This week was a moneymaking week for the music industry. But while somebody's making all the money, somebody else has to be spending it. And I can tell you one thing, it's not me.
Read more>>> My Tidal bragging rights got me through the first half of the week, but now that it's the weekend, I'm wishing I still had my Apple Music account. But if you're a freelance artist like myself, you've got to make some important decisions. Tidal or Apple Music. Mashed potatoes no gravy. Soul food no side items. (Still bitter about that Tinder date). It's like when you go to the food court at the mall and you keep trying samples while you’re allegedly trying to make up you’re mind. Well I just need enough to get me through the weekend. Overtime you get smarter about the game. I’ve upgraded to Trader Joe's and Costco. There’s nothing more satisfying than gluten-free, fat-free, organic Mac and cheese samples.
Drake dropped Views last night, and since I don't believe in illegally downloading, I've been plotting a solution on how I'm going to listen to it since it’s still only available on Apple Music. The plan is to throw an album listening party. I'll bring my Bluetooth speaker and one of my friends will bring their Apple Music account. Fair trade right? Don't act like you aren't sharing your Netflix account with at least three of your friends as we speak. You know it's gotten bad when the four of you have established a group text to see which two of the four can use it for the night. Last night was my turn, so I’m forced to look for creative and free things to do for the weekend.
Living in LA is far from cheap, but I’m learning how to beat the system. Rule #1: RSVP for every single free event, even if you’re not sure if you can make it. When you’re deciding on plans for the night, you’ll always have options. Always show up early to make sure you beat the line and to find one of the free parking spots before they're gone. I've gotten so good at being early to one venue that I get to fill in for the bouncer sometimes when he's running late. Rule #2: Dollar tacos. Since moving to LA, I've seen twice as many taco trucks as I've seen McDonalds golden arches. And while you can't eat them everyday, dollar tacos can be your best friend in a time of need. See, here's why you have to choose between Tidal and Apple Music as a starving artist. $12 worth of dollar tacos can last you two days. If you've got a big appetite like me, I'm eating three tacos twice a day. And if you're smart, you always take extra sauce to go for a rainy day. On the weekends, if I'm feeling good, I'll cop some tortilla chips and catch the NBA playoffs at my neighbor’s house. (Remember that bartering system we talked about?) Don’t be Felicia from Friday. Rule #3: Always bring cash. When you go into a place with a fixed amount, you’re more likely to be more accountable. Either that, or you won’t be able to pay your bill. Rule #4: Learn to say no sometimes. People don’t always have to know that you’re broke, but instead just that you’re not in the mood to go out. Step #5: Learn the barter system. Anybody willing to trade his or her Apple Music account for my Tidal for the weekend?
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Mike "Orie" Mosley is a freelance writer/photographer and cultural advocate from St. Louis. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Arts, Entertainment & Media Management from Columbia College Chicago and a Masters in Higher Education Administration from LSU. He is also the co-founder of music and culture website http://ift.tt/1QXC23X. In his spare time, he's probably listening to hip hop & neo soul music, hitting up brunch or caught up in deep conversations about Black music. You can follow him on Twitter @mike_orie or on Instagram @mikeorie
from Curly Nikki | Natural Hair Care http://ift.tt/1SFrkMV
Looking for a new homemade dessert to satisfy your sweet tooth? One that’s fancy enough to serve at a dinner party, but can also be thrown into a backpack on your next hike?
These dark chocolate coconut and Brazil nut bars are pretty to look at, easy to make, stay fresh for weeks and are filled with healthy fats, flavanols, and selenium. What more could you possibly want from dessert?
The idea to use a silicone ice cube tray for shaping chocolate comes from this recipe for dark chocolate snack bites. Pouring warm chocolate into a small ice cube tray yields nicely shaped, nicely sized chocolate squares.
The possibilities here are endless. Any type of nut or seed, dried fruit, sea salt, spices like cinnamon or turmeric…they can all be used to embellish the flavor of dark chocolate.
Servings: 15 small chocolate squares
Time in the Kitchen: 15 minutes, plus 2 to 3 hours for chocolate to set
Recipe Tip: For easiest removal, lightly oil the silicon ice cube tray.
Preheat oven to 350 °F.
Spread coconut out on a baking sheet. Bake until lightly browned, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove and cool. Pulse in a food processor a few times to chop the coconut flakes into smaller pieces.
Use a serrated knife to chop the chocolate into tiny pieces. Put half the chocolate in a bowl and microwave for 1 minute. Stir in the remaining chocolate. If needed, continue heating the chocolate in 15-second intervals and then stirring, until completely melted.
Stir the coconut and chopped Brazil nuts into the chocolate. Pour the chocolate into each cube in the tray (using a bowl with a pour spout makes this easier). The chocolate will come about halfway up each cube. If desired, ingredients can also be pressed onto the top of the chocolate squares (like coconut flakes or dried fruit).
Put the tray in the refrigerator until the chocolate is completely set, 2 to 3 hours.
Carefully remove the chocolate squares from the tray. Store in an airtight container in the pantry, or in the refrigerator if your house is warm. The chocolate bites will keep for several weeks.
It’s Friday, everyone! And that means another Primal Blueprint Real Life Story from a Mark’s Daily Apple reader. If you have your own success story and would like to share it with me and the Mark’s Daily Apple community please contact me here. I’ll continue to publish these each Friday as long as they keep coming in. Thank you for reading!
My name is Jennifer Piano, wife of David Piano, and our family took on the Primal lifestyle about two years ago. We started shortly after finding out we were pregnant with our last child.
Before taking on the Paleo lifestyle I had suffered from depression for many, many years and was addicted to crystal meth for six years. After being saved from the addiction of meth, I replaced that addiction with food, slowly eating myself to a enormous 310+ pounds.
