Naturally Sweet

Yours Clothing

2011-10-30T11:53:00.000-07:00

Yours Clothing is a store based out of the UK specializing in sizes 14-32. I must say that I am very pleased with the quality and style of the clothing. I am in love with their leggings and tights, they are the best fit and flattering leggings I've ever purchased. I have also ordered 3 dresses from this website.

As far as fit goes I'd say order a size down from your regular size. So if you are an 18 order a 16, especially in the leggings. Other wise they will send you a size up from what you wanted. This happened to me and I had to take my dresses to a seamstress to get adjusted.

Shipping is $16 but they deliver fast. I ordered dresses on a Monday that I needed by Friday and they were mailed to me by Wed. The only thing is that make sure what you are ordering is something you really want because they don't pay for returns and it cost lots of money to send these items back overseas (which is why I opted to get them adjusted).

Other than that I will say that I plan on ordering more from Yours clothing because the clothes are reasonably priced ($50-$60 for dresses) and well made out of quality material.

Outfit of the Night (Homecoming edition)

2011-10-30T11:36:00.000-07:00

Shoes- SE Boutique from DSW.
Dress- Black Lace Gaga Sleeve from Yours Clothing. I had to take this dress to a seamstress to get taken up and in. Make sure you order a size down from the size you want. So if you need an 18 order a 16.
*I'll have better pics in the future*

Blonde Bombshell

2011-10-13T15:26:00.000-07:00

I made a visit to Curltopia last weekend to get my yearly color done. My stylist was Brittany and she did an amazing job, she replaced the girl who did my hair last year, Taylor. We did three layers of colors with the top being a copper blonde, the middle section an auburn color, and the bottom a dark copper brown color. It is so pretty and I love it. Please if you are ever thinking about getting your natural hair colored then Brittany at Curltopia is the girl you need to see.

It's Been Too Long

2011-09-25T22:20:00.000-07:00

I'm back and so so sorry for the long absence. My computer was sick and I had to send it away for a while to get fixed. School is also getting in the way of my life...lol. But I am back and have a lot of exciting things to blog about. I want to do more post about clothes, dieting and exercise, make-up, and all that other stuff us girls like to talk about. I've been thinking about adding a outfit of the day series but IDK yet. Anyway sorry for being away and thanks for sticking with me.

Healthy Eating Challenge

2011-07-12T12:29:00.000-07:00

My biggest problem with losing weight is eating out. I eat out almost every day of the week sometimes more than once per day. This week I am challenging myself to only eat meals that I've prepared myself from home. This includes homecooking everything and nothing microwaveable. This will take a lot of time because I'll have to plan each meal and snacks but it is worth it because I like to cook and I think my cooking is better than most restaurants. Last night, I made spicy cajun chicken, rice, and green beans wih tomatos and it was delish!!

I think this will cause me to try new recipes and be a little adventurous in the kitchen. I'll keep you all posted on how it goes and new recipes that I try. My hope is to reduce eating out to only twice a month and to add variety to what I can cook.

The Conclusion- June Fitness Challenge

2011-07-07T13:59:00.000-07:00

At the end of the June challege I stepped on a scale and found that I lost....drum roll please....5 lbs. I can't say that I am disappointed though because as I've said before it was hard for me to stick to the calorie restrictions so that is probably the main reason I didn't lose as much as I wanted. Welp this is another month and I am full-fledged into getting to my goal weight. I think I'm going to do an 1800 calorie diet instead of 1500, I should be able to stick to that a lot better. It's a shame though to have a love affair with food when you are trying to lose weight...smh but this will not defeat me...lol.

I'll do monthly weigh-ins but you guys have to keep me in check because I don't like to weigh myself. I'd rather just notice weight loss by my pants getting to big and people telling me "oh you look like you lost weight".

Coastal Scents Haul

2011-06-30T12:41:00.000-07:00

Yippeee!!! Coastal Scents is having a great sale on some of their best palettes. I have been wanting the 66 lip palette forever and when I heard of this sale and saw that the lip color palette was on it I jumped on. I purchased the 66 lip color palette and the 10 concealer camouflage palette. I use the camo quad concealer palette in dark and I love it. Though I only get use out of the medium color it fits me perfectly and I almost never leave my house without dabbing a bit under my eyes. Well they don't sell the camo quads in the summer which I didn't know so I purchased the concealer palette. The picture on the site looked like there were about 3 shades I could use but in person I think I may be able to use about 4 of the shades which is sooo worth the 11 bucks it cost.

They also sent me a free eyeshadow sample of Golden moss which is a gorgeous goldish green kinda color along with a small makeup bag for spending over 20 bucks.

**I'll do a few review after I try these out...I am soo excited about the blues.

Mr. Everything Style Chicken over Rice

2011-06-25T10:26:00.000-07:00

If you live in Atlanta, especially if you went to school in the AUC I am sure that you have heard of Mr. Everything Cafe. If not then please get yourself over there ASAP---->870 Martin Luther King Junior Drive Southwest, Atlanta, GA 30314-3642

Anyway everytime I go I always get the Healthy Choice Chicken over Yellow Rice. Basically it is grilled chicken, all my fave veggies, and cheese piled high over yellow rice. It is a healthy option when you consider all the veggies involved but the serving size is colossal. So, if you are greedy like me I'd definitly plan on sharing this cause you might end up eating more than you need. You could also get steak, shrimp, salmon, lamb, or no meat at all over rice.

If you can't make it over there then it is really easy to make at home and I have a recipe that I think is a little better than theres because its a little more seasoned. And the beauty of making it at home is that there are no limitations. You can use whatever meat, veggies, cheese, rice, season, whatever...

Veggies- As I said you can use whatever you want but here are my faves
-spinach
-broccoli
-zucchini
-squash
-mushrooms
-tomatos
-cucumbers

Meat- I always use Chicken but you can mix or match whatever
-shrimp
-steak
-salmon
-smoked sausage (turkey is healthier)

Yellow rice- I use Mahatma's spicy yellow rice

Cheese- I use Kraft casserole cheese which is a mix of about 3 or 4 diff cheeses.

*Make the rice according to directions on package
*Season the chicken with salt, pepper, and garlic powder and sautee in olive oil over medium-high heat
*After chicken is done set aside and cook veggies with a little butter and dash of salt and pepper (Make sure not to let your veggies get soggy, but firm with a little crunch still
*Put your rice on a plate and cover with chicken, veggies, and cheese.
*Slice tomatoes and cucumbers over top and serve with a little ranch on the side for dipping

Voila!

**To make this even healthier use brown rice instead of yellow rice and boil rice in diluted Chicken stock instead of regular water for more flavor

June Challenge update

2011-06-23T12:15:00.000-07:00

I have lost count of what day I'm on but I am still going at the June Challenge. I workout 6 times a week instead of 5 and I am still having trouble sticking to the 1500 calorie diet but I am eating healthier foods. I guess I just need to plan my meals better so that I'm not so hungry between meals. My workouts consist of running around Morehouses track, running/walking up Morehouses bleachers, and walking long distances (at least 3 miles) around my neighborhood. If the weather is too bad to walk outside I do a workout DVD or play on my Wii. Also this week I plan on adding weight lifting to my workout routine.

I have not weighed myself because I hate the scale but for the sake of the challenge I'll weigh myself at the end of the month to see my progress. I have also decided on a reward to give myself once I get to the halfway point. I've been wanting to color my hair for a while now and so to motivate myself even more I've decided not to color my hair until I've lost 30 lbs. So wish me luck and I wish all of you out there striving to reach a goal much luck also.

