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Monday, November 30, 2009

AND THE WINNER IS ..... ZAINAB1!!



Congratulations, Zainab1! You have inherited the plenty-left-over jar of Afroveda Totally Twisted Ginger Almond Butter.

Please forward your mailing information to me through email and I will send this to you asap.

*It really is fun doing giveaways! Once my money isn't so funny, I'll do more.*

Peace and blessings,
CO

P.S. Isn't this pic of the kid the cutest. Just adorable.

Post Title AND THE WINNER IS ..... ZAINAB1!!

SPECIALS!! SPECIALS!! EVERYWHERE!!


Hola Beautifuls!

I hope that you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. If you don't observe Thanksgiving, I hope that you had a wonderful weekend.

I've been coming across so many specials (as usual per this time of year), that I just have to share. This one really sparked my interest. I figure with so many mixtresses, almost mixtresses, every-once-in-awhile mixtresses & thinking-about-it mixtresses out there that it might spark your, too.

Mountain Rose Herbs is having a youtube video contest that could win you $1000. I repeat. $1000. Check out their vid! And while you're at it, subscribe. Always great information.



Wish you the best!
CO

Post Title SPECIALS!! SPECIALS!! EVERYWHERE!!

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

AFROVEDA HAIR PRODUCT REVIEW


Hola Gorgeous Ones!

On last week, I finally got around to trying some Afroveda products that I had gotten awhile back. If you're not familiar with Afroveda hair products, let me share a little about this line with you. The products contain Ayurvedic herbs, oils and botanicals that are proven to have a positive health benefit. There are no parabens, sulfates or other harmful ingredients in the Afroveda products. The ingredients are based on Ayurvedic principles.

Da heck is Ayurvedic, ChocolateOrchid?...

Ayurveda is a wholistic system of medicine from India that uses a constitutional model. Its aim is to provide guidance regarding food and lifestyle so that healthy people can stay healthy and folks with health challenges can improve their health.
There are several aspects to Ayurveda that are quite unique:

Its recommendations will often be different for each person regarding which foods and which lifestyle they should follow in order to be completely healthy. This is due to it's use of a constitutional model.
Everything in Ayurveda is validated by observation, inquiry, direct examination and knowledge derived from the ancient texts.
It understands that there are energetic forces that influence nature and human beings. These forces are called the Tridoshas.
Because Ayurveda sees a strong connection between the mind and the body, a huge amount of information is available regarding this relationship.


You can read up more information on Ayurveda here.

Okay, back to my review. I purchased products from here based on my dosha.

Da heck is a dosha, CO?...

Well, simply put dosha is “biological type” or physical constitution. The original definition is WAY more complex than this but for time and content sake I've chosen to keep it as simple and as understandable as possible.

Okay, back to the review. My dosha came out high for Kapha, 2nd high for Vitta. So I purchased based on my highest number which was for Kapha.

Afroveda Neem+3 Triphala Silk Protein Hair Conditioner

Although I can't say that I was head-over-heels for it, but I do like this condish. My hair definitely appreciates the protein in it so it really left my tresses feeling soft, silky and strong. It also has a wonderful scent to it. The only thing I wished was different was its consistency. Its not as thick as I would've liked it to be. It's kinda lotiony (new word alert). I honestly don't know if I'd purchase it again because, although it was good, I've had better results from other conditioners. However, I will continue to use this as a conditioner wash. Like I said, I do like it.

Ingredients: aloe vera leaf juice, neem oil, safflower oil, nettle, amalaki herb, behentriomonium methosulfate, cetearyl alcohol, shea butter, almond oil, herbal oil complex, glycerin, panthenol vitamin B5, tocopheryl (vitamin E), allantoin, wheatPRO plus, phenoxyethanol, caprylyl glycol, sorbic acid, a wonderfully citrus essential oil blend of lime, orange, thyme, and tangerine, and love.

Afroveda Totally Twisted Ginger Almond Butter

WHOA!! I really wanted to like this but the smell is a big turn-off for me. Don't get me wrong. I love ginger in my diet but on my hair... Hmmmm, not so much. Or maybe its the bitter almond essential oil. I just can't get pass the scent. It was a bit pungent to me. I'm sure I will pass this along to someone else who will appreciate it. There's plenty left. As far as performance, it was so-so for me. My hair was a tad bit frizzier than I would've of liked.

Ingredients: aloe vera leaf juice, rice milk, water, almond oil, sunflower oil, ashwagandha powder, ginger herb, evoo, nettle, herbal oil complex, jojoba oil, neem oil, glyceryl stearate and cetearyl alcohol and sodium stearoyl lactylate, phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol, and love. Essential oil blend of lemon, lavender, bitter almond and ginger.

Afroveda Hibiscus Hair Infusion Oil

Ooh, I love the scent. My hair felt great after using it. I haven't used this enough to really give a full review on it but seeing all the wonderful ingredients in it makes me certain that this oil is a great addition to my make-shift product store. Lol. I feel this one is a keeper.

Ingredients: Jojoba, almond and olive oils infused with amla, brahmi, bhringaraj, nettle, hibiscus, ashwagandha herbs (along with our own herbal oil complex) in a blend of jojoba, almond, castore seed and evoo. Essential oils of rose, sandalwood and jasmine. MSM (sulfur) added.

Overall, I totally enjoyed trying out Afroveda. I mean, why wouldn't I enjoy it?.. I loooooooovvvve to play in my hair. =) Anyhoo, I'm definitely open to trying the Vitta line. We shall see. It's all about experimenting.

Oh, if any of you have tried and liked Afroveda Totally Twisted Ginger Almond Butter and would like mine just leave a comment. Trust. There's plenty left. If I get alot of inquiries on this. I'll use the True Random Number Generator to pick a lucky recipient.

Well, I'm off til next week. Gone to enjoy the holidays and this time with family. I hope that you all do the same with your fam, friends and/or loved ones.

