tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74201618748405993622024-02-07T15:38:19.060-08:00Just Happy and NappyFollow me as I continue my "au naturel" hair journey, life as a wife, and experiences as a new mommy.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983583700400197969noreply@blogger.comBlogger195125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420161874840599362.post-15328609678579527382013-08-08T09:57:00.000-07:002013-08-09T08:06:22.404-07:00My 7 "Must Have" Summer Products<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So I notice that every few months, I have a new set of “go to” products. I thought that I would share my summertime products. All are pregnant</span></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> (according to my doctor -- check with yours if you have any concerns)</span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and non-pregnant girl friendly.</span></div>
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<a href="http://images.amazon.com/images/G/01/hpc/detail-page/FeatureBox03_olay_021210_B0043OYFKU.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://images.amazon.com/images/G/01/hpc/detail-page/FeatureBox03_olay_021210_B0043OYFKU.jpg" width="134" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Olay Pro-X Advanced Cleansing Brush</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">$22 on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Olay-Advanced-Cleansing-System-1-Count/dp/B0043OYFKU" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I bought this brush out of desperation. My face was a mess (flashback to a previous <a href="http://www.justhappyandnappy.com/2013/07/pregnancy-hair-skin-advice.html" target="_blank">post</a>), yet I wasn’t willing to spend $200+ on one of the high end facial brushes (like the Clarisonic brushes). After doing some research and watching a lot of YouTube reviews, I was convinced that the Olay brush was just as good. I have been really pleased and have seen a huge difference in the look and texture of my skin. I tend to forget to exfoliate once a week, so at least by using this, I am removing some dead skin cells on a daily basis.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-136819546654763_2268_1213372338" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-136819546654763_2268_1213372338" width="200" /></span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">DermaQuest Anti-Bacterial Enzyme Cleanser</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">$21 on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dermaquest-Anti-Bacterial-Enzyme-Cleanser-oz/dp/B004L1E5UA/ref=sr_1_1?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1375931365&sr=1-1&keywords=DermaQuest+Anti-Bacterial+Enzyme+Cleanser" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This stuff right here is a miracle worker. My waxer suggested it since I was having a lot of skin issues during my 2</span><span style="vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">nd</span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> trimester. I wish I had known about this way before I got pregnant. After just a few days of using this product, my skin was clear and has been ever since. I wash my face twice a day using the Olay brush and I couldn’t be happier. If you are prone to breakouts, I highly suggest this cleanser. It will not leave our face dry like some acne cleansers.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.carolsdaughter.com/product/_p/Sexy_Belly_Duo-b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.carolsdaughter.com/product/_p/Sexy_Belly_Duo-b.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Carol’s Daughter </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sexy Belly</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2 for $22 from <a href="http://www.carolsdaughter.com/body_bath/sexy_belly_duo.html" target="_blank">Carol’s Daughter</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">No woman, pregnant or not, wants to deal with dreaded stretch marks. I admit that my body is not stretch mark free due to my fluctuating weight that finally stabilized before I got married and pregnant (go figure). Anyways, I tend to be skeptical of stretch mark fading/preventing creams and potions but my good friend told me to use this every day the minute I found out I was pregnant. I am happy to report t</span></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">hat so far </span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(*knocking on wood*), I don’t have any </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">new</span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> stretch marks. Now whether this is because of Sexy Belly or genetics, I don’t know, but I can tell you that I will keep using this stuff every day. This product also is supposed to prevent stretch marks, so I encourage every to give it a try. I will be using it post pregnancy. The price tag isn’t horrible so if after one jar you aren’t happy, sell the other on eBay :o).</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.aveda.com/images/products/254x320/av_A1KG_254.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.aveda.com/images/products/254x320/av_A1KG_254.png" style="cursor: move;" width="158" /></span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Aveda Brillant Anti-Humectant Pomade</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">$20 at <a href="http://www.aveda.com/product/5222/16395/Collections/BrilliantTM/Brilliant-Anti-Humectant-Pomade/index.tmpl" target="_blank">Aveda</a></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I've always loved this product. Whether I am wearing my hair straight or trying to maintain the length of a dry twist out, the anti-humectant pomade is great. Don't let the word "pomade" fool you. It has the texture of a light grease and a little goes a long ways. Since I have left my natural out on my sides and in the back for the current weave I am wearing, I use this to help my hair from reverting. I think this should be a staple in your collection if you are natural or relaxed.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.burtsbees.com/wcsstore/Bee2C/images/products/069_l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.burtsbees.com/wcsstore/Bee2C/images/products/069_l.jpg" width="151" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Burt's Bees Coconut Foot Cream</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>$9 on <a href="http://www.burtsbees.com/natural-products/body-foot-care/coconut-foot-cream.html" target="_blank">BurtsBees.com</a> </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This stuff is the truth. In full disclosure, I work for the company that owns Burt's Bees, but I still paid full price for this product and will continue to do so. It smells great and will bring anyone's dry feet back to life. It goes on a little greasy at first, but it will soak in, leaving your feet super soft and hydrated. It is light enough to use during the summer and still works great when the weather turns cold. And it is by a brand that is known for wonderful natural products.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.sephora.com/productimages/sku/s583138-main-hero.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.sephora.com/productimages/sku/s583138-main-hero.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>NARS The Multiple in Maui</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>$39 at <a href="http://www.sephora.com/product/productDetail.jsp?skuId=583138&productId=P2866" target="_blank">Sephora</a></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">First of all, I am obsessed with anything made by NARS. The colors really compliment all skin tones and the products are high quality. I own NARS lip sticks, glosses, and a tinted moisturizer. I've never felt like the price wasn't justified. Since I've pretty much given up on wearing make up, the stick is an easy way for me to get a little color on cheeks in under a minute. It glides on easy like a cream, blends well, and drys like a powder. The color lasts all day long. I'm tempted to try another color... maybe G-Spot or Orgasm (got to love the names).</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.sephora.com/productimages/sku/s1056092-main-hero.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.sephora.com/productimages/sku/s1056092-main-hero.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Anastasia Brow Wiz in Brunette</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>$21 at <a href="http://www.sephora.com/product/productDetail.jsp?skuId=1056092&productId=P202633" target="_blank">Sephora</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">I love thick, full brows. This pencil is soft and </span><span style="line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">delivers</span><span style="line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"> just enough coverage to fill in your brows where they are sparse. I promise your eyebrows won't look painted on. They will look amazing and full.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: inherit;">Have you used any of these products? Share your thoughts!</span></span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-4751d1e6-5bc4-3750-1107-760fe61aae1b"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983583700400197969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420161874840599362.post-56415151401659824832013-08-06T09:15:00.000-07:002013-08-06T09:15:00.445-07:00(Somewhat) irrational hair thought of the momentSo for the past few months, I have been trying very hard to avoid the reality of labor and delivery. And let me tell you, this stage of pregnancy has been hard to avoid. I swear every <a href="http://www.babycenter.com/" target="_blank">BabyCenter</a> newsletter has a whole section dedicated to "<a href="http://www.babycenter.com/video" target="_blank">live births</a>" or people want to volunteer the details of their traumatic experience. So you ask, why am I trying to avoid all of this and remain in a state of ignorant bliss? Quite simply, it scares the crap out of me. The pain, the hospital, the fact that anything can happen...all of it. I miss the days of believing the stork brought my little brother to our house.<br />
