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Monday, January 16, 2012

Cotton Candy Playground author, Nicole Updegraff Interview & T-shirt Giveaway!!

Back in October, I had the fabulous opportunity to attend the “Natural is… Beautiful” event tin New York City and represent Original Moxie. While I was there I met the amazingly gorgeous and talented Nicole Updegraff. At the event she was selling these FAB tees that sold out soon after the event started. I didn’t get a chance to cop one, but luckily for you and me, Nicole mentioned she wanted to do a giveaway of her shirt with me in the future and now is the time!

To make this giveaway even more special, I’m teaming up with one of my new found bloggers, Curl Rehab! This chica is hilarious! Her tweets on Twitter constantly cracks me up and her weekly “Side eye of the Week” posts are simply hysterical (especially that picture of Mrs. Huxtable!!! This girl is just too much). We’re both going to be offering a t-shirt of Updegraff’s, but in different designs so check the end of this post to find out how you can enter!

Updegraff is not only a designer, but also an author. The married mother of three (soon to be four as she is now preggers), created “I love my Cotton Candy Hair,” written for children ages three to eight and focuses on confidence and self-acceptance. Take a peek at the interview below and find out how you can score TWO of Updegraff’s tee shirts!!


http://www.cottoncandyhair.com/#!childrens-books



Please tell us a little bit about yourself! Where are you from? Do you have another occupation besides your businesses?

I'm a married mother of three, w/ one in the oven, born, raised and residing in Los Angeles, CA. I love good food, good people, and all things artistic! Aside from Cotton Candy Playground, holding down my household pretty much runs my life :).

How long have you been natural?

I've been natural almost 3 years now.

On your website, you offer your apparel and also your book. Which was created first, the apparel line or the book?

The book, "I LOVE my Cotton Candy Hair!" was created first.

Your t-shirts are so cute and are packed with attitude! What was your reasoning for starting the apparel line?

The truth is, I never really planned on an apparel line. It just sort of happened.
I've been dabbling in graphic design as a hobby for a few years and these images were three of my favorites. Back in August Curly Nikki, who I adore, had a meet up in LA. I was so excited for the meet up and wanted to look SUPER cute, so I threw the designs on a few shirts and my friends and I wore them, not to promote a t shirt line, but just to be fly, lol. At the meet up lots of the ladies asked about the shirts, but it wasn't until CN posted pictures from the meet up on her Facebook page that they became something I realized could actually be a part of my business. So many ladies contacted me, inquiring about how/ when they could purchase the shirts that I had to make it happen. This whole thing really has been a great, unexpected blessing!

Do you have a name for your apparel line for women?


What made you start your book, "I LOVE my Cotton Candy Hair!"?

A few years ago, my 3year old daughter came home teary-eyed from a play date, saying she wanted her hair to be "straight and yellow." I assumed that my girls, at some point, would struggle with their hair. I never imagined it would begin so soon! It was heartbreaking. Immediately my husband and I began a search for books about absolute self love and acceptance. The problem is, they are very hard to find for three year olds and even harder for children who look like mine. I never found what I was looking for, but not finding what I wanted didn't stop me from wanting it, it made me want to do something about it; so I wrote and illustrated, "I LOVE my Cotton Candy Hair! A story about loving yourself just the way you are!"
From there I created a children's book series in which every story will focus on self love and acceptance.

I see you have a new book, "A girl named Charlie Presents...So what if I have a boy's Name!" Can you give us a brief description of that book and when it will be available for purchase?

Once I wrote "I LOVE my Cotton Candy Hair!" and saw the impact it had on my daughter, I realized how important it is for children to see themselves reflected in stories and what positive imagery does for their self image. My oldest daughter's name is Charlie. I know that at some point some kid will try to make fun of her name, so this story addresses that. It's about a little girl who never had any negative thoughts about her name until the new kid at school started making fun of it. She comes to realize that it's silly for people to decide that only boys can have some names and only girls can have others, she loves her name and that's all that matters! This story is for those children who have names that may get made fun of. Hopefully it will be released this year!


Besides the release of your new book, I see you have an upcoming new tee design as well. When will "Love your Faith/Express your Faith" be available for purchase?

I am SO excited about this portion of the line!! The designs are subtle but the message is really powerful. It's for those of us who want to say something about our relationship with God but don't have to be all in your face about it. The first of these designs will roll out this spring.

Do you have any other things upcoming projects you'd liked to share with us?

