Natural Hair Transition

I've been a slave to the creamy crack that is a relaxer for far too long!

I have been back and forth about going natural for the last 2 years. 2 years!!! Do you know how much I regret not doing this 2 years ago right now? How healthy and long and beautiful my hair could be? Big regrets. Huge. 

I love the "funkiness" of having both of my sides and the back of my head shaved, so I won't be changing that. So that just leaves all this hair on top. Should be an easy transition right? Hmm...

Well, I finally made up my mind and jumped in head first. or should I say hair first, ha ha! Many videos watched and blog posts read. But where do I start? Not sure. My last relaxer was November 14 2012. This is my beginning. 

I purchased the Shea Moisture Repair & Transition kit from Walgreens for $20. 

The first time I used this kit. I could already "feel" the difference. My hair seemed cleaner after the very first use! The Moisture Retention Shampoo is perfectly named. It definitely left my hair feeling very soft and manageable. And not to mention, it smells wonderful! 

The Restorative Conditioner was a different story. I have very thick, thirsty hair, so I expect big things out of conditioners that claim to restore moisture and also label itself as a "leave in" conditioner. I expected detangling to be effortless, especially after using that heavenly shampoo. Foul. Fail.

As far as the Deep Treatment Masque, I used it to do the braid out below. It left my hair very soft, but not very manageable, if that makes sense. 

The Strengthening Elixir is very silky and slippery. I sprayed it on my hair and my hands slid right off when trying to rub it in. So I tried using it again on my wet hair & it worked a little better. The more I use it, the better I like it. My hair has been so dry for so long that every thing I put in it gets sucked up immediately!

On the flat twists below, I washed with the retention shampoo, then followed with the restorative conditioner, and while my hair was still wet I sprayed it with the strengthening elixir. Then twisted it after it was completely dry. I wore them for 4 days, and sprayed them everyday with water to hydrate them. And if they looked dull, I would use a small spray of the strengthening elixir.

I haven't given up on this kit or this brand yet. I have a long way to go. Once I am completely natural I will be trying the Shea Moisture Organic Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie Kit so that maybe my hair will naturally curl like the straw set I did here.. 

At this point, 9 or 10 weeks post relaxer, my hair is very thick, tangly, dry, and did I say thick? I hate it. It's itchy and sweaty all the time (I'm a gym rat) and I find myself washing it 2 or 3 times a week. My friend Arlisha says that it's "scalp hair" that's causing the dry itchiness, and that we don't realize when we relax our hair that the relaxer is in your skin, pores & cuticles, and it just takes a while to grow completely out. I love her! 

So somebody tell me? Am I off on the wrong foot here? What direction should I be going? Any tips, suggestions, or ideas on products I should try, protective styles etc., please please let me know! Thanks for reading!!

Mac Lipstick Samples

We all know how wonderful Mac beauty products are, but we also know how expensive they can be. MAC lipsticks are especially pricey at $15 each. Well, here is a way to sample some of their lipsticks without paying that high price tag.

I purchased these from TheBodyNeeds2.com. You can choose from 145 shades of real Mac lipstick. For $3.79 each you will receive a .5g sample in a slimline lipstick tube.The base of the tube is filled with clear lipstick base to prevent waste of MAC product in the twist mechanism. Tubes are labeled with product name and are guaranteed authentic. 

I bought these on Black Friday so I got them all for 30% off! I chose shades that I love and thought would be good for me, and also ones that seem to be pretty popular on my favorite beauty blogs and by YouTube beauty gurus. I chose:

New York Apple

Ruby Woo

On Hold

Craving

Russian Red

Up The Amp

First up is New York Apple. It is a muted red with pink shimmer. I expected it to be a lot darker on my lips than it was. I love the hint of frost in this one though, and it has a very creamy application. 

Next is Ruby Woo. Oh how I love this one! It is a bright coral, matte red and a MAC Best Seller. Very vivid, and seems to have some blue undertones. Some people shy away from Ruby Woo because the application is very dry & chalky. But owning this one previously, I've learned that your lips have to be very moisturized before you apply it, otherwise you will have a dry ugly mess on your lips!

