4 Stylish Alternatives To Your Normal Night Time Scarf

The other night, in the midst of a full blown “Lala’s Full Court Life” re-run marathon, Lala Anthony’s mother gave her some interesting pre-marital advice: never go to bed with a scarf on. This is far from a new healthy hair debate and it would take an entire post of its own to hash out […]

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These Hair Products Could Be Increasing Your Cancer Risk Study Finds

Contents: Is Your Hair Routine Risking Your Health? What’s The Latest News? Unpacking & Making Sense Of It All So Many Questions... Final Considerations Is Your Hair Routine Risking Your Health? Cancer is no joke, so though we deal with information about hair care, we will discuss “The Big C” from time to time particularly […]

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Huge Curly Puff for Short/Medium Length Natural Hair

Let’s face it, sometimes there’s beauty in a quick updo. Puffs are great because they don’t take many products to achieve and they show off our kinks and curls in all of their glory. The problem is trying to achieve a full looking puff on short or medium length natural hair. If your hair is […]

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This Cutting Edge Technology Brand Created a Detangling Comb...and I Must Have It!

Years ago I had this comb drawer.  It was stocked full of various types of detangling combs.  Somehow, I developed this habit of picking up a new detangling comb whenever I came across one that seemed promising.  This went on for years until I found the detangling comb that changed everything.

Since then, I've been pretty content.  I invested in a couple Mason Pearson Detangling combs and called it a day.  The Mason Pearson comb became my absolute favorite for many reasons which are all detailed in this post.   Honestly, I never thought I'd see the day when another detangling comb would catch my eye....

But the day has arrived.

Some of you long term readers are aware that I love technology....especially when it invades the beauty space.  I have a ton of skin gadgets and weird flat irons that don't actually straighten the hair. If I come across a noteworthy beauty-related gadget, I want to experience it.

Check this out....

There's a company called Dyson that is known for innovating the design and function of household appliances that have been the same for years.  I own a couple of their fans and I truly appreciate the level of attention to detail they put into their product design.  They're like the "Apple" of household appliances.  Not long ago, they entered the beauty space with a hairdryer that looked completely different from everything on the market.  Not only did it have a revolutionary design.  They also specifically engineered it to help protect the hair from heat damage thanks to much shorter drying times.

I wasn't too shocked that an appliance tech company would veer into the beauty space by launching a hairdryer, but when they recently designed a "hi-tech" detangling comb, my heart was overjoyed.   Listen, I love my Mason Pearson comb with all of my heart and I've been loyal to it for years.  But, maybe it's time to experience a little something new....know what I mean?  At first glance, the comb doesn't look all that special. In fact, it appears like it might be a mediocre comb, at best.

But those Amazon reviews tell me otherwise. This comb is one of the rare items on Amazon that have a perfect 5-star rating.  Everyone pretty much agreed that this was a superior detangling comb.  But what really convinced me to break my vows to the Mason Pearson was this review shared by our favorite beauty editor, Ashley Weatherford.

"I am positive that this is the best comb I have ever owned. For one it’s still fully intact, which is already better than what I can say about my other combs that need to pay a visit to the comb dentist. The trick is that the teeth are flexible yet strong. Flexible so that they bend slightly when confronted with tangles, working with the knots instead of charging through and breaking off hair. But strong in that they don’t snap off while detangling. The teeth are also the perfect distance apart—any closer they’d ruin my curls, and any further away they wouldn’t comb very well."

I mean....what else is there to say?  I must experience this comb for myself.   It's even a bit more affordable than a Mason Pearson.....that's a sign, right?  The reason why I'm so obsessed with finding the perfect detangling comb is because most of the hair I lose happens during the detangling process on wash day or during styling.  If I lose fewer hairs each time I detangle, I consider it a small win.  And we all know that small wins add up to huge victories.

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Marley Hair Vs Yarn Dreads When Doing Faux Locs

Okay, so the newest hot style this summer is the faux loc extensions. This style is perfect for natural hair ladies. Even those with relaxed hair are getting into dreads. This style is great for testing the waters to see if you would potentially want real dreads in the future. First things first, the trend […]

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Top 10 Hair Products With Cucumber

It seems just about every other day we hear about another new herb, fruit, or vegetable that can be found in a remote part of the world that is amazing for our health, beauty or mind. It’s either from a plant, the water or even from an animal’s behind. (Emu oil is from the Emu […]

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Optimal Allocation // The Art of Turning Your Increase into Greater Financial Abundance

Immediately after getting married, my husband and I sought to purchase our first home.  The problem was that we lived in a city with unusually fast-rising home prices.  Oh, did I mention the fact that we bought at the tail end of a housing bubble?  Interest rates were high and prices were extremely inflated.  After a brief search, we found a home that we loved at first sight.

We were both making hourly wages at the time.  After running the numbers, I figured we could afford the mortgage although things would be tight and we have to be cautious with our spending.  I hated our loan structure. The interest rate was too high and it sometimes fluctuated depending on the market.  Then the bubble burst, causing our home to lose a ton of value.  I hated paying a mortgage for a home that was worth much less than I paid for it. I wanted nothing more than a chance to reduce the monthly payments to free up cash for other things.