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But one thing I keep thinking about is holding my beautiful little girl and our first moments together. So I'm giving you fair warning to laugh at me or think I'm some crazy pregnant lady but I wonder, is it wrong if the <b>first glimpses my child eventually gets of me are weavealicous vs. natural</b>? <br />
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Again, I prefaced this all with the fact that this thought is probably super irrational, trivial, silly, etc., but it is one that I keep thinking about. Probably because my hair is one of few things that I an actually control. Am I some type of a fraud if she sees me with with my weave and lashes (oh yes, lash extensions are my latest obsession -- post coming about that)? Or should I be stripped down and natural like her?<br />
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I'm leaning towards the weave because I can only imagine how my natural hair would look after hours of labor.... it wouldn't be cute. And maybe I am slightly vain for wanting to look somewhat decent when my child comes into the world. It would be nice to have a fresh pedicure and for my hair to look presentable.<br />
<br />
And quite frankly, I can't be the only one who has had this thought. I know that some woman have full make up on, fresh for those post delivery pictures with their little bundle of joy. Soo poo on you if you are judging me! I'm just writing down what some people are thinking about :o).Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983583700400197969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420161874840599362.post-32508500861079868382013-07-30T18:00:00.000-07:002013-07-30T18:00:00.604-07:00Featured on BuzzFeed - DIY Maternity OutfitsMy friend passed along this great post from <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/awesome-maternity-outfits-you-can-make-yourself?sub=2474350_1437254" target="_blank">BuzzFeed</a>. I had to share!<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/enhanced/webdr01/2013/7/30/10/enhanced-buzz-28340-1375194908-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/enhanced/webdr01/2013/7/30/10/enhanced-buzz-28340-1375194908-3.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from BuzzFeed</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983583700400197969noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420161874840599362.post-18283728277770505692013-07-26T09:32:00.000-07:002013-07-26T09:32:11.186-07:00Pregnancy Hair & Skin Advice<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuSU614ssGubCTeYey8tDkqxrd-WnNmA5I0nleu05fSu9tmsIHPZ_6Fgoqur0A3ALod0wEDB7ficzU1rY5MiF-aD-H6K-iewK8Sf7v0IcnwxOKMTRFp9SUVieIO_kU_v_d45V0xDkaSX4/s1600/29+week+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuSU614ssGubCTeYey8tDkqxrd-WnNmA5I0nleu05fSu9tmsIHPZ_6Fgoqur0A3ALod0wEDB7ficzU1rY5MiF-aD-H6K-iewK8Sf7v0IcnwxOKMTRFp9SUVieIO_kU_v_d45V0xDkaSX4/s320/29+week+collage.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’m 29 weeks today! </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Part of me is screaming “</span><b style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: purple;">YAY</span></b><span style="font-family: inherit;">” and the other part of me is screaming “</span><b style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: purple;">Oh s$*&, I’m not ready yet!</span></b><span style="font-family: inherit;">” But as I enter the last phase of my pregnancy, I have been reflecting on the journey not only my body has been through, but the journey my hair and skin have both experienced. I thought that I would share some advice for others who are pregnant or thinking about getting pregnant because I found that a lot of what I was reading in books and on the Internet, caused me more stress than help. As always I am going to keep it real, which may result in some TMI moments.</span><br />
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></b>
<b style="font-family: inherit;">Your skin may freak out. </b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> If you are prone to breakouts when you are on your period, your face will probably go <u>ape s&*% crazy</u> when you get pregnant.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Take it from me, facials do nothing so don’t waste your money. My face was HORRIBLE so I immediately ran to my esthetician. After 3 times of spending at least $100 per session, my face still looked a hot mess. The breakouts are caused by the hormones running through your body. So your face </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">may</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> look good for a day or two, but eventually you will look a mess again.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Talk to your doctor about what products are safe. Do <b><u>NOT</u> </b>rely on the Internet. A lot of the stuff I banned from my bathroom for months due to all of the Mommy boards scaring the crap out of me, turned out to be perfectly safe in my doctor’s opinion.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Drink a lot of water. I’ve always drank a lot of water, but at one point during my first trimester, my skin was super dry, so stay hydrated!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Keep your hands out of your face.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Wash your face twice a day. You can't do much about your hormones, but you can keep your face dirt and oil free as much as possible.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do not wear a ton of make-up. I never wore a lot of makeup before all hell broke loose on my face. But after waking up several times, looking at myself in the mirror, and crying, I felt like the only thing I could do was to cover it up with make-up. Not only did this probably make matters worse, but I brought more attention upon myself because of my sudden use of make-up. If you can’t imagine leaving the house with a bare face, at least keep things light and just use powder or a light tinted moisturizer.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do not beat yourself up</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">. Your body is doing amazing things to grow your beautiful baby. In the grand scheme of things, your breakouts are truly a blip on the radar and are temporary. By the middle of the second trimester, my skin went back to normal for the most part.</span></li>
</ul>
</span><div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><b>Your hair will grow like crazy but you probably won't feel like doing it</b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><b>.</b> Non pregnant people still ask me, “Why do you have a weave? Your hair has grown so much!” I tell them until they have been pregnant and understand how incredibly tired I am, especially during the 1</span><sup style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">st</sup><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"> trimester, do not say this to me. The last thing I feel like doing is my hair and I don’t want the health of my hair to suffer. Wearing a weave has been a lifesaver. Granted I still need to take great care of my hair, but it </span><span style="color: #222222;">doesn't</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"> take me nearly as long to do my hair on a weekly and daily basis. </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Pick a protective hair style that will be easy for you maintain and make you feel great.</span></div>
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<b style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></b></div>
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<b style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Your hair will grow like crazy...</b><b style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><u>everywhere.</u></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"> You will become besties with your waxer but eventually you will probably not care anymore because you won’t be able to see anything below your hips. The moment when I discovered I could no longer comfortably bend down to shave my legs, was quite humbling and amusing. My advice - wear pants or maxi dresses and keep it moving.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />I can laugh now because I am not longer in the moment or just don’t care anymore. But I am willing to endure anything for my baby girl! Would love to hear any skin and hair tips from pregnant lovelies or moms!</span><br />
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Elisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06099120770603788024noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420161874840599362.post-35507865243014974412013-05-08T20:18:00.001-07:002013-05-08T20:18:08.029-07:00Impulse decision <br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">So big news first. My husband and I are expecting! The little
peanut will be making his/her debut in October. Around the date of my last post
is when I found out… needless to say life has been a whirlwind since then.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg8gaJLAH2sZ0DaFmwlfhsAVqqOHAUc0ugUcSirYhzoW1xyy9QfcBl7EYoridrTrqCXkZD4biPtp3peoSwFqszlQ-pIoNRNVXtE-KU-4BOAdZszZC0QWLr5F7fCFEsNQ7s9zCLEothblM/s1600/IMG_0240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg8gaJLAH2sZ0DaFmwlfhsAVqqOHAUc0ugUcSirYhzoW1xyy9QfcBl7EYoridrTrqCXkZD4biPtp3peoSwFqszlQ-pIoNRNVXtE-KU-4BOAdZszZC0QWLr5F7fCFEsNQ7s9zCLEothblM/s320/IMG_0240.jpg" width="293" /></a></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">I was extremely tired during my first trimester (luckily that’s
the only real symptom I experienced) and had a hard time keeping up with my hair. So I
