If you know me, you know how much I love thrifting. Thrifting is an art and skill. It's important to set aside time when it comes to thrifting, because unlike traditional retail stores, no two pieces are alike! In my recent haul, I went to Plato's Closet and spent $65. Here are some of the things that I purchased! 1. red leather pants.I wore these to a Snoh Aalegra concert with a white cropped turtleneck (no sleeves). This was paired with white booties! 2. brown cargo-like windbreaker pants.3. brown/tan corset top.4. white crop top.5. white fitted maxi dress.6. light-washed Levi jeans.
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What a year it has been. I feel like I'm still processing 2020, and you mean to tell me we're walking into 2022? The time has flown. So many ups and downs of life in the midst of a pandemic. So much love and joy that is needed, especially in this time.
What are you going to do this year to pour that love into yourself and those around you? What goals do you have? It's been such a rough past couple of years for the entire planet. It's time to take charge and bring light to your life. Something I want to work on this year is being more present. I am constantly so worried about the future. I neglect the "now." I want to enjoy life for what it is and what it has to offer. What does that look like to me? I want to spend more time with my loved ones. I want to disconnect from social media more. I want to continue pouring into my interests and passions. I want to travel as much as I can. I want to love myself fully and whole-heartedly. I want to learn a few new skills (still pondering on this). I want to smile more this year. We are ALL going through it during this pandemic. There are no words to describe the trauma that has been inflicted on all of us in 2020. We all feel it. From multiple angles, at that!
I have tried so hard to stay positive all throughout 2020. And it has been difficult, to say the least. But I always make sure to take care of me because if I don't, who will? I can't pour into my loved one's cups if my cup is empty. If you know me, you know I love taking care of my body spiritually, mentally, physically, emotionally, etc. Self-care is so important! And can honestly be so inexpensive. I have listed some "self-care" activities you can do that are under $10! Journaling ($2): All you need is a journal and a pen from the dollar store. I enjoy journaling whenever I need an outlet to release literally anything. Whether it be emotionally, mentally, epiphanies, manifestations, goal setting, etc. There is a lot of power in writing things down. Meditation (free, just need oxygen): I started meditating by looking into guided meditation videos on YouTube about 5 years ago. They are these videos that have a voice guide you, your thoughts, and breathing. It simplifies meditation for beginners. Essentially, all you really need is yourself! Meditation is really all about breathing. The music and sounds are helpful for relaxation but not necessary. I tell everyone, the key to meditation is simply focusing on your breathing; whenever your mind starts to wander, shift back to your breaths. Don't forget to be gentle on yourself. it takes practice! Yoga (WiFi or a book you can borrow from a public library): All you need is YouTube to follow people who guide yoga sessions or borrow a yoga book from the library! A library card is approximately $1. My favorite yogi (a person who performs yoga) on YouTube is "Yoga with Adriene." She has countless yoga videos and series to follow along. They range in time, so you can always do shorter sessions if you prefer. Face Masks ($9): My favorite face mask is the Aztec Clay Healing Mask, which is only $8 at Target. I like to pair this with Apple Cider Vinegar, which you can get for $1 at the Dollar Tree. Make sure to read the instructions because it gets messy! Also DO NOT pour the excess liquid solution down the sink! It will clog up your drains. Wine ($7): My favorite brand under $10 is anything by Oliver Winery. Treat yourself to a wine night with some good company! A Walk in the Park (free): All you need for this is the outdoors (a safe environment). You could also bring a large blanket you don't mind getting dirty for a little picnic! Stress-Relief Tea (under $5): There are so many "stress-free" teas in the tea aisle at your local grocery store. My favorites are the "Bigelow" and "Yogi" brands. Something about a hot cup of tea is just so therapeutic. Coloring ($4): I know it sounds so silly, but coloring books bring so much joy. They have so many adult coloring books at stores nowadays! It helps you practice "Mindfulness" and living in the "present"; not stressing the past or future. All you need is a coloring book ($3) and colored pencils ($1) from Walmart. Essential Oil Diffuser (Varies): I love my diffuser, it has helped me in so many ways, such as sleep & stress. You can find