Love Your GlamNatural Self!

As black natural women we are different from the regular pack of women. However sometimes we don't portray or believe that. As black women we are powerful, we stand out, and can do so much more than we think we can. We are built to be strong mentally and physically. Just look back at slavery for a second. If Nanny of the Maroons was weak or didn't think highly of herself she would not be a celebrated woman today. Whenever you feel like you can't do something reflect on the strength of our ancestry women had. And let it give us hope and strength. 

One of the biggest  issue we women face as we try to embrace our natural self is 'self love'. Loving who we are as we are with natural hair is sometimes a challenge due to outside influences. We are often told that our hair is slave hair and sometimes asked 'why keep it like that?'. But what is 'slave hair'? Our natural hair is as how we were born from the womb. (Not chemically processed or altered). But think about it, if you depend on relaxers and weaves to make you pretty or acceptable to society, then are are you not a slave to that hair? So doesn't that mean that having chemically altered hair or extensions to make one feel better is really 'slave hair'. I am not bashing relaxed hair or weaves but when I hear these ignorant comments about natural hair I have to comment. 

Solange Knowles was once told on Twitter that if she 'put slap some relaxer in that hair she would look like a Dime Piece'. She responded saying that 'they should put some relaxer on their ignorant mouth'. Now I thought was the best response ever. 

I say to you girls, love your self first. Love who you are. Love your natural hair in its natural state. Love yourself and celebrate your natural being. Be glamorous in your own eyes FIRST. And guess what, that's all that matters. And what's better is that when you love and accept yourself as you are others will too. But that's just a bonus because we don't need acceptance from others to be glamorous. You ready are!

Love yourself and be GlamNatural!!

Product Review: Shea Moisture African Black Soap Shampoo and Conditioner

Shea Moisture African Black Soap Shampoo and Conditioner

Shea Moisture African Black Soap Deep Cleansing Shampoo Review:

I think by now its a known fact that my favorite shampoo is the Shea Moisture Coconut and Hibuscus shampoo. I wanted to try this shampoo from the African Black Soap line. 

Promises:
Helps regulate sebum production while alleviating itching and flaking. Treats dandruff, eczema & psoriasis.

Plantain enzyme: Helps to alleviate itchiness and irritation
Tea tree: Removes buildup for enhanced shine and volume
Willow bark extract: Exfoliates and detoxifies hair and scalp
Ethically traded ingredients, sustainably produced
No parabens, phthalates, paraffin, gluten, propylene glycol, mineral oil, synthetic fragrance, PABA, synthetic color, DEA, animal ingredients or sulfates

My Thoughts:
I fully saturated my hair with water then apply the shampoo to my roots and massaged my scalp. It was not as moisturizing as my experience with the Coconut And hibiscus shampoo which (I love dearly) but to be honest I think it cleaned my scalp better. This African soap shampoo let my hair feeling a little stripped but my scalp was clean and all signs of flakes from my eczema had disappeared. Most of the time when i shampoo my hair i have to do it twice because some part of my scalp would be white. That is just a problem people with scalp eczema go through. However after one wash with a very small amount my scalp was really clean and I can go right into the conditioning process. Overall it's a good shampoo especially for those who suffer from dry skin. Also a really inexpensive shampoo that will last you a while that is all natural and good for your hair.

Pros:

• Cleans hair and scalp in one wash. No need to shampoo twice.
• Relieves itchy dry scalp. Scalp felt like it was breathing. Lol!
• A little goes a long way.
• Price is just right at $9.99

Cons:

• Hair felt squeaky clean so to me it felt stripped

Shea Moisture African Black Soap Balancing Conditioner Review:

Promises:
This daily conditioner is best for dry, itchy scalp. It contains Plantain Enzymes, Tea Tree & Willow Bark Extract. Shea Moisture's all natural, concentrated treatment helps to reduce itching and flaking, while soothing and balancing the scalp.


