Hello Gorgeous | A month long conversation on beauty

In addition to being a mother and a blogger, I am also the creator and host of the radio show Cocktails and Conversation which airs LIVE on Saturday's at 8 am EST.  For the month of June we are having an in-depth conversation on beauty and what it means to feel/be beautiful today.  I can tell you first hand that my definition of beauty has changed over the years from being a young girl in my 20's to today.  To me being beautiful has little to do with outward appearances, but more on how I feel on the inside.  Now don't get me wrong, I believe everyone wants to "look" good and I am no exception to the rule, however I do not believe that one has to achieve a certain "look" or "size" in order to be beautiful.

I hope you will join me in this very important topics and share with me your thoughts on beauty.  What does being beautiful mean to you and how has your definition changed over the years?

Oh Fitch Please!?!?!?!

Unless you have been living under a rock, I'm sure by now you're all heard about Abercrombie  & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries made about the company's target market.  Yea, I agree he is a total idiot but I think that Ellen hit this one on the head and it is for this reason alone that I absolutely LOVE her. 

30 Day Challenge | Goodbye my beloved flat iron and hello curls!!!

My hair is naturally curly.  As a child growing up I embraced my curls and was content with my hair and all was right with the world.  Then entered adolescents and I wanted to look like my friends...they had straight hair and I though it was beautiful.  I wanted my hair to look like theirs.  Luckily for me, my mother refused to let me get a relaxer however she was not opposed to me having my hair straightened by my soon to be new best friend, the pressing comb.  The process of washing, blow drying, and pressing my hair soon became the norm.  So after years and years of heat abuse, my hair was severely heat damaged and very unhealthy.  I knew something needed to change but what?  Should I cut off all my hair and just start all over?  I just didn't know what to do.

Jess AKA Mahogany Curls

Then last year, I started adopting a healthier lifestyle which included being active regularly and the hair issue resurfaced once again.  When I work out I sweat on my head and that means by the end of my workout I'm rocking a curly afro (and no, it's not like those cute ones you see in a magazine).  Still not know what to do with this hair of mine I decided to consult with my best friend YouTube to see what I could find on curly hair.

Then I found Mahogany Curls YouTube channel!  When I saw her videos, it was LOVE at first sight.  I enjoyed how she talked about the products that she used and showed me step by step her process.  She was following the Curly Girl: The Handbook (I also bought the book) which was developed my stylist Lorraine Massey.  After watching a few of her videos, I thought I would give it a try.  I quickly bought the products and surprisingly I liked the results!

My first try at going curly using the CG (curly girl method)

I wore my hair curly for quite a while and just recently found myself going back to my old ways of blow drying and flat ironing my hair on a regular basis.

(Hey old habits are hard to break!) 

But that got old quick (the whole flat ironing thing).  So I'm saying good bye to the flat iron and hello to my curls for the next 30 days.  That's right, I am going to try and refrain from applying direct heat to my hair see what effect it has whether positive or negative on my overall hair health.  I thought about trying to do it for an entire year but thinking about NOT doing for something for 365 days seems a bit intimidating and slightly overwhelming but 30 days, well that is something I can do.

30 days with no blow dryer or flat iron, I can do it.   During this journey I will blog about my experiences and all of the products and techniques I've tried.  It should be fun...at least that is what I keep telling myself.

If you have been thinking about embracing your inner curly, wavy or kinky girl, then I encourage you to join along!  And remember it's only 30 days!

So let the curls begin!!!

Product Review | Palmolive Soft Touch

Recently I received some products to test and review as a part of the Influenster program that I participant in.  To my surprise this time I was sent two full sized bottles of Palmolive's new Soft Touch line.  According to the company these mild formula soaps with a touch of Vitamin E, Aloe or Coconut Butter were designed to be soft on the hands while still providing you with powerful grease cutting action so our dishes are sparkling clean.  Well Palmolive was true to their word.  Not only were my dishes clean BUT my hands were not all dried out and rough afterwards.  I received both the Vitamin E and the one with Aloe and although both were absolutely great, my favorite was the one with Vitamin E.

