Hair Update

Well here's another update on my hair...

I was 12 weeks post this time when I relaxed on Friday February 3rd....using the ORS Relaxer as always. The only problem I had was that I had a burn on the right side or my head in the front due to scratching but I knew that was gonna happen....next time I need all the products to do a relaxer and I didn't have everything I needed because I went to Wal-mart instead of the BSS because it closed. I try to hell my husband that I like going to the beauty supply better because what I need is in there...not wal-mart cause they sell all sulfate shampoos anywho...I got a relaxer and I have some lenght....ya'll I think I made it to APL I am so excited and I wanna go longer....a part of me wants to see how long it can really get.


I am planning on changing some things lie making my regimen less complicated. I realized that I am not a stylist and I putting unnecessary manipulation to my hair and I am really focusing on the overall health of my hair. I have decided that I am going to do a roller setting challenge…EbonyCPrincess from youtube did one from her blog which as called Longing 4 Length…I didn’t join it cause I don’t have all the proper tools to start but I plan on starting in March after I get a few things.

A new dryer from Beauty Max

I want Caruso Rollers as well

I saw the results that the other ladies have and I really wanna limit the amount of heat I’m using cause I want my hair evened out.
So that’s my goal and hopefully I’ll be full APL by my hair journey anniversary which is October 31^st which will be two years. I am also trying to overcome my fear of getting trims so I am setting one for April after my next relaxer because I need one it’s been a while and I want my ends to stay healthy but I don’t wanna lose any length but I have to in order to remain having healthy hair. This is my update so far so I will continue to keep going.

My Weight Loss Journey...lets get started

Well it has been a while since I blogged. Either because I've been busy or just didn't have anything to talk about. I've been trying to blog about this topic for the past two weeks but I was busy one week and last week my cousin had it cause he had a report to do.

Ok enough about that let's get started. Today is Monday February 6, 2012...today I made a sound decision to start my weight loss journey. To be honest, I was gonna push it back to next week because I was gonna go to Wal-mart yesterday to buy a few things to get started for at least two weeks but it was my mother's birthday and plus I was in church all day and it was the Super Bowl weekend of course. I went to Red Lobster with my mother, grandmother and aunt and it got too late so I ended up not going. I was like " Well I'm not prepared" so I'll just push it back till next week...the I was like "No...cause if I push it back this time then I just keep pushing it back and then I won't do it." So even though I didn't go to the store yet I am still starting.

This week will start off with me drinking more water....since I don't drink much of it like i should I will be taking it slow. This is what this journey is all about right??? Taking small gradual steps towards a lifestyle change so this week will be me drinking water. This week will be after every meal because right now I am still used to drinking juice....I am not really for sodas like that I would only drink it when there nothing else in the house to drink so right now I am just trying to take it one day at a time.

The next week will be me adding more water to my schedule and also cutting out sweets...which will certianly be a challege because I have a sweet tooth. I like cookies mainly above all things. So the only thing I know of is go for fruit. From memory I believe I haven't eaten my favorite grandma cookies for maybe two weeks I think. So when I do get a craving for a cookie I've been eating strawberry fig newtons to satisfy my want for a cookie.

As far like lunch and dinner I've been eating salads and also trying to cut out going fast food and eating more home cooked meals than processed. I don't cook often that's my husbands passion. So I am trying to take things little by little. So This is what I have so far. I will be doing updates as far as what I doing with my weight loss journey. I am focusing right now on eating healthier and "drinking" healthier. This will not be easy but I will not give up and I have so many things to consider now that I am getting older.

I also have three lovely ladies on youtube that I watch to keep me motivated...which is MakeupGeek, Beautifulbrnbabydol and DivaSlimsDown...who has been my biggest inspiration....all these women has lost over 100 pounds and looks great. My goal right now is to lose 60 pounds for now i have my husband, and my mother to hold me accountable and most of all I have the Lord on my side.

The next thing I need help on is eating healthy when I'm out of town lol....


Please pray for me...Be Blessed

What I've Learned

Over the last two to three months I have been doing some research about weightloss since I am really trying to get the mindset of doing this cause I really need to come down....

Cause just over the last few weeks I've been really tired. Some nights it was because I went to bed late and didn't get much sleep and also I am trying to get my prayer life back on track...and other nights I'll go to bed at a decent time but when I get to work I am still tired like I just have no engery at all. I don't drink coffee or take caffine pills because somehow caffine make me really sick in my stomach even when I do eat something so I stay away from it. It's bad enough it seems as if I'm nasueous every day I don't wanna make it worse. My body is just not where it needs to be. I've done good staying away from energy drinks cause I hear they give you a sugar crash....

