A Mile a Minute: The World of Mrs. Saditty

Natural Hair Update

I recently dawned on me that I had not discussed my hair on my blog! Well, it's been a little over three months since my big chop. This is my second go-round as a natural and this time, it's for keeps! Sure, I miss mine (and other people's) long, luxurious locks flowing from my head but this? It just feels...well natural?

Before chopping off the relaxed portion of my hair, I was under the impression that I had alopecia because my temple areas were literally BALD under my weaves, etc. and would not grow. Well, a few weeks ago, I noticed some fuzziness on the bald portions and now----there is hair! It's growing! As a matter of fact, the whole head has become really thick and is growing like a bush.

Now, I was a PJ (product junkie) and have a bathroom full of expensive crap that might've made my hair look good but they definitely didn't feel good nor do anything to promote growth. Thanks to fellow bloggers Adrienne (I am loving the coconut oil!) and Val (keep sending all the links to the natural hair sites!) and a ton of people on Youtube, I have learned that cheaper is sometimes better. Instead of shampooing, I co-wash with V05 Conditioner ($1.19 per bottle) mixed with Baking Soda ($.49 per box). Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, and Pure Shea butter from the African store have become my go-to conditioning and styling products. All in all, they have my hair growing like wildfire!!I am moving past TWA (teeny-weeny afro) stage and now have enough for an afro-puff....check me out....

Believe it or not, I am happy to be nappy! I do envy many of my permed sisters but I guess it just wasn't for me! I'll keep you guys updated on my hair's progress. See ya'll!

Mondays, Migranes, and Midrin

It's great to be home, even if I was only gone for a short minute. It was nice to walk into my home and see everything basically turned upside down. MrSaditty looked at me like he was looking at Jesus. He couldn't stop telling me how happy he was to have me home. My gummy and scruffy children were happy to see me also...Itty Bitty was sporting a hairdo out of the Color Purple (pre-Celie marrying Mista and combing hair). For some reason, men cannot control children like we can. We had an abbreviated Father's Day Celebration and I then proceeded to whip my house into shape, tuck the kids in, and jump in my own bed.

This morning, I awoke with a killa! Let me give ya'll a brief history. I spent much of my life thinking that people with migranes were full of baloney. I mean how can a simple headache control someone's life? When I turned the big 3-2, I realized that migranes were as real as Jesus Christ dying on the Cross. The cause has not been pinpointed but they can shut me down. I've gone thru many different medicines and injections and currently, am on Midrin. I'd planned on returning to work today to catch up on my backlog of work but this morning was all about medicating myself and waiting for this to pass. Maybe I can mosey into work later but for now? Nope! 

The Great Upkeep Debate

A friend and I were debating this morning about upkeep. She states that once you get married or are in a long term relationship, your personal maintenence fees should continue to come out of your own pool of money. If you don't have the funds on your own, you should not use your husband's money but instead go "undone" until you have the money to go and get gussied up...huh? To this, I say nay.

When I met my husband, my eyebrows,upper lip, and chin were waxed...my weave was tight and bouncy and my toenails and fingernails were as shiny as lollipops. My heels and palms were smooth from parrafin wax...you get the picture. The single Mr. S took this all in and knew it wasn't cheap. He complimented me on everything. I let him know that with a young son to care for practically on my own, upkeep was not easy and could get expensive. I also explained to him that I often found the money because it was more than my appearance, it was a neccessity to keep my self-esteem in check.

Well, over the course of the next few months, I wifed him. I did his laundry when I did mine, fed him home-cooked goodness, left enough cooked food in his refrigerator on Sunday that he could go all week without eating fast food, did his grocery shopping when I did mine, etc., etc., etc. These things cost money...MY money. I never asked him for a penny in return.

When we decided to consolidate households, we partially consolidated money. At the time, he was moved up to a different pay grade and began to make nearly twice as much as I did. Immediately, he was very vocal about returning the favors that I did for him when we lived apart. He called to mind all of the things that I had done for him when we were still 'single'. We (or rather he) hashed out an agreement: I pay cellphone bills, internet, and cable. EVERYTHING else came out of his pocket...mortgage, utilities, car payments, insurance, savings. Everything. He asked me how much it cost to look like his future wife should look (yes, he threw hints) and I told him. He then told me to add that to his expenses also.
When I started having his babies and raising his two kids from his first marriage while working full time, I began to look and feel raggedy. I spent more of "my money" on my babies. He tsk'ed me and told me that the kids were our responsibility, not 'mine'. He dared me to spend my income on the kids' clothes, etc. He got the bright idea to funnel a certain amount every month to a Navy Federal account and presented me with a debit card. This, he said, was strictly for me doing me. He made sure that I made all my hair and nail appointments and continued to look and feel like me.

His money is OUR money. I remind him that my money is our money also but he disagrees. He tells me that my earnings minus cellphones, internet, and cable bills are my money. It feels weird having free reign over his money with such minor responsibilities but Oh Well...

My friend thinks we are nuts. She thinks that the debit card idea is hare brained. Well, it works for us. If you are dating someone or married to someone who appreciates the way you look not only for yourself but for their pleasure and wants to pick up the tab, is anything really foul about that? Let me hear what you think.

The 50 Million Pound Challenge

Once upon a time, MrsSaditty had a gastric bypass and lost 180lbs in no time! This is while she was still MissSaditty...she devoted all kinds of time to going to the gym and watched what she ate. Then came MrSaditty and his wonderful gifts of food, wine, and long weekends. The new MrsSaditty became lazy and her weightloss halted. THEN, 21 of the lost pounds came back.

Now don't get me wrong, losing 180 lbs saved my life. I no longer have sleep apnea, I breathe normally, and the beginning signs of diabetes and hypertension are gone. The best part? Going from a 30/32 to a sweet size 16! And no more cankles! Weighing over 400 lbs was hell and I plan on N-E-V-A-H going back that route, no excuses. But these last 21 pounds that I have picked up have to go...and they have to take 40 more of their cousins with them. EM-MEE-JUT-LAY!

See, MrsSaditty is still carrying around 31 pounds of loose skin from when she was 400lbs+ and must have a second surgery to remove that skin. (That's right, 31 pounds of me is just loose skin and tissue and it is yuk-o-rama. Imagine wearing a body girdle e.v.e.r.y d.a.y  just to hold it all in.) She needs to have this removed. But if she lost 60 lbs BEFORE skin removal, it would give her more loose skin and tissue to have removed but when all was said and done, she would weigh waaaaaaaaaaaaaay under her target goal of 180 lbs...

How do I plan on doing this? Hell, I've lost more weight than most people have ever weighed. I know how it's done. It's sad but obese people know more about nutrition than anyone else, most are just too lazy to put that knowledge in motion. I have signed up for State Farm's 50 Million Pound Challenge as motiation. There is nothing as motiating as having other people loose weight alongside you. My plan of attack is a 5 day liquid fast to kick it off (a technique known to gastric bypass patients as "shocking"). During this fast, I will have sugar free liquids and gels and seasoned reduced sodium broth. After the initial 5 days, I will move on to protiens, fibers, and vegetables. No sugar, no flour--none of that. Five small meals, all before 6pm. Five miles per day, 6 days per week of walk/jog(walk a lap, jog a lap).

I have things to mark my upcoming milestones---I purchased a pair of size 12 Seven jeans to wear when I get to that point and a good seamstress to take them in once they become baggy.

Wish me pounds of luck and I will keep you posted on my progress!