Only1NICOLE

Mommy Allstar

2011-11-11T12:10:00.001-05:00

My lil Prince is turning 8 months next monday. He now has 4 teeth and is practicing his crawling technique. He has the most bubbly personality and is ALWAYS smiling, I LOVE him to pieces.

Ask & You Shall Receive

2011-10-20T20:12:00.001-04:00

"Everything you want is out there waiting for you to ask. Everything you want also wants you. But you have to take action to get it."

Shoe Porn

2011-10-14T12:11:00.001-04:00

These Burberry Fur lined Ankle boots are worth lusting over. I almost climaxed when I saw these & yes I said climax.
Perfect for a snowy or rainy day because who says you shouldn't look Fab in bad weather.
Retails for $1095 (yikes)

An Apple A day...

2011-10-07T02:48:00.001-04:00

My thoughts often keep me up @ nights. It has always been this way but it seems to be getting worse the older I get. What usually happens is I go over what happened that day and try to reason with myself why or why not, what if I and if I would've know this then. It's a vicious cycle that does nothing positive for me but cause regrets and anxiety...it has to stop.
I've tried to live life in the present but find that its easier said than done. As we come to the end of the year my goal is to truly live in the moment. No thinking about yesterday or tomorrow but to genuinely soak up each second, minute, hour of life!

Yesterday the co-founder of Apple, passed away after a long battle with cancer. Just last week while on youtube I saw a Stanford University graduation speech he gave a few years ago and his message was clear...Chase your dreams but first you must love what u do and use your failures as stepping stones to success. This speech really struck a nerve in me. It made me realize I must stop dwelling on my failures and keep pushing forward regardless of how many times I may fall. I'm not sure why I am deeply affected by his passing but I know me watching that speech less than a week before he died was no coincidence, he has forever changed my outlook towards failing and for that I am grateful.
Thank You Steve Jobs!

Gotta LOVE milestones

2011-09-04T12:03:00.001-04:00

My 5month old has hit another milestone this week. Its amazing to watch babies grow and learn. He now has 2 teeth on the bottom and began sitting alone as of this week! Mama is so proud.

2011-09-01T16:07:00.000-04:00

When I started this blog it was to track my process of 'going natural' and other aspects of my life. After much time away and sporadic posts I feel the need to recommit to blogging like i used to. This time however I will not be focusing on hair, as a matter of fact I won't be having a main focus at all. I found i was limiting myself but saying this is a hair blog. I am a multi-dimensional individual with LOTS of interests and hobbies so why should my blog be limited to a certain topic. If you are following me for the purpose of hair let me apologize to you now....I'm not saying I'll never talk hair but there are soooo many natural hair blogs it is becoming mundane in a sense. Don't get me wrong I support the movement and appreciate that women are waking up and trying to accept their natural hair texture, so if you need hair advice check my blogroll for some fabulous natural ladies.

With that being said.... My name is Nicole, I am a mom, a wife, a daughter, a sister and a friend. I love life and all it has to offer. I believe in God and put him above all others. I am a beauty addict and aspiring makeup artist. I can't sing but I do. I crochet. I love hard and expect the same in return. I'm a dreamer and a thinker. I love to read, sing and dance. I like to cook but I LOVE to bake. I am afraid to let people close to me but I'm working on it. I've been hurt many times by those close to me but I forgive them anyway. I believe we all are good but we do bad things. I cannot go a day with music, it is my therapy. I have champagne taste but I'm on a beer budget. I am constantly seeking mental stimulation from those around me. I can go on for days with this but I won't. Until next time *smooches

Have you ever...

2011-09-01T15:26:00.001-04:00

Felt like no one understands you...like you can't say how you feel...like you are all alone even when someone is there...like life is a test and you're flunking out...like BS only happens to you...like you can't breathe...

Am I the only one?!?

2011-08-28T23:03:00.004-04:00

So it seems we (I) have survived hurricane Irene. By the grace of God, the hurricane was not as bad as the weather people predicted. It took down trees and many lost power but we made it out in one piece. I consider myself to be lucky that my power stayed thru the storm, the street behind me and down the block from me is in darkness. This was one of my biggest fears especially with 2 babies, one being an infant.
All I can say is this has been 1 heck of a week....first an earthquake now a Cat 2 hurricane! Too much to digest in such a short time.
Man does life have a way of putting things into perspective, let's say this experience has reinforced in me the importance of loved ones and living life like each day may your last. This I know for sure: no matter what is predicted I will always keep my faith and know that my God is a good God!

Proverbs 3
5Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Until next time...
*smooches

Postpartum shedding and more....

2011-06-04T17:07:00.001-04:00

While both kids are sleep( a rare occasion) let me drop a line or 2.
Finally we have been getting some BEAUTIFUL weather here in NY and I am super excited for summer. I am actively working on dropping some lbs...although I am back to pre-baby weight(actually under) I still have many many more to go so my goal is slow n steady!

As far as my lil man he is now 10wks old and weighs a whopping 13+lbs. He is such a happy baby its makes my day so bright and he laughed out loud for the 1st time 2days ago, hubby was like was that you or him, he couldn't believe it was him that lol'd. I am truly the happiest I have ever been because of my kids!
Now the only down side I have to report is 'postpartum shedding' it is taking a toll on the health of my hair & I was not ready for it at all. With my daughter it was mild so I wasn't anticipating anything different this time around. I lose so much hair when I wash n detangle, even when I try to remove shed hair on dry hair. So I have been keeping my routine super simple; wash/detangle weekly, protective style or bun and moisturize as needed. Yes I am still doing the challenge, so far I have retained about an inch or more. I'm currently wearing small twists and plan on keeping them for 2 wks then wash and re-install.

Ok so now Cadence is up so let me wrap this up. I have been doing hardcore research on coloring my hair *gasp* I know it can be damaging but I desperately need a change if not color I will probably cut a few inches off....if you're saying to yourself what's the point of retaining length to chop it off let me just say IT'S JUST HAIR PPL it'll grow back. Plus I think my hair looks better a bit shorter, my hair grows unevenly so I would like to shape it into a bob type cut {the back grows super fast so it can look like a fro mullet<---not cute}.
Ok duty calls! Ttyl

*smooches

Crown Brushes on Hautelook

2011-05-31T13:13:00.001-04:00

Heads up all makeup fans...today Hautelook is having a sale on Crown brushes and palettes so hurry over before supplies run out.

*smooches

3in6 Challenge: Week 10-11

2011-04-16T01:54:00.000-04:00

Week 10: Apr 3- Apr 9
Let me first start by saying 2 kids under 2 is NO joke! I applaud all the mommies who make it look so easy, I myself am still trying to adapt to a newborn in the house. even though he sleeps good, I haven't gotten him and his sister n on the same sleep schedule so it's a juggling act for now! As tiring as I am I absolutely LOVE being a mom, I have never been happier than I am right now...I feel so blessed! Ok enough!

I give myself 30 minutes each nights after the kids are sleep to do my hair and face routine! Some nights I can squeeze some nail pampering in there LoL. This week I already made up my mind to take out the twists, they could probably go another week but I honestly miss my loose hair. The night before I took them down i rinsed my hair with water only, applied some Shea Moisture Curl smoothie and grape seed oil to seal the ends...I then let them air dry. The following morning I unraveled the twists and wore a twist out that day. Day 2 I put it up in a puff my puff has grown quite a bit, when I first did the big chop I wore a puff almost exclusively! I can def see a difference now...but I actually like it better shorter *kanye shrug* I also made a batch of flaxseed gel which I used for my puff, it made my curls super defined and had great hold without flakes or crunchiness.

Week 11: Apr 10- April 16
Washed my hair on Sunday, I used Shea Moisture Retention Shampoo (upcoming reviews). I sectioned my hair into 4 and washed only my scalp with the shampoo. I followed with vo5 condition to finger detangled and let it air dry with conditioner still in. When it was about 80% dry I added Shea Moisture Masque and sprayed any dry areas with a homemade spritz [ aloe Vera juice, tea tree oil and water].
I braided my hair into 12 sections and tied with a satin scarf.
Mid week I wore a bun using a sock bun for volume...I kept it for 3 days! I must say again the flaxseed gel is AWeSoMe...it hold like nobody's business but doesn't flake AT ALL, s/o to naptural85 on YouTube for the recipe.

Until next time.....

2 Strand Twists

2011-04-10T10:34:00.001-04:00

Just a quick post to show my twists, I wanted to keep them for 6 weeks but since washing them they have gotten fuzzy and shrunken.
Overall I LOVE this style!

3in6 Challenge: Week 7,8,9

2011-04-02T06:11:00.001-04:00

Week 7: Mar 13- Mar 19
So this week I didn't have a wash day on Sun since I did my twists late last week. I knew I would be in the hospital this week for a scheduled c-section so I wanted to keep to hair my hair simple yet versatile. I opted for mini twists as a low maintenance/ protective style.

Week 8: Mar 20-Mar 26
Have not washed my twists yet so again fairly simple routine this week as well. I dampened my hair with water at least every 2 days , I follow up with Cantu Leave in and Shea/coco oil. I kept my twists braided or pinned into an updo, I also wore a silk scarf while home.

Week 9: Mar 27- Apr 2
Oh how I miss water on my scalp. LoL! I absolutely needed to wash my scalp or else. I discovered that I cannot go more than 2 weeks w/o water running thru my hair, massaging my scalp and moisturizing my situation. O_o I used Garnier conditioner to clean my hair and scalp and followed up with Giovanni SAS as an in shower deep treatment using the steam from the shower. I always rinse with cool water so that's a given....I let the excess water drip out and applied Shea/ coco to the ends. After they air dried -of course- I had major shrinkage and the twists were a bit fluffy so I decided to re twist with a bit of my Shea mix....I had NO intention on doing them all, only wanted to neaten the perimeter but 1 thing led to another and next thing I know i' m doing them ALL! At least I can try to wear them longer and added bonus my hair stretched some!
Until next time....

Follow Me

2011-03-23T23:18:00.002-04:00

I've created a tumblr....after months of stalking I decided to make my own so follow me NIKITASHALUVS.TUMBLR.COM
You can also find me on twitter @NIKITASHA

*Smooches

a sneak peek....

2011-03-17T01:59:00.002-04:00

This is what a happy baby looks like after a late night feeding!

HE'S HERE....

2011-03-14T12:29:00.002-04:00

This morning we welcomed our newest addition.
Our baby boy was born at 8:51 am weighing in at 8pounds measuring 21.5 inches long. I am feeling pretty good considering I ended up having a c-section ( lil man was still in a breeched presentation). All is well and he is a healthy baby, already a pro at breastfeeding and sleeping hahahaha.

There will be a slight lack of posts.....you understand right?
Until next time.....
*Smooches*

3in6 Challenge : Week 5-6

2011-03-12T14:38:00.002-05:00

Week 5: Feb 27- Mar 5
Co-wash hair with Sauve Humectant followed by Garnier Conditioner.
I added Pantene deep mask with a bit of Giovanni SAS, evoo, and castor oil. While watching a movie I sat under my heating cap for over an hour. I did my usual routine but made braids instead of twists. Wore my hair under a beanie whenever I need to go out or pinned up @ home. I will be doing a set of small twist next week, hopefully I won't go into labor before I get a chance to do them. O_o

Week 6: Mar 6- Mar 12
Since I will be having lil man next Monday (if he's still Breeched) I will be doing my twists as close to then as possible so I can keep them in for 1 month.
Prior to washing I applied conditioner & oil to my hair, focusing on the ends and lightly detangled using a shower comb.
I washed using Diluted Poo did a deep treatments of Giovanni SAS, egg white, evoo, coco, castor and 2 scoops on mayo.
Applied to each section then twisted into Bantu knots. Sat under heating cap for 1 hour.
In the shower I combed my hair under running water to release shed hair.
I rinsed out conditioner mixture with cool water and braided about 12 sections damp and sealing with Shea/coconut oil.
Thursday night I began to twist my hair section by section. My goal was to make about 10 twists per section [10x12= 120 twists]
As I got to the front of my head I started making them a little smaller than the back. It took a little under 6hrs to complete and I'm pleased with the outcome. I typically do twists on damp hair but decided to try it on dry hair this time..... Great results!

Until next time...

3in6 Challenge: Week 3-4

2011-02-26T13:17:00.003-05:00

Week 3 : Feb 13- Feb 19
I co-washed my hair this week using Sauve Humectant followed up by a Garnier Frutics conditioner for finger detangling.
Deep conditioned with heat for about 40 min and rinsed my twisted hair under cool water. [Giovanni SAS, coco/ evoo]
Then I added Cantu Leave in on damp hair and sealed with jojoba oil. Since I had no plans on wearing my hair out....i did med twists and pinned them up to dry.
After 3 days my hair need moisture, I sprayed a spritz ( water/ oil) and added a bit more Cantu Leave in and topped of with a Shea/Coco mix. My hair was super moisturizer I def will try layering my moisturizers and oils more often since my hair tends to be dry.

