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Thursday, December 15, 2011

Uncut

Life is full of journeys.  It has taken so long for me to do a new post because I was doing what I have a tendency to do best…overAnalyze, overScrutinize, and over-everything except do. I was trying to perfect my posts… which had yet to be composed.  Yes, as silly as it sounds I got in my own way of publishing months worth of material all because I wanted it to be perfect…and I felt like I didn’t have the time to perfect it.  So, here it is, I am going to do the best that I can at publishing raw and uncut posts and over time it will all come together and one day they’ll be perfect (or maybe not but that’s ok).  Please forgive me for any erroneous grammatical errors and the like.  Welcome back to my world!

Thursday, May 19, 2011

My First Twist-out!

Fourth day twist-out! The first time I tried this style was on Sunday evening!  Retwisted last night with a light mist of water, leave-in conditioner(Salerm21) and jojoba oil to moisturize!  Check out the results :)


Glipse into her Beauty & Style...




Kelis has always been one of my favorite artist ever since the days of her pink curls.  I enjoy seeing her everchanging style. 

Simple and Effective Body Scrub


Try another DIY(do-it-yourself) Body Scrub.  So simple!  Check out the ingredients below:

1 cup Brown Sugar
about 2 tbsps Sea Salt
1 tbsp Honey
10 drops Lemon Juice
½ cup Olive/Coconut/Jojoba/Grapeseed/Avocado/Sweet Almond Oil

Mix all ingredients together and massage into skin starting at your feet and moving up in a circular motion. Rinse well with warm water!

Leaves your skin silky and radiant!

*Just an added plus, this is a great treatment to do before shaving you legs because it sloughs off all of your dead skin cells for an amazingly clean shave!
* I like to apply aloe vera gel as a moisturizer/barrier right after shaving to soothe my skin!  I helps with any accidental knicks and aids healing.

Shoe Game

Over the years I have become somewhat of a minimalist.  It is refreshing not to have a million things to chose from when you know you only wear about 50% of it...so why not just do away with the excess and only keep what you need!  Trust me you will feel light and free just by donating all of the wardrobe and shoes that you do not wear.  I do this every so often and it feels fantastic!  




Here are my 5 footwear must-haves
(wardrobe must-haves coming soon):

1.  Boots(two pairs of favorite neutral colors)- 
Dressy-can be paired with dresses, skirts, or under jeans.  For this pair I’d prefer black because it compliments the majority of my wardrobe.
Mid-calf to knee length
Mid-high heel

Casual-can also be paired with jeans or skirts.  Mostly for your non-formal environments. For this pair I would choose a dark brown, gray, or tan.
Ankle to mid-calf length
Low-mid heel



2.  Flats(two pairs in your favorite metallic color)
Ballet flats-I would personally like bronze the best because would match everything
Sandals- This is where gold or silver would be the best.  Love jeweled embellishments on sandals so much!

3.  Sneakers(two pairs)
Flat- stylish, casual, and comfortable.  A converse style would be perfect. 
Running shoes- for exercise.  One of my old favorites was the Nike Airmax.  There are so many to choose from!  Take your favorite pick!



4.  Heels(three pairs)
Black, medium heel, conservative style perfect for work or formal occasions.
Nude, medium to high heel.  Any style that fits your personality.
Strappy/Dressy/high heel sandals.  Any color.  Think about your clothes and accessories and choose a pair that will compliment them the best.  It’s always the worst to have a fabulous pair of shoes waiting to be worn but nothing to go with them!  So choose wisely!

5.  Last but not least a wild card!  A pair of heels that have a wow factor that you can wear to make any of your favorite outfits pop!  Of course, you know I chose heels because I love them but pick anything that makes you feel amazing and confident!



By only keeping what you own to a minimum you have done yourself a favor and still have what you need to keep your style on point!

