Rope Scarves

Since watching MsVCharles video below I have been a rope scarf making machine and plan to make even more see my work below.

Thanks/No Thanks

Well I decided to start to do products reviews I named thanks/no thanks.  I will review two products in one post, a product I like and I product I don't care for.  So lets get started I will start with the no thanks item first.

Product: Enso Naturals Marshmallow Root Twisting Pudding

What website says: A rich, thick, velvety smooth alcohol free styling pudding suitable for all hair types that does not cause flakes or tack. Marshmallow Root Twisting Pudding was formulated with the needs of tired, thirsty, frizzy curls in mind. Our Twisting Pudding is fortified with Marshmallow Root which conditions your coils leaving your hair soft and nourished from root to tip. Marshmallow Root Twisting Pudding is also loaded with curl loving ingredients to help enhance your natural curl pattern while offering brilliant sheen, bouncy curls and hold.

Ingredients: Distilled Water, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Oil, Glycerin, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Fruit, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Argania Spinosa (Argan) Nut Oil, Silk Amino Acids, Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan) Extract, Althaea Officinalis (Marshmallow Root) Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Propylene Glycol (and) Diazolidinyl Urea (and) Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate (paraben free fragrance), Fragrance

Price: 8 oz $11.50 @ Enso Naturals

My opinion:  The Twisting pudding does not cause flakes but it smells like dawn dish detergent.  The texture is more like a gel and is very thin.  I used it for flat twist all over my whole head and the smell alone was overwhelming.  Not to mention my hair itched like crazy, I'm not sure what ingredient I had a reaction to but I will no longer be using this product and have 50% of the it left and anyone can have it if they would like. 

My Thank You

Product: Natural Girls Rock Deep Soulutions Deep Conditioner

What website says: Natural Girls Rock Deep SOULutions Deep Conditioner is enriched with natural ingredients that penetrate the cuticle to help reconstruct the hair shaft. Formulated to deep condition and moisturize your hair naturally with essential minerals and oils to restore your hairs natural beauty. Repairs dryness and damage. Moisture retention is the key that allows hair to grow to its maximum potential without interruption of breakage and split ends.

Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Organic extra virgin coconut oil, Pure cold pressed castor oil, Extra virgin olive oil, Vegetable glycerin, Pure jojoba oil, rosemary oil, nettle oil, birch leaf oil, chamomile oil, lavender, colts foot leaf, yarrow oil, soybean protein, lemon grass oil (fragrance), and organic conditioner base.

Price: 8 oz $11.95  12 oz $15.95 @ Natural Girls Rock

My opinion: I LOVE THIS DC!!!! Ok I am a deep condition girl.  I have tried this DC two ways; once with heat and once overnight.  This DC made my hair feel so supple and moist and I was in pure hair ecstasy. The scent is pleasant and the texture is thick and creamy.  I would buy this over and over again.

Missed the bus

I you ever bought a product and just set it on the shelf to use for later?  Then once you pick it up sometimes months later you fall in love with it and say to yourself I have to get some more of this, then to your utter dismay the company no longer sells said product.  Well I have been this way for the past 5 months with Lavida Given By Nature's Rosemary Mint liquid Shampoo.  Now while I was fully aware when she decided to stop producing the shampoo but I really wasn't using it as my staple then so I really didn't give it any second thought, but in these last 5 months it has become a staple for both me and my daughter.  It's thick and a little goes a long way, the suds are absolutely awesome oh did I mention that you only need a little and its not drying but your hair and scalp are thoroughly clean.  Now while I do have one and half bottles of this liquid gold I would be first in line if Lavida brought it back.  Have you ever missed a bus on a product you fell in love with?

All Natural House Cleaners

Often many naturals worry about what chemicals we put in our hair but recently I was thinking about the chemicals we clean our house with. 

About two months ago I joined Heartsy, heartsy is a website where vendors offer awesome discounted gift codes to their stores.  On Heartsy I found Mrs Jones Soapbox and I will have to say at first I was a little skeptical thinking can a natural cleaner really do better than my chemical laden cleaners.  I bought the Eco Friendly Household Cleaning Kit and it only cost me $15 at Heartsy for $40 store credit and I paid for shipping not a bad deal at all.  Now I haven't tried all the products but I love the Clean, Sparkle, Shine and the Soapy.

Let's talk about the Clean,  my husband had recently clean a wall in our house with some other cleaner and it unfortunately left a wet spot on the wall and we could not figure out how to get rid of the spot, but one spray and wipe with the Clean and the spot disappeared. 

