Texture Thursday: It's Hot

Source: Google Images

Guys, it's hot.  Like, "I made a mistake by pressing my hair in the hottest season" type of hot.  I tried to hold on to my hairstyle as long as I could, but between the heat and the rain, I couldn't do it.  Other than reapplying heat, I decided to try bantu knots again before I washed my hair.  Here are the results:

It turned out pretty awesome!  I wish I would have did that sooner, because I discovered this after I washed my hair:

Heat damage. 

It's only located in two small spots in the front ends of my hair.  I've NEVER had heat damage before and I think I can pinpoint when I made the fatal mistake.  Well,  I learned my lesson and I will be more careful next time by not passing the flat iron over my hair more than once.  I wanted to see if my hair would possibly curl up, but I decided to just cut it off.  My ends in those sections looked horrible in my twist outs and it wasn't worth waiting till my next trim.

I think I cut a little bit of the good pieces too.  Oops.

My advice to everyone:
If you can't keep an old pressed hairstyle because of horrible weather, don't try to reapply heat.  Because you will have to do it again and again; increasing the risk of heat damage.  It's not worth it.  Just stick to a twist out, bantu knot out or something safer.


How do you handle your hair in bad weather?

ARE Update: CDS Scores

It has officially been a month since I took the Construction Documents and Services portion of the Architect Registration Exam.  Last Wednesday, I talked about how I was waiting, waiting and waiting some more for my scores.  Thursday morning, I got an email from my State Board with my scores.  I just got to work and I was already having a rough morning.  After seeing the email, I freaked out and told my co-workers and my bosses that my scores had came.  I should have told them after I opened the email so I wouldn't have an audience, but after waiting for almost a month, I didn't care.  My computer froze for a bit when I clicked on the attachment, but when it finally opened, I saw this:

FAIL

I failed my first exam.  Guys, I had a feeling I didn't do so well.  My nerves got the best of me and I did the one thing that everyone says don't do for these exams and that is "don't think practical."  I applied everything I learned at work and that hurt me.  As I stared at the sheet, I tried not to cry.  I didn't want to be known as the "cry baby" at work, especially being the only female designer.  I took a few seconds to let it soak in, then I told my boss.  He told me don't let this exam break me and don't let it deter me from taking my future exams.  He also told me about his personal experience with the exam and how he had to retake a portion a couple of times.  My other boss had the same experience with his exams.

Then I had to let my study partner, T, know the scores were in and my results.  He started to freak out.  He was driving at the time, so he pulled over and checked his email.

FAIL

Once I saw that, I couldn't concentrate.  I was hoping that both of us passed, but after I received my scores, I wanted him to pass even mroe.  What did we do wrong?!  We decided to go out for lunch to go over our results to see where we went wrong.  Below are the areas that I either got moderate or major deficiencies* in and what I figured out went wrong for myself (I passed content area 2: Environmental issues):

I needed to get at least 75% correct in each content area.

Content Area Vignette No. 1 - Building Section Vignette (moderate deficiencies)
The vignette was a breeze.  I had 3 minutes left and then I figured out I drew the wrong wall.  I didn't have a chance to fix it.

Source: Google Images

Content Area 1 - Codes & Regulations (moderate deficiencies)
I got too confident and decided not to study this portion.  Once I saw the questions, I knew I mess up.  I'm surprised I didn't get major deficiencies.

Source: Google Images

* Content Area 3 - Construction Drawings & Project Manual (major deficiencies)
Content Area 4 - Project & Practice Management (moderate deficiencies)
I was too practical and chose the answer close to what I do on a day to day basis.

Source: Google Images

The scores don't tell me if I was below failing by one point or if I just sucked, but I know what to look for when I retest.  After we figured out our mistakes, T and I pinky promised each other this will be the last time we cry about our exams.  We are starting our study group up again next week, so that will be the time we revamp our study habits and stay strong.

Let see how Site Planning and Design goes in September!  And I will fight CDS again in December (around the holidays). 

Merry Christmas ARE.

Tibby Tuesday: A Picky Eater's Favorite Fruit

Ever since I adopted Mr. Tibbs in 2008, his Vet has always told me that Mr. Tibbs needs to eat more fruits and vegetables.  Brian and I have been trying for years to figure out what he likes and usually his Vet fusses me out when we come up empty handed.  We had a couple of hit or misses, but we figured out earlier this year that he loves Fuji apples.  Last week, we found out his favorite fruit of all time!