This is one product that will be used in my house daily from this day out.



Disclaimer: I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.  The views and opinions expressed in this post are mine and were not influenced in any way by Influenster or Palmolive.

DIY | The Best Play Dough Recipe Ever!!!

This hands down is the BEST play dough recipe that I have ever made!  Plus the added bonus is that it's all natural and safe.

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups Kosher salt (if you don't have Kosher, regular table salt works just as well)
3 cups flour
3 cups water
2 Tbsp. cream of tartar
3 Tbsp. cooking oil
2-3 drops food coloring**



Directions
Mix all ingredients together in a large saucepan.  Stir constantly over medium heat.  Mixture will become very think and lumpy.  When completely thickened, knead on a floured board until cool.  Store in a airtight container.

I received it from my mom who is a retired teacher a while ago but for one reason or another, I never got around to making it.  Because my job allows me to work from home, we only send my daughter to daycare three days a week.  That means that the other two days she is at home with me.  Last week was a very busy one for me and I knew I needed to have something lined up to occupy her while I got some work done.  I luckily came across the recipe for play dough that my mother had given me and decided to make it, and boy am I ever so glad I did.  Not only was it super easy to make, but she spent hours and hours playing with it and because of that I was able to get my work done.

One of the many masterpieces that she made.

SCORE!!

** I divided up the batch into five smaller batches and added the food coloring. 

If you try this recipe, let me know what you think.

Something every father should experience once in his lifetime

This week I stumbled across this video one two men who agreed to get hooked up to a machine that simulates labor pain.  First let me tip my hat to the person who invented this machine because you are a genius!  I tell you these guys had no idea what their wives went through while giving birth.  The best part was that the wives were there, taking pictures and trying to talk them through it.  I almost peed my pants laughing.  I don't know about you but I think every father or soon-to-be father should have to experience this at least once in his lifetime.

Take a look and let me know what you think...

Who knew that pumping gas could be so much fun????

If it's one thing I dislike more than pumping gas, it's listening to/watching the advertisements/shows that play while you're at the pump.  That was until I saw this gas pump prank that the folks from the Tonight Show played on this unassuming couple.  Not only did they get a "free" tank of gas but they also entertained us while doing it.  Hey, Jay Leno, I'm sure there are a few folks here in GA that would sing/dance for a tank of gas (me included).

Fa la la la laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

Product Review | April curlBOX

Okay okay, I know I'm late with this one but better late than never right???  April's curlBOX theme was all about spring and revamping you hair to get it summer time ready!  Once again, Myleik and the curlBOX Crew provided it's subscribers with a variety of full-size and sample size products to take your hair from winter time blah to hello spring!

Include in this month's box:

• Doris NY MUD minerals pack treatment 
• Mizani Shine Spray
• Design Essentials Natural Curl Enhancing Mousse
• Lustrasilk Moisture Max Hydrate Therapy Deep Conditioner
• Anu Essentials Moisturizing Curl Cream

This Sunday was hair day for me, so I had the opportunity to try both the Doris NY MUD minerals pack treatment and the Mizani Shine Spray and I loved them both!  The MUD minerals pack left my hair feeling very soft and tangle free.  After applying my styling products and allowing my hair to air dry, I then finished the look with the Mizani Shine Spray.  Now I typically try to avoid any spray oil products because they tend to weigh down my hair however I didn't experience this with the Mizani Shine Spray.  For me a little went a long way.  The product left my hair with just the right amount of shine and bounce and did not weight my curls down.  

Talk about a score!!!!

I am looking forward to trying to other products that came in this month's box later this month and will let you know my thoughts.

So what are some of your favorite products for natural/curly hair?  Are you a curlBox subscriber?  If so what are your thoughts of this month's box?  I would love to hear your thoughts.

**Please note that I purchased all products listed in this review as a part of my curlBOX subscription.  curlBOX is a subscription service where every month subscribers receive a beautiful box with 5-7 quality hair care product samples for $20 a month.  For more information on how you can receive your very own curlBOX check out their website.