It's My Hair: Fabulous Results

Since I am having the best week with my natural hair, I decided to write about it. The change in weather has been a plus for this naturalista. I've changed my conditioner for my cowash. I'm still using Suave but not its the almond + shea butter conditioner. I am in love with the smell of it. It works wonders on my hair. I am still enamored with the Obia Shampoo Bar. This week, I've been using the Obia Curl Hydration Spray daily. I love the effect it has on my hair. It gives it a shine and my curls seem to pop more. I love that. So, I two strand twisted my damp hair with Curls Unleashed Curl Cream. I let it air dry for a full day. Then that night, I bantu knotted the two strand twists. I sprayed the Obia Curl Hydration Spray on my hair before I went to sleep. The above picture shows how dope my hair came out the next morning. I couldn't be happier with the outcome. I was having a great hair day.  

The pic below is the outcome of bantu knot out with just using the LOC method. I used the Obia Curl Enhancing Custard as the C (cream) for my LOC.  There was a lot of shrinkage here. Also, my hair wasn't as moisturized as I would've liked. I corrected this the next day by adding the Obia Curl Hydration Spray. It worked like a charm. I am really loving my natural hair this winter. With the weather being cooler, my hair styles seem to last longer. Also, I don't have an issue with frizz either. So, for that, I am thankful. I love that I am still learning more about my hair in its natural state over 2 years later. This started out as a simple quest. One that I believed would most likely end up with me going back to relaxers. I do not see that happening. I'm enjoying my hair in a way that I never did before. I take so much more time with my hair now. It's been a journey that I needed to take for myself. Happy Holidays, Naturalistas!!! 

Ladies Love Lyrics: Beyonce's "Heaven"

For as long as I can remember, I've had an emotional attachment to music. It's been my thing since I was old enough to talk. I had an emotional reaction from the first listen of Beyonce's "Heaven." If you've ever lost a loved one, this song will hit you right in the feels. It's sad and I love it. But, it just makes me miss certain people even more. Take a listen and get into it. 

"I fought for you
The hardest, it made me the strongest
So tell me your secrets
I just can't stand to see you leaving

But heaven couldn't wait for you
No heaven couldn't wait for you
Heaven couldn't wait for you
No heaven couldn't wait for you
So go on, go home

We laughed at the darkness
So scared that we lost it
We stood on the ceilings
You showed me love was all you needed..."

Get Into It: The Best of 2013

2013 is coming to a close. So, I decided to list my favorites of the year. Music is a big part of my life. It was hard to choose my favorite projects but I think I did a good job. All of the songs have been on constant replay over here. Get into it. 

*Album's*
13. Tamar "Love & War"
12. The Robert Glasper Experiment "Black Radio 2"
11. Joe Budden "No Love Lost"
10. Lorde "Pure Heroine"
09. Chrisette Michele's "Better"
08. Jhene Aiko "Sail Out"
07. The Internet "Feel Good" 
06. Foreign Exchange "Love In Flying Colors"
05. TGT "Three Kings"
04. Drake "Nothing Was The Same"
03. Jay Z "Magna Carter Holy Grail"
02. Beyonce' "Beyonce'"
01. Justin Timberlake "The 20/20 Experience 1 of 2"

*R&B/Pop Song's*
13. Janelle Monae/Miguel "Primetime"
12. Ciara "Body Party"
11. Fantasia/Kelly Rowland/Missy Elliott "Without Me"
10. August Alsina/Trey Songz/Chris Brown "I Luv This Shit Remix"
09. Robert Glasper/Jill Scott "Calls" 
08. Kelly Rowland/Sevyn Streeter/Eve "Gone (live performance)"
07. Jhene Aiko "Comfort Inn Ending"
06. Justin Timberlake "Spaceship Coupe"
05. John Legend "All of Me"
04. Daft Punk/Pharrell "Get Lucky" 
03. Beyonce' "Blow" 
02. TGT "Running Back"
01. Pharrell "Happy"

*Hip Hop Song's*
13. EVE "Grind or Die"
12. J. Cole/TLC "Crooked Smile"
11. Big Sean/Jhene Aiko/Lil Wayne "Beware"
10.  Drake "Come Thru"
09. Joe Budden/Emanny "You & I"
08. Drake/Big Sean/2Chainz "All Me"
07. Wale/Tiara Thomas "Bad"
06. Jay Z "Tom Ford"
05. J. Cole/Miguel "Power Trip"
04. Drake "Worst Behavior"
03. Kendrick Lamar/Drake "Poetic Justice"
02.  Kanye West "Bound 2"
01. Jay Z "F*ckwithmeyouknowigotit" 

It's My Birthday!!!