Day 3 :-)

2011-06-08T17:38:00.000-07:00

So I was going to wait until the end of the week to blog about my workouts but today I was so motivated I couldn't hold it in. Today is Day 3 of my official June challenge but Day 4 of working out. My thoughts so far are that I love the working out part, it feels so good after you've ran up the bleachers or ran a lap, it's a high I can't explain. Like I'm on cloud 9 right now. It's a stress reliever and nothing feels better than coming down from a sprint to realize that life is short and I shouldn't let people or anything bother me.

Anyway with all that being said I am having problems sticking to the 1500 calorie intake (yikes). It is sooo hard but I know I can do it just have to do better tomorrow.

June's Fitness Challege (by Curliebelle) DAY 1

2011-06-06T10:24:00.000-07:00

This challenge is not my own but one that I found on Curliebelle's blog "Skinny Chick in the Making. The rules are simple:

1. Workout 5 days a week for at least 35-40 minutes with 2 rest days.

2. Drink at least 8 bottles of water (64 ounces of water) each day.

3. Daily calorie target is 1200-1500 calories.

4. Weigh-ins on Day 1, Day 15, and Day 30.

5. No Excuses

Today is my first day of officially starting and I am off to a good start and I'll go running around Morehouse's track later when the sun goes down. I am taking this one day at a time and I'll stick to 1500 calories of healthy foods.

Swim cute

2011-06-05T15:06:00.001-07:00

If and only if I weren't living off of a grad students salary all of these would be mine. Oh well a girl can wish can't she. These swimsuits are the latest in Monif C's swim collection.

HAIR UPDATES

2011-06-04T13:49:00.000-07:00

This is my fro as of June 3rd. I washed my hair with Giovannis shampoo, conditioned with Herbal Essences Hello Hydration, and used Kimmay's leave-in conditionar then styled with eco styling gel and voila.

Lately my go-to hairstyle has been two strand twist and twist-out but twisting my hair takes too much time and I just didn't feel like doing it yesterday. However I will have to by the end of the week cause its a great low maintenance hairstyle once its done.

One thing that suprises me about my hair still to this day is the amount of shrinkage I mean sheesh, looking at my fro you would never think that my hair is actually shoulder length. (shrugs) Oh well that is apart of having kinky curly hair.

Dark Girls Preview

2011-05-26T19:46:00.000-07:00

Hi girls and guys....soo in 2011 I really wish this weren't an issue but since it still is check out the preview to this documentary about Dark Girls. The scene with the little girl was hard to take in but I've heard my little cousins ranging ages 6-11 say that they thought light skin is better too. I wonder how we could change this ideology that one complexion is better than the other, at the end of the day we are all Black so skin color shouldn't matter.

As far as dating preference it doesn't bother me when a guy says he prefers light skin because, I mean, we all have our preferences. I prefer guys who are tall and thick. I also prefer dark men over light men. Not to say that I exclude men who don't fit that description and also I don't think one is better than the other it's just what I like.

Anyway tell me what you think about the documentary and the issue as a whole.
http://vimeo.com/24155797

Dang!!! All of that though!

2011-04-10T15:36:00.000-07:00

This was a typical lunch or dinner for me before I decided to eat out only once a week. Sheesh the polynesian sauce has 110 calories alone, I'd eat this meal probably three times a week at least and the last item that you don't see is a sweet tea. The part that gets me is that this is for the small, don't let me mess around and be hungry and get the medium size version, I don't even wanna face those numbers cause that would call for another 110 calories of polynesian sauce as well. Anyway a lot of restaurants have the calorie calculator tool, I challenge you guys to go to your fave spot and calculate your regular meal...you might be suprised at the numbers I know I sure was.

Concealer vs Non concealer

2011-03-27T19:19:00.000-07:00

This is the difference that coastal scents concealer quad makes on my eyes...this is using the medium brown color on the dark concealer quad
Eye on the left is concealed, eye on the right is not concealed

Falsies Mascara

2011-03-27T19:02:00.001-07:00

My lashes before and after applying Falsies Mascara in blackish brown. If you like this you'll love the before and after with Falsies Black Drama which I'll have pictures coming soon.

Before

After

NAILZ DID

2011-03-27T18:50:00.000-07:00

A few of my favorite nail designs over the last couple years. All of these were done by me

25 Reasons to Celebrate

2011-03-17T19:26:00.000-07:00

So my 25th birthday is today and I am just sooo happy about it. I was kinda nervous about turning 25 because to me 25 is the milestone of real adulthood. No longer am I a young adult, I am a full on adult now. So while leaving my childhood behind I can look back on my life and say well done India, well done. I've accomplished a lot in my 25 years, graduated from one of the best schools in the country, went back to work on a PhD, no kids, great family, and great friends. I am truly truly blessed. So I am going to take this 25th year and celebrate my past, the present, and my future because I have so much to be proud of and look forward. I also want to use this year to accomplish 2 goals that I have been wanting to accomplish for a few years now. I don't want to say what they are right now but when I feel I am closer to achieveing them I will reveal what they are. So this 25th year is all about finally accomplishing those goals I've been putting off, traveling (which will start off with a camping trip), and just celebrating life every chance that I get.

Makeup Products I Love!

2011-03-05T09:54:00.000-08:00

Hello Girls. So here I am going to show you the makeup products I swear by. Most of these products I use for my daily makeup look, which I'll post pictures of later. Anyway lets get started....

1. Coastal Scents Camo Quad dark- I say that I love the quad but really I only use one color and that is the medium brown. It is creamy and blends perfectly with my skin tone. I use it mostly around my eyes to conceal the darkness in that area. If I don't do anything else after my face is washed, I at least apply this concealer. I apply it with my finger and just blend it all around my eye area.

2. Maybelline Falsies mascara in Black Drama- I. LOVE. THIS. PRODUCT. I hate having to fight with false lashes to put them on. With this product I don't have to bother. I wear this daily and it really makes me look like I'm wearing false lashes. Why Black Drama as opposed to the regular falsies, well it truly is dramatic. I think its the blackest black they have and it makes your lashes look really thick. It has a different formula from the regular falsies and I've heard a few people say that it makes their lashes clump. Which I can see why they say that because it is really wet and takes a while to dry compared to regular falsies but the formula is what makes it great to me. I am careful about applying it and if I get clumps I comb them out with a eyebrow comb.

3. NYX eyeshadow base (White)- I have never used a base until I just recently bought this product and I surely did not know what I was missing. This product makes your eyeshadow really pop. The difference between using a base and not is like woah. The only thing about this product is that because it is white it really stands out against brown skin. When I put it all over my lid up the the brow bone the base stands out more than my hi-lite color. Next time I'll get the nude color.

4. NYX mood changing lip gloss- I like this product because it is not too thick and sticky. It gives a nice shine without looking greasy. Last but not least it turns the perfect shade of a pinky red color on my lips.

5. NYX lipstick in Narcissus- I love this color applied over the mood lip gloss. According to other blogs it can be compared to MAC's St. Germaine, I wouldn't know because I rarely purchase MAC products. It is a pretty pink color and applied over the mood changing lip gloss I think it is gorgeous. Yes I apply my lipstick over my lip gloss sometimes.

