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Tuesday, March 31, 2009

ONLINE ART AWARD



Hi Beautifuls!

I hope that all is well in your world! I do okay. On yesterday, I lost a coworker, in my department, due to lay-offs. Not only her but about 3 other folks here (including another one that I was fond of) were let go. So I'm a bit bummed about it. I pray that they make their way and find the right path for them to produce income in their households. And yes, I am grateful that I was not one among them to be let go. sighs

On to brighter news, Laquita at All Naptural blogspot has nominated me for the online Art Award. Laquita is a gifted natural hair blogger who also has a fictional online natural hair story that you can check out here. Laquita, I thank you for this nomination! It makes me feel good that my blog is thought of in such a way!

In receiving this award, I must list 7 things that I am passionate about and 7 bloggers worthy of this award.

7 Things I'm Passionate About:
1. self-improvement
2. doing the right thing (at least trying to)
3. my health
4. my hair
5. being a proper role model/motivator to my daughter
6. positive outlook
7. family & friends
As for the 7 bloggers that I feel are worthy of this award, I cannot just choose 7. All of you have impacted, inspired and motivated me. I heart every last one of you! So with that being said, I nominate all of you beautiful bloggers!

**On a side note: I will be going to Arden's Garden to pick up my juices for the 2 day detox program. So I will be beginning my 2 day juice fast/detox on Wednesday.** Wish me the best!

Peace and Blessings,
CO

Post Title ONLINE ART AWARD

Monday, March 30, 2009

IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING.....


I just had to come back and give some more detail/information on Hatha Yoga. Couldn't just throw it out there and not break it down, so I'm providing you with some answers to questions that you may have wondered while reading my last post. I just gotta go deep. That's just me.

Hatha History
Hatha Yoga is the most widely practiced form of yoga in America. It is the branch of yoga that concentrates on physical health and mental well-being. Hatha yoga uses bodily postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama), and meditation (dyana) with the goal of bringing about a sound, healthy body and a clear, peaceful mind. There are nearly 200 hatha yoga postures, with hundreds of variations, which work to make the spine supple and to promote circulation in all the organs, glands, and tissues. Hatha yoga postures also stretch and align the body, promoting balance and flexibility.

Hatha has been around since 15th century India when a yogic sage, Swami Swatamarama, detailed Hatha Yoga Pradipika, one of the most important yoga texts. The original intent of this form of yoga was to help support relaxation of the body and to support the "contemplation of one reality." Many of the classic Hatha yoga poses that were used at its inception, in fact, are still in use with it today. According to those first practitioners of Hatha, the postures can lead to the best in not only physical well being, but also the best state of mind you can possibly attain.

Origins
Yoga was developed in ancient India as far back as 5,000 years ago; sculptures detailing yoga positions have been found in India which date back to 3000 B.C. Yoga is derived from a Sanskrit word which means "union." The goal of classical yoga to bring self-transcendence, or enlightenment, through physical, mental, and spiritual health. Many people in the West mistakenly believe yoga to be a religion, but its teachers point out that it is a system of living designed to promote health, peace of mind, and deeper awareness of ourselves. There are several branches of yoga, each of which is a different path and philosophy toward self-improvement. Some of these paths include service to others, pursuit of wisdom, nonviolence, devotion to God, and observance of spiritual rituals. Hatha yoga is the path which has physical health and balance as a primary goal, for its practitioners believe that greater mental and spiritual awareness can be brought about with a healthy and pure body.
The origins of hatha yoga have been traced back to the eleventh century A.D. The Sanskrit word ha means "sun" and tha means "moon," and thus hatha, or literally sun-moon yoga, strives to balance opposing parts of the physical body, the front and back, left and right, top and bottom.
The original philosophers of yoga developed it as an eight-fold path to complete health. These eight steps include moral and ethical considerations (such as honesty, non-aggression, peacefulness, non-stealing, generosity, and sexual propriety), self-discipline (including purity, simplicity, devotion to God, and self-knowledge), posture, breath control, control of desires, concentration, meditation, and happiness. According to yogis, if these steps are followed diligently, a person can reach high levels of health and mental awareness.
As it has subsequently developed, hatha yoga has concentrated mainly on two of the eight paths, breathing and posture. Yogis believe breathing to be the most important metabolic function; we breathe roughly 23,000 times per day and use about 4,500 gallons of air, which
increases during exercise. Thus, breathing is extremely important to health, and prana, or life-force, is found most abundantly in the air and in the breath. If we are breathing incorrectly, we are hampering our potential for optimal health. Pranayama, literally the "science of breathing" or "control of life force," is the yogic practice of breathing correctly and deeply.
In addition to breathing, hatha yoga utilizes asanas, or physical postures, to bring about flexibility, balance and strength in the body. Each of these postures has a definite form and precise steps for achieving the desired position and for exiting it. These postures, yogis maintain, have been scientifically developed to increase circulation and health in all parts of the body, from the muscular tissues to the glands and internal organs. Yogis claim that although hatha yoga can make the body as strong and fit as any exercise program, its real benefits come about because it is a system of maintenance and balance for the whole body.