 

On this day at this exact moment 34 years ago, I was born. I am thankful for the gift of seeing another year, grateful for the chance to get it right. I’m trying to embrace the reality that I’m 34 years old right now. I can honestly say that I did not know if I would physically make it through this year. 2013 and the age of 33 was not good to me or for me. It was tough. So, I am truly thankful for this year. It tried to break me. I persevered. That is grace. So, I've decided that 34 and 2014 will be a greater, bigger, better year for me. At this very moment, I am happy. Happy to still be here, happy for the ability to smile through the rain. 

I am usually uber excited about my birthday. Not so much this year. I don't have big plans. But, I will do a little something. I have two wishes for my birthday. I wish that my 34th year is full of prosperity, travel, laughter, growth, and peace. Basically, the polar opposite of my 33rd year. Oh and tulips would be nice. So, I will be on the hunt for some later today. Just because they are pretty and they make me happy. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!!

Happy (Early) Birthday To Me! Beyonce's Visual Album

I do not stan for many or much. But, Beyonce' Giselle Knowles-Carter is in that small group. Imagine the world's surprise when Bey decided to drop her 5th studio album on iTunes right before midnight. No promo. No advertisement's. No warning or nothing. Just a slick drop on iTunes. She literally killed every social media site and iTunes. Her 5th album, entitled Beyonce', is a visual album. No lead single. Just 14 new tracks and 17 videos for $15.99. And, I am all the way here for it. I've been listening to it for almost 2 hours now. I love it. It's just dope. The videos are amazing. Beyonce' did that and on Friday the 13th. She took the precedent set by Jay's "Magna Carta Holy Grail" and took it to another level. Surprise indeed. Happy Birthday to me!! Get into it!!

Let's Talk About: TV Talk Shows

Every fall there are a crop of new talk shows that are ushered in. This season was no different. I was every excited about two returning talk show hosts, Queen Latifah and Arsenio Hall as well as Bethenny Frankel. I figured that Queen and Arsenio's shows would be great because they've done this before. I also thought that Bethenny's show would be rough at first but then find its stride. Out of the three, Queen's show is my favorite. "The Queen Latifah Show" is the clear winner of the freshman crop of shows. I LOVE everything about it from her personality to the guest DJ's all the way down to the Lenny Kravitz designed set. It's just golden. She has always been very relatable to me. She is funny and smart and a people person. I love the informal way she interviews her guests. I really love her show. I hope it sticks around for a while. 

"The Arsenio Hall Show" is back. I still like him. But, I feel like his opening monologues and skits are stuck in the 90's. The best thing about his show are still the performances. I love them. He has always had his finger on the pulse of what's hot and relevant in the music business. That is his saving grace to me. I do not run to watch it every night like I did as a kid. But, I make sure to catch certain interviews like when he had the cast of "The Best Man Holiday" on two nights in a row. And, I've seen some great performances as well. I think he's getting his stride back. It has improved greatly since that first week. One show I do not think that will make it passed this season is "Bethenny." I loved her on "Real Housewives of New York" and her spin-off shows "Bethenny Getting Married" & "Bethenny Ever After." But, her personality does not translate well to a talk show host. She appears stiff and rude and boring. I have only seen it a handful of times but that was enough. I don't care for it. The ratings are dismal as well. I had such high hopes for it. Anyway, hope you guys are supporting the shows you like! 

Ladies Love Lyrics: New Edition "Can You Stand The Rain?"

As my birthday weeks continue to roll on, I decided that I would feature my all time favorite song for this Ladies Love Lyrics post. New Edition will always be my favorite group. "Can You Stand The Rain" will always be my favorite song by them. As a little girl, I didn't fully get the meaning of the song. I actually thought they were singing about not liking the rain. This made sense to me then because I didn't like the rain either. Thank God for maturity. As an adult, I got it. Truly. And, the reason that it made such an impact on me is simple. This song is about loyalty to me. It's the thing that means the most to me. Finding people who are going to have your back through thick and thin, good and bad is important. There aren't a lot of people in the world who will hold you down no matter the situation or the weather. Those people are to be celebrated. When you find them, never let them go. Let's get into those lyrics below. Enjoy!!

