Why you cut your hair?

It's back don't pretend you do not know what I am speaking about America's Next Top Model *All Stars*. Now most people know that Black women have an obsession with their hair. Always up in there doing something to the hair, changing something about the hair, buying products for the hair, or straight up buying some hair. Fried, dyed, laid to the side, chopped, popped, teased, weaved, gelled (hey hey we gave the world slicking down your baby hair with a toothbrush) its all about the hair.  We love everything about hair ----->Except cutting now on a good day a hairlista in training will but a 14 inch premium too 1b/40 and cut that up to impersonate Halle Berrys' latest hairdo. But her OWN hair now that is a no no. This is a combination of two things, 1. SCISSOR HAPPY STYLIST aka you go to the hairdresser for a trim and you leave with 3 inches shorter hair. 2. Black girls/women just like long hair and whether its scraggly, limp and barely hanging on ( yup you have seen the 1 strand ponytails) or nice and healthy. We don't embrace cutting of our own hair, because lets face it that hair takes long to grow back. On last nights episode of ANTM Nicki Minaj asked Cycle 5 favourite Bre Scullark "Why did you cut your hair?"  to which Bre promptly replied "The cheque looked good enough." I thought to myself good on you Bre, if the job requires short hair go hustle the money.

Don't Quit

Don't Quit 

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And when you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.


Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up though the pace seems slow,
you may succeed with another blow. 


Often the goal is nearer than,
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up,
When he might have captured the victors cup,
And he learned too late when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.


Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far,
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit,
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.


Author Unknown

Have a listen....

Sometimes we as human bring are not fearless, and we pysch ourselves out of things. Love, relationships, opportunities because we dwell on all the things that can happen, the negative things, instead of jumping in and then letting the chips fall where they may. I'm here to say we have to take the risks, toooo be happy.

I will wait for you.....

My cousin popped up in fb chat with the link for this video, and said "this is to make you feel better, to let you know that God will send you Mr Right. So you will wait on him for him."
This video is not new to me, I have seen it before on blogs and around the internet, but who it came from and the message it came with touched me. Listen and enjoy.

The youth and the Church

     If you attend Mass on any continuous 6 week period you will observe something. The same people always participate in the liturgy they might serve, read, conduct the proceedings, or pick up the collection. There are some persons who attend Mass and arrive just before it starts and leave just after it ends. Others come week in week out yet never participate in any liturgical activity. Then there are the rest you know the people who only attend "High Mass" ie, Christmas, Easter, New Years. Why is this so? When the pope came to Hyde Park last summer he said that it is time for the youth to become more involved in the church, the older people should not stop performing duties but they should make space for the youth to take up the mantle as well. Sorry to say but I think this has fallen on very deaf ears.
     I attended Mass conducted by Bishop Donald Reece of St John's - Basseterre when I around 13/14 and during his homily he stated " If you want to get rid of all the young people in the church baptiste them and confirm them and you will never see them again."  This statement came to mind as Pope Benedict expressed the need during these times where morals are easily questioned, and family structures are shaky to make way for the youth in the affairs of the church. The church is not the building where Mass takes place, it is the relationship that we as a community have with each other, the invested interest that we take in each others lives, whether it be for spiritual, mental, familial purposes. If we invite the youth to participate in the liturgical activities, as well as the various fairs, fetes and other events put on by the church they may become invested beyond the point of just showing up. I am not saying that we should be turning out droves of young people who are flocking to the cloth. However we need to do better so that excuses like -------> I am tired today, or I don't have any "church" shoes are not common place.
     The bible says teach a child the way he should grow and when he is old he will not depart from it. "Why is is so easy  for the youth to depart from the church?" Is it that the church is not welcoming, or unforgiving? Yes people/persons grow up and develop new interests but what about their spiritual development? Is that an interest that no longer needs to be nurtured?

"Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there Among them." 

A picture of yourself with 10 facts.

#1- I am 5'4.

#2- I've never had a broken bone.

#3- For my future career I would like to be a UN Financier or create world peace.

#4- I have seen every episode of sex in the city.

#5- I have never stood inlove.

#6- I love writing --> hence this blog.

#7- I have 1 tattoo and my ears are pierced twice.

#8- I love carnival, mas, soca, and feteing.

#9- I love travelling.

#10- I am the oldest of 7 children and the youngest of 6, (but I am not a middle child).

words from another... Liz (Eat,Pray,Love)

"I don't need to love you to prove I love myself." 


"Being balanced is not letting anyone love you less than you love yourself."  


Sometimes you just need to be selfish, it your life so bottom line it is all about you. 

words from another... Jessica White

“Women nowadays, we connect physically too soon without actually getting to know the person. If you don’t actually give this person your body and then they let you down, there really isn’t a great disappointment; not like it would be if you have already connected physically. I started going on that journey, and I thought to myself, you know what, the next man that I give my body to will be the man that God brought into my life.” 

My great love...

