May 2013 Curlbox

The May 2013 Curlbox contents were:
Motions - Radiating gloss  (approx $6.49 at walgreens)
Carols Daughter - Repairing Monoi Mask - 2 oz (guesstimating approx $8)
Lustrasilk - Curl Max Deep Penetrating Conditioner and (approx $6)
creme of nature - conditioner and shampoo samples (guesstimating approx $3)

I wanted to try to incorporate the May 2013 curlbox ingredients into today's wash day using my new regimen. So, I was at Target today and I found this Shea Moisture Co-Wash Conditioning Cleanser on clearance.  $8.99 when its normally $11.99. (they had a few other shea moisture products on clearance too - but I was already over budget after throwing the Alba Botanica shampoo/conditioner in my cart) So I used this to Co-wash my hair. 

I believe that both of the conditioners that we received this month were protein, but i'm not 100% sure.  So after co-washing my hair, I then put the Lustrasilk Deep penetrating conditioner on my hair.  Like I said, I believed it to be a protein conditioner because of some of the ingredients (Amino acids, Keratin etc.), but protein conditioners normally make my hair hard, and this one didnt.  (maybe its a light protein?) So just in case it was a protein, I followed up with my favorite moisturizing deep conditioner - Elasta QP Soy Oyl.  While deep conditioning, I decided to watch a few youtube videos and decided that I would try to 2-strand twist with curlers my 9 months transitioning hair.  I followed the rest of my regimen and then began to try to style it.

I am NOT anywhere blessed in the hair styling department, but I figured I need to at least start TRYING to be able to do something with my hair.  But best believe, if its not looking right before church tomorrow, I am armed with my oh so cute wig.

When I take my 2 strand twists down tomorrow, I will use a lil bit of the Motions radiating gloss.  I'm not optimistic that it will look cute, knowing my abilities, but they say practice makes perfect, and so does a good wig lol.

Did you get a curl box?  Are you feeling the price increase to $25?  I'm guesstimating the products to be about $23-25 worth, so I think with shipping we got our moneys worth.... whatdaya think?

Feel free to comment guys!

xoxoxo,

Tatiana

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Fruit infused water - trying to increase my water intake

Fruit Infused Water

Im trying to increase my water intake.  I was doing good last year when I was on weight watchers, but now, its virtually non-existent unless my hubby comes in and asks do I need anything.

So, everyone has been seeing these fruit infused waters floating around pinterest and facebook, so I decided i would make my own.

Tonight, i created:
1) Pineapple & mint

2) Strawberry & pineapple

and

3) Strawberry, apple & mint.

I surely hope they turn out good.  Seems like I got a little heavy on the fruit right?  Maybe less fruit and more water next time, lol. 

Have you tried making fruit/herb infused water? If so, what are your favorite combinations?  I cant wait to try some peach and mango combinations.

I'll let you guys know how they turn out.

xoxoxox,

Tatiana

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I came, I saw, I conquered - running my 1st 5k.

Anybody that knows me, knows that this face totally describes my feeling of  "OMG, I have to run a 5k race.....today?"

I am TOTALLY NOT a runner.  But my best friend was flying in from North Carolina to see me and so I agreed to torture myself run a 5k with her.

As you can see - she's happy to run this race.

The race that we ran was the Girls on the Go 5k and it was held down in beautiful San Diego.  She flew in Thursday night, and we headed to San Diego on Friday so we could check into our hotel before the race on Saturday (and shop!)

Turns out, Mission Valley is not the same as Mission Bay (or Mission Beach) - and I booked the wrong hotel location, but the Hilton let us transfer to the hotel that was actually hosting the race for a slight (o.k, not so slight) fee increase.  But the hotel was a 2 minute walk from the race and it was like a resort - very nice!

Hmmm...did I train? Good question. I was doing the couch 2 5k program, and I was on week 3 when the race started.  (but I prolly shoulda been on week 5).

So long story short.... we conquered.

I ended up running it in 41:48 which is a pace of 13:26 per mile.  Not bad, not good.  I was #270 out of 493 participants.

I cant say that i've got the running bug, but since my bestie gave me some running shorts, I better use them (at least once).