This is On Hold. Its a creme sheen raspberry red. Nice formula but I expected it to be brighter than it was and a lot more pink since it supposed to be a raspberry shade of red. However, It was very creamy. I think this is and old MAC lipstick shade from maybe 2009? Correct me if I'm wrong. And I think it's a permanent shade in their Cremesheen collection. 

Craving was very crumbly before I ever even used it, which immediately gave me negative thoughts about it. It looks so dark in the tube. So I knew it would wear dark on me, being that my lips are naturally dark and not pink, like most of you. Craving is plum creme and that's exactly how it looks! I really like it!

Russian Red is a very intense red with some hints of blue undertones. Just like Ruby Woo, it is a MAC Best Seller and also has a matte finish, but it was much easier to apply than Ruby Woo. And ladies, let me tell you, if you want a really red-red, buy this one! Sorry for the lipstick on my teeth. I guess I was really excited about this one!!

And last, but certainly not least, is Up The Amp. I absolutely loooove this lipstick!!! I've seen it on every shade and skin tone imaginable and it is really pretty! My pictures do it NO JUSTICE at all. It is a lavender violet creme and it is so smooth and easy to apply. The perfect pastel for spring. 

I have to say, this is a great way to try out MAC lipsticks, without the fear that you will waste money on a color you don't like or that doesn't suit you. Thank you to The Body Needs for this ingenious idea. Of the 6 shades I purchased, I will definitely be buying Up The Amp and Russian Red. I already have Ruby Woo, it is a mainstay in my lipstick collection. I'm a red girl, if you didn't notice from the samples! I also noticed that Grey Friday, which is a Limited Edition MAC shade (I dare you to try it!), Pink Nouveau, Morange & Lady Danger, which are a few of MAC's best sellers, are samplers at The Body Needs. These are must-haves for me too!

Do you have a favorite MAC Lipstick? Let me know...

Thanks for reading!!

Homemade Exfoliating Lip Scrub

Cold Weather is coming...

Along with ashy elbows, and feet that look like they have been walking in a bed of hot coals and flour, some of you will have dry, flaky, cracked, crusty lips.

Well, try this homemade remedy and you will be sure to have soft, moisturized (and kissable) lips!

All you need is..

1tsp granulated sugar

1/2 tsp extra virgin olive oil

1 tsp honey (not pictured)

(adjust ingredients to your needs)

Mix ingredients with your finger and scrub on your lips. Continue until your lips feel soft and exfoliated. I suggest doing this step over the sink, just in case it gets messy. Repeat as needed.

Next, cover your lips with a hot wash cloth (careful not too hot!) for a few seconds, then wipe away scrub. 

And that's it! Your lips should feel soft, plump & juicy! It makes my lips look naturally more pink & the olive oil adds a bit of shine...and it not only feels good, it tastes good too!!

Now that you're done, add your favorite lip balm, lip gloss, lipstick, or whatever, and don't be caught this year with the crusties! 

This small recipe makes quite a bit, so you can share it with a friend, or store it for later use. I wouldn't suggest keeping this mixture for more than a day or two though. I usually make more every 2 or 3 days and store it in this cute little dish...

BEFORE

AFTER

NOTE: There is no product on my lips in "after" pic. I licked them right before I snapped the pic because there was sugar still on them!)

Thanks for reading!!

Pamper Me Monday: Late Post

Homemade Body Shimmer

I love body shimmer, but I really don't like to buy it. Sometimes its too glittery, and sometimes its too golden. I don't wanna look blinged out unless I'm accessorizing, or look toasted anymore than I already am.

So, I crushed up some of my favorite gold Milani eyeshadow and stirred it into my favorite Body Butter, about a 4 to 1 mixture. Then I added 1/4 teaspoon of gold body glitter. Here is my exact recipe:

1/4 tsp gold eyeshadow

1/4 teaspoon gold body glitter

1 cup lotion

I've never tried this before, so I wasn't sure if it would work, but it did! The eyeshadow changed my body butter to a nice, smooth khaki, which I looove! And it added a slight shimmer along with the gold body glitter. It's just the right amount for me!! This did not translate well in photos, I assume it's because of how subtle it is, so sorry no photos of my lotioned up body! But trust me, it is great!!

Thanks for reading!!

