Wednesday, December 12, 2012

AS I AM DOUBLEBUTTER CREAM!

So recently I started trying out new products. About 2 weeks ago I purchased the As I Am Doublebutter Cream.


Now on to my experience with the As I Am Doublebutter Cream. First off I purchased it from Sally's for about $27.00 which is more than I would have liked to pay but I'm always game for a new product so it's OK and it's like 16oz so I guess the price is OK because the jar is huge!!!! Now I went home and washed my hair and applied my oil and then twisted my hair (which took 3 hours because I did small (very small) twist). The next day I wore my twist and everyone kept telling me how GREAT my hair looked. So I wore my twist for 4 days before taking them out, then rocked my twistout for a few more days. So the next week I did the same thing and even then I only had to put this product on my hair once and my hair stayed hydrated even though I still put a small amount of Jamaican Black Castor Oil in it every other day just because. This product smells great and I think I'll continue to use this for my twist and also a little bit goes a long way. This product is not heavy at all. OVERALL this is a great product. This product left my hair smooth, soft and my twist were the bomb! So if you are all for trying out a new product i'd suggest this one.

 Moisture is essential for great natural coils and curls. When your hair feels a bit rough and dry, and looks that way too, this is the jar to reach for. The power-packed As I Am® DoubleButter® Cream is a rich emollient blend, graced with the finest array of natural butters and organic oils. It gets the job done. The benefits says that it locks in moisture, gives dull dry hair softness, shine and manageability, ccontains Pro-vitamin B5, (known as Panthenol), to help repair split ends and strengthen hair and  pprovides dehydrated hair with what it needs to look and behave its very best.

The ingredients:
Key Ingredients: Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter, Castor Oil, Jojoba Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Sugar Beet Root, Wheat Germ Oil, Vegetable Glycerin, Wheat Protein, Panthenol and Lanolin
Aqueous (Water, Aqua Purificada, Purified) Extracts: Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) ¹ and Phyllanthus Emblica (Amla) ¹ and Citrus Reticulata (Tangerine)¹ and Beta Vulgaris (Beet) Root¹, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)¹, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil¹, Theobromo Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter (CocoaButter)¹, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil¹, Emulsifying Wax NF, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil¹, Glycerin¹, Lanolin¹, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil¹ , Beeswax¹, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil¹, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein², Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil2, Carbomer, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Linoleate, Triethanolamine, Potassium Sorbate, Diazolidinyl Urea, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Fragrance/Parfum, Limonene.
Source: 1-Natural; 2-Wheat derived

You should use it:
Apply sparingly or liberally depending upon your hair's need for moisture,
manageability and vitality. Rub within palms and scrunch onto hair gently so that coils and curls are
undisturbed. May also be used to set soft lustrous twists and twist-outs

And then they give you tips of joy
  • Try using a little As I Am® DoubleButter® Cream along with the Twist Defining Cream for in-between re-twist touch-ups.
  • Don't rub oils and butters into your finished style too vigorously. It can disturb coil/curl definition. Instead, rub the product between the palms of your hands, then massage throughout the hair and scrunch onto the ends.
  • Don't overuse. A build-up of emollients can actually work against your natural curl definition, and instead of looking shinier, your hair may appear dull and matted.


Tuesday, December 4, 2012

22 Anniversary Celebration

My gym Your Best Body which is located in Gaffney, SC will be celebrating it's 22nd year of operation Monday, December 10th! There will be a lot of giveaways. It starts at 5pm and the first 100 people will get a FREE anniversary t-shirt! The drawings begin at 6:30 and you must be present to win. There will be food catered by Daddy Joe's BBQ from 5 until 7 and they are even giving away A BRAND NEW FLAT SCREEN TV AND OTHER GREAT PRIZES.

They are even having specials for example Buy 3 boot camps, get 3 free (value of $375), buy 3 partial body wraps get 3 free (which has a value of $105) Spray tans and massage and other things as well. 


