Snow House Happenings; My Resolution to be Resolute

Here we  are yet again on the eve of the eve of the new year. As usual I am being over whelmed with a plethora of new years resolutions uttered by others. Those who are not making new years resolutions are asking me what resolutions I will be making. I am making the Resolution to be Resolute, yes that is my resolution. What is the point in making a resolution if you are not going to stick by it anyway? I have already made my 3 resolutions since August and I have been doing well in carrying these out so far. Hence I don't need a new resolution, I need to be resolute.

xoxo
Resolve to be Resolute

Autumn House happenings: For Coloured Girls in 2010

So I watched "For Coloured girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf" I wasn't moved or inspired or overwhelmed. When the film finished I was angry and resentful that 30 years later as coloured girls that story is still our story. The same things occur and even in a higher proportion. How many people do we know that say " I only like light skinned guys" or "I only like light skinned girls". How many of you guys have seen your boy put his hands on his woman or his children and have told him he is wrong? Look at all the teenage pregnancies we see day to day it is like an epidemic. Last year I lost count of the amount of under-age girls on sex tapes I saw. This movie didn't show me anything I don't already see everyday. Women sleeping around under the guise of sexual liberation, when really all they are doing is becoming a sperm bucket for the next person lined up to take their worth and these women are content to just give it away for free. The dance teacher that got raped by someone she knows, not the big bad stranger she thought it would be, doesn't it go to show that bad things happen to good people. ( Didn't anyone already know this?) The husband who was not gay "just a man who liked to sleep with other men " ladies we know about men on the downlow. I didn't get it but maybe "Being coloured is a metaphysical dilemma that I have not conquered yet...." -A coloured girl

Autumn House happenings: A thought

You know whats really funny ALL the sexist, racist and oppressive crap that everyone finds hilarious, yet still society wants to know why everybody is so messed up. 

Autumn House happenings: I'm tired in my spirit.

I'm tired

not physically tired

spiritually tired

I'm tired of all these women who dont want to fight for themselves,

I'm tired of being upset on their behalf when man of all races and hues regale me with tales

of them

it feels like I am the only one fighting

and I cannot fight for you

if you don t want to fight for yourself

so many beautiful women are just reduced to a bang or a fuck.

I am tired of being upset on your behalf when these men ridicule you and call you derogatory names.

I am tired, are you not tired?

I need to rest.

A original poem By Kae-Toya Lee-Bramble

Autumn House happenings: For Coloured Girls (Opinion piece)

For Coloured girls who have attempted suicide when the rainbow is enough is a choreopoem written by Ntozake Shange some 30 years ago. It has since been turned into a film directed by Tyler Perry.  Some love it and most hate it. However it has been the most talked about film  in the last month, and has called to mind many issues. The men hate it, the women love it and the words racist and racism have been bandied about quite a bit.  Since when is it not within your right as a person with any cognitive ability to disagree with something?  All of a sudden it is not ok for anyone to question Tyler Perrys work because we are being racist and empowering colonialism.  Excuse me how am I embracing colonialism when he has put a bunch of stereotypes in a bag and sold it as the finest thing  ever made? Yes the movie itself does bash men alot, in response to this I want to know where are the books about the good men, the facebook statuses, the phonecalls to your girlfriends rehashing the lovely dinner he made or  the clothes he washed and put on the line? The men that are part of our families, our friends, the ones that we call  to fix the broken things around the house and to cut the grass. Even the ex boyfriend who was a complete ass towards the end of your relationship at some point along the way he must have done something right, even it it was just the one time he made a cup of tea and a sandwich he still deserves a thank you. Why because not only did you benefit from that cup of tea, you learned from that experience which traits and habits you do not want in a man. For that some thanks should be involved.


This  whole thing has highlighted  to me that  the black experience so caught up in being negative, oppression, rape, ghetto, downtrodden, broken, unfixable and undeserving. Is this all we can get, is this all we have, is this all we will ever be? 300 years after slavery? If this is how we see ourselves we cannot be upset with people our own black brothers and sisters who use skin lightening creams and lotions to bleach their skin to get lighter. Those people see what I see and its is all the negativity associated with blackness, they internalise this and they don't want to be black. Can I blame them no I cannot I have always pursued education as a means to making a better life for myself and in turn my family and children. If those people see being lighter as a means to creating a better life for themselves whether it is getting a job,moving to a new area, being considered for a promotion all I can say to my brothers and sisters use that 50+ spf  along with the bleaching cream.