Peace and blessings,
ChocolateOrchid

**Forgot to mention. I will do the drawing on next Monday, the 30th at 10pm EST. I will announce the recipient of Afroveda Totally Twisted Ginger Almond Butter on the next day, December 1st.**

Post Title AFROVEDA HAIR PRODUCT REVIEW

Sunday, November 22, 2009

IT'S GOOD NEWS MONDAY!!!



Hola Beautiful Ones!

I hope that your weekend was lovely. Mine was busy, productive, fun and wonderful. On Friday, I hung out with one of my good friends at Loca Luna. Cool spot in Atlanta. I saw that they offer Salsa lessons so I may go back just for that. On Saturday, I, my daughter, and my mother had a lovely Girls Day Out on Saturday. It was so fun! What did you do this weekend?....

I am so excited about today's "Good News Monday"! Have a couple of things to talk about.

First up:

I read in a local paper about fresh, local organic vegetables being available at Wonderland Gardens for the holidays. I can't believe that I've overlooked this place. It's not far from me at all.

Wonderland Gardens is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization committed to stewardship of the Earth through programs that actively promote organic gardening, Green education, recycling and healthy living in communion with nature.

The Wonderland Garden’s mission is to create a self-sustaining greenspace destination and community resource that connects people to nature.
The nonprofit garden is located in Decatur, Ga in the heart of what would be considered the urban community. This nonprofit garden is taking orders for collards, mustard, kale, turnips and sweet potatoes from Oaktree Farms for delivery before Nov. 24.

Proceeds benefit the School Garden Initiative which is sponsored by Wonderland Gardens and the Organization of DeKalb Educators, which is working to put gardens into local schools. (Thanks God!)

Christmas and New Year’s vegetables will also be available. For more information, check out Wonderlandsgardens.org or call 404-286-6163, ext. 1.

Not in the DeKalb, Atlanta (let alone Georgia) area check out this website, LocalHarvest.org to find local CSA’s near you. You can also read why local organic foods are looked upon as the best foods to buy here.


and secondly:

I am so excited for fellow blogger, CurlyNikki. She’ll be on the Tyra Banks Show. CurlyNikki has become the recent addition to Tyra’s website, Tyrashow.com. Representing for all us textured-hair folks. Loves it!! So happy for her! I remember when she was on the forums on Nappturality.com and NaturallyCurly.com (Well, she is still NC.com). She’s such a sweetie. Can’t wait to see her on the show. Work it out, CN! Work it out!

Make this day your best,
ChocolateOrchid

Post Title IT'S GOOD NEWS MONDAY!!!

Thursday, November 19, 2009

DANDELION GREEN SMOOTHIES


Hi Gorgeous!

It is sooooo beautiful here. I hope that you are having lovely weather where you are. If not, happythoughts. =)

On last week, I decided I wanted to really expand on the types of greens that I was using for my green smoothies. Typically, I've stuck with spinach and kale. But after more reading & research on green smoothies, I see that rotating the greens in them is very important.

Why? Because almost all greens contain trace amounts of alkaloids. Tiny quantities of alkaloids cannot hurt you. It can actually strengthen the immune system, in tiny amounts. However, if you keep consuming kale, or spinach, or any other single green for many weeks without rotation, eventually the same type of alkaloids can accumulate in your body and cause unwanted symptoms of poisoning. Mixing them or putting your greens into rotation is the best way to consume them in your diet. And just so you know, this does not apply to fruit.

Having said all that, I decided to try some weed. Dandelion weed that is. Why dandelion? Well, because I had seen some green smoothie recipes with dandelion in them and was curious as to the taste and benefits. I had read in one of Victoria Boutenko's books that weeds are high in vitamins and minerals, especially because they haven't been cultivated by extensive farming methods. Only thing is they (weeds) are quite bitter in taste. It has been said that the more bitter a green is the better is for you. I figured that (bitterness) was easy to get around though. Just add a sweetener.

I'll share the two green smoothie recipes I made but let me tell you some of the benefits of the dandelion green.

Antiviral - The roots possess strong antiviral properties.
Blood Sugar - May help stabilize blood sugar levels.
Digestion - General The root acts as an appetite stimulant, helps promote digestion and gastrointestinal health, encourages the growth of healthy bacteria, and alleviates flatulence.
Gallbladder - Cleansing and healing to the gallbladder. Typically, the roots or juice from the leaves are used for this.
Heart - May help lower bad cholesterol (LDL) and raise good cholesterol (HDL).
Kidneys - The leaves support kidney function and act as a diuretic.
Liver - The roots promote liver detoxification.
Menstruation/PMS - Alleviates the bloating associated with PMS.


Now before you go to pullin' weeds in your back yard (As a friend of mine thought I was doing. Lol.), I recommend that you get them from your local farmer's market (where I got mine from) or you may want to consider taking a class to help you identify plants.

Now onto my yummy smoothies:



1 bunch of dandelion
1 frozen banana
some frozen mango chunks
1 C distilled water
some agave nectar (to sweeten)

This was good, however it still had somewhat of a bitter after-taste to it hence the drinking of it in a wine glass. Hey, I had to do what I had to do to help me consider it more palatable. The next smoothie was awesome.



1 bunch of dandelion
2 granny smith apples (Their tartness really balances out the dandelions bitterness)
1 frozen banana
distilled water

This one was sooooooo delicious! It's my favorite now.

Well, that's all for now. I'll talk more on the benefits of wild edibles (weeds) on next week.

Happy healthy living,
CO

Post Title DANDELION GREEN SMOOTHIES

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

OUR FIRST HEROINE ENTREPRENEUR - JANE CARTER SOLUTION



Hi Beautifuls!

I do hope that you enjoy the first of ChocolateOrchid's Heroine Entrepreneur Series. Remember a heroine is 1. A woman noted for courage and daring action. 2. A woman noted for special achievement in a particular field.

