Patience

I feel like growing up in this 'microwave generation' of ours patience is grossly underestimated.

I myself could have been in better situations throughout my life had I practiced patience. I hope to one day become a published author and some days I wish that one day was today but I know that nothing comes overnight and Rome was not built in a day. Yes, I know all of these phrases seem cliche but there is a whole lot of truth to it.

This kind of goes back to one of my old blogs. 'What are you doing about it?'
If you are not working towards your dreams everyday, you do not have a right to complain.

I may not be a published author today, this year, next year or even the following year but I am laying the ground work for it and even if it never happens, I can say I tried.

Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you did not do than by the things you did do.

Practice patience.

Destiny: Following Your Dreams

I went out for drinks Friday night with my boyfriend then we got hungry so we stopped in at a BurgerFi. There we began speaking to this 17 year old employee about life. It got me thinking, I wish I knew someone like me when I was that age.

He told us that his mother wants him to go to college because she never went and he did not think that was the path for him. I could relate to this kid 100%. I went to school because my mom wanted me to, I joined the military because my dad wanted me to. What about what I want to do?

What are you doing about it?

Lately life has been very stressful for me. Started a new job where I am doing four positions in one but being paid less, trying to make ends meet, apartment hunting because the place I moved into less than a year ago has been nothing short of a nightmare, while maintaining a store and trying to keep up with a blog... Oh and to add insult to injury, today I got into a car accident.

I found myself complaining more than usual lately and feeling sorry for myself because how much can one take?
However, I had to take a step back and think after having a discussion with my boyfriend.

What am I doing about it?

Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence is a serious situation affecting more than 10 million men and women yearly. Approximately 20 people per minute are physically abused by their partner in the United States. Statistics state that about 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have been victims of domestic violence in their lifetime.

It is my opinion that even if you personally have not been in an abusive relationship, you know someone who has.

Domestic Violence

Coconut Oil

If you don't already have Coconut Oil at home, get some! I'm disappointed in myself cause I knew about the benefits but I just recently started using it again. I use coconut oil to cook, for my hair and for my skin. Other popular uses are to reduce cellulite, reduce wrinkles, stretch marks and age spots and lower cholesterol. I also recently found out you can use Coconut Oil as an ingredient to make homemade toothpaste, deodorant, mouthwash, face wash, shaving cream, massage oil, insect repellent and lip balm.

Coconut Oil

Thrifting

I wanted to talk to you guys about thrifting. Definitely something I admittedly looked down on prior to last year when two of my friends reintroduced me to it. I've been thrifting as a child with my grandmother but the thought of wearing anything worn by a stranger kind of grossed me out.

Last year my friends invited me along as they went thrift shopping and being that I upgraded my car and got my first place, I'm on a budget so I thought, why not?  

I believe I needed a pants for work, found one for $4, found another fashionable pants for $3 and the shirt you see below (worn as a dress LOL) for $1.95!!!! Three items for under $10!

Thrifting

Carols Daughter Hair Milk Styling Pudding Review

So I've been hearing a lot about this product Carols Daughter Hair Milk Styling Pudding and I decided to give it a try.

Carols Daughter Hair Milk Styling Pudding

Shea Moisture Organic African Black Soap Review

Up until now I've been using Clean & Clear (no specific kind) for a few years but I recently decided to venture out and try something new so I gave Shea Moisture Organic African Black Soap a shot.

Shea Moisture Organic African Black Soap

Tom's Toothpaste & Tom's Deodorant Review

I've become more health conscious over this passed year and that not only means what I eat (still working on giving up pork LOL) but what I use on my body as well. So I decided to give Tom's Toothpaste & Tom's Deodorant a try..

Tom's Toothpaste & Tom's Deodorant

Affordable Fashion

As I promised when I started this blog I'm going to talk about why you do not need to spend an arm and a leg to look good and why you do not need labels. I'm a huge believer in accessorizing and making an outfit pop...

Art Walk-Wynwood Art District

Art Walk is a fun free event that I love attending. It takes place on the second Saturday of every month in Wynwood Art District in Miami, FL. I assume that the galleries are open almost all day but I'm a night owl so I like to get there around 7 pm.

Ziploc Vacuum Bags

I recently moved into my first apartment. As I explained in my previous blog about the IKEA closet organizer, my apartment is small, only 800 sq feet so I had to become strategic with my storage. I've been hearing a lot  about these Ziploc Vacuum Bags so I decided to give it a try..

Ziploc Vacuum Bag

Natural Hair/The Big Chop

I officially permed my hair for the last time January 2014. My decision to stop perming my hair was a tough one, I literally contemplated it for two years! One major reason that held me back was the fact that I didn't like the way weave looked on girls with natural hair. Around the time I went natural something called the "invisible part" was very popular and trust me it wasn't invisible at all! LOL In a nutshell the invisible part is a technique stylist use to keep all of your hair under the weave so that you don't have to leave out any to flat iron and ultimately damage by heat. It was funny that this even concerned me cause I hardly wore weave but when I did, I wanted it to look real not look like a wig. Thankfully hair stylists have come a long way since.

Another reason I was hesitant to go natural was I didn't want to go through the "ugly stage". Whether I opted to grow out my natural hair and keep flat ironing it til it reached a length of satisfaction then cut of the remaining perm or the big chop and walk around essentially bald which I wasn't used to, it would be awkward. What's worse is I was coming from a pixie cut (short & permed) so it would be obvious I was making the transition.

The last time I permed my hair I was in tears because it burned so bad, I assumed it was due to me scratching my hair a lot prior but regardless of the reason, I finally had enough! For 6 months I grew out my natural hair and I was annoyed because it was a different texture from my permed hair and eventually I became fed up and did the big chop on June 21, 2014 (it also grows faster with no perm) and I haven't looked back since!

Natural Hair

IKEA Closet Organizer

So I recently moved into my own place and it's small, I mean tiny LOL I don't know how they managed to fit two bedrooms and two baths into 800 square feet but somehow they did. Regardless of size it is an accomplishment and I am proud of myself. If you continue to follow my blog you'll learn that I'm a shopaholic or was LOL I've had to tone it down this past year because with a new apartment comes new responsibilities like RENT and buying furniture etc + you know that 800 square feet didn't come with a walk-in closet!

I had to learn how to squeeze all of my items in this small space, granted I was in one bedroom before with all the same things, it was a bedroom in a house with a garage where I could hide things. I wanted my second room to be a guest room in my new apartment and these rooms are much smaller than the one I was coming from so I had to improvise. One thing that really helped me was this closet organizer. Purchased my closet organizer from one of my favorite stores IKEA for only $6.99.

IKEA Closet Organizer

Shea Moisture Curling Gel Soufflé Review

Shea Moisture Curling Gel Soufflé, I decided to give this a try since I love the Curl Enhancing Smoothie by Shea Moisture. Here's my review...

Shea Moisture Curling Gel Soufflé

Curls Review

As you may or may not know I'm natural. I'm constantly looking for products that will compliment my hair and I recently decided to try Curls. Here's my review..

Curls