Love is the opposite of fear." "Fear is the catalyst behind many of the ugly things in our world like jealousy, oppression and outright hatred." Erykah Badu

Most times when one refers to love they mean in a romantic way towards another person. However it is possible to have a great love which has nothing to do with a man. My great love is learning, whether its how to operate a follow spot, change a car tire, bake cakes from scratch, paint a wall or operate a power saw. I want to learn how to do that. I will never tire of learning new things, for that is my great love.

I have found the sweet honey that is learning
xx 

Hair-iversary

     In between Biffy Clyro and Beyonce I realised that it has been a year since I have been on my hair journey August 28th 2010, "confetti in the air". I haven't posted any pics all summer because I wanted to take a break so I could really check the length against my last set of pics which I have uploaded. It wasn't always smooth sailing, at first it was a real chore to deal with my hair and get the routine going. The products I had to throw away/stop using,  stuff I had to buy.  It was a real investment I had to make going in, not only financially (£10 on a shampoo whew) but time wise, and knowledge wise. I really wanted my hair to grow and grow as long as it possibly grow, go the distance so to speak. I know so much about hair now, my attitude towards hair care has completely changed. Not only relaxed hair but natural hair as well. My roomate has been on her hair care journey as well at this time and she is natural. So it has been good being able to bounce ideas off of her and get advice etc. Mishaps have happened my hair completely reverted whilst I was home on summer vacation. Humidity tried my patience no end, leave in conditioner is my "best hair friend" lol.

Second half of the 2010 -2012 hair journey starts in 33 minutes (its currently 11:27gmt).

For this second year I will be embracing more protective styles. I am not totally going to be wearing my hair in protective styles 100% of the time but I am aiming for 90%. The first 2 weeks after a relaxer I tend to wear my hair down, but I am going to be wearing it up more. Also I will be using different products during this leg of the journey. I think that the Matrix products that I was using in the past my hair has benefited, but now I am able to try new products since my hair is in a really healthy state. When I started this journey I was a year into recovering from damaged hair, in terms of dryness, and slight breakage. The Matrix products were lovely full of Argan oil and avocado oil. However I think that I am at a stage now where I can use other things. Going in for the next leg of my healthy hair journey I will be using Elasta QP products on my hair.

Elasta QP stop action shampoo

Elasta QP shampoo for relaxed hair

Elasta QP Intense fortifying shampoo

Elasta QP olive and mango butter moisturiser (3tblspoons of olive oil added and mixed in thoroughly, or 2tblsppoons olive oil + 1tblspoon of castor oil)

These are the products which will make up the base of my regimen. I will continue  using my coconut oil to moisturise my scalp, my olive oil to seal my ends (spray my hair occasionally), Infusium 23 leave in conditioner, Matrix sleek heat protectant. Will continue to wash my hair and deep condition every 2 weeks, moisturising and sealing every week minimum 2 days a week (possibly every other day during the winter). Also I will be stretching my relaxers from 8 to 12 weeks  (3months) at a time.

Thank you for all the support, questions, suggestions over the last year and thanks in advance for all of them to come in the future.

xx

1 +1 = 2

"Make love to me, so when the world at war, let our love heal us all, help me let down my guard,ohhh, ohhh, ohhh" I've never been in love but WHEN I do this song sums up how I want it to feel. 

words from another... Donatella Versace

"Be bold, be brave and have faith in your abilities. Never be afraid to try new things, whatever other people might say."

Donatella Versace
xx 

words from another... Dolly Parton

"Anything hanging, dragging, or lagging, I'mma nip it, tuck it, and suck it." Dolly Parton 

words from another... Paul Carrick Bronson

"It's funny how many things that make you smile, do not cost money."


xx 

words from another... Beyonce

"Yes I am crying, I am an artist and I am sensitive about my shyt." 

words from another... Rochelle

"You see alot when you are quiet and just be still."

silence is golden
xx

The Orgasm Diet

So you know typical morning I got up stumbled to the bathroom half awake located my toothbrush and was brushing my teeth. There is always a magazine in the bathroom at my house so I skinned back the cover and I thought I saw THE ORGASM DIET. Anyways I skimmed over this and about 2 minutes later when the brain started working it registered, I went and looked again and sure enough that is what I saw. So I thought interestingggggggggggggggg I must share this with my readers.

Introducing the Orgasm Diet by Liz Frost for Glamour Magazine.

Can what you put in your mouth really affect how much fun you have between the sheets? Liz Frost reports on the new diet that could mean better faster and more orgasms for you. 

     When couples have sex in a hollywood movie, it usually goes something like this: two perfectly toned people fall into a neatly made up bed and indulge in a few minutes of sweat free love making before climaxing in perfect unison. If only it were that easy in real life! In fact, research suggests 75% of women in the UK don't orgasm through intercourse and 12% never climax. Well, how would you feel if we told you that you could train your body to orgasm more easily just by changing your diet. That's what "The Orgasmic Diet", a new book by  Marrena Lindberg, is claiming. It's the first ever scientifically supported nutritional and exercise method to increase  women's libido and is taking the US by storm. 