(repost) "Forget Your Coloring Book, Color by Numbers Approach to Life"

2011-03-04T08:55:00.000-08:00

WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE, REMEMBER THE FEARLESS, REMEMBER THE DREAMERS, REMEMBER THOSE WHO REPRESENT THE GHETTO...THE FAIRY TALE OF NOTHING TO SOMETHING. I'M BRIEFLY SADDENED BY NEGATIVE COMMENTS, BUT I HAVE TO REMEMBER THOSE PEOPLE ARE SCARED, INCAPABLE OR JUST PLAIN IDIOTS. WE ARE THE FUCKING ROCK STARS BABY. NO COCAINE, JUST LIFE MY NIGGAS!! NO COCAINE, JUST LIFE! IT'S FUNNY TO ME WHEN FASHION BLOGGERS DOWN OUR OUFITS AND THEN SUPER JOCK OUTLANDISH SHIT ON THE RUNWAY BUT THEN THEY DRESS MAD PRUDE AND DON'T LIVE FASHION. WE LIVE IT MAN. FUCK THAT, WE LIVE IT!!! WE LIVE IT SO HARD PEOPLE LIVE THROUGH US! WE REPRESENT YOUR INNER SPIRIT!! THE CHILD IN US ALL, THE BRUTAL HONESTY, THE NAIVETY, THE BRAVE WARRIOR, THE ADRENALINE THAT ALLOWS A MOTHER TO LIFT A CAR IF HER CHILD WAS TRAPPED UNDER IT! REMEMBER, THERE WAS A TIME WHEN EVERYBODY DISSED MICHAEL JACKSON EVERY CHANCE THEY COULD. IMAGINE THE PRESSURE OF BEING A TRUE ICON. VERY FEW HUMAN BEINGS ARE STRONG ENOUGH TO TAKE CONSTANT HATE!!! IF WE DON'T DO WHAT YOU FEEL IS THE SHIT, YOU BEAT US UP VERBALLY AND MENTALLY, LIKE A CATHOLIC SCHOOL TEACHER BEATING A CREATIVE STUDENT INTO SUBMISSION. I CAN HEAR YOU SCREAMING 'COLOR INSIDE THE LINES!!!' WELL FUCK YOUR COLORING BOOK, COLOR BY NUMBERS APPROACH TO LIFE. AT THE END OF THE DAY WHO ARE WE HURTING??? OH "THE NEW BLACK???" SINCE BARACK IS PRESIDENT BLACKS DON'T LIKE FUR COATS, RED LEATHER, AND FRIED CHICKEN ANY MORE?! WHEN YOU TRULY UNDERSTAND CULTURAL SETTINGS, BOUNDARIES, AND OUR MODERN DAY CASTE SYSTEMS, THEN YOU CAN FEEL THE GLORY AND PAIN FROM THE DAYS OF KINGS IN AFRICA TO THE NEW KINGS OF THE MEDIA. LET THE BALL PLAYERS DANCE AFTER THEY SCORE! IT'S LIFE MY NIGGAS, IT'S LIFE! REMEMBER CLOTHING IS A CHOICE. WE WERE BORN NAKED!!! FRESH IS AN OPINION, LOVE IS OBJECTIVE, TASTE IS SELECTIVE, AND EXPRESSION IS MY FAVORITE ELECTIVE. NO MORE POLITICS OR APOLOGIES!!!

-Kanye West

I Love Me!!!

2011-02-17T07:41:00.000-08:00

I looked at myself in the mirror with a bathing suit on and thought, "not bad, not bad at all". #Thatisall #Esteemofyourself

5 Things I Won't Be Doing Until I Get Married

2011-01-13T05:10:00.000-08:00

Soooo I know I don't keep up with this thing as often as I should or would like to but I do have a lot of ideas for this year that I want to blog about and stuff like that so please don't leave me and stay tuned but right now it is 8:13 am January 13th and I have not slept...I have literally been up since 1:00 January 12th....ok anywho sorry I am rambling but this post really has nothing to do with what this blog is about but I was on this website called "Until I Get Married" basically about a single guy and his take on relationships, very interesting check it out, . Okay so there was a post there called five things I won't be doing until I am married and I felt inspired to write my own little list. I was going to do this privately but I thought hey why not post it on my blog. Anyway this list of his got me thinking we really do too much too soon in relationships...I mean sheesh by the time we are married we've done everything there is to do...where is the excitement (perhaps a reason the divorce rate is so high? I'm just saying). Ok so here goes my list:

1. No going away on trips together- This is a rule that I've been had for myself. I just want to save my first trip away with my husband on our honeymoon. Going away for a trip can be very very intimate and I just don't want to share that with someone who is just a boyfriend. At this point in my life I realize boyfriends will come and go and no matter what we think while in a relationship a boyfriend is not really that stable of a situation, shoot here today gone tmrw. Besides one of my favorite places is the mountains and I'd like to share that with one person. Imagine you are married and you and your hubby are going to the same resort you used to have one or many of your exes take you.

2. Shacking up- I've made this mistake in the past and I will not repeat it. I will not, mark my words, ever move in with a man until I have a ring on my left ring finger and a wedding date set. Been there done that, never again. I honestly and whole-heartedly believe that shacking up will curse your relationship. This is not a relationship blogspot so I will not go into it anymore than that. #Thatisall

3. No changing of the facebook relationship status- I took this from the original blog but it is such a great idea. I mean do they really even matter. How many guys have tried to talk to you with his status as in a relationship? I think that little status thing is childish anyway. Me and my homegirl joked that if the status is changed on facebook that is how you know its serious but nowadays I don't think so. I mean plus how tacky does it look when every few months your relationship status toggles back and forth from single, it's complicated, in a relationship, in and open relationship....just, I'm not going to bother anymore when I am married I will put I am married and leave it at that.

4. No sharing pets- Also taken from original. I am the type of person to really get attached to an animal, especially a dog. So if I were to get a pet with my boo and we broke up it'd be like a custody battle over who gets to keep it. So I'll never go in on a pet with my boyfriend.

5. Alright so last but not least, I will not make a big life decision based on my boyfriend- This means moving to a new city, turning down opportunites, missing big events etc..

Okay sorry this will be my last relationship post because this is not a relationship blogspot and I don't want it to be but I would like to hear y'alls list.

Sesame Street Embraces Natural Hair

2010-10-14T12:17:00.000-07:00

Sounds like Willow Smith singing to me.

CURLS

2010-09-21T09:39:00.000-07:00

So I have been trying this new product for a couple days and I know I should wait about a week before I post a review but I'm already in love. The product I am talking about is called Curls. I bought this product from target each at $10.99. I bought the daily leave-in moisturizer and the crème brulee. The reason I bought it is because I've been looking for something that can replace Miss Jessie's curly meringue because $22 for 8oz is just too much for me right now. Anyway so I was at Target and they have a lot of cool curly hair products but for some reason "Curls" caught my attention.

The crème brulee claims to define curls and eliminate frizz without the hold of a gel and let me tell you it works. The curls were poppin and when they dried it was crunchy feeling or hard at all. They were really nice and soft.

The leave-in moisturizer is good for next day hair. So I sprayed my hair with the product and I did not like the way it comes out the spray nozzle. I thought it would be misty but instead it was a streamline so it concentrated too much in one area. I diluted it with water and put it in my spray bottle and that way worked much better. So I sprayed my hair and added the crème brulee as needed so now my second day hair looks just as fresh as my first day hair. That has never ever happened before.

New Hair Regimen

2010-09-21T09:16:00.000-07:00

So my hair has been so soft and moisturized lately and I just wanted to share with you all what I was doing to get it that way.

