Reading Challenge Update

Before I start with the real topic of this post let me just add that I will be posting my relaxer update and length check post before the end of the week. Be on the look out!

As you know I have started a 50 book reading challenge to be completed by Sept 23. I will post the link with details when I get to a computer. So far I have completed one book, The Help by Kathryn Stockett. I'm now reading two other books. The first one is Irresistible Forces by Brenda Jackson. The second book is The Lying Game by Sara Shepard. This book is base on the TV series The Lying Game that comes on ABC. It is already very different from the series. So far I like both books.

I'm trying to decide if I want to invest in an E-Reader so I am reading Irresistible Forces on my tablet and The Lying Game is an actual book. So at I read more with the actual book. I'm not sure if it's only because the Lying Game is more interesting than Irresistible Forces. I may purchase The Lying Game for my tablet so I have a more accurate comparison. I hope to finish both books by the end of next week.

I will be adding a post of books I'm interested in reading during this challenge. If you have any suggestions please leave me a comment below. I read a wide variety of genres. Until next time stay Blutiful and blessed!

One Lovely Blog Award

I received the One Lovely Blog Award from Blessed Tresses , What's Up With My Hair, and SpecialK. I'm very honored and find it incredible that people find my blog informative and lovely! These ladies each have awesome blogs and you should check them out by clicking on the links.

The rules requires me to share 7 random facts about myself and award 15 other bloggers.

7 Facts

1. I'm a band geek. I've been playing the flute for 14 years, Piccolo for 8. I've also taken lessons to learn Piano, Oboe, and Bells. I can dabble with the latter, but I'm not very advanced. I also LOVE listening to HBCU bands. I played in the band at Tuskegee University for 3 years. Shoutout to the Marching Crimson Piper Band.
2. I've decided to give up watching reality TV for a season. It is starting to become too trashy.
3. I taught myself how to swim but jumping in pool (8ft) and going.
4. I'm originally from Wisconsin. 
5. I love Lion King on Broadway and I can not wait to see it this summer!
6. I hate the color pink!
7. I've never been to a spa, but it is something I plan to do in the near future.

Everyone I would have chosen has already been given the award. 

April Recap

April has been a very good month for me and my hair. I have done more than what I expected to do to my hair. I've done 2 dry flexi-rod sets which came out pretty well. Now I want to get the spiral look with flexi-rods. Like the one Ebony in this post or Shika in this post. Co-washing has become

1. M&S nightly- Fail! One day I will get better with this. 
2. Oil scalp at least 3x/wk- Fail!! 
3. wrap hair with a satin scarf nightly- Fail! I started off doing great, but then I slacked off. 
4. Co-wash at least 1x/wk- This is very important since I'm further along in my relaxer stretch.- Success!!
5. DC 1x/wk- I'll probably do this with my co-wash on dry hair because my responds well to DCing on dry hair. Doing it this way also eliminates a step when washing. - Success!
6. Wash at least bi-weekly- I will attempt to wash weekly, but with 25 days left before graduation I have an exit exam, paper, last exams, and finals. I don't want to commit to more than I can handle.- Success!!
7. Low manipulative styles 95% of the time. I will probably bun so that I won't have to manipulate my new growth.- Success
8. No direct heat- I only plan on one set this month for the roller-setting challenge and then it's back to bunning.- Success

Flexi-Rod Sets. The last two pics are from the set. The same color shirts throws it off.

Buns for the month. Top 2 pic is an air-dried pony tail

ConGRADs to me!

Sorry for the horrible quality

I finally graduated from college with a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing. I'm extremely proud that I have accomplished a life long goal of mine. I'm thankful for all the love and support from my family and friends throughout the years. All the long nights and tears have finally paid off. Maybe in a later post I will share my personal struggle with college. For now I just want to enjoy the positives! Now I'm ready to pass my NCLEX on the first try!