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Taking care of yourself



As you get older and more mature your taste definitely changes.  It almost becomes mandatory to start eating healthy and taking the very best care of yourself as possible because you can actually see the signs of aging…even at 30 people!  Sad but true. The days of drinking coke or eating junk food are gone.  Not only because it would reek havoc on your body and skin but because that is just not appealing anymore. 

Moderation is key.

Here are some new changes that I have seriously implemented into my lifestyle.

  1. Water, water, and more water...drinking water a lot more than before. 
  2. Choosing the lighter options when eating or drinking.
  3. Portion control!
  4. Consuming less sugar, dairy, and meat.
  5. Eating primarily fresh foods!

At this very moment...


I feel extremely blessed and thankful.  I do not give thanks often enough but it just came through me like a revitalizing energy that I have so much to be grateful for!

Pray and give thanks all throughout the day!  Especially if you think a negative thought...it needs to be erased and replaced by what you are thankful for! Use journal to write what you are thankful for all the time!



YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU PUT YOUR MIND TO!!



ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE!!



(I like hearing this song in the morning...it resonates with me throughout the day and reminds me to be grateful and live in the moment.)

Thursday, April 28, 2011

All the rage

Updated Hair Post


So, I finally get what all the rage is about embracing your natural curls.  It’s as if a light bulb flipped on and I was able to see...truly see what I had been missing for so long.  Just to give you a little history, I essentially stumbled into becoming natural(you can check out my video below in a previous post entitled Should I relax my natural hair where I go into more detail about it and also see where my mindset was then compared to right now).  I had no idea that it would take on a life of its own and that I would get so attached to it.  
Last week was the first I had been to a hair salon in about 4 months.  That may not sound long, but it actually was for me, since I had grown so accustomed to going at least every month for the past 4 years for my normal wash & set along with getting my roots blow-dried for a super straight strands. And that all started when I got hip to the Dominican salons(now I’ll have to admit they did me a favor but also a great disservice because I was so ignorant to the damage I was causing to my hair and scalp each time I patronized their business).  I’ll have to save telling you more about those experiences for another day!   As soon and I got home and took a look in the mirror I wanted wash it and get my curly hair back!  I couldn't believe how much I had grown to love my natural hair until I got is straightened.  







Honestly, I want that to be the very last time I ever get my hair THAT straight...not to mention I noticed some heat damage last night when I was doing my braids and the left side of my head’s hair ends were straight, sigh!    From now on, I will be using minimal direct heat and no blow-dryers or flat-irons whatsoever!  I absolutely abhorred how limp and lifeless it had become after being so scorched by a blow-dryer!  Poor curls, they didn’t stand a chance.  I would be completely on board for a semi big chop because I just love freshly cut hair...but my hubby is strongly apposed to it.  I’ll see how long I can wait it out because I really want to whack it off and start fresh.  I have a feeling it may be soon because I am all about strength over length.  All I want is for my hair to be as healthy as possible.   I have learned a lot and I definitely feel that the straightest I will be getting my hair is through my own roller-sets. And, can anyone out there agree that when you know what works best for your hair and someone is doing otherwise it makes you want to take matters into your own hands...as in taking away the comb and showing her how it should be done?!  I am done getting my hair styled by anyone other than yours truly!

Monday, April 4, 2011

Preview of exclusive photos!

 

Sharing a few shots of this weeks photos.  I had so much fun taking these pictures on such a beautiful day! 

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Glipse into her beauty

Zoe Kravitz, She's beautiful and I just love her style.


Rashida Jones, so chic.




Natalie Portman, ever since I saw her in The Professional I have been a fan.




Thandie Newton, effortlessly beautiful.


Monday, March 21, 2011

Should I relax my natural hair?



Discussing my hair issues.  Have you experienced this too?  I'd love to hear your suggestions!

