Weeknd Update

Ha! I like that title! It really is the Weeknd Update.

So ya'll know this post I wrote about how I'm loving this new artist The Weekend and I think he is going to be the next best thing. Well...guess whose the next best thing...The Weeknd.

I just heard his song from the mixtape on the trailer for The Entourage's new season! Now that's big. I feel like I did that with my brain.

You betta go boy...or girl...or group...not sure who you are yet, but gone head!

P.S. If you haven't already looked, you can find The Weeknd's mixtape at http://www.the-weeknd.com/

This Moment's Social Addiction

So my name is Rae...and I'm addicted to Living Social.

Well, this among other things.

I love http://www.livingsocial.com/. Everyday, like an awesome friend who knows you can't pass up a deal, they email me with a deal in my area. Sometimes its for my favorite spot, sometimes its for a spot I've never been too, but most times... I buy it!

I have so many restaurants, adventures, even movie tickets in my living social que. I love it. I get half off to restaurants, that I would've ordinarily spent a rack of money at. And ya'll know I like getting things on the low! I'm so glad this service started. Add to that I believe they are opening an office by my job, which I'm pretty sure they are doing only to be near their biggest fan...me!

Anyhoo, if you don't already have it, I suggest signing up. Its free and fun and is a place that makes your DOLLA HOLLA!

This Moments Revision

So if you follow this blog, you will see I have changed the look and feel of it. I'm working on getting it as fun as possible before I upgrade to another platform. I like blogger because I can access from many sites, so I wanna try to keep it here.

Hopefully my fab 5 followers like it! And all those who read who don't follow, I hope you guys like it too. And don't feel bad for not following. I'm obsessed with so many blogs and will not press the "follow me" button either, lol.

Henna...Where have you been all my life?

So...I finally henna'd! And all I can say is O.M.G! I loved it.

I actually loved the process of putting it in. This is where all the "O" faces came from. I love the way it stretched my hair and I was able to see how long my hair is as I smoothed it on (down to my neck in some spots). The process is reminiscent of the creamy crack applications, but without the extreme burning sensation.

The henna I purchased (no idea what type) was not in the box, but by the pound. I got it from this really random Indian Market too damn far from my house. For like 3 lbs. of powder I paid $15. Not sure how much it typically costs. In addition to the Henna, I purchased some oils and Amla powder to start the Ayurvedic treatments.

The henna tips I can provide and I wish I would've known in advance are:

1. Plan to henna like a day or two before you want to do it. For the henna to release its full color it must sit at least 24 hours. This means you must mix it up the day before. You can release the color in about 8 or so hours by adding lemon juice, but I didn't want to risk this.

2. Henna can be stored for a few months if you make too much. It must be frozen, though. I used one of my old Chinese food containers because its dark (and that's best for storage) and put it in two plastic bags to mask the smell.

3. The smell is SUPA strong. Even the unmixed powder in the bag is strong. Mine is stored in the garage. If you have any aversion to strong smells this may not be the product for you. I actually like strong smells (like my own farts...but it doesn't smell like that).

4. It stains your body and hands. Wear gloves and wipe off skin immediately if you get it on you.

5. You need help if its your first time to wipe excess henna. I had to keep calling DH to help wipe it off my ears or chest as was falling. Its best (in my opinion) to go topless when doing it.

6. If you have any grays, it dyes them bright red. I did it because I was graying...i.e. I had like 10 gray hairs. I love the way it makes them look now. But if you have a lot of gray hairs, beware you may be Rihanna after the process.

My henna mixed consisted of the following:
1 heaping cup of powder
1-2 cups of water (enough to make it pasty, like brownie mix)
1/2 cup of Aussie Moist Conditioner
1/2 cup of Aubry Organics Conditioner
*I was supposed to add some Brahmi oil right before I put it on, but because I was too excited, this never happened.

Once the henna was mixed, I put it in the garage for a day. They say the color best releases in warm climates. I applied the henna like perm, section, by section. Afterwards, I put on a plastic cap and a wrap strip (you know the kinds you used when you used to get a perm) around the cap to keep in any leakage. I kept it in for about an hour or so.

