New Year, New Hair Naturalistas!

This post has been long awaited for all my naturalistas! After everything we do to maintain glorious looking hair. Every now and then we get caught up in routines that could secretly be harming those kinky curls. Now I know I'm not the only natural that finds herself participating in unhealthy thoughts about our curls. This is the time to point out some of those naughty habits that we need to break.

#1 Touching your hair constantly.

This is my first concern because I believe it is the most difficult on this list to prevent throughout the day. Who doesn't like to touch or play with their own hair? Well, the more you dig and pick at your hair, the more oil and dirt from your fingers goes inside your precious coils. Therefore, the next time someone wants to touch your hair, you must tell them no. Unless you are styling, washing, or detangling, keep those perfectly manicured fingers out.

#2 Ripping Those Knots Out.

Have you ever been detangling your hair and suddenly, you encounter a kinky knot? You think to yourself, “What should I do about this?” and you rip or comb the knot out. Finally, your knotty hair is down on the floor. Girl, you have to be patient with your knots. If you start untwisting at the base of the scalp or half way down, it can cause breakage and split ends. Using your fingers or a wide tooth comb, start at the bottom of the hair and work your way toward the root. Patience is the key here.

#3 Not Trimming.

No more running from those scissors. So you think the only time you need to cut our hair is when you have split ends or single strand knots? WRONG! If you trim a little bit of dead weight from your hair, your hair will come back to life. You can trim your hair four times a year or every 8 to 10 weeks. Trimming your curls is a great way to experiment with different hairdos and shapes as well.

#4 Dreaming Of Being Rapunzel.

We all must realize that it takes years for our hair to grow. If your hair isn't down your back after being natural for one year, no need to be upset. Hair length is a process that takes time. Ladies, as long as your hair is healthy and well maintained, you should be satisfied with your hair no matter what length it may be.

#5 Going to Sleep Without Protecting Your Hair.

Sometimes you have a wonderful night out partying with your friends and you just hit the sheets. However, no matter how tired you may be, every naturalista needs to make sure you grab that satin cap or have a satin pillow case over your plush pillow. If not, you will wake up shedding like a sheep and your hair will be dry like a desert. Even if you have to keep your cap in your purse, please put it on before you go to bed.

#6 Skip Conditioning

Many times after a drawn out hair wash, I've found myself to lazy to add in conditioner just wash out moments later. Yes, I know it can seem pointless at times, but this is a very important step for us natural girls. After washing natural hair often times shampoo can strip the hair of its natural oils. This is where conditioner comes in to return moister to hair strands. I have even noticed I have longer lasting styles with conditioned styles than without.

Well naughty naturalistas, I hope this has given you a little to think about considering the winter months are quickly approaching, which can become more harsh on natural hair. So for the benefit of healthy gorgeous natural hair, adhere to this little changes in your hair care regimens and I'm sure you will be on your way to natural nirvana.

FREE JEWELRY HOLDER

Hey ladies! Today I have another DIY for you... Ok don't get too excited, but all the materials are things you can find in your home right now!! The only think that will get spent is a little of your time that's all. So pick a dull evening, get some snacks and turn on a movie. Scroll for the details.

 

First off get three paper towel rolls and one toilet paper roll.

 

 

You want this one to last dont you?

Get some newspaper and stuff the rolls for needed support.

 

 

Cut a crescent shape out of the toliet paper roll and one paper towel roll.

 

 

When you fit them together they sould look like this.

 

 

 Tape the crescent rolls to the middle creating two T shapes!

 

 

Cover the ends of the rolls first for a clean finish.

To decorate, I used some shelf liner with a cute floral pattern, but you can use what ever you like.

Let you creativity run free!

Try construction paper, paint, bold colors or coordinate with your room colors.

 

 

Now depending on your dresser or vanity space, cut out a piece of cardboard for the base.

Here I used a pizza circle to save time.

To decorate, I used some shelf liner with a cute floral pattern, but you can use what ever you like.

 Let you creativity run free!

Try construction paper, paint, bold colors or coordinate with your room colors.

 

Here are some pictures of my finished product. I love anything involving jewelry and this is a great way to display all your pieces, or at least most of them if you are a jewelry junkie like me. this even cuts down on time getting ready, no more pondering what to wear with what. Everything will be right at your fingertips and what could be better than that? Enjoy your jewelry ladies!