bless

Autumn House happenings: A revelation

Today I was bored as hell you I was just chilling then I came across the strangest thing. Then I really had to read it again and again and again to really let it sink in that what I read was such. Then it hit me BAM You know what the problem is with Black Women? They have no damn sense Yes they went to University read and learned what was in the books, graduated top of the class, but still they have no sense. They operate on this thing I call selective intellect. Now it is strange to me how people have no stance on anything, but from time to time they jump up on their high horse and decide to chat rubbish. I find it shocking that people who routinely comment on posts which demean and decry woman suddenly find a moral compass today. Where were you to say hey this is not funny you need to dial it back? Where is your status to call for a boycott of certain tv channels until the Bring better programming?--------------> **crickets** Where was your status calling for recruits to join in with some sort of community based programme to empower youth and young people-----------> **crickets** Every year carnival costumes get less and less where is your status calling for mas makers to put more feathers and beads on the costumes so they have more coverage and preserve more modesty?---------------> **crickets** The women on tv who are degraded sooooooooooooo badly get paid to be half naked, whereas you pay someone to make you walk the streets half clothed. So you who has made no stand why are you complaining about other people? See that I am speaking about?----------------------> no sense.

Tyler Perrys movies and his 2 televisions shows have no depth. Tyler perrys movies are one dimensional his characters have no depth and they do not grow they are mass of clichéd ideals regarding black people. That is why people along with myself dont think he should have directed the movie "For coloured girls who have attempted suicide when the rainbow is not enough" it is not about racism or the portrayal of black people. This is the same selective intellect that has them drinking lady gagas kool aid but treating nicki minaj like a leper.

MYST BODY 2011:Breakfast bite

Hey lovelies just dropping in with a note on what I had for breakfast today. I had a sandwich made with 2 slices of granary bread one was covered with a little light Philadelphia cream cheese ( yes I eat light cream cheese..........lol ) 2 thin slices of ham, and 4 ..................wait for it  raw spinach leaves. Yes I as looking for a new healthy snack me tired eat oats jack. lol It tastes really good ( I say tastes because I am still in the process of eating, with 2 bites left. :). To finish it  off I have a big cup of Ovaltine. England is cold don't judge me, lol  For those of you who are not pork eaters I suggest you still try this combo with turkey slices or a grilled cheese sandwich.The spinach leaves with a lil dash of chilli powder really wakes up the sandwich.

As usual I will have 2 cod liver oil tablets and a vitamin c tablet afterwards

Autumn House happenings: It's a beautiful day.

It's a beautiful dayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy the sun is shining brightly, it's a beautiful day. The sun is out, the day is warm, the lord has blessed me this day. I have love in my life and joy in my heart.  Have a great day to all my bloggies.

MYST BODY 2011: #5

Today was a good day, yesterday was what I call a different day I was informed of some revelations but that is neither here nor there. The jog was good I did two laps and then power walked the third. I find that I am now getting into a sort of rhythm which is great because it is getting colder and colder.  I want the concept of jogging everyday to be fully ingrained in my system by the time the really cold weather hits. 

Todays breakfast consisted of  whole milk and honey nut cheerios ( yea so what), a single kiwi and a glass of water, two cod liver oil tablets and a vit c dis-solvable tablet  along with a single cup of green and black mixed tea. 

MYST BODY 2011: #4

Today was a sess (pronounched sesh, short for session) I went to church first, then went jogging. For some reason my phone has not been alarming at 7am when it is supposed too. This kinda distresses me because I had thought I was sleeping through my alarm so I have been a few minutes late for lectures and seminars this week (the life of an Economist.) The Jog was great I really feel that I have turned the tide, my breathing was alot better than yesterday and I didn't feel like gosh I want to drop down dead. My cool down was great also. I didn't stretch before starting the jog because I had walked to church and walked back, so I though that was a sufficient enough warm up for my legs. Please remember that I am a university student so though I am going to be jogging most days I might not post about the jogs everyday, I will however post as many times as I can. Sometimes I do go through drought periods where I don't want to write about anything. 

Todays breakfast consisted of (communion bread) ....lol that was a joke. On the real breakfast was 3 heaping cereal spoons of Yeo Valley Organic strawberry natural yogurt ( aka no sugar) mixed with 2 heaping cereal spoons of raw oats, a glass of orange, mango and passion fruit smoothie, a glass of orange juice, and 2 cod liver oil tablets. 

