Dreading Journey: Two (2) Years with Dreadlocks (PICTURES)

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Hello Otherbeasts! So, wow. Here we are and it's been two (2) years since I've had Dreadlocks. It was my Two Year Dreadiversary back in July but I was so busy I had to put it off until now; I'm so sorry for the delay, my lovely Beasties. So, without further ado, I give you:

Two Years with Dreadlocks

Yes, yes, ah my, how they grow up. Now granted they're only 2 years old... and what have we learned about dreads? That they take closer to 3 years to mature (at the very least). I'm sure you're more interested in the pictures, so I'll let those speak for themselves... with little editorials by Yours Truly of course.

Fun Fact: I started out two years ago with 64 dreadlocks... two years later I have 62. I lost two somewhere. (Thanks to Ratty for asking this question.)

Remember how I talked a while ago about my dreads being a signal of change, they were a commitment for my health, etc? Remember? Okay, well, two years ago when I put my dreadlocks in I was at a very unhealthy weight (200 lbs for my 5'6" frame). Well today, two years later and I'm a healthy 118 lbs. "How do you know you're healthy, Shade, you're just going by your weight... that's not very indicative." Okay, Doubting Thomas, I also just had an entire blood panel run, cholesterol levels all perfect across the board. Hormones? Another A+. Lipids and all that other junk? Awesome. Blood Pressure? 117/77 with a resting pulse at 56. Boo-ya-ka-sha.

All right, on with the show.

 So, here you can see that my dreads are exactly that... dreadlocks. I still have a lot of fuzzy bits (the cycles, they keep coming around) but for the most part they stay well behaved.

 Just a different angle, you can still see the unintentional ombre job from my old dye growing out.

You can see I've gained back a little length... okay, a lot of length.

A lot of my dreads are still very quirky and do their own thing... and you can see I still have paintbrush tips even after two years.

See the two dreads I'm holding away from my face? That was my Big Fatty... that dread got way too big and so I combed it out and split into two... as you can see I have two baby dreads again. Awww... and damn it!

Okay, so this might be a new favorite, I don't get to see myself from the back very often... I love them minus my bald spot!

The wind was blowing, you can see my locks are still light enough to be moved a bit... although they look a bit funny and my ear is sticking out, boo hiss.


















.

A view from the underside. Because how often do you get to see that part? You can see all my little loose strands that don't want to assimilate.

Just a length shot.

 So that's me and my dreads...
My Latest Complaint? Stray Hair That Doesn't Dread in Anywhere!

It will be written about.























Okay Otherbeasts, well that's two years of dreadlocks right there. Wanna see something cool? Okay.

I've started making dreadlock cuffs and beads because, well, who knows dreads better than a fellow dreadhead? I thought I'd give my creativity a shot in this direction. Check out my shop on Etsy for more like this and many other unique ones!

My Etsy Shop (Wings and Things by D&D Studios) is full of Handmade Dreadlock Beads and Cuffs! 
Made by - Yours Truly - by a Dreadie, for Dreadies. <3

 Until Next Time,
<3 Shade










See My Other Blog Posts About Dreadlocks:

•  My Dreading Journey: One Year with Dreadlocks 

• Why I Decided to Dread My Hair

• My Dreading Journey Part 1

• My Dreading Journey Part 2

• Dreading Journey Part 3: 3 Months

• The Greatest Thing Since Sliced Bread

• 20 Little Unknown Things About Having Dreadlocks

• Dreading Journey Part 4: 6 Months (Pictures)

•  Two Years with Dreadlocks (PICTURES)

How I Lost 80 lbs Pounds: Hello Healthy Girl (PICTURES)

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Hi Otherbeasts! The countdown is still ticking... my 2 Year Primal-versary is coming up in November. Remember, this phase is "Hello Healthy Girl" and I've got 3 more months to whip myself into shape.

Reminder: Back in November of 2012 I weighed 200 lbs. Now, almost 2 years later, I'm holding fast at 120 lbs. So, I've lost about 80 pounds. It feels good, so good.

I wanted to show you the progress so far though...

Remember, this was all possible by following Mark Sisson's Primal Blueprint.
Healthy... here I come, ready or not!

