Spring Break 2014 Recap so far

My Spring Break so far has been a stay-cation. I've mainly been in the house since Sunday struggling with a cold. I started to feel back to normal around yesterday. My mom unfortunately has been battling a cold also but the effects on her have been much worse. They were so bad my dad took her to the emergency room Wednesday morning just to have her checked out. She was having the shakes and always and complaining about possibly losing consciousnesses. So as of right now she is still in bed sleeping and just trying to regain her strength back. It's really taken a toll on her. My father and I have been watching over just to make sure everything is ok.

Besides dealing with this cold I've been able to get out and TRY to take some pictures. Which unfortunately have been met with disastrous results so far. I took my camera to a great camera store called Schiller's near my job and they checked out my Pentax K1000 just to make sure it was working ok. While I was there I purchased 3 rolls of  ISO 400 film and a salesman was nice enough to put in a roll of film for me so I could have it ready to go. 


(Monday)
So during the beginning of Spring Break, I went to Forest Park and decided to take a few shots to see if I knew what I was doing. I have two lens (50 mm and a 120 mm) so far and just ordered a third one (28 mm) a few days ago. So I complete a roll of film and I start to rewind it. Unfortunately I forgot to hit the button at the bottom of my camera and as I was rewinding it I was trying to figure out what the hell was wrong with my camera and I OPENED it up and exposed the film....So after forcefully rewinding it and while doing that destroyed some sprockets on the film, I take it to Schiller's that day to turn in to be developed. I informed the saleman of my problem and he asked me if I had engaged the button at the bottom of my camera. I immediately thought "NO", and I informed the guy and he told me that was problem. 

(Tuesday)
The next day I went in and a saleslady informs me that they were not able to get anything off of the film. With the sprockets destroyed and the film exposed there was nothing that they could find. So of course I was disappointed and heartbroken. She asked if I wanted to keep the film I told her No and to  just throw away. By the time I turned around I already had tears in my eyes and then by the time I reached my car all I could do was just sob while sitting inside. I keep thinking I'm not good at anything and I'm never going to be anyone that even I can be proud of.

So I  sit there in my car and think for 35 years I've not been able to master anything or accomplish anything of importance. I just wonder what in the hell am I even here on this Earth for. I can't even rewind a roll of film properly. Other thoughts start racing in my head. I feel like I've always had battles going on inside of my head for years and they just won't stop...Hell if I'm truly honest with myself for the longest time I didn't plan on being here past my 35th birthday and still wonder if I want to be. I wonder how I would feel if I wasn't around anymore and the only thing that scares me is that I wouldn't do it right and be worse off. Beyond that I honestly feel that I would be happier and I wouldn't have to worry about my warped mentality anymore. I feel my mind has become my biggest enemy and I just don't feel like fighting it anymore. Now all these damn thoughts are rushing out of me and this is just off of not being able to rewind a roll of film properly. You can not even imagine how my much of a torment my mind has been to me ever since my teenage years.

So I leave Schillers and go to Red Lobster to grab something to eat and then afterwards make my way home.


(Wednesday)
I mainly stayed at home to look after my mom and then decided to take another roll of film to load into my camera. Now there are a few books I have been reading regarding photography. So I don't know WHY when I decided to load up the 2nd roll of film I thought for some STUPID reason I had to advance the WHOLE roll of film through the camera WITH the back still open and THEN close the back and rewind the film BACK to the beginning....so yea I haven't even taken any pictures yet and I'm PRETTY sure I've fucked up that roll of film as well. I don't know what I was thinking. So I still have that roll in the camera and wonder if it might still work since I was not outside when I put the roll in. I was just in my room with a lamp on.....Who the hell knows... 

Afterwards I decide to get out for a while and I went to the STL Galleria to checkout one of my favorite stores, SEE Eyewear to checkout the latest frames that they have for their trunk show tomorrow. I came across a few that I thought were cute but not totally sold on any pair. I have a Groupon code for $200 off a pair that expires in April so I might wait until then to see if any more new frames come in that I might like. 

When I got back home I started looking into packaging supplies for my shea butter mixtures. I'm thinking of starting a business and selling them along with my hair oil mixtures. Also am thinking about body scrubs, lip balms or/and solid perfume rolls. I was really excited about it then doubt started to creep through. I normally make it for my mom and myself. Can I really along with my small mixer really make up that many batches..


