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Why Do Length Checks?

Every naturalista has at least heard of length checks if they haven't participated in a couple themselves. Let's dive into a few reasons about why people even care about length checks.

My History With Counting Macros

Healthy eating is crucial to any type of serious body change you want to see; whether it's losing weight or inches. Healthy eating and exercise is a lifestyle change that affects every part of you; physical, mental, & emotional. However, in order to create what you want to see you have to put forth the effort. My path to counting macros wasn't straight so let's get into the thought process behind why I choose to count macros.

2018 Goal Breakdown

You all know how I feel about making resolutions! Nevertheless, I'm all here for goal setting...at any time of the year! It's 2018 and I just so happen to have reason to refresh my list of goals at the beginning of this new year and new quarter! Whenever I set goals for myself, they usually fall into the same areas: hair, fitness, & finance. This year's post has to be broken into a few parts because it's a lot of ground to cover. This time around I wanted to give an in-depth look at the 'how' I'm accomplishing my goals as opposed to just talking about 'what' my goals are. What do I mean? Let's get into it!

Choosing Hair for Crochet Braids

I've said this before and will say it again! I am not the best at choosing hair...AT ALL! I blog about natural hair with the hope that the things I learn along the way will help somebody somewhere...because I learned most of the things I know about my hair by trial and error! When it comes to picking hair for things like braided extensions, sew-ins, and crochet braids, I always have a ton of questions. I usually rely on my stylist to tell me what hair to get; any questions I have after that default to my sister. This time around was no exception!

Choosing A Crochet Style

How to Start

When you're a naturalista, protective styles become a saving grace! These styles give you a break from the hard work you have to put into maintaining a head full of natural hair. For the last couple of years, I've gotten protective styles each fall and winter. The colder months can be particularly harsh on the hair, so this is one of the influencing factors in my hairstyle decision making.

I spent most of the last year trying out different wedding hairstyles, but the year before that my protective style for the cold season was crochet braids. Crochets are an easy style to maintain! Since I loved the style so much, I decided to document the process this time around.

Quasi Length Check

57 Months Natural

It has been way too long since my last real length check! While I was taking my blog break, I tried to be mindful and jot down ideas here and there. I KNOW I took pictures of my hair with my length check shirt on, but so much has gone on over the course of the past few months. I've searched high and low for those photos and I can't seem to find them anywhere.

SO! The next time my hair is straightened, I'm going to get things rolling again with more routine length checks. I also need to get a post out to get my blogger legs back, so this post is more than a must.

The Baker And Beyond Series: Getting Started

Planning For Wedding Planning

I don't know about you, but marriage has been one of the things I've daydreamed about since I was a little girl. Who would it be? When would it happen? I had the questions, but of course, the answers were a mystery.

I was shocked when we got engaged (see our story here) and I still am! It doesn't seem real, but it is. No two stories are the same. I've heard many horror stories about weddings and wedding planning but my unique dealings with the wedding world have been kind (knock on wood). I want to share my story with you.

Gearing Up For Change

Preparing For A Life Shift

I've blogged for three years. I was resistant to starting a blog because I didn't think it would be "successful". I thought, who would want to read what I have to say?...and that thought kept me from starting.

I eventually got over that by convincing myself that I would blog for me. Over the years, I noticed 3 things: 1. People I thought would be my biggest supporters, weren't. 2. People I thought wouldn't care, cared so much. And 3., Blogging can create a lane for new people in your life; allowing strangers you would have never met otherwise to become close by sharing stories over internet space. Dealing with those 3 things alone allowed me to become even more comfortable with blogging for me! Over the years, I created a space where I could document my hair journey and share what I was learning about my hair with others who were interested in being a part of this journey with me.

Have You Ever Planned A Wedding?!

...and where I am!

If you didn't catch this post or you don't follow me on social media, then you're unaware of what's been going on. It's been about a month since my last blog post and I'm starting to realize that I'm not able to be here like I was pre-wedding planning. The want to write more blog posts than I've written during the last couple of months is there, but the time isn't. I have to be honest with myself.

I'm smack dab in the middle of planning my (and my fiance's) wedding! I haven't shared many details here, or anywhere for that matter, but I plan to share a few things once our special day has passed and I'm looking more like the Joanne in the picture on the right!

Protective Styling

Braided Updos

Before I moved to DC, I was in the salon every two weeks! I rarely got protective styles because I didn't care much for that look. It's been three years since that time and things have changed. What's changed, you ask? Let me explain.

A New Hair Routine

I have a home salon in North Carolina. Moving to DC made it almost impossible for me to see my cosmetologist like I need to. Now that I'm planning my NC wedding, I'm home more and I'm able to see my cosmetologist on a more regular basis.

My last visit to her salon was 2.5 years ago. In the fight for having and maintaining healthy hair, I have to change what was once routine, in more ways than one. My life is much different now than it was 2.5 years ago. Things are happening that I didn't correlate with the health of my hair, so I'm taking my advice and using these 6 things to get me back on the right track to having healthy hair.

6 Things To Consider When You Want Healthy Hair

The last time I saw my NC cosmetologist was in December 2013! I recently made an appointment with her after 2.5 long years, and the first thing we did was have a conversation about lifestyle changes and the health of my hair.

This conversation got me thinking about the many things that affect our hair and how it's so easy to get side tracked with routines that we forget about these correlations! With that in mind, let's review a few things so we can all be on the right track to healthier hair!

Workout Update

Post Green Smoothie Cleanse

Ladies and Gentlemen! It's been a little over a month since I finished the 10 Day Green Smoothie Cleanse. I vowed to do three things so I wanted to give an update on where I was with those three goals.

Wash Day Woes

6 Things To Remember When Wash Day Doesn't Go Well

We all have those wash days that don't go as well as we were expecting them to. I just had one recently. I was going to go into wash day and come right back out because I'd gotten my wash days down to a science, or so I thought. My hair had different plans for me that day. So, in the midst of my super long detangling session, there were a few things I wanted to share with people who find themselves in this situation.

Using Essential Oils: Peppermint Oil

Everyday Uses for Peppermint Oil

Last week I talked about lavender oil. Next up on the list of oils I've experimented with is peppermint oil! This is the oil I use the most after lavender oil. There are many qualities it's known for, so I wanted to test a few of the most important qualities out for myself!

Using Essential Oils: Lavender Oil

Everyday Uses for Lavender Oil

About two months ago, I shared five essential oils I decided to try out on my natural hair. Since the oils are very potent, you don't need much to concoct any mixture you want to make. I'm moving towards wanting more natural products going into and on my body, so I thought it would be a good idea to try these oils on something other than my hair. I thought of other things I needed and began to research.

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Meet your lovely CO-HOSTS:

Natasha @ Lovely You | Mionna @ Just Mi | Nicole @ Pharr Away | Latonia @ Let's Write Life

Green Smoothie Cleanse Results

Did I See Improvements?

Ladies and Gentlemen. What a journey this has been! I labored through my ten days and made it to the other side. So, let's jump into these results!

Green Smoothie Cleanse Check-In

Am I Making Progress?

It's day five... well, actually today marks day eight...but I'm sure you're curious about what's going on with my cleanse. So, let me tell you.