The process begins on Friday night
1. Wash hair with Avalon organics lemon clarifying shampoo
2. Deep condition O/N with Aubrey organics honeysuckle rose conditioner and olive oil/coconut oil mixture (this is just pure coconut oil and olive oil that I mixed together myself)At this point I detangle completely with a shower comb sometimes I put my hair in big two-strand twist but most of the time I don't
3. Rinse out conditioner and oil
4. Herbal Essences Hello Hydration as a leave-in conditioner along with my OC oil mixture, since it is being used as a leave-in it doesn't take much
5. For styling I saturate my hair with water section by section and use ecostyling gel to finger style

Weight loss story

2010-07-21T20:36:00.000-07:00

I love that she said you have to be mentally prepared to lose weight. That is so true but I don't reccommend her diet....it sounds really unhealthy, but then again I'm no doctor.

**There is a part 2 to this video but y'all get the gist.

Finger Styling

2010-07-20T20:18:00.000-07:00

The way this girl is doing her hair is exactly what Taylor did to my hair. The only thing is that in the video the girl says that you shouldn't mix the Curly Meringue and the Buttercreams but Taylor did in my hair and it was just fine, however I am noticing flakiness and dryness so that maybe the reason. I haven't added any other moisturizers or oils to my hair since I got it done so that could also be the reason for the dryness and flakiness.

edit ** She also stretched it by using a blow dryer while gently streching the roots

Curltopia

2010-07-17T15:06:00.000-07:00

I went to Curltopia today to get my hair colored because I needed a change. Well it was very professional, my appointment was at 1:00 and I was about 15 minutes early and was seated very promptly. I was able to research the person doing my hair online and I chose her because she is a color specialist or whatever. I assumed that because it was called curltopia that it was a hair salon for Black women but I was surprised to see a lot of Caucasian women there which got me nervous. Now I knew my stylist was a white lady before I went but when I saw that most of her clients were white as well I was thinking "Oh gosh what if she doesn't know what to do with my type hair". Well I did not express my concerns because after all it is a "curly hair boutique" and I'm sure she wouldn't be working there if she couldn't deal with all hair types so I sat in her chair and explained to her what I wanted.

I told her I wanted light-brown-honey-blondish- hair in the front and a darker brown color in the back but it should be a gradual change. Then I tried to talk in terms of weave, "OK I want 27/30 in the front and 4 in the back" she looked at me crazy then showed me pictures and I pointed out exactly what I wanted. The color came out exactly how I wanted but next time I want to go a little lighter in the front or maybe just add some highlights. The brown color in the back is so close to my natural hair color that I'm kinda mad (but not really) that I paid extra for a third color cause she could have just done the two light colors and it would have looked the same I think...

Anyway to make a long story short I really loved the technique she used to style my hair. They call it a finger style which I kinda do but not as well as she. She used Miss Jessie's Curly Meringue on my hair which just put my curls on a-whole-nother level. She sectioned my hair off and using only her fingers detangled and separated my hair. She then put me under the dryer and let all but the roots of my hair dry, then stretched the roots with a blow dryer. Super cute I must say, I am going to have to get me some Miss Jessie's stuff and try those techniques.

Prices were regular salon prices, I paid $110, which included a small tip, for three colors.

Skinny Jeans

2010-07-12T13:53:00.000-07:00

A few months ago I was pushing a size 20 in jeans (true story)and the only place I could really shop was Plus size stores like Ashley Stewart and Lane Bryant. Well last weekend I went shopping and bought a pair of skinny jeans that were a size 14 (tooting my own horn) they fit perfectly. Needless to say I was too hype. I'm keeping up the good work and I must say I am proud of me. :-)

Kanye West- Power and Monster

2010-07-06T13:20:00.000-07:00

You guys should know that Mr. West can do no wrong in my eyes, the man is a pure genius. Anyway here are two songs that I think are from his new album "Good Ass Job".

30lbs and Plateau

2010-07-06T12:58:00.000-07:00

So since January I have lost 30lbs and two sizes. I am glad about the 30lbs but I've been at the same weight for the last month so I am at a plateau. Basically, I need to kick it up a few notches. I hope to reach my Summer goal by the end of August which is to lose 20lbs. I plan to do that by exercising at least an hour every day except Sunday and to stop eating out because I've been ODing on the restaurants in the last month or so and I plan to start TODAY!!!

**If any of y'all are making your goals let me know by commenting to help motivate me.

Cayenne Pepper Hair Growth

2010-05-22T20:35:00.000-07:00

So I was on youtube the other day watching make-up tutorials and natural hair stories and I came across this one girl with the longest most gorgeous head of natural hair I've ever seen. Her secret, Cayenne pepper. She mixes olive oil with cayenne pepper and massages it into her scalp once a week. So I'm like okay whatever and googled it (because google knows all) and there was tons of info on how Cayenne pepper stimulates blood flow to your hair follicles which helps your hair grow faster, shinier, and thicker (or something like that). So I was like okay I'll try it, anything that will make my hair grow faster.

So I found out that hair grows at about an average of 0.5 inches a month and mine grows at about that rate. I have been natural since July 09 and my hair is probably about 5 inches at the longest section, maybe shorter. I am happy that my hair is growing at a regular pace but then I watch youtube and its girls on there like "yeah I've been natural for 6 months and my hair touches my shoulders when stretched". All I'm saying is that my hair is not as long as I would like for it to be at this point.

So I am gonna try this thing for at least a month and hopefully my hair will have grown at least an inch longer. If it does I will keep at it.

Anyway all you do is infuse Cayenne pepper with your hair oil, water, or vodka. I am going to use olive oil for right now and then if it works I may start using castor oil which is also said to promote hair growth. Anyway you soak the pepper in whatever for at least 10 days in a dark bottle and then you just apply it to your scalp and massage it in and wash it out. I've seen some people say they slept in it with a platic cap over their head but IDK maybe on the weekends I'll do this. Last but not least you can do this as often as you like. I'm gonna attempt to do it every other day. Ok well anyway I will let y'all know the honest results in about a month and a half cause I have to soak it first.

links to see what I'm talkin bout
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdFcpZxJp-g&feature=channel
http://www.ehow.com/way_5296973_cayenne-olive-oil-hair-growth.html
http://naturalmedicine.suite101.com/article.cfm/using_cayenne_pepper_to_prevent_hair_loss

One of my favorite things

2010-04-28T14:12:00.001-07:00

I absolutely love headbands. #Thatisall

The Skinny- a book review

2010-04-04T11:12:00.000-07:00

Last night I finished reading this book which is basically a diet plan for women trying to lose weight but don't want to have to give up their favorite foods. The authors are two very accomplished women, one who is single and a food critic, the other is a married mother of two and an author.

The diet basically is to eat whatever it is you crave in small portions but counteract it with large portions of fresh fruits and veggies. My problem with this is what I call the lays-potato-chip syndrome, once you have one bite you just can't stop eating it. In the book they kept reiterating eat a few bites then throw the rest away. So if you are having a doughnut from Krispy Kreme then also have fruit and yogurt, take a couple bites of the doughnut, throw it away, then get full off of the fruit and yogurt. Some people may be able to do that but my thing is that if I paid for the doughnut I'm gonna eat the whole thing and not only the fact that I paid for it but the fact that it is so good I am not gonna want to throw it away, in fact I may want another one when I am done with it.