Thursday, March 17, 2011

11 THINGS ABOUT ME!


  1. I love high heels!  I just don't feel right unless my heel is at least 3 1/2 inches.  Fact, before I was about 21 years old my wardrobe basically consisted of baby tees, jeans, sneakers, or timberlands.  Whoa, I have come a long way and my taste has changed so much!
  2. Three words to describe my current style:  elegant, classic, feminine.
  3. I am Jamaican.  I was born there but moved to the US when I was just a baby.  My parents are both biracial.  Both half black, one half white, and the other half east-indian. 
  4. I love sweets!
  5. I used to be obsessed with long hair.  Now, my aim is for healthier, stronger, thicker hair!
  6. I have an affinity to middleeastern/indian culture and aesthetics.  I soo want to continue bellydancing classes I started years ago! 
  7. Here's a secret- quite a few years ago, I actually went to a tanning salon on more than one occasion to get darker.  :)  And no, I have never told this fact to a sole!!!   Have any other black girls out there ever done this?  Please share your experience.
  8. My career ambition at 10 years old was to...become a model.  Actually written in my fourth grade year book!  Lol
  9. Past and present girl crushes:  Rihanna, Beyonce, Kim Kardashian,  and Adriana Lima.
  10. One thing I don't do and can't stand is gossip!
  11. I am a relatively quiet  and somewhat shy person.  Doing my best to break out of that and get back to that bold little social butterfly that I was when I was younger.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Skin care update


 
Skincare Inside and Out- My new regime

  •  Everyday 1st thing in the morning drink warm water(or green tea) with lemon.  No sweetener continue to drink filtered water with lemon throughout day, consuming at least 2L.
  • Cleanse face with Cetaphil(or gentle non sulfate cleanser)
  • Use clean washcloths and face towels everyday.
  • Supplements
  • Take tbsp of cod liver oil 2X a day with meal
  • Take multivitamin once a day
  • Eat yogurt with flaxseed and wheat germ once a day
  • Honey Mask 2x a week
  • Clay Mask 1X a week
  • Exfoliate once a week.
  • Change pillowcases every other day.
  • Wash your hair once a week/keep hair out of face/only use a little jojoba oil around hairline.
  • Wear light moisturizer with sunscreen everyday.
  • Only wear makeup occasionally.
  • Clean makeup brushes weekly.
  • Do hair first and then makeup if needed.
  • Get a good night’s sleep.  Get to bed by 10:00p.m.
  • Drink water or other light colored teas(chai tea only exception), fresh squeezed juice (in 4-6oz servings), eat plenty fiber rich foods, fresh fruit, fresh vegetables.

Wash and Go

Natural hair = wet


Next day hair = dry




Cute but major shrinkage...I normally only wear it like this for 1-2 days.  Or else, my hair will get really tangled!  Hope you like the pics!

Thursday, March 10, 2011

My First Bantu Knot (Or Chiney Bump)


This is my first attempt at a bantu knot!  We'll see how the results come out in the morning.  It's about 10:30p.m.  And I'm going to sleep on it.
  • First I washed and conditioned my hair with Suave Almond and Shea Butter shampoo and conditioner.  I chose to use that today because I felt that I needed to clarify my hair after 3 weeks of using a sulfate-free shampoo.  It seemed like there was some build-up from oils and conditioners that I have been trying out. 
  • Next, I applied a leave-in conditioner to my damp hair and sectioned it into about 5 parts.  After sectioning, I began to detangle from the front of my head and make smaller sections for the knots.  Since my hair is fine I do not like to make my parts too small.  I actually think I could have made them a bit bigger but we'll see how it goes.  Next I combed through the section with a paddle brush and applied Argan Oil to each section before I twirled my hair into the knots.  I highly recommed Argan Oil for this because it worked wonderfully for a previous braid-out yeilding great definition and little frizz. 
  • Lastly, I sat under a hooded dryer to take out some of the moisture before going to bed just to ensure it will not be damp in the morning.
I'm excited to see the results!  Will post the pics for you!


Next Morning:
Loosen knots

Pulled out and slightly loosen
Finished look




Next time I will definitely try larger sections that will result in a looser curl.

