Pretty Natural Divas

Product Review: Olive Oil Edge Control

2012-02-12T11:48:00.000-05:00

Olive Oil Edge Control

Price: $4.99

Product Description :

Slicks and holds down edges while adding shine and moisture to the hair. This non-sticky, non-greasy formula provides excellent hold without hardening the hair.

Perfect control for your edges
Superior hold and shine
Contains no alcohol
Gives superior hold
No flaking
Great for relaxed & natural hair

Ingredients:
Aqua (Water) , Cetereth-25 , PEG-7 Glycerylocoate , Propylene Glycol , PEG-7 Hydrogenated Castor Oil , Olea Europaea Fruit Oil (Olive) , Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice , Glycerin , Cocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein , Fragrance , Benzyl Benzoate , Citronellol , d-Limonene , Eugenol , Geraniol , Hexyl Cinnamal , Lilial , Linalool , Methyl Ionone , Diazolidinyl Urea , Methylparaben , Propylparaben , DMDM Hydantoin

My Review:

I bought this product back in Decemeber when I had first started wearing my hair out. I was wearing my hair in buns and the edges were a hotfrizzymess.com! I had heard about this product and thought it would be a good product to slick down my edges. Not quite sure if SLICK is the right word for what this product does. Applying it, is more like PLASTERING the hair down. It did the job of keeping my edges at bay, but I can't say that it lasted all day long. After using it for several days, I noticed white gunk on my edges/flakes. :-/

The Short and Sweet: 2 out of 5 stars! It was a pretty thick product that was somewhat difficulty to put in my palm and spread on my edges. If it was in one of those stick tubes where you can apply it directly to the hair, it may be easier to apply. It did give some hold but it didn't last all day. The buildup... #icannot. I may use this from time-to-time but it won't be anything I rebuy.

Where Are The Musical Legends In This Generation?

2012-02-12T10:56:00.000-05:00

RIP WHITNEY HOUSTON

I, with many others around the world, was shocked and devastated to hear of the death of the great Whitney Houston last night. As my sister and I kicked back, pulled up YouTube, and belted out Whitney's tunes all night, I couldn't help but stop and think, Where are the musical legends of this generation?

We can all sit around and bring up Whitney's life struggles, but one thing that is undisputed is her vocal talent. It is a vocal talent that has been/is unmatched. Her voice captivated all that heard it... so I can only stop and think who does that in 2012? Really, I could think of no one.

Music is such a powerful thing and real music/real musicians is/are a dying breed. As many musical legends are now passing, it's scary to think about what music will be in the forthcoming years. I mean- look at its state now. Will our children ever appreciate real music? Will we mourn any deaths of those that currently don the face of music today?

Today's Hair : 2/4/12

2012-02-04T16:14:00.001-05:00

I'm still very much enjoying "bunning" my hair! My hair's pre-stretched, as I haven't washed it in 2 weeks, so I twisted the grotto the side and then put it in a bun; completed with a hair bow. I applied OliveOil Edge Control to the sides but really to no avail lol

I think I'd like the look better with a side braid.... Either way, I think it's diggable!

Do you have standards?

2012-02-02T18:21:00.001-05:00

I can't belive my post disappeared. Arrgh!!! Anyhoo... Hey yall. It's been a while, so let's get right into it.

What's up with all the broken relationships? I use to think that marriage was forever and people in relationships, strove to be married. Un un... I am truly mistaken. I have seen more bad relationships, the past few months that I can stand. I just want the single ladies to know that you do not have to settle for just anything. You can have standards and the man who really wants you, will be all that you want and more.

It seems like women are accepting anything fromt hese men without having any say so whatsoever. How is it that Chrissy has taken a ring over the pain? Why did Emily receive the worst advice ever? Why is your friend still with dude after he has cheated on her more than you have fingers? I wish I had the answers to all these questions and more.

After being single for all these years I don't believe I can settle and be happy. Relationships take work and both parites have to give 100% (forget 50%), in order for things to sustain in this day and age. Ladies, I am not bashing anyone's decision to stay with someone, when it seems they should go. What I am doing, is trying to encourage women to have some standards and know what they wanty. The right man will come along and understand your needs as well as your wants. Patience is the key.

Let me know what you think. Ciao!

Today's Hair: 02/01/12

2012-02-01T18:23:00.001-05:00

I'm really enjoying this new length that I have! My hair is getting to the point where I can still manipulate it without it being stretched using heat.

I've been bunning it a lot and then I pulled it half up to get it somewhat off the front of my face and then secured it with 3 bobby pins.

Meatless January OVER!!!!

2012-02-01T18:05:00.000-05:00

Today is February 1, so I have officially made it through MEATLESS JANUARY!!!!

Surprisingly, I didn't immediately grab a slab of ribs today lol. In fact, really, I didn't even realize tht technically my Meatless January is over. I did eat a piece of turkey bacon this morning, because I was hungry and it was the only piece of "already cooked" food that I saw as I ran out the door.... but it was weird.

I don't like the vegetarian bacon, but the turkey bacon was weird too.

For lunch today, I had tuna casserole, like normal, and for dinner, I had my vegetarian chicken nuggets with vegetables *shoulder shrug* lol

Really, I don't see myself rushing back to being a "CARNIVORE" (lol I've been teaching my kids about the different diets of animals such as herbivore, carnivore, and omnivore. I got confused and told them most humans are carnivores... My colleagues are still playing me for it). I definitely like some of the vegetarian "meat like" products, as well as some of the vegetarian meals that I've tried. I may follow a pesctarian diet with the occasional meat.... who knows? I'll keep you all posted!

TRASH IT OR STASH IT? Shea Moisture Curling Souffle

2012-01-20T10:27:00.000-05:00

Well folks, let me tell you....

This one is one for the TRASH! I'm throwing it away and not looking back! You CANNOT convince me to retry this! The consistency and residue left after applying... I'll pass. Think "SOUL GLO"!

Hair Updates: Letting Freedom Ring

2012-01-16T15:12:00.002-05:00

Well folks, I think it was finally time...

After some thought, I decided to give up my hair hats for awhile. I have been wearing "hair hats" faithfully since May of 2011 for many reasons... Honestly, wigs have been the greatest protective style because they require such low manipulation, without my hair feeling constricted, like it does in braids or twists. I shampooed/conditioned like normal, put my hair in cornrows, put my "hair hat" on, and kept things moving. It was especially great with transitioning from doing NOTHING all summer, into the workforce, which allowed me 0.2 seconds, if that, to do my hair.

When it came time for Christmas Break, I felt it was a perfect time to go sans wig and give Freedom a chance to breathe. I blew my hair out on December 23rd and was AHH-MAZED at the amount of growth! My hair, blown out, was past my shoulders. I kept touching it to make sure it was actually mine lol. I experimented with styles, but was really so pleased with the length, that I just put it in high buns JUST BECAUSE I COULD lol. I enjoyed the versatility of just... throwing it up off my face. Can't quite do that with a wig lol.

I kept my hair "wigless" up until this past Monday, January 9. So, my hair was wigless for about 2 weeks. I didn't think I was going to really notice much of a difference when it was "business as usual" with my hair hats, but I missed Freedom :-/

To make things worse, the wig was old and I didn't feel like making a new one. I took my kids out to play a science game the other day and it was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO windy, I had to keep holding on to my hair lol. After that, I decided I needed to put my wig down for a while. *cues pic of wig in trash*

Now, shrinkage is something I'm going to have to get used to, because my wig was definitely more of a blown out look.... I'm not appreciating this shrinkage stuff. I may be blowing it out more and rocking it in a bun, but who knows.

I'm hoping I'll maintain the growth amount and keep it moving. I'm also hoping to be able to talk more about hair now on the blog.... I really couldn't say much these last few months because I wore wigs 95% of 2011. SO get ready to see more of my frustrations and updates about my hair; and hopefully some good things too! lol

Today's Hair: 1/15/12

2012-01-15T16:24:00.001-05:00

I finally pampered my tresses yesterday after 2 weeks of "lazydom". I straightened my hair on New Years Eve Eve and felt it was necessary to finally bathe Freedom. There was no heat damage, which is always a sigh of relief.

I washed with my normal products from Brendita's Body Works (Sulphate Free Shampoo and Restorative Deep Conditioner). I oil rinsed and put it in a pony puff until I was ready to actually do something with it.

After 2 hours passed, I finally had decided to braid it up. I re-wet each section, applied Jane Carter Solutions Replenishing Conditioner, and Beija Flor Naturals Creme Brûlée. On the end of each medium-sized braid, I put a small curling rod. I let my hair dry for 2.5 hours before becoming anxious and unbraiding to see the results.

My hair was incredibly soft and defined, but if course that meant extreme shrinkage. I was not ready for that! I've been blowing my hair out so I was used to seeing that length.

So I re-braided my hair in larger braids, in hopes that my hair would look larger.... I applied the Shea Moistire Curl Souffle to each section, re-riddled the ends and headed to bed.

The end result was ok, but the souffle took the juiciness out of my hair and replaced it with a crunch. Ugh.

Here's my hair before applying the Curl Souffle.

Here's the final look post-Souffle.

Meatless January: DAY FOURTEEN

2012-01-14T15:43:00.002-05:00

*cues "Never Would Have Made It" by Marvin Sapp*

Fourteen days down and my chicken cravings have disappeared! I'm blissfully enjoying my time of vegetarianism! Energy's up. Weight is down. and I'm not missing any meals! lol

As I hopped on the scale today, I saw that I'm down 4.5 pounds! #BOOMPOW

They say that living vegetarian can be tough for the first few days and then you're body gets used to it, and I think mine has.

Here are some of the things (or similar things) I've been eating:

Vegetarian Bowl from Chipotle
French Fries from McDonalds lol
Vegetarian General Tso's
Meatless Spaghetti
Oranges, apples, pineapples
Fruit/Veggie Smoothies

One of the things that can be good from eating vegetarian is that it pretty much eliminates fast food restaurants. Hence why all I've been eating is french fries from McDonalds.

Also, knowing that vegetarian food can be... weird, it pushes you to be open to try new things lol. I never thought I'd like parmesan pita chips but I do.... (my students probably don't, seeing as I be blowin' my garlic breath all in their face though lol)

Curl formers: Take 653

2012-01-08T09:56:00.001-05:00

I'm still overjoyed at this blogger app for huge iPhone!! LOL

For some reason I have a lot of faith inCurlfomers despite my struggles with them. Last night, on hair that's been blown out for a week, I sprayed it with water, applied Eco Styler Gel, and set my hair in the Curlformers.

When I woke up, my hair had set really well and I actually liked the way it looked. My hair was a little crunchy and had some white residue (yuck)

Overall, I won't complain lol

Meatless January: Vegetarian General Tso's

2012-01-07T12:33:00.001-05:00

First, I just want to announce that I'm blogging from my iPhone and I'm more than excited. Excuse any typos though!

Today is day 7 of my Meatless January and I'm feelin good feelin great! I've eaten a mix of fruits, veggies, and healthier snacks all week. I've also been eating veggie burgers and veggie sausage egg and cheese biscuits and I can't complain!

I just picked up lunch from a vegetarian Chinese food restaurant in Northern Virginia. I was skeptical at first but surprisingly it's soooooo yummy! The "chicken" is made of soy and it comes with steamed vegetables and organic brown rice for $7.60.

BTW I've lost 2.5 pounds this week!

Have you given your 10%?

2012-01-04T13:22:00.006-05:00

Hey y'all. It's a new year and I'm sure you are jotting down all your resolutions, that will last until January 31st. LOL... That was mean right? My bad, but we have all been here before and these resolutions do not stick. Listening to Tommy's prank call this morning, and the lady was swearing all over the place and said that her resolution was to stop cursing. Welp... It makes sense to just be honest with ourselves and do things within our limit. This is why I am making a lifestyle change.

One of my passions is the youth. Being a single parent, I see where these kids need guidance, but the are not many who are willing to help out. So I am going to take things into my own hands. Now, I tried this before last year, with the youth from my church and I was highly disappointed with the lack of support from other parents. I did not understand this at the time and could not see past my disappointment, hurt and anger, but I'm sure I was being prepared for what has yet to come. I'm not 100% ready, but I'm not going to focus on that as much as I did before. I know that I have to pray and work on the things of my heart.

Tithing is most often connected with money, but you should be giving 10% of your time, gift OR money and volunteering is the least we can do. Not to mention, it is the easiest. We often times, get so caught up in our own lives, that we forget about those who really need help. I have participated in various events, this past holiday season, that benefited the homeless and children and I felt great. At the same time, I felt like I was not cutting it. What else am I suppose to be doing to help? Not saying that I am so well off, that I can forget my own issues of life and go out on a rescue mission. This is no where near the case. I have issues, problems, a child, etc; I am also grateful that I am not in the situation of some of those that I am willing to help. So where do I start?

I will be taking the next couple of weeks to get out a plan, get my vision board together and prove to be a role model to my child and others. I hope that you take into consideration how volunteering can help someone else and if you already volunteer, please leave a comment. Make sure you share this blog with your friends. Ciao!

Woe Is Me AND My Hair: New Year's Eve 2011

2012-01-02T10:15:00.000-05:00

Here's my hair on New Years Eve. Earlier in the day, I had twisted my hair and set it on Curlformers. I was prepared for luscious spiral curls upon taking the curlformers off and though they were there for about 10 minutes, those luscious curls soon disappeared.

Despite my spritzing the curls with holding spray, my hair blew up to the size of a ballon. All I could do was shrug my shoulders and make it work.

Here are some pictures of the outcome!

I twisted the front and slid some Olive Oil Edge Control (I'm just about ready to review it!) on these edges and kept it moving!

As I started to reflect at how when I flat iron my hair it looks SOOOOOO good, and then once I've wrapped it or put rollers in, it blows up, here's what I came up with.

When I wear my hair straight, I also use non-water based products on my hair to help it maintain the style. So it was business as usual when I went to set my hair in the Curlformers last night. I used Coconut Pudding by Brendita's Body Works. Lovely product! BUT the primary ingredient is aloe vera juice, which is a humectant, and vegetable glycerin is listed soon after it; also a humectant.

Granted, it's not summer time, and I'm not sure how much humidity must be in the air in order for humectants to pull in moisture into your hair, but I think that product may have been the culprit.

My friend suggested I use grease, which the petroleum in it, which definitely keep out moisture, however... grease- #icannot. But I may need a "petroleum-like" product to hold me down. Literally.

Suggestions?

Meatless January: Day One

2012-01-01T01:50:00.001-05:00

Today's DAY ONE!

I'm trying to gear up for success, but am a little behind! I meant to go grocery shopping yesterday, but by the time I woke up at 12:30pm, I knew traffic was already going to be too bad for me to go out, with it being a holiday.

Tomorrow I'm planning to go grocery shopping! Surprisingly, I'm excited. The only places I've been grocery shopping are places like Walmart, so tomorrow I'm going to be aiming to peruse a Harris Teeter, Whole Foods, and/or Trader Joes.

In order to help me be successful, I really want to make sure I'm knowledge in a meatless diet. I'm going to try my best to consistently tell you all the new things that I'm learning.

WHAT I'VE LEARNED SO FAR:

Fish isn't considered a meat. Therefore, technically, I can consume fish. Some distinguish fish eating vegetarians as PESCAtarians. However, again, I'm not doing this because I don't believe in eating animals, so I'm really not going to get caught up in the classification systems.
Unless you cut out all meat and dairy, you may not need to amp your vitamin intake. Everyone always says you HAVE TO eat meat, because it's the only way you can get protein. This is actually false. Though, taking multivitamins are encouraged, they aren't mandatory if you're not following the vegan diet. Eggs, dairy, nuts, peanut butter, beans, soy milk, grains, cereal and vegetables all can provide you with necessary protein. I will also continue to take my adult multivitamin gummies.

I just got back from going out to eat at Macaroni Grill with my family. Normally I get the pennne rustica which is a pasta with cheese, chicken, and shrimp, but today I went sans chicken and just got extra shrimp. I could taste the difference, but it was still enjoyable!

New Year, New Goals

2011-12-29T08:15:00.000-05:00

Where did the year go? It seems like just yesterday I was bringing in 2011 and now we are only days away from 2012. Looking back on 2011, I've accomplished a lot in my personal and professional life, and I can say that some of that success could not have happened had I not set goals for myself and kept track of my progress towards them.