I was diagnosed with severe rheumatoid arthritis, high blood pressure, and was borderline diabetic. At this point I knew something had to change if I wanted to live a long healthy life for myself and my family. It wasn’t until then that my husband’s cousin introduced him to Mark’s Daily Apple and the Paleo lifestyle.
My son Matthias, who at the time was only two years old, weighed in at 71 pounds. He didn’t have the energy to play and always had an upper respiratory infection. Since changing our eating habits, he too has lost an incredible amount of weight. At almost five years old, he now weighs 54 pounds and has an enormous amount of energy.
As a family, we were able to lose roughly 335 pounds. I lost 180 pounds and just recently reached my weight goal of 130 pounds. Went from a size 24 to now a size 4. Now all that’s left to do is tone, tone and more toning. I thank you for your help and for your website!! And I know that with your website you will inspire others to reach their weight loss goals! Thank you for all that you do!!
There is something about a melanin infused woman who walks into a room and has the nerve to have hair that defies gravity. This woman can’t become a wallflower even if she tried. This is #BlackGirlMagic in action.
Black women are fascinating. Regardless of the numerous derogatory comments we hear and receive, “the proof is in the pudding.” Women (and men) spend money and voluntarily endure pain to grasp a couple more straws in their efforts to resemble us. This fascination can significantly increase when Black women rock their natural curls…and sometimes it results in an invasion of personal space. During these moments I have to ask myself the following question, “Do I want to make a personal investment into creating an educational moment for someone else?”
The concept of this question provides me with the opportunity to gain something from the encounter. Besides a temporary regain of control, I can force the aggressor to become aware of his actions. Like flipping a house, I can flip the moment from someone treating me like a living exhibit to a one-on-one round table discussion. Without it, the uncomfortable and rude moment will come and go with the assailant fulfilling the goal of copping a feel, while I am left with the feeling of being violated. By answering “Yes” to this question, I can quickly create a platform where correcting the person can lead to the prevention of future attacks on the next Black woman the assailant meets. After all, the number one (defensive) response when confronted is, “I didn’t know it was a big deal” or “No one ever told me that.” Theoretically, it sounds like the correct thing to do. However, let’s break down what that actually entails:
1. MY patience
2. MY time
3. MY energy
4. MY intellect
5. A receptive mind from the person I am addressing
As you can see from the list, it’s a big effort on MY part. Now imagine that I am having to make a big effort on my part…every day. It gets exhausting. I am all for talking out problems, because that’s the number one way of ending ignorance. But when it is constantly on my shoulders to do the educating, it gets old. Additionally, with all the investment on MY part, there is no way of tracking if the return on my investment (ROI) is satisfactory. Unlike the daily data that one can track when investing in stocks, I can’t determine if my personal investment has any value. Ideally, my ROI would be satisfactory if I have changed the thinking of an individual in a positive way. Since I don’t have a way of determining the long term effects of my investment, I have to rely on faith.
So the next question becomes, “Where do I draw the line?” Meaning, do I create a quota for myself? Do I pick an arbitrary number so that when I get annoyed with someone making a stupid comment or invading my personal space I don’t have to feel guilty about being angry and annoyed in that moment because I “helped out” ten lost souls for the month? Or do I continue until I get burned out? It’s a balancing act and one that is dynamic and fluid. So far, I haven’t found a golden formula for this algorithm of life, but it is one that needs solving.
What do you think?
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In 2008, Dr. Aziza Glass transitioned from relaxed to natural hair and began the journey of self-discovery. Literally. Since then, she has become a fierce naturalista and proud HBCU (PVAMU) and Ivy League (Cornell) alumna. Dr. G is currently a veterinarian, entrepreneur, and TV personality.
from Curly Nikki | Natural Hair Care http://ift.tt/24pgvG3
So you’ve got split ends and they need to be removed, like yesterday! How can you go about doing this? There are three ways to accomplish this task that won’t require you to lose too much length:
Divide your hair up into 4 or more sections. Secure the sections with some butterfly clamps. Make sure you are working with your hair in sufficient lighting and clip away only about 1/4 inch of hair. When you are done the ends that you have removed should be so insignificant that they resemble dust. Get it? Dusting!
Search and Destroy: Cut only the ends of hairs that have splits.
I do have to admit that this requires very close scrutiny and a great deal of patience, but it can be a great way to keep your length until you are ready to perform a complete trim. I actually did this while I was transitioning and it enabled me to buy some time before performing a perfectly even trim on my ends. Braid or twist your hair then cut the split ends that are sticking out.
Closely examine the braid for split ends and then cut them off. To increase the chances of you removing the maximum amount of split ends, you may want to re-section and re-braid the hair to remove any other split ends that were revealed. Usually where you have a bad case of the splits towards the end of the braid it tends to get really thin. It would be in your best interest to trim some or all of this portion of the braid away. Unorthodox? Yes. But it does work.
If your hair is severely damaged, these last two trimming techniques should not be attempted. In such a case, a complete trim or better yet, a full cut, would be a much better, healthier choice. But if your hair is fairly healthy overall, all three of these trimming techniques are viable alternatives for girls who are trying to maintain as much length as possible while managing their hair’s health.
Do you cut your own hair? What's your method?
from Curly Nikki | Natural Hair Care http://ift.tt/23dnQGp
Sometimes we have products that we like but are just missing that one element to help give it the “umph” to make it a favorite. There are also a few steps you can take to help make your hair routine just a little bit easier. Here are a few really quick and easy tricks that you can do to potentially give your products and routine that something extra!
