Influenster: Herbal Essences Naked Vox Box

I was so ready for my new Influenster Vox Box to arrive. I love anything that has to do with hair. Herbal Essences has a new product line. It is called "Naked." My Vox Box included a full size Dry Shampoo, two trial size bottles of volume shampoo and conditioner. The "Naked" line does not have any parabens or dyes. So, it is naturally and organically a better product for my chemical free hair. The packaging is nice, clean and simple. The colors are white, blue and green. So of the bottles are clear which I really like. It is aesthetically appealing to me. I love the smell. It has to smell good if its going to be in my hair. The Herbal Essences website states that the products are "infused with white grapefruit and mint extracts."

What I loved most about my experience with the "Naked" line is the feel. My hair felt good from beginning to end. I used the dry shampoo on a Monday night. It was easy to use. It did not flake up which is a problem I've had in the past with other dry shampoos. It made my hair look and feel as if I had just washed it with water. It extended my wash day by almost a full week. The shampoo and conditioner both are great products as well. The shampoo lathered really good, it smelled amazing and it covered every strain of hair. The conditioner was the same. After drying my hair, I was more than pleased with the outcome. So, this new Herbal Essences "Naked" line is a keeper for me. I will be purchasing full size of all. I really liked it and would recommend it to all those I know. Get into it!

Disclaimer: "I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes."

Transitions

My life is in transition. Transitioning into what? I'm not entirely sure. There was a time when I knew what I wanted and who I wanted to become. But, things have changed drastically. There are moments when I actually have no clue as to what's going on. There are days when I don't feel pretty or smart or together or focused. And, these are things I cannot lean on others for. Yes, accolades and compliments are great. But, if I don't believe them then they don't mean as much. My life has been spiraling for some time now. I have no destination and that scares the hell out of me. My reaction to a certain situation has caused me to cut people out. I am not as open with my friends as I used to be. I'm not as available either. I know this isn't the right course of action but it's the only way I know to protect all I hold dear. If I don't let anyone in, then no one can hurt me. This makes me a little colder I know. But, it's a practice that I've adapted. 

I can no longer hold onto the woman I was because, sadly, she no longer exists. But, I am apprehensive about the woman I am becoming because I do not know her yet. What my future holds? I really do not know. I want a few things that I have no clue how to achieve them but I will. I really thought I wanted to write but I've changed my mind about that. I've spent too much time feeling adrift in the last year and a half. I honestly don't have the luxury of time on my side. I will be 35 soon. It's the age I just knew I would have it all together. You know the marriage, the kids, the house and the career. I am so far removed from that ideal. I almost feel like this is my mid life crisis. I used to have the answers and I swear I do not anymore. I know that I'm not supposed to have it all figured out but I'd feel more secure if I knew more. Or if the answers were simpler. Transitioning is a must in life. It's just my season. A season of uncertainty and restructuring. Fingers crossed and prayers sent up that I end up exactly where I am supposed to be: in the middle of my own future. A future I can be proud of and exist happily in. I couldn't ask for anything more. 

Lyfe Must Be Nice

It was the summer of 2005, I had not heard about Lyfe Jennings. Until my aunt/big sister introduced me to his new song “Must Be Nice.” I am one of those anti-radio folks so I was missing out. But, from first listen, I was hooked. When “268-192” (his debut cd) came out, I had to get it. I fell more in love with this man with the unique voice and real life lyrics. I played this cd OUT that summer. I made all of my friends fans by default. If you were around/with me, you were hearing this cd. In early August, he came here for his first concert @ the HOB. We were there…early. He gave an incredible show. We also got to meet him after his meet and greet. He just hung out with us for like 20 minutes talking. I told him that I loved the show but he didn’t sing my song. He asked whatsong? I said “Cry.” He replied “Well, I’ll make sure I sing it tomorrow night and I’ll put you guys on the list so you can hear it.” Good dude. He signed autographs and took pics. But, thanks to that heffa Katrina, I lost all of that.