In September of 2010, I made a list of goals and posted them on my blog. Some of these goals included getting out of credit card debt (which I did...a few months early!) and saving $1000 (I blew that out the water, saving $5000 in a year!). By putting my goals out for the world to see, I forced myself to be accountable. No one wants to look like a failure in public (lol), so I had work to make progress in my goals so I had something to say when I did quarterly update posts. These update posts gave me a chance to evaluate my progress to make sure my goal was feasible/realistic, and allowed me to re-assess my goals to see if my goals were still in line with my priorities and values. Sometimes priorities change; when I went natural and was introduced to a thing called shrinkage, my length goals that I had when I was relaxed weren't important to me anymore as I was trying to achieve a voluminous puff or achieve maximum curl definition.

When setting my goals, I made sure to quantify wherever possible and build in a specific deadline. There is a big difference between saying you want to "save money" and saying you want to "save $100 each month." In order to measure progress you have to have a way to compare where you are now with where you want to be, and without a specific number you want to reach or a time frame for achieving it, there is no way to measure progress. Not to mention, have you ever heard of a race with no finish line? It's hard to stay motivated without an ending point in sight!

To end this rant, I just want to leave you all with a few tips to start setting goals for the new year:

Create specific, time-bound goals.
Share your goals with others to help you stay accountable.
Track your progress every few months to re-evaluate what you want and to renew your commitment to your goals.

Does anyone have any New Year's Resolutions or goals for 2012? Share in the comments!

Was it really that bad?

2011-12-28T13:39:00.003-05:00

Hey you guys. So people who really know me, knows that I am VERY opinionated (and blunt) and will give you my advice on whatever situation you present to me (I was a psych major). Because I was coming off a bit strong handed, I have slowed down quite a bit, considering I do not like unwarranted advice myself and I feel awful (lol). I say all this, because right now I am dealing with a situation, that I how no clue how to approach, so I need your help.

So there is this young lady that I know and she has been thorough a rough patch, so to say, and she can not see herself with anyone that she can trust. Now I have known her a little under a year and the stories she has told me do not seem like enough to want to give up on love (but to each their own). She was in a relationship with this guy, but was not into him like he was into her. She would ignore his calls, didn't want to see him, or even hang out with him. Why was she with him, you ask.. I asked her the same thing and as an adult woman, she said that she did not know. O_o This really did not sit well with me. I absolutely can not stand when good people are mistreated. So me being me, I told her that was unfair to him and she should just break up with him, so that he can find someone who would appreciate him (I met the guy and seemed pretty cool to me and from what she was saying, he was an okay guy). Her reason for treating him the way she did, was because she does not trust men and does not believe in love (she has kids). This really just got to me.

Today, after she told me she broke up with him, while laughing, I got really upset and had to walk off. In no way, should a person, male or female, be treated the way she treated him. Every time we talk about him, I don't say anything, because I know how blunt I am and her feelings would be all the way hurt. So I ask you this... Do you know anyone like this? What can be said to someone who has been broken so bad, by a man, without coming off as a drill sergeant? Help!

The new year is quickly approaching and I would like to wish each and everyone of you a Happy New Year!!! Ciao!

Testimony Tuesday: Holiday Time

2011-12-27T13:13:00.000-05:00

Photo taken from Google

As you're reading this, you're probably recovering from Christmas or holiday festivities. Again, if you're like me, you're stuffed and feeling like a fat pig *shoulder shrug*

The holiday season is such a wonderful one! Yet, so many people get caught up on things that don't matter and miss the beauty of the season.

Christmas is a time of:'

1) REMEMBERANCE- Remembering the past; the good times and maybe even the bad. For me, it allows me to remember the birth of Jesus Christ and the precious and sweet time that it must have been.

2) HUMILITY- Humility at holiday time is fueled by the above, rememberance. How can you look back and remember what it took for God to send His son to earth and not be moved by the humility of it all?

3) FAMILY AND TRADITION- All kinds of traditions have been started through the holiday season. Some of my family's are:

Singing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus at midnight
Christmas caroling at a local nursing home with those who may not get to be with their family or get out for Christmas
Reading the Christmas story from the Bible before opening gifts
Christmas Dinner--Need I say more!? lol

4) RELAXTION/REFLECTION/READJUSTMENT- The birth of Christ and the holiday season really make you sit back and reflect on where you are in life, whether it be spiritually, physically, emotionally, etc. The start of a new year brings resolutions, though I like to see them as goals.

YOUR TURN!!! Fill in the blank: Christmas is a time of _______________________________.

Product Review: Brendita's Body Works Organic Castile Soap Shower Gel

2011-12-27T12:08:00.000-05:00

Brendita's Body Works Smoove Moves Organic Castile Soap Shower Gel

Price: $7.00 for 8 oz

Product Description :

Smoove Moves Organic Castile Soap Shower Gel is Sulphate Free and Extremely Gentle.

Castile soap is an extremely gentle cleanser made with organic olive and coconut oils.
It cleans without stripping or drying and rinses away with leaving any residue. Unscented castile soap has a consistency that is slightly thicker than water. However, certain essential and fragrance oils will cause it to thicken slightly.

Please keep in mind, castile soap has a pH value of 9, so I don't recommend using it as a hair cleanser. A pH value over 5 will cause swelling of the cuticles on the hair, which will lead to tangles and possible breakage. Use and enjoy castile soap to cleanse your body. Choose one of my Phat Head Cleansers for your hair.

Ingredients:

Organic Aloe Vera Juice, Organic Coconut Oil, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Vitamin E. May Contain Organic Essential Oil/Fragrance Oil.

My Review:

I was sent this product in my care package from Brendita's Body Works several months ago. At the time, I was reviewing Shea Moisture's African Black Soap Shower Gel so I waited to use this product. Switching from the Shea Moisture, which has a thick consistency, to this shower gel was an adjustment. This product has a very thin consistency, which may cause you to use more of it then you desire. It's thin and watery, which is not what I prefer when I use shower gels.

Nonetheless, I continued to use it. What I do like is that even though the consistency is thin, the product still has a so-so lather and leaves your skin feeling very clean and not stripped. Also, y'all know I'm a sucker for smell-good products and this one certainly smells good! It comes in a multitude of scents, however, mine was Lime. It's delicious smelling! I plan to use it all up, but whether or not I purchase it after it's all gone is still in the air.

The Short and Sweet:

3 out of 5

This product does just what it says- cleans without leaving the body stripped of moisture. I enjoy the clean feeling that's left from the product and I enjoy the smell. However, the consistency makes it a product that I have a difficulty using because I do prefer shower gels that are thick with a good lather.

In Review: Olive Oil Edge Control

2011-12-26T14:01:00.002-05:00

Olive Oil Edge Control

CONFESSION: After letting go of my "hair hat" for the week, I have NO CLUE what to do with my hair. This is the first time that I'm dealing with Freedom at this length, and I'm so out of touch with what to do with it.

One of my goals has always been to be able to wear a bun, and I've probably become somewhat excessive with it. My hair has been in a bun (high bun, low bun, messy bun... *in Forest Gump voice*) 90% of the time since Thursday. The only thing is, I think my "hair hats" damaged my edges, because they are FLYING. Literally, waving to everyone that passes by! AND of course, I brought no hair products to help resolve this.

I was at Walmart today and grabbed this. I've heard some good things about it, so I'm interested to see how it works. I wore my hair out for a good 2 hours today but it's back in a bun now lol. I can't wait to try this product! I'll report back soon!

Meatless January Declaration!

2011-12-26T14:01:00.000-05:00

I loooveee the holiday times! Jesus' birthday, time with the family, travelling, relaxing... but also for the food! If you're anything like my family, YOU.THROW.DOWN. and it's notagame.com when it comes to meals during the holiday time.

Over the last 2 days, I've had countless servings of mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, chicken, ham, green beans, collard greens, rolls, potato salad, and the list goes on. Let me just say.... all of the good eatings show. The weight gain is ridiculous. I feel like a stuffed turkey. In addition to those meals, I've had stromboli sandwiches, chicken tenders and fries, cakes and pies.

Up until yesterday, we actually had had no veggies in sight lololol. My grandfather said, "ALL WE'VE EATEN IS CAKE AND MEAT! CAKE AND MEAT! IF WE DON'T GET SOME VEGETABLES HERE SOON, I'M GOING OUTSIDE TO EAT THE GRASS!" LOL! I was tooooo weak!

*I digress* Now, the holidays can't be the only blame for my sudden weight gain. As I got into the swing of things at work, my healthy living went out the window. You all may remember that I lost a good 10 pounds this last year by working out and changing some of my lifestyle/eating habits, and then stress and school kicked in and I gained it right back. The holiday season just topped off my frustration.

So after doing some research, I'm challenging myself to make January meatless. Not necessarily because I disagree with eating animals, but because I think it's:1) a great way to incorporate healthy living
2) a good way to slim down
3) a wonderful way to introduce myself into eating a variety of foods
4) a good way to practice self-discipline

I tried to go meatless back in 10th grade and succombed to my cravings about 2 weeks into it when I was overcome with dreams of chicken lol. However, I was unprepared and unaware of what vegetarian options there are out there. So I'm taking this next week to research vegetarian foods and resources to help me make it through the month.

Anyone with me?!?

Happy Holidays!!!!

2011-12-23T17:05:00.000-05:00

Hola chicas!! Just stopping by to wish everyone a Happy Holiday. I have been crazy busy the past few weeks. Trying to get sponsors for an upcoming meet-up and new business ventures, are in the works. Let me know what you guys would like to hear about and I will definitely deliver. Enjoy your weekend. Ciao!!!

Holiday Hair: 12/23/11

2011-12-23T09:09:00.003-05:00

As you're reading this, I'm on a family trip headed to my grandparents for Christmas! Though everyone advises against changing hair for the holidays, I decided to use this week and a half off from school (when everything is low key and relaxed) to wear my own hair out.

I haven't washed my hair in God knows when, so I started with a washing and detangling session. I then braided my hair up to stretch it/allow it to air dry, before I blow dried it on a low heat setting.

I also proceeded to lightly press it. I know, I know- too much heat! But I used low heat settings for everything!

Click for pictures!

I bantu knoted it to give it a little texture.

On the Web: Money Article Round-Up

2011-12-22T20:40:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone! I've had such a crazy week between work, last minute Christmas details, and internet problems. I did have a chance to do a little reading, and I wanted to share with y'all some of the interesting money articles I've come across this week. Here are my favorites for the week:

Super Young Retirement Savers It is never to early to start saving! Profiles of kids as young as 14 accumulating thousands of dollars in savings and investments.

Five Ways to Save Money in your First Job Smart tips for managing your new-found income.

Mythbusters: Extreme Couponing A real world experiment based on the tactics in the show Extreme Couponing.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Hope you all have a great weekend!

School's Out!: But Not for Me... :)

2011-12-16T17:00:00.000-05:00

I've finally found my passion and I wanted to share the good news...

6 Money-Saving Apps

2011-12-15T19:48:00.002-05:00

Smartphones have become a staple in our lives, so why not put them to work! Here are 6 smartphone apps to make your shopping easier and save you money:

Key Ring

(iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Phone)

From the website: “Use it to scan & store your existing loyalty cards, enroll in new loyalty programs, and access exclusive coupons and discounts.”

This app allows you to use your store loyalty cards without having to store them all in your wallet or worrying about forgetting them at home.

PriceGrabber
(iPhone/iPad, Android)

From the website: “Quickly find the lowest price on millions of products from thousands of online merchants.”

Use this app to comparison shop for products online. Scan a barcode or search by name for an item and find out what site has the best price (including shipping and tax!)

Shop Savvy
(iPhone, Android, Windows Phone)

From the website: “ShopSavvy is a personal shopping companion for smartphone users. The application enables consumers to scan the UPC, EAN or QR barcodes of products they want to buy and do immediate, in-store price comparisons with local and online retailers.”

The app also allows you to look up online reviews or special promotions, create wish lists of items you are dying to have, and purchase products directly from your phone.

Gas Buddy
(iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Phone)

From the website: “Locate gas stations near you and see their current gas prices.”

Enter your zip code or city and find the cheapest gas near you. If you don’t have one of the devices listed above, you can also go to the Gas Buddy mobile site.

Cell Fire
(iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Phone)

From the website: “Cellfire is the premier destination for valuable savings on groceries, shopping, restaurants, and entertainment. With Cellfire, you'll never have to print, clip, or forget your coupons again!”

Use the app to search for deals and coupons, and from there you can either save coupons on your phone to present at the register when you make a purchase, or load grocery coupons onto your grocery store loyalty cards so they are applied automatically when you swipe your card.

Grocery IQ

(iPhone/iPad, Android)
From the website: “Grocery iQ is an intuitive shopping list that allows you to build new lists quickly with features like predictive search and barcode scanning.”

Use Grocery iQ to create, organize, and print or email your shopping list. Also, the app allows you to print and email coupons.

Happy Shopping!

Today's Menu: Cookie Exchange Party

2011-12-10T17:34:00.001-05:00

Have you ever heard of a Cookie Exchange Party? Apparently this is popular around the holidays. So here's the scoop. You bake one kind of cookies and give your guests some to take home, and they do the same. This way everyone gets to enjoy all kinds of cookies without having to bake them all by yourself.

Here's How To Get Started:

1. Make your guest list around 6-10 people.

2. Make invitations for the cookie exchange including instructions and rules

3. Predetermine if you want cookies homemade or store-bought

4. Assign cookies in advance or leave it to chance

5. Tell your guests how many cookies to bring on the invitation

6. Everyone should bring enough cookies so that each guest can leave with 6-12 cookies of each

kind.

7. Make sure you have containers, tins, or plastic bags for packaging

8. Share your recipes (pre-print or email in advance)

9. Set up a special display table for cookies

So this seems like a fun way to get together with your girlfriends, and show your baking skills! Also if you are good at crafts, you can incorporate that as well with your invites and packaging.

Be sure to give awards for the prettiest, biggest and best tasting cookie!!!!

If you have done a Cookie Exchange before - please share your experience. Until next time.

School's Out!: Maybe things have changed...

2011-12-09T16:00:00.000-05:00

So, remember the woman I slightly despised that I mentioned in this post? Lately there has been an extremely drastic change in her demeanor! She not only speaks to me everyday now, but she even jokes with me and makes conversation like a NORMAL person...I gotta say that I didn't realize she affected me so much because I used to try to ignore her, but in the past week and a half or so, I have noticed how nice it is to not have to always prepare myself for some smart remark or demeaning comment that she lamely blamed on her lack of food. *rolls eyes*

So what changed?

I'm not sure exactly!

However, it MIGHT have something to do with the fact that my name is now synonymous with "getting buck" with one of my superiors (which I resent because I didn't consider stating the facts as a way to advocate for children "getting buck," but I digress).

In any case, I think she might be a little impressed that the sweet little youngin actually has a backbone and is more than just a smiling face. I think she fancies herself a rebel, and I guess she saw a little rebellion in my act and took to it. Or maybe she finally got to see that I am really in it for the kids and not for the money - although I don't know too many teachers that are in it for the money (WHAT money...?)

The fact that it may have taken that for her to address me as a normal human being (though this is only speculation) makes me not want to actually trust her beyond superficial convo, but at least the change makes for a far superior dynamic in the Teachers' Lounge...

The Hidden Costs of Shopping

2011-12-08T19:34:00.001-05:00

With it being the holiday season, I’m sure many of you are creating your wish lists and shopping for gifts for your family and friends. I remember being a little kid and being so excited to open toys on Christmas day… and then there would be the frantic search around the house trying to find batteries so I could play with them!

With certain items, there are additional products (like batteries lol) and expenses that you need to pay for to enjoy them. For example, I want a new iPhone for Christmas, after being #teamblackberry for years. But in addition to the price of the phone (which will be a gift), I will have to change my data package which will increase my monthly bill by a couple of dollars, and somewhere along the line I will probably purchase a new phone case and car charger to accommodate my new phone.

Some purchases also encourage you to do more shopping in the future. What if I get tempted to purchase a lot of new apps just because I have a iPhone. Or imagine finding the flyest pair of boots in a quirky color that you are dying to buy, but the problem is you don’t have anything in your closet to match them. How many of you would buy the boots, and use it as an excuse to go shopping for clothes to wear with it?

Before making a purchase, it is important to consider these additional costs associated with the item. Include these costs when calculating the total price of an item to see if you can afford it and to determine if the sticker price is actually a good deal!

Are you content?

