my first 10K

I usually run intervals up to 6 miles once per week. Initially when Spring commenced I was graciously running three times per week on the nearby track. However our Spring fired up rather quickly and running in the heat became nearly unbearable...rather fast! Therefore, I moved my runs into the gym, recommencing with intervals.

I knew that someday, this year I would likely get to run a 10K. It was made possible by a friend who introduced me to a run that she was participating in. She was going to run her first 5K. I decided it was time to jump in. Surely common sense was telling me that the heat would make this torture. I soldiered on!

I even have a medal and t-shirt to commemorate the event. The drive in and out was hell. The heat was excructiating. I predicted I could do it in 90 minutes. In spite of the heat, which was comparable to sticking your head into an oven to check on dinner, but leaving it there for over an hour, I was more than happy to complete this feat, then wiggle onward to yoga the next day.

hair growth update

I know I promised myself that the summer months were ridiculous times to straighten my hair, but I caved. You see, I have been on a new hair regimen as you know of applying lots of water, leave-in conditioning, and Shea Butter to seal. I wanted to see how those results panned.

I am amazed! My hair appears fuller, maybe even grew an inch or so since the last check in March/April. I see the greatest results at the crown and the top. 

Now that I know that what I’ve been doing brings the results, I must say that this blow, press, and iron were especially made possible due to Olive Heat Protection Spray by Silk Elements and Mimosa Hair Honey.

My hair even looks blacker! It does not have that look of dullness. I am so happy with the results. I will continue this process of co-washing, leave-in, water, and Shea Butter sealant for the duration.

It doesn't matter much to me to have long hair if the hair is not healthy.

Yes!

sweet potato belgian waffle

1/2 c oat flour
1/3 c egg white
1/3 c sweet potato
1/3 c lime soda
1/2 t vanilla
1 pkg stevia
pinch of cinnamon
pinch of nutmeg

blend until smooth. pour about a cup of batter onto hot, waffle iron. check for readiness. serve with hot syrup.

top ten...for the new fitness and natural health year

Welcome to July...so it seems that I am now one year officially...a non meat eater. This anniversary was actually on the 28th of June, but I thought 'what a nice way to kick off July...with a post of what this year shall bring'.

Here it is. I no longer season my food with pork! I know. I will not even eat food prepared by others seasoned with meat. My new go-to for seasoning is natural seasons of course and vegetable broth.

If it's organic Chicken Broth I'll do it...because only then do I know that the chicken's weren't fed GMO's.

Second order, which I've already started doing since last month...is drinking more water, like doubling what I usually consume...and oh boy what a difference it has made already in my body! my hair...my skin...oh!

Third order...walk more...yes! This has already commenced as well. I only will drive the car maybe two times a week. These are the days that I go to LAFIT for classes. The walk to Briarwood is a little over 10 miles round trip. If I include the workout...this could be a little taxing, time lamenting, and dangerous if I'm out too early or too late trying to get there or get home.

Fourth order, continue to toss away products that are not being used from my shelf. Now, I have invested a lot of money into Carol's Daughter and Jason Naturals, so those product lines I will be using until they expire.

I love Carol's Daughter Healthy Hair Butter...all around, I cannot see parting from this. However, Shea Butter has become an inexpensive sealant I just can't deny!

Fifth Order...Continue to cook more and prepare more meals at home. I already do this, but I want to do it more. Things like Salsa, I will make at home! yeah!

Sixth Order...organization. I'm slow on this one because workouts, nutrition, rest, and my hair have consumed my time. Once I get organized...I intend to maintain by possessing a designated time to do...a, b, c...

Seventh order...start my natural hair care accessories page on Espy and begin promoting it on FACEBOOK.

Eighth order...add yoga...to my week. I have already commenced this as well. Tough as it can be, the results are undeniable. Love it!

Ninth order...start school and commit to finishing early!

Tenth order...pray and meditate daily. Let it flow. That means deep yoga stretchs daily, centering, thanking the higher power in the universe for the blessing of the day's gift.

why tilapia?

Tilapia Fish Cakes

I was mostly a white bass lover. Drive by FRESH FISH HOUSE, any location locally and we'll need to pull over, park, so I can dash in and order a large white bass-head chopped, split, leave the tail on. Yes, fry it! Wheat bread and lots of hot sauce.

However, if you check my freezer, tilapia is the only fish I purchase. I do consume seafood varieties in the form of shrimp, lobster, and crab. However, in the fish family it's none other than tilapia.

Why?

