Today’s theme for February Photo of the day is “A Fav Photo of You,” and without hesitation I dug in the archives for this Summer pic taken on the morning of July 1st. I clung to this picture for months and months at a time because it reminded me of a greater purpose.

Two weeks prior I’d come home from visiting the folks in Florida, walked into Work employed, then walked out 3 hours later unemployed, crying, angry and unsure. Two weeks later I took this picture on the morning of my last day at work and found a quiet determination.

Subsequently, I avoided the handbooks on the ‘right’ way to be unemployed and created an opportune space to live, breathe, learn, explore…. and challenged myself for something greater.

Six months later I am still on that path, happily employed…still smiling from within.

Maybe just a month late but still worth it, we’re fast approaching this blog’s first brunch induced get-together! If you haven’t already RSVP’d, please do so by 6pm February 21st, space is mighty limited (we’re doing brunch the right way), so first come first dine. We’ll be talking hair, noshing on red velvet love cakes and special surprise hair goodies on February 26th in Brooklyn at 1pm. Questions? Drop them in the comment section or e-mail: chai@backtocurly.com.

Official location will be sent to final guest list February 22nd, thanks to all who RSVP’d!!

With a rainy forecast in a recent trip to DC, FRO managed something pretty flipping amazing amidst it all…a stellar twist-out courtesy of a new fav condish (that we’ve doubled as a styler). This has really been my ‘thing’ as of late…taking a relatively cheapie condish (think EO ROSE condish) and turning it into a weekly styler that’s able to deliver stellar results. What I really love about this method is my lessening dependency on hair butters that often leave my hairline littered with irritations, and grease spots on bedspreads & sheets…not cute.

So a few weeks back on another PJ hunch, a gal grabbed a bottle of Herbal Essences Long Term Relationship (formulated for long hair), headed home and experimented using KBB’s leave-in conditioners as a base and unraveled shiny, well defined twists a mere 3-4 days later.

Not sure if there’s a scientific method to this, though using a moisture rich conditioner that’s typically formulated for color treated hair has done incredible things for my twist-outs & their longevity. Today, FRO skated by on 8 day hair & still pocketed compliments while growing in ‘poof’ factor. LOVE.

Yeah, this could be a fluke, but I’m still itching to try out the same combo this weekend. The Herbal Essences Long-Term Relationship has been getting raves across the board for being a great leave-in…& it is! Not only that, but it’s beyond easy to access in local BBS’s or drugstores, and Fro experienced zero flaking. If you’ve tried this condish, how’d you use? Did you love/like/detest?  I’ll be posting more pics of FRO this week in BTC’s FB page and getting back to regular hair updates starting next week!

After just coming back from one of the better African American artists profiles I’ve yet to visit over at the Corocan to see the 30 Americans in Washington, DC., there’s a strong sense that Black History Month is truly…excitedly underway!

Each year I take special care to fill the calendar up with interesting events that serve the important purpose of highlighting the histories of African Americans, and this year I’m stepping up my game. There really is a bevy of options to explore if you’re in New York, yet one worth discovering this week is the Romare Bearden event hosted by Macy’s at their flagship store at 34th street Herald Square.

Visitors will be treated to a special exhibition displaying pieces from the artist celebrating his 100th birthday, a jazz performance inspired by his own music & works, cooking demos from local chefs featuring the artists favorite recipes and even a chance to win a trip for two to Paris!

I’ll be front and center soaking it all in, and implore you to find a Bearden celebration to attend before the exhibit comes to a close.  Cities participating in the event include New Orleans, Chicago, New York, Atlanta, LA, Philadelphia , Houston & Miami. Click here to find a Macy’s near you to RSVP.

How are you celebrating Black History Month?

Disclosure: this is a sponsored post made possible by Everywhere. For more on this blog’s policy click here.

Today’s theme in the #FEBPHOTOADAY challenge is words and before I hunker down and start packing for tomorrow’s trip to DC, I snapped this pic of a vision board made just a few weeks ago. Initially while putting images together for my 2012 vision, I grew incredibly anxious because what soon began to form resembled nothing close to what I ‘thought’ it should look like. In all honestly, I remember seeing vision boards from friends and others online and loving the inspiring images and anecdotes that filled the page. Yet paying attention to what I carefully adhered to my cut out board, and noticing what slowly took shape was unsettling.

If you could imagine a person growing disheartened by their own ‘art’ slowly taking shape, & finding a bitter way to dismiss it’s reason simply because it was more original than the next ‘piece.’ Nothing short of silly, right? Well, so sayeth a good friend who assured this ‘artist’ that because it’s your vision, it is already authentic & necessary.

Words to me are everything. They provide meaning, depth, love, encouragement, substance, value, guidance, brevity…& the redundancy to say it all again just in case we forget. Words provide us the incredible opportunity to see ourselves, our future loves & for that I am grateful. This weekend I embark on a small ‘Great Escape’ & aim to bring some of those remaining words to life.

Are you a fan of vision boards? What are your goals this year?