turned to a weave and that helped me out a lot. I figured it was better to take
care of a weave properly, rather than risk damage to my natural hair by not
giving it the time it needed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">So on Sunday after yoga, I had the bright idea to take my weave
out because I missed my natural hair. My hair has always grown pretty fast and
I always heard that your hair grows like crazy you are pregnant due to hormones
and the prenatal vitamins, but I was not ready for the amount of hair I
discovered. I was overwhelmed with the amount of hair on my head and I am at a loss for what to do with it. I
feel like I am starting my natural journey all over again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">I carefully removed my weave and washed/conditioned my hair like
usual. I made an impulse purchase at Target and purchased <a href="http://www.janecartersolution.com/hair_nour_cream_tube.html" target="_blank">Jane Carter’s Hair NourishingCream</a> and used it as a heat protectant before I blew out my hair. I am very
happy with the product and highly recommend it, despite the price tag (~$17). My hair was soft and had a nice shine when I was done. Later
that night, I curled my hair on grey and purple flexi rods using some <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Natural-Oasis-Herbal-Styling-Oil/dp/B00565U7FM/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1368068170&sr=8-4&keywords=natural+oasis+hair+products" target="_blank">Natural Oasis hair oil</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">The next morning I had big, fluffy, textured curls. Now what do I
do? Besides a bun and two strand twists,
I am fresh out of ideas. I know I should leave the heat alone and style my hair
wet, but did I mention I was pregnant and tired? </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH1Bbk9rPbohHmmhs2OKVUtq7OwkqZ5i9dvIqaatrkDBA3UKWsO582R-A6Ncx-RQcCNIsBsa7o_4W_1N06iID3w6UgcZ9_uObtIooqEjZn86prSHvNr4If5-CX9I2eirBIuBH7jTuTl_A/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH1Bbk9rPbohHmmhs2OKVUtq7OwkqZ5i9dvIqaatrkDBA3UKWsO582R-A6Ncx-RQcCNIsBsa7o_4W_1N06iID3w6UgcZ9_uObtIooqEjZn86prSHvNr4If5-CX9I2eirBIuBH7jTuTl_A/s320/photo+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 1</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq7tApvE1xFopmt5ZBYtbDhDecB_sdYMoxP2q4TyUKHjcuwm0OeKX76sxZaWKIzlhnBmmzoDRiBKUwaZ4rEfARTJxbxTLNZajKQ3kfVfjq2RMKbBw6F0cA2scdEIlfd5sVotLg3Ja4a6g/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq7tApvE1xFopmt5ZBYtbDhDecB_sdYMoxP2q4TyUKHjcuwm0OeKX76sxZaWKIzlhnBmmzoDRiBKUwaZ4rEfARTJxbxTLNZajKQ3kfVfjq2RMKbBw6F0cA2scdEIlfd5sVotLg3Ja4a6g/s320/photo+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 2</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Elisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06099120770603788024noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420161874840599362.post-6789414374530212102013-01-14T22:39:00.004-08:002013-01-14T22:39:57.824-08:001 Week Curlformer Review + New Style ObsessionI thought that I would include a slideshow of my week of looks, courtesy of my Curlformers set. I have to admit that I was bummed on day 2 and 3 when the curls started to not look as "crisp" <i><b>but</b></i> Curlformers are <b><span style="color: #741b47;"><u>awesome</u></span></b> for stretching! I rocked a big, fluffy, twist out for days. And working out didn't ruin my hair. I usually end up with terrible shrinkage after a rough workout, but the 3 strand twist out really saved my hair. And again, I want to reiterate that I didn't use any heat on my hair.<br />
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<center>
<iframe allowfullscreen="true" height="384" mozallowfullscreen="true" src="http://files.photosnack.com/iframejs/embed.html?hash=ptu3wm9p&t=1358231345" style="border: none;" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="576"></iframe></center>
<br />
So once my curls started to poof, my thought was to rely on a 2 strand twist out. But as I was perusing YouTube, I discovered the 3 strand twist *gasp* - my new style obsession. It really sounds more complicated than it is. You are literally twisting your hair, like a rope, with 3 strands. You just have to be careful not to braid your hair. Check out a great tutorial from MsKelabug:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
MsKelabug's video is great and her hair is beautiful!</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/adDXesH4owU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
Yesterday, I planned on doing a 3 strand twist on wet hair, but I'm "chasing [the style] dragon" this week and decided to use Curlformers again. I've really gotten the technique down and my second attempt took only 45 minutes. <b><i>I would love to hear about your Curlformer storiy!</i></b>Elisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06099120770603788024noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420161874840599362.post-50712595899905189552013-01-13T07:01:00.001-08:002013-01-13T07:01:29.907-08:00Elisa shared an Instagram photo with you <div style="padding: 20px; -webkit-border-radius: 5px; -moz-border-radius: 5px; border-radius:5px; width:550; margin:0px auto; font-size:18px; font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial"> Hi there, <p><span style="font-weight:bold">Elisa</span> just shared an <a style="text-decoration:none; color: #2f79c2" href="http://instagram.com/">Instagram</a> photo with you:</p> <div style='margin:0px auto; width: 480px; text-align:center'> <img style='margin-bottom: 0.4em; box-shadow: 0 0 10px #888; -webkit-box-shadow: 0 0 10px #888; -moz-box-shadow: 0 0 10px #888;' src="http://distilleryimage6.instagram.com/07927afe5d9211e2a68422000a1fb163_6.jpg"/><br/><a style="color:#2f79c2; text-decoration:none; font-style:italic; font-size:0.6em" href="http://instagr.am/p/UbZ6_ntcVK/">view full image</a> <p style="font-size:0.8em">"Bangs + Poof = airport 'do #teamnatural " <br/></p> </div> Thanks,<br/> The Instagram Team </div> Elisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06099120770603788024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420161874840599362.post-69961438555245401022013-01-11T17:43:00.001-08:002013-01-11T17:43:31.957-08:00Elisa shared an Instagram photo with you <div style="padding: 20px; -webkit-border-radius: 5px; -moz-border-radius: 5px; border-radius:5px; width:550; margin:0px auto; font-size:18px; font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial"> Hi there, <p><span style="font-weight:bold">Elisa</span> just shared an <a style="text-decoration:none; color: #2f79c2" href="http://instagram.com/">Instagram</a> photo with you:</p> <div style='margin:0px auto; width: 480px; text-align:center'> <img style='margin-bottom: 0.4em; box-shadow: 0 0 10px #888; -webkit-box-shadow: 0 0 10px #888; -moz-box-shadow: 0 0 10px #888;' src="http://distilleryimage10.instagram.com/4c40a19c5c5911e2819022000a1f99d8_6.jpg"/><br/><a style="color:#2f79c2; text-decoration:none; font-style:italic; font-size:0.6em" href="http://instagr.am/p/UXZu2HtcQi/">view full image</a> <p style="font-size:0.8em">"Stay tuned for a post about my lastest style obsession... 3 strand twists. #teamnatural " <br/></p> </div> Thanks,<br/> The Instagram Team </div> Elisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06099120770603788024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420161874840599362.post-4168652245060983072013-01-11T07:00:00.000-08:002013-01-11T07:00:05.818-08:00Just happy and nappyWhen I first started blogging about my transitioning journey, I never (1) thought that I would be able to go completely natural, (2) that I would still be natural almost 6 years later, and (3) that I would have fallen so in love with natural hair.<br />
<br />
It is clear that a lot of things have changed in my life. I went to business school, moved across the country, and most importantly, I married the absolute love of my life. But my hair journey continues to changed as well. I am no longer trying to go "from dyed and fried to happy and nappy". Instead, I am "just happy and nappy".<br />
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Now some people have a problem with the word "nappy". My hair is tightly curled or coiled. I love my hair. So yup, I am <u>just happy and nappy</u>.<br />
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I hope you will continue to follow me as I continue on my ever evolving hair and life journey. Here's to a new year, new beginnings, and all things happy and nappy!<br />
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Follow me on Instagram: @kabobbellElisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06099120770603788024noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420161874840599362.post-26373122816761625252013-01-09T21:27:00.001-08:002013-01-11T16:48:01.416-08:00BluePrint Juice Cleanse<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://blueprintcleanse.com/images/choose-your-cleanse/cleanse-renovation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="162" src="http://blueprintcleanse.com/images/choose-your-cleanse/cleanse-renovation.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BluePrint Cleanses. Renovation Level.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hello lovelies! So a few days ago, I completed 3 days of the <a href="http://blueprintcleanse.com/cleanse.html" target="_blank">Renovation level</a> of the BluePrint cleanse (BPC). I've tried to do a fruit and veggie cleanse in the past and I ended up not being able to handle it (you can search on my blog for "cleanse" to check out some old posts). </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I was determined to get through just 3 days of a juice cleanse as a way to purge my system of my holiday "fun" and to get myself back on track. Before my wedding, I was in the zone and I just want to get back to that state of mind. What I wasn't determined about, was the price. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A good quality juice cleanse isn't cheap. I spent weeks researching different companies across the country, only to find they were all around the same price. I lucked up on a </span><a href="http://www.ruelala.com/" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">Rue La La</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> "sale" and got the BPC 3 day cleanse for </span><b style="font-family: inherit;">$155 + $30</b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> for shipping, roughly making each juice $10. The juices are also sold at Whole Foods for about the same price, but I liked the idea of having super fresh juice, sent to me all at once (it is shipped overnight via FedEx). And plus, there is no guarantee that Whole Foods will have each juice that you want.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So I am not going to try and sell you on the benefits of juicing. I'm only going to share my experience. I think so many people are curious about how I did it because I am not shy about my love of food and if I don't eat every 2 hours, I am cranky, mean, bitchy... etc. Which is probably why my husband wasn't too thrilled about me doing this. So here goes. I tried to keep a diary to detail when I drank each juice and how I was feeling, as well as the weight loss I experienced. Just a warning, it is clear that I am an </span>over-sharer<span style="font-family: inherit;">, so if poop grosses you out, it is mentioned below. You have been warned :).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Juices:</span><br />