Fashion Friday & A New Blog

Introducing Stvck ^ (stuck up)

My daughter started her own fashion blog a few days ago. Here is a snap shot of it.

Her name is Dajha Symone, but you will notice that her 'about me' name says "dae", which is her nickname. This is how her first post got it's name. "Outfit of the Dae". So clever and cute, don't you think?

The blog name, Stvck ^ (stuck up) is the name of her future clothing line. She plans to major in fashion design. She has an eye for fashion that is unbelievable! Here is just a quick look at some of her past looks...

on Easter this year..

prom after party..

chillin with friends (shorts were a DIY project)

Call me crazy, but I noticed that she loves the left side of the camera frame. You will discover also that she loves accessories and is addicted to shoes (but what girl isn't). So check out her blog sometime, and remember her name, you may hear it again someday. 

Thanks for reading!!

Fashion Fridays: Prom 2012

Evidently the new trend is dark lips???

My daughter's Prom was this past weekend. She wore very dark lipstick. I hated it. She loved it.

This lip color is by Maybelline #835, Dazzling Plum. She used her NAKED palette on her eyes. Here's more of this trendy lip look as seen on  Coco and Creme. 

This was my baby girl's prom look. So that you know a little bit about her, she will begin pursuing her degree in Fashion this fall. She is so far out-of-the-box, and she never "goes with the crowd". She created her own "Prom Swag". I admit, after her whole look came together, it did look really good. So let's break it down...I have to share, because it looks effortless and it didn't cost me a fortune!

Dress: Cache $178

Boots: Baker's $89

Jacket: $3

Gold Snake necklace: $1

Wooden necklace: $1

Bracelets & Ring: $5 each

Dajha looooves our local thrift store. They know her personally! The jacket and necklaces came from there. The bracelets and ring came from a jewelry sale hosted at my job, everything was $5 each!! I was so not buying her the Jeffrey Campbell boots that she originally wanted, so when we were in Dallas shopping the week before prom, we stumbled upon these. Much better price point than the $200 JC's.

Fashion Fridays on my blog will be totally dedicated to her style, ideas etc. Look her up a few years from now, you never know what the future holds!!

Pamper Me Mondays

DIY Body Butter

This product is a "Beautiful Lovely Thing". To make this for yourself, you will need the following items...

 

I couldn't find the photo I took of the Vaseline, & I didn't have anymore, so I had to google one. Anyway, I simply add all of these into a large bowl and whip them together with a hand mixer. I start with only half the container of lotion because I want to make sure my product is thick like a body butter should be. Then, I add the remainder, as needed.

I don't feel like I should have to wear my arm out stirring this, so I have a mixer that I use only for bath products. And I also like to ensure that my body butter ingredients are very well combined.

(I'm trying out a new watermark)

I have made this many many times. And through trial and error, I've decided that these products work best for my needs.

Vitamin E creme, instead of vitamin E oil makes for a creamier more luxurious product. In the brand I use, I've only been able to find the creme in 25,000 I.U. Vitamin E is an antioxidant and can help reduce wrinkles. I'm all for that!!

Johnson's Baby Lotion has always been a staple in my home because it moisturizes my skin without leaving it oily. I use the Vanilla Oatmeal scent because I want my skin to feel like a baby, not smell like one.

Petroleum Jelly locks in moisture, but it can be a bit greasy. So to cut down on that greasy oily feeling it can leave behind, I started using Vaseline Smoothing Body Butter. Not only does it condition my skin and give it that "glow" of healthiness, the Cocoa Butter smells great with the Vanilla Oatmeal. The fragrance combination is nice and subtle, and it keeps me from having to add any essential oils to the mix.

This stuff is "The Business"...I love love love it!!!

Thanks for reading!!

Homemade Bubble Bath

Hey y'all, I have another one of my homemade BLT's for you today. Oh, and If you read my previous post, my blog still looks the same so far with just a few tweaks here and there for now. Still clueless on what to do with it.

Oh, and before I forget...remember this post from last month? Well, my new bag finally arrived! I'm much happier now! The upside down label on the inside pocket was just unprofessional on their part, and I would not have been satisfied if I had kept it.