2011-12-07T14:39:00.011-05:00

Hey yall. Isn't it funny how so much can happen in just 7 days?!? I know that I am VERY picky, when it comes to dating and sometimes I do feel like I'm not ready. I think I say that when I actually am not feeling the guy (sue me). I absolutely know what I want in a guy, but I oddly get the exact opposite. I guess the saying about "tell God you plans and He laughs" is true to heart. Let me explain.

The bus driver, who I met a couple weeks back, is sensitive (I kinda knew that). Now I am not a fan of PDA, so giving someone a hug, at my job, is a no no. I may have said it in a way that may have come off as mean, but I think he just didn't like it, so he hasn't called me. *tears* I am so thankful though. I didn't know how to stop talking to him, especially after I figured he wasn't going to make good on a promise of dinner. So he's out of there.

Now there are two guys, who I use to date and I have oddly started talking back to both (yeah I know). I doubt anything will come out of this, but I am being entertained. I'm not sure what either is thinking and yes I have asked them, but no definite answer. This is the reason I had to leave the situations. I feel they are great in their own way, but just not for me. I can handle that.

Hmmm... It seems as if I have more male friends than I have dates. Something has to change, but I am not going to worry about it. In the mean time I need to get things together for the events I plan on having in 2012. I'm working on a natural hair meet-up and an entrepreneur mixer planned for February. I have plans for myself and I need to present them before the Lord, so that he can critique them and get me on the right track.

The picture at the top, that I was unable to format, are from my birthday weekend. I tried to upload them last week, but it was giving me grief. The first one is on my birthday, the second one is on my way to church (also on my birthday) and the third one is at the club a few day before my birthday. I had a blast. My 30's may be great after all (hehehe). Until next time. Ciao!!!

Product Review: aPHogee Keratin 2 Minute Reconstructor

2011-12-04T12:05:00.000-05:00

aPHogee 2 Minute Reconstructor

Price: $10.49 for 16 oz

Product Description :

· Prevents breakage and split ends

· Anti-oxidant green tea protects hair

· Adds body for easier styling

Aphogee Intensive Two Minute Keratin Reconstructor is a concentrated blend of keratin amino acids, botanical oils, and vitamins that does wonders to restore strength and softness to hair that requires a deep, penetrating treatment.

Recommended for use on tinted, bleached or relaxed hair. ApHogee Keratin 2 Minute Reconstructor helps repair damage caused by chlorine and hard water. Soothes irritated scalp and may be applied following each shampooing until the healthy condition of the hair is restored.

Ingredients: Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 60, Behenamidopropylamine Behenatem Stearolkonium Chloride, Cetrimonium Chloride, Cocodimonium Hydrolyzed Hair Keratin, Hydrolzed Mucopolysac Charides, Sodium Coco Collagen Amino Acids, Wheat Germ Fatty Acids, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Arachidonic Acid, Squalane, Avocado Oil, Acetimide MEA, Panthenol, Wheat Germ Oil, Jojoba Oil, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sulfur, Amodimethicone, Polyquaternium 10, Linoleamidopropyl PG Dimonium, Chloride Phosphate, Tallowtrimonium Chloride, Nonoxynol 10, Cocoyl Sarcosine, Sorbitol, Fragrance, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben.

My Review: I mistakenly bought this product when I was looking for a protein treatment to use after slight heat damage on my hair back in April. I was a little disappointed when I got home and realized this was just a regular ol’ conditioner. Nonetheless, I continued to use it. It didn’t deliver AHH-mazing results; it was just, conditioner. I don’t mean that in a bad way either.

I will say this- I had slight heat damage, or limper-than-usual curls, and after using this conditioner for a few weeks, I didn’t notice that my hair was limp anymore. Also, I used this conditioner for the whole time when I was taking swim lessons and swimming often and had no hair damage. Now, this doesn’t mean that it was a direct result of the conditioner; I’m just pointing that out. The conditioner does help with damage by chlorine according to its description, so I would like to believe that it’s true.

The Short and Sweet: 3 out of 5. I don’t think that this conditioner did anything amazing. I can’t say that the conditioner was the sole reason why my curls started popping again and I had no damage during swimming, so I can’t attribute those things to the conditioner. The ingredients are less than savory and the price tag for the conditioner is not something I’m fond of.

School's Out: These Kids!!!

2011-12-02T12:00:00.000-05:00

After having a marvelous Thanksgiving break, I was truly looking forward to having an equally wonderful time on a field trip with the 10th graders upon returning to school on Monday. We began a new unit on human suffering and the power of voice (and voicelessness), so we thought it'd be appropriate to take them to the Holocaust Museum.

BAD IDEA.

The kids are from DC but most of them haven't been farther than four blocks from their homes and the school, so have never experienced many of the cultural activities to which we would like to expose them.

Okay.

That's fine.

You haven't been exposed (or as my older family members and Kanye like to say, "you ain't been nowhere, huh?")

But does that give you ANY reason to laugh, scream, loudly smack your gum, and even RUN in a museum that is probably the furthest from superficial and "fun" in the metro area?

I can't.

I was so embarrassed! It was the one time that I was happy to look like a student instead of a supervising adult. We were almost kicked out of the place!

And this was after we basically got kicked out of the Post Pavilion about an hour before because some kids in our group stole a crapload of gum from a convenience store.

REALLY????

It makes me wonder if all kids are like this, or do we just have a very "interesting" group. I know that we, as a people, have become progressively desensitized and it's probably largely due to all of the violence in various forms of media, but I never would have imagined that someone could even crack a smile at pictures of dead bodies heaped on top of each other, or starving and overworked children, or thousands of shoes piled up signifying only a small portion of those killed during the Holocaust.

I never imagined it could get to the point that we could look things like that in the face and take them so lightly.

It's actually quite horrifying.

I felt so bad for those people who were truly there to experience the museum and had to deal with our large group of kids acting like they had no sense whatsoever.

Someone PLEASE tell me that this is just something that's limited to those kids, because if this is what is considered "normal" everywhere, I may just give up hope now.

Product Review: Brendita's Body Works Face-Off Biodegradable Washcloths

2011-12-01T12:32:00.000-05:00

Brendita's Body Works Face-Off Biodegradable Washcloths (Anti-Acne)

Price: 30 washcloths for $14.50

Product Description :

My Face-Off Biodegradable FULL SIZED Wet Washcloths are the perfect, convenient, earth friendly way to gently AND effectively remove makeup, cleanse and tone your skin in a single step! If you're used to pre-moistened cleansing pads that are so small AND flimsy that you need two or three of them to get the job done, you're in for a very pleasant very surprise!

Each 9" x 10" wash cloth is made of a unique, super soft, completely biodegrable material derived from wood pulp. It's saturated with an all natural cleansing and toning solution that completely removes make up and pore clogging debris. They're perfect to use when traveling or when too busy to do a traditional cleansing AND toning regimen.

Choose the formulation that's right for you:

Anti Acne cloths contain a blend of organic rosemary, apple cider vinegar and salicylic acid rich organic black willowbark to help rid the skin of acne and prevent future breakouts.

Alpha Hydroxy Acid cloths dissolve dead cells and hardened oil with a 5% AHA solution.

Organic Aloe Vera cloths contain soothing kosher vegetable glycerin and organic calendula extract to moisturie and heal the skin as it gently dissolves dirt and oil.

Ingredients: Organic Aloe Vera Juice, Organic Rosemary Hydrosol, Organic Black Willowbark Extract, Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, Organic Witch Hazel, Citric Acid

My Review: These washcloths are so cute! They come rolled up in a jar which make them very convenient for storage and travel. That was a plus! They also stay wet and don’t require being around water for use. Another added bonus for travel. I’m not shy about talking about my run-ins with acne. I have FREQUENT breakouts, and my frustration from the frequency has resulted in many dark spots from impatient picking of my skin. Darn, genetics. I used these washcloths at night and they did a great job of removing my makeup and leaving my face with a nice cleaning feeling. Let me tell you- I was skeptic. I didn’t think they would be able to remove my makeup completely and still clean my face, but they did. I used them in conjunction with the Shea Moisture Black Soap, which I used in the morning, while using these washcloths at night. The night routine of your face is probably the most important, and I trust this product to do the job. For the duration of using them, I did see a reduction in my breakouts, which tells me I need to invest in them lol. They’re so darn convenient! If only I could stick to a facial care regimen…. lol

The Short and Sweet: 4 out of 5! I loved the convenience of these washcloths and how they got the job seamlessly. Plus, with them being biodegradable, they benefit the environment. Can’t go wrong there!

Total Randomeness

2011-12-01T09:35:00.002-05:00

Hey everybody. This was suppose to post yesterday, but I think I forgot. If I wasn't eating sweets at work then I would have remembered. Anyhoo... This post is full of randomness, so bare with me.

Last week was Thanksgiving, hope you had a great one, and I did not post. Usually, it's the first holiday where I realize I'm single and I wasn't really feeling it. But on the actual day, I got over it and I enjoyed the family and friends that I do have.

I started a raw fruit and veggie detox, with txcutie75 on youtube ,and I failed, greatly, after only 3 days. I was doing good and then someone decided to give a retirement party, to one of my coworkers and there were sweets everywhere. I have absolutely no will power. I will be starting over and you should join. Let me know if you do, because I need recipes.

I just cancelled my natural hair meet-up for this weekend, because I was not getting the feedback that I would have liked to have. But since there are two upcoming meet-ups, I think I will reschedule it for February of next year.

I wrote about I guy who had asked me out, while at work, but I was talking and missed it. Long story short, I did get his number and we started talking, only to find out that he was actually married. Bummer!!! He is actually a nice guy and after hearing his side of the story, I did continue to talk to him, only to feel even worse. I don't like being in mess.

I also went out for my friend's 30th birthday party and had a blast. I could have sworn it was 1999 when I left (hehehe). I use to date her brother, but that went in it's own way and I have no comment about those events that transpired, but we are still cool.

It's almost Christmas and the song that I have dreaded all year, I have learned to embrace. I love me and I have friends and family that feels the same way, so who cares if I'm still single. What do the lonely do at Christmas? I have no clue, but this single gal will have a BLAST!!!

Until next time. Ciao!!!

What I'm Watching: TV Shows About Money

2011-12-01T08:49:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone! I hope you all had an amazing Thanksgiving andfound some great deals during Black Friday/Cyber Monday ;)

Earlier this week Jameka blogged about some of her favoritetv shows, so I thought I would piggyback off that post and share some of myfavorite money-related shows! If you are thinking that these are boring,financial lectures that feel more like class than entertainment, think again!Here are my faves:

Princesses

This show focuses on the young, spoiled, and financially irresponsible. Together with family members, money expertGail Vaz-Oxlade stages a financial intervention on these “Princesses.” They areput on a budget, put through a series of challenges to teach them about moneymanagement, and get cut off financially from their family during the show. If the Princess participates in all thechallenges and seems to learn something, she can receive a cash prize of up to$5000 to help with her debt. This showis relatable because I love beauty and fashion like the girls on the show, butwatching them definitely help to curb my spending!

Til Debt Do Us Part

This is another show by money expert Gail Vaz-Oxlade (loveher!). This show is similar in format to“Princesses” but it focuses on married couples in debt. However, in addition tojust money challenges, couples are given tasks to help them strengthen theirrelationship. I watch this one to learnwhat NOT to do when I get married, and it never fails, this show always sparkconversations about money with my fiancé ;)

Downsized

Downsized is a reality show following the lives of the Brucefamily. Hit hard by the recession, thelarge family is trying to bounce back from bankruptcy while dealing with healthemergencies, planning to pay for their children’s college education (they have5 children in high school at the same time), and trying to find ways to makemore money. I love this show because thefamily is entertaining, they seem so genuinely happy, and the parents try toteach their children lessons like responsibility and making smart financialchoices so they can avoid the financial mistakes that they made.

The Suze Orman Show

You all have probably heard of Suze Orman or have seen heron Oprah. I watch her show to learnabout “grown up” topics like retirement and investing, but I have to admit myfavorite part of the show is the “Can I afford it?” segment where people callin, tell her what they want to buy, and she will approve or deny them based ontheir finances. I’ve heard some really strangerequests on that segment, and Suze is hilarious when she denies them!

Do you watch any money-related shows? Share in the comments!

Testimony Tuesdays: Relationship Talk

2011-11-29T10:51:00.000-05:00

"They say if you love something, you've got to let it go. And if it comes back then it means so much more. But if it doesn't, at least you will know. That it was something you had to to grow."

--Heather Headley, In My Mind

Yep, folks. That's pretty much what I'm singing my heart out to as of late. My mantra, if you will.

My LS always says, "Love is for losers." and a loser I am then. lol. I'm a hopeless romantic and there are some relationships that I've had that were... well, hopeless lol. But you know, there's always that one person who comes and goes due to life changes, but remains just as much as a priority regardless of your relationship status. Anyone in this boat with me?

That's where I am right now, without telling the blog world too much. It's probably the most frustrating thing in the world because I'm such a person that likes to be in control of everything and know what's coming next... and with relationships, you never know. *picks up shoe and throws it*

My Faves: Current TV Line Up

2011-11-28T13:00:00.000-05:00

So I was going to title this post, "FALL TV LINE UP", but um... seeing as it's getting ready to be Winter. I figured I would just stick to the title that I have chosen, "My Faves: Current TV Line Up".

There once was a time where I posted often about what I was watching and interacted with the PND family while watching, on Twitter and FB, but quite frankly, I've been lazy. BUT nonetheless, let me share what my eyes have been watching faithfully and... what my eyes rejected lol.

SUNDAYS:
Tough Love Miami
LaLa's Full Court Life

MONDAYS:
Basketball Wives LA (*smacks head* I KNOW, I SAID I WOULDN'T... more about that in another post)

Love and Hip Hop 2 (OH YES. I'll have to talk about this in another post too)

The T.O. Show

TUESDAYS:
I.AM.SLEEP lol

WEDNESDAYS:
I.AM.SLEEP or AT CHURCHTHURSDAYS:

Grey's Anatomy!!!!

Private Practice!!!

FRIDAYS:
The Braxton Family Values (re-runs)

SATURDAYS:
I.AM.SLEEP lol

I tried watching...
--Reed Between The Lines, on BET, but I just forget to watch it faithfully. If I pass by BET, then I'll watch it.
--I Used To Be Fat, on MTV
--Oprah's Life Class... but again, I forget to watch it faithfully.

Product Review: Brendita's Body Works Restorative Deep Conditioner

2011-11-28T12:44:00.000-05:00

Brendita’s Body Works Restorative Deep Conditioner

Price: $16.00 for 8 oz

Product Description :

Deep Conditions with Silk Protein. Protects, Strengthens and Restores pH Balance in Fine, Thin and Fragile Hair. 90% Organic Ingredients.

A restorative, repairing deep conditioning treatment is absolutely ESSENTIAL for healthy hair. Regular or "instant" conditioning is important and necessary to immediately restore the moisture and natural oils washed away during the process of cleansing the hair. It does not, however, provide the long term benefits of a deep conditioning treatment. While there is no miracle cure to repair split ends or severely damaged hair, an effective deep conditioning treatment restores hairs vitality and strengthens it by penetrating the hairs cuticles, filling it with nutrients.

For any deep conditioning treatment to be fully effective an external source of low and controlled heat is needed: The mild heat* causes the cuticles of each hair to "open up". The deep treatment is now able to enter the hair shaft and bring with it nutrients and moisture to the cortex (center) of the hair. This must-have deep conditioner is mildly scented with a blend of organic essential oils of bergamot and lemon. It is also available fragrance free.

* The low heat needed for a proper deep conditioning treatment is not at all damaging to the hair. It should not be confused with the high temperatures that are used to blow dry, flat iron or hot curl the hair for styling.

Ingredients: Organic Aloe Juice, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Hydrolized Silk Amino Acids, Wheat Protein, Pro Vitamin B, Vitamin E, Organic Chamomile Extract, Organic Castor Seed Oil, Kosher Vegetable Glycerin, Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, (May Contain) Organic Essential Oils

My Review: This product has become a new staple for my hair! Yes- surpassed Shea Moisture’s Restorative Deep Conditioner. This conditioner has the perfect consistency as it is perfectly thick while not being TOO thick, if you know what I mean. It’s easy to work through the hair but I can feel that it’s revitalizing my hair at the same time. It reminds me a lot of the consistency of Herbal Essences Hello Hydration. I have not used it as a deep conditioning treatment, however, I may incorporate that into my regimen. For now, I am satisfied with the results I get from it being a quick and easy rinse-out conditioner!

The Short and Sweet: 5 out of 5! Great smell. Great consistency. Consistent results!