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<ol>
<li><span style="color: #222222;">Green Juice - Kale, Apple, Ginger, Romaine, Spinach, Cucumber, Celery, Parsley, Lemon</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222;">PAM (my second favorite) - Pineapple, Apple, Mint</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222;">Green Juice - Kale, Apple, Ginger, Romaine, Spinach, Cucumber, Celery, Parsley, Lemon</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222;">Spicy Lemonade - Lemon, Cayenne, Agave</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222;">CAB - Beet, Apple, Carrot, Lemon, Ginger</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222;">Cashew Milk (my favorite) - Cashew, Vanilla, Cinnamin, Agave</span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><u>Day 1</u></span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Until 10:30 a.m. - As instructed by BPC, I snacked on apple slices, water, and herbal tea until my juices arrived.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">10:30 a.m. - #1. Has a very strong parsley smell but the actual taste isn't overwhelmingly parsley.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">12 p.m. - #2. Very refreshing and not overly sweet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">2 p.m. - #3. Note to self. Don't let the green juice get too warm...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">4:43 p.m. - I'm feeling kind of light headed. Why did i do this again? Drank some water as I was leaving the office to hold me over a bit longer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">5:15 p.m. - #4. This is good, but I wish it was spicier.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">7 p.m. - I am not a huge fan of this one but it is much better than I thought.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">9 p.m. - LOVE the cashew milk but it does get oddly lumpy towards the end.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Day 2</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">***Down 3 pounds***</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">7 a.m. - Drank warm water with lemon and I'm actually not hungry, but I am kind of gassy (sorry TMI, you were warned). No poo this morning so I am drink some laxative tea (I really like <a href="http://gan.doubleclick.net/gan_click?lid=41000613802463762&pid=FNTR2844&adurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.boncui.com%2Ffntr2844.html&usg=AFHzDLuc4jQjdbKsvKWqnbkKt3O9I9NwLg&pubid=612557" rel="nofollow">Smooth Move</a>).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">8:49 a.m. - #1</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">11:11 a.m. - #2</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">1:25 p.m. - #3</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">3:30 p.m. - Time for some laxative tea.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">5:00 p.m. - #4. Starting to feel light headed so I guess it was time for a juice.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">8:00 p.m. - #5. Sigh. Still feeling light headed a bit. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">10 p.m. - #6. Thank God! Time for cashew milk!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Midnight - Bedtime</span></div>
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<u>Day 3</u></div>
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***Down 1.4 pounds***</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">7 a.m. - Chamomile with lemon and then some warm water with lemon. Still no poo. WTF!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">9 a.m. - #1</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">10:09 a.m. - Poo! Finally!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">11: 15 a.m. - #2</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">2:00 p.m. - #3</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">4:30 p.m. - #4. Now I seem to have the hang of this...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">7:14 p.m. - #5</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">10 p.m. - #6. Wow. I really did it. I will miss the cashew milk though.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
When I woke up the next day, I was down another pound, so I lost a total of ~5 pounds and I was back to my pre-holiday weight. Woohoo!</div>
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Follow me on Instagram: @kabobbell<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>Elisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06099120770603788024noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420161874840599362.post-63987188863197153602013-01-05T15:10:00.001-08:002013-01-10T23:10:54.122-08:00Curlformers: Attempt #1Right now I am in the phase of falling in love with my natural hair all over again. I was uber lazy this week and rocked a giant poof. So I think it is time to try some new things especially since my hair is a lot longer. <br />
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Enter Curlformers. <br />
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I've been very skeptical about these curly things and the price tag ($70ish) didn't help either. But I said, f*** it and bought the styling kit from Sally's.<br />
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At first I was skeptical and didn't think that I was going to end up with smooth curls because of my tight curl pattern. But things turned out well!</div>
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<b><u>Cleanse</u></b></div>
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<ol>
<li>Pre-Poo: <b>Avocado Oil</b>. 20 minutes. No heat.</li>
<li>Cleanse: <b>SheaMoisture Thickening Shampoo</b>. Since I am not longer taking my Alopecia medicine, my dermatologist prescribed an oil treatment for my scalp. For that reason, I am experimenting using a gentle shampoo to make sure my scalp is properly cleansed vs. cowashing.</li>
<li>Deep condition: <b>SheaMoisture Anti-Breakage Masque + Avocado Oil + Olive Oil.</b> 30 minutes with a plastic cap and towel on my head. No heat.</li>
</ol>
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<b></b><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><b><u>Style</u></b></b></div>
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</div>
<div>
<ol>
<li>Detangle: <b>Kinky Curly Knot Today</b></li>
<li>Hold: <b>Kinky Curly Spiral Spritz</b></li>
<li>Installed Curlformers. This took me a little over an hour simply because I didn't know what I was doing. When I was done, I went to bed and when I woke up my hair was completely dry. I did sleep in a scarf too in order to keep the front Curlformers off of my face. It wasn't horrible sleeping in these things, but I didn't get solid sleep.</li>
</ol>
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<ol>
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<b><u>Finished Product</u></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4SvhjlSUk93W3AwjG4JACAjLnHzxvyBp95FwDevwOrOzpLY1_2j3WWOpy8r1fh0loPBLZs5zKM4ePORE0kXeIXqyDWb_fwosaPnF4Og-d5xGDrBxlN0X1eo9nRJwO6CMMUKcEUfY3xG8/s1600/photo+1+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4SvhjlSUk93W3AwjG4JACAjLnHzxvyBp95FwDevwOrOzpLY1_2j3WWOpy8r1fh0loPBLZs5zKM4ePORE0kXeIXqyDWb_fwosaPnF4Og-d5xGDrBxlN0X1eo9nRJwO6CMMUKcEUfY3xG8/s200/photo+1+%25281%2529.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip9Vl0KYXGKYlFgD3t4SV3sBXBe2c3AR5xDvw9wD7JCb9OG0di2q3yClpSXyZrd3N_876JwTnweaRkiMfpuuLNwA09E_7VqQrHp047sCr-C8Ajo48peF-wpxWcRis1f2xV0Ye8LczUpz8/s1600/72255_10100761484261246_946608137_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip9Vl0KYXGKYlFgD3t4SV3sBXBe2c3AR5xDvw9wD7JCb9OG0di2q3yClpSXyZrd3N_876JwTnweaRkiMfpuuLNwA09E_7VqQrHp047sCr-C8Ajo48peF-wpxWcRis1f2xV0Ye8LczUpz8/s200/72255_10100761484261246_946608137_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvdj3k_PL7RWykKemJWvHsASpOLxF6apwc3SZjBcKZ4kzVcDQ42aykk4vM0lmPUg0W-lemwKJw93_bv2ZSsWELjnuxq-W_oUtyn0oz3C0NMLuZC3fcP74dG7B0la_RR1n6ZK2f9rSIP0A/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvdj3k_PL7RWykKemJWvHsASpOLxF6apwc3SZjBcKZ4kzVcDQ42aykk4vM0lmPUg0W-lemwKJw93_bv2ZSsWELjnuxq-W_oUtyn0oz3C0NMLuZC3fcP74dG7B0la_RR1n6ZK2f9rSIP0A/s200/photo+3.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zMrtahJn6NJtnl0gjhNxw2NBnM7ooe2DTAuFgUl1zDYhRPnw7bjbWpFtePgHADYvzMgpLLkx3RJvnPADL25EOjfXpNUbXY-paiZBPFQUYjK0ZVbrrkd1hxjj1ixdFa3DHPJMYNgiCR8/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zMrtahJn6NJtnl0gjhNxw2NBnM7ooe2DTAuFgUl1zDYhRPnw7bjbWpFtePgHADYvzMgpLLkx3RJvnPADL25EOjfXpNUbXY-paiZBPFQUYjK0ZVbrrkd1hxjj1ixdFa3DHPJMYNgiCR8/s200/photo+4.JPG" width="150" /></a><br />