I gotta get my health back in order cause this is effecting so much in my life....

Over the past few months I've been watching Youtube Videos, and reading blogs and articles on weightloss and eating right and this is what I learned from reading them all.

1. Portion control is very essential ( This is a major issue because I have been praticing by using smaller plates and trying to pay attention to when I get full and not overstuff myself)

2. Drinking water (this has been a lifelong struggle....I think that I that the most calories I have been consuming is in what I am drinking cause I like flavor in my drinks so this is like the main thing that I have to beat)
3. If you burn more calories than you consume then you will lose weight.....if you burn the same amount of calories you consuming then you will maintain...but if you are consuming more calories than your burning then you'll gain weight.

4. Good Carbs such as darker foods like green leafy veggies, whole grain bread and pasta, and brown rice

5. Stay away from cookies(ouch so hard I love cookies) Cakes (my pastors cakes are so yummy ughh) candies ( this won't be too hard being that I don't eat a whole lot of candy like that)
6. Starting slow and making it a habit is easier to stick with than just going cold turkey
7. I got this from MAKEUP GEEK on youtube...do what you like when it comes to weight loss cause if you don't like it you won't stick with it
8. Cardio and weight training I have heard to be a big thing with exercise and to also do for at least 45 mins to an hour
9. Switching up the workouts with keep your body steadily working so that it doesn't get used to the routine...and also avoiding a major plateau
10. The heavier you are the more you lose at first because you body requires more effort and calories to workout (I think I got that right....I think it was said over 250lbs....I'm 253 so maybe I'm in that category idk)
11. How could I forget this...this should have been at the top..eat 5-6 small meals day. Like breakfast, snack, lunch snack, dinner and maybe water. (I heard from Passion Jones on youtube the her father told her to drink water after dinner and she wouldn't be hungry)

As far as what I eat....I am gonna start with eating the right things and eliminating the foods that aren't good for me before I start counting calories because I am still a little confused about it. So right now I wanna learn how to eat right and have it work with my lifestyle.

I have been eating breakfast somewhat not everyday which is what I am trying to do....i may eat some cereal or yogurt or maybe something from burger king or Hardees ( i think I need to cut out the starches and the sugar though) The yogurt is good but I think I need to add more fruit and fiber to my breakfast.

For lunch if I don't bring something from home like leftovers....I may eat a sub on "white" bread and fries (trying to cut out on the salt i. e. my blood pressure) or maybe a salad....so I do need to eat more veggies and fruit. I will be checking blogs and a few youtube vids on how I can eat good lunches

For dinner if my mother in law or my husband doesn't cook we'll go out to eat my last stop has been either Chinese or Wendy's (I love their Asiago Ranch Homestyle Chicken Sandwiches) so I can't completely cut out fast yet cause I have to get in the habit of learning how to cook better....so I will try to pick better choices.....

my snack I love cookies that's my weakness especially warm, fresh, and soft sugar cookies OMG.....

I mainly eat grandma cookies that you get out of the store the peanut butter is my favorite and they have to be soft not stale.....yuck. So I was thinking about an alternative for these cause honestly...I can eat two of these a day.....a day not a week...a day. These come with two cookies and for course you aren't just gonna eat one lol at least i don't. These cookies are 200 calories per cookie, 10grams of fat and 24 grams of carbs. Yeah and I said I eat at least two of these a day. So I was thinking about swapping these and substituting for Fig Newtons its about 90-100 calories and has no fat and some fiber lol...

As far as drinks which is my other weakness I love sweet drinks like tropicana juices and the tropicana twisters....I know for one it's high in sugar and I know that twister alone is 300 calories. So I plan to start with ligher juices with lower calories and low sugar. I do plan to lol be on water drinking schedule and try to start drinking more water than juice....As far a sodas I really don't drink that much soda anymore like I used too only when there's nothing left so I goal is to keep away from sodas and slowly wean myself off juice to drink more and more water.

As far as snacks I am starting to like special K bars...the strawberry and the vanilla are good and I will start tasting the fiber one bars.