Week 4 : Feb 20-Feb 26
So this week I totally slacked and wore a beanie all week and I didn't wash my hair....All I did was dampen my hair in twists and added moisture, seal with Shea and oil....change clothes and GO!

Until next time...

3in6 Challenge: Week 1 & 2

2011-02-12T21:50:00.004-05:00

As mentioned in the last post I'm going to challenge myself to retain 3 inches in the next 6 months. I planned on starting Feb 1st but due to more snow I didn't even get to wear my hair out the weekend before like I initially planned.

WEEK 1: Jan 30-Feb 5
On Sunday I washed with Nexxus Therappe shampoo, deep conditioned with Carol Daughters Vanilla Smoothie with added oils rinsed and used Cantu leave in then braided my hair up for the week, I only had a couple things to do that week so I just wore my wig when I had to go out and kept my hair covered at home for the rest of the week. Every other night I sprayed diluted conditioner mixed with grape seed, olive and jojoba oil then sealed with Shea butter! Kept it simple!

WEEK 2: Feb 6-Feb 12
Again I did a wash using Therappe (diluted with water), DC'd with the same as last week. Rinsed out and covered my hair in Cantu leave in and coconut oil, I then did about 12 box braids to air dry. The next day I flat twisted the sides into a Mohawk and 2 strand twisted the front and back, I ended up wearing it pinned up all week to keep my ends tucked away. I used my spritz every other night and re twisted the front and back on Thursday using the spritz, shea butter and coconut oil. I'm taking it down tonight so I can pre-poo for tomorrow's wash day!

I failed to get good pics of week 2's style but I will upload the 2 I took :( I remembered on Thursday before I re-twisted to take a pic.
I really don't know what I'm going to do this week...hmmmmmmm! Whatever it is I plan on keeping it for the entire week.

Also I am going to change 1 thing in my regimen:
I won't be combing my hair weekly anymore, I will detangle when necessary otherwise using my fingers after the deep conditioner if sufficient for me. I find using my fingers are best and with my hair being put up for the week, I only have shed hairs and little to no tangles. Since I won't be doing much I will only document this challenge biweekly.

Until next time.......
*smooches

Baby news

2011-02-09T22:45:00.001-05:00

Quick update on my lil bun in the oven...I had a regular check up on monday and found out he is not head down yet. It really shouldn't be a problem since I'm 35 weeks and he has enough room to turn when he's ready. My doctor suggested to go on my knees and elbows making my hips higher than my neck ( basically doggie style*covers eyes*) twice a day for 5-10 minutes at a time. I left the office feeling so worried and nervous! What If he stays breeched...omg I am terrified of needing a C section. My mom really helped calm me down ALOT. She basically told me not to worry I have plenty of time and the baby isn't ready to be born yet so when he's ready he'll turn on his own. She had all 3 of her kids naturally/ without pain meds and thinks that doctors ' these day's ' underestimated a woman's strength, she says that they are too quick to give a section out of convenience for their schedule and what not...I agree %100!

I prayed on it and I am going to leave it in God's hands and he will lead the way. Sometimes we underestimated the wonder of God! So I won't doubt his amazingness, I know he has a plan for my child and I and whatever it is the outcome will be his will. Not matter what I just want him to be healthy and strong, whether or not it goes how I want it to!

I never posted my birth story for my daughter but long story short I had her naturally with no pain medication, despite the fact that the hospital was clearly trying to hurry her out which ever way they could. I held true to my birth plan and only took Pitocin after stalling out for a couple hours, it definitely got the contractions going strong and I had my baby girl a few hours later. After that experience I know that God designed us women to give birth and as painful as I thought it would be...let me be the first to say it was not THAT bad! My idea of labor and childbirth was what I saw on sitcoms and movies, the screaming woman being rushed immediately after her water broke.... NOT TRUE AT ALL. I had her 12 hrs after my water broke and I was walking, laughing and making jokes the whole time. The most painful was probably from 6 cm dilated to 10 cm, when it came time to push i was actually relived to push and that was more of a burning feeling than painful. Anyhow before I go into detail, after she was out I didn't remember ANY of the pain! All I saw was my beautiful baby and all I felt was love indescribable. That is the best experience I have ever had and want it to be the same for my son as well! I will update the blog if anything changes!

Until next time
* smooches

3 in 6 Challenge

2011-01-26T11:40:00.003-05:00

Loo over at hairandhealth.blogspot.com is challenging herself as well as her readers to retain 3 inches of hair growth in 6months. The key word is to retain, most people have no problem growing their hair the problem lies in retaining that length. With healthy hair practices, low manipulation and protective styling 2-3 inches is absolutely attainable . She gives great advise on how to keep hair clean and neat while wearing a protective style for a long period of time...amazing blog so go! Check out the details for yourself here

Yesterday I posted a length check which will serve as my starting point. I trimmed .5 in off my hair last week because my ends really needed it so I wont be trimming again for the next 6 months. Typically I only trim my hair when needed, that seems to be around every 5-6 months or so.
-My goal is to wear a protective style with my ends tucked away for at least a week at a time.
-do mini twists on stretched, dry hair and leave in for 2-3 weeks.
- keep my hair covered whenever possible outdoors as well as indoors...here in NY we are getting bombarded with snow storm after snow storm. Along with dealing with snow and wind, constant exposure to oil/gas heat is just as taxing on natural strands.
- I already take a multi-vitamin and drink loads of water due to pregnancy so I will just keep up the same program after I give birth.
-deep condition weekly or bi-weekly depending on style
- moisturize and seal every other day.
- Try my hardest to leave my hair alone...I currently suffer from hand in hair syndrome. I just LOVE my hair

Everything that I listed are all part of my 'normal' regimen, except for the protective styling. I usually wear twists for a few days then rock a
twist out or braid out, that I re braid nightly. The key for me is to keep my ends tucked away and try not to manipulate my hair often.
The challenge starts on Feb 1st and ends Aug 1st. so I'm going to enjoying wearing my hair out for the rest of the week. It will be hard since i love "BIG" hair but well worth it plus the timing is perfect. Who knows how much time I will have to style my hair after I have my baby in March, not having to worry about doing my hair for potentially a week or 2 is key until I get the hang of having 2 small children. Wish me
luck!
Until next time......
* smooches*

Hair Length Check Jan 25, 2011

2011-01-25T23:46:00.002-05:00

Ok finally an update for my hair.....my media card is full and needs to be dumped so I used my blackberry( sorry if the quality isn't the best).
The first shot is a nape shot, then a side shot and next is the front. I also threw in a gratuitous pic of my braid out :o)

2011-01-25T23:40:00.001-05:00

I have access... Thank you God!

2011-01-15T11:23:00.001-05:00

After over 1 year without a laptop, I am happy to say I am back to blogger........Coming to you from my iPad!
Expect weekly posts and pics (as soon as I dump my memory card to a USB stick).

On another note I am approaching 32 weeks of pregnancy...yay almost done! I love being pregnant but towards the end it gets uncomfortable and I'm ready to get back control of my body, bladder, and hopefully sleep a little better. I know I have missed a whole lot but will be using any free time to catch up!

Until next time....

Smooches

26 weeks 5days...

2010-12-10T11:34:00.002-05:00

This is my last week in the 2nd trimester and I can't believe how fast its going. Had a Dr's visit today and got to see my baby's face in 3d...... HE is such a cutie patootie =). I have had some complications this past month like back pain, and a minor ankle cramp but still nothing to complain about really. My Dr. says having a toddler to run after can be difficult while pregnant so try to take it easy, bu that's pretty hard when she is so inquisitive and has tons of energy...I try to always keep her entertained until daddy gets home. My lil girl is aware that mommy has a baby in the belly and often comes up to me and kiss her lil brother ( It melts my heart). It seems like yesterday she was in my belly, it is just surreal! Well until next time.....

*smooches*

GrEAT NeWs...

2010-11-03T12:10:00.005-04:00

It has been forever and a day but I want to pop in to let you in on some exciting news for me and my husband...drumrolll.... We are having another baby! our babygirl just turned a year in september and we are on our way to number 2 , by the time I deliver she will be 20 months or so. I am so excited yet nervous but I know GOd never gives us anything we cannot handle. I am currently 21 weeks along and feel pretty good...I mean I have major back pain every now and then but that is the only problem I have so far. From what I can tell so far I have pretty easy pregnancies, with my first I had evening sickness, nose bleeds and tiredness early on but by the second trimester I was feeling like new again. This time around I haven't had any nose bleeds but I do experience violent episodes of throwing up whenever I brush my teeth.. TMI, maybe. All in all I am feeling blessed, I feel great and am determined to go the natural route again, by the grace of God everything will go as smooth as it did with my daughter.

As far as my hair I have been slacking a bit but I ALWAYS keep my hair moisturized and braided or twisted and never skip deep treatments...I am in need of a trim though and may do that while my hair is in small braids but otherwise I have been keeping it really simple. I am tempted to straighten my hair for my birthday in December but am not quite sure I want to risk any heat damage. I may just get a sew-in weave or quick weave IDK yet! August made 2 years since I last had a relaxer and my hair is probably twice as long as it was when I had that last relaxer- amazing how much length you retain when you're not putting chemicals on your hair.

I still have no access to the cpu at home but try to get to the library every now and then to check my emails. I feel so bad that I have been neglecting my blog =( I truly Love blogging! since becoming a mom it helps me even more to get relaxed and clear my mind from the stresses of life.... Well I'll drop in again from time to time to let you all know how we're doing and of course update about my hair situation.

until next time.............

*Smooches

Thanks for the LOVE

2010-08-16T14:46:00.005-04:00

well folks sorry for the lack in posts, I'm currently experiencing CPU hell. I rarely ever get a chance to get online and until my computer gets out of ICU the posts will be few and far in between...sorry!

what's happening in my life..... Trying to get back to work and starting school in the fall. My lil one is turning a year next month and Well it about that time that mama get back to the grind of LIFE! I am grateful to be able to stay home for this long but I am in need of adult interaction hehehe!

As far as my hair...I'm still natural, still Aiming for my goals of waist length hair, and still protective styling like crazy. I have noticed a considerable amount of growth as of late (due to the protective styles) YESSSSS! this proves that I'm on the right track. August 26th will make 2 years since my last relaxer/ 6 months since I BC'ed.
Here is an idea of my length( pics to follow soon)---- The nape is about 3 in past collar bone, the sides touch my collar bone and the front touch my chin! I am currently rocking a fierce fro just to get a feel of my hair being out but in a couple days I 'll be putting it up again for 4 weeks...probably a twist set with extensions or box braids a la Lauryn Hill's Latest Do.

Hope you all stay blessed and happy! thanks for continuing to follow this blog, I sincerely appreciate the Love!

until next time......
*smooches

GoTTa Beat the Heat

2010-07-06T11:05:00.002-04:00

Hope your 4th was as good as mine was...It was and still is HOT as HELL here in NY
You know it's hot when everybody is walking around with a permanent grimace on their face lmao! On another note I have been having such Good hair days (probably because of the heat n humidity). I'm 4 months in the natural hair game and still learning how my hair responds to different elements and products...what i've learned so far ------1. My hair loves shea butter 2. the less products I use the better the outcome 3. I have to wet my hair at least every 3 days or else =/ and lastly my husband loves my hair more everyday =o)
I've been getting creative and doing more than the usual suspect aka PUFF....I usually just wing it and get great results as opposed to planning out what I'm going to do and getting crappy results. Isn't that how life is anyway?!? hmmmmppphhhh!

until next time

*smooches*

Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-09T19:47:00.002-04:00

Happy Mothers Day to my Mommy, Grandma, Mother-in-law, friends and family .

This is my first Mother's Day and I am proud to be in the company of so many strong women. Being a mom is the most important thing a woman can do, so acknowledge your mom/wife and tell her she's doing a good job every now and then...Moms work 24/7 365 with no days off, no holidays, no sick time! Don't just celebrate her on Mother's Day! Do it EVERYDAY!

A special shout out to moms who are doing it on their own, who juggle work and school and being a mom...You are appreciated!

*smooches*

Urban Decay Haul

2010-05-04T18:27:00.005-04:00

today i received my order from HauteLook.com making it exactly 2 weeks since I placed my order(which is fine since the site said allow 10-14 business days).

I actually placed 2 separate orders that day. I called the customer service line and they were glad to refund the shipping cost on 1 of them.

Now THAT"S customer service for ya!