Eventually, that day came.  After years of wishing to lower mortgage payment,  I was finally able to refinance.  Once the payment dropped,  my monthly income *technically* went up.  It felt amazing. I thought my life would be so different....but it wasn't.

Nothing really changed once the payment went down.  The money we saved monthly was quickly reabsorbed into our lifestyle.  I fantasized for years about having a lower mortgage, and when it happened....I let everything slip through my fingers.

Here's the good news.  I'm currently in the process of refinancing my mortgage once again! Dropping interest rates have presented us with yet another opportunity to increase our monthly income via a lower payment.  But, this time, I want to do things differently.

Instead of passively allowing the savings to dissipate into thin air, I want to act with intention.  In 2020, most of us will experience some type of change in our finances.  Maybe you'll get an annual raise. Perhaps you'll pay off a credit card or some other debt.  Each time one of these events occurs, you (technically) become richer.   But it's a small amount so most of us don't leverage it into something greater.

My mortgage payment will decrease by about $100 a month.  That's like receiving $1200 over the course of a year.  If someone gave me a $1200 check, I'd be faced with having to make a decision on how to allocate it.  But, since the money is coming in small amounts, it's easy to disregard.

But in actuality, that $1200 has infinite potential.

• It can become seed money to launch a new product/business
• I can use the money to take a trip to celebrate the new mortgage payment.
• I can treat myself to a series of self-care treatments that I've always wanted.
• I can gift the money to someone in my life who would benefit greatly from it.
• The money could be placed in an investment vehicle that'll produce financial returns.
• I could draft the money into a high-interest savings account and let it build-up.  It could eventually become down payment for a car or another major expense in the future.

The key is to allocate the money to create something new.  Money is a form of energy. It has the ability to create in powerful ways.  We often don't utilize the power of the small increases we receive.  Instead, we fantasize about being given large sums of money (like winning the lotto or landing a dream six-figure job) while completely ignoring the small increases that routinely show up.

From this day forward, let's implement the concept of optimal allocation in our financial matters.  Every single cent that enters our possession is meaningful.  Even if that money comes in the form of lower monthly expenses.  All it takes is a series of strategic decisions and we can completely shift the direction of your lives.  

We often hear stories of people who receive a lump sum of money and use it to create something great.  Unfortunately, these types of events don't come around often so we can't wait passively for something that may never happen. 

Here's my advice.....make your optimal allocation plan now.  Think about what you'd do if you received a $500, $1000 or $2000 check today.  Is there a way to "flip" that seemingly small amount of money into something greater?  Mentally spend that imaginary money in a way that brings greater value to your life.  When the money does flow into your life (because it's highly likely that it will), you can immediately spring into action.   

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High Curly Puff On Crochet Braids

  If you haven’t noticed already, Crochet Braids have made a big come back, especially among the natural ladies. Whether you are using Marley hair or Remi,  there are many different types of hair that can be used with endless style possibilities. With that said, there is a new spin on crochet braids, namely the Crochet […]

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[style obsession] Dressed In Denim.

I've made commitments to myself to wear dresses more often.  But, people tend to dress down where I live which makes most of my dresses a bit too formal for daily wear.  The solution to this dilemma is the dress that's absolutely perfect for shopping, running errands or even a brunch date with Mr. Hopefully.

It's the demin dress.

Why do I love denim dresses?  I consider them as timeless and classic.  Sure, they aren't as formal as other styles of dresses but that doesn't mean that they shouldn't be staples in our closet.

If you haven't found a denim dress that you love, it's because you haven't been looking hard enough.  You've probably dismissed them as outdated, frumpy or even a fashion no-no.  I'm here to invite you to think differently about the underappreciated demin dress.

Fun fact, I met my husband wearing a jean dress.  Back then, I owned several because they were my favorite type of dress.  The one I wore, in particular, was slightly form-fitting, yet modest and stylish.  I appeared feminine and approachable because of the casual nature of denim.

What I love about the denim dress is that you can go for whatever silhouette that best suits you.  Pretty much any cut, shade, style, or shape is an option.  Short or long, form-fitting or flowy,  you can find it!

Not ready to go "full denim dress" yet?  That's perfectly fine.  Perhaps you can consider incorporating denim skirts into your style rotation.

Again, you can play around with style, length to find your perfect fit.  Denim skirts are the epitome of casual-feminine-chic, especially if you accessorize with a strappy shoe.  It's a perfect laid-back look that's can still be polished and put together.

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Let’s Talk Vibrant Hair Color

Just face it. It is A-Okay to be different. At first, wearing loud colored hair extensions (pink, blue, red, purple, etc) was talked down upon. It was quickly associated with being “ghetto” or “ratchet.” Now the trend of colored weaves has started to wear thin, and a new trend has come into play: relaxed and […]

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Four Ways Meditation Helps You Lose Weight Effortlessly and with Ease

About a month ago, I realized that I had deviated away from my habit of jumping on the scale every morning.  Weighing myself daily was a habit I maintained to prevent my weight from getting out of control.  Whenever I don't pay attention to my eating habits for too long, the weight quickly shows up.