She is here to encourage, motivate and/or give you insight into what it takes to go after your vision, your love, your baby and make it work for you.

Our very first heroine is Jane Carter of Jane Carter Solution.


1. How was Jane Carter Solution birthed?

I am a stylist. I owned a salon for years. I used to direct the education for Avalon Firm that makes a relaxer. I spent a bunch of years as a hair color educator doing the whole national hair circuit. One of my pet peeves was that I always felt that products in the ethnic market were just kind of inferior. That they just didn’t get the job done. Products shouldn’t be prescribed based on ethnicity. As a colorist, my clients are everybody. Our salon is very diverse so I was looking for a product line that we could prescribe to any client. Not just, “I have to go to this line for this client and another line for another client.” I thought that that was just crazy. So that was one of the things for us that when we started to really roll this out that we can prescribe this to anybody. For us, part of our objective was to have a product line that was performance oriented and naturally based. So that was one thing. But how the products really happened is that I was in the salon and I developed an allergic reaction to products. I couldn’t use anything with the traditional ingredients like dimethicone, petroleum, alcohol, etc. I took an aromatherapy course from Triton which makes an essential oil line and I made one product which was Hair Nourishing Serum. Then I had clients that were like,”Well, can we buy this?” And we were like, “I guess. I don’t know. I guess we have to figure this out.” So that’s really how it unfolded. Hair Serum is a pure essential oil and vitamin product that if you leave the top off it will evaporate. It’s a very different concept to what we perceive as an oil product. So anyway, we started out with one product and then I really needed some other performance products. So I went to three industry chemists to attempt to work on a couple of other products for the line and after I spent some time with these guys they all asked me the exact same question. “Who’s your market? Is your market predominately ethnic? Is your market predominately general market?” And I said, “My market is like everybody.” At that point, in the salon we were probably 10/50/50. So they sent me a batch of samples from the general market products and they sent me a batch of sample from the ethnic market. So they go to a formulation book. They look at the formula and make you a sample from the ethnic section which is the traditional stuff that’s already in the market. You know the stuff, petroleum, dimethicone, etc. And then they go to the general market which is a whole different kind of characteristic. But at any rate, after dealing with the 3 chemists that probably make 80% of the products in the market I went like, “Okay, so why are they sending me this stuff that already exists?” We were really looking for something that’s different. That’s natural-based. That doesn’t have these ingredients and that the complete product line you can use on anybody. And then I met with the 3 of them (chemists). All of them were men and none of them had hair. Which I thought was kind of interesting. And none of them had ever been in a salon. And I mean, that’s who makes products.

So it started to become clear to me. That’s why I took two formulation courses. Took two semesters of formulations. So I do all the formulas. And then we got busy. That’s the story.


2. So when you first started out you pretty much had a lot of support?

When you make products, it’s an expensive business to be in. I used to make all the relaxer for our salon. I made everything at home that we use in the salon. My kids, growing up, thought that everybody had a manufacturing facility in their basement. That was like normal for us.

We started out with a distributor in New Jersey. And of course, the distributor who distributes to professional salons distributes 80 other lines (product). And so why would they really invest any time in our line? It was like all that kind of stuff that went on. And so we really struggled through it. And it’s still a little bit of a dilemma. But at any rate, we approached Whole Foods because I really wanted to create an opportunity for people for women to go into an environment that wasn’t a beauty supply store. Because really, unless you distribute to a professional salon or you distribute to a beauty supply store, there’s no other way to get your product into the hands of consumers. So we’ve been really selective about who we do business with. Companies like Ulta, Pure Beauty, Beauty First, the Vitamin Shoppe, Whole Foods and now Target (Yes, you read right. Jane Carter will be doing a 50 store Target test so you may want to keep an eye out at your local Target.), have been really great for us because they respect the pricing and the pay us. And it’s not super, super high maintenance.

So anyway, I started this in a blender in my kitchen. We moved to the basement. We moved to the garage. Then we finally moved to a warehouse.


3. Is there anything that you wish you would’ve done differently or handled differently when you look in the past?

Um, not really. I think that we’ve been doing this for awhile now. The only reason that we’re still in business is because we make really good products. It’s an expensive business to run. I still do hair color clients three Saturdays a month because that’s really what I love. It’s my passion. And it just keeps me grounded. It’s like the easiest part of my week. So do I wish we did anything different?.. Not really. I have no regrets.


4. What was the biggest hurdle for you in developing your business? In getting it out into chain stores?

I think that getting into Whole Foods was a big deal for us because it really required us to put all the pieces in place. Like really make sure you have your entire insurance system really clean, all your insurances are correct and all your labeling is certified. It really makes you go, “Okay, we really have to be really on point here.”

I think that much like the music business the beauty business has a huge opportunity. There’s a huge opportunity right now in any business, especially the beauty business. Right now there’s a tremendous opportunity for anyone who has a passion that wants to make products or make a product line to really use the internet. And it is very intricate so you really do have to learn it.

There’s this book that I was reading. It’s called Crush It. It was written by this guy (Gary Vanerchuk) who happens to live in New Jersey and it’s an interesting book. He grew up in this small family-owned liquor store and then went away to college. He came back and had this whole vision for just plugging into his customer base through Youtube so that they could really build this business. He started to do these Youtube reviews of certain wines. He became a kind of phenomenon about reviewing wines. He made it happen.

Years ago, the only venue that you could sell products in was the beauty supply venue. And then there became stores like Ulta and now there are other ones like Pure Beauty and Beauty First. So it gave us another opportunity because you know if you to the beauty supply store no one can really help you. And the average price point in the beauty supply store is $7. So if you make a product that is $7. An oil for dry hair. I promise you its mineral oil which is about $.90 a lb or petroleum which is also pretty inexpensive. So we were really not a fit for a beauty supply environment.

I just hate that there’s a lack of information available for women who either want to go natural or who still relax their hair who are looking for a natural-based product. The beauty supply environment is a lot of hype. There’s not a lot of integrity in the ingredients.

