New Natural Hair Regimen?

frizzed out hair after mini-braids

Hey everybody!

I've been watching a natural youtuber called cynthiarf. She has the same curl patterns as me but her hair is probably 2x as thick as mine! She has a method of caring for her hair where she co-washes daily, shampoo/clarifies every 7-10 days and uses 0 combs!

From what I can gather her method works by finger-detangling to remove tangles and shed hairs. This method also allows her curl pattern to form and become prominent. Basically her wash-n-goes look like she applied gel, even when she didn't.

after the wash

I want to try her method for a few reasons.

1. I know I comb my hair waaaaaay too much, and thats not good because I get fairy knots, tangles and I remove too much hair every time.

2. My ends are mangled, even though I trimmed well in March.

3. My curl pattern looks busted after all of that "protective styling," hopefully all that conditioning helps me out.

4. It seems low maintenance and simpler than what I was doing before...

                                      

shrinkage that I will have to learn to live with

Day 11 – What’s in your makeup bag?

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Happy 7-11 y'all :)

I'm so excited for this post! I love makeup and I was going to go all out and makeup my face and tell y'all what products I love wearing, but i woke up with 3 zits in the middle of my face for no reason...so now I won't even bother :(

Lets see if I have pics of everything on the list!

#1 Eyeliner Milani Liquify-Eye in Black

I love this product, its like a gel/creme eyeliner in a pencil form the advantage of this is that it doesn't get all dry and goopy. I take a eyeliner brush & swipe it on the pencil to apply.

#2 Cover girl Lip Perfection Lipstick in Spellbound

lipstick poppin, liner flyin...

 This is the first lipstick I fell in love with. The color is bold and the formula doesn't make my lips look dry! I always have chapped lips but this one doesn't show it off almost at all. Always look online for Kmart coupon codes before you buy.

#3 MAC Studio Finish concealer in NC50

I've been using this product for a year and a half now (same pot) and it works well. It brightens my under eye and lid area and sometimes I only use this and lip gloss.  I have to watch it though, because it can get a little yellowy on me. I need a better setting powder for it I believe.

concealer, highlight, liner

#4 Maybelline Colossal (Yellow and purple tube) Blackest Black

This is a really good mascara. It was one of the first I liked and I keep repurchasing. It gives me a lot of dark color to my lashes which makes them look longer and thicker but not too spiky. I have to be careful because I often rub my eyes and that equals flakes

#5 MAC Fleur Power Blush (Soft bright Pinkish-Coral)

blush!!! after coming from MAC, highlight still shinin' hours later

This is my first blush! The MAC artist suggested it to me when I went there for my birthday (then proceeded to load it onto my face) because it asked for a peachy looking blush. I was skeptical but I bought it anyway, and I'm surprised how much I reach for it. Its not loud and obnoxious at all unless I put too much on. I put on 2 layers for each cheek, tapping my brush in 1x for each pass. It gives a nice liveliness to the face and I would recommend it to anyone who wants an easy everyday blush thats beginner proof. It is for me! I admit, I have big chipmunk cheeks that I was afraid to emphasize and this
 blush doesn't do that it just warms and enhances.

everything but with a different lippie

#6 NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Iced Mocha (Metallic light Taupe color) as Eye Highlight

I started using this pencil this spring after it was sitting in my makeup caboodle for a full year. I never liked it as a base for eyeshadow (like I do for my other ones) because it was too light. But then I discovered it as the perfect highlight for my inner corners and I haven't looked back since. This is a must have.




Whats in Your Makeup bag? Would you like more pics/reviews of any of these products? Lemme know!

hugs, Jessica

Day 9 – A photo of the item you last purchased.

I would like to say that this blog challenge is hard...but its not. I have just found that I dont actually feel like doing it everyday. Shame on me, lol. I'm new to this, so I forgive myself.

The last item I purchased was hot pink wayfarer shades from Charlotte Russe in Arundel Mills.

they make me wanna pull this face 

The friends I  was shopping with didn't like them much but I really loved them. Few sunglasses actually fit my face and sit symmetrically, so I never buy them. (These are my only pair.) I've found that strongly shaped/squarish ones work best, plus these were 5 bucks!

Have you ever been shopping with friends and went against their advice? This was my first time.

luv jessica

2011 Goals

This page will be a collection of my goals, interests and wishes. :)

2011
School Goals
✓ create a calendar and organize my assignments in my planner
✓  Organize a large event and bring Awkward Black Girl to Campus
- Get an A in Shakespeare ;)


Hair Goals
✓  Find a good twisting aid for my hair in its current state
- Figure out a routine  for when I will have time to do the steps in my regimen

Body Goals
- Fitness schedule
- Go to gym 2-2.5 hours a week

Wardrobe Goals
- Find alternatives to jeans
- Avoid bootcut "dress pants" for my student teacher wardrobe
- Find versatile tops that aren't just tees


Wishlist

Day 8 – A song to match your mood.

lol remember when RhiRhi looked like this?

My pick for today is Hate that I Love you by Rihanna and Ne-yo. I'm a big Rihanna fan, in fact in the 11th grade I thought I WAS her a little bit....anyways, thats a story for later. 

