Thursday, October 31, 2013

Happy Birthday!!!

Today is my beautiful sister's birthday and I wanted to wish her the best of days today!! She and her friend will be making a journey to the big city to celebrate!! We will be having what we call "Turn Up Time"! LOL

To reminisce a little bit, I can still remember that Halloween 23 years ago! I was with my cousin, dad, and aunt. Me and my cousin were racking up on all kinds of good candy when we got the heads up that my Mom was going into labor. We had to cut our Halloween short that night so you can imagine the way we took that bit of news!! But I took to being a big sister very well. My mom always says that I treated her like she was my child!! We played together, laughed together, cried together, got in trouble together, grew up together and both became great, smart, young women. We are very close and I wouldn't trade our relationship for anything in this world!!

The world is changing daily and things aren't quite like they were when I was growing up so...I want to wish you all safety and fun times on this day!!

And here's one more very happy birthday to my little sister! Happy Birthday Girl!!


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Friday, October 11, 2013

Tuna Salad

Potbelly Sandwich Shop

I've fallen in love with a place here called Potbelly Sandwich Shop. My boyfriend took me to a Nationals baseball game and we ate here after the game. I'm not really one to like sandwich shops so I decided to try something different just to spice up the trip. I ordered the Tuna Salad Sandwich and was instantly knocked off my feet by how good it was!

It just so happens that we have a Potbelly's within walking distance of my job. It's a struggle not to go there every day. I decided to try my hand at making my own tuna salad and it turned out very well. I Googled as many recipes as I could and I looked on Pinterest for ideas too. I was ultimately able to gather enough information from these sites to put together my own recipe for tuna salad.
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Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Moisturizers

For the past couple of months, I've been strictly using Design Essentials (D.E.s) product for my hair. What I was in Greenville, I went tot he salon every two weeks. I would try to get my hair done in a style that would last two weeks, so I wouldn't have to do much to my hair during the time in between salon visits. If I had to wash my hair, though, I was using D.E.s shampoo and conditioner. I would also use their moisturizer, curl stretching cream, and defining gel (see some D.E.s styles here, here, and here). Now that I'm doing my own hair things are so different (and I know I've said this a million times, but it's the truth)! I'm losing faith in some of the D.E.s products and I've started using some of my old favorites. I even asked you all for suggestions and because of your responses, I found two products to try out!

I moisturize my hair nightly. This might seem excessive, but my hair drinks moisture rapidly and will become extremely dry if I don't stay on top of keeping it moisturized. Knowing that I moisturize often, I need a product that's not going to be too much for my hair. I need for my hair to be able to stand the product for each two week period between washes.

The first product I tried was the Curls Unleashed (Organic Root Stimulator) Curl Defining Crème. It wasn't too thick or thin; it was kind of in the middle. It also smelled good which is always a plus. I tried this product for a two week period. Closer towards the end of the trial period, the moisturizer had built up on my hair. The product also left an oily residue on my hair (to the touch). The buildup and oily residue were negatives for this product. I was tempted to wash my hair before the end of the 2 weeks and because I abhor washing my hair so much, that's definitely not a good thing my book!

The second product I tried was Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie. I'd seen this product advertised on so many hair sites, IG accounts, etc...but I don't like jumping on bandwagons, so I put off trying the product. I decided to try it this time because my readers suggested it and I truly value your opinions!! This product was lighter than the Curls Unleashed moisturizer and it wasn't as oily. I tried this for 2 weeks as well and this product seemed to moisturize my hair in just the right way! It too had a great smell. Smell is so important to me because I have a very sensitive nose and since I moisturize my hair nightly, I have to be able to stand the smell of whatever I use on my hair (or any kind of soap, deodorant, air freshener, etc.). Before I buy any product with a smell...I try to smell it in the store (if possible)!

Between the two moisturizers, Shea Moisture won me out! It smelled better and wasn't as heavy on my hair. I was able to use it each night without having an oily, gunky mess on my hands at the end of two weeks. As far as hair results, I liked the twist out I got from the Shea Moisture product because it set my hair better than the Curls Unleashed product. (I would show pictures, but pictures do no justice to the styles I wear for whatever reason...so, I take less pictures of myself and my hair because of it.) I've been having issues with flakes for about the past month and I'm not sure if it's from product buildup, dry scalp, different pH in the water here, or what. I plan on finding out when I go back to the salon. Other than that I will continue to use the Shea Moisture product and find somebody to give the Curls Unleashed product to (*wink, wink*)!!

If you have any questions about either product, I'll be more than happy to answer.


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Monday, October 7, 2013

Baked Potato Casserole

I'm trying to get a better footing on my cooking game, so I'm up for trying new things; I always have been up for trying new things.