I would say that the obstacles in business are just if there were 8 days in the week I’d be good. But there aren’t. It’s a lot to do.


5. Did you ever envision that your product line would grow to this point?

Absolutely. Absolutely. And you know what, I always say, “I’m not that smart”. Clearly, this was divine intervention and I resisted it, resisted it, resisted it. Except that every time I do my clients hair on Saturday and I use products that really perform, I’m like, “You know what. We’re really onto something here.”
I guess if you’re a chef and you don’t eat your own food then you don’t really get it. But if you’re a chef and you really appreciate it and you eat your own food, you go like, “Wow, this is really good.” I guess because I’m the end user, it’s very clear to me.

Like for instance, I was doing this training. I was talking about spritz sprays. Most ethnic salons use some kind of a hair spray or a spritz spray or a curling spray. Why would they put alcohol in a product that you put on your hair? Cause all a spritz spray is is a polymer with alcohol. So we make a product called Natural Hold Locking Spray and Natural Hold Spray Gel which does the exact same thing but its water-based. So it doesn’t dry your hair out. And you can still get a crunchy hold and you can still get springy curls without having to use alcohol. I kinda got to the point where I was like, “Okay, I see who’s making products. They clearly have never had a relaxer and then had somebody spray spritz on them when your skin is irritated.

We do this product called Scalp Renew. It’s a pre-shampoo scalp treatment. If you’re gonna grow healthy hair. I don’t care if its natural hair, relaxed hair or straight hair, you have to exfoliate and detoxify your scalp. And the number 1 reason that I’ve seen hair loss among black women is an inflammation that sort of chokes off the pore & the follicle so the hair just can’t push through. And that’s like one of the number one reasons. One of the other reasons is the hormone testosterone.


6. Is there anything new or exciting that we can expect from Jane Carter Solution in the future?

Yep. We’re getting ready to introduce this product called Curl Defining Cream for natural hair because I get a hundred questions about wash-n-wear hair and it shrinking. It’s really a great product. We use avocado oil in it. It’s a cream and you put it in your hair wet. We’ve gotten great results. So within the next month, we’ll get that on the market.


*************************************************************************

And that concludes my heroine entrepreneur interview with Jane Carter. How did I do? I hope that this was informative for you.

**I want to thank Jane for taking the time out to talk with me and share her thoughts and insight. It was a pleasure. I was a little nervous seeing as this was my first interview but she made it quite enjoyable. I’m really excited for your product line and where it’s going. I wish you continued success. You can visit Jane's website here.

I’ll probably do this series once a month so be on the lookout for December’s Heroine Entrepreneur. If you have any questions regarding going into business that you would like me to ask our upcoming heroines or any heroines you’d like to see interviewed, send me an email with the request. I'll see if I can make it happen. Keep in mind this is open to business women who are into some type of wholistic, natural, organic and/or healthy or related product or service. Also, if you have any suggestions send those, too. Bear in mind that I’m learning and it’s a process.

I truly enjoyed this and look forward to the future post regarding this series.
CO

Post Title OUR FIRST HEROINE ENTREPRENEUR - JANE CARTER SOLUTION

FULL STEAM AHEAD......


Hola Chicas (& Chicos)

So here it is. My post on my hair steamer thus far. Am I enjoying it? Hell yes! Have I fallen in love with it? Hmm...maybe more of an obsession. And only because I’m still learning how to use it with the products I have. So far, I have steam conditioned my hair 4 times. It’s so tempting. I want to steam more often but I also want to keep from manipulating my hair too often so that I won't hinder any growth. But doggonit, it (the steamer) keeps calling me. ..Keeps..calling me.

Uhhhh *side eyes*. Let me share with you what I’ve done and experienced so far.

1st Steam Treatment
Applied Jessicurl WDT & Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose Condish with some Aubrey Organics GPB condish on my ends. Twisted with Jane Carter Twist and Lock.

Result: My hair was quite manageable. More so than usual. Happy happy. Joy joy.

2nd Steam Treatment
Did a pre-poo treatment with Hairveda Vatika Frosting (Ooh, that stuffs smells so good. Like frosting.Ummm) Co-washed with Herbal Essences Totally Twisted. Steamed with Hairveda SitricNillah Deep Conditioning Masque. Twisted with JC Twist and Lock.

Result: Hair was still very manageable and soft. Denman brush glided thru hair like a knife thru warm buttah. =)

3rd Steam Treatment
Hennaed 30 minutes under the steamer. (Please note: I lack in the patience department and was so hyped that I immediately rinsed the henna out. Big no-no.)Then deep conditioned under the steamer with Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose conditioner & Jessicurl WDT. Twisted up with JC Twist and Lock.

Result: Hair was not as manageable as I expected but after talking w/Tina over at Elan Tresses (Who btw has named her steamer. Really.) I will handle this differently next time.

4th Treatment

Re-twisted hair with JC Hair Nourishing Cream. Topped with JC Nourish and Shine. Steamed for 20 minutes. Afterwards, plastic capped my hair for about an hour or so. Smoothed with a little oil and wrapped my hair for the night.

Result: Awoke to soft , well moisturized tresses.

I’ve read that around the 5th or 6th steam treatment is when you really notice a change. I will keep you lovelies posted on that. Okay? Cool.

CO

**The products mentioned in the post can be found at the following retailers**
Herbal Essences - Walmart, Target and most all drug stores
Aubrey Organics - Whole Foods and most health food stores
Jane Carter Solutions - Whole Foods, most health food stores, Curlmart & Jane Carter Solution
Hairveda - Hairveda.com
Jessicurl - Curlmart and Jessicurl.com

Post Title FULL STEAM AHEAD......

Monday, November 16, 2009

OO-OOH, GOT ME ALL GUSHY AND STUFF...



