Bria's hair

Bria is only 9 but she has hair like a grown woman. Actually she has enough hair for 2 grown women. I call it 3T because it is thick, it easily tangles, and she is tenderheaded. After posting on a forum I frequent, I used a combo of tricks, products, and tips and I finally was able to do her hair for once without any tears.

This first pic is of her hair washed and conditioned. You can see how thick it is.


First I pre-pooed with some castor oil and this aura glow oil mix I have. I ended up doing it over the weekend. I put her hair in 6 sections:


I washed her hair with Envia hydrating shampoo while in the sections.
Next I mixed 2/3 cup of coconut milk and 2 tsp of apple cider vinegar and applied it to her hair. Then on top of it, I put the Envia hydrating conditioner. Here is a pic:


Next, I put a plastic cap on her hair. I wet and warmed a turbo twist towel and put it on so it can deep condition her hair for about 15-20 minutes.



I did a final rinse of acv, water, and castor oil. Finally, I applied Miss Jessie's Baby Buttercreme to each section, detangled with my fingers first and then with a bone comb and put her hair in twists. Here is the final result.


One of the ladies was generous enough to give me a gift certificate for the Buttercreme. It is pricey, $58 + shipping for a 16oz jar but it was worth it. Thanks again girlie. Q

Love is...

Love is
Waking up and knowing God blessed you to see another day.
Hearing the water running and knowing it is the love of my life getting ready for work.
Walking across the hall and waking up 3 beautiful little faces.
Kisses those faces goodbye and hearing "I Love You" as they go to school.
Hearing the phone ring at 5 am on a Sunday morning and talking to your friend on the other end who is going through some stuff.
Crying on the phone with that friend and talking on the phone for an hour.
Knowing how blessed you truly are.
Talking to my brother and sister in law in England.
Sharing a good laugh.
Knowing you have people in your life that will always have your back.
Being grateful for the life you have and never taking for granted how much GOD loves you.
GOD is love. Q

Crabs in a barrel

I remember when I was pregnant with Bria. Everything I thought about changed. I no longer cared about having a military career. All I wanted to do was to be the best wife and mother I could be. I began to set a plan in motion to get out. I didn't want to leave too soon and give up some of the benefits I had worked so hard for so I had to be wise. Shortly after she was born I started working towards getting off of active duty.

After enduring some roadblocks, I was approved for Palace Chase. This allowed me to separate from active duty and finish my time in the Reserves. I remember being so happy that I was going to be a stay at home mom. That was until I realized I was in a barrel full of crabs. I remember hearing someone tell me about the crabs in a barrel scenario. They stated that as soon as a crab is near the top of the barrel and about to escape, the others will pull it back down because they are still stuck in the barrel so they don't want another to be able to get out.

People tried to discourage me. "What about your career?" "How are you guys going to live off of one salary?" "Why don't you just finish out your 4 years?" "Are you sure you want to do that?" Those were the questions posed to me. You see most of them were secretly envious. They had fallen into the active duty trap. Most people go in thinking they will do 4 years, make some money, go to school and then leave. But they don't save, they don't prepare and, before they know it, they have done 4 years with nothing to show for it. They have no choice but to reenlist.

I was smarter than most. As soon as I got to my base I went back to school, I was very good with my money and Thomas and I were already living off of one salary. Crabs in a barrel.

Unfortunately for the nay saying I wasn't a crab. I was a dove who accidentally stumbled upon their barrel. So while they may have been waiting for me to get to the top just to pull me out, they couldn't because I realized I had wings and soared into my destiny.

I said all of this to say:
1) Be careful of who you share your dreams and plans with. Some people are miserable and don't want to see others happy. They will kill your dreams faster than you can say boo. They are crabs that will pull you down as soon as they know you are trying to get up and out. Only share things with people who will love and support you.

2) If you realize you are in a barrel of crabs, you must either realize you are dove and fly or evolve into one and get the heck out. You must know who you are and whose you are. Your environment doesn't define you. Even if you are a crab, you don't have to remain one. Step out on faith and be the person God has called you to be. Or else you will end up on a plate on top of table next to a salad, some garlic cheese biscuits, and melted butter waiting to be cracked and eaten with the rest of the crabs. Q

Establishing your daily eating plan

1600 calories- 3 servings of veggies, 2 fruits, 6 carbs, 3 dairy or substitute, 2 protein, and 9 fat.
1800 caloires- 4 veggies, 3 fruits, 7 carbs, 3 dairy, 2 protein, 10 fat
2000 calories- 5 veggies, 4 fruits, 8 carbs, 3 dairy, 3 protein, 11 fat

