Say DEUCES to bad products! - Video

One of the Youtube vloggers that I follow, Charjay posted this spoof of Chris Brown's Deuces featuring some fellow vloggers.  It talks about the dangers of "bad ingredients" in natural hair products.  It's creative & hillarious.   So here's your Friday's 7 chuckles (a Katt Williams reference) ladies.  Enjoy!!

Get Up, Get Active!

Did you know that your hair follicles are fed by your blood stream?  Exercising increases the flow of blood to your hair follicles. So working out is a good thing not only for your body but for your hair as well!  Talk about fringe benefits!  So in addition to your hair regimen of co-washing, shampooing & deep conditioning, add 30 minutes of good activity into your day. 

You don't have to go to the gym to do this.  You could walk your dog in your neighborhood....like Princess & me below.

Some other things you can do is ride a bicycle around your neighborhood.  Play chase with your kids.  Take the stairs instead of the elevator at work.  Walk on your lunch break.  Jump rope.  Do a workout video at home.  Do Beyonce's "Let's Move!"  (SN:  I'm really feeling the tribute to salsa in this video!)

Also ladies,  I'm restarting my workout routine. The past two weeks I totally fell of the wagon.  So this post is as much to encourage me and it is to encourage you. I realize that working out also gives me more energy, helps me sleep better at night and improves my mood.  So I'm starting it up again for the 2nd time this year.   I had a great hour & a half workout this evening.  Working towards consistency!

In Honor of Mother's Day....

Mother's Day Weekend 2011

Words cannot truly express the amount of love that I have for my mother.  Every year I try to find the perfect Hallmark card that expresses the depth of the emotion in my heart.  I try to select the perfect gift that compares to the value of her presence in my life.  The reality of the matter is that there is no card or gift that truly does her justice.  She has been and continues to be the prayer warrier, confidant, the healer of all hurts, the encourager, the best hugger, the tickler, the playmate, my first hairdresser, the master chef, the educator, the girlfriend, the queen of hospitality, the disciplinarian, the epitome of a lady, my daddy's love, the homemaker, all of my friend's "other" mother, MY MAMA.

All that I am today, is because God in His infinate wisdom, chose THIS woman to rear me.  The seeds that she deposited in me during my 18 years in her home and the years following have taught me how to be the lady that I am today.  She not only taught me, but lived the example like very few other that I have experienced in my life.  I truly love her with all my heart & no one shall ever take her place.

Happy Mother's Day ma!  I wubbb you!!!  Muah!

The Beauty Within - Music Video

I experienced a random act of kindness from a male stranger yesterday.  (Don't worry, it was at an auto supply store.  I wasn't broken down on the side of the road.)  The guy genuinely just recognized I was a little bit frustrated with the lack of service I was receiving (or not receiving) from the associate at the store and wanted to provide some assistance.  I was appreciative of that.  In the midst of him helping, he thanked me for allowing him to be a gentleman to a black queen.  A pick up line?  Quite possibly.  But based on the fact that he went on his merry way afterwards without pursing it further, I choose to believe it was a sincere compliment. Made me feel good.

Anyway, I was rocking my puff at the time and it made me think about this song that I heard recently.  Enjoy!

For all of you who aren't quite loving your natural hair just yet, Dead Prez wants you to know, he see's ya... 

We Are Not Our Hair - Sandra Dubose-Gibson, Mrs. Black NC 2011

Credit: http://www.myalopeicaexperience.com/

I was so inspired after reading about this young woman, I just had to share it with the public.  Sandra Dubose-Gibson was named North Carolina's first bald beauty queen as the 2011 Mrs. Black North Carolina.  Mrs. Dubose-Gibson has Alopecia Universalis, which has caused her not only to be bald, but to lose hair all over her body.  Imagine learning at the age of 25 that you have alopecia and that your hair is going to fall out.  This is a time in a young woman's life where your appearance can be one of the biggest concerns of your life (second only to men, possibly).

For a few of the years following her 25th birthday, she wore a wig but in 2008 made her debut as a bald woman on her way to a bald photoshoot no less! Talk about courage.   Along her path of self rediscovery she has come to redefine what beauty is, turning what could be a devastating diagnosis for some into her purpose.  In 2009, she founded the Alopecia Community of the Triangle, a support group for those who have this disease.  Her mission extends beyond being just a spokesperson for those diagnosed with alopecia like herself.  In a statement she said, "My mission is to be the catlyst that enables women to heal the experiences that have eroded and challenged their self esteem.  I am here to help them see the beautiful human beings that they truly are and boldy celebrate that beauty and strength from the inside out.  Sandra has gone on to become a sought after public speaker, produce a documentary about alopecia, as well as record a song that speaks to the internal source of beauty.  This Saturday, March 26th, she was crowned as Mrs. Black North Carolina for 2011, the state's first bald beauty queen.  Outstanding!