The Sparkle I use to clean my mirrors and glass in my house it took a little getting use to since I was use to using commercial glass cleaner but I love it.

The Shine I use on my wood and leather and I love having a multiple use cleaner.

If you try Heartsy or Mrs Jones Soapbox let me know, also for my natural ladies shops like Beija-Flor and Karess Krafter have also been featured on Heartsy.

Whew Life

I know back in June I said I was back but between my duties as a mother, Airman and church I have been extremely busy so...... I think I am back now and will try to blog at least every other day.  Thank you to all that read my blog.

Loose Hair Envy

As I surf the Internet I see women wearing there hair loose and beautiful and I have to say I am a little envious.  Now its not that I can't wear my hair loose but that it is not convenient.  I wear a hat 5 days a week and I have to take it off inside and wear it outside, not to also mention I am in the Pacific Northwest which is rain central.  Could you imagine the afro I would have.  My hair stays in twist or flat twist every week, I long for the day that I can rock a twist out without having to take leave from my job. One day..............

I'm BACK!!!!

Well it has been a long time since I blogged and alot has happen.  I moved to a different state, deployed, gained 10 lbs, had a birthday and recently decided it's time to create a staples list.  I currently have a big drawer full of hair products that I will be getting rid of some because it's old and some just because I won't use it.  I plan to try and blog at least once a week, we'll see how that works out, also I want to thank those who periodically checked to see if I was blogging or just to check on me and say they missed me.  Talk to ya later.

Weight Gain or Age Spread

I have been skinny my whole life...so skinny that my granddad use to sing a song that went like this:
Yeah Oh I got a girl named Bony Moronie She's as skinny as a stick of macaroni

Even through high school I was small, now I did have a little shape but fast forward to two children and almost 31 years old.  I am 5'4'' and my ideal weight was 125, the highest I ever got was 117.  Now we just recently moved and I am fulfilling a military commitment and to my surprise I have noticed that the clothing I brought with me was fitting a little snugger than normal. But I shrugged it off to shrinkage in the wash/dryer.  Well one day I decided to jump on the scale in a warehouse I work in and it read 127, I said no way and began taking everything out of my pockets and reweigh myself, no change.  So with that being said minus the 5 pounds for my uniform and boots I weigh 122, now while I have dreamed of this weight and really love how my body looks minus a little pooch I don't appreciate the prospect of having to purchase bigger clothes. 

Product Review: Pura Body Naturals

I had the opportunity to partake in a sale that Pura Body Naturals had where their Hair sample pack was $15.00 now I had been eyeing their products for a while so when I seen the sale I jumped on it.  Since I am away from home I only brought the Sapote Hair Lotion with me so this is what I will be reviewing.

From the website:

Sapote Oil is grown throughout the West Indies, Central and South America. It's rich in vitamins A, C, and plant proteins, carbohydrates, iron, potassium, and calcium. Sapote restores the health of natural or chemically relaxed hair while improving manageability leaving your hair soft and luxurious.


Can be used a daily conditioner for those seeking soft manageable hair both kids and adults. Sapote Hair Lotion can be used as a skin lotion as well for soft supple skin.

Ingredients: water, BTMS (behentrimonium, cetearyl alcohol), organic sapote oil, babassu oil, cupuacu butter, organic brazil nut oil, coconut milk powder, green tea extract, banana fruit powder, mango fruit powder, vitamin E, phenoxyethanol and capryl glycol(paraben and formaldehyde free preservative), and essential oils or fragrance.

Cupuacu Butter - Comes from a fruit tree of the chocolate family, native to the northern Amazon. Cupuacu improves the appearance prematurely aging and thinning skin while being a superior moisturizer with great water absorption. It offers high levels of essential fatty acids, which with its rich phytosterols, help the appearance of your skin’s elasticity and overall appearance of your skin. Cupuacu's incredible creaminess promotes a special softness and smoothness to your skin to boosts natural moisture and help your skin appear more elastic.

Cupuacu promotes smoothness and softness to the hair increasing the natural moisture and elasticity. The butter has proven to be beneficial for brittle, dry hair due to it's long lasting hydration properties to replenish moisture while promoting a healthy shine. Cupuacu is considered hydrophpllic (water loving) with a high capacity to retain water and prevent moisture loss.