Random Pics: Out and About

2011-11-27T11:19:00.000-05:00

I've been MIA for awhile so I just wanted to post a few pics from... life! lol Some I may have posted before, but oh well!!

Just being a backseat driver/model lol.

Cheesecake Factory with friends! It's becoming an addiction for me now!

Pic from our church's singles conference

LOL my hair hat before I cut it.

Post-hair hat cut... Me and my mommy

Me and one of my besties at the National Harbor

Same person as above; at our church's singles conferences

Me and 2 of my LSes at alumni weekend

At alumni weekend at my school... I cut other sorors out because I didn't know if they wanted their faces on the world wide web lol

LOL my face looks crazy BUT I was into whatever stroll we were doing and I thought my hair looked great.

Me and my LS at dinner at the National Harbor

I'm horrible at taking pictures but maybe I'll try and remember to take pictures when I'm out and about and post them here.

Product Review: Brendita's Body Works Silk Sheets Body Butter

2011-11-26T16:05:00.001-05:00

Brendita's Body Works Silk Sheets Body Butter

Price: $14.50 for 6 oz

Product Description :

Silk Sheets Body Butter is a Nourishing Combination of Organic Fruit and Nut Butters, Vegetable Oils and Squalane. It Leaves Dry, Flaky, Cracked Skin Silky Soft and Thoroughly Moisturized.89% Organic Ingredients

This super rich, moisture packed, rejuvenating body butter has an ultra creamy consistency and fast rate of absorption. Each and every ingredient was carefully selected for its unique ability to nourish, hydrate and heal the skin.

Silk Sheets Body Butter does not contain water, so you don't have to worry about it pulling a disappearing act. Moisture rich organic aloe vera juice gives Silk Sheets its awesome spreadability. Your skin will stay hydrated from morning well into wherever the night takes you.

The combination of silk protein, organic fruit and nut butters and oils, including olive derived squalane, sink into the skin without leaving behind an oily residue.

With regular use, you can expect to wake up to dewy, smooth and soft skin that is as sleek and sexy as silk sheets.

Ingredients: Aloe Vera Juice, Shea Butter, Mango Butter, Cocoa Butter, Emulsifying Wax NF, Squalane, Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Apricot Oil, Vitamin E, Silk Amino Acid, Pro-Vitamin B5, Organic Evening Primrose Oil, Organic Black Willowbark Extract, Organic Neem Oil, Rosemary Oleoresin, Palm Stearic Acid, Grapeseed Extract, Citric Acid

My Review: *CONFESSION* I am NOT a lotion type of girl. I know, I know; that sounds crazy, but I’ve never been the type to use lotion on my skin unless I really REALLY need it (and even then, I still find myself drastically ashy many days). This body butter hasn’t made me a “lotion-head” where I use it daily, but I do find myself reaching for it much more than I normally would any other lotion. It’s easy to apply and it truly does leave your body feeling wonderful! I just put some on my knees while I’m typing lol and now I just keep rubbing my knee lol. I REALLY love this stuff! I will definitely continue to use it and buy some more once I run out!

The Short and Sweet: 5 out of 5!! Great smell. Great consistency. Great product. I don't know what silk sheets feel like, but if my skin is any comparison from using this product, I need to go on and buy some silk sheets! lol

Today's Menu: Thanksgiving Traditions

2011-11-19T12:13:00.001-05:00

Someone please tell me why the year is passing us by. I can't believe that Thanksgiving is next week already!! Oh and just so you know I'm the biggest procrastinator but this year I refuse to be in the grocery store on Wednesday morning shopping for my ingredients. Nope, not happening. I will be making my list TODAY and shopping for my ingredients TODAY. Maybe if I keep capitalizing and bolding the word TODAY it will actually happen. lol

Let's talk about traditions. Our family Thanksgiving traditions normally consists of my parents hosting Thanksgiving dinner at their house, and my Mother cooking the "bigger" dishes (dressing, ham/turkey, sweet potatoes, and potato salad). Maybe two of those are not so big, but her's is soooo good!!!! My sis, sister-in-law, and I always bring something to add. This year I'm responsible for my homemade baked mac and cheese and of course I will be baking a dessert or two as well..not sure what yet - but I'll post that next week. I just might try something new.

***Sidenote: I'm excited to use my new QVC Temptations bakeware***
(www.qvc.com)

Anyways, then my family goes over to my Mother-In-Law's house second because most times she cooks later in the day. She's not a big baker like my Mother so I make sure to hook her up! So we eat again, and spend time over there and then head home full, sleepy, and carrying more than enough plates to last a few days.

What are your Thanksgiving family traditions?? What you be hosting, cooking, or collecting plates? LOL Please share...and Have a Happy Safe Thanksgiving next week! Until next time.

5 ways cleaning out your closet can make/save you money

2011-11-17T09:18:00.000-05:00

You can sell old clothes, gadgets, and books that you no longer use to getsome extra cash.
You can donate clothes to your local Salvation Army or Good Will. Notonly will you be doing something good for your community, but charitabledonations can count as a tax deduction, saving you money when tax time comesaround.
By sorting through your old clothes you can take stock of what youactually have, which can keep you from buying something new when you havesomething identical in your closet….I know I’m not the only one guilty ofmaking repeat purchases because of something I lost or forget that I owned!
Another thing I’m guilty of is finding items in my closet with the pricetag still on it! If you find any brand new items in your closet, you can returnthem to the store and get your money back. This works especially well during the period after Christmaswhere retail stores have more relaxed return policies.
By sorting through yourcloset, you can also find old clothes that can be re-vamped into a trendypiece. Add some unique buttons to an old jacket, or cut the hem off of anoversized sweater to make it cropped, and just like that you have a D.I.Y customitem for cheaper than the retail price tag for something similar.

Hope you all have a great week!

What a Birthday!!!!

2011-11-16T12:00:00.000-05:00

Hey everybody. SO this past weekend was my big 3 0 and I can admit that I was not looking forward to it. I know so many people who have told me that this milestone will have you thinking and boy were they right. I have been on 100% since Sunday. I'll give you some details on that, but let me tell you about what I did.

On last Thursday, I went out with some of the physician residents at my job and we had a great time. We went to a local restaurant, which is known for their margaritas. I can tell you that they are right on point. Since I had to rush from work, go get a rental car from the airport, go home and change, I didn't really indulge. Nevertheless, I had a blast.

On Friday, I had a million things planned. Went to get a facial, got cupcakes, got my hair braided, dinner plans and then party afterwards. No need to tell you guys how some of the things did not go as planned (lol), but it was a success. I ended up skipping dinner at the restaurant that I had made reservations at and going straight to the night club to eat and have a great time with friends. I'm not sure if it's the new age or what, but I ended the night at around 12 midnight. A sistah was getting sleepy.

On Saturday I just chilled with my best friend and her family at a bridal expo, where I ate myself into a very unhealthy state. Which will be my reason for the upcoming detox I plan on doing (let me know if you want to join). Anyhoo... I had a really nice laid back day.

On Sunday (the big day), I had an absolute great time. Never mind the fact that I was offered a lap cover at church (my dress was not that short) or that I was rushing half the day. I got more "happy birthdays" than I could have ever imagined and I was thankful for each and every one of them. I went out to eat with friends and ended the weekend on a great note.

All in all, my 30th birthday was a success and I have a lot of things to do on this new journey. I have pictures, but can't post them (i'll try again). Details on the bus driver, from the first post, next week (juicy). Ciao!!!

Testimony Tuesdays: Joy Comes In The Morning!

2011-11-15T20:00:00.001-05:00

Not quite sure if the title goes with this, but OH WELL! Joy DOES come in the morning lol!!!

For the past 9 weeks of school (my first year as a teacher), my class size has been 26 students; 26 freshly-turned-8 active students lol. Let me give you some more insight.... 16 boys and 10 girls. So think about all the stereotypes of the activeness of boys. Let me tell you, they aren't stereotypes. I have learned A LOT about the needs of students, particularly boys, as it pertains to movement and manipulatives and it's actually helped me in some of teaching strategies.

I had my ups and my downs this quarter, but I don't think I really ever realized that I had a large amount of students in my class. I had never known a smaller class size, since it's my first year, so it didn't bother me. The struggles that I faced were ones that I just chopped up to it being my first year.

So again, I struggled. I don't like to admit that, but for the sake of this point, I'll share lol. JUST when I was getting overwhelmed, "JOY" came in the form of a new 3rd grade teacher! This allowed my class size to be reduced from 26 to 21. Granted, everyone keeps saying 21 is still a lot, BUT, when you have had 26, 21 seems like 8 lol. I love my students and I was/have been in tears that I had to lose some, but God doesn't give us more than we can bare.

Just when I needed it, He sent relief :) I'm so grateful to serve such a great and awesome God.

Product Review: Shea Moisture Moisture Retention Shampoo

2011-11-15T19:35:00.001-05:00

Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo

Price: $9.99 for 12 oz

Product Description :
Hydrates, smoothes and repairs strands, leaving hair manageably soft. For dry, damaged hair. Heal, grow and strengthen.

Sea kelp: Trace minerals detoxify hair follicles of impurities and residue
Argan oil: Restores shine and rebuilds hair elasticity
Shea butter: Deeply moisturizes and repairs damage to hair and scalp
Ethically traded ingredients, sustainably produced
Color-safe
No parabens, phthalates, paraffin, gluten, propylene glycol, mineral oil, synthetic fragrance, mineral oil, synthetic fragrance, PABA, synthetic color, DEA, animal ingredients or sulfates
Cruelty free, no animal testing
Certified organic ingredients

Ingredients: Deionized Water , Decyl Glucoside (Sugar Beets) , African Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) , Aloe Vera Leaf Juice , Argan Oil , Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5) , Rosemary Extract , Sea Kelp Extract , Vitamin E , Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract (Honeysuckle) , Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract (Japanese Honeysuckle)

My Review: I'm a longtime fan of the shampoo in the pink bottle for thick, curly hair, but last year during the BOGO sale at Walgreens, I decided why not try this one. From the few times I used it, I had pretty consistent results. It left my scalp feeling clean and my hair was still moisturized. BUT, as I've said before, it smelled weird :-/ Like, wet dog. AND THAT is a smell that I absolutely DETEST! *shutters at thought* It completely turns me off to using the product. I'm not sure if my bottle just, isn't right, or if that's the smell they're going for. yuck.

The Short and Sweet : 3 out of 5. It did what it needed to do, but the smell is going to make me never pick this bottle up again!

In Review: Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Flat Iron Perfector

2011-11-13T15:16:00.001-05:00

With the cooler temperatures and decrease in humidity, I've decided to wear my hair straight for a few weeks (or until I get bored,which will probably be soon).

I was on the search for a heat protectant spray last night at Walmart and decided to pick this up and give it a try.

Has anyone used it before?

Below you'll find some information about it!

Cost: $3.29-$4.99 depending on store

"Is it right for me?

How do I use it?

Today's Menu: More Vinegar Tips!

2011-11-12T23:00:00.001-05:00

I'm back with more helpful (at least I hope so) vinegar tips. I thought doing this periodically would be beneficial because mostly everyone has a bottle of vinegar sitting in their cabinet and I love it's multipurpose functions.

Today's focus will be specifically on beauty and grooming. Here are the 4 tips for you all.

Create you own scented hair rinse by flavoring white vinegar with some herbs and spices that you like. You must let the vinegar sit for 2 weeks before using and be sure to strain and dilute before using.
Use up unfinished bottled water and vinegar in the last rinse to take extra care of your hair.
Fight dandruff and eliminate itchy scalp by rubbing some full strength vinegar into your scalp after shampooing and rinsing, then rise again.
Reduce age spots with a daily splash of a mixture of equal parts onion juice and vinegar. Don't expect miracles overnight, but daily use may do the same job as expensive products do.

There you have it. 4 more tips to add to your vinegar list. I incorporate #3 quite often in my hair regimen and it does stop my scalp from itching!

Let me know if you plan to or have tried any of these tips. Until next time...

School's Out!: Oh, No She Didn't...

2011-11-11T07:04:00.001-05:00

I never thought I'd have drama with another teacher at my school. Everyone is super nice and friendly, and I am friendly to everyone as well. Minus that guy from my post the other day who only speaks to me when my hair looks a certain way, I've never had an issue with anyone else.

Except this one teacher.
I already knew she didn't respect me - which I completely expected and was surprised I didn't experience more of this mindset. It could be because I'm young, I'm new, I'm uncertified, I didn't get laid off when those other teachers did, or maybe it's the light I (hopefully) give off at work.
I've never realized how much a smile can change someone's life. It doesn't take as much effort as it used to, and it really makes other people happy. People have told me that upon seeing me smile, their whole attitude changes.
Wow!
I never thought anyone would say that to me, especially because I was the girl who used to refuse to smile because I hated (and still dislike) my teeth, and because my face gets so fat when I smile. Well, for whatever reason, this gap-toothed fat face affects people.
Anyway, I'll be in the lounge with a number of other teachers and this one lady willl find a way to talk to everyone but me unless she needs something, or wants to challenge me about something, which I usually ignore.
Well yesterday, I almost punched her in the face.
A coworker and I usually complete the daily crossword puzzle together (more like he fills out as much as he can while I'm busy eating and talking, and hands it over to me when things get really tough). Anyway, we were stuck on a word, and asked for her help. She knew the word, so we were pretty happy. I then looked it up, because I had never seen it before.
Casually, I asked her how she knew the word.
O
M
G
It's like all hell broke loose.
"What do you mean, 'how do I know the word?' Shouldn't you be asking yourself why you don't know the word? You're supposed to be an English teacher...." [blah blah blah - at this point I had stopped listening because that smile had faded and my fists were clenched under the table.]
How dare you?
Just because I do not know some specialized field-specific word does not make me any less of an educator. It was a word about tempuring metal, for Pete's sake. Sorry - I don't read about that type of thing in my spare time, of which I know she has PLENTY. It does not make you a better person or make me any less well-read.
Fine, you read more, but do not for a minute insinuate that I have not spent my entire life reading and growing and learning. I worked extremely hard to get where I am and now I am reaping the benefits. And the same kids that are giving you hell are doing my work and learning without me having to threaten them.
She came back later with, "I guess that may have been a little snide. I don't have any food on my stomach."
"Yeah, a little," I replied in the most sarcastic voice I could find, but she either didn't hear, or she ignored.
I don't try to linger on things but it's safe to say I'm done with her. She's been taking small jabs at me ever since August but I've just ignored them. This was a full-on attack in front of a number of my colleagues (and in front of my immediate supervisor, I might add).
I can be cordial to anyone but I won't tolerate blatant disrespect.
What do you do to squash workplace beef (not that I'm interested in squashing anything but her face)?

No Job & No Savings, Could You Survive?

2011-11-10T10:01:00.000-05:00

Have you played the game “Spent”? Created by Urban Ministries of Durham, the game simulates the experience of living paycheck-to-paycheck. Players start out with $1000 and news that you have just lost your job. Your first task is to find a new job, but each option comes with its own set of challenges (and like in the real world, you may not even get the job). From there, you have to make tough decisions to ensure that your family does not run out of money before the end of the month. I’ve played a couple of times, and it does give a real sense of what obstacles those who are less fortunate face on a daily basis and the stress caused by these challenges.

On my best attempt I ended the month with $112 left, but to do that I had to miss my grandfather’s funeral, stop my child from going on a field trip, purchase cheap and unhealthy food like ramen, and–as you can see in the pic—rent is due the next day so I obviously wouldn’t have the money to last another month!

Think you can survive until the end of the month? Give it a shot and let me know how you do in the comments!

All My Single Ladies "Tag"

2011-11-09T12:00:00.001-05:00

Hey everybody. Last week was just a bit too much for me, at work and I could not even post. I do apologize. In the midst of some extreme ghettoness, I had to reevaluate some things, but I'm back now (yaaayyy). Let's get to it.

I am an avid youtube watcher and I love inspirational or positive youtubers. I was going through "txcutie75's" videos and I came across a "single ladies" tag that I thought it was really cute and short. I'll go first and then you guys can do it in the comment section.

1. Why are you single?
A. Several reasons, but the one that started it all has to be not finding the right person for me. I have a very "colorful" (hehehe) personality and it's not many people, let alone men, who can deal with it. So I'm waiting, but not holding my breath.

2. What do you love about being single?
A. Not having to answer to someone. you can basically get up and go where ever you like and not have to explain yourself.

3. What do you miss about being in a relationship?
A. Conversation. I like o talk to people, in person, and I don't have that anymore (platonic friends don't count).