various diffusers and/or essential oils on Google for each under $10. The essential oils I like to put in my diffuser include eucalyptus, peppermint, and lavender. Incense ($1): I love burning incense after I clean my room! It adds a nice finishing touch to a freshly cleaned room! Plants (varies): Try growing a plant! There are various plants under $10 on Amazon. Make sure you do your research on the plant before purchasing; some are more difficult to care for than others! These are just some ways that you can take care of yourself on a budget! Hope you find these of use! Leave a comment if you decide to try any of these activities! I get asked about my hair all of the time. “How did it get so long? Is this my natural hair? How do I get my hair like that? What products do I use?” I even get asked “Is that all of your hair?” My hair has come so far. In this post, I’m going to walk you through my hair journey of damage and revitalization. So to begin, my mom has really long hair and my aunts on my dad’s side have really long curly hair. When I was younger, my hair would be in braids (no artificial hair) more often than not. My mom actually would straighten my hair at a young age. The earliest I can remember my hair being straight was in the third grade. I didn’t regularly start straightening it until middle school. As often as I was straightening it, not once did I experience heat damage. 8th grade, I finally started wearing my hair in its natural state. Curly hair products for “ethnic” hair weren’t popular during this time (2011/2012). I used a lot of Aussie and Garnier Fructis products. Another product I began using that surprisingly worked in my hair was the “Pantene for Curly Hair” conditioner. From what I can remember, I didn’t have problems with any of these products. I didn’t experience any damage or dryness. All in all, my hair did well with these products. I began to dye my hair when I was 16. I dyed it A LOT. I would constantly put bleach in my hair. Which was fine, because I took GREAT care of it. However, once during my senior year, I dyed the back of my hair blonde. But I got super lazy. Barely deep conditioned, barely moisturized it. This is where my damaged hair journey began. I began straightening my own hair freshman year of college. As I look back, I was putting WAY too much stress on my hair. I would, both, blow dry and flat iron my hair on the highest setting. Which I am just NOW realizing was HORRIBLE for my hair. My hair began to break off, more so in the back where it was bleached. I had to get 4 inches cut off that following summer because of how damaged it was!I decided at the beginning of my sophomore year of college that I was going to try to go as long as I can without heat or chemicals. I didn’t add any more color until 2 years later. I didn’t straighten my hair until 3 years later, my graduation day. My once dead, limp waves returned back to my full, defined curls after giving them a break. My routine changed during this no color/heat challenge. I tried deep conditioning my hair as often as possible. At one point, I was deep conditioning every Sunday. I stopped washing my hair as much. Occasionally, I would braid my hair into two cornrows. Rock those for 2-3 days, then take them out to rock the post-cornrow braid out. When I do this, I am able to go a week without washing my hair. I also stopped using shampoo as much. I try to shampoo my hair every 2-3 weeks. You don’t need to cleanse your hair as much as you think you do. I cowash my hair more often than I do shampoo. What is “Co-washing?” Co-washing is simply “washing your hair” but skipping the shampoo step. If you have curly hair, MOISTURE is important. Your hair needs water, otherwise… it’ll look a mess, it’ll become dry, etc. Shampooing your hair every time you add water to your hair is so unnecessary. It also is very damaging to your hair. Shampoo cleanses your hair by stripping your hair from the natural oils. Just beware of buildup. I like to shampoo my hair every 2-3 weeks. I cowash my hair every couple of days to a week. It depends on how my hair looks and how lazy I am that week. I co-wash my hair into 2 sections and put them into 2 buns after ringing them out. I like to air dry my hair. If I do need to dry my hair (usually during the winter), I will dry my hair with a T-shirt. T-shirt drying helps reduce frizz that a blow dryer or towel will cause. While my hair is damp, I will put any leave-in conditioner that I like at the moment. And that’s it! Sometimes I’ll put some peppermint oil or Jamaican castor oil! But I don’t do this often. Products I use: “Shea Moisture: Jamaican black castor oil shampoo” “Aussie: 3-minute miracle conditioner” Love this, better than a lot of higher end choices “Eden: Natural curl defining creme.” I love it. It has a nice, thick consistency. Products I am interested in trying next: “Aunt Jackie’s Flaxseed gel” Hair-care tips!