Oh boy just Sip and see

Wow this past weekend was beyond anything I could have imagined! Practically the whole summer I've been planning my new god son Ashton's baby shower. Yes, I know one very stressful and daunting process to start or even complete. From brainstorming themes, selecting a menu, and not to mention games and party favors, yet everything turned out awesome. This one shower really have me seriously considering a career within the event planning industry (currently updating mu business cards). Im just happy that everyone loved the turn out. My diaper cakes were a really big hit! I even got a few clients lined up for the next couple of months. I knew I always had a nack for all things involving design and style but who would have thought this creative DIY junkie could turn into an event coordinator? I guess good things do come with persistence and hard work. As a struggling post graduate, this was definitely the push I needed to get up and get motivated to start my entrepreneurship. Just wanted to share some of my creations with you. First event down hopefully several more to go! Enjoy!

Diaper Cake centerpiece perfect for any baby shower   

Instagram:  @recklessluver

A for Adorable Ashton!

We welcome with love baby Ashton

Monkey Motorcycle Diaper Cake

Me with Ashton's Mom & Dad!

We had so much fun, excited for Ashton's big 1st birthday lol

This blogger becomes a god mommy!

Hello blog lovers! Today is a great day my friend from kindergarten is having her first child! Of course I am excited as ever. I love babies and you know what this means all the more reseason to plan another great event! Giving the fact that he came a little earlier than expected we will just have to turn this baby shower into a sip and see... Don't worry Ashton this party will be one spectacular sip and see. Here are some creations I'm working on... Enjoy!

Diaper Cake Centerpiece

Inside

Baby Sock Bouquet

Front                                                                       Back 

 Candy Favors

Game Prizes

Claim Your Independence!

Here is a fun DIY for all you crafty divas on independence day! These high waisted shorts are trending this summer and I thought I would share how you can customize your own right at home.

Materials:
Large flag (or any other material)
Scissors
Glue gun and glue sticks or any fabric Adhesive you like
High waisted jeans/shorts

How to:
First if you are using jeans, try them on and decide how you want your short to fit. Mark how short you want them and proceed with with cutting. Be sure to leave room for cuffs... Or not. (It's all up to you.)


Gather your fabric and cut big enough squares for the front of your shorts.

Start gluing fabric down starting from the side seam. Try folding the fabric along the side and along the zipper to maintain a clean edge.

Cut access fabric along the edges as you go to avoid bulk.

Once done gluing all sides down securely, cuff the bottoms and you're done!

For a little added flare to back pockets I made a bow out of left over jean fabric.

Cut two pieces of jean fabric long enough to go from each side of the pockets. Glue all sides. Pinch the middle and wah la! The perfect bow!

This fourth of July claim your independence ladies!

Who shot the producer???

Exactly what happens when a producer of a "reality" tv show tries to notmalize negative behaviors? Drama. For years now we’ve been glued to our tv screens tuning in to all sorts of foolishness that has propagated the lie that being on a rich man’s arm is the ultimate and easiest way to financial security.

I mean, where would women be of we all were to believe the “Housewives,” “Basketball (ex) Wives," and the new "Hollywood Exes" pays? They all have one basic primmest is to depict women behaving badly, being a jump-off or the ex of somebody famous. I'm still trying to make sense of how this is for our entertainment. It's not, at least not for most real women.

Now enters "The Real Mistresses of Atlanta," a visual arsenic concocted by music producer and Pro Style Gel spokesman Memphitz. Is the television industry no longer focused on anything other than targeting women of color? Apparently, our already overcrowded airways weren’t quite ratchet enough. Sensing that he could capitalize on our willingness to watch mind-numbing drama, Memphitz is currently trying to sell a show that gives us an inside look at some of Atlanta’s most in-demand mistresses.

While the majority of the cast is black, the token white woman comes out guns blazing when she asks, “Who wants to f-ck a black p—sy?” and explains that black men love her … because she’s white. Right.

Don’t get me wrong. I understand that the “other woman” has been profiting off her status for a while. In ideal mistress situations she may have gotten an apartment, a filled closet, and a few pieces of bling for her on-demand services, but in most cases, the scenario is much less glamorous, involving a bucket of chicken and gas money if she’s lucky.

You see, by constantly glamorizing this behavior and bringing it to the light, we are signaling to young women that it’s perfectly normal to sell yourself for a man’s attention so long as he gives you something of value in the process. We are telling them it’s OK to come second or third and jump to his every command so long as he breaks you off a little change in the end.

But it’s not OK. We all know it. And while some of these women are certainly getting over, the price they pay for losing their dignity, being treated like doormats, and giving up their self-respect to the highest bidder just doesn’t seem worth it.
Stay tuned in if you wish but I do not wish to support those ratings.

