It's the Chop Chop-Philly Event Flyer

Pastor Tim interviews Trip Lee

Pastor Tim Interviews Trip Lee from Re:Sound on Vimeo.

Cheesesteak in review-Tony Luke's Jr

Okay since my blog has a philly focus, I thought I'd do some reviews on those things that are popular to this city and probably one of the most commonly known items is the cheese steak.

I feel the need to do a bit of a breakdown of what the cheese steak is, perhaps a bit of history even:) And the level of expectations you should have. Simply because if you make too much over it and never tried one or never tried one in Philly (oppose to some sub place Ha I laugh at the attempt!:)) you will be disappointed.

At any rate that'll come later, my 1st review is of Tony Luke's jr simply because it was there that I thought of the idea for this blog. A few days ago I decided to give this place a try and I'm still training myself to have my camera with me at all times, duh forget about my camera phone too! In the future I'll try to get a shot for you when doing such reviews.

Now onto the review, this is a place I'd avoided for a while simply because this is one of the recommended spots for tourists. I have yet to like a tourist spot....well maybe one exception that I'll also review in the near future. So I was hesitant to try them out. Thought it would be mad expensive too. Went in ordered a Cheese steak with American cheese (They give the options of American, provolone, and cheese wiz) and on it I got fried onions, mayo, ketchup and pickles.

I ate in but they don't give you any eat in or take out offerings, just wrapped and bagged so when I opened my steak initially I was disappointed. One look told me this wasn't going to be the business. It looked like a huge steak chopped up, thicker than I'm use to and the bread was more crispy on the outside rather than soft. But it was paid for so I took a bite, not flavorless like I thought it would be yet not blown away. However just a few more bites into it and I was quite pleased. The meat was actually very fresh and didn't taste rubbery like I thought it may, according to their menu they use "freshly sliced, rib-eye. The bread although somewhat hard to bite into, the crunchy outside added to it and the actually bread itself was nice and soft. The ketchup, mayo, cheese, pickles well what really can be said, the basis but they did indeed add the flavor I look for in a cheese steak.

I'll have to create some sort of rating thingie on here but for now I'd say I'd give Tony Jr's a 3 1/2 out of a 5.

So can't wait for this! ESV Bible

I've seen the ESV bible spoken of on many of my favorite sites, blogs, etc. to visit but never understood why it was so popularly used. However of course there had to be a good reason behind it and of course the Holy Spirit would lead me to it:)

I initially learned of the new study bible that at the time was in the process of being released from solofemininity.blogs.com I proceeded to the link that was provided on the site and looked it over. At the time there was a free print out for the history of The Psalms and I was hooked. I'd been praying for study tools that would allow me to learn God's word in it's context which includes history, what was written and why it was written rather than some of the cliche reasons we can tend to use His word apart from it's original context. So I was truly excited to find this and ordered.

Yesterday I'd noticed the cost of the book was taken out of my account which let's me know that it's on the way. I read a bit more about it on their website, I recalled that with my purchase I can access an online version for free. Came across more details on the ESV bible which is a literal translation of the original scripts which are without error sweet I tell you sweet!!!


If you'd like to find out more about you may visit www.esv.org

Hair Loss and Hair Care

I feel a ton of hair posts coming on, I lost a lot of lenght last week due to dryness. I'm not one to obsess over lenght however I'd love for my hair to get to that point where if I didn't feel like stying it or simply don't have the time, I can put it in a nice puff and go about my business. What had happened was, and not sure if I mentioned any of this in my previous hair blog so forgive me of any repeats.

I went to my bro's house the Saturday before last to help him paint, well the paint flicked off of the brush soo much that the entire top of my head was rained on with off white specks. I didn't want to wash my hair there but I had to be somewhere immediately after I finished so had to wash my hair with Head and Shoulder's shampoo and conditioner combo. Ooohhh it smelled sooooo good but oh is it bad for my hair!!! I'll explain in more detail on my next hair post which will focus on why I use the no poo shampoo method.

Anyway I did one wash and tried to get most of the paint out with a brush. Got the paint out but later in the week my hair was really dry. I did a quick conditioning wash (one of the no poo methods) but I didn't leave it on long, plus it just may take a little bit before it gets back to normal. At any rate I decided to twist my hair this past Saturday for some protection on these ends and what was nice thick twists when I took my weave braid style is now thin and shorter.