Carrier Oil to Shampoo
– if your shampoo just takes the cleansing part a step too far (leaving you with a squeaky clean/stripped feeling) try adding ½ a teaspoon of any of your favorite carrier to your hair before applying the shampoo. This will limit the amount of stripping from the shampoo. (Be careful not to slip in the shower because of the oil)! Humectants to Conditioner
– for those whose hair loves humectants (e.g. honey/glycerin/agave nectar/Aloe Vera Juice) add 1 teaspoon of your choice of humectant to your favorite conditioner (in a plastic bowl) before applying it to your hair for extra moisture!
Adding Slip to Conditioner
– add 1/8 – ¼ cup of home-made Flax Seed Gel (there are tons of recipes online) to the amount of conditioner you usually use. The Flax Seed Gel will provide you with extra slip along with moisture and nourishing elements!
Ease Detangling with a Hot Oil Treatment
– use one/two/a combination of your favorite oils and lightly warm them up (no direct heat)! Instead double broil method the oils for no more than 3 -5 minutes on low heat. First spritz your hair with water, then apply the warm oils (make sure it is not hot just slightly warm) and cover with a shower cap. 30 minutes later, gently finger detangle your hair and then proceed with your wash routine. P.S if you are looking to grow your hair do a gentle scalp massage while the oils are on your scalp.
Infuse Carrier Oils
you can infuse your carrier oils with things like coffee beans to stimulate hair growth (keep in mind this might darken your hair due to the coffee beans), dried rose petals for antibacterial, anti-inflammatory properties and scalp irritations, dried lavender to sooth an itchy and dry scalp…the infusion options are endless!
[by Maicurls]
from Curly Nikki | Natural Hair Care http://ift.tt/1rnvn9U
Many naturals, at some point in time, have rocked a TWA, which is short for “teeny weeny afro.” For most, the image of someone following the Big Chop is what comes to mind when they think about a TWA. But when is a TWA no longer a TWA?
Simply put, a TWA’s length can range from about a quarter of an inch to two inches.
Once it grows past that point, it is in medium afro territory. The fun news is that along with more length comes more styling options.
Do you have more versatility in styling? “When you have some more versatility, you don’t have a TWA anymore,” according to Jahmeela Bolade, the owner of Houston’s Strictly Roots Natural Hair salon.
“When you can braid your hair, grab it from the root and actually twist it or something, [it’s not a TWA]. You can do more with your hair,” explains Tikur Leoul, who sports a large afro.
Also, more effort has to be put forth in terms detangling sessions and overall upkeep. “Either way, it takes a lot of maintenance, because you need to take care of split ends. But it’s more work when the hair is longer,” says barber Roy Long of 3rd Ward’s Finest Kutz in Houston.
Sometimes the illusion of a TWA can be created for those with hair much longer than two inches, thanks to shrinkage. This would lead some to believe that they may have a TWA although it doesn’t appear as one when stretched with styling.
“As far as how the hair looks, even though it shrinks, it doesn’t diminish the amount of hair you have,” says Leoul.
There are any number of amazing reasons to lose weight that will offer incredible benefits in the long- and short-term. You’ll be in better overall health. It’s very probable that you’ll live longer and have more vitality in those years—particularly if getting in shape was part of your weight loss strategy. You’ll enjoy more energy for the people and activities you love. You may have more or preferable clothing choices. You’ll have a better chance of kicking many prescription drugs to the curb (and save a little dough in doing so). To boot, you’re likely to experience less chronic pain and a better night’s sleep, etc., etc. All that said, let’s be clear on something: weight loss isn’t a guaranteed stimulus to your personal happiness. Here’s why.
It can seem like an affront to all we hope. “If I’m at a healthier weight, that means I’m healthier, which of course means I’ll be happy!” The media and commercial images tell us so. Every check-out kiosk is lined with celebrity tell-alls sharing the boon of weight loss to the happiness of said personalities and their families. Television and online commercials tell the same stories. A spokesperson loses weight and thereby has the life he/she always dreamed of.
I’ll be the first to admit that for some people it really does work this way—but there’s more to those situations than people think. Weight loss and the resulting health enhancements can top off the natural contentment and confidence some people for the most part already have. Alternatively, it becomes a catalyst for psychological work that matches the same vigor as their physical transformation.
For many people, however, neither of these is the case, and therein lies the disappointment.
A University College of London study followed nearly 2000 people who received instruction for improving health and managing weight. At end of 4 years, 71% remained the same weight, 15% had gained at least 5% body weight and 14% had lost at least 5% body weight. You’d imagine that the 14% group would be the happiest of the bunch, but not so. In fact, they were twice as likely to be depressed as those in the other groups. Even when the study team accounted for health conditions and key demographic and psychological (e.g. bereavement) variables, the weight loss group still fared the worst in terms of personal happiness and overall well-being.
It’s true that other research findings don’t necessarily concur, but they complexify the question. In one study, obese subjects who lost significant weight (again, more than 5% of body weight) reported better mood along with sleep. However, temporary improved mood doesn’t always correlate with overall happiness.
Another study brings to bear additional considerations. The National Weight Control Registry enrolls participants who have maintained a 30+lbs weight loss for at least a year and defines “clusters” of subjects based on personal history, employed strategies and common attitudes. An analysis project of 2,228 enrollees showed those in the cluster that struggled most with ongoing weight maintenance and used the most outside resources (e.g. commercial weight loss programs, health care providers) reported significant issues with stress management and demonstrated higher depression rates. (PDF)
This is, of course, no surprise, but it underscores the phenomenon of weight “cycling” and highlights the issue (as well as quality) of outer voices in a person’s weight loss experience versus inner motivation. Weight lost doesn’t always mean loss maintained—or a struggle eased. Nor does it suggest a sustainable psychological underpinning for healthy and happy living.