However, I do agree with feeding your craving because if you are like me then you will not be satisfied until you have tamed your beastly craving. If I don't give into my craving I will crave it for weeks until I do, as a matter of fact I have been craving cuban food for the past few weeks now. You just have to be smart about your craving and ask yourself what is it that I really want then search for the best alternative. For example, the other day I craved fried chicken, but what I really wanted was something crispy and juicy, well I know that fried chicken is not the best choice for me to achieve my weight loss goal so I had the alternative which was baked chicken coated with crispy french fried onions. Sometimes I crave cake and cookies and in cases like that I really just need something really sweet so I usually just drink a glass of juice or snack on cereal and that usually does the trick.

The book does give great tips on how not to over eat or how not to just eat because. Basically you just have to eat slow and really take the time out to enjoy your meal, avoid eating on the go, and if at a restaurant have the waiter put half of your meal in a to-go box before he serves it to you. To avoid eating just because we should keep ourselves busy so that we won't be eating just to have something to do, I use to be so guilty of that, or if we are at a social event where there is food involved and you aren't really hungry but everyone else is eating then you just have to practice saying no and always remember your goals.

Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book unless you have a well organized weight loss goal that is really working for you and you just want a few ideas to make it even better. If you don't have an organized plan this book could be misleading and have you thinking you can really eat whatever you want and still lose weight. This book is more of a fad diet than a lifestyle change.

20lbs so far

2010-04-01T09:00:00.000-07:00

Well to date I've lost 20lbs I am keeping up with the plan I wrote about in my last weight loss update but now I do a lot more weight training. I learned that the more muscle you gain the more calories your body burns when you work out. So I do weight training at least twice a week. Upper body one day then lower body the next day. I admit that I hate weight training because it hurts and my body is constantly sore but I just have to push through the pain because weight training is really what takes your body to the next level.

Oh and along with my weight loss I have noticed that jeans that were once to small fit me perfectly or even a little too big, imagine my surprise.

Motivation 102

2010-03-26T17:46:00.000-07:00

This is for you Brittany

This girl lost 90lbs and kept it off.

My favorite Breakfast

2010-03-24T15:31:00.000-07:00

Eggs and spinach scramble

Now this was suppose to be an omelet so the first time I made it I used two eggs. I can never make an omelet right so it always turns into scrambled eggs which is fine with me because it taste just as good. Now I only use one egg because with two eggs it made so much that I wasted most of it and I hate wasting food.

Ingredients:
1 whole large egg
1/2 cup spinach (frozen)
tablespoon of minced garlic
5 large sliced mushrooms
1/4 cup of diced onions
1/2 tbs of country crock spread
Nature's Seasoning
Mrs. Dash Table blend

1. Melt butter with garlic in a pan.
2. Saute the spinach in the butter add the seasoning and table blend to the spinach
3. While spinach is sauteing scramble the egg in a bowl and add a little of table blend
4. dice the mushrooms unless you want them whole and add them to the spinach along with the onions
5. when the spinach is completely thawed pour the eggs over the spinach and scrape the pan as the eggs cook.
6. The eggs are done when they aren't runny anymore. I like my eggs nice, yellow, and fluffy but if you like a little brown then cook them longer.

The seasonings you should add to your taste. Salt is not necessary because the nature's seasoning has salt.

I usually pair this with roasted chicken that I get from the grocery store deli.

Slip ups are not OKAY! Okay

2010-03-16T17:07:00.000-07:00

I forgot to take my lunch to work today and by the time I got home I was so hungry I could have eaten just about anything. I really wanted something that I know I shouldn't have like hot wings, pizza, or a cheeseburger. I just kept thinking its not fair, I want to eat my fave foods and lose weight too. Then I thought, I can't be the only one eating like this then I wondered what do my girls eat. So I googled "Rihanna's diet and Kim's diet" and that reassured me that no matter who you are or how much weight you want to lose you have to change what types of food you eat. Whether your goal is to lose 50lbs or 5lbs, your diet has to change otherwise you are not going to reach your goal.

Kim K- works out 3-5 times a week "I start off with running on the treadmill for about 30 minutes! I definately run 2 miles per workout, then I lift weights for about 30 minutes. I alternate between arms and legs switching off every other workout. I then do a bunch of stomach exercises and then stretch! When I get home I always do leg lifts, lunges and squats!"

"It's not all about working out though, I definately have changed my diet too! I eat less junk food, hardly any soda, and just try to eat more protein. I definately cant give up sweets all together, so I just toned them down!"

*this was taken from----> http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-14380-NY-Celebrity-Fitness-and-Health-Examiner~y2009m6d23-Kim-Kardashians-Diet--Weight-Loss-Secrets

Rihanna- Does a low carb diet here is a sample of her daily meals and workouts

Breakfast

1. Breakfast egg sandwich with egg and meat or egg and cheese, one fresh orange.
2. Protein drink (look for ones made with soy protein to promote a healthy heart).
3. Low-carb breakfast bar (look for ones with no more than 15 grams of carbohydrate and 250 to 300 calories

Lunch

1. Grilled chicken sandwich, garden salad with 2 tablespoons low-fat salad dressing.
2. Frozen low-calorie lasagna entrée, apple.
3. Deli sandwich: Ask for 4 ounces turkey, ham or roast beef on 2 slices whole-grain bread topped with oil and vinegar or mayonnaise, lettuce and tomato; 1/2 cup three-bean salad

Dinner
1. Grocery-store take out: 3 ounces roasted chicken, 1/2 cup pasta salad, 1 cup sliced tomatoes drizzled with balsamic vinegar, 1 cup skim milk.
2. Chinese take-out: Egg roll, 1 cup shrimp chow mein, 1/2 cup rice, tea.
3. Quick and easy stir-fry: 3 ounces chicken breast mixed with 1 cup stir-fry vegetables (use the frozen packets for the easiest prep) and 1/2 cup rice; 1 cup skim milk

Snacks

- Half cup trail mix (1/4 cup peanuts mixed with 2 tablespoons dried fruit)
- Eight saltine crackers with 2 ounces low-fat cheddar cheese
- Low-carb snack bar (choose one between 150 and 250 calories)
- Two ounces string cheese and 1/2 cup grapes

Workout Ideas

You can't lose weight by diet alone, so...
- Boost your metabolism by weight training. The more muscle mass you have, the more calories your body will burn -- even when you're just sitting around. Learn how to create an easy and effective weight training routine.
- A diet won't replace your pot belly with a six-pack -- but this killer ab routine will!
- Find out how to fit more fitness into your busy routine.
- Still not sure where to start? Get an expert's take on walking, running, Pilates and other popular workouts that will help you shed pounds.

Motivation 101

2010-03-12T09:45:00.000-08:00

Whenever I work out it is one of these girls I think of. Whenever I don't feel like working out I quickly google one of these names and I am reminded of my goal. Okay, so I'm not delusional I know that these women workout very hard for their bodies and probably eat strict diets. I don't know if I will ever have a body like Kim K or Rihanna but I do know that I could have a bomb shape if I continue to work out and do what I am suppose to do. Another thing besides their bodies that I like is I really just love all of their styles. They always look so sexy, like they know they're hot ish, and I want to feel like that when ever I step out the house.

S/B- I did not mean to cut Khloe out. She is actually my fave, I guess the picture is just to big.

Telephone- Beyonce and Lady GaGa

2010-03-11T18:32:00.000-08:00

I liked it. #Thatisall

Kid Cudi

2010-03-09T16:28:00.000-08:00

I almost want to put him in my Kanye West category, almost. Anyway I love this song and both videos are hot but I like the alternate version better (the top one).

Why I Want to Get Healthy: Reason 1

2010-03-09T14:33:00.000-08:00

The number one reason I want to lose weight are these three ladies right here. They are all 40something but they could all easily pass as 20something. That should be me now and 20 years from now. It might be a little shallow but whatever. I am trying to get fine for life.

