My Christmas Present to God: 21 Day Water Fast

Today the beginning of a 21 day water fast. Now I decided to do this while watching fat sick and nearly dead. It is supposed to open you up spiritually and also it helps you lose weight so that's an added plus. I've already had a craving for food today but I fought it off. This is the hardest thing I've ever had to do and it hasn't even been 24 hours yet! I want to grow closer to God while doing this so on my Bible application on my phone, I have a plan set so that I have my devotional content and the scripture to go along with it. I have been growing my relationship with God by attending church, reading the Bible, going to Bible study and studying on my own about how he is and how we should live. Growing my relationship with God has helped me out tremendously. It has matured me in ways that I didn't think that I could mature! I have dedicated this fast to the Almighty because it just seems like the right thing to do. It seems as though in this time of my life in the middle of my spiritual journey that I should do something to show that I have grown and matured and couldn't do so without God on my side. Giving up food for 21 days is nothing compared to what he gave up for us. He gave up his life so that we could live without sin. This is my Christmas present to God. I hope that he likes it. So again God bless and keep striving to be the best person that you could be.

Sincerely,

Tori G.

2014! A new year! A new me!

Hello! It's been over a year since I have posted to this blog. But I will restart fresh in 2014! My hair is still natural for a total of three years. I have gained some of the weight back due to the pregnancy and I am trying to get rid of it now. I have also gone in my spiritual faith! A lot has changed since September 2012! I guess I'll be writing about it soon. So let's begin. A new year. A new me! 

The Perfect Fit: Miss Jessie's Product Review

  Hello again my friends! I hope you all are doing great! I've been a busy body trying to get back in shape after having my son about seven weeks ago. I've also been trying new products for my hair! I have heard AMAZING things about Miss Jessie's hair products from friends and family members. Even total strangers have told me about Miss Jessie's! I was in the CVS when a lady saw me looking at Miss Jessie's products and went on and on and on about how great the products are.

I heard from a friend that if you go on the website you can get free samples! Of course, I couldn't pass up a chance to try a new product. Also FREE SAMPLES are where its at!! I ordered the Super Sweetback Treatment and the Curly Buttercreme that very day. It arrived 2 days later but to my surprise I got one wrong item. I got the Super Slippery Sudsy Shampoo instead of the Super Sweetback treatment. I contacted them and within a little over a week they sent me the correct sample and let me keep the other one. I decided to try them all and see if Miss Jessie's is as great as everyone says it is. 

I will break them down into sections and put my reviews below. 

Super Slip Sudsy Shampoo

  I tried this one and I wasn't too thrilled to do so at first. I was absolutely not convinced that this would work for me.I definitely judged a book by its cover. I decided to give it a try anyway. It couldn't hurt right?

First thing I noticed was the smell. It has an amazing subtle smell that is pleasing and not overwhelming.It took only a small bit to cleanse my whole head! It didn't strip my hair and it felt absolutely fabulous. It left my hair moisturized and soft! 

Rating: 9 out of 10

Super Sweetback Treatment

This is supposed to be the HOLY GRAIL for natural hair care! I've read reviews and heard that if you want soft and silky kinks try this beautiful concoction. I didn't like the smell. It smelt as though a pepto bismol bottle and a pack of gum threw up in my hair. It was definitely way too strong! Also I was surprised at the consistency. I was just about to say forget it and wash it out but something told me to just finish using it for the 30 minutes. 

I washed it out after the 30 minutes were up and I was completely surprised by the reults.  I actually liked the smell after it was rinsed out and I LOVE LOVE LOVE how soft and manageable my hair was afterwards. It felt like silk and even after awhile it still feels that way! I love this product. I just wish they'd do something about the smell though.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Curly ButterCreme

I want to start out by saying that this product wasn't what I expected it to be. It was way way MORE! I have never found such a light cream that left my hair so amazingly soft and smelling GREAT!! The tingling brought on by the peppermint oil felt like it was bringing my hair and scalp back to life. It smelt so good and it lasted for days. I didnt have to reapply or anything. I just did my finger coils and went about my buisness. I would reccommend this to EVERY CURLY HAIRED PERSON I KNOW! It is a great pick me up for dry, damaged hair and an awesome product all the way around!

Rating: 10 out of 10

  

A complete rating of all the products I used from the Miss Jessie's line of hair products :

9 out of 10!!

These products are amazing! They are a bit pricey (between $9 and $50) but they worth EVERY SINGLE PENNY! I will be using these again and again and again. 

Well, its that time again. I will see you all later!

Much Love,

Tori P.