4. What are "they" missing out on?
A. All of this (lol). For real, they are missing out on a very intelligent, thoughtful, caring, outspoken, business oriented and loving woman, who has at least one more child in her (tick tock).

5. When was the last time you rejected someone?
A. WOW!! I'm not sure. Men don't really accept "no" for an answer, so I rarely reject anyone, but if I had to pick a time, it would have to had been a month ago. I was waiting for the bus and I saw the guy slowly easing towards me. I gave him my number, but we only spoke like 2 times, because he was calling me at the weirdest times of the night.

*That's it*

Now it's your turn. Leave the answers in the comment section and I'll respond to you.

Psst... I need more readers. So link this post, page, site on your twitter and facebook page and I will do a contest. Let me know if you guys are in and I will get some rules and prizes together for next week. Ciao!!!

Today's Hair: Texture Shots

2011-11-06T21:50:00.001-05:00

It feels like a straight hair week; now that it's cool enough for my hair not to blow up.

I twisted my hair up on one side to give it a different look. Here's how the style looks. NOTE: These pictures are also to show how my natural hair blends with the "hair hat".

What Is The State of the Healthy Living Challenge?

2011-11-06T09:16:00.000-05:00

Many of you may be wondering what happened to the Healthy Living Challenge. It was here and then it wasn't.

Surprisingly, the little facebook status that started the challenge, actually lasted for close to 4 months. Each week a checklist was posted for participants to work through to build stamina, push them to try new things, and challenge them to live healthier.

The truth of the matter is, it wasn't meant to be something that lasted forever. From the feedback I had from others, they enjoyed it and it benefitted them. For others, maybe not.

The checklists are still on the site and can be revisited. I would encourage anyone looking to live healthier to use them. Start at week 1, and each week, challenge yourself to move to the next week's checklist.

If you stick with them, YOU WILL see a difference. Also, I find that even if I deviate from the checklists for a week or 2, I still have parts integrated in my lifestyle where I use them. For example, I still only eat out once or twice a week, and if I eat multiple times, I try and incorporate a healthier choice such as a salad.

Keep up the good work ladies! Continue to strive to live healthier; little by little! I'm 10 pounds smaller and still shrinking! :)

Today's Menu: Lombardi Food & Wine Experience

2011-11-05T13:31:00.002-04:00

I haven't talked about work much, nothing out of the ordinary going on until yesterday. Let me tell you about a day in the life of a Bakery Event Assistant. Yesterday, I took part in the Lombardi Food & Wine Experience. This culinary charity event marks it's 8th year here in Milwaukee, WI. It was a night of wine tasting, sampling great food, and desserts all for a great cause: fighting cancer.

I actually did more viewing than I did tasting... I was working at our table. Classy Girl Cupcakes (my employer) was asked to be apart of this fundraising event. So what where my responsibilities?? As a event assistant, I was responsible for going to the bakery, loading my Jeep with cupcakes and the display, settings up our table at the hotel, and stand there all night smiling and chatting about cupcakes. Not bad right??...and I got to eat and sample wine all night. I love my job! LOL

So after I got home, I realized that until 2 days ago, I had never heard about this event. If I wasn't working, this is something that my husband and I would have liked to attend. How often do you all check and see what's going on in your city?? I must admit, I don't check often enough.

Life is too short and you don't always have to travel out of town to enjoy yourselves. Take advantage of the things that's going on around town....and you just may find out that you can eat and drink for a good cause.

Until next time...

School's Out!: When Things Get Inappropriate...

2011-11-04T19:25:00.003-04:00

... so it's no secret that I am a young teacher, and more often than not, I get mistaken for the students if they are ever out of their daily uniforms. I'm also what I'd consider a kind of "cool" teacher - I know that sounds lame, but it's true! Almost all of my kids have informed me that I am their favorite.

This, I think, is awesome and I feel blessed that I have finally found something I love and for which I am passionate. However, where do you draw the line?

One of my students keeps half-jokingly/half-seriously asking me out on a date.

Another feels perfectly fine putting his hands in my hair (when it's not in a bun).

Another has no shame in telling me of his less-than-legal smoking habits.

A little weird, right?

But then, on the other hand, I don't want to set up this wall between us because most times I am the only one who will listen to the kids. I pride myself on being one of the teachers from whom students seek advice. I have an open door policy when it comes to their problems and struggles because I know that many of them won't get that elsewhere. Not that I'm some wise sage or anything, but because I can somewhat relate to them and have been where they are and am not too old to forget it, I try to help as much as I can.

I am thinking I should just pull certain students aside and let them know that there is a boundary, although it might seem like there isn't, but I have no idea how to go about it without presenting them with this figure they've dealt with in the past: a person they thought was cool and trusted, who then suddenly flipped and acted differently. I feel like more than anything, these kids need consistency in relationships.

So I'm not quite sure what to do...

Pennies-Nickels-Dollars: Managing Student Loans

2011-11-03T09:43:00.000-04:00

Before I start, I have to share this hilarious video by Youtuber Chescaleigh sharing her frustration with student loans (a Beyonce' "Countdown" parody):

I love it! lol

When I finished my undergraduate degree, I was blessed to not have any student loans. However, after completed graduate school at an expensive private university about 2 years ago, I finally felt the burden of student loans that I had heard many of my college peers complaining about. Looking back, there are many things that I know now that I wish I would have known back then when I was taking out all those loans. Here are some tips to help you minimize and manage student loans before, during, an after college:

Before college:

Consider a cheaper school. You can get a quality education without the private school price tag. Research what degree programs are offered, extra services like job assistance and exposure to companies in your field, and choose a school that matches your needs without breaking the bank. Find out how much each college/university costs here.
Look into other forms of financial aid. Apply for scholarships and grants to get free money for your education. Also, see if you qualify for work study programs (which allow you to get paid while working on campus, and at my University these jobs also left you with ample time to study while on the clock. A win-win!)
Take AP/advanced classes or community college classes. This allows you to get college credits at a lower cost, and can shorten the amount of time you have to spend at the university (meaning fewer semesters that you would have to pay university tuition!).
Set a budget or create an estimate of college expenses (examples are usually available by the university financial aid office, or create your own using a template ) and use that to base the amount you borrow. Don't request the maximum you are offered unless you REALLY need it. It may seem like free money at the time, but every dollar you borrow today will cost you more after graduation when you have to pay it back (with interest).
Choose the right loan. From federal loans to private loans, student loans to parent loans, there are a variety of different loan options available. Use websites like Simple Tuition to compare loan options, and sites like Collegeboard and FinAid.gov for information to help you choose a lender.

During college:

Begin paying interest on loans. During college you will get billing statements showing the interest that has grown since you requested the loan. If you don’t pay it while in college, once you graduate it will be added to the original loan amount so you will basically be paying interest, on the interest.
Get a job to help pay for expenses or to begin paying back. Every little bit you pay off while in college will save you in interest in the future.
Review your spending and adjust loan amount annually. Sometimes the first year people take out large loans because they worry about not having enough to live. Before your sophomore year, look at how much you were loaned the 1st year, see how much you actually used based on expenses and adjust in the following years.
Consider loans in your career search. Consider applying for jobs where you can get loan forgiveness after years of making payment. For example, there is the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program for public service employees (ex. teachers, federal/state employees, hospital workers) where after 120 qualifying loan payments, the remaining amount you owe is forgiven.

After college:

Keep up with due dates. It’s so important that you don't miss payments dates because it will affect your credit score. Your payment history makes up 35% of your FICO credit score so it is important that you keep up with when payments are due. Setting automatic payments may be a good option, because some lenders offer reduced interest rates as an incentive for automatic payments.
Seek help if you have financial hardship. If you find yourself having trouble paying your student loans, explore options of deferment or forbearance that can temporarily stop your loan payments or decrease your monthly payment amount. The deferment option can also be used to temporarily suspend payments if you are re-enrolled in school or unemployed.
Know your options for loan repayment. Federal loans have a standard 10 year repayment plan, however there are options like the graduated repayment plan—where your payments start out low and adjust every couple of years as it is expected that your salary (and ability to repay the loan) will increase in the future—and the extended repayment plan which spreads your payments out for 25yrs; however, keeping the loan for 25yrs will mean that you will pay more interest overall. There are also income based or income contingent that guarantee that your loan payments will not exceed a certain percentage of your monthly income. Find out more about all of these repayment options here.

TRASH IT OR STASH IT? Shea Moisture Purification Masque

2011-10-31T20:11:00.003-04:00

Trash It Or Stash It? will be the name of these new posts! Each time I finish using a product, I'll share whether or not I plan to trash it and be done with it, or if I'll decide to buy it again to add to my regularly used products.

This week is....

Shea Moisture African Black Soap Purification Masque

Purchased around: March 2011
Frequency of use: every time I wash my hair each week
Used as: pre-poo treatment
TRASH IT OR STASH IT? STASH IT!

This product has been great as a pre-poo! It smells great and really helps get my washing routine off to a good start. It provides moisture to my hair to minimize any stress during the washing process and helps to leave my hair feeling good. Most times, I don't even have to deep condition, if I've used this first.

Today's Menu: Caramel Apples

2011-10-29T21:51:00.001-04:00

So what's your favorite snack to make for the fall season or for Halloween? Caramel Apples are a big hit in my house. We normally go to this little sweet shop in Cedarburg, WI to buy some of the yummiest caramel apples this side of the Midwest. This time around, I thought it would be a good idea to try and make them with my 8 year old son. He loves to help me in the kitchen. I found this recipe on iVillage.com. It's pretty simple and they turned out amazing.

What you'll need:

6 Apples (stem removed), Golden Delicious or another firm, slight tart apple

1 14-ounce bag of caramel candies

2 Tablespoons Water

1 Cup pecans (chopped) :optional

Vegetable oil spray

6 Skewers

Parchment paper

Baking sheet

Medium saucepan

Directions (Summary):

see http://www.ivillage.com/how-make-caramel-apples/3-b-290829#290830 for full directions.

Line baking sheet with parchment paper and spray with oil, combine water and carmels in bowl over saucepan of boiling water, cook over medium heat and stir until melted, remove from heat and coat apples one at a time, set apples on baking sheet, let cool and harden for at least 15 minutes before serving.

There you have it, delicious homemade caramel apples. Very simple recipe and the kids will love to assist you in the kitchen. I hope you give them a try!

Happy Halloween Everyone!!! Until next

Perfect Day Of Relaxation!

2011-10-29T09:54:00.003-04:00

It's raining here today! It's been raining all night too. Rain is the perfect thing I need in order to push me to slow down and enjoy my weekend. The gloominess of rain just... makes you relax.

It's been a long week. Next week will be longer and I've neglected to pamper my ownself and take care of little things that I need to do, so though I have some school work and organization to get done, here are my goals for the day:

Give myself a facial using Shea Moisture's African Black Soap Facial Kit
Give myself a manicure and pedicure
Wash and deep condition my hair
Take a long and hot bath using Brendita's Body Works Bathtime Infusions Bath and Body Oil
Get my eyebrows cleaned up
Go clothes shopping and thrifting
Go through all of my emails and respond to people I've forgotten to respond to
Call my grandmother
Set 3 blog posts to post this week
Go out to eat in the city with my friends from church
Do yoga
Eat a salad, instead of my normal weekend fatty foods

What will you be doing today?

School's Out!

2011-10-28T23:00:00.000-04:00

Hasn't really been too much going on at work except for this huge program review we went through this week....

For the past 5 weeks, I've had to work on Saturdays to help prepare for this review and I am thoroughly exhausted. Everyone is nervous about the school being shut down and potentially being out of work.

It's just too much.

Some coworkers and I went out to celebrate (why my usual Friday post is late!) and I'm just now getting home.

I know work is work but this past month has just been so stressful. I can't wait to reap the benefits of being a teacher (Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks!) because right now, I'm getting the short end of the stick and am feeling super discouraged.

How do you get out of work funks?

This school can NOT drive me crazy.

My favorite Cheapie (Under $10) Hair Products

2011-10-27T09:35:00.000-04:00

source

Since I've put myself on a budget, I've had to come up with ways to save money without skimping on quality products. In my quest to find cheap and curl-friendly products, I've found a few that I absolutely love! Here are some of my favorite products that cost under $10:

Dr Bronner's Pure-Castile Soap: This is a great multi-use (18 to be exact!) product. Its website describes it as a mix of "organic extra virgin coconut, olive, jojoba and hemp oils, together with pure essential oils" that can be used as soap, mouthwash, shampoo, and even in laundry. I've only used it as a shampoo (diluted with water) & body wash so far and it has worked great in both cases. It left my hair clean without feeling stripped and dry. I bought the 2oz travel size bottle from Target that was only $2 and that little bottle has lasted me about a year.

Suave Tropical Coconut Conditioner: This is my go-to conditioner for a co-wash! I also mix a little bit of conditioner with water in a spray bottle and use it to detangle my hair or wet it for a wash-and-go when I don't want to dump my head in the sink or hop back in the shower. Best of all, it costs under $2.

Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose Conditioner: I heard about this product a few years ago on CurlyNikki.com and I’ve been hooked ever since. It smells great, works well as a moisturizing deep conditioner, and has natural ingredients. I usually buy it from Whole Foods, but Amazon has it for just under $7.

And last but not least...

Shea Moisture: Yes, I mean the whole product line lol I can’t pick just one item because everything I’ve tried I’ve LOVED (Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo, Curl Enhancing Smoothie, and Deep Treatment Mask) but everything in the product line is $9.99!

What’s your favorite cheapie products? Feel free to share!

Speed Dating Anyone???

2011-10-26T12:15:00.005-04:00

Before I get to my topic, let me discuss this hair of mine. So I just up and cut all my hair off, after I got tired of trying to maintain the cut I had (this was before I knew what a big chop was). So here I am, a little over a year and a half later and I have no clue what to do with this hair. I was loving the baldness that I had and I am very tempted to do it again (we'll see). Before I do that I am going to try a protective challenge for the winter. If that doesn't work out, then oh well. FYI... I can braid hair (and I do), but doing my own hair just sounds crazy. I'll figure it out (hopefully). Anyhoo... On to my topic.

I went speed dating over the summer and I have been really thinking about doing it again. There are more than enough events all over Chicago for this and it's a great way to meet men without feeling obligated. So my question is... Can you really find something meaningful in this type of situation? I mean really. You have literally 5 minutes to get to know someone and they are putting their best foot forward, and sometimes the representatives foot, and that comes off a bit cheesy. I'm trying to be open to many avenues of this dating game, but the past has a way of creeping in and I put my guard up (I'm better than I use to be).

My co-worker told me that I am not social (I really am). I don't think it's that, I just like people to get straight to the point and I have no time for foolishness (I am laughing at myself right now). When I look at the words, I do come off just a little anti-social, but it's so the opposite. I know actions speak louder than words, so I am going to work on this particular aspect of my personality and see what happens (keep your fingers crossed).

Anyhoo... Let me let you go. I have a date this weekend (woo hoo!!). I'll have the details next week. Ciao!!!

Product Review: Brendita's Body Works Phat Head Super Moisturizing Sulphate Free Shampoo

2011-10-26T11:44:00.000-04:00

Phat Head Super Moisturizing Sulphate Free Shampoo

Price: $10.00 for 8 oz

Product Description :
Phat Head Super Moisturizing Shampoo is free of sulphates and has a pH level of 5.5. It is ideal for curly hair, as well as hair that is dehydrated due to chemical processing (relaxers, perms, bleaching), heat styling, etc. Unlike sulphate free shampoos made with castile soap (which has a pH level between 9.5 and 10), Phat Head Super Moisturizing Shampoo will not cause the cuticles of the hair to swell, feel rough or appear dull. If you have curly hair, this is the perfect shampoo for you! Curly hair is the most fragile of all hair types because it takes longer for the natural oils produced by the scalp to make their way down the length of the hair shaft. This is the main reason that very curly hair tends to have dry ends.

It is scented with a delicate combination of organic essential oils of bergamot, pink grapefruit, lime and coriander. It is also available fragrance free. The scented version of this product is made with a perfectly balanced blend of organic essential oils of bergamot, pink grapefruit, lemongrass and coriander.