Credits for this info.:
Author Info: Douglas Dupler, Teresa G. Odle, The Gale Group Inc., Gale, Detroit, Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine, 2005

Rebecca Prescott
Published: 7/25/2006 Rebecca has a diploma in Shiatsu and Computer Programming. She runs two websites www.vitaminstohealth.com and www.acnetohealth.com. and has studied various aspects of herbal medicine.


Peace and Blessings, Beautiful!

Post Title IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING.....

OHMING IN '09



Good Morning Beautifuls!

I hope that you had a wonderful weekend! Guess what I did?.... I took my first yoga class. The class focused on classic hatha yoga. And it was awesome!! I was sharing with a friend how tense I have been lately. You know that kind of tense that kind of sneaks up on you. The kind that you really don't realize until you notice how off your breathing is. Maybe it's just me but I definitely realized it was time to move on it and do something about it. So I found a yoga meetup group close to my residence and decided to jump in.

Let me tell you, it was truly a wonderful experience. The instructor is really nice and gentle. Her presence is easy and comfortable to be around and so flows the class. She was very helpful with poses and did push us to "take it to the edge" but not hurt ourselves. And yes, I broke a little sweat. Lovelies, I felt relaxed on an entirely different level after the class. And needless to say, was a little sore the following day which is cool. Now, I'm just that much more aware of my breathing. I'm definitely going back.

What about you? Did you have a lovely weekend?...

Post Title OHMING IN '09

Thursday, March 26, 2009

MISS J. BACK IN THE "A"




For all you Miss Jessie's fan's who happen to be or will be in Atlanta for the World Natural Hair, Health and Beauty Show 2009. They will be in attendance. The show will be going on April 4- 5, 2009.

I'll be there, will you?....

Post Title MISS J. BACK IN THE "A"

WORKING ON SOME THINGS




Good Morning Beautifuls!

I hope that you are having a beautiful and wonderful day/week! It's a rainy day in Jawjah (literally). We're supposed to have rain through this weekend. God knows we need it.

Just wanted to let you all know that I am working on some things to better myself which, will in turn, better my online journal or blog as we call it. I'm currently putting together a hair regimen (for myself) which is coming along well. And at the same time, I'm working on a overall health, well-being regimen. That is a work in progress but is coming along. On both fronts, I hope to be able to share better organized and more detailed information on my journey overall. So pardon me if I skip a few days here and there as I am working/marinating on some things.

Oh, I haven't forgot about posting pics of my hair since the protective style challenge ended on the 20th. I was so happy with the progress I saw that I decided to bun my hair back up (smile), so I'll post pics on Monday.

What's happening in your world?...

Post Title WORKING ON SOME THINGS

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

CODENAME: THE UNOFFICIAL OFFICIAL (by my definition) RESEARCHER




Good Morning Beautifuls!

Just had to drop a line about a couple of products that I've tried recently. Cause you know I'm a PJ. Last month, I had purchased Ohm Body's Sweet Hair Pudding based on the fact that it's all-natural and on some reviews I'd read about it. I honestly was not impressed, at first, because I didn't like the way it felt as I applied it to my hair. But I always loved the way my hair felt so soft once it dried. Well, let me just say that I love it! In my book, it's up there with Kinky-Curly's Curling Custard. My initial issue was not the fault of the product but an application fault. Ohm's Sweet Hair Pudding should basically be applied just like KCCC. Little by little with lots of water. I get the same results! Yay me!!



Second hair product on my list is Aubrey Organics B5 Design Gel. I picked this up from The Vitamin Shoppe. It has all these wonderful healthy ingredients so what's not to love about it! I applied it just like I normally apply my usual gel, IC Hair Polisher Gel, but my hair dried with a fuzzy look. I'm still using it, though. I figure with all those great ingredients, it can still be a benefit to my tresses. I just make sure to apply some IC gel on top of it.

What have you tried lately?....

Post Title CODENAME: THE UNOFFICIAL OFFICIAL (by my definition) RESEARCHER

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

AND YOU'RE OUT!!!


Good Morning, Beautifuls!

I hope your weekend was wonderful! Mine was good and full of busy. I got to greet a new baby and meet some more healthy & raw food enthusiasts. Always a pleasure to be around like-minded individuals. We actually had a speaker talk to us about growing our own food. I so need a yard.

After my busy weekend & the weather totally initiating me into a Spring attitude, I began to contemplate my Spring cleaning. You know, baseboards, windows, loosing old furniture and clothes. But not just household cleaning, also emotional and mental cleaning. I don't know about you but my stress levels have been higher than normal. Which I totally attribute to the overall effects of our current events. So of course, I've begun to consider cleaning out all possible antagonists to my mental & emotional well-being. (This is, of course, on top of exercise and eating my best.) Those antagonists being bad news, negative talk/thought, pessimistic people, music/entertainment, etc.,etc. I have to avoid these things like the plague. And have my mind, my thoughts focused & fastened on the good and the positive.