Since I hadn't weighed myself in a while, I was pretty nervous to find out what kind of damage had been done.  When I finally drummed up enough courage to jump on the scale, I was shocked and pleasantly surprised to find out that my weight was actually lower than previously. 

I was super excited about losing a few pounds and thought back about what I did to create this result.  After a few moments of reflection, my mind drew a blank.  Truthfully, I hadn't really done anything differently.   I ate pretty much the same, didn't exercise much.  I wasn't focusing on my weight during that time at all.  The weight seemed to just miraculously disappear.

Since I couldn't come up with a definitive conclusion, I just assumed there was no cause....that it was some sort of random occurrence.

Yesterday morning, the answer came to me as I conducted my morning routine.    The weight loss that I experienced during that time could be a direct result of my regular meditation sessions.

Here's why.

Although I don't remember eating differently or increasing my workouts, the one change that occurred during that time was recommitting to my meditation practice.  I meditate to experience my productivity and brain performance.  Little did I know that it would help me shed a few extra pounds too.  When we meditate consistently, we sharpen our minds.  It's an excellent habit for mental clarity and focus.  But I'm gonna also explain how it helps create a leaner body.

Mindful Eating
Most of us eat in an unhealthy way.  I'm not talking about what we eat, it also has to do with how we eat.  I know for a fact that I tend to eat too quickly and don't chew enough.  I always tend to eat in front of my phone, tv or laptop.  This almost guarantees that I consume more calories per meal than I should. 

Mindful eating is the act of eating in a focused way by putting down your fork between bites or chewing your food until its nearly liquified.  Mindful eating is an act of patience and self-control. It's especially hard to do if your brain is all over the place.  Meditation helps calm your hyperactive mind allowing you to take your time while you eat in a mindful way.  It aids in helping to control your portions without even trying.  You'll feel fuller prior to polishing off your plate which eventually leads to a shrinking waistline as you consume smaller meals.

Conscious of  Cravings 
Typically, an hour or so after waking up, these cravings seem to take over.  Without thinking, I immediately rush to grab a snack or two.  After meditating again, I noticed that I didn't have a knee-jerk reaction to my cravings.  Instead of rushing to shove food into my mouth, I reflected on what the cravings meant.  Once my mind was calmer, I was able to discern between real hunger cravings vs when my body was craving for water.  It realized that sometimes, I'm thirsty without the typical symptoms associated with thirst.  I've written about this phenomenon in this post.  But I hadn't experienced it for myself until I became more in tune with my body via regular meditation.

Another added benefit of meditation in our daily lives is it allows us to break our embedded subconscious behavior.  If you always have a snack while watching your favorite shows, you're essentially creating a script that tells your mind to go grab a snack while watching, whether you're hungry or not.  With meditation, you kinda break out of your trance, allowing you to make real-time decisions on whether you are actually hungry for a snack. Meditation also helps your control binge eating too!

 When you eat consciously, you'll make better choices. 

Increase in Daily Expenditure
As I mentioned earlier, I meditate for mental clarity and focus. When I do it consistently, I operate like Eddie Morra from Limitless.  I'm filled with motivation and energy to get a bunch of stuff done.  I fit in a bunch of stuff into a single day causing me to increase my daily activity (and calorie expenditure) without having to step inside the gym.   Compare that to days when I'm unmotivated and sit around doing nothing.  The weight just piles on.   Burning more calories while plowing through my to-do is list a win-win!


Eliminating Resistance
Several times a week a thought will come into my mind that prompts me to work out.  I usually respond with one of the following:

• Ignore it.
• Promise to do it at another time or..
• Ignore, once again, when that later time arrives.

I'm constantly ignoring the prompt to work out because of a thing called "resistance."  Resistance is what stands in the way between your desires and the actions that cause you achieve your desires.  

Regular meditation helps eliminate resistance in a major way.  No amount of pep-talks and motivational books can do (for me) what meditation has the power to do.  When my mind is clear, the limiting voice seems to just disappear.  Last week, I went out for a run in the morning cold simply because I heard the voice that whispered "go workout" without being stopped by the other voice that usually responds "I don't feel like it."  Instead, I just grabbed my shoes and went for the run.  

Losing weight isn't easy, especially if you're trying. You've got to overcome embedded patterns, uncontrollable cravings, and resistance that stops you from being active. It's encouraging to know that weight loss can actually become effortless if we focus on addressing the root cause behaviors that lead to weight gain. 

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How To Deep Condition Using Regular Conditioner

At all costs we try to save money and budget, especially when it comes to hair products. We want the cheap way out, while giving our hair exactly what it needs. Let’s talk about conditioning your hair. It is an important step, right? Of course it is! This is very important, especially if your hair […]

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9 Year Old Washes And Styles Her Natural Hair Herself

It’s 1 am in the morning and you better believe that, regardless of the time I am obligated to share this video. You know why? Because it is the most adorable video I have seen in a long time. This little 9 yr old has mastered her hair, even though it was her first time, […]

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