ECP's Banging and Swanging Contest

Ebony from Longing4length.com is hosting a challenge for body and hair and I decided to join. Check out the link and join! The more the merrier! The rules are as follow:

Rules:

• The challenge will be begin on May 1 and run until August 31.
• To compete for the challenge grand prize you must post (or submit by email) a picture of both your starting and ending weight with a date stamp.  If you do not want your weight posted, that is a-okay by me!  I just need to have something to prove your progress.
• You do not have to compete for the grand prize, you can join the challenge and participate in the monthly challenges *yes there will be monthly challenges again! yay!* and just be here for motivation and inspiration.
• Check in monthly on my official check-in posts.
• Sign up by leaving a comment below and include some of your goals: hair and body!
• Protective style your hair at LEAST 50% of the time.  This can be done any way you choose: 2 weeks out of the month, 3-4 days per week, every other day or a true hideaway style like wigs or braids...its all up to you!  You don't have to submit a starting length photo but they are always great for personal progress! (see definition at bottom of the post if necessary)
• Exercise at LEAST 3 times per week.
• This challenge is not only for those who wish to lose weight, its for anyone who wants to get fit and tone up as well.  So take your starting measurements, a starting photo something that helps you track your body transfromation!

My personal goals for the challenge are:
1. Tone
2. Work on a flat stomach
3. Make working out become second nature
4. Stick with my regimen and what works for my hair
5. Learn at least one new style

I will be posting a starting picture and weight soon.

Relaxer Prep

I'm relaxing my hair next week Tuesday or Wednesday for my graduation. I still have not decided on which relaxer I will be using. I'm in between two (Lye vs No Lye). I guess I will be making my decision sometime this weekend.

To prep my hair for my relaxer I plan on making today my wash day. I will do a hard protein treatment with an egg and clarify. I will make sure that I detangle very thoroughly in small sections. I will also make sure not to use any gel on my hair and use very little product on my hair this week. I don't want to cause build up and I also don't want anything slowing down my processing time even more than what I already plan on doing.

I don plan on texlaxing my hair with this relaxer. I'm not sure if I will add an oil or just decrease the time I allow it to stay in my hair. I'm thinking that adding oil may work best for me because my hair processes extremely fast!

I will try to remember to take some pictures of my new-growth with this wash and come back and update this post.

Until next time HHG and stay blessed!

Quick Update/ Hair Babble

I just wanted to give you all a brief update on what I have been doing to my hair. I use this blog to give out information to those seeking as well as a journal for myself. So here it goes.

• Co-Washing has been myFF! It makes my hair feel very soft and moisturized.
• NTM Daily Conditioner works wonders on my hair when I DC on dry hair. I may be purchasing this product again.
• I think I HE LTR is a keeper. I love how soft my hair is when I use it further into my stretches. If the new formula is anything like the old one, it may be a keeper.
• The last two bullets have proves that you need to try out a product for a few months before you can truly give a review. I thought HE LTR and NTM were not for me, but I guess I just had to find out how they work for me.
• I'm terrible when it comes to oiling my scalp. I think the reason is because I ran into trouble with transferring EVCO in my applicator bottle and the EVOO was causing my scalp to itch. I then remember that I had some Hemp Seed Oil I had yet to open. I used that to oil my scalp and I'm not sure I will use it for that purpose again. It smells like egg yolk.
• I have done 2 flexi rod sets on dry hair so far. The first set I used only two flexi rods and on the second set I used 6. I like the results of the one where I used six. I used HE LTR and this products works great for Flexi-Rod sets.
• I purchased Proclaim Polishing Gloss and so far I'm not sold. IC Fantasia definitely works better. I use the proclaim for flexi sets and buns. I will continue to use in order determine if this is a keeper.  
• I used the ORS HAIRepair Intense Moisture Creme on my scalp and I love the way it felt. I only had two small sample packs. I'm thinking of purchasing this product in the future.
• My edges have improved since the beginning of my HHJ. I may purchase some Castor Oil to help speed up the process some time in my.
• My stretch is finally coming to an end! I will be relaxing some time next week before my graduation. I will have a post soon on how I plan to prepare for my relaxer.

Until next time you all stay blessed!