I Got 3 Loose Pigments $5 ea./originally $20 ea :

Goddess{midnight blue w/ lots of electric blue micro-glitter}
Baked {rich bronze}
Rockstar {dark purple in black base w/ silver/purple micro-glitter}

Apocalyptic Nail Set $13/originally $25
Big Buddha Brush $9/originally $36
Hall of Fame Set $14.50/originally $23

I just LOVE Urban Decay shadows! They go on smooth and are pigmented
and I can't wait to use the Buddha Brush this summer on my decolletage and arms w/ bronzer. It is so soft and i love that
It's purple!

*smooches*

Protective Styling: Short Wig

2010-04-29T20:05:00.004-04:00

This week's PS (protective Style) for me is my asymmetrical bob wig...I used it a lot in my transition and still wear it on days when I'm just being lazy.

I wanted to do medium sized kinky twists but I just didn't feel up to all that braiding...hmmphh! so I'm gonna shoot for doing them this Sunday coming. Under the wig I have my hair in 8 braids which I moisturize and re-braid every other day, I also wear a wig cap/silk scarf to protect my strands from touching the inner mesh of the wig. This a crucial step with wearing wigs...you don't want your protective style to cause any damage to your hair cause that would be counter-productive right?!?

I do plan on wearing my natural hair out this weekend so I'll upload a few pics of how I style it

until next time.....
*smooches*

How I NOW wash my brushes

2010-04-28T22:48:00.002-04:00

real quick I found a new way to clean my brushes at a record speed of 10-15 sec each

Usually I use mild liquid soap like Dove, or Johnson's Baby Wash...but I would have to let the brushes sit in 1/2 in. of water for a few minutes to loosen up the product. As I'm getting a cup of water ready for them to soak I see my Ambi Clear Complexion bar soap on the sink and decided to use that instead.... BINGO.....worked like a charm!

I took a brush swirled it onto the soap few maybe 10 sec or less and then rinsed. absolutely no need for a second wash because instantly the buildup melted off the brush and onto the bar.
I'm guessing the more buildup the longer it takes but mines were clean in 10 sec.
btw I clean my brushes weekly.....
So happy I discovered this method because time is at the essence for me so anything to save a few minutes makes life a little easier..it took me 10 minutes to clean about 20 brushes...SweeT

I suggest you use a mild soap that isn't drying like Dove or Aveeno,
my brushes are still wet but they feel pretty soft to me, I'll see for sure in the a.m.
Just thought I'd share!

*smooches*

until next time....

Inspired by Nature: Purple SunSet

2010-04-28T19:16:00.009-04:00

I have been slacking on wearing eyeshadow and need to really get back in the swing of things. As a mom I tend to neglect myself and all the 'girlie' things I did before Lil Bear, so I try to make it a habit to do a spa day once a week at least. My husband takes her out and I do a mani/pedi, deep treatment or facial, sometimes I use the time to read my mags and relax.
I need a way to keep my creative juices flowing so I'm adding a new series ...

Inspired by Nature
a weekly feature where I re-create a look based on the glory that is Mother Nature ... so this week I was inspired by this photo. What I love about this is anyone can interpret this in their own way...so give it try I would love to see what you come up with !

{imagine}

Here's what I used:

ON EYES

Loreal Decrease up to brows
NYX Jumbo Eye Milk on lid
Manly 120 palette soft pink /shimmery pink on inner tear duct & bottom lid
Urban Decay Fishnet on middle of lid
Urban Decay Ransom on outer corner
Manly 120 palette deep blue/deep purple outer V & bottom lid
Urban Decay Peace on outer bottom lid
MAC expensive pink as highlight
Loreal Linear intense Carbon Black liner
Loreal Le Kohl in Onyx
Avon Super Extend mascara

BROWS

cheap brown liner
Wet n Wild ultimate brow kit Ash Brown

ON FACE

NARS Sheer Matte in Trinidad
Iman Stick Foundation Earth 6 as concealer
ELF Bronzer in Warm Tan as cheek bone highlight
Smashbox wet/dry foundation as contour
Loreal True Match blush neutral C-8
MAC Studio Fix NC 50 all over

LIPS

Maybelline Colorsensational in Born With It
Covergirl Wetslicks in Pink Sequin

until next time...

*Smooches*

Urban Decay on HAUTELOOK

2010-04-20T13:24:00.003-04:00

If you didn't already know...Urban Decay is currently on sale on Hautelook.
I snagged a few things myself..... items are from 50 -75% off so run over there and get up some.

until next time...
*smooches*

AGrlCanMac's WL Challenge

2010-04-19T07:04:00.007-04:00

these 2 were taken mid april- 1. texture shot 2. length shot

Fellow blogger Milan over at Agrlcanmac started a challenge to get waist length hair in 2years. It seems pretty far fetched but it is actually attainable if you have shoulder length hair or longer...The misconception that black hair cannot grow long needs to be dispelled asap....furthermore, I think as more people come to fact that if you love and nurture any hair type it will grow and be healthy and as a result be long. so shout out to Milan! for challenging us to think outside the box.

I took a week to get a plan in motion and really focus on what my personal goals are...

Nutrition

eating more fruits and veggies
adding more fish to my diet
increasing my water intake
regular exercise and weight training

Scalp Care

massaging my scalp 3x week using either coconut oil or olive oil
adding essential oils of peppermint, rosemary and lavender

Protective Styling

protective style 4 weeks or more then wear hair out for 1 week
keep ends tucked and moisturized
using a silk pillowcase along with my satin scarf

Deep Treatments

Weekly deep conditioning with heating cap
Monthly protein treatments
Henna every 3 months
Oil and tea rinses

Supplements

Prenatal pills
Biotin
Fish Oil
Garlic Pills
MSM

Photo Journal

do Quarterly Length checks
keep up with my fotki to log the next 2 years of hair care

My hair in the back touches my collar bone/ the front touches my nose/sides touch my chin.
I will begin to wear protective styles Starting April 25th. I am super excited to see what kind of growth I can achieve during this challenge. To document the entire process I will dedicate a weekly segment on this blog {I haven't thought of a name yet}. So these are my plans and if you are interested in joining head over to her blog...plus she always has great information so check her out

Until next time....
*smooches*

Review: Avon MagiX Face Perfector

2010-04-16T13:33:00.004-04:00

Ok let me start by saying yes I am a rep for Avon/Mark however my opinions are strictly subjective...NO I do not get paid to blog about or even promote Avon on this site. With that said, there will be many more Avon posts because I never used them in the past and am excited to see what they have to offer.

Today I wanna focus on Avon MagiX Face Perfector ::
they say> A magical air-light gel-powder colorless formula that makes all skin tones look flawless... invisible coverage; instant perfection. Banish shine up to 10 hours. Apply evenly before sun exposure or as needed. 1 fl. oz.

Targets pores: visibly minimizes pores with patent-pending Optix Light-Diffusing Technology.

Banishes Shine: holds back shine for up to 10 hours

Smoothes Skin: reduces the look of fine lines...skin feels softer than ever.

I say > They are on to something here...this 'primer' is not like any I have ever used, the main difference is that its a gel-powder which simply means it is liquid but when applied turns into powder form. I use it over my moisturizer and under my foundation to keep the oilness at bay and that it does. Did I mention it has SPF 20 protection which is a PLUS with summer right around the corner ...

good example::: yesterday I made my way to the mall for some retail therapy. I generally hate wearing makeup to shop because I tend to get really oily and sweaty esp. in the dressing rooms where the lights make the room super hot! so i decided to put MagiX to the ultimate test... After a couple hours of walking, shopping and trying on clothes my face was not oily at all, it wasn't completely matte either--it's was sort of dewy looking! IT was AMAZING to say the least. {all my oily chics know what I mean} Also it continued to keep my face oil free after several hours(about 7) . I am definitely gonna be ordering more of this product in the future...If you have major oil issues like myself I suggest you give this a try or not hey it's your world I'm just here to share my findings.....

until next time...

Update: Carol's Daughter

2010-04-02T08:56:00.003-04:00

So I did a review on some CD products a few weeks back and was not impressed..I decided to try the 2 products I didn't like again, this time I wanted to use them both exclusively. I cowashed my hair with Scruples Hydrating Conditioner (trying to clean out my stash) then let it air dry with a bit of Aussie Moist as leave in. I waited till the next day to twist my hair using the hair milk for moisture and the Hair Butter for hold...
as i mentioned in the earlier post the hair milk has a strong lemongrass smell which lingered for a day..as a whole it has some good ingredients and does it's job well but for me the smell is too much so I will not continue to use it.. I really do wish it wasn't so strong cause it is a good product, it is moisturizing yet light and doesn't leave my hair greasy at all....My hair literally sucks it up.
The healthy hair butter on the other hand is a keeper, it is water-based and contains soybean/corn/sweet almond/jojoba/wheat germ oil, shea + cocoa butter...It does have a strong smell because of the sage, patchouli, cedar wood and ylang ylang but it isn't as offensive to me like the hair milk is. next time I will try the butter with something else to see if I get similar results. Used together My twists came out so good...shiny and soft!

Overall I am glad I gave them a second try! I am still wearing the twists so I'll come back with the results of my twist out!
until next time

What I've learned about my Natural Hair...

2010-03-31T18:26:00.006-04:00

So I've been natural for a month now.....still too early to have a definitive regimen so right now I just listen to my hair for what it needs. I evaluate my hair often as a way to gauge if its dry or brittle, if there's product buildup, does my scalp need oil, are my ends healthy, and so on.
I would like to try new products mostly natural ones like Oyin but I am still going through my stash...Early on in my transition I went out and bought so much stuff, every sale I would stock up but as it went on I found I got the best results when I remained consistent with what I used on my hair and find some of those same products still work well for my hair now. When I think about it, It makes complete sense since I found my transition to be fairly easy although I never intended to transition for long I ended up going for 18 months.

All I'm saying is find what works for you and stick with it. A lot of the time we get caught up in the hype and think we MUST have this or that cause it's working for so and so.... my thing is this no ONE product is the key! Its a combination of products and good hair practices! With that said here are MY staple products....

OILS : Coconut, Olive, Castor, Jojoba, Sweet Almond
Shampoo: Vo5 Clarifying Kiwi Lime or Baking Soda
Conditioner: Garnier Sleek n Shine, Sauve Naturals, Vo5 Moisture Milks
Deep Conditioner: Pantene R&N mask, Aussie Moist, Sauve Humectant (A+)
Moisturizers: Shea butter
Leave In: Chi Keratin Mist, Aphogee Green Tea

I am STILL on a journey to learning my hair but am much closer to knowing her than I ever was before.

until next time
*smooches*

Haul: Re-up my stash

2010-03-30T17:23:00.005-04:00

I finally ran out of my M.A.C. Studio Tech foundation so I made my way to the mall to re-up. Any makeup head knows you never get just the 1 or 2 things you need...somehow I always end up going overboard *shrugs*

I ended up getting a Studio Tech in NC50 * Studio Fix in NC50 * Fix+ * Viva Glam GaGa * Studio Finish Concealer in NC50* Cork Lip pencil *Cremesheen Glass in Just Superb
I won't be going to M.A.C. for a while! But I will be making my way over to the CCO in the next month or so =P

UPDATE****
I wrote this post last month and never got around to posting...however I will be exchanging the Cork Lip pencil and Cremesheen hopefully this weekend. Both colors looked great @ the store - but didn't translate well in natural light. I do like the Cremesheen Glass compared to other glossy because it's not sticky..so i'm may pick up another 1.

I know there's hundreds of posts on the GaGa Lipstick but let me say my piece.... I agree with everyone else LOVES IT!

Seriously I need another one before its a limited ed. what shocked me the most is that its not to gaudy against my skin tone..its the perfect pink lip IMO.... I've been reaching for it just about everyday since I got it>> a Certified KEEPER!

until next time
*smooches*

Life as a MoM...

2010-03-24T16:19:00.006-04:00

I haven't spoken any about my lil one and mommyhood on here but as the dust clears and I sit back and reflect on the past 7months, I am glad to say I am happier than I've ever been! it's so cliche to say but I have never experienced such bliss..such joy..such pride.

My daughter has made me a stronger woman and a better person.
I had an all natural birth *insert gasp* It was the hardest thing I ever did but because of it I am more spiritually connected than any other time in my life. I thank God every day for showing me the power faith. I knew I wanted a natural birth but wasn't sure if I could do it, but I kept my faith and asked God for strength and guidance ...the outcome was the gift of life...that day will forever be etched in my memory esp. the moment we first saw her.