Brazil Nut Oil - Are harvested from trees in the Amazon rainforest. The nuts are rich in nourishing, protein, and moisturizing properties. Contains omega-6 acid which acts as a barrier to hair and skin to prevent water loss to help retain moisture. Brazil nut oils is packed with vitamins A and E protecting the skin and hair from premature aging and dryness. It brings shine, softness, and silkiness to the hair. For skin, it acts as a moisturizer, provides antioxidant benefits, helps prevent dryness, and leaves skin soft, smooth, and hydrated.

Babassu Oil - expelled from the Babassu Palm Tree in northern Brazil. It has been used for centuries as an emollient to soothe dry skin without adding a greasy feel. Babassu moisturizes and restores hair's strength and elasticity.

Mamey Sapote Oil - extracted from the sapote fruit native to Latin America. Sapote is rich in vitamins A, C, carbohydrates, plant proteins, iron, and potassium. Has been used for years to combat dry hair and help retain moisture.
 
Directions: Apply to wet or dry hair as a leave-in conditioner to improve manageability for soft luxurious hair.
 
Scents available: Ylang-Rose, Tahitian Vanilla, Lemongrass Blend and Unscented.
Price: $5.00-15.00  Size: 2 oz and 8 oz
 
My thoughts:
 
I bought the 2 oz unscented version and I LOVE it.  It's thick and creamy goodness, I only need a little to turn my hair into soft moisturize clouds, which is great since I have very thick thirsty hair.  Once I get home I will definitely buy the full 8 oz to include in my moisture regimen.

My Experience.......

with having braids by African braiding salon.  Before Thanksgiving I had my hair braided to get ready for my deployment.  While the ladies did an excellent job, the braids were a little tight for my taste and they braided every piece of hair on my head.  Now usually I get my hair braided by my mother or a friend so I was not use to getting baby hairs braided or it being this tight and at first I contemplated taking it down two days later.  The other downside was that because I am in the military, 5 out of 7 days I must have the hair in a style which does not go past the bottom of my collar which means pulling it up and putting unwanted stress on my poor strands.  So with that being said my hair only lasted until 30 Dec when I took it down because I was missing my hair.  Everyday I was praying please let my hair be okay and because that reason I'm not sure it I will get my hair braided by this method again.

M.I.B.

I have been away and will be away for a while.  We just got done moving from one state to another and I am away right now for a military commitment so once I get back home and get settled I will began blogging again.

One year Blog Giveaway Winner!!!!!!!!!!!

Well today marks my one year anniversary and I currently sit in temporary housing because we have changed states again.  Unfortunately I didn't think out my need for hair products and I only have the minimum; Shea Butter Cottage Afro Shampoo Bar, Darcy Botanical's Curl Detangling Milk and Daily Leave-n Conditioner, Peace Love and Sunshine Cutie Juice and I broke down and bought ORS Smooth -n-hold pudding.  As I type I'm trying to hold off on buying anything because I want to wait for Black Friday.  Ok enough of my rambling and on to the winner.  Well I had two entries one via the blog and one via email and with one answer incorrect the beautiful Amina.  Below are the correct answers:
1. What was my first post about?


My Children

2. When I broke my vow not to buy anymore hair products what did I buy?

Darcy's Botanicals, Brown Butter Beauty, Oyin Handmade and Anita Grant

3. What procedure did my son have last year?

muscle biopsy

4. When did I do my first puff?

December 8th 2009

5.What is my daughter's holy grail for moisture?

Darcy's botanical's

6. What was my first product review?

Komaza

7. What soaps have I tried?

Zaja, sheabutter cottage, chagrin valley,gassner custom soaps, hairveda,rebecca's soap deli and lavida given by nature

8. What is my inspiration for being natural?

The Lil Diva

9. Who surprised me with a birthday gift?

Akua from Sheabutter cottage

10. What did I break last month?

My toe

But wait there is more the other contestant will not go home empty handed but will receive:
 
$50 gift certificate from Peace Images Jewelry

$15 gift certificate from Lilac Ave

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Thank you to everyone who participated I hope the winners enjoy their prizes!!!!!

One Year Blogiversary Giveaway

27 Oct marks my one year blogiversary, so I am having a giveaway!!!!!!!!  When I began this blog I just wanted to document my thoughts and our(me and diva) journey of being natural who would have thought I would still be blogging a year later especially since my attention span is not that great.  I'm so excited about the gifts because they cover head to toe!!!!

The prizes:

$25 Pretty in Peace

$25 Zaja Naturals Gift Certificate

$15 Lilac Ave Gift Certificate

Darcy's Botanicals Shea Butter Curl Moisturizing Cream & Herbal Leave-In Conditioning Spritz (courtesy of the lovely Lysandra!!!)