My advice to all you curly headed beauties from what I am learning on my journey! Reduce the amount of heat you put in your hair! Reduce the amount of times you dye your hair! Look into henna color treatments, a natural way of coloring your hair. Remember, less is more! So limit the amount of chemicals you put in your hair! Get your trims! And BRAIDS! Braid your natural hair overnight, for a couple of days, whatever amount of time you prefer. But watch how your hair benefits over time. Lastly, be extremely patient with your hair! Growth and health takes time!Did you know that the majority of your body’s bacteria live in your “gut?” Your gut is home to HUNDREDS of different types of good and bad bacteria. This is why it is important to be mindful of what you consume. Your body’s organ systems are interconnected to form one being, you. So as you can imagine, what you consume has an effect on every system in your body. Working in an emergency department, I find that a great amount of the patients come in with complaints of abdominal pain. According to a study noted in an article by Fox News, regarding digestion, “74 percent of Americans are living with digestive symptoms like diarrhea, gas, bloating and abdominal pain” (Fox News 2015). I then began to look at myself; I’d like to consider myself a pretty, healthy person. I mainly eat home cooked meals, I take my vitamins, I don’t eat sweets, I only drink tea and water, etc. Despite my constant effort to live a healthy life, I tend to have minor abdominal pain from time to time. Being the health freak that I am, I began to look into natural ways to help alleviate some of the discomfort and assist my body with proper digestion. Diet: To begin, food is medicine! And having a healthy gut is a substantial factor of strong immunity. LISTEN to your body! Your body speaks to you every day. It is critical to listen to these signs you are given. Signs can range from how your skin reacts to a certain food, how your stomach feels, your energy level, how you’re sleeping, how often you’re getting sick with something as simple as a common cold, etc. Moreover, a great example would be how your body reacts to dairy products. There is a great amount of people who are lactose intolerant and actually aren’t aware. According to NIH, “Approximately 65 percent of the human population has a reduced ability to digest lactose after infancy” (Lactose Intolerance 2020). Those who are lactose intolerant experience pain and discomfort after eating dairy products. Symptoms can flare up in other ways, such as face acne breakouts.
These bacteria are said to strengthen the immune system and assist with digestion. Kombucha heals in a multitude of other ways. It is said to help decrease blood pressure levels, help control Type II Diabetes, and prevent various types of chronic illnesses. Kombucha also plays a huge role in vaginal health. This carbonated beverage helps to balance the pH levels in the vagina. Just like yogurt and probiotic supplements, it helps generate good bacteria to prevent a pH imbalance. Drinking kombucha can help prevent common vaginal issues like yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis (Mackeen 2019).
Similar to green tea, kombucha is considered an antioxidant. Antioxidants are typically found in certain kinds of fruits, nuts, and green tea. They aim to remove toxins that may be damaging to the human body. Antioxidants are extremely beneficial for the liver. If you aren’t aware of the human anatomy and physiology, the liver’s function is to cleanse the body from toxicity. Alcohol consumption is extremely detrimental to the liver because this is the organ that is responsible for dispelling it from your body. Alcohol consumption is fine at moderate levels; however, when the amounts exceed moderation, your liver is overworked. This is why foods and beverages with antioxidants are important, they help speed up the metabolism process. A great amount of the kombucha flavors on the market include ginger and lemon, which are popular agents used in digestive health. Both of these agents are extremely beneficial for building immunity against many sicknesses. From personal experience, they both usually help alleviate any stomach pain I experience. I can recall getting sick on one of my most recent trips to Africa. I must have eaten something bad because my stomach was constantly hurting. I began drinking lime and ginger infused hot water twice a day and it helped, tremendously! Exercise: In addition to one’s diet, getting active and incorporating movement into your day is so important! They actually say moving and exercise helps move the food down your gastrointestinal tract.This is why it is strongly suggested to eat no later than 2 hours before you go to sleep. Eating and going to sleep before your food digests causes digestive problems and irregular weight gain. So be mindful of this and make sure to move after you eat! Supplements + natural remedies: If you’re into natural healing and prevention. I strongly recommend looking into consuming supplements and incorporating the following agents into your day. These agents play a huge role in digestive health and strengthening the immune system: Garlic Lime Probiotic pills (also