MANAGING THE ART CLASSROOM: ELEMENTARY TIPS & TRICKS

MANAGING THE ART CLASSROOM: ELEMENTARY TIPS & TRICKS: photo credit: Shelly Bailey A teacher from Hoover writes: "In my elementary class I would love some tips for managing student...

The magic of BS/ACV Deep Rinse, Shea Moisture and ...Pipe Cleanners!!!

Hello there! I'm here to tell you guys about something unusual, yet practical, added to my monthly hair care routine. This type of routine consists of these products I have in the  pantry ...and one product from a drugstore. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you ... the Baking Soda/Apple Cider Vinegar deep rinse with Shea Moisture Organic African black soap Deep Cleansing Shampoo.  I got these products as MY WAY  to take care of my loced hair and dry, itchy scalp.  This shampoo and BS/ ACV deep cleanse keep my scalp healthy and clean. First, the recipe for the bs/acv deep rinse are list as follows:

Baking soda/Apple cider vinegar deep cleanse

1/4 cup of baking soda

3/4 cup of apple cider vinegar

1 teaspoon of sea salt

2 teaspoons of lemon juice

(courtesy of http://blog.franchesca.net and BronzeGoddess01)

I filled the huge plastic bowl with warm water ( that's a must), put in these listed ingredients together and waited until they're dissolved. By the way, you can do this in your own sink, but for me the squared plastic bowl is convenient. After the concoction was crystal clear, I dipped my loced hair in the bowl and rinse it front, back, both sides of my hair. It didn't took long for me to noticed the water already mirky!(YIKES!!) For folks who wear dreadlocks, you may think your hair is clean until you try this cleanse for yourself. That was a very eye opening experience! After soaking and rinsing my hair for 40 minutes,  the result is ...well...stunning!! I've never seen so much gunk removed before and now my head feels lighter,LOL!!!  While rinsing the excess solution from my hair, I, then, starting to use Shea Moisture Organic African Black Soap Deep Cleansing Shampoo. (picture below)

It has ingredients that fight scalp problems naturally, lathers well and cleanses without stripping, and smells like plantains. Altogether, the BC/ACV rinse and the Shea Moisture black soap shampoo really work wonders for my hair and scalp. 

     Another thing that I want to share is the power of the pipe cleaners (for locs that is :-)! I bought two bagfuls for 2 to 3 bucks (125 total) from the arts and crafts store to do an experiment on my already washed head for the first time ever... to use them as hairstyling tools. For colors, I prefer black or brown ( depending on your hair color). In this case,( picture below) the color and texture of the cleaners are great camouflages for my hair. I can go out in public  dressed, make-up and all with no fear of people staring. 

What a great alternative to using rollers in general! 

Here, below, is how they looked after I air dry it for three and a half days( my locs were still damp at the time)...

Don't it looked purrrrrrty!lol!!

   Will I use this pipe cleaner technique again next month? Maybe in the future, but not next month though. Every now and then I had a different style per month. The bs/acv deep cleanse, however, is the method I will continue to use on a monthly base( because of the acidity of these products I wouldn’t recommend doing this cleanse more than once every few months to avoid drying out your hair. Also, make sure you follow this cleanse with a good sulfate free and clarifying shampoo).  Here's to happy scalp, happy hair, and happy me! Blessings to all!! 

It's the 2012 Houston Comicpolooza Extravaganza!!!!

    After spending two days there as a first time volunteer, the 2012 Houston Comicpolooza outdid itself...again!  The conference was held at the George R. Brown Convention for the second time (May  25-27).  It's mission was to to provide the best and biggest annual multi-format pop culture convention in the southwest region of the United States, serving not only the fans of comics, science fiction, fantasy, video and table top gaming, anime, music and film, but also as a trade show and showcase for the studios, publishers, and manufacturers in those industries.  My first experience in the Comicpolooza was back in 2009. It was re-imagined as a two-day comic book festival set in a local mall, again with a strong emphasis on promoting creators, connecting with the media, and fostering new growth in the fanbase. We featured guests like David Mack, Steve Scott, Tom Hodges, Dirk Strangely and others, and added events like special screenings, Q&A sessions, and the charity live art benefit. The event was so successful we drew more fans than any other Houston comic convention in 15 years. Since then, Comicpalooza re-invented yet again, this time hosted at the George R. Brown Convention Center as a multi-format convention celebrating not just comics, but also sci-fi and fantasy, horror, steam punk, movies, film, and gaming of all types. I wish I had some pictures to post, but (thanks to my sisters) my digital camera was destroyed. :-( 

       ¡Buenas tardes bloggies! Guess what? Yours truly will take part of one of the greatest festival of all...IFest!! Yep, the Houston International Festival is a contemporary, multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural outdoor arts festival that annually attracts hundreds of thousands of people to downtown Houston for two weekends every April. The culture of a different country or theme is spotlighted each year and is known for being one of the largest presenters of world music. Encompassing 16 blocks of city parks, plazas and streets, the outdoor event features seven themed entertainment zones celebrating the heritage of various cultures from around the world. In this case, the spotlight is on Argentina!! [ Like my rose? :-) ]  The South American country is known as the  eighth largest in the world by land area and the largest among Spanish-speaking nations. The Argentine culture has significant European influences from the visual arts, architecture, theatre, music and cuisine ( hmmmmm... I guess we, Texans, aren't the only ones who love barbecuing ). If you're in town, tango your way to downtown Houston to experience the latin groove of  Argentina,  April 21-22, and 28-29,  2012. Vamos a bailar?

Please go to www.ifest.org  for more info. 

Check out my calendar!!! It's out NOW!!!

Monalisa's Journey

By Gretchin Morris

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Calendar January 2012 (12 Months) 

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“Art, to me, is more than just my talent or a gift. Primarily, it is a calling from God… …It is my way of communicating to the public when I do not speak verbally to them. Art is a journal (or diary), a mirror reflecting on my life..."



Below are some of my pieces from the 2012 calender...

For more info please go to www.lulu.com/product/calendar/monalisas-journey

 Have A Happy Easter Day!!!! 

 

 "PAINTER OF LIGHT"

A Thomas Kinkade Tribute

(1958-2012)

  The art world has lost another legend on April 6 of this year. Here (below) are some of the incredible paints he's done that made him so beloved. Known for his depliction with tranquil scenes included lush landscaping, cottages, churches, and streams running nearby. Many contain images from Bible passages. 

In 2002, he told the media that he's "a warrior for light",   in reference to his technical skills, but also the medieval practice of using light to symbolize the divine. "With whatever talent and resources I have," Kinkade said, " I'm trying to bring light to penetrate the darkness many people feel." This post is not about sorrow, it's about joy knowing that another soldier has gone home. Thanks, Mr. Kinkade, for allowing the Light to shine through you.