I recommend, using your favorite conditioners to mix it up. Freak it how you like it. I like the consistency this time, but may use different conditioners next time.

My results yielded a little lighter/browner hair color, but mostly only seen in the sunlight. My grays are totally gone. And my curls are a little looser, which I LOVED because they are tight.

I will do this every 6 weeks and wish I could do it more!

Do you henna? Whats your favorite mix consist of?

Rags to Riches...

This weekend I turned these heads...

Into these heads...

Above is my lovely niece (currently transitioning) and my Lil' K. I've been teaching my niece about her hair and did a cute twist out to show her even transitioning girls can share in the fun...

 I undid K's hair and let her wear it in a fro until I felt like washing and blowing out.

For my niece's hair, I cut about an inch off of the above style all around. She has a lot of breakage because of the transition, so the cut will do her well. I put extensions in her hair to give her some length and to preserve her style while she is with grandma for the summer. Hopefully, with care, these will last about a month and she will have about 1/2 of growth. She will need probably one more cut before she is fully all naturale!

For K's hair...after the fro, I washed and detangled. I blew out and this is her pix after I trimmed her ends...

Look at all that hair! It kinda surprised me too after I saw it! And this is after I trimmed her ends! I only trim her ends maybe once every 4-5 months. Since she will be gone for a long length of time, I wanted her hair to be as healthy as possible.

I braided it in french braids with two rows per section to save the style (hopefully for a month) while she is with grandma.

They were both too cute with their hair done! I was exhausted after this weekend needless to say. I plan to give a little natural hair clinic to my friends' daughters who are currently transitioning and teach them some styles they can do other than just flat ironing. I can't wait to spread the word.

Tricky Chicken

Really CNN...so on your article about what people in politics eat...this was your header picture.

Really?!?  Wow... I'm not sure if I'm more offended at the inference or offended there is one at all. But...I have to say I'm a bit blown. This is exactly why I do not eat chicken at work. Because in my cute dress and pearls, someone will come and snap a picture of me. And then I look like the girl who can't wait to get her hands on some fried chicken. When are we gonna progress? I'm sure in their next feature "what are the politicos favorite fruits" they will happen to get him slobbing down on a juicy piece of watermelon.

Ugh!

Sorta Shorty

So this is my new summer look…

 (source)

I have all the pieces to this outfit (except the clunky shoes…which I’m a little on the fence about) but pretty much this is the look.

I love jean shorts, with an off the shoulder shirt and stockings. My stockings will def be lace or some other type of fun print, but this look is what I’m wearing.

I know…you may be thinking…its how…why the tights…well I love it. One I don’t quite love my legs in shorts to begin with. I love my legs in skirts, but shorts…eh. But shorts with tights give it some flavor. Its playful, yet sexy.  I recently bought my first pair of shorts from forever 21. The are the shorts equivalent to jeggins…hmmm shorggins? I’ll work on that. But they fit cut, aren’t super tight on my thighs and look really cute with tights. I’m still working on the shirt, but I just may have a solution for it.

When I put the outfit together, I will post a pix for your eyes onlyJ

Oscar Meyer

(source)

I have a serious affection for red lipstick. What woman doesn’t??? I want to wear red lips soooo bad, however, I feel like my lips already look like bologna meet, and red lipstick would look like that piece of red plastic around the bologna meat…i.e. unattractive!

I recently came across this article which profiles lipsticks on different shades of women and how awesome they look. I agree, each of these women have a different shade, and different shape of lip, complexion, etc. However, I still do not feel like I fit inL

I know my lips. My lips are a gloss/neutral only…or at most a chestnut lip line/florabundence (mac) gloss. No huge color definition. They are just to big and meaty I think.