Until Next Time,
<3 Shade

Goodbye Fat Girl! (75 Pounds Lost in 18 Months)

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Hello Otherbeasts! I hope you've been well during my hiatus! I didn't mean to stay gone so long but being an adult sure is time consuming. Ah, well... here's an update:

Goodbye Fat Girl! 75 Pounds Lost in 18 Months!

Yeah, it took a bit longer than expected... those last 15 pounds really took some effort to get rid of. No pain, no gain, amiright? Here's the pics:

Back:

  
Front:

  
Right Side:

 Left Side:

I reached 135 back in August of last year (9 months into eating clean) but continued to fluctuate between 144 and 135 from September until March of this year (I admit some bad habits *cough* candybinges *cough* crept back in for a few months but I overcame them). 

Just this first week of May I actually saw "130" on the scale... which was my "mini-goal" for last year when I turned 30; now I'm about to turn 31. Joy. But I reached 130 in my 30th year! Hooray! 

Here's where we look forward to ushering in the next phase: "Hello, Healthy Girl!"

These next 6 months will be devoted to toning, tightening, building, and strengthening. Why six months? Well, 6 months from now will be my TWO YEAR anniversary from when I first started eating clean... and I think it's a more realistic goal than my previous one.

So, stay tuned!

Until Next Time.
<3 Shade

"Hide The Last Soda" Kitchen Hack

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Have a roommate that always beats you to the last soda, leaving you parched, wanting, and a little resentful?
Well, now you can prevent any thievery and/or pilfering with a nifty little kitchen/life hack.
Ingredients:
- The Second-to-Last Soda Can
- An Empty Butter Carton
Proceed after this fashion:

My Dreading Journey: One Year of Dreadlocks (Pictures)

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Hello Otherbeasties! I know many of you have been waiting for this update to arrive and so here it is... time to talk about my dreadlocks being a year old! Back in June/July they celebrated their first birthday, so now officially in August I can post about it, no more waiting! So without further ado:

My Dreading Journey: One Year of Dreadlocks

Left: Just showcasing a quick tied back style for when I start doing yardwork or it's hot outside. 

Right: Loose and in the sunlight. :)







Time really flew for me, if you'll remember my reason for dreading my hair was a commitment to becoming healthier, growing spiritually, and being a happier person. The journey is far from over... but the amount of personal growth in the last year was astonishing. I fully believe dreads really do something magical to people.

 They still like to do some crazy stuff, but mainly they're pretty well behaved for only one year old.









So, since putting my dreads in over a a year ago I've started eating clean - no processed anything - and started doing yoga or walking everyday, and because of those things I have lost a total of 60 pounds. Yeah. Don't believe me? Go back and look at the very first blog entry about my dreads: My Dreading Journey Part 1. 

 From the front and from the back.












Anyway! Thought I'd give you all an update with pictures! Ready? Okay. Well for starters they had shortened up quite a bit in between 6 months and now, but in the last couple months I've seen some length coming back. In fact my dreads now reach the bottoms of my shoulder blades.




 Just a little lefty and righty shot of the two different sides.












They've gotten wilder, crazier, loopier, nuttier, and more a part of who I really am. Anecdotal: I was just up in Austin visiting my family and friends when I decided to pop in on one of my best friends whom I've known since high school. When she saw me her face lit up and she said, "You found your hair!" That right there has been one of the coolest things ever said to me. I love her. <3


 In the shade versus in sunlight, as you can see my dreads are happy, healthy, clean, and shiny. :)

P.S. The reason they're two-toned is because I used to dye my hair and now it's growing out... so, it may look weird but I still love it.




Almost everywhere I go, I have at least one person complimenting me on them, asking me how I did it, as well as asking me if they're real. It's quite funny and I don't mind it in the least. I've become a happier person, a healthier person, and I love my dreads. Sure I miss being able to comb my hair and sometimes I glance longingly at women that walk by with silky smooth tresses, but right now this is me. Maybe I'll have my original silky straight hair back eventually - but right now, this very moment - this is me. And I'm happy.

Right: Just an up-close of several dreads.
Left: Two that I "love-hate" right now. Damn bumps.