Ingredients: Organic Aloe Juice, Sodium Olefin Sulfonate, Cocoamidopropyl Betaine, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Sea Salt, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbic Acid, Kosher Vegetable Glycerin, Shea Nut Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Chamomile Extract, Organic Calendula Extract, Organic Comfrey Extract, Organic Kelp Extract, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Citric Acid, (May Contain) Fragrance Oil

My Review: As you all may remember, I bought the Shea Moisture Moisture Replenishing Shampoo and used it once or twice. I didn't care for the smell and stopped using. Coincidentally enough, THIS shampoo arrived in the mail at the same time and I have been consistently using it for the last month or so. This shampoo DEFINITELY gets the job done. First, the smell... LOVE IT! Y'all know I love me some good smelling stuff. Second, my scalp feels great after using this. You can't go wrong with a good clean scalp feeling. Third, my hair does NOT feel dried out after using it. Those 3 things are my requirements for a shampoo to be good lol. So this meets the requirements.

The only negative for me is that the consistency is SOMEWHAT thin. It's hard to describe... It's on the thicker side of thin. I don't necessarily need a thick product but I did feel like the product was thin enough that it made me use more of the product on my hair in order to cover my hair.

The Short and Sweet : 4 out of 5 stars! Smells great. Works well. Only downside is the consistency for me. I'd definitely refer it to a friend and am contemplating it becoming my shampoo of choice! You can 16 oz. for $17.00 which is definitely a bargain!

Testimony Tuesdays: 10/25/11

2011-10-26T00:07:00.001-04:00

At this given time, I can't remember today's date. I don't remember if it's Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, and I don't remember what I ate for lunch, if anything. lol This is pretty much how I am every day, now. My brain has become some overwhelmed/bogged down/running on adrenaline, that coincidentally enough, I struggle to remember anything or accomplish any tasks.

Actually, this is how I've been since college.

This last week, I had a moment where I realized that I really needed to get refocused. Last week, I had two notably bad days at school, and by bad, I mean, I was tired, frustrated, easily agitated, and flustered. I had allowed things to slowly spiral out of my control and that created a mess of a week for me, of highs and lows.

I was fortunate enough to be able to take a half-day of personal leave and head to the mountains for my church's Singles Retreat, which allowed me 4 hours of time in the car alone... just me, God, and my music. It got me thinking about what I have gotten away from. When I first took the job at my school, I knew that God had purposed it in my heart to seek to be a blessing to my students, their parents, and my colleagues, and be a light unto them and a witness, show them how good God has been in my life and in turn help them to develop or better relationships with Christ.

However, I SO quickly lost sight of that once school started and my focus became surviving each day, as opposed to what I could do. I no longer was thinking about having a positive attitude, or encouraging others, or not complaining.... and I started to fall into a slump and knowing that it would impact my testimony at my school, I decided to get myself together. Coincidentally enough, one of the focuses of the Singles Retreat was being purposeful in all that you do and living by purpose.

Granted, it has only been a week, BUT, tomorrow's Wednesday and I'm feeling good, feeling great. I'm somewhat exhausted, but I feel like I'm making an impact. I'm making a cognizant effort to complain less about my struggles and things that are upsetting me, and doing my best to come up with resources to help lessen the load of my teammates. I've also been more conscious of forming positive relationships with my students and being in more consistent contact with their parents and guardians.

So far, so good! I'll keep you updated!!!

What have you gotten away from in your life? Do you need to get refocused? Live WITH A PURPOSE!

Today's Menu: Extra Virgin Olive Oil

2011-10-22T19:52:00.002-04:00

Today I want to share with you the health benefits of cooking with Extra Virgin Olive Oil, but first let's start with a little bit of history. Olive oil is made from the crushing and the pressing of olives. It's available in a variety of grades which reflects the degree to which it has been processed. Extra virgin olive oil comes from the first pressing of olives and it is considered to give the strongest health benefits, delicate flavor and aroma.

Here is a short summary of it's benefits:

1. Lowers blood pressure

2. Reduces risk of heart attack and strokes

3. Inhibits the growth of some cancers

4. Lessens the severity of asthma and arthritis

5. Helps maintain a lower body weight

6. Help controls blood sugar

So if you are not already using olive oil, try substituting it in your daily cooking. You can use it on salads, pasta, fish and really almost anything. Olive oil has been and still is a staple in the diet of many Mediterranean countries for years and is now a staple in my household as well.

Happy cooking...until next time.

School's Out!

2011-10-21T12:00:00.000-04:00

Working full-time is really affecting me! I've been more and more worn out as the days pass, and it's only been a little over 2 months. How in the world do people do this for like 40 years? I'm already ready to retire...

In other news, this guy I had a baby crush on at work (I'm still hoping for some miraculous "office romance") is really weirding me out.

Over the summer, we talked a lot. Pretty much on a daily basis. But as soon as school started, he barely spoke to me.

Like seriously.

Like, not even a "hi" in passing unless I said something first. And when he did respond, it was like he was making SUCH an effort to do so.

And I greet everyone in my building with a "good morning" and a smile every morning. So it's not like I look like walking death everyday even if I'm dog tired.

Still, it's like I was invisible or something.

So after a while, I stopped wasting my breath.

I mean, if you don't want to speak to me, I'm not going to kill myself to speak to you.

However petty or immature that might sound, it's the truth. Anyone who knew me in the past knows that I really didn't smile often, as I wasn't a generally "happy" person.

But since I've begun working as a teacher, I have been so happy - happier than I have ever been in my life. As someone who's suffered with depression since childhood, it is an answer to a prayer to not only feel good enough to get out of bed, but to feel good enough to want to share that feeling with others as well.

So, my happiness means a lot to me, and I guess I took it too personally that he didn't recognize that I have a smile on my face and an energy I've never had consistently, and cared enough to want to share that with him.

Whatever.

So we've been walking past each other for weeks catching a glimpse of each other without speaking, and now it doesn't even faze me.

Well, yesterday, I wore my hair differently (in a curly updo as opposed to my usual bun) and all of a sudden he started talking to me again.

The heck?

I am SO confused.

Have you found that your interactions with other people in general change when your hair changes?

Maybe it's just a coincidence, or maybe his male PMS has finally ended. Either way, I'm confused...

Things Retailers Don't Tell You

2011-10-20T10:00:00.000-04:00

I came across an article on Yahoo about 7 Shopping Secrets Retailers Won’t Tell You. I know how companies spend millions of dollars in marketing products to us and trying to encourage us to buy by any means necessary, but this article showed me some other sneaky ways that retailers are getting us to spend. Here are some noteworthy quotes from the post:

How the presentation of products encourage you to spend: "We buy them in Sri Lanka for $3 each. Then we bring them over here and sew in washing instructions, which are in French and English. Notice we don't say the shirts are made in France. But you can infer that if you like…”
Why the clearance area is usually in the back of the store: “The clearance racks are placed in the back of almost every mall store on purpose — so you'll be tempted by everything else more expensive in your path.”
Why the clearance area always looks messy: "It's really hard to conquer the clearance area in some stores because it's actually designed to make you not want to spend time there”

What do you all think; are their tactics working? Do you go straight to the clearance rack or steer clear? Have you ever bought something on impulse because of a pretty display? Feel free to share!

Is there really a such thing?

2011-10-19T14:08:00.005-04:00

So last week, I saw one of my friends post that she was a hopeless romantic and I thought to myself "I doubt it." Considering she is single, I looked over her comment, but then it hit me. I am one also. I have been reading thrillers for the last two weeks (on book #8 now) and in each story there is a romantic hint of some sort. As I read each of these stories, I feel like there is a such thing called love, but why haven't I had it?

Now don't get me wrong, I do love and receive it, but I have never been "in love" and that concerns me. We often get love and lust confused and fall into something that is so devastating and give up on love. This is not the case with me. I am trying to wait patiently for my Pretty Woman, climb up the ladder, rescue me and live happily ever after guy, but I think I'm fooling myself. But you have to admit that these stories have the best lines ever. There's always a male character who possess the qualities of the perfect man (tall, dark, handsome, great job) and this clouds up my logical thinking. I'm so caught up in this fictitious world that I am probably missing out on my fairy tale, because he looks normal and has a regular job. I am laughing at myself right now (hehehe).

I went out on Sweetest day, by myself, to see a stage play (All my single ladies) and the main character reminded me of myself. She was trying to hold on to a guy who meant her no good, while the guy she was suppose to be with was right under her nose. I wonder if I have missed out on my "Mr. Right" because I'm holding out for a "Mr. Fairy tale?" This has really had me thinking over the past couple of days. My standards are so high, that I doubt Shaquille O'Neal could reach them. I'm going to ponder on this one and get back to you guys next week (lol).

Have a great week. Ciao!!!

Curl Souffle: Round 2!

2011-10-17T18:33:00.001-04:00

OK so if you saw my tweets on Twitter, you know that my first try with Shea Moisture's Curl Souffle was HORRIBLLEEEEEEEE.

It left my hair greasy, took forever to dry, and dripped onto my clothes. Think JHERRI CURL JUICE and Coming to America when the family leaned up from the couch and left stains.

It was NOT CUTE AT ALL!

I swore to never try it again, but alas, I WILL. Yall know I'm a strong believer in Shea Moisture, so the loyal consumer in me wants to try it again. My LS used it in her hair when I saw her this weekend and we have the same hair texture. Her curls were popping and there was no crunch or greasy feeling. She convinced me to try again and maybe lessen the amount I use.

So I WILL. I'll keep you posted!

Today's Menu: Vinegar Tips!!!

2011-10-15T21:59:00.000-04:00

I hope everyone enjoyed the vinegar tips I posted a couple weeks ago. It's so many helpful tips in the book "Vinegar" by Vicki Lansky, I thought I would share a few more with you all. The information I'm noting today are all related to food...so here we go!

1. Consider a vinegar wash for meat, including poultry to kill bacteria.

2. Freshen wilted vegetables by soaking them in cold water to which you've added a spoonful or two of vinegar.

3. Turn out great rice by adding a teaspoon of vinegar to the boiling water.

4. Add just a dash of vinegar to pasta as it cooks, to make it less sticky and to cut some of its starch.

5. Keep cheese fresh longer by wrapping it in a cloth moistened with vinegar. For extra protection, store the cheese in a sealed container.

Give these 5 tips a try sometime, and share how they work for you. I tried #3 two days ago, and it worked really well. My pasta wasn't sticky at all! I will continue that one for sure.

Hope you all are enjoying your weekend. Until next time....

Wasting time :(

2011-10-13T12:29:00.001-04:00

First let me apologize if I offended anyone last week. That was not my intention. I was suppose to post yesterday, but training a new hire at work and I forgot to set it up in advance.

Before I start this, I have a question. Now I went and did the big chop about a year and a half ago, before I even knew what it was. I had no problems with my look and even got a heap of compliments. Lately, I have been getting the weirdest comments to my hair and I am not sure how to respond to these remarks. I don't want to hurt any one's feelings, but when someone says "I like your hair when it was all messy" or "you have worms in your hair", I am ready to go off the deep end. Let me know if there is a better way to handle these instances.

Now back to the program...

No matter what we fail to take advantage of in this life, time will not stop for us. Looking back on things that we just let slip by, we see the error i our ways. At least I do. I find myself reminiscing on the old days, when I use to date and think nothing of it. I've dated just about every type of guy there is. I've had the entrepreneur, the musician, the attorney, the wanna be thug, etc. None of those guys every crossed my mind as being the one. There has also been plenty, who I've tried to keep in contact with, because I knew they were a catch. I just wasn't ready for what they were ready for, at the time. Now that I have owned up to the error in my ways, I feel like I am wasting time.

Going out and making myself available to date, when I feel like I could be doing something else; Talking on the phone with guys who are only a little interesting and knowing I could be talking to someone else. Things of this nature. I know this actually sounds like I am not ready to date, but I am. Being single sucks after a while (and I do mean a while) and I am at the point where I just want it to come to me. All packaged up and ready to go. I know this is some kind of fairytale that I have conjured up, but I'm so serious.

This is a painful reality that I have to deal with. I'm going to work on it. Although I refuse to settle for just any ol body, I am thinking of reaching back into my past and contacting an oldy, but goody. There's nothing like getting a free meal and good conversation. LOL... We'll see what happens. You guys have a great weekend. I will be going out by myself on Sweetest day, to a stage play and enjoying every bit of it. Ciao!!

Budgeting 101 + Free Budget Template

2011-10-13T10:00:00.002-04:00

The budget is considered one of the basic elements of personal finance, but what exactly is a budget? I like to think of it as monthly plan outlining how much money you earn, and where that money goes. The goal of any budget is to make sure that you don't spend more than you earn, because once that happens you're in trouble!

To start a budget, it's important to list all of your expenses. I break these down into 4 categories: needs, wants, obligations, and savings.

Needs are the basic things that you need for survival, like shelter and food. Wants are the little extras that make life comfortable, like restaurant meals, clothes (not that clothes aren't needed lol), and beauty splurges. Obligations are mainly debts, like credit cards or car payments that you have to make a payment on each month. Finally, Savings includes money you set aside for your emergency fund or put into a retirement account.

Once you have all of your expense areas listed, make an estimate of how much you spend in each area in a typical month. This will be your guide as you spend money during the course of the month, so be sure that you consider your income in making your estimates. Finally, the last step is to track your spending during the month.

To help you guys out, I've created a simple budget template to get you started:

Download the Excel Budget Template by clicking HERE

Input your income, estimates, and what you actually spend in a month. Feel free to add any additional expenses under the needs, wants, obligations, and savings categories. There is a line at the bottom that measures your "net income" (income subtracted by your expenses); hopefully at the end of the month this number is 0 or greater. If you spend more than you earn, then your net income will become a "net loss" and the number will red (a negative number). Also, there is a pie chart on the second page of the worksheet that shows you what percentage of your spending is going to each area.

Hope this helps! If you have any questions about the template, budgeting, or any financial topic let me know in the comments.

Product Review: Shea Moisture African Black Soap Body Wash

2011-10-10T18:21:00.000-04:00

Shea Moisture African Black Soap Body Wash

Price: $9.99 for 13 oz

Product Description :
African black soap, made from palm ash, tamarind extract, tar and plantain peel has been used in Africa for centuries to treat eczema, acne, oily skin, psoriasis, and other skin ailments. This healing product should be used daily to balance and resolve problem skin.

For acne prone & troubled skin
With oats, aloe & vitamin E
No parabens, phthalates, paraffin, formaldehyde, propylene glycol, mineral oil, synthetic fragrance, animal testing, PABA, synthetic color, DEA, or animal ingredients

Ingredients: African Black Soap , Coconut Oil Soap , Decyl Glucoside (Sugar Beets) , Lauroyl Lactylate (Palm Kernel) , Deionized Water , Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) , Avena Sativa Kernel Extract (Oat) , Santalum Album Essential Oil (Sandalwood) , Essential Oil Blend , Jojoba Beads , Lonicera Caprifolium Flower and Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract (Honeysuckle and Japanese Honeysuckle) , Salicylic Acid , Dead Sea Salt , Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice

My Review: Y'all already know I'm biased. I love anything Shea Moisture (except the Curl Souffle). This product is no exception! Shea Moisture actually began as a soap "company", so I figured it was worth a shot to try since that's how they got their start. Aside from the packaging of the bottle, which I had to change in order to use the product, this product was great!

Great smell! Great consistency! Great results!

I've always struggled with acne whether on my face or body, so this product helped. I can definitely tell a difference on my arms in that I don't have any acne on them and some of the spots are fading away. LOVE LOVE LOVE this stuff! I'll be buying a new bottle once it's payday! :)

The Short and Sweet : 5 out of 5 stars! It does exactly what it says it will do, which always good! Great product! The packaging may just be something that bothers me, however, you can easily pop this product into another bottle to get better use out of it.

It's Wash Day!

2011-10-08T12:45:00.001-04:00

Saturdays are the only day I can squeeze in ANY type of hair treatment for Freedom. So here are my plans for the day and the products that I have in tow.

PRE-POO with Shea Moisture Purification Masque for 10 mins (or whenever I decide to become UNlazy lol)

WASH with Brendita's Body Works Sulphate Free Shampoo

OIL RINSE with coconut oil

CONDITION with Brendita's Body Works Restorative Deep Conditioner

LEAVE IN Jane Carter's Leave-In Conditioner Spray

MOISTURIZE with Beija Flor's Creme Broulee

CORNROW my hair into 4 big braids, stick on my "hair hat" and call it a DAY!

I'm headed out to a football game shortly, however, I'm going to do a length check video before I leave!

Today's Menu: Quick & Easy Breakfast for Kids

2011-10-08T10:46:00.004-04:00

If you are like me, sometimes it's hard to get your child(ren) on tract in the morning and you end up rushing out the door giving them a granola bar, or an apple to eat on the way to school. My 8 year old is not a big breakfast person anyways, but I do think it's important for him to start off his day with something healthy and fulfilling.

