I am...

obessed with Etsy.  It's more than just the hair stuff but it is everything from jewlery to beanies to clothes.  I have 11 pages of favortie items that I plan to buy and 20 pages of favorite sellers.  I can spend hours on etsy just looking at the beautiful goodies and it doesn't help that when I find a seller I like I go and look at their favorites which only adds more to mine.  Here is the link to my favorites: Etsy favorites.  What are your favs from Etsy?

I am......

a sucker for great customer service.  Recently I ran to buy the last of Lavida Given By Nature's liquid shampoos because she is going to shampoo bars and she has the liquid shampoos on sale.  Well I got the notice that the order had shipped and I was ecstastic to say the least, now its not like I need shampoo but that I love Lavida's shampoo that much.  Well the next day I got an email from Lavida saying the products were sent to my old address and she wanted to fix the problem right away.  There is nothing that will either drive a client away or keep one coming back then the type of customer service a business has.  You could have the holy grail product but if your customer service is horrible word of mouth will kill your business so I am a sucker for great customer service.

I was.....

asked an interesting question today by my boss.  He wanted to know if the release of the Princess and the frog was really that big of a deal because he saw on the news grown women dressed as princess going to see the movie,and to be truthful I have to say to me it is not.  Whether Disney has anymore princess of color it will not change who my mother instill in me to be.  I always had strong women around me growing up whether it was at home or at school.  So there being a black Princess was not that big of deal to me, neither was the color of the prince.  Now I explained to my boss that it was a big deal to some because Disney has not had an African American princess, but they have had a princess of color if you count the princess from Aladdin. What are your thoughts on the importance of the Princess and the Frog?

We are....

both in protective styles.   I decided to twist my hair and my two DD's hair in some small twist.  We probably wont stay in them long because as I said in the previous post I miss my loose hair and once her hair becomes frizzy I will take it down. 

I washed her hair and then detangled using hello hydration and then I spritzed her hair with Greg's Juice slapped on some vatika frosting and then some moisturizer I don't remember which once and braided her hair into four plaits.  The next day I used the sunshine I won to twist my daughter's hair.  Her hair is thin just like my mom's hair but I love playing in it.

Here are the pics of my hair I used Cafe Latte from Anita Grant and Darcy's Botanical Eucalyptus Mint Scalp Conditioning Butter on my scalp.  I smelled like a York's Peppermint Patty.

We also went and saw the Princess and the frog tonight and overall it was a good movie, she enjoyed it so momma's happy.

I failed...

at the protective style for two weeks.  I only had my hair in the twist for a week and then I took them out and wore my signature style a twistout all this week.  I missed by loose hair too much but after seeing KinkyKurlyQueen on youtube with her gorgeous twist I am contemplating puting in some small twist but then I think about how I am going to have to take them out eventually decisions decisions. 

On another great note, I received my Anita Grant packages from the Black Friday sell and it made me want to wash my hair as soon as I opened the box but I was strong and I will wait until tomorrow.  Also I bought some finger licking chocolates from the lovely Akua @ Sheabutter Cottage the majority were for gifts but I did buy some for myself of course, but the best surprise was the lovely Christmas gift from Akua.  I also got my prize from Coup de Couer Peace Love and Sunshine giveaway and cant wait to use it and wanted to taste it because it smelled so good.  So the plan tomorrow is to whip the shea butter that I am giving as gift I have sandalwood and vanilla sugar fragrance oil and to small twist my hair.

I was

able to do my first puff.  It was out of complete laziness, I wore a twistout for my Christmas party and didn't feel like washing hair so I threw it in a puff. 

Also my Darcy's Botanical came from my Black Friday order and of course I was definately motivated to wash my hair once I got my box.  So I washed with some Anita Grant and DC with Darcy's Conditioning mask which I already a had and then broke out the new goodies.  I spritz with her Herbal Tea leave in and then put on the Cocoa Bean oil and then I twisted my hair with the Avocado and Wild Plum Twisting Cream and in the morning I un twisted to get this:

The best compliment was from my husband who said what do you have in your hair citrus.

I...

love etsy.   I am on etsy daily sometimes every hour admiring handcrafted soaps, handmade natural hair products or beautiful jewelry. So tonight I was browsing like I always do avoiding doing homework, I looked at one of my favorite jewelry seller Pretty In Peace.  . Now this shop makes me want o empty out all my bank accounts to by her jewelry, its very affordable and might I add absolutely beautiful and amazing.  She also has a blog that I follow called tea and honeybread.

I am ......

a winner!!!!!!  Amina at Coup de Coeur had a giveway for one person to win one free 4 oz Scented Sunshine and two people to win one 4 oz coconut confidence from Peace Love and Sunshine and I was one of the blessed winners.  This is really icing on my weekly cake.  Sometimes we wonder if choices and decision we make are the right ones because certain things happen and sometimes are discouraging but this week I found out great news after great news.  I will blog about it later more in depth.  Have a wonderful weekend!!!

I have...

entered My Brown Baby Holiday Giveaway.  This prizes of this giveaway includes lovely prizes from Kisha's Kids (an online boutique for African-American babies, children and their friends) I am loving a beautiful curly haired doll named Cecile.  Also is some beautiful handmade Rwandan bowls from Macy's, and a beautiful Kid’s Alphabet Print from Lucky and Lovely.  Now yall know I'm always down for a giveaway.  Keep your fingers and toes crossed.