:: 7 months later::
as we were playing the other day, she pulled herself up to my face and grabbed it with both hands, leaned in and gave me a kiss...It's was such a simple gesture but meant so much. I marvel at how she can express affection at such a young age... I try to bottle up every special moment and photograph her every move { i even managed to get her first crawl on video} I say all this to say Life as a Mom is AWESOME!!! It's a lot of work on little to NO sleep but BY FAR the most rewarding job...

I could really go on for days about Lil Bear as my husband calls her>>> but I won't I just wanted to share with you all my thoughts on motherhood thus far.

until next time...

NeWs FLaSh

2010-03-23T18:21:00.005-04:00

I RECENTLY BECAME AN AVON/ MARK REPRESENTATIVE. AS YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW AVON OFFERS A VARIETY OF BEAUTY PRODUCTS, JEWELRY, CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES AS WELL AS MAKEUP.

GONE ARE THE DAYS OF HAVING TO MEET UP WITH YOUR AVON LADY FOR A BOOKLET AND THEN CALL HER TO GIVE YOUR ORDER AND THEN WAIT FOR HER TO BRING IT TO YOU. WITH THE E-STORE YOU CAN VIEW CATALOGS AS WELL AS PLACE AN ORDER VIA WEB, AND THE BEST PART AVON SHIPS DIRECTLY TO YOUR HOME.
YOU CAN VISIT MY E-STORE WHERE YOU CAN BROWSE CATALOGS, AND CATCH DAILY DEALS.

******FIRST TIME ORDERS RECEIVE 10% OFF ENTIRE ORDER!*********

UNTIL NEXT TIME
*SMOOCHES*

MAkeUP Review: NARS Sheer MAtte

2010-03-17T20:53:00.012-04:00

As promised I want to share my thoughts on a new product...well new to me! Like many other women of color, I am always on the hunt for a 'good' foundation that also matches my skin tone, and covers discoloration, and stays put for long and the list goes on....
I have been a drugstore makeup person since I began wearing makeup but understand that sometimes you get what you pay for.. What I was getting was foundation that didn't have an array of colors for brown skin and not to mention they needed to be reapplied way too often.
Anyhow one of my beauty goals for 2o1o is to try brands I wouldn't normally try.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I decided to try NARS' SHEER MATTE FOUNDATION COMPLEXION BRIGHTENING FORMULA in DARK 3 TRINIDAD1 Fl. Oz. 30ml
$42 Available at Sephora Stores
Their Description:
{Sheer Matte's velvety oil free fluid evens skin tone and absorbs excess oil, leaving your complexion shine free all day. Used daily, your skin's texture and radiance improve over time, becoming softer, smoother and more luminous. Sheer matte foundation provides weightless, buildable coverage, with a natural matte finish. For normal to oily skin types. Dermatologist tested. Non-Comedogenic. Fragrance Free.}

This product is the bidness...enough said!! LOL Seriously though, I'm in Love.
It is the lightest foundation I've tried, this thing disappears into your skin and leaves it feeling extra smooth. Like it says its very matte an A+ for oily skin yet it gives great coverage. I use it with my Sonia Kashuk Highlighting brush and it doesn't even look like I'm wearing makeup! Also I wanna mention it is considered a transparent-matte foundation but it is buildable to give the coverage you need. Typically I use M.A.C's studio tech in NC 50/ NW45 mixing both to create a match. The site describes the shade Trinidad as dark with warm yellow undertones...This shade IS my skin tone which I guess Is why it seems to disappear into my skin. I have never had a foundation that I didn't have to custom blend to match my skin tone so this is a DREAM to me. I know ya'll are like its too good to be true and you are right...Hold on there is a down side... the price.... it is a whopping $42..sticker shock anyone? but worth it IMO. Again the 'you get what you pay for' thing.
NARS is one of THE best cosmetic companies out there. All I know is this>>> Get it if you can, IT works wonders and IF it does all this and helps improve your skin in the long run then its worth $42.
SO there's my thoughts !
until next time
*Smooches

Am I the only One....

2010-03-17T20:25:00.006-04:00

I've been trying out the Carol's Daughter line for a couple months now and am steady waiting for the products to start working... I've heard so many great things about her line and the natural ingredients she uses but its not doing IT for me, maybe its just MY hair. anyhow I purchased:

Black Vanilla Herbal Shampoo
Black Vanilla Hair Smoothie
Hair Milk
Healthy Hair Butter

My honest opinion the shampoo wasn't anything special but smells divine.. the Hair milk has a strong smell of lemongrass which I'm not big on, somewhat medicine-like. As for a moisturizer my hair sucks it up fast so I'd say it's lightweight. The Hair butter is a good moisturizer but again has a medicinal scent to me. What I really love is the hair smoothie, its a good deep treatment and provides great slip.
Which leads me to ask... AM I THE ONLY ONE? I won't write Carol's Daughter off completely I want to try the Hair Oil someday..... any thoughts?

until next time
*smooches

LEARNING MY HAIR...

2010-03-17T17:26:00.008-04:00

I've been listening to my hair and trying to get to know it, already I can tell it has a personality of its own...I must admit to you all I've been trying to master 1 style only for now and that's my trusty puff. I literally been wearing it everyday for 10 days and I love it, so simple, yet stylish and cute!! I love the looks I get wearing my hair in a puff, it seems to draw people in LoL => took me a while to get used to the extra attention but now I Love it!!

At night I spray my hair with water/oil mix and seal with shea/coco...Because of the windy weather I find that my hair stays moisturize for no longer than a day so I spray, twist and seal nightly, sleep with a scarf then in the morning untwist and put in a puff. 5 minutes top and another 10 to lay my edges down while I get dressed and do my face. so simple... I can already tell it'll be my staple summer style....plus you can jazz it up with a flower or headband==sidenote== accessories are HUGE this year! F21 has some amazing pieces that are affordable. Ive been making my own, I'll do a post in the near future....but here's one...

another thought: I really want to do a challenge of some sort to wear more protective styles. As much as I love wearing my hair out I do realize that it's more wear and tear...So still not sure but I wanna do some sort of twists or braids only because I need to be able to wash my hair and condition often. I plan on adding back protein treatments, my first one was this past sunday and I can tell my hair really likes protein esp. since its been months since I did one. Finding the moisture/protein balance is still one of those things I struggle with so after doing some reading I'm going to try the weekly for a month then monthly and assess the condition of my hair compared to now.

Working On: M.A.C. Haul
NARS Sheer Matte Review
Easy Spring Look

until next time

*smooches

GOT CHANGE?

2010-03-04T03:20:00.004-05:00

I decided to mark my return to blogging by sprucing up a bit and changing my URL...I love the name HAIR, THERE, EVERYWHERE for my blog because it describes this blog well...about hair and a bit of everything else. yet I've always felt it was WAY too long to type so I'm re-inventing the old address: ONLY1NICOLE.BLOGSPOT.COM
so tell a friend to tell a friend!

*smooches*

yoU dID wHAt!!!

2010-03-04T02:10:00.006-05:00

well I finally did it and boy does it feel good....As of March 1st I am newly natural and loving it! After 18 long months of transitioning I had to let go of the baggage of the old me and although 2009 was a major year in so many wonderful ways (i'll save all that for another time) it was time to start anew...

OK I'll spill the juicy details about my BC. I chose to do it the last day of Feb well.... just cause...I had been playing with the idea of BC'ing for months and needed to set a definitive date so I took out my calendar and circled 02-28-2010.
After putting Lil Bear to bed I gathered my supplies:

*Scissors
*Spray Bottle (water, olive oil)
*Rattail comb
*butterfly clips
*ponytail holders
*shea/coconut mix
I sectioned my hair into 6 sections starting from back to front.I made smaller sections within those, sprayed the area where the 2 textures met and held my hair at a 90degree angle while cutting. It was pretty clear where my line of demarcation was so the rest was a breeze.... overall I took a lil over an hour to do it all.
<> while chopping I noticed a few areas with heat damage from my blowout and even 1tiny spot where my hair broke of to about 2 in long. uuuggghhhhh....I tried so hard to protect my hair from heat damage but nonetheless ISH HAPPENS! so I digress...
I already washed my hair the day before so I skipped that step and proceeded to doing med sized twists using the same spritz mix and shea/coconut mix. The next morning took them out and fluffed. I must admit I became quite nervous when it came time to leave the house with this new "accessory"of mine so I literally had to talk myself down from throwing on my good ole wig!
I definitely got more stares than usual that day...who knows maybe my mind was playing tricks on me =P
either way I felt fAb and fiErCe & am thrilled that I finally did it.

So to my followers LOOK OUT ya girl is back like neon nails and spandex heheheee =D

until next time
*smooches

Hair Update: Dominican blowout

2010-01-17T19:25:00.006-05:00

So I'm back with a new post like I promised and this time it's a hair update... Like I mentioned in my last post I'm still in the transition process and have been doing as little as possible to my hair while trying out different protective styles such as; wigs, braids, kinky twists, weaves, twists on my own hair and twistouts/braidouts. Whatever style I choose I always remember to moisturize my hair and tuck my ends. Just let me say I haven't really been sealing my ends because I trim them often and will be getting rid of relaxed ends anyway, yet I have little to no split ends. Keeping my hands out of my head has been a huge help in retaining and gaining length, as well as NO HEAT! After 15+ months of no heat I decided to get a blowout for my birthday last month... just a quick summary of what I did before and after........................

I deep conditioned the day before using olive oil and humectress and left it on overnight. The day of I washed and conditioned then the stylist sectioned and blow dried my hair (with heat protectant) with a round brush and flat ironed it smooth. I kept my hair straight for 4 weeks, originally planned for 2 but keeping putting it off. The first week I wrapped nightly then weeks 2 & 3 I rocked braidouts and updo's. I only used additional heat twice in the 4 weeks just to take away any frizz. Honestly the last week I really didn't do much but wrap at night. I'm currently wearing a wig with my hair in conrows that I spritz nightly and baggy under the wig... pretty simple! Basically no matter which style I rock I try to stay consistent to my rules:

NO/LOW MANIPULATION

NO HEAT

MOISTURIZE AND PROTECT

**Until next time...I'll Holla! =)

*smooches*

2010.....

2010-01-06T14:58:00.003-05:00

Well Hello BloggerLand,
Ya girl's been gone for a while but I want ya'll to know I'm still transitioning. It's been over a year and I just haven't had the urge to BC, what I'm doing is working for me so I'm not gonna change it for now.
I know your wondering 'where you been?' Well my laptop died on July 1st so I got a desktop( old dinosaur one) and Let me tell you how bad it is. It takes an hour to check my mail so imagine me trying to leave a post or even upload pics. Until I get my pc situation up to par I'll just drop in as I can. So HAPPY NEW YEARS to you ALL! Next post I'm gonna leave some updated pics of my hair and a brief rundown of what my regimen has been like.

I WISH YOU ALL A PROSPEROUS YEAR AHEAD AND CONTINUED BLESSINGS!

*SMOOCHES*

its been a while, I know

2009-06-17T21:11:00.005-04:00

Haven't came by these parts in a while so give let me say I miss y'all. I've been running around trying to get ready for this baby, a wedding and (yes) I'm planning my own shower.(Crazy right?) I'm gonna have help from my bff and my sis-in-law but I am a total control freak so I feel like i need to be the one choosing everything so I can be 100% happy.

Right now I'm 26 wks and 1day to be exact...about 14 weeks left. just can't believe how fast its happening! What i can say is that I like being pregnant so far, i haven't had any major issues::thank God:: I feel so sexy, and even more womanly it's a feeling that's hard to explain.

My hun has been all ova me lately...its pretty weird!

As far as baby...i had an appt on tue. and he/she is good! We still can't confirm whether its a boy or girl. this lil munchkin will not stay still long enough and is laying on an angle thats hard to see. But everything else is fine s/he's healthy and growing well. I can feel him more often and his kicks are getting stronger each day. This past sat. babe felt him for the first time...it was so sweet! This whole time he's been trying but to no avail, but we woke up sat am and was just laying around talking and he had his arm around my waist/ or whats left of it/ and he felt him move! it was so hard that i quickly asked 'did ya feel that'. his face light up so bright i wish i had it on video. Enough bout that I can go on for hours about this pregnancy, I even wanna start another blog dedicated to mommy-hood!

just don't think I'm gonna have the time for 2 blogs but we'll see....

::Now::Time for a quick hair update.

I'm almost 10 MTHS into my transition. Whoa! I'm speechless! When I started this journey I only dreamt of transtioning for a year and never thought i would make it that long. It has truly been a mental shift of thinking to get here...i had a couple moments where i wanted to give up and just relaxer again but prayer and determination got me through.

I recently took down 2-strand twists with marley hair that i had for about 4 weeks.

- 1 cup distilled water

- few drops of garnier cond.