I’m feeling like though, I may jump out there and try it…(again). I have tried burgendy’s which aren’t good and only make me look like I’ve been chiefing. I’ve tried pinks…which aren’t bad, but aren’t great. And I have yet to find a bam! Red. Which could be exactly what I’m missing…I’ve tried it with liner, but still…it’s its like you want to fry it up and put them between some white bread.

Stay Tuned…Muah!

Frugality is my friend

So...when I first started my journey I was highly obsessed with the blogs, youtubes, articles on natural hair. Its an overload hearing and seeing so many techniques, products. You want to buy and try them all. That is...until you see the sticker. Many of the "favorites" in the natural hair community are upwards of $50 per container!

Now, I of course think I deserve the best, however, $50 for a hair product is not necessarily where I want to spend my dough. I made a pledge that I would not spend more than $20 for a product and I would attempt to find uses for the products I already had.

Of course in the beginning I tried the many conditioners, shampoos, gels, etc. raved about on many websites. But I soon learned...in the first maybe...year (I'm at 10 months now) of the hair game, my hair reacted to the $4 gel equally if not better than the $10 gel. So, why not make my dolla holla.

My favorite products right now are all under the $20 price tag and I wouldn't change them for the world.

Blissfully Domestic

Is that an oxymoron? Or am I the moron?

Anyhoo, I came across this article on the blissfully domestic website. I think the sentiment is cute…really cute. But I’m not sure if I am there or will ever be there. Is it really true that she doesn’t miss date night at all with her husband. And if she doesn’t, I’m DYING to interview him and see how he feels about it.

Can you work with “this”?

(source)

So, before I featured my fro I wore to work and this week, I have been wearing it in an updo. Braids up the back and side, twist to the side in the front.

People keep commenting…”ohhhh, you changed your hair” or “ohhhh, I see you tamed it down a little” (as to imply my hair in the afro was an untrained animal who needed a cage). I just smile and say, well, its just braids. Is it that dramatic? Maybe its because I’m also wearing glasses because I f’d up one of my contacts and don’t have a back up. I don’t know.

Anyhoo, I came across this interesting article on  BGLH Blogspot even better are the comments. Going through as seeing almost 100 black women, who are lawyers, nurses, judges, teachers, professors, all wearing their natural hair. Not all “taming it” and wearing it in its natural state. Wearing it in afros, and braid outs, and curly’s…

Why is this even an issue when every commercial you turn on now you see a woman of color (light or dark) wearing a twist out? Its like you have to have curly hair/afro to even been considered an authentic black woman in Hollywood, however, in our every day careers we tip top around our hair.

I’m only wearing my updo to protect my hair and keep my hands out of it, but I have a good mind to come up here tomorrow with an afro and a black fist pick stuck in it.

Just kidding…but for real. Stop making our hair your issue. What I do for my hair is for me. Not to be “picked” apart (no pun intended) by my coworkers.

Smoke Filled Room

There is nothing I find, more relaxing than drinking a nice scotch and letting the smoke from one of these roll across my tongue...

I know...you are probably thinking...more relaxing than sex. And I would say yes, because sex isn't always relaxing as it is fulfilling because you have to worry about another person, their pleasure...ok...I've digressed.

Anyhoo, almost once a week, I meet my girls at a local smoke shop and chill. Relax. Its such a nonconfrontational environment. Mixed crowd, black and white, mostly men. And the men are there not for us, not to try to holla, but to do what we are attempting to do...enjoy the smoke filled room.

I love it. I've missed going the past couple of weeks and really need to go and reup. My favorites right now (and this changes almost weekly) are Perdomo's for a full body cigar and Tatiana Groovy Blues for something a little more sweet.

The aficionado helps me navigate my way through the cigar shop, giving me advice, baby stepping me through the different choices, and now...I would say i've moved up from a Novice to a Beginner. No where near an Intermediate, but I'm getting there.

Anyhoo...cheers to my scotch drinking, cigar smoking chicas, especially if they are natural hair chicas because the smoke attaches to my wig like no other. I typically just wash and condition as soon as I come home...but its so worth it. I love it...um, um, um...