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My hair is SUPER soft and the curls are pretty damn smooth. My ends on some curls are so so but I think it is because I used too much hair for that particular curl. I must say that I am impressed. Now I did miss a few small pieces here and there, but for my first time, I think I did a pretty good job. Here are a few tips:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Twist you hair at the root so you can easily hook it and pull through the Curlformer.</li>
<li>Use small sections. I found that if I used too much hair for a curl, it was hard to pull through the Curlformer.</li>
<li>Resist the temptation to mess with your curls a lot. I wish I had just left them as is and separated them in a few days.</li>
</ol>
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This may be my new 'do for the next few weeks!</div>
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Follow me on Instagram: @kabobbell<br />
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Elisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06099120770603788024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420161874840599362.post-82415261146164876432012-12-28T16:39:00.000-08:002013-01-10T23:11:21.261-08:00Out with the old and in with the...natural?<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">Hello. My name is Elisa and I am/was hooked on </span><u>weaves</u><span style="font-weight: normal;">! </span></i></span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgcgafNNNnalh2v2GpGEGF04kc-8NXhg2BK_GA9GPpalc8yRMngPRU9JKndsj43UyaoJJFG4Rq5KYoh7vdgtC9Rbo1-4BLhvz368Q4p0hcDbDa4AcOX3s6V2svERrHNdSt8Qo9MCIy044/s1600/382140_10100730161088136_1843915342_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgcgafNNNnalh2v2GpGEGF04kc-8NXhg2BK_GA9GPpalc8yRMngPRU9JKndsj43UyaoJJFG4Rq5KYoh7vdgtC9Rbo1-4BLhvz368Q4p0hcDbDa4AcOX3s6V2svERrHNdSt8Qo9MCIy044/s200/382140_10100730161088136_1843915342_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">For my wedding, I really wanted to have long beautiful curls. I should have known I would get hooked and keep weaving it up for months. Well last night I was finally sick of it and took it out *snip snip* (well actually my mom did). </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQoxHrvCeoCVX_q8hxxx1VmnVJSm2g7W7rLwvDt8Esii6C0pKH3azrgwkIUrL76J_KE1QvAkzOW5f5yQ0FxswKtYqYdpU5NhupjBc-RV-AChENYzq3Uv1B-U8z-yEi7zPrWfAqfFDisoA/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQoxHrvCeoCVX_q8hxxx1VmnVJSm2g7W7rLwvDt8Esii6C0pKH3azrgwkIUrL76J_KE1QvAkzOW5f5yQ0FxswKtYqYdpU5NhupjBc-RV-AChENYzq3Uv1B-U8z-yEi7zPrWfAqfFDisoA/s320/photo.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Messy poof. Post weave removal. Pre wash.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My hair is in pretty good shape. It's not dry at all. My ends look great because I just got a trim before my </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">last install. But I freaked when I got all the weave was out. Why, you ask? </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> You know the saying "out of sight, out of mind"? Well this saying truly applies to my alopecia situation. I stopped taking my medicine back in September (that is another blog post in itself) and figured that letting my hair rest would hopefully keep my hair loss to a minimum. I don't know if my alopecia has worsened or if I am in shock because I haven't really seen my hair since June, but I am definitely feeling some kind of way. I do have some edge breakage but I am pretty confident that I can get them back on track. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">All in all, I really missed my natural hair and I am so happy to see it. I have been lusting after beautiful 'fros, twists, and poofs and now I can have all of that again.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVEJFAyDpHzIs-CTHCIndA02VIgmwp4RDQqLFgEqsHoKBCnekTZi0MGHJxOYeSwAyPA1gHwP7IOXTmxdkuMvTdwFEkZow3cOsUbST3lSsLM4FMSnJ14sdhwQ9Mf3YO6whK3yWGoxF7eSM/s1600/64574_10100752354532296_1574855767_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVEJFAyDpHzIs-CTHCIndA02VIgmwp4RDQqLFgEqsHoKBCnekTZi0MGHJxOYeSwAyPA1gHwP7IOXTmxdkuMvTdwFEkZow3cOsUbST3lSsLM4FMSnJ14sdhwQ9Mf3YO6whK3yWGoxF7eSM/s320/64574_10100752354532296_1574855767_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
Cleanser: <a href="http://www.sephora.com/sweet-almond-mint-cleansing-conditioner-P374588" target="_blank">Wen Sweet Almond Mint Cleansing Conditioner</a><br />
Deep Conditioner: <a href="http://www.sephora.com/sweet-almond-mint-re-moist-intensive-hair-treatment-P374586" target="_blank">Wen Sweet Almond Mint Re Moist Intensive Hair Treatment</a><br />
Detangler: <a href="http://www.target.com/p/kinky-curly-knot-today-leave-in-conditioner-detangler-8-oz/-/A-13044269" target="_blank">Kinky Curly Knot Today</a><br />
Twisting Agent: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Organic-Root-Stimulator-Lock-Twist/dp/B0014RA68E" target="_blank">Organic Root Stimulator Lock & Twist Gel</a><br />
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Follow me on Instagram: @kabobbellElisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06099120770603788024noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420161874840599362.post-74027182683478391872012-06-17T18:31:00.000-07:002013-01-10T23:12:04.465-08:00I need to stop being lazy...So finally my life is starting to get back to normal. I finished my MBA, moved to California, started my new job, and the wedding planning is wrapping up! In the midst of all this transitioning, I did whatever it took to minimize the time it took to do my hair. Yup, basically, I got lazy. Real lazy. So today I decided to not cut corners and to mix up a great deep conditioner.<br />
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And with that. I rediscovered my love for <b>shea</b> and <b>avocado oil</b>. After I washed my hair with <b>SheaMoisture Yucca & Aloe</b> shampoo, I coated my hair in a mixture of <b>shea</b> and <b>avocado oil </b>and massaged it in. Then, I applied the <b>SheaMoisture </b><b>Yucca & Aloe </b>deep conditioner and slapped a plastic cap on my head. I accidentally fell asleep with a towel on my head (don't ask) and when I woke up, my hair was <i style="font-weight: bold;">super</i> soft. I easily detangled my hair with the mixture in it. After that I used a heat protectant and used the blow dryer to dry my hair. I changed up my two strand twist method and if it comes out cute, I will post again tomorrow with pictures and instructions.<br />
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So I am making a promise to myself (putting it in writing so I will actually be held accountable) to really start doing my hair like I used to!<br />
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Follow me on Instagram: @kabobbellElisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06099120770603788024noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420161874840599362.post-6555996325732174642012-03-22T05:41:00.000-07:002012-03-22T05:41:14.124-07:00Bio-Oil - Is it the real deal?Well hello Lovelies!<br />
<br />
My wedding is quickly approaching (less than 6 months away) and I am trying maintain my skin care regimen. I have been doing very well with my face regimen (I haven't had a breakout in more than 6 months) but now I am starting to pay more attention to my overall body.<br />
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A few years ago, I was about 50 pounds heavier (thankfully I have managed to lose that weight and keep it off). I put on the weight pretty quickly, so I have stretch marks. Luckily for me, my stretch marks aren't terribly noticeable, but I want to be as close to perfect as possible when I am lounging in sun with my new hubby on our honeymoon in Mo'orea! With that said, I have heard about <a href="http://bio-oilusa.com/en-us/">Bio-Oil</a> for years, but never bought it. Mainly because of the price tag - about $14 for a 2 ounce bottle. But after doing some reviews, I decided to bite the bullet. Many black women have seen success with Bio-Oil, so I figured I would give it a shot.<br />
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The key with this product seems to be consistency. The instructions on the bottle say to use twice a day for at least 3 months... <b><i>woah</i></b>. I will definitely report back in 3 months to see if I have started to see any results.Elisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06099120770603788024noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420161874840599362.post-430005637019916432011-12-23T10:27:00.003-08:002011-12-23T10:37:23.048-08:00It has been TOO long...Hi Lovelies! It has been WAY too long. After my summer internship in New York City, I moved back to Ithaca for my last year at Cornell. School mixed with wedding planning and recruiting made for a hectic life. So for the most part, I have been rockin' my natural hair. I did however get a weave for our engagement pictures. Here is one for your viewing pleasure :).<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Fz_Q97nUwHQcG_AAnBebZ0eKgTnS8DqlxAo-LLtRA6mZ3WZos0OTK4sZgLgs82j9-pzBg4dXOuKbYHCrXFzfiiaVIy5TZhtMjAceWgv7YVR5PVJrzWzdR6K-UZ-lT2PquPWTx9o13IU/s1600/0038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Fz_Q97nUwHQcG_AAnBebZ0eKgTnS8DqlxAo-LLtRA6mZ3WZos0OTK4sZgLgs82j9-pzBg4dXOuKbYHCrXFzfiiaVIy5TZhtMjAceWgv7YVR5PVJrzWzdR6K-UZ-lT2PquPWTx9o13IU/s320/0038.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Love Life Images, Inc.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhpENJIzvCjpQsnEZiJL06dwPuNsC3SDlxMU1ylB6RkxzRoVktRx7s9OQp_zHev0Bz3NH4zuVhJWK-mAHjVhi6HfFSIYWXXe3HAzollxg9AW0t1pye2FyeH9SY2Arsp9EsmgxjmdFG85g/s1600/376991_10100273733133416_1515278_48518697_556970039_n.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhpENJIzvCjpQsnEZiJL06dwPuNsC3SDlxMU1ylB6RkxzRoVktRx7s9OQp_zHev0Bz3NH4zuVhJWK-mAHjVhi6HfFSIYWXXe3HAzollxg9AW0t1pye2FyeH9SY2Arsp9EsmgxjmdFG85g/s200/376991_10100273733133416_1515278_48518697_556970039_n.jpeg" width="200" /></a>So let's talk about the weave. My weave was beautiful, but I decided to leave some of my real hair out to make it look more natural. I have never done this before. I usually get full weaves, not exposing any of my natural hair. Here is a close up (you know I can't resist showing off my handsome fiancé). This was a hasty decision because I didn't think about the maintenance for keeping my hair straight, especially since I have a trainer 3 times a week. When my hair was freshly straightened, it blended very well with the weave (this time I used wavy Indian Remy human hair). But as the days went on it was harder and harder to blend. I ended up putting heat on my hair 3 times a week and using that much heat on my hair concerned me. Since I rarely straighten my hair, I didn't want the heat to alter my curl pattern for that one section that I left out. I was very good about using heat protecting products before any heat touched my hair, but that still didn't make me feel comfortable.<br />