My Thoughts:
Now this bottle of conditioner gave me LIFE I tell you. Lol! I added a few pumps to each section of hair and it literally melted on my hair. I actually really really love it. This is the first conditioner I have tried from Shea Moisture and I must say I am very very impressed. I love it. I put a plastic cap for 30 mins and rinsed and I was amazed at how soft my hair was. 

Also this is gentle on your scalp and is formulated for dry skin as is the shampoo. So that's a plus. Most of the time, if I let the conditioner touch my scalp it's back to 'itchville'. I did not have problem with this conditioner. It's going to be a staple now. I used it 4 times now and I love it. Another plus: you can use a leave in conditioner as well. It works nicely both ways. I will be repurchasing this conditioner.


Pros:

• Very moisturizing
• Gentle on the scalp (great for dry skin)
• Multipurpose (Great as a leave-in conditioner)
• Inexpensive at $9.99

Cons:

• Sorry I cant find one right now. Lol! I love it.

So that is my review. I hope it helped you and let me know how it is on your hair when you buy it. Click the Product review tab for reviews on other products.

Have you tried any Shea Moisture products from the African Black Soap Line?

Product Review: Shea Moisture Lavender & Orchid Body Butter

Product Review: Shea Moisture Lavender & Wild Orchid Body Butter

So we all know and love Shea Moisture hair products for the moisture and protection they provide. But have you tried their body products? So so good guys! You have to try. Below is my review of the Shea Moisture Body Butter with Lavender & Wild Orchid extract.


Ingredients:
Deionized Water, Cocoamidopropyl Betaine (Coconut Oil Soap), Glucoside (Sugar Beets), Lauroyl Lactylate (Palm Kernel), Olea Europaea (Olive) Oil (*Certified Oraganic Ingredient), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) (*Certified Oraganic Ingredient), Green Tea Extract, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Essential Oil Blend, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower, Lonicera Japonica (HoneySuckle) Flower Extract



Promises:

• Deeply Moisturizes and repairs skin with vitamins and essential fatty acids.

• Calms and soothes skin irritation.

• Repairs damaged skin and helps prevent moisture loss.

Price: $9.99 for 6oz (at Target)


My Thoughts:

I am happy I got this body butter. It's very rich, thick and creamy like a butter should. It goes into the skin and leave it really moisturized and added shine (but not too much). Also the smell is very flowery (well its lavender after all. Lol). I absolutely love it. I must also note that my skin stayed moisturized for the day. I suffer with eczema so finding a product to keep my skin moisturized was my main concern. It passed the test "with flying colors".

Pros:

• Very Moisturizing and skin retained moisture for a full day

• A little goes a long way. Just rub in your palms and apply.

• All Natural, No parabens or mineral oil 
• Price is very good at $9.99

Con:

•  The only con I can think of is that some people might not like the flowery perfume scent. However I loved it. (If Lavender is not your cup of tea there are other scents available in Target.)

Please do your skin a favor and head to the store and butter up. Your skin will thank you. Trust me.

Have you tried any Shea Moisture body products before?

A Healthy Smoothie a day promotes better health

Living Healthy The Smoothie Way!!

Recently I have been blending up a storm in the kitchen. I have read a lot on greens and fruits that does the body well and wanted to improve my health. Last week we bought a Vitamix and I love it. I have been on a healthy journey for a few months now and I am enjoying it.

Dark leafy vegetables are great for our body but lets face it, they don't taste good. They are bitter and unless you add salts an butters they simply just taste bitter. However cooking leafy vegetables and adding salt and butter makes it less nutritious. But throwing these raw nutritious elements into your blender with some sweet frozen fruits mask the taste and you still get the benefits.

Just want to share this morning's smoothie recipe with you. Bare in that mind I have ZERO time in the morning (on a workday) to do anything in the kitchen. So, I make smoothies in the evening ( I have time for that. Lol!). After my boyfriend and I have a cup the rest I put in the refrigerator for my Morning Smoothie.

See below for my current smoothie recipe:

• 2 Kale Leafs
• 1 Large Carrot
• 1 Orange
• 2 Apple
• 1 Kiwi
• 2 Celery Stalks (optional or use less if you think its overpowering for you)
• Frozen Strawberries
• Tablespoon Chia seeds

I will be sharing more smoothie recipes and tips with you along with a Vitamix review. Stay Tuned!


