Treating my stomach and hair to yogurt goodness!

I enjoy pampering as much as the next eyeglass rocking diva (you know… because girls with glasses rock!). My pampering does not end with the occasional waxing, pedi, mani and/or massage. I also love to deep treat my hair when I’m at home chillin’. Due to my professionally done color treatment as well as the level of frizz and single strand knots I experience I feel the need to be the Buzz Lightyear of natural hair. I am willing to go “to infinity and beyond!” with my hair care techniques.

Since I’m already on a quest to lead a healthier and more active lifestyle, there are certain items I always have on hand. A main food item I keep on hand is Greek yogurt which I use in fruit smoothies and as a breakfast staple. Greek yogurt has protein and keeps me full for longer periods of time. Along the way, I’ve read a few ideas of using yogurt as a hair mask. I saw on curlynikki.com earlier this week that she used Greek yogurt as a cleanser. It stuck in my brain because I work out at least 30 minutes a day (participating in a 30-day fitness challenge) and my hair and scalp sweat regularly. I don’t always feel like washing and sometimes I want to do more than co-wash. Either way, I know that I want to care for my color-treated hair and scalp at all times.

So, last night after teaching Zumba I felt determined to do a yogurt treatment in lieu of my usual co-wash. I wanted to combine it with a scalp massage. Rather than do them separately, I wanted a mix that would allow me to deep treat, cleanse and boost scalp health. Here are the ingredients I used and why:

ü      ½ cup of full fat Greek yogurt (Smoothes and hydrates strands)

ü      1.5 Tbsp of organic honey (conditions, imparts shine and helps with moisture retention)

ü      1 tsp of cold-pressed castor oil (Promotes growth and as a pore cleanser on my face so...)

ü      1 tsp vitamin E (Slows down the aging process (gray hair!) and improves blood circulation to the scalp)

ü      5-6 drops of Basil essential oil (promotes growth by stimulating hair follicles, boosts hue of hair color)

I mixed it all in a small bowl and put it on my hair for 30 minutes. I made sure to create parts and allow placement on my scalp. I then massaged it into the scalp for a few minutes before waiting out the rest of the time with a plastic cap. I rinsed in the shower and made sure to get it all out. I followed with a quick conditioner wash using hello hydration to make sure I rinsed all of the yogurt out. I understand it can cause quite a stink if any is left behind. My hair felt great and the curls were clumped and ready to go. Afterward I used one of my random leave-ins and a styler for flat twists. This morning my hair looks and feels great, has a nice sheen, and quite a bit of body despite the dreaded shrinkage monster (cue horror movie music). I’m pleased and will do this once a week although next time I might go lighter with the basil because the husband gave the smell 2 thumbs down. Hated it! :D

First Listen: Elle Varner's Perfectly Imperfect



Elle Varner: Perfectly Imperfect



I first spotted fellow curly Elle Varner on my favorite cable station, VH1Soul. She was singing ‘I only want to give it to you’ over an 80’s hip hop beat (Biz Markie no less). Whilst envying her big hair and curls I quickly came to love the old skool vibe of the video, the colors, the clothes and her entire package. She just seemed fun and like someone with whom I’d hang. So I did what every social media junkie does- found and started stalking following her on Twitter. I would tell you about her entire music history, including how her father is a musician but that would be proof of my stalker-ish ways. :D

Not long after, I heard Refill on music site SoulBounce.com (they’re on Twitter too!). Elle’s raspy alto reminded me of Corinne Bailey Rae with a whole lotta edge. She doesn’t necessarily have a ton of range but in her lane- she’s pretty dope. She can be smooth and she can rock out. I began to listen more for content and vocal ability and was pleasantly surprised. While ‘Only Wanna Give It To You’ likened her desire for a boy to that for a fresh pair of kicks, Refill spoke of a surprising love for which she wanted a long pour or at least a few more sips. Heck- just gimme another glass! Who hasn’t been there before? Did I mention that I also LOVE that video?