In fact, the opposite scenario might be the more consistently true. University of Adelaide researchers designed a four-week “positivity” pilot study that promoted self-esteem, gratitude and general happiness rather than weight loss. Despite the lack of focus on physical health, half of participants actually lost weight during the study, and three-quarters of those shed additional pounds during the three months following the program.
In my observation over decades of training and coaching people, genuine (long-term) health change—regardless of what it is but maybe especially if it involves the commitment of substantial weight loss—requires a solid foundation of self-efficacy and self-respect. If that’s lacking, no number of pounds lost will ever fill in that gap.
In fact, weight loss can impose unexpected challenges. We might feel more “on display” for public comment (regardless of how positive). We might feel exposed and saddened or perplexed as to why we’re somehow worth more attention or accolades now. We might feel like all of our expanded “worth” is suddenly tenuous and vulnerable.
Many people, particularly those who lose considerable weight relatively quickly, don’t know how to process the incongruity between the image they’ve had of themselves for so long and what they now see in the mirror. I’ve heard people call it an out-of body experience and even the reason for an almost deliberate weight regain.
The fact is, we all come to tell or believe stories about ourselves over time. Maybe it’s been over the course of our entire lifetime that we’ve seen ourselves one way, or maybe it’s something we’ve “settled into” over the last several years, but we come to a set point of physical appearance/activity level, social roles and personal perception. When one changes, we can get uncomfortable even if we and others believe our changes are for the better.
Likewise, other issues in our lives—whether it’s an unhealthy job situation or a floundering relationship or some other source of discontent or anxiety—won’t be fixed just because our outward appearance changes. Even the uptick in energy doesn’t automatically upgrade our outer circumstances.
Because the pounds only mean so much. Even in terms of health, fitness says more about mortality than weight does, and in terms of life happiness, our current weight (unless it’s debilitating us each day) is one of many inputs we process in a day.
Sure, we invest in our well-being every time we eat a good Primal meal or fit in a brisk walk over the lunch hour, but we do the same when we take 20 minutes to meditate in the morning, enjoy time with a good friend, or take in a gorgeous sunset.
There’s a reason I consider the Primal Blueprint an awesome approach for weight loss, but not a weight loss program per se. The Primal Blueprint is about living better, healthier and happier—right now whatever your weight today (or age, health condition, fitness level, etc.). It’s literally about cultivating the good life from all essential angles. The Primal mind doesn’t measure joy in pounds, but in experiences, connection, adventure, flow, self-actualization, creative endeavor and exploration, nourishment, and belonging.
It’s little surprise when we reset our lives toward these priorities and offer ourselves the sustenance that fuels us best that we find a source of energy and motivation to live well in our bodies and happier in ourselves.
Thanks for reading today, everyone. Offer your comments on the weight loss-happiness connection/disconnect, and have a good end to your week.
After extensive hours of research on this topic, the answer is yes and no. I bet you’re wondering how that could be. It should just be yes or no, bet’s break down everything first so you get a better understanding of what I mean.
What is Henna?
Henna is natural reddish-brown dye that is made from the powdered leaves of a tropic shrub that can be used to color hair (and/or decorate the body)
Is it safer than manufactured dyes?
YES! That’s why many naturals use it because it can color their hair without damaging the cortex of the hair. Please make sure to use 100% henna when doing the process. Altered henna has additives that will cause damage to your hair kinks/curls/coils or add to damage that has already been there. Why do people use it?
Naturals use it because it’s safer than traditional dyes and many naturals prefer natural ingredients. Also, users can get different variations of red depending on where it was grown ranging from auburn to cherry. Henna is known to highlight your hair. If you hair is jet black more than likely henna won’t show up after the first treatment or it may have a reddish shine in the sunlight.
Also, after using henna your hair is stronger, shinier and healthier because it fills in the weak areas of the hair strand hence it’s a great conditioning treatment.
NATURAL HENNA DOES NOT DARKEN YOUR HAIR AT ALL, if it says that it does then DO NOT BUY IT. The product has been altered which can damage your hair. Does Henna Loosen Hair Pattern?
Although Henna is safe and it is safe on hair, why do many naturals claim it alters their pattern? Hennaworks different for every natural’s hair. It seems that Henna changes the weight of the strands through plant deposits although it is not changing the chemical structure of the strand. Henna also fills in rough spots on the cuticle and makes hair softer and smoother for many who use it.
Various hair blogs/forums have different naturals not seeing any difference to their hair just that it shines in the sunlight. Other who have looser curl patterns reported this after using henna continuously (about the 5th treatment).
Really & truly it just depends on how our hair takes the henna or how often you use it and the only way for one to know if it will alter their hair pattern is to try it. All we ask is to ensure it is 100% henna you are using!
Have you tried Henna and did it alter your hair pattern or texture? Share below!