SO COME ON OUT AND HELP CELEBRATE 22 YEARS OF OPERATION. 

Sunday, December 2, 2012

What I've Learned so far by being natural!!!

I've been natural for several months (2). and it has had it's ups and downs but if I have learned anything it is that you have to have a lot of patience. Patience is the key while dealing with natural hair because it takes time and a lot of TLC! I bc'd and wanted my hair back but it'll eventually grow back and when it does it'll be longer and healthier than ever. Now to grow long hair you will have to have patience because it will not grow down your back over night! Next, I've learned that you have to keep your hair moisturized (hydrated)! Water if your friend but don't just put water on your hair you need to use a sealant to keep the moisture in! (My favorite sealants are jojoba oil, Castor oil, raw Shea butter, extra virgin olive oil). Next that you need to keep your ends trimmed or dusted because the ends of your hair does tend to become more dry especially in cooler weather and you can do more harm than good if you have dry, and brittle hair) So keep those ends healthy as well. Next I've learned that you should not over shampoo your hair it's OK to use shampoo but make sure your shampoo is free of sulfates. I normally just co-wash (co-washing is using conditioner instead of shampoo to wash your hair). Some shampoos can strip your hair of natural oils if they contain sulfates. Then, I know when doing natural hair you always want to put your hands in your hair but low manipulation styles are the best. But when doing a style make sure that you are not putting to much stress on your scalp and hair. Pulling your hair to tight can cause you to damage your hair and your edges pretty bad. Also be mindful of the hair accessories because they can damage your hair. I'm not saying don't use hair accessories but be careful of the ones that you do use. Another thing is to avoid hard bristle brushes and combs. Not saying that you can use combs or brushes but be mindful of them I suggest that you use a Denman brush it's about $10 from Sally's. This brush has helped my detangling process to become shorten and easier. It's okay to use a brush and or a wide tooth comb but try to limit the use of those products! Also you are what you eat. So I suggest that you eat lots of proteins, and your hair can and will reflect that. Also try to get some exercise in even if it means parking out in no mans land at the grocery store. And last but not least   BE PATIENT!!!


I LOVE SHOPPING!!!

A lot you may love shopping but how about shopping and saving at the same time. Yep, recently I went shopping and bought a lot of Christmas gifts!!! I mean a lot but the next day I received a message from my friend who works at the store where I purchased a lot of the gifts from that said TAKE IT BACK AND repurchase everything that you bought because if you use your charge card to that store you'll get 40% off. HMM.... I was like do people actually do that umm yes they do and last week was my first time doing so and BOY AM I glad that I did!!! I actually saved about $25.00  by doing this and even picked up an extra outfit for myself. WOO HOO... so the next day I went back to the store and got more stuff and saved more money. Then on Friday night my husband and myself went shopping for him and I decided that I wanted a new shirt from the Gap so we went it and I found one that I like and it was marked down 60% so I would have paid like $11.00 for the shirt but once I got to the register and was about to pay I remembered that I had a coupon in my email from the Gap. SO I ended up getting MY SHIRT FOR FREE!!! I just love getting stuff for free. I usually let my coupons expire because I forget about them but I WILL not be doing that anymore! Also I purchased some boots from shoedazzle.com and the original price of the BOTH pair of boots were like $40.00 each.   SO I bought 2 pair of shoes for under $40. Which is a steal because if I wouldn't have used my coupons I would have paid about $80 for both pairs. SO if you have coupons or a chance to use a discount use it because you'll save in the end which will allow you to spend that money on something else OR SAVE IT!!! SO I LOVE A GREAT DEAL AND I OFFICIALLY LOVE SHOPPING!!!

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

GO BACK TO YOUR ROOTS!!!