I have a children's stationery line, called Cotton Candy Kids Stationery, that I'm really excited about. I did a mini launch with holiday greeting cards but in the coming months I will do a full launch consisting of note cards, bookmarks, stickers and magnets featuring characters that our children can see themselves in.
______

Want to enter the giveaway? Well, of course you do! To enter, you must subscribe to my blog as well as Curl Rehab's blog. After that, go over to FaceBook and “Like” Cotton Candy Playground’s FaceBook Fan Page. Then, tell us who/what was most instrumental in encouraging you to embrace your natural hair. This can be someone/something from your childhood, or something more recent! Remember, we are giving away two different designs. If you want to enter for the “Boss” t-shirt, head over to Curl Rehab’s blog and comment over there. If you want the Signature tee I'm wearing, enter here. You can enter for both! Giveaway ends January 22!

I want to thank Nicole for sponsoring this giveaway! I absolutely love her shirt and will rock it with pride. Hopefully who ever will win one will do the same! I also want to thank Curl Rehab for teaming up to do this giveaway with me! Hopefully you guys will enjoy her blog as much as I do! To get a copy of Nicole's book, buy some stationary or some tees, visit http://www.cottoncandyhair.com/#!childrens-books. 

Good luck!!




29 comments:

  1. I have say my initial inspiration was Freddie from Different World. I ALWAYS loved her hair and had to watch the show all the time. She was my ultimate hair crush.
    Then my best friend, who is a guy, rocks his hair natural and it is always so beautiful. So the pushed me into wanting to go through with it. He supported my decision and encouraged me to rock it with confidence.
    I honestly can't leave out my husband who watched YouTube videos with me. Asked questions, supported, loved my curls (short & longer), has even looked up styles he thinks would look good on me. Heck he loves when its just big and wild. So I can't give the props to only 1 guy, God gave me 2 excellent men to help me transition from relaxed to natural. I am a lucky gal!

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  2. I have been inspired by family who have always been natural, also seeing my aunt do a BC as well. I thought black hair was "nappy", discovering that it wasn't and going long times without a new perm, I decided I wanted to see what my natural hair texture was like. I did research and came across YTubers KimmyTube & Naptural85. They have also inspired me to want to go natural as well. After researching, I knew that I wanted to be apart of the natural hair community. Plus it is so positive and naturals embrace and help each other, and I loved that very much. Thank You all naturalistas, and good luck everyone.

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  3. I was inspired by my "Big sister" to be natural. She has been natural for quite a few years now, and every time I saw her hair it just intrigued me and it was always so beautiful. It took me awhile to actually decide to go natural but she never pressured me. When I finally decided to she supported me fully. She informed me of things that helped her when she was transitioning while also letting me know that it might not work for me because we have different hair. She took me to natural hair events. Honestly if it wasn't for her I don't think I would have ever been able to transition so well or be inspired to go natural.

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  4. My HUSBAND (believe it or not) has been the most instrumental in encouraging me to embrace my natural hair. I remember coming home form the salon plenty of times complaining about my hair..my limp, lifeless, burnt scalp hair--his comment would always remain the same, " I don't understand why females do this to yourself. Leave all that mess (perms,cutting,color--were my drug of choice..LOL)and your hair will be healthier and look a lot better." After listening to that along with being frustrated with salon care, I finally made the best decision (hair-wise) in my life to become NATURAL..I'm loving every minute of it! I definitely can't leave out all of the YT lovlies who has helped me along the way: CharyJay, Naptural85, Kimmaytube, and AfricanExport (just to name a few) Thank you for hosting this contest.

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  5. *T’shirt entry post*
    For me, the first time I caught the “go natural” bug was n undergrad. I was in a Pan-African studies class, and my professor began to speak on African-Americans relaxing their hair and changing their natural beauty to fit into the Western ideal of beauty. The more I pondered, the more I realized he was right. Its amazing how one conversation can debunk your old way of thinking. Why am I trying so hard to straighten my hair and look Western, when most of the U.S. is tanning and implanting to look more African? I have what they want. Letting my har grow out natural was not an immediate change, but from that point on I started to learn how to love my roots, my heritage, and my culture. I stopped looking how the everyone expected me to look and how I wanted to truly look on the inside.

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  6. What was most instrumental for me in my journey was and is MYSELF! I made the conscious effort to live a better and more fullfilling lifestyle. Going natural was my first step to that, and now I'm working on my mind, body and soul... I will say that during my process, I have met wonderful women who have encouraged me to continue my journey. I have also gotten a few ladies to join me in this transformation as well. That is instrumental within itself. So I congratulate myself!

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  7. Jill Scott was the most instrumental for me in embracing my natural hair and not being ashamed to rock it! When she stepped on the scene she was rocking a red Afro that I absolutely loved. She let me know that it was ok for me to be ME despite who frowned at me. This is my second time going natural and I'm learning more and more each day as I try different styles and products. I LOVE my hair just the way it is and when I wear it out I feel like I stand out in the crowd and I feel like the BOSS of my world and can take on anything.

