If you have naturally curly hair....EMBRACE IT...don't fight it. I repeat, DO NOT FIGHT THE CURLY HAIR!

You will soon find out that I LOVE my curly hair.I did not realize that I had naturally curly hair until about 2004....I was in my 20s. Ridiculous, I KNOW.  I thought I just had a little wave and that my perms....yes....perms....lasted a long time. Hey, don't judge me. I grew up in the 80s and 90s.  Big hair, Elenett and Rave hairspray, side ponies...we rocked that shit!

I was in nursing school and a friends mom started cutting my hair. She thought i was crazy because i didnt realize what my hair could be. She made me realize how curly my hair is. She started teaching me how to style and take care of it. I LOVE my Jane! And suddenly, the mane was"born". 

I see so many women (or men)straighten, blow out their would be so beautiful curly hair, or just simply do not take care it..... and I just cringe.  There is no need to blow that shit out all the time. Give you hair some much needed rest and let it out of the cage! Yes, your hair will be frizzy and somewhat crazy at first, but once you learn some Curly Girl Rules, your mane will also be born. The following rules are what I have learned over the years.

Curly hair rules that I live by:

Condition, condition, condition.
Do not wash everyday. ( I know it may seem gross, but it helps)
Do not blow dry without a diffuser.
Do not go crazy towel drying with a regular towel. Use a terry cloth towel or one of those head wrap thingys. I purchased mine at CVS.
Find a stylist that knows what the hell they are doing with curly hair.The wrong cut will scar you for life and make you hate your curls.
Experiment with different products. I use many different ones to achieve what I want. (Sometimes it is a beast on to its own, though). Just accept it and move on.
Try not to bleach, because it will get even dryer. 
Deep condition at least once a week.
Do not "play" with your hair. The more you touch it, the more you will look like Animal from the Muppets. (I have been know to look and act like this at times)

I get on blogs, and read how tos and what not. Read all you can....something may not work for one person, but may work for you.

Here are some products that have worked wonders for me. Some are higher end and some are drugstore. There is also a picture below of some of them. 

Ouidad climate control gel
Ouidad moisture shampoo and conditioner
Moroccan oil light serum
L'Oreal curling mousse
L'Oreal curling cream
Biolage Gelee
Biolage hydration shampoo and conditioner
Garnier anti-frizz serum (great product if you are balling on a budget like me)
Moroccan oil hair mask
Prive conditioning hair treatment

I have made a decision. A decision to make my life better. A decision that will hopefully bring me much happiness. A decision that will help me become healthier. A decision that will influence the rest of my life.

I have decided to get a gastric bypass.

I have struggled with being overweight my entire life. I have high blood pressure, sleep apnea, acid reflux,  pcos, and often a case of...I'm too fat to do that shit today.  I'm at the point in my life where I want to have children, be healthier, be able to play and run around with them, and want to be confident in myself.

My health is my main concern. If I want to have babies, I have to be healthier. I have quit smoking, watch what i eat, and have recently gone gluten free. I've messed up a bit, with being gluten free, here and there and then feel like crap for a few days, but hop right back on that GF wagon.  I have tried every diet known to man and have cried myself to sleep many nights wondering why this fat won't  budge and leave! I have overeaten, I've been embarrassed to eat out or at family functions, and have gone days without eating thinking maybe it will magically disappear. Clearly, I'm a wee bit delusional. At times, I envy the "skinny" people. In contrast, at times I don't give a crap.

I love (eyerolls),the skinny people that say "just work out", "don't eat so much", blah, blah, freakin blah. Few tidbits for the "friends" that think that....you can work out 7 days a week for hours at a time and you will lose the weight.  I could starve myself and still be overweight. I could do everything right, and still not lose a pound. I could do this or that and still be the big girl with fabulous hair.  The stereotypes that certain people give to other certain people are insulting, degradating, disrespectful, and just full of shit. If you are the bully or bullies that have walked past a happy big girl with fabulous hair  and have called that said big girl a "fat bitch"...

Shame. On. You. You don't know her story, you don't know what has happened to her, mind your own dang business and bully your other bully friends you jerk! If this has happened to you, you know what I'm talking about. It stings.  Hard. It is enraging. It is embarrassing. It is hard on the heart. And, just makes you want to cry. Then you have these wonderful friends that say "Who? What did they say? Which ones? We will beat them up". Great. That may make me all giddy inside for a few minutes, but not change the ignorance that these bullies possess. I could go on and on about all the assholes that I have encountered in my 35 years on this Earth. I remember every single one of them. Really, I do.

Many of my friends know that my surgical date is fastly approaching. I'm excited. I'm scared. I'm giddy. I'm worried. Every single emotion you can think of is flooding my soon to be scrambled up insides. Im sure it will only get worse as the date gets closer. I know the risks. I know the rewards. I want kids and this is what I'm doing to get there.

I have been thinking a bit about the differences in generation and how people conduct themselves.

I was born in 1979. I don't remember a lot about the 80s, but the 90s....was my jam.  I had a cellphone that was size of my head, I  listened to Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Silverchair, and I was high school student that worked 2 jobs. My parents taught me a great lesson that I will hopefully pass on to my future little monsters.....you don't get anywhere in life unless you work for it.

If you have read my earlier posts, you will know that I am the oldest of 4 girls. My parents worked their butts off to give us everything. My dad worked for the County roads department and farmed. My mom went to college, tried to keep us girls in line, and worked other jobs. I credit my multitasking ability to that woman! I don't really know how she handled college, 4 girls, a farmer husband, and an outside job. They did what the needed to to provide for us. All four of us girls worked when we were in high school. That is what we were expected to do.

I saw a young lady on the news this morning and her story made my blood boil. The young lady is suing her parents for tuition and living expenses. She moved out because she mad. When this child didn't follow their rules and lived under their roof. Really? I mean most of us disobeyed our parents here or there, but sue them? Come on. Get a job, apply for student loans, and act like an adult since you so obviously don't want to be a teenager. I would never think about doing that to my parents. It is ridiculous. I really hope that I am not the only person thinking these things.

I also can't handle Teen Mom. Ugh. I've tried to watch it a few times to see what all the fuss was about. In the few episodes that I saw, there was a lot of yelling at parents or being angry with them for not helping raise their children that they made. I am not a mother and I do have friends that were teen moms, so dont take the following wrong....take responsibility for what you made and patent/take care of your child. Yes, people need help and there is nothing wrong with asking for it or giving that help.  But to be pissed at your parents, because they won't watch your children. Come on.

I get so aggrevated with situations like the above. I don't know why. It is not like I can actually do something about it. What I can do is pass along my morals, my values, and my work ethics to my future children.