Black Hair in America by Jessica R. Johnson

Ok so I was recently tagged in a video on facebook titled Black Hair in America. I watched it and I love it! The creator of this video is pictures above, Jessica R. Johnson who is a student at Berkleee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. I love black hair stories because they are never ending, evolving, and unique. Here Jessica shows her own journey to love her hair, and America's struggle in accepting it. Here is the link to Black Hair in America from Jessica R. Johnson...Enjoy:)Facebook | Videos Posted by Jessica R Johnson: Black Hair in America [HQ]

New Hair!!!

So after searching the Internet I stumbled upon Phillydiva and her "Protective Style". I fell in love with this hair. Since I have been working out 6 days a week the sweat is taking a toll on my hair. The hair I have in now is Indie Afro Curl by Dream Weaver. I do have to say that I am pleasantly surprised by the way the hair looks and feels. It is sooo amazing how soft and real it feels. The hair was only $35 a pack and I bought 2 packs of hair. I will make an update on how the hair lasts because this seems to good to be true.I want to completly stop putting heat in my hair so often and eventually wear my fro forever (with an occasional weave here and there:) I need my hair to grow so I can have the height that I want in the fro, so this is the perfect style to ease my way there. Here is a video of me explaining things and showing how I blended my hair. Enjoy!!

PYT of the Week;)

Ok so I know I haven't been kind to my readers:( But have no fear the PYT of the Week is here...and man is he fyyiine!! He is currently Essence Magazine's Eye Candy of the week and I just have to agree. He is in the upcoming Tyler Perry movie Why Did I Get Married Too coming out in April. Lamman Rucker's acting career started to soar when he became a soap star in popular soap operas like As the World Turns and All My Children. Here is a clip of him in the highly anticipated sequel. Enjoy!!!

Spring is Here!!!

Waking up was soo hard to do this morning, but once I actually went outside I was relieved by the weather yet again. It feels like spring is supposed to feel. It's warm and there is a cool brezze in the air. And since I am losing all this weight I'm excited for warm weather so I can show off my new shape!! However before Spring comes into full swing, I need to get a few items:
Item #1: Wet and Wavy Weave
I think I might need to get this hairstyle over spring break, because I sweat my hair to pieces every day working out. Phillydiva on youtube has this really cute dreamweaver afrocurl hair in the video below. This is hopefully what my hair can look like.

Item #2: Swim Wear
I am not one of those people who think that a bikini is one size fits all! So when I have gone to the beach or pool in the past, it was a very uncomfortable experince simply because my body was not a beach body. I'm working out 6 times a week and Im not stopping anytime soon, so appropriate swimwear is in order. I'm trying to sort through what exactly I want...but this will take some time.

Item #3: Spring Dresses!!!
Anybody who knows me, knows that I love dresses. I never wear pants! Forever 21 has the cutest spring dresses and I just have to get them. Here are a some skirts and dresses from Forever21.com

Amoy Pitters= My Inspiration!

Amoy Pitters is living the dream for all the driven future entrepreneurs like myself. Amoy Pitters is a celebrity hair stylist that has climbed her way to the top of the ladder with her networking skills, determination, and drive. According to Essence Magazine.com, she got her start at Paris fashion shows and styled the models for Christian Dior in January 1998. She then started styling for John Galliano and Donatella Versace soon followed. The celeb-stylist just recently opened her new salon Amoy Couture Salon, in New York.

I have to say that Amoy Pitters, has quickly become one of my new role models. What I want my career to be is exactly what she has created for herself. Her salon has the same qualities that I would want my own salon to be. A wonderful atmosphere that caters to the client and their specific needs. She also has a new line of clip in weave extensions! One thing that I realized from my first year in college, was if you don't step out and try to do something amazing, nothing amazing will ever happen for you. When everybody else is telling you to take the safe route,you will get safe results. Amoy Pitters has encouraged me to keep the faith, because it can and will happen. With God directing my life, I know I can be anything. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!! Hallelujah!

A Few of my FAVE-O-RITE Things:)

My obsession over the past few months has got to be long lovely dark hair. I just recently got rid of my beloved middle part and decided to go with a front side bang instead. My inspiration for this look was the Amerie's album cover for Touch. Can you see the hair resemblance??
Another obsession of mine has been the two newest editions to my makeup bag: Maybelline SuperStay Makeup and Liplicious Tasty Lip Color in Ginger Glitz. These two products are amazing!! The foundation can go anywhere on my face and blend without giving me a pasty or heavy makeup look. Its looks very natural and was only $6! The Liplicious lip gloss comes in a pack with 2 others flavors and gold glittery nail polish for $10. My lips look and feel like a little slice of heaven whenever I wear it. The non-sticky gloss stays on my lips and is so comfy I sometimes wear it to sleep! Last but not least I have to say that my Heat Protector Straightening Serum has got to be the best product of the year. Since I apply heat to my hair often, I need a product that is going to protect my hair against damage. Not only does this product help protect, but it eliminates frizz and produces a beautiful luster without the heavy greasy feel. I've used this on fine hair, course hair, and everything in between. Just a dime size amount can add shine and strength to any hair type.

