It's All About: What Happy People Do!

"To be happy is to be focused on the present moment"...

The past couple of days haven't been the best and I have a strong feeling it's because I'm dwelling on what I'm afraid of instead of what I am energized about. So in response to this video below from FitLifeTV, I'm going to share the 10 things that I am presently grateful about in my life. But by all means, definitely watch the video first to gain some inspiration. As a human being, are you doing any of these 5 things? View my list down below, then share your own!

10 GOOD THINGS HAPPENING IN MY LIFE
1. I have a faith driven mindset
2. I am supported by family members no matter how small it may be
3. I am getting the opportunity to broaden my horizon
4. I'm reaching out of my comfort zone for success
5. I have a job that allows me to be me
6. I have friends that always give me well rounded observations
7. I'm pursuing my long term goals
8. I'm ALIVE
9. I'm Blessed
10. I love

Weekened Tunes: Olu

So... I have no idea what this song is really about, though it sounds quite self explanatory... but it came on and now I'm bopping my head to it like a 22 y.o. in 1995.

Take a listen, loves! I think you'll like it as well!

Keeping the Do Professional

I, like many natural-haired women, believe natural hair can definitely be considered professional. I've never had a problem working in a corporate scene with a fluffy side swept bang and a tailored bun sitting at the base of my nape and quite frankly, many of my corporate bosses have shown their fascination in my ...ethnic do's. I mean, I've even gotten the "wear it in an afro one day" comment once or twice but that's a different story for a different day. Point blank, there has been a triple standard against black women and themselves for some time now.

We ask ourselves questions like:

• How will I do my hair for work tomorrow after I leave the gym?
• Can I even go to the gym?
• Maybe if I....but that's not professional... =/

And because of these struggles between work, exercise, and being true to oneself we've, in an immense way, thrown the one important aspect to the waste side; exercise and health. I can vouch for myself when I say that while interning at a corporate-styled office, I threw out a few good exercise days I knew I needed just so that I could keep my hairstyle. Yes, it did give me that feeling of shame, but in worse light, during that time that I was caring for my hair more, I managed to gain back a week's worth of weight that I had managed to lose some months ago. 

Ashamed, I was and it didn't help when I also decided to rationalize it all.

• Well maybe if I just eat better, I'll lose weight the same way
• Toning can always come later (after this internship)
• I have a presentation tomorrow so a good night's sleep and a fierce do is way more important!

Once more, after I ended the stupid rationalizations, I thought back to when I had finally embraced my natural hair. All the good thoughts running through my mind. How I would never have to be that woman worried about her hair while free-styling on the elliptical. How I could always reach for my go-to bun style. How professionalism and exercise would never clash because I knew within myself that professionalism didn't just consist of a hair do but also a demeanor. But now look where I was.... acting like that same stereotype of "I can't sweat out my style"....and becoming unhealthy because of it. And it wasn't just me. I mean, the video below explains it all and so does BGG2WL  

Ladies! Long story short, I had to literally find my way back to sanity where it concerned my hair and it's healthiness as well as my body's healthiness. I didn't promise myself I'd never stray off track again but I try to be realistic about my situations on a consistent basis. I don't want to be the next stereotypical black women who is unhealthy and in no shape to get healthy because of something as small as keeping my hair do professional.

Balance is always key. As long as you confess to yourself that you can keep it professional while you work out!

It's All About... Doing It Yourself ^_~

Around October of last year, I took up a new hobby of making my own jewelry. Simply because I knew I'd be broke when Christmas time came and I was trying to find and economic way to give out thoughtful presents. During this time, I came into contact with a craft store known as Beads World. They had all types of trinkets to mess with and a million more items to create with! So I set out on a journey. I promised, I'd make my three closest friends a box of gifts. Each person would get my own rendition of a Fingerless Glove and Earwarmer set I crocheted and it would come with one or two pars of earrings.

Well the former idea was a breeze. While on my crochet frenzy, I made 3 pairs of fingerless gloves and earwarmer sets. You can see the blogpost I did on them here! And then when it came time to make the earrings, I began slow. Now the studs were no problem. I had found a bunch of unwanted buttons at my job the previous week and decided to tamper with them--in the end, creating some awesome button/studd earrings. And then I fooled around with tough wire and realized I could also combine my crochet and newly found jewelry making skills together to form awesomely unique earrings.

However, by the time December came around, I was still in my "tampering stage" all excited about the wonderful discoveries and pieces I had made. Let's not forget, by the time Christmas and my depressing birthday had passed, I was no longer in so much of a "giving" mood. Needless to say, I still had these piece close to me. So I said "what the heck" Ill just keep them for myself ...thus ends my sweet little story.

In the end, only one of my friends (who I am no longer friends with) received my crochet warmer kit, and NO ONE received my handmade earrings. Nope! Instead on days when I'm feeling pretty, I rock 'em to work...and to this day, it still never ceases to amaze me that I did this and that people would stop me on the street to give me compliments on them!! Good ole DIYs ^_^...

 I made these pieces playful jewelry. So I know after seeing these pics you may ask if I could make you a pair, and the answer MAY just be yes! However, please keep in mind that I post hyperlinks in my blogs for a reason. These are all projects any guy or girl could do...if their interested enough

...And I say, if they're NOT interested enough, then why even ask ME to make them a pair! Pics (and possibly more hyperlinks {tutorials}) are posted below.

ENJOY! <3

My most recent pair

With them on!

My very first pair of the "crochet style" These flowers are made here!!

With them on!

Some cameo studs

My first pair using Felt reinforcement

My Regal pair!!