CN Says:
I started henna'ing to beef up my situation. My strands are nearly transparent. Like, very VERY almost disrespectfully fine and quite fragile. When I'm on my henna game for real (once a month), my hair is shinier and stronger. It's less prone to breakage and splitting and the overall health of my hair is improved. I also experience a smoother texture with less shrinkage. The red glow is ridic and it gives me the big hair look, I couldn't otherwise achieve. ----> more here
from Curly Nikki | Natural Hair Care http://ift.tt/1qXSWWg
Just imagine someone walking up to you…and touching you…without your permission. **Can someone say “STRANGER DANGER?!”** This has happened to me on several occasions and each time I have to take a breath and decide how I will proceed. Continue!>>> Step 1 -- Mood: I admit the foundation on how I will proceed with this encounter is entirely dependent on my mood. I have a millisecond to decide if I want to take this moment to educate people on the proper etiquette of personal space or look at them like they are crazy and call them out on their rudeness. If it’s been a long, arduous day…it is not looking good for you. Step 2 -- The assailant’s intentions: There are some people who mean well but due to their lack of exposure in the world, stumble like a toddler learning to walk. Others are rude and they know it. The former are more likely to be receptive to constructive criticism, and it’s easier for me to have empathy. The latter are more likely to be insulted because you are insulted for having your personal space violated. *insert side eye* Step 3 -- Aggressive scale: Pretty straightforward. Did the assailants timidly reach out and pat your hair as if you’re a poodle, or did they grasp a tendril or fistful of kinks and yank it as if they are testing to see if you’re wearing a wig? With the former, I’m more likely to watch you as you’re reaching toward me, and believe me I’m looking at your facial expression. I might see genuine childlike curiosity, but then again I might see hateful malice. The latter will result in a reflex counter punch. *Not apologetic*
Step 4 -- Verbal comments: After you assault me, your words can be the nail in the coffin or your lifesaver. You could say something like, “It’s so beautiful” and mean it! I’ll still look at you crazy, but then I’ll agree with you (because my hair IS beautiful) and I’ll give you a pass. Do not say, “How do you comb it?” or “Wow it’s softer than what I thought” or “OMG, it looks like a brillo pad.” Guess what? These are offensive and you’re implying that my hair must be dirty because YOU have no idea how to manage it. That’s why I have #BlackGirlMagic and you don’t. Besides, I don’t think you would like it if I asked if you have lice or commented that your hair resembles limp and oily spaghetti. *woo-sah*
This is a lot to go through your head in just a second, but it is a necessary evil. What is your process?
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In 2008, Dr. Aziza Glass transitioned from relaxed to natural hair and began the journey of self-discovery. Literally. Since then, she has become a fierce naturalista and proud HBCU (PVAMU) and Ivy League (Cornell) alumna. Dr. G is currently a veterinarian, entrepreneur, and TV personality.
from Curly Nikki | Natural Hair Care http://ift.tt/245Lbj2
I haven’t listened to Lemonade yet. But the day it dropped on Tidal, I bragged to all my friends about my $11.99 subscription and how I was finally starting to get my money’s worth. But before I got a chance to listen to it, a few of my female friends told me they could never date the same after listening to the album. Not really ready for that type of pressure, I decide to save my listen for another day.
So I try to put aside my feelings for this full-priced cup of lemonade with no free refills. I ask her how her day was. She replies, “Today was amazing. I felt irreplaceable.” I wanted to ask her more details, but I wasn’t sure if it was because I asked her on a date, or if she just got promoted at her job. Besides, I didn’t want to bruise my ego, so I smiled and took it as a compliment. We order some food. We’re at this soul food spot, so they’ve got some pretty good chicken. Pretty stereotypical I guess, but if you go there, it’s basically what you order. It would be like going to Popeye’s and getting catfish. Who does that? So immediately, when the food arrives, she pulls out her keys with a travel-size Louisiana hot sauce container and pours it on her chicken. The thing is, there was already the same hot sauce on our table. I wasn’t sure whether to ask her if she had another one for me, or why she had it in her purse in the first place. She’s a cute white chick (don’t hate me). So I also wasn’t sure if she was pandering, or if she really keeps her personal hot sauce right next to her mace at all times. Same question I still want to ask Hillary. The chicken was great, but something was missing. So being the true gentleman I am, I asked if I could try some of her hot sauce. You know, make her feel good about her life choices.
Not sure if I was planning to stay long enough for a second cup of $6.99 lemonade, I ask the waiter for water instead. But before I finish, she cuts me off and says “Hold Up.” Again I’m thrown off by the replacement of her usual words, “one moment please.” Then she starts speaking gibberish, stuff that doesn’t quite make sense to me. She asks me, “What’s worse? Looking jealous or crazy?” Before I can answer, she tells me it’s a rhetorical question. She continues. “It’s such a shame. You let this good love go to waste.” I’m thinking, ‘never trust a girl who wears a sundress in her Tinder profile’. But she’s looking off in the distance. So I’m thinking she’s just having a moment, but I turn around and see what appears to be her boyfriend sitting a table away from us. I know, because she pulled out a picture of him when she started talking about sandcastles. Before I can confirm though, she asks me again, “What’s worse, looking jealous or crazy?” At this point, I’m pissed, because every time my ex-girlfriend’s been jealous, she’s always looked crazy too. It felt like a trick question. So I give her a taste of her own medicine, and do what every guy does when he’s missing his girl. I start quoting lyrics from Ne-Yo’s “So Sick.” “It’s been months. For some reason I just can’t get over us.” It felt like a love scene in a bootleg movie. Right when it gets to the good part, some of the scenes start going in and out. I continue before she has a chance to react. “So done with wishing, she was still here.” At this point, she cuts me off and says, “OMG, you’re going through a bad break up too?” I’m like, “Nah, but my dog passed away last week.” Finally we start to break ground, and she reaches in to hug me over the table. I’m thinking I had just sealed that first date kiss. But before she sits back down, she says, “You can taste the dishonesty. It’s all over your breath.” I’m confused though, because we had the same hot sauce. So I’m wondering if it was the Black-eyed peas I ordered instead of her French fries. I was rushing and left my mints at home. Rookie mistake. I apologize, and tell her that she’s right. “I lied. I actually had a cat, but I was just too embarrassed to tell you.”