So everyone knows that I decided to go natural in September of this year and I love it and wouldn't trade it for anything. (Yes it's more time consuming but this is who I am) Anyway I was having a conversation with this guy at work and he stated that NATURAL hair only looked good on dark skinned women and that we that decide to go natural need to go all the way natural! NOW many of you are probably looking and reading with your mouth open and asking the same question I did what does that mean? SO he stated that if we as black women want to look like our ancestors did then we should dress like them as well meaning not wearing shoes, bras or clothes for that matter. I sat there for a minute because I was a little confused about what I should say next. So I finally told him that everyone has ancestors that did all of those things not just Africans. And that I'm happy with my hair and I don't let people dictate to how I should look anymore and just because I'm wearing my hair in my nautral state does not mean that I should wear clothes, or shoes for that matter. I also stated that I no longer let the world dictate to how I wear my hair. Now this guy has an 8 year old daughter who has natural hair but her dad doesn't really love her hair. I can say this because he stated that he wants her to have straight long wavy hair like Europeans. Now, don't get me wrong there is nothing wrong with straight, long, wavy hair or should I say fried and dyed and laid to the side. I told him that he should teach her to embrace what GOD has given her and that everyone is made different! He should teach her how her hair is just as important as the straight hair. Her hair isn't "NAPPY" it's as soft as a cotton ball and that it can and will grow as long as she cares for it properly. (Black hair can grow long if you show it a little tender love and care).



Yes it may shrink when wet but who cares!!! I know when I wash my hair I have major shrinkage and the other day someone said your hair is still short!!! I laughed and stretched my hair out and they were surprised that it was as long as it was but guess what it shrinks but I don't care because it's only hair. The hair on my head does not define who I am and neither should yours. Embrace what GOD has given you and love it to the max.   

Saturday, November 24, 2012

SO MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR

Well Thanksgiving has come and gone! And I had and have so much to be thankful for :my health, family, friends, life, strength, freedom to express myself, a house to live in, food on the table, a job, my WONDERFUL son (yes I know this is a repeat of family but that boy gives me a reason to want to live) and my husband. Now a lot of you may know that in June of this year I buried one of my great grandmothers and last year on Thanksgiving she blessed our food so this was a real emotional time for my family and I. But I'm very grateful that I still have 1 grandfather, 2 grandmothers, and 1 Great grandmother that are still living!!! A lot of people don't have that. But I'm so glad that my son was able to meet and know my great grandmother Carrie. Family is very important to me and I'm glad that my family are as close as we are. Some of my friends find it weird that my family always get together and celebrate just because not just because it's a holiday. For example every year we take a family trip together when I say family trip (I mean grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, not just my moms brothers and sisters but my grandmothers sisters included). Last year we traveled to Jamaica, Key West, and the Grand Caymans. We had so much fun! This is something else that I have to be thankful for (not only is my son going on these trips but his great grandparents go as well and we are making memories that are going to last a lifetime). Life is grand and I never take any of this for granted because anything can happen at any given moment. For example as I stated earlier my great grandmother passed in June which was very unexpected but I do cherish every moment that I got to spend with her she was 96 when she died. I used to call her all the time and let my co-workers listen to us talk because they thought it was unbelievable that I still had a grandmother that was living and as old as she was. But I remember every year she would call me on my birthday and tell me happy birthday and she'd tell me the same story which was when I was being born she was in hospital having cancer surgery!!! This year it was a little bitter sweet because on my 28th birthday this year she was not here to call me but I know she is in a much better place and she live 96 wonderful years. SO PLEASE NEVER TAKE LIFE FOR GRANTED AND CHERISH EVERY MOMENT WITH YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS BECAUSE AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT SOMEONE CAN BE TAKEN AWAY FROM YOU!!!


Wednesday, November 21, 2012

RED LIPSTICK AND WOMEN OF COLOR

So recently I've decided to do something that I wouldn't normally do and that is wear BRIGHT RED LIPSTICK!!!! I love love love it!!!