"Sample" the Good Life: Curly Wurly by Lush

One sunny summer day, Andre (my best friend) and I were at Pentagon City Mall enjoying a day of shopping, eating and walking to get my labor to progress. We came across this store called Lush Cosmetics and decided to take a peek since I love any type natural products. I fell in love as soon as we went in the store. I fell in love with the Soap Bombs, the makeup, the Shower Scrubs, face cleansers, etc. I decided to get a few Soap Bombs and a Bath Melt made out of lavender (since I was having problems sleeping in my last week of pregnancy).While I was checking out, I was going on and on and on about how I am a bit of product junkie when it comes to products for my hair. I told her I was always looking for a better product then the next. The cashier recommended that I use Curly Wurly shampoo. She gave me a few samples of it and said I will see you soon. I admired her confidence in the product and the fact that it was coming from a company that prides themselves on natural products.

I took it home and actually forgot all about it since I went into labor a few days later. I found them a couple of days ago in my purse and decided that day I was going to use it. I ran out of my regular shampoo so this came as a blessing. The samples came in a small container that I thought wasn't going to be enough for my hair but that wasn't the case at all!!! With this product, a little definitely does go a long way! A small lip balm sized container washed my whole head. I was impressed at that since I usually have to use a whole lot of product on my head to clean and condition. It lathered up very well and once rinsed out, it left my hair moisturized with defined curls! What I didn't like was the smell and the pieces of coconut that got left in my hair after using it. It smelled a little too earthy to me and it took awhile to get the pieces out (even when I thought I got it all out, turns out that I didn't). 

I personally think that the outcome outweighs the smell and the coconut pieces. It made my hair manageable, soft, fluffy and left me with a defined curl pattern! I was impressed by the way it made it feel! I couldn't keep my hands out of my hair ALL DAY. I give this a 7 out of 10. It might not be perfect or smell like roses and sunshine but If my hair likes it, I wouldn't mind using it again! 

Much Love,

Tori P.

Wanna try it yourself? Here is the link to Lush's Curly Wurly. 

Also, Here is the link to the How to Use Video!!!

After Birth: Small Ways I'm Getting Back on Track

Hello people! I know you've missed me because I have missed you!

My Newborn Baby: Hunter!

I haven't been writing much since I got pregnant and I apologize for that. I'm not to sure where to start so I will start at the end (because I'm that backwards). I just gave birth to my third son Hunter on August 11th. I had an emergency C-Section (my first one by the way and for the record, I feel as though it could have been avoided if the labor wasn't rushed). I am happy to be a new mom all over again. I feel renewed! I don't know if that is a feeling that happens after you give birth to everyone of your children but it seems to happen to me. Life seems a bit brighter with my little Hunt around and I am so happy. I'm on maternity leave until at least 8 weeks after he is born and i have some time on my hands until I get back to work. I want to heal quickly and get back on track with my hair and weight loss goals.

My weight loss goal is still to get to 150 pounds. That has been and will always be my goal. That is the weight I was most happy at. It is about ten pounds more then my recommended weight for my height but its better then being 50 or even 100 pounds more than what I am suppose to be at. I want to be healthy and I think 150 will bring me down to my most healthy weight in years! I have a plan to get back on track. Also since I had gestational diabetes, I have to get down to a healthy weight and watch what I eat so I can be Diabetes free and around for my boys. I want to watch my boys grow up, finish college, get married and have families of their own! Here is my start up plan to get back on the wagon:

Stop Stressing! Life is too short to stress out about every little thing- including weight! I know I can lose the weight. I know my hair will grow at its own pace. I refuse to stress out and worry about stuff that is out of my control. Stress also keeps pound on and makes your hair fall out. Woooooosaaaaaaa! I actually found that shopping (even window shopping) is a good way to burn calories and reduce stress. I actually found a great store while walking around the mall called Lush! It's an amazing organic store which has makeup, bath soaps, shampoo, hair dye, etc. They also have items directly related to keeping you stress free. My favorites are Golden Slumbers and French Kiss which have lavender, chamomile, rosemary oil, etc. Those herbs are used to calm and relax the mind, body and spirit(Check them out! You might enjoy them).