As I read about her story it made me reflect back to the beginnings of my natural hair journey and how I too had to redefine beauty in order for me to even consider ending my routine 6 week relaxer visits.  Even though most people see me as this very confident woman, I had to conquer my own fears and deal with my own issues regarding what defined beauty to me.  Too often, we allow societal definitions of  body size/shape, skin color, hair texture and length create impossible measures which tear down our own value and self esteem.  Why do we as a society place more value on physical traits rather than non-tangible traits such as integrity, generosity, and honesty?  Have we forgotten that the physical is what we appear to be (temporarily because the physical will change with time) but our character is who we really are?

Since I did want to be comfortable with the woman in the mirror with her new hair, I turned my eyes to the Word of God for His truth.  The Bible told me that we were made in God's own image (Genesis 1:27).  How can there be anything wrong with someone made in the very image of God Himself?  How can we not love God's creation?  In Luke 12:7, the Word says that "And the very hairs on your head are all numbered; so don't be afraid, you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows."  God has so valued His children that He has taken the time to number every hair on our head.  Yet by allowing the opinions of society define our beauty and worth, we put God's opinion of us lower than the world's definintion.  I choose to agree with what God says about me and make this my confession to Him and the world.  "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful.  I know that full well." (Psalm 139:14)   

Watch the video below to see Mrs. Dubose-Gibson embrace her baldness for the first time.  The lyrics to her song are posted below the video.  For more information about her please see her blog,  http://www.myalopeciaexperience.com/. 

I’m Beautiful” Song Lyrics

Featured on Project Liberation Soundtrack

Written and Performed By: Sandra Dubose-Gibson

Music produced by: Clayton Brock, Keith Carlyle and Rashaad Terrell

I used to think my beauty came from the outside
So the woman in my mirror I could not identify
I didn’t recognize my smile, my eyes, or personality
No regard for my intellect or the spirit in me
I admit that, I was wrong and my feelings had been hurt
But finally today I understand what I’m worth

And I’m beautiful
Inside and out- this is true Ooh- Ooh
I’m beautiful
With or without you, and so are you

The changes I’ve been through had an effect on me
Through the pain my eyes have opened and now I can really see
The real definition of me cannot be compromised
And my freedom came the day I realized
I admit that, I was wrong and my feelings had been hurt
But finally today, I understand what I’m worth

And I’m Beautiful
Inside and out- This is my truth Ooh- Ooh
I’m Beautiful
With or without you, and so are you

Take my advice my friend, don’t focus out- look in
No shortcuts to happiness, the work begins and it never ends
Then one day you will see my same reality
That after all of the pain and tears, there lies a beautiful me, A beautiful me……..

I’m Beautiful

This is my truth, this is my truth!

I’m Beautiful

With or without you, and so are you.

copyright 2008

Think you can't? Think AGAIN!

It's funny how your words come back to haunt you.  I remember that almost a year ago, I was telling my dermatologist that I couldn't go natural.  My curl pattern was too tight, it would simply be too much work for me to maintain.

What I've learned (once again) is that as individuals, we can do anything that we CHOOSE to do.  I've found out that I can go natural, my curl pattern is not too tight and it hasn't been overwhelming for me to maintain.  How many times have we given up on ourselves before we even get started?  No evidence to the fact that you CANNOT achieve a said goal, you just decide hey, I won't even try.

I also had a reality check when I saw this article about Ida Keeling.  Who is Ida Keening you may ask?  She is a 95 year old sprinter.  No, that's not a typo, she's 95.   Ida hasn't had an easy life.  Her mother passed away when she was just a child, her husband died of a heart attack when he was just 42.  Her 2 sons, were both murdered in drug related killings in 1979 and 1981.  That was a lot of grief for her 4'6" frame to bear.  Her daughter Shelley, who happens to be a track & field coach, convinced her to start running around the age of 67 and she's been running ever since.  How's that for teaching an old dog new tricks?? She's now recorded as the fastest nonegenarian.  Her time:  60 meters in 29.86 seconds.

 Her goal is to live until she's 108.  She said that's 4 years longer than her father's mother who lived to be 104. Taking only 1 prescription drug a day, her daily motivation to herself  is, "Count your blessings, Ida.  Count your blessings."

I think we should all take that advice when we're having a bad day.  Count your blessings.  And remember, it's NEVER too late.

See the video from ABCNews below.