My Lil' Monster

So, Lady K has realized she is a little flyy and anytime she is looking especially fly, she asks me to take a picture of her...(straight face...no lie). Today, we were going to Sunday dinner and she wanted to capture the moment...

And who wouldn't! I mean...afro puff, blazer, tutu and gym shoes?!? I want this look!

Finally...I can Protect!

I have been dying for my hair to get long enough to do protective styles! I have experienced a lot of breakage during the winter, but my hair is whack in twists and I wasn't going back to extensions. Tonight I did this...

I think it came out really well. I plan to wear it like this to work for a couple of days and by the end of the week, take the twists out at the top and wear a twist out. I love that style on others (braid up in the back, twist up in the front).

I'm just so happy I can not braid and twist it and leave my ends protected!

Fro/Faux Hawk

I told my girl I was doing a fro hawk and she though I mean a faux hawk...I guess it can be both, lmao!

To get this look, I let my hair air dry over night with coconut oil. In the morning I gel'd the sides back and used two large black combs to hold my hair back. I let the gel set for a couple of hours. I picked out the tops and sides and wore it like this on Sunday. On Sunday night, I put two strand twists all over it (about 30) and oil. In the am, I took the twist out, but didn't really bother with them much to keep the texture.

The thing about my hair is in its dry state, too much manipulation will cause it to go back straight. It doesn't hold well. So if I want to keep any twist out braid out I have to leave my hands out of my hair.

Also they only last for a day:-( So after this I tried to retwist at night, but...nothing. It was a dud.

Also look at the gray hairs in this pix. On the sides...! What the F! I'm so gonna henna/indigo this summer. I cannot live like this! I'm only 30 and have crazy grays! Booo my genes.

9 Month Check In

So my fro is almost 10 months and this is a pix from 9.5 months! She looks amazing I know.

I blew it out the other night and wore it to work like this. I was a little nervous like I said in a previous post. But I rocked it well. At night to preserve it and to make sure it didn't shrink up on my, I did this...

Picture yo face!

I love pictures I really do. Before I got married I was the picture lady. Lots of pictures of me and my friends all over the place. That was also pre-digital camera and I had to go get pictures developed to see them. So bam, you already had the pictures. Now, with digital camera you see the pictures, you send them digitally, you post them on facebook…but where are they in the house? I own know!

Bad Mommy Blogs

Look at her...super cute right.

Sure.

Yes, i LOVE my daughter. Totally. Freakin'. Love. Her. I think she's prettier than, smarter than, awesomer than your kid, hands down. However, me...that's the person in question.

Where am I?

So, I've been gone for a minute I know. I miss you. I really do. I love writing down my crazy thoughts and have been bottling up so much. I plan to post like 5000 blog post (but probably won't do more than 4). I started a new career, am courting a new business venture, lost more weight, am going through a mini depression, and a myriad of other things which I hope to get to soon.

 

Anyhoo...this is what I've been listening to hard core for like the past...2-3 weeks.

 

And this music is playing in my head on a 24 hour music. Some people call it trance, rave, hip hop, R&B...I call it...AWESOME.

 

The freaking weekend! Who is the weeknd. I don't know. Don't really care to know. The mystery of it all semi turns me on. His music is me. It makes me feel. He seems like he has some ish with him and I relate to that. I feel like I'm on his PR team because I tell everyone I meet about him, but down load asap the-weeknd.com. Best move in your life. All the songs are my favorite. But Coming Down is a symphony to my ears. The passion, the pain, the carelessness, sensuality...I get it all.  Ride with me!

My weight loss files

I've lost almost 50 lbs! And yes I'm thrilled. I still wear this skirt, but I wear it like this (belted and with a sweater) because I love the pattern and I can't afford to replace every single piece of clothing in my closet because of my weight lost.

I've went down from a size 18 suit to a size 12 (Calvin Klein i wore for my first day of work). Yeah I was geeked and yeah it was quite snug, but it buttoned. I hope by the end of July its hanging off like the other skirt.