I'm not fustrated like I would have been at one point in my life however I have concluded that if my hair will need babysitting, I will absolutely end up locking. My hair seems to like to grow only to an extent before it breaks and I'm seeking to pay better attention to it however as I said won't be babysitting or obsessing or let's get down to the nit and grit of it, idolizing my hair! Even with being a hairstylist for almost 20 years, learning my own hair texture has been quite interesting. For one we're not taught how to care for hair so much as we're taught how to acheive a certain look. It's like with unschooling I'm getting uneducated when it comes to some of the things I'd learned about haircare from beauty school. Not totally trashing school. Healthy hair is emphasized however when you use a harsh shampoo that strips your hair then use a conditioner to repair and replenish oppose to practices that'll prevent stripping in the first place, there's a problem with the methods taught.

However in striving to become more frugal, I'm learning all type of techniques to which my hair is thankful. Using the shampoo last week allowed me to see the huge difference in eliminating said product.

In my next hair post (which will be a few posts away) will focus more on what I mean, in detail.

Harvest Philadelphia

If you are in or able to get to the Philadelphia area, Harvest is in the area starging in about 4 minutes of my typing these details until Sunday evening. I'll include the details below to check them out for yourself as well. Visit harvest.org

October 3–5, 2008
Location Wachovia Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Speaker Greg Laurie
Languages Signing for the deaf
Cost Free Admission to Event
(Wachovia Center charges for parking: $12 for cars, $20 for buses)

Schedule:
Date Friday, October 3 Saturday, October 4 Sunday, October 5
Gates Open 6:00 P.M. 6:00 P.M. 6:00 P.M.
Crusade Begins 7:30 P.M. 7:30 P.M. 7:30 P.M.
Musical Artists
(Subject to change) Jeremy Camp,
Leeland, and Katinas tobyMac, Kutless,
and Katinas MercyMe
and Katinas
Harvest Contacts:
Harvest Director Mike Brazeal
Youth Director Scot Camden
Local Office:
Local Director Jerry Paradise
Local Office Bill Forliano, Office Manager
Media Contact:
Laura Swickard McGowan
Phone: (847) 328-8009
newsroom.harvest.org

Weaving by Choice, not by Need

For those new to this blog which is probably anyone reading right now:) You'll find an array of topics here as there are an array of things that goes on in my day to day life. My goal is to do all things to the Glory of God. Rather it's what I buy to how I dress may He be glorified.


With that said, I went into the office of the director at my place of employment yesterday and she said to me "nice hair I wish I had the guts to switch up like that". She'd been out of the country for a month and the last time she'd seen me, my hair was similar to the picture here. Now standing before her with my TWA (teeny weeny afro:))she made the above statement.

Then she went on to say it's the same boring style day after day for her. Actually she does switch up a bit, she's naturally blond and curly so she'll go from curly to straight every now and again. Yet primarily she stays curly and down. No up do's no braided styles nothing.

But and the point I'm leading to with this blog:) it got me to thinking it's primarily black women who will do such drastic changes to our hair and yet to us it's normal to switch and abnormal to go with a certain style for too long. Even getting on our friends and family who rock the "same boring style day in and day out" in our own opinions. That bothers me to a degree, especially in light of speaking with women who say they'd wear their hair natural if they felt it looked good on them, "I like it on you but not for me" Or "it's too much to manage" or any other reason given when reality is, we're so unfamiliar with our own hair texture that everything else but it feels normal. And the switching up isn't due to the style options but an escape from our own heads of hair.

I'll post my story of going natural in a future blog but further thought on the topic (I think a lot:)) reminded me of why I choose to wear weaves. Now it's either to protect my hair or well yeah primarily to protect my hair:) When my hair is out I tend to play with my curls to the point if it breaking off. There are also the elements which is why I'll most likely weave or braind this winter. The current lenght of my hair doesn't allow for many protective style options utilizing my own hair. Will blog on what that means in a future blog as well.

Lastly I weave/braid because I have the freedom to do so. Not due to a fear of not looking well in my own head of hair. One of the discoveries that led me to go natural in the 1st place is that I'm created in the image of God. He knows the number of hairs on my head from the greys to the lost ones! He gave me a head of hair that is uniquely (not better not less than) different from other people groups. So now I'm grateful to be able to say I weave not as a cover up but in the freedom of the option. I do find myself wanting to do so less and less, even thought I do my own hair I can't help but think this is money that could be utilized elsewhere which gets me to thinking about investing in quality hair that can be used more often and washed or totally letting it go as this option makes it more clear that it's some synthetic product or processed human hair! but that's another blog for another day:)

As soon as I remember to take a pic I'll do so and put an updated pic in my profile.

Photos Courtesy of khamitkinks.com gettyimages.com