Updates | Fitness and Hair

So my fitness challenge is going well. Haven't had too much time to hit up the gym and work out, but I have been eating healthy everyday. I don't do the whole diet thing, but not pigging out and just eating healthy in general has worked for me. Lost 2 lbs already just doing that.

Also I re did my hair. I am on a protective style challenge and early last week I looked for videos on how to do fluffy twists and even though mine didn't come out fluffy I still like them. The top pic is of what I did for the first time. After 7 days they looked like they had been in for 8 weeks so I took them out. They weren't close to the root anymore and just looked bad. So when I did them over they came out much better the second time around. I guess practice makes perfect. They are not perfect this time either, but they are a lot neater and tighter. Now I just need to work on my time and perfecting my technique, because its an all day event for me and my parts are NOT small. I guess I get distracted with movies and other stuff so that takes up a lot of time it takes to complete the look. Any tips on that would be greatly appreciated!!!

Don't forget to follow me on Instagram and YouTube! 

Instagram: jrae818

This week I plan on filming another vlog and a April Favorites video so look out for those! ttyl

21 Day Fitness Challenge

Ok, so I have been super lazy lately. Ever since coming back from deployment (okay so it was 10 months ago, but feels like it was just yesterday) I just want to relax...as a result I became out of shape. Time to get back on track and work on my fitness. I want to create permanent healthy habits and apparently it takes 21 days to form a habit so here goes nothing! I was kind of hesitant to post a before picture, but how else am I going to hold myself accountable if I don't put myself out there? I can't wait to see the progress on May 13th! For the next 3 weeks I am going to be focusing on my legs, abs and arms. Those are three areas that I would LOVE to see an improvement on. Diet wise, I am not really going to change much. I don't believe in diets, but I do believe in limiting your portions and eating healthy as a whole. I don't eat fried foods, hardly ever eat meat (I do eat seafood though) and I don't really drink soda. Since I am trying to make healthier choices, I am going to cut down on my sugars and salts since I know I eat way too much of them.
For working out I plan on getting some form of exercise EVERY day. Three days of HIIT (high intensity interval training) cardio, two days of weight training and two days of cool down which for me is walking and stretching. Nothing too crazy. So anyways, here is a pic of what I am starting with:

Height: 5'3

Weight: 140.2

Goal: 130

Now, my goal is not to lose 10 pounds by May 13, that is just a goal weight that I have for myself. This 21 day challenge is just to start building a healthier lifestyle. Now, who is in?

DIY- How to do a bentonite clay mask

So if there is ever something that I can do or make myself, I generally do. Especially when it comes to beauty products. I am a super mixtress at home. One of the things I like to treat myself to every week is a bentonite clay mask. Bentonite clay is mostly made up from aged volcanic ash. One pretty cool thing about it is that its known to produce an electrical charge when you add water to it (dont worry though, it doesnt hurt!). Its also known to be an absorbtive clay. The electrical components help draw up and absorb the toxins in your skin (the clay carries a negative charge, while all the toxins and bacteria in your skin have a positive charge).

The recipe (for dry skin):

1. Equal parts clay and oil of your choice. (I use avocado oil, I do 1 teaspoon of each and it makes more than enough)
2. Enough water to make it into a paste. (a little less than 1 tablespoon, if you need more, then just add more water)
3. Leave it on for 10 minutes or until it dries.
4. Rinse with cool water.

***Dont use anything metal when using bentonite clay because it takes away from its effectiveness. I always use a plastic spoon and a plastic or glass bowl when making my mix.

If you dont have dry skin then you can leave out the oil. Otherwise I would suggest adding a moisturizing oil because the mask can be very drying. Also, as its drying you face will feel super tight! I never leave mine on for more than 10 minutes. After I rinse it off my skin feel SO soft and smooth. I always moisturize my skin after. Your skin might be a little red after, but no worries it goes away in 30 minutes or so. Here are some pics that you guys can check out:

                                   
                        

Its My Birthday!!!!

So far today has been a good day, I got to relax and I was able to spend the day getting some stuff that I have been putting off for the longest! The older I get, the more I can appreciate being able to just lay around and not do anything! To me, that is the perfect day. Still have stuff to do on my list, but I am not going to worry about it now. Today I am going to wash all the dirty equipment I have so I can give it all back to Uncle Sam! Once I turn everything in I wont really have anything left in storage =) I am too excited! One less bill I have to pay!