MYST BODY 2011: #3

Well it's the weekend and though my roomie said its a rest day. I went Jogging anyway. I really want to catch onto this jogging thing seriously, so I can maintain it. So off I went in my pink tracksuit..........(don'tjudgeme) for my 15 minute run. It wasn't all bad, the sky is over cast so its just dreary mostly. I tried to recruit a few friends but they aren't interested to its only me. It amazes me sometimes the amount of people who want to get fit, but do not put in any effort at all. Breakfast one slice of granary bread aka bird seed, one glass of orange mango and passion fruit smoothie to wash it down, and 2 cod liver oil tablets.

Autumn House happenings: I don't wanna be anything other

I love tv No you don't understand I love tv. I have watched every  episode of law and order svu, Csi, Csi: Miami, Csi: new york, Greys anatomy, Private Practive The OC, One tree hill, Gossip girl, Drop dead diva, Americas next top model, Hells kitchen, Hells kitchen uk, Top chef, Top chef masters, Top chef just deserts kendra, Hawthorne. Brothers and sisters,  and I am most proud of the fact that one weekend this summer When I was sufferin from chronic food poisoning I watched every episode of sex and the city in chronological order. It was a sess  ( short for session). Come on who hasn't riden the wave of blair and chuck's up and down relationship, Serenas indecisiveness who does she want nate or dan, egged Elliot stabler on when some perp has commited a heinous crime,  waited in anticipation for Grissom to come up with some weird scientific anomaly which catched the bad guy, come on peyton and brooke  friends today gone tomorrow ( not to mention sophia bush was actually married to chad micheal murray, until he cheated on her with paris hilton, she is currently dating Julian and has been for like 5 years). and I mean there is no one that can create the kinda of neurosis that meridith and christina  come up with. Best greys anantomy scene everrrrrrrrrrr is the episode where christina lost the baby and burke climed in the bed and help her and she started crying,  it touched my heart.  Carries on again off again relationship with big? Charlottes quest to be the most perfect women ( she had alot of hoochie in her too you know samantha wasn't the only one), but she did show us the masses that you do need to look un the places you dont normally look because there is where love might be lurcking.
And the boys of the shows eddie cahill, hill harper, ben makenzie, chad micheal murray, taye diggs, dr shepard aka macdreamy, dr sloan aka macsteamy , nate, dan, chuck, carter baisen, mr big, Troy, and HARRY from sex n the city. Why harry because harry is a man a 5 on the man scale to most of us but a 7 because he is employed and rich and we wont take away one point for his looks. But  harry is a man who will  love you so completely you will never have to doubt that on his scale you come in at 100 everytime.

The whole point of this post is one of my favourite songs ever is the theme song to one of these shows listen and enjoy.

Gavin DeGraw- I dont wanna be.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlyMzgk-mIM&feature=related

My First name check

I realized today that I am an intrigued individual. Once, and not too long ago, it took so much to impress me and while impressed, I’d be easily distracted and still, I’d lose interest so quickly... but now, now I’m so passionate... passionate about everything and I’m concerned because I know not from whence the fuck this passion has originated. I conversed today with some new friends about music. The conversation drifted swiftly to children and the nature vs. nurture argument and on to other more philosophical theories. I am not a psychologist and I do not profess to be one, nor am I a musician or paid critic; I am not an analyst of any sort and I am not a philosopher in the least though I sometimes pretend to be philosophical. But the deep moving sensation I got from these conversations was incredible and the intimacy I felt as a result inspired me. I could not begin to describe the feeling but it was welcomed. I felt good... like a raging pulsation from the veins under my skin and my face tightened and I could hear my heart beat. It was almost orgasmic.

Perhaps I’m becoming more appreciative of people and their opinions. Maybe I’m developing a deeper sensitivity. Maybe my oestrogen levels are too high and I’m “bitching out”. Maybe I need to man up.

Either way, this post is not to brag that I have new friends. It is not to inform anyone of the changes in my personal development. It is not to show off that I can cum without cumming either, just in case you wonder. To be quite honest, this post serves no real purpose other than to pen something so KaeToya, Shawn’s English sweetheart and my new friend, would cease sparking a disappointment of myself in myself that I’m neglecting my art. This post is completely selfish and intended to appease me myself.

So in essence, I’m not changing. I’m not sensitive, philosophical and/or concerned with nature vs. nurture I am not appreciative or caring. I am selfish, completely, and I like how it makes me feel even, if not especially, in conversation with others, to hear the sound of my own voice.

................................................................................................