Do you make smoothies often? Please share your recipe!

Shea Moisture CoWash Conditioning Cleanser Product Review!!

Shea Moisture Coconut&Hibiscus Cowash Conditioning Cleanser

It’s a known fact that I am addicted to the Shea Moisture Coconut&Hibiscus line (Click here for review) - however I had never tried the Cowash. When I finally got my hands on the Shea Moisture Cowash I was very happy. My hair responds very well to the other products in the line so I knew my hair will love this as well. And IT DID!


Key Ingredients: 

Coconut Oil to hydrate and protect while reduce breakage
Silk Protein to smooth the hair shaft for a soft silky feel

How I used the Cowash

I tried it first on 2 week old dirty hair just to see what will happen (I had my shampoo in the shower with me just in case). I never wash with conditioner on dirty hair because my hair will not be clean and I will only be causing product build up. I expected the Cowash to leave my hair soft but not clean. Boy was I WRONG! In the shower I applied a generous amount to fully saturated head of hair and massaged my scalp. I realize how soft my hair was feeling so I went on to finger detangling and then comb through once and the process was a breeze. Girls my hair was so soft to the touch its amazing. I rinsed the product out and my hair and scalp was clean and my hair felt good.

I followed up with the Shea Moisture Curl and Style Milk. They are from the same line so naturally they work well together. I reused this product twice on semi clean hair just to hydrate my hair and again, I love it. Will I pick this up on a hair product run? YES!

Pros:

• Left my hair feeling soft.
• Detanging was easy.
• Cowashing with regular conditioner can easily result in product buildup. This product did not leave my hair feeling film coated. I liked that.
• Easily found at any target and most beauty stores
• Contains no parabens, sulfates, mineral, gluten, or synthetic fragrance

Cons:
The only thing bad I can say about this cowash is that it cost $11.99 in Target versus the $9.99 i am used to. I went to 2 Targets and this is the price that I saw. To wash with this 8oz bottle three or 4 times it done. It’s a fight though because I love it.

But don’t be sad, Target now has it on sale for $9.59 and the good thing is you might be able to get it on BOGO sale so I say STOCK UP. LOL!


Have you tried the Shea Moisture CoWash Conditioning Cleanser yet?

Healthy All Natural Snack: Edamame

Say Hello to my new snack: Edamame (pronounced as 'eh-dah-MAH-may')

Lately I have been fighting with my scale because it keep showing me these high numbers and really not being my friend right now. I have decided to try to live healthier and then I am sure the scale will show lower numbers and maybe we can be friends again. My first meal to attack is SNACKING! I snack way too often and not with the right foods. My choice of snacks are cookies and biscuit, bubble teas (milk and no milk), nuts and dear I say it -Chocolate! Not good choices obviously (minus the nuts). So I decide to change up my snack habits and felt like sharing with you guys.

So what is Edamame?

Edamame is a Soybean that is harvested at the peak of ripeness while its still green. This soybean variety has long been consumed in Asian countries such as Japan and China. In recent years the health benefit of this vegetable have caught the attention of Americans and now its a snack that the health-conscious reaches for.

Does it really have health benefits?

Girls, I have done my research - because Shelly would not be snacking on greens for no reason. Edamame is packed with  Antioxidants and rich in Protein and Vitamin (C, B). In addition, I will be increasing my Fiber intake by snacking on this soybean. Why not eat crunchy beans that are healthy and delicious than eating fatty high calorie snacks that does no good to my body? 

Health foods stores like Whole Foods and Trader Joe's have discovered the health benefits of edamame and now carry them in their stores. Wholesale stores like Costco and BJ's now have them in the freezer sections in big portions. Last weekend I bought a big 12 pack bag of edamame at Costco for ONLY $10.

 Does it Taste Green and Yucky?