Our waiters picked up on my birdcalls at this point, and returns with both water and the check. $38.47 for (2) two-piece chicken dinner plates and (2) glasses of organic lemonade. I only budgeted $40.00, cause the happy hour drinks were 2-for-1 and the appetizers were only $3.00/piece. Being a gentleman, and trying to make a good first impression, I tell the waiter to keep the change. At this point, I’m even more pissed, and she sees it on my face. So she says “I ain’t sorry. I ain’t sorry. Nn naw.” Did she just paraphrase the N word? Didn’t she learn the white chick that dates Black guys etiquette? The fact that she repeated it twice to the beat of Rick Ross’ “F*ck with me you know I got it,” helped me allude to the fact that it was probably more lyrics. So I stand up and start repeating lyrics of my own. “I’m walking away…. from the troubles in my life. I’m walking away. Gonna find a better day.” I don’t think she was hip enough to realize I was reciting Craig David lyrics, but I was just glad to have made it out okay.
Mike "Orie" Mosley is a freelance writer/photographer and cultural advocate from St. Louis. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Arts, Entertainment & Media Management from Columbia College Chicago and a Masters in Higher Education Administration from LSU. He is also the co-founder of music and culture website http://ift.tt/1QXC23X. In his spare time, he's probably listening to hip hop & neo soul music, hitting up brunch or caught up in deep conversations about Black music. You can follow him on Twitter @mike_orie or on Instagram @mikeorie
from Curly Nikki | Natural Hair Care http://ift.tt/1rkFnkd
As the New Year rolls in big, many naturals and curly women are focusing on hair health...but let’s get real. Hair growth is ALWAYS on the list of things we want too. Now, healthy hair most often reigns supreme but scores of women, myself included, wants to get maximum hair growth in a year.
Nothing wrong with that and in fact, many products or ingredients that can give you optimal hair growth that also possess benefits like anti-fungal, anti-bacterial properties that will aid scalp ailments or other hair problems.
Read On!>>> Hair growth is constant despite what some may think. When they see their hair not growing past a certain length, they are getting hair growth confused with length retention. Hair on the scalp grows about .3 to .4 mm/day or about 6 inches per year and there are three stages of growth and shedding: anagen, catagen, and telogen.
Hair retention is retaining the hair instead of losing it through breakage. Hair is always growing in one of the three phases mentioned above but you may not be seeing it if your hair is breaking off at a certain point. So, working only on hair growth is not the best way to have long hair. Excellent hair practices, eating right, exercising, drinking plenty of water, and protecting your strands will do that! Biotin
Biotin or vitamin B7 is used by the body to metabolize carbohydrates, fats, and amino acids. It is a highly popular vitamin for hair, skin and nails and can be taken as a supplement alone, or in a multi-vitamin most often labeled as a hair, skin, or nail vitamin.
According to the Mayo Clinic, there are not recorded side effects reported for biotin in amounts up to 10 milligrams a day but always consult with a medical professional to determine if this is a vitamin you need or can take and the dosage. Some people complain of skin breakouts but usually upping your water intake with combat that and I have personally tried it and it worked.
Caffeine
According to MNT, caffeine is "a bitter, white crystalline xanthine alkaloid - a term used for substances produced as end products of nitrogen metabolism in some plants." This substance stimulates our Central Nervous System and can be found in over 60 plants. Now, the FDA DOES classify caffeine as a drug and a food additive but did you know it also encourages hair growth?
Caffeine can interact with the hair follicles, and even regulate hair growth so it can promote it and thwart hair loss. You can just keep drinking your morning cup of Joe to gain that benefit or you can take it a step further (like I do) and enlist in a coffee rinse from time to time.
Just brew a strong coffee or espresso and allow to cool. Pour over your head after you wash and condition. Leave in for 20 minutes and then rinse out. I just pour it over my head after I condition, add my deep conditioner, and let the mixture set under my thermal cap for 30 minutes before rinsing out. I LOVE the smell of the coffee mixed with my deep conditioner.
Garlic Oil
Garlic oil contains essential elements including sulfur, copper, vitamin C, selenium, and minerals which are highly beneficial for hair growth. Garlic has antimicrobial, anti-fungal, and antibiotic properties and it is said to stimulate blood flow to the scalp which in turn encourages hair growth.
You can add it to your shampoo or conditioner, use it in a scalp massage with another oil, or use it as a hair massage all by itself. I am unaware of the smell factor with using the oil but it might be better to try prior to wash day or when you have no plans for that day.
Hair Vitamins (Hairfinity & The Mane Choice)
Hair vitamins are nothing new but with the natural hair movement, they have become a permanent fixture in healthy hair care for quite a few. There are plenty of hair vitamins on the shelves on or online but a few stand out as some of the favorites like Hairfinity and The Mane Choice.
I have personally tired Hairfinity and it does work but several naturals have praised The Mane Choice touting real hair and nail growth. I experienced both as well on Hairfinity as while the biggest complaint seems to be breakouts, upping your water intake seems to fix that problem.
Now, mind you, the hair on your head is not the only hair that will grow and many have said they noticed growth in their eyebrows and even chin and upper lip. All I can say is make those appointments for waxing and keep it moving. (Essential) Mustard Oil
This very popular oil on the Indian Subcontinent and is either extracted by cold compression of mustard seeds or from steam distillation of mustard seeds soaked in water. The essential oil has the purpose of massage, and will also stimulates circulation and best if not consumed orally.
Mustard oil has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties but it is becoming known as a hair revitalizer. With the oleic and Linoleic fatty acids, it has stimulating effects that increase blood circulation to the scalp which nourishes the hair follicles and encourages hair growth. Rogaine for women
Rogaine for women is a topical hair regrowth treatment for hereditary female pattern hair loss or thinning. It prevents further hair loss and is clinically proven to regrow hair. The active ingredient is minoxidil, which is a vasodilator that used to be prescribed for high blood pressure but is now thought to increase the size of inactive hair follicles. This allows them to resume production of thicker, longer strands of hair.
Reviewers are saying it works but know this is for women with hereditary pattern hair loss or thinning so if your hair loss or thinning is from chemicals, over-manipulation of styling products or heat, then this is not the product for you.