This is a post by my friend Jeremy Davis on his blog...............who made this post simply because he was FED UP of me pestering him about updating his blog...........lol

love ya too J

Autumn House happenings: Friendship

For friendship to work, or any kind of relationship both or multiple parties MUST put in the effort needed to nurture said relationship. It may be 70/30 today 90/10 tomorrow, 50/70 the next day but each party needs to be contributing something of substance.

Autumn House happenings: I will follow him

"See, when I get the strength to leave, you
Always tell me that you need, me
And I'm weak cause I believe, you
And I'm mad because I love, you
So I stop and think that may-be
You can learn to appreciate, me
Then it all remains the same that
You ain't never gonna change"

This is  the hook from the song Foolish by Ashanti. She shares her pain about how she feels in regards to the way her man has been treating her. I can empathise with dear Ashanti She has loved is loving and is trying to hold on even though all the signs are there that  he will never be the man she wants him to be. I have found  over time that men and woman believe that everyone can be put into this one mould and be treated the same. However in reality everyone is different.


we all love cake but we have out preferences, sponge, trifle, pineapple upside down etc etc. We need to judge individuals on  their own ideals and values and stop trying to make everyone a carbon copy of the person we think they should be. Celebrate the quirks and weird habits we each posses these are what make us unique. 

MYST BODY 2011: #2

Day 3 of the training today was not bad, my muscles were a bit tense otherwise everything was fine. We jogged for 15 minutes then power walked for 10 then jogged for 5. It was a good little run my body didn't ache as much as it did Monday for which I am thankful.  Breakfast today was a single slice of  granary toast with an omelette and a glass of Strawberry and Banana smoothie.

Autumn House Happenings: Why I started This blog

I have found through my own experiences people in this life are too dishonest. So I made an active decision  to be the person who you can count on to tell you the truth, but I learned that people don't want to hear the truth. I feel that people don't want to hear the things I have to say and it frustrates me. They come and solicit your opinion and then don't want to hear what you have to say because your not dressing it up in a nice way. Also I have come to realise that persons don't value my opinion, so I took my opinions to a place where there was a clean slate. I started this blog as a means to say stuff that I have on my mind, daily events which happen, situations which occur in my life which I don't understand and to dissect the crap that I am burdened with daily. The things that I do not  feel that I can say without feeling like I am being stifled or getting funny looks from people, or learning that people have been  saying mean, nasty or spiteful things behind my back. I find that in our society everyone feels the need to be placed in a box and I Kae-Toya Lee-Bramble is no corner girl or fast food meal. I recently reminded my parents of the fact. This is my avenue for true speech Where I can say freely everything that I feel without fear of reprisal later.

People always say to me "I used to be like you" and I know they are not like me or ever will be me, and even after I share my experiences they still don't understand me. I am just tired of the sludge of life, like the Stacie Orricio song "there has got to be more to life than chasing down every temporary high"

Plus I'm good at it.

Carnival now and in the Future.

I am a Carnival baby, I love everything about Carnival the culture atmosphere, the excitement, the anticipation for the events, shows and costumes, the pan, the music, the mas none is better than none for me it takes each aspect to make it work and work WELL. A few years ago my lovely island paradise celebrated 50 years of carnival. A friend of mine Damara Phillips created a group  named the Golden Jubilee, since that was the theme to celebrate the 50th anniversary. She invited friends and they invited friends and it developed into a real one stop shop for news regarding Antigua and Barbudas' Carnival. Over the years she as asked a few friends myself included to help moderate and upkeep the group. As a collective we promote the different band launches, carnival fetes, shows events, we upload pictures of costumes, sketches anything to do with carnival we are in the midst of it. It has not always been smooth sailing and at times we have come under fire for personal commentary and have even been accused of promoting different bands and events over others. I will be the first to say I have not always been diplomatic in my commentary and for this I can apologise on my own behalf.

 Most recently we have even been accused of favouritism by one particular band leader, which is tantamount to slander since some of the moderators have never ever played mas and others have no band loyalty. To everyone I say this NONE of you are better than the other. We the moderators of  "THE OFFICIAL ANTIGUA CARNIVAL FACEBOOK GROUP"  have never once been invited to an event as members of the social media  by ANY mas troupe in the twin island state of ANTIGUA & BARBUDA and we promote you all equally. We pay money out our own pockets and go to launches and events ( none of you have ever asked us would you guys like to come, do you need press passes/ media passes) and when we cannot go to events we ask our friends to go to the events and take pictures so that we can upload them to the group thus helping YOU. We have never once been emailed information regarding launches for music or costumes. Some events have had 3 and 4  pages made in the past and we have toiled here and there finding out information checking and double checking to make sure it is correct before we send it out on your behalf. Those little catchy by lines that accompany your events......that is our brilliance. Those pictures on the carnival group days before you even decide to upgrade your website or Social media page that is all us.  We the moderators of "THE OFFICIAL ANTIGUA CARNIVAL FACEBOOK GROUP"  has never once been offered a discount on a costume, event ticket, launch ticket, fete ticket, after carnival party ticket or even a case of water and some corn nuts to split between us for our tireless services towards you and yours.