- bit of olive oil, coconut oil and jojoba oil

I sprayed liberally @ night and tied with a scarf

next day re-do pony and add a headband..voila!

My hair is still thriving but I'm having major shedding which i expect this far along. Most of the relaxer strands are strong but some break off during manipulation which is why it's better to leave it alone. I am now wearing a new wig i bought, with my hair in about 10 corn rows. At night I oil my scalp and spray mix before tying with a scarf. Voila! the rest of the year I'm going to concentrate on low manipulation styles and scalp massages so i can gain mucho length before my BC...wish me luck!

I'm leaving with a pic taken today....

*smooches*

Loving Life

2009-05-17T14:26:00.002-04:00

At this point in my life I couldn't be any happier with where I am. I haven't been employed since last Feb but I feel like I'm more aware of myself and who I really am. This transition has helped me to look at myself and see who I really am. I thank god each day for giving me the strength to make this choice and to follow my heart.
I have learned to "DO ME" no matter what anyone else thinks about my decision. I decided to go natural again, this time taking the time to appreciate my hair and everything that goes with it. Unknowingly I started a journey to a healthier lifestyle... without the worries of sweating out my perm I began working out more, with ingredients reading I started becoming more aware of what I eat and drink. It seems that each step I took lead me to another revelation about myself and how important it is to lead a more natural life. About 4 months into my transition I found out I was pregnant! That's when the light really began to shine bright... I HAVE to do things differently now, for the sake of my child. Either way I would have to stop relaxing my hair so having a head start is a plus I know many people who continue to relax throughout pregnancy but I am not one of them. I don't believe its safe!

Today more than ever I love my life. I'm out of work and pregnant but not stressing a thing...I believe God has always provided for me and he will continue to do so. When things are at its worst is when we need to have faith in Him. I didn't 'plan' it this way but this is what I was dealt so this is my path... My fiance and I had to cancel our dream wedding. The crazy part is all along I just wanted it to be simple, because after all its not the wedding that matters its the commitment to each other. The idea of a Big wedding wasn't for me or him but everyone else.
I am not disappointed, I am not sad, I am thankful to have him in my life as a friend and support system and we're starting a family what more can I ask for...after 10 years together this is truly a blessing. Alot of people ask why we waited so long to get married and to have kids... if I had the chance I wouldn't change a thing.

*smooches*

i'm loving it...

2009-04-19T11:42:00.002-04:00

This weather is gawgous...finally sun is emerging and flowers are blooming, i even have a bird's nest in my AC. Every morning i hear the lil ones chirping until mommy gets back with breakfast..its TOO cute! i love IT!

Yesterday we had our first cookout of the season which was such fun! I was the honorary Grillmaster since i couldn't really do anything else...and i think i found my calling LOL... I rarely ever get on the grill but i was up for a challenge. Everyone was raving about the BBQ chicken and Burgers....they were hand made! my secret was to mix bbq sauce into the patty before grilling Yummolicious!

it was good to see all our firends and family out of hibernation!
i feel so full of energy and really sexy lately! yesterday i rocked a grey low cut dress with ruffles on the neckline and down the belly with a cropped jean jacket and flat rhinestone embellished sandals! HAUTE if i may say so myself! by late evening i had to throw on some tights cuz the quitos were out and about!! Well enuff bout me what did you do this weekend?

Today is my 'rest' day I'll cook then watch movies all day! i am so glad i did all the cleaning last night cause i don't think it would've gotten done today.... so until next time!

*smooches*

Spring has sprung

2009-04-15T16:31:00.003-04:00

I am so feeling this beautiful spring weather...today I spent a good part of my day outside, running errands and visiting my favorite place THE FRUIT STAND! i can't get enough!
Ever since my pregnancy I have changed my eating habits... so much so that I started losing weight. Every time i visit my OB i lose either 6 or 4 pounds. At first i was worried but i know the reason is because I've been eating more grilled chicken, fish, fruits and veggies than before. plus the baby is doing just fine, and so far all my tests have been good!
i haven't had many cravings which is great but i try to treat myself on Saturday's! All in all I am patiently waiting for my 20 week ultrasound so I can start the nursery...Honestly I have no preference on the sex, I just want a healthy, happy child! I'm not really showing yet so it doesn't seem real LoL! but when i feel the tiny kicks I know life is growing inside of me..its such an amazing feeling I can't even put words to it. I have always loved kids, helped raised many of my younger cousins and have friends with babies, but never have i thought of myself as a mom...i know many women have dreams of marriage, kids and the dog but i never envisioned that life for me. i am blessed to have a guy in my life who as excited as i am and ready to be a dad. He has always been great which is why I've been with him for so long... but now i see a side of him that i didn't know was there before, he's so caring, and supportive it makes me cry almost everyday! He thinks I'm losing it but everything brings a tear to my eyes.. talk about hormonal! lmao!

*smooches*

To Tell The Truth

2009-04-09T16:08:00.004-04:00

: clearing my throat:

I have been holding in a secret for waaaaay to long and need to get it off my chest! My absence from blogland hasn't been because of sheer laziness nor lack of interest...

I AM PREGNANT Y'ALL.........There i said it!

My world has been rocked since Jan 20th inaugauration day, that is when I took 2 tests to confirm what my heart already told me, and I couldn't be any happier... I am well into my second trimester so I feel 'safe' to share the news now, I hope I haven't lost some blogger friends due to my lack of posts but If only you knew how bad morning sickness really is. So now that i'm feeling better, getting my energy back and actually wearing something other than pj's or sweats...i'm feeling Golden, like my old self again!

Needless to say my wedding planning has come to a halt and now it's all about baby planning! =)

It's funny how my wedding day was to be Sept 23rd and my due date is Sept 22nd!

Isn't God great?!? its like he's saying "so you think you in control huh, I think not"

I feel truly blessed and every day I wake up with a smile on my face!

As far as my hair, it's still in braids and still growing! I haven't been on top of my moisturizing game but I try to at least put in some leave-in or condish every few days. so there My secret is out and i feel a 1000 times better now... to all the moms out there if you have any tips or advice I'm open to any knowledge you may want to share with me!

*smooches*

Hair Update

2009-03-24T16:15:00.003-04:00

Thought you might wanna know what's going on on top of my dome! Well I got braids a couple weeks ago and it looks like this is the look I'm going for this summer. Low maintance and CuTe! i did them my self and am proud to say i finished in about 10 hours! YAY ME! but lemme tell you my shoulders and arms were dead the next day! /Hey Beauty is Pain RIGht?/ anyways it's been 7 months since my last relaxer : ) and so far I must say It hasn't been so bad... I am going for the long haul, I won't put a time stamp on when I plan to chop but my hair will let me know when enough is enough..right now i'm enjoying my new texture but can't let go of the length just yet. Lord forgive me if that is vain.... I've always kept my hair short but am terrified cause I never had short and curly. For now I'm gonna keep doing what i'm doing! until next time!

*smooches*

Life Is What You Make IT....

2009-03-24T15:51:00.002-04:00

Haven't been around in a minute so It's good to be back! Since my last post i've been re-inventing my life, just a lil bit. =) Big things to come! I am blessed to have the life I live and each stumble I make forces me to focus on the bigger picture.

Spring is here and it's time to clean out the closets, get rid of extra baggage and re-evaluate my circle of trust. We all have those people in our lives who only come around when things are bad... You know the one i'm talking bout! Well time to leave them behind cause you don't need anyone making a bad situation worse. All that negative energy is NO GOOD! And Grandma always say: Misery Loves Company!

Life has a way of knocking you down.... And that will NEVER change. The fact is you decide how quickly you get up and dust yourself off! Every time is get knocked down I raise my head to the sky and ask god for the strength to keep it moving!

*smooches*

Yet I will Rejoice!

2009-02-18T15:26:00.003-05:00

Hey y'all... I hope you missed me as much as i have missed you. Where do i start? life has definitely taken me on an emotional roller coaster in the last 3 weeks. My last post I was sick as a dog and didn't get over that for about a week. Then guess what I'm just now getting over food poisoning. Long story short, The hun and I decided to try Pollo Campero ( does anyone know about this place).anyhow its not "new" to my parts but a new restaurant opened nearby so I wanted to see what it was about. OKay Basically it's a Spanish influenced chicken spot. We got home and began to chow down, I thought boy it tastes pretty good, not greasy like some other fried chicken places and pretty seasoned and flavored. Well that was until the next morning, All hell broke loose **hint **hint. The hun and I both got sick.... I called earl all day and night.... Couldn't even hold water down.. By Gosh haven't felt like that in years!
By no means is this an anti Pollo Campero rant... I had a bad first experience but that doesn't mean the place is bad, I just won't be eating there again.

Also I have been going through it with my tenant...this chick had the nerve to report me to the town for having an illegal 2 family home. I am so applauded because for the last 2+ years her and her 2 kids have been occupying this 2 family home, The nerve. She claims she didn't do it but how come a week after I receive the notice she tells me she's moving, PURE SHADE! I know God will see us through this and as for her what goes around... y'all know the rest! So she moved, and my goddaughter and her parents were evicted the next week so they moved in. I was glad that out of a bad situation I was able to help them out when they really needed it. I tell you God always has a plan whether you know it or not!

I have been trying to keep up with my hair but with all the DRAMA.... Its like the last thing on my list. I did manage to do a Deep treatment 2 days ago and have been rocking a bun, with some pretty fly waves i might add! I'm loving all this texture! If I can find the time this weekend I will be doing some box braids. It'll most likely take me ALL weekend but it'll be worth it.

Just wanted to stop in and say I'M STILL HERE! And by the grace of God I won't be going nowhere!

*smooches*

UGHHHH!

2009-01-31T02:40:00.002-05:00

you guys I haven't been feeling like myself lately. Some kinda bug or something, maybe its the winter blues......i dunno! Not up for much of anything... This week I didn't even go to the gym SHHHH! Don't tell anyone else, I've been doing so good for so long. I'm trying to shake IT!
Current mood: "chasing pavements" by Adele.
YEAH real depressing right?!?
:::Looks @ the time::: Its too late for this rant..... TTYL.

*smooches*

Hair Update.. 5 months post

2009-01-26T19:26:00.005-05:00

I promised an update on my transition but didn't have a moment this weekend. This weekend I did a Deep Treatment using EVOO, Coconut oil, Pantene R&N Mask, and honey (my basic ingredients). I have been seriously considering the BC, I've heard how hard 2 textures can be and YES IT IS...well not hard just time consuming. My initial plan was to go a year before I chopped and its been 5 months so let's see how the next few months go. I think I have wonderful growth for such a short time, if I could double the length I have now in 7 months that would be amazing....So if you are wondering what my regimen is during the week its super simple.

wash my hair on Sat or Sun using only condish and sometimes I will do a rinse (ACV or TEA)
DT with my regular mix leaving it on for a few hours mostly under a heating cap, After I rinse w/ cold water, wrap hair in cotton tee for about 5 min.
apply a leave-in and begin sectioning hair spraying Hawaiin Silky on scalp and line of demarcation. I usually braid hair in 10-12 braids and let it fully dry, that's it.
I tie hair at night with a silk scarf, in the morning I oil scalp, massage a little, put on a plastic cap and a wave cap over it, then throw on my wig and i'm good to GO.
OOH I only comb hair when under running water w/ loads of condish using my shower comb (must have) and I use my fingers to detangle and part into sections.

The next pic I have condish in my hair...
Detangling is becoming more and more difficult..... So I use like half a bottle of condish, then
I comb my hair under the shower.

I wanted a texture shot and NG length check....this the best one.

And finally my everyday look... I love the ease of wearing a wig and I plan on making a new one soon.

What do y'all think... Should I go straight or try a curly look? Your feedback is appreciated!

*smooches*

What a week?

2009-01-23T11:16:00.005-05:00

sorry for the lack of posts this week...I've been hitting the gym HARDCORE and it feels great. I did 5 days at a minimum of 60min each day, today I spent 3 hours. 60 min treadmill, 30 bike,30 elliptical and an hour of taekwon do.....Whoa! Needless to say, I am sore and exhausted but Proud that I have kept up with my lifestyle change (some say diet but i don't believe in it). I am the type of person who never weigh myself so I have no idea how much I've lost. My clothes fit differently, my energy is up and my skin glows more now than ever before. Another plus is I eat more frequently about 5- 6 times a day, typically 3 of those meals are snacks per se. When I say snack I mean fruit, yogurt, soup, salad or anything light to hold me over 2 hours. I love the way I feel and look, I even walk differently.... Thanks to Amy's step classes and taekwon do. I love going to the gym now, the hardest part for me is waking up @ 6am but once i'm dressed i'm good to go. The days when i don't go i feel guilty and weak, so i try to get in 5-6 days a week. A great tip i learned is to switch it up so you won't get bored, add a class if your gym offers it, change machines and do intervals if possible, whatever you do keep your body guessing whats next. I see so many people doing the same workout each day and that may work for them but I need variety. i'll keep you all updated weekly on how i'm doing, like a progress report LOL.