OK, I threw a lot of information at you but plenty of women have tried and found these ingredients and hair products to aid in optimal hair growth. Remember that no product or ingredient can beat eating right, drinking plenty of water, protecting your hair and having a solid hair care routine.
Which ingredients have you had success with?
CN Says:
Biotin, MSM and healthy fats have always been my go-to. I'm also big into gut health (to set the foundation for everything else) and therefore recommend a probiotic. Finally, all the water and cardio. The only juice I drink is pure cranberry (which is a great source of vitamin c, also a good hair growth vitamin). These things keep me on my healthy hair growth game :)
from Curly Nikki | Natural Hair Care http://ift.tt/1W3WjVF
I've got a quick and easy process that will change your whole entire life situation for the better. It's not even a process really... 'cause it's as simple as flipping a switch. It'll only take you seconds to learn, and you'll see results instantly, like, right now! All you have to do is commit to changing one little thing. Deal?
1. Think of someone you love, a lot-- Look at a picture, or bring up a memory, and conjure up that love and really feel it. It should be a visceral experience-- difficult to describe but definitely real, present, energy in your body (maybe in your chest area). You'll know you've got it when you're smiling a little. Don't try, don't think too hard, don't think at all! Just do it! Feel 'love'.
2. Memorize that experience-- Notice how relaxed your body is, feel the warm, tingly, gentle bliss or joy in your heart or upper stomach area, feel the mona lisa smile on your face. Notice how you can you turn 'love' on like a switch and how it feels different from your baseline feels. You can go from 'regular you' to 'new You' with the simple intention to 'feel love'. Go back and forth between 'regular you' and 'new you' a few times to really experience the difference.
3. Choose 'new You' in every moment of your life-- While you're driving, love. When you're working, love. When you're feeling happy, love. When you're feeling sad, love. When you're arguing, love. Switch on 'love' while you're engaged in 'pleasant' circumstances. Paste 'love' all over the 'unpleasant' circumstances. You'll be amazed that while in the throws of a heated discussion with your partner, you can feel love. It just takes a new level of awareness :)
That's it! At first it will feel like a lot of effort. You're changing your sense of 'I am' from blah to Hell yeah! But eventually, it'll become second nature and you'll realize a few things--
1. You don't have to conjure up love. You don't have to try to feel love. All you have to do is relax and notice love. It's already there, all the time. Just allow yourself to feel it. Remember when HE said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you" ? That. Love is your birthright. It's who and what you are. The kingdom of God is within you and God is love and that love you're feeling (even when everything appears to be falling apart) is your communion with him! It's your connection to the ALL THAT IS. Keep it on.
2. I just told you to 'keep it on', but in reality you can't turn it off. It is YOU. All you have to do initially is be mindful of it. Keep turning to it. Remember to remember love, in every moment.
3.Love is not just 'inside' you, it's everywhere and everything. It's unconditional, it's whole and the nature of your real SELF. It's not contingent upon things or stuff of the 'outside' world. Oh, and feel free to swap happiness, bliss, peace, joy for love. It's all the same.
So, just switch from 'regular you' to 'new You' every time you remember throughout the day. Alternatively, you can sit and feel love for like 5 minutes, 3 times a day. I do both. It took me a few days to remember to make 'love' my top priority (I set a timer on my phone to go off OFTEN) and a few weeks for it to become my new baseline. All you have to do is make the commitment to yourself to be about your light!
So what does LOVE have to do with creating your best life? LOVE (or happiness, joy, bliss, natural good feels) is the first manifestation of your intention! Whether it's health or wealth, LOVE is the first sign that you're on your path and that your blessings (which are perfect and timed just right for you) are on their way. So what is there to worry about? What is there to be afraid of? Feel love and watch your life unfold in magnificent ways!
Later Gator,
Nik
p.s. LOVE, in my opinion, is the Holy Spirit, it's Eckhart Tolle's inner body, it's Abraham Hick's vortex, it's Frank Kinslow's eufeeling, and Richard Dott's magic feeling. Different terms for the same experience.
p.p.s. if you need another way to tap into love, like if you're feeling 'nothing', message me below and I'll share some other activities you can try that may resonate better!
from Curly Nikki | Natural Hair Care http://ift.tt/1pFtyUf
Most of us go Primal to solve problems created by Conventional Wisdom. The importance of whole grains and daily cardio, the dangers of dietary fat and animal protein, the primacy of carbohydrates for “energy,”—these untruths are promulgated so widely and fail so conclusively that you can’t help but look to the people saying the opposite for direction. That’s where we come in. Most of us go Primal to solve problems created by conventional dietary and lifestyle recommendations. Often these solutions involve doing the opposite of what the authorities are telling us. For the most part, it works.
Sometimes eschewing conventional advice goes too far, though. Sometimes we make serious blunders in our pursuit of Primal perfection.
1. Bacon gorging
Bacon is the forbidden food. It beguiles vegans and tempts die-hard low-fat statin-munchers. So when you learn that bacon won’t kill you, your bacon intake tends to climb. After all, it’s delicious. No one disputes that. But that doesn’t mean you should eat bacon for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. That doesn’t mean bacon should be your primary protein source. You don’t need to gorge on it.
When you realize that dietary fat can be a force for good—improving nutrient absorption, increasing satiety, upregulating fat metabolism and fat adaptation—and excess refined carbs a force for fat gain, you increase the former and lower the latter. But realize that otherwise healthy fats like butter, coconut oil, olive oil and avocado oil are still refined foods. They’re removed from the source. They’re concentrated. And they should probably not comprise the majority of your calories. Now, these Primal isolated fats are far more nutrient dense than the isolated PUFA-rich fats we avoid (your corn oils, your soybean oils, your canolas) but they can’t compare to fatty whole foods like eggs, ribeyes, avocados, nuts, or seeds. Get most of your fat through foods like avocados, nuts, meat, fish. Reserve fat for cooking. You can still eat a high-fat diet without relying on a quarter cup of coconut oil.