If this post doesn't discourage you enough, click the link for the visual.
http://vimeo.com/m/38052013

Poppin bottles? Chris Breezy vs Drizzy Drake

Just when you thought we were too grown for bar fights? Apparently not. All today the media was abuzz with details surrounding the apparent brawl between Drizzy and Breezy’s crews, leaving the singer with a gash on his chin.

Of course everyone is claiming the Breezy/Drizzy beef stems from both singers’ dealings with Rihanna. (It's all about Rihanna) However, other outlets are still struggling to make sense of the chaotic scene.

Here are some facts:

According to theYBF, Chris Brown was parting at W.I.P. in downtown Manhattan with other A-listers like Ne-Yo and Mary J. Blige, when he sent a bottle to Drake and his crew of Maybach associates Wale and Meek Mill.

I guess sending another big egotistic man a bottle is some sort of diss. Well eventually bottles were sent upside the head. Yet, that's not all that was exchanged.

Here are some sub and not so sub tweets from Breezy:

Seems like this beef is far from over,  at least I'll be watching.

Life After Graduation

Yes! You can finally call this girl who you see on this blog a college graduate! It was official on May 13, 2012 (congrats fellow class of 2012!) I became an alumnae of Hampton University. I was not always the girl you see here today, but it was all in due time. The papers, sweat and tears have all paid off. Now what? Where do I go from here? Only up right? Well I am currently seeking on a totally different type of refund check. This reimbursement would be loverly in the form of a job. Yet with constant persistence I'll get on some administrative assistants nerve enough to make my name known and eventually get my foot in the door. Until then I am trying to keep at it. The writing, blogging, reading, staying a true journalist at heart. HU taught me well. As a social media junkie, I plan on using my PR skills and higher education to land me a solid job for now. Eventually, this will will lead to my dream job. I know. Those are a lot of steps but it's only a matter of time. With this being the start of my true adult (no longer college kid) life, I plan on enjoying my summer. I mean why not? It's my first summer after accomplishing one of the ultimate goals for myself. Whatever comes next I do not exactly have it written in stone, but I already know some one above does. Now you've heard the saying...You only live once!

Friends & Fashion: A Friendly Competition

All experienced it at some point in our lives: friends who make a competition out of every situation.

If you’re happy about a great review at work, she has reason to believe she’s on the verge of a promotion. You’re pleased that your man is ready to commit and make you his “girlfriend,” and her boyfriend is going to ask for her hand in marriage. Your five year old got an A+ on an English quiz, hers will probably skip kindergarten by the end of the week. The list goes on and on.

Unsurprisingly, this kind of insecurity and antagonism also plays out in fashion. When shopping with your best friend at the mall, god forbids if she grabs the same dress you did and remark that it fits her perfectly. Or after piecing together an outfit that captures your unique style, you’re frustrated to find her wearing a similar look only days later.


It’s easy to determine competition is a manifestation of your best friend’s lack of self-knowledge and love. However, there are other ways that competitiveness can materialize through your wardrobe that aren’t as easy to detect.
While I’ve often found myself the specific target of a competing friend, deeper reflection revealed I’m guilty of competing too, but in a different way. Many women harbor the desire to be the “best-dressed” at every event they attend. Their primary goal is not to compete with one particular girlfriend, but rather to crush the competition as a whole.

It’s a mindset that is reflected and encouraged by popular culture. Endless and lengthy articles written by fashion journalists, determining who is the “Best-Dressed.” After every awards show they write columns like “Who Wore It Better?” that make fashion feel like a battlefield. Rappers and singers alike are covered in material things like custom-made diamond watches and designer bags as evidence that they’re an upgrade from the competition.
So the next time you face your closets to pick out an outfit with that spirit of competition inside you, put the hangers down and start dressing for the approval of yourself and not the acceptance of others.

Though your look may have always been unique and not a carbon copy of your friends’ fashions. Let your sense of style overcome the heavily influenced outside forces. Sure people’s opinions will always play a role in what you choose to wear, but it shouldn’t be the deciding factor. And outdoing one another shouldn’t be the motivation for looking our best.

Whether you’ve found yourself competing with a friend’s look or gunning to be the “best-dressed,” here’s a checklist to ensure that your look is purely a reflection of you:
-Do you genuinely love what you have on or do you just love the attention you receive when you wear it?
-What would you wear if no one (your best friend, boyfriend, etc.) was there to judge your outfit?
-Does your look celebrate what’s unique about your body and not what looks good on someone else?
-Would it matter to you if no one complimented or even liked your look?<br />
&nbsp;From UPT w/♥, Coffλ!