Buttons made into studs!

testing out hard wire

Some button studs!

Pearl Button Studs!

Don't believe these can be earrings?

I'm sure you all can do it! Just purchase some buttons, earring posts, stubs and some awesome E6000 glue! 

Thanks!

Weekend Tunes: Jilly from Philly

When in doubt, I've always turned to my favorite songstress, Ms. Jilly Scott! And tonight I'm in doubt about all this weight I'd like to loose... give or take 40 l-b's...So to end off this tasteful yet abrupt weekend, here's one of her fantastic songs i've got on rotation in my MIND! lol 

Also an awesome welcome into the real flow of Spring!
Enjoy! <3

Natural Hair: As Compared To...

When I first began my natural hair journey, I compared it to losing weight. It was no longer a habit. It was something I had to turn into a lifestyle. And everyday my mom saw me carting in a few more bottles of oils to try on my hair, was the more she understood that I was no longer turning back. And it was the same with my weight loss. Now I kow I haven't lost a drastic amount of weight, but I haven't gained any either.

When I left High School, I was a whopping 192lbs. Not my best look and definitely not my best feeling. But I got into college and without really putting into perspectiv the hills I had to literally climb everyday to get to class, I slowly dropped weight. Yes ladies and gents. I wasn't one of those girls who gained their freshmen 15. I, in fact lost it, and kept it off throughout school because I eventually (though late) made it a secondhand lifestyle. I say secondhand because though I want it to be a first priority, my healthy has still taken the back burner amongst other things in my life. Anyway, let me stop ranting.

I got inspired to write this blogpost because of a recent video I saw on my YouTube subscriptions list entitled "Natural Hair: It's A Sport". This vlogger has a thing with the [natural] ladies in the YT community but he also spits a lot of truth. And I thought I would share. You can watch his video below or click the link in the line above.

Nevertheless, I completely understood where he was coming from! Just like a lot of Natural sistahs see it, he was able to grasp the concept of having natural hair and what it partially means. A sport you may ponder?... hmmm... I know. But what's the diff? He calls it a sport, I call it a lifestyle.

Enjoy!

It's All About: E.L.F. Products!

Night out with the Besty!

So about a week ago, I sent off for some make-up products, seeing as how I am trying to become better versed in using make-up. Not saying I'm going to using it on a regular basis but it is always good for a woman to know a few tips & tricks up her sleeve when it's time to really get down to it. I must say I am still new at this whole world of make up. I have done a few looks, like the one to the right (I'm wearing the leopard scarf). However, that "smokey eye" didn't turn out as smokey as I wanted it to... and I realized that my finger was obviously not the only tool I should be using when I apply makeup. So I began my search!

 NC 45 Concealer

First I went to MAC with my girl Netchem and splurged (or what I call "splurge") on their "NC 45" Concealer and their "Spiked" eyebrow pencil. These can be seen to the right and below. All together, I paid a whopping $40 for just these two trinkets but I am happy to announce that I definitely didn't have any buyers regret when it came to MAC! Anyway, the next task at hand was to find good tools. At first I was all focused on a brush that would jazz up my eyebrows--the one asset on your face that makes AND breaks your look depending on how you treat them. However, after being realistic about 1) my money flow and 2) my skills, I settled for a brand we all know about.  I went over to the Eyes. Lips. Face. website, surfed their site for brushes that they have in stock and went nuts when I realized E.L.F was a God send!!! Their brushes--almost all of them range in price from just $1 and can go up to $5-$8.

"Spiked" Pencil

When you think and compare, yes the other brands may use real fibers and hair, or wrap their strands more securely to prevent shedding but that's nothing a bit of Shampoo and conditioner can't take care of! So my main goal! Find a good Angled brush to use on my eyebrows ...even if it happened to be at their top price of $8 and that was an easy fix! Then I added a few more brushes, a pencil or two, a $10 100-pallet eye shadow kit, a powder to the bag and I was ready to check out. Now, I know myself better than anyone. Looking at the checkout price of $40, I was very impressed with myself but I KNEW I could find a way to get that bag lower.

So what did I do? ...

I went to trusty GOOGLE and found a site that housed E.L.F. coupon codes. Many didn't work but one did give me like $5 off of any purchase $25 and up. Just when I thought I was set and ready to go, my brain told me to take another look through at the coupon codes and out of nowhere up popped one link that would give me 12 free BRUSHES with my $20 or more purchase! I instantly plugged the code into my shopping cart and when I found out it worked, I knew it was time to adjust. First I searched for the free model that the code was giving you. Yes they turned out to be the cheaper set but who cares! Like I said, I am NO professional. So I went back to my cart, removed all the individual brushes I had added and then went back to boost my cart up to the $20 amount so I could get the 12 free brushes! Along with what I kept, I just had to add one more kit to the bag and what better than an eyebrow-ready kit.

*sigh*

I have NEVER been more proud of myself! And I believe I did very well. For now, I guess my advice to new make-up"ers" out there would be:

• Identify what you would like to enhance on your face, like how I wanted to enhance my brows and play down my blemishes
• Focus on ONE thing at a time. If you try to get EVERYTHING, you'll most likely lose a good bargain!
• You also want to start little. Don't feel like you have to get all the best brands out there. What's the point in paying for them if you'll end up using them only once a year, or at all at that!

...Pics are below to check out! And I hope this inspires all the ladies like me that are trying her best to show UP and show OUT!!

Packaging really does matter!

My 100-pallet eye shadow kit

The colors!!


MY 12, FREE BRUSHES

My eyebrow kit

My Pressed Powder

My Angled Brush (for my brows)

My turquoise shimmer pencil