Protective Style Lookbook || Braided Crown Hairstyle

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

{Image Source}

Model: Ebony C.

Style description: Braid going around the crown. Can be done on stretched hair, twists, or box braids. 

Difficulty level: 3/5

Mixology, Skin Care || Elbow Softener

Are your elbows extra dry and hard this winter? Here is a natural homemade recipe for an elbow softener:

Ingredients
4 tbsp olive oil
juice of 1 lemon
1 tbsp honey

Instructions
Pour ingredients in sterilized jar, cover and shake well. Shake well before each use. Massage a little into each elbow for a few minutes. Rinse off, pat dry, and moisturize. (Use this recipe twice daily and your skin will be soft within one week. After that, use weekly.)

FOR MORE: 250 Bath Body Recipes

It Is 2013…What Are Your Health And Fitness Goals for This Year!?

By Stephanie of Infinite Life Fitness

Every year more and more people make goals to get healthy and fit.  On average do you know how long that motivation and drive last?  THREE WEEKS! And to be honest most people do not make it that long!

The key to YOUR health and fitness success is staying motivated, plan ahead, and find people to help keep you on track!

Those three things are VERY important and some of the hardest things to find (and keep) to those who are just starting their health and fitness journey. 

This is a great time of year to start thinking about spring break or your summer vacations!  If you want to be bikini ready you have to start NOW! Do not make any more excuses!

Create your plan:

What is the date you want to reach your goals?

What is your goal? (How much weight do you want to lose….or you want to get fit to run a race…)

How do you plan to eat right? (Creating menus, planning out your meal times and meals)

When are you going to work out?

What are you going to do when you work out?

Now…How are you going to stay motivated?

(You can always check out my blog infinitelifefitness.com  :-)

BUT there are DOZENS of other health and fitness blogs out there that also aim to motivate and encourage people who need it)

And who is going to be your Fitness buddy or Fitness counselor?

A fitness buddy can be someone who is trying to get fit with you.  Or they can just be there to help keep you on track.  You can use them when you are feeling weak and wanting to give up.  This person is so important and they have to be reliable! Cannot find a buddy?  I WOULD LOVE TO BE YOUR FITNESS BUDDY! Just contact me and we can chat about your goals and I can even offer you some advice.

A fitness counselor is someone to help you with your meals and workouts.  This can be a personal trainer, a friend who is a fitness junkie…or ME!

I am currently taking new clients and my prices are VERY reasonable.  I offer great packages that can fit into anyone’s budget.  I never want price to be an issue when it comes to health and fitness.  I even offer trades (currently I advertise on some websites/blogs in exchange for workouts and fitness advice! I am willing to bargain so YOU can start reaching your goals!) 

Don’t belong to a fitness gym? NO PROBLEM!

There are DOZENS of at-home exercise you can do to help you reach your goals!
Even if you are on a tight budget there are ways to still purchase healthy food and maintain a healthy diet.  It does take some planning but YOU CAN DO IT! ANYONE CAN!

The time to start is NOW! Not tomorrow…not next week…not next month…but TODAY!

The only person holding you back from your health and fitness goals is YOU!

What are you afraid of!  Yes it will be hard at times…and yes you will slip up and make some mistakes but that is OK!  We are all human and we all make mistakes.

2013 is YOUR year! So let’s start NOW on the new…healthier….MORE fit YOU!

This is Stephanie from Infinite Life Fitness.  Please feel free to stop by my blog for more health and fitness advice!

Hair Diary || Messy Jumbo Twists for January

Flat-ironed and in jumbo twists.  I didn't have my usual products so I had to make do with what was available.  On hiatus for the next couple of weeks.  Until next time, ladies!

Box Braid Takedown:
-Took down box braids
-Finger detangled each section (previously lubricated)
-Followed up with a wide-tooth comb
-Put hair in several big plaits
-Washed with Creme of Nature conditioning shampoo
-Conditioned with VO5 Strengthening Conditioner (hydrolyzed collagen)
-Detangled (wide tooth comb) hair while soaked with conditioner
-Re-plaited then rinsed out 95% of the conditioner
-Sealed damp hair with Pura Naturals Cupuacu Butter
-Air dried hair in big plaits

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

{Image Source}

"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