Edamame have to be cooked. I WOULD NOT eat raw beans. Add unopened beans into a pot of boiling water. After about 5 mins, drain off hot water and rinse in cold water. I sometimes just eat as is or add salt then throw in a Ziploc bag or container and off I go. 

**Please note that you ONLY eat the beans inside - not the pods. Just squeeze the pods and the beans pop right out.

I love this as a snack and think it jump starts my healthy eating. I aim to live a healthier lifestyle and befriends with the scale again. My next move is to add green smoothies to my diet.  Hope you guys follow me on this journey to healthy living.

What do you reach for when you want to snack on something?

Spa Day at the King Sauna Spa NJ

King Sauna Spa NJ

Last weekend was my birthday and my boyfriend treated me to a spa day. As scary as it seemed I chose a traditional Korean Spa versus the regular style spa that everybody is use to. Initially I considered Spa Castle in Queens NY as that is the only one I heard about. Then my boyfriend researched and suggested King Sauna Spa in NJ. I am so happy he did.

So why not Spa Castle? My biggest problem with Spa castle was that the reviews revealed that there are lots of kid running around and it's really a water park and maybe most suitable for families. I am sorry but I did not want to deal with tons of kids running around on my birthday. So King Sauna Spa was the big choice. Now this choice came with the biggest issue that my friends and I had to get our minds ready for: The Nudity. Yes girls, in the wet sauna (bathhouse) you cannot wear any clothes.

So Sunday at noon, with fear and excitement in the fore front our minds, my two friends and I headed out to Palisades Park NJ. Valet parking was easy and free (just tip). Checking in was easy as well. We signed up for a coupon on their site so our admission was $32 instead of $45. They gave us a watch with our number, towel and rag and our uniform (tee shirt and shorts) which were all one size fit all so don't go trying to be cute. You had to take shoes off at the entrance of the lockers and be barefoot until its time to go home. Asian culture I learned.

The place was clean. I liked that. They had saunas on almost ever floor. It's really a maze trying to figure out what was what as we weren't given a map. But it was fun. The craziest thing is that I put my glasses in the locker and only one of us were smart enough to wear contacts, so she was the guide reading the signs etc. lol! Was quite funny. Most saunas were communal and you are clothed. We actually thought the entire spa was naked naked naked. But no, it's just the wet spas. We enjoyed the saunas.

We had lunch in the restaurant and it was good. Well except the spicy tofu one of the girls got. She never liked that too much. Lol! The dumplings, seaweed soup and smoothies were really good. We rested in the rest area with leather recliners that were so so comfortable then headed to the salon. We had manicures and pedicures done for only $30 and I loved it. The foot massage is to die for. That woman left my foot feeling really good.

We then went for our body scrub and massage in the wet spa. Now in here you have to be Naked Naked Naked. No way around it. However after a few minutes the weirdness of the nakedness everywhere went away. The wet spa has 2 hot tubs, one cool and one cold. Also there is a mineral steam room that is very hot and took some getting used to.

Scrub and Massage Table

Now to the scrub and massage. They lay you on a table and scrubbed EVERYWHERE. No joke, lol! The stuff that woman scrubbed off of me was a crazy sight. Listen, this left me feeling as if I had never took a bath in my life. When she was done my skin felt so new. And the massage and facial that followed was like heaven. She grated cucumber and gave a really good facial. She put hot towels all over my body and squeezed every tension out of my body. She literally went on top of the table and use her knees to press into my calf muscles and back. It was intense but felt so good. And just when you thought it was all done, you feel her washing your hair and giving you a head massage. It was really really good. The body scrub and massage was $85 plus tax. You cannot beat that.

Now, my plan is to pamper myself more often. I don't do a lot of 'me time stuff'. That is about to change. Rejuvenating the body is good for your mind and body. Just lying in a sauna and letting the heat open your pores and soothes the body and resting the mind is a powerful thing. So King Sauna Spa, you will see me again.

I would recommend you trying it if you are in the NY/NJ area. Also there are shuttle buses from NYC that take you there for free and take you back. Visit their site http://kingsaunanj.com/


Do you pamper yourself often?