On a perfect day I know that I can count on you. When that's not possible tell me can you weather the storm? 

Cause I need somebody who will stand by me through the good times and bad times she will always, always be right there.

Chorus:Sunny days everybody loves them tell me baby can you stand the rain? storms will come this we know for surethis we know for surecan you stand the rain?

Statistically Speaking

As far back as I can remember, I never wanted to be grouped with the majority. I never wanted to be a statistic. It's the reason I was a virgin all through high school. I didn't want to be a teenage mother. More specifically, I did not want to be a Black teen mom. There were too many of them around me. I wanted more, desired more. College was always in my future because I knew the world was bigger than my neighborhood. I wanted more than just a high school diploma. Education was a drug to me. I craved it.

For years, I wanted to be the opposite of what society said I should and could only be. I'm ok with that. I know who I am. I do believe that my intelligence  is one of my greatest traits. But, it has more to do with things I've taught myself. I value knowledge and the people who are always on the hunt for more. In my pursuit to be the anti-version of Black women splashed all over reality shows and the like, I realized something significant. I've been running away from some specific statistics that I've unwittingly landed in another one: I'm 30+, single, never been married, childless, Black woman. I'm suddenly a damn statistic! And, clearly, I'm not happy about it.

I'm days away from my 34th birthday. I'm depressed about this approaching age. Why? Because none of the dreams I had for 34 have come to fruition. The entire theme for this year can be summed up on one word: adrift. It's the only way to describe it. The realization that I am a statistic makes me sad. It makes me average, like everyone else. That is something I've never been comfortable with. Maybe there is a plan for me to not be trapped in this particular statistic. Who knows? But, I do find the irony in this entire blog. Sometimes I believe that my own worst enemy is no further than the reflection in the mirror. Anyway, these are just my thoughts.

Random Thoughts of a December Baby

• You know what song still makes me happy and want to dance? Pharrell's "Happy." No matter what is going on this song always makes me smile.  

• Yesterday was a really great day. Truly. Started off my birthday week in a dope way. Had birthday brunch, which included great eats and wonderful conversation with my best friend, my brother from another mother. Stayed in the restaurant for over 3 hours. Much needed laughter and talk. 
  
• Sunday's weather was anything but nice. It was cold and foggy and misty. This did not bode well for my perfectly perfect braid out. I had to snap a few pics throughout the day yesterday. Thankfully my hair is still fab today but my allergies are not happy. I was perfectly fine yesterday morning. Today, not so much :( I will not be sick this week. I refuse.
  
• My Saints rebounded nicely last night. They beat Cam Newton & the Carolina Panthers 31-13. I thought it would be a closer game because both teams had the same record. I was wrong. My boys are 10-3!!!! Who Dat!!! Geaux Saints!!!
  
• I've been treating this situation as if it's still the same when in reality nothing is the same. I've discovered that I'm not good with change. I want to still know all the thoughts and emotions when I am not privy to it anymore. And, that is the gospel truth. I've got to stop asking for what no longer belongs to me. For reasons. Many of them. 
• The gif below makes me feel like a 5 year old. But, I LOVE it. So I had to share it. Enjoy!!
• 
• It's really hitting me that I am going to be 34!! Like seriously, where did the year go? I don't feel my age at all. I am trying to embrace this getting older thing. But, really, 34?!? I'm just gonna smile and take it. I'm over 33 anyway. *in my Claire Huxtable voice* Yay, 34!!
  
• Since this is my birthday week, every post this week is tagged "birthday behavior." Because, a la Drake, I plan on being on my "worst behavior!!" :p Proceed with caution and...
  

Thank God for your 30's...

My birthday is this coming Saturday. Yikes! I'm truly not ready. Around my 28th birthday, I started dreading my 30th. To me, 30 represented the age one should have it together. Career, marriage, family, and home should be in place. I was so far from that. I didn't even know if I truly wanted it. Turning 30 became, something I wanted to avoid. Right before that birthday, I realized that I was blessed. I knew too many folks who didn't make it to see their 30th birthday. So, I embraced it. Especially since I didn't look it.