A couple of weeks ago, our church gave all the members free fruits, vegetables and snacks.  We ate some of the food within the first week, but we ended up saving the fruit salad for Mr. Tibbs.  I went on Cockatielcottage.net to see what foods were safe to eat, and we put them all on a plate and took them upstairs for Mr. Tibbs to try.  As you know, Mr. Tibbs is a picky eater.  If you want him to try something, you either have to bring his bell to the plate or taste it in front of him (monkey see, monkey do).  Some food required a lot of convincing while others didn't. 

Here are the results:
Tibby Yummy Meter: 1 (yuck) - 5 (yum)

Blueberry TYM - 1: Wouldn't get near it.

Pineapple TYM - 2: Licked it but didn't like the taste.

Honey Dew TYM - 3: Ran to it because it was green (he loves green food), but didn't like it.

Fuji Apple TYM - 4: Like it and took a few small bites.

Watermelon TYM - 4: Like it and took a few small bites.

Cantaloupe TYM - 5:  FAVORITE FOOD OF ALL TIME (other than seeds).  He took huge bites.

The start of his love for Cantaloupe.

If it wasn't his bed time, I think he would have eaten all the cantaloupe pieces.

Brian and I don't like cantaloupe, but I guess Mr. Tibbs gave us a reason to buy them.  Go Mr. Tibbs!

ARE Update: Waiting Game

Today, I am sitting here at my computer drawing on one screen and checking my email for my scores on the other.  For the State of Georgia, I heard it usually takes an average of two weeks to receive scores out of the normal 4-6 weeks that NCARB has stated. When the Blackout first started on July 1st, I was excited that Prometric/NCARB was changing their system. Unfortunately, everyone decided to rush and take their exams in June before testing was shut down for two month. This caused a slow doing in receiving scores.

The first two weeks of waiting, I kept myself preoccupied. I stayed away from any study material and I enjoyed what I missed during my study time in May and June. Then week three happened. My study partner "T" started to text me if I had received my scores.  I know the State Board for Georgia doesn't allow you to check your scores like other states, but I kept going on their website and checking my email. I even went on the AREForum to see if anyone heard anything. Then NCARB sent out a message:

"The last batch of score reports for Architect Registration Examination (ARE) divisions administered on or before 30 June 2013 is being graded by Prometric and will be sent to your jurisdiction or NCARB by July 31."

Then I started to notice people started to receive their scores. Something wasn't right, so I emailed my state board and found out this:

"I have not received your exam score for Construction Document & Services from NCARB. The last ARE scores reported from NCARB were taken 6/22/2013. "

Anyone who had taken their exam the week of June 24th had not received their scores. Yesterday on the forum, California received their scores online.  I don't know if it's a good sign for other states, but that means I have a chance of receiving my scores before the 31st.  I guess I have to make sure I don't let my mind wonder while I wait:

Source: AREForum

Especially #1:


Source: AREForum



Texture Thursday: July 2013 Length Check!

Tuesday was my 3 month trim.  During these trims, I get a press and trim and afterwards; I do a length check to make sure I'm on the right check for length retention.  The Summer is usually when I have problems retaining length and I have to do a mini chop.  For the first time in 4 1/2 years of being natural, I passed my length threshold!

Here are my April and July comparisons:


Click here for my past 3 length checks.

And here was my regimen for the past 3 months:
Red: Change from my usual regimen

Washing -

• Once a week: co-wash, leave in conditioner, deep conditioner
• End of the month: sulfate-free shampoo, conditioner, deep conditioner, leave in conditioner

Styling -

• Wash night:
• Put my hair in 4 twists and dry with a shirt on my head for 15-20 minutes (or when my hair is 80% dry).
• Water + leave in conditioner + oil/butter (LOC Method).
• Create 6-9 flat twists or Pineapple my hair.
• Unravel in the morning with oil + style.
• Every night or when my hair feels dry:
• Spritz with water + oil/butter (LOC Method).
• Create 6-9 twists or bantu knots or Pineapple my hair.
• Unravel in the morning with oil + style.
• Every 3 months: Press and trim.
• Once every 3 months: Protective style for a month  - Marley Twists 

My products -

• Co-wash Conditioner: Tresemme Professionals
• Shampoo + Conditioner: Shea Moisture Coconut and Hibiscus
• Deep Conditioner: Organics Hair Mayonnaise
• Leave In: Shea Moisture Hair Milk Coconut and Hibiscus
• Oil/Butter: Cantu Shea Butter Coconut Curling Creme or Taliah Waajid Protective Mist Bodifier

I think I love my new regimen.  Hopefully, I can keep this up!

What do you do to retain length?