 

Rules:

1. Must be subscribed to my blog. (no exception)

2. Answer questions via comment or email if you are worried about someone copying your answers (sexytaz99 at yahoo dot com) please type blog contest in the subject line.

3. Contest will end 27 Oct and winner will be chosen via Random.org based on who has the most correct answers.  Please leave your email address so I can contact you if you win. 

Questions:

1. What was my first post about?

2. When I broke my vow not to buy anymore hair products what did I buy?

3. What procedure did my son have last year?

4. When did I do my first puff?

5.What is my daughter's holy grail for moisture?

6. What was my first product review?

7. What soaps have I tried?

8. What is my inspiration for being natural?

9. Who surprised me with a birthday gift?

10. What did I break last month?

 

(All giveaway gifts were purchased by me unless otherwise noted.)

Giveaway!!!!!!!!

I will be posting a giveaway for my one year blogiversary in a couple of days, I am trying to pin down one of the prizes and as soon as that is complete I will post the rules!!!!

Product Review: Komaza Hair Care Coconut Hair Pudding

Komaza Hair Care Coconut Pudding

Price: $15.50 8oz
Buy here

Ingredients: Coconut Oil, Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Sunflower Oil Dipalmitoylethyldimonium Chloride (A derivitive of Palm Oil) aloe vera, acrylates, alkyl acrylates, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Polysorbate 20, Cinnamom Cassia.

What company says about the product: This is a soft holding styling hair gel designed to tighten curl pattern and eliminate frizz. Great to help smooth hair edges without leaving hair stiff and fragile. This product can be used with a moisturizer without compromising its styling effects. pH Balance 6.0

What I have to say: First I must say that I did not buy full price for this product because I bought it on a hair board and when I received it 20% was used already.  I LOVE THIS product.  I use it to do my twists and I did not have any shrinkage which is surprising because the consistency of the product is gel like it reminds me of kinky curly curling custard.  I even loved the way it made my curls clump before I began to twist and talk about fierce twist out.  So if you have $15.50+ to splurge or see this product of sale on a hair board I say snatch it up and let me know how it works for you.

Broken toe doesn't stop the show

Saturday morning I unfortunately broke my third toe by hitting it on the corner of the wall in a rush. I knew the toe was broken but I refused to sit in the emergency room for God knows how long for them to tell me they could not do anything, not to mention I had a paper due and final exam for my college course had to do the diva's hair and my hair. Well let's say I accomplished 2 of the 4 items on Saturday and finished the other 2 on Sunday. I attempted a flat twist and curl on my hair but of course I did too late so it wasn't dry this morning so I pulled my hair back in a puff, I will try another day. But I did take pictures of the diva's hair. She has been in mini twist for two weeks which included washing and conditioning during those two weeks. I will never keep her hair in twist this long again; her hair was beginning to loc. I love doing her hair because I can do things to her hair that I cannot do to mine.  Below is the diva's hair I used NjoiCreationS' Herbal Twisting Gel.

My Diva's Hair

I am currently in a protective style kinky twist so I only have to do my daughter's hair once a week, what a relief but her hair is already reaching her lower back so it takes a little longer to complete this task.  Below is our hairstyle this week.

My Shoe Obession

I love shoes............all kinds of shoes, high heels, boots, flats, sandals..............currently I have a closet full of shoes and I am constantly looking for shoes.  When a shoe makes me gasp for air I must have it.  Below are some shoes I recently bought at Amiclubwear for $12.00.

I had to have these when I saw them.  I am currently awaiting for the beauties below to arrive in the mail from Shoe Dazzle.

And I am contemplating which color of these boots I want to get from Just Fab.

What shoes are you getting or have already bought?

Etsy Name Search

So I love Etsy and I browsing Soradesigns when I saw a pair of earrings with the same name as mine, so this led me to search etsy for products using my name.  I was surprised to find 87 items but there was one item that really caught my eye:

Now while the above doll has my name in the title I really love the doll below.

These dolls are gorgeous and the seller has many more which can be seen here.

You should try and search your name in Etsy and see what kind of treasures you find.

Decorate the DIVA!!!

So I had been watching these earrings for a while and I was sad when I saw they were sold, so I sent the owner Renee a message on etsy to see if she had anymore or if they were OOAK, and I screamed when she told me that she had another pair.   Well........... here are the earrings and here is where I got them from decoratethediva