Speaking of music, some of it irritates me to listen to. I think, "Is all you can sing about sex?". Not that it's a bad thing cause it sure as hell is not. It's all to the good when it's good and wrapped in a committed, monogamous relationship. For me, at least. But my point being is, "Is that the most you have to offer?" Cause if that's the scope of your thinking, your purpose, then I've got to loose you and move on. And that goes for relationships, too. But I guess I'm just assessing where I am, where I want to and plan to be. And in that assessment, some things.. some people.. some thoughts...some habits must be loosed.

What about you, Gorgeous? Have you considered mental/emotional Spring cleaning?.....

Post Title AND YOU'RE OUT!!!

Friday, March 20, 2009

HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SPRING!!




Happy Friday, Beautiful Ones!!

I hope that everyone has had a wonderful week. Mine has been long but still good. And yet, this weekend I will still be running. It's cool, though. I get to go out with a good friend, go visit a new baby, a salon opening and a raw foods meetup. In between which, I will be getting my henna on. Whoa!


What's on your list this weekend? Are you doing something for you?....

Post Title HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SPRING!!

Thursday, March 19, 2009

KREATIV BLOGGER AWARD



Okay. Picture this... I'm at work and notice the message light blinking on my phone. I open up the message and read that the lovely Ingrid at Raw Epicurean has nominated me for the Kreativ Blogger Award. I was like, "Wow! Someone thinks my blog is cool! Ooh!" (big grin) Ingrid, I am so touched by this! (grins again)


Okay.. In accepting this award, I must list 7 things that I love and then pass it to 7 other kreativ bloggers.

7 Thing I Love

Life - It's such a gift! Every moment of it is precious so I do my best to make the fully embrace it!

Positive Vibes - Looking for the good in things and connecting with positive people is always a winner for me.

Beautiful Flowers - What can I say. The name is a giveaway. Orchids, tulips, roses, calla lillies, hyacinth. I love beautiful flowers!

Sunshine - I love a sunny day! I have to get out and allow the sun to hug or kiss me with it's warmth.

Art - I love the visual. The abstract. Beauty in things and places that not everyone appreciates or sees.

Good company of family and friends - There's nothing like being around people who you love and who love you just as you are.

Great Food and Drink - Yummy is all I can say!

7 Kreativ Bloggers I'm Feelin'

Gem at Bohemian Bookworm

Alicia at InstantVintage

GT at Gettogetha

No at Norian Love

Vincent Christie at The Pangaeas Garden Project

Blaq Berry at Hi-Rawkus

Queen Infinite Wisdom at Ravynn's Rawthentic Life

Don't forget to post 7 things that you love and to pass this award along to 7 other bloggers that float your boat.

Smooches...

Post Title KREATIV BLOGGER AWARD

NATURAL HAIR RAMBLINGS - PART II


Hi Beautifuls!

This is part deux of the hair conversation that I began sharing w/you on yesterday. I've modified and added to my responses because I kept thinking of other things I needed to add.


I think we are about the same texture, so I was very curious as to what you were using on your hair. I used to be a huge Qhemet fan. Don't know why I stopped using. I'm going to go to Eden's and grab or order some more.

When you twist, do you twist wet or dry? And what do you use to twist? Miss Jessie's?

I feel my PJism coming back!

March 17 at 9:12pm
Ooh, when I twist is the question. In trying to come up w/a regimen, I will probably start putting my hair in twists or braids at night. During the Summer, I did twist outs alot w/Curls Whipped Cream. It gave me awesome twist/twist-outs but I'm not sure if I'm gonna repurchase them or phase them out. I may have twisted w/Qhemet's Burdock Root Buttercreme once but prefered the results w/Curls Whipped Cream. Hmmm, may have to hold onto that unless or until I find something I like better.

Another thing that I haven't mastered yet (and am partly afraid of) is dry twisting. Really dry-handling my hair, I just can't see. I always wet my hair whether it's just dampening it or fully saturating it. I do believe in moisture and water is the only thing that's gonna do that. At least for me.
I've read about people using Miss Jessie's products to twist but I have yet to do that. I'm still doing the wash-n-go thing when I wear my hair loose. (I promise you I still love to shake my hair and go.)

But as I may have mentioned before, as my hair gets more length to it it seems to become more susceptible to knots/tangles. I was reading on naturallycurly.com about someone having this same issue. (Well, actually alot of people do, including Chicoro) Well, it got to the point where this particular person was so frustrated (and she has ALOT of hair so I can only imagine her level of frustration) that she began considering texturizing her hair. Instead she began putting it into protective styles and her knots/tangles issues were drastically reduced. Which is moving me to continue mainly protective styling for my hair.

I'm working on growing my hair to get it to shoulder length unstretched. During the week, I've been bunning. The protective style challenge I'm participating in (found this on www.texturedplayground.com) calls for protective-styling 5 days protective-style w/2 days off. It ends this Friday.

Okay, I am so off the subject of your questions. My apologies again.

lol.

The picture at the top is for those of you who have inquired about my hairtype. The above photo is a backshot of my hair. I tried to upload the texture close-up but for whatever reason it's not acting right (or I just don't quite know what I'm doing). Either way, as you can see my hair is very coily. I honestly don't focus on hairtyping because it confuses the mess out of me. Regardless of Andre's system or the LOIS system, I still end up totally confused. For me, it's just too many shades of grey. What I can confidently tell you is that I know my hair is very coily and that it can take a while to dry.