So to all of you please remember these words in 2011 and the FUTURE  before you go ranting and raving about who is promoting whom, who is biased, and feeling like you have arrived say thanks first and then complain or act like a big shot.

We do this for the love of CARNIVAL and our COUNTRY and we do it for free.

MYST BODY 2011: #1

Well  I made it through I have just crawled back into bed after a workout/jogging session/breakfast of champions. Yes back to bed why, because im sick like a dog and my bones are aching. So today kicks off the first day of the MYST BODY 2011 aka "Fit for mas Fit for life" plan. Now before anyone start getting high-faluting the facts are that there are skinny people walking around who are full of unhealthy organs and diseases that are manifesting within their bodies because they are not active enough. Black women we collectively like to look good but we don't exercise enough. Also we are not catching diseases as easily as persons from other races but we are dying from these diseases in record numbers. I have always been an active person, ran track in high school, did some basketball once upon a time, learned to play tennis, and in college I was on the football team-(DEFENSE left back) now I'm in university my sport seems to be spectating lol. Now don't get my wrong for the last year I have boycotted the buses in favour of walking to uni that is a 30-45 minute walk  both ways depending on weather conditions. It adds up to 1-1.5 hours daily, plus I walk everywhere even to town which is a good 4 miles. So on a typical Saturday I could put in 8 miles walking to and from plus the extra running around when I do get to town.

This little spurt of excitement however is no totally of my own making. My room-mate has decided to start training for a marathon (yes the whole 26 miles) and asked me to come along and train with her for  moral support. Plus I thought wow I can really jump-start my fitness plan early just in case I am able to go home for summer 2011. Today was the first day and we both overslept by an hour. I vaguely remember my phone going off and the touch screen not responding so I went back to bed and left it alarming..........oh well. The jog was not bad at all my lung were really working well and though it has been nearly 12 years since I was an athlete (lite) those days running all over cedar valley gold course came back to me. After the jog we had breakfast I had a bowl of oatmeal with raisins to sweeten and fresh strawberries, a small glass of a smoothie and a cup of green/black tea.

will keep you updated as time goes by.

Love: Should I, shouldn't I, will I, won't I

Tiana L. Mann  

     I have a few thoughts on this topic. I'm kinda old school, but it works. I believe the man's action/inaction determines the tone of the relationship. He may not say what he wants verbally, but his actions will show what he is ready for. If he wants to be exclusive, he'll make it known, and follow-up with actions to pursue that end. If making you a priority is not primary in his mind, his actions will show it. Feel free to ask questions of the man, but his actions speak louder. We (as women) have to determine what we can and cannot live with, and make our decisions/next moves based on how what we want squares with his actions. For instance, if you want a relationship, and dude is not making you a priority, then you have to take that into account, and decide whether you will stick-it out at third (of fifteenth place), or if you will stick to your guns until the man you want finds you. The truth is that it's disappointing when you like a guy, and you want to be his priority, but he has not made you one yet...we have to learn to readily accept that and then move on.

     My theory is that a good girlfriend makes a good wife. Even if you aren't planning on getting married now, if we (women) get into the habit of joining the pursuit (which I think a man should do), then it will be hard for us to really allow a man to be the leader in the relationship -- which is where he should be (well...at least any man that dates me needs to be a leader...I'm too strong of a woman to let a follower try to be my boo...SORRY! lol). As crazy as this sounds, I think it's best to play our role -- the prize to be won. It doesn't mean that we should be snobby brats demanding things and stuff that we would never do/give to a man. Instead, I just think a man should pursue a woman of interest. We have to remember to play our role, and not the man's -- no matter how slow we may think he's being. lol. Again, we are the prizes to be won...and if he won't play the game with the intensity of someone who wants to win... it's his loss...not yours. 

.......................