(Thursday)
Well today started off with some rain and for the most part has been a cloudy day, which is pretty much matching my mood overall. I decided to get out this afternoon and take some more pictures. To see if I'm not a total fuck up. So I made my way to Kirkwood and got out decided to see if the roll from yesterday that I possibly screwed up was in fact screwed up. After taking pictures on that roll I decided to use another roll and proceeded to load that one into my camera. After checking to make sure it was loaded in I proceeded to take some pictures then after a few pictures I hear this strange sound as I try to advance to take another picture. It's not advancing the way it suppose to. I get nervous and know I shouldn't open up the camera or I'll expose all of the film, so I just start taking shot until I get to number 24. But the camera is still taking pics past 24 or at least it is still letting me advance so at that point I knew I had ruined another roll of film. So I opened it up to see what was wrong and see the film is not moving but the sprockets are every time I would try to advance the film. I closed it back up and rewound the film back out. I take it out, put it in my bag and just get back in my car. I've wasted 3 rolls of film about 16 bucks worth. 

What kills me is that I had also gone to Walgreens before going out to Kirkwood and had bought a 4 pack of film and I now I'm thinking I need to just return it back to Walgreens. I'm wasting my time and money thinking that I could ever learn about photography. If I can't understand the basics I sure as hell am never going to learn anything advance. If I can't understand how to use a vintage camera I definitely don't need to waste my money buying a digital one. So I now have two rolls of film that pretty much are useless just like the first one I dealt with earlier this week. I still plan on taking them in to see if there are ANY pictures at all.  

At home now just in a shitty mood. Not to mention my hair looks crazy. It's official I will not be using Design Essentials Natural Honey CurlForming Custard with Honey and Chamomile anymore in my hair. That should only be used on people with thick hair, which I just don't have. My hair still has the twists in it but as far as styling, there isn't any body to my hair. It looks like I have crazy stringy twist on my head even as I untwist them more to get more body. So my beautician wants me to see her tomorrow so she can see what it looks like so far..... Yea definitely don't think this will be one of my to-go to looks in the future. 

 Overall this week just feels like an epic fail. The only good that has come out of this Spring Break for me so far has been my bracelet and getting together with some high school girlfriends. Oh and I'm finally started feeling back to normal yesterday from that crazy bout of the flu.  Besides that I'm just done, I wonder what more punishment can come my way with three more days left in my vacation....




Until the next episode....

 All That MsJazz

Easter Sunday 2013

Today is Easter. For some of you, that means going to church services while others get together with family and friends and have nice home cooked meal or just finding the nearest Piccadilly in the area.

For us there wasn't any church involved. Just friends, family, and NCAA March madness in our household to mark the occasion with a bountiful feast. My mom and I worked the kitchen from 9am until right up when folks showed up around 3pm.

Candy Yams, Green Beans, Baked Sweet potatoes, Gravy

Homemade Strawberry Cheesecake

Pound Cake

Coconut squares on top, Pumpkin squares on bottom

Veggie Salad, Fruit Salad, Potato Salad

Dressing and Mac N Cheese

Turkey

 My mom had some relatives over, some we already knew and a few that were new to us. The new relatives had moved to Missouri about a month ago. Really nice people and had SUCH an adorable little boy. A friend of mine came over and my sis had a friend over as well. We mainly relaxed downstairs watching the the Duke and Louisville game and were having a great time until the horrific accident with Kevin Ware's leg. Man talk about a serious freakout. I had the chills when I saw what happened to him. 

Afterwards I went upstairs and was helping a cousin with getting acquainted with her new Mini Ipad. Very nice I must say;) I did watch the rest of the game until about 2 minutes were left on the clock. After that we were making To-go plates for folks and then the clean up project commenced which finally was finished around 15 minutes ago.

I am SO thankful that I have tomorrow off. Yet I know there are others that are not quite so lucky. For you all, I have this nice pic;)

 

Until the next episode....

 All That MsJazz

Spring Break Days 7 & 8

Friday, March 30th


Friday was a good day, went to the movies and saw the latest G.I Joe movie and must say it was quite kick ass. Quite interesting to see two movies in one week that have plots that are hell bent on destroying the United States Government. Real interesting..after that I went back home and chilled for the remainder of the day. In fact that evening was so boring I think the highlight of my day besides seeing that movie was cleaning some shrimp for future use.....yep I'm a wild child.


Saturday, March 31st

Had quite the busy morning and afternoon. That evening was met with prepping food for Easter Sunday. So again pretty much at home the whole day. Nothing really fun about that.


