Happy Holidays

Hello friends...I just wanted to take the time to wish you all a very happy and blessed holiday season. Remember to be thankful in whatever state you are in because sometimes we need to be reminded that we take things for granted. Blessings come in so many ways and I am looking forward to many more.  I am so thankful for a loving family, my faith, my friends, my health, and all things great and small!!! Have a blessed evening!

Updates

Here are the hair update photos from when I relaxed my hair after a 7 month stretch.  My hair always grows longer on one side than the other so I had it trimmed as even as possible. I lost about an inch or so of growth, but I feel better starting off with fresh cut ends. My hair is getter thicker thanks to applying castor oil and other essential oils mixed to my scalp and doing scalp massages at least 2 times a week.  I can definitely tell the difference, especially when my hair is air dried and not flat ironed.  I'm starting another 6 month stretch and this time I'm not going to trim in between or after unless absolutely necessary. These pics were taken about 2 months before I relaxed and my hair has actually grown back even.  So, the journey continues and I'll try to update again at the end of my 6 month stretch.

  

Before Trim and After Trim

21 Days til Thanksgiving Exercise Challenge

Hello friends! I've decided it's time to take my health and fitness to another level. I pay close attention to my hair's health and always say I'm going to exercise only to start a program and never stick with it. I hate going to the gym because I don't really feel comfortable exercising in front of other people.

So, I've had these exercise dvd's sitting around for what seems like forever and rarely use them. On Facebook I'm a member of the group Leslie Sansone Walk Away the Pounds. I have some of her videos and really enjoy doing them when I think about pulling them out. I noticed on Fb and her blog she was having a 21 days til Thanksgiving Challenge to exercise. I decided to take the plunge and try it. It's really a good workout and depending on the dvd's you buy you can focus on various parts of the body as well as walking to better health.  So far, I have made it through week 1 and really feel good about my progress. I'm hoping to see the results that I desire and then I plan to put myself on a challenge like this one for the days before Christmas and New Years as a way to motivate myself to exercise daily.

I have found that when I exercise I feel so much better physically and I sleep better at night. If anyone is interested here's the link to Leslie Sansone's Walk At Home blog:   http://www.walkathome.com/

Disclaimer: I was not asked by Leslie Sansone to promote her challenge. I'm just sharing this information with anyone who might be interested in getting back in the swing of things and exercising.  Til next time~Be blessed my friends!

Reflections

Hello friends!!! I've been spending lots of time looking over other blogs and being inspired. I am so thankful for the many new friends that I have met through numerous hair boards and blogs.  There is so much valuable and inspirational information out there and it's good to sometimes get a new perspective on life in general.

I was thinking today how much I have learned so far.  Hair is my thing and makeup has become a new love for me because I love to try new things.  Everyday is full of inspiration and the possibilities are endless if we just open our minds!

As I reflect on my life, I see that I have and am growing as a person. Next May I will have reached another one of my goals and that is to have my Masters in Sociology.  It is has been a tedious and tiring journey, but well worth it!  What makes a journey whether it's a personal goal focused on education, hair, health, etc. worth it?  Enjoying what you're doing and what the outcome will be.  That's where I am right now...thankful for my personal journey's and where they are taking me. Above all else, I realize without the help of the Lord I cannot do anything.   

So, my friends today I encourage you all to take a look at your personal journey's and enjoy the paths you have chosen to take. If you're on a path that you do not enjoy then it's never too late to redirect and go for what will make you happy!  Until next time...have a blessed day!!!

Btw...I will be ending what was supposed to be a 6 month stretch and it turned into a 7 month stretch this weekend. I will try to remember to post some pics this time.  Take care my friends :-).

So Thankful

I would like to thank you Elle once again for making me aware of the Sunshine Award. I have found so many new and interesting blogs to read by way of other bloggers who have been nominated as well as myself. This was a great way to find new blogs and meet new bloggers.  There are some very good blogs out there full of great information.  Thanks again!!!

DAILY INSPIRATION



Psalm 63:1-2

1 O God, You are my God;
Early will I seek You;
My soul thirsts for You;
My flesh longs for You
In a dry and thirsty land
Where there is no water.