PYT of the Week;)

OK so last week we all had the opportunity to choose whomever we wanted for the PYT of the week. This week I am glad to say that the PYT of the week is Steph Jones. He is so cute and he is an up and coming singer with a fun goofy wacky eclectic kinda soul pop voice. (Can you tell I was searching for the words lol) Sidebar: he is the longtime boyfriend of American Idol winner, the beautiful Jordin Sparks. I hope Jordin doesn't mind that were oggling over her boytoy...Don't worry Jordin we mean you no harm! HAHA:) Here is a video from his youtube channel. You can also see little flashes of the phenomenal B.Scott and Jordin supportin' her man on the drums:)Enjoy!!!

Skinny Girls Need Love too....I Guess.

I am all about self confidence and loving the skin your in, regardless of your size. With that being said, I've noticed that thin women are being portrayed as "fake" and "not real". Now this may sound a little weird coming from a full figured young lady like myself, but I don't find my confidence by downing another.

Tyra Banks just recently announced that she is doing a Teen Size Plus Size Modeling Competition. The title of said contest is "Fiercely Real". While I am happy that plus size women are getting love, I do not feel like we should downplay the characteristics of another body type to make people feel better. V Magazine is also guilty of fanning the fire. Their January 2010 issue was their plus size issue that included a "battle" between a skinny model Jacquelyn Jablonski and a plus size model Crystal Renn. Everyone would have a problem if a gorgeous man said "I only date skinny women", but no one would have a problem if a man said "I only date full figured women." Why is this? Is it because we are seen as as the underdogs?

 There isn't an overall belief that big is beautiful. Skinny is the norm as far as the standard of beauty. You can still look good at any size, but the thought that thin is in is here to stay. I cannot be happy with the one plus size only spread that plus size models get every now and then. Or the parade of skinny that is published through the magazines all year long. What will make me happy is equality. Do not make fun of skinny, and do not exclude fat! Women come in ALL shapes, and ALL sizes should be shown ALL year long.

The Queen

All young girls have role models. My role model growing up (next to my mother) was Diana Ross. I loved the big hair and the amazing presence she possessed  Whenever we were asked to be someone for a play or dress-up I was either Madame C.J. Walker or Diana Ross. Adults think that children aren't able to recognize real from fake. But even at a young age I was always able to tell when women possessed true confidence.

Since my mother was the perfect example of true confidence, I  was drawn to women whom I felt embodied that same spirit, and Diana Ross was one of those women. I will always be in love with Diana Ross, and I thank her for being one of my examples of class and confidence. Thank you Ms.Ross!!!

Beauty Wipes;)

OK so I am a huge fan of all that is Essence Magazine, and that most definitely includes Essence.com. Tia Williams is the Beauty Director of the online magazine and I love her weekly "Shake your Beauty" videos. Each week she makes a video about a product that would be useful to our beauty regimen, and being the faithful Essence reader that I am I tune in every week! So about 2 or 3 weeks ago she made what I thought at the time was the dirtiest comment, "I do not wash my face." I know, how is she gonna be a beauty director if she doesn't even wash her face? She later explained that she uses Garnier Nutritioniste Cleansing Towels to wipe the daily grime and gunk of her face. Her reasoning being that she does not want her hair to go "home" aka natural which is totally understandable. Since I also have natural hair (alongside my weave), I too want to keep my hair from always going "HOME". So I tried Neutrogena make-up remover cleansing towelettes and they work wonders. My face never felt better!!! I recommend this idea to everyone!!! Here is the Shake Your Beauty video by Tia Williams.


P.S. If you are someone like me who had a combination of oily and dry skin, then I would most definitely add exfoliating to your weekly beauty regimen along with this product. Some may not need to wash but everyone should exfoliate;)

PYT of the Week;)

So last week it was the beautiful Micheal Ealy. This week I decided to do something a little different. Every day I see beautiful men, and I swear I just want to take a picture because I just cannot describe how fine they are. So for this week I made the decision to not put a celebrity as my PYT of the Week. I decided to put a blank picture. You decide whoever you want the PYT to be, whether he is famous or not...put him up there. There are a couple of young men that I know, that I would love to put but I don't have the guts, (and it would be slightly creepy). So whoever makes you weak in the knees just by a gazing look....he is your PYT for the week. Enjoy;)

My Declaration of Love to Me

I am very hungry...all I want to do is eat a bunch of good food without guilt. My body type is to be naturally thicker. If I ever got to be a size 6, I would literally have to starve myself to stay at that size. Because if I let a tic- tac into my mouth, I will gain 10 pounds. So in knowing this, I really have to grasp the fact that no matter what, I will always be a little thicker then some. I have to embrace my stomach, arms, butt and legs.

