PROTECTIVE STYLE CHALLENGE 6 MONTH UPDATE

It's July, and I have just completed month six of my 1 year protective style challenge. Each month, since January 2014, I have created a different protective style and maintained that style for approximately one month. I decided to embark on this challenge because this is my 3rd year with natural hair (click here for my Natural Hair Journey), and though there has been significant growth and overall improvement to my hair, I feel like the growth has hit it's plateau.

I am on a journey to stronger, longer and healthier hair and I know that protective styling, if done correctly, can be beneficial for the hair and scalp.  So here's what I've done thus far. 

In January 2014 I was wearing a sew in. The sew-in was installed by a local stylist but I cut and styled it myself. In the past I loved sew-in's but I like to have constant access to my hair and scalp.

February 2014 I decided to braid my hair into waist-length box braids. I love this style. It is a time consuming process, but this style allows for optimal moisturizing.

March 2014 I decided to upgrade the box braids I had from February. So, I washed, deep conditioned and cut the box braids, then I wrapped the braids with marley hair creating faux locs. Very cute style, lots of compliments, however

Affirmations: How A Few Words Can Help You Gain A New Perspective

There are plenty of life's trials that are thrown at us on a daily basis. I am definitely not one that has the grand scheme of the universe figured out. What I do know is that, there is some power in the words that we speak from our mouths.
For example, we've all had instances where we have said that something was going to happen, and then, low and behold... it happens. I know that you may have thought you were psychic in that moment... not so much. You just put your words into the atmosphere and then seemingly those words became action. Powerful Right? That same power is the strength and muscle behind saying daily affirmations. An affirmation doesn't have to be complicated. An affirmation can be as simple as waking up, standing in the mirror while preparing for your day and stating "today will be a good day." Easy!
One phrase may not solve all the troubles of your day; but the more that you put this into practice, the more that you will begin to see the simpler joys of day to day interactions and situations. Affirmations help people to appreciate and recognize the power of spoken word. Try it... Speaking a little positivity into you daily life can't hurt.

That is All

For more information on affirmations check out these links:
EVERYDAY AFFIRMATIONS
100 POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS

Ratchet-tivity in the Workplace?

Imagine this... 

For the past 2 years you have been pulling into to the quiet and well organized parking lot of your workplace. A major Fortune 500 company with resources to keep the grass manicured and the grounds free of debris. People actually look happy to be at work. As you exit your vehicle, that is parked adjacent to other cars that are worth more that large homes, here comes the Mercedes Benz shuttle to take you to your designated building; this saves your feet from becoming too sore from the equivalent of a 3 block walk to your door. As  you walk in the doors and the smell of fresh money wafts into your senses, you are greeted by an oasis of smiling faces and people wanting to bid you Good Morning or ask How are you today? 

Now imagine walking out of your building after your shift and there you are immediately assaulted with an onslaught of du-rags, purple weave, head scarves (not tied to appear anything like a turban), leggings (sometimes with holes-sometimes with bright panties), underwear that is unashamedly making an appearance on saggin' behinds and bass ringing in your ears. Instead of people bidding you good morning the smoking section is full of people calling one another ni**a and b***h.  

SIDENOTE~~Now let me be clear my workplace is VERY diverse. In California the Black Community is not the only race of people that use the word ni**a as a "term of endearment" just FYI. Ratchet-tivity does not just belong to any one race/group/culture/ethnicity... Equality exists in the world of ratchet behavior. ~~ 

 KoKo's Terms- Ratchet-tivity (Ratchet+Activity=Rachet-tivity)

This is what I experienced at my job last week. We got a lot of new temp employees that don't know how to act in public let alone at work. I don't have a mean thing to say about temp employees, we've had temps at my workplace since before I was here, but this is a brand new group with some totally different ideas about workplace attire and behavior. Keep in mind where I work is a very casual workplace. Executives in jeans and sneakers type of casual, but there is still an amount of restraint that must go into anything and everything that you do. I could easily walk into work with sweatpants, flip flops, a head scarf (a trend I hate) and a beater on. (I've seen this exact outfit at least 11 times in 3 days). Although that style is an option that is open to me as well, I make the CHOICE not to dress like I forgot to get dressed. 

I was taught by my mother when I was 19 to dress for the job that I want not the one I have. She told me this because at the time I was working two jobs and in school. I worked as a sandwich maker at Subway, in the Renaissance Center in Detroit during the day and  a hotel security officer on midnight shift.  I was tired and I had started looking like I took a silent ban on haircombs and clothing irons. Like a teenager, I threw a tantrum about being told about myself by my mother. It honestly took me walking into the building that housed General Motors' World Headquarters , looking at myself in the mirror and comparing myself to the people that worked around me, not with me, but around me to realize that I needed to take more pride in my appearance in order for people to take me as seriously as I wanted to be taken. 

I'm not saying people have to walk into work wearing red bottoms looking "snatched to tha gods" like Ms. Olivia Pope on Scandal to do general labor, but at least take a little bit of pride about the way that you appear in the eyes of your peers, and possibly future employers. These things matter. I mean seriously, you must be here because you want to do something better than what you were doing before. ACT LIKE IT. Treat yourself like your brand, carry yourself in a way that says: "my image and talent are marketable and worth investing in." No one can market you better than you. 

As a last thought remember... ...Ratchet-tivity is only .... AND I MEAN ONLY... acceptable in the privacy of your own home, on  a Saturday night, after a long week of productive work, and a even longer night of drinking with the homies/homegirls...  FAR FAR  away from all recording devices, co-workers and children. Fact.

That is All!

Yay! I'm 30... ...Now What?

So for all of you that may or may not know... I'm new to this blogging experience. Hence this being my first post. (Yay Me!) Well, although this experience may be a fun and a new venture of sorts, there are a few things that I need to clue you all into... 1. First and foremost I'm Detroit born and bred, but now I am considered one of the thousands of California imports you will find in the bustling city of Sacramento.(I have yet to meet a single person in California that is from California) 2. I am lesbian with a strong appreciation for all things woman...nuff said. 3. I am newly 30 and entering back into the realm of higher education... *Sidenote* There's so much to be said for this experience I am definitely seeing things differently as a woman as opposed to being a fledgling freshman on campus. I actually find myself referring to classmates... ...and yes,some professors, as "kids". 4. I am a writer... Aren't we all in some aspect? I love to write/read which is the basis for my dive back into school (Journalism with a focus in Creative Writing)... and finally 5.  There are many levels to all that is Miiko, besides the ones that I have already named, and that is the purpose of this blog. Discovery! I want to share my experiences with everyone that will listen and hopefully discover more about myself with each of you in tow for the journey. Now even though I am a writer