With gratitude and love, I want to thank HippieMom at The Raw Journal for awarding me with this wonderful card. Such a sweetie! I swear, I have connected with some of the coolest people out there. Knowing you all are here and like what you read really does encourage and bless me. And I'm talking to all of you, followers, subscribers, fellow bloggers, lurkers included, too. =)

And speaking of followers and subscribers, I want to welcome all of you new & beautiful folks to my blog.. my little world. I'm so happy to have you all here. Please feel free to leave a comment. If you have a question or suggestion, then go ahead and shoot me an email. I will respond.

{{HUGS}},
ChocolateOrchid

Post Title OO-OOH, GOT ME ALL GUSHY AND STUFF...

Sunday, November 15, 2009

SLOW MONEY???........



As I was perusing the web for some "good news", I ran across an article that mentioned the term "slow money". I thought how familiar it sounded to the "slow food" movement and knew I needed to read on this. Is is really about sustainability? Replenishing the soil? Supporting your local food system? Community? If so, that's some great news!

Here’s the story behind slow money and the person who is backing it.


What if the money you invested stayed within 50 miles of where you currently live and was committed to local merchants and growers who put at least 50 percent of their profits back into the community? "What if, instead of making a double-digit return on a fast-money transaction that exploited Third World villagers and pumped up corporate profits artificially, you could get a steady 2 percent to 3 percent return on money that dramatically improved the quality of life in your own neighborhood? This is where the concept of "slow money" comes in. Coined by Woody Tasch, a former venture capitalist "slow money" — gives to his philosophy that combines a passion for social enterprise with the benefits of locally grown food.

Tasch is spearheading a national campaign to persuade at least 1 million Americans to donate between $25 and $1,000 each to help create a grassroots, nonprofit seed fund to support and grow local food businesses and family farms. He wants to build and test the concept of something he calls "nurture capital" — a healthier and more sustainable alternative to venture capital for funding new businesses. It's time, he says, to shorten the distance between investors and their investments. It's also time, he says, to create new economic models that deliver a return but that also put community, soil fertility and the environment at the bottom line.

But it’s not just about providing and supplying healthier food he is traveling the country warning that money moves way too quickly. Billions and trillions of dollars zip around the globe, he says, as if disembodied from the people who invest it. "Investors don't know anymore where their money goes and more and more, they want to see an impact for what they give in their own lives and own communities," Tasch recently told a capacity crowd at New York University
.


Just who is this Tasch guy?....
Woody Tasch is chairman emeritus of Investors' Circle, the nonprofit network of angel investors, venture capitalists, foundations and family offices that since 1992 has facilitated the flow of $130 million to 200 early-stage social enterprises dedicated to sustainability. Before that, he was the treasurer of the Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation.

Tasch's slow money movement, which was officially kicked off in September during a conference in Santa Fe, N.M., is an extension of that work. "Right now, it's hard to believe that the Whole Foods Market down the street is still able to exist, given the damage we're doing to our soils, and it's hard to believe something bad is going to happen," Tasch told NYU students. "But [our food production system] isn't sustainable. It's time to slow down and start looking up close at what we are doing not just with industrial agriculture but what we're doing to ourselves on the planet in the name of sustaining our standard of living."

With slow money, Tasch is taking a page from the slow food movement, the 20-year-old movement that calls on consumers to treat the act of eating less as a hurried distraction and more like a family ritual that celebrates community and takes time out to reflect upon the labor involved in growing the food that we eat. "Money should move the same way," says Tasch. "This isn't just about finance but the relationship of finance to culture." If investment decisions start to take into account what's best for local communities, he says — when small businesses borrow or get investment directly from their customers — communities become stronger and societies become more humane. "There is accountability in places where now there is none," Tasch says.

But the real dividend of slow money? Diversity — social, economic, and biological. In an era of industrial agriculture, when millions of acres are planted with the same variety of corn and when millions of pigs are bred for their yield, small local farms are "the ultimate hedge fund," he says
.


It’s really great to know that there are people out there fighting to change our current standards not only in food production but how we do business within our own communities.

Want to know/read more, then check out these links:

Slow Money Alliance

Article from Time.com

Article from Chronogram.com

Happy Monday,
CO

Post Title SLOW MONEY???........

Saturday, November 14, 2009

COMING SOON......




HEROINE.
- 1. A woman noted for courage and daring action.
- 2. A woman noted for special achievement in a particular field. (from freedictionary.com)

According to Merriam-Webster online dictionary:
- 1 a: a mythological or legendary woman having the qualities of a hero b: a woman admired and emulated for her achievements and qualities

According to YourDictionary.com:
- a girl or woman of outstanding courage, nobility, etc., or of heroic achievements



All of these definitions encompass the women that will be featured in this future blog series. I chose the title "heroine" because I kept seeing the term "courage" in its definition. Courage, in my opinion, is an important piece of the puzzle to putting your passion to work. Courage is a part of what it takes to do what you love as your business. In lieu of this, I'll be interviewing/featuring women entrepreneurs who have done what some may look at as impossible or wonder ,"How can I do that?" or even, "Oh God, what've I gotten myself into? How can I go on?"

Now, of course, this will tie into the overall theme of this blog which loves all things natural, natural hair, organic, green, good for the environment, health, healthy eating...well, I think you get the idea. ;)

It is my hope and desire for this series to encourage, inspire and/or motivate every woman (myself included) who is seeking to break out of her box, move on her desires and make things happen. So if you have a yearning to do what you love as your business and/or need some encouragement to do so, look out for this blog post beginning this Wednesday.

Not sure whether I'll be doing this feature once a month or bi-monthly but I do know that it will be on Wednesdays beginning this Wednesday, the 18th. Hope you'll come join me.

Peace and blessings,
CO

Post Title COMING SOON......

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

ATLANTA CHARITY EVENT


Hi Gorgeous!

I hope that all is well on this Hump-Day for you. I just wanted to drop in and let you all know about an important charity event going on for some pretty important people.