Some people don't like it but does it matter what others think NO!!! Some women of color are afraid to step outside of their comfort zone because they may not be accepted. Some people claim that there isn't a red shade for them!!! That's so not true. So below you will find some tips on choosing the right lipstick color!!!

How to choose the best lipstick colors for people of color. 
For women of any ethnicity, the biggest consideration is your complexion. But because women of color have skin tones that run the full gamut of the color spectrum keep in mind weather you are light, medium or dark..  In addition, the undertones of your skin also have an effect on whether a lipstick really makes your lips pop.


If you are light then these colors will look great on you:
Pale to deep pink
Peach
Taupe
Reds 

Medium skin tones
Red
Medium to deep pink
Bronze
 Magenta
Medium to deep browns.

Dark Skin Tones
Deep red
Fuchsia
Magenta
Chocolate brown
Bronze

Don't think that just because your skin is in the darker range that you can't wear colors that look fabulous on lighter skin. EXPERIMENT!!! You may find lipstick colors that you never thought you would wear. Like I said I never thought me and red lipstick would get along but boy was I WRONG!!! AND I'M WEARING BRIGHT RED AT THAT.

 

There are also some benefits of wearing red lipstick it can instantly make your smile appear whiter, people stare at your lips and actually listen to what you're saying (lol) and  it adds sex appeal.

Now, my next goal is to try some fuchsia's and purple!!!

I will say my dad and my husband hate the fact that I'm wearing RED lipstick but I think it's just because I never wore it before now and they will get use to it. But why do some people feel as if dark skinned women can't wear RED LIPSTICK it's for everyone and I've taken a stand to say if they can do it so can I!! I love it so stay tuned for more pictures of the FAMOUS RED LIPSTICK!! SO IF YOU ARE GOING TO ROCK IT MAKE SURE YOU DO IT WELL AND WITH A LOT OF CONFIDENCE!!!

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

THINGS TO AVOID NOT JUST FOR NATURALS!!!


Making to much contact with your hair.
ONCE you style your hair leave your hair alone.


Not getting regular "haircuts" can be harmful to your hair.
By haircuts I mean getting your ends dusted on a regular basis. When you fail to trim your hair on a regular basis you are keeping your hair from growing. I try to trim "dust" my ends every 6-8 weeks. This depends on your hair growth cycle though. By dusting or trimming your hair on a regular basis you are ensuring that your hair will be healthy and grow out strong.


Avoid products that have alcohol in them. 
If you use hairsprays and gels because they can be high in alcohol and they can cause your hair to be dry and damage and also make your hair frizzy. I suggest that one would not use hairsprays but to each its own and I would recommend ECO STYLER GELS (any of the eco styler gels will work)!! Just check the ingredients on the label before you buy hair products.  




Over washing your hair! 
 Washing your hair too much can strip your hair of its natural oil and leave your hair dry and or frizzy. (CO WASH more if you need to wash often) I co wash my hair twice a week. And if you use shampoos be sure that the product doesn't not contain sulfates and that they contain moisturizing ingredients.





Over scrubbing your scalp. This explains it's self. I'm not saying don't scrub your scalp but be mindful and do scrub to the point where you hair becomes tangled. Don't scrub with your nails because this can cause damage to your scalp.




Wearing tight hairstyles.
Tight ponytails, or protective styles can be useful but the less tension you put on your hair the better. Pulling the hair to tightly can damage your hair and your scalp. It can cause hair loss as well. Instead of wearing high ponytails try a low ponytail or a loose braid. ALSO if you are wearing extensions use less hair to reduce the amount of weight of the extra hair pulling on your scalp.



YOU DON'T WANT TO END UP LIKE THIS SO BE MINDFUL!!!


Monday, November 19, 2012

Miss Jessie's

For all you natural sisters out there Miss Jessie is having a sale!!! Buy one get one free from November 18- Dec 18, 2012!!! So if you have wanted to try it out now is your chance!!! You can purchase her line of products on line or at Target if you're in the Spartanburg area and select CVS stores. 
 
