My Commitment

I've made the decision with myself to begin a hair journey, not just for "longer hair" but so that my hair can be as healthy as possible. Now, if with that comes longer hair, then I'm all for it. Becoming a mom has guided to me want a healthier lifestyle for myself and my family and this is one of the steps I'm taking. After months of watching countless "gurus" on YouTube I took the initial step and joined the  hair forum website www.K-I-S-S.biz. They give you the basics to build your personalized hair regimen and to find out what works for you. I've documented the issues I have with my hair and set short, mid and long term goals for myself. Although I haven't officially started my regimen yet, I do plan to blog my journey, so stay tuned!

What issues do I have with my hair?!
-It's thin, dry and breaks at my shoulders

What are my hair goals?!
-Short term: full shoulder length in 3-6 months
-Mid term: arm pit or bra strap length in 12 months
-Long term: bra length or mid back length in 24 months
-Overall: healthier hair!

Wish me luck!

My husband, Tramaine ♥

2nd time this week..

So this is the 2nd package this week that has come for my son! I swear this child gets more mail than me, lol! As I said previously though, I'm always grateful. Jeremy's aunt, my sister Nisan sent him a gorgeous Eddie Bauer diaper bag filled with clothing ranging from 6-18 months. I cant wait for him to grow! He has the most dapper Perry Ellis suit imaginable! She had also ordered him the matching Eddie Bauer travel system (car seat and stroller) and play pen, but Sears is having trouble telling us exaclty when it's supposed to arrive. This poses a problem because: 1 - I'm full term and cant leave the hospital with out a carseat and 2 - it was ordered almost 2 months ago. In nice terms, she's LIVID and has even written a letter to the CEO of Sears. At any rate, here's what he got:

Clean & Clear Morning Burst

 

I've been using this product for years now, purely out of habit. It completely dries my face out after use, so a moisturizer is a MUST with this product. Honestly, no bells or whistles go off when I use this. And since my pregnancy, it hasn't really been helping with my break-outs. As I said, I use it purely out of habit. I'd love for someone to recommend another daily cleanser I can try because I really don't want to keep using this one. /-:

MY RATING: ★★☆☆☆ - 2 out of 5 stars

Mother's Day Wants

Brown LEATHER JEWELRY BOX now $52.95


Remington Pearl Digital Ceramic Curling Wand now $21.99

Gifts for Jeremy

My son got a box in the mail today from his aunt Scherelle! Along with the stuff pictured above she sent some bibs, pacifiers and the CUTEST blanket in the world! Oh, and a card for Jeremy and a Mother's Day card for me, neither of which will be opened right away. It was like Christmas in April! A Master Sergeant at my job also brought me 3 packs of diapers and a ton of baby food and rice cereal! I'm so grateful when people go out of their way to do anything for me and my family.☺

How I did it: preventing stretch marks

About a week or 2 ago, I posted some pictures on Facebook (and made a blog entry here) marking my 36 month (9 month mark) of pregnancy. I got a lot of questions regarding not having ANY marks on my tummy this late in my pregnancy. I've always been told that there's nothing you can do it about it (especially if you already had them in other places prior; which I did). Well, I refused to believe that. I found out I was pregnant at 4 to 5 weeks. The moment I did, I got on the phone with my sister and had her send me 100% sticks and raw chunks of cocoa butter.

If you allow your skin to dry out while it's stretching that's what causes the marks. Years ago I watched another sister of mine go threw pregnancy. Her tummy would itch a lot but before she'd scratch it, she'd lather her hands and tummy in cocoa butter, so essentially her scratching had become a moisturizing technique. After her pregnancy, she had no marks. That was one of the major reasons that I adopted this technique. I keep one of the sticks shown above in my purse, another in my home & I carry little chunks with me to work. I also follow application with my regular body lotion (Keri, Original).

I know that there are hundreds of products out there and they all may vary in result in one way or another; the only suggestion that I have is this: IF YOU DON'T RECOGNIZE THE INGREDIENTS, DO NOT USE IT. How can a product claim to be 100% cocoa butter if you have 17 other chemicals mixed with it?! Keep in mind, you don't have to do it the way I did, but this is what worked for me. I hope everyone else has great results!

ps: I only gained 20 pounds during the course of my pregnancy. Normal weight gain should not exceed 35lbs. Not gaining 80lbs could also help in snapping back to your pre-pregnancy body postpartum.

Ahava, Dead Sea Laboratories.

From the AHAVA website: The Dead Sea is a natural geological wonder formed throughout the millennia and located at the bottom of the world, some 410 meters below sea level. It's a region filled with mystique and is a study in contrasts. Far from reflecting its name, the Dead Sea thrives with life-enhancing ingredients with proven regenerative properties. It provides one of the world's highest concentrations of minerals suitable for skin-related healthcare. The climate is dry and the sands of the desert engulfing it are parched, and yet it produces the greatest abundance of skin-hydrating minerals on Earth. Saturated in healthy salts, the waters of the Dead Sea cause bathers to float rather than sink. And because it is located on the lowest point on the planet there are supplementary filters in the region's dense atmosphere that act like natural sunscreens and a higher concentration of pure, unpolluted oxygen. All of these unique factors add up to make the Dead Sea the largest and richest natural spa on Earth, featuring exceptional, health-enhancing properties. Once the legendary, personal spa of Cleopatra it has become a modern-day oasis for people everywhere seeking its clinically-proven skin therapies and treatments.