As far as exercising I used to love aerobics...Denise Austin was my favorite. I think when I was 16 or 17 I used to workout twice a day and I lost the weight quickly but I gained it back when I stopped because I still wasn't eating right. I was drinking the Slim Fast shakes as a replacement meal but I was still eating what ever i wanted and was eating late at night. I have gotten better at that but I can't say that I can just stop at 6 or 7 because I get off at work at 5 and the lastest I get home is at 6. So I was thinking that maybe I will do a cut off time when me eating very heavy and eating like lighter foods like salad and fruit or something. I also like walking...cause it's any easy thing to do. All you need is some music and you're good to go.
So My next post will be like a exerising plan and I shopping list for foods. My goal for next year is to strat going to the grocery store and stay away from fast foods unless I have nothing at home and with that I will order a salad or something....

This Christmas

Well this christmas I am in Waycross, Ga...with my husband, my best friend Tenisha, her sister Tamara and Alden. I got three things for christmas. A laptop which I am using right now and I love it, an outfit and a new wedding ring set from Kay Jewelers. Itell you I love this man. He's so good to me I have to give him something...having a man like I have honestly makes me  want to be a better wife. I apreciate everything he does for me and I am looking for better days ahead wuth him. I love you Alajuwon.

Other than that I didn't do too much i got some rest that I really needed last week at work was very hectic for me and it's only gonna get even more crazy but my supervisor will be on vacay all next week and I will be enjoying it to the fullest.

I basically spent my holidays with the Flynns. My uncles do a concert every year and this time I lead a sing which was a great honor to me and i believe they were pleased. I thank God for him blessing me for this i am very grateful. I always enjoyed seeing my grandparents and my aunt, uncles and many cousins but one person was missing......my Dad. As I stated in my last post, my father died three years ago but it feels like he just couldn't make it and is still in Atlanta working. It's still hard to believe that He's gone sometimes I do get emotional and I guess after three years I would be better than I was in 2008 and I am a lot stronger than I was but it still hurts sometimes I still wanna cry and hope I hear him tell me it's ok.

I try not to blame myself for the things that happened in the past between him and myself and also with my mother. Oh how I wish things were different but I cannot change everything. Oh how I wish I could take back the things I did or didn't do or even what I thought but I cannot. All I can is that I loved when I was 3, when I was 12 when I was 19 and now that I am 26. I love you Richard Venturi Flynn and I always will...

What's been going on

Well it has been a minute since I blogged because I haven't really had anything to blog about but I will do another post about my Hair update later.

A lot has been going since October until now. My uncle-in law passed away November 7th due to complications from diabetes that later led to cardiac arrest. He had been sick and had been suffering a very long time and God saw it fit that it was time to call him home. His death was a shocker to my in-laws.... the first to die out 12 kids. Yes 12 kids....my mother in law is the oldest. I saw a lot of people hurt and confused and just in shock. My husband was very hurt and I aslo saw things all but too familiar...I went through the same thing three years ago only it was my father, he died on November 29th 2008 from a heart attack and was the first to die out of 8 kids and the effect was the same. After My uncle Tony's death a lot wasn't the same and the family is slowly and surely getting their lives back on track. Also my husband grandmother was hopsitalized as well during my uncle's death and burial. So please continue to pray for the family of Anthony B. James as well as the family of Richard V. Flynn.

A lot of things were also going on between my husband and I as well not bad but well a bit stressful. Just things that young married couples go through but in the end the Lord blessed us with a new car and it was the car that I always wanted...a Honda Accord. It's a 2004 Honda Accord.  I thank God from His Blessings and Never ending favor on me and husband.

Ok now for the reasoning for this title of this post. It's true I really do need to tighten up on a lot of things with home, church, my job, my personal life etc. My husband has really been doing his thing I have to say that I am very proud of him and I love him dearly for it. Lol while I'm sitting at home or at work scratching my head about things he already took care of it. I think that have been lacking a lot of things lately. Well with cooking just to let it be known in my marriage my husband is the cook of the relationship....and this was established way before we got engaged. But I am starting to realized that things will change and expectations will change as we get older...

I want to do more as far as me being a better wife and woman of God. I mean my prayer life slacked off and I haven't been in my bible as well and I've been called out on my bluff many times so I am praying that God supplies my needs in these areas.