My best friend Nicole posted a recipe on Instagram that looked simply delicious.

The recipe was for Baked Potato Casserole!

I had to give it a try because I just love all things potato!

I wanted to try it so bad I requested the recipe in advance and cooked it the day after she posted the picture!

Here's how my casserole turned out:

Visit her blog for the recipe. Aside from having to peel the potatoes, which took way too long for my liking, it was quick and easy!!

I have a similar recipe that I wanted to try soon...but my boyfriend requested that I stick to making this recipe, preferably every week, because he likes this one! Lol...I aim to please, so I see a lot of potatoes and potato peeling in the near future :-)

Have a great week y'all!!


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Thursday, October 3, 2013

September '13 Length Check

After a month of having to do my own hair, it's September Length Check time.
Sept 1 = 83 weeks natural (~1 year 8 months),
42 weeks since the BC (~10.5 months)

October 2 = 87 weeks natural (~1 year 9 months),
46 weeks since the BC (~11.5 months)
So, what have I learned this month??
  • First...I learned I need to go to the salon!! LOL. I love my natural curly hair, but I don't have the time to devote to it to make more creative styles. Some times I have the time, but I just don't feel like it! I basically wear the same style every day and that's boring to me. I want more versatility (which I know I can obtain since I have natural hair) but I need to be able to tap into that. I don't want to have to "go to the salon" because I want "this style or that one" today. I want to be able to practice versatility on my own. So, I either need to find salon quick, fast, and in a hurry or learn the skills. We'll see which of those happens first.
  • I've also been experimenting with different products and I've found one I really like (blog post to come soon).
  • I'm in desperate need of a trim so my hair is shedding more and more each day. Even though I see this growth, I know it's for nil since I'll be getting it trimmed soon.
  • I also asked my readers about detangling. Since I've washed my hair several times this month, I've found that it's better, for me, to detangle with a wide tooth comb. I actually take the time to separate my hair into six sections (while conditioning) and I detangle each section separately, then all together. I may try that method with a brush, just to see how it goes...but for now, I'm sticking with the comb...it's easier to chop away at the tangles!
Me and this hair, right?!! :-)
So, there are my September updates and my official goodbye to my blessed birthday month. I want to promise myself a few things moving forward:
  • I'll try my best not to move on my birthday ever again. This has happened twice and it definitely takes away from the occasion that I spend all year waiting for.
  • I need to plan an event for my birthday next year (or maybe the year after, since that'll be a milestone year). Either way, I've got to plan something!
This computer thing is really killing me. I'm not able to do what I need to do when I need to do it. Thank God for all these devices (iPad and phone) but using those things don't compare to using a computer. Using my computer at work makes me have to do rush jobs on my posts (so if they read kind of funny, that's why)! I'm pushing through and I'm going to claim a new computer by Thanksgiving!!
Have a great day y'all!
  
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Tuesday, October 1, 2013

My Second Attempt

First, let me begin by saying that my computer is giving me trouble again. I am unable to connect to internet which seriously affects my ability to blog! :-( So please...work with me. I'm trying my best to get around to every comment and still visit blogs like I would normally...it just might take me a little longer. Sounds like it might be time for another computer, right?! LOL

Now, back to the regular schedule.

Even though I didn't really like it the last time, I tried the wash and go again.

I needed to wash my hair and things have been really busy lately with all that's going on, so I decided to give this wash and go a second try. I had some new products I wanted to try too which was also a driving force behind wanting to try the wash and go again (even thought I HATE the shrinkage I get).

This time around here are the products I used:
  • Design Essentials Curl Cleanser Sulfate Free Shampoo
  • Beautiful Textures Rapid Repair Deep Conditioner
  • Design Essentials Daily Moisturizing Lotion
  • Influance's Natural Oil
  • Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie
  • Design Essentials Natural Defining Crème Gel
I followed the same steps as last time. I washed and deep conditioned my hair. Then I parted my hair into six sections. I applied the moisturizer and the oil to preserve and retain moisture. Then I applied the smoothie and defining crème gel. Here are the results...right - wet and left - dry:


Even though I never like the results of wash and go's...between the two times I tried it, I liked the results I got the last time a lot better. My hair was more defined than it was during this trial. The new product I wanted to try was the Curls Unleashed (Organic Root Stimulator) Second Chance Curl Refresher. I thought maybe this product could do something to make my wash and go's more appealing to me. The bottom line is...it didn't! I got the same effect from that product as I would have gotten from just adding water or a moisturizer to my hair. Lesson learned!

I've definitely learned a lot of lessons about my hair in this month of having to do it myself and I'm still learning. We'll just have to see where this journey takes me.


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