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Another issue I had to deal with was due to my hair thinning due to Alopecia. Making sure my scalp wasn't exposed was difficult and really left me feeling insecure. I did discover "hair shadow" which is basically eyeshadow for your scalp. The stuff is great. I was able to put this on my scalp to give the appearance of hair; this stuff was a lifesaver.<br />
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Well I managed to leave my weave in only for one month. I'm going to Brazil (yay) for 10 days and the thought of having to deal with the heat, humidity and my hair, was too much to think about. I have noticed that my curls are more relaxed in that one spot that I was flat ironing on a regular basis. <br />
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I'm glad to have my natural hair back. I'm still following my same wash, condition, and styling routine, but I am finding that I experiment with how I wear my twist outs a lot more. Here are some pics of my latest 'do. Also, I put a clear rinse in my hair a few months ago. I'm sure it has rinsed by now, but I'm loving my hair color (most of the henna has grown out).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3pVary22J5e62vEdRNUEAh3EE6HgOCi9iuGCnQymZqesAWIJ3FRiZrIr_acCcIgVHvHlA4zSTtKzWnX4dXNQ5GuShyPV1TQx7l0FhiUhp8HvxLWG3kBfh-NdylNl2Z-06zjAvS34ErJI/s1600/Photo+on+2011-12-23+at+13.20+%25233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3pVary22J5e62vEdRNUEAh3EE6HgOCi9iuGCnQymZqesAWIJ3FRiZrIr_acCcIgVHvHlA4zSTtKzWnX4dXNQ5GuShyPV1TQx7l0FhiUhp8HvxLWG3kBfh-NdylNl2Z-06zjAvS34ErJI/s320/Photo+on+2011-12-23+at+13.20+%25233.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtNXCSkXeauE0sfzvArfWQWQLaVCnwo8Cf4TwNM-EY_vknfCDzPkyTSeSue6Ja185lLkistieCNLMjBcoXYYuPU81vqMzktvf_UyhnZJL-BPHa6HxSbDmEzn4qQMFJ1ItpwmB7fPpTYBw/s1600/Photo+on+2011-12-23+at+13.20+%25234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtNXCSkXeauE0sfzvArfWQWQLaVCnwo8Cf4TwNM-EY_vknfCDzPkyTSeSue6Ja185lLkistieCNLMjBcoXYYuPU81vqMzktvf_UyhnZJL-BPHa6HxSbDmEzn4qQMFJ1ItpwmB7fPpTYBw/s320/Photo+on+2011-12-23+at+13.20+%25234.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaP63xcy_dD4-yXnjyxa6mLw_78CAXny-59izRip_XQFr2qVh7vNqfn-bRx25YEixTuRAFh98qFQP-eO5KoL0_Gbw9Yr7eQa_SwhFqK0B5zYIe8lu2jT5irxpnHq2QthMl_vOoi9YCe98/s1600/Photo+on+2011-12-23+at+13.21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaP63xcy_dD4-yXnjyxa6mLw_78CAXny-59izRip_XQFr2qVh7vNqfn-bRx25YEixTuRAFh98qFQP-eO5KoL0_Gbw9Yr7eQa_SwhFqK0B5zYIe8lu2jT5irxpnHq2QthMl_vOoi9YCe98/s320/Photo+on+2011-12-23+at+13.21.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGKMNgIl46RCtK_W7C8MZT9m1paJVa4cHFS92wBzzERwQNiMJuX9v2I55r_KDIDBfFl7o0O0hlIQ9edHwtvYrczquLug0LYz-Hcrx1rmDILVNjSQMpSQBNwbuWJLDnKNNXufotrsSbRZw/s1600/Photo+on+2011-12-23+at+13.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGKMNgIl46RCtK_W7C8MZT9m1paJVa4cHFS92wBzzERwQNiMJuX9v2I55r_KDIDBfFl7o0O0hlIQ9edHwtvYrczquLug0LYz-Hcrx1rmDILVNjSQMpSQBNwbuWJLDnKNNXufotrsSbRZw/s320/Photo+on+2011-12-23+at+13.23.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Elisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06099120770603788024noreply@blogger.com0Alexandria, VA, USA38.8048355 -77.046921438.755339500000005 -77.1258854 38.8543315 -76.9679574tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420161874840599362.post-21935020992458913262011-08-11T07:00:00.000-07:002011-08-11T07:00:05.011-07:00Reasonably priced products alert! Check out Pooka.<br />
Hello lovelies. As my internship ends, reality has set in and I'm slowly realizing that I am once again a broke student (only one more year of this, praise the Lord).<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.pookapureandsimple.com/">Pooka Pure and Simple</a></b> is an all natural, handmade beautycare line that was conceived after the creator, Dawn Fitch, was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. She decided to take a natural approach to hair and skincare by making her own products. I was even happier when I realized that the products are *gasp* affordable!<br />
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<a href="http://www.pookapureandsimple.com/products/images/large_haircreme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.pookapureandsimple.com/products/images/large_haircreme.jpg" width="200" /></a> <a href="http://www.pookapureandsimple.com/products/images/large_hairoil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.pookapureandsimple.com/products/images/large_hairoil.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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I had the pleasure of trying the <b>Shea & Olive Hair Butter (4 ounces)</b> and the <b>Nectar Hair Oil & Treatment </b><b>(4 ounces)</b>. Following are the ingredients for each:<br />
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<b>Shea & Olive Hair Butter</b> - Shea Butter, Olive Oil, Beeswax, Rosemary Oil, Lavender Oil, Fragrance<br />
<b>Nectar Hair Oil & Treatment</b> - Avocado Oil, Olive Oil, Rosemary Oil, Lemon Oil, Lavender Oil, Peppermint Oil, Fragrance, Lavender Buds, Rosemary Leaf, Lemon Peel<br />
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The first thing I noticed, about both products, was the amazing smell. Both products smell so crisp and fresh and made me even more eager to try them. The great thing about the Nectar Hair Oil & Treatment, is that it comes with a dropper, which makes scalp application a breeze! The Nectar Hair Oil & Treatment claims to stimulate growth which I think is something that should be evaluated on a case by case basis. As you all know, my hair doesn't "love" oils, so I've been using the Nectar Hair Oil & Treatment for nightly scalp massages. This product also doubles as a hot oil treatment, which I have yet to try. <br />
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I've been using the Shea & Olive Hair Butter once or twice a week as a moisturizer for my twists. What is great about this product is that it doubles as a body moisturizer as well.<br />
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I can easily see both products becoming staples in my hair routine. Give them a try. I don't think you will be disappointed.<br />
Elisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06099120770603788024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420161874840599362.post-49635812408462990782011-08-02T16:17:00.002-07:002011-08-02T16:18:18.184-07:00ORS Lock & Twist Gel for Two-Strand Twists<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Every so often, I like to switch up my products and routine. I have been craving a product that would leave my twists defined but not crunchy and this has been my quest for the summer! I remembered that I had a container of </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>ORS (Organic Root Stimulator Lock) and Twist Gel</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, that I had used only once before and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://hopefullyhappyandnappy.blogspot.com/2009/07/air-drying-color.html">blogged</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> about it. When I used it, my hair was a lot shorter, so wet sets weren't my friend at the time. But 2 weeks ago, I decided to revisit it. Before I shared the results with you all, I had to make sure they weren't a fluke and I used it again this weekend. Let me tell you....</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.hopebeautysupply.com/store/media/Organic_root_stimulator/Organic-Root-Stimulator-Lock-and-Twist-Gel_16_25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.hopebeautysupply.com/store/media/Organic_root_stimulator/Organic-Root-Stimulator-Lock-and-Twist-Gel_16_25.jpg" width="184" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">+ </span><a href="http://kinky-curly.com/images/KnotToday_new.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://kinky-curly.com/images/KnotToday_new.jpg" width="71" /></a> = <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">defined, soft, moisturized twists</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">These two products may have become my go to for my wet twist outs (at least for a little while). My curls are defined but not crunchy, soft, and moisturized. Here's the kicker... my hair looked great for an entire week. Simply retwisting and refreshing with some <b>Moroccan Oil</b> resulted in some beautiful styles throughout the week!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3ZDSdmYPs3KOPHk9ANPXl1uSzotEN-zsH2_V28AMwY0UU_YkkAbPZ-mzFVnV41TEPoHNiGAp-Yjb5HtOIKyG_L5SmP75WA8IHEVFIvYxvezU77UV3tIEqG0yoFrq65Fj_hD6mzR8bEw/s1600/Photo+on+2011-08-02+at+18.40+%25232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3ZDSdmYPs3KOPHk9ANPXl1uSzotEN-zsH2_V28AMwY0UU_YkkAbPZ-mzFVnV41TEPoHNiGAp-Yjb5HtOIKyG_L5SmP75WA8IHEVFIvYxvezU77UV3tIEqG0yoFrq65Fj_hD6mzR8bEw/s200/Photo+on+2011-08-02+at+18.40+%25232.