3. Paleo treats
I like a good Primal-approved treat—when the situation calls for one. Almond flour, coconut flour, and other gluten-free nut-based flours can be useful and versatile allies when these situations arise, but as a regular staple food? Eating Primal is about more than just the ingredients. We’re trying to change our relationship to food, not replace the junk wholesale with slightly healthier junk. That’s the province of the gluten-free dieter swapping out Oreos for Oreos made from rice flour and wondering why they gained all that weight.
Are you eating a handful of almonds sliced over yogurt with raw honey? Or are you pulverizing several hundred almonds into flour to make into chocolate cupcakes sweetened with raw honey? Same ingredients, different intent, different outcome. At the end of a day an almond flour pancake is still a pancake and a coconut flour cupcake is still a cupcake.
4. Too much chocolate
[Dodges pitchfork.]
Dark chocolate is absolutely a healthy food. Dozens of studies support it for heart health, mental function, and anti-inflammatory activity. And once you hit the 85% cacao and up range, you’re getting a nice dose of prebiotic fiber, cacao polyphenols, healthy cocoa fat with moderate amounts of sugar. I got nothing against a nice piece of quality dark chocolate. Eat it several times a week, sometimes more.
It’s still candy, though
Explore other avenues for cocoa ingestion. Look into cocoa powders. Make hot chocolate (use coconut milk if you prefer). Incorporate cocoa into your cooking (Oaxacan mole sauce, anyone?). Try unsweetened full-cacao baking chocolate. The sugar is just a way to get more people to eat what is essentially a bitter, initially unpalatable bean. If you can use unsweetened cocoa and control your own desired level of sweetness—or better yet, get used to unsweetened cocoa—you won’t be missing any of the benefits.
5. Too much sun
The dermatologists aren’t all wrong. The sun is a powerful force. With the right exposure, it’s a force for good, reducing the risk of many cancers, improving cardiovascular health, building stronger bones, promoting proper sex hormone function, building happiness, and leaving your skin glowing. But with too much exposure, or exposure at the wrong times, all those hysterical warnings about the sun and skin cancer can actually come true. You don’t want to get burned. You don’t want your skin peeling. You don’t want irregular moles and spots appearing and shifting on your skin. They’ve put millions of people at risk with their zero-tolerance stance on sun exposure, but too much sun can actually be dangerous.
Beef jerky’s awesome. Skin jerky? Not so much. Make sure you’re doing all the right things before you start laying your naked body out in the sun.
6. Avoiding all cardio
Chronic cardio is bad for most people. It’s boring. It sucks the life out of you. It hurts your joints and relationships. And it’s not even very good at reducing body fat and improving body composition. You can get many of the same benefits and a ton of new ones in a time-efficient manner by increasing the intensity and reducing the volume of your workouts. If you aren’t getting paid to do it, don’t do it. That’s settled.
However, a jog around the block isn’t going to kill you. Not all cardio is chronic. Chronic cardio describes the moderate-high intensity, high-volume training people think they have to do to “get fit.” A nice easy jog is fine. A long hike is great. The occasional race-pace longer run is helpful.
Maybe it’s just running a mile every once in awhile. But you don’t have to go hard all the time. There are other worthwhile exercise modalities besides strength training and sprinting.
7. Going down every rabbit hole
On this blog, I discuss a lot of concepts. I’m a curious person and I have a large readership, so whenever I come across an interesting new idea or think of a new approach to an old problem, I share it here.
You don’t have to try everything you read about. You don’t have to go into ketosis, fast, do carb refeeds, try every single permutation of squat and deadlift, sprint uphill/downhill/on a bike/in a pool, hike barefoot, and try the potato diet. These are all just options, choices to be made. I provide information, offer my interpretation, and make suggestions. I don’t expect everyone to do everything. That’s impossible. That’s a recipe for added stress and certain failure.
8. Romanticization of Grok
Some things about our modern existence are screwy and ridiculous, and when we spend our days sitting down, completely isolated from nature, from other humans (in the flesh), from edible plants and animals in their original packaging (absent some fur, perhaps), problems arise. You can’t expect that ignoring the reality of the environmental inputs that shaped our genome can lead to anything but poor health and happiness. Finding modern corollaries that create some of those same environmental inputs really seems to help solve most of our health and lifestyle problems. “Grok” is a helpful frame of reference.
But you don’t need to wear a loin cloth. You don’t need to leave the city and build a home in the forest using primitive skills (that’d be pretty awesome as a summer home, though!).
9. Eschewing modern medicine
Doctors, by and large, want to help you. I would take their lifestyle and diet recommendations with a large slab of Himalayan rock salt, but they’re great technicians. They’ll keep you alive when you have a heart attack, fix a broken bone, remove torn cartilage from your knee, pull a tooth, stop an infection, and save the lives of mother and child during a difficult birth. And sometimes meds are necessary. Do your homework. Don’t take their word for everything. They aren’t omniscient. But don’t ignore them, either.
If you find the Primal/paleo way of life is leading you to buy more things and eat more processed food, it’s probably the wrong way. At its heart this movement is about eating real food and enjoying life.
Any of that sound familiar? Fess up. What mistakes are you making? Also, which other common mistakes do you see Primal folks make?
My name is Jennifer Piano, 
There are any number of amazing reasons to lose weight that will offer incredible benefits in the long- and short-term. You’ll be in better overall health. It’s very probable that you’ll live longer and have 
Most of us go Primal to solve problems created by 