I have tried several products from this line and they are pretty good. My sister Samantha loves the Curly Meringue and she says it makes her hair smell good and her curls pop!!! I myself loved the curly pudding!!! --------> Now this line is a bit pricey but buy one get one free you can't beat!!!!! hmm.... I know what I should get someone for CHRISTMAS!!!!

Hair was twisted with Miss Jessie's Curly Pudding!!!


Also a product review will be up WED!!! on here with a Youtube link as well!!!!! 

Thursday, November 15, 2012

EXPRESS BOOT CAMP


In the video below is a small portion of the mini boot camp offered at my gym (Your Best Body). As you can see it's really fun, intense, and anyone can do it. The classes are offered Monday, Tuesday, and Friday 5:00-5:30 and 5:30-6:00 (3 days a week). Also there is a Monday and Friday express boot camp class from 9:00 am until 10:00 am!!! These classes not only get you toned and your blood pumping but they are also VERY fun. 

I will say that where ever you choose to workout you have to watch what you eat. I cannot express this enough because if you were to workout then go home and eat a bunch of bad things it basically defeats the purpose of your workout. So come out and join the fun at YBB!!!




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKi6k5B_oNY&feature=plcp 
  here is the link for the video on my youtube page. Better quality

How to rock a fro

My sister Samantha were just messing around a few days ago and made a video on how to rock an afro!!!! These are just common tips that we use when we rock our curly fros and you may find them helpful as well. Now im not saying that you have to follow any of these tips but 1 and 5 are a must!!!! BE confident!!!!! Hope you enjoy and there will be more videos to follow!!!!

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Ride Dylan Ride


This is video of my son Dylan riding his "bike". Dylan is 2 years old and loves to peddle.



Tuesday, November 13, 2012

BLACKHEADS

I was asked by several people what my skin regimen is and how do I prevent blackheads. So I've been doing some research to help people with their skin.

First, blackheads are also known as comedones, and are a form of acne. They occur in the pores of the skin and can be very unsightly and sometimes painful. Blackheads occur frequently during puberty, BUT can develop at any time. If they are left untreated they can become infected and inflamed. Plus the skin has a variety of glands within it. The skin on the face and scalp contain the most sebaceous glands. (Sebaceous glands are located within hair follicles and are widely distributed throughout the skin, except on the palms and the foot soles). The sebaceous glands produce an oily substance known as sebum. When excessive amounts of "oil" (sebum) are created by a sebaceous gland, the substance can back up in the gland, forming what is commonly called a whitehead. This is due to the white color of the sebum under the skin. Overtime, the sebum will harden and form a plug. This plug can erupt through the pore and block the opening of the hair follicle. When exposed to air, the sebum plug will oxidize and turn dark. This is what the blackheads come from.

Blackheads can occur from make-up, changing of hormones, moisturizers, and lotions which can lead to clog pores.

You can prevent blackheads by washing your skin regularly, especially the face and neck. Using exfoliating creams or lotions can also help remove dead skin cells that clog the pores.






NEVER NEVER NEVER squeeze a blackhead to remove it. This can cause scarring and the spreading of the bacteria which will lead to more blackheads.



NOW!!! I wash my face with raw African black soap which I purchased from amazon.com for about $6.80 after my face dries I take a cotton ball and put a small amount of lemon juice on it and rub it all over my face. You can purchase the lemon juice from anywhere!!!!  After my face dries from the lemon juice I apply my moisturizer. Now I use to different moisturizers because one has a spf 15 which I use in the mornings and the one at night does not. (But I will say my skin is extra sensitive and sometimes the lemon juice burn just a little but not to where it's irritating my skin)










Raw African Black Soap has a lot of benefits for the skin..
·  1. Helps to remove scars caused by acne. Since acne is not caused by dirt, but due to the release of excessive oils within the skin, the soap cannot remove acne. But use of African black soap helps to remove scars cause due to acne.
·  2. Helps to remove skin irritations. Use of black soap helps to remove skin irritations like rashes.
·  3. Suitable for all skin types. Black soap can be used for the treatment of problems on all types of skin including the dry and rough, oily and moderate skins.
·  4. Beneficial for skin diseases. Black soap is very beneficial for reducing the discomforts that are associated with skin diseases like psoriasis and eczema
·  5.Delays ageing on the skin. Regular use of black soap helps to remove facial lines that are mostly early signs of ageing. Thus black soap can be used to delay ageing of skin.
The lemon juice helps getting the oil from the pores.