Until the next episode....

 All That MsJazz

Spring Break Days 5 & 6

Wednesday, March 28th

 Well I had resigned myself to another somewhat boring day at home until my mom asked me about any new movies that had come out. So I told her about Olympus has fallen and G.I. Joe. Needless to say, she decided on the Olympus movie. We caught the 1pm showing at the Saint Louis Mills and all I have to say is that if you haven't seen this movie yet, YOU NEED TO! Great action and plot definitely give it an A. While watching this movie, I couldn't help but wonder if the President and Secret Service had seen this movie, they need to. 

After the movie we did some shopping at Sam's and Walmart off of West Florissant. It was so funny while we were in Walmart. A young man around the age of 8 yrs old was playing with a big plastic ball, my mom and I walked past him and all of a sudden we heard a big BOOM sound. Well since we just came from movies and remembering all the explosions from there, I ALMOST dropped to the ground right behind my basket and was on the brink of saying, "DEF COM 5" or  " CODE RED". Thank God I didnt, all that happened was that people in the store literaly stopped moving and stared at the boy and he just took off running. After that we went home and I don't recall going back out.



Thursday, March 29th

Yesterday was also another so so day, one highlight was checking out the house my sister is buying which is only 10 minutes away from my parents house. Pretty cool, afterwards I went driving around to find something to eat and eventually made it back home. Later on that evening I was shredding cheese and watching Project Runway which I have found to be a quite fascinating show. I took a break around 9pm to get out the house for around 20 minutes and run a few errands.  My night ended with playing some Tomb Raider on Xbox 360 and watching some TV. I must also say the new Tomb Raider game on a scale of 1 to 10 is a 20. It's just that epic. So check it out if you havent.

 
 

Until the next episode....

 All That MsJazz

Spring Break Days 3 & 4

Monday, March 25th

Well yesterday in the morning someone came by and offered to shovel the snow for us and so we were let out of our snow encased prison of  a hell aka "the house" by 11 am. So after getting ready to go out, I made my way to a few shops and just chilled out. I went to the Galleria, JoAnn Fabrics's again but this time with one of my berets to match up which satin I would use to sew inside. Afterwards I went to Mimi's Beauty supply off of Lindbergh and decided after much reading to add an additional element to my natural hair care. So when I make my next batch of DIY hair oil I'm going to add this and Peppermint Oil.

Tropic Isle Living Red Pimento Hair Growth Oil

So after that trip I decided to the Marshalls off of Halls Ferry and walk around a bit. After a hour I went home and that was that.

Saw this at Marshall's on a journal book

Tuesday, March 26th

Well today I didn't get out of the house until around 11am. Went to Steak n Shake for lunch. Afterwards I went to the TJMaxx and Marshalls off of Olive in Creve Couer bummed around for a few hours then made my way Chesterfield Mall and walked around. I was bored after a while and went back home. Been here ever since.

I swear they need to make a guide or something on Saint Louis, I'm a county chic. I'm used to going to the same ole okey-dokey places. Would be nice to find some hidden gems in this city and by hidden gems I mean boutiques, jazz music spots/venues and unique eateries;) I did pick up the latest ALIVE magazine so I guess I will need to check it out for some ideas. Especially for the summer time.
 

Until the next episode....

 All That MsJazz

Spring Break begins Days 1/2, 1, & 2

Friday March 22nd

Well my Spring Break officially started at 4pm on March 22nd. I shut down my cpu and made my way to my Nail shop to get a long overdue fill-in and manicure on my nails. I decided to get some more temperature changing nails and love these colors just as much as my first set. I must say they look wonderful!

Hot pink and grey when hot

Red and black when cold

An interesting french manicure look when you combine the two sets of colors

My nail salon

 

After my nails were done I decided to grab something to eat. Afterwards on my way home I picked up something for my mom to eat and just ended up staying home for the rest of the night.



Saturday March 23rd 


I decided I needed to pick up a few packages that I had ordered. The first one was:

I used to have this movie back in the day but unfortunately can't find it.  The only reason I bought it was for Ron White skit which had me laughing so hard I was crying. Let's just say I don't look at Tater Tot's the same way anymore.

My second package was a custom made satin bonnet I was waiting on. I loved the way it was packaged and I could tell from the work done it this seamstress knew what she was doing. It looks fabulous! I wrote about her in one of my recent blogs and her shop is named FlorBella.