So..onto my current hair issue:
As part of my reign of terror on knots & tangles, I've incorporated oil treating into my pseudo regimen. I've been applying Extra Virgin Coconut Oil at night and lightly rinsing in the morning. Then bunning my hair back up. About once a week, I will use my beloved Vatika Oil (can't say enough about it). I have to say that the oil treatments seem to be helping alot. And let me add this, when I first went "au naturale", oil did not work for me. My hair just wouldn't get with it. Even Qhemet products where shunned by my tresses. But now, I'm good. As long as I stick w/the lighter oils, everythings wonderful. (My hair is still not feelin' Castor Oil.) I attribute this to gained length and knowledge of the application process. I said this to say, "Be willing/open to revisit a product that you may have given up on". Even if a product doesn't initially seem to work for you, it may work for you later. It could be a length factor, it may be that it's not being applied to the hair correctly, or it could be the condition of your hair. You never know. Just be open to try.


Also, for those of you considering adding henna treatments to your regimen, please do your research and a strand test first. You can click here for a free ebook on henna. If it's all good and you do henna, always always always follow it with a deep condition.

Much Love

Post Title NATURAL HAIR RAMBLINGS - PART II

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

NATURAL HAIR RAMBLINGS


Hi Beautifuls!

I hope that your world is lovely. I've missed blogging for these few days. Feels as if I've been gone forever. I'm still tired from the drive back from New Orleans (mainly because I needed another night of early bed rest) but I'll get that back tonight. My daughter's team did very well, although they didn't get a bid to the Worlds Competition (Yes, there is one.) in Orlando. It's all good, though. There's always next season.

Anyhoo, it's seems as if it's been awhile since I've talked about hair so hear goes. I've been having somewhat of a discussion w/a Facebook friend about my hair and I realized that I have so much to say. She'll ask a question or two, and I'll answer it in the midst of rambling about other hair stuff. I am seriously smitten with my natural hair! A year and a half into to it and I'm still as hyped as I was the day I did my BC (big chop). So in today's post, I decided to share the first questions and my response. Keep in mind that new products are being tried and I'm still working on a regimen.





Hey there!

You mentioned you use henna the other day. How exactly do you use it? What are the benefits for you? Did I hear you say Miss Jessie's too? Curious minds want to know about your great hair!


March 12 at 3:53pm
Thanks for the compliment Lady!

I honestly do not currently have a regimen but I am trying to formulate one. I have been participating in a protective growth challenge which ends next Friday. Hopefully, by then I will have mapped out a productive regimen of some sorts b/c my ultimate goal is to have shoulder length hair unstretched.

Which brings me to answering your questions.
I found out about henna when lurking the naturallycurly Curltalk forums (Http://www.naturallycurly.com/curltalk/forumdisplay.php?f=40). It is the very first thread on the page w/the henna experience title. It’s an ongoing, very long thread but also very informative. Henna acts like a protein. It binds to your hair during the process thereby adding strength to it. It’s also a great conditioner. For some, it loosens the curl pattern, temporarily and in others permanently. ( I’ve watched CurlyNikki’s hair texture change over time from it’s use.) Some people don’t experience this loosening at all. Some experience more curl definition. I’ve noticed that this effect is not contingent on any particular hair texture or type. It really just depends on your hair. I have yet to experience any change in my texture (and I would prefer not). This may be my hair or the fact that I don’t do a full henna every week. I try to henna bi-weekly. I’ve alternated between the Yemen (highest die content) henna and the Jamila henna.

CurlyNikki, has a very simple video on henna application. (I’m a visual person so this really helped me) It’s straight to the point.
It is http://www.curlynikki.com/2008/12-henna-pictorial.html.

I order my henna from http://www.mehandi.com/shop/hairhenna.html. They also have a henna forum page on http://www.hennapage.com. You can great information on this site. Mehandi.com also has a free ebook regarding henna that you can download. I would recommend anyone considering using henna to read this first. I will probably try ordering from http://www.mehndiskart.com. Their henna prices seem cheaper.

As far as hair care is concerned, I do a WHOLE LOT of research on the internet and I’m open to trying different things. Which I suppose leads into me being a product junkie. Don’t get me wrong, I so admire every lady who is real simple w/their hair routine. They’ve obviously found something that works and sticks w/it. Lol. I’ll get there one day. I’m having way too much fun right now. I guess it also helps that I’m still excited about my hair! Can’t help it! It was 5 long years before I finally got the nerve to do my BC. Worrying about what other folks would think or say. Whateva! I’m having so much fun now just doin’ me! And I think it should be that way generally in life.

Please let me say that I have had and still do have some bad hair days and hair issues. I’ve come to realize that they are just a part of life, regardless of hair texture and type. With more length my issue has become knots and tangles. Pain in the azz. I’m working on and researching the best ways to take care of these bothersome things.