So here we go, I found 2 quick and easy recipes that he likes, and that I love! The good thing about these recipes: you can prepare them ahead of time!!!

Yogurt Parfait

3 Cups of Yogurt of choice

2 Cups of Granola

2 Cups of Berries (Strawberry, Blueberry, Blackberry or Mixed)

Layer and serve

Yields: 4 Servings

Strawberry Bananna Smoothie

2 Large Banannas

2 Cups of Frozen Strawberries (or substitute differnt berry)

2 1/2 Cups of Milk (Reg, Vanilla or Almond)

(For a sneaky twist - add 1 Tablespoon of flaxseed oil or seeds for extra protein)

They will never know : )

Yields: 4 Servings

There you go, quick and easy, not too expensive, and simply good! Please share some of your breakfast recipes and let me know if you try these two! Until next time...

School's Out!

2011-10-07T21:03:00.001-04:00

I love my job so much but I got a taste of the negativity of being a teacher in an urban area: students who haven't been given the quality resources needed to develop the necessary skills for success in life. It's heartbreaking to teach near-adults who can barely read or complete basic math functions.

Nevertheless, I have been charged with instructing some of them, and since our AYP scores were so low, the pressure is really on.

It's almost overwhelming.

My saving grace is my sense of belonging, and the fact that I have been so blessed.

I don't know how we'll make it through this year, but we'll have to do it!

If you ever have a chance to check out a public charter school in a low-income area, do it! Donate! The funds are definitely needed and will do so much, especially since much of the funding goes to supplying students with free lunches and metro passes (and naturally, our paychecks!).

On a side note, I'm really getting mixed vibes from this guy at work.

He's really cute and all and you can tell that he always wants to keep our conversations going since he really doesn't talk much at all, but I'm pretty sure he has a girlfriend.

I don't know if I should come out and ask.

I'm usually pretty outgoing but I don't know with him because he's one of those nice guys that you can't tell if he's being nice or flirting.

Ugh.

What to do????

Daily Deal Sites: Do's and Don'ts

2011-10-06T10:00:00.000-04:00

There is no denying the popularity of daily deal sites. Thanks to the recession, more and more people are on the lookout for new ways of saving money, and with the combination of deep discounts and daily updates, these websites are just what people are looking for. A few years ago the word “groupon” didn’t even exist, but now many of us find ourselves eagerly checking our e-mail daily to find out what new deals Groupon has to offer.

Sites like Living Social and Groupon do provide many benefits to those of us who are on a budget. They provide the opportunity to try things you normally wouldn’t, like a new restaurant or a new exercise method. These sites give you a change sample a service or product without making a huge financial obligation. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather spend a couple dollars on passes to try out different local gyms to see which one I liked before committing to just one. Also, these daily deal sites feature discounts on things that you need or commonly use, from oil changes for your vehicle to discounts at Whole Foods.

Here are a few do’s and don’ts to make sure you’re making the most of these daily discount sites:

Do read the fine print. Make sure you know the stipulations, exclusions, and expiration dates before you make a purchase. I’ve seen quite a few deals that specified days of the week that the offer can be used or required that you make a reservation with the offering company before being able to redeem it. Be sure to read everything on that webpage to ensure that you understand what you’re getting and will actually use it!

Don't buy on impulse. Part of the reason why these sites are so appealing is because there is a limited number of people can sign up for each offer, and the offers are only available for a limited amount of time. This creates a sense of scarcity, where you feel you have to act quickly so you don’t miss out. The problem is, you may end up buying without thinking, or spending more than you would under different circumstances. Think of how people rush to Walmart to purchase bottled water and bread when a weather emergency is expected.

Do research to see if you are getting the best deal. Websites featuring coupon codes or sites like Restaurants.com where you can purchase a $10 restaurant gift certificate for $3 (or a $25 certificate for $10) may offer better deals. Also, checking with local businesses might uncover better discounts without forcing you to act quickly. For example, my local movie theater offers movies for $5 everyday between 4pm and 6pm, which is just as good if not better than the groupon deals I’ve seen for movie theaters in my area.

Don’t forget to use your deal coupons! I read that about 40% of Groupon vouchers don’t get redeemed, so use your vouchers as soon as possible or set yourself a reminder to make sure you don’t fall into that percentage.

Do consider additional costs/fees associated with the deal. Even if you get a discount for a massage, manicure, or hair service, you still should tip the person who provides you with the service. Likewise, a discount for activities like bowling or golfing may not cover associated rental fees. Make sure you consider these hidden costs when deciding if an offer is truly a good deal.

2 YEARS NATURAL!!

2011-10-04T11:09:00.000-04:00

I completely forgot but today marks 2 years that I've been natural! I just got an email from Google calendar reminding me that it was my Happy HAIR Birthday!!! I can't believe I forgot!

2 years in the game!!!!!!

Right now, my regular hat is sitting atop of my head so I can't post pictures of my length. HOWEVER, *crosses fingers*, I will do a length check video at some time this week, if not later today!

Testimony Tuesdays: 10/04/11

2011-10-04T09:57:00.000-04:00

To say that I've been busy this last month is an understatement. I've managed to be immersed in a self-pity party for the entire month and tried to get sympathy from anyone who would give it.

My mom came to visit my class last week and pointed out that for the entire time that she was there, I never once smiled because I just looked so flustered, tired, stressed, etc.

The other evening, I was talking to my mom and complaining about a few things going on and she looked at me like, "-______- Okay, I'm not going to keep listening to you complain all the time, so what's your solution to everything?"

My jaw DROPPED, of course, because no one had said anything like that to me before lol.

As the month closed, I had to sit back and reflect. Every one in life is busy, stressed out, etc. It's one of those things that we as Americans just need to get used to. We're just... an anxiety-stricken, high-stress level having, on-the-run society, and that won't change.

SO, this week I decided to take my stress and make it productive. I KNOW God did not put in the place where I am in life to be depressed and drag everyone around me down too. He put me in my situation to be a light of hope to all those that are around me, and how can I possible show everyone around me the "God In Me" *in Mary Mary auto-tune voice* when I'm just showing signs of stress and depression?

I've been making it a matter of prayer and am continuously learning to lean on God for my strength in my situation and all that I'm going through because my first instinct is to want to solve things my own way.

This week, I'm reminding myself to pray first, think and react second.

What do you to refocus yourself and get a grip back on life?

Today's Menu: Helpful Vinegar Tips!

2011-10-01T10:46:00.005-04:00

My mother gave this amazing book and I wanted to share some tips with you all. The book is simply called "Vinegar" by Vicki Lansky. It has over 400 various uses of vinegar and since vinegar is also a food ingredient I thought how perfect is this information.

Let me first give you some background information on vinegar. Vinegar means "sour wine" resulting from wine being exposed to bacteria in the air . It eventually ferments and turns into vinegar. It has been used for many different things for thousands of years.

Okay now on to the helpful tips. It was vey hard to pick out which ones to share today, so I was thinking I may do this periodically. Okay here we go...the top 5 for today.

1. Add a tablespoon or two of white vinegar to water when boiling eggs to help keep them from cracking and to limit the whites from leaking, if the shells crack.

2. Shine up chrome sink fixtures that have lime buildup with a vinegar paste made of 2 tablespoons salt and 1 teaspoon distilled vinegar.

3. Condition hair, add shining highlights and fight dandruff by using vinegar as a rinse after shampooing. A solution of 1 cup vinegar (or apple cider vinegar) to 2 cups water. FYI - I love this!

4. Spray or splash some white vinegar on trash bags left outside that don't flt into trash cans. It will keep outdoor critters away from the trash bags.

5. Wash new clothes with 1/2 cup white vinegar added to the water to eliminate manufacturing chemicals.

I hope you find these tips useful. If you try any of them, please let me know how that work! Until next time...

School's Out!

2011-09-30T17:26:00.002-04:00

So, I got the best news ever this week! I am NOT one of the ones being laid off! Excuse me while I get my shout on - big mama style! Instead of being let go, I am now responsible for a section of 10th grade English and an SAT prep course. So a lot more work, but at least I still have a job for which to work!

So the fantasy I had of a workplace love affair has fallen pretty flat, which is extremely ironic because the school is mostly run by men, but less than a handful are actually attractive, in my age range, and aren't married. In fact, there are about two, one of which became ineligible last week.

Sigh.

I'm still waiting for my Mr. Right. I was hoping to find him at my workplace, where I am most happy, but I guess that's not what God had in store for me.

But God is a comedian because I've found myself in the same place that I've always been where I am either attracting younger boys (ie. my students) or older guys (ie. creepy coworkers) but never anyone in between! So frustrating!

Ah well.

This week went well, and students are making further progress. I truly do love them like they are my own, and it feels so amazing to hear them calling me their favorite teacher. I hear so many negative things about certain kids that surprise me because they just are not that way when they enter my classroom.

Someone once told me that there are no "problem kids," only broken relationships that are usually the fault of the adult in the situation.

I was skeptical of this, but when you hear the stories the kids tell, the theory keeps proving itself over and over again.

Some of my favorite students are the bane of another teacher's existence. It's crazy.

But I'll just keep doing what I'm doing and leave the rest to God.

For the first time, I am very, very happy. I don't think I've smiled so much in my life. Those kids really give me everything.

Pennies-Nickels-Dollars: Hair Splurge!

2011-09-29T10:00:00.002-04:00

I have a confession to make…I spent $20 on a hair product!! See what had happened was (lol)…I’ve been tempted to straighten my hair since the weather has gotten a little cooler. I considered going to a professional, but out of pure fear of having a stranger apply heat to my hair and the cheapskate in me not willing to spend $45+ on a style that may not last more than a couple of days, I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I’ve decided I’m going to give self straightening another try, and after hearing good things from friends and in reading a lot of hair blogs mention Aveda Brilliant Anti-Humectant Pomade, I bought it!

This is the most I’ve EVER spent on one product so I hope it works well and keeps my hair from reverting, although a part of me hopes that it doesn’t live up to the hype so I don’t get hooked on an expensive product! J Despite making a relatively expensive purchase, I don’t think I made a bad financial decision. Even if it doesn’t work well with straight hair, I could always use the pomade to do a frizz-free twistout, so I will get my money’s worth either way. Also, I cut my spending a lot this month by putting myself on a “Dine-in Challenge,” so even after paying all my bills and devoting money to my savings account, and taking care of my daily expenses, I had money left in my budget to use as I pleased. I even scored a ton of good samples from Aveda, and signed up on the email list for a free birthday gift!

What’s the most you’ve ever spent on a hair product, and was it worth it?? Let me know in the comments J

I can't believe this!!!

2011-09-28T11:57:00.002-04:00

Sooo... I finally have someone to talk to. This is such a big deal to me, because I rarely get a good conversation from a guy. I was really excited to tell you guys of this good news, but it got trumped by something just a bit more devastating. Have you ever been so deep into a conversation that you only pay attention to things that you were intending on doing? If you don't know what I mean then let me explain.

I work in a hospital and we have a gift shop. They usually have some kind of promotion to get you in and spend all of your money. I had to stop myself from going in there, because everything looks nice when it's on sale. Anyhoo... On Monday, of this week, I was walking past the shop and saw that they had scarfs on sale. Living in Chicago you never know when the weather will change and since it had been fore casted that we will have continuous rain, I decided to get one. I went in to see what they had in stock. I decided to get this gorgeous pink and black scarf for $5 (a deal), but I had left my rewards card that I normally have on my I.D. This had to be the beginning of fate.

I told the employee to hold it and I would be right back. I'm never coming "right back" to anything when I'm at work. As I was leaving for the day, I stopped at the ER entrance and something kept saying "go out the other way". Thank goodness I listened, because it reminded me that I needed to go back to the gift shop and get my items (I got a candle warmer also). While in the gift shop, I still couldn't find my rewards cards, so the cashier offered me another one. While I was running off at the mouf (say it just like that) with the other cashier, a guy came behind me and asked if I could help out the homeless. Let me explain a little about me. I'm a very jazzy person (some say attitude) and a statement like that would normally result in me giving him all types of attitude... Um um *clears throat* I mean jazziness (lol).

Oddly, I barely looked at him and chuckled and finished running my mouf (you know it). He said it again and I was like what the heck, I can pay for his stuff. He was not homeless, because I did see his CTA uniform (our hospital is the last stop on this route). Now here comes the part that had me kicking myself all Monday evening and Tuesday. As I was giving the cashier my money, the guy asked me out to dinner, but since I was so consumed in a conversation about absolutely nothing, I really didn't hear it (if that makes since). It was kind of a hind sight issue. I realized, after I got home, what had really happened. Nevertheless, I missed out on a date with someone who has a good job. I still can't understand how I didn't shut up to respond to this question. I mean I never tun down food (EVER!). This has really been bugging me.

I did go back to the gift shop to talk to the two employees who were there and the guy asked me did I get his number. I told him no, because it really didn't dawn on me until I got home, that I had been asked out on a date. He then proceeded to tell me that the guy asked me like 3 times (I only heard t once) and they were both waiting for me to respond. Why the cashier didn't interrupt me is also a mystery (lol... blaming him). This really mad me just a little sad. I mean I have been looking for a date for the longest. I went out on last Thursday in hopes of meeting someone and I knew everyone at the place (I was looking fly though). I would really like to know if anyone else has had this happen to them. I can't be the only person who has missed out on a potential date because of non stop talk. Right now, I'm keeping my fingers crossed hoping that he shows up again (we shall see). I will let you guys know what happens. Ciao!!!

3 Tips For Eating Out At Restaurants

2011-09-25T11:52:00.000-04:00

Despite my many attempts to NOT be a social eater, I AM! Whenever I need to catch up with friends or need something to do, it results in good conversation around a meal somewhere. Some days, I've gone out twice or 3 times... It's a shame!!!!

It's TOUGH to maintain healthy living when you eat out so often, SO here are my tips for eating out/being a social eater.

1) EAT FIRST. Eat a light snack before going out to eat. It's SO easy to overeat ESPECIALLY when you go starving! If I don't eat a snack beforehand, those are the times I get an appetizer, entree, AND dessert and end up wasting it lol.

2) LOOK AT THE MENU BEFOREHAND. Nowadays you can find a menu for a restaurant online. I make it a habit to look at the menus before I go because when I'm not in the "heat of the moment" i.e. starving at the restaurant, I make healthier choices. If I look at the menu at home, decide on a salad, and get my mouth already craving it, I'm much more likely to stick to that choice when I get there. It will help cut down on binge eating too.

3) ASK FOR A BOX RIGHT WHEN YOUR FOOD COMES OUT. I ALWAYS ask for a box as soon as I get my entree, sometimes even before. As soon as my meal comes out, I put 1/4 to 1/2 of the portion size in my box and it's "out of sight out of mind." Doing this does 2 things:

Prevents overeating or eating WAY PAST your "full limit".
Gives you a meal for later, or another day.

There you have it! What tips do you have?

WEEK 10: Healthy Living Challenge

2011-09-25T11:31:00.000-04:00

IF YOU ARE PARTICIPATING IN THIS CHALLENGE,
PLEASE SEND ME YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS!!!

It's never too late to get started with the healthy living challenge! Simply send me (jameka@prettynaturaldivas.com) your email address, follow the checklists, and get ready to see the changes!!

DISCLAIMER: This isn't a diet. No sure-proof plan to drop 100 lbs in 10 minutes. It's just baby steps to lead a healthier lifestyle, which in turn will help lose weight, among other things.

We'll "meet" back on the discussion board on FB next Sunday (October 2) to talk about what went well, what didn't, how to make the next week harder, etc.

Here's the checklist for the week! It's similar to last week's, just a little bit harder!

________ Limit fried food to ONE meal during the week.

________ Do cardio THREE days for at least 45 minutes
________ Do at least ONE day of toning/sculpting/weight training for 30 minutes

________ 8 hours of sleep daily

________ Drink 72 oz of water daily.

________ Take a multi-vitamin daily.

________ Eat fast-food only ONE day this week
________ Eat a healthy breakfast daily

________ Sign up for www.sparkpeople.com
________ Eat FRESH fruit 3 times this week.
________ Print this checklist off and put it in 3 strategic places to serve as a reminder.

In order for something to become habit, you have to 1) be consciously working at it and 2) do it for at least 30 days. That is the goal of the items on the checklist! Watch and see!

Where Is Jameka?