Light Exercise: Since I have had a c-section, I was informed not to do anything that has to do with heavy lifting or running or anything like that! I was actually looking forward to giving birth so that I can start my exercise regimen back up at full speed. I was super disappointed upon hearing that I had to wait 8 weeks to do any real exercise. So I decided that light exercise should be okay just to keep my body going. Lifting 5 pound weights and walking thru the house with the baby in tow seems to be working for me. I have also started moving a lot more now that I am healing. I found an article I liked about this very subject. It's called Exercise with Baby: Postpartum exercises to do with your baby by Shannon McKelden. She offers 7 exercises to try postpartum:
 

• Baby Bench Press: Lie on your back and hold your baby securely above your chest with arms straight. Lower elbows, keeping arms close to your sides, and then extend arms straight up. Repeat while smiling and make funny faces with your child, keeping arm muscles engaged.
• Cooing Crunch: Lie on your back and hold your baby with arms extended in front of you. Sit halfway up, keeping abs engaged, and come down. Repeat.
• Baby Bend: Hold the baby in front of you and sit all the way down, bringing your butt to your heels while keeping arms straight. Stand up again and repeat.
• Stroller Stroll: Push the stroller in front of you. Speed up for 30 seconds and slow down. Do the same thing uphill for added resistance.
• Baby Ballet (Plié) Squats: Hold the stroller in front of you (in locked position) and stand with feet wide apart. Bend from your knees till your hips are knee level, making sure to keep your entire body engaged.
• Kiss Push Up: Arrange yourself in the push up position with your baby flat on his back near your head. Raise and lower your body doing traditional push ups, and be sure to smooch your baby on the way down.
• Use an Exercise/Swiss Ball: Use an exercise or Swiss ball (those giant beach balls that you see in the gym). Sit on the ball while holding your baby in your lap. Bounce up and down, keeping your abs engaged. Your baby will love the vertical movement and will enjoy being held close, and you'll love the tighter tummy. You can also do this more gently to help put your baby to sleep. Talk about multitasking.

Breastfeeding: YES!!! Breastfeeding does help you lose weight. It is an amazing and very effective tool in weight loss after pregnancy. It also helps you bond with baby and its the healthiest option for your baby. Don't believe me? Google It! Ask a Breastfeeding consultant! Research the facts! I actually found a great site about How To Get Back To Pre-Pregnancy Weight While Breastfeeding. 

Calorie Counting: If I truly want to lose any kind of weight, I cant escape the dreaded calorie count. I'm going back to using My Fitness Pal. It helped me lose 40 pounds last year and hopefully it will help me lose 75 pounds going into next year! It is a major help in breaking down what I eat, how much I exercise and how much weight I have lost. It is an awesome help when it comes to support as well. It has support groups and message boards. You can also add friends for support. It is actually a great way to lose weight and you don't even have to log using a computer. They have an app that can easily be downloaded on any android phone using the Google Play Store ( Formerly Known as The Android Market).I recommend this to anyone who needs something nice and easy to help them track their intake.

Last but not least, Positive Affirmations! Being positive and staying that way helps a lot when it comes to weight loss and taking care of my hair. Sometimes it does get rough and I want to just throw in the towel. Getting to that inner calm and saying to myself that I can do it makes a huge difference. Self esteem is very important in not just these two areas but life in general. You must learn to love yourself before you decide to change yourself or it will become an unhealthy obsession (bulimia, anorexia, self hate, etc.).



Well, That's my small list of how I plan to get back on track. I cant wait to see the progress!

Much Love, 
Tori P.

A Different Kind of Product Review: Yes To Carrots Nourishing Exfoliating Cleanser

This isn't one of normal reviews but I have found an amazing product and want to share my experience. I woke up one morning looking forward to a beautiful boring day off of work. I was about to brush my teeth when I looked in my bathroom mirror and saw these ugly pimples! They were everywhere. Its like they popped up overnight! I almost lost it. I know that pregnancy hormones make your body all sorts of crazy but this is ridiculous! I was about to tear what little hair I have out because my whole pregnancy I had been using Clean and Clear to keep the crazy acne at bay and now it wasn't working anymore! I had to find something quick!

I wasn't particularly trilled with the selection at the drug store. I even called my grandmother for some advice in the middle of the skin care aisle at the Rite Aid! I was desperate for something to clear my skin. Just as I was about to go into rage mode....

I saw it! It was the last bottle on the shelf!  I have used Yes to Carrots before as a conditioner but only for a short period time.I loved it! I decided since their conditioner was amazing that maybe some of their other products would be too. I took it home and rushed to the bathroom and started using it immediately! I followed the instructions and as soon as I was done, I could feel the difference in my skin. It was amazing and the smell was just so inviting! I have been using it everyday for a little over a week now. My face has cleared up in a short eleven days! I would recommend this to anyone and everyone who needs their face to be clean and clear without using Clean and Clear ( or any other harsh chemicals to get rid of acne ). Check it out! Go ahead and give it a try!