As far as Miss Jessie’s products are concerned let me be honest. I used to hate that product line. I first used it when I did my BC because that’s what they used at the salon (Urbanbella) I had it done at. I hated the fact that the pudding made my hair crunchy. Then I thought it way too expensive. So I put it down. It didn’t act the way I felt it should for the price tag attached to it. It’s funny though. It seems that your (or at least my) hair changes as it grows. I suppose its needs change and now Miss Jessie’s products are fine. I just make sure I put moisture under it (a leave-in of some sorts). Also, I don’t use her products all the time and I make sure that when I do I use a clarifying shampoo b/c of some of the ingredients. And most importantly, only purchase during a sale. As far as how I use it, I apply it (Curly Meringue) to soaking wet sections of my hair in smoothing/smoosh-in strokes. Meaning, I take a little of the meringue and smoosh it into a section of hair while smoothing the hair from root to tip.

Anyhoo, hair care sites are great!! I’ve learned so much from them and different blogs. I’m also kind of following different folks hair care routines like Chicoro. She has a book out now that I hopefully will get next week entitled, “Grow It”. She has a really informative fotki. Especially, her tutorials. (Again, visual) I like the one regarding moisture. http://public.fotki.com/Chicoro123/hair-care/tutorials/how-to-strategicall/006.html.


Here’s a list of my favs:
http://www.naturallycurly.com/curltalk
http://www.nappturality.com/
http://motowngirl.com/content/
http://biracialhair.org/Welcome.aspx
http://thecoilreview.com/en/index.php


www.curlynikki.com
http://loveladyluxe.blogspot.com (click on hair journeys)
http://www.urbancurlz.com (fellow Atl blogger)
http://maneandchic.blogspot.com

My Fav products that work for me:

Cleansers- (not often, maybe twice a month)
Devacurl NoPoo (great no-poo shampoo)
ACV rinse

Condish- (co-wash 2 to 3 times/wk depending on hair)
Elucence Moisture Balancing Condish (heavenly. good as leave-in))
Moisture Milks V05 Condish (I don’t know why Suave doesn’t work well for me)

Deep Condish- (usually do weekly)
Jessicurl Weekly Deep Conditioning Treatment (good as leave-in also)
Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose (usually combine w/jessicurl wdt)
Miss Jessie’s Rapid Recovery (good deep condish but still phasing out)

Leave-Ins/Detanglers
Kinky-Curly Knot Today (wonderful detangler/leave-in) I can use this by itself


Moisturizers- (errday)
Qhemet burdock root buttercreme
Curls Milkshake (use during warm weather. will probably phase out)
Miss Jessie’s buttercreme (only use w/Miss Jessie’s stylers. Not big on)
Qhemet Honey Bush Tea Soft gel
Long Aid Curl Activator (got this from Chicoro’s fotki. Awesome moisture. Awesome detangler. Has great slip. Best used alone w/a gel, maybe)


Stylers-
Kinky-Curly Curling custard (use during warm weather)
Curls Whipped Cream (use during warm weather. will probably phase out)
Ohm Sweet Hair Pudding (trying this one out. Don’t like the way it feels going on but dries oh-so softly.)
Miss Jessie’s Curly Meringue
Miss Jessie’s Stretch Silkening Crème
IC Hair Polisher gel

Sealers/Oils
Qhemet Olive & Honey Hydrating Balm (great sealer)
Qhemet Indian Macassar Conditioning Oil
Coconut Oil (only during warm weather)

Various Treatments
henna (strength/conditioning)
Vatika Oil (great for oil treatments. Can typically find at Indian stores. Try to do once a week. Apply and sleep in. wash out in a.m.)
Komaza Care Hair Nourishment Oil (great scalp/growth oil)
Hairveda Cocasta Shikakai Hair Oil (don’t like. will give away)


I hope that this answers your questions. As you can probably tell, I am truly still excited about my hair. So on that note, I apologize for being so extremely long-winded. I knew I would. Probably why it took me a minute to answer you.

Peace and Blessings!



Alot of the links listed above can be found in my hairsites blogroll on the right. Sorry, too tired to go through them all and attach the links. And please keep in mind that as a PJ (product junkie), I am still trying new products and combinations. Right now, I'm testing Aubrey Organics B5 gel. Tomorrow, I'll post the second part of the conversation.

Feel free to drop your two cents in!

Post Title NATURAL HAIR RAMBLINGS

Thursday, March 12, 2009

HEAR YE! HEAR YE!.....

For all my ATLiens who happened to be Miss Jessie's users, interested or just curious. The ladies, Titi and Miko, will be in town at Curltopia Salon on March 21st.

Check it.



Post Title HEAR YE! HEAR YE!.....

SUPPLEMENTS & SHOUT-OUTS!!




Good Afternoon Beautifuls!

I hope that all is well in your world! In my link browsing, I came across a wonderful article regarding supplements. It's posted on the CrazySexyLife site. Great site, btw! Please check it out, and the comments that follow. You'll find some great information there! I'm a bit of a slacker as far as my supplement intake but I do plan on restocking. I currently have Healthforce Vitaminerals Green and some Maca. Note: I see that Navita Naturals is now in Whole Foods store. I do plan on getting some MSM (good for nails,hair & skin),some Cell Food and repurchasing some E3Live Hemp Maca Protein powder.