The Scale Is Finally On My Side

2010-03-05T17:35:00.000-08:00

I have lost *drum roll* 12 whole lbs since I started working out and eating healthier. OMG I am too happy right now. So a couple years ago I would have treated myself to a nice fried chicken dinner after a weigh-in like that but not today. I guess that is a good thing because I am changing for the better. I eat good food that is good for me. So in the past I lost weight by exercising and counting calories. I would eat only 1500 calories a day which means that if I wanted to eat fried chicken for dinner I wouldn't eat lunch or I would eat a very light lunch. Well the problem with that diet was that I would go to bed starving because I didn't eat enough during the day. Yeah I lost weight but when I got half way to my goal I didn't feel like counting anymore and gained it all back plus more. This time instead of counting calories I just eat healther foods. You know grilled or baked chicken, frozen veggies, brown rice... you get the picture. If I have a sweet tooth I eat those 100 calorie snacks which are a life saver because I can have oreos and snack cakes without going over board. Another thing I do is I really pay attention to the serving sizes and eat only the recommended serving size. With veggies the serving size is usually 1 cup and that one cup may have about 30 calories so if I am really hungry then I double the serving of veggies but nothing else. I don't use butter in my veggies either. For flavor I use a lot of mrs. dash, garlic, onions, and peppers, it is just as good I promise. If you really like meat, like I do, cook mushrooms with your meat. I love mushrooms and they have a meaty texture so they always satisfy me when I cook them with my chicken or whatever. Ummmm, that is pretty much it. Oh wait all I drink is water lots and lots of water, apple juice sometimes and sweet tea maybe once a week.

As far as my workout goes...I workout twice a day monday-friday and on the weekends I try to rest my body but I usually end up going for a walk around my neighborhood. My workouts are a mix between cardio and strength training. I do a group workout on campus at noon and then in the evenings I work out with my friend Mechelle in her apartment gym. Most of the time I walk/jog on the treadmill for about 45 minutes at a moderated pace 3.0-4.5 mph.

Welp so far its working and I plan to keep it up and we'll see where this goes. If y'all have any questions or any suggestions about what I am doing please let me know.

Loves it- J.A.S.O.N

2010-03-01T17:47:00.000-08:00

I tried this product on Friday and I am so excited. I love it...love it...love it. Like seriously my hair feels so soft and my curls are so defined. I could literally cut my hair and stuff a pillow with it, that is how soft it feels. First thing I noticed about the product is how good it smells. The second thing I noticed was how think it was coming out the bottle. It is super duper thick and creamy like lubriderm lotion. I am happy with this purchase and I cannot wait to use it again.

Nightmare on Elm Sreet

2010-02-27T18:23:00.000-08:00

I'm way too hype. I love thrillers and Freddy was my fave when I was a kid.

Hair stuff

2010-02-26T17:41:00.000-08:00

I haven't used it yet but I'll let you know how I like it when I do. I bought this for $8 from Kroger. The tag line "Leaves Hair Sillky with Less Frizz" is what got me. Anyway here is the website description:

Fortified with Herbal Extracts and Vitamins A, C and E. Leaves Hair Silky, with Less Frizz

JASON Aloe Vera 84% Conditioner nourishes hair with Panthenol-3™, vitamins and minerals, while it strengthens with Spirulina (micro-algae), 3 Proteins and 22 Keratin Amino Acids. This conditioner leaves your hair soft, silky and manageable—even if you use a blow dryer, curling iron or hot rollers. It's gentle enough for daily use.

Also, I am looking for a natural leave-in conditionar so if y'all know of any please let me know.

Rihanna AOL Session

2010-02-24T19:57:00.000-08:00

Love her!

5 pounds later

2010-02-24T18:12:00.000-08:00

I lost 5 whole pounds. Yaaaayyyy!!!! Some of you don't know but I have been working out for about a month now. I just recently started actually eating healthier too. I am finally seeing the fruits of my labor on the scale. I'm gonna be honest I haven't noticed any differences in my body but I have notcied that I can work out longer and harder and I actually want to work out. It used to be that I had to drag myself to the gym but now I feel horrible when I don't go. I'm so happy!!! I'm giving myself 1 year to reach my target weight, which I will reveal later. I also want to take the time out to give shouts out to my gym partner @Chellyissuprbad.

I'm 9 and I Hate My Face/Brownskin Girls Unite

2010-02-20T18:26:00.001-08:00

I can kinda relate to the first girl in the video. When I was younger I wanted to be lightskin. My momma only bought us black Barbie dolls but I remember one being lightskin with light brown and blonde straight hair and the other being darkskin with long thick kinky hair. I always wanted to play with the lightskin doll and it wasn't until I got to Spelman (Thank God for Spelman) that I understood why. Lightskin=beauty to me when I was a kid, not to mention my momma is lightskin. I don't wanna blame the media but when all you see is one type of girl in the magazines and stuff it implants something in your brain that tells you this is the way you should look, this is what beauty is. Now that I am an adult I know that I don't have to be lightskin to be pretty and I am a beautiful brownskin woman. In fact I would play with the brownskin Barbie with the big bushy hair today. I want to help other girls be happy with themselves whether they have issues with their weight or skin complexion or whatever makes them feel not so pretty, so I applied for a little sister through the Big Brother/Big Sister program and I should be getting paired up with someone in April.

You Should Never Ever Marry For Money....

2010-02-20T14:56:00.000-08:00

Tyra had a very interesting episode come on the other day, enough for me to blog about. While no one should marry just for money, it should be on your list of criteria. Wait a minute hear me out now, I'm no "golddigger" trust me but I would be lying if I said I didn't want my future husband to have some kinda stacks in the bank. I'm sure you feel the same way. I plan on having my own stacks and I don't want to be married to a man without his own. I'm old school, I want my husband to make more than me, I want him to bring home the bacon and pay the bills while I pay for all the extras #Imoldschoolsowhat. I don't know what the stats are but when I googled reasons for failed marriages I found that finances was #1 or #2. I don't want money to be an issue in my marriage so I figured if we both have it then there is no issue, right? So I want to be in love with a man with money. With that being said I wouldn't marry only for money but it is definitly on my list of criteria disguised by the word successful, lol.

S/B- I wanted to smack the ish out of the lady who said "scrong" and "conversate"

We Are The World 2010

2010-02-12T19:40:00.000-08:00

Stuff like this gives me hope in humanity. Not that I have lost hope completely but the world we live in today is full of wicked people. I am glad that celebs can come together to try and make a difference. It's really touching.

Rihanna-Rude Boy

2010-02-10T18:25:00.000-08:00

My fave outfit was the dress made out of broken records but all of them were sick!!

LMFAO Paranoid remix

2010-01-29T16:08:00.000-08:00

This is one of my fave songs on Kanye West's album 808's and Heartbreak. This remix by LMFAO is simply amazing!! Like its effin crazy!!

Wale ft.Rihanna

2010-01-29T15:42:00.001-08:00

I admit that I really slept on Wale and its all because he is from DC and I hate gogo music. Now, I admit that I love him. It is so refreshing to hear someone so real and hungry amongst all the BS that is released today. People like Wale make me have hope in music and there is someone for the kids to listen to after all.

"Forget Your Coloring Book, Color by Numbers Approach to Life"

2010-01-29T14:53:00.001-08:00

Sick!!!!!