From November 12 through 14, Star 94 listeners will meet some of the biggest “stars” of all – the patients at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta – during the seventh annual Star 94 Cares for Kids Radiothon, presented by Foresters. Between 6:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on November 12 and 13 and between 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on November 14, listeners will hear not only the voices of Star 94’s personalities, but also the courageous voices of the children and families whose lives have been touched by Children’s.

For more information on this and the opportunity to donate, click here.

Smooches,
CO

Post Title ATLANTA CHARITY EVENT

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

HAIR TYPING




I know some folks want me to talk about my hair steamer results but I want to use it a few more times before I give an official review on it. Please give me another week-ish so that I can get a few more steam treatments under my belt before I speak on it.

Today I want to focus on what really matters when it comes to deciding what products to use and/or try on your hair. Going by the standard hair typing system (which was formulated by Andre Walker), my hair would be classified as 4a/4bish, I think. You can see his typing here. It’s so doggone confusing to me that I really don’t know. And I’m not even going to try with the LOIS method which you can read about here.

Here’s one of the major reasons: I’ve purchased products based on my hair type only to have my use of them result in an epic fail. Then have purchased & used some products that would be categorized for type 3’s or 2’s and it works on my hair just fine. Just spend enough money on a product only to have it do nothing and you will feel my pain.

So I’ve decided to check out another professional’s advice on how to pick products for your particular hair. Tiffany Anderson is that person whose perspective, research and findings make a whole lot more sense to me. Also known as Struttswife on NaturallyCurly.com, she is a hair stylist and curly hair expert. You can also catch her at her blog Live Curly, Live Free. She has two great posts dedicated to, in my opinion, true hair-typing. You can find them here and here.

Here are a few excerpts from each:
Hair texture is the thickness or diameter of the individual hair strand. Your hair texture plays one of the most important roles in how you should care for your curls, not only through daily maintenance, but also when considering any chemical services such as haircolor or texturizing. Even how your hair is cut needs to be adapted to the texture of your hair.

There are three different textures: fine, medium and coarse. Not everyone has the same uniform texture over their entire head, however; for example, you can be fine at the nape and coarse at the hairline (especially if those pesky grays are starting to pop up). The hair textures are:

Fine Hair
Fine hair can appear very limp or flyaway and does not hold a style well. It frequently seems dry, when in fact it is quite often over-moisturized. It is very easy to over-process and is quickly damaged by chemical services if great care is not taken. Products with a lot of humectants and emollients should be avoided in favor of those with protein.

Medium Hair
Medium hair is what is considered “normal” hair, meaning it has a mid-range texture. It does not require any special considerations for chemical services and usually processes normally. Undamaged hair with a medium texture can generally support products with a wide range of ingredients.

Coarse Hair
Coarse hair is much thicker and stronger than fine or medium hair, but typically does not bend and cannot hold a style well. It is also often dry and brittle, due to an overabundance of protein. Coarse hair is much harder to process and is often very resistant to chemical services. Products with a lot of protein should be avoided in favor of those with humectants and emollients.

Hair texture is key to establishing the best routine for your hair
.


And on hair porosity...

Porosity is, simply put, the hair's ability to absorb and retain moisture. Porosity is a critically important factor in determining one's curly hair care. Since moisture is what defines and shapes our curls, the inability to keep moisture within the hair shaft will defeat the most valiant efforts to maximize curl potential.

If you don't know your hair's porosity, you won't be able to make the best product and maintenance routine choices to maximize the amount of moisture your curls retain. The existing "curl classification systems" never, ever mention porosity in their classification process. Since lack of moisture is one of the biggest causes of frizz, I personally find that odd in the extreme. Just one more reason I don't find those systems very helpful or informative.

Your degree of porosity is directly related to the condition of your cuticle layer. Healthy hair with a compact cuticle layer is naturally resistant to penetration. Porous hair has a raised cuticle layer that easily absorbs water, but is quick to lose moisture as well. The texture of your hair is not an indication of its porosity. Different degrees of porosity can be found in all hair textures. For example, although coarse hair normally has a low porosity and is resistant to chemical services, coarse hair can also have high porosity as the result of damage or previous chemical services.


Tiffany aka Struttswife, has some really detailed and most helpful information that is beneficial to all curly girls. She makes me wanna book an appointment and go down to Florida for her hair services. You can read more of her findings on curly hair basics at LiveCurlyLiveFree.com.

Post Title HAIR TYPING

Monday, November 9, 2009

GOOD THINGS




Okay.. So I've pretty much been negligent about posting my bloggers awards. From hence forth - these badges shall be worn with honor and graciousness on the right panel of my blog. Big thanks to CallaLily from BreaKINKnewground for sharing the Kreativ Blogger Award with me. She's such a sweetie and talk about an informative blog. If you really wanna get into making your own hair products definitely check her spot out.

Also, I've been featured as a Napptural Beauty on Jamie Fleming's blog For Colored Gurls Only. You can check it out here. Jamie also poses a Question of the Week on her blog so go check it out. Really.

Thanks Ladies for the honor and the opportunity!
ChocolateOrchid

Post Title GOOD THINGS

HAPPY MONDAY, BEAUTIFUL!


Hi Beautiful!

I hope that you all had a wonderful weekend! Mine was great-full of much socializing, social eating and a viewing of the movie "Precious"(will talk about in another post). For today's Good News Monday, I am bringing another quote. I hope that this encourages or inspires you in some way.

“Understand that the right to choose your own path is a sacred privilege. Use it. Dwell in possibility.”
-Oprah


What path have you chosen? And how are you using or pursuing it? Have you imagined and/or mapped out the possibilities?.....Do share.

Have a wonderful day!
ChocolateOrchid

Post Title HAPPY MONDAY, BEAUTIFUL!

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

MY NEW BABY -- THE STEAMER



Yesterday was a really BIG day for me. My hair steamer arrived! Woo hoo! This is my last hooraw for awhile. After reading so much about it on the 4a Curltalk forums on NaturallyCurly.com, I was convinced to make this investment. You can read about it here and here.