My problem and what makes me melancholy is my post baby belly. Pre baby...I had boobs but no belly. Now...belly. And as K likes to call them "scratch marks" instead of stretch marks. She told me yesterday that I needed band-aids for all my "scratch marks". That cut me deep (no pun intended).

I joined a gym, I work out (typically...although I haven't been in like a week, but don't judge me). And still no movement on my belly. I even think its lopsided. At what point to do I say f' it. I'm a mom and I have a belly and be happy with my weight loss success or am I just doing the wrong thing to try to loose it?  In another world with a richer husband and a better job, I'd have a personal trainer who could tell me exactly what to do to transfer that fullness from my belly to my booty, but for right now...I'm at a loss.

I do sit ups, crunches, weights with the belly, etc. of course I don't go super hard, but hard enuff where I think I should have some shrinkage. Maybe I need to start measuring it. Maybe it is gettingsmaller and I don't feel it is, like I feel like my hair isn't growing until I look at previous blog post.

I don't know. I want immediate results...although as I'm typing this I've just crushed a whole bag of chex mix and I was only supposed to eat 1/3 of it...boo me.

I must be about to start my cycle because I'm a hot hungry mess.

Yahhhh...me. Keep up the good work (note sarcasm).

Shingling 101

So about 1-2 per day, literally no b.s. I get asked about my hair. How do I get it to curl like it does, what product I use, etc. Well folks, I am a wash, manipulate and go girl. You go girl (had to do it). I shingle my hair. I won't attempt to do it on video because I'm not loving how I look in videos, please please refer to this diva here.

 You basically take small sections of your hair and apply a dollop of gel with your fingers. Finger comb it through assuring to smooth it from root to tip and get the hair smooth. You then let go. And whatever happens happens. Whatever your natural curl pattern is comes out best this way. As we know, no two curlies are the same. I shingle my daughters hair and its cute for about 5 hours and then it goes Undercover Brother and starts shrinking. Mine, last for about 4 days. Of course as the days go one its gets big and not as defined. And that's cool. By day 4 its a curly fro and that's cool, cuz they still show me love for it.

Below are pix of K's hair shingled and mine. Two totally different looks because of length and texture.

To preserve it I put on a satin cap at night, in the AM its a mushed mess. I get in the shower and let the steam only poof it out. I put a little Kinky Curly knot today leave in on it to soften it up and coconut oil to shine. I just play with it until it poofs back out again (about 5 min) and then whalah!

Marshians...

I am not a human...shouts to all my moon men.

This is one of my favorite lines from rapper (I'm whispering...Lil Wayne). I know, I know. I'm all corporate and grown, however, nothing gets me going more on the treadmill than some good randomness from Lil Wayne and a nice cool down from Marsha. Marsha, who has so eloquently named her fans...Marshians. I heart her.

I found out recently she got engaged. Bad move. Not only because I have mixed views on marriage (sorry DH) but because every, every, every awesome neosoul chick who blows gets married and the first album during the court/newlywed is great and then....booooooo. Something bad happens. Marriage ruins their drive, their fire. They get happy, or sad, or complacent and the very next album, if their is a next album is not so good.

Exhibit A - Lauryn Hill

At the top of her game she marries baby daddy Marley and subsequently goes crazy. The Miseducation continues..

Exhibit B - Jill Scott

Lyzel in E Flat. Could it get mo better. 6 months later...splitsville. She got bigger. And I haven't bought an album since. Except when she got with the new guy who made her make Crown Royal, but I only bought that single.

Exhibit C - Whitney Houston

Baahhhhbeeee!  She went from Greatest love of all to Hell to the nawl. See what love does

I could go on, but I'm not. Marriage in a nutshell does something to you. Maybe these women got happier and couldn't focus on the music so much for focusing on their partners. Or maybe their partners made them crazy. I don't know. Anyhoo...I'm pulling for you Marsha. Please don't become like a for real real Marshian. Don't let this man take everything from you. Or please write and record a bunch of ish prior to the wedding and release it each year like Tupac.