Much Love,
Tori P.

Product Description: "You are amazing! You know it. And you also know you deserve a spa treatment, not just once in a while, but every day! Yes To Carrots Exfoliating Cleanser brings the spa to you. Pampering you like the professionals, it removes dead skin cells and lessens fine lines, leaving your skin balanced, nourished and radiantly rejuvenated. Go on, pamper yourself! "

 Key Ingredients:

Organic Carrots are brimming with Beta-Carotene, a natural antioxidant that protects skin from damaging free radicals.

Shea Butter protects skin from dehydration, restores Skin's suppleness and improves the appearance of dry skin.

Also includes: Bamboo Stem Extract, Carrot Root Powder

Ingredients:

Water (Aqua), Dead Sea Water (Maris Aqua), Daucus Carota (Carrot) Juice, Isopropyl Myristate, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Oil , Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Gel, Propylene Glycol, Peg-40 Stearate, Zinc Oxide, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Seed Powder, Dimethicone, Beeswax (Cera Alba), Chamomila Recutita, Cucurbita Pepo (Pumpkin) Juice, Ipomoera Batatas (Sweet Potato) Extract, Cucumis Melo (Melon) Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Honey (Mel) Extract, Silt (Maris Limus), Sorbitan Tristearate, Algae Extracts (Rhodella, Dunaliella, Spirulina), Fragrance (Parfum), Daucus Carota Seed Oil, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Vitamin E (Tocopheryl Acetate), Allantoin, Lactic Acid, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Peel Extract.

(http://www.yestocarrots.com/product/exfoliating-cleanser?product_id=1321004)

GDM and Me: How I was Diagnosed, My Fears and How I Plan to Take it Head On!

Hello Guys and Dolls! I am officially 8 months pregnant and just found out recently that I have Gestational Diabetes. They decided to test me for it due to family history.

I had the one hour glucose test where I had to drink this nasty sugar drink called Glucola 50. It was horrible!!! I had such a bad sugar crash after. I was shaking, felt sick and didn't know what to do. I prayed that I passed so I wouldn't have to go through that again!

I got a call back less then 48 hours later. They said I had to take the 3 hour glucose test due to abnormally high blood sugar. The 3 hour glucose test is where you have to fast for 10 to 12 hours and then come in to drink the Glucola 100 (twice as much sugar as the first drink). Then they take your blood every hour on the hour for 3 hours, Now the three hour test was a complete pain but I got through it without too much nausea and without the horrible sugar crash I had with the first test (Went home straight after the test and ate as soon as I got home to stop that sugar crash before it happened). They called me 48 hours later and confirmed that I have gestational diabetes. Here is the definition (in case you don't know what that is):

Gestational diabetes (or gestational diabetes mellitus, GDM) is a condition in which women without previously diagnosed diabetes exhibit high blood glucoselevels during pregnancy (especially during third trimester). There is some question whether the condition is natural during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes is caused when the body of a pregnant woman does not secrete enough insulin required during pregnancy, leading to increased blood sugar levels.(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gestational_diabetes)

 I have to meet with a dietitian on Monday but before I let someone else tell me what I should do, I looked it up myself and took advice from my doctor. I started testing my blood sugar 6 times a day, I have put myself on a 2200 calorie diet (which my doctor says is perfectly fine) and decided to exercise for 30 minutes at least 2 to 3 times per week (which my doctor says is also fine). I am actually using MyFitnessPal.com again to help me document some of the food I am eating and to help me keep track of my carb intake. Lets just say I feel back on track. I didn't think I was going to be doing all this until after the baby was born.

 I am taking this quite seriously. There are serious complications involved with having gestational diabetes. It makes me worry about my Hunt Hunt. (His name is going to be Hunter Ezekiel)

The baby can have problems such as :

1) Excessive Birth Weight

2)Preterm Birth

3) Respiratory Issues

4) Low Blood Sugar

5) Jaundice

6)Birth Injuries

7) Developing Type 2 Diabetes later on in life!

(http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/gestational-diabetes/DS00316/DSECTION=complications)

 I also have family members and friends who have this dreadful disease. I have seen them struggle and see how it takes a toll on the body. It is actually one of my biggest fears. I have been told that once you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes, there is a high chance of the woman being diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes within 5 to 10 years after the baby is born. I refuse to be a statistic! I will eat healthy, exercise regularly and make sure my blood sugar is under control! For me, For my children, For my husband, For my family!!!

Much Love and Blessings,

Tori P.