Friday, February 4, 2011

The Unthinkable

Hey guys!  I am getting ready to do the unthinkable!  What is it?  Growing my eyebrows in!  Yes, I think that it is time to see what my eyebrows look like in their natural state.  Since I'm going all natural these days with my hair I wanted to extend it elsewhere.  I considered the fact that I have not seen what my eyebrows truly look like since I was about 21. 


It's been almost a month since they were waxed.  We'll see how long it takes for them to grow it and what I think about keeping them that way!

Friday, January 28, 2011

Hair Sweet Hair

I think I just about fell in love when I discovered the depth of knowledge and resources there are out today on natural hair care!  For so long, I have bored my husband to death talking about skin and hair care.  He patiently endured these hair gabbing sessions with me and then encouraged me to create this blog to share all that I have learned and love to discuss.  

I got my first relaxer at the age of 12.  Believe it or not it was introduced to me all because of my fifth grade class trip to Washington d.c.  The year before when I went away for a few days to rock eagle, my hair was in the same french braid for three days.  Needless to say, it looked bad my mother was not going to let that happen again and said that I would need to get a relaxer so that I could manage my own hair during my trip away from home.  

Having had a relaxer for so long, I was always curious about how my natural hair actually looked and felt.  I attempted to grow the relaxer out but I was never particularly determined to have it natural so after a while I would just get it relaxed again and again.  Until, the day I found out that I was pregnant in October 2008.  Having heard that getting a relaxer was not good to do while you are pregnant I chose to err on the side of caution and just stop!  Thankfully, I truly never had a problem transitioning.  In short, thanks to my daughter I have now discovered the beauty of my natural hair and am learning how to take care of mine and hers!

Get your sexy on!


To me nothing is sexier than smooth flawless skin...but wanting it and actually having it are two completely different stories.  Who doesn’t want that freedom to confidently walk out the door with a naked face?  Well, this quest has been quite a journey for me.  Ever since my teenage years I have been plagued with some sort of acne.  In the beginning, it was mild and was just on my back but luckily my face was clear.  But sometime after entering college, away from home, with an erratic schedule and eating habits suddenly it disappeared from my back and was prevalent on my face( T-zone to be exact).  And for years, I can count how many times my face has just been completely clear and smooth to the touch.  And when you talk about having tried it all...I am definitely in that category.  From prescriptions, to OTC medicine, vitamins, dermatologist, to holistic clinics.  I was willing to try it all just to achieve clear skin.  After everything that I have gone through over the years, I have learned how important it is to know yourself.  Do you know your body, what are your triggers, what you need the most?  For me, I must drink lots of water, stick to a solid skin care routine, steer clear of sugary foods and drinks(which is my vice by the way!) and get sufficient rest.  For so long, all I have been doing is trying to prevent acne instead of truly learning how to take good care of my skin from head-to-toe!  

Your skin will reflect your health and it is important to start taking care of yourself from the inside out.  I am challenging myself to achieve completely clear skin in 6 months.

here are a few tips  I learned the hard way:
  • Opt for water as your drink of choice!  Whenever, where ever, however!  It is your best bet to choose water.  If you do choose to indulge in something sweet try to limit it to 4-8oz.
  • Always be very gentle on your skin...I have heard that you should never rub your skin harder than you would a baby.  Scrubbing your skin will not make the blemishes go away any faster!  Trust me I know this from experience.
  • Be patient and don’t stress!  This is a hard one but it is vital to healing your skin.  What you do today may not be reflected immediately but in time it will show and you will be so grateful!


That’s it for now.  I am going to take my own advice and truly work at achieving completely clear skin by my daughter’s second birthday in June!  And keeping it that way!

p.s. I am currently using the proactiv system to cleanse my face.  I am beginning to feel like it is too abbrasive for my sensitive skin and I plan to transition into the oil cleansing method soon.  I’ll keep you posted on the progress.