Vegetables (about 25 calories per serving) One serving equals:1 cup raw or 1/2 cup frozen, canned, steamed or cooked in the microwave, expect where noted. Artichoke hearts, asparagus, broccoli, bell peppers, carrots, cauliflower, celery, eggplant, green beans, lettuce (romaine, green or read leaf), mushrooms, red ionions, salsa, spinach, tomatoes, tomato juice, 1/4 cup tomato sauce, 1/4 cup winter squash, zucchini

Fruits(about 60 calories per serving) One serving equals: 1 cup or 1 med piece the size of a tennis ball, except where noted. Apples, 1/2 cup applesauce, berries, grapes, grapefruit, kiwifruit, nectarines, oranges, 1/2 cup orange juice, papayas, 1/2 cup canned pineapple, tangerines

Carbs(about 60 cals per serving) One serving = 1/2 cup, except where noted. Beans, corn, half of a whole-grain or whole-wheat English muffin or pita bread, 1 slice multigrain bread, red potatoes, sweet potatoes, 1 corn tortilla, half of a flavored flour tortilla (such as sun-dried tomato, spinach or garden veggie), 1 whole-grain waffle, dry whole-grain cereal, 3 whole-grain crackers, cooked cream of wheat, cooked oatmeal, cooked whole-wheat pasta, 1 1/2 cups popped light microwave popcorn, pretzels, wild rice

Dairy or Dairy substitutes(about 100 cals per serv) One serving = 1/4 cup except where noted. Crumbled or shredded feta, Gorgonzola, Monterey Jack or Parmesan cheese, 1 slice American, 1 oz Gouda, mozzarella, provolone or Swiss cheese, 1 cup skim or 1% milk, 1/2 cup nonfat or low-fat yogurt, 1/2 cup nonfat or low-fat cottage or ricotta cheese

Protein(about 120 cals per serv) One serv = 3 oz cooked or prepared (about the size of a deck of cards). 98% lean ground beef, canadian bacon, chicken breast, clams, egg substitute, salmon, shrimp, soy-based veggie products (burgers, hot dogs, patties, etc.), turkey breast, water packed tuna

Fat(about 45 cals per serv) One serv = 1 T except where noted. Light or reduced-fat cream cheese, 1 tsp trans-fat-free margarine, light or reduced-fat mayo, 2 tsps chopped or sliced nuts or seeds, 2 tps peanut butter, 10 olives, 1 tsp pesto, light salad dressing, 1 tsp veggie oil

Splurge(about 225 calories per serving) One serv = 3 homemade sugar cookies (each 3 inches in diameter), 1 brownie (4 inches by 4 inches), 1.5 oz M&M's, 1.5 oz peanut brittle, 2 pieces pound cake (each 1/12 of cake), half of a piece of homemade apple pie (half of slice equalling 1/8 of a 9-inche pie)
Note- if you have a splurge, for each plan subtract 2 carbs and 2 fat servings

More to come. Q

Formula to lose weight

For those of you who do like to weigh yourself and need to see the scale go down in order to be motivated, here is a formula I found in an article I clipped:

1.Subtract 10 pounds from your current weight, then multiply this figure by 4.4.
Ex: If you weigh 145 now, subtract 10 pounds to get 135. Multiply by 4.4, you get 594.

2.Calculate your height in inches, then multiply this figure by 4.6.
Ex: If you're 5'4", you're 64 inches tall. Multiply that by 4.6 to get 294.4.

3.Multiply your age in years by 4.7.
Ex: If you're 30, you get 141

4.Add up the answers to numbers one through three and then add 655.
Ex: 597+294.4+141+655= 1,684.4.
Round up or down to the nearest whole number: 1,684

5.Multiply this number by an activity factor-- this is the figure that helps determine the number of extra calories you need to support your daily physical activity level:
*1.2 if you sit at a desk all day, are unable to work out due to an injury or are too tired or too busy to exercise on a daily basis.
*1.3 if you walk your dog twice or more daily, take the stairs whenever you can or exercise moderately for up to 2 days a week.
*1.5 if you exercise for 1 hour at least 3 and up to 5 times a week.
*1.7 if you are a hard-core runner, train 2-plus hours a day or have a physically demanding job.