Tilapia is primarily and often entirely a vegetarian fish. It consumes a cereal diet, whereas most other fishes (my white bass) are carnivorous.

It has been regarded as the fish St. Peter (found with the coin in its mouth).

It has very low levels of mercury, though low in Omega 3.

It is a very inexpensive fish, easily farmed, thus leading to its growing popularity. You can find this fish at any store.

water is my bff!

As a natural, we often say water is our friend. Water is the ISH! Washing your hair with it is one way, not fearing it ruining your natural coif is another. The big daddy of them all is how a tiny bottle with a little hot water, spritzed lightly over your twists, helps to keep them butter soft.

I am still learning. This is a journey with me through the natural world, as my health and wellness journey is filled with new discoveries. On this journey I found things that served me very little purpose.

I love Carol’s Daughter products. I have not tried them all and I probably will not need to. However, the best thing in the fray is the Healthy Hair Butter, hands down. This is like hair crack. Seriously, I could retire my journey with this. Unfortunately, it is expensive. Now I can budget for it, but it is best that I use it sparingly, once a week maybe to lock down the twists following my co-wash in Shea/Almond by Suave. After about 2 days, it is Now Shea Butter to the rescue along with my secret leave-ins. Instead of coating my hair with Shea and over piling on the goodness, I simply learned to do this on day 2 or 3 and then follow each morning or night with a light spray of water, tie my hair down, and let the moisture of the water and creamy oil texture of the butters get reacquainted.

By the last day of my workout stints before the day off reprieve, I wash it. Oh how I have the best times in the shower washing my hair with conditioners. I mentioned that I am moving gradually away from shampoos. My hair does not suffer with dandruff anymore. Therefore, the shampoos I purchased with dandruff in mind are sitting in the cupboard, virtually unusable.

It’s a slow process, but I am discarding a lot of this stuff. I refuse to use them on my hair just to be rid of them, so to the trash they will go. I will keep Cream of Nature, Jason’s (of course), Carol’s Daughter Vanilla poo/con, and perhaps even try other Suave or VO5 clarifying conditioners.

I am very satisfied with Suave Almond/Shea conditioner as my mainstay. Some of the products are great for when I go straight, like the Cream of Nature conditioning shampoo. However, in the meantime, the once per week washes will consist of three wash cycles…clarifying shampoo, clarifying conditioner, then the love of my life “almond/shea” co-wash.

Daily sprays with my bff…and I am all good. No, I have not forgotten about my hair grease…it’s still a love of mine. We shall see how my bff enjoys grease. Stay tuned!

halle should buy a clue~

Recently, as the news reports the courts have ruled in Gabe's favor, ordering Halle to fork over $20,000 to Gabe for child support, in order that Nahla, a child torn between two people who love her, can continue seamlessly to live in the lifestyle while in her mother's custody.

Uterus aside, I think the courts clearly are trying to send a message to Halle that her money, power, and influence trumps her 'sky is falling' prediction regarding Gabe and the random perps she claims are placing her child in eminent danger.

I bet if she hadn't threw in all of that 'fear' for my child shit, she wouldn't be paying this. The farther it seems she goes, the more she makes Gabe appear like the victimized father who simply wants to be with his child.

I've always said if she kept her rants in her belly and farted them out, she'd be a more credible witness on her own defense. Instead, Gabe is coming off as the lesser of two fools and that is no place for him to be if her claims be true. Taking Nahla to Paris is not a permanent venue for Halle and anyone who knows her could testify to that. Her home is USA. Her family is here. She has no contacts to Paris. By her US citizenry alone, she trumps Gabe's residency.

Paris is a bitch ass move. The more she presses it and the desire to muck up Gabe and get his rights terminated, the more it appears she's drinking Olivier's kool-aid. If Olivier gets her on his soil, marries her, adopts Nahla, he could fuck that child sideways, and there's nothing Barack Obama or the Special Forces can do to bring Nahla home. She would be Olivier's child and Halle could even wind up losing her rights to Nahla in Paris. She's needs to buy a fucking clue. Dumb ass!

Paris sounds like a move Olivier is pushing subliminally. Halle could give a flying fuck about Paris. She just wants to 'win'. But her own desires to punish the only person who could be Nahla's greatest ally against Olivier's grooming potential is getting her no fans in the probate.

No matter how much money she has or how racist Gabe could be, he's the child's father and she has yet to prove he's a danger to Nahla, only a threat to anyone who tries to impose their 'restrictions' upon his parental rights.