I ordered my steamer from salonsrus.com which everyone is saying has excellent customer service. The cost of the steamer is $139 (did I mention this is an investment and my last hooraw for awhile). There were no shipping fees and you can also use the coupon code “exoticmommies” to receive $10 off your purchase. When everything’s said and done, you pay $129 and that’s it. As you can see from the pic above, it is stand-up equipment and does take up a little space but I still find that it’s worth it.

I ordered the steamer on last Friday and was told that I would receive it by this Friday. Imagine my glee to see that it would be delivered sooner. Don’t tell anyone but I actually skipped my grown azz to the door when the FedEx man arrived. Did I mention that it’s shipped FedEx ground, all the way from Washington? Keep in mind; I’m in Georgia so to receive my steamer on Wednesday instead of Friday is BOSS.

YOU MAY ASK WHY PURCHASE A HAIR STEAMER:

Check out this excerpt from Textured Tresses: The Ultimate Guide to Maintaining and Styling Natural Hair by Diane Da Costa.

Steam conditioning invigorates the scalp. Conditioner and/or herbal oil is massaged into the scalp before the head is placed under a steamer. The water vapors open the outer layer of the hair shaft with moisture, allowing the conditioner to penetrate deeply into the cuticle layer. Steam conditioning promotes hair growth, which is why the steamer is an essential treatment. …botanical and herbal treatments are applied to the scalp and massaged in….Afterward, the client is placed under the steamer for about 15 to 20 minutes. This is especially good for locs, natural hair, and color-treated hair.


I do have one issue, its leaking due to a split stopper. However, after reading a forum thread where another lady had the same issue but after contacting the company received replacement stoppers in a timely manner, I am certain that this will be resolved quickly and easily. I’ve already sent the company an email and will follow up with a phone call once they open. I’ll definitely keep you all posted. =)


{{Hugs}} as I turn in my lurking badge from all hair boards. (Its costing me. Lol.)

Hair whore em...Aficionado,
CO

Post Title MY NEW BABY -- THE STEAMER

THE DIRTY DOZEN



Hola Beautiful Ones!

I don't think that I've posted on this before, but I've decided to given the economy and the fact that we're all trying to hold onto as much of our "duckies" as possible. We all understand that there is a slightly higher cost to organic foods. That's nothing new. And because of that, many people tend to choose to buy conventional produce. However, there are foods that you want to absolutely avoid purchasing conventional and buy organic due to the high amount of pesticide residue in them.

Here's a quick list:


*from the Environmental Working Group*


You can find the full list here to help guide you in your purchases.

Happy Healthy Shopping,
CO

Post Title THE DIRTY DOZEN

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

GINGER {revisited}

**THIS IS A REPOST**----**THIS IS A REPOST**
I wanted to revisit this because ginger is a "warming" herb. Great year-round but also during the cooler/colder months. So if you're looking to spice it up a bit, this is one of the herbs for you.


One of my fave smoothies of the moment contains mixed berries, an apple, spinach, and a little ginger. Oh, how I love the smell of ginger. When grating it, you partake in such a wonderful aroma. It’s so pleasing to the senses. It’s also pleasing to the body. Let me tell you how.

A researcher at Cornell University Medical College discovered that ginger has an effect on blood clots that is similar to that of aspirin. By the same token, it appears that high cholesterol levels are lowered using the same active ingredient in ginger.

Health & Nutrition Benefits of Eating Ginger

Ginger has been found to be helpful in blocking the harmful effects of prostaglandin, a substance that can lead to inflammation of the blood vessels in the brain and even cause migraines.

Ginger has been associated with alleviation of the feeling of nausea, even in the case of pregnant women.

The anti-inflammatory properties of ginger make it effective in alleviation of the pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis.

Ginger helps to promote warmth in the upper respiratory tract and thus, is quite effective in treating the cold and flu.

Those suffering from cramps, caused by stomach gas have found ginger to be quite effective.

Ginger makes the platelets less sticky and is thus, pretty helpful in case of circulatory disorders.

The cineole content in ginger has been found to be a mood enhancer and can help in relieving stress. (Hmmm…no wonder.)

Ginger is a natural and effective mouth freshener and also aids digestion.

Ginger reduces inflammation and also helps lower cholesterol.

Ginger is good for those suffering from gas and bloating.

Naturally firms and tones skin with moisture retention properties

Ginger is believed to have anti-caner properties.

Ginger has been associated with easing of menstrual cramps and mitigation of headaches and migraines.

Ginger is quite effective in treating diarrhea.
Note this: When buying ginger, fresh is best! Be sure to avoid ginger with dry, wrinkled skin, mold or soft spots. African and Indian ginger are the most potent. Grating or using a garlic press will give you the maximum benefit. Also, ginger can give you many benefits but more is not always better. An ounce a day should give you all the benefits you will need.

Post Title GINGER {revisited}

Hairstyles For

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Post Title Hairstyles For

Jennifer Aniston long

http://z.hubpages.com/u/95774_f520.jpg
Jennifer Aniston sedu hair styles

Post Title Jennifer Aniston long

Long emo

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m40/Babeygurl2082/Scene/gurl_Hairstyles_1178667132052_88734.jpg
Today we're going on to present some great pictures of emo Girls Hairstyles. Since emo trends and styles are developing very fast there is plenty to choose from. Scene hairstyles rules

Post Title Long emo

Long Hairstyles

http://images.smarter.com/blogs/guests/long-hairstyles4.jpg
Well this debate all started when my best friend (male) and I were discussing Sienna Miller and her acting as Edie Sedgwick. To which he replies, “Well she has a nice body, kinduv an old face for her age but I don’t like short hair on chicks… a lot of guys don’t.”

Got me thinking, is that true? Do guys not like SHORT hair on girls regardless of physique and face? I started asking some of my other boys and as a whole they primarily all responded in a similar fashion. That yes, in general - men do NOT like short hair on women.