Your final number equals your daily calorie limit to lose 10 pounds in six weeks

HTH Q

Measuring your body fat

It amazes me how two people can weigh the same and yet look so different. One of the reasons I don't weigh myself is because I have always been a muscular person. Because of that I always weighed more than most people would expect. I know that having nice toned muscles allows me to look great versus being slim but flabby. Here are some sites you can use in order to figure out your body fat:
http://www.bmi-calculator.net/body-fat-calculator/
http://www.linear-software.com/online.html
http://www.scientificpsychic.com/fitness/diet.html
http://www.healthstatus.com/calculate/bfb

Let's focused on being fit and toned and I guarantee you will feel great, be the size you want to be and, look great. Q

Looking great in 08

So I haven't given up on the fitness thing at all. For me it is not about getting to a certain size, it is about a healthy lifestyle. I want to look and feel good from the inside out. I want to be around to enjoy life and watch my kids grow. I want to recognize the person I see in the mirror. I had already began my own personal journey but my friend Jessica Rabbit wanted to team up with another blogger for accountability and I agreed to join her.

I am going to put some info out for myself and others and I will be tracking my progress via my blog. I plan on taking pics every Sunday for the next 12 weeks and tracking my measurements. I don't go by weight, I go by inches so that is what I am going to use. Here is some info on taking measurements I got from www.ttapp.com :

Waist- at navel
Abdomen- 3 inches below navel
Hips- stand with feet 12 inches apart, tighten buns and measure fullest part
Upper Thigh- just below cheek
Lower Thigh- 2 inches above kneecap
Calves- fullest part
Upper arm- 3 inches from armpit

I hope this helps you out. Q

There's a stranger in my house

I just found out someone Thomas and I are very close to has decided to do somethings that just blew us away. We consider this person FAMILY. My kids loves them, I love them, Thomas loves them, they are as close to us as anyone can without being blood related.

I have been praying, and crying, and thinking, and worrying and just going out of my mind trying to wrap my brain around this situation. It hit so close to home that Thomas and I had a serious talk. Do you think that could happen to us? What can we do to prevent it? My family unit is now out of order.

I knew this person was going through a rough time. I knew they were struggling and stressing but because I know they had a relationship with Christ, I believed they would get over it. But I also know God gives us free will and unless we submit to Him, His will can't be done in our lives.

So today I mourn and continue to pray for the person I know and love. I don't know this person who is doing these things and making such bad choices. I look forward to the day when I can reunite with the friend I know and love. Because the person they are now, is a stranger to me and they are not welcome in my home. Q

Bumper Sticker, too funny

Speeding Senior

I got this from one of the boards I visited. I needed a good laugh and this was right on time so I decided to post it here. Enjoy. Q

A Florida senior citizen drove his brand new Corvette convertible out of the dealership. Taking off down the road, he floored it to 80 mph, enjoying the wind blowing through what little hair he had left. "Amazing," he thought as he flew down I-75, pushing the pedal even more. Looking in his rear view mirror, he saw a state trooper behind him, blue lights flashing and siren blaring. He floored it to 110 mph...then 120... then 130. Suddenly he thought, "What am I doing? I'm too old for this," and pulled over to await the trooper's arrival. Pulling in behind him, the trooper walked up to the Corvette, looked at his watch and said, "Sir, my shift ends in 30 minutes. Today is Friday if you can give me a reason for speeding that I've never heard before, I'll let you go." The old gentleman paused, then said, "Years ago, my wife ran off with a Florida State Trooper. I thought you were bringing her back."
"Have a good day, sir," replied the trooper.

Someone should beat his behind

Man beats 19 month old. Caught on tape.

Stuff like this makes me mad as heck!!! Q

I got my hair did

This will probably be the last time I get my hair pressed for awhile. I got it washed, conditioned, flat ironed, pressed, trimmed, and curled. I had about an inch cut off the ends and I love it. Oh and I took a pic of my face finally. I was suffering through break outs but it is finally clearing up. Q

Happy New Year

We brought in the New Year the way we usually do, in church. It was wonderful to be with my church family and I preached right through 12 am. The spirit of the Lord just moved on me and I couldn't shut up. I couldn't imagine spending my New Year any other way.

I have so much to say but so little time so let me be brief for a change. Thank you to all those who read this blog. Those who have sent me emails, let me comments or contacting me through other forums to let me know you checked it out. I promise to post more and to really make this a great blog. I love all of my friends, and family. I am so blessed.

This year will be a great year for me. Thomas and I will celebrate 10 years of marriage. I will be turning the big 3-0, and I will be getting ordained. As far as resolutions, I just plan on being the best me I can be by following and serving the Lord. Much love to all of you!!! Q