Things I’m doing around Atlanta
I’m sharing Lupe Fiasco’s latest work – Samurai. He now has a deluxe version – hard to find the work as a whole together so I am just linking to the original released in 2024.
Take a look at his insta to see what he has been up to. Loved the images and video captured of him running the 5k through Japan with the ASAP crew. Check it out here.
During the height of the Curlsqueen craze a year or two ago, I bought several curlsqueen products (just for your knowledge – 2c/3a curly half wigs, clipins and some straight halfwigs) When the products arrive, and you pull them out of the packaging, the hair is sooooo gorgeous! Stunning even. I thought to myself – trying to grow my hair back to waist length would be so easy!
Curlsqueen is my first true foray into hair extensions. If I can remodel my home, I can surely learn how to attach hair to my head, and make it seamless.
I was, however, very badly disappointed. After a few months of wear, the hair tangles, it no longer has body or flow, and just does not reflect the amount of money spent. Human hair lasts for forever. I know that there are not many people that feel this way online about Curlsqueen, but I do. What a waste of money. After attempting to coordinate returns or new products with the company, one gets fed up (they did attempt to rectify things a bit by sending me a free halfwig for the points status I possessed, but that one quickly tangled up as well). Is there a brand with curls just as beautiful that does not tangle? I have yet to find them. Most companies charge an arm and a leg for the length I need and the quality. I’m thinking that I’m going to have to go with a no name brand to get my new wigs made – and they will be to my specifications.
Curlsqueen is a big no for me.
Take a look at some of the others online experiencing similar issues with them. Why is this happening only to the looser textures? Very strange. As it is human hair, the hair should not tangle. Let’s be honest, if this is Cambodian/Indian hair, it would tangle on the heads of those selling the hair just as badly. Hair being attached to a weft does not mean that the hair should now tangle.
This user with a similar experience was found on TikTok
As Curlsqueen is China based, it is hard to get returns made without it costing as much as the product did! ah! I do think that the straight textures are nice – they do not tangle or shed. It is really important for products to be and perform at the level advertised and promised.
What did I do with the tangled weave? I’ve chosen to cut the hair off the weft and use the very expensive hair as bulk hair. It will be used in my twists and braids. It has been so costly.
Can you believe that those are the only negative reviews that I can find this AM?Wow. I do not think that the 2c is as popular as the coarser textures and that might be the reason that there are few updates on the loose textures online.
I am almost done with this module of my certificate, praise the lord! I’m going g to have to practice so much more, though.
I recently starting buying things on Etsy. I love the unique pieces and how skilled the artists are. I have found many cool things on this website – aside from anime stickers, my explorations have taken me to the hair side of Etsy. Not only can you find bundles on the site, a la Elfin, Dhair, YGWIGS, UNICE, CURLSQUEEN, etc, you can also find very unique hair pieces like the faux locs I found one day created by StylesbyNoah. I balked a bit at the price and it just shuffled the lust for them to the back of my mind. However, I did one day shortly thereafter see her work again on Instagram and TickTok. Her work was soooooo gorgeous I had to buy a set of them. I have since installed them 3x over the last 6 months and they are still just as beautiful as they were when I first purchased them. I think she is so cute. The locs came smelling soooo, soooo good, soft, and packed in such cute pink packaging. I bought them a while ago, so I do not have any pictures to show you, however, I do plan to buy another, shorter set soon. I’ll update this post with those pictures once I receive the package.
Thank you, Noah. I do wear wigs, but you are right, these faux locs are good replacement. My head has been so cool as summer in Atlanta winds down – AND! My hair is so beautiful that people stare at me all throughout Atlanta. Noah is not stingy with the curls (how many bundles, at least two!) and I think that those of us that have ever gotten the real faux locs installed (no crochet) definitely appreciate someone that has taken the time to make something with such level of care and quality. They are not a soft loc base. I will say that it took about 3 hours for myself to install these. I have approximately 40 locs on my head and the set is 60 in total. What a deal. Before I found Noah I either made them myself, had another talented stylist do them for me, or perused YGWIGS trying to determine if I wanted that style of locs. I wish braids were this easy.
Anywho, if that doesn’t convince you, check her YouTube out. She works in Maryland. I have not met her yet but hope one day to have a set installed by her. In the meantime, I will be a loyal customer and fan of her work.
Definitely NellielApproved. Thumbs upppppp.
Check out her socials and tell her I sent ya. 😉
I just wanted to talk about a strange hot dog I recently sampled. On one of my outings in the A, I stopped by an Irish pub known as, “The Nook” in Midtown. The menu is, in general, quite quirky, but the crunchy peanut butter hot dog is what I decided to try…delicious.