Hair Update

Well since the last hair update post my hair was in braids and wearing them did me some good. I kept them moisturized and clean. I must admit I am a scratcher and will never stop anytime soon it's just will be something that I will have to deal with. On October 28 I took them out because the new grow was getting out of had. It took me 4 hours to take them all out....I remember my arms, back and eyes were hurting after I was done.  I was 14 weeks post at the time. When I took my braids out my hair was soo soft and shiny... you could really tell I took care of my hair while it was braided.  I set my relaxer date for November 4th which would be @ 15 weeks post . I didn't want to relax it as soon as I took my braids out because of all the scratching I did so I decided to wait until the date that I  set. To do this I did two protective styles to get through this week...from sunday to wednesday I did a bun out of regular braiding hair that was inspired by a youtuber named MsVCharles...she is natural and I always wanted to do it but never made the time until now. I think form now on this how I am going to do my buns...I really don't like the buns that have the synthetic hair anymore because it looks so unnatural. Because of the unbearable itching i took it out and was about to do a co-wash until one day I was looking at my hair and was really admiring my new growth that I decided to try the bantu knots again after several failed attempts....it was 6:00 when I twisted them and kept them on until it was time for me to go to work.....and it came out really nice and decided to wear them until friday and surprisingly I got a few compliments on my hair as well. When Friday came I relaxed my hair using my #1 fav ORS Olive Oil Relaxer...I use the professional extra strength...I always get good results with my hair when usinf this relaxer. This relaxer was very successful I got no chemical burns at all and no tangles because I decided to rinse my hair in the shower it's so much easier that way but I need to buy a hairstopper so my shedded hair won't keep clogging up the tub.

I decided to air dry my hair because it was almost 11:00 and I didn't eat yet and was tired. Also because I am flat ironing my hair cause my husband wants me to wear my hair down for church tomorrow and I didn't want to use too much heat. My hair looks soo good now that my ends are trimmed and as far as length goes I think I may have some length I don't think I'm APL yet but maybe I'll make it in 2012 my goal is too get to APL at least by my 27th birthday.

Ohh and I just remember that I've been on my hair journey for a year actually it was last week cause I started the last week in October so I am going strong. This stretch was a whole lot better this time cause I was able to manage it by tweaking a few things in my regimen like with my airdrying. Thanks to Hairliscous scarf method air drying is easier now.

So for this stretching season will be just me keeping my hair healthy and I may repeat this process again by getting my hair braided at 10 weeks I will try to make it to 20 weeks before my next relaxer I don't know do ya'll think I make it that far....we shall see. Maybe this time I'll get kinky twists with some color and speaking of color I think I want some color in my hair but I don't know what to get considering the last time I had color in my hair  it was 2004 and it ended up breaking my hair out and later on cutting it all off.

Wish List

Well I got some good news and bad news....

The bad news is when I went out of town with my husband two weeks ago....he left my makeup bag in the rental car that we had :(

I'm talking about too mad cause all my eye shadows, primers, concealors and things were in that bag so now I am limited with a few things and have been left with the make up products that I really didn't care for so with that I have to replace a few items that I had. I just thank God that I left my MAC Studio Tech in my purse. So here's what I have to replace...

Loreal Decrease (Eye Primer)
NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk (i may have to get the eyeshadow base NYX has)
Wet n Wild H2O Proof Liquid Eyeliner (I hate the regular one) (will be getting this asap)
Wet n Wild palettes in Vanity and Greed ( So mad cause they're discounting)
A few NYX Lipglosses
Two ELF Palettes
My NYC Loose powder (will replace with Black Opal loose powder)
Iman Foundation Stick in Earth 5 (it was too light to use as a foundation so I use it as a concealer and I loved it soo much)
A few Wet n Wild lipsticks
My brand new Elf powder brush ( I loved that brush for foundation)

Yeah I had a lot of stuff....the good thing is that I got most of this stuff from the drugstore so I can afford to replace them all...

The good news is that I will be getting a 120 palette...my mom bought it for me. I am really excited to see it.....it's the BH Cosmetics 120 palette 4th edition. I did hear that it was very shimmery and honestly I am a matte fan so I plan to buy another edition since there was no more that $30.00. So I see that I am started to get into the palette mania cause they are pretty good for beginners like me and I want to experiment with colors.

so these are the ones that am getting every paycheck
BH Cosmetics 120 palette 2nd Edition
BH Cosmetics 120 palette 3rd Edition
BH Cosmetics 28 Neutral Palette

I also want black radiance primer as well so this is an opportunity to get some new things to try out...and really build my makeup kit

Be Blessed