2 So I have looked for You in the sanctuary,
To see Your power and Your glory.

Have a wonderful day my friends!

Sunshine Award

Elle from EDK.Dolce nominated me for an award - The Sunshine Award.

Thanks Elle for nominating me for the Sunshine Award.  I really appreciate that you stopped by to read my blog and did this.  I am nominating these ten bloggers!

http://www.ericarunning.com/

http://www.diaryofahairobsession.com/

http://www.fromshorttolong.com/

http://sweetkissmessage.blogspot.com/

http://haircarediaries.blogspot.com/

http://hairlyobsessed.blogspot.com/

http://www.mypurebeauty.net/

http://www.robynsnestblog.com/

http://www.relaxedlongway2grow.com/

http://thefancyface.blogspot.com/

Here is what you have to do:

Save the photo and post to your blog

Pass the award to 10 more bloggers like you and following you from the news and comment

Link the name of their blog and the url

Write and link the individual that gave you the award!

Have a blessed day ladies!!!



DAILY INSPIRATION

21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
22 It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
24 The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
25 The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

Lamentations 3:21-26

REGIMEN

Wash 1x a week
DC 1x a week
Moisturize and Seal w/various oils
Airdry
Flat Iron (occassionally~always use heat protectant)

Stretching/Relaxer Schedule:
Last Relaxer: March 7th
Next Relaxer: September 7th (tentative)

6 month stretches

Hello friends! I'm so sorry to be so long between posts, but I'm in my last classes for my masters in Sociology. I spend lots of time reading and doing homework.

I just wanted to do another quick update: It has been exactly 6 months and 2 days since my last relaxer. I was scheduled to relax last Saturday, but didn't have the time. I plan to do so this weekend. I had my hair trimmed about 2 weeks ago because during my six month stretch one side of my hair grew a little bit longer than the other side. My hair has always grown like this. So I will try to remember to post a pic from my trim (before and after) as well as pics from when I relax my hair this time.

Until then, you all take care and be blessed. Thanks for stopping by from time to time to check things out here. This is something that is fun for me as well as a way for me to keep track of my hair journey and progress. HHJ my friends:-)

Update

Hello everyone, I know it's been a while but I've been very busy with classes. Just to update...I am 4 months into another 6 month stretch. I haven't flat ironed since May and have been letting my hair air dry instead of blow drying as usual. I'm not really have any problems with my new growth because I'm keeping it moisturized by using my Hydratherma Naturals leave in and Hawaiian Silky 14 in 1. I have been sealing with Hydratherma Naturals Growth Oil or an oil mix of olive oil, vitamin E oil and castor oil. I'll probably do a length check to track any growth I've had at the end of my 6 months. Til next time...have a blessed day!

Review of Hair-A-Mania (Bossay) Hair and Body Butter

As I was reading Hair-A-Mania blog I noticed that Mz. Bossay had samples of hair and body butter available to anyone who wanted to try her products out. I requested a sample of the Mad 4 Mango Hair and Body Butter, at no cost to me. I received the body butter last week.

First, let me say that I absolutely loved the scent of her mango body and hair butter. It's a nice subtle fragrance that isn't overpowering at all. I have noticed that sometimes when I purchase body butters from the store they often have a very overpowering scent. I used my body butter for an entire week and love it. My skin is so soft and smooth. Sometimes I notice in the winter that my lotion often needs something extra added to it to give my skin the moisture that it needs. I didn't need to mix anything else or use anything else with the body butter. There were two tests that I used to see if the body butter worked as well as I needed it too. One, I used it on my feet which always seem to be extra dry in the winter living in Missouri. This winter has really been bad, so I needed the extra moisture and softness for my skin. I loved it~after my pedicure my feet were so soft and continued to be so after every use. The second test was my nephew who has eczema and his skin is very dry. It is often very difficult to find a lotion or body butter that will actually work on his skin. Well, the mango hair and body butter did provide the necessary moisture that he needs and even smoothed out rough patches on his skin. Overall, I love this hair and body butter. Mz. Bossay you have a great product here and I wish you lots of success. Have a blessed day!!!

Disclaimer: I was not paid by anyone to review this product. It was sent to me as a free sample to use.