2010-01-28T18:26:00.001-08:00

I have no words for this outfit that Michael Jackson was going to wear for his This Is It concert.

♫♪If I Were A Boy....♫♪

2010-01-28T16:31:00.000-08:00

These would be mine. I think they are superdy-duper cute and they are only $80 at Wish in little 5 points. They are called Cuban 1.5 by Supra. Let me tell you, I love a man that can dress and smells good. Looks don't matter to me because looks don't pay the bills or satisfy the heart. However you have to have a sense of fashion and always smell great. I'm not in to the hippity hoppity fashions much these days, I like men who are on they grown and sexy look. I think this is a great shoe for that grown and sexy man. Plus if you live in Charlotte you know you can't get in any club downtown with your Forces or Jordans. If you don't wanna wear dress shoes just to party I think that you will have no problem getting in any where with this shoe, unless your t-shirt is not tucked in...lol Hmm, maybe I will buy them for my honey, who knows.

SAG Awards

2010-01-26T17:05:00.000-08:00

Ok so I had no clue what the SAG awards were, that is until I googled it. SAG= Screen Actors Guild, ok whatever the point of this post is to introduce you to the most beautiful gown I've ever seen. Kate Hudson wore this all white backless Emilio Pucci gown. This is my first time hearing of Emilio Pucci but I want to know more, this gown is soo pretty.

Super Cool website

2010-01-26T14:15:00.001-08:00

I forgot to post the super cool website that shows you where to find the celeb look for less

http://intheircloset.com/?s=Petaldo

After thinking about it, I may not go get those shoes...its just something about those Damn red bottoms that set Louboutin's apart from everything else. I couldn't even respect myself if I bought those look-a-likes. Then again, who needs self respect? Right? lol

Wait a minute...Do these remind you of anything?

2010-01-26T13:56:00.000-08:00

OMG, I was online window shopping as I often do and look what I found:

It was by complete accident that I found these. I was checking my online shopping email and I had a bunch of coupons (expired Eff Me) from various places which led me to browsing DSW's website. It was their website that I found the second shoe which is by Carlos Santana and only, hold on now, $59.95 and I have a $10.00 off coupon, shut-up. So after I saw them I started searching for a picture of them to put here right and thats when I found this super cool website that shows you all the hot stuff that celebs wear and a look-a-like that is less expensive. That's where I found the second shoe by N.Y.L.A which they also have at DSW for $99.95. So who cares (I do) that they don't have the signature red bottom that we all know and love Lou for (yeah we on a nick-name basis, say something) and who cares that they are not suede (me) I really like the first pair and I plan on getting them ASAP!!

Must Be Love

2010-01-25T15:40:00.000-08:00

I am in love and it is not with a man. It is with, shoes. They are from Christian Louboutins fall collection and every single day I find myself going to his website to gaze at them *mouth wide open and salivating*. Like, I have never met a boot more perfect then this "Circus" suede and net ankle boot. It's only *cough* $1,295 *cough*. I am in love with the black but it comes in red. I can see myself walking in Primal or Tounge and Groove on a Monday night and everyone just stopping what they're doing and checking out my footwork, yeah I can see it now *glassy eyed looking into the air*.

Designer Files

2010-01-23T11:01:00.000-08:00

http://www.elle.com/Fashion/Designer-Files

So I find myself getting more into fashion and everything that goes along with it. I really don't know about a lot of designers and I used to be totally lost when it came to the dos and don'ts of fashion. I had no clue about what-to-wear or what-not-to-wear. Ummm yeah I could go on and on but I think you get the point, I was fashion illiterate. So upon my quest of knowledge about different types of styles and clothes and whats hot and whats not I found this page on Elle magazines website, it is basically all you need to know about designers. It has every single designer listed and you can go to collections back as far as Fall02. Needless to say...I hit the motherlode. Many of you probably already know about this but for those who are just getting into fashion like me will definitely appreciate this and you are welcome.

"Well I'm On My Way to the $50 Weave Shop"

2010-01-18T14:39:00.000-08:00

So the jingle is a little corny and I admit I was a little apprehensive about getting my hair done there. When I saw the poster driving down I20, I told myself I would never go there to get a sew-in. I thought $50 sewin in Atlanta, must be a jacked up weave. Well I'm eating those words now but the only reason I gave it a try was because my friend told me that she knew people who got their hair done there and their hair looked really good. So I was like whatever I'll give it a try....what do I have to lose right.

Now there are three locations in Atlanta. I went to the buckhead location on W. Wieuca rd, it was really hard to find. I went on Saturday at around 6:00pm as a walkin because they don't accept appointments on the weekend. I strongly suggest you go on appointment day if you can or go as early in the morning as possible on the weekend. I was there until about 1:00am. When I walked in it really was like a weave sweat shop. Its one big room with about 7 stations. There were two "braiders" and 4 "weavers". The chairs were loaded and there were about 5 ladies before me some braided and some not braided. I was one of the last walkins as they stop accepting walkins at 8:00pm though the radio commercial says 9:00pm. After about 2 hours I sat in the chair to get braided then was told to sit back down. Finally at about 11ish it was my turn for the sew down. It took longer because as the night went on a lot of the employees left leaving only two weavers and a braider. While it took forever and I was very irritated and ready to go by the time I was done, I am really pleased with my hair. I did not get the $50 weave but I got the $85 "platinum weave" which is a full sew-in with the net over the braids, it supposedly last 1.5 months longer than without the net. The $50 weave is just the sew-in with some of your hair left out and they won't style it.

Overall I enjoyed The Weave Shop and I will go back. Since I was there so long I was able to observe some of the girls work. So if you go to the buckhead location I suggest you get Shalonda- she is tall, lightskin, and has a long straight weave with bangs or Tasha- She reminded me of Queen Latifah when she was in "The Barbershop". Shalonda from what I seen was the best girl there. She worked fast and all her clients hair was on point and she will be opening her own Weave Shop next month in ATL. Tasha did my hair and she is not as fast as Shalonda but she does a good job too. They all did a pretty good job but there was one and I apologize because I can't remember her name but she had a horrible short curly weave, a rotten tooth, she was short, and skinny. If she is there do not sit in her chair....she takes FOREVER and her weave is not guaranteed to lay flat.

Ummmmm, I think that is all. Oh wait, yeah...it was not the most professional atmosphere but if you don't mind loud talk and gossip then you won't mind it. The only thing that erked the most is how they were openly talking about private business matters in front of customers....I hate that anywhere I go but other than that, I really enjoyed listening to the convos and even chiming in every once in a while.

Oh and I forgot to mention that you must wash and blowdry your hair before you go. These ladies are not licensed therefore they cannot use any chemicals on your hair so whatever moisturizing you want done you need to do all that yourself before you go.

Here is the link:
http://www.theweaveshop.com/georgia

*The top picture is the pic I showed her of how I wanted my hair

Operation Get Fine= #EpicFail

2009-12-26T12:24:00.000-08:00

Months and months back I posted a story about how I wanted to get in shape. I was ready to get my Toccora on. Well that was a failure. I guess its one of those things where you have to actually do it rather than say it. I was so ready though, when I posted that story I was determined. I may have even exercised that day. I have gone on diets before and they have all worked. I mean I lost the weight, looked, and felt great. But the fried chicken always calls me back (I love that stuff, its all crispy and juicy at the same time) and I always answer. Maybe just maybe I will get my life under control and start exercising and eating healthier and saying no to fried chicken (sure I will). but first let me finish eating this carrot cake and wash it down with a nice tall glass of whole milk!!