(Side Note: for future reference, BLT = Beautiful Lovely Thing, hence the blog name)

Now let's get to it.

I was convinced that making my own bubble bath was going to be difficult and expensive, but I was pleasantly surprised. Bubble Bath is such a luxury to have because after a long day you can soak yourself into a blissful state of comfort!

Here are the items I used:

 

2 cups liquid soap (unscented)

1 bar castile soap (flaked)

3 oz glycerin (or 6 tbsp)

1/4 cup water

15 drops pink sugar scented oil

15 drops fresh rain scented oil

4 drops red color

Add these ingredients to a large bowl and mix them well. I microwaved the soap flakes in the 1/4 cup of water. I bought a really cheap cheese grater that I could use for all my bath products.  It is much easier to grate a bar of soap and melt the flakes than to cut the soap into chunks  and then melt the chunks. I learned that the hard way! The heat from microwaving the soap flakes will help to melt all the ingredients together. You can buy castile soap as a liquid but I prefer this brand and I haven't been able to find it in a liquid yet. 

Castile soap is used to soften and moisturize the skin, and in most brands it is made from 100% Olive Oil. This particular brand (Kirk's) uses all natural coconut oil. Liquid glycerin, a by-product of soap making, is another skin moisturizer.

Essential oils are the key ingredient to homemade bubble bath. They help soothe & relax your body, depending on the scent you choose. I love lavender, chamomile, jasmine, etc. I also use essential oils over fragrance oils in my bath products because I'm always afraid that fragrance oils will irritate my skin. So I save them for candle making!

 

So after I mixed my ingredients, I added them to one of my favorite containers. I saved this one after using all of the store-bought bubble bath. I think I got it from Wal-Mart. Since the fragrances I used are called Pink Sugar and Fresh Rain, I wanted the bubbles to be kind of pink, so I used 4 drops of the red color.

 

And voila! Here it is! I named this one Petal Water because it looks like what the dew on pink roses would look like if you bottled up it all up. If you want more of an opaque bubble bath, use unscented liquid soap or shampoo that is white or milky looking. I used clear with the batch I made today because it fits with the name. Also, adjust the amount of water/glycerin in the mix for the thickness/thinness that you desire your bubbles to be. Now add a capful or so to your bath and enjoy. Thanks for reading!

 

 

Homemade Bath Salts

Yea! I'm finally gonna show yall one of my most favorite things to do in the world! As I mentioned in my "About Me" I love making homemade bath products, so today I'm going to share one with you. I'm sure we all love bath salts, but we hate to buy them because sometimes they can be really expensive, or you add them to your bath water and you can't tell that you ever added them. Well try my recipe & tell me what you think. Below are the ingredients you will need...

 

I played around with these ingredients for a long time to figure out what works for me. You can do the same. The mixture I used today was:

1 cup Epsom Salt

1 1/2 cups Coarse Sea Salt

1/4 tsp. Baking Soda

2 Tbsp. Olive Oil

1 Tbsp. Baby Oil

10-12 drops Scented Oil

 2-3 drops Food Color

This is what you should have. I always use a wooden bowl and spoon because I don't like the way the salt sounds when you stir in a metal bowl (that whole fingernail / chalkboard thing). You don't have to add color, but if you do, mix thoroughly.

After you've mixed it all up & it should look like this...

 

Voila! You're done! Super Easy right? I used blue food color today because the blue kind of  makes it feel spa-like. The scented oils I used were Eucalyptus and Lemongrass. I used 15 drops of Eucalyptus and 12 drops of Lemongrass. I like my bath salts to be strongly scented. and more therapeutic so I use essential oils instead of fragrance oils. But beware, essential oils are a bit more expensive! Use less if you need to, or smell as you stir to get the strength you want.

 

I can't wait to use this one, it smells so nice & relaxing...like the inside of a massage parlor at the back of my favorite spa...

Now just pour them into a cute (air-tight) container & place them on your bath tub until you're to use them. All my cutesy containers were being used already so this is one of my backups, which works for me because the amount I made today all fit perfectly in here!

So there you have it! Your own homemade bath salts. So, to soften your bath water & soothe tired, aching muscles, add 2-3 scoops under running bath water. Enjoy...thanks for reading!