Oldies, But Goodies

1. Protective Style Lookbook || Grecian Goddess Bun
2. Sew-Ins & Lace Fronts 101 || Bob Sew-in Tutorial
3. Loc Maintenance || Washing and 2-Headed Dragons
4. Healthy Styles for Transitioning or Stretching Relaxers
5. Fitness Fashion 101

2013 Plans for My Hair, Body, and Soul || Part III

Now it's time to share my "Soul Plans" for the New Year ...

2013 SOUL PLANS:

Practice daily gratitude.  Years ago, I did a daily gratitude journal and then fell off of it for a few years.  Recently, I went back to gratitude journaling and plan to stick with it throughout 2013.  The biggest benefit of writing down the things you are grateful for each day is that you learn to be thankful for what you have in life.  You also change your perspective to a more positive and open the door to more good things or blessings.  I think this quote (from the "Simple Abundance" journal) says it best: 

"[Gratitude] turns what we have into enough, and more.  It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity.  It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.  Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today; and creates a vision for tomorrow." ~ MELODY BEATTIE

Remove negativity at first sight.  I have a tendency to see the good in everything and stick around even when it becomes detrimental to my soul.  However, I've been practicing running at the first sight of negativity in order to protect my soul.  This is not a black-and-white decision but requires discernment and wisdom.  This year I will heed my discernment and increase my wisdom.

Leave the past behind.  As an over-thinker it is easy for me to analyze a situation to death.  However, now when I start to think about something that cannot be changed, I cast it down immediately before it turns into dwelling.

Enjoy the present, or carpe diem ("seize the day").  Tomorrow is not promised, but today ... there is much we can do about today.  I plan to spend as much time with family as possible and to enjoy each day a little more.  I want to travel as soon as I can this year rather than put it off until the "perfect" time.

Beautify the outside to elevate the inside.  When it comes to my outer appearance, I tend to be ... hmm ... lazy unless I'm going to an event.  I am not a makeup and high heels person.  I could care less if my twists are super frizzy.  However, I honestly believe that because I couldn't give two #$%^ what I look like on my way to the lab or to school, it impacts how I feel on the inside - sluggish and "meh".  This year, I want to put a little more effort in my outer appearance.  Maybe daily mascara and eyeliner and replacing the routine gray hoodie for one of my nice sweaters.  Self-manicures have already made a re-appearance.

And this wraps up my plans for the New Year.  I hope you all are enjoying 2013 so far!

My "Hair Plans."

My "Body Plans."

Nutritious Bartending || Watermelon Mojito and More

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"A whole day of eating right can go down in the swirl of cocktail -- with crazy-high calories and weakened willpower. So we've put a few drinks on a diet, starting with the Cuban mojito. Instead of using sugar, use a wooden pestle or a big spoon to gently crush cubes of watermelon with fresh mint leaves. Add rum and sparkling water for a sweet mojito with half the usual calories."

If you are looking for more cocktails with fewer calories and more nutrients, check out this slideshow: http://www.webmd.com/diet/ss/slideshow-skinny-cocktails

Happy New Year (in Advance) & 1in3 Ends!

Twistout from the summer.

Hi, ladies.  Tomorrow is not only the beginning of the New Year but the end of our 1in3 Challenge!  (For challenge guidelines, read this post.)

So, how was the 3-month challenge?  I've taken down my box braids and detangled but haven't washed or done anything else with my hair yet.  (I plan to straighten it this coming weekend and wear it in jumbo twists for the month of January.)  Overall, the challenge went well!  I retained all my growth with the box braid extensions.  

Will there be a 3in6 Challenge in 2013?  If you read my Hair Goals post, you probably gathered that there might not be one.  I can say for certain that there won't be one in the first half of the year.  However, I might start another one in July, depending on what I'm doing with my hair at that point.  This coming year will be a completely different journey for my hair than previous years as a natural.  I will be straightening more frequently (for ease and to enjoy my hair at its length).  I may or may not protective style as much either (more so a mix of jumbo twists and braid-outs).  My regimen is going to change drastically as well; I plan to follow something along the lines of this one I posted, with the addition of an overnight coconut oil pre-poo followed by comb detangling on dry hair prior to washing.  

So, ladies ... How did the challenge go for you?  Any progress or lessons learned?  What are you doing with your hair in 2013?

MOTIVATION FOR THE YEAR:

Think positive.  Plan well.  Start small.  Keep on going.  Don't stay down.  Dust yourself off.  Move forward.  Don't look back. :o)

HAPPY NEW YEAR, LADIES!!

"Soul" Food Mondays || The Quality of Life

"Your health is your wealth.  Don't let life's stresses be so hard on you that it wrecks your temple: your body.  Guard and protect your health.  It's the quality of life that counts in the end, not the longevity of life." ~ Sophia A. Nelson

Learn to "live" before it's too late.

Protective Style Lookbook || Two Funky Twist Styles in One Video

By popular demand, this is a series showcasing various protective hair styles.  Protective styling does not have to be boring. :o)

Style #1. (See below video for Styles #1 and #2.)

Model: Laila

Style description: Two different updos from a combination of twists, flat twists, and loose hair.

Difficulty level: 3/5

2013 Plans for My Hair, Body, and Soul || Part II

Alright, so last time I talked about my "Hair Plans" for 2013.  Now it's time to talk about my "Body Plans" for the New Year ...

2013 BODY PLANS:

Turn my smoothie kick into a daily routine.  So, if you've been following my "healthy eating" posts, then you probably know that I've been on a smoothie kick for a few months now.  Well, for the New Year, I want to make it my daily routine - like brushing, showering, sleeping - a daily routine.  Right now, I drink one several times a week in the mornings, and it's usually a green one (kale, banana, almond milk, ice, peanut butter, and sometimes, blueberries).

Take better care of my skin. I'm still young, but I'm not getting any younger.  I want to maintain my youthful skin, so this is the time to do it.  My current skin routine is okay but could be a lot better.  I want to find a more quality anti-aging creme and also wear sunscreen more regularly.  "Black don't crack" early but it will eventually.  Now is the time to slow down the process.  I also plan to incorporate more antioxidants into my diet (via tea drinking and possibly ginkgo biloba supplements as well).

That's it?  Yep, that's it!  I'm already a health nut, so there's not much more to add.