We as women need to know that we are beautiful today tomorrow and forever. Say it with me: "I am beautiful today, tomorrow and forever!" With that mindset we can do anything we set our minds to. Whether it's getting that job, getting the attention of that fine man, or getting into the college of your dreams.
We have to stop allowing societies ideal of beauty become our own. If you feel sexy wearing socks with sandals...WEAR IT!! If you feel sexy walking around the house naked...DO IT!!! And if you do not feel the need to get yourself plucked, waxed, pulled or straightened...THEN DON'T!!

Doing or not doing these things does not make you any less feminine, it makes you a woman. I hope more girls start to dance to the beat of their own drum, and not the drum of some guy or their friends. Beauty is of course a life long journey, and some people's journey's may be more diffucult then others. But we are who we are for the rest of our lives...so we gotta start loving ourselves sometime. Why not now??

Where Did All These People Come From?

Today at Morgan State University the first day of the spring semester began. As I walked through the normal walkways of the campus I was bombarded with an overwhelming crowd of people. Now I have to say that while I was annoyed from the rain, I was pleasantly surprised by the new selection of young black men. There were beautiful men everywhere, but that is a whole 'nother post lol. It was good however to see more black people making an effort to get an education even in this economy. It seems like nowadays, getting a trade and going to work immediately are most people's options because of money.
Education is such an important component of success and I'm relieved and overjoyed that more African American men and women are making it a priority. My classes so far seem pretty OK, but since it is only day one I do not have an accurate view on how the semester's going to turn out. But don't worry I'll keep you posted;)

PYT of the Week;)

One of my favorite books is Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. So when I heard the book was brought to the big screen I was there. When I saw Micheal Ealy I almost died. He had the most refreshing swag, and dazzaling eyes. This man needs no introduction because that is how fine he really is. So my PYT for the week is none other then Mr. Micheal Ealy!!!

Happy Birthday Alex!!!!

It was my dear friend Alex Ngonga's birthday last friday, and I just had to give a public display of affection towards my wonderful and dearest friend!!!Love you Alex XOXOXO

PlusSize Models....In Training;)

Soo myself and my fabulous friend Martrelle did a mini photoshoot and here are some of the pictures. I have always wanted to be a plus size model, so this was just a fun way to live out the dream!!

15 Pounds Lighter and Feeling Fabulous;)

Hello all!! I weighed in yesterday and I have officially lost 15 pounds!!! The fast is not only helping me spiritually but its changing my body inside and out. Working out and eating right truly go hand in hand. The fast is teaching me how to rely on Christ and how to have self control. I still have 15 pounds more to lose to reach my goal of losing 30 pounds, but I'm on my way. The features in my face like my cheekbones and bone structure are coming out even more. Very soon I will reach my goal. Hopefully just in time for the cherry blossum festival:)

Day 4 is NOT a good day....

I attend Miracle Temple Seventh-Day Adventist Church and right now we are currently doing a 40 day fast. We are fasting from meat, dairy, sugar and refined products.Now this fast has different requirements for each week, and we are currently on week one. This week, all we consume is 100% juice and that is it. This has to be the absolute hardest week because it requires no eating at all. It is untill you lose something so vital that you realize how important it is to you. My life revolves around food and I never realized it until now. Everything I do requires eating because food is what makes everyone happy. I have to admit I have been dreaming about burritos and nachos, but I feel like I will be letting everyone down if I go and indulge in the foods I want most. Completing this fast will help my relationship and my understanding with Christ so if I fail in any way I will be letting everyone including myself down. I just have to remember, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me:)

Running out of Ideas!!

Since I am on my winter break, I have decided to make a personal goal to run at least 5-6 times a week. I figure if I take a break from tae-bo over the break, my body won't plateau...but im literally running out of ideas. I run but I see noo results. I thought you were supposed to lose serious weight from running. I've only been doing it for a week, but I usually see results in my body quicker, especially when it involves cardio for long periods of time. Lets just see how things go because I refuse to continue to lose just 5 pounds out of this whole thing so far.....But pray for my results because I am really getting discouraged:(

Beauty and the Blizzard

My sister is cuh-razy!!!! This is my sister Dionne and we are enjoying the snow...well she is, I have my heater and hot cocoa with me:) Blizzard of 09 people!!!