What supplements, if any, do you take?..

Also, shout out to Tru2me over at Honeydew Sugarchocolate Dumpling for the info. regarding Arden's Garden juice fast. I'll be giving that a whirl on next week. And big thanks to Ingrid from Raw Epicurean. In regards to my juice fasting dilemma, I've decided to purchase a more economical juicer (based on Raw Mocha Angel's recent post) until I'm able to get the one I want. Who know's, it may work out well enough for me to disregard getting another one.

Thanks to everyone for your comments! You all are always a help to me. I can only hope that I do the same for you. I heart you all!

Well, I'm outta here! My daughter's team is competing in the N-O(New Orleans or Nawhlins) so we'll be leaving out tomorrow. Wish us the best!

Peace, love, blessings, and joy to all!
CO

**you can find other pics like the one above at www.stephen.com.**

Post Title SUPPLEMENTS & SHOUT-OUTS!!

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

TAKE A GOOD WHIFF



Aromatherapy is the age-old practice of using volatile plant oils, including essential oils, for psychological and physical well-being. Essential oils of plants are often used to unwind and relax. You can try an oil blend that includes the following ingredients:

Bergamot: helps to lift depression, reduce anger and frustration
Geranium: helps to ease nervous exhaustion and anxiety. also balances emotions
Lavender: (one of my favs)it's best known for stress reduction. helps to promote sleep and reduce nervous tension
Petitgrain: helps to reduce mental fatigue and depression; calms panic
Ylang Ylang: regulates cardio & respiratory rhythms. calms nerves. antidepressant
Chamomile: calming and relaxing. sedative, anti-depressant

How Make the Essential Oil Work for You
Step1. Inhaling the oil's aroma is the best way to experience its healing effects. Drip 2 or 3 drops of the oil onto a tissue or onto your pillow before your sleep. Breath in deeply and let the aromatherapy work its magic.
Step2. Soak in a warm bath after adding 3 to 6 drops of the oil to your bathwater. If the bath is for children, use 1 to 3 drops of oil. For babies, use 1 drop. Allow about 20 minutes in the tub for the oil to absorb into your skin and the fragrance to have aromatherapy benefits.
Step3. Dilute 2 or 3 drops of the essential oil into 6 ml of grape seed, olive or vegetable oil and massage it into your skin. A neutral-scented lotion can be used in place of the mixing oil. Simply add the essential oil to the lotion, mix well and use.
Step4. Diffuse the oils into the air by mixing 2 or 3 drops into water in an oil burner or an old pan on a stove. Turn the heat on low. As the water gets warm, the scent will diffuse and fill the room.
Step5. Create a warm compress by mixing 4 or 5 drops of the essential oil to a bowl of warm water. Immerse a cloth into the water, wring it out and place it on your face or neck. You can repeat the process when the cloth becomes cold.
Step6. Make an aromatherapy body scrub by adding 10 drops of the essential oil to 1 ounce of ground sea salt. Add water to make a spreadable paste. While in the bath or shower, rub the mix to your body in circular movements.
Step7. Mix 16 ounces of any neutral shampoo with an ounce of essential oil. Wash your hair with the shampoo and rinse clean

For more indepth information on how to safely and successfully use essential oils, I recommend the following books:
The Complete Book of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy by Valerie Ann Worwood
The Essential Oils Book by Colleen Dodt

Post Title TAKE A GOOD WHIFF

SURVIVING A STRESSFUL ECONOMY




I received my current issue of Energy Times yesterday, and I was immediately drawn to their article “Surviving A Stressful Economy”. How fitting. The part of the article that caught my attention spoke about the effects of stress on the body. Let me share with you what I read.

Effects of Stress
If you’re constantly worried , you can end up exhausted because your energy is being channeled into that worrying. Unrelieved anxiety can create lasting mood disturbances. According to Nancy Molitor, PhD (psychologist and public education coordinator w/APA), she began seeing these mood disturbances around the fall. Now she is seeing that anxiety replaced by depression. Then in some people, this leads to catastrophic thinking which if ultimately left unchecked winds into a downward spiral. Stress left unchecked can lead to increased consumption of unhealthy foods resulting in weight gain. According to the article, it can also lead to impulsive decision-making.

How To Manage
Psychologist, Jana N. Martin, PhD suggests turning off the TV more often (sounds familiar) or not reading all the stories about foreclosures, disasters, and suicides. She suggests looking at a loss of income as an opportunity to follow your life’s passion. Judith Orloff, MD (assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at UCLA) says “You have to develop courage.” “It means going toward something in spite of fear”. Kathleen Hall (founder of The Stress Institute in Atlanta) suggests using affirmations , such as “I am strong, I am grateful for life”. According to Hall, your brain believes what you say to it. Music and laughter are other ways to break up stress.

Also, working on your inner resources is the beginning of outreach towards others. Special talents, such as cooking, woodworking, or mechanics may be the start of something great. Hall suggests that you find groups around your special talents, likes and/or interests. This can become a great support to you and it could lead to a successful business.