I am...

in a protective style I hope to keep it in for a couple of weeks.  I washed my hair with Chagrin Valley's Ayurvedic Herb Shampoo Bar pure sweetness and deep conditioned with Darcy Botanicals Deep Conditioning Mask and sat under my hair steamer (thanks to the ladies @ nappturality) and then blow dried my hair on low for more length.  Before I blow dried I sprayed my hair with heat protection and biosilk.  Here are pics of my blow dried hair.

I was very upset to find little knots in the nape region of my hair as I blow dried so I just trimmed as I went.  So because I wanted some moisture and some hold I made my own concotion with Karen's Body Beautiful Hair Butter in Chamomile Sage and Garnier Fructis Soft curling cream and twisted my hair.  Here are the pics of my hair twisted.

It took me 4.5 hours to twist but that includes stopping in the middel to eat.  So like I said above I hope to keep these in at least three weeks if not two because lately I have been a weekly hair styler.

I have...

broken my vow to not buy anymore hair products because of the Black Friday sales. I swiped some Darcy's Botanicals, who can pass up her goodies? Well I bought from Darcy's Botanicals: the Cocoa Bean Oil, Avocado and Wild Plum Twisting Cream, Eucalyptus Mint Scalp Conditioning Butter, Organic Coconut and Aloe Moisture Pudding, Organic Coconut and Aloe Moisture Pudding (which is a gift for my auntie) and Herbal Tea Leave-In Conditioning Spritz. Also partook in Brown Butter Beauty and bought the Sweet Milk Detangling Cream Leave in Conditioner and Shea Mint Moisturizing Shampoo with 25% off who can resist, I know I can't. I also bought from Oyinhandmade because I have am in love with the Honeywash so I got a 16oz. Also one of may favs Anita Grant, I got Vanilla and Sandalwood oil, Cafe Latte, and Sapote and Coconut Pomade.  I didn't do too much damage but I stayed in the house and shopped safe for Black Friday but my DH went out and braved the crazy shoppers and made it home safe. So now I will make a vow to only buy out of necessity and try not to joy shop until my one year nappiversy which is in June.

I am...

in love with Gassner Custom soap's Black Beauty Facial Soap located here.  It is on sale now for only $5.00, I use it daily with my Zaja Naturals Fitoderm Squalane and my skin is smooth and clear. 

Here is what the soap looks like:

I am

tired of my hair.  Now don't get me wrong I love being nautral but I go through phases of being tired of it.  Even when I was relaxed I would get tired of my hair and either get it cut or put in braids.  Since I am now natural I am going to try some protective styles like small twists to begin with and then at the end of December I will put in some kinky twist with human hair.

Here is what my hair looks like now, my signature style is a twistout.

I am......

winner winner!!!!!  Roshini from www.glamazini.com/ had a contest and guess who was the winner little ole me.  I received Roshini's favorite things, which included biosilk silk therapy, eco styler gel, drain covers, a condiment dispenser and a boar bristle brush.  Yea!!! My package was waiting for me when I arrived from my trip out of town.

I am...

so grateful.  For the things God is doing for my son.  He is so intelligent.  He has to have a muscle biopsy because the doctors are still trying to get a diagnose, so I discussed with him what the doctors want to do and proceeded to ask him if he thought we should do the biopsy and he shook his head yes.  Now this might seem minute to many of you but my son is 5 years old, has a developmental delay and does not speak.  He spent much of his young life being tested by different doctors.  We have remained in the dark until recently when a specialist said I think it is "X" and my husband and I was a little wary because we had decided no more test for my son because the doctors were just doing them in blindness, but we decided to let them test once again to find if it was indeed what they thought it was.  We still have yet to get the muscle biopsy done but my son is my little hero because he is being tested for both him and his little sister who is believed to have the same disorder.  Moral: Never disregard a child's intelligence or knowledge of what is going on in their surrondings.

I am.....

a shopaholic. I have finally come to terms with the fact that I love to shop, specifically online. I am not necessarily buying things that I don't need, lol even though my DH will say I do, but if I find a deal I am going to purchase it. My newest find is a denim outlet on eBay where I have found name brand jeans for as low as $9.99 who can pass up a deal like that? I currently have drawers and cabinets full of hair products and a 3 gallon bin full of soaps (I will try to take pictures to show you my sickness). I have vowed to not buy anymore soaps and hair products until my current stash has a dent in it. Now its time to make the same vow for clothes but it's hard because I have changed my style and the way I want to look so we will see.

Pics below:

the closet

my three drawer bin

The inside of the three drawer bin

My shampoo bars and facial soap

And finally my 3 gallon soap bin

I am a mother.......

of two children with special needs. Every child is a gift from God, there are many out there who can not conceive on their own and pray and wish for children of their own daily. Well, I was blessed with two and I would not trade them in for anything. Some think having children with special needs is a bad thing, something too hard but my children have taught me many things. One of those things is determination, my 5 year old is one who no matter how many times you tell him no, don’t do that, you cant do that, if he has his mind set on it, he's going to try it regardless of what you say. Some might say he is hard headed but what I see is determination. My 2 year old is all about LOVE, she loves to she people hugging and kissing and is willing to smile and hug you at the drop of a dime. Everyday my children teach me patience, love, determination and the #1 thing they teach me is that a blessing is not a blessing because it looks pretty or is what you expected but because it is something given to you by God and he expects you to take care of it. So the next time you see someone whether it be child or adult that doesn't look or act like what you think is normal don't stare, point and laugh but remember they are a blessing to someone.