So good, I’m gonna try my own at home. ?
Writing out a list for my blog for those interested. I have noticed that Grande Cosmetics has been changing their product lineup – and I just wanted to let my reader base know what I love, just in case it disappears, changes names, etc. The below links are affiliate links, btw.
Lash Serum – I buy the 6 month supply. You won’t be disappointed. Just know that they were sued for Prostaglandins use in their cosmetics, but I have not had an issue over the years of use. My eyelashes are so lovely now – I do upkeep with less expensive versions, such as the Ordinary, but I do try to keep a tube on hand. I think that the grande conditioner is also really beneficial in ensuring that my results are lasting.
GrandeBrow – I used this before they released their brow tints and fillers. I don’t purchase this anymore, but I do think that this was very helpful in terms of ensuring that my brows grew back in nice and full. I no longer get them arched as the salons have a tendency to remove too much hair.
GrandeBrow 2 in 1 – why buy the serum when you can have a serum and a tint? These two products do the same things, this one just has a preferred tint. I buy the medium as the dark is much too dark for my complexion.
GrandeLip Plumpers – These are some of the best Plumpers on the market. I LOVE THEM. This company was one of the first to promise long term plumping effects (I.e. after repeated use, the hyaluronic acid ensures that the plump is more permanent) and it delivers. As I’ve aged, I’ve lost collagen, so I’m trying my best to ensure that I’m able to maintain as much elasticity and suppleness that I can.
Honorable mentions:
BrowLaminate – They no longer carry this for some reason, however, if it comes back, this is definitely the brow gel to pick. Nyx has a similar one, however, the peptides are a great addition to this brow gel. I know that they also released versions that were tinted in the last year, however, this line seems to have disappeared from stores. So disappointing!
GrandePout – I love this lip mask. I know that a lot of people swear by Laneige, however, it doesn’t make any sense. I’ve never used them and it is because of this company. I love that this Grande lip mask as it also has the long term plumping benefits.
Anytime I’m doing something extra to my body, I want to ensure that it has a long term benefit – that is something that I TRULY love about GrandeCosmetics. They are a company after my own heart. Instead of spending thousands on invasive treatments, these products are low cost comparatively and are of great benefit in maintaining beauty naturally.
I’ve been getting a lot of reports of spambots attacking this domain. I wonder what is going on – I barely get hits, so I’m curious as to how I’m getting so much spam in the comments. I’m well protected by my host, I guess. Over 900 attempted log ins in the last month. Whoa.
That aside, I have found THE CUTEST Nelliel stickers on Etsy. I’ll link to them once I get them and see how I like them. Other updates? I am trying to prepare for fall, it is fast approaching.
The advanced data analytics course is going well. I’m enjoying it thus far. Does anyone have any other programming or data courses to recommend? I am hoping to move into a position within Data Science soon.
I am a hardcore Naruto fan – the anime is great – but I do not want to talk about that right now. What I want to talk about is how Naruto used to chow down on that ichiraku ramen (I’m sure those days are long gone as he is now married ?). I didn’t understand it, the Maruchan ramen is good, but not that good. Prior to eating at Okiboru, I’d never had ramen made by a professional chef. Truly it is a treat for the tastebuds. The ramen costs no more than $16.00 a bowl. Such a nice treat. They even have mochi ice cream desserts.
The ambiance is beautiful, the food is delicious, and the service is truly great. Just so you know I’m also a fan of their rice bowls.
The Buckhead ATL, Ga location is rarely packed. You can sit and enjoy for a while. Oh and did I mention that this chain of restaurants has received a Michelin star? ?
Check them out in the Atlanta Georgia area, NYC and LA.
You will not be disappointed. I thought that it was a great experience for my first time trying true Japanese ramen. ? share what you think about this spot if you’ve been.
Thank you for all the entries.
I didn’t get any.
The lucky winner is Lupe Fiasco – I’ve been sending this man items that remind me of his songs. 🙂 I will include this in his latest package.
Thank you. Sorry I haven’t been updating. I’ve been really busy. I do plan to have some posts on hair soon and I’ll probably share some updates on my threads, I just posted something we made up today – I called it a Kimchi Scramble.
Pro tip, unless you like warm Kimchi, add it at the end. On top with the goat cheese. Yes!
Recipe on threads – threads.com/nellielytu
Btw, Lifeline brought Flow back. 🙁 I love this little beautiful kitty but I don’t think that my cats can tolerate another one indoors, I’m trying to get my sister to adopt Flow and King Louis Vuitton. I need to try to get King Louis to Lifeline for a neuter. It has been hard to do without a car. The older cat that keeps dropping by chases him away but I love his tenacity – I’m clearly someone he loves and trusts.