So after reviewing my purchase I started to think about my berets that I have at home that are made out of wool and cotton. I can't wear them like I used to because I know they aren't good for my hair. So I decided to go to JoAnn's Fabric store in Brentwood and matched up the satin inlay in my new bonnet to some bolts of satin fabric that I found at the store. So I think a project of mine eventually once I have some other things in my life in order will be to sew myself some sating linings into my berets so I can still wear them and also protect my hair at the same time. 

So after that thought my boy Trenton called me and we chatted for a lil while until we said our goodbyes. While I was driving I decided I wanted to go to the Saint Louis Zoo and get some exercise in and walk the area while enjoying the animals. Especially with the wonderful 50+ degree weather. I figured I better take advantage of it before the snow came through...AGAIN. Yet once I made my way to Forest Park and saw the crowds in droves descending on the zoo I figured that I wasn't the only one with this idea. So after wandering around for a parking spot I eventually gave up on that idea and made my way to the Delmar Loop.

 
I walked around and enjoyed the ambience of the area and people. Stopped by a few shops and even bought a smoothie from Ben & Jerrys. One shopped I enjoyed immensely was a custom made T-shirt store called BakedT's. I definitely will be visiting this store in the future;) So after I'm done with my walk I decide to head home to let my phone recharge since getting a lil bit tired. 

After recharging my battery and relaxing for a few hours I decided to venture out for some dinner and watch the SLU vs OREGON game, which of course had terrible consequences. After that I went back  home and just chilled out.



Sunday March 24th  


This started this morning.....and hasn't stopped since......

 
So needlessly to say, I probably won't be getting out of the house today.... Oh well it's wash day for my hair anyway. 


Until the next episode....

 All That MsJazz

Spring Break - Day 10 (THE LAST ONE!! UGHH)

So today was my last day of my spring break and I must say I can't believe the time has gone by so damn quickly! It amazes me that I have gone through 10 days as though it feels like a blink of an eye. Well this last day I will say I did try my best to make productive. This morning I did homework for my college course which is actually due tomorrow. But given the fact that I will be too busy with work and then afterwards going to the Oprah show, I felt I better get it out of the way since I technically won't be back home until 10pm.

So after that, I get dressed for a Natural Hair event called Spring into a Curly New Season with the ~Show Me Naturals~ This is a group located in Saint Louis, MO that supports sistas who are wearing their hair natural and proud and also offering advice and support to those who are transitioning. This event was held at the Legacy Books & Café . I arrive right on time. The event was from 2:30pm to 5:30pm. At the welcome desk they had a nice treat bag from Jessicurl Hair Products. After picking up my bag  I take a seat at one of the back tables.

The program shortly start within the next 10 minutes and at my table I was able to meet some beautiful women who were natural and trading stories about their hair. The Mistress of Ceremonies SunShine Malone. One of the founders of the Show Me Naturals. Overall the event was a great way for people to network, check out the businesses that were there, and take away more knowledge then they came with. My favorite part besides the food, (chicken and mostacholi, can't go wrong with that, sorry I don't eat salads.) was listening to a lady there by the name of Maria Antoinette Loggins. She is a Hair Stylist downtown and she was just a well of knowledge with all the questions that were thrown her way.

Afterwards a few ladies from The Cultural Bop of Saint Louis came through and showed the ladies how to do the Bop and informed us where classes were being held. After their demonstration with some of the ladies from the crowd, they moved on to their prize giveaways. After all that fun, the event festivities were over. While some people left, others stayed behind to talk with their friends, meet new people and return back to the various business booths. Overall I had a wondereful time and I can not wait for next event.

After leaving there I went to the Delmar Loop and visited my favorite boutique store Ziezo and decided I wanted a smoothie from Ben and Jerry's. I could hear the drums playing a block over. Every Sunday a group of musicians come together near the Market Pub House and they jam with their drums and the african rhythms that beat out along with other instruments sometimes will make people dance and shout. I was tempted to take a peek, but decided against it and came home.

This spring break was just what I needed to reharge my batteries so I can push forward with the rest of this school year and finish strong.

Spring Break - Day 9

My Saturday was quite busy and I must say it was wonderful. It started off quite interesting. My mother left her wallet at home and my dad informed her of her minor faux pas. So I took it to her location (Nail Shop) and stayed a little while. Afterwards, I took my car to get a wash again at Waterway and it was glistening! I must say I now can understand why some of my friends enjoy taking their cars to get washed and detailed.