 The real part? Well, I must separate my dreads during every shower because they like to stick together and start forming a monster dreadlock, but that's a sign of healthy dreadlocks. I also only use natural soaps on my dreads, meaning the good stuff made with lye and plant tallow, essential oils, and not much else. I really recommend Zum Bar Soaps from www.indigowild.com. They're fantastic and come in great scents like Lavender-Mint, Cedar, and Citus-Sandalwood.




Right now this is one of my favorite dreadlocks because it started out as a braid and has developed a sort of herringbone-like look to it, so I call it my Red Herring.

I also have this annoying genetically-inherited part in my hair at the back of my head that screams, "Look at me. Look. At. Me... LOOK AT ME!" So, I'm debating on how to disguise it... maybe by merging two dreads together. 

See it? I know you see it. Right there. It's shouting at you to stare at it, isn't it? 

This guy is absurd. It's literally a bubble of hair on the side of my dread... like a growth.
"It's not a tumor."

 Here's my Big Fatty. He hasn't changed much, other than entering his teen years and starting to lump and bump here and there. Whippersnapper.







Anyway, I'm not sure what kind of pictures you guys would like to see, or what angles, but feel free to leave a comment and I'll do my best to answer questions or snap photos that showcase certain features of my dreads.

So, there you have it. Dreadlocks at one year old! Thanks for reading Otherbeasties!

Until Next Time,
<3 Shade








My Etsy Shop (Wings and Things by D&D Studios) is full of Handmade Dreadlock Beads and Cuffs! Made by a Dreadie for Dreadies. <3


Other Blog Posts About My Personal Dreadlock Journey:

•  My Dreading Journey: One Year of Dreadlocks

• Two Years with Dreadlocks (PICTURES)

• Why I Decided to Dread My Hair

• My Dreading Journey Part 1

• My Dreading Journey Part 2

• Dreading Journey Part 3: 3 Months

• The Greatest Thing Since Sliced Bread

• 20 Little Unknown Things About Having Dreadlocks

• Dreading Journey Part 4: 6 Months (Pictures) 

Diamonds

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Diamonds

Start loving yourself regardless of whatever "flaws" you may think you have.

For instance: the true hallmark of a real diamond are inclusions or "flaws," (which is just a negative way of saying "characteristics") and without those flaws that diamond would just appear fake and transparent much like an imitation diamond; however like a real, honest-to-goodness, from-the-earth diamond the brilliance of your character will outshine any major flaws and all anyone will ever see is something beautiful. <3

Unless you get thrown under a microscope. Then your flaws become glaringly obvious.

So maybe we should avoid scrutinizing the people we love because really - even if you know the flaws are still there - that doesn't change the fact that it's still a diamond.

Until Next Time,
<3 Shade

Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred Challenge Completed! (Pictures)

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Okay, I just finished Day 30 of the Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred. I have results and I have pictures. Since I'm already eating clean, I ignored the diet program and continued on my merry Primal/Paleo way. Wanna see how I did? Read on.

I'm not gonna lie, Jillian is a tough trainer, even at home through a screen; more amazingly, she actually motivates me the way I need motivating. Even better than that? She uses mainly resistance training in the 30 Day Shred series, which is fabulous. She kicked my butt every single day, and I'm a former athlete - granted I've been out of practice for the past few years - but even on the last day I was dripping with sweat and breathing heavy; but the exercise itself isn't that hard, it's actually pretty easy... which is great for anyone looking to break back into fitness or if you're a beginner.

Pictures:

Conclusion: Am I shredded? Hell yeah... underneath the rest of this blubber I need to lose. It didn't give me the exact results I wanted but it did give me *some* results, and I wouldn't trade that for anything. Have I still got a ways to go? Undoubtedly. Am I gonna keep going? Yes.

Soon.

Oh yeah. There's also this:

That's 5 weeks of yoga right there. Gonna keep doing yoga, yes, it was the JM's Yoga Shred.

In fact, I believe I'll try the Jillian Michaels Body Revolution next. We'll see how it goes from there. Either way, the beast is gonna get loosed soon! Watch out. Fitness Beast Mode, here I come...
Ready or not.

Until Next Time,

<3 Shade