Kanye West- Best Rapper Alive

2009-12-25T21:15:00.000-08:00

Like Seriously, I love this dude. He is so real, if he thinks it best believe he will say it. This is a freestyle from a Kid Cudi concert in LA. I think its obvious that Ye is struggling with some issues these days. Especially the part when he says that he sold his soul to the devil. I'm not sure that that was the best move considering all the rumors about members of Roc Nation being "devil worshippers". Nevertheless this freestyle is so raw and emotional, I really felt it. I love that he is so passionate about his music and you can really feel his emotions when he raps or sings. I cannot wait for his next album to drop but until then these little freestyle tidbits will hold me over.

PS- don't you love how he brought Amber Rose out at the end?

Kid Cudi Freestyle

I'm So Appalled

It's Barbie Bish!!! (makeup inspiration)

2009-12-25T18:36:00.000-08:00

So, I love Barbie dolls. I keep telling myself that I am going to start collecting barbies (one of these days, I promise I will.) This look was inspired by Barbie. The model is my BFF Briana. If you want to know what I used just ask and I will tell.

Rihanna is so HARD

2009-12-24T09:50:00.000-08:00

Rihanna - Sucker Free - MTV Shows

Like seriously, you have to be the biggest hater in the world not to think that Rih is one of the baddest bishes these days. Her new video for "Hard" was so Effin great. I admit she is not the most talented in the game but she is so badass it doesn't even matter. Ever since they leaked those pictures of her after that boy beat her up, its like she said you will never see me on an off day again. I have grown to love this girl. There were so many moments in this video where I just said out loud...."Damn Rihanna you are bad as hell". My favorite part of the video is when she was shootin that big gun. What is your favorite part?

My inspiration (Make up edition)

2009-12-23T19:41:00.000-08:00

My sister is modeling this look inspired by Beyonce on Video phone. I love makeup and I really love doing these fun looks whether it is my own creation or a recreation. When I saw Beyonce rocking this bold black eyeshadow I knew that it wouldn't be long before I tried the look on my own. Usually I would do the makeup on myself but I thought that this look would fit better on my sis, so here goes. For the eyes I really wanted to do the black but I could not find my black liquid eyeliner. Here are the list of products I used:
Eyes- WetnWild mega liner liquid eyeliner in purple, Maybelline New York Stylish Smokes in Amethyst Smokes, and Maybelline New York Lash Stilleto.
Lips- NYX lipgloss in Red Tint
Cheeks- Covergirl instant cheekbones in Purely Plum (the darkest color)

Hair pictures

2009-11-19T19:54:00.000-08:00

BIG CHOP

2009-08-09T15:57:00.000-07:00

I decided 4 months ago that I was ready to be fully committed to being natural. So 4 months out of a relaxer I decided to go through with the "BC". Friends and family tried to talk me out of it but I was so ready to get it done. I made an appointment with Charles at Takai hair salon on Hosea Willams (Tiny gets her hair done there) to cut my hair. He didn't realize I meant all of it. I admit I was afraid and immediately afterwards I was thinking OM-effin-G what did I just have done....am I crazy, but after a day or two I was really happy with my decision and loved the new look (especially after I got my eyebrows done). I did have my hair colored but I don't plan on keeping up with the color (I think). Anyway, all black women should go natural, even if you want to press your hair every two weeks. I love my hair, nappy and all.

OPERATION GET FINE

2009-06-13T14:52:00.000-07:00

So, I was on Mediatakeout and I saw a picture of Toccara Jones and thought, "Damn that Bish has a nice body". I think (or I am hoping rather) that if I got into shape my body would look similar to hers. So I have put OPERATION: GET FINE in effect immediately. I would like for you all to join me with this as well. I am working on meal plans, work out regimens, and all the stuff with losing weight and getting in shape. Don't get me wrong I am happy with myself as I am but I know I could be happier and healthier if I slimmed down a bit. That's not just me though, I think everyone would be happier if they were healthier, right? Anyway I will post my stories and progress on this blog and I would love to hear everyone's ideas and stuff. You know, send me recipes and exercise techniques...stuff like that. Oh and most definitely exercises that will give me a nice ass, I think I have a little something to work with..lol

Bantu knots

2009-06-06T13:53:00.001-07:00

These are pics of me and my bantu knots....the curls with the flexi-rods are a lot looser and I like them better.

Twist and flexi rod style

2009-06-06T12:36:00.000-07:00

This is my hair after I two-strand twist it and roll it with flexi rods. I use the red 7/16" diameter rods. I love the curl it gives and this stlye can last up to a week. The products I use are pure coconut oil (I bought from the Wal-mart vitamin aisle), Cantu's Shea Butter Moisturizing Cream Shampoo, Palmer's Olive Oil conditioner, and Pantene Pro-V relaxed and natural setting lotion. After my hair is all rolled up, I sit under the dryer for about 30 minutes then I let the rest air dry in my sleep. In the morning I take the rollers out and undo each twist, then I run my fingers through it to loosen the curl a bit and go.

FED UP

2009-06-06T11:15:00.000-07:00

Okay, seriously I am getting fed up with this hair of mine. What am I suppose to do with it? I know I said I didn't want micros or twist but right now I feel like chopping my hair down to the NG and just wearing braids for the next 1.5 years. I don't know what products to use, I don't know what styles are safe, I really need help on this journey. I can't go the summer with my hair looking crazy like this. OMG whats a girl to do?

Microdermabrasion

2009-05-19T15:09:00.000-07:00

Last week I got microdermabrasion and I am greatly pleased with the results. Turns out everything I thought to be true about my skin is totally wrong. I thought I had oily skin and big pores but my skin is really dry and my pores are tiny. The reason my pores look so big is because they are clogged really badly. Also my skin must be in really bad condition because Sharon (the lady who did my face) told me that I would need about 6 treatments to get the best results. She also sold me a post facial kit and it includes a cleanser, agres peel-helps with inflammation, ReBalance also helps with inflammation, Hydrator plus- day time mosturizer, and a night serum- night time moisturizer.

The procedure took about an hour and hurt like hell at one point when extracting blackheads from my skin. Just like my momma used to do it she just pinched my skin with her bare hands until the blackheads came out, which left a little redness for about a day. Other than that it is very relaxing and you walk away with glowing radiant skin. It only cost $50.00 and the post kit was $20.00. It was well worth it and I can't wait to go back.

Contact info-
Face Value Esthetics
4470 Chamblee Dunwoody Road Suite 463 Atlanta, GA 30338

Phone: 404-313-9484
Email: sharon@facevalue.biz

Naturally relaxed

2009-05-13T07:56:00.001-07:00

Soooo I have been trying to fake a natural look by bantu knotting my hair or twisting it. Technically I am still permed, my last relaxer was March 26th so I have about a 1/2 inch of unpermed new growth. Last night I twisted my hair then used flexible hair rods to curl it.
My hair reaches the bottom of my neck, so when it is curled it sits on my head (especially with Bantu knots). I mean it's cute but I like looser curls and the flexi rods give me that. Other then that I have no clue what to do with my hair while I'm transitioning, I don't want braids or twist....weaves are damaging so is getting it pressed every two weeks....and when more of my relaxer grows out my hair will start to look crazy....any suggestions?

Welcome

2009-05-12T14:22:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Naturally Sweet blogs. Thank you for reading my journey to becoming a happier healthier me. This blog will be about all the things that I love make-up, hair, fashion, and whatever I feel like talking about that day. Feel free to leave comments on anything and thanks again for blogging with me.