Flash forward to now and Elle’s Perfectly Imperfect has been released (August 6th). Just like her previous releases, this is a fun project. It boasts pop, country, funk, rock, soul and hip hop-tinged Elle. Sometimes when an artist tries to do too much, it seems a bit all over the place and you never quite know where you’re going (or where you’ve landed). But Perfectly Imperfect is a good ride. In fact, I would say it is the perfect riding in your car joint from start to finish. At times she also reminds me of Amy Winehouse (think F-ck Me Pumps), and even a more fun Alicia Keys. One of the best things I like about it is that it sounds like live instrumentation in my car. This means that her live set should be great. I have a deep appreciation for that alone. And the bonus? For a refreshing change, we have a young woman singing about fun, longing, partying, imperfections and love. Oh- Did I mention FUN!? Plus she uses words like “interjection” properly (I’m a nerd – so!?). I suspect there is a lot more to see here folks! In the meantime, this first stint is totally on point and perfectly- Imperfect. 

My personal faves are (ok, upon further scrutinization this is more than half the cd - lol):

• Only Wanna Give it to You
• Refill
• Sound Proof Room (ummm yeah- you might know the feeling)
• I Don’t Care
• Leaf (I forgive the fact that this sounds like a slowed-down Only Wanna Give it to you)
• Oh What a Night
• Not Tonight
• Stop the Clock (one of the few times I'm ok with hearing tick-tock being sung)
• So Fly (reminiscent of Video by India Arie)

My rating:  Pretty Dope

Girls with glasses DO ROCK!

So, I'm sitting here in Starbucks enjoying some peace with my iced chai latte, digging how well they go together. I'm about to snap a picture of my drink when I catch a view of my 2012 specs. I realized then that I've never discussed them and my love for them. Never much into the trending "nerdy" look I immediately decided they werent for me. Then I tried them on anyway because I am officially and secretly a self-proclaimed eyewear model. I LOVE going to my eye doctor's office just to see whats new. I could really take home a new pair every week were it not for that pesky thing called vision insurance.

But I digress... My new favorite brand of glasses is Lafont! They are prominently carried at my favorite eyewear house- Columbus Eyeworks (exceptional staff and my fave- Dr. Koch). It's like they were all made just for me. I wear every pair until the hinges fall off! I'm like that guy in the contact lens commercial, crying "My brand!" every time I see them on display. Hopefully I'm not alone in that or in my random stops at mall vision stores. Anyway, if you're a glasses fanatic like me- check them out, comment and let me know if you have a favorite brand!

Do you believe in... Leave-ins?

Kinky Curly Knot Today AND Paul Mitchell The Conditioner

Many of us think about using a moisturizer of some sort to manage dryness, especially when we have hair that is naturally dry and/or color treated. Typically we go to a moisturizer to combat the dryness. In fact, I have a favorite moisturizer and one that I just "like". Most recently, I found that my hair digs the lite version of Carols Daughter Hair Milk. They are all water-based and a major part of my hair care regimen. 

My hair is most moisturized when I use a leave-in conditioner on my color treated locks. But leave-ins aren't just for color treated hair. When I big chopped, my hair was super dry. I used alcohol-laden products on a regular basis and about 12 hours afterward my hair was like- "help me. need...water!" By following blogs about natural hair, I realized I should have been using a leave-in for added moisture from day one. So- why should YOU use them? 

Here are just a few reasons--> Leave ins:

· are great for detangling wet hair

· can be used as a conditioner-only styler

· provide moisture under gels

· hydrate and strengthen

· minimize frizz

In a nutshell, leave-ins have the added components that keep it all together, soft, shiny and manageable.  They are meant to actually leave ON the hair versus the conditioners that many keep on their hair all day for conditioner wash and go styles.  Some people add olive, coconut or jojoba oil for added shine and sealing all that goodness into the strand. I primarily add the oils in winter when my hair is dryest and the weather is most harsh. My favorite leave-in conditioner of late has been Paul Mitchell's The Conditioner (a generic version is sold at Sallys for half the cost) and I've always used Kinky Curly Knot Today. I've also taken a fancy to Redken Smooth Down Detangling Cream. Once I've used up my current stash I'm heading to Target or Walmart to find Herbal Essence None of Your Frizziness Smoothing Leave-in Cream (it’s only $3.99!). Do you use a leave-in? Which do you recommend?