       This is a comment taken from a friends status. This week I read 3 Blog posts written by 3 very different women in regards to being cheated on/ why men cheat. And yes I too joined in the fist raising and the damn rights etc etc. I felt their pain and their loss and although I have never been in their shoes. I secretly counted myself lucky to have never been cheated on or been in love soooooooo deeply that it took me to the brink or insanity, or in a relationship just for the sake of being in a relationship. And then the question came "when do you realize that you are number one for the other person in the relationship". the excerpt above is  one of the suggested answers. When we realize he is not playing with the intensity of someone who wants to win you let go and move on. One of my university professors said one of the reasons why women get the raw end of the deal sometimes in relationship is because they see the crap happening or going to happen and they stay, because they are afraid to let go. LET GO. Be knowledgeable about your worth and what you can bring to a relationship. Take comfort in that, know that if you didn't last and you  put your best foot forward in all your endeavours to make it work and when the curtain comes down bow gracefully out and leave. 

Kae-Toya's Top Makeup must haves.

    For this post I must big up ma gf Kady....................before I went to university I was never big on the Makeup vibes. But Kady and I lived together for one year and at the end of it I was changed.............she always says she created a monster and yep she is kinda right, but I'm not doing drugs................so lowe me. :)

1. MAC studio fix foundation plus powder in one.

2. MAC lipgelee  in Moistly..............works for everyone

3. The Body shop shimmer cubes........you should get as many of these as you can, the can be used dry or wet and the colour payoff is awesome. you get alot of product for the price.

4. Rubie amd Millie i tools.........these are the travel make up brushes. Rubie and Millie brushes are the shyt............. cosmopolitan UK has compared them to MAC brushes for many a spend vs splurge. As the owner of quite a few I can tell you they are worth the money.

5. Sleek makeup palettes.............great colours, great payoff, great makeup brand, great price.

6. Bourjois Paris makeup brushes...............these are great brushes and are a great price.

7. Bourjois blush...................again great price and great product.

8. Urban Decay 24/7  glide on eye pencils.....................the best eyeliner I have ever used in my life hands down............................a great alternative to this is the Maybelline khol express waterproof eye liner pencil great product at a greatttttttttttttt price........... I mean come on £18 on one eye liner....................( can you see my waiting in earnest for the urband decay xmas eyeliner set............... I can lol)

9. Sleek hide it concealer with spf 15.................great product great price.

10. MAC prep and prime eye...................:)

11. Benefit concealer brush...........:) great item..................expensive but worth the price.

12. L'oreal Made for me naturals eye and brow shadow.

13. Mac mineralize skin finish natural....................this was recommended to me by a friend.  This is a product I will never stop using.

14. L'oreal glam bronze..............dont be sleeping on the bronzer........its great for a highlight and on top of a matte powder can be used to bring life to the face.

15. Estee lauder kabuki brush....................works great minimum shedding..............love love love this.............a great alternative is the jemma kidd kabuki brush which I also own.................love love love that brush as well.

16. Benefit that gyal face primer......................it works.

17. Maybelline Colour definer waterproof shadow stick...............great as an eye shadow primer to make the colours pop more. Great alternative to mac shadesticks.

xx

Kae-Toya's Top 10 Hair care must haves.

As a budding hair care enthusiast I have been asked a few questions by friends who have become interested since I recently posted pics on my facebook of my new healthy locs. I must admit even my aunts were surprised with my growth on a recent trip home. So I am sharing with you my fellow girls (and guys) the products which I have used and they have been tried and tested and not found wanting in any way. These are products which I have bought with my own money and used for years. I have black type 4a/b hair (yes them naps).  I relax my hair every 8 weeks and deep condition every 2 weeks.

1. Matrix Biolage colorcaretherapie Delicate care Shampoo (for sensititized/colored hair) this shampoo is sulfate/paraben free and contains organic acai+ argan antioxidant complex.................its the business.

2. Matrix Biolage colorcaretherapie Delicate care Conditioner (for sensititized/colored hair) this also sulfate and paraben free and contains organic acai+ argan antioxidant complex.

3. Matrix Biolage colorcaretherapie Delicate care Masque (for sensititized/colored hair) aka the deep treatment this also sulfate and paraben free and contains organic acai+ argan antioxidant complex. This has is a high dose of avocado oil, followed by argan oil and also acai berry and is a colour fade fighting forumula..............this is a product that you the feel the difference from the first use.

4. Matrix Biolage colorcaretherapie Delicate care Organic Certified oil............this is pure argan oil. I use this after or before my blow dry, or maybe mid week on my ends a dime sized amount I just rub it in my hands and then apply it to my ends and all over my hair.