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  8. I have to say all the people that told me NO DON'T DO IT, were the ones most instrumental in my decision to go natural. I've always been one to try to please everbody else and didn't really understand what this was doing to me. I lost myself and up until recently thought that was who, what I was suppose to be. But now I've found ME, and I'm loving ME naturally!!!

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    1. Back in the day there was a show called Get Christie Love, a show about an African American Female Detective. My Mother's (RIP MOMMY) called me this all the time and I hated him for it. But I was informed of the power woman Christie Love was I was honored. I'm now called Kristy Love and proud to be!!! So this LOVE tee would so fit me.

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  9. I wanted to give my natural hair another try because my hair had not been completely natural since I was about 6 years old. It made me sad that I had no idea what my real hair looked like. It also makes me sad that actually thought that I couldn't manage my natural hair, or that I'd be less beuatiful wearing it. I now love embracing the way that God created me and I KNOW I'm beautiful!

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  10. What was most instrumental in my natural hair inspiration was seeing how my hair was thinning out after years of relaxing. I just wanted my hair to be healthy. Youtube became my lifeline. Vloggers like CharyJay, Nikkiemae, Taren916, kimmaytube, and blackonyx kept the motivation and inspiration going. If that information was not available, I probably would have lost my way. Thank you so much for being willing to share. You help so many of us clueless people!

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  11. What was most instrumental for me in my journey was and is MYSELF! I decided that I wanted to be natural and that it didn't matter what anyone else said. After watching so many youtube videos, i bc Thanksgiving 2010. I am still learning my hair, but I plan to enjoy learning it even longer,

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  12. I was most instrumental in my natural hair journey. It wasn't by choice. Profession salons had my soft textured hair thin, over-processed and fragile. I went to the Barber and got it all cut off. I had a fade that was shorter than my husband's hair. I wore it like that for a while and then I grew it out. There have been many trials and errors but I have learned so much and this is one of the most fascinating journeys that I have ever taken.

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  13. What influenced me to go natural 2 years ago was growing out my hair because my hair never grew past chin length most of my family doesnt get a relaxer but because i had a tighter curl i got one ever since i was nine. Went natural soon as i went away for college.

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  14. My husband is the one who encouraged me to go natural. For many years before I deceided to do it he would say just go natural it would look great on you. So finally in 2009 I started my journay. He has encouraged me through every ugly hairstyle, every frustrating moment, to whatever. He is amazing. I thank him for pushing me to do. Now our sons (8 and 5) love to see women with natural hair. We can be in a store and they will say mommy her hair is pretty like yours. Charjay you are amazing and I love your style and personality. I just tried let me repeat TRIED your last style last night. I have a video response to post. The hubs said I love your hair style. Keep doing what you do. Love you. (jaacaa2 on the YT)

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  15. My sister has been my biggest inspiration as well as the daughter I may have in the future. My sister and I have been natural out entire lives but only recently have we rocked our hair in its natural texture. My sister started doing it first and it interested me so I started looking into it too. She's always been kind of chill with it but I took off subscribing to YouTube channels and finding all the websites. I want to keep it up because i want to have a daughter one day and I want her to see her mother embrace her natural texture and I want to teach her to love her natural texture

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  16. What was most instrumental for me in my journey was a chance encounter with the best stylist a gal could have... to get a fly hair cut for my birthday! {HEY NAKENYA} She was my inspiration to go natural and encouraged me all the way. Many years before meeting her, I wanted to go natural however, I had no one or any form of media outlet to aid in the decision, so I continued to get relaxers until right before my 30th birthday, 3 yrs later I could not be happier and my only wish is that I would have been brave enough to do so earlier!

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  17. Actually, I have been natural since 1992. I decided to go natural because I was tired of dealing with unprofessional sisters.... Make an appointment at 9 am and don't get seen until 11 am because they over booked. This happened one too many times for me. So after perms, then braids and back to perms again I said enough.
    I went to the barber and asked that she cut my hair into a fade LOL. Honey I threw on my big hooped earrings and rocked that style for many years. I got the typical, Oh my God I wish I had nerve to do that etc.... Charjay's video nailed all of the comments I got. So for me it was more of an experience that caused me to go natural. I just felt so liberated, because I am an avid swimmer. I found that I wasn't restricted and could live my life freely without worring about, if I was going to sweat out my hair style, on no can't get my do wet cause I just spent umpteen dollars getting it done. Peace and love Adrianne adrianneanderson@sbcglobal.net

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  18. I'm a newbie at transitioning.My daughter is 10 y/o and is natural and always have been.She is inspiring me to go natural. I love that she is free spirited and happy with the way she looks. I love that b/c she maybe the only one in her grade that is natural. She doesn't let no one define who she should be and I coming into my own. It took me years to be happy with ME but here I am and I am not going anywhere. Along with my transitioning and weight loss, I am ready for a new world.