For me this song symbolizes the way I feel sometimes in my relationship. It's about those moments where you realize that love often means giving up your own power and self control to, I guess, coexist. This is a big thing for me because, as a poet/writer, I get to control how much I reveal and how personal I get. Even if its really, really personal its okay because I deliberately chose to make it that way. Sorry to be sappy, but you can't do that with love. In my relationship, I'm ALL in and its scary and I kind of hate that it has to be this way sometimes. But at the same time I love him and he deserves...everything IMO ☺

Anyone ever felt this way? Hate Rihanna? Love Ne-Yo? Lemme know:)

love jes 

Day 6 – A photo of an animal you’d love to keep as a pet.

Perhaps, subconsciously I was fearful of starting a blog is because most bloggers are obsessed with animals. Pets are a common interest that people relate to and bond over. I was never one of those people. Animals kind of freak me out, honestly. Yea, they are cute and loving and blah, blah, blah, but I’ve never had much of an interest. Growing up my mother never allowed any kind of pet (not even a fish) because it would cost money so I really just dropped the idea. Maybe I’ll get my kids a puppy… when I have them…a long time from now.

This one'll do...lol

Day 5 – A photo of yourself two years ago.

Two years ago today.... I had just graduated high school and cut off all of my hair. I believe that on July 5th 2009 I was getting ready for my freshman orientation and I was mad excited! At the same time, I was afraid because there was no way for me to know how my hair was received. I don't think people treated me any differently. The black kids I saw were so happy to see someone like them, they didn't even notice my hair and sometimes they even complemented it. White people either complement or dont comment at all. No stares... I made friends quickly at school and even though I was nervous and awkward, my hair didn’t necessarily add to or cause that. 

Day 4 – Your favorite photograph of your best friend

I have more than one best friend because I’m lucky like that….But If I had to pick one to feature right now…

I would pick Tyshanda, we have know each other since 4^th grade which is over half our lives! She is one of the most valuable people to me in my life because she understands me better than anyone. A phone call with her is more beneficial than a year of therapy, I swear. I hope everyone has someone like her in their life.

this is how we felt right before graduation :)

Day 3 – Your idea of the perfect first date.

I never really thought of what my idea of a perfect first date would be. I think it really depends on the couple and how well they know each other. If it is a situation where two established friends are becoming more than friends, I think it would be ideal to do something together that they haven’t done together before. I would sat not to go to the same restaurant you’ve been to a million times together or go out in your friend group. In that case you need to create romantic memories instead of buddy-buddy ones.

If I didn't know a guy I would want to go to some sort of show/movie/play with dinner/dessert afterwards. That way there’s no pressure to talk and afterwards you have a built in conversation piece. I tend to be shy so I guess that’s what I would want on a first date. 

Day 2 – A photo of something you ate today.

Day 2 was yesterday....I need to get better at this :(

I ate some Burger King nuggets. They tasted ok, and I'm glad they aren't shaped like crowns anymore...those crowns were stupid. However I feel some kind of way about eating them now because I'm reading the book 'Skinny Bitch' by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin and its really getting to me. If you thought Fast Food Nation was bad, that was nothing compared to this! I'm seriously contemplating my life right now. 

Day 1 – A photo of yourself and a description of how your day was.

this is an old photo b/c im starting the challenge one day late :)

I regret starting this challenge off on a bad note but yesterday was a hard day for me. I had a fight with my boyfriend. What made it worse is that I’m visiting my boyfriend and his family right now so I’m living at their house. The fight was because I did something he didn't like so he was mad at me, but I was trapped in his vicinity while he was freezing me out.  I’m the type of person who wants to be far away from people who aren’t happy with me because it makes me anxious and I just want to escape all the negative feelings, however as you may have guessed, I had nowhere to go.

After hours of uncertainty and my brain spinning horrible scenarios of how I would have to walk back to Virginia, I confronted him about it. By the end of I night I couldn’t breathe because I had cried so much but we successfully talked it out. Relationships are hard but worth it. 

30 Day Challenge!

I saw on scandalous beauty's twitter that she was doing a blog challenge and I decided to join in :) So here are rules:

Day 1 – A photo of yourself and a description of how your day was.
Day 2 – A photo of something you ate today.
Day 3 – Your idea of the perfect first date.
Day 4 – Your favorite photograph of your best friend.
Day 5 – A photo of yourself two years ago.
Day 6 – A photo of an animal you’d love to keep as a pet.
Day 7 – Your dream wedding.
Day 8 – A song to match your mood.
Day 9 – A photo of the item you last purchased.
Day 10 – A photo of your favorite place to eat.
Day 11 – What’s in your makeup bag?
Day 12 – A photograph of the town you live in.
Day 13 – Your favorite musician and why?
Day 14 – A TV show you’re currently addicted to.
Day 15 – Something you don’t leave the house without.
Day 16 – Your celebrity crush.
Day 17 – A photo of you and your family.
Day 18 – Something you crave a lot.
Day 19 – Another picture of yourself.
Day 20 – The meaning behind your blog name.
Day 21 – A photo of something that makes you happy.
Day 22 – A letter to someone who has hurt you recently. A letter to someone who broke my heart.
Day 23 – 15 facts about you.
Day 24 – A photo of something that means a lot to you.
Day 25 – What’s in your purse?
Day 26 – A photo of somewhere you’ve been to.
Day 27 – A picture of you last year and now and how have you changed since then?
Day 28 – Your favorite movie.
Day 29 – Something you could never get tired of doing.Day 30 – A photograph of youself today + three good things that have happened in the past 30 days.

Anyone can join in so yeah!