Wale’s Ambition…

Ambition: an earnest desire for some type of achievement or distinction, as power, honor, fame, or wealth, and the willingness to strive for its attainment. Motivated people are characterized by their strong desire for accomplishment or power. Olubowale Victor Akintimehin Folarin, better known as Wale looks to the sky on the illustrated cover of his much anticipated sophomore album worthy entitled “Ambition” is set to drop on November 1, 2011. However, does striving to be number one on a new label provide success with Wale’s new album?
Feelings of being artistically stifled under with Interscope Records forced Wale to part ways with the label and eventually found a new home with Ricky Rozay’s Maybach Music Group. Although this may have raised a few eyebrows, the union seems to be a perfect fit.

As a new addition to Maybach Music Group, many fans may have their reservations about how this album will play out in Wale’s ever-thriving hip hop career. Still Wale demands fans attention with over confident tracks like “Don’t Hold Your Applause,” “Focused,” and “Double M Genius” sounding more like typical Wale. However, it is clear that his sound as changed, working for and against him. So while the “old” Wale is still visible on his new album Ambition, you’ve got to sift through a lot of sex and expensive watches to get there. The question is, is that such a bad thing?

Time and time again Wale is acknowledged for his fusion of DC’s homegrown go-go and street sense hip-hop. He often takes samples from all genres to blend them together while adding clever lyrical content. Surprisingly, this skill is only evident in “Bait.” Remembering a time when Go-Go influenced and served fans well on every Wale song and project? This is nowhere to be found here. Slick wordplay and high-energy tracks still continue to set him apart from other rappers. However, well-produced tracks typically associated with the Maybach Music brand were almost nonexistent on this project.

Unlike his previous album, which featured mostly female singers, male R&B favorites are the featured guests on Ambition, including Ne-Yo, Lloyd, Miguel and Jeremih. Although Wale has built a reputation as a humorous rapper delivering quick punch lines, Wale’s signature rhymes on each slow-tempo ballad gives a spoken word feel, catering more to the ladies. They’re smooth jams that illustrates Wale’s more focused marketing plan: women buy music from men who make them feel wanted and promise to take them away from their bland reality, even if only three mere minutes.

Overall, Ambition is an inconsistent album. Individually, these tracks are all a pretty good listen, but the album flow begins to blend together instead of impress. This is why there may be a love for any track on the first listen, but might forget about it when you play it a second time. Yes, Ambition is a pretty decent album but it just doesn’t stick out the way his slew of mixtapes deliver. Wale seems to be focused, but Wale fans look for more substance and brilliant beats on his projects. The mood of Ambition currently reflects its title and author. On the title track, he raps, “They gon’ love me for my ambition/ Easy to dream a dream, though it’s harder to live it.”

Here is a preview to the album:

By Carbon Black Coffy • Posted in How Eventful, La Musica! • Tagged album, ambition, fans, hip hop, lyrics, music, new music, rap, songs, wale • Edit

Diary of a True Shopaholic

Has this season’s fashions hit your pockets like some natural disaster???? Personally, I have been experiencing shoppers remorse lately. You know when you:

A) Go to the mall, just because it’s Friday
B) Get something cute….but
C) By the time you get home you wish you would have never touched what you purchased.
COMMENT FOR THE ALPHABETICAL LIST!!

Since I haven’t really been working at one of my TWO jobs, funds have been pretty hard to stretch (yeah I’m broke too smdh). I was just thinking, “I CAN NOT BE THE ONLY GIRL WITH THIS PROBLEM!!!!” So I figured I could coach you guys on what to actually to do stretch your money long enough to go places, IN CUTE NEW OUTFITS!
READY??? SET??? SAVE!!!!

#1.ONLY USE CASH!
As a BIG spender you have to understand the amounts that you are spending! For the whole day/weekend you are going to be BIG spending. This includes transportation to & from the mall, as well as the cost of your snacks. Shopping does make you work up a sweat while picking out head turning outfits. So the point of only using cash comes into play because with cash you can actually SEE how much you are spending and (even better) stick to a budget. So when you get your budget adjusted, take that amount out of your account and leave your card at home to prevent any temptations.

#2.Don’t Just Shop, Think!
There is no doubt that my mom has raised a true shopaholic. SMH And there is not a person in this world that can tell me there is a bigger release than shopping. With that said, I noticed for the most part I FEEL good coming out of a store weighed down with bags, but now I know that you have do more than just “feel” while you am in the store. You think about what I am buying.
My new process for purchasing an item is:
A)Do I need it?
B)realistically How often will I use it?
C)How much is it really worth to me?