Supposedly there are always exceptions to the rule (Natalie Portman, Halle Berry etc.) but they are few and far between AND while guys think those chicks are hot, they still contend that they would be “hotter” still if they had long locks.

Post Title Long Hairstyles

http://www.curly-hair-styles-magazine.com/image-files/celebrity-long-hair-08.jpg
Fashion model Gisele Bundchen has long, curly hair in a loose style with a fringe, or bangs. Her hair color is light brown.

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Velcro Hairstyles

http://hairstyleschat.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/easy-hair-style-jesica-alba.jpg

Post Title Velcro Hairstyles

A JANE CARTER SOLUTION REVIEW



Hi Beautifuls!

I wanted to talk to you all about a few Jane Carter products that I’ve used. On top of the products I already owned (Nourish & Shine and the Revitalizing Leave-in Conditioner), the lovely folks at Jane Carter sent me her Twist & Lock and Hair Nourishing Cream. So I had to share w/you how everything turned out.

First off, let me say that I have a special interest and love for all-natural products. Jane Carter Solutions believes,"that what you put on and in your body should promote wellness, and also be kind to the earth". Loves it! I was (and still am) a strong fan of her Nourish & Shine. I love to seal my ends with it. The smell is a bit strong for me but not enough to keep me from using it. Besides, the scent seems to calm down after awhile. My daughter loves it, too. I caught her and one of her Bff’s all in my stuff. No joke. Even though it frustrated me at the time (cause I could just see them using all the product up in one sitting), it made me feel good to know that this product appealed to my child. Trying to keep my young chica on the all-natural tip.
On to my particular review:

Jane Carter Solution Twist & Lock
This lock cream will help to re-moisturize your locks while adding shine to your hair.

Ingredients: Purified Water, Shea Butter, Kokum Butter, Illippe Butter, Mango Butter, Vtamins A, D, & E, Sweet Orange, Lemongrass, Grapefruit, Palmarosa, Cedarwood, Geranium, Bergamot, Rosemary Essential Oils, Jojoba, Glycerin, Polysorbate 80, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl acrylate Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sorbic Acid.

Directions: Apply a small amount to your existing locks or re-growth when re-twisting. Use Condition & Sculpt for additional hold. Finish with Natural Hold Locking Spray.


Now let me say, that after I read the above directions I was a bit concerned about hold. I used this product to twist my hair after I washed & dc’d it. I was looking for and expecting a good hold due to the title of this product but after reading the directions I wasn’t too sure that it would deliver that and give me a great twist-out.

Needless to say, my hair came out fine. As a matter of fact, this is a picture of 3-day hair. Woo hoo!! After I read the ingredients and saw “shea butter” listed second, my concerns were calmed. Shea butter is great for hold, among other things.



Jane Carter Hair Nourishing Cream
Natural Butters, Pure Essential Oils, Botanicals, and Vitamins make Hair Nourishing Cream the ultimate hairdress. Its ultra light consistency will not weigh hair down. Use it as a hairdress. It’s great for blow drying natural hair. It will leave hair shiny, soft and bouncy.

Ingredients: Purified Water, Shea Butter, Kokum Butter, Illippe Butter, Mango Butter, Vtamins A, D, & E Orange, Grapefruit, Palmarosa, Cedarwood, Geranium, Ylang Ylang, Geranium, Bergamot, Rosemary Essential Oils, Jojoba, Glycerin, Polysorbate 80, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl acrylate Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sorbic Acid.

Directions: Apply a small amount (size of a dime) to damp or dry hair. Style as desired.


If your hair is on the fine side, I’d definitely recommend this cream. It has a nice, light scent. Again, not nearly as strong as the Nourish & Shine so if scent is an issue w/you this may be the better choice. I used this to help moisturize and seal my ends. I’ve also gone back and forth between this, the Twist & Lock and the Nourish & Shine to seal my ends. They are all great for moisture and sealing. My hair loves this stuff!

Overall: I am very pleased with the Twist & Lock and Hair Nourishing Cream. I’m already a fan of the Nourish & Shine and the Revitalizing Leave-In Conditioner and am glad I tried the others. My hair has been defined, soft and moisturized this entire time. It has great movement and a nice scent to it. As usual, I’m lovin’ Jane Carter Solution products.

Just a note: I don't put much stock into hair-typing so I will attempt to describe my hair. It is kinky, coily, & a little curly. Has a fine to medium density to it. Is a medium-fine texture and has a low to normal porosity. I’ll get back with you on the rest once I figure out my hair’s elasticity. I do plan on posting about this assessment of my hair. From what I’ve read/researched, this is the information you need to guide you as far as your product choices go.

Also note that I’m partial to citrusy scents which I’m sure influences my opinion of these products. Each of them has a slight citrus scent to them. Nourish & Shine being the stronger one. So if you have an affinity for this type of scent, you will enjoy this product even more.

Jane Carter Solution
Natural Hair Care with a conscious
Can be purchased at Whole Foods and various health stores.
On the internet, you can find her products at Jane Carter Solution or my fav retailer, Curlmart.

Post Title A JANE CARTER SOLUTION REVIEW

Monday, November 2, 2009

HAPPY MONDAY & NOVEMBER!!



Hola Beautiful Ones!

Had to share one of the marvelous quotes that you can find on Jamie Fleming's blog For Colored Gurls. I can always count on her to list one that is either thought-provoking and/or encouraging. And I certainly look forward to them everyday.



“A happy person is not a person in a certain set of circumstances but rather a person with a certain set of attitudes.”
~Hugh Downs




Jamie, thanks for always sharing uplifting and encouraging quotes! I do appreciate them.

FYI: Jamie is a writer. If you're in need of a writer's services, you can check out her information MochaWriter.com.


Peace, love and joy to you all!
CO

Post Title HAPPY MONDAY & NOVEMBER!!