Gel Talk: EcoStyler

EcoStyler Pink styled wash and go

Talking Gels: No, gels don't actually talk but I like to discuss them from time to time. I like to use gels AND products that are alcohol free. I always noticed that even when I had a relaxer the moment the beautician used some sort of alcohol laden product, my scalp would begin to itch and within days my hair would be dry (unmoisturized). My personal, natural journey and product snobbery led to my discovery of non-alcohol based gels such as EcoStyler. There are others but I just wanted to talk about this one for a moment. It is alcohol free and they have several versions. Some include olive oil, argan oil and other healthy ingredients. One is even meant for those active in sports. They come in a variety of colors- green, crystal, blue... I have previously tried the green, yellow and crystal. They were cool for my twists and wash and gos but I didn't LOVE them because my hair didn't need as much hold or was often too crunchy after use.

Then one day, I discovered that EcoCo (the maker) has a facebook page - find it here: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Ecoco/216194538402548. And on that page, they note the best use for each gel. Lo and behold I found that the "crystal" I'd been using was for porous hair. My own hair is "low porosity". After reading a bit more on each I suspected that pink was for me as it has less hold (meaning less crunch for me) for my hair which spirals on it's own. I searched high and low for it on the ground here in Columbus and was only able to find green, yellow and crystal at the suggested retailers and beauty supply stores (Sallys, Walgreens, CVS). Then one random day after the recent power outage, I went grocery shopping at Giant Eagle. Something told me to look in the cosmetics section and voila! There it was! I have been using it rather faithfully every since and it really does work for me. And might I add that EcoStyler gel is very affordable at about $3-$4 for a 16-oz jar (there are 8oz sizes too). There's something for everyone in this gel line. I'm really looking forward to trying their NEW Crazy, Sexy, Cool Curls line (partially because it borrows the name from an album title of one of my favorite girl groups- the first curlie who names the group wins a free jar of Eco Gel from me!). Give it a try!

Getting Back In the Zone

Life often comes at you fast; speedily bringing lots of distractions that derail your plans to change aspects of your life. The distractions I’m referencing take you further from, versus closer to your goals and dreams.  What should be temporary disruptions have somehow lasted much longer than they ought. In my case, it’s been things like:

•  Personal issues
•  Power outages
• Vacations
• Potlucks/Team Events
• TV
• Other People’s Poop (You down with OPP?)

I like to think that I’m always evolving. I feel as though God has given me many gifts and talents and I’m at my best or simply “IN THE ZONE” when I’m using them. This is just one reason I became a Zumba instructor. But I realized recently that despite my heavy workout regiment, I’d been neglecting my eating goals. I’ve had a goal to lose 30 pounds for the last year. I’d like to finally accomplish this by December, 2012. But starting over every week, or few days has pushed me further away, or at the least- caused me to become stagnant.

I’ve also had a goal to get my blog and crafting going again. I enjoy writing for entertainment purposes but I also find it therapeutic to share my poetry, photography and crafts. Still, I regularly find reasons to ignore the pen and my desk that holds everything I SAY that I love. I put off or ignore the great words, crafting ideas and articles that formulate in my head randomly during the day and at night. It has become insanity at its best.

Procrastinating has become a major problem and it has not come with the type of losses I want to achieve. Like I mentioned above, I find myself starting anew over and over. But this time, I’m declaring it will be different. To kick start this endeavor, I will either write or craft for at least one hour every day/night (starting today/night!). To keep things exciting, I will pick up my camera and start a random photography project based on my interests. I will NOT take the easy way out with my phone or Instagram.

Egg whites with asparagus and mushroom

Additionally, aligning my meals with my fitness regimen will become a priority. Water will again become my BFF in a bottle. My loved ones will have to understand if I decline dinner at places where I struggle (you know- the ones with complimentary, bread baskets- lol), eat before I come to an event, or only indulge occasionally. Hopefully, some of them will join me.

I’m on a journey to stop avoiding success. And it starts with THIS MEAL and THIS BLOG. Let’s go.

Once upon a time...

Once upon a time, I had a blog. I was quite excited about it as it provided a way for me to share everything I love... and then life happened. Deaths, graduations, vacations and family adjustments have caused me to do everything but log onto my computer. Feeling overwhelmed prevented me from actually composing something worthy of your eyes/ears! But the page kept calling. Ideas kept coming and eventually I got it. I was born to write, to explore and to utilize every single talent the creator has given me. It took several tries and epic battles with procrastination for me to get it back together and get started again. So... I'm back! For real. Happy Sunday everyone! New post tomorrow.