My 30's ushered in something wonderful. The 3 years after 30 were some of my happiest ever. I know I wouldn't have appreciated it in my 20's. I didn't mind turning 31,32, or 33. Now that I'm days away from my 34th, that feeling is back. I'm not happy about this birthday. I back to that place I was before my 30th. So, in am effort to turn it around, I'm thinking about all the wisdom that I've gained so far in my 30's. I posted the below on my Tumblr yesterday.

Thank God for your 30's... 

I’m thankful for the wisdom that comes when you cross the threshold of 30…for a plethora of reasons.All the things you think, do, say, believe in your 20’s will drastically change in your 30’s…if you’re lucky. 

In your 20’s, you THINK you know it all. In your 30’s, you KNOW you do not.  

I ran the streets in my 20’s. I was in every club, knew the dj's, bouncers and bartenders. I loved going out. Then, it got old. And, I grew up. 

You will too.

What have your 30's taught you? I know God has a plan for all of us. I thought I knew about mine. I've been proven wrong. So, the one thing I truly want for my birthday is a clue. I've spent too much time thinking I'm doing the wrong thing. Oh and tulips. Tulips on my birthday would make my day. I guess I could always go buy my own, right? It's officially my birthday week. Let's all pray that it's a happy one. Here's to 34 & prospering! Happy Birthday Week To Me!! 

Ladies Love Lyrics: Christina Aguilera's "Impossible"

I am a Spotify fanatic. I love it. I listen to it more than Pandora lately. So, this song comes on and stops me short. I've always loved Christina Aguilera's "Impossible." It is my favorite song off her best cd "Stripped" in my opinion. Something about the lyrics hit me deep today. If you've ever been in this situation then you know what it is. Listen and vibe with me. 

"It's impossible
It's impossible to love you
If you don't let me know what you're feeling
It's impossible for me to give you what you need
If you're always hidin' from me 

I don't know what hurt you
I just, I wanna make it right
Cos boy I'm sick and tired of trying to read your mind

It's impossible (impossible)
Oh baby it's impossible for me to love you
It's the way it is
It's impossible (impossible)
Oh baby it's impossible
If you makin' it this way

Impossible to make it easy
If you always tryin' to make it so damn hard
How can I, how can I give you all my love, baby
If you're always, always puttin' up your guard

This is not a circus
Don't you play me for a clown
How long can emotions keep on goin' up and down

It's impossible (impossible)
Oh baby it's impossible for me to love you
It's the way it is
It's impossible (impossible)
Oh baby it's impossible
If you keep treating me this way
Over, over (over and over)"

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner (Part II)

There is absolutely nothing better than free. I LOVE free!! I mean, who doesn't? My lucky winning streak is still going strong. This time I won some perfume and natural hair products. I entered the Express Glam giveaway on Lianne's blog, The Makeup Girl. I was super excited to try this new scent. I have been searching for a new fragrance. My signature scent has been J'adore by Dior for years. I love it but I don't wear it everyday. I needed a new daily scent. This is clearly it. I love the way it smells. There was a little mix-up between me, Lianne and Express. But, she made it right. She also included two extra gifts for me. That made me feel super special. She has a very sunny disposition and great customer service. You guys should go check out her blog.

The second thing I won was a whole line of Obia Natural Haircare products. I entered the contest via Global Couture. I received  the Coconut Shea Shampoo bar, the Curl Hydration Spray, Curl Enhancing Custard, and the Twist Whip Butter. I finally used it on my hair last week. I am in love with the shampoo bar. It lathers so well. I love the smell and my hair was so clean. The Twist Whip Butter was used on a bantu knot out for Thanksgiving. I received so many compliments on my hair. I would say that is a win. The entire line worked extremely well for me and my hair. I will be including them into my weekly wash days. Naturalistas, get into Obia Natural Haircare! I am thankful for the free gifts. 

Paul Walker

I remember the first time I saw Paul Walker. His eyes made him unforgettable. He was playing Caleb Mandrake in "The Skulls." His boyish good looks, piercing blue eyes and amazing smile left an impression on me. I was sold. Paul Walker died yesterday in a fiery car crash at the age of 40. He has been my ultimate white boy crush for years. Actually, I've been teased about this from a certain someone for years. I did not care. I've seen all his movies and loved them. I am a huge fan of the "Fast & Furious" series because of him. It is so sad to hear of his passing. I did not expect to hear this last night. So sad. He will be missed. Rest in peace, Paul.