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Sy6YeyxOzHjLf31m_maab4BSK-TcFwVkhVVc0ap_jTt5fUTTJJoNB8z3jYwXT5k175BCE26csc0WLTKZ_ERLOZp-_Wn01sGQQ28pkgIl62A-ClhZnyzfW1pkHRFMrUj2oSRSZrhX7I0/s1600/Photo+on+2011-08-02+at+18.40+%25233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Sy6YeyxOzHjLf31m_maab4BSK-TcFwVkhVVc0ap_jTt5fUTTJJoNB8z3jYwXT5k175BCE26csc0WLTKZ_ERLOZp-_Wn01sGQQ28pkgIl62A-ClhZnyzfW1pkHRFMrUj2oSRSZrhX7I0/s200/Photo+on+2011-08-02+at+18.40+%25233.jpg" width="200" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJHQ6YV7PY1dyvR-mp1tiMuEfJrSJtDzWGUT6q7rmuEVseUsZ8AQhmbmNx-J3NUleaeLlrCsHBPKDhGbh8meN0taISQ4y9vZ9ndjTGNMuH2SZKXKDfRk1DHPqYL-xWvK69uCPAKQH60UY/s1600/Photo+on+2011-08-02+at+18.40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJHQ6YV7PY1dyvR-mp1tiMuEfJrSJtDzWGUT6q7rmuEVseUsZ8AQhmbmNx-J3NUleaeLlrCsHBPKDhGbh8meN0taISQ4y9vZ9ndjTGNMuH2SZKXKDfRk1DHPqYL-xWvK69uCPAKQH60UY/s200/Photo+on+2011-08-02+at+18.40.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So the million dollar question is, what are the ingredients in the <b>ORS Lock & Twist Gel</b>? Well let me tell you, for the most part, I was pleasantly surprised: <i>Water, Coconut Milk, Soybean Oil, PVP, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #666666;"><span class="bodyTextEmphasis" id="ctl00_ContentArea_ingredients_grdIngredients_ctl101_title" style="color: #333333;">Polyquarternium</span><span class="bodyTextEmphasis" style="color: #333333; font-weight: bold;"> </span></span>37, Propyl Paraben, Methyl Paraben, DMDM Hydantoin, Propylene Glycol, Fragrance, Sucrose</i>. For more info on some of the ingredients, I went to my <a href="http://tightlycurly.com/ingredients/">new favorite website</a>.</span></div>
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">PVP - You many want to stay away from this ingredient <i>IF</i> in shampoos and conditioners as it may cause build-up. But in gels, it is okay.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #666666;"><span class="bodyTextEmphasis" id="ctl00_ContentArea_ingredients_grdIngredients_ctl101_title" style="color: #333333;">Polyquarternium-37 - </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You many want to stay away from this ingredient <i>IF</i> in shampoos and conditioners as it may cause build-up. But in gels, it is okay.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Propyl & Methyl Paraben - Some studies (in animals) show that parabens can lead to breast cancer. Some feel very strongly about parabens, so please make sure you are fully educated before making a decision about this product or any other product containing parabens.</span></li>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have also figured out a way to combat the shrinkage I experience from wet twisting. After I finish twisting my hair and <i>before</i> I sit under the dryer for a few minutes (I sit under the dryer just long enough to take the wetness out of my twists and I let my twists air dry the rest of the way), I pull my twists taunt, and pin them. This way, they dry while they are stretched out.</span></div>
Elisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06099120770603788024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420161874840599362.post-81125442027680438172011-07-14T06:24:00.006-07:002011-07-14T06:28:36.908-07:00My hair hasn't stayed this soft, for this long... maybe ever!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.dove.us/TD/Images/Dove_Intensive_Repair71-26998.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.dove.us/TD/Images/Dove_Intensive_Repair71-26998.png" width="106" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lovelies, I have a new discovery! What's my secret weapon, you ask? <b>Dove Damage Therapy Intensive Repair conditioner</b>. For months, I have been wondering about Dove hair care products, but already had way too many shampoos and conditioners to justify a new purchase. Finally I gave in an purchased the <b>Intensive Repair conditioner</b> anyways. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One Friday I worked from home and decided to try the conditioner as a pre-poo and I left it in for hours. The smell isn't overwhelming and is pleasant, the conditioner feels thick and substaintial (too often non-salon conditioners feel thin and like water), and the ingredients are okay. Here are some of the ingredients and info courtesy of <a href="http://tightlycurly.com/ingredients/">Tightly Curly</a>. I didn't list all of the ingredients, so be sure to research them and make the call for yourself. The ingredients are listed right on the <a href="http://www.dove.us/Products/Hair/Conditioners/Intensive-Repair-Conditioner.aspx">Dove website</a> as well.<br /><b><br /></b></span><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><u>The Good</u></span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Dimethicone </b>- a silicone that conditions by preventing water loss.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="bodyTextEmphasis" id="ctl00_ContentArea_ingredients_grdIngredients_ctl20_title" style="font-weight: bold;">Behentrimonium chloride</span> - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">Used for detangling and as an anti-static ingredient and emulsifier.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Lactid Acid </b>- Adjusts the pH and acts as a humectant, helping to attract moisture to your hair.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Dipropylene Glycol</b> - Humectant</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><u>The Bad</u></span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="bodyTextEmphasis" id="ctl00_ContentArea_ingredients_grdIngredients_ctl90_title" style="font-weight: bold;">Stearamidopropyl dimethylamine</span><span class="bodyTextEmphasis"> - This is used to keep the product from separating and can be slightly corrosive to hair if not properly neutralized.</span> </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Potassium Chloride</b> - Is a cheap thickener.</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.dove.us/TD/Images/Hair_DH-8floz-IntensRep-CD71-28087.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.dove.us/TD/Images/Hair_DH-8floz-IntensRep-CD71-28087.png" width="191" /></span></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So after a lengthy pre-poo, I continued on with my normal routine for the most part. But for my deep conditioner, I mixed my go-to <b>Redken Butter Treat</b> with <b>Dove Damage Therapy Intensive Daily Treatment</b>. I followed with the Knot Today leave-in and two-strand twisted with Jane Carter's Twist & Lock cream. Perfection is what I got!!!! My hair has been super soft and moisturized for almost a week. I haven't experienced this in a very long time, if ever.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So think about it, learn about it, and perhaps you will give it a try. I have no complaints and I am sitting here right now pre-pooing with my new staple product!</span></span>Elisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06099120770603788024noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420161874840599362.post-47783976868286235642011-07-01T07:21:00.000-07:002011-07-01T07:21:20.459-07:00To Leave-In or Not to Leave-In...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6KHKYEtrI8zpQ1bAh_ds5S6hIxiifOqGfV3uZU58QNOhyCJPtYhqdjx4wIdX6pjYf8uc9CRmDbMyzRKN1_BRrrnOpW-EneiIJmUnIBRQ4Pi_TIAWIrtTH-_iBPoMOIJGebZQrGHpfAM/s1600/updo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6KHKYEtrI8zpQ1bAh_ds5S6hIxiifOqGfV3uZU58QNOhyCJPtYhqdjx4wIdX6pjYf8uc9CRmDbMyzRKN1_BRrrnOpW-EneiIJmUnIBRQ4Pi_TIAWIrtTH-_iBPoMOIJGebZQrGHpfAM/s320/updo.jpg" width="248" /></a></div>As you all know, I have an absolute love affair with <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Redken-Smooth-Down-Butter-Treatment/dp/B000KQB1SY?ie=UTF8&tag=frodyeandfrit-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Redken's Butter Treat</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=frodyeandfrit-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000KQB1SY" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b>. Over the past 4 years of experimenting with every product out there, <b>Butter Treat</b> is by far the best deep conditioner I have found. The instructions state that the conditioner doesn't have to be rinsed out and can be left in as a treatment. I have never done this before, because I wasn't completely convinced that this was the case. So last week I decided to leave it in, instead of rinsing it out. With that said, I didn't use <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kinky-Curly-Knot-Today8-oz/dp/B00128WK4I?ie=UTF8&tag=frodyeandfrit-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Knot Today</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=frodyeandfrit-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00128WK4I" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b>, like I normally do. I added a little <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Miss-Jessies-Original-Curly-Meringue/dp/B001I2DL00?ie=UTF8&tag=frodyeandfrit-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Miss Jessie's Curly Meringue</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=frodyeandfrit-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001I2DL00" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b> to each twist because I wanted my twists to maintain definition. I used very little because I didn't want my hair to have the crunchy feeling that I have had before from using the Curly Meringue.<br />
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So all was well until I untwisted my hair the next norning. My hair had this "dusty film" to it (sounds gross, doesn't it). I think I used way too much <b>Butter Treat</b> and the excess product dried and created a "dusty film" on my hair. It wasn't a huge deal and wasn't really noticeable, but it was gross at first because I didn't know what was going on. I'm doing my hair again today and I'm going to try using the <b>Butter Treat</b> as a leave-in, but I will definitely use less.<br />