2011-09-24T12:28:00.001-04:00

*wipes forehead and takes deep breath*

I'M STILL HERE!!!!! My time has just been completely devoted to school and I'm trying to catch my breath. I think of posts all the time but getting them actually posted is a completely different story.

I have lots of products to review!

Shea Moisture's African Black Soap body wash
Shea Moisture's Moisture Retention Shampoo
APHOgee's 2 Min Reconstructor
Brendita's Body Works Daily Jojoba Mist
Brendita's Body Works Biodegradable Washcloths

I also want to update you all on my growth! I've been participating in The Good Hair Blog's Protective Style Challenge since it officially started, however, my hair has been in a protective style non-stop since mid-May. I've retained a significant amount of length and am starting to get really happy with my hair length lol.

I'll also update you on my weight loss! I've gone from the low-160s to high-140s!

ALSO, I just celebrated my 22nd birthday!!! *does jig*

Today's Menu: Best Big, Fat, Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

2011-09-24T10:46:00.011-04:00

I know what you all are thinking...finally a recipe! After all it is called Today's Menu right? Okay so I've been searching for a really good Chocolate Chip recipe and I think I found it. I've made these cookies about 3 or 4 times and they are devoured within 2-3 days. My family absolutely loves these cookies and I quote my 8 year son Dyalon..."Mom these are the greatest cookies I've ever had...seriously." Those types of responses is why I love to do what I do. : )

I can't take credit for this recipe. I found it on www.allrecipes.com and it was posted by Elizabeth. I guess she only goes by one name (like Madonna). Anyhow, she calls these cookies The Best Big, Fat, Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies and over 5,000 people reviewed it and it has 4.5 stars. Personally I give it 5 stars!

Here are the ingredients for the Chocolate Chip Cookies: (Yield 1 1/2 dozen)

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1 egg

1 egg yolk

2 cups of semisweet chocolate chips (or milk chocolate - I tried both)

Abbreviated Directions: (see link for full directions)

1. Preheat oven to 325

2 .Combine flour, baking soda & salt (set aside)

3. Cream, butter, brown & white sugar. Beat in vanilla, egg & egg yolk. Mix in flour combo. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop dough 1/4 cup at a time on cookie sheet.

4. Bake 15-17 minutes and cool completely.

I hope you try and enjoy these cookies as much as my family does. Feel free to tweak the ingredients to your liking.

What are some recipes you've tried recently? Please share...until next time.

School's Out (and permanently for some)

2011-09-23T16:52:00.002-04:00

So, today was very interesting to say the least. Number 2 on the list of "Interesting Things That Happened to Me Today" would have to be that I found out that one of my students lives right next door to my parents and has been for 2 or 3 years. And considering the fact that I'll be staying with them for a week between moving out of my old place and moving into my new place, I found that so awkward! Turns out he is the grandson of our neighbor - a woman I consider almost a third grandmother to myself. So creepy! I told him not to come out of the house at all when I'm staying with my parents... lol.

But on a more serious note, today we found out about budget cuts, which means they are laying off 7-9 people. Though I love my job, my students, and my co-workers (and as far as I can tell, my students love me), I don't know if that's enough to save my job. The lady who was hired like 2 weeks ago got laid off today.

They said that most of the people getting laid off already know but they told her out of the blue after she got back from a field trip.

My co-workers are telling me not to worry, but how can I not? I don't have an education background, I'm not certified, and I'm the youngest on staff.

Last hired, first fired is the saying I've heard.

Well, I wasn't the last hired (the woman who got laid off was hired after me), but still. Everyone is saying that no one has said anything negative about me, so I'm probably safe, especially since I teach senior English - a class EVERYONE must take to graduate. But the other lady taught sophomore English, so that really brings me no comfort.

The only things comforting me are my hopes and prayers and the belief that I was placed in that school for a reason, and even if my time teaching is up, there has to be some purpose for why I was there.

Even if it was just to meet new people...

... which brings me to my next point: super cute guy started working at school this week. Seems pretty shy, but is very nice. I emailed him my number for an event tonight so if he texts me and we get to interact more, I'm pretty sure I can reel him in.... lol. I've been single toooooo long!

Don't judge me.

It's cuffing season.

Pennies-Nickels-Dollars: Financial Role Models

2011-09-22T09:00:00.001-04:00

Whether you are trying to become successful in your career or improve your personal life, I think one of the best ways to get to where you want to be, is by modeling after people who have already achieved the level of success that you want. From mentors, advisors, to role models, I can say that I have always had people I could look up to in order to make sure that my life was on track. When it comes to my finances, a role model that I’ve learned a lot from is my Grandma. She can shop like a pro, and always knows about the best coupons, discounts, and best days of the week to do the best shopping. She also has skills when it comes to negotiating an additional discount or knocking off an unnecessary fee! More importantly, she is the most frugal person I know. She never wastes ANYTHING! She has also shared great savings tips with my mother, my favorite being to set aside money every month as if you are paying a bill, so that you can tell if you can handle the payments for a big ticket purchase or prepare for an increase in your monthly living expenses. She even has convinced my mother to put $1 dollar in a jar every time she uses her washing machine (kinda like she is going to the Laundromat, but actually paying herself) as another way to save money. Now I look for ways to save money all the time, but I would have never thought of that one! I guess that’s why I need a role model J

I do have another role model in my head: Tyra Banks. Aside from being an amazing business woman, she knows how to save money! I may be the only one (lol) but I LOVED the Tyra Banks talk show, and I remember many cheap beauty tricks and references to the 99-cent store! Just today I read an article about frugal celebrities that mentioned Tyra using a cheap decorating trick for her office. Also, check out a video below of Tyra on BET’s 106 and Park talking about a cheap D.I.Y trick to spice up her outfit (starts at about the 1:40 mark):

Do you have any financial role models? Let me know in the comments J

The Hook Up

2011-09-21T10:45:00.004-04:00

Over the past couple of weeks, my friends have offered to help me and my situation (the single life). These are mainly the friends who have a good guy by their side and would like to see me happy. I actually love that they are even thinking of me, but now I feel like an orphan. Has this ever happened to you? I mean, no one is jumping up to hook you up with some cash when you have to pay a bill, but say you are single and BOOM!!! They all want to help. But hey, since I am not having the best of luck with going out, I figured it couldn't hurt.

So I have been single several times throughout my 29 years of life, where people, including my mother, has tried to hook me up with some random guy they thought was nice. My mother did it and I had no clue what she was thinking. I mean he had a job, but he wanted me to braid his hair. I did one, but we never made it to the dating scene. The time before that was when my best friend hooked me up with her boo's cousin. That didn't work out for several reasons, one being that I was way too young to be dating someone. And the most recent one was about 2 years ago. Things started off great, but I think they went waaaay too fast. It was my friend's brother. She sent me a message on facebook and basically said that her brother was single, had a job and she thought I would be great for him. I won't go into details, but I honestly wish things could have worked out, because he is a great catch, but that means nothing if one person is not feeling you. So there you have it. So now it's back to the drawing board.

In the past 2 weeks alone, I have had several friends offer to hook me up. I have learned from my mistakes and I am not taking any more hand outs. Well, not without doing my homework first. I am pretty much old school when it comes to dating. I want to be pursued by a guy and take it from there. I was told that I need to come out the 50's (this was mean). LOL... I don't mind being in the midst of it all, but I want the guy to see me and say "wow, she looks nice. Let me go talk to her" without having been coached. Since this seems like a dream that will never come true, I guess I'll have to be hooked up. I am willing to go out on a date with a guy even if we have never met, but there are some ground rules...

1. If you are going to hook me up, at least know what type of guy I like.
There is nothing worse than being hooked up by someone who has never had a conversation, with you, about men. This leads to a date with someone THEY like. *side eye*

2. Talk to the guy you are hooking up. Make sure they have time to date and are not recovering from a recent break up.
Have you ever gotten all dressed up and ready for a date only to end up spending a whole 2 hours trying to convince someone that their ex had a reason to leave and they should move on? I mean all I wanted was the Alfredo chicken and I end up being a counselor. Nope!!!

3. Made sure the "hook up-ee" (new word) has done their research beyond what thy see.
Friend: Girl he is super sweet, he doesn't have any kids and he has a good job. You guys would be good together. Guy: Well I just got laid off and I am going to take a break. That child support has been kicking my butt. Did you know they took out 20% for the first child? My ex-wife was a ____ (fill in the blank).
*This is the worst type of guy there is and now you want to fight your friend once she gets off work. LOL... I am not desperate.

4. Both parties have to be opened minded. After all it's only a date. Neither party has to make a commitment, over bread sticks, about what the future holds. LOL... All too often, women get caught up in this fantasy world and leave a date feeling like they have been let down. I always say... I'm hungry and wouldn't mind having someone else pay for my food. If I get more than that, as I leave the restaurant, then I'm grateful, but leftovers are good too (doggy bag me please).

I am going to be more open and take these hook-ups for what they are worth and move on. In the mean time, I am going to rock my 2 strand twist out and go to dinner. Enjoy your week... Ciao!!!

Today's Menu: Childhood Food Memories

2011-09-17T10:00:00.001-04:00

This week our Professor ("Chef") gave us an assignment that brought back some fond childhood memories. The question he asked was... "What is one of your favorite and least favorite childhood memories?" Boy did the wheels start turning. He actually wanted us to decide on ONE to write and talk about. I knew that was going to be difficult.

So there I sat at my computer for a few minutes, thinking and laughing to myself about a few of those memories. Of course one that came to mind first was a least favorite. Okay my father (God bless his heart) ...let's just say is not the greatest cook in the world. I remember one time my mother was working or something and he had to fix my brother, cousin and I something to eat. Have anyone heard of Spam?? Yes, yes...spam and crackers. I must say I will never forget that! Lord knows he tried and that's all that matters right?. (Love you Daddy) Now I have plenty other memories but for some reason that one always pops in my head first. LOL

Okay on to a favorite memory....my parents are from the south and we would always go "home" and visit all my grand parents and other family members. Now my grandmother (God rest her soul) would always make sure she bought and stocked up on these cookies we loved. They were Jackson Lemon Cookies and she kept them in her right cabinet at the top. I remember walking into their home, hugging them, listening to them tell us how much we've grown and the entire time my brother and I were itching to get in that kitchen and open the cabinets to make sure those lemon cookies were there. She never failed us. She always made sure we had enough for our stay, the ride home, and then some. Gotta love grand parents.

I thought that was a good assignment. It was interesting to hear all my classmates talk about their memories. It sort of connected us in a way. Food seems to do that doesn't it?

What are some of your favorite and least favorite memories of food growing up? I would love to hear about them...please share. Until next time.

School's Out!

2011-09-16T20:13:00.001-04:00

Today was the end of week 3 of school, and the first full 5-day week aka schoolmageddon! Today was also my first pay day!

Money! Whoo hoo!

And then...

... taxes.

I mean

WHAT

THE

HECK?!

I never knew the government scalped soooo much off of checks.

I mean they literally OBLITERATED my money.

So in about a month, I paid the government $525 to work.

Really?

I mean.... really?!?!?!

Why didn't anyone warn me?

Ah well....

This made it all worth it!

I still get the occasional rowdy kid or the random "this is dumb!" or "what's the point of doing this?" but I have received so many favorite teacher and favorite class comments that I feel thoroughly blessed.

And that's priceless.

What's Your Shopping Style?

2011-09-15T08:00:00.006-04:00

One thing that everyone has in common is that we are ALL consumers. Now unless you live in the wilderness, there’s a good chance that you’re also a shopper! We all know why we do it, but have you ever taken the time to think about how you shop? Shopping involves so much more than just getting your basic needs met, and figuring out your unique approach to shopping is vital if you want to start making better financial choices! Take a look and see if any of these shopping personalities sound like you:

"New New"

You’re the first one in your crew to get the new iPhone. You had the scoop on Argan and Moroccan oil long before it hit the mainstream. Whether its hair products, fashion, or gadgets, you always have the new, new hotness. But here’s the problem… your budget can’t keep up with the pace of new product releases, so every new purchase is sinking you further and further in debt. Now your apartment is filled to capacity with half full bottles, gently used electronics, and probably a few items you don’t even recognize!

Try This: Seek out samples when trying new beauty trends, which are cheaper and take up less space. Also, try practicing the “1-In, 1-Out Rule” where for each new purchase you have to get rid of one item you already own. This may mean finishing up an old bottle of shampoo before buying a new one, or even selling old clothes you no longer wear to make room in your closet (and wallet) for new trends, but the idea is that by having to get rid of or finish up one item, you will give yourself more time to decide if you really ~~need~~ want to make a new purchase.

The Snob (aka "Toni Childs")

You like the finer things in life. Your body is a temple, and anything that enters it is certified organic, and everything touching it better have a designer label…and a designer price tag. Now this wouldn’t be so bad, but you want the runway style but you’re working with a rundown budget L

Try This: First things first, distinguish between paying for quality vs just paying just for a name. Comparison shop to see if more pricier items are really worth the extra price tag, which means reading reviews and ratings of electronics at different price points, comparing product labels for salon brand beauty products and their discount store counterparts, and even looking at the material and craftsmanship of clothes and accessories. Once you find items of good quality, search for discount codes, use coupons, and keep your eyes open for sales so you can get the best prices!

Bargain Junkie

You don’t even think of making a purchase unless there is some sort of discount. You have familiarized yourself with the coupon policies of all your favorite stores, and you always have a game plan when purchase an item. You take pride in your ability to scout out deals, and brag about your savings to whoever will listen. You’re doing everything right, huh? Or so it seems…but the thrill of the deal has led to you buying more than you need, which leads to you overspending each month and sloooowly becoming a hoarder.

Try This: Set a budget and stick to it! By having a pre-set limit on how much you are willing to spend each month, it makes it easier to walk away from that sale. Share the wealth! Use your shopping skills to help out your friends and family members so you can still get the satisfaction of finding a good deal without having to spend your own money. You could even use those skills to start your own side hustle as a personal shopper!

So, I’ll admit it, I was “New New” when it came to clothes and shoes…until I got to college and fell in love with basketball shorts and comfy sweats to trek around campus lol! Now I’m more of a bargain junkie trying to resist the urge to “ball out” when I see a sales rack! What’s your shopping style? Let me know in the comments!

**Side Note: Target has a coupon for $1 off a Shea Moisture hair care item! Check here!

What a tiresome weekend

2011-09-14T08:00:00.000-04:00

Good lawd. How about I was so tired this weekend that I did not feel like doing anything to my hair. If you are wondering, the answer is yes, I have weekend hair and it's Wednesday. Let me give you more details (and don't laugh).

I had my very first natural hair meet-up, this past Saturday and it was a success (so gracious). I've always helped out with events and volunteered, but had no idea how it is being the one in charge. So I had last minute shopping to do (of course) and my plan was to do my hair on Friday, do my event on Saturday afternoon and go to a tweet up that evening in hopes of meeting someone new. HA!!! Well my event was done and that's about it. I did a wash and go with an ouchless head band on Saturday and on Sunday (and today) I rocked an under braid with two strands at the front.

I ended up not going anywhere near a tweet up, but I did meet someone. It's weird, because I didn't know until yesterday that we were exchanging numbers for the reason of talking on the phone. LOL... According to my best friend (BF), he stopped her first, asking about the event and she said it felt like he was trying to holla, so she shunned him off by giving a fake name and sending him my way. She called me as he was walking my way to give me a heads up. Now I have always been the person to give my number out and decide on it later. I mean, a guy has to be extremely rude for me to say no to a number request. So he gave me this story about how he wants his daughter to stop getting a relaxer and go natural, because it "so gorgeous". I said okay, gave my number and told him I'll keep in touch for the next event. I brushed it off as a potential attendee. I swear I must have been too tired to even think of the conversation and how he kept giving compliments and smiling like that cat off that movie (you know the one when the girl gets lost in the woods). Yeah... that's how big it was. I should have known better. I guess I have been out the dating game so long that I forgot how this stuff works. Shame on me.

Anyhoo... I got a text on Monday from a foreign number. I save everyone number in my phone, so to get a "good morning to you queen" scares me just a little (I've had text issues before). So I guess he didn't want to explain himself via text and just decided to give me a call while I was in a very good convo with my BF. This irritated me so much, that I realized that I will be single forever if I don't check my attitude (hold this thought). Needless to say, I got off the phone with him and didn't call back. As an adult, I may just need to explain this to him and be done with it. No need to ignore him completely. We'll see (hehehe).

Back to that thought... Well, I just save that question for next week. Ciao!!! Have a great weekend.