Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Flat Twistup


Just another flat twist up do I tried out.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Weekly Inspiration

A true friend knows your weaknesses but shows you your strengths; feels your fears but fortifies your faith; sees your anxieties but frees your spirit; recognizes your disabilities but emphasizes your possibilities.




William Arthur Ward

3 Months Natural

Three months ago I took the plunge and chopped the rest of my relaxed ends off. Boy what a relief! The transition had ended and I was glad to move on to the next phase of my healthy hair journey. Since the b/c I’ve kept my hair routine very simple: weekly shampooing and deep conditioning treatments, moisturizing daily, and wearing protective styles. However, I added honey to my routine as a pre-poo treatment to add moisture and shine to my hair. Honey is amazing and you should give a try if you haven’t thus far.


Flat twists are my favorite protective style. The style last for a week, survives rigorous workouts, and prevents tangles. A couple of times I ventured from the flat twists to play with my hair which resulted in a major afro. Instead of getting depressed I just rocked my fro! Needless to say I’m still in search of products to help with the conversion and maintain my curl definition.

Three months later I am still in love with my hair and happy I made the transition. At my six month anniversary I plan to straighten my hair for a trim and length check. Trimming my hair will depend on the condition of my ends. Just in case you are wondering, my mom is still natural and she is more in love with her hair than I am. LOL!

For those of you who are on your journey, remember patience and consistency are key!

Kettlebell Training

 The best way to blast thru a plateau and burn fat is to switch up your workouts. Recently, I have experimented with Kettlebell Training. It is amazing and I love it! My favorite fitness guru, Jillian Michaels, has a workout DVD specifically for Kettlebells. A kettlebell puts you in the mindset of a bowling ball with a handle. The kettlebell comes in different weights starting from 5lbs and higher. This form of training was originally invented by the Russians for strength training and flexibility.

There are many benefits to this form of training such as: strength training, conditioning (athletes), muscle endurance, and aerobic training. Majority of the exercises performed with a kettlebell can be substituted with a dumbbell. However, when using a kettlebell your whole body is forced into motion which results in a full body workout.



Jillian Michaels’ DVD is great because she incorporates cardio exercises with the kettlebell training for maximum fat burn. Her DVD has beginner and advance workout levels. She also has a tutorial for proper form and use of the kettlebell to avoid injury. This DVD and form of training is highly recommended if you want to switch up your workout.

Mediterranean Greek Salad

Ingredients:

Spinach, Arugula, and Carrots Mix (or salad mix of your choice)
Pitted Black Olives
Small Red Pepper (sliced)
Small Green Pepper (sliced)
Small Red Onion (sliced)
Small Cucumber (peeled and diced)
Feta Cheese
1 can Garbaza beans (drained, rinsed)
Cherry tomatoes



Dressings (whisk together):

Red Wine Vinegar
Dried Oregano
Olive Oil
Dash of Salt
Black Pepper

Combine all ingredients and toss with dressing. Enjoy!

Monday, October 4, 2010

Weekly Inspiration

Remember:




Amateurs built the ARK and Professionals built the Titanic…

KCCC Update-Braid out

Last weekend I used the KCCC for my braid out. After my normal wash routine and braiding my hair all over I sat under the dryer for an hour. The braids were left in overnight as well. The next morning I used cocoa nut oil on my hands to take down the braids. The braids felt hard so I used the cocoa nut oil to soften up my hair. Also, I used Kinky Curly Knot Today as my leave in because it works best with the KCCC.


The results were beautiful and I was pleased. The KCCC gave me the definition I desired. In order to fight off humidity I used Kera Care Humidity Blocker Hair Spray. Unfortunately, my hair fell victim to the humidity anyway. By the time I reached the airport my hair started to fro and shrink. Instead of whimpering I decided to rock it and be fierce anyway.

Here is my hair before I left the house.




This is what my hair looked like by the time I arrived in Phoenix.




In order to protect my hair from the sun I wore my cute hat from Target while I sat by the pool.



Open-toe Booties

The open-toe booties are hot this season. For me, I still haven't decided if I like them. A couple of weeks ago I purchased my first pair of open-toe booties. The next day I returned them. Maybe in the future I'll change my mind.

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