Finally, I had a poll asking my followers what they thought i should do more of and the majority said more hair flix... SO that it is! I will post some pics over the weekend, I have got some serious new growth going on can't wait for you guys to see. Until then.. TATA!

*smooches*

2009-01-20T21:16:00.001-05:00

Im watching the Ball on abc. Michelle Obama's dress is so elegant... I would most definitely rock it to my wedding. Two great looks in 1day.

OUR PRESIDENT

2009-01-20T11:15:00.005-05:00

I am truly blessed to be alive to witness such a historic day... Our 44th president Barack H. Obama is change that I believe in. We ALL owe this day to our ancestors who gave their lives to make this even a possibility. Thank You Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Thank You Malcolm X. Thank You Rosa Parks. Thank You to all those who remain nameless but are just as important. Today your presence is with us, your efforts have not been in vain, I thank you for persevering and believing that this day would come, even through times of segregation and civil uproar. I ask God to protect President Obama and his family and to touch his heart during times of difficulty and calmness.

He has restored Faith and Hope that have been lost before today.Thank You Barack Obama. May God Bless You!

*smooches*

photo courtesy of: Doug Mills/The New York Times

B.I.G

2009-01-16T22:59:00.004-05:00

My sister, Hubby and I went to see the Notorious movie tonight and i am pleased w/ how it turned out. I am glad it showed a side to BIGGIE that unfortunately we didn't get a chance to see. The actors all did a terrific job, but special props to Jamal 'Gravy" Woolard, his mannerisms, flow and speech were right on the money.... Although I didn't know BIG personally I cried the day he died and again tonight watching his life story, and without sounding melodramatic it felt good seeing him on the BIG screen. I recall memories from my youth through his music and every time I hear a Biggie song I can't help but smile...those were the days for real.... He truly IS and will always be the greatest rapper. He songs told a story, painted pictures and took you places you may have never been.

In memory of Christopher "Notoriuos B.I.G" Wallace

*smooches*

Golden Globes Trend Alert

2009-01-12T13:06:00.015-05:00

Metallics:

Salma Hayek and Demi in Dior, Angelina in a beaded Atelier Versace, Beyonce in Elie Saab Haute Couture

Deep Purples & Belts:

Anna Paquin wears Herve Leger, Hayden in Gianfranco Ferre, both Rumer Wilis and Olivia Wilde rocks Reem Acra and Kyra Sedgwick in Oscar de La Renta.

One Shoulder and Deep V-Neck:

Evan Rachel Wood in Elie Saab, Cameron in Chanel, Maggie in Lanvin, Jennifer rocks Marchesa, Tina Fey in Roberto Cavalli.

Some combined trends,Mermaid+ Cocktail + Ruffles + Pastels+ White

Hiedi Klum in John Galliano, America in Oscar de La Renta, Sandra Bullock rocks Christian Dior, Kate Beckinsale in a custom J.Mendel, Eva Mendes in Christian Dior,

January Jones in Versace, Drew Barrymore in Christian Dior, Laura Linney in Elie Saab.

What were you thinking?

By far my 2 least favorite looks.

Stars of the night:

These 2 looked Stunning! Everything was perfect hair, jewelry, dress, bag... the works! i also want to say Salma Hayek was radiant!

Wrap UP:

Tina Fey shocked the black outta me, she looked amazing! I did not like JLO's dress, it was just too much skin! Plus didn't she go that route at the Grammy's SMH. Beyonce looked like she always does.... glam but time to step out of the box Bey, I know if it ain't broke why fix it but come on what's wrong with variety. Drew Barrymore: like the dress hate the hair..complete mess. Heidi Klum took a chance w/ that dress, I'm still on the fence. Angelina looked tired and her dress wasn't anything special. I didn't like Cameron Diaz's outfit, just didnt move me at all. So many disappointments but hey its just the beginning of award season.

There were so many photos I couldn'tpossibly post them all but if you are interested you can go to http://www.accesshollywood.com/2009-golden-globes-red-carpet_gallery_1700.

*smooches*

WTF + Golden Globes

2009-01-12T11:42:00.010-05:00

Right now I'm Sooooo Pissed OFF, hence me writing in RED! Freaking Sprint has the nerve to come out w/ a Blackberry Curve w/ Direct Connect! Now really why did it take so long! I had the blackberry 7100 but felt it was way to bulky for me so i got rid of it and got the Instinct ( Loves IT but it has no direct connect). SO watching TV last night I see a commercial for the New Sprint curve w/ direct connect! YAAAYYY ! Only problem is I would have to pay full price, $479 + tax YIKES!

They could have done this months ago... I WANT IT SO BAD! my mind is frantically plotting on how can i make this happen.... ask for it as a Valentines day gift? Start selling some makeup? or even worse my handbags? start panhandling for a few weeks? DAG I'm desperate!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On a lighter note... Last night was the Golden Globes Awards, I haven't watched it on DVR yet but I did see the Red carpet arrivals (pretty much the meat & potatoes of it all for us fashion junkies). I noticed some trends 1) most ladies picked nude, metallic colors. A few went w/ bold colors purple being the go to. 2) strapless was prevalent and so were belted gowns 3) many opted for one shoulder gowns and deep v-necks 4) the mermaid gown showed up as well as pastels. I also saw ALOT of ruching, dramatic folds, layering and pleating, many opted for bold statement jewelry for that extra touch.

*smooches*

EOTD: Neutrals

2009-01-10T22:05:00.003-05:00

First I wanna say thanks to you ladies on YouTube for inspiring me... I am no where close to being as talented as you all but you keep me motivated to get better. Special shoutouts to /makeupbyRenRen,candiecc, Queenofblending, iwanted2c1video and so many more of ya'll.

Eyes

Revlon Beyond Natural Pallete in Buff Chamois

Urban Decay Ammo Shadow Box

Polyester bride- higlight

Sin - brow bone

Chopper - lid to crease

Oil Slick - outer V

Hip Cream Liner Blk

Maybelline Great Lash blkest blk

Amuse lip pencil drk brown on brows

*I usually use UDPP but i didn't this time so you can see

some creasing.

*smooches*

Free Download

2009-01-09T08:34:00.003-05:00

Real quick before I hit the gym... Suze Orman is offering a free download of her latest book: 2009 Action Plan on Oprah's website. I have already stated reading it.... You must jump on this before next week, Suze is an expert at financial advice and has many other books relating to investing, saving and getting out of debt. If you watch her show you know she is straight forward and borderline mean ( but the lady knows her stuff). Click on the title to download.

Take control our your debt before its too late! I didn't make any resolutions this year but my goal is to be conscious of how i spend. Alrighty bout to go burn off last nights dinner:: mac n chezz, stew chicken, broccoli and collards w/ Biscuits. Damn now I'm hungry!!

*smooches*

Konad Nail Art

2009-01-08T19:28:00.003-05:00

lately i've really been into doing nails.... Thanks to the recession weekly at-home mani/pedi has become enjoyable for me! But I thought it would be fun to kick it up a notch with nail art.... I usually do simple lines, swirls, dots and such, since a sista like me can't draw to save me life. maybe this is old to some but its new to me.... Konad Nail Art (konadusa.com)
It quite pricey (to me) so i have to research more reviews before I click "buy now"
Until then I'll have to skip lunch a couple times so i dont blow my budget. ROFL.

Here's a link to how it works! Tell me what do you think?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hkX2NT8tMw

*smooches*

Where have you been?

2009-01-07T20:31:00.005-05:00

Y'all I'm so glad right know...... I found it........OPI's You Dont Know Jacques nail color. It has been on my hot list for a while but everywhere I went it was sold out. While cruising the tiny aisles of a quaint, dark BSS I stumbled across a bottle. They actually had a great selection, probably because it is so neatly tucked on a main street w/ restaurants and boutiques, no one would ever think to go in so I'm glad I did. I even introduced myself and got acquainted w/ the owner Tony :::bonus::: ...I know i said I'm supposed to be cutting back.... but... like... i couldn't have just left it there... the guilt would have killed me....it was meant to BE... HEHEEE well that's what i told my Hun, he was sitting outside for 20 minutes, ladies this is a miracle in it's self...usually he comes in after 10 min to get me.... So I got home and did a mani, the color is an odd mix of chocolate brown/grey...it really depends on the lighting but... Here are the results::::

looks grey here....

more chocolatey here....

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Also got 2 China Glaze colors: (l. to r.) Awaken, Unplugged, You Don't Know Jacques

*smooches*

Totally Fit by Mel B

2009-01-07T14:36:00.003-05:00

I was just browsing Amazon.com and ran across Spice Girl Mel B's new workout dvd. She says this is the same workout she does and personally I think she's hot (no homo). Homegirl always did look good but after the baby w/ Eddie she revamped her look from fine to fierce. Click on the blog title to see a preview vid...

Plus Who doesn't love a british accent. zig-a-zig-ahhh =)

*smooches*

Best of....

2009-01-06T09:16:00.002-05:00

here is my list of what products and techniques worked for me last year... mind you i began my journey in Oct so i don't have a long list!

Pantene Relaxed & Natural mask- no words to describe the slip and moisture.
co washing- The most helpful technique i've learned to date.
EVOO- lives up to the name liquid gold.
T-shirt drying- Sounds crazy but just try it. 100% cotton is sooo much better than a towel.
no poo- my hair has NEVER felt so good.
Gylcerin- originally i purchased for mixing med then found out about its uses on hair. loves it!
no combing- only combing hair when wet under running water is a godsend for transitioners.
Eggs- yup i said it... once a week i add to condish for protein.
Hawaiin Silky 14 n 1- i did a review so check that out.
aussie moist 3 min- excellent for those days when i cant DC.
Biotin - b-vitamin for energy, hair loss, acne, brittle nails.
Protective styling- I never had a problem growing hair but retaining my length was a huge issue until now.

Since starting this journey to healthy hair I pretty much have kept my routine simple... i will admit that some weeks are better than others but i never lose sight of my goal. This year my main focus is to protect my hair during this transition.....I have no idea when i will do the big chop and frankly if i'm gonna be hiding my hair it kinda makes no sense to keep my relaxed hair. I made a goal to reach BSL before i decided to transition so i'm sticking to it.

Last night i shampooed my hair for the first time in months. I will not be doing regular shampoos. I don't find it necessary since my hair gets clean using other methods. I did an oil rinse w/ coconut oil prior to shampooing, which saved my hair from being stripped dry. I used Nexxus Therappe on my scalp for 2 washes and followed w/ a DC mixture of evoo, honey, humectress & coconut oil. I left it on all night using heat when i wasn't doing anything. Detangling is getting harder and i lost a good amount of hair but i think since i hadn't combed my hair for a week the amount of hair loss was normal. even with shrinkage i can see a length difference, i soo badly want to straighten to check how long it is but i won't :::sheds a tear:: So back to hiding my hair under my wig until who knows!

*smooches*

My ABSOLUTE favorite oil is....

2009-01-05T14:38:00.004-05:00

COCONUT OIL has been a staple in my life from the day I was born... My mom says she used it daily for my hair and skin. the scent is so reminiscent of my childhood years. I have heard people say they don't like how it smells but to me its bliss.

Growing up on the islands coconut trees were in our backyard... in my tomboy days my bro and i tried to climb to the top. My grandma even pressed her own coconut oil (a task i still can't get).

Technically i am biased to say coconut oil is the best since we have history *hehehee* ... but its much more than familiarity that makes me say its numero uno! there are so many ways to use it BUT it does wonders for hair and skin..i will attest to this. It isn't heavy or greasy, it can be added to condish or used as a hot oil treatment, great for dandruff and dry scalp, its said to be a natural sunscreen so i apply it nightly and before moisturizer, It can be used to seal ends esp. in the warmer months(*sunscreen). I could write a report on it so just believe me when i say IT IS THE TRUTH!

*smooches*

Hair Update

2009-01-04T23:25:00.003-05:00

sorry i haven't been as active as i usually am.... Just been busy trying to start my year on the right foot. lots of priotizing and such 1) our wedding 2) making a new spending budget for 09 and sticking to it.... I miss blogging so i making sure i'm back on it this week! Now for my hair- I really haven't been doing much to it just keeping it moisturized and hiding w/ my homemade wig. I definitely notice some growth since wearing this wig/ baggy so i'm sticking with it for now. Honestly i'm already tired of the wig but i'mma keep rocking it til it cant be rocked no more! i so need to wash my hair though its been about a week....so tomorrow my main goal is to DC my hair and do a facial. usually i do this on Sundays but my lil sis asked me to relax her hair and i ended up spending the whole day w/ her. Now that i think about it i should've snapped a few pics of the end result her hair is about MBL and just gorg... anyhow i didn't so next time!