5. Inecto Pure coconut oil deeply nourishing leave in conditioner...........I spray this in after I have blotted the excess moisture out of my hair.

6. Matrix sleek look smoothing system step 4 Iron smoother......this  is my heat protectant it protects up to 200 degrees and protects from humidity. I used the ghd heat protectant for 2 years before I started using this sleek one and in my opinion the sleek one works alot better.

7. Organic root stimulator Olive oil incredibly rich moisturising  hair lotion.............I've used this is small amounts over the last 3 years but I have finally committed and purchased a bottle to see my through the winter .......( and I got 25% free...go girl its yuh burfday). This is that I used to moisturise my hair twice a week.

8. Fantasia IC pm nightime oil treatment .............I have warrrrrrrrrrrrred with family members over bottles of this stuff. This is one thing that ever relaxed girl should have in her arsenal. It even comes in a travel size so no excuses ladies. This  have been using for about 5 years now. I love this stuff. If  I'm wearing my hair wrapped I spray this on my hair 4 sprays every other night. ( this is the first 2 weeks of my perm)  I also use this mixed with a little castor oil to seal my ends after I have moisturised my hair twice a week. SERIOUSLY ladies if you don't have this you are sleeping on your hair care.

9. Fantasia IC Hair polisher daily hair treatment .............I apply this all over my hair after I have finished blow drying and then I straighten my hair with the flat iron.  this gives my hair a lovely sheen and a sleek smooth finish.

10. Organic root stimulator coconut oil ................... this is what I use to oil my scalp twice a week the same time that I moisturise and seal.

These products have been my staples for the last year I  some longer than a year and they have worked brilliantly.

Summer House happenings: The Public Library of Antigua and Barbuda

 I currently attend university in the United Kingdom. however I have never made it a secret that I intend to move back to the land of my birth, my diamond paradise. Now Today I was just sitting here chilling out before I go start my notes for my economics theory exam and a though assailed me. What is the public library like in Antigua? When I move back home I cannot possible purchase a new book every time I want to read something. So I went on facebook and asked a few of my friends who were online at the time, and no one had an idea most of the responses were along the lines of "I haven't been there in years". This just crushed my pretty much in the same way I  was crushed for the past few summers by the number of people who had not visited the national museum any whoo I digress.

I remember a few years ago there was a big hoopla surrounding the new public library which was being constructed. Pity me the fool who was thinking the library was completed. I was informed I will probably die before the library is ever finished, open and operational. A statement was made to me by a friend " I don't know how we are comfortable with not having a library, a proper one" and my response was this  "People in Antigua rather gossip than read, go to the nightclubs and other frivolous events to be seen by people who do not even acknowledge their presence, instead of educating their children, and are too damn happy living in a state of mediocrity rather than  challenge the leaders to do more."  This is why our NEW public library is not finished, however the old public library is  located on market street above lolitas fabric store.

I read not just for school and because I have to read. I read to learn new things, to improve myself, to acquire knowledge and for the sheer love of reading. My people, my fellow Antiguans  there is power in reading, never ever forget that.


A nations wealth is in the intellectual ability of its people, so the people must be educated, the people must be able to read. 

Summer House happenings: My Hair care challenge.

     
     For most of  my relaxed hair life, I have maintained my hair at chin length. However last summer I experienced a bit a breakage and  this challenged me  to address the way I take care of my tresses. First on the agenda were the hair care products I stopped using the regular store bought shampoo and conditioners, possessing sodium laureth sulphate as an ingredient. My new hair care regime now consists of using Matrix Biolage shampoo, conditioner and deep conditioning mask. For the last year I have been deep treating my hair every 2 weeks religiously. Also I have been drinking copious amounts of water to keep my body hydrated. Since my hair is a by product of my body then I must make sure that the items I put into my body  nourishes it. Hydrated body equals hydrated hair. 