Also, I am on a serious tea kick! I LOVE me some peppermint tea with creamer (Baileys Irish Creme for me please!), but I decided to try this chai tea I saw in the grocery store and let me tell you, it is so good! OMG. I add a splash of milk and some baileys to mine. I really wouldn't have it any other way!
If you are looking for a new tea to try, I really recommend this one! You don't have to drink it hot either, you can have it over ice.

So yeah, these are just some random photos I took. I haven't used my Nikon in a while and she is feeling neglected. I am going to start taking more photos with the Nikon so I will be ready for next June when my Dad gets married. I would love to be able to take some awesome photos in Hawaii. Plus, my Nikon just takes amazing pictures. The color is so much better than my point in shoot.

My Hair Regimen

So I had a request on what my hair regimen is so here it goes!!! I don't always follow it exactly, but this is what it is.
1. Every 2 weeks I clarify my hair. I wear a lot of hair gel (thanks to the Army) so it does build up a bit!  I use a shampoo bar that doesnt leave my hair stripped. Its made by a local Texas business called A Wild Soap Bar. I really like their Yucca Root Shampoo and Body Bar even though I only use it for my hair.

2.During the week, I condition wash my hair 2 times a week. I do a lot of PT (physical training) so my head gets sweaty at times. If for some reason they have us laying out in the mud then I wash it more. My favorites for condition washing is Herbal Essence Hello Hydration and Tresemme Naturals conditioners. I usually alternate, but lately I have been combining the two. Best of both worlds =)

3. I follow the LOC Method for moisturizing my hair. For the liquid I like the Sally's Beauty version of Infusium 23 and I like the S Curl activator spray. For oil I use cold pressed olive oil and for the creme I use my own shea butter mix. My hair stay moisturized for days when I use these products!!!

4. Since I am in the Army I have to do my hair everyday since I don't wear weave often (I only wore it once in the last 3 years and that was only because I went to field for a month). I always apply a moisturizer (my shea butter mix) before applying gel. My hair NEVER gets hard. I use a modified denman brush to lay it down. Sometime I will apply a light mist of hair spray to help lay it down better on those humid days.

I only have a few more weeks left in the Army, so when I get out I will not be using gel so much so my routine will change again...I will let you guys know when my routine is updated in a few weeks =)

Me and my braid out which ended up being a fail---damn Texas humidity LOL...on a brighter note----it was moisturized so it wasnt all bad!

Building a business

So I have been hard at work this past week! Aside from my school work and my regular job I have been doing a TON of research. Trying to start your own business is not easy..or cheap!!! I want to have an online boutique of sorts....something where you can buy bath and body products and well as jewelry and vintage clothing......as you could see I just couldn't make up my mind and commit to one thing! LOL. Anyways, everything won't be available all at once since it is a work in progress. I think I am going to start with the jewelry and the vintage clothing first, followed by the body products.  Anyways, follow me on instagram and YouTube I am posting more frequently now =)
I have some hauls and some natural hair posts coming up that I cant wait to share with you guys!



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My Shea Butter Mix + the LOC Method

Hey!!!

So I know I have been MIA--in between school and going to the field for a month, its been kinda hectic for the last few weeks...anyways I wanted to share with your guys a couple of things I have been up to! I recently bought some boots on Amazon and they were too light. They were supposed to be black, but when I got them they were actually grey. Needless to say, I was a little pissed. I wasn't too upset for long though, because I figured out I could darken them myself and it actually came out nice! Now, I am happy about my purchase. The only thing left to do is break those bad boys in!!!

Also, I have been experimenting with some shea butter and oils that I bought when I got back from Afghanistan. After many trials and errors I finally have the perfect mix!!! I use it on my hair and skin and it is amazing! A lot of you don't know that I am going to be setting up an online shop sometime in the near future. Hopefully my shea butter mixes will make it to the site! This is just temporary packaging until I figure out the design and direction that I want to go with. I think I am also going to do a shea butter mix giveaway soon! What do you guys think?