My mom came home w/ tyler perrys the marriage counselor on dvd and let me say we all laughed till our bellies hurt. What a riot! Well see y'all tomorrow with some brand new posts. till then....

*smooches*

Bye O8', Hello O9'

2008-12-31T11:50:00.007-05:00

It is the last day of 2008... HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL!

This year went by so fast I'm still trying to figure out where did the time go?!? For me this was a year of ups and mostly downs... i lost my job and lost a baby....I had a miscarriage @ the beginning of the year an it crushed me to the core. No one talks about it so I found it hard to cope. Feelings of guilt filled my heart, I feel into a depression and felt worthless and no one knew what to say or do! by the grace of god I was able find my way through! I know God has greater plans for me so I put all my trust in him.

This is the first time in a long time I have no resolutions, My only goal is to be who i was meant to be. I am excited to have Barack Obama as president, nervous to start my business and anxious to get married to the love of my life. I have had a dream for so long to start a multifaceted business...... Custom jewelry, graphic tees, accessory and more. so look out for it COMING SOON!

I pray that 2009 is my year to shine.... BE SAFE AND HAVE A HAPPY, HEALTHY NEW YEAR.

*smooches*

Fighting Temptations

2008-12-28T20:16:00.002-05:00

If you NEED something..now is the time to get it. Every store is having a sale as if you dont already know, but seriously every store is having a sale!

I have never seen so many sales before and finding it extremely hard to go anywhere w/o
'picking ____up cause it a good price'. My inner product junkie is itching to come out and play, but i know we are in a recession so I'm holding on to my dollars tighter than ever. So when I walk into the mall this weekend and see red signs galore i grab my bag and straighten up, making sure my eyes don't wander... I only had to pick up one thing for my mom and knew exactly what i was looking for... i scurry over to bags searching w/ my eyes. I can't help but notice everything is on sale for real... from 25% to 70% off. I know i'm in trouble now so i dart over to the other section and found what i envisioned for. no time wasted i proceed to checkout, this is when i spot the M.A.C counter which just seemed to appear before me like a mirage of some kind... Cold sweats and all i dragged my feet over to the register to pay for my item...It was THE hardest thing for me to do. But it felt liberating. I don't even need anything, I actually just gave away some things to free up closet space and still need to purge some more. I want to live a full life with less stuff. just 2 years ago i would have emptied out my account at the mall in a matter of hours. I say that to say... less is more. it really is.

*smooches*

The Day After

2008-12-26T09:59:00.003-05:00

Hope your Christmas was great and you got all you wished for! I spent my day w/ my family, drinking, baking, eating and cooking...I bought a bottle of blueberry champagne @ a wine tasting this summer and I finally popped it yesterday..YUMMMY! Although I can't believe the year is almost over, I am happy to start a new.
New goals, endeavors, relationships and a new outlook on life.

Earlier in the day, I went to see Benjamin Button.... I highly recommend this movie/ by far the best movie I've seen this year. Taraji Henson did an awesome job, she has come so far since Baby Boy! The makeup was impeccable, they deserve an award. And Brad Pitt was what you expected him to be, what an amazing actor. I give it 4/5 stars only because I don't believe in perfect...

*smooches*

Mini Haul

2008-12-21T15:53:00.003-05:00

In my last post I promised some reviews of things I picked up in PA..... one of them being the Seche Vite top coat I got at Sally's (I got a free China Glaze nail color ). I heard great reviews on the product so I was expecting it to be good, but it turns out its Amazing!!! So I went back and got 2! I also picked up Loreal Telescopic mascara Carbon Blk... LOVES IT! great lash definition, the brush is more like a comb, made my eyes pop as if it had on falsies.

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I've been on the quest for brushes that are affordable yet quality.... Chile I'm planning a wedding and can't even afford to eat like i want to ROFL!....I have the ELF brushes and i do like them for what its worth ($1 each) but i wanted something that last longer. I took my curiosity to Michael's and found some decent paint brushes, the handles are real long but it adds to the drama of painting your face. I then went to AC Moore where I found pretty much the same brushes just more inventory. They're all Loew-Cornell brushes and I used them exclusively on my trip.... I will look no further cause I found a match..... Soft bristles, excellent pick up, easy to clean & light-weight. Now my next venture will be to try MUFE.

** Quick hair update**

I made a wig cap for my lil getaway...so freaking happy w/ the results. I uploaded pics of the original style and also the remix/ where i cut Chinese bangs to my fotki album. Although I didn't co-wash or Deep condition at all last week...I did moisturize and seal ends nightly leaving hair in braids while under the wig. ( I wear a shower cap so my hair is completely baggie when wearing the wig). This week I plan on 3 DC's to make up and continue to keep my hair braided at all times! I am sitting under my heating cap as I type and probably will leave in overnight. I will absolutely make more wigs for the duration of the winter. I leave you with a pic of the remixxed style and my b-day nails-

Exceptionally Gifted by China Glaze

Guess Who's Bizack

2008-12-19T23:03:00.004-05:00

I've been away since Sunday and must say I feel so relaxed... I totally needed to get away for a while so my hun and I went to the Poconos for my bday week, and we weren't due back till this sunday but we decided to cut the trip short/ So now i'm home and happy to be here... i missed my bed and my dogs... I have lots to share with you gals so look out for pics cause i did ALOT of shopping in PA... Outlets galore and our hotel was a mile away from ALL my fav stores.... I ate more than i should have so this week i'll be hitting the gym extra hard!

*smooches*

Nail Fun

2008-12-13T20:28:00.003-05:00

I'm quite new to doing my own nails... I was a nail salon/acrylic queen until this past summer. I never had an 'issues' with my own nails so I have no real reason why I got acrylics except for "following the crowd" ==> when gas prices kept going up I had to ditch my nail guy Kevin cause he was too far and I wouldn't trust anyone else with doing my tips....This lead me to self manis and pedis which actually is real simple is you have time + patience. Here is how i do a quick mani.

* start with clean hands and remove nail polish

--TIP: Wet sponge w/polish remover and place on nail for 10 sec before wiping off/ comes off easier.

* File nails using short strokes in 1 direction. Try to mimic the shape of your finger tips.

* Soak hands for 5min in warm, soapy water.

* Push cuticles back gently, remove any excess w/ cuticle remover. ( i like sally hansens)

* Massage a dap of oil into cuticles

* Wash hands w/ soap and water. Apply lotion is needed.

---TIP: make sure your nails are lotion free before painting them for longer lasting color.

*Begin with a base coat or nail hardener. This prevents staining your own nails.

*Apply at least 2 coats of color. Short strokes starting at the base to tip.

* Wait for paint to completely dry.( i read while i wait 15-20 min)

* Apply top coat/ quick dry.

----TIP: Dont blow on nails or wave hands madly, simply let it dry on its own.

So here are the results of my mani that i did on Thurs. Pics taken today.

OPI Concerto in Copper.

*smooches*

Friday Fever: Bride Wars

2008-12-12T19:06:00.003-05:00

After seeing the trailer for this I couldn't help but laugh out loud for real...
Two Best friends end up scheduling their weddings on the same day and things get super ugly. As someone who is planning a wedding as we speak, I have to admit if this was me i would be pretty mad too but i dont think i would try to sabotage my girls wedding anyhow..... I happen to like Anne Hathaway (did you see Devil Wears Prada...) and Kate Hudson(great comedic actress) so this is a must see for me.!.!.!.!

*smooches*

Hair Update!

2008-12-12T17:48:00.002-05:00

Well I wanted to let ya'll know how my hair journey is going thus far... I have recently been doing more experiments and have discovered a few staples, Luckily i havent had any set backs(thank you god). I experiment when i feel i can benefit but i wont be jumping on every wagon that comes by... Listen to your hair ladies not other people's!!
Overall my hair has grown about 3 in. in 4 months =0) I am so pleased with how healthy and strong each strand is becoming. Even though i will eventually cut all relaxed ends off I still protect and seal daily.

I am so glad i found out about co-washing( this single activity has helped me more than anything else i have ever done). Because i workout often its good to clean my hair without overdrying. Other factors are not combing my hair when dry, no heat, sealing & protecting ends, scalp massages.

THE HARDEST PART IS NOT USING HEAT!! i'm like a fish outta water but i'm dealing with it. The only thing is that i badly want to flat iron to do a length check, it has been 2.5 months since I've worn it straight. i know i can do it if i want but i feel like i will do damage if i do... soooo basically i'm not doing it for now!

Here is my fotki link this is where I upload all hair pics.
http://members.fotki.com/BlaqBarbi/about/

*smooches*

Have you let yourself go?

2008-12-10T21:29:00.004-05:00

If your like me you watch Oprah as much as your SO will let you. heheheehe.. .. ... And for a while now she has been packing on pounds. i think a year ago she openly discussed her finding out she had a thyroid problem. In her O mag next month she talks about gaining all of the 40 pounds she lost in 2005.... and she is quick to admit its from her own doing, not eating right or exercising like she should be, I love her for that... she keeps it real and although i think its the thyroid which will and can control your metabolism she is taking responsibility for her part in the matter. I will always respect her for admitting when she wrong & saying what needs to be said when no one else will. This proves no matter who you are or how much you have it all comes down to your willingness to do better. if your mind set isn't there you will not succeed in anything you try, the power of the mind is GREAT!

I recommend reading one of her book club books that i read earlier this year::: A NEW EARTH BY ECKHART TOLLE..... it is truly eye opening/ It is one of those books that you can always reference. I am so happy I decided to read his book and plan on reading others by him.

*smooches*

Natural Beauty of the Week: GERREN TAYLOR

2008-12-10T15:23:00.002-05:00

Gerren Taylor: starred on BET's Baldwin Hills and the documentary "America the Beautiful" is my Natural Beauty of the week not only cause she's natural but because she's strong.

Only 18 yrs old and she already had a modeling career that ended quickly after being told she was too fat. Gerren who is 6 feet tall, size 4 and weighs 140 pounds was told her 38 in. hips needed to be 35 in. to walk the runway in Paris. She was discovered on the streets in LA and became the youngest (12) person to be represented by L.A. Models runway division. She was supposed to be the next big thing being the first African-American in a Marc Jacobs ad campaign. A year later she went to Paris and they told she was too big to model and her career ended within the following year.

At such an impressionable age Gerren perceived herself as ugly and fat, causing her to hit rock bottom but instead of therapy or worse she turned to her mother, peers and her church for support. As a woman who has dealt with weight issues I commend Gerren because she could have let that ruin her but instead she kept on pushing. Although so still has dreams of modeling and is represented by Elite LA she is focused on graduating HS and applying to college for psychology. She may be young but this teen is destined for greatness whether you want it or not.

"I still haven't given it up for good," she says. "It's still fun for me. But if I ever do another runway show, I'm going to be walking for the empowerment of women, not just walking on a stage."

*smooches*

Women and Weights....

2008-12-09T15:39:00.005-05:00

I've been going to the gym for 3 years off and on... mostly off! Almost 6 weeks ago I made the conscious decision to commit at least 4 days a week to cardio training. I have never been a person who obsesses over how much i weigh..I know when I'm healthy and when I'm not.. its just common sense... But with that said, i need to lose at least 35 pounds. My comfort zone is between 150-160 pds and i am far from that now and even though I like having curves and so does my fiance i know i have to get back to my healthy weight. After 6 weeks of cardio I'm feeling healthier and my clothes fit better but I'm starting to get bored. I know that after a while i can hit a plateau so i need to switch it up so to speak. So i consulted w/ a trainer at my gym on how to lose weight more effectively.

He basically told me that as a woman lifting weights is crucial and can take my weight loss to the next level. I then said "Well I'm not trying to get bulky" and he laughed stating how

women do not have the hormones to get as bulky as men do and as a matter of fact women body builders have to take steroids/ testosterone so they can get bulky. Little did i know, there are so many benefits to women lifting weights and here are only a few:

Reduces risks for injury, tones muscles and help gain muscle mass.

It makes you stronger and leaner. Increases metabolism to burn more calories/fat even at rest and gives you more energy to do long cardio workouts.

It is extremely helpful to bones and joint. Can reduce risks for osteoporosis. Studies show it helps build and preserve muscle mass lost during aging. One study found that women can take off 10 years by weight training for a year, particularly in women aged 35 to 40 years. (this is generally when women lose bone density and muscle mass)

It increases balance, stability and flexibility

It makes you feel better about yourself, improves mood.