Oh, and I forgot running a 5k was on my bucket list - I can scratch that off...Have you checked out my bucket list?  

Love,

Tatiana!

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My NEW hair regimen - 9 months transitioning 4c hair

Hey Ladies!

How are you guys doing?  I just wanted to make a post about my new hair regimen, that I adapted from the lovely Dawnyele (R.I.P) youtube videos.  The order is the same, but the products are changed a bit.

So here is my new hair regimen (as of May 4, 2013):
1) Prepoo aka hot oil treatment (for approximately 30 min)
2) Wash
3) Deep Condition
4) Apple cider vinegar rinse
5) leave in conditioner
6) homemade miracle concoction
7) seal the moisture in
8) use my homemade shea butter mixture
9) style my hair.

So lets get started....

1) Pre-poo aka hot oil treatment.
In the past I have used conditioners in my hair as a pre-poo, but I decided to try Dawnyele's method and use oil.  Today, I used sweet almond oil, but i'll use whatever I have or feel like in the future.  (ex. coconut, almond, jojoba, grapeseed, apricot - whatever floats my boat).  I left it on for 30 minutes with a cap over my hair.

2) Shampoo
I like to use the Herbal Essences shampoo.  They smell good and do the trick for me.  Today, I used Hello Hydration and did a quick wash 2x.

Yes, sometimes, I do use sulfate free shampoo, and sometimes I do a clarifying shampoo, just go with the flow on what your hair needs.

3) Deep condition
At the moment, I absolute FAVORITE conditioner is Elasta QP Soy Oyl Ultra Hydration anti-breakage moisture rich deep conditioner (not to be confused with the Elasta DPR-11 - which my hair is not a fan of).  So after I wash the shampoo out my hair, I do a t-shirt drying of my hair (to avoid extra frizz), then I section off my hair, apply the Soy Oyl and 2 strand twist my hair.  I put my shower cap on it and sit under my heated cap for 15-20 minutes.  Then I rinse the deep conditioner out with cool water to seal in the cuticles... psst....who am I kidding, i'm a punk, so I use lukewarm water.  ;) then I T-shirt dry again.
                                                                 

4) Apple cider vinegar rinse
For my apple cider vinegar rinse, I use:
1T apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup water
1T honey
few drops of rosemary oil

This is not my favorite part of the regimen, because I smell like pig feet cooking (you fellow southerners feel me), but it helps the hair so I do it.  Then I happily rinse it off.

5) Leave In Conditioner
I aint even gonna lie, I cant tell you whats in my LIC right now...its a homemade concoction and I dont recall what I put in it.  Im not 100% happy with it, so im on the lookout for a good leave -in conditioner.... any suggestions?

6) Homemade miracle concoction
This stuff is like Jesus made it and sent it down directly for me....Even with all the above steps, I still cannot get my comb thru my hair without hearing rips, so I love this homemade miracle concoction.  I saw this recipe on youtube and use it :ALL the time...  so what is it?
                 equal parts:
                 a.  Extra Virgin Olive Oil
                 b.  100% Pure aloe vera juice
                 c.  water

AH-MAH-ZING! I love this stuff.... I use it to re-twist my hair at night yada yada yada....

7)  Seal all this goodie moisture in
I am supposed to be using the hairveda Vatika frosting that Dawnyele recommends, but it hasnt arrived after 2+ weeks of ordering it, but i'm not bitter.   All I know is this stuff better work.

So, for today, I used this Dabur Vatika which I found at an Indian Spice store in LA for $2.99  I put the bottle in a cup of warm water to melt it....then used it all over my hair.

8)  Shea butter mixture
I then put my homemade shea butter mixture over it and FINALLY

9) Style
However you desire.  Since i'm still working on what works for me in this 9 months of transitioning.  My go to style is a half wig right now... I 2-strand twist the front of my hair, then when its dry, I un-twist it and slap my wig on.

So thats my regimen.  I was trying to upload some pictures from my phone, but my phone is so wack....as soon as they release that Galaxy S4 in 32 or 64 gb I'm throwing it out the window.

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