The moisturizers gives my skin the moisture that it needs.  

Monday, November 12, 2012

Some things that rob your hair of moisture!!!! Especially Natual Hair

4 Things that Rob Natural Hair of Moisture

1. Excessive shampooing.
Shampooing hair several times a week with shampoos that contain sulfates can strip your hair of it's natural oils and cause the hair to become dry and brittle. So if you have to use shampoo MAKE SURE THAT it's free of sulfates or you can JUST co-wash (which is only using conditioner to wash your hair).


2. Not sealing moisturized hair with oil.
Make sure that after you wash your hair that you seal in the moisture with an oil. Water, moisturizer, conditioner, and leave ins without essential oils will only evaporate from your hair. I use Castor oil, jojoba oil, and  extra virgin olive oil. It makes no sense to go through all of the trouble of conditioning if you are not going to seal in the moisture with an oil. 


3. The environment.
The environment in which you live could also take a toll on your hair moisture. So in extremely hot and cold months, help protect your hair from the harsh elements by wearing hats, and or protective styles that have you ends tucked in.  






















4. Sleeping with no Protection.
Not wearing a satin scarf or bonnet while sleeping can also lead to dryness. To keep your hair refreshed before bed spray it with a moisturizing spray or a small amount of a water based moisturizer and then seal it with your oils or butter.  


My routine consists of co-washing my hair once a week, then I seal my hair with Castor oil (which when I part my hair I take some of this oil and rub on my scalp) after the Castor oil I apply a small amount of jojoba oil which sometime I switch out the jojoba oil for the extra virgin olive oil. Then I style my hair with a butter and put on my satin cap for bed. whatever you routine maybe PLEASE SEAL IN YOUR MOISTURE WITH AN OIL it will make a difference!!!!















Sunday, November 11, 2012

Happy Veteran's Day

What is a veteran? A veteran is a person who has had long experience in a particular field, especially the military.

 

I would like to thank everyone who has or is currently serving our country! Thank you!!! 


   Check out my video dedicated to  few veterans....  http://youtu.be/yCZHbmDGzP4  







Friday, November 9, 2012

7 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD EXERCISE

Exercising is good for you!

Exercise helps control weight

 Exercise helps with health conditions and diseases

 Exercise improves your mood

Exercise helps boots your energy levels.

Exercise helps promote better sleep

Exercise can help put the spark back into your sex life

Exercise is FUN!!!!


Basically all I'm saying is exercise even if it's walking that's still exercise. Start off slowly then work your way up! 










I will say if you don't have a workout partner come join our boot camp class at Your Best Body! Then you don't have to workout out by yourself!!!!!. It's fun and only 30 minutes. And your will definitely see results.



Also while your are exercising make sure you drink plenty of water!!! 
BUT, in my opinion you should watch what you eat meaning dont' exercise then go home and eat junk food. If you do that you are defeating the purpose of working out! If you have to snack try eating some fruit and or vegetables like carrots.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Natural Hair Dictionary


Natural Hair Dictionary
Natural Hair – Related Terms

ACV = Apple Cider Vinegar: This is used by some to restore the natural pH to the hair, clean and condition.

APL= Arm Pit Length: refers to hair that reaches the armpitBC= Big Chop: Refers to the cutting off of relaxed hair, with the result of only natural hair being present on the scalp

BSL= Bra Strap Length: refers to hair that reaches the bra strap position on a female’s back

Buds (Budding)= First stage in locking. Small, young sections that will eventually grow out and mature as actual dreadlocks 

Cones = silicons: class of chemical ingredients that is found in many commercial conditioners for the hair; use of a detergent shampoo is usually needed to remove them from the hair


Co-wash = Washing the hair with conditioner, instead of shampoo; Is done most times to replace shampoos that include harsh detergents like sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate

Creamy crack = A not so affectionate term used to refer to permanent hair relaxers; nickname was given by those who found it hard to stop getting relaxers before they transitioned to natural hair 

Denman = refers to a the Denman (a company) series of brushes; a brush that is used widely among the natural hair community to help define curls

EO = Essential Oils: refers to a large group of naturally occurring oils (For example: lemon oil, peppermint oil, rosemary oil, lavender oil,etc.)

EVOO= extra virgin olive oil 

No-poo = Washing method that does not involve the use of shampoo; co-washing is a type of no-poo method

Pre-Poo = Covering the hair with a deep conditioner or mixture of oils for  30 min. or more BEFORE shampooing the hair. 

Transition = Refers to the transition from relaxed to natural hair 

TWA= Teeny Weeny Afro: Natural hair that is very close to the scalp; most times is the result of a Big Chop after a short transitioning stage

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

6 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD DRINK WATER

6 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD DRINK WATER!!!







1. Drinking water helps maintain the balance of body fluids. Did you know that your body is composed of about 60% of water. The functions of these bodily fluids include digestion, absorption, circulation, creation of saliva, moves nutr1ients, and helps maintain the bodies temperature.

2. Water can help control calories. Some people drink lots of water as a weight loss strategy. While water doesn't have the magic effect to cause you to lose weight it will help if you were to get water instead of soda or juice. Also you can eat healthier like fruits, vegetables, broth based soups, oatmeal (which I don't like) and beans. Because they are water based they tend to look larger and requires more food and they are absorbed more slowly by the body which helps you feel full.


3. Water helps energize the muscles. When your muscles don't have an adequate amount of fluid they will not work well and performance can suffer.




4. Water helps keep the skin looking good. Your skin does contain plenty of water and functions as a protective barrier to prevent excess fluid loss. But if your are dehydrated your skin tends to look more dry and wrinkled. But once you hydrate your body the kidneys take over and excretes excess fluids.




5. Water Helps your Kidneys. Body fluids move wastes products in and out of cells. Your kidneys do a great job in getting rid of toxins as long as you have an adequate amount of fluid intake. excreted in the urine. But if you don't drink enough water you will be at a higher rick of getting kidney stones.

6. Water helps maintain normal bowl function. Adequate hydration keeps things flowing along your gastrointestinal tract and prevents constipation.

Below are some tips to help you drink more.If you think you need to be drinking more, here are some tips to increase your fluid intake and reap the benefits of water:


Have a beverage with every snack and meal.
Choose beverages you enjoy; you're likely to drink more liquids if you like the way they taste.
Eat more fruits and vegetables. Their high water content will add to your hydration. About 20% of our fluid intake comes from foods.
Keep a bottle of water with you in your car, at your desk, or in your bag.
Choose beverages that meet your individual needs. If you're watching calories, go for non-caloric beverages or water.





Big chop or Transitioning

While at the gym yesterday I talked to a girls mother who says her daughter is in the process of going natural. The girl hasn't had a relaxer in a long time. SO I asked how much more permed ends does she have? Not much was the response that I received. SO I asked why doesn't she just cut off the permed ends and wear her natural hair out?? NOW I KNOW it takes a lot of confidence to do so but once you do it you'll be glad that you did!! NOW I will say that if you are transitioning to natural hair and are wearing protective styles PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE take care of YOUR hair while wearing those styles. You don't wanna end up with a mess like me -------------------->


damaged hair! If i knew what I know now my hair wouldn't have been as damaged as it was in this pic because my thing was once I have my braids in or my sew in done my hair is protected!!! WELL IT IS BUT I didn't take care of what was mine. I should have washed my hair on a regular basis, taking care of my scalp, deep conditioned on a regular basis, and kept my ends trimmed every 4-8 weeks! Now I did "trim" my hair from time to time but not often enough so therefore I did not receive the full benefits of wearing protective styles. I actually did more harm to my hair than good. But if I decided to wear protective styles again I know that I should wash or co-wash my hair on a regular basis, deep condition, and protect my scalp with natural oils like JBCO, EVOO, or JOJOBA oil.  I was asked yesterday why would I post a pic of what my hair USED to look like and my response was I'M NOT afraid to show people what my hair looked like because that was me then and this is me now. That is where I was this is where I am now!!!!




I did wear a protective style (Bob Marley Bun) for 3 days 2 weeks ago and before I pinned my hair up I made sure my ends were given a lot of love and attention. For example, I pulled my hair up into a high ponytail and before I applied the Bob Marley hair I put JBCO and Jojoba oil on the ends of my hair to make sure they were "feed" before applying the hair because I knew that I wouldn't be taking the hair down for a few days and if my other hair needed oil I could always rub some on it. I also knew that the bun was synthetic hair and it would more then likely pull the oils from my hair so I had to protect my ends. When I took the bun down after 3 days my hair still had oil on my ends. YAY!!!!!  Now I have a head full of hair that I absolutely love and I can't wait for it to grow out!


Now the big ? is should you big chop or transition? I say it's up to the individual because you have to have a lot of confidence to do the big chop! I mean a lot I didn't have that much confidence in my self until my 28th birthday!!! Now I'm not saying I didn't believe in myself or anything but at the time I cared TOOO much about what people would say. Now I don't care because this is the hair that GOD gave me and this is who I am. If you don't like it don't look. But my hair isn't going anywhere and neither am I! Often times people care about how society will perceive them if WE are not wearing long hair or straight hair because we have become accustomed to that. Don't get me wrong I LOVE WEAVE but I love my hair more. I'm not saying I will never wear weave again and I'm not bashing anyone who chooses to do so I'm only saying that at this time in my life I'm happy (VERY HAPPY) with what is actually mine. AND I did the big chop because I stopped caring what people thought. For example, my uncle is married to a woman of another race and he asked me after I debuted my natural hair why in the world would I want to wear nappy hair. Now my response to him was guess what if you don't like it don't look and I love my hair and I know that it's not nappy even though it may look like it I can still comb through it or rub my fingers through it without getting tangled. SO stop caring what people think and do whatever makes you comfortable if it's the big chop or just wearing protective styles while transitioning. DO YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND TAKE CARE WHAT IS ACTUALLY YOURS!!!!

Monday, November 5, 2012

Permed Days!!!

Loved my hair


Hair is chin length!

Hair is cheek bone length.

As you can see in the pic's above my permed hair was short never hitting my shoulders but it was always done! Now I really wish I would have done the natural thing a long time ago. But SOME people like myself can't just jump into something so drastic. It take a lot of courage to just do it! At first when I cut my permed hair off I was like omg what are people going to say so I rocked a high fake puff!!!
ONLY FOR A WEEK THOUGH!!  I stopped caring what people thought of natural hair!!! I didn't care if people thought I didn't have any hair or that some called it nappy!!! WELL IM SUPER HAPPY TO BE NAPPY!!! But on the flip side I got a lot of positive feedback as well. Rocking my natural hair I get to be different and I stand out from the rest! Now don't get me wrong there is NOTHING wrong with having permed hair, but that's just not for me ANYMORE!

My workout buddies
Samantha B and Queen S! #natural 2012

Now when I stretch my hair out  its the length of when I was permed! This is a pic from when I first
decided to go natural. MY hair is a little longer now and I'm happy!!