All in all, I will be adding weights to my routine, 3 days per week along with cardio. My plan is to warm up for 15 min, lift for 45 min and finish with cardio. It is also important to stretch before and after working out to avoid pulling or straining your muscles.

Thought i would share this info with you.

*Smooches*

Product Review: SCRUPLES

2008-12-08T18:31:00.003-05:00

I tried this product for the first time this weekend but I've had it for a month or so. I actually never heard of Scruples but i decided to try it cause...a) oxygen energized water!!?!! b) botanical ingredients listed. I never heard of this oxy..eng..water but it sounded good....

First lemme say i haven't used the poo but plan on trying it after the new year! Sidebar:::is the year really over already geesssh:::: Also the poo doubles as a body wash which is a plus.

It contains honey, lavender, sunflower, aloe & wheat protein in both condish and poo.. It also has some unsavory characters like dimethicone, SLS and parabens. Nonetheless, i used the condish for my cowash and it liked it... moisture, slip and very nice smell. this was sooo good cuz i did an ACV rinse and it took the smell right out. Its too early to say but i will try again and update this post....

*smooches*

Friday Fever: SMH

2008-12-05T19:42:00.005-05:00

Karma is a mofo... OJ Simpson was sentenced today, he will spend at least 9 years in prison for 12 charges including armed robbery and kidnapping. Last year he was arrested for trying to 'recover' sports memorabilia in a Las Vegas casino hotel room The 61 year old Hall of Famer made a plea before his sentencing stating " I thought I was confronting friends and retrieving my property. So I'm sorry. I'm sorry for all of it." Well all I can say is whether he did it or not, writing the book 'If i did it' put him in a place of guilt. What he put out in the universe came back... Take away what you want from this, to me the lesson is HUMILITY is key.

"Humility makes great men twice honorable” Benjamin Franklin

Famous Sagittarians

2008-12-04T14:23:00.003-05:00

I want to spotlight my zodiac sign today, mainly because my all time favorite living rap artist was born on this day::: Sean Corey Carter who was born Dec 4th, 1969 in Brooklyn NY. As a sagittarian i know we are the most overlooked of all signs, Nov 23- Dec 21 pretty much all of the 'holiday season'. I have always had to share my b-day with "Christmas" and never did mind until i got a gift that said happy b-day/ christmas.... Hold up now these are 2 different days, 5 days apart to be exact. Still I celebrate and appreciate being born at such a joyous time of the year. Even If your not into astrology and such the idea of zodiac signs and the link to personality traits began many moons ago and without going deep here is a few things you may not know...

Birthstone- Topaz, Turquoise
Color- Purple, Light Blue
As the ninth sign in the zodiac, Sagittarius is associated with the astrological 9th house, which is associated with natural Sagittarius matters - foreign travel and foreign countries and cultures, religion, the law and higher education, all things which seek to expand one's experience, freedom, journeys.
The astrological symbol for Sagittarius has a dual meaning. The first and most common is that of a bow and arrow. The second and less well-known is that of an arrow lifting up a cross-shaped burden, representing the struggle the Sagittarius faces.

Some traits linked to Sags are: humorous, free-spirited, idealistic, witty conversationalist, moral, intellectual, honest, confident, ambitious, energetic, versatile, adventurous, independent likeable, generous, tempermental, impatient, blunt, implusive, childlike.

JUST A FEW FAMOUS SAGS:

Sean 'Jay-Z' Carter, Frank Sinatra, Brad Pitt, Steven Spielberg, Raven- Symone, Ossie Davis, Joe Dimaggio, Don Cheadle, Bruce Lee, Kirk Douglas, Tyra Banks, Mark Twain, Walt Disney, Tina Tuner, Anna Nicole Smith, Ben Stiller,Gianni Versace, Samuel L Jackson, Bette Midler, Britney Spears, Emily Dickerson, jimi hendrix, Judi Dench, Little Richard, Richard Pryor and i could go for hours but I won't.

*smooches*

Tea Rinse

2008-12-03T19:15:00.004-05:00

Last night I discovered this idea of rinsing hair with tea. Although I had been using tea as a facial steamer i never thought about using it on hair until last night. After steaming my face for 10 min... i let it cool and used the tea as my final rinse i just let the tea run off my ends and blotted the excess. What i'm starting to realize is my hair loves being wet... Yet in the past MY goal was to keep my hair dry.

So with knowledge comes enlightenment! I 'listen' to my hair now whatever it needs i try to give.

I"M SOOO glad i did the rinse cause my hair is fab now. And after googling 'tea rinse' it actually does exist so i'm not the first and won't be the last so give it a try, why don't ya! ........

cowash - Suave
DC - Scruples condish/ humectress/honey/ silk fusion oil ( 45min w/ heat)
Peppermint/ Black tea rinse
Leave- In - 14 n 1
Moisturize - Silk Elements
Seal - grapeseed oil/ castor on edges ( Tie w/ silk scarf)

Natural Beauty of the Week

2008-12-03T18:39:00.007-05:00

Janelle Monae is beautiful and quirky, she calls herself Girl from another planet. If you don't know her just wait and see. Her music is futuristic and soulful its where alternative rock meets R&B and much more. Monáe was first featured on the Purple Ribbon All-Star's Compilation Got Purp? Volume 2 in 2005 and then the movie soundtrack for Idlewild. I was automatically drawn to her natural hair worn pin-up style, she exudes confidence and charm, class and style without showing it all. In an industry where less is more, she shows you don't have to sell sex to sell records. Get to know this natural queen!

Product Review: Hawaiin Silky 14-n-1 Miracle Worker

2008-12-01T17:53:00.001-05:00

I found this product one day @ my Sally's BSS, and after reading the '14' uses i was sold. I was pretty skeptical at first but I noticed it had Gylcerin as its second ingredient and decided to give it a try.

Here is what it claims: Moisturizes, Strengthens, Defines Curls, Softens Hair, Adds Shine, Enhances Growth, For Healthy Braids, Heals Scalp, Relieves Chemical Burns, Non-greasy, No drip, Prevents Itching & Dandruff, Increases Body, Thermal Protection.

Helps stop itching and dandruff
Cools and soothes the scalp to help heal abrasions
Helps hair stay soft
Looks fresh all day
Non-greasy An excellent product for protecting and maintaining your hairstyle. This versatile product can be used as a curl activator and moisturizer on natural curls and perm waved hair and a leave-in conditioner for relaxed, natural and braided hair. This non-greasy, non-staining formula helps to soften and detangle hair while soothing the scalp and healing abrasions leaving a vibrant sheen.

My Take: At first I was expecting it to be liquidy but its more of a creamy texture. The bottle itself is too big for my lil hands to spray but I just put it in a small spray bottle I had. Its kinda like the Carefree curl, s-curl activators, but I must say it did its job. I used it alone on wet hair as a leave-in and my hair was softer than I expected, then I used it as my scalp moisturizer at night and loved it even more. Great smell, perfect consistency for cold weather and reasonably priced. This product is by far a great investment to both naturals and relaxed ladies. * * * *

Give Thanks Everyday....

2008-11-27T15:30:00.001-05:00

Each day I wake up and Thank God for giving me life and go to bed feeling truly blessed. Although Turkey Day is celebrated only one day each year, I always remember to give thanks... It's so simple, wake up and give thanks and before you sleep show gratitude for your day. No matter what religion you are appreciating the life you have is easy to practice. During tough times I try to remember that someone else is going through worse, and someone else even worse than the last... As long as i'm breathing life is good!

Happy Thanksgiving!

THE ROAD TO TRANSITIONING...

2008-11-25T20:51:00.000-05:00

Its OFFICIAL I have made the decision to grow my natural hair. It has been a dilema that I have struggled with for many years. Just a quick run down on my hair's history... I wore my natural hair basically all of my childhood and my hair was out of control thick and long. I had my godmother braid my hair every saturday faithfully , it was my saturday routine, I woke up washed hair and deep conditioned using either freshly picked aloe from our garden or queen helene cholestorol. I would put on a grocery plastic bag and help my grandma clean, cook and do laundry. Afterwards I go to my godmother's and she would hook me up with stylish do's for the school week. The times when I couldnt go there my grandma would give her best try to be as stylish as my godmommy. I guess after a while my hair got to become more of a project than a chore so they decided to give me a curly perm AKA jerri curl LOL... This was like 91' and I rocked it a loved it, my hair grew longer with the perm and it wasnt even wet its was the dry one! fast forward a year later and i moved to ny with my mom and realized jerris were not in style at all here. so I basically rocked my perm minus the activator gel BTW NOT CUTE.... the results a dried out fro...I have pics but you couldnt pay me to show them!!!

Shortly after my older cousin moved in with us and that was a godsend cause she then started to braid my hair w/ extensions every 2-3 months. I wore it like this for over a year and a half and my hair grew real long. The whole time we were cutting off the permed ends. so now when not in braids my hair was completely natural. I hated it cause my bro's friends would make fun and call me whoppi and aunt jemima...whatevs...SO a week before my first day of HS I relaxed my hair and found it to be APL, boy was I bad.... long thick black hair shoot you couldnt tell me nutttin'... so like any uninformed person I would use a hot curling iron everyday rain or shine and gradually my hair thinned out... shedding and breakage galore. I guess now looking back I would say I am blessed cause my hair never really was damaged, it just wasnt as healthy as it could be. That following summer i decided to cut my APL hair to a Short Nia Long cut WHY oh WHY... but I loved it and you couldnt tell me nuttin again!I kept my hair relatively short for years after that. It would grow to SL and I would cut it to ear or neck length this was a cycle for me. Me thinking at the time "my hair is sooo thick I couldn't manage it if it got long". I never neglected my hair but I didnt have the right information and it resulted in dull hair. Iwas a regular at the salon waiting 4+ hours to only look like ish again in a few days....no clue what to do after i left. i just wrapped with scarf / did this my entire life thankfully/ and spray w/ oil sheen the next morning and curl. I eventually started to get sick or relaxers and needed another alternative so I started to wear braids again and discovered the weave. That began a journey to natural hair while wearing weaves/braids and my hair grew but was thinner than normal/ i never let MY hair breathe just kept re-installing weaves after weaves.

One day I took out my weave and just admired my own hair... as painful as it was to style I started to embrace it more, whenever it would want to relax I just pressed out or flat ironed... this didnt last of course cause I wanted the length I had with weaves, my hair was past SL pressed but I was addicted to the swing of a BSL weave . I went back to weaves, then june 07 I went to get my hair done for Summer Jam and ended up relaxing... partly cause the hair dresser persauded me, mostly because the weave I wanted would cost me $200 w/o the hair ARE U SERIOUS? I ended up getting it relaxed only to get my hair rained on at summer jam. WHAT A WASTE!! This is when I began to deeply consider natural hair/ dreads. I was on the dread kick for months and everyone including my fiance said "dont do it" so I chickened out! At this time I would stretch my touch ups for months apart while wearing a weave. In a one year period I relaxed 3 times only..... I self relaxed Aug 26, 2008 before getting a weave for a concert later that week. Kept my weave in for about 5 weeks then took it out. I started my journey unknowingly, then weeks later while on youtube one day I came across hair and makeup tutorials and found my way to LCHF, KISS and others. I immediately washed dc, flat ironed and took pics that evening this would be the beggining of my hair journey about 6 weeks post relaxed.

Here I am today exactly 13 weeks post relaxer and I cant stop playing with my new growth. its like falling in love all over again but with ME... I never realized what I was doing by relaxing my hair, I was trying to change ME but this is how my hair grows thick, kinky/ nappy whatever you wanna call it, its ME exactly how GOD wanted me to be. Perfect in his eyes, custom fit to ME. Anyone can buy a relaxer and get the same results but no one else but ME can grow what comes out out my scalp. Even though I unknowingly transitioned in the past and i've been natural before this time I feel enlightened, aware, equipped and supported. I have places like TCHD, KISS, Hairlistas and LHCF to learn from and people to share with. I will not try to change me, I will embrace my natural hair and care for it as i would my relaxed hair. I have choosen not to do a Big Chop I rather grow my hair out while trimming every 6 months.I am still reading up on transitioning long term but as i learn and experiment i will update my current regimen. I will stick to what i have been doing since i started since i see results... so the basics for me are co-washing/no poo's, 2x week DC, bunning and sealing ends.Please anyone who has been there/done that i would appreciate any tips or pointers. Thanks in advance. Niki Tasha

Visit HairThereEverywhere.blogspot

The Birth of a Blog

2008-11-25T20:29:00.000-05:00

Today I begin to journal my journey through life, love and much more.
It is mainly about beauty and fashion, but also very personal trials and tribulations.... I will try to update frequently and post as many pics as possible, until next time.

*Smooches