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I have also been experimenting with updos, now that my hair is longer. I LOVE wearing my hair up, but it takes so many pins to keep the style secure. I bought a cute, pink flower from a <a href="http://www.notyomamasaffairs.com/">craft fair</a> last weekend in Jersey City and now I am on the hunt for more cute hair accessories. I think updos + hair accessories are my new summer go tos!Elisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06099120770603788024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420161874840599362.post-28537884539269244152011-06-20T08:23:00.000-07:002011-06-20T08:23:19.666-07:00Weekly Shampoo, Condition, & Twist Routine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I thought that I would post a video of my current weekly routine. Right now, this seems to be working for me, but I will keep everyone updated if I start to do something a bit different.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/0Atxtkldzeo?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<span id="goog_766634077"></span><span id="goog_766634078"></span>Elisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06099120770603788024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420161874840599362.post-55547730101868543672011-06-13T18:51:00.000-07:002011-06-13T18:51:36.810-07:00YouTube Chanel: HappyAndNappyElisaSo I decided to start a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/HappyAndNappyElisa">YouTube channel</a>. Sometimes I'm in the mood to chat rather than write an actual post. As some of you may know, this isn't my first YouTube appearance (google my name and my videos some come up in the search). Enjoy!<br />
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<center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/YPIK0SVs2ns" width="425"></iframe></center>Elisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06099120770603788024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420161874840599362.post-81504616847532153682011-06-11T21:09:00.000-07:002011-06-11T21:09:54.506-07:00Post Weave Routine<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju1f11ur3B_LyFld_lTTmec7l_jqVycS_SNgRc7UPhGo0GzmOiHPZO9QOTmYFgQ1wa0kVwlFuMn4pKmyUkV2NcypnBy6uHZtO0Bs4uWc8bSczGK9y0OxqPBhNHvJGgYD23EY8DSk5b9ZI/s1600/249483_960422463536_1515278_46817073_1844241_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju1f11ur3B_LyFld_lTTmec7l_jqVycS_SNgRc7UPhGo0GzmOiHPZO9QOTmYFgQ1wa0kVwlFuMn4pKmyUkV2NcypnBy6uHZtO0Bs4uWc8bSczGK9y0OxqPBhNHvJGgYD23EY8DSk5b9ZI/s200/249483_960422463536_1515278_46817073_1844241_n.jpg" width="195" /></a>So first off let me say that my hair was sooooo tangled and I don't think that I managed to get all of the tangles out -- such a nightmare. I think my Alopecia is under control for the most part. I'm still taking my antibiotics. As far as I can tell, no hair is growing back. So below is what I did yesterday after I took my weave out.<br />
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<ol><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfUfKRuv0jO_ZxCxRGu6o7cDwhUlMKU269k2o6hxJxXrnZ145EBL3lrLKGj9Wtd3JFnjG0crTrioN4kyf5e86r5Xxek-xtyx_cusm0etmcEJ1VKer0bhqEv1zt-4P9wVmsMIzy4UUHTTE/s1600/Photo+on+2011-06-10+at+18.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfUfKRuv0jO_ZxCxRGu6o7cDwhUlMKU269k2o6hxJxXrnZ145EBL3lrLKGj9Wtd3JFnjG0crTrioN4kyf5e86r5Xxek-xtyx_cusm0etmcEJ1VKer0bhqEv1zt-4P9wVmsMIzy4UUHTTE/s200/Photo+on+2011-06-10+at+18.16.jpg" width="200" /></a>
<li>Washed with <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Suave-Professionals-Shampoo-Rosemary-Bottles/dp/B002VA4FXA?ie=UTF8&tag=frodyeandfrit-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Suave Rosemary + Mint shampoo</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=frodyeandfrit-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002VA4FXA" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> (shout out to my summer employer).</li>
<li>Quick conditioned with <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Suave-Professionals-Conditioner-Rosemary-Bottles/dp/B002VA4FY4?ie=UTF8&tag=frodyeandfrit-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Suave Rosemary + Mint conditioner</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=frodyeandfrit-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002VA4FY4" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> and started to detangle. I tried to divide my hair into sections and comb out all of the dead hair. It was hard and like I said above, I don't think that I got all of the tangles out.</li>
<li>Mixed my favorite deep conditioner, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Redken-Smooth-Down-Butter-Treatment/dp/B000KQB1SY?ie=UTF8&tag=frodyeandfrit-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Redken Butter Treat conditioner</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=frodyeandfrit-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000KQB1SY" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />, with extra-virgin coconut oil. I let this marinate on my hair for about 5 minutes. I probably should have sat under the dryer, but I didn't have time.</li>
<li>While my hair was still damp, I put a few drops of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Moroccanoil-MOROCCANOIL-3-4-Ounce-Bottle/dp/B001AO0WCG?ie=UTF8&tag=frodyeandfrit-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Moroccan Oil</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=frodyeandfrit-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001AO0WCG" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> through my hair. This stuff smells AMAZING. Moroccan Oil has been on my wish list for a while now, so I purchased the very small bottle at my local beauty supply store for about $12 and I am not disappointed at all!</li>
<li>I used what little bit that I had left of the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kinky-Curly-Knot-Today8-oz/dp/B00128WK4I?ie=UTF8&tag=frodyeandfrit-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Kinky Curly Knot Today</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=frodyeandfrit-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00128WK4I" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> to try to finish detangling my hair. </li>
<li>Using no additional product, I did very big 2-strand twists, sealed the ends with more Moroccan Oil, and let my hair air dry.</li>
</ol>I'm just amazed at how long my hair is now. I'm sure that I need a good trim. I'm thinking of attempting to do this myself, little by little, as I continue to do my hair each week. It shouldn't be too hard to clip my ends when my hair is twisted. More to come!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidK_UcPFldoB4Pb-7VdJrLjydKRQxTyow2vzzI8n6XEOTd-q2HC5IrBQMFQzByn2v488DYn_p1iZnUCwOueslafQZc5NFJSZ0v_zHpMBL9y_se2KaXAibqkbTTubJiv9r7RazhmBw2CXg/s1600/Photo+on+2011-06-11+at+23.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidK_UcPFldoB4Pb-7VdJrLjydKRQxTyow2vzzI8n6XEOTd-q2HC5IrBQMFQzByn2v488DYn_p1iZnUCwOueslafQZc5NFJSZ0v_zHpMBL9y_se2KaXAibqkbTTubJiv9r7RazhmBw2CXg/s200/Photo+on+2011-06-11+at+23.59.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Elisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06099120770603788024noreply@blogger.com0New York, NY, USA40.7143528 -74.005973140.4942638 -74.2853821 40.9344418 -73.7265641tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420161874840599362.post-41060643948833718492011-06-10T16:09:00.000-07:002011-06-10T16:09:41.019-07:00Oh how I missed my natural hair!Lovelies, your girl is back! I just took my weave out and I can not BELIEVE how much my hair has grown. I still haven't washed my hair (yes -- I know that's funky), but I was pressed to take a picture and post! I will post my "after weave" regimen and pics of my 'do when I'm done.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-eVLAzE_OfnING-wBqV2bfrhDYM_rIxPHWf5cRjE3iC0usqab_1pmiqqS-E4q6RgwQ9Be_2keIbTQ6wfSCoWvJcHrxavo5Af8mnmLm8v25rqaM6IdQsdLcqA5JfVtW7Mo4M2A4VIkb9E/s1600/Photo+on+2011-06-10+at+18.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-eVLAzE_OfnING-wBqV2bfrhDYM_rIxPHWf5cRjE3iC0usqab_1pmiqqS-E4q6RgwQ9Be_2keIbTQ6wfSCoWvJcHrxavo5Af8mnmLm8v25rqaM6IdQsdLcqA5JfVtW7Mo4M2A4VIkb9E/s320/Photo+on+2011-06-10+at+18.16.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Elisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06099120770603788024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420161874840599362.post-77403476018568599152011-06-02T05:33:00.000-07:002011-06-02T05:33:06.566-07:00I'm Coming Home!Hi lovelies. I know that I have been MIA for the past month or so, but I am getting back into the swing of things. In the past month, I finished my first year of business school, moved to NYC, and started my internship where I am working on a hair care brand. As you can imagine, <em><strong>I am in heaven</strong></em>.<br />
I'm writing specifically today to share that I am taking the weave out (if I can get it out) this weekend. It's time to unleash the curls and see what I am working with. I'm feeling so anxious, excited, and ready for a change. I've missed my natural hair and have had hair envy walking through the streets of NYC.<br />
Summer in the city calls for rocking my curls. Stay tuned for updates and pictures.Elisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06099120770603788024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420161874840599362.post-68384792662263583222011-04-12T18:40:00.000-07:002011-04-12T18:40:40.061-07:00New beginningAs I am sure you can tell, this blog has been stagnant. But I have so much going on in my life, and no where to write about. So enter my new blog - <a href="http://thealmostlifeofelisa.blogspot.com/">The Almost Life of Elisa</a>. I am no way abandoning this blog; it's my baby. Just creating another outlet for me to talk about everything going on in my life. So please, follow along and let me know what you think!Elisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06099120770603788024noreply@blogger.com0