#3.Plan to Spend
What I’ve noticed is that the more you take unplanned trips to the mall, the more you will spend unnecessary amounts of money. Therefore, tame yourself. OK challenge yourself and somehow(yes, i know its hard to do at first)only go to the mall if you really need to buy something specific(maybe an outfit for a special occasion, etc). If that’s not the case depending on your “situation” try to limit yourself to once or twice a month.

These are going to be my key steps to keep the overdrafts down because I know how I get in the summertime. I figured, since I like to look pretty, my bank account might as well look pretty too. So join me on giving my bank account a summer make over! Good Luck!
From UPT w/♥,
Coffλ!

Make Black History Everyday!

It’s that time of year again, Black History Month. The question is, “How do we maintain its relevance today?” We all know about Langston Hughes, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, and Coretta Scott King. The mission is not to shy away from the names and faces that have become familiar to us, but instead to expand above and beyond the few. Black History month was essentially created for us. Black History was created to celebrate the rising of the nation of people of African American decent. So lets not celebrate it in vain people.
As an African-American child, I heard the stories and autobiographies hundreds of time. However, is the impact truly implemented? Most likely not. I’m just saying, what are the odds that children today really understand the harsh realities that has moldedAfrican Americans into the people we are today?
Being the crazy person that I am I ask my friends “Exactly how do you plan to celebrate this holiday this year?” It burns my ears to hear replies like, “By staying black!” or “A month is too long to celebrate.” Of course. Why are we so ungrateful for the great things our ancestors have done for us? Because we don’t know them? Because they’re not here today? Because they can’t punish us if we don’t? Preposterous.

Complaints of Black History Month being the shortest month in the year is simply preposterous. Personally, I think that’s just an excuse for African-Americans to continue to be oppressed. We continue to be upset and not reflect on our past. How can we possibly have a better, brighter future if we do not know about our history. this thought is backed up by the African principle Sankofa. Sankofa is derived from King Adinkera of the Akan people of West Africa.

Sankofa” teaches us that we must go back to our roots in order to move forward. That is, we should reach back and gather the best of what our past has to teach us, so that we can achieve our full potential as we move forward. Whatever we have lost, forgotten, forgone or been stripped of, can be reclaimed, revived, preserved and perpetuated.

You must be educated on your roots. Even things like the pyramids, The power of Ancient African cities, the height of architecture. They were the first cities to be created in human history. They have been admired imitated, but never properly depicted. The thousand desperate robbers, thieves and destroyers, tried and tested the pyramids strength. Yet even today they still stand, like the powerful, black people who despite the odds of slavery, segregation, and oppression still grace this earth today.

G-H-E-T-T-O Girls

 

Her boldness is the everyday style of millions of the ghetto girls world wide who wear attitude like battle armor. She always ready for the next battle. A five year old ghetto girl may be in charge of an apartment that is mostly motherless. She may be responsible for the care of an infant child, to cook, to guard the door keys. She even has to lie to the curious welfare workers, children services agents, probation officers and their controlling on lookers. Essentially, she “holds it down” while mommy works for the money, chicken and $150 sneaks. If you help her, she’ll take what you’ve got but never trust you. She’ll use it, but won’t depend on it happening twice. Trying to grow up without people stealing all her shoes or her sanity is a hard challenge, but he makes it happen. Whether its her money or man, her rights or her reputation, protection from hatred and jealousy is unavoidable when cliques in the hood are eating and earning the majority of the people starve and scrape to get by.

As a go to for fashion and daily decorating herself in jewels and authentic designer wear. Under normal standards living in the hood, she constantly has the possibility of being robbed, maybe raped and definitely harassed. Luxuries and money, she has these things, because she believes is supposed to. However, even so there are other things that come along with the territory.
Not only does she has to deal with unwanted sexual advances by boys and men. Not to mention the fact that she doesn’t have a biological or present father, has become the socially excepted norm. A true ghetto girl does not even have to respond to teachers, guidance counselors, or school administrators.

Most times her environment permanently alters her ability to experience healthy relationships. When this ghetto girl has money and her friends don’t, the bond that supposedly holds them together can be either flimsy or completely artificial. When she’s is wrong, no one corrects her. Instead, they fear being cut out of the benefits that hanging out with the money girl brings. Its evident that she prefers the projects to any palace. She prefers cement to grass and even the commotion over the peace. She needs to be in the projects with hundreds of people beneath her.

Her captive audience and jealous schoolmates are important to her. The need to be surrounded by the familiar, but subordinate things appears to be important. To her understanding, the suburbs is a place where no one knows her position or even cares. Being in the suburbs, she’ll soon met her worst fear, blending in.
Every ghetto girl has a story…

From UPT w/♥,
Coffy!