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.

Mixology || Organic Lip Balm and Lip Scrub Set

Makes a great Holiday gift set!

Recipe originator: Fran (HeyFranHey on Youtube)

LIP BALM ...
Ingredients (all organic):
cocoa butter
shea butter
castor oil
beeswax
extra virgin coconut oil

LIP SCRUB ...

Ingredients (all organic):

dark brown sugar

jojoba oil

Instructions: See the video below ...

(Liebster Award) A "Darling" Nominee

Thank you Random Nesha for nominating me for the Liebster Award!!!

(Liebster means darling or favorite in German)

 How the Liebster Award works ...

1. Each person must post 11 random things about themselves.
2. Answer the 11 questions that the tagger set for you.
3. Choose 11 bloggers who you would like to give the award too.
4. Create 11 questions for the bloggers you have tagged with the award to answer.

1. What do you enjoy about blogging?
Sharing ... whether it is sharing information, sharing a story, or sharing a small (just a small) part of my world.

2. What guilty pleasure makes your day go right?
Hmm.  This is a tough one.  It varies with the "season" of my life.  Right now, I'd say catching up on "Once Upon a Time" while eating banana nut bread.

3. Who is your hair influence?
It is a tie between Sera252 and Kemi21.  They are two kinky, long-haired naturals who indirectly inspired me to transition years ago.

4. Do you have kids?
Does my cat (she's six years old) count as one? *smiles*

5. What do you want to be when you grow up?
Working on my engineering doctorate so that I can be a professor at a university.

6. What's your favorite fruit?
I honestly don't have one, but if I had to choose, it would be strawberries.

7. What's your favorite vacation spot?
Tulum, Mexico.  It's near Cancun, but less touristy and more gorgeous (in my opinion).

8. What charity would you like to contribute to?
Any that benefits the poor or disadvantaged children.

9. What would you like to see change about the world?
Self-absorption.  I would like to see more empathy in the world.

10. What's your favorite season?
Summer all the way.  I get cold easily, so warm weather is what I love.

11. If you could go on a date with any person in the world, who would it be?
Michelle Obama.  (No homo.)  I think a conversation with her over dinner would be very enriching and worthwhile.  Maya Angelou would be a close second.

My Nominees
1. The Natural Haven
2. Ok Dani
3. Sofull Sista
4. Just Grow Already!
5. Keep It Simple Sista
6. Finally Natural!
7. Glamazini (I'll try to notify her since she's a celebrity. *smiles*)
8. Lilia's Healthbook
9. Living Joyfully
10. Natural Selection
11. Confessions of a Blog Vixen

Nominated Questionaire (the same great questions as above)
1. What do you enjoy about blogging?
2. What guilty pleasure makes your day go right?
3. Who is your hair influence?
4. Do you have kids?
5. What do you want to be when you grow up?
6. What's your favorite fruit?
7. What's your favorite vacation spot?
8. What charity would you like to contribute to?
9. What would you like to see change about the world?
10. What's your favorite season?
11. If you could go on a date with any person in the world, who would it be?

"Soul" Food Mondays || Love Covers and Heals

"Let LOVE be your life's compass.  You can let "like" leave you at times, but never, ever let LOVE leave your heart.  Love covers and it heals.  Keep love buried at the front of your heart and all things are possible." ~ Sophia A. Nelson

Love covers and it heals.  Hate eats at the soul.  Let go of hate, but also greed, jealousy, resentment, self-absorption, and all things void of love.  Let love be your life's compass ...