helps with vaginal health) Chamomile tea Green tea Take care of yourself and remember food is medicine! It's that time of year again. The dreadful snow and freezing temperatures are among us. If you are like me, the sun gives you life. I feel like I honestly cannot survive without any sunlight beaming on me. I'm a summer baby (born in August); summer is MY season. If you're like me, again, autumn is alright, but deep down inside all you can think about is how much closer winter gets as each day passes by. Living in the Midwest, I get to experience every season to the extreme. Summers are extremely hot and humid. Winters are freezing below 0°F at times followed by snow and ice. I'm learning that winters aren't horrible if you incorporate an effective self-care routine. Some of my favorite things that can qualify as self-care include soup, fuzzy socks, super soft blankets, space heaters, humidifiers, and warm scents (candles, plug-ins, and incense). I like to grab plug-ins from Walmart. The wall plug is about $4 and the liquid scent refills are about $3 a piece. One refill can last for about 3-4 weeks. I also love incense! You can also get a pack from Walmart for about $1. You can also find them at your local gas station and different earth related shops. Health is wealth!! Take care of your body. I love vitamins, tea, and oils. I think it is so important to take a daily multivitamin to make sure you are getting all of the vitamins your body needs. It is very easy to feel lazy and down when you aren't being energized the way your body needs you to be. Vitamin D, also referred to as the "sunshine vitamin," is very critical to focus on during this time.
K. Aleisha Fetters in The U.S. News explains the scientific findings behind the correlation by stating that "the majority of our vitamin D is produced in the body in response to the absorption of UVB rays from sun. In the wintertime, the days are shorter than ever and, according to a review published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, north of Atlanta, the sun's rays become so indirect that our bodies cannot absorb as many UVB rays as they can in the summer months. What's more, people with darker complexions as well as the elderly are less efficient at converting UVB rays into vitamin D, explains Dr. Shanna Levine, clinical instructor of medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York" (Fetters 2016). One thing that I think is important for ALL seasons is making efforts to work out. Movement is very important. Whether it be light workouts, yoga, or getting your steps in at the office. That great feeling after leaving the gym? It's actually scientifically proven that moving releases certain neurotransmitters in the brain that make you "happy." It's also that same feeling when you cross things off of your to-do list. That feeling of accomplishment helps to alleviate those uncomfortable feelings of seasonal sadness. Let's not forget SLEEP! Get your beauty rest ma. Rest. Sleep. Lay down. Nap. Lay your head down and rest your eyes for 10 minutes during your lunch break. It makes a difference. Your body needs rest to rejuvenate. Rest is energizing. Rest up, your body will thank you. Just don't over-rest. Moreover, I think having a consistent routine helps tremendously. Creating both a morning and night routine are essential. Some things I like to do during this time is rejuvenate my skin, stretch, pray, listen to peaceful music, and reflect. Some days I'll start my mornings with a podcast playing as I make breakfast and boil water for my tea. Occasionally, I like to meditate and do some yoga. This brings my soul at peace. It helps me practice mindfulness and simply being present. Whatever makes your soul smile, start and end your day with that. You can do it. Start with one thing at a time. And remember that consistency is key. Lastly, I like to take breaks from social media every so often. Social media can be a little draining at times if you let it consume you. The wintertime is a special time designated to BOSSING up and achieving goals so that you can GLOW all summer. Delete your social media apps and witness the life changes. It could be for 2 weeks or several months. I've committed to a week, up until 7 months on separate occasions. Regardless of the time commitment, productivity elevates. Stay warm my friends :) References: CPCOofficial. (2018, December 25). [Tweet]. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/cpcoofficial/status/1077625019507851265 Fetters, K. Aleisha. “4 Ways to Keep Your Vitamin D Levels Up This Winter.” U.S. News & World Report, U.S. News & World Report, 11 Nov. 2016, health.usnews.com/wellness/food/articles/2016-11-11/4-ways-to-keep- your-vitamin-d-levels-up-this-winter. As becoming emotionally and romantically intelligent has gained awareness, the phrase "love language" has obtained a great amount of attention. What exactly is a "love language?" I first discovered the phrase in a "Marriage and Family Interaction" course I took in college. After completing an analysis assignment where we had to take an online quiz that helped us discover each of our "love languages," things began to make sense. I always knew I expressed "love" differently than those around