Hairplay: Curly Set On Natural Hair

Meant to post this on Friday. If you frequent my YouTube channel then you've probably already seen this. If you don't enjoy!

Curly Set On Natural Hair

How To Video:



More videos to come soon. Thanks for watching,

Kamika lovin this style

You Know What Irks Me? Ungrateful Kids

Motel Babylon has become a community, ya'll. I'm not holding back anymore. I have to tell you what is irking me so that I can be free. If you agree, you agree. If you don't, you don't. If you want to share your irks, put it in the comments. I may just co-sign on it.
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You Know What Irks Me? Ungrateful Chillens

Parents!!!

Please please please teach your children the value of saying and showing thanks! I'm not talking about any particular incident or any particular person, just children as a whole.

Children need to learn gratitude. When a gift is given to them regardless of the mode of delivery, a child should show thanks. Not the parents, but the child. Or in some cases the child in addition to the parent. When I say, 'mode of delivery' I mean regardless of if the gift came from a co-worker to the parent to give to the kid or some other person offered to pay (and the parent accepted)for something on behalf of the child. The child should still say thank you unless the parent is trying to keep it on the low-low or unless the gift-giver had ulterior motives.

Put the child's cursive/handwriting skills to good use. They learned it for a reason. Get them some thank you cards or even some wide-ruled lined paper and sit them down to write a Thank you note. Let em color a picture and put their name on it and some stickers. Whatever!

I'm getting so tired of parents saying thank you for kids that are of the age to be able to do it themselves. I'm so tired of parents ad-libbing for their kids and telling folks how much their kid loved a toy. Your kid couldn't verbalize that? Babies get a pass because they can't verbalize. But anybody that can speak up on some food (by name) can say thank you.

What happened to parents filling in the "please" and "thank you" for kids when they forgot to say it? Sheesh!

Kamika don't lie, it irks you too

This Just Irks Me

Most times I don't post because I'm just plain busy. Other times its because I wonder if the things I think about are relevant or just critical. I am a critical thinker and not in the critique judgemental form, although I do a lot of that too, but in the child-like "Why?" form. I dissect things constantly to get at the root of them. My natural tendency is to teach and simplify.


Although I try to think hard before I speak and season my words with love I often come off as high-minded and judgemental. The truth: I am high-minded, but no longer haughty or arrogant. I think on a higher plane. Not a plane unto myself mind you but one that constantly challenges my level of contentment versus my level of complacency. Naturally those around me receive some of the settling dust within my mind. I don't think I'm better than anyone, contrarily I strive to be "the least of these."


Most times when you are trying to serve others you don't get to talk about yourself - your fears, concerns, doubts, worries, desires... What irks you. You spend a good amount of your time listening and nurturing the dreams of some others. In this mode you can easily become angry, especially when you realize some people just don't want to change. Eventhough you try to love people where they are (in hopes that they will do the same for you) it doesn't always eliminate the bad after taste left in your heart. I refuse to be angry anymore. I want to talk about me.

My disclaimer is not meant to be heavy but more light-hearted than anything. Starting tomorrow I'll be back on my blogging game and will start a new column called "You Know What Irks Me?" I'm a start blasting stuff folk do. Myself included. Some will make you think, and some will make you mad. But trust, you'll more than likely be able to relate. The insanity must stop.

Kamika ahead of the game (I already wrote tomorrow's post)

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Kamika it's my birthday!

The President, Fair Trade, and the Growth Initiative

Today the Prezzy prez, that is Obama, touched down today in Long Beach right outside my office. Folks were lined up all along the streets and in the tunnels. Our parking lot was full of cars that didn't belong to any of the employees that worked in the business park. Folks in the building were excited and giddy. From our office we had a birds-eye view through the windows. The new Air Force One is a very pretty plane. Very sleek and colorful. He landed, jumped on Marine One and was escorted by 3 other helicopters to Costa Mesa. Just a little excitement for the day.

Now back to me. Today is Day 4 of my personal Protective Style Challenge. On Saturday I braided my hair into a gazillion little box braids that I plan to keep up for 3 weeks to a month - repeat. Every night I will moisturize them with my rosewater mixture and baggy the ends. By following this method I hope to be better able to retain my ends and see increased length. At the end of this month after I rebraid I will show progress picks. My goal by the end of this year is full armpit length or just below. I'm being hindered by occasional scalp flair ups in the back area where I had alopecia, which leads me to my next topic.

I wanted to show you my recent haul. I love it when I get boxes in the mail. A couple of weeks ago I infused Castor oil with fresh rosemary and sage leaves. I wanted to see if I could get better effects with a fresh infusion vs. an essential oil mixture. So far so good. I'm loving the Castor oil mixture so I bought a few other treats to try. In a later post I will explain what each of these herbs are and their uses. I may even post a video.


From Mountain Rose Herbs I got the following organic fresh dried herbs: Lemon Balm, Chamomile Flowers, Peppermint Leaf, Rose hips, Nettle Leaf, Horsetail, Burdock Root, and Dandelion leaf. I plan to try some new oil infusions and make tea. I also ordered some fresh unrefined cocoa butter. Many of these items are Fair trade.


During this challenge I also plan to start hennaing my hair more often. One place I've used before and gotten great results is Mehandi. This time I'm not really going for color (my hair is darker than it has every been and I love it) but strength and conditioning. I bought two packs of the red label for African Hair. Mehandi has excellent henna that is finely sifted, smooth in texture and deposits great color. Also the prices are very reasonable. 200g cost me $14 with shipping.

Lastly, I picked up some yarn. I loved the Cycling Aran so much that I decided to make one for myself. My LYS Compatto Yarn Salon was having a sale and I got a spiffy deal on some Debbie Bliss Cashmerino. I plan to start working on this soon but it may have to wait until school is out.


Be sure to check me out on YouTube to see what else I'm doing.



Kamika Au natural

I'm Still Alive

But school, work, and life have been kicking my butt! I'se been too tired to do much of anything extra-curricular to my schedule. I'm in the midst of mid-terms and my English professor is an essay-Nazi. Chick wants an essay, EVERY WEEK! Plus 3 smaller ones (she calls them responses) to other folks essay. YOUR THE TEACHER! YOU READ THEM! I've got 2 other classes. But it's all cool. I'm just trying to keep my head above water.

Lately I've been rapt with YouTube. Posting and Parlez vousing over there. I do have some craft projects to share. I did another Blue Curacao shawl for a coworkers grandmother-in-law. She turned 90.


I'm also working on a sweater from Knit n' Tonic's Wendy Bernard, called the Favorite Cardigan. I'm working on the sleeves but I've since gotten lazy. I'll post pics soon.

Anyhoo, if you want to check out my vids (those that I don't get around to posting here), visit my YouTube page.


See you all soon,


Kamika stretched