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_LKGqydL8s

     My Hair regimen consists of combing and de-tangling my hair before I get into the shower. Next I run water over my hair for 2-3 minutes. After this I then apply the first lather, I massage the sides of my hair, then the back and front. I rinse and then repeat this procedure. Next I apply the deep  conditioning treatment to semi dry hair, I then cover my hair with a plastic bag and wait 30 minutes. My natural  body heat allows the treatment to penetrate the hair shaft.  After rinsing the deep treatment out my hair I then blot my hair 90% dry. I spray my hair with some leave in conditioner and I comb that through with a wide tooth shower comb.  After this I spray my hair with some Matrix Biolage heat protection spray, after working this through my hair. I then blow dry my hair in sections, and flat iron. To maintain my hair between washes (remember I wash and deep treat my hair every 2 weeks) I apply coconut oil  to my scalp and I moisturise and seal my ends twice a week every Sunday and Thursday. 


moisturise and seal

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuCbZMHwLug&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0_93jySKiM&feature=related


Now my hair health has increased greatly, but now I want longer hair not just healthy hair so I am on a challenge to grow my hair to APL (arm pit length) by new years day.


xoxo

Summer House happenings: Burges Salmon

     Well I was supposed to go to Antigua for summer holidays, as I usually do however this year I really wanted to move up in the work environment. So I applied here there and everywhere for a summer job. I was not successful and to some extent I felt alot resentful that I didn't even get to the interview stage. However It was not to be and the lord had another plan in store for me. My university has recently launched an intern ship scheme and I applied for one particular job which caught my eye, Operations and Project management intern. Whoop whoop now anyone who has ever studied operations management will know it is the most tedious subject to study for. 

      I am intrigued with all of these little processes which make the business successfully turnover. Also in my many years as an employee I have found that many employers are only concerned with the finished product. They forget all the background work which goes into making that product and from this is where you get resentful staff, poor performance and high levels of staff turnover. Even the packaging and the way customers are treated falls under operations management. I prayed and prayed and prayed, I believed that I was meant to have this internship and when I got the call I was soooooooooooo ecstatic and overjoyed.

      I bought a new skirt navy blue with with a military style front from H&M, paired it with a navy blue and white shirt with contrast collar and cuffs. I looked amazing. I had no idea where the place was so I left home an hour early (the importance of a trail run). I wound up being 45 minutes early but this was my dream job in the making so who was counting. The interview went smoothly I answered the questions with relevant examples taken from my previous experience in other forms of employment, spoke a bit about myself and why I was the ideal candidate for this position. My interview was 20 minutes long it was at 12 and by 3.17pm she called me to inform me I had received the job. :)

Prepare yourself for your future, your destiny is your creation

xoxo

Did I mention that Burges Salmon is the 43rd Largest Law firm in the UK, with roots going back to the 18th Century. Daniel Burges one of the founders was also a founding member of the Bristol Law Society, the Oldest Law society in the UK. 

Summer House Happenin's: Carnival please stay dont go away

I love mas for those of you who don't know I am a first generation Antiguan. Antigua is one of the Caribbean islands and is a twin island state Antigua and Barbuda. During the last week in July and the First week in August. Carnival in Antigua came about as an evolution of the celebration of emancipation.

 A group of businesses got together and decided to put together a week long festival of cultural activities and fifty plus years later carnival is still here. I remember when I was young and Carnival was the height of summer. We waited in earnest for carnival to watch the shows and see the parades. Later on it was a jump up or two. 

Then I played pan with the best Hellsgate Steel Orchestra, in 2001 I played mas for the first time and since then it has been a wrap. In 2009 I played mas with MYST mas troupe and I was home. Myst is my family and my parent will never divorce and leave me without my brothers and sisters.

Summer House Happenin's: End of exams

   

Hello well the end of exams came and it went just as swiftly. Leaving me in its wake with a beating delivered by managing finance, Economic theory, and business statistics----------> shudders. For those who think that student life is easy let me tell you it is not. You are broke and constantly in need and the time. The light at the end of the tunnel is your only hope that gets you through day by day. There are highs and there are lows, and some days there were just tears. However this year has been unlike any other. I have opened up myself to my faith more than ever before, also let some new friends into my life. These new faces have been the source of much laughter, joy, arguments, debates, inspiration and motivation. My love for my family has been ever bountiful for on the days when I didnt believe in myself they kept me going with kind words about my capabilities. I am so grateful to the lord for blessing me with what I have.

xx

Dress to Kill

"If you are what you wear then you better dress the part you want. A few lucky ladies can do no wrong looks perfection and they have accessories to match, but most girls get tired of the same old look and they will do anything to get that hot new piece on their arm, and then there are the thieves of fashion who will do anything even steal the shirt off your back. Always remember appearances are deceiving  but whatever you wear always dress to KILL." xoxo gossip girl

I was truck by this quote today watching my latest episode of gossip girl now most people would think that its frivolous and pass it by. However if you really examine the words think and meditate on them then you will realize the deeper meaning.

I'm no thief of fashion, or ordinary girl. This girl forges her own path in everything with her own style.

xx