me. I don't consider myself an affectionate person. It wasn't until I got to college that I told my loved ones that "I loved them." And this was only because others around me did. I don't like getting gifts; it has always made me feel "bad." It feels like I am burdening the gift giver, regardless of the fact that it was voluntary. I began to think, what is wrong with me? Why can't I let people be nice to me? Why am I so closed off/reserved? However, looking back on my life thus far, I took a glance at how love was expressed in my household and East-African culture. "Love" overseas looks so different than the typical Western idea of "love." Affection doesn't exist, no physical touch, "I love you's" are rare. But this is my normal. So what is love to me? Love is an action word. Love is a verb. Love is doing. If I love you, I will show you by doing things for you. And I love to receive in that fashion, as well. In my personal relationships, I've noticed that not everyone loves + likes to receive love in the same way. I have friends who love getting gifts. I have friends who love to spend a great amount of time with their significant other/loved ones. It is SO important to know and understand the "love language" of those around you. Otherwise, you will spend a lifetime loving someone improperly, wondering why they're being "ungrateful" or "unappreciative." We all come from different walks of life and have different wants + needs. Every moment from your first breath to this present moment has contributed immensely to your way of thinking, your way of loving, and your way of living. Always remember that love isn't exclusive to a romantic love. Love is everything. Love is your family. Love includes your friendships. Love is your neighbor. Love is anything and everything in between. Take the time to open your heart and ears to understand your loved ones. The Five Love Languages:
Receiving Gifts: Gift giving is extremely common in relationships. It's actually scientifically proven that when we give, we are more happier and satisfied than when we receive a gift/service. In various studies, the brain has released more of the "happy" neurotransmitters in the brain when giving to others in comparison to receiving. Someone who receives gifts doesn't have to be materialistic. It could be as simple as feeling loved when receiving flowers, their favorite candy, a coffee mug, etc. You could possibly hurt this lover by not getting them gifts that are thoughtful or gifts in general. It can be assumed that since they love receiving gifts, they'll spend a lot of their time and money buying you gifts. They can be disappointed if it isn't reciprocated. Words of Affirmations: This is commonly illustrated as someone who feels the most love when receiving compliments. Hearing "I love you" or other warm words. This doesn't limit the compliments to physical features. Hearing warm compliments on their personality, their outfit, their cooking, their sense of humor, etc. You could hurt this lover with negative comments or not reassuring them with communication. Acts of Service: People who identify their "love language" as acts of service love actions. Talk is cheap. We want to see it. Acts of service could be as little as washing the dishes, taking your lover's car to get a car wash, going grocery shopping for them in place of them, etc. It is exactly as the common phrase says "Actions speak louder than words." However, it is not properly completing the love language if the receiver has to ask or if there is pessimism involved with the completion of the act. It should be pure and genuine. You could hurt this lover by complaining while doing the service and/or not keeping your word/following through with the action. If you say you will do something, we will expect you to do so. Physical Touch: Those who crave physical touch may require more physical affection. This may include kissing, holding hands, and hugs. Someone who loves physical touch and isn't receiving this need from their partner could be hurt and let their minds wander. They may feel that there is something wrong with them or that you simply aren't interested in them. Quality Time: When I think of people who prefer to be loved with quality time, I think of when teachers in grade school used to ask the talkative classroom for their "undivided attention." These types of lovers like being around their loved ones. This can be exercised by engaging in public setting activities, like grabbing something to eat or going on a walk. However, it could also just be executed by chillin' in the house with movies and snacks. It is up for translation depending on the person; essentially, they just crave your presence. You can hurt this lover by ghostin' them when you guys had plans and/or cancelling. If they really care about you, they were looking forward to spending time with you. It may come off as the feeling not being mutual. Being emotionally aware is so essential for everyone despite gender. Look up a love language quiz online to discover how you like being loved! |
thoughts from the soul.I have a lot to say. I'm a Leo sun+moon sign with a Pisces rising... that should explain it all. Archives
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