Health Wise
Hall also suggest taking omega-3 fatty acids which have been associated with reductions in depression. Also, getting plenty of vitamin B6 which helps the body to produce a depression-fighting chemical called serotonin. Dr. Orloff recommends taking the minerals calcium and magnesium together to promote calm and improve sleep. And of course, we can’t forget exercise. It also helps to bust depression. And lastly, exposure to sunlight elevates your mood by stimulating your brain to produce serotonin so get up and get outside.

Post Title SURVIVING A STRESSFUL ECONOMY

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Yesterday I Drove Home in Silence


Good Morning Beautifuls!

Have you ever felt a need for silence. I mean a peaceful, calming silence. Well, I really felt that need on yesterday. Normally, I listen to either the Michael Baisden show or surf stations (depending on my mood) on the home from work. But yesterday I just couldn't take the radio anymore. I needed a little peace.. some quiet. So I did what I normally do not do. I turned the radio off and drove home in silence. I just could not stand another moment of bad news, silly news, political news, economic news or news about ANYTHING. I couldn't listen to the noise. I just needed some quiet time to center my thoughts. Quiet time to meditate or "fall still" as Drumil at WLIR refers to it. And I must say it felt better.

For a while now, I have been feeling the need to fast(along with prayer & meditation). With so much going on between competitions, practices, not enough sleep, work, economic news & concerns, household maintenance and "you-fill-in-the-blank", this feeling has turned into an urging. Which, I'm sure, is really close to becoming a necessity.

So tell me, whatever your religion, faith or belief system is...do you practice meditation and/or fasting? What do you do to recenter yourself?...

Also, for those of you who've done a juice fast: How can I accomplish one if I have no juicer. What is the next best thing? I probably will not be able to purchase the juicer I want until this Summer so some suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Post Title Yesterday I Drove Home in Silence

Thursday, March 5, 2009

HAPPY FRIDAY, BEAUTIFULS!!

I hope that you've had a wonderful week! I have. And I'm writing this post just for you. Yes you!

I cannot tell you how much this song moves me! It was love at first note! And I'm totally lovin' Musiq's falsetto on this. Every time I hear it I immediately get the warm fuzzies. Seriously! It just does it for me!

Well...on this first Friday of March, I am dedicating this song to you. It's a simple reminder for all of you lovelies. Black, White, Asian, Latino, biracial, tall, short, slim, volumptious...whichever category(ies) you fall in. Yes, you with the freckles and front tooth gap, too!! You're fabulous!!

Do you know how gorgeous you are?.. If you haven't realized it yet, then go to the mirror right now. Take a good look at yourself & if you don't see it say it! Yes, say it as you look in the mirror. "Hi Beautiful!" "I love your (fill-in-the-blank)!" "You sure are gorgeous!" And if you don't feel it, say it everyday until you do!!

Because you are....
So Beautiful



Have a wonderful weekend!
And as always, "Do you", and something for you.

Much Love,
ChocolateOrchid

P.S. I am so hyped about "Watchmen". (Yes, I am a bit of a sci-fi geek.) Smooches...

Post Title HAPPY FRIDAY, BEAUTIFULS!!

MY CURRENT TUG-O-WAR




I have an admission to make. During my birthday month, I totally enjoyed myself with food and drink, sweets and all that stuff. And I'll be the first to admit that my body can definitely tell the difference from a mostly good/healthy diet to a diet without restraint. Well, now that I'm bringing the reigns back in and am seriously dealing with cravings. I mean.. I've had them before but it doesn't seem like they were at the level they are now. From chocolate to bbq to fried foods. Whoa! Yeah, it's serious over here!



Damn you Chocolate Cake!! Damn you!!!


Not being hard on myself, I do understand that committing to a healthier lifestyle is a process. Processes tend to include setbacks, some willing, others unwillingly. They just tend to happen. I'm still reading "Conscious Eating" by Dr. Gabriel Cousens and articles regarding cravings and how to handle them. And just in case I'm not the only person dealing with cravings, I'd like to share with you some pointers.

1. Look for the hidden meaning. Isolate what you are craving and what it might represent. Maybe the mac-n-cheese reminds you of Mom and that loving feeling at home.

2. Ask yourself, "What is my body trying to tell me?". Is there any particular physical reason that your body wants this food? Is it for a mood lift or maybe a vitamin/mineral need.

3. Run for the hills!! Try to ride it out. Focus on something else. To ease the pressure say to yourself,"If I still want it tomorrow or 3 days later then I'll go ahead and have a piece.". Sometimes the craving will subside.

4. Understand that sometimes, resistance is futile. If you do indulge, savor it. Enjoy it. Sit down, put it on a pretty plate and take it in. Release the guilt or thought of you "falling off the wagon". Focusing on the negative behavior can increase the likelihood of repeating it. Stay focused on what you're doing right and the healthy choices you're making.

5. Get a whiff. Realize that most of the time, it's not about the food but about the smell, sight, or memory associated with the food. And the choice may be more about a conditioned response or habit. For example: popcorn at the movies, a hotdog or pretzel at a ballgame, etc. Discipline is like a muscle, it does get stronger with use.