"If you've never had a vaginal orgasm, this diet will change that" says Lindberg. "if you're already having them, you'll have them faster and stronger. You can  also increase the ease and intensity of your clitoral orgasm."

      So what is this magical diet  and where do we sign up? Lindberg says her approach involves 4 main components:

*A diet low in carbohydrates that's free from orgasm killers  such as refined sugar and caffeine.

*High doses of fish oil capsules

*Regular Kegel exercises 

*maintenance of the levels of serotonin and dopamine  - which are the chemicals in your brain that regulate  your libido, as well as improving  blood flow to your genitals. 

A typical week on the diet ...

Daily

25 Kegel exercises - you will find these muscles by stopping the flow of urine mid stream. Once you have located these muscles, tighten and relax.

* half on ounce of dark chocolate

*1 multivitiamin

* 1 vitamin c tablet ( a small glass of orange juice will do )

*Morning fish oil pills (1,400 -1,700mg depending on your weight)

*777mg calcium

*270mg Magnesium

*4-7mg zinc

In every meal you should aim to have 

30% protein (meat, diary, vegetables and fish), 30% fats (monosaturated fasts, such as olive oil and saturated fats such as dairy , meat and poultry), 40% or less carbohydrates, avoiding starchy ones ( white bread,  potatoes). Every few days, you will need to take 27mg of iron (as a tablet).

Monday Menu

Breakfast - Yogurt or cottage cheese, blueberries, strawberries and muesli

Lunch - Chicken Caesar salad

        - grilled shredded chicken, romaine lettuce, grated Parmesan cheese and Caesar dressing

Dinner - Steak Fajitas with peppers and avocado

Tuesday Menu

Breakfast - Omelette with tomatoes, onions and peppers

Lunch - Vegetable Quiche and fresh fruit

Dinner - Chinese stir fry in peanut oil with lean beef strips, broccoli, onions, mushrooms, and bamboo shoots with a small portion of white rice.

Wednesday Menu 

Breakfast - Two slices of bacon, one or two eggs and a piece of toast

Lunch -  Cheeseburger (without the bun)  and a big salad with everything but no dressing

Dinner - Greek chicken pittas with Greek yogurt sauce made with cucumber, onion and garlic and a salad of tomato, peppers, cucumbers, olives, feta cheese and olive oil.

Thursday Menu 

Breakfast - Yogurt topped with muesli and fruit of your choice

Lunch - Ham and Swiss cheese on grainy bread  with mayonnaise or mustard, pepper strips and carrot sticks.

Dinner - Roasted chicken with mixed broccoli and a mixed salad  with olive oil dressing

Friday Menu

Breakfast - Omelette with onions, peppers and cheese

Lunch - Tuna Nicoise salad

         - pan seared tuna over greens, black olives, capers, hard boiled egg and crumbled blue cheese

Dinner - Baked Aubergine with melted cheese and bean salad

Nutritional therapist Tim Taylor says "the fish oil is probably the most relevant part of this diet. High doses are used to alleviate conditions such as depression , which could in turn affect the way we feel about sex. Fish oils can also dramatically thin the blood - its possible that improved flow in the peripheral blood vessels could  contributed to easier orgasms. The diet encourages balanced blood sugar levels  by making you steer clear of refined  carbohydrates such as  whit flour and rice, as well as restricting alcohol, cigarettes and caffeine. This can have an affect on our stress and sex hormones. We know that chocolate can affect  responses  in the brain and affect dopamine levels  and while that alone may not be enough, in conjunction with  all the other parts of the plan this may help to unleash the orgasm."

** though this diet was created with a specific purpose in mind, this eating plan is really good especially if you are interested in healthy eating/lifestlye.** 

So break out the bottle of cod liver oil boys and girls.

xx

Who are you?

The Bible says that Jesus aside his "garments to wash the the disciples feet." He was willing to become transparent and let them see who he really was. One author, "I must tell you - after playing football and spending hours in a musty locker rooms - it's much easier to undress when others are undressing, than it is to walk into an executive boardroom and disrobe." This would be true even if the room was filled with the same men you work out with. It's not who they are, it's that your comfort zone is destroyed when you feel like you're the only one who's naked. Jesus taught a powerful lesson. He rose from supper and began to disrobe in front of men who were still fully clothed. Our problem is that we don't want to be seen as the only one with problems and needs. But fear of being different can lock you in a prison of pretense. Jesus took a step few would dare to. His laid aside his garments (image) before those he'd labored to inspire. Real ministry starts the moment we stop trying to impress each other and say. "This is who I really am." 

words from another... Shawn

Sometimes there things that the mouth can't say but the fingers can type.... 

Don't say anything...

People never want you to hold them to the same standards that they hold others too. They always have some kind of excuse for their actions/behavior.