I personally picked up these products when I deployed to Israel over 2 years ago and I still love them now just as much as I did when I purchased them! Ahava products are mined from the Dead Sea, with waters so rich in minerals that you float.These same minerals cleanse, exfoliate, moisturize your skin leaving you feeling super refreshed. I'd recommend this product for EVERYONE: from young to old and people with all skin types. They truly have something for everyone, even the guys!

MY RATING: ★★★★★ - 5 out of 5 stars

Micro MAC Haul

Today I got 2 items in the mail that I'd ordered over 2 weeks ago. My first MAC shipment didn't take that long to get to me so I had assumed the package was lost/stolen. Either way, it's here now. I ordered the MAC Fix + ($19.00) and MAC Brow Finisher ($15.00). Of course, a full review will be done at a later time, once I test these products out and see if they actually do as they promise. However, I've seen multiple gurus via YouTube use these products so I don't think I'll be very disappointed!

IMAN Time Control Gel Cleanser

From the IMAN site:

This new cleanser is a botanically based, vitamin enriched gel cleanser formulated with a refreshing blend of natural fruit and flower extract, honey, sugarcane, citrus, soy and aloe. Thoroughly cleanses the skin and removes excess dirt, oil and makeup without stripping.

Now, while I will say that this product DOES what it's supposed to do in terms of removing make-up, they did go out on a limb by saying it doesnt strip. My face was completely DRY after I washed it off. I've had this product for about a year now, but due to laziness I'd never used it. I decided to go ahead and test it out this weekend. All I did was wet my face, squeezed a small amount onto my fingertips and applied using circular motions, just as the tube instructed. You can literally see the foundation swirl off your face! This product retails for around $13.99 and is well worth the cost.

MY RATING: ★★★★☆ - 4 out of 5 stars

36 weeks! ♥

Full term!

Crib Commotion.

I've been having this back and forth fiasco with my beloved Amazon for almost 2 months now regarding my son's crib. The item was too big to be shipped to me overseas so it was returned. Supposedly, its been sitting at their warehouse since 12 April but they haven't "offloaded their inventory" so I cant receive a refund. It's all a crock of bullshit if you ask me. But anyhow, tomorrow Jessica and I will be going to the world renowned IKEA to see if I can purchase one locally. I've fell completely head over heals in love with espresso colored wood, so hopefully I can find a crib in that finish. The only hurtle I can foresee is that darker woods are not a favorite among Germans; most of their wood has a lighter finish to it. At this point however, I'm willing to adjust my sails and just ride with it. Although my due date isn't until 12 May, I'm now considered full term so I'm ready to get this crib debacle over with.

Delta Shelby Crib and Changer, Espresso - now $274.95

[edit!] So Jessica and I actually decided to give the PX one more try (they were previously out of stock) before driving to out IKEA and wouldn't you know?! There was a dark crib and changing table available! It didn't come in a set like my previous option, but they compliment each other well. The reviews on my original choice were also horrible! Previous patrons complained on the quality of the crib and how difficult construction was. I had also researched the IKEA cribs online and quite frankly I thought they were all hideous so that puts me in an even better place with this purchase!

Concord Classic Crib - $139.99

SOHO Changing Table - $149.97

Sunday Morning Service

I've lived in Germany for a little over 2 years now and I hadn't seen the inside of a church. Shameful, I know but I had made a pact with myself that I would start attending again. I want my son to be grounded in religion so I figured I should lead by example. The service was nice. The message was about staying the course God has set for you in anticipation of receiving what he has in store for you. I enjoyed the sermon very much. I also took a few pictures (very low quality, sorry!) with my iPhone and MacBook. Enjoy your Sunday!

Smashbox Photofinish primer . NARS sheer matte foundation . MAC Stud eyebrow pencil . MAC select cover up concealer

Paris Blues jacket. Forever21 top. Motherhood pencil skirt. Gianmarco Lorenzi pumps

Is this just a spring fling?!

With the impending decisions regarding pay issues for service members on top of the fact that I'll be a new mom within the next month, I've cut back on impulse spending A LOT. Normally, I see things I want and I buy them, but I've now found the only thing in the world that I love more than myself: my son. So instead of another haul, this post is a couple of things I may purchase in the near future:

• Steve Madden Flat Saahara Sandals
• Arden B Tropical Ruffle Dress
• ALDO Tauret Wedges
• ALDO Cyphert Tassel Bag
• MARC by Marc Jacobs Rose Gold Watch

NARS to the Rescue! ♥

So, it turns out I bought the wrong foundation from MAC! Hey, it happens to the best of, I guess. I bought NC instead of NW so the color was off. Luckily though, the PX here sells NARS. I've been skeptical about this brand but after actually comparing it in-store to a Bobbi Brown counterpart, NARS came out on top! & it was actually cheaper in-store than if I had ordered it online, so I felt like I'd killed 2 birds with 1 stone! :) Either way, I'm very satisfied with this purchase!

$37.50 at The Post Exchange (PX)

My Baby Shower! ♥

April 2, 2011 was my baby shower and I had soooo much fun. Apart from my sister LaToya's baby shower (which we had in our home) I'd never been to one, so I didn't really know what to expect. I must say though my host Julie did an amazing job! We arrived at 1, set up in about 30-45 minutes and then waited for my guest to arrive. The party started at 2 & shortly thereafter people started trickling in. The food arrived late, but we played games and kept everything fun and flowing. Jeremy received some great gifts and were very thankful for everyone that came. Here's a few pic from the event: