"Can I Touch Your Hair?" - Tales of a Naturalista, Vol. 1

it's been a little bit over six month since i've become natural, and while it has been a very liberating experience for me, i've definitely encountered some very awkward comments from people about my hair. now with being natural, i'm totally open to any questions people may have about my journey, products i may use or why i decided to start over.

but if there is one thing that just grinds my gears is when people touch my hair. [insert angry bbm face here]. yes, you can categorize me in that group of sistahs who are very particular about when others put their hands in my tresses, i ain't ashamed of the label. and i don't have an issue with strangers being curious, but damn, please just look! no need to touch and meddle. alright let me give you an example...


so i'm sitting in a staff meeting this past week, and all of a sudden, i feel fingers in my hair. clearly, they aren't mine because my hands are sitting in my lap. so i start to look weirdly around, wondering why in THE hell someone has their hands in my head. the dialogue went something like this. 


curious individual: oh my god, your hair is so soft!
me (with hesitance): uh, thanks.
curious individual (continues to massage my hair): it feels just like a sheep's wool!
me: hehe, thanks...i guess. [in my mind i'm like, WTF?!]
curious individual: you've never felt a sheep's wool before when it's just been combed out? your hair is soft just like that...

remake FAIL: 'brokenhearted'- sammie & karina

before i get started, let me just say that both of the kids can sing in their own special way. but this duet is a CLASSIC and has definitely healed my heart one or two times over in the past. it is not one you just decide to get up and record for sh*ts and giggles without being certain you can pull it off.

whew, alright. for those of you who are familiar with the original 'brokenhearted' by brandy and wayna (which can be listened to here) please say that you agree with me when I say I want to run up on sammie and this child karina and chop & muff them for messing up such an awesome song. 

i'm a 90s kid to the heart. i grew up to the classic tunes of brandy, boyz II men, monica, blackstreet, envogue, ect. i can't stand when my favorite jams are tampered with. 

you listen and be the judge. hmph. 

Sammie + Karina's "Brokenhearted"

my bucket list : the SYRACUSE edition

i've got about four in a half months left in my college career (crazy to even think about) and as with any chapter closing, there comes a list of things you must complete before moving forward. 

so here's 15 things (for right now) that i believe are essential to do before i cross the stage in may:

1. man hunt on the quad -- we did it once before, let's do it again. 
2. 5AM breakfast at stella's after a night of partying -- the perfect remedy for that late night hangover.
3. skip class to go quadding on a beautiful spring day - don't act you won't be there too. 
4. lose my voice from yelling so much at a SU b-ball game - nothing like getting crunk in the loud house.
5. toot it and boot it - self explanatory. #yeezyshrug (lol)
6. dinner & drinks in amory square - we've gotta put the connective corridor to use, right?
7. photobooth sessions with friends in club bird during finals
8. go golfing at drumlins - i'm not that good at the game, but dagnabit it's free. 
9. get a massage at art of a massage - this would be a GREAT b*day present, btw.
10. see a play at syracuse stage 
11. half-off mondays at tokyo seoul - sake bombs any one?  
12. give a campus tour to prospective students - gotta put that rugby shirt to use, right?
13. organize a class of 2011 event - this is already in the works, just wait and see ;-)
14. capture spontaneous moments via camera phone
15. watch the sun rise from having a good conversation & not doing homework
16. go jogging from main to south regularly - *let me sit back and mentally prepare for that one*

i will continue to add to this list, but my ultimate goal this semester is to create as many memories as possible. all the laughs laughed and tears shed will make this a semester to remember.

-*csc.

happy new year!

happy new year everyone! i know it's been a minute in a half since i've blogged here (tumblr has been taking up all of my time and attention) but i will do my best to blog more on here as we enter the new year.

blogger will probably be used more extensively compared to tumblr, and i want to change up the content on here as well.

i hope that the year is starting off great for you and that you are laying down the foundation to make this the best year of your life.

cheers!

-*csc.

flash forward : six months from now.

hi friends!

i know it's a minute since a solid update from me, but i've been seriously thinking about what the next move will be for me will be.

while i'm not worried because i've got faith that i will land a job in new york city, chicago or washington d.c., i just need to make sure that i'm adequately prepared to take on the real world. college these last three years has been such a comfortable cushion, and while at times i would find myself stressed out about an upcoming exam or organization event, it will all be much of a memory six months from tomorrow. (may 14th, 2011 kids, it's coming with a swiftness!)

i guess you could say i'm in this trance of transformation -- i've watched how a number of my peers have grown up and matured in the last few years, and it's just astonishing. i know i've grown a lot since stepping foot on this campus three years ago too, and i know that i've got more growing to do. it's hard to believe that i've accomplished certain things, for somtimes i still feel like i'm that 8-year-old girl fresh off the plane from houston, texas. but like the saying goes, "success isn't a destination, it's a journey." and i've learned to rely much on my faith to fully understand why i have reached the point i am at right now.

that's why recently i've been thinking about somewhat changing my blog, but i think for the longest, i've used this as a medium for me to communicate my thoughts and feelings about the world around me. while i need to be more frequent with my posts (which i will be because writing keeps me sane) i also want to push myself to be even better; have more substance in each of my posts. i've acquired so many tools throughout my college career and now it's time for me to put them to good use.

these next six months will be an interesting ride, but i'm ready to have the time of my life. i can't let any confusion, worry or anxiety hold me back from enjoying the rest of my career here at syracuse university.

for my seniors out there: what are your thoughts on what the next six months holds?

☮ and ♥, 

-*csc.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

hi friends!

the daze of sunshyne will be getting a face-lift over the next few weeks - new layout, fresh content & a lot of different goodies.

in the mean time, catch your daily dose of sunshyne on twitter (@cshantelcooper) and tumblr (limizsunshyne.tumblr.com)


thanks for rockin' with me!

☮ and ♥, 

-*csc.

trying to beat this emptiness, but i'm running out of time...

[this is an open letter to any one who may be going through a tough time right now. i just want to encourage you that things will get better and that after the storm, there is always a beautiful sunshine.] <3


my dearest sister,

it seems like when one of us is hurting we all hurt,  and at this particular moment in time it seems that we are all trying to find our way through this dark space.

i can stand as a witness to say that much is demanded of us on a daily basis. from lousy professors to boastful family members to stupid pressures of society, you are pulled in a number of directions and you feel like 24 hours is never enough time to do it all. but as the good word says, "to whom much is given, much is expected" (luke 12:48).

God has blessed you as a woman to be care giving, hard working, and a lover of and for all. you've been blessed to be this fierce, multi-tasking beauty for the world to marvel and while it may not seem like it, you are appreciated.

whatever the problem may be, trust and believe that you and i will get through it together. that's where our friendship have comes into play. we have to support each other no matter what the circumstance, and i want you to know that i've got your back.

you are a strong individual who is able to conquer and face anything. sure, it may take sometime to readjust and gain composure, but once you've taken that time out you have to get back in the game. like free bird lil wayne has stated, "i know the process is so much stress, but it's progress that feels the best", so keep it movin' forward girl.

as i close, i leave you with a line from a movie that was a staple of our childhood:

"you've got troubles, i've got 'em too. there isn't anything i wouldn't do for you. we'll stick together to see it through, cause you've got a friend in me." :-)

☮ and ♥, 

-*csc.