6. Be joyful. Try to focus on people and the experience at a party or gathering apart from the food. Look for non-food of bringing more joy into your life and into the life of others.

7. Fill up. Load up on greens. One of the best ways of combating cravings is to be full oa amazingly good healthy food. Another tip that may help is to take a tsp of coconut oil in the morning. Sometimes we aren't getting our essential oils, which keep us satiated.

8. Put your cupboard in check. One of the best ways to deal with temptation is to remove the item from reach. So clean out the pantry, the freezer, and fridge.

9. Trade up. Take at least one day per week to make a special meal or treat to last the week. Craving salty chips? Make some dehydrated bbq potato chips or baked chips. Craving fudge? Make a pan of fudge or truffles. If you have a pantry full of good food, your mind may be less likely to think on less healthy foods.

10. Get busy. Write up a list of 100 fun things you want to do. Like visiting Italy, learning another language, taking up bellydancing, or whatever may float your boat. Then start doing them. When you are busy loving life, food becomes less of a mistress.

These are just a few tips that I got from the current issue of Purely Delicious magazine. Great magazine!!

Have any tips for fighting cravings? Then by all means, do share...

Post Title MY CURRENT TUG-O-WAR

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Ooh..That Belt's Getting Tighter!


Hi Beautifuls!

I hope that all is well in your world. In a previous post, I talked/asked about ways to bring in extra income. Since then, I've made some adjustments in my household to cut down on expenses.

I've chosen to nix my land line(got that from InstantVintage and Ms.M) and cable (got that from Gem over at BohemiamBookworm). Now, I have to admit that the land line was an easy decision to make. Both me and my daughter have cell phones so it truly is no big deal. But my decision to lay the cable to rest has really been tough. More so on myself than my kid. Right now, I'm mourning not being able to watch some cable shows that I normally did. They had become staples in my life. For instance, Fridays while hennaing my hair I loved to watch TLC's "What Not To Wear" followed by Scifi's "Battlestar Gallactica". ...May they rest in peace... Saturday's I would (if home) catch HGTV's "Find Your Style" and "Divine Design". Then later on maybe catching some anime' on Cartoon Networks Adult Swim....shedding a tear.. And finally, Sunday night with Style Network's "Kimora Lee's Life in the Fab Lane"...sigh...

Now please hear me when I say that I am looking at the positive side of this and noting that this will result in me not being so hooked to the tube. And force me to be more "in the moment" of real life. I do understand and see that. I'm just honestly saying that I will miss some shows. But I digress..this is all for the better.

As far as food, (and this one I got from Chef Jenya), I'm more focused on buying in-season organic foods. Yes, organic can be more expensive than conventional foods. However, purchasing in-season items is not as high. And even more important, it's worth the cost because you're investing in your well-being and peace of mind.

Now as far as my pjism for hair products is concerned.. well,that ain't changed. (Curljunkie is so calling my name right now.) The only thing is that I'm picking and choosing when I purchase. Hey, you gotta give a girl sumthin!! :)

Do share...what have you done or what are your suggestions? And how are you handling these changes? What are the positives that you have seen in your changes?...

Post Title Ooh..That Belt's Getting Tighter!

Monday, March 2, 2009

WHAT'S GOING ON IN YOUR WORLD?....




Good Morning Beautifuls!


The above picture is what we got in the "A" on yesterday. Pretty much all day long. It was absolutely beautiful coming down, however the air/ground temps were a bit too warm for it to really stick until the sun began to go down. So I was a bit disappointed by that. I want more snow. More like 5 to 8 inches that will stick around for a couple of days. Not a half-day or barely a day.

Our weather has been so weird lately. On Friday and Saturday, our temps were just in the 60's. I swear I was out and about on Saturday in 3 qtr length top w/a tank top under it and some slacks. Then God just flipped the script on Sunday to a totally different flow.

I must apologize for my sporadic posting. I'm having vacuum cleaner issues and I have a cat. Combine these tWo factors and you get a recipe for a high level of "allergens" in the home. And yes, it is affecting me. Itching skin and all. I just popped a benadryl last night. (Yes, I'm getting desperate if I'm taking medicine like that). However, I did purchase a vacuum cleaner that is supposed to be really good when it comes to sucking up pet hair. No, it was not that Dyson D17, D14, or whichever number it is for their pet vacuum. That $500 investment is on my future list. Can't do that right now. The only thing is that I had to order it because they didn't carry it in the store. So you know when it gets here, I'll probably vacuum the whole place twice.

Well, that's what been going on in my world. Oh, I did go to a nice Mediteranean restaurant named Zaya. (I'm still doing birthday dinners.) It's a nice spot with a cool vibe and good food. If you're in the "A" or ever visit, you may want to check them out. Oh, I've also been enjoying Jamie Foxx's new CD "Intuition". I purchased based on Urbancurlz mention of it. (Btw, great blogger.) I must say that it is a good CD. It got me through Friday's traffic hour.

Well, that's enough about me. What's going on in your world?....

Post Title WHAT'S GOING ON IN YOUR WORLD?....