Ugh! So, I’m looking like a furball

Ugh! So, I’m looking like a furball that a cat threw up today, which was not the look I was hoping to achieve.

I have decided that I have to try some products that minimize the frizz and keep up some curl. Honestly, I don’t mind rocking the afro but I would like to have a bit more control over my hair style.

Last night, I reached into the back of my product drawer and low and behold, I come across my jar of Passion Fruit Curl Control Paste and a smidgen of Crystal Ice Protein Styling Gel.

Given my experience with rediscovering products that did not work well during my transition, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to give these two another try. Then I had a “Eureka!” moment. One of my biggest challenges, due to information overload, was recognizing when I should use certain products. Last summer, I still had some relaxed ends and the curling paste and gel simply made them look limp and lifeless. Now, with the humidity and approaching summer, I need products that define my curl and reduce frizz.

 

Proclaim Protein Styl

Passion Fruit Curl Control Paste

 

Now, pro-naturalistas are probably like, “Duh! Genius, you don’t say??!!!” It wasn’t until I started working with ALL of my natural hair, not transitioning, that things started to click and I can recognize:

 

Issue:	Problem:	What I have discovered so far:
High humidity	My hair does not maintain any curl	I am on a mission to look for products that minimize frizz and define curls but have to be careful that I utilize curling paste and gels that add protein, moisture and don’t weigh my hair down; I want to have some “big” hair. Twist outs using a paste and gel tend to lose some definition but as the day progresses, my hair gets bigger and I love it. My challenge right now is that I also have to be careful to avoid product build up.
Moderate humidity	My hair has some curl but it’s hit or miss.	Again, I want to minimize frizz and define curls but I have to be conscientious of the protective style that I use at night. No half-ass doing my hair before bed. A braid out with rods is my go to style while using a little curling creme and/or protein gel, curling paste is a little too much.
Cold Weather	My hair dries out quickly	EXTRA moisturize, shea butter and deep conditioners provide some relief but I have hard water and it takes a few days to really feel like I have moisturized my hair enough. Even when I think I’ve moisturized, I’m not always certain. The best advice I was given was to “listen” to the sound of my hair strands when rubbed together, the louder the sound, the drier my hair. I have to be careful not to put too much and avoid product build up.

I used up the rest of the paste and gel so now I am researching a few other options and I would love to hear feedback on the products on my list:

Aphogee 2-Step Protein Treatment

Pantene Anti-Frizz Straightening Crème

Eco Styler Gel

 

….arrrruuuugula

I’m a little obsessed with experimenting with recipes and salads that use arugula; I am also trying to make efforts to get back in the habit of planning vegetarian meals. It is easier to stick with my meal plan if I 1, plan my meals in advance and 2, don’t wait until I am hungry to start cooking.

I haven’t replenished any of the meat in the freezer and with the exception of a few sausages and tilapia filets, old Mother Hubbard’s cupboard is almost bare. I need a clean slate to start my efforts back to being vegetarian.

I feel better about my appearance, my skin, my hair and nails, and weight when I make a conscious effort to avoid “bad” foods.  In order for me to do this, I recognize that meat isn’t always my friend.

I tried these quinoa with an avocado sauce and swiss cheese sliders and I found them quite appetizing, the mini me on the other hand said that it needed meat.

…i’m horrible, i know

I haven’t posted  in ages and well, that’s because SO much is happening in my life that I haven’t been able to allocate time for writing.

I know, I know. That’s a lame excuse.

So, for starters, the boyfriend is now the fiancé and I giggle in my head every time I realize that his status (and mine too, I guess) has changed. I have to keep from staring at my ring. I think he did a great job picking out something that suits “ME.” So, once we shared the news, I was immediately thrown into wedding planning. 

We’ve spent the past few weekends looking at venues; I thought I had a place and now I have to start all over again. I’m a little frustrated and trying my best not to turn into a bridezilla. HOWEVER, I understand how normal women turn in to crazed people when planning a wedding. I’m not there…yet.

Now that just leaves an update about….

 

My HAIR…

I’m researching natural hair styles for my wedding day do. In the meantime, I’ve tried a few new techniques, no new products, when styling my hair. I’m also paying much more attention to the way my hair responds to the technique.

Here’s what I’ve learned…

• Flat twists produce a better result on the top and front sections of my hair; the problem area that just would not curl. Two strand twists are great for the back of my head that is much curlier.  Between the two and sometimes with the help of rods, I can create a head full of curls in the direction that I want… *happy dance*
• I started using Shea Moisture Deep Treatment Masque, Raw Shea Butter when I began my transitioning as a secondary leave in conditioner/moisturizing option. It didn’t produce great results. I stumbled across a container that I bought a few months ago but had thrown in the back of my product drawer and thought, “Well, let me see how this goes…”  Now that it’s been nearly two years and I am working with a head full of my natural curls, I LOVE THIS product, even more than my fav Cantu Daily Moisturizing Lotion. It a phenomenal answer to my dry hair days.

 I’m going to end here. If I spill everything right now, I won’t feel inclined to share more later. 

…heroes

 

 

I was going to talk about my hair but there are things going on today that are much bigger and more important. 

I didn’t heed the warning about the graphic nature of pictures from the Boston bombing and this image is imprinted in my brain. Unfortunately,  the visual image that is forever etched in my brain is not the image with the injury blurred. I saw everything and it is too late to wish that I had not. 

However, since the feed to the police scanner has been cut off to the public, I have nothing left to do but read the news. 

These two men, Carlos Arredondo in the hat and Jeff Bauman, are heroes in my book. After spending time reading about them, I am truly in awe of their heroics. They, along with so many first responders, volunteers, runners and spectators should be commended.  

Thought I’d share: 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/10005932/Boston-Marathon-victim-Jeff-Bauman-helped-identify-bombers.html

http://lightbox.time.com/2013/04/18/the-hero-in-the-cowboy-hat-carlos-arredondos-story-by-eugene-richards/?iid=lf%7Caround#1

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/16/carlos-arredondo-marathon-hero_n_3092134.html

 

 

 

Dove ‘Real Beauty’ Campaign

The resulting pairs of sketches are completely different to each other. Those created when the women described themselves are not as flattering as those created with the help of others.

Goes to show that the way we see ourselves can be drastically different from the way others view us. Very touching video and it made me stop to think about the criticisms that I have of myself. I wonder, how many of my complaints about my skin, my hair, my weight and my overall appearance are due to being overly critical?

Nerd alert

Physicist John Cramer released the sound of the universe expanding and amplified it so that the human ear could hear.

Having a nerdgasm!

 

 

feeling down and out…

I didn’t think I was sentimental. In fact, I was starting to believe that my tear ducts were broken, I haven’t cried in so long.

It amazes me how people can have a tremendous impact on someone’s life, regardless of the amount of time spent together. Sometimes, it is the chance encounters and brief interactions that often leave the biggest impact. Then there are others, the people with whom we share a lifetime worth of memories. They become a familiar and essential part of life; I’ve been fortunate to experience both. Not only have I spent time with those special people but in some instances, I have sentimental items that remind me of just how special those people are to me.

Today, I’m a little sad, heartbroken and upset with myself…