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  19. What encouraged me to embrace my natural hair where the women on Youtube. I've learn tons about products, the do's and dont's of natural hair and I've become more creative thanks to you ladies!!!!

    MasonNLisa@sbcglobal.net

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  20. I've never been comfortable with my own natural hair for so many reasons, still not comfortable at this moment. But you amongst other youtubers has inspired me and knowledge me on all the products/tools that are out there for our hair. Relaxers were never suitable for me simply because I didn't think my hair was meant for a lot of chemicals but I felt like I had no choice but to relax because it looked "pretty". My hair has been damaged for a very long time, I had recently (not really lol) cut it last new years eve because I had such bad split ends. Though it was growing back, I still didn't love my hair. Always felt like it was limp, volumeless and I knew my hair was naturally thick. I saw enough youtubers and realized how big of a deal it was to embrace our natural hair. So I didn't feel alone and felt I had all the knowledge to get this natural process started. I'm transitioning and I'm not going to do the BC. Would love it also if you subscribed to my channel. Thank you!

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  21. I was encouraged to embrace my natural hair when I read "Invisible Man" for my English class in 2010. It was definitely an odd place to find inspiration for natural hair. The book was set in the 1940's in New York City and as I read a passage that talked about a sign that said, "Find your true beauty with long straight hair and light skin", something hit me. I realized in that moment that I had put way too much power into my long straight hair that I basically worshiped all my life. So I decided in that moment it was time for me to give up perms and start to embrace what God naturally gave me. That is what started my natural hair journey and I'm glad to say I have found my true beauty in naturally being ME! Thanks so much for the opportunity for this giveaway!

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  22. I would have to say my husband was the most inspiring of all. When I first cut my hair I went from having hair past my shoulder blade to hair that was less than an inch. Being so use to having long straight hair, I was concerned how short natural hair looked on my round face. My constantly reminded me houw beautiful I looked and to this day he still loves it. I noticed now that I have been natural he touches my hair more now than when I was relaxed. I LOVE MY HAIR

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  23. My initial motivation was to do something that was completely out of my comfort zone. In the past, I was always the girl that tried her best to blend. My 2010 new years resolution was to be seen. What that meant to me was to let the world see how I felt inside without apologies. It was never really about the hair for me, because if I cut it all off tomorrow I would still have the voice and spirit that I set free two years ago.

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  24. There were a number of ppl that played a role in my decision to go natural. Some were friends, fellow peers, and ppl I saw on youtube. I've always loved how natural hair looked, but was too scared to go natural because I didn't think it would look right one me. So, after watching enough youtube videos and talking to my friends, I finally build up the courage to do my BC and have been loving my journey thus far! I wished I did this years ago though...

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  25. My big sis as been very instrumental in encouraging me to embrace my natural hair. We live far apart, she lives in Detroit and I am in California but we take pics and skype to show what cute style we are rocking that day and we give each other helpful suggestions on how to care for our natural hair.....of course I have to thanks all the Natural Youtubers for helping me embrace my natural hair as well.

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  26. There is a commercial on TV where a lady with a twistout is putting in her contacts and once she puts it in realizes that she is in the men's restroom....Well my husband and I must have seen this commercial a thousand times and one day he says she looks like you and I think you should rock natural hair. That was the day and fours years later I haven't looked back. So my biggest supporter and fan has been my husband from the twa to now a head full of curliness he has loved my hair and the icing on the cake is when I get a compliment from people he stands there with his chest puffed and says "Who told you first that it would look good on you?" I gotta love it.

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  27. I decided to REALLY take care of my natural hair when I saw Nina Pruitt on YouTube. Her hair was thick and gorgeous and I loved the way she styled it. Now I've got my own channel and the inspiration cycle continues!

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  28. I was so afraid when I decided to go natural... I made the decision when I went abroad and it seemed like everyone at home thought it was a phase and that I'd eventually get a relaxer. When I finally went back to school, I had an adviser, Meagan, who LOVED my natural hair. I was still transitioning, but I would set my ends on rods {thanks CurlyNikki!:)} and wear this huge curly fro. Meagan LOVED my hair like this and she would always tell me it was beautiful - that I was beautiful. And that gave me so much confidence. Eventually everyone else started coming around, but Meagan was really the first one to truly accept my hair for what it was. I started LOVING my hair so much after that.

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