there is a strong possibility that I will forget most of the tips that I have learned. So guys, wish mucho luck. I shall be true to myself and work hard for the score that I need. 

Also, I need a vaca. Thinking of somewhere tropical and out of the US. Any ideas?

Until next time, stay natural...or at least try it ;) 

SweetestTabu xoxo

How To Find Yourself

The other night I was up at 2 am and I was thinking... In the past year I have been through some things that have caused me to question who I am and what I want out of life. Yes, I have the typical "Where do you see yourself in five years" question answered, but that is dealing with my career goals. Who am I? I have been experimenting with that question. The whole going natural thing, which I love, is one of my "who am I" experimentation's. I have some how withdrawn in the past year. Don't get me wrong, I still go out, enjoy life with friends and family, I'm always bubbly and down for whatever, but when I'm home alone or driving by myself, I realized that I am generally not happy. What's wrong with me? I have a few theories that I wont post up, but the main issue is: I'm different and confused about who I am. So, because I google everything, a friend suggested I google "How to Find Myself". Sure enough, I did and here are some pointers that came up:

1. Create your life timeline- write down major events in your life that made you who you are, re-experience them and learn  from your previous mistakes. Take on a different perspective and do not dwell on the negatives.


2. Start with a clean slate- Develop your own "moral conduct" and remove vice from your life.


3. Lessen your dependance on social approval- You cannot please everyone and loved one's should want you to be happy.


4. Find Solitude- Take a long walk, road trip, read, write etc. Spend quality time with yourself. You shouldn't feel lonely but reflective.


5. Ask yourself challenging questions- If you had all the money in the world, all the resources, what would you be doing right now? What do you want to look back on in life and say you've never regretted. If you had three words to choose to describe the kind of person you'd love to be, what would they be?


6. Write down your answers


7. Act upon your newly discovered knowledge- Do things that you WANT to do! Plan a trip, be silly, spontaneous, adventurous. Whatever floats your boat.


8. Be ready for dead ends- Finding yourself is a journey, not a destination.


Here is what NOT to do in the "finding yourself" journey;
1. Don't spread rumors.-
2. Don't let others decide your destiny for you.
3. Don't lie to yourself and pretend to be someone else.
4. Don't get in the habit of changing who your are to fit in
5. Don't feel like you need to prove your worth to the world
6. You may not like right away the person you find- It's trial and error

So, I am going to try and apply these steps to my life. I will keep all of you updated on the "Finding myself" journey :-)

SweetestTabu xoxo

http://www.wikihow.com/Find-Yourself

Poetry- Mind Writing Slogans

Sight is where the eye hits

Trust is given, broken, and then earned.

Joy is watching a leaf dance in the wind.

Sun visors hide one's beauty, why where them?

Love is a willingness to be a fool.

It takes guts to start over.

I wont lie...it was me.

She thought, "hey, we were perfect for each other",

no one loved chino and blockbuster like we did.

The worst reality is the present.

How can one's heart physically ache but still love so deeply?

A child's smile always brightens my day.

Inspired by Allen Ginsberg. Mind Writing Slogans

Hope you enjoyed it :)

SweetestTabu xoxo

Graduate Record Examination- GRE

As you all know, I have aspirations to become a Clinical Psychologist, PhD. I have graduated with a  Bachelors in Psychology, I have been emerged in the research academia world for about 3 years now and I currently work as an assistant Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) teacher to autistic children. With all this on my resume, I cant move forward without the ridiculous GRE. This is a more advance version of the SAT (you guys remember that from high school right?) Colleges use the GRE not because it actually shows your intelligence, they say it will show them how well you will do in your first year of grad school. The truth is, top schools get hundreds if not thousands of applications yearly. Do you think the admissions committee is going to sit there and read all of them? Heck no! What some of these schools do (and I have inside information from my mentor, who is on the admissions committee at Univ of Miami) is have a secretary down stairs screen your applications. For PhD programs, a 3.5 GPA and no less that a 1200 on the GRE is ideal. If you do not make that cut (This is what schools call the "Cut Off" score) your application will be placed in a pile and NEVER looked at. Sad right? Because like so many wonderful people out there who want this as bad as I do, get the rest of our application materials over looked (highly pissed). 

Well, in order to get into the PhD Program of my choice, I have to take this exam and get a certain score. Out of 1600 (800 on both Math and Verbal) I need around, above, or as close to a 1200 as possible! Because I'm having trouble with this exam, I didn't have the luxury of going to PhD right after undergrad. The other route I will take is to get a Masters in or related to the field of psychology. I do not just want any masters, I want one that will specifically prepare me for the PhD. But guess what? The GRE is still required! The only difference is, the "cut off" score is most times lower than 1200. Some schools don't even require it, but I am always weary of those programs. I don't want to sell my self short and say my goal is to reach a 1000, because that means I will still need to take the exam again to get into PhD (you see you can't win). So, enough with the complaining then right? Right. I enrolled in a Princeton Review course for tutoring on how to be the GRE. I just started Monday at Queens College. I go twice a week and live in the library the other days. 

Sacrifice. No partying, no laziness. I have to separate myself, focus, and get in that grind mode, especially if I don't want to sit around for another year listening to my parents complain (not cool). If anyone is studying for the exam as well, maybe we can pass around pointers and be each others support! Sometimes you need it. I'm here if anyone needs more information. I'm off this, to go study on this beautiful day :( Don't feel too sorry for me, because when I get into the school of my choice, it would have all been worth it.

SweetestTabu xoxo

Big Chop- Yo Soy Todo Natural!

Ok guys, I did it! I got so sick and tired of my fake hair that I took out the weave and just chopped my hair off! I feel so liberated, so light-headed (literally), so elated! I'm ready for anything :-) So, here is what I did. 

I combed out my hair and put them into sections before I washed it.  I washed and conditioned each section separately. I did this to reduce the tangles. Then I two-strand twisted my hair and cut the permed part. I still have a lot of permed strands remaining but I will go to the salon in a few weeks to clean it up. I took out the twists but it didn't come out right, so I just picked apart m hair. I think my hair looks so cute and I cant wait to buy more products and try new styles as my NATURAL HEALTHY (still on its way) BEAUTIFUL BLACK HAIR grows :) Stay tuned

Products that I used: Cantu Shea Butter leave in conditions for damaged hair,

tea tree oil, olive oil, Organix Tea Tree shampoo and Pomegranate Conditioner, and styling gel 

SweetestTabu xoxo