Fast forward to almost ten years later, same venue, same performer. We were here to see our guy. He did not disappoint. His stage show is better, more polished. That voice is still amazing. Lyfe had the entire place going crazy as he went through his hits and the sleepers that only true fans would know. And, we all did. He was so engaging. He kept saying that this felt like a family reunion and that he loved New Orleans. And he was just as cool off stage. It was a really great ending to a crappy day. So glad I didn’t let me day determine my mood for the night. If you’ve never seen him live, do yourself a favor and catch a show. You will not be disappointed.

Ladies Love Lyrics: Lyfe Jennings "It Coulda Been Worse"

Thursday night I attended the Lyfe Jennings concert at the House of Blues. I am a fan of this guy. Have been since the summer of 2005. He performed "It Coulda Been Worse" as his final song. And, sometimes you finally get the lyrics of a song. This happened to me. I needed to hear that things could be worse. I needed to know that I can be down and not out. I dropped a few tears right there. This song moved me seriously. So, I wanted to share it with others. One of you may need to hear this as well. Get into these lyrics. 

"I was going through some changes in my life.Cussing and complaining every night.Telling God the way he treating me ain't right, and how I don't deserve it.A voice from somewhere came to me and said you got the audacity to fix your mouth to disrespect, how soon we forget.

And he said remember when you were sick and you got better, remember I put your family back together, remember I could have cut you off forever.So no matter how bad you think it hurts.

It could've been worse, you could've been dead.You could've been paralyzed, confined to a bed.You could've lost everything, you should've lost everything.But somebody's watching you, and gave you another chance."

“Too Black or Not Black Enough?”

Her: “Why do you talk like that?”Me: “Like what?”Her: “Like a White girl.”

I was confused the first time I was asked this. I didn’t know any other way to talk. This was my voice. These were my words. I knew that White people looked different than the people in my family and neighborhood. Other than that, I did not know any more. I was a Brown girl in a Brown world until I started school. My parents gave me Black dolls to instill a sense of acceptance of who I was. Even then, I loved my brown skin. My Dad, who was Creole, would always say that “his brown girl was so pretty.” I never knew that my brown skin would be an issue for others.

I was in the 2nd grade when I realized I was different. I didn’t think like them or act like them. Just different. I was moved to Honors classes where I usually found myself the only Black person in the class. The White kids made me feel unwanted. I remember being told “you aren’t smart enough to be in this class” during the first week. My test score were high. That shut some of them up but not all. They did not feel that a Black person belonged in this elite class. They let me know that I wasn’t welcomed, wasn’t one of them. I was ostracized in those classes. It just pushed me to work harder. And, I did.

I lived in two different worlds. At school, I was an island surrounded by white people in class. The only time I felt like myself was during lunch when I was with all of my friends. There was issues there too. Other Black kids in school and in my neighborhood picked on me as well. I was called “White girl” more times than I can count. One insult always hurled my way was that “I was talking White” or “trying to be White.” Neither was true. I was being my most authentic self. I talked proper because my Mother did not stand for slang. I was known to read the dictionary because I loved words so much since I started reading at 3. I was the odd girl out because I liked school. I was the girl sitting on her porch reading a book. Kids called me a nerd because “I was acting White.” Education was very important to my Mother. Failing wasn’t an option. Between the things she planted in me and shows like “The Cosby Show” and “A Different World,” higher education was not a dream but my reality.

Did their words hurt me? Yes. But, I was lucky to have a Mom who taught me that a person’s words mean more about them than they do to me. She always said “You are destined for more than this street and this neighborhood. And, your education will get you there.” I lived by those words. The White kids who were bothered by my Blackness in “their Honors classes” and the Black kids who thought “I was trying to be White” were all stepping stones for me to excel. I was on a mission. By the time I entered high school, I was excelling in almost all subjects. There were more Black students in my Honors classes at this point. The isolation I once felt dissipated. I was exceeding my own goals in school. I was happy.

Even now, at the age of 34, I still get told that I sound like a “little White girl.” It doesn’t bother me. I don’t sound how I look. I’ve embraced all of me. I sound the way God intended me to sound. All of this is just who I am. I’m a Black woman the color of milk chocolate, skin that’s been kissed by the sun and blessed by the Most High.